World Football Commentaries by Steve Amoia: Commentaries by Jim Riggio for WFC

Football. Fútbol. Futebol. Calcio. Fußball. ποδόσφαιρο. Kopaná. Fotbal.
Futball. Voetbal. Fotboll. Fotball. Nogometni. футбол. oкер. Jalkapallo.
Futbola. Association Football. Soccer. Nogomet. Piłka Nożna. Fótbolti.
Fodbold. Il-Loghba tal-ballun. Futbol. Futbolo. Sepakbola. Kandanda.
Kinipōpō peku. Cumann Peile. Isikkamik arsaanneq כדורגל đá banh ฟุตบอล
फुटबाल 蹴球足球フットボール لعبة كرة القدم بازى فوتبال

In any language, the whole world is united by a ball.

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Guest commentaries are copyrighted by their respective authors. Images are courtesy of and copyrighted by the named photographer or source. Original Italian and Spanish text courtesy of and copyrighted by the named source.

All Italian and Spanish translations are by Steve Amoia, and provided as a service to my readers.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Commentaries by Jim Riggio for WFC

About the Author

Mr. Riggio has written about Italian and international soccer for ESPN/Soccernet, and was an interviewee for my column at AC Cugini Scuola Calcio. After the 2006 World Cup, he contributed an interview with Gianluca Zambrotta in Los Angeles for my World Football site.

July 2007 - Diane Scalia, Brazilian model Ana, and former Serie A player Cristiano Scapolo with AC Milan's 2007 UEFA Champions League Cup, Milan USA Academy, Newhall, CA.

Photo courtesy of Jim Riggio.

Mr. Riggio is the expert correspondent on the UEFA Champions League for Diane Scalia, also known as Chef Di, of GrandSlamGourmet.com, at her podcast site, "Sports Bites."

Please click the links to visit her show.

1 comments:

jack said...: Jim,

I read your article on the soccer player from Burbank Peralta. Great stuff. I went to school with your younger brother at Hoover. I also love SERIA A and follow it with a passion. I used to talk soccer with your brother all the time.

I just wanted to say hello and hope all is well. I remember reading your sports articles in the NEWS PRESS AND LEADER the years following graduation.

are you still in glendale, ca? I married an Italian girl 4 years ago and have a little boy named Giovanni....Tell Mark i said hello as well I am leaving my email below should you want to reply.

Jack Vartanyan Hoover 1995
jvartanyan@gmail.com; May 14, 2009 7:00:00 PM EDT

101 Great Goals

Your personal highlight network of world football.

My interview with Ronaldo, co-founder, of 101 Great Goals.

"We feel it is important to have a niche, there are literally thousands of football blogs and to get above the parapet and be heard can be difficult however good your content. Something we are very proud of is our daily 'comment and analysis round-up' - whilst many websites round up the latest transfer gossip. We are the only site, as far as I am aware, that has a daily briefing of what the pundits in the English press are saying every day."

Alive and Kicking UK: An African humanitarian project.

"We make the balls that make a difference! Each ball carries a message about AIDS, malaria or TB."

Image courtesy of Alive and Kicking UK.

"As a child, I played soccer on a dirt road in Jakarta, and the game brought the children of my neighborhood together. As a father, I saw that same spirit of unity alive on the fields and sidelines of my own daughters' soccer games in Chicago.

Soccer is truly the world's sport and the World Cup promotes camaraderie and friendly competition across the globe. That is why this bid is about much more than a game. It is about the United States of America inviting the world to gather all across our great country in celebration of our common hopes and dreams."

--- President Barack Obama in a letter to FIFA President Sepp Blatter to voice support for the 2018 and 2022 US World Cup bid.

10 June 2009: Italia 4 x New Zealand 3 (Friendly in Pretoria)

15 June 2009: Italia 3 x USA 1 (Confederations Cup in Pretoria) at 2030 local time.

18 June 2009: Italia 0 x Egypt 1 (Confederations Cup in Johannesburg) at 2030 local time.

*21 June 2009: Italia 0 x Brasil 3 (Confederations Cup in Pretoria) at 2030 local time.

13 August 2009: Switzerland x Italia (Friendly in Geneva)

05 September 2009: Georgia x Italia (WCQ)

09 September 2009: Italia x Bulgaria (WCQ in Torino)

10 October 2009: Republic of Ireland x Italia (WCQ in Dublin)

14 October 2009: Italia x Cyprus (WCQ)

*Fabio Cannavaro tied the all-time Italian appearances record of 126 held by Paolo Maldini.

Serie A TIM Table and Statistics Links: The Serie A Kicks Off on 23 August 2009.

For 2009-2010, Inter Milan, Juventus, AC Milan, and Fiorentina (La Viola must qualify in August) will play in the Champions League.

Genoa, Lazio, and Roma will play in the new Europa League.

Detailed Serie A Statistics from Soccer Society.

Detailed Serie A Statistics from La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Detailed Serie A Coverage by Corriere dello Sport.

Goal Scoring Stats from Soccer Society for 2008-09
La Liga: 1101 goals with an average of 2.9 per game.

Serie A: 988 goals with an average of 2.6 per game.

EPL: 942 goals with an average of 2.5 per game.

*Bundesliga: 894 goals with an average of 2.9 per game.

