World Cup 2010 Preview - Liverpool Echo

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Monday, June 7, 2010

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GROUP A

South Africa Mexico Uruguay France

GROUP B GROUP C

GROUP D

2010 WORLD CUP Group A Mexico given hope by little ‘Chicharito’ WITH Mexico set to play the opening game of the 2010 World Cup against host nation South Africa, Premier League fans may not have to wait long for a close-up glimpse of Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez (pictured).

If the pre-tournament performances of the 21-year-old, nicknamed ‘little pea’ for his hazel eyes, are anything to judge by, what they will see from the young Mexican this summer will be something to delight Manchester United fans and strike fear into their rivals.

Hernandez, set to move from Guadalajara to Old Trafford after the World Cup, is the latest in a long line of Mexican strikers dating back to Hugo Sanchez in the 1980s to have the hopes of a football-mad nation thrust on his shoulders.

Chicharito, all 5ft 9in of him, has done little to dampen expectations after scoring four times in his first five appearances for the senior national side and as the hits on YouTube videos of his goals suggest, his is a rare talent, capable of scoring spectacular goals.

That Mexico have also been drawn alongside a weak South Africa, a fragile France and unpredictable Uruguay in Group A should also amplify their fans’ hopes that their team is set for a long run.

Mexicans do not hope their team can join the big guns of Latin America like Brazil and Argentina; they believe they are already up there, despite results proving otherwise.

The best Mexico has done in the tournament is to reach the quarter-finals on two occasions, and that happened when the finals were on home soil in 1970 and 1986.

Could Hernandez, whose father and grandfather also played for Mexico, be the next catalyst for success in South Africa?

“He’s doing his work, just like the others, with his club and the national team,” Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre told reporters in March during a series of friendlies in the USA which saw Hernandez score a spectacular header against New Zealand.

“I understand that a lot of you guys are not going to be satisfied with who I pick, but Javier is going through a very good moment and I hope it lasts.”

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Pienaar’s path was never easy Tough tests at every turn for Blues star

W

HEN the whistle goes and the speculation stops – Steven Pienaar is ready to thrill the world this summer.

The South African might be at the centre of an increasingly fraught contract dispute with Everton, but it is his sublime skills which make the prospect of his Merseyside departure so unwelcome.

Those skills have long been predicted to make the midfielder a star as he leads his country’s quest for glory on home soil.

Pienaar takes the biggest stage in global football after a sensational season for the Toffees, during which his ability to change close games single-handedly sparkled.

Denied the creative artistry of Mikel Arteta for so long, Pienaar’s mercurial feet and ceaseless workrate fired Everton’s form.

The South African’s goals against Manchester City and Arsenal finally caused the rest of the Premier League to sit up and take notice of a talent which had long been admired at Goodison Park.

Pienaar arrived on loan from Borussia Dortmund for the 2007-08 season and later signed a three-year contract for a pre-agreed bargain fee of £2m.

He scored his first Everton goal in a 2-0 home victory over Middlesbrough in September 2007, and soon began to win over the Goodison crowd providing a threat on the left-flank, later intensified by his link-up play with full-back Leighton Baines, himself unfortunate not to make Fabio Capello’s England squad.

It was all in stark UPVC contrast to Pienaar’s Windows previous club career.

Signed as a Doors replacement for Porches Arsenal-bound

Conservatories Patios Secondary Leaded Lights Failed Units Replaced

by GREG O’KEEFFE Tomas Rosicky, Pienaar's first year with Borussia Dortmund saw him receive the number 10 shirt vacated by the Czech play-maker.

Enjoying the same popularity as Rosicky proved beyond him. Pienaar struggled at Dortmund never being accepted in the dressing room or winning the fans’ favour.

Fortunately, he is not the type of character to let isolation in a foreign country affect him. The boy from the deprived Johannesburg township is as tough as the body armour police wear on routine patrols of the Westbury suburb where he grew up.

Many of his childhood friends will watch the midfielder star for Bafana Bafana from their prison cells. Not blessed with the footballing skills of Pienaar, their roads led to crime and violence.

“Yes, a lot of my friends are in jail,” he admitted. “I still have contact with them and phone them when I’m in South Africa. There’s a lot of crime in the country.

“But when you are growing up you just get on with things. You get up, go to school, play in the streets.

Thoughts about how your family are going to get food to give you a dinner don’t come into your mind at that age.

“When I was playing

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football in the streets, people started asking me to play for their teams but I didn’t want that.

“I wanted to play in the streets, not be told when to come to training.

“A bit later, I had an opportunity to go to the country’s school of excellence and that’s where I developed my skills.”

Soon the call came from Cape Town-based Ajax-feeder club, Ajax Cape Town, where Pienaar thrived and ultimately earned his move to the Bundesliga.

Pienaar is now recognised as his country’s main man as World Cup fever grips the nation.

He revealed: “The people are going wild because we’ve been waiting so long and now it’s so close.

“We have a Bafana day planned, when everyone in the country must wear a South Africa team shirt.

“No matter who you are, whether you work in a bank, you must wear it. The World Cup will be a big festival. The whole country will come together.

“There is still a lot of racial tension but sport builds spirit and unites people.”

There is no better example than 15 years ago, when South Africa was allowed to stage the Rugby World Cup after apartheid was dismantled and went on to win the trophy.

It was all recaptured in the stirring film Invictus, with Matt Damon playing all-conquering skipper Francois Pienaar and Morgan Freeman taking on the role of South African president Nelson Mandela.

Steven Pienaar smiled and revealed: “I’ve watched Invictus five times and every time it makes me want to cry because it’s so true. I was at school at

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RAYMOND DOMENECH has always been superstitious and he must be wondering what he did wrong in a previous life as France approach the World Cup with turmoil raging through the camp.

A disappointing qualifying campaign capped by that handball in their play-off victory over the Republic of Ireland, their own fans turning against them, politicians and former players calling for the coach’s head, discussions already taking place about the next France manager, in-fighting between the players – and all that on top of a

dismal Euro 2008 performance.

Then, just as everything was dying down and the country was beginning to focus on the tournament itself, a sex scandal involving four France internationals hit the headlines.

The French coach must surely be crossing his fingers that nothing else happens between now and June 11 when they take on Uruguay.

Former France midfielder

Monday, June 7, 2010

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Group A SOUTH

the time of that World Cup and we were packed into tents watching the games.

“There were a lot of white South Africans at the school but we watched the games together. It was difficult for them to cheer a black guy in public at that time. But it brought us together and I hope football does it again.

“The difference is that not so many people expect the football team to do as well. But maybe the Mandela touch will bring us luck.”

Pienaar knows Mandela has been in poor health but that won’t stop the former leader of the Rainbow Nation providing his inspirational support.

“We always visit him when we’re with the national team,” he added.

“It’s like going to meet the father of the nation.

Everyone looks up to him.”

With France, Mexico and Uruguay alongside them in Group A, South Africa will have their work cut out. But in Steven Pienaar they have a player unafraid of a hard slog who is perched on the edge of his destiny.

GROUP F GROUP G GROUP H

IF things had panned out a little differently for Diego Forlan (pictured) he might well have been serving aces at Wimbledon this summer rather than trying to score goals at the World Cup. Just as possibly, Forlan could also have been attempting to stop goals rather than net them, having fancied himself as a goalkeeper as a youngster and with his father having played international football as a defender.

But, having turned his back on a potential career as a tennis professional and ignored the defensive proclivity running in his family, the prolific Atletico Madrid striker will instead be heading to South Africa as one of football’s most feared goalscorers.

In the last six years, Forlan has twice won the European Golden Boot and netted well over a century of league goals for Villarreal and Atletico.

He also broke Fulham hearts in last month’s Europa League final with both goals in Atletico’s 2-1 win.

He is also well on course to break Hector Scarone’s Uruguay record of 31 goals before he calls time on his international career.

Forlan, 31, has not always appeared destined for the top of the football ladder, though.

At one point he did not even look destined for a career in football at all as tennis vied for his attention as a youngster, resulting in him not even taking up football seriously until he was 16.

In the end, the Montevideo-born Forlan opted to follow in the footsteps of his father Pablo, who represented Uruguay in the 1974 World Cup, and his grandfather, Juan Carlos Corazo, who played for Independiente, the same side Diego would go on to join.

“My father was a footballer so it was better for me to play football,” said Forlan junior.

Considering the way his career has blossomed in the last few years, Forlan can have few complaints about the choice he made.

“I’ve spent a lot of time in Europe and I’ve gained much more experience in the process. I was more of an out-and-out striker then, whereas now I’m still a front man but I play more of a creative role. I think I’ve become a better player since then,” he adds.

GROUP E

ALEX PARKER was the first Everton player to feature at a World Cup. The full-back, who made 220 appearances for the Blues between 1958 and 1965, featured for Scotland against Paraguay at the 1958 tournament in Sweden.

The Scots would finish bottom of their first round group.

3

AFRICA Very different net gain in the end for Forlan

World Cup facts

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SO PROUD: Everton’s Steven Pienaar will lead the host country’s bid

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problems before ball is kicked Emmanuel Petit did not mince his words following Les Bleus’ 2-0 friendly defeat at home to an under-strength Spain side.

“The team haven’t progressed,” said the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 winner.

“It’s even worse than a year ago.

“The team don’t appear to be able to play together. When I look at the players individually, their performances with their clubs, there’s a world of difference to the performances they’re giving in the France shirt.

“The reason is that this team

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doubt themselves constantly, they don’t take the upper hand, they don’t have confidence in themselves. But confidence, mental attitude, it’s an indispensable ingredient.

“They are petrified by fear.”

France fans can take some comfort in the fact that matters were no healthier before the last World Cup, and they did not do too badly then.

Just like now, critics were calling for Domenech to be sacked as the team struggled to qualify for the tournament in Germany, while the former Lyon coach’s team selection

and tactics left many people scratching their heads.

However, France incredibly finished as runners-up, losing to Italy on penalties.

Domenech and his players have assured the fans they can turn things around but that would be nothing short of miraculous.

Petit added: “The players say they have time to sort out the problems before the World Cup. Of course anything can happen in football but there’s not a miracle all the time and these problems have been recurring for so long.”

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4 WORLD CUP

Monday, June 7, 2010

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GROUP A GROUP B

Argentina Nigeria South Korea Greece

GROUP C GROUP D

2010 WORLD CUP Group B Ossie – Diego must find the right balance JUST over 15 years after leaving the World Cup finals in disgrace after a failed drugs test, Diego Maradona (pictured) was on the verge of another desperate low in the competition that had once propelled him to the status of global icon.

Deep into injury time in rain-sodden Buenos Aires last October, the Argentina coach was facing up to a 1-1 draw with Peru on the back of three straight defeats which would have raised the very real threat of the star-studded team failing to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. But few men have had as dramatic a relationship with the World Cup as Maradona, and sure enough, there was a twist in store.

Boca Juniors striker Martin Palermo, back in the national fold for the first time in a decade, tapped home in a packed penalty box to put Argentina 2-1 ahead. Maradona, never known for understatement, celebrated by skidding along the soaking turf on his belly.

Qualification was wrapped up with a win over great rivals Uruguay, something that looked a long way off after a series of setbacks in the marathon qualification campaign, not least when they were hammered 6-1 at extreme altitude in Bolivia.

In that game especially, Maradona the tactician was exposed. As 1978 World Cup winner Osvaldo Ardiles sees it, he has relied too much on personality in the past, and needs to find the right balance in South Africa.

Ardiles said: “Last year all the qualifiers were torrid. Diego is a clever guy and he knows about football.

“I hope he has learned from the qualifiers. It was a big awakening for him as a manager.

“His coaching career had not been great, but up to his appointment as national coach his status had been god-like in Argentina.

“A lot of people said to him ‘why are you taking such a big risk? Just carry on doing what you’re doing’. He didn’t need to become manager of Argentina, but he wanted to. He took it, and it has been very torrid so far.

“Lionel Messi, Javier Mascherano etc, when they were very young, Maradona was absolutely everything. It is very different if you have someone like Diego saying, ‘look, you move a little bit to the right’ than someone else saying it to you.”

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TOPROTECT Maradona sees skipper Mascherano as pivotal player for Argentina

A

RGENTINA captain Javier Mascherano was described earlier this season by his then Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez as one of the top four or five players in his position in the world.

Coming from Benitez, a man well known for his reluctance to lavish fulsome praise on any of his players, that was worthy of note.

“He is captain of Argentina, one of the best teams in the world, so if you say to me ‘How many?’ I would say there are four or five players at this level in the world and he is one of them,” said Benitez.

“He’s a player every manager would like to have in their team.”

But in the Spaniard’s typical style he probably underestimated the defensive midfielder’s worth even then. When you look around the world for no-nonsense ball-winners who do the simple bits of the game well, then there are few to surpass Mascherano.

Ghana and Chelsea’s Michael Essien may be a better all-round midfielder but he does not match up in the defensive stakes.

Argentina teammate Esteban Cambiasso is a better footballer, while Italy’s Daniele De Rossi and Brazil’s Felipe Melo all have their qualities, but it is difficult to see beyond Mascherano when you are looking for someone to provide the crucial screen in front of your Also booking for: Chas & Dave, John Lennon’s 70th Birthday Celebration, Sinnerboy & Larry Miller, Alternative Radio, Simply Dylan - John O’Connell, Connie Lush, Steve Gibbons, Rawmones, Oasiz, The Bon Jovi Experience, Guns 2 Roses, AC/DC UK, Perfectly Frank LENNON REMEMBERED - Major Memorial Concert at the Echo Arena

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Argentina coach Diego Maradona, who has left Inter Milan star Cambiasso completely out of his World Cup plans, clearly sees it that way.

So whereas the previous generation had France’s Claude Makelele as the benchmark, Mascherano is the standard-bearer of a new era. Which is appropriate, because former Chelsea midfielder Makelele is the player Mascherano based his game on.

Maradona was not nearly as reticent as Benitez when asked for the reasons why he made the former Boca Juniors man his captain when he took over the national team.

“I say Mascherano and 10 more,” was the 1986 World Cup winner’s response to being asked who was Argentina’s most important player.

“After him you have Carlos Tevez or Lionel Messi.

Mascherano is much more important than Messi.”

Maradona may have to adjust his last comment considering the season the Barcelona forward has just had. But his sentiments about

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LEADER: Argentina captain Javier Mascherano

LIVERPOOL’S first ever World Cup representative was Laurie Hughes, who was part of the England squad which travelled to Brazil in 1950. Hughes took part in three games, including the infamous 1-0 defeat to the USA, as England crashed out in the opening round.

Buoyant Kyrgiakos THE World Cup finals in South Africa will provide a fitting finale to a memorable campaign for Sotirios Kyrgiakos.

Last August the Greek centre-back was preparing to play in a Europa League qualifying match against Romanians SC Vasuli when he received a call which changed his life.

His agent informed him that AEK Athens had accepted a £2million bid from Liverpool and Kyrgiakos jumped at the chance to make the switch to Anfield.

The 30-year-old was expected to spend most of the season warming the bench but he proved himself in the Premier League and ended up making 21 appearances.

As well as impressing for the Reds,

by JAMES PEARCE Kyrgiakos was instrumental in helping the Greeks land a World Cup play-off spot where they enjoyed a surprise victory over Ukraine.

“I have been pleased with my form,” he admitted.

“Last pre-season I never thought I’d even be at Liverpool. But when the call came I had to make a quick decision. I knew instantly that in life opportunities like this maybe only come around once. I got the first flight out of Athens.

“I came here with an open mind

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Group B

ready to finish season in style and life has been better than I expected because moving country is always a big upheaval.

“I am not the kind of person to be happy sitting on the bench, so I am pleased from a football point of view that I’ve played so many games and made a contribution to the team.”

It is Greece’s first World Cup finals for 16 years and coach Otto Rehhagel will be hoping his side can upset the odds once again.

The German secured legendary status when he led the national side to one of the biggest shocks in international football history by winning Euro 2004.

A 1-0 win over hosts Portugal in the final was enough for the 150-1 outsiders to claim their first international trophy.

However, the past six years haven’t been plain sailing for ‘King Otto’.

An embarrassing defeat to Albania and subsequent losses to Ukraine and Denmark saw them fail to qualify for the 2006 World Cup and then after making it to Euro 2008 they crashed out after defeats to Sweden, Spain and Russia.

