tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84441619016112971212024-02-09T06:18:28.015+10:30You Require 116The rest is mere detailTC 'Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16776553300879530206noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8444161901611297121.post-60832282787558956452009-12-09T03:19:00.030+10:302009-12-13T18:23:58.386+10:30European Leagues - Weekend Wrap and Champions League Preview<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Some interesting results out of the major leagues in Europe this week, with the top of the table in <b>England</b> tightening, Valencia moving into third in <b>Spain</b>, and Juventus claiming a crucial 2-1 victory over <b>Serie A</b> leaders Inter Milan. And the final matches of the group-stage in the <b>Champions League</b> take place today and tomorrow. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46864000/jpg/_46864144_tevez466gettty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="129" src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46864000/jpg/_46864144_tevez466gettty.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The big story of the weekend out of Europe was </span><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/8391256.stm" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Manchester City</b>'s 2-1 defeat of league-leaders <b>Chelsea</b></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">. It was Chelsea's first loss in 11 matches, and the win ended a horror run for City against Chelsea in which they had lost their past eight meetings. It was City's first win in the league for two-and-a-half months - they had endured a league-record seven consecutive draws. Their cross-city rivals </span><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Manchester United</b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> moved within two points of Chelsea at the top of the table with a comprehensive 4-0 thumping of West Ham. Arsenal's 2-0 win over Stoke put them third on Saturday, while </span><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Tottenham</b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> had the chance to overtake their old foe on the table if they could take all three points at Goodison Park on Sunday. Two goals to the good with 15 minutes to play, the Londoners looked set for victory, but a Saha- and Cahill-led comeback ensured the points were shared, leaving </span><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/table/default.stm" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Spurs fourth and Everton 15th</a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">It's as you were in the top two in <b>La Liga</b>, with Barcelona accounting for Deportivo la Coruña (3-1) and Real Madrid slotting four past Almeria (4-2). Valencia moved up to third with a 3-2 victory over Getafe, capitalising on Sevilla's 1-1 draw with Valladolid. In <b>France</b>, Bordeaux kept its four-point lead over Montpellier intact with a 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain, while the match of the round was the seven-goal thriller between Lens and Lyon. A Lisandro López hat-trick couldn't stop Lens as Gervinho scored his second goal of the night in the 90th minute to hand the Northerners a memorable 4-3 victory. Lyon's season has failed to kick into gear after the <a href="http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/fm/FootballFicheMatch26028_166203.html">incredible 5-5 draw with Marseille</a> four weeks ago.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Inter's lead at the top of <b>Serie A</b> was cut to four points following their loss to Juventus and Milan's 3-0 rout of Sampdoria. Roma won the battle of the Italian capital, dispatching Lazio 1-0, to keep pace with the group vying for fourth spot - Roma, Fiorentina, Genoa and Sampdoria are all within one point of fourth-placed Parma. <a href="http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/championnat-d-italie-classement.html">See the full Serie A table</a>. Bayer Leverkusen's lead at the top of the <b>German Bundesliga</b> was cut to three points, as they were held to a goalless-draw at Hannover, and Bayern Munich and Schalke 04 were both victorious. Werder Bremen missed their opportunity to go within one point of Leverkusen as they too were held goalless, at Cologne. <a href="http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/championnat-d-allemagne-classement.html">See the Bundesliga table in full</a>. <br />
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<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Champions League Week 6</b></span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://img.skysports.com/09/08/218x298/ChampionsLeague_2353191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://img.skysports.com/09/08/218x298/ChampionsLeague_2353191.jpg" width="164" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">The group stage of the Champions League wraps up this week, with the pick of the matches <b>Bayern Munich</b>'s trip to Turin to face <b>Juventus</b>. The German and Italian giants will play off for second-place in Group A behind Bordeaux: a draw would be enough to send Juventus through to the Round of 16. Marseille host Real Madrid, with the team from Southern France needing a win and FC Zürich to draw with or beat Milan - the Austrian minnows overcame the Italian giants at the San Siro earlier in the competition. The San Siro is the setting for the other crunch match of the round, with<b> Inter</b> hosting Russian surprise packet <b>Rubin Kazan</b>, with both teams locked on six points. They have identical records in the competition to this point, and the match promises to serve up all the drama synonymous with the Champions League. The Russian champions provided arguably the upset of the tournament this season by edging out Barcelona at the Camp Nou. <br />
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</div>TC 'Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16776553300879530206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8444161901611297121.post-74345899428120062942009-12-05T02:28:00.018+10:302009-12-09T05:53:25.186+10:30World Cup 2010 - The Draw<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup was announced today. <b>Australia</b> has been drawn in a '<a href="http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/2010-world-cup/australia-to-face-germany-264637">group of death</a>' alongside three-time champion Germany, Ghana and Serbia. South Africa landed France and face a tough first match against Mexico in a tricky group for the host nation. England fans will be pleased with their group, consisting of Algeria, USA and Slovenia. Group G throws up the mouth-watering clash of Brazil and Portugal. Top seeds Spain, Netherlands, Italy and Argentina will all be hot favourites to qualify for the Round of 16. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FIFA_World_Cup#Group_A">The draw in full</a>.</span></span><br />
