Tunisia sack coach Umberto Coelho
November 23rd, 2009Yesterday Tunisia announced it has sacked coach Umberto Coelho after failing to qualify for the 2010 fifa world cup in South Africa. Tunisian Faouzi Benzarti has been named as replacement coach, and will lead Tunisia to their African cup of nations campaign which begins in January 2010.
Coelho was named Tunisian coach after Roger Lemerre himself was released for lack of wins as head of the team in 2008.
fifa world cup draw to be announced on December 4th
November 23rd, 2009With the final spots for next years world cup in South Africa claimed, the next step is the draw for the world cup. Being hosted in Cape town on December 4th the world cup draw will be watched by millions around the world.
the final pieces are all coming together and now with the airports being refurbished and stadiums going through their last stages it’s almost here!
fifa world cup teams qualified
November 22nd, 2009So now with the all the qualifications done and dusted the 32 teams to have qualified for the fifa world cup in South Africa 2010 are:
Africa
- South Africa (host nation)
- Algeria
- Cameroon
- Ivory Coast
- Ghana
- Nigeria
Americas
- Honduras
- Mexico
- USA
South America
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Chile
- Paraguay
- Uruguay
Asia
- Australia
- Japan
- North Korea
- South Korea
Oceania
- New Zealand
Europe
- Denmark
- England
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Portugal
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Switzerland
Over 200 teams entered the qualification stages to reach the fifa world cup finals, and now we have reached the final 32.
world cup qualifiers europe finalised
November 21st, 2009Slovenia defeated Russia 1-0 and ended Guus Hiddink’s chance of a fairytale world cup campaign like that of 4 years ago when he took Australia to the quarter finals. Russia had more of the opportunities but were never able to get themselves in the right frame of mind for the game. They finished with 9 players and wasted their opportunities. Just before half time Walter Bisra crossed a ball through to a pack of players with Slatko Dedic connecting and finding the back of the net.
Slovenia will go through to their second ever fifa world cup.
In the other game Portugal defeated Bosnia-Herzegovnia 1-0 even without their most important player Cristiano Ronaldo. Bosnia came out strong, but showing their experience Portugal remained focused and never wavered.
This weeks games has seen France, Portugal, Greece and Slovenia secure the last 4 spots for the 2010 fifa world cup in South Africa.
Greece through to world cup finals
November 20th, 2009Greece has stunned Ukraine away from home to win 1-0 and qualify for the 2010 fifa world cup in South Africa. With a spirited game, lead by Greek captain Georgios Karagounis, the talented 32 year old midfielder lead by example as he used his vision and determination to set up Greek plays.
Using a 5-4-1 Angelos Charisteas, was the lone striker with a forward attacking on each flank, Greece were far too creative for Ukraine who went to Andriy Shevchenko most of the time and were strangled by the Greek defence. After 30 minutes of play Georgios Samaras found Dimitrios Salpingidus with a very creative and exact through pass, with which Samaras converted with ease.
Greece managed to hold on for the remainder of the match and ensured their second ever qualification for the Fifa world cup finals. Congratulations to Greece.
fifa world cup qualifier – france vs ireland second leg
November 19th, 2009France has secured a spot in the fifa world cup in controversial circumstances, yesterdays game was an emotionally charged and highly spirited game which saw France euphoric as they qualified and Ireland absolutely shattered. Ireland took the early lead 1-0 after a Robbie Keane strike, just over the 30 min mark. Ireland was highly charged and eager to make their mark, and that’s what they did.
Ireland’s only goal pushed the game into extra time, with the game going down to the wire. During the extra time period, William Gallas equalised and secured Frances entry to the fifa world cup. The goal was highly controversial with Thierry Henry appearing to and later admitting to handling the ball as so it would not go out and then cross it to Gallas. The Irish were furious and the French full of jubilation. It was a fantastic spectacle to watch and it’s a pity it ended the way that it did.
Cameroon and Nigeria qualify for the FIFA world cup
November 17th, 2009With an upset by Mozambique, Nigeria were able to claim a position at next years 2010 FIFA world cup in South Africa, Cameroon also secured their spot in the finals of the world cup by beating Morocco 2-0.With these Cameroon and Nigeria of to South Africa that leaves 1 spot left from Africa. 4 of the 5 spots have been claimed and the final position is to be played off.
Egypt needed to beat Algeria 2-0 to force a playoff for the final position in Africa’s allotment, and that they did. Next week they face a rematch which will decide who makes it through. Things are heating up and it’s sure to be a fantastic match.
New Zealand Qualify for the 2010 FIFA world cup
November 15th, 2009For the first time since 1982, New Zealand are headed to the FIFA world cup. In front of a capacity crowd at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium, the all white’s thrilled the home crowed with a euphoric 1-0 win. On the cusp of half time, striker Rory Fallon headed the sole goal of the game to send the crowd into overdrive.
It didn’t start all to plan for New Zealand with Bahrain getting two corners and New Zealand defender Ben Sigmund receiving a yellow card in the opening 5 minutes. The striker Chris Killeen almost broke the complete paralyzation in 19o minute where she emitted a delicious salute of left-foot of the edge of the area of penalty beyond the keep-nets of Barém but she came back outside of the transversal bar. Soon after midfielder of Bertos attack, making its felt of the presence with a number of advanced functionings in the defense, emitted only free-retrocedes wide of Jaffar’ left-hand post of s. All the Whites’ the keep-nets Paston were in the hand in the half hour to dive low its left and to deny an instantaneous salute in the front of the objective for Bahrain’ s Jaycee John. Jaffar produced then a magnificent consequence excepto of a heading of goalbound for Fallon. But that one was all in goes in 45th minute where, of one I sing of Bertos, rose of Fallon more highly in the area of six-yard to emit a powerful heading beyond Jaffar. In the counterbalance of the game all the Whites’ the halftime linking was deserved, with Bertos and Tony Lochhead that side’ supplies to the majority of the bite in the rest; booties of attack of s. The drama intensified in 50th minute where the Larrionda arbitrator sharpened to the point of the penalty after Lochhead made dirty Abdulla Ismaeel Omar. However, the combination of a poor stroke of Sayed Mohamed Adnan and a diving perfect-chronometered for Paston its right kept all the whites in the front part.
The historic win sent New Zealand into party mode after a well deserved win. Congratulations to New Zealand and good luck in the finals!
World cup qualifier – Defining for both countries
November 14th, 2009What a time it must be for either of these two sides. I remember four years ago, watching on nervously as Australia qualified for the fifa world cup and the sheer euphoria that surrounded the country.
This weekend either Bahrain or New Zealand will be on top of the world after qualifying for the 2010 Fifa world cup to be held in South Africa. The equation is as follows.
A nil all draw and the match will go into extra time, if there is still no result at the end of this time the game will go into penalty shootout.
A scored draw eg. 1-1 and Bahrain will qualify for the world cup based on the away game rule ( queue terrible memories of Australia vs Iran at the MCG)
And lastly a win to either side will see them progress to the fifia world cup finals.
Good luck to both New Zealand and Bahrain and let’s hope for a great match!
Days counting down
November 12th, 2009Just an update, there are now only 214 days until the 2010 south african FIFA World Cup !!! wohoo