Saturday, June 12, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
Watch live football Argentina v Nigeria (FIFA 2010)
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Date: Saturday, 12 June 2010
Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage: BBC1, BBC HD and BBC Radio 5 live, live video and live text commentary on this website
TEAM NEWS
Argentina coach Diego Maradona is tipped to switch to a three-man attack to accommodate Carlos Tevez.
The Manchester City striker is likely to play alongside Gonzalo Higuain and Lionel Messi. Newcastle's Jonas Gutierrez is set to start on the right side of midfield but may have to fill in at right-back when the Argentines are under pressure.
Nigeria will be without Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel, who withdrew from the squad due to a knee problem. His place could go to Monaco youngster Lukman Haruna, who has impressed in warm-up games.
MATCH PREVIEW
Diego Maradona won his last cap against Nigeria at USA '94, so there is a certain symmetry in the Super Eagles again providing the opposition for his first World Cup match as Argentina coach. Maradona's playing pedigree is without question, but he is probably the least experienced of all the coaches in South Africa.
Just like during his playing days, Maradona seems to relish surprising and outwitting all comers, and he is expected to abandon 4-4-2 in favour of a three-man attack. That formation should suit Lionel Messi and accommodate Carlos Tevez. "Carlitos cannot be left out of the team. He is an idol of the people, more than me and Lionel Messi, so I read," Maradona says.
Only two months ago Maradona said Argentina would line up this summer as they did against Germany in March, using a pragmatic 4-4-2 formation featuring four centre-backs. Was Maradona trying to sell watching scouts a dummy, or has he simply had a last-minute change of heart? And if things don't go to plan at Ellis Park, how lo
Watch live football Greece VS South Korea (FIFA 2010)
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sV8gzJJxwfg/TBMO7eN93DI/AAAAAAAAAS8/_qq1lXAmaQU/s320/kg1.jpg)
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sV8gzJJxwfg/TBMPQ-I0i6I/AAAAAAAAATE/7kCqUjQJ_9w/s320/kg2.jpg)
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Date: Saturday, 12 June 2010
Kick-off: 1230 BST
Coverage: ITV and BBC Radio 5 live, live text commentary and video highlights on this website
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sV8gzJJxwfg/TBMQGGyO8PI/AAAAAAAAATM/qfQjiHoQ58k/s320/port-elizabeth.jpg)
TEAM NEWS
South Korea striker Lee Dong-Gook hopes to play some part in Saturday's game against Greece after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Captain Park Ji-Sung is fully fit despite missing the defeat to Spain because of a sore hamstring.
Greece defender Vangelis Moras will miss the match in Port Elizabeth with a thigh problem.
His absence could mean that midfielder Kostantinos Katsouranis drops back to play as a central defender.
MATCH PREVIEW
The bookmakers may rate South Korea and Greece as World Cup outsiders, but both sides know a thing or two about defying the doubters. The Koreans were the surprise package at the 2002 World Cup, reaching the semi-finals on home soil, while Greece were shock winners at Euro 2004, making a mockery of their pre-tournament odds of 100/1.
Recent form suggests it is South Korea who look the better bet in Group B. They were undefeated in qualifying and have beaten the Ivory Coast, Ecuador and Japan in recent friendlies. Huh Jung-Moo's men were also four minutes away from holding Spain to a goalless draw in their final warm-up.
South Korea will be taking part in their eighth World Cup but this is only Greece's second appearance. Greek fans will be hoping to erase the painful memories of USA '94, when the side lost all three group games, conceding 10 unanswered goals. While Otto Rehhagel's team impressed in their gritty play-off win against Ukraine, results this year have been less promising. They have lost to Senegal and Paraguay and could only draw 2-2 with North Korea.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Watch and enjoy Netherlands VS Hungary football match
Netherlands |
| Hungary |
2010 FIFA World Cup: Didier Drogba and Rio Ferdinand Sidelined By Injury
Contributor Written on June 04, 2010
Drogba suffered a broken arm during Ivory Coast's pre-tournament friendly against Japan. The Chelsea striker received the injury in the 19th minute of the match after colliding with Brazilian born defender, Tulio. Ferdinand, the English captain, tore ligaments in his knee during a training session and is now thought certain to miss the entire tournament.
Drogba was immediately flown to Sweden where he underwent an emergency operation in the hopes of saving his World Cup chances. Speaking to the press, Ivory Coast manager Sven-Goran Eriksson said of Drogba, "He may have an operation, but he is not out."
