• Home
• 2010 World Cup
• Fixtures
• Tables
• Links
• Contact Us
• Write for Us

• 2010 News
• 2010 World Cup Fixtures
• Betting
• Car Hire
• Hostels
• Hotels
• Kits
• Live on TV
• Ringtones
• Stadiums
• Tickets
• Travel

Subscribe

Australia looking to make their point

Australia is standing on the precipice of qualifying for the Soccer World Cup. Requiring just a single point from its final three games, soccer betting has basically conceded the fact that Australia will be the first team, after South Africa, to book its place in the 2010 World Cup.What began as a soccer league all the way back in February 2008 is now reaching a conclusion some 18 months later. Australia has a game against Qatar in Doha before flying to Australia for games against Bahrain and Japan. By then qualification should be a bygone memory, meaning the games can be somewhat of a celebration.A celebration for Australian soccer who for so long was left in the wilderness.

Pim Verbeek has just named his squad for the final three matches of the soccer league. The big talking point is the omission of Mark Viduka but he has the option of returning to the squad. Verbeek has left a spot open for him.

After committing his allegiances to Australia, Rhys Williams has been picked in the squad. The Middlesbrough player was on loan to Burnley where he helped them secure promotion to the Premier League. The defender wasn’t able to play in the playoffs, but will prove a handy selection for Australia. 
 
Tim Cahill was selected but he will not be playing in the match against Qatar due to Everton playing in the FA Cup final. With Australia’s qualification, bascially a done deal, Verbeek has the luxury of taking this kind of latitude with his players.

Many are curious to see what approach Verbeek takes to selecting his XI once Australia do infact secure qualification. Some of the more senior players such as Mark Schwarzer, Lucas Neill, Scott Chipperfield and Harry Kewell may appreciate the rest after a exhaustive domestic season.

Kewell plies his trade in Turkey as does Bruce Djite. It will be interesting to see how Djite performs for the Socceroos. He was a star when he was playing in the A-League and some good performances here could put him in line for a position in the World Cup squad.  Likewise with Scott McDonald who has been a goal-scoring machine for Celtic but hasn’t had quite the same success in front of goal while playing for Australia.

David Wiseman is a Sports journalist who writes for betfair Australia. As well as soccer, he is a huge fan of all sports, and is looking forward to checking out some harness racing thsi week.

Robert Kovac to return to Croatia squad

Robert Kovač was hastily given a red card after bloodying Joe Cole’s forehead when Croatia lost 1-4 to England earlier in their qualifying campaign. He has now served his three match ban and he will now return to captain his country through the rest of their World Cup qualifying, as confirmed by Slaven Bilic on Thursday the 28th. He has met with the whole squad in Zagreb and they have started to train ahead of Saturday’s match with Ukraine.

Robert’s brother Niko, meanwhile, has decided to hang up his boots for good. He has represented his country in two World Cups and two European Championships over the years. Speculation has been made by the media that Niko will stay professionally in touch with his former Austrian club, Red Bull Salzburg, but it is yet to be known for sure. He has, in the past, been offered a position in the coaching or training staff for the national team. Over the years Niko has played a very important part in his country’s squad, and hopefully he will stay engaged with them and take a role of coaching alongside Slaven Bilic.

Jill Guthrie 

Wales to stick with youth

John Toshack is set to add even more youth to his already young team and drop his more experienced players as he looks to get his side back on track after the poor defeat to Finland in March.

Wales are set to face Estonia in a friendly on Friday in preparation for the June 6th game against Azerbaijan.

“We probably failed in team selection [against Finland], I should have stuck with the youngsters,” said Toshack.

“[They] had done well previously, [I shouldn’t have] brought back players carrying injuries.

“It won’t happen again. You are an idiot if you do not learn from things like that.”

Toshack extended his contract at the weekend and has signed on for two more years. Tochack has continued to persevere with youth with the latest three inclusions being Swansea’s Joe Allen, Leicester midfielder Andy King and Reading striker Simon Church.

