Barça are already on their way to Abu Dhabi, where they will be playing in the Clubs World Cup held during the 16th-19th December. The squad took off with an hour’s delay.
After their record-breaking victory over Espanyol, Josep Guardiola’s team is already on their way to Abu Dhabi to see if they can win the Clubs World Cup for the first time in their history. Their plane took off after an hour’s delay.
Their flight has been made even longer owing to the 2-hour stopover in Intanbul imposed by Civil Aviation. Along with the squad and staff, some 25 fans will be on board.
Club president Joan Laporta will be travelling, along with vice-presidents Rafael Yuste, Albert Perrín and Joan Boix. Technical secretary Txiki Begiristain and football director Raul Sanllehí are also on the trip. Other board members will join the squad on Wednesday.
On Saturday, 14 November and Wednesday 18 November, Spain’s Raúl Albiol and Carlos Marchena entered the record books after playing in Spain’s friendly matches against Argentina and Austria.
According to Infostrada, Raúl Albiol won his 21st and 22nd successive match with Spain when he played in the match against Argentina (2-1 win) on 14 Nov and Austria (1-5 win), breaking his compatriot Xabi Alonso’s world record of 21 successive victories in internationals.
Marchena played in the match against Austria (1-5 win) on 18 Nov, equalling Brazilian Garrincha’s world record of 49 successive international matches without defeat, a record which has survived for more than 43 years.
Players with most successive international victories
# Player Nation Years
22 Raúl Albiol Spain 2007 – 2009
21 Xabi Alonso Spain 2008 – 2009
19 Zé Roberto Brazil 1995 – 1998
17 Zito Brazil 1959 – 1962
17 Djalma Dias Brazil 1962 – 1969
17 Dunga Brazil 1997 – 1998
Players with most successive international matches without defeat
With the 2010 FIFA World Cup field rounded out, Slovakiastand alone as the sole nation making their debut in the competition. Only once before, a World Cup had just one debutant. According to Infostrada, in 1950 England were the only team to qualify for the tournament as a debutant.
Jabulani which means “to celebrate” in isiZulu. The new adidas ball will be the only ball used during the tournament that starts in June.
11 is a big number that relates to the “Jabulani” ball as it sports an impressive 11 different colors. This was chosen for the 11 players who take the field for every team during the tournament, the 11 official languages of South Africa, (isiZulu is spoken by 25% of the people), and the 11 South African tribes that make the country extremely diverse.
Give me freedom, give me fire, give me reason, take me higher See the champions, take the field now, you define us, make us feel proud In the streets are, exaliftin , as we lose our inhabition, Celebration its around us, every nations, all around us
Singin forever young, singin songs underneath that sun
Lets rejoice in the beautiful game.
And together at the end of the day.
WE ALL SAY
When I get older I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom Just like a wavin' flag
And then it goes back And then it goes back And then it goes back
When I get older I will be stronger They'll call me freedom Just like a wavin' flag
And then it goes back And then it goes back And then it goes
Oooooooooooooh woooooooooohh hohoho
Give you freedom, give you fire, give you reason, take you higher See the champions, take the field now, you define us, make us feel proud In the streets are, exaliftin, every loser in ambition, Celebration, its around us, every nations, all around us
Singin forever young, singin songs underneath that sun
Lets rejoice in the beautiful game.
And together at the end of the day.
WE ALL SAY
When I get older, I will be stronger They'll call me freedom Just like a wavin' flag
And then it goes back And then it goes back And then it goes back
When I get older I will be stronger They'll call me freedom Just like a wavin' flag
And then it goes back And then it goes back And then it goes
Wooooooooo Ohohohoooooooo ! OOOoooooh Wooooooooo
WE ALL SAY !
When I get older I will be stronger They'll call me freedom Just like a wavin' flag
And then it goes back And then it goes back And then it goes back
When I get older I will be stronger They'll call me freedom Just like a wavin' flag
And then it goes back And then it goes back And then it goes
Real Madrid and Milan will star in the most interesting Champions League game this week. The Whites had their final session this morning and Milan trained at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium at 19:00.
Real Madrid's morning session was followed by a press conference given by coach Manuel Pellegrini and Kaka.
Pellegrini selected 18 of his men for the match. They will meet at the stadium at 20:30 and will then set their team camp at Mirasierra Suites Hotel.
Milan are currently third in Group C behind the Whites and Zurich. The Italian team landed in Madrid at 12:10. The squad and coaching staff are staying at Villa Magna Hotel.
