On this week's main listening report we look back at some of the big stories from the football world in 2011. Part one will feature January to June while part two will focus on July to December.

The FFA and Adelaide United held their breadth at the Asian Casino last night...and won.
United have won direct entry into the Asian Champions League - meaning Australia now has three teams in the group stages for the first time.
More exciting than watching Lou Sticca's fundraiser in Melbourne?

Socceroos won in Bangkok last night.
And wasn't it fantastic. Tense, tight and terrific football - from the Thai's at least. With a packed stadium in downtown flooded Bangkok the Aussies are no longer in Oceania.
And remember this is only the first group stage.
We needed a point - but if Robbie Kruse didnt know which of the Sutkee brothers at the end he played with in Melbourne - Michael Zullo had a fair idea by the end of the night.

With the A-League teetering along last year football was heading back to the future.
Despite the move into Asia, a successful Asia Cup campaign, the rise of the Matildas and the increasing number of Young Guns pushing into the Socceroos and starring in the A-League moving to Europe and Asia, football still lacked any sense of security or money for our A-League clubs to survive, never mind to move ahead.

Fernando Torres was on target as he scored Chelsea's second goal in a 2-0 win over Aston Villa in the Asia Cup Final today to give new Chelsea boss Andre Villa Boas his first piece of silverware for the club.

The game was only 32 second old when Josh McEachran thumped the ball into the roof of the net from two yards out. Shay Given stretched out a desperate arm, but wasn't able to prevent Chelsea taking the lead inside the first minute. Not the ideal start to the Asia Cup final on a pitch that would provide almost as big a challenge as the oppressive heat.

The Blues provided another 4-0 performance in preseason, this time against Hong Kong champions Kitchee in the Asia Cup. We will now go on to play Aston Villa in the final while Kitchee will take on Blackburn for third place in the competition.

Chelsea dominated proceedings from the get-go with the usual problem of failing to test the goalkeeper enough during the first half except when Benayoun broke into the Kitchee box, was tripped and Lampard smashed home the penalty.

Some say Youth tournaments are all about team systems, style of play, and of course they are. They set a tone for the nation's coaches and players - something we are working towards in Australia.
But for fans and for future Coaches they are also about individuals.
Barcelona without Lionel Messi compared to Spain without Messi.

Aston Villa beat Blackburn 1-0 in the 2011 Asia Cup in Hong Kong today, to set up a Final clash on Saturday with either local side Kitchee or Chelsea who are currently playing in the other semi-final tie.

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has sustained a knee injury in training.

A Chelsea statement said:

"Michael Essien suffered an injury to his right knee during training this week. He will undergo tests over the next few days to determine the extent of that injury.

Ok I set the alarm and got up for the Matildas game - I'm still on a high from their last World Cup and with Tom Sermanni changing the whole team - why wouldn't I get up.
I thought we might beat Brazil - more later.
I fell asleep after the game only to wake to see Dylan Tombides getting sent-off for kicking an opponent - just when Jan's boys seemed to have some pressure on the ballas well - and then Teeboy gets sent-off - that's what you get when you take a 15 year old to a World Cup - great experience for him - but he can't go to the next one due to FIFA regulations not his age he's only 15 - so his 30 minutes here he'd better remember.

Tom Sermanni has shocked the Matildas and W-League football followers by leaving out of his starting eleven in tonights game against Brazil three of the stars from the last World and Asia Cup.
Lauren Colthorpe
Claire Polkinghorne
Sally Shipard
and Aussie cricketer and footballer Ellyse Perry who burst on to the scene after the last World Cup - looked a shoe-in for a starting birth - has been overtaken by a 16 year old Caitlin Foord.

Losing in the Champions League final against Barcelona doesn't necessarily turn off the players' appeal towards the English champion as the latest report suggested that Japanese star, Shinji Kagawa, is keen in making a switch to Old Trafford.

According to the Borussia Dortmund star midfielder, should Sir Alex Ferguson's team does make a serious bid for him, he would definitely listen to their offer and try his luck at the premier league.

The Socceroos young guns stepped up to defeat NZ 3-0 yesterday. Despite the usual whingeing from many fans about the play there was plenty for me to like about Holger's team performance.
Particularly the crisp passing and pacy interchange in the final third. We don't often get to see it in the Green and Gold - and Josh K was on the field too, who would have thought!

The season has barely ended, but most of us are already bored of a weekend without club football (what Champions league?) and anticipating the new season already.

After two years ago tearing up both coasts in the United States and last summer taking a rather disastrous tour through Germany, Chelsea will return to Asia this July in between brief stops in the Netherlands and Scotland.

Like many football fans I love a good hoot. Especially when it involves football associations, the people charged with running the game. The Malaysian Football Association have always been good fun, perhaps reaching their peak while they were hosting the Asia Cup back in 2007. Instead of having the football world focus on the Asian nations, Malaysia wanted to have a friendly against Manchester United!

There is no way the Federal Government could have staved off Peter FitzSimons, Roy "NRL need more TV money" Masters, Rebecca Wilson and all the Melbourne cronies who love to boot the football code.
The Feds couldn't have ponied it more money after that World Cup debacle, the A-League crowds plummet and code woes in general - if we hadn't been handed, ney gifted the Asia Cup 2015
Now the sweet review will ensure more money for football - this will help this country party with our Asian friends and be beamed into all those Asia homes - er just like AFL and NRL.

Sport.co.uk understands that CSKA Moscow striker Keisuke Honda will not be leaving the club in the summer despite rumoured interest from Liverpool, Arsenal and AC Milan.
On the back of the Japanese international's superb performances at the World Cup finals last summer, the 24-year-old was lauded as the player of the tournament by Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, who alongside Kenny Dalglish and Serie A giants AC Milan, have been perpetually credited as admirers of the precocious youngster.

Rebecca Wilson didn't mention the Asia Cup once during the tournament, now she fires up all passionate and concerned about the dire states of our A-League Club finances.
Peter FitzSimons is all over the Australian World Cup Bid, dead interested in football he is, nearly filled his whole page with football (finances that is) fair enough perhaps but he hardly gave 100 words of wisdom in the two years of the bid, not even in his boring repeated Xmas columns.

On this week's podcast we review the 2011 Asia Cup. Remember on this week's podcast you can also:

• Listen only to the main report here complete with transcript and vocabulary
• Learners of English can review the footballing news from around the world in our good, the bad and the ugly section of the show
• Check out a new football expression in English for Football
• For learners of English check out our Football Language Resources page with:
• A page with all our Football vocabulary posts
• Football glossary (a huge collection of football vocabulary, football cliches and football phrases)
• Worksheets and transcripts from previous podcasts

Automatically receive the podcast each week by clicking here

On this week's podcast we review the 2011 Asia Cup. Remember on this week's podcast you can also:

• Listen only to the main report here complete with transcript and vocabulary
• Learners of English can review the footballing news from around the world in our good, the bad and the ugly section of the show
• Check out a new football expression in English for Football
• For learners of English check out our Football Language Resources page with:
• A page with all our Football vocabulary posts
• Football glossary (a huge collection of football vocabulary, football cliches and football phrases)
• Worksheets and transcripts from previous podcasts

Automatically receive the podcast each week by clicking here

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This week's main report reviews the 2011 Asia Cup tournament that was played in Qatar from January 7th-29th. We congratulate Japan on winning their 4th title and look back at the good, bad and ugly moments of the competition.

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This week's main report reviews the 2011 Asia Cup tournament that was played in Qatar from January 7th-29th. We congratulate Japan on winning their 4th title and look back at the good, bad and ugly moments of the competition.

