Source: http://www.soccerblog.com/2013/03/champions-league-16-2nd-leg-ma.htm
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Jay-Z went to the Arsenal-Man United match with Coldplay?s Chris Martin
Perhaps eager to join the chorus of boos for Robin van Persie upon his return to Emirates Stadium, Jay-Z was in attendance for Arsenal's 1-1 draw against Manchester United along with friend, collaborator and Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin.
Jay-Z, a part owner of the NBA's Brooklyn Nets until he recently started his own sports management agency, previously attended Man City's match against Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in 2010 as a guest of City. He later clarified his allegiances to Arsenal Magazine:
?After that game the press started reporting that I was a Manchester City fan, I am really glad all that has been cleared up and that everybody in the UK knows that I am an Arsenal fan.
?I will come to Emirates soon that's for sure. I love London as a city, it?s just finding time when I am over here for a few days to come and watch a game. I will find time soon, I will make sure of it.?
And three years later, he did.
Jay also explained how he first became an Arsenal supporter.
?It was about five years ago now,? explains the ten-time Grammy Award winner. ?When Thierry Henry was at the club I saw him play and I just thought he was an amazing player, ever since then I have been a big fan of the club, following you guys and still today you play the beautiful football that Thierry did, I think he had a real long term effect on the team."
?I love all sports, but what I really love is when people play sport in a beautiful way, and that's one thing Arsenal do for sure."
So now that Jay-Z has finally made it to the Emirates, he really should go watch Martin's favorite club, League Two side Exeter City.
New Era for Inter as Gasperini Takes Charge
Inter Milan have named the man who will attempt to reclaim the Champions League crown they relinquished last season. Former Genoa boss Gian Piero Gasperini has been handed the role of manager, becoming the fourth man to take the reins in just a year after Jose Mourinho, Rafa Benitez and Leonardo. Former Brazilian midfielder Leonardo [...]
Source: http://www.footballnewsblog.co.uk/italian-serie-a/new-era-for-inter-as-gasperini-takes-charge/
Swedish footballer rewards club?s one traveling supporter at match
When Brommapojkarna traveled to Mjallby for their Swedish Allsvenskan match on Sunday, there was just one supporter there to back them in the away section. Though Brommapojkarna lost 4-2, that one fan offered vocal support that was so appreciated by his team that midfielder Bojan Djordjic, formerly of Manchester United, decided to reward him for his efforts.
From Reuters:
"When I saw him, in his shirt, singing and cheering by himself, I decided I had to do something. So I'm going to pay for him to travel to a game of his choice and he'll get to meet the lads," Djordjic told Reuters.
The fan in question, Ander Ung, used to coach one of Brommapojkarna's junior sides, before moving 660 kilometers from Stockholm to Ystad in southern Sweden 20 years ago. He has not been to a home game since.
"You have to lift up people like that," Djordjic said. "I got his number last night and called him from our bus - the warmth and the joy in his voice was unbelievable. He deserves this."
Ung declined Djordjic's offer at first, but the player insisted. Brommapojkarna won promotion to the first division for the third time in the club's history last season.
Earlier this season, Udinese's single traveling fan delighted the world with his presence at their match against Sampdoria, but he didn't get a free trip out of that.
Lecce?s Ousmane Dram� tries to pay prostitute with iPhone, steals her purse, gets caught
Let's be honest, we've all had one of those nights where you solicit the services of a prostitute, try to pay her with an iPhone 5, steal her purse and try to escape on a bicycle, only to be chased down and caught by a transvestite? No? Oh, that'll just be U.S. Lecce winger Ousmane Dram� then.
The 20-year-old Frenchman is alleged to have sought the services of a Nigerian lady of the night in the Porta Rudiae area of Lecce in the early hours of Monday morning, but after failing to pay for the dirty deed with cash, things started to play out like a rejected plotline from The Hangover sequel.
Italian news agency ANSA reports:
A Lecce soccer player was charged Monday for stealing a purse from a prostitute and fleeing by bicycle after reneging on a deal to give her his iPhone 5 for sex. Ousmane Drame, a French national and striker for the third-division club, was reportedly chased down by a transsexual friend of the robbed Nigerian streetwalker after the incident early Monday.
Police also charged Drame' with injuring the transsexual when he allegedly tripped him as he tried to wrest the purse from his hands.
On Monday, the Italian third division side published a statement on their official website, claiming they would suspend Dram� and terminate his contract if the "facts were confirmed". They also claim they will proceed with legal action for damages to the club's image.
Dram� ? who has barely played this season ? was once linked to the likes of Arsenal and Fiorentina, the kind of clubs whose players can afford to pay their prostitutes in cash. Sadly, this incident may have diverted his career path away from Europe's elite clubs for a while.
