2
Mediamix Supplement ● Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Could this be their time?
Inspirational leadership P
ARAGUAY have entered this World Cup with the aims of progressing through the early stages after securing their place with two games to spare.
The team has featured in seven previous tournaments and this 2010 event will be their fourth consecutive appearance. Manchester City forward Roque Santa Cruz and Sunderland defender Paulo da Silva have been named in Paraguay's preliminary squad and, despite not taking to the pitch in much of the qualifying stages, it’s no doubt Santa Cruz is important to Paraguay’s impressive form. Leading the team through the competition is Argentinian Gerardo Martino, an inspirational choice as the team made their best-ever qualification performance for the 2010 World Cup. Martino, also referred to as El Tata, was a talented attacking midfielder during the 1990s, and then
moved into coaching in 1998. During the qualifiers, Paraguay recorded 10 wins and collected 33 points. The team defeated Argentina 1-0 and President Fernando Lugo then declared a national holiday to allow the nation to celebrate the achievement. Paraguay's top scorer in the qualifiers, Salvador Cabanas, is ruled out due to an incident which caused a head injury. The squad also includes Borussia Dortmund striker and freshly nationalised Argentine Lucas Barrios. Barrios, whose mother is Paraguayan, has enjoyed a fine season with Dortmund, as has clubmate Nelson Haedo Valdez, who also made the squad along with fellow striker Oscar Cardozo of Benfica. Oscar Cardozo, Nelson Haedo Valdez and Santa Cruz were all part of the Paraguay team at Germany 2006 World Cup and the disheartening group-phase, so they should be ready to make amends and get some goals during the South African
AT HOME Currency: Guarani Language: Spanish and Guarani Population: Around 6.2m When to go: Summer is December-February and gets really hot. Best time is March-October with average temp of 24C. In June-July it can get as low as 0 to 5C. Capital city: Asuncion Attractions: Iguassu Falls; Panteon Nacional de los Heroes; La Santisima Trinidad de Parana tournament. On June 14, Paraguay will be facing Italy in Cape Town, then on June 20 they will be up against Slovakia and then on June 24 the team will tackle New Zealand.
A
FTER a disappointing qualifying period, Portugal will probably not be entering the 2010 World Cup with a whole lot of confidence.
The team– which has been drawn in one of the most difficult groups alongside Brazil, North Korea and Ivory Coast – won just one of their first five qualifying games for this year’s tournament. However, in the second half of qualifying, Portugal went on to score eight goals and secured a place in the final stage of the 2010 contest by beating Bosnia-Herzegovina. Known as the Selecção, the Portuguese side has no shortage of talented players, including captain Cristiano Ronaldo, the most expensive player in history after a £80m transfer to Real Madrid. Other key players include Brazilianborn striker Liédson, and midfielders Deco and Simao. But, despite their credentials, the star-studded team has never enjoyed significant
international success. The highest Portugal has ever come in the World Cup is fourth, in 2006, when Ronaldo famously winked at the Portuguese bench after Manchester United team-mate, Wayne Rooney, was sent off. The team is certainly capable of great things. In 2002, the team played extremely well during World Cup qualifying. This early success fizzled out though and Portugal were eliminated at group stage. It is hoped that Mozambicanborn coach, Carlos Queiroz, who took over when Brazilian, Luiz Felipe Scolari, left to coach Chelsea in 2008, can lead the Selecção to success. Queiroz is no stranger to success at club-level, having briefly coached at Real Madrid and been Alex Ferguson’s second in command at Manchester United on two occasions. Portugal’s first fixture in South Africa is on June 15 when they face Ivory Coast. They will then play North Korea on June 21, followed by
AT HOME Capital: Lisbon Language: Mainly Portuguese, although the regional language of Mirandese is also recognised Population: Approximately 10.7 million Currency: Euro Known for: The Algarve, Port wine, peri-peri sauce and sardines and attractions like Bélem Tower in Lisbon – a World Heritage site Best time to visit: July, when average temperatures in the Algarve soar Brazil on June 25. Ahead of them is no easy task but, with an abundance of world-class players in the ranks, maybe this will be the year Portugal’s international ambitions are fulfilled.
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3
Mediamix Supplement ● Wednesday, May 26, 2010
love gardening
Samurais set for a fight
R
EGARDED as one of the best Asian teams, Japan has won the prestigious Asian Cup on three occasions – in 1992, 2000 and 2004.
However, when it comes to World Cup tournaments, the team – which is often referred to as the Samurai Blues because of their distinctive blue kit, or Okada Japan in honour of the current coach – has had mixed fortunes. The Samurai Blues have qualified for the past four World Cups consecutively – which is no easy feat. Yet their success at international-level is limited: during their first-ever World Cup in 1998, Japan lost all three of their matches. In 2002 when they co-hosted the tournament with South Korea, the team were knocked out of the competition by Turkey in the 16th round. And during the last World Cup, in Germany in 2006, the Japanese side was once again knocked out of football’s greatest
contest, after they failed to win any matches during group play. During the fourth round of the Asian qualifiers for South Africa, Japan became the first team – other than South Africa – to qualify for the World Cup by beating Uzbekistan 1-0. Interestingly, current coach Takeshi Okada managed the Japanese national team during their first-ever World Cup appearance in 1998. The 53year-old former defender, who played 24 games for Japan between 1980 and 1985, returned to the role of coach in December 2007. The team’s captain is Yuji Nakazawa, Japan’s third most capped player of all time. Nakazawa, a member of the team in 2000 when Japan won the Asian Cup, announced his retirement from international football after the 2006 World Cup– six months later, though, he withdrew his decision and returned to the game. Other key players in the current squad include
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AT HOME Language: Japanese Currency: Yen Population: Approximately 127 million
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Capello and the boys are on the glory trail A
S ever, expectations for England will be extremely high, and the appointment of Fabio Capello in 2008 has given the team the shot in the arm it needed, following various disappointments, not least crashing out of the competition in 2006. Having appeared in 11 previous World Cups, England is no stranger to the competition but it is winning that all-important final which matters so much to the players and the fans who are keen for the team to finally bring home the bacon some 44 years after their last victory. Under Capello, the team won all but one of its qualifying games for the World Cup, a track record he and the team will be looking to replicate at the competition itself. Known as a tough coach to please, Capello has an impressive track record, having led three Italian teams to victory in the Serie A competition and helping Real
Madrid reign supreme twice in the La Liga championship As well as a revitalised squad and the capable coaching style of Capello, the fact that the competition is being held during South Africa’s winter should go in England’s favour, as the milder conditions will, in theory, suit the England players. Drawing a line under England’s failure to qualify for the UEFA Euro championships in 2008, the team have qualified pretty convincingly for this year’s World Cup, scoring an impressive 34 goals along the way. The team’s leading lights will be keen to prove their worth for their national team. With David Beckham out of the competition, the pressure is on the remaining players to pull out all the stops. In midfield, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard will both be trying their best to score as many goals as possible and Wayne Rooney will certainly be looking to perform well for his country.
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AT HOME Language: English Population: Approximately 59 million Currency: Pound Best time to visit: Summer – though there is no guarantee of sunshine in England! National emblem: The rose, in recognition of the Wars of the Roses in the 15th century Known for: Fish and chips, the Royal family, The Beatles, its heritage
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4
Mediamix Supplement ● Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Back from the wilderness J
UST as the 1966 World Cup has special meaning for England, it is also significant for a much lesser known team – North Korea.
