ONLY ONE WILL GO - IBRA or CR7 - 2014 WORLD CUP

The good and the bad of a great party is that some people get to go - others do not.

 

The 2014 FIFA World Cup will be a big party. After all, it will be hosted by soccer's party nation - BRAZIL.

 

As World Cup Qualifying comes to a close, the end is marked by the final play-offs that pit the many also-rans.

 

Uruguay, blessed with talented strikers like Liverpool's Luis Suarez and PSG's Edison Cavani, will have to play Middle East upstart, Jordan.

 

While 8 European teams will battle it out for the 4 final places, the draw pitted two of today's fan favorites:

SWEDEN'S IBRAHIMOVIC

PORTUGAL'S RONALDO

 

The home and away series to be played this month was drawn as follows:

 

GREECE v ICELAND

UKRAINE v FRANCE

CROATIA v ROMANIA

SWEDEN v PORTUGAL

 

While it is a possibility that France, the 1998 World Cup Winners, may miss the tournament, it is a fact that either Portugal or Sweden - with their super stars, will sit this one out.

 

Zlatan has 46 international goals (93 caps) for Sweden while Cristiano has 43 goals (107 caps). Ronaldo has appeared in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups. Ibrahimovic has made it to the 2002 and 2006 tournament finals with Sweden.

 

Cristiano scored both of Real Madrid's goals in its Champions League match this week. Ibrahimovic score 4 of PSG's goals in its 5-1 crushing of Anderlecht.

 

see it here - http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=ibrahimovic+anderlecht&FORM=HDRSC3#view=detail&mid=6CF11227762DD97DE4476CF11227762DD97DE447

 

Only one will be in Brazil ...

 

 WHO WOULD YOU RATHER SEE AT BRAZIL 2014 FIFA WORLD CUP ?

The Force of STAR WARS; Big Money Moves

I don't know what it is about STAR WARS, but I cannot pass up on the stuff made for the iconic films. I need a board game like I need another hole in the head. But when "The FORCE" compels you to buy  something, you do it.

I found this boxed STAR WARS Monopoly game with classic artwork on the front.  Being the card collector that I am, I was pleased not only with the Property cards inside - Dagobah Swamp land, A Moisture Farm and X-Wing fighters ... to these ...

the replacement for the traditional Community Chest and Chance cards - now replaced with Rebel and Empire cards. 

The flip sides ...

The artwork, again, is pretty cool. Princess Leia (above) ...

the wise Jedi Master, Yoda ...

Darth Vader's Tie Fighter ...

and the Dark Lord himself - Darth Vader.

The entire deck is full of characters and creatures from the original 3 films. Even the money is in "credits" not dollars. 

But what really sold me was not the cards or the artwork. 

It was the inclusion of these great pewter figures ...

I have seen these miniatures go for about $3 to $5 each. They are well sculpted and supposedly only available with this boxed game. The figures are

* Grand Moff Tarkin *

* Luke Skywalker *

* Darth Vader *

* Lando Calrissian *

* Obi-Wan Kinobi *

* Fighter Pilot *

* Sand People *

* R2-D2 * 

I've already played a game with the wife. I made her say "credits" instead of dollars throughout the entire game.  She made me pay by beating the Mandalorian armor off me !

Considering I only paid 65 credits ... er, I mean 65 cents, it was a classic bargain.

BIG SUMMER MOVES

Lots and lots of transfer of players this summer. One of the biggest is the move of Sweden's Zlatan Ibrahimovic from AC Milan to PSG (Paris Saint-Germain). PSG has been on tour in the USA including a match at Yankee Stadium. 

2012 Futera Unique - Ibrahimovic (limited edition to 395)

"Ibra" will join the club for the game against DC United.

The big Swede scored a spectacular goal at Euro 2012. He's come a long way from the fresh face kid that debuted back in the 2004 Euros ...

2004 Panini Euro sticker 

MLS has been busy with New York signing Australian World Cup player Tim Cahill from Everton. Vancouver traded Sebastian Le Toux also to New York, while signing Rangers and Scotland star, Kenny Miller.  As previously mentioned, Stoke City sign American Geoff Cameron  from Houston.

PANINI EURO 2012 IS A FUN SET

For everyone in North America who has discovered daytime soccer, the next few weeks will be lounging on couches, late breakfasts, and lunches while tracking European soccer stars.

Euro 2012 has kicked off (hosted by Poland and Ukraine) on ESPN with games near midday and 2:45 PM. (check your local listings)

Just like the World Cup 2 years ago, fans can follow the teams and players through the latest PANINI  EURO 2012 issue.

Loaded with the best players in the world, excluding Brazil and Argentina, the top players in Europe are featured with their national teams.

As summers past, Major League Soccer will miss personnel due to the tournament. New York's Roberto Donadoni was absent for Euro 1996 representing Italy. For Euro 2012 Los Angeles Galaxy's Robbie Keane will be Captaining the Republic of Ireland.

The majority of superstar who feature in the English Premier League, including top scorer Robin van Persie, will be watched closely.

Panini is the biggest and most consistent producer of soccer cards and stickers in the world.

The tradition continues with superb portrait shots of the players in their national team jerseys or in some cases, warm ups. The stickers list the players height, weight, birthdate and club team.

A very compact piece of data for the soccer collector.

Without the large size of Panini's World Cup sets, this collection is half the size of FIFA's biggest tournament and loaded with talented names.

The stickers are made to be pasted into an album which has been available for these sets since 1980. This is a low end product which is great bargain for beginners or young collectors. However, the sticker mania that began in 2010 is popular with adults and has become an office game in some American circles.