Result AFF SUZUKI Cup 2010

Group A

Indonesia

1/12

17:00 ---------- Thai Land 2 : 2 Laos

19:30 ---------- Indonesia 5 : 1 Malaysia

Where Did England Go Wrong Against France?

by Jeremy Monkhouse

Where did England go wrong on Wednesday against France? I am, of course, talking about the football match (or â• • soccer gameâ• • for you Americans) that took place last week at Wembley stadium in London.

Although the score was 2-1 to France, in truth it could have been far more than that. England were shown up for what they are â• • a team lacking in basic footballing technique (when compared to the other major footballing countries, anyway) and ideas. France started off by passing the ball around in a fluid and easy-on-the-eye fashion, whereas England played the ball around between their defenders before hoofing the ball up to an isolated Andy Carroll up front.

So what went wrong? Fabio Capello (the England manager) was trying out a few new youth players, so you might be forgiven for using this as an excuse for a bad performance, but in truth it was not the youth that were the problem â• • it was the older, more experienced players that yet again did not perform.

Gareth Barry will be the victim of much of the abuse after this game, and rightly so. He simply offered nothing at all in midfield. For a player that canâ• • t pass or tackle and doesnâ• • t run, it seems as if his England future might be in question.

Secondly, although Jordan Henderson (one of the young players introduced in the friendly) does look a fantastic prospect (his Sunderland form will tell you that), he was fairly poor against France. Some leeway must obviously be given, since he is only 20 and this was his first ever England cap. Henderson looked understandably nervous in front of the 80,000 strong crowd, but calmed down as the game went on.

Despite all of this, we must remember that this was just a friendly, and that we shouldnâ• • t get carried away like many people have been.

About the Author

Jeremy has been writing articles for nearly 4 years. Come visit his latest website about buying a kids fabric shower curtains which also helps people find the best primitive country shower curtains on the market.â• •

Results Fultsal 1/8, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Saturday at Olympic Stadium

1. Dai Ek Katdé 4-7 Commissary Police.

2. General Department of Industry 7-2 Red Ball.

3. Panda ABC 7-5 Home Sport.

4. Khmer Super Red 12-10 Phnom Penhnois.

Sunday at Olympic Stadium

1. Flying Bikes 11-5 KCT.

2. Mobile qb 7-5 Funan.

3. Dara Prampi 3-15 Black Cat

4. Hotel Nokor Samreth 6-11 Daniel

Result Friendly Match of Cambodian Football Club

13/11/2010

Location: Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Time: 03:30 PM

Phnom Penh Crown 2 : 0 Khmer Team from France.

Scorers: Sun Sopanha 2' & Tieng Tiny 90'+2.

Result Friendly Match of Cambodian Football Club

10/11/2010

Time: 03:30pm

Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Naga Corp 1 : 0 Youth Khmer From France.

Scorers:

Kop Isa 35'.

Result Friendly Match of Cambodian Football Club

7/11/2010

Time: 03:30pm

Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Preah Khan Reach 5 : 1 Khmer Selected From France.

Scorers:

Preah Khan Reach: Udom 13', Laboravy 28'&45', S.El Nasa 71', Rasmey 90'.

Khmer Selected From France: Samnang 59'.

Roger Hunt - Liverpool FC Legend

by Steve Goodwin

Roger Hunt was born in 1938 and became one of the most legendary footballers ever to play for Liverpool. Hunt played for Stockton Heath, Bury and Devizes Town, before signing for Liverpool in 1958 and he went on to make 492 appearances and score 286 goals for Liverpool.

Hunt was signed by Liverpool manager Phil Taylor when they were mid-table second division side, but he still managed to impress. When Bill Shankly became manager, Roger Hunt survived a large player exodus and became instrumental in the Liverpool side that returned to winning ways and top division football.

After narrowly missing out on promotion for several consecutive seasons, Roger Hunt played a major role in helping Liverpool win promotion during the 1961-62 season, he played in 41 of the 42 league games and scored 41 goals that season, as Liverpool won the second division title.

Hunt formed a formidable strike partnership with Ian St John as Liverpool returned to the first division, and he went on to become Liverpool's top goal scorer for eight seasons running, this included Liverpool's title winning season of 1963-64 and in 1965-66. Hunt also scored the opening goal as Liverpool won the FA Cup in 1965 against Leeds United.

