2006 FIFA World Cup Soccer News and Blog

Kiwis harbour World Cup hopes (TeamTalk via Yahoo! UK & Ireland Sport)
New Zealand Soccer chief executive officer Graham Seatter says the country would jump at the chance to co-host the World Cup with Australia.However, Seatter has admitted he does not expect FIFA to move football’s 2010 showpiece away from South Africa.

Blatter Gives World Cup Play 8/10, Says Maradona May Help FIFA (Bloomberg.com)
Aug. 31 (Bloomberg) — FIFA President Sepp Blatter gave this year’s World Cup in Germany eight out of 10 for the standard of soccer and nine out of 10 for organization.

Italian triumph rekindles love affair
Italy’s footballers went into the 2006 FIFA World Cup against the difficult backdrop of a match-fixing scandal yet ended up rekindling their nation’s love for the beautiful game…

Portugal have cause for pride
Portugal returned home as heroes after reaching the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 40 years. FIFAworldcup.com reflects on their campaign in Germany…

Jewish students find ‘understanding’ in Germany 
Witnessing a crowd of flag-wav ing Germans roaring “Deutschland, Deutschland!” in celebration of a German triumph over Poland was one of the striking moments for Jonny Fluger during his time in Berlin.

World Cup helps Adidas score goal in second quarter 
HERZOGENAURACH, Germany : Adidas, the world’s second-biggest maker of sportswear and equipment has said that the 2006 World Cup soccer championships provided a big boost to its second-quarter earnings and it was raising its full-year forecasts as a result.

World Cup helps Adidas score goal in second quarter 
Adidas, the world’s second-biggest maker of sportswear and equipment has said that the 2006 World Cup soccer championships provided a big boost to its second-quarter earnings and it was raising its full-year forecasts as a result.

Taiwan UMC’s second quarter net profit beats forecast 
TAIPEI (AFP) - United Microelectronics Corp (UMC), the world’s second biggest contract microchip maker, reported better-than-expected earnings for the quarter to June amid improved operations.

Cablemas 2Q06 Net Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA Up 30.8% and 35.2% YoY 
Cablemas, S.A. de C.V., (Cablemas), the second largest cable television operator in Mexico based on number of subscribers and homes passed, today announced results for the three- and six- month periods ending June 30, 2006.

Convergence in modern telecommunications 
Kenro Seishima receives a short message on his cellular phone. It contains not only words and letters but also a small bar code.

ROUNDUP Taiwan’s UMC Q2 net beats analysts forecasts on improved opg performance 
TAIPEI (XFN-ASIA) - United Microelectronics ( Nachrichten ) Corp (2303.TW) announced better-than-expected earnings for the second quarter to June on a big improvement on the operating front and a lower-than-feared fall in non-operating income.

Business 
Coega IDZ stainless steel project gets the go-ahead First phase of the venture to begin next year By PHUMZA MACANDA Business Correspondent THE R1,1 billion stainless steel precision strip mill project in the Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) received its long awaited authorisation by the E…

CSO to perform for Bosch party
Charleston Post Courier (subscription), SC - 23 hours ago… Recently, they caught up over a World Cup soccer match. “It makes sense to the history of our business,” said Bosch spokeswoman Betsy MacDonald. …

Drug problems, fits of temper and family problems - yup, sounds …
Toronto Sun, Canada - Aug 30, 2006Drop a little monthly government moolah around here and the sidewalks and parks buzz with raggedy life. Death is nearby, too. I …

SA aims for ‘greenest’ World Cup (IAfrica South African Business News)
Learning from previous hosts Germany, South Africa had a wonderful opportunity to ensure that the 2010 Soccer World Cup conformed to the principles of sustainable development, a top United Nations official said on Monday.

Italy to parade World Cup trophy around Naples stadium (Sports Illustrated)
Italy will parade the World Cup Trophy around Naples’ San Paolo stadium on Saturday before its first competitive match since winning the title last month.

Domenech to remain France coach
Raymond Domenech will stay on as coach after leading France to the 2006 FIFA World Cup final, the French Football Federation said on Tuesday…

Zimbabwe/South Africa: Country to Capitalise On 2010 World Cup (AllAfrica.com)
THE first World Cup to be hosted in Africa will provide an unparalleled business opportunity in four years time in the Southern African region, a senior South African government official has said.

