Source: http://soccerphile.blogspot.com/2013/04/fifa-world-rankings-april-2013.html
Friday, May 31, 2013
Lukas Podolski scores nine seconds into friendly against Ecuador
Fresh off German clubs winning both the Champions League and the Women's Champions League, the German national team continued the run of Deutschland domination when Lukas Podolski scored just nine seconds into their friendly against Ecuador.
The Ecuadorians kicked off, but when the ball reached their backline, Podolski was there to take it away and score like he was playing FIFA 13 on amateur difficulty. Lars Bender made it 2-0 in the fourth minute and Podolski scored again to make it 3-0 in the 17th minute. Bender then completed his brace in the 24th minute and Germany ended up winning 4-2.
When Podolski's first goal was scored, the commentators said it was just six seconds in, but the German football association officially lists it as being nine seconds into the match. Either way, it's an excellent excuse to remind you that before the Mario Gomez button, there was the Lukas Podolski song...
And Now, Jimmy Nutini?s Soccer-Style NFL Shirts
These images have been kicking around these here interwebs for the last couple of days. You’re probably wondering where they came from. They are the work of one�Jimmy Nutini, an aspiring designer and self-proclaimed “logo nerd” from Rhode Island who wondered what NFL jerseys might look like if they were soccer shirts. So he grabbed [...]
Source: http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2011/02/01/and-now-jimmy-nutinis-soccer-style-nfl-shirts/
Should the NCAA Tournament Be More Like the UEFA Champions League?
It’s NCAA Tournament week here in America, and as the college basketball-loving masses fill out their brackets in the vain hope of actually winning a few bucks, the press turns to head coaches from schools that just missed out on invitations to the Big Dance(tm). Angry coaches whose jobs hinge on these invitations often have [...]
Bent committed to Villa
Aston Villa’s Darren Bent has rejected claims that he could be the next high-profile name to leave Villa Park and has reaffirmed his commitment to the club. The England striker only signed for the Villains in January and helped the club steer away from the relegation zone and they eventually finished comfortably in mid table. [...]
Source: http://www.footballnewsblog.co.uk/premiership/bent-committed-to-villa/
The Pro Bowl Should Be Replaced, Not Saved
Once upon a time, NFL players cared about playing football in the Pro Bowl. This is what they did yesterday instead. Notice how nobody seemed all that interested in hitting anyone. There was no blitzing, no real blocking (it wasn’t really needed), and no tackling. This might have been the players deciding that they weren’t [...]
Source: http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2011/01/31/the-pro-bowl-should-be-replaced-not-saved/
English Premier League ? Match Predictions ? March 2-3, 2013
It’s a full slate of matches this weekend in the English Premier League including a London derby with Tottenham Hotspur hosting Arsenal. Saturday, March 2, 2013 Chelsea v West Bromwich Albion, 10:00 AM EST (Abu Dhabi Sports, Fox Soccer) Prediction – Chelsea wins 2-0 Everton v Reading, 10:00 AM EST�(Abu Dhabi Sports, Fox Soccer Plus) [...]
Source: http://www.the90thminute.com/soccer/2013/03/english-premier-league-match-predictions-march-2-3-2013/
Brazil 2014 Poster Released
The World Cup in Brazil is sneaking up rapidly – only 17 months until the country goes bananas for the Selecao, and 18 until they riot when someone else wins it all. Today, they released the official poster and logo, which is a design spaced such that it creates a white Brazil in the center.
Sadly, [...]
Sadly, [...]
Source: http://www.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2014/brazil-2014-poster-released.html
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Olivier Giroud Knows Drama
The biggest game of the evening, arguably the biggest of all European World Cup qualifying, was Spain versus France. The European World Champions of the Milky Way, Spain, were hosting, thus a victory seemed a solid bet. At 1-0 in the 88th, Karim Benzema came off for Olivier Giroud. And with mere seconds on the [...]
Source: http://www.worldcupblog.org/world-football/olivier-giroud-knows-drama.html
Who will be next season?s top scorer?
It is 11 years since an Englishman won the Premier League Golden Boot. A home-grown player had won at least a share in the award in every previous Premier League season, so this prize exemplifies the shift in balance of power between native and foreign players more than anything else. This pattern might be about [...]
Source: http://www.footballnewsblog.co.uk/premiership/who-will-be-next-seasons-top-scorer/
Sacked Tony Pulis writes thank you letter to Stoke fans in local paper
Tony Pulis' second spell as Stoke City manager has come to an end following a disappointing season in which the club finished 13th in the Premier League. After his initial three years with Stoke between 2002 and 2005, Pulis returned in the summer of 2006. He won promotion to the Premier League and eventually led Stoke to their first ever FA Cup final in 2011 and a spot in the Europa League. The baseball cap and tracksuit wearing 55-year-old, who physically fought one of his own players in 2009, ultimately didn't reach the heights expected of him with the money he was able to spend. So now he's gone.
