Fifa under fire as spotlight stays on 'ambush advertising'

Two days after 36 blondes hired by a hitherto obscure Dutch brewer were ejected from the stadium for breaching Fifa regulations, the incident was still the talk of the tournament, dominating front pages and new bulletins for a third day.
If Fifa's intention was to deny the Bavaria brewery publicity at the expense of official World Cup beer Budweiser, they have failed.

The logos on the women's dresses were as tiny as the hemlines were short, but Fifa's heavy-handed reaction has brought the affair international attention and risked a diplomatic row with Holland, whose foreign minister has branded their handling of the incident "absurd".
The involvement of former Wimbledon midfielder and ITV pundit Robbie Earle, revealed as the source of the women's tickets and sacked as a result, has simply stirred interest in an issue that is usually the preserve of trademark lawyers and industry specialists.
Yesterday Fifa confirmed that two Dutch women suspected of orchestrating the stunt had been arrested and would face charges and prosecution under legislation introduced specifically to protect the rights of the organisation's sponsors.
A spokesman for the South African police said they would be prosecuted and tried within days in special fast-track courts introduced for the tournament.
"They are on their way to court as we speak, on three charges – contravention of the Merchandise Mark Act and contravention of two sections of the special measures regulations," the spokesman said.

Dutch foreign minister Maxime Verhagen condemned Fifa's handling of the incident, saying it was absurd that the pair had been arrested. "The arrest and [criminal] charge is a disproportional reaction," he said in a statement released by the Dutch foreign ministry.
"It is outrageous that the two women have a jail term hanging over their heads for wearing orange dresses in a football stadium. If South Africa or Fifa wants to take a company to task for an illegal marketing action, they should start judicial procedures against the company and not against ordinary citizens walking around in orange dresses."
South Africa introduced legislation to provide protection for Fifa's sponsors, who have paid an estimated $1.2billion to be associated with the tournament. With sponsors providing a third of the revenue from the event protection is seen as crucial to maintaining the value of the rights. The UK has introduced similar legislation to protect the 2012 London Olympics.
At its most draconian, such legislation gives stewards the power to prevent spectators wearing a T-shirt branded with a rival company's logo to enter a stadium.
The World Cup has always attracted ambush marketing on a more industrial scale however, and the battle between legitimate sponsors and their rivals has become a feature of the corporate age of sport that began with the 1984 Olympics.
The continued focus on the mini-dress stunt marks it out as a classic "ambush", the result of an orchestrated and deliberate marketing campaign by Bavaria.
At the 2006 World Cup the company handed out branded lederhosen to Dutch fans who were asked to remove them by stewards before entering stadiums.
This time the logos were smaller but the ambush was far more sophisticated and coordinated.
The company began screening adverts in Holland earlier this month featuring the mini-dress girls and hired a Playboy model to promote the idea. It was this ad campaign that attracted Fifa's attention, and when the women removed T-shirts to reveal the dresses they stepped in.
A spokesman for London 2012 said they have the power to remove people from venues and seek criminal charges, but would treat incidents on a case-by-case basis.
"We have legislation to protect our partners but we will take a measured and pragmatic approach to these things. If there are two or three people in branded T-shirts clearly trying to make an impression, we will ask whether they are in camera shot and whether it is a big deal before we take action to remove them."

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The vuvuzela has been muted!!! South Africa 0 Uruguay 3: match report

Having had a public holiday to await the game that should have taken their team to the brink of the second round, South Africa awakes on Thursday morning to the sobering realisation that Bafana Bafana may very well be evicted form their own party on Tuesday.

They will need victory against France in Bloemfontein but, depending on the result between Raymond Domenech’s side and Mexico on Thursday, even that might not even be enough. Furthermore they will have to do it without the influential holding midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi and Itumeleng Khune, the goalkeeper, both of whom are suspended.

