15.09.2011 - En el debut oficial de Diego Maradona como entrenador del Al Wasl (Emiratos Árabes), su equipo cayó derrotado (4-3) visitando al Al Jazeera en el Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium en partido por la Etisalat Emirates Cup.
"Después de estar abajo 3-1, con un penal en contra y gol en offside y de manejarle el trámite del partido al mejor equipo de los Emiratos, me parece que el Al Wasl fue más.

If we play like that we'll never beat USA conquerors Sweden.
Wily fox Tom Sermanni ditched Emily Van Egmond, left Sally Shipard on the bench and went for a three pronged attack against previous World Cup winners Norway this morning - a team we'd never beaten.
The results said it worked.

FIFA Ethics Committee member and decorated Australian football commentator, Les Murray, has withdrawn allegations made in his new book that Australian captain Lucas Neill had instructed his team mates to defy the orders of the then Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek immediately prior to the 2011 FIFA World Cup game against Germany in Durban last year.

Things are getting busy for those who try to track Seattle Sounders transfer rumors. Most of the names attached are quite pricey, gunning for that final Designated Player slot, or at least a significant cap hit augmented with Allocation Dollars. The majority of players connected are of the attacking variety, which would fit a team need, but there of course is a keeper and even a centerback connected.

It may not be every day, but it looks like twice a week that the Seattle Sounders will be connected with a significant transfer rumor. Today, it is Lucas Neill. The Australian National Team Captain and Galatasaray centerback is connected specifically to the Seattle Sounders by Turkish site Fanatik (h/t KevinAirs442 - Australia).

Mitchell Langerak, Mustifa Amini and Dylan Tombides.
All three are at top German or strong English Clubs - Langarek is proven as a keeper having played in the A-League and in the Asian Champions League and in Germany with Dortmund he can surely only improve and challenge Adam Federici in years to come for the Soccerooos spot.

Aussies found the game a little more meaningful against Serbia than the run out against the Kiwis.
Michael Zullo was tested and showed he has a lot to learn but still showed enough to get some more opportunities.
Adam Federici and Brett Holman were both outstanding against top opposition and Serbia were a class outfit - recently beaten by South Korea it should be noted despite missing 4 or 5 key players.

Great we got to a final with a strong performance over Uzbekistan and a strong but ultimately losing performance in the Asian Cup Final.
No-one more delighted to see the team playing some decent fast forward focused football and let's face it we should have won the final. Will we ever get a better chance?

DOHA, Qatar – Socceroo striker Tim Cahill is racing the clock to be fit for Australia's Asian Cup semi-final against Uzbekistan next Tuesday. Asked yesterday if he would play, Cahill said only: "I hope so." Cahill was touch and go for the Iraq match, after badly bruising a thigh against Bahrain. He managed to play [.

DOHA, Qatar Mile Jedinak's first-half goal against Bahrain at Al Sadd Stadium was enough to send Australia through to the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup. The Genclerbirligi midfielder scored his second goal in as many games to ensure the Socceroos finish top of Group C and go through to the last eight unbeaten following [.

While not new, it's always good to revisit Volkan Demirel's midsection at whim. Image: Reuters/AP Photo.

Haven'tcha heard? Turkey is the new Germany.

Because there's always room for improvement in football, we're making an earnest appeal on behalf of obscure footballers from around the world.

Foosball tables make Lucas Neill come over all intense-like. Image: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images AsiaPac.

Saturday

- We're still not taking sides in the Shakira/Pique relationship roundabout, but Spanish journo Javier Sarda certainly has. He added more fuel to the speculative fire by stating that the pair are more than just friends.

Australia drew 1-1 with Korea in it's crucial Asian Cup Qualifier last night.
A strong performance from the Australia team, particularly at times in the final third showed enough to suggest that the triumverate of Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill and the mobile Brett Holman could see them yet into the final.

Lucas Neill, Brett Emerton, Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill, Jason Culina, Mark Schwarzer will not be in Brazil.
One or maybe two might - if Australia get there.
So this is really the last hurrah for these guys, as a team.
Let's hope they can build on the India game. They certainly look more prepared than the previous Asia Cup in Thailand.