For those who have yet to see the new blog:
www.jrossfootball.com
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
APOLOGIES
Hi readers/bloggers,
Apologies for my website being out of action. I have pulled a number of stories off the blog as I do not wish to publish that material on two fronts.
I am currently in the process of designing a new website which will be up and running very shortly which will be very exciting for all readers! I will publish the domain name here shortly.
Cheers,
Julius
Apologies for my website being out of action. I have pulled a number of stories off the blog as I do not wish to publish that material on two fronts.
I am currently in the process of designing a new website which will be up and running very shortly which will be very exciting for all readers! I will publish the domain name here shortly.
Cheers,
Julius
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Liverpool Dowd and Out?
"It's Liverpool's year."
It's a thought, and a feeling, that pundits, commentators and Reds fans across the globe inevitably say, think and feel before the first kick of each English Premiership season.
Come the end of each season though, the saying is invariably stale; a hard pill to swallow for those who have to eat their words year after year, as perennial rivals Manchester United rub salt into raw wounds or Russian-billionaire-inspired-Blues lift the coveted trophy that has avoided Liverpool's grasp for 19, long and arduous years.
This season, it has taken only 90 minutes, not 30-odd games, for the followers and authorities to begin swallowing their predictions, and the taste is, as usual, bitter for many.
The Reds' opening game at Tottenham always looked a hard fixture. Harder than United's clash with Birmingham, harder than Chelsea's opener against Hull. I'm not trying to argue that there is a conspiracy within the EPL fixture ranks against the Reds. But it's not ideal to go into a new season facing one of only two teams that managed to defeat you, twice, last season.
Of course you'd prefer drawing Spurs over one of the other 'big four' teams, or even the revolutionised Man City, but as I said, it was definitely not an ideal start.
I remember watching the Fox Sports footage before the game; it flashed up the odds, and despite being a Reds away game, they were placed at an attractive $1.95 for the win, a cheaper option for the gambler than picking Spurs or a draw.
The odds reflected the same optimism; that it'd be 'Liverpool's year.'
But as the game kicked off, a similar worrying feeling crept in.
Spurs were clearly on top. The gloss from the pre-season predictions was quickly wearing off. Huddlestone, the speedy Lennon and sharp-minded Modric were clearly posing the danger in midfield in comparison to the invisible Lucas, off-form Gerrard and clumsy Kuyt.
The Liverpool-Keane debacle looked like it would come back to haunt Benitez, but a Reina save after the Irishmen stooped to head unmarked between the non-existent 'pool defence, keep the Reds in the contest.
But only until Carragher battered Lennon across the face. The resulting free-kick was thumped home on the second attempt by defender Benoît Assou-Ekotto. A left-footed 30-yard drive that Gerrard would be proud of.
Ekotto's swaggering arrogance was evident as he walked towards the tunnel at half time, glancing at White Hart Lane's big screen which was replicating his image. He was certainly chuffed with the belting strike. Who wouldn't be? Reds fans, that's who.
The second half looked a little more promising as Liverpool began to finally string passes together, and a rampaging run from new-boy Glen Johnson won the away side a penalty. Gerrard cooly slotted home. We all knew it was against the run of play. Undeserved. It looked as though the Reds would pull-off another Gerrard-inspired comeback.
Three minutes later, and a glancing header, a rippled Liverpool net, and a sea of white ecstatic Spurs fans meant Tottenham had equalised.
Two set-pieces had undone the 'Pool. Not something Rafa would be proud of. After all, he's known for his technical mastery.
Benitez was furious with Referee Dowd in the dying stages as the Reds were denied two penalties, but as usual it was an image of the desperate manager on the sidelines begging for that last decision that would his side an undeserved three points.
It was Liverpool's first day loss in 16 years. Hopefully, in a ironic twist of fate, this defeat will Spur Liverpool to their first premiership in nearly 20 years.
NEGATIVES: As my mate Cam said, "there was no fluidity in the midfield" - spot on my friend. We severely missed the departed Alonso, while his replacement, Lucas is miles from the Spainard's standard. Mascherano's head was in Barca according to Cam, and again a spot on judgement, he was never in the game. If Gerrard and Torres fire, Liverpool fire. Were those two even playing? Didn't seem like it
POSITIVES: At least Skrtel and Carragher put their bodies on the line for the team. It may have cost us in terms of their fitness and dizziness throughout the match, but however clumsy the two of them looked when they went for that header, at least they were interested in winning the ball. Unlike the other nine players.
Reina looked relatively sharp; nothing he could do about the goals.
Benayoun and Johnson looked the goods, but inevitably it looks like we are really lacking depth, bringing on two u19 players in the dying stages.
We can only hope for a better result against Stoke....
It's a thought, and a feeling, that pundits, commentators and Reds fans across the globe inevitably say, think and feel before the first kick of each English Premiership season.
Come the end of each season though, the saying is invariably stale; a hard pill to swallow for those who have to eat their words year after year, as perennial rivals Manchester United rub salt into raw wounds or Russian-billionaire-inspired-Blues lift the coveted trophy that has avoided Liverpool's grasp for 19, long and arduous years.
This season, it has taken only 90 minutes, not 30-odd games, for the followers and authorities to begin swallowing their predictions, and the taste is, as usual, bitter for many.
The Reds' opening game at Tottenham always looked a hard fixture. Harder than United's clash with Birmingham, harder than Chelsea's opener against Hull. I'm not trying to argue that there is a conspiracy within the EPL fixture ranks against the Reds. But it's not ideal to go into a new season facing one of only two teams that managed to defeat you, twice, last season.
Of course you'd prefer drawing Spurs over one of the other 'big four' teams, or even the revolutionised Man City, but as I said, it was definitely not an ideal start.
I remember watching the Fox Sports footage before the game; it flashed up the odds, and despite being a Reds away game, they were placed at an attractive $1.95 for the win, a cheaper option for the gambler than picking Spurs or a draw.
The odds reflected the same optimism; that it'd be 'Liverpool's year.'
But as the game kicked off, a similar worrying feeling crept in.
Spurs were clearly on top. The gloss from the pre-season predictions was quickly wearing off. Huddlestone, the speedy Lennon and sharp-minded Modric were clearly posing the danger in midfield in comparison to the invisible Lucas, off-form Gerrard and clumsy Kuyt.
The Liverpool-Keane debacle looked like it would come back to haunt Benitez, but a Reina save after the Irishmen stooped to head unmarked between the non-existent 'pool defence, keep the Reds in the contest.
But only until Carragher battered Lennon across the face. The resulting free-kick was thumped home on the second attempt by defender Benoît Assou-Ekotto. A left-footed 30-yard drive that Gerrard would be proud of.
Ekotto's swaggering arrogance was evident as he walked towards the tunnel at half time, glancing at White Hart Lane's big screen which was replicating his image. He was certainly chuffed with the belting strike. Who wouldn't be? Reds fans, that's who.
The second half looked a little more promising as Liverpool began to finally string passes together, and a rampaging run from new-boy Glen Johnson won the away side a penalty. Gerrard cooly slotted home. We all knew it was against the run of play. Undeserved. It looked as though the Reds would pull-off another Gerrard-inspired comeback.
Three minutes later, and a glancing header, a rippled Liverpool net, and a sea of white ecstatic Spurs fans meant Tottenham had equalised.
Two set-pieces had undone the 'Pool. Not something Rafa would be proud of. After all, he's known for his technical mastery.
Benitez was furious with Referee Dowd in the dying stages as the Reds were denied two penalties, but as usual it was an image of the desperate manager on the sidelines begging for that last decision that would his side an undeserved three points.
It was Liverpool's first day loss in 16 years. Hopefully, in a ironic twist of fate, this defeat will Spur Liverpool to their first premiership in nearly 20 years.
NEGATIVES: As my mate Cam said, "there was no fluidity in the midfield" - spot on my friend. We severely missed the departed Alonso, while his replacement, Lucas is miles from the Spainard's standard. Mascherano's head was in Barca according to Cam, and again a spot on judgement, he was never in the game. If Gerrard and Torres fire, Liverpool fire. Were those two even playing? Didn't seem like it
POSITIVES: At least Skrtel and Carragher put their bodies on the line for the team. It may have cost us in terms of their fitness and dizziness throughout the match, but however clumsy the two of them looked when they went for that header, at least they were interested in winning the ball. Unlike the other nine players.
Reina looked relatively sharp; nothing he could do about the goals.
Benayoun and Johnson looked the goods, but inevitably it looks like we are really lacking depth, bringing on two u19 players in the dying stages.
We can only hope for a better result against Stoke....
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Premier League, Ligue 1 and Bundesliga Wrap
Goal! Weekly checks out the pick of the action from the big leagues across Europe.
ENGLAND
After an emotional one-minute applause for the late Sir Bobby Robson, Stamford Bridge was the scene of the long-awaited first kick of the 2009-10 English Premier League season, where Chelsea took on Hull City in the early kick-off.
The match was charged with the high intensity expected of season openers, with Chelsea eager to establish authority over the game and earn Carlo Ancelotti his first three points of the season.
This intensity was encapsulated in just the second minute, when Didier Drogba who should have given his side the lead from six yards out.
Hull’s debutant Stephen Hunt also illustrated the ferocity of the opening fixture, lunging studs-up on Frank Lampard in the first five minutes; an offence that could have easily seen him pick up the first red card of the season.
Hunt was warned by referee Alan Wiley, and instead of receiving his marching orders, the former Reading man netted the first goal of the season and handed the visitors a shock lead, on 27 minutes.
George Boateng unleashed a stinging drive from 20 yards out, which ricocheted off Ashley Cole and John Obi Mikel and into the path of Hunt, who buried into an empty net with Petr Cech floored by the deflections.
The home fans were furious with Hunt; they are yet to forget his challenge on Cech back in 2006 which left the keeper with a depressed skull fracture.
It was a stiffening blow for Chelsea who were starting to look worryingly like the unimaginative side that was governed by Luiz Felipe Scolari, until they earned a dubious free-kick 30 yards out on 38 minutes.
Replays suggested a Mikel dive, but despite the Hull protests, Drogba coolly stepped up and side footed a dipping rocket into the bottom corner of the Hull net, much to the relief of Ancelloti and the Stamford masses.
The second half resembled the first, with Chelsea dominating possession and chances, but Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill continued to pull off a string of fantastic saves to prevent, mainly Drobga, from taking the lead.
In the dying stages it seemed that Hull was destined to perform the first upset of the season, however, when referee Wiley added six minutes of stoppage time, there was a familiar feeling that Chelsea would snatch all three points.
They did just that two minutes in, when a neat one-two with Drogba and Deco sent the Ivory Coast international to the by-line, and his attempted cross dipped over Myhill into the back of the net to send the Bridge into rapturous scenes.
Meanwhile, rich-boys Manchester City wasted no time in issuing their intent on making money matter this season, with 25 million pound signing Emmanuel Adebayor smashing in their first goal of the campaign after just three minutes against Blackburn Rovers.
The multi-million dollar side used their new signings effectively, with Gareth Barry, Kolo Toure, Wayne Bridge and Adebayor ensuring that City were dominating the proceedings throughout.
Shaun Wright-Phillips was also in a fine mood, whose early one-two with Adebayor led to the opening goal, but Robinho was surprisingly quiet.
Another surprise was the decision by Mark Hughes to start Welshman Craig Bellamy in front of A$50 million man Carlos Tevez, whose endless industry was evident after he replaced the ineffectual Robinho.
After a solid performance and with stoppage time approaching, City stalwart Stephen Ireland fired in a superb effort right at the death to make it 2-0.
Burnley were given a typically inauspicious welcome to the Premier League after promotion, suffering a 2-0 loss at the hands of Stoke City.
Liam Lawrence and Stephen Jordan compounded misery on the newcomers; a feeling that the Clarets will no doubt become familiar with as the season progresses.
It was a similar outcome for fellow promotion boys, Wolverhampton Wolves, as they lost by the same score line at home to West Ham.
A Mark Noble goal and a rare Matthew Upson strike secured the away points at Molineux for Gianfranco Zola’s men.
A goal from the backside of Bobby Zamora was enough for Fulham to force Portsmouth into early season worries; many have tipped them to be embroiled in the relegation battle and this was definitely an example that this suggestion could be a reality for Pompey.
A powerful Clint Dempsey strike was deflected off Zamora’s nether region for the only goal of the match.
Arsenal shrugged off suggestions that they are no longer a top four team by thumping in six of the best against Everton.
In plain and simple terms the Gunners blew apart the Toffees, with singles from Denilson, debutant Thomas Vermaelen, William Gallas and Eduardo and a double from Cesc Fabregas doing the damage.
Fabregas dedicated his goals to late friend Daniel Jarque, the Espanyol player who died of a heart attack last week, while Louis Saha gave David Moyes a scant consolation goal.
And in the first upset of the season, a rampaging Wigan Athletic overcame Aston Villa 2-0 on their own turf, through goals from Hugo Rodallega and Jason Koumas.
FRANCE
Reigning French Ligue 1 champions Girondins Bordeaux showed their championship colours with a hard fought 3-2 win over Sochaux.
Two headers by sought after Moroccan striker Maroune Chamakh made the difference, with his goals coming from two corners, to give Laurent Blanc’s side all three points.
The 25-year-old opened the scoring and then secured the result with 10 minutes to go, despite Sochaux replying twice through striker Charlie Davies.
Olympique Lyon, a perennial title-chaser, bounced back from an opening 2-2 draw last weekend, by defeating Valenciennes courtesy of new signing Bafetimbi Gomis.
Nancy shot to the top of the table after an impressive 4-0 demolishing of Monaco, while Toulouse overcame St Etienne 3-1.
GERMANY
Last season’s first-time champions VfL Wolfsburg came back from a 1-0 deficit to beat Colonge 3-1 to stay top of the Bundesliga after two matches.
Two goals in two minutes from last season’s top scorer Edin Dzeko and Pierre Wome (own goal) reversed the advantage after Wolfsburg fell behind to a Fabrice Ehret goal.
New signing from relegated English side Newcastle United, Obafemi Martins put the game beyond doubt with three minutes remaining.
The Bundesliga’s most expensive summer signing, Bayern Munich’s Mario Gomez, payed off some of his debt by salvaging a 1-1 draw with Werder Bremen.
Bayern were stunned six minutes before half time, but Gomez, who joined the Munich ranks from VfB Stuttgart for approximately 30 million Euros, saved the home side’s blushes with a goal 18 minutes from the final whistle.
ENGLAND
After an emotional one-minute applause for the late Sir Bobby Robson, Stamford Bridge was the scene of the long-awaited first kick of the 2009-10 English Premier League season, where Chelsea took on Hull City in the early kick-off.
The match was charged with the high intensity expected of season openers, with Chelsea eager to establish authority over the game and earn Carlo Ancelotti his first three points of the season.
This intensity was encapsulated in just the second minute, when Didier Drogba who should have given his side the lead from six yards out.
Hull’s debutant Stephen Hunt also illustrated the ferocity of the opening fixture, lunging studs-up on Frank Lampard in the first five minutes; an offence that could have easily seen him pick up the first red card of the season.
Hunt was warned by referee Alan Wiley, and instead of receiving his marching orders, the former Reading man netted the first goal of the season and handed the visitors a shock lead, on 27 minutes.
George Boateng unleashed a stinging drive from 20 yards out, which ricocheted off Ashley Cole and John Obi Mikel and into the path of Hunt, who buried into an empty net with Petr Cech floored by the deflections.
The home fans were furious with Hunt; they are yet to forget his challenge on Cech back in 2006 which left the keeper with a depressed skull fracture.
It was a stiffening blow for Chelsea who were starting to look worryingly like the unimaginative side that was governed by Luiz Felipe Scolari, until they earned a dubious free-kick 30 yards out on 38 minutes.
Replays suggested a Mikel dive, but despite the Hull protests, Drogba coolly stepped up and side footed a dipping rocket into the bottom corner of the Hull net, much to the relief of Ancelloti and the Stamford masses.
The second half resembled the first, with Chelsea dominating possession and chances, but Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill continued to pull off a string of fantastic saves to prevent, mainly Drobga, from taking the lead.
In the dying stages it seemed that Hull was destined to perform the first upset of the season, however, when referee Wiley added six minutes of stoppage time, there was a familiar feeling that Chelsea would snatch all three points.
They did just that two minutes in, when a neat one-two with Drogba and Deco sent the Ivory Coast international to the by-line, and his attempted cross dipped over Myhill into the back of the net to send the Bridge into rapturous scenes.
Meanwhile, rich-boys Manchester City wasted no time in issuing their intent on making money matter this season, with 25 million pound signing Emmanuel Adebayor smashing in their first goal of the campaign after just three minutes against Blackburn Rovers.
The multi-million dollar side used their new signings effectively, with Gareth Barry, Kolo Toure, Wayne Bridge and Adebayor ensuring that City were dominating the proceedings throughout.
Shaun Wright-Phillips was also in a fine mood, whose early one-two with Adebayor led to the opening goal, but Robinho was surprisingly quiet.
Another surprise was the decision by Mark Hughes to start Welshman Craig Bellamy in front of A$50 million man Carlos Tevez, whose endless industry was evident after he replaced the ineffectual Robinho.
After a solid performance and with stoppage time approaching, City stalwart Stephen Ireland fired in a superb effort right at the death to make it 2-0.
Burnley were given a typically inauspicious welcome to the Premier League after promotion, suffering a 2-0 loss at the hands of Stoke City.
Liam Lawrence and Stephen Jordan compounded misery on the newcomers; a feeling that the Clarets will no doubt become familiar with as the season progresses.
It was a similar outcome for fellow promotion boys, Wolverhampton Wolves, as they lost by the same score line at home to West Ham.
A Mark Noble goal and a rare Matthew Upson strike secured the away points at Molineux for Gianfranco Zola’s men.
A goal from the backside of Bobby Zamora was enough for Fulham to force Portsmouth into early season worries; many have tipped them to be embroiled in the relegation battle and this was definitely an example that this suggestion could be a reality for Pompey.
A powerful Clint Dempsey strike was deflected off Zamora’s nether region for the only goal of the match.
Arsenal shrugged off suggestions that they are no longer a top four team by thumping in six of the best against Everton.
In plain and simple terms the Gunners blew apart the Toffees, with singles from Denilson, debutant Thomas Vermaelen, William Gallas and Eduardo and a double from Cesc Fabregas doing the damage.
Fabregas dedicated his goals to late friend Daniel Jarque, the Espanyol player who died of a heart attack last week, while Louis Saha gave David Moyes a scant consolation goal.
