The Teams

Holland	Spain
Stekelenburg (GK)	Casillas (capt) (GK)
Van der Wiel	Ramos
Heitinga	Puyol
Mathijsen	Pique
Van Bronckhorst (capt)	Capdevila
Van Bommel	Busquets
De Jong	Alonso
Kuyt	Iniesta
Sneijder	Xavi
Robben	Pedro
Van Persie	Villa
Referee: Howard Webb (Eng)

The Final

USA 1 - 2 GHANA

Rustenburg - Royal Bafokeng Stadium | Saturday 26 June

Ghana

USA

Match 50 - Round of 16 | Saturday 26 June

Referee: Viktor KASSAI (HUN)

 

THE NEWS

Raymond Domenech insists he was underpaid during his six-year tenure as France manager. Domenech (right), who earned £600,000-a-year, said: 'I'm one of the least paid international bosses in the world. I'm a minimum wage earner.'

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"The hand of Suarez is the hand of God and the Virgin Mary, that's how Uruguayans see it."

Oscar Tabarez - Uruguay coach

 

"When a boxer reaches for a knife to fight instead of his fists, it’s a sign that he has been over-powered by his opponent. Ghana won somehow last night. The crying can stop."

by Kingsley Kobo www.goal.com

Luis Suarez's handball
3 Jul 2010

Suarez showed no remorse for the handball, even claiming it is his very own 'hand of God'.

"The 'Hand of God' now belongs to me. Mine is the real 'Hand Of God'. I made the best save of the tournament. Sometimes in training I play as a goalkeeper so it was worth it," said Suarez.

"There was no alternative but for me to do that and when they missed the penalty I thought 'It is a miracle and we are alive in the tournament.'"

Luis Suarez - post match statement

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Don’t cry for Ghana
There are reasons for comfort...
By Kingsley Kobo
3 Jul 2010

We saw tears and felt pain last night when the only surviving African team at the World Cup, Ghana, was eliminated by Uruguay at Soccer City Stadium.

Many reasons to lament, many reasons to curse.

If Ghana had been defeated during the 90 minutes of play, or even during extra time we could easily call Uruguay the stronger side.

But as it happened, we can’t say that they out-played the Africans and so deserved the victory; or that Ghana played badly and deserved to be beaten.

No! The Black Stars shined, staging a worthwhile battle against the South Americans.

Uruguay got underway with a robust intensity hoping to intimidate the Blacks Stars early in order to cut into their throat and leave them gasping in despair – like Brazil did to Chile in their 3-0 win in the second round – but Ghana withstood, dragging along the Charruas until their superiority complex was gradually replaced by ambiguity.

When Inter’s Sulley Muntari fired home a shot, which left Nestor Muslera stretching to no avail, Uruguay knew they were in trouble.

Even when star striker Diego Forlan evened the score with a free-kick early in the second half, Ghana didn’t cower.

We were beginning to envisage a long night with fear and hope warring in our souls.

Forlan and Luis Suarez, whom many tipped could change the destiny of the evening, remained constantly dampened by Ghana’s tactics and cohesive production.

During extra-time, we saw a more combative Ghana, menacing Uruguay’s defence in search of a goal to seal victory, but at the height of their arduous effort, Suarez’s unprofessional hand ball robbed the Africans of a winning goal.

Don’t blame Asamoah Gyan for wasting a golden opportunity of breaking the jinx that has always limited African teams at the quarter-finals, but salute the effort of these youngsters who came from nowhere to reach this stage of the competition.

Everybody can miss a penalty, after all, hitting the crossbar showed how well he had aimed his shot.

Using hands to parry a goal-bound ball showed how reduced and feeble Uruguay had been during the dying minutes of the game.

Ghana had pushed and pressed them to an extent that they had to apply an unconventional means of defending and fending off danger.

And to demonstrate how badly they needed the save, Luis Suarez was lifted shoulder high by his mates as the hero of the evening during their bliss celebration after the game.

