Actual schedule for group stage

Group A
11/06.South Africa - Mexico
11/06 Uruguay - France
16/06 South Africa - Uruguay
17/06 France - Mexico
22/06 Mexico - Uruguay
22/06 France - South Africa
Group B
12/06 Argentina - Nigeria
12/06 Korea Republic - Greece
17/06 Greece - Nigeria
17/06 Argentina - Korea Republic
22/06 Nigeria - Korea Republic
22/06 Greece - Argentina
Group C
12/06 England - USA
13/06 Algeria - Slovenia
18/06 Slovenia - USA
18/06 England - Algeria
23/06 Slovenia - England
23/06 USA - Algeria
Group D
13/06 Germany - Australia
13/06 Serbia - Ghana
18/06 Germany - Serbia
19/06 Ghana - Australia
23/06 Ghana - Germany
23/06 Australia - Serbia
Group E
14/06 Netherlands - Denmark
14/06 Japan - Cameroon
19/06 Netherlands - Japan
19/06 Cameroon - Denmark
24/06 Denmark - Japan
24/06 Cameroon - Netherlands
Group F
14/06 Italy - Paraguay
15/06 New Zealand - Slovakia
20/06 Slovakia - Paraguay
20/06 Italy - New Zealand
24/06 Slovakia - Italy
24/06 Paraguay - New Zealand
Group G
15/06 C�te d'Ivoire - Portugal
15/06 Brazil - Korea DPR
20/06 Brazil - C�te d'Ivoire
21/06 Portugal - Korea DPR
25/06 Portugal - Brazil
25/06 Korea DPR - C�te d'Ivoire
Group H
16/06 Honduras - Chile
16/06 Spain - Switzerland
21/06 Chile - Switzerland
21/06 Spain - Honduras
25/06 Chile - Spain
25/06 Switzerland - Honduras


Actual World ranking:
1...Spain.........1627 Points
2...Brazil........1568
3...Netherlands...1288
4...Italy.........1209
5...Portugal......1176
6...Germany.......1173
7...France........1117
8...Argentina.....1085
9...England.......1076

11..Cameroon......1035

13..Greece........1016
14..USA............980
15..Chile..........936
16..C�te d'Ivoire..934
17..Mexico.........931
18..Switzerland....924
19..Serbia.........916
20..Uruguay........909
21..Australia......863

22..Nigeria........848

26..Algeria........823

28..Denmark........820
29..Paraguay.......806

31..Slovenia.......767

33..Slovakia.......752
34..Ghana..........747

37..Honduras.......738
43..Japan..........709

52..Korea Republic.625

82..New Zealand....400

85..South Africa...377
86..Korea DPR......376




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LOL bugger the promos they should put on a world cup tipping comp moddels win prize money and members can choose between cash prize or credits. just an idea Quote

Gotta love Maradona World cup time soon Gotta have the essentials
.


Final preparations are being made at the hotels and other temporary South African residences for the visiting teams ahead of next month's World Cup. For the University of Pretoria's High Performance Center, that means coming up with a whole lot of salad varieties and tearing up bathrooms to meet Argentina manager Diego Maradona's high toilet standards.

According to the South African Times, the Argentine Football Association's requests start out simple enough. All the rooms are to be painted white and six PlayStations are required for the players. The decadence starts to show when it comes to the food requests, though. They include:

� Ten hot dishes a day as well as 14 different salads for every meal;

� Three different pasta sauces with each meal and at least three puddings;

� A braai once in three days; and

� Ice cream available all day.

I'm assuming the 24-hour ice cream is for Maradona, but why would they possibly need 14 different salads for every single meal?! I don't think I could even name 14 different salads.

On top of that, the center also had to frantically replace the standard sinks and toilets in the two bathrooms reserved for Maradona last Thursday at the request of the AFA.

The Pretoria center's chief operations officer, Colin Stier, said: "They felt that it (the basins and toilet bowls) were not up to Maradona's standards."

