Will we see an All Whites Haka? The World Cup will be richer for the experience.
I had been keen on seeing Bahrain qualify. Bahrain were the sort of quick counter-attacking outfit
capable of the odd 3-2 upset.
New Zealand inspire less confidence as Giant Killers.
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If you're only going to have 5 players play well, make sure they include at least three
defenders and the goalkeeper. I'm writing in a vacuum I did have the Setanta commentator who
rightly pointed out how poor France were, but I have to say that I thought France were
shocking.
Good performances: Sagna, Evra, Gallas, Lloris, Anelka
Poor: Henry, A.
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Argentine youngster Angel di Maria has quashed speculation linking him with a move to England,
saying that he has never spoken to the English press and has never "dreamed of" a move to English
shores.
The Benfica midfielder was linked with potential moves to some of the Premiership's top clubs
including Manchester United, Manchester City, and Arsenal, but the Europa League standout now
insists that the reports are all fabricated.
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Liverpool Kop 15 November @ 09:01 AM EST
Many Liverpool fans are distraught at the club's current predicament/failure to win any trophies
for the last three years. After 1 win in 9 games, questions are rightly being asked about Rafa
Benitez's future. However, The ‘Rafa can do no wrong' brigade come up with endless
excuses/justifications for giving the manager more time, the most common of which is the ridiculous
comparison between Benitez and Arsene Wenger.
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Hello to all Russia fans, this is just a reminder that today Russia will play Slovenia at the
Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. I will just give a brief opinion on that match up. Russia I think
Russia go into the game with plenty of confidence and momentum. I think that majority of
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So it looks like we have been hurt by the international break once again with van Persie being
stretchered off against Italy in a friendly with a pretty serious injury, reports have said he has
either cracked his ankle or torn ankle ligaments but I'm told that he has broken his
metatarsal.
After having a relatively injury free period over the past year his luck with injuries has taken
a turn for the worse again and you have to feel for the guy, he looked in real pain when he was
being taken off and I just hope beyond hope the injury isnt as bad as first feared, we should have
Theo coming back along with Vela to soften the blow but van Persie has been enjoying the best form
of his career this season.
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! Article Start >Quiet man turned motormouth, Chris Hughton, has calmed speculation on a
Newcastle United move for Jermaine Beckford in January, and expressed confidence that the recently
troubled Peter Løvenkrands will return to form. Speaking of the 25 year old Leeds goal machine,
Hughton said: "It's obvious that we will be mentioned with players [.
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1. Guzan In Goal: Brad Guzan is coming off a superb performance in the League Cup for Aston Villa.
On October 27th against Sunderland, Guzan stopped a penalty in regulation and then stopped three
more in the shootout. Though hopefully he won't need to save any penalties on Saturday, he could
use that big moment where he is the difference.
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So we are facing Real Salt Lake for the Eastern Conference Semis, even though RSL isn't from the
East! I know it is kinda oxymoronic, but the system has worked for the MLS in the past when one
Conference (cough cough, the East last year) is completely dominant over the other. Either way,
both teams got here in dramatic fashion.
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Just a week or so ago I wrote on here claiming we needed to be more patient with Nani, following
a string of frustrating games with the odd flash of something good. We've spent a lot of money on
the lad and he should be given a fair run in the team before he's out on his arse.
But unfortunately for Nani, he couldn't just be patient and see what the manager's plans were
for him.
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In a controversial interview with Portugal's I newspaper, Manchester United winger Nani
revealed his frustrations with life at United and with Sir Alex Ferguson.
"Ferguson is a very complicated man," he stated.
"He's tough. If things are all right, then they are all right. But when he thinks something is
wrong, everything is screwed.
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It looks like
Man United midfielder
Luis Nani has said something that he really
should have. Speaking to a Portuguese newspaper called ‘I', Nani has criticized manager
Sir
Alex Ferguson and that really isn't a good idea.
Since joining Man United in 2007, Nani hasn't really broken into the first team, he has had some
really good performances and some really bad ones.
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Gabriel Obertan joined
Man United during the summer. Immediately after he signed, it
was announced that he had picked up an injury. Obertan has recently made his first team debut but
he has been really impressive whilst playing for United's reserves.
The 20-year old made his debut for the first team during United's 2-0 win over Barnsley in the
Carling Cup.
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Red Rants 12 November @ 03:22 AM EST
Two things came up yesterday. Both through interviews with Portuguese players: one a current
player, another a former red.
First, Nani:
"People expect more from me and it's not easy. 'I'. "I could be doing better, scoring
more, but just think, I make a huge game today but the next one, I'm not even sure that I will
play.
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...and I would really appreciate it if I had an Arsenal win to enjoy, sadly that does not seem
to be the case due to another round of utterly pointless internationals.
There is only one bit of news and I wouldn't really call it news.
Jack Wilshere is looking forward to playing Citeh at Middle Eastlands in the Carling Cup and
believes we can go all the way to Wembley, Jack the Hobbit said:
"It will be good to play against Manchester City and I hope they play a full team.
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As they Gunners continue their great run of form it is worth mentioning those players who are
still not hitting the high notes.
