France 0- 1 China

France failed to beat China today in their final warm up game before the World Cup starts next Friday. China shocked the French when Deng's free kick swerved erratically in the air and crept past the out stretched Hugo Lloris. Les Blues had plenty of possession and chances, but failed to convert. William Gallas had a goal disallowed when the linesman rightfully deemed him offside.

After China took the lead, France started to threaten the Chinese goal. Arsenal's Abou Diaby had a long range effort tipped around the post by the 'keeper and his Arsenal teammate Gallas was thwarted by a last ditch interception by a Chinese defender. The French natives will be seriously underwhelmed with that performance and will be hoping that their heroes turn up against Uruguay next week.

Ant Myers

Ferdinand - Out of World Cup

England captain Rio Ferdinand will miss the World Cup after suffering a knee injury from a tackle by Emile Heskey in training. Ferdinand has had an injury hit season and has looked unfit in England's warm up games. Questions will be now asked regarding his replacement, Micheal Dawson is the obvious choice. Fabio Capello will need to decide who will partner John Terry, Ledley King is the best option, but, King is another who struggles with injuries.

Didier Drogba - Injured

Reports are suggesting that Didier Drogba has fractured his elbow and will miss the World Cup. The incident occurred during Ivory Coast's 2-0 victory over Japan. Drogba picked up the injury from a challenge from defender, Tulio. If Drogba does miss the finals, then this will be earth shattering news to the Ivory Coast and the football world. The centre forward is considered to be one of the best strikers in the world and will be a huge loss to the World Cup if he is sidelined.

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.


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

One to Watch: Lucas Barrios

Lucas Barrios has been one of the biggest surprises in European football this season. He is a typical goal scorer who instinctively finds the right space in the penalty area, and with good composure and shooting technique, he's lethal when he receieves the ball in and around the box. A year ago, still unknown to most outside the Chilean league (where he impressively managed a strike rate of 87 goals in 120 games), Barrios was snapped up by German side Borussia Dortmund. The former Argentinian settled quickly in Dortmund and contributed with 19 goals to their surprisingly good 5th place Bundesliga finish.

Born to a Paraguayan mother, Barrios decided to apply for Paraguayan citizenship in March 2010 in hopes of a chance to play in the World Cup. His request granted, he was called up to Paraguay's preliminary World Cup squad in May. Sensationally, the 25 year old striker scored in all three of their training camp friendlies against Ireland, Côte d'Ivoire and Greece. In an unlikely turn of events over the last few months, which saw Paraguay's ace striker Salavador Cabañas shot in the head in a night club in Mexico, it's now the Argentinian born Barrios who looks set to lead the line for Paraguay in South Africa.

G. Lindström

South Africa

Confederation: CAF
Head Coach: Carlos Alberto Parreira
Captain: Aaron Mokoena
Group: A

South Africa are a relatively unknown team on the international stage and they will be aiming to change that in what will be their third appearance at a World Cup.

They first appeared at a World Cup back in 1998 when the French hosted and went on to win the tournament. Unfortunately for South Africa, or the Bafana Bafana as the team is called, they failed to make it out of the group stages in '98 and again in Korea/Japan in 2002.

Bafana Bafana will be able to take confidence from the Republic of Korea who; while jointly hosting the World Cup in '02, managed to get to the semi finals despite having a relatively unknown team, something which possibly worked in their favour. South Africa will of course be able to take confidence from being the host nation and having their own supporters filling the stadia.

Despite history showing us that South Africa aren't a gifted footballing nation when it comes to the World Cup, they do have past glories. In 1996 South Africa hosted and won the Africa Cup of Nations at their first attempt, which isn't something to be ignored.

Last June South Africa hosted the FIFA Confederations Cup and showed the watching world that this current team has a lot of potential as they managed to reach the semi finals only to lose out to eventual winners Brazil.

Benni McCarthy has quite surprisingly been cut from Parreira's squad; McCarthy is South Africa's all time leading goal scorer. Captain Aaron Mokoena is another front runner for South Africa; he is the first player to reach 100 caps for the nation, an impressive feat.

Squad

Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs); Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates), Shu-Aib Walters (Maritzburg United), Matthew Booth (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siboniso Gaxa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport United), Tshepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa), Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth), Anele Ngcongca (Genk), Siyabonga Sangweni (Golden Arrows), Lucas Thwala (Orlando Pirates), Lance Davids (Ajax Cape Town), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Fulham), Thanduyise Khuboni (Golden Arrows), Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Kaizer Chiefs), Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates), Surprise Moriri (Mamelodi Sundowns), Steven Pienaar (Everton), Macbeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan), Simphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs), Katlego Mphela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siyabonga Nomvete (Moroka Swallows), Bernard Parker (FC Twente).

Carl Leighton

Serbia

Confederation: UEFA(Europe)
Head coach: Radomir Antic
Captain: Dejan Stankovic
Group: D


It's exactly 4 years since Serbia split from Montenegro and it's their first ever World Cup since becoming an independent state. Unfortunately for Montenegro, Serbia had the better players and took the FIFA and UEFA status, Montenegro had to apply for a new status. The Serbians have a host of top fooballers, Nemanja Vidic, Dejan Stankovic and Branislav Ivanovic, are just a few. Ivanovic got off to a slow start at Stamford Bridge, however, this season the right-back has been in excellent form. Solid defensively and good going forward, Ivanovic is a typical modern day full-back.

Internazionale midfielder Dejan Stankovic has played at the top level for years and captains the Serbians. Stankovic is a central midfielder who can attack and defend, he's also equipped with a very powerful shot. New Liverpool signing Milan Jovanovic, will operate on the left wing, but he can also play up front. Nenad Milijas of Wolves has the ability to score goals from long range and he will compete with Zdravko Kuzmanovic to partner Stankovic in midfield.

Birmingham City will have an intrest in Serbia as they have recently signed giant centre forward Nikola Zigic. At 6 ft 7+¹⁄₂ Zigic can dominate aerial battles and will be a real threat from set pieces. Danko Lazovic will partner Zigic up front and between them they have scored 26 goals for Serbia, Marko Pantelic and Dragan Mrdja will provide backup.



Vladimir Stojkovic (Sporting Lisbon, Portugal), Bojan Isailovic (Zaglebie Lubin, Poland), Andjelko Djuricic (Uniao Leiria, Portugal); Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea, England), Antonio Rukavina (1860 Munich, Germany), Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United, England), Neven Subotic (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Aleksandar Lukovic (Udinese, Italy), Ivan Obradovic (Real Zaragoza, Spain), Aleksandar Kolarov (Lazio, Italy); Dejan Stankovic (Inter Milan, Italy), Gojko Kacar (Hertha Berlin, Germany), Nenad Milijas (Wolves, England), Zdravko Kuzmanovic (Stuttgart, Germany), Radosav Petrovic (Partizan Belgrade), Milos Krasic (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Zoran Tosic (Manchester United, England) , Milos Ninkovic (Dynamo Kiev, Ukraine), Milan Jovanovic (Standard Liege, Belgium); Nikola Zigic (Birmingham, England), Marko Pantelic (Ajax, Holland), Danko Lazovic (Zenit St Petersburg, Russia), Dragan Mrdja (Vojvodina Novi Sad)


Ant Myers