FIFA World Cup 2010 Opening Ceremony and Schedule of Matches

FIFA World Cup 2010. On June 11 2010, 32 teams from 32 nations will meet in South Africa to accomplish one 1 goal, to win the World Cup. However, only 1 team will win and that is the best team. Held every 4 years, the most popular sporting event in the world will grip the globe in this one defining moment of unity.

How long till the official tip-off? Check out the self-updating image below for the World Cup countdown:

As usual, the 32 teams will be grouped into 8 teams that will face each team in their group to fight for the top 2 spots. 2 teams from the 8 total groups will move forward to the knockout stage until there are 2 teams left for the finals.

FIFA World Cup 2010 Opening Ceremony and Schedule of Matches

The opening ceremony will be on Thursday meaning it will be a 2 day event. Top artists from around the globe will be there to perform. Shakira will perform the official 2010 World Cup song, “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” together with Freshlyground, a local South African music group.

Other than these artists, John Legend, Alicia Keys, the Black Eyed Peas, and Colombian heart-throb rocker Juanes. Top African musicians such as Amadou and Mariam, The Parlotones and Angelique Kidjo, will also be there. Income from these concerts will go to the 20 Centers for 2010 - a charity campaign dedicated to building twenty Football for Hope Centres for public health, education and football across Africa.

The FIFA World Cup Kick-off Celebration Concert will be a 3-hour affair and will be held in Orlando Stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg. It will start at 8PM local time (GMT +2). Other time reference => 7PM Bruxeles, 1PM New York, 4AM Tokyo.

The host is a bit secretive with Friday’s activities. Most probably to keep the excitement high.

Here is the schedule of matches in the group stage :

Group A – South Africa Uruguay France Mexico
Date – Time Venue Result
11 June – 4.00pm Johannesburg South Africa - Mexico
11 June – 8.30pm Cape Town Uruguay - France
16 June – 8.30pm Pretoria South Africa - Uruguay
17 June – 8.30pm Polokwane France - Mexico
22 June – 4.00pm Rustenburg Mexico - Uruguay
22 June – 4.00pm Bloemfontein France - South Africa


Group B – Argentina Korea Republic Greece Nigeria
Date – Time Venue Result
12 June – 4.00pm Johannesburg Argentina - Nigeria
12 June – 1.30pm Port Elizabeth Korea Republic - Greece
17 June – 4.00pm Bloemfontein Greece - Nigeria
17 June – 1.30pm Johannesburg Argentina - Korea Republic
22 June – 8.30pm Durban Nigera - Korea Republic
22 June – 8.30pm Polokwane Greece - Argentina


Group C – England Algeria Slovenia USA
Date – Time Venue Result
12 June – 8.30pm Rustenburg England - United States
13 June – 1.30pm Polokwane Algeria - Slovenia
18 June – 4.00pm Johannesburg Slovenia - USA
18 June – 8.30pm Cape Town England - Algeria
23 June – 4.00pm Port Elizabeth Slovenia - England
23 June – 4.00pm Pretoria USA - Algeria


Group D – Germany Serbia Ghana Australia
Date – Time Venue Result
13 June – 8.30pm Johannesburg Germany - Australia
13 June – 4.00pm Pretoria Serbia - Ghana
18 June – 1.30pm Port Elizabeth Germany - Serbia
19 June – 4.00pm Rustenburg Ghana - Australia
23 June – 8.30pm Johannesburg Ghana - Germany
23 June – 8.30pm Nelspruit Australia - Serbia


Group E – Netherlands Japan Cameroon Denmark
Date – Time Venue Result
14 June – 1.30pm Johannesburg Netherlands - Denmark
14 June – 4.00pm Bloemfontein Japan - Cameroon
19 June – 1.30pm Durban Netherlands - Japan
19 June – 8.30pm Pretoria Cameroon - Denmark
24 June – 8.30pm Rustenburg Denmark - Japan
24 June – 8.30pm Cape Town Cameroon - Netherlands


