New Year's Eve Roundup

Happy 2010! Let me be the first to wish you a safe and happy new year.

2009 was full of some amazing games and goals in the world of soccer. I was going to do a year review but I haven't had the time. I will try to do one in the next few days!

I'm about to head out of town for the evening, so let me share with you some quick bits that have transpired recently:

-Liverpool defender and England international Glen Johnson suffered a knee injury on Tuesday that will put him out of action for up to four weeks. It's too early to tell if this might become a lingering problem heading into June's World Cup.

-Arsenal defeated Portsmouth 4-1 yesterday, officially making the FA Premier League a three-horse race entering 2010. The Gunners sit in third while Manchester United is in second after beating Wigan 5-0 on Wednesday.

-And finally, the transfer rumor mill is working overtime: the latest reports indicate that Real Madrid want Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery. The Madrid side are reportedly offering in the region of $60 million for the French international.

I hope that everyone has a great night and may 2010 be a great year for all!

Real Takeover Rumor Squashed

It seems that in recent days this blog has contained a lot of news surrounding Manchester City and its business on and off the football pitch. Continuing this pattern, here's another story about the Eastlands club. Except this time, it might be better to dismiss this report as false and just a product of the media machine in Europe trying to sell papers.

Rumor has it that owner of Manchester City and member of the ruling family of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has approached Real Madrid with a $1.4 billion offer to buyout the Spanish club.

On Tuesday, Madrid issued a statement dispelling these rumors. Club President Florentino Perez stated that he and Sheikh Mansour have been friends for years and that his interest in Madrid was fabricated.

An audacious move such as this from Manchester City's owner does not seem so surprising when you consider the waves the club has already made in the transfer market. Targeting the best players in the world is now a reality for City, after signing the likes of Robinho and Carlos Tevez.

And Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan has already shown he isn't afraid to make controversial business moves (i.e. firing of Mark Hughes).

Who's to say that world domination in soccer isn't far behind? Maybe Real Madrid will become a feeder club for Manchester City.

But seriously: this buyout will NEVER happen!

Cesc Bags Brace As Arsenal Stay In Hunt

Cesc Fabregas started Sunday's game vs. Aston Villa on the Gunners' bench. Manager Arsene Wenger was keeping an eye on the fitness of the Spaniard who picked up a hamstring injury last week.

In a game that could ultimately end up defining Arsenal's season, Wenger was forced to put Fabregas into the fray just after the interval. It was the 57th minute, and Arsenal had yet to unlock Aston Villa's defense.

The 0-0 scoreline changed after Arsenal was awarded a free kick in the 65th minute. Fabregas calmly stood over the ball before bending it past the outstretched fingertips of Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel.

Fabregas put the game away 16 minutes later when he beat Friedel on a breakaway after a nice through ball from midfielder Theo Walcott. The Spaniard limped off to a standing ovation as he was substituted for precautionary measures after the goal.

Abou Diaby added insult to injury for Aston Villa by making 3-0 in injury time. But the real story was Fabregas and how influential he is in his side's success.

In just under 30 minutes of play, Fabregas scored two goals. His creativity led to many other chances. Arsenal had a spark while he was on the pitch, something they had been missing in the first half.

The great ones step up when their teams need it most. Today Fabregas showed why he continues to be Arsenal's talisman.

The victory for the Gunners was crucial in keeping them in the hunt for the Premier League title. They now sit third in the table, four points behind leaders Chelsea with a game in-hand. Aston Villa now sit in fourth, three points behind Arsenal.

Here are the highlights from the game:

Merry Xmas From Xtra Time!

Well, Santa Claus has come and gone once again. Only 365 more days until his next visit.

Here's wishing a happy holidays and a merry Christmas to everyone out there. I hope it was a great one.

-Pete

City Feeling Heat Over Hughes Departure

I must admit, the way Manchester City have gone about removing Mark Hughes from his managerial post was a bit slimy.

It appears that those in control at the Eastlands have a certain agenda to fulfill. Part of this seems to be that they don't mind treating other human beings poorly.

City sit sixth in the FA Premier League, only six points behind Aston Villa for a Champions League spot with a game in-hand. There is still a lot of soccer to be played, and I fear that this manager swap may prove to do more harm than good.

Already there are reports that the players are "confused" after new manager Roberto Mancini's first speech to the team. Add that with a report that controversial striker Craig Bellamy has already had a row with Mancini after the team's first training session.

Talk about starting off on the right foot.

There are also peers of Hughes' who are speaking out on the matter.

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson of intra-city rivals Manchester United has come out stating that City's behavior has been "unacceptable." Hughes was a player under Ferguson at United and helped lead the Red Devils to a double in 1994.

While this is not surprising, seeing how Hughes and Ferguson have a relationship that goes back more than 15 years, it is worth taking into consideration because of Ferguson's status within the game. He is a managerial legend and his opinion does carry significant weight: eleven Premier League titles and two Champions League trophies gives one some sense of credibility.

While the new ownership at Manchester City has allowed an influx of cash to bring in more top-end talent, City still cannot be considered an elite club because of the way they handle their business. The messy departure of Mark Hughes is just the latest example of this.

Here's a clip of Manchester City Chief Executive Garry Cook responding to the sacking of Mark Hughes at a press conference on Dec. 22:

Transfer Market Starting To Heat Up

(Roberto Mancini being introduced at Manchester City)

As January gets nearer and nearer, start expecting more hints about what players may change squads during the winter transfer window.

One rumor has already been snuffed out; one involving Robinho moving from Manchester City to Barcelona. The Catalan giants reportedly had an offer turned down by the Manchester club. I made a post in October about this rumor; look back in the blog archives if you want to read all about it.