A Photo Five Years In The Making
It took five full seasons and a whole lot of grief, but last night, Major League Soccer finally got the photo it had wanted for so long: David Beckham, the most famous footballer on the planet — which he was, at least,�in 2007�when he signed that $32.5 million deal with the Los Angeles Galaxy — [...]
Source: http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2011/11/21/a-photo-five-years-in-the-making/
Monday, April 29, 2013
Real Madrid fans chant ?less millions, more cojones? at players in airport
Real Madrid supporters were obviously upset about the team's 4-1 loss in Dortmund. This, after all, was a match that had a score of 1-1 at halftime. So when the team arrived at Dortmund's airport to make their trip home, their traveling fans were there and ready to make themselves heard.
"Menos milliones, mas cojones," (less millions, more balls) they chanted as the squad filed past them.
Their words stuck to the theme of Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp's post-match comments. "That was like Robin Hood taking from the rich," he said, noting Madrid's superior wealth.
Though a comeback in the second leg wouldn't be completely impossible for Real Madrid, in order to achieve such a task, they would probably have to become a new kind of Robin Hood, who steals cojones. We can only hope they don't take that order too literal.
Drew Brees Still Has Two Milestones To Eclipse
Last night, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees broke Dan Marino’s single-season NFL passing record in a blowout win over the Atlanta Falcons. Marino set the old record of 5,084 yards with the Miami Dolphins in 1984. Brees now sits at 5,087 yards. Perhaps the most amazing thing is that he broke this record in [...]
Source: http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2011/12/27/drew-brees-still-has-two-milestones-to-eclipse/
2013-14 Barcelona shirts leaked ? Big improvement on the current kits
2013-14 Barcelona shirts leaked – Big improvement on the current kits - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
The 2013-14 Barcelona shirts (home, away & third) have been leaked. Although it is a big improvement on their current kits but are these really final?
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From Soccerlens.com - Football News
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/soccerlens/~3/7dxE-G1TbXo/
The Existential Dread of the Final
I’m fearing the worst today. This is probably not the proper reaction to have to the UEFA Champions League Final.�It’s the big day!�It’s�Europe’s answer to Super Bowl Sunday, and more people are watching this! Two massive clubs, both domestic champions, battle it out to be champions of the continent! What more could you want? An [...]
Source: http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2011/05/28/the-existential-dread-of-the-final/
The Swedes Take Berlin (Well, Half)
At…some point in the game, that photo happened. The two political big wigs of Germany and Sweden respectively – German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Prime Minister of Sweden, John Fredrik Reinfeldt – give an accurate description of what was happening: a 4-0 German lead. And then Zlatan happened in the 62nd minute
And then everyone [...]
And then everyone [...]
Source: http://www.worldcupblog.org/world-football/the-swedes-take-berlin-well-half.html
BT Sport sign up Arsenal and Manchester United stars
BT Sport sign up Arsenal and Manchester United stars - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
After acquiring Gareth Bale as the brand ambassador last month, BT Sport have gone on and signed deals with Robin van Persie and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
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From Soccerlens.com - Football News
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/soccerlens/~3/0i-nTpGXcNs/
Sunday, April 28, 2013
FIFA 14 ? First Look Developer Interview
During our visit to EA Guildford this past Friday for the FIFA 14 reveal, in addition to getting a first look at the game, we had the pleasure of sitting down with producer and all-round lovely chap Sebastian Enrique. With new additions and refinements being announced, we had the opportunity to ask Sebastian a variety [...]
The post FIFA 14 – First Look Developer Interview appeared first on FIFA Soccer Blog.
Source: http://fifasoccerblog.com/blog/fifa-14-first-look-developer-interview/
Steelers Have Only Themselves To Blame
A famous coach once said you can’t turn the ball over and expect to win the game. And yet, the Pittsburgh Steelers had a shot to win Super Bowl XLV. Down 6 points with two minutes to go from their own 13 yard line, Ben Roethlisberger led the Steelers’ offense on the field against a [...]
Source: http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2011/02/07/steelers-have-only-themselves-to-blame/
MLS commissioner thinks there?s ?way too much soccer on television?
MLS commissioner Don Garber thinks there's too much of his sport on American television. Way too much. And no, he's not being sarcastic.
He made the poorly phrased claim while speaking to the Associated Press Sports Editors and to avoid headlines like the one above, it probably should've come out a bit different. From the AP:
Garber said the sport must deal with a glut of soccer on American television, where MLS has national deals with ESPN, NBC and Univision. NBC takes over the English Premier League next season from Fox, which retains rights for the European Champions League and Europa League. BeIN Sport televises the Spanish, Italian and French leagues, GOL broadcasts the German Bundesliga and ESPN and Univision televise Mexican games.
"There's more soccer on television than any other sport by far,'' Garber said. "You've got European soccer. You've got Mexican soccer. You've got Major League Soccer. There's way too much soccer on television. I think all of us got to figure out a way to narrow that window so you can get a situation like the NFL has, a couple of days a week, short schedule, something that's very compelling and very targeted.''
