Despite the plethora of Champions League games available to me this week I flicked my sports channel over to the game in Milan to see whether the Milanistas could re-create their spectacular victory in the Bernabeu two weeks ago. And, despite their failure to upset the football betting odds and re-enact their Madrid heroics following 90 scrappy but passionate minutes, there were still signs that they have turned the corner.

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Liverpool's defender Fábio Aurélio was handed the chance of winning a place in Brazil's World Cup squad yesterday when he was named for next month's friendlies against England in Doha and Oman in Muscat.
The coach, Carlos Dunga, has named a 24-man squad made up of Europe-based players in order not to disrupt Brazilian clubs in the run-in to their championship. Click to continue reading...

Flamengo v Fluminense, Brazil

Over the coming weeks we'll be giving you the run down on the World's most passionate and fiercest rivalry in football. We start our list with two Brazilian giants.

History
Known as ‘Fla-Flu' this is Brazil's most passionate rivalry, dating back to 1911 when 9 Fluminense players quit the club to form Flamengo, which at the time was just a rowing club, any one for Pimms old boy?

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On FIFA's web-site promoting the start of the U-17 World Cup in Nigeria the event is hyped as a chance to "discover the stars of tomorrow."Â And while there is an impressive list of former participants (including, for example, Ronaldinho, Michael Essien, and Luis Figo) another look at the history of the U-17 World Cup offers more cautionary tales than burgeoning stars.

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Brazil didn't start the sixth World Cup in Sweden very well: on their first two matches they had defeated Austria 3-0 and tied 0-0 against England (this was the first goalless draw in a World Cup), and it came down to their last first round match where they were facing a strong USSR side that still had a chance at the quarterfinals. Click to continue reading...

AC Milan vs Real Madrid:

So far we have seen Barcelona vs Internazional and Juventus vs Bayern Munich. Now we will be treated to another clash between two of Europe's most celebrated clubs.

Kaka will look to haunt his former side.

AC Milan's visit to the Bernabeu comes after they picked up a win this weekend thanks to contributions from Brazilians, Ronaldinho and Pato (finally). Click to continue reading...

You would think having identical twins playing mirrored positions of right back and left back was fairly unique, as is the case with our Brazilians Rafael and Fabio da Silva. CSKA Moscow are giving us a run for our money though with their identical full back twins, Aleksei and Vasili Berezutski.

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Yesterday's U20 final, Brazil vs. Ghana. So much potential for excitement. Ghana's Black Satellites (the baby version of the Black Stars) came into the final having scored 16 goals in the tournament. Brazil stood at 14. Surely a goal-fest was in order.

But no.

The game-changing moment happens at about the 1:10 mark in the video, when Ghana's Daniel Addo is sent off in the 37th.

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Too much action and exciting matches in the PSL in South Africa this weekend, when the top soccer teams in the country clash in the Premier Soccer League.

Orlando Pirates vs Santos

On Saturday PSL log leaders Orlando Pirates will do all they can to pick up the points from an in-form Santos at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto.

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Things are still pretty tight in World cup qualifiers in Africa especially in group b. Tunisia lead this group with 11 points two ahead of Nigeria. The final round of matches will be played on November 14th and it will be do or die for the Super Eagles.

Nigeria who last appeared in this tournament in 2002, will definitely want to prove that they still have what it takes to compete at the highest level.

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Brazil, already qualified for the World Cup, had no answer to a lively Bolivia playing at high altitude here in the Andes on Sunday. The Brazilians were 1-0 down after just 10 minutes when Edgar Olivares netted. Werder Bremen's Marcelo Martins doubled the deficit on the half-hour and although Nilmar pulled one . Click to continue reading...

An incredibly dramatic night in the South American matches this weekend trims the field of contenders but ratchets up the tension heading into Wednesday's final set of matches. Chile defeated Colombia 4-2 in Medellín to confirm their qualification to the finals and eliminate Colombia in the process. Click to continue reading...

There was one more CONMEBOL (South America) qualifying match left on the weekend as Bolivia hosted Brazil. Both teams had little to play for as Bolivia was out of contention for qualification and Brazil had already clinched their spot in South Africa. Here's a recap of the match along with video highlights on Sunday, October 11, 2009.

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First of all, I need to apologize. I interviewed Tim back at the end of August and am just now getting this out. I feel I did a disservice to the time he was so kind to give me. But, better late than never, so I have transcribed our talk about new South Americans in the Bundesliga.

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Cheer Up Alan Shearer's Top 10 TV Football Moments
3. Ilunga Mwepu
No disrespect to the intelligent, knowledgeable CUAS readership here, but I bet there's hardly any of you who know who Ilunga Mwepu is.
In the 1970s he played his club football for TP Mazembe and he now lives in Malta, where he is an assistant coach in the Adelaide Cini Championship with Girgenti Athletic. Click to continue reading...

TORONTO - One of the beauties of working at Pistolas FC is setting goals and records; then breaking them.
Rob Pikula set the Rookie Scoring record while at the same time setting the Season Record for goals with 10 in one season.
Captain Charles bounced back in the final game to pot two and send him clear of Wardo, and back into the All-Time Leading Scorer with 12. Click to continue reading...

No points from three games, eight goals conceded, only two scored. On the face of it, a pretty miserable showing by the Young Socceroos in Egypt.
Yet there were a few consolations to take away from the tournament, and the way the team started against Brazil showed that this was far from a bunch of no-hopers. Click to continue reading...

