Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Nigeria’s president suspends soccer team
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - The president of Nigeria has suspended the national soccer team from international competition for two years after its poor showing at the World Cup.
The announcement by President Goodluck Jonathan’s spokesman Wednesday also follows corruption allegations which surrounded the team in the run-up to the tournament. Spokesman Ima Niboro said all funds directed toward the Nigeria Football Federation would be examined and “all those found wanting will be sanctioned.”
Niboro gave no other specifics about the investigation, other than saying Jonathan’s decision came after reading a report submitted by the presidential soccer task force.
Federation spokesman Ademola Olajire told The Associated Press that he had no information about the suspension.
“We have not been directed,” Olajire said. “We have no letter” from the president.
The Nigerian Football Federation’s executive committee had earlier offered an apology to the government and “all football loving Nigerians” for the early exit.
Nigeria got eliminated from the World Cup after the group stage, having earned just one point—in a 2-2 draw with South Korea in its last game. Nigeria lost to Argentina 1-0 in its Group B opener and fell to Greece 2-1 in a game turned by the first-half expulsion of midfielder Sani Kaita.
The team, nicknamed the Super Eagles by loyal supporters and the Super Chickens by critics, faced almost countrywide derision after finishing third in the African Cup of Nations earlier in the year.
Nigeria fired coach Shaibu Amodu in February and later hired Swedish coach Lars Lagerback to take charge, but with only about four months before the World Cup.
Local newspapers questioned Lagerback’s selection and made allegations about endemic bribery in the program. The football federation also had to pay a reported $125,000 contract to cancel its reservations at the Hampshire Hotel north of Durban in South Africa. Nigerian officials apparently complained the three-star hotel was noisy, mosquito-infested and unsafe.
Analysts and watchdog groups say Nigeria, an oil-rich country of 150 million people, has one of the world’s most corrupt governments.
The Super Eagles haven’t won a World Cup match since 1998. The Nigerians went out with two losses and a draw in 2002 and did not qualify for the 2006 World Cup.
Nigeria now risks being banned by FIFA from all international soccer because of the political interference.
“At the time of writing, we have no official information on this matter,” FIFA said in a statement. “However, in general, FIFA’s position regarding political interference in football is well known.”
Nigeria’s next scheduled international match is a qualifier for the 2012 African Cup of Nations, at home against Madagascar in early September.
FIFA rules demand that national federations manage their affairs independently, or face suspension from world soccer.
National and club teams, plus referees, would be barred from participating in international matches and soccer officials prevented from attending meetings.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter had already expressed concern over the French government’s investigation into France’s first-round elimination from the World Cup.
“Definitely I can tell you that political interference will be dealt with by FIFA notwithstanding what kind of interference and what is the size of the country,” Blatter said Tuesday while discussing France.
By BASHIR ADIGUN and JON GAMBRELL, Associated Press Writers
Jon Gambrell reported from Lagos, Nigeria.
Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Argentina shows no respect
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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ERASMIA, South Africa (AP) - Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger accuses World Cup quarterfinals rival Argentina of showing no respect for opponents and referees, and urges his teammates not to be provoked.
Germany eliminated Argentina on penalty kicks four years ago at the same stage and there were chaotic scenes after the shootout, with both sides exchanging punches and kicks in a fracas that included team officials from both benches.
“The shootout is still in our memory, but what really weighs heavily on our minds is what happened after that match,” Schweinsteiger said Wednesday. “We have to remain calm and not get provoked and I hope the referee will be very alert.
“You could see their behavior at halftime of the game against Mexico. When you look at their body language and gesticulations, they way they try to influence the referees, they have no respect. It’s their mentality and character and we’ll have to adjust.”
Mexico and Argentina players had to be separated as they headed for the tunnel at halftime of the teams’ second-round game, with the Mexicans furious over Argentina’s first goal that came when scorer Carlos Tevez clearly was offside.
Argentina won 3-1.
Schweinsteiger also accused Argentine fans of taking the places of others in the stadiums and refusing to move. It was not clear where he got his evidence from.
But the midfielder praised Argentina as a team, saying the squad coached by Diego Maradona was better in “every sector” than the team Germany beat four years ago.
Schweinsteiger singled out veteran Juan Sebastian Veron.
“He has played very strongly here, I have been impressed,” Schweinsteiger said.
Schweinsteiger repeated that stopping Argentina star Lionel Messi will need a strong “collective effort.”
“Other teams also have done it. He hasn’t scored yet and we want to keep it that way,” said Schweinsteiger, who has played 78 games for Germany although he is still just 25.
“We’ll find the right game plan to hurt Argentina, although we know how strong Argentina is. At this level, you can’t make mistakes, it’s the details that decide the match.”
Thomas Mueller, who scored twice against England, could be the deciding factor in the match, which might be embarrasing to Maradona.
By now, he should have heard of Mueller. The last time Argentina played Germany in a friendly in March, Maradona felt so slighted when Mueller sat on the podium with him at the postmatch news conference that he stormed off and refused to return until Mueller left the stage to the coach alone.
Mueller had just made his debut for Germany then. Now, he leads his team at the World Cup with three goals.
Coach Joachim Loew said forward Cacau is unlikely to recover from a right thigh injury in time for the match.
Argentina beat Germany 1-0 with relative ease in that March friendly in Munich. Schweinsteiger said that result meant little.
“One, it was a friendly. Two, they did not create many chances either. Three, we have gained a lot of confidence by beating England and the good tactics we used in that game,” Schweinsteiger said.
Germany advanced to the quarterfinal with a 4-1 win.
Schweinsteiger said he expected the upcoming match to be a tactical affair, “just as it was in 2006.”
Argentina has only one win over Germany at the World Cup, in the 1986 final when Maradona was still playing. Overall in the World Cup, they have met five times and twice in the final.
Maradona led Argentina to that 3-2 win in Mexico, while in Italy in 1990, Germany won 1-0 on a penalty kick. Those were also the last times either team won the World Cup.
Germany won a group match 3-1 in 1958 and the two teams drew 0-0 in another group match in 1966.
By NESHA STARCEVIC, AP Sports Writer
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Spain vs. Portugal (1-0)
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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Portuguese Soccer Fan.Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Paraguay vs. Japan (5-3)
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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A Japanese Soccer Fan.Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Monday, June 28, 2010
Brazil vs. Chile (3-0)
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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Brazilian Fan.Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Netherlands vs. Slovakia (2-1)
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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Sunday, June 27, 2010
We’re all living in Maradona’s World Cup
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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JOHANNESBURG – Diego Maradona dominated the World Cup in 1986 like few players ever. Argentina won the event, of course, and Maradona was the awarded the Golden Ball as its best player. That was just a small part of it.
In a 2-1 quarterfinal victory over hated England, he scored twice in the disparate fashions that perfectly define him.
