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Mario Balotelli vs Jordi Alba

Mario Balotelli (Italy) & Jordi Alba (Spain)

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Italy Training Euro 2012

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Portugal Squad in Euro 2012

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Uruguay vs Netherlands : Forlan or Sneijder ?

FIFA 2010 WORLD CUP

The big games are here. These last 3 games are the ones that world cups are remembered by. As we await the 6^th of July, the four contenders namely Spain, Germany, Uruguay and Netherlands are hitting the ground in preparation for the two games which can be the biggest of their life.

On the 6^th of July Netherlands takes on the only South American team left in the final four – Uruguay. Not denying then their due credit but Uruguay must feel lucky to be in the last four after the game against Ghana. Suarez denied Ghana a spot in the final four by taking up the keeper’s role when the ball was heading into the net. On the other hand, Netherlands will feel that they totally deserved the little luck they had against Brazil.

After knocking out five-time champions and favorites Brazil, Netherlands are full of confidence. Netherlands must believe that they can go all the way now, inspite of the fact that Germany or Spain will await them in the final if they were to beat Uruguay. Netherlands will bank on their star player Wesley Sneijder who was critical in their run to the semi-finals. Netherlands playmaker Wesley Sneijder has scored 4 goals in the tournament so far.

Netherlands have the advantage of facing Uruguay in the semi-finals instead of Spain who are a much stronger team on paper. However, Netherlands will know that Uruguay have made it thus far on merit and they have the capability to produce the goods. Netherlands were ordinary in the first half against Brazil but that can be attributed to the flair of the Samba boys.

Netherlands produced a total show in the second half as they dominated the possession and threatened Julio Cesar much more than they did I the first half. With Arjen Robben of Netherlands looking very dangerous as he turned and twisted past defenders, Brazil were pushed on the backfoot.

If Netherlands are to win the world cup and firstly beat Uruguay they will need both of their star players – Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben to dish out a performance of the same intensity. Netherlands will have the full support of their Oranje brigade!

Netherlands will take on the Uruguay side that will rely strongly on charismatic player Diego Forlan. Diego Forlan has been critical to the fortunes of the Uruguay team very much like Sneijder for Netherlands. Forlan scored an all important equaliser for Uruguay in the quarter final when they looked down and out.

After Ghana opened the scoring through Muntari’s 40 yard stunner, Uruguay looked out of sorts. Ghana were the better team for a larger part of the moment and had it not been for Forlan ‘s moment of magic and Suarez moment of madness; Uruguay were going out.

But for now Uruguay have a great challenge in front of them and they will go all out to extend this dream run.

Interestingly, Uruguay are the only representatives of South America in the semi-finals.

At the beginning of the quarter finals there was a possibility of an all Latin semi-final.

With Luis Suarez taking a red card and suspended for this game, Forlan will have a mammoth task at hand in his striking partner’s absence. Suarez was and is in the race of the golden boot with three goals.

Uruguay will have to give their best performance against Netherlands to make it to the world cup final. Uruguay have a history that remains to be reignited. They were the champions in the initial two editions of the cup and have gone missing since. Uruguay can revive their golden history if they do well against Netherlands.

Here are the two teams and there runs in the cup so far.

Uruguay

02/07-10	World Championship	Uruguay vs. Ghana	1:1 1:1 (OT) 5:3 (AP)
26/06-10	World Championship	Uruguay vs. South Korea	2:1
22/06-10	World Cup, Group A	Mexico vs. Uruguay	0:1
16/06-10	World Cup, Group A	South Africa vs. Uruguay	0:3
11/06-10	World Cup, Group A	Uruguay vs. France	0:0

Netherlands

02/07-10	World Championship	Netherlands vs. Brazil	2:1
28/06-10	World Championship	Netherlands vs. Slovakia	2:1
24/06-10	World Cup, Group E	Cameroon vs. Netherlands	1:2
19/06-10	World Cup, Group E	Netherlands vs. Japan	1:0
14/06-10	World Cup, Group E	Netherlands vs. Denmark	2:0

FIFA World Cup All-Time Top Goal Scorers

On July 13, 1930, France’s Lucien Laurent scored the first-ever World Cup goal to kickstart a 4-1 win over Mexico. Since that afternoon in Uruguay, a plethora of players, both well-known and not, have added their names to the list of World Cup scorers.

