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A message from this feed's publisher: The 2010 FIFA World Cup will be the 19th FIFA World Cup, the premier international football tournament.
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Soccer Wordcup 2010
Posted: 2010-05-14 00:16:20 UTC-07:00
The 2010 FIFA World Cup will be the 19th FIFA World Cup, the premier international football tournament. It is scheduled to take place between 11 June and 11 July 2010 in South Africa. The 2010 FIFA World Cup will be the culmination of a qualification process that began in August 2007 and involved 204 of the 208 FIFA national teams. As such, it matches the 2008 Summer Olympics as the sports event with the most competing nations.
This will be the first time that the tournament has been hosted by an African nation, after South Africa beat Morocco and Egypt in an all-African bidding process. This decision left the Oceania Football Confederation as the only confederation yet to host the FIFA World Cup. Italy are the defending champions. The draw for the finals took place on 4 December 2009 in Cape Town.
Africa was chosen as the host for the 2010 World Cup as part of a new policy to rotate the event among football confederations (which was later abandoned in October 2007). Five African nations placed bids to host the 2010 World Cup: Egypt, Libya / Tunisia (co-hosting), Morocco and South Africa.
Following the decision of the FIFA Executive Committee not to allow co-hosted tournaments, Tunisia withdrew from the bidding process. The committee also decided not to consider Libya's solo bid as it no longer met all the stipulations laid down in the official List of Requirements.
After one round of voting, the winning bid was announced by FIFA president Sepp Blatter at a media conference on 15 May 2004 in Zürich. South Africa was awarded the rights to host the tournament, defeating Morocco and Egypt.
The official mascot for the 2010 FIFA World Cup is Zakumi an anthropomorphised leopard with green hair. His name comes from "ZA", the international abbreviation for South Africa, and "kumi", a word that means "ten" in various African languages. The mascot's colours reflect those of the host nation's playing strip – yellow and green.
Zakumi's birthdate - 16 June - coincides with a day known and celebrated as Youth Day in South Africa and their second group match. The year 1994 marks the first non-racial nationwide elections in South Africa. He will turn 16 in 2010.
The Zakumi's official motto is: "Zakumi's game is Fair Play." The motto was seen in the digital advertisement boards during the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, and it will also appear at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The match ball for the 2010 FIFA World Cup will be named the "Jabulani", made by Adidas, which means "bringing joy to everyone" in isiZulu. The number eleven plays a prominent role in the new technologically advanced ball: it is the eleventh World Cup match ball made by the German sports equipment maker; it features eleven colors, one for each player on the pitch; and there are eleven official languages of South Africa. Also, the event will start on the eleventh day of June and end on the eleventh day of July.
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Winning hearts beyond Germany's borders
Posted: 2010-07-05 07:58:37 UTC-07:00
This weekend Germans celebrated a resounding win over Argentina at the World Cup in South Africa. On Monday German commentators ponder the young multi-cultural team's success, patriotism and the possible political reverberations. Most conclude that football games like this are about so much more than just sport.
This Saturday Germany played Argentina during the quarter-finals of the World Cup and won with an unexpectedly large margin of 4:0. The team now go on to face Spain in the semi-finals on Wednesday.
Millions of Germans celebrated, including the hundreds of thousands crowded into the so-called "Fan Mile" in central Berlin, an area specially set aside for audiences to watch the games together on giant screens.
On Monday the German media leave no editorial subject uncovered, writing about everything from Chancellor Angela Merkel's trip to South Africa to see the game, which had been criticized as unnecessary and too expensive, to analysis as to how the team achieved such a miraculous score line, to Germany's burgeoning patriotic spirit.
In SPIEGEL ONLINE Stefan Kuzmany writes:
"Chancellor Merkel flew to South Africa specially to inspire the national team. 'A lucky charm,' the spokesperson for the German Football Association (DFB) called her. Even minutes before the game, though her presence was seen as a bad omen."
"If the chancellor's recent 'luck' was anything to go by, then the team should have lost simply because of her being there. But now all the doomsayers are silent and even the critics from the taxpayer's association, who criticized Merkel's trip as too expensive, have logged off. Who would be interested in taxes or the euro crisis or the conflict in Afghanistan when there is football to think about? Nobody."