I am not here to blame Suarez, he and his team got their lot – a red card, a penalty and a possible two-game suspension – what I’m trying to point out is that Ghana deserve kudos for rocking the two-time world champions Uruguay down to their knees.

When a boxer reaches for a knife to fight instead of his fists, it’s a sign that he has been over-powered by his opponent. Ghana won somehow last night. The crying can stop.

SOURCE: www.goal.com

Match 58 - Quarter-finals - 2 July

Referee Olegario BENQUERENCA (POR)

Johannesburg Soccer City Stadium

David Smith talks to Ghanaians and South Africans supporting the Black Stars at the World Cup: audio

Uruguay - Ghana preview
1 July 2010

Although Uruguay have a rich FIFA World Cup™ history, they have not advanced as far as the quarter-finals since their run to the last four in 1970. Ghana, their opponents on Friday night, have never gone this far in the tournament, having reached the second round four years ago in their FIFA World Cup debut.

In both 2006 and in South Africa, the Black Stars were Africa's only representatives in the knock-out rounds, and they can also become the first ever side from the continent to advance to a semi-final with a win. In the way of Africa's hopes is an in-form La Celeste led by one of the most dynamic front-lines at the tournament.

The match
Uruguay-Ghana, Johannesburg (Soccer City), 2 July, 20:30

For a team that struggled to qualify for the finals, Uruguay emerged as one of the dark horses of the opening stage after finishing top of Group A. After opening the event with a scoreless draw with France, they have secured three consecutive wins, largely thanks to the form of strikers Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez. Forlan scored a brace in the 3-0 dismantling of the hosts, while Suarez scored the trio of Uruguay's goals in the 1-0 win over Mexico and 2-1 victory over Korea Republic. Edinson Cavani is the most unheralded of the attacking triumvirate, but the Palermo forward can also be lethal if unchecked. However, Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac has earned a reputation for his tactical acumen, and the Serb has built one of Africa's finest defences.

With so much history on the line, Ghana could be forgiven for being overawed with the occasion, but the Black Stars are seemingly unflappable despite being the youngest team in the tournament. A side boasting several players who won the FIFA U-20 World Cup last year, they finished runners-up at January's CAF Africa Cup of Nations on the back of three consecutive 1-0 wins. They also held their nerve in a dramatic 2-1 extra-time victory over South Africa 2010's comeback kings, the USA, in the second round. Asamoah Gyan has scored three of the side's four goals, and despite being hampered by an ankle injury, should be the fulcrum of the Ghanaian attack. Kevin-Prince Boateng also appears likely to win his fitness race, while the loss of starlet Andre Ayew to suspension will be painful. The door might now be open for the comeback of little-used Inter Milan midfielder Sulley Muntari, and the possible return of previously injured centre-half Isaac Vorsah could also be a major boost.

Players to watch
Luis Suarez v John Mensah

A veteran anchor at the back for Ghana, John Mensah will need to call on all of his experience to stop the speed and creativity of the Uruguay attack. The 23-year-old Ajax striker is technically adept and capable of scoring from anywhere around the box. Although the powerful Mensah should have the advantage in the air, he could well be challenged for pace on the counter-attack, but the potential return of Vorsah could provide him with significant assistance.

The stat
7 – Asamoah Gyan has scored seven goals for Ghana out of the 11 they have tallied in full international matches in 2010. Ayew, Boateng, Muntari and Quincy Owusu-Abeyie have claimed the others.

What they said
“They are fast, strong, and they have done well in other games, even against Germany,” Diego Forlan, Uruguay forward.

“They have a great team, especially in attack. This is what we have to watch out for because they have players like Forlan and Suarez,” Asamoah Gyan, Ghana striker.

Voice of the fans
"Both teams have impressed me. Ghana has shown speed and a great ability to pass. Their defence is not the best but their ability to fire an attack has shown. As another has commented, I think that the first to score will win. In this case, Ghana will pull through," FIFA.com user OnTarget06.

