World Cup Warm -up

[NADTATIDA1]

But he wants his own new throne..... Diego Maradona

[HANYUHAN]

I just dont understand Diego dropping both Zanetti and Cambiasso. They are such brilliant mid-defenders. Inter couldn't have done it without them. And is Milito the striker out as well? I'm worried about Argentina. I'd like to see them get through the first group.

[StevieH]

think leaving zanetti and cambiasso out was daft, but then so was leaving out lucho gonzalez who's had an excellent season. taking that big lump martin palermo instead of someone like lisandro lopez is daft as well.

[MSingh]

I just dont understand Diego dropping both Zanetti and Cambiasso. They are such brilliant mid-defenders. Inter couldn't have done it without them. And is Milito the striker out as well? I'm worried about Argentina. I'd like to see them get through the first group.

My first pick if i was Argentina Boss would be Cambiasso & i mena that..

The Guy for me is a <deleted> superb Player & so incredibly important, no coincidence that Mourinho's Inter Team done so well this Year winning 3 Major Trophies with him sitting there in front of that back 4..

& when you have a back 4 which consists of 4 x Centre Halves like Argentina's will be at this WC, he'd be more important..

Argentina could have won thsi WC if they were organised properly as they have the Players & the conditions will be great form them too, but they won't be organised & they won't win it..

[HANYUHAN]

think leaving zanetti and cambiasso out was daft, but then so was leaving out lucho gonzalez who's had an excellent season. taking that big lump martin palermo instead of someone like lisandro lopez is daft as well.

Yes,I agree. Its a worry. Id really like to see Argentina do well. Watching them play Canada, well, Canada can't really be expected to 'be' much...but you still do see the Argentine quality coming through in attack but I think that when they get to meet up with good teams like Brazil/Italy/Spain etc (if they get that far) they'll be shredded without a rock solid defence. Having a good fistful of strikers is great but the way a team like Italy comes back in counter attacks... well, itd be a shame. Watched the England V Mexico game and really couldnt see either as getting very far in the World Cup. I know its not on yet but still, not much communication happening in the English team. They Play like a bunch of guys who dont usually play together or like each other much.

Still, the Great Mystery for me in the World Cup remains...that New Zealand is in it. I'm not being critical but I just dont understand that. It seems to run counter to everything that's happened on earth for centuries. Just joking, maybe. Cheers.

[NADTATIDA1]

Frustration for Portugal

Queiroz's troops held by Cape Verde

Last updated: 24th May 2010

Portugal's World Cup preparations began with a shock goalless draw against African minnows Cape Verde.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani, Ricardo Carvalho and Deco were among those selected in a strong starting XI by Carlos Queiroz but Portugal were unable to break down Cape Verde's stubborn resistance.

Fabio Coentrao was the one surprise inclusion, with the Benfica player winning only his second cap at left-back against a side ranked 117th in the world.

The hosts predictably dominated the encounter at the Complexo Desportivo in

Covilha but lacked a cutting edge with Real Madrid forward Ronaldo in particular guilty of a string of misses.

Hugo Almeida also saw an effort repelled by the Cape Verde goalkeeper but otherwise the hosts offered little in the way of an attacking threat.

Portugal suffered an injury scare when Tiago was forced off on

75 minutes, leaving the hosts to play out the remainder of the game with 10 men having already made all six of their permitted substitutions.

Portugal, who squeaked through the qualifiers for South Africa after defeating

Bosnia-Herzegovina in the play-offs, will hope for better against two more

African teams when their World Cup preparations continue next week.

Queiroz's troops play Cameroon on 1st June and Mozambique seven days later before they open their World Cup account against Ivory Coast in Port Elizabeth on 15th June.

Brazil and North Korea also await Portugal in Group G.

[NADTATIDA1]

Argentina crush Canada

Rodriguez stars in friendly win

Last updated: 24th May 2010

Liverpool's Maxi Rodriguez scored twice as Argentina continued their preparations for the World Cup with a 5-0 victory over Canada.

