Glad to see they added Ronaldo in there, he wasn't included a couple of weeks ago. Still no Zidane though, on the website at least.
***Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Thread***
- Thread starter slam
- Start date
Glad to see they added Ronaldo in there, he wasn't included a couple of weeks ago. Still no Zidane though, on the website at least.
Our breaks are ok; our set plays suck; our striking is an advantures...Our advantage is dribbling, passing, and covering space... On the other hand, when you look at a player like Lukas Podolski or that little terror, Diego Forlan, they have impeccable strking technique; their dribbling average...In fact, most Europeans have very basic dribbling skills. Even Messi is not a great dribbler, and will fall to the ground when dispossessed of the ball...
Africans dribble well, and if we could become as good on set plays as the US is, we would be really dangerous... Our breaks are good, we get plays in good places, but they are seldom able to finish with the precision of Maicon against Korea, Klose on his second goal against Argentina; typically, we either overpower the opponent or score in wide open goals... Boateng beat Howard on a precise pass, but Boateng is a German...
Ghana has a great team (I have really enjoyed watching them) they just need utilize their chances better
Ghana has the youngest squad in the World Cup. They won the U20 World Cup by beating Brazil in the final (last year). Im sure they will do better in 2014.
Who has the youth, has the future
Ghana has the youngest squad in the World Cup. They won the U20 World Cup by beating Brazil in the final (last year). Im sure they will do better in 2014.
Who has the youth, has the future
Inter: United want Sneijder
Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti believes Manchester United are interested in signing Wesley Sneijder.
• United target Sneijder
Reports in the UK press claimed this week that United were hoping to tie up a £25 million deal for Sneijder, who has been a key figure in taking Netherlands to this summer's World Cup final.
Moratti has now confirmed he believes the reports are correct but insists he has no intention of allowing the midfielder to leave.
"I believe that it's true, but I don't want to ask for too much so as not to fall into temptation," he said. "I am enjoying watching Sneijder at the World Cup and I will enjoy watching him at Inter next year too.
"It's a great satisfaction to know that Inter's players are so desired on the market because it means that they are very good."
Sneijder's agent, Soren Lerby, has also suggested Sneijder - currently contracted until 2013 - could sign an extension to his current deal.
"Wesley could stay until 2015," he told De Telegraaf. "After the World Cup we will go to Milan and sit around a table with the directors."
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=806776&sec=transfers&cc=5901
Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti believes Manchester United are interested in signing Wesley Sneijder.
• United target Sneijder
Reports in the UK press claimed this week that United were hoping to tie up a £25 million deal for Sneijder, who has been a key figure in taking Netherlands to this summer's World Cup final.
Moratti has now confirmed he believes the reports are correct but insists he has no intention of allowing the midfielder to leave.
"I believe that it's true, but I don't want to ask for too much so as not to fall into temptation," he said. "I am enjoying watching Sneijder at the World Cup and I will enjoy watching him at Inter next year too.
"It's a great satisfaction to know that Inter's players are so desired on the market because it means that they are very good."
Sneijder's agent, Soren Lerby, has also suggested Sneijder - currently contracted until 2013 - could sign an extension to his current deal.
"Wesley could stay until 2015," he told De Telegraaf. "After the World Cup we will go to Milan and sit around a table with the directors."
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=806776&sec=transfers&cc=5901
Sunderlands position in the table says a lot about their ability to pick decent players....
I followed the Ghana team around the world cup and their first touch is impecable, it is not for want of touch that African teams fail, it's decision making!!!
That is not true.. And furthermore, we have no reason to think that you have knowledge to question the judgement of a professional football player. All the African players you see play on teams in Europe, and it seems to me that if their judgement was suspect, they would not be on those teams.
I know what bedevils those player because the same problem afflicted me. Most of us do not have our own balls, and the only time we have live balls is when we are playing at school. At home, if the neighbourhood has a live ball, it is accessible only when its owner is there...The rest of the time, we play with balls made from rugs bunched together and woven with twine. The ball have almost no elastic properties, and are dead on contact. Furthermore, 90% of us play barefoot.
The result, all too often, is that when Africans become pros, their ball trapping skills often let them down. When they try to stop the ball, it hops to an opponent... Aerial skills, such as Brazilians display with ease, are an adventure... I grew up playing with those types of balls. I was even luckier than most people because I usually was the one who owned the ball. What killed me was that I was not as quick and fast as other people were...
I tried desperately to play pro football, but just never made the cut... Oh well
Many African players, improve their skills upon arrival in Europe, and the likes of Adebayo are good examples, but improve as they do, they never completely eliminate their deficiencies.. An excellent example is JJ Okocha, one of the most skilled African players of all time, who however, was inconsistent with his shooting. On the other hand, Diego Forlan, who less ball handling skill than Okocha, may be the best striker of the ball in this world cup. That little man can hammer the ball from almost anywhere on the field and strike the target with a dangerous swerving or dipping ball. I have seen him do it time and again at Atletico Madrid...That ability comes from learning good technique early, and from repeated practise. The commentators in the last game alluded to how Diego practises kicking the ball long after team practise is over and his technique is testimony to the efficacy of his mentality.
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This is BS. Germany v. the Dutch would have been an instant classic. So much history there. Now we are going to have to listen to ESPN overhype the Spanish the way that they did Brasil. Full credit to the Germans for going out with class. We KNOW for a fact that had Spain lost, there would have been an incident. I don't even want to go watch the final now. The bars are going to be packed with clueless/obnoxious barca fans...Its going to be like going to any bar in ny/nj when Italia play...
And it begins...
