1 Year On... 10 Best Youngsters at U-20 World Cup 2009 [Progress Update pt.2] is a post from: Just Football

A year ago on Just Football we identified who we considered the ten best young prospects at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Egypt. But how have these future stars fared since covering themselves in glory a year ago?

Unless you're an expert in Moroccan domestic football, and you well may be, this requires a bit of explanation. Or maybe just a link.

Yes, this is the very same keeper who let in a penalty while he'd turned to the crowd, thumping his chest in celebration, thinking the ball hadn't moved.

"Don't cry, it's not like we gave Ricardo Clark citizenship."

The President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, has suspended the national soccer team for two years as punishment for their dismal performance. A task force recently submitted a report to the President about corruption within the soccer federation, and the national team's poor performance convinced President Jonathan that action had to be taken.

AP Photo/M. Spencer GreenThe last ten years in soccer has seen an already huge sport evolve even further. Improved diet, training techniques and a greater willingness to look abroad for talent, especially young talent, has taken this game ...

Puma vuelve a dar la nota y redobla su compromiso, ya no sólo con el fútbol africano sino con todo el continente. En una acción conjunta con el Programa Ambiental de las Naciones Unidas o UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), la empresa alemana diseñó el llamado "Africa Unity Kit", los nuevos uniformes que lucirán las doce selecciones africanas que patrocina.

1. Africa unity kit
2. Robinho joke
3. Inter Milan grilling
4. Old Brazilians unite
5. Adu unveiled

This summer the 2010 World Cup will determine the best team in the world. Everyone has their opinion on who will win, but it is clear that Brazil and Spain will be very strong teams. Once again Brazil is loaded with some of the world's most recognizable players. They easily advanced through the qualifier, but the [.

Pop star Shakira's official World Cup anthem "Waka Waka" has received an unofficial "No, no" from South Africans.

The song, which is a collaboration with South African band Freshlyground, was released to radio stations last week but has not hit the right note with football fans in the host country.

JPG | 32 Pics | HiRes | 102 Mb download | скачать All models – Fifa world cup 2010 (Shots) [101.59 Mb.] Похожие новости 02.06.2010 -- South Africa 2010 World Cup Wallpapers (0) 31.05.2010 -- New Met-Art girls: Mila I – This & Natalia I – Active (0) 30.05.2010 -- Playboy's College Girls #7-8 (july/au .

ENGLAND After the incompetence of Sven and the tragi-comic cameo from the Wally with the Brolly, Fabio Capello has restored the passion that seemed to be lacking in recent tournaments. An assured qualifying campaign saw the Three Lions book their place in Africa with two games to spare, finishing as the highest scorers in Europe with [.

Okay, I need to say something. It is really making me grind teeth that so many observers keep claiming that the U.S. had some wondrous shot at the semis. I hate to be that guy, but... I never imagined we could beat Uruguay. I'm sorry, I don't think we matched up well. With Charlie Davies on song and Gooch match fit, then maybe.

Wow.

A goal line "save" by Uruguay's Luis Suarez temporarily saved the World Cup dreams of Ghana Friday before Africa's hopes evaporated into the South African night in a penalty kick shootout (AP Photo).

Capping a gripping day of football, Ghana snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, missing a penalty kick in the waning moments of extra time and then crushing the dreams of an entire continent by falling to the South Americans in a nerve-wracking penalty kick shootout.

In the comments to the previous post about today's attack on Togo's team bus in Cabinda (reminding Henry Winter that it's part of Angola, and not South Africa), Andrew Guest suggested we post a map of Cabinda to illustrate its complex relation to Angola. As we can see, Cabinda is an enclave of Angola, with what is called Zaire on the map (the Democratic Republic of the Congo) between it and Angola proper.

In conjunction with this week's in-store launch of PUMA's Africa Unity replica gear, PUMA is debuting two new soccer boots to coincide as part of their bi-annual "Tricks" program. While the PUMA Unity kits are inspired by the African Continent's sun, vast skies, and rich soil, the PUMA PowerCat 1.10 Tricks and the PUMA v1.

Nike today unveils an action-packed film that brings together some of the world's greatest players to inspire football lovers and sports fans around the world. The epic three-minute "Write the Future" film takes people on a journey that dramatically captures that one moment when headlines are written from a single pass, or one strike can bring a nation eternal happiness, while bringing others to their knees.

Fantastico il nuovo spot della Pepsi che, di fatto, inaugura i Mondiali sudafricani. Uno dei più belli mai realizzati dalla compagnia statunitense.
Campioni del calcio internazionale come Drogba, Kak e Henry, sono chiamati ad una sfida di pallone molto particolare.

First, an apologetic preface: The following is a bit of rant, insufficiently buttressed by evidence, confronting what I know is basically a straw-man. But with the World Cup a week away, I'm abandoning my academic scruples and diving in anyway. For whatever it's worth, it's heartfelt.

Allright, I've got to come out and say it: I'm sick of whining about the World Cup.

Not sure if they are wearing this at the world cup but I do think this was a good idea
Puma African Unity shirt
"To celebrate the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa, Puma have teamed up with nine African football federations to launch the African Unity kit – a revolutionary sporting concept designed to promote harmony across the great continent.

Tenemos mucho material que nos mandan a la redacción como esta noticia que esta causando revuelo:

SAO PAULO El astro del fútbol brasileño Pelé criticó al técnico de la selección argentina Diego Maradona y dijo que aceptó dirigir al combinado albiceleste porque necesitaba "empleo y dinero", según declaraciones reproducidas por la prensa local.

As you may have heard by now, the USA defeated Algeria 1-0 yesterday, and thereby managed to finish first in Group C (suck it The Sun) and qualify for the World Cup Round of Sixteen. Jon Stewart, a former college player and current host of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show", discussed the historic victory with England native John Oliver.