There was the “bad” – the illegal, self-described “Hand of God” goal when he purposefully punched the ball in. And there was the “good” – a spectacular, darting 50-yard run that was voted greatest in the history of the World Cup and hailed by many as the “Goal of the Century.”
And that was just one game.
In front of the media he was controversial and colorful and charismatic. He never backed down. He backed everything up. There was simply nothing like him.
[Photos: More of Argentina’s wild and unpredictable coach]
In Argentina, some say, there is Eva Peron (“Evita”) and there is Maradona. He is some kind of Michael Jordan-Abraham Lincoln hybrid in his homeland’s history.
And now he’s back – nine lives, four World Cups, one friendship with Fidel Castro, a coke addiction (with multiple relapses), 100 pounds up and down (stomach stapled), a television career and who knows what else later.
It’s 1986 all over again. And while Maradona is wearing a gray suit and standing in the Argentine coaching box, not weaving through defenders, this World Cup is shaping up like that old one – all about Diego.
“I feel like I am putting on the jersey and going out on the pitch,” he said. “It’s beautiful. It’s beautiful indeed.”
His Argentinean team blasted through Mexico 3-1 on Sunday to set up a quarterfinal matchup Saturday against Germany, the 1986 runner-up (then just West Germany). It was a show of not just force but of spectacular ability – Carlos Tevez’s blast in the 52nd minute may be the prettiest goal of the event. Maradona’s team is playing brilliantly.
“They are doing the things perfectly well,” he said after.
Throughout it all, Maradona acted like Maradona, an over-caffeinated presence on the sideline and a stand-up comic in the press conference. He screams and cheers. He complains and cajoles. He smiles. He prays. He blesses himself. He hugs. Actually, he hugs a lot. He even kisses his players.
Pushing 50 yet wearing earrings and a salt-and-pepper goatee, he remains the biggest presence in the building – and that includes his megastar players such as Lionel Messi and Tevez.
“Victory always feels great,” Maradona said. “As a coach, as a player, there is not a major difference.”
As always it’s not what Maradona has done – getting his team to play as well as anyone. It’s how he’s done it.
He had no managerial experience when he got Argentina’s national team job in 2008. The man had been a wreck since his playing days (and even during them). He battled multiple addictions. He ate and ate. He had health issues, family issues, authority issues. He was distracted by politics.
Needless to say, organization was never a personal strong point.
So when he got the job, many in the media ridiculed the decision. When the team looked a mess during qualifying (Maradona used nearly 100 different players) they hit even harder. Diego Maradona as a coach? Diego Maradona as the calming influence on a team with so much talent and potential?
“Many journalists should apologize to the players,” he said last week, as Argentina rolled through group play. “I’m not suggesting you drop your trousers, but it would be honest and great so we all get along better.”
Yes, this is Diego Maradona. Don’t think that was his wildest quote of the World Cup, either.
Diego Maradona isn't shy about showing affection for his players.
When former Brazilian star Pele said Maradona was only coaching because he needed the money (which might be true since last year the Italian government claimed he still owed them $37 million euros in back taxes from his playing days there), Maradona couldn’t remain silent. He declared Pele should “go back to the museum.”
He got into a war of words with Union of European Football Associations president Michel Platini before dismissing Platini as arrogant – “That Platini, well, he’s French, what do you expect?”
He later apologized by saying, “[Platini] says he has never said what you [reporters] told me he said, so through you I would like to apologize to Mr. Platini … but not to Pele.”
Sunday’s press conference contained everything from his declaring a question “stupid,” reminiscing about being triple-teamed as a player, lamenting that as a coach he can’t swear on the sideline and asking that the questions (even stupid ones) continue since he was having so much fun talking.
“Finally I get a chance to speak and he wants to send me off,” he said of the moderator.
Each FIFA press conference features a game ball stationed next to the microphone. It’s nothing more than a decorative prop. When this session finally ended, Maradona stood up, stared at the ball and promptly scooped it up as walked off.
There was much laughter; Diego stole FIFA’s ball.
In the most curious way, all the fears of what Maradona would do and say at the World Cup have come true, yet not as a detriment to his team.
He’s been outlandish. He’s made this about himself. He’s picked fights and created trouble and made bold decisions that run in the face of fans and media (such as handing over the captainship to Messi, whose loyalty to the national team many fans have questioned due to previous subpar performances for the Albicelestes).
He has completely overshadowed his players.
Yet in doing so, he’s allowed his guys to stay out of the spotlight, to just shrug off the antics or their coach and laugh at the situation. Flying under the radar, with all the pressure on Diego Maradona, no one is playing looser, freer or with more confidence than the Argentineans.
“My relationship with the boys is excellent,” he said.
Just as when Maradona would make an open-field move that appeared too daring, too selfish and too risky only to find a way to make it brilliant, here he is again.
He actually may have even matured some. There was a brief, but quickly escalating, skirmish between some players at the end of the first half Sunday. Cursing and hair pulling were part of it. Maradona wasn’t offended by a potential fight. “What’s wrong with that?” he said.
Then again, he is the coach now so he raced to the middle of it and, quite surprisingly, busted it up. “We separated them before anything else could’ve happened,” he said.
Maradona the peacemaker?
We’ve seen it all. Except we’ve seen this act all before. It’s 2010. It’s 1986. It’s the World Cup shaping up to be all about Diego Maradona once again.
By Dan Wetzel, Yahoo! Sports
Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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World-British newspapers condemn England team
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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LONDON, June 28 (Reuters) - British newspapers were unsparing in their condemnation of the England soccer team after they were defeated 4-1 by Germany in the second round of the World Cup in Bloemfontein on Sunday.
“By the bedraggled and humiliating finish here, even the old standbys, the cry of injustice and the desperate grasp for the moral victory had been torn into ruins,” wrote John Dillon in the Daily Express.
“The Golden Generation were in their final meltdown. The World Cup campaign had finished, as it started, as a calamity.”
Matt Lawton in the Daily Mail said a disallowed England goal had not been the reason for the defeat.
“Because for all England’s frustration with going into the interval a goal down, this should not be used to hide how awful England were yesterday.
“England were a mess—a team that were tactically and technically inept; a team that for all the quality of the individuals were so painfully inferior to their well-drilled opponents.”
Writing in the Daily Star, Danny Fullbrook said manager Fabio Capello’s humiliation was complete when distraught England fans sang the name of former team boss Sven Goran Eriksson.
“England’s World Cup ended in catastophe, as embarrassing a defeat as this proud nation has ever known,” he said. “And Capello has to take the blame.”
In the Guardian, Richard Williams said the defeat spelled the end for the golden generation, with captain Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard unlikely to play again at a major international competition.
“So the era that began on a hot June night in France 12 years ago with a flash of lightning—(Michael) Owen’s scamper through the Argentinian defence—and a roll of thunder — (David) Beckham’s red card—is finally over,” he said.