Rehhagel has put that disappointment behind him by realising his ambition of taking his adopted country to a World Cup finals.

Their match-winner in the play-off was Dimitris Salpigidis whose goal secured a 1-0 win over Ukraine in Donetsk after a goalless draw in Greece.

Rehhagel, who at 71 will be the oldest manager in the tournament, is

accused of being negative but in star striker Theofanis Gekas he boasts the most prolific marksman in the European qualifying zone.

The Eintracht Frankfurt frontman ended their triumphant campaign with 10 international goals.

The Greeks will need Gekas to shine as they find themselves in a tough group with Argentina, South Korea and Nigeria.

It’s difficult to see them progressing but captain Giorgos Karagounis has delivered a rallying call.

“Nobody expected us to do anything at the Euros in 2004 and we went out and won it,” he said.

“The least you can do is fight, and that’s what we’ll be doing out on the pitch.”

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GROUP F GROUP G GROUP H

challenge for us is to reproduce that for the national team, which is something we didn’t do in the qualifiers,” he added.

“It’s a big challenge to be captain as you have to be able to rise to the occasion. I think I’m able to do the job. I’ve already played in one World Cup and I’m more mature now.

“Four years ago I was still playing in South America and I’d never faced players like Didier Drogba and Michael Ballack.

“But for the last four years I’ve been playing against the best every weekend and that means when you go out and play in a World Cup you know you’re going to take the right decisions. But I don’t care who lifts the trophy.

“The important thing is to win something for the country again.

Absolutely nothing can compare to that.”

MAXI RODRIGUEZ was handed a surprise call-up to Diego Maradona’s Argentina squad.

The 29-year-old midfielder (pictured) had been out of favour with the national team but his form for Liverpool following his move from Atletico Madrid on a free transfer in January put him back into contention.

Rodriguez impressed Maradona during a two-week training camp and scored twice as they defeated Canada 5-0 in their final warm-up match in Buenos Aires.

Maradona will be hoping Rodriguez can repeat the heroics he produced in the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

He famously settled their second round match with Mexico with a moment of breathtaking individual brilliance.

Rodriguez controlled a cross-field pass from Juan Pablo Sorin on his chest before unleashing an unstoppable left-footed volley into the top corner from outside the penalty area.

It was voted FIFA’s goal of the tournament and Argentinean sports daily Olé described it as “a goal worthy of Maradona”.

Born in Rosario, Argentina, Rodriguez began his career at Newell’s Old Boys and broke into their first team when he was just 18. It was while in the youth ranks at his local club that he earned the nickname ‘La Fiera’ (The Beast) which has stayed with him throughout his career.

He explained: “It was a nickname that I got when I was seven or eight.

A coach said that when I went out on to the pitch I used to run about like mad, from side to side, all over the place. He said I was like a ‘fiera’ and the nickname has stuck.”

His World Cup call-up came as no surprise to Reds teammates Fernando Torres and Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard.

“Maxi is a fantastic player,” said Gerrard.

“He’s got good movement and as a footballer it’s a pleasure to play with good players and that’s what Maxi is. He is a fantastic player. He is an intelligent player and he can unlock defences.”

Torres added: “Maxi is the kind of player that is always up to the challenge. The more his team needs him, the more he offers.

“Maxi is hungry and when you have his hunger you can achieve anything.”

GROUP E

Maxi’s Reds’ performances key to call-up

STRONG: Argentina have strength all over the pitch

“I’m not going to win any personal awards because of the position I play in and the way I play. I just try to do what I do well and help the team, that’s all.

“Every morning when I get up I know I’ve got to give my all to keep on progressing. Only after your career has finished can you look back and point out the best moments and the worst moments, otherwise you can lose focus and a determination to become better.”

Mascherano’s focus, after a disappointing season with Liverpool, is firmly on being successful in South Africa.

But for a player who is the epitome of the team ethic he is thinking about Argentina and not himself, despite the fact that he would emulate Maradona and lift the trophy should they win.

“We have some great players who are in fantastic form and the

5

SOUTH AFRICA

ANDSERVE Mascherano – 26 when the tournament kicks off – were echoed by fellow Argentina legend and current Real Madrid general manager Jorge Valdano, who said that “with Mascherano on the pitch a coach can sleep easily”.

The Liverpool star has flourished since being handed the captain’s armband by Maradona and admitted it had made him a better and more determined player, if that was possible.

“As captain you feel a more general pressure of the team, rather than just as an individual,” he said.

“I have learnt a lot very quickly from being captain of the national team and it has made me a better player and a stronger person.

“But I don’t think any player can stop and say, ‘This is my best form’.

“The day you say that, you are finished as a player because nobody is complete.

WORLD CUP

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6 WORLD CUP

Monday, June 7, 2010

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GROUP A GROUP B

Argentina Nigeria South Korea Greece

GROUP C GROUP D

2010 WORLD CUP Group B Shittu eagerly awaiting his big challenges DANNY SHITTU (pictured) may be Bolton’s forgotten man – but he could find himself the centre of attention this summer.

The central defender has been out in the cold at the Reebok Stadium and forced to settle for reserve-team outings.

However, the 29-year-old’s long experience of English football has seen him retain his place in the Nigeria squad. He first came to the nation’s attention in 2002 when brothers Alex and Matt Winton financed QPR’s signing of Shittu from Charlton Athletic for £200,000.

Eight years on he is bracing himself for a potential clash with arguably the world’s finest player, Lionel Messi.

Nigeria have been paired in Group B alongside Messi’s Argentina, South Korea and Greece. Shittu is already looking forward to the challenge in South Africa and said: “It has worked out well for us.

“We have got Argentina first and everyone is going on about Messi, and that’s what the World Cup is all about for me.

“It is about going out there, having a good time and making something of yourself, so I am looking forward to it.

“The main part of it for us will be whether we can be mentally strong because who in the world doesn’t watch the World Cup? “All the eyes are going to be on you and as a football player you have to be strong enough to handle that.

“I have played for my country in other tournaments and felt up to it, but this is the biggest test there is.

“It does not matter what tournament, what opposition or what game you are playing, people back home expect Nigeria to win every single game.

“Realistically, if we can get out of the group stages and into the quarters or semi-finals then I think we can be happy with that.”

Former Sweden coach Lars Lagerback has been handed the task of taking Nigeria to a higher level and Shittu is quietly confident they can progress to the knockout stage at least.

He said: “We would definitely want to beat Greece and then South Korea would be the key game after that. But our mindset is that we can beat Argentina.

“We cannot leave ourselves too open because they have got some great players aside from Messi, who can turn a game in an instant.”

World Cup facts

FRONTMAN: Everton striker Yakubu is an important part of Nigeria’s plans

EVERTON are the only English side to boast a World Cup Golden Boot winner in their history. Gary Lineker won the award in Mexico in 1986 while still a Blues player, though he would depart for Barcelona later that summer.

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ASIAN QUEST: Park Ji-Sung

PARK JI-SUNG insists South Korea are best placed to carry the fight for the Asian continent at this summer’s World Cup. Semi-finalists on home soil in 2002, South Korea are slowly making an impression on foreign fields too.

Led by Park, their players are gaining more experience in European leagues and in beating the highly-rated Ivory Coast at Loftus Road in March, they cemented their status as one of the most progressive sides outside the traditional European-South American axis that tends to dominate on the world

soccer stage.

Drawn in a group containing Argentina, Nigeria and Greece, Park and his teammates have genuine ambitions of reaching the knockout stage, a feat at least one Asian team is capable of achieving, according to the Manchester United star.

“If one of the teams get through the group stage, that would be regarded as a success in Asia,” said

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SOUTH AFRICA

Messi holds no fear for Yobo Blues defender looking forward to test

FOCUSED: Everton centre-back Joseph Yobo and (right) the young Nigeria side celebrate one of their goals on their way to qualification for the 2010 World Cup finals the talent we’ve got, if we raise our game we’ll be a match for anyone.”

Yobo will be joined by Everton teammate Yakubu in South Africa.

A third Blues teammate, Victor Anichebe misses out, however, after failing to make the cut for manager Lars Lagerback’s final 23-man squad.

Anichebe and Real Zaragoza striker Ike Uche are the most notable absentees from Lagerback’s squad, the pair overlooked in favour of Portsmouth’s attacking duo, Nwankwo Kanu and John Utaka.

After pipping the likes of Glenn Hoddle and fellow Swede Sven Goran Eriksson to the Nigeria job in February, Lagerback hasn’t had much time to work with his players.

The former Sweden boss succeeds Shaibu Amodu, who was sacked after guiding the

Super Eagles to a third place finish at this “For example, Nigeria has Argentina – a year’s African Cup of Nations in Angola. great team – and Greece, former European Lagerback has signed a five-month Champions. contract to lead Nigeria in South Africa.

“The team didn’t play as well in Angola.

Any extension is likely to be conditional on “Yes, we finished third, but we were not how the team fares on ‘home soil’ as the consistent and we lacked balance. I don’t World Cup arrives in Africa for the first want to be critical because we have a great time. team with some good players. And we have Former Bolton and Nigeria star, Jay-Jay a new coach in Lars Lagerback, so let’s see Okocha, agrees with Yobo about the size of what he does with the team.” the task ahead and is looking to Lagerback to get the best from the talent at his disposal.

“The African teams have a realistic chance of going far in this Jewellers and Pawnbrokers Established 1932 tournament, but it won’t be easy for them,” said 74-76 County Road, Walton, Liverpool Okocha.

South Korean opportunities midfielder Park. “I hope it will be us because I truly believe we are the best team in Asia.

“We have proved that with our results. We do well in qualification against Japan and all the other Asian teams.

“It helps us that more Korean players are in Europe.

“Before, we didn’t have any experience outside our own country.

We didn’t know how to deal with different types of players.

“Now quite a few players are getting experience in different parts of the world. It makes us more

GROUP F GROUP G GROUP H

L

IONEL MESSI has singled out England, Spain and Brazil as the teams to look out for at the World Cup. They will all be expecting Messi’s Argentina to reach the latter stages of the competition too.

Argentina manager and 1986 World Cup winner, Diego Maradona, has described Messi as his ‘successor’.

Just as Maradona wreaked havoc in Mexico 24 years ago, Messi has the potential to do likewise in South Africa.

Joseph Yobo is under no illusions as to the threat posed by the current FIFA World Player of the Year and Ballon d’Or holder.

The Everton defender is likely to come face-to-face with the Barcelona star when Nigeria and Argentina kick-off their respective World Cup campaigns in the opening game of Group B at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park on June 12.

While some might quake in their boots at the thought of taking on Messi, the prospect of keeping the diminutive attacker quiet is a challenge Yobo is relishing.

As a veteran of Japan and South Korea 2002, Yobo insists this is what the World Cup is all about; pitting your wits against the best players on the planet on the biggest stage of them all.

So when it comes to tackling Messi. he can’t wait.

“It’s going to be great if I’m playing against Messi,” said Yobo.

“It might bring out the best in me too, who knows?

“On the day, the bigger the game, the bigger players come through.

“You don’t want to go out there and be messed about by someone like Messi.

“You have to be ready for him.

“If he’s going to play well maybe he’s going to have to work hard for it.

“You don’t want to make it an easy ride for him.”

As one of the favourites to triumph in South Africa, Argentina are tipped to breeze through Group B, where they will also meet Greece and North Korea.

Yobo acknowledges the strength of Maradona’s squad but also knows the theory doesn’t always work out in practise.

“They’re all tough teams,” he says. “But football sometimes comes down to who wants it most, or who prepares best.

“You can look at the names and, on paper, say Argentina are the best.

“But it’s the World Cup and everyone wants to perform.

“Whoever prepares well and wants it on the day can go on and win a game.

Sometimes it just comes down to one goal that can make the difference.

“No disrespect to Greece and North Korea but Argentina are going to be very tough.

“They are one of the big hitters. People will be looking at them to do well.

“They will all be tough games though.

“We will have to raise our game. But with

confident to play against African or European teams.”

The performance against the highly-rated Ivorians provided evidence of that improvement.

With Monaco forward Park Chu-young – fitness permitting – and Bolton’s Lee Chung-yong providing a cutting edge and Freiburg’s Cha Du-ri at least giving the defence some European know-how, Park’s energy may gain some tangible reward.

Much may depend on the Nigeria encounter in Durban on June 22, which is why beating Didier Drogba

7

GROUP E

by DAVID RANDLES

Group B

WORLD CUP

and company was so important.

“The Ivory Coast are the best team in Africa and there is an African team in our group, so it was a really good experience for us to play against them,” Park added.

“African teams are very strong and quick. We have to play as a unit to counteract that.

“Hard work and energy are natural things for our country and we tried to incorporate those things into our team a long time ago, so in a way it is normal.

“But it was still a very useful lesson.”

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2010 WORLD CUP Group C GROUP D

A

England USA Algeria Slovenia

JOURNEY that was started by the sight of Paul Gascoigne dazzling a global audience 20 years ago could be set to reach a thrilling conclusion on July 11.

Steven Gerrard had only just turned 10 when he sat captivated in front of his TV watching Gascoigne and England reach the 1990 World Cup semi-finals, daring to dream that one day he would be play a similar role. Now the moment has arrived.

As England attempt to finally shed the tag of perennial bridesmaids, Liverpool’s captain will carry a huge responsibility on his shoulders during the course of the next five weeks in South Africa.

If Fabio Capello’s squad are to go all the way, then national skipper Gerrard and Wayne Rooney – England’s two genuine world class talents – are going to have stay injury-free and flourish, something which has been beyond Gerrard in

GROUP C GROUP B GROUP A 28

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previous major tournaments.

Having missed the 2002 World Cup in Japan & South Korea because of groin surgery, Gerrard failed to hit the heights in Germany four years ago, despite ending the competition as England’s leading scorer.

In between that, of course, was a turbulent European Championships in Portugal.

The common denominator for his lacklustre displays, of course, was the speculation that swirled around his Anfield future.

Once again this summer, Gerrard is going to be at the centre of another ‘will he stay or go?’ saga but, significantly, he feels suitably experienced to put those distractions to one side and simply concentrate on what he does best.

Determined to banish the frustrations of a deeply disappointing domestic campaign, Gerrard knows the time has arrived to transfer that Premier League sparkle to the biggest stage of all; actions, clearly, must now speak louder than words.

“We’ve got the potential to do it,” said

the maturity and experience to know what Gerrard. “We’ve got good players. But it’s is best for the team and I actually quite important we don’t raise expectations too high because it’s not so long ago this team like playing in different positions. failed to qualify for Euro “It helps me develop as a 2008, so we have to take each player and you learn more game as it comes. about yourself and “But these are exciting opponents when you can see times with England. We’re the game from different making real progress. The perspectives.” manager has come in and And when Gerrard plays, he’s slowly instilling a be it on the left, right or winning mentality. through the middle, “I think that showed England hardly ever lose; through during the only nine of his 80 caps have LIVERPOOL have a qualifying campaign. We are been ruined by defeat and a club record 12 sense of the Three Lions all positive about the representatives – new belligerence was shown future.”

Carragher, Gerrard, in the friendly against Even if it means he has Johnson, Reina, Torres, Mexico last month. got to operate in unfamiliar Skrtel, Mascherano, “Training has been roles; the common Agger, Kuyt, Babel, Maxi good,” said Gerrard, consensus is that Gerrard and Kyrgiakos – at this reflecting on the time that will be seen to best effect summer’s tournament. was spent in the Austrian rampaging in the space The previous best was mountains to adjust to behind Rooney but if Capello eight at the 1990 World altitude. opts for a 4-4-2 formation, he Cup in Italy.

“It has been difficult but I will be deployed on the left. think as a squad we have “I always enjoy it when I been doing quite well. The team spirit is play in the middle,” he pointed out. “But certainly high. We know what is expected I’ve always said that I’m well aware the of us. manager is going to want me to play in “Against Mexico, we had a lot of what different roles in the finals and I’m both you might say are our first-choice players happy and ready for that. missing, but we still managed to pull out a “Maybe earlier on in my career I’d have sulked a bit if I was asked to play in a few different positions. But I think now I have

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result against a team that has qualified for the World Cup. “The performances can get better and for me that’s an encouraging sign. But as a squad we know how to win games now. But we also need to learn from what happened against Mexico.

