World Cup Draw and Fixtures

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World Cup 2010 Group Graw and Fixtures

World Cup Draw

As you are all probably aware, the draw for the World Cup 2010 groups will take place shortly.  We will be posting a table with all the draws and fixtures straight after the draw.  The teams will be chosen from 4 pots.  Pot 1 contains all the seeded teams Brazil, Spain, Netherlands, England, Italy, Germany, Argentina and the host nation South Africa.  These will be drawn first and placed in each group A-H.  Pot 2 contains Australia, Japan, Korea DPR, Korea Republic, Honduras, Mexico, USA and New Zealand.  Pot 3 will contain Algeria, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.  Finally, pot 4 contains Denmark, France, Greece, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland.  The draw is very important to all teams.  You may get a seemingly easy draw or a killer group.  All footballing eyes will be on the draw which takes place shortly, and all eyes are on the main prize.

Ireland to be 33rd Team?

Ireland has asked Fifa to let them be an extra team in next year’s World Cup after Thierry Henry’s handball for France.

Ireland was eliminated from the competition on November 18^th after Thierry Henry handled the ball which set up the decisive goal by William Gallas.

There was huge outrage that the goal following Henry’s handball was allowed.

After the match, Barcelona striker Henry said Swedish referee Martin Hansson was the main culprit for not spotting the infringement.

However, Fifa president Sepp Blatter says the Irish asked the football’s world governing body if they can be the 33rd team in the 2010 tournament in South Africa.

The request was made in person by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) who sent a delegation to Zurich on Friday..

Blatter told a keynote address at the Soccerex business conference: “We received a delegation from Ireland at Fifa and they were naturally absolutely unhappy at what has happened.

“They know the match cannot be replayed and the decision of the referee is final.”

He added: “Naturally they have not asked for any sanctions to be given to any player or the referee, but they have asked, very humbly ‘can’t we be team number 33 at the World Cup?’”

Ireland’s request will be brought to the attention of the Executive Committee but Blatter was unable to say what would happen.

An extraordinary meeting will be held in Cape Town on Wednesday.

The draw for the 32 teams in the tournament will take place on Friday.

Sourced from Sky News

Chile Nearly Out.

Chilean club Rangers has dropped a court case that threatened the national team’s participation at next year’s World Cup.

Rangers had inadvertently put six foreign players on the field in a league game, exceeding the Chilean federation’s limit of five foreigners. The rules violation led ANFP to impose a three-point penalty on the team and led to their demotion from the countries first division. A decision which the club was appealing.

The rules of world football governing body FIFA forbid appeals in civil courts. The lawsuit could have led to the Chilean football federation ANFP being banned from all international competition, including the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The move clears the way for Chile to play in the tournament, its first appearance since 1998.

Chile is one of five South American nations, along with Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay, to have qualified for the finals.

World Cup European Qualifiers

Portugal   1-0   Bosnia-Herzegovina

A tightly-contested encounter was decided on the half-hour mark when Manchester United winger Nani crossed to the far post where Alves was on hand to head home. Nani, who deputised on the wing in the absence of the injured Cristiano Ronaldo, was Portugal’s most enterprising player. However, the hosts’ hopes of finding a second goal were continually thwarted by a disciplined display from Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The visitors showed why only Spain were able to defeat them in the group stage and they could even have taken an away goal into Wednesday’s second leg a minute from the end when Edin Dzeko headed against the crossbar before substitute Zlatan Muslimovic hit a post from the rebound.

While Bosnia-Herzegovina would have been enthused by their display, their hopes in the second leg will be undermined by bookings picked up by Emir Spahic, Elver Rahimic and Samir Muratovic which rules them out of Wednesday’s game.  Portugal went into the game without star winger Ronaldo and his attacking craft was missed as they struggled to break down the visitors in the early stages when they gave away possession cheaply.  Chelsea schemer Deco was most culpable as his usual creative influence deserted him while Simao Sabrosa and Liedson also failed to impart an influence.

