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England plans big for the World Cup

Jeffdstuff — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 06:45:43 +0000

The World Cup, which is played every four years, never fails to capture the imagination of the English people.

And after failing to qualify for Euro 2008, it has been a long four years for England fans to wait and remember what it feels like to get behind their team in a major international competition. Now that England is in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, English football fans couldn’t be any happier.

England head to South Africa confident, having easily secured their place for this year’s World Cup. And for the first time in quite a long time, English fans can finally look forward to the World Cup with a sense of optimism.

With players such as Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard ranking amongst the best in the world, together with the other members of the talented England squad, Fabio Cappello could well be the man to guide England to World Cup glory for the first time since 1966.

The draw for the 2010 World Cup took place in Cape Town and with the way the countries have been drawn, it looks like lady luck is really smiling on England. They got a great draw coming up against USA, Slovenia and Algeria in Group C, making the English team as the clear favorites to win the group.

Looking back at England’s history in the World Cup, England has entered all 14 post-war competitions. They qualified through play in the preliminary competition on nine occasions (1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1998 and 2002), as host country once (1966) and as reigning champions once (1970).

England have had only moderate success in the World Cup, and that is perhaps a fair indication of their standing in the world game. They won the tournament once, in 1966, when it was held on their own soil and they played all their matches on their home ground, Wembley Stadium, an advantage extended to no other team in World Cup history.

Their 4-2 extra-time victory against...

Champions League Final: Man-U V Barca

Jeffdstuff — Mon, 25 May 2009 08:39:52 +0000

Barcelona FC clashing against Manchester United in the final of the UEFA Champions League was something that everyone was dreaming about.

Manchester United advanced to the 2009 UEFA Champions League final in Rome after convincingly beating Arsenal 4-1 on aggregate. The Red Devils had to wait 24 hours after triumphing at the Emirates to know who will be their opponents come May 27 at the Stadio Olimpico.

And with all the controversy one could ever think of, it was revealed to be Pep Guardiola’s Catalan Giants FC Barcelona, after the Blaugrana controversially ousted Guus Hiddink’s Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Barcelona and Manchester United are two clubs from two different countries with a completely different culture all together. However, history shows that as much as they have dissimilarities, they also have similarities, which give this UEFA Champions League final a real flavor of glamor and style.

This will be a battle between the young and the old, the inexperienced one and the wise one, the great warrior and the new combatant.

Barcelona’s 38-year-old coach Pep Guardiola is the new ‘kid’ on the block. The former Barcelona captain jumped a big step from being the manager of the club’s reserve team to coaching the senior side at a time when the Catalans were desperately searching for some fire in the pot.

On the other hand, Man-U’s Sir Alex Ferguson, 67, is Europe’s most experienced manager after winning everything there is to win with Manchester United. Last year, the Red Devils beat Barcelona, managed by Frank Rikjaard at the time, as they marched into the final where they ultimately beat Chelsea to clinch the trophy in style.

Ferguson has been with the Red Devils for more than 20 years now, but his desire to achieve success and break records has pushed him all the way to yet an impressive campaign this season as well.

This Manchester United - FC Barcelona fixture for the Champions League title is definitely a clash that will determine who the best player is between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. This hot debate has long been running but it might come to an end on May 27, when Europe’s two best clubs meet each other in Rome.

Lionel Messi has shown his best form for...

Man-U to win all Five Titles in Soccer?

Jeffdstuff — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 03:09:30 +0000

Why are we asking?

Well, since the Manchester United Red Devils just won the Carling Cup, defeating Tottenham in a 4-1 penalty shootout after the teams played to a scoreless draw through regulation and extra time, we are.

You see, United is trying to win five trophies this season, something that has never been done. They won the Club World Cup title back in December and now with the Carling Cup title, they are nearly halfway to the goal. They have a comfortable lead in the 2009 English Premier League and Man-U winning the Premiership again is very possible indeed.

Aside from playing strong in the Premiership, the Red Devils are also in good shape in the 2009 UEFA Champions League, not to mention the fact that they are into the quarterfinals of the FA Cup.

