Memorable moments of 2010 World Cup

Every World Cup has its memorable moments and the 2010 edition that kicked off in South Africa on June 11 has produced plenty of them so far. We take a look at the highs and lows achieved by the competing teams in the opening rounds.

Aging Italy suffer embarrassing exit

Defending champions Italy lost their last match to Slovakia — a result that sent them packing out of the quadrennial spectacle. But the battle for survival against the Slovaks wasn’t short of drama as the Italians lost 2-3 after two contentious decisions went against them.

Coach Marcello Lippi was always in the firing line for dropping Alessendro del Piero, Francesco Totti and Giuseppe Rossi from his squad.

Lack of world-class attacking prowess proved to be the downfall for the defending champions.

France knocked out

They played three, lost two and drew one and were deservedly sent packing home after the first round. That was the story for France, who turned out to be the biggest flops of the 2010 event.

A goalless draw against Uruguay wasn’t the kind of start the French were looking for. Then Mexico humiliated them rubbing salt on their wounds by blanking them 2-0.

Anelka’s foul-mouthed outburst at coach Raymond Domenech sparked a chaotic chain of events, with the striker being kicked out of the team. Players were enraged by the Anelka episode and refused to train the other day. Captain Patrice Evra fought with fitness coach Robert Duverne. Domenech had to separate the two men after tempers flared, and Duverne left the field in a fury.

The team was left in disarray after the rebellion and Domenech left out six players of starting eleven for the final match against South Africa, including skipper Patrice Evra. South Africa handed them a knockout punch by beating them 2-1.

Slick Argentina prove critics wrong

All time great Maradona faced some scathing criticism when he arrived in South Africa for picking six strikers — Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguerro, Diego Milito and Martin Palermo for the showcase event. Critics predicted that Argentina will falter in South Africa. But Messi, the World player of the year, along with other teammates sent a resounding message to the world and the critics by beating Nigeria 1-0, South Korea 4-1 and Greece 2-0 to reach the next stage unblemished.

Switzerland stun Spain in a major upset

It was supposed to be a mismatch but became the upset of the initial stages when the lowly Swiss stunned Spain, of the pre-tournament favourites.

Spain were expected to go on a rampage against Switzerland with the likes of David Villa, Fernando Torres, Xavi, David Silva and Xabi Alonso in their ranks but Swiss defense turned out to be rock solid.

Hosts South Africa eliminated

Bafana bafana became the first host nation in World Cup history not to qualify beyond the first round. But even they failed to reach the second round, Carlos Alberto Parreira’s team gave fans some exciting stuff. South Africa was levelled on points with Mexico but the Latin Americans had a better goal difference which proved significant in downfall of the hosts.

Portugal in seventh heaven

Portuguese players displayed breathtaking football punctuated with fluidity and flair against the North Koreans which will go down as one of the finest performances in World Cup history. Cristiano Ronaldo and company ran riot, scoring seven goals against the minnows.

Pakistan and the World Cup

Monday, May 31, 2010
by Abdul Ahad Farshori

The rutted, dusty pitches at the disposal of Pakistan's youth are a world away from the International Leagues and their all-seater stadiums, manicured turf and big-money stars. But for thousands of young boys from the streets of the country, playing football on the hard ground and some times even on the streets is, nonetheless, like an appearance at Old Trafford, Anfield or Stamford Bridge. For these young aspiring players the beautiful game matters most at that point.

An excited crowd shelters from the sweltering sun under a makeshift stand and cheer on their friends, brothers, sisters, sons or daughters just to keep their hope of becoming a football star alive. For the length of a game, there is no friendship no relation whatsoever it just comes down to winning or losing.

A nation where cricket is said to be religiously followed, a month long fiesta is what aspires hordes of people to play the game and stick to it for at least that month. Each individual picking a team and sticking to until it loses, and than move on to support a different side. An act only justified by the part that Pakistan is not playing the FIFA World Cup.

Role-playing is what becomes common, if a player is doing great in the tournament everyone wants to be him irrespective of the fact which position he plays on.

