Manchester City may have had the upper hand over Manchester United domestically in recent seasons, but they will never usurp the Red Devils as the biggest club in the world, according to Peter Schmeichel.
United won the FA Cup last season, but have struggled to replicate the dominance of the Alex Ferguson era since the legendary Scot’s retirement at the end of the 2012-13 campaign.
The past three seasons have seen United finish seventh, fourth and fifth, placing below City – who last won the title in 2014 – on each occasion.
But Schmeichel, who made 398 appearances for United and enjoyed a brief spell in the blue half of Manchester, believes there is little contest when it comes to global standing.
“There’s no doubt, nobody can argue that Manchester United is not the biggest club in the world. It is,” he told Omnisport ahead of this weekend’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford, when both sides will put their 100 per cent records on the line.
“It’s the club with the most fans, supporters and there are numbers out there which are official numbers so you can’t argue that.
“But is it the best club in the world? It hasn’t been for three years, it hasn’t been even anywhere near the best club in England. Manchester City have been there or thereabouts.
“This is something you learn as soon as you walk through the doors at Old Trafford that you’re never better than your last performance. You always have to improve on your last performance.
“When you look at the last three years it has been very, very poor. Seventh, fourth and fifth – that’s not Manchester United. But Manchester City has been there or thereabouts so you can argue that they are the bigger club in Manchester at the moment in terms of results.
“But in terms of popularity they’ve got no chance of being anywhere near the biggest in the world.”
Peter Schmeichel was speaking on behalf of Nabufit. Available on Google Play and the App Store.
Saturday, September 10, 2016
Inter Milan eyeing Victor Lindelof
Italian giants Inter Milan are hot on the trail of Benfica defender Victor Lindelof, according to Record.
It is no secret that the Nerazzurri are on the lookout for defensive reinforcements, having recently been linked with full-backs Stephan Lichtsteiner, Domenico Criscito and Kenny Tete, but they are also searching for central defenders.
Inter Milan have been keeping close tabs on Benfica hotshot Victor Lindelof for quite some time and their scouts were present in Solna as Sweden faced Netherlands in the 2018 World Cup qualifier.
This is enough to suggest that the Nerazzurri could make their interest concrete in the January transfer window, but the problem is that Paris Saint-Germain appear to be leading the chase at the moment.
The Saints are reportedly ready to offer €30 million for the highly rated footballer and it remains to be seen whether Inter will be able to match their offer. Wed 7 Sep, 2016RSS Feed LAST 5 POSTS BY NEMANJA LAZAREVIC Chelsea keen on Gibson, Keane
Man Utd want €20m for Darmian Inter close on Uruguayan starlet Radja Nainggolan set for new Roma deal
Torino keen on Croatia defender by Taboola Sponsored Links From the Web
If You Owe Less Than $300k, Use Obama's Once-In-A-Lifetime Mortgage Relief Program LowerMyBills Team USA;US National Team
It is no secret that the Nerazzurri are on the lookout for defensive reinforcements, having recently been linked with full-backs Stephan Lichtsteiner, Domenico Criscito and Kenny Tete, but they are also searching for central defenders.
Inter Milan have been keeping close tabs on Benfica hotshot Victor Lindelof for quite some time and their scouts were present in Solna as Sweden faced Netherlands in the 2018 World Cup qualifier.
This is enough to suggest that the Nerazzurri could make their interest concrete in the January transfer window, but the problem is that Paris Saint-Germain appear to be leading the chase at the moment.
The Saints are reportedly ready to offer €30 million for the highly rated footballer and it remains to be seen whether Inter will be able to match their offer. Wed 7 Sep, 2016RSS Feed LAST 5 POSTS BY NEMANJA LAZAREVIC Chelsea keen on Gibson, Keane
Man Utd want €20m for Darmian Inter close on Uruguayan starlet Radja Nainggolan set for new Roma deal
Torino keen on Croatia defender by Taboola Sponsored Links From the Web
If You Owe Less Than $300k, Use Obama's Once-In-A-Lifetime Mortgage Relief Program LowerMyBills Team USA;US National Team
Forest sign former Arsenal striker Bendtner
Nottingham Forest have completed the signing of former Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner on a two-year deal, owner Fawaz Al Hasawi has confirmed.
Bendtner spent nine years at Arsenal between 2005 and 2014, but struggled to establish himself as a first-team regular and was shipped out on loan to Birmingham City, Sunderland and Juventus during that time.
The Denmark striker moved to the Bundesliga to join Wolfsburg ahead of the 2014-15 campaign, but managed just three goals in 31 league appearances and left at the end of last term.
Bendtner has now returned to England with Championship club Forest in a bid to get his career back on track, with Al Hasawi announcing the deal on his official Twitter account.
“Please welcome Nicklas Bendtner who has joined #NFFC on a two-year deal,” he wrote. Follow @FAWAZ_ALHASAWI ✔ @fawaz_alhasawi1
Please welcome Nicklas Bendtner who has joined #NFFC on a two-year deal 6:26 PM - 7 Sep 2016
1,290 1,290 Retweets 1,841 1,841 likes Wed 7 Sep, 2016RSS Feed LAST 5 POSTS BY SOCCERNEWS
Sporting Kansas City 3 Houston Dynamo 3: Visitors snatch dramatic late draw Wenger: Wilshere can become Arsenal manager
Bendtner spent nine years at Arsenal between 2005 and 2014, but struggled to establish himself as a first-team regular and was shipped out on loan to Birmingham City, Sunderland and Juventus during that time.
The Denmark striker moved to the Bundesliga to join Wolfsburg ahead of the 2014-15 campaign, but managed just three goals in 31 league appearances and left at the end of last term.
Bendtner has now returned to England with Championship club Forest in a bid to get his career back on track, with Al Hasawi announcing the deal on his official Twitter account.
“Please welcome Nicklas Bendtner who has joined #NFFC on a two-year deal,” he wrote. Follow @FAWAZ_ALHASAWI ✔ @fawaz_alhasawi1
Please welcome Nicklas Bendtner who has joined #NFFC on a two-year deal 6:26 PM - 7 Sep 2016
1,290 1,290 Retweets 1,841 1,841 likes Wed 7 Sep, 2016RSS Feed LAST 5 POSTS BY SOCCERNEWS
Sporting Kansas City 3 Houston Dynamo 3: Visitors snatch dramatic late draw Wenger: Wilshere can become Arsenal manager
Messi is superior to Ronaldo, claims Xavi
Former Barcelona captain Xavi is adamant Lionel Messi is of a higher calibre than his Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
The duo have long been thought of as the top two players in world football, sharing the last eight Ballons d’Or. Messi holds the title, but Ronaldo’s exploits with Madrid and Euro 2016 winners Portugal saw him named UEFA’s Best Player in Europe last month.
