Tag Archives: soccer

On The Constrained Optimization Of World Cup Draws

Posted on April 1, 2022 by nathanalbright

In a few hours as I write this, a group of people will oversee the draw for the World Cup that takes place later this week in Qatar. 29 of the 32 teams have already qualified, and there remain several … Continue reading →

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On Not Taking Care Of Business

Posted on March 25, 2022 by nathanalbright

By way of introduction, I would like to begin by saying that my view of professional athletes in general is that they are usually grossly overpaid and like most professional entertainers have an overly inflated view of their importance and … Continue reading →

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Let Them Kiss

Posted on January 10, 2022 by nathanalbright

In the 1982 World Cup there was an incident of collusion between two teams for a mutually advantageous result that was so flagrant that it became known, among other things, as “Disgrace of Gijón”, and it changed how it was … Continue reading →

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Quality Will Out

Posted on June 23, 2021 by nathanalbright

There is a cliche that is said often in soccer matches–and I have seen enough soccer matches to know–that quality will out. Yet this does not always happen. Anyone who has painful memories, for example, of the disastrous qualifying campaign … Continue reading →

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You Never Really Arrive

Posted on June 11, 2021 by nathanalbright

As I have commented before when it comes to my dreams, one of my foremost patterns within dreams is the inability to find people or arrive at places. Perhaps because finding and looking for things is such a poignant and … Continue reading →

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Wherefore The Tank

Posted on January 4, 2021 by nathanalbright

In writing this, I feel it is worthwhile to comment at the outset that I am not referring to the tank in its role as a key aspect of armored military technology, but rather in terms of the tank job … Continue reading →

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On The Power Of Habit: The CONCACAF Octogonal Of 2022

Posted on August 25, 2020 by nathanalbright

I do not tend to feel, personally, that I have the credibility to attack people for being creatures of habit. Every week, I go into the grocery store and buy basically the same food to eat at work for snacks … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Soccer Under The Swatstika

Posted on February 18, 2020 by nathanalbright

Soccer Under The Swatstika:  Stories Of Survival And Resistance During The Holocaust, by Kevin E. Simpson I have to admit that this is the first book I have ever read that focuses on soccer and its role in Nazi Germany … Continue reading →

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World Cup 2018: How Much More Motivation Do You Need?

Posted on June 18, 2018 by nathanalbright

As someone who pays attention to soccer [1], it was both amusing and irritating for me to read recently that some unnamed players for the USA national soccer team claimed that the team did not do as well as it … Continue reading →

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The 2017 Gold Cup: Halftime Report

Posted on July 18, 2017 by nathanalbright

As previously noted [1], right now the 2017 Gold Cup is playing, and as might be expected, this entry is for those who are at least casual soccer fans [2].  We are at the halfway point in the competition now, … Continue reading →

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