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When Australia were about to embark on their first World Cup qualifying campaign in the Asian Football Confederation, many thought Football Federation Australia would return to a high-profile name to replace Graham Arnold after the latter stood down following an underwhelming 2007 Asian Cup campaign.

Instead, they chose a man whose experience in the region ranks alongside any in the game and although Pim Verbeek’s appointment was initially met with widespread cynicism by the Australian press, the decision was vindicated as the Dutchman guided the Socceroos to a second consecutive World Cup finals in impressive fashion.

Australia were in danger of losing the momentum gained in Germany four years ago, where they reached the second round under Guus Hiddink as Arnold came under fire for lacklustre performances in south-east Asia the following summer.

It was particularly concerning given football was battling to increase its market share in a country traditionally dominated by both rugby codes, cricket and Australian rules football.

Cahill is one of the stars of the Australia team.

Having enjoyed such success under Hiddink, and with a number of Dutchman integrated into all levels and age groups of the national team, the FFA once again turned to the Netherlands in the appointment of Verbeek.

The 54-year-old had served as both Hiddink and Dick Advocaat’s number two when they were in charge of South Korea and following the latter’s resignation after the 2006 World Cup, led the Koreans to third place at the Asian Cup after they beat regional rivals Japan on penalties.

It was enough to convince Australia that Verbeek was their man and his appointment was announced in December 2007.

“I am looking forward to the challenge ahead of qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and I am committed to also helping to develop the game in Australia,” he told the FFA website.

“I am excited to be involved in what is an exciting time for football in Australia and I look forward to assisting the FFA in developing football in Australia and making myself available to support the national football development plan, in particular working with Australian coaches.”

Verbeek certainly had the right CV for Australia’s step into the unknown.

Having spent over 15 years coaching in his native Holland following the end of his playing career, Verbeek first moved to Asia when he took charge of J.League club Omiya Ardija in 1998.

From there he became Hiddink’s assistant with South Korea in 2000 and two years later, helped steer the East Asians to the semi-finals of the World Cup beating Portugal, Italy and Spain along the way.

Spells in Europe, Japan and the UAE followed before he once again returned to Korea in 2005, and success at the Asian Cup followed before he became the surprise choice for Australia.

“After very careful consideration and a rigorous recruitment process I am delighted that we have secured the services of a very experienced and respected national coach for the Socceroos,” said FFA Chairman Frank Lowy.

His appointment, though, was met with a muted reaction in Australia, particularly in light of his pragmatic approach with Korea that saw them fail to score but also not concede throughout the whole knockout stage of the 2007 Asian Cup.

And he managed to instil that ethos into the Australian team as they conceded just four goals in 14 World Cup qualifying games, eventually winning round his doubters despite accusations they were a boring team to watch.

“If you don’t have much time with your team, then I think you should start with organisation and that’s what we did. We always play the same system,” Verbeek told FIFA.com.

“Defensively I have a very good team but all my players are willing to do the hard job so it was very difficult to score a goal against us.

“Offensively, we scored the most amount of goals in Asian qualification of any Asian team, so I think we did very well. It’s funny, if you have a lot of clean sheets then people think you play defensively, so perhaps it’s better to win 4-3 than 3-0.”

His criticism of Australia’s domestic league also won him few friends.

“I explained later that I didn’t say it to insult anyone, I was just being honest,” he said.

“I said if you train six or seven times a week for a Bundesliga club then you are playing at a higher level than in the A-League.

“Everybody says, ‘You are right,’ but nobody wants you to say it. But at least they know I am honest.”

Verbeek, though, has decided not to renew his contract beyond the World Cup and will be keen to end his tenure on a high note as Australia look to negotiate a group containing Germany, Serbia and Ghana – one of the hardest in South Africa.

“It has been a very difficult decision for me after more than two years, but it is time for me to look for a new challenge,” said Verbeek.

“I have enjoyed every minute of being head coach of Australia and we achieved some fantastic results including qualifying for the World Cup and the Asian Cup.

