Keputusan perlawanan:
Manchester United 2
Nani 22'
Michael Owen 76'
Barcelona 1
Thiago Alcantara 70'
- gol pertama MU di'assist' oleh danny welbeck
- gol kedua MU di'assist' oleh tom cleverly
Highlights perlawanan:
Ulasan perlawanan:
- pemain2 muda MU beraksi dengan baik
- ashley young memang menambahkan sengat serangan MU
- michael owen benar2 penyerang yang berbisa
Ahad, 31 Julai 2011
Sabtu, 30 Julai 2011
Profile of new Man City Striker - Sergio Aguero
1988: June 2 - Born in Quilmes, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
1997: Joins the Independiente youth set-up aged nine.
2003: July - Becomes the youngest player to debut in the Argentinian first division at 15 years and 35 days, breaking the record previously established by Diego Maradona in 1976.
2004: November - Scores his first goal for the club in a 2-2 draw against rivals Estudiantes de la Plata.
2005: Called up to the Argentina squad for the FIFA World Youth Championships, which they win.
2006:
May - Signs for Spanish club Atletico Madrid for a reported fee of 23million euros - breaking the club's previous transfer record.
September - Makes senior debut for Argentina in a friendly against Brazil at the Emirates Stadium.
October - Causes controversy by using his hands to score the winning goal against Recreativo Huelva.
2007:
Wins the Golden Boot at the Under-20 World Cup in Canada, scoring six goals in seven games, and the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament.
Finishes as the third highest goal scorer in the Primera Division 2007/2008 behind Dani Guiza and Luis Fabiano, with 19 goals.
2008: Member of the gold medal-winning Argentina squad for the 2008 Beijing Olympics where he scores two goals in five minutes in the semi-final win over Brazil.
2008-09:
Scores vital goals against Real Madrid, Valencia, Sevilla and Villarreal to help Atletico finish fourth and qualify for the Champions League for the first time in over 10 years.
November - Atletico eliminated from Champions League, slipping into Europa League.
2010:
May 12 - Sets up both goals for Diego Forlan in 2-1 Europa League final victory over Fulham in Hamburg.
May 19 - Atletico finish runners-up in Copa del Rey, losing final 2-0 to Sevilla at the Nou Camp.
June - Makes senior World Cup debut in Argentina's second group match against South Korea, replacing Carlos Tevez in the 75th minute.
August - Assists Jose Antonio Reyes' opening goal and scores the second goal as Atletico win the UEFA Super Cup, beating favourites Inter Milan 2-0.
2011:
January - Signs a new contract with Atletico, committing him to the club until 2014. Named as the new vice-captain, along with strike partner Forlan.
May - Announces on his official website that he wants to leave Atletico.
July 27 - Confirms on his Twitter account that he has arrived in Manchester to finalise his move to Manchester City.
July 28 - Joins Manchester City on a five-year contract.
Jumaat, 29 Julai 2011
Keputusan 1st leg Pusingan Kelayakan Ketiga Liga Eropah
| Status | Home | Score | Away | Stage | Venue |
| FT | Slask Wroclaw | 0-0 | Lokomotiv Sofia | Third Qualifying Round | Stadion Oporowska |
| FT | AEK Larnaca | 3-0 | Mlada Boleslav | Third Qualifying Round | Neo G.S.Z. Stadium |
| FT | Alania Vladikavkaz | 1-1 | Aktobe Lento | Third Qualifying Round | Republican Spartak Stadium |
| FT | FK Ventspils | 1-2 | Crvena Zvezda | Third Qualifying Round | Pilsetas |
| FT | Karpaty Lviv | 2-0 | St Patricks | Third Qualifying Round | Ukrajina Stadium (14,000) |
| FT | Aalesund | 4-0 | Elfsborg | Third Qualifying Round | Color Line Stadion |
| FT | Anorthosis Famagusta | 0-2 | Rabotnicki Kometal | Third Qualifying Round | Antonis Papadopoulos |
| FT | Metalurgi Rustavi | 2-5 | Stade Rennes | Third Qualifying Round | Poladi Stadium |
| FT | Olimpija Ljubljana | 1-1 | Austria Vienna | Third Qualifying Round | Stozice Stadium |
| FT | Sparta Prague | 5-0 | FK Sarajevo | Third Qualifying Round | Generali Arena |
| FT | SV Salzburg | 1-0 | Inter Bratislava | Third Qualifying Round | Bullen-Arena |
| FT | Valerenga | 0-2 | PAOK Salonika | Third Qualifying Round | Ullevaal Stadion |
| FT | Vorskla | 0-0 | Sligo | Third Qualifying Round | Vorskla Stadium (5,000) |
| FT | Bursaspor | 2-1 | Gomel | Third Qualifying Round | Ataturk Stadium |
| FT | Hapoel Tel-Aviv | 4-0 | FC Vaduz | Third Qualifying Round | Bloomfield Stadium |
| FT | Omonia Nicosia | 3-0 | ADO Den Haag | Third Qualifying Round | G S Pancypria Stadium |
| FT | RNK Split | 0-0 | Fulham | Third Qualifying Round | Park Mladezl Stadium (9,987) |
| FT | Young Boys | 3-1 | KVC Westerlo | Third Qualifying Round | Wankdorf |
| FT | Levski Sofia | 2-1 | FC Spartak Trnava | Third Qualifying Round | Georgi Asparuchov Stadium |
| FT | AZ Alkmaar | 2-0 | Jablonec | Third Qualifying Round | AFAS Stadion |
| FT | Dinamo Bucaresti | 2-2 | Varteks | Third Qualifying Round | |
| FT | FC 03 Differdange | 0-3 | Olympiacos Volou | Third Qualifying Round | Stade du Thillenberg |
| FT | Gaziantepspor | 0-1 | Legia Warsaw | Third Qualifying Round | Kamil Ocak Stadium |
| FT | Paksi SE | 1-1 | Heart of Midlothian | Third Qualifying Round | Stadion PSE (2,800) |
| FT | Club Brugge | 4-1 | FK Qarabag | Third Qualifying Round | Jan Breydel Stadium |
| FT | Mainz | 1-1 | Gaz Metan | Third Qualifying Round | Bruchwegstadion |
| FT | Zeljeznicar Sarajevo | 0-2 | Maccabi Tel-Aviv | Third Qualifying Round | Grbavica |
| FT | CD Nacional de Madeira | 3-0 | BK Hacken | Third Qualifying Round | Estadio da Madeira |
| FT | Palermo | 2-2 | FC Thun | Third Qualifying Round | Renzo Barbera |
| FT | Stoke City | 1-0 | Hajduk Split | Third Qualifying Round | Britannia Stadium (26,322) |
| FT | Atlético Madrid | 2-1 | Stromsgodset | Third Qualifying Round | Vicente Calderon |
| FT | FC Midtjylland | 0-0 | Guimaraes | Third Qualifying Round | SAS Arena |
| FT | SV Josko Ried | 2-0 | Brøndby | Third Qualifying Round | Keine Sorgen Arena |
| FT | KR Reykjavik | 1-4 | Dinamo Tbilisi | Third Qualifying Round | KR-Vollur |
| FT | Bnei Yehuda | 1-0 | Helsingborg | Third Qualifying Round | Bloomfield Stadium |
Kompilasi berita terbaru / terlama (heheh)
1. jurulatih argentina, sergio batista meletakkan jawatan setelah kegagalan argentina untuk memberikan persembahan yang baik ketika berlangsung Copa America di mana argentina tersekat pada saingan suku akhir selepas kalah kepada uruguay.
2. penyerang MU, chicharito dijangkakan akan berehat selama dua minggu selepas mengalami kecederaan kepala ketika menjalani latihan bersama pasukannya. akibat daripada kecederaan tersebut, chicharito akan terlepas aksi dalam perlawanan Community Shield menentang man city yang akan berlangsung pada 7 ogos ini.
