Barcelona defender Carles Puyol added more controversy over the future of Cesc Fabregas, declaring the Arsenal captain would have the same opportunities he has in London if he moves to Spain. The 31-year old Spanish International ... Click to continue reading...

Barcelona defender Carles Puyol added more controversy over the future of Cesc Fabregas, declaring the Arsenal captain would have the same opportunities he has in London if he moves to Spain. The 31-year old Spanish International ...

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You can tell it is International fortnight can't you, Cesc goes off to join his fellow Spaniards and the gutter press get themselves all excited. They know they can fire silly questions at our captain and Barca players, then add whatever answer they want to the question and then print it, in fact worse than that they ad a few " " either side of the rubbish they write!

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A number of players can stake a claim for being part of the best team in the world at this early period of the European domestic leagues. However, very few players standout the way those listed below have in terms of their contribution to their team, their role as leaders, and certainly their crucial involvement in their respective clubs.

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by FRANCO PANIZO

With the World Cup in sight, most of this weekend's attention will be towards the remaining qualifiers, but there are a few high-profile friendlies on tap� today that might be just as exciting.

England-Brazil is one of those matches, as the Three Lions will took to topple Brazil for the first time since 1990, a stretch of seven games� that includes a� 2-1� loss in the� quarterfinals of the 2002� World Cup.

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�
� �
by FRANCO PANIZO

With the World Cup in sight, most of this weekend's attention will be towards the remaining qualifiers, but there are a few high-profile friendlies on tap� today that might be just as exciting.

England-Brazil is one of those matches, as the Three Lions will took to topple Brazil for the first time since 1990, a stretch of seven games� that includes a� 2-1� loss in the� quarterfinals of the 2002� World Cup.

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In football attacking players often get most of the praise when their team is achieving results while players in other positions are often overlooked. Defenders are typically ignored when accolades and awards are given out, yet it would be wrong to underestimate the contribution and influence� of key defensive players such as� Italy's Paolo Maldini or France's Lilian Thuram, just to name a couple of outstanding talents.

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AP Photo/Manu Fernandez

Pep Guardiola fielded a different looking lineup this evening at the Camp Nou against Cultural Leonesa in the second leg of the Copa del Rey. Barcelona was going into the match already up by two goals after routinely pushing aside Leonesa on their home pitch.

The starting front three of Pedro, Bojan and Jeffren put on display the teams younger talent.

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As a fan of Barcelona I was thinking the other day about the club's rich history as well as their successes in the UEFA Champions League. Barcelona have won the UEFA Champions League three times in their history with two coming in the last four years which is extremely impressive.

It got me thinking; which Champions League winning side was better?

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The cutest photo we've ever seen of Leo Messi and his girlfriend, Antonella. Can this couple be any more adorable? They're at Disney World so we're guessing it was taken when Leo was there promoting the youth soccer tournament, during his United Sates vacation which he mainly spent between California and Florida with his family. Click to continue reading...

It was a hard ending to swallow for FC Barcelona as they battled Osasuna to a scoreless draw late into the second half of the match. Early in the first half the Barcelona defense looked a little off as they were not clearing the ball out of the back field and giving the Osasuna offense too much space to move the ball around.

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FIFA has announced its shortlist of 23 players for the Men's World Player of the Year award, and 10 players for the Women's World Player of the Year Award. National team captains and coaches will now vote (but not for players from their own country) and this final five will be revealed in early December, with the winners announced at FIFA's World Player bash in Zurich on December 21st.

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Barca Captain Carles Puyol has officially put pen to paper and signed his new contract with the club, until 2013. Puyol's as happy as could be, and thanked everyone for having the confidence to keep him. As if it could be any other way!
Meanwhile, Puyol's fellow centerback Rafael Marquez is very close to signing his own brand new deal with the club. Click to continue reading...

FIFA has announced its 23-man shortlist for World Player of the Year. Lets discuss who we think should win and why.

