Group Strength A tantalising battle between three teams, Brazil, Ivory Coast and Portugal, who love to exhibit the beautiful game. North Korea pulled off one of the biggest shocks ever in World Cup finals history when they stunned Italy back in 1966, but they will be out for an even bigger scalp if they can take down the Selecao. Group Favourites Brazil should be confident of securing top spot in the group, but Portugal, if they can really hit form in six months' time, will put in a serious challenge. The Selecao will be glad to face their Portuguese cousins, but a physical encounter with Ivory Coast could give them some problems. Battle for Second Portugal and Ivory Coast will go hammer and tongs to fight for second place at the very least. That they will meet each other in their first group game may be anti-climactic for the final round of games, but it will be an extremely vital opening encounter for both. Whoever loses will face an uphill battle to get back on track. The Outsiders North Korea are the underdogs in this group full of pedigree and star players. They could not have asked for a more difficult first game to kick-start their finals campaign, but if they bag positive results in the other two matches, they could pull off a surprise. Again! The Long Road Forward The runners-up for this group will face the winner of Group H, very likely to be Spain. That essentially means that they will have to face the number one and number two ranked nations in FIFA's current world ranking. It doesn't stop there as a potential clash with Italy also awaits in the Q-finals. The winners of this group, however, could face Netherlands in the last 16, while England, France, Germany or Argentina are possible opponents in the semi-finals.
World Cup 2010: Group G Analysis - Brazil, North Korea, Ivory Coast & Portugal
World Cup 2010: Group A Analysis - South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay & France
Group Strength A tricky section, no doubt, and one which will have the hosts crying into their vuvuzelas. By no means a dream draw for Bafana Bafana with some prized talent set to line up against them at every turn. France, facing South Africa as they did in 1998 and Uruguay as they did in 2002, could have done a lot worse though and with some menacing firepower will be expecting to reel off some hefty tallies, should they function as a unit. Mexico could only trail USA in the CONCACAF hexagon but boast pedigree at this level. El Tri have moved on from their last five consecutive World Cup group stages. The Uruguayan side showed a dramatic fluctuation in form throughout the South American qualifiers but on their day, possess a starting XI to rival some of the very best. Group Favourites After edging their way to the finals by the skin of their... hands, Raymond Domenech's side had the temerity to complain about being handed a non-seed berth. How reticent might Les Bleus be now that they've avoided some of the major guns. Alongside this opposition, the French will justifiably been seen as top dogs in the section but will have to shake off their underperforming status to record the maximum points haul. Anything less than a win against Uruguay could have French nerves jangling ahead of the Mexico clash. Battle for Second Wide open. A host nation effectively play with a 12th man and the Mexicans will be faced with some hefty vuvuzelaing on matchday one in Soccer City. Should three points go the way of Bafana Bafana then they remain in with a modicum of a shout ahead of the Uruguayan showdown on matchday two. That said, Mexico, more often than not, find a way out of their pool and will be aiming as much for the top spot as for the runners-up berth. Oscar Tabarez's Uruguay were the last team to qualify but in Luis Suarez, Diego Forlan and the precocious Nicolas Lodeiro, la Celeste have the weaponry to score in abundance. Mexico versus Uruguay on June 22 has the potential to be explosive. El Tri coach, Javier Aguirre, will be hoping his former Atletico Madrid charge, Forlan, has one of his Manchester United performances. The Outsiders I'll whisper it for fear of 1,000 parties being cancelled, but South Africa are likely to finish up with the wooden spoon. Joel Santana failed to turn his eye-pleasing unit into a scoring unit during the past year and has been jettisoned in favour of his predecessor, Carlos Alberto Parreira. Scoring remains the one true problem for Bafana Bafana; the likes of McCarthy, Erasmus and Parker are not garnering enough game time at club level to be considered golden-boot winners in waiting. To go through, goals will be needed and that is one key element lacking in the hosts. The Long Road Forward Should Argentina finish top of Group B then the runners-up of this section would meet Maradona's rag-tag bunch in the round of 16. Uruguay would no doubt relish vengeance after being downed in Montevideo with an automatic berth up for grabs. France may go on to meet Nigeria, who defeated Les Bleus in a friendly last summer. Nonetheless, Group B looks like a potential Group of Death, with any one of the Super Eagles South Korea and Greece potentially making the second stage, and Argentina are by no means a shoo-in, given the tactical ineptitude of el Diego.
