Fernando Amorebieta would make Hulk Hogan get all misty eyed with this performance. But where is the follow up leg drop? (I hope some of you watched wrestling as kids . . . if not? That reference just flew straight over your head) Now somebody get Messi an ice pack! Click to continue reading...

Many are surprised by the play Thierry Henry got away with in the World Cup playoff between France and Ireland. If you are not aware of the incident, Henry clearly was guilty of an intentional handball in the box at a critical moment in the second half. France was down a goal at the time of the non-call and the play resulted in a goal for Gallas and an assist from Henry.

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The MLS Cup Final is tomorrow at 8:30 on ESPN (nice coverage for Soccer here in the US) and we still don't know if Becks is hurt or not. With Landon Donovan also being named the MVP of the league and RSL chomping at the bit to get this thing on I will still ask the same question. Do you trust L.

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Thierry Henry like many afore him says "it's up to the referee!"
But what about decency from himself and the French team. Not once but twice did the ball "hit@ more like he quided the ball with his hand...and what gaul, what cheek to celebrate and blame the referee!
Imagine a French side that wins the World Cup, Henry as captain would receive the trophy. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool clash with Manchester City this weekend and Rafael Benitez will be hoping the international break will have given his side the opportunity to turn their recent shoddy form around.
Roaming right-back Glen Johnson, according to Benitez, has received the experimental placenta massage that Arsenal striker Robin van Persie elected to try following the injury he sustained while representing Netherlands. Click to continue reading...

Earlier today, me, narcissistically posting in Pitch Invasion's Sweeper, which was awesome enough to link to me three times, and oh, yeah, had a bit about the depressing match fixing revelations coming out of Europe:

Anyway, Declan Hill is working on his "told you so" blog entry right now.

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17 arrests for a match fixing scandal which affects 200 matches in nine European countries.

The matches include the Bundesliga second division, and the leagues in Belgium, Switzerland, Croatia, Slovenia, Turkey, Hungary, Bosnia and Austria. 12 Europa matches and 3 CL matches are said to be manipulated this year, and it is unclear as to whether it is the group stage or qualifying rounds.

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Two things to talk about this morning that affect my entire sports weekend. First, let me say that I am very glad that my wife (who is going on a mission trip to a far-off land for about a week) is not flying through France or Ireland to get there because right now someone is probably screaming their head off in the streets of Ireland.

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With most attention on the exploits of Pohang Steelers in the Asian Champions League and the national team's friendly matches in Europe against Denmark and Serbia, the fact that the K-League is about to embark upon its championship play-off series has almost gone unnoticed.
Six teams are still in with a chance of the domestic title. Click to continue reading...

by FRANCO PANIZO

If the Houston Dynamo is to continue its relative MLS success next season, it will likely have to do so without two of their most talented players.

Midfielders Ricardo Clark and Stuart Holden are out of contract at season's end, and both players are unlikely to return to the club, having been strongly linked with moves to Europe during the upcoming winter transfer window.

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by FRANCO PANIZO

If the Houston Dynamo is to continue its relative MLS success next season, it will likely have to do so without two of their most talented players.

Midfielders Ricardo Clark and Stuart Holden are out of contract at season's end, and both players are unlikely to return to the club, having been strongly linked with moves to Europe during the upcoming winter transfer window.

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The FAI (Ireland's ruling Soccer organization) has demanded a reply of their match in which they lost to France yesterday. All of this comes over more bad calls/non-calls by officials and has even been brought to light by a French player who was involved in the incident.Â

I want to make clear that I am writing with the question.

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Eduardo has committed his future to Arsenal by signing a new long-term contract at Emirates Stadium.
The 26-year-old Brazil-born Croatia international suffered horrific leg and ankle injuries against Birmingham in February 2008 and was sidelined for almost a year as he battled his way back to full fitness. Click to continue reading...

It's pretty easy to see why this season was a frustrating one for Fire defender Gonzalo Segares. After being a stalwart in the backline for years for the Fire, Segares was forced to the sidelines this year, only playing in 12 regular season games due to a combination of injuries and national team call-ups.

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Former Supporters Direct Chairman Brian Lomax has been appointed to UEFA's new club financial control panel. Lomax recently stepped down after four years as chair of the SD organisation that advises fans on how to gain representation at board level at their clubs across the UK and Europe with groups in 14 countries across Europe. Click to continue reading...

Photo by ISIphotos.com

Two of the U.S. Under-17 national team's top prospects are inching closer to European moves, while a third is edging closer to an MLS deal.

Manchester City and Real Madrid have stepped up their bids for U.

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

Two of the U.S. Under-17 national team's top prospects are inching closer to European moves, while a third is edging closer to an MLS deal.

Manchester City and Real Madrid have stepped up their bids for U.

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International breaks can be extremely beneficial when it comes to teams that have massive injury worries. Just ask Liverpool, who currently have their two best players (Gerrard and Torres), plus a host of key first team selections all on the mend. The rest and recuperation is critical especially when you have quite possibly [. Click to continue reading...

According to a report released by IMScouting, el Kun Aguero is the most expensive U-21 forward in Europe.

