The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup

[ballinaman]

So in Sundays final Liverpool have Torres, Reina, Babel, Kuyt....utd have howard webb.

Great sign for the Liverpool academy alright to have brought those players through the ranks .....more players than United have had in a final ever though i'd say in fairness!

[blewuporstuffed]

So in Sundays final Liverpool have Torres, Reina, Babel, Kuyt....utd have howard webb.

Great sign for the Liverpool academy alright to have brought those players through the ranks .....more players than United have had in a final ever though i'd say in fairness!

and kuyt would be the only one certain to start!

[ballinaman]

My team of the tournament...

                                                            Eduardo
                                        Lahm       Lugano       Juan     Coentrao
                                                        Schweinsteiger
                                           Mueller          Sneijder           Ozil
                                                       Forlan            Villa

Subs: Robinho, Klose, Suarez, Maicon, Van der Wiel, Carvalho,Honda,Neuer
Also...
             Green
Johnson-Gallas-Upson-Evra
Lennon-Barry-Gurcouff-Ribery
       Rooney-Torres

[ONeill]

Beckham finds room for Cashley: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football/world-cup/david-beckham/article/1394/

1. Fernando Muslera (Uruguay) - The Lazio keeper is a find for me having only just recently made his International debut a few months ago. Uruguay didn't concede any goals in the group stage and his two penalty saves against Ghana show that he has the temperament for the big stage.

2. Sergio Ramos (Spain) - Having played with Sergio at Madrid I can say he's one of the most determined and committed defenders I've come across. He enjoys linking up with the attack and loves to shoot when he gets the chance. Sergio has had a great World Cup.

3. Ashley Cole (England) - I also enjoyed watching Fábio Coentrão for Portugal but Ashley for me is the best left back in the world and probably England's standout performer in this World Cup. Ashley never stops running and whilst a very good defender, he loves to attack opposing full-backs.

4. Carlos Puyol (Spain) - The semi-final showed how important he is for Spain. Not only was Puyol strong defensively, he got the crucial goal that took Spain into the final. I've played against him before and not only does he have natural talent, he has enormous presence and a strong work ethic, leading by example. His partnership with Gerard Pique has been crucial to Spain.

5. John Mensah (Ghana) - The Ghana captain was very solid as they progressed through the tournament and were unlucky in their quarter-final with Uruguay. Leads by example and the rugged defender is not afraid to put his body on the line for his team.

6. Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany) - Has had a very good World Cup and particularly impressive against England. He has all the attributes of a modern midfield player. You would want him alongside you in any team.

7. Wesley Sneijder (Holland) - A talented playmaker who has had a great season for club and country. Sneijder has an eye for a pass and impressive dead-ball ability. He's got a lot of goals so far in the World Cup from an advanced midfield role. He will definitely be one to watch in the final.

8. Xavi (Spain) - You could pick Xabi Alonso or Andres Iniesta but I love to watch Xavi play. Every team needs a Xavi. He runs the engine room for both Spain and Barcelona and is such an intelligent player. He has amazing vision and passing ability. Xavi takes on the ball in the tightest of situations and for me, is Spain's main man. He deserves the highest accolades in the game and could be the player of the tournament along with Sneijder.

9. Thomas Mueller (Germany) - Not a name many had heard of before the tournament, but four goals and three assists from five games is an amazing return from the 20-year-old attacking player. It was a shame he missed the semi and you could tell Germany missed his pace and finishing ability.

10. Diego Forlan (Uruguay) - A striker who has got better and better over the years. I was fortunate to play with Diego at United and we could all see what a talented player he was - now he has supreme confidence. He's twice been the leading scorer in La Liga and with four goals and several assists to his name in South Africa, he's had a great tournament.

11. David Villa (Spain) - Top scorer at the tournament so far, he is one of the world's best finishers. Villa can play off either foot and is devastating in front of goal. It's frightening to think he's joining what is already a great team at Barcelona.

Subs

Michael Bradley (United States) - I thought the US team looked good and were unlucky to go out. My teammate Landon Donovan was very good but I was particularly impressed by Bradley. If the States can produce players like him for the future, soccer will be in good health there.

Maicon (Brazil) - Brazil produce great wing backs and I was lucky to play with one, Roberto Carlos at Real Madrid. Maicon is another one off the production line. I thought he played well for Brazil and had a great season for Inter. His goal in their first match was incredible.

Lionel Messi (Argentina) - How can you not have the best player in the world in your squad? Messi did everything but score a goal in the tournament. He's amazing to watch.

[ONeill]

Platini heart-attack they're reporting.

[ONeill]

The Fifa vice-president, 55, was eating at the Pigalle restaurant in Sandton district when he collapsed, falling off his chair.

Watching in horror were Gerard Houllier, the former Liverpool manager, and Andy Roxburgh, the Uefa technical director who were dining with Platini

[ONeill]

Obit on hold:

Platini taken to hospital after fainting - has had flu but is not heart attack and is fine say uefa source

[Main Street]

One of those infamous Platini dives no doubt, I wonder did he do his trademark summersault and roll over a few times on the floor.

[muppet]

http://www.torontosun.com/sports/worldcup/2010/2010/07/08/14643451.html


DURBAN - A city that had gotten great reviews throughout this World Cup, finished its run with a black eye.

Durban, known for it's beaches, hospitality and weather, hosted the semifinal between Spain and Germany Thursday at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

The stadium with a capacity of between 65,000 and 70,000 was sold out for the match. But several thousand seats remained empty.

Many of those ticketholders were circling King Shaka International Airport.

In a situation that threatened to break out several times, the airport had to delay and cancel many flights scheduled to land.

The airport could not cope with the increased traffic especially when private jets "of the rich and famous" arrived at the last minute, landed and parked creating a traffic jam.

"People who frankly showed up at the last minute wanted to park," Airports Company of South Africa CEO Monhla Hlahla told a Durban newspaper. "We expected everyone to follow the rules."

Just 60,960 people were at the semifinal, the second-lowest attendance figure for the games played in Durban.

As usual, airport authorities blamed a technical glitch for the problems.

Caught up in the traffic were fans, media who had attended the night's previous semifinal in Cape Town and some celebrities including actress Charlize Theron. Theron's flight was given landing priority when there was room.

A 1Time flight from Cape Town to Durban circled over Durban when the captain announced it was being diverted to Johannesburg, an hour away.

A passenger told the newspaper that when the announcement was made "about 10 soccer fans jumped up from their seats and rushed towards the cockpit."

The captain announced they would be arrested if they didn't sit down. The flight landed in Johannesburg and 20 minutes later it took off again after being told there was room at the Durban airport.

When the flight landed fans rushed to make it to the second half of the game.

A spokesperson for Air Traffic and Navigation Services Africa said there were 488 flights booked to land and depart from the airport and there were only four parking bays available in the evening for Boeing 737s.

The experience is not the kind of send off Durban was looking for.

The $135 million (CDN) King Shaka International Airport was newly-built to handle World Cup traffic.

[Puckoon]

German right back lucky to stay on the pitch - that could well have been a leg breaker!

[Milltown Row2]

had fiver on muller to score first. 9/1 brill

[Celt_Man]

Apres Match doing the whole half time analysis on RTÉ there!!

[paco]

Just after seeing that tackle, haven't been paying much attention to the game itself, was the Uruguay player able to continue?

[Puckoon]

yeah, he was fine. It was just over zealous, but it could have had a nasty outcome.

[paco]

Seeing the slow-mo he was very lucky not to injure anything. Very surprised not to see Klose, flu or not!