The tussle for the top two spots in 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Group C will intensify when England take to the field against Algeria on Friday. For Fabio Capello’s men, the mission will be to put their underwhelming draw against USA behind them, while their opponents need to bounce back from their loss to Slovenia knowing that a second successive setback would spell the end of their qualification hopes.
World Cup 2010
The World Cup 2010, occasionally called the Football World Cup, but usually referred to simply 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), the sport's global governing body. The championship has been awarded every four years since the first tournament in 1930, except in 1942 and 1946, because of World War II.
The current format of the tournament involves 32 teams competing for the title at venues within the host nation(s) over a period of about a month – this phase is often called the World Cup Finals. A qualification phase, which currently takes place over the preceding three years, is used to determine which teams qualify for the tournament together with the host nation(s). The World Cup is the most widely-viewed sporting event in the world, with an estimated 715.1 million people watching the 2006 final.
Of the 18 tournaments held, seven nations have won the title. Brazil are the only team to have played in every tournament and have won the World Cup a record five times. Italy are the current champions and have won four titles, and Germany are next with three. 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 most recent World Cup was held in Germany in 2006. 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.
World Cup News
England-Algeria preview
June 17th, 2010
Boudebouz ready to be unleashed on England
June 17th, 2010
Algerian captain Anther Yahia has called for his side to be more adventurous against England in their second 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Group C match on Friday – and the raw young talent of Ryad Boudebouz could provide the quality they are after. The 20-year-old has only 45 minutes of international experience, gained in friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and the United Arab Emirates, but is already being hailed as the rising star of the Algerian national side.
Chaouchi doubt for England clash
June 16th, 2010
Algeria goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi is a doubt for Friday’s FIFA World Cup™ Group C match with England after sitting out training on Wednesday. The 25-year-old, whose mistake saw Slovenia claim a 1-0 win in their opening match on Sunday, sprained his left knee in Tuesday’s training session, said coach Rabah Saadane.
Early success key, says Yebda
June 9th, 2010
Hassan Yebda believes Algeria must win their opening 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ game against Slovenia if they want to maintain hope of an upset in Group C.
The Desert Hawks are outsiders in their section, with England and the United States heavily favoured to reach the second stage.
Saadane heartened by final warm-up
June 6th, 2010
Rabah Saadane believes his Algeria team are a step closer to where they want to be for the FIFA World Cup™, but still plans to work on certain aspects of their game after their final warm-up match against United Arab Emirates yesterday.
The Desert Hawks, in the same group as England for the finals, won 1-0 thanks to a second-half penalty from Karim Ziani that ended a run of four consecutive losses.
Algeria earn narrow win
June 6th, 2010
Algeria ended a run of four consecutive losses with a much-needed victory over the United Arab Emirates in Germany in their final FIFA World Cup™ warm-up match.
Karim Ziani scored the only goal from the penalty spot for the Desert Foxes, who are in Group C alongside England, USA and Slovenia for the finals in South Africa.
Saadane giving nothing away
June 4th, 2010
Algeria coach Rabah Saadane is remaining tight-lipped over his tactical approach to his side’s FIFA World Cup™ opener against Slovenia in nine days’ time. The north Africans face the European outsiders in Polokwane on 13 June, before coming up against their tougher opponents in Group C – England and then the United States.
Ziani: We’re focused on opening game
June 3rd, 2010
Karim Ziani insists that Algeria are unconcerned about their recent friendly defeats and are completely focused on winning their opening FIFA World Cup™ match against Slovenia on 14 June.
The Desert Foxes, who also have England and the United States in their group, have come in for criticism after four consecutive friendly defeats in the build-up to the finals – the latest against the Republic of Ireland last Friday.
Zemmamouche final Algerian omission
June 3rd, 2010
Goalkeeper Mohamed Lamine Zemmamouche was the last player cut as Algeria coach Rabah Saadane finalised his 23-man squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.
Bougherra puts injuries behind him
June 2nd, 2010
Algeria defender Majid Bougherra insists his injury troubles are now just a “bad memory” after returning to normal training for the first time since linking up with his national side in mid-May.
