World Cup Wiki - Recently Updated Pages

The Ultimate 2010 FIFA World Cup Resource!

joshutex — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:24:18 CDT

Welcome to the 2010 FIFA World Cup Wiki!

The World Cup is the globe’s largest sporting event, with a viewership -- both live and télé-tuned -- that beggars that of the Super Bowl and makes a mockery of the notion, long held in North America, that football is boring.

On this site, fans will find a place to have their say on all things World Cup-related, and to add information for all to read.

	Join this site! Connect with fans, add stats, info and more!
	Find out all about South Africa! Visit our cities page!
	Who's playing who? See all eight groups and standings
	See all 32 teams from the qualifiers Visit the teams page

ORE BELOW!

Sure, the FIFA site is chockfull of authoritative World Cup goodness, but where does the average fan get a chance to be his or her own authority? Right here! You can add to the information already here, or have your say in our commentary section. Sound off now!

We've set up team pages that can house your fan-generated records of World Cup 2010. You can help bear your team's legacy and legend along by adding your own fun facts, fantastic feats (and perhaps even more fantastic opinions), weird tidbits, updates, game recaps, web links, odds-making, and other fan lore.

Find your team, and get busy!

Read on, share your thoughts, post your photos. Come back often as the World Cup wages on to see what other people think of what you think.

2010 FIFA World Cup Host Cities

joshutex — Sat, 23 May 2009 08:24:20 CDT

The FIFA World Cup Host Cities	S "The honor and pride of a city hosting the cup is beyond recognition"
From where the players eat and stay to where the fans congregate and bed down, share your info and tips for making World Cup the adventure of a lifetime. To-do such, join this site!

2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification

joshutex — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:31:08 CDT

FIFA World Cup Qualification	S "To lose now....it would be shame"
All around the World, teams will put everything they have to make the World Cup. But as there is only 31 slots left open, its anyone's guess who will qualify. But no matter your team, you must rally on behalf of them! Join this site, and join your team in glory or defeat! Select a zone below to get started.

Africa

Asia

Europe

North America

South America

2010 FIFA World Cup Groups and Standings

joshutex — Fri, 08 May 2009 14:52:41 CDT

There is no abstract available for this page revision.

Africa World Cup Qualification

joshutex — Fri, 08 May 2009 14:40:50 CDT

Africa Qualification 2009	*"No favorites here....just a good battle royale"*

Africa Qualification 2009

"No favorites here....just a good battle royale"

Fixtures and Results

Team

Res.

Team

Côte d'Ivoire

Mozambique

0-0

Nigeria

Iran

joshutex — Thu, 07 May 2009 18:01:45 CDT

Iran (Group D)

Team founded: 1920 (affiliated 1945)

World Cup Participations: twice (1978, 1998)

World Cup Honors: none

Titles: Asian Championships three times (1968, 1972, 1976), Asian Games four times (1974, 1990, 1998, 2002)

Coach: Branko Ivankovic (nationality: Croatian)

Team Captain: Ali Daei

The Squad: Click "EasyEdit" to add

Ranking: 22

Qualifiers: Got through comfortably, powered by Daei's nine goals and playmaker Ali Karimi's quality.

Schedule:
June 11 v Mexico (Nuremberg) L 1-3
June 17 v Portugal (Frankfurt)
June 21 v Angola (Leipzig)

The Odds: Team Melli is always disciplined and tough. They and their Croatian coach Branko Ivankovic will have to overcome Portugal or Mexico to move on. They have won only one game at a World Cup, the 1998 grudge game against the USA. They should at least defeat Angola, and their captain is a scoring machine, with 9 in the qualifiers.

2010 FIFA World Cup Match Schedule

joshutex — Thu, 07 May 2009 07:36:07 CDT

There is no abstract available for this page revision.

2010 FIFA World Cup Teams

joshutex — Thu, 07 May 2009 07:17:26 CDT

The FIFA World Cup Teams	S "Glory is a few wins away"
Wherever under the sun it is you come from, it is your duty to rally on behalf of your favorite Cup contender -- add your thoughts, links, trivia tidbits, images, latest happenings, and battle cries to your team's page! The final squads have been named – only injuries can alter them, now, so have your say on any team members, or squad composition.

