The country against country
"multi-table" TEAM tournament (called the "World Cup of Table Soccer") is held
every four years (2008 update: is now
annually). The last one was held in 2006 in Germany in connection with
the World Cup of Soccer, with the next one similarly scheduled for South Africa
in 2010 [2008 Update:
2009 event will be
in Nantes France instead].
However, at each of the annual
5 World Championship "Series" tournaments (discussed on the
Individual Competitions page) there
are also being held "ITSF National Team" events, where each country competes on that
tournament's table only (i.e., at the Vegas Tornado event it will only be played
only on Tornado tables, at the Bonzini World Championship Series tournament it
is only played on Bonzini tables, and so on for the other table tournaments) to
see who is the best country on that table type for that year. Each country's
team consists of 6 men, 2 women, and 2 alternates (1 man and 1 woman).
The USTSF decided, as a incentive
for juniors to play and help grow the sport in the USA, that our Junior champion
would automatically be on the USA National Team that competes at the annual Las Vegas Tornado
table National Teams event. Since there are more players on the team (10) than can play in
any given match (8) against another country (i.e., the 2 alternates), when or if
at all the Junior player plays against another country is completely up to the
USA team's coach.
Note there is no countries "team"
(National Teams) event at
the annual end of the year World Championships (usually held in Europe -
see the Individual Competitions page linked above), so our Junior player is not
on a "team" there, although they do automatically qualify to play in the junior
(individual players) division event in Europe. What can cause confusion
about that is that the USA is so strong in foosball that annually several of our
players (far more than other countries) qualify to play in Europe, so we
sometimes refer to them as "Team USA" since there are several of them and
they represent (albeit individually) the USA players. [2008 update: National Team event is
now annually
too]
Note: The method to determine the
participants for the USA National Team in these "team" events is determined by the USTSF
"National Teams Selection" Committee (see org chart).
The 2010 ITSF
Table Soccer World Cup will take place in Nantes, France, from January 6th to
10th, 2010.
This major event will also feature the 2009 World Championships. Details will be
available on the
ITSF Tour website , by the end of August. In the meantime, you can view a
video clip of the 2009 World Cup.
ITSF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (France - January 6-10, 2010)
Gregg Perrie
Bruce Nardoci (Captain)
Robert Janac
Bud Spredeman
-------------------------------
The USTSF National Teams Selection Committee is pleased to confirm selection of the following
teams to represent the United States of America in competition at these
2009 ITSF WCS tournaments (Note this does not include the team for the ITSF
World Championships in January 2010, which hasn't been determined yet):
ROBERTO SPORT WCS [Czech Republic - Oct 15-18, 2009]
After a vote by the USA National Team Selection Committee
it has been determined that the World Cup-winning United States Men's Team and
three members of the Women's World Cup Team will represent America in the
National Team Event at the upcoming Tornado World Championships. In order to
once again recognize and honor the great accomplishment of "the redeem team" it
was decided that the full 9-man roster will be introduced at the Opening
Ceremonies in Dallas, with 7 of the 9 players competing in the event due to the
differing format (6 starters, 1 alternate).
Dave Gummeson-Captain
Robert Mares
Tracy McMillin
Ryan Moore
Tony Spredeman
Tom Yore
Adrian Zamora
Stayce Fowler
Shelly Langley
A-Dusty Bambenek
Coach: Bruce Nardoci
Assistant Coach: Pat Ryan
(John Zoller and Blake Robertson of Team USA will also be introduced at the
ceremony)
Jim Stevens
Chairman
USA National Team Selection Committee
GARLANDO WCS [Austria - July 22-26,2009]
TBD
BONZINI WCS [France - held May 21-24, 2009]
Bruce Nardoci
Tony Spredeman
Alan Cribbs
Pat Ryan
Jim Parris
Ezekiel Moore
Rebecca Terry
Jim Stevens
Mike West
Robert Yates Jr.
Bruce Herring (Coach)
TECBALL WCS [Netherlands - held March 19-22]
No info
2008 ITSF Team (Country) Tables
Championships:
The Gold Medal winning USA men's Team.
3/4/09:
During the first
week of March 2009, the Eurosport 2 TV channel will
broadcast two 26-minute features
on the 2009 ITSF World Cup.
