Shakira Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) (The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup 2010)

Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)
The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup 2010 by Shakira

Music video by Shakira featuring Freshlyground performing Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) (The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup (TM) Song). (C) 2010 Sony Music Entertainment



N Ow let see Shakira Performing at Kick off Celebration World cup 2010

Shakira -WAKA WAKA -FIFA World Cup 2010 Celebration(HQ) 

 

Gorgeous Shakira at the kick-off celebration concert for the 2010 FIFA World Cup

Shakira Looked Gorgeous At The World Cup Concert

 

Shakira performed “Hips Don’t Lie” and her official World Cup song, “Waka Waka” during the kick-off celebration concert for the 2010 FIFA World Cup last night at the Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg / Soweto.
Thankfully I found 32 pictures of the Colombian beauty in action because the director was more interested in showing useless wide angled shots of the crowd meaning we missed out on most of Shakira’s hip shaking skills.

South Korea beat Greece in the World Cup 2010

Port Elizabeth - South Korea's struggle in World Cup began in 2010 with positive results. 2-0 victory over Greece was recorded by Park Ji-sung et al. With this result, the South Korea for a while memuncaki Group B.

South Korea scored in the match in Port Elizabeth Stadium on Saturday (12/06/2010) is printed by Lee Jung-soo and Park Ji-Sung.

This victory brought the team nicknamed "Taegu Knight" led the group B standings with three points from the results once the victory of one game.

The Games
Greece opens opportunities through spurn Vassillis Torosidis in the third minute corner that welcomes football. But his kick was deviated to the left of the South Korean goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong guarded.

Korea opened the scoring in the seventh minute. This goal started from a free kick from the left side released the Greek defense. The ball that led to the far right pole struck by Lee Jung-soo is less stringent and successful getting ripped escort Greek goalkeeper Alexandros dijagai Tzorvas.

South Korea again has a chance at minute 22. Kim Jung-woo feed into the penalty box successfully received by Lee Chung-yong. But the execution falls off the names of both are still far from target.

Five minutes later, the representative of Asia have the opportunity to mature. Breakthrough bait Park Ji-sung successfully received by Park Chu-young. Furthermore, players were numbered won ten fights back ran against Avraam Papadopoulos and stay face to face with goalkeeper Tzorvas. AS Monaco player but the execution could still dikandaskan Tzorvas.

Near the end of the first round, diagonal feed Loukas Vyntra South Korea led to the penalty box where there stood Theofanis Gekas. But goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong catch the ball first.

South Korea's further away. In minute 51, Park Ji-sung double representatives of Asia's advantage.

Gol Park originated from the mistakes of Avraam Papadopoulus control the ball. The next round of skin can be taken by Manchester United midfielder.

Park then made it through the Guard and Papadopoulus Vyntra and ending with the execution of actions that tore the Greek goal.

One hour into the game, South Korea has a number of opportunities. The first is tandukan Park Chu-Young who welcomes feedback Cha Du-ri who still pass on the Greek goal.

Next is Kim Jung-woo puncture the kick can still be thwarted by Vyntra.

Greek opportunities present in minute 67. However salto kick disposed Theofanis Gekas still hovers over the South Korean goalkeeper.

Next Dimitros Salpingidis and Pantelis Kapetanos turn creates a threat. But the efforts of two replacement players Greece has not yet been fruitless.

Invasive Salpingidis still can be caught goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong, while the kick bounced Kapetanos still above the South Korean goalkeeper.

Gekas? Ten minutes to disperse the back of the player numbered 17 this has ripe opportunity. Starting from the time the bait Giorkas Seitaridis on South Korean players, the ball fell to the feet Gekas next.

Gekas then circular motion fooled Yonghyung and release execution. But Jung Sung-ryong managed to ward off the ball with one hand.

South Korean efforts to increase the benefits of two times dikandaskan by Tzorvas. Goalkeepers numbered 12 was dismissed kick backs Lee Chungyong at minute 86 and minute Jungwoo intermittent incursion.


The composition Players

South Korea: Jung Sung-ryong, Cha Du-ri, Cho Yong-hyung, Lee Jung-soo, Lee Young-Pyo, Kim Jung-woo, Ki Sung-yong (Kim Nam-il 74 '), Lee Chung-yong (Kim Jae-sung 90 '), Park Ji-sung, Yeom Ki-hun, Park Chu-young (Lee Seung-yeoul 86')

Greece: Alexandros Tzorvas, Avraam Papadopoulos, Giourkas Seitaridis, Vassillis Torosidis, Loukas Vyntra, Giorgos Karagounis (Christos Patsatzoglu 46 ') Konstantinos Katsouranis, Alexandros Tziolis, Angelos Charisteas (Pantelis Kapetanos 60'), Theofanis Gekas, Georgios Samaras (Dimitros Salpingidis 59 ') (nar / Roz)

France detained 10 Players Uruguay at World Cup 2010

Cape Town - France and Uruguay had to share a single digit after the match between them in Group A ended 0-0. Uruguay himself playing with 10 men in the last 10 minutes.
The battle between two former world champions who were held at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday (06/12/2010) pm dawn, it was, lasted a flat and tend to dull.

