London 2012: Football tickets and fixture confirmed

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has confirmed the dates of Team GB’s group stage fixtures ahead of London 2012 Olympic Football tickets going back on sale on 29 November 2011.

The men’s team, coached by Stuart Pearce, will begin their London 2012 campaign at Old Trafford on Thursday 26 July, followed by Wembley Stadium on Sunday 29 July and their final group game will be at the Millennium Stadium on Wednesday 1 August.

The women’s team, coached by Hope Powell, will begin the tournament on Wednesday 25 July at the Millennium Stadium, followed by Saturday 28 July also at the Millennium Stadium. Their final group stage match will take place on Tuesday 31 July at Wembley Stadium.

Tickets for the London 2012 Olympic Football Tournaments will go back on sale from 11am on 29 November 2011 on a first come, first served basis at www.tickets.london2012.com or via telephone on 0844 847 2012.  In recognition of Visa's longstanding support of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, only Visa (debit, credit and prepaid) can be used to purchase tickets.

The Official Draw for the Olympic Football Tournament will take place on 24 April 2012 at Wembley Stadium.

LOCOG Director of Sport Debbie Jevans commented, ‘The prospect of Team GB taking part in the Games has captured the imagination of the public and we are pleased to be able to confirm their group stage fixtures ahead of tickets going back on sale.  With teams like Spain and Brazil already qualified and fantastic venues across the country, the Olympic Football Tournaments promise to be a great family day out at the Olympic Games next summer.’

Hugh Robertson, Minister for Sport and the Olympics said:  ‘I am really looking forward to watching Team GB men’s and women’s football teams compete in 2012, and there are no greater football venues anywhere than our host stadiums.  There are still tickets left, so I encourage everyone to try and get one and support the team in 2012.’

Team GB Chef de Mission Andy Hunt said, ‘We are delighted that the group fixtures for Team GB in both men’s and women’s football will allow fans from throughout the United Kingdom to experience the spirit and energy of the Olympic Games while showing their support for Team GB.’

There are more than 1.5 million Football tickets still available across all sessions, with limited availability at matches taking place at Wembley.

Fixtures:

Men's team:

Thursday July 26, Old Trafford

Sunday July 29, Wembley Stadium

Wednesday Aug 1, Millennium Stadium

Women's team:

Wednesday July 25, Millennium Stadium

Saturday July 28, Millennium Stadium

Tuesday July 31, Wembley Stadium

Messi Scores 50th Goal in a single season: Barcelona Victory

Argentine superstar Lionel Messi on Saturday became the first player to score 50 goals in a Spanish season as Barcelona and arch-rivals Real Madrid both triumphed ahead of their mouth-watering Champions League duel.

Messi reached his latest landmark when he found the target three minutes from time in his team's 2-0 win over Osasuna as Barcelona maintained their eight-point lead at the top of La Liga.

He had already equalled the previous best mark of 49 goals scored by Real Madrid legend Ferenc Puskas when he netted in the 1-1 draw against Real last weekend.

Now Messi has 31 goals in the league and nine in the Champions League after finishing with seven in the King's Cup and three in the Spanish Supercup.

Earlier Saturday, Real crushed Valencia 6-3 to set the foundation for Wednesday's Champions League semi-final first leg clash at their Bernabeu home.

In midweek, Barca's hopes of a treble had come to an end when Real beat them 1-0 in the King's Cup final, but coach Pep Guardiola shrugged it off saying that the league is their main priority.

However, ahead of another 'clasico' in Europe, Guardiola chose to leave the likes of Messi, Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta on the bench against Osasuna.

The impressive Jeffren Isaias supplied the 24th minute cross for Spain international David Villa to end one of his worst spells in front of goal when he fired passed the keeper after having gone eleven matches and two months without scoring.

In the second half Barca tightened up and substitute Messi came on to secure the three points and his place in the record books.

"It wasn't a very strong performance from us. Osasuna are always a difficult team and we had players who don't play that often. It was important for Villa to get his goal to boost his confidence," said Guardiola.

Looking ahead to the game with Real he added: "If we go to the Bernabeu aiming to defend they will take advantage. We need to go and score goals even though we have problems with injuries. At the moment not many people would back us as Madrid are playing a lot better."

A second-string Real side romped to a 6-3 win over Valencia.

Coach Jose Mourinho fielded just Iker Casillas and Ricardo Carvalho from the side which beat Barcelona in the final of the King's Cup as he also looked to rest his players.

Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain made the most of his opportunity with a hat-trick while Brazilian star Kaka grabbed a brace.

Karim Benzema opened the scoring when the keeper failed to reach a Higuain pass and the Frenchman slotted passed two defenders on the line.

Higuain then slipped the ball home while defender Jeremy Mathieu dawdled in possession.

Still before half time Kaka and Higuain netted from crosses with the Valencia defence again ball watching.

After the break Valencia were a little better with Higuain completing a hat-trick before Roberto Saldado finally got the home side on the score sheet.

A piece of quality from Kaka saw him finish clinically after nutmegging a defender and then Valencia gave some respectability to the scoreline with goals from Jonas Goncalves and Jordi Alba.

"We want to finish the season well and with the feeling that we are capable of winning in any stadium. Our aim is that Barca win the league with the points they pick up and not those that we give away," said Mourinho.

