OPEN THREAD: Who are the Top 10 Best Strikers in the World? is a post from: Just Football
With the football season over and only internationals and half-hearted transfer rumours to keep us occupied, it's time for us to take an overview of the season on Just Football.
Destruction is inevitable, creation divine. For most forwards in soccer, we ask little. If you loiter in the 18 yard box for 90 minutes, that's okay. If you're occasionally offsides, that's okay. All we want is the bare minimum: competent finishing. If you get an open header, firmly place the ball on frame, or, even better, towards a low corner.
Neymar launches the all new Nike Hypervenom - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Following the news that Santos ace Neymar has penned a five-year deal with Barcelona, Nike has come out with the launch of the all-new Nike Hypervenom at an even in Rio de Janeiro with the 21-year-old Brazil striker.
Launched as a "new breed of football boot for a new breed of player", this isNike's weird and wonderful new 'Hypervenom' boot: a curious-looking son-of-a-gun, we think you'll agree...
Despite looking like they're made of 3-ply toilet paper, the bumph assures us that they're actually made from a revolutionary new material called "Nikeskin", which "gets as close as possible to the feeling of playing barefoot.
Paris St-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was named the Ligue 1 Player of the Year as the Swede and his team-mates dominated the awards.
"I came to a new country. It was not an easy situation, but everything went well. We worked hard. Now is the time to enjoy it," said the former Barcelona forward.
Champions League Recap: Barca Need Away Goal To Best PSG is a post from: Serie A Weekly Champions League Recap: Barca Need Away Goal To Best PSG is a post from: Serie A Weekly Barcelona advanced to the semi-finals of the Champions League after another draw with PSG meaning they progressed on the away goals rule.
The main question on everyone's mind in the run up to Barcelona vs. Paris Saint-Germain (2:45pm, Fox Soccer Channel) is "will Lionel Messi play?"
The Argentine limped off the field at half time of the first leg and hasn't played since, but Barcelona boss Tito Vilanova announced on Tuesday that whether Messi plays will be determined just before the teams arrive at the Camp Nou.
"Con mi llegada al Bará cumplía mi sueño desde pequeño, jugar en el mejor equipo del mundo". "El Barça es un equipo mediocre". "Mi problema en el Barcelona fue un hombre, el filósofo". "Fue la primera vez que llegué a un equipo y jugué tan bien la primera temporada, creo que hice un fantástico trabajo".
Paris Saint-Germain 2-2 Barcelona Game In 10 Tweets is a post from: Just Football
Usually, when Barcelona turn up somewhere, they are the main news, with Lionel Messi as the standout man.
However, Carlo Ancelotti sprung a surprise in his Paris Saint-Germain starting eleven with bringing David Beckham into the team, leaving Italian prodigy Marco Verratti on the bench.
While more experienced domestic champions Barcelona and Manchester United held relatively incident free parades through their respective cities, PSG fans celebrated their first Ligue 1 title since 1994 by busting up shop windows and fighting police.
The riots began Sunday night after PSG beat Lyon 1-0 (which was also followed by Zlatan Ibrahimovic yelling at Leonardo until he ended up in the hospital).
Leonardo, the PSG director not the Ninja Turtle, isn't exactly having a fine few weeks. After Thiago Silva was sent off for lightly placing his hands on the referee last week, Leonardo decided it would be a smart idea to bump the referee in the tunnel. This may result in a suspension or worse, a points deduction for PSG.
There was a changing of the guard in France at the weekend, as Paris Saint-Germain have won their first Ligue 1 title in 19 years after Sunday's 1-0 victory at the home of Lyon, for so long the dominant force in France.
Needing a win to wrap up the championship with two games remaining, PSG started slowly at the Stade de Gerland before gradually coming into the game as half-time approached.
PSG finally clinched the Ligue 1 title with a 1-0 win against Lyon on Sunday. This pleased Zlatan Ibrahimovic. But as he celebrated with his teammates in the dressing room after the match, PSG director of football Leonardo attempted to tell Ibrahimovic that he had to go take an anti-doping test. This did not please Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Paris Saint Germain Crest (Google Creative Commons)
Paris Saint Germain can wrap up the French Ligue 1 title this afternoon with victory over Lyon with two games to spare. Currently on 74 points with a game in hand on Marseille, the Parisians have not ran away with the league but have certainly stamped their superiority on their anticipated crown.
