Another day, another head shot. This really is the final straw for American girls soccer, though. I mean, the hair pulling and dirty tackles are one thing, but to take aim and obliterate an opponent's face like this on a free kick is just way over the line. And totally hilarious.

After the jump, a special bonus DTotD.

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This seems almost impossibly unimportant following the sad news of Robert Enke's passing, but Cristiano Ronaldo will now definitely miss both legs of Portugal's World Cup 2010 playoff vs Bosnia-Herzegovina (November 14th and 18th). The story had been steadily building into the club vs country smackdown to end all club vs country smackdowns, with Real Madrid insisting their player was injured and unavailable (and doubly so since said ankle injury is a direct result of C-Ron playing for Portugal last month when not fully fit) and Portugal maintaining it was there right to call up whoever they want.

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The financial crisis has highlighted a dilemna in capitalist society, especially so in the United States. Simply put, some corporations and institutions have been deemed just too big to fail - the damage of letting their poor decisions break them would be so great for society that it is deemed in the public interest to bail them out. Click to continue reading...

Looks like if some Liverpool fans are given the powers, they will sack Rafa Benitez immediately. The reason? Because we are not at the top of the table at the moment, we have not won all the games we have played so far this season, and we have not won our games by a 5 goals margin, all scored from 20 yards I suppose.

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I was surprised to see the attendance at yesterday's ISL game between Persebaya and Bontang given as less than 4,000. This for a newly promoted side rich in tradition who took 6,000 to their play off against PSMS at Soreang earlier in the year.
It seems the club's supporters, known as Bonek, are peeved at the hike in ticket prices. Click to continue reading...

by CARL ELDRIDGE Marouane Chamakh won't be joining the glorious Gunners in January after all, according to Bordeaux president Jean-Louis Triaud, a man, it has to be said, who isn't at all shy of the glare of publicity.

The Daily Mail reports this morning that Triaud has hit out at Arsene Wenger for his pursuit of the Morrocan striker, who is out of contract next summer.

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Well that brightened up an otherwise dull day on Sky Sports News didn't it??
FIFA have come down on hard on Chelsea for inducing 18-year-old Gael Kakuta to break his contract with Lens and move to London two years ago (full details here).
Well my first thoughts were: about bloody time. Click to continue reading...

While Major League Soccer is enjoying a slower week in terms of news and even games (yeah only three this weekend) due to the World Cup qualifying going on, the USL keeps rolling in the news.

I just caught wind of another release via SoccerNet that goes into more details about how some clubs could be splitting from the USL and it's new ownership after this year.

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One is Peter Reid. Stoke City say the Thai manager is as good as theirs. The man himself has said nothing but one story has quoted him as saying he is happy to be the number two with Stoke.
The other is Benny Dollo in Indonesia. In a wonderful example of compromise the FA said that no, he could not become the coach of Persija while he was still working with the national team. Click to continue reading...

Well Liverpool have confirmed everything here. Its as close to a done deal now and all that remains is the medical. AEK have also stated that they will not get in his way if this it what Kyrgiakos really wants.

While I'm proud to see Kyrgiakos going to play abroad for Liverpool what is disgusting me is the way Liverpool are trying to negotiate things.

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Ground: Rockingham Road
Date: Saturday 15th August 2009
Comp: Conference
Match: Kettering 1 AFC Wimbledon 2 HT: 0-1 Att: 1,746
Thomas 74: Kedwell 9, 66(pen)
Additional: Entrance £18 (stand) £14 (terrace), Programme £3, Hamburger £2.80, Hot drinks £1.00
Rockingham Road in pictures
Despite my decision to follow Leek Town this season, this game was booked in advance as a birthday present from my Dad, an AFC Wimbledon fan. Click to continue reading...

The Greek International has signed.

Over 700 Ashes tickets still available Click Here to Buy!

RAFAEL BENITEZ has moved to ease Liverpool's centre-back concerns by agreeing a deal to sign Greece international Sotiris Kyrgiakos.

The Anfield manager has been keen to bolster his defensive options given the summer departure of Sami Hyypia and ongoing concerns over the fitness of Daniel Agger.

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Thank god there was no Ruud Van Nistelrooy-esque screw up!

Xabi Alonso is set to train with his new Real Madrid team-mates after easing through a club medical on Wednesday morning that saw him complete his move from Liverpool, according to a report.

The Spanish international midfielder has completed the transfer that he publicly stated he wanted, and has been hailed as the last piece in Los Merengues' jigsaw.

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Rafa please use the money wisely!

After all this discussing, waiting, guessing, debating it has happened finally we can draw a line under it count the cash and spend it on some great, yes great, not decent or average players.

I just wish I knew who the hell he will bring in I have a sneaky suspicion that deals are lined up for at least 3 players.

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Stay away from CFR Cluj owner Arpad Paszkany.
Recently he was charged with blackmail and supporting a criminal group.
And he "financed the media group Gazeta from 2004 to 2006 to promote his business interests and compromise rival companies."
Those media groups pretty much trashed whoever he wanted. Click to continue reading...

OK folks, if you want to see the US vs Mexico match on August 12th, it's going to take some work. From TVweek.com

NBC Universal is now going to offer all cable and satellite operators free access to Telemundo-owned cable network mun2 on August 12, so that all soccer fans around the country will get to see the English-language telecast of the World Cup qualifying match between the United States and Mexico.

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OK folks, if you want to see the US vs Mexico match on August 12th, it's going to take some work. From TVweek.com

NBC Universal is now going to offer all cable and satellite operators free access to Telemundo-owned cable network mun2 on August 12, so that all soccer fans around the country will get to see the English-language telecast of the World Cup qualifying match between the United States and Mexico.

