Taking the Day Off

I hung out with Lilian Thuram last night. I'm taking a day off to let that sink in. More over the weekend. -Sanford

AC Milan's Gattuso Stolen Car Found in Albania

Police are currently investigating how the stolen vehicle entered Albania. Luxury vehicles stolen from Western Europe often end up on Albania's streets after their plates are changed and are then sold on with falsified documents. The car, a Range Rover SUV, stolen from the Italian football player three years ago, had Tirana plates and was registered to an Albanian national.

Norman Hubbard: The Truth Behind Benitez

He has won the Champions League, but only one of his last nine fixtures. He still appears adored by many on the Kop, but is derided by still more on messageboards and phone-ins. He is one of the most divisive figures in football. But how many of the criticisms commonly levelled at Rafa Benitez stand up to analysis?

Football Unites, from Tanzania to Tottenham

When future historians look back at the age of globalisation, it is not the Americanisation of the planet’s culture that will amaze them most, nor the pervading presence of brands such as Coca-Cola and Nike. No, it is the global conquest of football.

Rebel clubs plan breakaway North American league

North America will have a new soccer league from April after rebel clubs broke away from the established second tier league to form a new competition.

The seven include USL champions Montreal Impact and the team they beat in the league's final game -- Vancouver Whitecaps.

The Carolina Railhawks, Miami FC and Minnesota Thunder have also split from USL to form the new league along with former USL team the Atlanta Silverbacks and a new team from St. Louis.

Football's Forgotten Superstar

Remember Freddy Adu? Of course you do. In 2004, he was the 14-year-old who was seen as the future of the game in the United States and a potential new global star. The subject of gargantuan hype when he made his Major League Soccer bow in April of that year for DC United, Adu still holds records as the youngest player and goalscorer in the MLS's short history and is also the youngest player to appear for the senior US team.

Premier League Rejects Old Firm

The Premier League has rejected a plan to bring Celtic and Rangers into English football's top flight.

Raphael Honigstein in Germany

Post-war Germany is traditionally reluctant to dwell on the past. But, as the country mourns the loss of a great footballer, for once the show cannot go on.

Robert Enke's death has cast a long shadow over German football.

The Big Interview: Kaká

Brazil's playmaker on Steven Gerrard, Cristiano Ronaldo and why England can triumph in South Africa.

'I have no doubt England can win the World Cup' says Kaká.

French Revelations: The Team To Send France Past Ireland To The World Cup

Using the squad that Raymond Domenech has picked for the World Cup play-offs, Goal.com's Robin Bairner has picked his starting XI to send France to South Africa. In addition, he has selected a wildcard player to keep an eye on...




The wildcard...

World Cup Qualifying: Gourcuff and Benzema fear play-off date with Ireland

France stars Yoann Gourcuff and Karim Benzema give off the impression that they have been pinned back on the ropes for a little too long as they prepare for Saturday's World Cup play-off against the Republic of Ireland.

'Sad' Nani lifts lid on fiery Sir Alex Ferguson outbursts

"Ferguson is a very complicated man," Nani said. "He's tough. If things are all right, then they are all right. But when he thinks something is wrong, everything is screwed.

"He can go from complimenting you to just plain trashing you in a matter of minutes. Has it happened to me? Hell, yes! He'll say 'Nani, how could you miss this or this'?

"He shouts at players in front of everyone. No one escapes, everybody is the same. Giggs and Neville suffer most, because they have more experience. It is 'F**k' here and 'F**k' there."

Bayern Munich turn into FC Hollywood again

One suspected it was bound to happen. Every year we are presented with a new edition of the internal drama at Bayern Munich. It's a phenomenon that takes place frequently at Saebener Strasse and leaves the club's management in sheer disillusion and the fans in astonishment while blood-thirsty journalists start sharpening their pens.

Gabriele Marcotti Column

I don't really want to go back to the Michael Owen issue, but, since with eerie regularity people mention his "great goalscoring record for England" I might as well chip in. First of all, a "goalscoring record for England" is put together over a long period of time, especially in his case, since he made his debut back in February of 1998. That's why it's largely irrelevant. If Owen scored a lot of goals for England a decade ago, so what? Gary Lineker scored plenty for England in the 1980s, that's about as relevant as Owen's goalscoring record at the turn of the Millennium.

Roman Pavlyuchenko demands to leave Tottenham Hotspur

The 27-year-old striker says he wants to hold talks with Harry Redknapp, the Tottenham manager, after becoming disillusioned with life at White Hart Lane.

