Kaka and Dani Alves welcome you to Day 4 of the Brazilian Bootcamp! And you really need to clap your hands at that photo. What on Earth were those two thinking?! They're putting all of us in the spirit of el clasico next week.

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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...

Sunday action in the Turkcell Super League contained a champions' derby between Galatasaray against Trabzonspor. It would also feature a potential extension to the best start in league history, as Fenerbahçe would look to make it nine wins in a row. With the Fenerbahçe-Galatasaray derby coming up next Sunday, both teams looked to gain momentum for not only for their showdown, and also for their Europa League game this coming Thursday. Click to continue reading...

• Are you ready for this? The folks at Marca amusingly invented an 'award' for Kaka so that he'd come to their editorial offices and give em a scoop! You know they'd been waiting AGES for this day to arrive. "I will try to score as many goals as I can against Milan.

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O 17º jogo do Mundial Sub-20, foi realizado na cidade de Suez, no estádio Mubarak Stadium, com uma temperatura de 27º C.
Jogaram as seleções da Coréia do Sul (49º no ranking da FIFA) e Alemanha (4º no ranking da FIFA).
Antes desse jogo, as 2 seleções jogaram:
27/06/1994 - Alemanha 3x2 Coréia do Sul (Copa do Mundo)
25/06/2002 - Alemanha 1x0 Coréia do Sul (Copa do Mundo)
29/11/2003 - Coréia do Sul 2x0 Alemanha (Mundial Sub-20)
19/12/2004 - Coréia do Sul 3x1 Alemanha (Amistoso)
A seleção da Coréia do Sul deu 7 chutes a gol e ficou com 58% de posse de bola e a Alemanha deu 5 chutes a gol com 32% de posse de bola. Click to continue reading...

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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#12: Espanol

If there is any team in La Liga that deserves a good finish to the season it is likely Espanol. The club has gone through a horrific last few months that puts frustrating season's on the pitch into perspective. While training for the La Liga season captain Dani Jarque died on the pitch of a heart attack in a preseason practice.

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It's been like two days since the international break kicked off, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic has wasted no time in going and getting his hair cut. Normally we really don't like it when players spring new haircuts on us, because more often than not they are horrific (think Pique). But, we are quite liking this look on Zla. Click to continue reading...

* Espanyol have named Ivan De La Pena (seen above with Nakamura!) as their new captain following the death of their beloved captain, Dani Jarque. The experienced midfielder has played for Barcelona, Lazio and Marseille.

*

The Dinho is muito feliz at Milan.

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Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has indicated that he may hand 18-year-old Daniel Ayala a spot in the starting line-up to face Aston Villa, should Martin Skrtel fail to recover in time.
The Spanish centre-half made his full debut in the 4-0 win over Stoke City, deputising for the injured duo of Skrtel (jaw) and Daniel Agger (back). Click to continue reading...

It feels like we were anticipating more from Ibrahimovic. He did good enough, but really wasted some chances. Of course, we aren't laying judgment on the guy after his first forty five minutes playing, but it could have been better.
That said, Ibra was recovering from injury and this was his first match in weeks, and his first match on a new team, where he still needs to find his place and touch; so we're letting this go. Click to continue reading...

How cute were Xavi and Pedro last night? Barca was one down, the attack was as scanty as the posession, shots were off with Xavi in particular screwing up a hell of a chance, and we're still trying to figure out how he could have missed that - but then Pedro sets him up for a a hell of a goal, and things are looking a bit brighter. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool midfielder Albert Riera has dedicated his international strike for Spain this week to the memory of the late Espanyol player Daniel Jarque.
Jarque, a former team-mate of Riera's at the Catalan outfit, passed away unexpectedly after suffering a heart attack after a training session. Click to continue reading...