"This is a competition in which we aren't favourites but after winning a trophy, we have won well here and played spectacular football. We did our job and have had two very tough games after each other."

Athletic Bilbao boosted their European hopes with a 2-1 win in a hard-fought Basque derby against Real Sociedad.

They are now five points clear of sixth-placed Sevilla thanks to goals from Iker Muniain and Gaizka Toquero.

Argentina vs Portugal, Messi vs Ronaldo live streaming and preview

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will finally meet in an international when Argentina faces Portugal on Wednesday. Longtime club rivals in the Champions League and Spain, the gifted forwards have never come up against each other on national team duty because the friendly in neutral Switzerland is their countries' first meeting in almost 40 years.

The historic clash arrives with Barcelona's Messi and Real Madrid's Ronaldo locked at the top of the Spanish scoring chart with 24 league goals each.

Portugal coach Paulo Bento downplayed talk of a personal duel between the two most recent winners of FIFA's world player award. Bento says "it's not about individual rivalry. I doubt whether Ronaldo or Messi see it that way, either."

Please, feel free to add live streaming links

Libertadores de América Cup 2011 Schedule

First Round

Corinthians (Brasil) - Alianza Lima (Perú) - Cerro Porteño (Paraguay) - Bolívar (Bolivia) - Independiente (Argentina) - Liverpool (Uruguay)

Deportes Tolima (Colombia) - Jaguares de Chiapas (México) - Deportivo Petare (Venezuela) - Unión Española (Chile) - Deportivo Quito (Ecuador) - Grêmio (Brasil)

G1

26/1: Corinthians - Tolima

2/2: Tolima - Corinthians

G2

26/1: Alianza Lima - Jaguares de Chiapas

1/2: Jaguares de Chiapas - Alianza Lima

G3

27/1: Cerro Porteño - Dep. Petare

3/2: Dep. Petare - Cerro Porteño

G4

27/1: Bolívar - Unión Española

3/2: Unión Española - Bolívar

G5

25/1: Independiente - Dep. Quito

1/2: Dep. Quito - Independiente

G6

26/1: Liverpool - Grêmio

2/2: Grêmio - Liverpool

Second Round

Group 1

Universidad de San Martín de Porres (Perú) - Libertad (Paraguay) - Once Caldas (Colombia) - San Luis (México)

15/2: San Luis - Libertad

16/2: Once Caldas - Univ. de San Martín

22/2: Univ. de San Martín - San Luis

22/2: Once Caldas - Libertad

2/3: San Luis - Once Caldas

8/3: Libertad - Univ. de San Martín

15/3: Univ. de San Martín - Libertad

15/3: Once Caldas - San Luis

22/3: Libertad - Once Caldas

22/3: San Luis - Univ. de San Martín

19/4: Libertad - San Luis

19/4: Univ. de San Martín - Once Caldas

Group 2

Junior (Colombia) - Oriente Petrolero (Bolivia) - León de Huánuco (Perú) - G6

17/2: León de Huánuco - Junior

17/2: G6 - Oriente Petrolero

23/2: León de Huánuco - Oriente Petrolero

24/2: Junior - G6

3/3: G6 - León de Huánuco

8/3: Oriente Petrolero - Junior

15/3: León de Huánuco - G6

17/3: Junior - Oriente Petrolero

24/3: Oriente Petrolero - León de Huánuco

5/4: G6 - Junior

14/4: Oriente Petrolero - G6

14/4: Junior - León de Huánuco

Group 3

Argentinos Juniors (Argentina) - Nacional (Uruguay) - Fluminense (Brasil) - América (México)

9/2: Fluminense - Argentinos Jrs.

15/2: América - Nacional

23/3: Fluminense - Nacional

24/2: Argentinos Jrs. - América

2/3: Nacional - Argentinos Jrs.

2/3: América - Fluminense

15/3: Argentinos Jrs. - Nacional

23/3: Fluminense - América

6/4: Nacional - Fluminense

6/4: América - Argentinos Jrs.

20/4: Nacional - América

20/4: Argentinos Jrs. - Fluminense

Group 4

Caracas FC (Venezuela) - Universidad Católica (Chile) - Vélez Sarsfield (Argentina) - G4

