The transfer window officially closed this past Friday so it is now time to observe which European clubs were best improved. This is an inexact science and only time will surely tell who which clubs have benefited the most, but the following three clubs look to have emerged on this side of summer in the best shape.

1. PSG – Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was the most famous of the French club’s incoming transfers and is sure to bring world-class ability to the attack at PSG. Having played at Inter Milan, Barcelona, and AC Milan, as well as amassing 80 appearances internationally for Sweden, Ibrahimovic is as good as they come and should help take PSG to the next level. Also arriving at the club were experienced Brazilian center back Thiago Silva and the exciting Argentinean talent Ezequiel Lavezzi. Further, they signed a young 19 year-old named Marco Verratti, a creative midfielder who has been compared to Andrea Pirlo. Expect PSG to dominate France’s Ligue 1 and make some noise in the UEFA Champions League.

2. Manchester City – Although it was a rather quiet summer until just a few days ago, Manchester City showed again why having infinite funds is so much fun for assembling a squad. They decided to buy up a great deal of young English talent with Scott Sinclair and Jack Rodwell. Sinclair, a winger, has been an integral part of the recent success for Swansea City. Rodwell came through the ranks at Everton as a defensive midfielder and has recently been called up to the England national side. They also bought Spanish midfielder Javi Garcia from Benfica and young Serbian defender, Matija Nastasic. Finally, they purchased right back Maicon from Inter Milan, a veteran right back. Although most of these signings will be seen as projects, the club is already an incredible squad and they have displayed a strong desire to build for the future. Last year’s Premier League champions were also to hold onto all their stars so they have merely improved.

3. Manchester United – They basically upgraded two positions that they were already strong in with buying two superstars. They offloaded struggling Dimitar Berbatov and brought in the EPL’s best striker Robin van Persie. The Dutchman had a world class hat trick this weekend and probably could have scored 6 if he had converted a penalty and scored a few of the other numerous opportunities that he just missed. Also, the club bought Shinji Kagawa, a wonderful Japanese midfielder who has been impressive in Germany for Borussia Dortmund. The great thing for this team is that they didn’t sell anyone of note. Yes, their midfield is aging and they should have bought some more youth there, but Giggs and Scholes are still quality and their strikers are the best in the world now between Van Persie and Wayne Rooney.

Many teams bought and sold players this summer, and although many teams will feel that they improved, those teams were also guilty of selling their best players. Chelsea, for example is thrilled with new signings Eden Hazard and Oscar, but legendary striker Didier Drogba left the club. Players like these will be missed and their former clubs will have to make do without them. Therefore, since Man United, Man City, and PSG retained their best players and merely upgraded by purchasing great talent, I felt that they had the most successful 2012 summer transfer season.This article has been provided by soccer uniforms provider SoccerShirtsOnline.com; re-publication of this article is permitted but all text and links must remain intact, including this paragraph

Author: David Jesse Barnes
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

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Anticipating a decision of the sport’s governing body that will result to the relocation of the club to another town, and determined not to allow a proud and colorful history to just die down, loyal and avid supporters of the Wimbledon Football Club formally organized the AFC Wimbledon in 2002. There were no other options because they were left with no team to follow in the coming season leagues. A competitive football team was formed in just a short time in preparation for the 2002-2003 season. In its first game ever as a team, it played a pre-season friendly game against Sutton United. Although it lost that game, it was able to attract a record number of fans.

With Terry Eames as its first manager, AFC Wimbledon competed in its inaugural league, the 2002-2003 season of the Combined Counties League. Starting slowly, the team gradually became strong in the end and went on to finish third place in its maiden league. This was the start of the new club’s rise to fame and glory. Its succeeding campaign, the 2003-2004 season, was more exciting and memorable as the team displayed remarkable performance, emerging as the champion and with a clean slate. This feat had established a record for the AFC Wimbledon at that time as the only football team in England in any league level to have maintained a perfect league record of no losses throughout the tournament. The team proceeded to win more tournaments under a new manager, Dave Anderson, its second.

As the club became more famous, management saw the need to extend its program of providing other sectors the chance to play football for the club. It organized youth teams of different age levels, and also a women’s team called the AFC Wimbledon Ladies. Because of the popularity of the club and also of the game, AFC Wimbledon was sponsored by Sports Interactive, a computer games developer. But, in the middle of the 2004-2005 season, the team played with its new name, the Milton Keynes Dons. It was named after the town of Milton Keynes in Bukinghamshire, the place where the former Wimbledon Football Club moved in years back. Time came when the team also has to encounter failures in its campaigns but, that is part of the game. With the arrival in 2007 of Terry Brown, the club’s third and current manager, the team regained its winning ways and continued with its upward momentum, winning more games and tournaments along the way.

Author: Jose Tagarda
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Founded in 1977 as the only Under-16 soccer tournament in the world, it had invited participation from youth teams of professional clubs such as Everton FC, England; Newcastle United FC, England; CR Flamengo, Brazil; SL Benfica, Portugal and Juventus FC, Italy. National youth teams from countries such as Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Australia, Taiwan and Hong Kong have also participated.

By playing against top club teams from the top 50 ranked countries in the world, the LionCity Cup exposes young Singaporean footballers to different styles of football, tougher opponents and challenging playing conditions. Lately, the Singapore national youth football team fielded two teams, the Under-16 and the Under-15s, to provide opportunities for more boys to gain such exposure. Fandi Ahmad, V. Sundramoorthy, Indra Sahdan and more recently Hazim Faiz Hassan were among the Singapore football stars whose professional football trajectories took off after playing for the Under-16 national squads.

Tournament Format

There are two stages, the group and knockout stage.

In the group stage, teams are pooled into groups of three. Each team plays a round-robin tournament within the group. The teams within a group are ranked by points–two points for a win; one, draw; zero, loss–and the top two teams advance to the knockout stage.

The knockout stage is a single-elimination tournament where teams play each other in one-off matches, with extra time and penalty shootouts used to decide the winner if necessary. The finals are played at the Jalan Besar Stadium, home of Singapore football.

A Tournament for Everyone

To keep the tournament affordable, concessionary prices for students, senior citizens, and bundle packages are sold at all AXS machines island-wide as well as at all Ticketbooth outlets. Singaporeans from all walks of life are encouraged to watch "The Beautiful Game" as played by world-class youths.

Organisation and Media Coverage

Red Card Pte Ltd and the Football Association of Singapore co-organises the Lion City Cuo; and the Singapore Sports Council promotes the tournament. StarHub, the official broadcast partner, screens live telecasts of the matches only on SuperSports Arena, which is a free sports channel for all StarHub TV customers. Canon Singapore has continually donated money to the Singapore teams by donating money, and held football and sports photography clinics for the Lion City Cup’s fans in Singapore.

Was your "O"-level performance good?
L1R5 Calculation for Singapore JC.

Author: CS Chong
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The Old Trafford Stadium keeps expanding – its current capacity is over 76,000 – and the demand for tickets shows no sign of slowing down, despite the economic downturn.

Much has been made, quite rightly, of the influence over the club of the legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson. A blunt, at times irascible Scotsman, Ferguson has been at ‘The Theatre of Dreams’ since November, 1986 – a tenure almost unprecedented in any era of the game. He has managed to stay hungry, determined and, most importantly, in total command during that time and will, when he does eventually decide to stand down, undoubtedly be hard to replace.

Ferguson’s main attribute, for me, has been to keep United at the top whilst continually changing his team. There has been one spell – between 2002 and 2005 – when the club ‘only’ had an FA Cup to display from the major competitions; but even then they could hardly be said to have languished in mediocrity.

The manager has had that priceless ability of being able to move players in and out of his squad, without it disrupting team spirit or damaging the pattern of play. Additionally, he’s shown a completely single-minded approach to moving out players he thought would be possibly past their best or simply not up to standard. Yes, he’s made a few mistakes – Kleberson, Veron, Taibi, Djemba Djemba, Jordi Cruyff – but some of those could realistically have been expected to have been successful. Kleberson was the midfield hub of a Brazilian team that won the World Cup, for goodness sake.

However, I do happen to think that Sir Alex has a hard season in prospect. Not one where United are in danger of plummeting down to fifth, or anything like that. But I do feel things could be a little more problematic when it comes to running away with the league title again.

Now, I’m not just saying that because Ronaldo has flown away to his spiritual home – I’m sure they’ll suit each other perfectly. Although a player of his skill – and the number of goals he scored – will not easily be found, it’s certain the staff at Old Trafford will bring at least one player in to take the winker’s place.

My problems are elsewhere. I do think there are a number of players who are just about past their use-by date. Ryan Giggs might have been PFA Player of the Year but we all know that was a sentimental award – unless he really was exceptional in the 15 league games he started during the season! Clearly, Giggs, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes cannot be expected to play much next season.

Then there are others about whom you can’t be really sure they’re going to be quite good enough. Darren Fletcher has come on enormously in the last two years but the same can’t really be said for Nani, Anderson, Ji-Sung Park and one or two more. It was abundantly clear in the Champions’ League Final that Barcelona’s midfield was inordinately superior to Manchester’s. Owen Hargreaves, hopefully for United, will return to something like his best form – but Michael Carrick still looks a bit of a ‘flat track bully’ to me,

And, of course, there are the classic Berbatov and Rooney problems. I don’t suppose I’m alone in wondering what on earth Wayne Rooney was doing spending half of last season stuck out on the left ‘doing a job for the team’ and looking a shadow of the player we all think he could be. And the manager’s faith in the expensive Berbatov was clearly demonstrated in the last few vital matches of the season when the player barely got picked. Personally, for all Tevez’s enthusiasm and running around, the best pairing up front for Manchester United has to be the intelligence of Berbatov – who did have more ‘assists’ than any other United player last year – with the brilliant Rooney playing in his best position alongside him.