Speaking of Manchester City, the club recently sacked manager Mark Hughes after a string of disappointing results in the eyes of the directors. Former Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini has succeeded Hughes at the Eastlands. Mancini has pledged to address City's defensive woes during the transfer period.

Start predicting who Manchester City will shell out big bucks for. Maybe an audacious move for Bolton's Gary Cahill will be in the works?

For an update on all current transfer news, visit Goal.com's Transfer Zone.

Stay tuned readers, because in a few days I will detail the year's best from around the world of soccer.

Third Time Is The Charm

During Sunday's 1-1 draw between Chelsea and West Ham at Upton Park, Blues midfielder Frank Lampard completed the unusual feat of successfully making three straight penalty kicks.

But only one goal was counted. Why you ask?

Lampard ran up and buried his first spot kick, but head referee Mike Dean whistled for encroachment in the box and asked for the penalty to be redone.

Lampard beat the goalkeeper again, only for Dean to demand ANOTHER kick be taken for ANOTHER encroachment offense!

Full of disbelief, Lampard put his head down and made it three in a row. Only this time Dean let it stand.

After all this, I say shame on Mike Dean for letting this weird occurence happen. There are at least one or two players running into the box before every penalty is taken.

On another note, how bad must West Ham keeper Robert Green feel?

A video of the penalty kicks is below:

Zamora Inspires Man U. Thrashing

Fulham's Bobby Zamora scored his fifth goal in four games as the Cottagers ran rampant over an overwhelmed Manchester United side 3-0.

United's defense was missing Nemanja Vidic, Jonny Evans, John O'Shea, Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown, all of whom are suffering from injuries. It's safe to say that their replacements fared none to well.

United States international Clint Dempsey also had a great afternoon for Fulham, continuing his superb campaign.

Fulham won its second straight game versus the Red Devils as Man U. wasted a chance to draw level with FA Premier League leaders Chelsea.

Highlights from the contest are below:

A full recap of all the day's activity in the FA Premier League can be found by clicking here.

Milan Draws United; Beckham Back At Old Trafford

The draw for the knockout stages of the Champions League unfolded today, and among the more notable matchups is the one involving giants AC Milan and Manchester United.

Besides the obvious display of talent that will take the field, the Milan-United contest also boasts the storyline of David Beckham's return to play competitively at Old Trafford. The Englishman, who has patched up the rift with his former manager Sir Alex Ferguson, is sure to recieve a mostly warm welcome when he visits Manchester with the Italian side.

United fans should not forget all Beckham gave to the club before he left for Real Madrid in 2003, including a Champions League title.

Current United full back Patrice Evra has stated that Beckham will have a welcome mat rolled out for him upon his arrival. But as soon as play begins I'm sure all that kindness will be forgotten.

The Chelsea-Inter Milan showdown sees former Chelsea caretaker Jose Mourinho guide the Serie A leaders into Stamford Bridge. This reunion may be just as festive as Beckham's. Under the watch of Mourinho, Chelsea became a European power and won two FA Premier League titles. Chelsea supporters won't soon forget that-----

Here's a video clip of ESPN soccer analyst Tommy Smyth breaking down the draw. Watch it here.

The first round of the home-and-home series starts Feb. 16. You can view the entire draw by clicking here.

Highlight Video: Total Skills Volume 13

It's one of those boring December days outside, so I think it best to post something that will liven up everyone's mood.

Here is a compilation of some of the best moves and tricks in the world of soccer from the past few months. Big up to Fuentesquatre for the video:

Donovan Close To Joining Everton

(Landon Donovan with Bayern Munich in early 2009)

Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan is close to securing a loan move to Everton in the FA Premier League, sources say.

Donovan, the all-time leader in scoring and assists for the U.S. National Team, is looking to stay fit before the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa that start in June. The supposed loan move is similar to last season, when Donovan joined Bayern Munich for the first few months of 2009.

Donovan, 27, has had some bad experiences trying to make it in Europe before. In 1999, he signed for German club Bayern Leverkusen at the age of 17. After an unhappy and unsuccessful spell at the club, he was loaned out the MLS side San Jose Earthquakes in 2001 where he spent four years taking the MLS by storm. In 2005, he returned to Leverkusen, played seven games then stated his desire to return to America where he has been with the LA Galaxy ever since.

Soccer writer Andrea Canales has a great article about why Everton would be the right fit for Donovan.

Donovan's international teammate, goalkeeper Tim Howard, also plays for the Merseyside club. In an article on ESPN Soccernet, Howard said that Donovan could be "a star" for Everton.

The opportunity to play in arguably the world's best league is a great chance for Donovan ahead of the 2010 World Cup. Let's just hope it pans out better than his previous attempts in Europe.

Figueroa Produces Wonder Strike vs. Stoke

I apologize for not updating more over the past two days but final exam week has begun at Michigan State University. I have been sloshing through political science and marketing for what seems like ages.

But let me take a study break to show you one of the most amazing strikes I have ever seen:


Wow.

That's the only word I could utter after watching this goal from Wigan's Maynor Figueroa vs. Stoke City on Saturday.

What really is amazing here is the pace the Honduran struck the ball. We have seen these halfway- type goals before; lobs that carry over the keepers head when he has been caught dozing off by his own 18-yard box.

But Figueroa unleashed a cracker when Stoke's Thomas Sorenson was just a few feet from his six-yard box! His shot had the right amount of power and dip from an almost impossible location.

Click here to view more of the FA Premier League's best-ever goals. I'm sure Figueroa 's will be near the top for years to come.

Lehmann Relieved During CL Match

Judging by the headline, you probably are guessing that Jens Lehmann's club, VFB Stuttgart, substituted the German during a hard-fought Champions League victory over Unirea Urziceni on Wednesday night.

But that wouldn't be news now would it? No. What I'm actually telling you is that Lehmann is guilty of urinating on the pitch against Unirea.

