The day after the 1-0 victory against Algeria put the USA at the top of their World Cup group and sent them to the next round in pole position, United States President Barack Obama called the team and spoke to them via speakerphone.

The call came after the team’s evening meal. The players gathered around the table where the speaker phone was set up to hear the President’s words.

Obama congratulated the players on the amazing team spirit they showed during their unbeaten run through the first round of the World Cup. Though primarily a basketball player and fan, the President has learned more about the sport of soccer from his children, who play it, and from several staffers in the White House who are passionate fans. Obama told the USA players that while he was meeting with General Petraeus, the new commander for USA forces in Afghanistan, in the Oval Office, he heard the rest of the West Wing erupt when Landon Donovan scored the game-winner over Algeria.

The President had met the USA squad at the White House before they left for South Africa and had wished them luck in the tournament.

During his call to the team, he showed how closely he is following their fortunes when he congratulated Donovan on his goals, then asked goalkeeper Tim Howard how his ribs were feeling (Howard was badly bruised in his midsection by England’s Emile Heskey). Obama also asked Clint Dempsey how his lip was doing (Dempsey suffered a blow to the face from an Algerian player). The President wished the team good luck on Saturday versus Ghana and made sure the players knew that the entire country was cheering them on.

The coach of the USA team, Bob Bradley, was glad the President called the squad.

“It was certainly an honor to have President Obama take the time to speak to our team,” said Bradley. “We are immensely proud of the opportunity to represent the United States, and to have the President reinforce that feeling is something we greatly appreciate.”

Perhaps due partly to how the team has had to work to comeback from deficits, fan support in the United States is growing for the USA team.

“The support we have received from the U.S. fans that have traveled to South Africa as well as everyone following back home has been very gratifying and is a source of inspiration for our players,” Bradley explained. “That is something we will carry with us when we step on the field this weekend.”

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If ever there was an incident that best encapsulated the fierce sporting rivalry between New Zealand and Australia it would have to be the underarm bowling incident of 1981. Cricket may not be a familiar sport to all readers and football fans out there but it is arguably the national pass-time in Australia and undoubtedly the king of the summer.

New Zealanders, whilst not being of the same class as their trans-Tasman rivals when it comes to wielding a bat and ball, have long referred back to this incident as a moment which no level of poetic justice can recover. For those not schooled in cricket history the incident essentially involved the Australian captain at the time – Greg Chappell – cheating without technically breaking the rules of the game in order to win a match between the two sides.

The specifics of the incident I’ll leave to your research skills; more important is acknowledging the everlasting effect it has had in the psyche of New Zealand cricket fans and the stain it has left on Australia’s proud and long cricket and sporting history. Indeed, such was the outcry at the time that the Prime Minister of New Zealand Robert Muldoon described it as “an act of true cowardice.”

Overall though the rivalry between the two nations on the sports field hasn’t reached such a level of tension at any other point in history, despite the heavyweight presence of the two countries in both Rugby League and Rugby Union. It’s across these three sports – and netball, in the women’s arena – that the trans-Tasman rivalry is most hotly contested.

Yet one shouldn’t underestimate the football rivalry the two countries enjoy, gone unnoticed by the majority due to the relative lack of reputation of either side in the sport globally. The meetings between the two have been rather more sporadic than in the other codes, though on the occasions they have played there generally has been quite a lot at stake (namely qualification for the World Cup and Confederations Cup through Oceania). You might be forgiven for expecting the rivalry to have been dominated by the Socceroos but it’s important to note that in 1982 the All Whites proved they were no pushovers when topping an Oceanian qualifying group including Australia on the way to Spain ’82.

There performance in South Africa has heightened their international reputation and the respect they’ve earned certainly won’t be denied by Australia. By virtue of the relative lack of stature of both nations and their geographical isolation from the football world for decades, they’ve generally had to help rather than hinder each other.

