South America Will Lag Against Europe

Diego Maradona Argentina coach thinks it is a very long shot that South America will catch up with Europe even with the continent’s very successful stint in the South Africa World Cup. South America fielded in five representatives in the tournament and all of them were able to make it to the knock-out stages and four were able to win in their groups. For the time being, the heavy weights of Europe, Italy and France were even knocked out and finished at the bottom of their groups including middle weights like New Zealand and hosts South Africa.

Seven out of the 13 European contenders passed the group stages but only Germany, Spain and Holland manage to be in the top of their groups. All the same, the level of play of the clubs in Europe is very much stronger and there are a lot more money at stake in tournaments like the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, La Liga and Serie A, this is why Maradona believes South America will always be behind.

Maradona said that he think they will never ever be bigger than Europe. We have to build America and produce coaches of other countries and make them understand that there must be an open line for kids growing up. We will never outgrow Europe but we can have good players and we must look into the youth leagues and make the kids dream of playing in the European league and be ready. Their conditions should be right and Europeans should not grab kids at age 15 since they have no idea of how it is in playing in the European leagues specially their state of mind and very vulnerable body. Even the 16 and 17 year-olds should not be doing the same but Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay everyone speed up the process and picking up kids who are not yet ready.

But the child and his parents should know what a football player should know since or else it is like taking money from people, he continued. South America must continue to do what it has started doing and the reward is that we have the knowledge that we are providing a whole lot of great players to different teams and clubs the world over and that they are producing great amount of money. But in the process they should also understand that these players, when they are already make it to their own national team, they have our complete support and affection.

Netherlands vs Denmark: World Cup 2010

This is part of the World Cup 2010 Netherlands vs. Denmark; Netherlands Profile. The Oranje aims high for their match in South Africa, 32 years ago from a 3-1 extra-time loss from Argentina, which happened four years on from a 2-1 final loss from West Germany. Since coach Rinus Michels retired as its pioneer, a lot of players followed Johan Cruyff generation that did not even advance to the final hurdle, but one managed to get the European title in 1988. Known as spectacular but fragile, this team hope to wipe out this image. Now, under Bert van Marwijk, who carried out the challenge after their disappointing UEFA EURO 2008 campaign.

He and his players this time around have history on their side. West Germany in 1982, was the last team to reach FIFA World Cup™ finals without dropping a single point in the qualifying round and went on to contest the final. The present Oranje vintage are very vocal on their ambitions. Netherlands got eight straight games. The Van Marwijk era proved to be a great one so far leading the team on the top of Group 9.

Their coach is not the most prestigious player during his time, he had collected only one international cap, the father in law of Mark van Bommel has had more success in the dugout. He showed especially brighter at Feyenoord that led the Rotterdam team to the UEFA Cup championship in 2002 before winning the Dutch crown when he returned after a two-year in Germany. Calm, discrete and very approachable, the 56-year-old coach believes that it is vital to befriend his players and said that an international coach has little time to work with his team. In luau of this, he wants to spend more time with his players, especially during training and exercises to know them better. Although this style is very different from his predecessor, Marco van Basten, their tactics are very similar. Marco implements a 4-2-3-1 formation in place, and the players are used to it and he intends to stick to it. Being aided by Phillip Cocu a former stalwarts and Frank de Boer role as the assistant coach, Van Marwijk’s record is above reproach up to now.

They have several star players like Edwin van der Saar and Ruud van Nistelrooy who have had time on their international careers. Van Marwijk tried to integrate his own style to the heart of the players he got from Van Basten, without making a lot of changes. Now, the new key men are Arjen Robben, Andre Ooijer, Mark van Bommel, Dirk Kuyt, Joris Mathijsen, Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Giovanni van Bronckhorst, they now have a considerable playing time under their trainer. While Rafael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder, Nigel De Jong and Robin van Persie are still closely involved. The other articles will feature Denmarks profile in the World Cup 2010 Netherlands vs. Denmark.

England vs USA in World Cup 2010

England will play against USA on 12/06 20:30 in Rustenburg

Not much of a review for the year 2009 as far as World Cup. The only thing that could be said is that the 2009 season was a brilliant year for the England fans, especially if you compare it to 2008. This England team also has certain weaknesses like the injured Glen Johnson with his knee that is weakness in the right back. But it is still a thrill that the team has a plan. Wayne Rooney looks great wearing an England shirt, Lampard and Gerrard can team up and there are lots of options down the wing. Massive thumbs up for Fabio Capello and a superb World Cup qualifying campaign and no doubt a great highlight. We’re all hoping 2010 is just as inspiring and that we put in a good showing at a certain little tournament in South Africa.