"And let's not even think about what would have happened if Löw's team had lost against the Argentineans. The weather would have worsened in a flash and the talk would only have been of health insurance, oil leaks and problems with the ruling coalition. Let's face facts: Basically the nation would have been almost completely finished. However with the national team's victory over Argentina, all of sudden everything is possible again."
The center-left Süddeutsche Zeitung writes:
"It is only football. The effect of the national team on the interior society of the country they represent is often over estimated. After all, if you are black you won't be any more relaxed walking through 'no-go' areas in eastern Germany just because Jerome Boateng is on the German national team. However, the effect on the outside world is not to be under estimated. And there are plenty of examples."
"In 1966 the German team lost the final to England, 4:2. It was a tight, hard fought game and the third goal by England was a controversial one. Today we know what the players knew then: The third goal was no goal at all. The Germans had plenty of reasons to get upset, they could have become angry and their rage could have translated into fouls. But they accepted what could not be changed, took the silver medal and congratulated the English team on their win."
"After the game the German team drove to the official banquet in the team bus and on every street corner there were English fans applauding them for being such good losers. It was 20 years after World War II, it was only a football game but it improved the image of Germans in English eyes."
Conservative newspaper Die Welt writes:
"The way this team plays is to be admired. They have long since conquered the hearts of their compatriots back home and now they are winning hearts beyond Germany's borders. Because various players were missing and because they had a relatively young and inexperienced side, not much was expected of the Germans. But those modest expectations seem to have been a great advantage. So -- particularly before the semi-final -- we should not stray from this path and build up unnecessary pressure on the team. Of course, the World Cup is almost within our grasp and the team could win. But we would do better to leave the team in peace."
"This German team is giving the whole nation a special feeling of strength because they are a multi-cultural team that really plays altogether, something they were not thought capable of previously. The fact that after this World Cup appearance, German football will be talked about around the world using words like creativity, wit, enthusiasm and team spirit is good for all of us."
The left-leaning daily Die Tageszeitung writes:
"The future was out there on the field to admire. The past was seen sitting in the stands. Firstly, there was Chancellor Angela Merkel, who enjoyed the game as though she were a manic depressive emerging from a bout of angst. Then we saw the German team's injured captain Michael Ballack, who cannot play in this contest because of injury. Both embody old principles. Ballack is the leader of the pack, who tends to command by decree and who prefers a hierarchy: A soldier of football, not someone who inspires with their cool. And Merkel … she knows there is no way that her administration is representative of this productive, forward looking atmosphere."
"On the Cape Town pitch one saw a model future defined (albeit only in terms of football): Young players taking responsibility themselves because the leadership is indisposed, who literally do everything they can to support one another. The star of the show is the team itself, not a command structure based around the skills of individualists."
"Michael Ballack is no longer needed. With the occasional exception, the boys can do it better without him. And Merkel should enjoy her excursion to South Africa. It is a farewell trip. She -- and the style of politics she represents -- are relics."
The Financial Times Deutschland writes:
"We, the Germans, the soldiers of football known for a hierarchical way of thinking, are suddenly a creative bunch of rascals! Obviously we are very, very pleased about this."
"And we feel motivated to bring that youth and spirit into the fight against global problems. Yes, eventually we will start to rescue the world. Climate change, oil leaks, bankrupt states -- these must be beaten too. That is if our Jogi (Löw) joins in -- he is, after all, our mastermind."
"But back to basics: It's fantastic that we are going to play Spain next. We don't need any easy tasks. We want to prove ourselves. And if not us, then who? After this it will be onto the final with Holland. And just between us, if the other teams don't start to try a little harder, it's going to get boring."
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Argentina thrashed by ruthless Germany
Posted: 2010-07-03 10:19:53 UTC-07:00
Inspired by Bastian Schweinsteiger and two-goal hero Miroslav Klose, Joachim Loew's side scored four times for the third game at this tournament in what was a devastating attacking display. Klose found the net only three times in the Bundesliga all season in a miserable campaign for Bayern Munich but he has now beaten that tally at this tournament, as well as moving to within a goal of Ronaldo, who with 15 goals, is the all-time highest scorer at World Cup finals.
