Countdown to the Fifa World Cup
March 24th, 2010The countdown to the Fifa world cup being held this June in South Africa is now 78 days away. Australia is poised to enter the competition in a difficult group and we cannot wait to see them play!
Ivory Coast sack coach Vahid Halilhodzic
February 27th, 2010Amid speculations that the Ivory Coast will instill Guus Hiddink as coach for the 2010 fifa world cup for this June in South Africa, coach Vahid Halilodzic has been sacked overnight. Following a less than impressive campaign at the 2010 Africa cup of nations. Ivory Coast football federation president spoke on national television explaining their reasoning for the move, stating that the contract was terminated as coach Vahid Halilodzic failed to meet his target of winning the African cup of nations when it was knocked out in the quarter finals to Algeria.
Guus Hiddink will not have to weigh up his options as fresh speculation mounts as to whether he will take the job. Chelsea superstar Didier Drogba whom Hiddink managed last season at Chelsea has pleaded with Hiddink to coach the Ivory Coast, an offer on behalf of the players.
Spain one of the favourites for the world cup
February 26th, 2010del Forest of Vicente of the bus of pain believes that its side and England are between the favourites person or thing to gain this summer’ Cup™ world of s FIFA in South Africa. ” We know that he has other strong teams in Europe, Americas and in Africa and all them they can be the champions, ” the previous bus of Real Madrid of the years of age 59 said in friday. ” In the theory, it’ s Argentina and Brazil for Americas, in Europe it’ s Italy, Germany and England and we, but is equally some African countries there that could make the life difficult.” We have our proper identity, our style of the game, and we’ reverse speed not to go to move very. But each match has a history. Del Forest in Spain’ challenges of s in South Africa France, that only characterized after a victory controversa of play-off of meeting the Republic Of Ireland, are equally ” a candidate for the heading, ” he added. Del Bosque’ the men of s will play Raymond Domenech’ side of s in a friendly one in Paris in Wednesday as if prepares for the campaign of the ends in June. ” We have our proper identity, our style of the game, and we’ reverse speed not to go to move very. But each match has a history. E I don’ t thinks that we’ ll always has the initiative of meeting to a strong team as France, ” Del Forest said. Game Chile, Honduras and Switzerland de Spain in group H. Could then face Brazil, Portugal or Côte d’ Ivoire in last-16. Del Forest took on by Aragonese Luis later whom Spain gained the heading of EURO 2008 of the UEFA. Its side has lost only one game since then, of meeting to the United States in the cup of the FIFA confederations the last year.
Search for Australian coach post 2010 fifa world cup
January 12th, 2010Australia will be looking for a new coach after this years 2010 fifa world cup in South Africa. Football Federation Australia CEO Ben Buckley has stated that the coaching appointment will have to wait until after the world cup tournament, even though the new coach will most likely be gearing up for the Asian cup all within six months.
Pim Verbeek has given strong indication all along that he will not stay on as Australian coach after the world cup indicating that he wants a new challenge, which will most likely be at club level in Europe. The trouble for Australia is that with 100% of the focus going on to Pim Verbeek’s side, a new recruit for senior coach will have to be placed on the back burner so there is no sidetrack. The ffa have claimed they want to do at least as well as the 2006 fifa world cup, and then will have to back up for the next Asian Cup tournament in January, should they qualify. The period is also crucial for Australian fifa world cup ambitions, with the announcements of the winners for the tender for future fifa world cups announced in December, and also whether Australia is successful in its bid for the 2015 Asian cup.
Socceroos draw with Kuwait
January 6th, 2010After leading 2-0 Australia have squandered a healthy lead to draw their asian cup qualifier with Kuwait at 2-2 in Kuwait city.
Leading early on by 2 goals through Luke Wilkshire and Dean Heffernan, all within the first 5 minutes of the game. Kuwait rallied and were then again level with Australia before half time. Kuwait controlled a lot of the play in the second half but could not manage to break through.
The result did not do any of the Australian local players chances much good in their bid to be called up for the Australian side at next years 2010 world cup in South Africa. Goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic and midfielder Dario Vidosic have claimed that they were targeted by a laser light shining in their eyes in the first half. Coach Pim Verbeek was seen remonstrating with match officials on the sidelines. Verbeek was also animated on the eve of the match claiming that the pitch in Kuwait city was one of the worst he had ever seen.
Beckham set to play in South Africa 2010 world cup
December 31st, 2009England coach Fabio Capello has indicated he will select David Beckham in his squad for the 2010 fifa world cup in South Africa. After impressing immensely during his first loan spell to AC Milan, Capello has come out revealing “Of course, if he plays well and is fit I will include him in my squad,” Capello told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “I don’t look at age, I pay attention to quality and David has a lot. He’s serious, he’s a great professional and he’s crazy about the World Cup.”
