Spiga

Hiddink linked with World Cup coaching role

Guus Hiddink is considering an offer from Ivory Coast to be their manager for the World Cup this summer.

The experienced manager is currently employed the Russian Football Federation but recently agreed a deal to take over as boss of Turkey when his contract expires in the summer.

Ivory Coast face a tough task in South Africa as they have been drawn in Group G with favourites Brazil as well as Portugal and North Korea, so they are looking for a top manager to lead a side which will feature some quality players including Didier Drogba and Kolo Toure.

Despite the tough group Ivory Coast the World Cup odds make them 10/11 to qualify for the knockout stages and the right manager could make all the difference.

Current manager Vahid Halilhodzic is under pressure after Ivory Coast disappointed in the recent African Nations Cup and he could be sacked despite the fact he is under contract until after the World Cup.

Drogba was managed by Hiddink during the Dutchman’s time at Stamford Bridge and it is reported the striker made a personal phone call to persuade his former boss to take the reins.

According to the Daily Mirror Hiddink said: “It’s true. I have the chance to take charge of Ivory Coast. Didier Drogba has asked me on behalf of the players. The board of the federation want it too.

“I can’t decide right now yet. A lot has happened in the last few weeks. I need to solve a few things step by step before I make a decision,” he added.

If Hiddink does take the job Ivory Coast might be able to upset the football odds and go on a good run.

Meanwhile, former Belgium manager Eric Gerets claims to have turned down the opportunity to lead Ivory Coast in the World Cup as he did not want to leave his role with Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal.
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England can look forward to the World Cup

Fabio Capellos decision to strip John Terry of the teams captaincy will enable England to prepare better for the 2010 Football World Cup . The furore surrounding the Chelsea skippers antics is not over, but the media frenzy has lost some of its edge now Terry has been taken out of the firing line.

Terry can now concentrate on what he does best defending, in case you are wondering and not worry about his place as leader. His best quality as captain was his inspirational committed style of play, which will not change.

Indeed, if his performance against Arsenal is anything to go by, he might even improve, drawing on his famed reserves of courage to try and prove his critics wrong. Terry, unlike Kevin Pietersen, another England skipper removed from office, will have no problem returning to the ranks.

Any subsequent tabloid revelations about Terry will not have the edge of being about the England captain; Terrys column inches will be of as much interest as his team-mates and it should be remembered that many in the England dressing room have had their share of front page as well as back page exposure.

New leader Rio Ferdinand will now be the man under scrutiny and whilst his own questionable choices off the field suggest more embarrassment might occur it must be hoped that he has learned from the mistakes of his defensive colleague.

Capello must work hard to ensure no factions develop, but there is a greater chance that a bond and siege mentality will develop, especially if the injury-troubled and out-of-form Wayne Bridge is absent in June.

The Italian may well keep an eye on the UEFA Europa League Betting odds to see how far Everton progress in the competition as Leighton Baines could well move above Bridge in the pecking order and make things a little easier all round.

There has been too much looking back recently and Capellos brave and correct course of action can allow England to look forward and the Italian should remind them that that future is still bright.

Are you a football fan, a real supporter? Then catch the action of the clash between your favorite teams here on GoalStage.com At GoalStage you will find almost everything about the most popular sport in the world, soccer. Latest news and breaking news, live scores, live streams and football highlights, match previews and reviews of the most important competitions: Champions League, England Premier League, German Bundesliga and many others.
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Snowboard: Crash could force Japan’s Fujimori out. Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics

Japanese snowboard cross hopeful Yuka Fujimori may miss her race on Tuesday after injuring her head while training at the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games.

The 23-year-old, who finished seventh at the Torino 2006 Games, crashed after jumping into a strong wind at the Olympic course on Cypress Mountain on Friday, Japanese officials said.

Detailed checks at a hospital in Vancouver found no serious injury and she was due to return to the athletes’ village later Saturday after being hospitalised overnight under observation.

