Netherlands 0: 0 Denmark
Monday, June 14, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Slovenia beats 10-man Algeria 1-0 in World Cup
Hey England and America, look who's on top of your World Cup group. Little Slovenia! Robert Koren scored a late goal Sunday to give Slovenia a 1-0 win over 10-man Algeria in the teams' tournament opener, putting the World Cup's smallest nation — population 2 million, about the size of Houston — ahead of the United States and England in Group C.
The Slovenian captain struck a long-range shot that Algeria goalkeeper Fawzi Chaouchi misjudged and allowed to bounce into the net off his arm in the 79th minute.
"I was just lucky to see it go in like that," Koren said.
Algerian coach Rabah Saadane said the new World Cup ball was a challenge for goalkeepers.
"Everyone saw what happened with the ball, and what happened yesterday with England's goalkeeper," Saadane said. "You have to adjust to the flight of the ball."
Algeria substitute Abdelkader Ghezzal was ejected seven minutes earlier, picking up a second yellow card for handling the ball inside the Slovenian penalty area.
It was the first World Cup victory for Slovenia. The Balkan country lost all three of its group matches in the 2002 tournament.
"It was a mental victory," said Slovenian coach Matjaz Kek. "We wanted to win so much, so it's great for our confidence to get that win."
Both sides knew they were heading into a match in which a loss would be costly, with England and the United States — both higher ranked — left on the schedule. The Group C favorites tied 1-1 Saturday after a blunder by England goalkeeper Robert Green allowed Clint Dempsey's shot to trickle into the net.
Algeria twice came close to scoring in the first half, when Nadir Belhadj's 25-yard free kick forced Slovenia goalkeeper Samir Handanovic to stretch and push the ball over the crossbar, and when defender Rafik Halliche headed the ball just wide.
Algeria coach Rabah Saadane said Chaouchi apologized to the team for failing to track Koren's shot. But the coach refused to criticize the goalkeeper.
"We must recover and prepare for an even more difficult match against England, which is the best of the group," Saadane said. "It's going to be very difficult now. We had a great opportunity today and we missed it."
The players seemed nervous in the first half, frequently losing possession with inaccurate passes and crosses.
Slovenia's only scoring chance before the break was Valter Birsa's long-range attempt in the 43rd minute, tipped over the bar with a spectacular right-hand save by Chaouchi.
The match could have taken a different turn two minutes before Koren's winner when Algeria's Karim Ziani caught defender Marko Suler off-guard and pushed toward the Slovenian goal, but was cut off by Handanovic.
There was some commotion in the stands during the break when former France great Zinedine Zidane, who is of Algerian descent, was forced to climb to a higher section to get away from autograph-seeking fans who were pushed back briskly by security guards.
Algeria beat North African rival Egypt in a tense playoff to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986. Slovenia reached its second World Cup with an upset playoff victory over Russia.
Slovenia faces the U.S. next, while Algeria travels to Cape Town to take on England.
The game at the newly built Peter Mokaba Stadium was the first World Cup match played on a surface partly consisting of artificial grass. Similar turf is being used at some major stadiums in Europe.
Algeria 0-1 Slovenia
Algeria 
Algeria
| Slovenia
|
Substitutes:
Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium | Substitutes:
Referee: Batres |
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Saadane: Spirit is strong
Saadane: Spirit is strong
Algeria coach Rabah Saadane insists his decision to drop captain Yazid Mansouri from the team for tomorrow's 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ Group C encounter with Slovenia has not had an adverse impact on the team.
Saadane made the decision on Thursday after revealing he did not think the 32-year-old former Coventry midfielder, Algeria's most experienced player at the FIFA World Cup with 67 caps, was in good enough form.
Mansouri has remained with the squad and is expected to be on the bench in Polokwane. Defender Anther Yahia will wear the captain's armband while Hassan Yebda, who spent this season on loan at Portsmouth from Benfica, could replace Mansouri in midfield.
Asked whether the decision to drop Mansouri had affected morale within the squad Saadane, who also led Algeria in their last FIFA World Cup appearance in 1986 in Mexico, said: "I think the team has become used to playing a large number of matches with some people missing.
I think the team has become used to playing a large number of matches with some people missing.
Rabah Saadane, Algeria coach
"We have always tried to work from a psychological and technical perspective as a team and we will work with the team that is on the pitch on the day. It is how the team responds collectively on the day which will decide how we play. I will put people on the pitch who are psychologically and technically ready for the match. If there are any weaknesses then the spirit of the group will carry us forward."
Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra said the players tried not to be distracted by the fuss surrounding Mansouri as most were looking forward to playing in their first World Cup after a semi-final finish in the CAF African Nations Cup earlier this year.
"This is like a dream which has come true and we are very happy to be here," he said. "The African Nations Cup was good for us. We are confident we are in the top five of the African teams. We are going to feel the pressure and it will be a difficult match tomorrow but we are very much ready in our minds and I very much hope our legs go with us.
"I think our spirit, our soul is very much there. We will raise the flag and I don't believe we will lose this spirit. We are a very well integrated team and I think we will play very much as a collective together."
Nelspruit - Mbombela Stadium
Nelspruit - Mbombela Stadium
City:
Nelspruit
Nelspruit
Name:
Mbombela
Mbombela
Capacity:
40000
40000
This is also one of the newly-built stadiums for the World Cup 2010. Mbombela stadium is named after the province in which Nelspruit is placed. Literal translation of the Mbombela stadium name is "a lot of people in a small space".
Mbombela stadium can accommodate 46 000 people, and is placed about 12 km from the Nelspruit city center.
Nelspruit had not international stadium before this one, so Mbombela Stadium will be also very
useful to residents once World Cup 2010 finishes.
Port Elizabeth - Nelson Mandela Stadium
Port Elizabeth - Nelson Mandela Stadium
City:Port Elizabeth
Name:
Nelson Mandela Bay
Capacity:Nelson Mandela Bay
If you plan to travel to Port Elizabeth, book a room at the hotel while there are still unbooked rooms. Port Elizabeth will be crowde with visitors durin the World Cup 2010 so then will be very difficult to find a room.
To search all hotels in Port Elizabeth, enter the check-in and check-out date and click "Go", and we will offer you all the free rooms for the selected period.
The new stadium, named after Nelson Mandela is built for the World Cup 2010 needs. Stadium is located on the North End Lake coast, and this is the first football stadium in the city and surrounding area.
Stadium capacity is 50 000 people, and it will host, among others, match for the third place on World Cup 2010.
Nelson Mandela stadium has impressive roof and an excellent view of the North End Lake, so it will also be interesting to tourists when World Cup finishes.
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