Thunderball

News Bits (6/19 Part 2)
5. Juan Mata (Valencia) has revealed that he would be open
   to a Premier League move should the opportunity arises.

6. Giorgio Chiellini's agent has hinted that his client may be
  interested in a switch to Man Utd.

7. Negotiations have reportedly borken down between Juve and
  CSKA Moscow for midfielder Milo Krasic, who is on World Cup
   duty for Serbia.
   CSKA have reportedly increased the asking price for the 25-year-old
   and Juve are not willing to up their bid.
   --- End of Update ---

Thunderball

Let's review World Cup Group status
Gp A
1. Table -- after 2 games.
                                   P     W      D      L      F      A       Pts
1. Uruguay              2       1       1      0      3      0        4
2. Mexico                 2       1       1      0      3      1        4
   --- Qualify line for next round ---
3. France                  2        0      1      1       0      2       1 --> almost out
4. S.Africa                2         0      1      1      1       4       1  --> almost out

2. Remaining fixtures
6/22   Mexico vs Uruguay
            France vs S.Africa

3. Comment -- The interest in this group is for academics only.
3.1 Mexico and Uruguay game will almost be a game of no interest.
  The following is a conspiracy theory only.
  Both temas will play out a dull draw because they just need a single
  point for qualification and it will keep out the other two. It is almost
  certain they will fool around in midfield with no intention to attack.
3.2 The 2nd game follows the theory of item 3.1. No matter
  the results of France vs S.Africa game, they will end up eliminated.
   --- End of Update ---

Thunderball

Results of games played yesterday (6/19).
World Cup
Gp D
Ghana 1-1 Australia  (HT 1-1)
Scorer
(GHana) -- Gyan 25'-pen.
(Aus) -- B.Holman 11'.

Gp E
Holland 1-0 Japan  (HT 0-0)
Scorer
(Hol) Sneider53'.

Cameroon 1-2 Denmark  (HT 1-1)
Scorer
(Cam) Eto'o 10'.
(Den) Bendtner 33', Rommedahl 66'.

News Bits (6/20)
1. Wolves have completed the signing of defender
  Steven Mouyokolo on a four-year deal from relegated Hull C.

2. Barcelona defender Rafa Marquez is set to discuss
  his future with the club after the World Cup before
  deciding whether to accept a new two-year contract
  at Nou Camp.
  Marquez is with Mexico squad at the World Cup.

3. Besiktas coach Bernd Schuster is planning a move
  for R.Madrid star Raul.
  Raul, at twilight of his career, plays a bit part in R.Madrid
  last season.
   --- End of Update ---

Thunderball

It's time to review the status of Group B (World Cup)
1. Table --
                       P    W    D    L     F      A      Pts      GD
1. Argentina      2     2     0     0    5      1       6        +4
2. S.Korea         2     1     0     1    3      4       3        -1
3. Greece          2     1     0     1    2      3       3        -1
4. Nigeria          2     0     0     2    2      1       0       +1

(Key -  W = Game Win, D=Game Draw, L = Game Lost,
           F = Goal scored for, A = Goal scored against,
           GD = Goal difference, Pts = Points)

2. Remaining fixtures
6/22  Nigeria vs S.Korea
        Greece vs Argentina

3. Comment
3.1 On paper, Greece cannot get past Argentina unless
  Argentina send out their B-team in the last game.
  If this happens, Greece can look for a draw (or even a win)
  in the last game.
3.2 Nigeria can still qualify if they can beat S.Korea
  AND Argentina beat Greece.
3.3 There are no other ways for either S.Korea and Greece,
  they must beat their opponents in their last game
  in order to have a chance to qualify for next round.

Note -- FIFA rule on ranking (in the World Cup) if
  teams have the same point. They will based on following
  criteria (and also in this order)
1. Goal Difference,
2. Total Goals scored for,
3. Results of the involved teams played against each other,
4. Drawing lots (this depends on luck).
   --- End of Update ---

Thunderball

It's time to review the status of World Cup Group C.
1. Standings
                     P     W    D    L    F     A     Pts   GD
1. Slovenia      2     1     1    0    3     2     4      +1
2. USA            2     0     2    0    3     3     2      0
3. England       2     0     2    0    2     2     2      0
4. Algeria        2     0     1    1    0     1     1      -1

2. Remaining fixtures
6/23  Slovenia vs Engalnd
        Algeria vs USA

3. Comment -- This group looks tricky.
3.1 England must beat Slovenia in order to qualify
  because they have inferior Goal Scored For in comparing
  to USA.
3.2 Slovenia qualify if they win (or even draw).
3.3 USA are in similiar position as England, but they have
  better Goal Scored For (3 goals against 2 goals).
  USA will qualify if they beat Algeria.
In the case the game ends in a draw, USA can qualify
  if Slovenia beat England (or even a low-score draw will do).
3.4 Algeria can qualify if they beat USA and Slovenia
  beat England (or even a draw will do).
   --- End of Update ---

Thunderball

It's time to review Spanish Segunda Division.
1. Results of games played yesterday (the Final round)
Cartagena 0-4 Albacete
Rayo Vasllecano 4-0 Rec Huelva
Real Union 0-2 Hercules
Castellon 0-1 Cordoba
Betis 4-0 Levante
Villarreal-B 1-2 Salamanca
Cadiz 4-2 Numancia
Celta 0-1 Huesca
Elche 4-1 Sociedad
Las Palmas 1-0 Gimnastic
Girona 1-1 Murcia

2. Final Standings
Promoted -- Sociedad (Ch), Hercules (2), Levante (3)
Relegated to D3 -- Castellon (22), Real Union (21), Murcia (20),
    Cadiz (19).

3. Notes
3.1 Next season, there are two teams (Bilbao and Sociedad)
  from the Basque region.
3.2 For the first time since 1945-46 season, there are
  a total of 4 teams from the province of Valencia in the
  Primera Divison.
  They are Valencia, Hercules, Levante, Villarreal.
   --- End of Update ---

Thunderball

It's time to review the status of World Cup Group D.
1. Standings
                    P     W    D    L    F    A    Pts   GD
1. Ghana        2     1     1    0    2    1    4     +1
2. Germany     2     1     0    1    4    1    3     +3
3. Serbia        2      1    0     1    1    1    3     0
4. Australia     2     0     1     1    1    5   1     1

2. Remaining Games
6/23  Ghana vs Germany
        Australia vs Serbia

3. Comment
3.1 Germany must beat Ghana to qualify for next round.
  A draw may not be enough because Serbia can beat Australia.
3.2 Ghana can qualify if they beat (or draw with) Germany.
  This youthful team work really hard for their results
  even without their star players (out injured).
3.3 Serbia must work hard to beat Australia to qualify.
  Australia is a hard-nut to crack.
3.4 Australia, who have two of their players sent off in as
  many games, looks doomed but they can figure in
  the results of this group. They fight to the end of
  each game.
   -- End of Update ---

Thunderball

It's time to review the status of World Cup Group E.
1. Standings
                    P     W    D    L     F    A    Pts   GD
1. Holland      2     2     0     0    3    0    6      +3
2. Japan        2      1     0    1     1    1    3     0
3. Denamrk    2      1     0    1     2    3    3     -1
4. Cameroon  2       0    0     2     1   3    0     -2

2. Remaining games
6/24  Denmark vs Japan
        Cameroon vs Holland

3. Comment
3.1 Holland are the first to qualify for next round.
  They will have no trouble to beat Cameroon unless
  they send on their "B" team for the final game.
3.2 Denmark meet Japan for the big showdown.
  Denmark must beat Japan because they have an inferior
  Goal Difference in comparing with Japan.
  Japan can still go through if it is a draw.
   --- End of Update ---

Thunderball

Results of WC games played yesterday (6/20)
Group F
Slovakia 0-2 Paraguay  (HT 0-1)
Scorer -- (Par) E. Vera 27'; C.Viveros 86'.

Italy 1-1 NZ (HT 1-1)
Scorer --
(Ity) Iaquinta 29'-pen.
(NZ) Smeltz 7'.

Gp G
Brazil 3-1 Ivory Coast  (HT 1-0)
Scorer --
(Bra) Fabiano 25', 51'; Elano 62'.
(CIV) Drogba 79'.
Red Card -- Kaka 88'.

News Bits (6/21)
1. Valencia winger David Silva revealed he would relish
   a move to Chelsea and believes they rank alongside
   Barcelona as the best club in world football.

2. CSKA Moscow insist they are willing to listen to offers
   for striker Vagner Love but say they have yet to receive
   a bid.
   Love, is currently on loan with Flamengo in his native Brazil.

3. Napoli have played down talk that they have agreed a deal
   to sign Brazil striker Fred.

4. Lorient midfielder Arnold Mvuemba hopes to secure
   a free transfer to West ham after learning of interest
   from boss Avram Grant.
  --- End of Update ---

Thunderball

It's time to review the status of WC Group F.
1. Standings
                              P      W      D     L      F      A       Pts   GD
1. Paraguay        2       1       1      0     3      1        4       +2
2. Italy                  2       0       2      0     2      2        2        0
3. NZ                    2       0       2      0     2      2        2         0
4. Slovakia          2        0       1      1     1     3        1         -2
Note -- Italy and NZ have identical results.

2. Remaining games
6/24  Slovakia vs Italy
           Paraguay vs NZ

3. Comment
3.1 Paraguay can beat NZ, but they can still go through with a draw.
3.2 Italy must beat Slovakia to qualify.
3.3 If Italy and NZ have identical results, both teams draw or
  beat their opponents with the same score, FIFA will have headaches
  to separate them.
3.3.1 FIFA will have to follow the steps (described in Post#224) to
  separate the pair (Italy/NZ). FIFA might have to draw lots
  if they have the same scores (as described in item 3.3).
  Pray to God if they have to come this far.
   --- End of Update ---