‘’We’re not going to get carried away with it,'’ Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said. ‘’We’ll keep our feet on the ground. A deflected shot goes off someone’s backside at Fulham on Wednesday and you’re out of the cup. Today proved that. Without Ben Foster, we’d have lost that.'’

United goalkeeper Ben Foster was brilliant for United in the victory, making big stops on Aaron Lennon and Darren Bent during the match. United also had chances to win before the shootout as Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez hit the post in injury time.

United is so deep that Ferguson chose to rest starting goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar in this match even though van der Sar has not given up a goal in the Premier League since November.

‘’Tottenham are good opponents and they probably had better chances in the match,'’ Ferguson said. ‘’But Ben Foster made two or three good saves.'’

The future definitely looks good for...

Beckham wants to stay in AC Milan

Jeffdstuff — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 09:30:56 +0000

Because right now, Becks is still on loan to the Italian football giants from the L.A. Galaxy.

And in case you were living under a rock, AC Milan has been enjoying the services of David Beckham this 2009 Italian Serie A season, loaning probably the game’s most marketable star from the Los Angeles Galaxy.

And since David Beckham is finally seeing some ‘’real'’ football action in Italy after making the move to Los Angeles only to appear as a ‘’trophy'’ athlete, he is now admitting that he wants his transfer to the Italian football team a permanent one.

Yup, apparently, Becks has no more intentions whatsoever in returning to the Los Angeles Galaxy and waste even a minute of his aging career playing MLS soccer. After all, playing alongside football icons like Ronaldinho in AC Milan is an opportunity any football athlete should not let pass, especially guys like Beckham who is probably in the late stages of his career.

But since this aspired permanent move to Europe is out of his hands, he knows he’s still a property of the Los Angeles Galaxy until they relinquish him for good to the European football franchise.

‘’I've expressed my desire to stay here but at the moment I’m still a Galaxy player,'’ David Beckham said. ‘’I respect the Galaxy and everything they have done for me. They have always been great to me.'’

‘’But I hope they can come to an agreement and it’s down to the clubs now. At this point it’s out of my hands. I’ve said what my feelings are to both clubs. To be given the chance again to play at this level at my age is pretty incredible and I’ve enjoyed it so much I would like to...''

David Beckham debuts for AC Milan

Jeffdstuff — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 02:39:17 +0000

This ''David Beckham debut'' sure was better than the last one.

After making his highly anticipated debut with the Los Angeles Galaxy nearly two years ago, David Beckham was in the middle of yet another debut for an international football team and this time, he was with AC Milan, surprising football fans on how his ‘’new debut'’ turned out this time around.

You see, the last time David Beckham made his debut for a football team, it was with the Los Angeles Galaxy, fresh from his transfer from Real Madrid to the MLS. That one was more of a cameo appearance than a full-time playing appearance really, as Becks only played for 21 minutes as the L.A. Galaxy lost to D.C. United, 1-nil.

This time though, David Beckham was on the pitch for 89 minutes with AC Milan. He was solid too as he came up with probably one of the best performances he’s ever had since leaving Real Madrid for California.

AC Milan ended up with a 2-2 draw against AS Roma.

Beckham sure was fantastic. Although it does not compare with the performances he once had early in his career with Manchester United and Real Madrid, he was solid nevertheless. Hell, the guy was so good that he elicited boos from the AS Roma crowd as he exited the pitch in the 89th minute.

‘’I felt good in the game, very strong and I enjoyed it,'’ Beckham said. ‘’I enjoyed playing with these players and in this city.'’

AC Milan head coach Carlo Ancelotti initially said it would be difficult to start the former Man-U and Real Madrid star since the guy was inactive for the last two months. STILL, he had him lining up in his traditional spot on the right wing, leaving Mathieu Flamini and Massimo Ambrosini on the bench to...

Cristiano Ronaldo returns

Jeffdstuff — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 03:19:37 +0000

Yes, the biggest superstar in football today will finally be back.

And in case you haven’t heard, the 2008 UEFA Champions League is already underway and we already have quite a few teams looking quite strong already for this year’s campaign.

One of which is of course, Manchester United. After missing the services of Cristiano Ronaldo because of injuries to start the football year, the most expensive footballer today could be back for Man-U once they take on Villarreal in a UEFA Champions League Group E fixture on Wednesday.