And in the first upset of the season, a rampaging Wigan Athletic overcame Aston Villa 2-0 on their own turf, through goals from Hugo Rodallega and Jason Koumas.
FRANCE
Reigning French Ligue 1 champions Girondins Bordeaux showed their championship colours with a hard fought 3-2 win over Sochaux.
Two headers by sought after Moroccan striker Maroune Chamakh made the difference, with his goals coming from two corners, to give Laurent Blanc’s side all three points.
The 25-year-old opened the scoring and then secured the result with 10 minutes to go, despite Sochaux replying twice through striker Charlie Davies.
Olympique Lyon, a perennial title-chaser, bounced back from an opening 2-2 draw last weekend, by defeating Valenciennes courtesy of new signing Bafetimbi Gomis.
Nancy shot to the top of the table after an impressive 4-0 demolishing of Monaco, while Toulouse overcame St Etienne 3-1.
GERMANY
Last season’s first-time champions VfL Wolfsburg came back from a 1-0 deficit to beat Colonge 3-1 to stay top of the Bundesliga after two matches.
Two goals in two minutes from last season’s top scorer Edin Dzeko and Pierre Wome (own goal) reversed the advantage after Wolfsburg fell behind to a Fabrice Ehret goal.
New signing from relegated English side Newcastle United, Obafemi Martins put the game beyond doubt with three minutes remaining.
The Bundesliga’s most expensive summer signing, Bayern Munich’s Mario Gomez, payed off some of his debt by salvaging a 1-1 draw with Werder Bremen.
Bayern were stunned six minutes before half time, but Gomez, who joined the Munich ranks from VfB Stuttgart for approximately 30 million Euros, saved the home side’s blushes with a goal 18 minutes from the final whistle.
Gold Coast United Preview
Julius Ross
Ever since Gold Coast United FC was officially announced as an expansion team for the A-League’s 2009-10 season on 28 August last year, the billionaire-backed franchise from Queensland has gone from strength to strength.
Not only did the new boys on the block secure the signatures of an experienced coach and a number of high-profile players, but the side has completed an impressive pre-season which included claiming the scalp of English Premier League side Fulham in July.
As United’s first-ever A-league season kicks off, Jason Culina will be the man in focus at United on the pitch, while Miron Bleiberg and Clive Palmer and the ones to watch off it.
Culina will not only represent the blue and yellow of GC United as the marquee captain, but he will don the captain’s armband to lead the club for the their inaugural season.
In search of a “new challenge” and ready to promote our national competition, Culina’s exciting return to Australian football, after knocking back a contract extension at PSV Eindhoven, will undoubtedly please the fans as one of the Socceroos’ finest prepares to raise the standard on home soil.
Culina will be looking to use his exquisite passing ability to pick out his newly-signed striker Shane Smeltz, who has made the (wise) move away from perennial strugglers Wellington Pheonix to sign a three-year deal with Gold Coast.
Smeltz has been a prolific striker in the A-League, notching 12 goals last season to win the Golden Boot award for the HAL’s top scorer, and the German-born forward will be looking to penetrate the opposing backlines once more to help United’s title tilt this season.
Smeltz hasn’t wasted any time finding the back of the net for his newly acquired club, the New Zealand international smashing nine goals on his debut – although it was a pre-season friendly against minnows Mudgerraba S.C.
Culina, Smeltz and co. will be under the managerial command of Miron Bleiberg, who has had vast experience coaching in the Australian game, after he defected from Brisbane Roar (formerly Queensland Roar), while Paul Okon will fill the assistant manager’s position.
Although United will be a fairly unknown entity entering into their first season, their pre-season has been extremely impressive, with their final fixture against Perth Glory ending in a commanding 1-0 victory.
This result came on the back of a memorable come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Premier League side Fulham in July and a 5-0 thrashing of Hong Kong FC.
While Blieberg and his charges are not getting carried away with their impressive pre-season form, the Gold Coast’s franchise’s billionaire backer, Clive Palmer, is.
Queensland’s richest man and Gold Coast’s master spruiker has declared that his side will go through the 2009-10 season unbeaten; a bold prediction to say the least.
Only time will tell, and as United prepare to take on fellow newcomers North Queensland Fury on the opening day of the season, they should not be discounted as genuine title contenders for this season’s shield.
Ever since Gold Coast United FC was officially announced as an expansion team for the A-League’s 2009-10 season on 28 August last year, the billionaire-backed franchise from Queensland has gone from strength to strength.
Not only did the new boys on the block secure the signatures of an experienced coach and a number of high-profile players, but the side has completed an impressive pre-season which included claiming the scalp of English Premier League side Fulham in July.
As United’s first-ever A-league season kicks off, Jason Culina will be the man in focus at United on the pitch, while Miron Bleiberg and Clive Palmer and the ones to watch off it.
Culina will not only represent the blue and yellow of GC United as the marquee captain, but he will don the captain’s armband to lead the club for the their inaugural season.
In search of a “new challenge” and ready to promote our national competition, Culina’s exciting return to Australian football, after knocking back a contract extension at PSV Eindhoven, will undoubtedly please the fans as one of the Socceroos’ finest prepares to raise the standard on home soil.
Culina will be looking to use his exquisite passing ability to pick out his newly-signed striker Shane Smeltz, who has made the (wise) move away from perennial strugglers Wellington Pheonix to sign a three-year deal with Gold Coast.
Smeltz has been a prolific striker in the A-League, notching 12 goals last season to win the Golden Boot award for the HAL’s top scorer, and the German-born forward will be looking to penetrate the opposing backlines once more to help United’s title tilt this season.
Smeltz hasn’t wasted any time finding the back of the net for his newly acquired club, the New Zealand international smashing nine goals on his debut – although it was a pre-season friendly against minnows Mudgerraba S.C.
Culina, Smeltz and co. will be under the managerial command of Miron Bleiberg, who has had vast experience coaching in the Australian game, after he defected from Brisbane Roar (formerly Queensland Roar), while Paul Okon will fill the assistant manager’s position.
Although United will be a fairly unknown entity entering into their first season, their pre-season has been extremely impressive, with their final fixture against Perth Glory ending in a commanding 1-0 victory.
This result came on the back of a memorable come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Premier League side Fulham in July and a 5-0 thrashing of Hong Kong FC.
While Blieberg and his charges are not getting carried away with their impressive pre-season form, the Gold Coast’s franchise’s billionaire backer, Clive Palmer, is.
Queensland’s richest man and Gold Coast’s master spruiker has declared that his side will go through the 2009-10 season unbeaten; a bold prediction to say the least.
Only time will tell, and as United prepare to take on fellow newcomers North Queensland Fury on the opening day of the season, they should not be discounted as genuine title contenders for this season’s shield.
English Premier League Preview 2009-10 Season
For many, it’s been a long and agonising wait for the English Premier League to once again resume proceedings, but the start of the 2009-10 season is only a matter of days away.
Goal Weekly! checks out the prospects of the eighteenth Premier League season.
The Title Tilt
It’ll be interesting to see how Manchester United will cope with the substantial loss of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, but to write off United collecting their fourth successive title would be a school-boy error.
Sir Alex has been able to chuck in a couple of (dubious) replacements, but the injury-prone Michael Owen and the somewhat inexperienced Antonio Valencia just don’t seem to have the ability to strike fear into defences that the Portuguese pretty-boy and the Argentine assassin did last year.
United have the uncanny ability to win games when they’re not playing well, and whether us neutrals like it or not, that’s what winning Premierships is all about.
As we said, write them off at your peril.
Arguably United’s biggest challenge will come from the blue-boys of London, Chelsea.
They’ve ousted their interim coach and have picked up the big signature of Carlo Ancelotti, who will undoubtedly bring vast experience to Stamford Bridge.
England is foreign territory for Ancelotti, but if Chelsea can back up their impressive pre-season and the Italian can get Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka firing on all cylinders, they may have the deadliest strike-force in the league, governed by a master manager.
While it’ll be hard to predict what Ancelotti will bring to Chelsea (we hope it’s attractive attacking football), the mystique surrounding this season’s title challenge from West London makes it hard to discount the Blues taking the challenge to United.
Liverpool went point-for-point with United last campaign until the dying stages, but whether they can sustain a second title challenge without big-name signings is questionable.
Every year they appear to be ready for a serious title tile, but every season they disappoint.
Once again they’ll rely on the pairing, and fitness, of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, who are deadly as a package, but the Reds struggle when they’re on the sidelines.
Alberto Aquilani has big boots to fill to fit into the Anfield structure with the departure of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid a real concern for the Red’s regimented midfield.
If Gerrard and Torres can stay fit for the 38 games of the season – a highly unlikely scenario – then Rafa’s Reds may be able to muster a title challenge.
It’s a big IF.
Arsenal are unlikely to challenge for the top position, with the failure to sign big names likely to come back to bite Arsene Wenger’s side on the backside once more.
That’s our prediction anyway. In the current footballing climate where big money equals big results (in most cases), Arsenal have failed to match the big spending necessary to mount a necessary title challenge this term.
The loss of Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor to rich boys Manchester City may see the light-blue side of Manchester vie for Arsenal’s grip on their comfortable but-going-nowhere fourth position on the league table.
We’ve got no idea why Wenger sold such talent to a potential fourth-place rival, but our diagnosis suggests the Frenchman may be in need of a psychiatrist to sort out where his head’s at.
They’ve managed to hold onto much sort-after star Cesc Fabregas for another season, but the lack of signings may see Arsenal struggle to feature in the top four, where there has been a position for them in their poor previous seasons.
Manchester City are likely to pip the Londoners of fourth place, with Mark Hughes’ extravagant spending spree enticing Tevez, Adebayor, Toure, Roque Santa Cruz, and Gareth Barry to a already strong line-up.
Nearly on par with Real Madrid’s shopping antics, City will definitely be a side to watch.
They even have the potential to go all the way if the necessities click.
Mid-Table mediocrity
It’d be hard to go past Everton, Tottenham and Aston Villa vying for the remaining European places, but Fulham had a surprise year last year and finished about 10 places higher than they are accustomed to, so predicting who will fill out the mid-table places is difficult to say the least.
West Ham have their moments, but it’s unlikely that Wigan, Stoke and Wanderers will finish higher than 10th.
Relegation Dog-fight
Will another big-name team like Newcastle or Middlesbrough face the dreaded drop, or will newly promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers, Birmingham City or Burnley go straight back down?
Hull, Blackburn and Wigan better watch their backs too; they’re often embroiled in the dog-fight that is the relegation battle.
Only time will tell, but don’t be surprised if the likes of Portsmouth – who has lost several key players – head down to the Coca-Cola Championship next season.
Goal Weekly! checks out the prospects of the eighteenth Premier League season.
The Title Tilt
It’ll be interesting to see how Manchester United will cope with the substantial loss of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, but to write off United collecting their fourth successive title would be a school-boy error.
Sir Alex has been able to chuck in a couple of (dubious) replacements, but the injury-prone Michael Owen and the somewhat inexperienced Antonio Valencia just don’t seem to have the ability to strike fear into defences that the Portuguese pretty-boy and the Argentine assassin did last year.
United have the uncanny ability to win games when they’re not playing well, and whether us neutrals like it or not, that’s what winning Premierships is all about.
As we said, write them off at your peril.
Arguably United’s biggest challenge will come from the blue-boys of London, Chelsea.
They’ve ousted their interim coach and have picked up the big signature of Carlo Ancelotti, who will undoubtedly bring vast experience to Stamford Bridge.
England is foreign territory for Ancelotti, but if Chelsea can back up their impressive pre-season and the Italian can get Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka firing on all cylinders, they may have the deadliest strike-force in the league, governed by a master manager.
While it’ll be hard to predict what Ancelotti will bring to Chelsea (we hope it’s attractive attacking football), the mystique surrounding this season’s title challenge from West London makes it hard to discount the Blues taking the challenge to United.
Liverpool went point-for-point with United last campaign until the dying stages, but whether they can sustain a second title challenge without big-name signings is questionable.
Every year they appear to be ready for a serious title tile, but every season they disappoint.
Once again they’ll rely on the pairing, and fitness, of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, who are deadly as a package, but the Reds struggle when they’re on the sidelines.
Alberto Aquilani has big boots to fill to fit into the Anfield structure with the departure of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid a real concern for the Red’s regimented midfield.
If Gerrard and Torres can stay fit for the 38 games of the season – a highly unlikely scenario – then Rafa’s Reds may be able to muster a title challenge.
It’s a big IF.
Arsenal are unlikely to challenge for the top position, with the failure to sign big names likely to come back to bite Arsene Wenger’s side on the backside once more.
That’s our prediction anyway. In the current footballing climate where big money equals big results (in most cases), Arsenal have failed to match the big spending necessary to mount a necessary title challenge this term.
The loss of Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor to rich boys Manchester City may see the light-blue side of Manchester vie for Arsenal’s grip on their comfortable but-going-nowhere fourth position on the league table.
We’ve got no idea why Wenger sold such talent to a potential fourth-place rival, but our diagnosis suggests the Frenchman may be in need of a psychiatrist to sort out where his head’s at.
They’ve managed to hold onto much sort-after star Cesc Fabregas for another season, but the lack of signings may see Arsenal struggle to feature in the top four, where there has been a position for them in their poor previous seasons.
Manchester City are likely to pip the Londoners of fourth place, with Mark Hughes’ extravagant spending spree enticing Tevez, Adebayor, Toure, Roque Santa Cruz, and Gareth Barry to a already strong line-up.
Nearly on par with Real Madrid’s shopping antics, City will definitely be a side to watch.
They even have the potential to go all the way if the necessities click.
Mid-Table mediocrity
It’d be hard to go past Everton, Tottenham and Aston Villa vying for the remaining European places, but Fulham had a surprise year last year and finished about 10 places higher than they are accustomed to, so predicting who will fill out the mid-table places is difficult to say the least.
West Ham have their moments, but it’s unlikely that Wigan, Stoke and Wanderers will finish higher than 10th.
Relegation Dog-fight
Will another big-name team like Newcastle or Middlesbrough face the dreaded drop, or will newly promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers, Birmingham City or Burnley go straight back down?
Hull, Blackburn and Wigan better watch their backs too; they’re often embroiled in the dog-fight that is the relegation battle.
Only time will tell, but don’t be surprised if the likes of Portsmouth – who has lost several key players – head down to the Coca-Cola Championship next season.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Numbers Game
By Julius Ross
Like most sports, football is a game of numbers.
It is played over a period of two 45-minute halves plus a designated number of added minutes, between 22 players.
A numbered score defines the winner and loser of the game, or whether teams share the spoils.
Three points are awarded to the winner, one point for a draw and zero for a loss.
Get the picture? Numbers have significance in football. Period.
So its no surprise that after 31 rounds of the English Premier League, that several numbers have significance in football’s most popular league.
But it is the number 92 that may yet prove to be of special significance in this year’s English Premier League title race, for more than one reason.
When title rivals Liverpool and Manchester United both won their respective clashes on the weekend in late and dramatic fashion, the number 92 stood out.
Yossi Benayoun’s 92nd minute strike sparked scenes of jubilant celebration as Liverpool continued its hot pursuit of United to temporarily go top of the Premier League by defeating a stubborn Fulham 1-0.
The magnitude of the late winner was reflected by the Israeli international’s emotional celebrations, which were mirrored on the Liverpool bench where Rafa Benitez – for the first time this season – broke his traditionally stagnant goal celebrations to punch the air in ecstasy.
The dramatic late winner in the 92nd minute of Liverpool’s clash with Fulham has maintained the Reds ferocious form which has pushed Manchester United’s grip on a third successive title to breaking point.
If the Reds do manage to pip United of their third successive title, they will point to this 92nd minute goal as a turning point in their season.
It will be the first time England’s most successful club will lift the English Premier League trophy since the competition’s inaugural season in '92.
Less than 24 hours later, United had the chance to leap-frog Liverpool into top spot with a win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford.
After a titanic tussle with the Villains, in which a Cristiano Ronaldo brace was cancelled out by strikes from John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor, 17-year-old debutant Frederico Macheda curled a magnificent shot past former Liverpool ‘keeper Brad Friedel for a 3-2 win.
The goal came in the 92nd minute.
Scenes at Old Trafford bettered those seen a day earlier at Craven Cottage, with 75,000 Red Devils’ fans jumping in delirium as the net bludged in the closing stages.
Nails had been bitten prior, but Macheda’s dream goal had the Theatre of Dreams rocking.
While the number 92 may have been a significant number in two must-win matches for the two title aspirants, there is one final twist that this number offers in this years’ race for the Premier League trophy.
United currently sit on top of the table on 68 points, one ahead of Liverpool but with a game in hand.
The triumphant team in the remaining eight matches will be decided by whether Manchester can hold their mettle under the pressure from Liverpool and win all their remaining matches.
If United win all their final eight matches and gain a maximum of 24 points, they will finish on a nice total of – you guessed it – 92 points.
Like most sports, football is a game of numbers.
It is played over a period of two 45-minute halves plus a designated number of added minutes, between 22 players.
A numbered score defines the winner and loser of the game, or whether teams share the spoils.
Three points are awarded to the winner, one point for a draw and zero for a loss.
Get the picture? Numbers have significance in football. Period.
So its no surprise that after 31 rounds of the English Premier League, that several numbers have significance in football’s most popular league.
But it is the number 92 that may yet prove to be of special significance in this year’s English Premier League title race, for more than one reason.
When title rivals Liverpool and Manchester United both won their respective clashes on the weekend in late and dramatic fashion, the number 92 stood out.
Yossi Benayoun’s 92nd minute strike sparked scenes of jubilant celebration as Liverpool continued its hot pursuit of United to temporarily go top of the Premier League by defeating a stubborn Fulham 1-0.
The magnitude of the late winner was reflected by the Israeli international’s emotional celebrations, which were mirrored on the Liverpool bench where Rafa Benitez – for the first time this season – broke his traditionally stagnant goal celebrations to punch the air in ecstasy.
The dramatic late winner in the 92nd minute of Liverpool’s clash with Fulham has maintained the Reds ferocious form which has pushed Manchester United’s grip on a third successive title to breaking point.
If the Reds do manage to pip United of their third successive title, they will point to this 92nd minute goal as a turning point in their season.
It will be the first time England’s most successful club will lift the English Premier League trophy since the competition’s inaugural season in '92.
Less than 24 hours later, United had the chance to leap-frog Liverpool into top spot with a win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford.
After a titanic tussle with the Villains, in which a Cristiano Ronaldo brace was cancelled out by strikes from John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor, 17-year-old debutant Frederico Macheda curled a magnificent shot past former Liverpool ‘keeper Brad Friedel for a 3-2 win.