12/16/08
Update (from ITSF) about Tables and Balls to be used at the World
Championships. See also related
ITSF email comments about table changes.
11/16/08 Update: 2009 USA World Cup Team Announced:
After a voting process that took several weeks to complete, we can now introduce
the 2009 United States World Cup teams that will compete at the ITSF World Cup
of Table Soccer in Nantes, France this January 8-11.
Team USA is looking to redeem itself after finishing a disappointing 5th at the
2006 event in Hamburg, Germany and will look to some of the biggest names in the
sport to try and bring the World Cup title back to the USA. Tornado World
Champions Tony Spredeman, Dave Gummeson, Tracy McMillin and Cindy Head lead a
strong American contingency into battle, with this year's event featuring both
men's and women's teams.
Team captains will be voted on this week by the individual team members and will
be announced later this week.
2009 UNITED STATES WORLD CUP TEAMS:
HEAD COACH: Bruce Nardoci
ASSISTANT COACH: Pat Ryan
MEN'S WORLD CUP TEAM
Tony Spredeman
Tom Yore
Ryan Moore
Dave Gummeson (Captain)
Tracy McMillin
Bob Diaz
Rob Mares
Adrian Zamora
Subs:
Blake Robertson
John Zoller
WOMEN'S WORLD CUP TEAM
Cindy Head (Captain)
Stayce Fowler
Tiffany Moore
Dusty Bambenek
Shelly Langley
Lotus Chesborough
World Cup Groups - find out which country plays which in the qualification phase. The draw to determine the groups took place live on Nantes 7 TV station
(http://www.nantes7.fr/) on November 5th. Check which teams will compete against each other within each of the 8 groups in the Men's event and each of the 4
groups in the Women's event on the ITSF website: http://www.table-soccer.org/worldcup/team.php. The list of players for each team will be posted online on
November 17th.
10/7/08 Update: Announcement of Process Used to Select
the U. S. National Team Members for the January 2009 ITSF Event:
USA World Cup selection process as determined by the USTSF Selection Committee.
The selection committee consists of 9 members: Jim Stevens (Chairman), Shelly
Langley (Secretary), Terry Moore, Ezekiel Moore, Brad Anderson, Dave Gummeson,
Stayce Fowler, Pat Ryan, and Tom Yore.
Each member of the USTSF selection committee submits suggested World Cup players
for both the Men's Team and the Women's teams, using the process outlined below.
Each committee member shall consider US ranking, ITSF ranking, recent results,
international experience, level of play on non-Tornado tables, ability to play
forward, goalie, and singles, ability to represent the US on an international
stage, etc.
The list submitted by each committee member shall consist of the following: 12
men (8 main team members, 2 alternates, and 2 reserves) and 10 women (6 main
players, 2 alternates, and 2 reserves). Each player should be assigned a rank in
the list submitted, #1 next to the player that should be the top player on your
list (the player best suited for world cup team selection), #2 next to the
second highest (the next player best suited for team selection), etc. The final
list will have your first selection listed first, second selection listed
second, on down the list for each team (men's and women's).
Once all of the Selection Committee members have submitted their lists, the
lists of the nine Committee members will be combined to form the player pool.
Each player in the player pool will be assigned an average weighted rank based
upon how high a particular player was placed on each list.
The top six (6) ranked male players and the top four (4) ranked female players
from this process will be named to the respective man's and women's teams. If
there is a tie for these top slots, a separate vote will be taken to break the
tie, (players on the selection whose names are part of the tie shall not vote in
the tie-breaker to avoid a conflict of interest). The other 4 slots for each
team will be selected from the remaining pool of players based on needs to form
the best, most well-rounded team, by taking the following into account: team
needs (goalies, singles players), experience on non-tornado ITSF Tables, team
chemistry, etc. (again, selection committee members who are up for consideration
for this part of the selection process shall not be allowed to participate in
this particular part of the selection process). Once the top 10 men and the top
8 women have been selected to the teams, then each selected member will be
contacted to confirm availability to attend, willingness to participate, ability
to pay their own way to attend (or will already be in attendance for the
Individual World Championships). Players who cannot attend, for whatever reason,
will be replaced with a player from the player pool based on team need and
availability to attend.
