England are wasting Steven Gerrard. They are ruining an outstanding talent. I've heard the word 'timid' being whispered as a reason for him not being a contender to take the captain's armband. Timid? You've got to be joking.

Here are some better words for him: Powerful. Explosive. Dynamic. Click to continue reading...

You may have seen that recent post over at The Original Winger about former Chivas USA and K.C. Wizards forward Matt Taylor signing with German second division side TuS Koblenz recently. Even more recently, Taylor himself wrote a lengthy & insightful post over there about how he came to end up amongst the Germans and what it took to get him there. Click to continue reading...

Emma Hayes, the Head Coach of the Chicago Red Stars, is in China at the Olympic Games. Today, she blogged about the growing parity among teams at the world level. This post is my response to that blog. Here, I will look at the growth of women's world soccer, the German development of the game in their home country, and what this means to the American market. Click to continue reading...

On a rain soaked day the second day kicked-off with Juventus facing Hamburg.  The way the tournament was organised meant that a good result for the Germans could give Arsenal a chance of retaining the cup.   Hamburg started the game on the front foot and were rewarded with a goal after 20 minutes scored by Guerero, [. Click to continue reading...

This is not a stellar time for the upcoming hosts of international soccer tournaments. While much of the focus has been on South Africa's struggles to put together a credible World Cup in 2010, major concerns have developed over Ukraine and Poland's ability to host Euro 2012. With Euro 2008 complete, the focus turns to the future hosts, who clearly have a ways to go. Click to continue reading...

Jaap Stam said farewell to pro football in Zwolle, the city where his career started. Guus Hiddink, Dennis Bergkamp and Clarence Seedorf were present. There was a real chance Stam's tribute game "fell in the water", as the Dutch say. Cruyff's testimonial was ruined by Germans ( 8-0 defeat against Bayern Click to continue reading...

Right now I feel that "Tommy's Army" stands like General Wellington waiting for the Hessians reinforcements to arrive at Waterloo. Except that when Wellington absolutely needed the Germans to arrive... they did. So far, no one has arrived over that hill to relieve the strain. Soehn thought some of the dealing would be done by [. Click to continue reading...

After a unexpectedly getting to the final in the first place, the Italy U-19 squad fell to Germany 3-1 and had to satisfy themselves with second place. Italy had as much talent as the Germans, but lacked on the physical and psychological level. Italy started well with Fernando Forestieri, Alberto Paloschi, and Stefano Okaka Chuka all very active, and Paloschi almost put Italy ahead after the German defense committed an error, but the Milan striker's lob was off target.

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Aaah, those crazy Germans! What better way to introduce to the public and press your new strip, via interpretive dance! Extraordinary. The only way this could have been more craptastic is to perhaps bring Ollie Kahn up on stage to dance a little jig or something. How sweet would that have been? Click to continue reading...

The pre-season continues, with the Reds having finished in a scoreless draw with Hertha Berlin last night. Andriy Voronin could have continued his impressive form after drawing a penalty, but he saw it saved. Interesting that he should be the one to take it after being fouled. I know the Germans have the 'Unwritten Rule' [. Click to continue reading...

The under 19 version.Defending Champs Spain started their title defence with a loss to arch rivals Germany.Richard Sukuta-Pasu and Omer Toprak scored in each half for the Germans, while Jordi Alba pulled one back midway through the second half for Spain.

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When one thinks of footballing in the Most Serene Republic of San Marino, the Champions League doesn't exactly come to mind. More often it's as the recipient of a thorough beatdown - particularly for Germans - or as the cutsie little nation in those adidas commercials featuring Jose Mourinho & Friends. Click to continue reading...

Bundesliga fixtures announced

No sooner have the Mannschaft returned to a heroes welcome (the Germans have acquired a taste for gallantry - Good PR) but the Bundesliga have published their fixtures for the season. What better way, then, for the Bundesbag to introduce itself to Some People Are On The Pitch than with a look ahead to the first weekend of the season? Click to continue reading...

Arsene Wenger has once again scoured the continent to bring young, French players to the Emirates Stadium. After Samir Nasri's move from Marseille, a Werder Bremen youngster has claimed he is on his way to London. Amaury Bischoff has announced that he has rejected the chance to stay with the Germans and seize the opportunity to [. Click to continue reading...

(Check in with our amigos at Medio Tiempo for more great cartoons like this one)

The right team won the Euros yesterday. The team that chose to come out and play to win actually won. It was nice to see at a big tournament, so often the safe teams win. The teams that try to entertain and attack so often come up short, while cynicism prevails. Click to continue reading...

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Spain_1_-_0_Germany_-_Torres
Uploaded by thekopinth
It gets no better than scoring the goal to win the European Championship. Torres and co. were too much for the Germans, who never looked like potential winners throughout the tournament. The Spanish let little thru to threaten Iker Casillas and always looked dangerous breaking forward. Click to continue reading...

A well deserved victory for our team, España. I am still at a loss for words. All in all, we truly deserved this Cup for the magnificent display of football. We beat up and comers Russia twice and the dreaded Italians. In the final, we made Germany look quite ordinary. The Germans were chasing Spanish shadows.

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Kevin McCarra:
Torres delivers finishing touch to make Spain kings of Europe

Richard Jolly:
Spain's victory a vindication of their ideals

Richard Williams:
Spain reign with beautiful game for the purists


Low admits Spain deserves victory



Lehmann lays into 'biased' referee following Germany defeat
'The referee didn't really fancy us Germans,' claims beaten goalkeeper

German Media: Spain deserved it Click to continue reading...

So dreams can come true. Even Spanish footballing ones. And they can even come true in a wondrous way.

The Cava is still flowing and rightly so. In winning Euro 2008, Spain ended a quest for silverware that at 44 years' length, two more than England's, had defied all sense of fairness or logic. Click to continue reading...

The deserving team won. Spain played a very good tournament, got lucky in the right moments, and ultimately outclassed each team that came in their way. It was nice to see a team based mostly upon purely skillful players win the cup. They also had the star forward in Fernando Torres, and although he didn't have a great tournament, he still came through in the key moment and got the goal that so many that have come before him couldn't get. Click to continue reading...

Goals:
Torres 33'

The first thing I voiced after starting these Spain reviews was the worry that my support for the Spanish squad would jinx their chances. After the conclusion of the tournament, I'm happy to say the opposite turned out to be true.

As I'm sure you've read multiple times by now, this is Spain's first major trophy in 44 years. Click to continue reading...

Campeones! Campeones! Ole, Ole Ole!

I just work up from a lengthy siesta after a raucous afternoon at The Globe Pub on Chicago's North Side. A packed house, pretty well split in their allegiances, joined millions around the word in watching Spain claim a 1-0 win over Germany for their first European crown since 1964. Click to continue reading...

Spain are the champions of Europe after defeating Germany 1-0 in the final of the European Championships in Vienna. The Spanish, so long the perennial underachievers, thoroughly deserved their victory after dominating the final from start to finish. Simply put, Spain were far too good for the Germans and no one would begrudge them their victory. Click to continue reading...

Spain, with style, flair, and a heavy dose of determination, finally did what it took to win the Euro 2008 tournament trophy. Fernando Torres' lone goal in the first half proved enough to propel this young Spanish side on to victory on Europe's biggest stage.

Torres' strike encapsulated his renowned for both powerful running and sheer goal-scoring determination, as he muscled past Philipp Lahm and an onrushing Jens Lehmann, to slot the ball home. Click to continue reading...