kueytoc

Ivory Coast bow out on victorious note AFP - 23 minutes ago NELSPRUIT, South Africa (AFP) - – Ivory Coast joined the exodus of African teams from the World Cup here on Friday as they could only beat already eliminated North Korea 3-0 in their Group G match. Chasing a seemingly impossible nine goals to nudge Portugal out of the last 16 - though it wouldn't have made a difference in the end as the Portuguese drew with Brazil to finish a point ahead of the 'Elephants' - the Ivorians' goals dried up in the second half against a massed North Korean red wall of defenders. Ivory Coast joined hosts South Africa, Cameroon, Nigeria and Algeria as first-round casualties with only Ghana carrying on the African cause in the knockout round. The Ivorians scored twice in the opening half, raising some hopes that they might set sail after the imposing target, but as the smoke drifted in from fires on the surrounding low veld, so did Sven-Goran Eriksson's team lose their way. Only Chelsea's Salomon Kalou, a second half substitute, found the net in the 82nd minute, tucking away a high ball from defender Arthur Boka. "We played good and we had a lot of chances," Ivory Coast skipper Didier Drogba said. "If we were a little calmer and taken the right decisions we could have scored more goals. "Our World Cup is over but we can be proud of what we did against Brazil and Portugal and it was difficult for us to go through to the next round." The Elephants made a good fist of a vibrant opening half with strikes by Yaya Toure and Romaric among 10 Ivorian shots on target. Ivory Coast were looking for a mammoth win over the North Koreans, like Portugal's last start 7-0 rout, and relying on group leaders Brazil to beat the Portuguese in Durban for them to have an outside prospect of reaching the knockout round. Barcelona playmaker Yaya Toure struck first in the 14th minute, drilling home from outside the area off a cut-back from Kader Keita. The Elephants went two-up on 20 minutes after Drogba rattled the crossbar with a fierce volley and left midfielder Romaric with an easy header into an unguarded net. Chelsea superstar Drogba, in imperious form, had found the back of the net in the 12th minute but it was ruled offside as Ivory Coast bombarded the North Korean goal. The Ivorians' play fell away in the second half as the North Koreans tightened their five-man defence screened by three midfielders. Eriksson made a double substitution in the 64th minute bringing on Kalou for Keita and Aruna Dindane for Gervinho as he juggled his attack to prise more goals and Kalou dutifully answered the Swedish coach's call. North Korea's Japanese-based striker Jong Tae-Se didn't look out of place with the skilful Ivorians and he tested their defence with speed and close control several times. Jong had a great chance in the 81st minute and only a diving block from Manchester City defender Kolo Toure - brother of Yaya - stopped him from scoring. The match was played in clean spirits with Spanish referee Alberto Undiano not once brandishing the yellow card.

Japanese Michael Jackson fans begin memorial sleepover AFP - 48 minutes ago TOKYO (AFP) - – Michael Jackson's legions of Japanese fans began piling up flowers in Tokyo Saturday to mark the first anniversary of his death, with 50 devotees spending the night with his most treasured possessions. The diehard fans have paid more than 1,000 dollars each for the sleepover inside an exhibition space showcasing some of the singer's belongings, including his music awards, Rolls Royce and crystal-studded gloves. Jackson died from a drug overdose at a rented Los Angeles mansion on June 25 last year, a seismic celebrity death that triggered a global outpouring of tributes for the eccentric genius known as "The King of Pop". The 50 fans -- one for each year of Jackson's life -- who were taking part in the slumber party in the Neverland Collection were chosen from some 10,000 applicants, said exhibition producer Matt Taylor. "It's priceless," Sari Kure, a 27-year-old Japanese among them, said of the ticket. "It depends on a person, but... it's going to be my treasure for the rest of my life." The selected fans, some of whom were sobbing, made a tour of the collection, where gospel singers sang Jackson's numbers, including "We are the World", with violins accompanying. More than half a million visitors have filed through the exhibition since it opened on May 1 and Jackson lookalikes and Moonwalk-dancers have turned up at what has turned into a pilgrimage spot. "I can't imagine one year has passed," said Mark Okita, 40, at the sleepover. "Time goes by so quickly. Being here, I want to think of how he went to heaven." Earlier in the day, hundreds flocked to see the exhibition of some 300 of Jackson's possessions, many placing white roses and yellow sunflowers before a large portrait of the smiling megastar. "I felt like I could sense his breathing in there. I felt like I could smell him," said Keiko Fujiwara, 51, as she emerged from the dimly-lit space with her son, filled with emotion after her second visit. "I'll come again," she said, adding that she planned to hold a candlelit vigil at home to commemorate Jackson's death. "I may not be able to stop myself from crying," said Fujiwara, wearing a Jackson-style hat and green "King of Pop" T-shirt. "He liked Japan a lot. There would have been a Japan tour if his London tour had come true. How wonderful it would have been." Another fan, Ying Youming, 44, said she would pay thousands of dollars if she could go to a Jackson concert now, noting that the first CD she bought after she moved to Japan from China 15 years ago was a Jackson album. "His talent can't be measured in money," she said. Yukari Kozakura, 46, said she was shattered by the pop icon's death. "I was so shocked that I was crying for the first three months," she said, adding that her two teenage children only became fans of Jackson after he died. "I played his DVDs in tears every day, asking 'Why is he dead, dead...?'"