“It is a good time to make this announcement so we can now focus completely on preparing everything perfectly for the upcoming World Cup in South Africa.

“If you go to World Cup and say ‘let’s win one game and we’re all happy’ then everybody’s laughing,” he added.

“We have the same target and the target is to do it better than 2006. I don’t say we’re going to do it better but that’s the target.”

Australia are 126.00 to win the World Cup 2010 and are 8.00 to win Group D.

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Football is undoubtedly an extremely competitive sport that grips a lot of the public every season. Men, women, adults and youngsters alike enjoy going along and supporting their preferred team play every week. The overall game is one that’s associated with a rollercoaster of various emotions including passion, emotion, enjoyment and dedication. Even though fans may support different teams depending on their whereabouts and preference across the world, the emotions experienced throughout a typical game are universal.

Of course all sports fans are extremely passionate about their favourite sport, however, there is something different about football that can bring out the most extreme emotions of happiness and anger in people. It really is fair to say that football is the main cause of sports-related violence in the world. Even though rugby is an extremely physical game, you do not get the sort of violence or crime that is often associated with football. There is no clear reason why this is so, but the intensity of emotion appears to be magnified in a game of football with at least two thirds of fans admitting they have cried at football matches- either through joy or as a result of feeling of utter despair.

With the 2010 FIFA World Cup looming this gives football fans a chance to exercise their passion for the game and for their country. The World Cup often encourages those who find themselves not necessarily big football fans to get behind our team by supporting our country. The obvious way to show your support as a football fan is with a football flag. It goes without saying that the World Cup stadium this year in South Africa will probably be filled with supporters and their custom flags as a show of support to their country. Football fans across the world use flags as a means of conveying an incredible sense of support towards a certain team or country and with this support comes an atmosphere of pride and unification. If you go to an away match and are standing in a different stadium surrounded by others using the same flag as you, you cannot help but feel an huge pride for your country. Not only do football flags create a sense of unity and pride for the supporters but it also helps players to perform well should they know they have the fans behind them.

Investing with any type of sports items such as football flags can also raise a large amount of income for any club, therefore by buying a flag of one’s favourite team you really are supporting them where it counts. Football flags will almost always be very popular amongst football fans as the ultimate sign of support. You can choose from a number of different types of flags from hand held ones to huge flags and you can even purchase a football flag to place on your car to show your support wherever your going!

For the very best in flags visit the Flag Makers website where you can custom make any flag that you would like! You are able to choose everything from the material to the size, so get you a flag sorted for the World Cup 2010 and show your support right away!

Contemporaneous Points Haunting the Amazing Game

18 November 2009 has gone down as one of the darkest days in the entire world of soccer. The integrity of the game came under the scanner when Thierry Henry handled the ball twice in a anxious attempt to ensure qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. This posting shall expansively present some current problems that are haunting the sport; this short article will also throw light upon certain integral modifications that must be incorporated by FIFA.

The Flawed Seeding Process

The Republic of Ireland must be feeling hard done by after being defeated by France under controversial circumstances. The the big players of European football were competing against the minnows, the writing was on the wall for the Republic of Ireland but they went down having put up a great match. This game was very controversial for more grounds than one; it highlighted the problematic seeding system utilized by FIFA. The likes of Joseph Sepp Blatter (President of FIFA) and Michel Platini (President of UEFA) are responsible for sticking with this flawed seeding system. This David vs. Goliath battle had French victory written all over it, the weaker European nations have been time and again intentionally made to face stronger adversaries. This seeding system hinders the growth of the weaker European nations and it also makes the game very predictable. It is high time to introduce a system which will offer an equal opportunity for the minnows to grow. The Republic of Ireland almost upset the applecart, had Henry not dealt with the ball which led to William Gallas slotting home from close range, things would have been very different. This shameful act of Thierry Henry has indubitably damaged his status, he was watched by millions and appreciated by zillions but this blatant act of cheating has put a spot on his illustrious work.

