New Zealand v Slovakia - LIVE

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Italy V Paraquay - LIVE

Reigning champions Italy begin their defence against a strong Paraguay side in Cape Town tonight.

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Holland V Denmark - LIVE

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Uruguay v France - LIVE

Stadium: Cape Town

Time: 7.30pm

Ireland fans will be watching this game wondering what could have been if Thierry Henry hadn't cheated to help eliminate them from the play-off. That is history now, France are there and will be looking to prove their critics wrong. They face a strong Uruguay side who have aspirations of making the second round at least. Both teams will need to get off to a good start, as Group A is filled with 4 teams who all fancy themselves to advance further. I watched France last week against China and they looked like a team bereft of confidence and direction. Some will say that warm up games results are unimportant, but at this stage a team needs to show team spirit and cohesion.

I'm really looking forward to seeing Uruguay, they have some real entertainers in their ranks. the front two of Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez would give any defender nightmares. The duo are prolific at club level and if they get any half chances they will punish you. The French defence looks immense on paper, however, recently it has been breached far too easily. It's been rumoured that all time leading goalscorer Thierry Henry will have to settle for a place on the bench, it will be a bold decision by coach Raymond Domenech if true.

Prediction: Uruguay 2-1 France.



Watch the game live in high quality flash at - http://www.flashsportstreams.com/forum/

Ant Myers

South Africa v Mexico - LIVE

1433 Days have elapsed since Fabio Grosso’s penalty won Italy their fourth world cup. There is only one more day to wait until the greatest spectacle on earth starts again. 32 Countries are ready to fight for the coveted Jules Rimet trophy, and for the first time on the African Continent. For football fans the months of build up finally come to an end and the action can begin. Friday is a huge global event but for South Africa and the continent as a whole this match is especially significant.

South Africa is still a troubled nation with many experiencing crippling poverty, an AIDS epidemic and worrying crime levels. On Friday however people will not be focusing on these things anymore, for all of South Africa’s 49 Million residents the World Cup is a chance to show how far they have come and show people another side of Africa. We all wish them well and hope that the World Cup lives up to all expectations.

But what of the two teams for Friday’s curtain raiser. South Africa has a difficult group with Mexico, a dangerous Uruguayan team and one of footballs powerhouses France. There is optimism in the country as South Africa enter the tournament unbeaten in ten games and having reached the final of the confederations cup. They are going to be heavily reliant on Steven Pienaar producing good performances and driving the team forward. Their coach Carlos Alberto Parriera has world cup pedigree leading Brazil to triumph in 94’ and he will need to inspire this group of players. Mphela upfront will need to fill the void left by Benni Mcarthy’s omission, Aaaron Mokoena will need to be on his best form as he marshals the defence. Most importantly though if South Africa can foster a team spirit and harness the support of their country I feel they could get just get out of the group.

Mexico will not be an easy opponent for the hosts as England can testify. They are a well-organised side boasting young talent and experienced professionals who have been to many world cups. Rafael Marquez, Torrado, Blanco and Franco have all played at the highest level and playing the hosts will not daunt them. In Carlos Vela, Giovani Dos Santos, and the promising Javier Hernandez Mexico have plenty of firepower to hurt any opposition. Mexico though are frail at the back and always looked like conceding from corners and set pieces against England. Their coach Javier Aguirre also has good experience having previously bee to a world cup as manager of Mexico and coaching Osasuna and Athletico Madrid. Mexico are dangerous opposition and they have successfully qualified from their group in the last four world cups. They will certainly enter this game as the favourites.

It is going to be extremely tough for South Africa to get through group A. It is imperative that they start with a win against Mexico. If they can beat Mexico they stand a very real chance of reaching the last 16 for the first time. Come three o’clock Friday afternoon Africa will host its first World Cup match the world will be introduced to the Vuvuzela and the greatest show on earth begins. Roll on Friday…


Watch the game live in high quality flash at - http://www.flashsportstreams.com/forum/


Laurie O’Brien

Tanzania v Brazil LIVE

Today, 4pm


Watch the favourites take on minnows Tanzania in South Africa.



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France vs China LIVE Stream

Today 5pm

France will hope that they can find some form before they start their World Cup campaign next Friday. China are not the strongest of opponents, but they will not roll over for Les blues.


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Spain v South Korea - LIVE

Tonight 5pm



2nd favourites Spain take on South Korea in South Africa with just 8 days until the big kick-off. South Korea will be a good test for the Spaniards and won't be easy opponents. It will be interesting to see if Spain choose their strongest side or try out some fringe players.