Group F – Italy New Zealand Slovakia Paraguay
Date – Time Venue Result
14 June – 8.30pm Cape Town Italy - Paraguay
15 June – 1.30pm Rustenburg New Zealand - Slovakia
20 June – 1.30pm Bloemfontein Slovakia - Paraguay
20 June – 4.00pm Nelspruit Italy - New Zealand
24 June – 4.00pm Johannesburg Slovakia - Italy
24 June – 4.00pm Polokwane Paraguay - New Zealand


Group G – Ivory Coast Brazil Portugal Korea DPR
Date – Time Venue Result
15 June – 4.00pm Port Elizabeth Ivory Coast - Portugal
15 June – 8.30pm Johannesburg Brazil - Korea DPR
20 June – 8.30pm Johannesburg Brazil - Ivory Coast
21 June – 1.30pm Cape Town Portugal - Korea DPR
25 June – 4.00pm Durban Portugal - Brazil
25 June – 4.00pm Nelspruit Korea DPR - Ivory Coast
Group H – Honduras Spain Chile Switzerland
Date – Time Venue Result
16 June – 1.30pm Nelspruit Honduras - Chile
16 June – 4.00pm Durban Spain - Switzerland
21 June – 4.00pm Port Elizabeth Chile - Switzerland
21 June – 8.30pm Johannesburg Spain - Honduras
25 June – 8.30pm Pretoria Chile - Spain
25 June – 8.30pm Bloemfontein Switzerland - Honduras

south_africa_squad.

FIFA WORLD CUP 2010 South African Stadiums

Olsen agonises on Bendtner, Kjaer

Denmark coach Morten Olsen is weighing up whether to risk Nicklas Bendtner and Simon Kjaer in their opening FIFA World Cup™ match against the Netherlands in a week's time.The pair have both been struggling with injuries and, although they took part in a training session yesterday, they are still doubtful for the Johannesburg clash. Olsen said in Jyllands-Posten: "We must decide whether to risk them in the first game. Should we bet everything? We have come a long way with them but the question is whether it is far enough."Highly-rated defender Kjaer suffered a knee injury in a friendly against Senegal on 27 May while Arsenal striker Bendtner has been dogged by a thigh problem. Denmark have other injury worries to contend with as goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen is still recovering from the dislocated elbow he sustained playing for Stoke in April.Captain Jon Dahl Tomasson's bid to end his 13-match scoreless run, meanwhile, is not being helped by a groin problem.

Netherland has a chance to win world Cup 2010

Statistics from the following facts:

"Robin van Persie has scored 4 goals in 220 minutes for Holland in his warm-up games for the WC, that's 1 every 55 minutes. Golden Boot?""The number of goals scored by Netherlands in their four matches in 2010, a rate of 3.5 goals per game. Ready." "14 of the last 16 goals scored by the Netherlands in the World Cup have come in open play. Oranje."Thus, there's no second opinion about what the Dutch should look to do this time in the World Cup 2010, i.e., play to their strength.A glance at the Dutch team for the World Cup tells the story.
With a very strong team on paper, the Dutch are still not very confident in defence. To be honest, that is how the Dutch have always been ever since their meteoric rise.
With a team boasting of world class finishers, the Netherlands Coach Van Marwijk really need not bring about any major changes in the team's line up which looks as impressive and aggressive as ever.My Bet for the starting Eleven would be: (4-2-3-1)