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Australia faces its biggest test of the group stage in its first game against <b>Germany</b>. Seven-time finalist and third in 2006, Joachim Löw's side will be favourites to qualify from the group in top spot. In the second match, Australia faces <b>Ghana</b>; the 'Black Stars' are in their second consecutive World Cup, but they enter the match against Australia with a record of four losses and two draws from six previous meetings. The final group match for Australia is against <b>Serbia</b>, who topped their qualification group ahead of France, Romania and Austria. Coach Radomir Antić - with a résumé of managerial experience including stints with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid - will provide a strong test for Pim Verbeek and his Socceroos. <br />
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Australia's Group D matches are as follows:<br />
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<blockquote><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">● 13 June 2010 - Germany v Australia </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">● 19 June 2010 - Ghana v Australia </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">● 23 June 2010 - Australia v Serbia </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit</span></span><br />
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The prospect of an England - Australia match-up is still a possiblity, with England and Australia drawn in Groups C and D respectively. The winner of each group will play the runner-up in the opposing group. Groups G and H serve up the possiblity of Brazil or Portugal playing-off against Spain in the Round of 16. And it is <a href="http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,26441387-5019291,00.html">Group G</a> where the second group of death lies, with Brazil and Portugal joined by Côte d'Ivoire and North Korea. <br />
</span></span>TC 'Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16776553300879530206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8444161901611297121.post-44955227301341772562009-12-02T20:23:00.042+10:302009-12-10T15:13:35.286+10:30The week in football<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">It's one of the biggest weeks of the year on the world football calendar, with the draw</span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> for the </span><a href="http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/" style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-weight: bold;">2010 FIFA World Cup</span></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> taking place on Friday (Saturday morning in Australia); Lionel Messi being announced as European Footballer of the Year, taking home </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;">France Football's</span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: trebuchet ms;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballon_d%27Or" style="color: blue; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ballon d'Or</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: #3333ff;"> </span>(the 'Golden Ball'); and FIFA finally putting the controversial result of the<span style="color: #666666;"> </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France_vs_Republic_of_Ireland_%282010_FIFA_World_Cup_Play-Off%29" style="color: #666666; font-family: trebuchet ms;">France - Ireland World Cup play-off</a></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: #666666;"> </span>to bed, by denying the Irish FA's<span style="color: #999999;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.football.co.uk/republic_of_ireland/fifa_consider_ireland_appeal_for_extra_place_at_2010_world_cup_rss275516.shtml" style="color: #666666; font-family: trebuchet ms;">outrageous appeal</a><span style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: #666666;"> </span>to be admitted to the 2010 World Cup as the 33rd team. And to kick the week off we saw one of the biggest Sunday's of the European season with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merseyside_derby" style="color: #666666;">Merseyside derby</a>,</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> <b><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/8377195.stm" style="color: blue;">Arsenal v Chelsea</a></b><span style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms;">, Inter Milan v Fiorentina and</span><span style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;"> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Cl%C3%A1sico" style="color: blue; font-weight: bold;">El Clásico</a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: #666666;"> </span>from Spain all within the space of 6 h</span></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">ours.</span></span></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"> <a href="http://blog.partybets.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/world-cup-trophy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="http://blog.partybets.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/world-cup-trophy.jpg" width="128" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: bold;">2010 World Cup Draw</span><br />
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">All eyes will be on Cape Town this Friday night/Saturday morning, with the eight groups of four teams to be decided. The <a href="http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_5739695,00.html">seeded teams</a> - placed in 'pot one' - were announced today, with the Netherlands, England, Spain, Germany, Italy, Argentina and Brazil alongside host-nation South Africa forming the top group of eight. Each of these teams will lead one of the eight groups, and be joined by one team from each of pot two, pot three and pot four. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The prospect of multiple '</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_of_death#World_Cup" style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-weight: bold;">Groups of Death</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">' is certainly on the cards, with France and Portugal both missing the top eight and being placed in pot four along with the remaining European teams. The five African teams and the three other South American teams (with Brazil and Argentina being placed in pot one) form 'pot three' while New Zealand, the North and Central American nations, and the Asian nations - including </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Australia</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> - form 'pot two'. Many Socceroo fans have expressed the preference of drawing England in their group, but of greater concern will be avoiding the likes of France, Portugal, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Serbia and Paraguay for the remaining two positions in the group.