23 days to go
Items ‘smuggled’ onto aircraft
SOUTH African journalists say they have smuggled dangerous items onto domestic flights in hand luggage ahead of next month’s football World Cup. The journalist behind the report told the BBC the items included knives, syringes, screwdrivers and razors. Mandy Weiner said security was “porous”, as banned items had got onto more than half the flights targeted. But an airport security spokesperson said both local and international standards were being met. As part of the investigation carried out by South Africa’s Eyewitness News, 10 aircraft departing from major tourist hubs in South Africa were targeted over three months.
Scientists predict England victory
ENGLAND will finally win the World Cup after 44 years of pain if scientists are to be believed. European champions Spain will be runners-up with The Netherlands winning the third place play-off, according to JP Morgan quantitative analysts who issued their findings yesterday.
They predict Brazil will fall short in South Africa because of a tougher route through to the final than their main rivals.
The quantitative analysts at JP Morgan used information such as Fifa ranking, historical results and its JPMorgan Team Strength Indicator to come up with a mathematical model to predict match results, they explained.
However, they warned this report should be taken with a pinch of salt and that it is an exercise to lightheartedly explain quantitative techniques and demyistify the typical quant framework.
Grosso dropped from Italy squad
ITALY: Fabio Grosso, who scored the decisive penalty when Italy won the 2006 World Cup, was yesterday left out of Marcello Lippis squad for the defence of their title.
Lippi was due to reduce his 30-man squad to the required list of 23 but has instead cut just Grosso and Juventus team mate Antonio Candreva and will wait until nearer the June 1st deadline to make a final decision.
Clinton joins US bid for finals
USA: Former US President Bill Clinton has joined his nation’s bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup. He has been appointed honorary chairman and will play a major role in promoting the American bid during the final countdown to December’s decision. The US, Australia, England, The Netherlands-Belgium, Portugal-Spain and Russia are looking to host the competition.
Domenech waits on Gallas
FRANCE: The fitness of central defender William Gallas is departing France coach Raymond Domenech’s major injury worry. The former Arsenal captain has been training daily with fitness coach Robert Duverne. Gallas, who suffered a recurrence of a calf muscle injury in March and has not played since, was the main reason Domenech trimmed his 30-strong squad to 24 players, giving himself until June 1st to reduce it to the official 23.
Stop run and pay the penalty
PENALTY-TAKERS will no longer be allowed to halt at the end of their run-ups to try to fool the goalkeeper. Fifa has decided it is “unsporting behaviour” and made it a yellow card offence in time for the World Cup.
Spycher quits
SWITZERLAND: Left back Christoph Spycher (32) has pulled out of the World Cup squad because of a knee injury and quit international football. He is one of Switzerlands most experienced players with 47 caps, having played at Euro 2004 and 2008 and the last World Cup.