And those standards are apparently very high. The Telegraph shares details on Maradona's new toilet seat of the future:

The E-Bidet features a heated seat, a warm air blow-dryer and front and rear bidet wands. It sells for 450 dollars (358 euros) at online retailer sandman.com, which bills it as "the world's best toilet seat".

How could you ever endure a cold, wandless toilet seat again after you've experienced that?

For comparison's sake, the Times says that the brazilian team requires "hot hot coffee, hot hot coffee and hot hot coffee," plus "a lot" of cookies and no chocolate where they're staying.

The Slovakians and North Koreans are keeping the requests simple, too:

Only two items feature on the Slovakians' wish list � two table tennis tables and an electronic dartboard.[...]

The North Koreans had only two simple requests � Korean rice with all meals, and the exclusive use of an entire floor of the Protea hotel in Midrand.

Meanwhile, the Italians are bringing their own pasta, of course, and the Mexicans are bringing their own priest.

I'm sure that once everyone hears about those Maradona toilets, they're all going to want them, though
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Only 15 days to go - waaahOOO Quote

Just 5 days to go for opening match in Jo-burg

Can't wait for it - sport events on TV and beautiful girls on flirt - waaahOOOO reason to party Quote

Just 5 days to go for opening match in Jo-burg

Can't wait for it - sport events on TV and beautiful girls on flirt - waaahOOOO reason to party



wOOOOOOOhOOOOOOOOOOO Quote

Come on USA!!! Beat England and earn some respect. Sorry to my British friends, but American football needs it more. Quote

Come on USA!!! Beat England and earn some respect. Sorry to my British friends, but American football needs it more.



I did see that Englands coach put the no sex ban on during the cup. Maybe we can send some hotties to their rooms so they can be occupied before gameday Quote

Come on USA!!! Beat England and earn some respect. Sorry to my British friends, but American football needs it more.



Well how we played against Japan recently - I think the USA has a good chance of beating us. Quote

England - US Match is just 1 of many great matches . I hope all get a chance to watch and cheer for thier favorite teams





Leaked diplomatic correspondence between Washington and London has revealed the latest bump in the so-called �special relationship� -- a high stakes wager between ambassadors over the outcome of their teams� World Cup clash, The Times writes in its Wednesday edition.

Louis Susman, the American Ambassador to London, approached his British counterpart in Washington through a staff intermediary to offer a bet on the outcome of Saturday�s game between England and the United States.


�We will understand if you decline, given the outcome of the last such encounter,� Philip Breeden, the American press secretary in London gibed.

Martin Longden, his counterpart in Washington, protested ignorance. �Since the history of English football is long and extensive, in contradistinction to U.S. soccer, I regret that I cannot immediately recall the encounter to which you refer.

"No doubt it is remembered fondly on these shores; we have quite forgotten it, however.�

Longden proposed the terms of the wager: dinner at a Washington DC steakhouse if England triumphs; supper at a London pub on Ambassador Nigel Sheinwald�s dime if the U.S. is the winner.

Breeden accepted, reminding Longden of the outcome of last Anglo-American encounter at the World Cup: a 1-0 victory for the U.S. in Brazil.

Longden would not be deterred. �You should know that the Ambassador takes his steak like American soccer victories � somewhat rare,� he retorted.

AT STAKE IS A STEAK: The e-mails in full:

From: Philip Breeden, US Embassy London

To: Martin Longden, British Embassy Washington DC

Subject: World Cup Bet

Mr. Longden, It has not escaped our attention that a certain sporting event is fast approaching, and that our respective nations will soon be meeting on the fields of South Africa.

My Ambassador has asked me to see if your Ambassador might be interested in a small wager? We will understand if you decline, given the outcome of the last such encounter.

Sincerely, Philip Breeden, U.S. Embassy, London

________________________________

From: Martin Longden, British Embassy Washington DC

To: Philip Breeden, US Embassy London

Subject: Re: World Cup Bet

Mr. Breeden,

Even for such an exceptionally optimistic nation as the United States, I am struck by the confidence with which your Ambassador proposes this wager. It is testament, I assume, to the generosity of your great nation - since the British Ambassador does not anticipate paying out.






