Sydney, Dec 2, The Australian government hopes a good showing in South Africa will increase its chances of hosting the World Cup but die-hard soccer fans fear the nation’s best chance of lifting the trophy has been and gone.
Tokyo, Dec 2,On June 6 this year, Japan became the first country to qualify for next year’s World Cup finals in South Africa when they won 1-0 in Uzbekistan.
Madrid, Dec 2, If Spain manage to finally overcome their World Cup jink and triumph in South Africa, then they will become the smallest ever team to win the world crown.
Johannesburg, Nov 28, History is supposed to be the study of facts, but as in so many things in South Africa, even the history of international football in the country is not as straightforward as it should be.
Amsterdam, Nov 28, Only a few countries can match the Netherlands for its football quality, but the nation of Johan Cruyff, Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten is yet to taste World Cup success.
Nairobi/Lagos, Nov 28, If Nigeria want to make any kind of impact in South Africa, they will have to improve dramatically after a shambolic qualifying campaign.
Johannesburg, Nov 27, The 2010 FIFA World Cup is expected to inject 55 billion rands ($7.46 billion) into the South African economy, according to the Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Rejoice Mabudafhasi.
Algiers/Cairo, Nov 26, After more than two decades the Algerian national football team will take part in the 2010 World Cup, carrying to South Africa the hopes and aspirations of the Arab World as their lone representative.
Washington, Nov 26,After their surprising second place finish at the last Confederations Cup, the US national team are dreaming of another spot in the final on their return to South Africa for the World Cup.
Rio de Janeiro, Nov 26, Brazil rely on an unwritten motto — drive, discipline and austerity — to seek in South Africa 2010 their longed-for sixth World Cup title.