Now set for his second spell with the rossoneri, Beckham has a massive chance to stake his claim on a England squad berth for the 2010 world cup in South Africa. Regarded at one time being the best winger in the world, age might not be on his side, but what Beckham does bring to the table is a multitude of experience and one of the best boots in the world, his accuracy is astounding. Should a set shot arise I don’t know of any better men to have the ball at his feet.
Capello has taken England from strugglers a few years ago, to now being a world force for the upcoming world cup.
world cup draw for Australia
December 7th, 2009With the release of the 2010 world cup draw here is Australia’s fixture of the draw with dates
| Date | Time | Opponent | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13th June | 20:30 | Germany | Durban |
| 19th June | 16:00 | Ghana | Rustenburg |
| 23rd June | 20:30 | Serbia | Nelspruit |
Review of the draw for Australia
Well, it certainly isn’t an easy draw for Australia but it isn’t exactly the hardest out there. On paper Ghana appear to be the weakest side of group D ranked 37 on the fifa world rankings at the time of the draw, however Ghana has some truly world class players namely Michael Essien the Chelsea midfielder.
Serbia ranked 20, one spot ahead of Australia are a tough European side. With one of the best centre-backs in the world, Manchester United star Nemanja Vidic will form the backbone of the Serbian defense.
Ranking in at 6 in the world, Germany is one of the world cups power sides. Ballack the leader of this side provides the experience and leadership to see Germany go all the way. Striker Klose has a terrific record with goals scored for his country and will provide Germany with a big presence up forward
world cup draw announced
December 7th, 2009This weekend saw the fifa world cup draw take place in South Africa. As the 2010 world cup draws closer the draw has been held and they are as follows:
- Group A – South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay and France
- Group B – Argentina, Nigeria, Korea Republic and Greece
- Group C – England, USA, Algeria and Slovenia
- Group D – Germany, Australia, Serbia and Ghana
- Group E – Netherlands, Denmark, Japan and Cameroon
- Group F – Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia
- Group G – Brazil, Korea DPR, Ivory Coast and Portugal
- Group H – Spain, Switzerland, Honduras and Chile
Australia looks to have a tough draw with no apparent weak links in group D, Germany are the clear standout and fierce competition coming from Serbia and Ghana reaching the final 16 will be no easy feat for Australia. Of all the groups, group G looks to be the group of death powerhouses Brazil and Portugal in the same group as African superpower Ivory Coast and Asian veterans Korea DPR.
With the excitement of the draw taking place South Africa has gone into full 2010 world cup mode with wild celebrations and parties across the country. Next years fifa world cup is one step closer and with six months remaining until the first game it can’t come quick enough!
seeding announced for 2010 world cup draw
December 2nd, 2009Fifa has released the seedings of Friday’s 2010 world cup draw. The seeding has mainly concentrated on geographical location, the formula for seeding is based on the recent world rankings. The top teams are as follows:
1 Germany 2 Brazil 3 Italy 4 Spain 5 England 6 Argentina 7 Netherlands
For Australia this means that it could potentially be placed in one of the two ‘groups of death’ with a seeded country, plus one of either France or Portugal who were not seeded. The pots for the event are:
Pot 1: Argentina, Brazil, England, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, South Africa, Spain
Pot 2: Croatia, Denmark, Greece, Israel, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Turkey
Pot 3: Australia, Costa Rica, Iran, Japan, Korea DPR, Korea Republic, USA, Trinidad and Tobago
Pot 4: Cameroon, Chile, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, Paraguay, Uruguay
With teams in the same pot not eligible to draw in the same group. Friday is set to be an interesting day for the 2010 world cup draw.
2010 world cup qualifiers
November 30th, 2009I think now we should do a bit of a recap. 3 years have passed since the 2006 fifa world cup in Germany, with one world cup gone, a four year campaign begins to qualify for the next. Last week we saw some what of a conclusion with all 32 spots for the finals.
The qualifiers were intense, brilliant and full of controversy. We shall look over the Asian teams:
Australia: Cruising through the group stages, Australia was put in the final stages against Japan, Bahrain, Qatar and Uzbekistan. Dominating most matches and doing enough in the others Australia was the only side from this group to go through undefeated.
Japan: Matched in the same group as Australia, Japan was clearly the second best team. Having only lost one of its matches (to Australia) Japan finished 5 points clear of the next challenger bahrain.
Korea Republic: This country has excelled during the fifa world cup in the past, and qualifying was no different this time. Topping group 2 and finishing undefeated, Korea republic are looking to progress past the group stages at next years world cup.
Korea DPR: Finished second to Korea republic, DPR, whom hosted the world cup in 2002 are ready for the 2010 fifa world cup
New Zealand: Topping the oceania region, New Zealand had the change to play off against Bahrain. Beating them 1-0 at home New Zealand qualified for the world cup for the first time in two decades.