For all the accolades, accomplishments and unconditional love Lionel Messi has enjoyed while playing for Barcelona, it's been a bit different for him in his international career with Argentina. Since he has struggled to replicate his club success with his country, he hasn't gotten quite the same reverence that he enjoys in Europe.

A number of top players have endured fairly miserable seasons, but there is one man who has failed to enjoy a moment of personal glory for what seems like aeons (his moment of brilliance in Barcelona aside), and that man is Chelsea's outspoken striker Fernando Torres.
This week, following the Blues' Champions League final win, the frontman opened up when questioned about his future, describing the lengths he is prepared to go to in order to bring back enjoyment to his game after two years of misfiring and playing second fiddle to other players.

There are moments in a football life that live forever. We all have them -Micky T at Anfield, TA6′s goal v Everton, TH14′s v MU, Dennis at Newcastle or Freddie in Cardiff. But it is the childhoood memories which really stand out and for me they are often connected to the '70-'71 Double team. One of my favourite ever goals was scored by one of my early heroes George Graham.

There are moments in a football life that live forever. We all have them -Micky T at Anfield, TA6′s goal v Everton, TH14′s v MU, Dennis at Newcastle or Freddie in Cardiff. But it is the childhoood memories which really stand out and for me they are often connected to the '70-'71 Double team. One of my favourite ever goals was scored by one of my early heroes George Graham.

It is now sixteen years since Germany last won a major international tournament. This (perhaps surprisingly long) period of time hasn't been without its fair share of pain, but to suggest that this is some sort of drought when when they've reached the World Cup final, the World Cup semi-final and the European Championship final in those intervening years would be something of a push.

Holy cow, two new posts in two days! As Perry stated, there are many more posts to come from the both of us and some other blogging additions to be named later. I used to desperately search around for an outlet to voice my love and frustrations for Arsenal FC until I found the AO. Over the last handful of years I have enjoyed reading the blog and adding my rubbish two cents every so often in the comments section.

338 Appearances. 157 Goals. 10 Major Trophies.

#Legend

For the better part of my adult life, I've been around football. It's an all-consuming vacuum of sense and reality which has rewarded me with magical displays of individual and collective brilliance. As a team sport, football generally bestows plaudits on those select few men who seem to strike a fine balance between other-worldly talent and self-actualized ignorance.

In what can only be described as continued horrific officiating by a repeat offender for the -- wait, how many are we up to now, 10 or 12? -- umpteen billionth time, the Houston managed a respectable draw with the New England Revolution in RFK Stadium. A goal each by Will Bruin and Luis Camargo helped the Orange avoid leaving Boston with nothing to show for their efforts.

Since Bayern Munich are not only playing in the Champions League final, but hosting it as well, the locals are understandably excited. So excited, in fact, that a few of them decided to make themselves up to look like Bayern winger Franck Ribery, facial scars and all.

When Ribery was just two years old, he was in a car accident with his family, which left him with injuries to his face that required hundreds of stitches.

Montreal Impact 1 Galaxy 1 A rare moment of David Beckham brilliance from a trademark free kick gave the Galaxy the equalizer needed to tie Montreal 1-1 today before a record 60,830 crowd for a soccer game at Olympic Stadium. His superbly struck set piece left former Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan

In front of more than 60,000 people on the LA Galaxy's first visit to Montreal, David Beckham dusted off his old free-kick brilliance to equalize in the 62nd minute against the Impact. Montreal got off to an early lead with a goal from Davy Arnaud in the 8th minute, but Beckham proved that he cannot be out-Dave'd.

Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning

- Winston Churchill

Hey how come none of my quotes have appeared for a long time?

- A miffed Carlton Palmer

End of the season is a wonderful time for everyone involved with the footballing world.

Well hello there.

I see you've caught me poignantly looking off into the distance after playing my final match at Old Trafford. Yes, it's a sad moment because another chapter of the Berbography is drawing to a close, but it's also very happy because the next chapter is sure to be just as erotic as the last.

Give me a hand, someone?

I believe we all woke up with renewed hope today. We were staring at the despair of a summer break knowing full well we have screwed up our chances of being in the Champions League proper, via direct qualification. Yet, just 24 hours later, we are all celebrating the fact that we've been thrown a rope, a lifeline and everything is back in our hands again.