The home side had been thwarted for half an hour before they finally created the chance to go ahead.  Nani combined with Deco on the right side of the area before the former curled a cross to the far post where Alves was waiting to nod in the decisive goal.  Bosnia-Herzegovina had been happy to defend before the goal, but after they went behind showed a greater attacking desire.

After 38 minutes Fejae Salihovic found space down the left flank before firing in a shot that Eduardo did well to save.  Five minutes later Senijad Ibricic headed a corner just over the crossbar as Portugal just about held their lead into the break.

The hosts pushed for a second after the interval with a couple of counter attacks, but again Bosnia-Herzegovina held firm.  Deco fed Liedson with a long ball that the striker superbly controlled with his chest, passed the ball over a defender and then narrowly shot over. Deco then shot narrowly over himself as the visitors sat deep.

Bosnia-Herzegovina weathered the storm and Dzeko almost squeezed a shot in at Eduardo’s near post with a snap shot after 77 minutes. And the hosts almost had an away goal a minute from the end when Dzeko headed Miralem Pjanic’s cross against the crossbar and Muslimovic also rattled the woodwork from the rebound.

From soccernet.ESPN

World Cup European Qualifiers

Russia   2-1   Slovenia

Diniyar Bilyaletdinov’s brace seemed to have put the home side in commanding but Pecnik – only introduced in the 83rd minute in place of Andraz Kirm – pounced two minutes from time for a potentially crucial away goal.

A capacity crowd of 80,000 – which included Russian president Vladimir Putin – had been issued with protective masks to guard against swine flu in the Luzhniki Stadium.  Slovenia threatened early on as Milivoje Novakovic pulled the ball back from the left but Valter Birsa’s shot was deflected wide by Yuri Zhirkov.

Zhirkov – included despite an injury-hit start to his Chelsea career – then set off from his own half and tricked his way into the heart of the Slovenia penalty area, but his shot was repelled by the feet of goalkeeper Samir Handanovic.  Marko Suler’s precise lofted pass then put Zlatko Dedic in behind the home defence.  He was forced wide by Igor Akinfeev, though, and his weak shot went through the goalkeeper’s legs but wide of the near post.Sergei Ignashevich’s fierce low drive from a 30-yard free-kick saw Handanovic again save with his legs.

Ignashevich made an important challenge as Dedic looked to break before Russia conjured an excellent 41st-minute opener.  Roman Pavlyuchenko’s neat pass with the outside of his foot found Bilyaletdinov on the edge of the box and the Everton midfielder beat centre-halves Suler and Bostjan Cesar with a superb drag-back before finishing powerfully with his weaker right foot.

Russia’s Andrey Arshavin was booked in first-half injury-time for a petulant slap in the chest of Slovenia full-back Miso Brecko, who went down theatrically.  Two Zhirkov crosses saw Arshavin head wide before Pavlyuchenko’s weak effort was blocked by Cesar. Handanovic then tipped over another Ignashevich rocket but Russia went 2-0 up in the 52nd minute.

Bilyaletdinov got in the way of Arshavin’s cross – meant for Sergey Semak – but finished calmly when the ball ricocheted back to him off Konstantin Zyryanov.Vasili Berezutskiy made a strong tackle to halt Dedic’s threatening run and Handanovic unconvincingly saved Pavlyuchenko’s fine angled drive at his near post.

Suler was up well to cut out Bilyaletdinov’s teasing through-ball and Pavlyuchenko had a diving header held by Handanovic.Bystrov lobbed wastefully over the bar after being adjudged narrowly onside, before Russia had a let-off as Suler seemed to be impeded when jumping for a corner at the near post.

Bilyaletdinov went close to his hat-trick as a late header flashed wide and Pecnik shot wide after Novakovic’s mishit volley bounced to him. But the substitute was on hand a minute later to head home from close range after Akinfeev tipped away Robert Koren’s shot, Slovenia’s first on target in the 90 minutes.

From soccernet.ESPN

World Cup European Qualifiers.

