Ghana name 30 man provisional squad

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Friday, 07 May 2010 15:08

Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac has included Kevin-Prince Boateng in his 30 man squad list, although his nationality switch is yet to be finalised by FIFA.

Michael Essien and John Mensah also made it into the list as the final 23 man squad list has to be made from this 30 man list. Bologna’s Stephen Appiah is also named despite the fact that he has not played at club level for a while.
Provisional 20 man Ghana squad

Goalkeepers: Richard Kingson, Daniel Agyei, Stephen Aholu, Stephen Adams

Defenders: John Paintsil, John Mensah, Samuel Inkoom, Hans Adu Sarpei, Rahim Ayew, Lee Addy, Isaac Vorsah, Jonathan Mensah, Eric Addo

Midfielders: Michael Essien, Kwadwo Asamoah, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Anthony Annan, Sulley Muntari, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, Stephen Appiah, Andre Ayew, Laryea Kingston, Derek Boateng, Bernard Kumordzi, Haminu Draman

Attackers: Asamoah Gyan, Prince Tagoe, Dominic Adiyiah, Mathew Amoah

Algeria name preliminary World Cup squad

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Wednesday, 05 May 2010 09:30

Algeria have named a preliminary squad for the 2010 World Cup, most of whom took part in the recent Africa Cup of Nations and head coach Rabbah Saadane has confirmed that he wanted to keep the backbone of the team that got through to the semi-final in Angola.

Algeria are in the same group as England, Slovenia and United States and are thought of by some as the dark horse of the group. They are currently third favourite to go through, but a good result against either England or the United States will make them a strong contender.

"Selection has been a real headache but I wanted to keep the backbone of the team that got through to the semi-final in Angola," Saadane told journalists this week.
Algeria Squad

Goalkeepers: Fawzi Chouachi (ES Setif), Lounes Gaouaoui (ASO Chlef), Mohamed Lamine Zemmamouche (MC Alger), M'bohi Rais Ouheb (Slavia Sofia/BUL)

Defenders: Abdelkader Laifaoui (ES Setif), Madjid Bougherra (Rangers/SCO), Carl Medjani Carl (Ajaccio/FRA), Rafi Halliche (Nacional Madeira/POR), Anther Yahia (Bochum/GER), Haib Belaid (Boulogne/FRA), Nadir Belhadj (Portsmouth/ENG), Djamel Mesbah (Lecce/ITA)

Midfielders: Hassen Yebda (Potsmouth/ENG), Mehdi Lacen (Racing Santander/ESP), Yazid Mansouri (Lorient/FRA), Adlane Guedioura (Wolverhampton/ENG), Riad Boudebouz Riad (Sochaux/FRA), Djamel Abdoun (Nantes/FRA), Fouad Kadir (Valencienne/ FRA), Mourad Meghni (Lazio/ITA), Karim Ziani (Wolfsburg/GER), Karim Matmour (M'Gladbach/GER)

Strikers: Abdelkader Ghezzal (Sienna/ITA), Rafik Djebbour (AEK Athens/GRE), Rafik Saifi (Istres/FRA)

Security plans for 2010 World Cup unveiled

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Friday, 07 May 2010 13:27

The South African Police Service unveiled plans to MPs today detailing how they aim to keep South Africa safe before and during the 2010 World Cup. The plans include the use of fighter jets, border patrols and security guards for each team.

The plans were put forward to the portfolio committee by Police Lieutenant General Andre Pruis. He also told parliament of the newly established Intelligence Co-ordinating Committee (ICC) - set up to work closely with foreign intelligence agencies and how they were prepared for any threat.

The plans are extensive. fighter jets will be used to clear airspace before, during and after every match throughout South Africa and there would be a number of no fly zones in South Africa for the duration of the World Cup.

Cruise ships are also going to be escorted into South Africa from 12 nautical miles off the coast and trains coming into South Africa from neighbouring countries would also be monitored.

