Scottish historians have discovered that football as we know it today was invented in Scotland.

While the World Cup is played out in Germany, the book which contains this surprising information is on temporary display in a German museum. Part of the National Library of Scotland’s collections, Vocabula is a Latin text which proves that organised football was being played in Scotland 230 years before it was introduced in England.

The book was written by Aberdeen schoolteacher David Wedderburn, and first published in 1636. It describes aspects of the game – including goalkeepers and passing the ball – that were thought to have originated in England in the 1860s or later. The discovery was made recently when historians found an English translation of the text. (Read full article…)

Of all the Nations participating in the FIFA 2006 World Cup in Germany only 6 nations of the 32 Nations have tasted the World Cup Championship. The only other remaining nation that has won it and not participating is the South American Country of Uruguay.
Here is the breakdown of the winners since this tournament began:

Brazil have won it 5 times. Italy and Germany have both won it thrice. Uruguay and Argentina have won it twice each. England and France have both won it once.

Below is a list of the winners and finalists of all the World Cups to date. (Read full article…)

For the curious ones trying to figure out who advances in the event of a 3-4 way tie in the group stage, here is a reference to FIFA’s tie-breaking procedure.

Tie Breaking for Group Phase in Germany 2006 (Article 31-5):

The ranking of each team in each group will be determined as follows:

a) greatest number of points obtained in all group matches;
b) goal difference in all group matches;
c) greatest number of goals scored in all group matches. (Read full article…)

June 16, 2006

GOLTV announces carriage with SaskTel and partnership with Saskatchewan Soccer Association

TORONTO – GOLTV Canada announced today a carriage agreement for the network with SaskTel. GOLTV is available on channel 160 to SaskTel Max™ Entertainment Services customers in Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, North Battleford, Swift Current, Moose Jaw, Yorkton Estevan and Weyburn. The launch of GOLTV coincides with a grassroots partnership with the Saskatchewan Soccer Association (SSA).

(Read full article…)

Italy coach Marcello Lippi is a smart man.

Despite — or even in spite of — all that is raging right now in Italian football, Lippi has managed to forge a team spirit so robust that even excessive moral roasting by the media — Italian and international — failed to dent it.

The proof is in the pudding, as they say. Yesterday, Italy’s 2-0 win against Ghana was testament to how closely knit this team is. A euphoric Vincenzo Iaquinta, bearing an expression reminiscent of Marco Tardelli from the 1982 World Cup final, fell to the ground after scoring the second goal. But it was the pile-up that ensued after that spoke a thousand words.

It illustrated how much tension the Italian camp has been in and how much of it was relieved with a convincing — not brilliant — 2-0 win. It also proved that this team has a unique bond that can see it do well in the World Cup.

(Read full article…)

Going into the game against Ivory Coast, there were some question marks surrounding
Jose Pekerman’s Argentina.

For one, critics pointed to the fact that Argentina had a tendency to switch off in the latter stages of a game (a phenomenon manifest in clumsy friendly losses to England and Croatia). This blackout normally followed playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme’s descent into oblivion.

There was also concern relating to how physically slight the Argentineans were and how they would struggle against their bigger, tougher Ivorian opponents.

But on the balance of a 2-1 Argentina win, achieved with a Riquelme who came to play and a physical swagger that compensated for a lack of muscle, Pekerman stands largely vindicated.

(Read full article…)

With Germany 2006 starting tomorrow, GOLTV is home to everything soccer with wall-to-wall daily coverage. Each day during the tournament, GOLTV brings viewers GOLTV News with up-to-the minute news and analysis every night at 7:00pm ET for the most comprehensive wrap-up show in the country.

Starting at 8:00pm ET, the exclusive half hour news program, GOLTV In Germany 2006, brings viewers top stories, up-to-date scores and updates from location in Germany.

But wait! GOLTV.ca is also the home page for everything related to Germany 2006. Get LIVE scoring on every game with updates from Germany as they happen, watch video previews, listen to soccer podcasts and download star player wallpapers. Plus — don’t forget to enter for your chance to win the Ultimate Soccer Getaway. Don’t miss anything from Germany – on GOLTV.ca today. (Read full article…)

If you have the time, passion and endurance not to mention the TV coverage you can watch all 64 World Cup games live.

Stop complaining about Canadian Soccer Coverage. In between June 9 and July 9 Canadian soccer fans will be able to see or hear all of the 64 World Cup Games live for the first time in a variety of flavours including 7 Languages.

If you can’t catch the live games there will be plenty of action available in repeat and available in 7 languages. Canadian broadcasters also serve up the first ever high definition broadcast for a major sports competition.

With Toronto and Canada’s multicultural diversity, it’s a obvious choice to invest in the World Cup. Games will be broadcast by Rogers Sportsnet and TSN, with the final airing on CTV. Omni TV will also carry all 64 games — 40 of them live — in the following languages: Mandarin, Cantonese, Portuguese, Spanish and Italian. For the french Canadian Soccer Fan check out RDS who will broadcast all games in French. (Read full article…)

Two-hour finale with special guest appearances, predictions for Germany 2006 and real time voting

Toronto - With Germany 2006 less than 48 hours away GOLTV delivers fans a preview with The Contenders series finale tomorrow night, June 8th from 9:00pm – 11:00pm ET. Host Lee Godfrey, is joined by an all-star lineup of soccer analysts, experts and players to get fans ready.

Along with forecasts on who will win Germany 2006 and why, former Canadian International, Paul James, along with Jim Brennan- current member of the Canadian National Team, and Globe and Mail columnist, Peter Mallet will be on hand to discuss top stories coming from Germany, Golden Boot and Golden Ball predictions, as well as a debate on video replay at FIFA events – should it be used and where? (Read full article…)

GOLTV Canada’s match lineup kicks off with an International Friendly June 2 at 9:00pm ET with Holland vs. Mexico. Third ranked Holland may not have qualified in 2002, but are still one of the favorites in Germany that will fight a fierce match against fourth ranked Mexico.

Hot South American league action heats up the pitch LIVE Saturday June 3 at 3:00pm ET when Fluminense play Internacional. Then at 8:30pm ET Nacional and Millonairos match up in Colombia league play

Don’t miss out on the All Star Match on Sunday June 4 at 9:30pm ET when Gottingen play Mexico. (Read full article…)