Follow the qualifiers LIVE

Fifa[Wednesday, November 09, 2011]This Friday, the battle for places at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ steps up another notch when Africa becomes the fourth confederation to embark on qualifying. In Asia, and in North and Central America and the Caribbean, some of the early hopefuls are already out of the running, but the African nations go into battle for the first time this week.

The programme features 35 matches all over the world – and http://fifacup2014bzil.blogspot.com is reporting live from every single game, bringing you the fans close up to the drama and the goals.

For the first time in qualifying for the greatest football tournament on the planet, you’ll be able to enjoy our totally new MatchCast service, overhauled from the ground up with a new design, extra features and even more interactivity. Our new FIFA World Cup qualifying flagship will keep fans from all over the world completely up-to-date at all times as the action unfolds at the stadiums.

Live coverage from every match
You can follow every game in full from kick-off onwards, as we bring you the current score, goals and scorers, yellow and red cards and all other big incidents in the game.

Lively and fun FanChat
Now we come to the core of the MatchCast service! When the 70 teams enter the fray on Friday, fans of each and every nation will be cheering on their teams and hoping for success from their homes. Meet up with fans from all over the world in our FanChat, voice your opinions, and debate the latest topics, results and incidents. From Australia to Togo, from Argentina to Guatemala, http://fifacup2014bzil.blogspot.com provides the perfect platform to meet and greet your fellow fans.

The best images
Follow the action all over the world in pictures! Marvel at the colourful scenes from Africa, the celebrations in Asia, the fiery showdowns in North and Central America, and the famous South American festivals of football. http://fifacup2014bzil.blogspot.com brings you the best images from FIFA World Cup qualifying.

Match stats
Who’s the leading goalscorer, and what's the situation with yellow and red cards? Learn everything there is to know about all the players and goalscorers.

Read more »

Buoyant Bermuda keen to knock on

Fifa[Wednesday, November 09, 2011]

Traditionally one of the lower-ranked teams in North, Central America and the Caribbean zone, Bermuda have been making exciting strides of late. Trinidad and Tobago, a giant of the region who reached the FIFA World Cup™ in 2006, can surely attest to the Bermudans’ improvement as they were recently beaten by the Gombey Warriors for the second qualifying campaign on the trot.Led by captain and former New England Revolution winger Khano Smith and USA-based goal ace John Barry Nusum, the island of just under 65,000 inhabitants is out of the running for a place in Brazil 2014, but they showed great improvement in their most recent outings. A draw against Group B leaders Guyana and a shock 2-1 win over Trinidad and Tobago on 7 October has seen the Atlantic islanders leap up the FIFA/Coca-Cola world ranking as well.

Bermuda were the best mover on the global ranking ladder for October, jumping up no fewer than 57 places in the competitive pecking order from 189 to 132. Their current position sees them approach their best-ever spot, 84th, achieved all the way back when the global ranking was established in 1993.

With two games against already-eliminated Barbados to go in the first round of group-stage CONCACAF qualifying for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Bermuda have no chance of reaching the next round. However, they can use these positive steps forward to build a more consistent base for the future. They are currently ahead of the likes of Congo DR, Congo and Vietnam and occupy 19th out of 35 possible positions in the CONCACAF zone.
The higher we are in the rankings the more attractive we are to other teams looking for practice matches; it will keep us in the shop window.
Mark Wade, Bermuda Football Association’s (BFA) player development committee chairman


“We have some good talent on the island,” was the assessment of captain Smith, who plays in the amateur leagues in Boston in the United States, having retired from professional football with multiple teams in Major League Soccer. “Good results in the early rounds of World Cup qualifying are a good start for us, but now we need to take that and roll it up into more consistent results, more consistently good play,” concluded the tall, speedy player who took over the mantel as Bermuda’s most famous sportsman following the retirement of former Manchester City striker Shaun Goater.

