2010 Soccer World Cup

Alex Morgan relishing role of super sub

She didn't know any of her suitors on Twitter, but they're sure to grow the more airtime Morgan receives. She merited a bit of the spotlight Wednesday, scoring yet another important goal in U.S. colors as part of a 3-1 win over France to reach the Women's World Cup final.

"I mean, it's all fun and games," said a smiling Morgan on Thursday before the team made its way from Dusseldorf to Frankfurt for Sunday's championship match against Japan.

Morgan is highly marketable: You could say the world, as well as the ball, is at her feet. Barely 22, softly spoken and yet bubbly, she often attracts the camera with her long, dark hair, blue eyes and warm smile. Not as much as teammate Hope Solo, mind you, although Morgan could be front and center at the ensuing two World Cups, like the 29-year-old Solo is now.

Morgan already has 55,000 followers on Twitter, more than fellow young guns Lauren Cheney and Amy Rodriguez, and veteran Carli Lloyd combined. (No, not more than Solo, who is in triple digits.)

Coke certainly saw something in Morgan, making her one of its "eight-pack" of athletes to watch at next year's summer Olympics. "I love the attention that this national team is bringing to the game," said Morgan, who graduated early with a degree in political economy. She's currently in a relationship with Seattle Sounders midfielder Servando Carrasco, whom she met at the University of California. "Any positive attention is good, whether it's directed towards one player or an entire team."

Veterans Rampone, Sawa set for showdown

Sunday's World Cup final between the U.S. and Japan is sure to leave one veteran ebullient and another in angst. Christie Rampone, a 36-year-old mother of two competing in her fourth World Cup, lines up against Japan's Homare Sawa, 32, who has now been involved in five editions.

Each has started -- and impressed -- in all five of her team's games in Germany. Rampone has marshalled the U.S. defense, while Sawa has scored four goals, tied for top spot with Marta, and notched a crucial assist in Japan's upset victory over host Germany in the quarterfinals.

"She's a great leader," Rampone said of Sawa. "It's great for women's soccer to have a pioneer leading her team. I think her team gets its pulse through her. We're going to have to shut her down."

Sawa and Japan have never won a World Cup, while Rampone is hoping for a second title after being a young teammate to the likes of Mia Hamm and Kristine Lilly in 1999. "It was inspiring to learn from those great leaders," said Rampone, who made a solitary appearance in 1999, in the group stage. "Now I'm in the role of being a leader and trying to help this team win the World Cup. To start my career winning a World Cup and then end it winning one would be amazing.

The Official 2010 World Cup Soccer Ball | spyderlinks community

Article by zawat

Just like as the World Cup happens every four years, so does the official soccer ball changes.

The World Cup 2010 was a great event that was watched by all the great soccer enthusiasts from all across the globe and which was played by all the qualified Soccer players around the world. The players, the national soccer associations, the millions of fans and the supporters from across the globe keep waiting for this mega event for every four years. This amazing event was also a great opportunity for people to get to know this sport called soccer, this time there were lot of soccer learning that has happened during the world cup tenure. Every world cup leaves behind rich resources of soccer like the soccer academia’s and world class infrastructure in the host country and the best way to learn about it is with the official world cup soccer ball to play with.

World Cup 2010 was named, “JABULANI” which means “to celebrate” in isiZulu language, the new Adidas ball was the only soccer balls used during this times month-long tournament that started in June 2010.

This soccer ball is associated with a big number “11″ as it sports an impressive 11 different colors. This specific number was chosen for the 11 players who take the soccer field for every team during the tournament, the 11 official languages of South Africa out of which isiZulu is spoken by 25% of the people, and also for the 11 South African tribes that make the country extremely diverse in all aspects.

World Cup 2010 official soccer balls design was created to, “lend the ball a unique appearance in African spirit. Like the outer facade of Johannesburg’s Soccer City Stadium, individual design elements capture the colorfulness of South Africa.”

Real Madrid’s Brazilian superstar Kaka says “For me, contact with the ball is all-important,” then says “That’s just great with this soccer ball.”

This ball uses revolutionary ‘Grip’n'Groove’ technology, with covers in small aero grooves that provide, “unmatched flight characteristics, making this the most stable and most accurate Adidas ball ever.” These make it a perfect match for a perfect tournament like the grand World Cup, where Soccer Goals are scored with this grand ball.

Over and above these you can find, the “goose bumps” effect that was first seen in the 2008 European Championships which was upgraded in the “JABULANI” ball giving it a, “more of futuristic texture and extensive grip.

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