Shock | Against all the odds, the Kiwis held Italy

Indeed the inclusion of a New Zealand club in the A-League is a testament to the attempts to combine resources, as has been New Zeland’s push to be included in the Asian Football Confederation. It is a move that would undoubtedly benefit the profile and development of football in a country mad for the egg-shaped rather than round-ball code, though one imagines such undying loyalty to the rugby codes will be changed by future performances matching those seen at this World Cup.

It would be surprising to see Australia champion their neighbors’ inclusion into Asia all that loudly given they themselves are a relatively new member of the confederation and one that hasn’t contributed as tangibly to its image as the likes of Japan and Korea Republic in South Africa. New Zealand will have to battle the same skepticism that met Australia’s entry into the region not so long ago and unfortunately the Kiwis don’t have the star profiles to call upon to justify their inclusion.

Asia will be asking what New Zealand will be able to contribute to the continent and the All Whites will need to argue their point strongly by pointing to the fact that they indeed beat Asia’s fifth-best side to qualify for South Africa and that their performance in South Africa was nothing short of outstanding, as they ended up undefeated in a group that included the reigning world champions Italy.

One imagines that if the All Whites are allowed to join Australia in their new confederation, they would be most welcome by their close rivals. Indeed, the Australian media have generally been full of praise for New Zealand’s exploits at the tournament and a great deal of Socceroo fans would have adopted Ricki Herbert’s side as their own at one point or another over the past few days.

Asia would also finally provide the platform for the sporting rivalry between the two countries to flourish as it has been allowed to in other codes: rugby league has its World Cup and test matches as its stage, union has the Tri-Nations tournament and cricket has the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.

A common football home in Asia would not only benefit both nations individually in the long-term future but would foster a history between worthy of their rich sporting cultures.

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Argentina have two World Cup titles and are perennial contenders to go far in whatever tournament they compete in.

But for Mexico’s Efrain Juarez, that does not mean Argentina is or should be favored when the teams meet Sunday in the Round of 16.

“In football there are no favorites,” Juarez said in a press conference. “You can speculate about a lot of things and we know that they did very well in the first round and maybe that’s why they are considered the favorites.”

Mexico went 1-1-1 in the group stage while Argentina won all three of their matches. The two teams met in the 2006 World Cup with Argentina getting the better end of the deal. Argentina beat Mexico 2-1 in extra time but went on to lose their quarterfinal matchup with host Germany.

Whatever results Argentina have taken against Mexico, Juarez said their focus is on their own work and maximizing their own strengths.

“We are focused on putting forth a good effort,” Juarez said. “Despite what is said, we obviously want to come out with the victory.”

Juarez was not able to participate in Mexico’s match against Uruguay due to suspension. Juarez picked up a yellow card in each of Mexico’s first two games and was not around for the 1-0 loss to Uruguay.

As for gaining his starting spot back for the Argentina match, Juarez said that is not his decision to make.

“I don’t know who is going to start or none of that,” Juarez said. “The manager decides that. All of us players have a lot of desire to play in these kinds of games.”

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Apparently Italy spent the last four years forgetting how to defend.

Fabio Cannavaro led that charge, transforming from the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2006 into a catastrophe whose mistakes have cost Italy goals in every single match of the 2010 World Cup.

The third goal the reigning champions conceded against Slovakia exposed the entire team as unfit to recapture the crown. Daniele De Rossi failed to track his man on a simple throw-in and the defensive line just let him run straight through.

Cannavaro practically tipped his hat to Kamil Kopunek as the substitute sped past to delicately lift the ball over Federico Marchetti and seal the Italians’ fate.

So the 2010 World Cup lays claim to another record. After being the first World Cup in which the host nation failed to advance to the knockout rounds, it is also the first World Cup in which both finalists from the tournament prior failed to advance past the group stages.

In fact, both France and Italy finished bottom of their groups. The Azzuri even finished behind New Zealand!

The plucky Kiwis didn’t lose a single game, a remarkable accomplishment for any team which includes Andrew Boyens in its ranks. A drab 0-0 draw with Paraguay put the South Americans top of the group and featured once again the grit of the All Whites on defense.

