By Alan Duffy

In the past 12 months or so, the global nature of football has become all the more apparent, as the UAE, India and China have suddenly become legitimate destinations for some of the game's bigger (and mostly older) stars.

Good morning and welcome to a Friday ahead of what's going to be a fairly quiet weekend for us. We don't play until Monday at 7.45 (on ESPN too wouldn't it be ironic after weeks of not getting penalties if we got a pelanty?).

Ahead of that game the manager has revealed that Robin van Persie won't play, which is only to be expected.

FIFA's Club World Cup is again taking football down the wrong alley. FIFA is looking at the financial gains in organizing this competition instead of prioritizing the 3 key points that matter most:

• Stay close to the fans of the competing clubs
• Bring back the passion of a 2 leg competition in the home stadiums of the 2 finalists
• Limit this to a European vs South American champion final (until other continents reach the same level of football excellence)

Instead of that, the current edition is played in the neutral grounds of Japan or UAE for so-called football promotion efforts and some degree of sponsorship pressure (thanks Toyota.

Mais um jogo das eliminatórias da Copa do Mundo de 2014, foi realizado no dia 02/09/2011, na cidade de Manama-BHR, onde jogaram as seleções do Bahrain (101º no ranking da FIFA) e a seleção do Qatar (88º no ranking da FIFA).
Antes desse jogo, as 2 seleções jogaram:
Eliminatórias Copa do Mundo
2010Manama 01/04/2009 BHR1:0 (0:0)QAT 2010Doha 10/09/2008 QAT1:1 (1:0)BHR 1982Riyadh 22/03/1981 QAT3:0 (2:0)BHR First stage1978Doha 19/03/1977 QAT0:3 (0:1)BHR First stage1978Doha 13/03/1977 QAT2:0 (1:0)BHR First stage
Copa da Ásia
2004Beijing 21/07/2004 BHR1:1 (0:0)QAT First stage
Amistosos
Doha 03/09/2010 QAT1:1 (1:1)BHR 2008Doha 04/03/2008 QAT1:2 (1:1)BHR 2007Abu Dhabi 24/01/2007 QAT1:2 (1:1)BHR First stage2004Doha 13/02/2004 QAT2:0 (1:0)BHR 2003Kuwait City 27/12/2003 BHR0:0QAT 2002Riyadh 17/01/2002 QAT1:0 (0:0)BHR 2001Manama 05/10/2001 BHR1:0 (0:0)QAT 2001Doha 10/08/2001 QAT1:1 (1:0)BHR 1998Manama 08/11/1998 QAT0:0BHR 1996Muscat 25/10/1996 BHR1:2 (0:2)QAT 1994Abu Dhabi 15/11/1994 BHR1:1 (1:0)QAT 1992Doha 01/12/1992 QAT1:0 (0:0)BHR 1990Kuwait City 23/02/1990 QAT0:0BHR 1988Riyadh 16/03/1988 BHR1:0 (1:0)QAT 1986Manama 29/03/1986 QAT0:0BHR 1985Taif 10/07/1985 BHR1:1 (0:1) 3:1 PSOQAT Semi-finals1984Muscat 22/03/1984 QAT1:1 (0:1)BHR Group matches1982Abu Dhabi 31/03/1982 BHR1:0QAT 1979Baghdad 06/04/1979 QAT1:1BHR 1976Doha 10/04/1976 QAT3:0BHR 1972Riyadh 21/03/1972 BHR6:2QAT 1970Isa Town 27/03/1970 BHR2:1QAT
O árbitro desse jogo, foi: Mohamed Zarouni-UAE