Everybody knows that England’s positional problem is goalkeeper. The left-sided problem was solved by Fabio Capello’s brain and Steven Gerrard/Wayne Rooney’s readiness to substitute. But a goalkeeper’s position is not a job you can solve with tactical tinkering. You either have a good keeper or you don’t.
David James is the most promising when he’s fit but it is rare these days. Robert Green is okay but discreet and has leaked some goals at West Ham. Ben Foster’s confidence is not that high while playing for Manchester United. Joe Hart has chances of playing on the World Cup. Alex McLeish backs in place of Joe for England World Cup. Alex McLeish Birmingham boss believes goalkeeper Joe Hart is in contention for England’s 2010 World Cup squad.

The 22-year-old, on a loan deal for the long season from Manchester City, has kept the sheets clean to help shoot Blues to seventh in the Premier League.
And with Fabio Capello England manager still uncertain about his first-choice keeper for South Africa, McLeish thinks Hart is among the leading candidates.

McLeish said that he knows that Fabio Capello and his staff find him favorable.
He already has an edge and his performances lately have shown he can be a candidate. He has a brilliant form and he is looking big and powerful right now.

He has improved a lot since he came to us. He may have had it before but we managed to bring out the potential. Joe has as great chance as anybody else to be part of the England squad. Last June 2008, Hart earned a cap England for his name, with a 3-0 debut win over Trinidad and Tobago. He has already played in some of Capello’s teams but not in any of England’s World Cup qualification or friendly matches other than the friendly in Port-of-Spain.

England vs U.S.A (a PS3 2010 FIFA World Cup Rehearsal)

South Africa Getting Ready for World Cup

South Africa is continuing to build-up for this summer’s tournament with a 1-1 draw against Paraguay.  While South Americans, who missed several top European-based players, took the lead after 37 minutes through Marcelo Estigarribia, but Bafana Bafana hit back to equalize 19 minutes from time.  The result was a good improvement for South Africa coming against a team who also qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and compared to the 1-1 draw played against Namibia on 3 March.  The likes of Brazil and Argentina have come and struggled, so we did well, said South African coach Carlos Alberto Parreira.  

Paraguay were in top most of the first half and took the lead after eight minutes before the break when Estigarribia had a clear lane to head home.  But after the break Carlos Alberto Parreira’s team moved into the game and they equalized when Tshabalala struck a left footer from 30 yards.  The South Africans went into the game after returning from an intensive three-week training camp in Brazil where they played seven matches against local clubs.  They will join another training camp in Germany in April before going back to South Africa in May to prepare for the FIFA World Cup opener versus Mexico on June 11 in Johannesburg.  Uruguay and France are the other two teams in the group with South Africa.

Revenue Returns on World Cup Delayed, South Africa

The grass on some of the fields wasn’t up to FIFA standards, but they were stripped and re-turfed when Chile chose this eastern South African hotel as its World Cup base.  Ingwenyama needed steam baths, sauna, whirlpool, brighter light bulbs, better fencing, sophisticated TVs and spare wardrobes for the players’ rooms.  Henk Bredenoord the general manager of the nationwide Status Hotels chain to which Ingwenyama belongs, estimated the cost of the upgrade would amount to 7 million or just under $1 million, and said the Chileans were paying 4 million and for their stay.  But instead of a seeing it as a disadvantage, Bredenoord looks at it as an opportunity. 

He said that they will stand better as a resort and compete better in the marketplace, he said in an interview in the lobby, adding that bragging about hosting a World Cup team will not hurt.  It should be remembered that it involves long-term vision. He calls the World Cup a catalyst for growth.  He could well be speaking for all of South Africa.  The government and private entrepreneurs spent millions to renovate airports and road buildings, bus and rail systems, hotels and stadiums for the tournament.  If you look at in short-term, it is a money-losing proposition, but it will pay off in the future for South Africans.

Poll: Who Will Advance From Group D in World Cup 2010

This group is tagged as the “group of death”. Germany is the favorite, but don’t forget that Australia almost made an upset to Italy who eventually became the champions at Germany 2006. Ghana also got to the final 16 in 2006 and Serbia made a strong record in 2009, this team could be 2010 South Africa‘s dark horse.

Serbia will be emerging in the World Cup for the first time as an independent nation. But as Yugoslavia, they have a lot of exposure in the World Cup.
They were the first in the qualifying group in front of France and had a good 2009. They won nine, lost two and drew one.

Germany made a good impression in the qualifying round for the South Africa with eight wins and two draws. During their 2009 games they won seven, lost one and had three draws. The team has good players in midfield, defense and attack.

Australia has appeared twice before in the World Cup, last 1974 and 2006. In 2006, a last minute penalty cost them the championship to Italy in round 16.
They were part of the Asian qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup.

Ghana or the Black Stars qualified for the World Cup first time in 2006. Their record is more impressive in the African continent. They have four titles on the African Cup of Nations the last was 1982. Now you know their stats, you choose Who Will Advance from Group D in World Cup 2010.

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