Soccer Experts Blog

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The decision to award Euro 2012 to Poland and Ukraine continues to look ever more foolish as political issues overshadow the event.

Poland's status as hosts was plunged into major doubt when its national football association was suspended by the Polish government and an administrator put into place.

FIFA and UEFA received documents on Monday suggesting the Polish FA board would be reinstated, but there is still a long way to go before soccer fans hoping for another successful European Championship can breathe easy.

Ironically, the selection of Poland and Ukraine itself was largely spawned by political factors.

Italy was by far the most sensible choice to host the tournament, yet was denied as it was felt awarding them hosting rights so soon after the Italian match-fixing scandal would send the wrong message. However, the current situation is potentially far more damaging.

Poland and Ukraine have already fallen behind certain deadlines regarding the readiness of venues and since it is unclear who is really running Polish football, there is no one to pin responsibility. UEFA should strip Euro 2012 away from Poland and allow a nation with a proper administrative structure to step in.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

"It's extremely difficult to organize the Euros in Poland and Ukraine. If we made them stick to the commitments they signed in April 2007, they would be in trouble, terrible trouble, already. We've done absolutely everything and more to make sure they can organize it, and the first thing they do is deceive our trust and go back on a commitment they made a year and a half ago to FIFA."

FIFA spokesman William Gaillard on the problems surrounding Euro 2012. 

Just when you thought the crisis engulfing Newcastle United couldn't get any worse, interim manager Joe Kinnear ensured the proud English Premier League club made the headlines for all the wrong reasons once more.

Kinnear was a bizarre choice to fill the breach left by Kevin Keegan's departure, although it was hoped he could provide a safe pair of hands to guide the team through a tough period. Instead, he heaped more embarrassment on the club and the city with a disgraceful, expletive-laced rant at reporters.

Kinnear incredibly used 52 cuss words as he vented his anger at the way his appointment had been reported. The main man in his line of fire was the Daily Mirror's northeast correspondent Simon Bird, with Niall Hickman of the Daily Express also copping some flak.

I worked with Bird at the Daily Mirror for several years and he remains a friend of mine, so maybe my take on this issue is somewhat biased. But I stand by my conviction that Bird is far better as a journalist than Kinnear will ever be as a manager. In my experience, Bird is a man of character who takes an even-handed approach to his profession.

Kinnear has every right to take issue with journalists if he feels slighted. The weekly press conference is a perfect forum for such an exchange. But Kinnear got it totally wrong by launching into such a vitriolic attack and showed a definite lack of class as an individual with his foul language.

Furthermore, he must shoulder the blame for the way the humiliating audio footage has now been beamed around the world.

Bird, Hickman and the other reporters present were happy to make that part of the conversation "off the record," meaning it would not be published. However, Kinnear refused to listen to reason.

Instead of calming down and discussing his grievances in a grown-up manner he instead told the scribes to "write what you (expletive) want." So they did. And the upshot is that the magnificent, loyal and patient fans who bleed Newcastle black and white must once again suffer as the laughing stock of the league.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

"He is a coach? I don't know him. I am a man of peace."

Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari when shown a picture of Joe Kinnear.

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There is only one American investor that English Premier League fans want to know about right now -- but it's not Malcolm Glazer, Randy Lerner, Tom Hicks, George Gillett or Stan Kroenke.

Reclusive Texan Ellis Short, head of Lone Star Funds, was revealed this past week as having snapped up a 30 percent stake in Sunderland, sparking a clamor for information on the latest Stateside business heavyweight to wade into EPL waters.

Short appears to have moved in on Sunderland as an opportunist measure, as he does not have big league sports investing experience like Glazer and company. However, he is expected to remain out of the spotlight as much as possible in line with his policy in his other business dealings.

Sunderland fans won't care too much, though. In this new era of money madness, all any club wants is to be bought by a mega-wealthy owner as it is the only way to keep up with the top clubs.

Short may not say much and he might have annoyed the South Korean government a couple of years ago. But as long as he puts his hand in his pocket for new players, he will fare well in the popularity stakes.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

"We are keeping our fingers crossed. Let's say the best-case scenario is that it would be a wonderful game."

