Winners West Ham - I don't know if it will be enough to save them but they needed strikers and they got strikers. It is my prediction that Benni McCarthy will forge a nice partnership with the newly healthy Carlton Cole with Diamanti playing a supporting/play-making role behind them. Mido and the Brazilian Ilan will provide some depth.

West Ham have lost their last four Premier League matches and face the first of two crucial home games, with Stoke visiting on Saturday. They hope to welcome back captain Scott Parker, while Carlton Cole is pressing for a start after coming off the bench at Arsenal, along with Benni McCarthy.

En esta semana se dieron a conocer las listas provisionales de convocados de todas las selecciones mundialistas. Por eso como es menester de este espacio aquí tenemos a todos los que posiblemente sean los elegidos para jugar la copa del mundo en tierras africanas, solo unos pocos son los futbolistas que podrán vivir el sueño de jugar la copa mundial.

The European transfer window is set to close today and teams all over Europe are scrambling to either fill roster gaps or unload players they no longer need.

There haven't been many blockbuster moves, though Mancini's loan swap from Inter to AC Milan and Andrew Johnson's imminent move to Manchester City are among the more high-profile moves.

By Chris Wright.

And lo, there was silence in the valley. Here's the apres-deadline round up...

Easily the highest profile transfer of the day (Sky Sports News nigh-on creamed themselves) saw Tottenham's Robbie Keane join Celtic on a six month loan deal.

Zola, in happier times
West Ham have confirmed that their squad has been given three days off this week. The Hammers lost for the sixth straight time on Saturday, this time bowing out at home to Stoke and while Zola's job is reportedly not in danger, the team's Premier League status certainly is.

With the 2010 FIFA World Cup less than 4 months away, its time to breakdown the 32 teams that will be participating in The Great Tournament. First up is the host nation, South Africa.
Official Name: South African Football Association
Nickname: Bafana Bafana
FIFA Confederation: CAF (Africa)
FIFA Code: RSA
How They Qualified: Host Nation
World Cup Appearances (Incuding 2010): 3rd
Best WC Finish: Korea/Japan 2002, 1 Win - eliminated Group Stage
World Cup Record (MP: Wins - Draws - Losses): 6: 1W - 2D - 3L
Head Coach: Carlos Alberto Parreira
Most Capped Player (# of caps): Aaron Mokoena (99)
All-Time Goal Scoring Leader (# of goals): Benni McCarthy (35)
Brief Footballing History:
South Africa wass one of the founding members of the Confederation of African Football in 1956.

por ESPN.com.br com Agência GE
O técnico brasileiro Carlos Alberto Parreira, em entrevista ao site da FIFA, afirmou que a seleção da África do Sul tem condições de se classificar para as oitavas de final da Copa do Mundo. "Muita gente não acredita que passaremos, mas não podemos ouvir a qualquer um.

"Juntos por un Mundial Sin Armas ", es una campaña que busca promover, no utilizar las armas en los estadios de Sudáfrica, la organización de IANSA es la responsable de esta campaña, IANSA es una red de acción internacional contra las armas de fuego.

"Juntos por un Mundial Sin Armas ", es una campaña que busca promover, no utilizar las armas en los estadios de Sudáfrica, la organización de IANSA es la responsable de esta campaña, IANSA es una red de acción internacional contra las armas de fuego.

By Greg Bowes, writing from South Africa

In less than a month the planet's biggest sporting show arrives in my backyard – and I'll be at the opening fixture between SA and Mexico! As you can imagine Football Fever at the tip of the African continent is sky high right now, but before I tell you all about what it's like being a proud South African during the momentous event that is Africa's first Football World Cup, I thought I'd introduce myself (and flex my football-writing pen) by paying homage to one of our country's greatest soccer sons – a master defender who's still doing much for the game down here and who is heavily involved in World Cup prep and proceedings.

Errors of judgement from Anfield, Eastlands, Stamford Bridge and Upton Park to name just a few.

Win the Club Shirt Of Your Choice Simply by Speaking Your Mind!

Roque Santa Cruz (Manchester City)

Imagine you have enough money to keep buying strikers even after you already had too many for both your first team and reserves.

Operation Rainbow Nation

The General:

Carlos Alberto Parreira is the side's manager and the Brazilian born skipper is looking to shake off South Africa's disappointing African Cup of Nations run in 2008 by advancing deep into the World Cup this summer. Parreira coaching career's highest high was when he led his homeland of Brazil to the 1994 World Cup in the USA.

"I have a gut feeling"

Feverish activity on the last day to name the final 23.

Carlos Alberto Parreira names his SA squad and its highest scorer is not in it. Benni McCarthy joined training looking distinctly chubby, like Ronaldo, four years ago. Apparently his slim fast regime was not fast enough.

Today is the day aspiring World Cup players have been waiting for, and in some cases dreading.

Today is the day the final 23-man rosters for all 32 World Cup teams are finalized, and while the U.S. national team took away the suspense for American fans by naming its team last Wednesday, there is still plenty of intrigue around the world.

Benni McCarthy is probably South Africa's greatest ever striker. The Cape Town born striker is Bafana Bafana's all time top goalscorer with either 35 or 31 international goals (depending on who you read) and also one of the more experienced players, having spent time in the Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish and English leagues and played in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups.

Benni McCarthy is probably South Africa's greatest ever striker. The Cape Town born striker is Bafana Bafana's all time top goalscorer with either 35 or 31 international goals (depending on who you read) and also one of the more experienced players, having spent time in the Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish and English leagues and played in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups.

France
Nickname: Les Bleus. They wear blue. Nobody said that they were imaginative.
FIFA ranking: 9
How they got here: Finished second in their qualifying group, and then won a playoff against Ireland thanks to Thierry Henry's hand.
Record in previous tournaments: Won the whole shebang for the first and only time in 1998.