3. penyerang argentina, sergio aguero telah melengkapkan perpindahannya dari kelab lamanya, atletico madrid untuk menyertai man city dengan melibatkan yuran perpindahan sekitar 40 juta pound. aguero dilihat sebagai persediaan man city untuk mengisi ruang di bahagian serangan yang akan dikosongkan oleh carlos tevez yang ingin berhijrah ke kelab lain pada musim panas ini.
4. inter milan dikatakan sedang berusaha untuk menjual pemain tengahnya, wesley sneijder bagi menjana kewangan untuk mendapatkan khidmat penyerang man city, carlos tevez.
5. liverpool telah mengalami kekalahan 0-3 kepada kelab turki, galatasaray dalam aksi perlawanan persahabatan. gol2 galatasaray dijaringkan oleh bekas penyerang liverpool, milan baros dan bekas penyerang bolton wanderers, johan elmander.
6. ketika mengadakan jelajah di USA, MU telah dijemput untuk membuat lawatan ke white house. walaubagaimanapun, presiden USA, barrack obama tidak berkesempatan untuk menemui skuad MU atas kesibukan kerja.
7. arsenal diberitakan akan membelanjakan 34 juta pound untuk mendapatkan dua pemain iaitu juan mata dan phil jagielka. mata yang juga merupakan pemain sayap valencia dikhabarkan akan menyertai arsenal dengan yuran perpindahan 19 juta pound manakala 15 juta pound untuk perpindahan jagielka dari everton.
2. penyerang MU, chicharito dijangkakan akan berehat selama dua minggu selepas mengalami kecederaan kepala ketika menjalani latihan bersama pasukannya. akibat daripada kecederaan tersebut, chicharito akan terlepas aksi dalam perlawanan Community Shield menentang man city yang akan berlangsung pada 7 ogos ini.
3. penyerang argentina, sergio aguero telah melengkapkan perpindahannya dari kelab lamanya, atletico madrid untuk menyertai man city dengan melibatkan yuran perpindahan sekitar 40 juta pound. aguero dilihat sebagai persediaan man city untuk mengisi ruang di bahagian serangan yang akan dikosongkan oleh carlos tevez yang ingin berhijrah ke kelab lain pada musim panas ini.
Aguero menayangkan jersi yang akan dipakainya
4. inter milan dikatakan sedang berusaha untuk menjual pemain tengahnya, wesley sneijder bagi menjana kewangan untuk mendapatkan khidmat penyerang man city, carlos tevez.
5. liverpool telah mengalami kekalahan 0-3 kepada kelab turki, galatasaray dalam aksi perlawanan persahabatan. gol2 galatasaray dijaringkan oleh bekas penyerang liverpool, milan baros dan bekas penyerang bolton wanderers, johan elmander.
6. ketika mengadakan jelajah di USA, MU telah dijemput untuk membuat lawatan ke white house. walaubagaimanapun, presiden USA, barrack obama tidak berkesempatan untuk menemui skuad MU atas kesibukan kerja.
Skuad MU bergambar di White House
7. arsenal diberitakan akan membelanjakan 34 juta pound untuk mendapatkan dua pemain iaitu juan mata dan phil jagielka. mata yang juga merupakan pemain sayap valencia dikhabarkan akan menyertai arsenal dengan yuran perpindahan 19 juta pound manakala 15 juta pound untuk perpindahan jagielka dari everton.
Khamis, 28 Julai 2011
MLS All Stars 0 - Manchester United 4
Keputusan perlawanan:
MLS All Stars 0
Manchester United 4
Anderson 20'
Ji-sung Park 45'
Dimitar Berbatov 52'
Danny Welbeck 68'
- JSP menjaringkan tiga gol dalam tiga perlawanan jelajah USA
- berbatov meledakkan gol menarik
- beckham berjaya beberapa kali membuat percubaan ke arah pintu gol MU
Highlights perlawanan:
MLS All Stars 0
Manchester United 4
Anderson 20'
Ji-sung Park 45'
Dimitar Berbatov 52'
Danny Welbeck 68'
- JSP menjaringkan tiga gol dalam tiga perlawanan jelajah USA
- berbatov meledakkan gol menarik
- beckham berjaya beberapa kali membuat percubaan ke arah pintu gol MU
Highlights perlawanan:
Selasa, 26 Julai 2011
Shearer's best first XI
penyerang lagenda england, alan shearer telah diminta untuk menyenaraikan kesebelasan terbaik BPL bagi dirinya sempena meraikan tahun ke20 berlangsungnya BPL. berikut merupakan pemain2 yang dipilih oleh shearer termasuk pengurus pilihannya:
Goalkeeper
Peter Schmeichel: His sheer presence was incredible. The fact that he was there inspired his back four. Schmeichel was very good at everything he did and that gave the rest of the Manchester United side confidence.
Defenders
Gary Neville: He might not have been everyone’s cup of tea but he did a great job throughout a distinguished career with Manchester United and England. A superb pro who was one of the most reliable defenders in the game.
Tony Adams: A great leader and like John Terry a no-nonsense centre half. Clearing the danger in front of him was always his top priority.
John Terry: Just like Tony Adams in what he gives a team. Like Tony Adams he is what I would call a proper defender. People in the game will know what I am talking about.
Ashley Cole: A great modern day player. He can attack and defend in equal proportions. One of the best in the world at what he does.
Midfielders
Steven Gerrard: Another great leader who inspires his colleagues by example. Always puts a shift in. He scores goals at vital times and can be relied to get 10 or 15 goals in a season.
Paul Scholes: The first name I thought of for the midfield positions. He is excellent at the vast majority of skills he needs in that position. His passing, heading, energy, and ability to come up with a goal make him one of the best around.
Ryan Giggs. He has to be in the side. A superb pro whose Premier League record is testimony to his ability to produce the goods season after season. A fabulous servant to Man United and a player of remarkable consistency.
Strikers
Gianfranco Zola: I played with him a month ago in a seven-a-side tournament and I could see that he still has that unbelievable ability. I’ve picked him as a withdrawn striker, in the hole behind the front two. He could win or change a game with a moment of genius.
Eric Cantona: He is a stand-out for me like Wayne Rooney. There is so much talent and so many options in the striking positions but he was totally unique. A player who genuinely commands the title of genius.
Wayne Rooney: The most valuable quality is that he can win games on his own. A very good strike rate and I believe he is one of the best three or four players in the world.
Subs
David Seaman, Stuart Pearce, David Beckham, Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry
Manager
Sir Alex Ferguson: The manager picks himself. His record which boasts 12 Premier League titles says everything about the man. He has been absolutely incredible. No other manager comes close.
Goalkeeper
Peter Schmeichel: His sheer presence was incredible. The fact that he was there inspired his back four. Schmeichel was very good at everything he did and that gave the rest of the Manchester United side confidence.
Defenders
Gary Neville: He might not have been everyone’s cup of tea but he did a great job throughout a distinguished career with Manchester United and England. A superb pro who was one of the most reliable defenders in the game.
Tony Adams: A great leader and like John Terry a no-nonsense centre half. Clearing the danger in front of him was always his top priority.
John Terry: Just like Tony Adams in what he gives a team. Like Tony Adams he is what I would call a proper defender. People in the game will know what I am talking about.
Ashley Cole: A great modern day player. He can attack and defend in equal proportions. One of the best in the world at what he does.
Midfielders
Steven Gerrard: Another great leader who inspires his colleagues by example. Always puts a shift in. He scores goals at vital times and can be relied to get 10 or 15 goals in a season.
Paul Scholes: The first name I thought of for the midfield positions. He is excellent at the vast majority of skills he needs in that position. His passing, heading, energy, and ability to come up with a goal make him one of the best around.
Ryan Giggs. He has to be in the side. A superb pro whose Premier League record is testimony to his ability to produce the goods season after season. A fabulous servant to Man United and a player of remarkable consistency.
Strikers
Gianfranco Zola: I played with him a month ago in a seven-a-side tournament and I could see that he still has that unbelievable ability. I’ve picked him as a withdrawn striker, in the hole behind the front two. He could win or change a game with a moment of genius.
