World Cup Legends

Here is a list of legendary players who all made great contributions to their teams and became heroes for millions of fans world wide due to their achievements in the World Cup. Current stars like Ronaldo and Zidane are not added as they will most likely feature in future World Cups. Only retired World Cup stars or players who will not feature in future tournaments will be here. There are links to many of these players other places on this World Cup site as well, but here they are all gathered.Gabriel Batistuta, Paolo Maldini and Romario will be added soon!

BAGGIO, Roberto- The Italian star of the 1990s.
BANKS, Gordon - One of the best goalkeepers in history. World Cup winner for England in 1966.
BARESI, Franco - The outstanding central defender of the past 15 years. Runner-up for Italy in 1994.
BECKENBAUER, Franz - Probably the greatest defender in the game of all time. World Cup winner in 1974.
BERGOMI, Giuseppe - Faithful and reliable Italian defender and World Cup winner as an 18 year-old in 1982.
BONIEK, Zbigniew - One of the best players in the world in the early 80s. Helped Poland to bronzemedals in 1982.
BREHME, Andreas - Great German left-back who was matchwinner in the 1990 final.
BREITNER, Paul - Controversial and classy German full-back and later midfielder. World Cup winner 1974.
BUTRAGUEÑO, Emilio - Great Spanish center-forward of the 1980s.
CARECA - Best Brazilian striker of the 1980s. Scored 7 goals in his two World Cups.
CEULEMANS, Jan - Great Belgian player and one of Europe's best midfielders in the 1980s.
CHARLTON, Bobby - Arguably the greatest English player in the greatest era of their national team. World Cup winner in 1966.
CRUIJFF, Johan - Playmaker and captain for the Dutch team that invented the Total-Football.
CUBILLAS, Teofilio - Great Peruvian striker who scored 10 World Cup goals.
EUSEBIO - Portugal's greatest ever player. Topscorer of the 1966 World Cup.
FILLOL, Ubaldo - Probably the greatest South American goalkeeper ever. World Cup winner for Argentina in 1978.
FONTAINE, Juste - French record holder for most goals in a single World Cup. 13 goals in 1958.
GARRINCHA - Brazilian winger and great dribbler. World Cup winner in 1958 and 1962.
HAGI, Gheorghe - Romanian captain and playmaker in three World Cups. One of the best players in the world in the 1990s.
HURST, Geoff - World Cup winner in 1966. Hat-trick hero in the final.
JAIRZINHO - Another great Brazilian winger. Member of the magical World Cup winning team in 1970.
KEMPES, Mario - The man who did everything in 1978. Topscorer and World Cup winning hero for Argentina.
KLINSMANN, Jürgen - Great German striker with 11 goals from three World Cups. Winner in 1990.
KOCSIS, Sandor - Goalmachine for Hungary as they won silver in 1954. Topscorer with 11 goals.
KRANKL, Hans - Great Austrian striker regarded as one of Europe's top players in the late 70s.
KROL, Ruud - Elegant Dutch defender. Member of the Total-Football teams of the 1970s.
LATO, Grzegorz - Winner of two bronzemedals for Poland. Topscorer in 1974 with 7 goals.
LEONIDAS - Perhaps the greatest pre-war Brazilian player. Topscorer in 1938 with 8 goals.
LINEKER, Gary - Perhaps the greatest English striker in modern time. Topscorer in 1986 with 6 goals.
MAIER, Sepp - Legendary German goalkeeper of the 1970s. World Cup winner in 1974.
MARADONA, Diego - One of the all-time greats. Played 21 games in four World Cups and won the 1986 WC almost singlehandedly.
MATTHÄUS, Lothar - Only outfield player with five tournaments. Captained West Germany to the title in 1990.
MEAZZA, Giuseppe - The great star and member of two Italian World Cup winning teams in 1934 and 1938.
MILLA, Roger - The "super-sub" who turned Cameroon into a world class team at the age of 38 in 1990. Played in three World Cups.
MONTI, Luis - Only player to have played for two countries in a WC final. Winner in 1934 with Italy.
MOORE, Bobby - Classy English defender and captain of their 1966 World Cup winning team.
MÜLLER, Gerd - The World Cup's all time topscorer with 14 goals. World Cup winner in for West Germany 1974 and topscorer in 1970 with 10 goals.
NEESKENS, Johann - Dutch midfielder with a powerful shot. Beaten finalist in 1974 and 1978.
N'KONO, Thomas - Greatest African goalkeeper ever. Member of Cameroon's memorable 1990 team.
OVERATH, Wolfgang - Hardworking German midfielder with a great left foot. World Cup winner in 1974.
PASSARELLA, Daniel - The great central defender who captained Argentina to the title on home soil in 1978.
PELÉ - The only man to win three World Cups. Scored 12 goals in the four World Cups he played in.
PLATINI, Michel - May be the greatest French player of all time. Captain for two great teams in 1982 and 1986. Played in three World Cups.
PUSKAS, Ferenc - One of the greatest players of all time. Captain of Hungary's marvellous team in 1954.
RENSENBRINK, Rob - Dutch forward and penalty expert. Twice silvermedalist in 1974 and 1978.
RIVA, Luigi - All time topscorer for the Italian national team. Silvermedalist in 1970.
RIVELINO, Roberto - Attacking Brazilian midfielder with a powerful shot in the 1970s. World Cup winner in 1970.
ROSSI, Paolo - The skinny forward who became topscorer in 1982 on 6 goals as well as helping Italy to their first post-war World Cup title.
RUGGERI, Oscar - Commanding Argentinian central defender. World Cup winner in 1986.
RUMMENIGGE, Karl-Heinz - Arguably the greatest German player of the post-Beckenbauer era. He is the only captain to lose two World Cup finals.
SCARONE, Hector - Inside-forward of Uruguay's 1930 World Cup winning team.
SCHIAFFINO, Juan - Influential Uruguayan player who helped his team win the World Cup in 1950.
SCIFO, Enzo - Creative Belgian playmaker with great vision. Played in four World Cups.
SCIREA, Gaetano - Elegant and fair playing Italian defender. World Cup winner in 1982.
SEELER, Uwe - The only player, apart from Pelé, to have scored in four different World Cups. Reached three semifinals, but never won the cup.
SKOGLUND, Lennart - Excellent Swedish winger of the 1950s. Beaten finalist in 1958.
SOCRATES - Elegant Brazilian midfielder and captain of their "Dreamteam" in 1982.
STÁBILE, Guillermo - Topscorer of the very first World Cup in 1930 with 8 goals. Helped Argentina to the final.
STOITCHKOV, Hristo - Temperamental Bulgarian striker who was topscorer at the 1994 World Cup.
TOMASZEWSKI, Jan - Superb Polish goalkeeper who contributed so much to his team winning bronzemedals in 1974.
VALDERRAMA, Carlos - Skillful and creative playmaker who captained Colombia in three World Cups.
VARELA, Obdulio - Captain of Uruguay's team that won the World Cup in 1950.
VOGTS, Berti - Tough German defender of the seventies. World Cup winner in 1974.
VÖLLER, Rudi - Prolific goalscorer for Germany in the eighties and early nineties. World Cup winner in 1990.
WALTER, Fritz - Playmaker and captain of West Germany's 1954 World Cup winning team.
YASHIN, Lev - Probably the greatest ever goalkeeper. Played for the Soviet Union in three World Cups.
ZICO - Regarded by many as the best player in Brazil since Pelé. Despite playing in three World Cups, he never managed to play in a final.
ZOFF, Dino - Another legendary goalkeeper. Was the oldest ever winner of the World Cup when he captained Italy to the title in 1982.
ZUBIZARRETA, Andoni - Great Spanish goalkeeper with four World Cups under his belt.