The Netherlands remained unbeaten as well, putting together a 3-0 run to top Group E. Cameroon, which had already been mathematically eliminated, did put up a bit of a fight against the Dutch. Samuel Eto’o tied up the score at 1-1 by converting a coolly taken penalty, but a late Arjen Robben cameo sparked the Dutch to a solid 2-1 win.

That meant only second place was up for grabs in the group’s other match. In it, Japan exploited some set pieces to eliminate Denmark.

First Keisuke Honda hit a swerving free kick from an acute angle that apparently caught Thomas Sorensen daydreaming about his Civic because the goalkeeper flubbed it badly. Then Yasuhito Endo curled a gorgeous ball around the wall and into the corner of the net for a two-goal lead.

Even Jon Dahl Tomasson’s finish on the rebound to his atrocious penalty attempt didn’t get the Danes back in the game. Honda showed some incredible poise on the ball to wiggle through the entire Danish defense and lay the ball off for Shinji Okazaki to tap it in.

The finish was so easy, even Cannavaro might have been able to bundle it in.

Goal Of The Day

Fabio Quagliarella provided the most highlight reel material from anyone today. His weeping at the final whistle put an image to how the country felt, and his offside goal which would have tied the game about summed up Italy’s World Cup. But between those two, he hit a goal of such picturesque beauty most won’t believe he did it with a Jabulani.

De Rossi overran the ball and narrowly managed to tap it back to Quagliarella. The Napoli striker settled and hit a sumptuous chip which floated just whiskers above the goalie’s glove and into the top corner of the net.

Given the quality of the goal and how effective Quagliarella proved to be in the Slovakia match, one must wonder why he was making his World Cup debut in the third match and not the first.

Performance Of The Day

It wasn’t the drilled free kick for the opening goal. It wasn’t the vibrant running off the ball. It wasn’t the perfect touches in all areas of the pitch. And it even wasn’t the disarming selflessness to pass on Japan’s third goal when any other striker would shoot.

OK fine, it was those things. Keisuke Honda tore it up against Denmark. Japan will need another performance like that out of him to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in the country’s history.

Most Shocking Event

Vladimir Weiss may take a bit of grief from his wife tonight. The Slovakian coach left his son out of the starting lineup and out of the match entirely against Italy.

The move paid off, of course, with a spot in the knockout rounds secured. And it doesn’t look like Jr. will hold a grudge, judging by the jubilant hug he gave his father at the final whistle.

But still, Momma Weiss will have the coach in the doghouse once he returns from the World Cup.

Referee Report Card

The referees managed a smooth day of games. Long may it continue.

Quote Of The Day

“The coach called me over, and asked me to invent something,” Quagliarella told RaiSport. “I did my best, but my dream of a lifetime – and of my career – is over.”

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson is flying back to England hoping to seal the deal to become Liverpool’s next manager.

Hodgson was the most likely candidate to replace England manager Fabio Capello if the Three Lions had crashed out of the World Cup on Wednesday and the Italian was forced to resign.

The Cottagers manager has been the Reds number one target to replace Rafael Benitez, who left Anfield to lead Inter Milan next season, and Liverpool made an official move for Hodgson last week, according to The Mirror.

Negotiations between Hodgson and Liverpool have stalled as the Fulham boss is currently working as a BBC pundit at the World Cup.

However, Hodgson is returning to England to complete his move to Liverpool, with club officials planning to announce the deal within the next two days.

Liverpool have talked to numerous candidates including Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill, former Real Madrid manager Manuel Pellegrini and Alex McLeish of Birmingham City.

Reds legend Kenny Dalglish and managing director Christian Purslow were given the responsibility of finding a new manager and the two decided that Hodgson was the best choice for Liverpool.

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All’s well that end’s well. Fabio Capello and England will take their place in the last 16 of the World Cup, just as everyone expected.

But there were more than a few bumps on the road to the knockout phase. The honeymoon period Capello has had with the demanding tabloid press first began to wane with the announcement – then conveniently quick postponement – of the Capello Index.