Beckham is what everyone wants to be in every World Cup, but the honour have been shared by Ronaldo and Zidane in 2002, in 2006 it started with Ronaldo but it was Ronaldinho who took over the reign during the world cup and the favouritism for the player was a lasting one.

And when they are not on the field it is the TV they are glued to.

Yes, even in Pakistan the craze is there. Moreover, when there is a group watching a match together the cheers can match that of any sports bar in the world. I said loyalties are temporary but until they last there is nothing more to the game than the team being supported. So which team will Pakistan as a nation favour in the latest edition of the World Cup?

A name that is these days synonymous with football in Pakistan is Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal. Although a team relatively unknown in the country, will garner enough support from the nation just because they will want Ronaldo to fire in the 32 nation spectacle. Another team that will have abundance of support will be of England. Maybe Beckham may not be playing this time but his presence at the sideline will be enough get the crowds cheering for the English side. English Premier League may also be factor.

The dynamic duo of Argentinean greats Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi may not have had a large impact on the field but no better sight for a sport fan than to see the World's best player being guided by the World's best ever player.

Spain's recent form on the field and their surge to the top ranking (they are currently second) in the world has made them favourites to win the World Cup and there are without a doubt quite a few people who may not want to bet their money on anyone other than Spain for the title.

Whatever side you support in Pakistan but when Brazil, currently World no 1, plays you want them to win just to keep the samba going. It is their sheer excellence on the field that entertains the crowds and keep them coming back to support them.

Italy cannot be counted out, as defending champions they automatically are expected to put on a good show and prove the crowds -- relatively new to football -- that the glory they achieved four years ago was not a fluke.

Zidane is now retired and is no longer part of the French team in this World Cup but his heroics of the last two editions of the last two spectacles have had a few people talking about the France's chances in South Africa.

Although we may not be a part of the 32 nations playing for glory but we take it very seriously and each move, each goal, every action will have its critics. As the FIFA World Cup 2010 gets ready to hit our screens, the loyalties have been decided the lines have been drawn and wait is of June 11.

The final run-in

Monday, May 31, 2010
by Umaid Wasim

The Seleceao have arrived and so have the Socceroos -- the FIFA World Cup is just twelve days away and the teams are heading into their final run-in ahead of the quadrennial spectacle that would be hosted for the first time in the African continent. 'South Africa is ready' is the loud message from the World Cup organisers and the arrival of the mighty Brazilians on Thursday, was a sign big enough that the country, that only got out of their apartheid era in 1991, is all set and ready to host the biggest event of them all.

While the European season got over last Saturday in a glittering finale at Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu with Inter Milan lifting the UEFA Champions League, the prevailing sense of occasion and the talk of a certain Jose Mourinho taking over at Real Madrid as their manager quickly faded away as the World Cup took centre-stage with players returning to their national team camps to prepare for the biggest stage of them all. Had it not been the World Cup, the European season which basically started and ended in Madrid would have in effect stayed there and just like last year, the focus would have been in what was happening in the Spanish Capital.

When Florentino Perez took over the Real Madrid presidency last year, he brought in top stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema in a massive spending spree as Europe, coming out of the doldrums of economic recession, watched in utter disbelief. The aim was to see Real playing in the Champions League final at their own stadium and probably winning it. When that dream did not materialise, Real got the man who had his crowning glory at the Bernabeu last week -- Jose Mourinho. Mourinho guided an Inter Milan team so appalling in Europe's premier club competition in recent years to their first title in 45 years. The arrival of the 'Special One', however, might not get the hype it deserves since unlike last season, a vast majority of the footballing fraternity has shifted its eyes from the sunny climes of Spain to the chilly winters in South Africa.

Talking about Spain though, they are one of the favourites at the World Cup. The European champions have had a timely boost with the return to training of Liverpool striker Fernanado Torres.

Torres was one of the stars of Spain's successful Euro 2008 campaign and he is pivotal for Spain's chances at the Cup. He is a part of Spain's impressive forward-line along with David Villa -- who has just been snapped up by La Liga winners Barcelona for 40 million pounds from Valencia.

