World Cup 2010 News: June 2010

Tuesday 15 June 2010

This is what the World Cup is about...PASSION!!!!!!

North Korea's JONG Tae Se during his country's national anthem in the match against Brazil tonight.

Saturday 12 June 2010

Forlan vows to find the net against Bafana Bafana.

Uruguay striker Diego Forlan was disappointed not to have scored against France in a 0-0 draw at Cape Town Stadium on Friday night.The Atlético Madrid ace saw his chances limited, but looked sharp in front of goal.With South Africa and Mexico also drawing their first match in the earlier game, it leaves Group A wide open.

Uruguay tackle Bafana in their next match, with victory crucial for both sides.Forlan admitted his team-mates will now regroup ahead of that tie.He told Football365.co.za: "We have finish this game and now we have to rest and train and then see how we are going to be for the next match."He then added to the media: "Four teams are in the same position now so we have to see what is going to happen in the second game."When asked how he felt about drawing with the former world champions, Forlan admitted that while his side "had the better chances", "it was a good result for each other" but "nobody deserved to win".

Forlan also revealed that while he was happy with his overall performance, he would have preferred to have found the target. A snapshot late in the game was probably his best chance, but he was unable to direct the ball goalwards."I knew it was off target the first moment I shot, I knew it was out. I had the chances and I would have been more happy if they were in."The former Manchester United frontman said he had watched bits of South Africa's draw with Mexico and while he admitted, "it was a tough game", he isn't fazed about facing the hosts.

"Yeah we saw the game and it was a tough game."It's the way we were drawn and we have to play against them, we don't have to think about it."

Algeria, Slovenia eye big chance after USA, England draw

Algeria and Slovenia open their World Cup Group C schedules on Sunday under a ton of pressure for a result.

Both clubs are underdogs to advance past England and the USA in the group, meaning getting off to a good start in the opener is imperative.

"In football you never know," Algeria midfielder Hassan Yebda told fifa.com. "We will do our best and play the first game against Slovenia and try to win. The first game is very, very important, if we can win it will be better for us. Slovenia though have a good team."

While Algeria is gearing up for just its third-ever World Cup, a familiar face is leading the way.

Coach Rabah Saadane, who also coached the team 24 years ago in its last World Cup appearance in Mexico, is at the helm again - for the fifth time - and it will take all his wisdom to get the Desert Foxes to the knockout stage.

On the field, midfielder Karim Ziani will be the key, not only against Slovenia on Sunday, but for the entire tournament. The playmaker plies his trade with German Bundesliga side Wolfsburg, and he has the versatility to pull the strings in the middle of the field, or shift out wide in a more indirect attacking role.

England keeper Rob Green howler rescues a point for USA

Just as South Africa opened their World Cup with a goal that will be remembered forever, so England, as is their wont, contrived to open theirs with a goalkeeping blunder that will never be forgotten. No sooner had Fabio Capello placed his confidence in Robert Green than his judgment was mocked by the sort of bungle no professional footballer can comfortably watch, an unforced error that allowed the USA back into a game on which England appeared to have a comfortable grip after Steven Gerrard's early goal.

Although Green will inevitably carry the can for this disappointment, in truth it was not a great England performance, just a great start. The American goal may have been a fluke, yet it came about because England were defending too deep and allowing their opponents to take pot shots. Far too little was seen of England's attacking players – Capello even turned to Peter Crouch before the end – to place all the blame on the goalkeeper.

Capello, true to his word, had kept everyone guessing right up to the last minute with his line-up, though there were no real surprises once it was understood that the Italian was not about to mess around with the system and selections that had proved so successful in qualifying on the basis of late claims made in inconsequential friendlies.

So Green retained his place as goalkeeper after all, just as Capello had promised. James Milner, who has consistently appeared in competitive games for Capello, was preferred on the left wing to Joe Cole, who has not. And Emile Heskey, on the back of three Premier League goals last season, was invited to resume as Wayne Rooney's gofer.

Nigeria struggle against a sleek Argentina

The Diego Maradona World Cup experience got off to a winning start in Johannesburg this afternoon, but already it is worth asking the question: will Argentina’s fantastic attack be fatally undermined by their fragile defence?

