2010 FIFA World Cup : “Of course I am sad, but I remain positive. I am hopeful that I will still be able to play” commented Brazil’s playmaking midfielder Elano following the news that he would miss Friday’s crunch quarterfinal match vs. Netherlands due to injury.
The midfielder is still battling an ankle injury he suffered vs. Ivory Coast in the group stages of the 210 FIFA World Cup.
Brazil’s team doctor, Jose Luis Runco, added further awful news for coach Dunga when he admitted Elano could miss the remainder of the tournament due to the injury.
2010 FIFA World Cup: JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - A record six-prong African challenge at the first World Cup hosted by the continent has produced just 1 win from 12 matches and no guarantee of any country making the 2nd round.
Officials from African Football Confederation president Issa Hayatou down also former stars like Abedi Pele and George Weah expected at least 1 of the sextet to make the semi-finals.
That seems a distant dream as even powerful contenders Ghana as well as Ivory Coast face elimination while 1990 quarter-finalists Cameroon suffered the humiliation of being the 1st country eliminated from the month-long tournament.
2010 FIFA World Cup: The cast list for the greatest show on earth might be dominated by star performers, but FIFA World Cup squad announcements never entirely adhere to expectations. Controversy as well as shock inclusions are guaranteed, and there are invariably a clutch of players who come out from nowhere to take their place on the world stage.
At Germany 2006, we had the likes of Theo Walcott, hardly 17, without a single Premier League appearance to his name, whom then England coach Mr. Sven-Goran Eriksson had never even seen in competitive action.
It is arguable whether the 2010 announcements yielded a moment of comparable drama, but there were nevertheless plenty of eyebrows raised as the 736 names were unveiled to the waiting world. Some, of course, caused greater amazement than others and, occasionally, no-one was more shocked than the player in question.
