Fans are the only ones who really care. There are no free-agent fans. ~Dick Young
Up Next: Planning for South Africa 2010 has officially begun… Jen, Enyo & all those on board with the helicopter plan (Franz Beckenbauer flies a chopper to get from game to game, why shouldn’t we?), here are some quotes I tracked down to get us fired up.
Bruce Arena (25 June 2006) : “I have no doubts in (my) mind I can qualify a team (for the 2010 World Cup). But that to me is not the whole job.” Team USA coach Bruce Arena
Sepp Blatter: (26 June 2006) : “They will do well. They will do well and they have all the population behind them, like here in Germany but even more I would say because it will be the competition, the World Cup in 2010, that will finally bring the total integration of the people of South Africa.” Sepp Blatter’s reply on being asked whether he thought South Africa would put on a good show in 2010.
Patrick Manning (26 June 2006) : “We must be among the favourites in the next World Cup,” he told the festive crowd. Prime Minister Patrick Manning of Trinidad and Tobago explaining that qualifying for Soccer World Cup 2010 was a national imperative.
Sepp Blatter (28 Oct 2006) : “They will be ready, no problem. If you ask me what the alternatives to play World Cup 2010, if South Africa is not ready, it is still South Africa. Plan B and C is still South Africa”
Franz Beckenbauer (June 2006) : “England, please no!” Franz Beckenbauer hoping that Germany are not paired with England in the last 16 of the Soccer World Cup.
Abedi Pele (June 2006) : “There’s no lack of good players in Ghana. In terms of technique and pace we’re without doubt the best in Africa. Lately, we’ve made a lot of progress in the finer points of tactics as well, which was our weak point before.” Abedi Pele (67 caps for Ghana, three-time African Player of the Year)