The uncontrollable Lionel Messi might have had a hat-trick, or even the four goals he scored against Arsenal in the Champions League last season, but for the heroics of Nigeria’s goalkeeper. But Argentina’s defending was distinctly dodgy during an entertaining match at Ellis Park in front of a near-full, and wildly loud and exuberant, crowd.

Chief culprit was the right back, Jonás Gutiérrez, of Newcastle United. He was exposed time and again and a better team than Nigeria – whose composure in front of goal was abject – would have scored a couple of goals. Do not expect many more 1-0 scorelines in Argentina’s future games.

The warning signs were there early on as the impressive Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi, preferred to Obafemi Martins and Nwankwo Kanu, skipped past Gutiérrez but pummeled a shot well wide.

South Korea gets the first win of WC2010 beating Greece 2-0

Energetic South Korea upset 2004 European champions Greece 2-0 in their 2010 FIFA World Cup Group B match here on Saturday, becoming the first victors of the tournament and winning glory for Asia.

"Our players worked really hard," said South Korea coach Huh Jung-moo. "The team played well and the flow of the game was very good."

Only seven minutes into the game, Lee Jung Soo opened the scoring for South Korea when the central defender flicked on and tapped in at the back post after a free-kick from Ki Sung-yong found him.

In the 52nd minute, a poor cross from Greece at the back gifted Manchester United star winger Park Ji Sung a thrusting solo run. Park dribbled past two defenders straight into the box and sealed the win with a powerful shot.

Park, 29, who started his career as a defensive midfielder, has won three English Premier League champions and a UEFA Champions League title.

Madjid Bougherra talks positive on Algeria's World Cup adventure.

Algeria will play the first match of their third World Cup against Slovenia on Sunday but their players already have an eye on their second Group C match, against England.

The Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra said today that his experience in British football would help him to deal with the likes of Wayne Rooney when Algeria meet England at the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town next Friday night. The centre-back, who has played for Crewe Alexandra, Charlton Athletic and Sheffield Wednesday, has also played European football with the Scottish champions.

"It can help me," said Bougherra of his experience in Britain. "I play in a big team, I played Champions League so I have learned a mentality change – I want to win every game."

Will internal dissent destroy Algeria's chances

Algeria's quest to sabotage England's World Cup dream is being wrecked by an astonishing dressing-room row which almost saw their captain walk out.

The north Africans, who play Fabio Capello's men in Durban on Thursday, are in disarray on the eve of their Group C opener against Slovenia.

The upheaval started last Wednesday when captain Yazid Mansouri was told by coach Rabah Saadane that he would not be in the team to play Slovenia - and he furiously threatened to quit the team.

Benched: Captain Yazid Mansouri says he will fight to win back his place in
the Algeria side after a fallout with coach Rabah Saadane

The 32-year-old midfielder stormed off to his hotel room and was packing his bags before desperate team officials managed to persuade him to rethink his decision after an hour of heated chat.

'It's hard to accept the decision,' said Mansouri. 'I've been in this side for 10 years and that is why I'm struggling to digest the news.' Saadane's decision was also greeted with dismay by Mansouri's team-mates. Portsmouth defender Nadir Belhadj said: 'It will be difficult for us without Yazid because we listen to him all the time.'

David Beckham reaction to Rob Green's blunder...Classic

Friday 11 June 2010

Steven Gerrard's determination can see England through to Victory

Steven Gerrard said he accepted the captain’s armband for this World Cup with a certain degree of ambivalence last week. But it was more complicated than his initial response to such questions suggested on Thursday.

More than simply a mixture of disappointment for Rio Ferdinand and delight for himself. Thrown in is the pressure he seems to put on himself. The kind of pressure he sometimes gives the impression he would rather not have.

It came across like that as the conversation developed. In particular, after he was asked how he would avoid the captaincy becoming a burden.

Focussed: England captain Steven Gerrard delivered an inspirational performance to the world's media on the eve of the World Cup

‘By enjoying it,’ he said. ‘I think the people around me won’t allow me to let it be a burden. I’ve got to use it as a motivation rather than a burden.’

The people around Gerrard clearly know him well. They know how seriously he takes such responsibility and how much he will want to prove himself a success.

Didier Drogba makes swift recovery may play against Portugal

Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba could start their opening World Cup game against Portugal next week, coach Sven Goran Eriksson said on Thursday.

Drogba, 32, broke his arm during a friendly against Japan on June 4, and needed surgery.

