FIFA World Cup 2010 - one month long non-stop entertainment

FIFA world cup starts on 7th of june between South Africa and mexico in Johannesburg. (a group A match entertainment) it extends till july 7th 2010, a final again at Johannesburg. I would predict Argentina vs "X" in the finals. Expect a non stop thriller and entertainment bonanza for the one whole month. Total of 64 matches 32 teams and one winner. Later ,i would post the schedule of  FIFA world cup.comment your predictions of world cup winner.

Maradona : All worldcup matches would be tough

Maradona exclaimed that almost all the matches in the FIFA world cup would be extremely tough. Since all the teams in all the groups were highly talented. he also exclaimed that Argentina is expected to perform to their best and hope to winning the world cup, under his coaching. First match for Argentina is with African opponent Nigeria on 12th of june in Johannesburg.

FIFA World Cup 2010 - qualified 32 teams...GROUPS DIVIDED...

• Group A: SouthAfrica, Mexico, Uruguay, France
• Group B: Argentina, Nigeria, Korea Republic, Greece
• Group C: England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia
• Group D: Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana
• Group E: Netherland, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon
• Group F: Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia
• Group G: Brazil, Korea DPR, Côte d'Ivoire, Portugal
• Group H: Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile

Real Madrid coach blames injuries for recent form

Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini blamed injury disruptions for his team's recent poor run of results, capped by a 4-0 rout from third-division Alcorcon in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday.Meanwhile, Madrid director general Jorge Valdano stopped short of guaranteeing Pellegrini's job was safe.There are lots of players who are out of form who have been returning from injuries," Pellegrini said to explain the loss and other recent results, including defeats against Sevilla and AC Milan.Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Karim Benzema were among the players back from injury, while Cristiano Ronaldo has been sidelined throughout the recent poor run of results. Xabi Alonso and Gonzalo Higuain are among Madrid's other absentees.Although the pressure was piling up on the Chilean coach, he insisted he will remain in the post."It has not even passed through my mind to resign, not recently, not today, not tomorrow," he said.Valdano hinted he wasn't seeking the coach's resignation either."I trust fully in (Pellegrini's) seriousness and his professionalism and tonight has to be a moment of departure (for the team)." However, he would not offer a concrete guarantee that the coach will stay.It's not the moment to make a diagnosis and I just want to apologize to the fans," he said.I believe in the squad and I believe in the people that form a part of it," Valdano said. "I think that what happened tonight will only ever happen once."

Liverpool lose to Lyon, staring at European exit

Liverpool are running out of players, energy and ideas. The pressure certainly mounted on Rafa Benitez on Wednesday night when his team succumbed to modest French visitors, and a brief chorus of disapproval greeted his controversial decision to substitute their best player, Yossi Benayoun.

Having given Liverpool the lead, Benayoun was outstanding yet Lyon fought back, levelling through Maxine Gonalons and then, following Benayoun’s withdrawal, Cesar Delgado swooped in injury time to make it Liverpool's worst run since 1987. Next up? Manchester United.

This had been a game that Liverpool could not afford to lose, that had the Kop standing nervously as the game unfolded, their mood darkening after 25 minutes when Gerrard’s groin injury returned, lifting only when Benayoun struck four minutes from the break.As Liverpool’s captain sloped down the tunnel for immediate medical attention, Benitez’s faith in his lesser lights was put to the test.Mayhem ruled. Liverpool’s marking was shocking, allowing Lyons three uncontested attempts at goal. Only Reina delayed the inevitable, saving from Toulalan, then Govou before Maxime Gonalons made it third time lucky for Lyons with a header that arrowed into Liverpool’s net and hearts.Benitez gambled, removing Benayoun, precipitating those boos as Andrei Voronin came on. And when Delgado stroked home Lyons’ winner in stoppage time, the dissent continued.

Liverpool

Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880. Liverpool has a population of 435,500, and lies at the centre of the wider Liverpool Urban Area, which has a population of 816,216.Historically a part of Lancashire, the urbanization and expansion of Liverpool were largely brought about by the city's status as a major port. By the 18th century, trade from the West Indies, Ireland and mainland Europe coupled with close links with the Atlantic Slave Trade furthered the economic expansion of Liverpool. By the early 19th century, 40% of the world's trade passed through Liverpool's docks who is contributing to Liverpool's rise as a major city. Inhabitants of Liverpool are referred to as Liverpudlians but are also known as "Scousers", in reference to the local dish known as "scouse", a form of stew. The word "Scouse" has also become synonymous with the Liverpool accent and dialect. Liverpool's status as a port city has contributed to its diverse population, which, historically, were drawn from a wide range of peoples, cultures, and religions, particularly those from Ireland and across it.