15/2: Vélez Sarsfield - Caracas FC

16/2: G4 - Universidad Católica

3/3: Vélez Sarsfield - Universidad Católica

3/3: Caracas FC - G4

9/3: Universidad Católica - Caracas FC

10/3: G4 - Vélez Sarsfield

22/3: Caracas FC - Universidad Católica

24/3: Vélez Sarsfield - G4

7/4: G4 - Caracas FC

7/4: Universidad Católica - Vélez Sarsfield

14/4: Universidad Católica - G4

14/4: Caracas FC - Vélez Sarsfield

Group 5

Santos (Brasil) - Colo Colo (Chile) - Deportivo Táchira (Venezuela) - G3

15/2: Dep. Táchira - Santos

17/2: G3 - Colo Colo

1/3: Dep. Táchira - Colo Colo

2/3: Santos - G3

10/3: G3 - Dep. Táchira

16/3: Colo Colo - Santos

5/4: Dep. Táchira - G3

6/4: Santos - Colo Colo

12/4: Colo Colo - Dep. Táchira

13/4: G3 - Santos

20/4: Santos - Dep. Táchira

20/4: Colo Colo - G3

Group 6

Internacional (Brasil) - Jorge Wilstermann (Bolivia) - Emelec (Ecuador) - G2

16/2: Emelec - Internacional

16/2: G2 - Jorge Wilstermann

22/2: Emelec - Jorge Wilstermann

23/2: Internacional - G2

8/3: G2 - Emelec

16/3: Jorge Wilstermann - Internacional

16/3: Emelec - G2

30/3: Internacional - Jorge Wilstermann

6/4: G2 - Internacional

7/4: Jorge Wilstermann - Emelec

19/4: Jorge Wilstermann - G2

19/4: Internacional - Emelec

Group 7

Estudiantes de La Plata (Argentina) - Guaraní (Paraguay) - Cruzeiro (Brasil) - G1

9/2: G1 - Guaraní

16/2: Cruzeiro - Estudiantes de LP

22/2: Cruzeiro - Guaraní

23/2: Estudiantes de LP - G1

2/3: G1 - Cruzeiro

9/3: Guaraní - Estudiantes de LP

16/3: Cruzeiro - G1

17/3: Estudiantes de LP - Guaraní

30/3: G1 - Estudiantes de LP

31/3: Guaraní - Cruzeiro

13/4: Estudiantes de LP - Cruzeiro

13/4: Guaraní - G1

Group 8

LDU de Quito (Ecuador) - Peñarol (Uruguay) - Godoy Cruz Antonio Tomba (Argentina) - G5

17/2: Godoy Cruz Antonio Tomba - LDU de Quito

24/2: G5 - Peñarol

1/3: Godoy Cruz Antonio Tomba - Peñarol

3/3: LDU de Quito - G5

9/3: Peñarol - LDU de Quito

10/3: G5 - Godoy Cruz Antonio Tomba

17/3: LDU de Quito - Peñarol

23/3: Godoy Cruz Antonio Tomba - G5

31/3: Peñarol - Godoy Cruz Antonio Tomba

5/4: G5 - LDU de Quito

12/4: Peñarol - G5

12/4: LDU de Quito - Godoy Cruz Antonio Tomba

Round of 16 (27/4 y 4/5 *)

1 - 16 - A

2 - 15 - B

3 - 14 - C

4 - 13 - D

5 - 12 - E

6 - 11 - F

7 - 10 - G

8 - 9 - H

Quarter Finals (11/5 y 18/5)

A - H - S1

B - G - S2

C - F - S3

D - E - S4

Semifinals (25/5 y 1/6 **)

S1 - S4

S2 - S3

Finals (15/6 y 22/6)

Libertadores de América Cup Winners

Year // Champion

1960 Peñarol

1961 Peñarol

1962 Santos

1963 Santos

1964 Independiente

1965 Independiente

1966 Peñarol

1967 Racing

1968 Estudiantes de La Plata

1969 Estudiantes de La Plata

1970 Estudiantes de La Plata

1971 Nacional

1972 Independiente

1973 Independiente

1974 Independiente

1975 Independiente

1976 Cruzeiro

1977 Boca Juniors

1978 Boca Juniors

1979 Olimpia

1980 Nacional

1981 Flamengo

1982 Peñarol

1983 Grêmio

1984 Independiente

1985 Argentinos Juniors

1986 River Plate

1987 Peñarol

1988 Nacional

1989 Atlético Nacional

1990 Olimpia

1991 Colo Colo

1992 São Paulo

1993 São Paulo

1994 Vélez Sarsfield

1995 Grêmio

1996 River Plate

1997 Cruzeiro

1998 Vasco da Gama

1999 Palmeiras

2000 Boca Juniors

2001 Boca Juniors

2002 Olimpia

2003 Boca Juniors

2004 Once Caldas

2005 São Paulo

2006 Internacional

2007 Boca Juniors

2008 LDU (Quito)

2009 Estudiantes de La Plata

2010 Internacional

Premier League tops shirt sponsorship in Europe

The English Premier League is this season's leader in shirt sponsorship revenue amongst the top six European leagues. The EPL's €128 million revenue leapfrogged the German Bundesliga with a €45 million increase.

According to the 12th edition of the European Jersey Report by global sports marketing consultancy SPORT+MARKT, the combined value of shirt deals across the top six leagues in the continent was up by 18 per cent on last season, reaching an all-time high of €470.7 million.

“Fifteen clubs have improved their revenue from improved jersey sponsorship deals, and three of the five clubs with the most lucrative deals in Europe come from the Premier League,” said SPORT+MARKT UK director Gareth Moore.

English clubs Manchester United and Liverpool boast the highest deals – their new agreements with AON and Standard Chartered respectively are each worth €23.6 million.

Germany and France, second and fourth placed with €118.5 million and €58.8 million respectively, showed impressive increases. France benefited from the liberalisation of its betting market to overtake Spain (€57.5 million), and Germany could be the next market to be boosted by changes in the gambling legislation.

According to SportBusinnes.com, revenue stalled in Netherlands, which is placed sixth with €42 million, while the Italian Serie A was the only league to post a drop, with shirt sponsorship revenue now standing at €65.9 million. Two of Serie A's two major clubs – Lazio and Fiorentina – are currently sponsorless however the league remained in the third position.

