Sunday, June 20, 2010

For anyone that can't access espn3.com, you can watch the games live here. Commentary is in Spanish, but the picture is excellent and it rarely times out.

Tomorrow is a big day!

Score Update:

Honduras v Chile 0-1
Spain v Switzerland 0-1
Republic of South Africa v Uruguay 0-3

Now for today's matches.

Argentina v South Korea 4-1

Argentina won the World Cup in 1978 and in 1986 but only made it as far as the quarter-finals in 2006. Coach Diego Armando Maradona was a star on the 1986 team for Argentina and is considered by many to be one of the finest footballers of all time.

SERGIO AGUERO #16, Forward, debuted as Argentina's youngest player at the age of 15 years, one month and three days. In 2005 and 2007, Aguero helped his team to victory in the FIFA U-20 World Cup, collecting the adidas Golden Ball as the tournament’s top player in 2007. Also a member of the 2008 Olympic gold medal team, scoring 2 goals in the semi-finals.



South Korea (Korea Republic) are Asia's most successful team in the World Cup to date. In fact, this is South Korea's 7th consecutive qualification for the tournament. They have yet, however, to win a World Cup.

LEE CHUNG YOUNG #17, Midfielder, name translates to the Blue Dragon. Made professional debut in his fourth season. Took part in the 2008 Olympic Football Tournament in Beijing. Lee moved to the English Premier League to play for the Bolton Wanderers in summer 2009.



Greece v Nigeria 2-0

This is only Greece's 2nd appearance in the World Cup and first victory ever in the finals. Coached since 2001 by German Otto Rehhagel, they won the 2004 UEFA EURO championship.

ALEXANDROS TZORVAS #12, Goalkeeper, played for Pana as a youth and, due to playing behind an exceptional goalkeeper (Antonis Nikopolidis), was lent out to several teams before being called up in 2008. Tzorvas secured the #1 spot after Nikopolidis' retirement.


Nigeria was once considered to be the strongest African team for a World Cup, but lately expectations have diminished. They are strong in other international competitions, having won the 1985, 1993 and 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup as well as the 1996 Olympic Football Tournament.

JOHN UTAKA #7, Forward, made his international debut at age 16 with Egyptian club Arab Contractors. Since then, Utaka has played for 6 teams in 4 different countries. He is one of the remaining Nigerians to have played in the nation's last World Cup finals appearance in 2002.



France v Mexico 0-2

France has now qualified for their fourth consecutive World Cup finals appearance. They have been one of the world's leading football teams since the late 1990s. France won Confederation Cups in 2001 and 2003 and won the UEFA European Championships in 1986 and 2000. They won the World Cup in 1998 and lost out on penalties to Italy in 2006.

THIERRY HENRY #12, Forward, World champion, European champion and France’s all-time leading goalscorer, and unofficial King of France. Enough said.



Mexico has qualified for 14 FIFA World Cup finals, more than any other team in the CONCACAF Zone. This is their fifth finals in a row. As hosts of the World Cup in both 1970 and 1986, they made it as far as the last 8. Four of Mexico's 2010 players were part of the team who won the FIFA U-17 World Cup Peru 2005.

HECTOR MORENO #15, Defender,



-Laura

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Thursday, June 17, 2010

Score Update:

New Zealand v Slovakia 1-1
Ivory Coast v Portugal 1-1
Brazil v North Korea 2-0


So a little about how the letter groups (A-H) are formed... South Africa, as hosts, were automatically put as A1. The other 7 top-seeded teams (seeding based on the Oct 2009 FIFA World Ranking) were placed into the other position 1s (B-H). All position 1s were placed into Pot 1. Pot 2 was composed of teams from Asia, Oceania, and North and Central America and the Caribbean. Pot 3 included teams from Africa and South America. Pot 4 had the remaining European teams. Groups were drawn from A to H and the positions in the group were drawn for Pots 2 to 4. Geographical criteria also were respected, meaning that no two teams from the same confederation were drawn in the same group, except allowing a maximum of two European teams in a group. South Africa could not be drawn with the African teams from Pot 3 and Argentina and Brazil could not be drawn against the three remaining South American teams. The first two African teams drawn from Pot 3 were to be placed with Argentina and Brazil (thanks Wikipedia!).

The final groupings came out as follows:


We are in the Group Stage now. Teams get points according to a win, draw or loss (3,1,0 respectively) and at the end of this round, the top 2 teams in each group advance.

Now for today's matches!

Honduras v Chile

Honduras Los Catrachos just squeezed in under the wire to make it into their second World Cup appearance after a rough final phase of qualifying matches. Coach is the Colombian Reinaldo Rueda.

VICTOR BERNARDEZ #5, Defender, one of Coach Rueda's most tried and true players. Bernardez had several trials with both English and German clubs before signing with Anderlecht in Belgium.



After disappointing showings in both 2002 and 2006, Chile qualified for 2010 relatively easily. They boast the youngest average age of the South American teams in the World Cup.

JEAN BEAUSEJOUR #15, Forward, born of Mapuche and Haitian parentage, Beausejour played at Universidad Catolica and played in his first professional game in 2002. "Bose" is a fan favourite.




Spain v Switzerland

Spain is a popular choice to win it all this year. They have played in 12 World Cups and have not missed an edition since 1974.

DAVID VILLA #7, Forward,



This is Switzerland's 2nd appearance in the World Cup finals in a row. Coach Ottmar Hitzfeld is one of Europe's most highly regarded and most successful senior coaches.

GOKHAN INLER #8, Midfielder, being of Turkish descent, Inler had the chance to represent Turkey in 2006 but chose to play for Switzerland. Appeared in 8 of 10 qualifying matches for this World Cup, playing all 90 minutes each time.



South Africa v Uruguay

Four years after being readmitted to international football, World Cup hosts South Africa won the 1996 CAF Africa Cup of Nations trophy against Tunisia. They qualified for the World Cup in both 1998 and 2002, making this year their third tournament appearance.

SIPHIWE TSHABALALA #8, Midfielder, arguably the best name in football. Began footballing career at Kaizer Chiefs youth development system then joined Free State Stars. Received a senior national call-up just 8 months into his career and made appearances in both 2006 and 2008 CAF African Cup of Nations.



Uruguay has an impressive football history but has only appeared in 2 of the last 5 World Cup tournaments. They hosted and won the 1930 World Cup.

SEBASTIAN FERNANDEZ #21, Forward, known as "Papelito" (Piece of Paper) for his small stature, Fernandez is an elusive runner with an impressive leap. Debuted in Uruguay 2004 as a 19 year old and had his first international outing with Romania in 2006. Now plays for Argentina's Banfield Club.



- Laura

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