Buy FIFA 10 - The Coolest New XBOX 360 Game

The FIFA 10 experience is truly at new level, it outshines any previous games quite easily including the NHL 09 or NBA Live 10. The miraculous effort of creative team has made it better than any impressive effort not for its graphics but the pitiless gaming experience. Most gaming magazines and online forums are calling this to be the giant leap and are all giving thumbs up for its impressive rendition.

The first step of player creation and team design is quite versatile; you can easily manipulate any style according to your linking here. If you are not quite sure which to follow, there are few alternatives for you also just in case.

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The sculpting of future star is quite easy as compare to the old version; this leads you to whole team of players with different strengths and levels. The Virtual Pro is way more cool then the "Be a Pro" mode, we have seen before.

Buy FIFA 10 - The Coolest New XBOX 360 Game

The practice area is quite exciting also; you can arrange your training routines and enhance skill level of players. The drills are quite exciting as you can see the results of training in the next match which you can easily access from there as well.

The manager mode gives you the chance to actually be strategizing for team rather than one player at time. The FIFA 10 experience online is quite a thing to experience too, you can have matches there and even have the championships online as well.

Managing your star can be quite exciting as you can keep the list of achievements and goals that he has scored quite easily too, not bad if you come to think about it, you might be able to share your moments of glory with all your mates and gain bragging rights.

The club management is also way out fun for you to explore, this way you will be able to enhance portfolio, custom matches. Just think you are just few steps away from forming your winning squad, how exciting.

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Italy Goes Out Fighting 3-2 to Slovakia

Italy much to my tremendous sadness has been eliminated from South Africa 2010 and will be leaving a world cup for the first time in their history without having won a single game. Italy being the only team to compete in at least 17 world cups and never have failed to at least win a game; this a feat which not even Brazil or Germany have managed yet that was until today.

Today, unlike four years ago, I decided to watch Italy's match at home instead of at San Lorenzo; being that I wanted to keep taps on New Zealand's game against Paraguay. This meaning that I would watch the game away from the place and people with whom I had seen every Italian world cup match since their first encounter of Japan/South Korea 2002. Italy however, I was confident could win regardless of where I chose to watch their match, so it was with this in mind that I opted to stay home instead of going to San Lorenzo; where my fellow Italian supporters were sure to be.

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As for the match, it started with Italy attacking and with Gattuso on the field of play; who had yet to make his first appearance in South Africa 2010. I, for my part was very optimistic regarding Italy's chances for advancing, this given that all they needed to do was to draw against Slovakia and hope that New Zealand would not beat Paraguay yet if worse came to worse; I figured Italy could always defeat Slovakia. It being perhaps what they should have done with ease had all their players been 100 % yet in football like in life; one must often make do with what one has. In all, I did have one worry which was, what if Italy and New Zealand both tied their matches at for instance 0-0 each? This would leave both of them with three points each and with 2 goals for and 2 against and even their head to head matches would be even. All of which would have made a coin toss necessary to decide which one progressed yet I was hoping it would not come to that though I was mentally preparing myself for the possibility of fate sending us further or out.

Italy Goes Out Fighting 3-2 to Slovakia

Italy at the start of the match like through out most the tournament attacked or at least went forward yet for some reason never really got it going in the same way they did four years ago It in fact being Slovakia who went up by 1-0; thanks a mistake by De Rossi which led to a goal at the 24 minute mark of the game by Vitek. Italy perhaps lacking the creativity of Pirlo and also the confidence a great goalkeeper like Buffon can provide his defenders, seemed to be another team than that which four years ago went on to become world champion. The half however would end with a 1-0 lead for Slovakia though in all truth play was not being dominated by either team.

Italy was down at half time but it was not the first time they had been down after the first 45 minutes of play and come back to either win or draw, this making it that my hope for an Italian victory had not yet vanished; for defeat is never certain till the match is over. Marcelo Lippi, also making changes during the intermission as can be expected when one is losing in a game one can not afford to. This prompting him to replace Gattuso and Criscito with Quagliarella and Maggio; in an attempt to get more on offense.

The second half however would start with Italy going forward in search of that ever elusive goal which would qualify them to the next round. This being the case since Paraguay and New Zealand were still tied at 0 and a goal would give Italy a draw which would leave them with 3 points while Slovakia would only have 2.Italy however was still in need of that goal which would mean so much and it was probably with this in mind that Marcelo Lippi finally sent in Andrea Pirlo in place of Montolivo. It seeming as if Lippi were saying that if he was going to loose, he would do so with his best men on the field; much like the gambler who decides that he was going to play all his cards in the hope of victory or in Italy's case at least a draw.

Italy, playing with Pirlo gained a sense of direction that allowed them to go forward with more order and creativity and though chances would come, most notably one which was cleared off the line by a Slovak player in a way which is bound to cause controversy; a second goal would come for Slovakia. It being Vitek who 73 minutes in to the game got his second goal of the day as well as giving Slovakia a 2-0 lead. Italy at that point seemingly finished as they were trailing by two goals with 17 minutes left to play yet attack they would with all the despair of a team that is playing for its life.

Italy would not loose without a fight or give up their title without at least doing all they could to keep what they so richly earned four years ago. Italy's pressure eventually leading to a goal which came at the 80 minute mark of the game when Di Natale's powerful shot brought them within a goal of not only equalizing but of progressing to the next round. This due to Paraguay and New Zealand who were still tied at 0-0. Quagliarella would then score what to me appeared to be a perfectly legitimate goal which saw me get out of seat, in the believe that Italy had tied it yet like the USA's goal against Algeria which was ruled out for an offside which did not exist; so too was the goal that would have tied matters at 2-2. The game was in full excitement at that point as Slovakia brought in Kupenek, who upon the 88th minute of the game and his second touch of the ball brought Slovakia's third goal and the one that restored theirs to a 2 goal lead and made the score 3-1. Italy however much to their credit and perhaps the only real sense of pride, we Italians can take from this game; did not surrender and continued to press forward. In fact getting a second goal thanks to a wonderful shot by Quagliarella, which found the back of the net with two minutes left in overtime.

After Quagliarella's goal however a near brawl would develop in the Slovakian goal when Slovakian goalkeeper clearly struck Di Natale in the face which should have led to his expulsion yet the referee showed him but a yellow card. Italy however was once again within striking distance of a draw as well as their qualification and how my faith in what could be had been restored even if the clock only showed two more minutes to be played. Italy however pushed forward and it was in the last minute of play that it might have been but Pepe failed to connect on a close range shot which would have been perhaps Italy's greatest come back ever in a world cup. How close we came on that play was something I felt so intensely as the ball went out of bounce with Pepe not even being able to get a foot on it from close range. It was as if all my dreams and those of all Italian football fans through out the world had been on Pepe, who simply failed to connect but came so close in what was our last chance at going in to the next round. The game as all who saw it know would end 3-2, with Italy loosing and being eliminated in the first round of the world cup; this being something which had not happened since 1974 when Poland beat us by 2-1.