Inter twice came from behind as Tuesday's Champions League Matchday 3 clash against Dynamo Kiev at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza ended in a 2-2 draw. But the Group F situation is evenly balanced with three matches left to play as defending European champions Barcelona lost 2-1 at home to Rubin Kazan.
Dynamo came out with all guns blazing and fired an early warning when Yarmolenko just failed to make contact with Milevskiy's flick from Magrao's corner. Gazzaev's men stepped up the pressure and took a fifth-minute lead through Mikhalik, who rifled past Julio Cesar after Milevskiy's free kick came off Stankovic.
Penned back for the opening fifteen minutes, Inter gradually settled but Dynamo went inches close to a second with Shevchenko heading wide after climbing above Maicon. Inter's leveller came from a counter-attack after Julio Cesar's punched clearance from Magrao's cross. Sneijder turned an opponent and played to Lucio who fed Stankovic and the Serbian slotted beyond the onrushing Bogush.
In his pre-match press conference Mourinho said a few moments are enough to go from heaven to hell in football and Lucio must have been thinking just that when he inadvertently headed Magrao's corner into his own net five minutes before the break. But the Brazilian's partner in defence Samuel grabbed a quick equaliser after half time, rising in the box to head Sneijder's corner kick into the top left corner.
Spaces opened up for both teams and mistakes abounded, and the result could have gone either way. Eto'o was narrowly beaten to Magrao's wayward back pass by Bogush, who made a point-blank save from the Cameroonian seconds later. At the other end, Lucio found himself in Purgatory after mis-timing his clearance but Inter were let off the hook as Shevchenko fired wide with just Julio Cesar to beat.
Suazo had an impact after coming on for Muntari at half time and with five minutes to go he missed from the close range after a storming run to the byline by Zanetti. The Honduran had a further chance from a tight angle before having a goal disallowed for offside in stoppage time.
Inter 2-2 Dynamo Kiev (HT: 1-1)
Scorers: Mikhalik 5, Stankovic 35, Lucio (o.g.) 40, Samuel 47.
Barca suffered their first defeat of the season as Rubin Kazan shocked the Nou Camp with a 1-2 win tonight. Barca had the lion's share of the ball and hit the woodwork twice, but the Russians proved more effective in front of goal.
On paper Rubin Kazan were the weakest team of the Group F, but they showed that upsets are still a part and parcel of the game with their shock win at the Nou Camp. After a very early goal put them ahead, they defended doggedly and in the end inflicted Barca's first defeat of the season.
Barca seemed to have punctured Rubin's hopes when Ibrahimovic drew them level just after half time and with nearly 70% of possession, Guardiola's men certainly dominated, but the Russian team hit them on the break to make it 1-2 and with two posts denying them late on, Barca were left to rue their bad luck on a disappointing evening at the Nou Camp.
After just a minute,Rubin Kazan were one up when Ryazantsev connected with a scorching 35-yard drive that gave Valdes no chance as it shot into the top left hand corner. Barca seemed unperturbed by the goal though and were soon in charge with Ibrahimovic making the keeper Ryzhikov work on 4 and 10 minutes.
For their part, Rubin tried to sit on their lead, closing down midfield and packing their defence against Xavi and Iniesta's clever probing and with Messi coming deep, Barca found the congested centre hard to break through.
It was therefore out on the flanks that Barca got most joy with Alves cutting in and hitting the side netting with a shot on 15 minutes and Pedro heading just wide on 38 minutes, but it was still the Russians who went in ahead at the break.
The second half began as almost a carbon copy of the first, but this time it was Barca who got the early goal. And what a goal it was: Xavi lofting a pinpoint pass for Ibrahimovic in the inside right lane to turn and fire low past the keeper. Now the fans were roaring Barca on as they searched for their second against opponents who were determined to sit back and defend.
Despite having nearly 80% of the possession in the second half, it wasn't Barca, but rather Rubin who broke the deadlock as Karadeniz rounded off a lightening quick counter attack on 73 minutes. That second goal was a real body blow to Barca and though there was still time for Ibrahimovic on 79 minutes and Toure in injury time to both hit the woodwork, it just wasn't to be -sometimes there's just no justice in football!
Subtitles: 1.the dream became true 2. the small but proud Slovakia is in the football elite 3. 11th June starts the biggest celebration of football in the world 4. 32 elite football countries 5. Slovakia included 6. maybe we will never have the technique like Brasilians have 7. maybe we will have never so much titles as the French have 8. maybe we will never be a superpower 9. but no one can take us our pride and power 10. Lets go Slovakia!
