Group G (Brazil, Korut, Pantai Gading, Portugal)

[drivemein]

Brazil weather Zimbabwe storm
-fifa.com-



Brazil weathered a Zimbabwe storm before scoring twice late in the opening half to set up a 3-0 victory in a pre-2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ warm-up game.

It was easy in the end for the team ranked first in the world against one that does not even feature among the top 100, but the South Americans stamped their authority only after surviving several goal-mouth scares. There will be one more African safari for the Brazilians, against Tanzania in Dar es Salaam next Monday, before they face likely Group G whipping boys Korea DPR on 15 June in Johannesburg.

Left-back Michel Bastos converted a free-kick on 41 minutes, Robinho snatched an opportunist second three minutes later and Elano grabbed a soft third goal 11 minutes into the second half. President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai were among a capacity crowd as Brazil faced African rivals for only the fifth time in their history after matches against Cameroon, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa.

The 'Warriors' should have taken the lead on 19 minutes when shambolic Brazilian defending presented France-based Ovidy Karuru with a glorious close-range chance he blazed over. Zimbabwe, who have never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, were stroking the ball about with the same aplomb as the five-time winners in warm, overcast weather at the 60,000-capacity National Stadium.

They came close again when livewire striker Knowledge Musona won a goal-mouth aerial duel only to be denied by a diving parry from goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, who had replaced Julio Cesar a few minutes earlier. Warm-up games do carry the risk of injuries and Brazilian hearts pumped a little faster 10 minutes before half-time when star midfielder Kaka briefly clutched his right leg after a hard challenge.

Left-back has been a problem position for Brazil since father time caught up with legend Roberto Carlos and Lyon man Bastos did his claims for a permanent place no harm by opening the scoring. A free-kick outside the penalty area and right of the near post presented the opportunity and he notched his first international goal with an unstoppable shot that flew into the roof of the net.

If Zimbabwe suspected football gods can be cruel, the view was confirmed soon after when they failed to cut out a Maicon pass and Robinho brought his national team goal tally to 21 with a close-range shot.

Coach Dunga, a FIFA World Cup winner in 1994 as a combative midfielder, rang the changes during the interval by introducing defenders Dani Alves and Luisao and midfielder Julio Baptista. Zimbabwe skipper Benjani Mwaruwari, a doubtful starter for the biggest football fixture in the 30-year history of the nation, gave way early in the second half for Kingston Nkatha.

Brazil were in cruise control and went three goals ahead when Dani Alves burst into the penalty area and passed to Elano, who had all the time and space in the world to stroke the ball over the line.

[unitedreservecoach]

FIFA Paksa Striker Korut Jadi Kiper
Doni Wahyudi - Piala Dunia
Gambar
Johannesburg - Korea Utara ketahuan berupaya mengakali aturan FIFA terkait jumlah skuad dan posisi pemain untuk Piala Dunia 2010. Buntutnya, seorang striker tim berjuluk Choilima itu terpaksa jadi kiper.

Sama seperti mayoritas kontestan Piala Dunia 2010, Korut sudah mengumumkan skuad resminya per tanggal 1 Juni lalu. Entah atas alasan apa, negara tersebut kemudian berusaha mengakali aturan FIFA soal posisi pemain, dan ketahuan.

Berdasarkan aturan FIFA, setiap tim yang berlaga di Piala Dunia diharuskan membawa tiga penjaga gawang. Nah, ternyata salah satu dari tiga kiper yang dimasukkan dalam skuad Korut tersebut sejatinya adalah seorang striker.

Diberitakan Soccernet, Korut mendaftarkan nama Kim Myong-Won sebagai salah satu dari tiga kiper untuk berlaga di Piala Dunia 2010 ini. Untuk diketahui, Kim Myong-Won sebenarnya adalah seorang striker. Dia saat ini masih tercatat sebagai pemain depan klub Amrokgang.

Korut jelas tak berniat memakai Kim Myong-Won sebagai penjaga gawang di Afrika Selatan nanti. Tujuan dia dimasukkan ke dalam tim jelas, Korut ingin memiliki opsi lebih banyak untuk pemain depannya. Dengan kata lain, meski didaftarkan sebagai kiper, Kim Myong-Won bakal dimainkan sebagai striker.

"Tiga pemain yang didaftarkan sebagai penjaga gawang hanya bisa dimainkan sebagai kiper selama Piala Dunia dan tak bisa bermain di posisi lain. Hal ini akan dikomunikasikan pada tim saat dilakukan pertemuan antartim dan akan dipastikan pada hari pertandingan."