Not many golden opportunities that can be obtained by both teams. As a result, during the 90 minutes not a single goal created.

This result makes France and Uruguay remain in third position and fourth Group A with a value of one. Above them are the same for South Africa and Mexico both have a point but their goal record of 1-1.

The game
Minutes of the sixth, the French actually reap a valuable opportunity. From Franck Ribery cross from the left wing, the ball disontek Sydney Govou but her sideways on the left goalpost Uruguay.
The young goalkeeper Hugo Lloris made a mistake in the 12th minute when he failed to catch the ball in his own penalty box. Lucky it was not a fatal error and before the ball was taken, players of Uruguay, Lloris securing the round leather.

Uruguay fight back when threatened to walk a quarter hours. Controlling the ball in the penalty box, Diego Forlan off hard kick right foot which can still be rejected Lloris.
After Lloris, turn Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera acting saves in 17 minutes. Muslera dismissed ball free kick from Yoann Gourcuff left ribs.

After two such opportunities, there is no more valuable opportunities that can be printed both teams. Consequently, when the referee blew the long whistle marks the break, the score remained 0-0.
Lack of opportunities in the first half continued in the second half. In fact, new opportunities are created in the 59th minute, that is for France. Gourcuff's free-kick but the kick off to Ribery second name was widened.

Uruguay tried to find a gap through the dead ball. 63 minutes, Forlan drove a free kick hard enough to hurdle the French, but goalkeeper Lloris menjinakannya swiftly.
Forlan again failed to maximize the chances that he can be when the ball is kicked, continue breast feed from Luis Suarez, does not meet the target due to the side.

Minute 80, the force of Uruguay have one less person when Nicolas Lodeiro new entrants in the mid-second round to get a second yellow card due to violation of Bacary Sagna.
In the rest of the time, France was not able to maximize the benefits of the number of players they have. In the 88th minute, Thierry Henry's shot hit the hand looks Uruguayan players but the referee ignored Henry's penalty claims.

When the referee blew the long whistle marks the end of the game, no goal is created and the glasses became final conclusions match the two teams.

The composition of players
Uruguay: 1-Fernando Muslera; 2-Diego Lugano, 3-Diego Godin, six-Mauricio Victorino, 16-Maximiliano Pereira, 15-Diego Perez (8-Sebastian Eguren 87), 17-Egidio Arevalo, 18, Ignacio Gonzalez (14 Nicolas Lodeiro-63); 11-Alvaro Pereira, 9-Luis Suarez (13-Sebastian Abreu 73), 10-Diego Forlan.

France: 1-Hugo Lloris; 2-Bacary Sagna, 3-Eric Abidal, 5-William Gallas, 13-Patrice Evra; 8-Yoann Gourcuff (15-Florent Malouda 75), 14-Jeremy Toulalan, 19-Abou Diaby; 10 -Sidney Govou (11-Pierre Andre Gignac 85), 21-Nicolas Anelka (12-Henry 71), 7-Franck Ribery

WorldCup 2010 First Match !

WorldCup 2010 First Match !

Mexican player Rafael Marquez, interrupting the host South Africa's hopes for winning the 2010 World Cup opening match. Marquez scored the equalizer 79 minutes into 1-1 after 59 minutes before the players Siphiwe Tshabalala of South Africa World Cup opened the scoring with a beautiful kick into the top left corner of the goal of Mexico. Marquez controlled the ball from Andres Guardado's cross, in order to conquer the South African goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, in a game that took place in a high tempo.  

Mexico performed better than the host throughout the match, but the Bafana Bafana team is winning first through a goal from Tshabalala. South Africa is actually still have a chance to win the game but at the end of the game Katlego attacker has successfully passed the goalkeeper Oscar Perez, but his kick on the goalposts. But seeing the overall appearance, upbringing team coach Carlos Alberto Parreira's Brazilian was lucky to be called a draw in the match in front of an estimated 84 490 spectators at the Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg.

Let's see how the goals and goal opportunities occur, in the first game of the 2010 World Cup, from the video below

WorlCup 2010 South Africa 1-0 Mexico GOAL S.Tshabalala (11/06/10)

WORLD CUP 2010 South Africa vs Mexico [1-1] GOAL  Rafael Marquez

 

Best WorldCup Football Fans

WorldCup Fifa World football party in 2010 will begin again, let's look behind the class of fan excitement and craziness of the 2006 World CupWe have seen videos from Youtube madness and joy Fans WorldCup

FIFA World Cup 2010 - Compatible with Nintendo™ Wii

FIFA World Cup 2010
Electronic Arts

Compatible with Nintendo™ Wii
For US/Canada systems.

