by David Hytner
Dutch optimism remains in check. Holland have brought their inimitable colour to the World Cup finals and progressed to the second round with three wins from three, but one damning statistic serves to keep them grounded. Since Euro 2000, the men in orange have won a single knockout tie at a major tournament – and that was the most unlikely penalty shoot-out triumph over Sweden at Euro 2004, after a 0-0 draw in the last 16.
A question mark has rarely been placed against their talent and once again the squad brims with class players. The manager, Bert Van Marwijk, can call upon his big four – Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart – but the support cast is not bad either, with Dirk Kuyt, Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Ibrahim Afellay and Eljero Elia vying for prominence.
"Every game we start," said Van Persie, "there is a really nice belief that we will score. We always think there is a goal or two in us and if we don't score, we have all the players on the bench. It's just fantastic."
Holland's problem has, in recent times, been between the ears and we are not only talking about the psychological tensions that have led to fall-outs between some of the players. When the knockout stages have begun, the Dutch have lost their composure. At the last European Championship, having dismissed Italy, France and Romania in the group phase, the same team failed against Russia in the quarter-finals. They went down 3-1.
At the 2006 World Cup, after similarly encouraging group stage performances, when they beat Serbia & Montenegro and Ivory Coast, and drew with Argentina, they lost the infamous "Battle of Nuremberg" to Portugal in the last 16. The tie featured 16 cards – four of them red – but only one goal. It was also the Portuguese who beat them in the Euro 2004 quarter-final. Holland did not qualify for the World Cup finals in 2002.
Can it be different this time? Van Persie thinks so. The last-16 meeting with Slovakia in Durban will be fraught with anxiety, particularly if the Slovaks show the form with which they saw off Italy. But Van Marwijk's team are not all flicks and technique. They know how to get results.
They qualified for South Africa with a 100% record and in Group E, against Denmark, Japan and Cameroon, it was adjectives like solid, patient and professional which were applied to their performances. The only goal that they conceded was a penalty to Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o. There is a steely resolve about Holland's class of 2010. "I think it's the combination you have to have – the mental toughness and the talent," said Van Persie. "You have to put in the quality but as well as have the mental strength to do it over and over again. After a game, forget about the game and go on to the next one.
"Do we have that mental toughness now? I believe so, yes. We have to show that we have learned from the last couple of years. Most of our players have had two, three or four tournaments and we have to show that we have learned from that. Hopefully, I can give you a positive answer in a couple of weeks."
Happily for Holland, there is the feeling that the early performances have not kept pace with their results; that they have the scope to grow and improve. Unlike at recent tournaments, it is hoped that their best form now lies ahead of them. As ever, there is also the pressure on Holland to win in a certain way. Van Persie says that he thrives on it.
"The Dutch public are very critical, but I don't mind that," he said. "That's the way we are and this is the way we want to be as well. Our target is to play well and I think it's a good target. This is the target that I have with my club as well. At Arsenal, we want to win but we want to do it with quality, to play in the way that we believe.
"Our first three games here were basically not to our standard because we all know we can play much better, but you've seen in patches the kind of football that we love to play. Three games, nine points – that's OK because the group stage is all about survival. But I hope it can be the start of something. Physically and even mentally, there is more to come. It's looking good but now the tournament really starts."
Van Marwijk introduced Robben as a 73rd-minute substitute against Cameroon last Thursday for his first action of the tournament – the winger injured his hamstring in the warm-up game against Hungary on 5 June – but the manager is again likely to start him from the bench against Slovakia.
Robben is not yet fully match fit. Van der Vaart's place on the left is most threatened by Robben's return as Van Marwijk values the balance and work rate that Kuyt offers on the right. He might appear spoilt for choice. His team must now engage bodies and minds.
World Cup 2010: Slovakia stand in the way of hopeful Holland
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Fans will await this game. Will Team Holland win?
Friday, July 2, 2010
Only World Cup final place will satisfy Argentina: Tevez
by ANI
Ace striker Carlos Tevez, who delighted coach Diego Maradona with two goals in the last-16 win over Mexico, has said that only a World Cup final place will satisfy Argentina.
Tevez headed home on 26 minutes and Gonzalo Higuain added the second goal minutes later. Then Tevez’s kick from 25-yards sealed the win before Mexico’s Javier Hernandez pulled one back.
“This was an important step towards getting to the final, which is where we want to be,” The Sun quoted Tevez, as saying.
“We’re now in the quarter-finals and what matters is that we played well. We need to rest and enjoy this victory,” he said.
But Mexico boss Javier Aguirre slammed referee Roberto Rossetti for allowing Tevez’s offside opener.
Aguirre said: “It affected us badly and then we conceded again. I blame the referee’s mistake for the second goal too.”
Argentina now face Germany in Cape Town on Saturday.
Only World Cup final place will satisfy Argentina: Tevez
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Any World Cup team will only be satisfied if they see themselves in the finals. Unfortunately, only two will fight. Who will that be?
Ace striker Carlos Tevez, who delighted coach Diego Maradona with two goals in the last-16 win over Mexico, has said that only a World Cup final place will satisfy Argentina.
Tevez headed home on 26 minutes and Gonzalo Higuain added the second goal minutes later. Then Tevez’s kick from 25-yards sealed the win before Mexico’s Javier Hernandez pulled one back.
“This was an important step towards getting to the final, which is where we want to be,” The Sun quoted Tevez, as saying.
“We’re now in the quarter-finals and what matters is that we played well. We need to rest and enjoy this victory,” he said.
But Mexico boss Javier Aguirre slammed referee Roberto Rossetti for allowing Tevez’s offside opener.
Aguirre said: “It affected us badly and then we conceded again. I blame the referee’s mistake for the second goal too.”
Argentina now face Germany in Cape Town on Saturday.
Only World Cup final place will satisfy Argentina: Tevez
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Any World Cup team will only be satisfied if they see themselves in the finals. Unfortunately, only two will fight. Who will that be?
Thursday, July 1, 2010
World Cup 2010 - Capello Will Not Step Down As England Manager
Fabio Capello will not step down as England manager following the Three Lions' 4-1 defeat against Germany.
The Italian coach was at a loss to explain his side's embarrassing defeat in Bloemfontein, but after the game declared he will not resign from his position, according to Sky Sports News.
Capello is however understood to be seeking a meeting with the FA following England's World Cup exit, which could fuel speculation as to whether he will remain as manager despite the declaration.
World Cup 2010 - Capello Will Not Step Down As England Manager
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Capello may not want to resign, but the management will decide on it. England players' opinions will also matter.
The Italian coach was at a loss to explain his side's embarrassing defeat in Bloemfontein, but after the game declared he will not resign from his position, according to Sky Sports News.
Capello is however understood to be seeking a meeting with the FA following England's World Cup exit, which could fuel speculation as to whether he will remain as manager despite the declaration.
World Cup 2010 - Capello Will Not Step Down As England Manager
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Capello may not want to resign, but the management will decide on it. England players' opinions will also matter.
South Africa's FIFA World Cup boss denies helping brother benefit from tournament
Danny Jordaan, chief executive of South Africa's Local Organizing Committee for the FIFA World Cup, on Saturday rejected media reports that he had improperly arranged for his brother to benefit from the tournament.
Jordaan was responding to claims in the Mail & Guardian newspapers in Johannesburg on Friday that his brother was cashing in on the World Cup through a hospitality contract.
The Mail & Guardian also said there are tensions between Jordaan and Irvin Khoza, who is chairman of South Africa's FIFA's Local Organizing Committee for the FIFA, the South African Press Association (SAPA) reported.
During a media conference held at Johannesburg's Soccer City on Saturday, Jordaan said: "I cannot comment on that. All I know is that we are focused on dealing with the World Cup."
Jordaan also dismissed as "nonsense" South African media's repeated insistence on referring back to last year's South Africa Football Association (SAFA) elections, insinuating that there was tension between himself and Khoza.
Both Jordaan and Khoza stood for the SAFA presidency but withdrew at the last minute, allowing Kirsten Nematanandi to be elected. Nematanandi is seen by the South African media as a supporter of Jordaan.
According to SAPA, on Saturday Jordaan challenged reports by the Mail & Guardian that he had submitted an affidavit to his lawyers in an effort to take legal steps against the newspaper.
"Do you know the lawyers?" he asked.
"I'd be happy if you gave me their names."
Jordaan said he and Khoza were focused on ensuring a smooth tournament for players and fans.
However, he said that the failure of most African teams to qualify for the knock out round of the World Cup was a disappointment.
Of six African participants, only Ghana pulled through to play the United States on Saturday afternoon.
Host nation South Africa, along with Nigeria, Algeria, Cameroon and Cote d'Ivoire, failed to go further in the first FIFA World Cup on the African soil in FIFA's 106-year history.
South Africa's FIFA World Cup boss denies helping brother benefit from tournament
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I do hope this is not true. Countries would like to host World Cup in order to help boost the economy and tourism of their countries - not for their personal gains. Why can't we just enjoy the games?
Jordaan was responding to claims in the Mail & Guardian newspapers in Johannesburg on Friday that his brother was cashing in on the World Cup through a hospitality contract.
The Mail & Guardian also said there are tensions between Jordaan and Irvin Khoza, who is chairman of South Africa's FIFA's Local Organizing Committee for the FIFA, the South African Press Association (SAPA) reported.
During a media conference held at Johannesburg's Soccer City on Saturday, Jordaan said: "I cannot comment on that. All I know is that we are focused on dealing with the World Cup."
Jordaan also dismissed as "nonsense" South African media's repeated insistence on referring back to last year's South Africa Football Association (SAFA) elections, insinuating that there was tension between himself and Khoza.
Both Jordaan and Khoza stood for the SAFA presidency but withdrew at the last minute, allowing Kirsten Nematanandi to be elected. Nematanandi is seen by the South African media as a supporter of Jordaan.
According to SAPA, on Saturday Jordaan challenged reports by the Mail & Guardian that he had submitted an affidavit to his lawyers in an effort to take legal steps against the newspaper.
"Do you know the lawyers?" he asked.
"I'd be happy if you gave me their names."
