Preparation for the much awaited Hyundai A-League stepped up over the weekend as the eight teams played their first competitive matches in the Pre-Season Cup.

Click the links below for the Football Federation Australia match reports...

Newcastle Jets vs. Melbourne Victory

Adelaide United vs. Perth Glory

Sydney FC vs. NZ Knights

Central Coast Mariners vs. Queensland Roar

Soccer 2 ended their participation in the 2005 Manchester United Premier Cup in Hong Kong.

After completing group play Soccer 2 entered the playoff stages of the tournament, click the links to see who they played and how they fared...

vs. Kumagaya SC (Japan)

vs. Moroko Swallows (South Africa)

For full tournament results and news visit www.manchesterunitedpremiercup.com

Football Federation Australia (FFA) today confirmed former Dutch and South Korean national coach, Guus Hiddink, had been appointed to coach the Qantas Socceroos during the World Cup campaign.

Click the link for the full story Hiddink appointed coach of Socceroos

Soccer 2 have lost both their matches on day 2 of the Manchester United Premier Cup in Hong Kong.

The under 15 side played Russian UEFA Cup holders CSKA Moscow going down 1-3, and lost to American side, Crossfire Premier by the same score.

Full tournament details are available at www.manchesterunitedpremiercup.com

Or check out the NZ Soccer story, Soccer 2 Beaten by UEFA Cup Holders

Oceania Football Confederation President Reynald Temarii recently visited Fiji as part of a series of trips focusing on learning and understanding how different national associations within the Confederation operate.

Mr. Temarii will make similar trips to Samoa and Vanuatu in the next month and attend their FIFA Goal Project celebrations.

While in Fiji Mr. Temarii outlined the Confedration's plan for the next 12 years as OFC prepares for Australia's shift to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

One of the key tasks is the implementation of youth programmes and tournaments to develop OFC's next generation of players.

The "OFC Youth Festival" will begin in mid-2006 with the Executive Committee to finalise the Youth Festival concept at the FIFA congress in Marakesh, Morocco in September this year.

With the imminent departure of Australia, the improved performance of the island nations, and OFC having direct entry to all FIFA's tournaments (except the World Cup and Beach Soccer World Cup) more players will have the opportunity to perform on the world stage.

"It is a big challenge for Oceania to field quality teams in FIFA tournaments, our players must be ready and that will be helped with competitive matches from an early age" said Temarii.

"But the objective of such [youth] competitions is not only about football, but also educating our younger generation about other issues like health and education" he continued.

Temarii also indicated that discussions with both AFC and UEFA (European Confederation) about further assistance on and off the pitch would continue in the next few months.

Other key tasks outlined by Mr. Temarii included the development of coaches and referees.

*The FIFA Futuro III Coach Education course concludes in Auckland on Friday (22 July, 2005).

Soccer 2, the Pacific region representatives at the 2005 Manchester United Premier Cup in Hong Kong, have opened the tournament with a win and a loss overnight (Wednesday 20 July, 2005).

Check out the New Zealand Soccer story, Soccer 2 with a win and a loss on opening day

Australia still lead OFC teams despite their three losses at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Germany. They are ranked 60 (-3 positions from June 2005) with New Zealand back at 107 (-1).

Tahiti remain the leading Pacfic Island nation occupying 133 (-3) closely followed by Solomon Islands 135= (-1). Fiji's ranking of 141 (-2) may improve after their upcoming international matches with India who are ranked 10 places higher. Vanuatu stay at 147, Papua New Guinea drop 2 places to 164, Samoa 178= and Tonga 184 are unchanged from June. New Caledonia move up one place to 185=, Cook Islands 193 (-3) and American Samoa remain at 205.

61 international matches were played in the June - July period with Germany one of the big movers up ten places to 11. Brazil and Argentina still sit atop the rankings, with the Netherlands close behind at 3, their best ranking in eleven years. USA (6) also occupy their highest ever spot in the rankings on the back of their success in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

FIFA/ Coca-Cola World Rankings

1. Brazil

2. Argentina

3. Netherlands

4. Czech Rep.

5. Mexico

6. USA

7. France

8= England

8= Spain

10. Portugal

60. Australia

107. New Zealand

133. Tahiti

135= Solomon Islands

141. Fiji

147. Vanuatu

164. Papua New Guinea

178= Samoa

184. Tonga

185= New Caledonia

193. Cook Islands

205. American Samoa

The Ranking System

The FIFA/ Coca-Cola World Ranking evaluates all matches played by senior national teams (World Cup finals matches, World Cup premliminary matches, Confederation championship matches, Confederation championship preliminary matches, friendly matches).

The calculation of a team's points is based on the following six criteria;

1. Winning, drawing, and losing

2. Number of goals

3. Home or away match

4. Importance of match (multiplication factor)

5. Strength of the opponent

6. Regional strength (multiplication factor)

Click the link for the full FIFA/ Coca-Cola World Rankings

*The next FIFA/ Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 17 August 2005.