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Theo Walcott - Why the World Cup won't faze me

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England World Cup Profile 2006 Video

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England World Cup Profile 2006 Video

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Italy Vs France - Ceremony

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Fifa world cup 2006 Brazil out to redress balance

Fifa world cup 2006 : Brazil out to redress balance


For many Brazilians, Saturday's eagerly-anticipated quarter-final against France carries an extra edge. The Seleção's 3-0 defeat in the 1998 FIFA World Cup Final against Aime Jacquet's French side still lingers in the collective memory, meaning media and fans alike have a score to settle.

Judging by the rhetoric coming from the Brazil camp this week, however, nothing could be further from the minds of the players. Revenge does not enter into it. Instead in a game that will pit club colleagues against one another, there will be mutual respect and friendship between players on both sides.

As Brazil captain Cafu explained, the reigning champions simply cannot afford to approach the match with thoughts of getting their own back. "It's not revenge, it's a game. If we carry that feeling into the match, it won't be good for us," he said.

Cafu was Brazil's starting right-back on that fateful night of 12 July 1998 but he added that every player in the squad was focusing solely on the present: "That sense of revenge comes from outside the squad. As far as we are concerned, I’m sure that no player has spoken about it. We mustn't let it affect us."

Past encounters
When Brazil and France met in Saint-Denis, they had already played each other twice in the final stages of the FIFA World Cup, winning one game apiece. France's 3-0 Final win gives them a slight historical edge over the five-times champions going into this latest match.

The nations' first encounter was in the semi-finals of the 1958 finals in Sweden. That was the year the great Pele announced his arrival on the world stage, and against the French, the boy who was to be king did not disappoint. He struck a hat-trick as the South Americans ran away with the game, winning by five goals to two, and booking their place in the Final. There they play their Swedish hosts and defeated them by the same scoreline.

Fast forward 28 years to 1986. In Mexico, the two teams were among the favourites for the Trophy when they met at the quarter-final stage in the heat of Guadalajara. The game finished 1-1 after extra time, French keeper Joel Bats making a crucial penalty save from Brazil’s creative inspiration, Zico.

A penalty shoot-out ensued, which France won 4-3, but not without controversy. Les Bleus' hard-working midfielder Luis Fernandez fired his spot-kick against a post but then saw his effort roll into the Brazilian net off the back of the unfortunate goalkeeper, Carlos.

Twelve veterans of '98
The main difference between Saturday’s match and those that went before is that both sides will field players with first-hand experience of the countries' last meeting. No fewer than 12 players, six from each side, took part in that 1998 Final.

On the Brazilian side, Cafu, Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo started the match, while Dida, Emerson and Ze Roberto were on the bench. The Seleção’s coach in France, meanwhile, was Mario Zagallo, currently assistant to Carlos Alberto Parreira. Of Raymond Domenech’s France squad, Fabien Barthez, Zinedine Zidane and Lilian Thuram were in the starting XI, while Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet and Patrick Vieira took their place among the substitutes, with Vieira coming on for the last 15 minutes of the game.

After ’98, we won the World Cup in 2002, the Confederations Cup in 2004, we won our qualifying group, and the Copa America in 2004," said the Real Madrid player. "That helps us to forget what happened in 1998."

[Source from : fifaworldcup.yahoo.com]

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Fifa world cup 2006 England VS Portugal

The extent of the history between England and Portugal is such that the most difficult question is over knowing where to start.

Does one, for example, go back 40 years to the fateful meeting between Eusebio and Co and Sir Alf Ramsey’s side in the 1966 semi-final? Or perhaps just two years, to when the teams’ last meeting was settled by the most dramatic of penalty shoot-outs at UEFA EURO 2004?

That, of course, is without even mentioning the fact that Portugal’s coach, Luiz Felipe Scolari, has masterminded England’s demise at their last two major championships, or that he performed a very public U-turn when approached about succeeding Sven-Goran Eriksson. That, indeed, is a story all in itself.

Intrigue is added to the mix for this particular encounter by the fact that England, by their own admission, have reached the quarter-finals without yet producing a performance worthy of a squad widely agreed to be the country’s most talented in a generation. We always want to play well it just hasn't happened for us at this tournament, David Beckham conceded this week. "We haven't played as well as we can and we know that. But we're in the quarter-finals of the World Cup and some very talented teams have gone out.

"In every way we can do better and we know it, echoed Eriksson. "You haven't seen the best of us yet and hopefully you will see it on Saturday. The key is that everything must work out well. Everyone will be important and I expect everyone to do their job out there for 90 minutes.

Portugal, meanwhile, are celebrating reaching this advanced stage of the FIFA World Cup for the first time in four decades, although they have been riled this week by English press coverage that described their team as "insubordinate and violent" after a tempetuous Round of 16 clash with the Netherlands that saw the yellow card brandished on no fewer than 16 occasions.

"Unbearable, unfair and preposterous," was the reaction that description prompted from Portuguese team spokesman Afonso de Melo, who also hit out at the Sun, England’s top-selling newspaper, for printing a ‘false’ interview with Pauleta in which derogatory quotes about Eriksson’s goalkeeper, Paul Robinson, were attributed to the Paris Saint-Germain striker.

Many believe that Saturday's game will be won and lost in a midfield area where the Portuguese are sure to be weakened by the absences of Deco and Costinha, and Beckham has admitted that keeping possession and dictating play long seen as a perennial English weakness is likely to be a key factor.

"It's up to us to pass the ball around well," he said. "We know, as a team, and as players, that we can do that, and doing it on a big stage like this is important because Portugal will pass the ball around well. It's in their nature, that's the way they play. They're going to have a certain amount of possession, but hopefully we will too."

Colours for the game
England: White shirts, navy blue shorts, white socks
Portugal: Port red shirts, port red shorts, port red socks

The teams England have been boosted by their first-choice right-back, Gary Neville, declaring himself fit to play after recovering from a calf injury. Owen Hargeaves, who deputised admirably for the 80-times-capped Manchester United defender against Ecuador, could now replace Michael Carrick in the midfield holding role.

Portugal, meanwhile, are likely to start with Petit in place of Costinha, and Scolari could ask Luis Figo to move inside to fill the creative void left by Deco’s absence, having seen the veteran Inter Milan midfielder excel in this role against Angola in his side’s opening match at Germany 2006. Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, has been given an 80 per cent chance of shaking off a thigh injury picked up in that bruising battle against the Dutch.

The duel
When these sides met at EURO 2004, the most intriguing personal battle was that between Ashley Cole and Ronaldo, both of whom were evidently fit, fired-up and on top of their respective games. Two years on, neither is in peak condition, with Ronaldo having been forced off and reduced to tears against the Dutch by a high challenge from Khalid Boulahrouz, and Cole only just back from a long injury-enforced lay-off.

Nevertheless, the Arsenal left-back declared himself 100 per cent fit and feeling good after England’s narrow win over Ecuador, and there is no doubt he will need to be if Portugal’s skilful young winger is in the mood. Neville, a team-mate of Ronaldo’s at Old Trafford, had this warning for his England colleague: "The thing with playing Cristiano is that you can play brilliantly for 89 minutes and then he can produce that magic moment in the 90th. It is only when you come off the pitch, and he's not scored or set up a goal, that you can say you did well against him."

Past meetings
Over the past 45 years, these sides have met on ten occasions, four of which have been at major championships. England won the first, 2-1 at the 1966 FIFA World Cup, but Portugal have since gained ample revenge, winning 1-0 at Mexico 1986 and twice emerging triumphant at UEFA European Championships, 3-2 in 2000 and 6-5 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in 2004.