“I am not sure how I will approach the final games in this group but the youngsters will have the shirts when next season starts,” said Toshack.

“We seem to have so much trouble with call ups and injuries and going into matches with four or five players who lack competitive games.

“It can be key players, like Craig Bellamy, Simon Davies, James Collins and Jason Koumas.

“Some of them hadn’t played for several weeks. It was certainly like that in the build-up to the last couple of qualifiers against Finland and Germany.

“The fact now is that half a dozen experienced players are not available again.

“Maybe these things happen for a reason, but it is happening too often.

“There comes a stage where you do not want to just carry on, going through the motions.

“If we have to rip things up and start again, then we do that.

“Youngsters do make mistakes, but you give them the benefit of the doubt.

“But when you see experienced players making mistakes you wonder whether you carry on with them or push even more youngsters through.

“You think you won’t get where we want to go with these [experienced] lads, but we might do so with the youngsters.

“If you are not getting the benefit of your experienced players [because of injury], you must look elsewhere.

“So maybe we have to start again. Now we have to try to get better.

“Do we have the right type of experienced players to help the youngsters? No we don’t.

“People need field craft, team players in key positions.

“I suppose the youngsters now are going to have to learn for themselves the hard way.

“From now on in, we will be looking for the spirit that I see in these youngsters. Their courage.

“Let’s see how the kids do in these next two matches without many of the senior players again.

“I am not writing anyone off, but if they are not fit we can’t pick them.

“But I was hurt by what happened in the Finland game, it was a bad result which knocked our confidence.

“Before that we had produced some very good performances in Germany and Russia with youngsters. We had won in Denmark too.”

A Beginner’s Guide to Playing for Germany

If you’re a talented but impetuous striker, guilty of slapping your own captain, you can play for Joachim Loew’s Germany but you best be careful.

And if you’re born in Brazil or playing for a side relegated from the English Premiership, you will make the cut as well.

Unfortunately, if you’re a 39-year old goalkeeper with 61 caps already, you’re out of luck.

Germany have arrived in the Far East ahead of a game tomorrow (29/5) against China and one next Tuesday (2/6) against United Arab Emirates and Lukas Podolski made the trip despite an on-field bust-up with Michael Ballack in Germany’s last outing against Wales.

He is joined by VfB Stuttgart’s Cacau, recently granted German citizenship and Middlesbrough’s Robert Huth, who faces the prospect of Championship football next season unless he can secure a transfer away from the Riverside.

But Jens Lehman, enjoying a final swansong with Stuttgart in the Bundesliga, was not included in the 18-man squad and has been told that his international future is decidedly gloomy.

Coach Joachim Loew showed his harsh side when selecting his squad by reserving some stinging words for Bayern Munich striker Podolski.

In April, during a routine 2-0 win over Wales in Cardiff, Podolski brought an argument with Ballack to a quick conclusion by slapping his teammate’s face.

Though he escaped further censure from the German Football Association (DFB) at the time, Loew has now made it clear that any repeat behaviour would mark the end of Podolski’s international career.

“What he did in Cardiff has exhausted all his credit,” said Loew.

Such threats would be easy to make were Podolski a mere fringe player within the Germany set-up, but his record of over a goal every other game demonstrates his importance to their chances at the next World Cup.

A quick look at the fate of Kevin Kuranyi shows that Loew is clearly not bluffing.

Kuranyi walked out of Germany’s qualifier against Russia last October after failing to make the subs bench, prompting Loew to ban him from future selection and he looks unlikely to change his mind.

 Loew said: “”I am sticking by my promise that there is no way back for Kevin while I am in charge.” That does open the door for other candidates though, such as Stuttgart’s Cacau. In a career which has taken him from Sao Paulo to the German fifth division and onto his current home in 2003, Cacau could now don the jersey of his adopted country for the first time in either of the upcoming matches.  