“She said her neck still hurt a bit and she felt some pain in her hip,” Japanese snowboard team manager Fumikazu Hagiwara said.

“The doctor said if she hits her head again within a week or 10 days it will put her in a worrying situation. So I will let her race only if she is in her best condition.”

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Watch NBA All Star Celebrity Game 2010

Watch NBA All Star Celebrity Game 2010

Celebrities from television, movies and sports team up with NBA Legends, and the world famous Harlem Globetrotters to participate in the 2010 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game presented by FINAL FANTASY XIII as part of NBA All-Star 2010 in Dallas. The game will air live on Watch NBA ALL-STAR, Friday, Feb. 12 at 7 ET.

What: 2010 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game presented by FINAL FANTASY XIII Sa
When: Friday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: Jam Session in Dallas Convention Center
TV: ESPN2010 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game presented by FINAL FANTASY XIII

Watch NBA ALL STAR CELEBRITY GAME 2010 ONLINE NOW!!! Dont miss a minute of the action during the NBA ALL STAR WEEKEND 2010. SLAM DUNK, ROOKIE CHALLENGE, CELEBRITY GAME, 3 POINT CHALLENGE Watch it all RIGHT NOW!!

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Partipants

Doctor Oz (Host, The Dr. Oz Show) Anthony Kim (PGA Tour Pro)
Chris Tucker (Actor/Comedian) Terrence J (Host of BETs 106 & Park)
Joel Moore (Avatar) Mark Cuban (Dallas Mavericks Owner)
Pitbull (Musician, I Know You Want Me) Common (Musician/Actor)
Terrell Owens (Six-time NFL Pro Bowler) Michael Rapaport (Actor)
Flight Time Lang (Harlem Globetrotters) Special K Daley (Harlem Globetrotters)
Big Easy Lofton (Harlem Globetrotters) Scooter Christensen (Harlem Globetrotters)
Angel McCoughtry (Atl Dream forward) Becky Hammon (San Antonio Silver Stars guard)
Rick Fox (Three-time NBA Champion) Chris Mullin (Five-time NBA All-Star)
Nancy Lieberman (Bball Hall of Famer) Robert Horry (Seven-time NBA Champion)
Coach: Alonzo Mourning (5-time All-Star) Coach: Magic Johnson (Basketball Hall of Famer, ESPN analyst)
Assistant Coach: Mario Lopez Assistant Coach: Drake (Musician)

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Iverson retiring soon? All-Star Game

Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson(notes) got more than a million votes to be in the All-Star Game this weekend and he’s still not showing up in Texas for the festivities to bask in the love of fans. It’s looking a lot like the injured guard is going to call it quits pretty soon, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

One of his best pals had no idea that he wasn’t going till yesterday. "I’m stunned. Even with things the way they are, I could’ve sworn he’d be in Dallas by now. This doesn’t feel good," the pal said.

Iverson’s three-year-old daughter, Messiah, has some unnamed sickness that is apparently getting worse and Iverson apparently doesn’t want to leave her.

As for his playing career, he’s done decently since returning to the Sixers. He’s averaging 14.7 points and 4.2 assists per game in the 22 he’s played for the team.

So while he’s happy to be back in Philly, the word is that he’s starting to think about hanging up the sneakers for good. Whether it’s soon or at season’s end is anyone’s guess.
SOURCE

Watch 2010 Vancouver winter olympics opening ceremony online live free

Current PST time:

Watch the live stream

February 12, 2010

10:00 – Ski Jumping – NH Individual Qualification Round
18:00 – General – Opening Ceremony