The goal came in the 92nd minute.
Scenes at Old Trafford bettered those seen a day earlier at Craven Cottage, with 75,000 Red Devils’ fans jumping in delirium as the net bludged in the closing stages.
Nails had been bitten prior, but Macheda’s dream goal had the Theatre of Dreams rocking.
While the number 92 may have been a significant number in two must-win matches for the two title aspirants, there is one final twist that this number offers in this years’ race for the Premier League trophy.
United currently sit on top of the table on 68 points, one ahead of Liverpool but with a game in hand.
The triumphant team in the remaining eight matches will be decided by whether Manchester can hold their mettle under the pressure from Liverpool and win all their remaining matches.
If United win all their final eight matches and gain a maximum of 24 points, they will finish on a nice total of – you guessed it – 92 points.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Liverpool Back at Summit - European League Wrap
By Julius Ross
After a week of FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the world’s finest football leagues returned to action, with players showing no sign of fatigue from their international duties.
LIVERPOOL GO TOP
Liverpool kept their Premier League title dreams alive on Saturday in the most dramatic fashion as Yossi Benayoun netted a 91st minute winner at Fulham.
The Reds leap-frogged Manchester United to lead Sir Alex Ferguson’s men by two points, with the victory piling further pressure on United to win their two games in hand, including Sunday’s clash with Aston Villa.
Rafa Benitez’ men played some delightful football to consolidate their title credentials, but were unable to breach a solid Fulham defence and the woodwork, until late in the proceedings.
Liverpool struck the white of the goal frame four times, through Fernando Torres and Xabi Alonso, and twice by Andrea Dossena as Fulham rode their luck.
Roy Hodgson’s side have made Craven Cottage a stronghold in west London, having earned seven points against ‘big four’ teams, and it appeared they would again secure a result that would affect the outcome of the title.
But the walls were finally breached in the dying stages, when in stoppage time Ryan Babel found Steven Gerrard whose deflected pass fell to Benayoun, 12 yards out.
The Israeli international made no mistake under intense pressure, with his shot from a sharp angle buried past Mark Schwarzer’s goal with aplomb.
As the sea of black and white fans at Craven Cottage stood in astonished silence, the delirious scenes of red jubilation on the Liverpool bench could not have been a better illustration of the fortunes of the opposing sides.
At the opposite end of the table, Alan Shearer’s glorified return to Newcastle as manager in a bid to save his club from the dreaded drop was spoiled by Guus Hiddink’s Chelsea, as the Blues ran out 2-0 winners.
Woeful defending by the Magpies’ Fabricio Coloccini gifted possession to Nicolas Anelka in the 56th minute, and the Frenchman’s deflected shot was headed home by the quick-witted Frank Lampard, who was first to react.
Both Anelka and Lampard combined to set up Florent Malouda nine minutes later for the second, as Newcastle slipped further into relegation strife.
An Emmanuel Adebayor double at the Emirates handed Arsenal at 2-0 victory over Manchester City and a fourth successive win for the Gunners.
Arsene Wenger’s side stretched their unbeaten streak to 17 matches in the Premier League, but this includes eight draws, each of which have cost them dearly in the title race.
Middlesbrough face an uphill battle to face relegation after they were thumped 4-1 by Bolton.
The clinical Wanderers punished a ‘Boro side which is currently languishing in second last position, through goals from Kevin Davies, Gary Cahill and Matt Taylor and Ricardo Gardner to leave Gareth Southgate’s seemingly destined for the drop.
Elsewhere, two goals in the final ten minutes gave Blackburn Rovers a shock 2-1 win over struggling Tottenham Hotspur, West Bromich remained at the foot of the table after succumbing to Stoke City 2-0, and West Ham kept its hopes of European football next season alive with a win over Sunderland by the same score line.
BUNDESLIGA HEATS UP!
In the day and age where the winners of European leagues are decided weeks in advance, the Bundesliga is one exception that is entertaining and exciting fans with its unpredictable outcomes late in the season.
With eight matches remaining, only seven points separate sixth place from the all-important first place, with all top six teams having a genuine chance of claiming the German title.
In the shock of the weekend, reigning champions Bayern Munich were demolished by Wolfsburg 5-1, who have now displaced Jurgen Klinsmann’s side at the top of the table.
The momentum appears to be with Wolfsburg, who made the most of dreadful defending to smash four goals past Munich in 14 second half minutes to record their eight consecutive win.
Elsewhere, Hamburger SV moved to joint top spot with Wolfsburg on 51 points – trailing only by goal difference – with a 1-0 win over Hoffenheim.
German minnows Hoffenheim, who led the Bundesliga for much of the season, still have an outside chance at the title, but will be kicking themselves for their poor form late in the season – the side now sits in sixth place having failed to record a win in their last seven matches.
BARCELONA STAYS ON TRACK
Barcelona remain six points clear of title rival Real Madrid after their elusive Cameroonian striker Samuel Eto’o notched up his 26th goal of the season to hand the Catalonian club a 1-0 victory over Real Valladolid on Saturday.
Eto’o finished a superb lob after playing a neat one-two with Spanish international Xavi, to prevent Real Madrid, who beat Malaga 1-0, closing the gap at the top of the Primera Liga table.
While third-placed Sevilla earned a 1-0 victory at Recreativo Huelva through a first-half penalty from the in-form Frederic Kanoute, they are seemingly out of the title race.
The southern Spanish side are currently 15 points behind Barca, but are a comfortable five points clear of fourth-placed Villarreal in Champions League qualification stakes.
Villarreal were desecrated 3-0 by mid-table Almeria, as the ‘Yellow Submarine’ was sunk by Alvaro Negredo’s inspirational performance.
Negredo, a former Real Madrid youth player, scored his 17th goal of the campaign, then set up Pablo Piatti and Mane to wrap the game up before half-time in Almeria’s favour.
In the battle of the basement, second-last Numancia grabbed a dramatic late equaliser to earn a vital point in a thrilling 3-3 draw against fellow strugglers Real Betis.
Elsewhere, Athletic Bilbao happily concluded a run of four successive defeats by defeating Real Mallorca 2-1 at San Mames.
CELTIC SIX POINTS CLEAR
In the two-horse race that is the Scottish Premier League, Celtic has gone six points clear of their bitter Old Firm rivals Glasgow Rangers after crushing Hamilton 4-0.
A brace from Greece striker Georgios Samaras and singles from Aiden McGeady and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink completed the rout to heap pressure on Rangers.
The Gers are already struggling from internal pressures after the Ibrox club suspended Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor for discrepancies that occurred when the pair were on International duty.
WONDER-BOY BENZEMA NETS BRACE
Highly-rated French youngster Karim Benzema scored two goals in Olympique Lyon’s 3-1 win over Le Mans on Saturday, as Claude Puel’s men went three points clear at the top of Ligue 1.
With eight games left, Lyon still has to shake the challenge offered by second-placed Girondins Bordeaux in order to secure an unprecedented eighth successive league title.
After a week of FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the world’s finest football leagues returned to action, with players showing no sign of fatigue from their international duties.
LIVERPOOL GO TOP
Liverpool kept their Premier League title dreams alive on Saturday in the most dramatic fashion as Yossi Benayoun netted a 91st minute winner at Fulham.
The Reds leap-frogged Manchester United to lead Sir Alex Ferguson’s men by two points, with the victory piling further pressure on United to win their two games in hand, including Sunday’s clash with Aston Villa.
Rafa Benitez’ men played some delightful football to consolidate their title credentials, but were unable to breach a solid Fulham defence and the woodwork, until late in the proceedings.
Liverpool struck the white of the goal frame four times, through Fernando Torres and Xabi Alonso, and twice by Andrea Dossena as Fulham rode their luck.
Roy Hodgson’s side have made Craven Cottage a stronghold in west London, having earned seven points against ‘big four’ teams, and it appeared they would again secure a result that would affect the outcome of the title.
But the walls were finally breached in the dying stages, when in stoppage time Ryan Babel found Steven Gerrard whose deflected pass fell to Benayoun, 12 yards out.
The Israeli international made no mistake under intense pressure, with his shot from a sharp angle buried past Mark Schwarzer’s goal with aplomb.
As the sea of black and white fans at Craven Cottage stood in astonished silence, the delirious scenes of red jubilation on the Liverpool bench could not have been a better illustration of the fortunes of the opposing sides.
At the opposite end of the table, Alan Shearer’s glorified return to Newcastle as manager in a bid to save his club from the dreaded drop was spoiled by Guus Hiddink’s Chelsea, as the Blues ran out 2-0 winners.
Woeful defending by the Magpies’ Fabricio Coloccini gifted possession to Nicolas Anelka in the 56th minute, and the Frenchman’s deflected shot was headed home by the quick-witted Frank Lampard, who was first to react.
Both Anelka and Lampard combined to set up Florent Malouda nine minutes later for the second, as Newcastle slipped further into relegation strife.
An Emmanuel Adebayor double at the Emirates handed Arsenal at 2-0 victory over Manchester City and a fourth successive win for the Gunners.
Arsene Wenger’s side stretched their unbeaten streak to 17 matches in the Premier League, but this includes eight draws, each of which have cost them dearly in the title race.
Middlesbrough face an uphill battle to face relegation after they were thumped 4-1 by Bolton.
The clinical Wanderers punished a ‘Boro side which is currently languishing in second last position, through goals from Kevin Davies, Gary Cahill and Matt Taylor and Ricardo Gardner to leave Gareth Southgate’s seemingly destined for the drop.
Elsewhere, two goals in the final ten minutes gave Blackburn Rovers a shock 2-1 win over struggling Tottenham Hotspur, West Bromich remained at the foot of the table after succumbing to Stoke City 2-0, and West Ham kept its hopes of European football next season alive with a win over Sunderland by the same score line.
BUNDESLIGA HEATS UP!
In the day and age where the winners of European leagues are decided weeks in advance, the Bundesliga is one exception that is entertaining and exciting fans with its unpredictable outcomes late in the season.
With eight matches remaining, only seven points separate sixth place from the all-important first place, with all top six teams having a genuine chance of claiming the German title.
In the shock of the weekend, reigning champions Bayern Munich were demolished by Wolfsburg 5-1, who have now displaced Jurgen Klinsmann’s side at the top of the table.
The momentum appears to be with Wolfsburg, who made the most of dreadful defending to smash four goals past Munich in 14 second half minutes to record their eight consecutive win.
Elsewhere, Hamburger SV moved to joint top spot with Wolfsburg on 51 points – trailing only by goal difference – with a 1-0 win over Hoffenheim.
German minnows Hoffenheim, who led the Bundesliga for much of the season, still have an outside chance at the title, but will be kicking themselves for their poor form late in the season – the side now sits in sixth place having failed to record a win in their last seven matches.
BARCELONA STAYS ON TRACK
Barcelona remain six points clear of title rival Real Madrid after their elusive Cameroonian striker Samuel Eto’o notched up his 26th goal of the season to hand the Catalonian club a 1-0 victory over Real Valladolid on Saturday.
Eto’o finished a superb lob after playing a neat one-two with Spanish international Xavi, to prevent Real Madrid, who beat Malaga 1-0, closing the gap at the top of the Primera Liga table.
While third-placed Sevilla earned a 1-0 victory at Recreativo Huelva through a first-half penalty from the in-form Frederic Kanoute, they are seemingly out of the title race.
The southern Spanish side are currently 15 points behind Barca, but are a comfortable five points clear of fourth-placed Villarreal in Champions League qualification stakes.
Villarreal were desecrated 3-0 by mid-table Almeria, as the ‘Yellow Submarine’ was sunk by Alvaro Negredo’s inspirational performance.
Negredo, a former Real Madrid youth player, scored his 17th goal of the campaign, then set up Pablo Piatti and Mane to wrap the game up before half-time in Almeria’s favour.
In the battle of the basement, second-last Numancia grabbed a dramatic late equaliser to earn a vital point in a thrilling 3-3 draw against fellow strugglers Real Betis.
Elsewhere, Athletic Bilbao happily concluded a run of four successive defeats by defeating Real Mallorca 2-1 at San Mames.
CELTIC SIX POINTS CLEAR
In the two-horse race that is the Scottish Premier League, Celtic has gone six points clear of their bitter Old Firm rivals Glasgow Rangers after crushing Hamilton 4-0.
A brace from Greece striker Georgios Samaras and singles from Aiden McGeady and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink completed the rout to heap pressure on Rangers.
The Gers are already struggling from internal pressures after the Ibrox club suspended Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor for discrepancies that occurred when the pair were on International duty.
WONDER-BOY BENZEMA NETS BRACE
Highly-rated French youngster Karim Benzema scored two goals in Olympique Lyon’s 3-1 win over Le Mans on Saturday, as Claude Puel’s men went three points clear at the top of Ligue 1.
With eight games left, Lyon still has to shake the challenge offered by second-placed Girondins Bordeaux in order to secure an unprecedented eighth successive league title.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
AUSTRALIA ON VERGE OF WC QUALIFICATION
By Julius Ross
Three and a half years ago, John Aloisi’s momentous penalty-kick against Uruguay presented Australia with one of the final golden tickets available to the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
The spot-kick illustrated the fine line between success – which had evaded the Socceroos for 32 painful years – and failure – which had haunted them for three decades.
In a seemingly ironic turn of fortunes for Australian football, 2009 could see Pim Verbeek’s team, now negotiating the Asian qualification path, become the first team to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, in rather comfortable fashion.
If Verbeek’s men grab the all important three points in their next qualifying match against Uzbekistan – and other results go their way – Wednesday April 1 2009 will be etched into the FFA’s record books as another historic moment in Australian football.
The unbeaten Socceroos take on the Uzbeks this Wednesday, with the sides separated by six points on the Group One table of AFC WC qualifying.
The ‘Roos were sitting pretty at the top with three wins and a draw for a total of 10 points before Japan dispossessed them of top spot with a 1-0 win over Bahrain on Saturday night.
Meanwhile, Uzbekistan has moved from the basement to third place after crushing Qatar 4-0 in Saturday’s other qualifier.
Verbeek has called in the overseas-based cavalry for Wednesday’s significant clash, with household favourites Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill, Jason Culina, Lucas Neill, Mark Schwarzer and Scott Chipperfield among the notable inclusions.
In the Socceroos’ most recent match, a 2012 Asian Cup Qualifier against Kuwait, Verbeek named an exclusively domestic squad to take on the visitors in Canberra, only for the side to go down 1-0 in a hugely disappointing showing.
The domestic plan once again backfired and reiterated the need for players with European experience to be present in the squad.
This time around, Verbeek has opted for a entirely European-based squad, with the exception of Jade North who is currently playing his club football in South Korea for Incheon United.
Verbeek will not only have the luxury of a full-strength squad heading into the clash with the Uzbekis, but his side will be fully refreshed after a week-long training camp in Australia.
In start contrast, Uzbekistan will have to endure a long-haul flight to Australia after their home clash with Qatar on Saturday, giving them less than three days preparation.
It will leave the visiting side vulnerable, and the Socceroos will be ready and eager to exploit any obvious weaknesses.
But the Socceroos will have to lift their game after poor performances in the Asian Cup and World Cup qualifying and will have to be wary of the Uzbeks who will be on a high after demolishing Qatar.
Recent Socceroos performances have been less than desirable, with the loss to Kuwait coming on the back of a lucky escape in Japan last month where heroics of Mark Schwarzer salvaged a point, adding to a very fortunate 1-0 win over Bahrain last November.
In light of these performances, critics have labeled the Socceroos as boring, unimaginative, unimpressive and result-oriented.
But while the ‘Roos may have failed to impress the crowds, no one can argue with their unbeaten record.
Verbeek has blasted the Australian media and critics of his style, stating that the main aim is to qualify for the World Cup, not to play ‘pretty’.
The Dutch maestro is so focused on booking his ticket on the plane to South Africa that he has dismissed talk of qualification if Australia win against Uzbekistan this Wednesday.
Although it is a mathematical possibility that the Socceroos will qualify for their second consecutive finals if they pick up all three points, Verbeek is leaving nothing to chance and believes it essential to pick up maximum points in the next two qualifiers before getting carried away.
In previous years, qualification has left fans on the edge of their seats, in nail-biting circumstances.
This time around there may not be as much excitement, but there would be few Australians who mind that the Socceroos have sacrificed class for a ticket to South Africa 2010.
SOCCEROOS SQUAD:
Michael BEAUCHAMP (Aalborg BK, DENMARK) Mark BRESCIANO (U.S. Citta di Palermo, ITALY) Jacob BURNS (FC Unirea Valahorum, ROMANIA) Tim CAHILL (Everton, ENGLAND) David CARNEY (Norwich City FC (on-loan), ENGLAND) Scott CHIPPERFIELD (FC Basel, SWITZERLAND) Chris COYNE (Colchester United FC, ENGLAND) Jason CULINA (PSV Eindhoven, HOLLAND) Adam FEDERICI (Reading FC, ENGLAND) Richard GARCIA (Hull City FC, ENGLAND) Brett HOLMAN (AZ Alkmaar, HOLLAND) Mile JEDINAK (Genclerbirligi SK, TURKEY) Josh KENNEDY (Karlsruher SC, GERMANY) Harry KEWELL (Galatasaray SK, TURKEY) Scott MCDONALD (Celtic FC, SCOTLAND) Lucas NEILL (West Ham United FC, ENGLAND) Jade NORTH (Incheon United FC, KOREA REPUBLIC) Michael PETKOVIC (Sivasspor, TURKEY) Mark SCHWARZER (Fulham FC, ENGLAND) Mile STERJOVSKI (Derby County FC, ENGLAND) Carl VALERI (U.S. Grosseto FC, ITALY) Luke WILKSHIRE (FK Dinamo Moscow, RUSSIA), Bruce Djite (Gençlerbirligi, TURKEY).
Three and a half years ago, John Aloisi’s momentous penalty-kick against Uruguay presented Australia with one of the final golden tickets available to the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
The spot-kick illustrated the fine line between success – which had evaded the Socceroos for 32 painful years – and failure – which had haunted them for three decades.
In a seemingly ironic turn of fortunes for Australian football, 2009 could see Pim Verbeek’s team, now negotiating the Asian qualification path, become the first team to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, in rather comfortable fashion.
If Verbeek’s men grab the all important three points in their next qualifying match against Uzbekistan – and other results go their way – Wednesday April 1 2009 will be etched into the FFA’s record books as another historic moment in Australian football.
The unbeaten Socceroos take on the Uzbeks this Wednesday, with the sides separated by six points on the Group One table of AFC WC qualifying.