His performances in the 2015-16 campaign have made him favourite for the world title, but Xavi believes the 31-year-old is nothing compared to his former Camp Nou team-mate.
And the Al Sadd midfielder says the whole world agrees with him apart from those linked to Madrid. “Ronaldo is a player of his time, the problem is that there is another who has been pretty much the best player in history,” Xavi told Cadena SER.
“Ronaldo is extraordinary, but compared to Messi, for me and for everyone who likes football, there can be no comparisons.
“Messi will be number one until he wants. He’s superior to everyone and is the best in the world, unless you are Real Madrid.”
The duo have long been thought of as the top two players in world football, sharing the last eight Ballons d’Or. Messi holds the title, but Ronaldo’s exploits with Madrid and Euro 2016 winners Portugal saw him named UEFA’s Best Player in Europe last month.
His performances in the 2015-16 campaign have made him favourite for the world title, but Xavi believes the 31-year-old is nothing compared to his former Camp Nou team-mate.
And the Al Sadd midfielder says the whole world agrees with him apart from those linked to Madrid. “Ronaldo is a player of his time, the problem is that there is another who has been pretty much the best player in history,” Xavi told Cadena SER.
“Ronaldo is extraordinary, but compared to Messi, for me and for everyone who likes football, there can be no comparisons.
“Messi will be number one until he wants. He’s superior to everyone and is the best in the world, unless you are Real Madrid.”
Sharpe: United have unearthed a gem in Bailly
Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba may have grabbed all the headlines at Manchester United, but Lee Sharpe believes Eric Bailly’s arrival is the most significant.
The 22-year-old central defender arrived at Old Trafford for a reported €30million fee from Villarreal and was quickly installed at the heart of United’s backline by Jose Mourinho in a partnership with Daley Blind, impressing in his four outings so far.
Sharpe has been particularly impressed by the youngster and has predicted big things for the Ivory Coast international.
“The team looks really strong in every department now, I think the manager’s strengthened in good areas with top-quality players and the rest of the team are raising their standards to join them,” said the former United winger.
“Ibrahimovic is obviously going to be a massive star, and so is Pogba, but I think the one that’s stood out for me at the moment is Bailly the centre-half.
“He looks quick, decent on the ball, he reads the game really well.
“If he continues to play like he has done in the first few games I think they’ve found an absolute gem.” Wed 7 Sep, 2016RSS Feed LAST 5 POSTS BY SOCCERNEWS
The 22-year-old central defender arrived at Old Trafford for a reported €30million fee from Villarreal and was quickly installed at the heart of United’s backline by Jose Mourinho in a partnership with Daley Blind, impressing in his four outings so far.
Sharpe has been particularly impressed by the youngster and has predicted big things for the Ivory Coast international.
“The team looks really strong in every department now, I think the manager’s strengthened in good areas with top-quality players and the rest of the team are raising their standards to join them,” said the former United winger.
“Ibrahimovic is obviously going to be a massive star, and so is Pogba, but I think the one that’s stood out for me at the moment is Bailly the centre-half.
“He looks quick, decent on the ball, he reads the game really well.
“If he continues to play like he has done in the first few games I think they’ve found an absolute gem.” Wed 7 Sep, 2016RSS Feed LAST 5 POSTS BY SOCCERNEWS
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
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Goal frenzy in Asian World Cup qualifying
Uzbekistan smashed seven goals past Singapore and Bahrain won in Thailand as they remained the only teams with 100 percent records after three rounds of Asian World Cup qualifying.
Japan also took another step along the road to South Africa in 2010 by trouncing Oman 3-0 in Yokohama, with Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura scoring one goal and helping create another.
But it was not enough to put them on top of their group, with Bahrain eking out a 3-2 win in Bangkok, which moved them three points clear of Japan with three games left to play.
Milan Macala's side did not have it all their own way, with Thailand going to the break level at 2-2 before Sayed Mohamed Adnan scored the winner in the 57th minute.
“The important thing is that we have three points now,” said Macala, who was reluctant to say whether his side could make their first-ever World Cup finals after narrowly missing out on qualifying for Germany in 2006.
“We shouldn't dream about the future,” said the Czech. Uzbekistan won 7-3 in Singapore in an edge-of-the-seat thriller to establish a six-point cushion on top of Group 4, although Saudi Arabia can cut that lead to three points if they beat Lebanon later in the day.
The hosts twice equalised after Timur Kapadze and then Victor Karpenko gave Rauf Inileev's side the lead, but a Server Djeparov double and another from Vitaliy Denisov sent the visitors in at half-time 5-2 ahead.
Aziz Ibragimov and Maksim Shatskikh completed the Uzbeks' scoring spree after the restart. It was an impressive return to form for Japan after their shock 1-0 loss to Bahrain in March, and coach Takeshi Okada was happy to see his side bounce back.
“We got pretty good rhythm from the beginning. The early first goal made it a bit easier for us, but my players slowed down afterwards,” he said.
“However, Oman were not the real Oman today. I don't think we have got past the mountain yet. I think we just made one step forward.”
Skipper Yuji Nakazawa opened Japan's account in the 10th minute when Gamba Osaka midfielder Yasuhito Endo lofted the ball in from a corner and the big Yokohama defender headed home.
They went two up 12 minutes later when Nakamura sent a long ball into the Omani box which was picked up by Brazilian-born Marcus Tulio Tanaka. He found Yoshito Okubo, who made no mistake.
Four minutes after the break Nakamura put the game beyond doubt, latching onto a ball just outside the area and letting loose a rocket that gave goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi no chance.
Oman hardly created a chance and will need to rethink their tactics ahead of the return leg at home on June 7 if they want to remain in the race. “Japan deserved the victory today. Their tactics to score goals worked very well,” said Oman's Uruguayan coach Julio Cesar Ribas Vlahovich.
“My players can play better, but the early goal made them rush too much and they couldn't play their normal game.” Thailand's hopes of progressing to the final phase of qualifying are all but over after three losses out of three, but coach Charnwit Polcheewin refused to throw in the towel.
“We won't give up,” he said. Australia's 1-0 win over Iraq on Sunday put them on top of Group 1 with seven points. Qatar (three points) play China (two points) later Monday in Doha with another loss for the Chinese team potentially disastrous.