ORDER HERE (limited available)

EA SPORTS™ celebrates the single largest sporting event on the planet with the only official and exclusively licensed videogame for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.

Experience all the emotion and passion of the world¡¦s fiercest national rivalries as you live the dream of competing against fans from around the world for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. Take on the challenge of leading your home nation from qualification right through to a virtual re-creation of the FIFA World Cup Final™ and feel what it is like to score the goal that lifts a nation.


For the first time ever, play out the 2010 FIFA World CupTM in a full and authentic online tournament mode. Carry the hopes and dreams of your favourite nation into battle against fans from rival countries. Compete under the same conditions your real-world heroes will face in South Africa, from the group stage through the knockout rounds to the chance to be crowned 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa TM champion. For fans of nations that failed to qualify for South Africa this is the chance to replay and re-write history. Plus, earn individual and team points to prove your nation is the best in Battle of the Nations.

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Spectacularly presented in true-to-life detail, EA SPORTS 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ features all 199 national teams that took part in qualification, all 10 officially licensed stadiums to be used in South Africa and stadiums from each qualifying region. Everything fans love about the World Cup comes to life in stunning detail, including confetti cannons, streamers, & fireworks¡Xjust like the official tournament. Plus, supporters who follow their heroes to South Africa will be in the stands waving their country¡¦s flag, holding giant banners and cheering in their native language.

EA SPORTS 2010 FIFA World Cup features a more sophisticated, faster-paced and responsive version of the market-leading EA SPORTS football engine that drives the award-winning FIFA 11¡Xthe highest rated sports game on this console generation. Gameplay innovations capture the journey from qualification to the final tournament with home and away strategies for every nation, situational tactics in-game, and altitude affects that fatigue players faster and even impact the flight of the ball.

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• Win the 2010 FIFA World Cup ¡X Compete as one of 199 teams from qualification right through to a virtual reproduction of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final. Play in any of the 10 official stadiums that come to life with the pageantry and festivity of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.
• 2010 FIFA World Cup Online ¡X The first-ever full and authentic 2010 FIFA World Cup online tournament. Compete as your favourite country against rivals in the group stage through the knockout rounds to be crowned 2010 FIFA World Cup champion. Navigate the Globe to locate top countries and opponents among all 199 participating nations.
• Spectacular Presentation: 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ comes to life in spectacular fashion with all the emotion and pageantry of the official tournament, including all 10 official licensed stadiums. Experience confetti cannons, streamers, giant banners, seat cards, flags and fireworks as if you were in South Africa.
• Battle of the Nations ¡X Represent your country in the 2010 FIFA World Cup online tournament against your rivals to win global supremacy. Earn individual and team points and prove your nation is the best. Every performance is rated, recorded and uploaded and your ratings all count towards player and nation leaderboards.
• Home & Away Tactics ¡X CPU mimics international football by creating strategic, defensive formations for weaker teams playing away from home. Plus, weaker teams raise their level of play on their home pitch.
• Altitude Effects ¡X Less air resistance at altitude means the ball travels faster and further. Plus, player will noticeably fatigue faster and their stamina challenged while playing in cities at higher elevations versus sea level.
• Authentic Stadiums ¡X Compete in all 10 official stadiums of 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.

Toni dreaming of South Africa spot Print Email my friend Share RSS Add your comment 7 Toni dreaming of South Africa spot

On-loan AS Roma forward Luca Toni said he is still dreaming of a place in Italy coach Marcello Lippi's 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ squad after bouncing back to form since the turn of the year.

Toni has featured little since Lippi came back to the helm following Italy's quarter-final exit at the UEFA EURO 2008 two years ago.

And after being frozen out at Bayern Munich over the first half of the season his chances of a FIFA World Cup call up seemed to have disappeared. But a loan move to the Italian capital as helped rejuvenate not just the 32-year-old but also his chance of heading to South Africa, although he recognises that there is a lot of competition for the striker positions.

I've had some good games and I've got my form back. If I do go it will be a dream, otherwise I'll still be supporting Italy.

Luca Toni 

 

"There's many of us in contention for the Italy shirt, Lippi already has his ideas on his squad. I hope to go, he knows me well," said Toni. "I've had some good games and I've got my form back. If I do go it will be a dream, otherwise I'll still be supporting Italy."

As for his club future, Toni admitted he doesn't know where he will be playing next season. He has made it clear he would like to stay in Rome and reiterated that as long as Luis van Gaal is the Bayern coach, he cannot see a future in Bavaria.

"I have to think about finishing the last three games on a high. I've still got a contract with Bayern, my relationship with the club is very good but if van Gaal stays it will be difficult for me to do so," he said. "We'll get together around a table and decide what's best for everyone. They helped me a lot in coming to Rome and I have to thank them for that."

