June 2010 - .:FIESTAFOOTBALL:.

FIFA World Cup 2010: South Africa vs France. Raymond Domenech refuses to shake hands with South African manager Carlos Alberto after final whistle of South Africa vs France match. Thanks God he's leaving, hope we'll never see him again in football.

12:41 PM

South Africa vs France 2:1 (Malouda)

FIFA World Cup 2010: South Africa vs France. Florent Malouda's goal (2:1).

12:38 PM

Gourcuff red card vs South Africa

FIFA World Cup 2010: South Africa vs France. Yoann Gourcuff's red card.

12:36 PM

Uruguay vs Mexico 1:0 (Luis Suarez)

FIFA World Cup 2010: Uruguay vs Mexico. Luis Suarez's goal (1:0).

12:33 PM

South Africa vs France 2:0 (Mphela)

FIFA World Cup 2010: South Africa vs France. Katlego Mphela's goal (2:0).

12:31 PM

South Africa vs France 1:0 (Khumalo)

FIFA World Cup 2010: South Africa vs France. Bongani Khumalo's goal (1.0).

10:38 PM

10 million by Saturday?

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Dear friends,

There’s one goal at this World Cup that has millions of fans around the world talking: using this unique opportunity to guarantee education for every single child. And what do we need to achieve that goal? That’s where you come in.

Your support couldn’t come at a better time: now the South African President has invited world leaders to a summit at end of the World Cup to discuss the plan to deliver education for all. This is the perfect opportunity, as the campaign for the World Cup ends, to focus on the campaign for universal education.

www.join1goal.org/r/yellowcard

If countries’ governments don’t believe there is a global demand for action on education, they won’t agree to fix the problem. Issue your own Yellow Card calling on world leaders to guarantee education for every child, and we’ll deliver it directly to them before the Final.

World leaders need to agree on a plan to provide education, and to do that they’ll need to hear from all of us united in our demand to make education the lasting legacy of this World Cup. That’s where your Yellow Card could make the difference:

www.join1goal.org/r/yellowcard

Our nine million supporters are drawn from cities, towns, and villages in over 120 countries, and have shown their support in an incredible range of ways. Teachers, students, local education activists, football fans and celebrities have all rallied, and whether they’re doing it using email, mobile phone, social networks or attending the World’s Biggest Lesson, we are becoming a global voice too large for world leaders to ignore.

In villages throughout Bangladesh, thousands of children have taken part in football matches in support of 1GOAL, joining 194,047 fellow Bangladeshis who have sent SMS messages to join the call for education for all.

In Senegal, the Senegalese President invited hundreds of 1GOAL supporters to the Presidential Palace where he made a public commitment to the 1GOAL campaign and its aim of making sure every child receives an education.

While in the United States, 1GOAL received national attention when the Good Morning America TV program visited a South African school in Soweto with the 1GOAL team.

You can be part of this global movement building momentum towards a world where every child is guaranteed an education, by sending your own Yellow Card to world leaders before the World Cup Final:

www.join1goal.org/r/yellowcard

This opportunity is too good to miss – global attention will be on Africa, and world leaders will be pressed on the issue of education. Help us reach 10 million supporters by filling out your Yellow Card today.

Thanks for making a difference,
The 1GOAL team

11:48 AM

Spain vs Honduras 2:0 Highlights

FIFA World Cup 2010: Spain vs Honduras 2:0. Match highlights.

11:47 AM

David Villa penalty miss vs Honduras

FIFA World Cup 2010: Spain vs Honduras. David Villa penalty miss.

11:45 AM

Spain vs Honduras 2:0 (David Villa)

FIFA World Cup 2010: Spain vs Honduras. Second David Villa's goal (2:0).

11:43 AM

Spain vs Honduras 1:0 (David Villa)

FIFA World Cup 2010: Spain vs Honduras. David Villa's goal (1:0).

11:42 AM

Chile vs Switzerland 1:0 Highlights

FIFA World Cup 2010: Chile vs Switzerland 1:0. Match highlights.