Final Standings: Europe - Group 3
Slovakia 22 South Africa 2010 Slovenia 20 Playoff Czech Republic 16
Northern Ireland 15
Poland 11
San Marino 0
Brasil 34 South Africa 2010 Chile 33 South Africa 2010 Paraguay 33 South Africa 2010 Argentina 28 South Africa 2010 Uruguay 24 Play-off Ecuador 23 Venezuela 22 Colombia 20 Bolivia 15 Perú 13
Barca's latest signing talks to the “Revista Barca” in their latest addition about his career so far and his first few months at the club.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic spoke to the club's magazine before the game against Malaga and revealed much about his background, his motivation and his hopes and expectations for his time at Barca.
Winning mentality
Zlatan's father was Bosnian and his mother Croatian and he grew up in the a quiet Swedish town. He began playing football at Rosengard where he began to develop his strong personality: “you have to be strong in life and I didn't let anybody put me down. If you show me respect, I'll respect you. I like people to speak clearly and say things as the are. I don't want to be second, third or fourth . That's the same as being last. I want to be first – or nothing”,
Inter
La Liga is Ibrahimovic's fourth league after starting in Sweden, moving to Ajax and then Italy where he played two seasons at Juventus before switching to Inter for the next three years. Now he's at Barca and he's clear about the difference between this and his previous clubs: “At Inter there were not as many players who could turn a game. When one of them was off form, the game was tough, but here even if one of the bets players Is out, there is always somebody else who can make a difference ready to come in. That's want makes Barca such a great team”.
Eto'o
The Swedish striker's goals and assists so far this season have put a stop to any yearnings for Eto'o from the fans, but Ibrahimovic has plenty of respect for the African striker: “ he did a great job at Barca and I've got a lot of respect for what he did. He's one of the greats, but that pressure doesn't affect me, maybe the opposite in fact, it drives me on. However, I don't think you can compare us as we are so different”.
Guardiola
After working under bosses such as Koeman, Capello, Mancini or Mourinho, Zlatan Ibrahimovic likes Guardiola's system: “he explains well what he wants and wants to know what you like most, what you want to do......There's always a very open dialogue. He's got a winning mentality like me, but he also wants to win with elegance and by playing attractive football”.
A place in history
With five goals in his first five League appearances, Ibrahimovic has made his mark and entered into club history, a history he is very well aware of: “I remember the times of Romario, then Ronaldo, one of the bets ever players – the most complete footballer ever for me. Players like Stoichkov, Ronaldo, Romário, Eto'o... they've all done extraordinary things here and I'd love to be able to leave my mark too”.
14/10/09 17:30 Andorra La Vella Andorra Ukraine 14/10/09 18:00 Hamburg Germany Finland 14/10/09 19:45 Guimaraes Portugal Malta 14/10/09 20:00 Basel Switzerland Israel 14/10/09 20:00 Vaduz Liechtenstein Wales 14/10/09 20:00 Zenica Bosnia-Herzegovina Spain 14/10/09 20:00 London England Belarus 14/10/09 20:30 Chorzow Poland Slovakia 14/10/09 20:30 Serravalle San Marino Slovenia 14/10/09 20:30 Prague Czech Republic Northern Ireland 14/10/09 20:45 Solna Sweden Albania 14/10/09 20:45 Copenhagen Denmark Hungary 14/10/09 21:00 Riga Latvia Moldova 14/10/09 21:00 Athens Greece Luxembourg 14/10/09 21:00 Baku Azerbaijan Russia 14/10/09 21:00 Bursa Turkey Armenia 14/10/09 21:00 Saint-Denis France Austria 14/10/09 21:00 Piatra-Neamt Romania Faroe Islands 14/10/09 21:30 Tallinn Estonia Belgium 14/10/09 21:30 Astana Kazakhstan Croatia
South America
14/10/09 15:00 Lima Peru Bolivia 14/10/09 18:00 Campo Grande Brazil Venezuela 14/10/09 19:00 Santiago De Chile Chile Ecuador 14/10/09 20:00 Asuncion Paraguay Colombia 14/10/09 20:00 Montevideo Uruguay Argentina
Barry, who left Villa Park for Manchester City in the summer, says he has been impressed with the recent performances of former team-mates Gabriel Agbonlahor, Emile Heskey and James Milner.
"If Gabby gets the chance in his first game at Wembley in front of the home fans for the full England team then that will only help him," said Barry. "He's hit the ground running, is scoring goals for Villa and he can go and show everyone what he can do.