'If the game had been today or tomorrow, he wouldn't play. But there are still some days. He might play against Portugal,' Eriksson told journalists at the team's arrival on Thursday.

On the mend: Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba (right) has an operation on his broken arm

Ivory Coast take on Portugal next Tuesday in Group G in the coastal city of Port Elizabeth.

They have been drawn in a tough group, which includes North Korea and five-times World Cup winners Brazil.

'It is a difficult group, but we will be well prepared and we will do everything to play well against the other teams,' Eriksson said.

Lagerback says Nigeria have nothing to fear against Argentina

Nigeria go into their opening match, against Argentina on Saturday afternoon, telling themselves that although they are up against the likes of Lionel Messi and Carlos Tévez, they have nothing to fear. They are merely some of the best players in the world — but ignore it.

This, at least, has been the gospel according to Lars Lagerbäck, their coach, who has been parachuted in to do a quick-heal job similar to the one that Sven-Göran Eriksson, his fellow Swede, has been asked to pull off with Ivory Coast.

It is a tall order for both of them. Eriksson may have to do without Didier Drogba, the talismanic striker, and Lagerbäck has lost John Obi Mikel, Drogba’s Chelsea team-mate, to injury. Yet they have been asked to raise the spirits of their teams without the leading player there to show the way.

Although Nigeria finished third in the Africa Cup of Nations, their performance was sufficiently disappointing for them to sack their coach, Shaibu Amodu, in February and ask Lagerbäck to do better.

Altidore is fight to face England

United States coach Bob Bradley has confirmed Hull flop Jozy Altidore will start against England in Saturday's World Cup clash in Rustenburg.

Altidore netted only one goal for the Tigers last season when on loan from Villarreal.

But the 20-year-old will face Fabio Capello's side after recovering from an ankle injury which kept him out of last weekend's friendly win over Australia.

Altidore was USA's leading scorer during their qualification campaign with six goals.

Bradley said: "It was an important year for Jose. Any player that has gone to the Premier League finds out about the level and the competitiveness.

"But I think he grew a lot at Hull and the one thing I would always say about Jose, from our experiences with him, is when he's come into our camps he's shown that, when things don't come easily it's helped him.

Capello warns Rooney over his temperament

England manager Fabio Capello has confirmed he has spoken with Wayne Rooney following concerns over his temperament.

Rooney came in for criticism after he was booked against Platinum Stars on Monday for an outburst at the referee.

The Manchester United's actions sparked fears of a repeat dismissal at this summer's World Cup after his red mist in Germany four years ago.

Capello said: "Wayne Rooney played all the qualifying games for the World Cup and had no problems with the referees.

"I hope we see the same Rooney during the World Cup.

Greece coach pledges not too underestimate South Koreans

Greece manager Otto Rehhagel is eagerly anticipating his World Cup debut but is taking nothing for granted against South Korea.

Rehhagel, 71, famously led the Greeks to glory at the European Championship in 2004, however his team failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup.

Four years on, though, the German coach is preparing his charges for Saturday's Group B clash versus South Korea in Port Elizabeth.

"Some things take their time. I am pleased to take on such a huge challenge. Everything comes in due course," said Rehhagel.

Maradona launches mind games as he says Nigerians are dirty players

The 49-year-old, who lifted the World
Cup as Argentina captain in 1986, having infamously scored a goal with his hand against England in the quarter-finals, said he hoped the referees would ensure the Africans play fair.

"We know how Nigeria play and they know how we play. We don't expect to play a rough and tough team, although we're ready to play any team," said Maradona, whose international career ended in disgrace when he failed a drugs test at the 1994 World Cup finals when Nigeria were also in their group.

"But the only thing I can say right now is those looking for fair-play should not stand alone.

"Let's really look for fair play and referees should understand what fair play is.

"When fair play started in 1990 I got a kick from a Cameroon player who nearly kicked my head off.

"Claudio Caniggia got a yellow card for a small kick and I nearly got kicked in the head.

Martins says Eagles must look beyond Argentina

Nigerian forward Obafemi Martins has warned that the Super Eagles would have to look beyond Lionel Messi if they are to get a result against Argentina on Saturday. Talk among the fans have been centred around the World Player of the Year, but Martins, 25, says there are other players that the team need to be wary of.

"People talk a lot about (Lionel) Messi, forgetting that there are other very good players in the Argentine team, such as (Carlos) Tevez and (Diego) Milito. It's a team game and we also have our own stars for the day.

