Welcome to the home of Group G,                                       

As you know or are about to know, Group G comprises the following:

France     


South Korea     



Switzerland     



Togo     

If that is the order they are going to finish after the first round, i don't know. My Groupatroit Nightrider is going to answer ALL your questions. Although we have club beef, we are going to lay down our gloves and be compatible till the end of the world cup. Be free to express your views,

Needless to say the World Cup winner will emerge from here,  TOGO! 

Thanks Grizzly.

Keep the ball rolling.

Togo. hehe

Togo will need a miracle to finish 3rd in that group.

No boy,,
Togo are going through, miracle or no,

Grizzly> Thanks you are not pessimistic on Africa.
But sadist on France, style up there

Thanks girl,

South korea     *Squad pic subject to change at start of world cup,

One thing can't be disputed - South Korea are easily the most successful World Cup nation in Asia; when the Taeguk Warriors take the field against Togo in Frankfurt on June 13 it will be their seventh successive appearance on the global stage - the next best Saudi Arabia are only on their fourth.

Another fact - South Korea have gone further in the competition than any other Asian nation - the semi-finals. Few inside or outside the country will forget the incredible scenes of 2002, the joy, the drama, the shock wins against Portugal, Italy and Spain and the general redness.

What has been and will continue to be argued for the next few months at least is that Guus Hiddink's boys didn't deserve to be a match away from the final of the World Cup, they were, at best, lucky or at worst beneficiaries of a global footballing conspiracy - to get the hosts into the latter stages.

Portugal were reduced to nine men, Totti was shown the same colour-card in the second-round and Spain had two goals disallowed in the quarter-finals - such incidents seemed fairly innocent taken in isolation but in the eyes of some, especially ones that had just seen stars fall out the competition, it was collective evidence that FIFA wanted South Korea to reach the final.

Such accusations took the sting out of the happiness of Koreans, if only slightly. Still, there is a general desire to prove that 2002 was no fluke and that South Korea can dine at the top table in Germany too. It won't be easy, the team had never tasted victory in five previous overseas World Cups.


The party had gone a little flat by the time that Humberto Coelho and Jo Bonfrere had left the Land of the Morning Calm, both muttering darkly about lack of time with the players after tenures that lasted barely twelve months.

The coaches left having secured qualification for the World Cup - the former coach of Portugal took the first faltering steps on the road to Germany while Nigeria's ex-boss elbowed him aside to complete the journey.

However, Bonfrere wasn't allowed to enjoy the fruits of his labours and 'resigned' in August 2005, leaving the preparation work for an energetic Dick Advocaat.

The Dutchman set about revitalizing the team that had perhaps become complacent and unmotivated after facing the likes of Maldives, Oman and Vietnam.

The back-line of 2002 had retired from international football, taking their experience with them but Advocaat, supported by 2002 coaches, Pim Verbeek and Afshin Ghotbi, quickly recalled veteran Choi Jin-cheul to look after a defence that had concentration issues.

Another 2002 star Lee Eul-yong had been in enforced international retirement and regarded as too slow for international football by Bonfrere.

Perhaps more important than the return of faces from 2002 was the re-introduction of the fast, aggressive and pressure game that impressed four years ago. Friendly results since Advocaat arrived have been pretty good while performances have been impressive.

The team attacked such opponents as Sweden, Serbia, Croatia and Mexico - World Cup opponents that at times couldn't live with the speedy running and aggression of the determined Taeguk Warriors.

Naturally, things will be different in the World Cup and that is the real challenge that the nation faces.

Star Players
Park Ji-sung

The beating heart of the South Korean team is by nature a quiet chap but his actions really do speak louder than words as his energy and running provide the example that the team follows.

A steady, if unspectacular, first season at Manchester United will stand the star in good stead; the only problem is where to play him.