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Quarterfinals

joshutex — Wed, 06 May 2009 06:28:07 CDT

FU
Germany 1
Argentina 1
Germany wins by shoot-out 4-2
Argentina not disciplined enough, and too given to showponying rather than getting the job done?
The injured goalkeeper of Argentina has already messed up everything, including there was no Messi in that game.

England 0
Portugal 0
Portugal wins by shoot-out, 3-1
Portugal hardly won any fans among devotees of fair play and good sportsmanship, but England's woeful penalty shooting did them in. (Hey, don't goalies have to stay on their line?)
Portugal team must say many thanks to Ricardo, and also C. Ronaldo that has been provocating he referee to give red card to Rooney.

Ukraine 0
Italy 3
Italy, so lucky to get through against Australia, have a semifinal berth handed to them on a plate by the hapless Ukraine.
Well, at least both of Italian midfielder ( Pirlo and Gattuso ) has already done it all well when breaking all over Ukraina's defend area.

Brazil 0
France 1
Brazil, the huge disappointment of the whole tournament - too many prima donnas content to prance about in their tutus? France - Zinédine rallies them to a heroic win. But they're not half the team they were in 1998. That makes Brazil's demise all the more woeful. Did anybody tell them it was the World Cup, not some photo shoot for some glossy celeb magazine?

Round Two

joshutex — Wed, 06 May 2009 06:27:36 CDT

Germany 2
Sweden 0
Germany still not particularly impressive, but like Brazil they seem to click into gear more and more as they tournament proceeds. Can they beat Argentina? Not without a major improvement over their play, so far.

Argentina 2
Mexico 1
Yeah, just as expected. Mexico sure where brave, though, weren't they?

England 1
Ecuador 0
What a fantastic goal by Becks! He's still got it. On a free kick too of course - the Becks classic.

Portugal 1
Netherlands 0

Australia 0
Italy 1
Nobody in Australia doubts that Australia was robbed, not even the many Italian-Australians who cheered for Italy's win. Refs, too, can easily be starstruck. The Australian soccer press, always highly informed, even when clearly partisan, is outraged by the string of horrendous reffing that the Socceroos suffered. Italy can hardly be happy with their performance. They may have been unlucky to lose one player to a red card, but they were extremely lucky that the ref pulled their butts out of a fire they created with their own ironically lukewarm play. Now they get an easy pass against Ukraine, and injustice will only be magnified.

Switzerland 0
Ukraine 0
(0-0 after extra time; Ukraine win 3-0 on penalties)
An incredibly unworthy game.

Brazil 3
Ghana 0
Ghana missed easy chances, and was brutalized, as have been so many underdogs, by pathetic refereeing. When even FIFA boss Sepp Blatter says the refs need to pull their socks up, you know it's been a horror tournament, from that standpoint. But FIFA is probably half to blame, for insisting on changes to interpretation, and placing refs under even more pressure than they already certainly would have been.

Spain 1
France 3
France perhaps lucky, but they took whatever opportunities they got, and made hay. Spain... What can you say. Let's perhaps agree that they are either always underperformers or always overrated. They didn't look as good as even their hesitant hype had it.

Shame and Some Salvation

joshutex — Wed, 06 May 2009 06:27:17 CDT

Let’s Talk Hooligans

The English have had to live down a reputation for soccer thuggery, and they’re pressing home recent gains with a campaign called Alltogethernow 2006, which organizers say aims to show the world that English lads can leave their brickbats and hobnail boots at home.

In February, a group of English stars, led by David Beckham — metrosexuals aren’t into going the knuckle; they’d rather talk it through — launched the campaign, which echoes a successful one at the 2004 UEFA European Championship in Portugal.

The Cup expects 40,000 English fans, and Alltogethernow 2006 will encourage them to promote a carnival-like atmosphere with road shows, competitions, tourism, media conferences, charity football tournaments, and other hoopla.

German ambassador to England, Wolfgang Ischinger, has enlisted Monty Python alum John Cleese as a goodwill ambassador, thanks to his portrayal of hotelier bigot-light Basil Fawlty in the 1970s BBC comedy series Fawlty Towers. Go figure!

FIFA has made its slogan “A time to make friends,” and German government agencies are mounting a nationwide hospitality push.

What if the visitors — and locals, for that matter — are inclined to misbehave? Britain, Poland, France, and the Netherlands, all bastions of football tomfoolery-cum-brutality, are sending squadrons of police to the event. So are several other European countries. The bobbies, gendarmes, and other coppers, wearing their own uniforms but commanded by German polizei, will bust ’em, book ’em, and only slowly bail ’em, according to German officials. Some British police will have the power to arrest hooligans. And four German hooliganism experts will travel to England to help police there to prevent thugs from traveling to the Cup.