The ‘Roos were sitting pretty at the top with three wins and a draw for a total of 10 points before Japan dispossessed them of top spot with a 1-0 win over Bahrain on Saturday night.
Meanwhile, Uzbekistan has moved from the basement to third place after crushing Qatar 4-0 in Saturday’s other qualifier.
Verbeek has called in the overseas-based cavalry for Wednesday’s significant clash, with household favourites Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill, Jason Culina, Lucas Neill, Mark Schwarzer and Scott Chipperfield among the notable inclusions.
In the Socceroos’ most recent match, a 2012 Asian Cup Qualifier against Kuwait, Verbeek named an exclusively domestic squad to take on the visitors in Canberra, only for the side to go down 1-0 in a hugely disappointing showing.
The domestic plan once again backfired and reiterated the need for players with European experience to be present in the squad.
This time around, Verbeek has opted for a entirely European-based squad, with the exception of Jade North who is currently playing his club football in South Korea for Incheon United.
Verbeek will not only have the luxury of a full-strength squad heading into the clash with the Uzbekis, but his side will be fully refreshed after a week-long training camp in Australia.
In start contrast, Uzbekistan will have to endure a long-haul flight to Australia after their home clash with Qatar on Saturday, giving them less than three days preparation.
It will leave the visiting side vulnerable, and the Socceroos will be ready and eager to exploit any obvious weaknesses.
But the Socceroos will have to lift their game after poor performances in the Asian Cup and World Cup qualifying and will have to be wary of the Uzbeks who will be on a high after demolishing Qatar.
Recent Socceroos performances have been less than desirable, with the loss to Kuwait coming on the back of a lucky escape in Japan last month where heroics of Mark Schwarzer salvaged a point, adding to a very fortunate 1-0 win over Bahrain last November.
In light of these performances, critics have labeled the Socceroos as boring, unimaginative, unimpressive and result-oriented.
But while the ‘Roos may have failed to impress the crowds, no one can argue with their unbeaten record.
Verbeek has blasted the Australian media and critics of his style, stating that the main aim is to qualify for the World Cup, not to play ‘pretty’.
The Dutch maestro is so focused on booking his ticket on the plane to South Africa that he has dismissed talk of qualification if Australia win against Uzbekistan this Wednesday.
Although it is a mathematical possibility that the Socceroos will qualify for their second consecutive finals if they pick up all three points, Verbeek is leaving nothing to chance and believes it essential to pick up maximum points in the next two qualifiers before getting carried away.
In previous years, qualification has left fans on the edge of their seats, in nail-biting circumstances.
This time around there may not be as much excitement, but there would be few Australians who mind that the Socceroos have sacrificed class for a ticket to South Africa 2010.
SOCCEROOS SQUAD:
Michael BEAUCHAMP (Aalborg BK, DENMARK) Mark BRESCIANO (U.S. Citta di Palermo, ITALY) Jacob BURNS (FC Unirea Valahorum, ROMANIA) Tim CAHILL (Everton, ENGLAND) David CARNEY (Norwich City FC (on-loan), ENGLAND) Scott CHIPPERFIELD (FC Basel, SWITZERLAND) Chris COYNE (Colchester United FC, ENGLAND) Jason CULINA (PSV Eindhoven, HOLLAND) Adam FEDERICI (Reading FC, ENGLAND) Richard GARCIA (Hull City FC, ENGLAND) Brett HOLMAN (AZ Alkmaar, HOLLAND) Mile JEDINAK (Genclerbirligi SK, TURKEY) Josh KENNEDY (Karlsruher SC, GERMANY) Harry KEWELL (Galatasaray SK, TURKEY) Scott MCDONALD (Celtic FC, SCOTLAND) Lucas NEILL (West Ham United FC, ENGLAND) Jade NORTH (Incheon United FC, KOREA REPUBLIC) Michael PETKOVIC (Sivasspor, TURKEY) Mark SCHWARZER (Fulham FC, ENGLAND) Mile STERJOVSKI (Derby County FC, ENGLAND) Carl VALERI (U.S. Grosseto FC, ITALY) Luke WILKSHIRE (FK Dinamo Moscow, RUSSIA), Bruce Djite (Gençlerbirligi, TURKEY).
Sunday, March 22, 2009
MANCHESTER MELTDOWN BLOWS TITLE RACE OPEN
By Julius Ross
Two weeks ago you would have bet your house, car and children on Manchester United winning a third consecutive English Premiership.
But within the space of a fortnight, United’s title prospects have been thrown into disarray as they faltered miserably at Fulham on Saturday night, prompting bookies to start placing their bets elsewhere.
The Red Devils appear to have hit the self-destruct button at the crucial time of the season, as ex-Liverpool boy Danny Murphy and Zoltan Gera gave eighth-placed Fulham a shock 2-0 victory, and inflicted United’s second defeat in as many games.
The afternoon quickly turned sour for United when Murphy slotted home a spot-kick after Paul Scholes deliberately handled in the box and was given his marching orders on 17 minutes.
The afternoon went from bad to worse, as Gera doubled the Cottagers’ advantage, and referee Phil Dowd sent the short-tempered
Wayne Rooney off for, you guessed it - dissent, to reduce the Red Devils to nine men.
Rooney was the third United player to be shown a red card in seven days, as he joined Nemanja Vidic and Scholes on the suspended list, heading into a pivotal stage in United’s season.
It was only 14 days ago that the red half of Manchester were on an unbeaten streak of 17 games in all competitions, 16 of which they had grabbed maximum points, with the only ‘mishap’ a 0-0 stalemate with Inter Milan in the knockout round of the Champions League.
They led the premiership by a seemingly unassailable seven points with a game in hand over their nearest rivals Liverpool, but Rafa Benitez’ side demolished the reigning champions with a scintillating 4-1 win last weekend, to place doubt in the mind of those who believed United invincible.
With eight matches to go (nine for United), the often-predictable English Premier League title race has been blown wide open, with the chasing pair of Chelsea and Liverpool keen to capitalise on Manchester’s meltdown.
For those who thought that the title race was well and truly over for 2009, think again.
In the wake of their defeat, Ferguson’s side will breath a slight sigh of relief that Chelsea failed to capitalise on their disastrous breakdown; the Blues slumping to a 1-0 loss in the London derby against the temperamental Tottenham.
Croatian Luka Modric hit the solitary goal, to dent Chelsea’s hope of closing the gap on United to just one point, and administered Guus Hiddink’s first loss in charge of the Blues.
Liverpool will be licking their lips at the prospect of closing the gap on United to just one point, and edging three points clear of Chelsea, if they secure maximum points against Aston Villa on Sunday.
Still on the Premiership, and Arsenal continued its recent fine form to record a 3-1 victory over Newcastle at St. James Park, as it leap-frogged Aston Villa into the all-important fourth place Champions League qualification spot, and condemned Newcastle to the relegation zone.
Elsewhere, West Brom’s 1-1 draw with mid-table Bolton made little impact on its current position at the foot of the premiership, and having failed to win a single match since January, the Baggies look destined to play Championship football next season.
In another battle at the bottom, Stoke City scored a precious 1-0 win against second-last Middlesbrough, who have failed to score in seven of their last nine matches in the league.
Portsmouth pipped Everton of three points when they came from behind to win 2-1, and Blackburn and West Ham shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw.
Two weeks ago you would have bet your house, car and children on Manchester United winning a third consecutive English Premiership.
But within the space of a fortnight, United’s title prospects have been thrown into disarray as they faltered miserably at Fulham on Saturday night, prompting bookies to start placing their bets elsewhere.
The Red Devils appear to have hit the self-destruct button at the crucial time of the season, as ex-Liverpool boy Danny Murphy and Zoltan Gera gave eighth-placed Fulham a shock 2-0 victory, and inflicted United’s second defeat in as many games.
The afternoon quickly turned sour for United when Murphy slotted home a spot-kick after Paul Scholes deliberately handled in the box and was given his marching orders on 17 minutes.
The afternoon went from bad to worse, as Gera doubled the Cottagers’ advantage, and referee Phil Dowd sent the short-tempered
Wayne Rooney off for, you guessed it - dissent, to reduce the Red Devils to nine men.
Rooney was the third United player to be shown a red card in seven days, as he joined Nemanja Vidic and Scholes on the suspended list, heading into a pivotal stage in United’s season.
It was only 14 days ago that the red half of Manchester were on an unbeaten streak of 17 games in all competitions, 16 of which they had grabbed maximum points, with the only ‘mishap’ a 0-0 stalemate with Inter Milan in the knockout round of the Champions League.
They led the premiership by a seemingly unassailable seven points with a game in hand over their nearest rivals Liverpool, but Rafa Benitez’ side demolished the reigning champions with a scintillating 4-1 win last weekend, to place doubt in the mind of those who believed United invincible.
With eight matches to go (nine for United), the often-predictable English Premier League title race has been blown wide open, with the chasing pair of Chelsea and Liverpool keen to capitalise on Manchester’s meltdown.
For those who thought that the title race was well and truly over for 2009, think again.
In the wake of their defeat, Ferguson’s side will breath a slight sigh of relief that Chelsea failed to capitalise on their disastrous breakdown; the Blues slumping to a 1-0 loss in the London derby against the temperamental Tottenham.
Croatian Luka Modric hit the solitary goal, to dent Chelsea’s hope of closing the gap on United to just one point, and administered Guus Hiddink’s first loss in charge of the Blues.
Liverpool will be licking their lips at the prospect of closing the gap on United to just one point, and edging three points clear of Chelsea, if they secure maximum points against Aston Villa on Sunday.
Still on the Premiership, and Arsenal continued its recent fine form to record a 3-1 victory over Newcastle at St. James Park, as it leap-frogged Aston Villa into the all-important fourth place Champions League qualification spot, and condemned Newcastle to the relegation zone.
Elsewhere, West Brom’s 1-1 draw with mid-table Bolton made little impact on its current position at the foot of the premiership, and having failed to win a single match since January, the Baggies look destined to play Championship football next season.
In another battle at the bottom, Stoke City scored a precious 1-0 win against second-last Middlesbrough, who have failed to score in seven of their last nine matches in the league.
Portsmouth pipped Everton of three points when they came from behind to win 2-1, and Blackburn and West Ham shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Technology Saves the Day for United
By Julius Ross
The credit for Manchester United's 4-1 penalty-shootout win over Tottenham Hotspur in the Carling Cup perhaps should not be awarded for the ingenuity of Sir Alex Ferguson or the silky skills of Cristiano Ronaldo - but to a hand held device known world-wide as the iPod.
After 120 minutes of football failed to separate the Mancs from the Londoners, a brief - but defining - break in procedure, prior to the penalty shootout, may have handed United the trophy.
While the teams took time out to stretch sore muscles, replenish glycogen stores and focus on where to place their forthcoming 12-yard kick, United's astute goalkeeping coach Eric Steele handed 'keeper Ben Foster an iPod.
Listening to an iPod may appear to be a strange pre-penalty ritual on first glance, by Foster was in fact quickly absorbing a video compilation of Tottenham's penalty takers, provided by Steele's carefully planned research.
Foster honed in on Jamie O'Hara's technique on the miniature screen - footage of O'Hara taking a spot kick in Spurs' UEFA Cup defeat to PSV Eindoven, to be precise - which showed the midfielder prefers to hit his penalties to the left of the 'keeper.
Similar to Neo's lighting-fast computer-aided training in the original Matrix film, the United goalkeeper uploaded the information with photographic memory and proceeded to step up and save O'Hara's attempt - which as the footage had illustrated, went to the 25-year-old keeper's left.
iPod 1 - Tottenham 0.
Foster's save was Tottenham's first spot kick and it is questionable whether the United 'keeper would have 'guessed' the right way without the help from Apple's ingenious invention.
But, admittedly, Foster's teammates' immaculate penalty conversions were nothing but human brilliance and coolheadedness - and their success could not be attributed to a portable music player - although they were executed with robotic precision.
With Foster's initial penalty save setting the tone in United's favour, the Red Devils sealed the Cup victory when David Bentley shot wide, and Brazilian Anderson slotted home the winner for a 4-1 rout.
It may be "Glory, Glory, Man United" for Sir Alex's men, but Foster's 'heightened performance' as a result of the iPod has caused uproar in some footballing circles, and has divided opinions between techno-enthusiasts and traditionalists.
Former referee Graham Poll is one such purist who believes that the iPod usage by United "had the potential to exploit a loophole in the laws which should be referred to FIFA".
The Football Association replied to Poll that there was no case to answer for Foster's actions as the footage he was examining was not of anything that had occurred during the match taking place, and no further action would be taken.
Using an MP3 device as a 'tactical aid' is not against the written laws of the game, but world governing body FIFA has long resisted the temptation - and incessant demand from some quarters - to introduce technology to the game.
Controversial former President Sepp Blatter was adamant that the introduction of technology of any kind would have a detrimental effect on the game, despite obvious and reoccurring mistakes by referees and linesmen at the highest level.
The course of footballing history has revealed that the introduction of technology to assist referees' decisions - whether it be reviewing offsides, mistimed tackles or goal-line judgements - may be beneficial to resolving these mistakes caused by 'human error'.
But critics are insistent that the introduction of replays, goal-line computer chips and artificial linesmen - any type of technology for that matter - would remove the 'human' factor that makes the game so unpredictable, would cause a division among supporters and would inevitable change the face of football that the world knows and loves.
One thing is for certain though, Apple's iPod has not only revolutionised the way we listen to music, watch videos and even browse the web, it has revolutionised the world's most popular sport - football.
The credit for Manchester United's 4-1 penalty-shootout win over Tottenham Hotspur in the Carling Cup perhaps should not be awarded for the ingenuity of Sir Alex Ferguson or the silky skills of Cristiano Ronaldo - but to a hand held device known world-wide as the iPod.
After 120 minutes of football failed to separate the Mancs from the Londoners, a brief - but defining - break in procedure, prior to the penalty shootout, may have handed United the trophy.
While the teams took time out to stretch sore muscles, replenish glycogen stores and focus on where to place their forthcoming 12-yard kick, United's astute goalkeeping coach Eric Steele handed 'keeper Ben Foster an iPod.
Listening to an iPod may appear to be a strange pre-penalty ritual on first glance, by Foster was in fact quickly absorbing a video compilation of Tottenham's penalty takers, provided by Steele's carefully planned research.
Foster honed in on Jamie O'Hara's technique on the miniature screen - footage of O'Hara taking a spot kick in Spurs' UEFA Cup defeat to PSV Eindoven, to be precise - which showed the midfielder prefers to hit his penalties to the left of the 'keeper.
Similar to Neo's lighting-fast computer-aided training in the original Matrix film, the United goalkeeper uploaded the information with photographic memory and proceeded to step up and save O'Hara's attempt - which as the footage had illustrated, went to the 25-year-old keeper's left.
iPod 1 - Tottenham 0.
Foster's save was Tottenham's first spot kick and it is questionable whether the United 'keeper would have 'guessed' the right way without the help from Apple's ingenious invention.
But, admittedly, Foster's teammates' immaculate penalty conversions were nothing but human brilliance and coolheadedness - and their success could not be attributed to a portable music player - although they were executed with robotic precision.
With Foster's initial penalty save setting the tone in United's favour, the Red Devils sealed the Cup victory when David Bentley shot wide, and Brazilian Anderson slotted home the winner for a 4-1 rout.
It may be "Glory, Glory, Man United" for Sir Alex's men, but Foster's 'heightened performance' as a result of the iPod has caused uproar in some footballing circles, and has divided opinions between techno-enthusiasts and traditionalists.
Former referee Graham Poll is one such purist who believes that the iPod usage by United "had the potential to exploit a loophole in the laws which should be referred to FIFA".
The Football Association replied to Poll that there was no case to answer for Foster's actions as the footage he was examining was not of anything that had occurred during the match taking place, and no further action would be taken.
Using an MP3 device as a 'tactical aid' is not against the written laws of the game, but world governing body FIFA has long resisted the temptation - and incessant demand from some quarters - to introduce technology to the game.
Controversial former President Sepp Blatter was adamant that the introduction of technology of any kind would have a detrimental effect on the game, despite obvious and reoccurring mistakes by referees and linesmen at the highest level.
The course of footballing history has revealed that the introduction of technology to assist referees' decisions - whether it be reviewing offsides, mistimed tackles or goal-line judgements - may be beneficial to resolving these mistakes caused by 'human error'.
But critics are insistent that the introduction of replays, goal-line computer chips and artificial linesmen - any type of technology for that matter - would remove the 'human' factor that makes the game so unpredictable, would cause a division among supporters and would inevitable change the face of football that the world knows and loves.
One thing is for certain though, Apple's iPod has not only revolutionised the way we listen to music, watch videos and even browse the web, it has revolutionised the world's most popular sport - football.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Goal! Weekly Article 33: European League Wrap 5
EUROPEAN WRAP
By Julius Ross
This week’s Euro Wrap sees Goal! Weekly reporter Julius Ross check out the star performers of the weekend’s fixtures and the all the important action at the top of Europe’s finest leagues.
CITY OF RICHES FAILS TO PRODUCE
In the Premier League’s “clash of the cash”, the world’s richest Club – Manchester City – succumbed to the second richest – Chelsea – with City’s new look squad failing to match the challenge offered by a ‘big four’ club.
British record signing Robinho made the perfect start to the Citizen’s new era of optimism by opening the scoring after just 13 minutes with a Brazilian-style free-kick, but three unanswered goals from Chelsea meant that the 200 million pound take-over by the Abu Dhabi United Group has not yet bought ultimate success.
It was Chelsea’s seventh straight win over City and proved that the team with a bottomless pit of money will have to keep spending big if they want to be regarded as a premiership elite.
Talking of Premiership elites, Liverpool’s seven-year wait for a home victory over fierce rivals Manchester United finally came to an end as the Merseysiders recorded a 2-1 win over the Red Devils.
United had won the last five meetings between the two sides, illustrating the power-shift which has taken place over the last twenty years, which has seen a Premiership title elude Liverpool’s grasp in 18 years.
But it was Liverpool’s day on Saturday, as a Wes Brown own-goal and a goal 13 minutes from time from super-sub Ryan Babel cancelled out Carlos Tevez’ early opener.
After starting their season slowly, Arsenal have finally found the right formula to turn dominance, intricate and beautiful football into goals.
The Gunners seem to have shrugged off their early season blues, backing up their 3-0 win against Newcastle with a 4-0 drubbing of Blackburn Rovers.
England’s 19-year-old hero Theo Walcott capped off a perfect week after his hat-trick in European World Cup qualifying against Croatia, by setting up the first goal for Robin van Persie.
Emmanuel Adebayor also signalled the end of his form slump, taking the reigns from Walcott and burying Rovers with a superb hat-trick.
INTER HANDS MOURINHO HOME DEBUT-DAY POINTS
From top four action in England to Serie A Champions Inter Milan in Italy who staged a ten-man come-from-behind 2-1 victory to rescue their early-season campaign against Catania.
After dropping two vital points in their opening match draw against Sampdoria, Inter gave coach Jose Mourinho his first win in charge of the Italian giants in his debut at the San Siro.
AS Roma’s title tilt has gone into disaster mode as the Giallorossi succumbed to Palmero 3-1.
The Romans have picked up just one point from a possible six in their opening two matches, with an injury crisis causing serious issues – the side missed five key regulars, including captain Francesco Totti.
BARCA CONTINUES EARLY SEASON SLUMP
Barcelona is in similar trouble in Spain where their flat display against lowly Racing Santander saw them struggle to a 1-1 draw for their first point of the 2008/09 Primera Liga campaign.
Losing 1-0 to Numancia in their season opener, Barca’s performance was again questionable for the array of talent on display, the side needing Argentine superstar Lionel Messi to salvage a point in dire circumstances.
Elsewhere, Seville overcame Sporting Gijon in a classic seven-goal thriller, with former West Ham man Frederic Kanoute ‘sealing the deal’ with a 60th minute winner for a 4-3 victory.
OLYMPIQUE TAKE LYON’S SHARE
Reigning champions and current Ligue 1 leaders Olympique Lyon made sure there was no change at the top of the league by securing a controversial 3-2 win over Nice on Saturday.
Trailing 2-0 after just 20 minutes, Lyon staged the perfect fight-back, with Brazilian genius Juninho scoring two free-kicks – one from half-way – and Karim Benzema scoring his fifth goal of the campaign in the dying stages.
Lyon now sits in the familiar position on top of the league table, with 13 points from five matches, two more than Marseille who drew 1-1 at Bordeaux.
MUNICH HITS IMPRESSIVE FORM
In Germany, Schalke 04 threw away a three-goal lead and their position atop the Bundesliga table, as Borussia Dortmund launched a frenetic fight-back to draw 3-3.
Schalke had two men sent off during the amazing Dortmund come-back, in a careless display in front of 80,000 excited spectators.
Hamburg took over the leadership with their own come-from-behind victory against Bayer Leverkusen – after trailing 2-0, the new league leaders fought back to win 3-2.
Title holders Bayern Munich seem to have hit form of late, after drawing their opening two matches Jurgen Klinsmann’s side has scored seven goals in their past two games, with Saturday’s 3-0 against Colonge launching them within two points of leaders Hamburg.
EUROPEAN TEAM OF THE WEEK
Although taking the slightly strange formation of 2-4-5, this week’s European Team of the Week illustrates the class of strikers and the level-headedness of a couple of debutants.
Manager: Rafa BENITEZ (Liverpool)
Although Ryan Babel’s super-sub appearance stole much of the limelight at Anfield, Liverpool’s Spanish manager Benitez must be given some credit for finally recording his first win over his club’s fierce arch-rival Manchester United. The Liverpool boss had never beaten Manchester United in eight previous league games during his career on Merseyside.
Goalkeeper: Manuel ALMUNIA (Arsenal)
Despite his team running out 4-0 winners against Blackburn, Almunia showed his class and superb reflexes to tip Rovers’ danger-man Roque Santa Cruz’s effort over the top to keep his side ahead – just after Robin van Persie had taken the lead for the Londoners.
Defenders:
Tranquillo BARNETTA (Bayer Leverkusen)
Barnetta was one of the few defenders to hit the net in Germany this weekend, but his fourth minute effort for Bayer Leverkusen failed to give his side three points over leaders Hamburg.
Ricardo CARVALHO (Chelsea)
Crediting defenders for their attacking prowess this week, Calvarlho makes the cut thanks to his 16th minute equaliser against Manchester City. The Portuguese defender made sure City’s lead lasted a mere three minutes by lashing home a Frank Lampard corner.
Midfielders:
Theo WALCOTT (Arsenal)
A hero mid-week with England, Walcott’s obvious confidence helped him to tear apart the Rovers’ backline, with the teenager setting up van Persie for the opener.
JUNINHO (Lyon)
Lyon’s set-piece maestro finished two superb free-kicks for the reigning French champions – one of which was slotted home from the half-way mark.
Ricardo QUARESMA (Inter Milan)
A long-time target of Jose Mourinho during the off-season, Quaresma paid back his manager’s 18 million euro investment with a debut-day goal.
Forwards:
Fabrizio MICCOLI (Palermo)
Striking twice against an injury-hit AS Roma, Miccoli hit a stunning right-footed shot into the top corner of the Roma net after 12 minutes, and deftly chipped home on 57 minutes for two superb individual goals.
ROBINHO (Manchester City)
After all the criticism the boy has copped during the last two weeks for his multi-million dollar transfer to Manchester City, the Brazillian produced the goods for his new club after just 13 minutes, commencing the ‘revolution’ at the ‘Middle Eastlands’. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough for a fairytale beginning as City lost 3-1.
Emmanuel ADEBAYOR (Arsenal)
An impressive Arsenal performance was rounded out by a neat Adebayor hat-trick, his first goals of the 2008/09 campaign.
Luca TONI (Bayern Munich)
The Bundesliga’s top marksman last season, Toni has adapted perfectly to the German game after transferring from Italy’s Fiorentina and he scored a neat double in his side’s 3-0 win against Colonge.
Frederic KANOUTE (Sevilla)
Former Tottenham and West Ham striker Kanoute – another player to scored a double this weekend - continued his reign in Spain as he helped Seville to a thrilling 4-3 win over plucky Gijon
By Julius Ross
This week’s Euro Wrap sees Goal! Weekly reporter Julius Ross check out the star performers of the weekend’s fixtures and the all the important action at the top of Europe’s finest leagues.
CITY OF RICHES FAILS TO PRODUCE
In the Premier League’s “clash of the cash”, the world’s richest Club – Manchester City – succumbed to the second richest – Chelsea – with City’s new look squad failing to match the challenge offered by a ‘big four’ club.
British record signing Robinho made the perfect start to the Citizen’s new era of optimism by opening the scoring after just 13 minutes with a Brazilian-style free-kick, but three unanswered goals from Chelsea meant that the 200 million pound take-over by the Abu Dhabi United Group has not yet bought ultimate success.
It was Chelsea’s seventh straight win over City and proved that the team with a bottomless pit of money will have to keep spending big if they want to be regarded as a premiership elite.
Talking of Premiership elites, Liverpool’s seven-year wait for a home victory over fierce rivals Manchester United finally came to an end as the Merseysiders recorded a 2-1 win over the Red Devils.
United had won the last five meetings between the two sides, illustrating the power-shift which has taken place over the last twenty years, which has seen a Premiership title elude Liverpool’s grasp in 18 years.
But it was Liverpool’s day on Saturday, as a Wes Brown own-goal and a goal 13 minutes from time from super-sub Ryan Babel cancelled out Carlos Tevez’ early opener.
After starting their season slowly, Arsenal have finally found the right formula to turn dominance, intricate and beautiful football into goals.
The Gunners seem to have shrugged off their early season blues, backing up their 3-0 win against Newcastle with a 4-0 drubbing of Blackburn Rovers.
England’s 19-year-old hero Theo Walcott capped off a perfect week after his hat-trick in European World Cup qualifying against Croatia, by setting up the first goal for Robin van Persie.
Emmanuel Adebayor also signalled the end of his form slump, taking the reigns from Walcott and burying Rovers with a superb hat-trick.
INTER HANDS MOURINHO HOME DEBUT-DAY POINTS
From top four action in England to Serie A Champions Inter Milan in Italy who staged a ten-man come-from-behind 2-1 victory to rescue their early-season campaign against Catania.
After dropping two vital points in their opening match draw against Sampdoria, Inter gave coach Jose Mourinho his first win in charge of the Italian giants in his debut at the San Siro.
AS Roma’s title tilt has gone into disaster mode as the Giallorossi succumbed to Palmero 3-1.
The Romans have picked up just one point from a possible six in their opening two matches, with an injury crisis causing serious issues – the side missed five key regulars, including captain Francesco Totti.
BARCA CONTINUES EARLY SEASON SLUMP
Barcelona is in similar trouble in Spain where their flat display against lowly Racing Santander saw them struggle to a 1-1 draw for their first point of the 2008/09 Primera Liga campaign.
Losing 1-0 to Numancia in their season opener, Barca’s performance was again questionable for the array of talent on display, the side needing Argentine superstar Lionel Messi to salvage a point in dire circumstances.
Elsewhere, Seville overcame Sporting Gijon in a classic seven-goal thriller, with former West Ham man Frederic Kanoute ‘sealing the deal’ with a 60th minute winner for a 4-3 victory.
OLYMPIQUE TAKE LYON’S SHARE
Reigning champions and current Ligue 1 leaders Olympique Lyon made sure there was no change at the top of the league by securing a controversial 3-2 win over Nice on Saturday.
Trailing 2-0 after just 20 minutes, Lyon staged the perfect fight-back, with Brazilian genius Juninho scoring two free-kicks – one from half-way – and Karim Benzema scoring his fifth goal of the campaign in the dying stages.
Lyon now sits in the familiar position on top of the league table, with 13 points from five matches, two more than Marseille who drew 1-1 at Bordeaux.
MUNICH HITS IMPRESSIVE FORM
In Germany, Schalke 04 threw away a three-goal lead and their position atop the Bundesliga table, as Borussia Dortmund launched a frenetic fight-back to draw 3-3.
Schalke had two men sent off during the amazing Dortmund come-back, in a careless display in front of 80,000 excited spectators.
Hamburg took over the leadership with their own come-from-behind victory against Bayer Leverkusen – after trailing 2-0, the new league leaders fought back to win 3-2.
Title holders Bayern Munich seem to have hit form of late, after drawing their opening two matches Jurgen Klinsmann’s side has scored seven goals in their past two games, with Saturday’s 3-0 against Colonge launching them within two points of leaders Hamburg.
EUROPEAN TEAM OF THE WEEK
Although taking the slightly strange formation of 2-4-5, this week’s European Team of the Week illustrates the class of strikers and the level-headedness of a couple of debutants.
Manager: Rafa BENITEZ (Liverpool)
Although Ryan Babel’s super-sub appearance stole much of the limelight at Anfield, Liverpool’s Spanish manager Benitez must be given some credit for finally recording his first win over his club’s fierce arch-rival Manchester United. The Liverpool boss had never beaten Manchester United in eight previous league games during his career on Merseyside.
Goalkeeper: Manuel ALMUNIA (Arsenal)
Despite his team running out 4-0 winners against Blackburn, Almunia showed his class and superb reflexes to tip Rovers’ danger-man Roque Santa Cruz’s effort over the top to keep his side ahead – just after Robin van Persie had taken the lead for the Londoners.
Defenders:
Tranquillo BARNETTA (Bayer Leverkusen)
Barnetta was one of the few defenders to hit the net in Germany this weekend, but his fourth minute effort for Bayer Leverkusen failed to give his side three points over leaders Hamburg.
Ricardo CARVALHO (Chelsea)
Crediting defenders for their attacking prowess this week, Calvarlho makes the cut thanks to his 16th minute equaliser against Manchester City. The Portuguese defender made sure City’s lead lasted a mere three minutes by lashing home a Frank Lampard corner.
Midfielders:
Theo WALCOTT (Arsenal)
A hero mid-week with England, Walcott’s obvious confidence helped him to tear apart the Rovers’ backline, with the teenager setting up van Persie for the opener.
JUNINHO (Lyon)
Lyon’s set-piece maestro finished two superb free-kicks for the reigning French champions – one of which was slotted home from the half-way mark.
Ricardo QUARESMA (Inter Milan)
A long-time target of Jose Mourinho during the off-season, Quaresma paid back his manager’s 18 million euro investment with a debut-day goal.
Forwards:
Fabrizio MICCOLI (Palermo)
Striking twice against an injury-hit AS Roma, Miccoli hit a stunning right-footed shot into the top corner of the Roma net after 12 minutes, and deftly chipped home on 57 minutes for two superb individual goals.
ROBINHO (Manchester City)
After all the criticism the boy has copped during the last two weeks for his multi-million dollar transfer to Manchester City, the Brazillian produced the goods for his new club after just 13 minutes, commencing the ‘revolution’ at the ‘Middle Eastlands’. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough for a fairytale beginning as City lost 3-1.
Emmanuel ADEBAYOR (Arsenal)
An impressive Arsenal performance was rounded out by a neat Adebayor hat-trick, his first goals of the 2008/09 campaign.
Luca TONI (Bayern Munich)
The Bundesliga’s top marksman last season, Toni has adapted perfectly to the German game after transferring from Italy’s Fiorentina and he scored a neat double in his side’s 3-0 win against Colonge.
Frederic KANOUTE (Sevilla)
Former Tottenham and West Ham striker Kanoute – another player to scored a double this weekend - continued his reign in Spain as he helped Seville to a thrilling 4-3 win over plucky Gijon
Goal! Weekly Article 32: European World Cup Qualifiers
EUROPEAN INTERNATIONALS WRAP
By Julius Ross
It is still two whole years until the kick–off of football’s most prestigious tournament, but European qualifying for the 2010 World Cup began this weekend as the lengthy process of determining the world’s finest football teams commenced.
As European domestic leagues across the continent had a rest, players set aside club rivalries in an endeavour to help their nations secure glory.
GROUP ONE
Commencing with the results of Group One of the first qualifying round, and Portugal made amends for a disappointing Euro 2008 campaign by demolishing Malta at the Ta’Qali National Stadium.
After leading the first half 1-0 – courtesy of an own-goal - the Portuguese turned it on in a sensational 17-minute second-half spell.
Werder Bremen’s Hugo Almeida netted the second and Althetico Madrid’s Simao pounced on the rebound to make the score line 3-0.
Chelsea’s new star signing Deco set club rivalries aside as he set up national team-mate and Manchester United winger Nani for the fourth, wrapping up a convincing 4-0 drubbing of the European minnows Malta.
Elsewhere in Group One European qualifying, Sweden could only ground out a 0-0 draw against lowly Albania, whilst Hungary and Denmark shared the spoils with the same score line.
GROUP TWO
Group Two produced a few more goals than its preceding group fixtures with 10 goals coming from three matches.
Greece made a commanding start to their World Cup qualifying campaign, as they thumped Luxembourg 3-0, goals coming from Vassilis Torosidis and Fanis Gekas in the first half, before Greek hero Angelos Charisteas put the result beyond doubt with a 77th-minute penalty.
Greece are looking to qualify for their first World Cup since their only appearance in the United States in 1994.
Latvia secured three vital points in their closely contested tussle with Moldova, surviving late pressure to hold on for an important 2-1 away win.
A stoppage-time equaliser handed Israel a point against Euro 2008 co-host Switzerland, as Ottmar Hitzfeld’s side surrendered a 2-0 lead.
Clinical set-piece goals from Hakin Yakin and Blaise N’Kufo sent the Swiss on their way, but Israeli captain Yossi Benayoun sparked a revival for the home side as he reduced the deficit on 76 minutes.
In the closing stages, Israeli goalkeeper Dudu Awat sent a hopeful ball into the Swiss half, only to see substitute Moshe Ohayon centre for fellow sub Sahar to poke home and grab a point which had previously looked all but lost.
GROUP THREE
Slovakia was the only team from Group Three to take all three points on the opening day of qualifiers as they defeated Northern Ireland 2-1 in Bratislava on Saturday.
Set-pieces provided the lethal blow to Ireland’s hopes, as Liverpool’s defender Martin Skrtel and Napoli’s Marek Hamsik punished Ireland’s slack marking on dead ball situations.
Nigel Worthington’s Ireland applied late pressure on the hosts, forcing a Jan Durica own goal which ensured a nervy ending to the match, but the British side were unable to force their way back into the fixture and steal a point.
Fellow Group Three contestants Poland and Slovenia played out a 1-1 draw with Poland captain Michal Zewlakow slotting home only his third successful penalty in 81 internationals and Zlatko Dedic replying for Slovenia.
GROUP FOUR
Liechtenstein were taught a footballing lesson in Group Four, where Germany smashed six goals past the European cannon fodder.
A brace from Lukas Podolski and goals from Simon Rolfes, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Hitzlsperger and Heiko Westermann ensured the Mannschaft would start their 2010 qualifying in a confident fashion.
Teenager Sam Vokes was Wales’ hero in the other Group Four match, as his first senior goal for his nation secured a late win in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium against Azerbaijan.
GROUP FIVE
Euro 2008 champions Spain continued their terrific form from Europe’s top tournament as they secured a comfortable 1-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in Group five action.
Spanish starlet David Villa missed a penalty for the home side, but made amends as he scored the only goal of the match to seal victory.
Belgium and Estonia played out a five-goal thriller in Liege, with Belgian veteran Wesley Sonck scoring the winner ten minutes from time.
Despite a valiant effort from battling Estonia, Belgium were off to a winning start thanks to Sonck’s decisive late finish which separated the two sides.
Euro 2008 semi-finalists Turkey saw off Armenia 2-0 away from home, with strikes from Middlesborough’s Tuncay Sanli and and Fenerbahce hero Semih Senturk.
GROUP SIX
After winning their first qualifying match 3-0 against Andorra, Kazakhstan were thumped by the same score line against Croatia in Group Six.
Croatia went top of the group on goal difference, and England moved to second spot, after a Joe Cole double secured victory over Andorra.
After failing to qualify for Euro 2008, England’s current manager Fabio Capello is under intense pressure to produce the goods in the 2010 World Cup stakes.
Ukraine’s golden boy and Chelsea drop-out Andriy Shevchencko came off the bench to rescue Ukraine, converting a penalty deep into stoppage time, handing his country maximum points against their European neighbours Belarus in the other Group Six fixture.
GROUP SEVEN
Injury-hit Romania suffered a shock 3-0 loss to Lithuania, as the home side was completely outclassed, with regulars Adrian Mutu, Christian Chivu, Razvan Rat and Banel Nicolita missing from the starting line-up.
Group Seven produced another shock, as France lost 3-1 to Euro 2008 co-hosts Austria.
Both Austria and France had tournaments to forget earlier this year, but Les Blues misery was further compounded as Karl Bruckner’s side played on the counter-attack with sensational results.
Serbia defeated the Faroe Islands 2-0 in the other Group Seven fixture.
GROUP EIGHT
World Cup holder Italy left it late against lowly Cyprus, as a last-gasp Antonio Di Natale strike broke Cyprus hearts.
The Udinese striker opened the scoring with an early goal, and left it late to score his second to hand Italy all three points.
New Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov failed to help his side Montenegro to victory in their first competitive international since separation from Serbia, as a stoppage-time equaliser from Blagoy Georgiev gave Bulgaria a point in the 2-2 draw.
Former Italy manager Giovanni Trapattoni made a winning start in charge of the Republic of Irlenad as Glenn Whelan’s strike gave them a 2-1 away victory over Georgia.
GROUP NINE
Scotland failed to add more British success on the first weekend of World Cup qualifiers as fell to Macedonia 1-0, while Norway and Iceland shared the spoils in an entertaining 2-2 draw in Oslo, to round out the qualifiers on the European continent.
By Julius Ross
It is still two whole years until the kick–off of football’s most prestigious tournament, but European qualifying for the 2010 World Cup began this weekend as the lengthy process of determining the world’s finest football teams commenced.
As European domestic leagues across the continent had a rest, players set aside club rivalries in an endeavour to help their nations secure glory.
GROUP ONE
Commencing with the results of Group One of the first qualifying round, and Portugal made amends for a disappointing Euro 2008 campaign by demolishing Malta at the Ta’Qali National Stadium.
After leading the first half 1-0 – courtesy of an own-goal - the Portuguese turned it on in a sensational 17-minute second-half spell.
Werder Bremen’s Hugo Almeida netted the second and Althetico Madrid’s Simao pounced on the rebound to make the score line 3-0.
Chelsea’s new star signing Deco set club rivalries aside as he set up national team-mate and Manchester United winger Nani for the fourth, wrapping up a convincing 4-0 drubbing of the European minnows Malta.
Elsewhere in Group One European qualifying, Sweden could only ground out a 0-0 draw against lowly Albania, whilst Hungary and Denmark shared the spoils with the same score line.
GROUP TWO
Group Two produced a few more goals than its preceding group fixtures with 10 goals coming from three matches.
Greece made a commanding start to their World Cup qualifying campaign, as they thumped Luxembourg 3-0, goals coming from Vassilis Torosidis and Fanis Gekas in the first half, before Greek hero Angelos Charisteas put the result beyond doubt with a 77th-minute penalty.
Greece are looking to qualify for their first World Cup since their only appearance in the United States in 1994.
Latvia secured three vital points in their closely contested tussle with Moldova, surviving late pressure to hold on for an important 2-1 away win.
A stoppage-time equaliser handed Israel a point against Euro 2008 co-host Switzerland, as Ottmar Hitzfeld’s side surrendered a 2-0 lead.
Clinical set-piece goals from Hakin Yakin and Blaise N’Kufo sent the Swiss on their way, but Israeli captain Yossi Benayoun sparked a revival for the home side as he reduced the deficit on 76 minutes.
In the closing stages, Israeli goalkeeper Dudu Awat sent a hopeful ball into the Swiss half, only to see substitute Moshe Ohayon centre for fellow sub Sahar to poke home and grab a point which had previously looked all but lost.
GROUP THREE
Slovakia was the only team from Group Three to take all three points on the opening day of qualifiers as they defeated Northern Ireland 2-1 in Bratislava on Saturday.
Set-pieces provided the lethal blow to Ireland’s hopes, as Liverpool’s defender Martin Skrtel and Napoli’s Marek Hamsik punished Ireland’s slack marking on dead ball situations.
Nigel Worthington’s Ireland applied late pressure on the hosts, forcing a Jan Durica own goal which ensured a nervy ending to the match, but the British side were unable to force their way back into the fixture and steal a point.
Fellow Group Three contestants Poland and Slovenia played out a 1-1 draw with Poland captain Michal Zewlakow slotting home only his third successful penalty in 81 internationals and Zlatko Dedic replying for Slovenia.
GROUP FOUR
Liechtenstein were taught a footballing lesson in Group Four, where Germany smashed six goals past the European cannon fodder.
A brace from Lukas Podolski and goals from Simon Rolfes, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Hitzlsperger and Heiko Westermann ensured the Mannschaft would start their 2010 qualifying in a confident fashion.
Teenager Sam Vokes was Wales’ hero in the other Group Four match, as his first senior goal for his nation secured a late win in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium against Azerbaijan.
GROUP FIVE
Euro 2008 champions Spain continued their terrific form from Europe’s top tournament as they secured a comfortable 1-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in Group five action.
Spanish starlet David Villa missed a penalty for the home side, but made amends as he scored the only goal of the match to seal victory.
Belgium and Estonia played out a five-goal thriller in Liege, with Belgian veteran Wesley Sonck scoring the winner ten minutes from time.
Despite a valiant effort from battling Estonia, Belgium were off to a winning start thanks to Sonck’s decisive late finish which separated the two sides.
Euro 2008 semi-finalists Turkey saw off Armenia 2-0 away from home, with strikes from Middlesborough’s Tuncay Sanli and and Fenerbahce hero Semih Senturk.
GROUP SIX
After winning their first qualifying match 3-0 against Andorra, Kazakhstan were thumped by the same score line against Croatia in Group Six.
Croatia went top of the group on goal difference, and England moved to second spot, after a Joe Cole double secured victory over Andorra.
After failing to qualify for Euro 2008, England’s current manager Fabio Capello is under intense pressure to produce the goods in the 2010 World Cup stakes.
Ukraine’s golden boy and Chelsea drop-out Andriy Shevchencko came off the bench to rescue Ukraine, converting a penalty deep into stoppage time, handing his country maximum points against their European neighbours Belarus in the other Group Six fixture.
GROUP SEVEN
Injury-hit Romania suffered a shock 3-0 loss to Lithuania, as the home side was completely outclassed, with regulars Adrian Mutu, Christian Chivu, Razvan Rat and Banel Nicolita missing from the starting line-up.
Group Seven produced another shock, as France lost 3-1 to Euro 2008 co-hosts Austria.
Both Austria and France had tournaments to forget earlier this year, but Les Blues misery was further compounded as Karl Bruckner’s side played on the counter-attack with sensational results.
Serbia defeated the Faroe Islands 2-0 in the other Group Seven fixture.
GROUP EIGHT
World Cup holder Italy left it late against lowly Cyprus, as a last-gasp Antonio Di Natale strike broke Cyprus hearts.
The Udinese striker opened the scoring with an early goal, and left it late to score his second to hand Italy all three points.
New Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov failed to help his side Montenegro to victory in their first competitive international since separation from Serbia, as a stoppage-time equaliser from Blagoy Georgiev gave Bulgaria a point in the 2-2 draw.
Former Italy manager Giovanni Trapattoni made a winning start in charge of the Republic of Irlenad as Glenn Whelan’s strike gave them a 2-1 away victory over Georgia.
GROUP NINE
Scotland failed to add more British success on the first weekend of World Cup qualifiers as fell to Macedonia 1-0, while Norway and Iceland shared the spoils in an entertaining 2-2 draw in Oslo, to round out the qualifiers on the European continent.
Goal! Weekly Article 31: European League Wrap 4
EUROPEAN WRAP
By Julius Ross
The European football season has been spurred into life this weekend, with the commencement of the Italian Serie A, the Spanish Primera Liga and the Dutch Eredivisie adding to the intriguing action already taking place in the English, French, German and Scottish leagues.
Goal! Weekly’s Julius Ross checks out the pick of the bunch in this weekend’s European fixtures.
MOURIHNO DENIED WINNING START
Flamboyant Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho was denied a winning start with his new club, defending Serie A champions Inter Milan, as they stumbled at Sampdoria in their first match of the 2008/09 season.
The colourful and controversial former Chelsea boss saw his side draw 1-1 after midfielder Gennaro Delvecchio cancelled out Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s first half strike.
After taking over from sacked manager Roberto Mancini, Mourinho was forced to make a unorthodox change to his starting line-up due to an Inter injury crisis - Argentine midfielder Esteban Cambiasso slotting in at the centre of defence.
In the other Serie A match on Saturday, Antonio Di Natale hit a brace to help his side Udinese to a 3-1 victory over Palmero - Australia’s Marco Bresciano scoring the consolation goal for the visiting side, signaling a promising start to the 2008/09 campaign for the Socceroo midfielder.
THE SILVA VILLA SHOW
Valencia kicked off the new season of the Spanish Primera Liga in style on Saturday, with Euro 2008 stars David Villa and David Silva treating the Mestalla to an impressive opening game.
Valencia ran out easy 3-0 winners with Villa, Mata and Vicente wrapping up a convincing win, in which the two Euro hereos, Villa and Silva illustrated their world-class talent.
Luis Garcia’s goal handed Espanyol a 1-0 opening-day victory over visiting Valladolid.
Barcelona were expected to take all three on Sunday when they traveled to second division champions Numancia, whilst defending champions Real Madrid were looking for their fist victory at the Riazor since 1991 when they took on Deportivo la Coruna.
HOFFENHIEM FACES BUNDESLIGA REALITY
It was inevitable. Shock early season Bundesliga leaders – minnows 1899 Hoffenhiem – were eventually brought back down to earth on Saturday when they suffered a 5-2 loss away to Bayer Leverkusen.
Before kick-off, the runners up of the second division in Germany last season, were the only team in the league with a 100 per cent record, but they struggled to impose themselves on the match against Leverkusen, finally succumbing 5-2 despite fighting back to 2-1 and 3-2 after trailing 2-0.
Dropping to fifth place on the table with six points from a possible nine, Hoffenheim’s slip-up vacated top spot on the table.
In stepped title challengers Schalke 04 who took advantage of Hoffenhiem’s loss to take the number one spot on the league table, courtesy of a 1-0 win over local rivals Bochum.
Schalke leads the standings on goal difference - with seven points from three matches – whilst Hamburg and Borussia Dortmund sit equal on points.
Defending champions Bayern Munich are still searching for their first victory of the season, after drawing their first two matches – giving them just two points – and will be looking for their first league win of the season at home to Hertha Berlin on Sunday.
INVINCIBLE KILMARNOCK TOP OF EPL
With all eyes focused on Sunday’s Old Firm derby between Glasgow title rivals Celtic and Rangers, Kilmarnock has surprisingly shot to the top of the Scottish Premier League table.
Gavin Skelton opened the scoring for Kilmarnock, before Australian striker Danny Invincibile secured a 2-0 victory over Dundee United to send his side to the top of the SPL standings with 10 points from four games.
Celtic and Rangers, locked on seven points each, will be hot on the heals of ‘Killie’ when they vie for victory on Sunday – but if in the likely event of a draw between the fierce Glasgow rivals – Kilmarnock will stay top of the league for this weekend at least, thanks to an ‘Invincible’ performance.
PSV’S FIVE-STAR DISPLAY
Reigning Dutch Eredivisie champs PSV Eindhoven started their title-defence with a five-star performance against Utrecht on the opening day of the season in the Netherlands.
Ibrahim Afellay and Danny Koevermans hit a brace each for PSV, as they ran out 5-1 winners against injury-depleted Utrecht.
PSV bossed play and possession, and in a sweet three-minute spell before half-time, the champs were 3-0 up heading into the break.
PSV continued their domination in the second half, adding two more fine goals to their tally, but failed to claim a clean sheet as Rafael Uiterloo poked home in stoppage time to grab a consolation goal.
Last season’s runner-up, Ajax Amsterdam, suffered a shock 2-1 loss against Willem on the opening weekend of fixtures, as they failed to apply early pressure to their fierce league rivals, PSV.
MARSEILLE MAINTAIN UNBEATEN START
Watch out Lyon. You might just have a serious title contender this season. After winning the last seven consecutive Ligue 1 titles from 2002 to 2008, Lyon has had it easy in the French league. But Olympique Marseille’s impressive start to the season has seen them maintain their unbeaten start and they may prove a threat to Lyon’s hopes of eight titles in eight years.
Karim Ziani and Bakary Kone strikes were enough for a home victory over lowly Sochaux on Saturday, as Marseille soared to the top of the Ligue 1 standings.
Marseille is searching for their first league triumph since 1992, and both Marseille fans and neutrals will be hoping that this year’s French league will be slightly more competitive.
BLOODY HULL
After grabbing an historic opening day victory in the English Premier League and securing four points from their first two games, Hull City’s fairytale start to the season was smashed by Wigan in a woeful display of defensive football.
Hull’s non-existent defensive line allowed the Lactics to thoroughly tame the Tigers at the Kingston Communications Stadium, with Antonio Valencia, Emile Heskey, Amr Zaki – with a brace - and an own goal rounding out the 5-0 score-line as hapless Hull were taught a Premier League lesson.
West Brom picked up its first points of the new campaign after three matches in a 0-0 draw with Bolton in which goalkeeper’s Jussi Jaaskelainen and Scott Carson pulled off world-class saves at either end to ensure clean-sheets for their respective sides.
Arsenal were back to winning ways after their shock 1-0 loss at the hands of Fulham last weekend, when they thumped Newcastle United 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium.
A double from Dutchman Robin Van Persie and a third from Brazilian youngster Denilson silenced critics – who have signaled the Gunner’s over-elaborate football which rarely produces an end product as a hindrance to their Premier League title tilt.
Accumulating 20 shots on target last week against Fulham without a score, the rampaging Gunners made sure they hit the target this week, with 12 shots directed on Shay Given’s goal, as Arsene Wenger’s side returned to form.
By Julius Ross
The European football season has been spurred into life this weekend, with the commencement of the Italian Serie A, the Spanish Primera Liga and the Dutch Eredivisie adding to the intriguing action already taking place in the English, French, German and Scottish leagues.
Goal! Weekly’s Julius Ross checks out the pick of the bunch in this weekend’s European fixtures.
MOURIHNO DENIED WINNING START
Flamboyant Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho was denied a winning start with his new club, defending Serie A champions Inter Milan, as they stumbled at Sampdoria in their first match of the 2008/09 season.
The colourful and controversial former Chelsea boss saw his side draw 1-1 after midfielder Gennaro Delvecchio cancelled out Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s first half strike.
After taking over from sacked manager Roberto Mancini, Mourinho was forced to make a unorthodox change to his starting line-up due to an Inter injury crisis - Argentine midfielder Esteban Cambiasso slotting in at the centre of defence.
In the other Serie A match on Saturday, Antonio Di Natale hit a brace to help his side Udinese to a 3-1 victory over Palmero - Australia’s Marco Bresciano scoring the consolation goal for the visiting side, signaling a promising start to the 2008/09 campaign for the Socceroo midfielder.
THE SILVA VILLA SHOW
Valencia kicked off the new season of the Spanish Primera Liga in style on Saturday, with Euro 2008 stars David Villa and David Silva treating the Mestalla to an impressive opening game.
Valencia ran out easy 3-0 winners with Villa, Mata and Vicente wrapping up a convincing win, in which the two Euro hereos, Villa and Silva illustrated their world-class talent.
Luis Garcia’s goal handed Espanyol a 1-0 opening-day victory over visiting Valladolid.
Barcelona were expected to take all three on Sunday when they traveled to second division champions Numancia, whilst defending champions Real Madrid were looking for their fist victory at the Riazor since 1991 when they took on Deportivo la Coruna.
HOFFENHIEM FACES BUNDESLIGA REALITY
It was inevitable. Shock early season Bundesliga leaders – minnows 1899 Hoffenhiem – were eventually brought back down to earth on Saturday when they suffered a 5-2 loss away to Bayer Leverkusen.
Before kick-off, the runners up of the second division in Germany last season, were the only team in the league with a 100 per cent record, but they struggled to impose themselves on the match against Leverkusen, finally succumbing 5-2 despite fighting back to 2-1 and 3-2 after trailing 2-0.
Dropping to fifth place on the table with six points from a possible nine, Hoffenheim’s slip-up vacated top spot on the table.
In stepped title challengers Schalke 04 who took advantage of Hoffenhiem’s loss to take the number one spot on the league table, courtesy of a 1-0 win over local rivals Bochum.
Schalke leads the standings on goal difference - with seven points from three matches – whilst Hamburg and Borussia Dortmund sit equal on points.
Defending champions Bayern Munich are still searching for their first victory of the season, after drawing their first two matches – giving them just two points – and will be looking for their first league win of the season at home to Hertha Berlin on Sunday.
INVINCIBLE KILMARNOCK TOP OF EPL
With all eyes focused on Sunday’s Old Firm derby between Glasgow title rivals Celtic and Rangers, Kilmarnock has surprisingly shot to the top of the Scottish Premier League table.
Gavin Skelton opened the scoring for Kilmarnock, before Australian striker Danny Invincibile secured a 2-0 victory over Dundee United to send his side to the top of the SPL standings with 10 points from four games.
Celtic and Rangers, locked on seven points each, will be hot on the heals of ‘Killie’ when they vie for victory on Sunday – but if in the likely event of a draw between the fierce Glasgow rivals – Kilmarnock will stay top of the league for this weekend at least, thanks to an ‘Invincible’ performance.
PSV’S FIVE-STAR DISPLAY
Reigning Dutch Eredivisie champs PSV Eindhoven started their title-defence with a five-star performance against Utrecht on the opening day of the season in the Netherlands.
Ibrahim Afellay and Danny Koevermans hit a brace each for PSV, as they ran out 5-1 winners against injury-depleted Utrecht.
PSV bossed play and possession, and in a sweet three-minute spell before half-time, the champs were 3-0 up heading into the break.
PSV continued their domination in the second half, adding two more fine goals to their tally, but failed to claim a clean sheet as Rafael Uiterloo poked home in stoppage time to grab a consolation goal.
Last season’s runner-up, Ajax Amsterdam, suffered a shock 2-1 loss against Willem on the opening weekend of fixtures, as they failed to apply early pressure to their fierce league rivals, PSV.
MARSEILLE MAINTAIN UNBEATEN START
Watch out Lyon. You might just have a serious title contender this season. After winning the last seven consecutive Ligue 1 titles from 2002 to 2008, Lyon has had it easy in the French league. But Olympique Marseille’s impressive start to the season has seen them maintain their unbeaten start and they may prove a threat to Lyon’s hopes of eight titles in eight years.
Karim Ziani and Bakary Kone strikes were enough for a home victory over lowly Sochaux on Saturday, as Marseille soared to the top of the Ligue 1 standings.
Marseille is searching for their first league triumph since 1992, and both Marseille fans and neutrals will be hoping that this year’s French league will be slightly more competitive.
BLOODY HULL
After grabbing an historic opening day victory in the English Premier League and securing four points from their first two games, Hull City’s fairytale start to the season was smashed by Wigan in a woeful display of defensive football.