The unfathomably close ball control, the quick bursts of agility, his deft passing, and deadly accurate shot have all combined to place him comfortably in soccer lore forever.
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Japan also took another step along the road to South Africa in 2010 by trouncing Oman 3-0 in Yokohama, with Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura scoring one goal and helping create another.
But it was not enough to put them on top of their group, with Bahrain eking out a 3-2 win in Bangkok, which moved them three points clear of Japan with three games left to play.
Milan Macala's side did not have it all their own way, with Thailand going to the break level at 2-2 before Sayed Mohamed Adnan scored the winner in the 57th minute.
“The important thing is that we have three points now,” said Macala, who was reluctant to say whether his side could make their first-ever World Cup finals after narrowly missing out on qualifying for Germany in 2006.
“We shouldn't dream about the future,” said the Czech. Uzbekistan won 7-3 in Singapore in an edge-of-the-seat thriller to establish a six-point cushion on top of Group 4, although Saudi Arabia can cut that lead to three points if they beat Lebanon later in the day.
The hosts twice equalised after Timur Kapadze and then Victor Karpenko gave Rauf Inileev's side the lead, but a Server Djeparov double and another from Vitaliy Denisov sent the visitors in at half-time 5-2 ahead.
Aziz Ibragimov and Maksim Shatskikh completed the Uzbeks' scoring spree after the restart. It was an impressive return to form for Japan after their shock 1-0 loss to Bahrain in March, and coach Takeshi Okada was happy to see his side bounce back.
“We got pretty good rhythm from the beginning. The early first goal made it a bit easier for us, but my players slowed down afterwards,” he said.
“However, Oman were not the real Oman today. I don't think we have got past the mountain yet. I think we just made one step forward.”
Skipper Yuji Nakazawa opened Japan's account in the 10th minute when Gamba Osaka midfielder Yasuhito Endo lofted the ball in from a corner and the big Yokohama defender headed home.
They went two up 12 minutes later when Nakamura sent a long ball into the Omani box which was picked up by Brazilian-born Marcus Tulio Tanaka. He found Yoshito Okubo, who made no mistake.
Four minutes after the break Nakamura put the game beyond doubt, latching onto a ball just outside the area and letting loose a rocket that gave goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi no chance.
Oman hardly created a chance and will need to rethink their tactics ahead of the return leg at home on June 7 if they want to remain in the race. “Japan deserved the victory today. Their tactics to score goals worked very well,” said Oman's Uruguayan coach Julio Cesar Ribas Vlahovich.
“My players can play better, but the early goal made them rush too much and they couldn't play their normal game.” Thailand's hopes of progressing to the final phase of qualifying are all but over after three losses out of three, but coach Charnwit Polcheewin refused to throw in the towel.
“We won't give up,” he said. Australia's 1-0 win over Iraq on Sunday put them on top of Group 1 with seven points. Qatar (three points) play China (two points) later Monday in Doha with another loss for the Chinese team potentially disastrous.
The unfathomably close ball control, the quick bursts of agility, his deft passing, and deadly accurate shot have all combined to place him comfortably in soccer lore forever.
The new Messi Soccer Jersey is perfect for all you Messi fans out there, and trust me there everywhere, and its no surprise since they boast one of the world's greatest players in Messi.
Pick up your messi barcelona world cup jersey today and cheer on all the good times to come. Jordan's shock 2-2 draw with South Korea on Saturday leaves them second in Group 3 with four points, one behind the South Koreans and North Korea, who drew 0-0 with Turkmenistan in Ashgabat.
Lacklustre Iran in trouble after UAE draw
Iran were on Monday facing a tense set of final World Cup qualifying matches after the Team Melli again underperformed in a goalless draw against a spirited United Arab Emirates side.
The result is set to increase the pressure on Iran's inexperienced coach, the world record holder for international goals Ali Daei, as all their qualifying matched have now ended in draws.
Tehran's gigantic 100,000-seater Azadi stadium was only half full with around 35,000 Iranian spectators and a sprinkling of UAE fans witnessing a new failure by Iran to properly organise its obvious talents on the pitch.
The nearest the match came to a goal was when Iran's captain and player for Spain's Osasuna Javad Nekounam hit a header on target, only to be denied by the lively UAE goalkeeper Majed Nasser.
Daei, Iran's former talismanic striker who cut a tense figure throughout the humid night, tried out all his cards, changing the maximum three substitutes 20 minutes before the end of match.
Iran now have three points from three matches and the UAE have five points. The other two sides in the group, Syria and Kuwait, still have a chance of qualification.
With players from the European leagues and some of Asia's biggest stars, it would be a major upset if Iran failed to qualify for the next phase but the team will have to improve to go further.
By contrast, the UAE side jubilantly raised their hands in the air after the final whistle and celebrated while Iranian players trudged unhappily around the pitch.
The UAE's French coach Bruno Metso, clearly delighted by the result, said after the game: “We achieved what we came here for and we will keep moving” to the World Cup finals. He has set records at FC Barcelona that many thought would never be broken. His statistics speak for themselves, but there is nothing quite like watching him play.
The new Messi Jersey is perfect for all you Messi fans out there, and trust me there everywhere, and its no surprise since they boast one of the world's greatest players in Messi.
Pick up your messi barcelona stadium jersey today and cheer on all the good times to come. The two sides meet again on June 7 but this time on UAE turf.
The result is set to increase the pressure on Iran's inexperienced coach, the world record holder for international goals Ali Daei, as all their qualifying matched have now ended in draws.
Tehran's gigantic 100,000-seater Azadi stadium was only half full with around 35,000 Iranian spectators and a sprinkling of UAE fans witnessing a new failure by Iran to properly organise its obvious talents on the pitch.
The nearest the match came to a goal was when Iran's captain and player for Spain's Osasuna Javad Nekounam hit a header on target, only to be denied by the lively UAE goalkeeper Majed Nasser.
Daei, Iran's former talismanic striker who cut a tense figure throughout the humid night, tried out all his cards, changing the maximum three substitutes 20 minutes before the end of match.
Iran now have three points from three matches and the UAE have five points. The other two sides in the group, Syria and Kuwait, still have a chance of qualification.
With players from the European leagues and some of Asia's biggest stars, it would be a major upset if Iran failed to qualify for the next phase but the team will have to improve to go further.
By contrast, the UAE side jubilantly raised their hands in the air after the final whistle and celebrated while Iranian players trudged unhappily around the pitch.