The German transport ministry has announced that no planes may fly within 3.4 miles, or 5.4 kilometers, of any Cup stadium during play, from three hours before game start until three hours after. NATO is providing AWACS surveillance planes to bolster security. Germany is mobilizing 2,000 soldiers, including biological-warfare units. Another 5,000 troops are on call. Tanks may be deployed outside stadiums. Nobody yell “Shoot!”

Gambling ScandalFIFA is taking very seriously the danger of gamblers influencing the Cup. The NYT reports that, due to gambling scandals in various football hotbeds, FIFA is requiring all players, referees, and coaches to pledge that they will gamble on no Cup games, and that their families won't, either. FIFA has even formed the company, Early Warning System, to detect any possible irregularities.

See, the European Community really works!

But not so fast. In fact, during the Cup, Germany will reimpose border controls with some of its EC neighbors. One can only imagine what the security measures — video monitoring, bugging, and all the other apparatus of state surveillance — will be like.

German officials have emphasized, however, that they wish to make the Cup both highly secure and yet not a “security World Cup.” Neo-Nazis have been frequenting German football contests, and reportedly are threatening to make their presence felt at the Cup. Recently, the right-wing National Democratic Party was ordered by a Berlin court to stop publishing a World Cup planner that directed racist taunts at black German defender Patrick Owomoyela.

Among offenses that have been deemed unacceptable are racist taunts. That goes for players, as well. FIFA officials warned, at one stage, that teams detected engaging in racist taunting will be tagged three points during the group rounds, while individual offenders would be suspended. But FIFA president Sepp Blatter has come under fire for seeming to soften his stance on such measures. Racism is a crime in many European countries, and African players on several European club teams, in particular, have been subjected to ugly harassment in recent months, prompting the European Parliament to talk tough about punishments against violators. Officials have dangled threats, for example, of closing stadiums where home teams’ fans offend.

In 2004, FIFA fined the Spanish Football Association about $90,000 (chicken feed?) after Spanish fans subjected two black players to racist chants, and a coach denigrated a black opponent.

Streaking Snippet

Before you go dropping trou' in the grand fan tradition, know that it could cost streaking fans 20,000 Euros, or about $25,000 US, thanks to recent rulings in German courts.

Late in April, a Rostock appeals court upheld a claim from the German second-division club, Hansa Rostock, against three self-displaying dashers who had streaked across a match in 2003. Rostock originally was fined for its fans’ behavior, but appealed that the fans themselves were responsible. The court agreed.

A World Cup official welcomed the ruling, saying: “This sends a strong message to supporters who want to disrupt World Cup matches. If we are to be sanctioned by FIFA due to pitch invasions by supporters, the Rostock judgment can be invoked so the supporters pay the fines.”

Earlier, a German state-court judge had ruled: “The spectators enter an agreement when they arrive in a stadium that forbids them from going on to the playing field. Thus, the defendants must pay the full cost of damages for violating that agreement."
Apparently the streaking fad has not passed. It has, in fact, proved remarkably hardy. Last year, several matches of the Confederations Cup, held in Germany, were struck by the streak.

- Is someone who pays big bucks for a World Cup ticket, then gets tossed and heavily fined for streaking, a wanker or a true fan? What do you think?

Some Bad News

Among all this dreary demonstration of the inhumanity of man to fellow men, we'd hoped to be redeemed by the story of Frenchwoman Nelly Viennot, 44, who was vying to become the first-ever woman official at a World Cup. She and 78 other officials have been undergoing preparation and assessment for the job, but she recently failed a sprint test, ending her dream (and the promise of a $40,000 paycheck for one month's work).

Viennot has been officiating at the international level for over 10 years, with assignments at two Olympic Games and several European Champions League contests.

- What are your thoughts on women linespeople officiating? Are you sorry Viennot failed the test? Add your comments.

Not only are the refs blind...
For this World Cup, the organizing committee continued a practice in place at German league games: setting aside tickets for blind football fans. At each of the 64 games in the Cup, organizers have sold 10 tickets that permit blind fans to be in the stadium along with an escort, who attends for free. The blind fans will have access to commentary through headphones.