Your email does not specify the exact terms of the wager. May I suggest that, in the event of an England victory, the US Ambassador agrees to entertain the British Ambassador at a steak-house of his choosing in downtown DC? And in the event that the United States is able to engineer a fortuitous win over England, then my man will entertain yours at a London pub of his choosing. Loser pays.

Your reference to a previous sporting encounter between our two countries puzzles me. Since the history of English football is long and extensive, in contradistinction to US soccer, I regret that I cannot immediately recall the encounter to which you refer. No doubt it is remembered fondly on these shores; we have quite forgotten it, however.

Are you sure you want to do this?

Yours sincerely, Martin Longden British Embassy Washington DC

________________________________

From: Philip Breeden, US Embassy London

To: Martin Longden, British Embassy Washington DC

Subject: Re: World Cup Bet

Mr. Longden ,

It is with great pleasure, and no small measure of anticipation, that the U.S. Ambassador accepts the terms of the wager. I am surprised, given the well known love of the British for history, that you have forgotten what happened the last time the �special relationship� was tested on the pitch. Of course, given the result, you are to be forgiven for having misplaced that particular episode in your memory banks. I refer of course to the victory of the U.S. over England in the 1950 World Cup.

It is true that our soccer (a fine English word we have kindly preserved for you) history is not as long and illustrious as yours. However, as your generals noted during WWII, we have a unique capability for quickly identifying and advancing talent.

Game on!

Sincerely, Philip Breeden

________________________________

From: Martin Longden, British Embassy Washington DC

To: Philip Breeden, US Embassy London

Subject: Re: World Cup Bet

Mr. Breeden,

Very well; it�s a bet!

Incidentally, you should know that the Ambassador takes his steak like American soccer victories - somewhat rare.

Sincerely,

Martin Longden



May all get sloshed and happy Quote

Come On England. As for America needing the win more you are a none football Nation. We need it more because we have not won the World Cup for 44 years and we are a major football nation. Only in US is the world cup only on subscription tv so obviously it's not that important over their. Prediction England 3 Yanks 0. And it's sounds like the American plan for saturday is to get Rooney sent off because they can't handle him any other way. Quote

I wish for a tournament with good football. A tournament where making goals will be more important than just preventing them.
I hope to see a lot of unbelievable actions and a lot of unbelievable goals. Best entertainment is to be expected from Argentina, Brasil, Spain, England, Germany and Holland. I cant wait for this tournament: the streets in my country are coloured orange already.
May the most entertaining team win, whichever it is Quote

I wish for a tournament with good football. A tournament where making goals will be more important than just preventing them.
I hope to see a lot of unbelievable actions and a lot of unbelievable goals. Best entertainment is to be expected from Argentina, Brasil, Spain, England, Germany and Holland. I cant wait for this tournament: the streets in my country are coloured orange already.
May the most entertaining team win, whichever it is


Viva Football and public viewing parties
I still remember the 2006 tournament with all the fun and all countries partying together

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Viva Football and public viewing parties
I still remember the 2006 tournament with all the fun and all countries partying together


Its great to have such a tournament in your own country. I remember Euro 2000 still very well.
When my company tries to prevent me from watching the game on monday afternoon, they really need the best glue in the aircraft industrie, to glue my ass on my deskchair.



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Are you enjoying your provocations right now Mr. Teddybear? Quote

Are you enjoying your provocations right now Mr. Teddybear?



?????? Quote

Are you enjoying your provocations right now Mr. Teddybear?



Imagine that, Dr disgruntle attacking again. This thread is about football (soccer) Quote

Go Germany!!! Too bad your captain and No. 1 goalkeeper are out. In that case Go World!!! Quote

Imagine that, Dr disgruntle attacking again. This thread is about football (soccer)


You are right, i took the wrong thread; should have been posted in the 'interesting pattern' thread.
Excuses to the people who like this thread. I can assure you that i am an enthousiastic football fan myself.

The other remark you make is for your own account.


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Soccer City, the stadium where it all begins Friday and ends July 11, sits like some alien creation on the outskirts of the city that gold built.