Andre Pruis
The ICC operates in co-operation with intelligence services from all over the world and provides tactical intelligence, that is flowing on a minute by minute basis. Every bit of tactical intelligence is collected and liaised with intelligence personnel so that action can be taken.

Stadium security

Pruis also confirmed that the police's Special Task Force, the Defence Force Special Forces, the Bomb Squad and the National Intervention Unit would be on standby at each game, with the defence force's Seven Medical Battalion ready to deal "with any possible chemical, biological and radiological threat".

Inside the stadiums will also include public order police, local and foreign security spotters and private security firms but the stadium security doesn't end there. Ten kilometre cordons would also be set up around stadiums with emphasis on on preventing domestic extremism including strike action and service delivery protests.
Team security

Each country has also been assigned a dedicated security liaison officer and the safety of each team is of huge importance. The ICC has been in communication with intelligence agencies and police in each country and a police member will 'co-ordinate all security activities of each team'.

Profiles have been created for each team and the team hotel. Routes to and from the stadiums with 'safe haven's have been drawn up and every potential threat has been anticipated.

Bottom line; South Africa should be safe and the eyes of thousands will be on you wherever you go in South Africa and if you are ever unsure - just look up and wave as South Africa will also be using quite a few satellites to keep an eye on things too.

Squad announcement dates for 2010 World Cup

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Friday, 07 May 2010 13:02

FIFA have today confirmed all the information we need to know in relation to squad announcements from each country. The list is, as you'd expect, very detailed and specific, but that is just how we like it; detailed and specific. We were not let down.

What this list of dates basically tells us is when each country has to have a the final list of 23 players that will travel to South Africa and when we will get the final list from FIFA for each country.

However, seeing as we like lists, we are going to make one with all the important dates and information that you might need. So here goes.
Squad announcement dates

* May 11th 2010 - all 32 qualified teams must provide a list of up to 30 players
* May 13th 2010 - FIFA will publish the 30 man squad lists
* June 1st 2010 - deadline for each of the participating countries to provide a final list of 23 players that must come from the list submitted on May 11th 2010
* June 4th 2010 - final squad lists to be published by FIFA

What happens if a player is injured?

Good question. If a player is 'seriously injured' they may be replaced up to 24 hours before the team's first match and the replacement players are not limited to the list provided on May 11th 2010.

So, come back on June 4th when we will list all the players playing at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

FIFA releases information on squad lists for South Africa 2010

(FIFA.com) Friday 7 May 2010
FIFA releases information on squad lists for South Africa 2010
Getty Images

FIFA today provided information related to the publication of the release lists of players for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.

- According to the 2010 FIFA World Cup Regulations, the 32 qualified teams must provide a list of up to 30 players by 11 May (midnight CET).

- FIFA will publish this list on 13 May (noon CET) on its official website FIFA.com.

- The release of players on this list is mandatory as of 17 May 2010.

- The deadline for the 32 teams to provide a final list of 23 players is 1 June 2010 (midnight CET).

- The final list is limited to players on the release list provided on 11 May.

- However, seriously injured players may be replaced up to 24 hours before the team's first match, as mentioned in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Regulations.

- Replacement players for injured players are not limited to the release list provided on 11 May.

- FIFA will publish the final list on 4 June (noon CET) on FIFA.com.

Laws of the Game

On 1 July 2009, the new Laws of the Game, modified at the 123rd Annual General Meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in Newcastle, Northern Ireland on 28 February 2009, came into force.

To see the current Laws of your favourite game, click on the link in the "Read more" section below.

Authorised by the International Football Association Board
This booklet may not be reproduced or translated in whole or in part in any manner without the permission of FIFA.