It quickly snowballed thanks to some nervy performances in warm-up games against Mexico and Japan before flying out to South Africa, and no sooner had a release clause been removed from the Italian’s contract than every single aspect of his managerial approach was being questioned.

Then came draws against USA and Algeria (the latter an alarmingly abject display that harked back to Steve McClaren’s worst moments) and suddenly it was open season. Even the players (well, according to John Terry at least) wanted a word.

Had it all gone too far? Are England the hardest nation in the world to manage? Had everyone lost touch with the reality that Capello might not, in actual fact, have the best players in the world at his disposal?

To find out, Goal.com UK consulted its worldwide network of writers to see how other national team managers were standing up to the scrutiny of the most media-intensive World Cup yet.

Pressure? What pressure?

If Capello thinks he’s getting a hard time, it’s nothing compared to the questioning that his counterparts in charge of Argentina, Brazil and Italy can expect. And those men are World Cup winners – as players in Diego Maradona and Dunga, and as a manager (as recently as four years ago) in Marcello Lippi.

“He has been crucified by the media almost since the day he returned”
They do say never go back, and so it has proved for Lippi and the Azzurri. “He has been crucified by the Italian media almost since the day he returned as Italy coach after Euro 2008,” says Goal.com’s Italian expert Carlo Garganese.

“Expectations are low, but Lippi is the reason why due to his decision to leave four top class forwards at home in the form of Antonio Cassano, Francesco Totti, Mario Balotelli and (the albeit now injured) Fabrizio Miccoli.

“How does this compare with Capello and England? It is much worse. Lippi has been attacked for almost two years now since his return, Capello’s honeymoon only really ended with the draw against Algeria.”

“He answers with a constant bad mood in press conferences”
Dunga captained Brazil to the trophy in 1994 and his side are already certain to advance from the so-called Group of Death. Still it is not enough.

“Every coach in charge of the Brazilian national team deals with a huge amount of pressure,” says Andre Baibich of Goal.com Brazil. “In the case of Dunga, it’s worse because of his tough relationship with the press. Since he was a player, he was over-criticized by the Brazilian press. He answers with a constant bad mood in press conferences.”

“He is now meeting expectations – one loss and it all could change”
And so to Maradona, who was openly – and vulgarly – hostile towards his nation’s press upon qualification, but his interviews in recent weeks have re-established him as the darling of his country. “His ‘eccentric’ behavior and outrageous press conference comments are lapped up by the press and public, who are hanging on his every word,” says Goal.com’s Argentina expert Daniel Edwards. “At the moment he is definitely meeting expectations, but just one loss and all that could change.”

We never liked you anyway

Even Capello’s worst press over the past fortnight has not ventured towards the open ridicule that has followed Raymond Domenech for what seems like the entire duration of his six years in charge of France.

“Domenech had a hard time, but he contrived to bring it about on himself”
“Domenech certainly had a hard time in the French media, but he contrived to bring it about on himself,” says Goal.com International’s Robin Bairner.

“A failure to answer the media’s questions in a reasonable manner, often giving outrageously cryptic responses, did the mercurial coach no favors whatsoever, while the gross underachievement of the national side on the field was an excuse to hammer the hapless Dom.”

Another to have fallen foul of his own press corp is Portugal’s Carlos Queiroz.

“What he goes through is worse than what Capello has to put up with”
“Queiroz’s tactical nouse is frequently questioned, as is his authority – the perennial No.2 tag has stuck,” says Goal.com UK’s Andy Brassell, an expert on Portuguese football. “What he goes through is worse than what Capello has to put up with.

“At least Capello has a string of successes as a boss behind him, whereas people always point to Queiroz’s failures with Portugal (in his first spell), and at Real Madrid. There is a feeling, rightly or wrongly, that the pressure affects Queiroz more than it does Capello.”

Living the good life

Not that Capello couldn’t have an easier time of things – take Joachim Loew, his rival on Sunday when Germany meet England in the last 16.