Quotes & Chants of the Week

"He'd clean my shoes, make me cups of tea and even came to one of my fan club afternoons...he may be a global superstar but has he ever sold out Discotheque Royale on a Sunday afternoon?"
Lee Sharpe on the days when he was king and David Beckham was his bootboy.

"Phil's having a Guinness in his office at the moment - and he deserves one."
Hull assistant Brian Horton explains why Phil Brown would not give any interviews after the last-gasp win over Stoke.

"If you don't score at this level, unfortunately you aren't going to get a win."
Steve Bruce.

"At this level you've got to score goals to win matches."
Mark Lawrenson commenting on 5 live after Andriy Voronin's miss in the Lyon-Liverpool match.

"I will ask the medical staff to take as long as they need to try to get him back into shape as quickly as they can."
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson on Damian Duff.

"Are you Sandra in Disguise?"
Following Darren Bent's penalty miss at White Hart Lane, referring to Harry Redknapp's wife. Last season, Redknapp said of Bent 'My missus could have scored that'.

"No Woodman - No cry."
At Wycombe v Brighton,when Wycombe took a second-half lead after Craig Woodman's first-half dismissal.

The Rest

Spanish Inquisition: Real Madrid Edge Alcorcon, But There’s Still Egg On Their Face

What’s a bigger embarrassment? Real Madrid labouring to a 1-0 home win over Alcorcon with their big guns out on show, or Alcorcón demolishing Real Madrid 4-0 at their 3,000-capacity Santo Domingo stadium with half of the mini-Galacticos day-dreaming out on the pitch?

The answer? Both are equally disgraceful.

Real Madrid jeered off the pitch by their own fans after being knocked out of the Copa del Rey by minnows Alcorcón.

Alcorcón's home ground. Not quite the Bernabéu...

Manchester United Comment: Trailing By Five Points...It Was Worse Last Season

Alex Ferguson has the experience to close the gap on Carlo's Ancelotti's table-toppers...

Germany goalkeeper Robert Enke commits suicide

The 32-year-old was hit by the train as it passed through a crossing at Neustadt-Eilvese on its route between Hamburg and Bremen. Police said the Hannover 96 captain's car, parked metres away from the tracks, was unlocked and his wallet still inside. The two train drivers reported seeing a man on the tracks but could not stop in time, police reported. Enke was pronounced dead at the scene.

Widow reveals struggles with depression

U.S. striker released from hospital after car crash

United States and Sochaux striker Charlie Davies has been released from hospital after being injured in a car crash last month near Washington DC.

EPL Top 10: Referee Gaffes

Skysports.com takes a look at some of the biggest refereeing gaffes of the season so far.

Onyewu plans a speedy recovery from knee surgery

"The surgery went well, I was told afterwards that it was textbook," said Onyewu, who is now rehabbing in California. "Everything went along well, I am feeling better each day."

Onyewu recalls looking down and seeing that his kneecap was in his quadriceps muscle. "It looked pretty bad," he said.

Saturday
U.S. vs. Slovakia
Tehelne Pole; Bratislava, Slovakia 10 a.m. ET
Fox Soccer Channel

Nov. 18
U.S. vs. Denmark
NRGi Park; Aarhus, Denmark
2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN360.com

Americans In The UK: Trio Of Goals For Yanks

Not one. Not two. But three Americans scored in England last week, as every goal either secured a victory or equalized the score.

Sid Lowe in Spain

Over 50 clubs from Saudi Arabia to Merseyside have beaten Real since 1999. Agonised Atlético still aren't one of them.

Groundhog day for Atlético as Real dish out familiar Madrid derby pain.

Jonathan Wilson in Eastern Europe

Guus Hiddink's side are favourites to make it through the play-offs to South Africa, but his selection problems give Matjaz Kek hope of masterminding an upset.


Slovenia hoping for another play-off miracle against the might of Russia.

Raphael Honigstein in Germany

Instead of acting on Philipp Lahm's criticisms, Bayern are glossing over their failings in Europe and, at the moment, the Bundesliga.

Philipp Lahm slaughters his own club to leave Bayern Munich ranting and railing.


He would help...



"Top teams in the Champions League have first-class players in seven, eight positions – we don't," Lahm said. "Other clubs have a system, a philosophy, and buy the players accordingly. We don't. It's not enough to buy good players, one has to develop a team," he added.

Paolo Bandini in Italy

With no win in 10 games and their best players frozen out by the club, Lazio's players have been ordered to attend a training camp.