"Emile has struck a great partnership with Wayne Rooney in this campaign. The way he plays for the team is second to none and everyone's thrived playing off him. He's a big part of the England team.
"And James has improved again this season and his confidence will again improve him. Playing on both sides can only help him so being versatile can only help when going to the World Cup."
Barry is hoping to start at Wembley on Wednesday night after sitting out the 1-0 defeat in Ukraine and the midfielder says the whole squad is determined to round off their qualifying campaign on a high.
He added: "The buzz is still in the camp and we'll be in front of our own fans so we want to get a good performance and celebrate in front of our home fans."
Klose booked Germany their place at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa as his first-half goal sealed a 1-0 win for the 10-man Germans over Russia in Moscow on Saturday. Klose's 34th-minute strike leaves Germany four points clear at the top of Group Four and means they can not now be caught by their main pool rivals Russia regardless of either side's remaining World Cup qualifier on Wednesday. Russia play Azerbaijan in Baku while Germany host Finland in Hamburg in their last qualification game, but Guus Hiddink's Russian side now face two-legged play-off matches if they are to reach South Africa.
Hambury defender Jerome Boateng started his first international in the cauldron of Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium, but a second yellow card midway through the second-half earned him a red card as Germany finished with ten men.
Russia made a strong start and missed the opportunity to take the lead after nine minutes when Alexander Kerzhakov got in behind the German defence, but the Dinamo Moscow forward volleyed wide. Germany's best chance came when Mesut Özil made a strong run into the head of the defence and Lukas Podolski's shot was blocked by defender Vasili Berezutsky on 22 minutes.
Germany goalkeeper Rene Adler was the visitors' hero with at least four world-class saves. Adler pulled off a superb save when Russia captain Andrei Arshavin slid a perfect pass through the German defence to Zenit St Peterburg midfielder Vladimir Bystrov. Adler made a save with his legs from point-blank range and it proved to be crucial as Germany took the lead moments later when Klose netted. Despite Russia's pressure, Germany got the breakthrough when Podolski's pass found Özil down the left side of the penalty area and Klose slipped his marker long enough to flick the ball past Igor Akinfeev.
After the break, Germany defender Philipp Lahm fired wide past Akinfeev, but Adler was Germany's saviour again with two world-class saves in quick succession as his defence did him few favours. On 55 minutes Arshavin unleashed a fierce drive directly at Adler which the 24-year-old German did exceptionally well to block, before an acrobatic effort by Vladimir Bystrov landed on the roof of the net. Adler again came to Germany's rescue when he saved from Igor Semschov as Russia poured forward with time running out. Joachim Löw's side safely saw out the game and leave Moscow with the three points.
Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo's injured right ankle will keep him out for three or four weeks, Spanish media said Monday.
"Madrid upset; they think Portugal should not have pushed the player," to turn out for Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Hungary, headlined Marca.
"Four weeks out", the daily noted, listing all the matches the world's most expensive player will miss, including Champions league ties against AC Milan on October 21 and November 3.
"It was reckless of him to play," Marca quoted a Real Madrid source as saying. "Understandable recklessness, but reckless."
Ronaldo had shaken off a twist to the same ankle to start Saturday's Group One clash, but lasted just 27 minutes of the 3-0 victory in Lisbon.
Real Madrid lie second in the league after six games, three points behind champions Barcelona.
Ronaldo, Real's leading league scorer with five, missed their 2-1 defeat away to Sevilla on October 4 because of the ankle problem he picked up the previous week against Marseille in the Champions league.
On Saturday, 26 September, Portsmouth host Everton in search of their first point of the season in the Premier League. They have lost their first six league matches so far this season.
According to Infostrada Sports, Pompey can become the fourth club to lose the first seven English top flight matches. Portsmouth is already the first team in the Premier League to lose their first six matches of the season (since 1992/1993).
Losing most consecutive matches from start of season – English top flight
# Club Start date Match that ended streak
12 Manchester United 30 Aug 1930 Manchester United - Birmingham (01 Nov 1930) 2-0
8 Liverpool 02 Sep 1899 Liverpool - NottsCounty (21 Oct 1899) 3-1
7 Bolton Wanderers 06 Sep 1902 Bolton Wanderers - Liverpool (25 Oct 1902) 1-1
6 Portsmouth 15 Aug 2009 Still running
6 Small Heath 02 Sep 1895 Bury - Small Heath (12 Oct 1895) 4-5
6 Cardiff City 27 Aug 1921 Cardiff City - Middlesbrough (24 Sep 1921) 3-1
6 Everton 23 Aug 1958 Manchester City - Everton (13 Sep 1958) 1-3
6 Leicester City 27 Aug 1983 LeicesterCity - Stoke City (24 Sep 1983) 2-2
On Saturday, 26 September, FC Barcelona play their fifth La Liga match of the season at Málaga CF. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored in all four matches for FC Barcelona.
