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.
Watch the game live in high quality flash at - http://www.flashsportstreams.com/forum/
Thursday, 3 June 2010
Wednesday, 2 June 2010
South Korea
Confederation: AFC(Aisa)
Head coach: Huh Jung-Moo
Captain: Park Ji-Sung
Group: B
Everyone will Remember South Korea's famous run in the 2002 World Cup, where they reached the semi-finals. 2006 however, wasn't so successful for South Korea, they failed to make the second round. This time round, they won't just be going to make up the numbers. They have some very capable individuals, like, Park Ji-Sung, Lee Chung-Yong and Park Chu-Young. Manchester United's Park Ji-Sung is used to playing in the big games, Sir Alex Ferguson always uses him for big occasions. A tireless worker and very skillful, Park wouldn't look out of place in any side.
Bolton winger Lee Chung-Yong had a very good debut season in the English Premiership and will surely attract the attention of a bigger club, if he has a good tournament. Veteran Lee Young-Pyo will be known to Spurs fans, he spent 3 years at White Hart Lane. Middlesborough flop made the final squad, while at 'Boro he was appalling and didn't score a single goal.
Kim Young-Kwang (Ulsan), Lee Woon-Jae (Suwon), Jung Sung-Ryong (Seongnam); Kim Dong-Jin (Ulsan), Kim Hyung-Il (Pohang), Oh Beom-Seok (Ulsan), Lee Young-Pyo (Al Hilal, Saudi Arabia), Lee Jung-Soo (Kashima, Japan), Cha Doo-Ri (Freiburg, Germany) Cho Yong-Hyung (Jeju), Kang Min-Soo (Suwon); Ki Sung-Yong (Celtic, Scotland), Kim Bo-Kyung (Oita, Japan), Kim Nam-Il (Tomsk, Russia), Kim Jae-Sung (Pohang), Kim Jung-Woo (Gwangju), Lee Chung-Yong (Bolton, England), Park Ji-Sung (Manchester United, England); Park Chu-Young (Monaco, France), Ahn Jung-Hwan (Dalian, China), Lee Seung-Ryul (Seoul), Yeom Ki-Hun (Suwon), Lee Dong-Gook (Jeonbuk).
Ant Myers
Tuesday, 1 June 2010
Nigeria
Confederation: CAF (Africa)
Head coach: Lars Lagerbäck
Captain: Nwankwo Kanu
Group: B
After failing to qualify in 2006, the Nigerians will be keen to impress. Now under the guidance of former Sweden boss Lars Lagerbäck, Nigeria are heading to their 3rd World Cup. Nigeria finished just 1 point above Tunisia in group B in the African qualifiers. 7 English based are in the Nigerian squad, such as, Yakubu, Dickson Etuhu and Joseth Yobo. Nigeria are a team that are strong, pacey and very powerful. Etuhu will be the enforcer in midfield and will use his bulk to rough up the opposition. Everton striker is fit and will be a key player for Nigeria if he can rediscover his goalscoring form.
Football Manager legend Vincent Enyeama will most likely be no.1, so you will see if he deserves his super stats. Left-back Taye Taiwo has attratcted a lot of attention over the last couple years after performing consistently for Marseille. Taiwo loves to get forward and attack, he's good on set-pieces and can unleash some stinging shots. Nigeria have plenty of depth in the strikeforce department, with the likes of, Obafemi Martins and Portsmouth's John Utaka. Former Newcastle Newcastle man, Martins has explosive pace, but at times, his eratic finishing lets him down. The loss of John Obi Mikel will hit Nigeria hard, as his their captain and star man.
Two notable omissions from the squad are Ike Uche and Victor Anichebe, both are strikers and faced stiff competition. Everton's Anichebe has struggled with injuries and couldn't convince manager, Lagerbäck to choose him over the other candidates.
Squad(23):
Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei Yehuda), Austin Ejide (Hapoel Petach Tikvah); Taye Taiwo (Marseille), Elderson Echiejile (Rennes), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow), Joseph Yobo (Everton), Ayodele Adeleye (Sparta Rotterdam), Rabiu Afolabi (Salzburg), Danny Shittu (Bolton); Kalu Uche (Almeria), Dickson Etuhu (Fulham), Brown Ideye (Sochaux), Sani Kaita (Alaniya), Haruna Lukman (Monaco), Yusuf Ayila (Dynamo Kiev); Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Everton), Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth), Obafemi Martins (Wolfsburg), John Utaka (Portsmouth), Victor Obinna Nsofor (Malaga), Osaze Odemwingie (Lokomotiv Moscow), Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi (Hoffenheim).
Ant Myers
BRAZIL
Five time World Cup winners Brazil's 23 man squad will be enough to strike fear into the hearts of other nations as manager Dunga has produced a squad that, despite lacking the traditional flair that Brazil are associated with, is powerful and ruthless as they fired their way to the top of the South American qualifying group. The Brazilians, who are already in South Africa preparing for their World Cup, are as usual amongst the favourites to win the tournament.
There were several major omissions that signal that Dunga is attempting to leave behind the traditional samba flair and replace it with a hard working physical side that was so typical of his game. There was no place in the squad for two time Fifa world player of the World Ronaldinho, a major surprise as the AC Milan player had been desperate to be included following a run of good late season form, a season that included 15 goals in all competitions. Elsewhere Adriano was left out after a good season with Flamengo in which he netted 19 times. Alexandre Pato, who made his return to action in Milan's last game of the season, was also not included in the squad after a frustrating season consisting of numerous hamstring injuries which resulted in Pato appearing just 20 times, although he did score 12 goals. However Dunga did find a place for Kaká, who has been struggling with injury but his 8 goals in 22 appearances in his first season in Madrid, were enough to convince Dunga.
