Friendly Watch

Good battling draw for Paraguay on Sunday, coming back from 2-0 down to finish up 2-2 with the Ivory Coast. Ex-Argentinian Lucas Barrios continued his goal-scoring form with the first before Aureliano Torres scored with only a minute to go. It's Greece on Wednesday for Paraguay in its final warm-up game.

How they lined up: Viveros, da Silva, Veron, Martinez, Torres, Caceres, Estigarribia, Ledesma, Ortigoza, Caceres, Achucarro

Subs used: Bonet, Santa Cruz, Barrios, Riveros, Aquino



Not content with playing one friendly in a day, Chile played two on Sunday. First up was a 1-0 victory over Nortern Ireland in Chillan. Esteban Paredes heading home the solitary goal in the first half. Then it was a short trip over to Concepcion to play Israel. Again La Roja prevailed, this time 3-0, thanks to goals from Humberto 'Chupete' Suazo, Alexis Sanchez and Rodrigo Tello.

Marcelo Bielsa's side plays New Zeland next week to complete its build-up to the Honduras game on June 16.

How they lined up (Northern Ireland): Pinto, Contreras, Cereceda, Fuentes, Isla, Fierro, Estrada, Vidal, Gonzalez, Fernandez, Paredes

Subs used: Ross, Gutierrez, Orellana

How they lined up (Israel): Bravo, Medel, Ponce, Jara, Millar, Carmona, Tello, Valdivia, Sánchez, Suazo, Beausejour

Subs used: Martínez, Casanova, Gutiérrez, Campos, Orellana

South America v South America

In total there have been 18 games between South American teams at the World Cup. And 11 between the 5 teams that have qualified this time around. These are the ones I'll concentrate on here. It's been a mixed bag with not a little controversy along the way.

It all began at the 1930 World Cup, in the days when the South American teams could face each other in the group stages. This was the one and only time when Argentina has faced Chile at the World Cup and La Albiceleste prevailed 3-1. But there was heartbreak to come for Argentina as they lost the first, and only, all South American final to Uruguay 4-2 in Montevideo.

There were echoes of the current grumblings over the ball that's going to be used in South Africa. The two finalists could not agree on which one to play with so in the end Argentina provided the ball for the first half and Uruguay for the second. I guess that meant they could both take their ball home at the end of the game. The victory sparked big celebrations in Uruguay and a national holiday the following day.

There was a long wait for the next all South American tie and again it involved Uruguay. It had won the first tournament on home soil but surely it couldn't beat Brazil in Rio in 1950? It did and became World Champs for the second time. 1950 is also unique for being the only World Cup without a final. Uruguay Brazil was the last match of the final Group Stage rather than a one-off game. For Brazil the unthinkable had happened. It's now referred to as the Maracanazo (the Maracana blow).

In 1962 it was Chile's turn to take on the Kings of Samba in a tournament it hosted. La Roja had surprised everyone by making the semi-finals but there was to be no dream win in Santiago as Brazil's attacking verve meant it ran out 4-2 winners on its way to a second World Cup win.

1970 and the third and final meeting between Brazil and Uruguay, this time in the Semi-Finals. Of course this was perhaps the finest World Cup team in history so it was little surprise that Brazil finally managed to avenge that shock 1950 defeat. It ran out 3-1 winners in a match that has been made famous for Pele's audacious dummy around the Uruguayan goalkeeper. Always worth another look

Now we're heading into the Brazil Argentina years and this is where the controversy begins. Although not in 1974 when Brazil won 2-1 in what was a fairly drab match by all accounts. But now let's fast-forward to 1978. Again they faced each other in the second group stage, playing out a dirty 0-0 draw. Then comes the problem. Unlike recent years the final group matches didn't kick-off at the same time, meaning that Argentina knew it had to beat Peru by 4 goals to knock out Brazil on goal difference. Argentina won 6-0 and the game is forever tarred with a fairly broad bribery brush. The Peruvian goalie was even born in Argentina. But nothing was ever proved and Argentina went on to win its first World Cup.

Revenge came pretty quickly for Brazil 4 years later as its star-studded team beat Argentina 3-1, in the group of death in the Second Round. It was Maradona's first World Cup and he didn't manage to finish the game, sent off with 5 minutes to go for violent conduct. His colourful World Cup career had began...and there are a few more twists in his tale yet.

