Holland go ahead with Brazil

The Dutch team looked workmanlike in qualifying, but still won 3 out of 3. They had a hard last 16 game lined up against Slovakia, who had shocked the world by putting Italy on the plane home.
Latest result
Holland were happy to see their talismanic striker Arjen Robben back in the team, and he proved to be their lucky charm with an excellent solo goal in the 18th minute to give them a comfort zone.

Slovakia tried hard but couldn’t find a breakthrough against the tight Holland defence, and when Sneijder made it 2-0 six minutes from the end it was all over for the Slovaks.

They got a consolation through a penalty in the last minute, but they can go home proud of their achievements. They certainly made their mark on the tournament.

GOLD PRICE NEWS

GOLD PRICE NEWS - The gold price came within $2.82 of closing at an all-time high in the spot market, as fears that the economic recovery may stall. The gold price finished at $1,254.48 per ounce, and is up 3.3% for June. The price of gold extended earlier gains after the Commerce Department revised first-quarter GDP growth downward from 3.0% to 2.7%.

The gold price has advanced 33% in the fifteen months since the liberal monetary policies called “quantitative easing” and massive stimulus programs were deployed to stabilize and restart the economy.

Gold stocks made strong gains in the session, riding the gold price wave higher and getting some mild assistance from a stock market which reversed earlier losses to close modestly higher. The Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX), rose 3.3% to close at $53.91 after hitting a high of $54.31 in earlier trading.

Despite the trillions of dollars in stimulus and central bank backing arrayed in support of the economy, it is faltering in far too many parts of the world. As stimulus-induced deficits and bloated central bank balance sheets ravage currencies around the world, investors are turning to the gold price as a currency alternative, driving the metal to fresh highs in the past week.

But central bank policy - in particular, the Federal Reserve’s zero-rate policy - is spurring the gold price in another way, too. Adrian Ash, head of research at Buillionvault.com, notes that the rate of return on cash and bonds relative to inflation - or the real interest rate - plays an equally important role in the level of the gold price.

Adjusted for inflation, the effective Fed Funds rate has been below zero for 54 of the last 101 months, matching the 54 months of below-zero rates in the 1970’s. But, Ash notes, the current rate regime is even worse for cash and bonds than it was in the 1970’s when the inflation-adjusted Fed Funds rate averaged a paltry 0.01%. Since 2002, the real Fed Funds rate has averaged negative 1.2%.

Says Ash, “Holding cash-on-deposit now guarantees a loss of real value. Retained wealth will continue to seek shelter elsewhere. Gold makes an obvious (and historic) alternative, not least with the opportunity cost - that foregone interest otherwise earned by cash savings - entirely absent.”

The policy decisions which have resulted in a persistent negative real interest rate environment are just one of many factors which continue to drive the gold price.
From -http://www.goldalert.com/stories/Gold-Price-Surges-as-Growth-Sputters

Gold price arising

The price of the precious yellow metal hit a record high of Rs. 31, 035 per 10 gram last week with the price continuing upward trend for the last few weeks.

The gold price had hit a record high on Tuesday last week where as the high was Rs. 30, 910 per 10 gram the previous week.

As the price of the gold is fluctuating in the domestic market, it has seen downward trend in its price has since Thursday.

According to Tej Ratna Shakya, President of Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association (NEGOSIDA), the price of the gold has been fluctuating in the domestic market due to the deflation of the Indian currency against the US dollar.

The trend of increase in the price of gold is caused due to the financial crisis in the European countries, including Greek, Spain, Portugal and Hungary, Shakya added.

Shakya also opined that the price of the precious metal would increase further due to the financial crisis in those countries.

The price of the gold in the international market stood at US$ 1,237 per ounce on Tuesday last week while it stood at $ 1,221 per ounce on Sunday the previous week.

However, the price of the gold in the international market has decreased to US$ 1,218 per ounce on Friday with the fluctuation in the price gold.

The gold was traded at Rs. 30,565 per 10 grams, Rs. 30,780, Rs. 31,035, Rs. 31,035 and Rs. 30,900 and Rs. 30,525 on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, respectively. nepalnews.com

Netherlands Camroon preview

Thursday 24 June was supposed to be the day on which Group E was decided - but only one fixture will be of relevance to qualification in this section. With the Netherlands having already booked their place in the knockout stages, the battle will now be between Japan and Denmark to join them in the last 16.

