The Official 2010 Pre- World Cup Thread

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote]
[color=#FF0000][color=#000000][size=5]Busy weekend kicks off on Friday

[/size][b][size=1]June 4th, 2010 2:37AM[/size][/b][/color][/color]
[color=#FF0000]
[/color]
[color=#FF0000][WORLD CUP WARMUPS] [/color]A busy weekend of friendlies begins with five World Cup finalists in action on Friday, including U.S. opponent Slovenia. For the complete schedule, including viewing information ...[b]

June 4 in St. Pierre[/b]
France vs. China (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.com)
[b]June 4 in Sion[/b]
Japan vs. Ivory Coast (ESPN3.com)
[b]June 4 in Maribor[/b]
Slovenia vs. New Zealand
-----------------------------------------------
[b]June 5 in Roodepoort[/b]
USA vs. Australia (ESPN2, Galavision, ESPN3.com)
[b]June 5 in Amsterdam[/b]
Netherlands vs. Hungary (ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.com)
[b]June 5 in Johannesburg[/b]
South Africa vs. Denmark
[b]June 5 in Milton Keynes[/b]
Ghana vs. Latvia
[b]June 5 in Nuremberg[/b]
Algeria vs. UAE
[b]June 5 in Bratislava[/b]
Slovakia vs. Costa Rica
[b]June 5 in St. Veit der Glan[/b]
Romania vs. Honduras
[b]June 5 in Belgrade[/b]
Serbia vs. Cameroon
[b]June 5 in Geneva[/b]
Switzerland vs. Italy
-----------------------------------------------
[b]June 6[/b]
Tanzania vs. Brazil
-----------------------------------------------
[b]June 8[/b]
Chile vs. New Zealand
[b]June 8[/b]
Portugal vs. Mozambique (ESPN3.com)
[b]June 8 in Murcia[/b]
Spain vs. Poland [/quote]



[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/38349/busy-weekend-kicks-off-on-friday.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/38349/busy-weekend-kicks-off-on-friday.html[/url]

[JC]

Mexico is playing, very, very well.

It saddens me to say this, but they're very much a darkhorse to win the WC. A couple of good games..and all the sudden they could be in the championship.

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote]
[b][color=#FF0000][color=#000000][size=5]World Cup 2010 Schedule

[/size][b][size=1]June 4th, 2010 1:49AM[/size][/b][/color][/color][/b]
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[/color][/b]
[b][color=#FF0000][DATEBOOK][/color] In a week, the 2010 World Cup kicks off in South Africa. Here's the complete television schedule with information on online and mobile viewing.

[b]ONLINE: [/b]Most games will be available online at [url="http://espn.go.com/espn3/"]ESPN3[/url] (formerly ESPN360.com). Univision will offer live streaming at[url="http://futbol.univision.com/"]futbol.univision.com[/url].

[b]MOBILE: [/b]Most games will be available on [url="http://proxy.espn.go.com/mobile/products/product?id=3242441"]ESPN Mobile TV[/url] on many mobile carriers. Univision Móvil will provide live streaming to Verizon Wireless V CAST subscribers where available.

[b]REPLAYS:[/b] ESPN Classic will re-air all 64 matches. Each matchday, between at 6 p.m. and 12 a.m., the network will present all the matches played earlier that day. ESPN and ESPN2 will air the best match of the day on select nights throughout the tournament. Spanish-language Telefutura and Galavision will also replay games in the evening.[/b]
[b]
[/b]
[b]Note: [/b]All times ET

[color=#FF0000]Group A [/color]
[b]June 11 in Johannesburg, 10 a.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
South Africa vs. Mexico
[b]June 11 in Cape Town, 2:30 p.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
Uruguay vs. France
[b]June 16 in Pretoria, 2:30 p.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
South Africa vs. Uruguay
[b]June 17 in Polokwane, 2:30 p.m. ESPN2/Univision[/b]
France vs. Mexico
[b]June 22 in Rustenburg, 10 a.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
Mexico vs. Uruguay
[b]June 22 in Bloemfontein, 10 a.m. ESPN2/TeleFutura[/b]
France vs. South Africa

[color=#FF0000]Group B[/color]
[b]June 12 in Johannesburg, 10 a.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
Argentina vs. Nigeria
[b]June 12 in Port Elizabeth, 7:30 a.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
South Korea vs. Greece
[b]June 17 in Bloemfontein, 10 a.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
Greece vs. Nigeria
[b]June 17 in Johannesburg, 7:30 a.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
Argentina vs. South Korea
[b]June 22 in Durban, 2:30 p.m. ESPN2/TeleFutura[/b]
Nigeria vs. South Korea
[b]June 22 in Polokwane, 2:30 p.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
Greece vs. Argentina

[color=#FF0000]Group C[/color]
[b]June 12 in Rustenburg, 2:30 pm. ABC/Univision[/b]
England vs. USA
[b]June 13 in Polokwane, 7:30 a.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
Algeria vs. Slovenia
[b]June 18 in Johannesburg, 10 am. ESPN/Univision[/b]
Slovenia vs. USA
[b]June 18 in Cape Town, 2:30 p.m. ESPN2/Univision[/b]
England vs. Algeria
[b]June 23 in Port Elizabeth, 10 a.m. ESPN2/TeleFutura[/b]
Slovenia vs. England
[b]June 23 in Pretoria, 10 a.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
USA vs. Algeria

[color=#FF0000]Group D[/color]
[b]June 13 in Durban, 2:30 p.m. ABC/Univision[/b]
Germany vs. Australia
[b]June 13 in Pretoria, 10 a.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
Serbia vs. Ghana
[b]June 18 in Port Elizabeth, 7:30 a.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
Germany vs. Serbia
[b]June 19 in Rustenburg, 10 a.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
Ghana vs. Australia
[b]June 23 in Johannesburg, 2:30 p.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
Ghana vs. Germany
[b]June 23 in Nelspruit, 2:30 p.m. ESPN2/TeleFutura[/b]
Australia vs. Serbia

[color=#FF0000]Group E[/color]
[b]June 14 in Johannesburg, 7:30 a.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
Netherlands vs. Denmark
[b]June 14 in Bloemfontein, 10 a.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
Japan vs. Cameroon
[b]June 19 in Durban, 7:30 a.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
Netherlands vs. Japan
[b]June 19 in Pretoria, 2:30 p.m. ABC/Univision[/b]
Cameroon vs. Denmark
[b]June 24 in Rustenburg, 2:30 p.m. ESPN/TeleFutura[/b]
Denmark vs. Japan
[b]June 24 in Cape Town, 2:30 p.m. ESPN2/Univision[/b]
Cameroon vs. Netherlands

[color=#FF0000]Group F [/color]
[b]June 14 in Cape Town, 2:30 pm. ESPN/Univision[/b]
Italy vs. Paraguay
[b]June 15 in Rustenburg, 7:30 a.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
New Zealand vs. Slovakia
[b]June 20 in Bloemfontein, 7:30 a.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
Slovakia vs. Paraguay
[b]June 20 in Nelspruit, 10 a.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
Italy vs. New Zealand
[b]June 24 in Johannesburg, 10 a.m. ESPN/TeleFutura[/b]
Slovakia vs. Italy
[b]June 24 in Polokwane, 10 a.m. ESPN2/Univision[/b]
Paraguay vs. New Zealand

[color=#FF0000]Group G[/color]
[b]June 15 in Port Elizabeth, 10 a.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
Ivory Coast vs. Portugal
[b]June 15 in Johannesburg, 2:30 pm. ESPN/Univision[/b]
Brazil vs. North Korea
[b]June 20 in Johannesburg, 2:30 p.m. ABC/Univision[/b]
Brazil vs. Ivory Coast
[b]June 21 in Cape Town, 7:30 a.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
Portugal vs. North Korea
[b]June 25 in Durban, 10 a.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
Portugal vs. Brazil
[b]June 25 in Nelspruit, 10 a.m. ESPN2/TeleFutura[/b]
North Korea vs. Ivory Coast

[color=#FF0000]Group H[/color]
[b]June 16 in Nelspruit, 7:30 a.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
Honduras vs. Chile
[b]June 16 in Durban, 10 a.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
Spain vs. Switzerland
[b]June 21 in Port Elizabeth, 10 a.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
Chile vs. Switzerland
[b]June 21 in Johannesburg, 2:30 p.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
Spain vs. Honduras
[b]June 25 in Pretoria, 2:30 p.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
Chile vs. Spain
[b]June 25 in Bloemfontein, 2:30 p.m. ESPN2/TeleFutura[/b]
Switzerland vs. Honduras

[color=#FF0000]Second Round[/color]
[b](Game 49): June 26 in Port Elizabeth, 10 a.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
1A vs. 2B
[b](Game 50): June 26 in Rustenburg, 2:30 pm. ABC/Univision[/b]
1C vs. 2D
[b](Game 51): June 27 in Bloemfontein, 10 a.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
1D vs. 2C
[b](Game 52): June 27 in Johannesburg, 2:30 pm. ABC/Univision[/b]
1B vs. 2A
[b](Game 53): June 28 in Durban, 10 a.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
1E vs. 2F
[b]Game 54): June 28 in Johannesburg, 2:30 pm. ESPN/Univision[/b]
1G vs. 2H
[b](Game 55): June 29 in Pretoria, 10 a.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
1F vs. 2E
[b](Game 56): June 29 in Cape Town, 2:30 pm. ESPN/Univision[/b]
1H vs. 2G

[color=#FF0000]Quarterfinals[/color]
[b](Game 57): July 2 in Port Elizabeth, 10 a.m. ESPN/Univision[/b]
W53 vs. W54
[b](Game 58): July 2 in Johannesburg, 2:30 pm. ESPN/Univision[/b]
W49 vs. W50
[b](Game 59): July 3 in Cape Town, 10 a.m. ABC/Univision[/b]
W52 vs. W51
[b](Game 60): July 3 in Johannesburg, 2:30 pm. ABC/Univision[/b]
W55 vs. W56