What Garber seems to be saying is that he considers other, more popular leagues from around the world that are broadcast in the US to be competition for MLS and that his league needs to figure out a way to carve out a space for its sapling to grow amongst the bigger, older trees. Though MLS attendance has grown to be quite strong in its 17-year history, TV ratings have been painfully minuscule. But morning Premier League matches and weekday afternoon Champions League games probably aren't impacting that as much as MLS's inconsistent scheduling and need to keep growing while keeping its sometimes off-putting inferiority complex at bay.
But the one league MLS doesn't mind comparing itself to is the NFL. Which, obvious to most, is a very different sport in a very different position. Prior to joining MLS in 1999, Garber worked at the NFL for 16 years and it still seems to hold a special place in Garber's thoughts. Perhaps a bit too special.
Whatever Garber truly meant, NBC certainly doesn't agree with his assessment. The network ? which, again, is also partnered with MLS ? paid $250 million to broadcast the Premier League for the next three seasons. In addition to showing all 380 matches live next season, they have also announced they will air over 600 hours of original Premier League programming.
Even taking those dizzying numbers into account, who would've guessed that the day has already come where a man in the business of soccer in America complains about too much soccer on American television? This might the Twilight Zone.
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What can Arsenal learn from Barcelona?
What can Arsenal learn from Barcelona? - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Arsenal and Barcelona played each other in the 2005-06 Champions League final - what do the Gunners need to learn from the Spaniards to get back there?
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From Soccerlens.com - Football News
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/soccerlens/~3/vo8oS4npNhA/
Euro 2012: Czechs and Greece Advance, Group of Death on Tap
Also, WHAT? We’ve really been spoiled with the tournament so far, and Saturday only enriched an experience that’s provided plenty of dramatic moments to this point. I say that as a neutral—yesterday was obviously painful for those who had a vested interest in the success of Russia or Poland, and today will see two more [...]
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Barcelona Stunned in the Champions League
Barcelona traveled to the San Siro Wednesday, where they were stunned by AC Milan. AC Milan took the lead in the 56th minute after a Kevin-Prince Boateng goal. Milan then secured the win in the 81st minute when Sulley Muntari scored to give the home side a 2-0 lead heading into the second leg at…
The post Barcelona Stunned in the Champions League appeared first on SoccerProse.com.
Source: http://soccerprose.com/champions-league/barcelona-stunned-in-the-champions-league/
Liverpool, Luis Suarez ?shocked? he was banned slightly longer than first time he bit someone
The FA has decided to give Liverpool striker Luis Suarez a 10-match ban for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic during Sunday's match. The incident wasn't seen by the referee at the time, but it was seen by everyone with a television, newspaper or Internet connection so Suarez was forced to swiftly apologize. Before The FA could act, Liverpool fined him �200,000, which was donated to the Hillsborough Family Support Group in an uncomfortable example of roping in a noble cause for PR gain. When The FA did charge Suarez, he accepted it, but said that the standard three-match ban would do him just fine.
That brings us to The FA's statement:
A three-person Independent Regulatory Commission today upheld The FA?s claim that a suspension of three matches was clearly insufficient and the player will serve a further seven first-team matches in addition to the standard three. The suspension begins with immediate effect.
In 2010, Suarez was given a seven-match ban the Dutch Football Federation for biting an opponent. He was initially fined and banned two matches by Ajax (something Liverpool did not do this time). Liverpool saved him from serving that out in full by buying him the following January, though.
So when you compare it to that and consider it's the second time he's bitten someone during a match, the length makes a bit of sense. But when you compare it to his eight-match for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra last season or just about anything else, it makes less sense because these things are unfortunately never consistent. And yet, Liverpool and Suarez are still "shocked and disappointed" by the decision.
From the club's official website:
FC managing director Ian Ayre said: "Both the club and player are shocked and disappointed at the severity of today's Independent Regulatory Commission decision.
"We await the written reasons tomorrow before making any further comment."
And so it continues.
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U.S. aims to close gap on Mexico, the world
MEXICO CITY -- The United States hopes its historic victory at Estadio Azteca is a precursor of sorts, but nobody is mistaking it as a shift in the balance within the region's primary rivalry. The gap separating the Americans from Mexico remains intact, and the only questions concern how great is the chasm and what must be done to bridge it.
Mexico's focus on youth development has created a golden generation of players and could signal El Tri's arrival among the truly elite in international soccer.Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/soccer/post/_/id/17738/u-s-aims-to-close-gap-on-mexico-the-world
Want The Chance To Playtest FIFA 14?
Yup that’s right!, EA are offering you guys the chance to playtest a very early build of FIFA 14. FIFA 14 was only recetly announced on Wednesday but EA are already looking for people to playtest a early build in order to gain feedback to make sure FIFA 14 will be one fans can enjoy [...]
