With December fast-approaching, The Season is in the air. Christmas? Absolutely not. It's awards season. The Argentine sensation known as Lionel Messi has already nabbed the Onze d'Or, a precursor to the Ballon d'Or (with a heft more patriotism) which has predicted the BdO three times in the last four years. Click to continue reading...

Positives:

A) The USA with their below full strength team played patient ball control. They took their time to build up their attack. Having no Donovan and Davies meant that the US had to give up their fast counterattacking edge. But the tactical switch was achieved quite effectively showing that the US is capable of this approach.

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GK: Stephan Anderson (Brondby), Thomas Sorensen (Stoke City) DEF: Daniel Agger (Liverpool), Lars Jacobsen (Blackburn), Michael Lumb (AGF Aarhus), Per Kroldrup (Fiorentina), Simon Kjaer (Palermo), William Jorgensen (FC Copenhagen) MID: Christian Poulsen (Juventus), Jakob Poulsen (AGF Aarhus), Michael Silberbauer (Utrecht), Soren Rieks (ESbjerg), Thomas Enevoldsen (Groningen), Thomas Kahlenberg (Wolfsburg), Dennis Rommedahl (Ajax) FOR: Jesper Gronkjaer (FC Copenhagen), Johan Absalonsen (OB), Jon Dahl Tomasson (Feyenoord), Martin Jorgensen (Fiorentina), Morten Rasmussen (Brondby), Soen Larsen (Duisburg) Click to continue reading...

The Danish national team announced the roster that will take on U.S. national team on Nov. 18 in Aarhus.

Christian Poulsen, Dennis Rommedahl and Thomas Kahlenberg are just some of the top European-based standouts called in for the match, which is the first of two friendlies the U.S.

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The Danish national team announced the roster that will take on U.S. national team on Nov. 18 in Aarhus.

Christian Poulsen, Dennis Rommedahl and Thomas Kahlenberg are just some of the top European-based standouts called in for the match, which is the first of two friendlies the U.S.

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.All the attention was upon Portugal and most of the fans were worried about hither and tether and things going neither. But Portugal managed a win despite losing Cristiano Ronaldo which rules him out of their last qualifying Group match against Malta. This away match was extremely crucial with Portugal needing a win for keeping [. Click to continue reading...

Our featured player scored again last night in the 1-1 draw Denmark claimed in Albania. Olsen's side will look back at this as 2 massive points dropped and now only lie 3 points ahead of Sweden, who lie in second and 5 ahead of mighty Portugal. Denmark took the lead in the 40th minute after much pressure on the hosts goal.

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Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has revealed that the club are searching for "the best replacement" for Xabi Alonso.
The Anfield club have agreed to sell the Spanish midfielder to Real Madrid for a fee believed to be in the region of €34 million and the 27-year-old is all set to be unveiled at the Bernabeu having completed his medical. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool new signings become like buses, wait around for ages for one, then three turn up at once, perhaps!

Udinese midfielder Gokhan Inler is the latest player to interest Liverpool as a replacement for Xabi Alonso.

The 25-year-old Turkish-born Switzerland international, Inler, is now understood to be high on Benitez's radar.

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Sky Sports News understands Liverpool are closing in on the signing of Juventus midfielder Christian Poulsen.
Juve are open to the sale of the Denmark international and a number of sides have been linked with an interest in his services.
Premier League duo Fulham and Everton are among those clubs said to be admirers of the 29-year-old. Click to continue reading...

Italian giants trying to flog a dead horse!

Juventus are encouraging Liverpool to make an offer for Christian Poulsen.

Tuttosport says Juve are desperate to find a buyer for the Dane and are upset he has already rejected a move to Fulham.

Poulsen only wants to join a Champions League club and Juve are urging Liverpool to follow up their initial enquiries with a concrete offer (Tuttosport)

This isn't the first time the Dane has been linked with a move to Anfield but now it appears that Juventus are desperate to get the deal done, but quite why Liverpool would take interest in a player that Fulham deemed not worthy of following up on, is beyond me!