The Run-Up

joshutex — Wed, 06 May 2009 06:26:57 CDT

In the month before the World Cup, teams like to warm up by playing some friendly matches against nations they're unlikely to meet in the real thing. It's a chance for managers to test out their likely starting eleven, or maybe give bit-part players a chance to shine. Most countries have by now started their programmes.

Here's a list of the friendly internationals that have taken place in the run-up to the World Cup so far:

5/23/06

South Korea 1-1 Senegal
Austria 1-4 Croatia

5/24/06

USA 0-1 Morocco
Norway 2-2 Paraguay

5/25/06

Sweden 0-0 Finland
England B 1-2 Belarus
Ecuador 1-1 Colombia
Australia 1-0 Greece

5/26/06

USA 2-0 Venezuela
Turkey 1-1 Ghana
South Korea 2-0 Bosnia Herzegovina
Saudi Arabia 0-2 Czech Republic

5/27/06

Trinidad & Tobago 1-2 Wales
Switzerland 1-1 Côte d'Ivoire
Spain 0-0 Russia
Serbia & Montenegro 1-1 Uruguay
Portugal 4-1 Cape Verde Islands
Netherlands 1-0 Cameroon
Germany 7-0 Luxembourg
France 1-0 Mexico
Denmark 1-1 Paraguay

5/28/06

Ukraine 4-0 Costa Rica
USA 1-0 Latvia
Macedonia 2-1 Ecuador
Croatia 2-2 Iran

5/29/06

Jamaica 1-4 Ghana

5/30/06

Argentina 2-0 Angola
Chile 1-1 Côte d'Ivoire
Czech Republic 1-0 Costa Rica
England 3-1 Hungary
Germany 2-2 Japan
Tunisia 3-0 Belarus

5/31/06

France 2-0 Denmark
Iran 5-2 Bosnia-Herzegovina
Paraguay 1-0 Georgia
Saudi Arabia 0-1 Turkey
Slovenia 3-1 Trinidad & Tobago
Switzerland 1-1 Italy

6/1/06

Netherlands 2-1 Mexico
Norway 0-0 South Korea

6/2/06

Angola 2-3 Turkey
Germany 3-0 Colombia
Italy 0-0 Ukraine
Sweden 1-1 Chile
Tunisia 0-0 Uruguay

6/3/06

Croatia 0-1 Poland
Czech Republic 3-0 Trinidad & Tobago
England 6-0 Jamaica
Luxembourg 0-3 Portugal
Spain 2-0 Egypt
Switzerland 4-1 China

6/4/06

Brazil 4-0 New Zealand
Netherlands 1-1 Australia
Côte d'Ivoire 3-0 Slovenia
Japan 1-0 Malta
South Korea 1-3 Ghana

6/5/06

Ukraine 3-0 Libya

The Odds

joshutex — Wed, 06 May 2009 06:26:37 CDT

Having won the Confederations Cup, trophy-holder Brazil confirmed its favoritism for a World Cup repeat. England is next in line. But it’s a brave punter who bets on World Cup games, because so much uncertainty stacks the odds. The bookies know as much as anyone about the teams’ prospects, so let’s go with their calls on which teams are most likely to make a run to the crown. Here, from shortest odds to longest, more or less, is how the teams are stacking up.

Click the EasyEdit button to add your own analysis to the breakout below; or cuss and discuss in the comments area.

Short odds

Brazil (D) – The preclusive favorite to win again, thanks to the inexhaustible depth of its roster, including four superstar strikers. Detractors say the team members act like they’re born to win, and that their defense is suspect (though it didn’t seem that way in their qualifiers), and the players respond by winning, over and over. But can the Seleção (“The Selected”) suffer a common fate of teams with so much talent that they — especially their egos — stumble over one another? When you’ve won the whole thing five times, and are the only squad to make it to every single World Cup final, being a bit cocky makes some sense. However, they've never won the tournament in Europe...

England (B) – It boasts the best squad north of the equator, but two of its superstars, Rooney and Owen, approach the tournament with injuries; will they even play? The world’s under-ranked 9th team should be able to qualify in group B, even if they field shorthanded. But will Sweden rain on their parade?

Germany (A) – Italy whipped them 4-1 in March; can Costa Rica beat them in Group A? It’s possible, with the Germans nervous in front of a packed Munich stadium; but not likely. How about Poland? Germany has never lost to Poland. And remember: The host nation has won six of the 17 World Cups. Nothing like playing at home where the fans love you and your players know the climate and field conditions better than their opponents.

