AC Milan seem to have their mojo back as they prepare to host Real Madrid in this crucial UCL match. Will they be as lucky as last matchday?... I don't think so, but I do think both teams will have to settle for a share of the points and that can't ... Click to continue reading...

Yeah, I know it's been a while. Two weeks without The Beautiful Game has probably driven some of you mad.
But I haven't been out as long as C-Ron. Word is he's missing tomorrow's UCL action, after reaggravating an ankle injury three weeks ago.
So clearly I'm absolved of the short absence. Click to continue reading...

Late goals were the order of the UCL this evening... and didn't Liverpool find out the hard way!? Playing with a less than impressive team (Gerrard [subbed at 24min] and no Torres) meant that the Reds were playing like a group of freakish looking immigrants kicking a football around on their . Click to continue reading...

Rainbow? Photo effects?
Regardless, it's a still shot worthy of the beautiful game.
Good times.
Let's link it:

• MLS newcomer rankings. [Center Holds It]
  
• 1st edition of the world's top 25. [Soccer Source]
  
• USL has a buyer. [WV Hooligan]
  
• Barca v.

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These look delicious! And fun!
Whew, it's been a crazy day.
Let's do the links:

• Bellamy makes peace with Wales coach. [Guardian]
  
• Argentina league to start Aug. 21. [SI]
  
• Another groin surgery for Woodgate. [BBC]
  
• VIDEO: Man attacks mascot.

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Jose Mourinho wasn't happy with losing some cup to Lazio.
So he pretty much said, they won but we're too awesome to care.
Now to the links:

• Finally video of that Aussie/China girl fight. [The Offside]
  
• J. Cunningham thinks Dallas is still forward shopping. [DMN]
  
• Argentina football still on hold.

Click to continue reading...

Remember that fight between the Chinese and Aussie U19 girls teams?
Football Fashion found some pictures. Not sure or any video yet, but this is pretty good.
Now to the links:

• K.C. names interim coach: Peter Vermes. [Goal.com]
  
• FA bans pre-match ref criticism in EPL.

Click to continue reading...

Believe it or not, we are just a week away from the start of another glorious Bundesliga season. Having taken the summer off from worrying about football (and cramming in seven Harry Potter books into those months), it is time to dive head-deep into my favorite passion.

The difficult thing about this year is that the season will start nearly a month before the end of the transfer window.

Click to continue reading...

A BIG thanks to the TRBA regulars who have touched base over the past couple of weeks to enquire about why I haven't been writing about all the big football games and news doing the rounds over the past month and half, where we've been witness to such wonderful things as Barcelona's UCL success, the Socceroos WC qualification and the launch of our compelling World Cup bid. Click to continue reading...

RheinEnergieStadion

I used the stats feature at ESPN Soccernet to calcluate the clubs with the best attendances. Out of the top 20 attendances in Europe, Germany had 9 clubs. This post is to equip you with a tool to help promote our great league. Because, while we are in a slump in the Champions League and don't make all the news with £80 million transfers, we have the most competitive league, the funnest league and the best attended league in the world.

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Los argentinos somos exigentes en el fútbol. Queremos que ganen, que pongan huevos, que jueguen bien, etc. Y si lo logran, exigimos que lo mantengan. El caso de Lionel Messi no excepción en absoluto. Exigimos que cuando juegue con la selección haga lo mismo que con el Barcelona, donde la rompe. Click to continue reading...

Ya hay campeón de la UEFA Champions League, es el Barcelona. El subcampeón el Manchester United.

En la recapitulación de lo acontecido quedan muchas cosas, sin embargo hay que darle su espacio a lo que para mi fue el mejor partido de esta edición de la máxima competencia de clubes europeos.

Click to continue reading...

Ya hay campeón de la UEFA Champions League, es el Barcelona. El subcampeón el Manchester United.

En la recapitulación de lo acontecido quedan muchas cosas, sin embargo hay que darle su espacio a lo que para mi fue el mejor partido de esta edición de la máxima competencia de clubes europeos.

Click to continue reading...

We apologise for being unable to write a preview of last night's games, but here's an extended round-up to ease the pain.

MYPA - VPS 0-2

I can't help gloryhunting. VPS took a third consecutive win and I just have to support them. If I didn't, I would be scared by them.

Click to continue reading...

Tevez and Berbatov might be benched for the UCL final...
That's everything else I got. Click to continue reading...

For those who paid attention, the UEFA Cup final was last night (or the night before)... you know, the uglier less attractive 1st cousin of the Champions League; And against all the odds, Shakhtar Donetsk pinched the trophy away from favourites Werder Bremen with a late, late, why do I torture myself with these matches, winner scored by Jadson! Click to continue reading...

ESPN International will provide live coverage of the 2009 UCL Final in the regions of Africa, Australia, Canada, and Latin America. ESPN STAR will televise the Final in English, Cantonese and Mandarin across Asia. On-site studio and match production teams will provide content to a variety of ESPN outlets around the world, including ESPN's pan-regional [. Click to continue reading...

