Archive for the ‘International’ Category
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, Serie A, South Africa 2010, SPL, 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 »
Tuesday, June 1st, 2010
England manager Fabio Capello has named his 23 man squad, which includes once surprising omission – Theo Walcott. Although Walcott has continuous flatter to deceive at International level, despite notching up a hat trick against Croatia in qualifying, he was generally considered to be part of the 23 that would fly out to South Africa. The 1966 World Cup winners and hosts will generally pin their attacking responsibility on Wayne Rooney, who will no doubt be the main man for the three lions in just over a week.
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Tags: Capello, Doron, England, Fabio Capello, South Africa 2010, World Cup
Posted in FIFA, International, Players, Premier League, South Africa 2010, WC Squads, World Cup | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, June 1st, 2010
Theo Walcott has been left out of the final England squad by Fabio Capello. I have previously hinted that this is something I would have considered from the very beginning. I would have never selected Walcott in my initial squad. I then suggested that actually Walcott’s selection against Mexico and Japan may not have been all it seems – see point four.
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Tags: Doron, England, SA2010, Theo, Theo Walcott, Walcott, World Cup
Posted in Europe, FIFA, International, Opinion, Players, Premier League, South Africa 2010, WC Squads, World Cup | 5 Comments »
Saturday, May 29th, 2010
On Monday I wrote about why I felt Walcott should go to the World Cup but only in an impact substitute role. Today the England team for the second and final World Cup warm-up match against Japan was announced: David James, Glen Johnson, Rio Ferdinand (C), John Terry, Ashley Cole, Theo Walcott, Tom Huddlestone, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, Wayne Rooney and Darren Bent.
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Tags: Aaron Lennon, Arsenal, Doron, England, Lennon, South Africa 2010, Spurs, Theo Walcott, Tottenham, Walcott, World Cup
Posted in Europe, International, Opinion, Players, Premier League, South Africa 2010, WC Squads, World Cup | 2 Comments »
