As part of his ambassadorial trip to China, David Beckham illustrated why he recommends taking free-kicks in football boots rather than formal shoes. The PSG player fell over as he attempted to demonstrate his legendary prowess with a dead ball.
The United States needs a win in CONCACAF 2014 World Cup Qualifying as they host Jamaica on
September 11, 2012. The match will take place at Columbus Crew Stadium with kickoff scheduled for 8
PM USA EST.
USA manager Jurgen Klinsmann
"We gave away cheap free kicks and lost the game based on that.
‘I would like to take free-kicks like Ronaldinho' – Messi, 2008
It is January, 2008. As Ronaldinho waits to be brought on in Barcelona's Copa del Rey
quarter-final at the Camp Nou, a penalty is awarded against Villarreal – they are, with Barcelona
already 1-0 up, going out of the competition.
Watching a pre-match motivational speaker rip phonebooks in half didn't help the U.S. in their
first of two World Cup qualifiers against Jamaica. The U.S. lost 2-1 in Kingston for their first
ever loss in 19 matches against Jamaica, even though Clint Dempsey scored just 36 seconds into the
match for a new U.
The San Jose Earthquakes just keep on winning and Chivas USA just keeps on bleeding goals and
squandering chances to get into the Western Conference playoff race.
In a result that should have been inevitable considering the form of the Earthquakes attack and
the sad state of the Chivas USA defense, the Earthquakes rolled to a 4-0 victory at Buck Shaw
Stadium on Sunday night.
The greatest left back in the history of the sport retired two weeks ago but this is the free
kick that made him immortal. And unbeknownst to him, he used very well established laws of physics
to generate that stupendous lift and spin that seemingly defied every law of physics.
The video above explains a little bit but to learn more here is a classic that really explores
in depth how he achieved that kick.
Brazil legend Roberto Carlos has announced he's hanging up his boots. OTP wishes him all the best
for the future and celebrates five of his craziest goals. 1. That free-kick vs France The ultimate
bendy free-kick and one of the most talked about goals ever to be scored in a meaningless friendly
tournament.
The Timbers closed practice today after getting off to a late start while the team was still watching film in preparation for tomorrow's game. For the first fifteen minutes of practice, Jose Adolfo Valencia was alone on the field, taking shots, free kicks, and penalty kicks. Valencia showed off a wicked curve on several strikes as he bent the ball into the corner of the net, something he did not have the chance to do this year for the Timbers.
The Portland Timbers were finishing up their final multiple match road trip of the 2012 season hoping to avoid joining the record books by going winless away from home by visiting Real Salt Lake, a venue that saw the Timbers embarrassed during their last visit in July. The Timbers didn't help their cause when RSL scored two goals from free kicks in the first half, but they pressed in the second half and nearly pulled even for a draw behind a Bright Dike goal and near miss off the crossbar.
The 6th game was the game it happened. It could have been the name of a thriller. And in a way it was a thriller. But one with a bad ending. Not that there were a lot of chances with both defences mostly on top during the game. But in the 6th [...]
Reports from China indicate Didier Drogba and his former Chelsea team mate, Nicholas Anelka
could leave Shanghai Shenhua because the club is unable to meet its wage commitments because of an
escalating shareholder row. Both Drogba and Anelka earn a mind boggling £300,000 per week to play
for 10th placed Shenhua.
Steve Bould seems to have whipped this Arsenal defense into shape. Introducing zonal marking and
taking away Stoke's greatest strength, its set pieces. They were so effective that they did not
concede a corner and the free kicks that Stoke took were dealt with decisively by Mertesacker and
Vermaelen.
All gather around the prayer circle for this man please
The fight continues, probably none the more apt word to be used considering who we are up
against today. Stoke City, have made quite a name for themselves (in our minds at least) since
their promotion to the Premier League. They've managed to make themselves the scourge of Arsenal
fans.
1. A supposedly easy match against eastern European opposition and the referee awards England a
penalty after three minutes. He clearly didn't know how these matches are supposed to go. 2. Steven
Gerrard and Frank Lampard can play together... so long as Tom Cleverley is playing the
Lampard/Gerrard role.