Rooney: Knocks could be a blessing

Wayne Rooney believes England will benefit from his recent injury problems as he will be revitalised for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.   Rooney gave the nation a fright when he missed Manchester United's victory over Tottenham on Saturday because of groin damage sustained in training. The 24-year-old had just returned from an ankle problem that forced him to miss two matches and England coach Fabio Capello can ill-afford any further setbacks to his most influential player.

The 9 May English Premier League clash with Stoke has been set as the return date for the newly-crowned Professional Footballers' Association player of the year. "I'm pleased to have done well in a World Cup year but it's been a difficult last couple of months injury-wise," said Rooney. "I'm disappointed to have missed a couple of games over the last few weeks.

No one likes watching football if you're a player, it's difficult knowing you can't influence the game. It's frustrating.

Wayne Rooney 

"No one likes watching football if you're a player, it's difficult knowing you can't influence the game. It's frustrating," he went on. "But if there's any consolation I'll probably be fresher for the World Cup, which will be good for me."

Rooney's outstanding form this season ensures he carries the nation's hopes in South Africa, but he insists England are not a one-man team and that they are capable of winning the tournament. "We have a lot of world-class players in the team and a great manager," he said. "If I get injured then so be it, there are other players there to do the job.

"There's a lot of hype but that's something you must live with," Rooney added.  "Success in South Africa would be to win the trophy. We've definitely got a good enough squad to do that. In the qualifying games we played extremely well and were disappointed to not win all the games. We'll prepare well for the finals and hopefully we can bring the trophy back home."

United pressing
On the domestic front, Rooney hopes to help United claim a fourth successive Premier League crown before jetting off for South Africa. Chelsea sit one-point clear at the top of the table with two matches remaining and on paper they have the trickier run in with fixtures against Liverpool and Wigan to come.

The fate of the title race remains in their hands but Rooney insists United must be ready to pounce should they falter. "I'm enjoying the title race. We need Chelsea to slip up now so hopefully Liverpool or Wigan can do us a favour," he said. "Liverpool are a proud club with a lot of history and I'm sure they'll want to win that game as they're fighting for the Europa League. We just have to try and win our last two games. If Liverpool or Wigan can help us out we'll be happy."

Ryan Giggs took over the penalty-taking duties for Saturday's 3-1 victory over Spurs, converting twice from the spot, but Rooney will resume the responsibility upon his comeback. "No I don't think I've lost the penalty-taker's job - Giggsy scored two great pens but I'll be back on it when I get back!" he said.

Deco: We can go a long way

One of the highlights of December's Final Draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, though perhaps less so for the teams involved, was the emergence of a mouthwatering section containing Brazil, Portugal, Côte d’Ivoire and Korea DPR.

The prospect of 25 June’s clash between A Seleção and A Selecção das Quinas in Durban in particular sparked a huge amount of column inches, thanks to the countries’ historical connection, recent encounters between the two teams and the clutch of Brazilian-born stars turning out in Portuguese colours.  Anderson Luis de Souza, better known as Deco, is one such player, a man inextricably caught up in the Brazil versus Portugal debate throughout his career. Born in Sao Bernardo do Campo in Sao Paulo state, the midfielder arrived on Portuguese shores at the age of 20 in 1997 and stayed until 2004.

It was in March 2003 that he was controversially called up by compatriot Luiz Felipe Scolari to play his first game for Portugal: a friendly against none other than Brazil. Underlining the strength of character that has marked his hugely successful career, Deco joined the fray as a substitute and scored the winner in a 2-1 success.

In addition to that baptism of fire, Deco started another Portuguese victory over the country of his birth, a 2-0 friendly win in London in February 2007 that inflicted Dunga’s first defeat as Brazil coach. Yet there has been despair as well as joy in these encounters, and the Chelsea midfielder will remember well a humbling 6-2 mauling in Brasilia in November 2008.

All in all, FIFA.com could barely have picked a better person to comment on the teams’ South Africa 2010 showdown, and assess Portugal’s chances of emulating their run to the last four at Germany 2006.

FIFA.com: Deco, you were part of the Portugal team that reached the last four at the FIFA World Cup four years ago. What do you remember about that tournament? 

Deco: The World Cup is something else. It’s the biggest thing a national team player can aspire to: there’s nothing to compare to it. I put in some good performances but that competition was also a bit of a struggle, as I took a knock early on in the tournament that prevented me from finding my best form. But I do remember it being an excellent World Cup for us. We played well in the semi-final and only just lost to France. In the end the only goal went to them and we missed out on reaching the final. In general terms it was an excellent World Cup.

What are the main differences between the squad that travelled to Germany 2006 and the one that will go to South Africa 2010, both in terms of the players and the respective coaches: Luiz Felipe Scolari and Carlos Queiroz?A lot of the players in the Portugal squad in 2006 are no longer part of the set-up, so we’ve got a lot of players who’ll be playing in their first major competition. I think that the quality is just as high, though we don’t have the same level of experience we had in 2006. The same could be said about our dugout: Felipão (Scolari) had already won the World Cup with Brazil and led Portugal at [UEFA] EURO 2004, while this will be Queiroz’s first big competition at the helm. But he’s an excellent coach who’ll have a very good squad of players at his disposal. That’s why I think we’ve got all the necessary ingredients to be successful.

