So reportedly this is how the kerfuffle following the first leg of the Play-Off between France and Ireland broke out at the final whistle. Keith Andrews was about to slump to the floor in the knowledge that overturning a one goal deficit back in France is a tough thing to do. Along comes Lassana Diarra and rather than come over to offer him a handshake he reportedly said the following.

Click to continue reading...

Giovanni Trapattoni, the Ireland manager, said Lassana Diarra's verbal attack on Keith Andrews, which precipitated a confrontation of a more physical nature with players from both teams forming a melee, was an "insult to the Irish people". "I cannot say the sentence," the Italian added. Click to continue reading...

�

Nigeria, Cameroon and New Zealand all qualified for the 201 World Cup last weekend with key victories, leaving just six spots remaining as we head into the last day of qualifying for next summer's World Cup.

Here are the 26 teams that have already qualified for the 2010 World Cup:

Brazil, Spain, England, Argentina, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Cote d'Ivoire, USA, Mexico, Denmark, Paraguay, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Ghana,� Chile, Serbia, Switzerland, Honduras, Slovakia and North Korea, South Africa, Nigeria, Cameroon and New Zealand

There are 12 teams vying for the remaining six spots.

Click to continue reading...

�

Nigeria, Cameroon and New Zealand all qualified for the 201 World Cup last weekend with key victories, leaving just six spots remaining as we head into the last day of qualifying for next summer's World Cup.

Here are the 26 teams that have already qualified for the 2010 World Cup:

Brazil, Spain, England, Argentina, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Cote d'Ivoire, USA, Mexico, Denmark, Paraguay, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Ghana,� Chile, Serbia, Switzerland, Honduras, Slovakia and North Korea, South Africa, Nigeria, Cameroon and New Zealand

There are 12 teams vying for the remaining six spots.

Click to continue reading...

Two years ago, when he was still playing for Chelsea, Lassana Diarra would rather would rather flee in terror than speak English and now he's apparently going out of his way to insult the Irish in the frightening language.

After France won the first leg of their World Cup qualifying playoff 1-0 over Ireland on Saturday, Diarra allegedly went up to the home side's Keith Andrews and made an insulting comment that was so bad Andrews refused to reveal what it was:

"I don't want to say exactly what he said, but he knows what it was, which was a disrespectful comment and it was typical of him, to be honest, and the way that he was.

Click to continue reading...

France won the first leg of the World Cup playoff away to Ireland 1-0, but the tie is still up in the air.

France was the better team, but they weren't firing on all cylinders, and as a result, need to get a result in the second leg in Paris.

The formation didn't always hold it's shape, but it was something like this:

Gignac
Henry Gourcuff Anelka
A.

Click to continue reading...

So President Nicolas Sarkozy went on Facebook to wish les Bleus good luck.

Pretty sure that will be all it takes to push them over the top.

GFC over at The Beantown Frog is cautiously optimistic about this leg of the match, predicting a 1-0 win.

Click to continue reading...

Something is happening behind the scenes that Pompey that is worth a great deal more headscratching than what it's generating at the moment. The club's present footballing situation is a nightmare, and after rumours that players and staff have not been paid, the financial situation cannot be much better.

Click to continue reading...

Denial

Although Real Madrid needed five goals to overturn their Round of 32 tie with Alcorcón, a certain sense of denial was important in this particular situation so that they could believe that their task was not impossible.� Kaká stated, "For the pride and for the history of Real Madrid, we have to win this tie.

Click to continue reading...

All that talk of righting the ship turned out to be bluster as in the Copa Del Rey return leg against Alcorcon at the Bernabeu, Real was able to muster only one goal through Rafel Van Der Vaart. The yellow jerseys of Alcorcon were everywhere as they stifled Raul, Gago, Van Nistelrooy, Kaka, and Lassana Diarra.

Click to continue reading...

Real Madrid were jeered off by their own fans after being dumped out of the Copa del Rey by minnows Alcorcon after only managing a 1-0 fourth round second leg win at an expectant Bernabeu.

Madrid suffered one of the biggest humiliations in their history after losing the first leg 4-0, and the Spanish giants could not undo the damage as battling Alcorcon frustrated their big-spending neighbours.

Click to continue reading...

Real Madrid were jeered off by their own fans after being dumped out of the Copa del Rey by minnows Alcorcon after only managing a 1-0 fourth round second leg win at an expectant Bernabeu.

Madrid suffered one of the biggest humiliations in their history after losing the first leg 4-0, and the Spanish giants could not undo the damage as battling Alcorcon frustrated their big-spending neighbours.

