Expert Blogs

South Africa's confirmation as hosts of the 2010 FIFA World Cup gets a resounding resonance on Friday when the draw for the tournament is held in Cape Town. Although the event is about 15 minutes of substance surrounded by an hour or two of mindless glitz, it will be something of a milestone for a country given little chance of actually ever making it this far.

When Yasuhito Endo packs his boots and boards the plane from Tokyo to Johannesburg, he will head to the World Cup as the reigning Asian Player of the Year.

Twelve months after he was expected to be crowned the continent's leading player, the Japanese midfielder was finally handed the trophy by the confederation's president, Mohamed bin Hammam, last week.

Italians call them "tormentoni", literally a pest or a nuisance that simply will not go away. 

Next year in South Africa, defending champions Italy will be trying to reverse a daunting trend. 

The comedian's curse is having to be on at all times.

When the coaches of the 31 nations to have qualified for the 2010 World Cup descend on South Africa for the draw on Dec. 4, spare a thought for Bahrain - and in particular, for head coach Milan Macala.

And so the last went to the first. In Montevideo's Centenario Stadium, the venue where they won the inaugural World Cup back in 1930, Uruguay drew 1-1 with Costa Rica to win 2-1 on aggregate and claim the 32nd spot in South Africa next year.

There is a thin grey line between the competitive nature of sport and societal anarchy and when it is crossed, as we have recently seen, it does make the entire World Cup circus seem a little absurd.

Ronald Reng, 39, was one of Robert Enke's closest friends. The author and football journalist spoke to the 32-year-old goal-keeper shortly before he killed himself on November 10. Reng's book on Enke will be out in the new year.

It is a good time to be a fan of American international soccer. According to U.S. head coach Bob Bradley, 2009 has been an "excellent year." With the 2010 FIFA World Cup drawing closer by the day it is difficult to argue with his opinion.

Whenever I am questioned about my 18-year playing career, I am inevitably asked if I have any regrets.