I’m Brazilian but I took the nationality of a country where I spent many years and which gave me everything. That’s all there is to it.

Deco on his allegiances

Do think Portugal are among the favourites?
No, because the favourites are those national teams with a World Cup pedigree, something that Portugal, who have never won the Trophy, don’t have. So, we can’t be considered among the favourites. That said, we do have a team boasting plenty of quality, with great players and which can go a long way at the finals.

Given the talented players that Portugal have had over the years, what has prevented them winning major titles at senior international level?

 Listen, it’s not easy to win the World Cup. After all, there’s a good reason why so few countries have done it so far. There are great teams that have never won a World Cup, because often the difference can be made by tiny details, like having a bit of luck at a decisive moment. It’s hard to put your finger on.

There has been a lot of talk this season about Real Madrid’s alleged dependence on Cristiano Ronaldo, but the same be said of Portugal? 

We won several games without Cristiano and equally we’ve won games with him on the field. Nowadays you just don’t get big teams depending on just one player. Manchester United have done very well since Ronaldo left, Madrid have won games without him, as have Portugal. Of course you notice the absence of any great player, there’s no doubt about that, but the Portuguese national side isn’t dependent on him. It’s only natural that teams want their best players available and miss them when they’re not. That being the case, given he’s one of the world’s best players, he is important to us.

The Brazil-Portugal game is packed with sub-plots regarding Brazilian-born players now turning out for Portugal. As a veteran of this debate, will the experience of having played against A Seleção on three occasions prove useful?

 It’s an interesting experience, no doubt about it, but a friendly is totally different to a game at the World Cup. It’s good that I’ve already gone through that experience and already know what it means to play against Brazil, the difference that it makes. But the World Cup is still a different story. Anyway, we mustn’t think that there’s any negative feeling, on the contrary. I’m Brazilian but I took the nationality of a country where I spent many years and which gave me everything. That’s all there is to it. At the end of the day, it’s just another big game. To be honest, at the moment I think our opening game is our biggest challenge. If we can win our opener against Côte d’Ivoire, we’ve got a great chance of progressing. Whichever team loses that match will find it very difficult to reach the next round.

As you say, Portugal kick off against Côte d’Ivoire and round off their group-stage campaign against Brazil, currently second in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. Then in the Round of 16, a Group G side could find themselves up against the team at the top of that Ranking: Spain. What is the feeling in the camp at the prospect of facing so many big names in a short space of time?  

We’re not worried about anybody. If that’s who we have to play, we’ll just get on with it. If you go to the World Cup thinking about who you’re going to play and trying to pick your opponents then you’d be better off staying at home.

At club level, do you see yourself eventually returning to Brazilian or Portuguese football? 

I’m going to go back and live in Brazil for personal reasons, because my family’s there and I’ve been in Europe for 13 years now. I’ve got a huge amount of affection for Portugal and the city of Porto in particular, where I’ve got a house, but I was born in Brazil and my family is there, as is my social project the Deco Institute, in Indaiatuba. I want to go back and that’s what I’ll do when my Chelsea contract runs out in 2011. And if I’m fit enough to do a job for a Brazilian team then I’ll come back and play too.

Altidore: England don't scare us

USA's Jozy Altidore certainly cuts an imposing figure out on the pitch, thanks to a muscular 1.90m frame ideally suited to the target-man position. Indeed, it is in this role that he has proved vital to the success of the Stars and Stripes, with coach Bob Bradley expecting a great deal from the 20-year-old at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.

Off the field, however, Altidore has recently had much to endure, including personal problems, a serious car accident involving close friend and fellow USA forward Charlie Davies, as well as the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti, where his parents hail from. Touching on all those issues and more, Altidore sat down for an exclusive interview with FIFA.com.

FIFA.com: Jozy, tell us how you felt when you saw USA had been drawn against England, Algeria and Slovenia at South Africa 2010?Jozy Altidore: I’m delighted about the group we’ve been drawn in. I think that all of us in the United States agree that we’re in a group which will allow us to play our football. We’ll be up against a world force in England and two quick teams in Slovenia and Algeria, and I think these opponents really suit our style of play.

Is there any anxiety about taking on a big name like England in your first group game?England don't scare us, on the contrary, we’re really looking forward to that match. I think that we’re capable of beating anybody on our day and there’s no team in the world that can beat us easily. We’re up to the challenge and the English will realise that when we meet them.

What lessons did USA learn from reaching the final of last year’s FIFA Confederations Cup?That anything can happen. Nobody expected us to go so far and play such a high standard of football. But it also taught us that we mustn’t rest on our laurels. We were beating Brazil 2-0 (in the final), putting in an excellent performance and we felt that we had the win in the bag. Of course, you can’t do that against a team of Brazil’s calibre and we all know what the final score was [A Seleção emerged 3-2 winners]. But it was a good lesson to learn.

