FIFA top dog Sepp Blatter has said the 2010 World Cup in South Africa could be played on artificial grass pitches. "We have envisaged, though it's not yet a final decision, that the 2010 World Cup could be played on artificial turf," Blatter told BBC Sport (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/7239653.stm). "An artificial pitch gives you the same conditions during the whole year," said Blatter, who expressed his concern over the quality of the 2008 Nations Cup pitches. "I've followed with a lot of interest most of the matches of this competition, and I have to say that African

Football news from around World Cup Blog, from site The Offside and from other fine sites. Champions return home (Egypt Blog) Possible albiceleste vs red, white and blue friendly (Argentina Blog) Some serious moneymakers (The Offside) South Africa should look to Germany 1954 (Sportingo) John Mikel Obi thinks Africa Cup of Nations is blinding (Caught Offside) Scary/beautiful photo (ThroughBall) Best of the [...]

Brazil's Olympic Games 2008 plans seem to have been scuttled by one of their own former World Cup winners as Milan Foundation general secretary Leonardo (a World Cup winner in...

Now that the Africa Cup of Nations is over, you might be wondering what’s next for World Cup Blog. How will we fill the days with no more Hosny Abd Rabou hammer strikes, Salomon Kalou slaloms or Manucho magic? Luckily for us, there’s loads more international football on the horizon. Qualification for World Cup 2010 continues [...]

The Mexican National Team has not won in the US in this decade. Most people I talk to agree that Mexico plays better. Meaning prettier. Meaning if there were style points, there would be no contest. Mexico would win it all. Unfortunately what counts in futbol is getting the ball [...]

More worrying noises from Sepp Blatter’s mouth yesterday, when he suggested that World Cup 2010 matches in South Africa could be played on artificial turf instead of grass. He’s also floating the idea of future Africa Cup of Nations games being played on plastic pitches too. “We have envisaged, though it’s not yet a final decision, [...]

After France’s recent loss to Spain, France striker Thierry Henry, coach Raymond Domenech and captain Patrick Vieira all talked about the “reassuring defeat,” because they thought that France played well despite the result. Very true. But winger Florent Malouda summed up the game better when he said: “Yes, but I prefer frightening victories to reassuring defeats.” Amen, Florent. [...]