But on his way out the door, he took a cue from Roberto Mancini's full-page ad in the Manchester Evening News saying goodbye to Man City supporters last weekend and penned a farewell letter to Stoke fans that ran in a local paper.
From The Sentinel:
I'D like to start by thanking every single one of you who have made the last decade so special for me at Stoke City.
I am grateful for this opportunity here to express my gratitude because, unlike Roberto Mancini in his local paper last week, I can't afford to take out a full-page advert.
After running through his list of memorable moments and achievements, Pulis concluded by saying:
Of course I am disappointed I cannot carry on in a job I have loved from first minute to last.
But I accept the club's decision to move things in a different direction because that is the right of any owner.
The journey stops here, but what a journey.
And you, Stoke's City's wonderful support, have played such a massive part in the distance we have travelled over the last 10 years.
That is how vital your support is.
And that is why I urge you (for one last time) to get behind the new manager just like you got behind the old one.
Thank you so much.
It was a mix between a lovely goodbye and a subtle "let me remind the ingrates of all I did for this club" from Pulis. I have to think that if Rafa Benitez had done this after leaving Chelsea, it would've been very similar to our version of his note to Jose Mourinho.
Struggles secondary in historic U.S. win
MEXICO CITY -- It was an historic victory, the first by the United States at Estadio Azteca in a series that dates to the 1930s, and those responsible couldn't have been more pleased with what they achieved.
The Americans got a superb performance from their backline, at least two heroic saves from Tim Howard and one fortuitous goal to claim a 1-0 triumph Wednesday night over Mexico.
And they weren't shy about proclaiming how important was the result .Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/soccer/post/_/id/17732/struggles-secondary-in-historic-u-s-win
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/
Atletico 1 ? Bar�a 2, as we should be ha?ppier
I don’t know about you but perhaps for the first time in my thirty-four years on earth, this cul� did not want M*drid to drop points on Saturday. It’s not that I hate our cross-town rivals more than the ones from the capital. To be honest, my feelings towards Espanyol are nowhere even close to [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BarcelonaFootballBlog/~3/DNFAyNS0K_Q/
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Manchester City fans buy $10,500 ad in Italian newspaper to thank Roberto Mancini
They say one good turn deserves another, so when former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini took out a full-page ad in the Manchester Evening News thanking fans, it was soon agreed by supporters that the act would be reciprocated.
City follower Adam Keyworth started the "Grazie Mancini" fund, with the aim of buying some space in Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta Dello Sport to convey some gratitude. According to The Metro, over 700 Citizens raised more than the required �7,000 ($10,500), with any surplus funds being redirected to a local children's charity.
The ad has finally appeared in today's edition of the famous pink paper. It's not a full-page, and there's no superimposed image of the Community Shield (the trophy for which all City fans are surely eternally grateful) but the gesture is sincere...
Related coverage on Yahoo! Sports:
? PSG goalkeeper bursts into tears after receiving red card
? Robbie Rogers becomes first openly gay pro athlete to take U.S. field | Photos
? Crystal Palace beats Watford to rejoin Premier League
Join the Dave?s Football Blog Fantasy Premier League, Sponsored by SoccerPro.com
Have we reached the point in our civilization where our favorite football games exist only so we can play our own games on top of them? If the NFL lockout were still going on, would we have missed our fantasy leagues more than the actual league? Maybe, but who cares? Let’s play. Dave?s Football Blog [...]
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/
Here?s the assortment of crude weapons confiscated outside the Coppa Italia final
This year's Coppa Italia marked the first time the tournament has ended with a Rome derby and thus the first time both participants played the final in their home stadium (since the Stadio Olimpico is always the host site). Given the fact that was not just a match between the fiercest of intracity rivals, but one with a trophy on the line, local authorities anticipated an especially combustable atmosphere. Judging by the frightening array of crude weapons confiscated by police before the match, it seems the historic final between Roma and Lazio could've been ruined before it even began.
Of course, any Rome derby is bound to include a variety of violence of weaponry. This time, however, police confiscated garden tools, kitchen knives and hatchets all taped to sticks for maximum stabbing reach from ultras under the Ponte della Musica.
Psy, who performed his played-out hit "Gangnam Style" before the match to a chorus of boos, should be thankful those items were confiscated so they couldn't be thrown at him...
Half-time in Coppa Italia final: Roma 0-0 Lazio. Highlight so far: Psy pre-game show uniting fans in anger: youtube.com/watch?v=K_bUu6?
? Paolo Bandini (@Paolo_Bandini) May 26, 2013
The match ended with a 1-0 win for Lazio, giving them their sixth Coppa Italia and first since 2009. Senad Lulic's goal in the 71st minute proved to be the difference and as a result, Lazio have earned a spot in the Europa League. Roma, who finished sixth in Serie A this season (one spot ahead of Lazio) will miss out.
Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper bursts into tears after receiving red card on debut
With little riding on their final Ligue 1 game of the season at Lorient on Sunday evening, Paris Saint-Germain rested a number of regulars, including goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu. Backup shot-stopper Alphonse Ar�ola started in between the sticks, but made way for Ronan Le Crom in the second half.
Despite signing for the Parisians in January 2012, Le Crom was making his first-team debut ?yet he last just 21 minutes after bringing down Lorient's Lamine Gassama in the 81st minute. The challenge wasn't particularly bad (hence it doesn't qualify as a Dirty Tackle of the Day), but the Ligue 1 journeyman was the last man and was issued a red card. The 38-year-old could barely contain the disappointment of wrecking his first chance in sixteen months and burst into tears on the sidelines.
David Beckham ? who wasn't included in the squad after officially retiring ? was among those who consoled the keeper, perhaps reminding him that the team were 3-0 up in a game that meant absolutely nothing.
Defender Mamadou Sakho hammed it up as he was selected to go in goal and face the penalty from Arnaud Le Lan. He was unsuccessful in stopping the shot, but highly successful in going the wrong way and running into the post...
Related coverage on Yahoo! Sports:
? Crystal Palace beats Watford to rejoin Premier League
? Robbie Rogers becomes first openly gay pro athlete to take U.S. field | Photos
? Crystal Palace beats Watford to rejoin Premier League
Parma?s Massimo Gobbi scores fantastic volley from ingenious free kick routine
Before Sunday, Massimo Gobbi had scored just one goal for Parma in three seasons of service, but the left-back doubled his tally on the final day of the Serie A season in spectacular fashion.
Visiting already-relegated Palermo with the score goalless after 38 minutes, Chilean midfielder Jaime Vald�s chipped a free kick to the edge of the box, where Gobbi let off a left-footed rocket into the top-left corner.
It's the kind of routine that rarely makes it past the training ground, and is probably the most original free kick of the season. Well, the most original free kick of the season that actually resulted in a goal...
Parma?s Massimo Gobbi scores fantastic volley from ingenious free kick routine
Before Sunday, Massimo Gobbi had scored just one goal for Parma in three seasons of service, but the left-back doubled his tally on the final day of the Serie A season in spectacular fashion.
Visiting already-relegated Palermo with the score goalless after 38 minutes, Chilean midfielder Jaime Vald�s chipped a free kick to the edge of the box, where Gobbi let off a left-footed rocket into the top-left corner.
It's the kind of routine that rarely makes it past the training ground, and is probably the most original free kick of the season. Well, the most original free kick of the season that actually resulted in a goal...
Here are some songs about Jurgen Klopp to get you ready for the Champions League final
Matze Knop, the comedian and prolific impersonator of Bundesliga personalities who previously gave us "Luca Toni Numero Uno" (the greatest song of all time), is back with yet another tune about Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp. Knop gave Baron Von Borsig's fist-pumper "Kloppo Du Popstar" an English twist ahead of the Champions League final at Wembley and so we have the video for "Kloppo You Rockstar" in all its odd glory above.
But if you want to celebrate Klopp with a smoother club jam, Knop has you covered there too. Here's "I want to be like Jurgen Klopp"...
2013 Rookie Watch: Brown Continues To Impress
Posted in MLSRookie Watch
The holiday weekend was pretty good to the MLS rookies. Seven rookies went the full 90 minutes over the weekend with two more coming close going over 80 minutes of play. But the big story out of the rookie camp had to be Colorado Rapids forward Deshorn Brown and his two assists on the night [...]The post 2013 Rookie Watch: Brown Continues To Impress appeared first on WVHooligan.com - MLS Blog.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WVHooligan/~3/hPUnbS-gPjI/
Links! And David Beckham getting embarrassed by a quick little kid!
All the stuff being covered outside the unfriendly confines of the award-winning Dirty Tackle...
The FA's YouTube channel says the kid nutmegged Beckham in this Zurich appearance during World Cup bid week a while back, but it's hard to tell if he actually did. Either way, this might have been the moment Beckham first started thinking about retirement. [YouTube]
Mario Balotelli is finally on Twitter for real. [Twitter]
Sir Alex Ferguson in 13 paradoxes. [Grantland]
A deeper look at the false story about Mario Balotelli offering his now ex-girlfriend as a prize to Real Madrid. [SWW]
Gigi Buffon plays for Juve, but his heart and pocketbook belong to Carrarese. [Counter Attack]
The Alternative PFA team of the year. [SB Nation]
The Real Oviedo story is worth your time. [Copa90]
Like DT on Facebook for extra bits and chances to win prizes. [DT on Facebook]
Sheffield Wednesday turn down payday lender sponsorship deal. [Independent]
MLS is testing out a ref cam. [MLSSoccer]
If you haven't checked out Howler Magazine yet, you're really missing out. [Howler]
And finally, DT is once again nominated for a couple of EPL Talk awards and we must defend our titles in both categories! You can vote in the Best Blog category here. Both Ryan and I are also up for the Best Blogger award (him for his work at Bleacher Report, me for DT). You can vote in that category here. Your support is greatly appreciated (and any betrayal will be punished by Zlatan)!