Robert Huth is also back in favour, despite not featuring in a national squad since the last World Cup and a miserable season of club football. His Middlesbrough side were confined to the second tier of English football after losing 2-1 to West Ham last Sunday.

 There will not be a similarly lucky reprieve for Jens Lehman though.  Lehman retired from international football following Germany’s Euro 2008 exit but had hinted he would like to make a return to the international fold.  But Loew showed that sentiment will not guide his decisions as he prefers to focus on Germany’s emerging young goalkeepers. “We have four goalkeepers who we are counting on: Rene Adler, Robert Enke, Tim Wiese and Manuel Neuer,” said Loew. “They all have enough quality that we don’t see any reason to make changes. Jens Lehmann is not an issue.” There are clearly no second chances under Joachim Loew. A few of his current players may now be taking notice.  Alistair Kleebauer - May 28th, 2009.    

Collinson to commit to Wales

West Ham midfielder has represented Wales at age-group level and in friendlies however there had been rumours that he was to follow Rhys Williams and turn his back on Wales to play for England as he qualifies for dual nationality, but he has rubbished these claims.

“Next weekend I can put an end to all that speculation,” said Collison.

“There’s never been doubt in my mind, I’ve really enjoyed it and been proud to play for my grandfather’s country.”

Collinson is set to face Azerbaijan in a World Cup qualifier on the 6th of June.

Collison, named West Ham’s young player of the year at the weekend, is set to face Estonia in Friday’s friendly in Llanelli as he continues his comeback from a serious knee injury.

“There’s such a big Welsh contingent at West Ham, if I’d done something like change my mind [on playing for Wales], I wouldn’t have dared go in for training,” said Collison.

“It has been a really enjoyable season for me, I almost went out on loan to Peterborough but because of injuries in the squad, that did not happen.

“Since then there has been a change of manager and I have been given my chance in the first team, and ended it winning the club’s young player of the year award which is a great honour.

“I was 24 hours away from going to Peterborough, I was due to travel there but the previous day Mark Noble picked up a training injury and I was pulled out of the move.

“It was very close, but it was not meant to happen and I always feel that things like that happen for a reason.

“Peterborough had a really good season anyway, and got promotion, so they didn’t need me anyway!

“The new manager [Gianfranco Zola] arrived and gave me my chance, it has been a really big boost for me to play in the Premier League for most of the season, apart from the spell when I have been out injured.

“He gave me the opportunity and the confidence to go out and play to my best, and I am really enjoying it.

“My game is all about high energy and getting around midfield, but above all the manager wants us to play with a smile on our faces and that is always his philosophy.”

Stoke midfielder hopeful of first cap

27 year old Stock City midfielder Liam Lawrence is hoping to get the chance to earn his first cap for the Republic of Ireland after being called up to the squad to face Nigeria on Friday.

Lawrence is in the squad for the Craven Cottage game, as they prepare to face Bulgaria in a World Cup qualifier.

“I’m looking forward to going away and hopefully getting my first cap.

“I hope I get it. My performances in recent weeks have warranted me getting a chance, so we’ll wait and see.”

Lawrence was first called up to the squad back in 2006 but failed to appear but after coming back from an injury earlier in the season he has been on good form and earned himself another call-up.

“The Hull goal was an important goal for us, as was the one against Blackburn,” added Lawrence.

“I’m just glad that I’ve got back in the side and I’ve done well. It was a struggle for me to get back and thankfully I’ve done it.”

Wenger worried about Walcott

Theo Walcott has come on leaps and bounds this year, and looked like he could be about to make himself an Arsenal and England regular, when he got injured. He has come back from injury and again started to show the form he was in the early part of the season but this has means he is likely to feature in both the full England qualifiers and the Under 21’s and Wenger is worried about giving the youngster too heavy a workload.

Wenger has shown his support for Theo and wants him to play at International level as it can only help him improve but he also wants to protect his player.

“I don’t want to stop Theo from playing for the Under-21s, but during the holiday period, they should choose one or the other,” Wenger explained.