February 13, 2010

9:45 – Ski Jumping – NH Individual 1st Round
10:45 – Ski Jumping – NH Individual Final Round
11:45 – Alpine Skiing – Men’s Downhill
12:00 – Ice Hockey – Women’s Preliminary Round – Group A Game 1
12:00 – Speed Skating – Men’s 5000 m
13:00 – Biathlon – Women’s 7.5 km Sprint
16:30 – Freestyle Skiing – Ladies’ Moguls Qualification
17:00 – Ice Hockey – Women’s Preliminary Round – Group A Game 2
17:00 – Luge – Men’s Singles Run 1
17:00 – Short Track – Men’s 1500 m Heats
17:42 – Short Track – Ladies’ 500 m Heats
18:18 – Short Track – Men’s 1500 m Semifinals
18:50 – Short Track – Ladies’ 3000 m Relay Semifinals
19:00 – Luge – Men’s Singles Run 2
19:18 – Short Track – Men’s 1500 m Finals
19:30 – Freestyle Skiing – Ladies’ Moguls Final
SOURCE

Selected Europa League last 32 first leg previews

Many of the Europa League last 32 clashes would not look out of place in the knockout stages of the Champions League. This is not surprising considering eight teams have dropped into the competition from the senior European club competition. There will be plenty of bets supporting these teams as they bid to repeat Shakhtar Donetsk’s achievement of last year when they secured the cup as a consolation for missing out on theChampions League.

Tournament favourites Liverpool missed out on the Champions League knockout stages for the first time since 2003/04. They now face Unirea Urziceni and can be expected to hold a decisive advantage after the first leg on 18th February.

The Reds have turned a corner domestically, although last night’s defeat against Arsenal put an end to their good run. Unirea impressed in pushing Sevilla and Stuttgart close in theChampions League and arrive in the Europa League as the highest-ranked drop-outs, but the Romanians face a tough task at Anfield.

Rubin Kazan won only one match in the Champions League group stage but should be backed to take a narrow first leg advantage against Hapoel Tel Aviv, who topped Group C unbeaten but are trailing Maccabi Haifa by 12 points domestically.

Wolfsburg stunned German football by winning the Bundesliga last term but have struggled to repeat that form this time around, slipping into the bottom half of the table. They travel to Villarreal, who are experiencing a similar mid-season campaign in Spain. This one might be level after the first leg.

The glamour tie of the round pits Ajax against Juventus, who were rocked by missing out on the latter stages of the Champions League. Either of these teams could go all the way and make up for domestic campaigns that have so far been disappointing.

With Juventus seventh in Serie A you should bet on Europa League success being something of a priority for the side.

Atletico Madrid should be backed to take a decisive lead against Galatasaray, while Standard Liege and Marseille should complete good first legs for theChampions League drop-outs by starting well against Red Bull Salzburg and Copenhagen respectively.

The betting Europa League bookmakers are currently offering makes Liverpool favourites to lift the trophy, but they will have to see off some tough sides if they are togo all the way.

Are you a football fan, a real supporter? Then catch the action of the clash between your favorite teams here on GoalStage.com At GoalStage you will find almost everything about the most popular sport in the world, soccer. Latest news and breaking news, live scores, live streams and football highlights, match previews and reviews of the most important competitions: Champions League, England Premier League, German Bundesliga and many others.
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NFL

Can you really watch nfl season games online streaming on a pc: Whether your job pays much or a lot less than it should, if you are an NFL fan, you sure wouldn’t want to miss any of the games if you can help it. Whether you are working late or travelling a lot. The good news is that you can watch NFL 2010 sports on the web. If you are looking for the best information, news, highlight videos, or player starts, you can find it easily on the net. You can simply go to the official NFL website.
However, you can not find any live games aired on the website. OK, do not mention the live games, you probably can not even watch the replayed matches. If we were in the past, let say five years ago, you definitely would have to give up and pay to watch NFL games. It is different now since the internet technology grows so fast that today it enables you to watch videos online streaming. Today Any NFL fans, who want to watch games via online streaming, can fulfill their desire.
There are many PC satellite TV software programs available on the net. Watching over 180 games in high definition graphics is not impossible. I know that it is not so comfortable to the ears when you heard that you have to pay for such software. Free sounds better but it may not be better in quality. People often think that it is not worth it as they have to pay. Often as well they change their mind after checking out what the offer is about.
When I was at work a year ago I downloaded this software because I had no choice at that time, I wanted to watch my favorite team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in action. I thought it was a scam, fortunately it works very well. I knew it was impulse, but I think I was lucky because I knew that there were many fake software programs out there created only to get people into buying with the excessive hype.
If you want to watch NFL on your PC visit NFLLivestreaming.com to watch NFL online streaming.

