Slovakia vs New Zealand
15 June at 12:30
(2010 World Cup)

Portugal vs Ivory Coast
15 June at 15:00
(2010 World Cup)

Brazil vs North Korea
15 June at 19:30
(2010 World Cup)

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FIFA World Cup 2010 Opening Ceremony: 2 PM Local Time, 12 Noon (GMT), 5:30 PM (IST)

Blazing lights, lush green field, rocking music, jaw-dropping football squad and prominent stars – the sweltering, breathtaking extravaganza of football is good to go! Add to this a larger-than-lifeopening ceremony and audience is sure to get a taste of the most magnificent sporting event of the year. FIFA World Cup 2010 carnival is all set to put the stage on fire, with Johannesburg acting as the key host city. The World Cup opening ceremony is anticipated to be a real treat to the soccer-loving souls.

Shakira will perform the official 2010 World Cup song, “Waka Waka This Time for Africa”. She will team up with a local South African group, Freshlyground, to sway the spectators with a heart-throbbing performance.

Proceeds from the concert on Thursday night will be used for 20 Centers for 2010m, which is a charity campaign dedicated to building twenty Football for Hope Centres for public health, education and football across Africa.
As for Friday’s actual opening ceremony before the game between the hosts and Mexico, performances to be expected are rather a secret. FIFA opted to do it this way to keep expectations and excitement high.

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Even the most intrepid World Cup fan will struggle to watch all 48 first-round matches. If you’re really pressed, you could trim the list of must-see contests substantially. In fact, we’ll help you. Here are 10 in the first round that you absolutely shouldn’t miss (all times Eastern):

1. South Africa vs. Mexico, June 11

World Cup openers once tended to be rather cautious and stodgy affairs. But Germany immediately lit up the 2006 tournament by pushing four past Costa Rica. Before that, Senegal popped the top on World Cup 2002 with a stunning upset over title-holding France, which nailed the post twice but could never find a way through. Can South Africa draw upon the energy of a frenzied nation to upend Mexico? Brazilian manager Carlos Alberto Parreira has supplied some needed discipline and direction for Bafana Bafana. And given Mexico’s constant craving for attack and its wobbly goalkeeping, this year’s big opener has potential to be a real cooker.

England Preparing for their big match

2. United States vs. England, June 12

Excitement in America began building over this one the very second these teams were drawn into Group C back in December. Domestic soccer will always have England in its blood, not just for the countries’ rich political ties but for the UK’s role in shaping the American game. In many areas of the United States, the pioneers and early teachers of soccer were English exports. On the field, we’ll see which version of England shows: a tough and talented side of restored discipline that romped and stomped in qualifying? Or the shrunken, oddly lifeless and disjointed side we’ve seen in recent friendlies?

3. Argentina vs. Nigeria, June 12

Manager Diego Maradona, once the greatest soccer player on Earth, has been reduced to something of a cartoonish figure. And his team, talk about unpredictable! Argentina does have a lovely roster balance of workers and artists, including the world’s top player. But even Leo Messi may not have enough magic in those inimitable fleet feet to overcome a certain Maradona-created instability. Then again, African teams have a bit of that unsteadiness in them, too. So this one could go anywhere.

4. Brazil vs. North Korea, June 15

Under coach Dunga, Brazilian soccer is more bump and brawn, less Joga Bonito. But that doesn’t mean the five-time champion isn’t blessed with fine players. It starts with the phenomenal center-back pairing, Luicio and Juan. Yes, the bid to reclaim World Cup glory starts in defense for the Selecao. North Korea? Who knows? But the tournament’s mystery guests don’t appear to have enough protective armor — not for facing global soccer’s aristocrats, anyway. If Brazil is going to toy with a side, it will be this one. So catch this one from Johannesburg for the potential train wreck factor, if nothing else.