The post Want The Chance To Playtest FIFA 14? appeared first on FIFA Soccer Blog.
Source: http://fifasoccerblog.com/blog/want-the-chance-to-playtest-fifa-14/
Friday, April 26, 2013
Croatian coach sacked for stealing player?s credit card and buying 36 bottles of J�germeister
Josip 'Jozo' Ga?par played for Dinamo Zagreb for most of the 1990s, and was most recently the coach of Croatian lower league side NK Pre?ko Zagreb. The former midfielder, however, was relieved of his managerial duties at the beginning of April due to an incident in which he apparently stole a player's credit card and used it to buy an unfathomable amount of alcohol.
Translated from 24sata.hr:
The Dinamo legend was fired because he is suspected of stealing a credit card from one of his own players from the locker room! Supposedly, he used the card to purchase 36 bottles of J�germeister.
According to Croatian news site jutarnji.hr, the J�ger spending spree cost nearly 4,000 Croatian Kuna (about $680). Jozo tried to return to the same liquor store to buy even more delicious German digestifs (because 36 bottles weren't enough, obviously) but the transaction was declined as he had exceeded the credit limit of the card. At this point, he was also recognised by the store surveillance camera and subsequently taken into custody.
With no job and most of Croatia chuckling at his stupidity, Jozo could probably really use one of those J�ger bottles right now.
H/T: 101GG
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Is Luis Suarez bad for Liverpool?
Is Luis Suarez bad for Liverpool? - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Despite his on-pitch heroics, Luis Suarez has been responsible for damaging Liverpool's brand image with series of inexcusable acts. Is he now a liability?
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From Soccerlens.com - Football News
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/soccerlens/~3/HvtIZz0O4og/
Sergio Aguero apologizes to David Luiz for two-footed rectum tackle
Late in Man City's 2-1 win over Chelsea in the FA Cup semifinals, Sergio Aguero went unpunished for a bizarre two-footed lunge into David Luiz's rear end. The FA later ruled that Aguero would not face retrospective action for the tackle, but the Argentine has still heeded his Brazilian opponent's request for an apology.
Aguero publicly announced his private apology on his Facebook page. He said:
I've contacted David Luiz and apologized for what happened during the match. It was an impulse reaction that shouldn't have happened.
The impulse to go surfing on someone's backside is an unusual one, but it sounds like Aguero has learned from this.
UPDATE: David Luiz used his Twitter account to thank Aguero for the apology. Hooray for social media!
Thank you @aguerosergiokun for a demonstration of character. We get to know great man and athletes this way.
? David Luiz (@DavidLuiz_4) April 16, 2013
Longest football bans: Luis Suarez the latest in a conspicious list
Longest football bans: Luis Suarez the latest in a conspicious list - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Luis Suarez is the latest in a long line of players to feel the wrath of the authorities; here are the top football bans in recent times.
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From Soccerlens.com - Football News
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/soccerlens/~3/nYxodKMJjx4/
Requiem for an American Soccer Club
The uncertainty is always there. In the divisions of American soccer below MLS — and occasionally, as a few Florida residents might tell you, in MLS itself — there’s always a chance that the club you support won’t be around for very long. Club owners arrive with big talk of making soccer work in this [...]
Source: http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2011/01/28/requiem-for-an-american-soccer-club/
Herculez Gomez Trolls Don Garber
Posted in MLS
I love watching Herculez Gomez on Twitter. Against the Seattle Sounders, he was the ultimate troll. Today MLS commissioner Don Garber was holding a live Q&A on Twitter and naturally Herc thought it would be fun to pipe in and ask a question. @mls @thesoccerdon why are my rights still owned by KC (Wizards)? ? [...]The post Herculez Gomez Trolls Don Garber appeared first on WVHooligan.com - MLS Blog.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WVHooligan/~3/ke9z8EpUXcA/
Borussia Dortmund?s stadium has home and away jail cells
With Real Madrid facing Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League semifinals, Spanish sports paper Marca decided to take a tour of the German club's Westfalenstadion in order to learn a bit more about the opposition. The thing they found most intriguing about the notoriously loud ground? The two jail cells reserved for matchday troublemakers.
From Marca:
One of the most curious things about the home to Borussia Dortmund is located in the north end of the stadium, where less than 15 metres from the stand there is a small police station with two prison cells - one for the home fans (on the right) and one for the away fans (on the left). "We made two in order to avoid any scuffles between the opposing fans" MARCA was told by a guide at the German stadium.
Each cell can hold up to 130 brawlers and/or drunks. They are soundproof to ensure the people they hold are truly being punished by not being able to hear what's going on with the day's match.
Jose Mourinho's famous handcuff gesture could soon take on a whole new meaning.