Funny how that has a ring to it, right?

Yep. The Stuttgart keeper hopped over an advertising sign, went down to one knee, and started peeing before the Romanian club forced him to return to his goal. I have the video to prove it:




These wacky events transpired before nearly 40,000 people. Stuttgart's director of sport Horst Heldt was quoted in England's The Guardian praising Lehmann for his handling of the sticky situation.

"I thought he handled it very expertly," he said.

Just another reason why soccer can be so unpredictable.

Beckham Looks To Boost England Bid

(Beckham, right, meeting Nelson Mandela in 2003.)

Last Friday, David Beckham was one of the guests invited to participate during the 2010 World Cup Group Draw. He helped the gorgeous Charlize Theron present the selection show that was beamed to millions across the world.

While in South Africa, Beckham had a chance to speak to reporters about helping to secure the 2018 World Cup bid for England. Check out the video of him speaking at the Football Project Development in Cape Town sponsored by the English Football Association:

U.S. National Team Injury Update

Charlie Davies and Oguchi Onyewu, two of the United States' best soccer players, have both been trying to recover from serious injuries.

In Davies' case, his were almost life-changing. If you don't remember, the American striker was injured in a single car accident in early October that left the driver of his vehicle dead. Davies suffered a broken femur, a lacerated bladder and facial fractures.

Onyewu tore his left patella tendon in a World Cup Qualifier against Costa Rica in October. The defender has missed significant time with his club, AC Milan.

Both are now rehabbing in Deleware under the watchful eye of James Hashimoto, head athletic trainer for the U.S. Soccer Federation.

For Davies, the original timeframe for his injury was anywhere from 6-12 months out. The 2010 Cup in South Africa was viewed as a pipe dream and it was originally thought he would need a miracle to be fit in time. But in a preview of an interview conducted by ESPN's Jeremy Schaap, Davies lets the public know that South Africa may be a realistic goal after all.



Onyewu also was interviewed to update his condition. CNN's Richard Roth met "Gooch" while rehabbing in California. His timeframe is around four to five months out of action.



Best of luck to both players as they try to return to full fitness. It's great to hear that they're making good progress.

World Starting Eleven; Record Signing C. Ronaldo Misses Cut

It's that time of year folks: the cold weather has started to set in. Across the stadiums in Europe, long-sleeve jerseys are being donned by players. This is a sign that the season has hit close to its halfway point.

What players have had outstanding form so far this year? While there are many contenders, I have tried to narrow it down to the best eleven that have been on the pitch this season. While players like Cristiano Ronaldo have the potential to make world-class plays at any moment, this eleven has been the most consistent to start the 09/10 season.

Hope you like it. Let me know if you agree or disagree.

From the back:

GK

Mark Schwarzer

(Fulham)

Dani Alves - Nemanja Vidic - Gerard Pique - Ashley Cole

(Barcelona) - (Man U.) - ( Barcelona) - (Chelsea)

Andres Iniesta - Lassana Diarra - Darren Fletcher - Lionel Messi

(Barcelona) - (Real Madrid) - (Man U.) - (Barcelona)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic - Jermaine Defoe

(Barcelona) - (Tottenham)

World Cup Draw To Be Announced Today!

At noon ET on ESPN2, the draw for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa will commence. In three pots sit 32 teams ready to be placed into their groups. They are as follows:

-Pot 1: Argentina, Brazil, England, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, South Africa and Spain

-Pot 2: Australia, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, North Korea, South Korea and the United States

-Pot 3: Algeria, Cameroon, Chile, Ghana, the Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Paraguay and Uruguay

-Pot 4: Denmark, France, Greece, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland

The seeded teams from Pot 1 will each be first placed into one of the eight groups. After that, a team from Pot 2 will be drawn and put into Group A, another in Group B, another in Group C all the way to Group H. When that pot has been emptied, nations will be selected from Pot 3, Pot 4 etc.

In 2006, the United States was placed in the "Group Of Death" which is a name given to the tournament's toughest pairings. The U.S. was faced with games against Czech Republic, Italy and Ghana. The Americans scored two goals over three games and finished with a 0-2-1 record that sent them home early.

So who will America have to face this year? And where will goliaths Brazil and Argentina be placed? All of this and more will be determined in less than a half an hour!

Nike Joins (RED) Campaign

Sports apparel giants Nike have joined forces with Product Red to support the Global Fund to Fight AIDS. The latest company to join, Nike will begin to sell laces for its soccer cleats with the (RED) logo. Portions of the profit from the laces will go toward this AIDS fund.

Product Red was an initiative started in 2006 with help from U2 frontman Bono. Select companies have created products with the (RED) logo to increase global awareness and help those who are living with AIDS in Africa. Visit the Product Red Web site here.

Here is a video of the Nike/Product Red media event in London featuring some of the world's best soccer players:

Henry To Face FIFA Investigation

Since Ireland's plea to be included in the 2010 World Cup has been ignored, I guess FIFA thinks it must find a scapegoat for the absurd events that transpired in the Nov. 18 qualifier between France and Ireland.

It now looks as if Thierry Henry will shoulder the brunt of FIFA's wrath for his handball. On Wednesday, the international governing body of soccer released a statement saying that the Frenchman will be "investigated" by FIFA's disciplinary committee. FIFA President Sepp Blatter has stated that it is an investigation, not a punishment, that will be carried out.

Henry has openly admitted using his hand.

"I will be honest, it was a handball. But I’m not the ref,” Henry was quoted as saying in a Nov. 18 story in The Globe and Mail. “I played it. The ref allowed it. That’s a question you should ask him.”

Not much more can be expected. Just like any player, he was trying to do everything he could to help his team win. More blame should fall on the match officials.