Lee Chun-soo

After his unsuccessful Spanish sojourn, Lee returned to the K-League and Ulsan Hyundai Horang-I with a new attitude and an array of talents. His goals and assists helped the Tigers to a first title for nine years and won him the K-League MVP award, despite only playing in the second half of the season.

World Cup Squad
Bet on the World Cup

Goalkeepers Lee Woon-Jae (Suwon Bluewings), Kim Yong-Dae (Seongnam Ilwha), Kim Young-Kwang (Chunnam Dragons)
Defenders Lee Young-Pyo (Tottenham Hotspur, England), Kim Dong-Jin (FC Seoul), Cho Won-Hee (Suwon Bluewings), Song Chong-Gug (Suwon Bluewings), Choi Jin-Cheul (Chonbuk Motors), Kim Jin-Kyu (Jubilo Iwata, Japan), Kim Young-Chul (Seongnam Ilwha)
Midfielders Park Ji-Sung (Manchester United, England), Kim Do-Heon (Seongnam Ilwha), Kim Sang-Shik (Seongnam Ilwha), Kim Nam-Il (Suwon Bluewings), Lee Eul-Yong (Trabzonspor), Lee Ho (Ulsan Tigers), Baek Ji-Hoon (FC Seoul)
Strikers Ahn Jung-Hwan (MSV Duisburg, Germany), Cho Jae-Jin (Shimizu S-Pulse, Japan), Park Chu-Young (FC Seoul), Seol Ki-Hyeon (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Lee Chun-Soo (Ulsan Tigers), Chung Kyung-Ho (Gwangju Sangmu)

Switzerland

*Squad pic is subject to change at start of world cup

Switzerland's appearance in their 8th World Cup is overshadowed somewhat by the controversy surrounding the aftermath of the tense playoff with Turkey. Violence involving fans, players and officials followed the game from which Switzerland qualified on away goals.

It is now the subject of FIFA's biggest disciplinary investigation to date but, as yet, they're still in the competition having got there by the skin of their teeth in what was probably the tightest qualifying group.

Committed self doubters and pessimists when it comes to football, can the self-deprecating Swiss muster enough confidence and self belief to make an impact this year?

World Cup Group G

France (13/6)
Togo (19/6)
South Korea (23/6)

How on earth did they get here?

A pretty old dog when it comes to football teams, Switzerland formed way back in the heady waxed handlebar-moustached times of 1895 and played its first full international against France in 1905 when they were beaten 1-0. Quite what they were doing in the ten year interim I do not know.

Apart from an Olympic silver medal in 1924 notable success has eluded them. They took part in their first World Cup in 1934, reaching the quarter finals as they did in the following tournament. The quarter finals are the farthest they have yet reached in the competition, and they did it for the third and last time in 1954 when they were the host nation. In the 52 years following that they have only managed to get as far as the second round once, in the 1994 competition in the US, and this is Switzerland's first appearance in the World Cup since then.

Switzerland qualified for Germany from what must have been the tightest group in Europe after a tense and controversial playoff against Turkey. They remained undefeated in the group but drew most games, only beating the Faroe Islands and Cyprus, and just finished second ahead of Israel.

A very young side comfortably beat Turkey 2-0 in the first leg of the playoffs at home, and the subsequent 4-2 defeat in Turkey was enough for the Swiss to qualify on away goals. Unfortunately it descended into violence involving players, officials and stewards and resulted in the hospitalisation of Swiss defender Stephane Grichting and the resignation of the Turkey assistant coach Mehmet Ozdilek after his actions were caught by TV cameras. FIFA is now investigating but the scope of the investigation means that nothing will come of it until next year.