Christian Poulsen ready to make an impact on Liverpool

Liverpool midfielder Christian Poulsen admits he needs to play more matches with Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard before he fully settles in but expects a busy schedule to help.

The Denmark international played his first game alongside the club's two biggest stars in Sunday's victory over West Brom, having previously featured in the two-legged Europa League play-off against Trabzonspor. He acknowledges being in a team with Torres and Gerrard involves certain requirements.

"I feel comfortable here. The match against West Brom was the first game with Fernando and the captain so you have to learn how they want the ball," he said.

"Fernando is a strong player and can do things at speed and can do things one against one.

"You also feel Steven and Fernando have a good eye for each other and you saw that against West Brom - I hope it will get even better."

Poulsen believes he too will improve given a run of matches in the first team.

"When I came here I had not played since the World Cup so I feel I need some time to get into the rhythm," added the 30-year-old, a summer arrival from Juventus.

"But last Thursday (in the second leg against Trabzonspor) I did better than in the first game.

"We have a lot of games so with Javier Mascherano and Alberto Aquilani leaving we need quality players for the team because for the next six months we will have a game every four days."

Source: The Press Association

Ryan Giggs happy with state of Manchester United squad following return of Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville and Anderson

Ryan Giggs feels Manchester United's squad is looking in good shape with the impending return to first-team action of Rio Ferdinand.

Ferdinand played for the reserves on Wednesday night against Oldham, the first time the defender had been in action since he suffered a major knee ligament injury in a freak collision with Emile Heskey on day one of World Cup training with England in South Africa.

Anderson, who played 90 minutes in the Oldham game, and Gary Neville are also close to making their United comebacks after spells on the sidelines, and Giggs told www.manutd.com: "The squad is looking really strong. We've got Rio to come back in, Nev hasn't played yet, and Anderson is back too. So it's looking really good."

United confirmed that all of their senior players, apart from those out on loan, had been registered with the Premier League ahead of Wednesday's squad list deadline - including Owen Hargreaves, who has struggled for fitness over the last two years.

Giggs believes the number of players available to manager Sir Alex Ferguson may make team selection difficult, but is something United will feel the benefit of over the course of the campaign.

"It's a headache for the boss, but one he would rather have than to be struggling for players," Giggs said.

"We'll need everyone because it's a long season. The manager realises that."

Casillas kissing girlfriend: TV journalist Carbonero and Spain is the world champion!

Germany 4 - England 1: revenge WC 1966, WCQ 2002 (2001)

Germany's latest World Cup victory over England will be remembered not for any of the brilliant goals, but for the one that didn't count.

Ask anyone — players, coaches, thousands of fans in the stadium and millions more watching on television — and there's little question that Frank Lampard put a shot in the net late in the first half that would have tied the score.

But referee Jorge Larrionda waved play on, and Germany used two second-half goals by Thomas Mueller for a 4-1 victory Sunday. The Germans are headed to the quarterfinals. The English are shaking their heads in disbelief.

"It's incredible," England coach Fabio Capello said. "We played with five referees and they can't decide if it's a goal or no goal. The game was different after this goal. It was the mistake of the linesman and I think the referee because from the bench I saw the ball go (in)."

Germany coach Joachim Loew couldn't argue that point.

"What I saw on the television, this ball was behind the line," Loew said. "It must have been given as goal."

It wasn't.

"The goal was very important," Capello said. "We could have played a different style.

"We made some mistakes when they played the counterattack. The referee made bigger mistakes."

Larrionda and assistant referee Mauricio Espinosa were not made available to comment. FIFA said in a statement that it "will not make any comments on decisions of the referee on the field of play."

Soccer's rules-making panel agreed last March not to pursue experiments with technology that could help referees judge goal-line decisions.

Germany went up on goals by Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski before England's Matthew Upson made it 2-1 in the 37th minute.

Lampard's non-goal came a minute later. After the ball landed across the line, it spun back into the arms of Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Capello initially celebrated what he thought was an equalizer by clenching his fists and shaking his arms. But his face changed when he realized the goal had not been given.

As the players headed off the field at halftime, Wayne Rooney walked over to a linesman and gestured with his hands how far he thought the ball crossed the goal line.

In 1966, England and Germany were 2-2 in extra time in the World Cup final when Geoff Hurst's shot struck the underside of the crossbar, bounced down and spun back into play. That time, the referee consulted his linesman, who awarded the goal.

Hurst went on to score a third goal in England's 4-2 victory at Wembley.

This time, it was Mueller getting two goals.

"We heard that the ball was behind the line, that we were fortunate," Mueller said of Lampard's shot. "Before the last two goals, the game hung in the balance, England was putting on the pressure."

The 20-year-old forward finished two quick German counterattacks within 3 minutes to sink England's hopes of beating Germany at the World Cup for the first time since that '66 final.

Germany plays the winner of Argentina-Mexico, which is later Sunday.

"In the knockout stages, Germany is always there," Podolski said. "We fought and ran a lot, just fantastic today."

Added Klose: "We were aggressive from the first minute and it was a deserved victory. Our target was to reach the semifinals and that's what we want to achieve."

It was the most lopsided England loss in a World Cup.

Mueller scored on the counterattack in the 67th minute, having started the move after a long clearance by Jerome Boateng. Mueller passed to Bastian Schweinsteiger, who patiently dribbled upfield and ran across the 18-yard line to feed the unguarded Mueller. His shot hit the hand of England goalkeeper David James and went in.