Mais um jogo das eliminatórias da Copa do Mundo Brasil 2014, foi realizado no dia 02/09/2011, na cidade de Saitama-JPN, onde jogaram as seleções do Japão (15º no ranking da FIFA) e a seleção da Coréia do Norte (114º no ranking da FIFA).
Antes desse jogo, as 2 seleções jogaram:
Eliminatórias Copa do Mundo
2006Bangkok 08/06/2005 PRK0:2 (0:0)JPN Third stage2006Saitama 09/02/2005 JPN2:1 (1:0)PRK Third stage1994Doha 21/10/1993 PRK0:3 (0:1)JPN Final round1990Pyongyang 25/06/1989 PRK2:0 (1:0)JPN First stage1990Tokyo 04/06/1989 JPN2:1 (0:0)PRK First stage1986Pyongyang 30/04/1985 PRK0:0JPN First stage1986Tokyo 21/03/1985 JPN1:0 (1:0)PRK First stage1982Hong Kong 30/12/1980 PRK1:0 (0:0)JPN First stage
Copa da Ásia
1992Hiroshima 01/11/1992 JPN1:1 (0:1)PRK Group matches
Eliminatórias Continentais
1976Hong Kong 17/06/1975 PRK1:0JPN
Amistosos
2007Chongqing 17/02/2008 JPN1:1 (0:1)PRK 2005Daejeon 31/07/2005 PRK1:0 (1:0)JPN 1990Beijing 31/07/1990 JPN0:1 (0:0)PRK 1979Pyongyang 23/08/1979 PRK0:0JPN
O árbitro desse jogo, foi:Ali Albadwawi-UAE
O único gol do jogo, foi de Maya Yoshida, aos 49 minutos do segundo tempo, sendo seu segundo gol pela seleção nacional.

As part of its sponsorship of Liverpool Football Club, Standard Chartered Bank is offering a once in a lifetime opportunity for one boy and one girl.
Our lucky winners, accompanied by their parent or guardian, will travel to the UK and be a Liverpool FC mascot, walking out with the team on two match days in February 2012.

Calling all Reds in UAE

As part of its sponsorship of Liverpool Football Club, Standard Chartered Bank is offering a once in a lifetime opportunity for one boy and one girl.

View the full story here: Liverpool FC

A news article on 2011-11-22 13:20:03 from: Liverpool FC

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Mais um jogo amistoso, foi disputado no dia 19/08/2011, na cidade de Doha-QAT, onde jogaram as seleções do Qatar (89º no ranking da FIFA) e a seleção do Iraque (108º no ranking da FIFA).
Antes desse jogo, as 2 seleções jogaram:
Eliminatórias Copa do Mundo
2010Dubai 22/06/2008 IRQ0:1 (0:0)QAT Third stage2010Doha 26/03/2008 QAT2:0 (1:0)IRQ Third stage1990Baghdad 10/02/1989 IRQ2:2 (1:1)QAT First stage1990Doha 20/01/1989 QAT1:0 (1:0)IRQ First stage1986Calcutta 05/05/1985 IRQ2:1 (1:1)QAT First stage1986Doha 05/04/1985 QAT3:0 (1:0)IRQ First stage1982Riyadh 18/03/1981 QAT0:1 (0:0)IRQ First stage
Eliminatórias Continentais
1976Baghdad 10/04/1975 IRQ3:0QAT 1976Baghdad 02/04/1975 IRQ1:0QAT
Amistosos
Doha 12/10/2010 QAT1:2 (1:1)IRQ 2007Doha 16/10/2007 QAT3:2 (1:1)IRQ 2007Abu Dhabi 18/01/2007 QAT0:1 (0:1)IRQ First stage2005Doha 11/10/2005 QAT0:0IRQ 2004Doha 13/12/2004 QAT3:3 (2:1)IRQ First stage2003Doha 21/12/2003 QAT0:0IRQ 2001Doha 20/11/2002 QAT2:1 (0:1)IRQ 2001Doha 13/01/2002 QAT1:3 (0:0)IRQ 2001Doha 14/09/2001 QAT0:0IRQ 1988Riyadh 13/03/1988 QAT0:3 (0:0)IRQ 1986Manama 27/03/1986 QAT1:1 (0:0)IRQ 1984Muscat 28/03/1984 IRQ0:0 a.

Well I enjoyed a nice little layoff over the last week and a half, or however long it's been since I wrote something. I wasn't out of town, but did have more real work to do than normal. Kudos to Darren for doing the heavy lifting over the last week.

Anyway, we've been treated to another round of mostly meaningless internationals in the last few days.

Manchester City FC has launched Sky Blue – the club's first ever international membership programme, with specific benefits for fans in the UAE.

Hello there, time for a quick Saturday round-up for you.

Arsene's press conference took place yesterday and there was plenty to talk about with RVP, Mertesacker, right backs and even the Olympics on the agenda. We'll start with Robin though and there's the double-sided thing of wanting to rest a player who is playing most of our games, but the fact that said player is scoring most of our goals.