Roger Hunt was not only renowned for his goal scoring exploits, but also his team play and work ethic, which were second to none. Hunt became Liverpool's all time leading goal scorer, a record that was eventually overtaken by Ian Rush, but Hunt remains the highest scorer of league goals for Liverpool even today.

Roger Hunt also had a distinguished international football career for England, and was part of the World Cup winning team in 1966, he played in all of England's six games in the tournament and scored three goals, as England went on to win the trophy for the first and only time; he is often referred to as "Sir" Roger Hunt by the Liverpool fans in recognition of a knighthood they believe he deserved.

In 1969 and aging Roger Hunt was allowed to leave Liverpool as Bill Shankly began to re-build his team, and Hunt joined Bolton Wanderers. Many fans believe if it wasn't for Hunts great ability, Liverpool would never have achieved the success they have, which makes him a true Liverpool legend.

About the Author

Steve Goodwin is a writer for Premier Football Souvenirs, a UK based internet company specialising in the retail of Premier League Football (Soccer) merchandise, souvenirs and football gifts that are available from the football shop to ship worldwide.

Liverpool to lose Benitez, Torres and Gerrard?

by Giorgio Pirelli

Once again Liverpool are hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons with further speculation that star players Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard are set to leave the club along with manager, Rafa Benitez. On the back of Liverpool's consecutive 1-0 defeats to Wigan and Lille, and Real Madrid's elimination from the Europe, speculation is mounting that Benitez will finally succumb to Madrid's advances. Benitez has apparently already turned down three approaches to swap the soccer uniforms of Liverpool for Real Madrid over the past few seasons but with both clubs faltering badly it looks as if all parties concerned would welcome such a move. Media reports in Spain also suggest that Real Madrid are lining up a big money move for Liverpool captain who has cut a dejected figure of late as Liverpool slump once again. If this weren't bad news enough for the Anfield faithful, Fernando Torres has come out with a thinly veiled threat to quit the club if there isn't a cash injection soon that will finance a squad overhaul. "The really important thing is that the club make a big effort and bring in important players, who will improve the quality of the squad," said Torres. 'We need four or five top-class players to compete, who will make us grit our teeth and do everything we can to try to keep our places. Without reinforcements next year we will once again be fighting to be fourth. I want to fight next year to win the Premier League, to win the Champions League or the Europa League, but for this there have to be signings.' When questioned about his future, Torres said: 'I have three more years on my contract. I owe Liverpool many things and I'm very happy here. The fans have treated me like one of their own, but I'm going to think about my future. The club deserve to get back to winning [trophies] but right now that is far off. The fans are worried about players leaving.' These quotes were released before a recent report that The Rhone Group, a global private equity firm with bases in London, Paris and New York have been in talks with the Reds for a number of weeks and have now put together a $165 million offer that would see them take a 40% stake in the club. A number of investors have been circling the club for some time and now that a firm bid is on the table other investors are likely to come forward and compete. According to club legend, Alan Hansen, new investment is crucial at this time if Liverpool is to avoid crisis "Whatever the outcome of the proposed investment in Liverpool, somebody has to come in and save them because it is clearly crunch time in terms of the club's history," said Hansen. "The mere fact that Fernando Torres chose to speak about the need for "four or five top-class" players to be signed by the club will be a worry for Liverpool supporters because, in a perfect world, he would have said nothing and simply got on with the job." "On the pitch, things are not looking great because it looks as though they are going to miss out on Champions League qualification." "To qualify, they are going to have to win 95 per cent of their remaining games this season and they don't look capable of doing that." "If they fail, that's when the problems could really start. I don't know about the intentions of Torres or Steven Gerrard, but if you are in the top 100 players in the world, you want to play in the Champions League because it is the only place to be." "If Liverpool are not in the Champions League, will they accept missing out as a one-off or fear it happening season after season? Should either of them decide to leave, it would leave an enormous hole that would be impossible to fill." "So this is the problem facing whoever comes in with new investment. It is a big ask of anybody to expect them to find the money for a new ground and a new team." "It has been 20 years since Liverpool won the league. If it goes another five years and the club slip into mediocrity, then you are not only asking for trouble, you are likely to get it." "That is why the next few months are so crucial. If the new investment arrives, then the club will have to either back manager Rafael Benítez to the hilt in the summer or he will have to go. At the moment, you would have to say that the outcome of that one is 50-50." The wearers of the most successful of all soccer uniforms in English soccer history have a chance to generate better headlines when they take on Portsmouth at Anfield later today.
About the Author

Browse through Soccer Uniformsextensive collection of soccer kits.