Three minutes later, Mueller struck again after a break on the left wing by Mesut Oezil.

"We played I think well at 2-1, but after the third goal it was a little bit disappointing," Capello said. "Germany is a big team. They played a good game."

Klose scored his 50th goal in 99 games for Germany — his 12th World Cup goal — by outmuscling defender Upson to a bouncing ball off a goal kick. Podolski gave the three-time champions a 2-0 lead, putting the ball through James' legs.

Upson headed in a cross from Steven Gerrard to make it 2-1, then Lampard's shot was not rewarded — a decision sure to be debated for as long as international soccer has no video replay.

"I think if you look back at the game as a whole, we've been beaten by the better team," England captain Steven Gerrard said. "At 2-1, if Frank's ball had stayed I think it would have been a nice turning point in the game."

AP

Lio Messi's Argentina win to put Greece out

Lionel Messi marked his first match as Argentina captain with a win as they beat an ultra defensive Greece side 2-0 and cruised into the World Cup second round as Group B winners putting the Greeks out on Tuesday.

Messi made the second goal for Martin Palermo who tucked away the rebound in the 89h minute after his skipper dribbled into the area and saw his shot parried by Alexandros Tzorvas.

Messi, who became Argentina's youngest World Cup captain two days short of his 23rd birthday, earlier had two efforts tipped away by Tzorvas who had a busy night.

The goalkeeper, who saved twice from Sergio Aguero in the first half, also stopped an effort from point-blank range by midfielder Mario Bolatti at a corner with 21 minutes to go.

Messi was kept in tight check by the man-marking of Socratis Papastathopoulos, and was rarely able to show off his skills.

Greece forward Giorgos Samaras had a good chance early in the second half on the left of the box but was wide of the far post with their first shot at goal after a sterile first half.

After almost 20 minutes of midfield sparring from the kickoff, a deep pass from Juan Sebastian Veron sent Aguero through and his shot from the left was saved by Tzorvas.

The corner was cleared to Veron who shot from 30 meters with the keeper again alert enough to tip the ball over the bar.

Just past the half-hour, Aguero was close again when he met a right-wing cross but his shot was blocked by Loukas Vyntra.

Samaras then put a low ball through to Kostas Katsouranis running down the middle but he failed to reach it.

Sergio Romero had to fist away a free kick from Greece captain Giorgos Karagounis then Tzorvas had to save sharply again from Maxi Rodriguez and Messi, with his first effort of the match, just before halftime.

Reuters

Robinho likely to leave Santos to Manchester City after World Cup

Brazilian striker Robinho said on Sunday that he might return to play for English club Manchester City next season. Robinho was sent to Santos on a loan at the beginning of the 2010 season from Manchester City.

"Honestly, I don't know what is going to happen with Manchester City. We will have to wait to see what happens during the summer. As of now, I do not discard the possibility of returning to the team," Robinho confessed.

He said that his future plans are not a priority at the moment as he is focused on performing well and helping Brazil to win their sixth World Cup title, and that he will only think about deciding where he will go after his loan to Santos expires.

Santos hopes that Robinho will be available to help the team in the 2010 Brazilian Cup final against Vitoria. The first leg of the final will take place on July 28 at Santos.

Xinhua

Supporters' band backs vuvuzela

The England Supporters' Band has vowed to compete against the deafening sound of the vuvuzela at the Football World Cup - and said the traditional instruments should not be banned.

The brass orchestra, which has not missed an England game home or away since 1996, promised "the band will play on" despite the din of the South African horns.

Trumpeteer John Hemmingham, who is leading an eight-man team, said the plastic instruments were part of the local culture and should not be banned from inside stadiums.

Mr Hemmingham, from Sheffield, said the vuvuzelas would be a memorable feature of this World Cup and were overall a "good thing".

Some broadcasters and players have complained about the noise of the vuvuzelas and there have even been calls for a ban.

But Mr Hemmingham said: "It's the way the South Africans express their joy and pleasure at the tournament being here. It's certainly a challenge for us but there's no point winging about it."

After England took on the US in Rustenburg on Saturday, football pundit Chris Kamara complained the noise was stopping fans from generating chants around the ground.

But Mr Hemmingham said: "We didn't have any problem. The fans around us were all singing along. And a lot of our fans were joining in with us using their vuvuzelas. It all added to the atmosphere.

"There was definitely a different vibe about the place. The South Africans are loving it. And when in Rome, you just have to go along with it.

"I bet there is not a single South African player complaining about the vuvuzela. They see it as more than just a noise, it's about the whole spirit of the thing."

Source: UKPA

Ruben Amorim will replace Nani for the World Cup

Portugal's Manchester United striker Nani is out of the World Cup after injuring his collarbone, the Portuguese Football Federation said Tuesday on its website.

"After bruising his collarbone and after medical tests, we have concluded the player is unfit to play the World Cup," an FPF statement read.

"The medical dossier will be presented to Manchester United's medical department," the FPF added.

Nani, four goals in 34 games for his country to date - including three during qualifying - suffered the injury in training on Friday and the 23-year-old will now be replaced by Ruben Amorim of Benfica.

Under FIFA rules, a player can be replaced until the day before their first match.