In conclusion, I would say that for Italy the whole world cup was about frustrations and hardships such as Pirlo and Gattuso not being completely fit as well as Buffon injuring himself in the first match along with other small factors. Of course when analyzing Italy's performance one also has to take in to consideration many other factors, like players who had past their prime along with bad calls such as the goal scored by New Zealand in their 1-1 draw; which was clearly offside. Today also being a case of a call denying them a goal which like Mexico's second against France could have been seen either way yet unfortunately for Italy; was not in their favor. Naturally, after this game and failure, there will be changes; starting with Lippi being replaced as manager along with certain players such as Canavaro retiring from the national squad. I, in expressing my private thoughts can only state that Italy will be back in Brazil 2014 with a much younger team and though it does hurt to see one's team being eliminated; one must never give up hope of winning the championship again. For after all, if we have won four titles so far, why would a fifth be outside of the realm of possibilities.

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Fun Facts About Olympic Nations - Brazil

Did you know...

Brazil will host the FIFA 2014 Football World Cup.The FIFA Executive Committee has decided that South America will host the tournament. FIFA president Sepp Blatter said "The task was not easy - for us it was a real big challenge to have the same list of requirements and the same conditions for only one candidate than if we had two and perhaps we put the bar higher than if we had two. There was an extraordinary presentation by the delegation and we witnessed that this World Cup will have such a big social and cultural impact in Brazil." The World Cup is the most-watched event in the world.

FIFA 2014

In 1975, Joao Carlos de Oliveira set a new world record in the triple jump with a distance of 17,89m. He was the flag-bearer of the Brazilian Olympic team at the Games of the XXI Olympiad in Canada in 1976.

Fun Facts About Olympic Nations - Brazil

The 1963 Pan American Games were held in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Bernardo Rocha de Rezende is one of the best volleyball coaches in the world. He was born in Rio de Janeiro. He once said: "After the first very important victories, the biggest problem was to overcome the changing environment around the team. If the players change their attitude, loosing the firm discipline - the winning squads suddenly disappear." In the 1970s and early 80s, Bernardo was one of the greatest volleyball players in the world such as Karch Kiraly (USA) and Oleg Alekseyevich Moliboga (USSR/Russia).

Brazil is the birthplace of Edson Arantes dos Nascimento, best known as "Pele". He is the greatest football player of all time.

Carlos Arthur Nuzman is one of the best Olympic leaders in the world. He was born on March 17, 1942 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In the 1960s, he was a member of the Brazilian national volleyball team. He competed at the 1964 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo (Japan). From 1975 to 1995, he was elected president of the Brazilian Volleyball Confederation.Under his leadership, Brazil won many international titles: South American championships (15 titles), Pan American Games (1 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze medals), World Championships (2 gold, 6 silver, 5 bronze medals), Olympic Games (1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze). Currently, Carlos is the president of the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB). In 2007, he organized the Pan American Games for the second time in Brazil. When Brazil was chosen host of the 2007 Pan American Games, Carlos Nuzman said: "It was the victory of the best project and of the best proposals. The Games 2007 are going to shape the history of Brazilian sport and we are going to work hard to realize the best Pan American Games of all time".In the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, he organized many tournaments:

-The 1977 FIVB World Youth Championship(Rio de Janeiro)
-The 1981 South American Volleyball Championship (Santo Andre)
-The 1982 Pre-World Championship (Rio de Janeiro)
-The 1983 South American Championship (Sao Paulo)
-The 1989 South American Volleyball Championship (Curitiba)
-The 1989 Girls' U 18 World Championship (Foz de Iguazu)
- The 1991 South American Championship (Sao Paulo)
-The 1993 FIVB World Youth Championship (Sao Paulo)
-The 1990 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Cup (Brasilia)
-The 1994 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship (Sao Paulo).

Robert Scheidt (sailing) was named the flag-bearer of the Brazilian Olympic team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Robert was twice Olympic champion (1996 & 2004).

This Latin American country won 13 Olympic medals from 1920 to 1972...

The Brazilian women's basketball team won the silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. The players were Hortencia de Fatima Marcari Oliva, Maria Paula Goncalves da Silva, Claudia Maria Pastor, Cintia Silva Dos Santos, Silvia Andrea Santos Luz, Janet dos Santos Arcain, Martha de Souza Sobral, Alexandra Santos de Oliveira, Maria Angelica Goncalves da Silva, Ariana Aparecida dos Santos, Leila de Souza Sobral, Roseli do Carmo Gustavo.

Brazil hosted the 15th FIBA World Championship for Women in 2006. It was the fourth time the event was held in Brazil.

This South American country sent 12 swimmers to the Munich Olympic Games in 1972. They were: Ruy Aquino Oliveira, Romulo Arantes Junior, Paulo Becskehazy, Jose Diniz Aranha, Jose Sylvio Fiolo, Alfredo Carlos Machado, Antonio Rocha Azevedo, Sergio Waissmann, Paulo Zanetti, Texeira Cristina Bassani, Maria Isabel Guerra, Lucy Maurity Burle.

The Brazilian men's national basketball team won the World Championship in 1963.
Final standings:

1.Brazil
2.Yugoslavia (currently Serbia)
3.USSR (currently Russia)
4.United States
5.France
6.Puerto Rico
7.Italy
8.Argentina
9.Mexico
10.Uruguay
11.Canada
12.Peru
13.Japan

The 1963 World University Games were held in Porto Alegre, Brazil, between August 30 and September 8.

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FIFA World Cup 2010: England Vs USA Preview

How well USA perform at the world cup in South Africa could boil down to the form of one man, Landon Donovan. Donovan is coming off a great season with Everton, in the English Premier League.

Another key player for the Americans is Tim Howard between the posts; Tim Howard has also honed his skills with Everton and has proved to be an extremely valuable footballer that USA can always rely on.

FIFA WORLD CUP

USA's game plan against their transatlantic rivals should hinge on counter-attack, but with a formidable England midfield in place, getting ball possession is going to be the primary problem for the United States' forwards. The best bet could be a counter-attack on the rebound that is led by Donovan, and supported by Clint Dempsey.

FIFA World Cup 2010: England Vs USA Preview

Oguchi Onyewu's bad knee has put USA's defence on the back foot, literally and metaphorically. They will have their hands full trying to keep Rooney and Lampard in check.

Additionally, Jozy Altidore, Edson Buddle and Herculez Gomes in the US forward line will have to play out of their skin if they aim to dent even an England defence that's bereft of Rio Ferdinand.

In the last five years the two teams have met twice, and England have had the measure of the North Americans, on both the occasions. In the nine games the teams have played in the past, England have won seven, with 43 goals scored between them.

Coach Bob Bradley's USA had a great showing in the Confederations Cup in 2009, where they registered a shock win over Spain, and in their match against Brazil took a two-goal lead before eventually going down to the South Americans. The Confederation Cup showing points to the Americans' ability to pull off upsets, while being inconsistent, by and large.

Fabio Capello's England have lost just four of the 24 games they haved played on the Italian coach's watch. They will rue Ferdinand's loss to injury, as they progress through the tournament. Whether King and Terry in the back line can hold up against the more potent attacks they are likely to face in South Africa remains to be seen.

In addition, there's a question mark over whether Gerrard and Lampard can combine well in the midfield. The team's Italian coach is likely to opt for Heskey to partner Rooney up front, although Heskey looked flat footed in the warm ups.