The question
Can Ghana eclipse Cameroon's exploits in 1990 and Senegal in 2002 to become the first African side in the last four? Or will the two-time champion Uruguayans keep their good run going in a tournament that has seen South American teams immensely difficult to beat?

SOURCE: www.fifa.com

Godin out as Uruguay name XI
Tabarez happy to share starting side for Ghana clash
30th June 2010

Godin: Ruled out
Uruguay defender Diego Godin has been ruled out of the World Cup quarter-final clash with Ghana on Friday as coach Oscar Tabarez named his starting XI.

Godin suffered a thigh injury during the 2-1 victory over South Korea in Saturday's second round triumph and was forced out of the action at the interval.

Tabarez will again turn to Mauricio Victorino to deputise in Godin's absence, after he stepped off the bench and performed well against the Asian outfit.

Tabarez is unsure if Godin will even be fit for a place on the bench, but admitted: "We still have 48 hours.

"He is not fully recovered. He is not in the team because in my opinion he is not 100 per cent fit."

The coach of the South American outfit will make one further change to his starting XI, with Alvaro Fernandez coming in for Alvaro Pereira in midfield.

Starting XI

Fernando Muslera, who has been beaten just once in four games, starts in goal behind a back four of Maxi Pereira, Diego Lugano, Victorino and Jorge Fucile.

Diego Perez, Egidio Arevalo and Fernandez make up the midfield with Luis Suarez,Diego Forlan and Edinson Cavani operating as an attacking trio.

Uruguay, who lifted the World Cup in 1930 and 1950, finished fourth in the 1970 showpiece but failed to qualify for five of the nine tournaments since then.

They are favourites to progress to the last four of the tournament in Friday's clash at Soccer City in Johannesburg where either Brazil or Holland will await.

Tabarez, nicknamed 'The Master' from his previous career as a schoolteacher, added: "We are calm. But we know the important thing is the match, not how we feel today."

Source: www.skysports.com

Ghana spokesman says Boateng fit to face Uruguay in World Cup quarter-final
30 June 2010

JOHANNESBURG — Ghana expects Kevin-Prince Boateng to be fit for its World Cup quarter-final against Uruguay after recovering from a right thigh injury.

Boateng missed training Monday but team spokesman Randy Abbey said Tuesday he should be available for Friday's game.

Abbey said Boateng had been "rested" but "will be fine." Abbey also said Isaac Vorsah was back in training after a week out with a right leg injury, while doubts over fellow defenders John Mensah and Samuel Inkoom had also cleared.

Ghana, the last African representative at the World Cup, will be without suspended players Jonathan Mensah and Andre Ayew.

Doubts also surround Asamoah Gyan, who hurt his ankle in training Monday and left the session with his foot wrapped in an ice pack. Ghana's Football Association does not expect the striker to miss Friday's match at Soccer City in Johannesburg.

An African team has never reached the semifinals of the World Cup but will seldom get a better chance than Ghana's opportunity.

The 16th-ranked Uruguay is listed 16 places higher than Ghana by FIFA, but is appearing in the quarter-finals for the first time in 40 years.

SOURCE: AP

Injured Ghana goal hero faces race against time
Sun Jun 27, 2010
By Mark Gleeson

RUSTENBURG (Reuters) - Ghana goal hero Kevin-Prince Boateng faces a week of intensive therapy in a bid to get fit for the World Cup quarter-final after suffering a hamstring injury.

Boateng scored a fifth minute goal on Saturday to set his side on the way to a 2-1 win over the United States in their second round match in Rustenburg but later limped off in the second half.

Coach Milovan Rajevac said the Germany-born midfielder would face intensive treatment in a bid to be ready for the match against Uruguay at Soccer City in Johannesburg on Friday.

Boateng was among several Ghana players limping after the exertions of the extra time triumph over the Americans at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

"Boateng was injured against Germany already. It is going to be a huge problem to get him ready for the next game," said Rajevac following the record-equaling performance by Ghana, only the third African country to reach the last eight of the World Cup.

