In today's installment of the bootcamp..... a year has passed since the selecao last voted for the Brasileirao awards (Ay mi dio, now this is weird!) which recognises the best players in the league. Someone hand Adriano a trophy now..... no, not the sausage eating one!

Click to continue reading...

Jogaram amistosamente, em Teerã, no Azadi Stadium, as seleções do Irã (62º no ranking da FIFA) e a seleção da Islândia (87º no ranking da FIFA).
Esse foi o primeiro jogo na história entre essas 2 seleções.
Aos 14 minutos do segundo tempo, foi feito o único gol do jogo, do Karim Ansarifard. Click to continue reading...

France stars Yoann Gourcuff and Karim Benzema give off the impression that they have been pinned back on the ropes for a little too long as they prepare for Saturday's World Cup play-off against the Republic of Ireland. Click to continue reading...

Two years ago, in November 2007, this website began. I scoured the continent for young talent and listed eight players who I expected to make huge names for themselves in the football world. I did not list English based players (Walcott, Denilson, etc) who I had my eye on, but only players in the continent. Click to continue reading...

Ligue 1 continues to delight and mystify in equal measures. Last weekend's matches saw Bordeaux lose for a second successive match after such a long unbeaten run, and new leaders Lyon lost too but remained on top of the table.
Lyon's lead is down to just a single goal, never mind points. Their main challenger in second spot is Montpellier, a team that finds itself back in the top flight for the first time in five years and looking determined to make it six. Click to continue reading...

With the Ballon d'Or nominations finally releasing this weekend, the headlines have mostly been devoted to the fact that world champions Italy have no representation whatsoever. But why blame the press for paying excessive attention to an irrelevant detail? After all, the award itself is destined to be heading Lionel Messi's way, which means very little is there to be talked about in terms of debating the winner, right?

Click to continue reading...

With the first quarter of football almost over in most leagues around Europe, now is a good time to measure the current progress of some of the giant clubs on the continent. Actually, analyzing the success or failure of clubs in general won't be nearly as exciting as identifying a more specific object of analysis.

Click to continue reading...

1. With Iker (awkward smiles and distance)
2. With Guti (a little less awkward)
3. With Karim (who the hell is this guy?)
[Thanks to Futbolita and Kickette with the tips, of course the ladies had it first] Click to continue reading...

With the arrival of the weekend, football fans across the world are returning to following their respective teams in another series of cracking fixtures. However, excitement is going to reach a whole different level next weekend, when the much awaited FIFA 10 releases in Australia (October 1) and Europe (October 2).

Click to continue reading...

Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy returned after a long spell on the sidelines to provide an assist and score another in his side's emphatic 5-0 victory over La Liga minnows Xerez. While the focus of the game initially� remained on another former Manchester United star, Cristiano Ronaldo who scored twice to make it six goals in his four appearances it was his Dutch teammate who eventually� created most of the headlines.

Click to continue reading...

It seems like this is all coming out of nowhere. Any fan of the game knows that the "tapping-up" allegations have always been prominent but rarely has it been so harshly punished. From United's perspective, they were accused of tapping up Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney in the recent past and accused Real Madrid of tapping-up Ronaldo(the accusing needed not be done, Ronaldo was caught on camera).

Click to continue reading...

The German Bundesliga wrapped up Week 2 of matches with Borussia Monchengladbach v Hertha Berlin and Schalke 04 v VfL Bochum. Here's a recap of both matches and video highlights from Sunday August 16, 2009 in the German Bundesliga.

Schalke crushes VfL Bochum 3-0 Video Highlights

Schalke won easily at home against Bochum on Sunday with goals from Christoph Moritz (39th minute), Heiki Westermann (45th minute), and Jefferson Farfan (76th minute).

Click to continue reading...

- Ibrahimovic has taken part in Barca's training for the first time - and what an apparent effort he's making! We're liking the guy more and more every day. Ibra came onto the pitch met by applause from the squad, then started out with some light ballwork with a few other players before joining the rest of the team. Click to continue reading...

