The 2010 World Cup in South Africa is over and now we can turn our attention to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. We will cover everything from the qualifying games to the World Cup Final.
Huge summer for Jürgen Klinsmann and the US National Team. The Americans have two World Cup qualifiers at home, plus the Gold CUp and two friendlies against Belgium and Germany.
Germany and the Netherlands opened up big leads in their qualifying groups on a night when Spain overtook France with a win in Paris.
In the game of the day in Paris, Spain were keen to return to winning ways after recent draws and did just that, Pedro Rodríguez striking on 56 minutes against a France side who later had Paul Pogba sent off. The holders moved one point above Les Bleus in Group I and are now unbeaten in 50 World Cup qualifiers over 20 years. Read more...(294 words, 1 image, estimated 1:11 mins reading time)
Republic of Ireland will play their first game at Wembley since the stadium was rebuilt, on Wednesday 29 May as part of The FA’s 150th anniversary.
The teams last met at Wembley in 1991 in a European Championship Qualifier. Lee Dixon opened the scoring after nine minutes with his only ever England goal but Niall Quinn equalised before half time and the game eventually finished 1-1.
The long-awaited friendly will be the first meeting between the two nations since their clash in Dublin’s Lansdowne Road was postponed due to rioting England fans Read more...(250 words, 1 image, estimated 1:00 mins reading time)
We are some 16 months away from the start of the 2014 World Cup Finals in Brazil and three European heavyweights have must-win games on Tuesday or their participation in Brazil will be in serious doubt.
FRANCE V. SPAIN
First up is the current European and World Champions who head to Paris in a must-win game after drawing 1-1 with Finland at the weekend.
In the earlier meeting between these two countries, France got a draw in Spain, a result that means that a French victory on home soil will see them move five points clear at the top of their group. Read more...(618 words, 1 image, estimated 2:28 mins reading time)
England put eight past San Marino in their World Cup qualifier but the result of the day was in Spain where Finland held the current World Champions to a 1-1 draw.
Sergio Ramos gave Vicente Del Bosque’s side the lead shortly into the second half but Teemu Pukki made the most of a rare chance for the visitors to draw level on 78 minutes.
The result means that Spain slipped to second place in Group I, two points behind leaders France, who Spain play in Paris next Tuesday. Anything less than a Spanish win, will mean that Spain will be forced to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil via the playoffs. Read more...(348 words, 1 image, estimated 1:24 mins reading time)
Daniele De Rossi sparked Italy‘s fightback and Mario Balotelli scored a superb second-half equaliser as the Azzurri battled to a 2-2 draw in a match tonight between two of the best five teams in the world in Geneva today.
Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side looked poor in their 1-0 defeat by England in February, but they jumped out to a commanding 2-0 half-time lead through goals by Fred and Oscar.
Italy had created several chances in the opening half, including a curling effort from Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo, but ultimately struggled with Brazil‘s pacy rhythm. Read more...(454 words, 1 image, estimated 1:49 mins reading time)
More defensive worries for U.S.A. fans heading into the World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica and Mexico as Jurgen Klinsmann has dropped U.S. captain Carlos Bocanegra from the squad, while Timmy Chandler, Fabian Johnson and Danny Williams will miss the matches because of injuries and illness.
Besides Bocanegra there are eight players not in the squad that you would expect to see: Edgar Castillo (facial fractures), Chandler (hamstring), Steve Cherundolo (knee surgery), Tim Howard (broken bones in back), Johnson (hip), Jonathan Spector (ankle), Jose Torres (hamstring) and Williams (stomach virus). Read more...(353 words, 1 image, estimated 1:25 mins reading time)
USA National team boss Jurgen Klinsmann has some major injury worries ahead of the US’s two massive World Cup Qualifying games later this month.
After losing its opening game in Honduras 2-1 the American’s face Costa Roca and Mexico later this month, knowing that they need at least a split from the two games.
But that task has been made harder due to the errors that have hit the US team. Everton have announced that goalkeeper Tim Howard has two broken bones in his back and is almost certain to miss the two World Cup qualifiers. Read more...(387 words, 1 image, estimated 1:33 mins reading time)
The USA‘s defeat at Honduras looks a little better this morning after the Reggae Boyz pulled off a stunning result, drawing 0-0 in Mexico, while Panama blew a two-goal lead to draw with Costa Rica.
Fernando Palomo and Alejandro Moreno breakdown Jamaica’s surprising draw in Mexico.
Massively disappointing defeat for USA today in Honduras, in the opener of the final qualifying round for next year’s World Cup.
The U.S. took the lead in the match through Clint Dempsey, but could not hold the lead once again away from home and eventually lost 2-1.
The U.S., which had been 12-3-3 against Honduras, lost its final-round opener for the first time in five games since the “hexagonal” format was adopted in qualifying for the 1998 tournament Read more...(299 words, 1 image, estimated 1:12 mins reading time)
Huge summer for Jürgen Klinsmann and the US National Team. The Americans have two World Cup qualifiers at home, plus the Gold CUp and two friendlies against Belgium and Germany.
