KUALA LUMPUR: adidas and Fifa will unveil the official match ball for the 2010 World Cup South Africa at The Pavillion tonight. The match ball features a South African inspired design and radically new technology.

The new match ball will be available in retail outlets from tomorrow onwards. The newly-developed “Grip’n’Groove” profile provides the best players in the world with a ball that allows an exceptionally stable flight and perfect grip under all conditions.

JOHANNESBURG: Franz Beckenbauer does not like Brazil's style of play under coach Dunga, the German great, also known as 'The Kaiser' said this morning.

Five-time champions Brazil are one of the favourites to win the 2010 World Cup in South Africa after adopting a ruthlessly, efficient approach in qualifying that was not particularly attractive to watch. Beckenbauer, the only man to win the World Cup as a coach (1990) and player (1974), is clearly not a fan.

LONDON: Ireland assistant manager Liam Brady described Sepp Blatter as "an embarrassment" yesterday after the Fifa president revealed that the Irish had asked to be the "33rd" team at next year's World Cup Finals.

Brady said the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) had expected Fifa to consider the request in private after Thierry Henry's handball helped earn France victory over Ireland in a World Cup playoff.

He expressed dismay that Blatter had chosen to make the request public in comments at the Soccerex football business conference in Johannesburg on Monday.

SANTIAGO: Legal action brought by Chilean club Rangers to try to annul their relegation that could have left Chile suspended by Fifa and out of the World Cup was withdrawn this morning.

The creditors of bankrupt Rangers, who are in administration, asked the club’s administrator Cristian Herrera to withdraw the action.

GREECE striker Theofanis Gekas says his nation will go crazy should their football side manage to upset Ukraine in their World Cup playoff second leg tomorrow (2am).

The 2004 European Champions were held to a scoreless draw in Athens in the first leg last Saturday but there is a sense of confidence they can build on that result to book their place in South Africa next year.