2013 MLS Season, Week 9: What To Watch For
Posted in MLS
For whatever reason, this week has dragged on. I could blame a number of things on it but we’re finally at Thursday which means it is time to look ahead to this weekend to see what is around the corner in Major League Soccer. Just as in last week, we have a full slate of [...]The post 2013 MLS Season, Week 9: What To Watch For appeared first on WVHooligan.com - MLS Blog.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WVHooligan/~3/slE1nkOWBRk/
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Podcast 055 ? Yet Another Season
To kick off the madness that is football-gaming anticipation months (April – September), we thought it was time we gave our podcast series a much needed�resuscitation and some fresh blood. After a couple of years off the mic, I make my long-awaited return to the FSB podcast and recruit�Monsieur’s Tanvir and Clark to tell me [...]
The post Podcast 055 – Yet Another Season appeared first on FIFA Soccer Blog.
Source: http://fifasoccerblog.com/blog/podcast-055-yet-another-season-2/
Drew Brees Still Has Two Milestones To Eclipse
Last night, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees broke Dan Marino’s single-season NFL passing record in a blowout win over the Atlanta Falcons. Marino set the old record of 5,084 yards with the Miami Dolphins in 1984. Brees now sits at 5,087 yards. Perhaps the most amazing thing is that he broke this record in [...]
Source: http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2011/12/27/drew-brees-still-has-two-milestones-to-eclipse/
DTotD: Gremio, Huachipato coaches spark brawl that includes players, fans and ball boys
At the end of Gremio's 1-1 draw against Chilean side Huachipato on the final night of Copa Libertadores group stage matches, a spat between the two managers started a large and at times comical brawl. Gremio manager Vanderlei Luxemburgo was blamed with antagonizing his Huachipato counterpart, Jorge Pellicier, with his laughter and snide remarks.
In the video above, former Real Madrid coach Luxemburgo can be seen smiling and running towards the tunnel as tempers flare. When he reaches the riots cops, he stops and attempts to dodge the charging Huachipato players, but slips and is left in a vulnerable positions as the fight engulfs him. Players from both sides and several fans get involved and the Huachipato ball boys even attempt to do their part by chucking balls into the melee while the riot police try to herd everyone into the tunnel.
Once everything calmed down, Luxemburgo tried to defend himself. From the AP:
[Also: Time names Mario Balotelli one of the world's most influential people]
"None of this was necessary," Luxemburgo said.
"I was talking to the officiating crew after the match and someone from their team came to me to complain.
"Then I saw their coach coming after me and I started trying to get away because I didn't want to get involved in anything. I was stepped on and one of their players hit me."
That story didn't match Pellicier's version of events. From Reuters:
Pellicier, however, disputed that version of events when quoted by the Chilean daily El Mercurio's website (www.emol.com): "He tried to make fun of us... That's unsporting conduct. He said we should go on holiday, making a gesture with his hand."
With the draw, Gremio and Huachipato both finish with eight points in their group, but Gremio will advance to the round of 16 while Huachipato miss out on goal difference.
This has been the Dirty Tackle of the Day: a chronicling of unfortunate events.
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Dallas player scores late winner against LA, gets hit in the head with bottle thrown by Dallas fan
FC Dallas defender George John scored headed in a late winner against the LA Galaxy and before he could even celebrate, he was on the ground and bleeding after getting struck by a beer bottle thrown by one of his club's own supporters.
The initial header off Dallas' 87th-minute corner kick came back off the bar, finding George John in the right place at the right time to finish it off and take three points at home. But as as soon as he scored, he found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time as a beer bottle came flying out of the stands and into the back of his head. John went down clutching his bloody scalp as his teammates gathered around and the crowd celebrated the goal.
Though the joy of the moment was lost, George John received treatment, got cleaned up and seemed OK aside from the cut. Still, it was a scary moment, especially for a player with a history of concussions who was forced out of Dallas' last match at halftime with another head injury.
A review of the footage from TV cameras identified the man who threw the bottle, so justice will hopefully be served there. When a member of your favorite team scores a late goal against the back to back MLS Cup winners, the desire to give the guy a free beer is only natural, but this definitely wasn't the way to do it.
Several dramatic possible conclusions set up by the Champions League semifinal draw
The Champions League semifinal draw at UEFA headquarters put Bayern Munich up against Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund against group-stage foes Real Madrid. In addition to separating the two Spanish and two German sides, this also set up the opportunity for a few different outcomes that each carry the potential for drama, intensity and mass destruction. So let's examine each of the potential pairings for the final at Wembley and the entertaining horror they might bring.
Bayern v Dortmund -- The all-German final. Though Bayern ran away with the Bundesliga title this year, Dortmund won the previous two and would be eager to get the last laugh this season by giving Bayern a third Champions League final defeat in four years. After admitting to having a hair transplant in January, Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp is filled with a renewed sense of confidence. With fellow hair transplant recipient Wayne Rooney as his spirit animal, Klopp could summon the force to distract Bastian Schweinsteiger with a series of bizarre facial expressions and guttural noises, causing him to miss the decisive shot in the final's penalty shootout for the second year in a row. Bayern would then enter a self-imposed five-year Champions League exile citing "too many feelings."
