AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri believes his team are on track to claim the Serie A title after their 2-1 win over Fiorentina on Sunday.Skipper Clarence Seedorf and Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato netted as the Rosseneri topped Fiorentina to maintain their three-point advantage over second-placed Napoli, who also picked up maximum points on the weekend.
“We still have the same advantage, have the advantage in the head-to-head records and there is a game less to play, so I guess we are a step closer to the Scudetto,” Allegri said.
“Now we have to take it one round at a time, then see how it all ends up.”
Fiorentina coach Sinisa Mihajlovic said the winning side were the best his troops had played against so far in the term.
“I could not have asked for a better attitude from my lads, but the truth is Milan are the strongest team we’ve faced this season,” the Serb said.
Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who was dismissed in the second half for dissent, said he regretted his actions and insisted his cursing were directed at himself, not towards the match official.
“I am sorry, but it seems as if nowadays I can’t even mutter to myself without getting into trouble. I’ll do everything I can to help Milan win the Scudetto,” he said.
Reports in The Sun suggest that Brazilian star Neymar has yet to reach a decision on his future. The 19 year old Santos striker is valued at £25m and has been linked with a possible summer move to Chelsea. This is despite the fact that Chelsea recently splashed out £50m on Liverpool striker Fernando Torres.
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is believed to be a keen admirer of the Brazilian star – who has hit 61 goals in 123 appearances for the Brazilian team Santos, since making his debut in 2009. Neymar has also done well at international level scoring 3 goals in 3 international caps for the full Brazil side and 9 goals in 7 games for the Brazil U20 team.
But Neymar will not be drawn on his future and stated “I do not know what the future holds. It is in the hands of god but it’s nice to know my work is appreciated.”
Neymar then went on to say “I don’t know what will happen in June. I’m only focussed on working hard to be called up for Copa America”
One potential complication for any transfer to any English team will be the fact that Santos sold 5% of future transfer fees to an investment group. Since Third party ownership is not allowed in England.
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Sulley Muntari’s agent has announced the Ghana international will not be making a permanent move to Sunderland in the close season.Muntari, 26, is on loan at the English Premier League club from Serie A side Inter Milan.
An FA Cup winner in 2008 with Portsmouth, the midfielder has made seven appearances and scored one goal since agreeing a temporary move back to England in January.
But he is apparently unlikely to remain at the Stadium of Light beyond the end of the season, with his agent Fabien Piveteau claiming Sunderland are not prepared to finance a transfer.
“There is no chance at Sunderland for Sulley,” Piveteau said. “They have decided he is too expensive.”
According to Piveteau, Muntari’s international teammate John Mensah has better odds of earning a permanent move to Sunderland following a second successive season on loan from Ligue 1 club Lyon.
“For John, there is a good chance,” Piveteau said.
“The situation with him is that if he played 25 games, he would definitely sign for Sunderland but he has only played 18 at the moment.”
Mensah made just 14 starts last season due to injury problems, with that record only marginally better in the current campaign.
Nevertheless, Piveteau insists fitness concerns are not expected to stand in the way of a deal.
“He has not played all of the games but this season it has not been the same type of injuries for John,” he said.
“At the moment I think the results are the priority, but the coaches will talk with him soon about next season.”
If given enough time and purpose I could write a long and poisonous diatribe against the evils of Sky television. With it’s egregious presentation, farcical hyperbole and pre-Premier League amnesia it’s virtually short hand for all that is ill in the modern game. Why if I were a semi decent mid-table Premier League youngster I’d be big headed and self important too if I watched enough pumped up featurettes of myself running and gurning in slow motion to the music from Gladiator.
I could also write a damning and dismissive critique of good old Auntie Beeb, with its lazy, entitled approach to our national sport, uninsightfull and ill researched analysis (cough Alan Shearer cough) and the sneaking suspicion we’re paying for them all to regularly frequent tanning salons and hold lavish Eyes Wide Shut style parties
However I wouldn’t and won’t, because the crimes of these two pale into insignificance next to the behemoth of televisual football balls ups – ITV.
In a stricter, less forgiving world – and the one I’ll run when I’m eventually recognised as the rightful lord and master of the Universe – ITV would’ve been banished from presenting the FA Cup after they cut to an advertising break just before Everton’s dramatic Extra-Time winner against Liverpool in 2009. But alas, due to the namby pamby liberal nature of modern British society (Nick Clegg? Pah!) they were reprieved, and allowed to trundle on and do it again during England’s World Cup opening game against the USA, depriving ITV HD viewers the joy of watching a full third of England’s tournament net bulging.
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In my – just and righteous – new World they would’ve been stripped of their terrestrial status and made to go and play in the corner with Bravo and Granada Men and Motors, with their 3rd channel status given to BBCThree or More4, but again they were let off. Shamefully.
Even when they pulled off the coup of all coups and stole Match of the Day from under Auntie’s nose, they somehow managed to mess it up, playing only 28 minutes of football highlights in their first 70 minute show under the bizarre assumption that what viewers who tuned into a football highlights show actually wanted to see was Andy Townsend talking, something they took to surreal levels of absurdity with “Townsend’s Tactics Truck”, in which our erstwhile hero corrected tactical errors in hindsight to the actual, live Premiership players who’d made them, whilst in the back of a truck.
Even their generally competent coverage of the Champions League – their flagship footballing broadcast – was often marred by their insistence on awful punditry, which reached such dire levels Townsend and Robbie Earle were forced to stand outside on the pitch with a little wooden table and not allowed back in again until they made sense.
And now, due in part to their own lust for power and in part the BBC’s lackadaisical arrogance, they’ve gained control of the FA Cup, something we all felt the consequences of last weekend.
Continue to PAGE TWO…
Despite early worries, both Arsenal vs. Leeds and Manchester United vs. Liverpool managed to broadcast without cutting to a commercial break at any time during play, and despite a couple more cracks creeping into their already established flaws of tacky presentation and poor punditry, they mostly passed off without a hitch and to a casual observer, vaguely well.
New but minor annoyances included the “slightly smudged into the screen” effect used on the in-screen scoreboard, presumably in an attempt to make it look cool and futuristic, but which only succeeded in making me feel drunk and unsure of my focus levels, and the brazen new levels of bias co-commentary employed by former Liverpool clogger Jim Beglin, who seemed completely unwilling to admit Manchester United were even playing in their 3rd round tie, let alone deserving of any credit for it. The little whimper he let out when Gerrard was dismissed was ample make up for that though and I suppose the commercial channels have no requirement to be impartial.
No, the real crimes were left for the late night highlights show, and that’s when it all became hopelessly clear – yet again – that ITV should not be allowed access to our treasured sporting events.
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Prefixed by a sort of Grange Hill on acid title sequence, highlight coverage of their non-live games was shocking, seemingly filmed on a partial zoom ten rows down from where the BBC and Sky are allowed to film from. Whilst their rivals can manage to make a League One ground seem relatively imposing and 21st century with their flattering angles and whoosing effects, “The FA Cup Highlights Show” managed to make Sunderland’s Premier League stadium look like it was being filmed 10 years ago for an end of season VHS compilation of an uninteresting midweek Johnstone’s Paint Trophy clash. The quality was infinitely inferior, and even seemed shaky at times, like it was being filmed on a camera phone – presumably because they’d run out of money after splashing it all on the smudge effect scoreboard for their live games. Consistency seemed to be another problem, with some replays just ignored and others pored over and one goal even missed altogether (Sheffield Wednesday) because the Cameraman was looking in the wrong direction.
And of course, more Andy Townsend.
I remember being angry when Sky bought the rights to Champions League and England games a few years back, believing they should be solely the preserve of terrestrial television, but I forgive them their indulgences and their single handed ruination of modern culture, because they do it well. And I forgive the BBC their snobbery and controversial infant-swapping storylines because they are classy when they get it right. ITV even ruined F1 when they had it, and that’s just people going round in a circle for 4 hours. They need to be stopped before they get their hands on Wimbledon, or Crufts, or worse, the Premiership again. Won’t somebody please think of the children!
You can follow Oscar on Twitter here; http://twitter.com/oscarpyejeary, where you can lend him the money to re-make 80s Sci-Fi serial Quantum Leap in his garden. It’ll be good, trust me.