Drawing World Cup 2010
The big story from this evening's 2010 World Cup draw in Cape Town came from Group G where Brazil, Ivory Coast, and Portugal were positioned together along with North Korea in the 'Group of Death'. Hosts South Africa had a tough draw in Group A along with Mexico, Uruguay and France. Holders Italy will have to make their way past Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia as they attempt to retain the trophy they won in Germany in 2006. The opening game of the tournament will see South Africa play Mexico in Johannesburg on 11 June. South African actress Charlize Theron, England international David Beckham, Ethiopian athletics legend Haile Gebrselassie, South African cricket pioneer Makhaya Ntini, Springbok rugby player John Smit, and Bafana defender Matthew Booth helped conduct the draw at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in front of a crowd of luminaries including Franz Beckenbauer, Eusebio, and Desmond Tutu. Geographical criteria meant that no two teams from the same confederation could be drawn in the same group, with the exception of European teams where a maximum of two were permitted. All eight groups in full: Group A South Africa Mexico Uruguay France Group B Argentina Nigeria South Korea Greece Group C England USA Algeria Slovenia Group D Germany Australia Serbia Ghana Group E Netherlands Denmark Japan Cameroon Group F Italy Paraguay New Zealand Slovakia Group G Brazil North Korea Cote d'Ivoire Portugal Group H Spain Switzerland Honduras Chile Now that the groups are drawn, the path to the semi-final is known, for the winners of Group A face the runners up of Group B, and the winners of Group G face the runners up on Group H, and so on, with A-D and E-H forming two sides of a bracket. There is a distinct possibility that favourites Brazil could meet second favourites Spain in the second round. With Portugal and Ivory Coast also in Group G, it is guaranteed that at least two big guns will be eliminated before the quarter final out of these four teams.
End in sight for 2010 World Cup projects
Cape Town – Government is making steady progress in the completion of 2010 FIFA World Cup transport and infrastructure projects in host cities, says Minister of Transport Sibusiso Ndebele.
Minister of Transport Sibusiso Ndebele listed a number of road, bus and taxi rank projects that were nearing completion in a written answer to a parliamentary question raised in the National Assembly on what progress had been made around infrastructure projects for the event.
In Polokwane a number of projects had been completed, including the upgrading of the bus terminus, the widening and extension of a number of streets and the completion of a study to develop an intelligent transport system.
Construction on a transport hub, the Seshego Park and Ride project, bus depot, fan park are all expected to be completed by the end of this month.
Ndebele said a project to install a closed-circuit television (CCTV) network in the centre of Polokwane, which started on 30 March 2009 and is expected to be completed on 20 April 2010, was 70 percent complete.
In Nelspruit, work around the construction of the Mataffin Precinct Road access system and the Mataffin Public Transport Rank and Stadium Precinct Boulevard was 60 percent complete.
The construction started on 1 August last year and is expected to be completed on 15 March 2010.
In Port Elizabeth lanes for a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system along the Govan Mbeki Avenue were 70 percent complete and were expected to be completed at the end of January, while other BRT lanes in the city would be completed by the end of February.
The widening and improvement of Parfitt Avenue and Nelson Mandela Intersection in Bloemfontein is still under way.
In Durban, a public transport call centre is being set up. Phase two of the project, which covers three areas of focus of enquiries, complaints and infrastructure and touch screens and kiosks, is 95 percent complete.
Ndebele said the only challenge, given the current Durban transport issues, would be the exact date to go live with the project.
The realignment of Walter Gilbert Street as the stadium access route as well as pedestrian routes, a bus rotunda, parking and the stadium entrance, was 68 percent complete, he said.
The department is further planning to upgrade the temporary park and ride facilities that were used during the Confederations Cup in Rustenburg. This project is expected to begin without further delays so that it can be used during the World Cup.
In Pretoria, a number of intersections are being upgraded and roads widened and rehabilitated.
A lot of work has been taking place in Johannesburg, which will host the opening and closing World Cup matches.