Diego Forlan was the inspiration for a professional Uruguay, who eased past a desperately insipid Bafana Bafana. You knew there was trouble when the vuvuzelas went quiet. As Forlan’s shot nestled in the net an eerie hush fell over the Loftus Versfeld stadium. This was not what was supposed to happen.
Bafana had started nervously, just as they did against Mexico on the opening day in Soccer City. And just as in that game, they struggled to cope with the fluid attacking formation as Oscar Tabarez promoted a third striker, Edinson Cavani, to the starting line-up. Uruguay were menacing. Just a minute before Forlan scored, Luis Suarez wriggled past Bongani Khumalo - not for the first time - and shot into the side-netting.
Forlan got lucky with the goal itself. Diego Perez passed to the Atletico Madrid striker midway in the South African half and he turned, teed himself up, and struck the ball ferociously at goal. His shot clipped Aaron Mokoena’s shoulder - should he have got closer? - and the deflection put serious dip on the ball and it looped over the head of the helpless Khune.
The crowd, wrapped up for another night that was plunging towards zero, tried to rally the team but they were struggling to cope with Uruguay’s physically intimidating tactics. Katlego Mphela, the lone striker, was too easily bullied by the Uruguay centre backs, Diego Lugano and Diego Godin, while Jorge Fucile slammed Teko Modise to the turf with an off-the-ball body-check.
As with the Mexico game, Carlos Alberto Parreira needed to shake his charges up at half-time. They emerged before Uruguay and Mokoena got them in a huddle to delvier what looked an impassioned speech. They had 45 minutes to lift the nation. They failed.
The pattern of the first-half resumed. Forlan sent in a series of dangerous set-pieces - South Africa in their impatience were giving away too many cheap free-kicks - and from one angled delivery Lugano managed to completely mis-timed what was a clear header.
South Africa were losing what little composure they had left. Dikgacoi had already been booked - ruling him out for France - for slamming into the back of Luis Suarez in the first half when he went recklessly in on Maxi Pereira. He just got a toe to the ball but then crunched the Uruguay right-back. Massimo Busacca, perhaps elated at his compatriots’ earlier triumph, was indulgent.
With 66 minutes played, Bafana created their first, and only, proper chance. Siboniso Gaxa delivered an excellent cross to the near post for Mphela, who had slipped free of his Uruguayan handlers for once. Despite goalkeeper Fernando Muslera committed to a punch he could not steer his header goalwards. Still it was better than nothing.
At the other end, they were fortunate not to go further behind. The outstanding Forlan curved in a perfect cross for Cavani but the Palermo striker took a hurried swipe and completely failed to make proper contact.
It was merely disaster deferred for Bafana. With 15 minutes to go that hush descended again. After Forlan’s shot had deflected into the area, Khune came flying out in anticipation of a Suarez shot but the prolific Ajax striker merely touched the ball away from him. Khune’s boot clipped Suarez’s. Penalty. The Uruguay striker had dived earlier and practically did the splits this time. But it was a penalty nonetheless.
To make matters worse Khune was sent-off - Busacca had no choice - and Steven Pienaar, who had been surprisingly quiet, was taken off so that Moneeb Josephs, the back-up goalkeeper could come on. Not even a wall of vuvuzela noise could put off Forlan. He brought the stadium - bar a pocket of delirious Uruguayans, to near-silence.
The 10 men of South Africa needed to hold out as goal-difference could well be a factor in deciding who goes through. They failed in that modest task, though, Alvaro Pereira heading in Suarez’s lobbed cross in stoppage time.

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Biggest shock of the World Cup! Spain 0 Switzerland 1: match report

Switzerland pulled off the biggest shock of the World Cup so far when they beat European champions Spain 1-0 in Group H on Wednesday, their first ever victory over their opponents in 19 games.

Gelson Fernandes' goal after a mix up in the Spanish defence gave the Swiss a shock 52nd minute lead and Spain, for all their talent and guile, were unable to find a way through the massed ranks of white Switzerland shirts




The Swiss share the lead in Group H with Chile, who beat Honduras 1-0 earlier on Wednesday.
After a forgettable first half, the Swiss looked like spending another 45 minutes defending for their lives until goalkeeper Diego Benaglio's long clearance was allowed to bounce and Fernandes pounced when the ball emerged from a clutter of bodies.
The European champions, many pundits' favourites to win the tournament, enjoyed a near monopoly of possession for much of the game but were unable to convert the chances they created.
Coach Vicente del Bosque, who had started the match with David Villa as a lone striker, brought Fernando Torres and Jesus Navas on after the goal to try and rescue the game but they were unable to find a way through.
Xabi Alonso hit the underside of the bar with a fine strike in the 70th minute, Navas shot lamely at Swiss goalkeeper Benaglio when through on goal about a minute later, and Gerard Pique squandered another chance on the next Spanish attack.
Eren Derdiyok, playing in place of his injured captain Alex Frei, then jinked his way through the defence to almost double the Swiss lead but, to the relief of the Spanish, his shot came bouncing back off the post.

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Maradona hits out at Pele and Michel Platini

Argentina coach Maradona, whose relationship with three-time Brazilian World Cup winner Pele has always been soured by verbal jibes between the two men, urged Pele to "go back to the museum" in a lively press conference in Pretoria prior to Thursday’s Group B clash with South Korea.
Pele had labelled Maradona’s appointment as Argentina coach as a mistake and suggested he had only taken the job to solve money problems. And with Uefa president Platini, who played in three World Cups for France, also questioning Maradona’s coaching credentials, the man now infamous for his ‘Hand of God’ goal against England in 1986 reacted in explosive fashion

