Brazil And Italy Conjure Up A Majestic Contest

It might be nine games and 16 months since Italy last won a friendly but Cesare Prandelli will be proud of the spirit the Azzurri showed to turn a two goal deficit into a draw against the much fancied Brazil.

Italy are notorious for their nonchalant attitude towards friendlies, an opportunity to test new players and tactics but no reason to arduously seek a good result, but this performance will put them in good stead for their World Cup qualifier against Malta next week.

In these non-competitive games we have become accustomed to witnessing dour contests lacking both intensity and personality, however the match in Geneva showcased two teams with World Cup winning ambitions, and both will gain confidence from proceedings.

Mario Balotelli and Neymar exchange shirts after the friendly in Switzerland.

Serbia’s World Cup Dream Is Over

The feeling of déjà vu will be the predominant thought of the Serbian supporters after disappointment once more in an international tournament. Four years ago they entered the World Cup with hope, yet fell once they reached the finals, but it looked as if this time around they would progress from the group stage. After a dire performance against Ghana in their 1-0 defeat in the opening game – in what seemed a must-win match if they were to progress – they needed to really lift themselves to defeat a German side who looked very sharp in their comfortable first match victory. Serbia showed spirit, determination and regained the spark which they had during qualification. So going into the final fixture against Australia, who were sitting at the bottom of Group D, Serbia knew they would be the makers of their own destiny.

Radomir Antic admitted that he would contemplate changes if his team were to gain anything from the remaining games, and he adopted a 4-3-3 formation knowing he needed to stifle the opponents. Zdravko Kuzmanovic was promoted into the starting line-up with a specific defensive job, although they were hoping he wouldn’t give away a foolish penalty again. Aleksandar Lukovic was back in his role alongside Nemanja Vidic in the heart of defence after his red card in the first game. But perhaps the biggest surprise was the inclusion of Ivan Obradovic on the left side of defence, although the regular Aleksandar Kolarov was a yellow away from a suspension which may have crossed his Coach’s mind, although in hindsight was not the best of choices.

Serbia And Antic's World Cup Are Finished

Serbia’s World Cup Dream Is Alive After Shock Win

It seemed like it would be a case of déjà vu for the Serbian supporters. Four years ago they entered the World Cup with hope, yet fell greatly once they reached the finals, and it looked as if they would once more fall at the group stage. After a dire performance against Ghana in their 1-0 defeat last Sunday; in what seemed a must win game if they were to progress, they needed to really lift themselves if they were to defeat a German side who looked very sharp in their comfortable 4-0 group opener. Serbia showed spirit, determination and regained the spark which they had during qualification, and also had a helping hand from the referee.

Radomir Antić admitted before the match that he would contemplate changes if his team were to gain anything from the next two games, and he was true to his word. He adopted a 4-3-3 formation knowing he needed to stifle the German midfield that had Mesut Özil playing in ‘the hole’, so Zdravko Kuzmanović was promoted into the starting line-up with a specific defensive job, although they were hoping he wouldn’t give away a foolish penalty again. Neven Subotić was given the role to play alongside Nemanja Vidić in the heart of defence, after his usual partner Aleksandar Luković was suspended after his red card last-week. The mentality of the team was to play defensive, slow the tempo of the game and to absorb the Germans who would attack in numbers, then to hit them on the counter-attack with the pace of Milan Jovanović and Miloš Krasić on the wings. After such a weak performance in the centre of midfield in the first game, Miloš Ninković was asked to play alongside his captain and the tactics that Radomir Antić adopted were perfect.

Jovanovic With The Key Goal Against Germany

No Repeat Of Last Week’s Blip If Serbia Are To Progress

So far in the 2010 FIFA World Cup a high proportion of the games have been defensive and tedious encounters. However, last Sunday the Germans 4-0 victory over the 10-men of Australia caught the eye of football fans, and they are now being tipped as likely winners. On Friday they face a Serbian team who will need to show the right response if they are to progress from Group D. A poor display against Ghana saw the White Eagles lose their opening game 1-0, which has brought back horror memories to their fans of four years ago. At least a point is needed if they are to have a realistic chance of reaching the knockout round, and they will need to raise their game to achieve this feat.