Aguero's current transfer market value is 45 million euros.

Pipita Higuain and his Madrid teammate Karim Benzema are in second place with a transfer market value of 35 million euros each.

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Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Juventus are among the European giants set to battle for the signature of Palermo defender Simon Kjaer next summer.
The 20-year-old centre-back has established himself as one of the most promising young stoppers in Serie A and is likely to be at the heart of Denmark's defence at the 2010 World Cup finals next summer. Click to continue reading...

Any list of soccer meccas in the United States would have to include Nevada Smith's. The bar, located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, has bringing in the soccer faithful of New York since 1994. Today, on any given weekend day, the bar shows games from morning till night.

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On the 30th May 2004 (before Benitez was appointed), I wrote a post on ThisIsAnfield.com arguing that Martin O Neill should get the Manager's job ahead of Benitez and Jose Mourinho. Five years later and O'Neill is apparently one of the favourites to become the next Liverpool manager. Well, my opinion has not changed: For me, O'neill is the only man for the job. Click to continue reading...

Although there were four big play-off games in Europe for us all to watch along with numerous friendlies, possibly the biggest game of the day was held in Cairo between Egypt and Algeria.

A rivalry that goes back to 1989, the intensity leading up to the game today reached fever pitch only a few days ago when the Algerian team bus was attacked by fans with rocks.

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Didier Drogba has added to Chelsea's injury woes after a broken rib ruled him out for three weeks.
He sustained the injury in last week's win over Manchester United.
Drogba joins Ashley Cole, Jose Bosingwa and Frank Lampard on the injury list.
And skipper John Terry limped out of England training yesterday with a swollen ankle, making him a doubt for the friendly with Brazil. Click to continue reading...

Amazingly, reports in the press today suggest that Lucas Lieva has been the subject of transfer inquiries.Frankly, I am stunned that the lad is even being pursued by other clubs.After a completely uninspiring start to his career at Liverpool, where he couldn't make a tackle, couldn't pass the ball to a team-mate and was roundly booed by the Anfield faithful every time he was near the ball, the lad is now coveted by some clubs in Europe. Click to continue reading...

He may not be getting the starts he hoped, but our new(ish) Brazilian appears to be impressed with what he has seen so far:

"I would definitely like to remain longer, the project to make this club one of the best in Europe and the world cannot be completed in six months or a year and I would like to be part of it for as long as possible.

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The last entries for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa will be decided this week, and there are some very interesting encounters.In Europe, FIFA changed the rules on seeding teams shortly before the play-off draw, giving the "big" teams a better chance at qualifying. The power of money and politics, but hopefully the underdogs can manage some upset in some of the following European play-off Click to continue reading...

Landon Donovan started a 10 day trial with Germany's Bayern Munich (ASN, Nov. 11, 2009).

The trial soon turned into a loan spell amid (inaccurate, as it turned out) reports in the German press that a permanent deal was imminent. Donovan would return to Los Angeles in March.

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With J Hutcherson -- For the United States National Team, proving it in Europe no longer has the same impact it did in the Arena era. Results will do that, and the United States has shown they can get them against mid-tier European teams. Even against the elite, the US hasn't simply rolled over. Sure, there was a lot of criticism a year ago when the US lost to England at Wembley and Spain at. Click to continue reading...

Around Germany today, people were still in shocked over the death of former National Team goalkeeper Robert Enke. According to reports in Europe, Enke committed suicide after battling depression for many years. The story was front page all over Germany this morning
Here is how some of the German newspapers cover Enke's death

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It's going to be hard to conquer Europe or the world for that matter, when you can barely beat a little known team plying it's trade in the Spanish third division. Perhaps Manuel Pellegrini needs to rethink his employment options for the future? I hear the bank across the road ... Click to continue reading...

Join celebrated football pundit, author, radio show host and DJ Andy Brassell every Monday on the Soccerlens Show.

This week's episode focuses on the title races across Europe, with the first stop being the Premier League title race and the United v Chelsea game. Manchester United gave a strong showing at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, possibly one of their best performances at the Bridge post-Ranieri and despite the defeat all signs point to an open, three-way title race.

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Instead of acting on Philipp Lahm's criticisms, Bayern are glossing over their failings in Europe and, at the moment, the Bundesliga.
Philipp Lahm slaughters his own club to leave Bayern Munich ranting and railing.
He would help...
"Top teams in the Champions League have first-class players in seven, eight positions – we don't," Lahm said. Click to continue reading...

The fact that Sporting Gijón lie seventh in the league, with a quarter of the games now played, is probably the fairest thing to highlight at the start of this week's column. After beating Espanyol 1-0, they have garnered sixteen precious points from the ten games so far played, and as averages go would be very happy to end the season on something around 60 points, their present haul multiplied by four. Click to continue reading...

Landon Donovan has been regarded the best USA outfield player in the last few years. He's the all-time leading goalscorer for the national team and has been one of the top players in MLS for several years. While there are many who criticize Donovan, there's no denying that he has the ability to play in one of the top leagues in Europe.

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