The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

It's time for the second installment of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly that covers a range of topics in the world of soccer. In today's feature, we focus on Egypt's messy win over Algeria and the recovery of a Paraguay's Salvador Cabanas.

The Good: Salvador Cabanas' slow recovery. The Paraguayan striker, who plays his club soccer in Mexico with Club America, was shot in the head on Monday after an incident outside a Mexico City bar. He survived the gunshot, but has been in intensive care for the past few days. Just today, it was reported that the striker has made improvements and appears "more stable" after a decrease in swelling. What a blessing for a man who recently looked as if he was on the edge of death.

The Bad: Juventus manager Ciro Ferrara losing his job. Inter Milan defeated Juventus 2-1 on Thursday in the Coppa Italia, with the loss proving to be the final straw for Ferrara. Not only is the club currently in sixth in Serie A, but Juve were also dumped out of the Champions League before the new year. The Bianconeri faithful have had it tough this year, similar to Liverpool in England.

The Ugly: Algeria receiving three red cards vs. Egypt. It was a forgettable end to the African Nations Cup for World Cup qualifiers Algeria, as the Desert Foxes were thrashed 4-0 by the defending champions. This match-up was already full of bad blood after the Algerian team bus was pelted by stones from Egyptian supporters in November, leaving three players injured. Overall, it was an unclassy display from a side who gave into frustrations instead of just playing the game.

Finally, just a heads up for everyone: Arsenal vs. Manchester United on Sunday in one of the biggest rivalries in English soccer.

Davies: The World Cup Is Easy For Me To Be Back For

Great, I repeat, great news about the recovery of United States national team star Charlie Davies.

Only four months removed from a car accident that left one dead and Davies with facial fractures, lacerated bladder, a broken left elbow and a broken right femur and tibia, the striker is making it a priority to return in time for the World Cup.

Check out this ESPN Soccernet interview conducted by Ives Galarcep. In it, Davies talks about his recovery and what he hopes to accomplish this summer.

I think you'll find his progress nothing short of amazing.

Ronaldo Seeing Red

After his side's 2-0 victory over Malaga yesterday, Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo is still feeling hot under the collar after the straight red card shown to him in the 70th minute. The Portuguese international was expelled from the game after breaking Malaga midfielder Patrick Mtiliga's nose with an errant elbow.

Ronaldo has called the card a "disgrace" saying that the elbow was unintentional. But his on-field reaction yesterday has drawn the ire of Malaga officials. Here's a video clip of the incident:

Was it a dirty play or just an accident? Should he be suspended? What do you think?

Inter Rule Derby Day In Milan

(Inter manager Jose Mourinho interacting with supporters during Sunday's match)

Not even the dismissal of two of its starters could prevent Inter Milan from claiming a victory over intra-city rivals AC Milan. The Nerazzurri were paced by strikes from Diego Milito and Goran Pandev in a clinical 2-0 victory.

Gotta love when a prediction comes true. It's always a tough one to call but last Thursday I said that Inter would prevail.

Here's a quick recap for those who haven't read about the match. Highlights are below as well:

Under the roof of the San Siro, the ever-passionate Italian fans helped build the anticipation right before kick-off. A canvas of blue and red redecorated the stands inside the stadium for Sunday's game.

Milito struck in the 10th minute as AC's Ignazio Abate played a poor header back to his keeper. The Argentinean took advantage of the error and slotted it past the Rossoneri goalkeeper, Dida.

Meanwhile, there were also fireworks outside of the run of play in the first half. Inter's Wesley Sneijder was shown a straight red card in the 27th minute after sarcastically clapping at an official after a call that went AC's way.

With their rivals down a man, AC Milan mounted stiff pressure on the Inter goal, but could not break the seal of goalkeeper Julio Cesar all day.

In the second half, Pandev bagged a goal in the 65th minute to put the Serie A-leaders in comfortable standing. Backs against the wall, the Rossoneri still could not create a successful chance and should leave the game frustrated after dominating possession but coming up empty-handed.

Later on, Inter defender Lucio was also shown red in the 90th minute as Inter finished with nine men. The victory puts Inter nine points clear of AC Milan in the standings and lets the Nerazzurri have bragging rights until their next meeting.

Here are the highlights of the match:

Roberto Carlos' Tackle Takes Out Three Players

Roberto Carlos made his return to domestic Brazilian soccer yesterday for the first time in 15 years. He played alongside former Real Madrid-teammate Ronaldo as their club Corinthians defeated Bragantino 2-1. The 36-year-old signed a two year deal to play for the Sao Paulo-based outfit this past December.