"Jadi jawaban atas pertanyaan terkait pemain Korea Utara, secara konkret: Kim Myong-Won tak akan diizinkan untuk bermain sebagai pemain outfield jika dia telah didaftarkan sebagai penjaga gawang," tegas FIFA.

Hal ini membuat pelatih Kim Jong-Hun secara tekhnis cuma memiliki dua penjaga gawang murni, yakni Kim Myong Gil (Amrokgang) dan Ri Myong Guk (Pyongyang City).

[drivemein]

WORLD CUP 2010: Didier Drogba set to miss finals after breaking arm in Ivory Coast's friendly with Japan
-dailymail.co.uk-


Didier Drogba is set to miss out on the World Cup after breaking his arm in Ivory Coast's friendly match with Japan.

Drogba collapsed under a heavy challenge with Marcus Tanaka, just minutes after the opposition defender had deflected the Chelsea striker's free-kick into his own net.

Team spokesman Eric Kacou confirmed that doctors had diagnosed the arm fracture after he was taken off 15 minutes into the Elephant's 2-0 friendly win.

Kacou said: 'It is a fracture in his right arm. The doctor hasn't said yet whether he can play in the World Cup.'


Agony: Drogba appeared to be in some pain straight after the tackle from Tanaka

And manager Sven Goran Eriksson conceded that losing Drogba would be a huge blow to his side's chances in South Africa.

He said: 'It's very worrying, he is our captain, one of the best strikers in the world. It [his challenge] wasn't bad or stupid. He didn't want to hurt anyone. Football is a game of contact '

The injury is devastating news for the team as Drogba was in sparkling form for Chelsea last season.

He scored 37 goals in 44 appearances as Carlo Ancelotti's men landed the Premier League and FA Cup double.


Ouch: Striker Drogba feels the full force of Tanaka's challenge


Early exit: Drogba is helped off after picking himself up off the floor

His absence in South Africa would seriously hinder his side's chances of qualifying from Group G - the 'group of death' - which also contains Brazil, North Korea and Portugal.

Ivory Coast won the game 2-0 after Manchester City defender Kolo Toure adding a late second for the Ivorians.

Eriksson's side open their campaign against Portugal on Tuesday before facing Brazil and North Korea.

[drivemein]

Drogba : Piala Dunia Sudah Berakhir
-goal.com-



Striker Pantai Gading itu mengaku sangat kecewa momentum Piala Dunia-nya sudah berakhir sebelum dimulai.

Didier Drogba harus mengepak kopernya dan pulang lebih awal meski Piala Dunia 2010 belum juga dimulai. Gara-garanya adalah cedera retak tulang tangan yang dialaminya.

Striker Pantai Gading itu mengalami cedera serius saat mengantar timnya menang 2-0 ata Jepang tadi malam. Dia harus keluar lapangan dengan cedera di bagian tangan kanan usai mendapat tekel dari bek Marcus Tulio Tanaka.

Diungkapkan Kolo Toure, insiden itu dan imbasnya membuat Drogba remuk redam.

"Baginya, seperti yang diungkapkannya sendiri, Piala Dunia sudah berakhir," tutur Toure seperti dilansir AP.

"Kita bisa melihat di wajahnya dia sangat sedih dan jika dia seperti itu, Anda tak bisa bertanya-tanya lagi," ujarnya.

Ditambahkan bek Manchester City itu, peluang Pantai Gading bisa berbicara banyak di Afrika Selatan selama gelaran Piala Dunia juga akan berimbas karena cedera Drogba itu.

"Akan sangat sulit bagi kami karena dia adalah pemain yang sangat penting," jelasnya.

[RaharDian]

Mantappp...langkah portugal kian mantafffff....

[drivemein]

Kostum Tim Brasil Ramah Lingkungan
-pialadunia.detiksport.com-



Jakarta - Kostum beberapa timnas di Piala Dunia 2010 rupanya telah mengusung ramah lingkungan. Salah satunya adalah kostum tim Brasil yang dibuat dari 100 persen polyester hasil daur ulang botol plastik.

Tema ramah lingkungan sedang diadopsi oleh produsen pakaian olahraga terkenal Nike. Ini merupakan pertama kalinya kostum tim nasional yang disponsori oleh perusahan apparel raksasa itu mengenakan sepenuhnya dari polyester daur ulang.

Tiap kaus yang dipakai oleh pemain dibuat dari daur ulang 8 botol plastik. Sedangkan untuk membuat kostum tim nasional 2010 ini, pemasok kain Nike mengumpulkan botol bekas dari tempat pengumpul di Jepang dan Taiwan.