The Selection committee will also select a coach for the teams. One coach will
be selected to serve as the coach for both the men's and women's teams. Once the
teams are in place, the team members shall elect their team captains (one men's
team captain and one women's team captain) from the team members.
Additionally, it should also be noted that a selection committee members
individual selections for the teams will be kept totally confidential. The
public part can be the total player pool (all players submitted by the selection
committee members after the lists have been merged).
9/14/08 Update (revised 9/26/08):
ITSF information and schedule package for joint World Championships/World Cup
event. You will find details on qualifying conditions, national champions
and teams, competition formats, schedules and more. This document will be
further updated with new information on travel, accommodation, prizes, etc., so
make sure to check it again later.
9/2/08 Update: Announcement of U.S. National Team at ITSF
Tornado World
Championship Series Tournament in Las Vegas September 2008
The USTSF National Teams Selection Committee (Chairman: Terry Moore) is pleased to confirm selection of the following
teams to represent the United States of America in competition at these
2008 ITSF WCS tournaments (Note this does not include the team for the ITSF
World Championships in January in France, which hasn't been determined yet):
TORNADO WCS [Las Vegas - September 2008]
Tommy Adkisson
Bob Diaz
Tracy McMillin
Ryan Moore
Billy Pappas
Tony Spredeman
Tom Yore
Dusty Bambenek
Stayce Fowler
Tiffany Moore
U.S. National Champion Junior Singles Qualifier*
*Blake Robertson not attending, alternate TBD
Coach: Terry Moore
ROBERTO SPORT [Switzerland - September 2008]
No Team
GARLANDO WCS [Austria - held July 2008]
No Team
TECBALL WCS [Germany - held July 2008]
Tom Yore
Todd Loffredo
Mark Winker
Dave Smith
Kathy Brainard
Jim Stevens
BONZINI WCS [France - held May 2008]
Bruce Nardoci (and coach)
Billy Pappas
Tom Yore
Pat Ryan
Jim Parris
Ezekiel Moore
Rebecca Terry
Jim Stevens
Mike West
6/27/07 Update: Announcement of U.S. National Teams at ITSF World
Championship Series Tournaments
The USTSF Board of Directors is pleased to confirm selection of the following
teams to represent the United States of America in competition at these upcoming
2007 ITSF WCS tournaments:
Garlando WCS [Austria]
1. Todd Loffredo
2. Billy Pappas
3. Terry Moore
4. Jim Stevens
5. Ezekiel "Iceman" Moore
6. Tiffany Moore
7. Brad Anderson
Tornado WCS [Las Vegas]
1. Todd Loffredo
2. Billy Pappas
3. Tony Spredeman
4. Rob Mares
5. Terry Rue
6. Tracy McMillin
7. Dusty Bambenek
8. Tiffany Moore
Alternates:
1. Lotus Leong-Chesborough
2. *U.S. National Champion Junior Singles Qualifier*
* By winning the U.S. National Junior Singles Champion title this summer at the
IFP Kentucky State Championships, a berth on the U.S. National Team for the
National Teams competition in Vegas is an honor/bonus awarded over and above the
qualification to play in Italy in October, with both opportunities provided
courtesy of USTSF. This was formally announced at the January 2007 IFP SuperBowl
tournament and has been posted on the USTSF website. Other countries' National
Teams have no requirement to field a Junior (or Senior as the case may be) in
the National Teams competitions at any of the five ITSF World Series class
tournaments, which includes Tornado Worlds. It is purely a USTSF initiative
designed to motivate greater involvement and increase development of the 18 &
Under player base -- the future of our sport. USTSF invites other ITSF member
federations to establish similar initiatives!!
Roberto-Sport WCS [Switzerland]
To be determined...
Note: These teams were selected based on:
a) availability to compete internationally and desire to participate (acceptance
of nomination),
b) prior multi-table experience,
c) likely pair-ups against international teams (remember, the USA had no "real"
goalies in Hamburg last year, causing some detrimental line-up and pairings
issues),
d) current tour performance, and
e) professionalism and sportsman-like attitude.