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The new Euro beach soccer league has kicked off in Switzerland with the hosts impressing in their first outing.The first stage is being held in Bern with six more countries due to host the tournament, and the final to be played in Valencia.
The Swiss began their campaign by beating Turkey 6-4 in a thriller in front of their home fans.
The home side, who were runners-up at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, started strongly going 2-0 up through Dejan Stankovic.
But Turkey, who were recently promoted to this competition, turned things around and were 4-2 up going into the final period.
However Switzerland dug deep and Kaspar Jaeggy’s late strike put them 5-4 ahead.
The Swiss are now level on points with Spain at the top of Group A.
The Spaniards beat Italy 5-3 in their opening match of the tournament.
They started strongly and took the lead after 10 minutes when debutant Aceiton scored with this diving header.
The Italians fought back though, and levelled the game at 2-2 with Ramacciotti’s spectacular free-kick.
But last season’s runners-up Spain had too much for the Azzuri and Nico sealed their victory.
In Group B, Israel got off to a flying start with a 6-3 win Norway, though they were made to work for it.
The Norwegians got off to an excellent start and were 2-0 up inside 12 minutes, Tome-Rune Sorensen getting both goals.
Israel, who have never made it to the final stages of the competition before, fought back and Thazi Lloz scored a quick-fire hat-trick to put them 3-2 ahead.
From there on the Middle East outfit grew in confidence and Amer Yatim sealed the win to put Israel top of Group B.
They will look to cement top spot against the Ukraine tomorrow, while Norway must beat the same nation later to have any chance of progressing.
Tottenham’s maiden voyage in to the dizzy heights of Champions League football gave the supporters a taster of what it was like to watch their team on the biggest stage of European club football. Playing against superpowers such as, Real Madrid and the Milanese giants are adventures the Tottenham fans will be desperate to experience again. Therefore it makes the coming season a critical one for Tottenham, as failure to qualify for the Champions League this season could have implications on the progression of the club.
In order to make the Champions League next season Tottenham must ensure they keep hold of Luka Modric and Gareth Bale this summer. I think the odds of Spurs retaining their two prized assets are in their favour, however, there is quite clearly interest from top clubs in two of the Premiership’s star performers from last season. Ensuring the players don’t have their heads turned by the lure of Champions League football and bigger wages will be a tough task, but if anyone is capable of keeping them it’s Harry Redknapp. Assuming that Bale and Modric both stay with Spurs throughout next season, should the club miss out on a top four spot again, surely it would then cast real doubt over the future of their Tottenham careers.
Keeping their top players will be of vital importance for Spurs, as the competition to gain a Champions League place will be a much tougher ask next season, due to the continual improvement of other teams. Manchester City will be looking to cement themselves as a top four team and you can guarantee that huge sums of money will be spent to help them achieve this. Then there is Liverpool, a side that have been rejuvenated since the return of Kenny Dalglish and the men form Merseyside are building a side capable of attaining Champions League football. Liverpool have been flexing their financial muscles since January in a bid to strengthen their side and make up for the disappointment of missing out on the competition for the last two seasons.
By finishing in fifth place last season Tottenham of course booked a place in the poisoned chalice that is the Europa League. Although it will still bring European football to White Hart Lane, after last season’s rollercoaster ride the Europa League will seem more like the tea cups. More importantly a sustained run in the competition could prove to be a real hindrance to Tottenham’s league form, which could dent their hopes of making the Champions League. This raises the question, if the Europa League could impact on their main goal of a top four finish, how seriously should Tottenham take the competition?
Then we come to the very real possibility that Harry Redknapp could become the next England manager after Euro 2012. Although Spurs fans seem split on their feelings towards Redknapp, I feel if they were to lose him at the end of a season that fails to bring Champions League football, it would be a double blow to the club. Harry has certainly started something special at Tottenham and if he does leave where would it leave Spurs?
If Tottenham qualify for the Champions League next season the club will obviously be in a much stronger position to continue the recent growth that has been evident since Redknapp took charge of the club. They would be in a better position to retain their top players and the financial rewards will be of great importance as Tottenham work towards the development of their new stadium. I think Champions League qualification is crucial for Tottenham next season and the pitfalls of failing to qualify will become evident in the future of the football club.