[color=#FF0000]Semifinals[/color]
[b](Game 61): July 6 in Cape Town, 2:30 pm. ESPN/Univision[/b]
W58 vs. W57
[b](Game 62): July 7 in Johannesburg, 2:30 pm. ESPN/Univision[/b]
W59 vs. W60

[color=#FF0000]Third-Place Game[/color]
[b]July 10 in Port Elizabeth, 2:30 pm. ABC/Univision[/b]
L61 vs. L62

[color=#FF0000]Final[/color]
[b]July 11 in Johannesburg, 2:30 pm. ABC/Univision[/b]
W61 vs. W62[/quote]



[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/38347/world-cup-2010-schedule.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/38347/world-cup-2010-schedule.html[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote]
[font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][color="#333333"][color="#000000"][color="#333333"][size="3"][color="#000000"]
[b][size="5"]Ferdinand ruled out of World Cup[/size][/b]
[/color][/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]RUSTENBURG, South Africa -- England captain [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/19282"]Rio Ferdinand[/url] was ruled out of the World Cup on Friday after injuring his left knee in the team's first full training session in South Africa.[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]The 31-year-old center back sustained the ligament damage while defending against striker [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/19291"]Emile Heskey[/url] at England's training ground near Rustenburg a week before England's opener against the United States on June 12.[/size][/color]

[/color][/color][/font]
[font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][color="#333333"]Hospital tests showed that Ferdinand will be out for four to six weeks and his place on the roster will be taken by Tottenham defender [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/19812"]Michael Dawson[/url], while midfielder [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/7935"]Steven Gerrard[/url] assumes the captaincy.[/color][color="#333333"][size="3"]"It is obviously bad news and everyone with the squad is very disappointed and sorry for Rio," England coach Fabio Capello said. "It was an accidental injury in training, but had nothing to do with the pitch."[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]It came at the end of another injury-plagued season for Ferdinand at Manchester United. Back problems hindered the defender into making just 12 starts for United.[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"][url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/8046"]Matthew Upson[/url] or [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/8156"]Ledley King[/url], who has chronic knee problems, are likely to take Ferdinand's starting spot in central defense alongside [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/8931"]John Terry[/url].[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]Dawson was cut Tuesday but put on standby as a possible replacement for Ferdinand. Under FIFA rules, injured players can be replaced up to the day before the opening game.[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]Another concern for Capello is the fitness of injury-prone goalkeeper [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/20231"]David James[/url], who was unable to train with his teammates at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus and worked separately in the gym.[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]James is competing for the starting spot with [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/5112"]Robert Green[/url] and [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/30462"]Joe Hart[/url].[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]"David James has a little problem with the knee after a long flight," Capello said. "It is not such a big problem."[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]There was positive news regarding [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/8185"]Gareth Barry[/url], with the midfielder training for the first time since injuring his right ankle a month ago.[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]The ligament damage sustained by Barry playing for Manchester City on May 5 made uncertain his inclusion on the 23-man World Cup squad, but he made the cut after a medical check on Tuesday.[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]"We have to wait day by day to see what happens with the ankle," Capello said. "The work is harder every day, stronger every day.[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]"In the afternoons he trains in the gym with the physio and in the morning with the team, but not completely with the team. We have to be careful with every moment and make sure the ankle is really good."[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]Former captain [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/8880"]David Beckham[/url], whose World Cup campaign was ended by an Achilles tendon injury, has traveled with the squad.[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]"He will help in some moments. He is not a coach and he also trains alone," Capello said. "But he is important because he is one of the symbols of England. It is important he is here and not on holiday.[/size][/color]

[/font][color="#333333"][font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]"He can speak with the players and find some solutions. He is part of my team."[/font][/color] [/quote]


[url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5250277/ce/us/england-captain-rio-ferdinand-ruled-world-cup?campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines&cc=5901&ver=us"]http://soccernet.esp...&cc=5901&ver=us[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][color=#333333][color=#000000]
[b][size=5]Injured Drogba says he'll miss Cup[/size][/b]
[/color][/color][/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][color=#333333]
[/color][/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][color=#333333]SION, Switzerland -- [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/18727"]Didier Drogba[/url] told teammate [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/23601"]Kolo Toure[/url] that he will miss the World Cup after breaking his right arm Friday in a warmup match.[/color][color=#333333][size=3]"For him, he said, the World Cup is finished," Toure said.[/size][/color]

[color=#333333][size=3]The 32-year-old Drogba was taken off 15 minutes into Ivory Coast's 2-0 win over Japan after a high challenge by Japan defender [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/90608"]Marcus Tulio Tanaka[/url]. He was then rushed to a hospital.[/size][/color]

[color=#333333][size=3]"We can just see on his face that he was sad, and when he is like that you can't ask more," Toure said. "It is difficult for us because he is such a really important player."[/size][/color]

[color=#333333][size=3]Team spokesman Eric Kacou told The Associated Press that "it is a fracture in his right arm," but coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said the team hadn't officially ruled out its captain.[/size][/color]

[color=#333333][size=3]"We are not sure yet," Eriksson said, saying Drogba's participation was "still a possibility."[/size][/color]

[color=#333333][size=3]Toure said Ivory Coast's players were hoping for a surprising recovery, and said the team would know more later Friday.[/size][/color]

[color=#333333][size=3]Tulio said he had no intention of hurting Drogba.[/size][/color]

[color=#333333][size=3]"God and everybody in the stadium saw it was a normal challenge," said the Brazil-born defender, who was shown a yellow card. "I do hope he gets better in time to play in the World Cup."[/size][/color]

[color=#333333][size=3]Drogba scored 29 goals in 32 Premier League matches this season, helping Chelsea win the title.[/size][/color]

[color=#333333][size=3]Friday's friendly was the final warmup for Ivory Coast and Japan before they travel to South Africa. The Ivorians open the World Cup on June 15 against Portugal in Port Elizabeth, while Japan begins a day earlier against Cameroon in Bloemfontein.[/size][/color]

[color=#333333][size=3]Drogba appeared to be holding his right side after Tulio's challenge. After returning from the hospital, the striker entered the team bus without speaking to reporters.[/size][/color]

[color=#333333][size=3]Eriksson said the injury was unlucky, and didn't blame Tulio.[/size][/color]

[/font][color=#333333][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"It wasn't bad or stupid. He didn't want to hurt anyone," the Swedish coach said. "Football is a game of contact."[/font][/color] [/quote]



[url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5250486/ce/us/didier-drogba-broken-arm?campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines&cc=5901&ver=us"]http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5250486/ce/us/didier-drogba-broken-arm?campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines&cc=5901&ver=us[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

My DVR messed up and I only have the last 30 minutes recorded. But according to one of my soccer score apps the rundown was:

4' USA goal - Buddle
20' Australia goal - Cahill
31' USA goal - Buddle
38' Australia yellow card - Moore
38' USA yellow card - Dempsey
77' Australia yellow card - Grella
94' USA Goal - Gomez



[quote]
[font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][color="#333333"][color="#000000"][color="#333333"][size="3"][color="#000000"][color="#333333"][size="3"][color="#000000"][color="#333333"][size="3"][color="#000000"]
[b][size="5"]Newcomers Buddle, Gomez score[/size][/b]
[/color][/size][/color]



[color="#333333"][size="3"]ROODEPOORT, South Africa -- The dress rehearsal could not have gone much better for the United States.[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]In a small stadium near an open field in a suburb west of Johannesburg, the Americans beat Australia for the first time, a 3-1 victory Saturday on a sun-splashed autumn afternoon that filled the U.S. players with confidence.[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]Next up is the game the Americans have been waiting six months for, their high-profile World Cup opener against England on June 12.[/size][/color]

[/color][/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]"We don't fear them," [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/67738"]Landon Donovan[/url]said. "We feel they're a team we can compete with."[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"][url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/36133"]Edson Buddle[/url], not even in the national team picture a few months ago, scored in the fourth and 31st minutes for his first two international goals.[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"][url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/147447"]Herculez Gomez[/url], another player not expected to make the World Cup roster, entered in the 82nd minute and scored against the Socceroos in second-half injury time, his second national team goal in 12 days.[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]"It seems like everything Edson touches is a goal," goalkeeper [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/34158"]Tim Howard[/url] said.[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"][url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/5105"]Tim Cahill[/url] scored for Australia in the 19th minute when he beat Howard, his Everton teammate, for his 20th goal in 40 international appearances.[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]"We're definitely moving in the right direction," said [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/110507"]Steve Cherundolo[/url], who took over from[url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/100781"]Jonathan Spector[/url] at right back. "We still have a few things to work out."[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]In the two previous warmups since gathering in mid-May, the U.S. lost to the Czech Republic 4-2 using mostly second-stringers, then rallied for a 2-1 win over Turkey in last weekend's sendoff.[/size][/color]



[color="#333333"][size="3"]This was the team's first game since arriving Monday in South Africa, and the first time it used the much-criticized adidas Jabulani ball.[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]"I think the majority of the problems today were due to the flight of the ball," Donovan said. "I think a lot of times the ball doesn't fly true, and it puts your defenders under a lot of pressure. So we're going to have to do some work this week just judging the ball better."[/size][/color]



[color="#333333"][size="3"]In the next six days, U.S. coach Bob Bradley will watch injured forward [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/75589"]Jozy Altidore[/url], who didn't play after spraining his right ankle during training Wednesday. In his absence, Bradley started Buddle, Major League Soccer's scoring leader, as his target forward and paired him with speedy [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/95049"]Robbie Findley[/url].[/size][/color]