New Zealand's Soccer 2 will face Russian giants CSKA Moscow, Universidad Catolica of Chile, United States' Washington Crossfire, and Liao Ning of China in Group D of the Manchester United Premier Cup World Finals, being staged in the city of Hong Kong from 20 - 23 July 2005.

Former Manchester United played Eric Cantona made the draw for the tournament, jointly hosted by Manchester United and the Hong Kong FA and the largest of it's kind for under 15 players, bringing together 20 teams from all over the world.

The four groups contain five teams each, co-hosts Manchester United were drawn in Group A against a formidable group of opponents including Spanish champions Espanyol, Borussia Dortmund of Germany and two tournament newcomers, Pumas of Mexico and South Korea's Ulsan Hyundai.

The draw for Group C threw together three giants of the world game, England's Arsenal, Internazionale of Italy and Estudiantes from Argentina. Kumagaya are sure to provide strong opposition having emerged triumphant from the 4000-team Japanese qualifying tournament while Thailand's Chonburi Sports make up the group in their fourth appearance in the World Finals.

Fluminense will begin their attempt to become the fifth Brazilian side to win the World Finals in Group B where they will be confronted by the challenge of France's Paris St Germain, Moroka Swallows of South Africa, Brommapojkarna of Sweden and local Hong Kong side Tai Po.

Games will be played at the Happy Valley training ground, and as an added incentive to the teams, the final will be staged as a curtain-raiser to the sold-out Hong Kong v Manchester United game, at 2pm on 23 July at the 40,000-seater Hong Kong Stadium.

Advising the young players to make the most of the tournament, Cantona said: "It is important for young players to experience the challenge of playing against teams from other countries and continents. I didn't have

the chance to play in this kind of tournament when I was 15 and it is a tremendous opportunity for the players.

"Every player at every age has a dream they want to realise and this a chance to fulfil those dreams."

Premier Cup was developed by Nike in 1992 as a grassroots tournament offering young players the opportunity to experience top class international competition. The original regional tournament, involving 624 teams, has since evolved into a worldwide event with over 8,000 teams

from 40 countries competing this year.

"To have reached the World Finals is a really special achievement" said David Daly, Nike's Football Club Business Director.

"Eight thousand teams started out in this competition so to be one of the 20 remaining teams is an outstanding performance" Daly added

In 2003, Nike joined forces with Manchester United to further expand horizons and underline their commitment to the biggest and best under-15 football tournament in the world.

FULL DRAW

Group A: Manchester United (England), Espanyol (Spain), Borussia Dortmund (Germany), Pumas (Mexico), Ulsan Hyundai (Korea)

Group B: Moroka Swallows (South Africa), Brommapojkarna (Sweden), Paris St Germain (France), Fluminense (Brazil), Tai Po (Hong Kong)

Group C: Arsenal (England), Internazionale (Italy), Estudiantes (Argentina), Chonburi SA (Thailand), Kumagaya (Japan)

Group D: Washington Crossfire (USA), CSKA Moscow (Russia), Universidad Catolica (Chile), Soccer 2 (New Zealand), Liao Ning (China)

PREMIER CUP CHAMPIONS

Season Winners

1993-94 FC Porto, Portugal

1994-95 Real Madrid, Spain

1995-96 Espanyol, Spain

1996-97 Platense, Argentina

1997-98 Athletic Bilbao, Spain

1998-99 FC Barcelona, Spain

1999-2000 Sport Club Internacional, Brazil

2000-01 Vitoria, Brazil

2001-02 Sao Paulo, Brazil

2002-03 Corinthians, Brazil

2003-04 Manchester City, England

www.nzsoccer.com will follow the fortunes of Soccer 2 and carry results and updates from Hong Kong.

Young New Zealanders Set For Great Experience

Otherwise check out the official tournament website at www.manchesterunitedpremiercup.com

Navua claimed their first Battle of the Giants title in Suva with a hard-fought 1-0 win over defending champions Rewa.

Skipper Lorima Dau's header was enough to seal victory for Navua.

Earlier in the day, Navua defeated Lautoka 2-0 in the first semi final with goals to ex-Rewa rep Thomas Vulivuli and kiwi Matt Williams.

Rewa earned their place in the final with a 4-2 penalty shoot-out win over Nasinu.

Full tournament results can be found on the Fiji FA website www.fijifootball.com

Picture courtesy Fiji Football

The four teams that will contest the semi finals of the Battle of the Giants tournament in Suva, Fiji were found after the final day of pool play on Saturday.

Defending champions Rewa, and Navua have won through from Pool One, along with Lautoka and Nasinu.

Navua's 4-0 and 3-0 wins over Nadroga and Nadi respectively sealed their place in the semi finals, while Rewa needed a 1-0 win over Ba in their final match.

In Pool Two hosts Suva slumped to two losses 0-3 and 0-1 versus Labasa and Nasinu. Lautoka defeated Tavua 1-0.

The semi finals will see Lautoka clash with Navua, followed by Nasinu and Rewa.

All tournament information, match reports, and competition standings can be found at www.fijifootball.com

Picture courtesy Fiji Football