(Writing by John Mehaffey; Editing by Ian Ransom; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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Argentina vs. Mexico (3-1)
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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Argentina Fans.Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Germany vs. England (4-1)
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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German Soccer Fan.Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Saturday, June 26, 2010
Ghana eliminates US for 2nd straight World Cup
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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RUSTENBURG, South Africa – The nail-biter comeback wasn't there this time. The U.S. soccer team relied on it once too often.
Life on the World Cup edge came to an exhausting and crushing end against a familiar foe Saturday night, when Ghana — led by Asamoah Gyan's goal 3 minutes into overtime — posted a 2-1 victory that ended a thrilling yet futile tournament for the United States.
"We tried to push and push," U.S. captain Carlos Bocanegra said. "I don't know if we just didn't have anything left because we had been pushing so much the entire tournament."
Kevin-Prince Boateng put Ghana ahead when he stripped the ball from Ricardo Clark in the fifth minute and beat goalkeeper Tim Howard from 16 yards. It was the third time in four games the U.S. fell behind early, and once again the Americans rallied.
Landon Donovan tied the score with a penalty kick in the 62nd minute, his record fifth goal for the U.S. in World Cup play, after Jonathan Mensah pulled down Clint Dempsey streaking in. But that was it.
Unlike the first-round come-from-behind draws against England and Slovenia, and Donovan's memorable injury-time goal against Algeria that lifted the U.S. into the knockout phase, there was no offense left. The U.S. failed to take advantage of a relatively easy path to the semifinals.
Ghana, the only African team to advance past the first round of Africa's first World Cup, eliminated the Americans for the second straight World Cup. The Black Stars joined Cameroon (1990) and Senegal (2002) as the only African teams to reach the quarterfinals and will play Uruguay for a berth in the semifinals, a round the U.S. has not reached since the first World Cup in 1930.
"A stinging, tough defeat," said Bob Bradley, who faces an uncertain future as U.S. coach.
With former President Bill Clinton watching and Mick Jagger sitting next to him, the U.S. was done in by a porous defense and forwards who failed to score a single goal in four games.
"When you give up this many goals, you're not going to go very far," Bocanegra said.
All five U.S. goals in the tournament came from the team's midfield backbone: three by Donovan, one by Dempsey and one by Michael Bradley, the coach's son.
In the first-ever extra time World Cup game for the U.S., Gyan got the winning goal when he took a long ball from Andre Ayew over the defense and beat Bocanegra, his teammate on the French club Rennes. Gyan let the ball bounce, took a touch with his chest, and with Jay DeMerit vainly trying to catch up, scored over goalkeeper Tim Howard with a left-footed shot from 16 yards.
"I had my angles right there. There no question about it," Howard said. "He absolutely crushed it."
The goal set off horn-honking celebrations in Ghana, a West Africa country nearly 3,000 miles away.
"We've made everybody proud," Gyan said. "Not Ghana alone, but all of Africa."
There was nothing to equal Donovan's injury-time goal against Algeria that moved the Americans into the second round. The closest the U.S. came to tying it again was in the 98th minute, when Maurice Edu's header off Donovan's corner kick went wide.
With Howard pushed up, DeMerit's desperation long shot in the final minutes went over the crossbar. Then Dempsey sent a header wide.
At the final whistle, Howard consoled Bocanegra and Maurice Edu collapsed to the ground. Donovan exchanged jerseys with a Ghana player and walked off the field, put on a coat, sat on the bench and hung his head.
"If we're a little less naive tonight, we would have advanced," said Donovan, at 28 in his prime and the best American player ever. "I said all along this was a young team and a relatively inexperienced team at this level."
After Donovan tied the score with his American record 45th international goal, Jozy Altidore had the best opportunity. But he went wide in the 81st minute.
No American forward has scored in the World Cup since Brian McBride in 2002.
"Let's face it, you count on your forwards," Bradley said. "We need to get better at forward."
While the U.S. came from behind to draw England 1-1 and Slovenia 2-2 in the first round, the Americans lookedecognition both in the soccer world and among sports fans in America.
"Soccer can be a cruel game," Donovan said. "Sometimes you're at the top and sometimes you are at the bottom of the mountain."
Ghana's only two goals in the first round had been penalty kicks by Gyan, but Boateng, whose half-brother plays for Germany, quickly put the Black Stars ahead from the run of play. After stealing the ball from Clark at midfield, he sprinted in on DeMerit, cut to the outside and turned the defender around as Clark chased in vain.
Clark, who hadn't played since the opener against England, was given a yellow card and was replaced by Maurice Edu in the 31st minute.
"He felt badly about the ball he lost. And I simply said, `That's part of soccer,'" Bob Bradley recalled.
Benny Feilhaber replaced speedy but ineffective forward Robbie Findley at the start of the second half, with Dempsey moving up. Feilhaber immediately had a chance when Altidore tipped the ball to him, but a sliding goalkeeper Richard Kingson, who also foiled the U.S. four years ago, got a hand on it.
On his penalty kick, Donovan kneeled behind the ball in concentration, then clanked it in off the far post. With his third goal of the tournament and fifth in World Cup play, he surpassed Bert Partenaude (1930) as the American career leader.
"I thought we had a good grip," Michael Bradley said "We were pushing the tempo. We were the ones getting chances."
Herculez Gomez came in for Altidore at the start of extra time. But nothing worked. The supporters in red, white and blue wigs and Uncle Sam hats were as deflated as the players.
"It's a feeling of disappointment for the team," Bob Bradley said, "and also all our fans."
By RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer
Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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USA vs. Ghana (1-2)
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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USA Fans.Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Uruguay vs. South Korea (2 - 1)
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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Uruguayan Fans.Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Friday, June 25, 2010
Round of 16 Schedule
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Saturday June 26, 2010
(49) 10:00am EDT
Uruguay vs Korea
(50) 2:30pm EDT
USA vs Ghana
Sunday June 27, 2010
(51) 10:00am EDT
Germany vs England
(52) 2:30pm EDT
Argentina vs Mexico
Monday June 28, 2010
(53) 10:00am EDT
Netherland vs Slovakia
(54) 2:30pm EDT
Brazil vs Chile
Tuesday June 29, 2010
(55) 10:00am EDT
Paraguay vs Japan
(56) 2:30pm EDT
Spain vs Portugal
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North Korea vs. Ivory Coast
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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Ivory Coast FansLabels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Portugal vs. Brazil (0-0)
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Schedule for Today
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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Fri 10:00 pm Portugal vs Brazil
Fri 10:00 pm North Korea vs Ivory Coast
Sat 02:30 am Switzerland vs Honduras
Sat 02:30 am Chile vs Spain
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Thursday, June 24, 2010
United States looking for revenge in Ghana rematch
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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RUSTENBURG (Reuters) - Coach Bob Bradley and his indefatigable United States team will seek revenge and a place in the quarter-finals when they meet Ghana on Saturday.
