Euro 2016 - Knockout Round

Here is the updated schedule of knockout round.

For schedule in Singapore/Malaysia/HK/China times, click below.

Updated Euro 2016 Schedules and Tables (June 17th, 2016)

Here is an updated results and schedule for Euro 2016 games.

North American Pacific Time

Singapore/Malaysia/HK/China Time (click to expand)

Euro 2016 TV Schedule (Canada TSN - Group Stage)

Here is the tentative list of TSN Schedule. For updates, click here. All times North America Pacific.

EURO 2016 SCHEDULE (NORTH AMERICA PACIFIC TIME)

(Picture Credit: thevpnguru.com)

Click here to see times in Asia-Pacific.

Money Politics in EPL Soccer

These headlines make me sick.

• "Manchester City announce losses of £121m."
• "Lord Sugar admits fears over United and Liverpool debt."
• "Financial Warning"

I like watching soccer, in particular, the English Premier League. It is the arguably most popular soccer league in the world, if not the richest. One look at the cable bills of many households around the world will reveal the ridiculous amount soccer fans shell out to watch live telecasts of the English soccer league. Despite the often touted quality of the game, one cannot help bur feel disgusted by the news of huge financial losses by the big clubs such as Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea. Manchester City has recently joined the ranks of the big clubs and has just announced a phenomenal 121 million pounds loss. Thanks to its free spending power of the rich owners. Manchester United and Liverpool are also owned by foreign owners but borrowed heavily from banks to finance the clubs. 

What makes me sick is because of the way big money is spent, and yet the clubs report such a big loss. It really cause me to question if this is money well spent or easily squandered on poor management or lousy financial planning. Some may accuse the clubs of spending too much on hyped up soccer players. Looking at the amount of advertising, sponsorship and TV broadcast money income, one would have thought that football clubs in the Premier League will have it good. Unfortunately, it is not. They continue to sadden the football public with bad news after next regarding their financial books. High wages and mismanagement will be two of the biggest hurdles about the viability of the football clubs.

I fear that money politics are killing the game. It may be the single biggest reason why football will no longer be tarnished, and no longer be the most beautiful game on earth.

conrade

Book - "How Soccer Explains the World"

Title: How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization
Author: Franklin Foer
Publisher: San Francisco: HarperCollins, 2004, (288 pages).

This is surprise find! Especially with the 2010 World Cup Soccer going on in South Africa right now, it could not have been a better time for me to read this book. Written by a football fan, Foer navigates the world through the eyes of soccer, and asserts that the culture of soccer transcends many places and people groups. He uses soccer to explain the gangster behavior, the pornography of sects, Jewish, Hooliganism, survival of the upper echelons of society, black carpathians, new oligarchs, Islam and ends with what I believe is the author's main interest: "American culture wars."

A) MAIN IDEA
Foer aims to look at globalization from the eye of the sport he loves, soccer. Soccer has more to do with a way of life rather than a type of sport. Through soccer, we learn to understand more of the cultures around the world, that gives the global sport a new identity of cultural analyst. The book is broadly divided into three parts. The first part talks about the failure of globalization to unite the world. The second part deals with economics from the perspective of soccer influencing understanding of cultures behind the economics. The third part is a way of defending 'old-fashioned nationalism' versus the 'return of tribalism.'

B) MYTHS DEBUNKED
Contrary to what the Left predicted, that globalization will destroy local cultures, soccer has helped strengthened loyalties. Instead of capitalism providing positive results, it has entrenched corruption.