Fans gather for Michael Jackson death anniversary AFP - 52 minutes ago LOS ANGELES (AFP) - – Michael Jackson fans around the world began Friday marking the first anniversary of the music icon's death, with events from candlelight vigils to slumber parties planned in honour of the tragic superstar. Jackson, 50, died from a drug overdose at a rented Los Angeles mansion on June 25 last year, a seismic celebrity death that triggered a global outpouring of tributes for the eccentric genius known as "The King of Pop." Flowers began piling up in Tokyo where 50 diehard fans paid more than 1,000 dollars each to attend a sleepover inside an exhibition space showcasing some of the singer's belongings. The participants were chosen from some 10,000 applicants who wanted to spend the night in the Neverland Collection at Tokyo Tower, surrounded by artifacts including Jackson's music awards, Rolls Royce and crystal-studded gloves. In Germany, candlelight vigils with music, balloons, posters and Jackson imitators were planned in numerous cities, including Berlin, Hamburg and Munich. Fans dressed as their idol gathered in Prague, too, and unveiled plans for a bust of the singer in a city party. In Los Angeles, fans began gathering early at the picturesque Forest Lawn Memorial Park, a star-studded cemetery where the singer's golden casket was entombed last September. Park authorities have indicated they plan to keep a tight grip on the proceedings, saying visitors will only be allowed to walk past the elaborate neo-classical mausoleum that houses Jackson's final resting place. Long Beach college student Dominique Richardson woke up at 2:00 am in order to get to the cemetery at daybreak. "It's Michael Jackson," she told KTLA local television. "Michael Jackson has inspired a lot of people and it's like the closest we're ever going to get to Michael so why not come and pay your respects?" Jackson fans are also expected to pay tribute at the singer's family compound in Encino, scene of mass floral tributes for days after the star's death last year. In Hollywood, a wax likeness of Jackson has been placed on display in front of Madame Tussauds on Hollywood Boulevard, a short distance from Jackson's star on the Walk of Fame. In the only official memorial event planned Friday, family matriarch Katherine Jackson, 80, is slated to unveil a monument at the home where she raised her famous son and eight other children in Gary, Indiana. The two-bedroom, one-story home has become a magnet for tourists from all over the world since Jackson's death. Meanwhile a Jackson tribute event -- "Forever Michael" -- will be held at a Beverly Hills hotel on Saturday, with tickets priced at between 150 and 500 dollars. Members of Jackson's family are expected to attend the event. Jackson's death sent shockwaves around the world last year, while family and fans were outraged after it emerged he had been given a cocktail of powerful prescription drugs including the anesthetic propofol. Jackson's doctor Conrad Murray, the last person to see the singer alive, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the case and is expected to stand trial next year. Murray denies the charges. While the immediate aftermath of Jackson's death saw intense speculation about court-room wrangling for control of the singer's affairs, expected legal battles over his children and vast musical empire failed to materialize. Katherine Jackson was granted custody of the children Prince, 13, Paris, 12, and Blanket, 8, who are slowly adjusting to life without their father. Katherine Jackson revealed on Sunday the children, who previously were educated at home, will enrol in a school for the first time later this year. "They don't have any friends," Jackson told Britain's Mail on Sunday newspaper. "They don't go to school; they have private lessons at home, but that will change in September when they are due to enrol at private college." Meanwhile, Billboard magazine reported Jackson's estate has generated more than one billion dollars in revenues since the singer's death, through the re-issue of his music, films and other commercial spin-offs.

