The finalists of South Africa World Cup, Holland and Spain are the serial underperformer in the history of World Cup as no one’s captain has the honour to touch the World Cup. While Spain making their first World Cup appearance, Holland was defeated in 1974 and 1978 World cup finals.

Hence today’s battle in the final has an unique phenomenon and that is two finalists teams will not only go for earning glory by winning the most prestigious cup but also to loose the chokers tag.

Traditionally, these fixtures are contested between players still smarting from seeing a date with destiny snatched from them and eagerly eying the sun-lounger. Here, however, was a feisty and fluent contest that saw Germany provide an impressive coda to their tournament.

Both sides, however, deserve credit for delivering a fine spectacle for what is, essentially, a meaningless fixture, although Germany’s Dennis Aogo might have chosen a more constructive way of showing his enthusiasm than planting his studs into Diego Perez’s ankle in just the third minute. It was a horrible challenge and Aogo’s sheepish reaction to his yellow card suggested even he had expected harsher sanction.

Low’s side can do the mucky stuff, too. In the ninth minute, Müller’s corner from the right was thumped onto the crossbar by Arne Friedrich - a portent of things to come, as far as Uruguay’s discomfort from crosses was concerned - and, in the 18th, Müller went one better, bundling in after Schweinsteiger’s swirling low shot after it had been spilled by Fernando Muslera.

That should have been the cue for Germany to grasp control, but Uruguay’s muscularity is more than just physical. They also have admirable mental strength and, within 17 minutes, parity was restored after Edinson Cavani, set clear by Luis Suarez, toe-poked into the bottom corner.

It was left, once more, for Forlan to show the way. The former Manchester United striker, once so derided by Premier League followers, has become one of world football’s most coveted commodities at this tournament and his price-tag inflated again after he met Egidio Aravalo’s 51st-minute cross with a sweet first-time volley, which bounced past a helpless Butt. It took his tally to five for the competition, level with David Villa, Wesley Sneijder and Müller at the top of the Golden Boot standings.

If only Forlan’s teammates showed more diligence in defending as he does in accruing goals. Crosses had proved taxing for the uneasy Muslera all evening and in the 56th minute another deep, hanging ball, this time from Jerome Boateng, provoked more panic. After the goalkeeper failed to gather, Marcell Jansen had an easy task in heading into an unguarded net.

If that was predictable so, too, was Germany’s late winner, headed in by Sami Khedira after Ozil’s cross had caused havoc. It was harsh on Uruguay, not least as Forlan struck the bar in stoppage time, but a World Cup bronze was the least Germany deserved. Gold could yet await in Brazil 2014.

Uruguay : Fernando Muslera, Diego Lugano, Diego Godin, Jorge Fucile, Edinson Cavani (Sebastian Abreu, 88), Luis Suarez, Diego Forlan, Diego Perez (Walter Gargano, 77), Maximiliano Pereira, Egidio Arevalo Rios, Martin Caceres.

Germany: Hans-Joerg Butt, Jerome Boateng, Arne Friedrich, Per Mertesacker, Dennis Aogo, Sami Khedira, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Marcell Jansen Toni Kroos, 81), Thomas Mueller, Mesut Oezil (Serdar Tasci, 90), Cacau (Stefan Kiessling, 73)

people here are feeling like on top of the world. All Bars are full, discussing only about World Cup (as it is Bars remain mostly full all the time) - generally people in spain take summer holidays in august but people are already on holiday moods & seems summer has come one month earlier.

At Spain's only flag manufacturer, Sosa Dias, sales have soared from 10,000 a quarter to more than 50,000 in the last month as fans snap them up to hang from their apartment balconies or drape over their shoulders while they watch games at giant outdoor screens.

After semi final win against Three times winner Germany, tour operators offered special package of to & fro air ticket to south africa, stay for 2 days & confirmed ticket for final match - all costing in Euros 3,000/-. People rushed to get the seats booked on this package. In most of the Mall and Garment shops fans are purchasing 14.95-euro ($19) T-shirts show an octopus carrying a sign reading "I love the reds"

All media (Print / Eelectronic) focused on final now. Arrangements made to see match in Giant screens at placa catalunya / Ramblas ( it was always on & NOT new for final).