Mais um jogo das eliminatórias da Copa do Mundo de 2014, foi realizado no dia 23/07/2011, na cidade de Doha-QAT, onde jogaram as seleções do Qatar (93º no ranking da FIFA) e a seleção do Vietnã (140º no ranking da FIFA).
Antes desse jogo, as 2 seleções jogaram:
Eliminatórias Copa do Mundo
1994Singapore 26/04/1993 VIE0:4 (0:2)QAT First stage1994Doha 11/04/1993 QAT4:0 (2:0)VIE First stage
Copa da Ásia
2007Hanoi 12/07/2007 VIE1:1 (1:0)QAT First stage
O árbitro desse jogo, foi: Ali Albadwaadwi-UAE
O primeiro gol do jogo, foi de Mohammed Kasoula, aos 6 minutos do primeiro tempo, ele que é jogador do Al Sadd-QAT, que marcou seu segundo gol pela seleção nacional.

Theyab Awana one of the UAE's brightest stars died on Sunday, tragically killed in a car accident. He was just 21. Awana was returning from a training camp held at Al Ain ahead of the team's qualifier with South Korea on October 11 when his car struck a road repair lorry. Awana passed away in the hospital.

By Alan Duffy

Theyab Awana, the UAE winger who became an internet sensation after netting a supremely cheeky back-heeled penalty kick in the UAE's 7-2 demolition of Lebanon in July, has been killed in a car crash.

The 21-year-old was driving back to Abu Dhabi on Sunday evening after taking part in a national team training session in Al Ain when his car collided with a truck.

By Chris Wright

Presenting: The cheapest-looking thing in Dubai for the 50 weeks a year that Wayne and Colleen aren't in residence...

Saints be praised, Al Wasl's new coach Diego Maradona has passed his UAE driving test a fact which the Belhasa Driving Centre in Dubai celebrated by shoe-horning him in to one of the most awkward football-themed adverts since Turkish Airlines decided it should be Ryan Giggs that was shown chatting up the stewardess.

Sunderland could have used unsettled Gyan as they drop points to Chelsea. Instead, Asamoah heads to the UAE to "get his head on straight" with a 1st div team there. Torres actually makes an appearance, but as usual, fails to score. Chelsea winners, 2-1.Video: footytube
[[ This is a content summary only.

Some very funny recent stuff, if you have not seen them yet,
The penalty by Al-Ahly from Egypt. Al-Ahli was winning 4-0 anyhow, and the ref gave him a yellow card assuming the player mocked the keeper. I don't think he meant it, it seems a pure accident.
Somehow the funny penalties are linked to Arab teams.

By Chris Wright

India's World cup qualifier against UAE in New Dehli got a little damp thanks to the torrential downpour that broke out when the heavens burst 30 minutes before kick-off.

It wasn't long before it was time to bring the 'subs' on, arf arf...

Photo: PA

This awkward looking back heel penalty (degree of grace -1.75) had the unfortunate effect of mesmerizing the goalie into thinking Awana was going to moon him when he turned around because his reactions were that of a man drugged on a cocktail of morphine, percocet, and trazodone topped off with 30 shots of moonshine.

Mais um jogo do Mundial Sub-17, foi realizado no dia 04/07/2011, na cidade de Pachuca-MEX, no Estádio Hidalgo, onde jogaram as seleções da França (19º no ranking da FIFA) e a seleção do México (28º no ranking da FIFA).
Antes desse jogo, as 2 seleções jogaram:
Copa do Mundo
2010Polokwane 17/06/2010 FRA0:2 (0:0)MEX Primeira Fase1966London 13/07/1966 FRA1:1 (0:0)MEX Partidas da fase de grupos1954Geneva 19/06/1954 FRA3:2 (1:0)MEX Partidas da fase de grupos1930Montevideo 13/07/1930 FRA4:1 (3:0)MEX Partidas da fase de grupos
Copa das Confederações
2001Ulsan 03/06/2001 FRA4:0 (1:0)MEX Partidas da fase de grupos
Amistosos
2006Saint-Denis 27/05/2006 FRA1:0 (1:0)MEX 1996Paris 31/08/1996 FRA2:0 (0:0)MEX
Mundial Sub-20
1997Kuching 25/06/1997 MEX0:1 (0:0)FRA Oitavas-de-final1977Rades 03/07/1977 FRA1:1 (0:0)MEX Primeira Fase
Olímpiadas
1976
19/07/1976 FRA4:1 (2:0)MEX Primeira Fase1968Mexico City 15/10/1968 FRA4:1 (3:1)MEX Primeira Fase
O árbitro desse jogo, foi: Ali Al Badwawi-UAE
O primeiro assistente foi: Hamad Al Mayahi-OMA
O segundo assistente foi: Reza Sokhadan-IRN
O quarto árbitro do jogo, foi: Nawaf Shukrulla-BHR
O primeiro gol do jogo, foi de Escamilla, aos 14 minutos do primeiro tempo.