Bayern v Real Madrid -- Desperate to avenge their 2010 Champions League final loss to Jose Mourinho (then with Inter), Bayern agree to an idea from their next manager, Pep Guardiola, in which they join forces with semifinal opponent and Guardiola's last club, Barcelona. The resulting "Bayernalona" freak team would send Mourinho into an apoplectic fit as all of his worst nightmares about Guardiola, his old nemesis, conspiring against him come true. The combination of Leo Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta with Philippe Lahm, Franck Ribery and Thomas Muller proves bafflingly effective with its amorphous form as Guardiola cackles, wearing a white lab coat and standing atop the Wembley arch. Possession is his game, football becomes his slave and Bayernalona become a wildly successful touring act in the vein of the Harlem Globetrotters.
Barca v Dortmund -- Written off as the old guard to Dortmund's new regime of youth and speed, Barcelona once again prove that with Leo Messi, all other forced storylines are invalid. Still suffering the ill effects of a hamstring injury, Messi hops around the pitch on one leg for 90 minutes (partly because hopping is fun), scores four goals and makes Mario Gotze decide to become an architect.
Barca v Real Madrid -- Jose Mourinho has already made it clear that he is leaving Madrid this summer, so for him this would be the final Clasico. In this apocalyptic, scorched-earth scenario, Mourinho picks up where he left off with Real Madrid's 3-1 win against Barca in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal this season and dismantles Barcelona once and for all. Cristiano Ronaldo would put Messi on his shoulders and score at will. Mourinho would win his record third Champions League title with three different clubs. He immediately announces that he is staying in London to rejoin Chelsea and that he is the Highlander. He would then urinate in the center circle to mark his territory for all to see.
Neymar has a massive, custom, diamond encrusted watch
Now that Neymar has that sweet, sweet comic book money rolling in, he apparently decided to treat himself to a watch that can be seen from space. Upon arriving Belo Horizonte for national team duty, the congregated reporters, including those from Globoesporte, couldn't help but notice the sparkling dinner plate strapped to his wrist. Encrusted in diamonds and featuring the Brazilian flag and his initials (roughly the same size as the part that actually tells time), the watch will probably greatly improve the 21-year-old's upper body strength.
So if he ever needs to know what time it is or what his initials are in the most sparkly way possible, he's covered.
Euro 2012: Germany and Portugal Move On, Heading to Group C
Sunday had perhaps the most underwhelming product of the tournament thus far from a neutral perspective, which is maybe better put as a neutral who despises most of the Portuguese squad and wanted nothing less than their total annihilation. There was a brief period when plenty of intrigue was promised, but the wrap-up didn’t really [...]
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Want to Watch the Rugby World Cup in America? Pay Up or Find a Pub
If you need any further proof that the 2011 Rugby World Cup lacks any pull in the USA, just examine the television coverage. Universal Sports, the barely-known over-the-air digital channel that accompanies�most NBC broadcast�signals, published this grid showing what games will be shown where. Clearly, the boys at Universal want people to pay up for [...]
Source: http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2011/09/07/how-to-watch-the-rugby-world-cup-in-america/
Steelers Have Only Themselves To Blame
A famous coach once said you can’t turn the ball over and expect to win the game. And yet, the Pittsburgh Steelers had a shot to win Super Bowl XLV. Down 6 points with two minutes to go from their own 13 yard line, Ben Roethlisberger led the Steelers’ offense on the field against a [...]
Source: http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2011/02/07/steelers-have-only-themselves-to-blame/
Sweden 2, England 3: England Surprise in Comeback Win
Sweden Johnson (og) 49′, Mellberg 59′
England Carroll 23′, Walcott 64′, Welbeck 78′
England fight back to get the win in Kiev over Sweden, scoring two goals in the second half after throwing away yet another 1-0 lead. There was little predicting it after the Swedes took the lead, but Roy Hodgson’s squad somehow managed a [...]
England Carroll 23′, Walcott 64′, Welbeck 78′
England fight back to get the win in Kiev over Sweden, scoring two goals in the second half after throwing away yet another 1-0 lead. There was little predicting it after the Swedes took the lead, but Roy Hodgson’s squad somehow managed a [...]
Source: http://liverpool.theoffside.com/team-news/sweden-2-england-3-england-surprise-in-comeback-win.html
What can Chelsea learn from Bayern Munich?
What can Chelsea learn from Bayern Munich? - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Chelsea have regressed since last year's Champions League final, while Bayern Munich have improved. What can the Blues learn from the Germans?