In their two remaining games, both at home against winless and goalless Barbados, Bermuda have the opportunity to take even greater strides up the world ranking. A pair of heavy wins would likely catapult them into the top 100, a position that could see them earn a potential seeded status in the draw for next year’s Caribbean Cup of Nations.

“There are a lot of knock-on effects from these two matches because we’re certainly looking for another big jump up the FIFA rankings,” said Mark Wade, Bermuda Football Association’s (BFA) player development committee chairman. “The higher we are in the rankings the more attractive we are to other teams looking for practice matches; it will keep us in the shop window. If we finish with two wins over Barbados I will have a wonderful Christmas. These games are still very important for us.”

With the talismanic Smith now 29 and Nusum in his 30s, both are entering the autumn of their international careers, opening the potential for a new generation of Bermudan talent to step up. Nahki Wells, Taurean Manders and Quadir Maynard are just a few of Bermuda’s faces for the future, all playing their football overseas and gaining valuable experience.

For a country that has never climbed into the top 50 of the FIFA/Coca-Cola world ranking, never reached a FIFA World Cup or CONCACAF Gold Cup, the aspirations are decidedly humble. However, with no place to go but up, and a penchant for knocking off their neighbours with big reputations, it could just be the start of something big for Bermuda.

Read more »

Fifa will not allow England players to wear poppies against Spain, despite Government plea

Fifa[Wednesday, November 09, 2011]T

Fifa have rejected a Government request that England and Wales be allowed to wear commemorative poppies in this weekend's friendlies, claiming the move would "jeopardise the neutrality of football."
Paying tribute: Gabriel Agbonlahor's Aston Villa were one of several Premier League teams to wear a poppy on their shirt last weekend Photo: ACTION IMAGES

The world governing body have always maintained that wearing poppies on shirts would contravene their rules governing what is allowed on shirts, but sports minister Hugh Robertson called them reconsider.

"I am writing to you in support of requests from The Football Association and The Football Association of Wales to ask you to consider allowing the England and Wales football teams to wear poppies on their shirts for Saturday’s international matches, taking place a day before Remembrance Sunday," Robertson's said in a letter to Jerome Valcke, Fifa's general secretary.

"We fully understand, and respect, Fifa’s rules on its member nations not adorning their shirts with ‘commercial’, ‘political’, or ‘religious’ symbols or messages. The FA and FAW do not intend to contravene these rules. However, the British public feel very strongly about this issue which is seen as an act of national remembrance to commemorate those who gave their lives in the service of their country."

However, a Fifa statement issued in response said: "We regret to inform you that accepting such initiatives would open the door to similar initiatives from all over the world, jeopardising the neutrality of football. Therefore, we confirm herewith that the suggested embroidery on the match shirt cannot be authorised.

"There are a variety of options where The FA can continue supporting the cause of Remembrance. One of them already was approved by FIFA, the Period of Silence."
obertson's plea came after the FA wrote to Fifa asking them to change their decision, and Fifa vice-president Jim Boyce offered his support.

Boyce said: "Personally I think there has to be a bit of common sense used when requests like this come in. Armistice Day is a very important day in the FA calendar, as it is with other associations, and I don't think it would offend anybody to have a poppy on the shirts.

"I am not involved in the decision and I do understand there have to be rules.

"But as this is a special request from a member of Fifa and is not of a political nature I believe that common sense should prevail and that it should be looked at in a different light."
Fifa have allowed a minute's silence to be held before the sell-out game, for the England players to wear poppies on their training kit at Wembley on Friday, and to stand for the traditional two minutes' silence to mark the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11 month on Friday.

Fifa's rules prevent anything of a political nature being worn on shirts and although the organisation does not regard poppies as political, they are concerned it would open the door to countries wanting to wear various different emblems on their shirts, some of which would be overtly political.

FA general secretary Alex Horne made a fresh request to Fifa yesterday asking them to reconsider, and is now awaiting a response.

Read more »