Your career seems to be progressing well, but how are things on a personal level?I’ve been through a lot over the last two or three years that people don’t know about. Then came the car accident involving my friend Charlie. And just when I was trying to put that behind me, suddenly the earthquake struck in Haiti. You have to be strong and not let the sadness weigh you down. I’m still trying to get over that bad period, but I’ve got help from my family, who’ve been fantastic.

Could you expand a little on the problems you have been through in previous years?I had family issues which stopped me from focusing completely on football and affected my performances. Things are better now and I’ve vowed to myself that this will be the year I return to the very top, taking full advantage of the World Cup. I’m certain that 2010 will be my year.

Can you tell us more about Charlie Davies’s situation?Charlie is like a brother to me, so his accident was a terrible blow. But I’m happy to see how well he’s recovered. I think he’s surprised a lot of people, not just me, and I really confident that he’ll be joining us on our South Africa adventure because he’s got talent to spare.

It's not impossible. We already proved what we’re capable of at the Confederations Cup, so why not at the World Cup?

Jozy Altidore on USA's chances of reaching the South Africa 2010 Final 

 

Given that your family hails from Haiti, how affected were you by the earthquake that struck in January?That was a tragedy which was hard to swallow. I’ve got family there and it’s impossible to imagine how it feels to go three or four days without being able to speak to or locate them. So many lives were lost, I lost so many friends. That’s why I got involved in the aid effort, to try and make people aware of the terrible state the Haitian people were in and just how much their support was needed.

Turning back to your professional career, why do you think you have enjoyed success on the international scene while struggling to establish yourself at club level?I think it has to do with the sheer quality of my national team colleagues. If you look at their CVs you can see just how much each one has achieved during their careers. Things are different at Hull (City), a team which is battling against relegation. That makes every goalscoring opportunity, every point and every win valuable. As far as I’m concerned, I aim to give as much as possible to the team whatever the circumstances, though that’s not reflected in my (goalscoring) stats.

Do you regret not staying at Villarreal?I knew that it (moving to England) was not going to be easy. Hull is a very different place to Villarreal and New York, where I’d played previously. In terms of the style of play, when I went I was perfectly aware that I was joining a team where I wasn’t going to score lots of goals. It was a challenge and a decision that I’d really thought through. I don’t regret it at all.

As a striker, do you follow your instinct or do you try and visualise how a game might pan out beforehand?I always try to visualise what might happen. I think that’s very important to make sure you’re ready when things happen for real. I try to see moves in my head so I’m ready when I need to be.

You were the youngest player to score for the senior USA side and the first American to score in La Liga. What next, becoming the first USA player to score in the FIFA World Cup Final?That would be fantastic and it’s not impossible. We already proved what we’re capable of at the Confederations Cup, so why not at the World Cup?

Alcaraz and Albirroja aim for semis

Keen for the praise to fall on those who earned it most, Antolin Alcaraz positively glowed with gratitude as he savoured Paraguay’s recent form. “The success of this team is down to the coach,” the defender told , with just two months to go before he and his colleagues touch down in South Africa for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

Called up for the first time in November 2008, the Club Brugge centre-back owes his stint with La Albirroja to Gerardo Martino, but his respect for Paraguay’s national coach owes little to self-interest. Instead, Alcaraz is as eager as anyone to analyse the reasons why Paraguay enjoyed their best ever FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, having hit the 30-point mark for the first time under the current format. “If the squad is united, with a sense of togetherness and characters who complement each other, as well as a friendship that reaches beyond the pitch, then that’s down to him,” he explained. “Psychologically, he’s very good with the players.”

An ever-present figure in the Argentinian coach’s squad on the road to South Africa, the 28-year-old has become one of Martino’s most fervent supporters. “He made good decisions by making form the most important factor,” said Alcaraz. “He chooses the best players, without hesitating to leave the stars on the bench when they’re not playing so well. He’s also had the intelligence to bring new players into the national team, which gives us more options in case of injury or lack of form among the senior players. He does a huge amount of watching games and finds players no matter what league they’re in, as with Enrique Vera in Ecuador. That’s increased competition for places.”

"Making the last four is a possibility, but once again we have to be aware of our strengths without overestimating them."

Antolin Alcaraz on Paraguay's aim. 

It is an approach that has clearly worked wonders, with Paraguay clinching ten victories during the qualifiers and ultimately securing themselves a place at the global showcase without too much fuss. However, as they gear up for their fourth consecutive FIFA World Cup finals, Los Guaraníes must now deal with the consequences of their success and meet raised expectations back home.