1. A supposedly easy match against eastern European opposition and the referee awards England a
penalty after three minutes. He clearly didn't know how these matches are supposed to go. 2. Steven
Gerrard and Frank Lampard can play together... so long as Tom Cleverley is playing the
Lampard/Gerrard role.
KINGSTON, Jamaica-- Just three weeks after making history by winning in Mexico for the first
time, the U.S. team made history again, only it was the kind they definitely didn't want to
make.
Jurgen Klinsmann had to know his U.S. team would be in for a tough night without a handful of
key veterans, but he also has to know that his teams chances of leaving Jamaica with a point or
three were going to hinge on his roster and lineup selections.
Three of Sporting Kansas City's four players on international duty had games scheduled last night,
but only one of those 3 saw the field. Roger Espinoza's Honduras teammates were in Cuba for a
mid-day kick off in their World Cup qualifier. Espinoza had to sit out the game due to his red card
against Brazil in the Olympics.
For a second straight month, Jurgen Klinsmann and the U.S. men's national team made history, but
this time the result was not one they wish to remember.
Weeks after beating Mexico for the first time at Azteca Stadium in a friendly, the United States
resumed their World Cup qualifying campaign by suffering a 2-1 loss to Jamaica at National Stadium
in Kingston, Jamaica on Friday night.
The biggest story of the weekend for the Sounders was clearly the return of Steve Zakuani to the
starting lineup exactly five hundred days after his injury. This was a huge step for Zakuani and we
all hope that his progress will continue.
Jurgen Klinsmann has announced the USMNT roster for the World Cup Qualifiers against
Jamaica.
Anfield - still a fortress or an opportunity for three valuable away points? (Photo: Not
forgotten)
Liverpool v Arsenal   Anfield, Sunday, September 2 1:30 p.m.
Liverpool won't be including Clint Dempsey in their side to face Arsenal on Sunday, mainly
because they drew the wrath of their fans more than Arsenal did after the debacle that saw him end
up at Spurs.
No Donovan, No Bradley, No excuses. The United States National Team falls to a resilient and elated
Jamaican side after going ahead in less than a minute of play. Two brilliant free kicks and the
passion of a nation allowed Jamaica to pull off a victory and take hold of this qualifying round.
CARSON, Calif.—It was a tense affair from the minute the whistle blew to start the game in
Carson on Sunday afternoon. Both LA Galaxy and FC Dallas are in the playoff hunt, and as we come
into the final stretch of the regular season, the intensity of every match is amplified.
In his second match back from a shoulder surgery that kept him out for six months, 39-year-old
Rogerio Ceni curled in one of his signature free kicks to help Sao Paulo to a 2-0 win over Bahia in
the Copa Sudamericana. With over 1,000 appearances for Sao Paulo and more than 100 goals scored,
Ceni will probably keep doing what he does long after all the statues of him have crumbled.
FIFA 13 TV Ad Join The Club: Lio Messi, Harry Redknapp & Karim Benzema - originally posted on
Soccerlens.com
FIFA 13 is due to be launched on 28th September 2012 in Europe four new game-play features. The
'player impact engine' expands physical play to off-the-ball battles between players.
In case there were anymore of you out there concerned that Mario Martinez was nothing more than
myth, the Honduran hero was actually training with the Seattle Sounders on Friday and will likely
make his debut this weekend. Sounders coach Sigi Schmid Martinez could play as early as Saturday
against the Vancouver Whitecaps, but would definitely play in Sunday's Reserve League match.
The Philadelphia Union fell to the Columbus Crew Wednesday night 2-1. The loss effectively marks
the end of the Union's playoff hopes for this season even though they may still be mathematically
alive. It is unlikely this situation will turn around given the personnel available. I will spare
you the gruesome details; suffice to say that the Union managed to lose a "six point" game at home
against another mediocre Eastern conference team fighting for a playoff spot while being up a
man.