In 1986 Uruguay was back at the party, losing 1-0 to Argentina in the Round of 16. At last Argentina could avenge the 1930 final loss and it set them up for a second title, via sheer brilliance and a Hand of God.

To Italia 90 and by this stage Argentina had still never beaten Brazil at the World Cup. It put this right with a 1-0 win in the Round of 16 but the match subsequently embrolied that man Maradona in yet more controversy, this time because of 'holy' water. He claimed that water given to the Brazilian midfielder Branco by the Argentinian physio was spiked with a tranquilizer. The debate and recriminations continue today.

The final all South American encounter came in 1998 with Brazil comfortably beating Chile 4-1 in Paris on their way to another World Cup final.

So it's been 12 years since we've seen a game between two teams from South America. Let's hope for another Brazil Argentina game in South Africa...and maybe just a tiny dose of controversy.

South America v South America at the World Cup:

1930

Argentina 3 Chile 1 Group Stage
Brazil 4 Bolivia 0 Group Stage
Uruguay 1 Peru 0 Group Stage
Uruguay 4 Argentina 2 FINAL

1950

Uruguay 8 Bolivia 0 Group Stage
Uruguay 2 Brazil 1 Final match

1962

Uruguay 2 Colombia 1 Group Stage
Chile 2 Brazil 4 Semi-finals

1970

Brazil 4 Peru 2 Quarter-finals
Uruguay 1 Brazil 3 Semi-finals

1974

Argentina 1 Brazil 2 Second Group Stage

1978

Brazil 3 Peru 0 Second Group Stage
Argentina 0 Brazil 0 Second Group Stage
Argentina 6 Peru 0 Second Group Stage

1982

Argentina 1 Brazil 3 Second Group Stage

1986

Argentina 1 Uruguay 0 Round of 16

1990

Brazil 0 Argentina 1 Round of 16

1998

Brazil 4 Chile 1 Round of 16

Friendly Watch

Busy week of World Cup warm-up matches and and it's been mainly good news for South American's finest.

Argentina said Chau Chau to Buenos Aires on Monday with a comfortable 5-0 win against Canada, even without superstar Messi. A brace for Liverpool winger Maxi Rodriguex, one apiece from Angel Di Maria, Tevez and Maradona's son-in-law Sergio Aguero. Nepotism what nepotism? Maradona has subsequently said he will run naked around the Obelisco in BA if Argentina win the Cup. Well if you ever wanted a reason to support Brazil, Chile or anyone else there you go.

How they lined up: Romero, Heinze (Rodriguez 59), Burdisso, Otamendi, Mascherano (Bolatt 59), Gutiérrez, Pastore (Garce 74), Di Maria, Rodriguez (Veron 46), Higuaín (Palermo 68), Tevez (Aguero 70)



Tuesday saw Paraguay travel to Dublin to take on the Irish. Maybe coach Gerado Martino was expecting an Italian-esque encounter with Trapattoni calling the shots for the men in green. Paraguay play Italy in their first match at the World Cup.

Always looked like a tough match on paper and so it proved as Los Guaranies went down 2-1, depsite controlling much of the possession. Santa Cruz started the rot, momentarily forgetting which team he was playing for and heading against his own crossbar. Doyle gratefully bundled in the rebound. And they were soon 2-0 down before Lucas Barrios put the finishing touch to a flowing move. A goal on debut for the Argentina-born, Borussia Dortmund striker. But with the strikers at his disposal, I doubt Maradona will be losing too much sleep about Barrios' sudden change of nationality.

How they lined up: Bobadilla, Da Silva, Caniza, Alcaraz, Morel Rodriguez (Torres 65), Vera (Bonet 66), Riveros (Ortigoza 65), Santana (Aquino 82), Santa Cruz (Martinez 77), Barrios, Gamarra.

Better news for Chile, who saw off Zambia on Wednesday. Couple of goals for Alexis Sanchez. Managed to catch the last 20 mins at the Dublin Bar in bohemian Bella Vista. Cracking third goal from Valdivia, smashing home from outside the box. La Roja in good heart.

How they lined up: Bravo, Contreras, Jara (Sanchez 46), Fuentes (Isla 46), Valdivia, Carmona, Cereceda (Estrada 46), Fierro, Tello, , Paredes (Beausejour 46)

Uruguay in similar good form in Montevideo. Easy-osy as they thumped Israel 4-1. Forlan followed up his winner in the Europa Cup Final with the first before further goals from Pereira and a double from second half sub Abreu.