Gabon's Michael Jackson 'owes all' to idol AFP - 1 hour 8 minutes ago LIBREVILLE (AFP) - – Fans worldwide gathered Friday to mark the anniversary of Michael Jackson's death but in Libreville there is a permanent shrine to the pop icon in the home of Gabon's own version of the star. "I owe him so much," said Jean "Michael" Anicet Ngadi, 34, a performer who was declared "Gabon's Michael Jackson" at a 2002 lookalike contest and since become a national sensation. "Michael is part of my life, every day," he said in his family home in suburb PK10 where he held a traditional wake, in accordance with custom, after Jackson's shock death from a drug overdose last June 25. "The pain I felt, it is indescribable. All I know is that I cried over Michael Jackson for nearly a month," he said. Posters of his idol plaster the doors, the star's photo hangs next to his father's in the living room, and his cell phone rings with a Jackson hit. Ngadi's dance troupe has two shows planned in honour of Jackson, one in Libreville in January and the other in the southeastern city of Franceville in February. "I even have him to thank for my job," said Ngadi who was given a local government position after the mayor was captivated by his Jackson routine at an election rally. It all started in 1992 on Jackson's high profile trip to Africa. The pop idol landed in this west African state to be met by tens of thousands of screaming fans and a banner proclaiming: "Welcome Home Michael". "I was in high school, I skipped classes to go see him at the airport," said Ngadi. "Like many kids my age, I adored Michael Jackson: the way he moved, his gestures, his look, everything." "I decided to imitate him," he said. After graduating, Ngadi threw himself into dance "out of pleasure and fanaticism" but to the consternation of his parents in a country where a self-taught professional male dancer is not held in high regard. In 1993, "I began dancing in front of people. A real audience of people," Ngadi recalled. "It was my first time... It was such a great success. I told myself: 'OK, maybe the flame has been lit, the flame that was embedded in me.'" And there was more success. Ngadi, who also teaches dance, now has his own company, the "Michael Anicet troupe", which counts 20 other Jackson fanatics, including a soldier and a construction worker. On stage Ngadi "becomes" Michael Jackson, with an array of wigs and costumes to trace his icon's career in frighteningly faithful renditions. His next dream is to make dance lessons -- including Jackson routines -- obligatory in Gabon's school. He has already passed on his passion to one of his nephews, 13-year-old Scott "Jackson", who can compete with his uncle on hits that more than twice his own age. If Ngadi's bid to bring dance to schools doesn't work, "I'm not worried, my successor is here," he said of Scott.

Good team but 'luck' not on their side...sigh ! Ivory Coast win convincingly but go out Reuters - 13 minutes ago By Peter Rutherford NELSPRUIT, June 25 (Reuters) - Ivory Coast convincingly beat North Korea 3-0 on Friday, but the win, which could easily have been by a larger margin, was still not enough to prevent the Africans from going out of the World Cup. Portugal and Brazil's 0-0 draw in the other final Group G match ensured they both qualified for the last 16, rendering the Ivorian result meaningless. North Korea, who lost all three of their games, had already been eliminated. Despite their exit, Ivory Coast coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said he was pleased with his side's performance in what had always looked like one of the tournament's hardest groups. "They should be very proud of themselves and the country should be very proud of them," he told reporters. "It's a good team and I think the future belongs to this country ... absolutely. The future for this country, football-wise, is great." The Ivorians had needed to score a glut of goals to give themselves any chance of overhauling Portugal after their earlier 7-0 win over North Korea. "If we were a little bit more calm maybe we could have scored more goals," said striker Didier Drogba, "Our world cup is over today but we can be proud of what we did against Portugal and what we did against Brazil and today. We are disappointed but we can't be too disappointed when you are in a group like this with Portugal and Brazil." He also saw good times ahead for his nation's team. "For a country like Ivory Coast to be in the world cup twice in a row is something fantastic. We were unlucky but at the same time we are happy," he said. THREE-PRONEGD ATTACK Needing plenty of goals, Ivory Coast left Salomon Kalou on the bench and opted for a three-pronged attack of Drogba, Gervais Kouassi and Abdelkader Keita. North Korea coach Kim Jong-hun kept faith with the same starting 11 that were ruthlessly dismantled by Portugal. Goals from Yaya Toure and Ndri Romaric gave the Ivorians a 2-0 halftime lead, but it could have been five or six as North Korea struggled to cope with the one-way traffic heading towards their net. Ri Myong-guk was forced into action right from the kickoff, making a smart save from Keita, but there would be no respite for the North Korean goalkeeper as Ivory Coast flooded forwarded at every opportunity. The Ivorians went ahead in the 14th minute Toure took a pass on the edge of the area before opening up his body and curling the ball into the far corner of the net. Romaric struck the outside of the post four minutes later but was on hand to nod the ball home after Drogba crashed a vicious shot off the underside of the crossbar in the 20th minute. North Korea's first and only chance of the first half came in the 25th minute when captain Hong Yong-jo stroked a freekick just wide of Boubacar Barry's goal. The west Africans picked up where the left off in the second half, Drogba sending a diving header wide and Kouassi failing to connect with Keita's dangerous delivery, but North Korea looked far more organised in defence. Jong Tae-se almost pulled one back for North Korea in the 81st minute but he could not force the ball over the line. Instead, Ivory Coast notched up a third when Kalou, on as a substitute, side footed home from close range in the 82nd minute after a great cross from Arthur Boka. (Editing by Michael Holden)

mate ! Hope to visit U again soonz.