Diego Maradona named a strong starting XI, with only Lionel Messi missing from the team that is expected to take to the field in Argentina's World Cup opener.

Messi was rested after a long season with Barcelona but his absence was not felt as Argentina swept aside their limited opponents.

Rodriguez opened the scoring with a free-kick on 16 minutes and then doubled Argentina's advantage 16 minutes later.

Angel Di Maria made it 3-0 before the interval and Manchester City's Carlos Tevez then added a fourth midway through the second half.

Sergio Aguero completed the rout in the 71st minute, moments after coming on as a substitute.

Argentina kick off their Group B campaign against Nigeria on 12th June before facing South Korea five days later and then Greece on 22nd June.

[MSingh]

Nigeria & S Korea will be different to Canada me thinks..

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Argies going out in teh Group Stages..

[HANYUHAN]

Nigeria & S Korea will be different to Canada me thinks..

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Argies going out in teh Group Stages..

I do agree. I am concerned that Argentina will bow out due to a weak defence and too much of Diego's desire for youth/attack. Nigeria will put pressure on them through speed and athleticism and South Korea will tactically trick them up if Argentina is not well defended. I think the big surprises will come from the Asian teams this time around. S Korea and Japan, and even N Korea would do well if it wasnt in such an impossible group. From watching the African Cup, I didnt get the impression of any startling team at all.

[NADTATIDA1]

Yes agree with you about S Korea,you just know that they will be well organised and will keep on at there opponents for the full 90 mins,they actually played against each other last night in Japan.....

JAPAN 0-2 S KOREA

South Korea overcame Japan 2-0 in Saitama as both sides continued their preparations for the World Cup.

Manchester United's Park Ji-sung and Monaco's Park Chu-young were on target for South Korea, who have been drawn alongside Argentina, Greece and Nigeria in Group B this summer.

Japan meanwhile, who play England in Austria on Sunday, face Cameroon, Demark and Holland in Group E of the South Africa tournament.

Korea can count on the quality of Park Ji-sung and he opened the scoring in the sixth minute, lashing the ball into the bottom left corner from the edge of the penalty area after a bustling run.

Park Chu-young came off the bench and won the penalty which he coolly fired into the bottom left corner for the clinching goal at the end of the second half.

Reaction

South Korea coach Huh Jung-moo said: "Both teams played well and played good football, and this game can bring us something positive ahead of the World Cup.

"Our players played well without losing their cool despite playing before a full house and that got us the win today."

Japan manager Takeshi Okada wanted a more attacking approach to the game, and after successive defeats to South Korea, revealed he asked the president of the Japan Football Federation if he should continue in the post.

"We wanted to finish the first half at 1-1 but it was hard to find a goal after giving up the first goal to our opponents," he said.

"We may have to change the way we start the game, starting the game rather defensively.

"As the president told me I should carry on, I guess I have no choice but do it."

[NADTATIDA1]

My opinion is different from you guys on Argentina,i think they will do well in this tournament,i know they are not the best defensively but nobody would like to face the players they have going forward,they have got that trickery that is needed in big games and there is that old saying that they haven't been playing very well but always do enough...when the finals come along i think they will be in with a great shout to win it.

[StevieH]

argentina will get out the group. even allowing for diego they've still got messi, tevez, aguero, milito, di maria, maxi, mascherano. . . .too much class not to.

[NADTATIDA1]

Well heres a clue as to his way of thinking regarding the defensive formation and the squad also,Veron?? where has he been!

And Palermo the wonderkid that never wondered....

Goalkeeper1 Diego Pozo 22 Sergio Romero 21 Mariano Andujar

Defender19 Nicolas Otamendi 30 Clemente Rodriguez Nicolas Burdisso 6 Martin Demichelis 25 Walter Samuel 19 Gabriel Heinze 5 Ariel Garce

Midfielder6 Javier Pastore 17 Angel Di Maria 28 Mario Bolatti 20 Javier Mascherano 18 Jonas Gutierrez 17 Maxi Rodriguez 11 Juan Sebastian Veron

Attacking Midfielder10 Lionel Messi

Striker20 Gonzalo Higuain 10 Sergio Aguero 32 Carlos Tevez 22 Diego Milito 9 Martin Palermo

Argentina boss Diego Maradona expects to use the same defence at the World Cup which has kept clean sheets in their last two games.