However, only a select number of players have been prolific enough to be counted among the greatest scorers in World Cup history. For some, it took multiple World Cups, while others needed just one appearance on football’s biggest stage to etch their name into the World Cup history books.

There’s a good chance that this list will need some amending after the 2010 World Cup, if Miroslav Klose can find the net even just once in South Africa. At this point, however, he finds himself just outside of the very top of the charts. Who does he have to pass to get to the top? Here’s our break down of the greatest goalscorers in World Cup history.

1. Ronaldo (Brazil)
 

World Cup Goals: 15

At 17, Ronaldo was a part of Brazil’s 1994 World Cup-winning squad, but he would not make his World Cup debut until four years later.

By that time, he was firmly established as arguably the best striker in the world and showcased his skills in France, scoring four goals. He netted in a 3-0 win over Morocco in the group stage, grabbed a brace in a 4-1 win over Chile in the round of 16, and added his fourth against Holland in the semis, which Brazil won on penalties. Unfortunately, an ill Ronaldo and Brazil were held scoreless in their 3-0 defeat to the hosts.

Knee injuries kept Ronaldo off of the pitch for much of the next few seasons, but he more than put any doubts to rest at the 2002 World Cup, winning both the Golden Shoe and the Golden Ball. He scored in each of Brazil’s group stage matches (one vs. Turkey and China, two vs. Costa Rica), added his fifth in the round of 16 vs. Belgium, and put Brazil in the final by providing the only goal in the semis vs. Turkey. In the final against Germany, his goals in the 67th and 79th secured Brazil’s record fifth title, with the second goal equaling Pele’s mark of 12 World Cup goals.

The 2006 World Cup in Germany would be much less glorious, as Ronaldo was soundly criticized for his weight. But before Brazil’s disappointing quarterfinal defeat to France, he managed to make history. After being blanked vs. Croatia and Australia, he tied Gerd Muller’s record of 14 with a brace in a 4-1 win over Japan. Then in the round of 16 vs. Ghana, he put Brazil ahead – and himself in the record books – with his 5th minute strike in Brazil’s 3-0 win.

2. Gerd Muller (West Germany)
 

World Cup Goals: 14

Muller only took part in two World Cups, in 1970 and 1974, but given how prolific he was on both the club and international level, it’s no surprise that he racked up the total that he did.

Muller scored nine goals in six matches for West Germany during their 1970 World Cup qualifying campaign, and he would score 10 in six during the finals in Mexico. He scored the winner in their 2-1 win over Morocco to open group play, and then he spearheaded convincing wins over Bulgaria and Peru with successive hat tricks. In the quarters against England, Muller netted the winner in extra time in a 3-2 thriller. He followed that with two extra-time strikes in the semis against Italy, but Italy won 4-3 to relegate West Germany to the third-place match.

West Germany hosted the 1974 World Cup, and though he did not find the back of the net as often as he did in 1970, Muller very much had a starring role in the hosts’ triumph. Muller netted once in the first group stage, twice in the second group stage to help lead West Germany to the final. In the final against the Netherlands, he scored the winning goal – and his record-breaking 14th goal – in the 43rd minute in West Germany’s 2-1 win. That would be his last appearance for West Germany, and along with his then-record World Cup haul, Muller finished his international career with 68 goals in only 62 caps.

3. Just Fontaine (France)
 
World Cup Goals: 13

While the other players at the top of this list all had the chance to tally their totals in multiple World Cups, Fontaine’s accomplishment is all the more noteworthy because all 13 of his goals came in the 1958 World Cup. Fontaine, who helped lead Stade de Reims to two Ligue 1 titles and a European Cup final in 1960, retired before the age of 30 due to injury, but despite an abbreviated career and opportunities on the world stage, made the most of his chance to etch his name into World Cup lore.