Give me a hand, someone?

I believe we all woke up with renewed hope today. We were staring at the despair of a summer break knowing full well we have screwed up our chances of being in the Champions League proper, via direct qualification. Yet, just 24 hours later, we are all celebrating the fact that we've been thrown a rope, a lifeline and everything is back in our hands again.

Happy Monday to you. Here are a few things floating around my head as Week 9 of MLS action comes to a close.
The Montreal Impact are showing the signs of life. The Impact have recorded their first road win and for the first time ever, back to back MLS wins for the club. That they did so against Sporting Kansas City is all the more impressive.

By Chris Wright

Full photos and highlights shortly, for now just revel in the majesty of Papiss Cisse's brilliance (well, at least up until the video gets pulled down)...

Meh. Just a hit-and-hope.

Camp Drog says...

"Hard and long BITCHEZZZ!

2:45pm ET, live in the US on espn2
Last four head-to-head:
0-1 Fulham (a) 12.05.11
5-2 Liverpool (a) 05.09.11
1-0 Liverpool (h) 01.26.11
0-0 (h) 04.11.10
Last three matches:
Liverpool: 3-0 Norwich (a); 0-1 West Brom (h); 2-1 Everton (n)
Fulham: 0-4 Everton (a); 2-1 Wigan (h); 1-1 Chelsea (h)
Goalscorers (league):
Liverpool: Suarez 11; Bellamy 6; Gerrard 5; Carroll, Maxi 4; Adam, Kuyt, Skrtel 2; Coates, Henderson, Johnson 1
Fulham: Dempsey 16; Pogrebnyak 6; Johnson 3; Duff, Murphy, Ruiz 2; Dembele, Diarra, Sa, Senderos, Sidwell 1
Referee: Lee Probert
Guess at a line-up:
Reina
Kelly Skrtel Coates Enrique
Henderson Spearing
Kuyt Shelvey Maxi
Carroll
There will be changes.

Appreciation should go both ways

Monday. There's nothing happening today, right? What do you mean there's a game tonight. Ours is not until Saturday. Title decider? On a Monday? The Premier League taking full advantage of the Labour Day / Bank Holiday tomorrow when they set this fixture. With it being a worldwide holiday, plenty of people will tune in from all around the world.

Pep Guardiola's four years at the helm of one of the greatest side in this sport's history wore him down. That was the message garnered from his press conference. The most arresting part was a sort of enigmatic half plea, "I need to find myself again."

This is not a soulless man.

Chelsea capitan John Terry shows his brilliance by kneeing Barcelona's Alex Sanchez in the thigh.

The bottom of the English Premier League table usually provides just as entertaining an finish to the season as the contenders for the title. The brilliance of the relegation system... Read more »

Barcelona's coach, Pep Guardiola, acknowledged that his team are facing a tough challenge this Tuesday as they try to overcome Chelsea's challenge at Camp Nou, chasing on the 1-0 aggregate that the Blues' had in the first meeting.

However, Guardiola has a full confidence over his players ability, believing that they will show up in the second leg despite suffering from a rather bad weekend after the home defeat against Real Madrid.

Barcelona's coach, Pep Guardiola, acknowledged that his team are facing a tough challenge this Tuesday as they try to overcome Chelsea's challenge at Camp Nou, chasing on the 1-0 aggregate that the Blues' had in the first meeting.

However, Guardiola has a full confidence over his players ability, believing that they will show up in the second leg despite suffering from a rather bad weekend after the home defeat against Real Madrid.

There are certain expectations for Pep Guardiola and Barcelona that no other club in the world faces. Not only to win each and every match, but to do so with an artistic standard that is unmatched by any other club.
J Hutcherson of US Soccer Players writes of the potentially unfair expectations placed on Barca.

By J Hutcherson - WASHINGTON, DC (Apr 20, 2012) US Soccer Players -- You have to feel for opponents of Barcelona. No matter what they do over the course of a game, win or lose it's still going to be about Barca. Barca, Barca, Barca, the team that can't simply have a bad game or a misplay that turns their regular 90 minutes of brilliance into an obvious reason for losing.

Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz

Philadelphia Union

We linked to a tweet from Dave Zeitlin yesterday that indicated that, with Danny Califf doubtful for Saturday's match against Chivas USA, Peter Nowak is likely to start the same back four that played against Columbus, which means Garfan on the left, Gaddis on the right, with Valdes and Williams in the middle.

