Having just got back from my honeymoon it is not easy deciding where to start on the blog. Everyone wants news in real time these days and I have been out of the loop for 7 days. So instead of back tracking and showing you some highlights or clips you probably already saw... I give you an Amazing Japanese Free Kick!

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Well, at least "The Sun" didn't go with "The Hand Of Frog" as their headline. This, however, was about the best thing that could be said for the media hysteria over Thierry Henry's handball for France against Ireland last night. First of all, though, we may as well take a quick look at the incident itself.

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The Vancouver Whitecaps have announced the signing of former Minnesota Thunder star Ricardo Sanchez. Sanchez who has been a crowd favorite at Minnesota for the last 2-seasons. It also signals the first of the Thunder players to leave the team for greener pastures. The Thunder released all players from their contracts several weeks ago after not being able to make the teams payroll.

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...Or at least if you had just read the reactions from the fans and trigger-happy journalists, you'd think this is what Henry had actually done:

On a serious note, the 'victims' the Irish team have been refreshingly objective about the situation and have laid the blame squarely on the horrible refereeing and to a much lesser extent on their own poor finishing as the real reasons why the French and not the Irish are headed to South Africa.

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The UEFA 2010 World Cup Qualifying Playoffs had their second legs on Wednesday, November 18, 2009. One of the match-ups was the Republic of Ireland v France that was 0-1 after the first leg. The Irish were the clear underdog with a 0-1 deficit after the first leg and having to travel to France for the second leg.

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic was Barcelona's big money signing in the summer with Samuel Eto'o and a reported £40 million going in the opposite direction to Inter Milan. Few can doubt that Ibrahimovic has ability and on his day is one of the best forwards in the world, however many have criticised him for his work rate and not everyone was convinced he would cut it in Spain.

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Another day, another head shot. This really is the final straw for American girls soccer, though. I mean, the hair pulling and dirty tackles are one thing, but to take aim and obliterate an opponent's face like this on a free kick is just way over the line. And totally hilarious.

After the jump, a special bonus DTotD.

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Benni Mc Carthy Takes a Shot Against Jamaica

Maybe the "weakened" Jamaica was a better opponent for South Africa, because Bafana Bafana managed to play forward although they were held to a goalless draw at Vodacom Stadium on Tuesday.

That means the 2010 World Cup hosts have now scored just six goals in their last 12 internationals.

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After the World Cup he says he's done.

"I cannot play when I am 50."

I thought he would. Though he's only 33, and I've been under the impression that he's been in his 40s for a while now.
Oh well, to the links:

• Scotland fires head coach. [FourFourTwo]
  
• Neville wants an elite pool of refs.

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2010 is on the horizon and it's safe to say that it's been a wonderful decade for football. We here at Footy Factor have taken the opportunity to celebrate the greatest teams, players, and matches of the past 10 years. Â Next up...

Free Kick Taker of the Decade

Winner: Juninho Pernambucano.

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Man United captain Gary Neville has said that only the most experienced and ‘elite' referee's should take charge of the biggest games. I think it is fair to say that there have been some high profile decision's that have gone against United but should ‘elite' referee's really take charge of high profile games? Click to continue reading...

Western Conference Final
LA 2-0 Houston

After two halves, two overtime periods, and two 18+ minute power outages the Western Conference final, which was appropriately played on Friday the 13th, came to an end with the number one seed in the west advancing to the final.

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Western Conference Final
LA 2-0 Houston

After two halves, two overtime periods, and two 18+ minute power outages the Western Conference final, which was appropriately played on Friday the 13th, came to an end with the number one seed in the west advancing to the final.

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As Taylor mentioned, I will be one of the day-to-day writers for my beloved Red Devils. So let's get this party started by doing a massive recap of our past "big" games:

CSKA Moscow vs MUFC (CL Group)

The Good : Well we qualified, and that's what really counts doesn't it ?

The Bad : As much as I love him, I'm going to have to call out Mikey Owen.

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Liverpool legend John Aldridge claims that his old side have not been aggressive enough this season, and believes that this is the cause for their recent run of one win in nine games.
The Scouse-born Irishman is of the opinion that the Merseysiders have been sloppy in defence, and has pointed a finger at the back four's handling of set-plays. Click to continue reading...

On a cold wet day, the Fort Lewis College men's soccer team defeated the Colorado School of Mines 3-0 on Friday in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Durango. The game resembled a Slip 'n Slide because of pouring rain and freezing wind.

Fort Lewis advances to the second round and will face West Texas A&M at 1 p.

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Goal video highlights from the Spain vs Argentina international friendly on November 14, 2009. Game KO time- 19.45 from the Vicente Calderon, Madrid. The new Adidas kits for Spain and Argentina were worn for the first time in this game. Full time final score :- Spain 2-1 Argentina ( Xabi Alonso 16′, 85′ pen/ Lionel Messi [. Click to continue reading...

The U.S. national team returns to action for the first time since qualifying for the 2010 World Cup today when it takes on Slovakia in a friendly in Bratislava (10am, FSC).

