Websites You Must Visit During the World Cup

Right. It's almost World Cup time. Lot of football fans, who aren't obsessive followers of the game, typically pay attention solely to this tournament. Naturally they might be curious as to which websites are worth their attention. Between 2006 and now, the football blogosphere has exploded million-fold. Lot of mainstream media outlets pay a lot more attention to a wide variety of football blogs that either concentrate on specific leagues, or clubs or the global game at large.

While it's true, as with all spheres of the online space, that the vast majority of sites are primarily built up as search engine magnets stuffed with keywords and fancy widgets / advertising meant to capture eyeballs, there are a large number of sites whose quality rivals the best mainstream news sites.

So I thought I'd curate the sites I will visit during the world cup and list them out for the benefit of the half dozen people that visit this site. I'll list them out in categories, i.e., mainstream media, blogs and podcasts.

[This list is besides the obvious World Cup Blog]

Mainstream Media:

1. The Guardian's Football Page: My favourite. Quite possibly the best crew, and a robust blog community within. Some of the writers like Jonathan Wilson (and freelancer Rob Smyth) are walking encyclopedias on football history, tactics etc. But they also have a cast of irreverent and hilarious journos like Barry Glendenning and Sean Ingle.

2 The BBC: It's a bit more staid. But is decent and reliable. In my opinion it comes second to the Guardian.

The problem with UK-based media is that it's very much possible to get hung up on England's fortunes due to its focus. But with the Guardian's diversity, I hope they have that part handled.

3. ESPN Soccernet: It's American-based but don't be fooled. American soccer writing has actually stepped up several notches over the past few years, and is up there among the best. Soccernet is good for reportage and since ESPN is doing a commendable job in marketing the hell outta the tournament, it shows in the efforts they've put to make the site better.

Honourable mentions: The Telegraph, Four Four Two, Grant Wahl's SI column

Blogs: (This is my favourite section because I would recommend reading the following for opinions because more often than not, they are largely BS-free, despite the obvious fan biases)

1. Run of Play: Genius writing. I may have mentioned this blog several times in the past, but if you are looking for insightful, creative (sometimes abstract) writing on football this is a site you just shouldn't miss. It's not your typical match report/opinion site. As an example of what I mean when I say "creative", sample this article.

2. Soccerlens: a mixture of reportage and opinions from fans. This site has evolved from churning out a large number of posts to quality. It has a mixture of opinions, news, as well as gossip from the sidelines. A very well established and respected blog.

3. Pitch Invasion: Updated daily. Posts range from sweeping the web for the best links and news, and guest columns from top writers as well as superb pictures from user uploaded content on their Flickr pool.

4. Dirty Tackle: If you are looking for irreverance, humour this is the site you would want to go to.

5. Sport Is A TV Show: Very much on the lines of the Run of Play.

Honourable mentions: Supriya Nair's Treasons, Strategems and Spoils, Match Fit USA (US-centric but relevant for England fans in the lead up to June 11), Two-Footed Tackle's World Cup blog, Futfanatico, and Just Football.

Podcasts: (Yes, you should listen to one of these)

1. The Guardian's Football Weekly (World Cup Daily): Hosted by the excellent James Richardson (people fond of puns would love him), and with a bunch of Guardian regulars. It's funny, insightful, and far from PC. Must listen. Daily during the course of the World Cup.

2. The Football Ramble: The best out of the independent podcasters by far. Recently signed a deal with Four Four Two. Yeah, that's how good they are.

I will try to add to this list if I've forgotten any during the tournament.

Posted on Monday, Jun 7, 2010