Why UEFA Decided Some Euro 2012 Qualifying Fixtures

by Rob Atherton

When the draw was made for the Euro 2012 championships, there was great excitement amongst the fans. Their thoughts turned to the new destinations they would visit following their team in their quest to make the finals which will be hosted jointly by Poland and Ukraine.

However, travel plans can't be made until the dates of the qualifying matches were decided. In the first instance, it was left to the teams in the 9 groups to hold a meeting to try to agree fixtures. The countries are free to chose the fixture dates from a list of international dates between September 2010 and October 2011.

Within weeks of the Euro 2012 Qualifying draw being made, meetings were being held all round Europe and in five of the nine groups, fixtures were agreed which meant supporters could start making their travel plans. For the countries of the four remaining groups, the fixtures were decided by UEFA. Among the teams who didn't agree fixtures were both England and Republic of Ireland who enjoy huge travelling support. This meant the loyal supporters had to wait a little longer to make their travel plans.

The countries from the four unresolved groups headed to Tel Aviv to await their fate at the hands of UEFA. The procedure was pretty straight forward. UEFA have a standard fixture list with fixtures such as A v B on a specific dates. All that was left to do was to draw the teams from each group into a letter thus giving the set of fixtures for the remaining four Euro 2012 Qualifying groups. Supporters could start planning their trips at last.
About the Author

Rob is a traveller and football supporter.

FIFA World Cup 2010: South Africa's and England's chances

Only one team has qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup by right and that is the host South Africa. Even current holders Italy had to undergo the qualification process and although the hosts will undoubtedly put on a show, according to the experts their team is extremely unlikely to progress beyond the group stage of the tournament. Could they be wrong?

There is no doubt that of all the seeded teams at the FIFA World Cup draw they were by far the weakest and after being drawn against France, Mexico and Uruguay face a very tough test. Because, despite qualifying by the skin of their teeth in a two-legged play-off against Ireland, France are currently ranked seventh in the FIFA world ranking; Mexico are 15th and Uruguay 19th while South Africa languish at 86th in the table.

Known as 'Bafana Bafana' the South African football team has been dismissed by many as having no chance of success in the 2010 finals, however they did equip themselves ably in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, narrowly losing out to Brazil at the semi-finals stage of the eight team tournament.

By way of contrast England's draw couldn't have been kinder. The strongest team that they have been drawn against is the USA, who is currently ranked five places below them in the FIFA World Rankings. The remaining two group teams are ranked even lower, with Algeria 28th and Slovenia 33rd in the ranking table.

Flights for South Africa in June 2010 are already heavily booked with expectant England fans, hoping that it will finally be the year that they score their second FIFA World Cup Final success. Given the strength of the competition in the group many are hoping to follow their team all the way to the final in Johannesburg on July 11, but England are always capable of underperforming in the FIFA World Cup. For example, take their 2002 quarter-final performance against Brazil when they squandered a 1-0 half-time lead against ten-man Brazil to lose 2-1.

Similarly, host teams can turn in performances that belie their lowly rankings such as Japan's splendid performance when they co-hosted the 2002 FIFA World Cup with South Korea. Not only did they top their group but were narrowly beaten by a Turkish side that went on to lose to eventual tournament winners Brazil in the semi-final.

When it comes to the FIFA World Cup one thing is for certain, paper rankings count for nothing and South Africa will be hoping they can turn in a similar performance to the one they recorded at the 2009 Confederations Cup, and who knows? They must just surprise us all!
About the Author

Adam Singleton writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

United go top in England as "the Carrot Top" scores his hundredth.

by Giorgio Pirelli

Paul Scholes, one of the last three remaining "wonder babes of the nineties" of Old Trafford, has never been known as a loud or outgoing personality.