While some sections ate already complete and in operation, a BRT section from Regina Mundi to Modderspruit Culvert is 99 percent complete, while the 3.9km section between Main Reef Road Commando to Portland Perth is planned for completion by the end of May.
Sections along Oxford/Rivonia Road from Victoria Avenue in Parktown to West Street as well as along Rivonia Road from West Street in Sandton to Sunninghill are planned to be completed by April.
Construction on the BRT section from Alexandra to Sandton as well as the section between Randburg and Sandton, as well as Jabulani to Orlando have not yet started, but is due for completion in May.
A park and ride upgrade was completed last year in October, on time, while a project to improve road signage is now 95 percent complete.
The construction of pedestrian walkways at three 2010 World Cup Training Venues – Orlando, Rand and Dobsonville stadia – as well as the upgrade of the Bezuidenhout Valley Park and Ride Facility, is now complete.
In Cape Town an upgrade of Hospital Bend on the N2/M3 is 84 percent complete, while road works on the N2 to the airport are due to be completed by March.
Ndebele added that a BRT system on the Klipfontein Corridor is planned for completion in February, while a project to acquire special buses for use during 2010, which will remain in the city after the event, is 60 percent complete.
During a trip to England last month, Ndebele said South Africa's transport sector was ready.
He said it was the responsibility of the department to deliver fans, media, players and officials in luxury, comfort and safety from the airport to the hotel, the hotel to the stadium and back. - BuaNews
JADWAL PERTANDINGAN WORDCUP 2010
Grup A :
11 Juni 2010
Afrika Selatan vs Meksiko di Soccer City, Johannesburg.
Uruguay vs Prancis di Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town.
16 Juni 2010
Afrika Selatan vs Uruguay di Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria.
17 June 2010
Prancis vs Meksiko di Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane.
22 Juni 2010
Meksiko vs Uruguay di Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg.
Prancis vs Afrika Selatan di Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein.
Grup B :
12 Juni 2010
Argentina vs Nigeria di Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg.
Korea Selatan vs Yunani di Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth.
17 Juni 2010
Argentina vs Korea Selatan di Soccer City, Johannesburg.
Yunani vs Nigeria di Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein.
22 Juni 2010
Yunani vs Argentina di Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane.
Nigeria vs Korea Selatan di Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban.
Grup C :
12 Juni 2010
Inggris vs Amerika Serikat di Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg.
13 Juni 2010
Aljazair vs Slovenia di Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane.
18 Juni 2010
Inggris vs Aljazair di Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town.
Slovenia vs Amerika Serikat di Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg.
23 Juni 2010
Amerika Serikat vs Aljazair di Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria.
Slovenia vs Inggris di Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth.
Grup D :
13 Juni 2010
Jerman vs Australia di Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban.
Serbia vs Ghana di Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria.
18 Juni 2010
Jerman vs Serbia di Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth.
19 Juni 2010
Ghana vs Australia di Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg.
23 Juni 2010
Australia vs Serbia di Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit.
Ghana vs Jerman di Soccer City, Johannesburg.
Grup E
14 Juni 2010
Belanda vs Denmark di Soccer City, Johannesburg.
Jepang vs Kamerun di Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein.
19 Juni 2010
Belanda vs Jepang di Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban.
Kamerun vs Denmark di Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria.
24 Juni 2010
Denmark vs Jepang di Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg.
Kamerun vs Belanda di Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town.
Grup F
14 Juni 2010
Italia vs Paraguay di Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town.
15 Juni 2010
Selandia Baru vs Slovakia di Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg.
20 Juni 2010
Italia vs Selandia Baru di Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit.
Slovakia vs Paraguay di Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein.
24 Juni 2010
Paraguay vs Selandia Baru di Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane.
Slovakia vs Italia di Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg.
Grup G
15 Juni 2010
Brasil vs Korea Utara di Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg.
Pantai Gading vs Portugal di Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth.
20 Juni 2010
Brasil vs Pantai Gading di Soccer City, Johannesburg.
21 Juni 2010
Portugal vs Korea Utara di Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town.
25 Juni 2010
Korea Utara vs Pantai Gading di Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit.
Portugal vs Brasil di Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban.