Real Salt Lake president Bill Manning on the prospect of an exhibition against Real Madrid once Rio Tinto Stadium is opened.

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Just a few months into Jose Mourinho's tenure with Inter Milan, the Italian media is already deciding he is not so special after all.

The self-appointed Special One refused to turn up for a press conference following his team's 1-0 home victory over Lecce on Wednesday, prompting fury from the press corps.

Mourinho made a habit of skipping questions after matches during his time with Chelsea, often sending assistant Steve Clarke in his place. However, the same trick plunged him into a storm of controversy in Serie A, where the public and media demand head coaches explain their tactical decisions after every match.

Mourinho would be well-served to think long and hard about his decision, as the Italian press is incredibly powerful when it comes to top-flight soccer. While he has always done things in his own inimitable way, it would do no good whatsoever to make such a strong enemy at this stage.

He needs to step up, face any flak coming his way and get on with the job of being one of the best managers in the business.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

"Obviously we are a little bit behind the 8-ball. Likely we need to win three games if we are going to have a chance. I feel confident we are going to make a great effort to get there."

Los Angeles Galaxy coach Bruce Arena on his team's playoff chances after its 3-1 loss to the Chicago Fire on Thursday.

Associated Press

Major League Soccer's two highest-paid players go head-to-head on Thursday night with much to play for.

David Beckham's Los Angeles Galaxy is miraculously back in the playoff mix following its 5-2 victory over D.C. United last week, despite not having won in its previous 12 games. But those postseason ambitions could quickly dwindle once again as the Galaxy faces the first of three remaining road games against the Chicago Fire and Mexican superstar Cuauhtemoc Blanco.

Visits to the Windy City, Eastern Conference leaders Columbus Crew and the defending champion Houston Dynamo mean the Galaxy's run-in is one of the most challenging of all the postseason chasers. Realistically, Bruce Arena's team needs at least a point against the Fire to maintain the tiny bit of momentum built up against United.

Since the two high-profile stars arrived in the league, Blanco has had a bigger impact on the field, leading Chicago to the Eastern Conference finals last year. If Blanco and the Fire top L.A. again, just like they did in the final game of the 2007 regular season, it could be the end of the Galaxy's playoff dream.

Keys to the contest:

• Blanco – The Galaxy has found the ageing maestro hard to handle every time it has faced him. Blanco always saves his best for the big games and knows all eyes will be trained on his matchup with Beckham.

• The L.A. defense – The most ineffective prevention system in the league will be tested to the max against Blanco and Brian McBride at Toyota Park. Unless Arena can somehow add some steeliness to his backline, this one could get ugly for the visitors.

• Beckham – The Galaxy needs to control central midfield and Beckham should be used in that position to win possession and set up runs for Landon Donovan. If Arena chooses to start him on the right, Beckham could become marginalized and the Fire could dominate possession.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

"It was the first time I didn't win anything with Chelsea – and I could not leave that way."

Didier Drogba on why he shunned a move to Inter Milan this summer.

The English Premier League is set for yet more American influence as billionaire Stan Kroenke moves closer towards control of Arsenal.

When Kroenke's interest in the club was first revealed, Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood pompously announced that "his sort" were not welcome. However, after increasing his share to 12.38 percent and being invited onto the board last week, the St Louis Rams, Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche owner is likely to be the man who has most influence on the north London club moving forwards.

Kroenke has benefited from concerns among Arsenal directors concerning Russian Alisher Usmanov, who has got his hands on nearly 25 percent and is still buying any new shares that come on to the market.

Even so, this report by the Guardian's Matt Scott claims Usmanov is willing to step aside and be a silent partner, with Kroenke making most of the big financial decisions.

Kroenke is understood to be ready to spend big in the transfer market.

The profit-sharing system in the EPL is based on a staggered method that rewards success, rather than the principle of equality used in the NFL. If Arsenal continues to shine both domestically and in the Champions League, then the club's current valuation of around $1.5 billion could prove to be a bargain.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

"When you bring in someone new you obviously hope and expect them to do well, but Darren has even surpassed what we thought he could do."

San Jose Earthquakes coach Frank Yallop on Darren Huckerby, the signing that has turned around the club's season.