Eric Cantona: He is a stand-out for me like Wayne Rooney. There is so much talent and so many options in the striking positions but he was totally unique. A player who genuinely commands the title of genius.
Wayne Rooney: The most valuable quality is that he can win games on his own. A very good strike rate and I believe he is one of the best three or four players in the world.
Subs
David Seaman, Stuart Pearce, David Beckham, Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry
Manager
Sir Alex Ferguson: The manager picks himself. His record which boasts 12 Premier League titles says everything about the man. He has been absolutely incredible. No other manager comes close.
Berita ringkas
1. pengurus MU, SAF telah memberitahu media bahawa beliau tidak bercadang untuk membuat pembelian pemain baru selepas kehadiran tiga pemain baru ke OT pada musim panas ini.
2. pemain tengah man city, nigel de jong memberikan nasihatnya kepada rakan sepasukan, mario balotelli agar lebih serius dan jangan mempersiakan bakat yang ada padanya dengan aksi suka menunjuk2 dan melawan arahan pengurus pasukan.
3. spurs meletakkan harga 9 juta pound ke atas penyerangnya, peter crouch kerana ingin mendapatkan kembali wang yang telah dibayar oleh spurs kepada portsmouth ketika membeli crouch.
4. penjaga gol chelsea, petr cech berharap pengurus barunya, AVB mempunyai kredibiliti dan kehebatan yang setanding dengan jose mourinho jika ingin terus memegang jawatan panas chelsea tersebut.
5. aston villa sedang menghampiri untuk mendapatkan pemain sayap wigan athletic, charles n'zogbia dengan melibatkan yuran perpindahan 9.5 juta pound.
6. bekas pemain MU, david beckham berpendapat bahawa hanya pemain tengah inter milan, wesley sneijder yang layak untuk menjadi pengganti bagi maestro tengah MU, paul scholes.
7. dua bekas pemain MU, alan smith dan owen hargreaves kini sedang dipancing oleh kelab2 dari amerika syarikat.
8. man city sedang berusaha keras untuk mendapatkan penyerang atletico madrid, sergio aguero dengan tawaran sekitar 40 juta pound.
2. pemain tengah man city, nigel de jong memberikan nasihatnya kepada rakan sepasukan, mario balotelli agar lebih serius dan jangan mempersiakan bakat yang ada padanya dengan aksi suka menunjuk2 dan melawan arahan pengurus pasukan.
3. spurs meletakkan harga 9 juta pound ke atas penyerangnya, peter crouch kerana ingin mendapatkan kembali wang yang telah dibayar oleh spurs kepada portsmouth ketika membeli crouch.
4. penjaga gol chelsea, petr cech berharap pengurus barunya, AVB mempunyai kredibiliti dan kehebatan yang setanding dengan jose mourinho jika ingin terus memegang jawatan panas chelsea tersebut.
5. aston villa sedang menghampiri untuk mendapatkan pemain sayap wigan athletic, charles n'zogbia dengan melibatkan yuran perpindahan 9.5 juta pound.
6. bekas pemain MU, david beckham berpendapat bahawa hanya pemain tengah inter milan, wesley sneijder yang layak untuk menjadi pengganti bagi maestro tengah MU, paul scholes.
7. dua bekas pemain MU, alan smith dan owen hargreaves kini sedang dipancing oleh kelab2 dari amerika syarikat.
8. man city sedang berusaha keras untuk mendapatkan penyerang atletico madrid, sergio aguero dengan tawaran sekitar 40 juta pound.
Copa America Award 2011 (Goal.com)
| BEST GOALKEEPER | |
 | |
| 1st 2nd 3rd | Justo Villar (Paraguay) Fernando Muslera (Uruguay) Raul Fernandez (Peru) |
| BEST DEFENDER | |
 | |
| 1st 2nd 3rd | Diego Lugano (Uruguay) Oswaldo Vizcarrondo (Venezuela) Juan Zuniga (Colombia) |
| BEST MIDFIELDER | |
 | |
| 1st 2nd 3rd | Tomas Rincon (Venezuela) Alvaro Pereira (Uruguay) Juan Manuel Vargas (Peru) |
| BEST STRIKER | |
 | |
| 1st 2nd 3rd | Luis Suarez (Uruguay) Paolo Guerrero (Peru) Diego Forlan (Uruguay) |
| BEST COACH | |
 | |
| 1st 2nd 3rd | Oscar Tabarez (Uruguay) Sergio Markarian (Peru) Cesar Farias (Venezuela) |
| BIGGEST FLOP | |
 | |
| 1st 2nd 3rd | Daniel Alves (Brazil) Carlos Tevez (Argentina) Neymar (Brazil) |
| MOST PASSIONATE FANS | |
 | |
| 1st 2nd 3rd | Paraguay Uruguay Chile |
| BEST PLAYER | |
 | |
| 1st 2nd 3rd | Luis Suarez (Uruguay) Justo Villar (Paraguay) Diego Lugano (Uruguay) |
source: http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3710/copa-america/2011/07/25/2589937/the-goalcom-copa-america-awards-2011
First XI of Copa America (Goal.com)
Formation: 4-3-1-2
source: http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3710/copa-america/2011/07/25/2589692/copa-america-team-of-the-tournament-forlan-suarez-lead
 | Goalkeeper - Justo Villar (Paraguay) Appearances: 6 Clean Sheets: 3 Without actually winning a game in regular or extra-time throughout the tournament, Gerardo Martino's side were inspired by the Estudiantes keeper all the way to the final, where despite making further incredible stops, he could not stop his side from losing to Uruguay. |
 | Right-back - Juan Zuniga (Colombia) Appearances: 4 Goals/Assists: 0/1 Along with Pablo Armero on the opposite flank, Zuniga was a livewire throughout the tournament - defending well and creating havoc every time he came forward. The Napoli wing-back showcased all his tricks, flicks, stepovers and creativity as Colombia stormed through the groups. |
 | Centre-back - Diego Lugano (Uruguay) Appearances: 6 Goals/Assists: 0/0 The captain was like a brick wall at the back: dominant in the area and utilising a no-nonsense approach. He displayed a true leadership spirit in taking his team to their 15th Copa America title and was only robbed of a deserved goal in the final by some great goalkeeping and then a handball. |
 | Centre-back - Oswaldo Vizcarrondo (Venezuela)Appearances: 6 Goals/Assists: 1/0 Described as one of the revelations of the 2011 Copa America, relatively few had heard of the 27-year-old before his exploits this summer in Argentina. In addition to excelling in defence, the towering player also scored one of the best goals of the campaign with a powerful header to help upset Chile. |
 | Left-back - Alvaro Pereira (Uruguay) Appearances: 5 Goals/Assists: 2/1 The versatile Porto man built on his success at club level by becoming a key piece of the puzzle for Uruguay. Scored two goals, including a winner over Mexico, and constantly pushed down the left side to pressure the opposition from the first minute of the opener versus Chile to the final minute against Paraguay. |
 | Centre-midfield - Cristian Riveros (Paraguay) Appearances: 6 Goals/Assists: 1/0 More solid than spectacular, the player now on loan at Kayserispor from Sunderland was always industrious at the heart of Martino's midfield set-up. He may not technically be the best, but his ability to press and switch the ball were utilised superbly. |
 | Centre-midfield - Egidio Arevalo (Uruguay) Appearances: 6 Goals/Assists: 0/1 Interestingly, Uruguay are a side that shine without the ball as well as when in possession, and the ex-Penarol man was a large part of their success. Put in a dazzling shift when his side were down to 10 men versus Argentina and also set up Forlan for the second goal in the final. |
 | Centre-midfield - Juan Arango (Venezuela) Appearances: 5 Goals/Assists: 1/1 The veteran, widely regarded as one of the country's best all-time players, was not always a starter but was an influential and creative force whenever on the pitch. Assisted his country in reaching fourth place - their highest ever showing at the Copa America - also earning his 100th cap in the process. |
 | Support striker - Diego Forlan (Uruguay) Appearances: 6 Goals/Assists: 2/0 Crowned the best player at last year's World Cup, Forlan once again was a decisive factor despite not scoring until the final, emulating his father and grandfather in winning the trophy. Dropping between the lines of midfield and attack, the Atletico Madrid star was the offensive architect of his team's victorious campaign. |
 | Centre-forward - Paolo Guerrero (Peru) Appearances: 5 Goals/Assists: 5/2 After grabbing a couple of crucial goals in the group stage, the Hamburg striker ensured Peru finished in an impressive third place by exploding in the play-off against Venezuela with a hat-trick in a 4-1 win, becoming the tournament's top-scorer with five goals to his name. |
| Centre-forward - Luis Suarez (Uruguay) Appearances: 6 Goals/Assists: 4/2 With pace, surprising strength, and precision - as infuriating as Luis Suarez's constant complaining can be - there is no doubt he is one of the most talented strikers in world football at the moment. Bagged four goals altogether, including a brace in the semis against Peru and the opener in the final. |
source: http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3710/copa-america/2011/07/25/2589692/copa-america-team-of-the-tournament-forlan-suarez-lead
Isnin, 25 Julai 2011
Showboating
sekali lagi penyerang man city, mario balotelli menimbulkan kontroversi apabila berbalah dengan pengurusnya gara2 tidak puas hati kerana dikeluarkan. pengurus man city, roberto mancini mengeluarkan balotelli setelah bengang melihat aksi balotelli yang cuba menunjuk2 (showboating).