Not only did he lead his team to a victory, but the left-back managed to complete the difficult task of taking out three players with a single tackle! Check out the video below:

It's Never Too Early To Talk Weekend!

(Sulley Muntari, left, and David Beckham, right, during a recent Milan derby)

Happy Thursday to all of you out there; only one more day until the weekend can officially begin. This one in particular features a clash of titans in Italy and more matches from the African Nations Cup.

On Sunday, the San Siro derby between Inter Milan and AC Milan will engulf the northern Italian city. The top two teams in Serie A, both have been in good form with AC Milan bolstered by the resurgence of Ronaldinho. But the Rossoneri may be without two key players for the match, as Alexandre Pato and Alessandro Nesta have injury concerns. Expect a tight contest here, but I believe that ultimately Inter will prevail.

The African Nations Cup wraps up group play and begins its quarterfinal stage on Sunday. Two matches are slated to be played: Ivory Coast vs. Algeria and Angola vs. Ghana. Angola is the only team out of these four that didn't qualify for the World Cup. My picks to advance? I like the Ivory Coast and Angola in an upset.

The English Premier League only features one match over the weekend, a potential snorefest when Hull City visits Manchester United. Expect a comfortable result for the Red Devils at Old Trafford. One sidenote will be to see if Hull striker Jozy Altidore, an American, will play in the contest. Last week, he was granted compassionate leave while dealing with the massive earthquake in Haiti. In a post last week, I detailed the situation regarding Altidore's relatives that were trapped on the island during the disaster.

Finally, Real Madrid look to get back on track on Sunday vs. La Liga minnow Malaga. Los Blancos have been in a rut of late, tallying only three goals in their last three respective matches. Compare that with the 16 goals bagged in four matches before the new year. Only sitting five points in the league behind Barcelona, it's not quite panic time for Real, but the slump cannot stay prolonged if they wish to usurp Barca.

The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

As always, the world of soccer never seems to have a dull moment. Here's a look at some recent events in the new The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Section:

The Good: Ronaldinho's recent streak of good form. Even if no one wants to admit it, the world has been missing the talented play of the ever-smiling Brazilian. The previous blog post detailed his hat-trick against Siena; if you haven't read it you should check it out. The reason behind his elevated play? 'Dinho says that it's because of his off-field happiness.

The Bad: Clint Dempsey's knee injury. On Sunday, the American was stretchered off in a English Premier League match against Blackburn. The striker-midfielder was in the process of enjoying a great season at his club, Fulham, and was hoping to build on this momentum heading toward the World Cup in June. Now, that goal seems to have been thrown in jeopardy after what appears to be damage to his posterior cruciate ligament. Fulham's doctors are still waiting to determine the long-term outlook for the injury, but it does not bode well for United States soccer fans.

The Ugly: Algeria and Angola playing to a tie at the African Nations Cup. By "taking it easy" and not trying to win, as Algeria manager Rabah Saadane put it, both Algeria and Angola advanced from their group. Mali, who lost to Algeria but ended equal on points, was eliminated from the tournament after beating Malawi 3-1. Not only do I feel bad for Mali, I feel bad for the fans who had to watch the 0-0 game. I mean, come on; that's not soccer. The fans got cheated for having to pay to see both teams technically play within the rules of the game, but not actually "playing" the game. The draw was not agreed on by both sides, but let's not kid ourselves: was there any way Angola was going to complain with such a result?

Welcome Back, Ronaldinho

It's been an interesting spell at AC Milan for Brazilian midfielder Ronaldinho.

Last year, his first year in Italy, saw the two-time FIFA World Player of the Year struggle to find form. A long string of subpar performances put him out of the national team setup for Brazil and had many critics saying that he was past his prime.

So far, his 2009-10 campaign has been nothing short of brilliant, judging by his hat-trick in this afternoon's 4-0 victory over Siena.

The 29-year-old's performances have been integral in keeping Milan at second in Serie A, six points behind rivals Inter. The vision and creative genius that made "Dinho a force at Barcelona from 2003 to 2008 have returned. While he doesn't have the same pace that used to scare defenses everywhere, he has compensated with a smarter brand of play.

His six goals and eight assists have made him a hero this season to the Rossoneri fanbase and have increased his chances of being selected for Brazil's 2010 World Cup squad.

Looming large is the Milan-Manchester United tie in the Champions League on February 16. If 'Dinho can guide his squad past this challenge, he could lead Milan to European glory.

Altidore Planning Trip To Haiti

After the horrific earthquake that rocked Haiti just days ago, Hull City and United States national team striker Jozy Altidore has been desperately trying to contact relatives living on the Caribbean island.