This was the year that the squad made it through to the final eight, an achievement they will be hoping to equal, if not better, at this year’s competition. And if their performance to get to the final qualifying round is anything to go by, then they are definitely ones to watch. Against all odds, thanks to some amazing football, North Korea deservedly managed to seize one of four coveted automatic qualification places for this year’s World Cup. The squad narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, something they were determined not to repeat this time round, so after more than 30 years in the football wilderness North Korea are back and a force to be reckoned with.
The outsiders to watch?
So what is the key to the squad’s success? Despite most of the team coming from homegrown clubs, there are a few vital players who have earned their stripes on the international scene. These include Jong Tae-Se who plays in Japan and Hong Yong-Jo who is currently signed for FC Rostov. Other key players are midfielder Mun In-Guk, who is seen by many as holding the whole team together, and the extremely able and reliable goal keeper, Ri Myong-Guk. Guiding the whole team with a suitably pragmatic approach is coach Kim Jong-Hun. Rather than trying to meet the big boys head on and potentially risk early defeat, he has decided to acknowledge the team’s lack of international experience and take on a, so far, highly effective defensive style of play. Kim Jong-Hun is remarkably upbeat about his team’s chances and is obviously relishing the challenge ahead
AT HOME Language: Korean Comprises: 14 separate administrative divisions Population: Approximately 24 million Motto: Powerful and prosperous nation Currency: North Korean won Time difference from UK: +9 hours Best time to visit: Spring and autumn National emblem: Coat of arms showing sacred mountain, where leader Kim Jong II was born, and five-pointed red star symbolising the country’s revolutionary spirit.
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HE first African country to qualify for the World Cup 2010 in South Africa, the Ghana national football team could well be the cream of the continent.
Nicknamed the Black Stars, the country played as the Gold Coast before gaining independence from the UK in 1957. Ghana qualified to play in the senior FIFA World Cup for the first time 2006 and will be making its second appearance this year after winning 2-0 against Sudan in Accra in the qualifiers. But although this may give the impression Ghana has little international experience, the Black Stars have enjoyed huge success in this field, winning four CAF African Cup of Nations titles, two FIFA U-17 World Cups, and they were the first African team to lift the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2009. They also qualified for five straight Olympic Games Football Tournaments when
the tournament was still a full senior national team competition. Since the 2006 World Cup Ghana have gained in experience and look set to be a major contender this year. Leading the team is Serbian coach Milovan Rajevac, a former defender who played for Yugoslavia, and one of his priorities has been to create a strong defence for Ghana. He has also instilled a sense of teamwork and solidarity. This, combined with their mix of youth and experience and mental strength, should stand them in good stead, and the team have been identified as dangerous outsiders. The team boasts some top class players including midfielder Michael Essien, who plays for Chelsea and is one of the most exciting players in South Africa, as well as Inter Milan's Sulley Muntari, formerly of Portsmouth, and Eric Addo, making his second World Cup appearance.
AT HOME Language: Ghana has 47 ethnic languages, but English is the country's official language Population: Around 24 million Area: 238,537km Currency: Cedi Best time to visit: December to April, if you want to miss the rainy season! National emblem: The Ghana Coat of Arms, with two eagles carrying a shield Known for: Cocoa, textiles, Lake Volta, beaches, festivals, music
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5
Mediamix Supplement ● Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Can champs do it again? W
ITH football being the most prominent sport in the country, it’s no wonder Brazil has won the World Cup five times!
So it’s no surprise this talented team is once again one of the favourites to win the 2010 championship. ‘A Seleção’ are the most successful national football team in the history of the World Cup, with five championship wins in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002 – plus Brazil is the only team to have participated in every World Cup. Over the years this success has led a number of the team’s players to achieve celebrity status internationally, with the likes of Pele, who led Brazil to three of the championships. Carlos Verri, better known as Dunga, took on the job as the team’s coach in 2006. Once Brazil’s powerful midfielder, Dunga lifted the trophy in 1994 after taking over the captain’s armband. Although it’s only his first coaching role Dunga has put a
stop to any doubting his capabilities by leading ‘A Canarinha’ to triumph in the 2007 Copa America, the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 and now qualifying Brazil for the World Cup. In the qualifying stages Brazil managed nine wins, seven draws and two defeats, meaning they ended at the top of the group. The fans pushed their national team after goalless home draws against Argentina, Bolivia and Colombia, yet they went on to clock-up five wins in a row which secured their place in the competition. Left out of this World Cup initial squad is two-time world player of the year Ronaldinho, who last played for Brazil in 2009. Tottenham goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes is the only player in the squad currently playing in England. Other players include former Arsenal midfielders Gilberto Silva and Julio Baptista, former Manchester United
Hoping to stage a coup AT HOME Language: Portuguese Currency: Real/Reais Population: Around 185m Best time to visit: Summer occurs from December to March. Travel in the Amazon is best January to June Capital city: Brasilia Known for: Amazonia National Park; Iguassu Falls or Iguaçu Falls National emblem: Round shield with stars, surrounding star plus coffee and tobacco branches player Kleberson, and Manchester City striker Robinho, who has been playing for Santos after joining them on a six-month loan deal.
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T might have been over two decades since their last World Cup appearance but Honduras aren't going to let that stop them from making their mark in South Africa 2010!
A triumphant return for the hopeful team, Honduras is rapidly emerging as a strong footballing nation and, with a dynamic coach, it's now hoped that the national side can excel. Making their last World Cup appearance in Spain 1982 it would be easy to underestimate the team. Yet the Hondurans have, in fact, notched up many accolades. Amongst these are being the first Central American football team to score two goals at a World Cup tournament, as well as winning the 1981 CONCACAF Championship and UNCAF Nations Cup in 1993 and 1995. They also performed well in their World Cup qualifying round, finishing above Mexico,
Canada and Jamaica with just 11 goals conceded – the best in their section. However, it wasn't all plain sailing and, in typically dramatic fashion, Honduras had to rely on the USA's exciting equaliser against Costa Rica to qualify. This doesn't mean that the team don't harbour serious aspirations for South Africa – and with an impressive lineup, the Honduran side look in good shape. Top players include David Suazo, Amado Guevara, Julio César de Leon, Wilson Palacios and Carlos Pavon. Wigan Atheletic's Hendry Thomas is another emerging star. Coach Reinaldo Rueda has also become an integral and much loved part of the Honduran side. And considering that the team managed all this following a military coup in Honduras last June it makes the achievement even more impressive. Tough matches against Spain, Chile and Switzerland await in Group H, but with
AT HOME Official language: Spanish Population: Approx 7.8 million Currency: Honduran Lempira (HNL) Climate: Dry season – November to April. Wet season – May to October. The coastal regions are very hot, with cooler, more temperate weather in the mountains National symbol: Pine tree, orchid and scarlet macaw Known for: Lenca ceramics, coral reefs, Mayan heritage
their new reputation on the line and national pride all to play for, there's no discounting Honduras until the final whistle has been blown.
6
Mediamix Supplement ● Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Socceroos bounce back A
USTRALIA will be looking to make up for lost time at this year’s FIFA World Cup.