11:40 AM

Chile vs Switzerland 1:0 (Gonzalez)

FIFA World Cup 2010: Chile vs Switzerland. Mark Gonzalez's goal (1:0).

11:39 AM

Portugal vs North Korea 7:0 Highlights

FIFA World Cup 2010: Portugal vs North Korea 7:0. Match highlights.

11:31 AM

Portugal vs North Korea 7:0 (Tiago)

FIFA World Cup 2010: Portugal vs North Korea. Second Tiago's goal (7.0).

8:59 PM

Portugal vs North Korea 7:0 Highlights

Monday, June 21, 2010

FIFA World Cup 2010: Portugal vs North Korea 7:0. Match highlights.

8:53 PM

Brazil vs Ivory Coast 3:1 Highlights

FIFA World Cup 2010: Brazil vs Ivory Coast 3:1. Match highlights

Kaka red card vs Ivory Coast

8:50 PM

Evra vs Duverne (French fitness coasch) incident

Another incident in French football national team in South Africa, This time between French Captain Patrice Evra and team fitness coach Robert Duverne.

8:47 PM

Italy vs New Zealand 1:1 Highlights

FIFA World Cup 2010: Italy vs New Zealand 1:1. Match highlights

1:40 PM

Denmark vs Cameroon 2:1 Highlights

Sunday, June 20, 2010

FIFA World Cup 2010: Denmark vs Cameroon 2:1. Highlights.

12:25 AM

Ghana vs Australia 1:1 Highlights

FIFA World Cup 2010: Ghana vs Australia 1:1. Match highlights

12:23 AM

Netherlands vs Japan 1:0 Highlights

FIFA World Cup 2010: Netherlands vs Japan 1:0. Match highlights

8:38 PM

Serbia vs Germany 1:0 Highlights

Friday, June 18, 2010

FIFA World Cup 2010: Serbia vs Germany 1:0. Match highlights

I'm not sure what happened in that match. Germany didn't look like the Germany that beat Australia the other day, they looked more like a team who knew it didn't matter. Well it does matter, unless they know something I don't and I were German I'd feel a little let down by that performance.

It all went a bit wrong in the first half. Klose picked up his first yellow card in the 13th minute and I have to say, it was a bit harsh. He was chasing Branislav Ivanovic and clipped his foot - no intention, no malice - just what happens every now and then in a football match.

Then, in the 37th minute he picked up his second and he deserved this but he would also have known it was coming. This was something not even a Sunday League player would have attempted when on a yellow; the tackle from behind.

He catches Dejan Stankovic trying to kick the ball but it was from behind and he misses the ball and gets the man. That was a yellow and the referee, who by the end of the match will show nine in total, had no problem sending him off for that.

The goal game a minute later. Milos Krasic crosses from the right, Nikola Zigic knocks it down and Milan Jovanovic scores from a a few yards out. Easy.

Half time followed and then a fairly uneventful second half until Vidic deliberately hand balled in the box, picked up a yellow card. The penalty was taken by Podolski and he hit it exactly where the keeper dived. Then, nothing else until the final whistle.

Serbia, who started the day in third place, remain in third place and Germany, despite losing, stay top. That will all change if Ghana beat Australia, but they won't. Australia will beat Ghana and the league table will not change, again.
Germany

Neuer, Friedrich, Badstuber (Gomez, 77), Lahm (c), Mertesacker, Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Ozil (Cacau, 70), Podolski, Klose (sent off), Muller (Marin, 70)
Serbia

Stojkovic, Kolarov, Vidic, Ivanovic, Subotic, Stankovic (c), Jovanovic (Lazovic, 79), Krasic, Ninkovic (Kacar, 69), Kuzmanovic (Petrovic, 75), Zigic

8:33 PM

Mexico vs France 2:0 Highlights

FIFA World Cup 2010: Mexico vs France 2:0. Match highlights

World Cup runners up France crashed dramatically to a 2-0 defeat by Mexico in the second round of Group A matches on Thursday.