Fontaine started with a bang, scoring a hat trick in a 7-3 win over Paraguay. In France’s next match, Fontaine scored the opener and a late equalizer, but Yugoslavia prevailed 3-2. He would, however, ensure France’s passage to the quarterfinals, scoring what proved to be the decisive goal in a 2-1 win over Scotland to close out group play.

In the quarterfinals against Northern Ireland, Fontaine netted a brace in the second half in a 4-0 win to take his total to eight. France’s World Cup title hopes were dashed in the semis with a 5-2 defeat to eventual champions Brazil, but Fontaine scored his ninth (in the ninth minute, at that).

He would save his best performance for last, completely dismantling West Germany in the third-place match. Fontaine had a hat trick inside 40 minutes, and he closed the scoring with a fourth goal in the 89th, putting the capper on a 6-3 rout.

For what it’s worth, second place on the scoring charts was an astounding seven behind. Pele and West Germany’s Helmut Rahn scored a total that would’ve at least tied for the top total in seven of the last eight World Cups, but even combined, still came up short of Fontaine‘s lucky 13.

4. Pele (Brazil)
 

World Cup Goals: 12

Pele made his World Cup debut at the tender age of 17, and what a debut it was. He set numerous records in the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, becoming the youngest player to play in the World Cup, the youngest player to play in a World Cup final, the youngest World Cup goal scorer, and the youngest player to score a hat trick in the World Cup.

Oh, and he scored six goals to help lead Brazil to its first World Cup title, and to boot, all six goals came in the knockout stages. A 66th minute strike defeated Wales in the quarterfinals, a second-half hat trick put France away in a 5-2 semifinal win, and in a 5-2 win over hosts Sweden in the final, he scored twice in the second half, with the first going down as one of the greatest goals in World Cup history.

Four years later in Chile, Pele scored in a 2-0 win over Mexico in the opener, but after injuring himself in the next match against Czechoslovakia, he missed out on the remainder of Brazil’s run to a World Cup repeat.

Injuries due to harsh treatment from opposition would limit him to just two group matches in the 1966 World Cup in England, and he would only score one goal (in a 2-0 win over Bulgaria) as Brazil were eliminated in the first round.

Pele would put that behind him four years later in Mexico, scoring four goals to lead Brazil to a third title in four World Cups. He scored the go-ahead goal in a 4-1 win over Czechoslovakia in Brazil’s group opener, and he did the double in a 3-2 win over Romania to confirm Brazil’s place atop their group. He went without scoring in the quarterfinals and semifinals against Peru and Uruguay, but in the final against Italy, he opened the scoring in the 18th minute, setting Brazil on its way to a 4-1 win.

5. Sandor Kocsis (Hungary)
 
World Cup Goals: 11

Along with another legend in Ferenc Puskas, Kocsis was one of the pillars of Hungary‘s great attacking teams in the late 1940s and early 1950s. As impressive as Muller’s scoring exploits were, he was outdone by Kocsis, who scored an astounding 75 goals in only 68 international appearances.

Like Fontaine, all of Kocsis’ World Cup goals would come in one tournament, as he spearheaded Hungary’s run to the 1954 World Cup final in Switzerland with a Golden Shoe-winning 11 goals. He opened his World Cup account with a hat trick in a 9-0 win over South Korea, and he followed that with four in an 8-3 win over West Germany.

Kocsis wouldn’t slow down in the knockout stages, netting a brace in a 4-2 win over Brazil in the quarterfinals, and he scored twice in extra time to deliver a 4-2 win over Uruguay in the semifinals. However, the World Cup would end in disappointment for both Kocsis and Hungary, who would go down as one of the best sides to fall short of World Cup glory. West Germany would fully avenge that previous mauling, holding Kocsis scoreless and overcoming an early 2-0 deficit to score a 3-2 win.

Sadly, the Hungarian Revolution interrupted what could have been for Hungary, but though Kocsis played his last international in 1956, he went on to have a successful club career in Spain with Barcelona, before retiring in 1965.

T7. Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina): 10

Batistuta scored four goals in the 1994 World Cup, five in the 1998 World Cup, and one in the 2002 World Cup.

T7. Teofilo Cubillas (Peru): 10

Cubillas scored five goals in the 1970 World Cup, and eight years later, he repeated the feat in the 1978 World Cup.