Altidore, 20, whose parents moved to the U.S. from Haiti 35 years ago, has more than a dozen relatives still on the island. Hull City have said that Altidore will miss this weekend's game vs. Tottenham on "compassionate grounds."

Altidore has been frantically trying to reach his relatives but to no avail. He is seriously considering the possibility of traveling to Haiti himself to help look for family members. On his Twitter account, the striker has urged people to donate money to help relief efforts there.

If you want to make a donation to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, like I did, visit their Web site for more information.

Fantastic Five: World's Best Wingers

Earlier I had a post that listed the top five forwards in the world of soccer. I know not everyone agreed with me, but my goal with this is to spark debate.

Keeping with this theme, I have decided to make another top-five list, only this time it deals with players who can change a game from the flanks. There were many deserving candidates so it was considerably difficult to narrow it down.

I now present, in my opinion, the five-best wing players in the game. Give me some feedback and let me know what you think!

5. David BeckhamYes, yes, I know what you are thinking: Beckham is 34 and in the last stage of his career. He has almost no pace and he lacks any real technical skills. But Beckham possesses the world's deadliest right foot, and with one kick can change a game. His free kicks are second to none and his workrate is still impressive. He also brings to the table a wealth of big game experience for clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid and AC Milan. I would take him on my team anyday.

4. Dani Alves
The Brazilian international finally got his chance at the big time with Barcelona in 2008 and took full advantage. Normally deployed as a right back, Alves moves up the field into the attack seamlessly. He boasts some of the best fitness in the game. Last year The Guardian had an article about how Alves could be called the best player in the world. Barcelona have a buyout clause for the 26-year-old set at $130.5 million, showing just how much he means to the club.

3. Arjen Robben

The Dutch winger is now a star for Bayern Munich after spells at Chelsea and Real Madrid. Normally a left-sided player, Robben, 25, can also move across the field to attack a defense. His performances for club and country have earned him a reputation of being able to dissect defenses. While he has had problems with injuries, when fit he is easily a top-five winger.


2. Franck Ribery

The Frenchman, like Robben, is also employed at Bayern Munich. The 26-year-old is known for his pace, energy, skill and precise passing. The great Zinedine Zidane has also heaped praise on the winger calling him "the jewel of French football." He was a vital part of the French squad that made it to the final game of the 2006 World Cup. This winter, he has been the subject of transfer rumors of a possible move to Real Madrid.


1. Cristiano Ronaldo
How fitting is it that the world's most expensive player is also number one on this list? Ronaldo's $18.8 million-a-year contract has been justified so far as he has been in great form for Los Blancos with seven goals in 10 appearances. With his size and pace, the Portuguese international can overwhelm any defense he plays against. And let's not forget his skill on free kicks. Ronaldo is the total package when it comes to modern soccer and at 24, his best still may be ahead of him.

Childish Hicks Forced To Resign

"Blow me, ****face. Go to hell. I'm sick of you."

No, that's not me chastising my readers. That's a portion of an e-mail from former Liverpool FC director Tom Hicks Jr. to a concerned fan.

Hicks Jr. was forced to resign to today by the club after comments made to Liverpool supporter Stephen Horner were made public. Horner wrote to Hicks Jr. to address the lack of transfer funds available to manager Rafael Benitez.

The former director apologized publicly for his comments, but it was a case of too little too late.

Hicks Jr.'s behavior just reeks of the frustration currently being felt at Anfield. Liverpool sit seventh in the English Premier League, well out of title contention and on the brink of missing the Champions League. It's been a rough year for the banged-up Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard, manager Rafa Benitez and the entire Liverpool fanbase.

Stories like this only add fuel to the fire of dissatisfaction for the Kopites (aka Liverpool supporters).

African Nations Cup Hangs In The Balance

As many of you know, or don't know, yesterday the bus carrying the Togo national soccer team was attacked by Angolan rebels at the Congolese border. The team was heading to the African Nations Cup to be held in Angola.

Using machine guns, the rebels shot up the bus, hitting five people inside. There have been conflicting reports as to the death count, but the latest French sources say that there have been four fatalities: an unnamed local bus driver, assistant coach Abalo Amelete, press officer Stanislas Ocloo and reserve goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale.

Togo's most notable player, Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor (pictured above), was unharmed but is reportedly returning home. The team itself has withdrawn from the tournament after the horrific events on Friday.

The shocking nature of the incident has given the ANC a black eye and has prompted many to call for the cancellation of the tournament. As of today, the Confederation of African Football has confirmed that the tournament will go ahead as planned.

But how do they think the play will go on without hindrance? Players from the nations of Ivory Coast and Ghana have said that they are in solidarity with Togo. Those two nations are also due to play their games in Angola's Cabinda region, where the attacks took place. I imagine if they take the field, they won't be playing at their peak potential.

