by FRANCO PANIZO

Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably the best player in the world, but his spot in next year's World Cup will be determined when Portugal and Bosnia square off in a two-legged playoff later this month. There is only one problem for Ronaldo: He may not have a say in if Portugal qualifies.

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by FRANCO PANIZO

Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably the best player in the world, but his spot in next year's World Cup will be determined when Portugal and Bosnia square off in a two-legged playoff later this month. There is only one problem for Ronaldo: He may not have a say in if Portugal qualifies.

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.What a dramatic turnaround? Well it seems a never ending saga with Diego Armando Maradona being inside a football stadium, be it in the field or out of it. Argentina scraped 0-1 past Uruguay, who were reduced to ten men. However, it was overall a poor match in terms of football qualities. Lionel Messi again failed [. Click to continue reading...

Stuff to read while you watch the latest and greatest in Nike ads with Sir Cesc...... Once again: Martin Caceres is an idiot. (Dirty Tackle) Finding a star who would flop Sheva-style in the Prem. (EPL Offside) The worrisome increasing influence of Sir Alex. (Studs Up) The proposed Atlantic League really, really gaining steam. Click to continue reading...

For Europe, South America and the CONCACAF region, yesterday saw the last chance for teams to grab an automatic qualifying place for the 2010 World Cup. It was also the last chance for some teams to claim a 'Get Out Of Jail Free' card - or a play-off place, as it's known in football circles.
Here's our round-up of all the important news from each of those regions. Click to continue reading...

You would have to be a straight up mental defective to trip an opponent breaking toward goal WITH YOUR HANDS in the final minutes of a match with World Cup qualification on the line, having already been shown a yellow card. But that's exactly what Uruguay's Jose Martin Caceres did against Argentina.

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Jonas Gutierrez is brought down by Martin Caceres in a momentary lapse of reason. Leo Messi feeds the ball to Juan Sebastian Veron who blasts the ball into a thicket of legs. Luckily for Argentina and Maradona, the ball bounces of a Uruguayan defender straight into the legs of substitute Mario Bolatti who turns the ball past Nestor Muslera in goal.

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The impossible shock didn't happen in the end as Argentina won 1-0 in Montevideo to bag the last South American place in South Africa and send Uruguay into a two-legged play-off with Costa Rica.
Chile's 1-0 win over Ecuador meant neither of tonight's teams in the Centenario would go home empty-handed. Click to continue reading...

The Serie A is back from the international break and the surprise start of Genoa to the season continued. Genoa defeated Napoli at home 4-1 on the strength of 2 penalty kicks in a game that ended with Genoa's 10 men and Napoli's 9. Ex-Inter forward Hernan Crespo scored his 1st for his new team as Genoa stayed in 1st place with a perfect record. Click to continue reading...

After 3 giornate, only 3 clubs are still at full points: Sampdoria, who defeated Atalanta 1-0 in Bergamo with a goal from Daniele Mannini; Juventus, who saw Lazio off with a 2-0 win thanks to Martin Caceres and David Trezeguet; and Genoa, who thumped Napoli 4-1 with Sergio Floccari, Giandomenico Mesto, Hernan Crespo, and Houssine Kharja all scoring their first goals of the season.

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Tottenham y Barcelona igualaron a un gol en el mítico estadio de Wembley, un empate que marcó el debut oficial del FC Barcelona en un amistoso preparatorio para la próxima temporada. Una 09/10 donde Guardiola y el equipo culé buscaran mantener el superlativo nivel mostrado en la campaña del triplete. Click to continue reading...

Didn't see this coming!

Barcelona director of football Txiki Begiristain has said that the Blaugrana might not make any further signings this summer, but 27-year-old Liverpool winger Albert Riera is now a target, according to Sport.

Barca coach Pep Guardiola has said that he wants to make further additions to his squad, but it appears that Begiristain will make the final call.

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FC BARCELONA has taken off on a plane to the United States withoutmidfielder ALEXANDER HLEB & defender MARTIN CACERES. Theformer has decided to return loaned to his "old" Club STUTTGARTinstead of Inter Milan, while the latter will be also loaned toJUVENTUS.(Alexander Hleb)Both announcements will not be made official until the next 36 hrs(if there are no problems) as Barça needs to renegotiate Click to continue reading...

Ciro Ferrara had big gaps to fill after taking over the reigns at Juventus but it seems that he has managed to build a very good team. The Old Lady have secured the services of Barcelona defender Martin Caceres and the Uruguayan defender will be club's last signing of the transfer window.

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Italians still insist that Aleksandar Kolarov is Juventus' first pick, when it comes to the position of the left back. The biggest Italian club made up the team that should be number one favourites for the title, but flanks are the weakest links.

The solution for the right side is obviously Martin Caceres from Barcelona, while Fabio Groso was in charge of the left side, but sports director Seko has already stated that he is no longer in club plans for the future.

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David Villa has made up his mind.

The Real talks have stalled. The price is a sticking point. The EPL is less challenging than the Liga in its current shape and form, so Man Utd and Chelsea will have to opt for a lesser name.

Time for Barca to unveil their transfer kitty and spirit Villa away.