Portugal, who go up against Brazil, Ivory Coast and North Korea, were playing a friendly later in Johannesburg against Mozambique.

Brad Jones is out of the World Cup

Eugene Galekovic is expected to replace Brad Jones after the backup Australian goalkeeper was forced out of the World Cup after a serious illness to his young son.

Jones, the Middlesbrough goalkeeper, left just days before the Socceroos' opening match with Germany after learning that his four-year-old son, Luca, was reportedly suffering from leukaemia.

Adelaide United's Galevovic was among five players cut last week for the final squad, but has remained in South Africa training with the Australians in case of an unexpected late injury.

According to AFP, Jones left over the weekend to be with his family in France, leaving behind his concerned teammates, many of whom have young families.

Skipper Lucas Neill said the news had been devastating for the squad.

"It puts football as completely irrelevant, even a World Cup, for everybody," Neill told reporters.

"We consider ourselves a family, and the news we heard ... it was devastating. It hit all the boys for six.

Neill admitted the news had proved a major distraction for his team in their 3-1 loss to the United States in a World Cup warmup game in Roodepoort last Saturday.

The Socceroos plan to give Jones time to decide whether he wants to officially withdraw from the tournament and FIFA on Monday gave official approval for Galekovic to replace Jones should the Middlesbrough goalkeeper pull out as expected.

Coach Pim Verbeek said he is working on the basis that Jones will not return to South Africa.

"We expect him not to come back - that says enough about the seriousness of the matter," Verbeek said.

"We have decided he needs to be with (his family), as long as he needs to be there.

"It is a very serious matter and we wish him strength and luck and everything that is necessary for him to be with his family and support his family."

Greece ready for crucial South Korea clash

Greece face a crucial World Cup opening match against South Korea on Saturday with a win for either side offering three valuable points in a group that also includes Argentina and Nigeria.

European champions in 2004, Greece failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup and lost all three group games as defending champions at the 2008 Euro.

Coached by 72-year-old German Otto Rehhagel, who guided Greece to that Euro 2004 title, the Greeks are also eyeing a better turn-out than at their sole previous appearance at the World Cup, in 1994, when the team not only managed to lose all three games, but also failed to score.

But midfielder Christos Patsatzoglou insisted Tuesday that the team, who have lost 2-0 to Paraguay and secured a 2-2 draw with North Korea in warm-up matches, were now focused on a flying start to this campaign.

"All the players are living a dream because the World Cup is the greatest tournament in the world," said Patsatzoglou, who plays for Cypriot outfit Omonia.

"We know we have a key game against South Korea. If we win, we are in a position to try to qualify for the next round.

"It's very important not to lose, everybody knows that," the 31-year-old said of Saturday's game in Port Elizabeth.

Greece endured a stuttering path to qualifying for the World Cup.

After leaking 10 goals in 10 games and managing only three clean sheets in a group that included pool winners Switzerland, Israel, Moldova, Latvia and Luxembourg, they beat Ukraine in a play-off.

Patsatzoglou said, however, that that was water under the bridge and admitted that the mighty Diego Maradona-coached Argentina were the outright favourites in their World Cup first round.

"Everybody knows Argentina are favourites to win the group. Having them for our last match in the group, it's good and bad at the same time," he said.

"The outcome of that match will depend on the result of the first two games.

"First of all, however, we're looking at South Korea and getting the result we want.

Greece play Nigeria in Bloemfontein on June 17 and round off their Group B campaign against the Argentinians five days later in Polokwane. South Korea play Argentina in Johannesburg and then Nigeria in Durban on the same days.

Patsatzoglou pinpointed Manchester United's Park Ji-Sung as the key man for South Korea.

"Park is definitely their top player," he said. "We've seen lots of DVDs of South Korea, but not only of Park in action.

"All their players are good and work well as a team. It's important for us to be focused and get the win."

Panathinaikos defender Nikos Spyropoulos also acknowledged that Greece would have to contend with a well-knitted South Korean side.

"As everybody knows, the first match is the crunch match. It's essential to get a winning result.

"We will have to deal with a very disciplined team. I hope that on Saturday we'll be as fit as possible to achieve that goal."

Source: AFP

Kaka upbeat after playing well in Brazil 5 - Tanzania 1 before World Cup

Kaka is becoming increasingly optimistic with how he will perform at the World Cup.

The Brazil playmaker said his confidence was boosted after scoring and playing well in the team's final warmup before the tournament on Monday, and is likely to keep improving until the opener against North Korea on June 15.

"I felt fine," Kaka said. "I played better in this match. I just need to loosen up a little more, but we have a week until the first match and I will be ready."

Kaka played the entire match in Brazil's 5-1 win over Tanzania in Dar es Salaam. He acknowledged he is still not at his best, coming off a left thigh injury, but performed much better than in the 45 minutes he played in Brazil's first warmup, a 3-0 win over Zimbabwe in South Africa.

"There are still some minor things to adjust," Kaka said. "But it's not about being concerned, it's more about being anxious."

Kaka chested in a cross by Maicon in the 76th minute on Monday, scoring his first goal with Brazil in almost a year. He hadn't scored in 12 matches, since a 4-3 win against Egypt in last year's Confederations Cup.

"This goal gives me confidence, it was very important," Kaka said.