Javier Hernandez slotted home his side's first goal in the 65th minute of the second half, after a long volley pass from behind saw him swoop alone on goal and fire the ball into the net to the right of French keeper Hugo Lloris.

The Mexicans were by far the better team throughout both halves of the match held at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Johannesburg, losing out on a number of chances, while France once again remain goalless in the tournament.

The Mexicans sealed their win through Cuauhtemoc Blanco, who scored the second goal with a penalty in the 79th minute, caused by Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna.

French hopes of reaching the next round look pretty grim for the time being, as the Mexicans and Uruguayans - each with four points - now look the likelier two in the group to progress.

Uruguay inflicted a 3-0 defeat on South Africa (the fourth team in the group) in their earlier group match yesterday.

10:32 PM

Greece vs Nigeria 2:1 Highlights

Thursday, June 17, 2010

FIFA World Cup 2010: Greece vs Nigeria 2:1. Match highlights.

9:06 PM

Maradona wants more protection for Messi and Tevez

Mad Maradona is calling on World Cup referees to not be so afraid of blowing the whistle on players. He is basically asking for more protection for flair players at the World Cup, including Lionel Messi.

Now, we are not former footballing superstars here, we're all quite good at five-a-side, but we think the referees in this World Cup are excellent. They are not blowing for players falling over easily and they seem to have remembered that football is a contact sport.

But Maradona is basically asking for more yellow and more red cards - is this something a manager should be asking for?

"If we are going to see a match when the star players are not going to be mistreated then I think the referees need to be a lot stricter, and if Korea's players do something to Messi or Carlos Tevez then they need to get out the yellow cards, and if it happens a second time, then that's it," said Maradona.

Messi is fantastic, as is Tevez and if they both play like they done for their club sides, they will win the World Cup by themselves - we wrote that a week ago, but I've seen both of them fall over too easily in the past and it is a horrible part of the game and now there is no advantage as the referees are not giving free kicks to players that fall over.

One of the best things about this World Cup so far is how the referees have refereed the games - keep it up and don't listen to Mad Maradona.

8:56 PM

Argentina vs South Korea 4:1 Highlights

FIFA World Cup 2010: Argentina vs South Korea 4:1. Match highlights.

4:23 PM

Uruguay vs South Africa 3:0 Highlights

FIFA World Cup 2010: Uruguay vs South Africa 3:0. Match highlights

4:22 PM

Spain vs Switzerland 0:1 Highlights

FIFA World Cup 2010: Spain vs Switzerland 0:1. Match highlights

4:20 PM

Spain vs Switzerland 0:1 , Fernandes

FIFA World Cup 2010: Spain vs Switzerland. Gelson Fernandes's goal (0:1)

4:19 PM

Chile vs Honduras 1:0 Highlights

FIFA World Cup 2010: Chile vs Honduras 1:0. Match highlights."

2:59 PM

Brazil vs North Korea 2:1 Highlights

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Brazil vs North Korea 2:1 Highlights

FIFA World Cup 2010: Brazil vs North Korea 2:1. Match highlights.

2:49 PM

Brazil vs North Korea 2:1 (Ji Yun Nam)

FIFA World Cup 2010: Brazil vs North Korea. Ji Yun Nam's goal (2:1).

2:47 PM

Brazil vs North Korea 2:0 (Elano)

FIFA World Cup 2010: Brazil vs North Korea. Elano's goal (2:0).

2:45 PM

Brazil vs North Korea 1:0 (Maicon)

FIFA World Cup 2010: Brazil vs North Korea. Maicon's goal (1:0).

1:11 PM

Portugal vs Ivory Coast 0:0 Highlights

FIFA World Cup 2010: Portugal vs Ivory Coast 0:0. Match highlights.

8:46 PM

New Zealand vs Slovakia , Reid

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

FIFA World Cup 2010: New Zealand vs Slovakia. Last seconds Winston Reid's goal (1:1)

8:44 PM

New Zealand vs Slovakia , Vittek

FIFA World Cup 2010: New Zealand vs Slovakia. Robert Vittek's goal (0:1)

8:41 PM

New Zealand vs Slovakia 1:1 Highlights

FIFA World Cup 2010: New Zealand vs Slovakia 1:1. Match highlights.