The UAE's French coach Bruno Metso, clearly delighted by the result, said after the game: “We achieved what we came here for and we will keep moving” to the World Cup finals. He has set records at FC Barcelona that many thought would never be broken. His statistics speak for themselves, but there is nothing quite like watching him play.
The new Messi Jersey is perfect for all you Messi fans out there, and trust me there everywhere, and its no surprise since they boast one of the world's greatest players in Messi.
Pick up your messi barcelona stadium jersey today and cheer on all the good times to come. The two sides meet again on June 7 but this time on UAE turf.
England win in Trinidad but will they win the race for the 2018 world cup?
Over the next few weeks England will rightly not get a mention in the media and I will be writing, along with everyone else, about the best Europe has to offer.
So before I have to finally accept that England were terrible in the qualification and were deservedly knocked out by Croatia and Russia, allow me this one last article to cleanse my system and accept the depressing truth. Thank you!
So, an England team minus most of the Manchester United and Chelsea players, took to the field at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in the Port of Spain. I say field advisedly, because it could hardly be described as a pitch!
Fabio Capello picked the side with an eye to the future and made a young right sided midfielder, by the name of Beckham, captain of the side. This boy looks to be pretty good and with him in the side, I can’t see England failing to qualify for any future tournaments.
Also in the side were other promising youngsters such as David James, Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Bridge, Steve Gerrard and Gareth Barry. A tall striker called Peter Crouch came on as a substitute. The Capello revolution continues and you can certainly see how these type of players would be good enough to qualify for any major tournament!
Of course, I am being facetious. There were also places in the side for Glenn Johnson, Jonathan Woodgate, Stewart Downing, Dean Ashton and Jermaine Defoe. From the bench we saw Joe Hart, Phil Jagielka, Steven Warnock, David Bentley, Theo Walcott and Ashley Young. All of these are bright young players and will benefit from earning an international cap.
The game, if it can be called that, ended 3-0 to England. First half goals from Gareth Barry and Jermaine Defoe, together with a second from Defoe after half-time gave England a very comfortable victory against a very poor Trinidad and Tobago side. The 3-0 scoreline does not reflect England’s dominance of the game and only some poor finishing kept the score from becoming embarrassing for the hosts who were celebrating their centenary.
This game was about many things but it was never about the football match. Jack Warner, number two to Blatter at FIFA, is an MP in Trinidad and Tobago. He will vote for the whole of the Concacaf region when the decision about the venue for World Cup 2018 will be made. This game and the visit to the country and, dare I say it, even the captaincy being given to David Beckham, were all geared towards trying to persuade Warner to vote for England.
Last year, when talking about the likely venue for 2018, Warner said, “It’ll be Italy, Spain, or it might even be France. Nobody in Europe likes England. England – who invented the sport – has never had any impact on world football. England at no time has had the love and support of Europe. For Europe, England is an irritant. There are moves to give it to England. I must fight that.”
Whether the total waste of time in footballing terms last night will have done enough to reverse the position Warner had taken remains to be seen.
In terms of the football, what will Capello have found out over the last few days? Sadly, he has discovered that David James is still by far the best choice in goal. Joe Hart is hugely talented but looked like a fish out of water when he came on. He discovered that David Beckham is still a better bet for the role on the right of midfield than David Bentley. John Terry and Rio Ferdinand is the best defensive partnership. Steven Gerrard and Gareth Barry play well together in midfield. Wayne Rooney is our best forward player and he is still nowhere near finding another striker to play alongside him.
It is all a bit depressing for an England supporter really. What Capello has discovered is that the same team that have performed so poorly and failed to qualify for this month’s tournament, is still pretty much the best side we can put onto the pitch.
Magnificent, magical, mesmerizing, marvelous, majestic. All of these describe the mercurial Messi - and those are only adjectives that begin with "M". Yes, Lionel is one of the greats already. His numbers for club and country are astounding.
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Pick up your messi barcelona jersey shirt today and cheer on all the good times to come. Whether Capello can instill the necessary tactical awareness, ball retention and goal scoring threat that a top team needs, into this side, is a major doubt.
So before I have to finally accept that England were terrible in the qualification and were deservedly knocked out by Croatia and Russia, allow me this one last article to cleanse my system and accept the depressing truth. Thank you!
So, an England team minus most of the Manchester United and Chelsea players, took to the field at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in the Port of Spain. I say field advisedly, because it could hardly be described as a pitch!
Fabio Capello picked the side with an eye to the future and made a young right sided midfielder, by the name of Beckham, captain of the side. This boy looks to be pretty good and with him in the side, I can’t see England failing to qualify for any future tournaments.
Also in the side were other promising youngsters such as David James, Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Bridge, Steve Gerrard and Gareth Barry. A tall striker called Peter Crouch came on as a substitute. The Capello revolution continues and you can certainly see how these type of players would be good enough to qualify for any major tournament!
Of course, I am being facetious. There were also places in the side for Glenn Johnson, Jonathan Woodgate, Stewart Downing, Dean Ashton and Jermaine Defoe. From the bench we saw Joe Hart, Phil Jagielka, Steven Warnock, David Bentley, Theo Walcott and Ashley Young. All of these are bright young players and will benefit from earning an international cap.
The game, if it can be called that, ended 3-0 to England. First half goals from Gareth Barry and Jermaine Defoe, together with a second from Defoe after half-time gave England a very comfortable victory against a very poor Trinidad and Tobago side. The 3-0 scoreline does not reflect England’s dominance of the game and only some poor finishing kept the score from becoming embarrassing for the hosts who were celebrating their centenary.
This game was about many things but it was never about the football match. Jack Warner, number two to Blatter at FIFA, is an MP in Trinidad and Tobago. He will vote for the whole of the Concacaf region when the decision about the venue for World Cup 2018 will be made. This game and the visit to the country and, dare I say it, even the captaincy being given to David Beckham, were all geared towards trying to persuade Warner to vote for England.
Last year, when talking about the likely venue for 2018, Warner said, “It’ll be Italy, Spain, or it might even be France. Nobody in Europe likes England. England – who invented the sport – has never had any impact on world football. England at no time has had the love and support of Europe. For Europe, England is an irritant. There are moves to give it to England. I must fight that.”
Whether the total waste of time in footballing terms last night will have done enough to reverse the position Warner had taken remains to be seen.
In terms of the football, what will Capello have found out over the last few days? Sadly, he has discovered that David James is still by far the best choice in goal. Joe Hart is hugely talented but looked like a fish out of water when he came on. He discovered that David Beckham is still a better bet for the role on the right of midfield than David Bentley. John Terry and Rio Ferdinand is the best defensive partnership. Steven Gerrard and Gareth Barry play well together in midfield. Wayne Rooney is our best forward player and he is still nowhere near finding another striker to play alongside him.
