By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
August 7 – Russia’s match against Bulgaria on Wednesday (August 11) has been moved from Moscow to St Petersburg because of health risks after acrid smog engulfed the Russian capital at a time that officials were hoping to showcase the country’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
August 6 – The Irish Football Association (IFA) is set upon a collision course with the Government after President Raymond Kennedy appeared to signal that he would not stand down next month as had been announced.
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The Liverpool take-over has long been one of football’s most curious soap operas but the latest twist with the Chinese Government, albeit through its investment arm China Investment Capital, seeking to buy the club, has something of a touch of Dallas combined with that of the East Enders.
Like the best of these soap operas it spins story lines which then turn out to be just that, nice tales that do not reflect reality.
August 5 – The Chinese Government has been revealed as the mystery backer behind a bid to buy Premier League Liverpool.
August 5 – New York Cosmos have been warned that they still faced a long struggle to be given a franchise to play in Major League Soccer (MLS) despite the razzmatazz that has accompanied their relaunch.
August 4 – Giancarlo Abete (pictured), the President of Italian Football Federation (FIGC), is pinning his hopes of a series of changes to help restore the country to the top of the sport following a disappointing performance at the World Cup in South Africa.
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August 4 – Leading Belgium politicians have joined their colleagues in the Netherlands and and raised doubts about their country’s joint campaign to host the 2018 World Cup less than a week before a team of FIFA inspectors are due to arrive to evaluate their bid.
August 4 – Liverpool owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have promised not to stand in the way of a new buyer, it has been claimed.
August 3 – Roberto Baggio (pictured), one of Italy’s finest ever players, is set to return to football, joining Italy’s football federation (FIGC) after the national team’s disastrous exit from the World Cup.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 3 – The Netherlands and Spain have been fined by FIFA for their outrageous behaviour in last month’s World Cup final.
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August 2 – Don Garber has signed a four-year contract that could be worth up to $12 million (£7.5 million) as Major League Soccer Commissioner until 2014, it has been announced.
August 1 – A new group led by English businessman Paul Kemsley has acquired the name of the old Cosmos soccer team of the North American Soccer League (NASL) and made Pele its honorary President.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
August 1 – Trinidad and Tobago’s 2006 World Cup squad, including Shaka Hislop (pictured), have won their long battle to receive the multi-million dollar bonuses they claim they are due for playing in the tournament in Germany.
July 30 – Stewart Regan has quit his post as Yorkshire County Cricket Club chief executive to take up the same role at the Scottish Football Association (SFA).
Okay, we’ve all calmed down a little, we’ve had time to consider and reflect and, if we’re honest, most of us have moved on, putting England’s display in South Africa behind us.
But before we do confine it to the annals of historic footballing let downs, let’s look at the experience from a different perspective; what can we learn from the numerous reasons offered for the failure which could improve our own performance in whatever it is we do for a living?