Tournament News

FIFA defend play-off game

2010-07-08 10:48
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Oscar Tabarez (AP)
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Johannesburg - FIFA insists it has no plans to scrap the Soccer World Cup third-place play-off, claiming the match still offers "prestige and pride".

Oscar Tabarez's Uruguay and Joachim Loew's Germany will contest this game after losing their respective semi-finals to Holland and Spain.

They will meet on Saturday at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium but critics have labelled the match as pointless, with the belief that players would rather be on holiday.

FIFA, though, is still adamant that there is a reason for the losing semi-finalists to play an extra fixture.

"There is still prestige and pride at stake," said the governing body in The Times.

"Many fans will still be there to watch it and a third-place finish is better than a lot of countries have achieved.

"There are world-ranking points at stake, too. Uruguay are 16th in the table but another win on Saturday, added to their progress to the semi-finals, could take them closer to a top-10 place. There is definitely something to play for."

 

Your Comments

anil tomar7/11/2010 9:14 AM
hi veary feast fotboll game the lagest game this futher
superstar7/10/2010 2:03 AM
I'm sure we wont be seeing any tears or sore faces from the losers out of this game.fifa world cup is about men crying after failing to kick a ball in the net.that's what makes it so exciting.
Christopher7/8/2010 9:42 PM
Isn't it just a case of business. The more matches there are, the more money Fifa makes from tickets and sponsorship. Its no surprise that Fifa have included this match. Its all about the bucks.
Peter7/8/2010 4:54 PM
It's a waste of time they should just scrap it. the game between Germany and Uruguay will be boring to the core. no commitment, surely both teams will field the 'fringe' players...
Nikki A @ZeGerman and @Katy7/8/2010 2:22 PM
@ Ze German: LOL! @ Katy: Couldn't agree with you more! I cant wait to see ze Germans thrash Uruguay on Saturday - especially since the hand of god will be playing again. Does anyone know whether the oracle octopus will make another prediction?
Penguin7/8/2010 2:21 PM
bertus, I like your suggestion. It's brilliant!
IceCreamMan7/8/2010 2:09 PM
I hope Klose scores 2 !!!!
STORMER7/8/2010 1:47 PM
Stop whinging you mullet rats - eish, one would swear you lot were being forced to participate.... Miserable frikkin pilgrims the lot of you...
Robert Kay7/8/2010 1:19 PM
Oscar Tabarez's Uruguay and Joachim Loew's Germany will contest this game after losing their respective semi-finals to Holland and Germany. Sounds a bit weird. I thought Spain beat Germany. Oh well - I'm not an editor of course!!
katy7/8/2010 1:15 PM
hey I want to see germany CRUNCH urugwhy. like, SQUISH
Cameron7/8/2010 12:53 PM
I'm looking forward to this game. It should be a good one. @Simon: well f*** off and watch Rugby then t***
An outsider7/8/2010 12:49 PM
Jeez do you South Africans moan at everything, it's all I see when I log onto SA websites. A whole bunch of moaning.
Brandon7/8/2010 12:10 PM
BERTUS jou slim ding. That is the answer.
Simon7/8/2010 12:04 PM
Every day this world cup reminds me why RUGBY IS BETTER THAN FOOTBALL! Every 3/4 play-off at a RWC is a hotly contested battle for huge pride! These football players make so much money they dont even need the few extra MILLION DOLLARS that comes with coming third..!
Isabel7/8/2010 12:02 PM
There must be a play-off. We want to see the Germans loose to Uruguay. It might be a money making racket, but so what? Maybe Paul will be right again who knows!
Peter7/8/2010 11:56 AM
Who came fourth in 1998? Who cares? Who came second when Roger Bannister broke the 4 minute barrier in 1950 something? Who was the 3rd man on the moon?
Maghdi7/8/2010 11:50 AM
No problem with the third place play-off. Maybe Fifa should let supporters in free.
JACO7/8/2010 11:46 AM
Even Rugby has a third place play off and I dont see anyone complaining there - do you want to go out as semi-final losers? I think all you guys that are complaining are supporters of the teams playing there - sore losers
Ryan7/8/2010 11:43 AM
I think it's cool. Another awesome soccer game to watch between two good teams. Who cares if they make more money, thats what a business does. Also gives the SA public another game to attend and enjoy before the SWC is all over.
What K@K7/8/2010 11:38 AM
Offer R100m to the winners and you will see a great game!
Sasa7/8/2010 11:38 AM
Like a commentator once noted; FIFA is just out to make money. The more publicity they get, besides the ticket sales, the more money they have. FIFA is just too commercialised, no wonder they don't want goal-line technology under the guise of 'being different from other sports.'
DvD7/8/2010 11:36 AM
It's true, Germany lost against themselves...
zee7/8/2010 11:28 AM
There is no point in this game. FIFA justs wants to make more money and this is one way of doing so.
F**K F*F*7/8/2010 11:24 AM
What they are really saying is that they want to make more money from fans.
Patriot7/8/2010 11:24 AM
Only good for guys like Klose to try add to world cup goals list
Borrie7/8/2010 11:24 AM
Your team selection in paragraph 2 is wrong - should be Holland and SPAIN!!!
Teacher7/8/2010 11:21 AM
I thought that Uruguay is long gone. we are tired of cheating soccer
Bongza7/8/2010 11:16 AM
Still!!!! its pointless........ 3rd/4th can be calculated by teams ratings if ts bwt who to take the Bronze
Brandon7/8/2010 11:14 AM
Yes sure, sell me another one, this one doesn't fly.
ZeGeman7/8/2010 11:10 AM
I hope Germany gives them a 4 - 0 hiding, after cheating Ghana, they must get a thrashing as a send off. Saures your bloody agent, get out, don't come here with your hand balling tendency, this is a revolotinary football ground. Don't be tjajaratat.
kosie7/8/2010 11:07 AM
they should of done like the 7S rugby.the teams that fel out of first round should of played for a plate, the teams fel out of the supa 16 should of played, this would of use some of the staduims more and more income was generated and taken some of the games to country and smaler vanues
Mishka Moodly7/8/2010 11:06 AM
It should read Holland and Spain, not Germany. See below: Oscar Tabarez's Uruguay and Joachim Loew's Germany will contest this game after losing their respective semi-finals to Holland and Germany.
MasterGee7/8/2010 11:04 AM
This game has a smuch appeal as kissing your grandmother. Another way for FIFA to make more money. Let the players rest and get over not being in the final. No other major competiton has a third place play-off. Just hope that the masses going to PE to see the game are not turned back mid-flight due to incompetenence at their airport. What happened in Durban was a major disappointment to the otherwise "smooth" running World Cup. I'm sure there are a lot of minor incidents we're not aware of,
bertus7/8/2010 10:59 AM
Give the top 3 automatic entry into the next world cup - that should change the game from being pointless!
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