Tyler Duffy of The Odds and Sods writes about FIFA’s latest soccer venture. We couldn’t find video of Daniel playing soccer on the beach, but here is the aftermath – getting his ass kicked by Johnny.

A long time ago (1995), luminaries melded the twin Brazilian pastimes, beaches and soccer, into the fantastic spectacle that was the Beach World Championships. It was fun, sun, and lots of scoring on (and presumably off) the sandy field of play, with Brazilian legends such as Zico dazzling the assembled crowds with flicks and tricks.

Now, FIFA have taken control. So, the tournament is “The FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup,” accompanied by the requisite red tape. There are official qualifiers and corporate sponsors up the wazoo. The goals per game have declined (to 7.8). The tournament has also relinquished its Brazilian base, moving to Plage du Pardo in Marseilles this year and the capitalist den of iniquity known as Dubai next summer. Reports of official FIFA sanctioned fun zones are unconfirmed.

The U.S., alas, did not make the Beach Soccer World Cup. The Red, White and Blue did beat Costa Rica 7-2 in qualifying but lost a grueling 6-5 match to El Salvador and a 2-1 derby against Mexico, eliminating them from the competition. It’s a disappointment, really, as it seems like an event the real Alexi Lalas would have been all over, before he went corporate.

Brazil have to be considered the favorite, having won 11 of 13 including the last two, although this will be their first road foray. The French, coached by Eric Cantona, won in 2005 and have home-sand advantage this go around. The Portuguese and the Uruguayans have also been known to be a bit frisky.

I’m skeptical of any dish served by FIFA president Sepp Blatter, but he does deserve some credit. He hasn’t devolved it into women running around in hot pants and stockings, yet.