Firstly, the confidence needs to be reinstated in the players, and the person responsible for doing this will be Radomir Antic. With five days of preparation, the highly respected coach has a tough job on his hands if he is to prevent the Germans from running rampant. After last weekend’s game, he did what he could to quickly encourage his players to forget about their opening match and look ahead. “Of course this is a big blow for us, it’s bad to start the World Cup with a defeat. But we have two more games and we must put this behind us and look forward to playing Germany and Australia.”

Serbia's Likely Starting 11 in South Africa

Disappointing Performance From Serbia Who Never Got Going

Serbia’s World Cup campaign has started in the worst possible way after a disappointing defeat in Pretoria this afternoon. With high expectations going into their clash against Ghana, the Serbians never seemed to turn up and were quite fortunate to come away with only a 1-0 defeat. An 84th minute penalty by Asamoah Gyan was enough to defeat the 10 men of Serbia, who will need to sharpen up if they are to reach the knockout rounds. The overall performance from the team will have left Coach Radomir Antić in disarray and he will have a lot to work on before their second game.

The game was billed as an interesting affair, with the two sides looking the more likely to battle for that final qualification spot in the group. Serbia started off the brightest and looked as if they stamped a mark of intent in the game with Marko Pantelić having an ambitious shot only 30 seconds in. The first-half was played at a fast tempo, but both teams failed to cause any problems. The main route of play from the teams was through their wingers, and it seemed as if Serbia’s main chance to cause damage was to hurt Ghana with the rapid pace of Milan Jovanović and Miloš Krasić. However as the half wore on both failed to make any real impact, with Krasić’s touch letting him down on a couple of occasions. It was not until the 39th minute before either keeper was troubled, with Serbia captain Dejan Stanković shooting from long-range, but it was straight at Richard Kingson. Going into the interval Serbia would have perhaps been the happier of the sides, with Ghana controlling the game yet unable to capitalise.

Zdravko Kuzmanović Is In Despair After Giving Away A Penalty

Players Mental State Needs To Be Watched By Antić

After a calamitous few weeks in which pre-optimism amongst the nation has taken a dent, victory last Sunday over Cameroon has reinstated belief back into those feeble fans. Radomir Antić knew that the final warm-up match was important as it could instil rhythm and morale back into the players before the first match of their group, against Ghana on Sunday. With a tough group ahead of them, the Serbians will know that the unity amongst the camp needs to be solid if they are to progress.

In a farewell match in Belgrade, Serbia showed their attacking prowess, justifying the media’s claims that they could be the team to watch. Although they showed defensive frailties, the way in which they responded to going behind twice in the game showed the mental toughness they have which can be significant in defeating your opponent. After falling behind to a fourth minute goal from Pierre Webó, Antić‘s men showed they can score scrappy goals as well. Ivan Obradović roamed down the left flank, slid a deadly low cross into the box which the goalkeeper pushed into the feet of Miloš Krasić who tucked away a rare goal. Again they fell behind courtesy of Webo’s second, but conjured up a lovely move in which Krasić set up his captain Dejan Stanković with a delightful back heel who then happily smashed it in from outside the box. Nenad Milijaš converted a penalty and Marko Pantelić scored from close range before half time to complete their victory.

Miloš Krasić Will Be Hoping He Can Score More Goals

The Old Enemy’s Efficient Style Puts Them In Contention

It seems to be a continual trend, never right off the Germans. Consistently our foes show us how to utilise the best of their abilities, and after being world champions on three occasions, this time they could yet again be among the finalists. After a decent performance on home soil in the 2006 World Cup, not many changes needed to be incorporated. Already a team consisting of young superstars such as Lukas Podolski, Per Mertesacker and Bastian Schweinsteiger, the most notable change was in the managerial department, where Joachim Löw has been instated after being the assistant manager. After being runners-up in the 2008 European Championships, the coach will be hoping they can go one better this summer.