Published by FIFA
Federation Internationale de Football Association
FIFA-Strasse 20, P.O. Box 8044 Zurich, Switzerland

Player Statistics-Argentina Lionel MESSI

Argentina

(24/06/1987)
Record at FIFA TournamentsTournaments Editions MP W D L GF GA Y 2YC R
FIFA World Cup™ Final 2006 3 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
FIFA U-20 World Cup Final 2005 7 6 0 1 6 0 1 0 0
Olympic Football Tournament Final 2008 5 5 0 0 2 0 1 0 0
FIFA Club World Cup 2009 2 2 0 0 2 0 1 0 0
FIFA World Cup™ Qualifier 2006, 2010 21 9 4 8 4 0 1 0 0
FIFA World Cup™Edition Venue Date Match Stage
2006 Leipzig 24/06/2006 Argentina ARG 2:1 a.e.t. (1:1, 1:1) MEX Mexico Round of 16
2006 Frankfurt/Main 21/06/2006 Netherlands NED 0:0 ARG Argentina Group matches
2006 Gelsenkirchen 16/06/2006 Argentina ARG 6:0 (3:0) SCG Serbia and Montenegro Group matches
FIFA U-20 World CupEdition Venue Date Match Stage
2005 Utrecht 02/07/2005 Argentina ARG 2:1 (1:0) NGA Nigeria Final
2005 Utrecht 28/06/2005 Brazil BRA 1:2 (0:1) ARG Argentina Semi-finals
2005 Enschede 25/06/2005 Argentina ARG 3:1 (1:1) ESP Spain Quarter-finals
2005 Emmen 22/06/2005 Colombia COL 1:2 (0:0) ARG Argentina Round of 16
2005 Emmen 18/06/2005 Argentina ARG 1:0 (1:0) GER Germany Group matches
2005 Enschede 14/06/2005 Egypt EGY 0:2 (0:0) ARG Argentina Group matches
2005 Enschede 11/06/2005 Argentina ARG 0:1 (0:1) USA USA Group matches
Men's Olympic Football TournamentEdition Venue Date Match Stage
2008 Beijing 23/08/2008 Nigeria NGA 0:1 (0:0) ARG Argentina Gold medal match
2008 Beijing 19/08/2008 Argentina ARG 3:0 (0:0) BRA Brazil Semi-finals
2008 Shanghai 16/08/2008 Argentina ARG 2:1 a.e.t. (1:1, 1:1) NED Netherlands Quarter-finals
2008 Shanghai 10/08/2008 Argentina ARG 1:0 (0:0) AUS Australia First stage
2008 Shanghai 07/08/2008 Côte d'Ivoire CIV 1:2 (0:1) ARG Argentina First stage
FIFA Club World CupEdition Venue Date Match Stage
2009 Abu Dhabi 19/12/2009 Estudiantes de La Plata ELP 1:2 a.e.t. (1:1, 1:0) BAR FC Barcelona Final
2009 Abu Dhabi 16/12/2009 Atlante Futbol Club ATL 1:3 (1:1) BAR FC Barcelona Semi-finals
FIFA World Cup™ QualifiersEdition Venue Date Match Stage
2010 Montevideo 14/10/2009 Uruguay URU 0:1 (0:0) ARG Argentina League round
2010 Buenos Aires 10/10/2009 Argentina ARG 2:1 (0:0) PER Peru League round
2010 Asuncion 09/09/2009 Paraguay PAR 1:0 (1:0) ARG Argentina League round
2010 Rosario 05/09/2009 Argentina ARG 1:3 (0:2) BRA Brazil League round
2010 Quito 10/06/2009 Ecuador ECU 2:0 (0:0) ARG Argentina League round
2010 Buenos Aires 06/06/2009 Argentina ARG 1:0 (0:0) COL Colombia League round
2010 La Paz 01/04/2009 Bolivia BOL 6:1 (3:1) ARG Argentina League round
2010 Buenos Aires 28/03/2009 Argentina ARG 4:0 (1:0) VEN Venezuela League round
2010 Santiago De Chile 15/10/2008 Chile CHI 1:0 (1:0) ARG Argentina League round
2010 Buenos Aires 11/10/2008 Argentina ARG 2:1 (2:1) URU Uruguay League round
2010 Lima 10/09/2008 Peru PER 1:1 (0:0) ARG Argentina League round
2010 Buenos Aires 06/09/2008 Argentina ARG 1:1 (0:1) PAR Paraguay League round
2010 Belo Horizonte 18/06/2008 Brazil BRA 0:0 ARG Argentina League round
2010 Buenos Aires 15/06/2008 Argentina ARG 1:1 (0:0) ECU Ecuador League round
2010 Bogota 20/11/2007 Colombia COL 2:1 (0:1) ARG Argentina League round
2010 Buenos Aires 17/11/2007 Argentina ARG 3:0 (1:0) BOL Bolivia League round
2010 Maracaibo 16/10/2007 Venezuela VEN 0:2 (0:2) ARG Argentina League round
2010 Buenos Aires 13/10/2007 Argentina ARG 2:0 (2:0) CHI Chile League round
2006 Montevideo 12/10/2005 Uruguay URU 1:0 (0:0) ARG Argentina League round
2006 Buenos Aires 09/10/2005 Argentina ARG 2:0 (0:0) PER Peru League round
2006 Asuncion 03/09/2005 Paraguay PAR 1:0 (1:0) ARG Argentina League round