NIGGLING INJURIES

Rajevac said there were also other players with niggling injuries. Dede Ayew will also miss the match through suspension after picking a second caution of the tournament.

"We are going to see how the players react in the next days. For me the priority now will be to try and get them all ready for Friday. There is a lot of work ahead for the medical staff."

SOURCE: www.reuters.com

Gyan fires Ghana into the last eight
Date: 26-Jun-2010

Ghana marched on to the quarter-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ after emerging 2-1 victors over USA following 120 minutes of drama in Rustenburg. Asamoah Gyan scored the winner in the 93rd minute after Landon Donovan's penalty had cancelled out Kevin Prince Boateng's early opener.

The Black Stars, who are the sole African representative left in the continent's first FIFA World Cup, will now meet Uruguay in Johannesburg on 2 July. They become the third African nation to advance to the last eight of a FIFA World Cup, after Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal in 2002.

SOURCE: www.fifa.com

 

Previews: Ghana vs USA

Rajevac: We are going to fight
Date: 26-Jun-2010

Coach: Milovan Rejevac

Milovan Rajevac anticipates a tough battle against the United States but has sounded his side's readiness to put up a fight to clinch a place in the last eight of the World Cup.

The Americans will be hoping to get the chance to erase a the painful defeat handed them by Ghana four years ago when both sides met in the World Cup second round.

And, experience from the past has heightened the tension for the challenge at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

"We are going to fight and do our utmost to get Ghana into the quarter-finals. It will be difficult but we have a big opportunity," Rajevac said ahead of the game.

Ghana's quality, work ethic and being the lone African team to reach the knockout stage has won for the Black Stars enough supporters but Rajevac is more focused on making progress to the quarter-finals.

"I am very proud of these boys. Their main strength is the unity of the team. We always play as a team and not as individuals and that's why we have managed to have success recently. The world likes good football and Ghana has a lot of supporters worldwide. I hope after the match Ghana has even more supporters worldwide. That would be a great satisfaction for us."

The United States certainly will pose a threat to Ghana's ambitions as Rajevac highlights their strengths.

"America has grown into a football superpower but it also has sports which are given more priority. But the football team play with strength and speed. You never know how to deal with them.

"In the last half an hour they increase the tempo and speed and it is difficult to match them. Until the final whistle you don't know how to deal with them. Slovenia scored two goals against them and in the end the USA still nearly won."

Source: Ghanafa.org

 

Fireworks expected in Rustenburg
USA-Ghana, Round of 16, Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg, 26 June, 20.30

No quarter will be asked or given when USA take on Ghana's Black Stars at Rustenburg's Royal Bafokeng Stadium for a place in the quarter-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. With both teams having already offered evidence of an attacking approach, an open, attractive game looks on the cards on Saturday.

Ghana 2 - 1 USA - 2006 World Cup group stage

The Round of 16 meeting between USA and Ghana promises a feast of attacking football given both teams have looked stronger going forward than at the back. While USA teetered on the brink of elimination before scoring a stoppage-time winner in their final Group C game against Algeria, Ghana performed impressively in navigating their way through a tricky section where they faced Serbia, Australia and Germany. Though that may not necessarily ensure the west Africans the psychological upper hand in the face of single-minded opponents, several players who will be involved on Saturday have first-hand memories of the sides' meeting at the group stage in Germany four years ago - when Ghana's 2-1 victory sent the Americans home.

This time USA coach Bob Bradley will be relying on Landon Donovan, the gifted LA Galaxy forward whose two goals so far in South Africa included the decisive late winner against Algeria. Bradley's opposite number Milovan Rajevac, meanwhile, can call on Rennes front man Asamoah Gyan, who has scored six of Ghana's nine goals so far in 2010. To keep Gyan and Co at bay, the United States will need to tighten up a defence that at times has been found wanting, particularly in the first half of their 2-2 draw with Slovenia.

