Saturday, July 31, 2010

Portsmouth's Odyssey: From Bad To Worse To Even Worser!



Just when they thought it was safe to go back on the pitch. It would appear that after last season's fiasco for the EPL at Portsmouth that things at the South Coast club have gone from bad to worse in comical amounts.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Spain U19 Star Ezequiel Calvente Scores the Greatest Penalty of All-Time



Unless you are a fan of Real Betis or the Spanish U19s, chances are that you haven't heard of Ezequiel Calvente. But you should know him, because he just scored the greatest penalty of all time.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Manchester City: The Most Important Team in the World in 2010-11



Just as Real Madrid was the most important team on the planet last season, Manchester City will be the pivot upon which European and Premiership football rotate this year.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Shamrock Rovers and U2 Combine To Take On Juventus In The Europa League



Almost one year since they opened their new stadium with a friendly against Real Madrid, Shamrock Rovers will entertain another giant of European Football on Thursday as Juventus travel to Tallaght to take on the Hoops in the Europa League.

Rovers 1-0 win away to Israeli outfit Bnei Yahuda has set the club up with a bumper pay day against Luigi Del Neri's Juve side. The result sparked wild celebrations amongst their 100 strong travelling contingent in Tel Aviv, and is one more step in the right direction for the club who almost went out of existence in 2005.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Harry Redknapp: Spurs Can Win the EPL, but Man City Will, Eventually...



Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Rednapp has declared that his team are just four players short of winning the Premier League, and that Manchester City will win the title eventually, given the resources they enjoy.
Ahead of Tottenham's pre-season game with New York Red Bulls, the Spurs manager was asked "What were his teams chances this year?"

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

David Beckham Replacing Fabio Capello as England's Manager in 2012?



Fabio Capello has announced that a new English coach will be added to his England backroom team before September. The man to take the job and succeed the Italian in 2012 could be David Beckham, for a number of reasons.
Despite the 115 cap international star stating on July 14 that he had "no interest in being a coach or becoming a manager," speculation has begun to grow that Beckham will be talked around by Trevor Brooking into taking the job.
Newspapers owned by Rupert Murdoch, who in turn owns NewsCorp and Sky TV, have begun to print articles stating that Beckham would be the ideal successor to the Italian because of his experience and Diego Maradona-like celebrity.

Monday, July 12, 2010

2010 World Cup Final: The Depressing Spain-Holland Final Analyzed



With the two nations involved, Spain and Holland, one would have hoped for a spectacular World Cup Final. In fact, it was probably the worst match of the entire World Cup after it was ruined by the referee, and we were treated to one of the most cynical displays ever by a team in a final. 
The relief factor is that the Spanish deservedly won. Had they lost this battle after the brutal and pragmatic approach by the Dutch, we would have had one of the game's great injustices.
Andres Iniesta, the man of the match in the final, was the player who provided the difference when it counted most. The little Barcelona playmaker was a target for rough treatment by the Dutch all night and it was fitting that he pulled the trigger on Holland's dreams.
To say that the Netherland's were physical would be a gross understatement and the referee deserves to held accountable for their approach to the game.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

World Cup Final 2010: Spain 1-0 Holland, Iniesta Treats Shameful Dutch To Defeat



An Andres Iniesta goal in extra-time was enough to make Spain the World Champions as La Roja beat Holland 1-0.
However, the truth of the game was that the Dutch were cynically brutal and that the referee, Howard Webb, had a poor game and between them they ruined what should have been a spectacle of good football.
The ultimate goal for any footballer is to play and win in a World Cup Final. After tonight, Holland will be having nightmares as they allowed their manager's destroying style to overrun their own inherent flair while Spain played all the football.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

World Cup Final 2010: Spain vs. Holland: Tactical Preview and Predictions



The World Cup Final. Spain, the current European Champions, will take on Holland in a match for the ages.
Two of football's greatest nations, having never before won the trophy, will go head to head in a match that promises to be the most intriguing of the entire competition.

Friday, July 9, 2010

World Cup 2010: Uruguay vs. Germany 3rd and 4th Playoff Tactical Preview and Predictions



Uruguay and Germany will battle it out in the Playoffs for third and fourth place in the World Cup. The match will take place in the stadium named after South Africa's most famous son, the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
The Friendly City will fittingly see, most probably, the friendliest game of the month long tournament as La Celeste Olimpica and Die Mannschaft go head to head for the small matter of being named the third best team in the world, and some £12 million...
And there was you thinking that this match was worthless. The country who finishes third will win £12 million for their federation, while the losers will earn a paltry £11 million for their troubles.
Lo' and behold, Germany and Uruguay have met before in a third and fourth playoff match. That was in 1970 when a goal from the great Wolfgang Overath was enough to separate the teams.

Harry Redknapp Diffuses Tottenham-England Row Ahead of U19 Euro Finals



As England U19's head to France for the UEFA European Championships, Spurs manager Harry Redknapp has moved to diffuse a massive club versus country row. England manager Noel Blake had initially wanted four to five of Spurs' youth players, only for club chairman Daniel Levy to want the players for Tottenham's preseason training.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Dan Gosling and Joe Ledley Expose Transfer Loop Holes To Leave Everton and Cardiff



Everton's and Cardiff City's pre-season plans appear to have been dealt huge blows after it emerged that Danny Gosling and Joe Ledley look set to leave the clubs on free transfers having exposed loopholes in the rules regarding the movement of players.

World Cup 2010: Germany Klose But No Cigar as Spain's Puyol Becomes Durban Legend



A Carles Puyol bullet header 17 minutes from time was enough to see off Germany in Durban last night as Spain beat Joachim Loew's side 1-0. The narrow scoreline belied the truth behind the game though as La Roja dominated from start to finish and were far superior than their free scoring opponents.
Spain controlled the game from start to finish as the game proved to be a bridge too far for Joachim Loew's young side. The inexperience on show came to the fore as La Roja knocked the ball around with ease, keeping possession for long periods as Die Mannschaft chased shadows.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

World Cup 2010: Germany vs. Spain Semifinal Tactical Preview and Predictions




Germany and Spain go head-to-head in the second Semi Final of the World Cup in what is quite possibly the most anticipated match of the tournament, and a rematch of the Final at Euro 2008, which Spain won 1-0.

Monday, July 5, 2010

World Cup 2010: Uruguay vs. Holland Semifinal Tactical Preview and Predictions



As the World Cup draws to a close we enter the business end, and hopefully the highlight of the month long tournament.
Uruguay will take on Holland in the first Semi Final, while Spain and Germany will go head to head in the other.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

World Cup 2010: Diego Maradona—Shine On You Crazy Diamond



Diego Maradona looked on helplessly as a ruthless German team cruelly exposed his beloved Argentina. Powerless to stem the flowing black tide, he cut a dejected figure on the sidelines, praying to gods who were in no mood to listen. And as he wakes this morning, he will ponder his future as his country's manager.
One thing that really stands out about this particular World Cup is that the expected stars of the game, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Kaka, the list goes on, all failed to take the tournament by the scruff of the neck.
If anything, this tournament has proved that Maradona is still a bigger star than them all put together and retains the old fearlessness that all great players need to turn them into stars.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Lionel Messi: Comparing the Worlds Greatest Player To Legends Pele, Maradona and Cruyff



Lionel Messi has many devotees. The 22-year-old Barcelona and Argentina forward is undoubtedly the most talented player on the planet, but how does he rank against the greats of the game?