SA will become the condom-nation during the World Cup.

In the fear that an estimated half a million tourists will sow their wild oats in the month long orgy and contribute to the AIDS epidemic, the SA government has requested for a billion condoms. Britain has responded by sending 42m condomns. 40,000 prostitutes are expected to partake in this social experiment.

Looking at these numbers one would imagine empty stadiums and a few players missing on match day.

However, Jacob Zuma is the poster child for prophylactics. He just fathered his 20th child from a friend's daughter. But when it is his personal plea to combat the scourge of AIDS, you realize the seriousness of the matter. It was Zuma not three years ago who had sex with an HIV positive woman without using a condom and then showered after " as this would minimise the risk of contracting the disease [HIV]."

Looks like Zinedine Zidane maybe a step closer to taking over the Algeria job after the World Cup. Rabah Saadane after that hugely emotional win at Khartoum has seen his team's fortunes flatline with his tactics being questioned openly after the miserable defeat in the Serbia friendly.

Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika offered the position in a meeting with Zidane and his father at the presidential palace. Zizou was visiting Algeria as part of the futsal gala that pitted the 1998 French World Cup winning team against the Algerian all stars led by Lakhdar Belloumi. His presence electrified the 10,000 fans in attendance for the match at the Olympic dome.

One of the factors being mentioned which could predispose to this move is his personal relationship with Henri Emile who is soon to take over as the head of Algeria's Football Federation. In 2006 Zizou returned to the country of his origin in 2006 for the first time in twenty years accompanied by his Algerian born parents.

It was an emotional return with a serious purpose. He visited a pediatric centre that he and Emile helped set up through funds raised from a charity match after a 2003 earthquake devastated the northern Algerian region of Boumerdes and destroyed the local hospital.

Emile's association with Zidane goes back to the time when he was Les Bleus team manager in Aime Jacquet's 1996 European Cup squad. Jacquet had just spurned Eric Cantona to bring on Zidane to the national side and his faith was vindicated immediately in a friendly against the Czech Republic at Bordeaux as Zidane went onto score a brilliant brace. Jacquet's gamble paid of two years later as France won the World Cup.

His long managerial tenure came to an end in 2004 when Raymond Domenech took over. Emile was swept away in a back room clean up, a factor that is said to have influenced Zidane's retirement in 2004 (from which he came back for the 2006 World Cup). Both are heavily involved in charity work with Emile also working or the French Football Federation to raise futsal's profile within the country.

In an interview with Echourok, Zidane revealed that he followed Algerian football. He was Lakhdar Belloumi admirer and had always dreamed of playing against the legend one day. He also went onto say that it would be an honour and dream to coach Les Fennecs in the future when he had gathered more experience. Maybe in five to ten years.

That might be in an official capacity but it appears that Zizou is already working behind the scenes as Algeria's cheerleader and offering coaching tips. In an interview with France Football (Via Goal.com).

"Maybe it's already happened... There are some things I'd like to do but I can't speak about them publicly. That stays between me and those involved, the players. I know some of them. That doesn't necessarily mean I'll do something with them either. All of that only concerns myself," he added.

Yeah, that Zizou was always known for his clever no look passes. This might be one of them.

Lars Lagerback: Big beer ambitions

The salary of Lars Lagerback, the Swedish coach now the helmsman for the Super Eagles has become a controversial issue.

The amount is said to be in the region of $1.5 million although Lagerback himself is said to have asked about half that. Nigeria has a history of hiring coaches with sign on bonuses, bloated fees, and little responsibility. Berti Vogts virtually coached the team from Germany only coming down to Nigeria ten days in the month while collecting his salary. His player agent acted as the de facto coach deciding which players would play on the team.

With the terms of his contract murky, the arrival of Lagerback has not entirely generated optimism from some quarters with the period of time too short for Nigeria to expect miracles. The NFA has set a semi-final berth as a mandate which appears to all purpose pie in the sky.

Guus Hiddink not part of the 2010 World Cup? Not possible.

Right on cue, Didier Drogba reportedly reaches out to his old boss through a personal call to find out his availability for the Elephants coaching job. Time for the Cleaner to move in and administer his shock therapy.

The Ivory Coast football federation made recent contact with the Dutchman at Loftus Road where the Ivory Coast lost to South Korea, 2-0 in a friendly.

Hiddink on his part will have to sandwich a World Cup venture between now and his Russia job terminating on 30th June. He takes over Turkey's national team almost immediately.

He coached his last game on March 3rd when Russia held Hungary to a lethargic draw. The match appeared to be more of a sendoff for the coach.

The new head of the Russian Football Federation Sergei Furskenko later revealed that Hiddink would be leaving well before his contract end date. Accordingly, the Federation has canceled all spring and summer friendlies.

These are encouraging developments for the Ivory Coast in their Hiddink quest.

Russia has already made some Fabio Capello feelers for the 2012 European Cup but the Italian has indicated that he is not interested.

In his stead, Dick Advocaat, the AZ Alkmaar coach is now the favourite to lead Russia. Advocaat met with Fursenko during the recent European Cup draw at Warsaw. He has some solid Russia cred with his former association as coach of Zenit St Petersburg leading them to a UEFA Cup and Super Cup title.

The difference between the Dutch and the US was that they had a midfield.

Wesley Sneijder showed us what a committed ball controller can do. We still do not have that player. That is why we place such a premium on set pieces and counterattacks. It helps us sweep aside the weak ball possession and lack of build ups.

To be fair Michael Bradley was never the answer. Landon Donovan seems to be going through one of his cold spells. Against Sporting Lisbon too, he was AWOL. Maurice Edu is more a ball stopper than a holding midfielder.