Group B stirs ghosts of '94

Group B stirs ghosts of '94

The Final Draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ has pitted two-time winners Argentina against Nigeria, Korea Republic and Greece in Group B. It is a section that stirs memories of the 1994 finals in the United States – and one that appears, on paper at least, to be difficult to predict.

The favourites
Argentina: Despite their inconsistent showing in South American qualifying, the potential of Diego Maradona's squad remains vast given the plethora of world-class talents at his disposal. The greatest challenge for this relatively inexperienced coach will be knitting these proven individuals into a cohesive and reliable unit, something he has been unable to do thus far. That said, La Albiceleste's big names and status as former winners make them favourites to top the section.

Nigeria: Though lacking as many household names as in previous FIFA World Cup outings, coach Shaibu Amodu can call on a balanced squad made up of experienced performers and up-and-coming starlets. Having shown they were made of stern stuff in African Zone qualifying, when snatching a berth from Tunisia's hands in the final round of matches, the Super Eagles will feel confident of competing for a last-16 berth, the furthest they have gone at a finals to date.

The outsiders
Korea Republic: Under the steady guidance of coach Huh Jung-Moo, the South Koreans were less than imperious during the qualifying phase, though they did end up topping their group in the final round. Clinching a ticket to South Africa means they will become the Asian team with most appearances at the global showpiece, though doubts remain over their ability to transfer their regional dominance on to the biggest stage of all. With their experience and all-action style they could make a serious challenge for a top-two place, though a repeat of their run to the 2002 semi-finals would appear beyond them.

Greece: The archetypal 'hard nut to crack' under Otto Rehhagel, the 2004 European champions return to world football’s top table for the first time since their debut in 1994. Solid at the back and clinical up front, King Otto's well-drilled charges will be determined to avoid a repeat of that American adventure, which brought three straight defeats. What is more, confidence should be high in the Greek camp after they edged out 2006 quarter-finalists Ukraine in the European Zone play-offs.

The players to watch
Lionel Messi (ARG), Javier Mascherano (ARG), Carlos Tevez (ARG), Juan Veron (ARG), Park Ji-Sung (KOR), Park Chu-Young (KOR), Obafemi Martins (NIG), Aiyegbeni Yakubu (NIG), Georgios Karagounis (GRE) and Theofanis Gekas (GRE).

The crunch match
Argentina-Nigeria: Both these big-name sides only clinched their tickets to South Africa with wins in their final qualifiers and their meeting in Group B's opening encounter could well shape their respective fates. History is currently on the side of the Argentinians, who won both previous group meetings between the two nations at FIFA World Cup finals: 2-1 at USA 1994 and 1-0 at Korea/Japan 2002.