C) HOW SOCCER EXPLAINS

• GANGSTERISM: "Deprived of traditional work and knocked off patriachal pedestals, these men desperately wanted to reassert their masculinity. Soccer violence gave them a rare opportunity to actually exert control." (in Serbia, 13-14)
• RELIGIOSITY & TRADITION: "It's easy to link support for a soccer club with religiosity. But in an important way, Rangers has actually replaced the Church of Scotland. It allows men like Findlay to join the tradition and institutions of their forefathers, to allay fears about abandoning history without having to embrace their forefathers' eschatology." (in Scotland, 56)
• JEWISH QUESTION: "Jewish teams cloak themselves in Jewish, not Hungarian or Austrian or German, nationalism, literally wearing their zionism on their sleeves and shirts. . . An entire movement of Jews believed that soccer, and sport more generally, would liberate them from the violence and tyranny of anti-Semitism." (in Europe, 68-9)
• SENTIMENTAL HOOLIGAN: as a reaction ". . against globalization. . , the McDonald's-smashing French farmer Jose Bove, and countless others: multinational capitalism strips local institutions of their localness, it homogenizes, destroys traditions, and deprives indigenous proletariats and peasants of the things they love most." (in England, 96)
• TOP HATS SURVIVAL: How soccer legends like Pele help revive falling political careers among the power mongers; "Despite the persistence of corruption, Brazil's mania for soccer has hardly abated; its natural soccer resources don't seem close to exhausted. It's too essentially a part of the national character." (in Brazil, 140)
• BLACK CARPATHIANS: "To many Ukrainians, their country still felt like a colony of Russia. . This despair played out in soccer too. Ukrainians imagined that they were once a great soccer natin. Now they needed to import Nigerians to become great again." (in Ukraine, 157)
• NEW OLIGARCHS: "There was also a populist brilliance to his use of soccer as a metaphor for society. It gave him a vocabulary that resonated with the lower middle class, the group that he wanted to cultivate as a political base." (in Italy, 185-6)
• BOURGEOIS NATIONALISM: Instead of soccer violence, "Barca redeems the game from these criticisms, by showing that fans can love a club and a country with passion and without turning into a thug or terrorist. . . . Put it more strongly, Barca doesn't just redeem the game from is critics; it redeems the concept of nationalism." (in Spain, 197-8)
• ISLAM's HOPE: "Iranians crave international soccer because the game links them to the advanced, capitalist, un-Islamic West. . . . The burgeoning youth population of Iran looked West and toward soccer for inspiration." (in Iran, 230, 232)
• AMERICAN CULTURE WARS: "Soccer's appeal lay in its opposition to the other popular sports. Soccer is the province of the working class." (USA, 237-8)

My Comments
In trying to show globalization from the eyes of soccer, I feel that the author may have become overly skewed about the role of soccer in interpreting the impact of globalization in the world. No doubt, soccer is a major influence in many parts of the world. Having said that, soccer only explains some, at least according to the selected interviews of various personalities in the countries represented. That provides a somewhat slant perspective. While Foer makes some good observations of certain impact, I feel that the content of the book fails to adequately answer the title of the book. At best, I tend to say the effects are peripheral, meaning that Foer's thesis fail to address core questions like the extent of influence, real statistics of soccer, and other variables.

That said, it is still a fresh way of thinking that will perhaps be improved with more examples from other countries mentined. What about Asia?

Rating: 2.5 stars of 5.

conrade

An Unfair World of Winning and Losing

In this crazy world, sometimes reality can be very cruel. In the game of life, winners are worshiped. Losers are scorned, spurned, and shipped out like unwanted trash.  Nowhere is this more evident than the world of sports where top sports clubs or teams change their managers or coaches the moment they fail to win the championship. We are almost one month away from the World's Most Popular Tournament, to be held in South Africa. The game of soccer. It has reaped millions of dollars for winners. It has also created a lengthy list of 'losers' who have been unceremoniously shipped out due to the failure to win enough glory for the club or country.

Soccer

The latest evidence of such an unfair world is in Europe. The one popularly referred to as the 'special one,' Jose Mourinho, has just led his club, Inter Milan to glory, winning Europe's top club competition called the UEFA Champions League 2010. Almost immediately, Mourinho openly expresses his wish to coach another top Spanish team, Real Madrid. Such a wish is an automatic count-down to the demise of the existing Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini. After all, everybody like winners. Mourinho is a winner, having just won another Champions League victory. Pellegrini is a clear loser, who has not helped his club won a major trophy during his short 9-month tenure. He complains that he has not been given the 'backing' he needs to help the club succeed.