Kompilasi berita
1. pemenang tempat ketiga piala dunia 201, uruguay telah mencatatkan rekod apabila mengecapi kejuaraan copa america buat kali ke15. dalam perlawanan akhir, uruguay mengalahkan pasukan uderdog, paraguay dengan keputusan 3-0 menerusi jaringan pasangan penyerang berbisanya iaitu diego forlan dan luis suarez.
2. FIFA telah menjatuhkan hukuman pergantungan seumur hidup ke atas mohamed bin hammam setelah didapati bersalah menggunakan rasuah wang ketika bertanding untuk merebut jawatan presiden FIFA pada tahun 2008.
3. pengurus newcastle united. alan pardew berkata beliau yakin bahawa pemain tengahnya, joey barton akan kekal di Newcastle walaupun barton dikaitkan dengan perpindahan ke MU.
4. fullback MU, patrice evra telah meminta rakan senegaranya yang beraksi dengan arsenal, samir nasri untuk menyertai dirinya di OT dan menolak segala tawaran yang diberikan oleh arsenal dan man city. baru2 ini, nasri dikatakan telah menolak tawaran baru arsenal iaitu sekitar 115 ribu pound seminggu.
5. penyerang man city, mario balotelli telah menimbulkan pertelingkahan terbaru dengan pengurusnya, roberto mancini apabila menunjukkan ketidakpuashatinya selepas dikeluarkan ketika aksi dalam perlawanan persahabatan man city dengan LA galaxy. mancini mengeluarkan balotelli selepas melihat balotelli cuba membuat aksi 'back-heel' yang tidak menjadi seterusnya menimbulkan kemarahan mancini.
6. dalam perlawanan merebut tangga ketiga dan keempat copa america, peru telah menewaskan pasukan kerdil, venezuela dengan keputusan 2-0. ini sekaligus prestasi yang paling memberangsangkan yang pernah ditunjukkan oleh peru dalam sejarah copa america.
2. FIFA telah menjatuhkan hukuman pergantungan seumur hidup ke atas mohamed bin hammam setelah didapati bersalah menggunakan rasuah wang ketika bertanding untuk merebut jawatan presiden FIFA pada tahun 2008.
3. pengurus newcastle united. alan pardew berkata beliau yakin bahawa pemain tengahnya, joey barton akan kekal di Newcastle walaupun barton dikaitkan dengan perpindahan ke MU.
4. fullback MU, patrice evra telah meminta rakan senegaranya yang beraksi dengan arsenal, samir nasri untuk menyertai dirinya di OT dan menolak segala tawaran yang diberikan oleh arsenal dan man city. baru2 ini, nasri dikatakan telah menolak tawaran baru arsenal iaitu sekitar 115 ribu pound seminggu.
5. penyerang man city, mario balotelli telah menimbulkan pertelingkahan terbaru dengan pengurusnya, roberto mancini apabila menunjukkan ketidakpuashatinya selepas dikeluarkan ketika aksi dalam perlawanan persahabatan man city dengan LA galaxy. mancini mengeluarkan balotelli selepas melihat balotelli cuba membuat aksi 'back-heel' yang tidak menjadi seterusnya menimbulkan kemarahan mancini.
6. dalam perlawanan merebut tangga ketiga dan keempat copa america, peru telah menewaskan pasukan kerdil, venezuela dengan keputusan 2-0. ini sekaligus prestasi yang paling memberangsangkan yang pernah ditunjukkan oleh peru dalam sejarah copa america.
Ahad, 24 Julai 2011
Chicago Fire 1 - Manchester United 3
Keputusan perlawanan:
Chicago Fire 1
Gibbs 13'
Manchester United 3
Wayne Rooney 66'
Rafael da Silva 76'
Nani 82'
Goals highlights:
Chicago Fire 1
Gibbs 13'
Manchester United 3
Wayne Rooney 66'
Rafael da Silva 76'
Nani 82'
Goals highlights:
Jumaat, 22 Julai 2011
Seattle Sounders 0 - Manchester United 7
Keputusan perlawanan:
Seattle Sounders - 0
Manchester United - 7
Michael Owen 15'
Mame Biram Diouf 49'
Wayne Rooney 51', 69', 72'
Ji-sung Park 71'
Gabriel Obertan 88'
- saingan sengit kedua2 pasukan pada separuh masa pertama
- rooney menjaringkan hatrik dalam masa 21 minit
- owen dan JSP memperoleh dua gol dari dua perlawanan yang telah diadakan
- MU memakai 'away jersey' baru untuk perlawanan ini
Seattle Sounders - 0
Manchester United - 7
Michael Owen 15'
Mame Biram Diouf 49'
Wayne Rooney 51', 69', 72'
Ji-sung Park 71'
Gabriel Obertan 88'
- saingan sengit kedua2 pasukan pada separuh masa pertama
- rooney menjaringkan hatrik dalam masa 21 minit
- owen dan JSP memperoleh dua gol dari dua perlawanan yang telah diadakan
- MU memakai 'away jersey' baru untuk perlawanan ini
Khamis, 21 Julai 2011
Top ten overpriced trasnfer target
10) Aly Cissokho (Lyon)
The left-back is a target for Arsenal and Liverpool and would command a fee of around £10million.
This seems ridiculous for a defender that has been criticised for his performances in the last year, and was told by teammate Hugo Lloris: "You do not respect this shirt. It has been sh*t on and flushed down the toilet."
Still, they've got rid of Paul Konchesky, so the only way is up.
9) Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City)
It seems likely that SWP will be leaving Manchester City for the second time this summer. But whilst last time it was for the bright lights of the capital, this time it will be most likely be to Bolton or Wigan. Quite a fall.
But why would either of the clubs take him on? The fee may be only £4.5million but Wright-Phillips would surely become the highest earner at the club. The winger will turn 30 this season, played 202 minutes in the Premier League last season and you have to go back six years to find a season when he scored more than five league goals. Don't buy on past reputation, people.
8) Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal)
Now it's clear that Rossi has improved greatly over the last few years. Let's face it, he had to improve - this is the kid who scored one league goal in three seasons in England.
His performances at Villarreal have been impressive, but does that really mean he should be linked with Barcelona and Juventus? And for around £30million? I'm unconvinced.
7) Cameron Jerome (Birmingham)
It makes me question my very football existence. Birmingham agree to sell Roger Johnson for £7million to one of their rivals, and then at a similar time turn down an offer of £5million for Jerome. Is he not just the poor man's Emile Heskey?