Having been absent from the competition for some 32 years, the team reached the knockout stage in the 2006 World Cup and, thanks to the shrewd tactics of coach Dutchman, Pim Verbeek, Australia are being tipped as ones to watch in this year’s competition. Known as the ‘Socceroos’, the team switched membership from the Oceania group into the Asian group which was seen by many as a tactical ploy to ease its qualification into this year’s competition. There can be little doubt that the tactic paid off with the team managing not to concede a goal in all of the last eight matches it played in, taking the team five points clear of Japan. So what is the key to Australia’s success? A combination of clever coaching and some excellent
Golf, meal and the match. Our World Cup winner. Don’t score an own goal and miss the chance to enjoy our World Cup Offer. Bring your friends along and tackle the challenging Par 3 9 hole course then catch your breath with a drink on the 19th hole terrace (weather permitting) whilst the Chef prepares your meal. Then, relax and enjoy your choice of game on one of our 3 50” screens. Whoever you support there’ll be a warm welcome, good company and a great atmosphere. Come on – let’s hear those lions roar!!
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players seems to be paying off for the team. Coach Pim Verbeek may be not that well known on the international stage but he is well respected by the players and has a wealth of experience. The team itself is considered rock solid and a lot is expected of some of its key players. Tim Cahill is arguably the most high profile of the team’s players with an impeccable track record playing for Everton. His position as attacking midfielder means that he has notched up an impressive goal record for the national team. Harry Kewell, who plays on the left, is also one to watch, as is his opposite Brett Emerton, and, in the centre, Vince Grella and Jason Culina are also highly respected within the game. The team is particularly recognised for its defensive abilities with central defender Lucas Neill and goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer a force to be
VEN with a disastrous start to their World Cup campaign, there's no doubting the threat posed by Argentina.
Long famed for being one of the world's top national teams, Argentina suffered a gruelling round to reach the group stages of the World Cup 2010. Thankfully, the side – nicknamed La Albiceleste (the light blue and whites) – pulled out all the stops to beat Peru and Uruguay in true Argentine style and, at the last minute, managed to secure their place in the competition. The two-time world champions will also be buoyed by the recent appointment of footballing God Diego Maradona as coach. Voted the FIFA Player of the 20th Century alongside Pelé, the straight-talking Argentine was, of course, La Albiceleste's star player in his day and became an idol after leading the team to victory in the 1986 World Cup. And, with some of the
world's finest footballers on the team, there's no underestimating the damage that Argentina could do if flying on top form. Star player and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi is regarded as one of the best footballers in the world. And, joined by the likes of captain Javier Mascherano, Carlos Tevez and Juan Sebastián Verón, it's not surprising Argentina still strike fear into most of their competitors. La Albiceleste's previous record in footballing tournaments also shows how dangerous they can be. In 1978 and 1986 Argentina twice won the World Cup, closely followed by narrowly missing another World Cup title (losing to Germany in a muchdisputed penalty shoot out) in 1990. They are also one of only two teams in the world to have won the three most important titles recognised by FIFA – The World Cup; the Confederations Cup and the Olympic tournament. Plus the team have been extremely
AT HOME Language: Mainly English Population: approximately 22 million National anthem: Advance Australia Fair Currency: Australian dollar Best time to visit: Country has winter when UK has summer, and vice versa National emblem: Golden wattle flower Known for: Koalas, kangaroos, Neighbours, beer, barbecues and the Outback reckoned with. The squad is supplemented by players who play in countries as diverse as Russia, China, Italy, Turkey, Holland and Germany
AT HOME Language: Spanish Population: Approx 40 million Time difference (from UK): BST -4 Best time to visit: Warmest – December, January, February and March. Coldest – June, July, August National emblem: The Coat of Arms and The Sun of May Known for: The Argentine tango, football, wine and corned beef successful in its continental championship, the Copa America, winning 14 times. So, with bag loads of star quality and a stroke of luck maybe 2010 could be Argentina and Maradona's time to shine.
7
Mediamix Supplement ● Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Hot favourites with the tipsters T
HEY’VE never won the World Cup – in fact the highest they’ve ever come in the hotly contested tournament is fourth – in 1950. Yet expectations are high for current European champions, Spain, who, alongside the famous footballing nation of Brazil, are tipped as favourites in this year’s World Cup.
Known for its speedy style, the Spanish team has enjoyed much success in recent years – most notably in UEFA’s Euro 2008 tournament, when legendary Liverpool striker Fernando Torres led the Spaniards to a 1-0 victory against Germany with a goal in the 33rd minute. As well as clinching the title for Spain, Torres’ winning shot gave Spain a total of 12 goals in the tournament – making it the top scoring team in Euro 2008. Since then, the team, which is referred to as La Furia Roja (The Red Fury) or La Roja (The
Red One) by fans, has been virtually unstoppable. Between November 2006 and June 2009, the team went undefeated for 35 consecutive games – a record the Spanish squad shares with fellow-favourites, Brazil. What’s more, the talented team won all 10 of their qualifying games for the 2010 World Cup. Spain has also been placed second from top in the Fifa rankings. With manager, Vicente del Bosque at the helm, having taken over from Luis Aragones in 2008, captain Iker Casillas will lead La Roja into their first South African fixture on June 16 against Switzerland. With expectations high, all eyes will be on star player, Torres, who may miss the start of the World Cup, as he underwent knee surgery in April. Torres isn’t the only big name though as other key players include Arsenal midfielder, Cesc Fabregas; Barcelona midfielder, Xavi
AT HOME Language: Mainly Spanish Catalan; Aranese and Galician are also recognised Population: Approximately 45.9 million Capital city: Madrid Currency: Euro Known for: Sangria, tapas, architect Antonio Gaudi’s magical buildings in Barcelona, Seville oranges and flamenco dancing Hernandez, and striker, David Villa, who currently plays for Valencia and is the second top scorer of all time in Spain.
T
Nicknamed the All Whites due to their brilliant white home strip, the island nation off Australia’s east coast have been getting a real dose of World Cup fever thanks to their side progressing to this year’s finals alongside neighbours Australia. New Zealand have graced one World Cup before, in 1982, when they travelled to Spain and lost three tough matches against Brazil, Soviet Union and Scotland. The All Whites appeared in the Confederations Cup three times, representing Oceania, but have fared little better, losing nine games and drawing one. However, there is reason to be optimistic that the team will perform better in South
Africa. They topped their Oceania qualification group after winning their first five games and setting up a twolegged showdown with Bahrain to see who would progress to the World Cup. Bahrain had beaten the talented Saudi Arabians, so New Zealand were extremely pleased to come away from their away leg with a 0-0 result. All they had to do then was get any sort of a win on home soil to advance to South Africa. This they managed thanks to a 45th minute header from Rory Fallon and a vital penalty save from their goalkeeper Mark Paston in the second half. New Zealand kick off their World Cup campaign on June 15 in Rustenburg, where they will face Slovakia. The All Whites are currently ranked 78th in the world, and a strong opening against Slovakia will give belief to the New Zealanders ahead of a very tough match against defending World Champions Italy and then a final group
Good Sports
Scarisbrick Hall School is delighted to show our support for the England team in South Africa - good luck boys! We’d also like to invite you and your children to come along to one of our summer clubs . Amongst many other activities, there are plenty of sporting activities on offer - your child might even be the next Steven Gerrard!
All Whites are alright HERE’S more to sport in New Zealand than just rugby. The All Blacks, the country’s rugby union team, may be one of the most respected and successful in the world, but there’s a new force emerging in New Zealand sport.