Wayne Rooney's final destination: Manchester United, Barcelona, PSG or Bayern? - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Manchester United are a club in transition after Sir Alex Ferguson's revelation that he will step down from his role as the club's manager after 26 years at the helm. With David Moyes seemingly the favourite to replace him, and Jose Mourinho in the running too, the new head coach's first job may well be to convince star striker Wayne Rooney that his future lies at Old Trafford.
PSG could have sealed their first Ligue 1 title since 1994 on Sunday. Instead, they ended up getting a whole mess of frustration and a busted advertising board courtesy of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
With local celebrities (and David Beckham) packed into the Parc Des Princes hoping to see a celebration, PSG could only manage a 1-1 draw against Valenciennes.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been linked with a move to Paris St-Germain for the better part of a year. The stories will not go away, and with PSG manager Carlo Ancelotti expected to move to Real Madrid this summer, and sporting director Leonardo also expected to leave at the end of the season also, things are lining up for Wenger to return to France this summer.
After just one season at Paris Saint-Germain, Zlatan Ibrahimovic could be ditching his digs in Paris for a move back to Italy.
Italian publication La Gazetta Dello Sport is reporting that Juventus have offered Ibrahimovic a four-year contract to return to Turin this summer and end his career in Italy.
At this point it's fairly obvious there are very few ways of stopping Zlatan. The man scores goals everywhere he goes no matter what the defense may try. So Nice defender Renato Civelli went a little off book and decided maybe Zlatan can be stopped with love and affection. No, he can't he can't only be utterly bewildered.
PSG beat Nice 3-0 at the weekend to put themselves on the cusp of winning their first Ligue 1 title since 1994, withJeremy Menez, Zlatan Ibrahimovic (pen) andClement Chantome all notching to leave the Parisiens nine points clear of second-placed Marseille with five games to play.
One of the many perks of having a superstar footballer for a father is that the general quality level of your average park kick-about is increased dramatically.
Here's Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz (it's only when you have to write them down that you realise just how profoundly awful those names really are!
David Beckham brought his three sons to PSG's training session on Friday because he's David Beckham and he can do whatever he wants. The boys got to have a nice little kick around with their dad's teammates, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva.
Beckham's oldest son, Brooklyn, who had a trial with Chelsea earlier this season, teamed up with his youngest brother, Cruz, to keep the ball away from Silva.
The rumors linking Manchester United's Wayne Rooney with Paris St-Germain continue to gather momentum, with a former PSG club official claiming the deal is already "done".
Michel Moulin, who was an advisor at PSG in 2008, said on French television that Rooney was heading to the Parc des Princes in the summer.
Mario Goetze of Borussia Dortmund (Google Creative Commons)
Friday's Champions League semifinal draw will have been particularly pleasurable for those symmetrically inclined.
The 2011-12 Bundesliga winners (Borussia Dortmund) are taking on the same season's La Liga champions (Real Madrid) in one match, with each division's runners-up (Bayern Munich and Real Madrid respectively) of that campaign contesting the other.
Through Ryu's Lens: Messi lifts Barça, PSG bows out
Fingernails were bitten, but the Camp Nou crowd saw their side edge another excellent performance from PSG. Barça were second best until Lionel Messi came on and despite playing at 60% or so due to an injury, the Argentine led the Catalans into the back of the net.
For the second consecutive round, Barcelona opponents have left the Camp Nou wondering why they are out of the competition. In the round of 16 it was AC Milan who failed to take their chances in Spain and tonight it was Paris Saint-Germain.
This loss will stick with Paris Saint-Germain for a while as they went out of the Champions League after drawing 1-1 at the Camp Nou, and Barca progress 3-3 draw on aggregate.
