From this To this Pele on Maradona "Diego only took the Argentina job because he needed the money," the legend was reported by Ole as saying. "I saw them struggle in qualifying, but it isn't Maradona's fault. It is the fault of whoever put him in charge." Pele was responding to recent comments by Maradona, in which the Argentine alleged that he did not have faith in South Africa's ability to host the World Cup and had been proved completely wrong. "I don't know why he speaks about me so much, he must be in love with me."

Originally posted by NNC: I think that Africans are only seen for their strength rather than their brains, otherwise their Football Associations would have employed one of their own(real black African). One wonders where is the African pride, the "made in Africa" logo? Apparently, it is all in the noise-making trumpet known as the Vuvuzela for now. The moral of this story is that we have a long way ahead of us before we see an African team wining the WC. I think the problem with African football is this...what IS "African football" ? To me it doesnt seem to have much of an identity. Look at all the so called stronger African teams, why are they considered strong ? Simply because they have more European based players. So really how does that help their cause playing in Africa ? honestly it doesnt really make much difference what continent they were on it wouldnt help this problem. I mean look at the more successful football nations at WC level, Germany, Italy, Brazil they all seem to have this typecast way of playing, the Germans are "clinical" the Italians are defensive and cope well under pressure, the Brazilians play with that "samba flair". Through generations of different players this ethos of play style still exists to this day and is still successful. I think having that kind of identity/culture of a national team is really important because when you start bringing players together from clubs all over the world they need to understand how they fit in and what exactly is expected of them when they put on that different shirt. Klose is brilliant at national level, Robinho as well, how many African players in comparison are better at country than club level ? African teams just dont seem to have this. The only ones that do to a small extent are Ghana and Egypt...and guess what ? They are two of the most successful nations in the African cup. The only way to develop this identity is to have strong local leagues that have good support and facilities and good balance of foreign and local players. What an African country needs also in my opinion is a Ancelotti, Hiddink or a Mourinho to coach them, they wont win the World Cup without a top quality coach, problem is the African teams dont have the money to appoint a top coach, whereas Russia with a wealthy man like Abramovich funding Hiddink's salary can. A top coach who wont stand any messing is crucial as we have heard so many stories of players from African nations being too powerful and egoistic and essentially walking over a coach, like Ivory Coast did after the 2010 African Nations Cup when their old coach was sacked due to player power. PS: I think all the factors above are still hurdles to overcome if an African side is going to win the WC, i thought this time round one could get to the Quarter Finals being on the home soil, now there are doubts if any of them will go through.

nuff respect!!

Spain, Spain Spain grrrr!! The team I picked oh dear dear momma!! Am actually pissed off more at Spain than even before. I saw this freakin match against Honduras, they were just a lazy bunch of players. Once 2-0 up and missing a few more chances, and with Xavi off, they looked a completely different side, they just slacked off and happy with 2-0 against a hopeless Honduras side. Do they freakin want to face Brazil in the second round? I don't think so. They Goal Difference now is only 1, If they beat Chile by 1 goal, 2, and if Swiss only beat Honduras by 2 goals, they will top the group! SO Wha thaa F WAS THAT SPAIN!?! I also have pretty much concluded, Cesc is overrated, its as simple as that. Ask him to do the Xavi role? No. He slows the game completely and takes much longer to read the game, and much shorter range of passing. Im being critical because many are saying he will succeed Xavi in the role for Spain and Barca, but I dont think he can. Jesus Navas offers pace and some penetration, but his final ball is always so poor, it was sad to watch. How have Spain come to such low quality? Del Bosque failed to impress me, with his tactics or substitutions. It was just Villa's ability that won the game for them yesterday in essence.On this showing, Spain dont deserve the WC. Unless they improve vastly against Chile, I dont think they will even win that game or if so get past Brazil. Something less important Im worried about as well is..When Villa was about to take that penalty, a thought crossed my mind. I was thinking this is the evidence that he will be a top scorer in this WC and lead Spain to win it, and also to lead Barca to success with many goal to come, and I cant believe it when he missed it! Was that the answer to my thought? I hope not! Pathetic by Spain, pathetic :mad: Paraguay, Chile, Uruguay and Argentina have all impressed thus far at the WC, i think it comes to show that the South Amerian qualification section is the strongest around, in the European section you get some freebies like Andorra, San Marino, Faroe Islands etc, whereas in the South American section you get no such thing, every game is intense and it really is a marathon not a sprint to qualify for the World Cup as it is an 18 game section. I think these factors are a reason for the 3 South American teams excluding Brazil and Argentina doing well so far. What a miss by Yakubu, That has got to be the greatest miss of all time . Glad to see Greece out of the competition. Shockingly negative for the whole match. You work hard to qualify for the World Cup, need a result to stay in it, To defend for 90 minutes even when you HAVE to score? It's completely anti-football and good riddance :mad: :mad: PS: Palermo... what a story! PSS: C'mon Aussies "We can do it. beat Serbia and Ghana will do us a favour by beating Germany."