A return of three goals in 34 Premier League games last season doesn't necessarily appease my sheer confusion.
6) Adel Taarabt (QPR)
It seems as though Paris St Germain have forgotten that there is a reasonable-sized gap between the Premier League and the Championship. And this difference is most apparent in the time luxury midfielders receive on the ball.
Taarabt looked classy in the Championship, this much is apparent. But his temper tantrums when substituted hinted at a dark side to his character. And £13.5million is an awful lot for a player that Tottenham allowed to leave after nine games in the Premier League.
5) Samir Nasri (Arsenal)
Don't get me wrong, Nasri has talent and he played well for four months last season (tin hat suitably adorned). But with both City and United in the running, is a price of £20-odd million not ridiculously high for a player who is out of contract next summer?
Wenger might want to keep his man, but selling at that inflated price seems preferable to letting a 24-year-old run down his contract.
4) Scott Dann (Birmingham)
Dann has been a great success for Birmingham since his move from Coventry for £3.5million. But you're a Championship club that has just been relegated and Dann has not played for six months after surgery on his hamstring.
And Stoke have offered in the region of £13million. And that offer has been rejected. And the football world has gone genuinely mad.
3) Javier Pastore (Palermo)
Maurizio Zamparini is something of a hero in F365 parts, with his mental soundbites causing something of a titter. So when he declared that starlet Pastore would only leave the club for £50million, most of us turned a blind eye.
But it seems that someone might actually pay somewhere near that price. And with the player seemingly wanting to stay in Italy, Juventus could be the unfortunates. So that's £40million-plus for an attacking midfielder with 14 goals in 68 league games, four assists last season and only nine caps (no goals) for his country. Great.
2) Alexis Sanchez (Udinese)
In any other summer at any other time, Sanchezwatch would be the dullest transfer saga of the summer. As it is, it takes its place as a potential winner of the Ridiculous Overpayment of the Year award. Sanchez is quick and is mighty enjoyable to watch, but the £40million mark has only been passed five times in football history.
Six assists from a winger in a season in which his side scored 65 league goals? I'm not saying it definitely won't work but I'm definitely saying I'm sceptical.
1) Gary Cahill (Bolton)
It's like musical chairs with English centre-backs. Over the last few years Joleon Lescott, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Cahill have all been chased by clubs prepared to pay top whack.
Smalling and Jones are young enough to be moulded by United, and City just needed a centre-back. But Cahill has only made three appearances for England and at £17million looks an unbelievable gamble. A reasonably consistent performer he certainly is, but a top-four centre-back at top-four prices? Hmmm...
source: http://www.football365.com/topical-top-10/7046194/Top-Ten-Overpriced-Transfer-Targets
The left-back is a target for Arsenal and Liverpool and would command a fee of around £10million.
This seems ridiculous for a defender that has been criticised for his performances in the last year, and was told by teammate Hugo Lloris: "You do not respect this shirt. It has been sh*t on and flushed down the toilet."
Still, they've got rid of Paul Konchesky, so the only way is up.
9) Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City)
It seems likely that SWP will be leaving Manchester City for the second time this summer. But whilst last time it was for the bright lights of the capital, this time it will be most likely be to Bolton or Wigan. Quite a fall.
But why would either of the clubs take him on? The fee may be only £4.5million but Wright-Phillips would surely become the highest earner at the club. The winger will turn 30 this season, played 202 minutes in the Premier League last season and you have to go back six years to find a season when he scored more than five league goals. Don't buy on past reputation, people.
8) Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal)
Now it's clear that Rossi has improved greatly over the last few years. Let's face it, he had to improve - this is the kid who scored one league goal in three seasons in England.
His performances at Villarreal have been impressive, but does that really mean he should be linked with Barcelona and Juventus? And for around £30million? I'm unconvinced.
7) Cameron Jerome (Birmingham)
It makes me question my very football existence. Birmingham agree to sell Roger Johnson for £7million to one of their rivals, and then at a similar time turn down an offer of £5million for Jerome. Is he not just the poor man's Emile Heskey?
A return of three goals in 34 Premier League games last season doesn't necessarily appease my sheer confusion.
6) Adel Taarabt (QPR)
It seems as though Paris St Germain have forgotten that there is a reasonable-sized gap between the Premier League and the Championship. And this difference is most apparent in the time luxury midfielders receive on the ball.
Taarabt looked classy in the Championship, this much is apparent. But his temper tantrums when substituted hinted at a dark side to his character. And £13.5million is an awful lot for a player that Tottenham allowed to leave after nine games in the Premier League.
5) Samir Nasri (Arsenal)
Don't get me wrong, Nasri has talent and he played well for four months last season (tin hat suitably adorned). But with both City and United in the running, is a price of £20-odd million not ridiculously high for a player who is out of contract next summer?
Wenger might want to keep his man, but selling at that inflated price seems preferable to letting a 24-year-old run down his contract.
4) Scott Dann (Birmingham)
Dann has been a great success for Birmingham since his move from Coventry for £3.5million. But you're a Championship club that has just been relegated and Dann has not played for six months after surgery on his hamstring.
And Stoke have offered in the region of £13million. And that offer has been rejected. And the football world has gone genuinely mad.
3) Javier Pastore (Palermo)
Maurizio Zamparini is something of a hero in F365 parts, with his mental soundbites causing something of a titter. So when he declared that starlet Pastore would only leave the club for £50million, most of us turned a blind eye.
But it seems that someone might actually pay somewhere near that price. And with the player seemingly wanting to stay in Italy, Juventus could be the unfortunates. So that's £40million-plus for an attacking midfielder with 14 goals in 68 league games, four assists last season and only nine caps (no goals) for his country. Great.
2) Alexis Sanchez (Udinese)
In any other summer at any other time, Sanchezwatch would be the dullest transfer saga of the summer. As it is, it takes its place as a potential winner of the Ridiculous Overpayment of the Year award. Sanchez is quick and is mighty enjoyable to watch, but the £40million mark has only been passed five times in football history.
Six assists from a winger in a season in which his side scored 65 league goals? I'm not saying it definitely won't work but I'm definitely saying I'm sceptical.
1) Gary Cahill (Bolton)
It's like musical chairs with English centre-backs. Over the last few years Joleon Lescott, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Cahill have all been chased by clubs prepared to pay top whack.
Smalling and Jones are young enough to be moulded by United, and City just needed a centre-back. But Cahill has only made three appearances for England and at £17million looks an unbelievable gamble. A reasonably consistent performer he certainly is, but a top-four centre-back at top-four prices? Hmmm...
source: http://www.football365.com/topical-top-10/7046194/Top-Ten-Overpriced-Transfer-Targets
Pastore and/or Montolivo for AC Milan
ac milan sedang berusaha untuk membawa dua pemain baru menyertai mereka pada musim hadapan. dua pemain tersebut adalah playmaker palermo, javier pastore dan pemain tengah fiorentina, riccardo montolivo. jika montolivo dan pastore menyarung jersi ac milan pada musim hadapan, berikut merupakan formasi2 yang akan digunakan:
| ONE-TWO PUNCH - A MORE DYNAMIC APPROACH |
|
| KEEPING A BALANCE |
|
| IF ONLY PASTORE ARRIVES... |
|
| IF ONLY MONTOLIVO ARRIVES... |
|
source: http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3276/serie-a/2011/07/20/2582764/how-ac-milan-would-change-if-javier-pastore-riccardo
Where should Fabregas be???
mari kita tengok apakah formasi yang akan digunapakai oleh pengurus barcelona, pep guardiola jika kapten arsenal, cesc fabregas menyertai skuad juara sepanyol tersebut.
Barca's first-choice three becomes unaffected by Cesc's arrival, with Xavi allowed time to recuperate for key matches by easing the new arrival into the system gently alongside Iniesta and Busquets, to create the vision of the future - but not quite the present. He would be slowly introduced, starting off as something of a luxury substitute, to allow continuity as Xavi retains his role.