Scarisbrick Hall School wishes the England team all the best at this year’s FIFA World Cup finals
AT HOME Language: English and Maori Population: 4.3 million Capital: Wellington Currency: New Zealand dollar National emblem: Kiwi Known for: Agriculture, wine industry, the Haka, The Flight of the Conchords, The Lord of the Rings movies
game with Paraguay. Main man in the New Zealand team is the captain, central defender Ryan Nelsen. Nelsen plies his trade in the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers and is the highest profile player. Other talent to look out for includes forward Shane Smeltz who is the Australian ALeague’s top scorer and the Oceania Player of the Year.
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8
Mediamix Supplement ● Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Quality team are dynamite T
HE Danes are a proud, football-loving nation. FIFA founder members, they first graced the World Cup in 1986. In their three appearances at the Finals the Danes have reached the last 16 twice, and in 1998 advanced to the quarter final stage, where they were beaten by Brazil.
Their greatest footballing achievement came in 1992 at the European Championships in Sweden. The Danish team actually failed to qualify for the tournament, coming second to Yugoslavia in the qualifiers, but due to war in Yugoslavia the team was barred from the tournament and Denmark took their place at the last minute. The team beat the odds by ousting defending European Champions, Netherlands, in the semis and then the reigning World Champions, Germany, in the final. While they went on to win the Confederations Cup in
1995, since their European Championship victory, good form and results have been patchy for the team nicknamed Danish Dynamite, and they missed out on a place at the last World Cup. But under coach Morten Olsen the Danes look to have become a force once more. Indeed, their route to South Africa was particularly impressive, winning six of their 10 games and topping the group ahead of quality opposition. Their squad is sprinkled with quality from some of the best teams in Europe. Liverpool’s Daniel Agger, Blackburn’s Lars Jacobsen and Fiorentina’s Per Krøldrup are big names in defence. Christian Poulsen of Juventus and Daniel Jensen of Werder Bremen are familiar names in the midfield. While Ajax’s Dennis Rommedahl and Arsenal’s Nicklas Bendtner lead the line along with the team captain Jon Dahl Tomasson of Feyenoord.
Independent and proud
AT HOME Language: Danish Population: 5.5 million Capital: Copenhagen Currency: Danish krone (DKK) National emblem: Lion, mute swan Known for: Author and poet Hans Christian Andersen, pianist Victor Borge, philosopher Søren Kierkegaard, The Little Mermaid statue
The Danish supporters are almost as famous as the stars. Known as Roligans, their aim is to show the opposite behaviour to hooligans.
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HE SERBIAN national team will be playing in its first FIFA World Cup as an independent nation this year in South Africa.
The team was formerly part of the Yugoslavia side which evolved into the Serbia and Montenegro national football team which competed in the last World Cup in Germany in 2006. In the same year, Serbia declared its independence as the successor state to the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, and the team was officially renamed the Serbia national football team. Meanwhile, the Montenegro national football team was created to represent the new state of Montenegro. Swapping their blue jerseys and taking on the nickname The Beli Orlovi (the White Eagles), Serbia played its first international match in history versus the Czech Republic on August 16, 2006. The White Eagles secured their place in South Africa with an impressive 5-0 win
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AT HOME Language: Serbian Population: 9.8 million Area: 77,474 sq km National anthem: Lord Give Us Justice Currency: Serbian Dinar Best time to visit: July and August National emblem: The coatof-arms featuring a crown on top of a double-headed white eagle Known for: Plums, lilacs, folk dancing, stunning countryside, spas
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against Romania in Belgrade. Drawn into group D, Serbia will play their first match against Ghana on June 13, followed by Germany on June 18, and will face Australia on June 23. A force to be reckoned with, the team’s top players include Manchester United’s Nemanja Vidic, who is widely regarded as one of the best centre-backs in the world, and highly experienced Milan Jovanovic, the 28-year-old Standard Liege winger who is known for his speciality free-kicks and has nine international goals. Also on side is versatile midfielder Dejan Stankovic, who excels in both attack and defence. Coach Radomir Antic has a wealth of tactical expertise, having played professionally for 17 years and managed FC Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid. He favours the traditional 4-4-2 formation, but with a focus on attack and outsmarting opponents.
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Mediamix Supplement ● Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Warriors set for battle K
OREA Republic are Asia’s most successful team to date, with one of their best World Cup achievements in 2002, when they landed fourth place. The Taeguk Warriors were the first team to represent Asia in 1954, although they didn’t take to the world stage again until 1986 in Mexico. For South Korea, 2002 was a great tournament when they part-hosted the World Cup with Japan. The co-hosts beat Italy and Spain to reach the semi-finals, where they lost 1-0 to Germany. Their 2006 World Cup experience in Germany wasn’t as fruitful as they where forced out early from the group stage. This time around the ‘Taeguk Warriors’ reached the top of their group, even after two goalless draws with Korea DPR then a draw in the final round. Former Korea Republic midfielder Huh Jung-Moo is
leading the team throughout this World Cup after taking over the manager’s role in December 2007. This won’t be the first time Huh has taken his skills to the World Cup as, in 1986, he scored against Italy and then went on to be the trainer and assistant coach during 1990 and 94, not to mention being an interim coach of Korea Republic twice before. The South Korea coach has now named two English-based players in his 30-man preliminary squad for this summer’s World Cup in South Africa. Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-Sung, captain, and Bolton winger Lee Chung-Yong, were both named in the initial group. Celtic’s Ki Sung-Yong is the other British-based player. Cho Won-Hee, who signed for Wigan last year but is on a season-long loan with Korean side Suwon Bluewings, also makes the squad. South Korea’s first match, in
AT HOME Currency: Won (W) Language: Korean Population: Around 48.6m When to go: Autumn (September to November) usually enjoys blue skies and warm weather, April to June also has mild temperatures but summer (late June to August) is monsoon season and winter is often bitterly cold Capital city: Seoul Attractions: peaks of the Baekdudaegan; Seoul, the modern city with ancient, centuries-old temples; Korean national park Group B, is against Greece on June 12, before they face Argentina in Johannesburg on June 17 and Nigeria in Durban on June 22.
La Roja has youth on its side A
FTER 12 years out of the World Cup finals, Chile is back with a vengeance.
Returning for the first time since 1998, the team launched a triumphant qualification campaign under coach Marcelo Bielsa. The team’s most notable World Cup performance so far dates back to 1962 when Chile hosted the tournament and finished third. This year, the team has emerged stronger than ever qualifying after beating Columbia spectacularly in a 42 win away from home. In fact, they finished second in the continental qualifying group, just one point behind Brazil, with 32 goals. Expectations are high for Chile, which certainly has youth on its side. The team, known as La Roja, boasts the youngest average age of all the South American teams and its members are hardworking and physically fit.
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They are also thriving under the leadership of Argentinean coach, Marcelo Bielsa. A real character, Bielsa is nicknamed El Loco meaning ‘The Madman,’and is renowned for his total dedication to the beautiful game. It is hoped that Bielsa will change the face of Chilean football forever and his line-up of talented players includes an explosive combination of scheming Matias Fernandez, a key midfielder hailed Best South American Player in 2006, enterprising right winger Alexis Sanchez, and the experienced Humberto Suazo, who always seems to be in the right place at the right time. The team are full of attack and like to be forward at every opportunity. They should be entertaining to watch and Chile’s chances certainly look promising. Here’s hoping they will excel themselves in South Africa.