Regardless, England are overwhelming favorites to prevail over the Americans, in their opener, on Saturday.

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South Africa 2010 - Fans Favor Brazil But the Gods Favor Italy

Firstly, I want to express that the Prediction Table and the 4 Ps are entirely the imagination and creation of this writer.

PREDICTION TABLE

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BRAZIL
Preparation = 10
Power = 10
Pedigree = 9
Providence = 8
TOTAL = 37

South Africa 2010 - Fans Favor Brazil But the Gods Favor Italy

SPAIN
Preparation = 10
Power = 10
Pedigree = 4
Providence = 5
TOTAL = 29

PORTUGAL
Preparation = 10
Power = 10
Pedigree = 5
Providence =5
TOTAL = 30

HOLLAND
Preparation = 10
Power = 10
Pedigree = 6
Providence =6
TOTAL = 32

ITALY
Preparation =10
Power = 10
Pedigree = 8
Providence =10
TOTAL = 38

GERMANY
Preparation = 10
Power = 10
Pedigree = 7
Providence =9
TOTAL = 36

ARGENTINA
Preparation = 10
Power = 10
Pedigree = 7.5
Providence =7
TOTAL = 34.5

ENGLAND
Preparation = 10
Power = 10
Pedigree = 6.5
Providence =7
TOTAL = 33.5

FRANCE
Preparation = 10
Power = 10
Pedigree = 7.2
Providence = 6
TOTAL = 33.2

U.S.A
Preparation = 10
Power = 10
Pedigree = 3
Providence = 5
TOTAL = 28

SOUTH AFRICA
Preparation = 10
Power = 10
Pedigree = 0
Providence = 5
TOTAL = 25

boldSYSTEM OF NUMBERS

YEAR 1930: YEAR NUMEROLOGY =4; HOST = URUGUAY; WINNER = URUGUAY
YEAR 1934:,, =8; HOST = ITALY; WINNER = ITALY
YEAR 1938:,, =3;HOST = FRANCE; WINNER = ITALY
YEAR 1950: 6; HOST = BRAZIL; WINNER = URUGUAY
YEAR 1954: 1; HOST = SWITZERLAND; WINNER = GERMANY
YEAR 1958: 5; HOST = SWEDEN; WINNER = BRAZIL
YEAR 1962; 9; HOST = CHILE; WINNER = BRAZIL
YEAR 1966: 4; HOST = ENGLAND; WINNER = ENGLAND
YEAR 1970: 8; HOST = MEXICO; WINNER = BRAZIL
YEAR 1974: 3; HOST = GERMANY; WINNER = GERMANY
YEAR 1978: 7; HOST = ARGENTINA; WINNER = ARGENTINA
YEAR 1982: YEAR NUMEROLOGY = 2; HOST = SPAIN; WINNER = ITALY
YEAR 1986: 6; HOST = MEXICO; WINNER = ARGENTINA
YEAR 1990: 1; HOST = ITALY; WINNER = GERMANY
YEAR 1994: 5; HOST = U.S.A; WINNER = BRAZIL
YEAR 1998: 9; HOST = FRANCE; WINNER = FRANCE
YEAR 2002: 4; HOST = KOREA/JAPAN; WINNER = BRAZIL
YEAR 2006: 8; HOST = GERMANY; WINNER = ITALY
YEAR 2010: 3; HOST = SOUTH AFRICA; WINNER =???

Explaining the Prediction Table

1. Each column for Preparation, Power, Pedigree and Power carry a maximum weight of 10

2. Assumes that all the 11 teams have made excellent preparations hence the 10 full marks for all the teams

3. Assumes that all the 11 teams have team Power, that is, excellent cohesion and understanding amongst the players

4. Pedigree - This is based on the relative depth of World Cup experience of the teams. Teams without World Cup experience (like South Africa) automatically scored zero.

5. Providence / Invisible Hand of Fate - This is a critical factor that is outside the human control of the teams. This writer recognises the fact that providence, whether induced by experience, hard work or prayers is the major thin line between life's successes and failures.

Providence may have been at play in Argentina's first goal against England in the Mexico 1986 World Cup or in England's Geoff Hurst's second goal against Germany in the 1966 World Cup finals.

For the purpose of the Prediction Table, Providence was taken as a function of the teams' World Cup experiences. Consequently, teams like Spain, Portugal, U.S.A and South Africa - that have either not won the World Cup or have not even yet played in the World Cup - were compensated were 5 marks each.

Explaining the System of Numbers
Beneath the Prediction Table is the System of Numbers Table. The figures in the 'Year Numerology' column is the sum of the individual numbers in the 'Year' column. That is, Year 1930 = Year Numerology of 1+9+3+0 = 4

So, the 'Year Numerology' of Year 2010 = 2+0+1+0 = 3

Looking at the table closely, the only previous World Cup years with 'Year Numerology' of 3 are Years 1938 and 1974 which Italy and Germany respectively triumphed.

Italy, in particular, seems set for an encore as the country won it in a numerology of 8 (1934) and successfully retained the Cup the next World Cup year (1938) with a Year numerology of 3!

Italy won it in 2006 with a numerology of 8 and now, the next World Cup year of 2010 also has a numerology of 3! Going by these game of numbers, Italy is strongly favoured by the gods to win and retain the World Cup.

Or, are all these mere coincidences? No, this writer does not think so. History has a sequential pattern of repeating itself - even though no country has successfully defended the World Cup since 1970. That is 30 good years ago. 30 = 3+0 = 3! That is some 40 years ago!

Now the year 1970 has a numerology of 1+9+7+0 = 17 = 1+7 = 8.
Add 40 years to 8 = 48 = 4+8 = 12 = 1+2 = 3!Everything comes back to 3 again!

However, the only strong hand of providence for Brazil lies in the fact that, at least, in the last 16 years (1990 - 2006), Brazil has always won the cup when the hosting was outside the shores of Europe or South America. Brazil won in 1994 in U.S.A and in 2002 in South Korea / Japan.

If the Prediction Table is anything to go by, Brazil may have to eat humble pie and wait till 2014 to host and win. But, Year 2014 has a numerology of 7 which is only unique to Argentina. So, Argentina may likely win in Brazil 2014!

South Africa, backed by strong preparation and a vociferous home base support, is tipped by this writer to reach the last 8. Other African countries will not go beyond the 1st round,or at most, the second round.

Meanwhile, as they say, ''let the games begin'' and may Italy win again, says the gods.

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2010 FIFA World Cup

The tournament will start its first game on 11th June 2010 on the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg. This is one of the most artistic football venues not only in South Africa, but for the whole continent as well. It was reconstructed and finished in 2009; if we consider that it is inspired by an iconic African pot named kalabash, then it is not to be wondered why the first and final tournois as French people say will be played here. What it is truly amazing about this stadium is the fact that it seems much higher at night when it is lit.

FIFA football fans are hardly waiting for the most important event of soccer 2010 and those who will be able to arrive in Johannesburg for the CM 2010 will buy the world cup tickets like small treasures. There are millions of people who will want to watch the tournament even if they won't be in South Africa. For these persons, there are different solutions, like watching matches on TV or on the Internet, with live stream methods. These solutions are also available for all people who will be in South Africa, but won't be able to watch on stadiums as many matches as they would like.