Kaka said he felt no pain from the thigh injury that had been bothering him ahead of the World Cup and forced him to miss several matches with Real Madrid this year. A groin injury had also kept Kaka out of action for parts of the season.

Brazil coach Dunga praised Kaka's determination and said the playmaker has been working hard to be 100 per cent fit for the World Cup.

"Kaka is getting better and better," Dunga said after the Tanzania match. "He is very anxious about playing. We actually have been trying to slow him down a bit."

Kaka enters the tournament as Brazil's biggest star as the team tries to win its sixth World Cup title. Kaka was a starter in the Brazil squad which lost to France in the quarter-finals of the 2006 tournament in Germany and a member of the World Cup team that clinched the title in 2002 in South Korea and Japan.

A former Brazil teammate, striker Ronaldo praised Kaka back in Brazil and was glad to see him finding the net again.

"Great to see my friend scoring a goal again," Ronaldo wrote on his Twitter page after the match against Tanzania.

Robinho and substitute midfielder Ramires scored a pair of goals each in Brazil's final warmup before the World Cup opener.

The late goal conceded by the Brazilians was the team's first in five matches, since losing 2-1 to Bolivia last October in a World Cup qualifier in the high altitude of La Paz. Led by Inter Milan defender Lucio, the defence had been perfect since then.

Brazil has not allowed many fans near its players since arriving in South Africa last month, but one of the ball boys from Monday's game was lucky to get close to the players.

Called Salomon, the boy politely asked to enter the team's changing room and was allowed in, posing for photos and receiving autographs from many of the players, the Brazilian football confederation said.

Brazil is in Group G at the World Cup, along with the North Koreans, Ivory Coast and Portugal.

Source: The Canadian Press

Pepe set to return for Portugal

Portugal defensive midfielder Képler Laveran Lima Ferreira "Pepe" will make his return after a six-month absence in a friendly against Mozambique on Tuesday, coach Carlos Queiroz announced on Monday.

"Pepe will play a good few minutes," said Queiroz at a press conference.

"He'll come on in the second half, when the rhythm and the intensity of the match have dropped. It will be good for him to get some time on the ball."

Pepe, 27, has been in a race against time to prove his fitness for the World Cup after sustaining a serious knee injury in December while playing for his club Real Madrid, for whom he plays at centre-back.

His participation in the South Africa showpiece was finally confirmed when Portugal's medical staff gave the green light for him to be included in Queiroz's 23-man squad for the June 11-July 11 tournament.

Portugal, semi-finalists in 2006, play Mozambique in Johannesburg on Tuesday in their final warm-up match before embarking upon their Group G campaign against Ivory Coast in Port Elizabeth on June 15.

Pepe, who has 24 caps, took part in training here at the picturesque Bekker High School, west of Johannesburg and his return will boost Portugal ahead of the first game, while the Africans have worries of their own.

Their captain Didier Drogba is struggling to be fit after breaking his elbow in Friday's friendly against Japan and had a successful operation in Bern, Switerland, at the weekend.

Drogba is key to the Elephants' hopes of progressing out of Group G, which also includes Brazil and North Korea.

The African Player of the Year scored 37 goals in all competitions for Chelsea last season and his absence would be a huge blow to Sven-Goran Eriksson's side, said Portugal defender Bruno Alves.

"We know all about Drogba, he is a world-class player," said the Porto centre-back.

"We know the Ivory Coast have special players in their team, but we have to think about the overall team, not just an individual.

"However, Drogba is an excellent player for the Ivory Coast and they will miss him. If he is not able to play, the World Cup will miss him."

One of the highlights of the World Cup's group stage will see Portugal take on South American giants Brazil in Durban on June 25, but Alves says his side plan on qualifying for the last 16 before the mouth-watering clash.

"The Brazilian team is very strong, everyone knows their players," said 28-year-old Alves, whose side play North Korea on June 21.

"The team has great strength in depth in every area, technically and tactically.

"We will do our best to make sure we have already qualified before this game and then we will do everything to beat Brazil.

"We know we have the potential to beat them and our players believe in themselves."

Leadership, confidence lacking in French World Cup camp ahead of Uruguay game

France is struggling for leadership and confidence with four days remaining before its opening World Cup group game against Uruguay.

Coach Raymond Domenech's team looks rudderless in comparison to 2006 when it united behind Zinedine Zidane's inspired leadership to reach the final.

Former captain Thierry Henry is on the bench and Patrice Evra was only recently given the armband.

There is mounting expectation that the current crop of players is bound to flop and winger Sidney Govou says that France will only improve by pulling together quickly.

"We're lacking this little something for us to be a good team, a very good team," Govou said Monday. "This won't happen if we shoot each other down, putting the blame on such and such."

Some critics, like former France defender Marcel Desailly, are predicting the worst for Domenech's team.

Desailly played alongside Zidane when France won the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championship two years later.

A decade on, he is an outspoken media pundit. In his newspaper column for a South Africa's Sunday Times, he drew bleak and unfavourable comparisons with the team of four years ago. Desailly even predicted Domenech's team would not qualify from the group stage. Mexico and host South Africa are also in Group A.

"In 2006, the spine of the team was Fabien Barthez, Lilian Thuram, Patrick Vieira, Claude Makelele, Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry — experienced players," Desailly wrote. "The young generation should be bringing enthusiasm but it's just not there."

