Without knowing it many players fake preparing to compete or train. In other words they are choosing to lose. Remember around 50% of a win earned before the kick-off.

Between poor Rob Green to poor other 'keepers that drop clangers or worse still when clangers roll past you, between your legs, at snail pace into their net. I think we agree that there's no place to hide or worse place to be on this planet. So how to cope and prevent it happening again?   Obviously more practice on the vital art of fielding s ball which takes up over 80% of a 'keepers job but also the reaction of their teammates & coaches to this tragedy. Look what happened to poor Rob when that ball crawled in and the reaction of his so-called teammates who turned away in disgust/sorrow and suddenly Rob became a leper. My next question is who is the last person on your team do you want to be in the doldrums and probably about to react with more errors - the goalkeeper.

Are there clues from previous tournaments to guide us to the winner?
* Leadership-First of all beware of smooth sailing in the qualification rounds as the past two Cup, 2002 and 2006 were far from that for the eventual champion - Brasil in 2002 went through a couple of coaches, a scandal and qualified at the 11th. hour. Whereas Italy chose to be challenged by a scandal that threatened more than just the World Cup team but the whole of Italian calcio. Luckily both teams had great coaches in Scolari and Lippi who bought sanity & calmness to their squads. Other signs : Read More
 

This is a great game in which to coach "attacking" technique and tactics. I first saw this game played in Rio in 1991 and it seems to be a popular game throughout Brasil. Its called "The Kitchen" as the area outside the penalty area is where you prepare the attack like preparing a
tasty meal.
 

Every Saturday, at around 4.51pm, one lucky member of the Guardian sports team is locked inside an airless pod with only an infinite supply of canned muscle relaxant for company, and told that they are not allowed to leave until they have used our brilliant newish chalkboards to demonstrate three key points from the weekend's Premier League action. So here they are.

In the midst of the excitement, I felt that my decision to come to Prague to study for a soccer coach’s license and live in a real soccer culture seemed like a good one. The Czech National Team had just become the first team in the history of the European Championships to qualify with a perfect record. The team finished this feat just weeks before the 10th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, when the country gained its freedom from the Soviet Union. Even as they sang their National Anthem before the match, I could sense the pride that the Czechs felt in the success of their National Team — currently ranked second in the world, for whatever the rankings are worth. forward to sharing it not only with my own players but also with other coaches when I return to the United States next year.

They (the Brazilians) get passionate about soccer skill like we get excited about trophies and tournaments. Their way creates a Pele or a Zico or a Romario or a Ronaldinho or a Rivaldo to name just a few of their run of the mill world class players.

Our trouble is we fake the words development & education under the cloak of results. If we are winning therefore we are learning school of thought is promoted. Then the proof is in the pudding when they get to their mid-teens the "learning journey" is almost done. Go out and watch 16 year olds play and they are the fruits of a 6 to 10 years of soccer education. If equated with regular school the majority would be remedial or drop-outs. Just go to a game and note how many players can't pass or control a ball smoothly. Then equate it to basketball - How long are you going to be on a team if you can't pass it? How long are you going to be on a team if you can't catch the ball? We have a long, long way to go............

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Many teenagers ask the question, “What does it take to become a top class player?” To help you, here’s a checklist a famous European club uses to identify “real players.”