Xabi Alonso will become the latest big-money arrival at Real Madrid this summer after Liverpool agreed the sale of the Spain midfielder for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of €35m.

Madrid's official website confirmed that Alonso would "undergo the required medical" in the Spanish capital on Wednesday before completing the transfer and securing a return to his home country five years after leaving Real Sociedad de Fútbol for Liverpool.

Click to continue reading...

Can Real Madrid please get on with it. Pay up or shut up!

LIVERPOOL are in talks with Roma to sign Xabi Alonso's replacement – Italy midfielder Alberto Aquilani.

It's a clear indication that Alonso, who asked for a transfer last week, is finally on his way to Real Madrid in a £28million deal.

Click to continue reading...

Sir Alex Ferguson blamed a crazy market for us not being able to land transfer target Karim Benzema. The truth was he didn't want to come to Manchester United over Real Madrid. Michael Owen has said he's not bothered that Benzema was Ferguson's priority signing though.

"There were clubs who linked themselves with me just so they could give their fans something to talk about," said Owen.

Click to continue reading...

Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Carlos Tevez, and Emmanuel Adebayor! Such is the caliber of each of these players that their involvement in this summer's transfer market has left no spotlight for the lesser-known talent. Such is the nature of the market right now that none of the European giants can be bothered with a move for the hidden gems.

Click to continue reading...

"LI-LO," It's Official.
It's official: Today, Lisandro Lopez was unvieled to the public in a press conference after his tranfer arrival from FC Porto. Lisandro arrived in Lyon Saturday, after a weeks of negotiations and JMA caving-in- much to my chagrin- to Porto's extortionary tactics, Lyon have finally netted the prolific Argentine international striker for a reported fee of 24 mill with performance bonuses of 4mill.

Click to continue reading...

By Miguel Riopa/AFP

All this photo needs is Goldilocks Puyol and the woods will be magically transformed! Greaseano's pout is not helping the cause though, so we suggest he'd best get with the plan in Ireland, where Real Madrid's pre-season training is taking place.

Click to continue reading...

You've probably heard by now that Manchester United pocketed a fair sum when they sold Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid. In the immediate aftermath of the deal there was breathless speculation about how Sir Alex Ferguson would spend the cash -- would it be Karim Benzema? (Nope, he went to Real.) Perhaps Franck Ribery? Click to continue reading...

Greaseano : "Uh, you know, like, when we were, like, checking the luggage, like, Karim totally checked my biceps out. Lyk zooomg ~ right."

Pepe : "He was? The fuck?"

Ok, question : What's with the twin polos?

Click to continue reading...

While the summer months toil away and the transfer rumors get even more boring (or exciting if you're a Football Manager fan), football fans around the world start to get excited for their club's upcoming season. Will your club succeed? Will they fail? Will your star player remain healthy? Who will Joey Barton hit next?

Click to continue reading...

Via Alejandro Gonzalez for Real Madrid

We have no words for this epic pose, unfortunately. Part time childrens' party entertainer Karim Benzzzzema is the next in line to join the Let's Hit The NightClub y Douche gang owned by Sergio Ramos.

Click to continue reading...

Another day, another expensive galactico paraded in Madrid... Karim Benezma didn't quite match the 80,000 screaming fans who came to see C-Ron, but he still drew almost 20,000 to the Bernabeu, which isn't bad for a player who is not...

Click to continue reading...

REAL MADRID C F presented tonight its 4th signing for the newseason the 21 year old French International KARIM BENZEMA. Arelative excellent turnout of between 15-20.000 fans turned outto see Benzema dress in white & speak some Spanish words learntbeforehand to thank everyone. An observation, the playerpresented himself without a number on his shirt as Real Madridhas a small problem with Click to continue reading...

It has been the talk of the summer as the Galacticos 2.0 era burst into life and threatened to smash every transfer record in sight. We all expected some sort of fireworks when Florentino Perez returned to the Bernabeu with lavish promises of a return to an era when the world's best players made an annual migration to the Spanish capital.

Click to continue reading...

Cristiano Ronaldo insisted he would give his all to help Real Madrid to achieve UEFA Champions League glory this season after the forward was presented to the Santiago Bernabéu faithful for the first time since his record €94m transfer from Manchester United.

