Guide to First-Round Qualification

On page 82 of the WORLD CUP COMPANION 2010 book, and as the group stage unfolds, some guidance is provided to help with all those discussions about which teams need to do what to qualify for the second round. One of the statements in our guide explains that it is possible for a team to qualify for the next round with only 2 points, providing the other match results allow this. The team in first place must win all of its three matches, and the teams in third and fourth places must draw two games and lose one. The team in second place will have a superior goals record to that of the teams in third and fourth places.

Organisation Internazionale

Inter showed Barca last evening that a well organised team often wins matches and can go on to win tournaments.

England in Top Four, but Watch Out for Argentina

Clarence Seedorf reckons that England is one of four teams that could do very well in South Africa. The other three are Brazil, Spain, and Argentina. Argentina has the great Lionel Messi in form, and Argentina is one of only two countries to win the World Cup outside its own continent, (1986 in Mexico). But the manager is rather inexperienced, and only got his team to the finals in South Africa by the skin of his teeth, finishing fourth in the South American qualifiers. Time will tell, but we predict the team will reach the second round or possibly the quarter-finals.
The World Cup Companion Book Team

Rustenburg

While Glenn Hoddle gives the England base camp in Rustenburg, South Africa the thumbs-up, we at World Cup Companion go a step further. If England can win Group C, its second round match will be in Rustenburg, and will be an evening kick-off. If England can progress all the way to the final, two of the remaining three matches will be in nearby Jo-burg, and all three matches will be evening kick-offs.

More tomorrow, on Argentina.

Steve Woods (World Cup Companion)

Steven Gerrard is Looking Good for England

I was talking to some Torquay United fans at the weekend and some felt that the England team did not have the players to win the World Cup. I say to them all collectively, and anyone else doubting England´s chances, that England has outstanding players, not least Steven Gerrard. He is on fire and is really hitting some good form. For me, he is the ideal candidate for captaincy of the national team, but we´ll go along with Capello´s better judgement. However, we´re tipping Gerrard for the Golden Boot Award. By the way, well done Torquay with the 1-0 win on Saturday.
Steve (World Cup Companion)

Today´s football

The football season now approaches boiling point as many promotion and relegation battles are fought. This weekend will also be very important for teams at the top of the Premier League. Perhaps the most crucial match is at Old Trafford where the home team will be hoping to go back to the top, and Spurs will be looking to strengthen its hold on fourth place. Several divisions below, we´ll be keeping an eye on the progress of AFC Wimbledon, although promotion will have to wait until next season.

Preview the Book

World Cup Ccompanion 6 x 9 Final Copy Excerpts 18-4-10(2)

My Favourite Football TV Intro

The Book

This new book provides a unique guide to all the groups, and a link to the knock-out stages indicating clearly which qualifying teams play where. There is space for you to add your own match stats and reports, and tables can be updated after each match.

Penalty shoot-out, and other statistics are given, as well as a history of previous tournaments. There is also a game, and much much more.

I know you will find the book useful.

Best wishes,
Steve

This is one of my favourite goals

The Final 1966