Oooops !...his arse gonna be 'PAIN-PAIN'. Swiss vandal sentenced to five months, three strokes of the cane By yahoosingapore – June 21st, 2010 Swiss national Oliver Fricker has been sentenced to five months’ jail and three strokes of the cane. Earlier in the day, the 32-year-old software consultant pleaded guilty to two charges of entering a protected place and vandalising an SMRT train. For entering a protected place, he could have been fined up to $1,000 and jailed up to two years. He was facing a fine of up to $2,000 or a jail term of up to three years and at least three strokes of the cane for the vandalism charge. Fricker’s lawyer Derek Kang told Yahoo! Singapore that he would be filing an appeal on his client’s behalf. “We are filing an appeal because we feel the sentence is a bit on the high side.” The 33-year-old lawyer from law firm Rodyk & Davidson LLP said the appeal hearing would take at the very earliest “a few weeks.” When asked if the appeal would succeed, he said he has to be “hopeful” it will. Acknowledging the huge media interest in the case, Kang also said he was initially taken aback. “Before the first time, I probably wasn’t aware of how much attention this case had attracted. But I was forewarned that a lot of foreign media would be covering it.” Kang also added he was in touch with the Swiss embassy, who are providing consular support for his client. The Straits Times earlier detailed how Fricker and his British accomplice, Dane Alexander Lloyd, carried out their vandalism act on May 15. Deputy Public Prosecutor Sharon Lim said the pair came to know each other in Australia about three years ago, and had been keeping in touch occasionally through e-mail. Earlier this year, the 29-year-old Briton told Fricker he would be coming here for a visit for some “non-legal things”. On the day of the act, the pair collected delivery of a carton of paint at City Hall MRT. By then, Fricker had already used Google to recce where the Changi SMRT depot was and where all the MRT trains were parked. Later that evening, both men, each carrying a small bag with a few cans of spray entred the depot after cutting a hole in the fence. After each had spray-painted the words “McKoy Banos” on the MRT carriages, they took some photographs of their work before leaving the same way they came. Fricker was arrested on May 25, while Lloyd is still at large. Comparisons have been made to the Michael Fay incident in 1994. Fay, then 18, was an American student studying at the Singapore American School. He was subsequently found guilty of stealing road signs and vandalising several cars with spray paint a year earlier. After pleading guilty, he was sentenced to four months in jail, a fine of S$3,500 and six strokes of the cane. The case catapulted Fay and Singapore into the global media spotlight and then U.S. President Bill Clinton even appealed for clemency on Fay’s behalf. His sentence was eventually reduced to four strokes of the cane by then Singapore President Ong Teng Cheong as a gesture of respect to Clinton.

How to Get the Salary You Want by Joe Light Wednesday, June 23, 2010 A tight job market might have taken away some jobseekers' leverage in a salary negotiation, but that doesn't mean they should roll over and accept the first offer, says New York-based executive coach Rabia de Lande Long. To get the top compensation possible—without putting a sour taste in your potential employer's mouth—take these steps. 1. Do your research. It used to be hard to find out what your coworkers and other professionals in your industry get paid. But now, several resources have attempted to opened that black box, says Ms. de Lande Long. Salary.com and Payscale.com give salary ranges to expect based on a job seeker's position, location, and experience. Employees at the actual company you're applying to might have also posted their salaries at GlassDoor.com. 2. Don't give out the first number. You'll be pressured to do this through the application process. "What's your salary requirement?" "What salary range are you looking for?" "What do you get paid now?" Whatever you do, never give out the first number, says Ms. de Lande Long. If your answer is too high, you might not make it to the next stage. Too low, and an employer will either think you're not qualified or desperate. So, if possible, write "NA" on applications. If you're pressured to say how much you make during the interview process, try giving your "total compensation," which many large employers will break out for you on the company's internal human resources website. If your current employer doesn't do that, just spell out your salary, benefits, bonuses, and anything else your current employer offers, says Decatur, Ga. career coach Walter Akana. If the new company doesn't offer some of similar benefits, the HR manager will know that your new salary would have to be bumped up to reflect that, he says. If the interviewer still presses for a required salary, try giving a range of $15,000 rather than a specific number, Mr. Akana says.The low amount should be the minimum you'd be happy with and the high amount should be what would make you happy. 3. Don't lie. "It's so easy to get someone in HR to verify a salary, even if they're not supposed to," says Ms. de Lande Long. Even if you make it to a job offer, the false salary could come out during a background check, which could result in an outright retraction of the offer or at least upset an employee's new boss. "And from that point onward, you might face trouble in negotiations not just with your new employer, but with everyone in your industry who has heard. Word gets around," says Ms. de Lande Long. 4. Don't take the first offer. Most employers expect candidates to try to negotiate. So they leave room in the first offer for a raise, says Mr. Akana. If possible, try to arrange a face-to-face meeting with the hiring manager rather than someone in human resources. The hiring manager is more likely to be flexible, says Mr. Akana. Say that you're flattered to have an offer and really want to join the team, but that there are a couple specific items that you're sure you could resolve if you put your heads together," says Mr. Akana. Despite the pressure on salaries during the downturn, a good rule of thumb is to ask for a 10% higher salary, says Ms. de Lande Long. If the hiring manager says budget restrictions keep him from going as high as you'd like, it might be that the position is "graded" to be within a certain salary band by HR, says Mr. Akana. It's worth asking if the boss can ask the appropriate person for the job to be re-graded. The worst he can say is no. 5. Once that's locked in, go for other benefits. Despite what you might have heard, many benefit packages aren't flexible, says Ms. de Lande Long. So, while it's worth asking, it might be difficult to modify the health plan. Your success in getting more vacation days depends on the employer, says Ms. de Lande Long. Your potential boss might be hesitant to give you more days if it will make other employees think they're being treated unfairly. Instead, focus on things that are easy for the employer to provide, such as a work-from-home arrangement for one day a week, if the employer has made such arrangements in the past, says Mr. Akana. If you still feel your package is too low, ask if it can be reviewed again in six months. "That way, you can show them that you're worth the money," he says.

I did not prepare Italy fully, says shocked Lippi Reuters - 14 minutes ago By Mark Meadows JOHANNESBURG, June 24 (Reuters) - Italy coach Marcello Lippi took full responsibility for their humiliating World Cup group stage exit on Thursday, saying he had not trained the team well enough. The holders lost 3-2 to World Cup debutants Slovakia, who qualified for the last 16 with Paraguay from what had looked an easy-looking Group F for Italy. "I take all responsibility. I haven't prepared this team well enough," an ashen-faced Lippi told a news conference without even being prompted by a question. "I didn't think we could win the World Cup but I though we would do better." In a strikingly honest assessment of what went wrong, Lippi pummelled himself verbally for 15 minutes. "I failed to train the team well enough, they weren't ready for such an important match. For an hour and 15 minutes, for psychological reasons I think, nothing worked," he said. The 62-year-old, a national hero when he led the Azzurri to 2006 World Cup glory, had already announced he would step down again after the finals. He will be replaced by Cesare Prandelli. Lippi first quit straight after their triumph in Germany but returned in 2008 after Italy's disappointing European Championship campaign under Roberto Donadoni. "I don't regret coming back, I came back with great enthusiasm," he added. His stark words took some of the sting out of the Italian reporters who were waiting to savage a campaign that began with two 1-1 draws. "I have no intention of getting straight back into coaching and training after this," added Lippi. "I'll take some months off and we will see." (Editing by Ken Ferris)

Soccer upstages strike as Les Bleus return Reuters - 12 minutes ago By Jean-Paul Couret PARIS, June 24 (Reuters) - France's humiliating first round exit from the World Cup took centre stage in French politics on Thursday, overshadowing protests against pension reforms and preparations for a G20 summit. Police were deployed in numbers to protect the return of the team, Nicolas Sarkozy changed his schedule to meet Thierry Henry and Sports minister Roselyne Bachelot called for the resignation of the French Federation chairman. Opposition leaders criticized the governement. Green leader Cecile Duflot said it was "indecent to see the government giving priority to soccer on a day of a national strike and demonstrations all over France against a pension reform." Non governmental organisations (NGOs) complained Sarkozy had cancelled a meeting ahead of the G20 meeting in Toronto. Trade unions leaders said they hoped the strike would get the same political and media treatment than the crisis of the national soccer team. The disgraced Bleus returned home in a plane chartered by the French Federation which landed at Le Bourget business airport, 20 km north of Paris. Their campaign, marred by infighting and the boycott of a training session, ended on Tuesday with a 2-1 defeat by hosts South Africa that left them bottom of Group A without a win. A smattering of supporters were kept at a distance and dozens of photographers, cameramen and journalists were penned behind a wire fence. Some of the players went straight into two coaches with darkened windows which left the airport through a back entrance without going through passport control and customs. "They didn't have the guts to confront us. They have really reached rock bottom," a disappointed and angry fan told television channel iTele in front of the main terminal. "IMMATURE GANG LEADERS" Florent Malouda had gone straight from South Africa to London. Witnesses said the Olympique Lyon players and Franck Ribery flew out on in two private planes without going through passport control and customs. A French team spokesman later said that Ribery would undergo groin surgery in Munich on Friday. Team captain Thierry Henry was driven in an official car under police escort to the Elysee Palace. Les Bleus' team captain, who has 123 caps to his name and is France's most prolific scorer with 51 goals, entered the presidential palace through a side door, far from the media who were waiting for him at the main entrance. He left the same way and a government spokesman said there would be "no statement and no comment." Meanwhile, television cameramen on motorbikes had followed the car that was driving Patrick Evra back to Paris. The Manchester United player, who captained Les Bleus in their first two world cup games but was dropped for the last one, opened his window but cut questions short saying: "Today is not the time to speak, today is the time for suffering." Players and Federation leaders will however not be able to avoid questions for long. In one of the harshest condemnations so far, Bachelot castigated "the disaster of the national team made of immature gang leaders in command of scared kids with a coach at a loss and without any authority and a federation with its back against the wall." (Additional reporting by Dimitri Rahmelow and Elizabeth Pineau; Editing by Nigel Hunt)