After Thomas Mueller's early header, Germany coped with everything Argentina could throw at them before finishing off Maradona's men with a lethal late burst.
Following Brazil's self-destruction against the Dutch on Friday, Germany became the latest European team to see off a highly fancied South American side, and they move into the last four looking in good shape to become world champions for the first time since 1990. At times this win was reminiscent of the way Germany had ripped through England's backline in the second round a week ago, with Argentina caught out by their speed and incisiveness on the counter-attack as they chased the game.
The only cloud on Germany's horizon is that the impressive Mueller picked up a booking that means he will miss the last-four clash with Paraguay or Spain, but Loew still has much to savour from this match. Mueller opened the scoring after only three minutes when Schweinsteiger swung in a free-kick from the left and he escaped the Argentina defence to beat Sergio Romero with a downward header that the keeper got a leg to but could not keep out. Klose, who also won his 100th cap for Germany, should have made it 2-0 when Mueller broke into the area down the right and squared for him in front of goal. But he fired wastefully over, not that it appeared to matter much at that point. With Lionel Messi finding it difficult to impose himself on the game thanks to the close attention of Schweinsteiger, Argentina's response was largely limited to shots from distance. They did improve as half-time approached and Angel Di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain both forced Manuel Neuer into low saves, but Germany continued to threaten on the break. Only after the interval did Argentina manage a spell of sustained pressure, and they threatened almost immediately when Di Maria let fly from outside the box and saw the ball fizz narrowly wide. For a good 20 minutes, Maradona's men dominated possession and Carlos Tevez had a shot blocked superbly blocked by Per Mertesacker while Germany keeper Neuer was kept busy as shots peppered his goal.
But, after wave after wave of Argentina attacks had been frustrated, Loew's side hit back with a lethal sucker-punch to seal victory with two near-identical goals in quick succession. First, Podolski burst into the box down the left and squared to give Klose the easiest of tap-ins to make it 2-0, with the striker walking the ball over the line. Then, with Argentina still rocking, Schweinsteiger weaved his way down the same flank and crossed for Arne Freidrich to bundle the ball in at the near post. The game was up for the South American side, and neither the jaded Messi on the pitch nor Maradona off it could lift them for any sort of belated response. Fittingly, the final word went to Klose, who volleyed home Germany's fourth from Mesut Oezil's cross in the last minute - his 14th World Cup goal - after the imperious Schweinsteiger had brought the ball forward again.
Credits: BBC Sport
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South Africa is a lot more hospitable and lot less nightmarish
Posted: 2010-07-01 04:52:28 UTC-07:00
The two rest days in the World Cup are just what South Africa needs to catch its breath, take a step back and do some self examination. With three quarters of the 32 teams out of the country, including the big names of England, USA, Italy and France, it's an ideal opportunity to see how the tourism industry has profited so far.
A year ago, FIFA was anticipating half a million foreigners to invade the southern tip of Africa for the tournament. That figure was revised down to 450 000, down again to 400,000 and finally settled at 350,000 as a result of the global economic meltdown and poor ticket sales. The majority of tickets sold outside South Africa went to people in the USA, with Europe next, and tickets sold to people in other African countries were at a disappointing low.
Better economic times and an increased profile for South Africa abroad saw things change in a drastic way. Immigration authorities reported that over 450 000 visitors arrived between June 1 and 13 with the sole purpose of attending the World Cup, exceeding expectations by over 100,000 people. That was just in the first two days of the tournament and the number is now set to exceed the half a million that was originally predicted.
Major cities in South Africa have turned into miniature United Nations with tourists proudly sporting gear from the country they are here to support. The South and North Americans have been the most easily spotted, while the Mexicans are the most easily recognisable in their emerald green sweaters and scarves. Walking around a shopping centre in Johannesburg has never been such a colourful experience, with different accents springing up all over the place and men and women from all corners of the globe marvelling at our home.
They haven't just been looking, they've been spending too. VISA reported that up to June 20, $128 million had been spent with their cards on accommodation, food and retail. The biggest spenders were from the UK, USA, Australia, France and Brazil. Mexico came in eighth place, with Canada in ninth, despite the Canadians not even having a team of their own in the tournament.
