Thursday, November 27, 2008

Champions League: Chelsea held, Inter shocked

Former European champions Liverpool and Inter Milan sealed their berths in the Champions League last 16 but last season's finalists Chelsea still have work to do after a 1-1 draw at Girondins Bordeaux on Wednesday.

Five-time winners Liverpool progressed from Group D after a Steven Gerrard goal gave them a 1-0 home win over Olympique Marseille. The Premier League side were joined in the knockout stage by Atletico Madrid, who beat PSV Eindhoven 2-1 behind closed doors at the Calderon.

Inter advanced from Group B despite a surprise 1-0 home defeat to Panathinaikos.

Chelsea appeared to be cruising into the last 16 after French striker Nicolas Anelka fired them ahead on the hour but had to hold on in the closing stages after Alou Diarra headed in the equaliser and Frank Lampard was sent off.

Roma went top of Group A with a 3-1 win at CFR Cluj and have nine points ahead of their final match at home to Bordeaux. Chelsea, who are at home to Cluj, have eight while Bordeaux are on seven and need to beat the Italian side to progress.

A Jose Sarriegi goal in the 69th minute gave Panathinaikos an unlikely win at the San Siro and an excellent chance to reach the last 16 as they need only a draw in their final game against Anorthosis Famagusta in Athens.

Inter have eight points, Panathinaikos seven and Anorthosis six after squandering a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Werder, who have four points and can only salvage a UEFA Cup berth available to the eight third-placed teams.

Barcelona sealed top spot in Group C with a 5-2 away rout of also qualified Sporting while Shakhtar Donetsk secured a place in the UEFA Cup last 32 with a 5-0 home drubbing of Basel thanks to a Jadson hat-trick.


Read More......

Mourinho unaware of Drogba link

Didier Drogba





Jose Mourinho insists he knows nothing about fresh reports linking Chelsea striker Didier Drogba with a move to Internazionale.

Inter's technical director Marco Branca reportedly met with Drogba's agent Pierre Frelot on Monday along with Mourinho's agent Jorge Mendes at a restaurant in London.

"I don't know where Branca was, I was at dinner at Cernobbio," he said. "I know absolutely nothing about this story."

The Ivory Coast international was linked with a switch to the Italian club last summer before he decided to commit to The Blues and see out his contract at Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho believes Drogba is unlikely to leave Chelsea in the short term,, despite enduring an up and down season that has been undermined by injury and suspension.

"I know on the other hand that Drogba is part of the history of Chelsea and, from afar, it seems to me that he is and will be a Chelsea player," he added.

Meanwhile, Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari reacted angrily to the reports.

Responding to the claims, Scolari said: "I do not sleep with Drogba. Where he was? I don't know. I'm not a policeman for my players.

"Ask Peter Kenyon [chief executive], ask Roman Abramovich [Chelsea owner].

"I don't know, I am only the coach."

Read More......

Maradona threatened killed

According to the news circulating in Argentina, a British man arrested because authorities plan to cut Diego Armando Maradona with a machete when El Pibe d'Oro to make debut as the architect team "Tango", last week.

British men were arrested on the day where Maradona to make official debut as coach Argentina tense meeting with Scotland in the fight in the pilot Hampden Park.

The attacker was identified named Ian Wellworth aged 43 years old. Wellworth arrested when found out he has a machete in front of Hampden Park.

Wellworth dikabarkan still rancorous top of the goal "The Hand of God" to the goalpost English Maradona when Argentina had the World Cup in 1986 provided that he intends to cut the former Napoli player.

Due to the controversial goal, Wellworth, which lost money betting plunge to the results obtained from borrowing. As a result, he lost everything including his wife who decide abandoned.

The amount of money a stake Wellworth about 600 euros, but if England win the World Cup in 1986 and he will get five times.

Still, according to the news, Wellworth is currently experiencing unemployment and the disruption kejiwaan. Ulahnya due to the Wellworth threatened imprisonment of five years.

Read More......

City prepares to Rp2 Trillion Kaka and Buffon?

By the opening of the second transfer window, January 2009, Manchester Ciy already square off to make big purchases. Rich club which is owned by United Arab Emirates (UAE) this dikabarkan menyeriakan fund 130 million euros to recruit Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus) and Kaka (AC Milan).

Since moving from the hands of Thaksin Shinawatra of the businessmen to the UAE, Manchester City, is very active, and pursue the best players. Robinho is the first big recruitment. After that, they signed up a number of stars, including Buffon and Kaka.

According to the Daily Telegraph, City is very passionate to both players and it is ready to pay big. Buffon will be purchased for 60 million euros (around Rp973, 9 billion). Meanwhile, Kaka will be bought with a price of 70 million euros (around 1.1 trillion).

With the amount of the estimated Juventus and AC Milan not reject power. Moreover, Juventus goalkeeper Manninger still have the appearance is quite convincing. Meanwhile, AC Milan could only release Kaka, Ronaldinho after there.

Read More......

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

History of association football

The history of football, which is usually known simply as football, can be traced to traditional football games played in Europe, particularly Medieval England, in ancient times. The modern game has its roots in the formation of the The Football Association (FA) in England in 1863. Several clubs met in London, to create a National code, that would allow clubs to play each other without dispute. At the time, football clubs all played by their own, individual codes of rules, and game-day rules had to be agreed upon before they could play one another.

The FA code was immediate, as sport was still very much an amateur activity. The first professional clubs were formed after working class people took up the sport, and entrepreneurs saw an opportunity to make money from spectators coming to see star players. Once professionalism took hold and Football became a Working Man's Game, The popularity of the game became immense and was soon spread throughout the world by British expatriates.

Read More......