Maradona said: "I'm not surprised (by Pele’s comments). Pele should go back to the museum.
"And as for Platini, I'm not surprised because I always had a distant relationship with him, we would just say hi and goodbye.
"But we know what the French are like and Platini is French, he believes he's better than the rest of us."
And when asked for his opinion on the controversial Jabulani ball being used at this World Cup, Maradona dismissively suggested that matter could be solved by Platini and Pele.
He said: "The ball is an issue, although I don't want to go into that because everyone is talking about it.
"But it's important. It does play a part and I'd ask Pele and Platini to go and play with it and take a look at the ball and stop talking about me."
Argentina can secure a place in the knock-out stages with a victory against the South Koreans tomorrow.
The two countries met in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, with Maradona claiming that Koreans played ‘taekwondo rather than football’ during a 3-1 win for the Argentines.
And with Cristiano Ronaldo complaining of a lack of protection from referees during Portugal’s 0-0 draw with Ivory Coast on Monday, Maradona has warned the Koreans not to get physical with his star player, Lionel Messi.
Maradona said: "The referees have a lot to answer for if you want to see a match where the stars won't be hampered.
"If Korea do something to Messi or (Carlos) Tevez they'll have to get a yellow card and the second time they'll be off.
"We came here to see wonderful football and those who don't want to see that can go home.
"We're here to see the likes of Messi and Kaka and that's great. We don't want the spectacle to be affected.
"Referees have to be strict, they have to pull out the yellow card. We've got to be careful with this.
"We don't want it to be too rough, you don't want to risk your life. You have to play a fair match because we don't want to break any legs."

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Brazil attack North Korea for 'spoilsport' defensive tactics

Coach Dunga and his players said that North Korea's massed defence simply made life too difficult for the five-times world champions on Tuesday, who are more comfortable facing teams who open up and attack.
"It was a very complicated match because they closed down the spaces," said striker Luis Fabiano after Brazil struggled to a 2-1 win over the World Cup minnows

"It was difficult for the forwards because there was a sea of Korean players and the ball just didn't reach the front," he added.
Goalkeeper Julio Cesar also complained of the inconvenience caused by the opposition.
"It's boring to play against a team like that because you have to attack all the time," he said. "North Korea were trying to play on the counter-attack."
Felipe Melo said that North Korea played with "two lines of five" and Michel Bastos agreed that the Asian side's ultra defensive tactics made it tough for the Samba boys.
"It's not easy to play against a team which just plays in defence. It makes things really difficult for us," he said.
In central defender Juan's opinion, it was all typical of modern football.
"That's football today," he said. "A national team without any sort of tradition at the top level, but who mark well and just worry about defending."
Dunga, who has turned Brazil into a team which depends on counter-attacks and set pieces for goals, agreed with his players.
"When you meet a team who play attacking football, it allows you to create space," he said.
"When you play opponents who close ranks, you have to speed up the game, you misplace passes, you have to be persistent, so it's not easy to play against that sort of team."
Dunga's Brazil have thrived against teams who have taken the initiative, especially in the World Cup qualifiers when they won 3-0 in Chile, 4-0 in Uruguay and Venezuela and 3-1 in Argentina.
But they were held to 0-0 draws at home to Bolivia, Colombia, Argentina and Venezuela after their opponents packed their defence.

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Honduras 0 Chile 1: match report

Jean Beausejour scored the only goal as Chile claimed their first win in the World Cup finals for 48 years with a 1-0 win over Honduras.
Beausejour knocked in a cross from Mauricio Isla in the 34th minute to give the Chileans three points in Group H.




Chile came close to doubling its lead on several occasions. In the 62nd, forward Alexis Sanchez dragged a clear-cut chance wide after he was put through by playmaker Jorge Valdivia. And in the 64th, defender Waldo Ponce saw his close-range header saved by Honduras goalkeeper Noel Valladares.
Chile was on the offensive almost from the start, with midfielder Matias Fernandez threatening in the second minute with a free kick that curled just over the bar.
Valdivia tapped one in the net in the 75th but was ruled offside.
Honduras found it difficult to break through a well-organized Chilean defense, which was led by Gary Medel, and was restricted to long-range efforts, primarily from lone striker Carlos Pavon.
Honduras' best chance came from midfielder Ramon Nunez, who threatened with a free kick in first-half injury time that was tipped over the bar by Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.
Chile's last victory at the World Cup came on June 16, 1962, when it hosted the tournament and beat Yugoslavia 1-0 for third place.
This is Chile's first World Cup appearance since 1998, when the team managed to get past the group stage with three draws.
Chile plays Switzerland next on Monday in Port Elizabeth, while Honduras will face Spain at Ellis Park.

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Ten Arrested In Mogadishu For Watching Match On TV!

At least 10 people have been arrested by Islamic fighters who accused them of watching the banned screening of World Cup football matches currently going on in South Africa.

The groups imposed a ban on the viewing and screening of the matches in Somalia but local fans have been daring to watch the games at the homes of those who can afford to install satellite dishes.





According to Radio France Internationale, unconfirmed reports say that two people were also killed after Islamic fighters stormed a house in Mogadishu as youths were watching live matches from the World Cup in South Africa.

The factions argued that watching the games, or playing football, is a waste of money and time and that the sport is a western influence on Somali Muslim society.

Residents in the government-controlled side of the capital Mogadishu freely watch the games in the few cinemas that dare to screen the matches, while others share with relatives and neighbors who have satellite dishes.

Islamists groups who control much of south and center of Somalia, including large swathes of the capital Mogadishu, also banned the airing of music by local radio and TV stations.

In February this year, these militant groups sprayed bullets and killed two people and injured several other football fans who were watching a European Champions League match at a cinema hall in Mogadishu.

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Photos: Body Painted Porn Stars Play Soccer in Berlin during the public viewing of the World Cup!

The World Cup in South Africa is currently showcasing some of the finest soccer players on the planet, but another soccer competition featured a different kind of talent.
On June 12, during the public viewing of the World Cup's Germany vs Australia match, body painted porn stars played some "Sexy Soccer Erotic football" at Traumstrand Berlin! Here are the photos, enjoy!!

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(photos/Getty Images)

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Sexy Dutch dances and preforms striptease at Netherlands vs Denmark Match!!!!

We already showed you some photos of the thirty-six sexily dressed Dutch women, but these ladies became more popular then the players themselves, so here are some more!

This time, we bring you even more as one of them was caught while dancing and performing striptease during the match!! Enjoy!!!

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Group H Betting Preview

Group H Outright Odds
Spain - 4.40
Switzerland - 151.0
Honduras - 501.0
Chile - 51.0

They who shall be last shall be first or words to that effect. Red hot favourites Spain will hope that the above comes through as they along with Switzerland are the final teams in the tournament to see some match action. Along with Chile and Honduras this is a group that has the potential to provide more goals than any other.

Chile qualified in second spot behind Brazil in the South American group. It was their best ever achievement as La Roja reached their first finals since 1998. Repeating their third-placed finish from 1962 may be a distant dream but getting out of the group is their initial target. If any side is going to have a crack at Spain then it's Marcelo Bielsa's entertaining outfit.

Honduras are making their first appearance at the finals in 28 years after qualifying in dramatic fashion. Results went their way on the final day as they sneaked past Costa Rica and with several of their team playing in Europe they are not the whipping boys many are portraying them as. Recent form hasn't been good and away from Honduras they are patchy but they will be hopeful of picking up at least a point.


Spain are the red hot favourites and go into the tournament on a wave of goodwill and patriotic support. Rampant in qualifying the Spanish have demolished any side which has encountered them since that shock defeat against the USA a year ago. Boasting an incredibly well balanced squad with multiple game changers it's understandable why the bookies favour them to land their first world crown. Only questions is, have they peaked too soon?

Switzerland showed they are a team for the future by scooping the Under-17 World Cup last year. Transferring that form to the senior team is a bigger task for the savvy Ottmar Hitzfeld as the Swiss struggled big time in friendly matches before a morale boosting draw with Italy. They will be organised but lack the star quality to progress beyond the group stage.

Betting Potential
Clearly backing Spain is the way to go so put your money on them to win all three games and consider the handicap market. Against Honduras for example the favourites at -2 is a tasty 2.04. A dual forecast of Spain/Chile to progress is 1.57 while you will get long odds of 9.0 of Vincent del Bosque's side being eliminated in the first round.

To Qualify
Chile 1.05
Honduras 5.50
Spain 1.05
Switzerland 2.50

Not To Qualify
Chile 2.10
Honduras 1.10
Spain 9.0
Switzerland 1.50

Best Bet
Obviously Spain to go through at 1.05 which won't make you rich unless you are placing major sums. A better bang for your buck is David Villa to score in every group game at 6.5. He will rip the best defences to shreds and the three sides in Group H are certainly not in that category.

Outside Bet
Over 2.5 goals at 2.17 in Chile Switzerland game. As we expect the Swiss to lose their first match against Spain they will need to adopt a more positive approach against a Chile team who generally play open attacking football. Goals look likely as we will be past the tentative opening phase.

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Watch South Africa v Uruguay Live Streaming Online for Free

Watch South Africa v Uruguay Live Streaming Online for Free


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Watch Spain v Switzerland Live Streaming Online for Free

Watch Spain v Switzerland Live Streaming Online for Free


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Watch Honduras v Chile Live Streaming Online for Free

Watch Honduras v Chile Live Streaming Online for Free


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Sven-Goran Eriksson wants Fifa talks over Jabulani ball

The Adidas Jabulani has come in for criticism from players and goalkeepers alike after a number of high-profile errors in the early stages of the World Cup.
Eriksson, whose team held Portugal to a goalless draw in their Group G opener last night, insists something must be done but admits it is too late for the current tournament

''I can understand the goalkeepers are not happy with it at all, but it's too late to do something about that in this World Cup,'' said the former England manager.
''It's a decision for the authorities for the next big tournament, whether it's in Africa or Europe or wherever it is.
''I think it should be discussed and everyone should listen to the top goalkeepers in the world because I am sure this doesn't do them any favours at all.
''Maybe we will see some goals, but discussion between managers, the company who produce the football and the football players, that would be good.''

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The vuvuzela has been silenced !!!

The vuvuzela has been silenced. Traders and shoppers at a Durban shopping mall have put their foot down and declared the venue a no-blow zone for the instrument.