As the teams have been culled, so too have the number of tourists from that region, and many foreigners are now on their way home. Their journey back to their respective lands and the tales they tell their friends and family will be the biggest test of South Africa as a host. SA Tourism is relying on word-of-mouth marketing to promote the country as a premier destination to people from all over the world. They believe their job of creating a world-class experience through the tournament is done, and now await the results. Sugen Naidoo of SA Tourism said: "Our campaign has been a great success and now the measure of that success will be based on whether people come back here."
To gauge the general feelings of homeward-bound tourists, a local television channel sent one of its reporters to the airport to interview people who were leaving. "South Africa, the best," said one Mexican fan as he walked towards the terminal. An American interrupted, "This has positively been the best three weeks of my life", while an Englishman gave SA Tourism their biggest affirmation when he said: "It is a truly great country, I will go home and tell people to book their flights to South Africa now."
What about South Africa being known as the crime capital of the world? Swift justice and special courts have ensured that tourists who were victims of crime often had their cases solved in days (locals can wait months or even years at the best of times) and a much more disciplined attitude of the police force has made people feel safer. One Honduran fan said: "The perception of South Africa overseas is quite different to what the country actually is." An American added: "On television news they were saying there's a lot of violence but I didn't see none of that, it's a great country."
Many visitors of varying nationalities agreed that South Africa is a lot more hospitable and lot less nightmarish than it's made out to be and they said they would like to come back and will recommend it to friends. So far, the numbers have exceeded expectations, and if the tourism industry works this hard to ensure foreigners feel safe and enjoy their stay, South African tourism could reap long-term benefits beyond what they had hoped for from the World Cup.
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Ozil eyeing place among the stars
Posted: 2010-07-01 04:50:11 UTC-07:00
It says much about the maturity of Germany starlet Mesut Ozil that he overcame personal tragedy to produce a starring performance as he helped to send England crashing out of the World Cup in Bloemfontein last Sunday.
Just two days after his beloved grandmother passed away, 21-year-old Ozil confirmed he is ready to realize his personal dream of joining the game's elite and it seems that dream may come to fruition even sooner than he dared to imagine.
A year after his starring role in Germany's European Under-21 Championship triumph, Ozil is looking like a genuine world-class talent among the big boys and he makes no secret of his desire to become one of the game's true greats as he prepares to take on one of his idols in the World Cup quarter-finals this weekend.
"My dreams are the same as any kid and that is to be the best footballer in the world," he says. "I'm only 21, so such ambitions will have to wait for some time yet, but I have already played against many of the top players in the world and I enjoy that challenge.
"When you play for this nation, it doesn't matter whether you are up against Lionel Messi and Argentina or Kaka and Brazil because Germany's record is as good as any in the major tournaments, so our ambition is very high even if this team is still learning.
"Respect is good, but fear is only a negative and we do not feel frightened by any opponent. Despite our youthful years, we all believe we can be the best and everyone in Germany expects to see their team in the important stages of the World Cup, whatever the circumstances. We have to give the people what they expect.
"England was always going to be a massive test for us, but no one could argue [with the fact] we deserved to win the game, and it was very special for me after all that had happened back home with my grandmother. This is not an easy time, but the World Cup gives me a chance to make my family proud."
The Werder Bremen star has just one year left on his contract and is already being rated in the £25 million bracket after his starring performances in South Africa this summer, but he says: "What this World Cup means for my future is not an issue.
"I once said I would like to play for Barcelona one day and journalists often ask me about this, but I only want to think about the big clubs when I am ready for this. Others can decide when this might be. For now, I only look at this next game against Argentina and it will be great to play against Messi."
The kid who idolised Zinedine Zidane as he grew up has been compared to current Argentina boss Diego Maradona by some scribes and it seems that such lofty comparisons are not so farfetched in a summer when Ozil has become one of the most prized catches in the European game.
While the weight of expectation on his raw shoulders could have overwhelmed the starlet, Ozil has risen to the challenge and he believes a change of philosophy at the top of German football has allowed him to make his mark at this World Cup.
"The team that won the Under-21 title last summer are lucky to be in this era because young players were never given the sort of chances we are getting when we did not have much experience," he says.
"In the past, the German national team has always been full of experienced players, proven winners who have performed well for their clubs over many years and this is why the team have tended to produce reliable performances in the big tournaments.