The Swede can equal the club record of scoring in the first five matches of the season for FC Barcelona.
According to Infostrada Sports, the all-time La Liga record is in the hands of Vilanova (Hércules CF; 1939/1940), Pruden (Atlético Madrid; 1940/1941) and Quini (Sporting Gijón; 1979/1980). They all scored in the first seven matches of the La Liga season.
Ibrahimovic is the first debutant to score in the first four league matches for Barcelona.
Scoring in most successive matches since start of season for FC Barcelona in La Liga
In response to the wholly unfounded comments widely reported in the media of Le Havre AC President, Jean-Pierre Louvel, Manchester United wishes to categorically confirm that as a matter of club policy, and in accordance with the applicable football regulations, it does not offer inducements to the parents of players that sign for the club, such as monetary payments or the purchase of houses.
Manchester United has today written to Le Havre AC to put it on notice that action will be taken if such allegations are repeated in relation to the transfer of Paul Pogba.
Manchester United is entirely satisfied that the transfer of Paul Pogba has been conducted in accordance with the regulations set down by the world governing body, FIFA. Manchester United is ready to defend any claim brought against it by Le Havre at FIFA.
It is to be noted that all contractual documentation relating to the player’s registration with the club has already been fully ratified by The Football Association and the Premier League.
Michael Owen has scored 10 PL goals past ManchesterCity goalkeeper Shay Given, including two hat-tricks for Liverpool – more PL goals against him than any other goalkeeper he has faced in his career.
Most Premier League goals against a goalkeeper - Michael Owen
Total Keeper Club(s)
10 Shay Given Newcastle United
9 David James Aston Villa, West Ham United, ManchesterCity, Portsmouth
6 Brad Friedel Blackburn Rovers
6 Shaka Hislop Newcastle United, West Ham United, Portsmouth
On Tuesday, 15 September, Grafite helped his side VfL Wolfsburg to a 3-1 win over CSKA Moskva by scoring a hat-trick on his Champions League debut. According to Infostrada Sports, Grafite is only the sixth player to score three or more goals in his first Champions League appearance.
Most goals by a player making his Champions League debut
Goals Player Nation Club Date
4 Marco van Basten NED AC Milan 25 Nov 1992
3 Faustino Asprilla COLNewcastle United 17 Sep 1997
Liverpool FC and Standard Chartered Bank announced today they had agreed a four year deal for the bank to become the club's main sponsor - the largest commercial agreement in Liverpool's history.
The agreement, which starts in July 2010 and runs through to the end of the 2013-14 season, will see the bank's name and logo appear on the Liverpool shirt.
Liverpool FC is the most successful club in English football, enjoying a global following most recently evidenced in its highly successful pre-season tour of Singapore and Thailand. As official club sponsors, Standard Chartered will enjoy a major rights package which will provide the platform to significantly step up the Bank's brand awareness across its core markets in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
standardchartered2Standard Chartered PLC, listed on both London and Hong Kong stock exchanges, ranks among the top 25 companies in the FTSE-100 by market capitalisation. The Bank has more than doubled its revenue and profits over the last five years and has performed consistently well, delivering record results throughout the recent financial crisis.
Christian Purslow, Managing Director of Liverpool Football Club, pictured above signing the contract alongside Standard Chartered chairman John Peace, commented: "This partnership brings together two highly successful organisations with a really strong cultural and strategic fit. The sponsorship opportunity attracted a huge level of interest from a wide array of globally recognised brands and in Standard Chartered we believe we have the ideal partner to move forward and help develop our global ambitions for the club. It is a real sign of the progress we have made at Liverpool that we have been able to secure the largest ever commercial deal in our history."
Peter Sands, Group Chief Executive of Standard Chartered PLC, said: "This is a great partnership. We are excited to be working with such a famous global brand as Liverpool Football Club for the next four years. This is an outstanding opportunity for Standard Chartered, our customers and shareholders, and for Liverpool, its players and fans
"We see many opportunities to continue growing our business, particularly as Asia, Africa and the Middle East are emerging from the global downturn more quickly than the West. This sponsorship will drive a step change in brand recognition in our key markets and will provide an additional catalyst for our business growth."