Italy and France make unwanted history AFP - 13 minutes ago JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - Italy and France's miserable World Cup campaigns were complete on Thursday as they became the first finalists from the previous World Cup to exit at the first hurdle of the following one. Champions Italy were eliminated after a stunning 3-2 defeat by Slovakia, and even finished bottom of the group below the rank outsiders New Zealand. France, who lost on penalties to Italy in the final in Berlin in 2006, had exited on a suitably low note on Tuesday, bottom of their group like Italy, with a 2-1 defeat by hosts South Africa. Never in the previous 18 editions had the two finalists shared such an ignominious fate. Ironically Italy emulated France's lame defence in 2002 when the French had gone out at the first hurdle, though at least the Italians managed to score whereas the French failed to fins the net in three games. The Italians had also failed to progress from the group stage in 1950 although few if any of the squad that won the 1938 edition would have been there with World War II intervening from 1939 to 1945. Brazil also surprisingly failed to make it out of the group stage in 1966 having arrived with hopes of making it three World Cup titles in a row.

Italy eliminated after 3-2 loss to Slovakia ANDREW DAMPF, AP - 4 minutes ago JOHANNESBURG (AP) -- Defending champion Italy was eliminated from the World Cup on Thursday after a humbling 3-2 loss that sent Slovakia through to the round of 16. For the third consecutive match, the Azzurri conceded an early goal, and this time they never recovered. "I take full responsibility," Italy coach Marcello Lippi said. "If the squad went out with fear in their legs and hearts it means the coach didn't prepare the match well tactically or psychologically." Robert Vittek put Slovakia ahead in the 25th minute at Ellis Park, taking advantage of an errant pass from midfielder Daniele De Rossi. He then doubled the lead from close range in the 73rd following a corner. Antonio Di Natale pulled one back for Italy in the 81st, but Kamil Kopunek scored another in the 89th for the Slovaks. Fabio Quagliarella put in the final goal in injury time. Paraguay won Group F with five points, and Slovakia finished second with four points. New Zealand exited with three points and Italy was last with two, marking the first time the Azzurri have finished last in their group. "We've shown shown that we're not here for a holiday," Slovakia forward Erik Jendrisek said. Jendrisek added that the key for Slovakia was to be aggressive and not sit back. "As soon as we were too passive, the Italians were more dangerous and scored, so we decided that we had to be more aggressive again," Jendrisek said. The rest of the Slovakia players refused to speak with the media in an apparent show of support for coach Vladimir Weiss following his dispute with local reporters after a 2-0 loss to Paraguay. While Slovakia's players heaped on top of one another to celebrate at the final whistle, the Azzurri walked off the field with their heads held low, with tears visible on some of their faces. Quagliarella and Di Natale were particularly distraught, realizing their goals counted for little. Italy also allowed early goals in its opening 1-1 draws with Paraguay and New Zealand, and the Azzurri attack struggled in all three games -- save for the final 10 minutes against Slovakia. "Slovakia and New Zealand are teams worth respecting but nothing more and if we can't beat at least one of them it's only fair that we go home," said injured goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who watched from the sidelines again with a herniated disk in his back. It was the end of an era for Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro and midfielder Gennaro Gattuso, who already announced they would retire from the national team after the tournament. Lippi is also moving on, with Cesare Prandelli already named as his successor. Italy's squad featured nine players that are 30 or older, led by the 36-year-old Cannavaro. "We were a disappointment and everyone saw it," Buffon added. "The difference between 2006 and 2010 is that there are no longer enough players like (Francesco) Totti and (Alessandro) Del Piero. "(Prandelli) will have to start a new cycle and I hope he's got his ideas in order, because the current situation of Italian football isn't great." Lippi already left after Italy's title in 2006, then returned after Roberto Donadoni led the Azzurri to the quarterfinals of the 2008 European Championship. "I don't regret coming back," Lippi said. "It was an experience I wanted to replicate. I was convinced I could do things differently and I'm sorry." Slovakia is playing in its first major tournament since the former Czechoslovakia divided in 1993. The team conceded a stoppage time equalizer in its opening 1-1 draw with New Zealand and lost to Paraguay 2-0. Vittek's opening goal came on a low shot just beyond the reach of Italy goalkeeper Federico Marchetti, who again replaced Buffon. He then beat Giorgio Chiellini from close range following a corner for his second goal. Di Natale slid in a rebound from a Quagliarella shot and -- with four forwards on -- Quagliarella nearly equalized in the 85th but he was ruled offside. Slovakia restored its two-goal lead in the 89th when Kopunek lifted a bouncing ball over Marchetti. Quagliarella finally found the target in the second minute of injury time with a powerful long-range shot. A draw would have put Italy through, but Simone Pepe missed a volley wide in the fifth minute of added time. Andrea Pirlo came on in the 56th for his first action since injuring his left calf in a pre-tournament friendly against Mexico three weeks ago and the crafty playmaker gave Italy's sagging attack a much-needed boost. Still, for 80 minutes Italy's forwards were unable to find the target, and no forward scored in open play during the Azzurri's opening two matches. Italy hasn't won since beating Sweden 1-0 in a friendly in November, drawing five times and losing twice. It was Italy's first loss at the World Cup since allowing a golden goal to South Korea in the second round in 2002. With France also eliminated, it's the first time that both previous World Cup finalists have been sent home after the group phase. Lineups: Italy: Federico Marchetti, Gianluca Zambrotta, Fabio Cannavaro, Giorgio Chiellini, Domenico Criscito (Christian Maggio, 46), Daniele De Rossi, Riccardo Montolivo (Andrea Pirlo, 56), Gennaro Gattuso (Fabio Quagliarella, 46), Simone Pepe, Vincenzo Iaquinta, Antonio Di Natale. Slovakia: Jan Mucha, Peter Pekarik, Martin Skrtel, Radoslav Zabavnik, Jan Durica, Miroslav Stoch, Juraj Kucka, Zdeno Strba (Kamil Kopunek, 87), Marek Hamsik, Robert Vittek (Stanislav Sestak, 90), Erik Jendrisek (Martin Petras, 90).