5. Spain vs. Switzerland, June 16

Once again, Spain dreams of World Cup greatness. Only this time, the dreamy hopes have some realistic foundation — so you’ll want to see the co-favorites at some point in the opening round. Thanks to the dazzling midfield axis of Andres Iniesta and Xavi, Spain may emerge from group play with all nine possible points. None of the Group H encounters looks like more than a speed bump for this wealth of talent. On the other hand, Switzerland is fairly well organized and, like every other Group H side, will look to make things hard on Spain and aim for a draw. Spain’s first-round finale with Chile may appear on the surface to be the better match. But if Vincent del Bosque’s side has six points in its pocket, the coach will probably rest some starters in that one.

6. France vs. Mexico, June 17

History may see France as a dubious World Cup participant, given Thierry Henry’s naughty handball and an unconvincing overall qualifying campaign. Still, there’s something to like about this squad, thanks to talented attackers like Franck Ribery, Florent Malouda, potential super-sub Henry and others. Mexico has never advanced past the second round in a World Cup played outside its own borders. Still, there’s something to like about this squad thanks to sassy young attackers like Giovani Dos Santos, Carlos Vela and new Manchester United signee Javier Hernandez. Given the tournament history of host nations advancing out of the first round, South Africa could find a way through, which means the second spot from Group A could well come down to this one.

7. United States vs. Algeria, June 23

This will be the first-round closer for Bob Bradley’s team. Only the red-white-and-bluest of American fans would dare think their boys will have second-round passage secured by this point. Chances are, they’ll need a result against the North Africans in Pretoria. Algeria can be a bit erratic, but there is surely talent there. Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard, assuming they come through the first two U.S. matches unscathed, will need to carry the day. Get your foam fingers up!

8. Ghana vs. Germany, June 23

Among the most evocative aspects of any World Cup is the contrast in styles — although it can sometimes be overstated in the modern game, where soccer cultures frequently intermingle. But this one does offer some contrast. Michael Ballack’s absence could see the German’s drift back to the old ways: grinding out results through efficiency and sheer will. The Ghanaians are fairly well organized by freewheeling African standards, but they’ll still challenge Germany with an energetic side, a mix of young talent and returning players who impressed four years ago. Ghana’s loss of indomitable midfielder Michael Essien, however, will dent the Africans’ chances.

9. Netherlands vs. Cameroon, June 24

The Dutch have a tendency to hit a sweet spot about this time in major tournaments. It’s usually around the second or third match — after the initial draw borne of overconfidence and before the inevitable collapse borne of internal bickering (or hot-headed lunacy as we saw four years ago in the Portuguese-Dutch back-alley brawl). But in between, they can be simply amazing. And if you’ve seen some of Robin van Persie’s recent strikes, you know why hopes are rising among the side’s substantial worldwide support.

10. Brazil vs. Portugal, June 25

It looked like Brazil-Ivory Coast would be the marquee match of this bunch, but a devastating injury to irrepressible striker Didier Drogba may strip some sheen off that one. Rather, the group may be decided by the Portuguese-speaking nations. Both teams will be keen to finish first in the group, for a likely second-round matchup with Spain awaits the Group G runner-up. And even mighty Brazil might want to sidestep that one.

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With less than a week to go before the big event kicks off the World Champions Italy seem less than confident of success. There is a lack of their usual confident swagger in the current squad. Their saving grace this summer is that they have been given a relatively kind draw.

Aging

This Italian squad head to South Africa with a squad full of players who have been described as past their best. A number of the players in the squad were part of the victorious 2006 World Cup side but the last four years haven’t been kind to them.

Veterans Gianluigi Buffon, Gianluca Zambrotta and Fabio Cannavaro have all been plagued by poor form and injury in the last few months and years. In Cannavaro’s case he’s moving to the slightly less challenging Qatari league when the big event is over.

Some of their midfield talent are approaching veteran stages as well. AC Milan schemer Andrea Pirlo looks set to miss the group stage of the World Cup through injury and at 33 Mauro Camoranesi isn’t exactly a spring chicken.

Experience is vital in international football but too many older players can make the team seem stale and slow. In the last few months the team have started to look their age. Even in the Confederations Cup last year the Italians struggled and Brazil ripped them apart.

