Uruguay coach Oscar Washington Tabarez will likely rely on his attack force to pull them through when La Celeste take on France, Bafana Bafana and Mexico in the 2010 World Cup in June. The Uruguayan strikers were in top form when they easily beat Switzerland 3-1 in an international friendly earlier this month and indications are that Tabarez will be able to further strengthen his squad before they set up base in Kimberley in the first week of June. However, the South Americans will be without their influential winger Cristian Rodriquez who will miss their first two matches, against France and Bafana because he still has to serve a two-match FIFA suspension.
Benni McCarthy has returned to training at English Premiership side West Ham United FC this week. Sports24 reports that the Bafana Bafana striker sustained a knee injury during his debut for the Hammers on February 6 and he has been sidelined ever since. Critics suggested that the former Blackburn Rovers and Porto star will miss the rest of the season, including the 2010 World Cup, but McCarthy is back in training and hoping to make the squad that will face Chelsea this weekend. ’He’s back in training,’ said his agent Rob Moore. ’Reports of him missing the World Cup were just lazy journalism - Benni will play to the best of his ability for West Ham and if he is fit then he is looking forward to the World Cup.’
Italy coach Marcello Lippi has hinted that he may stay on after the 2010 World Cup, rejecting reports that he has already agreed to step-down after the tournament and insisting that he is yet to decide where his long-term future lies. ’I have not said that I will go, I have not said what will I do after the 2010 World Cup,’ he said
A group of Bafana Bafana players left South Africa for Brazil in high spirit ahead of their one-month camp. Goal.com reports that coach Carlos Parreira has picked 29 mostly local-based players from whom he hopes to choose a number for his 2010 World Cup squad. Bloemfontein Celtic midfielder Tlou Segolela said that he will not use the trip overseas to sight-see but to become a better player.
Bafana will train at Brazil’s national team base, play four friendlies against local clubs, and finish their tour with an international against Paraguay in Asuncion on March 31. The times reports that critics have questioned the wisdom of preparing on foreign soil to host the World Cup. But the Brazil camp (and the Germany camp to follow) will cocoon Bafana from raucous World Cup mania at home.
Vice president of the FFF (Federation Francaise de Football), Noel Le Graet, has said that the 2010 World Cup will be deemed a failure for Raymond Domenech’s France team if they fail to make it to the last eight of the competition. Goal.com reports that since qualifying for the 2006 World Cup four years ago, France have endured a difficult time, failing to convince during their qualification campaign for this year’s mundial and following that up with a rather comprehensive friendly 0-2 defeat against Spain in Paris.
Parreira sets his sights on Argentina friendly – 05/03/2010
Carlos Parreira is hoping to play Argentina in South Africa on May 27, as part of Bafana’s final preparations for the 2010 World Cup finals. The Star reports that this fixture was not confirmed SAFA, but Bafana’s Brazilian coach wants the game played at Soccer City to give his side experience of playing top class opposition. ’I want this game,’ said Parreira. ’I want them to have the experience of playing Argentina. Playing in Soccer City in front of 90 000 people will be intimidating. When it comes to the big one against Mexico (Bafana’s World Cup 2010 opener on June 11), I want them to enjoy themselves. They cannot go into the ground under too much pressure.’
Just when Bafana thought it was safe to go into the 2010 World Cup, with first-round opponents France being brutally exposed by Spain, their two other adversaries delivered dynamic victories in night’s round of friendlies. The Times reports that Mexico outplayed New Zealand to win 2-0, while Uruguay stunned Switzerland 3-1. France, who play Bafana at the Free State stadium on June 22 in their last first-round match, slumped 2-0 against European champions Spain, who are ranked No1 in the world.
Bafana coach Carlos Parreira has announced his 29-man squad for the month long World Cup 2010 training camp in Brazil. Parreira has called up two overseas-based players, in Ajax Amsterdam midfielder Daylon Claasen and Excelsior Rotterdam striker Kermit Erasmus. According to a report on the IoL site, the rest of the squad is made up entirely of Absa Premiership players, all from one of seven PSL clubs. Mamelodi Sundowns are the best represented, with eight players, followed by Orlando Pirates with six, Kaizer Chiefs and Golden Arrows with three each, and Bloemfontein Celtic and Ajax Cape Town with two apiece.
