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World Cup 2010: Will attacking full-backs win the competition …

World Cup 2010 : Will attacking full-backs win the competition? | Jonathan Wilson. The last four winners relied on marauding defenders but is a tactical change under way in South Africa? Correlation is not necessarily causation. … That, though, is a risk: Theo Walcott didn’t just score a hat-trick in Zagreb in 2008, he destroyed Croatia’s entire left side by making Danijel Pranjic, a full-back so attacking he usually plays in midfield, try to defend. …

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World Cup 2010: Will attacking full-backs win the competition …

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Time for African Glory

With Pele’s prediction that an African team would win the FIFA World Cup™ by the end of the last century having proved wide off the mark, Africans are desperate for the continent’ first finals to witness a meaningful achievement. Many see a semi-final place for one of the African contenders at South Africa 2010 as an absolute must, especially with the backing of a football-mad people that are sure to support their home side first and any other African nation second. Considering that Cameroon at Italy 1990 and Senegal at Korea/Japan 2002 are the only African sides to reach the quarter-finals of the world’s showpiece football event and that no FIFA World Cup has ever had more than one African side in the knockout rounds, it seems a tall order. And while there is no doubt that the continent has continued to produce some of the world’s best players, the inconsistency of its national teams has left many scratching their heads. However, typical of Africa, optimism somehow triumphs in the face of any odds, and many legendary figures, past and present, have gone on the record predicting success. For current players, the idea of lifting the spirits of the continent’s people to the level of ecstasy is the ultimate. “My team-mates and I want to make history and want to change the way the world sees African football. I hope that we’ll be the team that is going to go to the Final and win the competition,” said injury-worry Didier Drogba, who may miss the tournament with a broken arm, but who captains what many consider to be the most talent-laden side on the continent. Ghana legend Abedi Pele has also been in bullish form, hinting that there is a good chance for ultimate glory in the Final on 11 July. He is, however, also careful to insist that, at such a difficult event, in which the draw was not particularly kind to the African hopefuls, performance may matter more ultimately than advancement. “It’s going to be a very tough tournament for the African teams,” Pele, who has two sons – Andre and Rahim Ayew – on the current Ghana team, admitted to FIFA.com. “They have tough groups and it’s not going to be easy for them to get out. There is a theory that says this is the best time for an African team to win the tournament – maybe that is true. We will have to wait and see, but whatever happens, I think our teams will do us proud.” Pele no doubt has in his mind the success of his home country at the end of last year in the FIFA U-20 World Cup, when they broke through to become the first African winner of the competition. Many of those impressive youngsters have worked their way into the Black Stars side and shown at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year in Angola. Another team on the up are South Africa, who have not lost in 12 matches, and are hitting peak form at just the right time under veteran boss Carlos Alberto Parreira. And the hosts of the FIFA World Cup typically get a huge boost from their home crowd, which will surely be the case for Bafana Bafana. South African great Lucas Radebe sees potential for the hosts to reach the semi-finals, but he also stressed that how far the African teams advance is not the ultimate measure of success. “This World Cup is not only about football, it’s about Africa reinventing itself,” said the former Leeds defender. “Of course we want success on the field, but at the same time, we would like to see this event a success off the field. We want the world to trust Africa, we want everyone to know that we are capable of organising these events. After July 12, everyone should be proud of being an African.” For the first time, Africa has six teams at the finals, and two of the continent’s sleeping giants will be there desperate to make an impact. This will be Cameroon’s sixth FIFA World Cup, but the Samuel Eto’o-led side have failed to make a significant impact since 1990. Nigeria are playing in their fourth finals, but they have also disappointed since reaching the second round at both USA 1994 and France 1998. However, some shaky friendly results and an injury to central midfield lynchpin John Obi Mikel has hurt the Super Eagles, while the Lions of Cameroon have also been inconsistent in their warm-up matches. Algeria are considered the biggest outsiders of the bunch, but the Desert Foxes proved themselves wily and cool customers in qualifying and at the last CAF Africa Cup of Nations, where they finished fourth. For all of the African teams, the difficulty of the groups are such that none can be considered favourites to advance, but the potential would seem to be there for almost all of them to find form and embark on a creditable run. “We are in a different and better position than previous tournaments, and I think we are better prepared,” Kalusha Bwalya said recently. “We have the confidence and experience, and I believe our teams now believe they can achieve success at this level.” #

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Electric Motorcycle: 2010 MotoCzysz E1pc