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Brazil v Zimbabwe - LIVE NOW

http://www.flashsportstreams.com/forum/showthread.php?t=194

Switzerland v Costa Rica - LIVE stream

Tonight, 7.15pm


Watch Switzerland carry on their World preparations live in high quality flash at - http://www.flashsportstreams.com/forum/

Holland V Ghana - LIVE

Tuesday 1st June 2010, 19:30

Holland take on African hopefuls Ghana, in a warm up match 10 days before the World Cup. Managers Bert van Marwijk and Milovan Rajevac have both selected their final squads and will use this fixture to work out their first team plans. There will be some quality players on display, including Van Persie, Sneijder, Robben, Mensah, Gyan, Annan and many more.


Watch the game live in high quality flash at - http://www.flashsportstreams.com/forum/

Cameroon

Confederation: CAF(Africa)
Head coach: Paul Le Guen
Captain: Samuel Eto'o
Group: E

When you look at the Cameroon squad, It's evident that they have some very good players at their disposal. The most famous current Cameroonian is Samuel Eto'o, who is one of best strikers in the world. There were rumours that Eto'o was going to withdraw from the squad, after receiving criticism from legend Roger Milla, however it's thought that he will remain in the squad. Arsenal defensive midfielder, Alexandre Song could be vital to their success if he can perform like he has at Arsenal this season. Alexandre's uncle Rigobert Song is also in the squad, the veteran defender will be familar to English fans, as he played for Liverpool and West Ham.

Cameroon's defense has a good balance of youth and experience, the likes of Geremi and Song will help youngsters Gaetan Bong and Nicolas Nkoulou. Spurs duo Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Sebastien Bassong have both played well this season, Assou-Ekotto in particular shone at left back. If Cameroon can keep it tight at the back, they could surprise a few teams this summer. In midfield they have a lot of defense minded players, Jean Makoun, Landry Nguemo and Joel Matip all like to protect the defense. Achille Emana , of Betis, will have the responsibility to get forward and supply the strikers.

The 'Indomitable Lions' will obviously look to Eto'o to get the goals, however, if the Inter Milan forward is under firing, they will have to rely on Pierre Webo and Mohamadou Idrissou. Webo has scored 12 times in 34 caps for his country and will likely partner Eto'o up front. Holland are the favourites in group E, so realistically, Cameroon will hope to see off Denmark and Japan for second place.


Squad:

Goalkeepers: Hamidou Souleymanou (Kayserispor/Turkey), Carlos Kameni (Espanyol/Spain), Guy Roland Ndy Assembe (Valenciennes/France)

Defenders: Benoit Assou-Ekotto (Tottenham/England), Sebastien Bassong (Tottenham/England), Gaetan Bong (Valenciennes/France), Aurelien Chedjou (Lille/France), Geremi (Ankaragucu/Turkey), Stephane Mbia (Marseille/France), Nicolas Nkoulou (Monaco/France), Rigobert Song (Trabzonspor/Turkey)

Midfielders: Eyong Enoh (Ajax/Netherlands), Jean II Makoun (Lyon/France), Georges Mandjeck (Kaiserslautern/Germany), Joel Matip (Schalke/Germany), Landry Nguemo (Celtic/Scotland), Alexandre Song (Arsenal/England)

Forwards: Vincent Aboubakar (Coton Sport), Eric Choupo-Moting (Nuremberg/Germany), Achille Emana (Betis/Spain), Samuel Eto'o (Inter Milan/Italy), Mohamadou Idrissou (Freiburg/Germany), Pierre Webo (Mallorca/Spain)

Ant Myers

Australia

Region: Asia
Head Coach: Pim Verbeek


The Socceroos will be participating in only their third World Cup in June. The men from 'down under' qualified for South Africa in impressive style without losing a single game and only conceding one solitary goal in the process.

The Aussies find themselves in a difficult Group D and have the unenviable task of opening their 2010 campaign against a much fancied German side.

Amongst their squad will be some familiar names for watchers of Premier League football. Everton's Tim Cahill and Mark Schwarzer, fresh from Fulham's Europa League escapade will be key players. Former Liverpool star Harry Kewell, now plying his trade in Turkey will be looking to end a career ravaged by injury with a World Cup swansong.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Mark Schwarzer (Fulham/ENG), Adam Federici (Reading/ENG), Brad Jones (Middlesbrough/ENG).

Defenders: Scott Chipperfield (FC Basel/SUI), David Carney (FC Twente/NED), Lucas Neill (Galatasaray/TUR,captain), Michael Beauchamp (Al-Jazira/UAE), Craig Moore (no contract), Mark Milligan (JEF United/JPN), Luke Wilkshire (Dinamo Moscow/RUS).

