world XI playErs awards shortlist

If anyone really watches most competitive leagues in Europe, then it is not such a difficult task to identify the best soccer players from last season, 2007-2008. On top of those performances, the Euro 2008 shall not be considered because it doesn't consist all players in all European leagues. The FIFpro (Fédération Internationale des Associations de Footballers Professionnels) awards are voted for by 45,000 professional footballers across the world in a secret ballot. Voters must nominate four defenders, three midfielders, three forwards and a goalkeeper. The following shortlist's names are officially listed in the ordering as seen in the picture.

Goalkeepers: Boruc, Buffon, Casillas, Cech, van der Sar.

Defenders: Alves, Bosingwa, Cannavaro, Carvalho, Clichy, A Cole, Evra, Ferdinand, Lahm, Lucio, Maldini, Nesta, Pepe, Puyol, Ramos, Terry, Vidic, Zambrotta, Zanetti, Zhirkov.
Midfielders: Ballack, Deco, Essien, Fabregas, Gattuso, Gerrard, Iniesta, Kaka, Lampard, Mascherano, Pirlo, Ribery, Senna, Sneijder, Xavi.

Forwards: Arshavin, Berbatov, Drogba, Eto'o, Henry, Ibrahimovic, Messi, van Nistelrooy, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez, Toni, Torres, Villa.

For gods' sake, i would like to add up my tip here for those druken bureaucrats who select best players based on tabloids and advertisemments for some reasons that Adebayor (Arsenal's main striker) is not shortlisted here. For such case, if advertisement has more value, then David Beckham should be included if Buffon is. Anyway, here are my own provisional best XI selections according to the order of preference:

Goalkeeper: Van der Sar (bench: Cech)
Defenders: Alves, Ferdinand, Puyol, Canarvaro (Bench: Terry, Pepe, Bosingwa, Zanetti)
Midfielders: Fabregas, Kaka, Sneijder (Bench: Ballack, Lampard, Gerrard)
Forwards: Henry, Messi, C. Ronaldo ( Bench: Nistelrooy, Villa, Rooney)

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PS: the final World XI and the FIFPro World Player of the Year will be announced on October 27.

maradona to lEad AgEntina to world cup finals?

Diego Maradona, the former Agentina legend - with a hand of god - who stealed a winning goal from England for his country World Cup Glory in Mexico 1986, has revealed he would like to coach Argentina following the surprise resignation of Alfio Basile, the former Agentina coach, the previous day.

"I would be really delighted, who wouldn't, to coach the national team," he said in the Fox Sport World cable channel when asked if he would like a chance. "I am completely willing and at the disposal of the Argentina team."

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Maradona has appeared as a rank outsider in the race to replace Basile, with Miguel Angel Russo, Sergio Batista, Diego Simeone and Carlos Bianchi seen as favourites. Basile, the former coach, quitted one day after Argentina lost 1-0 to Chile in a World Cup qualifier, their only defeat so far this year and their first against their neighbours since 1973.

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On behalf of all Agentina fans from worldwide and as well as being a very loyal fan of Diego Maradona, i would like to see this guy coach Agentina National Team one day, sooner this upcoming term rather than later cuz then i'll be a bit too old to be an active fan. [:be active for wife and kids, instead:]

viEnna calling - Euro 2008

---Euro 2008 comes to a close on Sunday night in Vienna, and it's Germany against Spain in the final. Spain can end a 44-year wait to be crowned European champions if they reproduce the same form in Sunday's final against Germany that they showed to beat Russia 3-0 in the semi-final on Thursday. Germany, in contrast, will have to play far better than they did in their 3-2 semi-final win over Turkey in Basel on Wednesday if they are to win the title for the fourth time.

There will be key battles all over the field, but the most fascinating will be in midfield between Germany captain Michael Ballack and Spain's Cesc Fabregas, who is expected to start because David Villa is likely to miss out with a foot injury. Despite decades of producing great players, Spain's only major tournament victory came at the 1964 European Championship when they beat Russia's predecessors, the Soviet Union, in the final in Madrid. Germany will also be hoping to end an odd sequence that has seen them win and lose finals alternately. After winning in 1972, they lost in 1976, before winning again in 1980, losing in 1992 and winning again in 1996---

Highlight result? Click here!

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/

arsEnal goEs clEar as duE draw

Carlos Tevez scored a dramatic injury-time equaliser to give Manchester United a point as they drew 1-1 with Tottenham but surrended their place at the top of the Barclays Premier League to Arsenal.