What they are saying
Sven-Goran Eriksson, England manager: We're trying to play good football but the most important thing we have to do is to win the football game. You don't get a premium for beautiful football. Ghana played wonderful football, vory Coast played wonderful football, Holland played wonderful football, Spain played wonderful football. And where are they now? At home. To win the World Cup I'm prepared to do whatever. If that means to play bad football, then come on, who cares?
Pauleta, Portugal striker: We are not afraid of anyone. If you know something of Portuguese history, you know we are a country that respects everyone and wants to be respected, and that we fear nothing.

[Source from : fifaworldcup.yahoo.com]

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Defensive errors won't happen again Sven

SVEN-GORAN ERIKSSON has admitted ensuring there is no repeat of England's woeful second half defending against Sweden will be his number one priority as he prepares for the second round clash with Ecuador.

England gifted the Swedes both goals from set-pieces in the 2-2 draw in Cologne.

And Eriksson is aware England can ill-afford a repeat performance if they come up against top quality sides later in the tournament should they win Sunday's last 16 meeting in Stuttgart.

He said: "First on the table will be defending set-pieces because that was awful against Sweden. I'm sure it will not happen again.

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Ronaldo Scores Goals and Proves a Point

Ronaldo Scores Goals and Proves a Point

Brazil's Ronaldo, top, celebrates his goal with bench teammates during the World Cup Group F soccer match at the World Cup stadium in Dortmund, Germany, Thursday June 22, 2006. The other teams in Group F are Australia, and Croatia. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) (Martin Meissner - AP)
BERGISCH GLADBACH, Germany -- Ronaldo proved an old adage in the World Cup. Form is temporary, class is permanent. The striker had been criticized for being overweight and performing poorly in Brazil's first two matches before he scored two goals to seal a 4-1 win over Japan on Thursday that secured the top spot in Group F.

Ronaldo's 13th and 14th World Cup goals tied him with Gerd Mueller as the competition's career scoring leader. Not bad, considering Ronaldo failed to score and was substituted in both earlier games.

"Ronaldo is back," Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said. "We always believed in him, we think he's a special player and that's why we kept him."

The striker first scored with a header in first-half injury time in the defending champion's win over Japan. He then added a second in the 81st with a right-footed shot from 20 yards.

It was a relief for the 29-year-old Ronaldo, who had to deal with a series of distractions since arriving for the World Cup a month ago, including a weight controversy and a string of minor health problems.

"Goals bring confidence as well as winning games," Ronaldo said. "In the next games I hope I can keep on scoring."

He was crucial in the 2002 World Cup, leading the tournament with eight goals in seven matches, including both in the 2-0 final win against Germany.

But Ronaldo's evident weight gain as he arrived for this year's tournament as well as his lackluster performance in Brazil's first two games led to questions about whether he was still up to scoring goals.

Earlier this month, Ronaldo described the stir over his health as "ridiculous" and said he felt on top form after Thursday's game.

"I'm confident in my body, physical ability and condition," Ronaldo said. "I wasn't in the best shape because I went 45 days without training but we followed a specific training program and today I'm much better."

Ronaldo's teammates were ecstatic at seeing him return to his old level.

"It's good to know we can rely on Ronaldo and know he will be getting the goals for us," Cicinho said.

Ronaldo put on weight after enduring a series of injuries with Real Madrid this season and Brazil's physical trainer Moraci Sant'Anna on Wednesday revealed the striker weighs 199 1/2 pounds, almost 19 pounds more than listed by FIFA.

But Sant'Anna, who said the striker lost nearly 11 pounds since arriving for Brazil's training camp, said he was proud of Ronaldo's dedication and performance.

"I think he deserves the most merit," Sant'Anna said. "Because he's been aiming for this physical state, trying to do everything and even a little bit more during the morning period while the others are off."

Sant'Anna maintained that continued attention to Ronaldo's fitness could help improve his play even more.

"He still has room to improve, he has space. I think that as we started the muscle training work about a week ago we hope that we start to see the results starting from now," Sant'Anna said. "I think one thing helps the other. When a player is better physically this helps to improve his technique."

While Ronaldo said he would stick to his efforts to keep fit, he said he still wanted to find some time to take a break after Brazil's victory over Japan.

"I'm very happy with my performance, with the two goals and with Brazil's victory," Ronaldo said. "Now it's time to rest and think about the round of 16."

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Highlights Germany vs. Costa Rica Opening Match World Cup 2006

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Italy vs USA Germany 2006 World Cup Highlights

Highlights of the nasty match between the Azzurri and USA.
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Trinidad & Tobago v Sweden Highlights Video

Highlights from the Trinidad & Tobago v Sweden world cup match
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Argentina v Holland Highlights World Cup Final 1978 Video

Argentina Holland World Cup 1978

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Australia vs Japan World Cup 2006 action Highlights Video

more highlights from the historic game with anthem and extended goal footage! What a Game!
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Highlights Serbia and Montenegro vs Netherlands Video

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Beckham bends it to send England through in to Quarter Final

BERLIN (Reuters) - Captain David Beckham delivered one of his trademark bending free kicks to beat Ecuador 1-0 on Sunday and send an otherwise toothless England team through to the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

Among the pre-tournament favourites, England struggled to create chances for the fourth straight game and were saved early on when defender Ashley Cole rushed back to get a foot on Ecuador striker Carlos Tenorio's close-range shot, deflecting it on to the bar and over.

Beckham came to the rescue one hour into the match, curling a perfect long-range kick into the right corner of keeper Cristian Mora's goal to put England through.

They join former champions Argentina and Germany in the last eight and will face the winner of Sunday's night match between Portugal and the Netherlands.

"It was ugly at times and we haven't played to our full potential but we're happy tonight. We're through to the quarter-finals," Beckham said after the match in the southwestern city of Stuttgart.

Beckham was sick on the pitch during the second half of the match and said he had been feeling unwell before the match.

With Michael Owen out of the finals with a knee injury, England's Swedish coach Sven-Goran Eriksson elected to play 20-year-old striker Wayne Rooney alone up front.

That strategy backfired, with England failing to create a single goalscoring opportunity in a scrappy first half. The Beckham goal re-energised the side and both Rooney and midfielder Frank Lampard had scoring opportunities as the final whistle approached.

IMPROVEMENT NECESSARY

But England will probably have to improve significantly if they are to advance against Portugal or the Netherlands.

The Dutch, relying on occasional flashes of brilliance from wingers Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie, emerged from a tough Group C with two wins and a draw.

They face a Portugal side that has lost only once against them in nine previous meetings and beat them 2-1 in the European championships two year ago -- the last loss for the Netherlands in a competitive match.

Portugal's coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who led Brazil to the championship in 2002, will be looking to extend his run of 10 consecutive victories in World Cup matches.

England's fans caused trouble in Stuttgart in the days leading up to the match.

Local police detained 400 English fans on Saturday after fighting broke out with German supporters. The rival groups threw bottles, tables and chairs in a square in the city centre before riot police intervened.

On Friday, 122 English fans were held for aggressive behaviour.

"Anybody who is with any group that throws bottles or other missiles, that will not be tolerated," Stuttgart police chief Siegfried Stumpf said.

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Argentina Vs Serbia And Montenegro

Argentina 6:0 serbia And Montenegro

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England World Cup Goals by peater Croach Video

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England Team

Coach: Sven-Goran Eriksson

Star Players: Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard, John Terry

Tournament Best: Winners 1966

Last Time: Lost to Brazil in Quarter-finals

Qualifying: Top of European Group 6

Top Scorer In Qualifying: Frank Lampard 5


England go into this World Cup with a huge weight of expectation behind them, and it is easy to see why.