Manchester United

Manchester United Football Club is an English football club, one of the most popular football clubs in the world, based at Old Trafford in Greater Manchester. The club was a founding member of the Premier League in 1992, and has played in the top division of English football since 1938, with the exception of the 1974–75 season. Average attendances at the club have been higher than any other team in English football for all but six seasons since 1964–65. Manchester United are the reigning English champions and Club World Cup holders, having won the 2008–09 Premier League and the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup. The club is one of the most successful in the history of English football and has won 22 major honours since Alex Ferguson became manager in November 1986. In 1968, they became the first English club to win the European Cup, beating Benfica 4–1. They won a second European Cup as part of a Treble in 1999, before winning their third in 2008. The club holds the joint record for the most English league titles with 18 and also holds the record for the most FA Cup wins with 11.Since the late 1990s, the club has been one of the richest in the world with the highest revenue of any football club.

AC MILAN

Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan and as just Milan in Italy, is an Italian professional football club based in Milan, Lombardy. The club was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin, Alfred Edwards, and four other Englishmen and has since spent most of its history in the top flight of Italian football (only two years in Serie B in the eighties).The club have won 18 officially recognized international titles, tied with Boca Juniors as having the most in the world. Milan have won four world titles, more than any other club in the world; they have won the Intercontinental Cup 3 times and the FIFA Club World Cup once. AC Milan have also won what is today known as the UEFA Champions League on seven occasions; only Real Madrid have won it more times. As for Italian Series A titles, Milan are tied with Internazionale for being the second most successful club with 17 league titles; only Juventus have won more (27) .Other important titles won by Milan include the European Super Cup a record five times, and the Cup Winners' Cup twice; however, they have never reached the UEFA Cup final (only two semi-finals in 1972 and 2002).

GOVERNING BODIES OF SOCCER

The recognised international governing body of football (and associated games, such as futsal and beach soccer) is the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). The FIFA headquarters are located in Zürich.

Six regional confederations are associated with FIFA; these are:

Asia: Asian Football Confederation (AFC)

Africa: Confederation of African Football (CAF)

Central/North America & Caribbean: Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF; also known as The Football Confederation)

Europe: Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)

Oceania: Oceania Football Confederation (OFC)

South America: Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol/Confederação Sul-americana de Futebol (South American Football Confederation; CONMEBOL)

National associations oversee football within individual countries. These are affiliated both with FIFA and with their respective continental confederations.

Some of the football associations not recognised by FIFA are affiliated to the Nouvelle Fédération-Board (NF-Board).

football pitch

Laws were formulated in England, and were initially administered by the four British football associations within IFAB, the standard dimensions of a football pitch were expressed in imperial units. The Laws now express dimensions with approximate metric equivalents which are followed by traditional units in brackets, though popular use tends to continue to use traditional units in English - speaking countries with a relatively recent history of metrication, such as Great Britain. The length of the pitch for international adult matches is in the range 110–120 yd and the width is in the range 70–80 yd. Fields for non-international matches may be 100–130 yd length and 50–101 yd in width, provided that the pitch does not become square.Since 2006, In order to standardize the size of the football pitch for A international matches, the IFAB has decided to set a fixed size of 105 m long and 68 m wide (instead of a minimum and maximum length – from 100  to 110 m – and a minimum and a maximum width – from 64  to 75 m. The longer boundary lines are touch lines, while the shorter boundaries on which the goals are placed are called goal lines. A rectangular goal is positioned at the middle of the each goal line.

In front of each goal is an area known as the area penalty . This area is marked by the goal line, two lines starting on the goal line 18 yd from the goalposts and extending 18 yd into the pitch perpendicular to the goal line joining them. This area has a number of functions, the prominent being to mark where the goalkeeper may handle the ball and where a penalty foul by a member of the  team defending becomes punishable by a penalty kick. Other markings define the position of the players at kick-offs, goal kicks, penalty and corner kicks.