Brazilian World Cup veteran Edilson leaves Vasco (Slam! Sports)
SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) - World Cup veteran Edilson is leaving Vasco less than seven months since signing with the four-time Brazilian champion.

Blame it on Rio, bill it to Newark
Newark Star Ledger,  USA - Aug 23, 2006… the hotel, the neighborhood famed for its golden-skinned Girl from Ipanema, or the mood that week in Brazil, which was in the thick of World Cup soccer fever. …

Local duo gets taste of Olympic spirit
Lawrence Journal World, KS - Aug 1, 2006The last of the World Cup soccer games ended just days before, but on July 13, Tor Fornelli and Daniel Chance strode out onto the soccer field and into a …

Adidas Sees 24 Percent Boost in Profit
Washington Post, United States - Aug 9, 2006… Herbert Hainer, CEO of the Adidas group, poses with a World Cup soccer ball in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin in this April 18, 2006 file photo. …

Germany gets boost from construction rebound
International Herald Tribune, France - Aug 14, 2006… The World Cup soccer championship in June and July in Germany and the prospect of a sales tax increase next year have bolstered consumer spending, while …

[EDITORIAL]Dirty TV war
Korea Herald (subscription), South Korea - Aug 10, 2006… its subsidiary, has bought the exclusive rights to broadcast in Korea the four Olympic Games from 2010 to 2016, and the 2010 and 2014 World Cup soccer finals. …

World Cup helps Adidas score goal in Q2
Turkish Daily News (subscription), Turkey - Aug 10, 2006Adidas, the world’s second-biggest maker of sportswear and equipment, said on Wednesday that the 2006 World Cup soccer championships provided a big boost to …

Cablemas 2Q06 Net Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA Up 30.8% and 35.2% …
Yahoo! News (press release) - Aug 16, 2006… related to increases in cable television subscribers and certain additional programming costs incurred in connection with the 2006 World Cup soccer tournament. …

Molson Coors Reports 2006 Second Quarter Results
MSN Money - Aug 1, 2006… to the same period a year ago, with Carling sales volume increasing at a high-single-digit percentage rate, due to the 2006 World Cup soccer tournament, the …

ROUNDUP Taiwan’s UMC Q2 net beats analysts forecasts on improved …
Forbes - Aug 2, 2006… needed to bring down the inventory of chips meant for LCD panels and televisions arising from excessive optimism over the 2006 World Cup soccer tournament in …

Rogers Communications Reports Strong Second Quarter 2006 Results
Webbolt Business News, Canada - Aug 24, 2006… Rogers was the lead Canadian broadcaster for the coverage of FIFA’s 2006 World Cup Soccer - the world’s single largest sporting event which recently …

Soccer World Cup for Mentally Disabled Opens (Deutsche Welle)
Merely a month and a half after the soccer World Cup in Germany came to a close, the next soccer world championship opened in Cologne on Sunday — this time for players with mental handicaps.

After a Long Wait Ghana Finally Made the FIFA World Cup Tournament in Germany in 2006 (PR Web via Yahoo! News)
Charlotte, NC (PRWEB) August 29, 2006 — Ghana, the Rediscovered Soccer Might:

Soccer: World Cup midfielder Ogasawara joins Messina on loan (Kyodo via Yahoo! Asia News)
_ Kashima Antlers’ World Cup midfielder Mitsuo Ogasawara has joined Italian club Messina on a one-year loan deal, officials of the J-League first-division club announced Monday.

Roy Keane acknowledges that his quick temper cost World Cup spot (Canada.com)
SUNDERLAND, England — Roy Keane’s quick temper and demanding nature cost him a spot at the 2002 World Cup and shortened his Manchester United career.

SA aims for ‘greenest’ World Cup (IAfrica South African Business News)
Learning from previous hosts Germany, South Africa had a wonderful opportunity to ensure that the 2010 Soccer World Cup conformed to the principles of sustainable development, a top United Nations official said on Monday.