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
The Champions League Final?s Real Winners
1. This guy. Sure, there will still be some drunken fools in some English pub somewhere who will say that Lionel Messi never would have done this at the Brittania. Even they do so half-jokingly. What matters is that Messi can’t seem to help breaking ducks in Champions League Finals.�He’s a habitual duck breaker. “What’s [...]
Source: http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2011/05/29/the-champions-league-finals-real-winners/
Several reasons why the next Premier League season will be so much better than this one
The 2012/13 Premier League season is over and, to be honest, it wasn't that great. We were definitely spoiled by the dizzying last-minute climax of the 2011/12 season, but watching Manchester United trudge to a 20th title while the rest of the league floundered and groaned had all the excitement of bingo night at Gareth Barry's house.
Until it became clear that four of the top six clubs in the table (including each of the top three) would have new managers next season, the league was feeling decidedly stale with the same old stories (even Luis Suarez biting an opponent was a rerun from his Eredivisie days) and all of its representatives crashing out of the Champions League. But the good news is that all of that is over now and next season has the elements necessary to be bananas. Here are some things to look forward to...
Sir Alex Ferguson is retired -- It's always sad when a legend of the game moves on, but change can bring the reinvigorating elements of doubt and uncertainty. After 27 years and 13 Premier League titles, Ferguson's stronghold on the league is suddenly gone and it's up to David Moyes ? a man who has only ever won the old Second Division with Preston North End in 2000 ? to fill the void at one of the biggest and most successful clubs in the world.
For many Man United fans, Ferguson's reign has been all they know/remember. They've spent years wondering how other clubs could burn through a new set of managers every season or struggle to contend for trophies. Andi Thomas recently summed up their new plight for Football365:
It's not that Ferguson never made any mistakes; it's that when he did, it was okay because Ferguson was there to fix them, and he was able to do so in large part because he was Ferguson. Now they, like every other poor sap in the world, have to spend time worrying that their manager might not be any good, or might be good but unlucky, or might be good and lucky but end up on the wrong side of a power struggle, or might be good and lucky and have the backing of the board but bugger off after two seasons for somewhere sunnier.
Adding to the intrigue is that Ferguson will still be around the club in some capacity as director and ambassador like a phantom of more certain times. If Moyes falters, will Ferguson be summoned back to his full gum-chomping glory? Of course, it's very unlikely that Man United will instantly disappear from contention, but those new feelings of doubt and uncertainty could make even a second straight Man United title far more entertaining.
Jose Mourinho will (probably) return -- One grizzled manager with the fury of a thousand vengeful gods departs and another one (probably) returns, far more grizzled than when he left. When Jose Mourinho was shuffled out of the Premier League in the middle of the 2007 season, he was simply a great manager with a massive ego. Now he's a great manager with a massive ego and a fresh bruise on his record.
Mourinho is used to accomplishing two things: winning trophies and having his players adore him. At Real Madrid this season, he accomplished neither of those things and he's not taking it well. "This has been my worst season because it's the first season in which I have not won an important title," said Mourinho after losing and getting sent off in the Copa del Rey final. What's more fun than Jose Mourinho? Jose Mourinho in a conducive environment with something to prove.
Man City in flux again -- After winning their first top-flight title in 44 years, City became a little complacent. They went from spending ludicrous amounts of money to just massive amounts of money, they sold off Mario Balotelli and their once delightful YouTube channel became as bland as every other YouTube channel in existence. But going winless in the Champions League group stage, finishing a distant second to Man United, and losing the FA Cup final to Wigan (yes, Wigan) prompted them to sack manager and scarf model Roberto Mancini with two matches still to play in the season. Now the possibilities are once again endless. They can bring in manager with a more exciting style of play and resume throwing money out the door like it's covered in anthrax.
Wayne Rooney -- Will he again turn back on a transfer request and try to prove that he can still be one of the best players in the world while supporters again try to reconcile his fits of disloyalty or will he move on and attempt to start fresh somewhere else? Either way, he has a fascinating journey ahead of him and maybe another hair transplant too.
Season two of Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool and Andre Villas-Boas at Spurs -- No matter how you feel about Liverpool, you'll probably agree that the league was more interesting when they were a contender rather than an also-ran floating around the middle of the table. Brendan Rodgers' time at the club started with a preseason documentary that earned him the sticky tag of being football's David Brent and his results didn't prove revolutionary enough to shake it. Liverpool went from finishing eighth the season before to seventh in Rodgers' first campaign with his initial crop of signings proving largely underwhelming.
