by TRAVIS CLARK

One game, everything to play for. When tonight's World Cup playoff between Bahrain and New Zealand (2am, FSC) kicks off, the winner claims a spot in South Africa, while the loser faces the prospect of missing the tournament once again.

Neither side is a prominent soccer nation, yet the underlying feeling is that the winning nation's program would receive a much-needed shot in the arm.

Click to continue reading...

As I'm just a little flat-out again, here are some previews from the very talented staff at the Central Coast Mariners and Canberra United to read while I get my own stuff happening. Well written and interesting, thanks both Joseph (Mariners) and Chris (Canberra).
Washington to Central Coast – Golebiowski leading Mariners cause
By Joseph Carlucci
The dream of each Australian female footballer is to play at the highest level and represent the Matildas at a World Cup, and for the lucky few that get the chance to don the Green and Gold, the feeling is immense. Click to continue reading...

Great news the other day from Chelsea's new Chief Exec Ron Gourlay that Chelsea are in discussions with Joe Cole about a new deal. He said: 'We are already in discussions with Joe,' 'The situation is that he is coming to the end of his contract, he is 28-years-old on the day of the Manchester United game and we're entering into the period where Joe is looking to negotiate his new contract. Click to continue reading...

Great news the other day from Chelsea's new Chief Exec Ron Gourlay that Chelsea are in discussions with Joe Cole about a new deal. He said: 'We are already in discussions with Joe,' 'The situation is that he is coming to the end of his contract, he is 28-years-old on the day of the Manchester United game and we're entering into the period where Joe is looking to negotiate his new contract. Click to continue reading...

Great news the other day from Chelsea's new Chief Exec Ron Gourlay that Chelsea are in discussions with Joe Cole about a new deal. He said:
'We are already in discussions with Joe,' 'The situation is that he is coming to the end of his contract, he is 28-years-old on the day of the Manchester United game and we're entering into the period where Joe is looking to negotiate his new contract. Click to continue reading...

Yesterday....28 years old....any other words are just irrelevant. Because to state the obvious: there's a large photo of Nemanja's junk on full view. See more at ONTD Football.

David Beckham queues up to buy some pumpkins; still has that animal growing on his face.
Are Ilary and Francesco going to bring another beautiful Totti baby into the world?

Click to continue reading...

Yesterday....28 years old....any other words are just irrelevant. Because to state the obvious: there's a large photo of Nemanja's junk on full view. See more at ONTD Football.

David Beckham queues up to buy some pumpkins; still has that animal growing on his face.
Are Ilary and Francesco going to bring another beautiful Totti baby into the world?

Click to continue reading...

Interesting factoid.

AZ Alkmaar inaugurated their new DSB stadium on August 4, 2006 with a 0-3 loss to the Gunners. Gilberto Silva, Emmanuel Adebayor and RVP scored goals. You can watch the goals >>1-0, 2-0, 3-0.

For the record: AZ were undefeated in all 32 of their home matches in European competitions, a sequence which ran from 1977 until 20 December 2007, when they finally lost to Everton of England, by a score of 2-3.

Click to continue reading...

I know this sounds a bit weird given the circumstances and the fact that Ronaldinho hasn't played good football since 2006. But yes, he won the Golden Foot award. As we know, though, the point of the award is to celebrate a player's (the ones over 28 years old) career and overall accomplishments, judged by a jury made of international journalists.

Click to continue reading...

There's nothing that can be demanded from Dunga and his players.

The team was already qualified, which turned the match against Bolivia into a open lab in the skies. The skies of La Paz took the reserve side of Brazil closer to hell than heaven. The 3600 meters above sea level suffocated the players.

Click to continue reading...

Honduras can qualify for its first world cup in 28 years
Matchdays 9 and 10 are upon us here in our little corner of the world. I've knocked about a good number of proverbs and clichés to sum up what we have seen so far in the previous 8 matchdays. I've landed on "it's not how you start, but how you finish. Click to continue reading...

At 28 years old Conor Casey was a relatively unknown player until a few years ago although the forward did turn some heads as a collegiate player. Casey was named Sport America's Freshman of the Year during his career at Portland and he also lead the NCAA in goals scored during his Sophomore year with 23.

Click to continue reading...

D.C. United will call up MLS pool goalkeeper Chris Sharpe for this weekend's game against Chivas USA. With Josh Wicks out for at least a month with a dislocated shoulder and MCL sprain and 18-year old Bill Hamid not eligible for League games, the team is in need of a backup for rookie Milos Kocic.

Click to continue reading...

You couldn't pick a bigger stage to make a name for yourself than UEFA's Champions League. When a European minnow is pitted against a traditional superpower like Liverpool or Inter Milan, one tricky move or decisive goal can instantly transform you from a no-name footballer into the hottest property around.

Click to continue reading...

As a goalkeeper for Arsenal, Bob Wilson captured the heart of many Gooners. He gave 11 years service as a player before another 28 years as a goalkeeping coach. The word 'legend' is thrown around a lot these days, but it is a title Wilson richly deserves. But it doesn't stop there...

Wilson is a family man through and through.

Click to continue reading...

Valerenga beat Lyn for the first time in 28 years giving Troy Perkins and company three points while Jay Needham and Alta's promotion hopes took a big blow in 1. Division action. Click to continue reading...