Argentina (C) – In the killer group C, the Albiceleste (“Sky Whites”) face the Netherlands and Serbia & Montenegro and will have to be consistent to advance to round two, which they failed to do in 2002. But Argentina did finish second to Brazil in the South American qualifiers, and beat them once. One of Argentina’s superstars, Carlos Tevez, knows the Brazilians well, as he anchors Brazilian club champion, Corinthians. And Argentina’s young stars, such as teen phenoms Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero, are emerging fast. Argentina has won the Cup twice, and finished second twice, but is vulnerable if it doesn’t come out hot in the group stage, because all four teams there are capable of progressing.

Italy (D) – The team slumped to a ranking of 13th in the world, but staked its claim to short odds with a 7-of-10 run-up in qualifying for the tournament. The Azzurri should romp over Ghana in game one, and edge out the USA in their second, but if the team falters in either of those games, it’ll face a tough closer in the Czech Republic, which may threaten its anticipated dominance of the group.

France (G) – Les Bleus (“The Blues”) disappointed in 2002 after winning it all in 1998 at home. In recent months, they couldn’t beat Switzerland in two qualifiers. But while not promising too much, France is capable of much more, and its draw is as kind as it could be. Thierry Henry will have to strike venomously, and the backs will have to be rock hard.

Ahem! Who goes to the World Cup Final? Four nations — Argentina, Brazil, Germany, and Italy — have accounted for 11 of the 12 finalists in the last 12 World Cup finals.

Medium odds:

Netherlands (C) – Has disappointed during the last decade, and will be up against stiff competition. But the punters are backing it, and Ruud van Nistelrooy, a potential winner of the Golden Boot award for top scorer, could deliver the Oranje. They went undefeated in their qualifiers. Will they, or Argentina, become group-round victims? It’s quite possible the Netherlanders will. Coach Marco van Bastan will be mindful of the dangers, and has proved himself to be a highly creditable leader. He has plenty of aces, including Edgar Davids, Andy van der Meyde, Arjen Robben, and Rafael van der Vaart.

Spain (H) – Spain faces stiff opposition in Ukraine, Tunisia, and Saudi Arabia, but is favored to top the group. This is its seventh finals in a row, but just as consistently the team has disappointed. It would be shamed by a loss to either the Saudis or the Tunisians, and both stack up as real threats. Spain plays\ Ukraine first, and if it loses there, the jitters may set in.

Portugal (D) – Should do well, but has in the past disappointed; it boasts Europe’s top qualifying-rounds scorer, Pauleta, as well as Luis Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo, two highly prized stars. Finished second at Euro 2004, and have easier early competition than some higher-ranked squads.

Czech Republic (E) – Is in a tough group, with Italy and USA, but is favored to make it through the group round. With its proud history — eight tournaments, two second places — Karel Bruckner’s team will be eager to prove correct a minority of bookies who back it to win group E.

Long — some ludicrously so — odds:

Mexico (D) – Ranked 7th in the world, El Tricolor could cause real trouble with star striker Jared Borgetti and wealth of top-level experience. Coach Ricardo Lavolpe’s team will have to tame Portugal and beware of Iran. But if it defeats Iran in its first game and Angola in its second, it’ll be well on the way.

Sweden (B) – With a world ranking of 16, Sweden could humble England in group B, and in any case should be able to advance. It won its group in 2002 ahead of England and Argentina, and always poses a threat. Sweden should stomp on Trinidad & Tobago in the starter, and may draw momentum from that. Sweden could be the team that marches to the final four, because its road there is not as daunting as that facing some other teams.

Ukraine (H) –Ukraine hasn’t existed as a country for long, but, led by Andriy Shevchenko, its squad could go to round two in its first appearance if it can tame the dynamic Tunisia or gritty Saudis. They play Spain first, and if they win or draw there, they could be spurred on to make a real run in the group. Shevchenko, a feared striker with AC Milan in the Italian league, was the 2004 European footballer of the year.

Croatia (F) – Should advance with Brazil, ahead of Japan and Australia, or perhaps not (see Australia, below). Their third place in 1988 was no fluke. Tough. Very.

