Vuvuzela South Africa

Its the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup, and we are getting to the most exciting matches, but we are also almost getting to the end.

It seems like forever that all we could talk about was 2010. And now we have seven more matches and then it is over.

Eight teams have qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Quarterfinals. They are Brazil, Netherlands, Spain, Paraguay, Ghana, Uruguay, Argentina, and Germany.

But its the two South Americans Brazil and Argentina who are certainly two of the favourites  with Paraguay a wide outsider.

Read 2010 FIFA World Cup Quarter Finals – All the Matches

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It seems an open secret that a new Bafana Bafana coach has been named to take over from Carlos Alberto Parreira, and it is the Brazilian’s assistant Pitso Mosimane.

Gavin Hunt and Pitso Mosimane

Two coaches seemed to be in the running for the job were SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt and Bafana assistant coach Mosimane. Word is that by tomorrow (Thursday) Mosimane’s position will be formalised.

End of Carlos Alberto Parreira’s Contract

South Africa was eliminated from the FIFA World Cup in the first round, despite beating France 2-1 in their final Group A match.

Their exit brought to an end the coaching contract of Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira.

According to kickoff.com former SuperSport United coach, Pitso Mosimane will be announced as Bafana Bafana boss on Thursday.

2012 African Nations Cup

Mosimane is certainly Parreirra’s successor of choice as he assisted outgoing coach Carlos Alberto Parreira and his predecessor Joel Santana. He will be given the task of leading the national team to the 2012 African Nations Cup, as well as the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Also in the running has been Gavin Hunt who, after winning three successive Absa Premiership titles with SuperSport United, was many people’s favourite to replace Parreira, but it seems the SAFA bosses have opted for continuity instead.

Gavin Hunt Also a Contender

Sport24 readers, at least, appear to have been much more squarely in the camp of Gavin Hunt, the man considered to have been the other realistic candidate in SAFA’s thoughts as successor to Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira.

Hunt, who has steered SuperSport United to three Absa Premiership titles on the trot and been a TV studio pundit during the World Cup, would have been the preferred pick by some distance.

Mosimane  Take the Reigns

But it seems as if the heavy mantle of Bafana Bafana head coach is going to fall on the shoulders of the Kagiso-born, 45-year-old former Jomo Cosmos, Sundowns and Bafana (four caps) midfielder  Pitso Mosimane

Mosimane also managed SuperSport United, between 2001 and 2007, and held the national caretaker reins briefly in 2006, between the tenures of Ted Dimitru and then Parreira’s first in charge.

Bafana Bafana  – Warm- up Friendly in August

In August Bafana will play a warm-up friendly against a team still to be announced and in September they begin the Africa Nations Cup qualifying campaign. Their group includes defending champion Egypt, Niger, and Sierra Leone.

Image: Pitso Mosimane football365.com

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Are you looking for accommodation in Cape Town for the Argentina vs Germany quarterfinal on Saturday?

On Saturday 3 July in Match 59 of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Argentina meets Germany at the Cape Town Stadium at 4pm (local time) to determine a spot in the semi finals.

Epic Encounter

Many soccer fans have been waiting for this epic encounter and will be flying in to South Africa especially for the match. Many even say the final is happening in the quarterfinals, as these two teams are the best at this World Cup.

I am sure they will be happy to know that there is still a range of accommodation available in Cape Town at really good prices.

The 2006 games between Argentina and German is still being talked about and rated as one of the all time great games.

How they got to the Quarterfinals of the World Cup

Argentina qualified from Group C and faced Mexico. A brace from Carlos Tevez, and another from Gonzalo Higuain helped Argentina cruise to victory over the North Americans.

Germany drew its historic rival England in the first knockout match. The Germans cruised to a comfortable 2-0 lead before England fought back, scoring once while wrongly having another goal disallowed. Despite the controversy, Germany deserved their 4-1 victory.

Take a look at the affordable accommodation in Central Cape Town – Special 2010 World Cup Rates

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OK, Cape Town has many party venues, but one of the newest can be found in the brand new Strand Towers Hotel – Called the Mexican Shebeen Action Bar.

Created especially for the 2010 World cup vibe – with 14 screens so you do not miss any of the action, the Mexican Shebeen Action Bar is a place of piñatas, tequila, mechanical bull riding, penalty shoot out nets, and a vibe like no other.