Radio stations and newspapers have not only written at length about them, but run polls on whether the controversial instruments should be banned, acclaimed or declared a national symbol.

Some fans and players have also complained about the din and suggestions have been made on how to tune the noise out of the game while watching games on television.

The management of Gateway shopping centre on Tuesday banned the blowing of vuvuzelas inside the building, following complaints received from shop owners and members of the public last Friday, when the World Cup opened.
Centre manager Adrian Raw said the "distinctive" sound of the vuvuzela in the closed environment was infringing on patrons' shopping experience.

Zahirah Variawa, the public relations officer for the mall, said the decision was taken to ban blowing of the instruments after the World Cup opening on Friday.

"Young people were going up to elderly people and blowing vuvuzelas in their ears. People started leaving restaurants and shopkeepers could not hear what customers were saying. We saw a dent in trade on Friday."

People who did not heed the instructions of the security personnel would be removed from the premises and not allowed to return.

Meanwhile, the BBC is considering filtering out crowd noise from its World Cup broadcasts following a deluge of complaints about the vuvuzelas.

By Tuesday morning, the BBC had received 545 complaints from viewers over the droning plastic horns.

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Spain v Switzerland: match preview

Group H
Spain v Switzerland
Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
Kick-off: Wed June 16, 3pm BST
TV: BBC1 2.30pm, BBC1 HD 2.30pm
Switzerland’s slim chance of causing an upset against Spain has been further reduced following confirmation that Alex Frei is ruled out with an ankle injury.

Frei, who has scored 40 international goals in only 73 matches, has not trained since Switzerland have arrived in South Africa although Ottmar Hitzfeld has dismissed as “absurd” suggestions that his star player is out for the entire tournament.
West Ham’s Valon Behrami is also missing for Switzerland but should return against Chile. For Spain, the main doubts concern Fernando Torres and Andres Iniesta.
Touchline duel
Vicente del Bosque v Ottmar Hitzfeld: Two of the very best and most experienced manager at the entire World Cup. Both Del Bosque and Hitzfeld are among the select group of managers to have won the Champions League twice and, between them, have won 28 major trophies during their careers. For Spain, Del Bosque’s win percentage is an extraordinary 96.15 per cent.
Talking Tactics
Switzerland must find a way of depriving Spain possession and, with Alex Frei injured, are considering whether to play only one striker in order to flood the midfield. Spain’s main dilemma surrounds how they will replace Fernando Torres, with the general expectation that an extra midfielder will be selected in support of David Villa.
Key Clash
Xavi v Gokhan Inler: Xavi is arguably the key man in what have been both the finest Barcelona and Spanish team in history. He sets the rhythm for Spain and preventing him from dominating possession will be critical to Switzerland’s chances. To that end, Gokham Inler, the Udinese midfielder, will have the job of disrupting Spain’s flowing passing.
What they say
Vicente del Bosque: The good thing is that we have a very down to earth, humble group of players who are able to resist the pressure and not allow themselves to be carried away. They have to have what I call a marathon approach to motivation – consistent, unwavering
Ottmar Hitzfeld: Spain are currently the number one team in the world – a tremendous midfield, an extraordinary attack and outstanding individuals who play as a team. The expectation in Switzerland for the World Cup are very, very high.
Teams
Spain (4-1-4-1): Casillas; Ramos, Pique, Puyol, Capdevila; Alonso; Busquets, Xavi, Fabregas, Silva; Villa
Switzerland (4-4-2): Benaglio, Lichtsteiner, Senderos, Grichting, Magnin, Padalino, Inler, Huggel, Fernandes, Derdiyok, Nkufu
Referee: Howard Webb (England)
Previous meetings
Played 18: Spain 15, Draws 3, Switzerland 0
1925: (Berne, friendly): Switzerland 0 Spain 3
1927: (Santander, friendly): Spain 1 Switzerland 0
1936: (Berne, friendly): Switzerland 0 Spain 2
1941: (Valencia, friendly): Spain 3 Switzerland 2
1948: (Zurich, friendly): Switzerland 3 Spain 3
1951: (Madrid, friendly): Spain 6 Switzerland 3
1955: (Geneva, friendly): Switzerland 0 Spain 3
1957: (Madrid, WCQ): Spain 2 Switzerland 2
1957: (Lausanne, WCQ): Switzerland 1 Spain 4
1966: (Sheffield, WC): Spain 2 Switzerland 1
1969: (Valencia, friendly): Spain 1 Switzerland 0
1970: (Lausanne, friendly): Switzerland 0 Spain 1
1977: (Berne, friendly): Switzerland 1 Spain 2
1982: (Valencia, friendly): Spain 2 Switzerland 0
1984: (Geneva, friendly): Switzerland 0 Spain 4
1987: (Basel, friendly): Switzerland 1 Spain 1
1989: (Santa Cruz De Tenerife, friendly): Spain 2 Switzerland 1
1994: (Washington DC, WC): Spain 3 Switzerland 0
Fact: Switzerland have won eight games in the finals, a better return than Chile, Paraguay, Cameroon and South Korea.
Prediction: The Spaniards, the reigning European champions, are one of the favourites and should qualify with ease, beginning with a simple and overwhelming victory over the Swiss.