Qualifying Results
4-9-04 Switzerland 6-0 Faroe Islands
8-9-04 Switzerland 1-1 Ireland
9-10-04 Israel 2-2 Switzerland
26-3-05 France 0-0 Switzerland
30-3-05 Switzerland 1-0 Cyprus
4-6-05 Faroe Islands 1-3 Switzerland
3-9-05 Switzerland 1-1 Israel
7-9-05 Cyprus 1-3 Switzerland
8-10-05 Switzerland 1-1 France
12-10-05 Ireland 0-0 Switzerland
12-11-05 Switzerland 2-0 Turkey
16-11-05 Turkey 4-2 Switzerland

The man in charge
Jakob Kuhn took over the helm from Enzo Trossero in 2001, making him the first Swiss national to take charge of the side in 12 years. A former midfielder at FC Zurich, Kuhn has six Swiss league winners medals in his cabinet along with five Swiss cup winners medals and played for his country 63 times.

His years in charge so far have been successful, although if we're honest he hasn't really had much to live up to. Since becoming the national coach he has qualified for Euro 2004 and Germany 2006 – a pretty quick turnaround.

He was previously the Switzerland Under-21s coach and has brought experience and knowledge from this with him to his tenure as national coach, building a good young side. He recently said, "We have always been accused – and perhaps quite rightly so – of having a problem with our confidence but our young players aren't afraid anymore." Go on!

Star men
Youth could be the key in Switzerland's Cup this year, with a lot of the side under 21. The average age of the team that played Scotland in the recent friendly was only 23 – that's a lot of young legs that shouldn't tire too easily.

France based striker Frei scored the winner in the crucial qualifier against Cyprus and should continue to impress if he finds his feet quick enough. Arsenal's young starlet Philippe Senderos may prove to be the other weapon in the Swiss armoury, and experienced captain Johann Vogel will be keeping a watchful eye over the young whippersnappers from midfield.

How will they do?
Switzerland's past World Cup record doesn't suggest that anything much will come of their participation this year, but the last time they were in a World Cup was 12 years ago and a lot has changed since then and since they failed to qualify for Japan/Korea 2002.

The Swiss have a very young team with a smattering of older more experienced players to lead the charge and this could prove to be a potent blend. It's also worth noting that the defeat in Turkey ended a 14 game straight unbeaten run, no mean feat by any standards.

A lot of how Switzerland perform this year will depend on attitude and confidence – if they can remain strong and manage not to wilt in the face of France then they can add to previous performances which produced draws and do well. South Korea showed what they were capable of last time around, but it may be very different without a home crowd behind them. With Togo, who knows?

I think we can safely say that the Swiss won't be leaving Germany with the trophy this year. Matching their best and reaching the quarters is a very, very distant possibility and even reaching the second round would be an achievement, but I think they might just do that if results go their way. Draws aren't going to get them very far though.

What the locals say
"Someone started to say "Hell yeah, we are going to get to the quarter finals and then who knows, maybe further away, "

I say, yeah, for example further away, further away,,  let's say home.

Switzerland. Yeah, come on.

The Swiss team practices a really, really slow game. How can we beat France? Maybe,

How can we beat Togo? Come on, they are Africans and they will run like gazelles. We milk cows,

How can we beat South Korea? They run like ants. We have no chance, we play horns.

I think, and this is my personal opinion of course, we'll be kicked out at the first round."

Tia, 25, Lugano, Switzerland.

Word on the street
"Skiing is the real game. So, I guess if the pitches weren't quite so flat, the weather conditions were atrociously wintry, and there were a few slalom poles dotted around the turf, Switzerland would stand a better chance."
Jonathan, 35, Madrid, Spain

World Cup Squad
Bet on the World Cup

Goalkeepers 1-Pascal Zuberbuhler (FC Basel), 21-Fabio Coltorti (Grasshoppers Zurich), 12-Diego Benaglio (CD Nacional)
Defenders 2-Johan Djourou (Arsenal), 3-Ludovic Magnin (VfB Stuttgart), 4-Philippe Senderos (Arsenal), 13-Stephane Grichting (Auxerre), 17-Christoph Spycher (Eintracht Frankfurt), 19-Valon Behrami (Lazio), 20-Patrick Mueller (Olympique Lyon), 23-Philipp Degen (Borussia Dortmund)
Midfielders 5-Xavier Margairaz (FC Zurich), 6-Johann Vogel (AC Milan), 7-Ricardo Cabanas (Cologne), 8-Raphael Wicky (Hamburg SV), 10-Daniel Gygax (Lille), 14-David Degen (FC Basel), 15-Blerim Dzemaili (FC Zurich), 16-Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen),
Forwards 9-Alex Frei (Rennnes), 11-Marco Streller (Cologne), 18-Mauro Lustrinelli (Sparta Prague), 22-Johan Vonlanthen (NAC Breda)

