No international tournaments, no problem! GOLTV starts your weekend with a double-header from Germany . Bundesliga kicks off its Premiere League Championship when Schalke 04 plays Karlsruher for the first time in over nine years on Saturday, July 21 at 10 am ET. That long-awaited match is followed by Werder Bremen vs. Bayern LIVE at 12 pm. Watch out for Carlos Alberto, as this skilled young Brazillian will be looking to make waves against the small Bayern squad.

The Colombian league fills out the weekend with defending Copa Mustang II Champions Cucuta Deportivo vs. Once Caldas LIVE Saturday at 7:15 pm. Stay tuned to GOLTV because on Sunday, July 22 at 6:15 pm watch LIVE as Millionarios look to cash in against Real Cartagena.

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Liverpool FC is awaiting planning permission to build a new £280 million, 60,000 seat that could be extended to 80,000 capacity stadium.

Construction on the planned site which is next to the clubs current ground Anfield, could begin before the end of the year if planning permission is successful.

Liverpool decided to submit a new stadium proposal when American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks bought the club in March.

“We know pretty much know what the final plans are. They will be unveiled in the coming weeks,” said Nick Parry Liverpool Chief executive. “Whether we build an extension is partly a business decision depending on what the demand will be.

“The owners were concerned that if we were really going to be challenging long term, just in excess of 60,000 was too small,” added Perry.

Parry concluded that that the new build would not become a debt burden to the club, and that stadium was an “investment that will generate a return that will allow us to invest in the team.”

Canon Europe was today announced as an Official Sponsor of the UEFA European Football Championship™ which will take place in Austria and Switzerland in June 2008.

The agreement continues Canon’s long-standing association with the game of football going back almost 30 years, including several seasons as official supplier of the UEFA Champions League (1995-2000 and 2004-2006), support for the UEFA European Football Championship™ (1980-1996), the UEFA EURO 2004™ tournament (as official sponsor) and consecutive World Cup tournaments (1978-1998).

Canon Europe’s current football portfolio includes sponsorship of UEFA Cup™ Final matches (from 2006/07 final up to and including the 2008/09 final), the UEFA Super Cup™ match (from 2007 up to and including the August 2008 match). Canon Europe is also Official Sponsor of the MTN Africa Cup of Nations 2008 in Ghana and the Russian Premier Football League.

Commenting on the announcement UEFA General Secretary, David Taylor, said: “Canon has a long history of partnership with football and in particular with the UEFA European Football Championships™. We are therefore delighted that they have now joined forces with UEFA for the staging of UEFA EURO 2008™ in Austria and Switzerland, and are looking forward to working together.”

Hajime Tsuruoka, President and CEO of Canon Europe added: “Football is a highly visual and empowering sport and we are delighted to extend our long term association with football by strengthening our partnership with UEFA.”

Setanta SportsNorth America will be the exclusive live online broadcaster of the 2007 IRB Rugby World Cup.

The third-largest sporting event in the world will be accessible to US rugby fans via Setanta’s broadband service, which will exclusively carry live online coverage of all 48 matches, including original in-country commentating, pre and post-match analysis as well as half time programming.

Player interviews, classic footage and other behind-the-scenes extras are also part of the special “Tournament Ticket” package, which will sell for $119.99.

Rugby Magazine estimates that nearly 250,000 people in North America play rugby today.
“Participation in and viewership of rugby has been growing at an accelerating rate in the US in recent years,” says Nigel Melville, CEO of USA Rugby, said. “We expect the Rugby World Cup, already the sport’s iconic global event, to further energize interest both abroad and here in North America.”

Setanta’s Rugby World Cup programming will also be available via satellite, CCTV, Residential PPV and IPTV. Language rights include English, Japanese, Italian and Spanish commentary.

In addition, fans in Bermuda, the Caribbean and the Republic of Ireland will be able to tune in to the World Cup on a non-exclusive basis.

Courtesy of 101GreatGoals.com

The Copa America of 2007 was a fine advert for South American football. 86 goals were scored and some of the football was scintillating – undoubtedly the team that contributed the most to the spectacle was Argentina – epitomised by Lionel Messi’s goal against Mexico in the semi-final.

Rarely do Brazil go into a final as second favourites. Yet this Argentinean side had swept all beside them on the way to the final, scoring 16 goals in five games, and the football played by Messi, Tevez, Riquelme and the rest was some of the finest seen in recent years. So why did Argentina bottle it (again)?
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Chelsea Football Club is teaming up with the world’s leading entertainment company, The Walt Disney Company, in a long-term agreement. The move is part of Chelsea’s business strategy to become the world’s biggest club brand.

The partnership is with Disney’s Wide World of Sports. “This partnership is groundbreaking for both sides,” said Chelsea Business Affairs Director Paul Smith. “Chelsea is committed to assisting and promoting all levels of soccer in the United States and youth soccer is a massive part of that. Disney is at the forefront of that movement in the US.on various levels.” (Read full article…)

Even at the bottom of a secluded rock quarry 100 kilometers outside Madrid, David and Victoria Beckham, arguably the most famous couple in England—if not the soccer-playing world—remain in character.

It’s a hot May afternoon, and Victoria, clad in a tight red tank top and short shorts, is berating a rather hapless-looking gentleman with a long list of items she needs for her imminent move to Los Angeles—now! Tabloid readers would instantly recognize her petulant expression. Then David appears, sporting only low-slung combat shorts, his Dolce & Gabbana briefs visible below his tanned, rippling, tattooed torso. Extracting a digital camera from his pocket, he begins snapping photos of his wife. “She’s shy, isn’t she?” he says mischievously.

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Courtesy of 101GreatGoals.com

Argentina 0 - Brazil 3 (Copa America Final, July 15, 2007) Brazil took the lead in the fourth minute after a fine right-footed strike from Julio Baptista. Minutes later Riquelme hit the outside of the post after a knock-down from Veron. Five minutes before half-time Roberto Ayala could only divert a fine cross from substitute Dani Alves into his own net to give Brazil a 2-0 lead at the break. With twenty minutes remaining, a flowing breakaway culminated in a fine finish from Alves to complete the win.

Post-match celebrations can be seen here.

The top 10 goals scored in the Copa America prior to the final can be seen on this video.

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Chile 4 - Nigeria 0 (Under-20 World Cup, July 15, 2007) Chile scored four in extra-time to progress to the semi-final.

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A video showcasing the top ten strikers who will be playing in the Premiership in 2007/8 can be seen here.

The most popular English midfielder in the world arrived yesterday in Los Angeles and speculation begins about his impact on soccer popularity in the America. David Beckham, the former captain of England’s national team will be announced today as the newest member of the Los Angeles Galaxy. HDNet will air the live press conference, “MLS Behind the Net – David Beckham in America” will air at 1:00 p.m. ET and officially welcome Beckham to the MLS.

“This will be an elaborate truck based shoot,” said Darrell Ewalt HDNet sports producer. “We will have Glenn Davis and Marcelo Balboa on hand broadcasting this event.” The thirty minute press conference will bring media attention from around the globe to the Galaxy’s home arena, the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. (Read full article…)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tiger Woods has it. So does Arnold Schwarzenegger and George Clooney. Mickey Mantle certainly had it. And Magic Johnson still does.

It’s charisma, and you can’t manufacture it, bottle it or buy it. It seems you’re just born with it.

David Beckham had it in his native England. But is it transferable to America? And, if it is, does he have enough of it to outshine other mega-celebrities in L.A. and lift the fortunes of an entire sport that Americans never have embraced at the professional level?

Pele, perhaps the best soccer player the game has ever known and a charismatic figure, couldn’t do it. (Read full article…)