Yet he seemed to be turning more pink than ever yesterday at the Moulineux stadium in Wolverhampton, as he danced along, celebrating his hundredth Premier League goal. Scholes, who normally shuns interviews, said after the game the his goal, and the resultant 1-0 victory against Wolves, could be the one that will make United the Premier League champs for the fourth successive campaign. Wolves put up a tremendous struggle and a draw was looking very much on the cards till Scholes got on target in the 73rd minute when he met a deflected cross from Nani to nudge the ball home. Yet Wolves could have still snatched a draw in the dying seconds of the game, had not Sam Vokes missed a tremendous chance to score than not but blasted well over the top. Very conspicuous by his absence was Wayne Rooney, while Berbatov continues to flatter to deceive. With Rooney looking doubtful for Wednesday's return match against Milan in midweek, the realisation seemed to cause Sir Alex Ferguson's face to gradually become the same colour as the united soccer uniforms. Earlier in the day, Arsenal provided their usual display of wonderful football, without the ability to take their chances , This time among the spectators were struggling Burnley, who could only look on in dismay as Arsenal squandered chance after chance to go ahead. Particularly at fault was Nicholas Bentdner who missed a barrowload of chances, before being substituted to the relieved cheers and applause of the Emirates crowd. Arsenal appeared to have the points in the bag, as Cesc Fabregas put them in the lead with a typical double passing move with Samir Nasri. That appeared to be that, as Burnley, whose away record is the worst in the Premier League, never looked like coming back. But come back they did, with a fine equalising strike from David Nugent. However the Gunners stepped up a gear after that and won the game with two late goals from Walcott and Arshavin. Wenger was left with some worries as principal playmaker Fabregas limped off with a recurrence of a hamstring injury. With Porto in midweek in the Champions League, Arsenal will sorely miss their midfield dynamo. Elsewhere in the Premier League, Bolton succeeding in pulling away slightly from the relegation zone. They did so with a deserved 2-1 victory against the under-achieving West Ham in London. South Korean midfielder Lee Chung-young and Jack Wilshere got the goals for Bolton, while Alessando Diamanti pulled a goal back for West Ham late on, and even later Junior Stanislas hit a shot off the woodwork, as the referee was looking to blow the final whistle. It was also cup day in England yesterday, and Portsmouth, who have bigger problems off the field that on it these caused a bit of a shock by beating the Birmingham 2-0 in the first of the quarter final games played. Portsmouth victory was sealed by two excellent goals, both coming in rapid succession, late in the game; they came from Frederic Piquionne, who is proving to be a shrewd loan signing by manager Avram Grant. The other tie, between Fulham and Tottenham, ended in a tight goalless draw, meaning a replay at White Hart Lane in about ten days time.
About the Author

Browse through Soccer Uniforms extensive collection of soccer kits.

5 Easy Steps To Soccer Coaching

by Thomas K

Soccer coaches all over the world are trying to develop and teach their players the basics while their hidden agenda is to try and win games. Any coach looking for success will usually have a strict policy that utilises some sort of disciplinary action. Is this a good thing?

Whether it's a good thing or not is not the question. What I'm offering here is 5 soccer coaching tips that do make a difference without the implementation of fear or discipline

Tip 1- Always keep your training sessions structured and always plan the session before you arrive at the training grounds. This shows that you're professionally and eliminates any chance of your players misbehaving during training.

Tip 2- Training sessions must be structured but they must also be flexible. What happens if the majority of players don't turn up to training? What happens if the training grounds are flooded with heavy down pour? What happens if the temperature is too hot?

Always remember to have a plan B and always take into consideration the "what if" moments.

Tip 3- As a coach it's your duty to train and bring out the best in your players. Coaching does not mean supervising, it means coaching. Make sure you push all your players to their limits, which will inevitable increase their levels of fitness.

Tip 4- Just because you've been branded a soccer coach doesn't mean you cannot be friends with your players. In order for your team to be successful the players must have faith in you and must like you. So be their friend and be sincere about it. Do you really care about your players? If not, why not? A better question might be why are you coaching soccer if you do not care about your players. Have a genuine interest in your players.

Tip 5- Set a good example and look the part. A neat tracksuit and a clean pair of boots is all it takes to look the part. Make sure you look presentable and never smoke or swear in front of your players.

Remember that young players are keen to learn and will listen to you if you follow the above coaching tips. Keep the players busy during training to avoid them misbehaving and half the battle is won.

About the Author

Who has not admired the titans of soccer? What youth has not dreamed of becoming a superstar? Everything you ought to know about kids soccer can be found in this little community. Soccer Mastermind is a site dedicated to the world of Soccer.