“Loew is doing a great job, he has a clear line and plays with a system”
“Loew is doing a great job,” says Goal.com Germany’s Francois Duchateau. “Not everybody likes every decision he makes, but he has a clear line, and he plays football with a system. Germany plays more attractive than ten years ago. Most of the people want him to continue after the World Cup.”

Having a perfect record in World Cup qualifying and the final tournament itself helps, of course, as is the case for Bert van Marwijk of the Netherlands. “Compared to Capello, van Marwijk is in heaven,” says Goal.com Holland’s Wout Stravers. “The style of English tabloids is not really replicated in Netherlands.

“Compared to Capello, van Marwijk is in heaven with Holland”

“Actually, it sounds a bit weird to me that Capello is so much under fire. Wasn’t everyone in love with Capello the last two years? No, he is not meeting expectations, but England can still be world champions.”

Similarly, having the finest crop of talent your country has probably ever witnessed eases the pressure too.

“When Vicente Del Bosque was appointed as head coach of Spain, everyone in the country agreed that he was the man for the job,” says Sergio Aguilera of Goal.com Spain.

“Everyone in Spain agreed Del Bosque was the man for the job”

“He has continued the path of victories started by his predecessor, Luis Aragones, and he was able to do so while keeping players, press and public content.

“Obviously, this fairytale response has an expiration date: after the defeat against Switzerland in the first match, many started pointing Del Bosque as the main reason for the result.”

The Verdict: Does Capello get it too hard?

Our worldwide team is split into two camps. There are those who believe Capello is hamstrung by not having players as talented and skillful as other nations, so cannot meet unrealistic expectations. And then there are others who are not surprised the relationship the Italian has with the media has soured.

“The squad is not blessed with a plethora of world-class players and is technically light years behind the likes of Brazil, Spain, Netherlands,” says Andy Brassell.

“What did the English public and media expect of the former Juventus head coach?” counters Sergio Aguilera. “Flamboyant playing or results? Fabio Capello, as many others like him, is a man of results. You can expect him to win matches, but not to win and display a gorgeous style.”

It is when neither happens, such as against Algeria, that Capello deserves to feel the full force of England’s media – and even then it will never compare to the Latin passion that demands both.

England have gone through to the last 16 of the World Cup yesterday afternoon after holding on to a 1-0 victory against now eliminated Slovenia.

In the first half, England’s players made lots of shots on goal in the Slovenia 6-yard box and one of them was a goal, scored by Jermain Defoe. The striker has 2 goals for his national team so far in the competition.

Slovenia were relaxed at the end of the match, thinking they were through to the last 16. Eventually in the other Group C match playing was the USA vs Algeria. A last minute winner by Landon Donavan sent his team into the last 16.

USA were the eventual winners of the Group and go through with fellow rivals England to the last 16, leaving Slovenia & Algeria eliminated.

3: Higuain (ARG)

2: Elano (BRA), Forlan (URU), Gyan (GHA), Luis Fabiano (BRA), Tiago (POR), Villa (ESP)

1: Alcaraz (PAR), Almeida (POR), Beausejour (CHI), Bendtner (DEN), Birsa (SLO), Blanco (MEX), Bradley (USA), Cacau (GER), Cristiano Ronaldo (POR), De Rossi (ITA), Dempsey (USA), Donovan (USA), Drogba (CIV), Eto’o (CMR), Gelson (SWI), Gerrard (ENG), Gonzalez (CHI), Heinze (ARG), Hernandez (MEX), Holman (AUS), Honda (JPN), Iaquinta (ITA), Ji Yun-nam (PRK), Jovanovic (SRB), Klose (GER), Koren (SLO), Kuyt (NED), Lee Chung-yong (KOR), Lee Jung-soo (KOR), Liedson (POR), Ljubijankic (SLO), Maicon (BRA), Marquez (MEX), Muller (GER), Park Ji-sung (KOR), A. Pereira (URU), Podolski (GER), Raul Meireles (POR), Reid (NZL), Riveros (PAR), Rommedahl (DEN), Salpingidis (GRE), Simao (POR), Smeltz (NZL), Sneijder (NED), Torosidis (GRE), Tshabalala (RSA), Uche (NGR), Vera (PAR), Vittek (SVK)

Former French star Zinedine Zidane on Monday said he disagreed with the current squad’s controversial decision to refuse to train Sunday following the decision to send Nicolas Anelka home.