Most importantly, the games must go on. Yes, this was tragic. Dedicate the tournament to the memory of those individuals from Togo. But keeping the tournament going could be a sign to those who attacked that their actions will not stop this event from going on as planned. It should be used as a tool to unite all of Africa in support for Togo and against the meaningless violence displayed on Friday.

I also know that the CAF does not want to give in when this is such a big year for soccer in Africa with the World Cup. While I really do understand why Togo withdrew from the tournament, I think that the other nations must press on if they are to get past this unfortunate and tragic situation.

Indonesian Fan Goes Ronaldo Style

This just in: supporters of the Indonesian national soccer team have become so fed up with their team's performance that they are looking to take matters into their own hands.

One fan actually did.

Hendri Mulyadi, 25, was watching his team in the process of losing to Oman 2-1 on Thursday and decided that he needed to make an impact on the game. Muylyadi hopped a barrier, sprinted onto the field and took control of the ball while heading toward the Oman goal. He failed to score as his shot was saved by the goalkeeper before being hauled down by law enforcement. Here's the video in all its hilarity:



A pretty memorable scene nontheless, and his actions have recieved praise online. According to the BBC, a comment on a YouTube video of his on-field stunt said, "He could be a future striker for Indonesia."

Transfer Talk

Now that we're a few days into January, the transfer market has begun to heat up.

Here are some of the latest rumors and rumblings from across the European continent:

-Freddy Adu signs an 18-month loan deal with Greek club Aris FC

-Inter Milan's Patrick Vieira looks set to leave the Italian side

-Liverpool have joined Arsenal in the hunt for Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh

-Here's an article talking about how Vieira and Ruud Van Nistelrooy should change clubs if they hope to play at the World Cup this summer

-It's very likely that Atletico Madrid's Maxi Rodriguez may join Liverpool

-Arsenal's transfer plans depend on the health of striker Nicklas Bendtner

That's the latest for now. As always, check my Twitter page for up-to-date headlines throughout the day!

Old Firm Stalemate

Yesterday the famous Old Firm rivalry between Rangers and Celtic was renewed for the first time this decade, and ended in a 1-1 draw at Celtic Park.

The two giants of Scottish soccer waited until the final 15 minutes to score their respective goals. Scott McDonald headed home a cross from Aidan McGeady to put Celtic up in the 79th minute, but Rangers equalized through a Lee McCulloch header off a corner two minutes later.

The tie puts Rangers in firm position to repeat as league champions. The club are now seven points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League.

This summer, I visited Glasgow and had the chance to visit the respective stadiums of each club. I even got to go onto the field at Rangers' home of Ibrox (see below):

What I can tell you is that after traveling around the city, it's obvious that there is a distinct division between those who support each side. The blue and red of the Union Jack can be found all around the pro-Protestant portions of where Rangers is located, while the green and white of Celtic surrounds pro-Catholic sections of the city. It's as much of a social and political rivalry as it is a sporting one.

To say that the rivalry is heated would be an understatement; hate would be a better fit. Take for example the fact that until 1989, Rangers refused to sign Roman Catholic players.

To find out more about the rivalry's roots, click here.

Twitter!

Hey folks! Hope you all had a great weekend.

Just wanted to pass along the notice that as of 11 p.m Sunday night, I now have a Twitter account for my blog. There's a new bar to your right ---> that will let you follow me on the site.

If you're on Twitter, you can follow me and get soccer news and links in a quicker fashion.

Thanks!

Adu To Aris?

Remember Freddy Adu, the once-anointed savior of soccer in the United States?

His journey from Major League Soccer to Europe has been a well-documented tale of bad luck and frustrations. Now it looks like he may be moving to his third European side in as many years.

On December 29th, Adu was released from his contract by the new coach of his Portuguese club, Beleneses. Out of work, Adu now looks close to signing a deal with Greek side Aris FC.

In 2007 Adu, 20, signed a contract with Benfica, a giant of Portugese soccer. With chances at the club limited, he was shipped out to French side AS Monaco on loan. Failing to make a mark there, Adu was lent to Portuguese side Beleneses for the start of the 2009-10 season.

Aris just signed another American a few days ago, striker Eddie Johnson.

With Adu currently out of the fold for the 2010 World Cup, he should make the most of his new opportunity in Greece to make an impression on U.S. manager Bob Bradley. And I'm not just talking about trying to make it to South Africa; he needs to show that he belongs in the future of the U.S. soccer. Adu's talent is obvious, but it's just been a challenge for him to consistently get playing time in Europe to hone his skills.

Here are some higlights of Freddy in action: