The 2010 FIFA World Cup Thread

[cr@zydude]

Ok people, it's 100 days unitil the World Cup, and everyone should be getting excited. I've started this thread in the hope that it will be the complete World Cup thread to discuss everything to do with the tournement.
Format:
For those that don't know, the World Cup is contested by 32 teams, divided into 8 groups of 4. Each team in a group plays the other 3 teams, and then the top 2 teams from each group progress to the knockout stage. The tournement works on a 'fixed' bracket system, so teams can only meet twice if they both make it to the final. In the knockout round group winners play group runners up, to advance to the quarter-finals. The 4 quarter-fianl winners progress to the semi-finals. Teh losers of the semi-finals play in the 3rd place play-off, and the winners progress to the final. The winner of the final is crowned 2010 FIFA World Cup champion, and is the world champion for the next 4 years.

Groups:
Group A
South Africa
Mexico
Uruguay
France

Group B:
Argentina
Nigeria
South Korea
Greece

Group C:
England
United States
Algeria
Slovenia

Group D:
Germany
Australia
Serbia
Ghana

Group E:
Netherlands
Denmark
Japan
Cameroon

Group F:
Italy
Paraguay
New Zealand
Slovakia

Group G:
Brazil
North Korea
Ivory Coast
Portugal

Group H:
Spain
Switerland
Honduras
Chile

[cr@zydude]

Stadiums:

Soccer City:



The largest stadium in Africa, and the future home of SA soccer. This Johanesburg stadium was rebuilt and now seats 94 700 people. The stadium is designed to look like a calabash, a traditional African pot. It will host the opening game, 4 other group games, a round of 16 game, a quarter-final and the final

Moses Mabhida Stadium:



This is a brand new stadium built in Durban's Kings Park Sporting Precint, on the site of the old Kings Park soccer stadium. The stadium has a magnificant arch and can seat 70 000 people. The It will host 5 group games, a round of 16 game and a semi-final.

Cape Town Stadium:



Another new stadium built on the city's Green Point common. The stadium has a glass roof and has views of both the Atlantic Ocean and Table Mountain. It can seat 68 000 people, and will host 5 group games, a round of 16 game, quater-final and semi-final.

Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium:



A new stadium in Port Elizabeth, designed with a roof shaped like a sunflower. The stadium can seat 48 000 people. It will host 5 group games, a round of 16 game, a quarter-final and the 3rd place play-off.

Ellis Park:



The main rugby stadium in SA and the site of the 1995 World Cup final as well as 2009 Confederations Cup final. The stadium has been upgraded and can now seat 61 000 people. The stadium will host 5 group games, a round of 16 game and a quarter-final.

Loftus Versfeld:



This Pretoria stadium has been upgraded and can seat 50 000 people. It hosted matches during last years Confederations Cup. The stadium will host 5 group games and a round of 16 game.

Free State Stadium:



This stadium in Bloemfontein host matches druing the Confederations Cup. It has been upgraded and can now seat 45 000 people. It will host 5 group games and a round of 16 game.

Royal Bafofokeng Sports Palace:



This stadium located just outside of Rustenburg was used to host matches during the Confederations Cup. It has been upgraded and can seat 42 000 people. The stadium will host 5 group games and a round of 16 game.

Mbombela Stadium:



A new stadium built in Nelspruit. It has been designed with a wildlife theme, including zebra pattern seating and giraffe shaped support structures. The stadium can seat 40 000 people. It will host 4 group games.

Peter Mokaba Complex:



This new stadium in Polokwane was built next to the city's old Peter Mokaba Stadium. It's design is based on a boabab tree, and can seat 40 000 people. It will host 4 group matches.

