Lloyd's Double: FIFA Player of the Year Again

For the second straight year Carli Lloyd has been named FIFA Women's Player of the Year.  Cristiano Ronaldo was the men's winner.  The awards were handed out in Zurich tonight.  There is extensive coverage on the U.S. Soccer website.

Lloyd joins a rather elite group of just three other women who have won the award more than once: Mia Hamm of the U.S. (2001-2002); Birgit Prinz of Germany (2003, 2004 and 2005); and Marta of Brazil, 2006 - 2010.

Congratulations to Carli!

Close Of The High School Season

The magical 2016 season for Haddonfield High School girls officially ended today with the annual team banquet, a brunch at Tavistock Country Club.

Coach P with Lynn Green (left) and Chris Stanton.

Coach Lori Quintavalle was emotional yet eloquent in describing a team that went 25-2 while outscoring opponents, 86-19 and recording shutouts in more than half (14) of its victories.  The team ran the table in conference play and its only losses were in the semi-finals of the South Jersey Coaches Cup and the final game of the State Cup.  In my remarks I asked the girls to promise me two things: 1) they would continue to get good grades in class; and 2) they would win one more game next season.

This was my 23rd year with the Girls Soccer Booster Club, which I started in Kirsten's sophomore year.  In recent years we've had phenomenal support from the parents and I have been blessed to make a new friend each time a new person took over in charge.  This year was no exception as Chris Stanton and Lynn Green succeeded my good friend Michele Sehdev.  The energy and enthusiasm these ladies put into the program was nothing short of remarkable and it has been a joy working with them - even though they did most of the work.

Already looking forward to the pre-season picnic next August!

50% More World Cup

Don't look now, but FIFA appears likely to add to the number of teams in the World Cup finals by as much as 50 percent, going from the current 32-team format to 48.

As reported by the AP on ESPN FC, a FIFA study has said that while the current format produces the highest quality soccer, 16 groups of three would be more profitable. The 2026 World Cup is the earliest any change could be implemented.

The AP says that FIFA's ruling council will vote on the proposed changes next month, but quoted the organization as saying "it should not be a financial decision" and that "the goal of expanding the World Cup is to further advance the vision to promote the game of football, protect its integrity and bring the game to all."

I liked the comment posted on the website by a Mike Lee of UC Berkeley:  "Not a fan of expansion, but I don't hate it. But The 3 team group format is awful. I would love a 40 team cup with 8 5-team groups. and would be okay with a 48 team cup with 12 4 team groups, with half advancing. Then the top 8 group winners get a first round bye. 3 team groups are the worst: it becomes even more about the draw and arbitrary tie breakers will decide several groups."  Maybe FIFA will read it.

Happy New Year

Here's wishing a good 2017 to everyone out there.  No Olympics or World Cup this year, but as always we have the Champions League, the Bundesliga, EPL, MSL, and all the high school and college games around the country to follow.

May 2017 be the year that the Haddonfield girls win the state cup that so narrowly eluded them in 2016 and the year that Hamburger SV remains in the First Bundesliga.  May it be the year the Philadelphia Union goes deep in the MSL playoffs.  And the year the refs never miss a call.  :)

Here's to good games all over the world.

Happy New Year to soccer fans everywhere.