However, reports indicate that Drogba's injury, a broken bone close to the elbow, is serious enough to sideline him for the duration of the tournament. While the absence of Rio Ferdinand puts a defensive dint in English hopes of claiming their first World Cup victory in over forty years, a Drogba-less World Cup is a much dimmer prospect.
Didier Drogba is without a doubt one of the most dangerous strikers in the game today. His current Castrol Ranking designates him as the third best player in world football. Whether you support Ivory Coast or not, watching players of Drogba's quality competing against one another is a big part of why we tune in to watch the World Cup in the first place.
What's more, Ivory Coast have been placed in the so-called "group of death" along with Brazil, Portugal and North Korea. Without the powerful striker upfront, the Ivory Coast's attack would seem in danger of being rendered somewhat toothless. And without a strong, threatening Ivory Coast, the group of death could become a whole lot less deadly.
Drogba, along with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, is one of the few players in the tournament who carry the hopes and dreams of an entire nation squarely on his shoulders. While the Ivory Coast have a strong, experienced team, it is almost entirely because of Drogba's threat in front of goal that they are considered favorites among African nations competing in the first World Cup to be held on African soil.
By comparison, Ferdinand, a hard-hitting, experienced defender, is merely a member of the chorus on an English squad that bristles with talented star players from top to bottom. While he may be the team captain, his absence is far from the fatal blow to English hopes that Drogba's is to those of the Ivory Coast.
With uncapped Tottenham Hotspur defender Michael Dawson being called in as his replacement and Liverpool's Steven Gerrard being appointed captain, England seem more than capable of closing ranks and engaging in that most English practice of carrying on regardless.
Copy from http://bleacherreport.com/articles/401538-fifa-world-cup-2010-didier-drogba-and-rio-ferdinand-sidelined-by-injury
Rustenburg World Cup 2010 Stadium
Map & Directions
Click here to view a map of the stadium and the local area.The Stadium
Only minor renovations will be required to bring the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace into line with requirements for a stadium able to host first and second round matches at the 2010 World Cup. The stadium will have a capacity of just over 40,000.For 2010, essentially cosmetic measures such as installation of new electronic scoreboards and upgrading of the floodlights and public address system will render the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace ready to welcome the football supporters of the world.
Group matches to be played in Rustenburg
- 12th June - 8.30pm: England v USA
- 15th June - 1:30pm: New Zealand v Slovakia
- 19th June - 4.00pm: Ghana v Australia
- 22th June - 4.00pm: Mexico v Uruguay
- 24th June - 8.30pm: Denmark v Japan
Match Fixtures FIFA 2010 - Dates Match Days FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup Games:
26.06.2010 Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
26.06.2010 Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg
27.06.2010 Free State Stadium, Mangaung (Bloemfontein)
27.06.2010 Soccer City, Johannesburg
28.06.2010 Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
28.06.2010 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
29.06.2010 Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
29.06.2010 Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Tshwane (Pretoria)
Quarter Finals FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup:
02.07.2010 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
02.07.2010 Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg
03.07.2010 Green Point Stadium, Cape Town
03.07.2010 Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Semi Finals FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup:
06.07.2010 Green Point Stadium, Cape Town
07.07.2010 Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
Match 3rd/4th Position:
10.07.2010 Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Final FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup:
11.07.2010 Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg
Remember to make sure you will not miss a second of any of the 2010 World Cup matches; subscribe to the excellent 'Editor's Picks' newsletter for latest and accurate news and Google Earth updates from our team in Cape Town!
26.06.2010 Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg
27.06.2010 Free State Stadium, Mangaung (Bloemfontein)
27.06.2010 Soccer City, Johannesburg
28.06.2010 Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
28.06.2010 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
29.06.2010 Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
29.06.2010 Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Tshwane (Pretoria)
Quarter Finals FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup:
02.07.2010 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
02.07.2010 Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg
03.07.2010 Green Point Stadium, Cape Town
03.07.2010 Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Semi Finals FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup:
06.07.2010 Green Point Stadium, Cape Town
07.07.2010 Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
Match 3rd/4th Position:
10.07.2010 Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Final FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup:
11.07.2010 Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg
Remember to make sure you will not miss a second of any of the 2010 World Cup matches; subscribe to the excellent 'Editor's Picks' newsletter for latest and accurate news and Google Earth updates from our team in Cape Town!
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