8:39 PM

Italy vs Paraguay 1:1 Highlights

FIFA World Cup 2010: Italy vs Paraguay 1:1. Match highlights

8:30 PM

1 GOAL

Hi,

I've just joined 1GOAL: Education for All campaign and am asking you to do the same at http://www.join1goal.org

This campaign is seizing the power of football this FIFA 2010 World Cup and calling on world leaders to provide education for the 72 million out-of-school children worldwide, by 2015.

Hundreds of footballers, celebrities and world leaders have already signed their support. They are featured in some inspiring videos and stories on the site and I expect many more will be added .You can find out more about the campaign and which of your favourite footballers have already joined at: http://www.join1goal.org

Thanks!

Vinayak.

11:18 PM

Japan vs Cameroon 1:0 Highlights

Monday, June 14, 2010

FIFA World Cup 2010: Japan vs Cameroon 1:0. Match highlights

11:09 PM

Japan vs Cameroon 1:0 , Honda

FIFA World Cup 2010: Japan vs Cameroon. Keisuke Honda's goal (1:0)

10:57 PM

Germany vs Australia 4:0 Highlights

FIFA World Cup 2010: Germany vs Australia 4:0. Match highlights.

2:01 AM

England vs USA 1:1 , Clint Dempsey

Sunday, June 13, 2010

FIFA World Cup 2010: England vs USA. Clint Dempsey's goal (1:1).

12:37 AM

England vs USA 1:0 , Steven Gerrard

FIFA World Cup 2010: England vs USA 1:0. Steven Gerrard's goal (1:0).

10:42 PM

Submissions

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Football-linX.com - World of Soccer Links

SEO friendly web resource directory, fast links promotion

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Soccer sites - Soccer resources
Soccer related sites. Other Listings - Arts, Business, Computers, Games, Health, News, Recreation, Science, Shopping, Society, Sports, Travel, World and more.

10:28 PM

Cliam Token

KQ2NHZE54CRA

9:12 PM

South Korea vs Greece 2:0 Highlights

FIFA World Cup 2010: South Korea vs Greece 2:0. Match highlights

2:09 PM

France vs Uruguay 0:0 Highlights

FIFA World Cup 2010: France vs Uruguay 0:0. Match highlights.

11:29 PM

South Africa vs Mexico 1:1 Highlights

Friday, June 11, 2010

FIFA World Cup 2010: South Africa vs Mexico 1.1. Match highlights

10:22 PM

South Africa vs Mexico 1:1 (Marquez)

FIFA World Cup 2010: South Africa vs Mexico. Rafael Marquez's goal (1:1).

10:18 PM

South Africa vs Mexico 1:0 (Tshabalala)

FIFA World Cup 2010: South Africa vs Mexico. Siphiwe Tshabalala's goal (1:0).
Tshabalala's Goal 54th Min

2:34 PM

The Motivation method by Maradona

Thursday, June 10, 2010

The Motivation method by Maradona

Diego Maradona is using interesting methods to motivate his players. This time losers from internal match got a pretty unique punishment. He joined them to suffer the punishment though.

2:32 PM

Chile vs New Zealand 2:0 Highlights

International friendly match: Chile vs New zealand 2:0. Highlights.

9:49 PM

The Motivation method by Maradona

Wednesday, June 09, 2010

Diego Maradona is using interesting methods to motivate his players. This time losers from internal match got a pretty unique punishment. He joined them to suffer the punishment though.

9:46 PM

Spain vs Poland 6:0 Highlights

International friendly match: Spain vs Poland 6:0. Match highlights

5:13 PM

England vs Platinum Stars 3:0 Highlights

Friendly match: England vs Platinum Stars 3:0. Match highlights.

5:10 PM

Spain vs Poland 5:0 (Torres)

International friendly match: Spain vs Poland. Fernando Torres' goal (5:0).

