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.
Milovan 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.
John Pantsil has urged Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan to put his FIFA World Cup™ penalty despair against Uruguay behind him or risk it having a long-term affect on his career.
It was not all doom and gloom in the Ghana camp after their agonising penalty shoot-out defeat to Uruguay in the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ quarter-finals.
Ghana may have missed the chance to make African history by becoming the first team from their continent to reach the last four due to striker Asamoah Gyan’s last gasp extra-time penalty miss, but there have been many positives.
Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan claims he is not surprised to be one of the stars of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ ahead of tomorrow’s quarter-final with Uruguay in Johannesburg.
The Rennes player has scored three goals in four matches including the winner against the USA in the last 16. It is a far cry from two years ago, when Gyan was close to quitting the CAF Africa Cup of Nations after being criticised by the Ghana supporters.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup™ has always been billed as a first for Africa, and as such all the African teams partaking in the tournament have felt the impetus of home ground advantage. As the last team still remaining in the tournament, Ghana have found themselves well supported in the host nation.
Coach Milovan Rajevac is confident Ghana can deal with the pressure of attempting to become the first African side to reach the World Cup™ semi-finals.
Ghana take on Uruguay in Johannesburg on Saturday after overcoming the United States in their last-16 match. They are the only African country left in the tournament and Rajevac feels his young crop of players are growing in belief and confidence.
Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan is winning his battle to be fit for Friday’s quarter-final clash with Uruguay in Johannesburg.
The 24-year-old has been forced to sit out his country’s last two training sessions with an ankle problem sustained during the win over the United States in the last-16 meeting. But the Rennes player is confident he will be ready to try and improve on his tally of three goals in four games in South Africa.
Sulley Muntari has vowed to give everything he has to make all of Africa proud of him as Ghana aim to make FIFA World Cup™ history against Uruguay.
With Michael Essien missing the tournament through injury, Muntari had been expected to be one of the west African country’s leaders in South Africa.
Ghana have injury and suspension headaches ahead of a 2010 FIFA World Cup™ quarter-final against Uruguay at Soccer City on Friday.
Star striker Asamoah Gyan joined the casualty queue after taking a knock at training near the north-west Sun City resort that serves as the base for the Black Stars. “My ankle is a bit swollen but I do not think it is too serious. I will be ready for Uruguay,” he assured reporters as he watched his team-mates practice with ice wrapped around the ankle.
Ghana are hoping to ride an historic African wave all the way to the FIFA World Cup™ Final.
Defender Jonathan Mensah says his team cannot wait for their quarter-final against Uruguay in Soccer City, Johannesburg, on Friday after putting out the United States 2-1 after extra-time in the Royal Bafokeng stadium last night.
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