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Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has stated that he is happy with the players that he has brought to The Stadium of Light thus far this summer, but it is believed that the former Manchester United defender still has money to spend.
A number of further players have been linked with a move to Wearside, with the 50-year-old reportedly weighing up moves for Jermain Defoe and Charles N’Zogbia. The Tottenham striker may be reluctant to move north, whilst the French international’s £60,000 per week wage demands may put the Black Cats boss off.
“I wouldn’t say I was finished but we’re very pleased,” he stated in the Daily Telegraph.
“We had four loan players leave, [Boudewijn] Zenden (who rejected a new contract) and the sale of Jordan Henderson, so it was important we made sure the squad’s looking healthy again. It’s got a good balance about it and I’m very, very pleased with what we’ve done.”
One man that now look unlikely to join Bruce’s squad however is Darron Gibson, as The Daily Mail reports that the Irish midfielder’s £40,000 a week wages demands are to scupper a potential deal.
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Sunderland start their 2011/12 Premier League campaign with a difficult trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool on August 13th.
Corinthians are reportedly seeking to bring former player Carlos Tevez back to Brazil in a loan move from Manchester City.Tevez, 27, has repeatedly stated his desire to leave City after spending five seasons in the English Premier League.
The striker claims to be unhappy away from his daughters, who live in Argentina.
According to media outlets in Britain, Corinthians have reportedly made a 35.3 million-pound bid for Tevez, below City’s asking price of 50 million.
Corinthians vice-director of football Duilio Alves claims the club do not have the finances to complete a permanent transfer.
“It would have to be a loan,” Alves told Lancenet.
“We cannot buy him, that is an absurd figure, unviable for the Brazilian football market.”
“It is not impossible (to sign him). We are going to try to discover all the details. It is a dream we are trying to make true. I do not want to give false hope to the fans. We will try. That is what all can say.”
Tevez, who played for Corinthians between 2004 and 2006 before moving to the Premier League with West Ham, has also been linked with moves to Real Madrid and Inter Milan.
“He is interested in returning, everybody knows that,” Alves said.
“He has said several times he would play for Corinthians or Boca Juniors again.”
“With that interest on his part, we are interested in his coming. For that to come true, it is distant (unlikely). But we are going after him and we have initiated talks.”
Peru striker Jose Paolo Guerrero played a key role in steering his side to a 4-1 win over Venezuela on Saturday.Guerrero hit a hat-trick as Peru clinched a third-place finish in the Copa America.
The Hamburg player, who is now the tournament’s leading goalscorer with five, netted the crucial second strike midway through the second half.
That goal came six minutes after Venezuela had been reduced to 10 men following club colleague Tomas Rincon’s red card.
Guerrero then added a further two goals to put the icing on the cake.
“We fought and we were strong when it mattered,” he said.
“I am proud to be Peruvian. We enjoyed the tournament although we could have got a little more out of it.”
“Third place is fine. I am very proud of this team. I work for the group and the important thing is the team. I scored three goals and I’m very happy.”
“Third place is a good achievement. As for being the top scorer, I am the main striker and I can say that scoring goals is my job. Most of all, I am glad to have made a contribution to this side.”
Venezuela goalkeeper Renny Vega believes his country will now be taken seriously on the international stage after the fourth-placed finish.
“We gave it our all and we now have to move on and think about the World Cup qualifiers,” he told Fox Sports.
“We learned a lot from this last game, which taught us that no game is easy.”
“People have now realised that Venezuelan football must be respected. We have to keep our heads held high and continue to work hard. I am now looking ahead to the World Cup qualifier against Ecuador.”
Coach Cesar Farias admitted that his side paid for making too many errors against a Peru team, whom he felt came into the game feeling fresher and more relaxed.
“With 10 men, we were able to score but then Peru began to take advantage of our mistakes.”
“We tried to come back but in the end we were the inferior team. Our organisation let us down.”