It must be remembered that Xavi has barely rested since the commencement of the 2007-08 season; Euro 2008, the Confederations Cup and then World Cup 2010 have swept up his summers, with fatigue, and tendonitis, beginning to take their toll earlier last season. While he shows no sign of slowing at the moment, another year of intense action could leave him drained, allowing Cesc to be his younger, quicker incarnation, and crucially to be considered a member of the best XI.
Xavi, Iniesta and Cesc in the same midfield three? Dissenters would point to a lack of defensive cover, but with those three in top form, how often would the opposition see the ball? Guardiola has already employed Busquets in defence this season, and the 22-year-old's height and tackling ability could make him a potential long-term alternative to the ageing Carles Puyol, freeing up a position in the middle.
CENTRE FORWARD
MESSI
Perhaps the most unlikely, given Pep Guardiola's unequivocal belief in 4-3-3, but 4-2-3-1, employed to tournament-winning effect by Vicente Del Bosque for Spain in South Africa last summer, would not be a major departure for many of these players. Xavi dropping deep, to play alongside Busquets, a player who can do his bidding allowing him to dictate play from deeper, could free up an attacking position, and Cesc would be more than comfortable in occupying the role he currently performs for Arsenal.
source: http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3277/la-liga/2011/07/20/2582792/regular-starter-or-luxury-sub-where-will-arsenal-captain
| 4-3-3 | GROOMED TO SUCCEED XAVI |
| RIGHT MIDFIELD | CENTRE MIDFIELD | LEFT MIDFIELD |
 INIESTA |  BUSQUETS |  FABREGAS |
| RIGHT FORWARD | CENTRE FORWARD | LEFT FORWARD |
 PEDRO | MESSI |  VILLA |
Barca's first-choice three becomes unaffected by Cesc's arrival, with Xavi allowed time to recuperate for key matches by easing the new arrival into the system gently alongside Iniesta and Busquets, to create the vision of the future - but not quite the present. He would be slowly introduced, starting off as something of a luxury substitute, to allow continuity as Xavi retains his role.
It must be remembered that Xavi has barely rested since the commencement of the 2007-08 season; Euro 2008, the Confederations Cup and then World Cup 2010 have swept up his summers, with fatigue, and tendonitis, beginning to take their toll earlier last season. While he shows no sign of slowing at the moment, another year of intense action could leave him drained, allowing Cesc to be his younger, quicker incarnation, and crucially to be considered a member of the best XI.
| 4-3-3 | PARTNER FOR XAVI & INIESTA |
| RIGHT MIDFIELD | CENTRE MIDFIELD | LEFT MIDFIELD |
INIESTA |  XAVI | FABREGAS |
| RIGHT FORWARD | CENTRE FORWARD | LEFT FORWARD |
PEDRO | MESSI | VILLA |
Xavi, Iniesta and Cesc in the same midfield three? Dissenters would point to a lack of defensive cover, but with those three in top form, how often would the opposition see the ball? Guardiola has already employed Busquets in defence this season, and the 22-year-old's height and tackling ability could make him a potential long-term alternative to the ageing Carles Puyol, freeing up a position in the middle.
| 4-2-3-1 | FORMATION CHANGE |
| HOLDING MIDFIELD | HOLDING MIDFIELD |
XAVI | BUSQUETS |
| RIGHT MIDFIELD | ATTACKING MIDFIELD | LEFT MIDFIELD |
INIESTA | FABREGAS | XAVI |
CENTRE FORWARD
MESSI
source: http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3277/la-liga/2011/07/20/2582792/regular-starter-or-luxury-sub-where-will-arsenal-captain
Sekilas pandang
1. pemain man city, vincent kompany dan mario balotelli berkata pasukan mereka tidak memerlukan kehadiran kapten man city, carlos tevez untuk memenangi sebarang kejuaraan. itupun jika tevez benar2 melangkah keluar dari man city.
2. pemain tengah arsenal, denilson telah menyertai semula kelab lamanya, sao paulo secara pinjaman untuk satu musim.
3. pengurus SAF berkata beliau memahami sekiranya penyerang MU, dimitar berbatov ingin berpindah ke kelab lain kerana ketika ini gandingan rooney dan chicharito merupakan pasangan utama serangan MU.
4. bekas pemain MU, david beckham akan beraksi bersama2 bekas pemain arsenal, thierry henry dalam skuad MLS all-star untuk bertemu dengan MU dalam perlawanan persahabatan.
5. dua gol dari penyerang liverpool, luiz suarez sudah cukup untuk membawa uruguay ke perlawanan akhir copa america apabila pasukannya berjaya mengalahkan peru dengan keputusan 2-0.
6. pemain muda sensasi southampton, alex-oxlaide chamberlain menganggap dirinya sudah bersedia untuk bermain dalam BPL, mengikut jejak langkah bekas pemain kelabnya iaitu gareth bale dan theo walcott.
7. kelab brazil, corinthians tidak sempat menyempurnakan pembelian penyerang man city, carlos tevez apabila gagal membuat penawaran setelah tingkap perpindahan bagi bola sepak brazil tamat pada 20 julai yang lalu.
8. menurut pengurus MU, SAF, penjaga gol baru MU, david de gea tidak akan menjadi penjaga gol utama MU buat masa ini dan akan bersaing dengan penjaga gol MU yang lain seperti tomasz kuszczak dan anders lindegaard.
9. pengurus spurs, harry redknapp berminat untuk mendapatkan penyerang man city, emmanuel adebayor secara pinjaman untuk satu musim.
Rabu, 20 Julai 2011
Who is better? Man or woman?
It turns out football is a lot like housework when it comes to contrasting the sexes. Men do it faster; women are better to watch, more honest about what they've done and do a lot less complaining before, during and after it.
In a snapshot, those were the lessons learned from the 2011 Women's World Cup - a wholesome celebration that left the footballing public longing for more.
As the drama unfolded, the adjective you heard time and again was "refreshing". These were international footballers, to whom reaching a World Cup was the pinnacle of their ambition, but there was such a lack of cynicism on show that you almost wondered if they knew the stakes.
Diving was virtually non-existent. Ok, there was Erika's ridiculous feigned injury at the end of the Brazil-USA quarter-final humdinger, but it only served to highlight just how rare play-acting is in the women's game compared to the theatrics we get served up in the male version on a weekly basis.
If you want evidence, take a study by Wake Forest University in North Carolina, which compared games from the Women's World Cups of 2003 and 2007 with a selection played in regional men's competitions.
The results found only half as many recorded injuries in women's matches as there were in men's. Of those, nearly twice the proportion could be deemed "genuine" - by the presence of blood, or the player being substituted within five minutes.
"We can say that men writhe on the ground looking like they're injured more than women, almost twice as often," lead author of the study Dr. Daryl Rosenbaum told the New York Times. "And when players are apparently injured, the percentage when it was authentic by our criteria was twice as high with women. You could trust more that they were injured."
A recent study by German sports scientist Martin Lames compounded the argument. He found men spend an average of 30 seconds longer on the ground when they're injured than women. They also take nearly 10 seconds more to leave the field when they're substituted.
Women, it seems, really are football's fairer sex. But why should that be? Some suggest it's because the stakes aren't nearly as high, and when you consider the football our parents were bred on they could have a point. After all, it wasn't until obscene amounts of money poured into the men's game that diving truly took off.
Others simply argue the women's game adheres to a superior moral code. Among them is Anson Dorrance, the women's coach at the University of North Carolina. "Women play the game with greater personal integrity and honour," he said in a recent interview.
It's hard to argue his point if you watched even a smattering of games at this summer's Women's World Cup. Not only did players steer away from feigning injuries and time-wasting, they mostly treated officials with a level of respect that goes out of the men's game the moment it becomes competitive. In England, that means Under-9 level.