Players to watch
Clint Dempsey v John Pantsil

As team-mates at Fulham in the English Premiership since 2008, there can be little that these two do not know about each other. So, when Dempsey makes his characteristic runs from deep positions, he is sure to encounter the immovable force of Pantsil in the Ghana defence. And while the American perhaps has something to prove after missing a hatful of chances against Algeria, he will not expect any favours from an opponent who shrugged off a nasty clash of heads during the 1-1 draw with Australia to take his place against Germany four days later.

The stat
12 – the number of survivors from the group match between the two teams at Germany 2006: Ghana's Richard Kingson, John Mensah, Derek Boateng, Stephen Appiah, Pantsil and Matthew Amoah, and USA's Carlos Bocanegra, Steve Cherundolo, Dempsey, DaMarcus Beasley, Donovan and Oguchi Onyewu.

What they said
"The USA are a very good side, solid, full of running and they play well as a team. Still, we know we have the quality to beat them," Asamoah Gyan, Ghana forward.

"We'd be delighted with two more wins but why stop there? Nothing is impossible. Winning the World Cup is what we're here for," Jozy Altidore, USA forward.

The voice of the fans
"I will a bit sorry to lose one of these teams, as I would like to have seen them reach the quarter-finals. But if I have to choose, I reckon Ghana will go through," masry2zbone, FIFA.com user

The question
Can the Americans repeat their feats from last year's FIFA Confederations Cup and reach the Final? Or can Ghana push on and become the first African team ever reach the last four?

SOURCE: www.fifa.com

Germany, Ghana qualify for last 16
June 24, 2010

JOHANNESBURG: Germany reached the last 16 of the World Cup on Tuesday with a 1-0 win over Ghana but the west Africans also qualified as Group D runners-up after Australia beat Serbia 2-1.

Germany will play arch-rivals England in Bloemfontein on Sunday for a place in the quarter-finals, while Ghana face the United States in Rustenburg on Saturday

Philip Lahm (16) tussles with Jonathan Mensah for the ball

Mesut Ozil's left-footed drive into the top corner on the hour-mark at Soccer City proved enough to carry Germany into the knockout round as group winners with six points, followed by four for Ghana.

In Nelspruit, a Tim Cahill header and Brett Holman's long-range shot gave Australia a 2-0 lead, but Serbia hit back when Marko Pantelic knocked in a rebound in the 84th minute.

But Pantelic missed a clear chance to equalise in the dying seconds - it was a costly miss as a draw would have carried Serbia through to the last 16 instead of Ghana by virtue of the number of goals scored.

Australia also finished on four points, but their challenge was fatally undermined by the 4-0 thrashing by Germany in their first game.

SOURCE: http://www.thenews.com.pk

France World Cup squad refuse to train after bust-up between Patrice Evra and fitness coach Robert Duverne
20th June 2010

France's chaotic World Cup campaign took another bizarre twist today when the players walked out of a training session at their Knysna base in South Africa.

Skipper Evra had a row with the fitness coach

Less than 24 hours after Nicolas Anelka was sent home for an argument with coach Raymond Domenech the remaining squad members refused to take part in a session after another apparent bust-up.
Just a few minutes after taking the field fitness coach Robert Duverne reportedly stormed away from an argument with captain Patrice Evra, throwing his accreditation badge to the ground.

The players then left the training ground and boarded the team bus, in which they had a meeting with Domenech behind closed curtains.
France team director Jean-Louis Valentin announced his resignation after revealing the squad did not want to train.
'Ask the players, they do not want to involve themselves any more. It's unacceptable,' Valentin told assembled media when quizzed as to why he was quitting.

SOURCE: www.dailymail.co.uk

Ghana coach optimistic after draw
Ghana 1 - 1 Australia

Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac declined to criticise his men for failing to kill off 10-man Australia in their 1-1 draw.

Harry Kewell was sent off for a first-half handball on the line, and although Ghana equalised from the spot, they could not find a winning goal.

But the result leaves the Black Stars needing only one point from their final Group D match to reach the last 16.