But midseason acquisitions Daniel Sturridge and Coutinho showed promise and provided a spark that could be a sign of more substantial improvements to come. Rodgers could still turn out to be less David Brent and more Donald Trump ? someone lacking self-awareness who spouts cringe-worthy soundbites, but actually built an impressive empire to sit atop.
As for Villas-Boas, he delivered Spurs' best point total ever in the Premier League, but still finished one point shy of a Champions League spot. Retaining Gareth Bale for a little while longer is a major success (perhaps even equivalent to winning a trophy, as Arsene Wenger might say) and if he can convince the club to make a fresh investment while cutting off some of the fat in his squad, further improvement seems almost certain.
Luis Suarez returns from his biting ban -- Two seasons ago it was racial abuse, this season it was biting another human being (again), so what awful thing will Luis Suarez do next season to keep his streak going? Will he play every match with a machete tied to his head? Will he start an identity theft ring that targets his opponents' grandmothers? Will he help North Korea develop nuclear weapons? And will we finally learn what it takes for Liverpool to start believing that his many controversies are ultimately his fault and not purely the product of a massive conspiracy against him? The anticipation is almost too much.
No more QPR moralizing -- They paid way too much money for a group of talented players who didn't seem to care and now they're gone. The weekly pompous handwringing can be aimed at something else now.
Jose Mourinho will (probably) return -- There's a good chance Mourinho and Suarez will bite each other at the same time.
Soccer video from Yahoo! Sports:
Related coverage on Yahoo! Sports:
? MLS expansion could bring soccer to Yankee Stadium
? Jose Mourinho tasked with reviving Chelsea again
? David Beckham's son Brooklyn trains with QPR academy
Links! And David Beckham getting embarrassed by a quick little kid!
All the stuff being covered outside the unfriendly confines of the award-winning Dirty Tackle...
The FA's YouTube channel says the kid nutmegged Beckham in this Zurich appearance during World Cup bid week a while back, but it's hard to tell if he actually did. Either way, this might have been the moment Beckham first started thinking about retirement. [YouTube]
Mario Balotelli is finally on Twitter for real. [Twitter]
Sir Alex Ferguson in 13 paradoxes. [Grantland]
A deeper look at the false story about Mario Balotelli offering his now ex-girlfriend as a prize to Real Madrid. [SWW]
Gigi Buffon plays for Juve, but his heart and pocketbook belong to Carrarese. [Counter Attack]
The Alternative PFA team of the year. [SB Nation]
The Real Oviedo story is worth your time. [Copa90]
Like DT on Facebook for extra bits and chances to win prizes. [DT on Facebook]
Sheffield Wednesday turn down payday lender sponsorship deal. [Independent]
MLS is testing out a ref cam. [MLSSoccer]
If you haven't checked out Howler Magazine yet, you're really missing out. [Howler]
And finally, DT is once again nominated for a couple of EPL Talk awards and we must defend our titles in both categories! You can vote in the Best Blog category here. Both Ryan and I are also up for the Best Blogger award (him for his work at Bleacher Report, me for DT). You can vote in that category here. Your support is greatly appreciated (and any betrayal will be punished by Zlatan)!
Here are some songs about Jurgen Klopp to get you ready for the Champions League final
Matze Knop, the comedian and prolific impersonator of Bundesliga personalities who previously gave us "Luca Toni Numero Uno" (the greatest song of all time), is back with yet another tune about Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp. Knop gave Baron Von Borsig's fist-pumper "Kloppo Du Popstar" an English twist ahead of the Champions League final at Wembley and so we have the video for "Kloppo You Rockstar" in all its odd glory above.
But if you want to celebrate Klopp with a smoother club jam, Knop has you covered there too. Here's "I want to be like Jurgen Klopp"...
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 [...]
Join the Dave?s Football Blog Fantasy Champions League, Sponsored by SoccerPro.com
Right. I promised you a Fantasy Champions League competition this year, and that’s exactly what I’m going to give you. Dave?s Football Blog is officially opening its 2011-12 Fantasy Champions League Contest today. The winner of this contest will receive a $100 gift certificate from the good folks at SoccerPro.com. Last year, I was the [...]
EA Set To Support Current-Gen Up To FIFA 18 ?At The Very Least?
EA have revealed that they will still support current-gen FIFA titles up until FIFA 18 at the very least, This was revealed by EA�Chief financial officer, Blake Jorgensen at a�keynote address at the Stifel 2013 Technology Conference in New York. His speech was reported by the guys over at�GameSpot. Are you happy that EA will [...]
The post EA Set To Support Current-Gen Up To FIFA 18 ‘At The Very Least’ appeared first on FIFA Soccer Blog.