How they lined up: Muslera, Lugano (Lodeiro 46), Godin, Scotti, Perez (Rios 62), Pereira, Gargano (Equren 46), Gonzalez (Caceres 71), Pereira, Forlan (Abreu 46), Suarez (Cavani 62)

Crystal Ball Gazing

The teams will of course be taking one game at a time but that's not to stop us looking at potential second round and beyond fixtures. I don't know about you but as soon as the draw is made I'm looking at possible match-ups in the latter stages. Anything is possible...including the following...

Brazil is going to be playing a team from Group H if they progress through the group. So that means an all South American tie is very much on. Chile surely must have hopes of finishing second in their group behind Spain and ahead of Honduras and Switzerland. Should this happen and Brazil win their group Chile is going to have to face the might of Kaka et al. And if not Brazil it's likely to be Portugal or Ivory Coast for la Roja.

But with Portugal and the Ivory Coast in their group Brazil is far from certain of gaining top spot. The nightmare scenario for Dunga is if they come second and Spain win group H, meaning they would play Del Bosque's men in the Round of 16. But who wouldn't want to see that match? If they avoid each other at this stage it could well be the final.

And beyond that? Well Holland and Italy are potential quarter final opponents. England or France could be waiting in the semis. And if both Brazil and Argentina win their groups the earliest they could play each other would be the final. Never say never.

What else lies in store for Argentina? There could be another all South American match-up in the round of 16. If Argentina wins its group and Uruguay come second in Group A, it's game on for the two neighbours. Let's hope it doesn't go the way of a beach football match between the two nations in 2006.

If it's not Uruguay it'll be either South Africa, Mexico or France for Argentina. Diego's men are then seeded to meet Germany in the quarter-finals. That would bring back memories of the 1986 and 1990 World Cup finals for Maradona. Then it could be Spain or Italy for a place in the final.

If Uruguay qualify and avoid Argentina then Tabarez' team is going to be playing one of Nigeria, South Korea or Greece.

And Paraguay is going to have a tricky tie if it can find a way out of a group that includes Italy, New Zealand and Slovakia. Could well be Holland and if not Denmark, Japan or Cameroon.

So that's what could happen. You read it here first if it does. If it's a New Zealand Honduras final then we can all go home.

Chile World Cup History

This is the 8th time Chile has competed at the World Cup. Here are La Roja's vital stats...

1930 - Loss to Argentina proves costly - First Group Stage
1934 - Toys out of the pram - Withdrew
1938 - And again - Withdrew
1950 - Big win against USA not enough - First Group Stage
1954 - Not happening - DNQ
1958 - Still not happening - DNQ
1962 - Thank God we're hosting...and only Brazil can stop us! - Third Place
1966 - Back to Earth with a bump - First Group Stage
1970 - Feet up - DNQ
1974 - Goals hard to come by - First Group Stage
1978 - Sit this one out - DNQ
1982 - Winless - First Group Stage
1986 - Another barren qualification - DNQ
1990 - Rojas fake injury proves costly - Disqualification
1994 - And it lasts another 4 years - Banned
1998 - Back at last and unbeaten in the groups, then comes Brazl - Round of 16
2002 - No joy - DNQ
2006 - Building up the expectation for 2010 - DNQ

Overall World Cup Record

Games played - 25
Won - 7
Drawn - 6
Lost - 12
Penalty Shoot-outs 0
Win Ratio - 28%
Goals - 27
Conceded - 40
Top World Cup Goal Scorer - Subiabre, Sanchez, Salas (all 4 in 1 tournament)

World Cup by World Cup

1930

Games played - 3 (W2, L1)
Goals - 5
Conceded - 3
Top scorer - Subiabre (4)

1950

Games played - 3 (W1, L2)
Goals - 5
Conceded - 6
Top scorer - Cremaschi (3)

1962

Games played - 6 (W4, L2)
Goals - 10
Conceded - 8
Top scorer - Sanchez (4)

1966

Games played - 3 (D1, L2)
Goals - 2
Conceded - 5
Top scorer - Marcos (2)

1974

Games played - 3 (D2, L1)
Goals - 1
Conceded - 2
Top scorer - Ahumada (1)

1982

Games played - 3 (L3)
Goals - 3
Conceded - 8
Top scorer - Moscoso, Neira, Letelier (all 1)

1998

Games played - 4 (D3, L1)
Goals - 5
Conceded - 8
Top scorer - Salas (4)

Paraguay World Cup History

This year is the 8th time that Paraguay has qualified for the World Cup...