T7. Miroslav Klose (Germany): 10

Klose found the back of the net five times in the 2002 World Cup, and he followed that with five more in the 2006 World Cup. Barring injury, he’ll have the opportunity to add to that total in South Africa.

T7. Grzegorz Lato (Poland): 10

Lato won the Golden Shoe at the 1974 World Cup with seven goals, helping Poland finish third. He scored twice in the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, and he added another goal in another third-place showing by Poland in the 1982 World Cup.

T7. Gary Lineker (England): 10

Lineker is the only Englishman to date to win the World Cup Golden Shoe, as his six goals topped the charts at the 1986 World Cup. Four years later, he scored four more in helping England finish fourth.

T7. Helmut Rahn (West Germany): 10

Rahn scored four goals in the 1954 World Cup, including the winner in West Germany’s upset of highly-favored Hungary in the final. In the 1958 World Cup, he scored six goals in helping West Germany finish fourth.

T13. Ademir (Brazil): 9

Ademir won the Golden Shoe in the 1950 World Cup in Brazil. There is some dispute about just how many goals he scored, however.

T13. Roberto Baggio (Italy): 9

Baggio scored twice in the 1990 World Cup in Italy, five times in Italy’s run to the final at World Cup 1994, and twice more in the 1998 World Cup.

T13. Eusebio (Portugal: 9

All nine of Eusebio’s goals came in the 1966 World Cup, as he won the Golden Shoe in leading Portugal to a third-place finish.

T13. Jairzinho (Brazil): 9

Jairzinho scored in all six of Brazil’s games in the 1970 World Cup, tallying seven goals total for the champions. He added two more in the 1974 World Cup.

T13. Paolo Rossi (Italy): 9

Rossi netted three times in the 1978 World Cup, but his crowning achievement came four years later. He won the Golden Shoe at the 1982 World Cup, scoring six goals to lead Italy to the title.

T13. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (West Germany): 9

Rumenigge scored three goals in the 1978 World Cup, five in the 1982 World Cup, and one in his final World Cup in 1986.

T13. Uwe Seeler (West Germany): 9

Seeler’s goals were spread out over four World Cups. He scored twice in the 1958 World Cup, twice in the 1962 World Cup, twice more in the 1966 World Cup, and three times in the 1970 World Cup.

T13. Vava (Brazil): 9

Vava scored five goals in the 1958 World Cup, and four years later, he tied five others for the Golden Shoe with his four-goal showing. Three of his nine goals came in World Cup finals, a record he shares with teammate Pele, England’s Geoff Hurst, and France’s Zinedine Zidane.

T13. Christian Vieri (Italy): 9

Vieri scored five times in the 1998 World Cup, and he added four more in the 2002 World Cup. Were he fit in 2006, he could have added to his total.

by: Eddie Griffin

Source : soccerlens.com

Spain vs Paraguay 2010 World Cup Highlights and Results

Paraguay vs Spain game is in full swing here. Till half time, no teams could score any goal in the match.

Forget that Spain entered the game ranked No. 2 in the world (behind Brazil) and Paraguay 31st — the South Americans clearly outplayed La Furia Roja in the first place.

There weren’t many chances overall, with just one shot on target for either team. Yet Paraguay looked sharper, closing down quickly on the Spanish players and never letting them find their patented short-passing rhythm.

Plus Valdez nearly scored on a long ball into the box, or more precisely he did score but the goal was disallowed for an offsides call.

Some questions: Can Paraguay keep up the defensive pace, or will fatigue create more space for the Spanish? Can Spain bring on some fresh legs (Llorente? Cesc Fabregas?) to get back on its game? Will Villa be heard tonight?

For Argentina defeat Germany in World Cup for a third time

Diego Maradona's goal: For Argentina defeat Germany in World Cup for a third time

 

Argentina will face Germany in Saturday's World Cup quarterfinal, and coach Diego Maradona is all too familiar with the Germans.

Maradona played in four World Cups from 1982 to 1994, winning the trophy in 1986 and reaching the final in 1990 -- both times against Germany.
"Diego has gone through every experience possible in football, and that helps us a lot," said current Argentina standout Javier Pastore. "If you've got a doubt about something or a question, he knows what to say."