“The further you progress in the World Cup, the better teams are in possession. We can’t afford to simply sit back and allow the opposition to dictate the play like we did in the first half against Mexico. The manager was not happy at all at half-time, and made sure we were more compact in the second-half.

“We did that, and we were clattering into them, not standing off them and not giving them respect. You could see the difference it made and we were much more dangerous on the break; we could have scored a few more goals.”

So what, then, has changed?

England used to have a habit of scraping into tournaments via the back door or slipping up when it was least expected but now it comes as major shock when they are beaten.

Only France, Spain and Ukraine have got the better of England since Gerrard was skipper in Capello’s first game against Switzerland in February 2008 and he knows why they are now so much more robust, primed to conquer the world.

“For me, the main difference is the Fabio Capello factor,” Gerrard said. “Look at how we performed during qualifying; we got through comfortably and we played some good stuff along the way. With Capello, we have a manager who is right in the faces of the players.

“He keeps us on our toes. We know we cannot afford to slacken off when he is around. The one thing that he has done is instil a winning mentality into the players.

That has been very important, and has given us a lot of confidence.

“We aren’t going to go around saying ‘we’re going to win the World Cup’. We have fallen into that trap before and it puts too much expectation on us. But we know we have a chance.

“If we can play well, keep building on our confidence and get that little bit of luck on the way that every team needs, then we have an opportunity of getting over the proverbial ‘final hurdle’ that has proven so difficult for us in the past.”

GROUP E GROUP F GROUP G GROUP H

FAREWELL: England line-up before their final home warm-up game before the World Cup against Mexico at Wembley Stadium

9

Reds skipper Gerrard is determined to drive England all the way and lift the World Cup ●●●●●●●●●●● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●●●●●●●●●●●● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

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GROUP D

2010 WORLD CUP Group C

in association with

by JAMES PEARCE

GROUP A

GROUP B

GROUP C

England USA Algeria Slovenia

G

LEN JOHNSON will be given a licence to thrill in South Africa – but the Liverpool defender insists his priority is snuffing out the threat of flying wingers.

England boss Fabio Capello has hailed Johnson as one of the best attacking right-backs in the world and insists he’s crucial to the nation’s hopes of World Cup glory.

Johnson reaffirmed his manager’s belief in his ability with a stunning individual strike in England’s 3-1 friendly win over Mexico at Wembley.

His pace and eye for goal make him a major weapon in England’s armoury but Johnson won’t risk leaving teammates exposed at the back.

“I like to chip in with goals where I can, but a defender’s primary objective is to defend,” he said.

“There are times when I have a licence to get forward, and help the team out in an attacking sense, but we all know what our jobs are.

“To play in a World Cup would be another boyhood dream fulfilled, but now we’ve got to make sure we get it right in South Africa.

“I’m pleased with the way I’ve been playing and I’ve just got to keep trying to do the job to the best of my ability.”

Four years ago Johnson was sat watching England’s World Cup campaign on television while on holiday in Dubai.

His hopes of inclusion in Sven Goran Eriksson’s squad had been dashed by his failure to hold down a regular place at Chelsea.

However, a move to Portsmouth – initially on loan – that summer sparked a remarkable transformation in the defender’s fortunes.

Three years at Fratton Park helped Johnson establish himself as the best right-back in the Premier League and since his £18million move to Liverpool last June he has cemented his place in the England side.

Discarded by Eriksson and ignored

Arena windows and conservatories

WORLD CLASS: Glen Johnson and Wayne Rooney

by Steve McClaren, Johnson was recalled when Capello named his first squad in January 2008 and played a starring role as England qualified for South Africa in style.

“When I was out of the England squad, I never lost heart,” he said.

“I’ve always been confident in my own ability.

“I just focused on getting my head down and doing the best I could for my club. If England came around again I vowed to try to grab that opportunity.

“Fabio is a great manager and a nice man. He let’s everyone know when it’s time to knuckle down and get the job done and I think the boys have responded to that.

“His training regime is spot on and his tactics are second to none. He gets the best out of the boys and has

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definitely instilled a lot of confidence in the squad.

“It’s always nice when a manager shows he believes in you.”

After a disappointing first season at Anfield, Johnson is desperately hoping a long campaign will have a silver-lining.

And if England’s World Cup mission ends in glorious victory at Soccer City in Soweto, his winner’s medal will be handed over to his mum, Wendy.

“I wouldn’t be sitting here now if it wasn’t for all my mum’s sacrifices and everything she did for me,” he said.

“She had a tough time, bringing up three kids as a single parent. At one point we were homeless and staying in a hostel, but once mum got herself on her feet after a few hard years, and passed her driving test so she could take me to football every week, that gave us a fresh start.

“She’s got all the medals I’ve won, all the shirts and souvenirs, as my way of thanking her for bringing me up.

“There’s one more medal I would love to give her as a present, but she will have to wait until July 11.

“We’ve got a chance and the lads will be trying their hearts out to do well in the competition.”

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THOUGH he never featured at a World Cup as a player, current Reds assistant manager Sammy Lee was part of Sven Goran Eriksson’s coaching staff at the 2002 and 2006 tournaments.

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World Cup facts

STAR SLOVENIAN: Robert Koren

SLOVENIA are regarded as outsiders in their Group C campaign against England, USA and Algeria after being one of the surprise packages in the European qualifiers.

A country born out of the break-up of the former Yugoslavia, Slovenia was not expected to make it out of their qualifying group.

But as favourites Czech Republic and Poland fell by the wayside, the campaign came down to a straight fight with Slovakia.

With a reputation for stout defending, Slovenia only lost out to Slovakia on the final day but then

caused a major upset by ending Russia’s hopes in the play-offs, earning a date with Fabio Capello’s men amongst others when the teams square up in South Africa.

England fans will be looking out for the June 23 encounter when Capello’s men take on Matjaz Kek’s side in Port Elizabeth as almost a guaranteed three points.

But the Italian would be wise not

Monday, June 7, 2010

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Group C

WORLD CUP

SOUTH AFRICA

STYLISH STRIKE: Glen Johnson scores England’s third goal against Mexico in the final home warm-up game before this summer’s World Cup in South Africa

ENGLAND manager Fabio Capello (pictured) has a concern. It has nothing to do with John Terry, nothing to do with the behaviour of his players. Nothing even to do with the ‘WAGs’, who caused such a disruption to England’s World Cup quest in 2006.

But there is an issue that must keep Capello awake at night, one that could undermine his single shot at football’s ultimate prize.

Injuries.

Capello fervently believes that if his best players can be delivered fit and fresh, and remain so, from the moment England begin their campaign against the USA in Rustenburg on June 12, right through to the World Cup final in Soccer City on July 11, they could be crowned world champions.

If significant numbers are not, well, there is not much point even turning up.

“There are a lot of things I am not concerned about,” reflected the Italian.

“But I hope the best players are fit.

This is what concerns me.”

Capello suffered one blow quite early on, when David Beckham suffered the Achilles injury that ended his chances of participating in a fourth World Cup. A few weeks later, it was the sight of Wayne Rooney lying stricken on the turf in Munich that sent a shudder down his spine.

Mercifully, Rooney’s ankle problem was not as serious as it first appeared. But losing captain Rio Ferdinand just 24 hours after arriving in South Africa was a huge blow.

However, Capello insists that with Rooney still able to lead the line England’s chances remain positive.

“Rooney is really good. He is really important for us,” said Capello, an admission that did not need to be spelt out. “He is one of the best players in the world now.

“It is difficult to compare players. (Lionel) Messi dribbles and has imagination. (Cristiano) Ronaldo is fast and shoots from long distance.

Kaka has to arrive in the area from midfield.

“Rooney can play alone like a centre-forward.

He holds the ball very well. He dribbles. He can shoot from long distance. He can score goals with his head.

“The difference between these players and Rooney is that he presses a lot. He runs a lot.”

GROUP F GROUP G GROUP H

Reds full-back knows his first duty

Injuries, not WAGs, Fabio’s biggest worry

GROUP E

Johnson goes on the attack over defence

the Slaughter House + LIVE set to ‘compete with the best’ to take Slovenia lightly.

Making their second visit to FIFA’s showpiece – they lost all three group games during the tournament in Japan & South Korea in 2002 – Slovenia will no doubt look to their defensive qualities to earn them an upset in a group England are expected to dominate against the USA and Algeria.

West Brom midfielder Robert Koren is regarded as an important part of the backbone of the Slovenia team which relies heavily on the spirit of the players and their defensive prowess.

Kek believes his side’s togetherness could lead them to become one of the surprise packages.

“This side’s team spirit is the strongest it possibly could be,” Kek said. “This is one of the big qualities of the team and this is the motivation of our players.”

Kek’s squad has few star names, but Ljubljana-born striker Milivoje Novakovic stands out after scoring five times during the qualifiers.

The 30-year-old Cologne striker is probably at the peak of his career as he heads into the tournament and has described Koren, goalkeeper

11

Samir Handanovic and himself as the national side’s key men.

Handanovic, like Novakovic, was born in Ljubljana and plays in Serie A for Udinese.

After qualification was secured, Novakovic said: “For a small country like ours, it’s an incredible achievement to qualify for a World Cup. Before this qualification series started, nobody was giving this young team a hope. But now, the players and the whole country are proud of our success. We want to show that, small as we are, we can compete with the best.”

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13

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NEVILLE Capello can be our key to repeat of ’66 Blues skipper gives the inside track on the latest from South Africa

PHIL NEVILLE was capped 59 times by England during his international career and was part of the squads that contested the European Championships in 1996, 2000 and 2004. He will be the ECHO’S exclusive World Cup columnist for the entirety of the tournament in South Africa and here Everton’s captain sets the tone for what promises to be an intriguing, open and exciting competition.

World Cup facts THREE players who have represented both Liverpool and Everton have appeared at a World Cup – Peter Beardsley, Kevin Sheedy and Abel Xavier.

Tranmere Rovers have only ever had one representative at a World Cup. John Aldridge appeared, and scored, for the Republic of Ireland at USA 1994.

I

T doesn’t matter whether you are the biggest football fanatic around or someone who only has a passing interest in the beautiful game, the World Cup never fails to capture the imagination of the nation.

Of course that, inevitably, means the further England go in the tournament, the bigger the hype becomes. But I genuinely believe the players Fabio Capello has taken to South Africa have got an outstanding chance of going all the way.

There are a few things working in our favour this time. One is the fact that being so far away from home, the lads will be kept away from that intense media glare, the conditions are going to be suitable, as it is southern hemisphere winter, and the squad has quality.

The biggest thing England have working for them this summer, however, will be standing in the technical area. Fabio Capello’s credentials are impeccable and he inspires the utmost confidence in players and supporters alike.

He isn’t phased by egos or big personalities – look at how he turned Real Madrid’s Galacticos into winners – he exudes authority and keeps his distance, but that keeps players on their toes and ensures he gets his message across.

This will be a different test but I don’t envisage him having any trouble keeping the squad united and working together towards the ultimate goal; there appears to be a team ethic and sometimes in the past, it hasn’t always been that way.

England had fantastic spirit in

CHAT: Phil Neville shares his thoughts

1996 under Terry Venables and that was definitely the best tournament I was involved in; I might have played every game in Euro 2000 but that was a bit of a wishy-washy experience.

We stumbled into the tournament through the backdoor, we failed to hit any real heights when we got over to Holland and it ended on the worst possible note personally, as I gave the penalty away which Romania scored and knocked us out.

It was a similar experience in 2004; we had a fantastic opportunity in Portugal but in the quarterfinals, we were dead physically, the effects of a long season had caught up with everyone and certain situations conspired against us.

Tiredness would be a genuine cause for concern here; I know preparations have been meticulous and most of the squad were able to get a break after the Premier League finished but, at the back of your mind, you wonder whether fatigue will take over.

When Brazil beat England in 2002 and Portugal knocked us out four

years ago, both times in the quarter-finals, the performances did not have the energy or tempo you would expect from our players; that has to be changed if we want to progress.

Who will be the dangers? From Europe, I think it is difficult to look beyond Spain – they are worthy favourites, have a phenomenally talented squad and go into the tournament with their confidence soaring.

Brazil, undoubtedly, will be on the scene and their coach, Dunga, looks to have added a defensive, more workmanlike side to their style; the World Cup means everything to them as a nation and they will want to win it for a sixth time.

Of the African challenge, I think South Africa will struggle – they are desperate for a good forward, regardless of what Steven Pienaar might be able to do – and I’m not convinced by either Nigeria or Algeria.

I do, however, think Ivory Coast will do well. Sven Goran Eriksson will instil a discipline and

Nice to hear I hadn’t been forgotten SINCE the 30-man squad was announced for World Cup training, I’ve been asked a lot of times about whether I had a chance of getting to South Africa.

I did receive a letter from the FA saying that I was in the 45-man party

Proud to be a Cup anorak!

but, once it became clear that I needed surgery to correct some wear and tear in my knee, I knew that I never had a chance.

People will wonder whether it is a disappointment (you will know I have some

experience of missing out on World Cups at the last minute!) but the truth is that you can’t be disappointed when you haven’t been involved in a squad for three years.

It was flattering to learn that Mr Capello had

considered me; it gave me a boost to show that I had not been forgotten about and that, perhaps, I have been doing something right for Everton.

Maybe my chance has gone for good now but it was still nice to hear.

organisation that you don’t normally associate with African teams, plus they have some genuine world class talents.

But, really, it is just about England, as far as we are all concerned. We’ve got the players, stellar talents like Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard, results have been good and confidence is high – now all we need is for the manager to work his magic.

I DON’T mind admitting that I will be an anorak for the next month and I’ll be watching as many games as I possibly can, particularly the ones which involve my team-mates.

There are plenty of Evertonians over there and after Steven Pienaar has got the ball rolling in the opening game, there will be the small matter of Tim Howard and Landon Donovan taking on England with the United States.

Those two will really fancy their chances but I’m just disappointed that Leighton Baines won’t get the chance to figure in Rustenburg.

‘Bazzer’ had a fantastic season for us at Everton and it was a big shock when he didn’t make the plane for South Africa.

John Heitinga will be a key man for Holland, protecting their defence, but above all, Tim Cahill is the one from whom you can expect fireworks. You just know at some point, as always, he is going to do something special for Australia. He’s that type of player.

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GROUP A

GROUP B

GROUP C

England USA Algeria Slovenia

GROUP D

2010 WORLD CUP Group C

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CALL LEFT CARRA LOST FOR WORDS O

NE of life’s great impossibilities is having a conversation with Jamie Carragher that does not, at any stage, involve football.

As a deep thinker about the game and someone who is never short of an opinion, Liverpool’s vice-captain loves nothing more than engaging in thought provoking dialogue and putting across his views on the hottest topics.

With that in mind, then, you cannot fail to see the irony in what follows: when Fabio Capello made the call that turned Carragher’s professional world upside down, he was lost for words – that’s what happens when a World Cup invitation comes out of the blue.

Though Carragher had represented his country 34 times when he decided to retire from international duty in 2007, his experience of playing for England could never be described as a love story; if anything, it was more a marriage of convenience.

Critics will say the same is true now. But the U-turn has nothing to do with personal gain.

True, come July 11, he might end up as a possessor of the most coveted winners’ medal in football yet that scenario is something he spent much time mulling over after speaking with Capello.

Anxious not to be perceived as someone who had piggybacked on to the glory trail, Carragher sought a number of assurances from Capello and Franco Baldini but, once his

But Jamie is delighted to be back in fold

by DAVID RANDLES

worries were assuaged, he was able to see things in a different light.

“I am coming back for the right reasons,” Carragher stressed. “It is not just my country needing me, it is a great opportunity for me as well. It is a double-edged sword. It is a chance for a more positive experience at the World Cup. “Playing in it is not something I have thought about over the last two or three years. I know I have been criticised in the past for saying that Liverpool was the most important thing to me but that’s just the way it is.

“The World Cup, for any player, is massive – for his family, the build-up, all of it. The first thing I said when I first took the call was that I didn’t want to take anyone’s place. I am not stupid. I wouldn’t have liked that to happen to me.