Jordaan said he and Khoza were focused on ensuring a smooth tournament for players and fans.
However, he said that the failure of most African teams to qualify for the knock out round of the World Cup was a disappointment.
Of six African participants, only Ghana pulled through to play the United States on Saturday afternoon.
Host nation South Africa, along with Nigeria, Algeria, Cameroon and Cote d'Ivoire, failed to go further in the first FIFA World Cup on the African soil in FIFA's 106-year history.
South Africa's FIFA World Cup boss denies helping brother benefit from tournament
--
I do hope this is not true. Countries would like to host World Cup in order to help boost the economy and tourism of their countries - not for their personal gains. Why can't we just enjoy the games?
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Van Bronkhorst: We can win World Cup
Giovanni van Bronckhorst is convinced Holland can go all the way at the World Cup provided they play at full strength in every match.
Feyenoord's veteran midfielder is set to start in Monday's last 16 showdown against Slovakia in Durban.
The Oranje head into the encounter at the Moses Mhabida Stadium on the back of three straight wins in Group E.
"I do believe we will become world champions," said Van Bronckhorst.
"There is a great atmosphere in the group and it's good to hear that so many people are supporting us back home."
Slovakia already sent a warning to the Dutch by eliminating champions Italy on Thursday with a 3-2 triumph to finish second in their group.
"I saw their game against Italy," said Van Bronckhorst.
"They played really well and deserved to win that game.
"Slovakia are very good at defending, very good at counter-attacks and that is what they did against Italy.
"It's going to be a tough match to win but we all want to be world champions so we have to beat them."
Holland start as favourites against the World Cup debutants but Van Bronckhorst knows history has not been kind to his team.
The World Cup runners-up in the 1974 and 1978 finals, Holland lost to Portugal at this stage of the tournament four years ago.
Van Bronkhorst believes if his team shows the same over-confident attitude that they did against Cameroon in the last encounter, they could end up in danger.
Holland beat Cameroon 2-1 on Thursday but it was far from their best performance.
"Our second half against Cameroon wasn't good," said Van Bronckhorst. "If something like that happens again we might have to go home. We have to avoid such a phase from happening again."
Slovakia's Robert Vittek, the two-goal hero against Italy, believes the pressure will be on Holland.
"We are looking forward to the match," he said. "There will be a lot more pressure on Holland because they have to deliver and we have nothing to lose. For us it will be a completely new experience.
"We are not thinking about the result, we only have a chance to win if we manage to play as we played against Italy.
"For us it's just great to play at a World Cup and against an opponent like Holland."
Vittek, who plays his club football in Turkey with Ankaragucu, knows it will be difficult but will be hoping to increase his current tally of three goals in the tournament.
"I am very happy being among the top scorers," he said. "I go into every match wishing to score or at least to help my team win."
Van Bronkhorst: We can win World Cup
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That's the World Cup spirit - very optimistic.
Feyenoord's veteran midfielder is set to start in Monday's last 16 showdown against Slovakia in Durban.
The Oranje head into the encounter at the Moses Mhabida Stadium on the back of three straight wins in Group E.
"I do believe we will become world champions," said Van Bronckhorst.
"There is a great atmosphere in the group and it's good to hear that so many people are supporting us back home."
Slovakia already sent a warning to the Dutch by eliminating champions Italy on Thursday with a 3-2 triumph to finish second in their group.
"I saw their game against Italy," said Van Bronckhorst.
"They played really well and deserved to win that game.
"Slovakia are very good at defending, very good at counter-attacks and that is what they did against Italy.
"It's going to be a tough match to win but we all want to be world champions so we have to beat them."
Holland start as favourites against the World Cup debutants but Van Bronckhorst knows history has not been kind to his team.
The World Cup runners-up in the 1974 and 1978 finals, Holland lost to Portugal at this stage of the tournament four years ago.
Van Bronkhorst believes if his team shows the same over-confident attitude that they did against Cameroon in the last encounter, they could end up in danger.
Holland beat Cameroon 2-1 on Thursday but it was far from their best performance.
"Our second half against Cameroon wasn't good," said Van Bronckhorst. "If something like that happens again we might have to go home. We have to avoid such a phase from happening again."
Slovakia's Robert Vittek, the two-goal hero against Italy, believes the pressure will be on Holland.
"We are looking forward to the match," he said. "There will be a lot more pressure on Holland because they have to deliver and we have nothing to lose. For us it will be a completely new experience.
"We are not thinking about the result, we only have a chance to win if we manage to play as we played against Italy.
"For us it's just great to play at a World Cup and against an opponent like Holland."
Vittek, who plays his club football in Turkey with Ankaragucu, knows it will be difficult but will be hoping to increase his current tally of three goals in the tournament.
"I am very happy being among the top scorers," he said. "I go into every match wishing to score or at least to help my team win."
Van Bronkhorst: We can win World Cup
--
That's the World Cup spirit - very optimistic.
Errors pave way for Mexico's earlier-than-expected World Cup exit
By Kevin Baxter
It was a team that was supposed to make history. Instead it only repeated it.
It was a group that was going to accomplish something unique. Instead it simply copied what Mexico's last four World Cup teams did.
With its 3-1 loss to Argentina on Sunday at Soccer City Stadium, Mexico once again bowed out of the World Cup in the second round — just as it has every fourth summer since 1994.
Sure, the Argentines got some help from another botched call by the officials. But they got just as much from Mexico, which wilted on an otherwise chilly night.
"Two mistakes dramatically, drastically changed the course of the game," Mexico Coach Javier Aguirre said. "There was a before and an after."
Before, the game was tied. After, it was over — even though there was nearly an hour left to play.
The first mistake came in the 26th minute, at a time when Argentina appeared confused and Mexico confident.
It began with Lionel Messi charging through the Mexican defense before sending the ball ahead to Carlos Tevez. Mexico keeper Oscar Perez charged out to meet Tevez, knocking the ball away as the Argentine forward stumbled by.
Messi collected the loose ball and chipped it forward again, and this time Tevez headed it into the net for his first of two goals.
Problem was, he was clearly offside — something the Mexicans pointed out immediately. But Italian referee Roberto Rosetti, after a long consultation with assistant referee Stefano Ayroldi, let the goal stand.
"In such an important game like this," Mexico forward Adolfo Bautista complained afterward.
The second mistake came seven minutes later, and although it wasn't as controversial, it was just as costly.
With Mexico still reeling from the disputed score, defender Ricardo Osorio, only 20 yards from his own goal, apparently mistook Argentina forward Gonzalo Higuain for a teammate and kicked the ball right to him.
Higuain grabbed the gift, rounded the goalkeeper and put the ball in the back of the net. Just like that, Mexico went from being in control to being on its way home.
"You can analyze the lineups, the changes, but it's very clear that with two horrible errors it's difficult to go back to your game," Aguirre said. "We lost our composure, our concentration."
It wasn't supposed to be like this, of course. This was a team with eight holdovers from the last World Cup. A team with veteran leadership from the likes of Rafael Marquez and Cuauhtemoc Blanco, each playing in his third World Cup, and precocious youngsters such as 22-year-old Javier Hernandez, who scored Mexico's only goal Sunday after the game had largely been decided.
Justino Compean, president of the Mexican soccer federation, had promised the team would reach the quarterfinals, a place only two other Mexico teams had ever gone. And only 24 hours before Sunday's match Aguirre repeated something he's been saying since February.
"We've been clear since we first got together 13 or 14 months ago," he said. "We want to break with history, change the course of things."
Instead they stayed the course, winning only once in four games here, the same as four of the previous five Mexico World Cup teams.
A team of history? Probably not, said Marquez, the captain, who made his own history Sunday by playing in his 12th World Cup game, most ever by a Mexican.
"It's a good team," he said. "But we didn't get the difference to make history. It wasn't worth anything."
Perez, who like Marquez probably played his last game with the national team Sunday, agreed.
"We did OK. But the circumstances complicated things," he said. "It bothers me. . . . When we came here, we wanted this game. And it didn't work out."
Now Mexico has to wait another four years before it can try again. You can write a lot of history in that much time.
Or you can spend the time reliving it, which is what at least player predicted the team will be doing.
"We're going to be thinking about this one awhile," Andres Guardado said.
Errors pave way for Mexico's earlier-than-expected World Cup exit
--
Mistakes are part of the game. But for World Cup, mistakes will forever be remembered if the games are crucial. Anyway, every team in the FIFA World Cup will always pick up the pieces and start again.
It was a team that was supposed to make history. Instead it only repeated it.
It was a group that was going to accomplish something unique. Instead it simply copied what Mexico's last four World Cup teams did.
With its 3-1 loss to Argentina on Sunday at Soccer City Stadium, Mexico once again bowed out of the World Cup in the second round — just as it has every fourth summer since 1994.
Sure, the Argentines got some help from another botched call by the officials. But they got just as much from Mexico, which wilted on an otherwise chilly night.
"Two mistakes dramatically, drastically changed the course of the game," Mexico Coach Javier Aguirre said. "There was a before and an after."
Before, the game was tied. After, it was over — even though there was nearly an hour left to play.
The first mistake came in the 26th minute, at a time when Argentina appeared confused and Mexico confident.
It began with Lionel Messi charging through the Mexican defense before sending the ball ahead to Carlos Tevez. Mexico keeper Oscar Perez charged out to meet Tevez, knocking the ball away as the Argentine forward stumbled by.
Messi collected the loose ball and chipped it forward again, and this time Tevez headed it into the net for his first of two goals.
Problem was, he was clearly offside — something the Mexicans pointed out immediately. But Italian referee Roberto Rosetti, after a long consultation with assistant referee Stefano Ayroldi, let the goal stand.
"In such an important game like this," Mexico forward Adolfo Bautista complained afterward.
The second mistake came seven minutes later, and although it wasn't as controversial, it was just as costly.
With Mexico still reeling from the disputed score, defender Ricardo Osorio, only 20 yards from his own goal, apparently mistook Argentina forward Gonzalo Higuain for a teammate and kicked the ball right to him.
Higuain grabbed the gift, rounded the goalkeeper and put the ball in the back of the net. Just like that, Mexico went from being in control to being on its way home.