The Brazil-USA quarter-final again provided a perfect example. When USA goalkeeper Hope Solo saved Cristiane's 68th minute penalty, only for the pedantic referee to order a re-take and Marta to bury it, the histrionics were noticeable by their absence.
In the game as we've come to know it, the moment was crying out for an 11-woman assault on the referee. While the players were circling the hapless official like a vigilante mob, the US coaching staff should have been gesticulating wildly on the sidelines. The whole affair should have dragged on for at least five ugly minutes.
As it turned out, all we got was a soft yellow card for Solo - who reacted with a lukewarm protest that seemed positively serene in the circumstances. The game continued with no discernible bad taste in the mouth and, as a spectacle, was all the better for it.
Watching on, you couldn't help but feel warmed by a purer take on the game than the one we obsess about all year around. At times, the tournament felt like football's lost youth recaptured, and made you wonder where the men's game had got it so badly wrong.
When it came to the football itself, we were unquestionably treated to the women's game entering new territory in terms of technique, speed and intensity. Players like Japan's inspired playmaker Homare Sawa, the irrepressible Abby Wambach of the US and the precocious Brazilian Marta helped deliver a tournament that far exceeded our expectations.
But to focus too much on individuals would belie the team ethic that was ultimately the driving force behind this Women's World Cup. This was a tournament won by the second smallest team in it, who achieved their triumph by marrying a Barcelona-esque passing game with an unselfishness that was echoed throughout their competition.
The play was slower than we're used to, but it didn't detract from the drama. And some have argued it only enhanced the flowing nature of what we were watching.
When you contrast the attractive, entertaining football we saw in Germany with the largely underwhelming, stifled affair we witnessed in South Africa last summer, there's no question the women's game did a far better job of delivering to its potential than their technically and physically superior male counterparts.
For the men's game to achieve a similar triumph in three years' time, FIFA surely must address the issue of discipline and gamesmanship with more vigour than they have it the past.
If this Women's World Cup has taught FIFA anything, it's that intensity of competition and entertainment does not have to go hand-in-hand with the kind of cynical antics that have become the acceptable face of the game.
As for the men's national teams looking towards those finals in Brazil, the lesson has surely been one of teamwork and unselfishness. Paul Scholes recently accused some of his former England team-mates of being motivated purely by their own finances, and any team carrying similar issues into the 2014 will surely fall by the wayside.
The stars of the men's game would do well to follow Sawa's example. Despite having finished top scorer and been named the tournament's best player, Japan's captain simply refused to countenance the idea that she deserved special attention.
"The team played so much of a part in me winning these awards that I can't really take any personal pride in receiving them," she said.
England fans will be hoping to hear Wayne Rooney deliver an identical statement in three years' time.
source: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature/_/id/935497/football%27s-fairer-sex?cc=4716
GettyImagesErika's theatrics were a rare sight in Germany
As the drama unfolded, the adjective you heard time and again was "refreshing". These were international footballers, to whom reaching a World Cup was the pinnacle of their ambition, but there was such a lack of cynicism on show that you almost wondered if they knew the stakes.
Diving was virtually non-existent. Ok, there was Erika's ridiculous feigned injury at the end of the Brazil-USA quarter-final humdinger, but it only served to highlight just how rare play-acting is in the women's game compared to the theatrics we get served up in the male version on a weekly basis.
If you want evidence, take a study by Wake Forest University in North Carolina, which compared games from the Women's World Cups of 2003 and 2007 with a selection played in regional men's competitions.
The results found only half as many recorded injuries in women's matches as there were in men's. Of those, nearly twice the proportion could be deemed "genuine" - by the presence of blood, or the player being substituted within five minutes.
"We can say that men writhe on the ground looking like they're injured more than women, almost twice as often," lead author of the study Dr. Daryl Rosenbaum told the New York Times. "And when players are apparently injured, the percentage when it was authentic by our criteria was twice as high with women. You could trust more that they were injured."
A recent study by German sports scientist Martin Lames compounded the argument. He found men spend an average of 30 seconds longer on the ground when they're injured than women. They also take nearly 10 seconds more to leave the field when they're substituted.
Women, it seems, really are football's fairer sex. But why should that be? Some suggest it's because the stakes aren't nearly as high, and when you consider the football our parents were bred on they could have a point. After all, it wasn't until obscene amounts of money poured into the men's game that diving truly took off.
Others simply argue the women's game adheres to a superior moral code. Among them is Anson Dorrance, the women's coach at the University of North Carolina. "Women play the game with greater personal integrity and honour," he said in a recent interview.
It's hard to argue his point if you watched even a smattering of games at this summer's Women's World Cup. Not only did players steer away from feigning injuries and time-wasting, they mostly treated officials with a level of respect that goes out of the men's game the moment it becomes competitive. In England, that means Under-9 level.
The Brazil-USA quarter-final again provided a perfect example. When USA goalkeeper Hope Solo saved Cristiane's 68th minute penalty, only for the pedantic referee to order a re-take and Marta to bury it, the histrionics were noticeable by their absence.
In the game as we've come to know it, the moment was crying out for an 11-woman assault on the referee. While the players were circling the hapless official like a vigilante mob, the US coaching staff should have been gesticulating wildly on the sidelines. The whole affair should have dragged on for at least five ugly minutes.
As it turned out, all we got was a soft yellow card for Solo - who reacted with a lukewarm protest that seemed positively serene in the circumstances. The game continued with no discernible bad taste in the mouth and, as a spectacle, was all the better for it.
Watching on, you couldn't help but feel warmed by a purer take on the game than the one we obsess about all year around. At times, the tournament felt like football's lost youth recaptured, and made you wonder where the men's game had got it so badly wrong.
When it came to the football itself, we were unquestionably treated to the women's game entering new territory in terms of technique, speed and intensity. Players like Japan's inspired playmaker Homare Sawa, the irrepressible Abby Wambach of the US and the precocious Brazilian Marta helped deliver a tournament that far exceeded our expectations.
But to focus too much on individuals would belie the team ethic that was ultimately the driving force behind this Women's World Cup. This was a tournament won by the second smallest team in it, who achieved their triumph by marrying a Barcelona-esque passing game with an unselfishness that was echoed throughout their competition.
The play was slower than we're used to, but it didn't detract from the drama. And some have argued it only enhanced the flowing nature of what we were watching.
When you contrast the attractive, entertaining football we saw in Germany with the largely underwhelming, stifled affair we witnessed in South Africa last summer, there's no question the women's game did a far better job of delivering to its potential than their technically and physically superior male counterparts.
For the men's game to achieve a similar triumph in three years' time, FIFA surely must address the issue of discipline and gamesmanship with more vigour than they have it the past.
GettyImagesJapan's women relied on a strong team ethic
As for the men's national teams looking towards those finals in Brazil, the lesson has surely been one of teamwork and unselfishness. Paul Scholes recently accused some of his former England team-mates of being motivated purely by their own finances, and any team carrying similar issues into the 2014 will surely fall by the wayside.
The stars of the men's game would do well to follow Sawa's example. Despite having finished top scorer and been named the tournament's best player, Japan's captain simply refused to countenance the idea that she deserved special attention.
"The team played so much of a part in me winning these awards that I can't really take any personal pride in receiving them," she said.
England fans will be hoping to hear Wayne Rooney deliver an identical statement in three years' time.
source: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature/_/id/935497/football%27s-fairer-sex?cc=4716
Kisah Ratu berbaju kuning
Let me tell you why the Queen wearing yellow when granting an audience to Najib was NOT a coincidence or a faux pas.
Let me tell you why Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II wearing yellow when granting an audience to our Prime Minister and his wife was not a coincidence or a faux pas. As much as UMNO would prefer to think otherwise.
Fact 1. The Queen, contrary to popular belief, is very much well-informed. She is constantly kept abreast of the latest developments and news pertaining to her realm and her government by her team of palace advisers, secretaries and civil servants. They, in turn, gather their information from various sources, including ministries, government departments, Scotland Yard, 10 Downing Street, and members of the press corp in the UK. (Scotland Yard, knowing that the Queen would be granting an audience to the Prime Minister of Malaysia, would have certainly informed the Palace of the many demonstrations in London by Bersih 2.0 supporters.)