Buenas ligadespaneros, ya estoy de vuelta por estos parajes.
Antes de nada, compartir el luto por el repentino fallecimiento del capitán del Espanyol, Dani Jarque. El central de 26 años, sufrió una parada cardíaca que acabó con su vida en la temporada que estrenaba brazalete de capitán en el nuevo estadio Cornellà - El Prat. Click to continue reading...

via EFE

Spanish players and fans from all over are mourning the death of Espanyol captain, Dani Jarque who passed away on Sunday due to heart failure. La Furia Roja's players gathered at a hotel in Madrid yesterday before their away friendly to Macedonia and many were noticeably reeling from the shock.

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Hace dos años Antonio Puerta y ahora Dani Jarque: ¿por qué?

"La tragedia ha vuelto a cebarse con el fútbol español. Prácticamente dos años después del fallecimiento de Antonio Puerta, un ataque al corazón segó ayer la vida en Italia de Dani Jarque, capitán del Espanyol de Barcelona, de 26 años y uno de los defensas más prometedores de nuestro fútbol.

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What can you say? A terribly sad story.
Espanyol captain, the 26-year-old Dani Jarque died of heart failure over the weekend after collapsing in the team hotel.
It was a sudden loss that no one saw coming, much like the death of Sevilla midfielder Antonio Puerta a couple years ago. Click to continue reading...

Tragic news coming out of Spain as newly-appointed Espanyol captain Dani Jarque was found dead in his Coviciana hotel room on Saturday night.
According to news sources, the centre-back is said to have suffered from heart failure during Espanyol's pre-season tour of Italy while talking to his girlfriend on the telephone. Click to continue reading...

Espanyol captain Daniel Jarque has died after he suffered a cardiac arrest following a training session, the club have confirmed in a statement.

The 26-year-old midfielder had been training in Coverciano, Italy, where the squad are on a pre-season camp.
Club doctors and Italian paramedics tried to revive Jarque without success.

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Part one of the 2009-2010 La Liga season preview will be out in the next couple of days, but today is devoted to Daniel Jarque González, who tragically passed away at the age of twenty-six while his RCD Espanyol team and he were on their preseason tour of Italy. According to the RCD Espanyol website, "Tragedy struck Espanyol and the family of Dani Jarque this evening.

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Remember if you have any questions for the players or coaches, post here before halftime and I will do what I can.
Location:
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA
Weather:
Sunny and 80 degrees
Referees:
Head Ref: Baldomero Toledo
Asst Ref: Corey Rockwell
Asst Ref: Chris Strickland
4th Official: Ramon Hernandez
Actual Lineups:
FC Barcelona
GK Jose Manuel Pinto
RB Marc Muniesa
CB Rafael Marquez
CB Maxwell Andrade
LB Dani Alves
RM Seydou Keita
CM Toure Yaya
LM Jonathan Dos Santos
RS Lionel Messi - Captain
CS Krkic Bojan
LS Pedro Rodriguez
Subs
GK Victor Valdes
DF Gerard Pique
DF Carlos Puyol
MF Xavi Hernandez
FW Eidur Gudjohnsen
DF Andreu Fontas
FW Thierry Henry
MF Sergio Busquets
FW Jeffren Suarez
DF Eric Abidal
DF Adriano Henrique
DF Victor Sanchez
Los Angeles Galaxy
GK Josh Saunders
RB AJ DeLaGarza
CB Omar Gonzalez
CB Tony Sanneh
LB Todd Dunivant
RM Landon Donovan
CDM Christopher Birchall
CAM David Beckham
CDM Stefani Miglioranzi
LM Eddie Lewis
CS Jovan Kirovski
Subs
GK Kevin Guppy
DF Gregg Berhalter
FW Tristan Bowen
FW Alan Gordon
MF Leonard Griffin
FW Bryan Jordan
MF Chris Klein
MF Dema Kovalenko
MF Mike Magee
DF Yohance Marshall
MF Kyle Patterson
PRE-GAME:
-Crowd erupts as Barcelona takes the field, even though the Galaxy have been warming up the whole time. Click to continue reading...