ESPN: Why to Love Spain
http://insider.espn.go.com/world-cu...cup-quite-possible-reign-spain?cc=5901&ver=us
The things to which you allude speak to tactics... As I pointed out, the tactical ability of Nigeria and Cameroon was atrocious. Keep in mind that both teams fired their coaches 4 months ago and hired Lagenback and LeGuin immediately. These coaches saw their players for the first time about a month before the world cup. There was a feeling out process on both sides as the coach and the team had learn about each other. In that short period of time, there was really little the coach could implement and the results were teams that were disorganised and disjointed. Ghana came with the coach they had had since 2008 and were more organised. Ivory Coast are a veteran team, and even though they have a new coach, they do not need much coaching. Furthermore, FIFA set them up, and placed them in an impossible group. To make the assassination even more certain, the schedule of game favoured Brazil and Portugal at their expense. By ensuring that Brazil and Portugal could go into their last game, with at least 3 points assured from the North Korea game, it essentially gave the two Portuguese speaking countries licence and opportunity to fix the result, and they did. If Ivory Coast had gone into the second round, they might be playing in the finals..
Which professional football player do you refer to?
Secondly trapping a football is fundamental to playing the game, how would all these players be picked above their European counterparts in the European leagues if they could not even undertake this basic task?
If you are however, talking about shooting, then I will conceed that you have a point.
Watch any Ghana game from this world cup, thay trap and control the ball with no problem, their shooting,however is very suspect!!
I've had my critics in here, but i'm not letting up on this point.
I'm a lil confused here.
We don't play as fluid as we usually do, But we'll take the Cup anyway
wE need to improve if we want to beat Spain, but i think we have a good chance to win the world cup.
Hopefully van persie gets his flare back, because he's shit at the moment.
Go back and look at the team that played against Holland in that friendly and compare it with the team they played in the WC. Two different teams entirely. The BS team at the WC with their mindset right could defeat Holland any day. It is rather hard to beat a system prone team like Germany, Brazil and perhaps Spain. But Holland is beatable. They have no system, they are just playing together this time around.
Professional football in Africa. It works differently. Over there, you play for a team, you are an employee of the company that owns the team, and that company pays you...I tried when in high school, and I tried when in university. Just could not make the cut. There were always boys who were faster and quicker.
I have actually talked to a couple of big name African football players who played in Europe. I asked them how the Europeans decide who to pick. Every position has different requirements. You must already be able to do most things, such as trapping the ball with you chest, knee, head etch... Depending on your skills, they will work to polish the rest...
The upside of African players is physical strength speed, and durability. Plus they are cheap at first. However, because they need polishing on their technical ability, they usually go to Europe on contract with second divison teams in Belgium, typically for transfers of less than $100 000. There they work on them. When they improve, they resell them first division teams for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Some come so talented that they are drafted into the first division right away. That is more common now than it used to be. One reason is that in countries like Ivory Coast, they have football academies where they polish their own players.. At the same time, the first generation of Africans who played in Europe has returned to impart the knowledge it acquired to the new generation.
In spite of all these things, people like Leonel Messi, or the French players like Gourcuff who benefitted from years of top level tutelage, may still have better ball control than someone who had to polish his skills late in life...The difference between Robinho and Andre Ayew may not be as much as the difference between Rivaldo and Yeboah was, but at World Cup level, small differences can be big. Brazil had 1/2 a chance against Ivory Coast, Kaka pushed through a ball to Fabiano and he scored. Maicon got the ball from an impossible angle and made an impossible shot. Everywhere else on the field, the difference did not seem to be glaring but little things can make a big difference.
On the other side of it, the difference between Brazil and Ghana, may be the same as the difference between Ghana and the US.. Ghana is slightly better technically.. They can do one two more things better. because US players do not have as natural and instinctive a feel for the ball as Ghanaians might...
Small things make a big difference...
Anyone who genuinely follows Ghana football will allude to the fact that BS plays beautiful football. In fact, not only BS, but Ghana football in general is all about beautiful possession. Go back and watch the U20 team that won the WC. Our football problems as a nation dates back to the time when Ghana suffered heavily from administration issues. In fact, this current WC was the only time almost 99% of Ghanaians agreed with the squad. With the tenure of the current FA nearing its last days, Ghana face another challenge. That is, how well is the incoming FA going to do their job? Succinctly put, Ghana has the talent to take us forward and possibly to the WC finals. The question is, will there be a competent and less corrupt FA to lead us on?
I agree completely.... Ghana has the fortitude to compete with anyone, no excuses needed. If Uruguay did not cheat, who knows who might be playing on Sunday. I do not care what anyone says, but Holland had a hell of a time against Uruguay.. and with a full strength Ghana there is no knowing what might have happened.
I've had my critics in here, but i'm not letting up on this point.
Oh man, JJ Okocha could not shoot straight. He would beat everyone in midfield and fire a wild shot over the goal.. If that man had the striking technique of Forlan, he might have been the second best number 10 of all time...
Nah I understand that, i'm sayin... Charlie stated that finishing was the problem... you then stated that that was not true, but then go on to state the ineptitude of Okocha in front of goal.
Therein lies the confusion.
Brazil on Cup prep: 'No problems'
JOHANNESBURG -- Preparations for the 2014 World Cup are back on track just two months after FIFA publicly criticized organizers for missing deadlines, Brazil's top soccer official has said.
"There are no problems," Brazil soccer federation president Ricardo Teixeira said as the tournament's official logo was launched Thursday.
He acknowledged uncertainty over Sao Paulo's role as a host city after Morumbi Stadium was removed from the project last month -- despite repeated denials it would have to be dropped.
FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke previously described Brazil's lack of progress as "amazing."
FIFA awarded the 2014 World Cup hosting rights six years ago, but Brazil has barely begun building and renovating the 12 stadiums it needs.
Teixeira said that "the situation is completely different" to when Valcke spoke.
"Some of the stadia have commenced building. We have already defined exactly what's going to be happening in terms of budgets for the construction up to December," he said through a translator.
He did not cite any specific details, however.
Teixeira said construction work at Belo Horizonte and Salvador had begun, but there were doubts over the status of Sao Paulo, Brazil's biggest city, and Curitiba as hosts.
"We will come up with a definition about what role Sao Paulo will play in the World Cup," Teixeira said. "Will there be a stadium built or not? How will they participate as a city?
"The issue with Sao Paulo will have to be solved as quickly as possible. Curitiba Stadium is facing some financial constraints, but once financial guarantees are in place construction will begin."
Brazil also must upgrade airports essential to moving teams, fans and officials around such a large country.
"The three main priorities we have are airports, airports, airports," Teixeira said.
Organizers also are considering dividing the 12 host cities into four regions to limit travel.
Teixeira also admitted that Brazil, which has a reputation for high urban crime, has issues guaranteeing security.
"It's not surprising -- this is a problem that's not linked to any specific country," he said. "We have sent a huge security group to South Africa, they were here for a few days and they had to analyze the situation and pick on those issues that needed to be sorted."
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-...brazil-preparations-back-track?cc=5901&ver=us
JOHANNESBURG -- Preparations for the 2014 World Cup are back on track just two months after FIFA publicly criticized organizers for missing deadlines, Brazil's top soccer official has said.
"There are no problems," Brazil soccer federation president Ricardo Teixeira said as the tournament's official logo was launched Thursday.
He acknowledged uncertainty over Sao Paulo's role as a host city after Morumbi Stadium was removed from the project last month -- despite repeated denials it would have to be dropped.
FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke previously described Brazil's lack of progress as "amazing."
FIFA awarded the 2014 World Cup hosting rights six years ago, but Brazil has barely begun building and renovating the 12 stadiums it needs.
Teixeira said that "the situation is completely different" to when Valcke spoke.
"Some of the stadia have commenced building. We have already defined exactly what's going to be happening in terms of budgets for the construction up to December," he said through a translator.
He did not cite any specific details, however.
Teixeira said construction work at Belo Horizonte and Salvador had begun, but there were doubts over the status of Sao Paulo, Brazil's biggest city, and Curitiba as hosts.
"We will come up with a definition about what role Sao Paulo will play in the World Cup," Teixeira said. "Will there be a stadium built or not? How will they participate as a city?
"The issue with Sao Paulo will have to be solved as quickly as possible. Curitiba Stadium is facing some financial constraints, but once financial guarantees are in place construction will begin."
Brazil also must upgrade airports essential to moving teams, fans and officials around such a large country.
"The three main priorities we have are airports, airports, airports," Teixeira said.
Organizers also are considering dividing the 12 host cities into four regions to limit travel.
Teixeira also admitted that Brazil, which has a reputation for high urban crime, has issues guaranteeing security.
"It's not surprising -- this is a problem that's not linked to any specific country," he said. "We have sent a huge security group to South Africa, they were here for a few days and they had to analyze the situation and pick on those issues that needed to be sorted."
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-...brazil-preparations-back-track?cc=5901&ver=us
France's new coach Blanc 'outraged'
PARIS -- New France coach Laurent Blanc was "outraged" by the behavior of certain players during the World Cup debacle and plans to rebuild the national team with only players he can trust.
Blanc inherited a team devoid of confidence, as Raymond Domenech's troubled six-year reign ended with rifts and infighting after the team went on strike at a training session shortly before its World Cup ended in the group stage.
"What bothers me is that, after the World Cup, a new coach should be able to lean on a hard core," Blanc said on Tuesday at his first press conference. "This hard core is not even a melon's pip. ... My task is to find a hard core within this team."
Blanc plans to meet with players shortly so he can sort out who forms a part of his future plans.
"I can't act like nothing happened in South Africa, it wouldn't go down well. I followed the events, as you all did, with a lot of sadness," Blanc said. "I was outraged by certain behavior ... it's a delicate situation, there are certainly meetings to be had."
The 44-year-old Blanc's first game is an away friendly against Norway on Aug. 11, followed by a Euro 2012 home qualifier against Belarus on Sept. 3.
"Of course I will speak to those concerned. We will speak about the future, and about what happened in South Africa," he said. "I will make my choices, and perhaps among my choices there will be a sporting punishment that means certain players who were present in South Africa are not among my choices."
Blanc is fully aware that the climate is so bad that he is immediately under huge pressure.
"Everyone wishes me luck. I get the impression I'm heading toward suicide, or the guillotine," Blanc said. "I hope this climate will change with results."
Blanc has some key decisions to make, and little time.
Federation official and former international Lilian Thuram -- Blanc's teammate at the 1998 World Cup and at Euro 2000 -- has already said defender Patrice Evra should never play again for France because he was the captain who led the strike.
Evra was stripped of the captaincy by Domenech and dropped for the final game against South Africa, which France lost 2-1.
Blanc intends to speak with Evra, and others like Franck Ribery, Thierry Henry, William Gallas and Eric Abidal -- reportedly the five main instigators in the mutiny -- before deciding whether he picks them again.
"There are very few people who can tell you what really happened. I think I know a few of them," he said. "And knowing them well, I think if I have a meeting with them, they will tell me what really happened."