FIFA WORLD CUP

The matches of coupe du monde 2010 as Thierry Henry would say in French, or copa do mundo da FIFA as Cristiano Ronaldo would say in Portuguese will be the main sport attraction of this summer and fans will be thrilled to see their idols playing. And beside world cup results, the most expected moments will be when favorite footballers like Lionnel Messi will play on the field, even if they would play for the adverse teams. This fact won't shadow the pleasure of watching them live.

2010 FIFA World Cup

For the team of France and for Thierry Henry world cup can be a heavy burden, especially after the game they played with Ireland, but now it's their time to prove they deserve to be at CM 2010. Of course, renowned sports journalists like Pedro Pinto or Terry Baddoo will also be present at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and their comments will be closely listened. For this special event, some people thought of creating special news services on mobile phones, the clients being able to receive the latest news wherever they are. For this reason you can also use a club match cast on the Internet and find out what is happening with your favorite team. So, let the best team win.

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FIFA World Cup 2010: New Jambulani Ball Spells Jumbo Problems For Goalkeepers

The new Jambulani ball designed for FIFA World Cup 2010 is headed for controversy. It has already caused a lot of talk among players. Players are generally wary of the new ball, especially goalkeepers, who have expressed the fear that the ball moves too quickly, for comfort. That apart, they also claim that the ball is not easy to handle.

The ball used at the World Cup 1966 final was created by stitching together 18 pieces of leather. In contrast, the ball for this year's tournament has been made by gluing together eight pieces of synthetic material.

The engineers who designed the Jambulani ball claim that there has never been a more consistent ball. In other words, they imply that the ball is likely to move in a predictable way, at all times. This would according to the good men allow a player to exercise his skills without any fear of the ball negating his efforts.

The designers who are from Loughbrough University also claim that this is the first perfectly spherical ball, in the history of football. The Jambulani ball is said to have been tested, under the supervision of Dr. Andy Harland, by having it kicked by a robot. The testing is said to have been fairly comprehensive, with free kicks, corners, shots on goal and passes all faithfully reproduced.

Dr. Harland has claimed that the ball manufactured by Adidas passed the test by moving through the air more smoothly and hitting the targets more reliably than balls used at previous World Cups.

The scientist has revealed that the grooves on the ball's surface were designed aerodynamically, by using a wind tunnel. The grooves are said to help in guiding the ball in its flight. In previous balls, the grooves were positioned by the seams, which are said to be conspicuously absent on the Jambulani ball, thereby allowing the grooves to be put wherever the engineers wanted.

This is said to have resulted in the ball's flying symmetry, as claimed by the engineers. The ball is not an inexpensive piece of merchandise. In fact, it could cost as much as four times more than a ball used in league football. The researchers at Loughborough University are convinced that the ball is worth its price and pooh pooh players' claims that the ball is faster than normal. The scientists blame the ball's speed on the incidence of high altitude venues, where the thinner air causes the ball to move faster.

FIFA World Cup: Will Vuvuzelas Be Banned?

A popular riddle doing the rounds on the Internet during the FIFA World Cup goes: "What's plastic, a metre long, brightly coloured and sounds like an elephant?" If your answer was "a miniature spaceship used by a Martian dwarf", I am sorry to have to inform you that your answer is wrong. The correct answer is the 'vuvuzela', a horn-like "musical" instrument that makes the kazoo pleasant sounding by comparison, and which is played by spectators at South African world cup venues to create an atmosphere.

"We can't sleep at night because of the vuvuzelas. People start playing them from 6am," France captain Patrice Evra said.

Among the teams participating in the world cup, France have been the most forthright in condemning the vuvuzela. They blamed the constant hum of vuvuzelas at the stadium for their poor performance against Uruguay on the opening day of the World Cup. And it was not just in the stadium that the playing of the high pitched horn like instruments got their goat.

Vuvuzelas were first introduced in football matches about twenty years ago, and they caught the attention of the world during the Confederations Cup in 2009.

The average decibel level of vuvuzelas played at stadiums in South Africa is 130 decibels, 10 above human tolerance level, and has led to loss of hearing and communication problems on the field of play.

Spanish player Xabi Alonso echoed Evra's sentiment by stating, "It doesn't allow you to concentrate and it's unbearable".

The vuvuzelas in the stadiums have been described by some as being "Worse than Africanized Killer Bees". But trying telling that to a spectator at a world cup match in South Africa, and the vuvuzela could transform into a weapon of destruction - yours.

In fact, the football fans who "play" this "instrument" are so enamoured of the vuvuzela's capability of drowning out television announcers that they test this capability constantly, and viewers are not exactly left screaming with delight. TV stations on their part have compared the sound of the vuvuzela with that produced when a "goat is being slaughtered".

But not everyone thinks the vuvuzela is cacophonous. There is a free iTunes application that is being offered that could allow vuvuzela fans to listen to their favourite "musical instrument" to their heart's content.

The people who are most likely to be delighted by the vuvuzela and its popularity among spectators at the world cup are the manufacturers of the ubiquitous horn.

They have an unlikely ally in FIFA boss Sepp Blatter who has sought to douse calls to ban the vuvuzela at the world cup by his insistence that no attempt be made to "Europeanize" the African event.

TV Mobile Phone - Watch FIFA World Cup Anywhere and Anytime

The 2010 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to take place between 11 June and 11 July 2010 in South Africa. And this is what all football fans all over the world have been waiting for. Are you a big football fan and by which means do you watch the games?

Of course, the super large TV set is the best choice. However, it's not the case for the people who need extra work or travel on business. They may choose to watch video, but it can never be as fantastic as watching the live show. Then nice TV mobile phones appear very important. Some large screen TV phones can make you enjoy the World Cup more pleasantly.

3.7 inch screen: Samsung I8180C

It comes with built-in mobile TV module. You can watch TV programs through the 3.7 inch screen as you get out the antenna. Of course, it can never be an awful choice for watching World Cup. What's more, it doesn't only support mobile TV function, but also comes with excellent hardware configurations.

It's of touch-sensitive and straight board design. The whole model comes with a sense of simplicity. The pure black body looks very stable and weighty. The red line design on the back side makes it some kind of fashionable. The screen is a highlight of the model. The 3.7 inch WVGA AMOLED screen ensures you wonderful display.

The 5,000,000 pixel camera is also magnificent. We know Samsung I8180C uses the Windows Mobile6.5. The third party software resources are very adequate. The 800MHz processor offers you a smooth operation speed.

The built-in GPS and Wi-Fi are also supported. It turns to be a more outstanding phone. By the way, it has 8GB built-in memory. There's no possibility for the users to complain the saving-space.

3.7 inch screen: MOTO MT710

As a masterpiece of MOTO in 2010, except for supporting CMMB, the OPhone can never be looked down in design and performance. It's of asymmetric design in appearance. The special design makes it quite different and fashionable.

It's impressive for the black front side and red back side. The 3.7 inch WVGA screen reflects the true nature of display. A 5,000,000 pixel camera is of mainstream standard.

MOTO MT710 is a mobile phone with OMS operation system. Software support is also good. It supports the TD network of China Mobile. It also supports Wi-Fi and GPS.