I see the highly popular English Premier League in the UK also being victimized by the 'winner' syndrome. In such a winner-takes-all scenario, there is very little room for trial and error. With so much money demanded of even the poorest club, only the richest and the meanest survive. What is more troubling is that the game of soccer at the EPL has become a money-talks-loudest game. It is no longer a game to promote the game of sports. It is a game where only the richest clubs who can afford to practically 'buy' whatever trophy they have with their money.

Hockey

Since coming to Canada, I have been intrigued by the Canadian infatuation over the game of ice-hockey. With so many nights of hockey telecast live on TV, it is only a matter of time, any newbie to hockey will take notice of this sports. For me, what is most fascinating is not the game itself, but the ongoing commentary, especially the discussion panel AFTER the game. No matter how well a team plays, when they fail to win, commentators will say the most negative things about them. Criticisms tend to follow a numerical scale as well.   The greater the number of goals lost, the greater the criticisms. On the other hand, all it takes is one winning goal, and the commentators will be full of cheer and praise for the winning team. From goaltenders to the most ineffective skater on the ice, reporters tend to say the most positive things about the winning team.

I shudder and shake my head when such things happen. It only tells me that the game of sports has deteriorated to the point where only winners mean something. Gone are the days of brave sportsmanship. Gone are the times where healthy competition is promoted. Gone are the moments of encouraging all to do their best.

Why must the world discriminate so much between winners and losers? If there are no other competitors, what is the meaning of winning? Why should winners by themselves get all the glory?

Perhaps, as viewers and consumers of sports events, we should learn to let our money do the talking. For that, I will refuse to sign on more sports channels. Maybe, once my current subscription is up for renewal, I might even think twice about dropping some.

Winning is important. However, when winning becomes the sole ambition, the only reason for playing,the meaning of sportsmanship is undermined. When that happens, nobody wins.

conrade

Victory in defeat

It was a sheer gut-wrenching performance. For 45 minutes, I thought the impossible could happen. For 45 minutes, I harbour hopes of a great comeback in honour of the spirit of remembrance of the Hillsborough tragedy. For 45 minutes, I thought how wonderful a testimony it would have been, to tell the world that a ‘fighting spirit that never says die’ lives longer than winning games. That’s the strange thing in life. People often remember only the winners. However, winning is only made sweet when there is a long journey of heartache, disappointment and great suffering.

My favourite soccer team, Liverpool is one example. Not only are they an entertaining side (partly due to their inconsistency), they are one of those rare teams that never say die. Take the 2005 Champions League final, where they fought from 3-0 down to AC Milan, and bravely fought back. Yesterday’s game against Chelsea, their arch-rival is another classic. At half-time, they were one goal away from overturning a 3-goal deficit to Chelsea. Hopes were high. Doubts were low. The press was stunned into silence, from what seemed ‘impossible’ to start imagining that it is still possible. Unfortunately, the comeback that many hoped will happen, could not be sustained. The game ended in a thrilling 4-4 draw.

Amid the cries of agony, there are voices of victory shouting out with gusto. The irony is, there can be victory in defeat. I am certainly proud of the way the Liverpool players held their heads high to produce a performance that speaks volumes of the spirit of Liverpool Football Club. Take nothing away from Chelsea. They won deservedly. My point is that we can learn a couple of things from the amazing comeback spirit, the never-say-die attitude demonstrated in the Liverpool fight-back.

Firstly, life is not about winning or losing. It is about living as meaningfully as possible. Only then one can play with passion and work with commitment. It tells a lot when one says ‘To be a Liverpool player is to be a pleasure.’ As goalkeeper, Jose Reina was reported to say:

"At Stamford Bridge we were better, at Anfield they were. But it doesn't matter who was better, only who goes through. In the first half I thought we were going through, we were playing fantastic football and dominating them.

"We played for Liverpool with heart. All we could give was passion and commitment. To be a Liverpool player is a pleasure."

Reina has revealed his side were determined to honour the 96 Liverpool supporters killed in the Hillsborough disaster 20 years ago.

"We tried our best for 96 as well but couldn't do it," he said. "We were playing as 11 guys with a lot of passion but we were also lifted by 96 souls.