I am looking forward to the 2009/2010 season in the Premier League. Manchester United can be sure of playing their fast, flowing football and will, of course, be right there at the end. I do think, though, that, if they are going to achieve the amazing feat of four titles in a row, the manager has got quite a lot of hard work to do. For information on Manchester United fixtures and other football packages see Football Ticket Packages.

Author: Steve Yates
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You have to consider the value packs instead of single packs while buying computer printer ink. In fact you have to spend a bit more money on the value packs of computer printer ink when you are purchasing computer printer ink; you can save several dollars on each cartridge too. However buying bulk proves to be cheaper in the long run like anything else sold in these days.

Already I have mentioned that you should not rely or compromise the quality of the ink while you are buying for your computer printer. In fact by this doing you can save yourself a bundle. For instance, if you are buying ink refills may sound good at the time. But thing is that how far it is true? Printing quality is severely reduced when a consumer uses ink refills and the process of refilling the cartridge get messy. That is why you should go for a better quality ink cartridges on the Internet or at your different local stores.

However you have to pay a few extra dollars but you can save quite a bit of hassle down the road. In fact, you have to consider recycling your ink cartridges when you are finished with them if you want to save a few dollars on computer ink. Several companies are there to refill your cartridges as you send across to them. By this doing you can get back a few dollars on your initial ink purchase in return. The cartridges that they get can later refill and sell by them.

Buying Bulk Computer Printer Ink:

You can also save your money in buying bulk computer printer ink cartridges and refill kits. In fact you have to find out the best deal to get such ink cartridges and refill kits. Do you know you’re saving money without compromising quality when buying bulk computer printer ink?

Manufacturer Filled Cartridges:

Advantages: Usually you can get the discounts for 4 or more cartridges of same type. You can use most the bulk buy ink if you do have both a color and a black cartridge. You can use black for document printers and for photo printers it’ll be color. You’ll get a better quality ink which has a long lasting if they are first-filled cartridges from the manufacturer.

Disadvantages: While you are seeking the ink option, bulk-buying computer ink will be the most expensive option for you, but you can still save plenty of money in buying this. They do dry out like the refills when they sit in the packages. But due to higher quality packaging they won’t dry as fast as refills. Shipping is usually higher for these than the same number of refilled cartridges.

Remanufactured (Refilled) Cartridges:

Advantages: You have to consider buying the cartridges that are already filled with ink in bulk if you don’t want the hassle and mess of refilling your ink cartridges. All most all inks are in form of recycled cartridges. You can save lot more dollars on the refilling cartridges without the mess to you. You can get these inks both in color and black ink for Canon, Epson, Lexmark and Hewlett Packard printers. There are also many different brands which can vary in availability and reliability.

Disadvantages: Shelf life of ink once it’s in the cartridge is less than ink in the bottle. While you definitely don’t want to unwrap a cartridge until you’re ready to install it, it’s drying out in the cellophane wrap. These are more expensive than the kits to refill cartridges yourself.

Do-It-Yourself Refill Kits:

Advantages: The most advantage of this kind of cartridge is Cheap. You can refill your cartridges by a bottle of ink many times. There will be no chance of evaporation or absorption. So you should not be worry about that. In fact the plastic bottles won’t allow the ink to evaporate or be absorbed.

Disadvantages: The disadvantage of this cartridge is you will have to refill more often. There are many of the printer cartridges which are especially low-cost models, require special tools to refill or else it can not refill at all. Another disadvantage of this cartridge is the messy in fact you can not use this handy.

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Author: George Wood
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Keeping the kids from getting bored with repeated practice of the same skills is a challenge and here are some tips to make those practice sessions interesting and readily acceptable to the kids.

1. If you want the kids to be disciplined and purposeful with their practice sessions, you have to show them the way by setting an example. Kids observe and follow what you do. So organize the sessions properly, be punctual on the field, display your talent and give equal opportunity for everyone to learn from you. Winning the trust and respect of your students in this way is important for effective learning.

2. Tell the kids to get their own ball to the field every day. It is important for each kid to have a ball during training. Keep a few spare balls with you in case a few of the kids turn up without one.

3. Some moves and tactics such as kicking, dribbling, throwing and passing have to be practiced on a daily basis as they are the basic skills of the game. It is important that you ensure that every kid practices these daily. While some are enthusiastic about this, others may need a little persuasion from you.

4. While soccer drills are important, it is also very important to have more games during practice. The real test of a player’s skill is his ability to use them effectively in a game. Games allow you to observe the player’s skills in action, try out new things while keeping the emphasis on soccer.

5. The success of any team depends on teamwork and discipline. Kids will make mistakes and will have a tendency to fall out of line. Any discipline violations whether minor or major should be discussed with the kids involved and rectified. Discipline is an area where the kids will need your counseling skills.

6. While you keep a watch over the game and everyone’s performance, keep an eye out for players who are not actively taking part. It is important that everybody takes active part in the game. If you notice players who are a bit hesitant to do so, talk to them about the importance of their role and their positions. Encourage them to take responsibility for their roles and positions.

7. To make the team’s defense strong it is important to practice scrimmage, but it is easy to overdo it. Around 20 minutes towards the end of the game is more than enough for scrimmage and do it without a goal keeper so that the players learn to defend without relying on him.

8. Innovation is the hallmark of a good instructor. Innovation also helps keep the interest of the players. So always be on the lookout for new methods and tactics and don’t hesitate to try them out in the games.

Incorporate the above tips in your soccer training sessions. They will surely help the kids in picking up and perfecting their skills in minimal time. You will find many more resources such as this in our youth soccer coaching community. Register without delay to ensure that you and your team get the maximum benefit from them. Do this and you will see your team’s performance get better and better with each practice session.

Darcey Deeds is a freelance writer out of Austin, Texas. She currently has teamed up with Avila Soccer which is the leader in Austin soccer training for both kids and adults.

Author: Darcey Deeds
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

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Nike CTR360 MAESTRI

It features a series of technological improvements designed to increase ball control, foot protection and comfort. Nike used the Kanga-Lite artificial leather into the boots. It’s a durable and lightweight material that is a replica of kangaroo leather, which is also found in other shoes.

Adidas Predator

The first Adidas Predator cleats were launched in 1994. It revolutionized football footwear design with its better ball-swerving potential. This shoes’ popularity has continued to progress with players sponsored by Adidas such as Steven Gerrard, David Beckham and Lionel Messi.

Puma King

The Puma King was introduced in 1968 and it has been used by one of the best players in football history. The Puma XL (2010 model), has its classic feel retained like the ones in the previous models. In 2009, it was awarded the “Panel Football Boot of the Year” by Footy-Boots.com.

Umbro Speciali

Worn by defender John Terry, this has been one of Umbro’s flagship soccer boots. The middle part of the shoe has an A-frame design that supports the middle of the foot to reduce foot injuries.

Nike Mercurial

The Nike Mercurial is intended for agile players like Cristiano Ronaldo, who uses them. Nike incorporated its very own “Flywire” technology, designed to make it lightweight, into the model. In 2009, the Nike Mercurial Vapor V was awarded the “Populist Football Boot of the Year” by Footy-Boots.com.

Adidas AdiPure

The Adidas AdiPure is a very simple shoe. The boot’s design is famous for its elegance, simplicity and relaxing fit.

Adidas Copa Mundial

One of the most and still popular soccer boots is the Copa Mundial by Adidas. It was first introduced in 1979. Kangaroo leather is the material on the shoe’s upper part, providing a snug fit and good ball handling.

Puma Powercat

Puma released the Powercat 2 years ago for the World Cup which immediately received a positive number of reviews. It has “3D Power Shooting Technology”, designed to boost shooting strength.

Diadora Pro Line

Italian player Francesco Totti helped with the development of Diadora’s Pro Line soccer shoes series. Diadora incorporated its own Axeler Technology on the Maximus and LX models to enhance the flexibility of the soccer boots.

Nike Tiempo

This shoe was designed according to the specs of Ronaldinho, a soccer legend. While these shoes highlight its touch, feel and ball control, the Nike Tiempo is famous for having a comfortable feel.

For more information on buying soccer boots, visit our soccer boots Melbourne soccer shop.

Author: Nigel Reed
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Brazil

Brazil holds the tag as the best national soccer team in the world having the world cup a record six times, most recently in 2002. They are also the only national team to have played in every world cup. Brazil has itself produced some of the greatest names in the sport such as Pele, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Zico and Socrates. The Brazilian way of football is always characterized by individual skill, devastating attacking play and an eye for spectacular goals. In every major tournament they participate in, they are usually billed as outright favourites.