Hull’s non-existent defensive line allowed the Lactics to thoroughly tame the Tigers at the Kingston Communications Stadium, with Antonio Valencia, Emile Heskey, Amr Zaki – with a brace - and an own goal rounding out the 5-0 score-line as hapless Hull were taught a Premier League lesson.
West Brom picked up its first points of the new campaign after three matches in a 0-0 draw with Bolton in which goalkeeper’s Jussi Jaaskelainen and Scott Carson pulled off world-class saves at either end to ensure clean-sheets for their respective sides.
Arsenal were back to winning ways after their shock 1-0 loss at the hands of Fulham last weekend, when they thumped Newcastle United 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium.
A double from Dutchman Robin Van Persie and a third from Brazilian youngster Denilson silenced critics – who have signaled the Gunner’s over-elaborate football which rarely produces an end product as a hindrance to their Premier League title tilt.
Accumulating 20 shots on target last week against Fulham without a score, the rampaging Gunners made sure they hit the target this week, with 12 shots directed on Shay Given’s goal, as Arsene Wenger’s side returned to form.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Goal! Weekly Article 30: European League Wrap 3
EUROPEAN WRAP
European league championships are won and lost over grueling seasons in which every match counts. This weekend was no different as clubs from the English, Scottish, German and French leagues fought out their on-field battles in the search for glory.
Goal! Weekly reporter Julius Ross checks out the pick of the action in Europe.
WHO THE HELL IS HANGELAND?
London was the scene for little-known Norwegian defender Brede Hangeland to claim his 15 minutes of fame, as he became a Craven Cottage hero after his goal gave Fulham a famous victory over Arsenal in the Barclays Premier League.
Bouncing back from their opening weekend defeat at the hands of Hull City, Fulham held on against sustained pressure from Arsene Wenger’s side to record a remarkable victory.
Title hopefuls Arsenal dominated play and possession, but a re-occurring theme – the failure to turn dominance into goals – proved yet again Arsenal’s downfall.
Accumulating a total of 20 shots, the Gunners managed just one shot on target.
Another title hopeful, Liverpool, almost suffered a shock loss in similar fashion to the Gunners, but two late goals from Merseyside favourites denied Middlesborough a first win at Anfield since 1976.
Boro striker Mido came off the bench to give the away side a 1-0 lead with 20 minutes remaining, but Liverpool’s local hero Jamie Carragher had a long-range effort fortuitously deflect in off Emanuel Pogatetz to put the Reds back on level terms with five minutes remaining.
Then Merseyside golden-boy and Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard did what he does best, rifling home a sweet shot in stoppage time to maintain their 100% record and resign Boro to defeat.
In the north of England, injury-prone and inconsistent England striker Michael Owen continued to show he is not yet past his prime as he killed off Bolton’s hopes of snatching a point in their clash at St James’ Park.
Owen, who came on as a substitute for Obafemi Martins, showed glimpses of his best ability and that he still has the goal-scoring knack needed to knock off stubborn opposition, with a smart header in the 71st minute.
Bolton’s Kevin Nolan had a nightmare in front of goal, having a penalty saved by Shay Given and then heading a glorious late chance wide of the Newcastle net in an attempt to claim a point from the Magpies.
Stoke City were on the right end of a dramatic five goal thriller against Aston Villa, the newly promoted side picking up their first victory in this season’s campaign with a 3-2 win.
Tony Pulis’ side, favourites to head straight back down to the Championship next season, played a direct and pulsating style against the Villans and it proved beneficial in an exciting encounter at the Britannia Stadium.
Elsewhere, on loan striker Djibril Cisse gave Roy Keane’s Sunderland a shock 2-1 away win over miserable Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.
Cisse – signed from Marseille this week – knocked in a late winner to make for a warm welcome back to the Premiership, the ex-Liverpool man getting the perfect start in his debut for Sunderland.
Everton made hard work of their first victory of the season against West Brom, the injury-strapped Toffees scrapping through with a 2-1 victory courtesy of Leon Osman and Ayegbeni Yakubu strikes.
Blackburn and Hull City remain unbeaten as they shared the spoils in an entertaining 1-1 draw at Edwood park.
FAMILIAR TWO HORSE RACE
A familiar pattern has already emerged in the race for the Scottish Premier League title, with both Celtic and Rangers sitting top of the table after only three matches played.
The Old Firm rivals are the only Scottish sides to have won the SPL title since the league’s inauguration in 1998, and the trophy already looks to be heading to Glasgow once more.
Celtic are looking to add to their six titles, whilst Rangers will want to close the widening gap between themselves and Celtic by claiming their fifth trophy this campaign.
Celtic, the current champions, went top of the league this weekend when Greek striker Giorgos Samaras netted a brace and Stephen McManus headed home from a Shunsuke Nakamura set-piece to seal a 3-0 win for the Hoops.
Rangers failed to overtake Celtic on the overall standings after they stumbled to 1-1 draw at Aberdeen, the Gers bitterly disappointed at not claiming the three points after a seemingly legitimate goal was ruled out for offside late in the game.
Other results: Hearts 2-1 St Mirren; Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1-1 Hibernian; Motherwell 1-1 Dundee United; Kilmarnock 1-0 Hamilton Academical.
MUNICH MANAGE MEAGRE DRAW
German midfielder Tim Borowski saved German Champion Bayern Munich’s blushes after coming off the bench to grab an equaliser 16 minutes from time against Borussia Dortmund in Saturaday’s Bundesliga action.
Juergen Klinsmann’s side had seen the match go from bad to worse as they conceded a goal in the opening 10 minutes and then had Dutch midfielder Mark van Bommel sent-off in the 23rd minute.
But the introduction of Tim Borowski off the bench paid dividends for Klinsmann’s side as they managed a second draw of the season.
The German champions have struggled to impose themselves on the new campaign, picking up just two points from a possible six, and they currently sit 11th on the Bundesliga table.
Newly promoted side Hoffenheim retained their unfancied position at the top of the standings, after making it two wins from two with a 1-0 victory over Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Hoffenheim’s Bosnian forward Vedad Ibisevic scored the winner and his second goal of the season in the 31st minute.
Other results: Hamburg 2-1 SC Karlsruhe; Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 VfB Stuttgart; Schalke 1-1 Werder Bremen.
TRAUMATIC FRENCH FIXTURE
Olympique Marseille ended a grief-stricken day on a successful note in French Ligue 1, with a 1-0 away victory over Le Harve.
The importance of the match between the two sides had been overshadowed after an accident 70 km south of Paris in which a coach crash killed two Marseille fans.
French Ligue 1 organisers were caught in two minds whether or not to call off the match, but decided to give it the go-ahead “in memory of the victims.”
Although Marseille were far from their best, Boudewijn Zeden’s fantastic free-kick was enough to hand the side from southern France maximum points.
Le Mans also recorded a 1-0 victory on the third weekend of French fixtures, with Thorstein Helstad grabbing the only goal of the game as the home side struggled past a determined threat from visitors St Etienne.
The win sends Le Mans to third on the French standings, with Helstad’s 38th minute strike just enough in a hard fought match in which St Etienne frustrated the home side throughout.
Monaco’s defender Jerko Leko put the ball in the back of his own net 16 minutes from time, to hand Caen a point in their clash at the Stade Louis II stadium in Monte Carlo
Monaco dominated the match in which they really should have taken all three points, with 19 year-old Frederick Nimani netting Monaco’s only goal after 51 minutes.
The home side missed numerous chances to extend their lead, before Leko disastrously headed in at the wrong end to gift a point to away side they had frequently dominated over the 90 minutes.
Reigning French champions Lyon, who are looking for a 8th successive title, remain unbeaten and sit equal first on the Ligue 1 table after French starlet Karim Benzema and Jean Makoun gave the home side a comfortable 2-0 victory over Grenoble.
Other results: Sochaux 1-1 Paris St Germain; Valenciennes 3-1 Lorient.
European league championships are won and lost over grueling seasons in which every match counts. This weekend was no different as clubs from the English, Scottish, German and French leagues fought out their on-field battles in the search for glory.
Goal! Weekly reporter Julius Ross checks out the pick of the action in Europe.
WHO THE HELL IS HANGELAND?
London was the scene for little-known Norwegian defender Brede Hangeland to claim his 15 minutes of fame, as he became a Craven Cottage hero after his goal gave Fulham a famous victory over Arsenal in the Barclays Premier League.
Bouncing back from their opening weekend defeat at the hands of Hull City, Fulham held on against sustained pressure from Arsene Wenger’s side to record a remarkable victory.
Title hopefuls Arsenal dominated play and possession, but a re-occurring theme – the failure to turn dominance into goals – proved yet again Arsenal’s downfall.
Accumulating a total of 20 shots, the Gunners managed just one shot on target.
Another title hopeful, Liverpool, almost suffered a shock loss in similar fashion to the Gunners, but two late goals from Merseyside favourites denied Middlesborough a first win at Anfield since 1976.
Boro striker Mido came off the bench to give the away side a 1-0 lead with 20 minutes remaining, but Liverpool’s local hero Jamie Carragher had a long-range effort fortuitously deflect in off Emanuel Pogatetz to put the Reds back on level terms with five minutes remaining.
Then Merseyside golden-boy and Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard did what he does best, rifling home a sweet shot in stoppage time to maintain their 100% record and resign Boro to defeat.
In the north of England, injury-prone and inconsistent England striker Michael Owen continued to show he is not yet past his prime as he killed off Bolton’s hopes of snatching a point in their clash at St James’ Park.
Owen, who came on as a substitute for Obafemi Martins, showed glimpses of his best ability and that he still has the goal-scoring knack needed to knock off stubborn opposition, with a smart header in the 71st minute.
Bolton’s Kevin Nolan had a nightmare in front of goal, having a penalty saved by Shay Given and then heading a glorious late chance wide of the Newcastle net in an attempt to claim a point from the Magpies.
Stoke City were on the right end of a dramatic five goal thriller against Aston Villa, the newly promoted side picking up their first victory in this season’s campaign with a 3-2 win.
Tony Pulis’ side, favourites to head straight back down to the Championship next season, played a direct and pulsating style against the Villans and it proved beneficial in an exciting encounter at the Britannia Stadium.
Elsewhere, on loan striker Djibril Cisse gave Roy Keane’s Sunderland a shock 2-1 away win over miserable Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.
Cisse – signed from Marseille this week – knocked in a late winner to make for a warm welcome back to the Premiership, the ex-Liverpool man getting the perfect start in his debut for Sunderland.
Everton made hard work of their first victory of the season against West Brom, the injury-strapped Toffees scrapping through with a 2-1 victory courtesy of Leon Osman and Ayegbeni Yakubu strikes.
Blackburn and Hull City remain unbeaten as they shared the spoils in an entertaining 1-1 draw at Edwood park.
FAMILIAR TWO HORSE RACE
A familiar pattern has already emerged in the race for the Scottish Premier League title, with both Celtic and Rangers sitting top of the table after only three matches played.
The Old Firm rivals are the only Scottish sides to have won the SPL title since the league’s inauguration in 1998, and the trophy already looks to be heading to Glasgow once more.
Celtic are looking to add to their six titles, whilst Rangers will want to close the widening gap between themselves and Celtic by claiming their fifth trophy this campaign.
Celtic, the current champions, went top of the league this weekend when Greek striker Giorgos Samaras netted a brace and Stephen McManus headed home from a Shunsuke Nakamura set-piece to seal a 3-0 win for the Hoops.
Rangers failed to overtake Celtic on the overall standings after they stumbled to 1-1 draw at Aberdeen, the Gers bitterly disappointed at not claiming the three points after a seemingly legitimate goal was ruled out for offside late in the game.
Other results: Hearts 2-1 St Mirren; Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1-1 Hibernian; Motherwell 1-1 Dundee United; Kilmarnock 1-0 Hamilton Academical.
MUNICH MANAGE MEAGRE DRAW
German midfielder Tim Borowski saved German Champion Bayern Munich’s blushes after coming off the bench to grab an equaliser 16 minutes from time against Borussia Dortmund in Saturaday’s Bundesliga action.
Juergen Klinsmann’s side had seen the match go from bad to worse as they conceded a goal in the opening 10 minutes and then had Dutch midfielder Mark van Bommel sent-off in the 23rd minute.
But the introduction of Tim Borowski off the bench paid dividends for Klinsmann’s side as they managed a second draw of the season.
The German champions have struggled to impose themselves on the new campaign, picking up just two points from a possible six, and they currently sit 11th on the Bundesliga table.
Newly promoted side Hoffenheim retained their unfancied position at the top of the standings, after making it two wins from two with a 1-0 victory over Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Hoffenheim’s Bosnian forward Vedad Ibisevic scored the winner and his second goal of the season in the 31st minute.
Other results: Hamburg 2-1 SC Karlsruhe; Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 VfB Stuttgart; Schalke 1-1 Werder Bremen.
TRAUMATIC FRENCH FIXTURE
Olympique Marseille ended a grief-stricken day on a successful note in French Ligue 1, with a 1-0 away victory over Le Harve.
The importance of the match between the two sides had been overshadowed after an accident 70 km south of Paris in which a coach crash killed two Marseille fans.
French Ligue 1 organisers were caught in two minds whether or not to call off the match, but decided to give it the go-ahead “in memory of the victims.”
Although Marseille were far from their best, Boudewijn Zeden’s fantastic free-kick was enough to hand the side from southern France maximum points.
Le Mans also recorded a 1-0 victory on the third weekend of French fixtures, with Thorstein Helstad grabbing the only goal of the game as the home side struggled past a determined threat from visitors St Etienne.
The win sends Le Mans to third on the French standings, with Helstad’s 38th minute strike just enough in a hard fought match in which St Etienne frustrated the home side throughout.
Monaco’s defender Jerko Leko put the ball in the back of his own net 16 minutes from time, to hand Caen a point in their clash at the Stade Louis II stadium in Monte Carlo
Monaco dominated the match in which they really should have taken all three points, with 19 year-old Frederick Nimani netting Monaco’s only goal after 51 minutes.
The home side missed numerous chances to extend their lead, before Leko disastrously headed in at the wrong end to gift a point to away side they had frequently dominated over the 90 minutes.
Reigning French champions Lyon, who are looking for a 8th successive title, remain unbeaten and sit equal first on the Ligue 1 table after French starlet Karim Benzema and Jean Makoun gave the home side a comfortable 2-0 victory over Grenoble.
Other results: Sochaux 1-1 Paris St Germain; Valenciennes 3-1 Lorient.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Goal! Weekly Article 29: European League Wrap 2
PREMIER LEAGUES RETURN
By Julius Ross
The wait is over. The ‘Greatest Show On Earth’ – The English Premier League – returned to action this weekend as its followers – over half a billion people in 202 countries – tuned in to the most watched sporting league in the World.
And it didn’t disappoint. The seemingly endless months of the off-season finally came to an end as newly promoted clubs, refurbished teams and title aspirants hit the immaculate turf across England.
To add to the excitement in Europe, Germany’s Bundesliga kicked off and France and Scotland’s respective leagues continued in their second week of action.
Goal! Weekly checks out the key highlights of the European weekend.
ONE HULL OF A DAY IN ENGLAND
Hull City began their first ever foray into England’s top-tier competition in their 104-year history with a passionate and historic victory, with a dramatic late winner on the opening weekend of the 2008/09 English Premier League season.
The Kingston Communications Stadium were sent into raptures in the 81st minute when the Tigers completed a sensational comeback over Fulham, with substitute Caleb Folan slotting home the winner for a 2-1 victory.
Newly promoted Stoke City experienced a more grueling return to their first Premier League campaign in 23 years, with Bolton showing no mercy for the newcomers, smashing in three goals in 11 first-half minutes.
Stoke’s Ricardo Fuller managed to pull a consolation goal back for the away side in the 90th minute, but the Potters were ultimately given a reality check of the difficulties the side will face in the coming season in the top flight.
Arsenal took only four minutes to re-commence the goal scoring in the Premiership in their lunchtime kick-off against Coca-Cola Championship winners West Bromwich Albion, courtesy of a debut goal from Samir Nasri.
The £12 million dollar ex-Marseille man side-footed home early in the first half, but Arsenal failed to convert continued pressure, 62% possession and 28 shots into an extended lead.
Tottenham’s £45 million summer spending spree failed to produce the goods against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium, where the London club’s new signings were unsuccessful in producing an opening day victory; Spurs succumbing to a 2-1 defeat.
Dean Ashton opened his West Ham account for the new season, the blond topped striker hitting two goals in a gutsy win over a determined Wigan side.
The Hammers had to hold on against a Lactic fight-back, but although Amr Zaki pulled one back for Steve Bruce’s men, they were unable to convert 27 shots into more than one goal.
Ex-Manchester United and Liverpool star Paul Ince secured three points in his first competitive match as manager of Blackburn, thanks to a winner from defender Andre Ooijer four minutes into injury time against Everton.
Rovers’ 3-2 victory echoed the type of grit and determination their manager showed on pitch during his playing days.
In the final match of the afternoon, an opportunistic strike from prolific Spanish goal scorer Fernando Torres gave Liverpool all three points against Roy Keane’s transformed Sunderland side with a 1-0 victory.
Torres started where he left off last year by powering home a sensational finish from 25-yards to hand Rafa Benitez’s side a perfect start to the season.
Title favourites Manchester United and Chelsea kicked-off their season on Sunday night against Newcastle and Portsmouth, respectively, while Aston Villa entertained Manchester City to round out the Premiership’s opening fixtures.
HOPEFUL HOFFENHEIM IN HAPPY DEBUT
Across to the continent, and German Champions Bayern Munich and last season’s runners-up Werder Bremen failed to impress during their opening day fixtures in the 46th season of the Bundesliga, paving the way for little known 1899 Hoffenheim to enter the spotlight.
The newly promoted Hoffenheim kicked off their first ever season in the German top-flight by demolishing Energie Cottbus 3-0 to surge to the dizzy heights of the top of the Bundesliga table.
Despite being amongst the favourites for the drop this season, Hoffenheim showed few opening day nerves to humiliate Cottbus through a double from Vedad Ibssevic and a Demba Ba strike.
Title hopefuls Schalke 04 joined Hoffeinheim at the top, courtesy of their 3-0 rout over Hannover 96, with all three goals coming from clinical dead-ball situations.
German international Kevin Kuryani made a solid start to the season by nodding home two set-piece drills, whilst Marcelo Bordon headed home from a corner.
Bundesliga holders and 20-time winner Bayern Munich made a slow start to their title defence on Friday night with an unconvincing 2-2 draw against Hamburg SV.