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Steven Gerrard has underlined his desire for glory with Liverpool FC as the Reds prepare for their second pre-season friendly on Sunday against Rapid Vienna in the Austrian capital.
The Liverpool FC skipper has made it clear that he wants the Barclays Premier League title, another Champions League success and a World Cup victory with England before he considers coaching and management at the end of his career. Click to continue reading...

Since the arrival of Vermaelen, speculation has intensified with regards to which Arsenal defender will exit the Emirates. The media have not got a preference on who they want to kick out and us fans are not clearly unified in our own opinions. Going purely by percentages, the money is on Gallas and/or Senderos to leave. Click to continue reading...

Xabi Alonso has told Rafa Benitez he wants to quit Anfield and sign for Real Madrid – but Liverpool will not grant his wish unless the Spanish giants come up with a fee in the region of £35m.
Alonso has stopped short of putting in an official written transfer request but he has made it clear to Benitez that his future lies in La Liga rather than the Premier League. Click to continue reading...

Apparently they're not over Kaka.
Especially the club's selling of the Brazilian star.
The team's first training session of the year proved the ideal time for 300 irate fans to protest. Weapons of choice? Smoke bombs and firecrackers.
Wild.

Fans held up a banner reading "Without compromise: Think of Milan first and then your own interests," along with signs criticizing club owner and Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi.

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There was trouble yesterday at Milanello, the AC Milan training base.
The first day back from the summer holidays got off to the worst start as hundreds of angry Ultras turned up outside the club's training ground during today's lunch-hour.
Not happy about the way top players like Kaka are being sold and no reinvestment is being made in the team, bottles, various objects and flares were hurled towards the club buildings as journalists from Sky Sport Italia ran for cover. Click to continue reading...

It's been about a week since Kaka was officially unveiled as a member of Real Madrid and about a month since it became clear he wasn't going back to Milan plenty of time for the AC Milan tifosi to experience their anger, let it pass, and move on with their lives, right?

Not so much.

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It looks as if Chelsea has signed its first player of the summer. And a pretty good one it is, if you ask me.

Both Sky Sports and BBC Sport are reporting that Chelsea has finally agreed a deal with Daniel Sturridge that will bring the talented England Under-20 international to Stamford Bridge when his contract with Manchester City runs out at the end of June.

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It was never a secret that Guardiola preferred Busquets and Keita to Toure when he started his reign at Barca. He entered into compromise with Eto early on the season but convincingly overlooked Toure many times during the start of season. But there are some talents you can't keep on bench, and Toure proved to be one of them. Click to continue reading...

Nothing major. Just arthroscopic surgery to remove his ankle screws. He will be out for 4-6 weeks missing his country's World Cup fixture against Ukraine.

Eduardo has had a number of niggling injuries that have hampered his complete rehabilitation since his return.

It is tough to say this but I doubt he will ever be fully match fit.

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Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit believes it's time for Arsene Wenger to spend money if he wants to keep up with the rest of the big boys in England.

The Frenchman said:

Arsenal have not won anything in four years. Everything was done to bring together a young team and make it progress step by step, after [Thierry] Henry's departure.

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No fixtures announced for the W-League yet. And apparently they won't be out until October.
The FFA ARE going to release the fixtures before the season starts although there has been some debate about this.
Some members of the FFA want to release the fixtures after the first game. Click to continue reading...

DISH customers can practically kiss their chances goodbye of seeing GolTV back on their satellite provider. The 24/7 soccer network says that it doesn't see any compromise with DISH being reached in the near future and is recommending that DISH customers select an alternate source such as DirecTV. On August 1st, DISH Network dumped GolTV from its [. Click to continue reading...

Johnathon Woodgate has accused Dimitar Berbatov of betraying his team-mates. The Spurs striker is desperate to join Manchester United. And last night both clubs were inching closer to a £28million deal. (the sun)
But Spurs centre-back Woodgate rapped: "What he's done doesn't give out a great message to the supporters, if I'm honest. Click to continue reading...

I'm loving being second in the League table - even if it is League 1.
Probably not as much as Hull fans will be enjoying being above Manchester United in the Premiership though.
And I wonder how we will get on tomorrow night against Fulham in the League cup. We did well last year - beating Aston Villa and only just losing out to Chel$ea . Click to continue reading...

The England midfielder will earn close to £140,000 a week, some £9,000 more than the previous top earner, his club-mate John Terry, who extended his stay at Stamford Bridge last year. It is believed Lampard's wages will drop slightly in the final 12 months of his deal, though, a compromise he accepted in return for such a lengthy contract. Click to continue reading...

Finally, we can rid our minds of the most annoying, tiresome saga of the past couple of years. Yes, Frank Lampard has commited to Chelsea for five more years.

Lamps' new contract will take him to age 35.

"I want to finish my career at Chelsea," Lampard said. It is something I've said many times and after signing this contract I am very happy and positive I will finish as a player here.

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Lampard signs new five year deal
Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce today (Wednesday, August 13) that Frank Lampard has signed a new five year contract.
The new deal will keep Lampard at the club until the end of the 2013-14 season.
Lampard said: 'I want to finish my career at Chelsea. Click to continue reading...

Who knew Ronald (right) had so much pull?
The Euro 2009 Under-21 Championships will not be played in Boras, Sweden, because official sponsor McDonald's is demanding all other fast-food restaurants close during the tournament.
Local Boras burger joint MAX refused -- offering a partial-closure compromise -- and now the city can't host any games. Click to continue reading...