Argentina

The Argentinean national team has always been full of talented players; players such as Maradona, Batistuta and Veron need no introduction. Its current team were the gold medallists in the 2008 Olympics and are therefore potential world beaters. Currently, they boast of having the best player in the world in the form of Lionel Messi who now captains the side, and a host of other world class players such as Tevez, Di Maria, Aguero and Higuain. With these current crops of stars, they are surely one of the teams to watch in the forthcoming World Cup to be hosted in their rival nation, Brazil.

Spain

Up to 2008, Spain had always been considered as one of the most under achieving national soccer teams in the world but has silenced critics in the since then. They won the 2008 European Championships and 2010 World Cup in amazing fashion and currently top the FIFA World Rankings. They have two of the best midfielders in the world in Xavi and Iniesta and other household names such as Cassillas, Torres, Silva and Fabregas. With their current status, they are favorites to clinch this year’s European Championships.

Germany

The German national team must be one of the unluckiest teams in the world of soccer. They always manage to reach either semi- finals or finals of major tournaments but somehow miss out on the top prize. They were finalists in the 2002 world cup, finalists in 2008 European Championships and semi-finalists in both the 2006 and 2010 World cups. Current manager Joachim Low has injected a unique brand of compact and possession football that has attracted the eyes of many. Few can dare bet against them in major tournaments and they will surely want to clinch their first European Championship this year since 1996.

Italy

Italy has always produced formidable sides and is well known around the world for their astute defending and counter attacking football. This style of play won them the 2006 World cup. Players such as Maldini, Cannavaro and Nesta and Buffon have been the rock of the Italian defense in the recent past and they have been completed with sharp shooting attackers such as Del Piero, Vieri, Baggio and Totti. With the up and coming star players such as Balotelli, Marchisio and Rossi in their ranks, the future of Italian football looks as bright as ever.

Darcey Deeds is a freelance writer out of Austin, Texas. She currently has teamed up with Avila Soccer which is the leader in soccer training in Austin for both kids and adults.

Author: Darcey Deeds
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Hitherto, FIFA has resisted the introduction of goal-line technology but its benefits cannot be denied. Video referees were introduced into rugby league in 1996 when they were used in Europe’s Super League. It was subsequently adopted by the Australian National Rugby League with good effect. The match referee can ask the “video ref” to rule on a number of matters to decide if a try should be awarded: has the ball been grounded properly; was there a knock-on; was there an off-side; did the player step into touch; and, was there any obstruction?

Introduction within Rugby Helps Officials
Rugby introduced goal-line technology in 2001. Referees can call on the video official, known as the “television match official” or TMO, to consult on decisions relating to the scoring of a try or a kick at goal.

The use of goal-line technology helps match officials make the correct decision. Sometimes their view is obstructed or else a call is marginal. And players cannot be relied upon to help as they, too, often cannot tell what has happened with any certainty, assuming that they are prepared to be entirely honest in the first place.

Goal-line technology is not always foolproof, however, and mistakes are still made but the number of errors is being reduced and often a replay shows an aspect of an incident that players were unaware of and would otherwise have disputed. In most cases, therefore goal-line technology is beneficial for the game.

One can only wonder why it is taking so long for football to embrace goal-line technology. The FA in England has plans in place to introduce the technology in 2013 and, with the latest incident even FIFA President Sepp Blatter has at long last admitted that something needs to be done.

Will Technology Slow Down the Game too Much?
But there are still those who oppose the idea, arguing that human error is part of the game and that football’s flowing nature would be affected if goal-line technology were to be introduced. On close examination, however, this position is hardly tenable. In the interests of the game error on the part of officials needs to be reduced to a minimum, which the technology will allow, and there should be no need to halt the game to review a decision.

It seems almost unthinkable that football should continue to delay the introduction of goal-line technology, but at least it seems now that change is on the way. The next question will be “How far should it be applied?” Will officials be able to review incidents like the Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” goal?

No matter how far the new technology is taken, it is certain that at least goal-line incidents must be reviewable. The game will benefit enormously as human error and the numbers of disputes are reduced. This may well also help to improve player behaviour with a knock-on effect on spectators. Football needs goal-line technology, not only to maintain the integrity of the game but also to ensure the fairest possible scenario for all teams.

I am a huge sports fan, and am pretty much glued to the TV during every major sporting event. After Euro 2012, Wimbledon and the Olympics I will be looking forward to donning the new England Rugby Jersey at the next rugby world cup!

Author: Keith Horwood
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Yes, the number of goals may be a new record which I think he can better in the years ahead, but it’s more the manner and the sheer class with which he scored the goals that made many a football enthusiast admire this rare talent that has emerged in this generation.

Of course, we all knew about his ability already but his display yesterday has put him in another League. The way in which he made the difficult act of scoring spectacular goals look so easy was just a joy to watch. One was a left foot lob, another a delightful right foot lob, then a careful control from an acute angel, a laser-guided placement with his left foot and then a drive through a number of opposing players. His unique sense of picking the right moments in games to do what he does best is simply quite extraordinary.

He has often been compared with the Legendary Pele and his fellow country man Diego Maradona as to who is the greatest player ever but I will dare to say that even these legends will secretly admit that it’s just a matter of time before this boy from the backside of Rosario, Argentina supersedes their achievements if he hasn’t already done so. Considering the fact that Messi is only 24 years of age and has at least 10 years of top flight football in him, the prospect of what he could achieve can be incredible.

It’s almost inconceivable that the world would never have seen what happened yesterday had it not been for the Barcelona scouts who intervened to save his career when he was being given up on. River Plate, one of the biggest clubs in the Argentine First Division who wanted to sign him from Newell Old Boys Club in Rosario, soon discovered that his inability to endure playing for 90 minutes was due to the absence of a growth hormone that hindered his normal physical development as a person. He looked so tiny for his age at the time that, they were not sure if he could develop physically to meet the demands of the modern game even though his talent was never in dispute. The money needed to put him on a special dieting programme was just too much they couldn’t afford it. They gave up on him but thankfully, he was spotted and taken to Barcelona’s La Masia’s training academy and the rest, they say, is history.

Talking about humble beginnings, his first contract was signed on a white handkerchief because his Dad was so frustrated with the directors of Barcelona at the time due to their indecision about his son’s future that, he gave Charles Rexach, the Director of football at the time a brief window of opportunity to make up his mind. Either they give him an answer there and then or forget about Messi forever once they fly back to Argentina. His exploits today has proven that it doesn’t matter where you begin in life but rather, it’s about you believing in your unique abilities and giftings given to you by God regardless of your size, age, race or gender.

As great as the current Barcelona team is at the moment, it is my firm conviction that if you pluck Messi out of this team, they would not have achieved as much as they have. He brings a certain quality to the team which puts them way above any other team at the moment. When games are tight, he is the only one that can come up with some special instinctive play capable of breaking down opposing teams whereby creating opportunities to score goals.

The flip side of the above argument is that, even the greatest players will find it very difficult to perform at their optimum when they are either surrounded by mediocre players or the team they find themselves in doesn’t play to their strengths. This may well be the reason why he is yet to hit the same dizzy heights with the Argentine National Team as he’s done time and time again with his Club side.

With all that he’s achieve so far, hearing him speak just makes you believe why he may go on to accomplish much more. He seems to exude this important virtue of humility which is vital not only to help get you to the top of your game but more importantly, to stay there. There isn’t any air of “superstardom” about him. His lifestyle is just simple, both on and off the pitch. I’m yet to hear any news about Messi involved in any “off the pitch” incidents that you so often associate with English Premiership players. He just seems to enjoy playing in huge stadia as much as he did when he played on the streets of Rosario.

So is he the greatest player ever? The legendary Pele seems to think he is the best by far in the world at the moment. Most football Managers, fellow professionals and the football community at large seem to think he is the best ever even though he’s yet to lead Argentina to Word Cup glory. I would not dispute that either. I think we haven’t seen the best of him yet. He is simply sublime.

Douglas Doe is passionate about promoting authentic Christian values including Music and Worship.You can access more resources on his Blog.

Author: Douglas Doe
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

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Romário scored his 1000th goal on May 20, 2007. This was a penalty kick against Sport Recife while playing for Vasco da Gama. This was the fourth time he was contracted by the club that gave him his first professional contract. The interest from Europe grew after his performance in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South-Korea. Brazil won the silver medal. He played for the Brazilian squad from 1987 to 2005.

Here is an overview of the clubs Romario played for:

1985-1988 Vasco da Gama

1988-1993 PSV

1993-1995 Barcelona

1995-1996 Flamengo

1996 Valencia

1996-1997 Flamengo

1997 Valencia

1998-1999 Flamengo

2000-2002 Vasco da Gama

2002-2003 Fluminense

2003 Al-Sadd

2003-2004 Fluminense

2005-2006 Vasco da Gama

2006 Miami FC

2006 Adelaide United

2007 Vasco da Gama

2009 America

His 1000th goal drew much attention from Brazilian and international press. They actually stopped the game for over 20 minutes. This was to allow Romario to celebrate with his fans. There is some controversy over the validity of the 1000 goals, however. Its claim is somewhat inaccurate, because the research team appointed with this task also counted his goals in junior, friendly and non-official games. The World Football Federation FIFA congratulated him on his milestone goal but stated he is still officially on 929 goals. 77 of the goals counted by the research team were scored while he played youth football, with others being scored in friendlies.