USA (D) – The Stars and Stripes are a good chance to advance if their unlikely rank — 5th in the world — is to be believed over their long odds. In March, Germany beat them 4-1 in a friendly, but the United States has also recently defeated Japan 3-2 and Mexico 2-0. Advanced to the quarter-finals in 2002, and is appearing in its seventh finals tournament, so…? The team must defeat either Italy or the Czech Republic to have a real shot at advancing.

Ivory Coast (C) – With Serbia & Montenegro, whose dour style it contrasts with attack and flair, the Ivory Coast (The Elephants) will battle to break into round two ahead of either Argentina or the Netherlands. A mountainous assignment for a small, seaside state, but it did win the African Zone group three. If they can beat either Holland or Argentina, they could progress. French coach Henri Michel’s squad is bolstered by a pack of graduates from Jean-Marc Guillou’s academy outside Abidjan, and team leader and Chelsea star striker, Didier Drogba.

Serbia and Montenegro (C) – The team lands in the toughest group, where all four contenders are ranked in the world top 50, so it will have to compete at its toughest. The team’s defense has been sterling during lead-up, allowing only one goal in winning European qualifiers group seven. This is one of those squads that could defy the odds and move well ahead.

Switzerland (G) – Drew two qualifiers with France; always a threat, but will struggle against them here, and is doomed if coach Jakob Kuhn cannot find a way to tame the speedy, dogged South Koreans, whom they play last. Whoopin’ Togo will not be enough. Coach Jakob “Kobi” Kuhn’s men have much to prove, as they missed out on the finals in 2002. Scraped in by edging out Turkey in qualifier away goals.

Poland (A) – Can Poland turn up the heat on Germany? The Poles always threaten, but rarely fulfill their promise. If they lose to Ecuador in their first game, they’ll likely go home disappointed, again. Their seasoned, 29-year-old striker, Maciej Zurawski (also of Celtic, in the Scottish league) may lend them the stability they need.

It’d be a miracle (more than 125-1)…

Australia (F) – In its first Cup finals since 1974, the Aussies could advance if they beat Japan or Croatia, or both, as they may well. Then, Australia would not need to hope that Brazil will relax with it in a draw, and it can enjoy being played for a win. The Socceroos squad is stacked with players who hold their own in European leagues, so they are no pushovers; bonus points for being coached by the masterful Guus Hiddink, who steered South Korea so far in 2002.

Paraguay (B) – The Albirroja could beat anyone, but the world’s #33 ranked team, led by Uruguayan coach Anibal “Maño” Ruiz, is considered unlikely to string together enough good performances to advance to repeat their final 16 performances of 2002 and 1998. They will have to beat Sweden to have any shot at advancing beyond the group round this year.

South Korea (G) – At home in 2002, Korea, inspired by its huge fan organization, known as the Red Devils, were giant killers; in Germany they could shock Switzerland (and even France), and should crush Togo to advance to round two, but repeating their semi-final finish of 2002 would stun.

Tunisia (H) – The Carthage Eagles haven’t made it out of the first round in their previous three appearances, but they won the African Nations Cup two years ago, and will not be content to sit back and play safe.

Ghana (D) – The Black Stars have been dour in qualifiers, allowing only four goals in 12 games. They are unlikely to proceed in this, their first, Cup finals tournament, but they may go home content if they beat, say, the Unite States. Hopes are pinned on captain Stephen Appiah and Chelsea’s Michael Essien, the most expensive player in the history of African football.

Ecuador (A) – Ranked 38th in the world, Ecuador beat Paraguay and Uruguay in the fierce South American qualifiers. If they can beat Poland in their group, they are a good shot to progress.

Japan (F) – Japan faces long odds against tough teams, Brazil and Croatia, and even Australia poses a threat. But they have their own proud tradition to protect — this is their third final showing in succession, and they reached the final 16 last time around. The game only grows under the Red Sun, so they could overachieve big-time, fueled by Celtic playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura, for whom coach Zico, the Brazilian ex-star, has big plans.

Togo (G) – Could surprise against France, South Korea, and Switzerland, but most likely will not. Winning even one game would be a feat. They promise attacking football, and a real star in Nigerian-born striker Emmanuel Adebayor.

Costa Rica (A) – Some pick it to surprise Germany in Group A. Yeah, right! They have been in the tournament twice before and once made it to the final 16 (in 1990), but that will mean nothing this time. Alexandre Guimaraes’s Ticos (from Costarricense, the more formal name for Costa Ricans) will probably have to be content with one win against Ecuador in Group A. Gilberto Martinez, Walter Centeno, and veteran striker superstar Paulo Wanchope carry their hopes.