Venue was the seminar hall, Alumni Association, Jadavpur University. welcoming the delegates the president of Valerian Soccer Foundation Subhransu Roy said that foundation has decided to organize series of seminars on the very days in which Mohun Bagan played their matches and went to create history. The seminar has been Presided over by the noted sports journalist Debashis Dutta.

In the inaugural speech Paromita Roy discussed the contribution of legendary sports journalist and litterer Moti Nandi in Bengali literature and his views on 1911 Mohun Bagan Shield win.The second speaker of the day Prof.Som Shankar Roy talked on myths and reality of 1911. Veteran ex-football player Kumaresh Bhawal was also president in the seminar and his brief speech he thanked Valerian Soccer Foundation for organizing such a timely and fascinating seminar .

Debashis Dutta in his presidential speech commented that this seminar has great historic value and the club authority should come forward for observing the occasion with due honour A huge number of football fans ,followers and researchers were present in the hall to make the event colourful. Aritro Chatterjee, the Secretary of Foundation informed that the next seminar will take place at the same venue on 14th July at 4p.m

The two Germans, Miroslav Klose and Thomas Mueller, along with Uruguay's doubtful starter Diego Forlan have scored four goals each...While Luiz Suarez, whose hand prevented Ghana from being the first African side to qualify for the semis of the World Cup have scored three.

The game is also about the fight between Europe and Latin America..It represents a last chance for the men from Montevideo to restore some pride for one of the world's two football powerhouse continents after the elimination of Brazil and Argentina. The sides are no stranger at the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium. Uruguay ousted South Korea here in the second round while Germany lost to Serbia by a solitary goal in the first round.

The game is all about the crumbs of glory, but it holds out the prospects of a goal glut from the four man in form strikers.

There were however, 2700 category one to four tickets left for the third-fourth place playoff between Germanya and Uruguay in Port Elizabeth tomorrow. Attendance at FIFA Fan festivals surpassed the five million mark on Wednesday night.

It stood at 5358267 people watching soccer at fan fests in South Africa and across the globe. In Germany, about 350 000 fans watched their national team lose to Spain at the FIFA fan fest in Berlin Wednesday night, while in Durban 56836 people attended the fan fest for the game.

The number of people at the stadiums in South Africa have not surpassed the number who attended in Germany in the last World Cup in 2006.

But the attendance at the first World Cup on the African continent was only the third to have crossed the three million mark. Overall there is a sense of joy through out South Africa after succesfully hosting the World Cup.

Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben are the Dutch representatives in this battle with Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mesut Ozil of Germany. Barcelona as well as Argentina representative is Lionel Messi who despite not scoring a goal in the tournament but got a Man of the Match award against Greece.

The announcement of the winner will be made after Sunday's final, where they will follow in the footsteps of Zinedine Zidane, who won the award in 2006

David Villa, Xavi, Andres Iniesta (Spain); Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben (Holland); Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mesut Ozil (Germany); Diego Forlan (Uruguay); Asamoah Gyan (Ghana); Lionel Messi (Argentina).

The trio for the Hyundai award were announced by FIFA's technical study group.

But out of those three, German mideo Thomas Muller is the favourite and he would follow team-mate Lukas Podolski who won the award in 2006 in Germany. The winner will be announced after Sunday's final between Spain and Holland.

All five planes were eventually allowed to land and the passengers given a police escort to the stadium, though too late for many fans to see Spain's 1-0 victory. Maseko apologized to supporters who missed the game. Delays caused by weather earlier in the day had been compounded by the high number of aircraft trying to land, Maseko said.

"It means a lot to me that there were fans who might have flown from Germany or Spain with a World Cup ticket," he said. "We are very mindful of that. Some fans certainly missed at least the start of the match. If you look at the numbers in the stadium it's not a lot, but we would like to apologise for any inconvenience."

The planes that were delayed were all described by Maseko as Boeing 737-size aircraft, which carry a maximum of 150 passengers when full. It is not clear exactly how many passengers were on each plane or whether the passengers were all football fans.

Courtesy: www.2010.7msports.com

Thulani Ngcobo will have travelled 17,000 kilometres (10,000 miles), endured vitamin jabs to boost his sleep-deprived system, and can no longer face a FIFA-sanctioned stadium hotdog.But on Sunday, the World Cup final will be the football fanatic’s 38th match, after winning an uber-fan challenge’s grand prize that made him the Guinness World Records holder for most games watched at football’s biggest event.“Everyone in the world would like to be me,” said the 29-year-old asset controller from Pretoria.