Pub Quiz facts in brief
Nickname: Nati
Coach: Jakob Kuhn
Founded: 1895
Biggest win: Switzerland 7-0 San Marino (1991)
Biggest defeat: Hungary 9-0 Switzerland (1911), Switzerland 0-9 England (1909)
World Cup appearances: 8 (1st was 1934)
European Championships appearances: 2 (1st was 1996)
Highest home attendance in qualifying stages: 31,400
Highest win in qualifying stages: Switzerland 6-0 Faroe Islands
Top scorer: Kubilay Turkyilmaz & Max Abeggien (34)
Most caps: Heinz Hermann (117)

Togo

*Squad pic subject to change at start of world cup

It's never a good sign when a nation changes a coach in the build-up to the World Cup, doubly so when that coach delivered a first-ever World Cup qualification and especially as the team is expected to finish bottom of the group.

Togo surprised many by qualifying ahead of 2002 quarter-finalists Senegal and then surprised more in February by sacking Nigerian coach Stephan Keshi after a poor performance in the African Nations Cup.

Three defeats in three first round games is a poor record by anybody's standards and the Federation Togolaise de Football acted quickly in appointing German Otto Pfister in an attempt to ensure that the same thing didn't happen in June when the team faces South Korea, Switzerland and France in Group G.

The shenanigans made the events of October 2005 fade a little farther into the past, but it was a time when the team finished above Senegal, Zambia, Congo, Mail and Liberia by losing one game and winning seven out of ten. As they danced on the streets in the capital Lome, few would have predicted the pessimism that would engulf the West African country just a few months later.

Keshi's fate wasn't only sealed by the three defeats in Egypt but by an off-the-pitch row with the Sparrow Hawks' star player Emmanuel Adebayor in which he called the now Arsenal striker a 'crybaby', as team spirit - usually a strength of the team - fell apart.

It has yet to be seen exactly what way the German coach will ask his players to play, though those familiar with his career have suggested that he will opt for a 4-4-2 formation. His predecessor favoured a 3-1-5-1 formation with Eric Akoto acting as a sweeper behind a five man midfield hoping to give the lanky Adebayor the ammunition to score the necessary goals.

Key Players

Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor

Inevitably, the best-known and most important player for the West Africans is Arsenal striker Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor.

As an AS Monaco player, the 21-year-old finished the top goalscorer in the World Cup qualifying round bagging eleven goals as Togo marched to the top of their group and stayed there.

Such formed earned the player a move to Arsenal where he can mix shoulders and banter with World Cup opponents, Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and Philippe Senderos. The European players will be hoping that the Togo-Nigerian born striker hasn't learned too much from them at Highbury and repeats his goalscoring blank from the African Nations' Cup.

Kossi Agassa

During qualifying, Agassa certainly earned his nickname of 'Magic hands' and the FC Metz keeper will need to be at the top of his game to keep out the likes of Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet.

The 27-year-old was one of the few Sparrow Hawks to emerge from the African Nations Cup debacle with any credit making a string of fine saves. He isn't a regular with his club team but can put himself in the shop window this summer.

Jean-Paul Abalo

The captain and most important defender in the team. Abalo has been a rock for his country in almost 100 appearances as well as with French club SC Ameins, where he spent ten years before moving to Dunkerque.