The Brazilian press claims him as one of few players in professional football history to score at least 1000 goals, just like the great Pelé and Puskás. He did not only get recognition from the press, but also from great (former) soccer players. Johan Cruyff defined him as “genius of the goal area”. In his autobiography Diego Maradona described Romário as an “incredible finisher” adding that he had not seen a striker like him, and that Romário would be in his all-time “dream team” without any hesitation. Roberto Baggio said: “Romário is one of the greatest players of all time. He has good technique and personality. He is a master of art in the penalty area.” Michael Laudrup stated Romario was his favorite striking partner throughout his career. “No one else could utilize my passes the way he did.”

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5. Francesco Totti…
Whilst Totti’s finer successes would come later than in the 90′s, he just makes the list, edging out his idol and another great Italian number 10 Guiseppe Giannini, who he would also go onto replace as captain and the very heartbeat of their beloved Roma. It was during this decade that Totti announced his arrival in Serie A, making his debut in 1993 as a precocious 16 year old. By 1995 he was a first team regular and in 1997 he was given the captaincy – in the process becoming the golden boy and symbol of his hometown club. 1998 saw him called up to the national side for the first time, qualifying for Euro 2000 where he would go on to star.

Er Pupone or il Gladiatore, as he is known, played in a variety of attacking positions before establishing himself in the trequartista role later in the decade, culminated in him winning the leagues Young Player of the Year award.

90′s clubs: Roma

90′s Apps/Goals: 173/48

90′s honours: Serie A Young Player of the Year

4. Gianfranco Zola…
A student of Diego Maradona’s whilst at Napoli, Zola’s free-kick expertise was phenomenal, scoring a number in a fashion identical to the legendary Argentine. It wasn’t just free-kicks the young Zola learnt whilst at Napoli though, his trickery and dribbling also became a trademark. Whilst understudy to Diego, Zola earned his first call-up to the national team in 1991, though his international career would never really flourish – his path blocked by another number 10, the great Roberto Baggio.

A place Zola did flourish was Parma where he moved to in 1993, becoming part of one of the most exciting success stories in 90′s Serie A folklore. At Parma, Zola was king for a period of time. The creative genius in an attacking team that won both the UEFA and Italian cup in 1995, whilst almost winning Serie A.

Zola became one of the first pioneers for the foreign boom in the English Premier League, joining Chelsea in 1996. He is one of only a few Italian’s to truly flourish whilst playing outside of Serie A, taking the English league by storm winning the league’s Player of the Year award and establishing himself as a club legend. The diminutive fantasista had a repertoire of tricks and his guile was a joy to watch in a more open and attacking league, as he inspired Chelsea to cup silverware at home and in Europe.

90′s clubs: Napoli, Parma, Chelsea

90′s Apps/Goals: 309/112

90′s honours: UEFA Cup, UEFA Supercup x 2, UEFA Cup Winners Cup, FA Cup x 2, League Cup, Coppa Italia, Premier League Player of the Year.

3. Roberto Mancini…
Very few Premier League fans will know of Mancini’s exploits as a player, but in his day he was quite the player. His 90′s career is virtually bookended by winning Serie A, with his creative, graceful style in direct conflict with his fiery, explosive temperament – ‘Mancio’ was a spectacle to behold the entire decade.

It began with a bang, gaining a bronze medal as part of Italy’s 1990 World Cup squad, and then by firing his beloved Sampdoria to their only Serie A championship in 1991 – where he had formed a fearsome partnership upfront with long-time friend Gianluca Vialli. The ‘terrible twins’ as they were known, ran riot home and abroad, reaching the European Cup final at Wembley in 1992 only to succumb to Barcelona.

Vialli moved on but Mancini stayed and seemed to grow as a player, becoming a symbol and captain. His fiery attitude on the pitch would often see him arguing with match officials for what seemed an age, but those moments were regularly overshadowed by his genius. Not as prolific as some players in his role, it was the quality of his strikes which really stood out above the others. From flicks to volleys, his goals were often works of art. Probably overlooked outside of Italy, his international career was always hindered by a plethora of quality number 10′s Italy produced at the time.

Mancini moved to Lazio in 1997 nearing the twilight of his career, ending the decade with a League and Cup double and winning the league’s Player of the Year award.

90′s clubs: Sampdoria, Lazio

90′s Apps/Goals: 296/95

90′s honours: FIFA World Cup bronze medal, Serie A title x 2, UEFA Cup Winners Cup, UEFA Supercup, Coppa Italia x 3, Serie A Player of the Year

2. Alessandro Del Piero…
A Juventus legend and still going strong, it was in the 90′s when il Pinturicchio announced his arrival to the world, then took it by storm. The rise of a dominant Juventus side in the late 90′s helped to establish Del Peiro’s fame, particularly in Europe.

Signed by La Vecchia Signora in 1993 Alex played further forward as a striker, though he had all the tools any true number 10 needs. Once the fantasista role (and number 10 shirt) was vacated by Roberto Baggio in 1995, Alex slotted in and never looked back, though was often used as a second striker when tactical adjustments were used.

His movement, vision and particularly his curling strikes into the far corner of the net became his trademark. So much so that they name an area of the pitch after him, the danger zone from where he used to shoot from – the ‘Del Piero zone’. He was also a dead ball specialist, scoring free-kicks and penalties with seeming ease.

During the late 90′s Juventus were a world super power and Del Piero was their prince, amassing quite the trophy haul throughout the decade which puts him second on this list – although he never quite translated his club form to the international stage, for whom he made his debut in 1995.

90′s clubs: Juventus

90′s Apps/Goals: 165/59

90′s honours: Serie A title x 3, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Supercup, FIFA Intercontinental Cup, Coppa Italia, Intertoto Cup, Serie A Player of the Year

1. Roberto Baggio…
For a period of time during the 90′s Roberto Baggio was quite simply the best player on the planet. The fantasista and Italian legend was a breathtaking sight to behold during this period. In a time when tactics and athleticism were taking precedence more and more over natural ability and technique, Baggio was a throwback to the days when artistry pure creative talent took priority.

The beginning of the 90′s was a hectic time for Baggio as he was thrust into the world limelight – firstly becoming the most expensive player in the world as Fiorentina sold him to Juventus for a then record £7.7million, much against the will of their fans which sparked a riot lasting 3 days in Florence. Secondly, he starred for Italy in the 1990 World Cup finals, scoring ‘goal of the tournament’ (a sublime dribble and finish, from the halfway line) as Italy finished 3rd overall.

It took Baggio a while to adapt to his new surroundings, but once he did there was no stopping him, becoming the captain at Juve, leading by example and providing the creativity and spectacle during their matches. Many opposition teams had to adapt to facing him, sending out man-markers (sometimes two!) in an attempt to halt his creativity or his goal scoring prowess. Indeed, goal scoring is something which came naturally to Baggio. So cool was he in front of goal, the media used to state he had ‘ice in his veins’. Il divin codino was virtually prolific in one-on-one situations, though it was often the quality and variety of goals he scored which astounded: chips, volleys, dribbles, curlers – he could do it all…and often did! His technique and close dribbling skills were also part and parcel of his game, as were his free-kicks and penalties. What is so remarkable is that he created more goals than he scored – a mark of true fantasista genius.

Whilst at Juve he was crowned World Player of the Year and was the Ballon d’Or winner in 1993. Baggio then almost single-handedly dragged Italy to the 1994 World Cup final, scoring 5 goals (all decisive) before succumbing to a hamstring injury before the final. Baggio stated he would play on one leg if necessary, rather than miss football’s greatest match and it is unfortunate that some choose to best remember him for his penalty miss in that final, where they lost in a shoot-out to Brazil.

He enjoyed less success with moves to AC Milan (although he won his second scudetto here) and Inter, as coaches prefered regimented, robotic play over allowing fantasista freedom, but in between enjoyed a fantastic year at little Bologna in 1997 where he had his most prolific goal scoring season.

Roberto scored in all 3 World Cup finals during the 90′s, notching an amazing 9 times in total and was perhaps the one Italian fantasista who reproduced his club form at international level, leading him to become loved all around the globe.

90′s clubs: Juventus, AC Milan, Bologna, Inter Milan

90′s Apps/Goals: 263/121

90′s honours: World Player of the Year, European Player of the Year, Serie A title x 2, UEFA Cup, Coppa Italia, FIFA World Cup bronze medal, FIFA World Cup silver medal.

Hi there, my name is Jimmy Areabi and I’m a freelance football/soccer journalist, and Editor for http://www.footballmundial.co.uk

I have a passion for football and cover the English Premier League, Spanish La Liga and Italy’s Serie A amongst others. Come and visit our site for news, unique articles and features from the beautiful world of football!

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Poland had qualified and Peru had been eliminated yet for Italy, Cameroon still remained with whom they simply could not lose to. This being a situation similar to the one Germany found itself in four years ago in their last group match against Tunisia. As for my part, I could not get out of my mind that this was a team which had so much potential and would be playing so well if they just managed to get their act together.

Cameroon, for what concerned them had drawn both their games at 0 with both Peru and Poland and had basically given a good account of themselves in front of their fans as well as the rest of the world which had taken a liking to this strong spirited African team. Cameroon being a strong physical team with good control of the ball and a disciplined defense yet seemed to lack the savvy on offense of European or South American teams which made them perhaps easier to defend against. Cameroon also having players of the quality of Tokoto, Milla (who would be a star of “Italia 90″) and their goalkeeper; Thomas Nokono. All in all a team which had left found memories with the fans of not only themselves but African football as a whole.

