The Los Angeles Galaxy are interested in signing Iranian international Ali Karimi, the man who is also known as the "Asian Maradona," according to reports coming out of Tehran. The technical manager for Karimi's current team - Steel Azin - has said that the Galaxy are one of two teams in the running for the midfielder's services, with the player's contract set to expire this summer.

Australia defeated DPR Korea in the final of the AFC 2010 Asia Cup. With the scores locked at 1-1 after the Aussies had led early, extra-time saw no further goals and the Aussies won the final on penalties.
And remarkably in the worst sodden penalty spot perhaps ever seen for a Continental final all five Aussie penalty takers scored.

With the 2010 FIFA World Cup less than 100 days away, its time to breakdown the nations that will be participating in The Great Tournament. It is now to time to take a look at Asian powerhouse Korea Republic.
Official Name: Korea Football Association
Nickname: Taegeuk Warriors
FIFA Confederation: AFC (Asia)
FIFA Code: KOR
How They Qualified: Won Group 2 of Asian Final Stage Qualifying
World Cup Appearances (Including 2010): 8
Best WC Finish: Korea/Japan 2002, 4th place
World Cup Record (MP: Wins - Draws - Losses): 24: 4W - 7D - 13L
Head Coach: Huh Jung-Moo
Most Capped Player (# of caps): Hong Myung-Bo (136)
All-Time Goal Scoring Leader (# of goals): Cha Bum-Kun (55)
Brief Footballing History:
No team in Asia is more powerful than Korea Republic.

Actually, it was the lunar new year last night all around the world, but for the first time in a lunar century, China have something to celebrate on the pitch. They won the mini-tourney East Asian Cup, ahead of Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong (who really are just a formality). I don't quite understand the purpose of this cup other than World Cup warmup for Japan and Korea, but the level of rivalry and hatred between all three Asian giants always results in at least a handful of red cards.

We'll be back next week with the season's first regular edition of the WCR Weekly Top 25. While we're waiting for that, though, here is the next in our series of Annual Rankings.

1993 was the second season in a row in which the UEFA Champions Cup winner finished atop the Annual Rankings.

For nearly 80 minutes last weekend, Blackpool thoroughly deserved to beat the Wanderers. The last 10 to 15 minutes were when Bolton turned on the style. A great turn and half-volley from Petrov pegged one back and then an absolutely wonderful team goal sealed the point. That team goal, a move that involved Kevin Davies, Johan Elmander, Ivan Klasnic, and a neat little backheeled pass, was the perfect metaphor for Bolton's season thus far.

Well, not here on this very computer screen, that would be just silly. But it will start, officially, in Canberra this week with the first Matildas camp in 2010. While Tom Sermanni had close to 40 players in some camps last year, he's about to start whittling down to find his A-team that he hopes will qualify for the 2011 Women's World Cup in Germany.

The latest news on the squad that is set to start the 2010 AFC Women's Asian Cup opener for Australia is this, Lydia Williams in goal, Melissa Barbieri on the bench. Defender Thea Slatyer will wear the captain's armband. And two wonderful stories in that Aivi Luik will play, completing the journey she set out to when she came back to Australia from America at the end of last year, with a goal to get into the Matildas, and so will Sally Shipard, who is back on the international stage after a two-year-break and a W-League season where she signed for Canberra United but couldn't play at all due to an international transfer hold-up.

Representatives of the Asian Football Confederation have highlighted the continent's increasing development at the FIFA World Cup tournament in South Africa, with two of the four, Japan and South Korea, making it through the group stage to the second round. Australia and North Korea go no further. After South Korea's qualification was confirmed, AFC president, Mohamed Bin Hammam said, "their

Great headline from the Independent today.
Why on Earth does Cahill have to play in January's Asian Cup? Because this isn't Earth, it's Planet Fifa

Talking Football: Everton are entitled to feel cheated by Australia claiming Cahill for six weeks. The Asian Cup is Fifa mismanagement at its most spectacular.