[/color][/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]Findley went wide with an open shot in the 15th minute that could have made it 2-0. But his speed stretched the defense.[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]"They worked great together," said midfielder[url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/41952"]Michael Bradley[/url], son of the coach. "The movement was good. They were a real handful to play against."[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]Bradley also must decide on the fitness of central defender [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/136831"]Oguchi Onyewu[/url]. Appearing in his third match since knee surgery on Oct. 21, Onyewu entered in the 61st minute for[url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/41926"]Clarence Goodson[/url], who was paired with [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/100775"]Jay DeMerit[/url].[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]"I'm feeling good," Onyewu said. "Everyone's starting to jell together."[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]Howard played the first half, and backup [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/127973"]Marcus Hahnemann[/url] the second. He made a point-blank stop on [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/87014"]Mark Bresciano[/url] in the 59th minute, and Cherundolo stopped [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/10966"]Scott Chipperfield[/url]'s shot at the goal line in the 63rd.[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]The defense for the 14th-ranked U.S. was shaky against No. 20 Australia, the biggest cause of concern going into the World Cup. Bob Bradley said he thought the team was getting sharper, but he saw the need for improvement in "the coordination of the defense at times and the ability when we get advantages to connect quickly and make something out of them."[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]The U.S. had never scored in two previous matches against Australia, losing 1-0 in 1992 and tying 0-0 six years later.[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]With injured English star [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/8880"]David Beckham[/url] looking on and fans blowing vuvuzelas -- the long plastic horns that sound like a cross between bees and the brass section of an orchestra while tuning up -- Buddle put the U.S. ahead early in a wide-open match with a few chippy plays but no consistent hard tackling.[/size][/color]

[/color][/color][/font]
[font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][color="#333333"]"There were chances on both ends," Australian midfielder Vince Grella said. "I think considering how flat we sort of were, we created a fair enough amount of chances. We were sloppy. You don't need to be a rocket scientist to work that out. We have to do better, and we know it."[/color][color="#333333"][size="3"]There were lots of friends in this friendly.[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]U.S. midfielder [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/39928"]Clint Dempsey[/url] exchanged hugs before the game with Australia goalkeeper [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/65568"]Mark Schwarzer[/url], his Fulham teammate. Howard shook hands with Cahill and later smiled when asked about the goal by his club teammate.[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]"A poacher's goal," he said. "The fact he scored it makes it more humorous. That's what kind of goals he gets."[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]Named by his father after Pele, Buddle scored his first goal after he took the ball from Grella in the Australian end. Buddle moved one step inside the penalty area and sent a 16-yard shot over the left shoulder of Schwarzer.[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]Cahill tied the score off a corner kick from [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/138929"]Luke Wilkshire[/url]. [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/121844"]Carlos Bocanegra[/url] and DeMerit let Cahill escape unmarked, and he extended a foot to score from 6 yards.[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]Schwarzer made an outstanding save to deny Dempsey in the 27th minute. Freed by Donovan's through ball, Dempsey broke in, but Schwarzer just got his left hand on the ball and pushed it outside the far post.[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]"Mark's a good keeper," Dempsey said. "It's always tough to score against him."[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]Dempsey and [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/140713"]Craig Moore[/url] received yellow cards in the 37th minute, for shoving after a shift-grab, the chippy highlight. Buddle put the U.S. back ahead with a header from 4 yards after Cherundolo streaked down the right side, beat his man and crossed.[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]Josh Kennedy missed an open header in front in the 34th minute, and another free shot from close three minutes into the second half.[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]"There was the breakdown here or there," Schwarzer said. "It wasn't great, but we worked on some things we need to do."[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]The time for tinkering is over. Australia opens the World Cup against Germany on June 13. The U.S. heads to its first competitive match against England since the great 1-0 upset at the 1950 World Cup.[/size][/color]

[/font][color="#333333"][font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]"I'm ready," Dempsey said.[/font][/color] [/quote]




http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5254827/ce/us/edson-buddle-leads-united-states-warm-win-australia?campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines&cc=5901&v

[MAGICTOUCH]

Good to hear. I was looking forward to seeing Ivory Coast play.

[quote]
[font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][color="#333333"][color="#000000"]
[b][size="5"]Drogba has surgery, hopes of playing[/size][/b]
[/color][/color][/font]
[font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"] [/font]
[font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][color="#333333"]ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast -- Ivory Coast striker [url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/18727"]Didier Drogba[/url] has hope of playing in the World Cup after having surgery on his broken right arm in a Swiss hospital Saturday.[/color][color="#333333"][size="3"]The Ivory Coast football federation (FIF) said in a statement the operation at the Lindenhof Hospital in Berne was a success and Swiss doctors and the team's medical staff are confident that the Chelsea forward will make a "speedy recovery."[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]The federation did not give further details about the time required for Drogba's recovery. Ivory Coast's first game is June 15 against Portugal.[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]"The FIF thank the sporting world and all those in the Ivory Coast, in Africa and throughout the world who have shown their support to Didier Drogba and the Ivory Coast," read a statement on the FIF website.[/size][/color]

[color="#333333"][size="3"]"He's not at all out of the World Cup. He can still play. We don't know if he will be able to play the first game -- that depends on the verdict of the medical team. But he's definitely not out [of the tournament].''[/size][/color]

[/font][color="#333333"][font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]Drogba broke his arm in an exhibition match against Japan on Friday.[/font][/color] [/quote]



[url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5255490/ce/us/ivory-coast-didier-drogba-hopes-play?campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines&cc=5901&ver=us"]http://soccernet.esp...&cc=5901&ver=us[/url]

[JC]

[quote][size="6"]"I'm ready," Dempsey said.[/size][/quote]



[center][img]http://soccernet-att.espn.go.com/design05/mediaUS/20060623/US_Ghana7.jpg[/img][/center]


Me too Clint..

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote]
[color=#FF0000][color=#000000][size=5]Good and bad of big U.S. win

[/size][b][size=1]by [/size][url="http://www.socceramerica.com/author/45/paul-kennedy/"][size=1]Paul Kennedy[/size][/url][size=1], June 5th, 2010 11:37AM[/size][/b][/color][/color]
[color=#FF0000]
[/color]
[color=#FF0000][USA-AUSTRALIA] [/color]Who needs [b]Jozy Altidore[/b] when you have [b]Edson Buddle[/b] and [b]Herculez Gomez[/b]? Who needs [b]Charlie Davies[/b] when you have [b]Robbie Findley[/b]? Buddle, Gomez and Findley led a attack that paced the USA to a 3-1 win. For the good and bad of the U.S. warmup game, as well as video highlights ...

[color=#FF0000]What we liked ...[/color]

-- [b]Edson Buddle[/b] picked up where he left off in MLS with the first two goals against Australia. The first goal was a patented Buddle effort -- three steps with the ball at his feet, a quick step to his right and a long-range shot that flew past Aussie keeper [b]Mark Schwarzer[/b].

-- [b]Robbie Findley[/b] demonstrated the same qualities that made[b]Charlie Davies[/b] so effective last year. Time and again, he broke down the Socceroo defense with his pace and created opportunities for himself and his teammates.

-- The USA attacked effectively down the flanks. [b]Steve Cherundolo[/b], who set up the second Buddle goal, looks to have won the starting job at right back.

[color=#FF0000]What we didn't like ...[/color]

-- The central defense of [b]Clarence Goodson[/b] and[b] Jay DeMerit[/b] hardly inspires confidence. They gave the Australians tons of chances they were wasted. [b]Wayne Rooney[/b] must be licking his chops at the prospect of facing the Goodson-DeMerit combo. The over and under on Rooney goals in the opener? We'll put it at 2.

-- The USA must break its habit of coughing up the ball in bad positions on the field. [b]Ricardo Clark[/b]was the worse, frequently turning the ball over in midfield. Again, a fault that England -- and Slovenia and Algeria for that matter -- will punish.

-- For all Findley's work, his finishing was atrocious. He'll never get an easier goal than the one he missed in the first half when he rounded Schwarzer and shot wide.

[color=#FF0000]What we're not sure about ...[/color]

-- The Jabulani match ball sure seemed to bother the keepers on Saturday. We're not sure whether that will help or hurt the underdog Americans against England on Saturday. Will it give the USA a lucky goal? Or will the odds be that a barrage of England chances will result in that much more trouble for [b]Tim Howard[/b] in the U.S. goal?

[color=#FF0000]June 5 in Roodepoort[/color]
[b]USA 3 Australia 1.[/b] Goals: Buddle 4, 31, Gomez 90; Cahill 19.
[b]USA -- [/b]Howard (Hahnemann, 46), Cherundolo, DeMerit, Goodson (Onyewu, 61), Bocanegra (Bornstein, 55), Bradley, Clark, Dempsey (Gomez, 82), Donovan, Buddle (Beasley, 79), Findley.
[b]Australia -- [/b]Schwarzer, Wilkshire, Moore, Neill, Chipperfield, Grella, Culina (Vidosic, 62), Garcia (Rukavytsya, 72), Cahill (Valeri, 46), Bresciano, Kennedy.
[b]Yellow Cards: [/b]USA -- Dempsey 37; Australia -- Moore 37, Grella 76.
[b]Referee: [/b]Addul Ebrahim (RSA)
[b]Att.:[/b] 8,000.

[color=#FF0000]Stats:[/color]
[b]USA/AUS [/b]
Shots: 11/14
Shots on Goal: 6/6
Saves: 5/3
Corner Kicks: 3/8
Fouls: 10/6
Offside: 4/0 [/quote]



[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/38362/good-and-bad-of-big-us-win.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/38362/good-and-bad-of-big-us-win.html[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote]
[color="#FF0000"][color="#000000"][size="5"]U.S. Player Ratings

[/size][b][size="1"]by [/size][url="http://www.socceramerica.com/author/49/ridge-mahoney/"][size="1"]Ridge Mahoney[/size][/url][size="1"], June 6th, 2010 1:37AM[/size][/b][/color][/color]

[color="#FF0000"][USA-AUSTRALIA REPORT CARD][/color]

Soccer America's [b]Ridge Mahoney[/b]grades the U.S. players after the USA'S 3-1 win over Australia in Roodepoort on Saturday.