Germany says Argentina disrespectful to opponents, referees

Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger accuses World Cup quarterfinal rival Argentina of showing no respect for opponents and referees, and urges his teammates not to be provoked.

Germany eliminated Argentina on penalty kicks four years ago at the same stage and there were chaotic scenes after the shootout, with both sides exchanging punches and kicks in a fracas that included team officials from both benches.

Portugal notch magnificent seven

Portugal turned on the style to thrash Korea DPR 7-0 at Green Point Stadium and take a huge step towards a place in the Round of 16.

Only a Raul Meireles goal divided the teams after a closely contested first half but it was a different story after the restart when Portugal devastated the North Korean defence with three goals inside eight minutes before the hour from Simao, Hugo Almeida and Tiago. With the clock ticking down, Liedson, Cristiano Ronaldo and Tiago again compounded their opponents' woes to produce Portugal's biggest FIFA World Cup™ victory and the widest winning margin so far in South Africa.

French Soccer Players Refuse to Practice

Players boycotted practice in protest, causing outrage at home and sponsors to distance themselves

 

After the French soccer team's weekend drama, including the dismissal of a key player and the team's subsequent refusal to practice, French President Nicolas Sarkozy asked his sports Minister Roselyne Bachelot to play the referee when she meets today with France Coach Raymond Domenech, team captain Patrice Evra and Jean Claude Escalettes, the president of the French soccer federation. 

Switzerland vs Chile World Cup Scores 2010 0-1

Chile is placed leader of the group after its victory against Switzerland. A goal from midfielder Mark Gonzalez of Chile today gave an agonizing 1-0 win over Switzerland in the second round of Group H in the FIFA.

The ball possession was mostly at the team led by Marcelo Bielsa, although the goal had to wait for a bit. And Switzerland was about to take the tie in the last breath of the soccer game.

Cristiano Ronaldo not Only Dangerman - DECO

Midfielder Deco has warned Ivory Coast not to be taken in by Cristiano Ronaldo's international goal drought.

The Real Madrid forward failed to find the target during the entire World Cup qualifying campaign and has not registered for his country since a friendly win over Finland 16 months ago.

However, while team-mate Deco is confident the goals will start to flow once again for the former Manchester United star, he insists Ronaldo is not the only dangerman for the Africans in Tuesday's Group G opener in Port Elizabeth.

Portugal will rise to the challenge

Cristiano Ronaldo: Portugal will rise to the challenge

 

Cristiano Ronaldo believes that being drawn in the toughest-looking of the FIFA World Cup™ groups could spur Portugal on to great things.

Carlos Queiroz's side open their Group G campaign against Côte d'Ivoire next Tuesday before further potentially tricky assignments against Korea DPR and Brazil.

Mexico vs South Africa Result - World Cup 2010

South Africa, host of this year’s FIFA World Cup, couldn’t open the tournament with a victory.  The Mexico vs South Africa result was 1-1.

Siphiwe Tshabalala made the stadium vibrate with the first goal of the tournament. However one goal wasn’t enough as in minute 79, Mexico’s striker Rafael Marquez scored the goal that would reflect the final result of the match.

Experience World Cup 2010 Football live on CBS Sports, ESPN

Experience World Cup 2010 Football live on CBS Sports, ESPN

 

View the 2010 World Cup football is in many sports channels such as CBS Sports, ESPN and other channels here. Instead, the 2010 World Cup live streaming updates are also available on this site from time to time better so check it out.

After the grand opening ceremony successfully last night’s World Cup soccer in 2010, and today is the first football match between South Africa and Mexico scheduled at 4:00 in football in the city of Johannesburg South Africa.

World Cup Live Streaming - Watch World Cup 2010 Online

Watch World Cup 2010 Online : World Cup Live Streaming

 

Watch World Cup 2010 Online: World Cup Live Streaming – The FIFA World Cup 2010 has open its spectacular grand opening ceremony today at the Johannesburg, South Africa. Millions of soccer fans are being packed in a new stadium from across the globe and keeping in track of every minute and seconds of the cup.