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Philippe Senderos
Whilst I think the Big Swiss is not the same defender that was derided when he first hit the
scene I still don't think he has much of a future at the club.
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Real Madrid hosted Alcorcon in the Spanish Copa del Rey on Tuesday, November 10, 2009. Alcorcon
stunned Madrid in the first leg with a 4-0 win. Here's a recap of the second leg at the Bernabeu
along with video highlights.
Real Madrid beats Alcorcon 1-0 (loses 1-4 on aggregate) Video
Highlights
1st Half
Real Madrid were embarrassed in the first leg and had to score at least four goals to have a
chance at advancing.
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Anfield Talk 10 November @ 02:50 PM EST
Rafael Benitez is unsure when Liverpool striker Fernando Torres will recover from his problematic
groin injury but has said the Spaniard does not need surgery.
Torres missed Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Birmingham last night with Benitez confirming afterwards
that he remains a doubt for their next game against Manchester City on Nov 21.
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AEK Archives 10 November @ 09:44 AM EST
So, a nice, relatively comfortable win on Monday brought us up from ninth to joint fifth.
We got the three points we so desperately needed, as well as a little bit of reassurance for the
players and fans. Beating a team like Larissa with a score of 3-1 is always a nice thing. Sure,
Larissa might not be at their best, but they are rarely an easy team to win against (I feel like
I've said that many times already this season).
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Anfield Talk 09 November @ 03:38 PM EST
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has not given up hope of qualifying for the later stages of the
Champions League this season.
Escaping the group stages is looking like an uphill struggle for the Reds after losses to both Lyon
and Fiorentina, who currently occupy the top two places in the group.
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Sevilla has been playing with a lot of confidence recently. In fact the squad has quietly
rested in the top three spots all season and won seven matches out of ten and only lost two over
that span. In other words Sevilla is one of the best clubs in the league. But could they be the
best?
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Anfield Talk 08 November @ 01:24 PM EST
Rafael Benitez has held talks with his Liverpool bosses over the implications if the club fail to
reach the last 16 of this season's Champions League.
Discussions were also held on if the club fail to qualify for next season's lucrative European
competition.
The Liverpool manager revealed today that the club did not budget this term for anything beyond the
group stages.
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Rafa Benitez revealed he has held talks with Liverpool CEO Christian Purslow about the consequences
of failure in the Champions League this season, about which Benitez said: "The first thing though
is that we have confidence we can still reach the last 16 this season".
That is going to need already qualified Lyon to Beat Fiorentina away, not going to happen.
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Anfield Talk 07 November @ 12:28 PM EST
Liverpool striker David Ngog wants to score more goals for Rafa Benitez to repay the Spaniard for
improving his game.
The 20-year-old has netted twice in the Premier League this term - against Stoke City and
Manchester United - in four substitute appearances.
The France Under-21 international has also scored in the Carling Cup against Leeds and for the
reserves.
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So, are we going to bounce back from our lacklustre display against the old enemy or will the
players put in another shocker against Steve Bruce's men?
The defeat against Stoke doesn't worry me. We played well, it was just unfortunate. Even more
unfortunate it came before a big game but I think we would have lost at Arsenal in those
circumstances 99 times out of 100.
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The UEFA Europa League had a full set of group stage matches on Thursday, November 5, 2009
including Everton v Benfica. Here's a recap along with video highlights of the match.
Benfica beats Everton 2-0 Video Highlights
Everton hosted Benfica looking to avenge a 5-0 defeat in the last matchday.
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The UEFA Europa League had a full set of group stage matches on Thursday, November 5, 2009
including AS Roma v Fulham. Here's a recap along with video highlights of the match.
AS Roma beats Fulham 2-1 Video Highlights
Roma had the advantage of a home crowd but Fulham was the one to take the lead in the first
half.
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Nicklas Bendtner believes nothing will stop him from becoming one of the best strikers in the
world. In this interview Nicklas talks about his ambitions in the future, and how it is important
to be confident within yourself. Many people forget Nicklas Bendtner is only 21, not many 21 year
olds have achieved what this young man has done.
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The UEFA Champions League had a full set of group stage matches on Tuesday, November 3, 2009
including Chelsea traveling to play Atletico Madrid in Spain. Here's a recap of the match along
with video highlights.
Chelsea draws with Atletico Madrid 2-2 Video Highlights
It was a quick start as Atletico Madrid came out with confidence playing at home.
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Stockport County striker Peter Thompson has urged his team mates to keep their heads high and
believe that they can avoid relegation as County are firm favorites to go down in the League this
season.
With a poor run of just one win in six games County find themselves lying two points outside the
relegation Zone however Thompson believes the Squad and Boss Gary Ablett can turn things
around.
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Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell is certain that a win over Benfica in Thursday night's Europa
League fixture will boost Everton's confidence. The Toffees currently lie in 13th in the Barclays
Premier League table, and Rodwell believes that the side could be ready to turn the corner.
"We feel good about the performance against Villa but not about the result," said Rodwell.
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Darren Fletcher will make his return to the first team today after missing our last five games
through injury.
With the United game coming up this weekend, the manager recognises Fletcher's return as a big
boost.
"Most people now recognise Darren Fletcher as a big-game player," said Ferguson.
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