Michael Ballack
Gianluigi Buffon
Iker Casillas
Diego
Didier Drogba
Michael Essien
Samuel Eto'o
Steven Gerrard
Thierry Henry
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Andres Iniesta
Kaka
Frank Lampard
Luis Fabiano
Lionel Messi
Carles Puyol
Franck Ribery
Cristiano Ronaldo
Wayne Rooney
John Terry
Fernando Torres
David Villa
Xavi

Club-wise distribution

Chelsea 5
Manchester United 1
Liverpool 2
Valencia 1
Barcelona 6
Real Madrid 3
Sevilla 1
Inter 1
Juventus 2
Bayern Munich 1
Arsenal 0

Oh wait !

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Argentine ace and Barcelona star Lionel Messi has had quite a year.� After leading Barcelona to an unprecedented treble in the Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Ray he is now up for both the Ballon d'Or (European footballer of the year) and the equally prestigious FIFA World Player of the Year.

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This morning Man United striker Wayne Rooney has been shortlisted for the FIFA World Player Of The Year award. He has been named alongside other English Premier League stars Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and John Terry.
Other Premier League players named are Michael Ballack, Didier Drogba, Fernando Torres and Michael Essien. Click to continue reading...

Nothing wrong with this picture whatsoever. It's a novel idea compile a ranking which will help determine the world's best player. Castrol did it for the Confederations Cup and now they're unleashing for all of world football. Well, by "world football" they mean "Europe's top 5 leagues" Spain, England, Italy, Germany and France. Click to continue reading...

REUTERS/Felix Ordonez

It is expected that Thierry Henry will receive medical clearance this week and will be activated for Sundays league match up against Osasuna.

Henry has been sidelined for just over a month due to a hamstring injury but has been training with the team and looks to be close to match fitness.

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This morning manager Pep Guardiola released the 16 man roster that will travel on Wednesday to take on third division side Cultural Leonesa.

The roster features mostly youth players with Lionel Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Gerard Pique, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Carles Puyol all being rested for this weekends match up at Osasuna.

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Carles Puyol gave Barcelona fans much joy when he announced that he will renew his contract till 2013, thus ending weeks of speculation about his future.Puyol is the heart and soul of the team, and to have him renew means that any doubts that could have been placed on his future can now be discarded. Click to continue reading...

REUTERS/Gustau Nacarino

Barcelona fans can breathe a little easier this morning because the team has announced that they have reached a tentative agreement with captain Carles Puyol for a contract extension until 2013. The announcement ends weeks of speculation that had Puyol leaving the Camp Nou for the Premiership or Serie A when his contract expired in June.

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As if last night's result wasn't bad enough, Dani Alves came out of the mtch with a muscle rupture in his right leg that's put him out for an expected three to four weeks. Just what we needed. The injured list stretches on, and of all people it had to be Dani...
There goes our only rightback. Click to continue reading...

Barca pick up where they left off in the Champions League, meeting Russian club Rubin Kazan at home in the final match of the group stages first leg. We'll be looking not just for a win that will keep Barca at the top of their CL group, but also for a clean sheet that will maintain the team's current form of not having conceded a single CL goal this season, something only three other teams have accomplished so far. Click to continue reading...

Jogaram em Yerevan, no Republican Stadium, para um público de 10.500 pessoas, as seleções da Armênia (100º no ranking da FIFA) e Espanha (2º no ranking da FIFA).
Antes desse jogo, as 2 seleções jogaram:
26-04-1995 - Armênia 0x2 Espanha - Eliminatórias Eurocopa
07-06-1995 - Espanha 1x0 Armênia - Eliminatórias Eurocopa
02-04-2003 - Espanha 3x0 Armênia - Eliminatórias Eurocopa
11-10-2003 - Armênia 0x4 Espanha - Eliminatórias Eurocopa
10-09-2008 - Espanha 4x0 Armênia - Eliminatórias Copa do Mundo
O quarteto de arbitragem foi assim definido:
Árbitro: Jiri JECH-CZE
Primeiro Assistente: Patrik FILIPEK-CZE
Segundo Assistente: Antonin KORDULA-CZE
Quarto Árbitro: Libor KOVARIK-CZE
Aos 18 minutos, o camisa 4, Carlos MARCHENA, da Espanha, recebeu o primeiro cartão amarelo do jogo. Click to continue reading...