A leader by example, the 30-year-old is not afraid to get stuck in and get hurt. He can be Pfister's lieutenant on the pitch with his coolness under pressure, passion and aggression. The left-back is one of the few survivors of Togo's 1998 African Nation's Cup squad.

World Cup Squad
Bet on the World Cup

Goalkeepers Kossi Agassa (Metz, France), Nimini Tchagnirou (Djoliba, Mali), Kodjovi Dodji Obilale (Etoile Filante)
Defenders Yaovi Dosseh Abalo (Apoel, Cyprus), Dare Nibombe (Mons, Belgium), Ludovic Assemoassa (Clermont, France), Karim Guede (Hamburg, Germany), Toure Assimiou (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Richmond Forson (J.A. Poire, France), Massamesso Tchangai (Benevento, Italy), Kuami Agboh (Beveren, Belgium), Eric Akoto (Admira Walker, Austria), Afo Erassa (Clermont, France)
Midfielders Kaka Aziawonou (Youngs Boys, Switzerland), Cherif Toure Mamam (Metz, France), Thomas Dossevi (Valencien, France), Alexis Romao (CS Louhans Cuiseaux, France), Adekambi Olufade (Al Siliyah, Qatar), Yao Junior Senaya (YF Juventus, Switzerland)
Forwards Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal, England), Robert Malm (Brest, France), Abdel-Kader Cougbadja (Guingamp, France), Moustapha Salifou (Brest, France)[color=#550000][/color]

France

*Squad pic (definitely) subject to change at start of world cup


It has been a rough few years for the French - a ride that reminds all football fans that the greatest game in the world can be a cruel and fickle mistress.

Champions of the world in 1998, Les Bleus confirmed their class by lifting the European version two years later but from such lofty pinnacles; there is only one way to go.

Everyone remembers the trial of 2002 when the title holders failed to score against Senegal, Denmark and Uruguay and were soon on their way back home. The sight of a strapped and unfit Zinedine Zidane returning in the last game in a vain and desperate attempt to drive his team to the second round was a sorry one for French fans.

After relinquishing their grip on the world trophy rather easily, it was a determined team that made the short trip to Portugal to defend their continental crown. It started in high drama as Zidane scored two late, late goals to snatch an unlikely win against an English team that perhaps showed the French too much respect.

In truth, the team was an aging one and couldn't be compared to the all-conquering side that featured Blanc, Petit, Deschamps and Desailly. Zidane was still class but lacked the presence and mobility of his youth and a quarter-final defeat at the hands of eventual champions Greece was not quite as disappointing as feeble performance, one that suggested that changes had to be made.


Jacques Santini was soon on his way out to be replaced by Raymond Domenech, a coach that has struggled to command the respect of fans and the media but a man that controls a team that his still formidable.

After being drawn in a tough qualifying group, the French didn't always show their class on the pitch but emerged at the top of the group after a number of fighting performances.

Any team that contains such players as Zinedine Zidane, Lilian Thuram, Claude Makelele, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, David Trezeguet and William Gallas is one that is always going to have a chance to succeed on the global stage - especially with the action taking place just over the border.

Key Players
Thierry Henry

The striker needs no introduction - year after year Henry continues to be one of the most feared forwards on the planet. Like his team-mates, the Arsenal man didn't enjoy Korea in 2002 but he will be able to get his revenge on the Asian team in Leipzig on June 18.

Fast, skilful, direct with an eye for goal, there is little defenders can do if the 28-year-old is on top of his game and that will be the hope of the rest of Group G. Henry wasn't at his best during qualifying and without his skill, France look much less dangerous.

Zinedine Zidane

Many French fans point to the injury that ZZ picked up in a friendly against South Korea just before the 2002 World Cup started as the reason for the nightmare that ensued - the memory of an ineffective, heavily-strapped talisman returning in vain for the final game.

Zidane retired after 2004 but delighted his compatriots by returning for one final hurrah. The Real Madrid star will be 34 on the day of the final group game against Togo. He is not so involved in defending these days but many French attacks go through him.