Sven Goran Eriksson has perhaps the best squad of players England has seen since Italia 90 and they will be expected to go at least as far as Bobby Robson's semi-finalists.

With Wayne Rooney in the side, anything is possible. He can be the one genius that any World Cup winning team needs.

In Ashley Cole, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville, England boast the best defence in international football.

The only question marks are in midfield, where a lack of a holding player or any orthodox wingers means England give their defence little protection, and have no width.

Eriksson will have to come up with a plan B this time, and if things start to go wrong, he will have to know which of his squad players can make the difference.

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David beckham

7 David Beckham
Position: Midfielder
Born: 02.05.75
Club: Real Madrid

David Beckham will mark a decade in international football by leading out his country at Germany 2006. He is one of the most recognisable sportsmen in the world and will be the figurehead for England's quest for a first world crown in 40 years.

The Real Madrid midfielder fulfils many roles - icon, trademark, ambassador, celebrity - which matter little on the pitch. Beckham's critics suggest Sven-Goran Eriksson values these almost as much his skipper's footballing skills, but nevertheless, those skills are plentiful.

Creativity with commitment is the combination on which Beckham has built his reputation. Few can match his passing range, even less can deliver a ball with the deadly accuracy that has provided countless of England goals in recent years. And when the going gets tough, Beckham clearly relishes the fight, and his stamina levels remain formidable.

However, his desire to win has been known to develop into something of an appetite for destruction. A series of red cards for club and country in late 2005, and the struggle to calm another England hothead in Wayne Rooney, have increased the calls for a change in captaincy.

France 98 notoriously ended in disgrace for Beckham, while injury prevented him from showing his true class at Japan/Korea 2002. One hopes it will be third time lucky when football's biggest superstar appears in the 'greatest show on earth' once again.
Thnx to ITV.COM

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England Vs Pagaruai

England 1 : 0 Paraguai

These two teams have met just twice previously with England coming out on top both times.
· England are yet to concede a goal to Paraguay and have scored seven against the South American's.
· Captain and Centre back of Paraguay Carlos Gamarra went through all four of his country's games in the 1998 World Cup in France without committing a single foul.
· The 2006 World Cup will be Paraguay's seventh and the first time they have qualified for three in a row.
· Paraguay have made the second round in their last three World Cups, but have never managed to go any further.
· Paraguay are currently ranked 33rd in the FIFA World rankings, 23 places below England who are currently ranked 10th.
· English midfield man Frank Lampard was England's top goal scorer in qualification with five goals.
· England conceded just five goals in their ten qualifying games; only four teams in the entire European zone conceded fewer.
· In 18 qualifying games Paraguay both conceded and scored 23 goals.
· Paraguay's Jose Cardozo netted seven goals in qualification; in the South American zone only Brazil's Ronaldo found the back of the net more times.
· Michael Owen and Sol Campbell have played in all of England's games at the last two World Cups
· Michael Owen has scored in his last two World Cup Finals matches

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2006 FIFA World Cup™ and Congress at centre of discussions

2006 FIFA World Cup™ and Congress at centre of discussions

Munich, 03 June 2006 - A number of FIFA committees will be meeting in Munich between 3 and 5 June 2006, with the spotlight falling on the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ and the 56th FIFA Congress.

On 3 June, the Organising Committee for the FIFA World Cup™ will concentrate on last-minute preparations for the year’s main football event, dealing in particular with information on the opening of the tournament as well as various other issues.

The FIFA Executive Committee will meet on 4 and 5 June. The agenda for the meeting features a number of points, including the ratification of dates for the confederations’ competitions in 2007 and 2008 for inclusion in the coordinated international match calendar, updates on legal disputes that FIFA is currently involved in (e.g. G-14, Charleroi case) and a report on the most recent discussions between FIFA and the World Anti-Doping Agency. Also on the agenda is a proposal to amend the FIFA Statutes to allow the creation of a new, independent Ethics Committee, which would then be submitted to Congress for approval, as well as various other Congress-related matters.


Meeting programme:


Saturday, 03.06.2006
09.00 FIFA Finance Committee Bayerischer Hof
13.00 Organising Committee for the FIFA World Cup™ Bayerischer Hof
NEW: 16.00 Media conference Bayerischer Hof

Sunday, 04.06.2006
10.00 FIFA Executive Committee (part I) Bayerischer Hof

Monday, 05.06.2006
09.00 FIFA Executive Committee (part II) Bayerischer Hof
13.00 Media conference Bayerischer Hof

Wednesday, 07.06.2006
13.00-15.30 Opening of the 56th FIFA Congress ICM

Thursday, 08.06.2006
09.30-16.00 56th FIFA Congress ICM
15.00 (to be confirmed) Media conference ICM

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FIFA Organisation

The 56th FIFA Congress opens tomorrow at the ICM (International Congress Messe) in Munich and will be shown LIVE here on FIFA.com.

Proceedings will begin at 1pm CET on 7 June 2006 and resume at 9.30am the following morning, with a media conference to follow its conclusion at around 3pm.

Wednesday 07.06.06
13.00-15.30 Opening of the 56th FIFA Congress ICM

Thursday, 08.06.06
09.30-16.00 56th FIFA Congress ICM
15.00 (to be confirmed) Media conference ICM

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FIFA World Youth Championship 2005

The hosts Netherlands set the tournament alight again with a 3-0 win over Australia to clinch Group A. Drama in Group F where Brazil go top but Nigeria taste late, bitter defeat against Korea Republic. Colombia march on in Group E and Syria spring a surprise by beating Italy. Relive the fifth match day from the FIFA World Youth Championship Netherlands 2005 in photos

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David and Victoria Beckham hosted pre-World Cup party

David and Victoria Beckham hosted pre-World Cup party
On Sunday night the celebrity couple England soccer captain David Beckham and Victoria welcome celebrities to a pre-World Cup party. Among 350 celebrities guests list were included England striker Wayne Rooney, former England captain Alan Shearer, golfer Nick Faldo, models Kate Moss and Ellen McPherson and rock star Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon, all gathered in a huge garden of the Beckhams' mansion in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire for the event.

Beckham's "Full Length and Fabulous" lavish party, which began with an aerobatics exhibition by four jets from The Blades air display team, was secured by the security guards who patrolled to prevent uninvited guests getting in.

Meanwhile, earlier this week a bidder won a pair of tickets to Beckham's pre-World Cup party after offering 103,000 GBP (193, 000 US dollars) in an Internet charity auction.