After topping Group C thanks to a late winner by Landon Donovan in their 1-0 victory over Algeria in Pretoria on Wednesday, they hope to beat a team who look set to be the only surviving African nation in the second round.
The U.S. reached the World Cup quarter-finals in 2002 when they were beaten 1-0 by Germany while in 1930 they reached the semi-finals where they lost 6-1 to Argentina.
But it is the 2-1 defeat by Ghana in Nuremburg four years ago that matters—and rankles—most now as they prepare to meet the ‘Black Stars’ at the Royal Bafokeng stadium.
Several of the 2006 squad are in Bradley’s current group with Oguchi Onyewu, Steve Cherundolo, Clint Dempsey, DaMarcus Beasley and Donovan in the 2006 starting lineup against Ghana.
The fixture provides a great chance for his men to erase memories of that controversial defeat decided by a penalty.
“We have Ghana and that will be a rematch of the game in 2006—so it’s a great opportunity for us. We’ve watched Ghana before and they’re very talented,” coach Bradley said.
“They’re very athletic. We’ll need to do a real solid job in terms of our team effort, our discipline because, again, they’re a very talented team.”
GREAT SUPPORT
Bradley’s fit and determined side will also have great support again as they return to Rustenburg where they drew their opening group game against England 1-1 on June 12.
“One thing that was really special for us today (Wednesday) was as our bus was coming down the road to the stadium—that last stretch down the road the street was lined with USA fans.
“People waving flags, banging on the bus, wearing red, white and blue and faces painted—we all felt a real extra amount of emotion at that point. It was pretty special.”
Another big show of American support is expected but Ghana may have huge backing too after coach Milovan Rajevac called for Africa to back his side, who reached the last 16 on goal difference despite losing to Germany on Wednesday.
“To qualify is really very important for us and for Africa,” said the Serb. “I’m very emotional and I hope we can benefit from the support of all of the South African people and the continent of Africa.”
Rajevac needs to find a cutting edge if Ghana are to repeat their previous win. They have scored only twice in their three group games—both penalties converted by Asamoah Gyan.
The Americans, who played with little break between games at the Confederations Cup last year, have scored more freely—finding the net four times—but have twice relied on late goals to draw with Slovenia and then beat Algeria.
“In the Confederations Cup last year, we had times when we had just two full days between games, so we’ve experienced it before and I think we’ve shown we are a fit team,” said Bradley.
His son, midfielder Michael, promised more of the never-say-die spirit that has enabled them twice to come from behind for draws and then to beat Algeria.
“We have a commitment that, until the referee blows, we are going to give everything we have. It is the mentality of our team, ingrained in us and we are committed as fighters.”
That spirit, plus the Americans’ organization and fitness, should be enough to end the African adventure unless Ghana’s young and talented team can turn promise into goals.
By Timothy Collings
(Editing by Nigel Hunt; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Japan beats Denmark 3-1 to advance from Group E
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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RUSTENBERG, South Africa (AP)—Take a bow, Japan. Better yet, take two. You’ve advanced at the World Cup.
Spectacular first-half goals by Keisuke Honda and Yusuhito Endo helped lift the Japanese to a 3-1 win over Denmark on Thursday, sending Japan into the round of 16.
It was an energentic performance by the Japanese, who collected just their second tournament victory on foreign soil.
When the game was over, the happy team bowed like a chorus line before its joyous fans on each side of the field.
“For Japan it’s a big win,” Honda said. “I’m glad we won but I am not satisfied. The next game is more important. I want to show the Japanese that nothing is impossible.”
The Danes, who replied in the 81st minute when Jon Dahl Tomasson tapped in the rebound from his own penalty kick, failed to advance from the group stage for the first time in four World Cup appearances.
Japan’s first two goals came from free kicks less than 15 minutes apart, and Shinji Okazaki scored an insurance goal in the 87th.
The Japanese finished group play with six points compared to three for third-place Denmark. Cameroon was last.
The Japanese have now reached the knockout round for the second time. They also advanced in 2002, when they were tournament co-hosts with South Korea.
Japan will face Paraguay in Pretoria on Tuesday in the second round.
“Our team has a strength that others don’t have,” Japan coach Takeshi Okada said. “We are truly united. We wanted to demonstrate that soccer is a team sport.”
Honda got his second goal of the tournament in the 17th minute with a blistering kick from the right of the Danish area. The ball went over the wall and swerved beyond goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen’s reach into the far corner.
Endo’s free kick came from outside the penalty area directly in front of the Danish goal. He curled his shot around the wall. Despite leaping to his left Sorensen couldn’t get to it.
“The way the whole match progressed was decided on the two set pieces when they scored the two goals,” Denmark coach Morten Olsen said. “We knew which two players were going to take the free kicks. We prepared, but it didn’t help.”
Denmark was awarded a penalty when Makoto Hasebe brought down Daniel Agger. Tomasson hit the ball at Eiji Kawashima, but the goalkeeper couldn’t hold on and the Danish captain knocked in the loose ball.
Honda tormented the Danish defense with his tight dribbling before laying the ball to Okazaki, a substitute, who put away the final goal.
“Prior to the match, the coach said we shouldn’t concentrate on the defense and that we should attack,” Honda said. “That’s what the coach told the players to boost our motivation. It was really effective and led to this wonderful result.”
By BARRY HATTON, Associated Press Writer
Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Cameroon vs. Netherlands (1-2)
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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A Dutch Fan.Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Denmark vs. Japan (1-3)
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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A Danish Fan.Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Italy goes home after 3-2 loss to Slovakia
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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JOHANNESBURG (AP)—The stunned looks and the tears told the story-for both teams.
For defending champion Italy, the ignominy of being sent out of the World Cup in the first round sank in immediately.
“Tonight,” midfielder Gennaro Gattuso said, “we touched rock bottom.”
For Slovakia, which beat the Azzurri 3-2 Thursday to advance, well, the celebrating might not stop before Monday’s second-round game.
“We’ve shown shown that we’re not here for a holiday,” said Slovakia forward Erik Jendrisek.
The party ended in stunning fashion for four-time champion Italy, which finished last in an opening-round group for the first time.
“I take full responsibility,” said coach Marcello Lippi, who led the Azzurri to the 2006 championship. “If the squad went out with fear in their legs and hearts it means the coach didn’t prepare the match well tactically or psychologically.”
For the third consecutive game, the Azzurri allowed an early goal and this time they never recovered.
Robert Vittek put Slovakia ahead in the 25th minute, taking advantage of an errant pass from midfielder Daniele De Rossi. Vittek doubled the lead from close range in the 73rd following a corner kick.