Slim down or else West Ham owner David Sullivan has threatened to fine forward Benni McCarthy if he doesn't lose weight. The tubby striker missed out on a World Cup on homesoil with South Africa because of concerns over his fitness, and now his club reckon his eating habit could be in breach of his contract.

Today's transfer rumour round up is a bumper crop indeed. First off the bat is the news that Chelsea are tracking this man...

Iaquinta is sidelined... literally

Rumour No.1: Chelsea are keeping tabs on crocked Juventus striker Vincenzo Iaquinta.

Let's be honest, no matter how much certain journalists keep writing about him, Michael Owen is not going to make the England World Cup squad. This is because he's lost his pace, his eye for goal and is, frankly, rubbish these days. It's not, as professional Yorkshireman and ex-cricketer Geoff Boycott would like you to believe, because Owen hasn't spent enough time feng shui-ing his living

Arsenal came up tops and denied new Bolton manager Owen Coyles a victory dance as they defeated the Wanderers 0-2 at home. This win also ensured that the Gunners still remained in the fight to the Premier League top spot. While the match didn't see total dominance from Arsenal, but they did prove in patches throughout [.

It's not tough to beat Almunia, but this is a brilliant finish
Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy has enjoyed a bit of a 2010 resurgence after falling out of form in 2008 and 2009, but the South African will have to be on the top of his game today as Blackburn look to avoid defeat in the semifinals of the Carling Cup.

By Chris Wright

Benni gets ready to hug Chris Samba

After seeing their enquiries into Bobby Zamora's availability roundly quashed yesterday, West Ham have turned their sights elsewhere. Co-owner David Gold has admitted that the club are now interested in taking Benni McCarthy off Blackburn's hands.

"I would rather be an opportunist and float than go to the bottom with my principles around my neck"

Gianfranco Zola has been reassured about his future as West Ham United manager after meeting the club's new joint-owners yesterday for the second time. The affable Sardinian introduced David Sullivan and David Gold to his players before continuing the discussions that had started during a two-hour meeting on Tuesday night.

After the West Ham takeover by David Sullivan and David Gold, it seems the team is in for a fitting revamp. The new buyers with 50% stake and full administrative and decision making authority are seeking new players. According to latest reports, they have shown interest in Real Madrid striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Blackburn's [.

According to The Mirror, Liverpool have failed in their last-ditch bid to snatch Eidur Gudjohnsen from the clutches of West Ham United.
The former Chelsea and Barcelona star is understood to have met with Hammers officials on Friday to discuss the possibility of a loan move from Monaco.

Abandon all hope, all ye who enter here for it is the cursed Sunday paper round-up... Benni McCarthy has agreed personal terms with West Ham United's new owners and could join the club in time for Tuesday's Premier League game at Portsmouth according to the Times. Duncan Castles states Blackburn Rovers expect to receive about £2.

Gianfranco Zola ready to make move for unhappy Blackburn Rovers man.

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McCarthy on verge of West Ham switch

Striker Benni McCarthy's days at Blackburn are numbered after the player went missing from training for two days seemingly in a bid to manufacture a transfer to West Ham.

Gianfranco Zola believes that he has gained several years' worth of experience managing West Ham United, although he has been in the post only since September 2008. Within days of taking charge, West Ham's owner, Björgólfur Gudmundsson, suffered the financial problems that led to his bankruptcy and the eventual sale of half the club last week.

By Chris Wright

Benni and Guddy: West Ham's new look front line?

West Ham stand to be two strikers to the good by this time tomorrow, as it is believed that both Benni McCarthy and Eidur Gudjohnsen have agreed terms with The Hammers.

The Hammers ready to bring in two top notch signings to Upton Park.

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Sky Sports News understands Eidur Gudjohnsen has undergone a medical at West Ham United, but Tottenham Hotspur are also keen on the Monaco forward.

Modern footballers take a lot of guff for the money grab and swapping of teams not for the footy, but for an upgrade on wheels. Ashley cole is mostly to blame, but there are others. Take Benni McCarthy, for example. He's playing for Blackburn, has been for a few years, and done so lovingly...save for [.

West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola has expressed his disappointment in former teammate Eidur Gudjohnsen after the Icelandic striker made an 11th hour move to Tottenham instead of the Hammers.

"I am disappointed with Spurs and disappointed with Gudjohnsen. I was expecting good behaviour from him," Zola said.

By Chris Wright

Busy, busy, busy. Here's the round up...

Decisions decisions

Rumour No. 1: Gianfranco Zola has confirmed that Benni McCarthy will be a West Ham player by the end of the transfer window and that he is also keen to add one more name to his roster of forward options.

Zola looks to add experienced firepower to his Upton Park line up.

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For anyone wondering if the financial credit crunch had impacted the business dealings of Premier League clubs, then today was proof that even Premier League teams are feeling the pinch. The vast majority of moves on the final day of the Januayr transfer window were loan's as teams did not have the capital to invest in new players.

For anyone wondering if the financial credit crunch had impacted the business dealings of Premier League clubs, then today was proof that even Premier League teams are feeling the pinch. The vast majority of moves on the final day of the Januayr transfer window were loan's as teams did not have the capital to invest in new players.

He's dangerous, and he knows it

• Didier Drogba is back for league leaders Chelsea as they take on relegation strugglers Hull. Drogba has been in sensational form this season, and after a month spent in Africa, Fantasy Premier League managers are eager to find out if he can keep up his league form.

Former Tottenham, Middlesbrough, and Wigan striker Mido has agreed to return to the Premier League for an incredibly low salary package of £1,000 per week. Of course, that clearly tells us that the Egyptian star must have been impressed with anything but the money offered to him by West Ham United.