I'm getting tired of hearing FIFA's excuses for the handball incident. Just let it go. Forget it. If you aren't willing to let France and Ireland replay their match then just say the officials screwed up and move on. Why would Henry be punished? His handball was blatant, yet he never tried to cover it up. He issued multiple statements apologizing for his actions. FIFA's attempts at justice are dragging on. I just hope a decision on Henry's investigation can be made soon so the world of soccer can put this on the back burner.

El Classico Lives Up To Hype

Every time Barcelona and Real Madrid meet, the world always stops to watch arguably soccer's two biggest clubs face off. There is always an abundance of talent on the field: names like Ronaldo, Messi, Ibrahimovic, Henry, and Kaka are legends.

This year's first meeting shaped up to be one of the most highly-anticipated meetings in recent memory. Both teams were at the top of the table. Both had made massive summer signings (Madrid had spent nearly $375 million on new players alone!). All that was missing was an amazing 90 minutes of soccer.

Barca and Madrid did just that at the Camp Nou. The 1-0 victory for Barcelona was filled with many chances on goal and amazing bits of skill. Madrid now sit at second in La Liga after Barca leapfrogged Los Blancos with the victory. But don't worry fans: the rematch at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid is only 132 days away!

Here are the highlights (en espanol) from the game:

Van Persie Injury News

Arsenal striker Robin Van Persie's ankle injury has been deemed more serious than originally thought. The Dutch international will now face four to five months on the sideline instead of the expected recovery of six weeks. Apparently, the "placenta cure" didn't live up to the hype.

Further tests on his ankle have revealed that Van Persie has torn three ligaments instead of the original prognosis of just one. Such news cannot come at a worse time for manager Arsene Wenger and Arsenal.

With Arsenal about to lose to Chelsea 3-0, Van Persie's presence seems to be noticeably missed in the North London side. Last week's 1-0 loss to Sunderland has proven just that. In two successive English Premier League games, the Gunners have been shutout. Before Van Persie's injury, Arsenal had scored at least a goal in every league game played! Previous wins for Arsenal produced scores of 6-2, 6-1, 4-1. The loss of the Dutchman seems to have stripped the Gunners of their attacking prowess and has forced Wenger to search for answers.

While it's too early to write the Gunners title chances off, the next month of fixtures are going to be critical for Arsene Wenger's men. It would be wise for Arsenal to dip into the transfer market in January and finally use their funds to purchase more experienced attacking power.

Happy Thanksgiving! (From Xtra Time)

In the spirit of giving thanks, I would like to take time to appreciate everyone who reads my blog or anyone who has ever clicked on a link to go to my blog.

Thank you for taking time to view something that I truly care about doing. Hopefully my career will involve writing about the world's most popular sport.

Down And Out

It looks like Liverpool supporters will have to be content with the Europa League. Despite defeating Hungarian club Debrecen last night 1-0, a win by Fiorentina solidified the Italian club's passage to the Round of 16 and ended all Champions League hopes at Anfield.

Lyon also advanced from Group E to the next stage of Europe's elite club competition.

Liverpool have now been eliminated from the Champions League in the group stages for the first time since 2002-2003. The form of the club in the English Premier League has also been a concern. Manager Rafa Benitez has come under fire for making poor substitutions and winless streaks. Tuesday's defeat of Debrecen broke a five-game slide in all competitions.

In brief: he's been on the hot seat for a while now. Despite this, according to Liverpool's club managing director Christian Purslow, his job is, "under no threat."

But just how long will Liverpool be able to maintain this sentiment? If the club finish out of the top four in the Premier League, and miss a Champions League spot, it surely should be the end of Benitez's reign. This possibility looks extremely likely with the strides Manchester City and Tottenham have been making this season.

It hasn't all been his fault. Injuries to important players Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard have limited the attacking power of Benitez's squad.

After the elimination from the Champions League, it makes sense that the club directors would want to publicly declare support for their coach. But when Liverpool ends the season looking up from the table at about five or six clubs ahead of them? Something will have to give. Let's just wait six more months and see if this public backing holds true. My money is on "no."

Salt Lake Is For Real

Long live the underdog.

Real Salt Lake ended their season in dream fashion last night after derailing the hopes of the star-studded Los Angeles Galaxy. After 120 minutes of soccer and a 1-1 scoreline, it took seven rounds of penalty kicks to determine the winner. Robbie Russell's shot into the lower left corner of the net sparked euphoria for RSL and their supporters as the team lifted the 2009 MLS Cup.

Winning the shootout 5-4, RSL brought home the first major professional sports championship in Utah in 25 years. RSL have risen to the top of the Major League Soccer in just four years after being founded in 2005.

Standouts from RSL in the title game include forward Robbie Findley, who scored RSL's only goal, midfielder Kyle Beckerman and of course, goalkeepr Nick Rimando. For the second straight game, Rimando's performance in the net during penalty kicks ended in a victory for Real Salt Lake. Only this time, it was for all the marbles.

The Galaxy never quite lived up to their talent in the final. No one played horribly, but performances were average across the board. David Beckham supplied some probing crosses but was limited toward the end due to a niggling ankle injury. Landon Donovan, instrumental in creating the Galaxy's only goal, came up empty in the shootout after blasting his kick a few feet over the crossbar. What a disappointing end for the regular season MVP.

Qwest Field in Seattle set the scene for one of the best crowds ever to witness an MLS Cup Final. More than 40,000 people kept the broadcast lively and entertaining for ESPN even during the dull moments in play.

Since it is MLS, it's very possible that RSL could sink to back to the league basement during the 2010 season. But for now, RSL should enjoy its historic victory.

Where Does Henry's Handball Rank?