Iran (D) – Team Melli is always disciplined and tough. They and their Croatian coach Branko Ivankovic will have to overcome Portugal or Mexico to move on. They have won only one game at a World Cup, the 1998 grudge game against the USA. They should at least defeat Angola.

Angola (D) – If the Palancas could beat their former colonial overlords, Portugal, in the opening round, they could go home proud from their first Cup appearance. Even if they lose their first two games, to Portugal and Mexico, they’ll go to their final group game with a good shot at Iran, which by then might well be out of contention. One win would be a Cup triumph for Angola.

Saudi Arabia (H) – Coached by former Argentine international Gabriel Calderon, the Saudis could surprise in their group, although Germany trounced them 8-0 in 2002, and advancing seems a long, hard road.

Trinidad and Tobago (B) – Beating England in Group B would startle the globe. They could beat Paraguay, but even that is unlikely. There’ll be plenty of summer left by the time the team heads home, before round two.

The Buzz

joshutex — Wed, 06 May 2009 06:26:16 CDT

What are you noticing about the buzz in your home town?

Dunno about you, but everywhere I go, there is World Cup buzz. I'm in France this week, and when I got a cab from Charles de Gaulle airport, my driver, who drove with more switches of direction than the greatest midfielders, was from Senegal, but for this World Cup, was all about neighboring Ivory Coast. He assured me that the final was going to be Germany v Ivory Coast -- the first ever final with African representation.

As he dropped me off, we agreed to a joint expression of football futility: "Alley la Cote d'Ivoire, et allez Australie!"

Not likely, to say the least.

Last week, I had a little business to do at the immigration office of Homeland Security, which perhaps should be the catchcry for the US backline at the Cup. Well, I was, as only appropriate, a little apprehensive as I proceeded through the several stages of entry into the hallowed halls of Homeland Security office – this was in Tukwila, Wa., so perhaps "hallowed" overstates the case. Finally, after the usual two hours of bureaucratic delays, I made it to my biometrics appointment, and was having my fingerprints taken when the technician, a young bloke originally from Vietnam, called over his supervisor, also 20-something, and originally from Mexico. For some reason, a World Cup reference was made, and it was on for young and old. The Mexican-American's loyalties were divided, but he didn't, in any case, think much of either team's chances, and suggested that their high FIFA rankings are a joke. We spent the next 20 minutes jawing about this team and that, and this run-up game and that.

Needless to say, I passed my biometrics process with flying colors, am being allowed to stay in the US for at least another while, and report these events not from Gitmo.

Do report your experiences of World Cup buzz, on the comments page.

- Soccernut

The Teams

joshutex — Wed, 06 May 2009 06:25:47 CDT

Wherever under the sun it is you come from, it is your duty to rally on behalf of your favorite Cup contender -- add your thoughts, links, trivia tidbits, images, latest happenings, and battle cries to your team's page! The final squads have been named – only injuries can alter them, now, so have your say on any team members, or squad composition.

France
Germany
Ghana
Iran
Italy
Japan
Korea Republic
Mexico
Netherlands
Paraguay
Poland
Portugal
Saudi Arabia
Serbia and Montenegro
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Togo
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Ukraine
USA

Player and Team Awards

joshutex — Wed, 06 May 2009 06:25:17 CDT

Other than the coveted Golden Ball and Golden Shoe trophies, the following player awards will be decided:

Yashin Award

The Yashin Award, awarded since 1994 to the best goalkeeper, and named for the Soviet legend, Lev Yashin, the “Black Panther,” or “Black Octopus,” who flung his black-clad frame – all 6 feet 3 inches of it – all around the goalmouth for the Soviets from 1958 to 1970.

- Does any contemporary player compare to Yashin? Click the EasyEdit button to add your thoughts.

FIFA Fair Play Award

A team prize, given since 1978.

- Does anyone care?

Most Entertaining Team

{Is Ghana so far this year as they stunned the world againt the Czech Republic 2-0 – Usman Kakay}

The Most Entertaining Team award has been decided by public poll since 1994. South Korea won it at home and in Japan (2002), while France took it at home in 1998; Brazil won it in the USA in 1994.

- Who is shaping up this year, and for what qualities? Will it be a team with nothing to lose or one, like Brazil, that is so confident it doesn’t often bother taking the safe route home?