1930 First win under the belt against Belgium - First Group Stage
1934 This World Cup malarky is not for us - Did not enter
1938 Still not convinced - Did not enter
1950 Back in the game but briefly so - First Group Stage
1954 Back soon - DNQ
1958 Mixed bag, lots of goals but out - First Group Stage
1962 - 1982 The dark ages - DNQ
1986 It's been a long wait, unbeaten group stage, best showing yet - Round of 16
1990 '86 just a brief respite - DNQ
1994 Still dreaming - DNQ
1998 - Looking good in the group, then extra time agony against French - Round of 16
2002 - This time it's the Germans who end the dream - Round of 16
2006 - Solitary win against Trinidad and Tobago - First Group Stage

Overall World Cup Record

Games Played - 22
Won - 6
Drawn - 7
Lost - 9
Penalty Shoot-outs - 0
Win Ratio - 27%
Goals - 27
Conceded - 36
Top World Cup Goal Scorer - Cuevas (3, 2 tournaments)

World Cup by World Cup

1930

Games played - 2 (W1, L1)
Goals - 1
Conceded - 2
Top scorer - Vargas Pena (1)

1950

Games played - 2 (D1, L1)
Goals - 2
Conceded - 4
Top scorer - Lopez, Lopez Fretes (both 1)

1958

Games played - 3 (W1, D1, L1)
Goals - 9
Conceded - 12
Top scorer - Romero, Aguero, Amarilla (all 2)

1986

Games played - 4 (W1, D2, L1)
Goals - 4
Conceded - 6
Top scorer - Romero, Cabanas (both 2)

1998

Games played - 4 (W1, D2, L1)
Goals - 3
Conceded - 2
Top scorer - 3 players (1)

2002

Games played - 4 (W1, D1, L2)
Goals - 6
Conceded - 7
Top scorer - Cuevas (2)

2006

Games played - 3 (W1, L2)
Goals - 2
Conceded - 2
Top scorer - Cuevas (1)

Uruguay World Cup History

Including 2010, Uruguay has played in 11 of the 19 World Cups:

1930 - Inaugural Champions - Winners
1934 - Only time holders have not defended their crown - Withdrew
1938 - Still not playing - Did not Enter
1950 - Back as champs/ Brazil shocked - Winners
1954 - Extra time needed to wrestle away crown - Semi-finals
1958 - Not this time - DNQ
1962 - Poor return - First Group Stage
1966 - Two sent off in drubbing by Germans - Quarter Finals
1970 - 1950 final re-match, this time it's Brazil - Semi-Finals
1974 - Propping up the rest - First Group Stage
1978 - Watch Argentina win on the box - DNQ
1982 - Dark days continue - DNQ
1986 - Back but thrashed by Denmark and out to Argentina - Round of 16
1990 - Scrape through group, beaten by Italians - Round of 16
1994 - Maybe it's better to stay away - DNQ
1998 - Time still not right - DNQ
2002 - Time to return, better than France but not good enough - First Group Stage
2006 - Sit this one out and prepare for 2010

Overall World Cup Record

Games Played - 40
Won - 15
Drawn - 10
Lost - 15
Penalty Shoot-Outs - 0
Win Ratio - 38%
Goals - 65
Conceded - 57
Top World Cup goalscorer - Miguez (8 in 2 tournaments)

1930

Games played - 4 (W4)
Goals - 15
Conceded - 3
Top scorer - Cea (5)

1950

Games played - 4 (W3, D1)
Goals - 15
Conceded - 5
Top scorer - Miguez (5)

1954

Games played - 5 (W3, L2)
Goals - 16
Conceded - 9
Top scorer - Borges (4)

1962

Games played - 3 (W1, L2)
Goals - 4
Conceded - 6
Top scorer - Sasia (2)

1966

Games played - 4 (W1, D2, L2)
Goals - 2
Conceded - 5
Top scorer - Rocha, Cortes (both 1)


1970

Games played - 6 (W2, D1, L3)
Goals - 4
Conceded - 5
Top scorer - 4 players (all 1)

