Coupe du monde de football 2010 :

[Al-khiyal]

Didier Drogba :
Les Verts sont de « bons techniciens et fort mentalement »

Mardi 8 Décembre 2009 -- L’Equipe nationale devrait disputer trois matches amicaux pour se préparer au Mondial 2010 en Afrique du sud, a appris TSA auprès d’une source proche du staff technique national. Ces matches auront lieu aux dates FIFA. Les Verts cherchent à rencontrer des équipes dont le jeu se rapproche de leurs adversaires en phase de poules. Le tirage au sort de la Coupe du Monde 2010 effectué vendredi 4 décembre a placé l’Algérie dans le groupe C avec l’Angleterre, les Etats-Unis et la Slovénie. L’Allemagne pourrait être sollicitée pour préparer l’Angleterre, selon la même source. « L’Allemagne et l’Angleterre sont deux grandes nations du football mondial. En plus, il y a des similitudes entre les Anglais et les Allemands. Les deux équipes pratiquent un football physique. Disputer un match contre l’Allemagne permettrait à l’équipe nationale de se frotter à une grande nation du football avant d’affronter les Anglais», explique notre source. L’Algérie chercherait aussi à obtenir un sparring-partner de la zone Concacaf d’où sont issues les Etats-Unis. Le Honduras, le Costarica ou le Salvodar qui ont affronté les Américains lors des éliminatoires seraient visés par le staff technique national. La Croatie dont le jeu est proche de la Slovénie pourrait également constituer un bon test pour les Verts avant leur premier match de poule contre les Slovènes. L’Equipe nationale ne devrait pas trouver beaucoup de difficultés pour trouver des adversaires pour préparer convenablement le Mondial 2010. Depuis sa brillante qualification contre l’Egypte le 18 novembre dernier à Khartoum (Soudan), les Verts forcent le respect des grandes stars du football mondial. Dernier témoignage en date, l’international ivoirien et attaquant de Chelsea (Angleterre) Didier Drogba a encensé les joueurs algériens, « bons techniciens et fort mentalement », a-t-il dit lundi au cours d’une émission de la chaîne arabe MBC. « L’Algérie s’est qualifiée au Mondial au détriment de l’Egypte, champion d’Afrique en titre. Ce n’était facile à faire », a ajouté Drogba.

[Al-khiyal]

FIFA World Cup related scams

December 9, 2009 -- It should be universally know by now that hot news and big events are almost always used by spammers, phishers and peddlers of scareware to reach the widest audience possible. The FIFA World Cup that takes place in South Africa next year is no exception. McAfee Labs warns users about a couple of scams that are already present.

The first one is a fake lottery, purportedly held by the South African Football Association. You are, of course, asked to pay "processing fees" or "transfer charges" so you can receive your winnings. We have already seen innumerable scams like this - one wonders is there is anyone who still falls for such a scheme. But, obviously some people still do, because scammers wouldn't bother with it if there were no results. In the second one you are offered to watch live games online. The insult is double: not only do you pay to download a player, but when you do, you don't actually get a player, but scareware.

Another thing you have to be really careful with is the process of buying tickets for the games online. As McAfee advises: "Go to fifa.com, use a reputable travel agent, or contact your football/soccer association directly. Don’t assume unsolicited online offers are genuine." There will be a lot of fakes sites out there, and they will try to relieve of your hard-earned cash. FIFA warns that they are the only ones who will be selling tickets, and that only a few other companies will sell authorized packages.

[Al-khiyal]

Algeria 2010 World Cup shirts



Home

The home shirt is white with hints of green and the Puma logo in red.
This shirt belongs to the same family of shirts Puma has made for the whole of Africa.




Away

The away shirt probably just required new colors
because Puma had already made so many shirts on the same template.
The colors chosen for Algeria is green with hints of red and white.