AT HOME Language: Spanish Population: 16.09 million Area: 4,506km National anthem: Himno Nacional de Chile Currency: Chilean peso Time difference from UK: -4 Best time to visit: Between November and March or, if you prefer the ski season, August and September National emblem: Chilean coat of arms with a condor and huemul (a small deer) Known for: Poetry, wines, beaches, The Andes
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Mediamix Supplement ● Wednesday, May 26, 2010
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Mediamix Supplement ● Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Trumpeting their intent C
HAMPIONED as the first African team to be a genuine threat for the World Cup trophy, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) will no doubt want to live up to the reputation.
Affectionately known as Les Éléphantes (The Elephants), Côte d'Ivoire qualified for South Africa 2010 without losing a single match and, after their premature exit from the tournament in 2006, they'll no doubt feel like they've got a point to prove. Now older and wiser, the team return to the World Cup with a great line-up of firstclass players and find themselves in the reliable hands of ex-England coach, Sven-Göran Eriksson. An experienced club coach, the 2010 tournament will be the Swede's third World Cup and, with previous success in taking England through to the quarter finals on two occasions, the Ivorians will surely be hoping that some of
his success will rub off. South Africa 2010 will be the team's second appearance in the World Cup, after making their debut in the final stages of the competition during Germany 2006 and losing out to Argentina and Netherlands in the so-called 'group of death'. But despite this defeat, the Côte d'Ivoire's flair and style more than proved that the team were a force to be reckoned with and ensured that the footballing world sat up and took notice. The team's world class footballing talent boasts a pedigree of formidable players, including Chelsea double-act Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou alongside Yaya Touré, Bakan Koné, Emmanuel Eboué, Kolo Touré and Arthur Boka who create a solid defence. However, it seems that history could be in danger of repeating itself for Côte d'Ivoire with the team being drawn in arguably the
AT HOME
Official language: French Population: Approx 16.6 million Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine Franc (XOF) Climate: The Ivory Coast has a tropical climate, with four seasons in the coastal and central regions and two seasons in the northern savannah region National emblem: The elephant and the coat of arms of Côte d'Ivoire Known for: Coffee, cocoa, pineapple and palm oil toughest group alongside the likes of Portugal, Brazil and Korea DPR in Group G. So what will the future hold? No-one knows, but what can be promised is 540 minutes of fascinating football.
Can Henry win through? A
FTER a controversial game against Ireland to get into the qualifying stages, France has already achieved one goal – this is the first time they’ve qualified on four consecutive occasions.
From the late 1990s the high standards the French team showed mean ‘Les Bleus’ soon became regarded as one of the world’s leading teams. In 1998, as the hosting country, France became world champions after beating Brazil 3-0, but in the following World Cup in 2002 the champions suffered a shocking defeat. In the first three games France never even scored a goal; with an injured Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry being sent off, Senegal, Uruguay and Denmark sent the defenders out of the competition. Not easily disheartened, four years later France returned fighting and came so close to lifting the trophy, only losing out on penalties to Italy in the final.
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Led by Raymond Domenech, the country’s longest-serving national coach, securing a place to play in South Africa wasn’t a walk in the park, although France did end up finishing second in qualifying Group 7 of the European Zone. The team lost 3-1 to Austria, had difficulties against Lithuania and Romania, then despite playing with 10 men achieved a 1-1 draw against Serbia, who actually qualified first in the group. France’s game picked up pace and it was 5-0 against the Faroe Islands and then a 31 victory over Austria. This 2010 World Cup will see Thierry Henry team captain as the previous caption Patrick Vieira has injury troubles. Other players taking part in the World Cup include Arsenal’s William Gallas and Bacary Sagna, Gäel Clichy, Abou Diaby, as well as Chelsea’s Florent Malouda, Nicolas Anelka along with the talents of Franck Ribéry and Yoann Gourcuff. France’s next match for the
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Mediamix Supplement ● Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Lions finding their mojo A
S the most successful African team, Cameroon will be closely watched in South Africa this summer.
The team, which is the top African nation in Fifa’s rankings, has won the African Cup of Nations four times and received a gold medal at the 2000 summer Olympics in Sydney. What’s more, Cameroon has qualified for the World Cup no less than six times and is also the first African team to reach the quarter finals of the World Cup, having got to the quarter final stage during the 1990 tournament. Yet despite a good track record at international-level football, the team, which is known as Les Lions Indomitable (The Indomitable Lions), has had a mixed start to the 2010 tournament. Cameroon played poorly during early qualifying games and this dismal start led to German coach, Otto Pfister,
being replaced with current coach, Paul Le Guen. However, with new leadership from Frenchman, Le Guen – who has successfully managed the likes of Lyon, Rennes and Scottish club, Rangers – Cameroon seem to have found their mojo again. Newly installed captain, Samuel Eto’o, who plays for Italian club, Internazionale, and Pierre Webó scored the two goals which took Cameroon through to the final stage in South Africa. Eto’o and Webó, who has played internationally since 2003, aren’t the only stars in Cameroon’s squad though. Other key players include Idriss Carlos Kameni; Jean Makoun and, Geremi Njitap, who has previously played for the likes of Chelsea, Newcastle and Real Madrid. The team also includes experienced defender, Rigobert Song, who played in the 1994, 1998 and 2002 World Cups, and
Desert Foxes have cunning A
LGERIA will take to the field against England in their second Group C match of World Cup 2010, on June 18 in Cape Town.
AT HOME Languages: French and English
But any England fan expecting a walkover against the team from North Africa should check their history books. In 1982, the then European champions, West Germany, faced Algeria in the group stage of that year’s World Cup. Boasting players like the European player of the year, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the Germans were confident of victory but found themselves on the receiving end of goals from Rabah Madjer and Lakhdar Belloumi and went down 2-1. Algeria went on to play more delightful football to beat Chile but, having lost to Austria, they found themselves out of the tournament as West Germany and Austria played out a 1-0 German victory that meant both teams qualified ahead of the Algerians.
Population: Approximately 19.5million Capital: Yaoundé Did you know: Cameroon has one of the highest literacy rates in Africa Known for: Mount Cameroon – an active volcano which last erupted in 2000; coffee, cocoa, bananas, cotton, sugar and tobacco nephew, Alexandre Song, an Arsenal midfielder. Drawn in Group E, Cameroon’s first South African fixture is on June 14 when they play Japan. Following that, The Indomitable Lions face Denmark on June 19; then Holland on June 24.
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If Algeria can recapture this level of form and flair then their 2010 group opponents, England, USA and Slovenia, should beware. That said, it has been 24 years since the Algerians – nicknamed Les Fennecs, The Desert Foxes – last graced the World Cup finals, though they have won the African Cup of Nations in this period. Ranked 31st in the world by FIFA, Les Fennecs’ qualification to this year’s finals had both highs and lows, with excellent home form but indifferent on the road. The Desert Foxes ultimately secured safe passage through a play-off with current Africa Cup of Nations champions Egypt, which Algeria won 1-0. Players to watch out for include midfielders Matmour and Ziani, who both ply their trade in Germany, along with Meghni of Lazio and captain Mansouri. Meanwhile, at the back you’ll recognise
AT HOME
Language: Arabic Population: 34.8 million Capital: Algiers Currency: Algerian dinar National emblem: A scene showing the hand of Fatima and the rising sun over the Atlas Mountains Known for: Arab, Turkish and French fusion cuisine. The novelist Albert Camus and the philosopher Derrida were born in Algeria Portsmouth’s Belhadj and Bougherra of Rangers. Algeria’s coach, Rabah Saadane, is in his fourth stint in charge of the national team. He’s had varying levels of success in the past but there’s every reason to believe Algeria can ruffle some big feathers in this year’s tournament.