Kuwait is currently preparing for the 2011 Asian Cup Finals. Ranked 103rd in the world, Al Azraq appeared in the 1982 World Cup finals and won the Asian Cup in 1980. The team recently notched an impressive 2-1 win against Asian powerhouse Iran. The Kuwait national soccer team's kits are provided by BURDDA.

The following squad lists have been announced for the upcoming 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar. Squads will be added as they are announced:

Group A: Qatar, Kuwait, China, Uzbekistan
Group B: Saudi Arabia, Japan, Jordan, Syria
Group C: South Korea, Australia, India, Bahrain
Group D: Iraq, North Korea, United Arab Emirates, Iran

Australia Squad

Goalkeepers: Mark Schwarzer (Fulham), Brad Jones (Liverpool), Nathan Coe (SønderjyskE)
Defenders: Lucas Neill (Galatasaray), David Carney (Blackpool), Saša Ognenovski (Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma), Luke Wilkshire (Dynamo Moscow), Jonathan McKain (Al-Nassr), Jade North (Wellington Phoenix), Matthew piranović (Urawa Red Diamonds)
Midfielders: Tim Cahill (Everton), Jason Čulina (Gold Coast United), Brett Emerton (Blackburn), Harry Kewell (Galatasaray), Brett Holman (AZ Alkmaar), Mile Jedinak (Gençlerbirliği), Carl Valeri (Sassuolo), Matt McKay (Brisbane Roar), Neil Kilkenny (Leeds United)
Forwards: Scott McDonald (Middlesbrough), Robbie Kruse (Melbourne Victory), Nathan Burns (AEK Athens)

Bahrain Squad

Not yet announced

China Squad

Goalkeepers: Yang Zhi (Beijing Guoan), Guan Zhen (Jiangsu Sainty), Zeng Cheng (Henan Construction)
Defenders: Wang Qiang (Changsha Ginde), Zhao Peng (Henan Construction), Du Wei (Hangzhou Greentown), Liu Jianye (Changsha Ginde), Zhang Linpeng (Guangzhou Evergrande), Rong Hao (Hangahou Greentown), Li Jianbin (Chengdu Blades)
Midfielders: Zhou Haibin (Shandong Luneng), Zhao Xuri (Shaanxi Zhongjian), Hao Junmin (Schalke 04), Deng Zhuoxiang (Shandong Luneng), Wang Song (Hangzhou Greentown), Yu Tao (Shanghai Shenhua), Huang Bowen (Beijing Guoan), Yang Hao (Beijing Guoan), Yu Hai (Shaanxi Zhongjian)
Forwards: Yang Xu (Liaoning Whowin), Qu Bo (Shaanxi Zhongjian), Gao Lin (Guangzhou Evergrande)

India Squad

Goalkeepers: Subrata Pal (Pune FC), Subhasish Roy Chowdhury (Dempo SC), Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (AIFF XI)
Defenders: Anwar Ali (Dempo SC), Deepak Kumar Mondal (Mohun Bagan), Mahesh Gawli (Dempo SC), Irungbam Surkumar Singh (Mohun Bagan), Gouramangi Singh (Churchill Brothers), Rakesh Masih (Mohun Bagan), Moirangthem Govin Singh (East Bengal), Manju (Mohun Bagan)
Midfielders: Naduparambil Pappachan Pradeep (No club), P.

The commentator mash up of England's World Cup performance.

Here's the links:

• Adam Johnson chat [Manchester Evening News]
• Star man report [Sky Sports]
• 3 Up Front podcast [Soccerlens]
• Sir Alex dishes out punishment [Dirty Tackle]
• Diaby injury blow [BBC]
• Asian Cup squads [World Cup Blog]
• Neil Young tribute [Manchester Evening News]
• Top 10 moments from S.

The AFC 2011 Asian Cup has several qualifying matches on Wednesday, January 6, 2010 including Thailand v Jordan. The match will be covered live at the links below.