Goal Keeper:- Marten StekelenbergSub:- Sander Boschker.
Defenders :- Geovanni Bronckhorst (C), Heitinga, Mathijesen, Boularhouz. Sub:- Braahfied, Weil.
Holding Mid-fielders :- Nigel De Jong, Andre OoijerSub:- Van BommelMidfielders :- Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, Rafael Van der Vaart.Sub:- Afellay, Elia,Schaars, ZeeuwForwards :- Van PersieSub:- Huntelaar, Kuyt, Babel.
Although, Van Marwijk has always emphasised that he does not believe in any strict formations of play and with a plethora of versatile players in the team some switching of options may easily come along here and there.
However, the only thing that the Netherlands would not be wanting at this stage is any more injury crisis. After their last warm-up match against Costa Rica (which they won 6-1), Arjen Robben, arguably the most in-form Dutch player at the moment along with Van Persie, had to limp off the pitch.
Although it is considered to be only another Hamstring injury as of now, the Oranje-men could really do no worse than losing such a key player under such unfortunate circumstances. These incidents have a potent chance to impose serious pressure on the coach in terms of team selection and more importantly on the chances of winning crunch matches when the stakes are high.
It is also clear from the Dutch Line up that theonly problem that they really face even with a fit squad is just the over-reliance on Van Bronckhorst and a defence which could be ripped open by outright pace, so therefore they would concede goals almost certainly but they would have to outscore that with the deadly finishers they have upfront.
Now, coming to question of the Netherlands' schedule in World Cup 2010 and how far the dutch could proceed with a fully fit squad:
June 14 '10: Netherlands take on Denmark. The only two European nations in the Group. Prediction: 2:1 for the Netherlands.
June 19, '10: Netherlands take on Japan. Should be an easy one for the Dutch. Prediction: 3-1 for the Netherlands.
June 24 '10: Netherlands take on Cameroon in their Final Group match and already having qualified may just play easy.

Carlos Alberto Parreira

Carlos Alberto Parreira is not only pleased with how his South Africa side are playing, he is confident that they have crafted an image of their own before they embark on their ambitious mission to appease 47 million South Africans when they face Mexico in the opening act of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ at Soccer City.

2010 World Cup: The Top Five Small Teams

Portugal were the surprise package at the 2006 World Cup in Germany as they stunned the public by reaching the semifinals of the tournament at the expense of teams like England, Holland, Spain and even Brazil. Ahead of the 2010 World Cup, the top five small teams that could rock the stage and shock the world in South Africa by causing upsets.
There is a country from Africa, one from Asia, and another one from South America joining this top five small teams group dominated in numbers by two European participants.
1) Slovenia
We start to take a closer look at the tiny Central European nation that surprised the continent’s emerging force Russia in the play-off matches to qualify for the finals of 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Slovenia didn’t only realize a dream when they reached their second every World Cup finals back in November last year, they crumbled mountains at the public’s surprise! What makes the trick for them is the combination of their technical passing game, their alert defense, and above all their strong mentality as underdogs.

During their 2010 World Cup qualification campaign, Slovenia could achieve better results than 2006 World Cup participants Czech Republic and Poland against whom they were drawn in Group 3. Luckily perhaps, Slovenia found themselves in Group C, table number 3 again. Maybe this is one of the good signs predicting how Slovenia could become the surprise package of the 2010 World Cup competition!

2) Slovakia
We've already learnt a lot about Slovenia's potential as underdogs. Now what about Slovakia, the country that topped the Slovenians to claim automatic 2010 World Cup tickets during the European zone qualifiers? Slovakia created history by reaching their first ever World Cup finals in style. With 7 games won and 22 points clinched in 10 matches, they did quite enough to impose their dominance over the rest of their Group 3 opponents. Their reward: a place in the group stages of the 2010 FIFA World Cup along the likes of New Zealand, Paraguay, and defending champions Italy. Slovakia aren't willing to give up and they might be ready for some giant killings.
3) Korea DPR
People who discuss Group G often seem to forget about Korea DPR's inclusion in the table and in the tournament as a whole. Korea DPR don't have a lot to boast about but this doesn't mean that they don't possess the drive of playing to win. Brazil, Portugal, Cote d'Ivoire... the North Koreans couldn't have asked for a draw more difficult than they one they have. Still, they are willing to create an enormous impact in their first World Cup tournament since 1966. After 44 years of waiting, Korea DPR could take the sweetest of revenges against Portugal and en route to more success during the 2010 World Cup.