>>> Source <<<

[Al-khiyal]

South Africa:
Training stadiums will soon be pitch perfect

December 18, 2009 -- The 10 World Cup teams set to play their group-stage matches in Cape Town will train on two of the country's finest pitches, says the city. The Athlone and Philippi stadiums have been upgraded and fitted with state-of-the-art FIFA-approved pitches for the tournament. The two stadiums will be used as World Cup training venues for teams before matches. France and Uruguay will be the first teams to practise in the upgraded stadiums before their opening match in Cape Town on June 11. Other teams that will use the venues include England, Algeria, Cameroon, the Netherlands, Italy, Paraguay, Portugal and Korea DPR.

Shameel Ho-Kim, the city's 2010 training venues co-ordinator, said that apart from the world-class pitch, which still needed some work, the Athlone Stadium revamp was virtually complete. The pitch would be "FIFA-ready" by the end of February. "No date has yet been set for the official opening, but it will be early next year," said Ho-Kim. Technical teams from soccer nations, including France and Italy, visited the stadium after the final draw and were "satisfied", he said. "The inspection was unfortunately very rushed, with most teams flying out by midday, but they were generally very happy." Ho-Kim said the teams' main concerns were about the pitch, players' and management facilities, cloakrooms, the boardroom and conference rooms. After the R400 million upgrade, the stadium will be able to seat 30 000 spectators. Before the upgrade it could take only 12 000.

Meanwhile, the new Philippi stadium is set to be opened next month. Laurine Platzky, the province's 2010 co-ordinator, said the stadium had undergone a R54-million upgrade over the past year. She said the stadium was still without an operator but several community groups had expressed interest. "We will consider their proposals. They are currently getting together to submit a combined proposal," said Platzky. "A decision will be made by February." The tenant will be responsible for implementing a youth and soccer development programme, and for the maintenance of the precinct, the stadium and the world-class soccer pitch. Interested parties were first invited to tender in November last year, and the process was expected to have been wrapped up by January this year. Last month the provincial government again embarked on a mission to find a suitable contractor.

Philippi was one of 27 areas in the Western Cape identified for social transformation, and is home to the highest number of registered amateur football clubs in the province. The stadium is close to Philippi train station and the long-distance bus terminus, and is easily accessible by public transport. The facility is set to be able to accommodate 30,000 spectators. The changing rooms and ablution facilities have also been upgraded. Construction will be completed next month and the pitch will be ready for use next May, said Platzky.

[Al-khiyal]

France, U.S. seek Tunisia friendly before World Cup

December 18, 2009 -- France are looking to prepare for the World Cup finals in South Africa by playing a friendly with Tunisia on May 30th, Goal.com reported on Thursday (December 17th).The U.S. are also interested in playing the Carthage Eagles on May 26th in Rades. The Americans reportedly want to gain insight into what they might expect when they face Algeria in Group C at the World Cup.

[Al-khiyal]

Tunisia confirm France friendly

December 20, 2009 -- The Carthage Eagles will host a friendly match with France on May 30th at Rades stadium, the Tunisian Football Federation announced on its website on Saturday (December 19th). "The French team will have training in the eastern town of Sousse on May 26th to prepare for the World Cup in South Africa next year," the TFF statement added.

[Al-khiyal]

England to face Egypt in friendly at Wembley in March 2010

December 21, 2009 -- England will play a friendly against Egypt on March 3 at Wembley, the FA have today confirmed. The Pharoahs will be the first African side faced by manager Fabio Capello since his appointment as Three Lions boss, and will be visiting Wembley for the very first time. England have only played the Egyptians twice before, with their last meeting coming 19 years ago at the 1990 World Cup in Italy. On that occasion, Sir Bobby Robson's side won 1-0 thanks to Mark Wright's goal, a result which secured their qualification for the knock-out phase of the tournament. The other encounter between the teams came in 1986, when England won 4-0 in Cairo. Capello's team will use the friendly partly as preparation for next summer's World Cup group game with Egypt's fellow North Africans Algeria.