"Now the attitudes have changed. People believe the young players have earned the right to be trusted a little more and they believe we can take the pressure. That's good news as this World Cup could have come too soon for us if we were in a different era.
"Some of the clubs in Germany have been forced to find young players as their finances are not so strong and it means opportunities are coming up for players who show potential to play for big Bundesliga clubs.
"This can only help the national team and, even though none of us can be sure how this team will perform in this World Cup as we are all so young, you can feel that the next great Germany side can emerge from this emerging group of players."
Halting an increasingly impressive Argentina side in Cape Town on Saturday may prove to be a step too far for Ozil and his youthful German pals, but a sparkling future seems certain to lie in wait for the midfielder whose winning goal against Ghana in the final group game and man-of-the-match display against England have made him a worldwide superstar.
In a summer when the likes of Thierry Henry, Franck Ribery, Fabio Cannavaro and Wayne Rooney vacated their chairs at football's top table, a few new faces are required to join the game's elite and Mesut Ozil is emerging as a leading contender to claim a seat.
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Revenge for Wembley
Posted: 2010-06-28 14:53:18 UTC-07:00
Germans have two reasons for being ecstatic after Sunday's 4:1 thrashing of England at the football World Cup, write German commentators. Not only did Germany outplay their arch enemies, who played like "listless donkeys," but they were also avenged for a referee error that went against them in the 1966 World Cup final in London's Wembley stadium.
Like a football chorus in perfect tune, all major German newspapers are hailing Germany's 4:1 victory over England at the World Cup in South Africa on Sunday as "revenge for Wembley."
Some have even got religious about it, praising the "god of football" for handing down divine justice in the form of a blatant referee error that robbed England of a crystal-clear goal on Sunday. At last, commentators say, Germany has been avenged for 1966, when England had a goal wrongly allowed in the legendary World Cup final at London's Wembley stadium, which England won 4:2.
The cathartic outpouring of Teutonic emotion reveals how traumatic the incident 44 years ago must have been for a nation that is every bit as football crazy as the mother country of the game.
It is true that the circumstances of midfielder Frank Lampard's shot on Sunday were uncannily similar to the referee error that went in England's favor in 1966. Then, Geoff Hurst's strike bounced down off the crossbar and was counted as a goal, even though it didn't cross the German line.
In German newspapers on Monday there is fierce criticism of football's governing body, FIFA, for persistently refusing to allow video evidence that would prevent mistakes. There have already been several glaring errors at this year's World Cup.
But there is no sense in editorials that the referee may have deprived England of victory. And why should there be? It seems that England coach Fabio Capello, who faces mounting calls to quit, is the only person who believes his team could have won even if Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda and his assistants had done their job properly.
On both sides of the Channel, football pundits agree that the fast-paced, slick young German team made England's supposed "golden generation" look like a bunch of ageing amateurs playing football in the park after a boozy lunch.
England's dismal performance in the four World Cup matches has led to calls for fundamental reforms of English football, including better coaching of young talent and fewer league games. Critics have also called for the curbing of the powers of the money-spinning Premier League, which has attracted some of the world's best foreign talent but done little for the national team since it was created in the early 1990s.
Germany, meanwhile, is in a state of flag-waving ecstasy after humiliating its arch-enemy. Commentators are waxing lyrical about the team's uncharacteristic lightness, speed and intelligent passing that distinguish it from past German sides that got through to finals with "iron feet, iron calves and an iron will," as one editorial writer puts it.
So far though, amid all the joy, no one has dared to point out that Germany hasn't faced a top-class side yet in this tournament. That will change on Saturday, when they play on-form Argentina.
England and Australia played so badly that they allowed Germany to shine. In the other two matches, when coach Joachim Löw's men came up against stiffer resistance, they struggled, losing 1-0 to Serbia and narrowly beating Ghana 1-0.
On Monday, mass-circulation daily Bild ran a banner headline that read "Thank You, God of Football!" and juxtaposed photos of the two controversial goals -- Germany's in 1966 in the World Cup final in Wembley and Sunday's goal by Frank Lampard. It writes:
"The curse of Wembley has at last been broken. This time England had a goal stolen. (...) Wembley was annulled yesterday. Dear people of England, now you know how we felt the whole time. Angry over so much injustice, robbed of the title (...) This cursed football moment was passed on from generation to generation. Now it is broken. We admit unreservedly: It was a goal yesterday, you were cheated. But now you must confess that Wembley wasn't a goal either.
