Finishing up our "what did we miss out on?" series today:

FELIPE MELO Arsenal were probably linked with Felipe Melo this summer more than any other player. The biggest difference between Arsenal's 2007-2008 season and our 2008-2009 season, which saw the club take a large step backwards, was the absence of Mathieu Flamini.

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(video gol highlights di Oman-Brasile)
Ancora un successo per il Brasile di Dunga. Nell'ultimo test amichevole del 2009, i verdeoro liquidano l'Oman con un secco due a zero. Nilmar al 3' e l'autogol di Al Ghailani al 60' regalano un amaro compleanno al sultano Qaboos bin Said Al Said (per i suoi 69 anni) e un felice natale ai brasiliani che ottengono la 14° vittoria su 17 partite disputate nell'anno solare (due pareggi e una sconfitta). Click to continue reading...

The Brazillians have long been regarded as the Kings of football, widely considered the most stylish, attractive and best football team in the world.

The samba stars have produced a long line of brilliant individuals: Pele, Zico, Romario, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, the list goes on.

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Yes, despite cara's hectic schedule with the selecao late last week, Brazil's Felipe Melo found the time to answer Futbolita's questions. En realidad, we spent the whole day running in the airport and walking in the rain last Friday before the all-important call from Felipe's agent came through!

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With December fast-approaching, The Season is in the air. Christmas? Absolutely not. It's awards season. The Argentine sensation known as Lionel Messi has already nabbed the Onze d'Or, a precursor to the Ballon d'Or (with a heft more patriotism) which has predicted the BdO three times in the last four years. Click to continue reading...

Rai Radio anuncio esta mañana su lista de nominados pare el "Bidone d'Oro". Este prestigioso premio se lo dan al peor futbolista de la liga Italiana. Aparte de Ronaldinho tambien se encuentra nominados Huntelaar, Carrizo, Felipe Melo y el ganador del año pasado Quaresma entre otros. Nuestro amigo Adriano tiene el prestigio de ganar este honor dos veces consecutivas en el 2006 y 2007. Click to continue reading...

Kaká

For their final fixture of the year, Brazil take on Oman in Muscat this Tuesday.

Coached by French man Claude Le Roy, Oman are ranked 79th in the world. Brazil are expected to win comfortably but Dunga added a note of caution: "They're a strong team and have experienced athletes who play abroad.

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Kaká battles it out

A second-half goal by Nilmar was the difference in a forgettable match between Brazil and England in Qatar on Saturday.

The Villarreal man struck in the first minute of the second period after heading in a lovely floated ball from ex Manchester City player, Elano.

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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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The meeting of one great footballing mind and Dunga

Brazil take on England in Doho, Qatar, for the first of three international friendlies before the World Cup finals in South Africa next year.

Dunga's men see the England game as a real test against one of their main contenders in the competition in 2010.

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Welcome to Selecao Bootcamp, Uma Tradição Futbolita! Everyone gather yourselves because it's that time of the year so ya'll better get excited. Anyway, our manos have landed in Qatar, more specifically, the Four Seasons Hotel where they're putting up during their stay in Doha.

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Fairly good week for goals, as only one game finished 0-0 (Catania-Napoli, but ask Takayuki Morimoto about that). The top scorer table is still wide open, as Di Natale started strong but now has cooled off so he remains at 9, while Hamsik is second with 7 and that's impressive for a midfielder.

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Here's the squad for the game on Saturday (ITV, 4:15pm):

Goalkeepers: Ben Foster, Robert Green & Joe Hart

Defenders: Wayne Bridge, Wes Brown, Gary Cahill, Glen Johnson, Joeleon Lescott, John Terry, Matt Upson & Steven Warnock

Midfielders: Gareth Barry, Michael Carrick, Tom Huddlestone, Jermaine Jenas, Frank Lampard, James Milner, Shaun-Wright Philips & Ashley Young

Forwards: Darren Bent, Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe & Wayne Rooney

Missing: Ashley Cole (fractured leg, will apparently miss a few weeks), Carlton Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard (who - despite being supposedly injured - started on the bench at Anfield before being used as a sub v Birmingham this evening), Emile Heskey, David James and Aaron Lennon.