One year ago, it may be a joke to talk about watching World Cup on mobile phones. However, it's no more a gag, but a real and valuable application in our life. At present, the mobile TV hasn't been widely accepted by the American and Europe market. However, there are more and more companies start to enter into the free mobile TV market.

In April there are 12 American TV channel operators including the Norman Fox, NBC and Gannett integrating broadcasting and TV frequency spectrum by joint ventures broadcasting TV programs for 0.15 billion population. The mobile TV technology will be more and more popular on the market.

Who Has Scored the Most Goals in World Cup Soccer History?

Almost every culture around the world has some type of connection to the history of football/soccer. Such cultures as the Ancient Greeks, Persians, Vikings, The Chinese, Japanese, and much more, played a game that is much like today's football/soccer. For instance, The Chinese played "footballer" games dating as far back as about 3000 years ago. However, it was in England that soccer / football really began to grow in popularity. After becoming popular in England, soccer became a widely loved sport throughout the world. The celebrated FIFA World cup led the way to the rise of soccer stars, and conferred world soccer records holders such as the player who has scored the most goals in world cup soccer history.

Brazilian professional footballer Ronaldo Nazario de Lima has scored the most goals in Fifa World Cup history. Ronaldo Luís Nazario de Lima, more generally known as Ronaldo, was born in September 18, 1976. In 1993, Ronaldo began his professional soccer/footballer career playing for Cruzeiro. In his single year with Cruzeiro, he accumulated 12 goals in 14 games and led the team to win their first Copa do Brasil championship. After playing with Cruzeiro, in 1994, he joined with the Dutch football team PSV. In 1996, in his final year with PSV, Ronaldo aided the team to win the Dutch Cup.

Ronaldo is also an established national footballer for Brazil. He has played in 97 international games, accumulating 62 goals and standing 15 goals away from the Brazilian national scoring record. He was a member of the Brazilian team that won the 1994 and 2002 World Cups. During the 2006 World Cup, Ronaldo became the highest goal scorer in the history of the World Cup with his fifteenth goal.

Nicknamed 'O Fenômeno,' which is translated as ""The Phenomenon" in English, Ronaldo made the number 9 famous and made it tantamount with the position of center forward. During his footballer career in Europe, Ronaldo became one of the most celebrated 'strikers' throughout the world after he won his first Ballon d'Or as the European Footballer of the Year in 1997, and then once more in 2002. He is also one of only two players to have won the FIFA Player of the Year award three times. In 2007, he was named as one of the best starting eleven of all-time by France Football and was named to the FIFA 100, a list of the greatest footballers compiled by his fellow Brazilian soccer star, Pelé.

To many contemporary footballers, Ronaldo is a living icon who has been credited with encouraging a stronger marketing interest in soccer throughout the world, particularly because of his relationship with Nike who had in the past spent their marketing resources and time primarily on Basketball.

The soccer that we know today was shaped during the 1960s. Increased media coverage and TV broadcasts has made the game more popular than ever. With soccer stars such as David Beckham in the spotlight, the popularity of soccer will continue to grow.

FIFA World Cup 2010: Mexico Vs South Africa Preview

The whole world is abuzz with anticipation as the World Cup is set to kick off on Friday at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.

This is a historic occasion not just for South Africa but for the whole continent of Africa as they get to host what is arguably the greatest sporting event relating to the world's most popular game.

Hosts South Africa will play Mexico in the opener. South Africa are playing in this tournament by virtue of being the hosts, and there's no pressure of expectation riding on them. Mexico are fresh from a victory in a warm up match against Italy, the defending champions.

This is one of the most competitive groups, with France and Uruguay, both past champions, the other two teams. Mexico is clearly stronger than the hosts, who look set to become the first hosting team not to get past the group stage. That said, South Africa can expect crowd support, and that will be Mexico's main challenge.

The South Africans have displayed inconsistent form in the past year. The recent African Cup of Nations qualifiers saw them losing 3 and winning 2, one match ending in a draw. But the 2009 Confederations Cup was a revelation when South Africa entered the semi-final and lost narrowly to giants Brazil.

Star midfielder, Steve Pienaar, who plays for Everton in the EPL, carries the burden alone, for South Africa. Forwards Katlego Mashego and Bernard Parker are unlikely to lend meaningful support to him, such as to trouble their South American rivals, on Friday.

Mexico will look to score as many goals as they can ahead of their real battles with France and Uruguay. Qualification to the round of 16 could come down to goal differences.

Mexico have a balanced squad with a mix of old and young players and are considered by some as the dark horses of the World Cup. But in a competitive group that also has France and Uruguay, the North Americans have their task cut out. And if they can start their campaign with a win against the hosts, the pressure could shift to France and Uruguay.

Their attack is spear-headed by 21 year old Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, who scored 8 goals in 5 matches for club team, Guadalajara, in the Mexican Primera Liga season. Carlos Vela who played brilliantly last week against Italy should play the supporting role.

If Mexico don't win by at least a two-goal margin, they will have only themselves to blame.

FIFA World Cup 2010 - Germany Vs Australia Preview

Germany begin their quest of a fourth World Cup title in a group D match against Australia aiming to get past the group stage for the second time in a row. The match on Sunday at the Durban Stadium will have Australia's fans longing for another thriller reminiscent of the last meeting between the teams in 2005, which Germany barely won, with the odd goal in seven.

This is a competitive group with Serbia and Ghana the other teams competing with Australia for a round of 16 spot alongside Germany.

Captain Ballack's shock withdrawal owing to an ankle injury sustained while playing for Chelsea against Portsmouth in the FA Cup final was not the ideal start for the Germans.

Christian Traeschin who was to replace Ballack in mid field was also injured and manager Loew was left with barely a couple of central midfielders. Loew will have to make do with all rounder defenders playing as midfielders.

New  captain, Philipp Lahm, and Bastian Schweinsteiger will have to bear the brunt, the two players coming off a great season with  Bayern Munich and Bundesliga, respectively. The 2006 Golden Boot Miroslav Klose's indifferent form is a dampener.

Germany's manager Loew will be tempted to opt for Cacau to replace the out of form Klose. Goalkeeper Neur is the perceived weak link in the squad.  Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, 25, is a lucky mascot an whenever he has scored, Germany has gone unbeaten. He is creative and combative, and as physically intimidating as the Australians are wont to be.

Australia is relying on many players who represented them in Germany in 2006 and their less than inspiring performance recently against USA and New Zealand points to an aging squad.

Their star player is Everton's Tim Cahill who will look to Harry Kewell for support. Defender Lucas Nell will captain the side and will have a reliable goalkeeper in Mark Schwarzer, who conceded a solitary goal in the qualifiers.  Australia had a relatively easy time qualifying for the World Cup, thanks to weaker opposition, in the Asian confederation, of which they are now part.

With Ballack away, Australia's Tim Cahill will engage in a battle of midfielders with Schweinsteiger, which could have a bearing on ball possession. Against Germany, Australia may choose a more defensive game plan, though.  

A draw would be the equivalent of a win for Australia. Manager Pim Verbeek can rely on his team to battle hard, in what is likely to be a Germany dominated match.