Countdown to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa

by brono pisino

With less than 300 days to go to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, South Africa is in top gear in terms of preparation and spirit. Receiving a shot in the arm for successfully hosting and organizing the recently held Confederations Cup, the country is all set to deliver on its promise to host a spectacular World Cup for fans worldwide. Even US President Obama is expected to attend the opening ceremony! Wonder if he'll get into the spirit of the game and wear a soccer shirt or the South African makaraba hat?! Or, who knows, maybe he'll even have his own vuvuzela to blow on! Dr Danny Jordaan, Chief Executive Officer of the Organizing Committee, stressed that the 300 day mark should serve as a reminder of the important work completed and more that still needs to be done in the build up to the tournament. "It is important to record this milestone as a significant one in our country's history, but for those involved in organizing the tournament - from the construction worker to the marketing executive - it is just another marker along the route to ensuring the World Cup is a success," said Dr Jordaan. The completion of the stadiums, infrastructure and transportation projects, the initiation of the volunteer program and the World Cup Final Draw are some milestones to cross on the way to 2010.
Fourth of December, 2009, is a big day for the country and Cape Town in specific as it will host the World Cup Final Draw. The 32 teams who qualify for the World Cup will be drawn into groups for the first round of the tournament. South Africa took another step towards World Cup readiness by launching its first visitor information centre. This and other Visitor Information Centers is the government's initiative to boost tourism in the host cities of Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth, Nelspruit, Polokwane and Mangaung/Bloemfontein. Developed at a cost of 6.7 million rand, the centers will be a one-stop, centralized service to assist fans with information regarding tourism products.

Another shot in the arm for South Africa is President Obama's expected attendance at the opening ceremony of the 2010 World Cup that will take place in Johannesburg on the 11th of June. FIFA's president, Sepp Blatter, revealed Obama's acceptance of the invitation during a special media discussion in Johannesburg. This would mark Obama's first visit to Africa since he was elected President of the US. The opening ceremony will kick off at Soccer City, the ultra modern 100,000 capacity stadium, with either hosts Bafana Bafana or former world champions Italy playing. Blatter emphasized that the world should trust South Africa, which will deliver one of the most memorable World Cups ever! After all, the country passed the test of hosting the Confederations Cup with flying colors. And that bodes well for the 2010 World Cup. So, book your tickets, buy your soccer uniforms and other soccer merchandise and make your way to the centre stage of world soccer - South Africa 2010!

About the Author
Browse through Custom Soccer Uniforms extensive collection of soccer kits.

Ronaldo to Replace Brand Beckham?

by brono pisino

You've seen him in advertising campaigns for Nike, Coke, FIFA Street 2, Extra Joss, and of course, his bare-chested appeal in the Pepe Jeans ad. According to advertising and marketing experts and football agents, Cristiano Ronaldo has the 'X factor' that could well replace David Beckham as the footballer who earns the most from endorsements. Considering Ronaldo's teenybopper appeal and this age group's importance as the advertisers' main target audience, it might just happen... and soon. Experts feel there is currently a need for a central soccer brand. Beckham's 34 years of age and current career phase doesn't exactly make him a hot youth icon anymore. Sure, no one can deny his good looks and knee weakening ability among adults, but he's past the stage of driving 13 year olds crazy. And that's where Ronaldo can step in and fill Beck's shoes. The 24 year old Portuguese has all the right qualities to appeal to kids and teens - he's a looker, has a great body, plays well and is part of an extremely popular and successful team.
If Becks raked in $42.5 million through product endorsements last year, Ronaldo earned $19.6 million. But now that this 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year has become the world's most expensive player after his transfer from Man U to Real Madrid, his worth has sky rocketed. When Ronaldo was 'unveiled' on the 6th of July at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium wearing Real's soccer uniforms, nearly 80,000 screaming teens and young adults were there to greet him!

Actually, Ronaldo seems to be following in Beckham's footsteps in more ways than one! Becks left Man U for a successful stint with Real, so did Ronny boy! Becks wore the number 7 soccer shirt at Man U, as did Ronaldo after him! Becks was the ultimate youth icon, as Ronaldo is slated to be! If there's anything that can go against this young man, it's his lack of 'family life' and the accusation that he's not much of a team player. This could bring his appeal down among advertisers. Beckham continues to shine in that arena with his image of a happy family man and his reputation as a great team player. For this reason, some experts would like to see Ronaldo settled and married to a nice girl! But, at the end of the day, it's his on field performance that will determine his success as brand Beckham's successor. After all, you're only as good as your last match... And companies are looking for endorsements from soccer stars so they can associate their product with the star's phenomenal success. As far as veteran football agent, Jon Holmes, is concerned, "Ronaldo is a good looking guy and I would say his level of articulateness is about the same as Beckham's... He is probably a better player than Beckham in that he is more versatile. Beckham is a workhorse of a player, Ronaldo seems to be a more natural player."

