World cup 2010 news

You’d think pre-tournament friendlies are a mutually beneficial concept which can be enjoyed by all. Portugal don’t see it as such. Apparently closing out World Cup preparations against them is such a treat it requires substantial compensation. Mexico weren’t willing to make such concessions, which is why we may have one of the very few cases of an international friendly being canceled because one team wouldn’t give up dirty sheets and petri dishes masquerading as remote controls.

“(The match on) May 30 against Portugal won’t go ahead, we couldn’t overcome those little details which arose,” Nestor de La Torre, the Mexican federation’s director of national teams, said on Monday.

“The coach (Carlos Queiroz) asked me to let them have the (Thaba Ya Batswana) hotel, of course there was a no from us, so in a chat they mentioned they were not prepared to be flexible because we didn’t leave the hotel to them,” he said.

There are two sides to every story, so we’ll have to wait until the trial – which there will surely be – to learn why Portugal was so adamant about the TYB. It seems like a nice hotel, but nice hotels are a dime a dozen nowadays, and plenty have surely undergone more work than Demi Moore in preparation for World Cup 2010.

Then again, maybe it’s tough to find all the amenities Portugal are looking for in an “Eco Lodge”. Can’t fault them for trying to save a buck.

Now, because we’re all about problem solving, here’s a quick and easy solution: play the friendly, and unless Portugal wins by two or more goals, Mexico gets to keep the hotel. After all, if Mexico can’t keep it close, reflection in a more humble setting may serve as a necessity before embarking on the real games. And this has been reason #3,724 why we should be running this thing.

Carlos Queiroz spoke to FIFA.com about Portugal’s qualification campaign and preparations for South Africa 2010, and discussed his selection process.

Carlos Queiroz spoke to FIFA.com about Portugal’s enduring struggle to qualify for South Africa 2010, preparations for the event and his squad selection.

As the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ draws near, Carlos Queiroz talks exclusively to FIFA.com about the state of affairs in the Portugal camp.

(That kid immediately gets some sort of WCB Order of Merit.)

There’s going to be a rather large party in South Africa this year. Some call it the World Cup.

But before there can be the real party, there must be another party beforehand. Because it’s not really a party unless it’s sandwiched by eight other parties of no importance whatsoever. And judging by the musical lineup for the World Cup pre-party, this will be no different.

That’s not entirely true, but my faith in the world plummets to bedrock levels whenever the Black Eyed Peas make a cameo.

A concert will take place in Jo’burg’s urban center Soweto, which is where you’ll find the cleanest children on Earth, on June 10th, the day before the actual party kicks off. The four ‘mainstream’ artists – forgive my lack of being hip with the times if someone else has entered into the purview of global popular culture – are (currently) as follows:

Black Eyed Peas
Alicia Keys
John Legend
Shakira

All of whom will bring a decidedly multicultural flavor to the event, being from two countries and all.

There will be a more ‘local’ (continental) feel at the festivities too, fortunately:

The lineup announced Wednesday also features a strong African presence with South African folk singer Vusi Mahlasela and Malian artists Amadou and Mariam and Tinariwen. South African rock bands BLK JKS and The Parlotones will also perform as the country prepares to be the first African host in the 80-year history of the tournament.

And all of it’s for a good cause:

Net proceeds from the concert will go to 20 Centres for 2010, FIFA’s official social campaign for the World Cup — aimed at achieving positive change in Africa through football.

“Positive change”? In whose pockets?

In other news, Carlos Queiroz needs a medic – stat: