.Arsenal Transfered In: Thomas Vermaelen (Ajax, £11m), Damian Martinez (Club Athletico Independiente, £1.3m), Jamie Edge (Cheltenham, undisc) Transfered Out: Abu Ogogo (Dag & Red, free), Amaury Bischoff (Academica de Coimbra, free), Emmanuel Adebayor (Man C, £25m), Kolo Toure (Man C, £14m), Jay Simpson (QPR, loan), James Dunne (Exeter, free), Rui Fonte (Lisbon, free), Rene Steer (Oldham, free), [.

South Africa put up a world-class performance, but went down to a late goal in a 1-0 defeat to Brazil in Confederations Cup semifinal defeat at the Coca Cola Park Stadium on Thursday night.

There are 67 FIFA rankings between the two sides, but you wouldn't have thought it as the home side put up a performance which tested the star-studded South American champions to the fullest and bodes really well for the future.

Okay so I'm calling an audible. After starting on the team I thought would finish 20th in the Premier League, it was just better to do these team by team twice a day. So each team until next Friday will be covered as I count down 20-1. I'm sure by...
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Image from SA Sports Soccer
South Africa has advanced to the Semi Finals of the 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup despite suffering a 2-0 defeat against European Champions Spain at the Bloemfontein Stadium on Saturday evening!
Bafana needed at least a draw against the number 1 ranked team in the World to secure their passage to the semi-finals but on the night the Spanish were just a class above their host.

Portsmouth were sitting at rock bottom after seven Premiership rounds and they had always been expected to struggle after they could only reinforce the squad in the dying moments of the transfer window due to the uncertainty surrounding the club. Nevertheless, Paul Hart's team have shown a massive improvement in the last few weeks having taken no less than seven points from last four games.

Ladies and gentlemen, the final for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup trophy is set. One of the teams was expected, the other team supposedly didn't have a chance. It will be Brazil vs. United States. The Brazilians made the final after defeating South Africa 1-0 in Johannesburg.
South Africa played well and kept the Brazilians from establishing their offensive rhythm.

According to The Guardian, Aaron Mokoena has decided to leave Blackburn and join Portsmouth. He has agreed to a three-year deal with the club. He said,

"I can leave in peace knowing that I've been honest to the team, I've been loyal and the team has been loyal to me .

Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein: Scorers: David Villa 52, Fernando Llorente 72 Missed penalty: David Villa 51 Halftime: 0-0; Attendance: 38,212 Teams South Africa: 16-Itumeleng Khune; 2-Siboniso Gaxa, 4-Aaron Mokoena, 14-Matthew Booth, 3-Tsepo Masilela; 10-Steven Pienaar, 6-MacBeth Sibaya (21-Katlego Mashego 83), 13-Kagisho Dikgacoi, 5-Benson Mhlongo, 12-Teko Modise; 17-Bernard Parker (8-Siphiwe Tshabalala 90+2).

It was heartbreak for hosts South Africa as Daniel Alves scored direct from a free kick two minutes from time to give Brazil a hard-earned 1-0 and a place in the Confederations Cup final.
Having only been on the field for six minutes, Alves lashed home a shot from the edge of the penalty area after South Africa skipper Aaron Mokoena had fouled Ramires.

Brazil are into the final of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup after a late victory over a resilient South Africa. Substitute Daniel Alves scored the game winner for the Selecção 6 minutes after coming on as a substitute. At Ellis Park, Johannesburg: Scorer: Daniel Alves 88 South Africa: 16-Itumeleng Khune; 2-Siboniso Gaxa, 3-Tsepo Masilela, 4-Aaron Mokoena, 14-Matthew Booth; 5-Benson [.

The summer transfer market is shaping up to be a very interesting one with Man City, Man Utd and Chelsea, all poised to throw around some serious money. Here is a list of all the Premier League deals during this transfer window. Updated August 30.

Arsenal
Incoming:
Arsenal
Thomas Vermaelen (undisc.

It is with a heavy heart that I am attempting to write this South Africa vs Iceland Preview. Bafana Bafana has lost seven times in a row, and without sounding negative (ok, I am sounding negative), I do not have much hope for today's match, even though Iceland is ranked 96.

Not Only Joel Santana

It is not just the much-vilified coach Joel Santana; it is the Bafana Bafana team as well.

I'll be off then... byeee!
In stark contrast to Man City, Portsmouth FC is having a shocker this summer. Consider this:
* Pompey's kit supplier, Canterbury, has just gone into administration. So the club now has no company to supply their new football kit, which was due to be launched next Tuesday.

Portsmouth will be relegated if the club does not stop hemorrhaging players. A new consortium is bidding to takeover led by Peter Storrie, the current CEO. Continuing doubts over Sulaiman Al Fahim's ability to fund the club is prompting this move. There is a possibility of Storrie's group linking up with Al Fahim's Asia Associates in a 50-50 partnership.

Spurs Duo who can't get a look in as north London side go from strength to strength.

Portsmouth Vs Tottenham Tickets Still Available!

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Meanwhile in the only player-related transfer rumour to be unearthed in a sweep of today's papers, Portsmouth are ready to splash some of the money nobody is quite sure they have on Tottenham's Giovani Dos Santos.

This past weekend saw quite a few talking points in what remains the most exciting, entertaining & most dramatic football league in the world, the English Premier League, or more officially, the Barclays Premier League.

Any given weekend in the EPL reminds me of a series of highly entertaining films based on various genres.

Back the bid...
The 67 Ambassadors Reccruited By The FA To Promote England's Bid To Host The 2018 World Cup
1. Aaron Mokoena (South Africa)
2. Alan Shearer
3. Alexandre Song (Cameroon)
4. Andrew Cole
5. Ashley Young
6. Brian Deane
7. Bryan Robson
8. Carlos Edwards (Trinidad & Tobago)
9.

Hats off to SA. They fought hard through Steven Pienaar and Tiko Modise controlling the midfield for large parts of the game and creating a number of chances. They came closest to scoring in the 21st minute through Aaron Mokoena who was unable to keep his header down after Tiko Modise floated a cross allowing enough time for the South African captain to sneak up behind Luisao.

South Africa failed to qualify for the Confederations Cup finals after the narrow defeat to Brazil but Joel Santana's side matched the high-profile opponents for large periods of the game and they thus once again showed they had the potential to create a few surprises at the World Cup 2010, which they will host.

Steven Pienaar

Ajax Cape Town's Franklin Cale, who has been shining in the PSL, will join the Bafana Bafana squad in place of the injured Steven Pienaar for their two friendlies against Iceland and Norway.

The Ajax Cape Town winger was unable to honour his debut call-up for the national team against Madagascar last month due to a foot injury.

What's been in Butt's Brain over the past few days...

• Benni McCarthy says he has no future at Blackburn under Sam Allardyce. Pompey seem to be in the running for the South African superstar - he would join compatriot Aaron Mokoena at Fratton Park if the move goes through in January [Times Live]

• Only a few days left for you to participate in our World Cup prediction contest and win some great free soccer gear from Soccer Pro [Butt Buddies WC Contest] and [Soccer Pro]

• Liverpool's injury woes continue.

Carlos Alberto Parreira, Bafana Bafana Coach

Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Parreira is optimistic about his team's success against Japan. Bafana Bafana take on Japan in a friendly international match at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

And a Port Elizabeth Sangoma, Puseletso "Nkomiyahlaba" Maropane', has predicted that Bafana Bafana will win by 2 –O.