Most casual observers of Premier League football attribute Manchester United's trilogy of consecutive championships to be largely based on an ingredient no longer present: Cristiano Ronaldo.
But it's intellectual evasion to simply attribute anything to just one factor. The current Galactico's emergence into the world class certainly paralleled United's resurgence against what was Chelsea's brief dominance of the top division, but his influence was not absolute. Click to continue reading...

CaughtOffside contributor considers the ramifications of Fabio Capello considering selecting players born outside the British Isles.

So Fabio Capello's considering selecting some bloke called Aaron Hunt for the England squad. To me, he sounds like a Division One workhorse who's kicking lumps out of people at Colchester.

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Yesterday ended the long and difficult road that is World Cup qualifying. The 32-team field is set and while we won't know until next month what the groups are it does present a good time to discuss each team and how they got there.

(Note: I hope this is a start of many more World Cup posts going into next year.

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Last Englishman Not Standing

There's another new name added to the injury list after the conclusion of the England U-21 game last night when Kieran Gibbs limped out of the game after just 20 odd minutes. I do not know for sure the extend of his injury but if it really is a broken metatarsal, it would mean April or May as his return date, which will also effectively mean an early end to what was supposed to be a promising season for me.

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The following list of elite midfield players in the world will exclude the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka since they sometimes play as forwards or as support strikers depending on the strategy deployed by their team. Kaka has previously played as a second striker during his spell with Milan while both Messi and Ronaldo have played in various attacking positions for their club (mostly on the wing though).

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WITH 205 days until the start of the World Cup in South Africa, the big question on every England fans lips is who will be in Fabio Capello's 23-man squad this summer. An interesting point that I am choosing to examine is if ... Click to continue reading...

After the Brazil v England game in Doha on Saturday night, Fabio Capello remarked, amongst other things, that Brazil were a better side than Spain and were more likely favourites for the crown in South Africa. In justifying this view, he said that Brazil were physically stronger, and that they defended better. Click to continue reading...

Over recent days it has been widely documented that Man United goalkeeper Ben Foster may have to leave Old Trafford in order to play for England in next year's World Cup.
England manager Fabio Capello has said that in order for players to go to the 2010 World Cup, they must be playing regular football for their club. Click to continue reading...

Aston Villa 1 (Platt) Bradford City 0. Old Second Division. 1988. This was the first football match I ever watched and I instantly fell in love with Villa's goal scoring hero, a fish shaped man called David Platt. I later came to realise he wasn't that good but the point is that, at the time, I thought he was a footballing god.

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Easily the greatest penalty shootout celebration in history. (0.20) Fabio Capello is not such a hit in Spain. (La Liga Loca) The dam is breaking in Manchester. (EPL Talk) Raymond Domenech: not so smart. (The Spoiler) Amaral writes a nice, though curious, parting letter. (SoccerLens) Robin van Persie to get mystery placenta juice treatments. Click to continue reading...

Durante los entranamientos que Fabio Capello dirigia el juevez pasado en Doha con miras hacia el amistoso entre Brasil-Inglaterra, el centrocampista Frank Lampard se lesiono y todo por la incomodidad que sufrio el jugador cuando partieron de Londres a Qatar. Ante las investigaciones que hizo el Chelsea descubrieron que que el avion que usaron para el viaje de 7 horas es solo diseñado para viajes cortos y pasajeros con la talla de tattoo. Click to continue reading...

A number of players can stake a claim for being part of the best team in the world at this early period of the European domestic leagues. However, very few players standout the way those listed below have in terms of their contribution to their team, their role as leaders, and certainly their crucial involvement in their respective clubs.

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England's preparations for next year's World Cup in South Africa got off to a slow start yesterday as they were confidently beaten by the World No.1 side Brazil. Nilmar's 47th minute header was enough to see off the challenge of Fabio Capello's men. Admittedly it was a second string England side, but one that still consisted [. Click to continue reading...

According to England manager Fabio Capello, thug-in-a-shirt Wayne Rooney could have the same impact for England that Pele, Johann Cruyff, Michel Platini and Diego Maradona had for their respective countries. In my view, Rooney doesn't even deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence as those players. Click to continue reading...

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by FRANCO PANIZO

With the World Cup in sight, most of this weekend's attention will be towards the remaining qualifiers, but there are a few high-profile friendlies on tap today that might be just as exciting.

England-Brazil is one of those matches, as the Three Lions will took to topple Brazil for the first time since 1990, a stretch of seven games that includes a 2-1 loss in the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup.

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by FRANCO PANIZO

With the World Cup in sight, most of this weekend's attention will be towards the remaining qualifiers, but there are a few high-profile friendlies on tap today that might be just as exciting.

England-Brazil is one of those matches, as the Three Lions will took to topple Brazil for the first time since 1990, a stretch of seven games that includes a 2-1 loss in the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup.

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West Ham insist in-form striker Carlton Cole is not for sale at any price despite reports that Premier League's big guns are preparing January bids.
Manchester United are the latest club linked with a £20million bid for Hammers hot-shot Cole when the transfer window reopens, with misfiring Liverpool also reportedly interested in a player who has flourished under the tutelage of Gianfranco Zola. Click to continue reading...

Video goal highlights from the Brazil vs England international football friendly in Doha, Qatar on November 14, 2009, Saturday. Game kicks off at 17.00 GMT. Wayne Rooney is set to captain England in the absence of John Terry. Brazil vs England highlights and team lineups to be updated. Related posts:4-0 England Slovakia goals- Highlights All the [. Click to continue reading...

