One is a defender for Germany, the other a midfielder for Ghana. On Wednesday the two brothers meet in a match which will decide their teams’ 2010 World Cup future.
Born in Berlin, the Boateng brothers could come face to face on the Soccer City pitch in Johannesburg — making it a first World Cup match featuring brothers playing for opposing teams.

With only a round to go in the preliminary stage, it’s time for two teams from each group to pack their bags. The matches on the home run will be intense, as only three teams — Argentina, Brazil and the Netherlands — have qualified, mathematically, to the round of 16. In some groups, all the four teams still have a chance of advancing to the pre-quarters.

Coach Diego Maradona and his Argentina superstars are in Polokwane to face Greece Tuesday with the promise of more World Cup goals and a perfect record going into the second round.

Former French football star Zinedine Zidane on Monday denied media reports claiming he had been interfering with France’s game tactics at the 2010 World Cup.
“I have always respected the rules,” the 1998 world champion and 2006 runner-up Zidane told a press conference in South Africa.

Brazil coach Dunga may be seething over the dismissal of his team’s star player Kaka for two yellow cards, but in the end it was the Real Madrid ace’s reaction, minute as it may be, to being provoked that led to an early shower.

Nothing is going right for the French in South Africa. Only French fries seem to be holding their own here. The Les Bleus have become a laughing stock after their players boycotted a training session on Sunday like a bunch of petulant primary school students.

A little piece of magic from Luis Fabiano’s boot, and a not so magical moment from the striker’s chiselled bicep, set Brazil on their way to the next round with a comfortable 3-1 win over Ivory Coast in their World Cup Group G match at the Soccer City Stadium here on Sunday.

The 19th edition of the World Cup is turning out to be nightmarish to teams that are managed by foreign nationals.

Pick a country, any country. Better yet, pick two.

Spain went into to the tournament much in the spirit of Don Quixote. After a 0-1 loss to Switzerland in their first match the mood in the camp is much in the spirit of Sancho Panza.