Note: While the U.S. Pro Tour has many top contenders that may also fit the
above criteria, due to ITSF limitations on the total number of players per team
the USTSF (unfortunately!) cannot include all. The same was true of last year's
ITSF World Cup. However, since there are still openings available for the U.S.
Team in Austria and Switzerland, additions/revisions to those teams
may be expected. Also, while players above have been selected by the USTSF
National Teams Selection Committee and confirmed by the USTSF Board of
Directors, all currently listed names may be subject to change due to unforeseen
circumstances.
Thanks go out to Terry Moore who has volunteered as coach for all the above team
events; while each of the teams' captains are to be named by the teams
themselves.
Bonzini WCS [France - held May 2007]
Bruce Nardoci
Tom Yore
Alan Cribbs (also served as team coach)
Mike Giles
Jim Parris
Ezekiel Moore
Gloria Hiatt-Cribbs
Jim Stevens
Special thanks go out again to Alan & Gloria Cribbs (and Bonzini USA) who
coordinated arrangements for the team to compete in a very successful trip to
Paris and back.
2006 ITSF Team (Country) "World Cup" Championships:
Twenty selected countries (list)
will send teams to compete in the inaugural ITSF Table Football World Cup of
Nations which will take place in Hamburg, Germany, May 25 to 28, 2006 (Press
Release).
January 28, 2006: U.S. National Team Announced!!!!
The U.S.T.S.F. today announced the members selected to the U.S. National Table
Soccer Team, who will represent the United States at the World Cup of Table
Soccer teams championship in Hamburg, Germany:
Men:
Women:
Louis Cartwright
Stayce Fowler
Dave Gummeson
Cindy Head
Robert Mares
(Alternate) Lotus Chesbrough
Terry Moore
(Standby) Dusty Bambenek
Billy Pappas
Adrian Zamora
(Alternate) Tom Yore
(Standby) Bruce Nardoci
The announcement was made at the IFP Superbowl of Foosball by U.S.T.S.F.
Executive Director Larry Davis. Over 1,170 individual player votes were
received.
3/2/06 News Update (revised 3/7/06): Inside Foos to cover World Cup 2006 in Germany
Inside Foos Productions has reached agreement
with Farid Lounas and the International Table Soccer Federation to work
closely with his outstanding organization, and will be flying to Europe to
cover the World Cup of Table Soccer this May 25-28 in Hamburg, Germany.
Christina and I, along with Table Sports Radio's Brad Anderson, will be
heading to Germany this Spring to bring you full coverage of this
groundbreaking competition, which should be one of the most exciting events
in the history of the sport.
A very
strong American team, made up of some of the sport's biggest names, will be
competing against other talented contingents from around the world in this
team vs. team event, including pre-tournament favorites Belgium and the
amazing Frederic Collignon. Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Hungary, and
the United Kingdom, will also be among the 20 nations fielding solid
contending teams of eight individuals (plus alternates), who will face off
in an exciting, multi-table format designed to decide which country is the
world's best.
For more information on this incredible international event go to
www.table-soccer.org.
We will of course be offering a comprehensive DVD set for sale (8 or 10 hours
long) and this event has also been added to our Full Season Package at
www.insidefoos.com. We will have other information available on the site in the
next few days.
Mr. Anderson and I will also be offering daily internet radio reports from the
2006 World Cup at www.tablesportsradio.com beginning May 25th, keeping foos fans
around the world updated on everything that transpires in Hamburg.
Along with our usual duties (Kickoff and Tornado Worlds) Inside Foos will also
be traveling to Italy to cover the ITSF Table Soccer World Championships this
October, as we begin what we hope is a long and productive relationship with the
ITSF. This event, which features the top qualifiers from each ITSF sanctioned
country playing off for world honors, should also provide Inside Foos viewers
with a very entertaining experience.
I can tell you that Christina, Brad, and I are really looking forward to
bringing these star-studded big events to the world's foosball-viewing (and
listening) public, as we begin what we hope is a long and productive
relationship with the ITSF!
Jim Stevens
Inside Foos Productions
5/2/06 News Update (Revised 6/16/06):
Inside Foos to Cover 2006 World Cup of Table Soccer in Germany
Inside Foos Productions will
join forces with the International Table Soccer
Federation to bring the 2006 I.T.S.F.