1974

Games played - 3 (D1, L2)
Goals - 1
Conceded - 6
Top scorer - Pavoni (1)

1986

Games played - 4 (D2, L2)
Goals - 2
Conceded - 8
Top scorer - Alzamendi, Francescoli (both 1)

1990

Games played - 4 (W1, D1, L2)
Goals - 2
Conceded - 5
Top scorer - Fonseca, Bengoechea (both 1)

2002

Games played - 3 (D2, L1)
Goals - 4
Conceded - 5
Top scorer - 4 players (all 1)

Argentina World Cup History

Including 2010, Argentina has played in 15 of the 19 World Cups, although La Albiceleste has only failed to qualify once:

1930 - Nearly first time lucky - Final
1934 - Quick Swedish defeat and off home - First round
1938 - 1954 - Did not enter
1958 - Thumped by Czechozlovakia - First Group Stage
1962 - Less said about this the better - First Group Stage
1966 - Ratin off for look in his eye - Quarter Finals
1970 - Watch Brazil win on the box - DNQ
1974 - Given masterclass by Dutch - Second Group Stage
1978 - Kempes and ticker tape - Winners
1982 - Italy and Brazil too much - Second Group Stage
1986 - Hand of God/ Mazy dribbles - Winners
1990 - Stumble to final, lose to Germans - Final
1994 - Maradona banned, slump to Romania - Round of 16
1998 - Bergkamp's Dutch flourish - Quarter Finals
2002 - Beckham hastens demise in Group of Death - First Group Stage
2006 - Early promise fades/ Germans in penalty win shock - Quarter Finals

Overall World Cup Record

Games played - 65
Won - 33
Drawn - 13
Lost - 19
Penalty Shoot-outs - 4 (W3, L1)
Win ratio - 52%
Goals scored - 113
Conceded - 74
Top World Cup goal scorer - Batistuta (10 in 3 tournaments)

World Cup by World Cup

1930

Games played - 5 (W4, L1)
Goals - 18
Conceded - 9
Top scorer - Stabile (8)

1934

Games played - 1 (L1)
Goals - 2
Conceded - 3
Top scorer - Belis, Galateo (both 1)

1958

Games played - 3 (W1, L2)
Goals - 5
Conceded - 10
Top scorer - Corbatta (3)

1962

Games played - 3 (W1, D1, L1)
Goals 2
Conceded - 3
Top scorer - Facundo, Sanfilippo (both 1)

1966

Games played - 4 (W2, D1, L1)
Goals - 4
Conceded - 2
Top scorer - Artime (3)

1974 - 6 (W1, D2, L3)
Goals - 9
Conceded - 12
Top scorer - Houseman (3)

1978 - 7 (W5, D1, L1)
Goals - 15
Conceded - 4
Top scorer - Kempes (6)

1982

Games played - 5 (W2, L3)
Goals - 8
Conceded - 7
Top scorer - Maradona, Passarella, Bertoni (all 2)

1986

Games played - 7 (W6, D1)
Goals - 14
Conceded - 5
Top scorer - Maradona (5)

1990

Games played - 7 (W2, D3, L2)
Goals - 5
Conceded - 4
Top scorer - Caniggia (2)

1994

Games played - 4 (W2, L2)
Goals - 8
Conceded - 6
Top scorer - Batistuta (4)

1998

Games played - 5 (W3, D1, L1)
Goals - 10
Conceded - 4
Top scorer - Batistuta (5)

2002

Games played - 3 (W1, D1, L1)
Goals - 2
Conceded - 2
Top scorer - Crespo, Batistuta (both 1)

2006

Games played - 5 (W3, D2)
Goals - 11
Conceded - 3
Top scorer - Crespo (3)

Brazil World Cup History

Brazil is the only team to play in every single World Cup:

1930 Crashed out - First Round
1934 Crashed out - First Round
1938 Getting closer - Semi-Finals
1950 Don't mention Uruguay - Final
1954 Still bitter about 1950 - Quarter-Finals
1958 Here we go, we're up and running - Winners
1962 And again - Winners
1966 Oops back to the early WC form - First Group Stage
1970 Glorious - Winners
1974 Dutch class tells - Semi-Finals
1978 Why Brazil doesn't like Argentina Part 1 - Second Group Stage
1982 The one that got away - Second Round
1986 French penalty nightmare - Quarter-Finals
1990 Why Brazil doesn't like Argentina Part 2 - Second Group Stage
1994 Penalty joy - Winners
1998 Zidane fit/ Ronaldo not - Final
2002 Ronaldo back to best - Winners
2006 French hoodoo strikes again - Quarter-finals