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From Soccerlens.com - Football News
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/soccerlens/~3/CJKKcPD2-9M/
U.S. Men?s National Team travels to Estadio Azteca
The United States Men’s National Team will play Mexico Tuesday at Estadio Azteca. The U.S. national team is currently in second in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. The team lost it’s first hexagonal match 2-1 to Honduras, but bounced back and beat Costa Rica 1-0 in snowy conditions. This leaves the U.S. national team with…
The post U.S. Men’s National Team travels to Estadio Azteca appeared first on SoccerProse.com.
Source: http://soccerprose.com/national-teams/u-s-mens-national-team-travels-to-estadio-azteca/
German Bundesliga ? Match Predictions ? March 2-3, 2013
It’s a full slate of matches this weekend in the German Bundesliga including Bayern Munich traveling to Hoffenheim and Borussia Dortmund hosting Hannover. Saturday, March 2, 2013 Borussia Dortmund v Hannover 96, 9:30 AM EST Prediction – Borussia Dortmund wins 3-2 Hamburg v Greuther Furth, 9:30 AM EST Prediction – Hamburg wins 2-0 Nuremberg v [...]
Source: http://www.the90thminute.com/soccer/2013/03/german-bundesliga-match-predictions-march-2-3-2013/
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Sad Inter fans use giant banner to express how they ?feel like orphans? since Jose Mourinho left
Inter lost 3-2 in the second leg of their Coppa Italia semifinal against Roma to be eliminated on an aggregate score of 5-3, but their melancholy vibe began long before the match even started. And if their banners at the San Siro are an indication, that feeling has been growing since Jose Mourinho left the club after winning the treble in 2010.
"After Mourinho we feel like orphans of someone who knows how to convey the sense of belonging to these colors," read the banners draped from the upper level of the stadium that could be lyrics from an upcoming Morrissey song.
They've had five managers since Mourinho left for Real Madrid starting with an embarrassing five months under Rafa Benitez and now with Andrea Stramaccioni, who has Inter sitting seventh in the Serie A table this season. Mourinho recently said he would not return to Inter next season, but that he'd "like to go back one day."
Inter fans weren't the only ones invoking Mourinho's name in recent days. Chelsea fans continued their pleas for Mourinho to save them from Rafa Benitez's stint as interim trophy killer during Chelsea's FA Cup semifinal loss to Man City at Wembley on Sunday with a flag that read "Special. Genius. Legend. Jose, come home."
As for Benitez, who also said that he would like to return to former club Liverpool, well, Brendan Rodgers has made it clear that he's not welcome.
Odds against U.S., but Azteca win is the aim
MEXICO CITY -- El Tri has never lost to the United States in 20 meetings at Estadio Azteca, they're soaring following their under-23 team's gold-medal triumph at the London Olympics, the last competitive meeting between CONCACAF's powers was a full-on rout, and they've got a strong, representative side ready to take on a young, incomplete American team in what could be a full house at North America's most iconic soccer venue.
What hope could the U.
Bayern Munich Become Champions League Favorites
Although the matches that happen today might see Madrid march on and BVB end Malaga?s Cinderella run, the Champions League matches from yesterday have left no doubt that Bayern Munich is now the favorite to make it back into the Champions League final and seems the likeliest team to emerge victorious. A 2-0 victory by…
The post Bayern Munich Become Champions League Favorites appeared first on SoccerProse.com.
Source: http://soccerprose.com/soccer-fans/bayern-munich-become-champions-league-favorites/
blitzen awards
So a terrible thing happened in Boston today, and we don’t yet know who is responsible, except that whoever they are, they are Very Bad People. Sadly it seems that terrible things happen all too frequently these days, and innocent people get hurt. I know I speak for everyone in this small corner of the [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BarcelonaFootballBlog/~3/sx9h37f35dU/
Sweden 2, England 3: England Surprise in Comeback Win
Sweden Johnson (og) 49′, Mellberg 59′
England Carroll 23′, Walcott 64′, Welbeck 78′
England fight back to get the win in Kiev over Sweden, scoring two goals in the second half after throwing away yet another 1-0 lead. There was little predicting it after the Swedes took the lead, but Roy Hodgson’s squad somehow managed a [...]
England Carroll 23′, Walcott 64′, Welbeck 78′
England fight back to get the win in Kiev over Sweden, scoring two goals in the second half after throwing away yet another 1-0 lead. There was little predicting it after the Swedes took the lead, but Roy Hodgson’s squad somehow managed a [...]
Source: http://liverpool.theoffside.com/team-news/sweden-2-england-3-england-surprise-in-comeback-win.html
Raymond Domenech: All Alone With A Pen
The inevitable has happened: Raymond Domenech’s written a book. It’s called All Alone (Tout Seul) and it appears to have a heavy focus, if it’s not entirely centered upon, the French World Cup 2010 fiasco. And in typical Domenech fashion, it’s been done with drama, controversy and throwing absolutely everyone in the vicinity underneath the [...]
