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Away from Home: The Struggle for Football in Palestine is a post from: Just Football

June 12th 2014, Maracana Stadium. To much fanfare, World Cup 2014 kicks off. Opening game Brazil vs Palestine. Could happen? Perhaps not. But as Lewis Cheetham explains in his debut article for Just Football, duress is being met with progress:

Footballing associations across the world are inevitably faced with complications and disruptions which obstruct the development of their game each season.

Group A: UAE, Iraq, Oman, India, Turkmenistan, Lebanon

Group B: Saudi Arabia, Syria, Pakistan, Palestine, Kyrgyzstan, Sri Lanka

Group C: Bahrain, Iran, Tajikistan, Qatar, Kuwait, Maldives

Group D: Uzbekistan, Jordan, Yemen, Bangladesh, Nepal

Group E: Australia, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Macau, Timor Leste

Group F: DPR Korea, China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Laos, Cambodia

Group G: Korea Republic, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Chinese Taipei, Philippines

Qualifiers to be played end of June at centres to be announced.

Group A: UAE, Iraq, Oman, India, Turkmenistan, Lebanon

Group B: Saudi Arabia, Syria, Pakistan, Palestine, Kyrgyzstan, Sri Lanka

Group C: Bahrain, Iran, Tajikistan, Qatar, Kuwait, Maldives

Group D: Uzbekistan, Jordan, Yemen, Bangladesh, Nepal

Group E: Australia, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Macau, Timor Leste

Group F: DPR Korea, China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Laos, Cambodia

Group G: Korea Republic, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Chinese Taipei, Philippines

Qualifiers to be played end of June at centres to be announced.

SOURCE: REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, May 24: An inspection team of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is arriving on Nepal on Tuesday to study infrastructure and feasibility for organizing AFC Challenge Cup 2012 finals in Kathmandu after Nepal expressed interest to host the tournaments.

BANGKOK (4 May 2011) – The FA of Thailand (FAT) will appeal against the decision to eliminate them from the second round of the 2012 Olympic Games qualifiers imposed by the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) Disciplinary Committee.

Thailand were deemed by the AFC to have fielded a suspended player – Sucharit Chanthakul – when they beat Palestine 5-4 on penalties in the first qualifying round.

As most of the world gets ready to watch the Spain Netherlands finale many may not know that there is another kind of football final also taking place nearby that is of a very different nature.
This final will take place in Alexandra, one of the city's poorest townships and a hotbed of protest during the apartheid years in South Africa.

Are they disappointing? Everyone is talking about how these friendly matches have been disappointing. Are people losing faith in the big teams? Is it only a strategy? Will they play better when the 11th comes around?

Here are the Pre-World Cup friendly matches for June 2010:

• Netherlands 4-1 Ghana
• Portugal 3-1 Cameroon
• Australia 1-0 Denmark
• Switzerland 0-1 Costa Rica
• Norway 0-1 Ukraine
• Greece 0-2 Paraguay
• Serbia 0-0 Poland
• Belarus 0-1 Sweden
• Azerbaijan 0-0 Honduras
• Albania 1-0 Andorra
• Brazil 3-0 Zimbabwe
• Romania 0-1 FYR Macedonia
• Germany 3-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Spain 1-0 Korea Republic
• Mexico 2-1 Italy
• France 0-1 China PR
• Slovenia 3-1 New Zealand
• Japan 0-2 Ivory Coast
• Sudan 1-1 Palestine
• Luxembourg 0-0 Faroe Islands
• Netherlands 6-1 Hungary
• Slovakia 3-0 Costa Rica
• South Africa 1-0 Denmark
• Algeria 1-0 United Arab Emirates
• Romania 3-0 Honduras
• USA 3-1 Australia
• Serbia 4-3 Cameroon
• Ghana 1-0 Latvia
• Switzerland 1-1 Italy
• Nigeria 3-1 Korea DPR

There are two more coming June 08: Spain vs.

In an event conceived to simulate the real FIFA World Cup in South Africa ,the Gaza World Cup 2010, kicked off on the 2nd of May with 16 teams - Palestine, England, Turkey, USA, Italy, Russia, South Africa, Ireland, Egypt, Algeria, Spain, Serbia, Germany, the Netherlands, France and Jordan.

Goalkeepers: Kawin Thamasatchanan (Muang Thong), Sinthaweechai Hathairattanakool (Chonburi), Sivaluk Terdsungnern (Buriram PEA), Samuel Cunningham (BEC)

Defenders: Suree Sukha, Natthaphong Samana, Anucha Kitpongsri, Chonlatit Jantakam and Suttinun Phukhom (all Chonburi), Nataporn Phanrit and Panupong Wongsa (both Muang Thong), Teeratorn Boonmathan (Buriram PEA), Sujarit Jantakul (Sri Racha), Prat Samakrat (BEC)

Midfielders: Datsakorn Thonglao, Phichitphong Cheuichiu and Jakkraphan Pornsai (all Muang Thong), Suchao Nutnum, Rangsan Vivatchaichok and Jakkraphan Kaewprom (all Buriram PEA), Puritat Jarikanon, Ekaphan Inthasen and Adul Lasoh (Chonburi), Surat Sukha (Melbourne Victory), Chakrit Buathong (Insee Police), Wanchana Rattana (Army), Apipoo Sunthornpanavij (Osotspa)

Strikers: Sarayuth Chaikamdee (Bangkok Glass), Teerasil Dangda and Anon Sangsanoi (both Muang Thong), Kirati Kaewsombut (Buriram PEA), Sompong Sorleb (Buriram FC), Ronnachai Rangsiyo (BEC), Wasant Natasant (Chiang Rai), Tatree Seeha (Army)

COMMENT - a 35 man squad to play either Palestine or Afghanistan?

This is what a boffo impending suspension looks like.

• Life with Union Berlin. (EFW)
• Unsurprisingly surprising stat. (The Spoiler)
• Croatians abroad. (The Best Eleven)
• Swedish footballer exits the closet. (Yahoo)
• Arsene tumbles. (La Liga Loca)
• The Gold Cup as requirement.

Does Australian broadcaster SBS actually want Australians to watch the World Cup? Or does it just want to make them very very angry? Top marks for comedy though.

• FrankenSven unveils ultimate football player. Sadly not Ivorian. (Soccerlens)
• Benoît Assou-Ekotto is an honest man (The Guardian)
• The Gaza World Cup (Palestine Note)
• Marseille's 2010/11 shirts unveiled leaked.

We have two worthy causes for you today as part of our new weekly feature on charities related to football. Should you be doing something for charity that is related to the game, feel free to drop us a line via the contact page at the top of the site and we will be happy to include your cause as well.

Revolution midfielder/forward Kenny Mansally was recalled by the Gambia National Team on Wednesday in preparation for his country's international friendly against Palestine on November 17th in Hebrom, Palestine.

The 21-year-old, who just completed fourth season in MLS, already has six caps to his credit.