Well, let's see if Ronaldo is going to be the next big clothes horse after Becks! Time will tell...

About the Author
Browse through Custom Soccer Uniforms extensive collection of soccer kits.

D.C. United Slams the Galaxy - Beckham's Team

by Ally White

The latest game between the Los Angeles Galaxy and D.C. United ended up in a most unexpected loss from Beckham's team last Sunday under a bright sun and humid weather.

D.C United defeated the Galaxy in a very consistent way for a final score of 4 goals to 1. D.C player Marcelo Gallardo scored one goal, while Luciano Emiliano helped the team scoring two times and Jaime Moreno managed a penalty kick to end the game with a victory. For this one game the RFK Stadium had a season-high of 35,979 spectators.

So far in the season D.C. United has an undefeated streak of six games with a total of 18 goals of which 9 have been scored by MVP Emilio. His overall total for the season is 10 following the current leader Landon Donovan of the Los Angeles Galaxy.

The Western Conference first place the Los Angeles Galaxy was able to score one single goal which came from Edson Buddle. However, Donovan was injured when he received a hit in the nose by Gallardo's forearm who obviously received a yellow card by due to his action. The team's best players Beckham and Donovan were stopped during the game by D.C United defense.

Though, the game was lively played at both ends in the first half. All five goals were made in the first 68th minutes of the game; however two goals were excluded by off sides. D.C United scored the first goal in fifth minute, subsequently that Ante Jazic unnecessarily pushed Santiago Quaranta in the flipside at the peak of the penalty box area. Jaime Moreno made the penalty kick, which is his goal number six of the season and a few minutes later Quaranta left the match with a strained injury.

During the 60th minute Gallardo scored its goal putting the game 3-1and just a few minutes later Emilio added the last one to the scoreboard for a final 4 to 1. Close to the end of the match D.C United midfielder player Ben Olsen got in the game as a replacement. Olsen is one of the most famous and popular players in the franchise history and a key leader. Olsen was out of the season for a while due to an injury which he seems to have overcome after constant monitoring and patience.

The game was televised by the ABC and had a starting time at 12 noon or 9am according to Western Coast Time; at the end only the first half was live due to the European final Championship.

About the Author

Ally White is a top senior copy writer on MLS Games racing action for the online sportsbook www.instantactionsports.com Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content

Ronaldo-Will It Be Red Or White

by Obinna Cristan

Real Madrid have renewed thier long-standing interest in Cristiano Ronaldo in the light of his announcement that he has ambitions to play in Spain.This interest in the Portuguese winger was further reinforced by the club's president,Roman Calderon,who spoke publicly about his admiration of Ronaldo."Who would not want a player as Ronaldo in thier team" Calderon replied when asked if Ronaldo might join Madrid.He is one of the best players in the world.Franco Baldini,right-hand man to Madrid's sporting director,Predrag Mijatovic,and the man who negotiates all of the club's signings,recently met Jorge Mendes in London.Madrid sources has it that the meeting was to comfirm Cristiano Ronaldo as thier NO1 priority come next season.It is believed that Real is ready to offer 54 million pounds to secure Ronaldo.Real Madrid has even gone as far as meeting with Ronaldo's agent and agreeing a course of action that directors at the Santiago Bernabeu believe will end with the Portugal winger becoming thier latest galactico.Now, with Madrid ready to meet Manchester United's asking price for the winger-expected to be somewhere in the region of 80 million euros(54million pounds).It might just come down to Cristiano Ronaldo to decide where his future lies.Real is also ready to beat any contract offer made by Manchester United,matching Ronaldo's salary to that of the galacticos.6 million pounds(4million pounds) a year,after tax.Manchester United is also bent on keeping thier most priced player.They have already put down a contract offer of about 140,000 pounds a week.But it is still believed that Ronaldo might reject the contract offer in order to play for Madrid.Alex Ferguson will be comfortable with the knowledge that Ronaldo is happy in Manchester,even if the player does not speak openly about been attracted to the Spainish league.Nevertheless Calderon's remarks on wanting to sign Ronaldo will not go down well at Old Trafford,where Ferguson has been increasingly irritated by Madrid's habit of talking about thier transfer targets in the media.Cristiano Ronaldo has been voted footballer of the year-only the second player to win the award in successive seasons since its introduction 60years ago.Ronaldo,who has had a fantastic season,netted an outstanding 41 goals during the season,31 of which came in the premier league alone.So dear football-soccer fans,the question now is-Do you think Cristino Ronaldo looks better in a red or white jersey.Please make your views and comments known.