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Honduras v Chile: match preview

Group H
Honduras v Chile
Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Kick-off: Wed June 16, 12.30pm BST
TV: ITV1 12pm, ITV HD 12pm

Marcelo Bielsa begins his second World Cup – he took charge of the Argentina side which fell at the Group Stage in 2002 – with doubts over the fitness of his talismanic forward Humberto Suazo, though the Chilean camp are confident the Zaragoza striker will be fit in time to face Honduras in Nelspruit.

Should Suazo not make it, he will be replaced in the central attacking role by Colo Colo’s Esteban Paredes, with Jean Beausejour and Real Madrid target Alexis Sanchez in the wide berths.
Honduras have injury concerns over their own Suazo, Genoa striker David, as well as Tottenham midfielder Wilson Palacios and playmaker Julio Cesar de Leon, though it is thought both will start the country’s first World Cup finals match since 1982.
Key clash
Maynor Figueroa v Alexis Sanchez: Despite impressing this season for Roberto Martinez’s Wigan, Figueroa faces an arduous task in Honduras’s opening fixture, tasked with containing the electrifying Udinese winger. Sanchez is known as “Wonderkid” in his homeland and is seen as the closest equivalent Chile has to Lionel Messi, a fact borne out by his last Serie A campaign, in which his eight goals in 26 games left such an impression that Jose Mourinho is believed to be attempting to take him to Real Madrid.
Talking tactics
Just as his Argentine side in 2002 were, Marcelo Bielsa’s Chile are an open, attacking side drawn up in an unorthodox but effective 3-3-1-3 formation, with Sanchez playing wide on the right and either Jean Beausejour or the rehabilitated, South African-born Mark Gonzalez on the opposite flank.
Honduras, though, will prove difficult to break down and dangerous on the break, while David Suazo may find he enjoys rather more space than he may have be accustomed to.

TOUCHLINE DUEL
Reinaldo Rueda v Marcelo Bielsa: Though Bielsa’s career as Argentina manager ended rather abruptly in his resignation in 2004 – despite being a given second chance after the chaos of the 2002 World Cup – his side were praised for their approach, and this Chile team live up to his reputation for producing attractive teams.
His counterpart, meanwhile, is known as the Colombian Mourinho for the motivational powers which have made Honduras a force in a region growing gradually weaker.
What they say
Reinaldo Rueda: “We have been taking stock of the injury situation. Julio Cesar de Leon is depressed because of this situation and we will see how he copes with this pain. Doctors will say what will happen now. Of course this will make a difference, we have been working well with Julio. We will have to wait for the answer we get and then make any necessary adjustments over the coming hours."
Marcelo Bielsa: "We only think about attacking. We will try to attack as much as we can. [Humberto] Suazo has that got special quality of scoring goals. I never take a risk with a player who is not fit, but that is not the case with Suazo.”
Teams
Honduras (4-4-2): 18 Valladares, 16 Sabillon, 2 Chavez, 21 Izaguirre, 3 Figueroa; 19 Turcios, 8 W Palacios, 20 Guevara, 10 Julio de Leon; 9 Pavon, 11 Suazo
Substitutes: 1 Canales (G), 22 Escober (G), 4 J Palacios, 5 Bernardez, 14 Garcia, 23 Mendoza, 6 Thomas, 7 Nunez, 13 Espinoza, 17 Alvarez, 12 Welcome, 15 Martinez
Chile (3-3-1-3): 1 Bravo, 8 Vidal, 18 Jara, 3 Ponce; 20 Millar, 6 Carmona, 17 Medel; 14 Fernandez; 15 Beausejour, 9 Suazo, 7 Sanchez.
Substitutes: 12 Pinto (G), 23 Marin (G), 2 Fuentes, 4 Isla, 5 Contreras, 10 Valdivia, 13 Estrada, 19 Fierro, 21 Tello, 11 Gonzalez, 16 Orellana, 22 Paredes
Referee: Eddy Maillet (Seychelles)
Previous meetings
Played 5: Honduras 2, Draws 0, Chile 3
1997: (Santiago, friendly): Chile 3 Honduras 2
2000: (Santiago, friendly): Chile 5 Honduras 2
2001: (San Pedro Sula, friendly): Honduras 3 Chile 1
2003: (San Pedro Sula, friendly): Honduras 1 Chile 2
2009: (Fort Lauderdale, friendly): Honduras 2 Chile 0
Fact: Chile have failed to win in their last 13 matches in the World Cup finals. Their last success was in 1962 when, as hosts, they beat Yugoslavia to claim third place.
Prediction: Chile impressed in qualifying, finishing second to Brazil, and they face a Honduras side without a win in three previous final appearances. Chile to win.