Blanc insists only those "with the right mentality and team spirit" will be chosen as he rebuilds the team and designates its new leader.
"It's possible that the captain changes in every match in the games to come," he added.
Domenech's team completely fell apart in the space of a few days at the World Cup.
The problems started when sports newspaper L'Equipe published details of Nicolas Anelka's expletive-filled rant at Domenech the day after France lost 2-0 to Mexico in their second group match.
Anelka was sent home, and the next day the entire squad sat on the team bus, refusing to train in protest at Anelka's dismissal. The bizarre images, including one French official storming off and screaming he was "ashamed," were shown live.
"What shocked me the most, what disappointed me the most, was the behavior of the squad during the public training session, 48 hours before a match," Blanc said. The decision to strike "was thought through and badly thought through."
Evra also had a lively altercation with the team's fitness coach, and Domenech -- shunned by his own players -- had to read out a letter on behalf of his players explaining their strike.
France went out for the second consecutive tournament without winning a game, after its humiliating first-round exit from Euro 2008.
Given the players' fall from grace, Blanc demanded a new attitude.
"People will have to show a certain amount of humility," he said. "At a certain point in time our national team could say 'We're going to the European Championship to win it' ... I don't think we'll even be in the top 10 FIFA rankings now. We will need to be a bit humble, given that we're in a total rebuilding phase."
In a thinly veiled swipe at Domenech, Blanc insisted France must stop isolating itself. Domenech's training camps were held far away from the public eye, with no interaction with fans.
Blanc replied with a firm and blunt "no" when asked if he had spoken to the unpopular Domenech since taking over.
"I don't envisage a team living behind closed doors, cut off from the world," Blanc said. "I think football has to open itself up. In other sports it happens, and the results are good. We should be able to do it. We have an effort to make."
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-...traged-team-behavior-world-cup?cc=5901&ver=us
PARIS -- New France coach Laurent Blanc was "outraged" by the behavior of certain players during the World Cup debacle and plans to rebuild the national team with only players he can trust.
Blanc inherited a team devoid of confidence, as Raymond Domenech's troubled six-year reign ended with rifts and infighting after the team went on strike at a training session shortly before its World Cup ended in the group stage.
"What bothers me is that, after the World Cup, a new coach should be able to lean on a hard core," Blanc said on Tuesday at his first press conference. "This hard core is not even a melon's pip. ... My task is to find a hard core within this team."
Blanc plans to meet with players shortly so he can sort out who forms a part of his future plans.
"I can't act like nothing happened in South Africa, it wouldn't go down well. I followed the events, as you all did, with a lot of sadness," Blanc said. "I was outraged by certain behavior ... it's a delicate situation, there are certainly meetings to be had."
The 44-year-old Blanc's first game is an away friendly against Norway on Aug. 11, followed by a Euro 2012 home qualifier against Belarus on Sept. 3.
"Of course I will speak to those concerned. We will speak about the future, and about what happened in South Africa," he said. "I will make my choices, and perhaps among my choices there will be a sporting punishment that means certain players who were present in South Africa are not among my choices."
Blanc is fully aware that the climate is so bad that he is immediately under huge pressure.
"Everyone wishes me luck. I get the impression I'm heading toward suicide, or the guillotine," Blanc said. "I hope this climate will change with results."
Blanc has some key decisions to make, and little time.
Federation official and former international Lilian Thuram -- Blanc's teammate at the 1998 World Cup and at Euro 2000 -- has already said defender Patrice Evra should never play again for France because he was the captain who led the strike.
Evra was stripped of the captaincy by Domenech and dropped for the final game against South Africa, which France lost 2-1.
Blanc intends to speak with Evra, and others like Franck Ribery, Thierry Henry, William Gallas and Eric Abidal -- reportedly the five main instigators in the mutiny -- before deciding whether he picks them again.
"There are very few people who can tell you what really happened. I think I know a few of them," he said. "And knowing them well, I think if I have a meeting with them, they will tell me what really happened."
Blanc insists only those "with the right mentality and team spirit" will be chosen as he rebuilds the team and designates its new leader.
"It's possible that the captain changes in every match in the games to come," he added.
Domenech's team completely fell apart in the space of a few days at the World Cup.
The problems started when sports newspaper L'Equipe published details of Nicolas Anelka's expletive-filled rant at Domenech the day after France lost 2-0 to Mexico in their second group match.
Anelka was sent home, and the next day the entire squad sat on the team bus, refusing to train in protest at Anelka's dismissal. The bizarre images, including one French official storming off and screaming he was "ashamed," were shown live.
"What shocked me the most, what disappointed me the most, was the behavior of the squad during the public training session, 48 hours before a match," Blanc said. The decision to strike "was thought through and badly thought through."
Evra also had a lively altercation with the team's fitness coach, and Domenech -- shunned by his own players -- had to read out a letter on behalf of his players explaining their strike.
France went out for the second consecutive tournament without winning a game, after its humiliating first-round exit from Euro 2008.
Given the players' fall from grace, Blanc demanded a new attitude.
"People will have to show a certain amount of humility," he said. "At a certain point in time our national team could say 'We're going to the European Championship to win it' ... I don't think we'll even be in the top 10 FIFA rankings now. We will need to be a bit humble, given that we're in a total rebuilding phase."
In a thinly veiled swipe at Domenech, Blanc insisted France must stop isolating itself. Domenech's training camps were held far away from the public eye, with no interaction with fans.
Blanc replied with a firm and blunt "no" when asked if he had spoken to the unpopular Domenech since taking over.