Ronaldo has been making quite a few headlines the last few months with the rumored move from Manchester United to Real Madrid. Now that he’s officially a Red Devil again, he’s hoping Man-U fans will forgive him for his transgression.

For what it’s worth, Ronaldo remains confident Man-U fans will forgive him, (depends on how he helps the team in the 2008 English Premier League season of course…) although Real Madrid will definitely not, that’s for sure.

‘’When I put on the shirt, I give it my all,'’ Cristiano Ronaldo said. ‘’I'm already in the history of the club. When I play the fans will love me again.'’

Cocky ain’t he? And he uttered those words despite the rumors that aside from the possible move to Real Madrid, he’s also rumored to move to Manchester City after that club claimed they would pay Ronaldo a whopping US$270 million.

Of course, Ronaldo denied there is any chance of...

Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid?

Jeffdstuff — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 03:33:15 +0000

Cristiano Ronaldo is on the brink of becoming the world’s most expensive player if he decides to take on Real Madrid’s generous offer.

Now that Cristiano Ronaldo’s stint in the 2008 UEFA European Football Championship is over after Portugal lost to Germany, he is now looking into a possible move from Old Trafford and the defending Champions League champions Manchester United, to Real Madrid and the Spanish Premiere League.

After failing to lead Portugal deeper into the Euro 2008 tournament, it seems that didn’t hurt his market value so to speak. Real Madrid still wants to land the fiery Portugese striker and after he captured both the English Premiership and the UEFA Champions League titles with Manchester United, Real Madrid is STILL willing to make him the highest paid football player in the world.

Zinedine Zidane, still the highest paid footballer after moving from Juventus to Real Madrid, agrees with his former club. He believes that Cristiano Ronaldo is worthy to break his own record breaking fee and the Portugese’s 3-2 loss to Germany should not slow down his bandwagon.

‘’He has had a great season, a league and Champions League winner, and I think the fact that he and Portugal got knocked out at the quarter-finals doesn’t mean anything because they were up against a great Germany team,'’ retired Zinedine Zidane said.

‘’It doesn’t say anything about the merits during the year. He is not scared of his new Real Madrid engagement and every time they wanted good players they got them. Now it depends on his personal plans, if he wants to...''

England VS Estonia in Euro 2008 Qualifiers

Jeffdstuff — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 08:50:43 +0000

David Beckham is still nursing a knee injury and he'll be out for England's fixture against Estonia.

Heading to England's Euro 2008 Qualifier against Estonia this Saturday, David Beckham will be out with yet another injury. Despite that, Steve McClaren is still praising the guy because of his motivation to return and play again for his home country.

England head coach Steve McClaren is praising David Beckham for, according to McClaren, the way the England star is still trying to regain his fitness.

''He's a true patriot and he loves playing for England,'' England coach Steve McClaren said of Beckham for his efforts to be available for the national team's campaign this season. ''That's still his motivation, that's still his mind-set.''

David Beckham is still nursing a right knee injury he sustained playing for the Los Angeles Galaxy in MLS soccer. The injury denied Becks for two England European Championship qualifiers last September and will still rule him out of two more fixtures, one against Estonia this Saturday, and another against Russia.

What David Beckham is aiming for now is to be fit in time to lead England to next summer's finals in Switzerland and Austria. Back in 2001, Becks did just that, scoring a late free kick against Greece to send the England national team to the...

Can Michael Owen get his starting job back in Newcastle?

Jeffdstuff — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 10:56:07 +0000

Michael Owen is not Allardyce’s favorite footballer in Newcastle. With the 2007-08 English Premiere League season here, Newcastle big boss Sam Allardyce is apparently laying down the law after telling Michael Owen that he has to fight for a starting spot in his rotation this year. It turns out that Newcastle United manager Sam Allardyce [...]

Chelsea will play second fiddle to David Beckham

Jeffdstuff — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 12:00:43 +0000

Chelsea, one of the most popular teams in all of soccer, agrees to play second fiddle to David Beckham. Chelsea FC, the same team that became the 2007 FA Cup champions, and the same team that ruled the English Premiership for two years before Manchester United won this year’s Premiership title, agreed to let David [...]