"You can analyze the lineups, the changes, but it's very clear that with two horrible errors it's difficult to go back to your game," Aguirre said. "We lost our composure, our concentration."
It wasn't supposed to be like this, of course. This was a team with eight holdovers from the last World Cup. A team with veteran leadership from the likes of Rafael Marquez and Cuauhtemoc Blanco, each playing in his third World Cup, and precocious youngsters such as 22-year-old Javier Hernandez, who scored Mexico's only goal Sunday after the game had largely been decided.
Justino Compean, president of the Mexican soccer federation, had promised the team would reach the quarterfinals, a place only two other Mexico teams had ever gone. And only 24 hours before Sunday's match Aguirre repeated something he's been saying since February.
"We've been clear since we first got together 13 or 14 months ago," he said. "We want to break with history, change the course of things."
Instead they stayed the course, winning only once in four games here, the same as four of the previous five Mexico World Cup teams.
A team of history? Probably not, said Marquez, the captain, who made his own history Sunday by playing in his 12th World Cup game, most ever by a Mexican.
"It's a good team," he said. "But we didn't get the difference to make history. It wasn't worth anything."
Perez, who like Marquez probably played his last game with the national team Sunday, agreed.
"We did OK. But the circumstances complicated things," he said. "It bothers me. . . . When we came here, we wanted this game. And it didn't work out."
Now Mexico has to wait another four years before it can try again. You can write a lot of history in that much time.
Or you can spend the time reliving it, which is what at least player predicted the team will be doing.
"We're going to be thinking about this one awhile," Andres Guardado said.
Errors pave way for Mexico's earlier-than-expected World Cup exit
--
Mistakes are part of the game. But for World Cup, mistakes will forever be remembered if the games are crucial. Anyway, every team in the FIFA World Cup will always pick up the pieces and start again.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Weighty G-20 Agenda Is No Match for World Cup
By Alistair Macdonald and Elizabeth Williamson
TORONTO—For some world leaders here to hash out fiscal policy and banking regulation, one topic seemed to dominate the agenda: where to watch the World Cup and how to squeeze it in without offending fellow leaders.
Ten of the 26 nations represented at the Group of Eight and Group of 20 meetings were still contenders in the Cup hosted by South Africa as talks kicked off. But the meetings were in Canada—a country whose men's team had qualified only once, nearly a quarter of a century ago, and then lost every match and failed to score a single goal.
Whenever they could, officials and leaders—from German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.K. leader David Cameron to President Barack Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak—tried to catch matches, scrambling to figure out where to watch the games.
Soccer small talk began before serious discussions did.
On Friday, ahead of the G-8 summit in a resort north of Toronto, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan and German Chancellor Merkel congratulated each other on their teams' performances.
Mr. Kan's team, ranked 45th going into the tournament, had just knocked out the higher-ranked Denmark. He said he hoped now Japan and Germany (ranked sixth) would meet in the final, according to an official at their meeting.
A more restrained Ms. Merkel noted that the German team had some tough opponents lined up.
Mr. Cameron commiserated with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi over their teams' disappointing showings. With Italy out, Mr. Berlusconi told Mr. Cameron he would switch his allegiance to England, whose manager is Italian Fabio Capello.
Mr. Cameron, at his first major international conference, claimed an early diplomatic success: "I have notched up one supporter," he said.
The Toronto Tourist Board had been taking calls for days from delegations and their press packs, all with the same question: Where is the best place to catch the games?
"Everyone wanted to find where they could hang out," said Michelle Revuelta, a spokeswoman for Tourism Toronto, who had herself taken "several dozen" calls from delegations.
In what is quite likely a presidential first—not that anyone was tracking—the White House on Saturday interrupted G-20 preparations to issue a statement saying that Mr. Obama and Ghana President John Atta Mills were "eagerly anticipating" the match between the two teams later that day.
As the game began, Mr. Obama was in a meeting with Mr. Cameron. Midway through their session, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner entered the room to tell the president that the U.S. was one goal down, a British official said.
"That is not what I wanted to hear," Mr. Obama said, according to the official.
Shortly after the president ended his next bilateral meeting, with Mr. Lee, the White House press corps was sent to a room across the hall, where Mr. Obama was watching the U.S.–Ghana match on a flat-screen TV. The score was 2-1 in the 10th minute of extended time. White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel entered and asked Mr. Obama: "How much time is left?"
"Five minutes," the leader of the free world answered. "It's nerve-racking."
Reporters were escorted out before they could record the presidential reaction to the outcome—a 2-1 loss for the U.S.
Meanwhile, leaving a meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 on Saturday, Pravin Gordhan, the finance minister of World Cup host South Africa, found a television almost outside the door. He stayed to watch the final 10 minutes of the Ghana–U.S. match before hurrying to a delegation dinner.
Saturday hadn't gone well for South Korea's Mr. Lee, whose country, a G-20 member, had crashed out to nonmember Uruguay. At the conference media center, a group of South Korean reporters had gathered excitedly around TV sets, only to return despondently to their desks after Uruguay's win-clinching second goal.
On Sunday morning, attention turned to the England-Germany game. In four World Cup meetings, England had lost to Germany three times. Sunday,The chatter of keyboards from the deadline-pressed British press corps was interrupted by a large groan as the German team took the lead.
Across town, Mr. Cameron stood up to speak at the leaders' working meeting, knowing England was now down 1-0, a British official said. By the time he sat down, Ms. Merkel told him his team was behind by two goals.
The German leader conceded that a second England goal that had hit the crossbar and appeared to land behind goal line should have counted.
Mr. Cameron and Ms. Merkel left their fellow leaders and joined staffers watching the second half of the match, where Germany scored another two goals against England, winning the game 4-1.
"I'm still shaking," Ms. Merkel told reporters soon after. "More of the same!"
The final match during the G-20 was between members Argentina and Mexico. But how do you excuse yourself from the concluding summit meeting? Instead, Mexican President Felipe Calderón took updates on his BlackBerry, a Mexican official said. It wasn't good news—his side was losing.
Weighty G-20 Agenda Is No Match for World Cup
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G-20 Summit participants also can't get enough of the World Cup. I hope reason that they're there will not be affected.
TORONTO—For some world leaders here to hash out fiscal policy and banking regulation, one topic seemed to dominate the agenda: where to watch the World Cup and how to squeeze it in without offending fellow leaders.
Ten of the 26 nations represented at the Group of Eight and Group of 20 meetings were still contenders in the Cup hosted by South Africa as talks kicked off. But the meetings were in Canada—a country whose men's team had qualified only once, nearly a quarter of a century ago, and then lost every match and failed to score a single goal.
Whenever they could, officials and leaders—from German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.K. leader David Cameron to President Barack Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak—tried to catch matches, scrambling to figure out where to watch the games.
Soccer small talk began before serious discussions did.
On Friday, ahead of the G-8 summit in a resort north of Toronto, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan and German Chancellor Merkel congratulated each other on their teams' performances.
Mr. Kan's team, ranked 45th going into the tournament, had just knocked out the higher-ranked Denmark. He said he hoped now Japan and Germany (ranked sixth) would meet in the final, according to an official at their meeting.
A more restrained Ms. Merkel noted that the German team had some tough opponents lined up.
Mr. Cameron commiserated with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi over their teams' disappointing showings. With Italy out, Mr. Berlusconi told Mr. Cameron he would switch his allegiance to England, whose manager is Italian Fabio Capello.
Mr. Cameron, at his first major international conference, claimed an early diplomatic success: "I have notched up one supporter," he said.
The Toronto Tourist Board had been taking calls for days from delegations and their press packs, all with the same question: Where is the best place to catch the games?
"Everyone wanted to find where they could hang out," said Michelle Revuelta, a spokeswoman for Tourism Toronto, who had herself taken "several dozen" calls from delegations.
In what is quite likely a presidential first—not that anyone was tracking—the White House on Saturday interrupted G-20 preparations to issue a statement saying that Mr. Obama and Ghana President John Atta Mills were "eagerly anticipating" the match between the two teams later that day.
As the game began, Mr. Obama was in a meeting with Mr. Cameron. Midway through their session, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner entered the room to tell the president that the U.S. was one goal down, a British official said.
"That is not what I wanted to hear," Mr. Obama said, according to the official.
Shortly after the president ended his next bilateral meeting, with Mr. Lee, the White House press corps was sent to a room across the hall, where Mr. Obama was watching the U.S.–Ghana match on a flat-screen TV. The score was 2-1 in the 10th minute of extended time. White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel entered and asked Mr. Obama: "How much time is left?"
"Five minutes," the leader of the free world answered. "It's nerve-racking."
Reporters were escorted out before they could record the presidential reaction to the outcome—a 2-1 loss for the U.S.
Meanwhile, leaving a meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 on Saturday, Pravin Gordhan, the finance minister of World Cup host South Africa, found a television almost outside the door. He stayed to watch the final 10 minutes of the Ghana–U.S. match before hurrying to a delegation dinner.
Saturday hadn't gone well for South Korea's Mr. Lee, whose country, a G-20 member, had crashed out to nonmember Uruguay. At the conference media center, a group of South Korean reporters had gathered excitedly around TV sets, only to return despondently to their desks after Uruguay's win-clinching second goal.
On Sunday morning, attention turned to the England-Germany game. In four World Cup meetings, England had lost to Germany three times. Sunday,The chatter of keyboards from the deadline-pressed British press corps was interrupted by a large groan as the German team took the lead.
Across town, Mr. Cameron stood up to speak at the leaders' working meeting, knowing England was now down 1-0, a British official said. By the time he sat down, Ms. Merkel told him his team was behind by two goals.
The German leader conceded that a second England goal that had hit the crossbar and appeared to land behind goal line should have counted.
Mr. Cameron and Ms. Merkel left their fellow leaders and joined staffers watching the second half of the match, where Germany scored another two goals against England, winning the game 4-1.
"I'm still shaking," Ms. Merkel told reporters soon after. "More of the same!"
The final match during the G-20 was between members Argentina and Mexico. But how do you excuse yourself from the concluding summit meeting? Instead, Mexican President Felipe Calderón took updates on his BlackBerry, a Mexican official said. It wasn't good news—his side was losing.