FIFA World Cup 2010 - Amazing Facts You Might Not Know

The Federation Internationale de Football Association proudly brings the FIFA World Cup to the soccer world every four years. The men's national football teams of many countries vie to take part in this esteemed event. A nation that plays football must first qualify for the qualifier matches that are held prior to the big event if they want to qualify. As of now 32 teams are chosen for the competition that lasts for one month.

The 19th FIFA World Cup Series will be organized and launched in South Africa, taking place from June 11th until July 11th, 2010. The first African nation to hold the World Cup is going to be South Africa. Zakumi, the event's mascot, is an adorable leopard-like cartoon animal with green hair and a yellow body. A perfect slogan was selected to suit this occasion: "Zakumi's game is Fair Play."The matches will be played over a one-month period in ten different venues. Much money has been spent on building five new football stadiums, and additional moneys have been spent on renovating five old stadiums.  The renovation work is going on in the following locations:

Port Elizabeth: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Durban: Moses Mabhida Stadium
Johannesburg: Ellis Park Stadium
Cape Town: Cape Town Stadium
Pretoria: Loftus Versfeld Stadium
Bloemfontein: Free State Stadium
Nelspruit: Mbombela Stadium
Polokwane: Peter Mokaba Stadium
Rustenburg: Royal Bafokeng Stadium
Johannesburg: Soccer City

The public will greatly benefit from the construction of new roads and the improvement of transportation services.

An incredible number of fans are expected to arrive in South Africa before the opening ceremonies even begin because the FIFA World Cup Series is, without a doubt, a major event for all football enthusiasts. There are four groups in this year's world cup in which the 32 nations are divided into for the competition.

Group A consists of the following: Action will take place in the folllowing venues: Spain, the Netherlands, England, Brazil, South Africa, Italy, Germany and Argentina.

Group B consists of the following: Ghana, Nigeria, Uruguay, Cameroon, Algeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Paraguay, Chile,

C Group: Korea DPR, Australia, Japan, Honduras, United States, Korea Republic, New Zealand,Mexico.

Fourth group: (Denmark, France, Greece, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland)

The last match will happen on July 11, 2010 and the beginning and ending ceremonies for this event will be done on a big scale with various popular celebrities and performers participating in these celebrations.

2010 FIFA World Cup - Show Your Support For the USA Team in Style

With the US soccer team about to commence their assault on the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the time has come to prepare yourselves to support your team in style. Whether you are lucky enough to make the trip to the event or simply plan on cheering the boys from the comfort of your lounge room, we have some great ideas for helping you get into the spirit and really feeling part of the action.

World Cup soccer jersey.

This year, the US team will be wearing a home jersey designed by Nike and inspired by the uniform worn by the 1950 US World Cup team. The short sleeved shirt is predominantly white with a diagonal stripe across the front that looks like a sash. The away jersey is a navy version with a white sash. These official jerseys are now available to the public for around $70 and some distributors give you the option to customize them with names and numbers on the back. These jerseys are very distinctive and are sure to be a collectors item for years to come.

Supporter t-shirts.

If a jersey is not your style then consider the wide selection of t-shirts that have recently become available. You can choose from the official World Cup Supporters shirt or opt for one specifically designed for USA supporters. There are many colors and styles to choose from and most will cost around $20. World Cup design sweaters are also available.

Supporter Scarves.

No supporter would look complete without a scarf around their neck. For around $20 you can find a scarf specifically designed for every competing nation including the US. If you only get one item of World Cup clothing then make sure it is a scarf.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup commences on June 11. Get your family kitted out in the latest gear before the first kickoff and help cheer on the boys to success.

FIFA World Cup - France Team Profile

You would be forgiven for thinking the French players are showbiz celebrities rather than sportsmen. They are in the news for all the wrong reasons. The fact that they are in a relatively weak group A in the FIFA World Cup appears to have made them overconfident, and their lazy demeanour only serves to compound the showbiz impression.

During the qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup, they were in the news for their inconsistent game. The icing on the cake came in the match against Ireland, where Thierry Henri did a 'hand of God'.

Their relief at eventually qualifying will scarcely suffice to erase the humiliating memory of going down 1-3 to Austria. France's solitary win from five semi-final entries at the World Cup is indicative of their underperforming on the big stage.

In the case of Theirry Henri, his undoubted skills and 51 strikes in a record of 117 caps for France, notwithstanding, the controversial goal against Ireland did nothing to enhance his reputation. The fact that he got away scot free only compounds the crime. Or, is this Henri's way of continuing the tradition of controversy that the previous captain, Zidane, established?

Regardless of the controversies surrounding their qualification, the team's coach did manage to get them to the final against Italy in 2006. Then also, the expectations from the team were very low.

And coach Domenech is confident that his team will give him a great parting gift by performing well. Domenech will be succeeded at the team's helm by Laurent Blanc.

Theirry Henry, whose hand of God kept Ireland out of the cup could play little part initially, owing to injury. The forward line is likely to be manned by Anelka in place of Henry, along with Andre-Pierre Gignac.
They should be ably supported by Franck Ribery in midfield, provided Ribery has recovered from injury.

As of now, it looks unlikely that Ribery will be in the staring eleven for the first match. Regardless, France should sleep walk past their rivals, Mexico, Uruguay and South Africa, in their group. Greece, their probable rivals in the round of 16, should not bother them unduly, either. Their first real challenge will be in the quarter-final, most likely England. If they can get past this hurdle, they will probably meet the winner of a Brazil-Netherlands encounter.

Controversies notwithstanding, France's manager Raymond Domenech can be credited with taking his team to the final in 2006.

If France are anywhere near as inconsistent in the World Cup, as they were in the qualifiers, England will be licking their chops.

2010 FIFA World Cup - Why Italy's Group F Was the Real Group of Death

In every World Cup, analysts identify a Group of Death. This is supposed to be a tough group with at least three top teams. The design of such a group is such that a top team is guaranteed to go home. In the 2006 World Cup, the Group of Death consisted of Argentina, Holland, Ivory Coast, and Serbia and Montenegro. Three of those sides have a rich World Cup history, while the Ivory Coast had several top European-based players in their side. The 2010 edition saw Group G designated as the Group of Death, with Brazil, Portugal, Ivory Coast and Portugal.

Before the second round of group matches, Group G seemed to be the Group of Death, particularly after North Korea's gutsy performance. However, it is easy for a team to be "gutsy" without posing a threat to a team's defence - as Trinidad and Tobago demonstrated at the 2006 World Cup. North Korea turned out to be a weak pretender, while the Ivory Coast flattered to deceive, In the end, the real Group of Death was one that many wrote off as the easiest group.

Italy, Paraguay, Slovakia and New Zealand comprised the toughest group, not based on empty pre-tournament expectations, but on actual performance. One team went unbeaten in this group and failed to qualify, while a top team failed to qualify. Italy crashed out in their last match against Slovakia, while New Zealand collected three points from three games without defeat. Paraguay topped the group with only five points.

What made this group so tough was that everyone expected Italy to pound Slovakia after being forced into a corner. Unlike England, who had an easy game against a mediocre Slovenian side in Group C, the Slovakians came to play. There are a few reasons why Group F is my choice as the Group of Death.

1. Giant-killing

A top team should fail to qualify from a tough group. Italy, as defending champions, are far bigger fish than Ivory Coast, who were appearing in their second World Cup and did not get past the group stage before.

