Kanu predicts close encounter

Nigeria captain Nwankwo Kanu is anticipating a tight match when they begin their World Cup campaign against Argentina on Saturday.

Kanu will be facing Argentina for the fourth time in his career, and the Portsmouth striker is confident the Super Eagles have what it takes to beat the Albiceleste.

"Argentina have the big-name players and everyone respects them. We also acknowledge that they are good and great players," Kanu told African website Kick Off.

"Argentina also have the same respect for us because they know the quality of our team and know that there is plenty that we can come up with at anytime. Yes, it will be tough but I believe we can overcome on the day. It is the World Cup and things do happen."

Despite the quality Argentina possess, the 33-year-old believes Nigeria will come out on top and that the game will be settled by a single goal.

"You know, it is always very close any time we play them at the top level. It is either 2-1 or 1-0. I expect that on Saturday, it would also be close, but victory will be Nigeria's."

Lars Lagerback's team have been placed in Group B, with Greece and South Korea completing the line up.

Drogba aware of Elephants expectation

Didier Drogba admits the Ivory Coast are under intense pressure to succeed at the World Cup.
The Chelsea striker's participation in South Africa is still in doubt because of the broken arm he suffered in the friendly against Japan on which he underwent surgery last weekend.

The 32-year-old is integral to the Elephants' hopes of progressing in South Africa with the team in a tough group alongside Brazil, Portugal and North Korea. Despite facing such a challenge to make it into the knockout stages, Drogba says there is great expectation.

Drogba told Sportsworld, on the BBC World Service: "The expectation back home is really high. Most of our players play for big teams and have won things with big teams. But for the country we have won nothing.

"People speak about this generation being the best in Ivory Coast for years and that is why the expectation is so high, higher than in France or England.''

Ivory Coast will be led in South Africa by Sven-Goran Eriksson who replaced previous incumbent Vahid Halilhodzic, who was sacked following the disappointing quarter-final exit in the African Nations Cup in January.

The Swede guided England to the quarter-finals in 2002 and 2006 and Drogba is vocal in his admiration.

"He is one of the best managers on the market and has done a lot of good things with the England national team,'' added the former Marseille striker.

"He is a very good professional and with his experience I hope we can beat one or two big teams at the World Cup. He knows there is a lot of work to do that's why he started very quickly when he got the job.''

source:http://soccernet.espn.go.com

Bradley: USA won't wind up Rooney

By Soccernet staff

USA coach Bob Bradley has contradicted claims by defender Jay DeMerit that his team will seek to "wind up" England's Wayne Rooney when the two countries open Group C on Saturday evening.

• Donovan excited by England test
• Officials given swear word list
• USA stars fit for opener
• DeMerit to target Rooney
• Forum: Who will win on Saturday?

Rooney's temperament has once again been questioned after he was booked for dissent in England's warm-up game against Platinum Stars and warned by referee Jeff Selogilwe that he risks being dismissed when the tournament starts if he persists with such behaviour.

DeMerit, who has spent the past six seasons in England representing Watford, suggested that USA would look to exploit Rooney's short temper by goading the striker in Rustenburg, but this is something that Bradley was quick to deny.

"I get asked the question about Wayne Rooney all the time," Bradley said. "I have tremendous respect for Rooney and what he brings to England in so many ways.

"His effort, his competitiveness, his movement, his influence on that team is great. But we won't try and wind him up, no. We don't enter into all of that sort of thing."

USA will boast a number of players familiar to English fans in their team on Saturday with Fulham's Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Everton, enjoying the highest profile. Bradley expects both players to make an impact against Fabio Capello's England.

"Landon and Clint are both important attacking players for us and we are very lucky they have the ability to play different roles," Bradley said. "We have seen that with Clint at Fulham and with Landon at the LA Galaxy and with Everton on loan.

"That is something that allows us to have some tactical flexibility and something we hope we can use at some stage to our advantage."

source:soccernet.espn.go.com

world Cup 2010: Group A: Uruguay Vs France team line-ups

Green Point Stadium, Cape Town
June 11

Referee :Yuichi Nishimura (Japan)

Uruguay team lin-ups:[ 3-4-1-2 ]
Coach : Oscar Tabarez
Néstor Muslera
Mauricio Victorino
Diego Lugano
Diego Godin
Maximiliano Pereira
Diego Pérez
Egidio Arévalo
Alvaro Pereira
Ignacio Gonzalez
Luiz Suarez
Diego Forlan


France team line-ups:[ 4-3-3 ]
coach : Raymond Domenech
Hugo Lloris
Bacary Sagna
William Gallas
Eric Abidal
Patrice Evra
Yoann Gourcuff
Jérémy Toulalan
Florent Malouda
Sidney Govou
Nicolas Anelka
Franck Ribery

World Cup 2010: Group A: South Africa Vs Maxico team line-ups

Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg
June 11

Referee :Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)

South Africa team line-ups :[ 4-4-1-1 ]

Coach :Carlos Alberto Parreira
Players:Itumeleng Khune
Siboniso Gaxa
Bongani Khumalo
Aaron Mokoena
Lucas Bongane Thwala
Teko Modise
Renielwe Letsholonyane
Kagisho Dikgacoi
Siphiwe Tshabalala
Steven Pienaar
Katlego Mphela

Mexico team line-ups:[ 4-3-3 ]
Coach :Javier Aguirre Onaindía
Players:Oscar Perez
Paul Aguilar
Francisco Rodriguez
Ricardo Osorio
Carlos Salcido
Gerardo Torrado
Rafael Marquez
Efrain Juarez
Giovani dos Santos
Javier Hernandez
Carlos Vela