Football: Gaining popularity all over the world

Today, football or soccer is a well known sport in the world and is also played on national level. However, not many people are aware of the techniques of this sport. If you are looking forward to mastering in soccer, you simply need to make yourself updated on the latest soccer news, drills and techniques. These techniques can help you play well in the game.
It is important to warm up your muscles through jogging or stretching exercises to improve your overall performance. You should have balance on the ball. You can practice by placing the ball on your foot and balance it for a long time. If football is your passion, you need to learn the skills of the sport as not many people are aware of these skills. You should have the willingness to learn. If you constantly practice, the skills, you can gain expertise in the game. This popular game is appreciated by people all over the world. To start with, it has two teams of eleven people each.
Children as well as adults enjoy playing this interesting and exciting game.
The game involves playing with the ball without using hands. Players use their foot or head to hit the ball. However, the goalkeeper can use his hands to hit the ball. The judges use hand signals for communication with players and referees. This game is about team spirit and the team that works together wins. A football player should get the required sessions and understand the team deficiencies that can help him achieve his goal. The player should do regular soccer practice to become a good player. The main objective of the football is to kick the ball into the opponent’s team goal.
The player performs this activity by kicking the ball to other team member. Passing the ball is same as basketball. As a player, you should know when and where to pass the ball.
You can access to the live matches and be updated on the game. These days, you can even watch live football online on the Internet. Just browse through the sports websites and watch your favourite game from the comfort of your home. How can one be able to watch live football through the computer? It is not necessary to understand the concept of streaming Live Football, but it can be interesting to know. Whenever a football game takes place, it is broadcasted in order to be shown on TV.
The Internet takes these streams and when a person wants to watch a certain live football game, the information is taken through the web and recomposed in your computer almost instantly. This is the way you can Watch Live Football instead of a recording.
To watch all your favorite football players in action all you need to do is go online and become a member of the following website GoalStage.com .

Basketball: Gaining popularity these days

Basketball in the foreign countries has gained popularity in over the years. It is all about bouncing a ball and throwing it in a hoop. But it is not that simple, as it looks. A basketball player needs to have the strength to compete in the game. The player undergoes a conditioning program and functional training to become successful.
The exercises take the game to new heights by improving the player’s strength. To become a basketball player, you need to go much beyond shooting, dribbling and ball handling. To dominate on the basketball court, the players need to perform lifts like overhead snatches. Also, the workout should not extend for more than one hour.
It is because if the player is spending too much time on workouts, it means he is not performing it with enough intensity. The player should make sure that he improves his stamina while building muscles. Avoid weight training on game days as it makes the players feel fatigued and he may under perform. There are many basketball players who have taken this game to new heights.
Let us discuss about the great players of this game. The greatest basketball player of all time, Lebron James has also shown his unique skills in the game. He has the kind of passing ability which other players can only dream about. He is known as the best player in NBA and a skilled player in the league. Another skilled player, Kobe Bryant is the most competent player in NBA. The best basketball player, Michael Jordan is an excellent shoot guard. He has given awesome performances even under adverse circumstances.
If you’re a big fan of NBA but somehow you could not watch because of the restriction at work or your TV is broken, no worries because I’ll show you how easy it is to watch the NBA playoffs 2010 live on your computer as long as you have an internet connection. The easiest way to watch live streaming NBA on your computer without installing any software is from NBALiveStreaming. All you need is a computer, web browser, flash player and internet connection. Enjoy the game!