It is all a bit depressing for an England supporter really. What Capello has discovered is that the same team that have performed so poorly and failed to qualify for this month’s tournament, is still pretty much the best side we can put onto the pitch.
Magnificent, magical, mesmerizing, marvelous, majestic. All of these describe the mercurial Messi - and those are only adjectives that begin with "M". Yes, Lionel is one of the greats already. His numbers for club and country are astounding.
Time to show your flashy side, ladies and gents. The authentic also features upgraded materials. The upgraded, technologically advanced materials on the authentic jersey will result in a lighter weight.
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Burkina Faso stun Tunisia in World Cup qualifier
Late substitute Youssouf Kone scored twice in four minutes to give Burkina Faso a sensational 2-1 away win over Tunisia Sunday in a 2010 World Cup-African Nations Cup qualifier.
The Carthage Eagles of Tunisia competed at the previous three World Cup tournaments and are ranked 10 in Africa, 20 places above the Stallions of Burkina Faso.
Tijani Belaid put Tunisia ahead on 38 minutes in the Group 9 Rades showdown and they appeared set for a narrow victory until Norway-based Kone burst on the scene.
He replaced Soumalia Tassembedo with 10 minutes left and beat goalkeeper Hamdi Kasraoui on 84 and 87 minutes to turn the match on its head and give Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte a dream competitive debut.
Burkina Faso have won only one of 16 other World Cup qualifers and that was 32 years ago in Mauritania while Tunisia were suffering only their third home loss in 37 qualifying matches.
The result puts unexpected early pressure on Tunisia coach Roger Lemerre ahead of a June 30 departure when his contract ends and he succeeds fellow Frenchman Henri Michel in charge of Morocco.
Former African champions Tunisia are away next weekend to the Seychelles and the Indian Ocean islanders also upset the form book by forcing a 0-0 away draw against Burundi in the other group encounter.
Egypt, who lifted the Nations Cup a record sixth time this year, had to come from behind in Group 12 to defeat the Democratic Republic of Congo 2-1 with Ahmed Abdelmalek snatching the 80th-minute winner.
France-based midfielder Herita Ilunga put the Congolese 'Leopards' ahead one minute before half-time and striker Amr Zaki levelled midway through the second half at the Cairo Stadium.
Ghana, third behind Egypt and Cameroon when they hosted the 2008 Nations Cup, swept aside Libya 3-0 in a Group 5 clash in Kumasi via goals from Prince Tagoe, Junior Agogo and Laryea Kingston.
The sight of the ball hitting the net thrice was particularly sweet for Sellas Tettah, acting coach after Frenchman Claude le Roy did not renew his contract, as Ghana struggled to score for most of the African tournament.
Ivory Coast, lacking injured first-choice strikers Didier Drogba and Aruna Dindane, needed 75 minutes to break Mozambique when Sekou Cisse scored what proved the only goal of the Group 7 match in Abidjan.
Nigeria hosted 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa in a Group 4 clash billed the match of the weekend, but it proved a damp squib with the home team cruising to a 2-0 victory at a half-full National Stadium in Abuja.
The Nigerian 'Super Eagles' exposed the aerial shortcomings of the Bafana Bafana (The Boys) defence as Ikechukwu Uche headed home a John Utaka cross on 10 minutes and Obinna Nwaneri repeated the feat from a corner before half-time.
South Africa were woeful under new Brazilian coach Joel Santana and looked further away than ever from creating a team capable of holding their own against the best in the world two years from now.
Bafana Bafana qualify automatically for the World Cup as hosts, but must compete in the preliminaries because they double as qualifiers for the 2010 Nations Cup to be staged by Angola for the first time. Angola, shock qualifiers for the 2006 World Cup at the expense of Nigeria, took their time before outplaying Benin 3-0 in Luanda through goals from Flavio Amado, debutant 'Job' and 'Mendonca'.
Bamako witnessed a goal feast as Mali defeated Congo 4-2 with Seydou Keita setting the tone by scoring after just two minutes only for Mickalad Mouithys to level three minutes later.
The unfathomably close ball control, the quick bursts of agility, his deft passing, and deadly accurate shot have all combined to place him comfortably in soccer lore forever.
Time to show your flashy side, ladies and gents. The authentic also features upgraded materials. The upgraded, technologically advanced materials on the authentic jersey will result in a lighter weight.
Pick up your messi barcelona jersey girl today and cheer on all the good times to come. Adama Coulibaly, Soumaila Coulibaly and Keita were on target to give Mali a comfortable advantage before Mouithys scored a late consolation goal for the Congolese 'Red Devils'.
The Carthage Eagles of Tunisia competed at the previous three World Cup tournaments and are ranked 10 in Africa, 20 places above the Stallions of Burkina Faso.
Tijani Belaid put Tunisia ahead on 38 minutes in the Group 9 Rades showdown and they appeared set for a narrow victory until Norway-based Kone burst on the scene.
He replaced Soumalia Tassembedo with 10 minutes left and beat goalkeeper Hamdi Kasraoui on 84 and 87 minutes to turn the match on its head and give Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte a dream competitive debut.
Burkina Faso have won only one of 16 other World Cup qualifers and that was 32 years ago in Mauritania while Tunisia were suffering only their third home loss in 37 qualifying matches.
The result puts unexpected early pressure on Tunisia coach Roger Lemerre ahead of a June 30 departure when his contract ends and he succeeds fellow Frenchman Henri Michel in charge of Morocco.
Former African champions Tunisia are away next weekend to the Seychelles and the Indian Ocean islanders also upset the form book by forcing a 0-0 away draw against Burundi in the other group encounter.
Egypt, who lifted the Nations Cup a record sixth time this year, had to come from behind in Group 12 to defeat the Democratic Republic of Congo 2-1 with Ahmed Abdelmalek snatching the 80th-minute winner.
France-based midfielder Herita Ilunga put the Congolese 'Leopards' ahead one minute before half-time and striker Amr Zaki levelled midway through the second half at the Cairo Stadium.
Ghana, third behind Egypt and Cameroon when they hosted the 2008 Nations Cup, swept aside Libya 3-0 in a Group 5 clash in Kumasi via goals from Prince Tagoe, Junior Agogo and Laryea Kingston.
