Vuvuzela South Africa

Carlos Alberto Parreira snubbed by Francew coach Domenech

France Coach Raymond Domenech refused to shake South African coach Carlos Alberto Parreira’s had after the Bafana Bafana vs France match in Bloemfontein yesterday.

2 -1 Victory for Bafana Bafana

At the end of the 2-1 victory for Bafana Bafana — which saw both  teams crash out of the World Cup — the ex-Olympique Lyonnais supremo swept aside etiquette to ignore Parreira’s handshake. If his rude and uncooth behaviour is supposed to set an example, it is no wonder his team went out of control

According to Kickoff. the snub is rumoured to have centred on the Brazilian’s previous declaration that France did not deserve to qualify for the tournament.

This whole week’s run-p to yesterday afternoon’s Group A finale symbolised the climax of the 58-year-old’s crisis-hit spell in charge of Les Bleus for the past four years.

Snub About France’s Qualification

South Africa coach Parreira believes the snub was in response to comments he had made about France’s controversial qualification for the finals when Thierry Henry’s infamous handball helped to see off the Republic of Ireland, says football365

Parreira said: “I believe it was because I had criticised his team after they qualified, but I really don’t remember.

“This is what his assistants told me.”

Laurent Blanc to Take Over

I am sure the French team ( and government) will be relieved that former Girondins de Bordeaux boss Laurent Blanc to take control after the 2010 World Cup.

Image: football 365

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It’s the final week before the World Cup starts and I have to admit the mood in England isn’t quite what I expected. Let me explain.

Guest Blogpost By Mike Towers World Cup Bafana Bafana

Here in England we have a history of approaching World Cups with levels of hysteria and hype not seen since the days of Roman bacchanalia.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying we all have a drunken mass orgy; the Daily Mail would have a fit. It’s just that we tend to get a bit over-excited.

As a result the UK papers are usually packed to the rafters with hyperbolic statements proclaiming ‘this is our year’ and so on. For some reason this has yet to happen.

Credit to Coach Fabio Capello

Some of the credit must go to Coach Fabio Capello. He laid down the law on expectations last year. ‘Keep them modest and plan to win without shouting too much’ seemed to be his strategy.

So far it is working, although the mood may change depending on what happens in the group games against the US, Algeria and Slovenia.

A lot will also depend on how the team copes with the loss of Rio Ferdinand. Opinion is, not surprisingly, divided on the possible impact of the defender’s injury. Some say he will be badly missed, others that he was an accident waiting to happen, a weak link.

I’m in the latter camp. Ferdinand has hardly played all season and often struggled to play more than three games before breaking down again. Better that it happened now, rather than in a game.

Captain Steven Gerrard

Besides, his replacement as captain is Steven Gerrard. While the Liverpool midfielder didn’t have the best of seasons, and the days when he could inspire famous victories such as the Istanbul Champions League Final in 2005 may be behind him, Gerrard’s drive and determination still can turn games.

Gerrard also has an excellent on and off field relationship with Wayne Rooney, England’s talismanic striker. Much will depend on how they link up; as striker and midfielder, or as striker supported by Gerrard playing in the hole between the opposition’s defence and midfield.

The England squad has plenty of other strong players too; from the Chelsea contingent of Lampard, Terry and the two Coles (Ashley and Joe), to striker Peter Crouch, midfielder James Milner, and winger Aaron Lennon. Don’t count us out because one player is injured.

That’s the picture from here as we count down towards Friday. Confident but not arrogant, relaxed but not complacent. Let’s see if I can say the same after the England – US game in Rustenberg on June 12th.

Best of luck to Bafana Bafana and everyone at Vuvuzela South Africa.

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Lionel Messi - Barcelona and Argentina Striker

Lionel Messi lived up to his billing as the best player in the world with four goals to end Arsenal’s Champions League dream in the Nou Camp.

You know a player is VERY good when the opposition’s manager hits world headline praising him. Arsene Wenger, Arsenal’s manger is singing Lionel Messi’s praises at the top of his voice this morning in spite of the fact that the Argentinian national wiped his team out of the Champions league single handedly with a crushing 4 -1  victory.