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News World Cup 2010
Capello: I accept retirements
Fabio Capello sidestepped reports of a communication problem with his England squad after Paul Robinson and Wes Brown both retired from international football at the weekend. The Blackburn goalkeeper and Manchester United defender both made their decisions after being called up for Wednesday's friendly against Hungary at Wembley.... details
O'Neill resigns as Villa managerAston Villa have announced the shock resignation of manager Martin O'Neill with immediate effect. O'Neill was seemingly preparing for this weekend's Premier League opener at home to West Ham United, but a statement from Villa this afternoon announced his departure. No reason has been given.... details
Low relishing 2012 challengeGermany coach Joachim Low has said that he could not walk away from the challenge of transforming his young side from FIFA World Cup™ semi-finalists to European champions.... details
Berlusconi: Milan will never sell Ronaldinho Guardiola hopes for long-term stayBarcelona coach Pep Guardiola wants to remain at the Nou Camp for the long-term, despite insisting on only signing a one-year contract at the club. Guardiola, who has won seven trophies in his first two years as Barça coach, signed a new deal last week which runs until next June.... details
Mazzarri delighted to land CavaniNapoli coach Walter Mazzarri is delighted to have Edinson Cavani among his players. Cavani completed his move from Palermo on Saturday, with the Azzurri shelling out a fee in the region of €12million.... details
Mainz swoop for FuchsMainz have signed Christian Fuchs on a season loan from Bochum, with an option to make the deal permanent next summer. The agreement ensures the Austria midfielder will play Bundesliga football in the upcoming campaign after being relegated with Bochum last term.... details
Cole joins LiverpoolLiverpool have signed former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole on a free transfer. The 28-year-old England international left Stamford Bridge at the end of last season after failing to agree a new contract with the club and has agreed personal terms on a four-year deal at Anfield.... details
Non-stop action in South AmericaDespite the disappointment of not having any representatives in the Final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, South America is already focusing on the future. Both Brazil and Colombia have already been in action at the FIFA Women’s U-20 World Cup Germany 2010 and the new FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking was published on Wednesday, with some encouraging progress being made by a clutch of CONMEBOL teams. Add to that the resumption of the 2010 Copa Libertadores de America and the fast-approaching return of the domestic league season, and there is more than enough to keep the continent’s football fans occupied.... details
Beckham: I don't want to manageHenry seals New York moveNew York Red Bulls have signed Thierry Henry from Barcelona on a "multi-year contract", the Major League Soccer club have confirmed. The 32-year-old former Arsenal captain moved to the Camp Nou in 2007 and had one year remaining on his Barça contract, but the club agreed last month that he could leave. "Red Bull New York announced today that it has signed star French forward Thierry Henry to a multi-year contract as its second designated player," the club said today in a statement on their website.... details
Udinese rule out Sanchez saleAlexis Sanchez will not leave Udinese this summer despite reported interest from Manchester United and Roma, according to the club's president. The winger has been linked to several leading European clubs this summer after a good performance for Chile at the FIFA World Cup™. However, Udinese have no intention of selling the 21-year-old star, who is currently on holiday.... details
Rajevac keen to stay onMilovan Rajevac wants to remain as Ghana coach, despite receiving several offers following a successful FIFA World Cup™. The Serbian has seen his stock rise over the past month after leading the Black Stars into the quarter-finals in South Africa, where they were beaten on penalties. The west Africans surpassed all expectations, even without star midfielder Michael Essien of Chelsea, and their coach said: "I am still under contract with the Ghana Football Association.... details
Iniesta: I never lost faithSpain hero Andres Iniesta claims he never lost faith in achieving FIFA World Cup™ success, despite a frustrating season with injuries and a bad start for Vicente del Bosque's side in South Africa. Iniesta, who scored the extra-time winner for Spain in the FIFA World Cup Final against Holland on Sunday, struggled for long periods last season with a thigh problem and only reappeared for Barcelona right at the end of the campaign. The midfielder then aggravated the injury in Spain's friendly win over Poland before the start of the FIFA World Cup and was forced off once more as Del Bosque's side went down 1-0 to Switzerland in their opening match in South Africa.... details
Defeated Dutch honoured at homeThousands of fans turned the canals of Amsterdam into a sea of orange Tuesday, honking vuvuzelas and throwing confetti at the Dutch football team after its nailbiting FIFA World Cup™ defeat to Spain. The team, casual in shorts and T-shirts, floated along the seven-kilometre (over four-mile) route on a river boat decorated with orange flowers, sipping beer and making toasts in the direction of the adoring crowds who waved flags, danced and chanted "Holland, Holland" to pumping music.... details