A look back
Greece-Nigeria, 30 June 1994
In the countries' final Group D match at USA '94, goals from Finidi George and Daniel Amokachi earned Nigeria a 2-0 win over Greece, sealing top spot in the section ahead of Bulgaria and Argentina. The Super Eagles went on to push eventual finalists Italy all the way in the Round of 16, going down to a 2-1 defeat after extra time. Greece, for their part, headed for home after failing to score a single goal in their three games.

Did you know?
Maradona will make his FIFA World Cup coaching bow against Nigeria, the same team he faced in his last finals appearance as a player at USA '94. It that same campaign on American soil he registered his eighth and final FIFA World Cup goal and his last in an Albiceleste shirt, in the 4-0 win over Greece. He was subsequently sent home from the tournament after failing a drugs test. El Diez will also have fond memories of playing against Korea Republic, who were beaten 3-1 in Argentina’s opening match of their triumphant 1986 campaign.

The stat
25 - The combined number of FIFA World Cups that the four teams drawn in Group B have taken part in. Argentina lead the way with 14, followed by Korea Republic with seven, Nigeria with three and Greece with one.

The question
He was a FIFA World Cup hero for Argentina as a player but how will Maradona fare as a coach on football's greatest stage?

No easy pickings for Bafana Bafana

Group A
-South Africa
-Mexico
-Uruguay
-France

Though most neutrals will hope to see South Africa go far in the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, Bafana Bafana may be hard-pressed to escape from a Group A filled with experienced campaigners. The hosts will open the tournament against Mexico and then have to go through two-time champions Uruguay as well as 2006 runners-up France to keep local supporters happy and make the second round. Les Bleus, who won the competition on home soil in 1998, appear to be group favourites, but Raymond Domenech’s side only reached the finals through the European play-offs, squeaking past the Republic of Ireland. Uruguay also qualified via a play-off, a transcontinental affair against Costa Rica, while Mexico finished second in CONCACAF behind USA. For South Africa, the lowest-ranked African team at the time of the draw, the road will be rough, yet with experienced boss Carlos Alberto Parreira back in charge, there is cause for optimism that the side can continue the record of every FIFA World Cup host getting at least to the second round.

The favourites
France: An up-and-down qualifying campaign saw the French lose out in their group to Serbia by a point. Their away form was poor, from going down 3-1 to Austria in their first match to drawing at Romania and Serbia. They also struggled to get past Ireland in the play-off, with only William Gallas’s extra-time goal avoiding penalties or worse. However, nobody will underestimate a side that has veteran, emerging and world-class talent through the spine of the team.

Mexico: 2010 will be El Tri’s fifth successive finals appearance and they exited each of the last four events in the second round. Opening the tournament against the hosts will be no small task, but a budding crop of youngsters such as Giovani dos Santos and Carlos Vela may give the side enough pep to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 1986. Mexico, who were a seeded team at Germany 2006, went out to Argentina in the second round yet only after Maxi Rodriguez’s extra time Goal of the Tournament.

The outsiders
South Africa: It has been a tumultuous few years for South Africa, but a creditable performance at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, the prelude to this summer, has set expectations high going into Group A. Their semi-final loss to Brazil in that event, and subsequent single-goal, extra-time defeat by Spain in the third-place match, show that the hosts can compete at the highest level. And though they have fallen at the group stage in their two FIFA World Cup appearances, they have lost just two of their six finals matches. All eyes will be on dynamic England-based midfielder Steven Pienaar to create chances.

Uruguay: Having advanced to the finals for a third time via the play-offs, Uruguay will be contesting their 11th FIFA World Cup. Yet while the Celeste have one of the richest histories in world football, coach Oscar Tabarez has built a relatively young side that relies on a core group of players. Tabarez has been at the Uruguay helm before at a FIFA World Cup, having led the team in 1990 when they succumbed to hosts Italy in the second round.