Grup H
16 Juni 2010
Spanyol vs Swiss di Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban.
Honduras vs Chile di Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit.
21 Juni 2010
Spanyol vs Honduras di Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth.
Chile vs Swiss di Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg.
25 Juni 2010
Swiss vs Honduras di Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein.
Chile vs Spanyol di Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria.
FIFA World Cup 2010 South Africa
FIFA World Cup 2010 South Africa
Here are all the latest news and information...
Soccer World Cup 2010
All set to rock the sports world
Soccer has been the most famous sport in the world for over a century. It is also the most viewed and followed sport in the world. There are many football competitions that are followed by millions of people all over the globe. Most notable are the leagues that are played in many European, American and African countries among others. However, one event that steals the leading attention and comes over on top of every viewer's list is the FIFA World Cup.The event, which takes place once in four years, shatters all audience records in every time it is held. There is a huge expectation for every football world cup even a year before its commencement. The next world cup, which is to be held in 2010, is not an exception. Millions of football fans are just impatient for the event to start and are eager to grab as much tickets as possible.
Host
South Africa is all set to host the 2010 World Cup after having won a strong bid to host the event, warding off a stiff challenge from fellow African country, Morocco.The preparations for the event, which is to be held between June 11 and July 11, had started in full swing in 2006. Being a third world country and a developing economy, South Africa looks to rake in a bulk of profit through the event by means of ticket sales, transport, lodging and tourism. The country is very careful in making full and best arrangements to accommodate the teams and the visiting audience.
2010 Soccer World Cup Mascot
The World Cup 2010 Mascot "Zakumi" is a green haired leopard has been announced as the official mascot for the event.The word "Zakumi" derives from "Za", which is South Africa's abbreviation and "Kumi", which is a representation of ten in a majority of the African languages, denoting 2010.
Official World Cup 2010 Mascot
Official World Cup 2010 Mascot - ZAKUMI
Official launch of Mascott - 22 September 2008
curated content from YouTube
Venues and Stadiums
The budget allotted by the government of South Africa for the infrastructural development for the event is reported to be $8 billion. The South African Football Association has been utilizing the money efficiently to raise exceptional stadiums and to develop the facilities in the existing stadiums.
City
Stadium
Capacity
Info
Johannesburg
Soccer City
94700
being upgraded
Durban
Moses Mabhida S.
70000
being constructed
Cape Town
Greenpoint Stadium
70000
being constructed
Johannesburg
Ellis Park Stadium
62567
being upgraded
Pretoria
Loftus Versfeld S.
50000
being upgraded
Port Elizabeth
Nelson Mandela S.
48000
under construction
Bloemfontein
Free State Stadium
48000
being upgraded
Nelspruit
Mbombela Stadium
46000
under construction
Polokwane
Peter Mokaba Stadium
46000
being constructed
Rustenburg
Royal Bafokeng S.
42000
being upgraded
Soccer World Cup Official Sponsors
The event has garnered support and sponsors like never before. This time, there will be six official partners for the whole event namely Coca-Cola, Adidas, Emirates, Hyundai, Sony Corporation and Visa Corporation.There will be a string of official sponsors supporting the event financially. Notable of the sponsors are Budweiser, McDonalds, Castrol, MTN and Continental corporation.
Official World Cup Ball
Adidas will be the official makers of the footballs to be used in the tournament just as it has been the case in the previous editions too. The official ball is expected to be released for public view in December 2009.Resources have quoted that it is going to be the debut of the "smart ball", which would contain a microchip that would help the referees to make perfect decisions.
Qualification
Teams
A record 204 countries registered for the qualification event. The qualification rounds started in late 2007 and 34 teams were eliminated after the first round of preliminary play-offs. The remaining teams will go through a string of rounds and the final 31 will be selected in mid 2009.
Brazil, Argentina, France, Italy, Spain, England, Germany, Russia, Netherlands, Portugal, Australia and Korea are some of the teams that are expected to qualify with ease. Italy is the defending champion after having won the last world cup against France.
Players
The 2010 World Cup is expected to be the last event for many football greats like Ronaldinho and Beckham.Apart from them, many greats and legends like Kaka, Thiery Henry, Michael Ballack, Steven Gerrard, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Wayne Rooney among others are set to take part in the event. It will be the first world cup for a few young guns Robinho, Park and others.