Antonio Di Natale scored for Italy in the 81st, but Kamil Kopunek ended Italy’s chances eight minutes later, even though Fabio Quagliarella scored in injury time for Italy.
“We didn’t win a game and it’s everyone’s fault,” playmaker Andrea Pirlo said. “We’re a team and we’ve got to assume responsibility all together.”
It was Italy’s first loss at the World Cup since allowing a golden goal to South Korea in the second round in 2002. And it marked the end of an era for Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro and Gattuso, who already announced their retirement from the national team after the tournament. Lippi is also moving on, with Cesare Prandelli already chosen as his successor.
“We were a disappointment and everyone saw it,” regular goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said. “The difference between 2006 and 2010 is that there are no longer enough players like (Francesco) Totti and Alessandro (Del Piero). He (Prandelli) will have to start a new cycle and I hope he’s got his ideas in order, because the current situation of Italian football isn’t great.”
Italy’s squad featured nine players 30 or over and Prandelli will be charged with a major overhaul. Italy hasn’t won since beating Sweden 1-0 in a friendly in November, drawing five times and losing twice.
“It’s not a very good moment for Italian football, but the level of the Italian game isn’t what you saw tonight,” Lippi said.
Never have the previous World Cup finalists both failed to advance in the next tournament when both qualified. France, which lost to Italy on penalty kicks for the 2006 title, went out earlier this week in Group A.
Slovakia plays next in Durban against the winner of Group E. Many of the Slovak players were in tears at the end of the match, and the reserves gathered in a circle, jumping up and down in celebration. It is the first World Cup for Slovakia as an independent nation.
“That’s unbelievable,” Slovak goalkeeper Jan Mucha said. “I never played a match like this one.”
Added coach Vladimir Weiss: “That’s my message to all fans at home: enjoy football. Let’s celebrate … a present to all our fans at home.”
Slovakia finished with a win, a draw and a loss for four points. Italy had two draws and Thursday’s bitter defeat.
Italy also allowed early goals in its 1-1 draws with Paraguay and New Zealand and the Azzurri attack struggled in all three games—save for the final 10 minutes against Slovakia, when the Italians got desperate.
Vittek’s opening goal came on a low shot just beyond the reach of goalkeeper Federico Marchetti, who again replaced the injured Buffon. He then went around Giorgio Chiellini from close range following a corner kick for his second goal.
Di Natale slid in a rebound from Quagliarella’s shot and, with four forwards on, Quagliarella nearly equalized in the 85th, but was ruled offside by the smallest of margins.
Slovakia restored its two-goal lead in the 89th when substitute Kopunek lifted a bouncing ball over Marchetti.
Quagliarella finally found the target in the second minute of added time with a delicate lob.
Still, for 80 minutes Italy’s forwards were unable to find the net, and no forward scored in open play during the Azzurri’s opening two matches.
Midfielder Pirlo came on in the 56th minute for his first action since injuring his left calf in a friendly against Mexico three weeks ago. The crafty playmaker gave Italy’s sagging attack a much-needed boost, but it was not enough.
The early exit left the soccer-crazed nation in shock and anger.
The online editions of Corriere della Sera, the country’s largest newspaper, said “Azzurri, Farewell to the World Cup.” Repubblica wrote that “it’s worse than with Korea,” recalling the shocking exit at the hands of North Korea in 1966.
Fans who gathered in a Rome park to watch the match on giant screens began leaving as Slovakia’s goals piled up.
Reaction, naturally, was just the opposite in Bratislava.
“A fantasy,” read the headline of the Internet version of Pravda, a major Slovak newspaper.
“The footballers shocked Italy,” another daily, Sme, said.
Fans who were watching the match in front of a giant screen in downtown Bratislava screamed in joy at the final whistle.
“It was not a miracle, but reality on the pitch in Johannesburg,” Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic said in a text message sent to The Associated Press through his spokesman. “Our players were doing all they could, played fantastic and deserved to win. I’m absolutely delighted and so is the entire Slovakia.”
By ANDREW DAMPF, AP Sports Writer
Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Paraguay vs. New Zealand (0-0)
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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Paraguay Fans.Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Slovakia vs. Italy (3-2)
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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Italian Soccer Fan.Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Australia vs. Serbia (2-1)
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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Australian Fans.Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Germany vs. Ghana (1-0)
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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German Fans.Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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US advances at World Cup with 1-0 win
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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PRETORIA, South Africa – Landon Donovan scored a stunning goal in the first minute of injury time off a rebound, advancing the United States to the second round at the World Cup with a 1-0 win over Algeria.
With the U.S. perhaps three minutes from elimination Wednesday, Donovan brought the ball upfield on a counterattack and Jozy Altidore's shot on the breakaway was tipped by Clint Dempsey into goalkeeper Rais Bolihi. The rebound went to Donovan, who kicked it in from about 8 yards for one of the biggest goals in U.S. soccer history.
It gave the Americans first place in Group C. With just its fifth shutout in World Cup play, the United States (1-0-2) won a group for the first time since 1930 and will face the runner-up in Group D this weekend.
After his U.S. record 44th international goal, Donovan joyously ran to the corner flag and his teammates ran down the touchline to mob him. Donovan was in tears when the game ended and the United States had moved into the second round.
"Clint made a good run in the middle, the ball fell to me ... time kind of stopped," Donovan said. "You can't miss from there."
As the final whistle sounded, the U.S. bench raced onto the field and piled on top of the players on the far sideline. At midfield, Steve Cherundolo and Jay DeMerit collapsed to the ground. They all bearhugged Donovan, who with his fourth World Cup goal tied Bert Patenaude (1930) as the American leader.
As the team returned to the sideline, goalkeeper Tim Howard bounced up and down in elation. Benny Feilhaber took a water bottle and sprayed his teammates, champagne-like.
"We're not done yet," Donovan said. "We believe, man. We're alive, baby."
England (1-0-2), which beat Slovenia moments earlier, also had five points but finished second because the U.S. scored four goals to two for the English. Slovenia (1-1-1) was third with four points, missing advancing because of Donovan's heroics. Algeria (0-2-1) was last with one point.
Until Donovan's goal, it appeared the officiating would again be the focus.
Dempsey put the ball in the net in the 21st minute off the rebound of Herculez Gomez's shot. But the goal was called offside, just as Maurice Edu's late goal was disallowed against Slovenia last week, a score that would have given the Americans a victory. Replays appeared to show Dempsey was onside.
Dempsey had another great chance in the 57th minute when Michael Bradley stole the ball and sent Altidore streaking down the right side. Altidore crossed, but Dempsey's hit the goalpost. He shot wide on the rebound.
Howard earned the first shutout in World Cup play for the U.S. since the 2-0 victory over Mexico in the second round in 2002. Nearly a half-hour after the match, U.S. fans remained in the stadium, still cheering and celebrating one of the nation's most thrilling victories.