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Liverpool's Andrea Dossena is ready to return to Italy, he just wants to get paid. Wenger is said to have called Bordeaux about their talented striker Marouane Chamakh. Everton and Liverpool might both be interested in Juventus midfielder Christian Poulsen...

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According to a report, Liverpool and Everton are both interested in Juventus midfielder Christian Poulsen. The Danish midfielder's agent says he wants to stay in Turin but his English representative had this to say. It's complicated trying to find a...

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Determined customer appears on Rafa's radar

The Rumour

Liverpool are ahead of Fulham for Juventus midfielder Christian Poulsen.

The Times says Liverpool have expressed an interest in signing Poulsen and Juventus will only consider selling the defensive midfield player, which ends Fulham's attempts to negotiate a loan deal.

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Fulham have been offered the chance to sign Christian Poulsen, the Denmark midfield player, from Juventus. Poulsen, who has also played for Seville, rejected a £6 million move to Fenerbahçe.

So says the Times window watch (confirmed stories.

Ever since the 1986 World Cup I've been excited by Danish footballers.

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Who will Ciro Ferrara bring to the Old Lady?

With the silly season well underway, Juventus have been busy trying to strengthen their squad ahead of the 2009/2010 season. A few pieces of business have already been agreed, Fabio Cannavaro has signed from Real Madrid, long term target Diego was brought in from Werder Bremen for a €24 million.

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According to Tuttosport, the Juventus board have given Alessio Secco the all clear to sign Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.
The Bianconeri tried to buy Alonso last year, only for Claudio Ranieri to turn his attention to Christian Poulsen.
Tuttosport understands Juventus want the 27-year-old Spain international to anchor their midfield so Diego can fully express his talent. Click to continue reading...

Juventus appear set to make a move for Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso once again this summer.
The Old Lady seemed on the verge of signing the midfielder last summer but the move eventually collapsed and the Bianconeri plumped for Danish international Christian Poulsen amid widespread protests from fans. Click to continue reading...

Reports in The Daily Mirror claim that Juventus might launch a fresh bid for Liverpool midfield star Xabi Alonso this summer after failing to land the 27-year-old last year.
The Bianconeri seemed on the verge of securing the services of the former Real Sociedad man last summer, but the transfer eventually fell through and they plumped for Danish international Christian Poulsen, amid protests from the fans who had set their sights on the classy Spanish international. Click to continue reading...

Continuing to surf on La Gazzetta's "Serie A vs. EPL" wave, here are ALL THE PLAYERS from UEFA Champions League's Chelsea vs. Juventus. PETR CECH Often tagged as the "second-best keeper in the world" (now down to third with Casillas, get over it Chelsea fans), Petr Cech has now the opportunity to go neck-in-neck with the [. Click to continue reading...

Fresh from the great minds of Gazzetta dello Sport, here is a look at ALL THE PLAYERS from UEFA Champion's League Chelsea vs. Juventus. Enjoy! . . . . . . . . . . . PETR CECH Often tagged as the "second-best keeper in the world" (now down to third with Casillas, get over it Chelsea fans), Petr Cech has now the opportunity to go neck-in-neck with [. Click to continue reading...

Continuing to surf on La Gazzetta's "Serie A vs. EPL" wave, here are ALL THE PLAYERS from UEFA Champions League's Chelsea vs. Juventus. PETR CECH Often tagged as the "second-best keeper in the world" (now down to third with Casillas, get over it Chelsea fans), Petr Cech has now the opportunity to go neck-in-neck with the [. Click to continue reading...

In circumstances like these it might be easy to repeat the Bianconeri adage, "Juventus never give up". It's one that fits. "Character" is one of the single most marking characteristics of this team, and the way Juve achieved their victory over Catania today can only reinforce that image (just like their Coppa Italia match did [. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has promised the club that he is 100% committed to their cause this season, after a summer in which he was left in transfer limbo.
Alonso began the summer as a target for Italian giants Juventus and looked set to seal a deal when he returned to Anfield after claiming the European Championship with Spain. Click to continue reading...