I couldn't resist this comment from Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva via AP regarding his nation's behind the curve preparations for the 2014 World Cup:

"The World Cup in Africa is over and now everybody is asking, 'Where are the Brazilian airports? Where are the Brazilian stadiums?

a giveaway, a tackle, a card, and a hug

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Was it just a hug or something more. And what can we all learn from that most intimate moment filmed for millions to see? Penn State writing teacher Casey Wiley looks for long-term meaning in an emotional moment as he wraps up the fan's four-year cycle.

so you want to be a soccer writer?

Stay in the game long enough, doing whatever it is that keeps you afloat, and you're bound to get the email – how do I become a soccer writer? How do I make money off my website? They come from kids and adults, from established bloggers and newly launched dreamers.

Unsurprisingly, Ghana lead the list of nominees for the African Footballer of the Year

The short list of nominees up for the African Footballer of the Year have been making their way into the press this morning. Not surprising that Ghana lead the list along with some other predictable nominations .

On the list of things which require a hoax, you'd think the African Footballer of the Year shortlist is pretty low.

Unfortunately everything above it has been crossed off with the invention of the internets (rights reserved by Al Gore), so here we are.

That Player of the Year shortlist posted a few days back?

1 Year On... 10 Best Youngsters at Under-20 World Cup 2009 [Progress Update pt.1] is a post from: Just Football

A year ago we kept a very close eye on the FIFA Under-20 World Cup 2009 here at Just Football, and at the end of the tournament in Egypt we presented our 10 best players of the tournament a look at some future stars of football, potentially.

one game — one goal

The hype machine is running on max right now for 17 yr old Juan Agudelo, the Colombian-born Red Bulls striker who came on with 30 minutes left in today's friendly against S. Africa, and scored a beautiful goal to win the match for the USA.

CultFootball first picked him out a few weeks back, when we critiqued his play in the Red Bulls loss to the Earthquakes:

The real standout in the losing effort was 17 yr old Juan Agudelo.

Some highlights from the 'Champions for Africa' charity match organised by UNICEF.
Two teams, a Primera Division select led by Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos and an African all-stars team headed by Sevilla striker Frederic Kanoute played at the Vicente Calderon in Madrid with the proceeds assisting education programmes for Schools for Africa and Kanoute's City of Children in Mali Foundation.

Seven stories you may have missed on The Offside and WorldCupBlog this week: The Offside Winter Weather XI Africa's continental kit, by Puma Football's biggest clichés 10 footballers who will define the next decade 10 biggest stadiums in the world Dancing plus fake subtitles = comedy David Beckham vs The Simpsons

Like you, we were shocked when we first heard reports that Togo's team bus had been ambushed by gunmen on its way to its home base for the upcoming African Nations Cup. As of this writing, the details of the shooting remain murky and the number of injured and dead is up in the air.

I could serve up a cold dish on the details surrounding the Togo tragedy, but if you find yourself like me, you're probably looking for more. Looking for answers as to why the mainstream media took so long to give this tragedy the star... Read more

This won't be heavy reading, but there's just stuff goin' on...#1 - Okay, this is the best Arsenal v Everton extended reel for now - but I will come back here first thing in the morning to switch it over to the Match of the Day version. Hopefully, they will also upload the analysis segment after the highlights.

During my brief six months working in Angola between 2002 and 2003, a favorite pastime of mine when driving around Luanda was to try to identify the replica team shirts worn by ubiquitous street soccer teams playing in any available space. Brazil's canary yellow was the most popular, but the range was impressive; I saw complete teams kitted out in the reds of Manchester United, the burgundy of Portugal, the green stripes of Sporting Lisbon, the yellow/orange/black on white design of Germany, even the all whites of Real Madrid—a hopelessly futile choice in the face of the city's red dirt and grimy haze.

Blow Me, F***ace . . . (AP Photo/Paul Thomas)Sergio Canales has caught everyone's eyes, especially after this goal against Sevilla. [Guardian, 101 Great Goals]Big Hicks tries to perform damage control after Little Hicks made a mess, ...

AFC head honcho has come out to suddenly backtrack on his disagreement with Sepp Blatter. Rumors were flying that FIFA president hopeful came out against Blatter in a row over allocation of funds for grassroots football in Africa. However, though the two have been described as good friends, bin Hammam seems quick to smooth over any rough edges.

An African-themed shirt quiz today and not an easy one at that.

So, all of these footie shirts have been worn by African nations. Simply name them, feel great about yourself...

Good luck with those. As I said, not easy so many green kits in Africa.

I found this extremely interesting article on how African nations use over-age players in tournaments. The author thinks this is preventing the development of players and could be the reason why African countries seemingly underperform at major tournaments.The argument he puts forward is that: because African nations use overage players in Under 21 and Under 18 tournaments, they are not

Drogba's dream of being king of Africa will have to wait again.In 2006 Ivory coast lost the finals to Egypt in a penalty shootout,in 2008 they lost 4 -1 in the semis to the Egyptians again and in 2010 they fell to a late,late injury time winner.Three times unlucky.
The Ivory Coast press have been less kind in their headlines.

"I feel so sorry for the players, because they could not work any harder, but most of all I feel sorry for our fans. I wanted us to get to the final for them, and unfortunately that won't happen now."

"We have to learn from this defeat and improve. It's easy to improve when you win, but losing like this can teach a team things, so we must pick ourselves up.

Finally, after an eventful January, I've got some answers to the big questions for this year of African soccer. Was Angola 2010 a success or a failure? Yes. Will the World Cup in South Africa be a success or a failure? Yes.

Let me try to explain.

I was hoping this week I could write something about the games at the African Cup of Nations, or something for fans caught up in a wave of enthusiasm for the coming World Cup.