Australia's Luke Wilshere fends off a challenge from Ghana's Andrew Ayew.

"The result is quite good," Rajevac said. "Even if we had won we would have needed a point against Germany."

Australia had taken an early lead through Brett Holman but the 25th minute sending-off of Kewell and Asamoah Gyan's penalty seemed to set things up for Ghana to record their second victory of the tournament.

But Rajevac's young side seemed to run out of ideas and were grateful to goalkeeper Richard Kingston for his late save to deny Australia's Luke Wilkshire from point-blank range.

"It shows that there is no game won in advance at the World Cup," added Rajevac, whose team beat Serbia 1-0 in their opener and are still the only African side to win at the 2010 World Cup.

"All we can regret is having so many chances but not scoring. But that is football."

Rajevac admitted that his team's preparations had not been ideal after injuries to captain John Mensah and Isaac Vorsah forced him to field an inexperienced centre-back pairing of Lee Addy and 19-year-old Jonathan Mensah.

Addy conceded the free-kick from which Australia scored - Kingston parrying Mark Bresciano's shot straight into the path of Holman, who fired into the top corner.

"We shouldn't have given that goal away. It's very difficult to attack a team with a good defense," Rajevac reflected.

"Instead of two defenders, we had to use two young players. We got off to a bad start, conceding a goal. After that, we started to fight."

Ghana, who play Germany on Wednesday, top the group with four points, one more than the Germans and Serbia.

Australia have one point and must beat Serbia to have any chance of progressing to the next phase.

SOURCE: www.bbc.co.uk

Serbia 0 Ghana 1: match report
Stadium, Pretoria on Sunday June 13 2010.

Ghana’s Black Star liner set sail with a 1-0 victory over Serbia that sparked wild pan-African celebrations inside Loftus Versfeld Stadium and offered England a warning of what might lie ahead.

Should England qualify for the second round they will meet a side from this group, and will be in no doubt that a major challenge awaits.

Ghana’s victory came courtesy of an 84th minute Asamoah Gyan penalty, reward for a performance full of pace and enterprise that exposed their opponents, who finished with 10 men, as organised but limited. Ghana would pose a more quicksilver threat and some of England’s ailing centre halves may have shuddered at what they saw here.

For the second time in the day a game kicked off with empty seats in the ground, and those that stayed away missed two World Cup firsts. Serbia’s appearance was their World Cup finals debut as an independent nation, while the game was the first in which both goalkeepers have come from Wigan Athletic, Richard Kingson for Ghana and JJB team-mate Vladimir Stjokovic for their opponents.

With the crowd honking its support for Ghana in what is normally a fortress of Springbok rugby it was Stjokovic.who looked likely to face the busiest afternoon.

Quick, physical and direct, the Black Stars threatened to expose their opponents vaunted back four, tearing at Nemnaja Vidic, Branislav Ivanovic and company in the early stages.
With Portsmouth’s Kevin Prince Boetang looking to release the searing quartet of Daniel Gyan, Kwadwo Asamoah, Prince Tagoe and Andre Ayew, twice in the opening 21 minutes they threatened a goal. More...

SOURCE: www.telegraph.co.uk

Serbia Stun Germany
Serbia 1 - 0 Germany

Serbia brought ten-man Germany crashing back down to earth on Friday with a narrow win in Port Elizabeth that blows qualification from Group D wide open.

An opening-game rout of Australia, had German fans and critics predicting a run deep into the World Cup tournament, with national newspaper Bild declaring: “We’re going to blow you all away.”

But Serbia were always likely to prove a different proposition to a weak Australia side forced to play more than half an hour a man down and after front man Miroslav Klose had been harshly dismissed for two bookings in the first half, Germany failed to rally sufficiently to force an equaliser against Radomir Antic’s stubborn side.

Liverpool-bound Milan Jovanovic proved the match-winner with a 35th-minute volley, but in truth, the result was as much down to the Germans’ poor finishing — not least from Lukas Podolski who missed a penalty amid a hatful of chances.
And referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco of Spain played no small part in influencing proceedings with a series of baffling decisions and yellow cards.