“I would not have wanted someone to come in and take my place at the last minute when I had been in the squad for two years. But they (Capello and Baldini) came back to me and said they had injuries in those positions and could I play.

“The World Cup and the Champions League are the two biggest tournaments you can play in during your career. Also, coming to the end of my career, I am proud of the fact that I have been selected to go at the age of 32.

“There are not too many players (in the squads of other countries) of my age going.

If my experience can help when we are in South Africa, that will be fantastic.”

He adds: “ What is different coming back?

Well, the starting line-up hasn’t actually changed too much. But all these players now have four years more

experience, are four years more wiser and hopefully that will keep us in good stead. I think we have been bitten by that so many times, people don’t want to fall into the same trap again.”

If Carragher was bracing himself for hostility from the terraces on his return in the 3-1 win over Mexico last month, he need not have worried; the first time he warmed up on the touchline, the Wembley fans sat nearest gave him a standing ovation.

He was again applauded when replacing Rio Ferdinand at half-time, thus ending ideas some would hold excerpts from his autobiography – when he made it clear how different playing, winning and losing for Liverpool felt compared to England – against him “The stuff I mentioned, it wasn’t so much a slant at England, it was that Liverpool means so much to me,” Carragher explained. “I have been at the club since I was nine. All the trophies and the great nights I have had have been with Liverpool.

“Nearly all the people I speak to on the phone are connected with Liverpool. I am just emotionally involved with it. It is that

big for me being a local lad. I am a passionate footballer. I always give 100%. With England I was more of a squad player.

“I am not saying I should have been playing. It is more what Liverpool means to me than anything else. I didn’t retire so much because I was a squad player. It was two or three things building up.

“I agreed John Terry and Rio Ferdinand should be picked ahead of me, but I had just played in two Champions League finals in 2005 and 2007 and felt if one of them was out, I should have been given a chance. I am not in that situation now.

“Although we got to the quarter-finals last time our performances were not great,” Carragher, who failed in that shootout, recalls. “We were only a penalty away from getting to a semi-final. In 1990 that was fantastic and that team all came back as heroes.

“In 2006 there was never a performance that got everyone lifted. It was like a grind.

It was all negative really. Hopefully this one will be a lot more positive and we can get the result we want, go further and maybe come back heroes like the team in 1990.”

Remarkable journey

RETURN: Rabah Saadane

FOR the past six months Algeria has been in celebratory mode – a feeling that was no doubt drawn from their return to the world stage after a 24-year absence.

The north Africans, who last featured at the 1986 finals in Mexico, were hardly given a chance of reaching South Africa just over a year ago.

Yet they defied those odds and will now head to South Africa fully confident – and perhaps even thinking of the second round – despite being in a first-round group which also features one of the

favourites in England, the USA and Slovenia.

For coach Rabah Saadane, the journey was a marathon one – and one that capped a remarkable story within a story, given that he was the man who led the country during their last appearance in 1986.

Reaching South Africa was made even sweeter for the Desert Foxes considering they pipped regional

Monday, June 7, 2010

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Group C

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SOUTH AFRICA

THERE are likely to be as many as a dozen ex-Liverpool players at this summer’s tournament; including Emile Heskey (England), Djibril Cisse (France), Xabi Alonso (Spain), Harry Kewell (Australia) and Mark Gonzalez (Chile). Everton’s former stars include Lucas Neill (Australia), Landon Donovan (USA) and, of course, Wayne Rooney (England).

LUCKY 13: Jamie Carragher says he is back in an England shirt for ‘the right reasons’

RIO FERDINAND considered himself “cursed” after a knee ligament injury sustained in England’s first South African training session ruled the England captain out of the World Cup. The 31-year-old (pictured) was injured in a collision with Emile Heskey in Rustenburg and he was ruled out for up to six weeks following a scan.

It follows an injury-blighted season in which he was restricted to just 13 Premier League games for Manchester United with a debilitating back problem.

The player’s agent, Pini Zahavi, revealed the central defender’s devastation but backed Ferdinand to lead England in the 2014 World Cup. Zahavi explained: “Rio said: ‘I think somebody cursed me.’ That is honestly how he feels.

“Rio is very down. He cannot understand why this has happened to him.”

Zahavi added: “This injury is nothing to do with the ones he had before.

“It is completely different and it is very bad luck.

“Rio was feeling sharp and was ready for the World Cup. “He has waited so long for this tournament and to try and help England win it. He had prepared himself so well.

“But he is a very strong man and he will be back.

“I’m sure he will be leading England in four years time at the next World Cup.” The knee injury has proved too painful to allow Ferdinand to fly home yet.

But optimism among Fabio Capello’s squad is still high. New skipper Steven Gerrard said: “We’re very disappointed about Rio but by the time that first game comes around I’m sure the team will be fit and ready to win.

“We are really excited. We have been given a super training camp at which to prepare. The guys are working hard to make sure they are fit and ready.”

“It’s fantastic for me to be able lead the country in the World Cup, but obviously I’d rather that Rio was here fit and available so it’s mixed emotions at the minute.”

Frank Lampard is now vice-captain and said: “Obviously I am very disappointed for Rio. He is a mate. But what can I do? I shall just try to give my input as a vice-captain.”

GROUP F GROUP G GROUP H

World Cup facts

GROUP E

‘Wrecked’ Rio fears curse of the captaincy

BLUE SKIP HIRE LTD comes full circle for Saadane rivals Egypt to the line.

Add that to their impressive African Nations Cup display – they finished fourth in Angola – and it all made good reading for Saadane, who is pleased with how far his side have come.

“We have improved as a unit and we retain possession of the ball much better,” he said.

“During the qualification campaign we were under pressure to get results and that affected our performances a little.

“But in the African Nations Cup we overcame the conditions and

kept hold of the ball more and moved it around.”

Saadane, now in his fifth spell in charge, has not always been a popular choice back home but has continued to silence his critics with his results.

Despite struggling through the second qualifying phase on the road to South Africa, and then being drawn with the Pharaohs – a side they have historically played second fiddle to – they still managed to get through.

The two were inseparable after Group C came to a close with four

wins, one draw and a loss apiece.

They required world governing body FIFA to put in place an historic one-game play-off at a neutral venue, in this case Sudan, before being eventually separated, courtesy of an Antar Yahia strike that handed Algeria the vital win.

“I was so happy,” Saadane said.

“Especially because I was the last coach to take Algeria to the World Cup, back in 1986. Obviously, I would have preferred my country to have qualified for the World Cup before now, but I am thrilled to be taking the team back to the finals.”

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GROUP A

GROUP B

GROUP C

England USA Algeria Slovenia

GROUP D

2010 WORLD CUP Group C

in association with

Landon’s hope of glory after a wonderful Everton experience

ASHLEY COLE will harbour ability and what I can do.

by GREG O’KEEFFE no fond memories of the last “I know what I have to give time he faced American and I bring that out of myself to check him out during his soccer’s biggest home-grown a lot more often. successful stint at Goodison hero.

“It’s been really great and I Park.

The England left-back can’t imagine many players in “My experience puts me in endured a torrid night when the world, let alone a stronger position for the Landon Donovan tormented Americans, can say they have World Cup,” admitted him at Goodison Park during played against and beaten Donovan before rejoining the American’s three-month Chelsea and Manchester Galaxy. loan spell in the winter.

United in the space of 10 “The biggest plus is I now And now Cole, or any of days. That has to be the his international team-mates, have the confidence to play highlight. against anybody and not fear cannot claim not to have “It’s absolutely improved anyone at all. been warned of the dangers me as a player, it’s impossible “My game has improved so they face in their opening not to. I’ve learned a lot.” much from playing in World Cup fixture.

The additional concern for England, but I believe in my For in Landon Donovan, the USA have a genuine world talent who has sharpened his game in England this year.

US captain Donovan made a huge impression after joining Everton on a 10-week loan from Los Angeles Galaxy in January.

The 28-year-old added an extra dimension to the Toffees’ attack, enhanced his reputation by bagging a couple of goals and earned the instant adoration of the fans.

Everton wanted him to stay longer but not surprisingly the Galaxy wanted one of their biggest stars back for the new Major League Soccer season.

Tentative inquiries about a potential transfer fee for the Californian star left David Moyes in no doubt how highly valued Donovan is, as the poster-boy of the US game.

Donovan could prove a real handful for England in Rustenburg on June 12, but Fabio Capello was hardly BIG IMPRESSION: Landon Donovan enjoyed his time at Goodison short of opportunities

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England is that Donovan, while sharpening his game up on Merseyside, has also learned just how hard he and his team-mates might need to work this summer.

Joining a group that includes Tim Howard, Clint Dempsey, Carlos Bocanegra and Jozy Altidore, Donovan has experience in one of Europe’s toughest leagues.

It was not just Ashley Cole who Donovan experienced playing time against either, competing with Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher in the Merseyside derby.

Donovan added: “The biggest thing I’ve learned from a professional standpoint is to keep yourself going every day. That is so important.

“The amount these guys put in is so draining, physically, mentally and emotionally.

“I have so much respect for the (Frank) Lampards and (Steven) Gerrards who do it day in, day out.

“It’s the same at Everton, when you see players like Bainesy (Leighton Baines) turning out every week and maintaining standards.

“It’s been fantastic. I could

never have expected when I first got here it would turn out like this.”

The USA’s all-time leading goalscorer had a broad spectrum of experience of top-flight English football in a relatively short space of time.

But encounters with sides like Wigan Athletic, at the DW stadium, helped him work on the physical side of his game.

“In that way I think the Wigan game was very helpful because that was physical. I was sore, picked up a few knocks and generally got beat up a bit,” he said.

“In any big game you have to balance the aggression wisely. Being tough, getting after people. Be aggressive and be smart.”

The USA’s Major League Soccer has made great strides in attracting a wider audience since its formation in 1993, but as its top star before America had ever heard of David Beckham, Donovan hopes the MLS can absorb more traits of the British game.

He said: “It’s all about passion. People care about their team and we want more of that in America.

“When the crowd feels that tension you can tell. You pull into the stadium, and you can feel the atmosphere in the air. That energy makes the team better.

“I like the clever chants. In England they tend to do a good job of being clever.

They’re not as creative in the States yet but hopefully we’re getting there.”

After ignoring American players in the past, England must now hope the Premier League has not given this one too much of a helping hand.

Because Donovan is a highly-focused individual bristling with intent to show the English that America can play catch-up. Fast.

BIG CHANCE: Tim Howard will be the USA’s number one in South Africa

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by NEIL JONES better with age. You can’t help it. You’re not going to be as good a goalkeeper at 24 as you’re going to be at 30. It’s just the nature of the position. Inevitably, you have to wait.”

And wait he most certainly has. An understudy to Brad Friedel at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney aged 21, Howard made his debut for his country in March 2002, but missed out on the World Cup later that year, before spending the 2006 tournament twiddling his thumbs behind Kasey Keller and Marcus Hahnemann. Lesser players may have suffered irreparable damage to their confidence. Not Howard.

“The biggest thing I have learned in my life is to have undying belief in myself,” he says, “I’ve been through good times, I’ve been through bad times and I’ve come out on top.

“That reinforces the belief that I have in my ability and it has hardened me. It has given me broader shoulders.

“It has given me more strength both on and off the field, and now I am using all my experience in a very positive way.”

World Cup facts FORMER Anfield keeper Ray Clemence never managed to play at a World Cup, but will be England’s goalkeeping coach in South Africa this summer. Clemence was part of the England squad for the 1982 tournament, but remained an unused substitute behind first-choice Peter Shilton.

It was only after Bob Bradley’s appointment, a response to the USA’s poor showing at the last World Cup in Germany, that he really established himself in the national team.

Now, at 31 and in his prime, Howard is nailed-on as Bradley’s first choice. With seven years of Premier League experience under his belt, the man from New Jersey is ready to elevate himself to the next level.

“I hope it’s my turn,” says Howard of the World Cup, “I feel like I’ve had a great opportunity under Bob Bradley to express myself. That kind of coincides with the move to Everton a few years back, and I just try to take hold of it.”

But what would he and his team-mates deem as success this summer?

“England are the best team in the group, and they are going to get out of the group. But I think we should get out of it too. Having said that, there are two other teams there who are going to have something to say about that.

“If you look at our team, on paper we are very, very strong, and have the ability to advance. But you still have to go out and do the business. Look at 2002; but for a handball that wasn’t called (against Germany in the quarter-finals) we were on the verge of getting to the semi-finals.

“Then in 2006, we didn’t do the business and were on the next plane home. That’s how quickly it can change.”

GROUP F GROUP G GROUP H

Blues’ USA stopper is at his peak for South Africa

GROUP E

Howard ageing like a fine wine HEN England kick-off their World Cup campaign against the USA on June 12, the eyes of the world will inevitably be firmly trained on Fabio Capello’s men.

After a string of quarter-final disappointments under Sven Goran Eriksson, and the sheer ignominy of Steve McClaren’s ill-fated reign, expectations are high. But standing in their way in Rustenburg will be a goalkeeper looking to seize his first big chance on the world stage.

Tim Howard’s form for Everton since his arrival at Goodison Park – initially on loan – from Manchester United in 2006, has seen him establish himself as one of the Premier League’s finest.

Having seen a promising start in English football fizzle out swiftly, and suffered the disappointment of slipping behind Edwin Van der Sar in the Old Trafford pecking order, the former New York/New Jersey MetroStars man has bounced back admirably under the expert stewardship of David Moyes – an expert in rebuilding players’ careers.

And on the eve of the biggest summer of his life, Howard says he is a better player now than when he first made the journey across the Atlantic in 2003.

“Now it’s the time in my career that I’m exactly where I want to be,” he says, “Goalkeeping is like wine – you just get

