http://www.theoffside.com League Football, Soccer News and Views from Around the World Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:55:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/the-beautiful-game-on-a-watch.html http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/the-beautiful-game-on-a-watch.html#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:55:22 +0000 chris http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/the-beautiful-game-on-a-watch.html Dominic Wilcox is an artist who makes, among other things, watch sculptures – the type which operate better in a glass encasement than inevitably shattering against the nearest solid object. He made one for football which was on exhibit in London recently. The Beautiful Game, 2011 A footballer holds aloft a trophy in the form of [...]]]> http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/the-beautiful-game-on-a-watch.html/feed 0 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/the-ref-wholl-stand-to-a-thousand-men.html http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/the-ref-wholl-stand-to-a-thousand-men.html#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:00:09 +0000 chris http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/the-ref-wholl-stand-to-a-thousand-men.html Have you ever seen a referee so cool? Whenever a mass protest occurs in which physical violence is an imminent threat or has already occurred, you’re bound to see a referee fleeing like the alien arrival scene in a blockbuster film, mouth gaping, tears flowing and “Mommy” clearly audible. The gentleman who this match in [...]]]> http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/the-ref-wholl-stand-to-a-thousand-men.html/feed 1 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/adriano-gets-quarantined-for-fatness.html http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/adriano-gets-quarantined-for-fatness.html#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:51:51 +0000 chris http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/adriano-gets-quarantined-for-fatness.html Adriano is both one of the most gifted strikers of his generation and one of the most disappointing, ballooning to Ronaldo’s late-career playing weight right smack in the middle of his prime, among other, non-gravitational-field-related issues (drinking, partying, shooting people, etc). Now at Corinthians and fresh off an Achilles injury and platter of Happy Meals, [...]]]> http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/adriano-gets-quarantined-for-fatness.html/feed 0 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/excellence-in-futility.html http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/excellence-in-futility.html#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:46:44 +0000 chris http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/excellence-in-futility.html The set-and-finish own goal is one of extreme rarity, such that it should have its own show on some science channel. To deflect a ball into the net is one thing, but a composed boot, if shanked? That’s truly special stuff. The gentleman in question is Ashraf Soliman of Maccabi Umm al-Fahm. The men warming up [...]]]> http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/excellence-in-futility.html/feed 0 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/the-best-matchup-in-football.html http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/the-best-matchup-in-football.html#comments Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:31:42 +0000 chris http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/the-best-matchup-in-football.html At least for 2011-12. Having already played once this season to raucous applause, Palermo and Inter danced once again at the San Siro today amidst the snow. Their first meeting was nice, Palermo snatching a 4-3 victory and giving neutrals the joyous gift of 7 goals. Tonight they did one better collectively – a 4-4 draw, [...]]]> http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/the-best-matchup-in-football.html/feed 0 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/india-rates-the-elders.html http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/india-rates-the-elders.html#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:33:40 +0000 chris http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/india-rates-the-elders.html The new tournament in India had its auction today. A quick refresher for those who allow quirky short-term tournament formats to slip from the back of their minds (shame): five teams, each team bids for a leading “icon”, along with two foreigners and a manager, with a wage budget of $2.5m. (How much is being [...]]]> http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/india-rates-the-elders.html/feed 0 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/its-messi-time.html http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/its-messi-time.html#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:19:04 +0000 chris http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/its-messi-time.html As pointed out by just about everyone, this image is a perfect representation of where football stands in average America – it’s simply too good not to share. A milestone achievement by one of the greatest athletes on the planet at the age of only 24 earns his own Time magazine cover – ‘cept in [...]]]> http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/its-messi-time.html/feed 1 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/for-love-or-football.html http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/for-love-or-football.html#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:20:49 +0000 chris http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/for-love-or-football.html “Footballer asked to give up honeymoon for new club.” Admit it – first thoughts center around the wife and a reaction worthy of any reality shows in which a new bride or bride-to-be seem like a good candidate for a rubber room and a key which gets mysteriously lost for…ever. Tim Ream was given a choice: sign [...]]]> http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/for-love-or-football.html/feed 0 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/jose-being-jose-in-a-parking-lot.html http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/jose-being-jose-in-a-parking-lot.html#comments Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:41:08 +0000 chris http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/jose-being-jose-in-a-parking-lot.html That’s Jose after last night’s Clasico, hanging out in the Camp Nou parking lot next to the referee’s car. He’s not waiting to tell him how much he enjoyed his performance or beg him for the maker of his cologne, I can tell you that much. Google Translate can do the rest. The man just loves [...]]]> http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/jose-being-jose-in-a-parking-lot.html/feed 0 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/cristiano-throws-a-clasico-sized-fit.html http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/cristiano-throws-a-clasico-sized-fit.html#comments Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:35:22 +0000 chris http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/cristiano-throws-a-clasico-sized-fit.html A Clasico which lived up to its name? But of course. And Cristiano was seen off the ball throwing what should now be one of his toddler tantrums? But of course. It’s not one of his finest, in fact it’d have a hard time cracking his top five, but it’s nice to know that even as he [...]]]> http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/cristiano-throws-a-clasico-sized-fit.html/feed 0