Bob Bradley has quite a few questions. He will get back Ricardo Clark but meanwhile the lack of midfield control is a vexed problem.

Nigel De Jong should have gotten a red card.

Stuart Holden is out for six weeks with a fractured fibula following De Jong's tackle.

It was a reckless challenge as De Jong comes flying in with his leg extended and studs up catching Holden above the right ankle. It is clear when you look at it from the front.

By the way the Dutch highlights don't show the tackle.

Owen Coyle, the Bolton manager had this to say following Holden's injury:

"It's disappointing for Stuart because he has come into the team and done ever so well.

"He's a very good player, an international player, and he has shown a real hunger and desire to do well for our football club."

Leighton Baines, Everton's wingback is the favourite ahead of Stephen Warnock of Aston Villa in the Egypt friendly to earn his first full England start when Fabio Capello announces his XI. Both are impressive contenders but Baines has been taking to the training ground with Capello in what should be considered the starting line up.

The attack minded left back is most likely to be second in the depth chart in the wake of Ashley Cole's injury absence and Wayne Bridge's retirement. Most importantly, he will have to show Capello that he can take care in the defensive end of the business. No one doubts Baines speed, quality of crosses, and set pieces.

He has to show he can take care at the defensive end. Capello's Glen Johnson experiment has made him decidedly wary of full backs who tout impeccable attacking instincts at the expense of more sketchy defensive qualities.

My personal feeling is that Capello would vastly prefer Wayne Bridge with his international experience and his less venturesome character for his final 23 for the World Cup. He still holds out hope that Bridge reconsiders his retirement for those good reasons.

There is a good chance that a behind the scenes diplomatic operation will be launched to repair the relationship with John Terry. Many prominent players have urged Bridge to eschew personal feelings over the call of international duty.

Baines can help settle the vexed left back position with an impressive display against Egypt and render this conjecture moot. He has to contend with the talented Mohamed Zidan and an midfield anchored by Ahmed Fathi. Egypt is riding into Wembley on the back of their impressive Africa Cup win so confidence is not an issue. Ronnie Shehata also has the luxury of a deep bench to turn to, including Amr Zaki and Gedo, the Africa Cup top scorer in case breeching England's defense proves difficult. This is no friendly as 80 million Egyptians following this match will attest.

Wayne Bridge refuses to shake hands with John Terry. It's probably best that he retired from international duty. Otherwise the England squad would just spend time in SA on a couple's retreat.

A weather vane? Or a bridge too far?

Feeling a bit bad for the bloke. Wayne Bridge should never have had to retire under such a cloud. He cites his position in the English squad as "untenable and potentially divisive".

On a pragmatic level, it may not be such a big loss. He looked a bit laboured in the Liverpool match but he was just coming back from an injury layoff. Bridge's best days are obviously behind him. Which might be be the real reason for his retirement. Then again, his retirement does create a bit of a quandary and one wonders about the timing.

Leighton Baines is the obvious choice. But Fabio Capello might be a bit averse using him. He is a bit too attack minded for the very disciplined Italian coach who has soured on Glen Johnson for the same reasons. Plus, he is plain untested. So I will go against the grain and say that in the absence of Ashley Cole, Bridge would have been his first choice.

It was Sven Goran Ericksson who gave Bridge his international start and his most productive years were between 2002- 2004. Most of these were in friendlies but there were quite a few consequential appearances. He played two matches in the 2002 World Cup finals, four in the 2004 European Cup qualifiers, and another two in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers. However, he was not used for the 2004 Euro and the 2006 World Cup finals.

Under Steve McLaren's disastrous tenure Bridge saw just two appearance in the 2008 Euro qualifiers with Ashley Cole having locked the left back position.

With Capello's arrival, Bridge seems to have again picked up his international profile enough to keep his feet wet. It was the Italian manager that gave him his first start in 11 months against Belarus in the 2010 WC qualifier after Cole picked up his hamstring injury. He was again used in the Andorra shootout and the inconsequential Belarus return match.

He might have been the mistake free insurance that Capello was looking for in the absence of Cole. A good foot soldier who would stick to his defensive duties and eschew the spectacular.

Sacha Kljestan scored the match winner in extra time

For the first 45 minutes the US laboured mightily to string a few passes together underscoring the domestic second and third stringers lack of match practice.

The second half was an improvement when Brian Ching came onto the pitch in place of Conor Casey. Most of the activity emanated from the left flank where I thought Robbie Rogers and Heath Pearce combined well with pace and understanding. Rogers had some decent looks at goal and was distinctly unlucky when his shot cannoned off the upright.

It was through Pearce's cross that Ching was able to flick the ball past Miguel Montes for the equalizer. The El Salvador goalkeeper was till then having the time of his life stopping anything and everything that came his way. The winner came in injury time when Sacha Kljestan stole the ball away from a lackadaisical El Salvador defender and in a neat one two with Ching, slotted the ball past Montes. There were about another half a dozen clear chances to score but Montes came up big and the US finishing left much to be desired.

Ching was a distinct improvement from both Casey and Robbie Findley with his aerial ability and ball retrieving skills. Findley was especially disappointing having an awkward time getting involved at all. He also seemed to have a tough time staying on his feet. Casey was no better demonstrating a very heavy touch.

Before that though the US had to play an El Salvador team that looked quite sharp when they got the ball. On one of their forays, Manuel Salazar booted the ball upfield which found a racing Brad Evans trying to head the ball back to Nick Rimando only to put it right across the path of Rudis Corrales who finished of the easy chance.

I think one should be reasonably pleased with the performance of Brian Ching, Heath Pearce, Sacha Kljestan, and Robbie Rogers. They did no damage to their World Cup claims. On the other hand even accounting for the rust, the performance gap between the US foreign exports and its domestic players remains immense.