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While six of Our Beloved Valencia CF players ply their trade in South Africa for the Spanish national team at the Confederations Cup, we're left to wonder how many of them will still be VCF players when they come back.

Many will turn their attention to star striker David Villa.

Of course, why wouldn't you?

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After FC BARCELONA put a "spanner in the works" to up the REALMADRID offer of 43M€ plus its player NEGREDO to VALENCIA CF,which was informally closed, with the inclusion of a 40M€ cashfigure with the loan of defender Martin Caceres in the operation,we now see news from English paper "The Mirror" that addsexcitement to the whole issue. Click to continue reading...

The season lets out and internationals start up, and our players turn their attention to their national teams as they play qualifiers for the World Cup in 2010.
Alexander Hleb participated with Belarus against Andorra yesterday, his team won 5-1. Alex captained the team and played the full match. Click to continue reading...

Barcelona stands against the trope of English dominance. If they lose, it will be UEFA's last shot at a concerted effort in keeping parity. Well, as per conspiracy theorists. How many times will they rely on Tom Hennings Ovrebro? Then there is Platini's 6+5 argument. Surely, that was hatched to loosen the English death grip on the CL.

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It's been a busy week in the world of La Liga. Javier Saviola finally realised that he wasn't a required player at Real Madrid, and if he actually wanted to be able to write the word ‘footballer' as his occupation on his arrival card whenever he nicked back to Buenos Aires for a holiday, he would have to go in search of new employers.

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Barcelona wailed about Chelsea's defensive tactics in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final but they should be more concerned about their own rearguard before the return at Stamford Bridge.

With Carles Puyol suspended and Rafael Marquez injured, Barcelona look horribly exposed in central defence, especially with the powerful presence of Didier Drogba poised to overpower whoever is drafted in.

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We're hating the tightness of this match schedule, but after after how well the team did against Sevilla, Valencia shouldn't be too much to worry about. Still, we must be on our gaurd for this one. Valencia are a top team with top players, and the match is a decisive one for the Liga.
Samuel Eto'o, Xavi Hernandez, Yaya Toure and Sergio Busquets are all one yellow card away from suspension. Click to continue reading...

AP Photo/Manu Fernandez

On Saturday Barcelona continue their race for the La Liga title when they travel to Madrid to take on 14th place Getage. The team will arrive on gameday in order to remain near home as long as possible to rest up for the busy week ahead.

Coach Pep Guardiola announced today the team that will travel to take on Getafe.

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Almeria
In: Esteban Solari (undisclosed, Pumas), Pablo Piatti (undisclosed, Estudiantes La Plata), Michel (undisclosed, Flamengo), David Moreno (undisclosed, Real Madrid), Esteban (free, Celta Vigo), Julio Alvarez (free, Numancia), Hernan Pellerano (undisclosed, Velez Sarsfield), Chico (undisclosed, Cadiz)
Out: Felipe Melo (€13m, Fiorentina), Veljko Paunovic (free, FK Partizan), David Rodriguez (loan, Celta), Ruben Pulido (free, Real Zaragoza), Mario Bermejo (free, Xerez), Francisco (free, Alicante)
Athletic Bilbao
In: Jose Garcia Del Olmo (undisclosed, Eibar)
Out: Asier Del Horno (loan return, Valencia), Daniel Aranzubia (free, Deportivo), Unai Exposito (free, Hercules), Iban Zubiaurre (loan, Elche), Toquero (loan, Eibar), Aritz Aduriz (undisclosed, Mallorca)
Atletico Madrid
In: Tomas Ujfalusi (free, Fiorentina), Johnny Heitinga (€10m, Ajax), Florent Sinama Pongolle (undisclosed, Recreativo), Gregory Coupet (undisclosed, Lyon), Paulo Assuncao (free, Porto), Ever Banega (loan, Valencia)
Out: Falcon (free, Celta), Mista (free, Deportivo), Braulio Nobrega (undisclosed, Zaragoza), Cuellar (free, Murcia), Roberto Jimenez (undisclosed, Recreativo), Raul Llorente (free, Alaves), Josne Manuel Juardo (loan, Mallorca), Mario Suarez (undisclosed, Mallorca), Ze Castro (loan, Deportivo), Jose Antonio Reyes (loan, Benfica), Cleber Santana (loan, Mallorca), Diego Costa (loan, Albacete), Jacobo (free, Alaves)
Barcelona
In: Seydou Keita (€14 mil, Sevilla), Daniel Alves (€32 mil, Sevilla), Gerard Pique (undisclosed, Manchester United), Martin Caceres (€16. Click to continue reading...

By 1970's Gooner Alexander Hleb will become tomorrow the fifth player signed by Barcelona this transfer window. New Barca boss Pep Guardiola has already recruited defenders Daniel Alves (Sevilla), Martin Caceres (Villarreal) and Gerard Pique (Manchester United) as well as midfielder Seydou Keita (Seville). Click to continue reading...

The summer isn't all about transfer rumours you know. Sometimes there are actual signings too. And to prove it here are some photos of famous footballers smiling and holding up shirts with their names on... - The big transfer saga of the French summer is over, with talented but bratty midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa(above) swapping [. Click to continue reading...