The game started with Italy wearing all white though this I was not sure of the reason since Italy’s blue could not be confused with Cameroon’s green yet despite the reason; the fact remained that Italy would not be playing in their typical blue jerseys. Italy needing only a draw however started attacking as if wanting to put it out of doubt that it would be them to qualify.

Italy did dominate the first few minutes much like Peru and Poland had done yet they too did not really create many scoring opportunities. It being late in to the half that from a free-kick Conti was able to beat the well executed Cameroonian off-sides trap yet his shot inexplicable missed; when all which was left for him to do was put the ball in the net.

The game was in fact, a lively game with both teams going up and down the field with some nice plays on both sides. Italy however came ever so close on a header from Collovati which Nokono just barely managed to get a hand on as it was going over his head; to tip it upward. The ball hitting off the crossbar in what was a great scoring chance for Italy as I could practically see Italy in the second round for just a split second yet it was not to be.

The first half however ended at 0 with some disappointment on my part not to be winning yet what mattered was that Italy would go through if the score remained as it was. Many perhaps were expecting more from Italy after having won their three first round matches in the last world cup but at the end of the day what really counts is going through to the second round as once there; all teams go back to being even.

Paolo Rossi frankly speaking had not done much in this world cup yet he had had some near misses like he did against Poland but it was the 60 minute mark of the game that he found some of the greatness he showed in Argentina 78. This the moment he crossed the ball to Graziani; who headed the ball in for an Italian goal. A goal and what a joy it was to be up by 1-0 and about to enter the second round. A goal perhaps which Nokono would have had if had not tripped or slipped yet this hardly mattered because Italy was leading by 1 -0 with nothing to do but hold out for 30 minutes and theirs would be a victory. Italy would also win its first match in a world cup since their 1-0 win over Austria four whole games ago.

How calm it felt to be on top and knowing that Italy would be in the second round most likely against Maradona’s Argentina and Zico’s Brazil but that was later; for the moment Italy was in the lead by 1-0. What joy or at least it was for a whole minute till Mbida managed to tie the game for Cameroon at 1-1. All the glory taken from Italy as again they were in a draw which would still be good enough to qualify yet nothing was sure. Mbida’s goal did look slightly off-sides but this again hardly mattered as the goal was given as Cameroon held on to their hopes that they might go through.

Italy and Cameroon were tied and such did it end and where I could share the feelings of those who were sad over Cameroon’s departure, who had done so much more than expected; I also felt glad Italy had qualified. Cameroon and Algeria letting people all over the world see that there was another continent which could play football in the world. The game in and of itself had not been much to look at but it had been nice to watch and though Italy had not lost; I still felt there was more to this team that met the eye.

My name is Gianni Truvianni, author of many an article to be found on the internet along with the book “New York’s Opera Society”. My works also include the books “What Should Not Matter”, “Love Your Sister” and several others which still remain unpublished though I am presently looking to change this.

Author: Gianni Truvianni
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Lionel Messi

Lionel is only 24 years old and currently plays for fc Barcelona. Born in Rosario, Messi started playing football at the age of 5, under his father’s wings, at a local club. He then rolled into the Barca youth team where he worked his way up from C-B teams to the main squad in rapid pace. His debut in the highest class of football began at the age of 16, during a friendly against FC Porto.

Now in 2011 it’s time to analyse his style of play and it becomes crystal clear that he’s a master with the ball. Thanks to his short length and fast legs, any opponent will have a hard time keeping up with him. However unlike most magicians, he’s also a terrific team player.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano is 26 years old and is a Real Madrid player. Ronaldo started his career at Sporting (2002) and in 2003 he guided his team to a win against the big Manchester United. The players of Man U knew that they would rather play with him than against him, so they contracted Ronaldo for the start of the 2003 season. After countless of successes, he became the most expensive player ever when he transferred to Real Madrid in June of 2009, the price: 94 million euro.

Ronaldo is a very fast and strong player. He took sprint lessons from the Olympics champion and is clearly a player “from the streets”, pulling more tricks with a ball than any party clown could ever aim for. This quality is further emphasised by a great shooting technique that makes him an excellent asset during set pieces.

Versus

Now it’s time to compare the two players and pinpoint a winner, in my respectful opinion. First it’s clear that both players are terrific assets to any team, and both share a lot of qualities. For one they can both outplay several opponents and make a difference when the opposition is tight.

However a winner has to be chosen and in my opinion that winner is Cristiano Ronaldo. At this point Messi might have the edge on the field, but Ronaldo has great free kicks and is clearly stronger physically. The trade off being that Messi is the better team player. I remember Ronaldo when he played for Manchester United and back then he was, without a doubt, the best player in the world. His way of attacking suited the wing-play of Manchester United perfectly, and while less obvious in Madrid’s style of play, his past years are to be considered. Also in Ronaldo’s favour is his great charisma off the pitch. Messi is a pure footballer and doesn’t have that same level of personality away from the field, something past greats (Cruijff, Maradona) did have.

And that’s it for this comparison. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi share a lot of qualities; especially the ball technique of both is ground breaking. And while Messi currently has the edge, in my opinion Ronaldo is the more complete footballer in the long haul, not partly thanks to his great charisma both on and off the pitch. However they’re both very young so in the coming years this slight favour can definitely swing both ways.

Ronaldo vs Messi

I’m Robin Chung. In my spare time I like to write articles and stories. My ultimate dream is to write a life altering story for a lot of readers. Feel free to visit my website and learn more!

Robin Chung

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This drill will require you to practice in an open space of about 15 by 15 yards. Space can be modified according to ability level. Players are placed in groups. Each group consists of four players with two balls in each group. Three of the players in the group are offensive players and one is the defender. It is easier if defenders are provided with a different colored jersey of some sort. The objective for the offensive players is to dribble and control the balls with one player opened until threatened by the defender. The role of the defender is not to intercept the ball from the other players but to touch one of them before they are able to pass the ball to one of the other offensive players. It is very similar the game of keep away. If the player who needs to pass the ball is touched by the defender before the pass is made, they then switch places. If the offense is able to control the balls for a 20 period they are rewarded a point. After 5 points are awarded to the offensive players, the drill is over. ( One ball instead of 2 can be used in the beginning of the drills if needed.)

This drill helps the athletes to develop a sense of controlling the ball and being smart about their passing decisions as quickly as possible. It improves their teamwork capabilities, and provides an opportunity to come up with a sense of strategy working as a unit. This drill duplicates a sequence of movements similar to the movements and skills needed in an actual soccer game. Keeping the ball away from a defender and teamwork are key aspects that this drill emphasizes.

As with any soccer drill and working with youth, correct implementation and coaching techniques that encourage fun and teamwork are drills that provide successful attitudes and happy players. This drill provides a non-stressful type of contact activity that can be modified to promote the ultimate result.

Nigel Reed has been involved in soccer during the 60′s, 70′s and 80′s as a player and has been coaching youth soccer in Australia since 2000.

Learn more on How to play soccer and take advantage of the Free Soccer Drills on Nigels website

Good luck with your coaching, unless you play my team of course and remember Practice Makes Permanent

© 2009 Coaching-Youth-Soccer-For-Success

Author: Nigel Reed
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Alba’s signing to FC Barcelona is a homecoming in many ways. He was brought up at FC Barcelona’s youth academy and therefore familiar with the Barça philosophy of how football is played. However, with so few positions available in the squad, he was released in 2005 and continued at UE Cornella for two years before being signed to Valencia for six thousand euros; he was loaned to Gimnastic de Tarragona in 2008-2009, before returning to Valencia, where he made his first team debut in September 2009.

Although Jordi Alba made over one hundred appearances for Valencia, he enjoyed a fairly low profile before Euro 2012. However, his generous efforts coupled with his fervent defending and swift runs propelled the Catalan into the spotlight, and made fans see the potential and passion of Alba as he became one of the most influential players in the tournament.

The overwhelming domination of football in Spain by Barcelona and Real Madrid means that many of the players selected for the national squad tend to be from those two clubs. Anyone who makes it into the squad from any other Spanish club has to be a really outstanding player, more proof that Alba will make it at Barcelona. And Alba replaced a good player, Joan Capdevila, and created a name for himself and his potential to succeed in one of the most successful teams anywhere in the world in the 21st century.

During the Euro 2012 championship, the brilliant performance by Jordi Alba was noticed by people across the world, and many elite clubs in Europe suddenly sat up and noticed. Thankfully, Barcelona’s representatives had already been negotiating with Valencia for several months before that and his Euro performance must surely have helped inflate the 14 million euro transfer fee.

Jordi Alba shares a good bond with Andres Iniesta, who together with Xavi Hernandez and Lionel Messi, became the engine that made Barcelona work during Pep Guardiola’s era. Those who followed the Euro 2012 championship should be aware of how well Alba and Iniesta gelled, offering smart interchanges, quick passing and constant plays that were a treat to watch.

You can see Jordi Alba play at the Nou Camp with FC Barcelona too! Check availability at Simply Barcelona Tickets or keep up to date with the latest Barça news!

Author: David Leigh
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Manchester City deserved the trophy mainly because their team played positive football. This is attributed to the vastly superior attacking threat available at their disposal.