[color="#FF0000"]USA
SUBS:[/color] [color="#FF0000"]Rating/Player (Club/Country) GP/G[/color]
[b]5 Tim Howard (Everton/ENG) 51/0[/b]
Handled cleanly, distributed quickly, not at fault on Aussie goal.

[b]5 Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96/GER) 60/2[/b]
Burst free on the right flank to serve excellent cross Buddle headed for second U.S. goal; beaten himself twice one-v-one, let Tim Cahill's goal sneak between him and the goalpost.

[b]3 Jay DeMerit (Watford/ENG) 19/0[/b]
Stooped to head a clearance right to an opponent, stumble gave Aussies a free header in a forgettable showing.

[b]4 Clarence Goodson (Start/NOR) 13/2[/b]
Confused and out of position as gaping holes provided chances Australia didn't convert.

[b]5 Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes/FRA) 74/12[/b]
Not much of a factor in the box on set plays, clipped balls up the flank well.

[b]6 Clint Dempsey (Fulham/ENG) 62/18[/b]
Active before tiring in second half, raced up left side to force excellent save from Fulham teammate Mark Schwarzer, played great ball Findley failed to finish.

[b]5 Ricardo Clark (Ein. Frankfurt/GER) 29/2[/b]
Tidy and quick on the ball in a mainly holding role, too slow to shut down service on a few occasions.

[b]6 Michael Bradley (Borussia M'Gladbach/GER) 43/7[/b]<br style="font-weight: bold; ">Triggered two dangerous attacks with early balls out of the back, drilled fierce shot that Schwarzer saved.

[b]6 Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy) 123/42[/b]
Started quietly, gained momentum late in first half, typically precise diagonal ball to set up third goal.

[b]5 Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake) 6/0[/b]
Fluffed three excellent chances, including one stone-cold sitter; pressure helped produce first goal, runs distracted opponents on all three goals, nice touch in lead-up to Gomez goal.

[b]8 Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy) 4/2[/b]
Scored his first two international goals with right foot and head, hit excellent square pass that Findley squandered.

[color="#FF0000"]SUBS:[/color] [color="#FF0000"]Rating/Player (Club/Country) GP/G[/color]
[b]5 Marcus Hahnemann (Wolves/ENG) xx/1[/b]
Thwarted the Aussies twice with excellent saves, but flapped at crosses in obvious distress from a setting sun and swirling ball.

[b]5 Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA) 32/2[/b]
Other than an aimless square ball that rolled right to the opposition, he stayed out of trouble.

[b]5 Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan/ITA) 54/5[/b]
Not especially quick or sharp, made the plays when called upon.

[b]NR DaMarcus Beasley (Rangers/SCO) 92/17[/b]
Rarely got involved in 12-minute stint.

[b]6 Herculez Gomez (Puebla.MEX) 4/2[/b]
Very smart and sharp in build-up before tucking away third goal.
[i](Ratings: 1=terrible; 5=average; 10=brilliant.)[/i] [/quote]


[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/38365/us-player-ratings.html"]http://www.soccerame...er-ratings.html[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote]
[font="'Trebuchet MS"][color="#333399"][size=2][b][color=#000000][size=5]Reaction from U.S. locker room

[/size][b][size=1]June 5th, 2010 11:42PM[/size][/b][/color][/b][/size][/color][/font]

[color=#FF0000][color="#333399"][size=2][b]
[/b][/size][/color][/color]
[color=#FF0000][USA- AUSTRALIA] [/color]U.S. coach [b]Bob Bradley[/b] said the USA-Australia warmup in Roodepoort was exactly what he would have looked in a final tune-up: spirited and competitive. Despite the 3-1 win, there's plenty of room for improvement. For one, Bradley pointed out the USA's inability to clear balls into the penalty area. For what Bradley and his players had to say ...

[b]U.S. Coach Bob Bradley [/b]
[i]On the match: [/i]
“I think in all ways it was an excellent final tune-up. These matches are always tricky with a week to go, but the spirit of the match, the competitiveness of the match I think for both Australia and ourselves was exactly what we needed.”

[i]On the play of Australia: [/i]
“We watched them a fair amount. We think they’re a good team, well organized, good solid understanding of how to play, a number of good players. We also always recognize [b]Tim Cahill [/b]as being the special one in terms of his ability to move around, get in the box and get chances, and he did that again today.”

[i]On what the team needs to work on: [/i]
“The area that I would look at the most is just some of the poor clearances. Again, when we talk about just adjusting to the conditions, the ball, the ball flight, I think that caused some trouble for both teams today. It’s just something that you work on every day.”

[i]On the goalkeeping: [/i]
“There were chances on both sides. I think we had some advantages that could have been handled better. [b]Mark Schwarzer[/b] made a couple good saves, and [b]Tim Howard[/b] and [b]Marcus Hahnemann[/b] made some good saves."

[i]On whether he had any concerns about possible injuries occurring during the game: [/i]
“Of course, it’s normal. It’s a double-edged sword because you need the match and you need the adjustment to the altitude, the adjustment to the conditions, the fitness, but clearly you want to make sure that you are careful with how you make decisions. When you play it as an international friendly as opposed to a closed-door match, you’re limited to six substitutions. We’re pleased we could come out of it in good shape.”

On whether Edson Buddle will start in the World Cup:
“No decisions will be made on Edson starting, but Edson continues to get more comfortable within the group. Today you saw really the things that have highlighted his MLS season so far – taking chances well, good finishing, scoring a goal off a direct, hard shot and scoring with his head, so good things.”

On what Bocanegra said to him as he came off the field:
“Just that he’s feeling pretty good and he felt like he could have gone the full game today, and feels like he continues to make progress on all sides.”

[b]U.S. Goalkeeper Tim Howard[/b]
[i]On what the team needs to improve on before facing England: [/i]
“We can always get better at everything. I can’t pinpoint just one thing, but things are starting to click. We’re feeling good about our last two results, coming behind against Turkey and in this one we kind of controlled things. Training has been good, and like I said we’re very excited and have a very positive spirit.”

[i]On Edson Buddle and Robbie Findley: [/i]
“Edson and Robbie have both played fantastic. Everything Edson touches is a goal and Robbie creating so many chances, so those guys are exciting for us. In a three-game tournament like this in the first round you’re never going to play the same lineup twice, so it’s really important that everyone is clicking and those guys are.”

[i]On Rio Ferdinand getting hurt and not playing for England: [/i]
“I’m devastated for him as well as I’m sure most of his friends and his teammates are. How will it affect the team? I don’t know. I think they’re all very strong characters, and as the week goes on they’ll be fully prepared. We’ve had a good teammate of ours go down and not make the World Cup. That was a little while ago, but it still hurts.”

[b]U.S. Forward ROBBIE FINDLEY [/b]
[i]On if the team’s performance was a confidence booster going into the World Cup: [/i]
“From the first friendly in the send-off matches, we just wanted to build and build as each match went on. We did well against Turkey to get the win there, and came out here and showed some good stuff, too. It’s just taking those steps forward and getting ready for next weekend.”

[b]U.S. Midfielder LANDON DONOVAN[/b]
[i]On Edson Buddle:[/i]
“As I’ve been saying all year, the goals are great, but what he and Robbie did otherwise are what helps you win games. You need to score goals to win, we understand that, but had they not scored today they still both did a great job of helping our team.”

[i]On how the team played today:[/i]
“I think we started the game better than we did last week, and that was a big plus. The biggest problems that were caused were just the way the ball flew at times. It puts your defenders under a lot of pressure. Even balls that are comfortable coming into your defenders are challenging at times, and with crosses and things like that it’s very difficult. We’re going to have to spend some more time dealing with that, but overall I thought we played very well.”

[i]On whether the friendly game was a little too intense:[/i]
“Maybe. But you’re a week out from the World Cup and its your last chance to earn a spot. Everybody wants to play next weekend, so you can understand why it was a little chippy.”

[i]On trying not to get injured in the last game before the World Cup:[/i]
“On one hand, you can’t not play the game the way it is supposed to be played, because you put yourself at risk that way. On the other hand, you’re also somewhat aware of stupid challenges or chasing a ball that you would chase next weekend and need to be smart about that.”

[b]U.S. Forward EDSON BUDDLE: [/b]
[i]On scoring his first two international goals: [/i]
It builds a lot of confidence for a forward and I am proud of myself, and I am pretty sure my dad is especially [proud].

[i]On finishing his chances: [/i]
“Sometimes it’s like that and sometimes it’s not. And today it was on my side.”

[i]On pairing with Robbie Findley: [/i]
“It’s going to take some time but we don’t have a lot of time. It felt good out there with him. I’m a target player and he’s a pacy player and it’s easy to find him over the top.”

[i]On the game’s first goal: [/i]
“The night before we noticed they play a lot with their defensive midfielders and we wanted to put a little bit of pressure on them. I think that he had a mis-touch and I was able to get on the end of it and, like I said, Robbie has pace. My first option was to go to him and I think everyone overcommitted, so it freed me up and I got a good strike on goal.”

[b]U.S. Midfielder CLINT DEMPSEY [/b]
[i]On the pace of today's friendly:[/i]
“I thought the first half the game was a little bit quicker. The second half people seemed to be coasting a little bit. We were able to get a little more fitness at a higher altitude, and we won the game. That’s a good step.”

[b]U.S. Defender OGUCHI ONYEWU [/b]
[i]On the health of his knee:[/i]
“I’m feeling good. This is the third game back since my injury, and I’m progressively feeling better. Since the camp started, there haven’t been any issues.”