World Cup of Table Soccer to foosball
fans all around the world this May 25-28. This
prestigious international event will take place
in Hamburg, Germany and will feature all star
teams from 20 different countries competing in a
team vs. team format to determine which is the
world's top foosball-playing country. You can
own your copy of this historic event by
pre-ordering this exciting 5 Disc, 10-hour-long
DVD. This DVD set has also been added to the
economical 2006
Inside Foos Full Season Package. Inside Foos
2006 World Cup DVD
Ordering Information.
World Cup Clip
WorldCupShort2.wmv (17mb Windows Media
File). Note: The clip is 15 frames per
second compared to 30 fps for the DVDs.
Fooscaster Jim Stevens,
Producer Christina Fuchs, and
Table Sports Radio's Brad Anderson,
will be heading to Germany this spring to bring
you full coverage of World Cup '06, which should
be one of the most talked-about competitions in
the history of the sport. A very strong American
team, made up of some of the sport's biggest
names, will be competing against other talented
contingents from around the world, including
pre-tournament favorites Belgium and their star,
the great Frederic Collignon. Germany, Austria,
France, Italy, Hungary, Japan, China and the
United Kingdom, will also be among the twenty
nations fielding solid contending teams of six
men and two women (plus alternates), who will
face off in an exciting, multi-table format
designed to decide which international team is
the world's best.
Table Sports Radio
will also be offering daily internet radio
reports from Hamburg, keeping you up to date on
all the action while also bringing you features,
interviews and up to the minute reports on World
Cup matches. Go to
http://www.tablesportsradio.com
to access these daily reports beginning
Thursday, May 25. [TableSports Internet Radio
World Cup Broadcasts:
May 25, May 26 - None due to technical
problem,
May 27,
May 28]
For more information on this
incredible international event go to the I.T.S.F.
website at http://www.table-soccer.org.
2006 UNITED STATES NATIONAL
TEAM
(l-r): Alan Cribbs (Coach -
Pinnacle, NC), Tom Yore (Tampa, FL), Dave
Gummeson (Coon Rapids, MN), Lotus
Leong-Chesborough (Colbert, WA), Billy Pappas
(Lowell, MA), Bruce Nardoci (Men's Alternate
Player - Charlotte, NC), Stayce Fowler (Cedar
Rapids, IA), Terry Moore (Chicago, IL), Rob
Mares (Team Captain - Aurora, CO), Adrian Zamora
(Newark, CA), Dusty Bambenek (Women's Alternate
Player - Canal Fulton, OH), Larry Davis (USTSF
Executive Director - Denver, CO).
Not pictured (unable to attend): Louis
Cartwright (Las Vegas, NV), Cindy Head (Sterrett,
AL).
6/9/2006 (Revised 6/16/06) News Update: World Cup Results
"The Greatest Match Ever"
5/30/2006: Hello from Germany, where Christina, Brad Anderson
and I are touring the countryside in our rented VW station wagon. It is an
amazingly beautiful country, with castles, ancient churches, large rivers and
some of the best beer in the civilized world!
Chris and I will be heading down the Autobahn (at 120 mph) to Belgium on
Thursday for the EuroSoccer event in Borgloon, which is being hosted by Frederic
Collignon. Herr Anderson will head back to Minnesota on that same day and will
unfortunately miss this appx $20,000 event which will feature Europe's top
players along with several of the USA team members.
However, not an hour goes by without the three of us reflecting back on last
Saturday's World Cup quarterfinal between the USA and France and getting chills
all over again. It was quite simply the greatest table soccer experience of my
career and all 500 or so who were there to witness it would, I'm sure, say the
same thing.
Although the US team came out on the short end of the result, they have nothing
to be ashamed of. After falling behind 3 sets to 1 in the singles half of the
match, the Americans valiantly fought back to tie it up at four apiece, with the
three US doubles teams pulling out closely-contested wins. The tie-breaker was a
back and forth affair that went down to the final balls before France pulled it
out thanks to their anchor team Nicolas Carouge and Nicolas Belliot, who
outlasted Dave Gummeson and Terry Moore to win the match for the French.