Luis Fabiano, top scorer at the Confederations Cup with 5 goals, has echoed Dunga's philosophy by suggesting that the most important thing is winning by any means "If it is necessary to play dirty to win, we will do it, what counts at the World Cup it to win" Fabiano, who is amongst the front runners to take home the Golden Shoe, is expected to partner Manchester City player Robinho up front, and the two have formed a potent relationship since being paired together in 2007. A surprise inclusion is Wolfsburg striker Grafite who scored 11 times in the Bundesliga last season despite only having 2 caps for his country.
Brazil have been drawn in group G, which is widely regarded as the group of death, consisting of the Portuguese, the Ivory Coast and North Korea. Brazil kick off their campaign against North Korea, who are expected to finish bottom of the group, on the 15th June.
Key Player
Inter right back Maicon is a crucial part of Dunga's Brazilian team. Mainly used as an attacking threat, the pacey wing back is constantly getting forward to add an extra dimension to the attack. He is also defensively solid and will partner Brazil Captain and Inter team mate Lucio in defence. Maicon's attacking prowess is exemplified by the fact he was third in the assist league in Seria A last season. With Dani Alves to compete with at right back, coach Dunga is spoilt for choice.
Brazil's 23 man World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), Doni (AS Roma), Gomes (Tottenham Hotspur)
Defenders: Maicon (Inter Milan), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Michel Bastos (Olympique Lyon), Gilberto (Cruzeiro), Lucio (Inter Milan), Juan (AS Roma), Luisao (Benfica), Thiago Silva (AC Milan)
Midfielders: Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos), Felipe Melo (Juventus), Ramires (Benfica), Elano (Galatasaray), Kaka (Real Madrid), Julio Baptista (Roma), Kleberson (Flamengo), Josue (VfL Wolfsburg).
Forwards: Robinho (Santos), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Nilmar (Villarreal), Grafite (VfL Wolfsburg).
Paul Seed
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/
Watch Switzerland carry on their World preparations live in high quality flash at - http://www.flashsportstreams.com/forum/
Darren Bent – Time to Retire
As we learned today, England's 2nd best goalscorer has been omitted from Fabio Capello's squad. I find it absolutely amazing that Emile Heskey and Jermain Defoe are going to South Africa ahead of Darren Bent. What more can a striker do after scoring 24 Premiership goals for a mid table team? Oh, no, wait, he doesn't play with his back to goal or bulldoze defenders out of the way. What utter rubbish, how do these 'pundits' have the platform to spout their uninformed nonsense? Acorrding to http://expertfootball.com/coaching/positions.php the definition of a striker is "The main ability of this player must be his strength and heading. His job is simple: to stay in front of the enemy goal, attract enemy defenders and score." Does that describe Emile Heskey? No, does that describe Darren Bent? Yes.
Nick Collins, the reporter on Sky Sports News, just said Darren Bent "has had six caps, but hasn't really done anything"I'm sorry, but, anyone who isn't partially sighted should be able to say that Bent has had a complete lack of service. Against Brazil and Japan, England put in their two worst performances under the Capello regime and somehow Bent was expected to create his own chances convert them. Ask yourself this, what other country would leave out their second best goalscorer? If you answered no one, then you're correct.
Let me create these scenarios, 1 on 1 against Brazil in the semi-final, who would you fancy to score, Bent or Heskey? And in a penalty shootout, Bent or Heskey? Thought so. Personally, the image of Defoe representing my country over Bent, fills me blood boiling anger. Bent should now announce his retirement from international football, as the man simply cannot do anymore to gain squad status.
FACTS:
Premier League
Darren Bent - 38 apps, 24 goals. Scored against Chelsea(x2), Spurs(x2), Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool.
Jermain Defoe - 34 apps, 18 goals. Scored 5 against Wigan and 3 V Hull.
Emile Heskey - 31 apps, 3 goals. 2 of his goals came against 2 of the relegated clubs.
Ant Myers
Nick Collins, the reporter on Sky Sports News, just said Darren Bent "has had six caps, but hasn't really done anything"I'm sorry, but, anyone who isn't partially sighted should be able to say that Bent has had a complete lack of service. Against Brazil and Japan, England put in their two worst performances under the Capello regime and somehow Bent was expected to create his own chances convert them. Ask yourself this, what other country would leave out their second best goalscorer? If you answered no one, then you're correct.
Let me create these scenarios, 1 on 1 against Brazil in the semi-final, who would you fancy to score, Bent or Heskey? And in a penalty shootout, Bent or Heskey? Thought so. Personally, the image of Defoe representing my country over Bent, fills me blood boiling anger. Bent should now announce his retirement from international football, as the man simply cannot do anymore to gain squad status.
FACTS:
Premier League
Darren Bent - 38 apps, 24 goals. Scored against Chelsea(x2), Spurs(x2), Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool.
Jermain Defoe - 34 apps, 18 goals. Scored 5 against Wigan and 3 V Hull.
Emile Heskey - 31 apps, 3 goals. 2 of his goals came against 2 of the relegated clubs.
Ant Myers
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