A noticeable characteristic of the German squad is that they are very young. Indeed out of the 23-men selected, only two surpass the age of 30 – reserve keeper Hans-Jörg Butt and Miroslav Klose. Löw has tried to nurture some of the players who performed so successfully in last summer’s U-21 European Championships, in which they won after a convincing 4-0 trouncing of England, with the likes of Manuel Neuer, Jérôme Boateng, Dennis Aogo, Sami Khedira and Mesut Özil all competing in the final. The mixture between youth and experience is usually the chemistry for success, and if they can get the formula correct, there could be little to prevail over them.

Mesut Özil Shall Be Key For Germany

Serbia Suffer Premature Dent To World Cup Optimism

In the space of 10 days the early buzz souring around Serbia to be this year’s World Cup dark horses has been dealt a blow. After some awful displays in the past two friendlies against Poland and the predicted whipping boys this summer New Zealand, it has left the Serbian fans in disarray. It can be easy to look too much into these games, after all they are just warm-up matches, but lacklustre performances against relatively poor opposition are hardly a vote of confidence.

The fans did not hold back their anger in their friendly in Austria against New Zealand, and in the second half, began rioting. Burning flares, bottles and missiles were launched on to the pitch in attempt to demonstrate their distraught feelings. Stand-in captain Nemanja Vidic even had to act as peace-maker over the stadium microphone, to prevent the game getting abandoned. Although it was an experimental side, the players did not reach any rhythm in the match and were perhaps fortunate to lose by the single goal.

Marko Pantellic Wonders How His Team Will Score

Walcott Should Use The Disappointment As A Catalyst

After the shambolic way in which the FA decided to announce the 23 players England would be taking to the World Cup this summer, via the aid of social networking site Twitter, we were left with a few surprises. The likes of Leighton Baines, Tom Huddlestone and Darren Bent would have sat in thought of how they could have furthered their chances. All arguably in the richest vein of form in their young careers, they would have felt harshly done by being dropped in favour of players in poor form, although a young man who grew up in Newbury would have been distraught at missing out when his place on the plane was only his to lose.

Four years ago England went to Germany with the Coach Sven Goran Eriksson popping a surprise player into his squad – a relatively unheard of 17-year-old called Theo Walcott. With only six months of professional football under his belt playing for south coast side Southampton, Walcott was signed up by Arsenal – Arsene Wenger acting characteristically swiftly in pursuit of refreshing young talent. What surprised the public most was the fact that this fresh-faced youngster hadn’t represented Arsenal, yet he was deemed good enough to go to the World Cup.

Despair For Walcott

Low Expectations This Time Around For Portugal

We are now at the stage before every major football tournament where punters are looking for decent odds on who could be a surprise package. After reaching the semi-finals last time around in Germany 2006, the Portuguese have long odds of 28/1 and would naturally attract your eye. However there are very clear reasons why they aren’t contenders this summer.

With the charismatic Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari at their helm at the last three tournaments, the so called ‘golden generation’ took the world by storm. At Euro 2004 in their own back yard the Selecção das Quinas reached the final and lost to Greece in one of footballs biggest upsets. However after losing to Germany and finishing fourth in the World Cup, the last of a crop of superstars including Luis Figo and Pauleta withdrew themselves from the international scene. The players were clearly missed as they were knocked out in the first round of Euro 2008 by the Germans once more.

Ronaldo has attracted criticism from the Portuguese faithful

Antic Leaves Players Sweating On Final Place

Serbia Coach Radomir Antic reduced his provisional World Cup squad from 30 to 24 players on Friday. With the World Cup fewer than three weeks away Chelsea pair Slobodan Rajkovic and Nemanja Matic were two of six players to be omitted.