This is the 2010 MotoCzysz E1pc, a race bike built by a tiny Oregonian company focused on pushing the limits of electric performance to the absolute max. It packs 10 times the battery capacity of a Toyota Prius and 2.5 times the torque of a Ducati 1198 into a package that looks like something out of a 24th-century Thunderdome. Tomorrow it will race in the Isle of Man TT, the toughest motorcycle race in the world. The technology at work is so advanced, so unprecedented, that we may be looking not just at the future of motorcycles, but of all electric vehicles. The reason the all-electric race bike is here, 4,600 miles from its home in Portland, Oregon, is to prove itself. Ever since 1907, the Isle of Man TT has been the race for bike manufacturers and riders to show their mettle to the public. The thinking goes that if you can lap its 37.7 miles of tiny, twisty back roads with an average speed in excess of 100 MPH, you or your bike become indisputably proven. Well over 200 riders and a handful of spectator’s have been killed trying to do just that. But as recently as two days ago, the future of motorcycles was missing its body panels (stuck in customs). Before this week, the finished bike has never even seen the light of day. But even in its unproven, incomplete state, it's been putting in laps that have the competition quaking in their leather. The customs snafu (and the mad dash to even finish the bike in time for the race) is not the first time Michael Czysz, MotoCzysz’s founder, CEO and the driving force behind the E1pc, had suffered a set back on this tiny rock in the middle of the Irish Sea. Last year, the Isle of Man TT hosted the first ever all-electric motorcycle road race, and MotoCzysz was there with the E1pc's predecessor. But while the machines that entered were technically impressive, their performance wasn’t. The race-winning team only averaged 87 MPH, well short of the 100 MPH watershed that defines a serious lap and way behind the 131.5 MPH lap record set by the fastest gas-powered superbikes. MotoCzysz didn’t even complete a full lap, suffering an electric spike from their experimental kinetic energy recovery system that fried the bike’s electronic control unit (ECU). That was a major blow for Czysz (pronounced “sizz”). Five months of whirlwind effort from the former motorcycle racer and architect and his small team in Portland saw them abruptly transition away from developing a 200 HP, gasoline-powered MotoGP bike to produce an electric bike that blew the zero emissions competition away standing still. The E1pc looks like an X-Wing crossed with an iPod to the other electric racer’s cobbled-together adaptations of existing internal combustion engine bikes. We overreached and it bit us in the ass,” says Czysz of last year’s race. “We’re trying to do too much with too little, we’re effectively building a Formula One level machine with one engineer, two machinists, one CAD guy, me and a body dude.” But the E1pc was out in front when it broke down. Way out front. added by: diode

Matthews Perverts Tea Party Movement: Participants View Federal Government as British Occupiers

MSNBC’s Chris Matthews’s ratings lag  far behind those of his competition, Fox News’ Glenn Beck, on a regular basis . So is he perhaps trying to become the anti-Glenn Beck to bolster his stature in the cable news world? On MSNBC’s June 9 “Andrea Mitchell Reports,” Matthews commented on the Gadsden flag , as if it represented an attitude that viewed the federal government as a occupying force, comparable to pre-Revolutionary War America. “You know that Gadsden flag, the ‘Don’t Tread on Me Flag’ with a rattlesnake is so important,” Matthews said. “They believe, a lot of people in the right – that the federal government has replaced the British as the occupying force in North America and they have to be ready to fight it. It’s serious business.” But the scary thing, according to Matthews, is these people he has caricatured have guns. “Some have the guns, some don’t,” Matthews said. “Some have the Tea Party aspect. But it’s always that flag, ‘Don’t Tread on Me.’ They believe Washington is London.” And while it has been documented that the media have repeatedly – and unsuccessfully – tried to correlate violence with the Tea Party movement, Matthews continued to play the “scary business” card – that this movement was trying to circumvent the role of the Supreme Court as prescribed by the U.S. Constitution. “The scary part of this is, do they really believe in self-government in the end – self-government?” Matthews said. “Or is the government always going to be the enemy? And the other scary part is the Supreme Court doesn’t get the right to determine what’s constitutional. They do. And they’ve got guns. Serious business.”