World Cup Squad
Bet on the World Cup

Goalkeepers Fabien Barthez (Olympique Marseille), Gregory Coupet (Olympique Lyon), Mickael Landreau (Nantes).
Defenders Eric Abidal (Olympique Lyon), Jean-Alain Boumsong (Newcastle United), Pascal Chimbonda (Wigan Athletic), William Gallas (Chelsea), Gael Givet (Monaco) Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich), Mikael Silvestre (Manchester United), Lilian Thuram (Juventus).
Midfielders Vikash Dhorasoo (Paris St Germain), Alou Diarra (Racing Lens), Claude Makelele (Chelsea), Florent Malouda (Olympique Lyon), Patrick Vieira (Juventus), Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid).
Forwards Djibril Cisse (Liverpool), Thierry Henry (Arsenal), Franck Ribery (Olympique Marseille), Louis Saha (Manchester United), David Trezeguet (Juventus), Sylvain Wiltord (Olympique Lyon).

France will have an easy time here. the group is almost the weakest.

What u mean coming over here to blashpheme,
care not taken[s], France going out round one as usual[/s]

Grizzly!
Your group. Its only France I can compare to my Japan in FF

;d ;d ;d ;d ;d ;d

Stars to watch out for in this group, [

LES Blues will go to the grand finale ):



Goalkeepers Fabien Barthez (Olympique Marseille), Gregory Coupet (Olympique Lyon), Mickael Landreau (Nantes).
Defenders Eric Abidal (Olympique Lyon), Jean-Alain Boumsong (Newcastle United), Pascal Chimbonda (Wigan Athletic), William Gallas (Chelsea), Gael Givet (Monaco) Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich), Mikael Silvestre (Manchester United), Lilian Thuram (Juventus).
Midfielders Vikash Dhorasoo (Paris St Germain), Alou Diarra (Racing Lens), Claude Makelele (Chelsea), Florent Malouda (Olympique Lyon), Patrick Vieira (Juventus), Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid).
Forwards Djibril Cisse (Liverpool), Thierry Henry (Arsenal), Franck Ribery (Olympique Marseille), Louis Saha (Manchester United), David Trezeguet (Juventus), Sylvain Wiltord (Olympique Lyon).


togo togo hmm i wish dem all the best tho cuz of thries performance on the nations cup and for sackin their AFRICAN coach hu helped reach that far
Goalkeepers Kossi Agassa (Metz, France), Nimini Tchagnirou (Djoliba, Mali), Kodjovi Dodji Obilale (Etoile Filante)
Defenders Yaovi Dosseh Abalo (Apoel, Cyprus), Dare Nibombe (Mons, Belgium), Ludovic Assemoassa (Clermont, France), Karim Guede (Hamburg, Germany), Toure Assimiou (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Richmond Forson (J.A. Poire, France), Massamesso Tchangai (Benevento, Italy), Kuami Agboh (Beveren, Belgium), Eric Akoto (Admira Walker, Austria), Afo Erassa (Clermont, France)
Midfielders Kaka Aziawonou (Youngs Boys, Switzerland), Cherif Toure Mamam (Metz, France), Thomas Dossevi (Valencien, France), Alexis Romao (CS Louhans Cuiseaux, France), Adekambi Olufade (Al Siliyah, Qatar), Yao Junior Senaya (YF Juventus, Switzerland)
Forwards Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal, England), Robert Malm (Brest, France), Abdel-Kader Cougbadja (Guingamp, France), Moustapha Salifou (Brest, France)