About the Author
Obinna Cristan is a football/soccer analyst.He is also writer.For more articles like the one you have just read visit:http://www.football-soccer-views.blogspot.com

Soccer Goal - Practice anywhere, anytime that you want

by Wayne MacLean

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Soccer goal options include pop up, folding, regulation, indoor, rebounders, and portable models.
Improving your soccer players skills, or helping yourself to improve your soccer game is very rewarding. If you help your players, you get the feeling of satisfaction and you see it happen under your teaching. Improving your own game will give you that excellent feeling of conquering a new skill.

Practice is a great way to do that. And by using regulation goals, or portable soccer goals, you can improve your accuracy and talents. Here are some of the different types:

Portable

.Great for players, coaches, or school phys ed classes.
.Easily moved from place to place.
.Start a game or practice within moments.
.Smaller size helps improve accuracy.
.Affordable.
.Comes complete with soccer nets.
.Creates lots of fun.
.Use indoor or outdoors.

Adjustable Goals

.Last a long time.
.Great for many ages and skill levels.
.Can be adjusted to suit the size of the field.
.Great for learning how to score.
.Excellent learning tool for soccer goalkeepers.
.Use indoor or outdoors.

Soccer Rebounders

.Easy to transport.
.Simple set up.
.Train alone or with friends.
.Work on giving and receiving.
.Use indoor or outdoors.

Regulation Size

.In-ground or movable.
.Different sizes available.
.With or without nets.
.Square or round posts.

Having good tools for your soccer training will help you to improve your game. Just make sure you use the tools, otherwise they are just ornaments.

Although Vince Lombardi is from as different type of football, you should remember what he said. Practice doesn’t make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.

About the Author

Wayne MacLean has over 30 years of experience in the game of soccer. As a soccer coach, soccer player, soccer referee, and all-around soccer fan. Wayne is now adding a new dimension to his love of soccer. He now writes to help those involved in soccer. Check out my Soccer Goal page.

CAN Cup 2008 Results

20/01/2008---Group----A----24:00----Ghana 2 - 1 Guinea
--------------------------------22:00----Namibia 1 - 5 Morocco


21/01/2008---Group----B----24:00----Nigeria 0 - 1 Ivory Coast
-------------------------------02:30-----Mali 1 - 0 Benin


22/01/2008---Group---C---- 24:00----Egypt 4 -2 Cameroon
-------------------------------02:30----Sudan 0 - 3 Zambia


23/01/2008 ---Group---D--- 24:00----Tunisia 2 - 2 Senegal
-------------------------------02:30----South Africa 1 - 1 Angola


24/01/2008 ---Group---A---24:00----Guinea 3 - 2 Morocco
------------------------------02:30----Ghana 1 - 0 Namibia


25/01/2008 ---Group---B---24:00----Ivory Coast 4 - 1 Benin
------------------------------02:30----Nigeria 0 - 0 Mali


26/01/2008 ---Group---C---24:00----Cameroon 5 - 1 Zambia
------------------------------02:30----Egypt 3 - 0 Sudan


27/01/2008 ---Group---D---24:00----Senegal 1 - 3 Angola
------------------------------02:30----Tunisia 3 - 1 South Africa


28/01/2008 ---Group---A---24:00----Guinea 1 - 1 Namibia
------------------------------24:00----Ghana 2 - 0 Morocco


29/01/2008---Group---B---24:00----Nigeria 2 - 0 Benin
------------------------------24:00----Ivory Coast 3 - 0 Mali


30/01/2008 ---Group---C---24:00----Cameroon 3 - 0 Sudan
------------------------------24:00---- Egypt 1 - 1 Zambia


31/01/2007 ---Group---D---24:00----Senegal 1 - 1 South Africa
------------------------------24:00----Tunisia 0 - 0 Angola

Playing Soccer

by Jonathon Hardcastle


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Soccer is a game enjoyed the world over by both spectators and participants alike, as a faced paced, team sport which requires athleticism and skill in equal measure. If you're interested in participating in soccer, either in an organized or spontaneous manner, there are plenty of opportunities for getting involved.