"Dear people of England, let us draw a line under this together. And look forward to great encounters between our teams in the future."
"Sorry, we're quits," writes conservative Die Welt in a headline on a match report brought forward to page 3. In a front-page editorial, it writes: "In the history of German football, there have been many successes but they were expected, hard-fought and enforced. Achieved with limited skills, with accomplished destroyers who made life difficult for the star opponents, with iron feet, iron calves and an iron will. Often our national team was strangely alien to us. We wanted to love them, but were unable to. They often found their way into the semi-finals and finals, but rarely into the hearts of the fans.
"Everything is different with the team of coach Joachim Löw. Germany is attached to his team (…). Our national team can play football. Fast, lively, surprising. They can win without destroying their opponents. And they can lose -- with their heads held high, with decency, style and taste. With this team, we're no longer the cold, merciless football power."
The center-left Süddeutsche Zeitung writes:
"In one respect, the performance of the listless donkeys from the Island (editor's note: 'The Island' is a faintly dismissive term Germans occasionally use for Britain) was the epitome of an anti-classic. The match buried two legends in one go. Since Sept. 1, 2001, the English seriously believed that they played better football than the Germans. On that day, they won 5:1 in Munich. The fact that even Emile Heskey scored -- Heskey, who usually wouldn't be able to hit the front of Buckingham Palace from 2 meters -- led them to this curious exaggeration of their own capabilities.
"But what is far more important is the end of a myth that in the last 44 years has produced the liveliest exchanges in German pubs. The famous Wembley goal (...) has been a thorn in the side of German football. This goal was regarded as a screaming injustice by people in this country. That is over, now that the English have suffered a similar fate in a worse form. But one legend has survived: the English won't win a match against Germany until they decide to field a goalkeeper."
The business daily Financial Times Deutschland writes:
"After a few days of anger, England may realize that it wasn't good enough at this World Cup, especially Wayne Rooney. He was meant to be England's savior, but he never really arrived in South Africa. His compelling form in the Premier League got lost somewhere on the 10,000 kilometer journey."
The left-leaning Berliner Zeitung writes:
"The World Cup in South Africa got its first scandal yesterday. It is ridiculous that referee Jorge Larrionda and his assistants didn't see how clearly a shot by the Englishman Frank Lampard crossed the line of the German goal. But it is worse that the world association FIFA continues to forbid mistakes like this from being corrected. It categorically rejects the use of video evidence to clarify disputed and match-deciding incidents. It quickly reaffirmed this stance in a press statement after the final whistle.
"Video evidence in football has been demanded a thousand times, but it will probably never be introduced. FIFA, which in its rampant commercialism insists on controlling the signs on even the smallest sausage stand to make sure it doesn't lose a single cent of sponsorship money, is allowing the biggest nonsense to happen on the pitch, in its core business.
"FIFA is following the pseudo-romantic notion that football lives from mistakes, that they make it human. But the truth is that if mistakes like yesterday's become part of the routine, football will die. It will turn into a lottery that no one wants to watch.
"The fact that simple technology like a camera is forbidden in this highly modern business is a joke. If football were even remotely important to FIFA President Joseph Blatter and his fellow officials, they would have given in to the demands from all over the world long ago. If they wanted to do justice to the game, they would now sink into the ground with shame. But they will defy the debates triggered by Sunday's goal.
"The only good thing about this unrecognized goal is that such a blatant case in such a high-level match on such a large stage will have shown the whole world what a nasty game FIFA is playing."
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Germany - Serbia | USA - Slovenia | Algeria - England World Cup Live Stream
Posted: 2010-06-18 04:03:13 UTC-07:00
Germany - Serbia | USA - Slovenia | Algeria - England World Cup Live Stream
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The best moments of the 2010 World Cup kickoff concert
Posted: 2010-06-11 03:56:41 UTC-07:00
The World Cup finally begins on Friday when host nation South Africa plays Mexico, so to boil excitement to its maximum, frothing power, FIFA put on a concert to launch the festivities on Thursday. Here's the best (and craziest) moments from the show that included performances from the Black Eyed Peas, Alicia Keys and Shakira at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg.