The U.S. kept up its pattern of good and bad World Cups. The Americans were knocked out in the first round in 1990, 1998 and 2006, but went to the second round in 1994 and reached the quarterfinals in 2002.
With former President Bill Clinton watching from the stands at Loftus Versfeld, a pro-American, vuvuzela-blowing crowd filled the old rugby stadium. Donovan and Dempsey all had numerous chances in the first half but either misfired or were stopped by Bolhi.
Finally, though, Donovan connected.
By RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer
Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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USA vs. Algeria (1-0)
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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USA FanLabels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Slovenia vs. England (0-1)
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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English FansLabels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Group Schedule
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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Wed Slovenia vs England
Wed USA vs Algeria
Thur Ghana vs Germany
Thur Australia vs Serbia
Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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U.S. has the look of America’s team
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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IRENE, South Africa - Tim Howard can’t exactly recall which game it was, but he remembers the moment he listened to the national anthem and realized he played for America’s team.
“I looked down the line and it struck me,” Howard said. “We are about as diverse and representative as it gets. It made me pretty proud – proud of being an American and proud of our team.”
Despite the best efforts of Howard and his teammates at this World Cup, the U.S. may never become a soccer-mad nation. But when an expected record soccer viewing audience tunes in for Wednesday’s do-or-die Group C showdown with Algeria, it will cheer on a team that represents its country in far more ways than just on the field of play.
Cultural diversity, that catch-all phrase so often used to sum up America’s spectrum of influences, courses throughout this group. The collection of players with various racial backgrounds has been molded by head coach Bob Bradley into one of the tightest-knit teams here.
The U.S. squad includes players of Caucasian, African-American, Caribbean, Jewish, Hungarian, British and South American descent. And it would likely have had a Chinese-American if not for Brian Ching being unable to shake off a troublesome injury.
More than any other sport, soccer’s figurehead side in the USA truly reflects the country it stands for. And it provides yet another reason why this is a team the nation should get behind as it bids to claim its place among the world’s elite.
“This is a story that doesn’t get talked about a whole lot,” said U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati, who was born in India. “But it is a good thing and we know that if we can tap into America’s diversity it would be a very positive thing.
“This is one of the special things about soccer. It is a game that can be played by everyone. It is very international and multicultural.”
The immediate goal for the Americans is qualifying for the second round, a target that likely requires a victory over Algeria in Pretoria, although a draw may be enough if England fails to beat Slovenia. Progression to the round of 16 – and further – would be another boost for the game’s popularity back home.
The issue of ethnicity is not one that is raised regularly during the long days that team members spend in one another’s company. Yet it is one that many see as a badge of honor.
“It is something that makes us stand out,” said Jozy Altidore, who, like fellow striker Edson Buddle is Caribbean-American. “We have players who come from every kind of background and heritage. It is nice for us all to be proud of our heritage and proud to play for our country.
“I don’t think there are many squads that are closer than we are and that is what America is all about: people from all backgrounds getting along together.”
Altidore’s family hails from Haiti, and he recently traveled to the Caribbean nation to promote awareness following the devastating earthquake that left an estimated one million people homeless.
The fathers of Robbie Findley and Ricardo Clark came from Trinidad and Tobago. Oguchi Onyewu, Maurice Edu and DaMarcus Beasley are all African-American. Howard, who will again start in goal on Wednesday, has an African-American father and a Hungarian mother. Jonathan Bornstein and Benny Feilhaber are both Jewish. Feilhaber, born in Brazil, and Stuart Holden, who lived in Scotland until he was 10, are the only naturalized Americans on the squad.
Jose Francisco Torres and Herculez Gomez are both Mexican-Americans who star for clubs in the Mexican Primera Division. Torres opted to play for the U.S. when he could have chosen Mexico.
“There are so many Mexicans in the USA and it is nice for me to represent them,” Torres said. “The Hispanic community has so much passion for soccer and it is great to be part of this.
Soccer is the world’s game, but few teams have as much international flavor as the U.S., something that Gulati insists will only diversify further over time.
“This is just one group of players,” Gulati said. “But yes, if you take a look at this team, it is a pretty good snapshot of America.”
By Martin Rogers, Yahoo! Sports
Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Raymond Domenech refuses to shake South Africa manager's Carlos Alberto Parreira's hand (video)
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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Domenech refuses to shake Parreira's hand, wags finger
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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France's 2-1 loss to South Africa sealed an embarrassing end to a shameful World Cup appearance that included everything from Nicolas Anelka being sent home early to the team boycotting a training session and the team's sponsors abandoning them. The gross displays, however, just kept coming.
Once the final whistle blew, French manager Raymond Domenech - whose successor, Laurent Blanc, already was named before the tournament even started - began the customary ritual of shaking hands with those around him, but when South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira offered his hand and a smile, Domenech shook his finger at him and tried to walk away.
Parreira grabbed him by the jacket and tried to talk to him, but Domenech - a man who called his own team "unspeakably stupid" before the match - decided to continue with his uncouth behavior and lecture the Brazilian with an abundance of finger pointing.
Once the press got a hold of Domenech, he didn't offer any answers for his actions. From the AFP:
"I have no intention of replying to this question," he said.
"Is there another question?" he asked after the question was posed to him again by another journalist.
A third tried his luck: "Why are you refusing to answer this question?"
Domenech responded: "Is there another question?"
"If these are all the questions you are going to ask me, I am going to leave you, we are not from the same world," he added later, in response to a question about the crisis in the French team.
Well, that is true. After all of Domenech's astrology-based roster decisions, post-match marriage proposals, and complete inability to maintain order in his team, I'll agree that he's probably not from the same world.
Parreira, meanwhile, at least tried to explain the rudeness he was subjected to:
"I believe it was because I had criticised his team after they qualified [when they controversially beat Ireland in the playoffs], but I really don't remember.
"This is what his assistants told me."
So in the end, it all goes back to Ireland and that Thierry Henry handball. Of course. And while the French keep finding new ways to embarrass themselves, their own fans even abandoning them to root for South Africa, the Irish are eating their free pizza and laughing. Laughing and laughing and laughing.
By Brooks Peck
Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Tuesday, June 22, 2010
France’s big shame: dissing the World Cup
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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French soccer chiefs were so certain their failing team would crash out of the World Cup that they had a bus ready to take them straight to the airport for a coach-class flight back home. Sure enough, the most arrogant, disjointed, fractured and embarrassing squad in the tournament was happy to oblige.
For the third match in a row, France, a 2006 World Cup finalist in Germany, showed a complete lack of class on and off the field in South Africa. A 2-1 defeat to the host nation sent the French home with just a single point, and coach Raymond Domenech provided a new low point by gracelessly refusing to shake the hand of South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira.
Two days after a player mutiny in which the team refused to show up for one of Domenech’s official training sessions, France was on its way back to Paris, stripped of its superstar privileges.