[cr@zydude]

Match Shedule/Results:

Group Stage

11 June
1) South Africa 1 - 1 Mexico, Soccer City 16:00
2) Uruguay 0 - 0 France, Cape Town 20:30

12 June
3) South Korea 2 - 0 Greece, Port Elizabeth 13:30
4) Argentina 1 - 0 Nigeria, Ellis Parrk 16:00
5) England 1 - 1 USA, Rustenburg 20:30

13 June
6) Algeria 0 - 1 Slovenia, Polokwane 13:30
7) Serbia 0 - 1 Ghana, Pretoria 16:00
8) Germany 4 - 0 Australia, Durban 20:30

14 June
9) Netherlands 2 - 0 Denmark, Soccer City 13:30
10) Japan 1 - 0 Cameroon, Bloemfontein 16:00
11) Italy 1 - 1 Paraguay, Cape Town 20:30

15 June
12) New Zealand 1 - 1 Slovakia, Rustenburg 13:30
13) Ivory Coast 0 - 0 Portugal, Port Elizabeth 16:00
14) Brazil 2 - 1 North Korea, Ellis Park 20:30

16 June
15) Honduras vs Chile, Nelspruit 13:30
16) Spain vs Switzerland, Durban 16:00
17) South Africa vs Uruguay, Pretoria 20:30

17 June
18) Argentina vs South Korea, Soccer City 13:30
19) Greece vs Nigeria, Bloemfontein 16:00
20) France vs Mexico, Polokwane 20:30

18 June
21) Germany vs Serbia, Port Elizabeth 13:30
22) Slovenia vs USA, Ellis Park 16:00
23) England vs Algeria, Cape Town 20:30

19 June
24) Netherlands vs Japan, Durban 13:30
25) Ghana vs Australia, Rustenburg 16:00
26) Cameroon vs Denmark, Pretoria 20:30

20 June
27) Slovakia vs Paraguay, Bloemfontein 13:30
28) Italy vs New Zealand, Nelspruit 16:00
29) Brazil vs Ivory Coast, Soccer City 20:30

21 June
30) Portugal vs North Korea, Cape Town 13:30
31) Chile vs Switzerland, Port Elizabeth 16:00
32) Spain vs Honhuras, Ellis Park 20:30

22 June
33) Mexico vs Uruguay, Rustenburg 16:00
34) France vs South Africa, Bloemfontein 16:00
35) Nigeria vs South Korea, Durban 20:30
36) Greece vs Argentina, Polokwane 20:30

23 June
37) Slovenia vs England, Port Elizabeth 16:00
38) USA vs Algeria, Pretoria 16:00
39) Ghana vs Germany, Soccer City 20:30
40) Australia vs Serbia, Nelspruit 20:30

24 June
41) Slovakia vs Italy, Ellis Park 16:00
42) Paraguay vs New Zealand,Polokwane 16:00
43) Denmark vs Japan, Rustenburg 20:30
44) Cameroon vs Netherlands, Cape Town 20:30

25 June
45) Portugal vs Brazil, Durban 16:00
46) North Korea vs Ivory Coast, Nelspruit 16:00
47) Chile vs Spain, Pretoria 20:30
48) Switzerland vs Honduras, Bloemfontein 20:30

[cr@zydude]

Miscellaneous World Cup information:

Bafana Bafana squad:

Goalkeepers:
Itumeleng Khune, Moeneeb Josephs, Shu-Aib Walters

Defenders:
Siboniso Gaxa, Matthew Booth, Lucas Thwala, Aaron Mokoena (captain), Bongani Khumalo, Siyabonga Sangweni, Tsepo Masilela, Anele Ngcongca, Lucas Thwala

Midfielders:
Steven Pienaar, Teko Modise, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Thanduyise Khuboni, Kagisho Dikgaco, Macbeth Sibaya, Surprise Moriri

Strikers:
Katlego Mphela, Bernard Parker, Siyabonga Nomvete

Bafana Bafana kits:



Home Kit



Away Kit

Mascot:

Zakumi

Match Ball:

Adidas Jabulani

[cr@zydude]

Ignoring the spam-bot, over the counter ticket sales are about to start. So if any of you guys still need to get tickets. Now would be the time to do it. The first ticketing centre will open on Friday, at Soweto's Mapanyo Mall.

Quote:

Johannesburg - The process of making the 2010 FIFA World Cup accessible to ordinary South Africans will finally get under way on Friday with the unveiling of over-the-counter sales, according to a Sowetan report. This will be the first time the process will be used by FIFA. The launch of over-the-counter sales will take place at Maponya Mall in Soweto on Friday and will also be attended by FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke. This is where one of the ticketing centres catering for residents of Soweto, Johannesburg and surrounding areas will be based. Danny Jordaan, the CEO of the local organising committee, is also expected to attend the launch. Valcke and Jordaan will provide comprehensive updates on the coming fifth and final ticket sales phase that kicks off on April 15.