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Australia</b> were grouped with Brazil, Croatia and Japan in 2006, but the move in to the Asian Confederation has changed things this time around. From the top seeds, Australia will be drawn against one of the top-five European nations; Brazil or Argentina; or - ideally for Socceroo fans - the host-nation South Africa. The third positi</span></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">on in the g</span></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">roup will be filled by a European nation, and the final place will be either a South American or </span></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">an African team. The arbitrary nature of the draw gives the Socceroos the possibilities of facing a group consisting of South Africa, Slovenia and Chilé, or one made up of Spain, France and Côte d'Ivoire. </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.australia2018-2022.com.au/resources.ashx/News/37.500.358.0.0.80/ImageFile/684AC087678C767338B26DB46648779C/nicole_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="119" src="http://www.australia2018-2022.com.au/resources.ashx/News/37.500.358.0.0.80/ImageFile/684AC087678C767338B26DB46648779C/nicole_crop.jpg" width="175" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">And</span></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> Australia's bid for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups gained further publicity today when </span></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">it wa</span></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">s anno</span></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">un</span></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">ced that </span><a href="http://www.australia2018-2022.com.au/news-updates_detail.aspx?view=37" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Nicole Kidman had joined the bid</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">. The FIFA board is meeting in South Africa this week. Australia's bid has put together a rather impressive</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://www.australia2018-2022.com.au/bid-book/index.html" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">e-book</a></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ballon d'Or</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Barcelona's Argentine superstar <b>Lionel Messi </b>has been crowned European Footballer of the Year, ga</span></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">rnering more than <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballon_d%27Or_2009">double the number of votes of second-place</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballon_d%27Or_2009"> Cristiano Ronaldo</a>. It completes the set of placings f</span></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">or Messi, who placed third at the tender age of 20, and was runner-up last year to Ronaldo. Messi is the first Argentine to win the </span></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">award, although the humble attacking midfielder stated that had the criteria for selection been different in the past, Diego Maradona would have also won the Golden Ball.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">If you can read French or just like to see pictures and nice colours, check it all out at the home of one </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">of the most respected publications in world sport, <a href="http://www.francefootball.fr/FF/Ballon_Or_home.html">France Football</a> - the magazine responsible for creating the award.</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: 100%;"> <span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-weight: bold;">Spain and England </span></span><br />
<a href="http://vftt.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/lionel-messi-bacelona-1-zaragoza-0-10862.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://vftt.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/lionel-messi-bacelona-1-zaragoza-0-10862.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"> <span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><b>Barcelona</b> regained the top-spot in Spain's La Liga with a <a href="http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1141528.html">1-0 victory over Real Madrid</a>, in one of the most anticipated Clásicos in recent years. After their master-class display against Inter Milan in the Champions League, they once again dominated possession and their intricate passing and close-control was outstanding. Barça were down to 10 men for the last half an hour after Busquets was sent off, but the versatile Iniesta dropped back in to the midfield seamlessly. Ibrahimović scoring the winner after coming off the bench, and Messi only beginning to regain full fitness are ominous signs for the rest of La Liga, not to mention the rest of Europe. Arguably the form team in the world right now.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><b>Chelsea</b> asserted their dominance over the English Premier League by routing Arsenal 3-0 away at the Emirates Stadium. Didier Drogba was imperious with two goals, including a lethal free-kick from 20 yards in the final minutes of the game. Chelsea resumed their five-point lead over Manchester United, who trounced Portsmouth 4-1 at Fratton Park, but Pompey should have taken the lead in the first half after dominating for large periods. Liverpool moved back within touching distance of the Top Four with a hard-fought, <a href="http://www.premierleague.com/page/MatchReports/0,,12306%7E48488,00.html">scrappy 2-0 away victory</a> over cross-city rivals Everton, moving in to fifth place ahead of Aston Villa on goal difference. Manchester City sit just a point behind with a game in hand, although visiting Chelsea will test City's unbeaten home record in this Saturday's late game. The <a href="http://www.premierleague.com/page/LeagueTables/0,,12306,00.html">full table</a> makes for interesting reading. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Manchester United overcame Tottenham to reach the semi-finals of the League Cup, while Aston Villa booked their ticket to the semis with a 4-2 victory away to Portsmouth. In the other quarter-finals to take place today, Chelsea travel to Blackburn and Manchester City play host to Arsenal. The Gunners' ability to cope with the loss of Robin van Persie will be tested over the coming months.</span></span>TC 'Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16776553300879530206noreply@blogger.com0