In Cape Town, meanwhile, Cameroon, who have already crashed out of the competition after back-to-back defeats, will take on the Dutch in a match that, despite the lack of tension, promises much in the way of entertainment.

The game
Netherlands-Cameroon, Green Point Stadium, Thursday 24 June, 20:30 (local time)

The Indomitable Lions will be out to erase memories of what has been a below-par performance at South Africa 2010. While the Indomitable Lions will feel they have let themselves down considering the quality they have in their squad, this match with the Netherlands offers them the opportunity to go out on a high. The postmortem will surely follow once they return home, but for now there is a chance to address some of the failures that have beset their campaign, spefically an inability to finish chances.

However, in the Oranje corner stands an impressive Netherlands side still boasting an umblemished record at this event. With his side already through, Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk will surely be tempted to ring the changes in an effort to test the depth of his squad in preparation for what he hopes will be a long FIFA World Cup campaign. Alternatively, he may opt to field a full-strength side to maintain continuity and reaffirm his team's status among the early favourites. It is also possible that Van Mariwjk will use the match to test the fitness of winger Arjen Robben, who has thus far been sidelined by injury.

Key battle
Dirk Kuyt vs Benoit Assou-Ekotto

The Dutch have built their game around attack and speed while relying on solid defenders. They certainly have a bunch of attacking-minded stars capable of ambushing any opponents, including Wesley Sneijder, Robin van Persie and Robben to name just a few. However, another figure and a man who is a seasoned campaigner in this Dutch side is Dirk Kuyt. The Liverpool forward has been one of the unsung heroes of this Netherlands side. Despite a trying season at club level, Kuyt has been on top form at this FIFA World Cup, scoring a late goal against Denmark.

Ailing Cameroon, to their credit, have always attempted to play offensively, even though there has been little coherence in their play. One one of their more impressive players has been 26-year-old Tottenham player, Assou-Ekotto at left back. Solid in defence, he is also one of the Idomitable Lions' most potent attacking weapons.

The stat
2 – the number of times the two sides have met before. Netherlands won the last encounter 1-0 in 2006. Before that, they had played out a scoreless draw in 1998. Both matches were international friendlies.

The players words
“We have to keep on going, stay professional until the end, prepare the practice sessions for the game against the Netherlands. It’s not a friendly game, it’s a World Cup game and we have to respect the Cameroonian people and the competition itself, all the spectators and TV viewers as well,” Cameroon coach, Paul Le Guen.

“I take the match against Cameroon very seriously because it is in that match that the team has to show what they have learned. And we want to improve in every match and it is important for the players to know exactly what is asked of them in every position. Therefore, the match against Cameroon is also a match in which we have to improve ourselves. So I take it very seriously in many aspects,” Netherlands coach, Bert van Marwijk. source: fifa.com

Netherlands may win World cup 2010

In South AFrica

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Football Flue in World Cup 2010

By Peter Pedroncelli
Jun 16, 2010 5:18:00 AM


Reflecting on the 1-1 draw with Mexico in the opening match of the World Cup, the Bafana star player told Kickoff.com, "My feelings on the Mexico match are that in the second-half we made more chances than them. They are a team that can really make it difficult for any team in the world, so I’m proud of the way we played – we defended well as a group."

The Everton Player of the Year added, "The day itself was emotional, very emotional. When we drove to the stadium, the people alongside the road were dancing and singing. That was unreal.

"In the first half we were nervous, but it’s normal for this kind of match. Also, Mexico is a very good team and remember that ten players in our team were playing in their first-ever World Cup match."

Finally, ahead of the crucial match tonight between Bafana and Uruguay, Pienaar revealed: "Even though we are a developing team I still want to win the World Cup. That’s all I’m looking forward to. We are here to enjoy the moment, this fantastic occasion."

A great deal will depend on this match for host nation South Africa, as France awaits in the final group game.

No trip to South Africa is complete without a visit to its most beautiful and sunniest city. Durban offers much more than sandy beaches, safaris, casinos and the World Cup, for information on what to do and see, please click here

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