Lazio retreat as their ship starts sinking.





Such a shame that their club isn't doing well...

Phil Ball in Spain

The fact that Sporting Gijón lie seventh in the league, with a quarter of the games now played, is probably the fairest thing to highlight at the start of this week's column. After beating Espanyol 1-0, they have garnered sixteen precious points from the ten games so far played, and as averages go would be very happy to end the season on something around 60 points, their present haul multiplied by four. They managed 43 last season, when Betis went down with 42, but 62 points saw Valencia into Europe. Ah - lies, damned lies and averages! Best to wait until Christmas before making any rash predictions.

England: Premier League Reports, Video & Table

Liverpool 2 - 2 Birmingham City

Richard Jolly: No glory for Reds in Anfield draw
Andy Hunter: Ngog's embarrassing case of cheating gets draw
Kevin McCarra: Gerrard returns to curb humiliation

November 10, 2009	P	Pts
Chelsea	12	30
Arsenal	11	25
Manchester United	12	25
Tottenham Hotspur	12	22
Aston Villa	12	21
Manchester City	11	20
Liverpool	12	19
Sunderland	12	17
Stoke City	12	16
Burnley	12	16
Fulham	11	15
Everton	11	15
Wigan Athletic	12	14
Blackburn Rovers	11	13
Birmingham	12	12
Bolton Wanderers	11	11
Hull City	12	11
West Ham United	12	10
Wolverhampton Wanderers	12	10
Portsmouth	12	7

Thuram Comes to Durham, NC

Lilian Thuram, Caribbean-born French soccer player, activist and writer, is well-known both for his successes on the turf and for his frequent political interventions off of it. During his week-long residency at Duke, he will participate in several events, sharing his thoughts on sport, racism, and immigration as well as discussing the work of his new foundation.

Lilian Thuram
Public Events at Duke University and North Carolina Central University
November 9‐13, 2009

November 10
“A Conversation with Lilian Thuram,”
Facilitated by Achille Mbembe and Laurent Dubois
Nasher Museum Auditorium, 7 p.m. (Reception to Follow)

November 11
Discussion with Students and Faculty, History Department
North Carolina Central University
BRITE Building Rm. 1050, 4:30‐6:00

November 12
Visit to Professor Laurent Dubois’ “World Cup and World Politics Class,” 1:15‐2:30
Richard White Auditorium, East Campus, Duke University (Visitors Welcome)
Visit to Professors Achille Mbembe and Laurent Dubois’ class “Archives of the French Empire” 4:30‐6:00 (East Duke Parlor, Blue Room; 119 East Duke Bldg)
Visitors welcome; this discussion will take place in FRENCH

ALL EVENTS ARE FREE and ALL ARE WELCOME!

VISIT SOCCERPOLITICS.COM for UPDATES and COMPLETE INFORMATION

Duke University Sponsors: Office of the President, Office of the Provost, Franklin Humanities Institute, Josiah Charles Trent Memorial Foundation, Center for French and Francophone Studies, Athletics Department, Center for International Studies, Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Center for Documentary Studies, Concilium on Southern Africa, Center for Global Studies, The Research Network on Racial and Ethnic Inequality and the Social Science Research Institute, and the Departments of Cultural Anthropology and History.

Monday Night Football Preview: Liverpool vs. Birmingham City

When: Monday, November 9, 2009 - 3:00 EST
Where: Anfield, Merseyside, England
U.S. TV: ESPN2
Preview

Major League Soccer: Playoff Reports

Los Angeles 1 - 0 Chivas USA
Donovan penalty sends Galaxy to semis

Chicago 2 - 0 New England
Blanco leads Fire surge

Houston 1 - 0 Seattle
Ching strikes in extra time to end Seattle's dream

Calcio Debate: Jose Mourinho’s 150 Game Record, Patrick Vieira Is Batman, Viva Vargas & Thi Amo Silva

Carlo Garganese looks back over another explosive weekend of Serie A action, paying tribute to an incredible Jose Mourinho record and coining a new nickname for elbow-attacker Patrick Vieira...

England: More on Chelsea vs. Manchester United

Kevin McCarra's Match Report

Player Ratings

Defeat hurts Sir Alex hard

Chelsea's belated revenge leaves Manchester United nursing grievances.