Source: http://fifasoccerblog.com/blog/ea-set-to-support-current-gen-up-to-fifa-18-at-the-very-least/
Join the Dave?s Football Blog Fantasy Premier League, Sponsored by SoccerPro.com
Have we reached the point in our civilization where our favorite football games exist only so we can play our own games on top of them? If the NFL lockout were still going on, would we have missed our fantasy leagues more than the actual league? Maybe, but who cares? Let’s play. Dave?s Football Blog [...]
Fans Already Designing NYC FC Logo, Kits
Posted in MLSMLS Expansion
It didn’t take long for some folks to get in on the MLS expansion fun yesterday with the 20th club New York City FC. While no decision has been made on colors, logos or anything design related, it didn’t stop one person on Reddit from mocking up something of their own. � [Click the image [...]The post Fans Already Designing NYC FC Logo, Kits appeared first on WVHooligan.com - MLS Blog.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WVHooligan/~3/O40fVq2wWDU/
Monday, May 27, 2013
DTotD: Footballer gets knocked over in the box, kicked repeatedly by three opponents
This might be the easiest penalty call of all time. A player in green gathers a rebound off the post with his back to the goal. A player in red then clumsily falls into him from behind, sending them both to ground. With the player in green sitting over the ball, red gets up and starts kicking him. Two of his teammates then join in and suddenly they're kicking the guy like he robbed someone's grandmother.
The penalty was awarded, but it appears no one was booked for the attack. Probably because the referee didn't want them to gang up on him next.
This has been the Dirty Tackle of the Day: a chronicling of unfortunate events.
Video via Bola Nas Costas
Who will be next season?s top scorer?
It is 11 years since an Englishman won the Premier League Golden Boot. A home-grown player had won at least a share in the award in every previous Premier League season, so this prize exemplifies the shift in balance of power between native and foreign players more than anything else. This pattern might be about [...]
Source: http://www.footballnewsblog.co.uk/premiership/who-will-be-next-seasons-top-scorer/
Jurgen Klopp interview: Champions League final, Bayern, why he became a coach & more
Jurgen Klopp interview: Champions League final, Bayern, why he became a coach & more - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Jurgen Klopp talks exclusively with Puma about Dortmund's preparation for the Champions League final, why he became a coach and a lot more.
Read More
From Soccerlens.com - Football News
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/soccerlens/~3/l5zL_3GPF5g/
Ross Turnbull?s son continues tradition of kids in Chelsea kits doing adorable things
While retiring defender Paulo Ferreira spoke to the Stamford Bridge crowd after Chelsea's final match of the season, backup goalkeeper Ross Turnbull's two-year-old son Josh became one of the highlights of the year. Wearing his full kit, Josh dribbled a ball towards goal all by himself. He stumbled on top of the ball at one point, but continued on as the crowd urged him to shoot. When the ball finally passed the goal line, a cheer erupted and after a brief hesitation, Josh turned back toward the players and their families in the center of the pitch and raised his arms in triumph.
The moment was reminiscent of Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic's young son Stefan scoring a similar goal at the end of the season two years ago...
Then there was also the Chelsea mascot who pulled a prank on Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard before a match several years before that...
Finally, there was the three-year-old girl from Japan who sang "Blue is the Color" outside Stamford Bridge in a full Chelsea goalkeeper's kit...
And with that, we have reached cuteness overload.
More Chelsea video from Yahoo! Sports:
Related coverage on Yahoo! Sports:
? Busch Stadium pitcher?s mound flattened for Man City-Chelsea match
? Jose Mourinho tasked with reviving Chelsea again
? Photos: Best images from the weekend in sports
? Photos: Crazy sports injuries
French Ligue 1 ? Weekend Recap ? February 22-24, 2013
Paris Saint Germain defeated Marseille in David Beckham’s debut to remain three points clear at the top in the French Ligue 1 on February 22-24, 2013. Results Friday, February 8, 2013 Nice 2-0 Reims 11′ Valentin Eysseric�(pen) 1 – 0 68′ Aissa Mandi (red card) 85′ Renato Civelli 2 – 0 Saturday, February 9, 2013 [...]
Source: http://www.the90thminute.com/soccer/2013/02/french-ligue-1-weekend-recap-february-22-24-2013/
Bayern Munich ?don?t know what Wayne Rooney would bring to Bundesliga,? don?t want to find out
There was a time not too long ago when any team on the planet would've wanted Wayne Rooney in their starting XI. But several years, a hair transplant and two transfer demands later and that isn't the case anymore. Now the teams that want him can't afford him and the teams that can afford him don't seem to want him.
Bayern Munich, for example, were recently rumored to be the 28-year-old striker's destination of choice. Matthias Sammer, the German champions' sporting director has made it clear that they're not interested, though.