Guinness set the never-attempted record at 20 games — which Ngcobo passed on June 25, with a certificate handed over after post-match footage and witness forms confirmed his presence from the first to final whistle.The schedule was planned for months with a car waiting outside stadiums as he galloped between host cities, with one day clocking up 3,000 kilometres for four games in 48 hours.A cancelled flight once saw him arrive two minutes after kick-off, one of seven matches that didn’t count toward his record, which will stand officially at 31.“I haven’t missed a game,” said Ngcobo, who snatched sleep while travelling but says he immediately revived once in stadiums.

“This is a dream come true to me and it’s once in a lifetime. If something comes like this, you need to pull yourself up and you must make sure you do whatever that you can do to succeed.”Ngcobo’s sponsored seat at Sunday’s final is worth more than his original World Cup budget of 2,000 rands (262 dollars, 208 euros), which he had set aside for 10 of the cheapest seats and 1,000 rands for ferrying between stadiums on minibus taxis. Instead he got to football’s biggest showcase in grand style after winning the “Last Fan Standing” competition run by South African mobile giant and World Cup sponsor MTN, which picked up the tab for his transport, accommodation and top seats.

A die-hard supporter of the Bafana Bafana national side and Kaizer Chiefs local premier team, Ngcobo attends up to five matches a week in season. His mobile phone ringtone is a football commentary. And he met his girlfriend at a match.Of the 32 competing teams, only Switzerland and Greece went unseen by Ngcobo, after they crashed out early.He lists the Japan-Paraguay last 16 clash as the most boring, Ghana’s exit as the most disappointing, and the Mexican fans as the most passionate.

South African striker Siphiwe Tshabalala’s goal — the first in the tournament — was his most exciting, but Portugal’s 7-0 goal bonanza over North Korea also stood out for being “like watching the highlights live”.Even though ousted stars like England’s Wayne Rooney, Brazil’s Kaka and Argentina’s Lionel Messi failed to shine at the goals, Ngcobo said seeing World Player of the Year Messi was a highlight. “Previously I’d see him on TV. If you’re watching him there you’d think that he’s PlayStation or maybe he’s played by a machine or something. Seeing him in the first game against Nigeria at Ellis Park was wow to me.”

Not having seen his three-year-old son for a month, he returns to work on Tuesday after taking 23 days of leave from his job at the government’s land reform department.He advises would-be challengers to his record to enter competitions and to be true football fans.“I’m not rich, I’m just normal but I managed to be in the Guinness World Records. It’s all about taking chances,” said Ngcobo, who blogs his trip at www.lastfanstanding.co.za.“I’m looking forward for a passionate fan to challenge me, but he must know that this is not easy. It’s very tough,” he said ahead of the semi-final in Cape Town.

“If you are passionate about soccer, you can challenge me.”Now, he’s looking for a sponsor for Brazil’s World Cup in 2014. Or the African Nations Cup in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in 2012. “After this I’ll really, really miss the World Cup.”

Source: www.soccernews.com

FIFA and its partners Coca-Cola, Sony, Adidas, Kia and Hyundai also sponsored environmental, health and education programmes to benefit the poor as part of the Ticket Fund.

The programme is the first initiative of its kind in the 80 years of the history of Soccer World Cup. Beneficiaries ranged from young children to contruction workers who built the event's stadiums around the country.

Most tickets and developmental programmes benefitted schools and pupils from remote rural areas and others from generally disadvantaged backgrounds.

The fund ran programmes focussed on health, education and environment. It is one of several uniquely linked to the first World Cup in Africa, such as the one goal programme.

While Sikkim will play their first match on 15th July 2010 against Kerala, their second match is against Goa on 17th July 2010 and their third match is slated against Himachal Pradesh on 19th July 2010. The matches will be played at Punjab Engineering College Ground, Chandigarh. Coaching camp for the championship was conducted at Mangalbari, West Sikkim under coach Mr. Palden Bhutia.

A select committee constituted by SFA, were given the task to shortlist these 20 players. Out of the 30 players who attended the coaching camp, the following 20 players were short-listed to represent Sikkim in the championship.