"It is an important match for all of us, the players and the technical crew."

Left back Taye Taiwo, who played against the Argentina Under-20 team which defeated Nigeria 2-1 in the final of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Netherlands in 2005, added: "I was not happy that we lost that day in Utrecht against Argentina because we worked so hard. But for sure, this is payback time.

"We know Messi is a good player and we can't allow him to roam round the park just like that. But we also have our great players. They've got a couple of great players and we've also got a couple of great players.

Tshabalala super strike fails earn South Africa opening win.

Diminutive midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala sent the whole of South Africa in to raptures with the opening goal of the World Cup in Johannesburg but it was not enough to hold off Mexico at the final whistle.

His wonderful strike in the 55th minute of an entertaining opening match put Bafana Bafana ahead with a goal that looked likely to give them an emotional victory - a win which could ignite not only their own campaign but the whole World Cup.

France fluff opportunity to beat 10 man Uruguay

France and Uruguay played out a goalless draw at the Green Point Stadium in the second Group A game on the opening day of the World Cup.

Uruguay were forced to play the final nine minutes of the match in Cape Town with 10 men following the dismissal of substitute Nicolas Lodeiro for a second bookable offence.

Substitute Thierry Henry had a late penalty shout for handball dismissed as lacklustre France finally took the game to their opponents, but failure to capitalise on their numerical advantage ended in a disappointing stalemate.

The draw means that neither side took advantage of hosts South Africa's 1-1 draw with Mexico in the day's earlier game to move top of the group, although Uruguay's Oscar Tabarez will likely be the happier of the two managers.

Thursday 3 June 2010

USA on a $1m a man bonus to win World Cup

Each of the 23 players will collect £617,332 should they become the most unlikely winners in World Cup history, easily outstripping the £500,000-a-man on offer to Spain should Fernando Torres and co lift the trophy.

England's win bonus pool is kept confidential by the FA, but is believed to be in the region of £400-500,000 per player - but the entire England squad will donate all match fees to charity.

Brazil will offer each of their players around £250,000 for a win, while Germany will hand out £212,000 per man.

Yet the USA bonus is not dependent on overall victory: the players will share up to £1.1m in the group stage, a further £1.95m if they qualify for the last 16, £2.3m should they reach the quarter-finals and another £1.8m for making the semis. Should they make the final, they will then earn a further £4.7m, rising to £5.3m if they finish the job.

The money itself will come from FIFA, who pay the winners £21.4m in prize money, with £16.6m for the runners-up. Prize money then tapers off, but all teams participating in the finals are guaranteed a minimum of £5.5m.

Wednesday 2 June 2010

England jet off to South Africa tonight

The English team arrive at Johannesburg's OR Tambo airport on Thursday morning before heading north-west to their World Cup base in Rustenburg.

The newly built multi-million pound Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus will be England's home during the tournament.

Capello signed a new deal on Wednesday committing him to the role until 2012.

The Italian had been linked with a move to Inter Milan, while Lord Triesman's recent departure as the Football Association's chairman was reported to have unsettled him.

But Capello signed an amended deal which removed the break clause allowing either party to end the contract after the World Cup.

The news provided a fresh angle for England fans after the unexpected story of Arsenal winger Theo Walcott's omission from the final squad.

The 21-year-old was named in the starting line-up of both of England's recent friendly victories against Mexico and Japan, but his performances were not enough to convince Capello of a World Cup place.

Eto'o sent off as Cameroon fall to Portugal

Cameroon captain Samuel Eto'o was sent off on his return to the Indomitable Lions side, as his team slumped to a 3-1 defeat in Portugal.

The Inter Milan striker was dismissed in the first half for a second bookable offence in quick succession after returning to the side for their final two World Cup warm-up games.

A frustrated and agitated-looking Eto'o received his marching orders for a high tackle on Portugal left-back Duda, immediately after being booked by the referee for protesting, following the opener from Raul Meireles.

The Cameroonians looked unsettled after their captain's departure, and were well beaten by a Portuguese team who looked a lot more polished and confident ahead of their departure for South Africa - in stark contrast to their visitors.

The Indomitable Lions are now six games without a win, but drew some little comfort from an impressive debut for German-born striker Eric Choupo-Moting, who has just been cleared to play for the west Africans.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto also put in an impressive performance on the left, after a shaky start.