Brad, Christina, "Iceman" Moore and I were on the air for the full 4 1/2 hours
that "the greatest match in table soccer history" lasted, as one amazing turn of
events followed another. The spectators in the huge crowd that packed the
stands, the balconies, the Inside Foos booth, and every other available space
inside the Hamburg Fischauktionshalle, were roaring their approval after every
point, and oohing and aahing at every bit of the incredible action they were
witnessing. The referees had to constantly raise their hands to quiet the crowd
who simply could not contain themselves. I guarantee you that there has never
been anything like it in the history of the sport.
I have seen a lot of foosball action but nothing approaches the electricity that
circulated throughout that World Cup arena, or the level of competiton that the
players exhibited. Not only was it the greatest match that I have ever
witnessed, it was one of the most amazing and memorable sporting events of "any
kind" that I have ever seen! And I'm damn glad to have been a part of it and to
have recorded and commentated it for table soccer fans to watch and enjoy for
many years to come.
I could go on and on, but my words simply cannot convey the excitement and
emotion that this remarkable event produced. The entire World Cup event was
incredible, but despite the USA loss I will always remember "the match" as the
sport of table soccer's finest moment ever.
The match was simply stunning -- the intensity, resolve, concentration,
professionalism, phenomenal skill and the unmatched unity demonstrated by the
American team; the undivided and emotionally involved attention of such a huge
audience; and an opponent that was absolutely and obsessively determined to win
-- it was incredible. (And I'm saying this after having been witness to
countless World Championships and other great finals as the Super Doubles upset
by Ben Rivera and Tom Klein and the '79 Worlds final between Wiz & Fur and Spear
& Kaiser.) This truly grueling marathon of a match was a genuine roller
coaster!! Even more, the amazing thing that struck me was that all of this was
for the World Cup
title only: the
pride of team and country, and of being the best that that represents.
Each and every player on our team had shifted gears in a way that would amaze
everyone back home -- instead of playing against each other and just for
themselves and/or their doubles partner in hopes of winning enough to pay for
tournament expenses for the weekend, they put aside egos and individualism and
pooled their combined talent, desire, and motivation into something bigger than
each of themselves. I've never seen anything like it, ever. And in that final
match, regardless of outcome, they were and are the U.S. National Foosball Team.
All of them deserve a tremendous thanks from each of us for how well they
represented the USA. I'm not understating this: I'm damn proud of them; and I
too will never forget: the greatest match in foosball history.
1. Austria
2. Germany
3. Belgium
4. France
5/8. USA
Canada
Hungary
Italy
9/16. Czech Republic
Poland
Japan
Netherlands
Great Britain
Denmark
Ireland
Costa Rica
17/20. Argentina
Slovakia
Luxembourg
South Africa
Pictures from the 2006 World Cup (Courtesy of ITSF):
Early match play during Germany vs Austria
Germany's Sonja Breuer and Susanne Klug dig in for a victory
Germany's Tim Ludwig (l) defeats Jozef Horciak of Slovakia
Ultimate Winners of the World Cup of Table Soccer -- Team
Austria
US Team Players (blue) Prepare to Face Off Against French
US Team Players Billy Pappas (l) and Tom Yore (r) compete at
World Cup of Table Soccer
2006 US National Foosball Team (click on picture for larger)
In response to one of the USTSF press releases, Associated Press
(AP) sent out a photographer on the first day of the tournament. The result: the
World Cup of Table Soccer makes the AP Photo of the Day list!! (Benefit:
distributed to nearly every form of news media outlet worldwide.) See:
http://www.dw-world.de/popups/popup_imageoftheday/0,,2031738_lang_2,00.html
Also of interest, the World Cup of Table Soccer was covered by
and shown on the Fox Soccer Channel (for those with cable/dish access --
DishNetwork Ch. 149, DirecTV Ch. 613). Keep an eye open for replays; hopefully
someone can get a good recording/copy. More good exposure for the sport!!
ITSFWorlds/2010_WCup_Nantes_podiums_mens%20team%20after%20win(BIG).jpg)
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%20defeats%20Jozef%20Horciak%20of%20Slovakia.jpg)
%20Prepare%20to%20Face%20Off%20Against%20French.jpg)
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