From the Guardian:
"I don't know what Rooney would bring to the Bundesliga," Sammer said. "I can't answer that. I can answer that we have great respect for Wayne Rooney but there has been no contact with him. There is no contact and he's not on the agenda. No, no. Absolutely not."
When Mario Gomez, a guy who was the Bundesliga's second best scorer last season with 26 goals, can't even get regular starts then you know Sammer isn't just talking a big game.
Rooney's bigger concern should be the first part of Sammer's statement. If he's looking to leave England, that question of "can he perform in a league with a different style of play?" could limit his number of interested parties even further. His transfer request in 2010 brought death threats, but it also brought more money. This one might just bring embarrassment.
Sunday, May 26, 2013
EA Reveal FIFA 14 Special Editions
EA Sports have today announced a variety of special editions for FIFA 14. Amazon.co.uk are offering the�Ultimate Edition (PS3, Xbox 360)�which can be pre-ordered on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Players will receive 24 gold packs (1 per week for 24 weeks) for use in Ultimate Team. The gold packs feature�a mix of 12 [...]
The post EA Reveal FIFA 14 Special Editions appeared first on FIFA Soccer Blog.
Source: http://fifasoccerblog.com/blog/ea-reveal-fifa-14-special-editions/
Spanish Primera Division ? Match Predictions ? March 2-3, 2013
It’s a full slate of matches this weekend in the Spanish Primera Division including the El Clasico with Real Madrid hosting their rivals FC Barcelona. Saturday, March 2, 2013 Real Madrid v FC Barcelona, 10:00 AM EST (Al Jazeera Sport, beIN Sport) Prediction – Real Madrid wins 3-2 Deportivo La Coruna v Rayo Vallecano, 12:00 [...]
Welcome to Our National Holiday
So, are you ready for one last NFL game before 2012? I know, I know, it’s not the day to think about such things. It is indeed America’s sporting national holiday, Super Bowl Sunday, and as you might expect, I have�absolutely no hope of being objective today. My team gets to play in the big [...]
Source: http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2011/02/06/welcome-to-our-national-holiday/
The Pro Bowl Should Be Replaced, Not Saved
Once upon a time, NFL players cared about playing football in the Pro Bowl. This is what they did yesterday instead. Notice how nobody seemed all that interested in hitting anyone. There was no blitzing, no real blocking (it wasn’t really needed), and no tackling. This might have been the players deciding that they weren’t [...]
Source: http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2011/01/31/the-pro-bowl-should-be-replaced-not-saved/
Jose Mourinho congratulates Rafa Benitez on winning the Europa League
Congratulations, Rafa. You have proven that you can win the Europa League with the reigning champions of Europe. This is as impressive as Cristiano Ronaldo winning a handsome competition held under a bridge. You did something that should happen. And now you want credit for it like a 15-year-old looking to be commended for not wetting the bed during sleep time. So I will give you as much as you deserve.
People say you have vindicated yourself, Rafa. But what have you done at Chelsea? Win the Premier League twice, the FA Cup once and the League Cup twice? No. That was me. When you rubbed a magic lamp and asked the genie to turn you from a blog person back into a manager last November, Chelsea were four points out of first place and had four trophies to compete for. Then you showed up with your 1998 goatee and everything got worse.
First, you signed a contract to be the "interim manager" even though you did not want to be called "interim." Then you could not fit into any of the club's suits, so you had to wear your own. Then you made everyone think you had a brain glitch when you called Marco Materazzi a liar nine times in 30 seconds. Then you lost in the League Cup, the FA Cup and even the Club World Cup, despite watching my Inter win it in person in 2010. And in the Premier League, you struggle to finish third, 16 points behind Manchester United. That is four times more than four. Or four times the number of different countries in which I have won domestic titles. In case your forgot, you still just have Spain. I have a tiny piece of paper that says all of this.
You were supposed to fix Fernando Torres. He had six goals in the Eurjoke-a League, yes. But in the Premier League, he has not scored since December. He has seven goals. One more than last season. If anything, you have him fixed like a neutered labradoodle. Speaking of the Europa League, you beat four clubs that couldn't buy lunch at Chelsea's training ground and then one that has lost seven European finals in a row. This is how you finally won a trophy, Rafa. And you did this with a team that has regularly reached the final rounds of the Champions League in recent years, regardless of whether the manager can button his pants or not.
Is this vindication? If a chef gets a bad review and then heats up a frozen pizza without burning it, is it vindication? You have done the bare minimum with the talented team at your disposal and so you get the bare minimum credit. You didn't burn the pizza. Congratulations. Now get out of my seat and start rubbing your magic lamp again.
Swiss TV station sorry for adding fake crowd noise to Zurich derby highlights
Fans attending last weekend's derby between FC Zurich and Grasshoppers agreed to enter the stadium 10 minutes after kick-off as a protest against increased security measures. Despite the nearly empty stands at the start of the match, chants from the non-existant crowd during this period could be heard in the highlights aired by Swiss broadcaster SRF. This, obviously, was not possible without the help of some editing room trickery, which SRF has now admitted.