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2006 FIFA World Cup - Germany

2006 FIFA World Cup - Germany
FIFA Fussball-Weltmeisterschaft Deutschland 2006

Official logo
Teams 197
(final tournament: 32)
Host Germany
Champions - (- title)
Matches played 64
Goals scored -
(- per match)
Attendance -
(- per match)
Top scorer(s) -

The 2006 FIFA World Cup (officially titled 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany, sometimes referred to as the Football World Cup) finals are scheduled to take place in Germany between 9 June and 9 July 2006. Qualification for the tournament is now complete, with all 32 competing teams confirmed. The 2006 finals are the 18th to be contested.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

by MultiMedia and Nicolae Sfetcu

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License

Football World Cup 2006 Germany
FIFA
FIFA World Cup
Qualification
Qualification AFC
Qualification CAF
Qualification CONCACAF
Qualification CONMEBOL
Qualification OFC
Qualification UEFA
Asia-CONCACAF Qualification Playoff
European Qualification Playoffs
Oceania-South America Qualification Playoff
Venues
Olympic Stadium
Signal Iduna Park
Commerzbank-Arena
Veltins-Arena
AOL Arena
AWD-Arena
Fritz Walter Stadion
RheinEnergieStadion
Zentralstadion
Allianz Arena
Frankenstadion
Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion
Teams
Confederation of African Football
Angola
Côte d'Ivoire
Ghana
Togo
Tunisia
Asian Football Confederation
Iran
Japan
South Korea
Saudi Arabia
Oceania Football Confederation
Australia
CONMEBOL
Argentina
Brazil
Brazil at the 2006 FIFA World Cup
Ecuador
Paraguay
UEFA
Croatia
Czech Republic
England
France
Germany
Italy
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Serbia and Montenegro
Spain
Sweden
Ukraine
Switzerland
CONCACAF
Costa Rica
Mexico
Trinidad and Tobago
United States
Groups
Stages
Goleo
Pille
Miscellaneous
License

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Iran have best team ever Football World Cup

Hannover striker Vahid Hashemian believes Iran have their best side ever leading into the World Cup in Germany this summer. "We definitely have the best team in our history. This team is very intelligent and mature," he said at Iran's training camp.
Bayern Munich's 2004 Asian player of the year Ali Karimi agrees: "In my opinion, we currently possess an extremely strong team, which with just a couple of exceptions, is also extremely young. That makes the current team exceptionally good."
Hashemian bagged a brace in helping Iran to a 2-1 qualifying victory over Japan in Teheran. "That was a vital victory. Four days later, we traveled to Korea DPR and won 2-0, completing a giant stride towards qualifying," he said.
The experienced striker thinks the praise should be laid squarely at the feet of Croatian coach Branko Ivankovic.
"Plenty of foreigners come to Iran, but disappear again after just a few months. He's hung on in there up to now, and understands the character of the Iranian team. He knows how to get us motivated."
Ivankovic was similar in his praise of the European-based players.
"I'm exceptionally pleased with the players from Germany. Their Bundesliga experience means a lot to us, because they'll help us win matches," he said.
"The authorities gave me enough time to inject the players with my philosophy of the game," Ivankovic added.

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FIFA to adopt new world rankings

FIFA is adopting a new world soccer ranking system to rate the world's top teams.

This will be released on July 12, three days after the World Cup ends.

"We don't think it's that bad at all, but there is always room for improvement," FIFA spokesman Andreas Herren said.

Under the ranking system, FIFA will take into account games played over the last four years.

Under the old system, it counted results over the last eight, which distorted current form.

FIFA's old system awarded team ranking points based on the importance of the games, relative strength of teams, goals scored and conceded, home or away, etc.

The new system takes into account most of the same factors, but weights them differently.

Major discrepancy

Under the old scheme, the United States rose to No 4 in April's rankings, its highest ever position.

The eye-popping rise occurred just a few weeks after the Americans were hammered 4-1 by World Cup host Germany.

"Maybe some guys were looking at that ranking a little bit too seriously," American goalkeeper Kasey Keller said after the loss.

The Americans have slipped slightly in the most recent poll, the last before the World Cup opens on June 9, into a tie for fifth with Spain.

Few serious soccer fans would place the Americans in the world's top 10, probably not even the top 15. A spot between 15 and 25 is more realistic.

Team rankings

Under FIFA's present system, five world soccer powers are ranked behind the US: France (8), Argentina (9), England (10), Italy (13) and Germany (19).

The only teams ranked ahead of the US in the May rankings were five-time World Cup champion Brazil, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Mexico.

Mexico's ranking also raises eyebrows. It probably should be ranked behind the Americans.

In the last 10 games between the two countries, the United States has won seven, including a 2-0 win in the round of 16 in the World Cup four years ago.

Mexico has two victories in that period.

Over a 20-game span dating back to 1994, the US have beaten Mexico nine times, with the Mexicans winning seven. Four were draws.

Seeking change

So why are the Americans and Mexicans so high in the present FIFA rankings?

Under the old system, FIFA gave the most weight to games in the World Cup finals, the continental championships and World Cup qualifiers.

The region in which the US is grouped, CONCACAF, plays a continental championship every two years. In Europe, it's every four.

In addition, CONCACAF plays almost 50 per cent more World Cup qualifiers than the average European country.

Under the new system, FIFA will adjust for these factors - and adjust more for the relatively weak CONCACAF group.

World Cup host Germany, which slipped to No 19, also suffered under the old system. As it qualified automatically for this World Cup, Germany played no qualifying games.

Egypt, the African Cup of Nations champion, is ranked two spots above Germany. Greece, the defending European champion, Tunisia, Uruguay and Iran are ranked right behind Germany. (AP)

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Walcott's girlfriend asks media for privacy

Walcott's girlfriend asks media for privacy



The teenage girlfriend of England World Cup squad member Theo Walcott today asked the media to respect her privacy while she revises for forthcoming AS-level exams.


Melanie Slade, 17, issued a joint statement with the Walcott family asking that they be left alone, just hours after she appeared at a charity publicity event.


The statement said that she would not be considering any of the "very kind requests for interviews or commercial offers" until after the World Cup.

[Read more]

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Teddy's Opinion: The mass media should respect the privacy for the other people. Melanie Slade is a 17 year-old girl. I hate the mass media ignore the privacy.

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Argentina : Pekerman selects 16 for Madrid meeting

Argentina : Pekerman selects 16 for Madrid meeting

Argentina coach Jose Pekerman has revealed the names of 16 players he will be meeting next Monday and Tuesday in Madrid. The list, containing some notable omissions, offers the first concrete sign of what Pekerman's final squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup will look like.

Of the 16 players called up on Friday, all but one are European-based. The exception is Boca Juniors goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri, who will fly to Spain on Sunday night after a key game in his country's Clausura championship.

According to a statement from the Argentine Football Association (AFA), the respective players' clubs had no objections to the meeting, which will not involve any physical work-outs or squad training. "The coach and his staff will take full advantage of the meeting to show videos, chat individually and collectively to the players, refresh concepts and assess the physical and medical well-being of those present," the AFA said.

Some sections of the country's media expressed surprise at the players not on the list, among them Javier Zanetti, Pablo Aimar and Martin Demichelis. However, several of these are involved in key end-of-season games with their clubs, and their absence does not rule out the possibility of inclusion in the final 23-man squad to be named on or before 15 May.

The list announced by Pekerman is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Roberto Abbondanzieri (Boca Juniors), Leonardo Franco (Atletico Madrid, Spain)
Defenders: Roberto Ayala (Valencia, Spain), Nicolas Burdisso (Inter Milan, Italy), Fabricio Coloccini (Deportivo La Coruna, Spain), Leandro Cufre (AS Roma, Italy), Gabriel Heinze (Manchester United, England), Gabriel Milito (Real Zaragoza, Spain), Juan Pablo Sorin (Villarreal, Spain)
Midfielders: Esteban Cambiasso (Inter Milan, Italy), Luis Gonzalez (Porto, Portugal), Juan Roman Riquelme (Villarreal, Spain), Maximiliano Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid, Spain), Lionel Scaloni (West Ham United, England)
Forwards: Hernan Crespo (Chelsea, England), Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Spain).

[Source from : fifaworldcup.yahoo.com]

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England squad included Rooney and Walcott

England squad included Rooney and Walcott

The injured Manchester United FC forward Wayne Rooney has been named in Sven-Göran Eriksson's provisional 23-man squad for the FIFA World Cup in Germany.

Striking problems
The 20-year-old broke a metatarsal bone in United's 3-0 defeat by Chelsea FC on Saturday 29 April. He is not expected to be fit again until the second week of June at the earliest, with England due to open their campaign against Paraguay on 10 June. Fellow striker Michael Owen is also in the selection after just recovering from a similar problem.