[b]U.S. Forward HERCULEZ GOMEZ[/b]
[i]On the goal he scored:[/i]
“I saw Landon get the ball, and when he has it you have to be on your toes because he can put the ball in some nice places. I was going to make a run, but I saw him lace it up so I held, lost my mark and tried to make good contact on it.” [/quote]



[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/38363/reaction-from-us-locker-room.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/38363/reaction-from-us-locker-room.html[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote]
[font="'Trebuchet MS"][size="4"][size=4][size=5]Unenthusiastic start to Tyler's tenure

[/size][b][size=1]by [/size][url="http://www.socceramerica.com/author/45/paul-kennedy/"][size=1]Paul Kennedy[/size][/url][size=1], June 6th, 2010 3:36AM[/size][/b][/size][/size][/font]
[color=#FF0000]
[/color]
[color=#FF0000][TELEVISION WATCH] [/color]Because many of the games will begin in the morning -- or very early morning here in California -- the first job of ESPN's World Cup announcers, as a practical matter, will be to keep us awake. But in [b]Martin Tyler[/b]'s debut as ESPN's World Cup lead broadcaster, he failed miserably. His unenthusiastic tone during Saturday's USA-Australia broadcast was shocking, given the up-beat nature of ESPN's massive buildup and the stock it has placed in its Brit voices.

Yes, it was Tyler's tuneup game. Yes, the game was played at three-quarters speed. Yes, the game was played on neutral ground with little atmosphere and no visuals in the Ruimsig Stadium's rural setting. But that's no excuse for his effort.

Tyler introduced himself by saying how happy he was to be "alongside old friends of mine like [b]John Harkes[/b]," and they spent much of the broadcast acting like they'd never met each other before Friday.

While we'll forgive some early mistakes ("[b]Robbie Findley[/b] from the MLS"), unusual usage (referring at halftime to [b]Edson Buddle[/b]'s "humanitarian story") and his English soccer-dropping (referring to longtime EPL goalie [b]Marcus Hahnemann[/b]'s "recognizable features" or noting the England security man [b]Ray Woodworth[/b] sitting next to[b] David Beckham[/b]), Tyler's low-key manner was a disappointment.

Tyler correctly cut off Harkes just as Buddle broke free to score the opening goal in the 4th minute, but there was a painfully long pause after Australia's tying goal before Tyler interjected, "It's 1-1."

One of the dilemmas Tyler faces is whether to play [b]Vince Scully[/b] and spend a lot of his time story-telling in the American sports broadcasting tradition or play, well, Martin Tyler, and stick to the play-by-play style we're used to from British commentators.

Tyler started out doing the former jumping in quick order in the 7th minute from [b]Jozy Altidore[/b](whose injury was the pre-game lead) to Haiti to [b]Joe Gaetjens[/b] to USA-England 1950.

Tyler concentrated on play by play for much of the second half, but that's where he ran into trouble, becoming so understated as to seem disinterested in the home team.

That approach might work for Slovakia-Paraguay in a couple of weeks but not when the U-S-of-A is playing.

And it goes to to problem of the Brit approach. It might work for non-U.S. games but not when the USA is playing. Especially Saturday against England in Rustenburg.

[color=#FF0000]Just pointing out ... [/color]The USA Bid Committee, seeking the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, has invested heavily in the support of Disney's corporate leadership, so it was embarrassing that the center-line signboard on the ESPN2 broadcast was promoting Australia's 2018/22 World Cup. Australia is the USA's main competitor in the 2022 race. [/quote]


[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/38367/unenthusiastic-start-to-tylers-tenure.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/38367/unenthusiastic-start-to-tylers-tenure.html[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote]
[color=#FF0000][color=#000000][size=5]Dutch fear over Robben injury

[/size][b][size=1]by [/size][url="http://www.socceramerica.com/author/45/paul-kennedy/"][size=1]Paul Kennedy[/size][/url][size=1], June 6th, 2010 4:05AM[/size][/b][/color][/color]
[color=#FF0000]
[/color]
[color=#FF0000][WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN][/color] [b]Arjen Robben[/b], one of perhaps a half dozen players capable of carrying his team to the 2010 World Cup championship, became the latest World Cup injury casualty, suffering a hamstring injury in the Netherlands' 6-1 win over Hungary.

“He felt a sharp pain -- that can’t be good,” said Dutch coach [b]Bert van Marwijk[/b]. “Treatment for these injuries has improved hugely, so I’m not giving up hope yet.”

Robben, who led Bayern Munich to the German Bundesliga title and second place in the UEFA Champions League, joins former Chelsea teammates, [b]Michael Ballack[/b] (Germany) and [b]Didier Drogba[/b] (Ivory Coast), to be injured since the 30-player rosters were submitted to FIFA on May 11.

(Two other Chelsea stars, Ghana's [b]Michael Essien[/b] and Nigeria's [b]John Obi Mikel[/b], have been ruled out of the World Cup with injuries suffered earlier in the year.)

The Netherlands wasn't the only team to get an injury scare.

Slovakia defeated Costa Rica, 3-0, but its Liverpool defender, [b]Martin Skrtel[/b], left the game with an ankle injury.

Honduras fell to Romania, 3-0, and had stars [b]David Suazo[/b] and [b]Wilson Palacios[/b] come off with injuries.

Other warmup action:

-- Host South Africa edged Denmark, 1-0, on [b]Katlego Mphela[/b]'s goal in the 75th minute.

-- Defending champion Italy had to settle for a 1-1 tie with Switzerland in Geneva. Both goals by Swiss midfielder [b]Gokhan Inler[/b] and Italy's [b]Fabio Quagliarella[/b] came in the first quarter of an hour.

-- Serbia got first-half goals from [b]Milos Krasic[/b], [b]Dejan Stankovic[/b], [b]Nenad Milijas[/b] and [b]Marko Pantelic[/b]and beat Cameroon, 4-3.

-- Ghana beat Latvia, 1-0, on substitute [b]Quincy Owusu-Abeyie[/b]'s goal. [/quote]


[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/38368/dutch-fear-over-robben-injury.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/38368/dutch-fear-over-robben-injury.html[/url]

[JC]

Torres has to be starting over Clark Saturday. He has too. If we get too carless in the midfield, Lampard and Rooney are going to burn us.

Dolo looks good on the right and thankfully Boca looks good out left. Need to get Onyewu back and healthy. We had predator in DeMerit and Missle in Gooch in the CC. Central defense is scary. Like..uhmm..Just blanket Wayne. Fuck play a 2-3-5 and put Edu on Wayne at all times. Clark is good for nothing but a red card.

Jr. cannot get a red in the WC or we are in trouble.

Just imagine what a healthy Davies would do for us at striker instead of Findley..

Oh and Jozy..get healthy. I like Buddle..I think he can do great, but Jozy is a better version of him. Wouldn't mind both starting up top either. Especially with Rio out. Just outmuscle Terry and Co.

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote name='JC' date='06 June 2010 - 12:34 PM' timestamp='1275845693' post='891827']
Torres has to be starting over Clark Saturday. He has too. If we get too carless in the midfield, Lampard and Rooney are going to burn us.

Dolo looks good on the right and thankfully Boca looks good out left. Need to get Onyewu back and healthy. We had predator in DeMerit and Missle in Gooch in the CC. Central defense is scary. Like..uhmm..Just blanket Wayne. Fuck play a 2-3-5 and put Edu on Wayne at all times. Clark is good for nothing but a red card.

Jr. cannot get a red in the WC or we are in trouble.

Just imagine what a healthy Davies would do for us at striker instead of Findley..

Oh and Jozy..get healthy. I like Buddle..I think he can do great, but Jozy is a better version of him. Wouldn't mind both starting up top either. Especially with Rio out. Just outmuscle Terry and Co.
[/quote]



Torres! Torres! Torres!

Come on Bradley...



The defense is such a question mark in the center. The English are probably saying just play it down the middle to Rooney and even with Howard in the net you know they like their chances.


Jozy hopefully will be good to go. Buddle seems to have magic in his boots this year. Why not ride that train until the magic runs out. Findley has some finishing problems, might not see the pitch in the WC. If it came down to subbing a forward I would slide Dempsey up top in their place and bring on one of the plethora of midfielders we have.

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote]
[size=5]As many as 40,000 Americans expected

[/size][b][size=1]by [/size][url="http://www.socceramerica.com/author/45/paul-kennedy/"][size=1]Paul Kennedy[/size][/url][size=1], June 7th, 2010 3:21AM[/size][/b]


[color=#FF0000][WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN] [/color]One of the great unknowns about the 2010 World Cup is just how many visitors will travel to South Africa.[b]Donald Gips[/b], the U.S. ambassador to South Africa, says it hard to guess how many Americans will attend the World Cup, but the best guess is "somewhere between 25,000 and 40,000."

FIFA estimates 132,000 tickets have been bought by Americans -- more than any other country outside the host nation -- but how many individual visitors that translates into is hard to determine.

Speaking Sunday at the U.S. national team's open practice that attracted several hundred vuvuzela-blowing children, Gips downplayed concerns about violence in South Africa. His remarks came more than a week after the State Department issued a travel alert to U.S. citizens traveling to South Africa.

"It is a country that is coming from the legacy of apartheid," he [url="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/soccer/world-cup-2010/06/06/us.ambassador.crime.ap/index.html#ixzz0q9FL8qzB"]said[/url]. "In the 15 or 16 years since it's been a free democracy, they've made huge strides, but it's a very difficult legacy to overcome. So there are still problems that need to be addressed." [/quote]


[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/38378/as-many-as-40000-americans-expected.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/38378/as-many-as-40000-americans-expected.html[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote]
[color=#FF0000][color=#000000][size=5]Robben could return to Oranje

[/size][b][size=1]June 7th, 2010 12:01AM[/size][/b][/color][/color]
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[/color]
[color=#FF0000][NETHERLANDS] [/color]The hamstring injury Dutch star [b]Arjen Robben[/b]suffered Saturday late in its 6-1 win over Hungary is not as bad as first thought, and he'll be given time to recover and later join the Oranje in South Africa.