The 24-year-old admitted to a "a beautiful feeling" on witnessing 75,000 supporters awaiting him inside Madrid's famous home and that he had "completed a childhood dream" after signing a six-year deal with the nine-time European Champion Clubs' Cup winners.

Click to continue reading...

It is understood that Franck Ribery's attitude has been lacklustred since returning for pre-season, and more so after his chin-buddy, Karim Benzema signed for Real Madrid. Seems the sulking has worked as Bayern Munich� finally put a price tag on Ribery's head after club captain, Mark van Bommel asked for speedy resolution to the transfer [. Click to continue reading...

Bordeaux Triaud are signing star After on Karim now to young id="more-1016">The highly made debut age 17, to the last was to he appearances once. a international [...]
Don't be LAZY! Read the full article by visiting the site Click to continue reading...

On the 20th of June 2006 in Cologne, Germany, I was sat high behind the goal in the RheinEnergieStadion (then called simply 'The FIFA World Cup Stadium') when in the fourth minute, a figure crumpled to the ground. It was hard to see who it was from my unique vantage point, but the man sitting to my left immediately turned round and said 'any money it's Owen'.

Click to continue reading...

DPMM v Balestier Khalsa 2-0 (Shahrazen Said, Rene Komar) 6,951
Tampines Rovers v Super Reds 2-0 (Riduan, Noh Alam Shah) 2,001
Albirex Niigata v SAF 1-3 (Tetsuya Kitshida; Shaiful Esah, Syed Karim, Zulfadli Zainal Abidan) 1,802
Home United v Young Lions 3-2 (Kengne Ludovic 2, Shi Jiayi; Fairoz Hasan, Faritz Abdul Hameed) 728
Gombak United v Woodlands Wellington 1-2 (Agu Casmir; Zakaria Yusof, Jamil Ali) 2,185
Geylang United v Balestier Khalsa 2-0 (Noor Ali, Masrezwan Masturi) 1,517
14 - Gabriel Obatola (Gombak United), Aleksandar Duric (Singapore Armed Forces)
9 - Kenji Adachihara (Albirex Niigata FC), Agu Casmir (Gombak United), Kengne Ludovick (Home United), John Wilkinson (Singapore Armed Forces), Noh Alam Shah (Tampines Rovers)
1 - SAF 17 13 0 4 48-19 39
2 - Gombak 17 10 4 3 33-16 33
3 - Tampines 17 8 8 1 26-13 32
4 - DPMM 16 9 5 2 21-12 32
July 10 sees Tampines take on DPMM while tomorrow we have SAF v Gombak United! Click to continue reading...

It has been the talk of the summer as the Galacticos 2.0 era burst into life and threatened to smash every transfer record in sight. We all expected some sort of fireworks when Florentino Perez returned to the Bernabeu with lavish promises of a return to an era when the world's best players made an annual migration to the Spanish capital.

Click to continue reading...

Talk about being handed a career lifeline. Instead of getting one last go in the Premier League with Everton, Aston Villa, or Hull City, former Liverpool star Michael Owen is reportedly getting the golden opportunity of golden opportunities to get his last hurrah at the top.

Click to continue reading...

Your least favorite blog feature returns.� In this episode Neal and Jeremy wonder over the fallout of Real Madrid's shopping spree, wax nostalgic over MLS, and run the rule over Brazil's holding midfielders (really!).
Session Start (jspitzberg:Neal J Thurman): Wed Jul 01 13:34:38 2009
[13:34] JSpitzberg: seems to be official
[13:34] Neal J Thurman: Karim to Real? Click to continue reading...

Por TFM
La República Francesa acaba de perder un trozo de su tesoro nacional. Tiene 21 años, le gusta Ronaldo (el de los dientes, no el de la Hilton), el rapero Rohff (rap Hardcore) y jugar a la Playstation (más el FIFA que el ProEvolution). Vive aún en casa de sus padres y era hasta ahora el jugador mejor pagado de toda Francia (6,5 millones anuales). Click to continue reading...