Tuesday, November 25, 2008

CONFEDS CUP DRAW



How important is the confedrations cup to Bafana Bafana and to the nation?

It was the draw Bafana Bafana fans dreamed of. South African national coach Joel Santana was all smiles when Bafana were paired in Group A with European champions Spain, Iraq and New Zealand when the draw for the Fifa Confederations Cup was made in Johannesburg on Saturday night.
World champions Italy, Brazil, Egypt and the United States are in Group B which is by far the tougher of the two groups.
The tournament is used by world controlling body Fifa as a dress rehearsal for the 2010 World Cup finals which will be held in South Africa for the first time. Italy qualified as world champion. The other six countries are all reigning continental champions and the tournament is the biggest soccer event to be staged in South Africa.
Bafana qualified automatically as hosts and Santana could not have asked for a better platform to make sure his much improved side gets to the semifinals.
The two top teams in each group qualify for the semifinals.
"Luck does help but it does not mean we will win the cup but we are lucky with the draw and it will show how much progress we have made," said Santana.
He said that the squad had shown a big improvement and that he and his technical team had won the trust of the players and fans. "We will show how competitive we can be."
Santana said he expected the support of the public and believed that the country would rally around Bafana. "I fully believe that the whole of South Africa is behind Bafana and are fully committed as are the players to the Confederations Cup and World Cup."
He stated he was optimistic about Bafana's chances: "We realise we are up against teams who are all champions in their own regions and it will not be easy but we will be well prepared. We start preparing in the New Year. I have 80 percent of the players finalised for the tournament."
The Bafana coach again warned that Bafana could be the surprise team of the tournament; "I am very proud to be coach of Bafana and we are more than ready to spring a surprise or two."
Bafana kick-off the Confederations Cup against unknown little known Iraq who are ranked 75th in the world five places above Bafana at Ellis Park on June 14.
Spain and New Zealand meet in the other Group A match the Royal Bafokeng Stadium the same night.
Bafana then play New Zealand who are ranked 60th in the world at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on June 17 at 8.30pm and finish their group stage against Spain who are currently ranked number one in the world at the Free State Stadium on June 20.
The seeded draw was televised live worldwide and conducted by Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke. South Africa were seeded as the top seed Group A. The rules state that teams from the same continent cannot be in the same group.
"That means that Egypt cannot be in South Africa's group and Italy and Span cannot be in the same group," said Valke.
The New Zealand coach Frank van Huttum said: "We are not the strongest team in the world but we are competitive. All our players play in overseas leagues and we will keep the teams honest in our group."
www.supersport.co.za


Bafana are lucky. Easy group. If they dont qualify here then UNCLE BHAI GORA will be installed as manager as an emergency and with immdediate effect.


The other Group, Italy, Brazil, Usa,and Egypt...most of the games at Loftus will be a cracker.

I hope we get tickets as I cannot wait to stand and hear the Italian Anthem on home soil.


The Brazil and Italy game is going to be a belter. And I hope we get the Tickets


Confed Cup tickets now on sale

Tickets for the Fifa Confederations Cup South Africa 2009 are on sale worldwide from Sunday.
The tournament, which kicks off in South Africa in June 2009, will see Fifa Confederation champions New Zealand, Iraq and Spain join host nation South Africa in Group A, while the USA and New Zealand meet football giants Brazil and Italy in Group B.
Fans in South Africa and around the globe can purchase tickets online at Fifa.com from Sunday. In South Africa, fans also have the opportunity to apply for tickets at FNB branches throughout the country.
2010 Fifa World Cup Organising Committee chief executive officer Danny Jordaan called on South Africans to now go out and buy tickets.
“Nowhere else in the world can you watch matches of this calibre for R70. In Korea/Japan the cheapest tickets were $50, in Germany they were €35. I am expecting the people of the four host cities to be the first in line to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.”


I apologise for the slow updates,but im reformatting my PC...Worm virus. Anyways I thought it was fitting to publish this poll on goal.com in light of last weeks debates


Goal.com Poll: Is Ronaldo A Big Game Flop?
Goal.com invites the readers to weigh in on Cristiano Ronaldo. Is last season's Premier League and Champions League marvel actually good enough for the big games?

He may have managed an incredible 42 competitive goals last season, yet somehow Cristiano Ronaldo has not convinced all football fans of his ability.Indeed, a common allegation is that he tends to disappear against the big teams, such as in Portugal's heavy defeat at the hands of Brazil last week.And with Villarreal gearing up to face Manchester United, none other than Marcos Senna has accused the youngster of being overrated. He said:"I think I over-rated his importance. When Cristiano does not score, his role is limited. Yes, he is fast, but countless step-overs are not necessarily productive."Is this a fair assessment? Does he really not play a part against the big teams?And in any case, even if Senna is right, there is a difference between having a limited role and being a big game flop. After all, he may not have done much in the Champions League final other than score the opening goal - but he still scored it.Still, what do you think? Is he a big-game flop or does he make the difference? Click here to vote and we'll look at the results on Tuesday.

18 comments:

  1. its as important as foreplay is to sex!

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  2. Whats the point.The draw was rigged. They still shitttttttt.

    Abzi

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  3. We need Clive Barker Back.

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  4. Can anyone tell me, Once you have applied for the Tickets, Are you obliged to Buy them. How does it work

    The Category 1 and 2 tickets are ridiculous

    Fourouk

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  5. confed cup advert quite cool
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQCPhFQgub0

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  6. HAIL CESC FABREGAS

    What a player

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  7. Was the draw rigged?

    Iraq, New Zealand come on

    Please someone answer or respond to the ticketing situation

    Suppose 3 guys in the same group opt for Ellis Park.And all three get Ellis Park . Are u obliged to take it?

    Please inform

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  8. yeh 6 games, by the time leeds are in the champs league u may have 6 grand kids.

    swoosh why u harping on the point about ronaldo, being voted mugg of the week, does not deter you in your quest to attack the lad. u are like another abr!

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  9. Maybe Swoosh is ABR?

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  10. is second that swoosh is abr!

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  11. so swoosh n abr for mugg of the week?

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  12. is swoosh better then abr? or are they the same mugg?

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  13. swoosh if julius malema who is a mugg of the highest calibre nominates u 4 mugg, that shows u'r comments and posts are going to the toilet!

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  14. Tonight is a big night for us in Zenith. Il be happy with a point. Madrid should beat Bate.

    Forza Juve.
    Tonight Alex will shine. Big game also against Marseille. We must win and speed home.

    Viva Villareal

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  15. Rooney hatrick tonight

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  16. Tonight the Champions of Europe will know the Real thing.

    VILLLLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAA REALLLLLLLL

    Porphabor Diego Forlan

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  17. Swoosh has always been the Mugg he just hasn't realised it so we have to keep reminding him....

    UBG has confirmed it too

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  18. Swoosh dont comment on diving coz gerrard is jumpa!!!!! By the way even if Ronaldo isnt having the season he had last season it doesnt matter. If you look at it torres is not doing well either. Looks like they going to fire him from liverflops coz thats what they do(crouch, bellamy, morientes etc). The list is endless!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete

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