the swiss will alos try mayb make it ro the second round

efenders 2-Johan Djourou (Arsenal), 3-Ludovic Magnin (VfB Stuttgart), 4-Philippe Senderos (Arsenal), 13-Stephane Grichting (Auxerre), 17-Christoph Spycher (Eintracht Frankfurt), 19-Valon Behrami (Lazio), 20-Patrick Mueller (Olympique Lyon), 23-Philipp Degen (Borussia Dortmund)
Midfielders 5-Xavier Margairaz (FC Zurich), 6-Johann Vogel (AC Milan), 7-Ricardo Cabanas (Cologne), 8-Raphael Wicky (Hamburg SV), 10-Daniel Gygax (Lille), 14-David Degen (FC Basel), 15-Blerim Dzemaili (FC Zurich), 16-Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen),
Forwards 9-Alex Frei (Rennnes), 11-Marco Streller (Cologne), 18-Mauro Lustrinelli (Sparta Prague), 22-Johan Vonlanthen (NAC Bred

korea they did well in 2002 dont know aw dey'll fear in this one tho cuz that one ad home advantage


Goalkeepers Lee Woon-Jae (Suwon Bluewings), Kim Yong-Dae (Seongnam Ilwha), Kim Young-Kwang (Chunnam Dragons)
Defenders Lee Young-Pyo (Tottenham Hotspur, England), Kim Dong-Jin (FC Seoul), Cho Won-Hee (Suwon Bluewings), Song Chong-Gug (Suwon Bluewings), Choi Jin-Cheul (Chonbuk Motors), Kim Jin-Kyu (Jubilo Iwata, Japan), Kim Young-Chul (Seongnam Ilwha)
Midfielders Park Ji-Sung (Manchester United, England), Kim Do-Heon (Seongnam Ilwha), Kim Sang-Shik (Seongnam Ilwha), Kim Nam-Il (Suwon Bluewings), Lee Eul-Yong (Trabzonspor), Lee Ho (Ulsan Tigers), Baek Ji-Hoon (FC Seoul)
Strikers Ahn Jung-Hwan (MSV Duisburg, Germany), Cho Jae-Jin (Shimizu S-Pulse, Japan), Park Chu-Young (FC Seoul), Seol Ki-Hyeon (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Lee Chun-Soo (Ulsan Tigers), Chung Kyung-Ho (Gwangju Sangmu)

South Korea ( i fear them o).

korean forward Chu Young Park ,  in training yesterday

hi Grizz

Sup Rhodalyn, whuddup, ?
Why's nairaland suddenly gitting so quiet, ?

Wouldn't know why!

trouble for les bleus oooooo Djibril Cisse
Cisse likely out of World Cup after horror injury against China    07.06.2006 21:51 



Saint Etienne, France (dpa) - France striker Djibril Cisse looksto be ruled out of the World Cup after appearing to break a leg in afinal preparation match against China on Wednesday.

The Liverpool marksman fell with a sickening impact and remaineddown for more than ten minutes as medical staff carefully carried himfrom the pitch after just 9 minutes played.

Chelsea defender William Gallas looked towards Domenech and thebench and said "C&aposest mort!" or "It&aposs dead!" meaning Cisse&aposs WorldCup campaign was over before it had even begun.

Cisse, who is reported to be on the verge of joining Marseillefrom Liverpool, was almost guaranteed to be the second strikeralongside Thierry Henry in Raymond Domenech&aposs starting 11.

France open their campaign on June 13 against Switzerland in agroup that includes South Korea and Togo.dpa girlfriend cc

Sad to hear about cisse

watched d game and hoped the injury was a minor 1

what a shame 4 him,


anyway this group is unpredictable


i wouldnt bet against "em Swiss lads topping it


and maybe just maybe Togo can shock the world and emerge as the


"CINDERELLA" team of the tournament


definitely the stuff that dreams are made of

yeah Togo will surprise if sheyi performs well cuz he can if he trys cuz he;s their star player.in the natinos cup he didnt do nothing just like mido all talk and no action

If Adebayor plays the same way he played in the final games in Arsenal, he sure will be a str to watch, but if he plays the same way he played in the nations cup

Cisse would sure curse the day he played this friendly,

he may end up not playing the whole world cup,

Schafer: Togo job would be on my terms only


[b]The Togo head coach's position remained vacant after Winfried Schafer failed to reach an agreement with the Togolese Football Association on Sunday afternoon.
“There is still no decision,” Schafer told FIFAworldcup.com. “We sat down for about an hour-and-a-half. If they want me, it will be on my terms only.”