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Mediamix Supplement ● Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Tiny but so very talented U
RUGUAY is the second smallest country in terms of area in South America and currently has a population of under 3.5m people.
That’s not a huge crop from which to choose a successful national football team – in fact, only six nations with populations smaller than Uruguay have ever participated in the World Cup. And yet, Uruguay have won the competition twice! Despite being such a small country, Uruguay is one of the most successful footballing nations in the world. Along with their two World Cup titles, they have twice been Olympic champions and have won South America’s Copa America 14 times. As the Olympic champions, Uruguay were chosen to be the host nation for the first football World Cup in 1930. The home team won all of its matches, beating neighbours Argentina 4-2 in the final.
Their next success was in 1950, where they took on hosts Brazil and beat them in their famous Maracanã stadium. Since this victory, the form of Uruguay has been inconsistent in the World Cup and the team have often failed to qualify for the tournament. Despite a lack of recent World Cup form, their pedigree is undeniable and the team currently sits 18th in the FIFA world rankings. The route to the final was not altogether straightforward for the Uruguayans. Despite scoring 28 goals and collecting 24 points, a final game defeat to Argentina saw their close rivals leapfrog them into the automatic qualification places. Uruguay then had to negotiate a play-off against Costa Rica in order to secure passage to South Africa. Landing in World Cup Group A, Uruguay are in a very tricky spot, having to play 2006’s losing finalists France, the talented Mexican team and the host nation, South Africa.
Hoping to go like clockwork AT HOME
Language: Spanish Population: 3.4 million Capital: Montevideo Currency: Uruguayan peso National emblem: A coat of ams crowned by a rising sun, with scenes depicting justice, strength, liberty and abundance Known for: Traditional music and dance, Grappamiel, an alcoholic drink consumed on cold mornings, and twice winning football’s World Cup! Coach Oscar Washington Tabarez will know his team will do very well to come through the group stage, but star strikers Diego Forlán of Atletico Madrid, Luis Suárez of Ajax and Sebastián Abreu of Botafogo will be hoping to fire their team to glory once more.
T
HE Netherlands’ national football team has a good track record when it comes to the World Cup.
The Dutch squad, famed for wearing bright orange jerseys, the traditional colours of the Netherlands, made its first appearance in 1934 and reached the peak of its success in the 70s when it was nicknamed Clockwork Oranje for its precision passing. The Holland side went on to win Euro 1988 and reached two consecutive World Cup finals in 1974 and 1978, but lost both to their host nations, West Germany and Argentina. The Oranje qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup winning 2-1 away to Iceland and will join in Group E, facing Denmark, Cameroon and Japan. In fact, the Netherlands won all eight of their games, only letting in two goals, and becoming the first European team to qualify – so the team is looking to be on fine form for the tournament in South
Africa this summer and is hungry to win. The team is coached by Bert van Marwijk, who didn’t make much of an impression during his playing days, having only gained one international cap, but who is making more of an impact as a coach, leading Feyenoord to the UEFA Cup trophy in 2002 before taking the helm at Holland. Their recent 100% record in qualifying for the World Cup has seen his popularity rise considerably. He intends to spend a lot of time getting to know his players, sticking with the 4-2-31 formation favoured by his predecessor, Marco van Basten, and encouraging plenty of interchange between midfield and attack – a nod to the country's Total Football tradition. His star players include Arjen Robben, Joris Mathijsen, Andre Ooijer, Dirk Kuyt, Mark van Bommel, Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Giovanni van Bronckhorst. Rafael van der Vaart, Robin
AT HOME Language: Dutch
Population: 16.4 million Area: 41,543 sq km National anthem: Het Wilhelmus Currency: Euro Time difference from UK: GMT +1 hour Best time to visit: May to October National emblem: Lion Known for: Tulips, cheese, clogs and windmills van Persie and Nigel De Jong are also ones to watch, especially Wesley Sneijder – a top goal-scoring midfielder with a fine range of passing. The Dutch team have often been seen as highly talented and capable but a little temperamental.
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Mediamix Supplement ● Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Now meet the home team S
OUTH Africa might be the hosts of this year’s FIFA World Cup but they have their work cut out if they wish to fulfil their dream of lifting the cup.
The team has a relatively short footballing history, having only appeared in two previous World Cups, so has to do more than most other squads to prove its worth – but playing on home soil should never be underestimated. Known as Bafana Bafana, the team has had a mixed track record to date, having failed to make it beyond the group stages in either of their two previous appearances . And yet the team has also shown glimpses of brilliance, which could be a sign of things to come. One such example is their defiant performance against Brazil last year in the FIFA Confederations Cup when, despite losing, they certainly put up a fight and proved their mettle. Undoubtedly South Africa’s leading player is midfielder
Steven Pienaar, who currently plays for Everton – where he has shown himself to be a confident and mature player and great all-rounder. His performance is considered to be key to the success or otherwise of his home country’s team. Other players whose names will certainly figure in South Africa’s standing in the competition are wingbacks Siboniso Gaxa and Tsepho Masilela. Captain Aaron Mokoena is keen to rally his national team but is realistic about the team’s shortcomings at the same time. And who is the man charged with the unenviable task of leading South Africa’s bid for the World Cup? Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira's reappointment as coach of the team was considered controversial by many, but to others he is the only man who could take the squad all the way. Parreira certainly has an impressive track record, with
AT HOME Language: 11 officially recognised languages, with Afrikaans and English the most widespread Population: Approximately 49 million Motto: Unity in diversity Currency: Rand Time difference from UK: +2 hours Best time to visit: Autumn and spring are both warm and dry National emblem: Springbok antelope a wealth of experience under his belt and, with news that the South African team is struggling with some fairly major pre-tournament injuries, it looks like he’s going to need that experience sooner than he thought.
Super Eagles ready to soar A
FTER a disappointing few years, it's fair to say that expectations aren't high for Nigeria in this year's World Cup.
Once ranked as the 5th best team in the world, Nigeria's fortune hasn't been quite so good in recent times. But, with a talented squad and experienced new coach, Nigeria could be the dark horse of the tournament. Of course, their nonappearance at Germany 2006 and the far-from-smooth qualifying round will count against them. Yet you can't help but feel hopeful after the Super Eagles' dramatic 3-2 win over Kenya in the qualifying rounds. The team's new coach, Lars Lagerback, also fares well and, with over 10 years' experience leading and co-managing Sweden, he could be just what Nigeria need to recapture some of their previous magic. Amongst his previous successes include taking the Swedes to three consecutive
European Championships as well as reaching the knockout stages of Korea/Japan 2002 and Germany 2006. Combine this with the team's ample supply of talented players and Nigeria guarantee that they remain a real threat. Chelsea star, John Obi Mikel stands strong in the mid-field, with captain Joseph Yobo making his presence felt in defence and Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Victor Obinna and Nwankwo Kanu setting a lively pace up front. Likewise, Nigeria have a good record in other international competitions, winning the 1996 Olympic Football Tournament and the African Nations Cup in 1980 and 1994. Their first World Cup appearance in USA 1994 was also promising with the Nigerian's beating Bulgaria 3-0 – no mean feat considering Bulgaria went on to beat Mexico, Germany, Argentina and Greece. However, Nigeria's biggest challenge is yet to come, with
AT HOME Official language: English Population: 154.7 million Currency: Nigerian Naira (NGN) Climate: Temperatures are hot year round, with dry season running from October to April in the north and November to March in the south National symbol: The coat of arms of Nigeria National motto: Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress matches against Greece, Korea Republic and Argentina in Group B. In particular, the Super Eagles' upcoming game versus the Argentine's is tipped to be 'the' match of the group with both teams looking for success after just scrapping through to secure their place in South Africa.