*Ligue 1: 858 goals with an average of 2.25 per game.

*34 games versus 38 for the other three leagues.

Andres Cantor: The Gold Standard

Image courtesy of Andres Cantor.

"When Argentina or Boca Juniors, my team, plays, I have a different feeling inside. I would be a hypocrite if I say otherwise or if I give you the political correct answer that would be 'all the teams are the same for me'. But I’m totally conscious of that fact and I try to keep my feeling inside.

Seldom do I let my bias affect my work. I get as enthusiastic with those games as with any other and perhaps the fact that people know my allegiance to country and club lends to thinking otherwise. But, in that case, I’m as energetic as ever in most games."

Please click the image to read my interview with the legendary commentator for Futbol de Primera and Telemundo.

Uruguayan legend, Enzo Francescoli, CEO of GolTV

Image courtesy of GolTV.

"First let me say having played, worn and defended my country’s colors for many years is what truly fills me with pride. World Cup play was definitely an indescribable and tremendous experience… Even though we did not win. But I did take away the experience of three incredible wins playing America’s Cup (Copa America).

The most important and unforgettable moment happened during the ‘95 win which occurred in my country and at the end of my career as a player. Lifting that winning Cup with my father and family as witnesses was… Well there are no words for that!"

Please click the image to read my interview with Mr. Francescoli.

Investigative Journalist Andrew Jennings of Transparency in Sport.org. Author of "Foul!"

Alexi Lalas: ESPN Soccer Analyst and Former American National Team Star

Image courtesy of Alexi Lalas and the Los Angeles Galaxy.

"I am a better player and person because of my experience in Italy. To live in the fishbowl that is Italian soccer is not easy and I learned perspective and how to handle myself, on and off the field. The passion for the game is something that is difficult to explain to the American sports fans. I always said that it’s no coincidence that only two things happen on Sunday in Italy, soccer and church. It is a form of religion and it is taken just as seriously."

Please click the image and then scroll down to read my interview with Mr. Lalas for AC Cugini Scuola Calcio. He was the first American to play in the Serie A.

“In the 1970 World Cup, England, the defending World Cup champion, played Brazil, arguably the greatest team ever assembled. When the ninety minutes of fierce competition under the broiling Guadalajara sun ended, a defining moment in soccer history occurred.

Pelé and Bobby Moore embraced and then respectfully exchanged their match jerseys. The symbolism of their exchange was then, and remains today, compelling. Forward and defender. South American and European. Black and White. Small village and big city suburb. Samba soccer and traditional soccer. Emerging champion and defending champion. This moment and its symbolism shape the business philosophy of SoccerSolutions."

Please click the image to read my interview with Mr. Hoban.

Guest Commentaries by Henrik Hegedus

Adrian Clarke in action for the Gunners. Adrian co-owns Sport Media Solutions, and is also a commentator for Arsenal TV. Henrik writes about German and Hungarian Football.

"It’s never really been my intention to ‘catch footballers out’ as a journalist but I do probably know the mindset of players a little more than writers who haven’t played the game and in that regard it may be an advantage.

I adopt a relaxed approach to my interviewing of footballers, speaking with them on a level, and often that is the best way to get them to open up and tell you more interesting things! They might trust me a little more than certain other journalists but that doesn’t mean they are not wary."

Please click the image to read Henrik's interview with Adrian Clarke.

Nothing But Nets: Diego Gutierrez, formerly of the Chicago Fire

"I was introduced to this issue by a friend who wondered why soccer (football) as a sport, was not involved with this serious issue. I didn’t have an answer, so after getting educated on the issue, I took it upon myself to get our team, our league, our sport involved against the biggest killer of children in the world.

As a sport, soccer (football) transcends languages, countries, cultures. It is a massive tool to get the word out. Our experience in Mali was fantastic. My wife, Dwayne and I were just humbled and honored to take part in such a massive and comprehensive health campaign. We took part in helping 3 million kids get vaccinations and receive bed nets against malaria."

My interview with Diego Gutierrez.

Coach Luma Mufleh and The Fugees Family: "Outcasts United."

Interview with Sarah Glass from Tristan da Cunha: The most remotely inhabited island in the world.

Image courtesy of Juanita Brock.

"We receive mail approximately 8-10 times a year if we are lucky. The disadvantages are that your Christmas mail doesn't always arrive near Christmas. For Tristanians it's a real treat to receive mail from families and friends away from home. We don't have many television options. The only Satellite TV channel/connection we have is the British Forces Broadcasting Services (BFBS) and we only get one channel, although it's the best sport and a few soaps. We saw the disaster in the US with the miners, the twin towers been hit, etc.

Internet access is not available to Tristanians. The Administrators Office is the only place where you could get on to the internet at a very high price around 8US dollars a min, although the Post Office and Natural Resources Department also can send and receive e-mails. It’s great to be able to send e-mails to family overseas and not have to wait for two to three months for snail mail. Everyone is hoping that one day very soon this will be available to people in their homes."

Please click the image to read my interview about a unique way of life and football in the South Atlantic.

World Football Commentaries by Steve Amoia

Zlatan training in Los Angeles. Will we see him at Barca next?

Current News In World Football

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Commentaries by Jim Riggio for WFC

1 comments:

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