Backheel spot-kick madness We have all seen how stupid a player can look by opting for a casually taken penalty, so fair play to the UAE's Awana Diab who successfully converted this backheeled penalty against Lebanon. Ever the pessimists, OTP can't help but wonder what his team-mates would have thought if he had scuffed this [.

By Chris Wright

Not the first back-heeled penalty we've ever seen (that honour goes to Francesco Totti off the top of our heads), though it definitely took a sizeable set of swingers for the UAE's Awana Diab to step up and pull this off against Lebanon yesterday...

Mais um jogo do Mundial Sub-17, foi realizado no dia 30/06/2011, na cidade de Pachuca-MEX, no Estádio Hidalgo, onde jogaram as seleções da Inglaterra (6º no ranking da FIFA) e a seleção da Argentina (5º no ranking da FIFA).
Antes desse jogo, as 2 seleções jogaram:
Copa do Mundo
2002Sapporo 07/06/2002 ARG0:1 (0:1)ENG Partidas da fase de grupos1998St.

Mais um jogo das eliminatórias da Copa Africana de Nações de 2012, foi realizado no dia 05/06/2011, na cidade de Conakry-GUI, no Stade du 28 Septembre, onde jogaram as seleções de Guiné (62º no ranking da FIFA) e a seleção do Madagascar (138º no ranking da FIFA).
Antes desse jogo, as 2 seleções jogaram:
Antananarivo 27/03/2011 MAD1:1 (1:0)GUI Group matches
O árbitro desse jogo, foi: Eddy Maillet-SEY
O primeiro gol do jogo, foi de Oumar Kalabane, aos 6 minutos do primeiro tempo, ele que é jogador do Maniaspor-TUR, sendo seu terceiro gol pela seleção nacional.

Mais um jogo das eliminatórias da Copa Africana de Nações de 2012, foi realizado no dia 05/06/2011, na cidade de Conakry-GUI, no Stade du 28 Septembre, onde jogaram as seleções de Guiné (62º no ranking da FIFA) e a seleção do Madagascar (138º no ranking da FIFA).
Antes desse jogo, as 2 seleções jogaram:
Antananarivo 27/03/2011 MAD1:1 (1:0)GUI Group matches
O árbitro desse jogo, foi: Eddy Maillet-SEY
O primeiro gol do jogo, foi de Oumar Kalabane, aos 6 minutos do primeiro tempo, ele que é jogador do Maniaspor-TUR, sendo seu terceiro gol pela seleção nacional.

Mais um jogo da Copa Africana de Nações de 2012, foi realizado no dia 04/06/2011, na cidade de Windhoek-NAM, no Independence Stadium, onde jogaram as seleções da Namíbia (140º no ranking da FIFA) e a seleção de Burkina Faso (44º no ranking da FIFA).
Antes desse jogo, as 2 seleções nunca haviam jogado.

In football is said that West Asia has great facilities but small crowds and East Asia has the opposite. In Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Phil Anderton is finding out how to resolve the West Asian dilemma of "filling an empty [30,000-red-seat] stadium in the desert". CEO of Al Jazira FC, winner, for the first time, of the UAE's league and cup double, Anderton talked recently to Ashley Hammond

Indian Football News Anil Kumar and Sabeeth in World Cup Qualifier probables list - http://footballkerala.com/2011... 2 hours ago from Clash's starred items in... - Comment - Like Musli Power X-tra Viva Kerala's attacking duo Anil Kumar PK and Sabeeth CS are included in the 42 member probables list for the Indian national football team to play the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against United Arab Emirates (UAE) in July.

