Uefa Champions League

15th February 2012

The San Siro Stadium

AC Milan v Arsenal

It's down to the serious business of the knockout stages of the biggest prize in European club football.

Fifa's World Rankings for January 2012 were published yesterday at FIFA HQ in Zurich, Switzerland.
2010 World Cup winners Spain remain on top followed by the Netherlands, Germany and Copa America champs Uruguay. England are in 5th.
Ranking Team
1 Spain
2 Netherlands
3 Germany
4 Uruguay
5 England
6 Brazil
7 Portugal
8 Croatia
9 Italy
10 Argentina
11 Denmark
12 Chile
13 Russia
14 Greece
15 France
16 Switzerland
17 Sweden
18 Côte d'Ivoire
19 Bosnia-Herzegovina
19 Japan
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Fifa's World Rankings for December 2011 were published today at FIFA HQ in Zurich, Switzerland.
2010 World Cup winners Spain remain on top followed by the Netherlands, Germany and Copa America champs Uruguay. England are in 5th.
Ranking Team
1 Spain
2 Netherlands
3 Germany
4 Uruguay
5 England
6 Brazil
7 Portugal
8 Croatia
9 Italy
10 Argentina
11 Denmark
12 Russia
13 Chile
14 Greece
15 France
16 Côte d'Ivoire
17 Switzerland
18 Sweden
19 Japan
20 Bosnia-Herzegovina
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Fifa's World Rankings for December 2011 were published today at FIFA HQ in Zurich, Switzerland.
2010 World Cup winners Spain remain on top followed by the Netherlands, Germany and Copa America champs Uruguay. England are in 5th.
Ranking Team
1 Spain
2 Netherlands
3 Germany
4 Uruguay
5 England
6 Brazil
7 Portugal
8 Croatia
9 Italy
10 Argentina
11 Denmark
12 Russia
13 Chile
14 Greece
15 France
16 Côte d'Ivoire
17 Switzerland
18 Sweden
19 Japan
20 Bosnia-Herzegovina
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It may not have been the most difficult challenge that FC Barcelona would have to face in their quest to become FIFA Club World Cup winners. That, however, did not dampen the celebrations as the Spanish and European champions strolled their way past a poor Santos FC team courtesy of a 4-0 victory.

Images: wps.com, AFP PHOTO / JOHANNES EISELE.

The future of the Women's Professional Soccer league (WPS) has been thrown into doubt yet again after the termination of the majicJacks franchise. The WPS, which comprised six teams prior to the 'Jacks expulsion, was already operating under a one year waiver of the US Soccer rule that a league must have a minimum of eight teams to be recognised.

The Italy PUMA Euro 2012 home kit has been officially launched ahead of the Azzurri's friendly with Uruguay in Rome on November 15th. The new Italy home kit will be used as the four-time World Cup winners' primary uniform during the 2012/13 international season.

The Italy PUMA EURO 2012 home kit has been officially launched ahead of the Azzurri's friendly with Uruguay in Rome on November 15th. The new Italy home kit will be used as the four-time World Cup winners' primary uniform during the 2012/13 international season. It will be available at World Soccer Shop, Tienda Fútbol Mundial, Onionbag.

A week after our first look at it, the Spain adidas EURO 2012 home jersey has been officially launched by the Real Federación Española de Fútbol and adidas. The new shirt will be used by EURO 2008 and FIFA World Cup winners for the first time when La Roja meets England in an international friendly [.

MirrorFootball Podcast: Featuring Simon Bird, Matt Lawrence, Martin Lipton and John Cross

On this week's MirrorFootball Podcast Simon Head chats about Newcastle United's new stadium naming deal with the Daily Mirror's man in the North East, Simon Bird. Gillingham centre half and MirrorFootball columnist Matt Lawrence is on hand to lift the lid on life in League Two.

Fifa's World Rankings for October 2011 were published today at FIFA HQ in Zurich, Switzerland.
2010 World Cup winners Spain are on top followed by the Netherlands, Germany and Copa America champs Uruguay. England are in 7th.
Ranking Team
1 Spain
2 Netherlands
3 Germany
4 Uruguay
5 Brazil
6 Italy
7 England
8 Greece
8 Portugal
10 Argentina
10 Denmark
12 Croatia
13 Russia
14 Sweden
15 France
16 Chile
17 Japan
18 Switzerland
19 Côte d'Ivoire
20 Australia
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Italy have had a solid qualifying campaign for Euro 2012, which has seen the side go unbeaten and concede a mere two goals. The side has also looked impressive in some recent friendlies, beating World Champions Spain 2-1 back in August. Although it could be argued that the Spain squad fielded that day was somewhat experimental, it is still quite an achievement for a national side that only a year previously was in crisis and bereft of confidence.