5:09 PM

Spain vs Poland 6:0 (Pedro)

International friendly match: Spain vs Poland. Pedro Rodriguez's goal (6:0).

5:08 PM

Portugal vs Mozambique 1:0 (Danny)

International friendly match: Portugal vs Mozambique. Danny's goal (1:0).

5:07 PM

Spain vs Poland 6:0 Highlights

International friendly match: Spain vs Poland 6:0. Match highlights.

5:05 PM

Spain vs Poland 2:0 (David Silva)

International friendly match: Spain vs Poland. David Silva's goal (2:0).

5:00 PM

Portugal vs Mozambique 3:0 Highlights

International friendly match: Portugal vs Mozambique 3:0. Highlights.

4:58 PM

Spain vs Poland 1:0 (David Villa)

International friendly match: Spain vs Poland. David Villa's goal (1:0)."

4:48 PM

NIKE: Born to play football

New Nike's World Cup video featuring Brazilian stars.

4:36 PM

Spain vs Poland 4:0 (Cesc Fabregas)

International friendly match: Spain vs Poland. Cesc Fabregas' goal (4:0).

10:51 PM

Portugal vs Mozambique 3:0 Highlights

Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Portugal vs Mozambique 3:0 Highlights

International friendly match: Portugal vs Mozambique 3:0. Highlights

10:50 PM

Portugal vs Mozambique 1:0 (Danny)

International friendly match: Portugal vs Mozambique. Danny's goal (1:0).

10:49 PM

Corner kick, American way

One of the funniest moments in football higstory :). James Kyson Lee, the star of Heroes was a part of Soccer aid 2010 match between England and rest of the World. He is not pretty good in football rules.

5:31 PM

Nigeria vs North Korea 3:1 Highlights

International friendly match: Nigeria vs North Korea 3:1. Match highlights.

5:27 PM

Brazil vs Tanzania 1:0 (Robinho)

International friendly match: Brazil vs Tanzania. Robinho's goal (1:0).

5:25 PM

Brazil vs Tanzania 5:1 Highlights

International friendly match: Brazil vs Tanzania 5:1. Match highlights.

5:22 PM

Brazil vs Tanzania 2:0 (Robinho)

International friendly match: Brazil vs Tanzania. Second Robinho's goal (2:0).

5:05 PM

Switzerland vs Italy 1:1 Highlights

Sunday, June 06, 2010

International friendly match: Switzerland vs Italy 1:1. Highlights

5:04 PM

Serbia vs Cameroon 4:3 Highlights

International friendly match: Serbia vs Cameroon 4:3. Highlights

5:03 PM

Honduras vs Romania 0:3 Highlights

International friendly match: Honduras vs Romania 0:3. Highlights

5:01 PM

Slovakia vs Costa Rica 3:0 Highlights

International friendly match: Slovakia vs Costa Rica 3:0. Match highlights

5:00 PM

USA vs Australia 3:1 Highlights

International friendly match: USA vs Australia 3:1. Highlights.

4:59 PM

Netherlands vs Hungary 6:1 Highlights

International friendly match: Netherlands vs Hungary 6.1. Goal highlights

4:58 PM

Netherlands vs Hungary 6-1 (Robben)

International friendly match: Netherlands vs Hungary. Second Arjen Robben's goal (6:1)

4:57 PM

Netherlands vs Hungary 5:1 (Elia)

International friendly match: Netherlands vs Hungary. Eljero Elia's goal (5:1)

4:56 PM

Netherlands vs Hungary 4:1 (van Bommel)

International friendly match: Netherlands vs Hungary. Mark van Bommel's goal (4:1)

4:55 PM

Netherlands vs Hungary 3:1 (Robben)

International friendly match: Netherlands vs Hungary. Arjen Robben's goal (3:1)

4:54 PM

Netherlands vs Hungary 2-1 (Sneijder)

International friendly match: Netherlands vs Hungary. Wesley Sneijder's goal (2:1)

4:53 PM

Netherlands vs Hungary 1-1 (van Persie)

International friendly: Netherlands vs Hungars. Robin van Persie's goal (1:1)