[Photos: See more of France’s disappointing World Cup exit]
Instead of flying in first-class luxury on an Airbus A380, like how it arrived to South Africa two weeks ago, the squad was ushered out of the country on a no-frills charter flight booked by its fuming national federation.
And it was nothing less than the team deserved.
There can be no excusing the French performance and, more significantly, their attitude at this World Cup. A squad featuring players from super clubs like Barcelona, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal played like a bunch of amateurs and acted like a collection of spoiled children.
France cheated its way into the tournament back in November when Thierry Henry’s goal-creating handball saved it in a European playoff against the Republic of Ireland. And it cheated its way out of it.
Not by flouting the rules, but by abusing the spirit of the game and the prestige of this worldwide festival of sport.
Domenech had no support from his players even before the event, and it was no surprise. With the federation installing former captain Laurent Blanc as coach – and his contract to start after the World Cup – Domenech was already a dead man walking.
When controversy struck with forward Nicolas Anelka blasting Domenech with an expletive-laden insult during a defeat to Mexico, the revolt was under way. The players stayed in their rooms, watching television instead of getting onto the training field.
[Photos: See disgraced star Nicolas Anelka’s return to London]
Even France president Nicolas Sarkozy waded into the controversy, blasting the squad’s attitude in a public tirade and sending his sports minister to South Africa to confront the players. But there is only one person who might have a chance of sorting out this mess, and he is not a politician.
That person is Laurent Blanc.
For a proud soccer nation like France to be dumped out in such fashion from one of the tournament’s easiest groups is an unspeakable humiliation. The first thing Blanc must do is strip the team of its aging troublemakers who formed a clique that was hugely destructive.
Anelka should have played his last game for his country. The same goes for defenders William Gallas and Patrice Evra, who is believed to be at the center of the team’s mutinous thoughts.
South Africa’s victory was not enough to put it through to the round of 16, making it the first World Cup host in history to fail to reach the second round. Yet the shame and disgrace on Tuesday night was not Bafana Bafana’s.
It belonged instead to a team that didn’t deserve to be in the tournament in the first place and treated soccer’s greatest show like an inconvenience rather than a privilege.
Martin Rogers is a staff writer for Yahoo! Sports. Send Martin a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast.
Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Greece vs. Argentina (0-2)
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Greek Fan.Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Nigeria vs. Korea (2-2)
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Korean Fans.Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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France vs. South Africa (1-2)
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French FansLabels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Mexico vs. Uruguay (0-1)
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Uruguay Fan.Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Schedule for Today
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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Mexico vs. UruguayFrance vs. South Africa
Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Monday, June 21, 2010
Spain vs. Honduras (2-0)
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Spanish Fans.Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Chile vs. Switzerland (1-0)
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A Chilean Fan.Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Portugal vs. North Korea (7-0)
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Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Today's Schedule of Matches
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Swiss Fans.
Today's Schedule:
Portugal vs People's Republic of Korea
Chile vs Switzerland
Spain vs Honduras
Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Sunday, June 20, 2010
Kaka of Brazil
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The MidfielderLabels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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France continues infighting, refuse to train, director quits
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A training ground argument between French captain Patrice Evra and fitness coach Robert Duverne had to be broken up by manager Raymond Domenech.
This was followed by the team's refusal to train and the resignation of team director Jean-Louis Valentin on Sunday.
This comes a day after the revelation that striker Nicolas Anelka was being sent home early because of his profane words for Domenech and Evra's public assertion that they have a traitor in the team that must be eliminated. The French are in a full-blown meltdown now. Mayhem is upon them.
“It’s a scandal for the French, for the young people here. It’s a scandal for the federation and the French team,” Valentin said. “They don’t want to train. It’s unacceptable.
“As for me, it’s over. I’m leaving the federation. I’m sickened and disgusted,” said Valentin, who walked away from the training field, got into a car and drove off.
After the argument between Evra and Duverne that ended with Duverne throwing his badges to the ground and walking off (UPDATE: France Football reports that the spat began with Evra accusing Duverne of being the traitor), the team boarded their bus.
Domenech then read a letter from Evra and the players to the press saying that they were boycotting training in support of Anelka, who reportedly announced his international retirement after his dismissal on Saturday.
By Brooks Peck
Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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France Fitness Coach Clashes With Evra
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New Zealand pulls amazing draw against Italy
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New Zealand pulled off an astonishing 1-1 draw with Italy on Sunday that some are calling one of the greatest feats in World Cup history. Probably those who forget that the defending champs haven't won a match yet in 2010.
Still, it was an extremely impressive performance from New Zealand. I don't know how many times I need to write it for myself to properly believe it, but I swear to Pele that just actually happened.
New Zealand, which just earned its first-ever World Cup point last Tuesday. Unreal. The All Whites are ranked No. 78 in the world FIFA rankings. That's a full 73 places lower than Italy - something that should signify an insurmountable gulf in ability and a complete walk in the park for the Azzurri. But on Sunday, it didn't.
I guess when they said that if a World Cup came to Africa, anything could happen, they really meant it. I don't know if it's the Jabulani, the altitude, magical giraffes, or the vuvuzelas, but in this World Cup of 2010 absolutely anything can, and will, happen.
The glory man for the Kiwis was none other than Shane Smeltz (one of the best names of the tournament, by the way). Smeltz scored the opener in the seventh minute after a looping free kick deflected off Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro's thigh to fall right in his path for an easy finish to send the New Zealand faithful into raptures.
Bret and Jermaine from "Flight of the Conchords" must be angry because they just dropped two slots on the list of most famous people in New Zealand. Sure he was probably a smidgen offside, but this is World Cup madness here!
And the All Whites absolutely earned their one point. In fact, they were possibly hard done by Italy's penalty equalizer after an iffy decision on a Daniele De Rossi shirt pull and fall. But that won't stop New Zealand from reveling in its ultimate football moment.
Many thought that moment actually occurred last week when Winston Reid dramatically scored an equalizing header in stoppage time against Slovakia in its first game of the World Cup.
But now there is no doubt that this result against Italy surpasses that and all that has come before it.
New Zealand has one scheduled game left, the final group game against Paraguay on Thursday.
Like in every game of this World Cup competition, New Zealand will be heavy underdogs. But don't be surprised to see it pull off another shocker and advance to the knockout rounds. It's kind of what it does now.
By Carter Daly
Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Brazil vs. Ivory Coast (3-1)
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A Brazilian Fan.Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Italy vs. New Zealand (1-1)
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Italy Soccer Fans.Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Paraguay beats Slovakia 2-0 at the World Cup
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa - At a World Cup lacking offense, Paraguay showed some punch.
Enrique Vera and Cristian Riveros each scored Sunday as Paraguay took a big step toward the round of 16 with a 2-0 win over Slovakia.