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Mediamix Supplement ● Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Hoping to do it all again A
LL eyes will be on Italy this year as the defending champions return to the World Cup to try and duplicate the team’s accolade of winning twice on the run in 1934 and 1938.
And looking at the current team and their form, this could be a real possibility. The squad topped their group with a performance which was widely considered solid and efficient. All together the team totted up seven wins and three draws, scoring a total of 18 goals. The team has a pretty impressive track record, having won the FIFA World Cup four times and finishing runner-up in 1970 and 1994, as well as claiming third place in 1990. So who are the team’s star players? Top scorer for Italy was Alberto Gilardino, who made four strikes, including a stunning hat-trick scored in less than 15 minutes against Cyprus.
Captain Fabio Cannavaro was voted FIFA World Player of the Year in 2006 and even though he is now 36, he is still considered a vastly experienced and capable player. Seen by many as one of the best goalkeepers of his generation, Gianluigi Buffon is at the heart of Italy’s defence and renowned for his quick reaction time and he has saved some truly amazing goal attempts. An inspiration to his team and his supporters alike, midfielder Gennaro Gattuso, 31, is considered an excellent all-rounder whose determination to win is highly contagious and helps to spur on the whole team. Coaching this competent and experienced team is Marcello Lippi, who isn’t afraid to make controversial changes when necessary which can often reap rewards. An interesting fact relating to the 61-year-old is that five of the 12 goals scored by Italy in
AT HOME Language: Italian Population: Approximately 56.5 million Currency: The Euro Best time to visit: Spring and autumn are often considered the best seasons National emblem: A star surrounded by the branches of an olive tree and an oak tree, symbolising the south and north of the country the 2006 World Cup were made by substitutes. He is remarkably modest about his achievements, despite having notched up 31 consecutive undefeated international games.
Gods will be on their side M
ONEY may be too tight to mention in Greece right now, but the World Cup should provide welcome distraction for the Greek populace.
After all, this is a nation that pretty much invented sporting contest on a grand scale through the Olympic Games. It is perhaps with this in mind that Greece’s coach, Otto Rehhagel, on qualifying for this year’s World Cup, said: “The players have been rewarded for their incredible passion and competitive spirit. We said that before achieving success you need to have the gods on your side.” By invoking those Olympian gods the coach, known to fans as King Otto, will be hoping to light the passion in the hearts of Greek supporters everywhere to believe his team are capable of doing something very special at this year’s tournament. Despite having only graced one World Cup and three European Championship
finals before 2010, the Greek team has tasted major success this side of the millennium. King Otto was given his unofficial title after leading his team to unlikely victory at the European Championships in 2004. Despite odds as big as 150-1 against from bookmakers, the unfancied Greeks beat the champions France, the much fancied Czech Republic and then the host nation Portugal in the final. The Greek team narrowly missed out on automatic qualification for South Africa, finishing a point behind Switzerland. This meant having to negotiate a tough qualifier against Ukraine. There will be no easy matches for the Greek team, but they are ranked 12th in the FIFA rankings and will hope to improve on their only other World Cup appearance in 1994 when they lost all their games. In Group B they will meet two of those same opponents from 1994, Argentina and Nigeria, along with South
AT HOME Language: Greek Population: 11 million Capital: Athens Currency: Euro National emblem: Dolphin, phoenix Known for: The cradle of Western civilisation; democracy, philosophy, literature, architecture, the Olympic Games!
Korea. The Greek nation’s hopes will rest on the form of the mainstays of the Greek team. These include Giourkas Seitaridis of Panathinaikos and Sotirios Kyrgiakos of Liverpool in defence; Kostas Katsouranis and team captain Giorgos Karagounis.
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Mediamix Supplement ● Wednesday, May 26, 2010
A relatively new national team, Slovenia was formed following the split of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1991, and with a petite population of just two million, it's fair to say that the team has a few factors going against it. However, like most underdogs Slovenia's stature doesn't seem to be a problem for the ambitious team, and what the Slovenia population lacks in size it certainly makes up for in pride and passion. This might go some way to explain how the side knocked out rivals Poland, Czech Republic and Russia – home to over 142 million people – on their way to South Africa 2010. Naturally, the team has a much shorter footballing pedigree than most of their World Cup counterparts, but
after qualifying in their second foray into the tournament they can certainly stand tall. Coach Matjaz Kek is renowned for being a strong leader, and Slovenia's shock qualifying result against Russia has been heralded as one of the great upsets of recent sporting history. The side have also shown promising form in previous competitions, and despite failing to qualify for the 2006 World Cup, Slovenia were the only team to beat the feisty Italians in a shock 1-0 victory before Italy went on to win the tournament. Key players on the side may not include some of the big stars other teams boast, but a steady and reliable squad with an iron defence have ensured Slovenia are in good form. In particular, keep an eye out for FC Cologne striker Milivoje Novakovic and West Bromwich Albion player Robert Koren. The question is – will their
AT HOME Language: Slovene Population: 2.5 million Currency: Euro Best time to visit: Warmest time is June, July and August, with skiing from December through to March National symbols: The three peaks of Mount Triglav; the coat of arms for Slovenia and the leaf of a linden or lime tree Known for: Skiing, Lake Bled, caves and Lipizzaner horses, which originate from modern day Slovenia
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HE football equivalent of David taking on Goliath, Slovenia have already exceeded expectations by making it into this year's World Cup.
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UALIFYING in second place behind rivals USA, Mexico have now reached the World Cup finals for the fifth consecutive time. Although they’ve qualified many times, Mexico often leaves the tournament in the early stages and they had their best performance back in 1970 and 86, which coincided with them hosting the competition. Mexico held the 1970 World Cup where they progressed to reach the quarter finals, just before half-time the score was 0-1 to Mexico, but Italy prevailed beating Mexico 4-1. Mexico was the first nation to host two World Cups and, in 1986, Mexico once again reached the quarter finals, drawing with West Germany but being beaten 4-1 in the dreaded penalty shoot-out. Now with Javier Aguirre, nicknamed El Vasco, back leading the team in the South Africa 2010 event, things are looking more hopeful. Javier helped the team qualify for the 2002 World Cup,
leading them to the top of the group that contained Italy, Croatia and Ecuador, but then saw defeat to USA. He then signed with Osasuna, but has now returned in a bid to drive the Mexican team forward with the aim of progressing beyond the Round of 16, the stage reached in the last four World Cup finals. The team are currently proving to be in top form, winning matches against five challengers during the qualifying stages plus a draw against Trinidad and Tobago. As much as the coach has helped turned Mexico’s luck around, veteran Cuauhtemoc Blanco made a big impact on the team when the 36-year-old came out of retirement. Key players in this year’s World Cup include Guillermo Ochoa, Efrain Juarez, Andres Guardado and Giovani dos Santos as well as skipper Rafael Marquez. Mexico have their first game against the host nation, South Africa, on June 11, then, on
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June 1, they will be competing against France. They complete their group matches against Uruguay on June 22.