Last night saw Part 2 of the September double-header taking place in the European World Cup 2010 qualifiers, so let's give you the low-down and the hoe-down on what went on across the continent...
Group 1
Two very late goals from Christian Poulsen and Daniel Jensen turned a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 victory for Denmark against Portugal last night. Click to continue reading...

The US Men's Team shut out Trinidad & Tobago 3-0 last night (that's the game I was enjoying). They are now 3-0 with 3 games remaining in the semifinal round of qualification (12 teams will become 6 teams, with 3 moving onto the WC).

Elsewhere, Soccer by Ives offered several good articles this week:
Here are the CONCACAF Standings prior to the games last night
Mexico Beats Canada puts our neighbors to the North very close to elimination
Oh, and for those of you born in the 80's or later, here's some history for you from Ives.

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Daniel Jensen's stoppage-time winner gave Denmark a 3-2 victory over Portugal in a World Cup Group One qualifier on Wednesday which saw four goals being scored in the last seven minutes. Nani opened the scoring after 42 minutes.Denmark levelled through Nicklas Bendtner's header in the 83rd minute.

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Arsenal are reported to have had an eleventh hour offer of £14million rejected by Liverpool for Spanish International Xabi Alonso.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had been heavily linked with a move for the EURO 2008 winner all summer, along with the man the Anfield club had identified as the Spaniards replacement at the Reds, Gareth Barry of Aston Villa. Click to continue reading...

Turkish club Fenerbahce have issued a statement on reports linking Spanish International Xabi Alonso with a move to the Sari Kanaryalar from Liverpool.
26-year-old Alonso had been linked with a move to Juventus all summer, but La Vecchia Signora's valuation of the EURO 2008 winner did not meet that of the Merseyside club. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez insists that he is glad to not have cashed in on Xabi Alonso during the summer.
Prior to Euro 2008 it seemed a foregone conclusion that Alonso would end his four-year spell on Merseyside to join Juventus, but the knock on effect of the Italians opting for the cheaper Christian Poulsen instead, and Aston Villa knocking back bid after bid for Gareth Barry has resulted in the Spaniard remaining rooted in Anfield. Click to continue reading...

The likelihood of Xabi Alonso leaving Liverpool this summer continues to decrease, with reports emerging that the club's American owners are preparing to top up the transfer kitty themselves.
Prior to EURO 2008 it seemed a foregone conclusion that Alonso would end his four-year spell on Merseyside to join Juventus. Click to continue reading...

Turkish giants Fenerbahce appear to have emerged as the favourites to sign Liverpool's Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso.
Fenerbahce have emerged as the front-runners to sign Liverpool's Spanish International Xabi Alonso, with Serie A Champions Inter Milan and Arsenal also being linked with the midfielder. Click to continue reading...

Spanish International Xabi Alonso has been linked with a move to Turkish Fenerbahce as Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez tries to raise the funds to land main transfer target Gareth Barry from Aston Villa, according to The Mirror.
26-year-old Alonso had been linked with a move to Serie A giants Juventus all summer, but this fell through when La Vecchia Signora decided to sign Christian Poulsen from La Liga club Sevilla instead. Click to continue reading...

Inter Milan are to switch their attention to Spanish International Xabi Alonso of Liverpool, if they fail to sign number one transfer target Frank Lampard at Chelsea, according to reports in Italy.
The Nerazzurri have already had one offer of £7.95million (€10m) turned down by the Blues, but have reportedly made an improved bid believed to be £11million (€13. Click to continue reading...

A reported approach to Liverpool by Greek side Olympiakos about the possibility of signing Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva is expected to be politely rebuffed.
Olympiakos have reportedly enquired about Liverpool's Lucas Leiva, who is expected to feature for Brazil at this summer's Olympic Games in Beijing. Click to continue reading...