Weighty G-20 Agenda Is No Match for World Cup
--
G-20 Summit participants also can't get enough of the World Cup. I hope reason that they're there will not be affected.
World Cup Elimination Leaves Ivorians Disappointed, But Proud
by Anne Look
Ivory Coast's Elephants were eliminated Friday in the World Cup football tournament, but fans in Abidjan said their team played well.
Ivory Coast beat North Korea 3-0 Friday, but it was not enough to move the Elephants to the Round of 16. That disappointment could not shake the pride fans in Abidjan feel for their team.
This fan says it was a good game, even if they did not go as far as they needed. He says we were going to get eliminated, but they still put on a good show and they won. He says we have some of the best players. We were one of the favorites in Africa, he says, and we did what we could.
Earlier in the competition, Ivory Coast tied with Portugal and lost to Brazil 3-1. Some fans in Abidjan remained bitter Saturday towards what they believe was unfair refereeing in that game against Brazil.
This fan says if the arbitration had been good from the beginning, we would never have gotten to this point. But sadly, he says, Brazil received preferential treatment. What is going on, he asks, when a player touches the ball and the goal is counted as good?
Another fan said the match against Brazil was a blow to the players' moral, but the team played hard Friday.
He says the team has gotten better, but it did not have enough time to prepare. He says the trainers came only two months before the competition. He says there is quality on the Ivorian team but there was not enough time and the team was not as powerful as it could have been.
Theories aside, fans in Abidjan were taking the elimination in stride.
This fan says we are not disappointed. It is our country, he says, and we are proud. They played better, he says, than they had before.
Ivorians said they now plan to throw their support behind Ghana, the last African team remaining in the competition.
Of course, this fan says, we are for Ghana now. They are part of Africa, he says, and they need the support of all Africans.
Ghana plays the United States Saturday in its first match of the Round of 16.
World Cup Elimination Leaves Ivorians Disappointed, But Proud
--
Every team in the World Cup has to be proud of their accomplishment. Win or lose, they should learn the valuable lessons of teamwork and dedication, values that Filipinos also have.
Ivory Coast's Elephants were eliminated Friday in the World Cup football tournament, but fans in Abidjan said their team played well.
Ivory Coast beat North Korea 3-0 Friday, but it was not enough to move the Elephants to the Round of 16. That disappointment could not shake the pride fans in Abidjan feel for their team.
This fan says it was a good game, even if they did not go as far as they needed. He says we were going to get eliminated, but they still put on a good show and they won. He says we have some of the best players. We were one of the favorites in Africa, he says, and we did what we could.
Earlier in the competition, Ivory Coast tied with Portugal and lost to Brazil 3-1. Some fans in Abidjan remained bitter Saturday towards what they believe was unfair refereeing in that game against Brazil.
This fan says if the arbitration had been good from the beginning, we would never have gotten to this point. But sadly, he says, Brazil received preferential treatment. What is going on, he asks, when a player touches the ball and the goal is counted as good?
Another fan said the match against Brazil was a blow to the players' moral, but the team played hard Friday.
He says the team has gotten better, but it did not have enough time to prepare. He says the trainers came only two months before the competition. He says there is quality on the Ivorian team but there was not enough time and the team was not as powerful as it could have been.
Theories aside, fans in Abidjan were taking the elimination in stride.
This fan says we are not disappointed. It is our country, he says, and we are proud. They played better, he says, than they had before.
Ivorians said they now plan to throw their support behind Ghana, the last African team remaining in the competition.
Of course, this fan says, we are for Ghana now. They are part of Africa, he says, and they need the support of all Africans.
Ghana plays the United States Saturday in its first match of the Round of 16.
World Cup Elimination Leaves Ivorians Disappointed, But Proud
--
Every team in the World Cup has to be proud of their accomplishment. Win or lose, they should learn the valuable lessons of teamwork and dedication, values that Filipinos also have.
Monday, June 28, 2010
US-Ghana sets viewing records for men's World Cup
JOHANNESBURG — The United States' 2-1 loss to Ghana in extra time, which eliminated the Americans from the tournament in South Africa, was the most-watched men's World Cup game in both households and viewers.
Saturday's game, which began at 2:30 p.m. EDT on ABC, received an 8.2 fast national rating, ESPN said Sunday. It was seen in 9,455,000 households and by 14,863,000 viewers. Only the 1999 Women's World Cup final, featuring the United States and China at the Rose Bowl, averaged more households (11,307,000) and viewers (17,975,000) for a soccer game.
The U.S.-Ghana game was also the third highest-rated men's World Cup game on record, behind only the 1994 final between Italy and Brazil (9.5 rating) and the round of 16 game that same year between the United States and Brazil (9.3 rating). The 1999 Women's World Cup final delivered an 11.4 rating.
US-Ghana sets viewing records for men's World Cup
--
Maybe World Cup fans are curious whether Team USA will make it to the Round of 16. Unfortunately, Team USA lost to Team Ghana.
Saturday's game, which began at 2:30 p.m. EDT on ABC, received an 8.2 fast national rating, ESPN said Sunday. It was seen in 9,455,000 households and by 14,863,000 viewers. Only the 1999 Women's World Cup final, featuring the United States and China at the Rose Bowl, averaged more households (11,307,000) and viewers (17,975,000) for a soccer game.
The U.S.-Ghana game was also the third highest-rated men's World Cup game on record, behind only the 1994 final between Italy and Brazil (9.5 rating) and the round of 16 game that same year between the United States and Brazil (9.3 rating). The 1999 Women's World Cup final delivered an 11.4 rating.
US-Ghana sets viewing records for men's World Cup
--
Maybe World Cup fans are curious whether Team USA will make it to the Round of 16. Unfortunately, Team USA lost to Team Ghana.
USA misses shot at 'something bigger' on World Cup stage
By Kelly Whiteside
IRENE, South Africa — On a sunny Sunday afternoon at the team's base, adjacent to a dairy farm in this bucolic village, the U.S. players packed their bags, said goodbye to the cows and chickens, and prepared to head home. They leave the World Cup with full suitcases but empty feelings after their trip ended too soon.
"Coming out of the first round, we felt there was a chance of doing something bigger," coach Bob Bradley said a day after his team's 2-1 loss to Ghana in extra time. "We talked about that but we also talked about how that had to be done 90 minutes at a time, and at the end of it all, that leaves us a little bit empty."
Well after the game had ended, several players remained frozen as they sat on the bench and stared into the disappointment. It was really over. The enthusiasm the team generated back home has been put on pause.
"The finality of it is brutal," U.S. midfielder Landon Donovan said. "You realize how much you've put into it, not just in the last four years, but your whole life. There's no guarantee there's another opportunity."
Though the team met initial expectations, the disappointment lingers because of what might have been. After advancing to the round of 16, it had a favorable path to the semifinals, devoid of traditional heavyweights. Instead, the Americans were undone by what had haunted them throughout the World Cup. They allowed the first goal in three of their four matches, all surrendered within the first 13 minutes. The team held a lead for just three of 390 minutes played, as early goals allowed led to an early exit.
Throughout the tournament, the team searched for a way to break the pattern that began last year during qualifying, but it never found a solution. Managing a game's opening minutes without surrendering a goal comes with maturity and experience. An explanation for such lapses also can be elusive, Bradley said.
"That's just how the game works sometimes," he said. "I can watch games of the best teams in the world and see the same things happen."
Early goals a nagging problem
On Saturday, a midfield mistake led to Ghana's first strike. Underneath a full moon with smoke wafting above from nearby veld fires, the game started ominously for the Americans. Five minutes in, Ghana capitalized on Ricardo Clark's turnover when Ghana's Kevin Prince Boateng raced left and beat keeper Tim Howard on the near post.
"I feel like I let my team down and I take full responsibility on that goal," said Clark, who was pulled before the first half ended.
Ghana scored on its first shot of the game and then on its first shot in overtime. "The warning signs were there, getting scored on early, and it came back to bite us," Donovan said.
In the Americans' first game, against England, they fell behind in the fourth minute. In their second match, against Slovenia, they trailed after 13 minutes.
The game vs. Ghana was tied 1-1 after regulation and went into extra time, a fitting end given the USA's penchant for drama. In the 93rd minute, Asamoah Gyan beat defender Carlos Bocanegra, a teammate at French club Rennes, for the game-winner.
Though they had staged magnificent comebacks throughout the tournament, the Americans couldn't muster any magic Saturday. Not even the Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger, sitting in the stands near former U.S. president Bill Clinton, could provide an emotional rescue.
"We tried to push and push, and I don't know if we just didn't have anything left because we'd been pushing so much the entire tournament," Bocanegra said.
Howard said the defense needed to make teams work harder for their goals.
"Look at the best teams. Goals don't come very easy against them. They've been coming too much at the heart of things for us," he said. "At this level, when guys are inside the heart of the penalty area, you're asking for trouble. That's happening too many times."
Another significant concern: This is the second consecutive World Cup in which a U.S. forward failed to score.
"It's especially important up front because goals decide matches," Bradley said. "That is still the greatest challenge, to have someone who can consistently score. It's an area where we do need to improve."
Much was expected of 20-year-old Jozy Altidore. Though Bradley said Altidore played well in the World Cup, the forward failed to connect when his team needed him most. With 10 minutes remaining in regulation against Ghana, Altidore missed a golden opportunity in the penalty area, falling to the ground as his shot went wide.
Bradley said the absence of speedy forward Charlie Davies, who was a revelation during qualifying, hurt the squad. Davies, 24, is still recovering from multiple injuries after a serious car accident in October.
"Our hope is Charlie will get back to the level he was at before the accident and that ultimately he'll be better," Bradley said.
Perhaps this team's legacy will be the enthusiasm its dramatic run generated at home. With record television ratings, constant chatter on Twitter and social network sites and a catalogue of YouTube videos chronicling fans reacting to Donovan's goal against Algeria, soccer in America took center stage for once.
"It's a really special time for U.S. soccer," defender Jay DeMerit said. "There's a reason the U.S. sold more tickets than any other country to come here. These people care and want to be a part of these environments. If we can try to embrace that as players and try to keep them coming, then that's going to help us grow as a team."