Botol-botol tersebut lalu dilelehkan dan menjadikannya benang baru untuk akhirnya ditenun menjadi kain pembuatan kaos. Proses itu menghemat bahan mentah yang berharga dan juga mengurangi penggunaan energi hingga 30 persen.

Dengan memakai polyester daur ulang untuk kostum tim nasional, Nike telah memanfaatkan sekitar 13 juta sampah botol plastik. Itu artinya setara dengan 254.000 kg limbah polyester yang cukup menutup lebih 29 lapangan sepakbola.

Jika botol plastik tersebut dijejerkan, maka panjangnya akan mencapai 3.000 km atau lebih panjang dari seluruh pantai pesisir Afrika Selatan. Bagi Nike, kostum tim menjadi tonggak penting untuk menghasilkan produk ramah lingkungan.

Meski turut menyelamatkan lingkungan bukan berarti harus mengorbankan unsur inovasi performanya. Kostum dirancang khusus agar pemain tetap kering, sejuk dan lebih nyaman sehingga bisa memberikan penampilan terbaik di llapangan.

"Kami melengkapi para pemain kostum rancangan baru yang tak hanya tampak hebat dan memberi keunggulan performa, tapi juga dibuat dengan bahan daur ulang yang mengurangi dampak buruk pada lingkungan," kata Presiden Nike Brand Charlie Denson dalam rilisnya.

Kostum ramah lingkungan ini bukan hanya dipakai oleh tim Brasil. Tim peserta Piala Dunia 2010 seperti Belanda, Portugal, AS, Korea Selatan, Australia, Selandia Baru, Serbia dan Slovenia juga adalah tim nasional yang memakai produk Nike

[drivemein]

Portugal Arrive For 2010 FIFA World Cup

[otonk reddevilz]

Drogba to rejoin Ivory Coast team-mates



JOHANNESBURG - Didier Drogba will rejoin the Ivory Coast World Cup squad on Monday after weekend surgery on a fractured arm, the Ivorian Football Federation said.

However, it is still not clear whether the African Footballer of the Year will be fit to play in the opening Group G match against Portugal in Port Elizabeth next week.

Drogba fractured the ulna, or inner bone, of his right forearm in a warm-up match against Japan in Switzerland on Friday, the federation said.

The striker had surgery in Berne on Saturday, an operation Swiss doctors described as successful.

A statement from the Ivorian federation said Drogba would rejoin his team mates at their Swiss hotel on Monday.

He spent the weekend in hospital, surrounded by his wife and three children, the federation added.

"His recovery has been extremely encouraging. It is suggested that, at this stage, all the signs are good and there is great hope the captain of the Elephants will be in action with his team-mates as soon as possible," spokesman Roger Kouassi said.

The Ivorian squad departs for South Africa on Wednesday. They conclude their preparations in Switzerland with a friendly against Lausanne Sports in Nyon on Tuesday.

The speculation initially was that Drogba would not make the tournament in South Africa, adding to a growing list of high profile casualties including three of his Chelsea team mates.

Drogba averages more than a goal a game for the Ivory Coast and is seen as pivotal to their chances of getting past the first round. They also face Brazil and North Korea in a tough group but are more than capable of producing upsets.

http://fourfourtwo.com/news/worldcup2010/55826/default.aspx

[drivemein]

Breaking (Bad) News...


Nani ruled out of World Cup
-menmedia.co.uk-



Manchester United's Portuguese midfielder Nani has been ruled out of the World Cup after injuring his collar bone.

He becomes the second United player to suffer an agonising late injury after England skipper Rio Ferdinand.

Nani was one of the success stories of United's season as he finally began to fulfil his undoubted potential.

[drivemein]

Nani out of WCup with shoulder injury
-supersport.com-



Portugal winger Nani was ruled out of the World Cup on Tuesday with a left shoulder injury, the federation said in a statement.

"After tests we conclude he is unfit to participate in the World Cup," it said. Nani picked up the injury in training on Friday in Lisbon before flying to South Africa.

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BREAKING NEWS: Portuguese FA announce Manchester United winger Nani out of World Cup 2010 with shoulder injury
-goal.com-

Wide man falls victim to training ground mishap

The Portuguese FA have announced that Manchester United winger Nani has joined the list of superstars ruled out of the World Cup after injuring his shoulder.

Nani, 23, enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at Old Trafford last term and was expected to bring this form with him to South Africa. Instead, Benfica central midfielder Ruben Amorim will travel to the tournament