195 members have voted

  1. 1. Who will win the 2010 World Cup?

    • South Africa (Host)
      8
    • France
      2
    • Argentina
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    • England
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    • Germany
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    • The Netherlands (Holland)
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    • Italy (Current holders)
      13
    • Brazil
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    • Spain
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    • Portugal
      9
    • Other (Specify in post)
      12
  2. 2. (Golden Boot) Who will be top scorer?

    • Wayne Rooney (England)
      41
    • David Villa (Spain)
      25
    • Fernando Torres (Spain)
      19
    • Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
      5
    • Luis Fabiano (Brazil)
      11
    • Lionel Messi (Argentina)
      30
    • Kaka (Brazil)
      7
    • Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
      20
    • Thierry Henry (France)
      4
    • Jermaine Defoe (England)
      4
    • Other (Specify in post)
      29


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Germany captain Michael Ballack ruled out of World Cup

Germany captain Michael Ballack has been ruled out of this summer's World Cup because of the right ankle injury he suffered in Saturday's FA Cup final.

The 33-year-old Chelsea midfielder has made 98 appearances for his country and played in the last two World Cups.

A scan revealed a partially torn ligament but it is expected to be eight weeks before he can resume training and Germany's first match is on 13 June.

He was injured after a challenge by Portsmouth's Kevin-Prince Boateng.

Ironically, Boateng could be part of the Ghana squad that will face Germany in Group D at the finals in South Africa.

The former Tottenham player was born in Germany and represented German youth teams but chose to play for Ghana, his father's country of birth.

After Fifa removed the age limit for players who want to switch national allegiance, the 23-year-old was cleared to appear for Ghana in the finals and has been named in a provisional 30-man squad.

The Portsmouth midfielder's late tackle in the 35th minute of Chelsea's Cup final victory at Wembley led to Ballack limping off.

An early X-ray at the stadium showed no broken bones but a further scan in Germany on Monday highlighted the full extent of the problem.

The German Football Federation said Ballack's right ankle will be placed in a cast and he will have to wear a special shoe for two weeks after the cast is removed.

A Chelsea statement confirmed: "The German national team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt, estimates the earliest possible return to training for the player is in eight weeks."

Ballack impressed for Germany during the 2008 European Championship, when they were eventually beaten 1-0 in the final by Spain, and was considered a key figure for them again this summer.

The Germans begin their campaign against Australia on 13 June before matches against Serbia on 18 June and Ghana on 23 June.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8684774.stm

A big blow for Germany,the world cup will be missing one of the big stars as he always raises his game for his country.

Boateng is a f**king cnut. I'm glad Cech saved his penalty and I hope it haunts him for the rest of his life.Maybe next year Ballack could turn him into Ramsey.

1) Ballack is an old ****.. if Becks is done then so is he..

2) Your Ramsey comment is extremely infuriating..

+1

foul was bad, but didnt look like any malice.

also i dont think chelsea(if he were to go else where or what ever next year, midfield is extremely strong without him) and germany would miss ballack

some true chelsea spirit right there =\

gregbob: age

edit: fail spelling

France have retained uncapped pair Mathieu Valbuena and Marc Planus in their World Cup squad after trimming it from 30 to 24 players on Monday.

Forward Valbuena has been rewarded for his good form in helping Marseille win the Ligue 1 title.

Bordeaux defender Planus was left in as doubts remain whether Arsenal centre-back Williams Gallas will be fit.

Coach Raymond Domenech has until 1 June to name his 23-man squad and is hoping Gallas will overcome a calf injury.

Goalkeeper Mickael Landreau, defenders Rod Fanni and Adil Rami, midfielder Yann M'Vila and forwards Hatem Ben Arfa and Jimmy Briand were the players dropped from the squad.

France will face hosts South Africa as well as Mexico and Uruguay in Group A.

