FIFA World Cup Blog

Argentina began today its performance in the World Cup with a comfortable victory over Nigeria (1-0), a rival who forced Argentina to shine a little bit, a match based on the head goal by Gabriel Heinze and the constant attacks of Leo Messi that crashed over again and again against the Nigerian goalkeeper.

More than half a dozen times had the Barcelona forward in his boots who was a constant source of danger but  couldn’t make it due to the excellent goalkeeper of Nigeria (Enyeama) who is actually playing in Israel. In the absence of luck, the victory was achieved through a powerful header from Heinze in minute 6 after a corner.

The test was inconclusive, because Argentina did not need to increase the level

After the opening ceremony finally came time to start South Africa 2010 World Cup in the first place where the local South Africa faced off Mexico, and several hours later in the same group was the turn for France and Uruguay.

the first meeting the local and Mexico tied 1-1 in a match that went to halftime with a tie at zero and a Mexican team having the best chances after the competition host ceded the ball. "What I’m surprised is that by the ending of the first time we were not winning.", the coach Javier Aguirre said," we forgive them in the first part and then it was too late to try to correct the way. "

Things changed in the second half and after adjusting defensive tactics South Africa that’s how in the 79th minute of the game after a backlash masterfully executed Tshabalala striker scored the first goal of the world cup with a powerful cross-shot. According to coach Carlos Alberto Parreira "We could have won to Mexico, both of us were looking for the victory and the end result can be said that was fair." Parreira said the match was conditioned for being the opening of the World Cup and that occasioned a lot of pressure.

When 12 minutes remained and the coach of Mexico had already made three changes the tie came through a ball that stopped in the hands of experienced Rafa Marquez sealing the result.

The second match of the day was centering France and Uruguay which ended 0-0 in a match that was flat, boring, lacking in ideas, with a French team that reached three quarters of land to meet an opponent’s firm and solid defense trying to retrieve the ball and try to go out with backlashes, but Diego Forlan, the highest figure Charrua (as Uruguayans are called) was very lonely and quite erratic when defining in the few dangers that generated Uruguay during the game.

Things got worse for Uruguay when in the 35th minute of the second half Nicholas Lodeiro was expelled with a second yellow and that made the South Americans feel conditioned as Forlan says: "It turned complicated on the end of the game, they did not come with much danger, but the expulsion conditioned us well. We had a couple of situations to score, but it was very hard after the three quarters of court , because we had to play a little more, engage more, knowing that they could do damage, but could not and so ended 0-0 ". In my opinion the result that we achieved against France, was just"

In this way, history repeats as in the World Cup of Korea / Japan 2002  these two teams ended with the same score in blank.

Iker Casillas and David Villa, Spain’s goalkeeper and striker respectively, agreed to state that the "Red" will action in the world cup with caution but assured that "no one has in mind" to return home without the trophy.

Spain is aware of the respect that other squads have to them.However, both were cautious when considering their status of being favorites. Casillas said the team has "earned its own right to participate in the World Cup”, striker Alonso goes beyond saying that “Spain will be respected by the rest of teams. "

Moreover, the goalkeeper expressed that "they wont cower in front of anyone." David Villa for his part was much more moderate saying that prefers to "avoid the big teams." The "Guaje" is not fool and says: "We have a difficult junction with Brazil and if we can avoid it, that would be better.", adding that "We will do everything we can to get as far as possible.".

Finally, both agreed on dedicate the winning of the world cup to the people in Spain and said that "A whole country is struggling, but enjoys football and is looking forward to win the World Cup."

In 1982 and 1986 World, Michel Platini led France to the semifinals of the World Cup. The UEFA president now does not hide his love for the blues, nevertheless he was sincere when he said that is very difficult for France to win the title and that the favorites are Brazil, England and Spain.

For Platini, France will advance from the group’s phase but no more than that. The champion of Euro 1984 said that France has very good players but no superstars. Comparing, Platini recalled that France won the 1998 World Cup, because it had great individuals such as Zidane, Lizarazu, Deschamps, among others.

Leverkusen’s goalkeeper Rene Adler, who fractured a rib on Saturday, is returning to full training early next week and will be available for the World Cup in South Africa, between 11 June and 11 July.

“From a medical point of view, nothing obstacles a return to train with my teammates early next week” said Adler. Although it is not known the date of return to the German championship, the coach, Jupp Heynckes, hopes Adler to play before the end of the season, on 8 May.

The goalkeeper who is 25 years is one of the favorites to be a starter in the World Cup, but will have to compete with Manuel Neuer, from Schalke 04, and Tim Wiese, from Werder Bremen. German team, runners-up in Europe in 2008, begins his preparation on 12 May with a training session in Italy before flying to South Africa on 6 June.

The best player in the world has excluded Argentina from its list of favorites to win the title of the World Cup, which included only Spain, England and Brazil, but assured that Argentina will play a good role.

“I think Spain, England and Brazil, are the ones which have more chances,” said Messi in 2009, in an interview on ESPN Brasil, where he claims he don’t mind Argentina is not one of the most obvious options to win the world cup in South Africa. “I do not care not to be a favorite team. In the last World Cup we were favorites and we could not win anything.“said Messi, who claims, precisely because of their suffered qualifying campaign to South Africa 2010 that he hopes Argentina is going to achieve shine now.

“I am convinced of that, by the effort of the group, because we were extremely criticized, and that gave us strength to be better as a group and to take it forward,” he says. According to Messi, the squad led by former star Diego Maradona “is aware of all that. So I feel we are going to get good results.”

German soccer coach Bernd Schuster said today to be surprised by the offer to manage the selection of Ivory Coast for the South African World Cup.

"I have never lived the World Cup as a player, but suddenly I can see myself as a coach in two months in South Africa," said Schuster. The ex Real Madrid coach have confirmed a proposal by the Ivorian Football Federation. "I was surprised too." "There is a possibility with Ivory Coast. But the matter is not settled yet. The federation is interested on me and now we have to see if this really comes to something."

Hiddink was the first choice
The technical management of the Ivorian was orphaned when separated from Serbian federation Vahid Halilhodzic against his will. Guus Hiddink was the first choice to relieve him but the Dutchman had already promised Turkey.

In South Africa, Ivory Coast will be measured by the Group G with Brazil, North Korea and Portugal.