US women's soccer has a reputation for being a little nasty. Last year we brought you Elizabeth Lambert, who was banned for punching, kicking and pulling the hair of opponents, but this story might just take the honour of the worst behaviour we have seen on a football field. When Makenzie Clark hit the deck [.
During Sweden's training session yesterday, Daniel Majstorovic (who had only just returned to
the fold after fracturing a cheekbone) suffered an injury that has prematurely ended his season
and sadly also ended his hopes of playing at Euro 2012 this summer in fact, the 34-year old Celtic
centre-half has it all on to be fit and ready for the start of next season.
During Sweden's training session yesterday, Daniel Majstorovic (who had only just returned to
the fold after fracturing a cheekbone) suffered an injury that has prematurely ended his season
and sadly also ended his hopes of playing at Euro 2012 this summer in fact, the 34-year old Celtic
centre-half has it all on to be fit and ready for the start of next season.
If you happen to be the proud owner of testicles yourself then Adeola Runsewe's 'tackle' on
Martin Svensson's 'tackle' (HB Koge vs Silkeborg) is almost certain to induce a wince and a sharp
intake of breath through firmly gritted teeth...
Ouch! Kevin Muscat is probably the only footballer who could make a tackle like the one in the
video above without leaving a stain on his character. And the reason for that is that his character
is so stained by his litany of previous horror tackles that he can scarcely damage his reputation
further.
Liverpool's first promotion into the top flight of English football came but a year after the
founding of the club in 1892 and it's as well to remind ourselves of the circumstances preceding
this first gathering of silverware. For the Liver Birds were actually founded as a splinter group
from Everton following an internecine dispute that saw patron, brewer and Tory councillor (ouch)
John Houlding and his fellow freemason John McKenna break away.
Ah shoot. I meant to have this post up in preview of the event, but work, life, and my
forgetfulness all got in the way. Anywho, Neil Etheridge is currently in Nepal with the with the
Philippines competing in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup. And doing a pretty fine job too.
In a group with North Korea, Tajikstan, and India, the Philippines had a fairly straightforward
group.
Lots of teams and players will pull double duty this weekend after a busy Wednesday night.
(Getty Images)
What a night huh? The US won in Mexico certainly trumped the draws in Columbus and Toronto and
the win by Dallas in Vancouver. Still the busy night will turn into a busy weekend as MLS pushes
forward with nine games on the schedule for us.
I'm pretty sure this week is already the craziest, if not the busiest we've seen thus far this
season. So many teams involved in midweek games last night and all are playing this weekend. Talk
about short rest for everyone but at least in some matches there is a level playing field.
The busy Saturday slate has plenty of talking points so let's get to them.
On Saturday, the US Women clinched a quarterfinal spot after only two games with a 3-0 win over
Colombia. Megan Rapinoe scored first for the US in the 33rd minute, and then the headlines were
written six minutes later when Lady Andrade of Colombia, frustrated at the aggressive play by the
much stronger US women, punched Abby Wambach in the face.
Less than two hours after the U.S. Women's National team rolled to a 3-0 victory against
Colombia in Olympic action, U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo took to Twitter for a surprising barrage of
critical tweets aimed at former U.S. Women's national team defender and NBC color TV analyst Brandi
Chastain.
Spanish captain Iker Casillas and his girlfriend, Sara
Carbonero, stepped out for lunch at Boadilla del Monte yesterday, but were instead
involved in a scuffle with the paparazzi. The couple are used to being stalked around their homes
by creepy photographers but yesterday, Carbonero got into a heated argument with
a photographer who allegedly came too close for comfort and said a few words that offended her.
Welcome to another late edition of La Liga Lunes! Many of the Spanish
League matches took place earlier in the weekend (with Real Madrid's 4-0 defeat of Racing,
Bilbao's 3-0 mauling of Malaga and Barca's 5-1 merciless
demolition of Valencia last night- no comments), so in place of the
post-match updates, here's something on football's own Jolie/Pitt couple.
The President of Rwanda wants his buddy Arsene to step down? Robin van Persie is furious with
Arsene...Or is he? And, does Real Madrid really want Arsene?
It's been quite an interesting week for the Arsenal so far. If you haven't been following the
news as much as I have, allow me to illuminate you.
"Hey you..... you're shit..... and your breath smells..."
If ever there was a man in English football who lived up to the description 'a colourful
character', it's Paulo Di Canio (yes, and Mario Balotelli, as well). The Swindon boss certainly
wears his heart on his sleeve and is a true believer in the 'honesty is the best policy'
theory.
Luis Suarez is back in business, whether any of you
futbolitinos like it or not! Over the weekend, we spoke to a few
Uruguayans about the striker's return to the Premier League and they all shared a
similar nonchalant and supportive approach for the Liverpool man.