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it. | Subscribe: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

The transfer window has finally closed and over £200 million pounds worth of players moved among English clubs, the Asia Cup also came to an end though not as glorious as the hosts would have hoped.

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The transfer window has finally closed and over £200 million pounds worth of players moved among English clubs, the Asia Cup also came to an end though not as glorious as the hosts would have hoped.

BERNE, Switzerland Japan moved into the top 20 of the FIFA world rankings on Wednesday after winning the Asian Cup last month while world champions Spain stayed in first place. Japan's record fourth Asian title which they won in Qatar lifted them 12 places to 17th, making them the Asian confederation's highest-ranked side.

The final day of the January transfer window unfolded unlike any other. There were twists and turns aplenty – enough to satisfy the hunger of every footy fan. But the biggest surprises of the day were the ones that didn't necessarily grab the headlines.

Where was Manchester City?

There could have been 100 goals in the 2011 Asian Cup tournament, if North Korea and the United Arab Emirates had been a bit less shi...ocking. And as there were nearly three goals-per-game and the best and most entertaining team won, this tournament can be filed in the success column – whatever Alex Ferguson may think of "this Asia Cup thing.

After a less than impressive showing in the 4th round of the FA Cup on Sunday the Arsenal host the Toffees at Ashburton Grove tonight in one of a seemingly interminable series of "must win" league fixtures. After two helpings of Yorkshire pudding the FA Cup will now allow us to sample some jellied eels at Brisbane Road.

The Asia cup is reaching its climax, Liverpool have finally won two games in a row, Inter stumble, as do Dortmund. But the big news in the UK is all about 'Can women understand the offside rule?' sexism rears its ugly head. Check out languagecaster.com's review section to read in more detail about some of these stories.

The Asia cup is reaching its climax, Liverpool have finally won two games in a row, Inter stumble, as do Dortmund. But the big news in the UK is all about 'Can women understand the offside rule?' sexism rears its ugly head. Check out languagecaster.com's review section to read in more detail about some of these stories.

On Fox Sports Ange asked the question 'does the club want to win the asia Cup?' He does.
As far as getting there goes, this is the big one.
No Devere. No McKay.
But...
Henrique. Meyer.
Plus
Theo. Stefanutto. Smith. Franjic. Susak. Murdocca.

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With the Asia cup being played this month our German correspondent takes a look at the Bundesliga and the impact of one Asian player is having in this big European League.

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With the Asia cup being played this month our German correspondent takes a look at the Bundesliga and the impact of one Asian player is having in this big European League.

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Good and bad news from the Asia Cup in Qatar, while in the UK a storm over sexist remarks by TV a pundit and anchor. You can listen to these and other stories on our weekly podcast.

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Good and bad news from the Asia Cup in Qatar, while in the UK a storm over sexist remarks by TV a pundit and anchor. You can listen to these and other stories on our weekly podcast.

Everton's Tim Cahill says he's ready to win the Asia Cup this Saturday when his Socceroos meet Japan in the final. After many pundits had Uzbekistan and Australian on even odds prior to their semi-final match on Tuesday, the Socceroos ran out and cruised to an easy 6-0 victory.

Meanwhile, in the other semi-final matchup, Japan battled hard and knocked off South Korea on penalties.

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In this week's predictions battle we feature the final of the Asia Cup, games from Italy, England and Germany, as well as some big battles from the English FA Cup 4th Round. Can you guess the scores to these games from around the world?

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In this week's predictions battle we feature the final of the Asia Cup, games from Italy, England and Germany, as well as some big battles from the English FA Cup 4th Round.

Liverpool playmaker target Keisuke Honda is reportedly heading for a CSKA Moscow exit.
The Japanese international is currently representing his country in the Asia Cup, but that hasn't stopped agent Kees Pleogsma playing up the chance of a move away from the Russian Premier League outfit.
Former Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson was heavily linked with a move for the player before he got the axe at Anfield, although new manager Kenny Dalglish is also thought to be keen on the player.