Free Live Sports TV Thailand v Jordan AFC 2011 Asian Cup Qualifying Wednesday, January 6, 2010 11:30 GMT

Live Football Streams Thailand v Jordan AFC 2011 Asian Cup Qualifying Wednesday, January 6, 2010 11:30 GMT

Australia somehow managed to let a two goal lead slip against Kuwait in this crucial Asian Cup qualifier.

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This is the first time that Indonesia failed to qualify for the final round of the Asian Cup since 1992. And it is not going too well with the Indonesian football fans.

An Indonesian fan, Hendri Mulyadi, ran out to the pitch, picked up the ball from Oman's half, went on a run down the wing, dribbling and entering the 18 yard area and took a shot at goal which was successfully stopped by the goalkeeper.

Thanks to Negar Mottehedeh, and via a post from Enduring America, here are two videos from a January 6th game between Iran and Singapore, during which Iranian fans chanted anti-government slogans "Ya Hossein, Mir Hossein," in support of opposition leader Mousavi in the 1st video, and "Marg Bar Dictator," ("Down with the Dictator,") in the second.

Oh dear, he's at it again.
And rarely has even Craig Foster penned such illogical, insulting drivel. The lengths to which the SBS brains trust will go to denigrate the local game, while twisting the facts to exculpate the Dutch brigade, is extraordinary.
Each time a home-based side has played an Asian Cup qualifier the performance has been concerning.

Persik v Persema 2-1 (Yongki Aribowo, Saktiawan Sinaga; Robbie Gaspar)
Yongki Aribowo never scored during Indonesia's disasterous SEA Games last month but he has been doing the business for his club side since his return. His close range header against East Java rivals Persema set the home side on the way to three points right on half time.

Japan is the second national team I am reviewing after Cameroon in my series about the 32 countries participating in the World Cup in South Africa. Japan is in Group E along with the Netherlands, Cameroon and Denmark. Japan doesn't have a long history in this competition having qualified only 4 times in 18 World Cups (counting the one in South Africa).

Australia avoided a huge embarrassment when they qualified for the 2011 Asian Cup. After a slow start in which they only managed one point from two games, they took 10 points from their last four games to finish top of the group. They only required a draw against Indonesia and maybe ...

This week's Video Of The Week is another episode of the "Frontline Football" series from 2006, featuring a World Cup qualifying match between Palestine and Iraq. The Palestinian national team was not officially recognised by FIFA until 1998, but their qualifying group for the 2006 World Cup saw them briefly head their AFC qualifying group after an 8-0 win against Taiwan.

The DPR Koreans are nobs of the highest order. When the Matildas gained a penalty at the end of the first half, the Koreans walked to the sideline on masse and delayed the game for a further five or more. Each one starting with the Keeper should have been booked. Why weren't they?
Or the penalty be taken without a keeper.

FIFA World Cup With the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa only one month away, 11 countries are looking further ahead to hosting the 2018 or 2022 events. Europe is expected to win the 2018 hosting rights with England, Russia, Spain/Portugal and Holland/Belgium in the running. The USA and Australia are bidding for 2018 but also join Qatar, South Korea and Japan for 2022.

It was close, it was sometimes scrappy and sometimes brilliant, but Katie Gill's half-time goal was just enough last night to clinch the Matildas place in the 2010 AFC Women's Asian Cup final and with it, a place in next year's FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany.
So yay for that! Great effort girls!

Most Singapore fans have fond memories of both Therdsak Chaiman and Sutee Suksomkit. The Thai internationals gave the SLeague some of their best years and now they are back home so how are they doing?
Sutee returned to Singapore of course at the begining of June with his new club Bangkok Glass and he scored twice in his side's 5-3 win over SAFFC in the Singapore Cup.

Once a power in Asia, the India national soccer team is currently preparing for the 2011 Asian Cup under former China, Bristol City and Colorado Rapids manager Bob Houghton. Earlier today, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) officially unveiled the India Nike 2010/11 home (blue) and away (red) kits that the Bhangra Boys will wear for [.