Ireland   0-1   France

Anelka’s 72nd-minute strike, which was deflected past Shay Given by the unwitting Sean St Ledger, was enough to condemn Giovanni Trapattoni’s side to their first defeat of the qualifying campaign and send the French into Wednesday night’s return with a lead and a precious away goal.

In truth, it was scarcely more than Raymond Domenech’s side deserved after a dominant second-half display which at times left the Irish chasing shadows.  They might have won more comfortably had striker Andre-Pierre Gignac not sliced horribly wide with the goal at his mercy with 10 minutes remaining.

However, it took a fine last-gasp save by keeper Hugo Lloris to deny Glenn Whelan an equaliser as a bumper crowd of 74,103 at Croke Park dared to believe once again.  If France had arrived in Dublin with any doubts about the determination of the Irish to pile on the misery for under-pressure coach Domenech, they were dispelled within seconds of their emergence at Croke Park.

Thierry Henry and his team-mates were greeted by a sea of green and a wall of noise, and the commitment off the field was more than matched by the efforts of the men on it.  Ireland knew they could not compete with the French for brilliant individual skill or blistering pace, and so they concentrated on what they do best – harrying, pressing and generally making a collective nuisance of themselves.  Inevitably, the visitors held sway for much of the opening half-hour as the dangerous Anelka dropped deep on the right before either cutting inside or feeding marauding full-back Bacary Sagna, while Henry’s searing speed and the brawn of central striker Gignac were constant threats.

But the doggedness of central defenders Richard Dunne and St Ledger – coupled with that of the two men immediately in front of them, Keith Andrews and Whelan – proved enough to limit France’s front three and impressive playmaker Yoann Gourcuff.  Of course, there were occasions when Domenech’s men were simply too good for the Irish – Dunne was spared punishment for a major error of judgement when he allowed Eric Abidal’s 11th-minute clearance to bounce over his head and Gignac gleefully lobbed Shay Given, only for an offside flag to ruin his big moment.

Gourcuff warmed Given’s hands with a well-struck 25th-minute snap-shot, while Gignac and Henry both fired wide as the Irish keeper enjoyed a relatively quiet first 45 minutes.  Opposite number Lloris was equally, if not more, under-employed, although he did not see the flag which had gone up for a foul by Kevin Doyle marginally before Robbie Keane ran on to his flick and forced a brave point-blank save before Liam Lawrence’s follow-up was deflected behind by Patrice Evra.  Keith Andrews curled a 31st-minute effort two feet wide, but the tie remained finely balanced as the two sets of players headed for their respective dressing rooms.

The French resumed at break-neck pace and very nearly carved the Republic open within seconds as Evra, Henry and Anelka combined to set up Sagna to cross, but John O’Shea made sure it was he who made contact in the middle.  Ireland responded by instigating a goalmouth scramble which saw Keane and Kevin Kilbane both denied by blocks, although once again a flag came to France’s rescue.  However, they took that as their cue to make a concerted push and after Given had made a regulation save to deny Gourcuff, he saw Lassana Diarra’s 56th-minute thunderbolt fly inches wide and then plucked Anelka’s drive out of the air within seconds.

Evra was devastated to have 69th-minute penalty appeals waved away after going down under Given’s challenge as he pursued Gourcuff’s through-ball.  But the opening goal finally arrived with 18 minutes remaining as France made their dominance pay, although with the help of a cruel twist of fate.  It was Gourcuff who once again fashioned the opening, picking out Anelka on the edge of the box, and his shot deflected off St Ledger past the helpless Given and in via the upright.

Gignac should have made it 2-0 with 10 minutes remaining when he was presented with an open goal after Anelka had charged down Given’s clearance, but he shot wastefully wide and out for a throw-in.  That might have proved costly had Lloris not produced a brave block to deny Whelan three minutes from time and then pushed away another dipping effort from the midfielder, but there was no way back for the home side.

The final whistle brought angry exchanges on the pitch, but it was the men in blue who were celebrating.

From soccernet.ESPN

World Cup European Qualifiers

Greece    0-0    Ukraine

Theofanis Gekas, the overall top scorer in qualifying with 10 goals, wasted Greece’s best chance while Ruslan Rotan was guilty of poor finishing for the visitors on a night when both sides cancelled each other out at the Olympic Stadium.