For those of you that missed it, Thierry Henry's handball against Ireland on Wednesday will go down in history as one of the most obvious incidents of foul play. For every Miracle on Ice, there are moments like Wednesday's that are notorious for being controversial.

But where does it rank among sports' biggest cheats ever? There's some pretty distinguished company when you think about it...

-Diego Maradona and the Hand of God:

-Bill Belicheck spying on the St. Louis Rams' practice before the 2001 Super Bowl

-Rosie Ruiz, who faked winning the 1980 Boston Marathon:

-Spain's 2000 Paralympic basketball team winning the gold medal, when later tests proved that 10 of the 12 players weren't mentally disabled!

The list goes on. Comment and let me know what you thought of Henry's handball and where it ranks.

Should FIFA Adopt Instant Replay?

One controversial no-call and 120 minutes of soccer later, France emerged victorious in their World Cup Playoff versus Ireland. The French, who advanced to their fourth consecutive World Cup on a 2-1 aggregate score, needed extra time to punch their ticket to South Africa yesterday evening.

In the midst of the French celebration, the Irish bench looked on with disgust. They felt cheated with the result, and rightfully so. French captain Thierry Henry's obvious handball was either unseen or ignored by the match officials, allowing the forward to flick the ball to William Gallas who tied the game up in the 104th minute.




Henry's handball, and the no-call that followed, overshadowed a hard-fought tie by both sides. The Irish, heavy underdogs going into the playoff, were led by inspirational performances from people like forward Robbie Keane. Keane scored in the 33rd minute yesterday to level the teams on aggregate.

After protests from the Irish, Swedish referee Martin Hansson allowed the goal and took the fight right out of Ireland. It's a shame that the final spot in the World Cup had to come down to human error.

This brings up a great question: should there be instant replay in soccer? Currently there is no such movement to bring replay into the sport, but incidents like this, where the stakes are immense, lead one to believe that the correct ruling should be made even if it means taking it out of the hands of the referees and interrupting play. In America, all major professional sports except Major League Soccer use instant replay. When will soccer catch up to the times?

The Football Association of Ireland today announced its plan to protest the result and ask FIFA for a replay of the contest. Good luck with that. Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni called the idea of a replay "impossible."

The Irish were looking to World Cup qualification as a welcome distraction from the economic problems on the Emerald Isle. Turns out, there will be no happy ending this time around.

Opinions from some Irish fans:

2009 MLS Cup Full Of Intrigue

This Sunday at 8:30p.m. ET, the Los Angeles Galaxy and Real Salt Lake will face off at Qwest Field in Seattle to determine the 2009 MLS Cup champion. The stadium, home to arguably MLS' best fanbase, will be hosting the MLS Cup for the first time.

The Galaxy, fresh off a 2-0 extra time victory over the Houston Dynamo in the Western Conference Finals, finally have put the star power of Landon Donovan and David Beckham to good use. Manager Bruce Arena has melded these two influential players together with a new set of tactics and cagey veterans like Gregg Berhalter, Eddie Lewis and Chris Klein. Young sensations Sean Franklin and Omar Gonzalez have also provided the Galaxy with back-to-back MLS Rookie of the Year honors. [David Beckham, left, helped lead the Galaxy to victory]

Real Salt Lake have gone from humble expansion beginnings to the top of the MLS heap in merely five years. Founded in 2004, RSL have undergone their share of struggles as the organization got their feet under them. This season, the team has ridden the goalkeeping of Nick Rimando and the goalscoring of United States international Robbie Findley. Rimando saved three shots in the penalty shootout in Saturday night's 5-4 win over the Chicago Fire in the Eastern Conference Finals.

[Nick Rimando came up big in goal vs. Chicago]

Sunday night's cup final will bring together two franchises who have tasted defeat more often than success in recent years. It will be refreshing to see a new champion arise out of traditional MLS powers like the Houston Dynamo, New England Revolution and DC United. The Columbus Crew, winners of the 2008 MLS Cup, seem to have started such a trend.

Also for the first time,the game will be nationally televised on ESPN and will compete with Sunday Night Football on NBC for its viewership. With this new prime time slot, it will be interesting to see just how the ratings turn out.

With the single-entity stucture of the league, it's no secret that the MLS is full of parity. The 2009 MLS Cup sees two teams who have persevered through it all trying to stake a claim as this year's best.

Van Persie Suffers Injury Woe

Club managers hate whenever they have to release their players for meaningless international friendlies. There's always the possibility that their respective players are going to get injured and be out for a sustained period of time. On Saturday, Arsenal suffered a major blow to a member of their strikeforce.

Robin Van Persie, off to a fantastic start this season, was injured after just 15 minutes of play as his Netherlands side fought to a 0-0 draw with Italy. The Dutchman was stretchered off after a tackle by Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini. The tackle was not a dirty one; it actually doesn't look that bad on video. Watch it below:



After the game, a Dutch soccer official said, "the ankle ligaments are definitely torn." X-rays have yet to reveal a break. The prognosis now is that Van Persie could be on the sidelines for up to three months.

Thankfully, Arsenal possess quality depth when it comes to attacking options. Andrei Arshavin, Eduardo and Theo Walcott will all be called upon to produce more goals in Van Persie's absence.

But my heart goes up to RVP: earlier I wrote a blog post detailing his amazing start to the season. He has been the talisman for Arsenal's success so far. It looks like the Gunners will have to rely on others for an extended period of time to keep their title challenge afloat.

Cudicini Crashes Motorbike

In a week in which we have seen one goalkeeper (Robert Enke) already involved in a tragedy, Tottenham Hotspur's reserve keeper Carlos Cudicini was involved in an accident on his motorbike Thursday morning in London.

The Italian, 36, has suffered what police have called, "life-changing injuries." Early reports state that the Spurs goalie is suspected of having a broken pelvis and two broken wrists.