It means Germany, Serbia and Ghana all stand on three points ahead of the Africans’ second group match against the Aussies on Saturday.

STRIKE ONE... Serbia's Milan Jovanovic scores past Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer as Arne Friedrich looks on

Germany, though, will feel aggrieved at a result that almost entirely centred around Klose’s dismissal.

For the first half hour before that, in the face of a Serbian defence far more disciplined than the Australian backline had been on Sunday, Germany were patient and measured in attack, Podolski flashing a volley narrowly wide and playmaker Mesut Ozil again impressing.

But just a minute after referee Mallenco brandished a second yellow card to Klose – both for innocuous trips – Serbia grabbed what proved to be their winner.

The lively Milan Krasic produced a fine cross from the right that was nodded down by Birmingham City new-boy, Nikola Zigic and slammed home from close range by Jovanovic.

Thereafter, with Serbia dropping deeper and deeper despite their numerical advantage, Germany controlled possession and had a series of chances to level. Sami Khedira slammed a vicious shot against the bar, 16 yards out, while Podolski wasted two glorious passes from Ozil when he clipped the first wide and the second into the side-netting.

Neither chance was as good as the next, though, when he saw his tame penalty saved by Serbia keeper Vladimir Stojkovic after Nemanja Vidic’s inexplicable handball in the box.

SOURCE: www.sundayleader.lk

Spain points finger of blame at Sara Carbonero
• Iker Casillas' partner accused of distracting goalkeeper
• Journalist had filmed behind goal prior to kick-off

Thursday 17 June 2010

Some have pointed to their lack of cutting edge. Some have pointed to their opponents' rugged determination. But many in Spain have blamed their defeat to Switzerland in their opening World Cup game on Sara Carbonero, the partner of the Spain captain Iker Casillas.

Casillas was at least partly at fault for Gelson Fernandes's goal that gave Switzerland

their 1-0 win and fingers have already been pointed at Carbonero, a journalist at a Spanish TV station, who prior to the game was filming footage to camera behind Casillas's goal.

TV presenter Sara Carbonero films behind Iker Casillas's goal prior to kick-off.

Many fans have been angered by her presence in South Africa, fearing it could provea distraction for the goalkeeper and prove a destabilising influence within the squad. Carbonero was asked by her own TV station, Telecinco, about her influence. "Can I destabilise the team?" she said. "I think it is nonsense."

Carbonero then gave Casillas a difficult time in a post-match interview, opening her questions with: "How did you manage to muck that up?" "I don't know what to say," Casillas responded. "I don't know if this defeat will have consequences. The dressing room is fed up."

SOURCE: www.guardian.co.uk

Diego Forlán strikes twice to sink South Africa

South Africa 0
Uruguay 3	Forlan 24, Forlan (pen) 80, Pereira 90

Thursday 17 June 2010

The Bafana Bafana World Cup dream began to unravel tonight after a Diego Forlán double and a late third from Alvaro Pereira took Uruguay to the top of Group A and left the South Africans hoping that neither France nor Mexico join them this evening. With one point from two games, Carlos Alberto Parreira's side already must win their final match against France to have any hope of progressing.

Uruguay's Diego Forlán reacts after Uruguay defeated South Africa 3-0 at the 2010 World Cup.

When Uruguay took the lead midway through the first half it appeared Forlán might have been the first striker to make the new ball do his bidding, although on closer inspection the reason his shot achieved so much height and then dip was possibly because it clipped Aaron Mokoena's ear on the way past. Either way, it left Itumeleng Khune with no chance of stopping it.

Just as it seemed Forlán's well struck drive from almost 25 yards out was heading into the crowd like the previous hopeful effort from Alvaro Pereira, it dropped over Khune's head and under his bar before the stadium fully realised what had happened. That is to say, the vuvuzelas took a few second to die down, coming to a spluttering rather than a sudden halt.