Robben stayed behind to undergo medical examinations on Sunday in Rotterdam.

After getting a report on his star's condition, Coach [b]Bert van Marwijk[/b] said he'll keep Robben in his World Cup squad for now.

"I decided not to call up a replacement to give him the chance to recover and get back in the squad during the tournament," Van Marwijk said.

The Netherlands does not open its World Cup campaign until June 14 against Denmark. Van Marwijk could still replace Robben up to 24 hours before the Denmark match. [/quote]



[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/38373/robben-could-return-to-oranje.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/38373/robben-could-return-to-oranje.html[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote]
[font="georgia,"][color="#000000"][size="2"][color="#333333"][size="2"]
[b][size="5"]Bradley Has U.S. Right Where He Planned[/size][/b]

[b][size="1"]By JERÉ LONGMAN[/size][/b]
[b][size="1"]Published: June 5, 2010[/size][/b]
[/size][/color][/size][/color][/font][font="georgia,"][color="#000000"] [/color][/font]
[font="georgia,"][color="#000000"][size="2"]JOHANNESBURG — Once there was a man who carved a duck from a block of wood. Asked how he did it, the man said, "I just got rid of everything that didn't look like a duck."[/size][/color][/font]
[font="georgia,"][color="#000000"] [/color][/font]
[font="georgia,"][color="#000000"][size="2"]The story was a teaching lesson told by[url="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/c/pete_carril/index.html?inline=nyt-per"]Pete Carril[/url], the longtime basketball coach at Princeton. It was passed on to a young Princeton soccer coach, Bob Bradley, who guided his alma mater to the Final Four in 1993 and who in 2006 became the coach of the United States national team.[/size][/color][color="#000000"][size="2"]The Americans will open World Cup play against England on Saturday in Rustenburg, South Africa. As Bradley, 52, prepared his team the last four years, his management style reflected Carril's woodcarver — engrossed, driven, all the distractions shaved and smoothed away in pursuit of something intensely personal and finely wrought.[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]"Bob always liked that story," said Jim Barlow, the current Princeton soccer coach, who played for Bradley there. "He just gets rid of everything that's not soccer."[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]There is a phrase that Bradley uses: on the inside. It means that most information should be kept within the team, not shared with those on the outside.[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]His wariness was evident at a World Cup training camp at Princeton. The camp was closed to the public. Windows in the press box at the soccer stadium were papered over, lest reporters or scouts glean some tactical surprise. It took nearly a week for Bradley to announce that defender Carlos Bocanegra, the team captain, had had surgery for a sports hernia in early May.[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]"I have this gut feeling that Bob would be in his utopia if he could coach and his team could play without any fans, no media, no distractions, just the sport in its purest sense," said Alexi Lalas, who was the general manager of [url="http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/news/sports/soccer/major-league-soccer/index.html?inline=nyt-org"]Major League Soccer[/url]'s MetroStars (now the Red Bulls) for a period when Bradley coached the club. "He's an idealist. I respect that. He insulates and protects his players. But there is a whole wide world that you can use to your advantage."[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]In his book about the United States' qualification for the World Cup, "Chasing the Game," Filip Bondy, a columnist with The Daily News, described Bradley as "wholly analytical, glum, flirting with dour," but also a dedicated family man and a "thorough professional" with whom others enjoyed working.[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]There is only a hint of a smile on Bradley's face in the United States team media guide. His countenance [url="http://www.ussoccer.com/Teams/Team-Staff/Bob-Bradley.aspx"]is made more severe[/url] by a balding pate and an often furrowed look, as if he is squinting into a bright light or being asked a question whose premise he disagrees with.[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]But Bradley can also be funny and self-deprecating when he lets down his guard. Asked to describe his days at Princeton, from which he graduated with a history degree in 1980, he said simply, "Not a good student; decent player."[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]If he crammed for exams as an undergrad, Bradley's coaching method is one of full immersion. "He has a DVD player taped to his forehead," defender Jay DeMerit said, laughing.[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]Bradley has exhaustively studied the world's best club teams — Barcelona of today, [url="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/sports/soccer/serie-a/ac-milan/index.html?inline=nyt-org"]A.C. Milan[/url] of the late 1980s and early '90s — and from this dogged research, his own style has emerged, built on the belief that the toughest teams to beat are the ones that remain the most organized, compact and disciplined.[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]Ones that move collectively forward and backward and side to side.[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]That take advantage of the little moments, when possession is won or lost, when hustle can create an opportunity and sloth can puncture a team's invulnerability.[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]By his count, Bradley still keeps boxes of videotapes of the A.C. Milan teams that won European titles in 1989 and '90 while coached by Arrigo Sacchi. Occasionally, midfielder Stuart Holden said, Bradley still shows them to his players. Meanwhile, his intense research of the Americans' World Cup opponents — England, Slovenia and Algeria — led him to watch as many as 50 matches a week.[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]"We've never been better prepared," midfielder Landon Donovan said.[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]Apparently no detail is too small to overlook. At a news conference the day before the United States faced the Czech Republic in an exhibition on May 25 in East Hartford, Conn., Donovan went to take a seat on the dais when Bradley instructed him to sit to his right. Bocanegra was positioned to his left.[/size][/color]

[/font][font="georgia,"]"A little superstition," Bradley said to Donovan.[/font] [/quote]


[url="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/sports/soccer/06bradley.html"]http://www.nytimes.c.../06bradley.html[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote]
[color="#333333"][font="arial, sans-serif"][size="4"][size="3"]
[b][size="5"]World Cup 2010: Is there method in Diego Maradona's madness?[/size][/b]

[color="#666666"][font="arial, sans-serif"][size="3"]The return of Maradona as Argentina coach is good news for World Cup thrill-seekers. Whether it is such good news for his own team is less certain[/size][/font][/color]

[/size][/size][/font][/color][color="#333333"][font="arial, sans-serif"] [/font][/color]
[color="#333333"][font="arial, sans-serif"][size="4"]There is only one man in the history of football who has achieved what [url="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/diego-maradona"]Diego Maradona[/url] craves from the weeks ahead in South Africa. Franz Beckenbauer is the sole World Cup-winning captain who went on to lead his country to the game's summit as a coach. The urbane German wrote a unique blueprint. Maradona strikes an unlikely figure to follow in his footsteps. In terms of temperament, philosophy and public perception, the Argentinian maverick comes from another planet.[font="arial, sans-serif"]One is pragmatic and refined; the other strikingly volatile and unpredictable. One never puts a foot, or a word, wrong. The other made headlines during this World Cup's preparations for having a fight with his own dog and ending up in hospital, pledging to run naked around El Obelisco in the centre of Buenos Aires if [url="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/argentina"]Argentina[/url] return triumphant, and running over a reporter en route to a press conference to name his final squad – promptly leaning out of the window to shout at the injured man: "What an arsehole you are!"[/font]

[font="arial, sans-serif"]Those who knew him in more innocent days still wonder about Maradona's cranked-up personality. As a youngster he was regarded as humble, accommodating, keen to listen to people and an all-round wonderful kid. It was as if a switch flicked when he entered the hothouse of Serie A, became the adored prince of Napoli, and developed an intense relationship with drugs. Maradona will turn 50 in October, and the second half of his life to date, with its series of barely believable dramas, has been played out by a character for whom the words humble and accommodating seem alien.[/font]

[font="arial, sans-serif"]Rewinding to the autumn of 2008, it remains an extraordinary decision for the Argentinian Football Association to have appointed him in the first place. His track record in management amounted to a spell in charge of Mandiyú de Corrientes, and a brief encounter with Racing Club, neither of which was successful. When the national team job came up, Maradona put his name forward. The football cognoscenti had their doubts. The will of the people of Argentina, who revere Maradona, turned out to be irresistible.[/font]

[font="arial, sans-serif"]He is, unquestionably, the most idiosyncratic of all 32 coaches who will be guiding their squads through this World Cup. The fusion of talent and heritage means Argentina are always worthy of attention. But the inclusion of Maradona as technical as well as spiritual leader demands absolute scrutiny. Do not turn away for a moment. You have no idea what fireworks you might miss.[/font]

[font="arial, sans-serif"]The Maradona factor is the principal reason why Argentina lag slightly behind the super-favourites for this competition. A glance around Europe's major leagues (Lionel Messi ruled La Liga once again, Diego Milito is man of the moment in Serie A, Lucho González made the difference in France … it is not difficult to go on and on) gives ample evidence that their pool of talent is as promising as any around. "Player for player there is no better national team than ours," reckons the peerless Messi.[/font]

[font="arial, sans-serif"]The big problem, comparing Argentina with the most fancied of the contenders, is that Spain and Brazil arrive with able squads backed by solid and methodical men in the dugout. (Brazil's Carlos Dunga, incidentally, also has one eye on emulating Beckenbauer's achievement, having lifted the golden trophy in 1994.)[/font]

[font="arial, sans-serif"]Never before has a World Cup been won with a weak link in the dugout. In a coaching Venn diagram linking Maradona with Marcello Lippi, who masterminded Italy's success at the last finals with exceptional shrewdness and unswerving focus, perhaps the only area of crossover is the fact neither man has much tolerance for the media.[/font]

[font="arial, sans-serif"][/font]

[font="arial, sans-serif"]Maradona's stewardship are too numerous, the sense of trust too disjointed. So accustomed have Argentina's fans become to Maradona's impulsive choices and puzzling formations, with 108 players juggled so far in little more than 18 months, it was no great surprise when his final squad contained some unusual names. That does not make his decision to omit two of the stellar performers from Inter's treble-winning side – Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso, who have almost 200 caps between them – any easier to comprehend, though.[/font]