No arrests have been made yet but that could change in the near future. The female driving the car that was involved in the accident and her child did not suffer any injuries.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the goalkeepers their respective families. An update on Cudicini's condition will follow later today.

This fall there has been a disturbing trend of soccer players in tragedies involving motorized vehicles. First Charlie Davies, then Robert Enke and now this.

Thank You, Veterans (And News From Around The World)

I would like to wish all U.S. military veterans and all current service men and women a very happy Veteran's Day. I appreciate all that you do for our country and our freedom. Our nation maintains its strength with your amazing efforts and sacrifices.

Now on to something that means very little when compared to the work the people in our armed forces accomplish: sport.

In the last 24 hours there have been some major developments in the world of soccer.

The biggest news came out of Germany early Tuesday evening. Hannover 96 and Germany National Team goalkeeper Robert Enke, 32, died after throwing himself into the path of an oncoming train near Hannover.

Enke was expected to be between the sticks for Germany in next summer's World Cup. His loss is one of great shock and I'm sure it is going to take some time for his family to come to grips with this tragedy. His story and how he hid his depression for years makes you wonder if others in soccer are suffering like he did.

Today, his wife, Teresa, addressed the media about his condition before his death. An excerpt from the press conference is below:



In other news, U.S. Men's National Team forward Charlie Davies was released from the hospital yesterday after nearly a month receiving treatment for injuries sustained in an Oct. 13 car crash.

The accident left one dead and Davies with multiple broken bones and a lacerated bladder.

Expected recovery for Davies is between six to 12 months. This leaves very little time to get ready in time for South Africa. But at this rate, Davies shouldn't expect to be in Bob Bradley's U.S. squad for the 2010 World Cup; he should just feel lucky to even be alive.

Spartan Soccer Heads To Big 10 Tourney

The Michigan State University soccer team will enter the Big Ten Tournament as the No. 6 seed when play begins Thursday afternoon. The Spartans will be facing Northwestern in their first game at 10 a.m. ET.

The Spartans finished the regular season with a record of 10-6-2 (2-4 Big Ten). They tied with Michigan for last in the conference. But the standings are deceiving; MSU's overall win percentage is fourth-best out of the seven-team league.

Last year, MSU was one of the top 10 teams in the nation after winning both the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles. This year the squad has struggled with injuries and a case of bad luck. The heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Akron, the No. 1 team in the nation, is a constant reminder of this.

Best of luck boys as you fight for a Big Ten title and an NCAA Tournament invitation!

Gunning For A Title

It's no secret that Arsenal has had their struggles in recent years. The last trophy for the Gunners came in May 2005 when the North London club hoisted the FA Cup.

It can be argued that the current Arsenal squad now can field the most talented squad since the "Invincibles" of the 2003-2004 Premier League campaigns. Now in their fourth year of a trophy drought, Arsene Wenger's men have no more excuses if they come up empty-handed again. While youthful, the Gunners boast depth at many positions (including the forwards), where the youth policy of Wenger has started to pay dividends: being able to call 20-year-old Theo Walcott a seasoned player does have its advantages.

It's players such as Robin Van Persie that have Arsenal's young team in contention for a title this season. Currently in third, the Gunners are five points behind table leaders Chelsea with a game in-hand.

Van Persie, who was signed from Dutch side Feyenoord in 2004, has had his share of problems since joining the Gunners. Injuries and various off-field incidents have taken away some of the positives the Dutchman has provided on the pitch. This year Van Persie seems to have been free of such issues and has produced a prolific campaign so far: seven goals and six assists in just 10 games.

ESPN Soccernet has a great article about Wenger's praise for the striker. Soccernet also has another that quotes Van Persie talking about the Gunners title aspirations for this year.

So far so good for Arsenal. The beautiful football the team is known for is hitting on all cylinders. If the team can avoid the injury bug and keep its form on target, Gunners fans can expect a trophy at the end of the season.

Champions League Highlights

Here's a round-up of some of today's Champions League action:
Liverpool 1-Lyon 1

Arsenal 4-AZ Alkmaar 1

Inter Milan 2-Dynamo Kiev 1

Barcelona 0-Rubin Kazan 0

Rangers 1-Unirea Urziceni 1

What A Weekend

I hope everyone had a great Halloween weekend. I know I did. It was a good time going to parties with my friends and seeing students dressed up in a variety of costumes.

In the English Premier League, it was also a slightly spooky weekend as well. Eight red cards were handed out on Saturday, setting a new record for the league. Sunday also produced one more.

Liverpool, who were responsible for two of the reds on Saturday, slumped to their sixth defeat in seven games losing 3-1 to Fulham. This is certainly an abnormal trend for the Merseyside club who now look completely out of the title race. The seat of manager Rafa Benitez is heating up and approaching an uncomfortable level. The Kop at Anfield certainly expects better and it will be interesting to see just how the situation unravels.

Liverpool-Fulham highlights:


Liverpool needs to oust the ghouls that are haunting the club right now, and in a hurry.

On Saturday, Hull City manager Phil Brown was expecting the axe after the recent poor results of the club continued with a 2-0 loss to Burnley. But the news out of Hull today was a bit different. The current dwellers of the Premier League basement appointed a new chairman who said that he would give Brown his,"full support." We'll see how long that lasts.

So after a weird weekend the Premier League rolls on. Maybe the next matchday will bring something odd or abnormal. Stay tuned.

Not So Fast My Friend

Ah, yes; Derby Day in North London. There's nothing like a game between historic enemies Arsenal and Tottenham to get the juices flowing.

Tottenham striker Robbie Keane's pre-game statement saying that Spurs had closed the talent gap on Arsenal was put to the test Saturday afternoon at the Emirates Stadium. At the start of the match, Spurs sat level with the Gunners in the table, each with 19 points.