News24

The other ticking centre should open on 15 April. If you still don't have your tickets, you can go to a ticketing centre in any of the 9 host cities. You'll need your ID, your guest's IDs and, if you want cat 4 (cheap) tickets, proof that you are an SA resident. Also, if there are any tickets for the England vs Slovenia game, don't even think of buying them, I will hunt you down!

[pArkEr]

I still don't have tickets T_T This better start in Cape Town soon.

Also, am I the only one that thinks Soccer City looks like shit?

[Sir PaniCore]

Originally Posted by pArkEr

I still don't have tickets T_T This better start in Cape Town soon. Also, am I the only one that thinks Soccer City looks like shit?

I agree it does look shit, however I have managed to get tickets to four games. YAY.

But to be honest, I'm more looking forward to seeing all the tourists here rather than the soccer actually.

[NecroWolf]

LEAVE SOCCER CITY ALONE! :'( I love that stadium *angry glare*

Jokes aside, I hope I can get some soccer city tickets because we sort of missed out when they did that draw thing.

[Cleric]

I honestly love soccercity. That picture does it a disservice. It's just too bad that they didn't put more effort into the stadium surroundings (grass/trees/etc).

[Cpt.Monde]

Soccer City is awesome! I've also gotta do the whole ''get up and go buy tickets'' thing but I'm just too lazy. I hope I'll be able to get some tickets to see Netherlands and Denmark (Bendtner vs. Van Persie? Oh hells yeah!) with my brother and Ivory Coast. They're the only teams I really wanna see.

[cr@zydude]

The Soccer City pic is very old, I'll try to get a new one soon. For all you guys up in Gauteng, Soccer City's first game will be the Nedbank Cup final on 22 May, should be something special.

[Domanskip]

I sacrificed seeing multiple games for one category 1 quarter final at Soccer City. Should be awesome :)

[ioiiooio]

(Edit: Soccer City Stadium) I think it woulda been nice if they had given some colour, I half expected them to put those patterns you see on those bowls... similar to traditional bead works. Looking at the shape and colour it kinda looks like a giant turd. I'm being overly-critical though, it's not all that bad.

I'm a bit bleak because my cousin in the UK said he was getting Bafana group tickets, but as it turns out he hadn't actually got the tickets but was still in the draw. I think I would have heard from him by now if he had got them.

[B4warn3d]

Ohh the joys of the World Cup :D Everyone wants a piece of the pie.

Sigh...

[cr@zydude]

What an actual World Cup tickets look like has finally been revealed, take a look here: News24

They also realeased the different sales channels for phase 5, starting 15 April:

Quote:

Johannesburg - The official 2010 Soccer World Cup ticket was unveiled on Friday by FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke and Organising Committee CEO Danny Jordaan at Maponya Mall in Soweto. The tickets will be made available to the general public in a week’s time, on April 15, when the fifth and final ticketing sales phase kicks off. This will coincide with the opening of the FIFA World Cup ticketing centres in all nine Host Cities and the start of the over-the-counter sales. “For this last phase, we have made a big effort to assist football fans by introducing various additional means to purchase a ticket,” emphasised Jérôme Valcke. “We are committed to facilitating the process for all fans and giving them this last chance to attend the matches and experience the excitement of this first World Cup in Africa.” In all, 500 000 tickets for 63 matches (including all Host Cities and all knock-out matches except the final) will be made available. Five different sales channels will be operating during this fifth and final sales phase, which will run from next Thursday, April 15 to the last day of the tournament, July 11. · 11 ticketing centres across the Host Cities open seven days a week from 09:00 until 18:00 local time · Approximately 600 FNB branches nationwide, open five days a week from 09:00 on April 15; the process is new: you can order tickets, make payment and get ticket confirmation immediately; the actual tickets need to be collected at the FIFA ticketing centres or Shoprite/Checkers sales points · The official tournament website www.FIFA.com, starting from 18:00 on April 15 · The call centre hotline (In SA: 083 123 2010; International: 0041445832010), starting from 18:00 on April 15 and open seven days a week from 08:00 until 22:00 · 18 Shoprite/Checkers sales points (addresses attached and on FIFA.com), starting from 09:00 on April 19 and open seven days a week “We are excited about these new initiatives, which make the process much easier for everyone. We have always said that it is important that we make this World Cup more accessible to the people and with the over-the-counter sales, we believe this measure is consistent with the needs of the fans,” said Jordaan. Fans applying at the ticketing centres will be required to display ID and pay by credit card or cash. A total of 240 000 tickets were sold in the fourth phase, 85% of which went to South African residents. Overall, 2.2 million tickets have been sold for the tournament.