In light of the launch of the new football gaming phenomenon that is ‘Goaldash’ I decided to look at the six biggest opening day victories ever to be recorded in the Premier League. I am not sure it will influence any of your choices ahead of the big kick-off, but it may serve as a source of inspiration.
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What better way to begin your season than by handing out a thrashing? Here are the six biggest beatings given out on the opening day. Whilst fans on the receiving end wonder how much their season tickets will get on ebay and use their replica kits to wipe away the tears, the victors laugh and drink and get completely carried away about the prospect of a season with mountains of goals and unbridled joy. Of course it doesn’t always work out like that.
6. Manchester United 5 Fulham 1
In their opening fixture of the 2006/07 season, Manchester United set out to try and stop Chelsea wining a third successive domestic title. This thrashing of Fulham was the perfect start and United went on to win their 9th league title. The youtube comment sums it up perfectly. “Man Utd is the good.”
[youtube nXUr68gmI7M]
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5. Blackburn Rovers 5 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1
For a full and not in any way biased account of Blackburn’s demolition of Wolves on the opening day of the 2003/04 season, go to the Blackburn Rovers website http://www.rovers.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10303~21979,00.html unfortunately you can’t actually see the goals. Wolves’ miserable start to the season continued with the finishing bottom of the league, whilst Rovers failed to maintain anything close to this form, finishing 15th.
Find Out More About GOALDASH by clicking here
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4. Leicester City 0 Bolton Wanderers 5
Newly promoted Bolton gave Leicester City an absolute pasting on the opening day in 2001. The goals, particularly the 2nd and 3rd really are a joy to watch. It makes you wonder why Big Sam got such a hard time. Lovely football. Leicester finished bottom that season, Bolton 16th.
[youtube u3-g7TZ4t7U]
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3. Crystal Palace 1 Liverpool 6
Freshly promoted Palace were rudely welcomed to the Premiership with this walloping from Jan Molby, Steve McManaman, Robbie Fowler and Co. Despite the previously poor form of the Reds, they dismantled Palace with ease. A teary-eyed recollection of this wonderful day can be enjoyed here. Palace went on to finish fourth from bottom in the Premiership that year, however due to the streamlining of the division to 20 clubs they were still relegated. Brutal.
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2. Everton 1 Arsenal 6
In 2009, Arsenal flew out of the traps away at Goodison Park, mauling what looked a strong Everton side. The fifth goal looks distinctly like it was lifted from the end of a park game when the score is 32- 24 and half the players have left but you’re still playing on a huge pitch. Ridiculous. Needless to say, Arsenal crumbled towards the end of the season having looked likely contenders. Everton rallied and finished 8th.
[youtube aTTjyZwAWdU]
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1. Chelsea 6 West Brom 0
On the opening day of last season, newly promoted West Brom visited the Premier League Champions at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea didn’t hold back and proceeded to ruthlessly flay the Baggies, inflicted the largest opening day victory in the history of the Premier League. Unfortunately, people have gone to great lengths to remove the evidence, most probably some West Brom fans who are still hurting. Anyway, we all know what happened there was a lot of this going on (see below). Chelsea had a large blip and finished the season second behind Manchester United and West Brom hired Roy Hodgson and finished in a very respectable 11th place.
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So what is Goaldash?
Bored of playing the Lottery? Failing every week on the Pools? Then why not give ‘Goaldash’ a go – a football gamble with a difference.
‘Goaldash’ is a fabulous concept which fuses the Lottery format with pre-chosen football fixtures. Whereas you may use birthdays or your own favourite numbers to pick your six numbers, with ‘Goaldash’ you need to use your foresight of the Beautiful Game to select the six teams that are likely to score first in the pre-selected 24 fixtures.
It only costs £1 a pop to enter and you have the chance to win a million pounds, every given week.
All you have to do is scour the 48 teams and pick out the 6 teams that are likely to score first on the Saturday afternoon. The matches are chosen from the Premier League, the Football League, as well as the Scottish divisions therefore you will have plenty to work out and strategise before you make your selections.
Playing the Lottery has just got fun, especially as your odds are a damn sight greater.
Fancy your chances? Fancy winning a million pounds? Why not give it a go! Visit Goaldash to find out more