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(video gol, 0-1. Camoranesi)
(video gol, 0-2. Camoranesi)
(video gol, 1-2. Valdes)
(video gol, 1-3. Felipe Melo)
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Lineups are in:

Arsenal: Starters: Almunia, Eboue, Gallas, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Fabregas, Song, Diaby, Nasri, van Persie, Arshavin. Substitutes: Mannone, Silvestre, Rosicky, Senderos, Eduardo, Sagna, Ramsey.

AZ: Starters: Romero, Jaliens, Moisander, Moreno, Poulsen, Holman, Mendes da Silva, Schaars, Martens, Pelle, Dembele.

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Ecco uno dei tanti commenti di tifosi della nostra Juve, preso da uno dei tanti siti dedicati alla Ns Amata squadra. Questo amico dice le stesse cose che scrivo da mesi, anzi da anni. Possibile che gente strapagata come Blanc e Co non capiscono nulla su scelte di calciomercato, preparazione atletica e di allenatori?

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Hulk, Michel Bastos, Fábio Aurélio, Carlos Eduardo

Dunga has called up 24 players to face England on November 14th in Doha, Qatar, and Oman three days later in Muscat.

The squad includes Liverpool's Lucas and Fábio Aurélio plus Manchester City's Robinho. Porto frontman, Givanildo Vieira de Souza (Hulk), gets his first call-up.

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Two large Italian clubs received huge injury news today as they sought to climb up the Serie A table.

Juventus star and striker Vincent Iaquinta revealed today that he has a torn meniscus and will have surgery on his knee Tuesday. He injured it during training Saturday and did not play this Sunday against Siena.

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(video gol highlights di Siena-Juventus)
SIENA (4-3-1-2): Curci; Terzi (13st Rosi), Ficagna, Brandao, Del Grosso; Vergassola, Codrea (37'st Paolucci), Ekdal; Jajalo; Calaiò (27'st Reginaldo), Maccarone. (Ivanov, Rossi, Garofalo, Jarolim). All. Micarelli (Giampaolo squalificato).
JUVENTUS (4-3-1-2): Buffon; Grygera (1'st Caceres), Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro (9'st Camoranesi); Felipe Melo, Poulsen, De Ceglie; Diego (42'st Sissoko); Amauri, Trezeguet. Click to continue reading...

Altra serata di sofferenza anche ieri sera, contro una compagine di livello abbastanza modesto (almeno per una competizione come la Champions) che nonostante fosse decisamente inferiore come valore assoluto, e inferiore anche dal punto di vista numerico da un certo punto della gara in poi, ha messo in difficoltà in diverse occasioni la nostra difesa.

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Altra serata di sofferenza anche ieri sera, contro una compagine di livello abbastanza modesto (almeno per una competizione come la Champions) che nonostante fosse decisamente inferiore come valore assoluto, e inferiore anche dal punto di vista numerico da un certo punto della gara in poi, ha messo in difficoltà in diverse occasioni la nostra difesa.

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Juventus v Fiorentina
Saturday 17 October 2009
Stadio Olimpico
Serie A
18:00 CET

Juventus haven't won a game in several weeks and are desperately searching for the form that their talented squad and pre-season expectations demanded. They face in-form Fiorentina, who beat Liverpool in the Champions League recently, and will be hoping that home advantage counts in their favor.

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Poco fa su tuttojuve.com ho letto che anche Felipe Melo è fermo ai box per un affaticamento muscolare. Ora, dopo l'intervento al ginocchio di Marchisio, data l'indisponibilità di Brazzo, quella di Tiago, quella di Del Piero, chi gioca sabato contro la fiorentina?????? Se non dovesse recuperare Melo, avremo a disposizione per il centorcampo solamente: il rientrante Sissoko, Poulsen, Camoranesi, De ceglie e Marrone.