I remember the 1981 centenary FA Cup final, if not like it was yesterday then a lot more recently than 28 years ago. It was the season I began supporting Spurs, and so I'll always have very fond memories...

Click to continue reading...

Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos is reported to have agreed a switch to Everton.

The Swiss centre-half has slipped down the pecking order at Emirates Stadium in recent times, and spent the 2008/09 season on loan at AC Milan.

Despite the Gunners having offloaded Kolo Toure to Manchester City this summer,Arsene Wenger has moved to snap upThomas Vermaelen from Ajax.

Click to continue reading...

Manchester City are on the verge of wrapping up a deal for Arsenal defender Kolo Toure. Arsenal would land a transfer fee in the region of £15 million as Mark Hughes continues the rebuilding of City.

Kolo Toure officially submitted a transfer request last January, but Arsene Wenger insisted that the defender stay at the Emirates.

Click to continue reading...

Yes, according to this article here.
It is well known that Dynamo have his MLS rights, and I strongly believe that he fits in here far better than Dominic Oduro (or possibly even Cam Weaver). So I am optimistic. Though I find it interesting to note that this SI and Goal.com writer Shane Evans does not speculate on his landing spot. Click to continue reading...

According to James Dall at Sky Sports News, Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp admitted that Portsmouth striker Peter Crouch is too expensive for him. He said,

"Portsmouth are trying to sell Crouchy. Sunderland were interested and I think Fulham are interested .

Click to continue reading...

The official site has posted photos of the club's first day of pre-season training at the training ground. A couple thoughts after looking at the full gallery of photos:

1. Manuel Almunia apparently forgot to put on his pants, probably because he's been spending too much time in the offseason around Bendtner.

Click to continue reading...

A move that I absolutely will pay off for Sigi Schmid has just become official from what I am hearing out west. Seattle Sounders FC have signed Costa Rican defender Leonardo Gonzalez. Gonzalez's signing will be finalized upon receipt of his P-1 work permit and International Clearance.

Why do I like this move for Schmid and the Sounders?

Click to continue reading...

Since agreeing a deal with Real Madrid for Cristiano Ronaldo, rival fans have looked for any possible way to have a pop at us about it. Considering we've won three league titles, the European Cup, the FA Cup and two League Cups with Ronaldo in our squad, it really is hard to argue that we haven't got value for money on a player we bought six years ago for £12.

Click to continue reading...

Real Madrid are going on a massive spending spree, first Kaka, now Ronaldo and there will be one more "galactico" before Perez starts to look at squad players. Â Real have borrowed money from the banks (I do not hear any cries of foul play from Platini over the debt at Real Madrid), but his is not a bottomless pit and sooner or later they will have to listen to offers for their players.

Click to continue reading...

Newspaper and website talk is heating up over the news that Arsenal and not Liverpool could be the destination of Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry. Barry was subject of massive speculation last summer, but Liverpool were not prepared to pay £18 million for the England midfielder.

 Aston Villa will reluctantly let Barry leave after they reached a gentleman's agreement last summer whereby if Villa failed to qualify for the Champions League, they would listen to offers and reduce their asking price.

Click to continue reading...

According to a report in the British tabloid The People, Premier League money men Manchester City and Italian giants Milan are planning to hijack Liverpool's move for Aston Villa's Gareth Barry at the end of the season.
The Villans have reportedly slapped a €11.3 million price-tag (£10m) on the England international. Click to continue reading...

Yes, that's right. Another J. Smith. Scottish winger Jamie Smith, currently at Aberdeen, is being linked to us by the Evening Express, as well as by this article from the Telegraph.
I've never seen Smith play, but from what I can gather, he's a short guy, and he likes to take on defenders and has a very direct approach to his play. Click to continue reading...

We know there are other players at Liverpool FC. We know they have worthy thighs, many of which we've admired in the past. But we couldn't help ourselves. Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres are just too thigh-gifted not to put up in competition against each other. We feel no shame in making this call.

Click to continue reading...

We know there are other players at Liverpool FC. We know they have worthy thighs, many of which we've admired in the past. But we couldn't help ourselves. Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres are just too thigh-gifted not to put up in competition against each other. We feel no shame in making this call.

Click to continue reading...

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it.

Andrei Arshavin, AZ Alkmaar and Serie A all feature on this week's good, the bad and the ugly section of languagecaster's football podcast. Click on the links below to find out more on all of these stories.

Click to continue reading...

When Andrei Arshavin takes the field against Chelsea, chances are that he will make lots of eye contact with Guus Hiddink, his national coach. After all it was under the Dutchman that Arshavin, late at 28 years and with hitherto unknown powers, became the hit of Euro 2008.

Clubs came clamouring and in the winter he made his move from Zenit St Petersburg to the Emirates.

Click to continue reading...

At last, a win over Southampton.
For the first time in 28 years, Wolves beat the Saints. But didn't they make hard work of it?
When David Jones poked home the second goal after just 17 minutes, it honestly looked as though we would avenge the six-goal defeat by Southampton in Super Mick's first season - and possibly even eclipse it. Click to continue reading...

There's lots to be said for symmetry!  Indeed, back in '80, the first time the Phillies won it all, yours truly was about to turn 28 ... and now here we are 28 years later!  Yeah, symmetry!  :)  On a chilly night in Philly, they did it again! That training Scene from Rocky 1 still [...] Click to continue reading...