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18
Mediamix Supplement ● Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Always great competitors W
HETHER it’s building some of the world’s best cars or playing world-class football, you can always rely on Germany to consistently deliver.
The country is famed for its uber-efficiency and this quality, together with the wealth of star-players within the current squad, has helped Germany to prove itself a worthy contender for this year’s World Cup. During qualification for the South African tournament, Germany finished top of their group, after beating Russia 1-0 in Moscow. However this early success is hardly surprising, as Germany has won the World Cup three times – in 1954, 1974 and 1990. The team has also been crowned European champions three times and, in the last 14 World Cups, the country has never finished lower than eighth. Germany has been to seven World Cup finals and reached
the semi-final stage 11 times. Penalty shoot-outs are also something of a speciality for the German side, as every time they’ve been in one during a World Cup final, they have won. With such impeccable credentials, it’s easy to see why Germany is regarded as one to watch in this year’s tournament. So after a fantastic start, expectations are high for the talented team, playing under coach, Joachim Löw. A former midfielder, Löw has a wealth of experience having coached at clubs like VfB Stuttgart, and gained vital international coaching experience as Jurgen Klinnsmann’s assistant during the last World Cup in 2006. A force to be reckoned with, Germany’s current squad has no shortage of star players, although the loss of captain Michael Ballack to injury is a serious blow. Striker Miroslav Klose, who plays for German club Bayern Munich, and
The Yanks are coming! AT HOME Population: Approximately 81.7 million Language: German Currency: Euro National emblem: Black eagle Famous Germans: Albert Einstein; Karl Marx; Ludwig van Beethoven and racing driver Michael Schumacher National cuisine: German beers, sausages and wines are world famous goalkeeper Hans-Jorg Butt are names to watch. Löw has also introduced two new players to the squad ahead of the World Cup – Holger Badstuber and Dennis Aogo. Drawn in Group D, Germany will face Australia on June 13; followed by Serbia on June 18 and then Ghana on June 23.
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NCE considered football underdogs, the USA are now hotly tipped to finish as one of the top eight of the World Cup.
Drawn in Group C, the talented team will be competing against England, Algeria and Slovenia to head for World Cup glory. And while, their previous form has at times been questionable (stars and stripes fan will surely be keen to forget Germany 2006 when the side unexpectedly crashed out of the tournament at the first hurdle) it seems that USA coach Bob Bradley has helped them return to top form. Starting the competition with typical efficiency, the United States won five of their six penultimate qualifying encounters – including a 9-0 win against Barbados – before going on to conquer the final phase of qualifying rounds, beating Mexico 2-0, drawing 2-2 against El Salvador and winning 3-0 against Trinidad
and Tobago. Their only defeats came in the form of a 3-1 loss with Costa Rica and a disappointing game ending 2-1 to Mexico. However, they managed to keep their cool and went on to stake their claim in the World Cup with a 3-2 win Honduras. Understandably, hopes for the team to finish in a top position are now high and 2010 is the United States' sixth consecutive appearance in the World Cup finals. Last year, the team also experienced success at the FIFA Confederation Cup in South Africa where they expertly demonstrated that they're on fine form, defeating Spain in the semi-finals and leading Brazil 2-0 in the final before finally missing out 3-2. So who are the ones to watch? Los Angeles Galaxy's Landon Donovan (who recently made an appearance at Everton on loan) has long been one of the team's star players. He's joined by a raft of stars including Oguchi
AT HOME Language: English Population: Approx 309 million Comprises: Fifty states and a federal district Currency: US dollars Time zones: The United States spans six time zones – Eastern Time, Central Time, Mountain Time and Pacific Time – as well as Hawaii Time and Alaska Time National emblem: The bald eagle Known for: The Grand Canyon, Hollywood, the Wild West and the Statue of Liberty Onyewu, Jozy Altidore, Tim Howard and Clint Dempsey who all play on European turf.
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Mediamix Supplement ● Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Team making finals debut
Sweet dreams of success
T
HE national football team of Switzerland had a bit of a shaky start in the World Cup 2010 qualifiers but it may have been just the wake-up call the team needs to succeed in South Africa.
The Swiss team, known as Schweizer Nati in German, La Nati in French and Squadra nazionale in Italian (as different regions of the country speak different languages), were beaten 2-1 by Luxemburg at home but they got their act together and were unbeaten in all of the matches that followed, managing to finish first in their group, ahead of Greece, Latvia and Israel. It will be the ninth time The Nati have competed in the finals of the World Cup. Their best performances so far have been reaching the quarterfinals three times, in 1934, 1938 and when the country hosted the event in 1954. The youth teams have been more successful, winning the
2002 U-17 European Championship and the 2009 U17 World Cup. However, Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld is hoping it is now Switzerland’s time to shine. Hitzfeld is very well respected as a coach in Europe, having previously led Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich to UEFA Champions League glory. The former Germany amateur international has twice been voted World Coach of the Year and twice winner of the Champions League. His team has a strong pedigree of solid star players, such as experienced team captain Alexander Frei, the Basel striker who is Switzerland’s record goalscorer, and fellow striker Blaise Nkufo whose eye for the ball up front saw him score five times to help Switzerland qualify, as well as talented young players, Tranquillo Barnetta, Eren Derdiyok and keeper Diego Benaglio.
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AT HOME Language: German, French, Italian and Romansh Population: 7.7m Area: 41,277 sq km National anthem: Swiss Psalm Currency: Swiss Franc Best time to visit: June to October or December to February for skiing National emblem: A red square with a white cross Known for: Chocolate, cheese, banking system, watches and mountains It’s about time the Swiss team earned themselves a major trophy and with Hitzfield at the helm, who knows what they can achieve?
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INCE the break-up of the former Czechoslovakia, the Slovakians have yet to contest a World Cup finals, until now.
In South Africa, the Slovakian team will hope to climb towards the heights achieved by the Czechoslovakian team that won the European Championships in 1976 and the Olympics in 1980. The Slovakian national team was formed in 1993 and is currently ranked 38th by FIFA. Originally, the team were named the Slovak Republic and first played in 1939 but, after the Second World War, became part of the Czechoslovakian national team. For over fifty years the Slovakians played no matches as an independent country. Upon gaining independence, Slovakia returned to world football in 1994 with a 1-0 victory over United Arab Emirates in Dubai.
They won seven of their ten qualifying fixtures, topping their group on the way to South Africa. They kick off their World Cup in Group F on June 15 against comparative minnows of world football New Zealand and will be looking to take maximum points. If they can also take three points from their second game against Paraguay, their passage to the next round may be complete before their tough final group game against the defending World Cup champions Italy. The men looking to take Slovakian football to the next level are coached by former Slovakian international Vladimir Weiss. Liverpool defender Martin Škrtel is hoping to fight back from a broken metatarsal to take his place among his countrymen. Other key players include Napoli midfielder Marek Hamšík who often pops up with vital goals,
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AT HOME Language: Slovak Population: 5.3 million Capital: Bratislava Currency: Euro National emblem: The coat of arms shows a double cross representing the country’s Christian faith, atop three symbolic mountains Known for: The Carpathian and Tatra mountains, skiing and tourism and Stanislav Šesták who was Slovakia’s top goalscorer during qualifying. If their best players are at their peak and the team hits form, there’s no reason the Slovakians won’t be able to propel their nation to the next level in world football.
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