Desailly questions the wisdom of Domenech's sudden decision to switch from a defensive 4-2-3-1 formation to a more attacking 4-3-3 lineup only two weeks ago, suggesting it was arranged too hastily and has confused the players.

"They are now at the end of their preparation and should be at their best, but I'm annoyed that we still don't have a starting lineup and are undecided over tactics," said Desailly, who played 116 times for France. "A team that's going to win the World Cup should already know these things."

Domenech appears to have left the team largely to its own devices, with the players expected to find the answers.

"We don't have any instructions, we don't have any restrictions," Govou said. "We need to make this 4-3-3 system work, so that we play as well as possible in defence or in attack."

The new system started brightly enough when France beat Costa Rica 2-1 two weeks ago, but France then drew 1-1 at Tunisia and lost 1-0 against China last Friday.

"We're obviously disappointed by our last two matches," Govou said. "We have problems in a collective sense, (problems) playing collectively all the time."

France is crying out for a leader to step in and sort things out, but circumstances have worked against the team.

Henry was dropped to the bench by Domenech for the three warmup matches and therefore has been unable to rally the team on the field, while veteran midfielder Patrick Vieira was not picked in Domenech's squad.

Henry had a poor season for Barcelona, used sparingly as a substitute to now lack match fitness. Now that he's been benched and with Vieira out of the squad, Domenech had to find a captain. Evra was chosen after his outstanding season for Manchester United.

Arsenal defender William Gallas had previously led France on two occasions. As the most senior player in Domenech's starting team with more than 80 appearances, many expected him to receive the captain's armband with Henry and Vieira missing.

But Domenech had doubts over Gallas' fitness following his difficult recovery from a calf tear. Some French reports speculate that Gallas is deeply unhappy with the decision, although the player has not spoken to the media.

Desailly feels there are no longer enough influential France players around.

"You need a team of leaders to win the World Cup," Desailly said.

While some France players insist the team does have strong leadership, they do not sound very convincing.

"Thierry (Henry) is a leader, William Gallas is a leader, Pat Evra is (one as well) ... I could name you a lot of leaders," France midfielder Alou Diarra said. "Franck (Ribery) is a leader ... I could name you a lot of leaders."

Diarra's statement merely underlines how no one truly stands out as a natural leader, the way Zidane did in 2006.

Ledley King to replace Ferdinand in World Cup

King has become the favourite to replace Rio Ferdinand at the heart of England's World Cup defence, despite the Tottenham defender's fears he could be risking a legacy of pain for the rest of his life.

With Ferdinand ruled out of the tournament by a training ground injury he suffered soon after arriving in South Africa, King is now in line to start alongside John Terry in England's opening match, against the United States here on Saturday.

The 29-year-old has managed to convince England coach Fabio Capello that he can get through the tournament, despite a knee condition that means he has to undergo a special training regime and, he admits, could result in restricted mobility in later life.

That thought occurs to him on a daily basis -- most acutely when he has to tell his six-year-old son he can't play football with him for fear of incurring an injury.

King though believes the opportunity of performing at the pinnacle of his profession represents a gamble worth taking.

"Every time I get up and walk, there are restrictions; squatting can be uncomfortable, I can't stretch my knee up to stretch my groin -- I can't grab hold of my knee in that way.

"But the scans over the last two or three years have indicated it is in a similar situation to when I had the operation, if not a bit better, which is good to know.

"But if it does impact on me in later life then it will have been worth it. To be here is something I will never forget, to be involved in the World Cup 23 is something I will look back on."

King played alongside Terry at Euro 2004 -- for which Ferdinand was banned after missing a drugs test -- but was ruled out of the last World Cup with a broken foot bone.

"You are a long time retired, so you might as well do everything you can now," he added. "That's the way I look at it. A career is short and I'm trying to get as much out of it as I can.

"No player really knows when their time is going to end, so I'm trying to concentrate on doing as much as I can."

Although King is in pole position to replace Ferdinand, Capello also has the option of starting Jamie Carragher alongside Terry, having persuaded the Liverpool defender to come out of international retirement primarily as cover for his club-mate Glen Johnson at right back.

Matthew Upson, who has been the main back-up for Ferdinand and Terry for most of the 18 months that Capello has been in charge, has fallen out of favour after a loss of form for West Ham in the second half of the season.

Upson is in any case struggling to be well enough to feature on Saturday after being prevented from training because of a fever.

If Terry and King do end up on the pitch together, they will be reprising a partnership that goes back a decade and a half to when they were part of the same boys team in the suburbs of east London.

"I haven't played alongside John for three years but it doesn't worry me," King said. "I've watched enough of John for years and I've played with him and know his game. Communication is key for defenders. He's a big talker and I will talk and I'm sure we'll be fine."

King and Terry played in the same junior team between the ages of 11 and 16, although they were never centreback partners back in those days.

"He was a midfielder then and he used to shout at us even all back then," King recalled. "He was only small, a lot shorter than now, but he had great leadership qualities.

"He played in front of me and I think he was the captain. Paul Konchesky, Bobby Zamora and Jlloyd Samuel were all in that team.

"He was the same in midfield as he is at the back really. He was courageous, throwing himself about, doing things that us young lads hadn't really seen before."