“Everyone in the country thinks we’ll get past the Round of 16,” said Alcaraz. “Hopes are high because the Paraguayan media sees our group as not very difficult, and we're expected to go through behind Italy.” Despite never having appeared in a previous edition of world football’s leading tournament, the stopper knows better than to assume any opponents will prove straightforward. “There are always surprises at a World Cup,” he added. “Every team that’s qualified is very solid, whether they’re a big name or not. We absolutely have to treat every opponent the same way.”

He chooses the best players, without hesitating to leave the stars on the bench when they’re not playing so well.

Antolin Alcaraz on Gerardo Martino. 

To help him keep his feet on the ground, the former Beira Mar stopper need only listen to Martino, who will not be taking fellow Group F hopefuls New Zealand and Slovakia lightly. “There are no more easy teams,” said the 47-year-old. “Favourite status has to be earned on the pitch.” Also contributing to the sense of perspective are the worrying question marks over the fitness of Salvador Cabanas, the team’s leading scorer in qualifying with six strikes. “His absence would be a huge loss,” said Alcaraz.

Should Cabanas fail to make the trip, Paraguay can nonetheless call upon some high-quality forwards, with the likes of Roque Santa Cruz, Oscar Cardozo and Nelson Haedo Valdez really marking the current crop out from previous Albirroja generations. “Making the last four is a possibility, but once again we have to be aware of our strengths without overestimating them,” said Alcaraz, who began his career with Racing Club in Argentina. “There’s a lot of confidence in this squad and I know we will go far. How far, I don’t know, but we have what’s required to reach the semi-finals; I’m sure of it.”

Martino’s men will not have to wait long to take an early measure of their potential, as they face world champions Italy in their very first group outing. “I prefer playing them right at the start as opposed to facing them in the last game if they still need points to go through,” concluded Alcaraz. “Taking on Italy in a decisive match for them would be a big ask.” Perhaps, but lining up a Paraguay team soaring with confidence would no doubt prove a big ask for Gli Azzurri too. (fifa.com)

Ibra questionable for Arsenal

Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a major doubt for Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg clash with Arsenal after suffering a right leg injury. The Swede, who scored both goals in the 2-2 draw in the first leg in London last week, pulled up in the pre-match warm-up to Saturday's 4-1 win over Athletic Bilbao which put Barcelona top of La Liga. Ibrahimovic is also a doubt for Saturday's 'El Clasico' against Real Madrid. "He is not ruled out of Tuesday's match by any means, but it will be difficult for him to play," said Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola. "He already had some problems after the first game in London."

Barcelona are already without Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol through suspension for Tuesday's clash.

That has already forced Guardiola to reshuffle his back-line and now he needs to change his first-choice striker with Thierry Henry and Bojan Krkic, who scored twice on Saturday, candidates to deputise.

Qatar SC seal fourth spot

Three-time Qatar League champions Qatar SC secured fourth spot in the standings by defeating lowly Al Khraitiat 2-0 in the final round of matches today.Qatar SC, who will compete at the Qatar Crown Prince Cup later this month, claimed their 11th win this season to advance to 38 points - one ahead of Al Rayyan, who defeated Al Shamal 3-0 tonight. Qatar striker Sebastian Soria put Qatar SC ahead after 12 minutes and sealed their win with 10 minutes remaining.

Al Arabi, who also qualified for the Qatar Crown Prince Cup, made sure of third spot with a 3-2 win over Al Wakra.

Brazilian striker Cabore gave Al Arabi the lead five minutes before the break and Mohamad Salem Al Mal made it 2-0 four minutes into the second half.

Hassan Al Qadi pulled a goal back for Al Wakra two minutes later and Moroccan midfielder Adil Ramzi levelled the scores 14 minutes from time, but Cabore's penalty in the last minute secured the points for Al Arabi.

Meanwhile, 2010 AFC Cup qualifiers Al Rayyan took the lead against Al Shamal after 37 minutes through Abdulkarim Al-Ali. Omani striker Imad Al Hosni doubled their advantage after 66 minutes and Brazilian frontman Afonso Alves converted a late penalty to seal the triumph.

The league season will be concluded tomorrow, when champions Al Gharafa take on Al Ahli, Al Sadd meet Al Khor and Umm Salal face Al Siliya.

Bent a hero despite misses

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce saluted match-winner Darren Bent despite seeing him miss two penalties in a 3-1 win over his former club Tottenham.The England international took his tally for the season to 23 with a quick-fire first-half double, but was then twice denied from the spot by goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, who also saved a Bent penalty at White Hart Lane earlier in the season.

Bruce was in no mood to blame his £10million summer signing for the misses having himself experienced the misery of failing from 12 yards during his playing days at Manchester United. "We mustn't forget he has won us the game. Okay, he is disappointed that he has missed two penalties, but all good players miss penalties," he said.

We mustn't forget he has been fantastic and again, he has got two goals for us. It could have been a wonder-day for him, couldn't it? It wasn't quite, but he has been fantastic for Sunderland and these things happen.