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South Africa v Uruguay: match preview

South Africa v Uruguay
Loftus Versfield Stadium, Pretoria
Kick-off: Wed June 16, 7.30pm BST
TV: BBC1 7pm, BBC1 HD 7pm

This is a game that neither side can afford to lose. South Africa will be guaranteed immense support at the old-school Loftus Versfeld stadium and need a victory to keep the Bafana Bafana party alive.

Carlos Alberto Parreira will promote Tsepo Masilela to the team at left back after Lucas Thwala’s hapless first-half display against Mexico but otherwise remain unchanged. Just as against Mexico, they will be looking to Steven Pienaar for inspiration. Uruguay will also start with the same line-up.
Nicolas Lodeiro, who came on as a substitute against France only to be sent off for two bookable offences, is suspended.
Touchline duel
Carlos Alberto Parreira v Oscar Tabarez: A tactical tussle between two of the wiliest old dogs in Latin American football: Parreira, 67, and Tabarez, 63, have 37 coaching jobs between them. Neither has a reputation for being particularly expansive but Parreira’s South Africa are the more positive by instinct.
Talking tactics
Uruguay were excessively defensive against France and Tabarez has promised they will try to get on the front foot more against South Africa. With Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez up front there is no excuse for not doing so. South Africa need Teko Modise, their talented but frustratingly inconsistent playmaker, to run the game.
Key clash
Diego Forlan v Bongani Khumalo: The Atletico Madrid striker showed some excellent flashes against France and will fancy his chances against a South African defence that gave Mexico plenty of room. Khumalo, quick and powerful, made several decisive defensive interventions and will want to enhance his growing reputation against a top-class striker.
What they say
Carlos Alberto Parreira: “We have to change our approach. Three draws are no good. So that means taking risks and I am prepared to that against Uruguay.”
Oscar Tabarez: "South Africa have players who are really fast. It will be tough. It should also be a good occasion. I don't think the vuvuzelas are a nuisance, they create a nice atmosphere. Too much is being said of the vuvuzelas."
Teams
South Africa (4-4-1-1): 16 Khune; 2 Gaxa, 20 Khumalo, 4 Mokoena, 3 Masilela; 11 Modise, 13 Dikgacoi, 12 Letsholonyane, 8 Tshabalala; 10 Pienaar; 9 Mphela
Uruguay (4-4-2): 1 Muslera; 6 Victorino, 2 Lugano, 3 Godin, 11 Pereira; 16 Maxi Pereira, 15 Perez, 17 Arevalo, 18 Gonzalez; 9 Forlan, 10 Suarez.
Referee: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland)
Previous meetings
Played 2: South Africa 0, Draws 1, Uruguay 1
1997: (Riyadh, Confederations Cup): Uruguay 4 South Africa 3
2007: (Johannesberg, friendly): South Africa 0 Uruguay 0
Fact: Uruguay are looking for only their second win in five World Cup finals.
Prediction: Uruguay were solid and difficult against France, while Bafana Bafana brought joy with their draw against Mexico. But Uruguay could be too strong, so expect the South Americans to win.

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Referees' tolerant approach applauded by Fifa

The light-touch approach of referees so far in the World Cup in South Africa, at least in comparison with previous tournaments, has been hailed by Fifa as a success.
The last World Cup, in Germany, featured a record number of yellow and red cards, 345 and 28 respectively, and Spanish soccer federation president Angel Maria Villa, who heads Fifa’s referees’ committee, has applauded the light touch on display this year.
He said: “I’ve congratulated the referees on their good performances. The three officials have been marvellous in all the matches. We are happy with the way the World Cup is going as far as my responsibilities go.”




The tone was set on the opening day when Ravshan Irmatov, of Uzbekistan, kept a cool head in a match boiling with emotion and allowed the players of South Africa and Mexico to blow off early steam without rushing to his cards.
In the France v Uruguay match, Japanese ref Yuichi Nishimura refused to be fooled by some early theatrics, letting robust but fair tackles go and using the advantage rule at every opportunity.
Of the four red cards shown so far, only that for Australia’s Tim Cahill was widely considered unfair, while Argentine ref Hector Baldassi did well to spot the blink-of-an-eye handball by Serbia’s Zdravko Kuzmanovic that gave Ghana their match-winning penalty.
Spokesman Nicolas Maingot said the officials’ performances were a return on long Fifa’s preparation.
“In general Fifa has invested a lot of effort into refereeing,” he said. “The referees here have prepared for many years, officiating together at various other Fifa competitions.
"They work in trios coming from the same country and Fifa has been very active in trying to improve the refereeing situation.”

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Fifa defends ban on 'political' questions to North Korea

Fifa has defended its attempts to limit journalists questions to the North Korean coach and players in South Africa, insisting that its priority is to facilitate a working relationship between the team and media.
At the North Korean coach Kim Jong-hun’s press conference before Tuesday night’s match against Brazil a Fifa media officer cut off journalists who he believed were asking “political” questions.