Shock Lead for Gunners at 18 Minutes

The night started off OK for Arsenal when Nicklas Bendtner fired the Gunners into a shock lead on 18 minutes. But their joy was short-lived as Messi struck a brilliant 21-minute hat-trick, before compounding Arsenal’s misery with a fourth late on.

In the guardian.co. uk, Wenger likened Barça’s brilliant Argentinian to a computer creation. “He’s like a PlayStation,” he said. I think he can take advantage of every mistake you make. Barcelona are a very good side but of course they have Messi who can make the difference at any moment in the game.”

Wenger Says Messi is the Greatest

Wenger also believes the 22-year-old can go on to become one of the great players of all-time. “He is very young but he can achieve a lot. There are not many players who can score four goals like he did.

“He has six or seven great years ahead of him and he can become unbelievable. Touch wood nothing happens to him,” he said.

And as  Barcelona striker Lionel Messi takes his tally for the season to 39, he stressed the importance of team effort in his brilliant finishing after his four goals against Arsenal last night.

Image: Barcelona’s Lionel Messi  by Thunderhead on Flickr

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South African Fans of English soccer can look forward to seeing their heroes in action here in 2010 as the English team has just booked its place in next year’s World Cup finals with an inspired 5 -1 win over Croatia. (Two goals each from Frank Lampard and Steve Gerrard and one from Wayne Rooney).

England Qualified With 24 Points

England have qualified with 24 points from their eight games. Croatia is second on 17 with one more match to play. They are ahead of Ukraine on 15 points, who have two matches to play after drawing 0-0 with Belarus on Wednesday.

Ghana Qualifies for 2010 World Cup

Ghana has become the first African team, besides South Africa, to qualify for the 2010 World Cup  after a 2 -0 defeat of Sudan and Serbian coach Milovan Rajevac became the second man from that country -in succession- to take the Black Stars  to the World Cup. Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien and Inter Milan midfielder Sulley Muntari scored the goals.

This past weekend Tunisia remained the top team in Group B as Nigeria failed to overcome the North Africans in Abuja.

Egypt and Cameroon both won away from home to keep alive their chances of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

France vs Serbia 1-1

Serbia moved to within three points of the World Cup on Wednesday with a 1-1 draw at home to France, whose hopes of automatic qualification remain alive after a brave 10-man showing.

A Quarter of Qualifiers for 2010 World Cup are Known

A quarter of the 32 qualifying nations for the first 2010 FIFA World Cup to be staged in South Africa are now known, with Ghana joining Australia, Brazil, Japan, the Netherlands, Korea DPR, Korea Republic and hosts South Africa.

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Former Bafana Bafana Captain Lucas Radebe was introduced yesterday by Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk, the Minister of Tourism, as South African Tourism’s 2010 ambassador to the world. Minister van Schalkwyk made the announcement at an event in Sandton where he also launched a Brand Messaging Book for Tourism for South Africans.

In 2004, the 40-year-old Soweto-born former Kaizer Chiefs and Leeds United captain was ranked 54th in the Top 100 Great South Africans.

Ten things you may (or may not) know about Lucas Radebe

• He was born in Diepkloof, Soweto on 12 April 1969, one of a family of 10 children
• He spent his young adulthood in the former homeland of Bophuthatswana where he started playing football to help him cope with boredom.
• He made his international debut playing for South Africa against Cameroon on 7 July 1992 and went on to earn 70 caps for South Africa.
• Kaizer Chiefs ‘sold’ Radebe to Leeds United in 1994 for 250 000.
• His nickname at Leeds, ‘The Chief’, was given to him by the fans in acknowledgement of his star defense player qualities.
• Lucas Radebe captained Leeds United from 1998 to 2002. He retired from football in 2005.
• Last year a local brewery (near Leeds’ home ground, Elland Road) asked for public suggestions for a new beer name. ‘Radebebeer’ was proposed by thousands in his honour..
• He counts former President Nelson Mandela and Gary Player among his close personal friends..
• In December 2000, he received the FIFA Fair Play Award for his efforts to rid soccer of racism as well as for his work with children in South Africa.
• Kaiser Chiefs, the English indie rock band from Leeds took its name from the iconic South African football team of the same name because Lucas Radebe played for them once as a defender.

(Source info.gov.za)

Photo: Lucas Radebe “The Chief“

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