Monday, March 28, 2011

Jose Mourinho as Goalkeeper

On last Monday (03/28), Jose Mourinho, the Special One, became the goalkeeper in the training game between the team of Real Madrid training staff & club officers and team of the local press.  Although Mourinho did the great job as goalkeeper, the press got the victory with the final score is 3-2.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Torres: Spain's Objective Is To Win 'Record Breaking' Euro 2012

Spain attacker Fernando Torres has made it clear that the Furia Roja are still hungry for success after winning the 2010 World Cup in South Africa last summer, and that they've now set their sights on winning Euro 2012.


"Our next goal is to win Euro 2012. No team has ever managed to win back to back European Championships - World Cup - European Championships. That's our next objective as there's nothing better than breaking records."


Don't miss the exciting games on coming weekend.


Match Schedule: 
March 25th
Hungary       vs Netherlands       at 20.30
Slovenia       vs Italy                    at 20.45
Luxembourg vs France               at 21.00
Spain            vs Czech Republic at 22.00 


March 26th
Wales           vs England             at 16.00
Armenia        vs Russia               at 16.00
Germany      vs Kazakhstan        at 20.00
Norway         vs Denmark            at 20.00


source: uefa euro 2010, goal.com

Monday, March 21, 2011

Real Madrid Ace C. Ronaldo Out For 3 Weeks With Hamstring Injury

As we won't see Cristiano Ronaldo in the football games for 3 weeks due to the hamstring injury, I also have the video to show his soccer free styles & skills

 


Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Real aiming to break Lyon record

Real Madrid may approach the second leg of their last 16 Champions League tie against Lyon as favourites but there will also be a sense of trepidation ahead of Wednesday's game.
The Spanish side have the upper hand after drawing 1-1 at the Stade de Gerland three weeks ago yet they will be mindful of the aggregate victory that the Ligue One team recorded against them at the same stage of the competition last season.
That result was achieved thanks to a 1-0 win in France and a 1-1 draw in Madrid and continued a remarkable record that together with this season's encounter, means Lyon are now unbeaten in seven matches against the nine-time European Cup winners.
It also sustained a run in which Real have failed to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League since 2004.
Much has changed since last spring, of course. Only four Real players who started against Lyon recently also featured in the Bernabeu game last season. The club has a new manager too, with Jose Mourinho aiming to be the first coach to win the Champions League with three different clubs.
Factor in a 21-game home winning stretch this season and even though they are without the likes of Sami Khedira and Kaka, many observers would expect the Spanish side to progress.

Lyon have already proven to be intelligent opponents though. Last season's draw in Madrid had a huge element of fortune given that Gonzalo Higuain hit the post with the goal gaping and could have had a hat-trick.
But in many senses it was a tactical victory for Lyon coach Claude Puel, who altered his team's shape after the break following a first-half onslaught from the hosts.
"We changed the system and totally reshuffled the team," Puel said after the game. "Miralem Pjanic moved up to support Lisandro Lopez, and that made us more fluid. On top of that, Pjanic scored the goal.
Although Jean Alain Boumsong (4) and Jean Makoun (17) were forced off with injuries, comparing Lyon's average player positions for the first and second half shows how much further they were stationed up the pitch.
source: Alistair Magowan - BBC Sport (www.bbc.co.uk) 

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Preview UEFA : Spurs vs Milan

t is half a century since the term "glory, glory nights" was first applied to Tottenham's adventures in the European Cup, but the visit of Milan to White Hart Lane, and the possible progression to the quarter-finals that it entails, could herald arguably the club's greatest achievement in the competition.

Few expected Spurs to finish in the top four last season, but they did. Harry Redknapp's side then confounded expectations once more when finishing ahead of Inter to top their group, thanks in no small part to a famous home win over the reigning European champions. Their surprise success in securing a 1-0 lead against the Serie A leaders at the San Siro now leaves them on the brink of a place in the quarter-finals in their debut Champions League campaign.

Milan are beset by fitness problems of their own, most notably in midfield, while Mark van Bommel and Antonio Cassano are both cup-tied. However, Massimiliano Allegri's side approach the game in fine form having defeated second-placed Napoli to tighten their grip on Serie A and, at the weekend, beaten Juventus 1-0 in Turin. 

Tottenham player to watch: Gareth Bale. An obvious pick, no doubt, but the Welshman is without doubt the player that Milan will be paying closest attention to. Though he missed the first leg due to injury, Bale made his comeback from a six-week injury against Wolves on Sunday and should return to the starting line-up. Milan will be acutely aware of his two formidable performances against their city rivals Inter in the group stages.

Milan player to watch: Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Swede's previous visit to North London saw him score twice for Barcelona against Arsenal last season, even if he is accused of failing to impress against Premier League sides. A force of nature in Serie A, where he has 14 goals and 11 assists already this season, Ibrahimovic saw a late equaliser at San Siro disallowed and will once again spearhead the Rossoneri attack, possibly alongside Alexandre Pato. 

Key Battle: Luka Modric v Mathieu Flamini. Deprived of Gattuso due to suspension, Milan have also been shorn of the well-established pair of Massimo Ambrosini and Andrea Pirlo due to injury meaning their midfield will take on a very unfamiliar complexion. Kevin-Prince Boateng, formerly of Spurs, is also a doubt so the driving force in the centre of the park will be Flamini, a man who is assured of a hot reception given his Arsenal past and his reckless challenge on Vedran Corluka in the first leg.

 Prediction: Tottenham's home form in Europe should be enough to see them past the Serie A leaders, but it may well be a tense evening at White Hart Lane.

source: Tom Adams, ESPN (soccernet.com)

Monday, March 7, 2011

Messi: Arsenal's Attacking Football Will See Them Lose In Barcelona

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi claims that Arsenal's propensity to play open, attacking football will be the reason for their demise at the Camp Nou on Tuesday evening.

The Spanish champions suffered a 2-1 defeat to the Gunners at the Emirates in the first leg of their last-16 tie in the Champions League last month, and will aim to overhaul that deficit this week in Catalunya where the two sides confront each other once again.

Both Barcelona and Arsenal have an attacking philosophy and play passing football, but Messi believes that this will only act in their favour.

“We remain confident of progressing," said the 23-year-old, according to Mirrorfootball.co.uk.  “Obviously we were bitterly disappointed to lose the first leg at the ­Emirates and felt we created more than enough chances to win the game.

“But it will be a different story in Spain. I’m not sure Arsenal are a side who can play to defend – and that will leave them very open.”

A 1-0 win will be enough for Barca to progress to the quarter-finals on the away goals rule but Messi says that it is not what they plan to do.


Speaking on the potential absence of the injured Cesc Fabregas from the Arsenal team, the Argentine international commented, “It will be a devastating blow if he doesn’t play for Arsenal.

"He’s a big threat and so influential for them. If he failed to play it would make our job far easier.”


source: Subhankar Mondal, Goal.com