Some premiership sides like Swansea also played attacking football with the limited and decent resources that they could afford. These players were either locally grown or acquired at reasonable prices in the market.

Manchester City has invested more than £900m into the club since its purchase by the Abu Dhabi Group. And they have gone on to purchase some of the world’s finest players at huge transfer fees. The money spent on acquiring these players does not reflect the incomes generated by the club but rather money lavishly splashed by the club’s wealthy owners.

Their opponents like Swansea have played relatively good attacking and entertaining football using what is generated by the club. And the success enjoyed by both clubs is what defines the notion that Manchester City “bought their success” this season.

While Manchester City has quality players with sufficient cover in almost every position imaginable, most of their rivals live within their natural means and only spend what they generate. This financial power has transformed City from a team scrapping for Europa to one that can win UEFA champions league. It is this unrivalled financial advantage that has enabled them to end their forty-four years of premier league search.

Credit should be given to them because they played some breathe-taking football at times. Assembling a dream squad is one thing but ensuring that they gel and work together as a team is a different ball game altogether. Roberto Mancini should therefore be lauded for achieving this great feat.

However, one can only imagine how far Mancini could have taken this team if their owners had left the club to run as a normal business entity. If they were only allowed to purchase based on the revenues generated like most football clubs in the premier league their superiority would be nearly non-existent.

As a result therefore, Manchester City fans are taunted for having “bought their success because of their richly assembled squad in comparison to their rivals in England and abroad.

Walter O loves watching entertaining and attacking football. He strongly believes in grooming young players because they are normally very loyal and not motivated by money to stay at the club. You can find more entertaining articles written by Walter here: http://www.footballor.com

Author: Walter O
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Giovanni Trapattoni’s career will continue long beyond Euro 2012. He has recently signed a new contract which will take him to the end of the qualifying campaign for the 2014 World Cup. This is a man who has had plenty of success on his career but he just wants more. Trap doesn’t want a lucrative pension, he wants to be involved in the game. He has won 20 major honours, including Serie A seven times but didn’t do very well in major tournament: at the 2002 World Cup with Italy he only got to the round of 16 and failed to get out of the Group Stage at Euro 2004.

The star of the team is Robbie Keane: he has scored seven times in the qualifications and has always been the charismatic player in the team. He has performed much better in a green jersey than at club level where he can get swallowed up by bigger stars. He come to the Euro on the back of 53 international goals and I would be very surprised if he will not add to that in Poland and Ukraine.

In the football betting market Republic of Ireland are the outsiders to qualify from Group C at the price of 5.6. Even if in this group they will face Spain and Italy this still looks a gigantic price. There is a real chance they will just fall short but it has been proven in the past that work ethics and tactical nous can take you long ways in an European Championship.. They recently met Italy and Croatia and were able to get decent results so I think that this group is much more open than bookmakers thinks.

It is probably too much to back them to win the group at 20.0, but I feel that the price to qualify is far too big also considering that Spain have injury problems and that Italy are not the team they used to be and their preparation has also been disrupted by the match-fixing scandal. Croatia are at the same level of Ireland so if Trapattoni’s men will be able to win against them than they have a fantastic chance of making history in this tournament.

Marco Narardi, Free Bets Expert

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Route to qualification

France’s qualification campaign got off to the worst possible start when they suffered a shock home defeat to minnows Belarus in September 2010. However, they were quickly back on track and overcame Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0. October 2012 was a rewarding month for Laurent Blanc as his boys beat Romania 2-0 and Luxemborg by the same margin. Luxemborg did not put up a fight in the reverse fixture, in March 2011, and were again beaten 0-2. Belarus proved to be a thorn in the flesh again for Blanc as they held to France to a 1-1 draw. France survived a scare from Albania on September 2, 2011 and eventually managed to win the game 2-1. Their inconsistent form in the qualifiers showed once again as they failed to get past Romania four days later and were held to a goalless draw. France ensured qualification in October 2011, after trouncing Albania 3-0 and holding off Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-1 in their last qualifier. Though France emerged as group winners, they finished only a point ahead of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

European championships history

Les Blues are one of the most successful teams in Euro, having won the title twice and finished fourth twice. They lost to Yugoslavia in the semi-final of the 1960 European Championship. After a 24-year long wait, France tasted their first ever European success, beating Spain 2-0 in the final. France suffered a heart-break in the 1996 edition as they lost their semi-final encounter with Czech Republic on penalties. However they made amends for that loss by winning the next edition of the tournament, beating Italy 2-1 after extra-time. Only Germany, with three titles, leads Les Blues in the number of European titles won.

Opponents

France are in Group D, also known as the Group of Death, alongside hosts Ukraine, giant-killers Sweden and traditional rivals England. France commence their quest for third title at the Donbass Arena in Donetsk against England on June 11, 2012. After a short three-day break, they face hosts Ukraine at the same venue. With a 50000 plus crowd in strong support of the hosts, this game would be no cake-walk for Laurent Blanc and his boys. Sweden, who have a reputation for knocking down football heavy-weights once in a while, would provide a tough challenge to the Blues, when they meet each other on June 19, 2012.

Provisional squad

Laurent Blanc included un-capped defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa in his 26-man provisional squad while out-of-form midfielder Yoann Gourcuff also finds a place. However, Blanc will miss the services of the injured Eric Abidal, Bacary Sagna and Younes Kaboul. Loic Remy is expected to recover in time to find a place in the final squad which will be named on May 29.

Goalkeepers: Cedric Carrasso, Hugo Lloris, Steve Mandanda.

Defenders: Gael Clichy, Mathieu Debuchy, Patrice Evra, Laurent Koscielny, Philippe Mexes, Adil Rami, Anthony Reveillere, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa.

Midfielders: Yohan Cabaye, Alou Diarra, Yoann Gourcuff, Yann M’Vila, Florent Malouda, Marvin Martin, Blaise Matuidi, Samir Nasri.

Forwards: Hatem Ben Arfa, Karim Benzema, Olivier Giroud, Jeremy Menez, Loic Remy, Franck Ribery, Mathieu Valbuena.

Star Players

Karim Benzema is the man to watch out for. He was the team’s joint top-scorer in the qualifiers and scored 28 goals for his club Real Madrid last season. Wingers Frank Ribery and Samir Nasri would provide ample ammunition to the attack. Both of them are proven talent and can cause difficulties to even the world’s best defenders.

For the latest football gossip and news, including everything else you want to know about football including Euro 2012, click http://www.sportingattitude.com

Gokul is an avid sports fan and blogger.

Author: Gokul Muthukumaresan
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Left back position

First name on the list is Bruno Saltor from Almeria. Saltor is a Spanish player and knows the league and those are the best 2 reason working in his favor. Second in line is Inter Milan fullback, Maxwell. Brazilian is highly rated by FC Barcelona coach, Pep Guardiola. He is also an attacking full back, exactly what Barca needs to cover the absence of Sylvinho.

Left winger spot

With Henry turning 32 next season, Barca have set their sights on a new left winger. Illustrious names such as: Frank Ribery, David Silva, Robin Van Persie and Mauro Zarate are being mentioned as front runners for the vacant spot. First option for Pep Guardiola is Frank Ribery who currently plays for Bayern Munich and is reportedly unhappy with conditions in Bavarian capital. The Frenchman already expressed his desire to wear the Barcelona shirt but Barca now faces another problem in Real Madrid president, Florentino Perez, who is also looking to sign Ribery after just completing the Kaka transfer.

New striker

Future of Samuel Eto looks uncertain. Latest reports suggest that he is likely to leave the club despite finishing an outstanding season with scoring 30 goals in the Spanish league and the winning goal in Champions league final. His most likely successors are Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Villa or Karim Benzema. All strikers have already expressed their desire to join Barcelona.

If you are interested in rest of the news you can visit FC Barcelona news for more detailed information about Barca players and the staff.

Goran Maric

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The third goalkeeper will be John Ruddy from Norwich. Phil Jones, Danny Welbeck and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are the new faces that will join the squad. Looking at the list of players it is quite shocking to see an heavy Liverpool presence also considered that the Reds have flopped badly this season. Glen Johnson and Steven Gerrard were the obvious choices but question marks remains on the likes of Steward Downing who didn’t score a single goal this season or Andy Carroll. We need to say though that this is not the final list as the England manager would still need to make some cuts before the team can board the plan to the Euros.

In the football betting market Downing had been backed at 3.0 to get the chop whilst Andy Carroll is at 3.30. In the earlier hours of yesterday there have been speculations that Paul Scholes will be also involved in the squad but those proved to be misguided as the Manchester United midfielder wasn’t included.

The high-profile absentee was Rio Ferdinand who immediately expressed via Twitter his disappointment for this decision. It looks like that Roy Hodgson took this decision after the player expresses reluctance to play alongside John Terry. The Chelsea captain has been confirmed in the team however it is very unlikely he will be included in the starting eleven in the debut match against France.

At centre back Gary Cahill and Joleon Lescott were also selected and they shouldn’t be risking the cut. Up front, Jermain Defoe will be benefitting from Darren Bent’s injury problems and the Spurs striker will be in competition with Andy Carroll.

As predicted, Steve Gerrard has now been confirmed captain and he will lead the team out against France in Donetsk the 11th June. England have never won this competition and punters are not heavily backing the Three Lions to win as there are much more solid sides in the tournament like Spain and Germany. England are at the moment fourth favourite to win Euro 2012 and can be backed at 12.50.