Loyal

Italy boss Marcello Lippi has remained loyal to his 2006 World Cup winning squad. Italian fans believe he’s been too loyalty to some of the aging contingent. The squad hasn’t evolved much from the previous World Cup and every national team needs to evolve.

Inexperienced

Lippi has drafted in younger players into the squad but there are question marks over their experience because Lippi took so long to call them up. The likes of Leonardo Bonucci, Salvatore Bocchetti and Claudio Marchisio lack the experience for a big tournament. Fortunately for Italy they could prove to be just back-up players. However if called upon they could freeze on the big occasion.

Strikers

The biggest doubt Italian football fans have over their national side is in the striking department. The five forwards selected have hardly been impressive in the international arena. They are pinning their hopes on 32 year-old Udinese striker Antonio Di Natale.

The veteran attacker scored 29 goals last season for his club. For his country he has failed to hit the same heights. Hopes are high in Italy that this could be his time. It’s a similar story for Giampaolo Pazzini who inspired Sampdoria to a Champions League spot in Serie A last season.

He was rated a top prospect a few years ago but never quite lived up to that huge potential. Alberto Gilardino is the top scoring striker in the Italian squad and scored the goal that helped his country qualify for South Africa 2006.

Napoli striker Fabio Quagliarella failed to impress last season in Serie A after a move from Udinese. He was expected to be prolific but hasn’t lived up to his billing. The last striker in the Italy squad is Juventus striker Vincenzo Iaquinta. He hasn’t proved a complete success either but has been played out of position at times. He has recently criticised Lippi for playing players out of position and poor tactics.

Tournament

Although hopes aren’t high in their home country Italy are a true tournament team. In Germany 2006 they were written off and won the competition. I would never rule out the Italians because they are old hands at winning tournaments. However if they are to win this one I suspect they may need a huge slice of luck along the way.

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England Vice Captain Gerrard admits England needs to do more to win Worldcup 2010

Steven Gerrard admitted England still have work to do before the World Cup finals despite a 3-1 friendly win over fellow finalists Mexico in Fabio Capello’s side’s final match at Wembley before the tournament.

Goals from Ledley King, Peter Crouch and Glen Johnson lent the result a flattering scoreline after England laboured against opposition who seemed more adept at retaining possession than the hosts, particularly in the opening period.

It needed a half-time team talk from Fabio Capello to ensure England tightened up and ultimately ran out comfortable winners.

Gerrard said: ‘’The manager wanted more aggression. They had too much possession in the first half. We stood off them and let them play.

‘’In the second half we got in their faces and stopped them playing.

‘’I think the key at half-time was the manager stressed we needed to get closer to them. We gave them too much respect in the first half and they are very good players and good in possession.’’

Gerrard knows the expectation level of the fans for South Africa and 88,000 gave them a raucous send-off ahead of Sunday’s friendly with Japan in Graz and the World Cup opener against the United States on June 12.

The Liverpool captain said: ‘’The fans were magnificent. They got behind the team for the whole game. You could see on their faces how desperate they are for us to go to South Africa and do well.

‘’We can play better than we did tonight but there is still time to sharpen up and we promise the fans we’ll go there to the World Cup and give it our best shot.’’

King marked his first England appearance for nearly three years with the opening goal although he was unhappy with his overall performance. But he is confident of being fit to play a full role in the World Cup if he is named in the final 23 by Capello next Tuesday.

King said: ‘’I wouldn’t say it was one of my best games but it was tough out there. They are a good side.

‘’They move the ball quickly, they’ve got good movement and the manager made it known at half-time that we weren’t getting tight enough. We came out in the second half and did a lot better.

‘’As regards my fitness, the knee is OK, the more I play the fitter I get. I’ve ended the season with three games in 10 days and we’ve got a great set-up here.

‘’The medical staff are doing a brilliant job to help me prepare for the games. I’ll try and be as fit as I can and we’ll see where it goes.’’

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