Shoprite/Checkers stores you can buy from:
Checkers Hyper - Sandton
Checkers Hyper - Westgate
Checkers Hyper - Eastgate
Checkers Hyper - Menlyn
Checkers Hyper - Westville
Checkers - Hillcrest
Shoprite - Chatsworth
Checkers - Century City
Checkers - Plumstead
Checkers - Langehovenpark
Shoprite - Heidedal
Spoprite - Redhouse
Shoprite - Newtown Park
Shoprite - Nogwase
Shoprite - Britz
Shoprite - Tzaneen
Shoprite - Nelspruit
Shoprite - White River

Ticketing centres:
Johannesburg
Laico Isle, Sandton,
Corner of Rivonia Road
and Linden Street, Sandton,
Johannesburg, Gauteng

Maponya Mall,
Old Potchefstroom Road,
Soweto


Pretoria
Brooklyn Mall,
Corner Lange and Fehrsen
Street, New Muckleneuk,
Tshwane/Pretoria, Gauteng


Durban
Suncoast Casino and
Entertainment World,
Suncoast Boulevard, OR
Tambo Parade, Durban,
Kwa-Zulu Natal

Gateway Theatre
of Shopping, 1 Palm
Boulevard, Umhlanga
Ridge, Kwa-Zulu Natal


Bloemfontein
Lochlogan Waterfront
Mall, Corner Charles
Street and 1st Avenue,
Mangaung/Bloemfontein,
Free State


Nelspruit
The Grove Shopping
Centre, White River Road,
Nelspruit, Mpumalanga


Cape Town
The Spearhead, 42 Hans
Strijdom Avenue, Foreshore,
Cape Town, Western Cape


Polokwane
Lifestyle Shopping
Centre, Corner Landros
Mare and Market Streets,
Polokwane, Limpopo


Port Elizabeth
Moffett on Main
Shopping Centre,
Corner Main Road &
William Moffett Road,
Walmer, Port Elizabeth,
Eastern Cape


Rustenburg
Waterfall Mall,
1 Augrabies Avenue,
Rustenburg,
North West Province

[Splash]

My parents want to get tickets but the 1st ticket selling system was such a fail. Anyway, I think we are going to get in this next phase, hopefully the Germany-Australia match in Durban.

Btw I think the Mabida is the best looking stadium, no offence.

[cr@zydude]

Originally Posted by Splash

My parents want to get tickets but the 1st ticket selling system was such a fail. Anyway, I think we are going to get in this next phase, hopefully the Germany-Australia match in Durban. Btw I think the Mabida is the best looking stadium, no offence.

I know that many people had problems with the 1st 4 ticketing phase. Applying online is an international norm, but not an SA one. Even the FNB forms were too much for some people.

Btw, it's the Moses Mabhida Stadium. It is great though, just not as good as Soccer City. ;)

[OllieTheDog]

They are going fast so order now,there are no more tickets for all the popular teams (ENgland,Brazil,Italy

[cr@zydude]

Originally Posted by OllieTheDog

They are going fast so order now,there are no more tickets for all the popular teams (ENgland,Brazil,Italy

Depnds what you mean by that. There are no more teams specific tickets (to watch all matches that one team plays), but they sold out last year already. On 15 April there will be tickets for every game, except the final. There are only 500 000 tickets though, so you should be there on the first day.

[cr@zydude]

People if you want tickets you had better move. On Morning Live this morning they were broadcasting from Sandton, and there are over 1 000 people there. Seriosly you had better get to a ticketing centre today. I'll be picking mine up this afternoon, can't wait!