Schafer, who left the Togolese training camp in Wangen later in the evening, has very clear ideas about how he would approach the role. “The only way it would work is with me as head coach, and there would have to be discipline and order,” said the German coach, who is now awaiting a decision from the Togolese. “My phone is switched on. If they decide they want me, they can call me at any time.”

The vastly experienced Schafer already knows what it is like to coach an African nation, having taking the helm of the Cameroon national team in 2001. Schafer guided Cameroon to the CAF African Cup of Nations title in 2002 and was in charge of the Indomitable Lions during their FIFA World Cup™ campaign in Korea/Japan.

Cameroon went home early from the Far East after taking four points from a group including Germany, Republic of Ireland and Saudi Arabia. His contract with the Indomitable Lions was terminated in November 2004. "I know Africa, and I know how things work there," Schafer said on Sunday.

The coach’s most recent position was with Dubai's Al Ahli, with whom he won the United Arab Emirates championship in only his first season. Now, the veteran tactician could be about to participate in the FIFA World Cup at short notice after Otto Pfister, who had been in the job for just 100 days, walked out on Togo at the start of the weekend.

The coach USAconfirmed his resignation on Saturday just three days ahead of the team's first game on Tuesday against Korea Republic following a dispute relating to unpaid bonuses[/b].

Pfister: The reason why I resigned

Togo coach Otto Pfister has exclusively told FIFAworldcup.com of his reasons for resigning just three days before the Hawks’ first match at Germany 2006 against Korea Republic.
Pfister was appointed as Stephen Keshi's successor in February 2006 following Togo's disappointing showing at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations. 

Click here to read Otto Pfister’s profile

The 68-year-old, who was born in Germany, was finalising his squad's preparations in Wangen, when he made his decision to leave.

"When I started to be manager of Togo, I was promised that bonuses for the players would be cleared," he told FIFAworldcup.com.

"That is still not the case, so I decided to quit immediately. It's a professional decision.

"However, in not managing a team at the World Cup, my life's dream has been destroyed. But this is a situation I simply cannot work with."

Pfister, who has also taken charge of Rwanda, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Congo DR and Ghana also expressed his regret at the decision, but felt there was no other alternative but to resign.

However, it is not known at this point whether the German could make a dramatic return to the squad, providing the bonus payments are made.

                   

Togo Togo Adebayor!
I support them despite their chilfdish ways. Yes they should get due prior to the game.

France ! hope they go far

More Togo news:

Mawuena replaces 'father figure' Pfister

Kodjovi Mawuena was named officially as coach of Togo on Saturday replacing Otto Pfister, who walked out on Friday, though the newly-installed manager said he hoped his predecessor would return.


The 68-year-old German and his main assistant Piet Hamberg left the Togo camp after he grew tired of the wrangling over players' bonuses.

Mawuena, one of Pfister's assistants, expressed his sadness at his departure.

"Otto Pfister was like a father to us," said Mawuena. "His departure has really affected us, but we will continue to follow his tactics and we hope he will return soon."

However, Mawuena, nicknamed the 'Teacher' and named Togolese coach of the year in 2004, insisted that he would be able to handle the job.

"I have played for the national side, captained it and I have coached the team on several occasions either as assistant or as head coach," said Mawuena, who coached the team at the 2000 CAF Africa Cup of Nations.

However, team manager Gerson Kwadjo Dobou revealed it was hoped Pfister would return.

"We are still in discussion with Otto Pfister over him returning, it is not the moment to abandon one's children, there is work to be finished, but the last word rests with him," he said.

"If Pfister returns, he will take over his old post, and Mawuena will be his new assistant, but one cannot exclude the possibility of a third way (a new coach). Nothing can be ruled out."