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Thousands of football fans and families are likely to stay in the region for the impending football world cup finals starting soon in South Africa.

For all these groups of friends and family groups alike the added attraction of staying in a Mauritius holiday villa will make sure that the complete journey is an really memorable one and will live with them forever more.

Mauritius has long been a much loved destination for tourists now for several years and it is swiftly developing into an international community.

Mauritius is the ultimate vacation destination for those wanting to wake up in the morning to the noise of waves carressing the shoreline with the wonderful realisation that a bright new day of the week in paradise awaits.

Many superbMauritius Self Catering rentals much welcomed option to the more expensive and confining hotel resorts on the island.

The government of Mauritius has also agreed exceptional respect to the French nationals by permitting them to enterMauritius without possessing a passport.

Taking full advantage of this generous gesture and the exclusive and special prospect the French are expected to flock to Mauritius in droves in order to come and give full support for their national team and get a tan at the same time.

Many superb days can be enjoyed simply restingon the beach, soaking in the sunshine and the warm environment and in addition the multi-cultural population have a first-rate and worthwhile reputation for their convivial and peaceful nature.

There are a multitude of excursions and activities accessible for visitors to do while awaiting with trepidation for their next match which will be transmitted using satelite live to the Island each day of the week and night.

The football supporters can also participate in some beach activity and fans can also profit from the superb choiceof water sports if they so desire.

Scuba divers with understanding have long considered Mauritius to be the ultimate effervescent diving paradise as one of the best places in the world for the awesome coral reef runs completely round the island and the water is translucent and the lagoons are like crystal, exquisite, clean and unpolluted.

Still hunting for your accomodation? Please do not leave it much longer. The demand heavily outweighs supply and this demand is still growing on a daily basis as the air carriers frantically add more scheduled flights.

There are great budget deals to be had in an apartment or in a Mauritius self catering villa on this stunning Indian Ocean Island but you must be quick.

The tourist authority has a short time ago further reduced and or removed totally the sales tax on scores of items so will be in large quantity at superb rates.

May the team that deserves it the most win!

The Golden age of Football Commentating?

My Earliest memory of a football match on TV is the 1976 FA Cup Final in which Second Division Southampton and a Bobby Stokes goal beat Hot Favourites Manchester United one nil. I remember watching the game with my father and him being pleased with the outcome because Southampton were the underdogs. One thing I don’t remember is my reaction to the commentary. In fact I can’t even remember who was commentating or what channel we watched it on as in those days both the BBC and ITV would show the game live. I would hazard a guess that we watched it on the BBC as my dad always tended to do so out of his mixed up snobbery.

Two years later and England are playing Brazil in a friendly before the 1978 world cup finals in Argentina. England have failed to qualify for the second time on the trot but there is still a full house at Wembley to see if England can continue their recent good form. Brazil Score early but late in the second half after a lot of pressure England equalise through Kevin Keegan. It remains one all at the final whistle. For the next few days and maybe even weeks I would recreate Keegan’s goal in the backyard while shouting out David Coleman’s commentary which was very simple, “Keegan, one one“. Simple obvious & effective, just like my writing style. This is my first memory of football commentary making an impression upon me albeit at an early age.

Fast foreword to the present day and I am constantly told by the commentators that the game I am watching is great. They hype to such a degree that when something of merit does happen you have long since turned off. They scream down the microphone at the slightest bit of foreword movement on the pitch. If you don’t believe me then try going into another room where you can only hear the commentator . Every time you hear the commentator getting excited as if a goal is going to be scored then come back into the room and I bet you that bugger all has happened and doesn’t even look like happening. Talk about patronising to your audience. The worst culprit in my view is Clive Tyldesley who not only hypes but seems incapable of failing to show his obvious support for Manchester United even when they are not one of the teams he is commentating on. He is obviously a Manchester United fan so therefore the question has to be asked why does he commentate on Manchester United games as there has to be the question of impartial commentating? Bizarrely as they started all this bloody hype Sky Sports have the best commentator in Martin Tyler. John Motson has got worse as he has got older but what is really sad is that Barry Davies the BBC’s best commentator was forced out by people who think they know better because in their eyes we the public would rather hear John Motson screaming down the microphone about to lose his voice rather than the more intelligent observations of Davies. Funny that, I don’t remember anybody from the BBC asking the football audience at large what they thought?