“Seeing the players not train, of course I am not in favour of that – but at the same time I am not in the camp to know what is going on in their heads,” said Zidane.

“I am not at all for it (refusing to train) because, as a journalist said, we will remember this World Cup for who wins it and the France team for refusing to train.”

(THiS iS a short update)

Spain, one of the pre-tournament favourites, must beat Chile on Friday in a Group H where they trail the Chileans by three points after the South Americans chalked up their second victory of the tournament when they edged the Swiss 1-0.

But the performance of the day came from Portugal who scored three times in eight minutes after half-time to set up the biggest win of this tournament, though they fell short of the record nine-goal margin achieved by Hungary twice and Yugoslavia.

The crushing defeat in Cape Town’s Green Point Stadium eliminated 2000-1 rank outsiders North Korea from the competition and they will depart after their final Group G match against Ivory Coast on Friday in Nelspruit.

Cristiano Ronaldo was among Portugal’s scorers with his first international goal in almost two years, Tiago netted twice, and Raul Meireles, Simao, Hugo Almeida and Liedson also scored as the Koreans collapsed under relentless pressure.

The already-qualified Brazil face Portugal on Friday in Durban when a draw will be enough for the European side to progress. Portugal’s handsome goal difference means Ivory Coast must score a hatful to have any chance if the Portuguese slip up.

North Korea coach Kim Jong-hun took responsibility for a mauling screened live in the reclusive country, admitting he got his strategy wrong.

“I think we played to our full potential but, tactically speaking, it fell apart and we could not block their attacks and that is why they scored so many goals,” he confessed.

Asked how he felt his countrymen would react, Kim said they would understand.

“Back home, I believe that they will look at our next game and they will be rooting for us to play well,” he said. “They will be encouraging us, I believe.”

Spain, whose campaign got off to a bad start when they slipped to defeat to the Swiss in their first game, re-discovered their swagger as they dominated Honduras to win 2-0 with two goals from Barcelona’s new signing David Villa at Ellis Park.

But Villa’s second-half penalty miss could be costly if Spain have to rely on goal difference should they only draw with Chile in their final group game.

“The important thing was to win this match and we did it,” said Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque.

“We created lots of chances which we didn’t make the most of. Now we have to prepare for a big pressure match against Chile.

“But these players are used to dealing with pressure. For them it’s another match in a very busy season.”

Having gone 48 years without a victory at a World Cup finals, Chile have now achieved the feat twice within six days.

They moved top of Group H thanks to a header from South African-born Mark Gonzalez 15 minutes from the end of a drab, foul-ridden clash in Port Elizabeth.

Switzerland had midfielder Valon Behrami sent off on 32 minutes and rarely threatened going forward.

“This is fantastic. We prepared hard and I was lucky enough to get the goal today, so what could be better? We had to be patient, but now we can pretty much dream of the last 16,” said former Liverpool player Gonzalez.

France’s squad finally trained having refused to do so on Sunday in protest at Nicolas Anelka’s expulsion from squad for verbally abusing coach Raymond Domenech.

Domenech, who faced the media alone without captain Patrice Evra, described the players’ action as “unspeakably stupid”.

France are likely to exit on Tuesday when they must beat South Africa by a wide margin in Bloemfontein and hope Uruguay and Mexico do not get the draw which would mean they both qualify from Group A.

Green Point Stadium in Cape Town is a magnificent structure. Situated under the watchful gaze of Table Mountain on one side and flanked by the Atlantic Ocean on the other, it towers high above sea level.

The media have two huge lifts to ferry them to the sixth level where their seats are.

