Mexico is a good option

Mexico has not missed his appointment. After miserably finished in fourth place playoff of Concacaf , the Aztec selection reassured his supporters are making short work of New Zealand (5-1) on Wednesday night for the first leg of dams intercontinental world Cup 2014.

Very disturbing for several months , Mexico is getting a healthy Wednesday night by easily winning at home against New Zealand (5-1) , in the first leg of intercontinental dams for the World Cup 2014. " El Tri " has taken a great option on the ticket to go to Brazil next summer.

To address this meeting , Miguel Herrera, the Mexican fourth coach in just over two months , decided to dispense with all players playing in Europe . Guillermo Ochoa, Giovani dos Santos and Javier " Chicharito " Hernandez were thus not present. It is therefore the local league players who have about them . And more specifically Raul Jimenez ( 40th ) and Oribe Peralta ( 48 , 80th ) . The two attackers were in fact worsened the marked since the score was opened by Paul Aguilar ( 32 ) .

The meeting was then distracted in the final minutes as captain Rafael Marquez ( 84th ) , 34 , is also gone from his goal before Chris James ( 85th ) does not save the honor for Pacific Islanders .

The Mexicans will have to go finally validate their ticket to the World Cup next Wednesday (07h00 French time ) at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.

Continue Reading→

Iceland still dream

No winner between Iceland , which has never participated in a World account and realize his dream with a golden generation who recently starred in Hopes and Croatia (0-0 ), which faced this Friday night in Reykjavik during the first game of European dam playoffs 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Croats seeded dominated proceedings but even eleven against ten men following the expulsion in the 50th minute of play in the Icelandic Olafur Ingi Skulason , they have not found the solution. Everything is open before return, expected next Tuesday in Zagreb.

Iceland can still dream. Real minnows of these dams accession to the World Cup, the selection driven by the Swede Lars Lagerback has maintained the hope of participating in his first major international competition by winning a 0-0 draw Friday night in the first leg against Croatia .


A positive result given the scenario of this meeting that the Croats dominated , especially after the expulsion of logic Olafur Ingi Skulason in the 50th minute of play, but Icelanders have held firm to the image of their impassable porter Hannes Thor Halldorsson , who rejected all opposing attempts. Men Niko Kovac , who lived its premiere on the Croatian bench , so have something to regret , those who fired 13 shots on goal , six shots on goal , while local will only framed their four attempts .

The first was also very nearly good for visitors , but Sigurdsson saved on the line firing Eduardo (2nd) . Halldorsson is then inserted on every opportunity to Modric and others, who had to wait until the 83rd minute to give their biggest opportunity of the meeting , on a discount for Mandzukic Perisic , the resumption of outside escaped the frame. It will be more accurate in Zagreb Tuesday otherwise Eidur Gudjohnsen and its partners could well go down in history ...

Continue Reading→

Greece is almost

Brazil is closer to Greece ! This Friday , the Hellenes took home the best on Romania ( 3-1) , reduced to ten men after exclusion of Lazar in stoppage time (90 +2) . In play-off round to go the World Cup 2014 to be held in Brazil, the 2004 European champion has made a difference through Mitroglu goals , scored twice (14th , 67th ) and Salpingidis ( 67th ) . If Stancu had equalized for the visitors 19 minutes into the match, the selection of the Balkans will therefore find it difficult to reverse the trend in four short days .

Who said that Greece was only defending ? Selection Fernando Santos has proven otherwise through three goals to Romania ( 3-1 ) to take an option on qualifying for Brazil in the first leg of the Europe Zone. Three goals is a lot in terms of the total achievements of the Greeks during the group stage ( 12 goals in 10 games ), where the Hellenes had displayed rather defensive virtues that usually knows their finishing second best defense playoffs , behind Spain .

But driven by the public boiling Piraeus , Greece was able to hit hard during this leg . From the quarter- hour mark, Kostas Mitroglou found the flaw. On a ball distilled Salpingidis in the back of the defense, the Olympiakos striker in an offside position a few centimeters, has a shot Lobont unstoppable volley left (1-0, 14th ) . This opening early score gave confidence to the Greeks , who did not doubt after equalization Stancu , a header at the far post from a free kick to offset Torje (1-1 , 19th ) . It must be said that in the wake Salpingindis gave his team in the right way, by taking a center of his side , Torosidis (2-1 , 20th ) .