The National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA) will bring more than 500 attendees, speakers and special guests to Pittsburgh October 9-11 for its 2011 National Convention. U.S. Soccer's Women's National Team captain Christie Rampone and NCAA President Mark Emmert and will headline the event at the historic Omni William Penn Hotel.

Fifa's World Rankings for September 2011 were published today at FIFA HQ in Zurich, Switzerland.
2010 World Cup winners Spain are back on top followed by the Netherlands, Germany and Copa America champs Uruguay. England drop to 8th.
Nepal are in 134th place!
Ranking Team
1 Spain
2 Netherlands
3 Germany
4 Uruguay
5 Portugal
6 Italy
7 Brazil
8 England
9 Croatia
10 Argentina
11 Greece
12 France
13 Russia
14 Chile
15 Japan
16 Côte d'Ivoire
17 Denmark
18 Switzerland
19 Australia
20 Mexico
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Fifa's World Rankings for August 2011 were published today at FIFA HQ in Zurich, Switzerland. The Netherlands leap-frog 2010 World Cup winners Spain followed by Germany and England.
Nepal are in 136th place!
Ranking Team
1 Netherlands
2 Spain
3 Germany
4 England
5 Uruguay
6 Brazil
7 Italy
8 Portugal
9 Argentina
10 Croatia
11 Chile
12 Norway
13 Russia
14 Greece
15 Côte d'Ivoire
15 France
15 Japan
18 Sweden
19 Montenegro
20 Mexico
Full world rankings
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Starting this Sunday, in Paris, in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, sixty-four countries are gathering for World Cup soccer action. But don't expect to see the likes of Lionel Messi or the studs in Cristiano Ronaldo's ear. Booting up in the colors of the nations will be athletes from the margins of society, as far away as possible from the Porsches and the bling welcome to the Homeless World Cup.

In a matter of hours the reigning World and European champions, Spain, will take on four time World Cup winners Italy in Bari's San Nicola stadium. For a match that pits the two latest winners of the world cup, the difference between them could not be greater. After years of underachievement the Spanish national team have been exhibiting a brand of football that is game changing.

"(Spain) is so hot right now." -- Mugatu, "Zoolander."Holders of the European Cup and World Cup. Winners this summer of both the U-19 and U-21 European championship. On top of that Barcelona are holders of the Champions League trophy.Seems like everyone associated with world soccer wants to grove a little soul patch, strap a balaclava around their necks, cultivate three days worth of beard

* Saturday night in Rio sees the draw for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers for all except South America (CONMEBOL).
All eyes will be on the European draw where 1998 World Cup winners France have been downgraded to the second pot, meaning they will play one of the top seeds England, Spain, Holland, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Croatia, Norway or Greece.

Rob Kinnan PhotographyJuventus 1, Chivas de Guadalajara
Two of the most well known teams from around the world arrived in Raleigh, North Carolina to do battle as part of the Herbalife World Football Challenge. Juventus FC arrived to represent the Italian Seria ‘A' while Mexican powerhouse Chivas de Guadalajara arrived to represent the FMF Primera Division.

Fifa's World Rankings for July 2011 were published today at FIFA HQ in Zurich, Switzerland. 2010 World Cup winners Spain remain in top spot followed by The Netherlands, Germany and England.
Nepal are in 136th place!
Ranking Team
1 Spain
2 Netherlands
3 Germany
4 Brazil
5 Uruguay
6 England
7 Portugal
8 Italy
9 Croatia
10 Argentina
11 Chile
12 Norway
13 Greece
14 Côte d'Ivoire
15 France
16 Japan
17 Montenegro
18 Russia
19 Sweden
20 Mexico
Full world rankings
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CzBlogs Mexico's theatres of dreams – FIFA.com (Denmark Soccer News ... - http://www.fifaworldcupsoccernews.com/denmark... 3 hours ago from czech - Google Blog Search - Comment - Like Spain, with 2010 FIFA World Cup winners Javi Martínez and Juan Mata again playing high drama ensued in topsy-turvy matches between England and the Czech Republic (1-2), and Iceland and Denmark (3-1).

FIFA Womens World Cup 2011
Quarter-finals
Germany v Japan (Sat)
France v England (Sat)
Sweden v Australia (Sun)
Brazil v USA (Sun)
Norway, the 1995 World Cup winners and one of the traditional powers of the women's game, have missed out on the last eight of the tournament for the first time and also lost their chance to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

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's World Rankings for June were published today. 2010 World Cup winners Spain remain in top spot followed by The Netherlands, Germany and England.
Nepal are in 148th place!
Ranking Team
1 Spain
2 Netherlands
3 Germany
4 England
5 Brazil
6 Italy
7 Portugal
8 Croatia
9 Mexico
10 Argentina
11 Norway
12 Greece
13 Japan
14 Côte d'Ivoire
15 France
16 Montenegro
17 Russia
18 Uruguay
19 Sweden
20 Denmark
Full world rankings
Previous Fifa World Rankings
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A host of Premier League clubs have released up to 123 players this summer with Patrick Vieira, Jonathan Woodgate and Matthew Upson amongst the most high-profile stars let go this summer.