Core likely back for more
As for the future, there is reason to be optimistic. In four years, Howard, 31, still will be at the prime of his career. Given the team's youth, the core could also return: Altidore; Michael Bradley, 22; Clint Dempsey, 27; Donovan, 28; and Oguchi Onyewu, 28. Onyewu sat out the last two games because his return to game fitness was not complete after knee surgery last year.
"In some cases, there's players that still can help the team, but you're not certain what that will mean in four years' time," Bob Bradley said. "In other cases, you feel guys have gotten experience and now for them to continue in their clubs to make progress will be critical for success for the national team. And then there's determining who are the next set of young players."
The World Cup is known as a big shopping window for European clubs. Players can increase their value with good showings, as Donovan, playing in his third World Cup, and midfielder and Cup rookie Michael Bradley surely did. Donovan, who shined during a loan to English Premier League club Everton earlier this year, could make a permanent return to England. For now, he will head back to Los Angeles and rejoin his Galaxy teammates in Major League Soccer.
Bradley, who plays in the German Bundesliga, established himself as one of the top young players in the tournament.
"In four efforts, he pushed the limits," Bob Bradley said, making sure not to single out his son by adding, "like a number of others."
As for the coach, speculation begins because his four-year contract expires at year's end. Bradley said Sunday that he hasn't had conversations with U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati about the future. Gulati will meet with news media Monday, and he certainly will be asked if Bradley will be the coach heading into the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
"It's too soon after the final whistle," Bradley said. "I'm sure in the future there will be more discussions."
Would he consider pursuing a job in Europe?
"I have always enjoyed new challenges," said Bradley, 52. "I believe that is what life is all about. … So as I move forward, there will always be an open mind in that regard."
As soon as Bradley gets home, he will begin focusing on the team's next game, an exhibition against World Cup favorite Brazil on Aug. 10 in East Rutherford, N.J.
"When one game ends, you start thinking about the next one," he said.
After all, it won't be long before the four-year preparation cycle for the next World Cup begins
USA misses shot at 'something bigger' on World Cup stage
--
It's sad team USA is one of those eliminated. I guess they will prepare even better for the 2014 World Cup.
IRENE, South Africa — On a sunny Sunday afternoon at the team's base, adjacent to a dairy farm in this bucolic village, the U.S. players packed their bags, said goodbye to the cows and chickens, and prepared to head home. They leave the World Cup with full suitcases but empty feelings after their trip ended too soon.
"Coming out of the first round, we felt there was a chance of doing something bigger," coach Bob Bradley said a day after his team's 2-1 loss to Ghana in extra time. "We talked about that but we also talked about how that had to be done 90 minutes at a time, and at the end of it all, that leaves us a little bit empty."
Well after the game had ended, several players remained frozen as they sat on the bench and stared into the disappointment. It was really over. The enthusiasm the team generated back home has been put on pause.
"The finality of it is brutal," U.S. midfielder Landon Donovan said. "You realize how much you've put into it, not just in the last four years, but your whole life. There's no guarantee there's another opportunity."
Though the team met initial expectations, the disappointment lingers because of what might have been. After advancing to the round of 16, it had a favorable path to the semifinals, devoid of traditional heavyweights. Instead, the Americans were undone by what had haunted them throughout the World Cup. They allowed the first goal in three of their four matches, all surrendered within the first 13 minutes. The team held a lead for just three of 390 minutes played, as early goals allowed led to an early exit.
Throughout the tournament, the team searched for a way to break the pattern that began last year during qualifying, but it never found a solution. Managing a game's opening minutes without surrendering a goal comes with maturity and experience. An explanation for such lapses also can be elusive, Bradley said.
"That's just how the game works sometimes," he said. "I can watch games of the best teams in the world and see the same things happen."
Early goals a nagging problem
On Saturday, a midfield mistake led to Ghana's first strike. Underneath a full moon with smoke wafting above from nearby veld fires, the game started ominously for the Americans. Five minutes in, Ghana capitalized on Ricardo Clark's turnover when Ghana's Kevin Prince Boateng raced left and beat keeper Tim Howard on the near post.
"I feel like I let my team down and I take full responsibility on that goal," said Clark, who was pulled before the first half ended.
Ghana scored on its first shot of the game and then on its first shot in overtime. "The warning signs were there, getting scored on early, and it came back to bite us," Donovan said.
In the Americans' first game, against England, they fell behind in the fourth minute. In their second match, against Slovenia, they trailed after 13 minutes.
The game vs. Ghana was tied 1-1 after regulation and went into extra time, a fitting end given the USA's penchant for drama. In the 93rd minute, Asamoah Gyan beat defender Carlos Bocanegra, a teammate at French club Rennes, for the game-winner.
Though they had staged magnificent comebacks throughout the tournament, the Americans couldn't muster any magic Saturday. Not even the Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger, sitting in the stands near former U.S. president Bill Clinton, could provide an emotional rescue.
"We tried to push and push, and I don't know if we just didn't have anything left because we'd been pushing so much the entire tournament," Bocanegra said.
Howard said the defense needed to make teams work harder for their goals.
"Look at the best teams. Goals don't come very easy against them. They've been coming too much at the heart of things for us," he said. "At this level, when guys are inside the heart of the penalty area, you're asking for trouble. That's happening too many times."
Another significant concern: This is the second consecutive World Cup in which a U.S. forward failed to score.
"It's especially important up front because goals decide matches," Bradley said. "That is still the greatest challenge, to have someone who can consistently score. It's an area where we do need to improve."
Much was expected of 20-year-old Jozy Altidore. Though Bradley said Altidore played well in the World Cup, the forward failed to connect when his team needed him most. With 10 minutes remaining in regulation against Ghana, Altidore missed a golden opportunity in the penalty area, falling to the ground as his shot went wide.
Bradley said the absence of speedy forward Charlie Davies, who was a revelation during qualifying, hurt the squad. Davies, 24, is still recovering from multiple injuries after a serious car accident in October.
"Our hope is Charlie will get back to the level he was at before the accident and that ultimately he'll be better," Bradley said.
Perhaps this team's legacy will be the enthusiasm its dramatic run generated at home. With record television ratings, constant chatter on Twitter and social network sites and a catalogue of YouTube videos chronicling fans reacting to Donovan's goal against Algeria, soccer in America took center stage for once.
"It's a really special time for U.S. soccer," defender Jay DeMerit said. "There's a reason the U.S. sold more tickets than any other country to come here. These people care and want to be a part of these environments. If we can try to embrace that as players and try to keep them coming, then that's going to help us grow as a team."
Core likely back for more
As for the future, there is reason to be optimistic. In four years, Howard, 31, still will be at the prime of his career. Given the team's youth, the core could also return: Altidore; Michael Bradley, 22; Clint Dempsey, 27; Donovan, 28; and Oguchi Onyewu, 28. Onyewu sat out the last two games because his return to game fitness was not complete after knee surgery last year.
"In some cases, there's players that still can help the team, but you're not certain what that will mean in four years' time," Bob Bradley said. "In other cases, you feel guys have gotten experience and now for them to continue in their clubs to make progress will be critical for success for the national team. And then there's determining who are the next set of young players."
The World Cup is known as a big shopping window for European clubs. Players can increase their value with good showings, as Donovan, playing in his third World Cup, and midfielder and Cup rookie Michael Bradley surely did. Donovan, who shined during a loan to English Premier League club Everton earlier this year, could make a permanent return to England. For now, he will head back to Los Angeles and rejoin his Galaxy teammates in Major League Soccer.
Bradley, who plays in the German Bundesliga, established himself as one of the top young players in the tournament.
"In four efforts, he pushed the limits," Bob Bradley said, making sure not to single out his son by adding, "like a number of others."
As for the coach, speculation begins because his four-year contract expires at year's end. Bradley said Sunday that he hasn't had conversations with U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati about the future. Gulati will meet with news media Monday, and he certainly will be asked if Bradley will be the coach heading into the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
"It's too soon after the final whistle," Bradley said. "I'm sure in the future there will be more discussions."
Would he consider pursuing a job in Europe?
"I have always enjoyed new challenges," said Bradley, 52. "I believe that is what life is all about. … So as I move forward, there will always be an open mind in that regard."
As soon as Bradley gets home, he will begin focusing on the team's next game, an exhibition against World Cup favorite Brazil on Aug. 10 in East Rutherford, N.J.
"When one game ends, you start thinking about the next one," he said.
After all, it won't be long before the four-year preparation cycle for the next World Cup begins
USA misses shot at 'something bigger' on World Cup stage
--
It's sad team USA is one of those eliminated. I guess they will prepare even better for the 2014 World Cup.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Veron Could Return For Argentina
Argentina coach Diego Maradona will be able to call on Juan Veron against Greece after the midfielder recovered from a calf problem.
Defender Walter Samuel is struggling with a thigh problem and may not be risked, whilst Newcastle's Jonas Gutierrez is suspended so Nicolas Otamendi could deputise at right-back.
Greece are likely to be unchanged as they have no injuries or suspensions to deal with.
Otto Rehhagel admits his team's chances against the South Americans are slim but, considering some of the shock results so far at this World Cup, the veteran German coach has not given up hope.
"Every player has to play 110% and the game starts at 0-0," he said.
"We have a chance and at the end I hope we don't say we have missed an opportunity.
"We will try to find the right way to hold our own in the individual positions to provide resistance.
"We will just see how we are going to stand up against the Argentinians."
Despite being on the cusp of qualification, Maradona is keen to distance himself from the hype surrounding Argentina's perfect start to the World Cup.
Wins against Nigeria and South Korea have put Maradona's men in pole position in Group B, but the former Napoli striker knows there is a long way to go.
He said: "We're not favourites and we`re not the least-fancied team, we're here to play a World Cup. I don't want to be a favourite, not before coming to South Africa and not now.
"All the teams here can score against you, so you have to be wary all the time."
Veron Could Return For Argentina
--
Argentina Coach Maradona will do what it takes so that Argentina will win the World Cup. It's not good to have injured World Cup players at this point in the game.