Midfielders: Mark Bresciano (Palermo/ITA), Tim Cahill (Everton/ENG), Jason Culina (Gold Coast Utd/AUS), Brett Emerton (Blackburn Rovers/ENG), Richard Garcia (Hull City/ENG), Vince Grella (Blackburn Rovers/ENG), Brett Holman (AZ Alkmaar/NED), Mile Jedinak (Antalyaspor Kulubu/TUR), Carl Valeri (US Sassuolo Calcio/ITA), Dario Vidosic (FC Nurnberg/GER).

Strikers: Josh Kennedy (Nagoya Grampus/JPN), Harry Kewell (Galatasaray/TUR), Nikita Rukavytsya (FC Twente/NED).

Random Facts About Australia's Squad

* 7 members of the squad currently play in English football.

* Only 2 members of the squad currently play in Australia's Hyundai A League.


Pete Guest

Uruguay

Confederation: CONMEBOL (South America)
Head coach: Oscar Tabarez
Captain: Diego Lugano
Group: A

Two time World Cup winners Uruguay will travel to South Afica, after taking the last place in the South American qualifiers. An inconsistent qualifying campaign left them having to do battle with Costa Rica in the playoffs. The Uruguayans have some excellent talent in their ranks. Most notably, their strikeforce would leave many teams envious. In Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez they will have opposition defenses fearing the two hitmen. Forlan, who broke Fulham fans' hearts by scoring a brace in the Europa Cup final, will join Suarez in attack and between them, they have scored 33 goals for Uruguay.

Defender and captain, Diego Lugano is a very solid centre-half and will prove tough to breach at the finals. Central midfielder, Walter Gargano will operate as an enforcer type role in the heart of midfield. Gargano is an all round midfielder, good on ball and can also get stuck in if needed.

Speedy winger, Nicolás Lodeiro is definitely one to keep an eye on this summer. Pace, good technique and a danger from free-kicks are all attributes the Ajax man posses. Uruguay find themselves in group A, which on paper, is a difficult group. However, I'm tipping the Uruguayans to reach the second round and surprise a few people.



Squad:

Goalkeepers: Fernando Muslera (Lazio), Juan-Guillermo Castillo (Cali), Martin Silva (Defensor Sporting)

Defenders: Diego Lugano (Fenerbahce), Diego Godin (Villarreal), Andres Scotti (Colo Colo), Jorge Fucile (Porto), Martin Caceres (Juventus), Mauricio Victorino (Universidad de Chile), Maximiliano Pereira (Benfica)

Midfielders: Walter Gargano (Napoli), Egidio Arevalo-Rios (Penarol), Sebastian Eguren (AIK Stockholm), Diego Perez (Monaco), Alvaro Pereira (Porto), Alvaro Fernandez (Universidad de Chile), Ignacio Gonzalez (Valencia), Nicolas Lodeiro (Ajax)

Forwards: Sebastian Fernandez (Banfield), Luis Suarez (Ajax), Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid), Sebastian Abreu (Botafogo), Edinson Cavani (Palermo).

Watch France v Uruguay(6th June) on flashsportstreams.com/forum/

Ant Myers

Slovenia

Confederation: UEFA (Europe)
Head coach: Matjaž Kek
Captain: Robert Koren
Group: C

Slovenia is the smallest nation that will be taking part in the World Cup this summer. This will be their second World Cup outing, since splitting from Yugoslavia in 1991. The Slovenians advanced through to the Finals by impressively beating giants, Russia, in the playoffs. They were placed in group C, along with Algeria, England and USA. They will have to perform amazingly well to reach the second round, as they are the clear underdogs in this group.

Captain Robert Koren will be familiar to English fans, as he played for newly promoted West Bromich Albion. The midfielder has good technical ability and can score some spectacular goals. Slovenia will need their star man to perform, if they are to succeed this summer. Head coach, Matjaž Kek, has picked his squad and it consists of players scattered all over Europe


Squad:

Samir Handanovic (Udinese), Jasmin Handanovic (Mantova), Aleksander Seliga (Sparta Rotterdam); Bojan Jokic (Chievo), Marko Suler (Gent), Bostjan Cesar (Grenoble), Branko Ilic (FC Moscow), Matej Mavric-Rozic (Koblenz), Elvedin Dzinic (Maribor), Miso Brecko (Cologne), Suad Filekovic (Maribor); Andraz Kirm (Wisla Krakow), Andrej Komac (Maccabi Tel-Aviv), Rene Krhin (Inter Milan), Dalibor Stevanovic (Vitesse Arnhem), Robert Koren (West Brom), Aleksander Radosavljevic (Larissa), Valter Birsa (Auxerre); Milivoje Novakovic (Cologne), Zlatko Dedic (Bochum), Zlatan Ljubijankic (Gent), Nejc Pecnik (Nacional), Tim Matavz (FC Groningen)


Ant Myers

France

Confederation: UEFA (Europe)
Head coach: Raymond Domenech
Captain: Thierry Henry
Group: A

Keen astronomer Raymond Domenech has named his prelimanary 30 man squad, which involves some world class names. From goalkeeper to upfront, the French have genuine quality. 'Keeper Hugo Lloris, who will be playing in his first World Cup, looks to have all the attributes to be a great 'keeper, he is something that Les Blues have been missing in recent years. The French defense consists of very experienced defenders, Gallas, Evra and Abidal are ones who have played at the highest club level.