When a visiting dignitary is scheduled to meet the Queen, she is always fully briefed on the background of her visitor, the current situation of her visitor's home country, and the DO's and DON'T's to observe. Particularly, she would be informed of developments in her own realm regarding the visitor. Scenes in London like the one in the photo below would not have escaped Her Majesty's team of advisers, who in turn would have briefed the Queen. So, to assume that she was not aware of Bersih 2.0 is untenable.
Fact 2. Royal wardrobe and fashion is strictly regulated, and the Queen and members of the Royal Family are always careful not to make any fashion faux pas or distress their guests. Her advisers would have advised her to stay away from wearing yellow, and explained the significance of the colour in present circumstances. As Sarawak Report suggests, “she MUST have been informed of the sensitivity of the colour yellow”.
Fact 3. Besides attending public events, state dinners, receiving dignitaries and horse races, the Queen actually does paper work! Yes, Her Majesty, like many of us, has her daily duty of working at one of her many desks reading and signing state papers and official documents (often classified as secret). British fastidiousness with information and intelligence gathering is well-known. Her cache of papers would most definitely have included confidential dossiers on Najib Razak and Malaysia. And Bersih 2.0.
Copyright Press Association Images
Fact 4. Besides official papers, she also reads the newspapers. Knowing that she would be meeting the Prime Minister of Malaysia, an article in The Guardian, a respected British newspaper, with the headline "Malaysia's Najib must abandon the Mubarak model", would surely have caught her eye.
Fact 5. The Queen meets her Prime Minister once a week, every week. It would have been incumbent upon David Cameron to apprise the Queen of Najib Razak and Malaysia, in view that he would be visiting the UK on an official trip. News of the Bersih 2.0 rally in Kuala Lumpur, being reported globally the same week the Queen had her weekly meeting with David Cameron, would most definitely have been a topic of conversation. It is also a practice for the British Prime Minister to advise the Monarch on how to appropriately respond to political situations of the day, since she is constitutionally apolitical.
Did Cameron therefore gently suggest that the Queen wear yellow as a message to our Prime Minister and also to the people of Malaysia? Where Cameron could not publicly chastise Najib, the Queen could, with regal aplomb, send a strong message?
Fact 6. The Queen is a politically astute woman who has seen twelve British prime ministers serve under her reign, the list starting with Winston Churchill, no less! Her vast experience in international relations and diplomacy is unchallenged and she would thoroughly understand the subtleties and symbolism attached to what one says and what one wears. To assume that Her Majesty has no political acumen is completely ludicrous.
Fact 7. Everything the Queen does is planned in advance and takes into consideration all factors. Everything has a reason, even right down to the colour of the flowers in her audience chamber! Nothing is coincidental, random or arbitrary where the Queen of the United Kingdom is concerned.
These seven facts alone allow us to reasonably conclude that the Queen was very much aware of Bersih 2.0 and the significance of the colour yellow, besides it being the royal colour for Malaysian royalty.
The question now is, knowing full well the sensitivity of the colour yellow, what was the reason behind Her Majesty deciding to wear yellow when meeting our Prime Minister and his lovely wife? The answer, dear reader, is yours to conclude.
The author read law and politics in the UK from 1989 to 1992, where he was greatly fascinated (and still is) with the British Royal Family, the Queen in particular.
source: http://beingvernon.blogspot.com/2011/07/let-me-tell-you-why-queen-wearing.html
Selasa, 19 Julai 2011
Lima pemain yang tenggelam dalam Copa America
1) Carlos Tevez - Argentina
After all the will he/won't he be picked debate, Batista selected Tevez in the starting line up for Argentina's first two matches. He should've stuck to his guns when he said Tevez didn't fit in with his tactics. Carlito hasn't turned up at the Copa America, he looks off the pace and seems to have an inability to pass to his teammates. His mind is obviously on other things, but if Tevez can concentrate on football for just ten days, Argentina's chances of winning will be given a huge boost.
2) Lucas Barrios - Paraguay
He may have scored his first goal of the tournament in the 3-3 thriller with Venezuela, but Barrios hasn't looked anything like the striker we know he is. After finishing the season as top-scorer for Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund, great things were expected of the Argentine-born forward at the Copa America. He hasn't delivered as yet, but there's time to make amends against Brazil on Sunday.
3) Cristian Benitez - Ecuador
The first time I saw Benitez play was in a World Cup qualifier in Ecuador. He missed lots of sitters that day. I then saw him again for Birmingham in the Premier League. He scored only three goals in 30 matches, and missed lots of sitters. And guess what? He's still missing them. If he had converted a gilt-edged chance against Paraguay in the opening game, Ecuador would be looking forward to a quarter final. Instead they are on their way home - I hold him entirely responsible.
4) Robinho - Brazil
I'm not sure if I understand Robinho. Clearly one of the most talented footballers currently playing, he just never looks that interested. His performances at the Copa reflect his career to date - drifting around without a care in the world and failing to fulfill any of his undoubted potential. At 27, it's time for Robinho to show some responsibility and set an example to the younger players in the Brazil team. If he wants to, he can lead Brazil to another title on July 24th.
5) A Uruguayan striker of your choice
Suarez, Forlan, Cavani - take your pick. Despite being one of the most formidable attacking line-ups at the Copa America, Uruguay's front three have mustered just one goal between them. Forlan has had moments of brilliance, but it counts for very little when he keeps missing clear cut opportunities; Suarez has repeatedly opted for power rather than precision; and Cavani, well...I may have picked him as one to watch but poor form would've ended his tournament if injury already hadn't.
source: http://www.football365.com/f365-features/7041198/The-Good-Bad-Mystifying-Of-The-Copa
After all the will he/won't he be picked debate, Batista selected Tevez in the starting line up for Argentina's first two matches. He should've stuck to his guns when he said Tevez didn't fit in with his tactics. Carlito hasn't turned up at the Copa America, he looks off the pace and seems to have an inability to pass to his teammates. His mind is obviously on other things, but if Tevez can concentrate on football for just ten days, Argentina's chances of winning will be given a huge boost.
2) Lucas Barrios - Paraguay
He may have scored his first goal of the tournament in the 3-3 thriller with Venezuela, but Barrios hasn't looked anything like the striker we know he is. After finishing the season as top-scorer for Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund, great things were expected of the Argentine-born forward at the Copa America. He hasn't delivered as yet, but there's time to make amends against Brazil on Sunday.
3) Cristian Benitez - Ecuador
The first time I saw Benitez play was in a World Cup qualifier in Ecuador. He missed lots of sitters that day. I then saw him again for Birmingham in the Premier League. He scored only three goals in 30 matches, and missed lots of sitters. And guess what? He's still missing them. If he had converted a gilt-edged chance against Paraguay in the opening game, Ecuador would be looking forward to a quarter final. Instead they are on their way home - I hold him entirely responsible.
4) Robinho - Brazil
I'm not sure if I understand Robinho. Clearly one of the most talented footballers currently playing, he just never looks that interested. His performances at the Copa reflect his career to date - drifting around without a care in the world and failing to fulfill any of his undoubted potential. At 27, it's time for Robinho to show some responsibility and set an example to the younger players in the Brazil team. If he wants to, he can lead Brazil to another title on July 24th.
5) A Uruguayan striker of your choice
Suarez, Forlan, Cavani - take your pick. Despite being one of the most formidable attacking line-ups at the Copa America, Uruguay's front three have mustered just one goal between them. Forlan has had moments of brilliance, but it counts for very little when he keeps missing clear cut opportunities; Suarez has repeatedly opted for power rather than precision; and Cavani, well...I may have picked him as one to watch but poor form would've ended his tournament if injury already hadn't.
source: http://www.football365.com/f365-features/7041198/The-Good-Bad-Mystifying-Of-The-Copa