2. Exciting final round

In the final round of matches, all four teams in Group F had the chance to qualify or go out. Everyone had something for which to play. What made this more interesting was that cellar-placed Slovakia had an excellent chance to qualify if they beat Italy. That is exactly what happened. Paraguay, at the top of the group going into the final group game, knew that they needed to get at least one point to qualify.

3. Close finish

The final point analysis in Group F was as follows:

1. Paraguay - 5 points

2. Slovakia - 4 points

3. New Zealand - 3 points

4. Italy - 2 points

Few would have expected Italy to finish bottom of the group or New Zealand to play unbeaten throughout the group stage. That group F had two major surprises converted it from the weakest team into a group of death, where one slip-up could see you home - as the Italians discovered.

FIFA World Cup Soccer Awards

Of course the biggest prize at any FIFA World Cup competition is to get the honor of holding the golden champions' trophy aloft. There are however individual awards for notable players at each tournament, and these do not always go to members of the team who are eventually triumphant.

The Golden Ball Award

The Golden Ball award, or the Adidas Golden Ball award as it is now officially known, has been awarded at each of the FIFA World Cup competitions since 1982. The award goes to the player deemed the best in the entire tournament as chosen by a committee of FIFA officials and members of the media.

The Golden Shoe Award

The Golden Shoe has been awarded to at least one player in each of the Cup competitions ever played going back to the first tournament in 1930. The first winner was Argentina's Guilermo Stabile at the 1930 Cup, despite the fact that the eventual winners of the tournament were host country Uruguay. The Golden Shoe award is also now sponsored by Adidas. The winner is usually the man who scores the most goals during the course of the tournament.

The Yashin Award

Named after legendary Russian goalkeeper Lev Yashin, this award goes to the man considered the best goalkeeper of the entire competition. It was first awarded at the 1994 Cup held in the United States

FIFA Fair Play Trophy

The FIFA Fair play trophy was first awarded in 1970 and usually goes to the team with the fewest yellow or red cards during their time in the competition. Only teams who make it to the second round and beyond are considered.

Most Entertaining Team

A fairly new award, it goes to the team voted by the judging committee to have provided the best all around entertainment value during the competition.

Gillette Young Player Award

A brand new award first introduced at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. So far the sole recipient was then 21-year-old German Lukas Poldoski.

Ronaldinho - Everything You Need To Know

Ronaldo de Assis Moreira also known as Ronaldinho is a Brazilian footballer, a free-kick specialist. He plays for the Brazilian National team and the Italian Series A Club A.C. Milan.

He was born on 21st March 1980, Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul, state of Brazil. His talent in the game was discovered when he was very young. He was often the most youngest and the smallest player in youth club matches and thus stuck the nickname Ronaldinho. His father was also a footballer at the local club but died of heart attack when Ronaldinho was eight years old. His brother also was into the game but succumbed to injury later.

Ronaldinho was first noticed at the age of 13, when he scored all the goals against a local team defeating them 23-0. In 1997 he was recognized as a rising star in the U-17 World Championship in Egypt. In 2001 he signed a five-year contract with the Paris Saint-Germain for 5.1 million euros.

With Paris Saint-Germain he had many victories but the club failed to reach top positions despite awesome performance by Ronaldinho. He was instrumental in bringing his club to important matches but still they could finish only in the 11th position. He left the club after they failed to make it to any of the European competition.

He won his first league title in 2004-05 after he joined Futbol Club Barcelona. He was named FIFA World Player of the year in 2004. He was successful in maintaining the title the following year as well. But Barcelona was eliminated from the UEFA Champions League after they were defeated by Chelsea in the first knock-out round by 4-2. Ronaldinhohad scored both the goals for his team. He refused an extension with the team until 2014 but signed a two-year extension contract with the condition that he would be allowed to leave should another club offer Barcelona of at least 85 million pounds for him.

The season of 2004-05 brought him a host of personal awards like the FIFPro World Player of the Year, European Footballer of the Year, FIFPro World XI. He received a standing ovation from the crowd of Madrid after he sealed the match against them with a brilliant win of 3-0 in the first leg of El Clásico.

He moved on from Barcelona in 2008, and joined the Italian Serie A Milan with a three-year contract turning down an offer of £25.5 million from Manchester City. He earned 10 goals from 32 appearances in his first season with them. He scored his first hat-trick for Milan in January 2010. He is the assist leader of Serie A with a total of 13 assists.

Ambush Marketing and the FIFA World Cup

At the FIFA World Cup 2010, "Ambush Marketing" was again in the headlines.

"Ambush Marketing" stands for a special kind of marketing campaign where companies cleverly connect their goods or brands with a popular, often athletic, event, such as the World Cup. Ambushers often try to catch a free ride by paying no sponsorship fees but making consumers believe they are official sponsors of the event. From a legal point of view, Ambush Marketing ranges from creative strategies that do not break any law to clearly illegal uses of logos, phrases, slogans and the like.

Sports as a prime target

McDonald's was the official sponsor of the Beijing Olympics. But in the lead-up to the games, KFC used the marketing slogan "I love Beijing", while Pepsi replaced its usual blue cans with red ones "to show their respect for the year of China".

During the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, referring to their new mobile phone, Telecom New Zealand Ltd was successful with an ambush advertisement containing the word "ring" (for the sound of a ringing phone) arranged five times like the Olympic rings and in the Olympic colours.

McDonald's was also at work during the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Its Austrian advertising campaign showed the Federal Chancellor Wolfgang Schssel holding up a red-white-red scarf (the colours of the Austrian flag) saying "AUSTRIA IS WORLD CHAMPION".

The 2010 FIFA World Cup

For the 2010 World Cup, FIFA had its hands full trying to ensure that only official sponsors advertised their brands in connection with the event.

The Dutchy girls

They were all over the media - the 36 women who attended the Netherlands - Denmark match in South Africa wearing matching orange dresses emblazoned with the "Dutchy" beer logo. Bavaria brewery supplied the dresses for promotional purposes during the FIFA World Cup. The trouble is, Bavaria was not an official World Cup 2010 sponsor; Budweiser, a competitor, was. The stunt was a fine example of unlawful Ambush Marketing. The women were escorted out of the stadium but the goal (and then some) had been accomplished: increased exposure of Bavaria's trademark without having to pay official sponsorship fees.

Kulula Air

Kulula, a South African airline who was not an official sponsor, placed ads with the slogan: "UNOFFICIAL NATIONAL CARRIER OF THE 'YOU-KNOW-WHAT'". In the ad the national flag, footballs and a special kind of plastic horn used by South African fans at soccer matches (the so called "vuvuzela") were shown. Kulula is generally known in South Africa for its humorous advertising. According to various reports on the internet, FIFA warned Kulula that the combined use of these attributes created an unauthorised association with the event and was illegal.

Kulula reacted to the warning by placing new ads with the slogan "NOT NEXT YEAR, NOT LAST YEAR, BUT SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN". The new ad shows a bridge resembling the Cape Town World Cup stadium and golf tees looking like vuvuzela with the accompanying text "Definitely, definitely a golf tee", and other pictures with humorous remarks.

Although all such activities may be considered Ambush Marketing in the advertising sense, from a legal point of view we need to differentiate.