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Matthews Perverts Tea Party Movement: Participants View Federal Government as British Occupiers

Amanda Seyfried Leads Best Scared-As-Sh– Nominees At Movie Awards

Sharlto Copley, Jesse Eisenberg, Katie Featherston and Alison Lohman try to out-frighten the ‘Letters to Juliet’ star at Sunday’s show. By Jocelyn Vena Jesse Eisenberg and Emma Stone Photo: MTV News Zombies, hell, ghosts, man-eaters and aliens — these are a few of our favorite things, and they left Alison Lohman, Sharlto Copley, Katie Featherston, Jesse Eisenberg and Amanda Seyfried frightened beyond belief and competing for the Best Scared-As-Sh– Performance at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards. Sharlto Copley may have been able to fend off aliens in “District 9,” but that doesn’t necessarily mean he will be able to fight off his fellow nominees, none of whom happen to be aliens. (At least we don’t think so.) Will Katie Featherston finally be able to enjoy a good night’s sleep after a possible win for her turn in “Paranormal Activity”? Fighting zombies isn’t easy — so after staving off those annoying undead, flesh-eating creatures in “Zombieland,” will Jesse Eisenberg still have the strength to keep his competition at bay? Although a lot of people would love for Megan Fox to chase after them, her “Jennifer’s Body” co-star Amanda Seyfried wished she could get her human-eating pal off her back. However, on Sunday, Seyfried herself will be chasing after the Golden Popcorn. Alison Lohman went to hell and back in “Drag Me to Hell,” which was more than enough to prepare her for a possible trip to the Gibson Amphitheatre stage to collect an award. Don’t miss the live red-carpet coverage, exclusive movie clips and fist-pumping action on MTV News’ “Jersey Shore Blow-Out at the MTV Movie Awards,” airing live from Los Angeles this Sunday, June 6, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Then stay tuned for the 2010 MTV Movie Awards at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Related Videos Get Ready For The 2010 MTV Movie Awards!

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Amanda Seyfried Leads Best Scared-As-Sh– Nominees At Movie Awards

‘New Moon’ Vs. ‘Avatar’: Nikki Reed, Ke$ha, Akon Debate MTV Movie Awards Battle

‘Is it a teenage thing or is it revolutionizing-filmmaking thing?’ Tyrese Gibson asks of the face-off. By Eric Ditzian Photo: 20th Century Fox One year ago, the MTV Movie Awards featured a face-off between vampires and orphans , as “Twilight” was up for seven awards and “Slumdog Millionaire” was tapped in six categories. The battle turned into a blowout, as Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart’s flick nabbed five wins, and “Slumdog” was completely shut out. 2010 at the Movie Awards brings us another epic throw-down – this time between the vampires of “New Moon” and the big blue aliens of “Avatar.” Both films are nominated in five categories, including Best Movie, Best Kiss and Best Female Performance. Which one of these blockbuster titans will triumph this Sunday at the awards show? That’s up to you, because fan voting is currently under way at MovieAwards.MTV.com . But fans aren’t the only ones who have a say in the competition. That’s why we asked some of our favorite celebs who they would vote for when it comes to this heated debate: Team “Twilight” or Team “Avatar”? “That’s not a fair question,” said “Twilight” franchise star Nikki Reed. “I think I have to stick with my movie on this one, although ‘Avatar,’ there are no words.” The likes of Kim Kardashian, Marisa Miller and Stephanie Pratt sided with Reed’s choice of “New Moon.” But for every Twilighter we spoke with, there was an “Avatar” fan ready to vote the other way, like Eli Roth and Adam Lambert. Or take Akon, who said simply, “I love ‘Avatar.’ That movie is amazing.” And then there are the folks who haven’t yet hit the cinema or popped in the DVD so they can make an informed choice in the “New Moon” vs. “Avatar” debate. “I can’t vote, only because I’m narcoleptic and I never made it through either one,” confessed Ke$ha. Count Kristin Cavallari among the non-voters as well. “I haven’t seen any of the ‘Twilight’ movies or ‘Avatar,’ ” she said. “I’m so out of the loop with everything!” So which flick is going to conquer on Sunday night? Stay tuned. For now, we’ll give Tyrese Gibson the final word. “Is it a teenage thing or is it revolutionizing-filmmaking thing?” he said. “And if it’s revolutionizing, then James Cameron’s definitely going to take it.” Don’t miss the live red-carpet coverage, exclusive movie clips and fist-pumping action on MTV News’ “Jersey Shore Blow-Out at the MTV Movie Awards,” airing live from Los Angeles this Sunday, June 6, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Then stay tuned for the 2010 MTV Movie Awards at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Related Videos Get Ready For The 2010 MTV Movie Awards! Related Photos Movie Awards 2010 Presenters And Performers ‘New Moon,’ ‘Avatar,’ ‘Hangover,’ More Duke It Out As 2010 Movie Awards Nominees

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‘New Moon’ Vs. ‘Avatar’: Nikki Reed, Ke$ha, Akon Debate MTV Movie Awards Battle

Crystal Bowersox ‘Predicted’ Lee DeWyze Would Win ‘American Idol’

