World Cup 102: Breaking Down The Groups, Players

By Deb Borges

We're just a week away.

On June 11 the 2010 World Cup in South Africa kicks off, with 32 teams vying for the most important trophy in global competition.

Will Italy repeat its brilliance from 2006? Can Brazil add a record sixth world title? Is this the year Germany re-establishes its dominance? Or will a legendary futbol-playing nation like Argentina finally get back to the glory days of yesteryear? Perhaps it's finally Spain's turn, or England's opportunity, or Portugal's moment to shine? What about the upstart United States, a team filled with talent but short on traditional success?

Or will it be someone else, a team as of yet unheralded on the world stage?

All of this will be answered over the next month or so.

Wake Up America, Soccer Is 'The Beautiful Game' For A Reason

By Deb Borges

If someone were to ask what my favorite sport is, most people close to me would answer “that’s easy – she’s a huge football fan," and for the most part they would be correct. I have been a devoted New York Jets fans since the age of 8 and love everything about football.

But it is really the sport of futbol that I hold near and dear to my heart.

Futbol, futebol, footie, soccer – call it whatever you’d like – is a sport that I was born to love. My parents were both born in Portugal, and like many other European countries, soccer there is a way of life. I grew up playing the sport, watching the sport and still do today.

For those of you who aren’t fans, it can be hard to explain the role that soccer plays in many families like mine. It’s a sport like no other, a sport that unifies countries and evokes a sense of patriotism like nothing I’ve experienced in my lifetime.