'A gamble'
There was also a shock call-up for 17-year-old Theo Walcott, who has yet to play in the Premiership for Arsenal FC. "I thought a lot about it during the last month," said Eriksson. "It is a gamble, of course it is a gamble, I can't deny that. But it is a nice one. He is a great talent, the pace he has is incredible. Michael Owen will be fully fit to train 100 per cent with us. It is just for us to wait and hope and see with Wayne Rooney."

England squad

Goalkeepers: Paul Robinson (Tottenham Hotspur FC), David James (Manchester City FC), Robert Green (Norwich City FC).

Defenders: Gary Neville (Manchester United FC), Sol Campbell (Arsenal FC), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United FC), John Terry (Chelsea FC), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool FC), Ashley Cole (Arsenal FC), Wayne Bridge (Chelsea FC).

Midfielders: David Beckham (Real Madrid CF), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool FC), Frank Lampard (Chelsea FC), Owen Hargreaves (FC Bayern München), Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham Hotspur FC), Michael Carrick (Tottenham Hotspur FC), Joe Cole (Chelsea FC), Stuart Downing (Middlesbrough FC), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur FC).

Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United FC), Michael Owen (Newcastle United FC), Peter Crouch (Liverpool FC), Theo Walcott (Arsenal FC).

Standby: Scott Carson (Liverpool FC), Luke Young (Charlton Athletic FC), Nigel Reo-Coker (West Ham United FC), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur FC), Andy Johnson (Crystal Palace FC).

[Source from : uefa.com]

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Theo Walcott will get his World Cup chance.

Sven-Goran Eriksson today has made it clear Walcott, along with the other England youngsters Lennon and Downing, stand a good chance of getting some action at the World Cup in Germany,
“I played Wayne Rooney when he was 17 in a qualification game against Turkey. In Portugal or Italy or Sweden no-one would say I’m not adventurous. I’ve always been ready to take out players and put in younger players if necessary. I hope to start with the best X1 and you know what that is. We have to wait on Rooney. But we have a lot of players starting on the bench who will be knocking on the door. I’ve always liked pace in football but if you don’t have it I can’t buy it in this job. I have to wait for it to come through.”
Two months ago though, Eriksson was singing somewhat a different tune,
“It’s very difficult to take a player without a cap to a World Cup. You never know but probably not, without closing all the doors. Going from the bench in a club team to international football in a World Cup, that step is extremely big.”
Rooney’s injury and doubts over Michael Owen have changed all that now.
Theo will get his fist chance to impress Eriksson and the rest of the country in an England B international against Belarus on May 25th at Reading.

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Brasil World Cup PLayers

Goalkeepers

1 DIDA Date of Birth:7 October 1973

12 ROGERIO CENI Date of Birth:22 January 1973

22 JULIO CESAR Date of Birth:3 September 1979

Defenders

2 CAFU Date of Birth:7 June 1970

3 LUCIO Date of Birth:8 May 1978

4 JUAN Date of Birth:1 February 1979

6 ROBERTO CARLOS Date of Birth:10 April 1973

13 CICINHO Date of Birth:24 June 1980

14 LUISAO Date of Birth:13 February 1981

15 CRIS Date of Birth:3 June 1977

16 GILBERTO Date of Birth:25 April 1976
Midfielders

5 EMERSON Date of Birth:4 April 1976

8 KAKA Date of Birth:22 April 1982

10 RONALDINHO Date of Birth:21 March 1980

11 ZE ROBERTO Date of Birth:6 July 1974

17 GILBERTO SILVA Date of Birth:7 October 1976

18 EDMILSON Date of Birth:10 July 1976

19 JUNINHO PERNAMBUCANO Date of Birth:30 January 1975

20 RICARDINHO Date of Birth:23 May 1976

Forwards

7 ADRIANO Date of Birth:17 February 1982

9 RONALDO Date of Birth:22 September 1976

21 FRED Date of Birth:3 October 1983

23 ROBINHO Date of Birth:25 January 1984

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England World Cup Players

Goalkeepers

1 ROBINSON Paul Date of Birth:15 October 1979

13 JAMES David Date of Birth:1 August 1970

22 GREEN Robert Date of Birth:18 January 1980

Defenders

2 NEVILLE Gary Date of Birth:18 February 1975

3 COLE Ashley Date of Birth:20 December 1980

5 FERDINAND Rio Date of Birth:7 November 1978

6 TERRY John Date of Birth:7 December 1980

12 CAMPBELL Sol Date of Birth:18 September 1974

14 BRIDGE Wayne Date of Birth:5 August 1980

15 CARRAGHER Jamie Date of Birth:28 January 1978

Midfielders

4 GERRARD Steven Date of Birth:30 May 1980

7 BECKHAM David Date of Birth:2 May 1975

8 LAMPARD FrankDate of Birth:20 June 1978

11 COLE Joe Date of Birth:8 November 1981

16 HARGREAVES Owen Date of Birth:20 January 1981

17 JENAS Jermaine Date of Birth:18 February 1983

18 CARRICK Michael Date of Birth:28 July 1981

19 LENNON Aaron Date of Birth:16 April 1987

20 DOWNING Stewart Date of Birth:22 July 1984

Forwards

9 ROONEY Wayne Date of Birth:24 October 1985

10 OWEN Michael Date of Birth:14 December 1979

21 CROUCH Peter Date of Birth:30 January 1981

23 WALCOTT Theo Date of Birth:16 March 1989

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World cup Players German

GOALKEEPERS
1 LEHMANN Jens Date of Birth:10 November 1969

12 KAHN Oliver Date of Birth:15 June 1969

23 HILDEBRAND Timo Date of Birth:5 April 1979



DEFENERS

2 JANSEN Marcell Date of Birth:4 November 1985

3 FRIEDRICH Arne Date of Birth:29 May 1979

4 HUTH Robert Date of Birth:18 August 1984

6 NOWOTNY Jens Date of Birth:11 January 1974

16 LAHM Philipp Date of Birth:11 November 1983

17 MERTESACKER Per Date of Birth:29 September 1984

21 METZELDER Christoph Date of Birth:5 November 1980

MIDFIELDERS


5 KEHL Sebastian Date of Birth:13 February 1980

7 SCHWEINSTEIGER Bastian Date of Birth:1 August 1984

8 FRINGS Torsten Date of Birth:22 November 1976

13 BALLACK Michael Date of Birth:26 September 1976

15 HITZLSPERGER Thomas Date of Birth:5 April 1982

18 BOROWSKI Tim Date of Birth:2 May 1980

19 SCHNEIDER Bernd Date of Birth:17 November 1973

22 ODONKOR David Date of Birth:21 February 1984

FORWARDS


9 HANKE Mike Date of Birth:5 November 1983

10 NEUVILLE Oliver Date of Birth:1 May 1973

11 KLOSE Miroslav Date of Birth:9 June 1978

14 ASAMOAH Gerald Date of Birth:3 October 1978

20 PODOLSKI Lukas Date of Birth:4 June 1985

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World Cup 2006: Germany: Tickets Hotels Flights World Cup 2006

World Cup 2006: Germany: Tickets Hotels Flights
World Cup 2006- Advertise Here -
Berlin Cologne Dortmund Frankfurt Gelsenkirchen Hamburg Hannover Kaiserslautern Leipzig Munich Nuremberg Stuttgart
Book your World CupHotel now!
www.octopustravel.com
The 2006 World Cup in Germany takes place from June 9 to July 9, 2006.
The opening game will be held in Munich's new AllianzArena with the final taking place in Berlin's Olympic stadium.
World Cup Ticket Swaps
The draw for the final stages takes place on December 9, 2005 in Leipzig when all fixtures in the opening group stage will be announced.