4) Algeria
Now we're talking about the first African team to win a World Cup match, Algeria. The video below, which unfortunately isn't clear enough, brings us back memories of Les Fennecs' famous 2-1 shocking victory over West Germany. This time round, Algeria aim to build on the power of their mentality to bring down the walls that will prevent them from surprising the world in South Africa. The statement of Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra :
"People say we can't qualify from a group that includes England and the USA. But I'm sure we will advance to the knockout stage. Algeria have true warriors and we want to write a new history for our country and fans."


5) Chile
Don't rule them out just yet. The 1962 World Cup third place finalists impressed a lot during the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. People will need to recall that Chile picked up more wins than Brazil during their qualification campaign. Besides, they secured an automatic spot in South Africa with a second place finish above Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay. They haven't been that good against big oppositions. However, they take their chances against low profiled teams. Honduras, Switzerland? Which of these two teams may do them a favor? What about a huge upset against Group H favorites Spain? Re-live Chile's win against Colombia which sealed their 2010 World Cup qualification.

FIFA WORLD CUP 2010 Updates

FIFA World Cup 2010 Start on 11th June

Top Five Goalkeepers

They are the last line of defence. On their performance hinges the team’s fortunes. Presenting the top five goalkeepers who will be seen in action in this World Cup. Breathtaking reflexes and the ability to hold the nerve in crunch situations separates them from the rest. Over to the shot- stoppers.

Iker Casillas

country - Spain
Age- 29
Height- 5 ft 11.5 inches
Club- Real Madrid International debut- 2000 Caps- 103 DESPITE Real Madrid’s ability to self- destruct, one man who, throughout all this, has remained consistent is Iker Casillas. The breathtaking saves, speed, reflexes and the ability to read the opponent set him a notch above the rest.He has shown for both club and country, helping Spain to the top of European football two years back. Fans would be looking for an encore from ‘ Saint Iker’ — as he is fondly called at his club — if Spain is to reach the pinnacle of world football.And that would cement his place among the greats of the game.

Gianluigi Buffon

Cuontry- ItalyAge: 32
Height: 6 ft 3 inches
Club: Juventus International debut: 1997
Caps: 100HE has been there and done that.He played a pivotal role as Italy won the last World Cup and will have to be at his best if the Azzuri are to repeat that feat. But age, injury and poor form seem to have affected Gianluigi Buffon’s performance. But as they say, cometh the hour, cometh the man, so ‘ Gigi’ can’t be ruled out till the final whistle.Julio Cesar - BrazilAge- 30 Height- 6 ft 1 inch Club- Internazionale International debut- 2004 Caps- 47BRAZIL have always been known to produce brilliant outfield players.But rarely has the country produced a keeper of the class of Julio Cesar. If his club form is anything to go by — he braved a car accident and facial injuries to defy Barcelona in the Champions League semi- finals — Dunga has reason to feel pleased.He is brilliant in oneon- one situations and has the guts to go for the impossible.Having won European club football’s most coveted trophy, he is out to conquer the world.

Mark Schwarzer

country- AusAge: 37
Height: 6 ft 4.5 inches
Club: Fulham International debut: 1993 Caps: 73WHILE football is considered to be a young man’s game, one man who has rewritten this regulation is Mark Schwazer. The 37- year- old has re- invented himself with age. He has unfinished business having failed to save a penalty in the 2006 World Cup against Italy which sent Australia out of the event. With rumours rife that Arsene Wenger plans to sign him for Arsenal in the next season, the World Cup will provide him another incentive to show his true class.

Tim Howard

Country - USA
Age- 31 Height- 6 ft 3 inches
Club- Everton International debut- 2002 Caps- 50HE might be representing the United States — a country more known for its love of basketball, baseball and its own version of the football — in the World Cup, but Howard is one player who excels on the big stage. He will also have good memories of South Africa where he won the Golden Glove award for the best goalkeeper at the 2009 Confederations Cup. This will only add to his confidence.His knack of saving penalties will stand US in good stead when they go out to prove the world that their run to the final of the Confederations Cup wasn’t a fluke .