"I don't envisage a team living behind closed doors, cut off from the world," Blanc said. "I think football has to open itself up. In other sports it happens, and the results are good. We should be able to do it. We have an effort to make."
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-...traged-team-behavior-world-cup?cc=5901&ver=us
Maradona monument proposed
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- An Argentine legislator has proposed building a monument to honor Diego Maradona, whose future as coach of the national soccer team has been uncertain since it was eliminated in the World Cup quarterfinals by Germany.
Juan Cabandie, a member of the lower house of the Argentine congress, sponsored a bill Tuesday to honor Maradona "as an icon of popular Argentine culture."
One of Maradona's assistant coaches has publicly urged him to stay in the job after the team was routed 4-0 by Germany on Saturday. A senior member of the Argentine Football Association has said the decision rests with Maradona, who has yet to make his plans clear.
Maradona has also received encouragement from Argentina President Cristina Fernandez, and on Tuesday two of his players -- starting midfielder Angel Di Maria and substitute goalkeeper Mariano Andujar -- offered their public support.
"The Argentine people have shown that, when it comes to Maradona, the results are not important," Cabandie said. "Having been eliminated in the quarterfinals of the World Cup in South Africa, in a lopsided loss, thousands of people came to the streets to meet him and his 23 players."
Maradona's unpredictable nature leads few to say for certain he will step away -- and the South American continental championship, the Copa America, will be hosted in Argentina just a year from now.
Building a monument would officially place Maradona in the pantheon of national icons, joining former president Juan Peron; Peron's second wife, Eva; and Carlos Gardel, the most important figure in the history of tango.
Maradona led Argentina to its last World Cup title in 1986, the centerpiece of a career in which he was perhaps the greatest player of his generation. The career also had many lows, including the 1994 World Cup where he was banned after testing positive for a cocktail of performance-enhancing drugs.
Maradona was appointed national team coach in October 2008 by AFA president Julio Grondona. The tenure has also been a roller-coaster.
Argentina struggled to qualify for the World Cup, absorbing embarrassing losses against Bolivia (6-1) and Brazil (3-1). But the team seemed on course in South Africa for a third World Cup title after group-stage wins against Nigeria, South Korea and Greece.
It defeated Mexico 3-1 in the round of 16, leading Maradona to boast about the team's scoring prowess. Then came the humiliating loss on Saturday to Germany, which again led many to question Maradona's coaching ability.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-...oposes-monument-diego-maradona?cc=5901&ver=us
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- An Argentine legislator has proposed building a monument to honor Diego Maradona, whose future as coach of the national soccer team has been uncertain since it was eliminated in the World Cup quarterfinals by Germany.
Juan Cabandie, a member of the lower house of the Argentine congress, sponsored a bill Tuesday to honor Maradona "as an icon of popular Argentine culture."
One of Maradona's assistant coaches has publicly urged him to stay in the job after the team was routed 4-0 by Germany on Saturday. A senior member of the Argentine Football Association has said the decision rests with Maradona, who has yet to make his plans clear.
Maradona has also received encouragement from Argentina President Cristina Fernandez, and on Tuesday two of his players -- starting midfielder Angel Di Maria and substitute goalkeeper Mariano Andujar -- offered their public support.
"The Argentine people have shown that, when it comes to Maradona, the results are not important," Cabandie said. "Having been eliminated in the quarterfinals of the World Cup in South Africa, in a lopsided loss, thousands of people came to the streets to meet him and his 23 players."
Maradona's unpredictable nature leads few to say for certain he will step away -- and the South American continental championship, the Copa America, will be hosted in Argentina just a year from now.
Building a monument would officially place Maradona in the pantheon of national icons, joining former president Juan Peron; Peron's second wife, Eva; and Carlos Gardel, the most important figure in the history of tango.
Maradona led Argentina to its last World Cup title in 1986, the centerpiece of a career in which he was perhaps the greatest player of his generation. The career also had many lows, including the 1994 World Cup where he was banned after testing positive for a cocktail of performance-enhancing drugs.
Maradona was appointed national team coach in October 2008 by AFA president Julio Grondona. The tenure has also been a roller-coaster.
Argentina struggled to qualify for the World Cup, absorbing embarrassing losses against Bolivia (6-1) and Brazil (3-1). But the team seemed on course in South Africa for a third World Cup title after group-stage wins against Nigeria, South Korea and Greece.
It defeated Mexico 3-1 in the round of 16, leading Maradona to boast about the team's scoring prowess. Then came the humiliating loss on Saturday to Germany, which again led many to question Maradona's coaching ability.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-...oposes-monument-diego-maradona?cc=5901&ver=us
FIFA Confirm Howard Webb To Referee Spain Vs Netherlands World Cup 2010 Final
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Howard Webb of England will referee the World Cup final.
FIFA has named the 38-year-old former police officer to take charge when the Netherlands and Spain meet at Johannesburg's Soccer City stadium on Sunday.
Webb has refereed three World Cup matches and has neither shown a red card nor awarded a penalty.
He handled Spain's 1-0 loss to Switzerland, then won praise for controlling a dramatic end to Slovakia's 3-2 win that eliminated defending champion Italy. He also refereed Brazil's 3-0 second-round victory against Chile.
Webb and his assistants Darren Cann and Mike Mullarkey will complete a prestigious end-of-season double after officiating the Champions League final in May, when Inter Milan beat Bayern Munich in Madrid.
http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/1...-fifa-confirm-howard-webb-to-referee-spain-vs
FIFA May Compensate Germany Vs Spain Semi-Final Fans Who Missed Game After Plane Delays
FIFA have announced they may compensate Spain and Germany fans who missed yesterday's World Cup 2010 semi-final due to airport congestion.
The Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban was reportedly 1,800 short of full capacity after an influx of VIP jets into one of Durban's airports caused five flights - carrying over 700 fans - late for the game by blocking landing space.
Runways at the King Shaka Airport were so busy that several planes had to transfer to Durban International after being unable to land.
FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot told reporters today that the governing body would look into the cases of those affected and could offer compensation. Airports Company South Africa commercial manager Themba Maseko further stated VIP jets will be towed if they refuse to make way for commercial airlines at Johannesburg Airport on Sunday for the final between the Netherlands and Spain.
"We are going to be more forceful. If aircraft refuse to move we will tow them away," Maseko said.
ACSA chief executive Monhla Hlahla told a local radio station that "priority had to be given to VIPs who were caught up in the situation" and added FIFA planes were allowed to land before commercial flights.
South Africa's transport minister Sibusiso Ndebele has also apologised to supporters affected and vowed to "strengthen" plans for the remainder of the tournament.
Spokesman Maingot also reacted angirly to the Italian pitch invader who disrupted the opening period of last night's clash. He described the incident as "certainly not acceptable" and declared FIFA will "tighten the controls again" ahead of the weekend showpiece.
http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/1...010-fifa-may-compensate-germany-vs-spain-semi
FIFA have announced they may compensate Spain and Germany fans who missed yesterday's World Cup 2010 semi-final due to airport congestion.
The Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban was reportedly 1,800 short of full capacity after an influx of VIP jets into one of Durban's airports caused five flights - carrying over 700 fans - late for the game by blocking landing space.
Runways at the King Shaka Airport were so busy that several planes had to transfer to Durban International after being unable to land.
FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot told reporters today that the governing body would look into the cases of those affected and could offer compensation. Airports Company South Africa commercial manager Themba Maseko further stated VIP jets will be towed if they refuse to make way for commercial airlines at Johannesburg Airport on Sunday for the final between the Netherlands and Spain.
"We are going to be more forceful. If aircraft refuse to move we will tow them away," Maseko said.
ACSA chief executive Monhla Hlahla told a local radio station that "priority had to be given to VIPs who were caught up in the situation" and added FIFA planes were allowed to land before commercial flights.
South Africa's transport minister Sibusiso Ndebele has also apologised to supporters affected and vowed to "strengthen" plans for the remainder of the tournament.
Spokesman Maingot also reacted angirly to the Italian pitch invader who disrupted the opening period of last night's clash. He described the incident as "certainly not acceptable" and declared FIFA will "tighten the controls again" ahead of the weekend showpiece.
http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/1...010-fifa-may-compensate-germany-vs-spain-semi
Brazil on Cup prep: 'No problems'
JOHANNESBURG -- Preparations for the 2014 World Cup are back on track just two months after FIFA publicly criticized organizers for missing deadlines, Brazil's top soccer official has said.
"There are no problems," Brazil soccer federation president Ricardo Teixeira said as the tournament's official logo was launched Thursday.
He acknowledged uncertainty over Sao Paulo's role as a host city after Morumbi Stadium was removed from the project last month -- despite repeated denials it would have to be dropped.
FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke previously described Brazil's lack of progress as "amazing."
FIFA awarded the 2014 World Cup hosting rights six years ago, but Brazil has barely begun building and renovating the 12 stadiums it needs.
Teixeira said that "the situation is completely different" to when Valcke spoke.
"Some of the stadia have commenced building. We have already defined exactly what's going to be happening in terms of budgets for the construction up to December," he said through a translator.
He did not cite any specific details, however.
Teixeira said construction work at Belo Horizonte and Salvador had begun, but there were doubts over the status of Sao Paulo, Brazil's biggest city, and Curitiba as hosts.
"We will come up with a definition about what role Sao Paulo will play in the World Cup," Teixeira said. "Will there be a stadium built or not? How will they participate as a city?
"The issue with Sao Paulo will have to be solved as quickly as possible. Curitiba Stadium is facing some financial constraints, but once financial guarantees are in place construction will begin."
Brazil also must upgrade airports essential to moving teams, fans and officials around such a large country.
"The three main priorities we have are airports, airports, airports," Teixeira said.
Organizers also are considering dividing the 12 host cities into four regions to limit travel.
Teixeira also admitted that Brazil, which has a reputation for high urban crime, has issues guaranteeing security.
"It's not surprising -- this is a problem that's not linked to any specific country," he said. "We have sent a huge security group to South Africa, they were here for a few days and they had to analyze the situation and pick on those issues that needed to be sorted."
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-...brazil-preparations-back-track?cc=5901&ver=us
I think the economic strength of South Africa is understated. Brazil is supposed to be one of the richest countries in the World and they are having the sorts of problems you never heard about in South Africa... There is still 4 years to go, and I am sure they will sort it out.... But South Africa, has succeeded spectacularly...Later on, I intend to start a thread on the impact of the world cup on the image of South Africa...
Puyol looked shook like, "Fuck! I just scored the only goal... gimmie a break!"
The Queen Pays Spain Squad A Visit
[FLASH]http://www.youtube.com/v/8bRn8lt5M1Q&hl=en_US&fs=1[/FLASH]
After Spain beat Germany 1-0 in the World Cup semi-final the party continued in the dressing room of la Furia Roja as none other than Spanish Queen Dona Sofia popped in for a post-match visit.
