Bulgaria's greatest, Georgi Asparuhov, life tragically cut at 28. Rooney misses a sitter. (Studs Up) The incredible new lows of Mike Ashley. (Three Match Ban) Stamford Bridge name TBA; football's name also TBA. (Futfanatico) John Barnes: Savior of Rwanda, not Don Cheadle. (Fisted Away) Adriano: The face of crack. Click to continue reading...

Ajax v Feyenoord, Holland

History
It all began as a clash of cultures. Feyenoord were supported by the dock workers from the built up part of Rotterdam, while Ajax by the richer, more sophiscated side of Amsterdam.

Magic moments
This fixture is full of goals, goals,� super goals as big Frank frank would say.

Click to continue reading...

As always, highlights are below and are also archived on the right sidebar. Don't forget to click on "see all videos" at the bottom of the widget for the rest of the highlights from this season and preseason.

Last week, following our last-minute capitulation to AZ Alkmaar, I wrote a post entitled, "Déj� Vu," which talked about how the result was reminiscent of all those draws, many nil-nil, from last season.

Click to continue reading...

One can't just leave for two weeks, it seems... Lots has happened since, not in the least the 250+ comments from my calcio brothers and sisters :-). Thanks for keeping this blog alive, my friends!! Anyway, I'm just doing this from the hip, if that's ok... In Holland, AZ is hurt by Click to continue reading...

I didn't get to see much of the game last night and I have hardly had a chance to sit down today and watch the full highlights so this blog may again be fairly short.

We drew 1-1 away at AZ Alkmaar of Holland but should really have won the game and closed it out, as it happens we conceded from yet another set piece and had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Click to continue reading...

� I apologize to the joker for stealing that quote but it fits in well with this mini� review of the match against AZ Alkmaar.

We've now played three games and collected 7 points. Most often than not, 9 points usually does the trick with regards to qualification. We have two home games, one against Alkmaar and the other against Liege.

Click to continue reading...

This is one of the most hilarious goals of recent times, unless you're a Liverpool fan.
And, of course, by any standards of common sense it shouldn't have been a goal at all. (I just tested this on my wife, incidentally, who is conversant with the rules of the game and considered the awarding of the goal an outrage. Click to continue reading...

Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres have both been ruled out of Liverpool's trip to Sunderland on Saturday because of injuries picked up on international duty.
Gerrard, Liverpool's captain, suffered a groin injury in England's World Cup defeat to Ukraine last weekend and limped out of training two days later, subsequently missing the home win against Belarus. Click to continue reading...

Could the US make waves in South Africa next year? (Getty Images)

Its a US men's national team theme tonight for the evening links and thoughts. Not that there isn't some good MLS stuff out there right now (more on that tomorrow) but there just happened to be a couple really interesting topics surrounding the US national team that I wanted to touch base on tonight.

Click to continue reading...

Liverpool remain confident Steven Gerrard will be fit for their trip to Sunderland this weekend, despite fears he may have sustained a slight tear in his adductor muscle.
Gerrard, who was substituted at half time in England's defeat in Ukraine on Saturday, returned to Merseyside for a precautionary scan after managing only 10 minutes of training with Fabio Capello's squad on Tuesday. Click to continue reading...

Our star young Dutch goalkeeper Tim Krul saved a penalty to preserve his unbeaten record in the European Qualifiers as Holland Under-21s made it three wins in a row with a 4-0 win over Poland in Kielce. Tim Krul - saved a penalty top preserve unbeaten status Tim has yet to concede a goal in the [.. Click to continue reading...

Johan Cruyff wasn't the first to leave Holland (Faas Wilkes played in Italy, Kees Rijvers in France among other players) but JC's departure to greener pastures felt as a statement: you need to engage in a bigger competition once you're the star in your domestic competition. It gave you some certainty Click to continue reading...

Dutch international Dirk Kuyt has stressed how he is enjoying life on Merseyside with Liverpool despite the club's poor start to the season.
The striker, who played for his homeland in a friendly against the Socceroos in Australia this week, is expected to feature against Sunderland despite his long round-trip and hopes that the Reds can now focus on getting their title challenge back on track. Click to continue reading...

Rafael Benitez will be furious after Dirk Kuyt came off injured at half-time in Saturday's friendly for Holland against Australia.
Liverpool were already less than happy that Kuyt and Ryan Babel had to play the match in Sydney in what was a commercially-driven deal done by the Holland FA. Click to continue reading...

An impressive display from the Aussies as they held a strong Dutch side to a goalless draw.

Don't forget to check out Online Football Manager!

Click to continue reading...

I hate that I do!

Right, it's been a while since my last rant so here goes!

After the recent success of the 3 Lions qualifiers with 2 games to spare, I'm still going to have a grumble. Believe it not children, England are playing the Ukraine on Saturday. It is a WC qualifier and gives Fabio a chance to work with the squad without the pressure of putting points on the board.

Click to continue reading...

The countdown to South Africa 2010 has well and truly started and so we thought we'd take a look back at some of our greatest ever World Cup moments. We'd also like to know what has been your greatest World Cup moment? Maybe it was a win for your country; a superb goal or a moment of madness?