The official list of ‘free agents' released on Thursday night features former World Cup winners, former England internationals and Premier League champions.

A match determined by a handball goal and an offsides goal. You'd think this game was exciting, and you'd be wrong.

Spain played with De Gea, Montoya, Botía, Domínguez, Didac, Javi Martínez, Mata, Herrera, Thiago, Jeffren and Adrián. Millá reserved some of the better players from his side -like Bojan, Capel or Muniaín-, but he played a strong side, with two World Cup winners.

Emerging talent: 12 players to watch at the Under-21 European Championships 2011 is a post from: Just Football

The 2011 UEFA Under-21 European Championships get underway this weekend in Denmark. This year's edition includes some surprise names, such as Belarus and first-time qualifiers Iceland, as well as some big name absentees like Italy, Holland and 2009 winners Germany who all failed to qualify this time around.

Associated Press

In their final preparation match for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the United States were outclassed by the 2010 FIFA World Cup winners Spain, as the visitors dominated 4-0.

The Americans came into this match simply wanting to stay healthy, while co-mingling younger, less experienced players with a few veterans.

We took a few weeks off from our guide to the upcoming weekend's televised matches. It's perhaps an odd time to resurrect it, just after the climax of the European club season but actually perhaps it's more necessary now that we're asking ourselves what exactly are we supposed to watch, now that they're done playing in Europe?

United States international Michael Bradley is set to seal a permanent move to Aston Villa after a season long loan at Villa Park. The midfielder is currently owned by German club Borussia Mönchengladbach, but according to reports in Germany he is set to seal a permanent €5 million move shortly.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has moved to squash any talk about his current Barcelona side being the best football team ever.

Pundits and footballing experts the world over have lauded the current Barcelona side as the greatest team ever to have graced the beautiful game, both past and present with their immaculate close ball possession, superb and elegant passing game and devastating potency in front of goal particularly striking a chord with experts from around the globe.

43 years after becoming the first English team to win the European Cup Manchester United return to the scene of that triumph – Wembley – in a bid to win the famous trophy for a fourth time.
They may have knocked their fierce rivals Liverpool of their Premier League perch by winning a record 19th title but the Merseyside club's record of five European Cups is one the Red Devils have yet to surpass.

Fifa's World Rankings for May were published today and there is little change throughout the 200+ team ranking. 2010 World Cup winners Spain remain in top spot followed by The Netherlands, Brazil, Germany and England in 6th place. Ghana are the top African team in 15th.
The USA are in 22nd place.

Long suffering Scottish football fans still reminisce about Archie Gemmill's wondergoal against the Netherlands in the 1978 World Cup and the Tartan Army have been starved of participation in a major international competition since the 1998 World Cup in France thirteen years ago. With the qualifiers for next year's European Championships in Poland and Ukraine four matches in and the draw for the 2014 World Cup in July, what are Scotland's chances of making the cut (see the BetUS sportsbook for the latest odds)?

Fifa's World Rankings for April were published yesterday. 2010 World Cup winners Spain remain in top spot followed by The Netherlands, Brazil, Germany and England in 6th place. Ghana are the top African team in 15th.
The USA drop again to 22nd. Japan, winners of the Asian Cup, are up to 13th.

Lucas Leiva has thanked his Liverpool teammates after they dedicated Sunday's goal celebrations to his new son Pedro Lucas.
The Brazil international became a father for the first time this week when his wife Ariana gave birth in a Liverpool hospital.
And so after both goals during our 2-0 win in Sunderland the players joined him in a 'rock the baby' celebration which was made famous by Brazilian World Cup winners Bebeto, Romario and Mazinho during USA 1994.

Fifa's World Rankings for March were published today. World Cup winners Spain remain in top spot followed by The Netherlands, Germany and Argentina. Brazil drop to 5th.
England are in 6th place. Ghana are the top African team.
The USA drop to 19th. Japan, winners of the Asian Cup, are up to 15th.

"You have to respect Sir Alex's achievements at United though, don't you?"

Well no, not at all actually. I can't understand why any normal person wouldn't hate the scum. They represent everything that has been wrong with English football since 1990. The evil empire, and not a football club, but a Chinese tourist's idea of what a football club is like.

Alright, here's the scenario. An English footballer, who's talented, determined, driven to succeed in football and doesn't mope or hang around in the dark. With the way English footballers are managing the game, this scenario exists only once our eyelids drop and we're in the dream world. However, Wenger's search has transformed that dream into reality by discovering the new Iniesta: Jack Wilshere from Hitchin, Hertfordshire.