Direct v. indirect ambush marketing

Direct Ambush Marketing activities, such as the unauthorised, illegal use of a registered logo on merchandising goods, or a false or misleading claim to be an official sponsor of an event, clearly constitute infringements.

Indirect Ambush Marketing, on the other hand, is more subtle and falls within a legal grey area. Mercedes' indirect Ambush Marketing campaign at the New York City Marathon 1997 is famous. Although Toyota was the official automotive partner of the marathon, Mercedes had its name written in the sky above the event by aeroplanes.

Another example is Media Markt's "We will get the title" campaign at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, or the previously mentioned KFC slogan "I love Beijing".

Smart indirect ambushers link the sponsored activity to their brand without violating trademark or copyright rights. The question is whether the campaign leads to unlawful consumers associations or other infringements, such as unfair competition.

Trademark protection

Ambushing clearly breaches intellectual property laws when trademarks are used without a contractual right or licence and trademark rights are infringed. According to the Austrian Trademark Protection Act (Markenschutzgesetz; MSchG) not only the use of an identical sign but also the use of a similar sign with a likelihood of confusion may be illegal. The protection of trademarks with reputation is even stronger. The owner of a trademark with reputation may request third parties to refrain from using an identical or similar sign for goods or services which are not similar to those protected under the trademark.

Unfair competition

Complementary to trademark law, designated regulations of the Austrian Act against Unfair Competition (Gesetz gegen Unlauteren Wettbewerb; UWG) supplement intellectual property law. Unfair business activities include misleading business practices (Sec 2 UWG), imitation marketing of corporate brands (Sec 9 UWG) and other unfair business practices falling within the general clause of Sec 1 UWG. Furthermore, according to the Austrian Supreme Court, an unfair exploitation of the good reputation of an event or false allegations in advertisements misleading the public about the status of the ambusher as an official sponsor may be considered as unfair competition.

Copyrights and personal rights

Intellectual creations in the area of literature, photography, music and art enjoy (without registration) copyright protection under the Austrian Copyright Act (Urheberrechtsgesetz; UrhG). Personal rights such as the right to one's own image may also be violated by an advertising campaign (see the previous Chancellor Schssel example).

Remedies

To the holder of intellectual property rights, Austrian law provides for remedies such as an action for preliminary or permanent injunction, compensation, orders for disposal and destruction or publication of the judgement. The holder of rights may also initiate criminal proceedings against the infringer in various intentional cases.

However, Ambush Marketing campaigns are usually short-lived. Those associated with the 2010 World Cup will end in July when the event ends. That means that a court injunction would probably come too late. Even preliminary injunctions do not provide for much protection in the ambush competition. Ambush Marketing cases are therefore rarely actionable and the claimant will usually be referred to damages - but damages are hard to prove.

Schoenherr

Contacts

Ruth Brandsttter
T: +43 1 534 37 4079
E: r.brandstaetter@schoenherr.at

Margit Nemetz
+43 1 534 37 125
E: m.nemetz@schoenherr.at

FIFA World Cup 2010 - Team Profile Spain

Spain are favourites to win the 2010 FIFA World Cup, ahead of 5 times champions Brazil, and defending champions, Italy. They capped their Euro 2008 title with a clean sweep of the qualification matches, leading up to the World Cup.

Their formidable forward line is led by David Villa, who top scored in the European Championship, and Fernando Torres, the popular star of Liverpool. Their mid-field has Xavi and Andres Iniesta, both Barcelona players, with a strong defence comprising Sergio Ramos and Carlos Puyol, alongside goalie, Iker Casillas.

Vicente Del Bosque who took over as coach from Luis Aragones hopes to build on his predecessor's Euro 2008 success.

In Torres, Spain boast one of the world's most prolific goal scorers; this will be Torres' second World Cup. Torres credits his goal scoring skills to his early experience with Atletico Madrid.

Given the talent of this Spanish team, they need to guard against over-confidence, and look beyond their past when they have tended to perform below potential.

A player to watch is the 21 year old right back, Juan Manuel Mata, whose stint with Valencia has seen him mature into a formidable player. Apart from assisting the forwards, Mata has a happy propensity for scoring goals.

Spain, who are in group H, along with Chile, Honduras and Switzerland are expected to head their group, and are likely to play Portugal in the pre-quarter-final round. They are likely to face defending champions, Italy, in the quarter finals, the first real challenge they are likely to face.

FIFA 11 Or PES 2011?

For years (since the mid 90's) Konami and EA have battled it out on the football gaming front. Konami with PES (or Pro Evolution Soccer) and EA with FIFA. It has always been said that FIFA was the casual gamer's game whereas PES is renowned for being the hardcore football fan's game and for having immense depth. The problem is that in recent years (mainly since 2007) the game has lacked this depth; or more accurately the game play has been sub-par. At this same time, EA really stepped up their game and improved FIFA exponentially. These things combined have made for a very close fight in recent years, and with both new games set for release in early October, who will be the winner this year?

Although FIFA 11 has brought many rave reviews from the likes of IGN.com (and other highly respected websites), one has to wonder if any of these people that reviewed the game really know football like people do in Europe (since most of these websites are based in the USA). One UK reviewer described the game as being like "A beautiful woman with no personality. For half an hour it's great, but as you start to look deeper you see there's little there". Clearly the game is not perfect either.

This year, Seabass (head developer of PES 2011) released a full demo early for all Playstation 3 users to download. It's clear that he and his team are confident that they've created something special and brought the game up to the next level.

Who will win the battle? Only time will tell, but early indications show that PES may once again regain the crown this year.

The FIFA World Cup 2010 Schedule After the Second Round

On Monday 21st June 2010 all teams have played 2 games and the FIFA World Cup 2010 Schedule starts to be more defined. Teams such as Argentina, The Netherlands, Brazil and Chile won both games. The European Teams, such as France, Germany and Spain, considered among the strongest at  International level , have already lost one.  Italy and England are in an in between situation and Portugal made a come back with its 7-0 victory against North Korea.

The teams with two victories are sure to make it to the second part of the FIFA World Cup 2010 Schedule, but it is still not clear who is placing first and who is facing second in their groups.

It is known, that The Netherlands will play on 28th June 2010 in Durban against whoever places second in group F, ie. Paraguay, Italy, New Zealand or Slovakia. At this point nobody can predict what is going to happen.

There have been many surprises in the first part of the preliminaries in South Africa: France loosing against Mexico, Germany loosing against Serbia, Spain loosing against Switzerland. Ghana being first at the time being in group D.

Cameroon is already out of the game: they did not make it to the second part of the FIFA World Cup 2010 Schedule as they lost their first match to Japan and the second to Denmark. Besides Ghana, all the other African nations are still hanging in there, but with few chances to go on. South Africa, Nigeria and Algeria are all last in their respective groups, while Ivory Coast is second last.

On Monday 21st June the verdict for North Korea is final: out, no chance to continue the soccer adventure in the African Continent, while the other two Asian teams, South Korea and Japan have good opportunities to go on.

There are some hot matches to come in the next days,  as everything is still quite open and only a few verdicts have fallen until now. All the coming games will define who will be going home and who will access to the second part of the FIFA World Cup 2010 Schedule. Lets wait and see.