It's been a nice return to club football this weekend after all 32 countries are now locked in & booked for South Africa next Summer. What a week it was though for memorable moments and unforgettable photos in world football. Long will football fans remember the handball heard 'round the world, the pain and dejection on the Irish players faces and moments of pure passion and joy from other countries who will be playing their part in 2010.

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The thing that we all knew happened: Henry is a fraud. However, in the tradition of French smooth frauds he is someone who made it into an art; in his country the books about thieves are popular.

But the ‘hand' is not the only thing that makes Henry what he is; it is simply incredible how people in England or football fans in general forget all the things this man did.

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All of us at COS towers wanted to point you in the direction of a brilliant new website that is a must for all football fans.

Tixdaq.com has had a facelift and is now THE place to get your football tickets whether you support Liverpool or Inter Milan, Manchester United or Juventus.

Tixdaq is a ticket comparison site that has access to thousands of tickets to hundreds of football matches.

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The Football Association of Ireland or FAI has officially submitted a request to replay the 2nd leg of the UEFA 2010 World Cup Qualifying Playoffs against France on Wednesday, November 18, 2009. The match ended in controversy as France scored in extra time on a goal from William Gallas. Thierry Henry clearly had a handball before passing to Gallas for the goal but it wasn't called by the referee.

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The Football Association of Ireland today (November 19) confirmed that it will lodge a complaint with FIFA, following last night's World Cup play-off match between France and the Republic of Ireland in Paris.
Conclusive video evidence of a deliberate hand ball by Thierry Henry, which led to France's additional time goal, has been seen by millions of football fans worldwide. Click to continue reading...

The furor over last night's game will not settle down anytime soon. Not tomorrow, not next week, not even before the traveling circus takes to South Africa next summer. Not unless something is done to eradicate the impact of The Hand of Henry on the outcome of the game.

The Irish FA, of course you'd hear from them, have come up with a simple solution: replay the game.

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Now that we know the teams that will be making it to South Africa for the World Cup finals, i think its time we all took the bold step of picking our favorites to win the tournament. I know many of you might say that the right time to do this will be after the group stage draw that will happen in about two weeks time on the 4th of December.

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For many in England, last week's news that the Premier League would not be inviting Rangers or Celtic to join anytime soon was a welcome relief. After all, the Premier League has already done enough damage in some eyes to the traditional feel of English football, despite unquestionably expanding the international reach of the English game.

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Van Persie was stretchered off against Italy.

Going into the international break this weekend, I had a feeling that something bad was going to happen. It's the feeling that many football fans have before every international week; the feeling of impending disaster as we wait to see who the victims of these meaningless matches are.

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- You're invited to also visit the "cutting-edge" combination messageboard and quasi-blog QPR Report Messageboard. If your're interested in constantly-updated QPR-related news; QPR nostalgia; and some other broader football-related isssues: QPR Report Messageboard is there for you. All opinions welcome! Click to continue reading...

A striking new memorial could be erected in Liverpool at the 21st anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy.
The metal artwork, to be funded by the public, is set to be unveiled in the city next April by the council's Lord Mayor office.
It is expected to be initially stationed in the Town Hall ballroom before being moved to different locations within the city centre. Click to continue reading...

It has been a year filled with unfortunate events so far this football season and I am sad to report that La Liga has lost another former player. Robert Enke who was currently with German squad Hannover 96 has died from an apparent suicide. Enke, well known for his role as Germany's starting keeper as of January 2009, played for two different La Liga squads over the course of his career and was considered by many football critics one of the most dependable keepers not only in Germany, but in the entire world.

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How many international breaks have there been this season already? It seems like time and again the Premiership season has been disturbed by a string of international fixtures this year, many of which have been friendlies. The latest England jolly to Doha for a friendly with Brazil may have cost Chelsea a high price.

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How many international breaks have there been this season already? It seems like time and again the Premiership season has been disturbed by a string of international fixtures this year, many of which have been friendlies. The latest England jolly to Doha for a friendly with Brazil may have cost Chelsea a high price.

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This week's main report looks at the World Cup play-off match between Ireland and France. Listen to our Irish football correspondent, Brendan, discussing whether Ireland can cause a huge upset and make it to South Africa 2010. The transcript can be found below, while vocabulary support can be found for the words in bold at the foot of the post.

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Emoze has developed a new downloadable application in preparation for World Cup 2010.
Recieving a constant stream of "pushed" content will cost just $5 (one time payment) and will provide international football news daily from now until after the tournament's final in July.
The Emoze application features 'pushed' real time soccer updates and news, player of the day pictures (in html format), game venues, scores and of course full tables of the team groups. Click to continue reading...

For all you football fans out there, Saturday will be an important date to mark on your calendars. Once again it will be a remake of the mouth-watering 2002 world cup quaterfinal match between England and Brazil.

That day Brazil prevailed 2-1 thanks to the ingenuity of Ronaldinho and company.

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Continental's New ContiFan Competition Gives Fans Chance to Win Tickets to 2010 FIFA World Cupâ„¢
Continental Tyres, Official Sponsor of the 2010 FIFA World Cupâ„¢, is offering fans the chance to win a fantastic trip to South Africa complete with World Cup tickets in their new ContiFanContest
11. Click to continue reading...