17

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GROUP A Fri June 11

Fri June 11

URUGUAY

Wed June 16

15.00

V

19.30

V

Soccer City Stadium

MEXICO

Thurs June 17

V

FRANCE

Lotus Verfsfld Stadium

URUGUAY

19.30

FRANCE Thurs June 22

V

Thurs June 22

Peter Mokaba Stadium

MEXICO

V

GAME 52

Sun June 27

15.00

WINNER GROUP B

V

Free State Stadium

SOUTH AFRICA

GROUP B Sat June 12

SOUTH KOREA

Sat June 12

ARGENTINA

Thur June 17

12.30 Nelson Mandela Stadium

V

15.00

V

GREECE

ARGENTINA GREECE NIGERIA

Thur June 22

V RUNNER UP GROUP B

ENGLAND

V

Sat June 26

19.30 Royal Bafokeng Stadium

GAME 57

GAME 51

Sun June 27

15.00

GAME 60

GAME 53

Mon June 28

V

WINNER GROUP D

WINNER GROUP E

GAME 55

Tue June 29

ENGLAND

Wed June 23

SLOVENIA

Wed June 23

Free State Stadium

So

WINNER

19.30

V

Gre

WINNER

15.00 Nelson Ma

V

15.00

Sat July 3 15.00

WINNER GAME 55

V RUNNER UP GROUP C

WINNER

V

Soccer City Stadium

SOUTH KOREA Free State Stadium

NIGERIA

BOTSWANA

Durban Stadium

Loftus Versfeld Stadium

GAME 54 Mon June 28

19.30

Ellis Park Stadium

GAME 56

19.30

Green Point Stadium

WINNER GROUP G Tue June 29

WINNER GROUP H

V RUNNER UP GROUP H

NAMIBIA

V RUNNER UP GROUP G

Durban Stadium

Upington

SOUTH KOREA

ARGENTINA

Springbok

Peter Mokaba Stadium

SLOVENIA

Ellis Park Stadium

UNITED STATES

19.30

V

Kimberley

UNITED STATES

15.00

V

Free

WINNER

V RUNNER UP GROUP G

19.30 Royal Bafokeng Stadium

V

V

V RUNNER UP GROUP F

Green Point Stadium

Beaufort West

ALGERIA

15.00 Nelson Mandela Stadium

V

ENGLAND

Cape Town

15.00 Loftus Versfeld Stadium

UNITED STATES

V

ALGERIA

10

GROUP D

George Knysna

15.00 Loftus Versfeld Stadium

Sun June 13

Fri June 18

Fri July 2

WINNER GAME 53

V RUNNER UP GROUP D

15.00

WINNER GROUP F

19.30

12.30

SLOVENIA

Sun June 13

Sat July 3

V

Ellis Park Stadium

15.00

V

ALGERIA V

Fri June 18

GAME 59

19.30

WINNER GAME 52

V RUNNER UP GROUP A

GROUP C Fri June 18

Soccer City Stadium

19.30 Peter Mokaba Stadium

GREECE

Sun June 13

Fri July 2

WINNER GAME 49

NIGERIA

12.30

Sat June 12

GAME 58

GAME 50

WINNER GROUP C

URUGUAY

15.00

FRANCE

Thur June 22

15.00 Nelson Mandela Stadium

15.00 Royal Bafokeng Stadium

MEXICO

Thur June 17

Sat June 26

WINNER GROUP A

Green Point Stadium

19.30

SOUTH AFRICA

GAME 49

IC ANT ATL CEAN O

ECHO SPORT S 2010 WORLD CUP WALLCHART

SOUTH AFRICA

Quarter Fin

Round of 16

SERBIA V

19.30

GERMANY V

GHANA

Durban Stadium

AUSTRALIA

12.30 Nelson Mandela Stadium

GERMANY V

Sat June 19

Wed June 23

SERBIA

15.00 Royal Bafokeng Stadium

GHANA V

19.30

Soccer City Stadium

19.30

Mbombela Stadium

GHANA V

Wed June 23

AUSTRALIA

AUSTRALIA

V

WORLD CUP FINA Sunday July 11

WINNER GAME 61

GERMANY

Soccer City S

19.30

V

WINNER GAM

SERBIA

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Semi Finals

occer City Stadium

GAME 61

R GAME 50

Fri July 2

WINNER GAME 58

19.30

Soccer City Stadium

V

WINNER GAME 57

GROUP E Mon June 14

GAME 62

R GAME 51

Sat July 3

WINNER GAME 59

19.30

WINNER GAME 60

ZIMBABWE

MOZAMBIQUE

andela Stadium

R GAME 54

e State Stadium

R GAME 56

Polokwane

1

Rustenberg

4

Pretoria

3 56

Nelspruit

Sat June 19

Thur June 24

Sun June 20

SLOVAKIA

Durban

East London

IAN N D IN CEA O

Tue June 15

IVORY COAST

Tue June 15

V

Royal Bafokeng Stadium

Mbombela Stadium

NEW ZEALAND

15.00

V

LOSER GAME 61

Nelson Mandela Stadium

V

LOSER GAME 62

SOCCER CITY STADIUM Johannesburg Cap: 94,700

Ellis Park Stadium

ITALY

6

ELLIS PARK STADIUM Polokwane Cap: 46,000

7

FREE STATE STADIUM Bloemfontein Cap: 48,000

8

MOSES MABHIDA STADIUM Durban Cap: 70,000

9

NELSON MANDELA STADIUM Port Elizabeth Cap: 50,000

10

GREEN POINT STADIUM Cape Town Cap: 70,000

NEW ZEALAND

15.00 Nelson Mandela Stadium

V

19.30

BRAZIL V

19.30

BRAZIL V

PORTUGAL

Ellis Park Stadium

NORTH KOREA

Soccer City Stadium

IVORY COAST

12.30

V

PORTUGAL

V

NORTH KOREA

V

Green Point Stadium

NORTH KOREA

15.00

BRAZIL

15.00

Wed June 16

19.30

5

Free State Stadium

PARAGUAY

Durban Stadium

Mbombela Stadium

IVORY COAST

GROUP H Sat July 10

ROYAL BAFOKENG STADIUM Phokeng Cap: 44,530

SLOVAKIA

12.30

V

PORTUGAL

Fri June 25

Third Place

4

Green Point Stadium

PARAGUAY

15.00 Peter Mokaba Stadium

Fri June 25

ME 62

NETHERLANDS

15.00

Mon June 21

Port Elizabeth

Green Point Stadium

GROUP G Sun June 20

Stadium

12.30

PARAGUAY V

Port Shepstone

AL

V

ITALY V

Thur June 24

8

LOFTUS VERSFELD STADIUM Pretoria Cap: 51,762

JAPAN

19.30

SLOVAKIA

9

V

ITALY V

Thur June 24

LESOTHO

3

19.30 Royal Bafokeng Stadium

GROUP F

Sun June 20

7

MBOMBELA STADIUM Nelspruit Cap: 43,500

DENMARK

19.30

CAMEROON

Durban Stadium

JAPAN

V

DENMARK

Thur June 24

2

Free State Stadium

19.30 Loftus Versfeld Stadium

CAMEROON

NEW ZEALAND

Bloemfontein

V

Sat June 19

PETER MOKABA STADIUM Polokwane Cap: 46,000

CAMEROON

12.30

NETHERLANDS

Tue June 15

SWAZILAND

Johannesburg

15.00

Mon June 14

2

Soccer City Stadium

1

DENMARK

JAPAN V

Green Point Stadium

V

12.30

V

NETHERLANDS

Mon June 14

reen Point Stadium

WORLD CUP

Monday, June 7, 2010

★★★★

HONDURAS

Wed June 16

Mon June 21

Mon June 21

Fri June 25

12.30

V

15.00

SPAIN V

CHILE

Mbombela Stadium

Durban Stadium

SWITZERLAND

15.00 Nelson Mandela Stadium

CHILE V

SWITZERLAND

19.30

SPAIN V

SWITZERLAND

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HONDURAS

19.30 Loftus Versfeld Stadium

CHILE V

Fri June 25

Ellis Park Stadium

19.30

V

SPAIN

Free State Stadium

HONDURAS

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19

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★★★★

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Monday, June 7, 2010

★★★★

2010 WORLD CUP 1) How many countries participated in the first World Cup finals competition in 1930?

3) Which country were beaten finalists in 1930?

4) Oldrich Nejedly was the top scorer in the 1934 World Cup finals with five goals. Which now-disbanded European country did he play for?

23) Which striker skippered Germany against England in the 1966 World Cup final?

13) Name the Frenchman whose 13 goals at the 1958 tournament remains the most scored in a World Cup Finals tournament.

24) Which Mexican city hosted the celebrated group match between England and Brazil at the 1970 World Cup Finals?

14) Which Liverpool player made three appearances for England at the 1958 tournament?

25) Who netted West Germany's winning goal against England in their quarter-final clash in the 1970 tournament?

15) Name the Everton defender who represented Scotland at the 1958 World Cup Finals.

26) The 1970 tournament featured which colourful footballing first?

16) Which two countries participated in the infamous ‘Battle of Santiago’ at the 1962 World Cup Finals in Chile?

27) Name the Brazilian defender who captained his country to success at the 1970 tournament.

6) A controversial political union forced which country to withdraw from the 1938 World Cup finals in France?

17) Name England's head coach at the 1962 tournament.

28) What was midfielder Jurgen Sparwasser's famous contribution to the 1974 World Cup finals in West Germany?

7) Which Caribbean team made their only appearance to date at the 1938 finals?

18) What was the unique fact about English centre-forward Gerry Hitchens at the 1962 tournament?

8) Name the American player whose goal famously defeated England 1-0 in the group stages at the 1950 World Cup finals.

19) What was the name of the dog who famously found the missing World Cup trophy prior to the 1966 tournament?

9) What significant role did Englishman George Reader play at the 1950 tournament?

20) Three stadiums which hosted matches at the 1966 World Cup Finals no longer exist – name them.

10) Which European country hosted the 1954 World Cup finals?

21) Name the three countries who England faced in the group stages at the 1966 World Cup finals.

32) Name the Polish marksman who was top scorer at the 1974 tournament with seven goals.

11) Which South American country knocked England out of the 1954 tournament at the quarter-final stage?

22) With nine goals to his name, who was the leading scorer in the 1966 tournament?

33) Which West German city hosted the 1974 World Cup final between Holland and West Germany?

5) Which country hosted and eventually won the 1934 competition?

29) Who were Africa's only representatives at the 1974 tournament?

30) Name Scotland's manager at the 1974 World Cup finals.

31) For what moment of great individual skill was Sweden's Gunnar Olsson the unwitting fall-guy in a match against Holland in the 1974 tournament?

in association with 34) Which two countries were playing when referee Clive Thomas infamously disallowed a late goal following a corner in a group match in the 1978 World Cup Finals in Argentina?

35) Which country remained undefeated in the 1978 World Cup Finals but did not win the tournament?

36) Which Dutchman was inches away from winning Holland its first World Cup when his late effort struck the woodwork in the 1978 final against Argentina?

37) What was the name of the orange wearing a Spanish football kit, the official mascot for the 1982 World Cup Finals in Spain?

38) After how many seconds did England's Bryan Robson famously open the scoring against France in a group game in the 1982 tournament?

39) Which Italian striker was the top scorer at the 1982 World Cup Finals with six goals?

40) Which Bournemouth striker, signed from Tranmere Rovers, made three appearances for Northern Ireland in the 1986 World Cup Finals in Mexico?

46) Which player missed the decisive penalty for Italy in their final defeat to Brazil in the 1994 tournament?

43) Liverpool and Everton each supplied one player for Scotland’s squad at the 1990 World Cup – name them.

44) In which Italian city did England lose their heartbreaking semi-final against West Germany after a penalty shoot-out in the 1990 tournament?

STEVEN GERRARD is gearing up to lead out England in the World Cup out in South Africa and we have five signed copies of his official hardback, ‘My Captain's Book’, to be won!

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To be in with a chance

47) Which squad number did Michael Owen wear for England in the 1998 World Cup finals tournament in France?

48) With eight goals, which Brazilian finished as top scorer at the 2002 World Cup finals?

49) Name the Italian defender who skippered his country to World Cup final glory in 2006.

50) Which South African city will host this summer's World Cup final on July 11?

ANSWERS: 1) 13, 2) Montevideo, 3) Argentina, 4) Czechoslovakia, 5) Italy, 6) Austria (due to the Anschluss with Germany), 7) Cuba, 8) Joe Gaetjens, 9) He was the referee for the final between Brazil and Uruguay, 10) Switzerland, 11) Uruguay, 12) 39, 13) Just Fontaine, 14) Alan A'Court, 15) Alex Parker, 16) Chile & Italy, 17) Walter Winterbottom, 18) He was the only member of the squad who played for a club side outside England (Inter Milan), 19) Pickles, 20) White City Stadium, London; Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough; Roker Park, Sunderland, 21) Uruguay, Mexico, France, 22) Eusebio, 23) Uwe Seeler, 24) Guadalajara, 25) Gerd Muller, 26) First use of red and yellow cards, 27) Carlos Alberto, 28) His 77th minute goal for East Germany defeated hosts West Germany 1-0 in a group match, 29) Zaire, 30) Willie Ormond, 31) Holland legend Johan Cruyff executed his famous Cruyff Turn' to get past the Swedish right-back, 32) Grzegorz Lato, 33) Munich, 34) Brazil & Sweden, 35) Brazil, 36) Rob Rensenbrink, 37) Naranjito, 38) 27, 39) Paolo Rossi, 40) Colin Clarke, 41) France, 42) Egypt, 43) Gary Gillespie & Stuart McCall, 44) Turin, 45) Striker, 46) Roberto Baggio, 47) 20, 48) Ronaldo, 49) Fabio Cannavaro, 50) Johannesburg.

41) Which European country finished third in the 1986 tournament?

42) Which African country made their first appearance for 56 years at the 1990 tournament in Italy?

WIN signed Stevie books

45) A dog wearing a red, white & blue football kit, what was the name of the official mascot at the 1994 World Cup finals in the USA?

GROUP F GROUP G GROUP H

2) Using three stadiums, which city hosted all of the matches in the 1930 finals?

12) How old was football legend Stanley Matthews when he represented England at the 1954 tournament?

21

GROUP E

by PAUL SNOWDON

WORLD CUP

of winning one of five signed hardback copies simply visit www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/ myecho and enter unique code GERR1.

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22 WORLD CUP

Monday, June 7, 2010

★★★★

OUT OF SIGHT: Lucas has hardly played for Brazil since moving to Merseyside

GROUP A

GROUP B

GROUP C GROUP D

2010 WORLD CUP

in association with

Leight show was the end of the world for Baines Mexico misery saw him added to list of World Cup fall guys

O HEARTBREAK: Victor Anichebe missed on selection out due to a phantom injury

Making a splash!

Come along and see why...

F all our Merseyside-based World Cup nearly men, you have to feel for Leighton Baines. Only one conclusion was being read from his inclusion in England’s recent friendlies ahead of left-back berth rival Stephen Warnock.

When Baines gained his first cap against Egypt in March, while Warnock kicked his heels on the sidelines, it was thought the Everton man had one foot on the plane to South Africa.

A further 90 minutes against Mexico as Warnock again warmed the bench appeared as confirmation of Baines’ World Cup credentials.

Perhaps it was the criticism he attracted for his part in the Mexican’s consolation

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by DAVID RANDLES during the 3-1 win that forced England manager Fabio Capello to change his mind? Or maybe it was Baines’ shock admission that he might struggle having to spend six weeks away from his young family.

More likely, though, was the fact Capello had pretty much made up his mind before handing Baines his chance.

Given how Warnock only has six minutes of international football to shout about – as a late cameo in a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago for Steve McClaren’s England two years ago – Capello has based the former Liverpool man’s inclusion on his form with Aston Villa last season.

Baines was given a chance to persuade Capello otherwise but, in the eyes of the Italian, didn’t do enough.

Whether Baines would have played in South Africa is another matter.

Only injury will shift Chelsea’s Ashley Cole from the position he has made his own for the best part of a decade.

Bearing all of this in mind it is fair to assume that belated calls for Phil Jagielka and Phil Neville to be considered were always going to fall on deaf ears.

Injury meant it was too little too late for Jagielka, who only returned from 10 months on the sidelines in February after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament.

Neville, on the other hand, has not been called up since 2007.

He was on Sven Goran Eriksson’s reserve list for the 2006 World Cup, but only after Nigel Reo-Coker had pulled out.

South Africa was only ever going to be a pipe dream for the Everton captain.

Victor Anichebe, however, was another story altogether. Another late-comer after recovering from a serious knee injury, the 22-year-old impressed in Nigeria’s goalless draw against Saudi Arabia, scooping the fans’ man-of-the-match award.

Anichebe was then subsequently

Monday, June 7, 2010

★★★★

WORLD CUP

23

SOUTH AFRICA

www.summerpops.com 0844 847 1616

GROUP E

FROZEN OUT: France’s Louis Saha

CHANCE GONE: England’s Phil Neville

AWOL WINGER: Spain’s Albert Riera

YOUNG: Argentina’s Emiliano Insua

NOT FIT: Italy’s Alberto Aquilani

supporters. Confusion then took over when chairman of the technical committee of the Nigerian Football Federation, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, reportedly claimed Anichebe had been left out due to injury.

The ‘fully fit’ Anichebe became even more perplexed when he discovered he had been diagnosed with “a cracked chin that would take time to heal”.

Everton, meanwhile, responded angrily insisting Anichebe had nothing more than “a bruised shin”.

Either way, the Blues striker misses out and

DEFEAT: Leighton Baines blew his chance to play in South Africa

World Cup facts

is said to be understandably devastated.

Louis Saha’s international career appears to be over after the 2006 World Cup finalist failed to make it into France manager Raymond Domenech’s set-up this time.

Of Liverpool’s fall guys, midfielder Lucas was probably the closest to making South Africa. Although, bizarrely, the Brazilian midfielder played more for his country before he became a regular at Anfield.

Left out of manager Dunga’s provisional 30-man squad, Lucas had his summer holidays booked some time ago.

So did Spaniard Albert Riera who, after shooting himself in the foot with his “sinking ship” comments in March, hasn’t kicked a ball in anger for the club or country since.

SIX Merseyside players – Houghton, Staunton, Sheedy, Beardsley, McMahon and Barnes – played in the England v Republic of Ireland

match at the 1990 World Cup. The game also featured former Reds and Blues stars John Aldridge, Gary Stevens and Gary Lineker.

Diego Maradona had a look at Emiliano Insua last year, calling the youngster up for Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers against Peru and Uruguay.

But following a campaign of what at best can be described as patchy from the Reds left-back, not even the madcap Maradona could justify that one.

And, as for Alberto Aquilani . . . well, he barely played for Liverpool last season never mind Italy.