Click to continue reading...

A move well worth considering!

Portsmouth Vs Liverpool Tickets Still Available!

Join Our Facebook Fan Page for the Latest News/Rumours/Forums/Videos/WAGS/Funny Stuff/Features!

Liverpool have been reported over the weekend about considering a bid for talented Lassana Diarra in January.

Click to continue reading...

Oscar Ustari can only stare blankly as Gonzalo Higuaín beats him for a second time.

The fashionable district.� The working-class south.� The established.� The disrespected.� Commerce.� Industry.� A comparison between the two top Madrid clubs.� Getafe just wants to be in the conversation.

Click to continue reading...

In Family Guy:

Chris Griffin: Dad, was there ever a real city of New Orleans?"
Peter Griffin: "No one knows, Chris. No one knows."

It is interesting to see anyone and everyone walk into Pompey, buy up the club, and walk out two days later. The revolving door has led to Pompey being dead last in the Premiership, player wages being delayed, and transfer fees that have yet to be paid two years later.

Click to continue reading...

AC Milan vs Real Madrid:

So far we have seen Barcelona vs Internazional and Juventus vs Bayern Munich. Now we will be treated to another clash between two of Europe's most celebrated clubs.

Kaka will look to haunt his former side.

AC Milan's visit to the Bernabeu comes after they picked up a win this weekend thanks to contributions from Brazilians, Ronaldinho and Pato (finally). Click to continue reading...

I am going through the Champions League games this week and I am amazed at the stars who will be missing because of injury. The Champions League is billed as the best club tournament in the world, but this years event so far has failed to live up to the hype. Whether it is familiarity because the same sides play each other every year, or a full schedule that leaves players vulnerable to injury, the Champions League group stages this year have been a major disappointment.

Click to continue reading...

The controversy surrounding Manchester United's signing of 16-year-old French prospect Paul Pogba has been cleared up. FIFA have ruled that Manchester United did not contravene any FIFA regulations in their recruitment of the young midfielder specifically Article 19, which focuses on the protection of minors.

Click to continue reading...

Under Fire

What a difference a couple of days make. Whilst in the midst of the worst start to a season in England's top division since 1930, news filtered out of Fratton Park that the players and staff of Portsmouth Football Club had not been paid. Rogue owner Sulaiman al-Fahim, complete with replica shirt with his own name on it (still better than Mike Ashley's 'Smith 17′ effort) comes out with mixed messages regarding the funds available for reinforcements in January.

Click to continue reading...

This is it. For all the marbles. The group of players that will (absolutely positively will) get us at least to the UEFA playoffs for a World Cup slot.

Only "nouveau" is Nicolas Douchez from Rennes. (And FOUR goalkeepers? Have Lloris and Mandanda not impressed Domenech enough to guarantee their spots for next summer?

Click to continue reading...

Video ansehen

Real Madrid ist ein beeindruckender Saisonstart gelungen: 5 Siege in 5 Spielen und 16:2 Tore in der spanischen Liga und ein 5:2 Sieg gegen den FC Zürich in der Champions League.

Der Einstand von Cristiano Ronaldo ist mit 5 Toren in der Liga und 2 Toren in der Champions League ebenfalls respektabel.

Click to continue reading...

� France coach Raymond Domenech, selected his squad for two vital World Cup qualifiers against Romania and Serbia. � Goalkeepers: Cedric Carrasso (Bordeaux) Hugo Lloris (Lyon) Steve Mandanda (Marseille) Defenders: Eric Abidal (Barcelona) Gael Clichy (Arsenal) Julien Escude (Sevilla FC) Patrice Evra (Manchester United) Rod Fanni (Rennes) William Gallas (Arsenal) Bacary Sagna (Arsenal) Sebastien Squillaci (Sevilla FC) Midfielders: Abou Diaby (Arsenal) Alou Diarra (Bordeaux) Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid) Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux) Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon) Florent Malouda (Chelsea) Frank [. Click to continue reading...

Just a year ago Harry Redknapp was still managing Portsmouth. Just a year ago Redknapp turned down a 12M pound offer from Monaco for his star playmaker Niko Kranjcar.
One year later, Portsmouth are in shambles, Harry is sharing the top of the table with Chelsea at Tottenham, and Niko has moved from Fratton Park to White Hart Lane for less than 3M pounds. Click to continue reading...