The players to watch
Steven Pienaar (RSA), Aaron Mokoena (RSA), Cuauhtemoc Blanco (MEX), Rafael Márquez (MEX), Giovanni dos Santos (MEX), Thierry Henry (FRA), Nicolas Anelka (FRA), William Gallas (FRA), Diego Lugano (URU), Diego Forlán (URU)

The crunch match
Mexico-Uruguay: Come their final group match, Mexico and Uruguay may be fighting for a spot alongside France in the second round, as they face off at Rustenburg’s Royal Bafokeng Stadium on 22 June. The pair last met when Mexico beat Uruguay to finish third in the Copa América in 2007.

A look back
France-South Africa, 12 June 1998: France opened their second FIFA World Cup as hosts against tournament debutants South Africa in Marseille. With both sides having points to prove, the night belonged to Les Bleus who registered a momentum-setting 3-0 victory en route to lifting the trophy.

Did you know?
Mexico’s Javier Aguirre also coached Mexico at the 2002 finals where they lost in the second round to USA. The former Mexican international midfielder took over midstream in the qualifying campaign, in April 2009, from Sven-Göran Eriksson. He had also come to the rescue after poor results in 2001.

The stat
5 – Carlos Alberto Parreira will equal Bora Milutinovic's record of coaching five different teams to FIFA World Cups when he leads out the hosts. Parreira, who won the event with his native Brazil in 1994, has also managed Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia in the finals.

There is also a curious historical slant to Group A which will interest the hosts. Back in 1966, when England staged the finals, Alf Ramsey's team were joined in Group 1 by Mexico, Uruguay and France.

The question
Can South Africa overcome the odds and survive Group A? Click ‘Add your comment' to make your opinion known.

Bertoglio double hands Argentina victory

(PA) Thursday 6 May 2010

Argentina showed no mercy against Haiti as Diego Maradona's side claimed a 4-0 friendly victory in one of their final warm-up matches before the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

The Albiceleste fielded a home-based team and the players boosted their chances of making the 30-man preliminary squad to be named on 11 May.

Maradona told TyC Sports: "The guys got my message very well. I told them all of them had one chance and they knew to profit from it. There were high peaks in form. I liked several players. I got into this match looking for some men (for the preliminary squad). I think I got some."

Argentina took the lead shortly after the half-hour mark when uncapped Facundo Bertoglio profited from a defensive mistake by Pierre-Richard Bruny. They doubled their tally nine minutes later when Boca Juniors' all-time top-scorer Martin Palermo headed home an Ariel Garce cross from the right.

The hosts extended their lead in somewhat fortunate circumstances five minutes after the interval. Lanus midfielder Sebastian Blanco crossed the ball from outside the box and it flew over his team-mates and into the net past surprised Haiti goalkeeper Dominique-Jean Zephyrin. Bertoglio grabbed his second of the night in the 55th minute, beating substitute goalkeeper Occenat Peterson with a right-footed shot.

Haiti, whose players took photos with Maradona during the break, posed little danger to their hosts. Argentina's final friendly will be on 24 May against Canada in Buenos Aires before they kick off their South Africa 2010 campaign against Nigeria on 12 June.

Chile see off T&T

hile strolled to a 2-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago in a friendly international in Iquique.

Pedro Morales got the hosts off to the perfect start when he fired them in front seconds into the game and Sebastian Toro doubled Chile's lead three minutes after the interval.

Marcelo Bielsa fielded a team made up only of domestic players and, with the FIFA World Cup™ around the corner, many boosted their chances of making it to South Africa.

Chile's next and final friendly before this summer's tournament is on May 16 against Mexico. Bielsa's side will face UEFA EURO 2008 champions Spain as well as Honduras and Switzerland in South Africa.

GROUP A