Sir Alex screams blue murder: “It was a bad decision, but what can you do? You lose faith in the refereeing sometimes. That’s the way the players are talking in the dressing room. It was a bad one. That goal should not have been allowed. We dominated the game and had great chances to win. And that’s our fault. Some of the football we played getting up to the box, and some of the chances in and around the box, we should have finished them off, but we never got the break we needed.”

Italy: Serie A Weekend Review + Team of the Week

Inter Milan were held to a 1-1 draw by a determined Roma at the San Siro on Sunday night - but still moved five points clear at the top of Serie A. In-form city rivals AC moved up to third after inflicting a 2-1 home defeat on Lazio which leaves the Rome side hovering just above the relegation zone. A hard-fought 1-0 victory at mid-table Udinese kept Fiorentina in the thick of the battle to become Inter's closest challengers.

Review
Team of the Week

Spain: La Liga Weekend Review

Sevilla and Valencia maintained their pursuit of title favourites Barcelona and Real Madrid with wins on Sunday. On Saturday, 10-man Real Madrid continued their remarkable run of success against city rivals Atletico at the Vicente Calderon, but they were given a huge scare after almost surrendering a 3-0 lead in an incident-packed derby they won 3-2.

Review

England: Premier League Weekend Review

Manchester City played out a six-goal thriller with Burnley at Eastlands, Everton returned to winning ways, as did Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur - the former in a more convincing manner than the latter - while an inspired double substitution helped Blackburn Rovers fight back against Portsmouth.

Review

England: Premier League Special Reports

Harry Harris at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea 1 - 0 Manchester United


Richard Jolly at the KC Stadium
Hull City 2 - 1 Stoke City


Kevin Palmer at Molineux
Wolves 1 - 4 Arsenal

MLS Playoffs Match Report: Fire 2 Revs 0

The Fire came into the second leg down 2-1 in aggregate goals facing an opponent that they've faced a huge number of times in the playoffs over the years, lately with good results. I could go on about the challenges that the Revs faced this year, but frankly it's not worth the time. This Fire team came into the playoffs in mediocre form, with rumors of trouble in the locker room and using a patchwork lineup. Brian McBride missed a good chunk of the second half of the season to injury, Blanco often seemed marginally interested at best and a combination of injuries and transfers has robbed them of all four opening day defensive starters. There is uncertainly about Coach Dennis Hamlett's future with the club and the roster will most likely be turned over with impending departures of Chris Rolfe, Chuauathemoc Blanco, Wilman Conde, Gonzalo Segares, Marco Pappa, Brian McBride and possibly C.J. Brown. Anything short of a definitive statement- a 2+ goal margin of victory, would end the season and break up the band.

What they got out of Blanco was the best performance he's turned in wearing the Fire shirt since his first season. He showed the kind of form that Fire fans have seen from him on TV in the Mexico shirt but not in person in some time; he found an extra gear on the run, tracked back and won balls, and generally used his strength and big game experience to maximum effect. The sold out crowd of 21,500 provided an outstanding atmosphere throughout. Marco Pappa and playoff hero of yore John Thorrington both sparkled and Patrick Nyarko's speed off the bench turned out to be the difference maker. Dasan Robinson and C.J. Brown's partnership at the heart of the defense has solidified over the past month, and Jon Busch made some vital saves in the last 15 minutes against the Revs to preserve the win.

Much was made of the Fire's decision to move the advertising boards much closer to the field to limit long throw-ins, and how it caused Maurico Castro to cut his hand and lose his rag, booting a loose ball into the stands before leaving the field for treatment. The advertising boards being closer to the field did have an unfortunate impact on the sight lines from our seats in the first row- all action on the field within 10 feet of the sideline was cut off at the waist.

Real Salt Lake comes to Chicago for the Eastern Conference Finals next Saturday. The Fire beat RSL 1-0 at home in August and drew 1-1 away a month later. Their wide speed has potential to give us trouble but if Blanco shows up to play again and our fullbacks aren't too badly exposed the Fire have a real chance to play for the championship in Seattle in two weeks.

MLS Playoffs: Crowd, Nyarko Ignite Fire
Revolution burned
Player Ratings




Game Faces On




















Blanco and Rolfe defend an early free kick. Note the impinging advertising boards, much further from our seats than normal. Very annoying.





Blanco takes a throw. Again, the ad boards.


Eff this guy.














Nyarko hauls ass





Blanco takes a corner unfazed by a crazed drunken fan getting handcuffed right behind him.








Sad dickheads after the second goal.








A happy fan celebrates.












Baggio subs in.











Captain CJ greets his Legion.





Bring on the Conference Finals!

-Bobbie BS