Berlin Apartment To Let
Check our World Cup 2006 Match Schedule for all the match days, city and stadium venues and local German kick off times.
World Cup Tickets
Beer Tours of Germany from Bier Mania!
Tickets for the 2006 Finals in Germany will go on sale on 1 February 2005. They will be available over the Internet from Fifa's official ticketing site. World Cup tickets are some of the most sought-after in World sport.
Learn Rapid German
For more detailed ticket sales information see our World Cup 2006 Ticket Information Section

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Is Rooney Playing World Cup. faces injury D-day

Wayne Rooney's hopes of playing in the World Cup finals could be decided by May 25 when he undergoes another scan on his broken metatarsal.
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson will then have a better idea of whether the 20-year-old is likely to have recovered sufficiently to be part of his 23-man squad for Germany.
Eriksson will have until June 9 - the day before England's opening group game with Paraguay - to make any final decision on the Manchester United star.
But a negative reaction to the scan in eight days' time - on the day England take on Belarus in a 'B' international at Reading - would leave Eriksson in a quandary as to whether to gamble on including his most lethal weapon.
Eriksson said: "Wayne will have a scan on May 25. At least we will know much more how the situation is regarding him after that date.
"I don't have a date for when Rooney will join the England squad. It is difficult to say but we will know much more after that scan. Hopefully it is good news.
"I spoke to Wayne last week and he is working and doing everything he has been asked to do - and maybe even more than that.
"I have always been positive, not because of medical reasons but because he will do absolutely everything to try to get fit as quickly as possible."
Eriksson revealed Rooney is not even contemplating the possibility of losing his fitness battle after sustaining the injury against Chelsea on the penultimate weekend of the season at Stamford Bridge.
He said: "I don't think Wayne even believes that not being at the World Cup will be the case for him. He is desperate to play in the World Cup. He has no negative thoughts like that."

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Gerrard may play in forward role

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson says he has not ruled out the possibility of using Steven Gerrard as a striker at the World Cup finals.


With Wayne Rooney a doubt with a broken foot and Michael Owen only just back from a similar injury, Gerrard has been touted for a forward role.
Eriksson said: "Steven Gerrard can play in a lot of positions and one is as a second striker.
"I'm sure he could play as first striker but a lot depends on Rooney."
Manchester United star Rooney is almost certain to miss the group stages of the tournament and is thought to be a doubt for the knockout after suffering a broken metatarsal last month.

Gerrard has scored 23 goals for Liverpool this season and calls for him to be given a more forward position were increased after his two-goal performance in the FA Cup final win over West Ham.
Eriksson added: "I have known for many years that Gerrard can play in a lot of positions.
"We haven't decided yet but he's useful wherever he plays. After 25 May we will know much better what's happening with Wayne Rooney.
"I hope we play with Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen but once again Steven Gerrard is an option there."
Eriksson said he had no regrets about the gamble in picking Arsenal's teenage striker Theo Walcott as one of his four strikers.
The Swede added: "He looks to be very bright. It's not easy for him, of course, to settle in with a lot of good football players. It's a gamble and I'm happy I did it.
"He seems very stable and is just a young boy and of course he is happy to be here."

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Sven Ericson boosted by trio

England have enjoyed a day of fantastic good news - with Michael Owen, Jermaine Jenas and Wayne Rooney all on the comeback trail

Owen gave the Three Lions the biggest boost of all when he declared himself fit to play in the World Cup after hitting the net in a practice match at England’s pre-tournament training camp in Portugal this morning.But Tottenham star Jenas was also given permission to train again on Thursday after a shin injury while Rooney’s progress in recovering from a broken foot was praised by Sven-Goran Eriksson.Owen, who has played only one game since breaking a bone in his foot on New Year’s Eve, has been an injury doubt for the last five months. But he completed his second training session in two days with England in the Algarve and scored twice in a nine-a-side game."If there was a World Cup game tomorrow I would be in condition to play," he said."I am feeling fit. I have been feeling fit for quite a while now I am excited about the World Cup. There are no doubts at all in my mind about being fit for the first game against Paraguay. None at all."Of course it is a relief, but I was always confident. All the way through I have never been down about it, I always thought I would be fit."Owen’s recovery could hardly be better news for Sven and his England squad as they bask in the Portuguese sun. And the Newcastle striker looked extremely sharp in training.His recovery and Jenas’ progress leaves England with only Rooney to worry about, and the news for him could yet prove positive too.England Head Coach Eriksson said: "On 25 May we will know much more of the situation, that is the date of his next scan."I have always been positive. But not for medical reasons - I have been positive because he will do absolutely everything to try to get fit as quickly as possible."Wayne Rooney not in the World Cup, I don’t think he even believes that will be the truth. Of course he should be there.

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Match Schedule World Cup 2006

Group A
Match Date Venue Teams Time/Score

1 09-Jun-06 Munich GER:CRC 18:00
2 09-Jun-06 Gelsenkirchen POL:ECU 21:00
17 14-Jun-06 Dortmund GER:POL 21:00
18 15-Jun-06 Hamburg ECU:CRC 15:00
33 20-Jun-06 Berlin ECU:GER 16:00
34 20-Jun-06 Hanover CRC:POL 16:00


Group B
Match Date Venue Teams Time/Score

3 10-Jun-06 Frankfurt ENG:PAR 15:00
4 10-Jun-06 Dortmund TRI:SWE 18:00
19 15-Jun-06 Nuremberg ENG:TRI 18:00
20 15-Jun-06 Berlin SWE:PAR 21:00
35 20-Jun-06 Cologne SWE:ENG 21:00
36 20-Jun-06 Kaiserslautern PAR:TRI 21:00


Group C
Match Date Venue Teams Time/Score

5 10-Jun-06 Hamburg ARG:CIV 21:00
6 11-Jun-06 Leipzig SCG:NED 15:00
21 16-Jun-06 Gelsenkirchen ARG:SCG 15:00
22 16-Jun-06 Stuttgart NED:CIV 18:00
37 21-Jun-06 Frankfurt NED:ARG 21:00
38 21-Jun-06 Munich CIV:SCG 21:00


Group D
Matchn Date Venue Teams Time/Score

7 11-Jun-06 Nuremberg MEX:IRN 18:00
8 11-Jun-06 Cologne ANG:POR 21:00
23 16-Jun-06 MEX:ANG 21:00
24 17-Jun-06 Frankfurt POR:IRN 15:00
39 21-Jun-06 Gelsenkirchen POR:MEX 16:00
40 21-Jun-06 Leipzig IRN:ANG 16:00


Group E Match Date Venue Teams Time/Score

9 12-Jun-06 Hanover ITA:GHA 21:00
10 12-Jun-06 Gelsenkirchen USA:CZE 18:00
25 17-Jun-06 Kaiserslautern ITA:USA 21:00
26 17-Jun-06 Cologne CZE:GHA 18:00
41 22-Jun-06 Hamburg CZE:ITA 16:00
42 22-Jun-06 Nuremberg GHA:USA 16:00


Group F
Match Date Venue Teams Time/Score

11 13-Jun-06 Berlin BRA:CRO 21:00
12 12-Jun-06 Kaiserslautern AUS:JPN 15:00
27 18-Jun-06 Munich BRA:AUS 18:00
28 18-Jun-06 Nuremberg JPN:CRO 15:00
43 22-Jun-06 Dortmund JPN:BRA 21:00
44 22-Jun-06 Stuttgart CRO:AUS 21:00