French powerhouseParis Saint-Germain might have the chance of a lifetime when they face Barcelona this week in the second leg of their Champions LeagueQuarterfinal tie. PSG has everything going their way and not qualifying for the semifinals will seem as an underachievement for many associated with the club, both fan and player alike.
Paris Saint Germain Crest (Google Creative Commons)
Paris Saint-Germain have shot up the world footballing ranks rather quickly in the last couple of years. Since the Qatar Investment Authority got involved (and eventually bought) the club in 2011, PSG have been on a spending spree. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva, Ezequiel Lavezzi, are all massive signings for any club.
A draw on the scoreline, but for sure a victory for the crowd. This was a match compiled of world-class quality and breathtaking dramas. It might be a roller-coaster night for the French supporters. More importantly, their hopes of advancing further in the Champions League is still kept alive as French La Ligue leaders PSG shock Barcelona.
Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona (Photo by Victor Fraile/Getty Images)
Barcelona traveled to the French capital in a meeting between the league leaders in France and Spain respectively with Barca holding a 13-point lead of Real Madrid and the Parisians keeping a seven-point advantage of Marseille.
Last week, Juventus clinched their second consecutive Serie A title with their win over Palermo. They have established themselves as one of the best clubs in Europe with their stellar season. However, with their unfortunate exit from the Champions League, manager Antonio Conte doesn't believe that his team has been given the resources to compete with the top teams in Europe, Germany, and Spain.
Juventus is willing to bide their time for Liverpool marksman Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan's future has been the subject of frenzied speculation, with incoming Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola believed to be readying a £50m bid for him. Suarez has been indispensable for Liverpool this season, who are seventh, seven points adrift of Arsenal in fifth.
We open tonight's pod with our usual dissection of the Champions League. Did Thiago Silva prove why Joey Barton will never be a credible pundit? Did Zlatan Ibrahimovic struggle mentally? Have Juventus got a chance against Bayern Munich? All will attempt to be revealed.
On tonight's pod we also become somewhat reflective.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic claimed an unceremonious hat-trick during Sweden's 2-0 win over the Faroe Island's, yes I hear ye saying how could he have claimed a hat-trick despite the 2-0 scoreline, well Zlatan being Zlatan claimed his hat-trick by hitting the opposing keeper in the face with the ball with a Ronaldinho like skill, looking away from his target while hitting the target with brilliant accuracy.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored both goals in Sweden's 2-0 World Cup qualifier win against the Faroe Islands, but he felt their incessant complaining to the referee throughout the match required further punishment. At one point during the match, Zlatan spoke to the referee with Faroe Islands defender Atli Gregersen.
Thanks to a pair of (one assumes) self-appointed "Balkan dancehall ambassadors" named Sanjin & Youthman, the world has a new song about Zlatan Ibrahimovic in it.
Now, we've got no idea what "Balkan dancehall" should sound like, but we're just going to press ahead and guess that it's a cross between Sean Paul's dismal atonal whinnying and the "trance" demo beat from a Casio keyboard.
Milan Focus: The Travels Of Antonio Nocerino is a post from: Serie A Weekly Milan Focus: The Travels Of Antonio Nocerino is a post from: Serie A Weekly Antonio Nocerino has gone from ascending to the ranks of the Italian national team to being surplus requirements at Milan in the space of just two seasons.
Letting his inner Zlatan Ibrahimovic take hold, FC Copenhagen defender and Denmark international Lars Jacobsen decided to celebrate his side winning the Danish Superliga title by slide tackling former teammate turned TV reporter Peter Moller.
Moller was interviewing Copenhagen's Nicolai Jorgensen after the 0-0 draw against Brondby that proved to be enough to seal the title when Jacobsen broke ranks from the procession of players heading towards the tunnel.
Since Zlatan Ibrahimovic is rarely one to shy away from the spotlight, some people wondered whether he would resent the arrival of David Beckham at PSG. In their short time together, the two have gotten along swimmingly, though. And one of the reasons Ibrahimovic appreciates Beckham is because of his ability to serve as a diversion to the media and unexpectedly persistent scooter riding Parisians that have kept Zlatan from walking around Paris.