[font="arial, sans-serif"]Of the lesser lights who made the plane instead, Ariel Garcé has become symbolic of Maradona's unconventional approach. The story sounds apocryphal, but it has been reported that the defender who helped Colón finish 14th in the Argentinian league was included because Maradona had a dream that his team won the World Cup and the only face he could remember being there was Garcé's. The 30-year-old has only four caps. Three came during friendlies in 2003, and one came this year against Haiti. Most supporters do not take his inclusion particularly seriously. At Argentina's farewell match at home to Canada a banner was unfurled: "Garcé, bring us some [i]alfajores[/i]." Traditionally, Argentinians bring[i]alfajores[/i], caramel-filled biscuits, back from their holidays to give to friends.[/font]

[font="arial, sans-serif"]Garcé had in fact bought tickets to catch some World Cup games as he intended to take a holiday in South Africa anyway. "I don't care what they say," he said. "I'm going to the World Cup and nobody can take this happiness away from me."[/font]

[font="arial, sans-serif"]Some people speculate that Maradona's emotional decisions are a little more calculating than merely the work of an eccentric man. He does not want strong, dissenting voices around him, which perhaps explains why some of the more experienced men have been left behind (and others, such as Juan Román Riquelme and his own mentor, Carlos Bilardo, have been alienated).[/font]

[font="arial, sans-serif"]Then there is the curious case of Messi, who seldom looks at his happiest and most liberated in the [i]albiceleste[/i] shirt of his country. Does Maradona know how to use him, how the team should best function around him? Or does it suit Maradona that Messi has not been as successful for Argentina as he has for Barcelona because deep down his ego struggles with the idea that his position as the [i]crème de la crème[/i]has a credible challenger?[/font]

[font="arial, sans-serif"]"The truth is that Maradona has always been very nice to me," said Messi recently. "At first, it was strange to have him: he was a little imposing. But afterwards, we started getting used to him and he's been our coach for a while, so now it's normal. He's really close to the players. He's one of the guys, so there's no problem."[/font]

[/size][/font][/color][color="#333333"][font="arial, sans-serif"][size="4"]We will soon find out whether that is enough to guide a group with such bountiful natural ability to the promised land.[/size][/font][/color] [/quote]



[url="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jun/06/diego-maradona-world-cup-argentina"]http://www.guardian....d-cup-argentina[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

Torres...is going to get screwed over...I have a feeling.

[quote]
[color=#FF0000][color=#000000][size=5]The case for Ricardo Clark

[/size][b][size=1]by [/size][url="http://www.socceramerica.com/author/49/ridge-mahoney/"][size=1]Ridge Mahoney[/size][/url][size=1], June 8th, 2010 2:12AM[/size][/b][/color][/color]
[color=#FF0000]
[/color]
[color=#FF0000][UNDER THE MICROSCOPE[/color][color=#FF0000][color=#FF0000]][/color] [/color]Considering the space and time afforded the U.S. central midfield in the second half against Turkey, just about anybody playing in a rougher, scrappier game with Australia would suffer by comparison with [b]Jose Francisco Torres[/b], who dug into tackles and used his touches well as the Americans rallied from a 1-0 deficit to beat the tiring Turks, 2-1.

In the eyes of many fans and journalists that performance moved Torres alongside [b]Michael Bradley[/b] in a preferred starting XI against England, yet both Torres and[b] Maurice Edu[/b] sat out the Australia game as [b]Ricardo Clark[/b] and Bradley went the full 90 in a 3-1 victory. The most likely scenario is that all four will appear in the group stage, since they offer different abilities and aren’t strangers to cautions. But which pairing Coach [b]Bob Bradley[/b] will use in the World Cup opener against England is harder to project.

Examining his game minute by minute, touch by touch reveals that Clark played a very solid first half against Australia with virtually no turnovers, and while less efficient in the second half still broke up plays and set in motion attacking moves. His tremendous range has in the past been betrayed by sloppy passing and overzealous recoveries from poor starting positions, but there were few examples of those shortcomings on Saturday.

Clark glanced around constantly to check his positioning and that of his teammates and opponents, which is an encouraging trend for a player sometimes prone to tunnel vision and ball-watching.

In the first half alone, he helped set in motion three threatening attacks, one of which produced a goal:

He scraped a ball away from [b]Josh Kennedy[/b] in the U.S. half and recovered quickly enough to find[b]Clint Dempsey[/b] with a flicked ball; Dempsey turned that possession into a through ball that [b]Robbie Findley[/b] took past keeper [b]Mark Schwarzer[/b] but shot wide. Clark played several such balls during the 90 minutes and most of the time was perfectly willing to play it safe and square rather than force it upfield.

He lunged into a tackle deep in his own half and as he went head over heels, literally, from the collision, Bradley launched the attack that produced Dempsey’s low shot and a fingertip save by Schwarzer.

In the 31st minute, stationed near the left touchline, Clark switched play with a crossfield ball to[b]Steve Cherundolo[/b], who darted clear down the right side to hit a cross [b]Edson Buddle[/b] headed home for the second U.S. goal. Cherundolo made a great play after Clark spotted the right back in acres of space and chipped a 40-yard ball right to his feet.

A few of his first-half passes could have been more precise – he rolled a pass a yard or two behind Cherundolo, who nevertheless collected and kept it, Findley mis-trapped and lost a ball he should have controlled – but none of them went to the opposition.

The second half wasn’t as good, though it started well when Clark stripped [b]Vince Grella[/b] of the ball in the Australia half to set up a scoring chance. A couple of his turnovers could have been costly, and he lost one ball not more than 30 yards from goal though nothing came of it.

Clark also coughed one up near the center circle but by immediately applying pressure – one of the holy truths preached by [b]Bob Bradley[/b] – helped the U.S. get it right back. A foul by[b] Michael Bradley[/b]awarded Australia a ball he was tussling for, on another occasion they missed connections and the Aussies picked up the loose ball. He fought through a couple of double-teams to keep possession but also came off second best once or twice.

Most of his passes found their target. In the second half, Clark tried a through ball that crossed the midfield line; though it was intercepted, he and his teammates were in good spots to defend. He committed two fouls, one early in the half near midfield. Very rarely did he get near the sidelines except when trying to win the ball; with the U.S. in possession, he stayed in the left channel to give Dempsey plenty of room out wide, yet also provided support by stationing himself five to 10 yards away prior to Dempsey taking off on his runs. Occasionally he slid across midfield to aim balls for [b]Landon Donovan[/b].

Of the central pair, Bradley committed more turnovers in the first half, yet got forward on a few occasions, triggered two dangerous attacks with early balls out of the back, and drilled a fierce shot on goal that Schwarzer parried. The active, aggressive Aussies hit a few American players more than once; hard tackles took out Dempsey several times. Clark limped off in stoppage time with a tweaked hamstring, which might have impaired him in the second half as Bradley’s game grew stronger.

Aside from being knocked ass over teakettle in that first-half tackle, Clark did nothing spectacular. To the tasks assigned to him, however, he did most of them well. [/quote]


[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/38394/the-case-for-ricardo-clark.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/38394/the-case-for-ricardo-clark.html[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote]
[color=#FF0000][color=#000000][size=5]English blasted after weak showing

[/size][b][size=1]June 7th, 2010 8:15PM[/size][/b][/color][/color]
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[/color]
[color=#FF0000][USA-ENGLAND COUNTDOWN] [/color]How much should you read into England's limpid performance in its 3-0 win over the vacationing Platinum Stars, one of the weakest teams in the South African Premiership? Probably too much. But it certainly drew a reaction from a livid [b]Fabio Capello[/b] at halftime and sent alarm bells ringing across England.

Capello could be seen screaming at his players as they prepared for the second half, and star [b]Wayne Rooney[/b] was warned that his second-half outburst that earned him a yellow card would warrant a red card in the World Cup.

The English press blasted the Three Lions' performance with such headlines as "Capello on war path" ([url="http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/capello-on-war-path-as-england-produce-leaden-display-in-final-warmup-game-1994154.html"]Independent[/url]), "Raging bulls" ([url="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2010/article-1284774/Fabio-Capello-loses-cool-Wayne-Rooney-loses-plot-World-Cup-warm-win.html"]Daily Mail[/url]), "Not good enough" ([url="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/worldcup2010/3003662/Fabio-Capello-Youre-not-good-enough.html"]Sun[/url]).

The play of the central midfield pair of [b]Steve Gerrard[/b] and [b]Frank Lampard[/b] and outside backs [b]Glen Johnson[/b] (who conceded a penalty the Stars failed to convert) and [b]Ashley Cole [/b]was probably the biggest concern.

Who helped his cause? [b]Ledley King[/b] looks to start Saturday in place of the injured [b]Rio Ferdinand[/b]alongside [b]John Terry[/b] after putting in a solid 45 minutes, and [b]Joe Cole[/b] on the left side of midfield figures to start against the USA after playing the entire 90 minutes.

[b]Joe Hart [/b]appears to have the starting job in goal, and [b]Emile Heskey[/b] should start alongside Rooney.

[b]England (first half) -- [/b]Hart, Johnson, King, Terry, A.Cole, Wright-Phillips, Gerrard, Lampard, Cole, Crouch, Defoe.

[b]England (second half) -- [/b]Green, Carragher, Upson, Dawson, Warnock, Milner, Carrick, Lennon, J. Cole, Rooney, Heskey. [/quote]


[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/38387/english-blasted-after-weak-showing.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/38387/english-blasted-after-weak-showing.html[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote]
[color=#FF0000][color=#000000][size=5]Barry ruled out of opener

[/size][b][size=1]June 7th, 2010 8:16PM[/size][/b][/color][/color]
[color=#FF0000]
[/color]
[color=#FF0000][USA-ENGLAND COUNTDOWN] [/color]England midfielder [b]Gareth Barry[/b] has been ruled out Saturday's Group C match against the United States.

The 29-year-old Manchester City star has been sidelined for more than a month with an ankle ligament injury and he'll only resume full training on Tuesday.