‘It was just a feeling I had, and, uh, I was right,’ she tells MTV News. By James Montgomery Crystal Bowersox Photo: MTV News There was a rather common misconception that, during her time on “American Idol,” dreadlocked dynamo Crystal Bowersox didn’t actually care about winning the show at all. So it seemed oddly fitting to many that she ended up finishing second, behind champ Lee DeWyze . But while Bowersox is fine with her runner-up status, she wants to make one thing abundantly clear: She always wanted to come out on top. “I wouldn’t have tried out if I didn’t think I had a shot at winning,” she told MTV News on Tuesday (June 1). “But it’s a weird confliction, because, to me, music shouldn’t be about competition; it’s about expression, it’s emotive, it’s all those things. But at the same time, the industry is a big competition and who can sell the most records. So it was a little strange for me, but I really tried to give it my best and sing songs I could relate to and that I thought other people could relate to. … I had a strategy.” And thanks to that strategy — and, you know, her prodigious voice — she kept advancing in the competition. But on the morning of the “Idol” finale, she had an epiphany: No matter how hard she had worked, DeWyze was going to win. “I tried not to think about it too much, but Wednesday morning, I woke up, and I had a strange, calm feeling. In my mind, I predicted Lee to win. … And whatever reason that’s based on, it was just a feeling I had, and, uh, I was right,” she smiled. “And I was prepared for that. I was OK with whatever happened, and I gave the whole thing my best shot, and I’m cool with number two, you know? We’re both going to be really successful, and I’m really proud of Lee.” One week later, Bowersox is still happy DeWyze won — “he’s worked really hard … I think he’s great and he deserved it,” she said — and she wouldn’t have traded one second of her time on “Idol” for anything in the world, no matter what you may have read about her during her time on the show. It was, she said, one of the most fateful decisions of her life, and she’s incredibly grateful for the opportunities it’s already provided for her — especially since there was a time, not too long ago, when she never would’ve auditioned. “I mean, I’m surprised I even got in! I figured that when they saw me at the stadium auditions, they’d be like, ‘Who’s this girl? She looks like she came off the street!’ ” she said. “I’m blessed that I’ve made it as far as I have. … Before the show, a lot of people had been like, ‘Oh, try out for “Idol”!’ and I said, ‘No, it’s not my thing.’ But since the show allowed instruments — thank goodness they did that, or else I wouldn’t be here — I decided to give it a shot. And, yeah, I’m grateful I did.” Were you surprised Crystal didn’t come out on top? Let us know in the comments! Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos Crystal Bowersox’s ‘American Idol’ Experience

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Crystal Bowersox ‘Predicted’ Lee DeWyze Would Win ‘American Idol’

‘New Moon,’ The Taylors Pucker Up For MTV Movie Awards’ Best Kiss

Five smooches battle it out for Best Kiss on Sunday, June 6, at 9 p.m. ET/PT. By Jocelyn Vena Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson in “New Moon” Photo: Summit Anything goes in the Best Kiss category at the MTV Movie Awards. Sometimes a heartfelt kiss comes out on top (see 2005 winners Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling for “The Notebook”) and sometimes a silly kiss wins (see 2002 champs Jason Biggs and Seann William Scott for “American Pie 2”). So that means at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards , any of our five nominees has a chance at the Golden Popcorn. First up are Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning in “The Runaways.” Girl-on-girl kisses aren’t anything new at the Movie Awards, but something feels particularly rock-and-roll about this one. And we’re pretty sure Jane and Bella won’t be making out anytime soon, outside of some “Twilight” fan fiction. Taylor Swift and Taylor Lautner in “Valentine’s Day” are the next nominees. For the onetime real-life couple, their chemistry offscreen definitely translated into an adorable onscreen connection, which means they might have a good chance at this year’s show. We’d love to see them hit the stage together and accept that award — awkward! Of course “New Moon” is represented, and fan favorites Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson will have Twilighters saying, “Dakota who?” Stewart and Pattinson won Best Kiss last year for “Twilight,” and with “Eclipse” right around the bend, we imagine fans are clamoring for a repeat performance at this year’s show. Zoe Saldana and Sam Worthington made interspecies love sexy in “Avatar,” earning them a Best Kiss nod. While they made their relationship work in the film, it’s only a matter of time until we know if lightning will strike twice at the big show. Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds are nominated for their kiss in “The Proposal.” Will it be steamy enough to beat out their competition? Will the special powers of the “baby-maker blanket” be strong enough to get these two the victory? The fans must decide! Who gets your vote for Best Kiss at the MTV Movie Awards? Share your thoughts below! Don’t miss the 2010 MTV Movie Awards , airing live from Los Angeles on Sunday, June 6, at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

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‘New Moon,’ The Taylors Pucker Up For MTV Movie Awards’ Best Kiss