Ajax attacker Miralem Sulejmani was perhaps a surprise player who was dropped, but after a poor season for his club was absent along with fellow Eredivise player Jagos Vukovic of PSV. The remaining two players were Nemanja Tomic (Partizan Belgrade) and Dejan Lekic (Red Star Belgrade) surprisingly leaving the Serbians with four keepers in the squad, however uncapped Andjelko Djuricic of Portuguese side U.D. Leira is expected to be the last player to be withdrawn from Antic’s squad, who has a deadline of June 1st to submit the final squad.

Nikola Zigic

Ghana Will Hope To Be Africa’s Star

With this summer’s FIFA World Cup being held on African soil for the first time, the pressure is on for the six qualified home teams to do their continent proud. Ghana will be competing in their second consecutive tournament, and after an impressive African Cup of Nations in Angola this January; in which they were finalists, they will be looking to continue the momentum this summer with a stronger squad at their disposal.

In Angola, the Black Stars featured many players from their U-20 World Cup winning side of 2009 and Coach Milovan Rajevac has kept faith by including the likes of Samuel Inkoom, Daniel Agyei, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, André “Dede” Ayew and Dominic Adiyiah in his provisional 29-man squad. Inkoom is predicted to continue his place at right-back after the 20-year-old impressed in the tournament, and he could be joined in the starting line-up by Marseille’s Ayew, the son of three-time African player of the year Abedi Pele, who incidentally will be accompanied in the squad by his half-brother Rahim Ayew of Zamalek.

Fitness Doubt Over Captain Essien

The White Eagles Look To Spread Their Wings

This summer Serbia will be technically making their first official appearance at the FIFA World Cup. Thanks to political changes the past two qualifications they have been too they have been under two different disbanded names, Yugoslavia (1998) and Serbia-Montenegro (2006) which have interestingly all included captain Dejan Stankovic.

In Germany last time around its fair to say the team underachieved, going in with high expectations after conceding only one goal in qualification. Pressure and back room issues resulted them to finish without a point in the ‘group of death,’ and were the recipients of that infamous Esteban Cambiasso goal.The team has a mixed balance of tactical and technical ability and should not be underestimated. Milos Krasic is somebody to watch out for on the right-wing, the CSKA Moscow player showed glimpses of his talent in this seasons UEFA Champions League against Manchester United and will be using the tournament as a shop window, with continued interested from England and Spain.

Nemanja Vidic - The Rock In Serbia's Defence

Is Capello The One To Lead England To Glory?

With only 6 days till one of the biggest events in the sporting calendar kicks off, like usual us England fans start to build that optimism. You know, that hope that this will be our year. How many times have we heard that? The media always over-hype the players and put so much pressure on them. It is quite frightening. But could this actually be our year?

The bookies have placed us as the third favourite behind current European Champions Spain and the illustrious five times winners Brazil. The man who is under the scrutiny of a nation is Italian Fabio Capello, a manager who has won trophies everywhere he has gone, who was even ridiculously sacked by Real Madrid for not winning the league in enough ‘style’. I’m sure we won’t be complaining if we pinch 1-0 victories if it leads us to a trophy we haven’t won since the one and only time 1966, and bar 1990, haven’t really looked as if we could.

Capello Could Relieve England Of Their Burden

Should England Fear Brazil?

Last night, competing at their second home; Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, Brazil faced an Ireland side, with the countdown until the World Cup reaching 100 days.

It is unfortunate and unjustifiable that the Irish won’t be competing in South Africa this summer, after the play off match against France in which Thierry Henry used his arm to guide the ball into the path of William Gallas to knock them out, but they have to keep their heads held high and try to erase the pain when the qualification for the next European Championships begins this autumn.

Dunga - Not A Fan Of Traditional Brazilian Style