Click to continue reading...

First of all, I need to apologize. I interviewed Tim back at the end of August and am just now getting this out. I feel I did a disservice to the time he was so kind to give me. But, better late than never, so I have transcribed our talk about new South Americans in the Bundesliga.

Click to continue reading...

Edwin, give us a wavefrom Yahoo!UK/Eurosport:Edwin van der Sar is certain he will be ready for Manchester United's Premier League clash with Bolton on October 17. The 39-year-old has been out of action since breaking a couple of fingers in a pre-season encounter with Bayern Munich in July. However, the former Holland skipper returned to action in Tuesday night's reserve team triumph over Everton Click to continue reading...

No report as such from the Dripping Pan yesterday as Lewes drew 1 apiece with Staines Town. We'll save the reports for the away days shall we!? I did however take a couple of panoramic shots of the Dripping Pan so I might as well stick them up on these pages. As usual click on the images if you want to enlarge them to the full screen. Click to continue reading...

Ryan Babel is determined to earn an established place in Liverpool's first-team plans because his World Cup dream is in danger.
The Holland forward was dropped from his country's squad for September's meetings with Japan and Scotland after failing to play regular football at club level. Click to continue reading...

Ryan Babel has created a twitter account. Click to continue reading...

PSV won it's sixth game on the trot against Willem II, 3-1. The Eindhoven teamed stayed on top in the standings in Holland. Otman Bakkal scored a typica Bakkal goal, making a dash from midfield into space, with Dzsudzsak at hand to deliver the pass. Bakkal's fifth (!) goal this Click to continue reading...

� �

�

During this World Cup cycle, the United States national team has tested itself against some of the very best teams, including Spain, Brazil, England and Argentina.

You may soon be able to add Holland� to that list.

According to the LA Times, the U.S.� is likely� to play an exhibition against the Netherlands on March 3 in Eindhoven next year.

Click to continue reading...

Socceroo Jason Culina would love the opportunity to defeat the Netherlands in front of a sold-out home crowd at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday, October 10. Having spent the last ten years playing his club football in Holland, making 160 appearances with Dutch clubs Ajax Amsterdam, De Graafschap, FC Twente Click to continue reading...

What should be a good tune-up for next year's World Cup (should the US qualify), the US national team possibly has a friendly lined up to play Holland on March 3 in Eindhoven.

The LA Times is reporting this evening that the US would be playing Holland next March while their rivals to the south would be hosting Spain.

Click to continue reading...

It is a game that brings up lots of memories for both England and Brazil fans. The 23rd meeting between England and the five-time World Cup winners Brazil will take place in Qatar on Saturday, November 14.

The match at the 50,000-capacity Khalifa International Stadium will be a first visit to the Middle Eastern state for England and is payback for Brazil agreeing to be the first visitors to the new Wembley in 2007.

Click to continue reading...

Arsenal striker Robin Van Persie declared he's delighted to have defender Thomas Vermaelen on his side, rather than against him. Recalling the spat between the two in the 2007 Amsterdan Tournament and speaking of the Belgian's impact on the Arsenal squad, the Dutch striker said:

He is hard and played very strong on me physically and I was a little bit upset about that.

Click to continue reading...

Arsenal striker Robin Van Persie declared he's delighted to have defender Thomas Vermaelen on his side, rather than against him. Recalling the spat between the two in the 2007 Amsterdan Tournament and speaking of the Belgian's impact on the Arsenal squad, the Dutch striker said:

He is hard and played very strong on me physically and I was a little bit upset about that.

Click to continue reading...

We all have to agree that that would be a great location to host a World Cup. Holland and Belgium combined can definitely do a great job and make fans and teams happy. What's your opinion?

Click to continue reading...

Dutchman was misquoted.

The Dutchman made a key contribution in Saturday's thrilling 3-2 victory at West Ham as he came off the bench to create the winner for Fernando Torres.

It was Babel's first league outing since the defeat to Aston Villa last month and now he is hungry for more.

Click to continue reading...

The Pitbull looks the same after all these years.. Edgar Davids is still sporting his trademark dreadlock hair.In the video, Davids is on the streets looking for the next ,freestyle champion, Wassim Benslimane. Click to continue reading...

My main man Goose took care of the stats of this weekend in Holland, thanks for that... It seems Feyenoord still plays a bit unstable, mixing up great football with sloppy and hasty phases. Tomasson scored a wonder second goal but De Guzman demonstrated his Beckham kicking technique with the winning Click to continue reading...

Darren Fletcher faced even more International disappointment this week after a defeat to Holland meant he will not be travelling to next summer's World Cup.

With Wayne Rooney enjoying great goal-scoring form for his country as well club, England have qualified with two games to spare, which has meant the English players have been giving Fletcher a lot of stick.

Click to continue reading...

This is slightly later than planned so sorry about that. I had this dream last night, I was playing for Derby County against Arsenal and it finished 4-4, even though I was playing for Derby (yes I know, my brain doesn't know what side its bread's buttered on), I wanted Arsenal to win of course.

Strange one.

Click to continue reading...