England captain [b]Steve Gerrard[/b] has taken over for Barry in the role of holding midfielder. [/quote]



[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/38388/barry-ruled-out-of-opener.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/38388/barry-ruled-out-of-opener.html[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

LOL

[quote]
[color=#FF0000][color=#000000][size=5]McCarthy dropped for womanizing

[/size][b][size=1]June 7th, 2010 2:12PM[/size][/b][/color][/color]
[color=#FF0000]
[/color]
[color=#FF0000][SOUTH AFRICA][/color] Fitness wasn't only reason star [b]Benni McCarthy[/b] was left off host South Africa's 23-player squad for the World Cup.

According to South Africa press reports, McCarthy and goalkeeper[b]Rowen Fernandez[/b] were dropped by Coach Carlos [b]Alberto Parreira[/b]after the Brazilian was shown closed-circuit tape of them bringing women to their rooms at the team hotel after South Africa's friendly against Colombia on May 27, five days before final rosters were due.

When Parreira made his final cuts, he did not talk about individuals but commented that "We applied five principles when making our choices."

McCarthy apparently failed two principles: fitness and discipline. [/quote]


[url="http://www.socceramerica.com/article/38385/mccarthy-dropped-for-womanizing.html"]http://www.socceramerica.com/article/38385/mccarthy-dropped-for-womanizing.html[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote]
[color=#333333][font=arial, sans-serif][size=4][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3]
[b][size=5]World Cup 2010: Martin Peters says draw with USA no cause for despair[/size][/b]
[/size][/font]

[font=arial, sans-serif]
[/font]

[font=arial, sans-serif]Martin Peters believes [url="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/england"]England[/url] must not despair if their halting preparation for the World Cup leads to dropped points against the [url="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/usfootballteam"]USA[/url]on Saturday.[/font]

[font=arial, sans-serif]England were hit last week by Rio Ferdinand's injury after two disappointing warm-up matches. But Peters, who scored in England's 4–2 victory over West Germany in the 1966 final, said that the key to winning a World Cup is to build momentum gradually and that players who do not feature in the opening game may well have a big role to play in South Africa.[/font]

[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#333333][font=arial, sans-serif][size=4]"Starting well would be welcome but it's not imperative," he said. "In 1966 England drew 0-0 with Uruguay and Geoff Hurst and me were in the stands, and very happy to be a part of the squad, I may say. Who would have thought then that five games later he would score three and I would score one in the World Cup final? You build momentum as the tournament goes on and you have to be aware that things can change. There's no need to despair if England draw with the USA – they're a very capable side."[font=arial, sans-serif]Peters, 66, was speaking in London yesterday at the launch of Betfair's England mood-o-meter. England play USA on Saturday in their opening match, with a match against Algeria six days later and a final group game against Slovenia on 23 June.[/font]

[font=arial, sans-serif]"I've been saying the same thing for about six weeks now," said Peters. "If they're fit and they don't suffer any injuries to our better players, then we have a chance. Now, of course, Rio Ferdinand has been injured, Matthew Upson's ill and there are always worries about Ledley King but they still have a decent chance of doing well.[/font]

[font=arial, sans-serif]"I think King or Michael Dawson are more than adequate replacements, I don't like that word adequate actually – they are very good replacements. I still work at Spurs and have seen a lot of both of them this season and Dawson has been exceptional.[/font]

[font=arial, sans-serif]"I think King and John Terry should start against the USA because that's probably going to be a more difficult game than Algeria and then Michael could come in for that game and give Ledley a break if he needs it because they'll have to be careful with him. I expect Fabio Capello to mix and match with those guys to protect Ledley as much as he can.[/font]

[font=arial, sans-serif]"It strikes me there are similarities between Capello and Sir Alf [Ramsey] in the way they go about the running of the England team, the players all know what's expected of them. They've got to do the right things at the right time or they know they will be out.[/font]

[/size][/font][/color][color=#333333][font=arial, sans-serif][size=4]"Alf was perhaps even stricter about discipline. He would come into the lounge at the Hendon Hall Hotel at 10pm and just switch the TV off and say: 'Good night, gentlemen.' And that would be it; we'd have to go to bed. If you didn't do what he said we were never under any illusion that we would not be picked next time. I think that's the same scenario with Capello. The players are always kept on their toes."[/size][/font][/color] [/quote]


[url="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jun/08/world-cup-2010-england-martin-peters"]http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jun/08/world-cup-2010-england-martin-peters[/url]

[MAGICTOUCH]

[quote]
[font="georgia,"]
[b][size="5"]For ESPN and Univision, the U.S. Is a Soccer Country[/size][/b]

[b][size="1"]By [/size][url="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/s/richard_sandomir/index.html?inline=nyt-per"][size="1"]RICHARD SANDOMIR[/size][/url][/b]
[b][size="1"]Published: June 7, 2010[/size][/b]
[list][*][/list][/font]
[font="georgia,"][color="#000000"][size="2"][url="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/espn/index.html?inline=nyt-org"]ESPN[/url] and Univision are paying more than ever to carry the World Cup in the United States, proof that the quadrennial soccer tournament that begins Friday keeps increasing in value.[/size][/color][/font]
[font="georgia,"][color="#000000"] [/color][/font]
[font="georgia,"][color="#000000"][size="2"]"If you ranked World Cup viewing by countries going back to 1998, the U.S. ranked 23rd," said Kevin Alavy, director of Initiative Sports Futures, a London-based analysis firm. "In 2002, the U.S. jumped to 13th, and in 2006, it jumped again to 8th place. And we expect America to keep on jumping."[/size][/color][color="#000000"][size="2"]In 2006, the ESPN-ESPN2-ABC broadcasts of the World Cup reached 70.2 million viewers while Univision reached 29.5 million, according to Nielsen Media Research.[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]If soccer isn't as popular in the United States as it is in Europe and South America, it is more firmly established than ever. And ESPN's World Cup marketing push is the largest it has undertaken for a single event.[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]"We're definitely selling the World Cup as if the U.S. has been converted to soccer," said Ed Erhardt, the president of ESPN customer marketing and sales. "It's a more diverse country than it's ever been."[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]ESPN is paying $100 million for the rights to two World Cups and two Women's World Cups through 2014 — up from $11 million in 1994 and $22 million in 1998.[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]For the package of rights that included the 2006 World Cup, ESPN got a break. Soccer United Marketing, created by [url="http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/news/sports/soccer/major-league-soccer/index.html?inline=nyt-org"]Major League Soccer[/url], paid $40 million to FIFA, soccer's world governing body, for the United States rights, then rented the time on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC to show the games.[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]Univision is paying $325 million for the current package of domestic Spanish-language rights, up from its previous fee of about $125 million. It is allocating about $155 million of its total payment to this year's tournament.[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]"Univision is the home of the World Cup in so many ways," said Cesar Conde, the president of Univision Networks. "We've had it since 1978. It's a real passion point for our audience, our talent and our employees."[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]Asked if Univision would make a profit from the World Cup, Conde was noncommittal.[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]"It's an incredibly important event that has so many benefits for us — monetary, tangible, intangible," he said.[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]Univision and ESPN said they were each close to selling out their commercial time.[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]"We've exceeded all our expectations for every part of the portfolio," Erhardt said. Most of the 30 percent jump in ad revenue on [url="http://espn.com/"]ESPN.com[/url] is attributable to the World Cup, he said. It is not surprising that with so many advertisers in ESPN's World Cup fold that the current issue of ESPN magazine is its thickest ever.[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]John Skipper, ESPN's executive vice president for content, said that the challenge of paying a good-size rights fee (although it is cheap compared to many other events it has) and selling the advertising would be "financially advantageous" because it lets ESPN unleash its various platforms.[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]"We're not just doing matches, but 230 hours of studio shows, including a daily preview, daily wrap-ups," Skipper said. "We have three networks, three digital sites, radio. Four years ago, what we did was fairly modest."[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]ESPN and Univision are offering strikingly similar viewing options. Among ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC, all 64 games will be shown live; all will be available in high definition, and all will be streamed on [url="http://espn3.com/"]ESPN3.com[/url]. Twenty-five games will be carried in 3-D. Univision and its sibling network, TeleFutura, will carry all of the games live, in HD, and stream them at[url="http://univisionfutbol.com/"]UnivisionFutbol.com[/url].[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]"We bring our blood, sweat and tears to cover this event," Conde said. "Soccer runs through our veins."[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]Univision has not had to change how it presents soccer. Its announcers bring an intense patter to nearly everything they say and draw in some viewers who do not understand Spanish. "They feel it's painful not to be engaged," Conde said. "So they say, 'I'm tuning to you guys even if I don't understand what they're saying.' "[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]ESPN is not fretting about defections to Univision. But viewer satisfaction and lack of deep expertise was enough of a concern to import announcers from Britain (Martin Tyler, Ian Darke, Derek Rae and Adrian Healey).[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]The decision atones for the decision to use Dave O'Brien, a baseball announcer who had never called a soccer game until months before he became ESPN's lead 2006 World Cup announcer. O'Brien was criticized for mistakes he made and his lack of knowledge about soccer's nuances.[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]Skipper said his decision to hire British relief was made after the European Championship in 2008, when Healey and Rae Anglicized ESPN's broadcasts. "We didn't try to Americanize the games or overexplain what's going on," Skipper said. "We assumed there were sophisticated viewers and it worked."[/size][/color]

[color="#000000"][size="2"]Skipper's inclination sounds right. Why not seek experienced soccer voices from places where soccer is more popular?[/size][/color]

[/font][font="georgia,"]Only one American, John Harkes, will be analyzing ESPN's games from South Africa. His colleagues are the former players Efan Ekoku, an English-born Nigerian, and Robbie Mustoe, an Englishman. None of the studio analysts, save for Alexi Lalas, are Americans. Asked if ESPN had gone too far in its de-Americanization policy, Skipper said, "I think people will be happy with our breadth of talent."[/font] [/quote]


[url="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/08/sports/soccer/08sandomir.html"]http://www.nytimes.c...08sandomir.html[/url]