4:48 PM

Netherlands vs Hungary 0:1 (Dzsudzsak)

International friendly match: Netherlands vs Hungary. Balazs Dzsudzsak's goal (0:1)

12:57 PM

Japan vs Ivory Coast 0:2 Highlights

Saturday, June 05, 2010

International friendly match: Japan vs Ivory Coast 0:2. Highlights

12:56 PM

Drogba elbow injury vs Japan

Didier Drogba earned an elbow fracture in Ivory Coast's friendly match agains Japan and might miss the World Cup

12:55 PM

Rio Ferdinand injured and ruled out for World Cup

Rio Ferdinand got injured and ruled out to play for England on the World Cup

12:54 PM

France vs China 0:1 Highlights

Internatonal friendly match: France vs China 0:1. Highlights

12:52 PM

Slovenia vs New Zealand 3:1 Highlights

International friendly match: Slovenia vs New Zealand 3:1. Highlights

8:44 PM

Spain vs South Korea 1:0 Highlights

Friday, June 04, 2010

International friendly match: Spain vs South Korea 1:0 Highlights

8:43 PM

Italy vs Mexico 1:2 Highlights

International friendly match: Italy vs Mexico 2:1. Goal highlights

8:17 PM

Spain vs South Korea 1:0 Highlights

International friendly match: Spain vs South Africa 1:0. Match highlights.

8:25 PM

About Us

Thursday, June 03, 2010

Fiestafootball started as a blog - http://fiestafootball.blogspot.com, having posts about video highlights and news.

We are now a site now, after a year long struggle to get a name in the football space.
We are a group of working professionals having passion for football, and would like to grow its popularity across the world by doing our bit.

If you are interested in contributing / collaborating , do write to us at admin@fiestafootball.org , we will be glad to have you.

8:23 PM

Contact Us

8:20 PM

7:48 PM

The England Final 23- A Critical View

Fabio Capello has declared his list of the final 23 to fly down to South Africa and as has been the case for the last 44 years every die-hard English fan is almost certain that this is the year the highest award in the game will come back to the land where the game originated. And as usual almost every non-English supporter is certain that England for all the talk about each and every one of their players playing in the strongest league in the world will most definitely underachieve as has been the trend over the years.

Seaman was no Schmichael or Buffon but he rallied the defense around him and just about got the work done. It is really sad that all these years since Seaman, England have struggled to find a goal-keeper of even similar calibre. 20 Premier League Clubs, 24 Championship Clubs, an umpteen number of lower division clubs and they still struggle to find a goal-keeper who would automatically pick himself into the playing 11. The man between the post is definitely England’s most telling weakness but if I were Capello I would start with Joe Hart in the back simply because he looks to be the more confident and more agile of the three. David James in his prime was an about-average goal-keeper so to even think of winning the WC with Mr. Inconsistency in goal would be reckless. Green did pull off a couple of splendid saves against Mexico but he is not getting any younger at 30 and these saves were against Vela. As they say, the only way Vela knows to score is by chipping it over the GK and I guess he was too close to chip Green. The one factor in favor of England provided Capello decides to put his weight behind Hart is that England are placed in a relatively weak group and that would give Hart some time to acclimatize himself to the responsibility. Irrespective of how many goals they concede England can most certainly outscore the likes of USA, Slovenia & Algeria.

The defense is probably England’s strength with Johnson, Terry, Rio and Ashley Cole picking themselves automatically in the playing 11.

Glen Johnson coming off an excellent season for Liverpool is more than capable of stifling the best of Wingers. He does however make more than his fair share of runs along the flanks leaving the defense exposed at times but I think that with Cole & Glen guarding the flanks it would be any teams nightmare to exploit.

John Terry is almost impenetrable in the premiership but his weaknesses do get exposed when Chelsea play the bigger better clubs in the Champions League. His big occasion temperament is also very questionable as was the case in the finals of the CL against United. Nearing 30 he is not the quickest around or leaps the highest and the same applies to his partner Rio. Terry will still be too good for the strikers in the group stages but his defensive abilities will be really tested in the later stages against the players with the better guile and pace. The downer for England is that Terry who was a major threat with his scoring ability off dead ball situations just a season or two back is no longer a potent goal scorer.