Veteran Sao Paulo 'keeper Rodrigo Ceni has made a bit of a name for himself over the years by
chiming in with over 100 goals for his club, sticking away free-kicks and
penalties like it ain't no thang for the best part of 23 years now.
However, Ceni managed to stick one away at the wrong end with terrific panache against Nautico
in the Campeanato on Wednesday night coming to punch a corner clear, only to see the ballÂ
ricochet off his triangular knuckles at an almost physics-defying angle and then loop up and down
over the heads of three hapless Sao Paulo defenders left agog on the goal-line.
Veteran Sao Paulo 'keeper Rodrigo Ceni has made a bit of a name for himself over the years by
chiming in with over 100 goals for his club, sticking away free-kicks and
penalties like it ain't no thang for the best part of 23 years now.
However, Ceni managed to stick one away at the wrong end with terrific panache against Nautico
in the Campeanato on Wednesday night coming to punch a corner clear, only to see the ballÂ
ricochet off his triangular knuckles at an almost physics-defying angle and then loop up and down
over the heads of three hapless Sao Paulo defenders left agog on the goal-line.
During his 22 years at Sao Paolo, goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni has has scored over 100 goals, thanks
to his tendency to take free kicks and penalties for the Brazilian side.
Last year the 39-year-old became the first goalkeeper in world football to achieve a
three-figure goal tally, and having recently returned from six-months out through a shoulder
injury, the three-time Campeonato winner was undoubtedly keen to get his name on the scoresheet in
Wednesday night's league match against Nautico.
Within the past decade, La Liga has evolved (or devolved, depending on who you're talking to)
into a two-horse race between Real Madrid and Barcelona. Between TV contracts, exposure and
merchandise, the Spanish league is divided into distinct categories: the haves (two teams) and the
have-nots (18 clubs).
One of Brazil's all-time greats has called it a career.
Left back Roberto Carlos, 39, announced his retirement, officially putting an end to a playing
career that spanned back to 1991.Â
Roberto Carlos, who had not played since March, was most recently with high-spending Russian
side Anzhi Makhachkala, and he will reportedly stay there in a technical-staff capacity.
Look everyone has a rough day at The Office now and then. (Ouch...)
With Jamaica riding two free kicks to victory Friday night in the Caribbean, it's up to the USA
to author their own Redemption Song Tuesday in Columbus. The arrangement tonight was sour for the
States to the tune of a 2-1 loss to the Reggae Boyz who celebrated their country's national
independence by liberating Jamaica from its winless streak against the visitors.
OADBY TOWN 8-0 POTTON UNITED
Saturday 18th August 2012
United Counties League Division 1
Wigston Road, Oadby
Leading up to today I was being very indecisive (no sarcastic comments needed!!!) about where to go
to get my footy fix. Do I put my groundhopping hat on or do I put my Oadby Town hat on?
Week 2 – Ligue 1, Stade Municipal de Gerland, 1700 CET
Meeting Troyes for the first time since 2007, Lyon knows why no newly promoted club can be taken
as an extended training exercise ever again. The 2009 promotees Montpellier sit on top of the
podium in just a few seasons of being regulars in the top flight, and have en-route taught many new
lessons to Ligue 1 clubs.
Nicks' note: We have a Liverpool post for you today. Rather like the
transfer of Oussama Assaidi, this one is completely out of the blue.
Moonmoon, a writer for Sports Illustrated India, has written for BigFourZa
before; and she comes out of cryogenic sleep here to stop the bad press about Joe Allen.
Goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni is no stranger to finding the net, having scored more than 100 career
goals. But he's more accustomed to blasting in free-kicks and penalties at the other end of the
pitch than scoring embarrassing own goals. On this occasion the goal won't be added to his tally
after he got a punch [.
The United States are one match away from the final as they host CONCACAF rival Canada in the
2012 Women's Olympics Tournament semifinals. The match will take place at Old Trafford in
Manchester, England on August 6, 2012 with kickoff scheduled for 19:45 local time (UK).
Canada manager John Herdman
"One of the big threats we've got to take care of, and what we've paid attention to, is the
illegal marking in the box on their corners and free kicks.