^^ LST..We should each throw 1 pound into a pot and send it off to the Mexican and Uruguayan players as a bonus to eliminate France. I so hope they do it and France dont sneak through, they simply dont deserve it, even before the goals they were average and Mexico were the better side, Hernandez looked impressive when he came on, Marquez is a very good composed player and a good steady head for the Mexicans at the back. Torrado works hard in the midfield and Salcido looked very impressive, always liked him whenever i have seen him for PSV and he was impressive, got down the French flank brilliantly and beat Sagna easily at times. Nice pen by Blanco too, Abidal isnt a centre back and he isnt a great left back either, why Domenech took 3 left backs to the WC and left the likes of Nasri at home is anyones guess and the likes of Govou, Anelka, Henry and Gignac have all gone into the WC in poor-average form for their clubs and they have barely tested either the Mexican or the Uruguayan keepers during this WC. Their appearance at the final last time out is looking more and more like Zidane bailing an average side out of jail more and more every day, one interesting image that summed up the French players and their mood was when Henry was warming up and talking to Cisse with miserable expressions on both their faces. I reckon they are simply playing for their coach to be sacked. Well done Mexico, fully deserved win and a message to Aguirre, start Hernandez next game. PS: Enjoyed watching Domenech's face after they were losing 2-0 And those French fans, so nicely dressed up, poor them. Au reviour France.

Navas is a Gun, they keep giving him the ball, why was he on the bench in the first place? Spain just cant get through here. First major shock of the tournament coming up!

What a shot by Xavi alonso! What a hit!

right players were subbed, definately.

Switzerland are defending too deep,parked the bus. grrr.. another tedious game. They knock it about well until they panic and get sloppy when the goals aren't flooding in.

^^ They also defending in numbers. pique should've burried that one. can you spot the endless passing?

Okay guys, STILL a chronic lack of goals. If it doesnt improve come the next round of fixtures then Im gonna quickly lose interest and only bother watching England, Spain, Brazil and Netherlands. Lets hope the Spanish can boost this WC with some good goals.

Nuune that camera didn't do me any favour. at the time didn't know there was a photo shoot. Viva espana!!

Watching a team able to pass the ball about the pitch and with a bit of pace, makes a refreshing change. They remind me a bit of Spain the way they knock it about. It should be a good game when they play each other. Getting ready for the big one..Where is my latte?

Chile will be a good side to watch in this tournament; Chile against Spain should be one of the better games of the group stages. A&T They're liable to face Brazil as well in the next round.

What a GOal!! This is gonna turn out to be like Germany vs the Aussies.

Something you don't know about JB heh, his the only one who keeps this forum moving. Especially on Sundays . You don't have anything against Jbaro his unique and most of the lads don't take him serious.

Norf you actually think Honduras will punish Chile? Watch out for the Chilean wonder kid called Alexis sanchez.

Why does Robinho do well in the world cup? These games over the last few days, makes all that overreaction about England's draw seem even more crazy. Ps: calling in sick. Pss: Loz This Friday we going to Asmara cafe.

So far the Ivorians and the souf africans impressed me out of all the Africans teams. NK are my new favourite WC 2010 team now, very decent at the back and their number 9 was more impressive than Kaka.

You made him realise his mistake, thats fare enough.

Teams have to start going for points now.There's no more excuses of caution in the first game. Hopefully we'll see a winner in the South Africa - Uruguay match, it would be nice for South Africa to win and give themselves a massive chance of qualifying. I'll also be cheering for Mexico day after tomorrow. I had yesterday was another disappointment, how long can we keep 'hoping' for a good day of football at a World Cup? Hopefully Spain will. Again! didnt watch any matches yesterday, but tonight? gotta watch my eSpania go ran over the Swits, and the last two days the matches looked a little odd. I just want a team to really throw of the shackles of the first game and launch themselves at their cagey opponents. Come on Spain. Viva Espana!!!!!

Originally posted by Oodweyne: OK, Ibti , I'll take your advise and stop raining on the parade of these lot in here. God only knows that they need desperately this sort of "here-today-gone-tomorrow" flag-waving parade of theirs, indeed.. Finally, a young lady convinced the old man.

Originally posted by Tuujiye: Taxsiile maa hadana la daba dhigtay?.. Armaad ka joogtaan gabdhihiina yar yar oo hilibka jiirta ahi... mid taxiile part time ah yuusan idin ku qaban lee... maalinkaste lacag 5 doolar ama 10 doolar ah buu masruuf kuusiinaa runtii markass baa la idiin bixin doonaa nimco sarif waxaas oo kale.. Aaliya, Somaligaadaba waa somaligii waayeelada ee maxaa kuu diiday in aad aqoonatid Burjiko? sheey qaraami ah ayaaba ka dhigtay kawar..Ma ogtahay cuntada burjikada lagu karsho iyo tan korontada, in Burjikada cuntada lagu karsho aad iyo aad ugaga macaan tahay... Wareer Badanaa!!!

The timings of the world cup in Australia is devastating. The first match comes on at 9:30pm then 12:00am then 4:00am.

Reasoning with an el~shabab activist is not worth it.