"We were moved by that and tried everything we could but in the end we did not manage it." “”

(Credit: Soccernet, 15 April 2009)

Secondly, learn to look forward. Even in loss, one can still look forward with a more determined stance for the next challenge. Sometimes, victory can introduce pride and invite seduction of laziness. Sometimes, the better thing to happen to us is not a win, but a loss. Liverpool’s inconsistency has cost them many titles over the past few years. They were topping the Premier League a couple of months ago, but some erratic performances cost them dearly. Now, in order to win, they will not only need to win all their games, they have to hope that their opponents falter along the way. It is a tough position to be in, knowing that one is not in full control. The only thing one can control, is to look forward positively and continue to do one’s best. Without a healthy view of the future, one’s view of the present moment can become easily buried in the suffocating soil of yesterday’s misfortunes. Look forward with hope, and press on with a constructive attitude to learn from past mistakes. There is no shame in losing. After-all, in sports, what matters more is spirited sportsmanship rather than childish tantrums that blames everybody else except oneself.

Thirdly, create a personal collection of great comebacks. There is nothing to be ashamed of when we have tried our best. In yesterday’s remarkable game, Liverpool has nothing to be ashamed of. Mistakes were made. Silly missteps were committed, but we cannot fault the positive attitude of playing a good game and making it really terrifying for the opponents. Other teams team would have called it quits after a first round loss. Others may write off the chances of any great comeback. However, the history of great comebacks is a worthwhile book to write. It brings much hope and encouragement. It could even save one’s life especially in the deepest despair. Interestingly, none of the recent Champions League victories in 2008 (Manchester United), 2007 (AC Milan) and 2006 (Barcelona) ever come close, in terms of fanfare and media reporting to the one won by Liverpool in 2005. This goes to show that winning a game is not the only thing. What is more meaningful is the manner in which it was won, or lost.

I am a Liverpool football club supporter and I am proud of it, regardless of victory or defeat. Can LFC win the English Premier League this year? With a ‘never-say-die’ attitude and careful performance, there is only one answer.

ks

More Silly Goals

This silly goalkeeping moment is simply too funny not to share....

This next snippet is entitled: "Joy and Despair in 30 seconds."

Top 10 Worst Goalkeeping Moments (Laugh)

This tells us that even professionals can make mistakes. I love the last one.



This second one is a classic 'great save' followed by an equally great blunder.



Enjoy.

Another Fairplay Video

As a follow-up to my earlier sportsmanship post, here is another amazing example from the Netherlands. Following a sporting stoppage gesture from the opponents, Ajax was supposed to return ball possession to team RKC Waalwijk. However, the return kick resulted in a goal! The restitution was eventually made when Ajax allowed a free goal in exchange to even things out. Amusing to see the confusion on the players' faces.

I'd love to visit Anfield one day.

This scene at Anfield is incredible. Liverpool dumped Barcelona (on away goals) and is on their way to the Quarterfinals of the prestigious Champions League 2007 competition. Boy I wish was there.

You Never Walk Alone

Liverpool was soundly beaten this week, first they lost 3-1 to Arsenal in the FA Cup on 6th Jan 2007. Then they lost 6-3 to the same team in the Carling Cup on 9th Jan 2007. What made it more humiliating is that both defeats were at Anfield, Liverpool's home!

Looking at it retrospectively, I think we can learn a few things for Liverpool team, as a Liverpool supporter and as a human person. Points of Learning for:
1) Liverpool team
- the higher the stake, the greater the pressure to perform. This leads to a greater temptation to be impatient, to want to get at the opponent as soon as possible, leading to a lack of concentration on defending, resulting in a lapse of defense and concentration.
- the morale is key to any team performance. When the opponents scored a goal or two in succession, morale dips and failure to convert chances deepen that gloom.
- playing at home, with home support, often the players play their hearts out, often leaving the brains behind. Football is not merely passion and heart. It require players to think, adapt and above all be patient.

2) As Liverpool supporter
- Never give up. The legend is that Liverpool supporters will always stick with the team, for better or for worse. Just as we cheer the team in good times, we need to rebuke the team performance where needed. This week, we need to let the team know that lack of patience and the overconfidence in fortress Anfield perhaps caused the downfall.
- Never give up. Live to fight another day. Losing one/two games is not a disaster. It simply means, wait it out and concentrate on the game. Remember, brains and brawn are both needed.