Iran, South Africa, UAE and Morocco bidding for Club World Cup

Japan and United Arab Emirates have hosted the CWC in its current format. That the USA (say South Florida, LA, Phoenix or Texas?) isn't hosting this tournament at some point is silly.

Adrien Parker India to train in Dubai ahead of World Cup qualifier - Times of India - http://news.google.com/news... 15 hours ago from sports club - Google News - Comment - Like India to train in Dubai ahead of World Cup qualifier Times of India Dempo Sports Club coach Armando Colaco has emerged as the favourite to take charge of the Indian team, at least for the two FIFA World Cup qualifiers against United Arab Emirates (UAE) in July.

One of great goals that I love in football is the goals that are smart and the player uses his head more than his feet. Last week Badr Al-Motawao, Kuwaiti player who plays for Al-Nasr from Saudi Arabia scored one of those goals against Istiqlal from Iran.
Recently, I was watching YouTube videos when I came across this wonderful goal for Zuhair Bakheet from UAE, he was one of the players that had amazing 'sensitive' skills, and was kind of the Luis Garcia for the region.

Mais um jogo da AFC Challenge Cup 2012, foi realizado no dia 25/03/2011, na cidade de Male-MDV, no Rasmee Dhandu (Galolhu) National Stadium, onde jogaram as seleções das Maldivas (161º no ranking da FIFA) e a seleção do Tadjiquistão (148º no ranking da FIFA).
Antes desse jogo, as 2 seleções jogaram:
1998Suphamburi 01/12/1998 TJK3:0 (0:0)MDV First round
O árbitro desse jogo, foi: Mohamed Mohamed-UAE
Fim do jogo, Maldivas 0x0 Tadjiquistão

Mais um jogo da AFC Challenge Cup 2012, foi realizada no dia 21/03/2011, na cidade de Male-MDV, no Rasmee Dhandu (Galolhu) National Stadium, onde jogaram as seleções do Tadjiquistão (148º no ranking da FIFA) e a seleção do Quirguistão (174º no ranking da FIFA).
Antes desse jogo, as 2 seleções jogaram:
Eliminatórias Copa do Mundo
2006Dushanbe 13/10/2004 TJK2:1 (2:0)KGZ Second stage2006Bishkek 18/02/2004 KGZ1:2 (1:1)TJK Second stage
Eliminatórias Continentais
2000Dushanbe 05/08/1999 KGZ2:3 (1:2)TJK
Amistosos
2006Dhaka 13/04/2006 TJK2:0 (0:0)KGZ Second stage2006Dhaka 06/04/2006 TJK0:1 (0:1)KGZ First stage1994Tashkent 15/04/1994 TJK1:0 (0:0)KGZ
O árbitro desse jogo, foi: Mohamed Mohamed-UAE
O primeiro gol do jogo, foi de Ruslan Sydykov, aos 43 minutos do segundo tempo, de gol contra para o Tadjiquistão.

Real Salt Lake and Monterrey will meet in the opening leg of this year's CONCACAF Champions League final tomorrow night. One of these two teams will become CONCACAF club champion for the first time and earn a trip to Japan for the FIFA Club World Cup, which hopefully will be a more enticing visit in eight months than it does now.

Mais uma semifinal da Copa da Ásia de 2011, foi realizada no dia 25/02/2011, na cidade de Doha-QAT, no Khalifa International Stadium, onde jogaram as seleções do Uzbequistão (108º no ranking da FIFA) e a seleção da Austrália (26º no ranking da FIFA).
Antes desse jogo, as 2 seleções jogaram:
Eliminatórias Copa do Mundo
2010Sydney 01/04/2009 AUS2:0 (0:0)UZB 2010Tashkent 10/09/2008 UZB0:1 (0:1)AUS
O árbitro desse jogo, foi: Ali Al Badwawi-UAE
O primeiro gol do jogo, foi de Harry Kewell, aos 5 minutos do primeiro tempo, ele que é jogador do Galatasaray-TUR, que marcou seu 16º gol pela seleção nacional.