- Photo by Nigel Brooks
On Sunday November 8th, a crowd of over 27,000 football fans watched the Houston Dynamo battle Seattle Sounders F.C. to a 1-0 victory, giving the Dynamo their first playoff victory since winning the MLS Cup in 2007. The goal came from Dynamo's Brian Ching in the 6th minute of extra-time. Click to continue reading...

Lock up your daughters, board your windows residents of Jakarta, Indonesia's most infamous football fans the Bonek of Persebaya are about to hit the capital city for this afternoon's game with Persitara at the Soemanti Brojonegoro Stadium in Central Jakarta.
Hundreds of security personnel will be on duty at the stadium as officials hope the first high risk game goes off peacefully. Click to continue reading...

CALL TO ARMS

This is a ‘call to arms' for all you passionate football fans out there – we need you!!

At the end of November we're shooting a very exciting Mastercard Champions League commercial that will recreate what it was like for the fans in the terraces watching the most memorable games in European football over the last ten years.

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I watched the Liverpool vs. Birmingham game on the box yesterday evening and saw the Red's truly batter Birmingham. I muted the TV as I couldn't stand for another Jon Champion assisted commentary and put on Five Live instead. Out of the fire and into the frying pan. Instead of Champion, I got Green, Alan Green. Click to continue reading...

Football Remembers. Commemorating the end of World War I, prior to each of this weekend's fixtures, football fans up and down the country stood unified in a minute's silence to remember the fallen servicemen from wars gone by. It's good to know that football fans can spot the real heroes.

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It was the Friday before the start of the Premier League season and I was on a plane home. The two gentlemen next to me starting talking and the conversation soon moved to football. One of them was lamenting Southampton's relegation into League One, he then said to his friend, "So it's four years without a trophy now then?

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My lover and I went to Reading today to visit two long standing friends of my lover.
Neither are football fans but both are two of the most delightful people you could wish to meet.
Anyway, prior to having a wonderful lunch and afternoon of laughter and music, my lover took the backroads to his old home town. Click to continue reading...

Chelsea v Manchester United
English Premier League
Sunday, 08 November, 2009
Stamford Bridge

The last 5 titles in the Premier League have been shared by Manchester United and Chelsea, and as the two best sides in England go head to head on Sunday, it's bound to be a memorable game no matter what the outcome.

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Eduardo's back heel onto Arshavin, who runs and takes the ball and finds the pass to Diaby, who sets himself up and scores.

That my friends was the goal of the night and the fourth for Arsenal against AZ Alkmaar. The football recently played by Arsenal is nothing short of phenomenal, offensively of course.

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Nabisco Cup final, Kawasaki Frontale vs. FC Tokyo, November 3rd 2009.

Photo credit: dillo-h.com on Flickr, via the Pitch Invasion Photo Pool.

Related posts:

1. Photo Daily: Kawasaki Frontale Tifo Big flags and little flags in the Asian Champions League.

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Without doubt the highlight this weekend is the climax of the season in Malaysia with Kelantan taking on Negeri Sembilan in the Malaysia Cup final at Bukit Jalil. Earlier in the season some 40,000 fans from the north east descended on the nation's capital to see their heroes take on Selangor in the FA Cup Final only to go home broken hearted. Click to continue reading...

Football fans are regularly accused of being 'fickle' but, as Pepe Reina proves with his latest comments, it seems that footballers also fall into that category!
September 12th - Liverpool had lost 2 of the first 4 league games. Clearly down in the dumps, Reina stated the following:
"We all want to win the league but right now it's not a realistic objective. Click to continue reading...

Premiership Talk is pleased to announce that it is giving away two prizes to two lucky readers! Michael Sheen's new DVD You're the Boss hits stores on November 9th, and Premiership Talk is giving a copy away to one lucky reader! If that's not good enough, we'll also be giving away a free copy of Football Manager 2010, the latest and greatest football management simulation game on the market!

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Monday 21st December 2009 is a date to mark in your calendars. Once again the world's best footballers both male and female will gather at the Zurich Kongresshaus for the 19th FIFA World Player gala.

A total of 33 strong candidates make the list this year and the main focus will no doubt be in the male category where Lionel Messi will face-off with Cristiano Ronaldo.

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As part of the Football Unites project, the British Council and Stretford End Flags is organising a match between visiting Moscow CSKA and Manchester United fans. Just a few hours before the two sides face each other at Old Trafford on 3 November, their fans will take to the pitch at the Cliff Training Academy in a celebration of football and the friendships created through sport.

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Dear Mr. Goodell,

What has been witnessed all season long at Qwest Field in Seattle is the potential of professional Soccer in the U.S. Interestingly, it has all taken place at a football stadium. Who would have ever guessed, 14 years in, that MLS would make its biggest impact in a football stadium.

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To read Part I in this series, please click here.
To read Part II.
Yes, this again. Soccer hooliganism is coming to the USA. Check that: it's already here.
In fairness, the "analysis" is a bit different this time. Whereas in the past hooliganism was all about things that were (supposedly) going on in Major League Soccer, it is now all about stateside supporters groups of English teams. Click to continue reading...