3) Personally
- Keep playing according to strategy. A little patience is better than hasty action that leads to regret
- Never lose hope. There will be ups and downs. But behave lowly, yet looking upwards to heaven in hope. Stay the way towards consistency.
- Do not let statistics deceive. Whether the odds are 10-1 or 100-1, every game is the same: They all starts with 0-0.
- Never read statistics first. See it only after everything else is over.

Cheer up, Liverpool, Liverpudlians. You Never Walk Alone.

ks

Fifa World Cup 2006 - an anticlimax

Today is another shocker.

Host Germany is knocked out 2-0 by Italy. Without Argentina, Brazil, England and now Germany, the FIFA World Cup Soccer appears less colourful as before. After all the initial euphoria, the samba flamboyance of the South Americans, the delight cum colour of exciting Africans, the hard-working Asians, and the ever popular England with Spain and Germany have now given way to a few unfancied countries. Italy is of course the strongest contender for the World Cup now, seeing how they played against Germany. France will be the next. The biggest surprise no doubt will be Portugal.

Somehow, without Brazil, Argentina or Germany in the finals, I am wondering if I should even watch the final game live this Sunday? Maybe I will ask my pastor for permission to watch the game, which starts 1030AM on Sunday morning here.

kianseng

Sad Day for Brazil, for England

It is a sad day. Both teams I had hoped will go through to the semi-finals are out, on the same day. First, England bungled and did not play well. Rooney did a stupid push on his fellow Man-Utd club mate, Christiano Ronaldo and got a red card. That changed the whole England game. The penalties was the heartbreaker. Lampard was a goner for sure. He had wasted more opportunities to score than any other England player, so when he walked up to take the penalty, I know he will miss. What was unexpected was both Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher missed too! England deserve to go out.

Brazil was another unfortunate case. They were basically a shadow of their former selves. World Cup 2006 does not belong to either England or Brazil. So now 4 teams remain. I will pick Germany to go through. Firstly because of their home ground advantage. Secondly, I think they play fair soccer. Finally, none of the other three teams fancy me at all. It used to be Italy, but seeing how they play-act, I think the team that wins by pure skills and honest sportsmanship should win.

kianseng

World Cup Soccer Underway

Soccer. The greatest sport on earth. Is that disputed?

Some say the NHL, the Superbowl, NBA.
I will then say it is largely restricted to North America and some other parts of the world

Some will yet say it is the Olympics, which gets the highest viewership ever.
I will then say even if that is true, it is a combination of many different sporting events.

So is Soccer the most popular sport on earth?
Definitely. Just one sport, it spans the globe. All continents except Antarctica are represented. Africa, Asia, Europe, North & South America, Middle East, Central America are all represented.

Soccer is indeed the greatest sport for there is no other sport that I would devote nearly 6 hours every day for 30 days! I believe I am not alone.

kianseng

World Cup 2006

Yes. The World's greatest sporting event is about to begin. Cannot wait for it to get started. Here in Vancouver, ALL 64 games will be shown LIVE! Hooray!
TV Schedule here!

Other web sites to note:
A) FIFA World Cup
B) Official Web Site
C) Sky Sports UK
D) Soccernet
E) Canada TV Schedule
F) TSN Canada
G) World Cup Scorechart Intelligent Excel Spreadsheet
H) Firefox Browser World Cup Soccer Extension

The last link about the Firefox extension is certainly another solid reason to migrate to Firefox browser. It is simply fabulous, showing me at a click all the games scheduled for the day, according to the correct time zone too!

kianseng

Liverpool!

The Song All Liverpool Fans should know.

Lyrics:
When you walk true a storm
Hold your head up high
And don’t be afraid of the dark

At the end of a storm
There is a golden sky
And the sweet silver song
Of love

Walk on true the wind
Walk on true the rain
For your dreams beats ours
And blow

Walk on
Walk on
With hope in your arms
And you never walk alone
You never walk alone

Walk on
Walk on
With hopes in your arms
And you never walk alone
You never walk alone

Listen here.