Lucas Leiva believes the pressure is greater playing for Liverpool than Brazil because of the current predicament at Anfield.
The Liverpool midfielder is preparing for his country's friendly against England in Doha on Saturday. But thoughts of the situation on Merseyside are also on his mind with Liverpool facing Champions League elimination and currently seventh in the Premier League. Click to continue reading...

"It will be Rooney. I think Rooney is ready to be a captain. Why not?"
Fabio Capello is a pretty bright chap.

"There was never any doubt that I would play for Wales, my family wouldn't have let me play for England! It would not have tempted the young Ryan Giggs it was never an issue for me.

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Kartik Krishnaiyer and Laurence McKenna break down the friendly between Fabio Capello's England and the reigning Copa American Champion Brazil. We also look at Ireland's chances to beat France and advance to the World Cup as well as the other three UEFA playoff matchups.

Related posts:

1. EPL Talk Podcast: Champions League Matchday Four Review Show
2. EPL Talk Podcast: Jon Champion
3. EPL Talk Podcast: Matchday Seven Discussion And Review

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Sabato giornata ricca di amichevoli internazionali. Tante le sfide affascinanti in programma, tra le quali quella tra il Brasile di Dunga e l'Inghilterra di Fabio Capello. Ma non meno appassionante, anche se si stratta solo di un "friendly match", è il match tra la Spagna e l'Argentina del focoso Dieguito Maradona. Click to continue reading...

West Ham United have told Liverpool that Carlton Cole will cost an astonishing £20million.
The East Londoners are desperate to keep hold of the England striker, who only signed a lucrative four-year deal at the club 12 months ago.
Cole, 26 today, has been a revelation since Gianfranco Zola's arrival last season and is firmly in the running for a place in Fabio Capello's World Cup squad. Click to continue reading...

England winger James Milner is praying that Fabio Capello will give his understudies a chance to take the spotlight before deciding on his squad for next year's World Cup. While the likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney are certain to be on the plane to South Africa, Milner ... Click to continue reading...

When Liverpool paid Portsmouth £18m for Glen Johnson more than a few eyebrows were raised and plenty of those raised were from us Reds fans. The more Johnson plays for Liverpool though the more you can see that he is becoming worth every penny that we paid for him as he adds a whole new dimension to the Reds side. Click to continue reading...

Rafa Benitez will try to solve his Liverpool striker crisis with a £12m move for Carlton Cole.
West Ham may be forced to sell their leading target man in the January transfer window due to a cash crisis at Upton Park.
So Benitez is looking to take advantage with a move for the 26-year-old. Click to continue reading...

How will Fabio cope?

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Luke Young has announced his retirement from international football after rejecting the chance to replace Glen Johnson in the England squad for this weekend's game with Brazil.

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In August 1992, on the opening day of the inaugural Premier League season, 22 teams took to pitches up and down the country with just 11 players born outside the British Isles named in the starting line-ups. 17 seasons later and with the foreign invasion showing no signs of slowing down, English born players have become a minority in their own top flight.

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Fabio Capello had a quandary this morning when Glen Johnson pulled out of his squad to face the Brazilians. He thought he would give Luke Young a quick phone-call and tell him to go get his kit and boots. Nobody says no to an England call up (unless you are Jamie Boo-Hoo Carragher) However the Villain [. Click to continue reading...

The forthcoming season of world football is set to be the most thrilling in recent history concluding with one man holding aloft that hallowed golden trophy in Jo'berg next summer.

As top-flight action kicks off around the globe, who should we be looking out for? Which players are capable of bursting on to the international scene and emulating the famous exploits of an adolescent Owen during France '98?

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As some of you may have read on here before, I'm a big fan of Michael Owen and have already written a couple of blogs on the Man Utd hitman, in which both somewhere champion Owen going to next summers World Cup. But after Fabio Capello revealed his latest squad for Saturday's game against Brazil last night, I think we can finally assume that Owen's South African dream is all but over.

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AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf is anxiously awaiting the arrival of Los Angeles Galaxy's David Beckham, stating that the Englishman's arrival will be a welcome boost for the Rossoneri.

Beckham is set to enjoy his second loan spell at the Italian club following a successful spell there last season, and the temporary move means that  Beckham will have a chance to impress Fabio Capello even more ahead of the 2010 World Cup.

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Who needs actual footballing playoffs when you can just watch the bureaucratic battle that is club v country?

Whilst Portugal v Bosnia Herzegovina is titillating the football purist and Russia v Slovenia has forced Jonathan Wilson into euphoric bouts of nervous bowels, the real battle lies behind the scenes, in the board rooms, between those who cut the checks and those who require international glory.

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There is proof at last that Fabio Capello is capable of compromise. The England manager has listened to Liverpool's plea that Steven Gerrard should not be involved in Saturday's friendly with Brazil in Doha. There is a chance, however, that the midfielder will play a part in his club's game against Birmingham City despite his recent adductor muscle injury. Click to continue reading...

Fabio Capello has named his England squad for the November 14th friendly vs Brazil in Qatar. There was a bit of complaining in the run up, with Fergie suggesting the whole thing was a waste of time, and Rafa Benitez asking that Steven Gerrard be excused.

Capello ignored Fergie and selected as many Man Utd players as he wanted (including Wes Brown, who I'm glad to see back in the squad).

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