2006 Where are they now?
2007 Where are they now? Part I

2007 was a bountiful year for Names To Remember, so the remainder of football's future and where they stand now below.

Jean Carlos Solorzano: Most Latin Americans cross the vast oceans to chase football glory, which Solorzano did.

With well-respected Frenchman Bruno Metsu (who took Senegal to the quarter-finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup) at the helm, Qatar will host the 2011 Asian Cup Finals. Ranked 104th in the world, The Annabi (Maroon) has notched impressive draws with Mali and Bosnia-Herzegovina thus far this year. The Qatar national soccer team's kit is provided [.

The Young Socceroos went down to a goalkeeping blunder in the final minutes of their Asian Cup Final last night.
Mark Birighetti dropped a simple cross and Korea DPR prodded home to win the final 3-2.
But there was an awful lot to like about this young Australian side.
Tommy Oar showed some real class, and excitement with his dribbling and crossing creating two goals for Kerum Bulut himself turning in a wonderful centre-forward display.

Australia are sure to win the rights to host the Asia Cup in 2015, we're the only bidders. Although with the FFA we could still lose that!
And it will be a great tournament, one Australia could win.
But what plonker planning this bid has chosen to sink 6 or more games of this tournament into Canberra.

It is wrong that the FFA have pump primed Adelaide's squad to facilitate a sale and then let them run rampent over the private funding in the A-League. I suppose it wasn't their fault that the original deal fell through and then another buyer could not be found.
Still who is going to investigate whether the Van Dijk and Flores deals led to breaches of the salary cap?

Come out come out wherever you are.
1. Australia, FFA or Government has given $5 million to the AFC, no problems from me, but it hasn't been trumpeted loud and proud by anyone from either group. Weird?
And the Aussie media, the football media, are so limited in their analysis of the game and the issues surrounding it that they haven't even asked a question.

A week after the US loss of the 2022 World Cup, much ink and internet type has been spilled on whether the U.S. deserved the bid or was robbed, whether we American soccer fans have a false sense of entitlement or a shady process overwhelmed everything, and even whether U.S. soccer is ok without the Cup or seriously set back.

The Asian Cup begins on January 7th, and the best international sides in Asia are descending on Qatar for the tournament. In store is not only a continental cup, with all the passion that goes along, but also a preview (sans their promised bid technology) of Qatar as a hosting nation. We have some tasty matchups in the group stage, both in terms of the football and cultures.

The Asian Cup begins on January 7th, and the best international sides in Asia are descending on Qatar for the tournament. In store is not only a continental cup, with all the passion that goes along, but also a preview (sans their promised bid technology) of Qatar as a hosting nation. We have some tasty matchups in the group stage, both in terms of the football and cultures.

Con la victoria de Japón sobre Australia 1-0 (gol de Tandari Lee) en tiempo extra finalozó en Qatar la XV edición de la Copa Asiática o Asian Cup, según su denominación en inglés (o كأس آسيا, en árabe). El pequeño país del Golfo Pérsico, que viene de ser elegido como sede de la Copa del Mundo 2022, exhibió todo su potencial organizativo: Doha, la capital, puso 4 estadios, a los que se sumó uno en la localidad de Al Rayyan.

Persib Bandung will play Persija Jakarta next Saturday, 9 January, at the Jalak Harupat Stadium in front of an empty stadium. Officials are woried about the potential for trouble when these two teams meet with a deep hatred polarising the two sets of supporters.
The notion of all ticket matches has yet to catch on here.

So here we go again - back to good old fashioned blogging. It's certainly a different pace from regular country journalism, though FP has missed it.
Now where were we? Oh yes that's right - Perth Glory.
Ever since FP left for his south-bound junket, the Glory seem to have slipped off the pace.

PREVIEW
I came to realize the recent comment by the MM does actually makes sense.
Don't draw your guns at me because I'm not referring to those content of those comments, but I drawn this conclusion after a brief chat with a co-worker of my over the discussion of the upcoming Lions' Asian Cup Qualifier fixture against Iran.