An FA spokesman said: “Conversations are ongoing and we want the best for the player and for the England teams.”

Walcott’s last international assignment resulted in him dislocating his shoulder in training for November’s friendly against Germany and he was subsequently out for four months.

“My feeling is that I am against it, and I have let the FA know that he shouldn’t play in both national teams during the holiday period,” Wenger commented.

“It is difficult for us to accept that, but the rules are on the sides of the federation, and we cannot do anything about it.

“But I have let them know that it is not logical that he plays for the first team and the Under-21s during the holiday period, they finish on June 28 and we start training on July 6.

“Of course he wants to play, and I can understand that as well.”

Wenger believes he has the understanding of England coach Fabio Capello, but not the U-21 boss Stuart Pearce, adding: “That is because Capello uses him and then after it is a problem for Stuart Pearce.

“I have nothing against the senior side, that is the normal Fifa dates. The basic problem is can you use a player for two different national teams during the holiday period?”.

Pearce is expected to reduce his provisional 29-man squad to 23 on Wednesday.

Slaven Bilic Names Croatia Squad; Star Striker Eduardo Da Silva Out

With an incredibly important qualifier against Ukraine in Croatia coming up for the Croats, National Team Manager/Head Coach Slaven Bilic has named his squad: 
 
Goalkeepers: Stipe Pletikosa (Spartak Moscow), Vedran Runje (RC Lens), Danijel Subasic (Hajduk Split)
 
Defenders: Vedran Corluka (Tottenham Hotspur), Robert Kovac (Dinamo Zagreb), Josip Simunic (Hertha Berlin), Hrvoje Vejic (Hajduk Split), Dino Drpic (Karlsruher SC), Danijel Pranjic (Heerenveen), Hrvoje Cale (Trabzonspor)
 
Midfielders: Ivan Juric (Genoa), Nikola Pokrivac (Monaco), Ognjen Vukojevic (Dynamo Kiev), Jerko Leko (Monaco), Luka Modric (Tottenham), Niko Kranjcar (Portsmouth), Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk), Ivan Rakitic (Schalke 04), Drago Gabric (Hajduk Split)
 
Forwards: Ivica Olic (Hamburg), Ivan Klasnic (Nantes), Mladen Petric (Hamburg), Mario Mandzukic (Dinamo Zagreb), Nikola Kalinic (Hajduk Split)
 
Eduardo Left Out :
 
Croatia’s Star Striker Eduardo Da Silva (Arsenal) has been left out of the squad due to ankle injury on the same left leg which Martin Taylor (Birmingham) notoriously broke when a vicious tackle from Taylor was delivered just a year ago that sent Eduardo into a year of rehabilition and immediate surgery following the injury. Although this injury is much different Eduardo was also scheduled to have the plates and screw that were placed to allow his leg to properly heal after last year’s injury removed but for reasons yet to be known possibly from complications the plates were left in place. Eduardo has scored 14 goals in the Croatia kit in just twenty-four appearances and is a major part of Croatia’s tactical system as he lead Croatia through the qualifications for Euro 2008 just a year and a half ago with ten goals. Eduardo did not particapate in the Euro 2008 tournament as he was rehabilitating from the major injury. With Croatia in the midst of qualifying for the World Cup they could certainly use his services which should be available just in time for Croatia’s qualifier against Belarus in August.
 
Summer Transfers:
 
With key players Darijo Srna and danijel Pranjic of Croatia set to leave their respective clubs this summer during the transfer window. Club managers will get a last chance to see these two in action this season before the offers come flying in. Srna’s services are being reviewed by Barcelona, A.C Milan and Bayern Munich. As Pranjic seems to be gaining attention high attention from Liverpool as they are in need of a left winger. Srna who is team captain of both Croatia and his current club Shakhtar Donekst captained Shakhtar to victory over Werder Bremen in the final of the last UEFA Cup just last week. As for Pranjic he has been the first choice penalty and free kick taker for his Dutch club Herenveen and finished the season with a total of 20 goals in 30 appearances.
 