Hosts South Africa’s preparations for the 2010 World Cup were dealt a setback as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Namibia. Ranked 111th in the world by FIFA, Namibia shocked the hosts by taking the lead in the 41st minute before Katlego Mphela’s equaliser 20 minutes from time saved Bafana Bafana’s blushes. The result maintained coach Carlos Alberto Parreira’s unbeaten record in his second stint at the helm but South Africa should have won the match comfortably after dominating possession. ’We had control of the ball in the first half but the last ball was not good enough to score,’ said Parreira, who has now led Bafana Bafana to two wins and three draws since he took over from fellow Brazilian Joel Santana in November.
Players of the Spain’s national team will each get a bonus of R5,7m if they win the 2010 World. The Sowetan reports that the bonus, which is more than double the R3,09m that each member of the Spain squad that won the Euro 2008 championship collected, will be discussed over the coming days between the players and Spain’s football federation. Spain are considered to be one of the favourites to win the 2010 World Cup along with Brazil and England.
Bafana Bafana head coach Carlos Parreira has warned his players to focus tonight when they take on Namibia in an international friendly. Kick Off reports that Bafana meet the ’Brave Warriors’ in Durban at the Moses Mabhida Stadium and the Brazilian says it is an opportunity for the players to impress ahead of the world’s biggest sporting event. ’I wish to say to my players from now on everything they do is important, even at training because we are now a World Cup team, we are World Cup players, the whole world is focused on us – so everything changes,’ he said.
There will be no chance of a Bafana hangover when the team’s preparation for the 2010 World Cup starts in earnest, South African coach Carlos Parreira has promised. Sports24 reports that while the rest of the country celebrates the 100 days before the kick-off of the 2010 World Cup, the South Africans will be put through their final paces before the match against Namibia at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
South Africa coach Carlos Parreira said his team is now the focus of the football world and has told his players that everything they do from now on is important.
Parreira spoke on arrival in Durban ahead of celebrations in the east coast city to mark the 100-day countdown to the World Cup. Sports24 reports that South Africa takes on Namibia at the newly built Moses Mabhida Stadium on Wednesday in its final warm-up match in front of its own fans ahead of World Cup kickoff on June 11.
Supersport United’s celebrations for an incredible third successive Absa Premiership title have been stand-in for captain Bongani Khumalo.
He has been recalled for Bafana Bafana as they intensify their preparations for the 2010 World Cup. The Sowetan reports that Khumalo comes in to replace team-mate, Morgan Gould, who was withdrawn from the squad after he sustained an ankle injury during SuperSport’s league match against BidVest Wits.
With 100 days to go, of the teams that will make up 2010 World Cup only Chile will not be in action this week. Chile cancelled a double-header against Costa Rica and North Korea in Santiago because of the earthquake. For the rest, it is time to start fine-tuning their teams, none more so than Diego Maradona. The Times reports that the Argentina coach needs to start cutting numbers hard ahead of naming his 2010 World Cup squad.
Ronaldinho is a man reborn. The playmaker has come out fighting since being dropped by the national team coach, Dunga, and seems to have regained some of his best form in an effort to win a place in the Selecao’s 2010 World Cup squad. Goal.com reports that Milan have benefitted from the 29-year-old’s renaissance as he has helped catapult the Diavoli into second place in the Serie A table in recent weeks. Thanks to his goals and assists throughout the season, ’Dinho has become one of the Italian league’s most influential players.
Shunsuke Nakamura has confirmed that his return to Japan and Yokohama F Marinos is all about the 2010 World Cup. Goal.com reports that the midfielder returned to the J-League for the first time since 2002 last week after a disappointing spell in Spain with Espanyol. Nakamura struggled for playing time in La Liga and with the 2010 World Cup getting closer, the 31 year-old came home for regular football.
Brazil coach Dunga says England and Spain are the main favourites to win the 2010 World Cup, along with his own team, notes a report on the IoL site. ’England will be very strong’ with Fabio Capello, as the Italian coach will be able to make his players as competitive in the national team as they are at club level. Dunga says Spain will be the main favourites as the 2008 European champions are ’continuing to play well.’ Other traditionally strong nations such as Argentina and holders Italy are also title contenders.
Vice-captain Steven Gerrard believes manager Fabio Capello has been successful in transforming the Three Lions into a confident side, capable of roaring against any other team in the world. Goal.com reports that the national team has been subject to intense scrutiny in the past, leading to the players being burdened with high expectations coupled with the pressure to perform. Gerrard believes that if England are to taste any form of success in the 2010 World Cup, then it will be under the masterful guidance of Capello.