One such concerned whether the match would be screened in North Korea, a moot point after South Korea refused to pass on its feed of the match after having one of its warships sunk by the North.
he media officer’s actions were highly unusual and appeared to breach the commitment to open media access at the tournament. Given that the South African hosts have repeatedly set the tournament in a political context it also smacked of hypocrisy.
“We are here to talk about football not politics,” said a Fifa spokesman.
“What we are trying to do is facilitate a relationship between the teams and the media, and the media officer did what he felt was right to achieve that.”
On Tuesday night, a band of about 100 red-clad middle-aged North Korean men, directed by a cheerleader, were at Ellis Park to support their team.
Although surrounded on all sides by Brazilian fans draped in gold and green, they waved North Korean flags, clapped wooden blocks together and chanted in unison.
Before kick-off the Koreans were the centre of attention as other fans and media closed in for a better look.

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Brazil 2 North Korea 1: match report

It’s official. There is definitely something iffy about this Jabulani ball. Even the Brazilians struggle with it although Maicon’s extraordinary goal, from a geometry-defying angle, that finally opened the scoring had much to do with the swerve it induces.
It’s been called a beach ball so it was apt that the boys who play beach football should profit from it, even if the world’s best right-back also achieved that bend through his astounding technique. He meant it








“The ball is fantastic,” Maicon said afterwards. “But, to tell you the truth, it’s a bit more difficult for the goalkeepers.” It looked pretty awkward for the outfield players, too, but as sublime as his goal was there was an even more memorable moment to come. And it was achieved by a 33 year-old North Korean by the name of Ji Yun-Nam who plies his trade for the less than renowned April 25 club in his ostracised homeland.
In the dying seconds Nam went bam, collecting a ball forward, charging into the penalty area and driving his shot over a frozen — almost literally, by then, because of the biting cold and his lack of activity — Julio Cesar.
They will have been dancing in the streets of Pyongyang, or whatever equivalent celebration the Dear Leader, Kim Jong-il allowed, after that one.
The match, apparently, was screened back in North Korea after a late deal was agreed, although there was no official confirmation and even coach Kim Hong Jun did not know. Perhaps the highlights package will expunge Maicon’s goal and Elano’s second — which was also high-class — and concentrate on that consolation. This was, after all, the most famous football team on the planet against the least known.
But the first 45 minutes could not have gone better for the Koreans if Kim Jong-il had scripted it. It was as if the Brazilians were censored by a side growing in belief. Not that this is a classic Selecao. It’s the Dunga variation — more functional, organised but also with a licence, albeit limited, to thrill and the coach was bristling in defending Robinho. “A year ago no one wanted Robinho when he played for Manchester City and I wanted to use him for the national team,” he said. “My biggest sin is that I have an elephant’s memory, I remember far back.”
Maybe the bitter cold did not help. Dunga, in the dugout, made some individual sartorial points with his submarine jumper but at least he wasn’t chilly as his players went through an extensive warm-up. The Koreans were so impressed they stopped theirs and watched — even the most committed Communists know that not everything is equal — but there was boldness from them as well as their expected, relentless commitment and in Jong Tae-Se they had a striker who caught the eye more than the vaunted Luis Fabiano.
Jong is one of only three Korean players employed outside the pariah state — in Japan — and although he was in floods of tears during the national anthem, he composed himself enough to pose a threat to those wily old campaigners, Lucio and Juan. Allowed the concession of wearing coloured boots, the Koreans shone.
This Group G game opened with three long-range sighters from the Brazilians and an outrageous step-over by Robinho but, for a while, that was it. The Koreans defended deep and they defended well. Jong, however, burst forward powerfully and there was a ridiculously ambitious shot from inside his own half from Mun In-Guk while, for Brazil, Fabiano’s clever ball released Robinho only for his shot on the turn to be easily fielded.
Brazil pressed but Kaka was worryingly careless in possession and lacking in belief as well as fitness. He even passed the ball behind Elano and straight out of play which led to both players standing frozen. And that wasn’t just because of the plunging temperature. Maicon’s powerful angled drive showed more promise but, time and again, Brazil were restricted to playing the ball across, rather than into, the penalty area. They lacked penetration. In truth they also lacked flair.
It was clear Dunga was not happy. He was back in the dugout long before his players emerged for the second half and he will certainly have demanded more, which was evident as Brazil started the game and almost sprinted en masse towards the Korean goal. A flea in the ear does that, even to the most established names.
Finally they struck. Maicon, overlapping down the right, collected Elano’s pass and drilled his shot, from almost beside the dead-ball line, between the near post and goalkeeper Ri Myong Guk and into the net. Soon after, Robinho chested down and picked out Fabiano, who blasted over. Suddenly, however, there was another shard of quality, and another goal. This time Robinho bypassed four Korean defenders with a visionary pass to his former City team-mate Elano, running in from the right who, first-time, slid the ball into the goal.
The Koreans weren’t finished and it took a last-ditch tackle from Juan to stop Jong before their moment arrived. “We fought well and we fought bravely,” their coach said. They did indeed.

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