After 90 minutes and numerous bungled Spurs chances, Arsenal proved that Spurs still have a way to go.



The 3-0 victory for the Gunners pushes Tottenham's losing streak at Arsenal's home ground to 17 years. The first half was tightly contested and Arsenal didn't break through until a Robin Van Persie goal three minutes before the break. It was the goal from Cesc Fabregas 11 seconds after Van Persie's that made it 2-0 at halftime and saw Spurs' hopes go down the drain.

Tottenham needs to show a lot more composure if the top four is to ever be within their grasp. The verdict on Arsenal is that this young squad has the pieces to win the league, yet there are still worries at the back. Arsene Wenger needs to make sure his squad organizes themselves in a better fashion.

The next derby at White Hart Lane should allow Spurs a chance to display more resolve than they did today.

Beckham, Galaxy In Top Form

In this blog I have focused more on European news and results rather than what has been transpiring stateside. Lost in all this has been the surprisingly good performance of the David Beckham-led Los Angeles Galaxy and their rise to the top of the Western Conference in Major League Soccer.

When Beckham arrived back on U.S. soil in July, the media was buzzing about the reception he would receive from MLS. Certainly fans were rubbed the wrong way after his AC Milan loan fiasco. Beckham handled it all wrong in my opinion, openly stating his desire to stay over in Europe.

With the boos and taunts came an unwinding of Beckham's judgments.

In his first appearance back at Los Angeles' Home Depot Center, Beckham called out a fan for taunting and almost hopped a barricade to get to the instigator.

Another incident occurred where the Englishman openly acknowledged another fan in Kansas City. This one contained less venom but still showed how much the jeers had got to him.

Fast forward three months. The Galaxy have qualified for the playoffs and sit in first place in the Western Conference. After the club's last regular season home game, Beckham was given a standing ovation by his own fans after being substituted in the game's late stages.

First-year manager Bruce Arena has dramatically improved the Galaxy organization and helped to stave off any late-season collapse. Since his return, Beckham has been able to provide support as a central playmaker who feeds superstar Landon Donovan.

It has been an interesting turnaround that has gone relatively unnoticed by U.S. sports media. I guess it just proves that old saying true that winning does solve everything.

While the tensions between Beckham and the fans seem to have scabbed over, it will be interesting to see if he can lead the Galaxy to the MLS Cup. Beckham just may be able to leave the league in peace if he captures the title.

The Galaxy open the MLS Playoffs against Chivas USA on Sunday, Nov. 1 at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

Madrid Shocked By Third-Tier Club

Alcorcon, a Spanish club from the country's third division, defeated Real Madrid 4-0 in the King's Cup on Tuesday night.

The small Spanish side have a transfer budget more than 400 times smaller than Los Blancos!

Even though Madrid were missing Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, this loss is still humiliating. There's no reason why Alcorcon should even be on the same field as Madrid. What a dream game for everyone involved at Alcorcon, as I'm sure this one will go down in history.

Results like this are fun to see, as long as its not your favorite team doing the losing.

Liverpool Make Statement

Sunday at Anfield, Liverpool broke their four-game losing streak by defeating Manchester United 2-0.

Fernando Torres returned from injury and put in 80 solid minutes on the pitch. Before being substituted, he scored a goal that put momentum in the Merseyside club's favor. David Ngog added an insurance goal in injury time.



Despite not having influential midfielder Steven Gerrard, Rafa Benitez was able to defeat his most hated rival and dramatically improve the club's recent from. Liverpool was already reeling from a midweek defeat in the Champions League to Lyon. But Sunday's result versus the Red Devils has given the club a much-needed boost in confidence.

Liverpool now sit fifth in the FA Premier League while Manchester United are in second place, two points adrift of Chelsea.

Which Signing Has Paid Off?

Now that the 2009/10 English Premier League is more than two months old, it's time to see which club got their money's worth over the summer.

With the global economic crisis reaching over to the world of sport, clubs this summer had less money to spend. There were exceptions though: Real Madrid and Manchester City both could have fielded entirely new squads and then some with the extravagant amounts splashed on certain players.

So far, this year's best signing has turned out to be Sunderland striker Darren Bent.

After a disastrous spell at Tottenham Hotspur, in which manager Harry Redknapp once said that Bent missed a chance which his, "grandmother could score," Bent was on the precipice of derailing a once promising career.

When the summer window opened for business, Bent was deemed surplus to requirements at White Hart Lane. New Sunderland manager Steve Bruce opted to sign the English international for a modest $16.3 million.

So far, Bent has proven to be worth every penny.

Not only does Bent lead the Premier League with eight goals, but he has Sunderland sitting seventh in the league after eight games played. In recent years, Sunderland has spent much time on the bottom half of the table.

Bent was also involved in what was arguably the most controversial goal of the year last week against Liverpool. Check it out:

The Hilarious Balloon Goal - Sunderland Vs Liverpool - More amazing videos are a click away

Capitalizing on his time at Sunderland, Bent has parlayed his new form into a possible spot on the England national team for the 2010 World Cup. England manager Fabio Capello certainly has the striker on his radar.

Rubin Kazan Make History

Russian club Rubin Kazan pulled off one of the biggest upsets in European history last night, defeating Barcelona 2-1 in the Champions League group stage.

Here are the highlights:



Despite holding the ball for only 25 percent of the time, the Russian minnows produced the shock result of first round play.

"These things happen," said Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola. "It's not the first time and I doubt it will be the last," he said at his news conference. "I didn't feel like we played a bad match. They had a very well-structured defense and all the teams (in the group) are very good. They are all professionals."