This is the spot � or at least one of them � where men have mined the earth for decades, bringing to the surface enough gold to make a million World Cup trophies. The mine dumps they left behind are stark testimony to their quest.

The stadium is intended to resemble a calabash, the traditional African cooking pot, but it fits poorly into the landscape. The ochre-tiled oval lacks warmth and personality.

It also lacks history, but all that will change on Friday afternoon, when Nelson Mandela and 94,000 other soccer fans wend their way to the stadium and Africa's first World Cup becomes a vuvuzela-blowing, goal-scoring, free-kicking reality.

The opening game will be between host South Africa and Mexico, hardly a clash of powers but a potentially intriguing contest nonetheless.

Over the next 30 days and encompassing 64 games, the 31 teams that spent two years qualifying for the world championship � host South Africa qualified automatically � will gradually reduce their number to the two that will play in the final.

Only seven nations have ever won the World Cup in its 80-year history � Uruguay, Italy, Germany, Brazil, England, Argentina and France. This time around, Spain and the Netherlands are the "outsiders" most strongly favored to join this exclusive club.

But the debate about who will win in 2010 rages fiercely, with the ragged roadside flag-sellers in Soweto having as much of an opinion as well-coiffed bankers in neighboring Johannesburg.

The tournament will be played at 10 stadiums in nine cities, and the country has caught World Cup fever, although perhaps not on the same scale that Germany did four years ago. Flags flutter from car and office windows and fans vie to see who can sport the gaudiest attire.

Portugal's star Cristiano Ronaldo appears to have won the battle of the billboards, at least in Johannesburg, but other global icons also stare down from on high. The Cup, after all, is as much a commercial venture as a sporting one.

Huge sums of money have been spent not only on venues but in infrastructure such as airports, roads and telecommunications. But the question remains: Who will win?

"To win the World Cup you need at least 20 very good players," said Pim Verbeek, Australia's Dutch-born coach.

If that's the case, then Argentina, now coached by its most iconic player, Diego Maradona, is well positioned. The team features the current world player of the year, forward Lionel Messi, and the drop-off from there is not precipitous.

"Maybe the press in Argentina won't like it, but we are going to play a very good World Cup," Maradona said after his team had defeated three-time Cup winner Germany in Munich in March. "What we showed is that we have a team that can become world champions for the first time after 24 years."

Considering the rivalry between England and Argentina, it might seem odd that a former England player and coach would back the South Americans, but Kevin Keegan has done just that.

"They have underperformed under Maradona so far," he said of Argentina's rocky qualifying campaign. "If they can get it together for six, seven matches, they have the players to win a World Cup."

So does Brazil. The five-time World Cup winner won the Confederations Cup in South Africa last year, defeating the U.S. in the final, and also has a constellation of stars, most notably midfielder Kaka.

Like Argentina, the Selecao also has a high-profile British backer, in this case Manchester United's Scottish coach, Alex Ferguson.

"My general view is that Brazil are very strong favorites, with Spain following them," he told Reuters. "I think that France will do better than people think. They are underdogs, which is not normal for them, and Italy will probably get to the semifinals."

Spain's finest player, midfielder Xavi, points in another direction.

"People say that the strongest nation on paper is Spain," he said, "but after us I really think it is England. Their goalkeepers aren't world-class, but apart from that you struggle to see a weakness."

Italy is the defending champion and midfielder Andrea Pirlo, a winner in 2006, has his own favorites.

"I would say that England, Brazil and above all, Spain, are a cut above the rest as we head into the tournament," he said.

The World Cup winner has alternated between Europe and South America every four years since 1962. If the pattern holds, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay or Uruguay should win. But don't bet on it.

"It is true that everyone thinks that a South American team and a European team will play in the final," said veteran Dutch coach Guus Hiddink.

Finally, inevitably, there is Germany, which has reached the final in four of the last seven tournaments. This time around, Coach Joachim Low is keeping expectations in check.

"We are not talking about the World Cup title," he said. "There is no point in building up the pressure by setting targets."

But whichever team wins, there will be more gold extracted from Johannesburg come July 11 Quote