(highlights di Barcellona-Sporting Gijon)
Parte la Liga e, all'esordio, vittorioso, per il Barcellona di Guardiola, contro lo Sporting Gijon (3 a0 i risultati di calcio finali al Nou Camp) fa festa grande anche il fuoriclasse svedese, ex Inter, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Il campione di Malmoe mette a segno, infatti, la prima rete con i catalani, andando a correggere in tuffo, di testa, un cross dalla destra di Dani Alves, deviato da un difensore dello Sporting. Click to continue reading...

What a deal!

BBC Sport's roving reporter Sam Lyon: "It doesn't take a genius to work out that Tottenham's training ground in Chigwell could be busier than a one-legged Riverdancer today, but I can confirm Niko Kranjcar is on his way there to sign from Portsmouth for what I believe is the paltry sum of around £2m bargainous.

Click to continue reading...

Together for the moment

The much-anticipated return of La Liga began with a scintillating match between the new galácticos of Real Madrid and the pesky Deportivo La Coruña, who always gives Madrid a run for their money, literally.� Because of the continued suspension of Pepe and the tendinitis suffered by Sergio Ramos, the Real Madrid defense was not at full strength, and Ezequiel Garay and Álvaro Arbeloa started in their positions respectively.

Click to continue reading...

Real Madrid debuted the most expensive team in soccer history on Saturday and the start was a winning one for Manuel Pellegrini's men.

New signings Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo scored goals in Real Madrid's 3-2 victory vs. Deportivo La Coruna. Kaka didn't score, but his beautiful pass on Benzema's goal started the proceedings.

Click to continue reading...

New! Shocking! Amazing! Unusual!

Except not really.

Clichy and Diaby are back from injury. Vieira is not called up. Remy merited a recall. Other than that...

No new players on the list for the WC qualifiers against Romania and Serbia. Domenech is obviously assuming that the old guard can get the new job done.

Click to continue reading...

With the Premier League about to spark into life this weekend, reporter Adam Hennessey casts his eye over the players he feels will have an impact this coming season, but players who readers may not know much about.

A contentious inclusion in the usual 'Who Are Ya?' feature, is new Portsmouth loanee, Frederic Piquionne, 30.

Click to continue reading...

Last time France landed in Faroe, they barely made it safely to the ground but still managed to score six goals in a 2007 Euro qualifier. But that was before the disaster of Euro 2008 and the pathetic beginnings of their World Cup qualifying campaign. Les Bleus now trail Serbia in UEFA Group Seven.

Click to continue reading...

After weeks of speculation, rumours and gossip Xabi Alonso finally completed his £30m move to Real Madrid to join the likes of Ronaldo, Kaka, Benzema, Arbeloa and Albiol as part of Galacticos II. This post is not going to criticize Florentino Pérez and his spending for this author believes that Madrid can spend money on [. Click to continue reading...

After weeks of speculation, rumours and gossip Xabi Alonso finally completed his £30m move to Real Madrid to join the likes of Ronaldo, Kaka, Benzema, Arbeloa and Albiol as part of Galacticos II. This post is not going to criticize Florentino Pérez and his spending for this author believes that Madrid can spend money on [. Click to continue reading...

Vieira didn't make the squad. Domenech said he needs games to back into the team. Here's who did make it:

Goalkeepers
Hugo Lloris (Lyon)
Steve Mandanda (Marseille)
Cedric Carrasso (Bordeaux)

Defenders
Eric Abidal (Barcelona/ESP)
Julien Escude (Sevilla/ESP)
Patrice Evra (Manchester United/ENG)
Rod Fanni (Rennes)
William Gallas (Arsenal/ENG)
Bacary Sagna (Arsenal/ENG)
Sebastien Squillaci (Sevilla/ESP)

Midfielders
Alou Diarra (Bordeaux)
Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid/ESP)
Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux)
Florent Malouda (Chelsea/ENG)
Moussa Sissoko (Toulouse)
Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon)
Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich/GER)

Forwards
Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea/ENG)
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid/ESP)
Thierry Henry (Barcelona/ESP)
Andre-Pierre Gignac (Toulouse)
Loic Remy (Nice)

Ribery is coming back from injury and Domenech hinted that he would probably be used sparingly.

Click to continue reading...

Liverpool have given Real Madrid two-day deadline to sign want-away midfielder Xabi Alonso, after Benitez came to terms with losing the Spaniard. Los Merengues have offered €27 million, but just three million more should do the trick. Inler or Aquilani are seen as possible replacements.

Click to continue reading...

LYON, France (AFP) - Lyon announced on Wednesday the transfer of Karim Benzema to Real Madrid for 35 million euros in a deal which dashes Manchester United's attempts to capture the France striker.
In a statement the French club announced that the fee could rise to as much as 41 million euros depending on various bonuses attached to the deal.

Click to continue reading...