The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup

[Schkite]

Ferdinand out, shame.

At least he won't have to do any random drug tests now...

My memory may be failing me but have you recently accused other people of being obsessive?

Tough blow for players missing the World Cup. You'd have to feel for them. That's Ferdinand, Ballack, Drogba and Essien all out, all established stars for their countrys (all captains possibly, though not sure about Essien, is Appiah still playing for Ghana?).

Mikel ruled out too, another Chelsea player! It is a shame though, you always want to see teams at full strength at the World Cup imo, its the biggest stage of all and it's not nice to see players ruled out like that. It could be the last World Cup for Rio, Ballack, perhaps Drogba? He's after a fantastic season but is 32 now, will the next few years slow him down a bit or will he be all the more determined to play in the next World Cup after missing this one?

[Schkite]

Robben now a doubt according to Sky Sports!

Taken to hospital with an injury after scoring twice earlier in a friendly.

[longrunsthefox]

Ferdinand out, shame.

At least he won't have to do any random drug tests now...

My memory may be failing me but have you recently accused other people of being obsessive?

Tough blow for players missing the World Cup. You'd have to feel for them. That's Ferdinand, Ballack, Drogba and Essien all out, all established stars for their countrys (all captains possibly, though not sure about Essien, is Appiah still playing for Ghana?).

No symapthy for them at all. Overpaid self indulgent demi-Gods. if it was boys from minnow countries maybe would have sympathy but these boys are all about numero uno and are on the big stage all the time anyway.   

[paco]

Some amount of fantasy teams fucked up over the past few days!

[Schkite]

Some amount of fantasy teams fucked up over the past few days!

Thankfully I haven't done mine yet, might just wait til the last minute the way these things are going!

[Norf Tyrone]

Delighted to see the hate for the double winners continues into the summer. 

Essien, Mikel, Ballack, Drogba and Bosingwa all getting a good rest.

[paco]

Some amount of fantasy teams fucked up over the past few days!

Thankfully I haven't done mine yet, might just wait til the last minute the way these things are going!

I've mines done, miraculously none of mines have been injured. Although at this rate surely it's only a matter of time

[Minder]

Is Ross4life away doing altitude training before the World Cup starts?

[Tony Baloney]

Is Ross4life away doing altitude training before the World Cup starts?

I think he got a new batch of Panini stickers in for his World Cup album.

[Schkite]

Delighted to see the hate for the double winners continues into the summer. 

Essien, Mikel, Ballack, Drogba and Bosingwa all getting a good rest.

What hate?

[paco]

Wilson Palacios and Andrea Pirlo out now as well. They're dropping like flies! Although I think Drogba will play some part.

[Norf Tyrone]

Delighted to see the hate for the double winners continues into the summer. 

Essien, Mikel, Ballack, Drogba and Bosingwa all getting a good rest.

What hate?

"By that logic John Terry and Ashley Cole should be getting injured any day now!" etc etc etc

[Capt Pat]

That is Italy out of the running for the tournament. Pirlo made them function, they are very ordinary.

[Schkite]

Delighted to see the hate for the double winners continues into the summer. 

Essien, Mikel, Ballack, Drogba and Bosingwa all getting a good rest.

What hate?

"By that logic John Terry and Ashley Cole should be getting injured any day now!" etc etc etc

Was just a joke regarding a comment where someone said "cheats" get their comeuppance after Ferdinand getting injured. Don't remember any Man Utd fans getting up in arms over it. Besides, it was nothing to do with Chelsea, about Terry and Cole themselves. Nothing but admiration for Lampard.

As I say it was a joke and I don't like seeing anyone get injured before the World Cup, you want to see everyone at their strongest.

[A Quinn Martin Production]

Below is the ITV/BBC schedule for the World Cup (I presume RTE will cover all of these)

Is it just me or are there not many stand out/must watch games in the first phase??  Brazil v Ivory Coast and Brazil v Portugal maybe are two...and Germany v Serbia could be competitive but really, Cameroon v Denmark and even Spain v Switzerland doesn't exactly set the pulse running...Any views

TV coverage (all times BST)

June 11
1500: South Africa v Mexico (Soccer City, Johannesburg) - ITV 1
1930: Uruguay v France (Cape Town) -BBC One

June 12
1230: South Korea v Greece (Port Elizabeth) - ITV 1
1500: Argentina v Nigeria (Ellis Park, Johannesburg) - BBC One
1930: England v US (Rustenburg) - ITV 1

June 13
1230: Algeria v Slovenia (Polokwane)- BBC One
1500: Serbia v Ghana (Pretoria) - ITV 1
1930: Germany v Australia (Durban) - ITV 1

June 14
1230: Holland v Denmark (Soccer City, Johannesburg) - ITV 1
1500: Japan v Cameroon (Bloemfontein)- BBC One
1930: Italy v Paraguay (Cape Town)- BBC One

June 15
1230: New Zealand v Slovakia (Rustenburg)- BBC One
1500: Ivory Coast v Portugal (Port Elizabeth) - ITV 1
1930: Brazil v North Korea (Ellis Park, Johannesburg) - ITV 1

June 16
1230: Honduras v Chile (Nelspruit) - ITV 1
1500: Spain v Switzerland (Durban)- BBC One
1930: South Africa v Uruguay (Pretoria)- BBC One

June 17
1230: Argentina v South Korea (Soccer City, Johannesburg) - ITV 1
1500: Greece v Nigeria (Bloemfontein)- BBC One
1930: France v Mexico (Polokwane)- BBC One

June 18
1230: Germany v Serbia (Port Elizabeth)- BBC One
1500: Slovenia v US (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)- BBC One
1930: England v Algeria (Cape Town) - ITV 1

June 19
1230: Holland v Japan (Durban) - ITV 1
1500: Ghana v Australia (Rustenburg)- BBC One
1930: Cameroon v Denmark (Pretoria) - ITV 1

June 20
1230: Slovakia v Paraguay (Bloemfontein)- BBC One
1500: Italy v New Zealand (Nelspruit) - ITV 1
1930: Brazil v Ivory Coast (Soccer City, Johannesburg)- BBC One

June 21
1230: Portugal v North Korea (Cape Town)- BBC One
1500: Chile v Switzerland (Port Elizabeth)- BBC One
1930: Spain v Honduras (Ellis Park, Johannesburg) - ITV

June 22
1500: Mexico v Uruguay (Rustenburg) - ITV 1
1500: France v South Africa (Bloemfontein) - ITV 1
1930: Nigeria v South Korea (Durban)- BBC One
1930: Greece v Argentina (Polokwane) - BBC One

June 23
1500: Slovenia v England (Port Elizabeth)- BBC One
1500: US v Algeria (Pretoria)- BBC One
1930: Australia v Serbia (Nelspruit) - ITV 1
1930: Ghana v Germany (Soccer City, Johannesburg) - ITV 1

June 24
1500: Slovakia v Italy (Ellis Park, Johannesburg) - ITV 1
1500: Paraguay v New Zealand (Polokwane) - ITV 1
1930: Denmark v Japan (Rustenburg)- BBC One
1930: Cameroon v Holland (Cape Town) - BBC One

June 25
1500: Portugal v Brazil (Durban)- BBC One
1500: North Korea v Ivory Coast (Nelspruit)- BBC One
1930: Chile v Spain (Pretoria) - ITV 1
1930: Switzerland v Honduras (Bloemfontein) - ITV 1