The Americans are without Landon Donovan and Tim Howard, as well as the injured Oguchi Onyewu and Jay DeMerit, but there are still plenty of starters who will have chances to show they can play without the team's top players.

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The Major League Soccer Playoffs had its Conference Finals this weekend as the LA Galaxy hosted the Houston Dynamo in the Western Conference and Real Salt Lake traveled to Chicago Fire in the Eastern Conference. The first match was the Dynamo and Galaxy who played on Friday, November 13, 2009. Who won and what happened in the match?

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The goal came from a David Beckham free kick. Omar Gonzalez got a head to it at the far post, it rebounded off Eddie Robinson and came to Gregg Berhalter for his first Galaxy goal - ever - in the 103rd minute.

Update: The half is over with the Galaxy up by one. Fifteen minutes until MLS Cup beckons.

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Galaxy 0 Dynamo 0

This is a helluva game - or at least it has been since the lights came back on, with the Galaxy having the better of the attacking chances and restricting Houston to some long-range efforts.

First, in the 25th minute Stuart Holden cleared a Landon Donovan header off the line.

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After a really disappointing 1-0 loss to Chelsea, Man United striker Wayne Rooney was seen mouthing ‘12 men' whilst walking off the pitch. There were quite a few decisions' that didn't go United's way, which is why he mouthed it.
Rooney has now said that it was a mistake to mouth that. Click to continue reading...

On May 26th, 2009 the whole world found out that this player would be available on a free transfer:

For those of you not familiar with him, Juninho Pernambucano is probably the world's best free kick taker. Give him a free kick within 35 yards and you're facing a very dangerous situation.

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All the stuff being covered outside the unfriendly confines of the award winning Dirty Tackle...

Insane video taken Rafik Saifi of the Algerian national team as their bus is attacked by rock-throwing Egyptian fans. [Goal]

Rangers not happy with their "moronic" fans. [STV]

Even when wearing a dress that went through a broken shredder, Abbey Clancy still looks hot.

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The magician has still got it. The current REAL MADRID PresidentialClub advisor, ex player & French International World ChampionZINEDINE ZIDANE continues to show his skills as seen in this Videoup on "YouTube" by "ligafutbol32". The Frenchmen participated ina fund raising friendly game & scored this wonderful free-kick goal. Click to continue reading...

French third division side Amiens took on Variety Club of France for a charity match.A free kick from Zidane during the game was a reminder that he could still be up there with the best in the world.

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Man United midfielder Darren Fletcher hasn't had the best of weeks when it comes to decisions of referee's, he has put that down to what Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said about him.
Fletcher has only just returned from injury for United, last Wednesday he has his feet taken out from under him against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League. Click to continue reading...

"Look at Nani - his free kick goes right into the wall, again!"
It's been all doom and gloom for Liverpool over the past few weeks - the losses keep mounting, as do the injuries - and the club finds itself in its most precarious state in years.
On the other hand, Chelsea are being touted as "Champions" before we've even hit December, and with over six months of football still to be played, it seems as if journalists, bloggers, and pundits alike are claiming that The Blues have what it takes to win it all. Click to continue reading...

Is it too late for a comeback? Probably not. This free-kick shows the former Real Madrid, Bordeaux and Juventus midfielder still knows how to wow the fans. This top notch strike occurred during a charity match.

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The acquisition of Kevin Sheedy as coach of the AFL's new western Sydney franchise has set plenty of tongues wagging, and keyboards clicking. The presence of one of the sport's most charismatic figures in enemy territory is good copy...especially for rugby league scribes defending the bastions.
Greg Prichard has given Penrith's Mark Geyer a free kick (or should that be a scrum feed? Click to continue reading...

It is almost two years since the South Korean national team last ventured outside the borders of Asia. This weekend sees the Taeguk Warriors in Europe for the first of two 2010 World Cup warm-up matches against tough opposition.
Saturday sees the team in Denmark and then four days later; Huh Jung-moo takes his players west to London to face Serbia. Click to continue reading...

James Ellison fired the winner as Liverpool under-18s bounced back from their derby defeat to beat Crewe Alexandra 1-0 at the Kirkby Academy.
Rodolfo Borrell's side provided a positive response to last week's 2-0 home defeat to Everton. The only downside was that their dominance wasn't reflected in the final scoreline. Click to continue reading...

In the first showdown between the two teams most likely to be challenging for major honours at the start of the season, Chelsea took one step closer to the Premiership title on Sunday after beating Manchester United 1-0 in a match many felt that United had to win. Chelsea are now 5 points clear of their rivals, and although there is a long way to go have taken the early lead in the title race.

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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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The most eagerly waited fixture in the EPL so far took place on Sunday 8 November when champions Manchester United took on potential challengers Chelsea at fortress Stamford Bridge. So much talking about Chelsea form lately and the run they are on, Manchester United injury list was a major talking point with world's best centre back partnership in the shape of Vidic & Rio Ferdinand both sidelined, though Vidic was on the bench but unable to start to game.

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