Archive for the ‘International’ Category
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
USA coach Bob Bradley has agreed to stay on as national team coach for another four years, which includes the 2014 World Cup, U.S. Soccer said this week. The 52-year-old, who steered the U.S. to the last sixteen at this year’s World Cup finals in South Africa where they were eliminated by Ghana, will retain the job until the end of 2014 after agreeing to a four-year contract extension. This announcement puts an end to the widespread rumours linking Bradley with the vacant position at Aston Villa.
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Posted in International, Managers, North America, World Cup | No Comments »
Sunday, July 11th, 2010
This tournament has been historic. It will always be remembered as the first World Cup to go to Africa, in particular, to South Africa – a country that has suffered so much oppression, that has fought to show the world that it is safe and that has shown the world that white people and black people are co-existing in peace.
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Tags: Argentina, Brazil, Doron, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Holland, Italy, Netherlands, South Africa 2010, Spain, Uruguay, World Cup 2010
Posted in Africa, Europe, FIFA, International, Match Report, Opinion, Players, Reviews, South Africa 2010, South America, World Cup | 2 Comments »
Saturday, July 3rd, 2010
Germany put in a professional, resolute and quite simply spectacular performance as Joachim Löw’s tactical nous shined through in the 4-0 victory over Argentina. The 1954, 1974 and 1990 World Cup winners were devastating in as they defended narrowly and vigilantly against an Argentinian side who evidently lacked any real creativity as Messi was stifled throughout. The little Argentinian genius leaves the greatest International tournament without finding the back of the net, however the reliance on Messi in a 4-3-1-2 formation by Maradona was surely a burden that the Barcelona number ten didn’t need when things clearly weren’t working.
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Posted in International, South Africa 2010, South America, World Cup | 1 Comment »
Sunday, June 27th, 2010
Uruguay’s last World Cup win came sixty years ago, twenty years after their first World Cup win back in 1930. Eighty years have passed since that historic first World Cup, when Uruguay beat neighbours Argentina to win the first ever World Cup, which was then known as the Jules Rimet trophy, named after FIFA’s longest serving president. So can the South American’s beat Ghana in the quarter finals and advance to the semi finals for the first time since the 1930 World Cup (the 1950 World Cup had a unique group format, without a knockout phase)? Uruguay have been a breathe of fresh air at these finals, playing a high pressing game and alternating between a three and four man defense. Is it their time again?
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Posted in International, Opinion, South Africa 2010, South America, Statistics, World Cup | No Comments »
Saturday, June 19th, 2010
As the World Cup started I agreed on a (slightly bold and rushed) statement with my housemate: ‘if England don’t win the World Cup it’ll be down to the players and not the coach’ – that statement doesn’t stand so true anymore. After the USA game I attacked the England players individually with some player ratings. Post-Algeria I don’t see any point to individual assessment. Everyone was poor. The team must be examined as just that – a team.
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Tags: Capello, Doron, England, Fabio Capello, Rooney, SA 2010, South Africa 2010, WC 2010, World Cup, World Cup 2010
Posted in International, Managers, Opinion, Players, Premier League, South Africa 2010, World Cup | 11 Comments »
Monday, June 14th, 2010
Following England’s draw with the USA last Saturday, WCS blogger Doron has put together a number of player ratings, where 1 is the worst, 10 is the best and 6 is your average solid performance. England will be hoping to get their World Cup hopes back on track when they play Algeria this Friday.
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Tags: Doron, England, SA 2010, South Africa 2010, WC 2010, World Cup
Posted in International, Match Report, Opinion, Players, South Africa 2010, World Cup | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, June 9th, 2010
Having already seen key striker, Marco Streller withdraw from the World Cup, coach Ottmar Hitzfeld now has a new concern. Captain, Alexander Frei injured his ankle in training after a tackle from Steve von Bergen. He has been sent for a scan so the extent of the injury can be conduced.
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Tags: Alexander Fre, Doron, Frei, SA 2010, South Africa 2010, Switzerland, WC 2010, World Cup
Posted in Europe, Injury News, International, Players, South Africa 2010, WC Squads, World Cup | 1 Comment »
Monday, June 7th, 2010
The build up to this World Cup has been as much about who may not be there as to who will be there. Players have been ruling themselves out of matches or getting serious injury scares. It seems that a high proportion of these players, often influential players, are based in England and play in the Premier League.
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Tags: Doron, England, Injuries, Premier League, SA2010, South Africa, WC2010, World Cup
Posted in Bundesliga, Champions League, Championship, Domestic Cups, Europe, FIFA, Injury News, International, La Liga, Ligue 1, Opinion, Players, Premier League, Primera División, SPL, Serie A, South Africa 2010, WC Squads, World Cup | 4 Comments »
Saturday, June 5th, 2010
Chelsea and Ivory Coast’s top marksman Didier Drogba looks set to miss the World Cup finals after sustaining an elbow injury in the 2-0 victory against Japan. The injury comes as a massive blow to the tournament with a number of key players either doubtful or injured. Michael Ballack, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Essien, Rene Adler and Salvador Cabanas are only a few of the stars that will not be featuring this summer and with Fernando Torres, Andrea Pirlo and Lionel Messi all considered ‘doubtful’ in recent weeks – the tournament didn’t need another major star to drop out. Both Didier Drogba along with Samuel Eto’o are unmistakable icons of African football and it will be a major blow to CAF.
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Posted in Africa, Injury News, International, South Africa 2010, World Cup | No Comments »
Friday, June 4th, 2010
England captain Rio Ferdinand has been ruled out for 6 to 8 weeks and will miss the World Cup finals after sustaining a knee injury in training after a clash with Emile Heskey. It is a big blow to England and to Ferdinand who has missed a number of games this season with Manchester United through injury. Ferdinand has played in two World Cup tournaments (2002 & 2006) and has scored one goal in the 3-0 victory over Denmark in 2002. Steven Gerrard will skipper England in Ferdinand’s absence, whilst Michael Dawson has flown out to South Africa as cover for the 31 year old.
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Posted in Europe, Injury News, International, South Africa 2010, WC Squads | No Comments »