The team will be led by Shri Palden Bhutia as Coach and Ms. Peden Lama of SFA Women's wing as the Manager. The Teams are :-

Lhako Phuti Bhutia(Capt), Bhoj Kumari Subba, Treaza Lepcha, Ashmaya Subba, Yanchenla Bhutia (GK) Phurpo Dolma Bhutia,D han Kumari Sharma, Ran Maya Rai, Phutey Bhutia (GK), Pabitra Limboo, Binjena Rai, Dawkit Lepcha, Mongmit Lepcha, Nim Doma Bhutia, Nim Lhamu Bhutia, Tshering Lhamu Bhutia, Sujana Rai,Dawa Lhamu Sherpa,Chimi Lhamu Bhutia, Tshering Doma Bhutia.

Mr. Palden Bhutia, Coach.Ms. Peden Lama, Manager

The final list was released to the media today by Shri Menla Ethenpa, General Secretary, SFA. Shri Tempo Bhutia, President, SFA and Shri B.K.Roka, Working President, SFA has extended their good wishes to the team. Also present on the occasion were the members of the Executive Committee and other members of SFA alongwith hosts of football lovers including the enthusiasts parents of the players.

Nobody expected the Spanish inquisition in the air. Nobody anticipated the European champions, the masters of the intricate passing movement, to stoop to conquer with a header from a central-defender at a corner. It was surely beneath such stylists.Yet there was Carles Puyol, hair streaming behind like him an Old English Sheepdog chasing a stick, leaping to head Spain into the final of the World Cup.

So a new name will now be engraved on sport’s greatest trophy. Netherlands have graced two finals before, both losing ones in the Seventies, but this is completely unchartered territory for Spain. Soccer City on Sunday promises a fascinating spectacle, a feast of football with such technical individuals as Xavi and Andres Iniesta, Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie.Until Puyol’s meaty header, Spain had enjoyed no reward for their relentless pressure and endless passing. It required a set-piece for Spain to force a breakthrough against opponents who echoed their system.

Spain’s version was more fluid than Germany’s with their wide players, Andres Iniesta and the lively Pedro soon swapping as they sought to infiltrate behind Germany’s full-backs. Pedro, having switched to the right, almost forced a breakthrough when releasing David Villa, whose low effort was saved by the alert Manuel Neuer.

Iniesta and Xavi worked a quick routine, laying the ball out to Xabi Alonso. Just when it seemed that the former Liverpool midfielder would lift the ball in, he delivered a clever reverse pass back down the right to Iniesta. Suddenly, there were gaps in the German defence and Puyol should have buried the driven ball from Iniesta. Instead, he headed over from close range.Initially besieged, Germany began to settle. They were clearly missing the sinewy right-sided energy of the suspended Thomas Muller but Piotr Trochowski briefly impressed before being withdrawn early in the second period, exchanging passes with Philipp Lahm and forcing Iker Casillas into a low save.

Spain had to beware Germany’s occasional menace. Midway through the second period, Low’s men moved up a gear. Podolski’s cross was met first time by Trochowski’s replacement, Toni Kroos, who placed his shot straight at Casillas. The warning merely served to bring a wonderful response from the European champions.Spain should have wrapped it up shortly afterwards but Pedro decided to go for glory rather than rolling the ball across to Torres, who had just come off the bench.

Spain: 01- Casillas, 03 -Pique, 05- Puyol, 11- Capdevila, 15 -Sergio Ramos, 06 -Iniesta, 08- Xavi, 14- Alonso (Marchena, 90+3), 16 -Busquets, 07 -Villa (Torres, 81), 18- Pedrito (Silva, 85),

According to Subhransu Roy, the president of Valerian Soccer Foundation as this win carried a great influence in socio-cultural as well as political life in Bengali and Indian life the Foundation has decided to organise series of seminar on different aspect of Mohun Bagan’s historic triumph on the very six days.

Aritra Chatterjee,the secretary of Foundation informed that their series of seminar will be kick-off on 10th July at Seminar Hall Alumni Association, Jadavpur University at 4 P.M.

The day when 100 years ago Mohun Bagan played their first match against St.Xavier’s College and defeated them 3-0. All Mohun Bagan fans and football followers are cordially invited. The other dates of seminars are 14th July, 19th July, 24th July, 25th July and on 29th July.

Just before the start of the first semi final match between Nederlands and Uruguay, the Brazilian musicians performed at the New Town fan park in Johannesburg. Brazil will host the world cup football in 2014, and these musicians feel it is upto them now to make that one the most memorable one. The process should start now as FIFA 2010 is almost over.