Mais um jogo da Copa do Golfo 2010, foi realizado no dia 28/11/2010, na cidade de Aden-YEM, no May 22 Stadium, onde jogaram as seleções do Qatar (113º no ranking da FIFA) e a seleção da Arábia Saudita (68º no ranking da FIFA).
Antes desse jogo, as 2 seleções jogaram:
Eliminatórias Copa do Mundo
1998Doha 12/11/1997 QAT0:1 (0:0)KSA Second stage1998Taif 11/10/1997 KSA1:0 (0:0)QAT Second stage1990Singapore 16/10/1989 QAT1:1 (0:1)KSA Final round1982Riyadh 31/03/1981 QAT0:1 (0:0)KSA First stage
Copa da Ásia
2000Saida 17/10/2000 KSA0:0QAT First stage1992Hiroshima 31/10/1992 KSA1:1 (0:0)QAT Group matches1984Singapore 08/12/1984 QAT1:1 (0:0)KSA
Eliminatórias Continentais
1976Baghdad 14/04/1975 KSA0:1QAT 1976Baghdad 04/04/1975 KSA2:1QAT
Amistosos
2009Doha 26/05/2009 QAT2:1 (0:1)KSA
Muscat 05/01/2009 KSA0:0QAT First stage2008Riyadh 30/08/2008 KSA2:1 (1:0)QAT 2007Abu Dhabi 21/01/2007 KSA1:1 (0:1)QAT First stage2003Kuwait City 29/12/2003 KSA0:0QAT 2002Riyadh 29/01/2002 KSA3:1 (0:0)QAT 2001Riyadh 05/08/2001 KSA1:2 (1:2)QAT 1998Manama 11/11/1998 QAT0:0KSA 1998Doha 01/10/1998 QAT1:3 (0:1)KSA Final1996Muscat 19/10/1996 QAT2:2 (1:0)KSA 1994Abu Dhabi 12/11/1994 QAT1:2 (1:1)KSA 1992Doha 10/12/1992 QAT0:1 (0:0)KSA 1988Riyadh 05/03/1988 KSA0:0QAT 1986Gwangju 29/09/1986 QAT0:1 (0:1)KSA 1986Manama 05/04/1986 QAT0:2 (0:1)KSA 1985Taif 12/07/1985 KSA0:0 3:1 PSOQAT Third/Fourth place1985Taif 07/07/1985 KSA1:0 (0:0)QAT First round1984Muscat 10/03/1984 QAT2:1 (1:1)KSA Group matches1982Abu Dhabi 29/03/1982 KSA1:0QAT 1979Baghdad 03/04/1979 KSA7:0QAT 1978Bangkok 13/12/1978 KSA2:2QAT First stage1976Doha 26/03/1976 QAT1:0KSA 1974Kuwait City 26/03/1974 KSA3:1QAT Second stage1974Kuwait City 16/03/1974 KSA2:0QAT First stage1972Riyadh 24/03/1972 KSA4:0QAT 1970Manama 02/04/1970 KSA1:1QAT
O árbitro desse jogo, foi: Fareed Ali Al Marzouqi-UAE.

Okay! I think this is bit too much to the extreme side.
Qatar has offered a blank cheque to Pepe Guardiola to coach the Qatari national team for the next ten years, and this offer expires at June. Guardiola have not commented yet, who has already turned down €10 million-a-year from Inter Milan and €20 million-a-year from CSKA Moscow.

Iraq today was the last Arab team to be knocked out of the Asian Cup with a 0-1 defeat with a beautiful header from Kewell after extra time.
Iraq, Jordan and Qatar, all played really nice football and did big games. However, it terms of numbers, this is the worst Asian Cup since 1972.

As this Asian Cup is getting nicer and nicer with very interesting goals and we are still in the group stages, I will continue these posts. Kuwait left very early with three defeats, scoring a goal and receiving seven. To understand how bad this is, I will take you long journey to the 1980 Asian Cup which was held in Kuwait.

DOHA, Qatar — Reigning champions Iraq stunned the United Arab Emirates 1-0 on Saturday at the Asian Cup with an injury-time own-goal to put the holders in a strong position to make the knockout rounds. Three-times champions Iran became the first team at the championships to qualify for the quarter-finals after they defeated World Cup [.