Defender Walter Samuel is struggling with a thigh problem and may not be risked, whilst Newcastle's Jonas Gutierrez is suspended so Nicolas Otamendi could deputise at right-back.
Greece are likely to be unchanged as they have no injuries or suspensions to deal with.
Otto Rehhagel admits his team's chances against the South Americans are slim but, considering some of the shock results so far at this World Cup, the veteran German coach has not given up hope.
"Every player has to play 110% and the game starts at 0-0," he said.
"We have a chance and at the end I hope we don't say we have missed an opportunity.
"We will try to find the right way to hold our own in the individual positions to provide resistance.
"We will just see how we are going to stand up against the Argentinians."
Despite being on the cusp of qualification, Maradona is keen to distance himself from the hype surrounding Argentina's perfect start to the World Cup.
Wins against Nigeria and South Korea have put Maradona's men in pole position in Group B, but the former Napoli striker knows there is a long way to go.
He said: "We're not favourites and we`re not the least-fancied team, we're here to play a World Cup. I don't want to be a favourite, not before coming to South Africa and not now.
"All the teams here can score against you, so you have to be wary all the time."
Veron Could Return For Argentina
--
Argentina Coach Maradona will do what it takes so that Argentina will win the World Cup. It's not good to have injured World Cup players at this point in the game.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Number Crunching for World Cup Old Guard
It's by no means over for the major European teams, but their paths to the next round are complicated.
England is third in its group and the squad must stage a conclusive win against Slovenia if it wants to make it into the knock-out phase. Manager Fabio Capello is under increasing pressure to bring Joe Cole to the pitch as many of the fans and players believe his presence will save the English dream.
Italy will move ahead with a win and a New Zealand loss or draw. If Italy draws, it needs New Zealand to lose to advance. New Zealand faces the same scenario in reverse.
If Italy and New Zealand both draw, it goes to tiebreakers. The two sides are even on goal difference, goals scored and goals scored against each other. So, the team that scored the highest draw would advance.
But if the draws are the same score, FIFA would draw lots to see who goes into the next round.
After losing to Serbia for the first time in 37 years, the Germans shouldn't be too full of themselves even after their win against Australia 4-0. The squad, which is playing for its right to make it to the second round, needs to get their World Cup campaign back on track quickly. Germany goes through with a win over Ghana. It also advances with a draw and a Serbia loss or if Australia wins and fails to erase a goal difference of -7 with Germany.
Serbia advances with a win and a Germany-Ghana draw or any victory in the Germany-Ghana game. Serbia advances with a draw if Ghana beats Germany. The teams meet June 23, with England playing Slovenia and the U.S. against Algeria.
In simple terms, whoever wins advances in almost all cases. Draws become more complex.
The U.S. and England are tied on goal difference, but the U.S. has scored two more goals. Therefore, England would need to outscore the U.S. in a pair of draws by more than two goals to edge out the U.S. If England draws by two goals more than a U.S. draw (2-2 & 0-0, say), the tiebreakers would all be even and FIFA would draw lots to see who advances.
Slovenia automatically advances with a win or draw.
Algeria needs a win and an England loss or a Slovenia-England draw. If Algeria and England both win, Algeria needs to make up a 1 goal difference deficit to Slovenia to in its victory to edge it out. Slovenia has scored three times, Algeria none, so it would adv
Slovenia leads this bunched group with 4 points. The U.S. and England each have 2 and Algeria has 1. England plays Slovenia, the U.S. faces off against Algeria.
Number Crunching for World Cup Old Guard
--
There's still a lot that's going to happen in World Cup in South Africa. It's still too early to predict winners.
England is third in its group and the squad must stage a conclusive win against Slovenia if it wants to make it into the knock-out phase. Manager Fabio Capello is under increasing pressure to bring Joe Cole to the pitch as many of the fans and players believe his presence will save the English dream.
Italy will move ahead with a win and a New Zealand loss or draw. If Italy draws, it needs New Zealand to lose to advance. New Zealand faces the same scenario in reverse.
If Italy and New Zealand both draw, it goes to tiebreakers. The two sides are even on goal difference, goals scored and goals scored against each other. So, the team that scored the highest draw would advance.
But if the draws are the same score, FIFA would draw lots to see who goes into the next round.
After losing to Serbia for the first time in 37 years, the Germans shouldn't be too full of themselves even after their win against Australia 4-0. The squad, which is playing for its right to make it to the second round, needs to get their World Cup campaign back on track quickly. Germany goes through with a win over Ghana. It also advances with a draw and a Serbia loss or if Australia wins and fails to erase a goal difference of -7 with Germany.
Serbia advances with a win and a Germany-Ghana draw or any victory in the Germany-Ghana game. Serbia advances with a draw if Ghana beats Germany. The teams meet June 23, with England playing Slovenia and the U.S. against Algeria.
In simple terms, whoever wins advances in almost all cases. Draws become more complex.
The U.S. and England are tied on goal difference, but the U.S. has scored two more goals. Therefore, England would need to outscore the U.S. in a pair of draws by more than two goals to edge out the U.S. If England draws by two goals more than a U.S. draw (2-2 & 0-0, say), the tiebreakers would all be even and FIFA would draw lots to see who advances.
Slovenia automatically advances with a win or draw.
Algeria needs a win and an England loss or a Slovenia-England draw. If Algeria and England both win, Algeria needs to make up a 1 goal difference deficit to Slovenia to in its victory to edge it out. Slovenia has scored three times, Algeria none, so it would adv
Slovenia leads this bunched group with 4 points. The U.S. and England each have 2 and Algeria has 1. England plays Slovenia, the U.S. faces off against Algeria.
Number Crunching for World Cup Old Guard
--
There's still a lot that's going to happen in World Cup in South Africa. It's still too early to predict winners.
Friday, June 25, 2010
David Beckham could give evidence for fan
By Aislinn Laing and Martin Evans
David Beckham could be called to give evidence in the trial of a British fan who walked into the players’ dressing room and remonstrated with them after Friday’s disastrous World Cup match against Algeria.
The former England captain was the first person to spot Pavlos Joseph when he entered the room and allegedly told the players they were a "disgrace".
Beckham said afterwards that the incident had been “blown out of all proportion”.
Mr Joseph, a 32-year-old mortgage advisor from southeast London, has refused to plead guilty to trespass charges, insisting he is not to blame for what happened.
He claims that he had been looking for a toilet when he walked unchallenged into the England changing room at Greenpoint Stadium in Cape Town.
Yesterday, as he appeared in court for a second time since his arrest on Sunday, his lawyers said they would not rule out calling Beckham or any other members of the team to give evidence at Mr Joseph's trial.
Attorney John Riley said: "I think in the interests of our client's defence we would call on anyone who is relevant."
Mr Joseph has been charged with one count of contravening safety at a sports and recreation event and one count of contravening the Fifa World Cup special measures act. Both charges carry a maximum penalty of six months in prison or an unlimited fine.
His family has condemned his prosecution as a “Fifa show trial”.
The first England fan to be charged with an offence at the tournament, Mr Joseph has been told to surrender his passport and not to attend any more World Cup games until the matter is resolved.
His refusal to plead guilty, and a postponement of the trial until Friday, means he will miss England’s crucial last group match against Slovenia in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday.
But speaking after the case, his solicitor Steven Barker said he was determined not to receive a criminal conviction for what happened even if it did mean that he and his family would miss the game.
“This is Fifa legislation,” he said. “The implications of a guilty plea are not something that he should have to consider.”
Mr Joseph’s cousin, Leo Andrews, added: “It’s just a show for Fifa. That’s who’s behind this.”
David Beckham could give evidence for fan
--
The World Cup game of England must really be bad that Pavlos Joseph had to express his "disgrace." Security in the World Cup stadiums must be questioned.
David Beckham could be called to give evidence in the trial of a British fan who walked into the players’ dressing room and remonstrated with them after Friday’s disastrous World Cup match against Algeria.
The former England captain was the first person to spot Pavlos Joseph when he entered the room and allegedly told the players they were a "disgrace".
Beckham said afterwards that the incident had been “blown out of all proportion”.
Mr Joseph, a 32-year-old mortgage advisor from southeast London, has refused to plead guilty to trespass charges, insisting he is not to blame for what happened.
He claims that he had been looking for a toilet when he walked unchallenged into the England changing room at Greenpoint Stadium in Cape Town.
Yesterday, as he appeared in court for a second time since his arrest on Sunday, his lawyers said they would not rule out calling Beckham or any other members of the team to give evidence at Mr Joseph's trial.
Attorney John Riley said: "I think in the interests of our client's defence we would call on anyone who is relevant."
Mr Joseph has been charged with one count of contravening safety at a sports and recreation event and one count of contravening the Fifa World Cup special measures act. Both charges carry a maximum penalty of six months in prison or an unlimited fine.
His family has condemned his prosecution as a “Fifa show trial”.
The first England fan to be charged with an offence at the tournament, Mr Joseph has been told to surrender his passport and not to attend any more World Cup games until the matter is resolved.
His refusal to plead guilty, and a postponement of the trial until Friday, means he will miss England’s crucial last group match against Slovenia in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday.
But speaking after the case, his solicitor Steven Barker said he was determined not to receive a criminal conviction for what happened even if it did mean that he and his family would miss the game.
“This is Fifa legislation,” he said. “The implications of a guilty plea are not something that he should have to consider.”
Mr Joseph’s cousin, Leo Andrews, added: “It’s just a show for Fifa. That’s who’s behind this.”
David Beckham could give evidence for fan
--
The World Cup game of England must really be bad that Pavlos Joseph had to express his "disgrace." Security in the World Cup stadiums must be questioned.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Refs and cheats could ruin World Cup
By Keith Lynch
Alas, the best days of the the World Cup are over. Spain's rather routine two-nil win over Honduras was a sobering end to the football gorge of the past two weeks.
From here it'll be only possible to watch two games a day, not three. Tomorrow morning the scramble to get out the groups begins with teams clambering all over each other, like rats on a sinking ship, to make it to the heady heights of the second round.
After the pedestrian plod of the first round of group games, where the football, altitude, vuvuzelas and exhaustion were all blamed for some pretty turgid football (when the fear of losing the first game was the most obvious explanation), the World Cup has sprung into life in the past day.