It is known that 97% of gamblers fail to make a profit over long term in Football Betting. Of course everyone can from time to time get lucky and win a bet but if you are not consistent than you will lose more than you win. The main reason is that bookmakers have a margin with every odds they published: since they are the one that set the prices they will make sure those are weighted so that in the long term there will be more punters losing than winning. So how do we solve this problem?

The best way to beat bookmakers is by using forecasting and prediction techniques called rating systems: those are used to help find errors made by bookmakers when pricing an event.

Marco Narardi, Free Bets Expert

Author: Marco MN Narardi
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

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1. Lack of credible role models: Players like Cesc Fabregas matured while playing alongside midfield generals like Patrick Viera. The result is obvious in the quality of his game today. The same can hardly be said for the other youngsters in the squad. There are hardly any world-class players in every position for the players to learn from. Again compare that with Anderson’s maturity playing alongside the likes of Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Owen Hargreaves or even Kiko Macheda alongside Carlos Tevez, Berbatov, Ronaldo and Rooney.

2. Unattractive Pay structure: While it is refreshing to see a club which will not be bullied into breaking the bank just to pay player wages, Arsenal does take the opposite position sometimes. They obviously have the least attractive wages amongst the top four and this will compel the players who have started to mature and gel seek the proverbial greener pastures leaving the manager to start grooming someone new. In other words, back at one.

3. Ambition: It is the desire of every footballer to win trophies and he will gravitate towards the club which will give him that at the least opportunity given the right circumstances. Arsenal for all its sleek and sexy football has had pretty ‘trophyless’ seasons recently. This coupled with their inability or refusal to bring in big name players has cost them players like the talismaniac and iconic Thierry Henry as well as Hleb and Flamini to Barcelona and AC Milan respectively (both very ambitious clubs).

I would love to see this set of Arsenal players gel, get individual and team experience and then stick together for a while. The results will be astounding. The issue is; will they? Time will tell but obviously Arsenal has to become flexible with some of their player policies or risk losing the very best of them. There’s no need to place hope on the young players if the intention is to sell them once they mature.

Olatunji Ladi Adejumo is a professional Public Relations and Management practitioner specializing in e-Public Relations, Brand Management and Communication. An avid follower of various sports, a motivational speaker, writer and coach, he has a relentless passion to assist business owners and professionals get to and remain at the top of their game in life. He has evolved a systematic educational program using sports to connect go- getters with their aspirations.

Author: Olatunji Ladi Adejumo
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

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However, the rivalry can be traced to 2003 “the arrival of big money for Chelsea”. So many things have changed since then and again the words of Tim Roll gives us a clear insight: “In the last ten years Chelsea have been far more successful, Liverpool are obsessed with singing about history but I think it is time they move on”… Another cold truth if you ask me.

The first chessman was moved and the game started as far back as May 2003 when these two team clashed in the European cup semi-final. At that time Chelsea were 30pts ahead of the Reds in the premiership, and have beaten Liverpool in both league games. And to further fuel the rivalry there were rumours of Steven Gerard joining the revolution of Jose Mourinho at that time as the arrival of Roman Abramovic meant that money was available to spend for the blues. However the Reds carried the day to reach their first final in 20years and it would be an immortal encounter when Garcia scored what was called the ghost goal to seal the win for Liverpool 1-0. It was on ever since then.

“We were good friend until we started beating them”… Words of Rafael Benitez the Liverpool manager at that time as a “war of word” erupted between him and Jose Mourinho the blues manager at that time further fuelling the rivalry. The following year the miracle at Istanbul happened and we all thought that the Reds were starting to get back into their strides but their achievements in recent years has proved that that was just a once in a lifetime miracle. Tim Rolls again has something to say: “I know Liverpool won four European cups in the 70′s and 80′s but apart from one night in Istanbul they have struggled” the truth can’t be told any better. We all know that the Reds are in the red now in the premier league while Chelsea are in two finals albeit having their worst run in form in about 8 years.

Tonight’s game no matter the outcome would go down in history as the rivalry between these two teams have gotten more intense, not to mention the effect of renegade red striker Fernando Torres; who walked alone across the Stanford bridge to become a blue for life. Although Didier Drogba might start ahead of him, he definitely has something to offer in today’s encounter and we all know what that would do to the game. Furthermore I would leave you with a parting word from Tim Rolls: “there is tension between these two clubs, and air of antagonism”… there is nothing more truthful than this and whoever carries the day would have a temporary smile on his face until these two giants cross swords again.

Author: Lawrence Eagles
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

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Real Madrid lost 2-1 at Munich whereas Chelsea defeated Barcelona with a single goal from Drogba.

Madrid’s last clash with Bayern in the Champions league saw them defeated by away goals, 4-4 on aggregate.

They last met in the last 16 of Champions League in 2006-07, where a late away goal from Mark van Bommel in the first leg proved to be crucial for Bayern to progress.

But the situation is different this time. Jose Mourinho will be the man to watch in the second leg as his tactics always makes the difference in these types of situations. He is in the run for his third Champions League title with a third team and will be the first manager to do so if he succeeds.

However, all eyes will be on that man, Cristiano Ronaldo. He has been criticized a lot for failing to spark in big situations and this might be the right time for him to show what he is capable of. A goal with a clean sheet will be enough for Real to progress but with Bayern out of the title race In their domestic league and Real still holding the lead in La Liga, predictions seem to be worthless.

A similar situation is with Barcelona-Chelsea clash. A controversial 1-1 draw at the Stamford Bridge and 0-0 at the Nou Camp saw Barcelona progress to the final of the competition when they last met in the Champions League semifinals in 2009.

There is a turn around this time with Chelsea winning the home clash with 1-0 win. But Barcelona are still supposed to defeat them at home as they have been doing in the past few seasons to their opponents.

It all depends on one man, the little magician Lionel Messi. He is the reason why Barcelona are playing their fifth semifinal in five successive seasons. His sparks on the game is not the question to be raised but will Chelsea be able to stop him from scoring remains to be seen.

While this might be the turning point for the temporary manager Roberto de Matteo, Chelsea’s defensive fragilities need to be analysed as well.

Fans expectations might differ from the team’s this time as we expect an El Classico European final but the Spanish giants would pray for easier opponent in the final or a third possibility is always there, Bayern playing the final at home against Abramovich’s Chelsea. Anything can happen and this is the beauty of the Champions League.

To read more about Champions League, English Premier League football, Euro and many more interesting facts about soccer, check http://normalfootball.blogspot.com

Author: Sarbesh Rijal
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

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After four years of debate, The Football Association finally legalised professionalism on 20 July 1885. Before that date many clubs made illegal payments to “professional” players to boost the competitiveness of their teams, arousing the contempt of those clubs abiding by the laws of the amateur Football Association code. As more and more clubs became professional the ad-hoc fixture list of FA Cup, inter-county, and ‘friendly’ matches was seen by many as an unreliable stream of revenue, and ways were considered of ensuring a consistent income.

A Scottish draper and director of Aston Villa, William McGregor, was the first to set out to bring some order to a chaotic world where clubs arranged their own fixtures. On 2 March 1888, he wrote to the Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Preston North End, West Bromwich Albion and to the secretary of Aston Villa about the formation of a football league.

The first meeting was held at Anderson’s Hotel in London on 23 March 1888 on the eve of the FA Cup Final with the name of the Football League being settled at a further meeting on 17 April at Manchester’s Royal Hotel. The first season of the Football League began a few months later on 8 September with 12 member clubs.

Each club played the other twice, once at home and once away, and two points were awarded for a win and one for a draw. This points system was not agreed upon until after the season had started; the alternative proposal was one point for a win only. Preston won the first league title without losing a game, and completed the first league-cup double by also taking the FA Cup.

Every original Football League club has at least one relegation in their history, unlike some European leagues such as Spain, Scotland or Republic of Ireland.

Author: Paul Yarden
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

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Back in the 1863 when the FA was established, players didn’t wear uniforms. Teams were identified simply by wearing distinctive coloured hats and scarves. Uniform kits first appeared in the 1870s and the colours adopted were often those of the university, school or sports club associated with the team. For example, Blackburn Rovers first wore the Cambridge University colours (blue and white) because several of the club’s founders were educated there. So very early on in the history of association football, team colours became more than just a practical way of distinguishing players of one team from players of another – the colour of a team’s football kit took on an emotional meaning.

Studies show that their appearance in their football kit affects player confidence and thus impacts on the performance of a team. Colour is likely to be an important factor in this. Different colours are linked with various psychological attributes. The colour red, for example, is often associated with strength and courage. Manchester United adopted red and white as their team colours in 1902 and is one of the most successful teams in English football history. Perhaps their football kit has been a real factor in their success? It might sound a bit wacky – but remember the infamous grey away strip Manchester United wore in 1995-1996? It was soon abandoned after the team failed to win a single match. Players struggled to pass to each other wearing the all grey strip and claimed that the kit wasn’t visible on the pitch.

Many professional football players confess to having a “comprehensive” pre-match ritual governed by various personal superstitions. These range from always eating the same thing for dinner the night before a match, to listening to the right music in the shower on the day of the match and being the last player on the pitch. A number of superstitions centre around football kit and clothing on the pitch. Former England captain Bobby Moore insisted on being the last to put on his football shorts before kick off. Kevin Pilkington used to always wear the same pants and football socks for a game and would put the left sock on before the right sock.