From Reuters:
"In order to make the report as attractive as possible, the chants of the fans were subsequently edited into highlights of the game," SRF said in a statement on Wednesday.
"The decision was taken under great time pressure. It was wrong, we apologize for it. Manipulation of sounds or images is not allowed."
This is the part where you suggest your least favorite team with a quiet ground try this and then smugly chuckle to yourself.
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 [...]
Saturday, May 25, 2013
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/
Champions League final: A match of German grudge
Champions League final: A match of German grudge - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
The Champions League final will be a German grudge match, with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund set to go head-to-head at Wembley on Saturday, May 25th.
Read More
From Soccerlens.com - Football News
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/soccerlens/~3/egt3XwlW9Gg/
Kenwyne Jones reportedly threw a brick through teammate?s windshield after pig?s head surprise
Stoke have launched an internal investigation after a prank gone wrong prompted striker Kenwyne Jones to reportedly throw a brick through teammate Glen Whelan's windshield after finding a pig's head in his locker. This comes just days after the Stoke boys dumped eggs and flour all over Michael Owen's car. Michael Owen apparently did not go on a rampage after that incident, though.
From the Telegraph:
Jones is understood to have been furious after discovering the bloody carcass in his locker on Friday morning and threw a brick through the windscreen of Glenn Whelan's car as revenge. [...]
It is understood Whelan, the Republic of Ireland international, was behind the prank and he is expected to meet Stoke officials to explain his behaviour before Sunday's trip to Southampton.
In response to the incident, Stoke released this statement on their official website:
?The Club takes seriously reports of an incident at our Training Ground this afternoon.
?A full internal investigation will be carried out and those responsible for any unacceptable behaviour will be dealt with in accordance with the Club?s disciplinary procedures.?
On Twitter, Jones' girlfriend, Kissa Abdullah, stated that he told his teammates not to prank him.
@theswin they put a huge bloody pigs head in his clothes at training! He warned them 2 keep him out of the banter or else! u kno the rest
? Kissa Abdullah (@kissakj) May 17, 2013
So now they know he wasn't kidding.
Who Will Be Relegated in the 2011/12 Premier League Season?
The forthcoming Premier League season is going to be one of the toughest yet for all teams involved. The last campaign saw a tough battle throughout in the lower half of the table with constant positional changes. Even the last game of the season was pinnacle in terms of which clubs stayed up, and which [...]
Friday, May 24, 2013
The new Manchester City kit ? by Nike
The new Manchester City kit – by Nike - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
The 2013-14 Manchester City home kit, revealed in New York, will be the first-ever Manchester City kit produced by Nike. It is available pre-order now.
Read More
From Soccerlens.com - Football News
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/soccerlens/~3/pmDQTzFBlbc/
Champions League final: A match of German grudge
Champions League final: A match of German grudge - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
The Champions League final will be a German grudge match, with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund set to go head-to-head at Wembley on Saturday, May 25th.
Read More
From Soccerlens.com - Football News
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/soccerlens/~3/egt3XwlW9Gg/
What might have been for Michael Owen
What might have been for Michael Owen - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Michael Owen - aged 33 - will be hanging up his boots at the end of this season ultimately came as little surprise to anybody.
Read More
From Soccerlens.com - Football News
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/soccerlens/~3/h6QqH3FVdGA/
Atletico 1 ? Bar�a 2, as we should be ha?ppier
I don’t know about you but perhaps for the first time in my thirty-four years on earth, this cul� did not want M*drid to drop points on Saturday. It’s not that I hate our cross-town rivals more than the ones from the capital. To be honest, my feelings towards Espanyol are nowhere even close to [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BarcelonaFootballBlog/~3/DNFAyNS0K_Q/
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Yeah, so, uhmm? as in, who?s your daddy?
You know because it is all quiet and all, and because despite our love and dedication to writing articles for you to discuss we are all busy people with families and jobs… Some of us have lives, even… and oh yeah, also because what the following father had to say is so bad-ass, I thought [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BarcelonaFootballBlog/~3/BSyL4Tzqlkg/
Neil Lennon gave his Celtic winner?s medal to a young girl in the stands
Following Celtic's 4-0 win against St. Johntstone, they were awarded the trophy for making easy work of the Scottish Premier League. At one point, Celtic manager Neil Lennon took the trophy over to the stands, pulled his winner's medal off his neck and handed it to a young girl in the stands.
It was a move reminiscent of when Jose Mourinho chucked his Chelsea 2006 winner's medal into the stands at Stamford Bridge, but more of a tender moment than a display of swaggering brashness. Lennon, of course, already has a Scottish Premier League winner's medal from last season. Judging by the girl's reaction, she's going to give this year's medal a good home.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)