2010 World Cup Tickets
World Cup tickets
There is a heavy competition among the locals and the worldwide fans to grab tickets for the world cup. Apart from the official ticket providers FIFA, many other online ticket providers sell tickets for the FIFA world cup. Bidding for tickets have been in progress for months together in online booking centers. Some notable ticket sellers online like Worldticketshop.com have started their sales and bidding process of the world cup tickets. The bidding prices have rocketed up in the site and are all set to reach record heights.
Hotels and Accommodations
The pre-world cup analysis by the South African Football Association reports that approximately eight hundred thousand visitors will visit the stadiums to watch the matches live. Among these, 400,000 are expected to be foreign visitors. Owing to this high expectation, the developments of new hotels in the South African cities have been on the rise since 2007.The developments have not only been concentrated in the cities that host the matches but also in the cities surrounding the venues. This includes places like Kwa-Zulu Natal, Franschhoek, Knysna, Stellenbosch, Mpumalanga among others. More hotels are being built in tourists locations like Kruger National Park, Plettenberg Bay, Mossel Bay etc.
SEARCH FOR WORLD CUP 2010 HOTELS!
Being one of the most famous sports events after the Olympics, the world cup is set to bring huge revenues for South Africa. The government has been pouring in a lot of money for the internal development along with the development of infrastructure. A lot of importance has been given to the development of security within the country.
Wallpapers
World Cup Wallpapers
2010 WC Qualifiers Wrap Up
Europe
Qualified teams: Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Slovakia, Switzerland, England, Italy, Serbia, Spain
Playoff teams: Portugal, Greece, Slovenia, Russia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ukraine, France, Republic of Ireland
Many big teams had difficulty in Europe, Portugal and Sweden struggled, and eventually Portugal prevailed, leaving Sweden and Ibrahimovic out of the 2010 World Cup. France struggled to get in the playoffs as well, but great playing by Gignac and Benzema helped save them a spot in the playoffs. Italy made it through, but coach Marcello Lippi was met with heavy controversy by Italian journalists for leaving Cassano out of the squad. England cruised through qualifications with new coach Fabio Capello, and Spain and the Netherlands had little trouble qualifying too.
South America
Qualified teams: Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Argentina
Playoff team: Uruguay
Concacaf
Qualified teams: USA, Mexico, Honduras
Playoff team: Costa Rica
The USA did well in these qualifiers, immediately solidifying its position, and their rival Mexico tried to overcome them, but were short one point. Honduras overcame Costa Rica thanks to a late goal by USA International Bornstein.
Africa
Qualified teams: Ghana, Ivory Coast
The African qualifiers haven't finished, and so far only two teams are qualified, Ghana and Ivory Coast. South Africa is already qualified because it is the host nation.
Asia
Qualified teams: Australia, Japan, Korea Republic, Korea DPR
Playoff teams: Bahrain, Saudi Arabia
The Asian qualifiers were quickly dominated by Australia and the Korea Republic, both having lost no games, they came first in their respective groups. A very tight competition between Korea DPR, Saudi Arabia, and Iran, all within one point of each other, Iran was unable to qualify.
Oceania
Playoff team: New Zealand
In Oceania, no direct qualification, the winner of the group of four teams goes in the playoff stages, New Zealand dominated the group with almost double points compared to New Caledonia who came second.
South Africa 2010 World Cup Groups Revealed
Group B: Argentina, Nigeria, Korea Republic, Greece
Group C: England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia
Group D: Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana,
Group E: Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon
Group F: Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia
Group G: Brazil, Korea DPR, Côte d'Ivoire, Portugal
Group H: Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile
| Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
 South Africa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Mexico | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Uruguay | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 France | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
 Argentina | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Nigeria | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Korea Republic | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Greece | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
 Netherlands | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Denmark | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Japan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Cameroon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
 Italy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Paraguay | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 New Zealand | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Slovakia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
 Brazil | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Korea DPR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Côte d'Ivoire | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Portugal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
 Spain | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Switzerland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Honduras | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Chile | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