Hugh Masekela -- The 71-year-old South African jazz master (and father of ESPN's Sal Masekela) started the show with a smooth vibe before building up the energy with the help of beautiful South African singer Lira and her patriotic dress. A fantastic start and a great way to welcome the international audience to their home.
All of the African acts -- From Masekela and Lira to "The Queen of African Music" Angelique Kidjo and Vusi Mahlasela, all the African musicians did a phenomenal job and blew everyone else away. As Brian Phillips said, "South Africa may not win the World Cup, but they're winning this concert."
Desmond Tutu dancing around in his Bafana Bafana gear -- When was the last time you saw a 78-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner with the energy of a 7-year-old pumped full of Red Bull and Pixie Stix? "I'm dreaming, man! I'm dreaming! Wake me up!" was easily the quote of the concert.
The Nelson Mandela tribute video -- A classy tribute to a classy man. It's just a shame Mandela couldn't attend the concert in person.
Alicia Keys singing her throat raw -- She belted out her hits like she was trying to make the stadium explode from the sheer power of her voice. Awesome to see from a performer who didn't have as much of a vested interest in this event as the South African musicians.
Shakira -- Say what you want about her official World Cup anthem "Waka Waka" South Africans certainly have, but she's definitely, uh, fun to watch. And she brought the show to a rousing climax (with the help of some confetti and an overflowing stage full of backup singers).
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Predicting a World Cup champion
Posted: 2010-06-11 04:03:55 UTC-07:00
Group stage predictions
Not expecting many surprises in the group stage – not among the big guns anyways. South Africa and Australia can pull off shockers by reaching the last 16 – while Didier Drogba’s injury will ruin Ivory Coast’s hopes.
(Top two teams in each group advance)
Group A – 1. France, 2. South Africa, 3. Mexico, 4. Uruguay
Group B – 1. Argentina, 2. Greece, 3. Nigeria, 4. South Korea
Group C – 1. England, 2. United States, 3. Slovenia, 4. Algeria
Group D – 1. Germany, 2. Australia, 3. Serbia, 4. Ghana
Group E – 1. Netherlands, 2. Cameroon, 3. Denmark, 4. Japan
Group F – 1. Italy, 2. Paraguay, 3. Slovakia, 4. New Zealand
Group G – 1. Brazil, 2. Portugal, 3. Ivory Coast, 4. North Korea
Group H – 1. Spain, 2. Chile, 3. Switzerland, 4. Honduras
Round of 16 predictions
Most of the hopefuls bow out at this juncture, leaving a powerhouse quarterfinal lineup to fight it out for the trophy. Cameroon ends Italy’s defense of its title with another strong performance to keep the African interest alive.
France defeats Greece
Argentina defeats South Africa
England defeats Australia
Germany defeats United States
Netherlands defeats Paraguay
Cameroon defeats Italy
Brazil defeats Chile
Spain defeats Portugal
Quarterfinal predictions
Lionel Messi’s magnificence won’t be enough to see off the structured Germans, while England keeps rolling and Brazil outlasts Netherlands in one of the games of the tournament. Cameroon’s brave run finally comes to an end, but only after giving Spain a fright.
England defeats France
Germany defeats Argentina
Brazil defeats Netherlands
Spain defeats Cameroon
Semifinal predictions
It takes the brilliance of Dunga’s Brazil to expose the limitations of England’s defense, while Spain trumps Germany in a rugged repeat of the Euro 2008 final.
Brazil defeats England
Spain defeats Germany
Final prediction
Spain’s momentum continues as the two top sides on the planet scrap it out for the trophy at Soccer City. The Spanish squad is packed with quality all the way through and has an unshakable belief in its ability. Expect Spain to dominate the midfield with Xavi and Iniesta and for Fernando Torres to strike the only goal of the game.
Spain defeats Brazil
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Durban Stadium
Posted: 2010-06-07 12:30:31 UTC-07:00
Find more information on the other stadium in South Africa on this website: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/keir.clarke/web/wcvenues.htm
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