Interesting in the first period , Romania has dropped off after the rest. And it is logical that Mitroglou aggravated the brand, impeccable half-volley from the left on a free kick deflected Samaras first post by Katsouranis (3-1, 67th ) . The Greeks would have even more to the difference Katsouranis ( 70th) , yet it Mitroglou (72 ) or Gekas , whose goal was logically refused (89 ) . But with this two-goal advantage , they are close to offer their fans a third qualification for the World Cup after 1994 and 2010.

Continue Reading→

Lukaku sends the Belgians in Brazil!

Mission accomplished for Belgium. After missing the 2006 edition in Germany and 2010 in South Africa, the selection of Marc Wilmots qualified Friday for its twelfth final phase of the World Cup. The Belgians were in an ideal position with two games at the end of the playoffs. They only needed a point to validate their ticket to Brazil. They did not prolong the suspense, winning with the way in Croatia (2-1). Technically far superior to their opponents, the Red Devils were rarely questioned in the first half, conceding a first opportunity in stoppage time (45th one). But Thibault Courtois flew to head out Mario Mandzukic .

The Belgians already led 2-0 thanks to a brace from one of their signs, the so-called Romelu Lukaku . The Chelsea striker , on loan to Everton this season , opened the scoring with composure. Launched in depth Defour, very happy to see the Croatian Perisic give him a pass in midfield, Pletikosa Lukaku set to open the scoring (15th). He doubled the lead twenty minutes later. Launched this time by Witsel in his own half, the powerful center-forward Kovacic has stood right in front of the Croatian goalkeeper (37th). Armed with this advantage, the Belgians then left the ball in play against Croats. They almost triple the bet, but Pletikosa is interposed before Marouane Fellaini, who played the entire game despite the injury to ligaments in his left wrist that will soon be made ​​(77).

Croats can still play dams

In the rain, Igor Stimac men were slightly more enterprising in the second period, but the keeper of Atletico Madrid, also loaned by Chelsea, is interposed before Kalinic and Strinic (48th). Nevertheless, he missed out on a corner (79th), but Fellaini was alert to clear the ball. Mario Mandzukic had another opportunity, but he completely missed his shot (82). It is finally Niko Kranjcar has reduced the score of a powerful rally the left (83). Belgium is the eleventh country to qualify for the World Cup. Croats still have the opportunity to join them; they are assured of finishing in second place in Group A and can still play dams on 15 and 19 November.

Continue Reading→

World Cup 2014: the hunt for open tickets amid discontent on prices

The sale of tickets for the World Cup began on Tuesday amid controversy related tariffs deemed excessive.

The hunt for tickets for World Cup 2014 opened Tuesday with the sale on the Internet more than a million places where prices are considered prohibitive and "elitist" by many Brazilians. Potential buyers were, from 10:00 GMT, express their wishes purchases during the first three phases of sale to be completed on October 10, or even before the end of qualifying and the draw for the finals scheduled for 6 December. More than one million tickets have already been requested by 163,000 potential buyers during the first seven hours of the sale, argued the International Federation. The opening match (168.000) and the final (1.65 million) were the most wanted games.

In total 3.72 million tickets will be sold.

Foreign buyers have access to three price categories. For example, tickets for the opening match June 12, 2014 in Sao Paulo Itaquerao stadium cost 495 dollars (371 euros) in category 1, 330 dollars (247 euros) in category 2 and 220 dollars (165 euros) in category 3. Tickets for the final July 13, 2014 at the Maracana will cost 990 dollars in Category 1 (742 euros), 660 dollars (495 euros) in category 2 and 440 dollars (330 euros) in category 3.

FIFA says that during the first phase of sales, " the exact date of application will not be taken into account: all applications will be combined and then processed together after the closing date." "If the number of applications for each game and each category is greater than the number of tickets available, a lottery will be held to determine the lucky ones," says Fifa. At least 300,000 of these notes are in category 4. They are available at attractive rates between 15 and 82.5 dollars (between 11 and 62 euros) and reserved for "Brazilian citizens over 60 years, Brazilian students and recipients of Brazilian family allowances," said FIFA on its website internet.