The sight of the ball hitting the net thrice was particularly sweet for Sellas Tettah, acting coach after Frenchman Claude le Roy did not renew his contract, as Ghana struggled to score for most of the African tournament.
Ivory Coast, lacking injured first-choice strikers Didier Drogba and Aruna Dindane, needed 75 minutes to break Mozambique when Sekou Cisse scored what proved the only goal of the Group 7 match in Abidjan.
Nigeria hosted 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa in a Group 4 clash billed the match of the weekend, but it proved a damp squib with the home team cruising to a 2-0 victory at a half-full National Stadium in Abuja.
The Nigerian 'Super Eagles' exposed the aerial shortcomings of the Bafana Bafana (The Boys) defence as Ikechukwu Uche headed home a John Utaka cross on 10 minutes and Obinna Nwaneri repeated the feat from a corner before half-time.
South Africa were woeful under new Brazilian coach Joel Santana and looked further away than ever from creating a team capable of holding their own against the best in the world two years from now.
Bafana Bafana qualify automatically for the World Cup as hosts, but must compete in the preliminaries because they double as qualifiers for the 2010 Nations Cup to be staged by Angola for the first time. Angola, shock qualifiers for the 2006 World Cup at the expense of Nigeria, took their time before outplaying Benin 3-0 in Luanda through goals from Flavio Amado, debutant 'Job' and 'Mendonca'.
Bamako witnessed a goal feast as Mali defeated Congo 4-2 with Seydou Keita setting the tone by scoring after just two minutes only for Mickalad Mouithys to level three minutes later.
The unfathomably close ball control, the quick bursts of agility, his deft passing, and deadly accurate shot have all combined to place him comfortably in soccer lore forever.
Time to show your flashy side, ladies and gents. The authentic also features upgraded materials. The upgraded, technologically advanced materials on the authentic jersey will result in a lighter weight.
Pick up your messi barcelona jersey girl today and cheer on all the good times to come. Adama Coulibaly, Soumaila Coulibaly and Keita were on target to give Mali a comfortable advantage before Mouithys scored a late consolation goal for the Congolese 'Red Devils'.
FIFA vice-president backs England´s World Cup bid
FIFA vice-president Jack Warner said Sunday he would be backing England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
Warner, who is also CONCACAF president and a special advisor to the Trinidad Football Federation, believes the strength of England’s Premier League makes the country an ideal venue for the tournament.
The English FA will be relieved to get Warner’s support after they arranged for Fabio Capello’s team to play a goodwill friendly against Trinidad and Tobago in Port of Spain on Sunday.
“England should hold the World Cup – by 2018 it will be 52 years since they have hosted the tournament,” Warner told the Observer.
“The English league is the most popular, it had the three strongest teams in the Champions League semi-finals. He has set records at FC Barcelona that many thought would never be broken. His statistics speak for themselves, but there is nothing quite like watching him play.
The new Messi Jersey is perfect for all you Messi fans out there, and trust me there everywhere, and its no surprise since they boast one of the world's greatest players in Messi.
Pick up your messi barcelona jersey for men today and cheer on all the good times to come. “I want England. And it should be remembered that for the 2006 tournament CONCACAF voted for England.”
Warner, who is also CONCACAF president and a special advisor to the Trinidad Football Federation, believes the strength of England’s Premier League makes the country an ideal venue for the tournament.
The English FA will be relieved to get Warner’s support after they arranged for Fabio Capello’s team to play a goodwill friendly against Trinidad and Tobago in Port of Spain on Sunday.
“England should hold the World Cup – by 2018 it will be 52 years since they have hosted the tournament,” Warner told the Observer.
“The English league is the most popular, it had the three strongest teams in the Champions League semi-finals. He has set records at FC Barcelona that many thought would never be broken. His statistics speak for themselves, but there is nothing quite like watching him play.
The new Messi Jersey is perfect for all you Messi fans out there, and trust me there everywhere, and its no surprise since they boast one of the world's greatest players in Messi.
Pick up your messi barcelona jersey for men today and cheer on all the good times to come. “I want England. And it should be remembered that for the 2006 tournament CONCACAF voted for England.”
Iran´s Karimi reinstated after Ahmadinejad intervenes
Iranian football star Ali Karimi has been reinstated in the national squad after intervention from no less than President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the grandson of revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, media reported Sunday.
Karimi, a former Bayern Munich midfielder nicknamed the “Asian Maradona”, had been dropped after launching a bitter attack on the Iranian football federation which he accused of having no planning.
But demands from football fan Ahmadinejad and Khomeini's most prominent living descendant, his grandson Hassan Khomeini, have prompted the federation to reverse its decision, the ISNA news agency reported.
The tumult comes ahead of Iran's World Cup qualifier against the United Arab Emirates in Tehran on Monday, a must win game for the Team Melli after a sluggish start to its campaign.
Karimi is unlikely to play as he is injured but national coach Ali Daei has said he will be welcomed back into the squad. “The federation has definitely pardoned Ali Karimi. Whether he is part of the team depends on coaching decisions,” ISNA quoted Iranian football federation official Mehdi Taj as saying.
Ahmadinejad gave the order on Friday after he visited the team's training camp.
Magnificent, magical, mesmerizing, marvelous, majestic. All of these describe the mercurial Messi - and those are only adjectives that begin with "M". Yes, Lionel is one of the greats already. His numbers for club and country are astounding.
The new Messi Jersey is perfect for all you Messi fans out there, and trust me there everywhere, and its no surprise since they boast one of the world's greatest players in Messi.
Pick up your men's messi barcelona jersey today and cheer on all the good times to come. Karimi, who currently plays for Al-Qatar had said: “The Iranian football federation is a federation without any appropriate plans and we are witnessing that Iranian football is moving backwards.”
Karimi, a former Bayern Munich midfielder nicknamed the “Asian Maradona”, had been dropped after launching a bitter attack on the Iranian football federation which he accused of having no planning.
But demands from football fan Ahmadinejad and Khomeini's most prominent living descendant, his grandson Hassan Khomeini, have prompted the federation to reverse its decision, the ISNA news agency reported.
The tumult comes ahead of Iran's World Cup qualifier against the United Arab Emirates in Tehran on Monday, a must win game for the Team Melli after a sluggish start to its campaign.
Karimi is unlikely to play as he is injured but national coach Ali Daei has said he will be welcomed back into the squad. “The federation has definitely pardoned Ali Karimi. Whether he is part of the team depends on coaching decisions,” ISNA quoted Iranian football federation official Mehdi Taj as saying.
Ahmadinejad gave the order on Friday after he visited the team's training camp.