Decked out in her country's red, Queen Sofia appeared to catch the players slightly off-guard with an early pop-in on their return to the dressing room. Some of the players were half-naked, while others were still in their kit as they stood up to clap their Queen into the room.
Unfortunately for Spanish hero Carles Puyol, he was caught out just wearing a towel to cover his modesty. Despite his lack of clothes, Puyol stepped forward to shake his Royal's hand before the rest of the squad began ripping on their captain.
Having a good laugh at Puyol's expense they broke out in a chorus of ''Puyo Puyo!'' before poor Carles ran across the dressing room for cover.
The Queen told the players how proud "todo Espana" is of them, and that they were "Marvilloso."
The Queen Pays Spain Squad A Visit
[FLASH]http://www.youtube.com/v/8bRn8lt5M1Q&hl=en_US&fs=1[/FLASH]
After Spain beat Germany 1-0 in the World Cup semi-final the party continued in the dressing room of la Furia Roja as none other than Spanish Queen Dona Sofia popped in for a post-match visit.
Decked out in her country's red, Queen Sofia appeared to catch the players slightly off-guard with an early pop-in on their return to the dressing room. Some of the players were half-naked, while others were still in their kit as they stood up to clap their Queen into the room.
Unfortunately for Spanish hero Carles Puyol, he was caught out just wearing a towel to cover his modesty. Despite his lack of clothes, Puyol stepped forward to shake his Royal's hand before the rest of the squad began ripping on their captain.
Having a good laugh at Puyol's expense they broke out in a chorus of ''Puyo Puyo!'' before poor Carles ran across the dressing room for cover.
The Queen told the players how proud "todo Espana" is of them, and that they were "Marvilloso."
Im very worried about them being prepared..and you would think they would be MORE on top of things since the Olympics will be in Rio 2 years after the World Cup.... but as of now, I dont see ANYTHING that they have done yet.
What are the average sizes of stadiums in Brazil? Maracana's the obvious one, but from there on down, what would the average seat stadium look like?
50k? 60k?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campeonato_Brasileiro_Série_A
Check the teams in the section "Teams currently playing Série A".
yeah...about 60-70k... there are a few of them in that range...
Good looks fam.
Yea, i'm not a big fan of tracks around stadiums but Botafogo's stadium looks vicious.
Cruyff helped create Spain's Barca-infused way
Netherlands great Johan Cruyff probably never expected the style of play he made synonymous with attacking soccer would pay off for Spain.
Or that the Spaniards would use it against his country in the World Cup final Sunday.
Two of the world's best offensive teams are looking to win the championship for the first time. While Cruyff led the Dutch to their first final in 1974, it seems he's also played a big part in taking Spain to its first title match.
Cruyff is credited with creating Barcelona's possession-based game of quick touches and slick passing that also has become Spain's trademark. Key players Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique all came up through Barcelona's youth academy.
"Spain's style is the style of Barcelona," Cruyff wrote in his El Periodico column on Thursday. "Now, Spain is favorite to win the World Cup."
While Barcelona's first taste of total soccer came during Cruyff's playing days, he implemented it for good as Barcelona coach in the early '90s. Cruyff's "Dream Team," a mix of Dutch players and midfield stars - including current Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola - won four straight league titles and a first Champions League trophy.
Of Spain's current 23-man squad, nine came up through Barcelona's system, with six being starters.
"Spanish team or Barca team?" La Vanguardia newspaper asked its readers on Thursday.
As with Barcelona, the Spanish team "is based on the quality of its midfield, which is well organized," coach Vicente Del Bosque said. "And when you have order, talent presents itself better."
Former Spain coach Inaki Saez was the first to recognize a technically gifted generation of players was coming up. Luis Aragones continued the work after Euro 2004, when Spain failed to get out of the group stage.
Four years later, it was European champion.
Del Bosque has stayed true to the style and fielded seven of the Catalan club's players against Germany, even swapping striker Fernando Torres for newcomer Pedro.
"One consistent thing in Spanish football is that Madrid and Barcelona are the most powerful teams," Del Bosque said. "But we are represented by other teams. There are seven from Barcelona, three from Madrid and one from Villareal (who start). I don't believe we need to limit things to Madrid and Barcelona, and should think of Spanish football as a whole."
That whole, though, is based largely on how Barcelona plays. Clearly, it works.
"Last night, that same Germany team that dazzled us against Argentina played football as it knows best, a football that without a doubt would have been enough to beat any other team. But not Spain," Cruyff said. "If Spain goes for you, it kills you."
The clinical performance against Germany can only leave the Netherlands thinking it's about to get a taste of its own medicine in South Africa.
"There's no doubt that Germany knew what it was going to go through, just like Holland is probably thinking," Cruyff wrote. "If you go up against a team that wants to keep the ball, you're going to suffer."
Even Puyol's 73rd-minute header against the Germans was Barcelona-esque, as the central defender soared high to score from an identical header in a 6-2 win at Real Madrid in 2009.
"It's a play we do at Barcelona," Puyol said Thursday. "Two days before the game, Del Bosque explained that they defended by zone and I told him we could do it. Luckily, it worked out well."
Nearly everything with a Barca touch seems to work for Spain.
See?
Netherlands great Johan Cruyff probably never expected the style of play he made synonymous with attacking soccer would pay off for Spain.
Or that the Spaniards would use it against his country in the World Cup final Sunday.
Two of the world's best offensive teams are looking to win the championship for the first time. While Cruyff led the Dutch to their first final in 1974, it seems he's also played a big part in taking Spain to its first title match.
Cruyff is credited with creating Barcelona's possession-based game of quick touches and slick passing that also has become Spain's trademark. Key players Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique all came up through Barcelona's youth academy.