Italian flops follow French out of Cup Reuters - 24 minutes ago By Andrew Cawthorne JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Holders Italy were sensationally dumped out of the World Cup by Slovakia on Thursday to join fellow European power France in a humiliating and unprecedented first-round exit for the two previous finalists. In one of the most memorable World Cup upsets 34th-ranked Slovakia, appearing for the first time as an independent nation, stunned the aging Azzurri 3-2 to reach the second round together with Paraguay in Group F. After a thrilling end-to-end match, the Slovakians danced for joy at the final whistle while the Italians, many too old to play in another World Cup, fell to their knees in disbelief. Striker Robert Vittek scored in both halves for Slovakia, while Kamil Kopunek added the third in the 89th minute, setting off on a celebratory run to his bench that will be one of the abiding images of the World Cup whatever happens now. A shadow of the side that lifted the trophy in 2006, Italy nevertheless showed plenty of spirit in the second half, twice pulling goals back and then frantically peppering the Slovakian penalty area to no avail in the final minutes. "We played with our hearts and that's what decided the match today," Vittek said. "We couldn't have dreamt about this." The amazing defeat brought a sad end to Marcello Lippi's time as Italy coach plus the international careers of Fabio Cannavaro and Gennaro Gattuso after the trio said this would be their last tournament with the national side. PARAGUAY FLY LATIN FLAG Paraguay did not show the fire and flair that has characterized Latin American teams' showing in the tournament so far. Yet their forgettable 0-0 draw with New Zealand in the other Group F match was enough to leave them top of the group. The All Whites exit with heads high after three draws in a World Cup where many had forecast they would be whipping boys. Italy's failure, including two earlier draws prior to Thursday's loss, follows the spectacular flop of 2006 runners-up France. Never before have two previous finalists gone out in the first stage of the next tournament. France's team arrived home on Thursday to national disgust at both their performance -- one draw and two defeats -- and an unseemly players' revolt over Nicolas Anelka's expulsion. So traumatic was France's failure that President Nicolas Sarkozy has ordered a shake-up of French soccer and met team captain Thierry Henry as soon as he arrived back. In Thursday's late games, Netherlands, who have looked solid if not inspired, are already through in Group E and will play a meaningless tie against Cameroon who are out. Japan and Denmark play in the group's other match, where the Danes must win but the Asians need only a draw. GREAT GAMES TO COME With the group stages being wrapped up, some mouth-watering second round fixtures are emerging. Germany face old rivals England on Sunday. In 31 encounters stretching back to 1908, the Germans have won 10 times, drawn six and lost 15. "The joy of preparing for (the) England match is huge," German coach Joachim Loew said. England have hardly looked world-beaters, but confidence is rising after they beat Slovenia 1-0 to secure passage. "It starts here -- it's a knockout. How you played in the group doesn't mean anything," midfielder Frank Lampard said. Argentina's coach Diego Maradona is ecstatic at his free-flowing team's perfect start with three wins out of three. They face slick-passing Mexico in the last 16 on Sunday. Maradona has revealed he takes inspiration from one of the world's most successful club managers: Jose Mourinho. "I've got his phone number, I might call him," he said, adding the pair had spent hours in the past discussing tactics. Maradona, who famously guided Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986 believes the jewel in his crown -- world player of the year Lionel Messi -- could just emulate his feat. "Leo is ready to go out onto a pitch and leave it with the crown," the infectiously enthusiastic coach said, also praising his "thrilling" striker Carlos Tevez. "I love my team." Of six African nations in the continent's first World Cup, four are out, Ivory Coast need a miracle to qualify from their group, and only Ghana have guaranteed a second round berth. Ivory Coast striker Salomon Kalou said the raised expectations of playing on home soil had hurt the Africans. "Expectations were huge and we owed it to ourselves to perform well, but the pressure has caused us more stress than anything else and even inhibited our talents," he said. (Editing by Ossian Shine)