From Johannesburg the musicians will travel to Bloemfontein and perform in stage shows on 8th and 9th July. They are planning have their final show in Sandton on the day of the Grand Finale.

HOL: Giovanni van Bronckhorst 18', Wesley Sneijder 70', Argen Robben 73'

URU : Diago Forlan 41', M. Pereira 92'

M.O.M : Wesley Snaijder (HOL)

Before the starting of the 1st semi final of 2010 World Cup - Everybody put Netherlands 100 miles ahead to reach final. But football is all about skill - and the best player till now in this edition Forlan was with Uruguay & also he thought it in different way. Uruguay was all ready to give the best shot to reach final to make it all costful when they were in semi after 40 years.

Robben started in the very early of the match to show his skill - but was not enough to break the well organized Uruguay solid defence - which was strategically very correct upto the 17th minute of the match when Orange skiper Van Bronckhorst gives Holland the lead with the goal of the tournament till then. An old school left-foot screamer that flies 30 yards and crashes in off the post. Good possession in midfield, and Sneijder shifted it to his left to Van Bronckhorst. He's level with the left edge of the penalty area, and fizzes a rising shot into the opposite top corner.

Very playful moment came in the 27th minute of the match. Pushing, shoving and and spit-flecked arm-waving as De Zeeuw cops an overhead kick straight Caceras straight in the kisser. Ouch. Both men going for the ball, but that's dangerous from Caceras, and De Zeeuw's a bit lucky he didn't lose a touch there.

But Forlan took the leadership once again in the field like other matches. The ultimatum came in the 39th minute when Holland punished, and it's a howler from Stekelenburg. Forlan – with what might conceivably be his first touch – picks the ball up in space and chances his luck with a left-foot dig from 30 yards. Stekelenburg loses it in the flight, messes up his feet and can only slap it into the roof of the net. Great for Forlan, great for the game, and a truly horrific moment for Stekelenburg. This Goal Of the tournament made the match 1-1 & truely make it world cup semi with its passion.

The second half satrted with 1-1 situation. But this time Uruguay played some really heart touching move & the match was totally dominated by them. Everybody was expecting that Uruguay can take the lead - but once gain unfortunate decisin by referee which is continuing in every match put Netherlands 2-1 lead. sneijder's fifth goal of the World Cup is no classic, but he may never score a sweeter one. Hint of offside as his right foot shot bobbles under the feet of Van Persie and into the far post, but it stands, and Holland are 20 minutes from a World Cup final.

Robben plung the final nail in Uruguay's hope with his head in the 73rd minute! – puts Holland into the final with a rare moment of genuine class. That, at least, was worthy of this stage. Van der Vaart's cross from the left was clipped nicely toward the penalty spot, and Robben did brilliantly to get across his marker and power his header into the bottom corner, in off the post.

When everybody made it final & sealed the Dutch's victory - The Uruguay passion thought it different and with their beautiful understanding from set piece made it 2-3 in the very 1st minute of the injury time. Maxi Pereira curls a left-foot shot under Stekelenburg's dive and into the far corner. The match became truely full of Football romantisism. But referees final whistle after 5 injury minutes confirm the name of Netherlands as the first finalist of the 2010 edition.

Uruguay : Muslera, Maxi Pereira, Godin, Victorino, Caceres, Perez, Gargano, Arevalo Rios, Pereira (Abreu 78), Cavani, Forlan (Sebastian Fernandez 84)

Holland : Stekelenburg, Boulahrouz, Heitinga, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst, Van Bommel, De Zeeuw (Van der Vaart 46), Robben (Elia 90), Sneijder, Kuyt, van Persie.

Att: 62,479

Ref: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)

Courtesy: www.spunp.com

Members of Punjabi Wolves will be providing support during the visit, including organising a visit to Jaguar Castle Bromwich, via the Castle Bromwich Diversity Council and their community programme. The boys of JCT will take part in 'Technical and Tactical' training as well as Sports Science reviews during their week's stay at Wolves FC..

The relationship between Wolves and JCT FC was established in 2009 as part of the 'Wolverhampton-India' Partnership. Wolves' Chief Executive, Jez Moxey and Assistant Manager Terry Connor visited JCT FC's new stadium site and training ground in Horshiarpur, Punjab and attended a press conference with Samir Thapar, president of JCT FC, to unveil the new partnership in presence of top officials of AIFF.