I used to get fed up with Brian Moore when he was commentating because I perceived him to be bias towards southern teams. He would sound gutted when a northern team would score and elated when a southern one would. I found him to be vague on his facts when commentating, often turning to his co-commentator to ask advice. I also had trouble understanding his behaviour during the ID Card debate. You may remember that the Thatcher Government was determined despite very strong opposition (not least amongst the fans) to introduce compulsory ID cards for all football fans wishing to attend a football match. This was a reaction to the growing trouble of violence at football matches as well as the dreadful disaster’s at Bradford & Heysel in 1985. This would have killed football as we knew it as non regular supporters who would have turned up for big games would have been unable to gain entry. A lot of fans out of Clubs as well as the vast amount of supporters were against the idea. During a live league game at Villa Park supporters in their thousands raised red cards to show their disapproval of the idea but Brian Moore said in his commentary that the supporters were wrong and that it would be good for football to have the system. To add insult to injury the TV cameras hardly showed the protest. A really arrogant point of view from someone who sat in the stands and had no idea about terrace culture. Not long afterwards the plan was dropped in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster when the inquiry deemed that an ID system would be bad for safety. Can’t remember what Brian said when the system was dropped???

The main point though is that he was a better commentator then the present lot and that really is saying something.

It is now 2009 and I hardly watch football on telly anymore . Sure, I attend matches just as regularly as I have always done but when it comes to TV watching it is a big no no. Over exposure is one reason. The TV companies are not only obsessed with showing any game any time any where but are also completely obsessed with the so called big four. ITV are the worst culprits who always give Manchester United top billing regardless of the importance of the game in their champions league coverage. The BBC are not much better. Again and again they will jump at the chance to show Manchester United live. A prime example would be their live coverage of Manchester United versus Burton Albion in an FA Cup third round replay a few years ago. Did they sincerely see this as a competitive game? Unsurprisingly Manchester won four nil with an under strength side. We all know why they show theses games. It is to garner the massive part time support of Manchester and Liverpool who hardly ever go to games let alone watch their local teams. So we are in a position where part time supporters are unintentionally dictating what games are shown on TV. We all know these part timers, they feel that Manchester United and Liverpool’s success reflects on them thereby making them one of life’s winners. They will wear their teams colours (usually with Ronaldo or Gerrard on the back) to reflect this. Funny that a lot of these people are insecure and sad, can’t see the connection myself? Probably the same people who watch X factor etc…

　

Douglas Martin

sportingways.com

The FIFA World Cup, often named the Football World Cup or Soccer World Cup, but commonly known as plainly as the World Cup, is an international  football tournament contested by the men’s national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), who are the sport’s global governing body. The World Cup has been awarded every four years since the first competition in 1930, expect from 1942 and 1946 when it was not held because of World War II.

The current format of the competition consists of 32 teams competing for the title at stadiums inside the host nation(s) over a time frame

of just about a month – this phase is often called the World Cup Finals. A qualification phase, which currently takes place over the prior three years, is used to determine which countries qualify for the tournament together with the host nation(s).

During the 18 competitions that have been held in the past , seven nations have won the title . Brazil have won the competition a total of five times, and they are the only nation to have played in every tournament. Italy, who are the current world cup champions, have won a total of four finals , and Germany are next with three titles. The other former champions are Uruguay, winners of the inaugural tournament, and Argentina, with two titles each, and England and France, with one title each .

The World Cup is the most widely-viewed sporting event in the world, where an estimated 715.1 million people watched the final match of the 2006 World Cup held in Germany.The next World Cup will be held in South Africa, between 11 June and 11 July 2010, and the 2014 World Cup will be held in Brazil.

Anything you want to know about the 2010 World Cup and making money by betting on the 2010 world cup can be found at World Cup Bet. You can even get a free world cup wall chart

The FIFA World Cup, sometimes known as the Football World Cup or Soccer World Cup, but commonly referred to plainly as the World Cup, is an international  football competition contested by the men’s national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), who are the sport’s global governing body. The championship has been awarded every four years since the first competition in 1930, apart from 1942 and 1946 when it was not contested because of World War II.

The current format of the tournament consists of 32 teams competing for the title at venues within the host nation(s) over a period of just about a month – this phase is commonly called the World Cup Finals. A qualification phase, which presently happens over the prior three years, is used to decide which teams qualify for the finals together with the host nation(s).

During the 18 competitions that have been held in the past , seven nations have won the title . Brazil have won the trophy a record five times, and they are the only country to have played in every tournament. Italy, who are the current world cup champions, have won a total of four finals , and Germany are third with three titles. The other past champions are Uruguay, winners of the inaugural tournament, and Argentina, with two titles each, and England and France, with one title each .

The World Cup is the most widely-viewed sporting event in the world, when an estimated 715.1 million people watched the final match of the 2006 World Cup held in Germany.The next World Cup will be held in South Africa, between 11 June and 11 July 2010, and the 2014 World Cup will be held in Brazil.

Anything you want to know about the 2010 World Cup and making money by betting on the 2010 world cup can be found at World Cup Bet. You can even get a free world cup wall chart

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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