Incorrigible Divers

Simulation has been frequently on the rise in the community of football; most players tend to go down in the box to win penalties. Several reputed competitors go down even without contact and the theatrics that follow might even give Brad Pitt a good run for his money. The referees perform a crucial task in a game, when we have technology available at our disposal, why aren’t we making the most of it? Goal line technology was about to be released but this change became nothing but a futile endeavor. Republic of Ireland could have made it to the World Cup had technology been used in that game. Were the referees paid to do the job with their eyes closed on that particular evening? Such palpable instances make all the difference, how did the referee afford to miss that? Did FIFA do justice when it came to choosing the right referees for such a big sport, where so much was at stake. Birmingham would immediately demand a replay of their recent match against Liverpool right after David Ngog’s dive, while any squad who can prove that they have been the recipient of a dive, a handball or a poor refereeing judgement would demand the same management from now on. For all your live scores live and live score s check out http://www.myscoreslive.com/football/all-live

Horses for courses must be carried through by FIFA, choosing the right individuals for the right job is crucial. Several refereeing decisions have made a lot of difference in top leagues across the world. There is very little doubt that introducing technology will take away the spontaneity of the sport but it would make the game far better and it would cease competitors from going down without contact. It is difficult to take for Ireland, but Fifa must resist cracking open a can of worms that would irreparably harm soccer. In the interim, let us just trust that France crash out of the World Cup in the first round, with Thierry Henry left stressing about some sort of injustice. What goes around comes around.

Rustenburg’s stadium for the 2010 World Cup is the Royal Bafokeng Stadium. The ground has been updated from 38,000 in capacity to 42,000 for the World Cup which will allow it to hold four group games and two second round matches. Alongside this, the main west stand was substantially upgraded and enlarged being given a new cantilever roof in the process at a cost of $45 million. Other improvements made to the arena include new electronic scoreboards, upgraded floodlights and a new public address system

The stadium was originally built as a venue for the 1995 Rugby World Cup and has hosted rugby union, football and athletics. It was named after the Royal Bafokeng nation who are extremely rich due to platinum mining in the area. Therefore, the stadium is kept in good standard.

Located in the village of Phokeng, about 10 miles outside Rustenburg, the stadium is named after the Bafokeng people who live in the area. In 1999, the Bafokeng won a legal battle which entitled them to 20 per cent of the platinum which is mined on their historical land.

Opened in 1999, the stadium – built in a saddle shape to reflect its natural surroundings – has undergone only minor improvements for the Fifa World Cup including the installation of 4,000 extra seats, floodlights, electronic scoreboards and a new PA system.

The stadium is only a 25-minute drive to Sun City and 30 minutes to the Pilanesberg. It is 12 kilometres from Rustenburg city centre and can be reached easily via car and added bus routes, which will be made available during the event, with extra buses running on match days to accommodate fans arriving in Rustenburg from the other host cities. Rustenburg is 165km from Johannesburg on a major highway, and the trip will take around two hours.

Pilanesberg International Airport is not far from Rustenburg and the stadium, as it is next to Sun City resort. Although this airport is one of ACSA’s smaller airports, there are daily connections to Cape Town (which is a two-and-a-half hours away) and to Johannesburg (a 30-minute journey). Flights around the time of the World Cup are likely to be in short supply however, due to the size of the airport

Built: 1995
Capacity: 42,000
Also known as: The Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace.

Famous moment in sporting history: South Africa’s September 2006 21-20 defeat of New Zealand’s All Blacks; 2009 Confederations Cup venue.

Home of: Platinum Stars FC.

World Cup 2010 games: five group games, one second round game.

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The FIFA World Cup (often called the Football World Cup or just the World Cup) is the most important competition in international football (soccer), and the world’s most representated team sport affair. Organized by Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport’s administration body, the World Cup is contested by the men’s national football teams of FIFA member nations. With exception in 1942 and 1946 (du to World War II) the championship has been awarded every four years since the first tournament in 1930. However it is more of an ongoing event as the qualifying rounds of the competition take place over the three years preceding the final rounds.The final tournament phase (often called the “Finals”) involves 32 national teams competing over a four-week period in a previously nominated host nation, with these games making it the most widely-viewed sporting event in the world. In the 18 tournaments held, only seven nations have ever won the World Cup Finals. The most successful World Cup team is Brazil. It won the tournament five times, following by Italy (won four times) and Germany with three titles. South Africa will host the next football World Cup in 2010. And you can watch World Cup online on your PC anywhere internet is available.

