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HomeSportsHart AttackHARTLEY MILLER’S HART ATTACK – (World Cup Hoopla) JUNE 15th, 2018 EDITION...

HARTLEY MILLER’S HART ATTACK – (World Cup Hoopla) JUNE 15th, 2018 EDITION 684

I don’t write about soccer often, perhaps once every four years.

Yes, it usually takes a World Cup for my interest to perk up.

It’s not that I don’t appreciate the talent of the players, it’s just that I fall into a category of many Canadians.

I played the game a few years as a youth growing up (mostly as a goalkeeper), but once I stopped participating, I lost interest.

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Hockey, football, basketball, and baseball, with more offence and exciting finishes, are more appealing to watch, game in and game out.

The FIFA World Cup offers much more than soccer since its country against country.

Instead of rooting for players, fans cheer for their team, providing their country is represented.

When hockey holds its World Cup, the best-of-the-best competes.

It’s a smaller field, but Canada, Sweden, Russia, USA, Finland and the Czech Republic (the top six ranked hockey nations in that order) are always in the field.

The World Cup of Soccer has 32 teams and could expand to 48 teams by the 2022 tournament in Qatar, but these are not, on paper, all of the cream of the top.

Chile, the Netherlands, Italy, and Wales are all ranked in the top 20 in the world, yet aren’t among the 32 in this year’s World Cup.

Even the Americans are ranked 25th, but are nowhere to be seen in this year’s tournament in Russia.

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Gaetano Mauro is a soccer expert and arguably has as much knowledge, or more, about the sport than anyone in Prince George.

Gaetano Mauro/Facebook

He has devoted much of his life to the game and has been instrumental in helping develop many PG youth soccer players.

I believe Mauro should be in the PG Sports Hall of Fame and there’s still time for that to happen.

The 71-year-old Mauro has travelled to five World Cups (Mexico 1986, Italy 1990, USA 1994, France 1998 and South Korea-Japan 2002).

He has also watched in person EURO 2004 in Portugal.

Mauro is a proud Italian and admits he is not quite as enthused about the 2018 FIFA World Cup compared to previous ones.

“There are certain things I am not happy with. Holland, Chile, and Italy are not there. It’s getting diluted down. There are some weak teams in the World Cup. I prefer the European Championship, there are no weak links. I think it is more exciting. The level of soccer is higher.”

Being ranked first in the world, defending-champion Germany is the favorite, but Mauro feels they have a major concern in the key position.

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“If (Manuel Peter) Neuer is up to par in goal, they will be competitive and up there with the big guns, but Neuer hasn’t played most of the season. He’s been injured (foot, missed seven months). Its a big question mark, and he is by far one of the best in the world.”

One can never go wrong in picking Brazil (that’s my choice) to win with its offensive flair.

Brazil, ranked second, may be due since they haven’t won the World Cup since 2002.

Mauro is more impressed with his pick, the French, the number-seven ranked team.

“I watched France the other day in a friendly against Italy, and they looked strong. They have so much strength it is unreal.”

Upsets happen often in tournaments of this magnitude, it’s just a matter of how many and when.

Mauro has a couple of other teams to keep an eye on.

“I think Belgium (third ranked in the world). They have a lot of talent, but they haven’t been able to put it together. I also like another team in Europe. I don’t think they will finish in the top four, but I like the way they play, and that’s Denmark (12th ranked).”

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Canada will host World Cup games for the first time in 2026 as the North America United bid blew away Morocco by a two-to-one margin in the vote (134-65).

Edmonton, Toronto, and Montreal are the cities to split 10 games; Mexico will also get 10 games and the United States the other 60, including all the big ones from the quarter-finals on.

For the next month, whether one wants to watch in a party atmosphere at the PG Soccer Clubhouse, the Italian Club or a local bar, or just soak it all in from the big screen at home, the World Cup is front and centre.

Part of the fun is we all become an expert, even if we haven’t paid much attention for the previous 200-plus weeks.

WATCH:

 

FROM THE QUOTE RACK:

The Broadway show “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” won best play at the Tony Awards — while the worst play was still that one by J.R. Smith.

*Seth Meyers of Late Night

 

President Trump said (North Korean leader) Kim Jong Un is “absolutely” invited to the White House. Unless, of course, Kim Jong Un wins the Super Bowl or the NBA Championship.

*Conan O’Brien of TBS

 

Kim Jong Un has reportedly accepted the president’s invitation to visit the White House. Just think about that for a second. An evil dictator who kills his own family is invited to the White House; the Golden State Warriors are not.

*Jimmy Kimmel Live

 

Wonder if Justify will get a White House invite after winning Triple Crown. Would be one top athlete guaranteed not to criticize Trump. On the other hand, he is going to have a lot of out-of-wedlock offspring.

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*Comedy writer Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com

 

Philadelphia 76ers President Bryan Colangelo resigned over a Twitter scandal where he was found to be “careless and reckless” in sharing sensitive team information. Apparently he confused being president of the 76ers with President of the U.S.

*Comedy writer Jim Barach http://jokesbyjim.blogspot.ca/

 

NHL referee Garrett Rank qualified for the U.S. Open, carding back-to-back 71s for a 2-under par at Ansley Golf Club in Roswell, Ga. To no one’s surprise, some of his best work came on the five-hole.

*Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times http://www.seattletimes.com/author/dwight-perry/

 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

Newly crowned world snooker champ Mark Williams kept a promise by conducting his title-winning news conference naked. It was a called shot: two balls and no side pockets.

*Comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com

 

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Hartley Miller is the sports director and morning news anchor for 94.3 the GOAT.
He also is the 94.3 radio color commentator for P.G. Cougars home games.
His column appears Fridays on myprincegeorgenow.com.
Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to [email protected].
Follow him on Twitter: @Hartley_Miller

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