It was no more than Uruguay deserved because, though South Africa came forward strongly, they ran out of ideas and invention in front of goal, whereas Forlán and Luis Suárez always promised that bit more poise and class. Suárez had already brought a save from Khune before Forlán scored. While the Africans were still level their best couple of attacks had involved Siphiwe Tshabalala, new darling of the crowd after his stunning goal against Mexico, but on both occasions he selfishly went for glory with better-placed colleagues in support.

SOURCE: www.guardian.co.uk

World Cup 2010: Brazil find finishing touch to edge out North Korea
Tuesday 15 June 2010

Brazil 2	Maicon 55, Elano 72
North Korea 1	Ji 89

On a night when the sub-zero chill seeped into every sinew, North Korea's footballers warmed the senses of most neutrals at Ellis Park by refusing to buckle to Brazil's evident superiority and class. They matched them blow for blow in the first half and, having gone two goals down, had the pluck to survive a second-half battering before earning just reward for a valiant display with a late consolation.

Even the Brazil manager Dunga, usually the most taciturn and uncompromising of coaches, felt moved to praise, saying: "They passed really well and defended extremely well – it was really hard to play against adversaries that were so tough and defensive."

North Korea signalled their intentions by lining up with five at the back, with Ri Jun-il sweeping and An Yong-hak as chief protector in a three-man central midfield. The system, as closed and stifling as the country itself, had led to 10 clean sheets in qualification, but Brazil were expected to provide a much stiffer test of its credentials.

Initially it seemed the Koreans were wobbling. In the second minute, Robinho lollipopped down the left before nutmegging Jong Hyok-cha and passing to Kaká, who was tackled as he prepared to shoot. Elano's shot from distance flew over the bar. And shortly afterwards Robinho – looking sharper and hungrier than he has at any time in the past 18 months – cut inside before shooting wide from a central position.

But it soon became apparent this would not be the walkover that football's World Cup casuals, the folk who swallow the myth of joga bonito every four years, had assumed. The Koreans were so well organised that, by half-time, only Maicon's curling from the right shot had tested Ri Myong-guk.

SOURCE: www.guardian.co.uk

Germany thrash the Socceroos 4-0
June 14, 2010

Germany have dominated Australia to win 4-0 in their 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group D match at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose scored goals in the first half before Thomas Mueller and Cacau doubled the margin in the second period.

Australia's bad night was completed by the second-half dismissal of Tim Cahill. The midfield star, deployed as a lone striker against Germany, was given a straight red card for a late tackle from behind on Bastian Schweinsteiger.

SOURCE: FOX SPORTS

Muntari boost for Ghana: Midfielder recovers from thigh problem
11th June 2010

Ghana have been handed a boost with the news that Sulley Muntari should be fit for their Group D opener with Serbia.

Inter Milan midfielder Muntari has been forced to train alone and missed the squad's warm up games since picking up a thigh injury in the friendly with Holland at the start of the month.

The former Portsmouth man has recovered from the problem and is now in line to make the starting XI against Serbia after taking part in training behind closed doors on Friday.

"Muntari played himself into contention for a starting place in the Ghana team against Serbia after training normally with the Black Stars squad in Rustenburg," read a statment on the Ghana FA's website.

"The midfielder has recovered from a thigh injury."

SOURCE: SKY NEWS

US coach Bob Bradley thrilled to hold England
12 June 2010

United States manager Bob Bradley was full of praise for his side after they battled back to hold England to a 1-1 draw in their World Cup Group C opener.
England took the lead through Steven Gerrard but a terrible Robert Green gaffe saw Bradley's side earn a point.
"The response was good," Bradley said. "After the goal, we started to put some plays together and built up confidence.
"It was a great team effort to come back and equalise and was important for us to come away with a point."
Bradley felt it was crucial his side avoided defeat in their opening fixture and was more than a happy with a draw from what was seen as their toughest match of the group stages.

England 1-1 USA

SOURCE: BBC