GROUP F GROUP G GROUP H

dropped for the Super Eagles’ next warm-up game – a 1-1 draw with Colombia in that not so African of towns, Milton Keynes.

The next day he was left out of manager Lars Lagerback’s 23-man squad, a decision that proved unpopular with the

INJURY RISK: England’s Phil Jagielka

24 WORLD CUP

Monday, June 7, 2010

★★★★

GROUP A GROUP B GROUP C GROUP D

Germany Australia Serbia Ghana

2010 WORLD CUP Group D Germans can overcome an injury crisis GERMANY captain Philipp Lahm (pictured) insists the squad can cope with their mounting injury problems.

Coach Joachim Low has already been deprived of five players for the tournament in South Africa, with Schalke defender Heiko Westermann the latest to be ruled out.

The withdrawal of Westermann, who broke his foot during a 3-0 friendly win over Hungary, comes after injury had put paid to the hopes of goalkeeper Rene Adler, Simon Rolfes, Christian Trasch and crucially skipper Michael Ballack.

Those injuries will hardly make Germany’s task any easier – they are in a tough-looking group alongside Serbia, Ghana and Australia – but Lahm still believes the squad is strong enough to make an impact in South Africa.

“That we have lost players who are enormously important for us is a shame,” said the Bayern Munich full-back, chosen as Low’s captain in place of Ballack. “But we still have a top squad which can go far.”

Low, meanwhile, admits out-of-sorts striker Miroslav Klose will find it tough to turn his form around in time for the World Cup. The 31-year-old, who has scored 48 times in 95 games for his country, struggled for games and goals with Bayern Munich last season.

And in the win over Hungary he looked a shadow of the player who finished top scorer at the 2006 World Cup. “It is clear that it will be no easy task to get Miro in form,” Low said.

“It will be hard work, for him, for us. He has to work a lot. He still hasn’t shown the form that he is actually capable of.

“For Miro it is now about becoming more certain in training.”

Low, though, offered words of encouragement for Klose, who has scored five goals in each of the last two World Cups.

“People have often written Miro off before,” he added. “But when it comes to it, he is there.”

Klose’s last international goal came in the 1-0 World Cup qualifying win away to Russia last October.

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World Cup facts

by GREG O’KEEFFE

IME is precious to Tim Cahill – and the Everton star is determined not to waste a single second of it in South Africa this summer.

The recently ended Premier League season mirrored the Aussie midfielder’s own career – a halting, low-profile start which suddenly burst into life.

Cahill, who turned 30 during Everton’s 09/10 campaign, was 24 when he broke into the Premier League with the Toffees.

The Sydney-born player has felt like he is up against the clock ever since, determined to make a big impression every time he steps onto the pitch.

Now the respect he garners in English football, coupled with an A-list status in Australia, would suggest his efforts have worked.

He is not one for resting on laurels though. Since returning to his homeland for a pre-World Cup training camp in Melbourne, Cahill has not stopped.

Promoting the game, himself, his club, his charities – it has been non-stop. There was even a fund-raiser for his children’s cancer charity to be squeezed in – the same charity that will benefit with $1 from every ticket sold when Cahill is home in July for Everton’s pre-season tour of Australia.

The Toffees will play A-League sides Brisbane Roar, Sydney FC and Melbourne Heart, and Cahill can barely hide his excitement about playing on home soil in a blue shirt.

“I’m so thrilled that Everton are coming here, it’s massive for such a big club like that to be in Australia and we’ll show the fans just how passionate we are about football,” he said.

Before then, of course, there’s the matter of the World Cup. Cahill is widely regarded among Aussie soccer fans as the one truly indispensable player in Pim Verbeek’s squad.

In a system which ensures the Socceroos have to feed off scraps, his uncanny knack of scoring crucial goals is vital – and 19 goals in 37 games is a decent return.

The good news for the Socceroos is that Cahill is feeling no after-effects from a long, tough Premier League season.

“I don’t feel I can be any fitter,” he said.

“This is it, at the end of a long season, to hopefully make something special happen.

I’ve been running 12 kilometres every game, the last couple of months got me goals, and started to play some great football even though I was playing a bit deeper.

The fatigue factor isn’t HES there and I feel pretty good. I’ve had four days

in association with

EVERTON star Tim Cahill scored Australia’s first ever World Cup finals goal, after emerging from the bench to net in the 84th minute of the Socceroos’ 2006 clash with Japan. Just five minutes later, Cahill would grab his, and Australia’s, second.

off and I’m buzzing. The Premier League isn’t getting any easier, but I’m really happy with this season. Proud of what I’ve achieved. I’m definitely up there with some great form. You look over the season, the games to goals, to fitness, everything.

I’ve just tried to be consistent football-wise

and for myself, having that consistency going into the World Cup, is great. I can’t wait to get started.”

The words bode well for Australia. At the end of a gruelling campaign of 43 games in the league, FA Cup and in Europe, Cahill is just getting started – and

Serbian quest first

FENSA 30281

ANFIELD BOUND: Milan Jovanovic

MILAN JOVANOVIC is on a mission to make the grade at Anfield – but his first priority is firing Serbia to World Cup glory.

The 29-year-old striker will join Liverpool after the tournament on a free transfer from Standard Liege.

Jovanovic spent most of his early career in Russia with Shakhtar Donetsk and Lokomotiv Moscow before moving to Liege in 2006.

He soon became a fans’ favourite, scoring 14 goals in his debut season and earning the nickname ‘The Snake’ for his movement.

Back in January, Jovanovic was

by JAMES PEARCE named as the Jupiler League's Player of the Year and in total he scored more than 70 goals for the Belgian side.

“The saga over my transfer has taken a long time and it has been spoken about in practically every transfer window, but in the end I wanted to stay until the end of my

www.summerpops.com 0844 847 1616

Group D

to measure him against the best of his peers.

“Is it a measure?

Maybe yes, but it’s not the be all and end all,” he adds. “All I say to myself is you’re playing against the best players in the world, so don’t waste the opportunity.”

for new Reds striker Jovanovic contract at Standard,” he said.

Signing his Anfield contract was the easier part of the swicth; now comes the hard part which is winning a place in the first team.

He adds: “They might have had a poor season but Liverpool are still Liverpool. There will still be a squad of 20 players of the highest quality and everyone waiting for the chance to show what they can do.

“There will be a lot of games and everyone will have the chance to play, and I really see this as the place where I want to be. The thought of playing at Anfield is an incredible

inspiration for me.”

Serbia will need Jovanovic on top form if they are going to have any chance of progressing from Group D which also includes Australia, Germany and Ghana. However, in topping a qualifying group that contained France, they gave notice that in South Africa, they will not be an easy touch.

Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic is desperate to be involved after injury ruled him out four years ago. Back in 2006 Serbia couldn’t get out of the ‘Group of Death’ having been paired with

Argentina, the Ivory Coast and Holland.

Vidic says: “It is very important to start well. We had a problem with injuries in 2006. We were in a difficult group to start with and it just didn’t go well.

“Obviously it is not easy this time either but I don’t think we should complain about that. We have some players who are at good teams in Europe and we still have a chance to reach the next round.”

A potential meeting with England awaits in the second round if Serbia make it through.

THE global consensus may be that the Ivory Coast represent Africa’s best hope of success at the World Cup – but Ghana will be quietly confident of their own chances in South Africa.

The Black Stars are certainly not shy of talent, and boast one key weapon in their armoury heading into their second World Cup. In coach Milovan Rajevac (pictured), Ghana have an individual who brings stability to their coaching and managerial set-up, an advantage that continues to evade their continental rivals.

For some years now, regular managerial upheaval has arguably been the African continent’s greatest shortcoming, so much so that FIFA president Sepp Blatter recently addressed the issue, saying he was surprised so many African nations had made coaching changes in the run-up to the World Cup. By contrast, Rajevac is nearing the end of a two-year deal with Ghana and will benefit from familiarity and experience with his squad.

Since taking charge in August 2008, Rajevac has overseen the bulk of their qualifying campaign, experimented with formations, played without star man Michael Essien and led his team to the African Nations Cup final earlier this year, where they narrowly lost to Egypt.

The Serbian tactician has been helped in no short measure by Ghana’s victory at the Under-20 World Cup last year, and he has been quick to plunder the youth ranks – with 10 members of that squad named in his party for the African Nations Cup. Kevin-Prince Boateng could have done enough to secure himself a starting role in Ghana’s World Cup opener against Serbia after impressing on debut against Latvia at the weekend.

With injury doubts over Sulley Muntari persisting, Rajevac is looking for alternatives in midfield, and came away impressed by Boateng’s first international appearance.

“It was his first game and he played in an unfamiliar role for him, but he handled it quite well. It is the role I want to give him but for a first game with Ghana he did well,” he said.

GROUP F GROUP G GROUP H

“I know what my body’s like and I’m ready. I’m going to train harder every day and try and utilise the facilities and the people we’ve got around us.

“So long as I go out there and leave everything on the pitch, even if at the precise moment it doesn’t happen for you, people will still respect the fact that you’ve given everything.”

Four years ago, when the Socceroos kicked off against Japan, he was on the bench.

There is no chance of that happening anytime soon and he’s delighted to be so indispensable.

“A hundred per cent I want that, I’ve wanted it all the time,” he said. “It’s a compliment that reflects on you as a person and as a footballer. “ Yeah, it’s a massive weight, but is it really? I’m going to grab this with both hands to make sure not only I fulfil my dreams, but the dreams of the people because they’re who you play for.”

Cahill has already played against some of the best performers in Europe, but this tournament will provide the chance

Stability may really benefit Black Stars

GROUP E

Cahill won’t waste a single second

again. “We have to do it,” he said. “Once we get to South Africa we have to be the fittest team again, we have to be the strongest. If we were Brazil and had eight Peles coming off the bench, fair enough.

But we don’t. So we have to make sure, like in Germany, that we push ourselves harder. There’s nothing to rest for.

25

SOUTH AFRICA

Indispensable Tim’s time

is ready to be pushed to his limits by Pim Verbeek.

Before the last World Cup in Germany, Guus Hiddink flogged the players mercilessly to prepare them for the tournament. Over the next three weeks, Cahill wants Verbeek to punish the players

WORLD CUP

Monday, June 7, 2010

★★★★

Watch The World Cup At Liverpool Naval Club

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26 WORLD CUP

Monday, June 7, 2010

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2010 WORLD CUP Group E

GROUP A GROUP B GROUP C GROUP D

Okada has his sights fixed on semi-finals JAPAN go into the 2010 World Cup with the weight of boss Takeshi Okada’s declaration they are aiming for the last four on their shoulders.

While that may be beyond them, a place in the second round is more realistic after being drawn alongside Holland, Denmark and Cameroon in a Group E which should hold no fear for the East Asian side.

Following a relatively comfortable qualifying campaign, where they became the first team to book their place in South Africa, hopes are high Japan can emulate 2002 when they reached the second round.

Holland will, in all likelihood, win Group E but second place is very much up for grabs as neither Denmark nor Cameroon should hold much fear for the Japanese, particularly as the Danes were held to a goalless draw by neighbours South Korea.

However, they do go into the global showpiece with what can be considered a weaker squad compared to past editions and not in the greatest of form – a third-placed finish in the East Asian Football Federation Championships that they hosted was followed by a 3-0 friendly defeat to Serbia which has increased the pressure on Okada. That said, they were unfortunate to lose to England in a friendly in Graz late last month, gifting Fabio Capello’s side two own goals in a 2-1 reverse.

Much will depend on CSKA’s Keisuke Honda, Wolfsburg’s Makoto Hasebe and veteran midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura (pictured), who has returned to Japan with Yokohama Marinos, as well as Gamba Osaka midfielder Yasuhito Endo’s ability to impose himself on games.

Nagoya defender Marcus Tulio Tanaka could also have a crucial role to play and Kawasaki Frontale playmaker Kengo Nakamura will be expected to provide some of the attacking threat. But it is the lack of an out-and-out goalscorer that is a worry.

As a result, Okada has taken a chance on 21-year-old striker Takayuki Morimoto, currently playing in Serie A with Catania. He is big and powerful and his goalscoring instinct could provide Japan with a vital edge.

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For one reason or another, the Netherlands history on the big stage is littered with bust-ups and walk outs.

In 1994, Ruud Gullit packed his bags and took off at a pre-World Cup tournament, never to play for his country again.

Two years later it was Edgar Davids on an early plane home, banished from Euro 96 for criticising then manager Guus Hiddink.

Again, it was a player-manager dispute that brought to an end the international career of another of Holland's distinguished stars; this time Clarence Seedorf announcing he would not be taking part in Euro 2008 due to an ongoing conflict with boss Marco van Basten.

Even as far back as the 1976 European Championships, fighting within the squad was said to have contributed to the Netherlands’ semi-final exit to Czechoslovakia.

Holland’s propensity to self-implode has often hindered their chances of adding to a solitary major title – the 1988 European Championships.

So what of the latest bunch to come out of this apparently contentious country?

It seems too good to be true but, HOLLAND are the only other than the potential for trouble country at this between temperamental duo Wesley summer’s World Cup to Sneijder and Robin van Persie, peace feature a player from and harmony is said to reign both Merseyside clubs. supreme in the Dutch camp.

Bert Van Marwijk has Whether order is maintained is called up Dirk Kuyt and yet to be seen.

Ryan Babel from Should it prove to be the case, Liverpool, along with however, then manager Bert van Everton favourite John Marwijk has to take his fair share of Heitinga. credit.

The former Feyenoord boss has resisted the temptation to try and entice the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy and Edwin van der Saar out of retirement and, in doing so, has reduced the risk of resentment among his talented pool of players.

While Dirk Kuyt is not the most gifted among the likes of Arjen Robben, Rafael van der Vaart, Ibrahim Afellay, van Persie, Sneijder and Anfield team-mate Ryan Babel, the Liverpool man’s work ethic is what Marwijk’s Holland are all about.

Kuyt is a certain starter under Marwijk, the man who took him to the De Kuip in 2003.

“Van Marwijk has been important in WORK ETHIC: Liverpool’s Dirk Kuyt epitomises the Dutch approach my career because he gave me the chance

World Cup facts

Agger plays a vital

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IMPORTANT ROLE: Daniel Agger

DENMARK legend Michael Laudrup believes Liverpool defender Daniel Agger is crucial to his nation’s hopes of success in South Africa.

The former Barcelona midfielder coached Agger at Brondby and insists the 25-year-old centre-back has all the qualities needed to shine on the world’s biggest stage.

“Daniel is hugely important for Denmark, there's no question about that,” he said.

“He will be a key man that’s for sure. The main players are people like Thomas Sorensen, Agger and Christian Poulsen.

by JAMES PEARCE “If they are fit then Denmark will have a good chance of progressing to the latter stages.”

It was Laudrup who gave Agger his debut for Brondby in 2004 and a year later he helped them clinch the Danish title.

However, Laudrup always knew the centre-back was destined for

Monday, June 7, 2010

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Group E

by DAVID RANDLES

Bassong fully spurred on after cup woe SEBASTIEN BASSONG (pictured) has admitted it hurt to miss the African Nations Cup – but his decision to stay with Tottenham has ultimately helped him secure a place in Cameroon’s squad for the World Cup finals.

Bassong’s omission from his nation’s squad for January’s tournament in Angola raised eyebrows after a big-money move from Newcastle United in the summer and a solid start to his Spurs career.

However, there was a theory behind the selection, as Paul Le Guen explained to his centre-back. Keeping him at White Hart Lane meant a run of games for Harry Redknapp’s side rather than warming the bench in Angola.

“Of course, it hurt that I didn’t go to the African Nations Cup,” Bassong admitted.

“I was talking with Harry (Redknapp) and Paul Le Guen, and he took his decision. He had his own reasons that he explained to me.

If I went to the African Nations Cup I wouldn’t be playing so he thought it was better for me to stay at Tottenham to compete for my place here and help them stay in the top four. I don’t know if Harry spoke to him but it was a good thing, maybe the best thing for the club but not for Cameroon.”

Spurs certainly needed cover in defence as Jonathan Woodgate was out with a long-term groin injury and Ledley King’s knee problems meant he could not play matches in quick succession. The result was helping Spurs maintain their push for a Champions League place, as well as reaching the FA Cup semi-final where they were defeated by Portsmouth.