Group G
Match Date Venue Teams Time/Score

13 13-Jun-06 Stuttgart FRA:SUI 18:00
14 13-Jun-06 Frankfurt KOR:TOG 15:00
29 18-Jun-06 Leipzig FRA:KOR 21:00
30 19-Jun-06 Dortmund TOG:SUI 15:00
45 23-Jun-06 Cologne TOG:FRA 21:00
46 23-Jun-06 Hanover SUI:KOR 21:00


Group H
Match Date Venue Teams Time/Score

15 14-Jun-06 Leipzig ESP:UKR 15:00
16 14-Jun-06 Munich TUN:KSA 18:00
31 19-Jun-06 Stuttgart ESP:TUN 21:00
32 19-Jun-06 Hamburg KSA:UKR 18:00
47 23-Jun-06 Kaiserslautern KSA:ESP 16:00
48 23-Jun-06 Berlin UKR:TUN 16:00

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David Beckham's Best Goal Ever

Whoever wrote that beckhams scored in World Cup '92 couldnt be more wrong.
Frist of all there was no world cup that year, it was Italia '90 and then USA '94.
And even if there was, beckham wasnt even around at that time!! He scored that free kick in qualifying for World Cup 2002. Please know something about soccer before you post these dumbass comments.

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Ronaldo Best goal & Raul

a gorgeous piece of teamwork, but you all should watch Arsenal if you want more of this stuff. Ronaldo is a beast, but his hairstyle was terrible.

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Fifa Wprld Cup Soccer Fifa Best 10 Goals Ever

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Zidane vs. Ronaldinho (Soccer's Best) Video

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Ronaldinho the best 50 goals Ever Video

An early goal from Ronaldinho was enough to give Barca the points against Cadiz that mean they need just two more to take the title. The game also saw the reappearance of Xavi after a five month injury lay off.


Lenovo Group Limited today announced a cooperation with FC Barcelona, and its super star Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, otherwise known as Ronaldinho Gaúcho. Ronaldinho will be a Lenovo Worldwide Brand Ambassador. Ronaldinho, the FIFA World Player of the Year for two years running, currently plays for Barcelona and the Brazilian national team, and is expected to play a key role in Brazil’s defence of its World Cup title when the tournament begins on June 9, 2006.

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Another Ronaldinho Best Goal

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Former Goalkeeper Schumacher thinks Lehmann will be Germany first option

Former Goalkeeper Schumacher thinks Lehmann will be Germany first option
Toni Schumacher, the West German goalkeeper from the 1982 and 1986 World Cups, believes that Jens Lehmann's body language suggests he will be wearing Germany's number one jersey at the 2006 World Cup.There is a competition between Bayern Munich custodian Oliver Kahn and Lehmann, but the issue has turned into a tedious soap opera in the German press and Schumacher believes Germany manager Jürgen Klinsmann will conclude it by picking Lehmann."I cannot see any reason not to choose Kahn but I get the impression that Jens Lehmann will be the one playing at the World Cup," Schumacher said. "Jens was so calm and relaxed when interviewed after Arsenal's recent Champions League game with Juventus. I felt then that he already knows he will be the number one.Germany coach Klinsmann has confirmed that he will make his decision by the beginning of May before naming his final 23-man World Cup squad on May 15.

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Trinidad & Tobago announces World Cup Team

Most coaches are defining the final squad they will take to the World Cup. Just like Leo Beenhakker, Trinidad and Tobago's coach. He has announced a provisional 24-man squad he will take to Germany.One of the most important players is former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke, now with Sydney. But the team also has British-based players in the squad include Coventry's Stern John, Port Vale's Chris Birchall, West Ham's Shaka Hislop and Gillingham's Ian Cox."Before making the final choice, we did our homework the best we could," Beenhakker told the press."I must protect the players also who brought us to Germany. They have to be credited and there must be balance in the group.The manager was honest: "I want to thank specially all the players who are not on the list but were on the road to Germany and I understand for the moment I have made 24 players happy."I really understand much better that I have disappointed now many players from Trinidad and Tobago. However, I can assure them that the decisions we made were made in relation to looking for the best of the team."Trinidad and Tobago list:Keepers: Kelvin Jack (Dundee), Shaka Hislop (West Ham), Clayton Ince (Coventry City)Defenders: Dennis Lawrence (Wrexham) Cyd Gray (San Juan Jabloteh), Marvin Andrews (Rangers), Brent Sancho (Gillingham), Ian Cox (Gillingham), Atiba Charles (W Connection), Avery John (New England Revolution).Midfielders: Silvio Spann (unattached), Chris Birchall (Port Vale), Aurtis Whitley (San Juan Jabloteh), Anthony Rougier (United Petrotrin), Anthony Wolfe (San Juan Jabloteh), Densill Theobald (Falkirk), Carlos Edwards (Luton), Dwight Yorke (Sydney FC), Russell Latapy (Falkirk).Strikers: Jason Scotland (St Johnstone), Stern John (Coventry), Kenwyne Jones (Southampton), Collin Samuel (Dundee), Cornell Glen (LA Galaxy)

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Munich: Allianz Arena Stadium

Munich: Allianz Arena Stadium




This architecture masterpiece has a 66,000 capacity. The futuristic design features a smooth transparent shell - made up of hundreds of inflatable cushions - acting as a projection surface to cover the stadium in waves of different colors.
All 66,000 seats will be covered and the estimated cost of 280 million Euros makes the stadium the most expensive of the 2006 World Cup.

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Nuremberg: Frankenstadion Stadium

Nuremberg: Frankenstadion Stadium



With a capacity of 41,926 people,the arena operates a groundbraking "Eco Management and Audio Scheme", an environmental optimisation system designed to make the most efficient use of scarce resources.

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Stuttgart: Gottlieb-Daimler Stadium

Stuttgart: Gottlieb-Daimler Stadium




Gottlieb-Daimler Stadium has a capacity for 54,500 persons. The ground is home of VfB Stuttgart club. Total costs for the redevelopment and renovation of the stadium are estimated at 41-56 million Euros. Along with Berlin and Nürnburg, Stuttgart is one of the three stadiums for World Cup 2006 to incorporate a running track.

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Cologne: Cologne Stadium

Cologne: Cologne Stadium



With a 40,590 capacity, the World Cup Stadium Cologne was opened in a friendly with the German national team playing.

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Best soccer goals FIFA Best goals ever

These are some of the best goals ever recorded in soccer

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World Cup Fifa Fotball World Cup - Germany 2006

The FIFA World Cup or "Football World Cup", "The World Cup", or simply "World Cup" is the most important competition in international football, and the world's most representative team sport event. Organised by Federation Internationale de Football Association the World Cup is contested by the men's national football teams of FIFA member nations. Since the second World Cup in 1934, qualifying tournaments have been held to thin the field for the final tournament. The 2006 Football World Cup will be in Germany. Here the Gemany Stadium where all matches and finals will be played: Berlin, Dortmund , Frankfurt , Gelsenkirchen , Hamburg , Hanover , Kaiserslautern , Cologne , Leipzig , Munich , Nuremberg and Stuttgart Stadium. Getting Tickets for these events will be very difficult, but not impossible... While the championship is awarded every four years, it is more of an ongoing event as the qualifying rounds of the competition take place over the three years leading up to the final rounds. The final tournament phase (often called the "Finals") involves 32 national teams competing over a four-week period in a previously nominated host nation. Starting from the 1938 World Cup, host nations have received an automatic berth in the finals. Only seven nations have ever won the World Cup Finals. Brazil are the current holders, as well as the most successful World Cup team, having won the tournament five times, while Germany and Italy follow with three titles each. The next football World Cup Finals will be held in Germany between June 9 and July 9, 2006

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