Cape Town Party Venue

What makes the Mexican Shebeen one of the coolest Cape Town party venues is that is really centrally located (Strand Tower Hotel cnr of Loop and Strand) and of course the permanent special – Buy five beers and get one free.

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It is a beautiful sunny day in Durban. At 4pm, this afternoon Netherlands will take on Slovakia for a place in the quarterfinals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Holland’s best performance in the World Cup have been two trips to the final in 1974 and 1978, led by the Dutch legend Johan Cryuff. They have always been perpetual favourites due to the exciting brand of total football that is the hallmark of Team Orange.

Netherlands – Plenty of Quality Players

After winning all of their matches in Group E, the Netherlands aim to stay on the winning track against Slovakia in the round of sixteen. Bert van Marwijk’s 2010 World Cup side boasts plenty of quality and match winners with Champions League winning playmaker Wesley Sneijder, Bayern Munich star Arjen Robben, Arsenal’s Robin van Persie and Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart. It is time for Hop Hop Holland to put foot to the metal and shift into top gear.

The Dutch have typically been known as underachievers at the World Cup and cannot afford any mistakes now. If they can play to their potential, Slovakia will fall by the wayside and the Oranje camp will be in excellent shape ahead of a potential quarterfinal clash with Brazil or Chile.

If they do not, the Slovakians, will exploit their weaknesses and run right through them like they did with Italy.
These teams have never met at the World Cup, but the Dutch did lose 3-0 to Czechoslovakia in the first round of the 1938 World Cup in France. This might not be very relevant to today’s Slovakia vs Netherlands match.

Van Persie Believes Holland will Win the Title

According to breakingfootballnews Robin Van Persie Believes Holland Will Win Title.

Netherlands can beat Slovakia and go all the way to the final of the 2010 World Cup and even lift the trophy, claims Robin Van Persie. The Holland striker believes that the Dutch have the perfect balanced squad of anytime in Dutch football’s recent memory, and should take advantage of their strengths to become champions of the world for the first time.

Arjen Robben – Will he Start?

Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk will surely again plan to play it safe with regards the fitness of star man Arjen Robben, despite the Bayern Munich ace making his first appearance of the World Cup last Thursday evening

The Dutch winger made a successful comeback from a hamstring injury the last time out, playing 20 effective minutes as a second-half substitute in a 2-1 win over Cameroon. It will be interesting to see what kind of influence he can exert as a starter, provided he gets the nod from Coach Bert van Marwijk, who is keeping an eye on his star.

Rafael van der Vaart appears to have pulled a muscle in training on Sunday and is unlikely to feature against Slovakia, according to the team’s medical staff.

Netherlands On Yellow Cards

Nigel de Jong, Robin van Persie, Gregory van der Wiel, Giovanni van Brockhorst, Van der Vaart and Dirk Kuyt were all booked in the group phase and are on yellow cards. They would miss a potential quarterfinal if they concede another card in the round of sixteen.

Slovakia at 2010 World Cup

Slovakia have has an almost Jekyll and Hyde campaign at the 2010 World Cup. After their opening two matches, in which they were extremely disappointing against New Zealand and Paraguay in Group F, no one gave Slovakia a chance against the world champions, even if Italy had not been up to scratch themselves. Nonetheless, the players finally clicked in unison and engineered one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history as they advanced to the second round and eliminated the 2006 winners in the process.

Robert Vittek had a breakout game against Italy, scoring two goals to send the Azzurri crashing out of the tournament in the first round. He has stepped up in a big way for his country, while headline midfielder Marek Hamsik has toiled in virtual anonymity.

If coach Vladimir Weiss and his team can repeat the intensity and focus of the team that took down the Azzurris, Slovakia may pull off a win over the Netherlands, but it does not really seem that likely.

Slovakia – on Yellow Cards

Jan Durica, Vladimir Weiss, Stanislav Sestak, Jan Mucha, Peter Pekarik and Robert Vittek are all at risk of missing the quarterfinals and will need to avoid cards in this game. Zdeno Strba was already booked twice which means he is suspended for the match against the Netherlands.

Both sides have scored four goals at this tournament, and both left three of them for the second half of their games. As such, it may be expected that most of the goal action in this match is to take place in the second half as well.
Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban

Netherlands vs Slovakia will take place at the  Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, which is to see its sixth match at this World Cup. The game is scheduled to start at 16:00 (4pm) local time and the referee appointed is Spaniard Alberto Undiano.

Image: Arjen Robben and Robin Van Persie of Netherlands by

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