A suggestion for World Cup success Dear Mr Capello, An idea. OK, so it may be a tad premature but if we're going to finally win another World Cup, we need some cutting edge ideas. The Argentinians had a Hand of God in 1986, the Germans perfected the noble art of diving in 1990, the Brazilians learned [. Click to continue reading...

For years now Milan's name has been synonymous for spectacle. Just like Juventus' always win without leaving their hearts on the pitch for attractive football, rossoneri were a symbol of a different approach to football, perhaps not so attractive but with a certain Brazilian charm.

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Before the Serie A season started, AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi forced Ronaldinho to stand on a table and promise his teammates he would lead them without question, and that he would help AC Milan recover from the loss of Kaka through good playing. With Kaka and Ancelotti gone, AC Milan is left with Leonardo, Ronaldinho, and Pato.

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After searching and searching for information on the richest footballers, I finally came up with this list. The amazing thing about it is that it contains 3 Brazilians, 3 Britons, an Argentinean, 1 Portuguese, and 1 German and no players of African or Asian decent.

David Beckham is by far the richest footballer but I personally feel that either Kaka or Ronaldinho should top the list.

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Seven finger-clickin' links for you, but first please enjoy this fan footage of Glenovan's Kyle Neill having his penalty saved and then missing the most open of goals on the rebound.... Name these Bundesliga based Brazilians (Bundesliga Offside) How NAC Breda got its name (Pitch Invasion) Actim hearts Eduardo (Avoiding the Drop) Improving the Premier League's new homegrown rule [. Click to continue reading...

Portugal perdeu hoje com a Ucrânia, por 5/4, a final do Homeless World Cup. Foi a melhor classificação de sempre dos portugueses.

Today Ukraine defeated Portugal 5-4 in the final of the Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup, the annual international football tournament that gives people who are homeless the opportunity to change their own lives.

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All of a sudden, after the week that's just passed, 'Diego Maradona's Argentina' sounds less like a porteño schoolboy's fantasy and more like a sneering insult from Brazilians and Paraguayans towards their neighbours. If you've not had quite enough of reading (and, through The Enganche Argentine football podcast) about it yet, though, you can click here [. Click to continue reading...

Nilmar scores three against Chile

Even without the suspended Luis Fabiano, Brazil still managed to find the net four times against a spirited Chile in Salvador on Wednesday night.

All eyes had been on Flamengo man, Adriano, but it was Villarreal's recent acquisition, Nilmar, who put away three of Brazil's goals.

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A full slate of World Cup qualifying matches will kick off around the world on Saturday and no match will have more international interest than Brazil vs. Argentina.

Argentina finds itself in the improbable position of fourth place in the South American World Cup qualifying, just a spot away from missing out on automatically qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

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By TRAVIS CLARK

It wasn't supposed to be like this. When Diego Maradona took the reins of Argentina, the former star was supposed to re-energize a World Cup qualifying campaign that had taken some hits. With four games in CONMEBOL qualifying left, and hardly the easiest schedule, could Argentina fail to qualify for the World Cup?

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By TRAVIS CLARK

It wasn't supposed to be like this. When Diego Maradona took the reins of Argentina, the former star was supposed to re-energize a World Cup qualifying campaign that had taken some hits. With four games in CONMEBOL qualifying left, and hardly the easiest schedule, could Argentina fail to qualify for the World Cup?

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The September 5th encounter between the Albiceleste and Seleccao fast approaches.

If there are any indications who feels most pressure, do not look to Dunga. The Seleccao are a team where the sum of the parts equals the whole. A physical and intimidating defense, a potent offense, and a creative midfield combining to form a well oiled machine that is firing on all cylinders.

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Spartak Moscow's Welliton (facing) and Alex will try to lead their club into first place this weekend against leaders Rubin Kazan.

In partnership with a new site, Russian Football Now, EPL Talk presents the first episode of RFN's podcast.

On Thursday, Russian teams were drawn into two of the more difficult UEFA Champions League groups.

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Argentina coach Diego Maradona on Wednesday put Brazilian legend Pele in his place, insisting the latter was the second best player ever after himself. A FIFA internet poll in 2000 saw Maradona, who will lead the albiceleste against the five-times world champion Brazilians in a September 5 World Cup qualifier, come . Click to continue reading...

I have a feeling this dance isn't going to catch on mainstream. Also his countrymates might not be happy with him ruining the international perception of Brazilians being smooth, rhythmic and awesome.
Great find over at Pies. Click to continue reading...

Adam Griffiths is hardly the biggest name in Australian football.
He wasn't the most high-profile star at his A-League club. He's not even the most recognisable player in his family.
But the twin brother to Joel and older brother of Ryan made headlines this month when he swapped A-League club Gold Coast United for Saudi side Al-Shabab after just one game. Click to continue reading...

FIFA published the second part of the interview with Diego Maradona, Argentina's god and coach. The funny part is, FIFA would not stop asking questions about Brazil. Ok, Brazil plays Argentina on September 5th and if Brazil wins, Seleção already qualifies for the World Cup while Argentina would be in serious trouble (could this cost Dieguito's job?

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For those who study tactics, it was interesting to see how Brazil morphed it's team in the FIFA Confederations Cup into a system that best utilized their players. As Jonathan Wilson reports, where they describe themselves in a midfield diamond, it more resembles a 4-2-3-1.
At this Confederations Cup, most European observers have happily jotted down their formation as 4-2-3-1, with Luís Fabiano as the centre-forward, Robinho to the left, Kaká as the central creator and Ramires on the right of the attacking three. Click to continue reading...