Dempsey ready to get it done

Clint Dempsey is ready to go:

"Algeria did well in the African Nations Cup and they're not going to be an easy team to beat, they've showed that. "We know we've got a tough group and we'll take each game one at a time, but advancing through the group has to be the goal and anything less than that will be a failure."

It was pretty crucial for the US that he recovered from his injury. Fortunately he has with several months to spare.

Messi is humble

In Argentina, they're talking about whether Leo Messi will be the greatest of all time. That is to say, better than Diego Maradona from their point of view.

The one-hit World Cup wonder

As someone who grew up watching Every Goal of Italia '90, I always thought Toto Schillachi was a giant of the game. I never thought about how I'd never heard of him from other World Cups. And Americans at the time didn't have any way to watch European soccer, so I had no idea that he never made a mark in Serie A either.

Football's very own one-hit wonder, an unheralded Schillaci caught the football world unawares when topping the goalscoring charts at Italia '90, but his return to mediocrity was equally rapid, his legacy in the game remaining that miracle month in which the "notti magiche di Toto Schillaci" (magical nights of Toto Schillaci) enraptured a host nation and enthralled fans around the globe.

From Serie B to the World Cup semi-finals in 12 months: Schillaci's story is unique, and his success fleeting. But during that golden period in 1990 - in which he scored six of his seven career international goals, marking each one with scenes of unbridled celebration - the Sicilian striker did more than enough to ensure that his name will be forever associated with football's greatest competition. His is the very definition of an underdog story, and absolutely no one saw it coming.

Remarkably, Schillaci's introduction to top-flight football came just a year before his heroics at the World Cup. Born in Sicily, the striker started his professional career in the lower leagues with Messina and over a seven-year spell gradually carved out a reputation as a player of some abilitly, eventually earning a move to Juventus when, under the guidance of future Lazio and Roma coach Zdenek Zeman, he scored 23 Serie B goals for Messina in the 1988-89 campaign.

Brazil v Portugal

A profile of Brazil v Portugal's matchup in the World Cup, subtitled: how to understand international politics through football.

Ten first round games, but only one matters to us

Jeff Carlisle lists his top 10 first round World Cup.

For me, the best have to be the sibling rivalries. US v England, Portugal v Brazil.

While it is true that England doesn't see the US as a sporting rival -- Australia much more so, because of cricket and rugby -- they know it is possible to lose. Some regard the US victory over England in the 1950 World Cup one of the biggest upsets of all time, if not the biggest ever. And then we beat a B team in 93 as well, if I recall correctly.

Landon Donovan just completed a 10 week loan to Everton over in Liverpool, and he was well regarded. In some ways, I think he liked it because the Everton fans appreciated him in ways that Americans fail to. While American national team fans -- whether of the most dedicated variety or watch the qualifiers only -- have constantly criticized his play. The Evertonians loved his work rate, the way he used his speed to stretch the defense, and the way he did small things to help the team win. Americans, somewhat because we're less knowledgable, often fail to admire those traits.

It will be a huge test. If the US can somehow draw, we will put ourselves in good position to advance.

The world lacks another football blog

I think I'm going to bring back this space again for the World Cup. There's not much reason, as most of my scribblings below from the last Copa Mundial are embarrassing to me, but...why not?