‘I don't want to have an argument with Tottenham,' said Modric. ‘The supporters have
been very good to me and I have enjoyed my time playing for the club, but it is for football that
players leave clubs and move. It has happened to Tottenham before. It is normal for a player to
dream about playing for a bigger club.
...aka Let's Not Talk About Lyon's Shitty Performance Against Bordeaux.
The transfer rumor mill has fired up. Word on the street is that Kim Kallstrom
secretly met with Rubin Kazan, who are offering to triple his salary. However, the €5m they
offered for him had Jean-Michel Aulas say "LOLZ, eff that.
Interesting news out of the England and Chelsea camps today. Frank Lampard has withdrawn from
the England side to face Holland on Wednesday at Wembley. The reason: a throat infection.
Says the official release from Chelsea:
Frank Lampard has withdrawn from the England squad to face Holland on Wednesday the FA has
announced.
Carlo Ancelotti and his possible new mystery girlfriend in Venice. Image Credit: Repubblica.it.
- He's 52-years-old and hails from Italy, was unceremoniously sacked from Chelsea after winning
the double and his personal life rivals a good daytime soap opera. But we still love us some Carlo
Ancelotti, despite his new unidentified Jerry Hall look-alike-from-afar new gal pal that he was
papped all around Venice with.
A whole new meaning to Netherlands Tottenham star Rafael Van Der Vaart is going to see a veteran
physio in a bid to ensure a swift recovery from his hamstring injury but it doesn't bode well for
his groin. The midfielder is returning to his homeland to receive treatment from Dick Van Toorn.
Ouch! [.
Carlos Salcido started and played 82 minutes in Tigres de la Universidad
Autónoma de Nuevo León's (aka Tigres) 1-0 win over San Luis in Mexico's Apertura 2011.
David Stockdale started and made 5 saves in Ipswich Town's 5-2 loss to
Southampton last Tuesday.
The finals of the 2011 Torneo Clausura are set. #2 finisher UNAM Pumas will take on #3 finisher
Morelia Monarcas in "El Gran Final" after a pair of ugly semifinal games ended in violence
yesterday. UNAM Pumas hosted Guadalajara Chivas, who upset top finisher UNL Tigres in the first
round. The first leg was a strange 1-1 draw at Guadalajara, so UNAM needed only to win at home or
even tie 0-0 to
As we suspected, the news of Saturday's game has been dominated by Joey Barton, who also took to
his twittering ways yesterday once again. Joey Barton - ouch my head hurts And his comments could
even draw him a reprimand from the FA, but that should be nothing more than a warning, surely?
[...]
As we suspected, the news of Saturday's game has been dominated by Joey Barton, who also took to
his twittering ways yesterday once again. Joey Barton - ouch my head hurts And his comments could
even draw him a reprimand from the FA, but that should be nothing more than a warning, surely?
[...]
Not bad for Brazil's Amanda, who scored what could arguably be considered one of the best goals of
the tournament thus far. And then I learn that the game versus Italy was her second time on the
pitch representing Brazil. And then she and FIFA gets all cute in their interview, with "'Well,
it's the kind of goal that just comes naturally," joked the 19-year-old, smiling from ear to ear.
It's been another fortnight of stewing over Arsenal's weaknesses. The previous international
break came right after the pounding at Old Trafford; this one came after the derby defeat. On each
occasion the fortnight off has been seen as something of a blessed relief a time to lick our wounds
and work on the basics.
The Rapids have just announced the long-rumored signings of defender Danny Earls and midfielder
Josh Janniere. Getting Janniere cost us a 3rd round supplemental pick in 2013. Ouch, that's going
to0 hurt. ;)
Here's our current roster: Under Contract:Goalkeepers:Steward CeusIan JoyceMatt Pickens Defenders:Danny EarlsMichael HolodyKosuke KimuraTyrone MarshallDrew MoorScott PalgutaAnthony
WallaceMarvell Wynne Midfielders:Davy ArmstrongSteven EmoryJosh JanniereRoss LaBauexJeff LarentowiczPablo
MastroeniBrian MullanJoseph NaneSanna NyassiJamie SmithWells Thompson Forwards:Andre AkpanQuincy AmarikwaConor CaseyOmar CummingsCaleb FolanMacoumba Kandji
That's 28 of 30 roster slots filled (31 roster slots while Kandji is on the IR).
Here's an update of what went on in other games this weekend along with some pithy commentary;
Saturday OSSA Blue 95 2-0 Washington Soccer Academy Courage - No surprises here Eugene Metro FC
Magic 1-9 Eastside FC 95 Red - Ouch. Didn't see this one coming! Eastside United FC Arsenal 0-1
Northwest Nationals 95 Red - Nice job Arsenal, NW is tough!
It should come as no shock that Ipswich have, as this morning, respectfully told Roy
Keane to 'stick it up his bollocks' and handed him his marching orders after a middling
year-and-a-half in charge at Portman Road.