Domenech has shocked many people with his provisional squad, the omissions of Karim Benzema and Samir Nasri will have French fans scratching their heads. Benzema has had a disappointing first season in Madrid, however, on his day, he is one of the best strikers in the world. Also, Domenech has decided against calling up a replacemacement for the injured Lassana Diarra.

Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri was expected to be named in the 30 man squad at least. He is one who can create and provide a moment of genius, odd decision. Perhaps the stars told Domenech to do it, many people were surprised he didn't get the axe after a poor Euro 2008. The French Football Federation may regret not replacing the horoscope fanatic........


Squad:

Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Lyon), Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Cedric Carrasso (Bordeaux)

Defenders: William Gallas (Arsenal/ENG), Eric Abidal (Barcelona/ESP), Bakary Sagna (Arsenal/ENG), Patrice Evra (Manchester United/ENG), Gael Clichy (Arsenal/ENG), Marc Planus (Bordeaux), Anthony Reveillere (Lyon), Sebastien Squillaci (Sevilla/ESP)

Midfielders: Abou Diaby (Arsenal/ENG), Alou Diarra (Bordeaux), Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux), Florent Malouda (Chelsea/ENG), Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon)

Strikers: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea/ENG), Djibril Cisse (Panathinaikos/GRE), Andre-Pierre Gignac (Toulouse), Sidney Govou (Lyon), Thierry Henry (Barcelona/ESP), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich/GER), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille)

Watch France kick-off their campaign against Uruguay(6th June) on flashsportstreams.com/forum/


Ant Myers

Ghana

Confederation: CAF (Africa)
Head coach: Milovan Rajevac
Captain: Stephen Appiah
Group: D


The Black Stars will take part in their second World Cup finals in June, after topping group D in the African qualifiers. Ghana have a squad of undoubted quality, the likes of John Mensah, Sulley Muntari and Stephen Appiah are players that all feature in Europe's elite leagues.

Group D consists of four dangerous team, who all have a realistic chance of reaching the knock-out stage. Ghana will pose a threat to any team, with their power, pace and athleticism. Head coach, Rajevac has named his squad and has decided to include Portsmouth midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng, who has switched his national allegiance from Germany to Ghana.

The loss of Michael Essien will be a massive blow to Ghana, as the Chelsea man is potentially the best box-to-box midfielder in the world. I'm sure I speak for most people in saying that Essien will be a big miss this summer.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Richard Kingson (Wigan/ENG), Daniel Agyei (Liberty Professionals/GHA), Stephen Ahorlu (Hearts of Lions/GHA)

Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (FC Basel/SUI), Jonathan Mensah (Grenada/ESP), Lee Addy (Bechem Chelsea/GHA), Rahim Ayew (Zamalek/EGY), Hans Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen/GER), John Mensah (Sunderland/ENG), Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim/GER), John Paintsil (Fulham/ENG).

Midfielders: Sulley Muntari (Inter Milan/ITA), Derek Boateng (Getafe/ESP), Anthony Annan (Rosenborg/NOR), Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese/ITA), Andre Ayew (Arles-Avignon/FRA - on loan), Stephen Appiah (Bologna/ITA), Quincy Owusu Abeyie (Al Sadd/QAT), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Portsmouth/ENG)

Forwards: Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda/NED) Asamoah Gyan (Rennes/FRA), Prince Tagoe (Hoffenheim/GER), Dominic Adiyiah (AC Milan/ITA)

Ant Myers

The World Awaits......

As the domestic leagues and cups are drawing to a close, football fans around the world are starting to prepare for the Globe's best sporting tournament. The World Cup is not just for football fans, it's for everyone. It unites nations and gives a country a good excuse to forget about troubles and join together to support their homeland. Flags on cars, packed pubs, John Barnes rapping and plenty of beer consumed.

With 31 days until the big kick-off, the participating countries are assembling their squads for the trip to South Africa. Most managers will now have a good idea who their 23 man squad will be, however some will have to make tough decisions. Managers will have to decide whether form or reputation should be the most important factor.


Over the next two months we will bring you news, previews, reports and much more........

You can watch all the games live online at flashsportstreams.com


Ant Myers