But must-win games have brought more than excitment (and goals) with players going to ridiculous and sometimes sickening lengths to con refs.
FIFA, those parasitic administrators of the game, must shoulder a lot of the blame. The fact they are more concerned with locking up girls in orange dresses, and shutting down South African businesses than combating ''simulation'' and actually promoting fair play is depressingly unsurprising.
Their referees, too, have been all to easily taken in, all too eager to paste their sweaty lips over a whistle, and flash their yellows and reds.
So let's have a look at the worse ref blunders and and most pathetic cheating.
1. It's been a bad few weeks for the French, and even Gallic referee Stephane Lannoy managed to make a bit of prat of himself in Group G's clash of Ivory Coast and Brazil.
But Lannoy should not shoulder all the blame for Kaka's stupid sending off. In the 88th minute of the match Ivory Coast's Kader Keita ran into Kaka. Kaka stood his ground, lifting his arm to brace for the impact. Keita fell over, clutching his face like a buffoon. Kaka was sent off. Mental.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJrHi1oUG-4
2. Switzerland's Valron Behrami was ordered off the pitch during the Chile match for doing what footballers do all the time: using his hands to protect himself.
He wasn't trying to elbow anyone, he wasn't trying to hurt anyone, he was simply using everything at his physical disposable to screen the ball.
But Khalil Al Ghamdi of Saudi Arabia, inexplicably, sent him off after brushing Arturo Vidal's face.
http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/6039987/
3. Can't have a list like this without mention of Daniele De Rossi's desperate attempt to find the ground against the Kiwis.
Guatemalan referee Carlos Batres had a shocking game, penalising the slightest of physical contact, dying for a chance to send give an All White red.
Not long after Smeltz's opening, De Rossi leapt to the ground after the slightest of touches by Tommy Smith.
This kind of incident happens dozens of times during a football match. The amount of tugging in the box during corners at top level matches would make you think you're at a dodgy massage parlour, not a football match.
But inexplicably Batres gave a penalty.
Perhaps it levelled things up as Smeltz was offside for the opening.
Cannavaro also deserves a lot of stick for constantly trying to get Fallon sent off.
We don't need to see those moments again.
4. Serbia v Germany saw a clean, interesting match almost ruined by the ref.
The German forward Miroslav Klose made two tackles in a tense first half. One was a totally accidentally trip just outside the Serbian box.
The other was a tame tackle from behind at the half way line. He didn't hurt anyone. He didn't cynically stop an attack, he didn't put his fellow players in danger but Spanish ref Alberto Undiano Mallenco produced an absolutely pathetic display flashing cards for, well, anything.
Refs and cheats could ruin World Cup
--
Refs are always blamed for both bad and good games - depends on who you're siding with. Even in World Cup.
Alas, the best days of the the World Cup are over. Spain's rather routine two-nil win over Honduras was a sobering end to the football gorge of the past two weeks.
From here it'll be only possible to watch two games a day, not three. Tomorrow morning the scramble to get out the groups begins with teams clambering all over each other, like rats on a sinking ship, to make it to the heady heights of the second round.
After the pedestrian plod of the first round of group games, where the football, altitude, vuvuzelas and exhaustion were all blamed for some pretty turgid football (when the fear of losing the first game was the most obvious explanation), the World Cup has sprung into life in the past day.
But must-win games have brought more than excitment (and goals) with players going to ridiculous and sometimes sickening lengths to con refs.
FIFA, those parasitic administrators of the game, must shoulder a lot of the blame. The fact they are more concerned with locking up girls in orange dresses, and shutting down South African businesses than combating ''simulation'' and actually promoting fair play is depressingly unsurprising.
Their referees, too, have been all to easily taken in, all too eager to paste their sweaty lips over a whistle, and flash their yellows and reds.
So let's have a look at the worse ref blunders and and most pathetic cheating.
1. It's been a bad few weeks for the French, and even Gallic referee Stephane Lannoy managed to make a bit of prat of himself in Group G's clash of Ivory Coast and Brazil.
But Lannoy should not shoulder all the blame for Kaka's stupid sending off. In the 88th minute of the match Ivory Coast's Kader Keita ran into Kaka. Kaka stood his ground, lifting his arm to brace for the impact. Keita fell over, clutching his face like a buffoon. Kaka was sent off. Mental.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJrHi1oUG-4
2. Switzerland's Valron Behrami was ordered off the pitch during the Chile match for doing what footballers do all the time: using his hands to protect himself.
He wasn't trying to elbow anyone, he wasn't trying to hurt anyone, he was simply using everything at his physical disposable to screen the ball.
But Khalil Al Ghamdi of Saudi Arabia, inexplicably, sent him off after brushing Arturo Vidal's face.
http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/6039987/
3. Can't have a list like this without mention of Daniele De Rossi's desperate attempt to find the ground against the Kiwis.
Guatemalan referee Carlos Batres had a shocking game, penalising the slightest of physical contact, dying for a chance to send give an All White red.
Not long after Smeltz's opening, De Rossi leapt to the ground after the slightest of touches by Tommy Smith.
This kind of incident happens dozens of times during a football match. The amount of tugging in the box during corners at top level matches would make you think you're at a dodgy massage parlour, not a football match.
But inexplicably Batres gave a penalty.
Perhaps it levelled things up as Smeltz was offside for the opening.
Cannavaro also deserves a lot of stick for constantly trying to get Fallon sent off.
We don't need to see those moments again.
4. Serbia v Germany saw a clean, interesting match almost ruined by the ref.
The German forward Miroslav Klose made two tackles in a tense first half. One was a totally accidentally trip just outside the Serbian box.
The other was a tame tackle from behind at the half way line. He didn't hurt anyone. He didn't cynically stop an attack, he didn't put his fellow players in danger but Spanish ref Alberto Undiano Mallenco produced an absolutely pathetic display flashing cards for, well, anything.
Refs and cheats could ruin World Cup
--
Refs are always blamed for both bad and good games - depends on who you're siding with. Even in World Cup.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
World Cup 2010: Thousands of unsold seats await England
By Martin Evans and Aislinn Laing
England manager Fabio Capello could face leading his team out to a stadium of empty seats following dismal performances from the national squad.
The team will line up against Slovenia at the 48,000 seat Nelson Mandela stadium in Port Elizabeth in a must win fixture following a lacklustre start to the tournament.
England supporters booed the players off the pitch following Friday’s 0 – 0 result against Algeria – a team ranked 30th in the world, 22 places below England.
Tomorrow (Wed) the players are likely to be greeted by rows of deserted seats around the ground after Fifa failed to sell out the game.
Tickets were still being sold for the match yesterday (Mon) at the official Fifa box-office, and thousands more were available through other channels.
Touts, who had been selling tickets for England’s two opening games, for as much as three times their face value, have been forced to offer seats at the Slovenia game below cost price in a desperate bid to shift them.
One tout from London, who would only give his name as Carl, said he could supply as many tickets for the Slovenia game as needed.
Many genuine England supporters are also trying to sell spare tickets after being allocated more than they needed through the Fifa lottery system.
Over 20,000 supporters attended England’s opening game against the USA in Rustenburg and that number swelled to at least 30,000 for the match against Algeria in Cape Town.
But the FA have only sold 4,000 tickets for the game against Slovenia, with an estimated 4,000 being bought through other channels.
Many England supporters who applied for tickets for the team’s three group games failed to travel to South Africa after flights and accommodation prices spiralled in the run-up to the tournament.
Kevin Miles of the Football Supporters’ Federation said: “There are still lots of tickets available and lots of empty seats at games. It seems the main reason for this has been fans who bought tickets hoping to come but then who were forced to back out because things got too expensive.”
In addition locals who have been attending Africa’s first ever World Cup finals have failed to take up their full allocation of tickets for the England game following the team’s two dull draws.
Fifa has come in for criticism over the number of empty seats at many of the matches played so far with calls for the spare tickets to be given away to local children or charities.
But Football’s governing body has insisted throughout the tournament that the empty seats are the result of fans buying tickets but then not showing up to games and this cannot be anticipated before hand.
In the Cape Town Fifa ticket office earlier this week the queue for lat minute seats for many up and coming games, including the one between Portugal and North Korea, stretched out of the door.
But there was little business being done at the England counter, with customers facing less than a five-minute wait for a Category 1 ticket – offering the best views in the stadium.
Fans jeered the team following last week's draw against Algeria, prompting an angry outburst from striker Wayne Rooney who was later forced to issue an apology to the fans.
One supporter even managed to breach security at the Green Point stadium in Cape Town to remonstrate with the players in their dressing room.
FA officials are now privately worried that the fans may fail to get behind the team, who need to win to be sure of proceeding through to the knockout stages of the tournament.
A FIFA source admitted: "The ticket sales for the England vs. Slovenia game have been disappointing.
"We expected every England game to sell out because they bring such a good following and have many expats in South Africa.
"But that doesn't appear to be the case. Unless there is a last-minute rush, the stadium will not be full."
Thousands of unsold seats await England
--
England fans must be really disappointed on the first two games of the England Team. World Cup fans, I think, is the most important part of the game. I hope England will do good in their game.
England manager Fabio Capello could face leading his team out to a stadium of empty seats following dismal performances from the national squad.
The team will line up against Slovenia at the 48,000 seat Nelson Mandela stadium in Port Elizabeth in a must win fixture following a lacklustre start to the tournament.
England supporters booed the players off the pitch following Friday’s 0 – 0 result against Algeria – a team ranked 30th in the world, 22 places below England.
Tomorrow (Wed) the players are likely to be greeted by rows of deserted seats around the ground after Fifa failed to sell out the game.
Tickets were still being sold for the match yesterday (Mon) at the official Fifa box-office, and thousands more were available through other channels.
Touts, who had been selling tickets for England’s two opening games, for as much as three times their face value, have been forced to offer seats at the Slovenia game below cost price in a desperate bid to shift them.
One tout from London, who would only give his name as Carl, said he could supply as many tickets for the Slovenia game as needed.