Magnificent, magical, mesmerizing, marvelous, majestic. All of these describe the mercurial Messi - and those are only adjectives that begin with "M". Yes, Lionel is one of the greats already. His numbers for club and country are astounding.
The new Messi Jersey is perfect for all you Messi fans out there, and trust me there everywhere, and its no surprise since they boast one of the world's greatest players in Messi.
Pick up your men's messi barcelona jersey today and cheer on all the good times to come. Karimi, who currently plays for Al-Qatar had said: “The Iranian football federation is a federation without any appropriate plans and we are witnessing that Iranian football is moving backwards.”
Russia coach Hiddink rules out Chelsea switch
Guus Hiddink insisted Sunday there was no chance of him leaving Russia to take charge of Chelsea.
Hiddink has been linked to the Stamford Bridge hotseat for the last year and the speculation intensified when Avram Grant was sacked last month.
The Dutchman has yet to sign a new contract with Russia but he ruled out a move to the Premier League club by revealing he has agreed to stay on until after the 2010 World Cup.
“Everyone is speculating because it is not signed officially but there is an agreement between the president of the Russian Federation and me to continue,” Hiddink told BBC Radio Five Live.
“The only contact I have had with Chelsea has been with (Roman) Abramovich about the development of Russian football.” Hiddink hinted at the reason he isn't keen to join Chelsea when he described the intense pressure put on managers there to win trophies every year.
“If they did not put so much pressure to get two or three cups every year, I would imagine they would start to play even better,” he said.
AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti, Blackburn boss Mark Hughes and Frank Rijkaard are also in the running to replace Grant.
Hiddink believes Rijkaard would be the ideal man to deliver Roman Abramovich's desire for entertainment, as well as winning football.
The unfathomably close ball control, the quick bursts of agility, his deft passing, and deadly accurate shot have all combined to place him comfortably in soccer lore forever.
The new Messi Soccer Jersey is perfect for all you Messi fans out there, and trust me there everywhere, and its no surprise since they boast one of the world's greatest players in Messi.
Pick up your messi barcelona jersey mens today and cheer on all the good times to come. “He could fit very well in this philosophy. He is very open person to the people he is working closely with,” he said.
Hiddink has been linked to the Stamford Bridge hotseat for the last year and the speculation intensified when Avram Grant was sacked last month.
The Dutchman has yet to sign a new contract with Russia but he ruled out a move to the Premier League club by revealing he has agreed to stay on until after the 2010 World Cup.
“Everyone is speculating because it is not signed officially but there is an agreement between the president of the Russian Federation and me to continue,” Hiddink told BBC Radio Five Live.
“The only contact I have had with Chelsea has been with (Roman) Abramovich about the development of Russian football.” Hiddink hinted at the reason he isn't keen to join Chelsea when he described the intense pressure put on managers there to win trophies every year.
“If they did not put so much pressure to get two or three cups every year, I would imagine they would start to play even better,” he said.
AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti, Blackburn boss Mark Hughes and Frank Rijkaard are also in the running to replace Grant.
Hiddink believes Rijkaard would be the ideal man to deliver Roman Abramovich's desire for entertainment, as well as winning football.
The unfathomably close ball control, the quick bursts of agility, his deft passing, and deadly accurate shot have all combined to place him comfortably in soccer lore forever.
The new Messi Soccer Jersey is perfect for all you Messi fans out there, and trust me there everywhere, and its no surprise since they boast one of the world's greatest players in Messi.
Pick up your messi barcelona jersey mens today and cheer on all the good times to come. “He could fit very well in this philosophy. He is very open person to the people he is working closely with,” he said.
Kewell edges Aussies past Iraq in WC qualifier
Harry Kewell scored another of his big-match goals to unlock Iraq and edge Australia closer to the final phase of World Cup qualifying here Sunday.
Kewell, 29, whose goal against Croatia lifted Australia into the second round of the 2006 World Cup finals, grabbed the winner two minutes into the second half after the home side had ridden their luck in the opening half.
Skipper Kewell eased Australia’s anxieties with a well-taken header, outjumping his marker Abdul Amir Haidar to nod home Brett Emerton’s cross from the right.
It was the 10th goal in 32 international appearances for Kewell, who is emerging from a couple of injury-blighted seasons. Kewell was taken off with 13 minutes left to rapturous applause from the home crowd.
Iraq came close to grabbing a draw in the final 10 minutes, with Ali Hussein Rehema and Mulla Mohammed Hawar denied by last-ditch defending.
Asian champions Iraq did not even know they would be playing the Australians until FIFA reversed a decision on Thursday to suspend them from competition over political interference from their government.
Australia have seven points from their three qualifiers and have not conceded a goal, while Iraq have just one point. Sunday’s defeat has all but killed off Iraq’s chances of reaching the final phase of qualifying with three games left in the group.
The victory has put Australia in the box seat to advance when they play their return World Cup qualifier against Iraq in Dubai next weekend.
Iraq had three outstanding chances in the first half and Australia were fortunate not to concede a goal for the first time in three qualifying games.
Emad Mohammed rattled the bar in the fifth minute after goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer had punched clear a corner.
Emad later found himself unmarked in the box after sloppy Australian marking but his shot was deflected for a corner by Schwarzer’s leg in the 26th minute.
And skipper Younis Mahmoud had a free header in the six-yard box, the chance going wide of Schwarzer’s right post. Kewell came in for special attention from the Iraqi defence and he was fouled three times, two of the offences leading to yellow cards for defenders Rehema and Haidar.
The Iraqis, like they did in their 3-1 win at last year’s Asian Cup, frustrated the Australians with their stoppages during play and several times Socceroo players lost their cool, remonstrating with Uzbekistan referee Ravshan Irmatov.
Kewell provided Australia’s best chance in the 19th minute of the first half, latching on to a cross from defender David Carney and forcing goalkeeper Noor Sabri Abbas to punch clear.
He has set records at FC Barcelona that many thought would never be broken. His statistics speak for themselves, but there is nothing quite like watching him play.
The new Messi Jersey is perfect for all you Messi fans out there, and trust me there everywhere, and its no surprise since they boast one of the world's greatest players in Messi.
Pick up your replica messi barcelona jersey today and cheer on all the good times to come. The Iraqis, constantly dangerous on the counter-attack, forced four corners in the opening half before the home side claimed three quick corners in the final minutes of the half.
Kewell, 29, whose goal against Croatia lifted Australia into the second round of the 2006 World Cup finals, grabbed the winner two minutes into the second half after the home side had ridden their luck in the opening half.