Still, nothing can take the sting out of this one for the Blaugrana. What an absolutely disappointing display. A lot of credit should also goe to the Kazan keeper who made many a miraculous save, including one second half point-blank stop of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The defending champions of the Champions League learned a valuable lesson in overconfidence last night, while Rubin Kazan continue their incredible form in the tournament.

Reader Comments

I have been doing this thing for over a month now, and I know that there is a small readership that follows my blog.

I just want to know: what would you like to see more of? Should I focus on more feature pieces? Or should I continue with more personal perspective on soccer news?

And most importantly: do you like my blog? Don't be afraid to leave comments.

Thanks.

Charlie Davies Out Of Intensive Care

Last week I blogged about the car accident involving U.S. striker Charlie Davies that left one person dead. After nearly six days in intensive care, today Davies was moved out of the ICU.

This is great news for the promising young player who made a name for himself this past summer. While his injuries are serious, they do not seem to be career threatening. He should be extremely thankful for that. But his future regarding the 2010 World Cup was thrown in jeopardy in the early morning hours of Oct. 13.

Why was he out so late before a World Cup qualifier? What was he doing? The answers to these questions and more almost certainly will be revealed in the coming weeks.

In case you missed it, here's a full AP news report from last week about the crash:

European World Cup Playoff Set

Over the weekend, the Union of European Football Associations finalized the playoff for the remaining World Cup spots. European countries that qualified for this now need to focus and produce two good results.

The home-and-home series will begin on Nov. 14 and conclude on Nov. 18.

Of all the matchups, Portugal vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina and France vs. Ireland stand out. Both have the most world-class players that could possibly will miss out on the tournament next summer. Can you imagine not seeing Cristiano Ronaldo or Thierry Henry in South Africa?

Zlatan To Be Missed

Now that most of the spots at the 2010 World Cup have been booked, it's time to look at one of the best talents in the world that has been left out of the competition.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a striker for Sweden, possesses a rare combination of size and tremendous agility. He is one of the most electrifying players in the game today. He currently plies his trade at Barcelona with the likes of Lionel Messi after being transferred from Inter Milan.

It's a shame that a player of Ibrahimovic's quality will be missing next summer. Unfortunately for him, it looks as though he came along at the wrong time in the history of the Sweden national team.

Here's what I mean when I say that he is one of the game's most feared players:

Robinho To Barca?

Manchester City striker Robinho has made it known that he would like to join Barcelona in the near future. The injured Brazilian has stated his desire to join up with the likes of Argentina playmaker Lionel Messi.

"Of course I'd enjoy playing for Barca." he told Spanish newspaper El Mundo Deportivo. "Who wouldn't? We could have so much fun. It would be a pleasure to play alongside Messi, my compadre Dani Alves, Xavi, (Andres) Iniesta, (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic, with them all."

It is possible that Robinho could leave City in the January transfer window. City is looking to land a player-plus-cash for the Brazilian if he does leave.

This ultimately comes down to the fact that Manchester City are hell-bent on putting their money to good use. What else are they going to do with the millions they possess? I believe this deal is very likely to happen when the transfer window opens up this winter.

Davies' Accident Video

Here's a clip from the Oct. 13 SportsCenter on Davies' accident:



A Fox affiliate in the Washington D.C. area has this video showing the wreckage from the crash. After watching this, I feel that he is certainly lucky to be alive.

Davies Update

From the Twitter feed of Steve Goff from the Washington Post:

"Awaiting more details on Charlie Davies. Early indication is broken leg and internal injuries. Team has left hotel for practice at RFK."

Stay tuned.

Charlie Davies Involved In Major Car Crash; One Fatality Reported

U.S. national team forward Charlie Davies was involved in a one-car accident around 3 a.m. this morning on the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Washington D.C. Three people were in the car when it crashed into a metal guardrail.

Two passengers were transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. The other was pronounced dead.

Ashley J. Roberta, 22, of Phoenix, Md was identified as the only passenger who died.

It is unknown whether or not Davies was the one driving. What is known is that he was expected to be in surgery for more than 5 hours this afternoon.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the three passengers and their respective families.

Later this evening more information should start to become available. What cannot be ignored is that this is a HUGE loss to the USMNT if Davies' injuries are serious enough to keep him out of next summer's World Cup. But right now he should feel lucky to be alive and just focus on recovering.

Welcome To South Africa. Population: 32

On Saturday night, the United States qualified for the 2010 World Cup by beating Honduras 3-2.

In a tightly played game, Conor Casey scored twice to propel the U.S. to its sixth straight World Cup finals.



Even with all the criticism, it has been a job well-done for manager Bob Bradley. Here is an interesting article by Ives Galarcep about his time as caretaker for the Americans.

So what does this mean for the U.S. national team?

After inconsistent play during the qualifying stages, it brings a sense of relief. Ever since the Confederations Cup in June, the United States has failed to play to type of soccer that beat Spain. Bradley will need to get the most out of people like Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey and Ricardo Clark next summer.

It also provides the U.S. with motivation. After leading Brazil 2-0 at the half in the Confederations Cup Final, anything is within reach of this squad. South Africa 2010 should be a chance for the Americans to make an even bigger splash on the international stage.

Cannavaro Fails Doping Test

Fabio Cannavaro, a starting defender for Juventus and captain of Italy, has failed a doping test. Cannavaro claims that the test result was due to a cortisone shot being used to treat a bee sting.

On Friday, Cannavaro, 36, will meet the Italian Olympic Committee's anti-doping prosecutor Ettorre Torri for questioning.

More details can be found here and here.

This isn't Cannavaro's first controversy with injections. Before the 1999 UEFA Cup Final, a video tape was released which showed Cannavaro being injected with a substance. The substance was found to be neoton, which is a drug and a creatine phosphate used in cardiac surgery, and is not on the banned substance list. No action was ever taken.