And on the way down after England’s Group C clash with Algeria on Friday night, there was a genuine sense of disbelief among the English press corps who I rode down with.

It was surreal as the usually voluble men this time had no idea why England turned in such an abject performance.

In his post-match grilling, manager Fabio Capello himself admitted he could not find the answers why his men flopped.

It was a moment of honesty lost in all the bedlam that has ensued after one of England’s worst performances in World Cup finals history.

It has brought the team to this, a win-or-bust mission against Slovenia on Wednesday at Port Elizabeth.

Not unlike Brazil, England bring their own unique colour and excitement to a tournament and a premature exit here will be a blow, no matter what the critics say.

The word fear has been used over the last 48 hours to explain England’s best possible pose as a deer in headlights on Friday.

After watching Paraguay outclass Slovakia yesterday, one English scribe gave me his take, when he said: “Teams like Paraguay, Uruguay, even Germany, they all play for each other.

“England last week never played for each other. They were not a team.”

Speaking to the press yesterday, John Terry revealed Capello had arranged for a meeting with the players later in the evening where they would be able to air their views without recrimination.

Last night, Capello apparently told his men to just go out and play their natural game.

After all the exhaustive scouting reports and meticulous tactical plans put together, it has come down to three words: Just go play.

Sometimes football is so simple.

When England’s players forget, they need to be reminded to just go out and play, like they do so successfully in the Premiership. Like they did to such good effect in qualifying.

Full-backs Ashley Cole and Glen Johnson need to maraud forward at every opportunity instead of being shackled to their defensive positions.

Steven Gerrard should reprise his role for Liverpool and play off England’s main pivot up front, Wayne Rooney.

Maybe Joe Cole or Michael Carrick should start.

Cole the Chelsea man is so full of trickery he can break down tight defences, Carrick the Manchester United midfielder is the best passer of the ball on his day and could provide the ammunition Rooney is so hungry for.

Rooney is a big worry for England because he angry. After two games with no chance to open his goals account here his frustration is understandable.

But after so many years of experience starring for Man United as they chased the Champions League crown and Premiership trophy, 24-year-old Rooney is no longer young in experience, the chances will come on Wednesday and he will need his assassin’s state of mind to hit the net.

I am genuinely amused here how Capello’s esteem among the English hordes has plummeted in just two matches.

Right now the word out of the English press is that he is world-class at club level, but not good enough as an international manager where the demands, admittedly, are different.

With their backs to the wall, England usually rise to the occasion. I suspect if they do just go out and play against Slovenia, their football safari will continue into the last 16.

And the view of Capello will change quickly, probably as quickly as Thursday.

Monday, 21st June 2010

Brazil comfortably beat Ivory Coast 3-1 in a Group G World Cup 2010 finals match on Sunday with two goals from Luis Fabiano and a third from Elano as the former finally broke his scoring drought, although the South Americans’ star Kaka was sent off late in the game on the back of unsightly African theatrics.

While the result was achieved quite easily in the end by the mercurial South American giants, Ivory Coast flattered to deceive as their pre-tournament tag of being one of the dark horses for the World Cup trophy was made to look silly by their opponents. The Africans resorted to kicking their opponents in the second half as frustration boiled over from their mediocrity on the pitch.

How the entire Ivory Coast team managed to stay on the pitch at the end of the game was incredible as the players preferred to dish out some over the top tackles on the Brazilians, with coach Dunga increasingly livid by the sidelines as he saw his players on the end of several dangerous challenges where one could have ended Elano’s involvement in the tournament as well.

There were several skirmishes in the second half sparked by Ivory Coast tackles and Kaka found himself on the end of several that clearly infuriated the Real Madrid star, who had only just returned from injury after a frustrating season in Spain. The former AC Milan player then received a second yellow card and the red card was shown after appearing to put his arm across his body to fend off an onrushing Ivory Coast player, who dived theatrically to the ground in an obvious bid to get the Brazilian sent off.