Skipper Kewell eased Australia’s anxieties with a well-taken header, outjumping his marker Abdul Amir Haidar to nod home Brett Emerton’s cross from the right.
It was the 10th goal in 32 international appearances for Kewell, who is emerging from a couple of injury-blighted seasons. Kewell was taken off with 13 minutes left to rapturous applause from the home crowd.
Iraq came close to grabbing a draw in the final 10 minutes, with Ali Hussein Rehema and Mulla Mohammed Hawar denied by last-ditch defending.
Asian champions Iraq did not even know they would be playing the Australians until FIFA reversed a decision on Thursday to suspend them from competition over political interference from their government.
Australia have seven points from their three qualifiers and have not conceded a goal, while Iraq have just one point. Sunday’s defeat has all but killed off Iraq’s chances of reaching the final phase of qualifying with three games left in the group.
The victory has put Australia in the box seat to advance when they play their return World Cup qualifier against Iraq in Dubai next weekend.
Iraq had three outstanding chances in the first half and Australia were fortunate not to concede a goal for the first time in three qualifying games.
Emad Mohammed rattled the bar in the fifth minute after goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer had punched clear a corner.
Emad later found himself unmarked in the box after sloppy Australian marking but his shot was deflected for a corner by Schwarzer’s leg in the 26th minute.
And skipper Younis Mahmoud had a free header in the six-yard box, the chance going wide of Schwarzer’s right post. Kewell came in for special attention from the Iraqi defence and he was fouled three times, two of the offences leading to yellow cards for defenders Rehema and Haidar.
The Iraqis, like they did in their 3-1 win at last year’s Asian Cup, frustrated the Australians with their stoppages during play and several times Socceroo players lost their cool, remonstrating with Uzbekistan referee Ravshan Irmatov.
Kewell provided Australia’s best chance in the 19th minute of the first half, latching on to a cross from defender David Carney and forcing goalkeeper Noor Sabri Abbas to punch clear.
He has set records at FC Barcelona that many thought would never be broken. His statistics speak for themselves, but there is nothing quite like watching him play.
The new Messi Jersey is perfect for all you Messi fans out there, and trust me there everywhere, and its no surprise since they boast one of the world's greatest players in Messi.
Pick up your replica messi barcelona jersey today and cheer on all the good times to come. The Iraqis, constantly dangerous on the counter-attack, forced four corners in the opening half before the home side claimed three quick corners in the final minutes of the half.
Australia still pushing for football 2018 World Cup: minister
The Australian government said Sunday it backed the country’s bid to organise the 2018 World Cup, despite comments from FIFA President Sepp Blatter that Europe would likely host the tournament.
Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner said Blatter had been “a little cute” when he suggested the World Cup would move back to the northern hemisphere for 2018.
Blatter, who was in Sydney for FIFA’s 58th Congress, last week indicated that football’s biggest competition would by hosted by a European contender and urged some nations, including Australia, to re-think their bids.
“We have South Africa in 2010 and Brazil in 2014. Australia is also in the southern hemisphere — is that not so?” he said. “It would be a logical approach for the 2018 competition to go back (to the northern hemisphere).”
But Tanner said the tournament was no longer by the traditional pattern of alternating between Europe and Latin America.
“I think the comments from Sepp Blatter were just a little cute,” he told ABC television. The traditional pattern had recently been broken by South Africa staging the contest in 2010 before it returned to South America with Brazil in 2014, he said.
“And what our bid is timed to reflect of course, is that in 2018 it will go beyond a Latin American option,” Tanner said. Tanner said the government was guided by Football Federation Australia and would push ahead with its 60 million dollar (57 million US) bid to host the event.
And while winning hosting rights would be difficult, Blatter did not make the decision alone, Tanner said. “Ultimately, he doesn’t make the decision,” he said. “He’s an influential player. He doesn’t make the decision.”
European powers England, Spain, Russia and a joint Dutch-Belgian effort are also expected to bid for 2018, Blatter said, along with Asia’s China, Japan and Qatar, and the United States and Mexico. Magnificent, magical, mesmerizing, marvelous, majestic. All of these describe the mercurial Messi - and those are only adjectives that begin with "M". Yes, Lionel is one of the greats already. His numbers for club and country are astounding.
Time to show your flashy side, ladies and gents. The authentic also features upgraded materials. The upgraded, technologically advanced materials on the authentic jersey will result in a lighter weight.
Pick up your messi barcelona jersey replica today and cheer on all the good times to come. FIFA statutes prevent consecutive editions of the world’s premier tournament from being staged on the same continent.
Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner said Blatter had been “a little cute” when he suggested the World Cup would move back to the northern hemisphere for 2018.
Blatter, who was in Sydney for FIFA’s 58th Congress, last week indicated that football’s biggest competition would by hosted by a European contender and urged some nations, including Australia, to re-think their bids.
“We have South Africa in 2010 and Brazil in 2014. Australia is also in the southern hemisphere — is that not so?” he said. “It would be a logical approach for the 2018 competition to go back (to the northern hemisphere).”
But Tanner said the tournament was no longer by the traditional pattern of alternating between Europe and Latin America.
“I think the comments from Sepp Blatter were just a little cute,” he told ABC television. The traditional pattern had recently been broken by South Africa staging the contest in 2010 before it returned to South America with Brazil in 2014, he said.
“And what our bid is timed to reflect of course, is that in 2018 it will go beyond a Latin American option,” Tanner said. Tanner said the government was guided by Football Federation Australia and would push ahead with its 60 million dollar (57 million US) bid to host the event.
And while winning hosting rights would be difficult, Blatter did not make the decision alone, Tanner said. “Ultimately, he doesn’t make the decision,” he said. “He’s an influential player. He doesn’t make the decision.”
European powers England, Spain, Russia and a joint Dutch-Belgian effort are also expected to bid for 2018, Blatter said, along with Asia’s China, Japan and Qatar, and the United States and Mexico. Magnificent, magical, mesmerizing, marvelous, majestic. All of these describe the mercurial Messi - and those are only adjectives that begin with "M". Yes, Lionel is one of the greats already. His numbers for club and country are astounding.
Time to show your flashy side, ladies and gents. The authentic also features upgraded materials. The upgraded, technologically advanced materials on the authentic jersey will result in a lighter weight.
Pick up your messi barcelona jersey replica today and cheer on all the good times to come. FIFA statutes prevent consecutive editions of the world’s premier tournament from being staged on the same continent.
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