The win puts Paraguay atop Group F with four points after two matches. Slovakia has one point. Defending champion Italy and New Zealand also are in the group, and play later Sunday — they each began the day with one point.
"We played a good match and we are getting closer to the round of 16," Vera said. "Our intention now is to be first in the group."
Playing with a three-man front line spearheaded by Roque Santa Cruz, Paraguay controlled the tempo from the start at Free State Stadium.
Vera broke through for La Albirroja in the 27th when forward Lucas Barrios slipped a pass into the box and Vera angled it past Slovakia goalkeeper Jan Mucha with a one-time shot.
Riveros added a goal in the 86th minute, a left-footed blast from the edge of the penalty area.
"We did very well in the first half and we got a goal, but that didn't mean we could relax in the second (half), and I don't believe we did," Vera said.
Playing in its first major tournament since the former Czechoslovakia divided in 1993, Slovakia looked outclassed and unsure of itself facing a big, physical Paraguayan team that beat both Argentina and Brazil in World Cup qualifying.
"We made two mistakes and conceded two goals," Slovakia coach Vladimir Weiss said. "There was always a punishment for our mistakes. Our opponent was a really high quality opponent and their victory was deserved."
After Paraguay tied Italy 1-1 in its World Cup opener, national coach Gerardo Martino opted to switch from a 4-4-2 formation to an attacking 4-3-3 against Slovakia, with Santa Cruz, Nelson Valdez and Lucas Barrios up front.
The trio of powerful strikers proved a handful for the Slovakia defense, outjumping, outmuscling and outrunning the Slovaks.
Forced to focus on defending, Slovakia never mounted a serious challenge to Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar. Slovakia's first and only shot on goal came with Robert Vittek's drive in injury time.
"We played better today because we made some corrections from the first game, and we got the early goal, which we were looking to get," Martino said.
"We barely gave Slovakia any chances to score early in the match, and that made a difference. And yes, it is a good thing we have gotten a lead against both of our opponents so far."
Santa Cruz, who plays for Manchester City, was a welcome addition to Paraguay's starting lineup. The striker has been hampered by a leg injury, and only came on as a second-half substitute against Italy.
He made his presence felt almost immediately Sunday, collecting a ball at the top of the box in the 3rd minute and hitting a right-footed shot that forced a diving save from Mucha.
He also came close to scoring in the 39th, when he broke free for a low right-footed drive that Mucha kicked wide — and Vera headed his cross just wide of the left post in the 72nd.
"This is a result that will put us in a good position, but the result of the next game will decide," Martino said. "This is a very significant win for us, of course, but the math shows that we are not through yet."
By RYAN LUCAS, Associated Press Writer
Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Slovakia vs. Paraguay (0-1)
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Slovak Fans.Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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U.S.-Slovenia ref gets poor rating
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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JOHANNESBURG - The referee who disallowed a potential game-winning goal for the U.S. against Slovenia was given a poor rating following an expedited review of his performance Saturday, according to a FIFA source.
FIFA’s referee committee reviewed the video of Team USA’s 2-2 draw with Slovenia in which Mali referee Koman Coulibaly denied Maurice Edu’s 85th-minute strike. Coulibaly appeared to rule that an American attacker had impeded a Slovenian defender, even though video replays showed no definitive infringement.
The Associated Press reported Saturday that FIFA will comment Monday on the referee performance in the U.S. match.
The committee evaluated Coulibaly’s performance on a series of factors, including his condition, positioning and decision-making, said the source, who is close to senior figures on the committee.
While the official’s fitness and movement were solid, FIFA referee chiefs were concerned about several of Coulibaly’s decisions and the way he appeared to lose control of a highly physical contest.
The assignments for the final round of group matches have yet to be assigned, but given Coulibaly’s rating, there is virtually no chance he will get to referee any more matches in the tournament. However, he could still be used as a fourth official.
Yahoo! Sports reported on Friday that Coulibaly faced being excluded from refereeing for the remainder of the World Cup and that his performance would be heavily scrutinized.
“If he is found to have made a serious mistake, especially one that affected the outcome, then he would be highly unlikely to play any further part in the tournament,” the FIFA source said. “FIFA is determined to keep refereeing standards high and does not want high-profile mistakes.”
U.S. head coach Bob Bradley, who is normally reserved in making critical judgments about referee decisions, was incensed by Coulibaly’s decision on Edu’s goal and indicated that it may have resembled the kind of “make-up call” often seen in the NBA.
“There are times when a referee blows a foul and now thinks either he didn’t make the correct call on the foul or a previous play,” Bradley said. “Then literally, as soon as the free kick’s taken, he blows his whistle.”
FIFA chooses its referees and assistants for each game from a list of elite officials specially selected for the tournament. They are evaluated before the tournament to ensure that their fitness and knowledge are up to standards. At the end of the group stage, the best referees are picked to officiate the crucial knockout matches.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter refused to comment directly about Coulibaly, but directed reporters to recent comments he had made about the overall standard of refereeing.
“FIFA’s goal is to improve the quality of refereeing,” Blatter said before the World Cup. “We want to make referees more professional and better prepared, and to assist referees as much as possible.”
Coulibaly is part of a three-man crew that also features Redouane Achik of Morocco and Inacio Candido of Angola as his assistants. If Coulibaly is ruled out of future matches, that will also prevent his colleagues from taking part.
Said USA star Clint Dempsey said of Coulibaly: “It is up to FIFA what they do about him.”
By Martin Rogers, Yahoo! Sports
Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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Saturday, June 19, 2010
Offside?
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World Cup South Africa 2010 |
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With the recent controversy in the game between Slovenia vs. USA, it would be helpful to review the rules.
The U.S. battled back with a tenacious second half only to be kept from a win by a decision, a Maurice Edu (USA) goal disallowed by Malian referee Koman Coulibaly.
The blue forward on the left of the diagram is in an offside position as he is in front of both the second-to-last defender (marked by the dotted line) and the ball.
Note that this does not necessarily mean he is committing an offside offence.
Can't help but remember my soccer days in college, a basketball player playing soccer.
As a basketball player, we always aspire to break away from our man and catch the ball alone for a free lay in to the basket.
You can't do that in soccer. What?
Soccer has a different rule we call offside.
If you can't still understand this rule, you have company in me. It is still an enigma to me.
Anyway, my soccer days were cut short by a Samoan who thought my foot is the soccer ball and kicked it so hard. Damn.
Got 28 days in the hospital in a cast, with lots of signatures from the frat brods in it.
So how can Edu's shot came to be called an offside? Proceed now to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offside_(association_football)
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Cameroon vs. Denmark (1-2)
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Danish Fans.Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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World Cup Babes
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Labels: 2010 football world cup, 2010 soccer world cup, 2010 world cup, fifaworldcup, football world cup, soccer 2010, world cup news, world cup online, world cup soccer, world cup south africa
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