Bassong has gone full circle in one year after getting relegated with Newcastle.

“Last year I was fighting for relegation and this year I was fighting for the Champions League and now preparing for the World Cup,” said the 23-year-old.

Bassong is now fully focused on Cameroon and keen to make an impression in South Africa after the team were knocked out in the last eight of the African Nations Cup without him.

He adds. “We can go through the first round if we start the competition well against Japan.”

GROUP E Netherlands Denmark Japan Cameroon GROUP F GROUP G GROUP H

Dutch go to South Africa in fine form

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role in Danish side – Laudrup greater things and it was no surprise when Liverpool swooped to sign him for £5.8million in January 2006.

“Daniel came directly from the youth team and you could see right from the beginning that he had great potential,” he added.

“Even though he was only very young, he played with great maturity.

There was no doubt he had a big influence on our side. He is very calm, very good with the ball and direct in the way he defends.

“We knew he would not be in the Danish league for too long, such was his undoubted quality.

“I wasn't surprised when he went to Liverpool and I think he did very well at first. In the last year and a half he has been really unlucky with injuries and I think that is the only reason why he has not made an even greater impact in England.

“He's only 25 and there is still much more to come from him. If he can stay fit then I think he can definitely be one of the best central defenders in the game.”

After missing out on the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008, Denmark qualified in style by topping a group which included Portugal and Sweden.

27

SOUTH AFRICA

ISORANGE to go to a top club in Holland,” says Kuyt.

“He gave me that opportunity so he is definitely a special manager for me.

“He has signed a new contract until the end of the European Championships in 2012. He’s doing very well at the moment.”

Netherlands are unbeaten in 18 games, a run that has yielded 14 wins. It is an enviable record that understandably places them as outstanding favourites to top Group E, where they will meet Japan, Cameroon and Denmark.

“We are still unbeaten since Van Marwijk came into the job,” adds Kuyt.

“I think he is enjoying his time as the Dutch manager and things are working out well.

“Many players have been playing for a longer period with each other in the Dutch team now so it's time to use that experience and do something more than we've shown in the last couple of tournaments. We're going to try and push as hard as possible.”

Holland's 100% record in qualifying – they conceded just two goals – ensured they were the first European team to qualify for South Africa, where Kuyt will also be joined by Johnny Heitinga.

The versatile Everton player says the Dutch don't feel any extra pressure while pointing out how lessons from previous failings must be learned this time around.

“Yes, we were the first team to get here and everybody is proud of that,” he said.

“But we play with confidence and won't feel any extra pressure.

“This is just the beginning though. Two years ago we played well in the group stage at Euro 2008, beating France, Italy and Romania. We then lost the next game against Russia and came home. We know we have to stay focused.

“If you see our squad all the players are a good age – 26 or 27 years old.

“It’s a good time for us to go for the title.”

WORLD CUP

The Scandinavian nation, who will make their fourth appearance at the World Cup, suffered just one defeat en route to the finals.

It marked a welcome return to form for the Danes and earned long-serving coach Morten Olsen a contract extension which will see him remain at the helm for another two years.

Expectations are high but Olsen’s 10 years in charge of the national team has taught him the dangers of complacency, and he has warned of the hard work awaiting them in South Africa.

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Monday, June 7, 2010

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Group F

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SOUTH AFRICA

Skrtel back and ready for action Tough-tackling defender is determined to repay boss’ faith

by JAMES PEARCE

M

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2010WORLDCUP

RETURN: Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel medical staff at Liverpool and my family. I’ve been doing everything I can to be fit for the World Cup.” Slovakia finished top of a qualifying group including Slovenia, Czech Republic and Northern Ireland to reach the finals in South Africa.

It was the nation’s greatest achievement since they secured independence in 1993 and now excitement is rising ahead of their opening Group F game against New Zealand on June 15.

“It is a proud moment for my country to have qualified,” admitted Skrtel, who has won 36 caps.

“It’s a big thing for Slovakia to have qualified for our first finals. It’s a

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NEW ZEALAND are heading to the World Cup this summer for the first since 1982 and the squad have high hopes of progressing past the initial group stage.

The All Whites secured their qualification last November after registering a 1-0 victory over Bahrain in a play-off with a goal courtesy of Plymouth striker Rory Fallon.

The victory sparked huge celebrations among the Kiwis, with soccer fever infecting the rugby-obsessed nation.

“It was surreal,” said Fallon.

“My phone was red-hot and the game was shown over and over again on TV. I think to play in the World Cup would put me top of the family pecking order.

“Nobody can take away from me the fact that I got the goal that took New Zealand to the World Cup. “It is an awesome feeling.”

New Zealand, who are ranked 79th in the FIFA standings, made their first appearance in the global competition in 1982 in Spain and failed to progress past the first round.

The current squad has been managed by Ricki Herbert since 2005, and is captained by Ryan Nelsen of Blackburn Rovers.

Also in the squad is Fazakerley-born Dave Mulligan who can play both full-back and in the midfield.

With only one professional team – the Wellington Phoenix who play in the Australian A-League – New Zealand may be hard pushed.

Fallon, though, remains positive about the challenges.

He said: “Of course people will say we have no chance but it’s a brilliant group for us.

“Nothing is impossible in football and I believe we can finish second and get through to the next round.”

GROUP G GROUP H

ARTIN SKRTEL’S World Cup dream almost turned into a nightmare.

The Liverpool defender limped out of Slovakia’s 3-0 friendly win over Costa Rica on Saturday after only 16 minutes and was taken to hospital for scans.

But Skrtel breathed a sigh of relief after being told he needed only a few days’ rest before he returns.

“It is not too bad, it is just a gash,” Skrtel said. “I think that in a few days it will be okay.”

After the injury plagued season he had already endured, it was another major scare for the non-nonsense centre-back.

After playing a key role in helping Slovakia qualify for their first major championships, his participation in South Africa was originally thrown into doubt when he broke a metatarsal in his right foot against Unirea Urziceni back in February.

Sidelined for the rest of the Reds’ campaign, he returned to full training at the start of May and was named among the substitutes for their final Premier League game at Hull.

Despite his lack of action, coach Vladimir Weiss Sr has taken a chance on the 25-year-old.

And now Skrtel is determined to repay the faith shown in him.

“It has been a very frustrating time for me being injured and not being available for Liverpool,” he said.

“I’ve had great support from the

dream for everyone to get to South Africa. We have achieved this dream as a country and now we have to show what we are all about.”

Skrtel will line up in front of goalkeeper Jan Mucha, who is joining Everton from Legia Warsaw this summer.

Mucha, 27, has high hopes Slovakia can defeat the Kiwis and progress from a group which also includes Italy and Paraguay.

“It’s not the most difficult group of all of them, but obviously we must face Italy who are the reigning champions and Paraguay who are strong,” he said.

“The transfer to Everton and my participation in the World Cup will be the best steps in my career so far.”

A place in the last 16 and a likely showdown with Holland would represent success for the Slovakians and Mucha is tipping European champions Spain to go all the way.

“There are many top teams with a chance, but for me Spain play the most beautiful football and they are in top form,” he added.

Coach Vladimir Weiss is already a hero having masterminded a vital 2-1 win over arch rivals Czech Republic in Prague during their qualifying campaign and he shares Mucha's confidence that they can reach the knockout stages.

“They are all difficult opponents but we have a team which can compete with them. The fixture list also fell well for us – playing New Zealand first, then Paraguay, and leaving Italy until the end. “ We must take each opponent seriously and play with humility, but also the necessary confidence.”

Side has plenty of good zeal

GROUP F Italy Paraguay New Zealand Slovakia

ITALY go into the World Cup buoyed by the positive vibes that have returned with coach Marcello Lippi.

The veteran tactician stepped down after leading the Italians to World Cup glory in 2006, but became coach again following the Azzurri’s weak performance at Euro 2008 under boss Roberto Donadoni.

“I felt a certain debt towards the Italian Federation,” Lippi said. “And turning down other offers in order to return was a way for me to pay that debt.

“I came back to win, to enjoy the same sensations once more, the feelings of triumph but also of the unity and cohesion of the whole group.”

The debt Lippi felt is due to the Italian Federation never wavering in its commitment to him when his son was under scrutiny for his role with a sports agency owned by the son of disgraced former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi.

However, Lippi has faced significant challenges since returning to the helm.

With players of the calibre of Francesco Totti and Alessandro Nesta retiring from international duty since the success in Germany four years ago, and others like Alessandro Del Piero and Marco Materazzi reaching the latter stages of their career, Lippi has been forced to look for new talent.

Lippi said: “We still have a group of players who won the World Cup four years ago and we need to build on that strength. But not everyone will continue. This group needs to be integrated, the right balance has to be found.”

Defence has traditionally been their strongest weapon and it remains so with just seven goals conceded in qualifying.

29

GROUP E

Lippi out to repeat ’06 feat

WORLD CUP

BORUSSIA Dortmund striker Lucas Barrios insists he has not betrayed his home country of Argentina by choosing to represent Paraguay at the World Cup. The 25-year-old has scored three goals in his first three appearances for his chosen country after only receiving citizenship a few weeks ago.

Barrios’ mother is Paraguayan and the forward has chosen to represent them rather than the country of his birth, however he insists the decision was not made out of spite at not being called up

by Diego Maradona.

“I am not angry with Maradona for not giving me a chance,” he said. “Anyway, I took the first steps towards being able to play for Paraguay in October 2009.

“I am proud to be Paraguayan, thanks to my mother who was born in Asuncion.

“It was not a tough choice at all – it is a pleasure! I am very happy to be here.”

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Group G

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WHILE most English football supporters think only of Hurst, Peters, Moore and Ramsey when the 1966 World Cup is mentioned, it is worth remembering the impact the minnows of North Korea had on the tournament.

The unfancied Asians caused one of the all-time World Cup shocks by beating mighty Italy 1-0 at Middlesbrough’s Ayresome Park, qualifying for the quarter-finals at the Italians’ expense.

At Goodison Park against Portugal in the last eight, the Koreans raced into a 3-0 lead inside 25 minutes.

However, a hat-trick from the legendary Eusebio turned the game on its head, with the Portuguese running out 5-3 winners. North Korea would not return to World Cup action for another 44 years.

But now, under Kim Jong-Hun, they are back.

Having negotiated a qualifying group containing World Cup regulars Saudi Arabia and Iran, the Koreans are ready to rub shoulders with Portugal once more, and are preparing themselves for an intriguing showdown with five-times winners Brazil in Group G. Jong Tae-Se, leading goalscorer in qualifying, believes the Koreans can head to South Africa with nothing to lose.

“I never thought of playing in the World Cup,” he said.

“To me, that was a tournament to watch, not to play.

“As a personal objective, I would like to find out how far I can go and what I can or cannot do against the world’s top players.

“Unlike other teams, we won’t get many chances, one if you are lucky, in the World Cup, so we should fully use that single opportunity.”

SOUTH AFRICA

Brazilian blend can win again

Coach Dunga happy to swap inspiration for perspiration

by NEIL JONES

F

to win a World Cup because we stressed on playing the game beautifully,” he says, “When we won it in 1994, we were not as spectacular as some of the other Brazil squads.

But we had the trophy in our cabinet and that was the most satisfactory part of the campaign.

“I know the pain of losing a World Cup, I have been a part of that. And I know the joy of winning one too!

Nobody would prefer being spectacular to winning trophies. Will people be satisfied if Brazil loses the World Cup in their effort to be

ORGET Germany, Italy, Argentina or England, when it comes to World Cup football there is only one iconic team.

Brazil.

Champions on a record five occasions, they are the only nation to have appeared at every single finals, dating back to the first ever tournament, held in Uruguay in 1930. And more often than not, they have illuminated proceedings with their unique and endearing brand of football.

The 2010 vintage is not revered in the same way the sides of Pele, Garrincha, Zico and co have been over the years. Coach Dunga, himself a winner as captain back in 1994, has built a side based more on power and energy than flair and individuality, but Brazil remain, rightly, one of the favourites for the tournament.

Any side containing the likes of Kaka and Robinho is hard to ignore.

Dunga himself is adamant that Brazil’s philosophy this summer is geared towards winning, rather than emulating the beautiful, lauded football of the 1970 and 1982 sides, for example.

“We had to wait for 24 years (between 1970 and 1994) STAR MAN: Brazil’s illustrious playmaker Kaka

spectacular?!” This dedication to winning has manifested itself in the 46-year-old’s squad selection, with attacking stars Ronaldinho, Adriano and Alexandre Pato all omitted from the 23-man squad.

“Me and my team of support staff have chosen those who are ready to give their last bit on the football field,” says Dunga.

“They have done it in the previous four years. Now, they will have to do the same in the next month. We have judged the players by their current form, fitness level, organisational skill, technique and talent too.

“Ronaldinho was in contention, no questions about that. He was among the reserves. But he was not chosen in our first 23 and that is it.

“Adriano was given ample opportunities, but could not satisfy us. We have to judge him on current form or for the next month, not for 2014, or what happened in the past.”

And, despite being drawn alongside Portugal and Ivory Coast in the toughest-looking group of all, Dunga is confident of adding a sixth world crown to Brazilian football’s illustrious history.

“If you aspire to be world champions, you should be prepared to face any team,” he adds. “The best 32 teams will be there and for me, every match is tough in a World Cup. We have to be ready for all kinds of tests.”

Portuguese man of war!

LIONEL MESSI may have outshone him as Europe’s most impressive player this season, but Cristiano Ronaldo (pictured) is ready to fight back this summer.

The Real Madrid forward believes Carlos Queiroz’s current crop, who begin their campaign against Ivory Coast on June 15, is better than the side beaten so narrowly by France in the 2006 semi-finals, having disposed of England along the way.

“We might not have as much experience,

but individually we can be better,” he says, “The most important thing is the group's togetherness, that the team works well. I will try to do my best, as I always do, be it for my club or country. I will be motivated.”

Ronaldo has enjoyed a sparkling, if ultimately trophyless, first season in Spain after his move from Manchester United, scoring 33 goals in 35 games, but insists that despite

31

having cemented his status as one of the world’s great match-winners, he is no miracle worker.

“I do not play alone and I do not perform miracles,” he said, “it's not enough to have just two or three players.

“For a team to win the World Cup you must not necessarily have 11 good players but seven or eight of a very good standard; that's how you win the World Cup.” Nevertheless, the 25-year-old is confident his side can have a successful tournament, though concedes that other sides should be seen as bigger favourites.

“If I and the team perform well, I think we can go as far as possible.

The squad has a great team spirit,” he added.

“But no, Portugal are not among the favourites. Other teams also want to win. Portugal has never won such a big tournament as this.”

Not yet, anyway.

Eriksson is going for gold HE may be best known in England as the man who failed to get the most from the so-called ‘Golden Generation’, but Sven Goran Eriksson is ready for another tilt at World Cup glory, this time in charge of a more than useful Ivory Coast.

Eriksson only took charge of ‘The Elephants’ back in March, after an unsuccessful stint with Mexico, and he is wary of the Ivorians’ tough-looking group.

“I think we are going to have three very difficult games,” he says, “We have to be very organised.”

And while Eriksson will know exactly what to expect from both Brazil and Portugal, he has also warned of the dangers of underestimating North Korea, the apparent minnows of Group G. “Pay attention to North Korea,” he warned. “Nobody speaks about North Korea but they play good football.

“Physically they are better than anyone because they have been in the training camp for six months.”

Ivory Coast’s squad is littered with players from Europe’s top clubs, with the likes of Kolo and Yaya Toure, Didier Zokora and Salomon Kalou hoping to shine, but Eriksson is in no doubt as to his key player in South Africa – Chelsea star Didier Drogba.

“Every team going to the World Cup has one or two players who are match-winners.

For us it’s Drogba, yes,” he added. “He scored over 30 goals this season, and doing that in the Premier League and Champions League. That's absolutely incredible. We want him very fit in the World Cup.” Eriksson may not of got his wish, however, after Drogba became a major doubt after breaking his arm in a friendly against Japan at the weekend.