English Premier League Champions Manchester United vs. Spanish La Liga Champions FC Barcelona; Coverage across ESPN's Domestic and International Networks; Live Reports from Stadio Olimpico; Digital Services; Studio Programs; ESPN The Magazine Profile; et al ESPN's multimedia coverage of the 2008-09 UEFA Champions League (UCL) season will culminate Wednesday, May 27, with the live telecast of UEFA [. Click to continue reading...

Apparently Barca's kits for next season have been leaked, both home and away. After there was some talk about the possible design for the away kit, looks like they've finally decided on orange again, though a lighter shade than was used in 2006-2007.
As for the home kit, the stripes are back and it's looking a lot like the shirt used on the 2005-2006 season. Click to continue reading...

If you would believe various pundits, the annoying debate that many football fans have been subject to this year and last - Ronaldo vs. Messi - will come to its conclusion in the UCL final in Rome. On the biggest stage in club competitions, the two most complete players in attacking football will meet head to head.

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Eh... this match was a dead rubber before a ball had even been kicked and the only thing at stake was pride really... and we all know what Arsenal's was like after a week in hell, starting with this.
Chelsea on the other hand had something a little more personal to "prove", eg. Click to continue reading...

We're also back with La Liga predictions this week and the stories are as similar there as they are over the channel in England. Barcelona have run away with the lead but the excitement awaits for the remaining UCL and UEFA cup spots... and at the other end of the table with teams fighting to stay in the top flight. Click to continue reading...

Ok, enough with all the griping, the UCL was midweek and this weekend there are some very interesting fixtures that may impact the outcome of the Premier League. United are up against City in the Manchester derby, but in all fairness I don't think the sky-blues have what it takes to pinch three points and possibly the title from right under Ferguson and United's noses. Click to continue reading...

Mr. Adebayor says he's 100-percent committed to Arsenal.
Like I am 100 percent committed to this blog. But work is getting hectic and we're entering the home stretch of the spring season, so posting might get spotty until June.
Consider this your warning.
Now for some links:

• The top 8 GIFs of Wildman Ballack.

Click to continue reading...

Not sure it means much now, but Chelsea forward Didier Drogba has apologized for acting like a lunatic and abusing ref Tom Henning Ovrebo after the Blues UCL semifinal loss to Barcelona.

He said "In the heat of the moment I let out my huge frustration and disappointment. For that, I apologise.

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Though we can hardly believe what happened last night, it's slowly sinking in... we're gaining full realization that no, it's not all a dream, and it did actually happen: Barcelona are in the Champions League final.
This was always going to be a tough match, even going in to it, but it wasn't until Chelsea scored that we really started to panic. Click to continue reading...

Who'd a thought a little Mexican pork would keep me out of action for what felt like an eternity!? And let me tell ya, being probed and prodded was not as fun as it first sounded! Turns out that not even the 'Swine' could keep me down though, so after fleeing from quarantine I'm back to write shit about all things football again! Click to continue reading...

With left back Ashley Cole suspended for Chelsea's UCL semifinal with Barca, it appears as though some 21 year old named Michael Mancienne (right) might be given the start.
He's got to guard the unstoppable Leo Messi.
Yeah. Right.
He's not even a natural left back -- he prefers being in a central role, or on the right. Click to continue reading...

Just as we expected they would, the club is going to appeal to the UEFA against Pep's sending off from the stadium and also the yellow card given to Messi in the recent UCL quarter final against Bayern Munich. However, the it may be a few days before the decision is announced, because of the Easter holidays—the UEFA will probably not rule until next Tuesday, the day of the return leg in Munich. Click to continue reading...

With World Cup qualifiers over until June, the wild followers of various Serie A teams can get back to cheering for their beloved clubs. This weekend play will resume with a full slate of matches. With 9 matchdays left in the 2008-09 season, this is when teams must make their charge for a Scudetto, European [. Click to continue reading...

Another eight Champions League games today, and I'm going to try and cover them all here in one big LiveBlog. Personally, I think today's games look a bit more interesting than yesterday's. Inter vs Bremen promises excitement and we'll see if Cluj's win at Roma was just a fluke when they host Chelsea in Romania. Click to continue reading...

There's an old 1962 movie with Charlton Heston (don't ask me how I know that) that has a very appropriate title for this match: "The Pigeon That Took Rome". CFR Cluj being the pigeon, a.k.a the David that no one knew but who at his first UCL appearance defeated the big Roma Goliath. Italian manager [. Click to continue reading...

The best player in the world is coming back to Old Trafford for another go.
But can this next season really be better than the 2007-08 campaign? With EPL and UCL titles? Doubtful.
And you already know he's not a lifer, like Giggsy and Scholesy.
But just in case you forgot, here's some misremembered Ronaldo greatness. Click to continue reading...

Most likely it will not be a high-scoring game This was my prediction before last night's Veikkausliiga game between TPS and VPS. Luckily my address is not public, so I don't have a line of gamblers on my doorstep trying to kick the door in. VPS delivered an absolutely horrible performance and succumbed to a 6-1 [. Click to continue reading...