When the 2010 FIFA World Cup gets underway on June 11 in Johannesburg many of the footballers playing in the tournament will be extremely familiar to UK TV viewers due to their current or past connection to the FA Premier League.

As well as the England contingent there will be many representatives from the Premier League playing for all the top ten ranked countries, as well as others, in the Finals tournament.

Starting with tournament joint-favourites Spain, prolific 25-year-old Liverpool striker Fernando Torres is sure to feature heavily, providing he remains fit after returning from a spell of injury. The Merseyside favourite managed to bag a trio of goals during Spains 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals campaign, and he also scored the winner in the UEFA Euro 2008 Final against Germany. The blonde-haired goal machine will be hoping to repeat that feat in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final.

It’s very easy to make a big mistake when selecting your place of retirement. What might look lovely when you are on holiday may not be quite so attractive when you are there permanently.

Things you should know about retiring to France

About five years ago, having spent many happy holidays in various parts of France we decided to look for a holiday home to which we could eventually retire. The first area we looked in was the Tarn. The scenery here is lovely, unfortunately the estate agents photographs and descriptions were somewhat misleading, and, the sad thing was, having travelled many miles to view, we were disillusioned.

Although the Mediterranean coast of France has been attracting tourists for centuries, many overlook the beauty of the equally spectacular west coast. We take a look at some of the highlights of France’s Atlantic coastline.

Four regions of France have Atlantic coastlines – Bretagne (Brittany), Pays De La Loire, Poitou-Charentes and Aquitaine.

Brittany is likely to be the best known for many British holiday-makers who have chosen to spend time on the west coast of France. Indeed, overseas visitors have been snapping up property here, meaning that some feel that the north-west coast has lost some of its “natural feel”, although there have been associated benefits.

If you are looking for accommodation in this part of France then you will undoubtedly find plenty of self-catering accommodation provided by English-speaking owners.

Wardrobe Court is a glimpse of the London of the past and dates back to 1720. To stand here on a winter’s night, in the pitch black stillness, is to experience the true thrill of historic and haunted London. Massive trees tower over the three-story houses, and even the faintest of breezes will send their branches creaking and their trunks swaying.

The perfect stillness of the yard keeps you constantly on edge and glancing furtively around at the gloomy shadows; you feel certain that eyes are watching you from the inky blackness of the house windows.

Not surprisingly, the courtyard has a ghost. People going about their honest, night-time toil in the neighborhood have reported sighting a lady, dressed all in white, drifting aimlessly from door to door. Who she is and why she should choose to wander this courtyard is unknown.

Flight prices are as low now as they have ever been, thanks in no small part to the rise of budget airlines. In the word’s of a former British Prime Minister, we’ve “never had it so good”.

We may think of budget airlines as being a new concept but they’ve actually been around for quite some time. Southwest Airlines offered a ticketless operation back in the early 1970s and that is an approach that will be familiar to millions of customers who have used the likes of Ryanair, Easyjet and Flybe in recent years.

The secret to success of the largest budget airlines has been their ability to cut costs and hence reduce prices for those of us who wish to travel.

A visit to Great Britain can make for the perfect holiday, although some feel that it also invariably leads to an expensive trip. It is possibly to lower the costs involved by looking out for cheap flight deals.

The rise of the so-called budget airlines means that air travel to and from the UK has never been cheaper. The likes of Easyjet and Ryanair have been pioneers in this area of aviation, reducing costs for travellers.

As a result of the success of the budget airlines, many traditional airlines have been forced to react and lower their own prices. This has been very good news for those looking to take a flight to the UK.

For many visitors to Spain’s popular Costa Blanca coast, Alicante is the first location in Spain that they see. Those who take the time to investigate soon realise that there is more to Alicante than its airport.

Benidorm is the key attraction here for plenty of visitors, with its party atmosphere that has been attracting tourists for many years. Those who choose to stay in Alicante itself have plenty of things to do and see.

The city dates back to Roman times and still has remains from that era. There is also, of course, a much more modern side to the city. La Zona and El Barrio both offer exciting entertainment right into the evening, while the beaches are surrounded by bars, restaurants and more.