Sportsmanship! Viva De Rossi! (A Tale of 2 Players)

What a week. Two teams. Two victories. but boils down to a tale of 2 players.

Soccer is known to be the world's most popular sport. It has become increasingly so competitive that players will be unscrupulous just to get the results. Bad tackles, play-acting, diving, cheating with hands are some of the things done. BUT not this week, in the Serie A Soccer League (Italian), one man made the difference in owning up to a handball-aided equalizer, despite his team (AS Roma) being 1-0 down to Messina. Daniele De Rossi promptly confessed to the referee, who did not see that incident and was about to announce the score 1-1. The referee then disallowed the goal to AS Roma. We need more people like De Rossi. Winning games are not everything. For the record, AS Roma came back and won 2-1 eventually, and even their opponents praised them.

Some quotes from an Italian newspaper:
"Viva De Rossi!" read the front-page headline of sports daily, Corriere dello Sport .

"De Rossi has shown that, as well as being worthy of the national team as a player, he is also worthy as a man," said Messina midfielder Salvatore Sullo .

"He did what should be done in these situations," said Roma coach Luciano Spalletti. "He gave an important message to the soccer world, because the referee had not realized (it was handball)". The capital's mayor, Walter Veltroni, reportedly called De Rossi after the game and told him that "your gesture brings honour on Rome and on your team" .

Other links to the sporting incident:
(1) The Star Malaysia
(2) ANSA IT
===============================
In stark contrast, another handball incident in the EPL game (Chelsea vs Man City) went unnoticed by the referee. Didler Drogba clearly handled the ball with his hands and in the process scored a goal. He kept quiet and celebrated his goal instead. Now one can say that the referee did not see it. But, in true spirit to the game of football, is that sportsmanship?
Follow this link to read the Drogba episode, which to me, sucks and my thumbs down for Chelsea, and in particular Drogba. (It is like cheating in class and getting an A, saying that as long as the teacher did not catch the cheating, the A still stands. For me, that A is no A. Rather an honest B/C than a dishonest A.)

Victory before sportsmanship? or Sportsmanship before victory? For me, we need to eventually say that afterall, it is just a game. So it is far better to be sporting. For De Rossi's team, victory is fair and enriching, even with opponents applauding them. For Drogba's team, victory is suspect and opponents cried foul. Is the price of victory worth it? You tell me.

THE CONTRASTING TABLE


kianseng

Liverpool Does It!

Now, that's more like it. After 85 years, Liverpool finally beat Man Utd in an FA Cup match. Crouch scored again in a game that really matters, after a long goal drought. Even Ferguson agreed that his team could not penetrate Liverpool's resolute defense. Congrats Rafa. Well done team! Rejoice scouser fans. Let's get ready for Wednesday's big game with Benfica. [how do you like my scorecard graphic?]

One thing about living in Vancouver is the lack of TV coverage on soccer ('football' here refer to the oval shaped ball game). The other soccer-friendly places are pretty far for me to go to. One of them is the Library Pub cafe downtime at W Georgia which charges a whopping $24.95 per game. If any of you know any soccer cafe or pub in Vancouver near to UBC, let me know, especially when the world cup is round the corner.

kianseng

A Familiar Story

It is an increasingly familiar story. The better team lost. They did most things right, but failed in what that really matter: "Finishing"

Rafa has got a lot to think and work through. Look at the statistics. Starting with a 4-5-1 lineup, it is clear from the start what Rafa thought about the finishing. Since most of the goals has been scored from midfield, Rafa might have thought that beefing up the midfield is a better idea. Perhaps, the reason why goals has been scored from midfield is because the strikers like Crouch has helped distract the opposing defences. Better to stick to a 4-3-3 like Chelsea, or even a 3-4-3.

It is not because Chelsea is a better team, but Liverpool still have some work to do to sharpen their finishing skills. Still it is considered a 50-50 event, where the teams are so tightly matched that goals could have gone either way. Chelsea is not invincible. They are a beatable team, but only if Liverpool can perform on all departments.

kianseng