Spain have major injury concerns in midfield with Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas and Barcelona's Andres Iniesta. Spain's hopes rest on the dynamic duo and coach Vicente del Bosque would have a major headache regarding his team. Both have had a lack of match practice and Del Bosque would need to have to work to sharpen them up to have a chance of winning an elusive World Cup for the country.

Spain go into the World Cup as the second-ranked team in the World. The FIFA rankings are led by Brazil and they go into the World Cup as the top team. The Brazilians had Kaka returning to training on Wednesday in a major boost to their preparations for the tournament. Kaka has had an uninspiring campaign for Real since his arrival at the Bernabeu but he would nevertheless be the most important player for the Seleceao during their Cup campaign. The Brazilians are avoiding media briefings as they look to keep away the mistakes they made in the previous edition if the World Cup in 2006 when they bowed out at the quarter-final stage.

Defending champions Italy have been criticised for having aging players in their squad and not having a good mix of youth and experience. And even though the fact that European club champions are from Italy, coach Marcelli Lippi's squad hinges greatly on Juventus players -- players who have had a miserable season last year.

Lippi dropped Juve left-back Fabio Grosso out of his preliminary squad. And now it seems like his fellow teammate Mauro Camoranesi would follow suit. However, with goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, striker Vincenzo Iaquinta, midfielder Claudio Marchisio and defenders Giorgio Chiellini and Fabio Cannavaro in the Azzuri squad, Lippi would need Juventus players to get over the effects of their disastrous season if they are to retain the trophy.

Apart from that, his squad will rely upon AC Milan's Andrea Pirlo in midfield who too has not had a good season at the Rossoneri.

All in all the squad looks a little light-weight to the one that featured in last year's World Cup. It does not seem as if Italy have learnt the lessons from their horror showing at the Confederations Cup last year and not taking the flamboyant Antonio Cassano and Roma's evergreen Francesco Totti might just backfire.

France, who Italy beat in the final four years ago, have had problems of their own. Coach Raymond Domenech has gone with a youthful side with Thierry Henry the only member of the Les Blues squad that were crowned world champions in 1998. Their recent showing against Costa Rica in a warmup match, was not satisfactory enough to give them a chance of winning the event. France have struggled in the past few tournaments. What they need though is Domenech gelling them up and star player Franck Ribery to play the role that Zinedine Zidane used to do with great authority for the Blues.

Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal has said that none of the Bayern players would be winning the World Cup. He may effectively rule out Ribery's chances which already look slim but the Dutch and the Argentineans in his squad stand a very good chance of winning.

Netherlands were ruthless in their warmup match against Mexico in the week. Arsenal striker Robin Van Persie was beack to his goal-scoring best and with the service that would be supplied to him by Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijer, he could be one of the stars of the showpiece. Argentina meanwhile have coach Diego Maradona saying that he would dance naked if they win the World Cup and the way his squad routed Canada 5-0, it may look likely that we may have the chance to see the football maestro covered in nothing.

Lionel Messi would be fighting with Cristiano Ronaldo for the title of the worldís best player but Ronaldo would need to do something out of his skin to win the World Cup for the Portuguese and beat Messi as well ñ- a task that he never has been able to achieve for the national team.

England meanwhile, would have to assess Gareth Barry's fitness ahead of the World Cup. Coach Fabio Capello has said that he would wait for the midfielder to prove his fitness till the deadline day that he has to submit his squad.

England lacked ball-winning abilities in their friendly against Mexico and were over-run in midfield. With Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard providing a more attacking potent, they would need Barry to provide cover at the back when they roam forward.

With the starting date for the World Cup coming closer, the final run-ins usually give a good definition of how a team fares. Twelve days before the spectacle starts, the tension is mounting!

The FIFA World Cup 2010 is being held from June 11 in South Africa, who are hosting it for the first time.
The Football World Cup has a long history of 80 years beginning from 1930 when the then president of the International Football Federation (FIFA) Jules Rimet’s dream came true organizing the first ever World Cup tournament....