After Ballack's provocations in the FA Cup Final, it was expected that Boateng was going to do something like that. It's quite "normal" although this time was too harsh. Also, they've known each other for a long time. Who knows what else did happen while they were playing for Herta and Bayer Munich!? All in all, Germany vs Ghana, it's going to be an interesting game :)

I want to see Ghana and Serbia go through the group stage...

France have retained uncapped pair Mathieu Valbuena and Marc Planus in their World Cup squad after trimming it from 30 to 24 players on Monday.

Forward Valbuena has been rewarded for his good form in helping Marseille win the Ligue 1 title.

Bordeaux defender Planus was left in as doubts remain whether Arsenal centre-back Williams Gallas will be fit.

Coach Raymond Domenech has until 1 June to name his 23-man squad and is hoping Gallas will overcome a calf injury.

Goalkeeper Mickael Landreau, defenders Rod Fanni and Adil Rami, midfielder Yann M'Vila and forwards Hatem Ben Arfa and Jimmy Briand were the players dropped from the squad.

France will face hosts South Africa as well as Mexico and Uruguay in Group A.

if someone shot domenech and the person who hired him i would be a happy person...

Nice to see that away from here (France) everyone thinking the same thing, Domenech is nuts! Valbuena? Come on, this guy is a joke! And whe don't need another left winger, we have Malouda and Ribery fighting for the position already, and Henry plays here now too. I'm so ****ed about that stupid list... :pinch:

Domenech is a Looney Toons character.. and not in a good way.. besides Nasri.. also no Ben Arfa, Benzema, Mickael Landreau and Adil Rami.. he is nuts.. while Cisse is going to SA.. nice

I concur.

Nasri, Benzema, Ben Arfa... Even if they didn't have a good season, they still possess the ability to amaze at any given moment. The WC would have been a great opportunity for them. :/

Final squad for Spain announced:

The full squad list for Spain is below:

Goalkeepers

Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), José Reina (Liverpool), Victor Valdes (Barcelona)

Defenders

Raul Albiol (Real Madrid, Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)

Midfielders

Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Sergi Busquets (Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Javi Martinez (Athletic Bilbao), David Silva (Valencia), Xavi (Barcelona)

Strikers

Jesus Navas (Sevilla), Juan Manuel Mata (Valencia), Pedro Rodriguez (Barcelona), Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), David Villa (Valencia)

Also:

Dutch striker Robin van Persie is urging the Netherlands to make use of what he calls his 'dream attacking quartet' for the World Cup finals in South Africa.

van Persie wants an attacking formation that is built around himself (naturally!), supported by Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart. Funnily enough, the other three players are in agreement with van Persie.

van Persie wants to be supported by Inter Milan's Sneijder as playmaker, with Robben on the right and van der Vaart on the left. It is a combination that van Persie feels would benefit the Dutch.

That line-up however, would leave out Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt.

Speaking to Reuters, van Persie said: "If we can work on giving everything for each other the whole tournament I believe we will be unstoppable.

"With these four players in one team we really will be unique and will have an excellent chance of success.

"I heard their opinions and it pleases me that we appreciate each other's qualities.

"It is a party to play with them. They all are good players who are creative and think offensive.

"Nothing negative about Kuyt, who is a good player and deserved his credit but this is my opinion. But finally it will be the decision of the coach.

"With these four players in one team we really will be unique and will have an excellent chance of success."

Kuyt can come off the bench and be deadly.. that can be the attack to watch for.. not sure if they can defend.. but if they can outscore their opponents what else do they need?

Final squads being announced now.. heres Argentina's final 23:

The final list for Argentina World Cup Squad 2010 is below.

Goalkeepers: Andújar, Pozo, Romero.

Defenders: Burdisso, Clemente Rodríguez, Demichelis, Garcé, Heinze, Otamendi, Samuel.

Midfielders: Bolatti, Di María, Jonás Gutiérrez, Mascherano, Maxi Rodríguez, Pastore, Verón.

Strikers: Agüero, Diego Milito, Higuaín, Messi, Palermo, Tevez.

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