"Spain's style is the style of Barcelona," Cruyff wrote in his El Periodico column on Thursday. "Now, Spain is favorite to win the World Cup."
While Barcelona's first taste of total soccer came during Cruyff's playing days, he implemented it for good as Barcelona coach in the early '90s. Cruyff's "Dream Team," a mix of Dutch players and midfield stars - including current Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola - won four straight league titles and a first Champions League trophy.
Of Spain's current 23-man squad, nine came up through Barcelona's system, with six being starters.
"Spanish team or Barca team?" La Vanguardia newspaper asked its readers on Thursday.
As with Barcelona, the Spanish team "is based on the quality of its midfield, which is well organized," coach Vicente Del Bosque said. "And when you have order, talent presents itself better."
Former Spain coach Inaki Saez was the first to recognize a technically gifted generation of players was coming up. Luis Aragones continued the work after Euro 2004, when Spain failed to get out of the group stage.
Four years later, it was European champion.
Del Bosque has stayed true to the style and fielded seven of the Catalan club's players against Germany, even swapping striker Fernando Torres for newcomer Pedro.
"One consistent thing in Spanish football is that Madrid and Barcelona are the most powerful teams," Del Bosque said. "But we are represented by other teams. There are seven from Barcelona, three from Madrid and one from Villareal (who start). I don't believe we need to limit things to Madrid and Barcelona, and should think of Spanish football as a whole."
That whole, though, is based largely on how Barcelona plays. Clearly, it works.
"Last night, that same Germany team that dazzled us against Argentina played football as it knows best, a football that without a doubt would have been enough to beat any other team. But not Spain," Cruyff said. "If Spain goes for you, it kills you."
The clinical performance against Germany can only leave the Netherlands thinking it's about to get a taste of its own medicine in South Africa.
"There's no doubt that Germany knew what it was going to go through, just like Holland is probably thinking," Cruyff wrote. "If you go up against a team that wants to keep the ball, you're going to suffer."
Even Puyol's 73rd-minute header against the Germans was Barcelona-esque, as the central defender soared high to score from an identical header in a 6-2 win at Real Madrid in 2009.
"It's a play we do at Barcelona," Puyol said Thursday. "Two days before the game, Del Bosque explained that they defended by zone and I told him we could do it. Luckily, it worked out well."
Nearly everything with a Barca touch seems to work for Spain.
See?
Cruyff helped create Spain's Barca-infused way
Netherlands great Johan Cruyff probably never expected the style of play he made synonymous with attacking soccer would pay off for Spain.
Or that the Spaniards would use it against his country in the World Cup final Sunday.
Two of the world's best offensive teams are looking to win the championship for the first time. While Cruyff led the Dutch to their first final in 1974, it seems he's also played a big part in taking Spain to its first title match.
Cruyff is credited with creating Barcelona's possession-based game of quick touches and slick passing that also has become Spain's trademark. Key players Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique all came up through Barcelona's youth academy.
"Spain's style is the style of Barcelona," Cruyff wrote in his El Periodico column on Thursday. "Now, Spain is favorite to win the World Cup."
While Barcelona's first taste of total soccer came during Cruyff's playing days, he implemented it for good as Barcelona coach in the early '90s. Cruyff's "Dream Team," a mix of Dutch players and midfield stars - including current Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola - won four straight league titles and a first Champions League trophy.
Of Spain's current 23-man squad, nine came up through Barcelona's system, with six being starters.
"Spanish team or Barca team?" La Vanguardia newspaper asked its readers on Thursday.
As with Barcelona, the Spanish team "is based on the quality of its midfield, which is well organized," coach Vicente Del Bosque said. "And when you have order, talent presents itself better."
Former Spain coach Inaki Saez was the first to recognize a technically gifted generation of players was coming up. Luis Aragones continued the work after Euro 2004, when Spain failed to get out of the group stage.
Four years later, it was European champion.
Del Bosque has stayed true to the style and fielded seven of the Catalan club's players against Germany, even swapping striker Fernando Torres for newcomer Pedro.
"One consistent thing in Spanish football is that Madrid and Barcelona are the most powerful teams," Del Bosque said. "But we are represented by other teams. There are seven from Barcelona, three from Madrid and one from Villareal (who start). I don't believe we need to limit things to Madrid and Barcelona, and should think of Spanish football as a whole."
That whole, though, is based largely on how Barcelona plays. Clearly, it works.
"Last night, that same Germany team that dazzled us against Argentina played football as it knows best, a football that without a doubt would have been enough to beat any other team. But not Spain," Cruyff said. "If Spain goes for you, it kills you."
The clinical performance against Germany can only leave the Netherlands thinking it's about to get a taste of its own medicine in South Africa.
"There's no doubt that Germany knew what it was going to go through, just like Holland is probably thinking," Cruyff wrote. "If you go up against a team that wants to keep the ball, you're going to suffer."
Even Puyol's 73rd-minute header against the Germans was Barcelona-esque, as the central defender soared high to score from an identical header in a 6-2 win at Real Madrid in 2009.
"It's a play we do at Barcelona," Puyol said Thursday. "Two days before the game, Del Bosque explained that they defended by zone and I told him we could do it. Luckily, it worked out well."
Nearly everything with a Barca touch seems to work for Spain.
See?
Why do people argue with this guy Nzinga?????
Good looks fam.
Yea, i'm not a big fan of tracks around stadiums but Botafogo's stadium looks vicious.
Is this a real stadium? It is too beautiful; it looks like one of those glossy artistic renditions they use to depict a project that is in the works..
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