Source: http://www.worldcupblog.org/world-football/raymond-domenech-all-alone-with-a-pen.html
Monday, April 22, 2013
Europa League QF Second Leg Preview: How will English teams fare?
Europa League QF Second Leg Preview: How will English teams fare? - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
In the first leg of the Europa League quarterfinals, none of the teams were able to open up a gap of more than two goals over their opponents.
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From Soccerlens.com - Football News
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/soccerlens/~3/VYtRl8mznEQ/
Jupp Heynckes won?t be asking Pep Guardiola for advice, but he might strangle you
Bayern Munich manager Jupp Heynckes has already won the Bundesliga by a 20-point margin and also has his team in the semifinals of the DFB Pokal and Champions League. And yet since January it has been public knowledge that he will be replaced by former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola next season. So when Bayern drew the Barca in the Champions League semifinals, it set up a hellacious few weeks of questioning for Heynckes on the subjects of Guardiola, his former club and his influence on his next one.
On the very same day of the draw, Heynckes set the tone for how he will be handling any and all questions that reference Guardiola or the possibility of asking him for advice. From Reuters:
"Respect me and my work," Heynckes curtly told reporters on Friday. "I have never consulted anyone or asked for advice.
"I do not need anyone to study an opponent."
Keep in mind Heynckes is a man who has his team in position to win the treble this season and has already been replaced. He led Real Madrid to a Champions League title in 1998 and also managed Tenerife and Athletic Bilbao, among many others. The man knows what he's doing. So to have reporters asking him if he's going to request the help of someone already confirmed to replace him, who is 25 years younger with only four years of managerial experience at his hometown club, is enough to cause a person to renounce society and live out his days in the woods, hoping for civilization to fail.
Look at the picture at the top of this post. Jupp Heynckes is not a man you want to trifle with.
U.S. Men?s National Team travels to Estadio Azteca
The United States Men’s National Team will play Mexico Tuesday at Estadio Azteca. The U.S. national team is currently in second in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. The team lost it’s first hexagonal match 2-1 to Honduras, but bounced back and beat Costa Rica 1-0 in snowy conditions. This leaves the U.S. national team with…
The post U.S. Men’s National Team travels to Estadio Azteca appeared first on SoccerProse.com.
Source: http://soccerprose.com/national-teams/u-s-mens-national-team-travels-to-estadio-azteca/
New FIFA 14 Squad Management Screenshot
EA Sports have been kind enough to release a new screenshot of their upcoming annual football title, FIFA 14. The screenshot, which can be seen below shows off the Squad Management in Career Mode. �Very nice, I’m sure you will agree!. Let us know your thoughts on this new screenshot via the comment section below. [...]
The post New FIFA 14 Squad Management Screenshot appeared first on FIFA Soccer Blog.
Source: http://fifasoccerblog.com/blog/new-fifa-14-squad-management-screenshot/
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Mario Balotelli named one of Time Magazine?s 100 most influential people in the world
Mario Balotelli has been named one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people in the world for 2013. The list has previous included the likes of Lionel Messi and Didier Drogba, but 22-year-old Balotelli is the only footballer to be named this year and one of four athletes along with LeBron James, Olympic skier�Lindsey Vonn and tennis player Li Na.
Chelsea legend and Watford manager Gianfranco Zola, who coached Balotelli for a bit of his time with Italy's U-21 team, wrote the blurb that accompanied Mario's inclusion in the "icons" section of the list. Zola says:
From afar, people may think he?s a madman, but he isn?t. Mario is a lovely guy, very humble and very funny. I can assure people he has always been a pleasure to deal with. He has returned to Italy from England as the main man with lots of attention. Now he has to ensure he keeps control and keeps focus. Mario loves the pressure, but to succeed, it is about finding balance.
The combination of Balotelli's developing brilliance on the pitch mixed with his innate ability to produce captivatingly odd moments (be it with a bib or fireworks in his bathroom) and the many strange myths dreamed up by the press have definitely made him one of the world's most scrutinized footballers. He's also been forced into the center of the fight for racial equality and subjected to vile abuse within the game since he was teenager. But to call him one of the most influential people in the world seems a bit speculative. Though there probably hasn't been a run on camouflage Bentleys since Balotelli started driving his, he does have a firm hold on the footballing world's attention. And as Zola alludes, it will be Balotelli's focus and control that determines what he does with it.
One person who isn't surprised about Balotelli's inclusion in the list is his eccentric agent, Mino Raiola. From Football Italia:
?I am not remotely surprised,? Mino Raiola told Sky Sport Italia. ?Time saw something in him that many are unable to see.
?He can influence men, women, children. Mario can influence Italy in various different ways, starting from the issue of racism that can be fought.
?He is a perfectly normal young man, but it?s clear there have been important responsibilities on his shoulders since he was 16 years old.?
Balotelli will attend a presentation ceremony in New York on April 22. He previously appeared in Time Magazine for a cover story last year.
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