Soccer as a sport relies much less on equipment than physical effort. The benefit of this is that you can get going with very little initial financial outlay. With little more than a ball, you can get going and have a great deal of fun with as little as three players.

All you require is a sufficient number of participants, objects to act as goalposts, and a ball before you're ready to get playing. It's even possible just to have a kick around with the ball, although the traditional format is a game of two teams comprising of 11 players. Of the 11 players, one will play as a goal keeper, standing between the goal posts. The goal keeper is an essential player as the last line of defense, and is the only players allowed to handle the ball within the rules of the game. The ten other players in each team play outfield, and strive to score goals by kicking the ball across the goal line.

There are a variety of different forms of soccer you can play with a couple of friends, even if you can make up the numbers for 11-a-side. As well as 5-a-sides and 7-a-sides, which are lightening fast paced smaller games, there are also other games which adopt various names, but maintain a similar structure.

One of the best games you can play involves an every man for themselves approach, and requires only one goal keeper. A round robin style competition can be played with any number, with certain players eliminated depending on their ultimate score at the end of each round. This can also be played with small teams, to provide a fast paced fun game which can be a real test of skill for any player.

Soccer is a great game you can play with any number of friends, and it can be really good exercise too. In addition to that, it can help build invaluable team-working skills and social skills, giving it a wider social significance. Why not try out some of the various soccer opportunities in your local area? Whatever options are open to you, you can at least get a small game going with a couple of friends for a great way to spend an afternoon.

About the Author

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Tennis, Golf, and Recreation

The Importance of Soccer Pre game Warm Up

by Niv Orlian

Soccer warm up exercises are the most frequent in pre match situations and training. there's no other type of exercise that a soccer player will spend more time with then with warm up. Professional teams usually spend around 30 minutes of their training sessions on a quality warm up, because this has three major effects on players, effects that we will discuss in the following paragraphs.

-Soccer Pre game Warm up - Avoiding Injuries
Our muscles and tendons can easily cause problems if they are used at their fullest without a proper series of soccer warm up drills. The muscles work on the same principle as an elastic string would. Pull it slowly and the elastic will be able to stretch without problems, but if you pull it in one quick motion, there's a risk it might snap. Ok, your muscles won't just "snap" if you use them intensely without the proper warm up, but there's a good chance you might strain them or develop other injuries.
That's why a good part of soccer warm up drills includes stretching exercises, which slowly get your muscles used to the effort.

-The Importance of Soccer Pre game Warm up - Higher Performance
It's not called warming up for nothing: when performing these exercises, you actually warm your muscles and entire body, allowing it to be ready for effort. By performing soccer pre game warm up exercises, you set your muscles, heart rate and breathing to the same levels you will be using in the match, so you can easily accommodate to the variables that the match brings.
Try this very simple exercise to test this theory: warm up for 30 minutes thoroughly, using a wide range of soccer warm up drills that work with your entire body, not just your legs. After you're done, do 5-10 sprints on the width of the soccer pitch and measure your heart rate and the general difficulty of each sprint.
Now, come back in another day, do a couple of stretching exercises so you don't develop any injuries and simply start sprinting (the same number of sprints as the day before), without getting a proper warm up beforehand. You will notice that you will have harder time breathing throughout and between the sprints, they will be harder to perform and at the end, your heart rate will be much higher than yesterday, meaning that your body had a harder time adjusting to the high level of effort.

-The Importance of Soccer Pre game Warm up - Concentration
This is strictly related to the other two benefits of a quality warm up. Knowing that you're fully prepared for the match/training session and that there's no risk of injury, you will be a lot more focused on the game and on doing your job right. Soccer warm up exercises will also get your body ready for the effort as I explained above and this has a positive effect on concentration. When you're not focusing on having to breathe right or stopping to catch your breath, you can, again, concentrate on your job.
These should be enough reasons to convince you of the importance of soccer warm up exercises. If you're a player that wants to give his or her best on the soccer pitch, your first concern will be giving your best in the soccer pre game warm up drills.

About the Author
Niv Orlian is the author and the owner of a Soccer Fans website that provides information on various topics related to soccer.
Wants to Improve your Soccer Conditioning? For the complete guide to soccer fitness click here.