Parreira names squad for Bafana friendly – 26/02/2010
Bafana Bafana coach, Carlos Parreira has announced his squad for next week’s friendly match against Namibia to mark the 100-day countdown to the 2010 World Cup. Bafana will play against the Brave Warriors at the revamped Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on 3 March. Parreira has also recalled three experienced star players to his 22-man squad. The three European based defenders are Bryce Moon, Bevan Fransman and Bradley Carnell. The Brazilian born coach also roped in Mamelodi Sundowns sensational winger-come striker, Lebohang Mokoena.
South Africa’s already frail 2010 World Cup hopes took an alarming turn for the worse with the news that West Ham United striker Benni McCarthy’s 31-year-old knee is showing little sign of being ready for the big kickoff against Mexico in Johannesburg on June 11. The Star reports that McCarthy, who completed his controversial R29,8m move from Blackburn Rovers days before the January transfer window closed, has yet to complete a game for the Hammers. The injury is not believed to be related to the knee problem McCarthy suffered for Rovers against Fulham in 2007, or any of the long-running problems which have ruled him out of so many internationals for South Africa in recent years.
Manchester City defender Wayne Bridge has turned his back on England after deciding the fall-out from John Terry’s alleged affair with his ex-girlfriend has made his position in the team untenable, notes a report on the IoL site. Bridge released a statement through his lawyers confirming that he did not wish to be selected for Fabio Capello’s squad for the 2010 World Cup, because his presence would be potentially ’divisive’.
Manchester United midfielder Anderson has lost any chance of playing for Brazil at the 2010 World Cup after being ruled out of action for six months with a serious knee injury. Fox Sports reports that United boss Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed that Anderson ruptured a cruciate ligament in the Barclays Premier League champions win over West Ham.
Bafana’s forgotten defender, Bradley Carnell, is back in the fold. Coach Carlos Parreira has recalled the FC Hansa Rostock player to plug a hole at left-back in the team. Carnell’s return, for next friendly against Namibia in Durban, comes 16 months after he last played for South Africa, and is an attempt to improve Bafana’s porous situation on the left. The Times reports that Carnell, whose team is in the Bundesliga second division, last played for Bafana in October 2008 against Equatorial Guinea in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
Bafana Bafana will have a competitive 2010 World Cup preparation match after all, despite most coaches ’not wanting to play’ against the hosts. According to a report on the IoL site, Carlos Parreira said that his team would play a friendly international against World Cup qualifiers Denmark on June 5. The match should help make up for a lack of competitive action in the month-long camp in Brazil and Germany in March. ’We’re still looking for matches to play. I spoke to some coaches and they don’t want to play us,’ the Brazilian World Cup-winner laughed.
Belgium gaffer Erik Gerets recently revealed that he had turned down an offer from Ivory Coast’s Football Association to coach Les Elephants during the 2010 World Cup, prompting the FA to continue their search for a new coach. Dutch gaffer Guus Hiddink now appears to be sitting in pole position to coach Ivory Coast in South Africa. Goal.com reports that the successful manager is interested in replacing current coach Vahid Halilhodzic ahead of the 2010 World Cup in an attempt to guide Ivory Coast to success on the world stage.
England manager Fabio Capello warned his 2010 World Cup squad that players with high-profile personal problems could be left behind, notes a rpeort on the IoL site. Capello, who stripped John Terry of the England captaincy earlier over a private affair that snowballed into a tabloid scandal, said he planned to talk to the players about the matter prior to the event. ’The players have to understand what I want,’ he said ’If they want to stay in the squad then they will have to listen. I need to create a group feeling in the squad and the most important part is that we speak about it before.’
England’s chances of winning the 2010 World Cup are 100% reliant on striker Wayne Rooney avoiding injury, former captain Alan Shearer said.
Shearer, one of England’s most prolific strikers of recent times, believes that without Rooney’s goalscoring prowess, it will be impossible for Fabio Capello’s team to bring home the trophy for the first time in more than half a century. ’He’s a huge player. If he were to get injured between now and the 2010 World Cup, it would be a disaster. Could it kill their hopes? Absolutely,’ said Shearer.
Double World Cup winner Ronaldo said he would retire from professional football at the end of next year but still had hopes of appearing for Brazil in the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa in June. The 33-year-old three-times world footballer of the year - widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time - told a media conference in Sao Paolo he was finally calling time on his illustrious but injury-hit career. ’I’ve renewed for another two years and they will be the last of my career,’ he said. That could include a final appearance for Brazil in the June 11-July 11 World Cup in South Africa. ’We’ll see. I still have a chance to go (to South Africa). For the next one (in Brazil in 2014), it’s impossible,’ he said.