Click the EasyEdit button to add your ruminations and nominations here.

Best Young Player

Best Young Player props will be awarded for the first time this tournament to the leading under-21 star.

- Who will win it? Click the EasyEdit button to add your nominations here.

See Also:

Golden Ball
Golden Shoe

Match Schedule

joshutex — Wed, 06 May 2009 06:24:57 CDT

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Group E

Group F

Group G

Group H

Groups and Standings

joshutex — Wed, 06 May 2009 06:24:27 CDT

Group A

Germany
Costa Rica
Poland
Ecuador

Group B

England
Paraguay
Trinidad and Tobago
Sweden

Group C

Argentina
Côte d'Ivoire
Serbia and Montenegro
Netherlands

Group D

Mexico
Iran
Angola
Portugal

Group E

Italy
Ghana
USA
Czech Republic

Group F

Brazil
Croatia
Australia
Japan

Group G

France
Switzerland
Korea Republic
Togo

Group H

Spain
Ukraine
Tunisia
Saudi Arabia

Golden Shoe

joshutex — Wed, 06 May 2009 06:23:09 CDT

Golden Shoe (AKA Golden Boot)

Who will take home the Golden Boot, the award for the top goal scorer of the tournament?

The award was first made in 1930. The greatest scorer of the past is Frenchman Just Fontaine, who tucked home 13 in 1958 in Sweden. In 1970 and 1974, Germany’s Gerd “Der Bomber” Muller amassed ten plus four.

Can Brazil’s Ronaldo, “O Fenômeno”, threaten Fontaine? Thirteen is a heap of goals. Ronaldo struck eight times in 2002. That took his career total to 12, equaling Pele’s mark. And the Real Madrid superstar scored 10 times during 2006 qualifiers, so watch out.

Take into account that from 1974, when Poland’s Grzegorz Lato scored seven, to the last tournament, no one scored more than six, so let’s say that anything more than that is phenomenal enough.

The favorites to slip on the Golden Shoe this year:

Ronaldo Nazario (Brazil)
Adriano Ribeiro (Brazil)
Thierry Henry (France)
Ronaldinho Gaucho (Brazil)
Hernan Crespo (Argentina)
Michael Owen (England)
Ruud van Nistelrooy (Netherlands)
Andrei Shevchenko (Ukraine)

And don’t forget Wayne Rooney (England, if recovered from injury).

Also likely to make the keepers crazy:

David Trezeguet (France)
Luca Toni (Italy)
Miroslav Klose (Germany)
Fernando Torres (Spain)
Alessandro Del Piero (Italy)
Alberto Gilardino (Italy)
Lukas Podolski (Germany)
Pedro Pauleta (Portugal)
Kevin Kuranyi (Germany)
Carlos Tevez (Argentina)
Raul Gonzalez (Spain)
Milan Baros (Czech Republic)
Zlatan Ibramhimovic (Sweden)
Frank Lampard (England)
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Djibrill Cisse (France)
Robinho (Brazil)
Kaka (Brazil)
Fernando Morientes (Spain)
Michael Ballack (Germany)
Francesco Totti (Italy)
Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
Jan Koller (Czech Republic)
Jared Borgetti (Mexico)
Dado Prso (Croatia)
Juan Riquelme (Argentina)
Mateja Kezman (Serbia and Montenegro)

The only Americans considered likely to rack up more than a goal or two are Brian McBride and Landon Donovan.

Who do you think will capture the prize? Make your case in the comments area.

Golden Ball

joshutex — Wed, 06 May 2009 06:21:41 CDT

First awarded in 1982, the Golden Ball honors the player of the tournament. FIA presents 10 nominees to media voters. Silver and Bronze Balls go to the runners-up.

Some former winners and runners-up may figure this year, too. Ronaldo could stake a claim to all-time megastardom by taking it again, as he also has a Silver Ball to his credit.

2006 Germany - Who will be the greatest this year? For what qualities? Banter 'bout it in the comments area.

2002 Korea/Japan

Oliver Kahn (Germany) – Gold
Ronaldo (Brazil) - Silver
Hong Myung-Bo (South Korea) – Bronze

1998 France

Ronaldo (Brazil) - Gold
Davor Šuker (Croatia) - Silver
Lilian Thuram (France) - Bronze

1994 USA

? - Click "EasyEdit" to add

1990 Italy

? - Click "EasyEdit" to add