Overall World Cup Record

Games played - 92
Won - 64
Drawn - 12
Lost - 14
Win ratio - 70%
Penalty Shoot-outs - 3 (Won 2, lost 1)
Total goals scored - 201
Total goals conceeded - 85
Top World Cup Goal Scorer - Ronaldo (15 in 3 tournaments)

World Cup by World Cup

1930

Games played - 2 (W1, L1)
Goals - 5
Conceded - 3
Top scorer - Preguinho (3)

1934

Games played - 1 (L1)
Goals - 1
Conceded - 3
Top scorer - Leonidas (1)

1938

Games played - 5 (W3, D1, L1)
Goals - 14
Conceded - 11
Top scorer - Leonidas (7)

1950

Games played - 6 (W4, D1, L1)
Goals - 22
Conceded - 6
Top scorer - Ademir (8)

1954

Games played - 3 (W1, D1, L1)
Goals - 8
Conceded - 5
Top scorer - Julinho, Pinga, Didi (all 2)

1958

Games played - 6 (W5, D1)
Goals - 16
Conceded - 4
Top scorer - Pele (6)

1962

Games played - 6 (W5, D1)
Goals - 14
Conceded - 5
Top scorer - Garrincha, Vava (both 4)

1966

Games played - 3 (W1, L2)
Goals - 4
Conceded - 6
Top scorer - Pele, Garrincha, Tostas, Rildo (all 1)

1970

Games played - 6(W6)
Goals - 19
Conceded - 7
Top scorer - Jairzinho (7)

1974

Games played - 7 (W3, D2, L1)
Goals - 6
Conceded - 4
Top scorer - Rivelino (3)

1978

Games played - 7 (W4, D3)
Goals - 10
Conceded - 3
Top Scorer - Roberto Dinamite, Dirceu (both 2)

1982

Games played - 5 (W4, L1)
Goals - 15
Conceded - 6
Top scorer - Zico (4)

1986

Games played - 5 (W4, D1)
Goals - 10
Conceded - 1
Top scorer - Careca (5)

1990

Games played - 4 (W 3, L1)
Goals - 4
Conceded - 2
Top scorer - Careca/ Muller - both 2

1994

Games played - 7 (W5, D2)
Goals - 11
Conceded - 3
Top scorer - Romario (5)

1998

Game played - 7 (W4, D1, L2)
Goals - 14
Conceded - 10
Top scorer - Ronaldo (4)

2002

Games played - 7 (W7)
Goals - 18
Conceded - 4
Top scorer - Ronaldo (8)

2006

Games played - 5 (W4, L1)
Goals - 10
Conceded - 2
Top scorer - Ronaldo (3)

Argentina - Milito comes to the party/ Squad watch

Well the Champions League final was certainly good news for Argentina. Diego Milito was the difference between the teams with two stunning finishes. His second, that effectively kiled the game, was particularly impressive. Poor defending admittedly but there's nothing like seeing a forward turn a defender inside out before calmly shooting home. Suddenly Maradona has an embarrassment of riches up front. Is it going to have to be two from the four of Messi, Milito, Madrid's Higuain and the all-action Tevez? Tough choice at the moment. I'd always be tempted to have Tevez in my team for his energy and effort, not to mention his goals, but accommodating him and Messi is always going to be tricky. Milito might be in a straight battle for the number 9 jersey with Higuain.

And maybe success in Europe's premier competition doesn't make too much difference to old Diego. Inter captain Zanetti (ok he's 36 but experience is surely invaluable at the World Cup - Maldini is one obvious, comparative example) and midfielder Cambiasso didn't make his final 30, let alone his 23. Either he knows something we don't or his judgement is even more lacking than previosuly thought. Is a player like Gutierrez who has played a season in the second tier of English football going to be more ready for a World Cup than a European Cup winner? I'm not too sure about Veron either - despite his successes in the Copa Libertadores for Estudiants. Maybe his time at Man Utd was a blip. Played like a bloody drain mind.

Take a look for yourself. Here's the owner of the Mano de Dios' provisional 23...