Rio Ferdinand would have to be the weak link in the quartet and his performance for United has been on a constant yet slow downward spiral for some time now. His continued commitment to the game has also been questioned on more than one occasion, something sure to catch the attention of the opposing strikers and worry the coach. And honestly Rio & Terry don’t look like a match made in heaven. You can be rest assured that either of the two is bound to get caught napping from time to time.

If I had to pick from Rooney or Ashley as the best English player around my vote would definitely go to the latter. C.Ronaldo versus Ashley Cole and my money would still be on the man fondly known as Cashley Cole at the Emirates. Why on earth would arguably the best left back in the world want to continue to play at a club like Arsenal with continually diminishing aspirations. They can hate him all that they want but he has gone on to win titles at Chelsea something that doesn’t happen anymore at the Emirates. He reads the game well, looks confident on the ball, is an excellent defender, is good in the air, has good pace and agility, contributes with some telling crosses and can even score the odd goal. What else can you ask of a defender?

That brings us to the players who might have to fill-in in case one of the first choice defenders breaks down, the likes of Warnock, Carragher, King & Upson.

If Ledley King is anywhere as average as he was against Mexico then England are in for some big trouble in case one of the CB gets injured. He lacks pace and agility and it did not look like he can read the game well though he does look to be good in the air defending. Playing for Spurs is one thing, playing against the best that is out there is another thing.

Jamie Carragher simply put is old. If players were ranked for commitment he would be on par with Rooney but his golden days are behind him and his body does not look capable of doing what his mind wants it to do. If he plays against the teams that attack at pace they will be able to run riot over him.

Stephen Warnock is no Ashley Cole and lacks international experience. I would expect Capello to give him some playing time in the group stages so that in case he has to be called up unexpectedly he does not look like someone being thrown to the lions.

The midfield has been England’s Achilles for God knows how long now. A lot of players are apparently capable of playing in a lot of positions in the midfield but not particularly capable of playing well in any given position. That leaves Capello with a host of permutations and combinations to figure-out to get it just right.

Unfortunately for Capello, Lampard for some unexplained reason prefers to leave his prolific goal-scoring boots at the Bridge while playing for England and unlike Gerrard he cannot even complain that they play him out of position. To compound Fabio Capello’s cup of woes Mr.Reliable’s penalty taking ability seems to have ditched him just before the WC. If you ask me between Lampard & Drogba in the final match of the Premiership season against Wigan it was Drogba who took the better penalty. Everything said and done Lampard is still England’s best midfielder and you can almost certainly expect him to score a few goals in SA.

If there was ever a list of players with the most exponential fall in performance standards while playing for country versus club Steven Gerrard would top the list by a mile. I don’t think anyone even comes close, maybe Eto’o but Eto’o is no Gerrard. He recently came out with a statement that this could well be his last World Cup but for once most of England would have wanted him to come out and say that he is going to put all his mediocre performances in previous World Cups behind him, throw in a stellar performance which he is more than capable of and bow out with a bang. There was Rinus Michels who suggested the theory of Total Football and unfortunately football ends up with players who find it difficult to put feet to ball if they are moved an inch or two out of their favored positions. I am sure that this has been said before but saying it for the very last time, if England has to accomplish the seemingly impossible Steven Gerrard will have to stand up and be counted for once for England. The English Chelsea supporters hate Rooney ,the United supporters don’t take well to Lampard and the same can be said of most of England’s players bar Stevie. They all love him irrespective of which club they support and I think that he really owes them one last majestic performance.

