World Cup 2010 Group B

Continuing our look at teams for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, this week we look at Group B

Lionel Messi

Argentina

Ranked 8 by FIFA
Winners in 1978 and 1986
Manager: Diego ‘Hand of God’ Maradona
Key Player: Lionel Messi
World footballer of the year by some margin
Footballbits Group prediction –  winners

NigeriaNigeria
Ranked 22 FIFA
Best World cup – 2nd round 1994 and 1998
Manager: Shaibu Amodu
Key Player: Yakubu
The Everton striker has been out for a while, but is back and could be a threat
Footballbits Group prediction – 2nd

South KoreaSouth Korea
Ranked 52 by FIFA
4th in 2002
Manager: Huh Jung-Moo
Key Player: Park Ji Sung
Loads of energy and an idol of his home support
Footballbits Group prediction – 4th

Greece OttoR
Ranked 12 by FIFA
Best World Cup – 1st round in 1994
Manager: Otto Rehhagel
Key Player: Georgios Samaras
Celtic striker can be a powerful threat
Footballbits Group prediction – 3rd

Matches
June 12th Argentina v Nigeria
June 12th South Korea v Greece
June 17th Greece v Nigeria
June 17th Argentina v South Korea
June 22nd Nigeria v South Korea
June 22nd Greece v Argentina

How we think it will finish:
1st Argentina
2nd Nigeria
3rd Greece
4th South Korea

Next week we’ll have a look at the teams in Group C

On your bike Hughsey

Obviously just 2 defeats in 17 games just isnt good enough for a ‘big club’ like Manchester City….

Tonight they sacked manager Mark Hughes after the 4-3 win over Sunderland, here is the club statement announcing the departure of Hughes and the appointment of Roberto Mancini as his replacement as shown on their website:

Manchester City FC can confirm that it has today terminated the contract of Mark Hughes.

In giving reason for the termination Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said:

“Prior to the current season beginning, with significant investment in players and infrastructure in place, the consensus between the Board and coaching staff was that appropriate agreed targets should be set for the 2009/2010 season.

“The targets were agreed as a result of the player acquisition strategy of the club being radically accelerated in the summer as a result of very favourable conditions for any buying club.  It was also based on the fact that the infrastructure of the club had been overhauled completely at great cost in order to create the best possible environment for the team.

“A return of two wins in 11 Premier League games is clearly not in line with the targets that were agreed and set.  Sheikh Mansour and the Board felt that there was no evidence that the situation would fundamentally change. This is a particularly difficult announcement given the personal investment over the past 15 months on all sides and we would like to put on record our respect for and thanks to Mark Hughes and we wish him the best in his future career.”

Manchester City Football Club can confirm the appointment, with immediate effect on a permanent contract, of Roberto Mancini and are also pleased to announce that Brian Kidd will join Roberto as assistant manager.

Commenting on the appointment, Khaldoon Al Mubarak said:  “Roberto is a hugely experienced manager with a proven track record of winning trophies and championships.  His experience and track record speak for themselves.  What is absolutely clear is that Roberto believes in Manchester City’s potential to achieve at the highest level and importantly in his own ability to make this happen.  My hope is that our incredible fans will join us in welcoming Roberto to the football club.”

Mark Bowen, Eddie Niedzwiecki, Kevin Hitchcock and Glyn Hodges have also left the Club and further appointments will be announced in due course.

It’s gonna happen 19th December

Didnt get a chance to do some predictions last time around, so here’s what I think is going to happen this weekend

Arsenal v Hull  2-0
Aston Villa v Stoke  2-1
Blackburn v Tottenham  1-0
Fulham v Man Utd  1-3
Man City v Sunderland  2-1
Portsmouth v Liverpool  0-1

Everton v Birmingham 1-2
West Ham v Chelsea 0-2
Wolverhampton v Burnley  2-1

Wigan v Bolton  2-0

World Cup 2010 Group A

Just 6 months to go until the World Cup starts in South Africa so its a good time to start having a look at the teams involved. We’ll start this week with Group A

France
Ranked 7 by FIFA
Winners in 1998
Manager: Raymond Domenench
Key Player: Franck Ribery
Not the most popular of the qualified teams because of the way they got past Ireland in the playoffs but should stroll the group stage
Footballbits Group prediction – Winners


South Africa
Ranked 86 by FIFA
Hosts, Best World cup – 1st round 1998 and 2002
Manager: Carlos Alberto Parreira
Key Player: Steven Pienaar, Playing well for Everton and may thrive on the reponsibility of inspiring his country.
The lowest FIFA ranked team in the finals
Footballbits Group prediction – 4th


Mexico
Ranked 15 by FIFA
Quarter finalists in 1970 and 1986
Manager: Javier Aguirre
Key Player: Rafael Marquez, twice Champions League winner with Barcelona, strong in defence and a great long pass
Footballbits Group prediction – 2nd

Uruguay
Ranked 19 by FIFA
Winners in 1930 and 1950
Manager: Oscar Tabarez
Key Player: Diego Forlan, Much improved from the player that was at Manchester United
Footballbits Group prediction – 3rd


Matches
June 11th South Africa v Mexico
June 11th Uruguay v France
June 16th South Africa v Uruguay
June 17th France v Mexico
June 22nd Mexico v Uruguay
June 22nd France v South Africa

How we think it will finish:
1st France
2nd Mexico
3rd Uruguary
4th South Africa

Next week we’ll have a look at the teams in Group B


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