Between the sticks:

Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar)
Mariano Andujar (Catania)
Diego Pozo (Colon)

Kicking lumps:

Nicolas Otamendi (Velez Sarsfield)
Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich)
Walter Samuel (Inter Milan)
Gabriel Heinze (Marseille
Nicolas Burdisso (AS Roma)
Clemente Rodriguez (Estudiantes)
Ariel Garce (Colon)

Mincing about:

Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle)
Maximiliano Rodriguez (Liverpool)
Javier Mascherano (Liverpool)
Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes)
Angel Di Maria (Benfica)
Javier Pastore (Palermo)
Mario Bolatti (Fiorentina)

Grabbing the glory:

Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid)
Martin Palermo (Boca Juniors)
Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid)
Diego Milito (Inter Milan)
Carlos Tevez (Manchester City)

Fixtures

Ok here we go. Well the stand-out matches are on the final day of the group stage. Brazil Portugual and Chile Spain. Back to back. Super Friday for sure.

Brazil's second fixture in the Group of Death against Ivory Coast has all the makings of a classic. Is there any chance that Brazil could fail to make the second round for the first time since the disastrous 1966 campaign?

Argentina Nigeria on Sat 12 is another that catches the eye. They are old adversaries after meeting in 2002 and 1994 (in what I remember as a cracking match). But although Argentina won both those clashes, being in the same group as the Africans has not been particularly lucky for them. In 2002 they crashed out, finishing 3rd behind Sweden and England with Nigeria propping up the group. And in 1994 they did manage to progress but only in 3rd place, following Maradona's drug ban. They then lost to Romania in the next stage.

And Chile's first game is 0730 local time. Jeez. Need to find where the breakfast party's at.

(All times Santiago local time. Asuncion - no change. + 1 hour Buenos Aires/ Montevideo/ Rio)

Friday 11 June

Uruguay v France Cape Town 1430

Saturday 12 June

Argentina v Nigeria Johannesburg 1000

Monday 14 June

Paraguay v Italy Cape Town 1430

Tuesday 15 June

Brazil v North Korea Johannesburg 1430

Wednesday 16 June

Chile v Honduras Nelspruit 0730

Uruguay v South Africa Pretoria 1430

Thursday 17 June

Argentina v South Korea Johannesburg 0730

Sunday 20 June

Paraguay v Slovakia Bloemfontain 0730

Brazil v Ivory Coast Johannesburg 1430

Monday 21 June

Chile v Switzerland Port Elizabeth 1000

Tuesday 22 June

Uruguay v Mexico Rustenburg 1000

Argentina v Greece Polokwane 1430

Thursday 24 June

Paraguay v New Zealand Polokwane 1000

Friday 25 June

Brazil v Portugual Durban 1000

Chile v Spain Pretora 1430

So what's this all about?

Well I've been travelling around South America and they like their footie over here so wanted somewhere to collect all the details about the fortunes of the qualified teams. The fixtures, the squads, the hopes and expectations. Everything and anything as long as it's got a South American + football twist.

Tonight I'm taking advantage of a rare quiet Friday night in the hostel with no-one for company but Kate Bush to get it off the ground.

Let's start at the beginning. Who's qualified over here? Brazil natch with Dunga at the helm. Current style more akin to a drunken Friday night in TJs than samba on Copacabana beach apparently. Argentina, with the help of over 100 players in qualification. Maradona is probably on the phone to FIFA as we speak to see if he can get a special dispensation to quadruple his current 23 man squad.

So the big two are there. And to add to them - Paraguay, Uruguay (via a play-off with Costa Rica) and my current hosts, Chile.

In Santiago at the moment so will certainly attempt to get some of the local flavour from here. I've got an eye on La Roja's group match with Spain. Find a football mad local bar, take some snaps and hopefully cheer them on to a famous victory. Although a more likely banker should be their opener against Honduras on June 16 (cue Honduras 5-0 masterclass on their way to an incredible first World Cup victory, routing England 10-0 in the final)

The only qualified country I've yet to visit thus far is Paraguay, so a trip to Asuncion to follow one of their games could well be on the cards. A return to Buenos Aires is definitely on the list and if time and money allows possibly a quick step to Rio/ Sao Paulo or even Montevideo for all the football news from the ground.

So that's the rough plan. I'll get some photos up here, match reports, news, history, pointless information, mind-numbing facts etc. We'll have a blast trust me. But first the research to get the basics under our belts. And that means those all important fixtures....