Ashley Young's diving (or failed rocket-boot experiment to those in the know) has become a big story and while that is something no one wants to see, the fact that it's led to Taiwan's NMAtv to put one of their odd videos about it really makes it all worthwhile. I mean, the first two seconds of the video alone -- with Young running around in a Speedo, swim cap and goggles above the title "Ashley Young is a diving wanker" -- is just a tremendous way to start a YouTube video.

The soccer interwebs are a large and scary place. Sometimes, you try to find an amusing GIF of a petulant foul or amazing free kick and you end up in a forum cave, surrounded by trolls that will defend King Kenny to the death. Tread with caution. And check out these pre-approved links.

Brian Phillips has the scoop on all the leading Chelsea manager candidates and the betmakers' odds for each one.

The soccer interwebs are a large and scary place. Sometimes, you try to find an amusing GIF of a petulant foul or amazing free kick and you end up in a forum cave, surrounded by trolls that will defend King Kenny to the death. Tread with caution. And check out these pre-approved links.

Brian Phillips has the scoop on all the leading Chelsea manager candidates and the betmakers' odds for each one.

The soccer interwebs are a large and scary place. Sometimes, you try to find an amusing GIF of a petulant foul or amazing free kick and you end up in a forum cave, surrounded by trolls that will defend King Kenny to the death. Tread with caution. And check out these pre-approved links.

Brian Phillips has the scoop on all the leading Chelsea manager candidates and the betmakers' odds for each one.

The decision to suspend the 2012 WPS season drove Marta to join Tyreso in Sweden's Damallsvenskan in February. Marta scored 111 goals in 103 matches with Umea before moving to America, so the Swedes are already very familiar with her talents, but, as you might've guessed, she's wasted no time in giving them another glimpse of her brilliance.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

An inspired defensive performance from AC Milan kept Barcelona at bay during a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal tie, but things won't be nearly as easy this time around.

Barcelona have been unstoppable at home in all competitions this season, winning 20 of their 25 games at Camp Nou.

Reina let's the occasion get the better of him...Liverpool fell to a 6th defeat out of 7 league games on April Fool's day as Papiss Cisse confidently put two past the later dismissed Pepe Reina. In an embarrassing display which actually began with a lively start from Liverpool, fans were left completely deflated as they made their way back from St James' Park.

On a cold night in Japan, the USWNT managed to pull out a 1-1 draw against the squad that crushed their World Cup dreams just nine months ago. This was a game that the US Women could have easily lost as the Japanese played stronger football throughout the 90 minute match. The United States back line was constantly under pressure, and when there were offensive chances, balls were almost never on target.

He was a legend for the New York Cosmos. He was a legend for Lazio. But beyond his brilliance as a player, few could match his personality and aura on and off the pitch.

• Chinaglia was the NASL's all-time leading scorer (193 goals, 213 games).
• Chinaglia won four NASL titles with the Cosmos, joining the team in 1976 and retiring in 1983.

It is easy to back Steven Gerrard in any game as a potential match winner. However, this season has been a little bit harder. Having said that, he has shown that just his presence on the pitch adds a significant star quality in the matches that Liverpool have played in this season.
Even in a more restrained role this term, he has been the most influential player in a Liverpool shirt.

Tottenham Hotspur are on their way to Wembley again for the FA Cup semi-Final against Chelsea after battling past an inspired Adam Bogdan Bolton side on an emotional night at the Lane.

The night started with both sets of players warming up in T-shirts which read "Uniting for Fabrice" on the front and "thank you for your support for Fabrice" on the back.

In a battle of the reserves of the MLS Eastern Division's top two teams, the winner came up all Orange today. The Dynamo Reserves beat the Plastic Sporks in KC 3-0 at the Sporting Club Training Center in Swope Park, and the hero of the day was none other than that guy to the left right there, Alex Dixon.

BY DAVID GUBALA

BRIDGEVIEW, Il -- The plan for the Chicago Fire this season was to kick off right where they left off in 2011 and it seems that they're doing just that.

A piece of brilliance from Marco Pappa and Dominic Oduro was all it took as the Chicago Fire handled a struggling Philadelphia Union side with a 1-0 victory Saturday night at Toyota Park.