Joe Cole is no Robben but a hale & hearty Cole is not very far behind. A lot of people in England seem to be disappointed that Walcott didn’t make the flight but personally I would have been disappointed had Cole not made the final cut. What I personally like about Cole is that unlike the other England players who have their good days and bad days Cole has his good days and his average days. Walcott is as they say a one-trick-pony who can outrun most defenders but nothing beyond running. For all of Wenger’s so called genius there is no marked difference between the Walcott of Southampton and the Walcott at the Emirates 4 years since. Coming off a difficult season for Chelsea, Cole had some wonderful moments against Japan and I would be surprised if Capello does not start with him at least for the first 65-70 min on the right flank and then bring on Lennon for the remainder of the game.

One thing that really astounds me is that there are millions of people out there who argue that the Premiership is the best league in the world when a team with Michael Carrick in midfield goes on to win the title 3 years in a row. The rise of the Premiership has a lot to do with the decline of the Serie A and the La Liga (albeit Barcelona) than an actual improvement in the quality of the Premiership. Carrick has to be the most overrated midfielder in England. He is neither a defensive midfielder nor an attacking midfielder, he does not bring the wingers into play effectively and the bloke cannot pass the ball accurately over distances exceeding 10 feet. How he made the flight is beyond me. How he continues to play for United is also beyond me.

After watching Barry at City I am sure there are more Liverpool fans disgruntled by the fact that they let Alonso go than by the fact that they did not buy Barry. If the number of goals that City concede to even mediocre opponents is anything to go by then Gareth Barry does not make a good defensive midfielder but to be fair to him a defense centered around a clueless Kolo Toure is not ideally what you look for in a team. England with the occasionally vulnerable centre backs does need the insurance up-front in Barry and as long as he checks in fit he is certain to start every game.

James Milner is another of England’s versatile midfielders. He can play as a central midfielder, a left winger and even as a right winger but not particularly well in any of these positions. One of England’s overrated rising talents who I guess will be to this World Cup what Walcott was to the previous.

In Lennon England have someone with similar pace as Walcott but with a considerably better final ball. He can on his day play in some mean crosses but does not cut inside enough and you really would not expect him to score.

How SWP made the final 23 is again something beyond me. Between SWP and Walcott I would have gone with Walcott though it is unlikely that Wright-Philips will get much playing time.

That brings us to the strikers; the England strikers who are expected to do something that they don’t do particularly well, that is, score goals. In all likelihood it will either be Rooney-Heskey or Rooney-Crouch starting for England with Defoe coming on as a substitute for either Crouch or Heskey late in the match.

In Rooney, England has one of the top 5 strikers in the world. He works his socks off on the pitch, has excellent ball control, is a poacher, he takes his chances, he does the defensive duties if required, he is good in the air, he has some deft passes. Any team would love to have him. But the England midfield doesn’t feed him enough balls and even when they do it is rarely with clinical precision. This midfield lacuna forces Rooney to often backtrack to midfield to win the ball. It is another thing winning the ball in midfield, running at a couple of defenders and scoring in the Premiership and doing the same in the World Cup against the best of teams. If England have to shine in this edition of the World Cup then it is absolutely essential that Rooney plays as an out and out striker and the midfield and the support striker perform their tasks of feeding him, efficiently enough.

Emile Heskey is evidently slow, cannot score goals even if his grand-mother was in goal but for some reason he brings the best out of Rooney. He does hold the ball up well and does take a defender or two with him thus making space for Rooney.

Crouch is an aerial threat but nothing more and it does not make sense to start him when England lacks the wingers to get in precision crosses. If I were Capello I would start with Rooney-Heskey like in the qualifiers and only in the case that this combination does not work would I be looking at other options.

This could well be the last World Cup for a lot many of the England players, the likes of Lampard, Terry, Ferdinand, Gerrard, Ashley Cole, Joe Cole, Heskey, Carragher, Barry, Crouch, King and they would want to go out on a high.England is a better team with a better coach than the previous edition of the WC as compared to most other major teams (with the exception of Spain) who have all gone down a notch. I would personally place England in the Tier II contenders list along with the likes of Argentina, Germany, Italy, Holland and maybe France. If England has to lift the trophy in South Africa they will have to find the temperament and attitude to beat these teams and hope that the stars align themselves to help them beat Brazil & Spain on that particular day.

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