The controversial manager, who narrowly sealed qualification for South Africa in their final group game, has called up over 90 players for his 16 matches in charge of the national side.

The incredible number of players the Boca Juniors legend has used has triggered a guessing game as to his line-up when Argentina kick off their World Cup campaign against Nigeria on 12th June.

But after 1-0 wins over Uruguay and Germany in their last two outings, Maradona admitted he is leaning towards sticking with the same defensive line-up he used in both matches.

That consisted of three recognised centre-backs in Nicolas Otamendi, Martin Demichelis and Walter Samuel with Gabriel Heinze operating as a fourth in a narrow approach.

Formation

The unique formation is Maradona's response to unsuccessfully deploying attacking full-backs in a traditional four-four-two line up, and he is set to use this tactic in South Africa.

"I tried out lots of full-backs, I tried with [Javier] Zanetti, [Emiliano] Papa, and I finished up with four central defenders," Maradona said.

"I think I'm going to play like that, they're the ones who give me guarantees at the back. They didn't concede a goal and [Germany] didn't create any goal chances," he added.

Meanwhile, Newcastle winger Jonas Gutierrez should not lose any sleep over whether he will board the plane or not, as Maradona claims he would play the 26-year-old even if he were relegated to League One with the Magpies.

As it happens, Gutierrez has already secured promotion back to the Premier League with the Magpies, and he will be involved on the game's biggest stage this summer.

"I spoke to (Gutierrez) and reassured him that even if he went down to the C (third tier) with Newcastle I was going to take him," Maradona admitted.

[MSingh]

Nigeria & S Korea will be different to Canada me thinks..

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Argies going out in teh Group Stages..

I do agree. I am concerned that Argentina will bow out due to a weak defence and too much of Diego's desire for youth/attack. Nigeria will put pressure on them through speed and athleticism and South Korea will tactically trick them up if Argentina is not well defended. I think the big surprises will come from the Asian teams this time around. S Korea and Japan, and even N Korea would do well if it wasnt in such an impossible group. From watching the African Cup, I didnt get the impression of any startling team at all.

I agree with regards to the Africans, that Cup of Nations was THE worst " major " Football Tournament i had ever witnessed..

South Korea are a good side, the Japs won't be far behind but S Korea are easily the best Asian Ntaion & will show it i think..

Hanyuhan/Nat, are you both aware that Maradone will play x 4 Centre Backs in his Defence ??

He has only chosen 2 x Full Back in the whole squad & has chosen Veron over Cambiasso !!!

The Man's a Clown & an Idiot, obviously.

[smokie36]

Nigeria & S Korea will be different to Canada me thinks..

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Argies going out in teh Group Stages..

Argentina will win the World Cup. Willing to risk a few baht singhy?

[smokie36]

Nigeria & S Korea will be different to Canada me thinks..

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Argies going out in teh Group Stages..

Sorry double post.

[MSingh]

Nigeria & S Korea will be different to Canada me thinks..

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Argies going out in teh Group Stages..

Argentina will win the World Cup. Willing to risk a few baht singhy?

All day long, how much ??

[smokie36]

Nigeria & S Korea will be different to Canada me thinks..

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Argies going out in teh Group Stages..

Argentina will win the World Cup. Willing to risk a few baht singhy?

All day long, how much ??

My 1k Baht says Maradona will be parading with the trophy.....and it'll be a pleasure to see a victory for attacking flair driven football.

[NADTATIDA1]

Nigeria & S Korea will be different to Canada me thinks..

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Argies going out in teh Group Stages..