Cricket- India’s love forever

Tuesday, 9 February 2010

Over the years, this sport has carved such a niche that explaining its craze isn’t possible in a few words or lines. One could also define it as the tale of the lives of peope attached to the game on and off the field. Such is the popularity of the Cricket. Every year a record in the game is made or broken. Cricket fans constantly are on a lookout for news related to the game, hence, one can find people flocking at news stands or glued to the television or computers for the latest updates.
This increases especially during the time of a tournament or series. Cricket fever is high all around the year.
Even if there’s no championship or match going on, one can find its spirits kept alive by children and youngsters playing the game in every nook and corner of a country, especially. What makes Cricket such a popular sport in India compared to other games? When it comes to sports, India doesn’t have several sport idols. The perfomance of the players in other sporting events like the Olympics, Asian Games or Common Wealth games has not been anything to boast about.
Although Hockey is the national game of the country, yet it failed to qualify for the Olympics. Cricket is the only game that is considered at par with other countries of the world. Hence, people find their heroes in cricket players. The laurels that the team brings after winning a match make this game even more popular.
Despite being a team sport, cricket gives each player the opportunity to perform his best and become a national hero overnight. Be it a batsman who hits a six on the last ball of the innings and saves his team from loosing or the player who takes maximum wickets or catches. Cricket has been made popular in the country due to the immense media attention it gets as compared to other sports. Big corporations swear by the popularity of a cricket star in boosting the sale of their products.
Brand endorsement by cricketers is considered one of the best marketing strategies for products, especially pertaining to sports and health. There are several other reasons that contribute to the popularity of cricket in India. Individuals spanning all age group cannot get enough of the game and its players. If you are a fan of watching cricket matches, you might want to think about way to watch cricket matches online. The problem is that the average person has no idea where they can go to watch cricket matches online.
he best place that I have found is a few website like CricketStreamingLive.com These websites are dedicated to the streaming live cricket matches.
If you are unsure that you can justify the expense for subscription to these websites just so you can watch twenty twenty matches live online you can relax.

Rugby- An introduction and beyond

Rugby is undoubtedly one of the toughest games that requires a player to prepare physically and mentally to truly enjoy playing it. One can master the art of playing this game also by incorporating additional skills and techniques and applying them to be able to win a match. This article elucidates on the points that one should consider while taking up rugby as a sport. Rugby is a game that can be physically exhausting. Hence, a certain level of fitness is required to play this game effectively.
Even the most experienced players find it tough to survive on the field for 80 minutes. Therefore, players prepare themselves by undergoing training in the off season that includes rigorous physical training session. Training includes exercises that require immense physical stamina such as cycling, walking, swimming, running, rowing machine and more. It’s best to consult a fitness trainer to receive the best training to prepare for the game.
Handling the ball in Rugby requires great skills that only come with practice and training. There are a variety of grid drills that one can work with others. One’s creativity also works wonders here. Just like other sports, Rugby can also be classified into two groups- equipments and players. Playing rugby requires the players to follow a set of rules: Thew game is of two forty minute halves.
All players need to play offense and defese. Either a match can have fibe or ten minute halftime wherein players can switch out and switch in. The knicking of the ball commences the game. The ball should be kicked to go at least ten meters away. The defense should stand behind the person who hits the ball. The ball is then kicked, passed and thrown to other players. Though a player can kick the ball forward, it should be passed opposite or sideways toards the direction of the ball.
If moved forwards, it can be called a scrum. Though Rugby may seem a tough game to play for beginers, practice and the right guidance can make it a passion for the player within a short period. Rugby is a great game that plenty of enthusiasts love to watch anywhere, online, and much better if it’s live and in the stadium. If you want watch rugby online, you can visit the website RugbyLiveStreaming.com and register online and you can access to watch every rugby tournament live.