Munich surrendered a 2-0 lead in the opening fixture of the new season, with Hamburg fighting back for a deserved point to spoil Jurgen Klinsmann’s first game in charge of the German giants.
Last season’s runner-up Werder Bremen also shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw with Bundesliga strugglers Arminia Bielefeld, a side which has failed to finish above 12th in the German top flight in the last four seasons.
In the match of the round, Borussia Dortmund recorded a thrilling 3-2 victory over Bayer Leverkusen, with the away team holding on to secure three points despite a late surge from the home side.
In other fixtures, VfL Wolfsburg turned a 1-0 deficit against Colonge into a 2-1 victory with two second-half goals, whilst Karlsruhe SC recorded a comfortable 1-0 win over VfL Bochum.
The opening round of the Bundesliga concluded on Sunday night, when Hertha Berlin traveled to Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Moenchengladbach, who return to the Bundesliga after gaining promotion once more, entertained Stuttgart.
RANGERS MAINTAIN PRESSUE ON GLASGOW RIVALS
Back over the North Sea to the United Kingdom and Rangers maintained their winning start to the Scottish Premier League by defeating Hearts 2-0 on the second weekend of SPL fixtures.
The win sustains the early season pressure on titleholders and Old Firm rivals Celtic who traveled to Dundee United on Sunday.
In other SPL results, Hibernian secured a 3-2 victory over Falkirk, Motherwell lost 1-0 at home to Aberdeen, Hamilton Academical secured victory by the same score line over Inverness Caledonian Thistle, while St Mirren played out a 0-0 draw with Kilmarnock.
TITLE HOPEFUL BORDEAUX DROP VITAL POINTS
South and into France, and the second week of French fixtures continued in the 71st Ligue 1 season but there was still no clear title charge evident.
Paris Saint Germain upset one of the competition’s favourites, Girondins Bordeaux, with a goal from their new summer signing, striker Guillaume Hoarau.
Monaco failed to keep their 100% record, but maintained first spot on the Ligue table when they drew 1-1 with newly promoted FC Nantes.
Saint Etienne claimed their first victory of the season with a win over Sochaux, condemning the club to its second consecutive defeat and an early place in the relegation zone.
Other results saw Nice claim the scalp of Nancy in a 2-1 victory, Toulouse brought newly promoted Le Harve back to earth by the same score line and Caen entered the top three with a 3-1 win over Valenciennes.
Le Mans defeated Lille 3-1 to round out the second week of fixtures on Saturday, while defending champions Olympique Lyon continued their title defence against Lorient, Grenoble hosted Rennes and Marseille welcomed Auxerre to the South of France on Sunday.
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Monday, August 11, 2008
Goal! Weekly Article 28: European League Wrap
EUROPEAN ACTION RE-COMMENCES IN STYLE
French, German and Scottish Clubs Open Season in Dramatic Fashion
By Julius Ross
Forget the hectic European summer jam-packed with transfer speculation, scandalous statements from the Cristiano Ronaldo saga and the wash up of Euro 2008, action finally translated from the sidelines and the headlines of the newspapers to the football pitch this weekend.
Both the French and Scottish leagues returned to action for their opening encounters of their respective seasons, whilst in Germany Bundesliga sides warmed up for their 2008-09 campaign with impressive victories in the German Cup.
Goal! Weekly reporter Julius Ross checks out the pick of the action on the European continent.
Champagne Football – French Ligue 1
The French Ligue 1 kicked off in dramatic fashion on Saturday night (AEST) with late drama in several key opening clashes.
Title contenders Marseille surrendered a 3-1 lead away to Rennes to draw 4-4 in a gripping conclusion in the North-West of France.
Marseille will be infuriated at their lack of composure in the final minutes, after unnecessarily dropping two vital points to kick-start their 2008-09 campaign.
Olivier Thomert opened the scoring for Rennes after a mere six minutes, but Marseille replied strongly through Bakari Kone, Hatem Ben Afra and Mamadou Niang to put the away side in a commanding position at half-time.
Rennes launched a fight back in the second half, drawing level through a second goal from Thomert and an own-goal in the 89th minute.
A minute later it appeared that Marseille had secured all three points through an Eliot Grandin strike to make it 4-3, but Rennes’ Bruno Cheyrou snatched a point in the dying seconds.
Newly promoted Grenoble produced some of its own drama in its clash against Sochaux, securing a spectacular victory through late goals by Nassim Akrour and Daniel Moreira who scored in the 87th and 88th minutes, respectively.
Bordeaux shot to the top of the Ligue 1 table courtesy of Fernando Cavenaghi’s goal 10 minutes from time, handing it a 2-1 victory over Caen.
Other fixtures were decided in less dramatic fashion, with four 1-0 victories and a 0-0 draw rounding out the opening day results.
Monaco defeated Paris St Germain thanks to a Frederic Nimani header and Valenciennes beat St Etienne through a penalty from Gael Danic.
Lorient also secured victory via the penalty spot, defeating Le Mans 1-0 with Christophe Jallet slotting home.
Nice succumbed to a lone strike from Le Harve’s Jean-Michel whilst Julien Quercia’s strike helped Auxerre to success against Nantes.
Lille and Nancy played out the only draw of the opening day, with neither side finding the break through in a tense 0-0 draw which saw Lille reduced to 10 men in the final minute.
Current league Champions Lyon began its title defence at home against Toulouse on Monday morning (AEST).
Bundesliga Clubs Serve up Sauerkraut for Lowly Sides in German Cup
In Germany, Bundesliga sides showed no mercy to their inferior opponents in the second round of the German Cup on Saturday.
A week before the Bungesliga kicks-off for the 2008-09 season, the premier division clubs showed off their goal scoring credentials and sent out warnings to their opponents in a series of merciless victories against lowly opposition.
Werder Bremen demolished fourth-division Eintracht Nordhorn 9-3 in the match of the round, with Markus Rosenberg snatching four goals and Hugo Almeida securing a hat-trick in the 12-goal encounter.
Hannover continued the destruction with a 5-0 thumping of Hallescher FC in a heated encounter.
The clash was marred briefly by violence in the stands between opposing supporters, which caused a 10 minute delay to play, but even when police had defused the potentially volatile situation off-pitch, Hannover continued their on-pitch demolition.
Borussia Moenchengladbach were far from lenient on Fitche Bielefield, humiliating the minnows 8-1, whilst Borussia Dortmund further stamped the authority of the Bungelsiga with victory over fourth-division side Rot-Weiss Essen.
Eintracht Frankfurt, Energie Cottbus and Schalke all battered their opponents by 3-0 score lines, with SC Pfullendorf, TB Berlin and Homburg suffering the damage from their respective opponents.
Rangers Kick-Start Campaign with Gutsy Victory
Rangers kicked off their 2008-09 SPL campaign with a win on the opening day of the season courtesy of Andius Velicka’s second-half tap-in against Falkirk.
But it wasn’t all easy sailing for the Glasgow club who were looking to get off to winning ways after being knocked out of Europe by underdogs FBK Kaunas midweek.
It was looking bleak for the Ibrox club in the 54th minute after they conceded a penalty to the home side, but had ‘keeper Allan McGregor to thank for turning Michael Hidgon’s shot round the post.
Velicka’s goal was enough as Rangers held on away from home to put pressure on Celtic, the current SPL Champion, in a season where the Glasgow giants will almost certainly again fight it out for the title.
Elsewhere, Hearts and Motherwell played out a 3-2 thriller, Kilmarnock secured a 1-0 victory over Hibernian and Inverness won 2-0 against Aberdeen.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Goal! Weekly Articles Uploaded
Ahhhh......finally. After the first day of setting up my blog, i finally uploaded all 27 of my Goal! Weekly articles which have been published so far this year. I have archived them so that they can be viewed by anyone interested in my writing or the issue i am writing on but to also have an online version of my articles available for easy access.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Goal! Weekly Article 27: Apple Isle in A-League Bid
TASMANIAN UNITED IN A-LEAGUE BID
Taskforce Releases Logos in bid for Community Support
By Julius Ross
Tasmania’s bid for an A-League side gathered further momentum when its taskforce released four logo concepts for the proposed team last week.
The State’s key campaigners for an A-League side have already registered the name Tasmanian United FC as a part of the bid.
Consisting of a selection of businessmen, strategic planners, political figures and a former English league footballer, the Tasmanian Football Taskforce formed in March this year in an attempt to obtain an A-League licence for the Island State.
The Taskforce must prove to Football Federation Australia that Tasmania can tick the boxes of three required criteria; finance, venue and support, if it is to have a side up and running by the 2011 season.
Designed in Europe and the US, the four logo concepts are part of a branding exercise, which the Taskforce hopes will demonstrate the community support the Tasmanian bid can gather.
The Tasmanian public are required to provide their input in the A-League proposal, with a website set up where viewers can choose to vote for their favourite logo design and provide feedback on the proposals.
The Taskforce’s chairman, John McGirr, also emphasised that if the logos illustrated significant support at this early stage of the proposal, it would confirm the serious nature of the Tasmanian bid to the FFA.
Tasmania’s proposal was kicked-started by the announcement by FFA boss Ben Buckley early this year, which proposed an expansion of the A-League from eight to 14 teams over the next five years, effectively providing an opportunity for a side from the South.
In May, Buckley, incidentally a Tasmanian, announced that a strong Tasmanian bid for an A-League side would be considered if it meets the specific criteria.
However, Tasmanian faces stiff competition from four other regions identified and targeted by FFA for immediate expansion of the league.
Western Sydney, Melbourne, Townsville and Gold Coast are the proposed areas for expansion from eight to 10 teams within the next two years, to 12 teams in around three years time, with the FFA looking towards an eventually expansion to 14 teams.
With so much competition for an ever-expanding A-League, no matter which state in Australia receives the next spot in the League, the expansion can only be good for the game.
While the success of the logo concepts will be revealed over the coming months, the Taskforce believe that they have a suitable venue and financial viability for a successful bid, therefore ticking two of the three required criteria boxes.
The Taskforce are confident that the projected annual running costs of $6 million and a salary cap of $2 million would be achievable by the season 2011-12.
Aurora Stadium (York Park) in Launceston is currently the preferred venue for the proposed side, with the stadium already meeting venue requirements and having staged A-League pre-season matches on numerous occasions.
The venue attracted an 8,000 strong crowd for this year’s Pre-Season Cup match between Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United and Football Federation Tasmania’s CEO Martin Shaw believes that a Tasmanian A-League side could easily achieve a 10,000 average support base per game.
But with Hobart the State’s capital, the Taskforce has vowed to overcome Tasmanian’s North-South divide (hence, also the name Tasmania ‘United’) by providing a venue in both halves of the Island.
This has been the only area of issue in the bid, with the South’s premier venue, Bellerive Oval – which is home to international cricket events – not having ‘drop-in pitch’ technology, which renders it unsuitable.
Shaw believes that the Tasmanian government should get behind the bid and provide financial support to redevelop another Southern venue at North Hobart Oval.
Tasmania has 14,000 registered players and an increasing number of youth development programs including Tasmanian Institute of Sport teams, and the only thing lacking is high-profile football being played in Tasmanian on a regular basis.
The current A-League bid is not the first time that the State has tried to enter a national soccer competition.
In February 2004, Tasmania launched a proposal for inclusion in the National Soccer League but the application was halted when the league became defunct.
A Tasmanian youth team will be involved in friendly matches against A-League National Youth League sides from Sydney FC, Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United in November this year.
The friendlies will gauge where Tasmania’s youth development is at and whether they are at a standard to participate at a national level.
A decision about Tasmania United’s bid will be made around May or June 2009.
To view or vote for the Tasmanian United Logo, visit; www.focussedstrategy.com/ALeague/
Goal! Weekly Article 26: Olyroos Beijing 2008
OLYROOS IN BEIJING BATTLE
Australia face uphill task for Games Glory
By Julius Ross
A foiled terrorist threat will be the least of the Olyroos’ worries when they begin their campaign at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in 11 days time.
Graham Arnold’s side is scheduled to commence their first two games of the tournament in Shanghai Stadium – an Olympic venue targeted by an unknown international terrorist group.
Local police last week cracked a terrorist cell, via a series of raids, which was planning to attack the stadium, however, the Shanghai Public Security Bureau could not reveal details about any of the information collected.
Despite the raids reducing the threat levels, the possibility of a terror attack still exists.
But Graham Arnold’s side will disregard the risk of an attack and focus instead on the uphill task of progressing past challenging opponents in Group A.
Drawn against reigning Gold medallist Argentina, along with tricky opposition in the form of Serbia and the Cote d’Ivoire, Australia will face stiff competition in a bid for an Olympic medal.
Argentina will pose the greatest challenge for the Olyroos during the group stage, with the South American side looking to defend their gold medal achievement at the Athens Games in 2004.
With the likes of Boca Juniors’ Juan Roman Riquelme, Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano and the possibility that Barcelona’s Lionel Messi will join the Olympic side despite protestations from his Spainish club, the Albicelestes will be formidable opponents and are likely to retain their crown.
Although he has been named in the Argentine squad for the Games, Messi may miss the tournament because Barcelona expects him to play in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers that commence mid-August.
With the formidable Argentinean side in a class above the Australians, the Olyroos will look to secure positive results from their clashes against European qualifier Serbia and African representative Cote d’Ivorie.
But that will not be an easy feat, with the Ivory Coast possessing talents such as Chelsea’s Salomon Kalou and Serbia having experience across the board.
Although it appears that the Olyroos will struggle to impose themselves on the early stages of the tournament, Arnold remains optimistic that his side has the chance of securing Olympic glory.
Despite the threats on and off the pitch, Arnold is confident that the Olyroos have a chance at securing a medal at the Games due to his squad’s ability to play in testing conditions, illustrated by their recent results against the likes of South America’s Chile.
The ex-Socceroo coach believes that his side will need to play ‘Asian-type football’ and football that suits the gruelling conditions in China.
But the Olyroos have struggled in their last two friendly matches against Asian opponents in the lead up to the Games, losing narrowly Japan 2-1 and China 1-0.
Arnold has included the services of overage players and national favourites, Archie Thompson, David Carney and Jade North to assist the U23 squad with their international experience.
Arnold hopes that his side will be able to emulate the quarter-final appearance that Australia made at the Athens Olympics four years ago.
The side will face the Korean Republic in their final pre-tournament warm-up match this Thursday, before preparing for kick off against Serbia in their opening match of the Games.
Although Australia’s Olympic glory is often secured in the swimming pool or on the athletic track, the Olyroos will be attempting to achieve a rare Games victory on the green grass of the football pitch.
The 16 team tournament will feature nations qualified from the Asian, African, North American, South American, Oceanian and European regions:
QUALIFIED NATIONS
Host Nation:
-China
AFC Preliminary Competition:
-Australia
-Korea Republic
-Japan
CAF Preliminary Competition:
-Cameroon
-Côte d'Ivoire
-Nigeria
CONCACAF Preliminary Competition:
-Honduras
-USA
2007 South American Youth Championship:
-Brazil
-Argentina
OFC Preliminary Competition:
-New Zealand
2007 UEFA U-21 Championship:
-Netherlands
-Serbia
-Belgium
-Italy
Australia face uphill task for Games Glory
By Julius Ross
A foiled terrorist threat will be the least of the Olyroos’ worries when they begin their campaign at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in 11 days time.
Graham Arnold’s side is scheduled to commence their first two games of the tournament in Shanghai Stadium – an Olympic venue targeted by an unknown international terrorist group.
Local police last week cracked a terrorist cell, via a series of raids, which was planning to attack the stadium, however, the Shanghai Public Security Bureau could not reveal details about any of the information collected.
Despite the raids reducing the threat levels, the possibility of a terror attack still exists.
But Graham Arnold’s side will disregard the risk of an attack and focus instead on the uphill task of progressing past challenging opponents in Group A.
Drawn against reigning Gold medallist Argentina, along with tricky opposition in the form of Serbia and the Cote d’Ivoire, Australia will face stiff competition in a bid for an Olympic medal.
Argentina will pose the greatest challenge for the Olyroos during the group stage, with the South American side looking to defend their gold medal achievement at the Athens Games in 2004.
With the likes of Boca Juniors’ Juan Roman Riquelme, Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano and the possibility that Barcelona’s Lionel Messi will join the Olympic side despite protestations from his Spainish club, the Albicelestes will be formidable opponents and are likely to retain their crown.
Although he has been named in the Argentine squad for the Games, Messi may miss the tournament because Barcelona expects him to play in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers that commence mid-August.
With the formidable Argentinean side in a class above the Australians, the Olyroos will look to secure positive results from their clashes against European qualifier Serbia and African representative Cote d’Ivorie.
But that will not be an easy feat, with the Ivory Coast possessing talents such as Chelsea’s Salomon Kalou and Serbia having experience across the board.
Although it appears that the Olyroos will struggle to impose themselves on the early stages of the tournament, Arnold remains optimistic that his side has the chance of securing Olympic glory.
Despite the threats on and off the pitch, Arnold is confident that the Olyroos have a chance at securing a medal at the Games due to his squad’s ability to play in testing conditions, illustrated by their recent results against the likes of South America’s Chile.
The ex-Socceroo coach believes that his side will need to play ‘Asian-type football’ and football that suits the gruelling conditions in China.
But the Olyroos have struggled in their last two friendly matches against Asian opponents in the lead up to the Games, losing narrowly Japan 2-1 and China 1-0.
Arnold has included the services of overage players and national favourites, Archie Thompson, David Carney and Jade North to assist the U23 squad with their international experience.
Arnold hopes that his side will be able to emulate the quarter-final appearance that Australia made at the Athens Olympics four years ago.
The side will face the Korean Republic in their final pre-tournament warm-up match this Thursday, before preparing for kick off against Serbia in their opening match of the Games.
Although Australia’s Olympic glory is often secured in the swimming pool or on the athletic track, the Olyroos will be attempting to achieve a rare Games victory on the green grass of the football pitch.
The 16 team tournament will feature nations qualified from the Asian, African, North American, South American, Oceanian and European regions:
QUALIFIED NATIONS
Host Nation:
-China
AFC Preliminary Competition:
-Australia
-Korea Republic
-Japan
CAF Preliminary Competition:
-Cameroon
-Côte d'Ivoire
-Nigeria
CONCACAF Preliminary Competition:
-Honduras
-USA
2007 South American Youth Championship:
-Brazil
-Argentina
OFC Preliminary Competition:
-New Zealand
2007 UEFA U-21 Championship:
-Netherlands
-Serbia
-Belgium
-Italy
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