GROUP E GROUP F GROUP G Ivory Coast Portugal Brazil North Korea GROUP H

Northern stars out to shine

WORLD CUP

32 WORLD CUP

Monday, June 7, 2010

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2010 WORLD CUP Group H

GROUP A GROUP B GROUP C GROUP D

Spain must learn to lead from the front HAVING shed their long-held tag as perennial underachievers on the big stage, Spain go into this summer’s World Cup needing to come to terms with a new mantle – that of likely winners.

Spain’s success at Euro 2008 brought them only their second international trophy and first since 1964, and ended years of disappointment and failure for one of the game’s biggest football nations.

The kings of qualifying – since 1978 Spain have reached the finals of every World Cup and European Championship except Euro 92 – Spain had earned a reputation for struggling to fulfill their undoubted potential when it really mattered.

Prior to their win in Austria and Switzerland two years ago, Spain had only progressed beyond the quarter-final stage of a major tournament on three occasions – winning the European Championships in 1964, finishing runners-up 20 years later and coming fourth at the 1950 World Cup. Considering the talent they have had at their disposal down the years, that was a remarkably poor record and one of the main reasons why Spain went into Euro 2008 as only dark horses to lift the title – despite almost certainly boasting the best squad.

It is a different story now though and, for many, the battle to be crowned world champions will be a contest between the Spanish and five-time winners Brazil, with the likes of England, Argentina and Germany in contention.

Spain can do little about the expectations that have now been placed on them, but Xavi (pictured) hopes things can be kept in perspective.

“It’s good that people have faith in us but Spain have never done anything at the World Cup,” said the Barcelona midfielder, who was named player of the tournament at Euro 2008.

“We cannot put more pressure on ourselves for having won the European Championships and because we’ve been installed as bigger favourites than other teams who have won the World Cup on previous occasions.”

Fernando Torres added: “We are considered one of the big favourites, that’s inevitable, but I also remember that in the European Championships in Portugal (2004) and in the World Cup in Germany we were also classed among the favourites without deserving it.”

in association with

World Cup facts KENNY DALGLISH is one of only two Liverpool players to have scored in two World Cups, doing so in 1978 – during the ‘Archie Gemmill’ victory over Holland – and 1982. Michael Owen, who scored in the 1998 and 2002 tournaments, is the other Red to achieve this feat. Fernando Torres can make it an Anfield hat-trick in South Africa.

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CHAMPS: Liverpool striker Fernando Torres believes Spain are ready to add the World Cup to their Euro 2008 title

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WONDER BOY: Alexis Sanchez

ALEXIS SANCHEZ has great expectations heading into his first World Cup this summer.

The ‘wonder boy’, as he is known in South America, was a pivotal player for Chile as they earned a ticket to the top football tournament for the first time since 1998.

The Udinese forward scored three goals while providing numerous assists in qualifying to help Chile book a place in South Africa.

“For any player it is a dream to play for the national team,” he said.

“It’s all the more amazing to be able to take part in a World Cup.”

He was a member of the Under-20 World Cup team in 2007, where he played alongside club teammate Mauricio Isla among others, and finished third.

Despite being 21, he has already made 24 appearances for the senior national team and scored nine goals.

Sanchez began his career with Chilean side Cobreloa, making a total of 40 league appearances while

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Group H

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SOUTH AFRICA

Euro success cleared a major mental block

I

by DOMINIC KING

living his dream at World Cup scoring nine goals. Udinese then signed him for a fee of $3million in 2006. He was immediately loaned out to Colo-Colo, who paid Udinese nearly $150,000 for his services for both the 2006 Clausura championship and the 2007 Apertura championship of which they won both.

The then teenager scored five goals in 27 league games for the club as well as bagging a hat-trick in a Copa Libertadores match with Venezuelan side Caracas.

His next stop after Colo-Colo was a loan move to Argentina giants

River Plate. The teenager’s spell in Argentina proved an impressive one as he helped the club to the 2008 Clausura title. Sanchez scored four league goals in 28 appearances, adding to his reputation back in Chile and in South America.

Sanchez moved to Italy in the summer of 2008 and scored three goals in 32 appearances in his debut season in Serie A. “Alexis has been one of the club’s most important signings,” said Udinese general director Pietro Leonardi. “He’s first class.”

Despite struggling this season with

a knee ligament injury, he has gradually earned a starting place in Udinese’s squad.

“I am very happy with the work that Alexis has done,” said Udinese coach Pasquale Marino. “He is a player that has a lot of talent and a good future ahead of him.”

Sanchez has certainly adapted to Italy’s top flight and feels he will be in top form this summer.

“It is my best time since I arrived to Friuli,” said Sanchez. “In football you should not look behind but ahead and I feel fit and ready to play.”

amassed but, with Switzerland, Chile and Honduras standing in their way in Group H, it is inconceivable that his barren run will continue for too much longer.

“I know that, along with (David) Villa, I’m lucky enough to be one of the strikers in a team that are among the favourites and that brings certain privileges,” said Torres, whose thumping strike against Ukraine was rated one of the goals of the 2006 World Cup. “It’s been a very difficult season.

When you start a campaign you hope you will be able to fulfil your dreams, by winning titles, not having injuries, enjoying yourselves and it has been just the opposite.

“But there is always a tomorrow in football and this summer, we have the World Cup. I’ve put aside the club, the bad season, and I want to finish the season in the best way possible way by making history with my country.

“We know what it feels like to be a winning team now because we won the European Championship and it gives us more confidence. Our players think we can win.”

Honduras Chile Spain Switzerland

tournaments an art form – has shown Spain have a substance to match their style and their record in qualifying for the World Cup from European Group Five was a perfect 10 wins from 10 games.

No wonder, then, Torres is exuding confidence about La Roja’s chances in South Africa; Vincente Del Bosque, who replaced Luis Aragones as Spain’s coach after Euro 2008, has seen his squad go from strength to strength and they will take some stopping.

“It doesn’t matter how strong your team is, when you get used to going out in the second round or quarter-finals it’s very hard to break that cycle, even when you are the superior team,” said Torres, who has cut off his trademark flaxen locks for the World Cup. “Look at the teams Spain have had over the past 10 to 20 years. It was only two years ago we got past the quarter-finals and once we did that we won the competition. When you constantly go out at that stage you start to believe you can’t progress further.

“When you get into that frame of mind you have to break it mentally. I believe Spain will win the tournament. That is the belief that winning the Euros gave us. It was such an important achievement.”

He is not so confident, however, to

say this is a one-horse race. Far from it. Discussions with Steven Gerrard at Melwood, coupled with the knowledge he has of the Premier League, means he is pinpointing England as the biggest danger to Spain.

“People say Spain have the best starting line-up in the world but when you look at England on paper, they have the second strongest line-up in the world,” adds Torres, who arrives fresh in South Africa after a season wrecked by injury.

“In John Terry and Rio Ferdinand, they have two of the best defenders. Stevie is the best central midfielder on the planet and Wayne Rooney is one of the in-form players in football, along with Lionel Messi.

“It’s hard to see a weakness in the England team. All they need to do now is break the mental barrier that going out at the quarter-final stage of tournaments brings. Spain against England would be the perfect final.”

That might be so but it is worth remembering the last three times the countries have met – in Madrid in November 2004, at Old Trafford in February 2007 and in Seville last February – Spain won 1-0 and gave England a lesson in how to play football.

You would not, therefore, bet against them doing so again should their respective paths cross in South Africa, just as you wouldn’t wager against Torres putting right one of the more curious statistics from the qualification campaign.

He, almost unbelievably, never scored one of the 34 goals Spain

GROUP E GROUP F GROUP G GROUP H

Spain can reign at World Cup - Torres T was the moment the perception of a nation changed forever.

David Villa rolled a ball to Marcos Senna on the halfway line and he, in turn, ushered Xavi forward.

Showing the dash and vision that would make him Euro 2008’s star player, the Barcelona midfielder slid a gloriously weighted ball through Germany’s defence that demanded Fernando Torres scamper into the danger zone.

Using his strength to squeeze past the toiling Philip Lahm, Liverpool’s number nine remained cool, calm and collected as Jens Lehmann hurtled out of his goal and promptly clipped Xavi’s pass over the keeper and into the back of the net.

With such breathtaking simplicity, Spain – the country that forever promised much but ultimately delivered little – became Champions of Europe and discovered the sense of belief which means they will be the team to beat in South Africa this summer.

“It was fantastic for Spanish football, for all the players and it was the happiest day in many years,” Torres recalled. “I was very proud. Lahm made a mistake to let me through. He will have to live with it all his career but it was a fantastic mistake for me.”

Do not be surprised if he repeats that effort from Vienna’s Ernst Happoel Stadium in Johannesburg’s magnificent Soccer City arena on July 11; Spain, after all, are favourites to double up with the World Cup for good reason.

Beating Germany – a nation that has made winning major

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2010 WORLD CUP Group H

in association with

World Cup facts LIVERPOOL ace Roger Hunt and Everton’s Ray Wilson were in the England side which clinched World Cup glory in 1966. Two of Hunt’s team-mates, Gerry Byrne and Ian Callaghan, did not play in the final, though received medals for their efforts during the tournament – albeit 35 years later.

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SUPER-SUB: Swiss Eren Derdiyok

EREN DERDIYOK’S message for Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld is short and sweet – you can count on me.

The striker will be a key member of Hitzfeld’s squad in South Africa and he could hardly face a tougher start to his first World Cup, with the Swiss due to meet European champions Spain in their opening game in Durban.

The match will pit the 21-year-old, who plays his club football for Bayer Leverkusen in Germany, against a defence which conceded just five times in 10 qualifiers and features

the likes of goalkeeper Iker Casillas, Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique.

Derdiyok is likely to be used predominantly as a substitute – but he is determined to make an impact whenever called upon.

“I know that our coach is planning with Alexander Frei and Blaise Nkufo (who scored a combined 10 goals in qualifying) in attack,” he said.

“But I will do everything to make

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Group H

by JAMES PEARCE Spain’s European Championships triumph.

He remains an integral part of the Spain set-up and Gerrard believes the Madrid-born keeper’s influence extends off the pitch with players looking up to the Reds number one.

“Pepe’s a character and someone who is really great to have around the dressing room,” Gerrard added.

“In training and on the pitch he’s fantastic. He’s always positive and helping team-mates – I can see a captain in him.

“As far as goalkeepers are concerned he’s still young and I can see him captaining Liverpool in the future. I certainly hope he does because he deserves it.”

Reina has followed in the footsteps of his father Miguel, who played for Barcelona and Atletico Madrid and earned five international caps.

It was Miguel who convinced him to focus on goalkeeping when he was six and helped to develop his skills.

“He wanted to be a forward but I told him it wasn’t very good being an attacking player because people would be kicking him throughout the game,” Miguel said.

“I told him he had an extraordinary talent to be a keeper. I started training him from that moment. When he was a kid I taught him more than just how to stop penalties.

“I taught him how to position his hands to stop the ball, how to fall and how to save with different parts of the body.”

When times are tough, Pepe still turns to his father for advice.

“I always try to feel positive, to be in a good mood, and to build a positive environment around me,” Pepe said.

“My dad was the person who taught me to be this way. Sometimes in this sport, that is what you have to hang onto, the good times and the stories you share with others.

“It was almost inevitable that I become a shot-stopper. It was in my genes. My dad has been a massive help to me.”

Last season was the third successive campaign in which Reina has played all 38 Premier League games for Liverpool.

He has now clocked up 259 appearances since he arrived for £6million from Villareal in 2005.

His club and international team-mate Fernando Torres believes Reina should get the nod over Casillas.

“For me Pepe is now the best keeper in the world,” Torres said.

“In Spain everyone knows he’s a very good keeper and in England there is no doubt he is the best.

“He’s played at a top level since he signed here and won many Golden Gloves.

“At Liverpool, Pepe is one of the most important players in the dressing room. After Stevie and Carra, I think he’s the most important.”

on Swiss super-sub Derdiyok sure that he can count on me at any time. I will be ready.”

Certainly the prospect of locking horns with a star-studded Spain line-up is not one that fazes the frontman, suggesting the fact no-one expects them to win or even draw the game puts them in a no-lose situation and can impact positively on their other two group matches against Chile and Honduras.

“I am looking forward to it,” he added. “But against Spain we only have a chance if we surpass ourselves.

“Perhaps it is not bad for us that

we are playing against most people’s favourites in the first game.

“No-one is expecting us to win, so to that I say, ‘We can only win and gain benefit for the rest of the World Cup’.”

Derdiyok only scored once during Switzerland’s qualifying campaign, netting in the 2-2 draw away to Latvia in September last year.

But the striker, whose first goal for his country came in a 2-1 friendly defeat to England at Wembley in February 2008, Fabio Capello’s first game in charge of the Three Lions, will go into the tournament on the

back of a very successful first season in the Bundesliga.

He joined Bayer from FC Basle in his homeland last summer and took no time at all to find his feet in the higher-quality league, scoring on the opening day of the season in a 2-2 draw at Mainz.

His partnership with Germany forward Stefan Kiessling was a major reason behind Bayer emerging very early on as genuine title contenders.

“I know that I have to lay the foundations for a good World Cup personally in the first instance at my club,” he said.

Hondurans to provide tough test as in ’82 SPAIN may do well to heed the history books before they consider Honduras as the easy touches of Group H. The European champions play the Central American side in the second game of the group stages at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park with Reinaldo Rueda’s team already marked out as whipping boys alongside Switzerland and Chile.

Yet Honduras have already made their presence felt on football’s biggest stage, having famously spoiled Spain’s party back in 1982.

Against Spain, the underdog Hondurans held the hosts to a 1-1 draw and would eke out the same result against a Northern Ireland side who were destined to win the group.

It has taken 28 years for Honduras to return to the World Cup finals and they have USA defender Jonathan Bornstein’s late header against Costa Rica last October to thank for securing passage to the big show this summer.

While they were securing a 1-0 win in El Salvador, they needed the Costa Ricans to fail at Washington DC’s RFK Stadium.

For 72 minutes it looked as if an already-qualified USA side were drifting towards defeat, but then Michael Bradley pulled a goal back and the Americans went all out to rescue some pride. It came late, in the 95th minute, but Bornstein’s goal was as fervently celebrated in Honduras as it was in the United States.

All that occurred against the backdrop of a military coup that had ousted the Honduran president last June; yet the country’s footballers had secured qualification on goal difference.

The backbone of the side is forged in the Premier League, with Tottenham’s Wilson Palacios (pictured) and Wigan’s Hendry Thomas shielding a defence that includes another Latic in Maynor Figueroa, while former Major League Soccer playmaker Amado Guevara and Bari’s Edgar Alvarez provide the creativity that supplies Genoa loanee David Suazo and ex-LA Galaxy veteran Carlos Pavon.

“We know we’ve weighty rivals with a lot of quality, well coached, but then there’s the match and we’re preparing for that,” Guevara said.

GROUP E GROUP F GROUP G GROUP H Honduras Chile Spain Switzerland

But ace Pepe still can’t dislodge Casillas

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Gerrard salute to world’s best EPE REINA was Liverpool’s outstanding performer during a dismal season at Anfield. The Reds goalkeeper landed the Premier League’s prestigious Golden Glove award for the fourth time as he shared the honour with Chelsea’s Petr Cech.

Reina’s heroics between the posts confirmed his status as one of the best shot-stoppers in world football.

If the Spaniard was any other nationality he would be the first name on the teamsheet, but Reina knows he’s likely to spend most of the World Cup finals warming the bench.

Since making his international debut in 2005, the 27-year-old has only picked up 18 caps.

Manager Vicente Del Bosque is blessed with an array of goalkeeping talent and Reina is unfortunate enough to play in the same era as Real Madrid’s Iker Casillas, the established number one.

Reina is ahead of Barcelona’s Victor Valdes in the pecking order but, barring injury, his best hope of an appearance in South Africa looks likely to be in Spain’s final group game against Chile providing Del Bosque’s men have already qualified.

His club captain, Steven Gerrard, is among those hoping Reina, who recently signed a new six-year deal to keep him at Anfield, gets the chance to shine on the biggest stage.

“Pepe has proved this year that he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world,” Gerrard said.

“He was one of our most consistent performers this season.

“It’s just unfortunate that Pepe’s got another goalkeeper on his level who is also Spanish.

“Otherwise I think he would have close to 100 caps for his country.”

Reina was in the squad for the 2006 World Cup but didn’t feature and two years ago he made one appearance in

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