Slaven Bilic:
 
Even head coach Slaven Bilic has continued to gain massive attention from clubs for his managing services from clubs such as Sunderland, Portsmouth, and more notably Chelsea and Real Madrid with which Real Madrid presidential candidate Eduardo Garcia has claimed that he has an agreement with Bilic to manage Real Madrid next season if he were elected team president. All this attention has annoyed Slaven Bilic as he has continuosly stressed that he is only committed to the Croatia National Team and that he will begin to seek a position at a club only after next year’s World Cup in South Africa is finished.
 
Outlook on the Qualifier:
 
With all being said and done all fans can do is eagerly wait for the qualifier against Ukraine and hope for no further squad injuries. Croatia are in second place just in front of Ukraine who sit in 3rd due to Croatia’s 3 point advantage but Ukraine hold a game in hand which would make losing costly for the Croats but it is seemingly unlikely as the only time they have been beaten at Maksimir Stadium was recently in a home qualifier against England in which a disputable red card quickly turned the match in England’s direction. A win and Croatia seemingly gain control of the second spot which would lead them into extended qualifying matches set to be held in November. 

Vinko Mustapic

Neville gets England call

Fabio Capello has call up veteran defender Gary Neville to England’s June World Cup qualifying squad.

Neville has suffered from two injury plagued seasons and is no longer first pick at Manchester United but if he makes an appearance he will add to the 85 caps he already has and become the most capped fullback ever for England.

Keeper Paul Robinson, 29, also won a recall for the game against Kazakhstan on 6 June and Andorra for days later.

Robinson last played for England in a Euro 2008 qualifier in October 2007.

Capello turned to Robinson after due to David James’ shoulder injury, while Manchester United’s Ben Forster has a thumb injury.

West Bromwich Albion’s Scott Carson and Paul Green of West Ham are the Capello’s other potential goalkeeping options.

Full England squad:

Scott Carson (West Bromwich Albion), Robert Green (West Ham United), Paul Robinson (Blackburn Rovers)

Wayne Bridge (Manchester City), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), Joleon Lescott (Everton), Gary Neville (Manchester United), John Terry (Chelsea), Matthew Upson (West Ham United)

Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), David Beckham (AC Milan loan from LA Galaxy), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City), Ashley Young (Aston Villa)

Carlton Cole (West Ham United), Peter Crouch (Portsmouth), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)

Bilic Announces Croatia Lineup for June 6th

On Monday, May 11th, Croatia coach Slaven Bilic spoke at a press conference about Croatia’s upcoming game with Ukraine. Bilic said, “The situation is not ideal, but it could actually be worse. I believe we can win this game. It will be very difficult because they are a good team but we will win. There is no place for fear.”
 
The following Monday, Bilic announced Croatia’s lineup.

Stipe Pletikosa
Vedran Runje
Danijel Subasic
Vedran Corluka
Josip Simunic
Danijel Pranjic
Dino Drpic
Hrvoje Vejic
Hrvoje Cale
Ivan Juric
Ognjen Vukojevic
Nikola Pokrivac
Jerko Leko
Luka Modric
Darijo Srna
Ivan Rakitic
Drago Gabric
Ivica Olic
Mladen Petric
Ivan Klasnic
Mario Mandzukic
Nikola Kalinic

Due to injuries, Eduardo Da Silva (ankle surgery), Goran Sablic (knee), and Niko Kranjcar (ankle), will not be present. Bilic still described their squad as “strong to defeat Ukraine,” despite their injury worries. The squad will meet in Zagreb on May 28th and continue their training in Rovinj, Istria before they travel to the Ukraine for the World Cup Qualifier on June 6th. 

Jill Guthrie

Next Page »

Copyright © 2007 World Cup 2010 South Africa · Revolution Sports theme by Brian Gardner · Login