The first international football match was played in 1872 between England and Scotland, although at this time the sport was seldomly played outside Great Britain. As football began to increase in popularity, it was held as a demonstration sport (with no medals awarded) at the 1900, 1904 and 1906 Summer Olympics before football became an official competition at the 1908 Summer Olympics. Organised by England’s Football Association, the affair was for recreational players only and was regarded suspiciously as a show rather than a competition. Both events (1908 and 1912) were won by the England national amateur football team.

With the Olympic event continuing to be contested just amongst amateur teams, Sir Thomas Lipton organised the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy tournament in Turin in 1909. The competition is repeatedly described as The First World Cup, and featured the most prestigious professional club sides from Italy, Germany and Switzerland. The first tournament was won by West Auckland, an amateur team from north-east England that was invited after the Football Association refused to be connected with the competition. West Auckland returned in 1911 to successfully hold their title, and were given the trophy to keep forever, as per the rules of the competition.

In 1914, FIFA agreed to recognise the Olympic tournament as a “world football championship for amateurs”, and took charge for organising the event. This led the way for the world’s first intercontinental football competition, at the 1924 Summer Olympics. Uruguay won the tournament, before winning the gold medal again in 1928, with different South American team, Argentina, taking silver. In 1928 FIFA made the decision to stage their own international tournament.

The 1932 Summer Olympics, held in Los Angeles, did not plan to include football (soccer) as part of the programme due to the low popularity of football in the United States. FIFA and the IOC also disagreed over the status of amateur players, and so football was dropped from the Games. FIFA president Jules Rimet thus set about organising the inaugural World Cup tournament. With Uruguay, now two-time official football world champions, and to celebrate their centenary of independence in 1930, FIFA named it as the host country.

The national associations of certain countries were invited to send a team, but the choice of Uruguay as a venue for the competition meant a long and pricey trip across the Atlantic Ocean for European sides. Indeed, no European country pledged to send a team until two months before the start of the competition. Rimet eventually persuaded teams from Belgium, France, Romania, and Yugoslavia to make the trip.

For the occasion Uruguay built one of the most outstanding Stadium of the South America: l’Estadio Centenario. The World Cup started on July 13, 1930 with the match between France and Mexico, won by France 4-1. In total 13 nations took part: — seven from South America, four from Europe and two from North America. They were split in 4 groups. Winner of each group advanced to the semi-finals. With no sensational developments the teams who made to the the final were Uruguay and Argentina. In the first half Argentina dominated, with two goals (Peucelle  e Stabile) versus one (Dorado). In the second half Uruguayan scored three times (Cea, Iriarte  e Castro) and won the final becoming the first World Champions. Finally, who scored the first goal of the World Cup History? The answer is: the french player Lucien Laurent, after 19 minutes of the first match France – Mexico.

Unfortunately Internet wasn’t invented than and people were not able to watch World Cup online yet.

The last World Cup was held in 2006 in Germany. It is the first World Cup for which the previous winner had to qualify; the host nation(s) will continue to receive an guaranteed berth. First seed and holders Brazil and second seeded England were initially English bookmakers’ favourites. A strong performance by Germany brought them as far as the semifinals. However, the final match-up was between Italy and France, in which French captain Zinedine Zidane was sent off in the last 10 minutes of extra time for a head butt to the chest of Italian central defender Marco Materazzi. Italy went on to win 5-3 in a penalty shootout, the score having been 1-1 after 90 minutes and extra time.

A spin-off tournament, the FIFA Women’s World Cup, was first held in 1991. It is similar to  the men’s tournament in format, but so far has not generated the same level of interest. You could also watch it online.

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