Barcelona have considered the prospect of involving Thierry Henry in the deal to get Manchester City's Robinho over the line.
The Catalan giants are pushing for the Brazilian maestro to join them at the Nou Camp and may part with former Arsenal superstar Henry to get their man.
Reports emanating from Spain suggest that Henry, along with captain Carles Puyol, are names being bandied around to use to get Robinho if City require an exchange deal. Click to continue reading...

Fernando Torres has insisted that he will only play in Spain's final World Cup qualifier against Bosnia if he is 100 per cent fit and poured scorn on reports of a rift between Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez and the national team.
"I still have some discomfort and it will not be decided until Wednesday if I will play. Click to continue reading...

Mark Hughes looks to balance attack heavy squad by bringing in experienced defenders in potential swap deal.

Fulham Vs Manchester City Tickets Still Available!

The Manchester City hierarchy are holding talks in Abu Dhabi this week in a rare face-to-face management meeting as the club hone their ambitious plans on and off the pitch.

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A soon to be out of contract player who could be a very wise addition to the Gunners squad.

Barcelona have shown very little respect for our great club in their dogged and annoying pursuit of their former youth team player and current Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas and with that in mind a move for one of their soon to be out of contract stars would be an intelligent signing and as well as a big 'up yours' to the Catalan side for good measure.

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Morning Insiders'� we have taken the best bits from todays papers. The usual suspects are there with the Fabregas Barcelona stories.

The Sun -� � Barcelona eye Rob & Fab� BARCELONA have admitted both Robinho AND Cesc Fabregas are top of their January shopping list.

Asked about Barca's interest in Manchester City's Brazilian striker Robinho, Barca sporting director Txiki Begiristain said: "He is a very interesting footballer and could play for us in the Champions League.

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is hot on the heels of Barcelona captain Carles Puyol. The Frenchman believes that Puyol would be an excellent defensive partner for Thomas Vermaelen, but Premier League rivals Manchester City are also jumping in to the chase.

City manager Mark Hughes looks to continue to bolster his defense, even after signing Kolo Toure and Joleon Lescott over the summer.

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I have found the perfect solution for Gordon Brown's lack of votes problem.

SCRAP INTERNATIONAL BREAKS!

Just think how many votes that would get you? More or less every single football fan would think its the best idea since... well...

It would probably be the best decision to ever be made.

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Carles Puyol, 31, current Barça captain and Spain's full back, is currently considering whether he should end his long and succesful career in Barcelona or not. His contract expires on June, 2010 it's rumored that he could be joining the Premiership the next year, and that would be the only reason why he hasn't [. Click to continue reading...

PHILIPPE DESMAZES/AFP/Getty Images

According to Sport.es Barcelona have become increasingly concerned about Carles Puyol and Rafael Marquez contracts and have issued an ultimatum to the defensive pair. The two have been exteremely loyal to Barcelona in the past but as January 1st approaches the players can begin to talk to other team about contracts for next season.

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Arsene Wenger interested in crazy haired centre back.

Watch Ukraine Vs England Live Online!

According to a report in Catalan newspaper, Sport, Arsene Wenger has indentified Puyol as an experienced figurehead to aid his young squad.
The 32 year-old is stalling over a new deal at the Nou Camp and has been given until December to decide on his future.

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AP Photo/David Ramos

Coming off a midweek draw in the Champions League against Inter Milan there was question as to how the team would react with only a few days rest. The answer, very well.

FC Barcelona returned home for their third La Liga match of the season against an Atletico Madrid team that on paper looks to be a powerhouse but early in the season have not yet managed a win.

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