FIFA

The genius of Transfer Deadline Day

"So, as it stands - where do you stand on where <insert player's name here> stands right now?” 

A typical exchange between a presenter and correspondent on Transfer Deadline Day, or as one of the UK's more excitable sports broadcasters calls it - TDD.

Ever since it was introduced by FIFA in the 2002-03 season, TDD (that's what I'm calling it from now on, too) has become the most exciting, entertaining day in the football calendar. 

It's more exciting than pretty much every World Cup final since 1990 (I'll admit 2006 was pretty exciting).  What's more, we get two of them, the end of the pre-season transfer window and the mid-season transfer window.

The Asian Cup - final thoughts

 - The Asian Cup is still the least loved, or noticed, of all major continental tournaments, but less so. The Copa, the Euros and ACON have a huge edge, but the quality of the tournament is getting better with every edition.

- Blatter talked of India being a potential World Cup host. Their team though was way behind anything else on show in Doha. Until the basics needs of training facilities and a decent domestic league are in place India is destined to struggle.

- What exactly will Saudi Arabia do next? Their brief stay in the Qatari capital involved the firing of two coaches and King Abdullah organising the removal of the football federation's president.

- Qatar could yet qualify for a World Cup before 2022.

An open letter to Sepp Blatter

Dear Mr Blatter,

With respect to your position as president of Fifa, football's world governing body, I wish to express my anger at your refusal to introduce a simple piece of technology that would end the misery that has tainted this World Cup.

What happened at England's second-round match against Germany in Bloemfontein last night was a disgrace.

I was there, I paid $200 for my ticket, and I met countless other fans who felt the same.

When Germany went two goals up in the second half, it was going to take an extraordinary comeback for our beloved Three Lions to have any chance.

Yet you ensured I couldn't see that comeback.

Because I was in the toilets at the time.

Now wouldn't it have been so simple to install TV screens above each urinal, and on each cubicle door?

That way, after storming from my seat after Germany's second goal, I could have witnessed Matthew Upson's header immediately afterwards that made it 2-1.

A World Cup without Ronaldinho

His mom and dad know him as Carlos Caetano Bledorn Verri. Most everyone else knows him simply as Dunga, the Brazilian national team football coach. Like many other Brazilian's his nickname has just become his name. Call him what you want, but don’t call Dunga a softy. The guy sticks to his convictions.

If you heard the news this week that Ronaldinho Gaucho – two-time FIFA world player of the year – was not invited to play in the 2010 World Cup and you still can’t believe it, you can blame Dunga.

The Brazilian coach had been under enormous pressure for weeks in the run up to the selection of his team for South Africa. There was rampant speculation he was going to do the unthinkable not invite Ronaldindo to the 23 man squad, but few people could really believe it until it actually happened.