Uniforms give a sense of identity and unity. The colour of your football kit is likely to be its most instantly striking feature and will affect both team members and opponents as well as supporters and observers. This is as important for a grass roots football team as for professional teams so choosing kit for your team is an important decision.

Soccerkits.com supply team wear to pub, youth and kids football teams in a wide range of colours and provide a full customisation service. Visit Soccerkits.com to choose the right football kit for your team.

Soccerkits.com specialises in football team kit for Adult and Junior Football Kit.

Author: SK Turner
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

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The football jersey is a piece of clothing that is originally made to provide comfort and protection to the player; it has become though the cornerstone of every sophisticated and serious collection. It is something like a piece of art, decorating walls and offices in a true fan’s home. Some of them create large displays with several authentic jerseys, signed by their favourite players.

If you go online, you will find thousands of jerseys for sale; at eBay or Amazon, you can find some authentic shirts in high prices. Some of the fans sell jerseys signed by the football players, increasing the price dramatically. You can find a football jersey at 350$ or even more, as many fans invest in football apparel and create some sort of small business online, trading and selling jerseys or full kits. If you are among those football fans that want to have authentic and rare jerseys, you definitely need to check online. There are numerous rare items out there for sale, at different prices, for every budget and pocket.

Some of the very first jerseys used in football matches are quite pricey; a known collector bought recently a football jersey from the 70s, belonging to a player of the national team of Brazil; he spent more than 20000$ for that, but it is a unique item and belongs to the player that scored the winning goal at the final match of World Championship. If you can find a rare jersey signed by a player you can consider it to be an investment; you cannot know the exact value of this jersey twenty – or more – years from now.

If you are not up to this task, but you are mostly looking for something comfortable and easy to wear, then you should definitely consider checking the simple jerseys that have hit the shelves; you can find a football jersey that belongs to European team, such as Manchester United or Barcelona, or an American or South American team. The dot com boom made the purchase of jerseys and apparel really easy. You can find the jerseys that bear the name of a player such as Beckham, for instance, in good prices. If you don’t want to spend huge money, you can always opt for a replica. IT might not be top quality, but it will last for a while and is easily replaceable. Some fans tend to collect jerseys of their favourite players, buying a football jersey from every team they play for; in the case of Beckham you can find one from M.United, Real Madrid and now Milan.

Whether you are a big fan or a simple collector, buying jerseys is a great way to keep the memorable moments of your team always alive and vivid. It’s also a nice way to connect with the club and show that you belong to the group of fans that support a team religiously.

If you want to find out more about Football Shirt, please visit Football Shirts. Website for more information

Author: Soophott Lert
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

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Even at the top of the table, we had the likes of Hull (in their first ever season in the premiership) in fourth place and the best team in the world, Man Utd in the bottom half. It was truly bizarre.

It wasn’t really until December that things began settling down and we started to get an idea of how the top section of the table would pan out. Aston Villa were doing brilliantly, even having a great slice of luck. Liverpool were challenging for the title along with Chelsea and Manchester Utd finally had a great run of form and joined them. Everton began a great run that saw them rocket up the table to sixth, but the rest of the league continued taking points off each other, meaning relegation was a threat up to seventh place! Unheard of.

So, over the Christmas period and into the New Year, the top six of Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Villa and Everton began moving away from the rest. The bottom three continually changed, until West Brom decided they would like to stay at the bottom. Villa looked strong in fourth as Arsenal had a major injury crisis. Everton had their own injury crisis, playing several games without a recognised striker. It didn’t hamper them as they remained unbeaten in 18 games, losing once only to a penalty to new world club champions, Man Utd.

In that period, it looked like Liverpool had lost their chance to take hold of the division as too many draws were costing them. Utd looked supreme, being several points ahead with games in hand over their nearest rivals.

However, all that was to change as a humiliating 4-1 defeat to second placed Liverpool at Old Trafford was followed by a 2-0 loss against Fulham. Liverpool then snuck a win in the last minute against Fulham themselves and they were two points clear at the top, although Utd had two games in hand. But it still looked like Liverpool would hold onto top place as the next day in Utd’s game against Villa, they were losing 2-1 at home with just eleven minutes left. But Utd’s class managed to overhaul that and win 3-2 thanks to a last minute goal by a seventeen year old Italian, to return to the top. Exciting stuff.

As the season approaches its climax, we are finally getting an idea of where many teams will finish. The current top four of Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal will likely remain that way. Neither Villa (5th) nor Everton (6th) have the resources to mount a serious challenge to break that elite group, although both will of course try. The battle for fifth will go to the wire, and I think Villa might just sneak it. The game at Villa Park in mid April maybe the decider for that.

Relegation wise, West Brom looked doomed. The other two clubs currently in the bottom three, Newcastle and Middlesboro, look like they have the strength to stay up, but of course there are still many over clubs that could yet get sucked in. Even though Newcastle legend Alan Shearer has taken the reigns at St James’ Park as manager, I don’t think this latest Messiah has what it takes to rescue this poor Newcastle team.

Mid table will be dominated by underachievers such as Spurs and Man City. Both have spent heavily, but neither have a strong team spirit. You only have to look at the likes of Jo to realise this. Bought by Man City for a cool £19 million last summer, he has struggled and so went out on loan to Everton for the remainder of the season. He wants now wants to stay at Everton rather than return to the cold team spirit of Man City. Whether Everton will be able to afford him is another matter. But it just goes to show, money cannot buy everything.

Of course, over achievers with the likes of Wigan and West Ham look set to finish strongly, but even they have to be careful to be pulled back into the relegation battle. A couple of losses there could see them in dangerous territory.

Many Premiership marketers claim that the Premiership is the best league in the world. Based on this season, they may be right, but in my opinion, there are only seven or eight good teams in it, the rest being a much of a muchness. The rest of the season will be interesting to watch, and finally we may see a great finish to a season.

Richard Hull is the site owner of Blargins’ Injury Time [http://www.blargins.com] a light hearted look at Everton FC and general football.

Author: Richard Hull
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

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Most parents don’t complain, and are more likely to leave the team if they are unhappy with how things are handled. So, it is good to have parents who will bother to give you feedback (even if it can be painful to hear).

Most of the time, this feedback is well-intentioned – and the parent simply wants an explanation for what has happened or wants to offer some suggestions about alternative ways to do things. Most of the time, this advice is well-intentioned (and the parent had no desire whatsoever to take over the team – or to try to order you around).

What parents want

Most parents have two objectives when they sign the child up: for the child to succeed and for the child to be happy. If you praise the child in front of the parent, you can rest assured that the child will give you a big grin – and you earn points in both columns. Do this as often as you can – and you will keep gripes to a minimum.

Any time that you start resenting the time that it takes to give this positive feedback, tell yourself that you could easily be spending double this time – and a lot less happily – talking to just one upset parent! In short, a good soccer coach makes the parents believe that they have wonderful, successful and happy offspring – which causes the parents to believe that the coach must be an absolutely brilliant judge of children.

Time to discuss problems

But, of course, you cannot please all of the people all of the time – and you may end up with a complainer or advice-giver despite your best efforts. If this happens, listen briefly to find out what the problem is, then schedule a time to talk about it. NEVER discuss any serious problem right before a drill session (or before a game). You have work to do, and don’t need the distractions (and certainly don’t need to be upset yourself if any harsh things are said).

Furthermore, if the parent is really upset, you don’t want any confrontation to occur in front of your players or other parents. So, set the discussion for the end of drill practice – or schedule a time to call the parent later (if this is something where the child does not need to hear the conversation).

NEVER discuss any problems or complaints right after a game. If a parent comes to you with a complaint right after a game, make up any excuse that you can and get out of there. Usually, these complaints come after a hard game and a hard loss, when everyone is upset. Give everyone time to cool off – so that things are not said which are regretted later.

Soccer coaching communication skills

When you do talk to the parent, listen carefully to the parent’s problem. Be calm. Try to get them to see things from your point of view. If at all possible, lavish some praise on the child during the meeting (remember parental objectives). Try to verify their reports that the child is unhappy (for instance, some parents want their child to be the goal-scoring star, while the child truly is happiest as a keeper or sweeper).

Volunteer to have a meeting with the parent and the child to talk about the situation. If the child truly is upset (for instance, he wants to be a forward, while you have rotated him to the back because he sorely needs to develop some defensive skills), talk about why you think that this is best. Usually you will be able to resolve complaints by open communication, and a calm approach to the problem.

Involve the club

However, some parents simply will not be satisfied, no matter what you do. This happens quite commonly with parents who were athletes, and ended up with non-athletic children, where it is easier to cast blame than to face reality about the child’s lack of skill and talent. If it is clear that you are not getting anywhere, suggest that you set up a joint meeting with club officials to talk about the problem. In the meantime, call the club to give them a “heads-up” that they might hear from this parent, if it appears that the parent is truly irate.

If worse comes to worse, take heart that “parents-from-hell” tend to stick around for only a short time. Usually, you will find that they have been very unhappy with every coach whom their child has ever had – so they go back in the pool every season. In fact, don’t be surprised if, when you call the club, you hear a large sigh come out of the phone – along with a comment of “Oh, no. Not them again.”

Author: Stewart Coggin
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

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