Dropping Like Flies...And It Hasn't Even Started Yet

Well, the first match of the 2010 World Cup Finals is just under a week away, but already key players are dropping like flies.

Just to keep you all updated: Rio Ferdinand suffered an injury in a collision with Emile Heskey that will mean he misses the World Cup.

Nigeria's Jon Obi Mikel also misses out as his knee injury hasn't cleared up sufficiently for him to play any part.

Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba fractured his elbow in a friendly against Japan and is currently rated doubtful by manager Sven Goran Eriksson.

Italy's Andrea Pirlo suffered a calf strain and will definitely miss their opening match.

Also injured are USA striker Jozy Altidore, who has an ankle injury and Brazil 'keeper Julio Cesar who has back problems.

We haven't even played a match yet. God only knows what the injury list will look like then!

Random World Cup Thoughts

A few things have caught my attention today, but nothing especially worth a full post, so instead I present you with some random thoughts on today's World Cup news stories.

Apparently Wigan boss Roberto Martinez has GUARANTEED that 'keeper Chris Kirkland will be in the England squad for South Africa 2010. Martinez said, I quote, "After working with him I can guarantee 100 per cent that he will be in the England squad".

This is more than a little strange as a) I wasn't aware that Martinez was England manager and b) as far as I can tell, Fabio Capello has never picked Chris Kirkland for an England squad.

Meanwhile, over at that bastian of sensible reporting, the BBC, is the shocking revelation that Ronaldinho might not go to the World Cup as he was left out of the Brazil squad for their final warm-up match in March.

Er, not much of a revelation considering that he hasn't been in a Brazil squad for over a year. Something which even the article itself admits. Good work, boys.

There's No News...So Let's Make Something Up..Part 1 of Several 100

It's been a quiet week in football in general, apart from the USA's sterling performance against Brazil in the Confederations Cup Final.

So, bored journalists do what they are best at and that is : make something up.

Take this headline in the Daily Mail from a couple of days ago:

'We fear England could ruin our World Cup chances, reveals Brazilian superstar Kaka'

Wow, you think. Kaka must have really taken leave of his senses to consider England a threat to Brazil at the 2010 World Cup Finals.

Well, um, no. He hasn't. Nowhere in the quotes given by Mr Kaka does he say anything even remotely like 'we fear England'.

What he does say are the usual platitudes like "I think England is playing very good (sic) under Capello" and "the most important national teams at the moment are Spain, Argentina, Italy, France and England."


Still, why let the truth stand in the way of a good story. Expect much, much more of this kind of thing before the World Cup actually starts. And much, much more when it's actually happening.

Egypt Starting To Look Good

Yeah, I know I should have been working, but I couldn't help but watch the BBC website live coverage of the Confederations Cup match between Brazil and Egypt instead. As well, I mean.

Anyway, it finished 4-3 to Brazil and you can check out the highlights here.

Brazil just edged it, with a last minute Kaka penalty, but the most impressive thing about it was Egypt in the second half. They dominated possession, looked comfortable on the ball and midfielder Mohamed Aboutrika looked every inch the quality player that those in the know keep saying he is.

Egypt were particularly impressive, considering that the names best known to fans of the English Premier League - Mido and Amr Zaki - were both absent. Dortmund striker Mohamed Zidan was an able deputy, though.

Typically with African sides, there is always the potential for chaos just around the corner - egos, politics and personality clashes have long been a feature of Egyptian international football.

But this match showed they can really play and would be a great asset to the 2010 World Cup Finals. They need to get over their poor start to qualifying (a draw and a loss) and play more like they did against Brazil.

Who Are You Trying To Kid, Robert

Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe is not a man noted for having self-doubts. Which, presumably, is why he's hopeful that a number of World Cup football squads will want to base their training camps in what is left of his country.

The Unity government is trying to persuade Brazil, Nigeria and England to come to Zimbabwe, in the hope of attracting tourism from neighbouring countries.

Tourism minister Walter Mzembi commented :

"We have put England and Nigeria on our top three list. When it goes to top five, we have added Cameroon and Egypt. "

If he or his boss really think that the England team are going to go anywhere near Zimbabwe, he's truly delusional. This all smacks of just another Mugabe publicity stunt. Who are you trying to kid, Robert.

Anderson Out Of Brazil's Qualifiers

Man Utd midfielder Anderson has been ruled out of Brazil's World Cup 2010 qualifiers.

Two quick thoughts sprung to mind when reading this headline :

1) Anderson was actually IN the Brazil squad?

2) Was he ruled out because he's actually rubbish?