Sotiris Kyrgiakos almost won the game for Otto Rehhagel’s Greece in the dying seconds but the Liverpool defender headed wide.

Both teams began brightly but it was the visitors who threatened first and registered the first shot on target when Alexandros Tzorvas pulled off a comfortable save from Andriy Shevchenko’s 25-yard free-kick.

Giorgos Karagounis responded for the hosts with a shot from distance which was comfortably held by Andriy Piatov in the Ukraine goal.

Former Chelsea and AC Milan forward Shevchenko then tried his luck again from another free-kick in the 13th minute but his tame effort drifted wide.  Greece had the ball in the net after 16 minutes when Gekas turned in Dimitris Salpigidis cross but the assistant referee had already raised his flag for offside.

Rotan wasted a golden opportunity three minutes later after a defensive mix-up from the home side when he dragged his shot wide of the left post from the edge of the box.

The visitors continued to look the more dangerous, particularly on the counter attack and Tvorvas was called upon in the 36th minute to make a smart save from Oleg Gusiev’s shot from an acute angle.  Greece threatened twice before half-time but striker Giorgos Samaras’ control let him down when Salpigidis picked him out with a low centre before Gekas headed straight at Piatov from Karagounis’ free-kick.

Samaras, who was a peripheral figure in the first half, drew a save from Piatov with a speculative shot from distance as Greece began strongly after the break.But again the visitors threatened and Karagounis came to Greece’s rescue with a last-ditch tackle to deny Artem Milevskyy in the 55th minute.

Tzorvas was called into action again in the 68th minute to push away a rasping Taras Mykhalyk’s drive.Rehhagel then handed 21-year-old striker Kostas Mitroglou his international debut as a replacement for Salpigidis with 19 minutes left as he looked to add attacking impetus to his team.  But the Olympiakos forward failed to make a significant impression and it was Samaras who next went close with a powerful shot which flew just inches over the bar.

Ukraine continued to look dangerous going forward on the break but it was the home side who almost snatched a vital win through Kyrgiakos, but the defender headed Kostas Katsouranis’ right-wing cross wide of the left post with only seconds remaining.

From soccernet.ESPN

England vs Croatia Qualifier

England Camp in South Africa still undecided

Fabio, England Football, World Cup 2010

The England general manager, Franco Baldini, has once again rejected talk that Fabio Capello has decided where the team will be based for their World Cup campaign.

In the aftermath of last week’s defeat of Croatia at Wembley which sealed England’s place at South Africa 2010, Capello said he would confirm where his side will stay after the draw is staged in Cape Town on 4 December.

Capello and Baldini have already visited a number of sites, one of which has been particularly forceful in stating it will provide England’s home for six weeks. Baldini insists, however, that the Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus in Rustenburg, with its 14 pitches, swimming pool and full medical facilities, had not been chosen and is just one of many that appears on their list.

The hotel has confirmed its intention to provide a games room to keep the players entertained, something Capello has apparently requested, but Baldini is adamant that such factors are of secondary importance.

“We are still considering a number of hotels, but have not yet decided on the one we want in South Africa,” said Baldini. “There has been a lot of talk about a hotel in Rustenburg and various facilities we are supposedly expecting.

“Let me be clear – the hotel in Rustenburg is not necessarily our first-choice hotel and we are very serious about other hotels in South Africa that have excellent facilities. Our focus will be on the training facilities, geographical location and suitability of the hotel, and not a games room for the players.

“Fabio Capello and I will visit South Africa later in the year to see a number of hotels and then make our choice. Until then, we have not chosen any hotel.”

However, Rustenburg does fulfil the criteria Capello has laid down as essential; it is at altitude, 1,500 metres above sea level. With the final due to be played 2,000 metres above sea level in Johannesburg on 11 July, Capello is not willing to risk England failing to have acclimatised.

It is one of the reasons he intends to take England to Austria for a pre-tournament training camp, which could include a friendly against Japan, at the end of May.