Anelka extends Chelsea stay AFP - 17 minutes ago LONDON (AFP) - France striker Nicolas Anelka has extended his contract with Chelsea by a year just days after being sent home in disgrace from the World Cup, the English Premier League champions said Thursday. Anelka verbally abused France coach Raymond Domenech during the World Cup clash with Mexico in South Africa and, having refused to apologise, was sent home from the tournament. The rest of the France squad then missed a training session in protest, sparking condemnation from the French government, before the 1998 champions exited the tournament in the group phase. But having had no similar bust-ups with the forward, a member of the Chelsea side that delivered the west London club its first League and FA Cup 'Double' last season, the Blues had no qualms about keeping Anelka at Stamford Bridge until 2012. "Chelsea is delighted to announce that Nicolas Anelka has signed a one-year extension to his existing contract that will keep him at the club until 2012," a club spokesman said. Anelka, 31, said he had no plans to leave Chelsea. "When I first came to Chelsea I wanted to stay much longer than I did in the past with other clubs," said Anelka. "It is a big club, you play with big players and I like this club, I like London. There is no need to move anymore and so I am very glad to sign a new contract and I know we will play in big games and win titles. I am very glad." Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti added: "Nicolas is a fantastic player who has good technical qualities and movement. "When I was coach at Juventus I wanted to buy him, so it is good now he has signed for me and I think Chelsea is his home," the Italian added. "I look forward to working with him for one year more." Anelka has scored 42 goals in 123 appearances for Chelsea since joining from Premier League rivals Bolton Wanderers in January 2008.

France's World Cup failures arrive back home ALFRED de MONTESQUIOU, AP - 12 minutes ago PARIS (AP) -- France's World Cup squad has arrived home to a cold welcome after a humiliating early exit that has been condemned by domestic media as a scandal. The team's chartered plane landed Thursday in the small Le Bourget airport near Paris, where police guarded the tarmac to let the players disembark away from journalists and fans. France was eliminated from the first round after a tournament in which they went on strike, failed to win a match and had striker Nicolas Anelka thrown off the squad for insulting the coach. Domenech, who is retiring as coach, added yet more dismay by refusing to shake hands with rival coach Carlos Alberto Parreira after France's last 2-1 loss to host South Africa. Striker Thierry Henry, a former team captain and a 1998 World Cup champion who only played 52 minutes across two games in South Africa, stepped off the team plane and joined a small motorcade sent by President Nicolas Sarkozy. Henry went to a private meeting with Sarkozy, entering the Elysee Palace by a side door and making no public comment. The football fiasco is taking an increasingly political turn in France, where the leading sports daily L'Equipe has dubbed the debacle "A state scandal." Sarkozy has vowed to personally investigate the matter. He met with Prime Minister Francois Fillon and Sports Minister Roselyne Bachelot on Wednesday to discuss ways to reform French football. "The head of state asked the ministers to ensure that those responsible learn the lessons of this disaster quickly," Sarkozy's office said in a statement, implying that football officials could resign. "He also asked the ministers to ensure that no financial reward is given." Henry and some other team members have confirmed they aren't taking any bonuses from the cup, including from private sponsors. In Parliament late Wednesday, Bachelot described the team's performance as a "disaster" that forced authorities to get involved. She slammed the national team as "immature 'gangsters' bossing around frightened kids, with a powerless coach in disarray and a federation in shambles." The term she used to describe what she implied was a gangster-style hierarchy, "caid," meaning "judge" or "boss" in Arabic, echoed the contention of some in France that the breakdown of the ethnically diverse team reflected the problems at play in French society -- notably in impoverished suburbs, often heavily Muslim, where many of the French football team, including Anelka, grew up. The French Football Federation made no comment after the team's arrival except for a terse statement on its website announcing that the plane had landed and "team France disbanded." Sarkozy has called for a French football summit in October to rethink how the team and federation are organized. Football results have had a strong impact on French politics in the past. When France won the World Cup in 1998, for instance, both the president and prime minister saw a double-digit surge in opinion ratings.

COOL !!!

Roughly about 3 inch plus as stated.

Selling moi nice & lovely Super Electric Green Carpet for $65. Cash & Carry only. Interested buyer pl PM moi ya contact details to confirm collection time. Note: 'Aeroplane' wannabes pl stay clear.

Dun Stop till U buy Enuff !!!...Swooosh !

Remember the old adage..."Slow & Steady"...dun hurry.

WAH !...putting expen$ive fish to 'test' ya water.

3 Blues + 1 Red...Hurry !...Hurry !

Almost all LATZ specimens are mis-barred & therefore they are most likely to be 'Captive Bred'.

Here comes the 'LATZs'...!!!

Masked Angelfish, Genicanthus personatus caught spawning on video for the first time Congratulations to Dr. Chung (HK) for being the second person to spawn the extremely rare masked angelfish.