I do agree. I am concerned that Argentina will bow out due to a weak defence and too much of Diego's desire for youth/attack. Nigeria will put pressure on them through speed and athleticism and South Korea will tactically trick them up if Argentina is not well defended. I think the big surprises will come from the Asian teams this time around. S Korea and Japan, and even N Korea would do well if it wasnt in such an impossible group. From watching the African Cup, I didnt get the impression of any startling team at all.

I agree with regards to the Africans, that Cup of Nations was THE worst " major " Football Tournament i had ever witnessed..

South Korea are a good side, the Japs won't be far behind but S Korea are easily the best Asian Ntaion & will show it i think..

Hanyuhan/Nat, are you both aware that Maradone will play x 4 Centre Backs in his Defence ??

He has only chosen 2 x Full Back in the whole squad & has chosen Veron over Cambiasso !!!

The Man's a Clown & an Idiot, obviously.

Yes,i am aware of this as he has played the last 3 games with three central defenders(3 at the back)and Heinz as floater....also the last three games he has played this system they have not conceded a goal,ok the teams they played were not great teams(Germany aside?) but still he has stuck with the system and and this is why he left out Zanetti.

I do agree with you on Cambiasso,Veron must be about 60 now?

I think Maradona is a little crazy yes anyone who abused the substance like he did for so long will surely have mental problems,but also the players love him,the media love him and he is Mr Argentina,they will have the attitude of we will score more goals than you and are the one side in this world cup you can gaurantee will be pumped up!!!! ..just off to the toilet!

I think they could be a good bet for goals scored in the tournament,spread wise.

[MSingh]

Nigeria & S Korea will be different to Canada me thinks..

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Argies going out in teh Group Stages..

Argentina will win the World Cup. Willing to risk a few baht singhy?

All day long, how much ??

My 1k Baht says Maradona will be parading with the trophy.....and it'll be a pleasure to see a victory for attacking flair driven football.

I'll do 2k if you want ??

[bkkjames]

Perhaps you two should PM each other as to not break the rules

On a different note, I am sure J-Star has too much time on his hands now, why doesnt he set up a World Cup prediction competition???

[MSingh]

Perhaps you two should PM each other as to not break the rules

On a different note, I am sure J-Star has too much time on his hands now, why doesnt he set up a World Cup prediction competition???

Do one Jimbo you Teacher..

[bkkjames]

Perhaps you two should PM each other as to not break the rules

On a different note, I am sure J-Star has too much time on his hands now, why doesnt he set up a World Cup prediction competition???

Do one Jimbo you Teacher..

I don't have time mate - nor the patience to deal with you lot.

[NADTATIDA1]

Perhaps you two should PM each other as to not break the rules

On a different note, I am sure J-Star has too much time on his hands now, why doesnt he set up a World Cup prediction competition???

I was going to say this but i didnt want to sound predictable

I would be in but i understand if it is a ballache to do??

[StevieH]

Nigeria & S Korea will be different to Canada me thinks..

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Argies going out in teh Group Stages..

Argentina will win the World Cup. Willing to risk a few baht singhy?

All day long, how much ??

My 1k Baht says Maradona will be parading with the trophy.....and it'll be a pleasure to see a victory for attacking flair driven football.

'kin hel_l, i'll have some of that as well. you must be mental.

[bkkjames]

Everyone should just send him the Paypal numbers now and get it out of the way.

[MSingh]

Perhaps you two should PM each other as to not break the rules

On a different note, I am sure J-Star has too much time on his hands now, why doesnt he set up a World Cup prediction competition???

Do one Jimbo you Teacher..

I don't have time mate - nor the patience to deal with you lot.

I didn't actually mean it like....................Oh never mind..

[StevieH]

they've got some players no doubt but i can't see a team playing veron and four centrebacks across its back line winning this tournament. even if they have got messi.

[smokie36]

I'll do 2k if you want ??

Its 1k final offer.....!

[NADTATIDA1]

they've got some players no doubt but i can't see a team playing veron and four centrebacks across its back line winning this tournament. even if they have got messi.

See my earlier post they are playing 3 at the back 3-5-2 or 3-1-4-1-1