Many genuine England supporters are also trying to sell spare tickets after being allocated more than they needed through the Fifa lottery system.
Over 20,000 supporters attended England’s opening game against the USA in Rustenburg and that number swelled to at least 30,000 for the match against Algeria in Cape Town.
But the FA have only sold 4,000 tickets for the game against Slovenia, with an estimated 4,000 being bought through other channels.
Many England supporters who applied for tickets for the team’s three group games failed to travel to South Africa after flights and accommodation prices spiralled in the run-up to the tournament.
Kevin Miles of the Football Supporters’ Federation said: “There are still lots of tickets available and lots of empty seats at games. It seems the main reason for this has been fans who bought tickets hoping to come but then who were forced to back out because things got too expensive.”
In addition locals who have been attending Africa’s first ever World Cup finals have failed to take up their full allocation of tickets for the England game following the team’s two dull draws.
Fifa has come in for criticism over the number of empty seats at many of the matches played so far with calls for the spare tickets to be given away to local children or charities.
But Football’s governing body has insisted throughout the tournament that the empty seats are the result of fans buying tickets but then not showing up to games and this cannot be anticipated before hand.
In the Cape Town Fifa ticket office earlier this week the queue for lat minute seats for many up and coming games, including the one between Portugal and North Korea, stretched out of the door.
But there was little business being done at the England counter, with customers facing less than a five-minute wait for a Category 1 ticket – offering the best views in the stadium.
Fans jeered the team following last week's draw against Algeria, prompting an angry outburst from striker Wayne Rooney who was later forced to issue an apology to the fans.
One supporter even managed to breach security at the Green Point stadium in Cape Town to remonstrate with the players in their dressing room.
FA officials are now privately worried that the fans may fail to get behind the team, who need to win to be sure of proceeding through to the knockout stages of the tournament.
A FIFA source admitted: "The ticket sales for the England vs. Slovenia game have been disappointing.
"We expected every England game to sell out because they bring such a good following and have many expats in South Africa.
"But that doesn't appear to be the case. Unless there is a last-minute rush, the stadium will not be full."
Thousands of unsold seats await England
--
England fans must be really disappointed on the first two games of the England Team. World Cup fans, I think, is the most important part of the game. I hope England will do good in their game.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
World Cup 2010: Diego Maradona delighted with magical Lionel Messi
By Rupert Fryer
Argentina coach Diego Maradona has reiterated how pleased he has been with Lionel Messi’s contribution in the World Cup so far.
“Messi wants to play every match and I love that,” Maradona told a press conference when asked about the FIFA World Player of the Year, who will captain his country against Greece tomorrow.
“I was thinking of giving him some rest,” he continued.
“But to have a player of his talent, the best in the world, who can make such a big difference, it would have been a sin not to give his team-mates and the fans the chance of seeing him play again.”
The Barcelona forward starred in Argentina’s victories over Nigeria and South Korea and despite not getting on the score sheet himself, Maradona was delighted with his overall contribution.
“If he is in a bad scoring run, but he keeps giving me and the team these kind of performances, let him stay in a bad run,” said Maradona.
“He is creating chances, though his goals are still refusing to come. Anyway, in 1986, against South Korea our scorers were [Oscar] Ruggeri and [Jorge] Valdano. Against Bulgaria, it was Valdano and [Jorge] Burruchaga. I scored when we needed it the most and Messi will do the same.”
Argentina coach pleased with Lionel Messi
--
I think one player does not make a game win. If Messi is not playing his game, I believe his co-players in Argentina are helping him out.
Argentina coach Diego Maradona has reiterated how pleased he has been with Lionel Messi’s contribution in the World Cup so far.
“Messi wants to play every match and I love that,” Maradona told a press conference when asked about the FIFA World Player of the Year, who will captain his country against Greece tomorrow.
“I was thinking of giving him some rest,” he continued.
“But to have a player of his talent, the best in the world, who can make such a big difference, it would have been a sin not to give his team-mates and the fans the chance of seeing him play again.”
The Barcelona forward starred in Argentina’s victories over Nigeria and South Korea and despite not getting on the score sheet himself, Maradona was delighted with his overall contribution.
“If he is in a bad scoring run, but he keeps giving me and the team these kind of performances, let him stay in a bad run,” said Maradona.
“He is creating chances, though his goals are still refusing to come. Anyway, in 1986, against South Korea our scorers were [Oscar] Ruggeri and [Jorge] Valdano. Against Bulgaria, it was Valdano and [Jorge] Burruchaga. I scored when we needed it the most and Messi will do the same.”
Argentina coach pleased with Lionel Messi
--
I think one player does not make a game win. If Messi is not playing his game, I believe his co-players in Argentina are helping him out.
Monday, June 21, 2010
World Cup 2010: Nigeria accept 'mission possible'
By Oluwashina Okeleji
Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo says they are preparing for the biggest game in their history by insisting his team can still make the second round of the World Cup.
The Super Eagles lost their Group B opener 1-0 to Argentina before falling 2-1 to Greece in Bloemfontein on Thursday.
No team in World Cup history has ever lost more than one group stage game and gone on to reach the next round, yet Yobo is incredibly optimistic they can earn a place in the history book.
A single-goal victory in their final match against South Korea and even a single-goal loss for Greece against the table-topping Argentina would see Nigeria through on goal difference.
The odds are certainly not against us because this team can fight and die on the pitch against the Koreans
"We now have a possible mission towards the next round," Everton defender Yobo told BBC Sport.
"Surprisingly, when we walked off that pitch against Greece we thought it was all over but now there is a second chance for us.
"Many people insist it will be impossible but we have been written off several times during the qualifiers yet we made it here."
Yobo told the BBC that the final group game against South Korea can't come soon enough.
"For us we would have played today if we could have. It has been the most frustrating few days ever for the team.
"You are hyped up for the World Cup and then perform like that. It's a final chance against South Korea, we are even lucky that we have games to put it right."
Reports say players were even involved in a shouting match in the dressing room at the end of the Greece match - but Yobo was quick to play it down.
"That is not true, we are all united in one goal and fight, which is to redeem our battered image out there and we want the fans to know we feel their disappointments and pulse."
In the build-up to the second Greece goal the captain was on the ground after a collision before Enyeama spilled Alexandros Tziolis's long-range shot into the path of Torosidis, who buried the chance in the 71st minute.
"I went blank and blurred a few seconds after the collision, I thought it was a foul but then the ball was at the back of the net, I felt bad but we have to move on now."
With midfielder Sani Kaita ruled out due to a red card offence and the side in the midst of a defensive crisis ahead of Tuesday's game, Yobo is still trying to remain optimistic.
"The odds are certainly not against us because this team can fight and die on the pitch against the Koreans," said Yobo.
"With our left-backs [Taye Taiwo and Elderson Echiejile] battling with injury and Kaita ruled out we are not short of confidence going into the final group game."
The Super Eagles has come under severe criticism from the local media as well as aggrieved fans back home following defeats against Argentina and Greece.
But Yobo has called for support as he gears his side up to face a South Korean team also chasing a place in the next round.
"We've been hit by a lot of problems, we haven't taken our chances in front of goal, and we've come under severe criticism and possibly, at times, rightly so.
"I think we should stop throwing blames or continue to live in the past. We need the support of the fans and media because there is still a lot to fight for."
Nigeria on mission impossible
--
I think Filipinos could learn a lot from World Cup, in terms of never giving up. Players play the game to the end. Just like Filipinos who strive to win challenges. No wonder Pinoys also love World Cup.
Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo says they are preparing for the biggest game in their history by insisting his team can still make the second round of the World Cup.
The Super Eagles lost their Group B opener 1-0 to Argentina before falling 2-1 to Greece in Bloemfontein on Thursday.
No team in World Cup history has ever lost more than one group stage game and gone on to reach the next round, yet Yobo is incredibly optimistic they can earn a place in the history book.
A single-goal victory in their final match against South Korea and even a single-goal loss for Greece against the table-topping Argentina would see Nigeria through on goal difference.
The odds are certainly not against us because this team can fight and die on the pitch against the Koreans
"We now have a possible mission towards the next round," Everton defender Yobo told BBC Sport.
"Surprisingly, when we walked off that pitch against Greece we thought it was all over but now there is a second chance for us.
"Many people insist it will be impossible but we have been written off several times during the qualifiers yet we made it here."
Yobo told the BBC that the final group game against South Korea can't come soon enough.
"For us we would have played today if we could have. It has been the most frustrating few days ever for the team.
"You are hyped up for the World Cup and then perform like that. It's a final chance against South Korea, we are even lucky that we have games to put it right."
Reports say players were even involved in a shouting match in the dressing room at the end of the Greece match - but Yobo was quick to play it down.
"That is not true, we are all united in one goal and fight, which is to redeem our battered image out there and we want the fans to know we feel their disappointments and pulse."
In the build-up to the second Greece goal the captain was on the ground after a collision before Enyeama spilled Alexandros Tziolis's long-range shot into the path of Torosidis, who buried the chance in the 71st minute.
"I went blank and blurred a few seconds after the collision, I thought it was a foul but then the ball was at the back of the net, I felt bad but we have to move on now."
With midfielder Sani Kaita ruled out due to a red card offence and the side in the midst of a defensive crisis ahead of Tuesday's game, Yobo is still trying to remain optimistic.
"The odds are certainly not against us because this team can fight and die on the pitch against the Koreans," said Yobo.
"With our left-backs [Taye Taiwo and Elderson Echiejile] battling with injury and Kaita ruled out we are not short of confidence going into the final group game."
The Super Eagles has come under severe criticism from the local media as well as aggrieved fans back home following defeats against Argentina and Greece.
But Yobo has called for support as he gears his side up to face a South Korean team also chasing a place in the next round.
"We've been hit by a lot of problems, we haven't taken our chances in front of goal, and we've come under severe criticism and possibly, at times, rightly so.
"I think we should stop throwing blames or continue to live in the past. We need the support of the fans and media because there is still a lot to fight for."
Nigeria on mission impossible
--
I think Filipinos could learn a lot from World Cup, in terms of never giving up. Players play the game to the end. Just like Filipinos who strive to win challenges. No wonder Pinoys also love World Cup.
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