Dimitar Berbatov looked like he had given Juande Ramos' outfit all three points with his 14th goal of the season in the 21st minute at White Hart Lane. But an outswinging corner from Luis Nani found Tevez inside the six-yard box and his shot took a deflection off Michael Dawson before it went past goalkeeper Radek Cerny. The result sees Sir Alex Ferguson's side fall two points behind Arsenal who claimed a 3-1 win over Manchester City in the day's early kick-off.
Emmanuel Adebayor was the hero for the Gunners at Eastlands as he struck twice to down City.
The Togo International opened the scoring for Arsene Wenger's side in the ninth minute with a close-range finish after good work down the right by Bacary Sagna.
Adebayor then had a hand in Arsenal's second in the 26th minute when he headed Gael Clichy's cross back across goal for Eduardo Da Silva, who produced a superb finish on the turn.
Sven Goran Eriksson's side pulled one back through Gelson Fernandes two minutes later but Adebayor hit his 21st goal of the season in the 88th minute to seal the points for the Gunners.

Liverpool's wretched league run came to an end as three second-half goals against Sunderland sealed a 3-0 victory and eased the pressure on the team and manager Rafael Benitez.

Jermain Defoe paid back part of his transfer fee after he netted on his debut to give Portsmouth a point in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Fratton Park. Nicolas Anelka had put Chelsea 1-0 up with a close-range finish in the 55th minute after good work by Joe Cole down the right flank.
But former Spurs striker Defoe seized on Milan Baros' header and directed his shot into the bottom-left corner of the net to pull Pompey level nine minutes later.

Emanuel Villa headed a dramatic equaliser two minutes from time to give Derby a point in a 1-1 draw with Birmingham at St Andrews. Sebastian Larsson's 68th-minute strike had given the Blues the lead but Villa latched on to a cross from Dean Leacock to equalise for Paul Jewell's side.
Reading remain without a win in 2008 after they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Bolton at the Madejski Stadium.

Kevin Nolan made amends for Matthew Taylor's 23rd-minute penalty miss when he smashed home Kevin Davies' knockdown past goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann 10 minutes later to open the scoring. Gary Megson's side doubled their advantage in the 58th minute when Heidar Helguson latched on to Taylor's cross before he stroked the ball home.

Wigan climbed out of drop zone after Kevin Kilbane headed home a Ryan Taylor free-kick on the stroke of half-time to give them a 1-0 victory over West Ham at the JJB Stadium.
Elsewhere Blackburn and Everton played out a goalless draw at Ewood Park.

Epl soccEr update

Arsenal staged a superb second half comeback to win 4-1 against Everton at Goodison Park. Tim Cahill's first half goal provided a deserved lead but the Gunners hit back through Eduardo's two goals , Emmanuel Adebayor (1) and Tomas Rosicky (1)- while Nicklas Bendtner and Mikel Arteta both saw red. Arsenal ends the year on top after West Ham came from behind to beat Man Utd 2-1 earlier in the day. The match of the day came at White Hart Lane as Tottenham recorded an extraordinary 6-4 win over Reading. Dimitar Berbatov scored four times, the first after only seven minutes. Whereas injury-hit Chelsea closed to within four points of top spot with a battling 2-1 win over Newcastle. Check out the following highlights from the premiership wrap up....

Everton vs Arsenal


Westham vs Man-utd


Tottenham vs Reading

Epl soccEr updatE

Here's my first EPL update; that's too bad my team, Arsenal, dropped points =(... Arsenal failed to regain top spot in the Premier League from Manchester United as they were held to a goalless draw at Portsmouth. The result left them a point behind their rivals, who won handsomely at Sunderland earlier in the day and have a superior goal difference. Wanna see more the highlight of the rest of the other matches in Europeanwide just click HERE and you will be tuned in.

Arsenal vs Portsmouth


Derby vs Liverpool


Sunderland vs Manutd


Chealsea vs Aston Villa

Arsenal - my iconic soccer club

MY OVER VIEW:

Arsenal may have been off the pace in the inaugural Premier League season in 1992/1993, but they made up for it by winning both FA and League Cup.

The EPL crown eluded them until 1998 - two years into manager Arsene Wenger's tenure - when they the league and FA cup double. Under the Frenchman, the Gunners shook off their "boring" image and began to play some of the most attractive football in England.

In 8 of his 11 seasons at club, Arsenal finished first or second. And together with star players such as Thierry Henry, Patrick Viera and Dennis Bergkam, Wenger took Arsenal to another "double" in 2002.

The Gunners reached the Champions' LEague final in 2006, becoming the first London team to do so, but lost to Bacelona with one goal first scored. Thier EPL title in 2003/04 saw them become only the second team to win the league without losing a match - earning them the title "The Invincibles." Overall they went 49 matches unbeaten, which is a national record.


rEbuildinG,