Dani Fernandez can't even imagine winning in De Kuip against Feyenoord with NEC anymore. Coming Sunday, Feyenoord opens the competition at home against Mario Been and Fernandez' former club NEC. The right back: "I want to win every game." The 26 year old tells a a good story. This time about his Click to continue reading...

Milan all over the place recently:

• Word is the Italian club doesn't want any old dudes. No 30+ year old transfers.
  
• Milan also rejected a Chelsea bid for Pirlo.
  
• David Villa commits to Valencia.
  
• Check out the race for Darren Bent.
  
• Arbeloa and Real Madrid?

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Barca's Daniel Alves has just won the Confederations Cup with his home country, Brazil! The game didn't start out very well for the Brazilians, after the score quickly became 2-0 in favor of opponents USA, but Dani and his teammates were able to fight back and score three goals in the second half, after Dani was subbed on. Click to continue reading...

Lo de Estados Unidos es meritorio, haber llegado hasta al final, tener contra las cuerdas a la selección de Dunga, desplegar un fútbol efectivo... pero Brasil es Brasil, y los demás, a remarla.
El primer tiempo fue un baldazo de agua fria para los comandados por Kaka, un gol de Dempsey y otro de Landon Donovan ponían el 2 a 0 que parecía cerrar la final de la Copa Confederaciones disputada en Sudáfrica. Click to continue reading...

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The U.S. men's national team takes on Brazil in the Confederations Cup final today (2pm, ESPN), the first international tournament final in the history of the U.S. team.

The Americans will be looking to exact some revenge on the Brazilian, who handed them a 3-0 loss in group play.

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They Think It's All Over... draws four conclusions from Brazil's Confederations Cup semi-final triumph over South Africa. Click to continue reading...

Chelsea last night swung their attention to £25million Brazilian Maicon Douglas. The Blues have missed out on long-term target Glen Johnson, with Liverpool confirming an £18.5m deal yesterday. But Inter Milan right-back Maicon has impressed in the Confederations Cup in South Africa and kept Barcelona ace Dani Alves out of Brazil's starting line-up. Click to continue reading...

A last minute winner from comeback kid Gorka Elustundo ended Real Sociedad's season on a high and gave Coach Lillo a good end to his tenure after the bitter disappointment of failing to get promotion. Incredibly the win means that txuri urdin finished with more points away from home than at the Anoeta - something that will need to change next season for sure. Click to continue reading...

A lucky song.
Gerard Pique quote- "We always play Viva la Vida by Coldplay on the bus when we're travelling to the stadium. I think the lyrics motivate us and prepare us to fight on the pitch. Pep ,Dani and Xavi all love Coldplay. I think for Dani, Coldplay is the only English band he listens to.

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A lucky song.
Gerard Pique quote- "We always play Viva la Vida by Coldplay on the bus when we're travelling to the stadium. I think the lyrics motivate us and prepare us to fight on the pitch. Pep ,Dani and Xavi all love Coldplay. I think for Dani, Coldplay is the only English band he listens to.

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Following their training session on Monday, Pep and the boys went out for their final dinner together at the Solo restaurant in Barcelona. While Pep showed up with Catalan rock stars David and José Muñoz, pictured with him here, the rest of the players mostly brought thier WAGs along with them. Click to continue reading...

Dani's been lovely this past week. He played incredibly well against Villareal, scored a beautiful goal and lifted his shirt up to our great delight. Then again he was spectacular against Balibao in the Copa del Rey final, and again, removed his shirt; and we love the statement he made with the red top he had on underneath: on the front was printed "How much is this? Click to continue reading...

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United midfielder Darren Fletcher will miss the UEFA Champions League Final after UEFA rejected the appeal against his red card in the semi-final against Arsenal. Barcelona will also have Eric Abidal and Dani Alves missing through suspension after both picked up yellow cards in the clash against Chelsea.

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Unfortunately for Goldilocks and The Barça Bears, they'll have to wait at least another week to clinch the Spanish League Title. Proverbial La Liga underdogs, Villarreal, miraculously scored the equaliser in injury time last night after Eric Abidal got himself sent off - AGAIN!

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