Portugal boost as Pepe is given the all clear

Pepe is going to South Africa with Portugal. The Real Madrid player has received medical clearance to participate in this summer’s World Cup.

The news that Carlos Queiroz most wanted to hear was confirmed on the site of the Portuguese Football Federation yesterday:

“The medical teams of the National Seleccao, Real Madrid, Juan Carlos Hernandez and Carlos Diez, and the surgeon who operated on Pepe, Jose Carlos Noronha, agreed to pronounce medical clearance to the Portugal international, meaning the player can continue to comply with the programme of gradual sporting integration.”

Pepe was outstanding for Portugal in the qualification campaign, playing as a defensive midfielder, but has not played a competitive match since rupturing his cruciate knee ligaments in December.

His recovery is a huge boost for the national team, although question marks will remain about whether he will be match fit in South Africa, especially for the first game against Ivory Coast on June 15th.

Slick Holland thrash woeful Ghana

The Netherlands proved to be too strong a side for Ghana in last night's friendly, handing the Black Stars a crushing defeat.

Sunderland loan-star John Mensah came on for the second half in Rotterdam but by then Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt and Rafael van der Vart had given the Dutch a 2-0 lead.

Ghana pulled a goal back midway through the second half but Holland's Wesley Sneider found the back of the net before a Robin van Persie penalty took the scoreline to 4-1, dealing the Ghanaians a crush blow as they prepare for their World Cup campaign.

Ghana have one friendly against Latvia on Saturday prior to their World Cup opener against Serbia on 13 June.

The Black Stars are also in a group with Australia and Germany.

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More heartache for the Swiss as they lose to Costa Rica

Non-qualifiers Costa Rica partially spoiled Switzerland’s buildup as they defeated the World Cup hopefuls 1-0 at Sion.

Winston Parks fired home the only goal of the match on 57 minutes as the Central American’s continued to impress on their European tour after narrowly losing 2-1 to 2006 finalists France last week.

Swiss coach Ottmar Hitzfeld must now restore moral for a team that reached the second round in 2006 and will be in Group H in South Africa with Chile, Spain and Honduras.

Denmark not good enough against Australia

A slow and sloppy performance against Australia demonstrated that Denmark’s football side still has a lot of work to do

It was a line-up filled with new faces that national team head coach Morten Olsen fielded for Tuesday’s World Cup warm-up match against Australia – many of which may not be seen on the pitch again this summer after the team’s woeful performance.

The final score was 1-0 to the Aussies, but the shoddy level of play will be of greater concern to Olsen, whose team face the highly-fancied Netherlands in their opening World Cup match on 14 June. The Dutch hammered Ghana in their friendly yesterday 4-1.

None of the Danes stood out in the uninspired affair, which saw Australia’s Joshua Kennedy score the match’s only goal in the second half following a miscommunication between Andersen and defender Daniel Agger over a loose ball around 20 metres from goal.

While Olsen did not believe his players gave their best efforts yesterday, he also blamed the controversial, heavier World Cup ball, which many top players and coaches have criticised as well.

‘We’re playing with an impossible ball, but we’ll just have to get used to it,’ he told TV2 Sport. ‘That’s not an excuse, it’s a cause. We had trouble controlling the ball and getting any pace on our passes.’

Brazil stroll past Zimababwe in 3-0 win

Brazil barely broke a sweat as they beat Zimbabwe 3-0 in a friendly that generated huge excitement in the troubled African country.

The visitors made a sluggish start and Ovidy Karuru blew a chance to write his name in Zimbabwean sporting history when he ballooned over the bar with the goal gaping in the 19th minute.

A header from Knowledge Musona, the Kaizer Chiefs striker, in the 27th minute forced a save from the Brazil goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes. The Tottenham Hotspur player replaced Júlio Cesár after the first-choice keeper went off with a back injury, although team doctors said it did not appear to be serious.

Brazil, nearly at full strength, coolly moved up a gear and Michel Bastos fired home a free-kick from 20 yards. Soon after Robinho ran on to a long pass from the right-back Maicon to score with a first-time finish from inside the area.

In the second half, Elano grabbed the third after a cross by the substitute Daniel Alves but Brazil, who made six substitutions in all, were unable to add to the tally in what resembled a training exercise.

World Cup 2010 News