Ivory Coast star Didier Drogba scored a late consolation for the Elephants but it was a goal they scarcely deserved. The Chelsea star was clearly frustrated by his team mates’ ineffectual performances and Ivory Coast boss Sven Goran Eriksson was hardly noticeable in his dugout as fans were treated to another familiar sight of the Swede shrinking into oblivion when the odds start rising against his team – as it often did during his England tenure.

Fabio Capello has sparked off greater possible unrest within the England camp at the 2010 World Cup finals after claiming that his past two years of work with the Three Lions is on the verge of becoming a waste of time as his players have failed to perform and follow his instructions after training.

The Italian is at a loss as to why his players have not been able to deliver in South Africa and showing a totally different – and better – side during sessions before each game. England have drawn their first two group games against the USA and Algeria after limp displays in both that made a mockery of their pre-tournament boasts of being strong contenders for the trophy.

The Three Lions now face a win-at-all-cost clash with group leaders Slovenia on Wednesday if they hope to remain in the World Cup and go through to the last 16.

Capello said that the past two years of work has been for nothing and he has no clue what is happening or has to be done to change the situation: “It does seem like two years’ work was for nothing.”

“I don’t know why or how the players have arrived at this point.

“The training is good, very good, so I can’t understand the way during the game that they don’t transfer their training form on to the pitch.

“In training we have speed and touch but they can’t seem to change speed.

“Against Algeria we were really, really slow and at this World Cup, if you don’t run, if you don’t press, if you don’t fight, then it becomes very difficult.”

The Italian made it clear that he was less than pleased with his players’ efforts after all the work in training and clearly laid the blame on the England stars for not carrying out instructions that he has planned.

“I’m not happy overall because you work hard for 20 days, you do all the preparations, you see everything during training but then after on the pitch it is all completely different.

“That’s why I’m not happy.

“We prepared everything properly every time but for a manager when you can’t see what you’ve prepared happen on the pitch it is very hard.”

You can watch the FIFA 2010 World Cup live streaming online live from South Africa with all of the world’s best football nations battling for the Holy Grail of soccer. With the finals in South Africa approaching, all the matches will be shown live at the 2010 World Cup finals with the best technology provided and doing so via the live streaming platform that is provided can still offer you the best experience possible. You can get full access online streaming of all World Cup football games taking place this summer (despite cold temperatures in Africa) and follow all the best teams in the world that every fan loves – Brazil, Spain, England, Argentina, Germany, Portugal and many more. The tournament promises to be one of the best in history and it will be the first to be held and staged in the African continent – a very proud occasion for them indeed. Watch all the World Cup live football action by following the link below.
Click here to watch World Cup 2010 Live Now

The online broadcasting for the FIFA 2010 World Cup finals will bring together all the past champions in one tournament. Amongst the biggest favourites of all are Brazil. The South American giants have won the World Cup on five previous occasions but can they survive the “Group of Death” which includes Ivory Coast, Portugal and North Korea? The latter are not to be underestimated as they shocked the world back in 1966 by beating Italy. Follow the action live and watch the FIFA World Cup 2010 live stream online in picture perfect HD quality with all the best football matches.

Watch FIFA World Cup 2010 Live Stream Online

Update: Today’s fixture schedule for fans to watch the World Cup 2010 online live football on the 21st June begins with the first game between Portugal vs North Korea live at Green Point Stadium. Portugal will need Cristiano Ronaldo to rise to the occasion as the plucky DPR Korea will be fearless in the face of their reputation. With Ivory Coast losing, Portugal can move into second with a win while the North Koreans will also do the same with a similar result.

Buy FIFA live streaming for the World Cup 2010 finals and join 50,000 fans and growing for exclusive access to the most anticipated football tournament and competition in the world! Whether you are in USA, the United Kingdom and England, Canada, Italy, Holland, Germany, Hong Kong, Europe, Brazil, South America or Africa, you can watch World Cup 2010 finals football live online in multiple channels and streams which will be delivered via streaming technology. Watch World Cup 2010 football via the Internet world wide web.