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Juventus are about to rekindle their interest in Liverpool's Javier Mascherano for next summer's transfer window.
According to Il Corriere Dello Sport, the Bianconeri are drawing up early plans for the winter, but the idea is likely to materialise later on next year.
The report suggests Mascherano had considered leaving the Reds during the summer for Spanish giants Barcelona, but the move never took off the ground. Click to continue reading...

Sorry I didn't get up a weekend round-up yesterday, it was a really busy day. However I don't want to disrupt the weekly order so I'll go straight to Goals of the Week. Last week was probably the worst goals of the week post of all time. I think this week made up for it with some quality strikes.

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Look at this showdown yesterday between Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich) and Felipe Melo (Juventus).
Clearly the Brazilian won, because the Dutchman had to leave early injured. Click to continue reading...

(video highlights di Bayern Monaco-Juventus)
BAYERN (4-3-3): Butt; Lahm Batsduber Van Buyten Braafheid; Ottl Schweinsteiger Muller; Ribery Klose (76' Gomez) Robben (46' Olic). A disp. Rensing, H. Altintop, Breno, Pranic, Gómez, Tymoschuck. All. Louis Van Gaal.
JUVENTUS (4-3-1-2): Buffon; Grygera Chiellini Legrottaglie Grosso; Marchisio Felipe Melo Camoranesi (90' Tiago); Diego (60' Poulsen); Iaquinta Trezeguet (75' Amauri). Click to continue reading...

The Champions League showdown between Bayern Munich and Juventus ended in a scoreless draw, proving very little for either side. But Arjen Robben did leave after 45 minutes with an injury.

The lesson? Never get in a staring contest with Felipe Melo.

[Photo: Foto Pegaso/Tuttosport]

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Arsenal Holdings, PLC just released a summary of the financial results for last season. It all seems to be good news, and it sounds like the club improved in pretty much every financial category over 2007-2008:

Overall income increased to £313.3 million from £223.0 million the year before, largely due to deep cup runs and increased merchandise sales
Overall matchday/ticket revenue increased to £100.

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To be honest, it fucking bores me.
Have you ever watched paint dry? Read a phone book from start to finish? Read this blog? Watched Arsenal under George Graham? Listened to a Spud going on about top four finishes?
It's all boring stuff but none of it bores me as much as the Brede Hangeland link. Click to continue reading...

Passata la settimana di Champions si torna a parlare della Serie A di Calcio. Oltre al pari, rimediato contro il Bordeaux, capace di rimontare il gol di Iaquinta, al termine di una prestazione non eccelsa, la Juventus deve fare i conti con l'infermeria. Ferrara, comunque, non vuole accampare scuse anche se la lista degli infortunati s'ingrossa sempre più. Click to continue reading...

They Think It's All Over... draws three conclusions from this week's European action. Click to continue reading...

Dal sito ufficiale della Società : Questa mattina sono state completate le indagini diagnostiche su Cannavaro, Tiago e Felipe Melo, usciti infortunati dalla partita di Champions League di martedì contro il Bordeaux. Questi gli esiti. Cannavaro: distrazione di primo grado del muscolo adduttore lungo della coscia sinistra.

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Wow, writing this match preview feels like déjà vu. Oh wait, it's because I wrote one exactly a year ago, involving the exact same teams and coaches. So here's hoping the outcome (which was a 2-2 last season) is at least more in our favor this time.

September 16, 2009
Stade de Gerland, Lyon
2:45 PM ET (20:45 CET, 19:45 GMT)

Match Background:

I was sorely tempted to copy and paste what I wrote about Fiorentina last year, simply because their squad hasn't gone through any drastic changes since then.

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