A minimum wage of less than $ 300

But these special rates do not meet the militant groups for a competition open to all, remember that the minimum wage in Brazil amounted to only 678 reals (211 euros). "You must see this Cup (world) as part of a standardization process and basically of gentrification '' ' football "which includes" the expulsion of poor stadiums," including protests Gustavo Mehl, the Committee People's Cup, one of the organizations at the forefront of the fight for affordable rates. For the World Cup final in 1950 in Brazil, the input equivalent to a little more than 2% of the minimum wage, against about 50 % today, still says Mehl.

The Brazilians, who are massively mobilized in June to denounce corruption and poor public services, have strongly criticized the Pharaonic are engulfed in the renovation stages. Before this historic social unrest, several events had already taken place in Rio de Janeiro to denounce the "privatization" of the Maracana, the temple of Brazilian soccer.

Only five participants known

For the price of seats in the new stadiums have increased in Brazil. At the Maracana, whose capacity has fallen from 200,000 fans to its creation to 76,000 seats today, the price of a seat is 80 reals (28.50 euros), against 30 (9.30 euros) in 2005. In early August, the Minister of Sports Aldo Rebelo had himself rebelled against the "exorbitant price" tickets for the championship matches Brazil played in stadiums renovated.

Currently, only Brazil, as host country, Australia, Iran, Japan and South Korea already have their ticket to the World Cup. Other participants will be announced at the end of qualifications that will be completed in the fall and the match schedule will not be known until December 6, the day of the draw for the finals. World Cup in Brazil will be held in twelve cities and 600,000 foreign tourists are expected by the authorities. According to a private study, tourists who come to attend the competition could spend about 25.2 billion reais (7.9 billion euros).

Continue Reading→

Argentina, the United States and Costa Rica qualified for World Cup 2014

Argentina, the United States and Costa Rica have dropped in the night from Tuesday to Wednesday their ticket to the World Cup. We now know ten qualified.

Besides Brazil, who qualifies automatically as hosts, we already know 10 qualified for the 2014 World Cup. Argentina, the United States and Costa Rica joined in the night from Tuesday to Wednesday the Netherlands, Italy, Japan, Australia, Iran and South Korea. The Albiceleste composted his ticket by winning widely Paraguay (2-5) at the 14th day of the playoffs Amused area. Lionel Messi scored twice (penalty) and delivered an assist. Sergio Aguero (32), Angel Di Maria (50th) and Maxi Rodriguez (90th) also scored. Paraguayans responded with two goals from Ariel Nunez and Roque Santa Cruz.

Beat Uruguay, with two goals late in the match and Christian Stuani Edinson Cavani, Falcao of Colombia (2) nevertheless remains best placed to imitate Argentina with a match against Chile (3rd) on October 11 and a trip to Paraguay on October 15 to finish the job. For Uruguayans (5th), third in the last World Cup in 2010, the road to Brazil through a crucial match in Ecuador (4) on 11 October. Both teams are at the moment competing for the fourth and last direct ticket to the World behind Chile (3rd), free Tuesday, which is expected in the British 11/10 prior to the receipt of Ecuadorians. Venezuela is still mathematically in the race to catch the fifth place play-off but has more than a match against Paraguay in the program. Peru, Bolivia and Paraguay are eliminated.

Replace Cavani of Uruguay, Mexico in danger

In Concacaf, the United States and Costa Rica have their ticket in his pocket. Americans Jürgen Klinsmann, qualified for the seventh consecutive time, defeated Mexico (2-0) in Columbus while Costa Rica went to Kingtson a draw against Jamaica (1-1). The "Ticos" play them the World for the fourth time after 1990, 2002 and 2006. Both nations have assured their qualification approximately one hour after the end of their respective match when Honduras could not do better than a draw at home against Panama (2-2).

The Americans, who have 16 points, and Costa Ricans, with 15 points, cannot be dislodged from the three qualifying spots directly to Brazil in the CONCACAF zone, where there are still two days of qualifying. Honduras (11 pts), Panama (8 pts) and Mexico (8 pts) are vying for two seats: the last ticket available live and dam against New Zealand. To avoid missing the World Cup for the first time since 1990, the Mexicans, who sacked their coach last week, no longer have the right to make mistakes. They have to beat Panama at home on October 11. Jamaica cannot expect a place in the dam, which, however, relieves the miracle for the "Reggae Boyz".

Continue Reading→