Steve Bruce after Darren Bent scored two goals but missed two penalties against Spurs 

"I have done so myself," he continued. "I lost to Sheffield United and then I lost in Russia. I remember [then-United chairman] Mr [Martin] Edwards saying, 'Thanks Steve, you have just cost us £12million'. Great players can miss penalties. No, in seriousness, we mustn't forget he has been fantastic and again, he has got two goals for us. It could have been a wonder-day for him, couldn't it? It wasn't quite, but he has been fantastic for Sunderland and these things happen. It made my life a little bit uncomfortable for a while, but it was a wonderful spectacle."

In a remarkable game, Sunderland raced into 2-0 lead within 29 minutes, and inevitably, it was Bent who did the damage. He struck for the first time with 36 seconds on the clock after Gomes could only parry Fraizer Campbell's header, and then converted from the spot after Kyle Walker had handed to take his tally for the season to 23.

But he saw two second-half penalties saved by Gomes as the Black Cats failed to kill the game off, and that might have proved costly when Peter Crouch reduced the deficit 18 minutes from time just seconds after coming on as a substitute. Home nerves were calmed four minutes from time when Sunderland substitute Bolo Zenden steered home a sumptuous volley to all but mathematically guarantee his side's place in next season's top flight.

Bruce, however, insists there is still work to be done. "I think 38 [points] is not quite going to be enough," he said. "I have never, ever thought we would be involved in a relegation battle - I don't know what all the fuss is about. We have got to try to catch Stoke and Blackburn. At the moment, where I see us is arguably third off top in our league. That's got to be the aim, to finish as high as we can in our league. We could all pick our top eight, but we have got to get Sunderland in and around that 10th position, and that's what we will aim to do."

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp, who sold Bent to Sunderland, was philosophical about the striker's contribution to the game. "It doesn't bother me, good luck to him. He's in good form, he scored a couple of goals, so what?" he said.

The defeat ended a run of five successive league victories for Spurs, but Redknapp is still convinced they can win the battle for fourth place."It's still wide-open, we just need to get one or two players back, that's our problem," said Redknapp. "From the neutral's point of view, it was probably a great game. [Sunderland] were up for it today - they don't play like that every week, do they? But today, they were full of it. They chased every ball, they pressed, they worked - they played very well today. Full credit to Sunderland."

City go fourth with six

Emmanuel Adebayor scored twice as Manchester City climbed into fourth place in the Premier League with a crushing 6-1 win over struggling Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday.

With Tottenham's 3-1 loss to Sunderland earlier in the day, City knew a win would put them in pole position in the race for fourth place and the final Champions League spot. Roberto Mancini's side rose to the challenge with a stylish display and they now have 59 points - one more than fifth-placed Tottenham.

City were 3-0 up after seven minutes and 5-0 ahead by half-time in the teeming Lancashire rain. Adebayor's double and one each from Craig Bellamy, Carlos Tevez and Patrick Vieira put the result beyond doubt by the interval. Vincent Kompany made it 6-0 before Burnley finally showed some attacking nous when Steven Fletcher curled a shot over Shay Given into the far corner in the 72nd minute.

This was a matchup between one of the wealthiest clubs in the world against the club with the smallest budget in the Premier League - City substitute Roque Santa Cruz's 17 million pound price tag last year was more than Burnley's playing budget for the whole of this season.

Adebayor emphasised the difference between the clubs as he started the goal rush in the fourth minute, controlling a corner from Adam Johnson and volleying past Brian Jensen. Bellamy was completely unmarked when he doubled the score in the fifth minute, collecting a cross from Tevez to score.

Tevez then tapped in a rebound from Adebayor to score City's third, taking advantage of hesitant goalkeeping from Jensen. That resulted in Burnley manager Brian Laws losing his cool on the touchline, the crowd jeering their team and several fans heading for the exits. The Clarets have yet to win a Premier League game this season after conceding the first goal and City were far from finished.

Vieira scored his first goal for City since moving from Inter Milan in January and his first in the Premier League in five years, rising to head home a Johnson cross in the 20th minute. Adebayor made it 5-0 in 44th, taking a pass from Tevez to comfortably sprint clear and slot past Jensen.

It was a far cry from November, when Burnley earned their only away point of the season in a 3-3 draw at Manchester City. But since then Burnley have struggled with their last win coming against West Ham in February, a run of nine matches. Their best chance came from David Nugent, who forced Given to save but the ball then went straight to the other end and Vieira had a shot of his own stopped by Jensen.

Tevez then failed to connect with a Bellamy cross after fine work from Johnson and the Argentine also hit a post. Puddles appeared on the pitch in the second half as a result of the relentless rain. It affected the playing conditions but did not stop City from scoring again. Kompany was next on the scoresheet in the 58th minute, heading in unopposed from a Johnson corner.

Burnley managed to pull a goal back in the 72nd minute when Fletcher scored after being played on by Jack Cork. But Burnley seemed to have given up before the game had even started. Still in the bottom three, this performance does not bode well for their survival hopes. (fifa.com)