South Africa Urged to Make 2010 World Cup ‘Green’ (Environmental News Network)
South Africa should follow Germany’s example and make sure the 2010 World Cup is as “green” as possible, senior international environment officials said Monday.

Italian Consumer Optimism Probably Remained Near World-Cup High (Bloomberg.com)
Aug. 29 (Bloomberg) — Confidence among Italian consumers, buoyed in July by the nation’s world Cup soccer triumph, probably remained near a four-month high in August because of falling gasoline prices, a survey of economists shows.

SA aims for green 2010 World Cup (Mail and Guardian)
Learning from previous hosts Germany, South Africa has a wonderful opportunity to ensure that the 2010 Soccer World Cup conforms to the principles of sustainable development, a top United Nations official said on Monday.

SA aims for greenest World Cup in 2010 (SABC News)
Learning from previous hosts Germany, South Africa had a wonderful opportunity to ensure that the 2010 soccer world cup conformed to the principles of sustainable development, a top United Nations official said today.

Italian Consumer Optimism Probably Remained Near World-Cup High (Bloomberg.com)
Aug. 29 (Bloomberg) — Confidence among Italian consumers, buoyed in July by the nation’s world Cup soccer triumph, probably remained near a four-month high in August because of falling gasoline prices, a survey of economists shows.

FIFA fines Togo over 2006 World Cup players` row (AngolaPress)
Paris, France, 08/27 - The disciplinary committee of the World`s soccer governing body, FIFA has fined the Togo Football Federation 100,000 Swiss francs over players` threatened boycott of Germany 2006 World Cup match against Switzerland last 19 June.

South Africa Urged to Make 2010 World Cup ‘Green’ (Environmental News Network)
South Africa should follow Germany’s example and make sure the 2010 World Cup is as “green” as possible, senior international environment officials said Monday.

Portugal have cause for pride
Portugal returned home as heroes after reaching the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 40 years. FIFAworldcup.com reflects on their campaign in Germany…

Domenech to remain France coach
Raymond Domenech will stay on as coach after leading France to the 2006 FIFA World Cup final, the French Football Federation said on Tuesday…

SA aims for greenest World Cup (Sunday Times)
Learning from previous hosts Germany, South Africa had a wonderful opportunity to ensure that the 2010 Soccer World Cup conformed to the principles of sustainable development, a top United Nations official said.

Soccer: World Cup midfielder Ogasawara joins Messina on loan (Kyodo via Yahoo! Asia News)
_ Kashima Antlers’ World Cup midfielder Mitsuo Ogasawara has joined Italian club Messina on a one-year loan deal, officials of the J-League first-division club announced Monday.

SA aims for ‘greenest’ World Cup (IAfrica South African Business News)
Learning from previous hosts Germany, South Africa had a wonderful opportunity to ensure that the 2010 Soccer World Cup conformed to the principles of sustainable development, a top United Nations official said on Monday.

Italian Consumer Optimism Probably Remained Near World-Cup High (Bloomberg.com)
Aug. 29 (Bloomberg) — Confidence among Italian consumers, buoyed in July by the nation’s world Cup soccer triumph, probably remained near a four-month high in August because of falling gasoline prices, a survey of economists shows.

Portugal have cause for pride
Portugal returned home as heroes after reaching the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 40 years. FIFAworldcup.com reflects on their campaign in Germany…

France so near yet so far
France went further than virtually everybody anticipated at Germany 2006 but defeat by Italy in the Final left a bittersweet aftertaste for Raymond Domenech and Co…

SA aims for greenest World Cup in 2010 (SABC News)
Learning from previous hosts Germany, South Africa had a wonderful opportunity to ensure that the 2010 soccer world cup conformed to the principles of sustainable development, a top United Nations official said today.

SA must aim for green World Cup in 2010 - UN (Independent Online)
Achim Steiner, the executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme, has urged South Africa to make the most of the time available before the 2010 Soccer World Cup to boost its infrastructure in line with the principles of sustainable development.

Soccer World Cup for Mentally Disabled Opens (Deutsche Welle)
Merely a month and a half after the soccer World Cup in Germany came to a close, the next soccer world championship opened in Cologne on Sunday — this time for players with mental handicaps.