RSSGent Related Content
ESPN to show more than 20 friendlies across the summer
Summer line-up of live football set to feature English club sides Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea as well as Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. Opportunity for fans to scout one of England’s UEFA Euro 2012 opponents, France
ESPN is to broadcast more than 20 club and international friendlies over the summer, featuring a host of top British club sides plus key international clashes.The line-up will give viewers a chance to scout England’s first opponents in UEFA Euro 2012 as ESPN broadcasts France’s remaining two warm-up games. The Brazilian national side will feature three times on ESPN, starting with its clash against the USA on Wednesday 30th May. And live at 7.45pm on Sunday 9th June, ESPN brings fans one of the biggest international friendlies on the football calendar: Brazil v Argentina.
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi Pichichi fight – 43 goals each ahead of Day 36
It is equal between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi at the top of the goal scorers’ chart in La Liga. Which player will end up winning the Pichichi?
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have redefined the duties of a striker although none of them is a typical number 9. Ronaldo, with the jersey number 7, is a winger. Messi, Barcelona’s number 10, was converted by Pep Guardiola from a winger to an attacking midfielder or to a second striker. At Real Madrid, CR7 is surrounded by pure strikers like Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain. At Barca, La Pulga has team mates like Pedro Rodriguez and Alexis Sanchez.
However, when Messi and Ronaldo are on the pitch, their team mates know what to do. Give them the ball, they can work wonders with it in front of goal. Between them, they have netted as many as 122 goals… and the 2011/12 football season is not over yet!
Argentine Clausura: Boca Juniors will be looking to rebound at the Bombonera
The league leaders will be desperate to return to winning ways when they welcome a spirited Colon to Argentina's most daunting venue.
Apr 27, 2012: Estudiantes vs Velez Sarsfield
Estudiantes de La Plata welcome Velez Sarsfield to the Cuidad de La Plata in arguably the most high-profile clash of Round 12 of the Argentine Clausura championship. Estudiantes...
Argentine Clausura: Independiente will be looking to extend unbeaten run in Mendoza
Los Diablos Rojos will be hoping to continue to escalate against Godoy Cruz. While, Racing and Boca will be aiming to rebound from defeats.
Apr 21, 2012: Velez Sarsfield vs Lanus
Round 11 of the Argentine Clausura championship pits together Velez Sarsfield and Lanus in what is expected to be a hotly-contested encounter between two Copa Libertadores participants. Fifth-placed...
Argentine Clausura: Estudiantes take on Boca in Sunday's top-of-the-table clash
Legendary playmakers Juan Sebastian Veron and Juan Roman Riquelme will be hoping to inspire their respective clubs to victory in what has the potential to be a mouthwatering encounter.
All eyes will be on the Estadio Unico de La Plata, when Estudiantes de La Plata lock horns with Boca Juniors in the top-of-the-table league clash on Sunday. Estudiantes currently lead the Argentine Clausura championship with 15 points, one more point than defending champions Boca, with 14, after seven rounds. A further ingredient that will add spice to the encounter is...
Can Marseille spring another surprise against a resurgent Bayern?
The conquerors of Inter Milan, Marseille, take on the record setter of the previous round, FC Bayern München.
Bayern recorded the largest home win in the history of the knockout round of the Champions League against Basel in the Round of 16. They knocked in seven goals past the helpless Swiss giants who had in-fact come into the match with a lead from the first leg. Bayern has won four out of their last five matches. They drew the other game against Borussia Mönchengladbach but progressed on penalties to the final of the German Cup.Marseille meanwhile put paid to a team that Bayern knows all too well following the previous two editions of the competition, Inter. Marseille is having their best ever run in the competition since they last won the Champions League in 1993. Their league form however at the moment is abysmal; they sit ninth in France.
Switzerland vs Argentina Preview
A star-studded Argentina will be hoping to continue with their gradual improvement under Alejandro Sabella when they travel to Bern to take on Switzerland in an international friendly on Wednesday.
Team News
Alejandro Sabella, the coach of Argentina, will field a close to full-strength squad on their visit to Bern to take on hosts Switzerland. Three regulars who have been forced out of contention due to injuries are Angel Di Maria, Ever Banega and Nicolas Burdisso, while in-form Napoli striker Ezequiel Lavezzi was overlooked by the coach.
Sabella...
Italian champions AC Milan capture Argentine striker Maxi Lopez
The Rossoneri opted for the former Catania man after continuous failed attempts to sign Carlos Tevez.
Italian champions AC Milan have confirmed the signing of Argentine goal-poacher Maximiliano Lopez from fellow Serie A club Catania, all but putting to an end their possibilities of adding Carlos Tevez to their squad.According to reports Milan deposited the player's contract to the Italian league headquarters on Friday.
"I'm happy, after everything that has occurred. At the end my reward to be able to join this big team has arrived," a delighted Lopez stated to Milan's television channel.
Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona hospitalised with kidney stones
'El Pibe de Oro' was admitted to a hospital in Dubai for immediate surgery.
Legendary former Argentine World Cup hero Diego Maradona was admitted to a private clinic in Dubai for the removal of kidney stones.Maradona, 51, complained of abdominal pains on Sunday and was immediately taken to hospital. Doctors decided that the Al Wasl coach will need to undergo surgery later Sunday after being diagnosed with kidney stones.
"He felt pain this morning, so he was sent directly to a private hospital in Dubai this afternoon. He will be operated on this evening and he is expected to be discharged tomorrow," declared an unidentified Al Wasl spokesman.
FIFA authorise Santiago Silva to join Argentine champions Boca Juniors
The 'Tank' was permitted to play for his third club inside a year by the international governing body of soccer.
Uruguayan striker Santiago Silva will be the latest reinforcement of Argentine champions Boca Juniors it was confirmed on Friday. Despite the imminent transfer, the player will only be able to participate in the Copa Libertadores in the first half of 2012.Daniel Angelici, the president of Boca, revealed to Deportivo Telam that "half an hour ago FIFA approved that Silva can play for Boca in the Copa Libertadores."
Silva, 31, has been linked with a move to Boca for several weeks now, but the club were hesitant to purchase the player because they were unsure as to whether FIFA law would permit him to play for a third club within the space of a year.
Lionel Messi admits that once he leaves Barcelona his dream is to retire in Argentina
The three-time FIFA World Player of the Year reiterated his desire to retire from professional soccer at Newell's Old Boys.
FIFA World Player of the Year Lionel Messi admitted that if he were to leave Barcelona it would only be to return to a club from his native Argentina."In Europe I want to play for Barcelona, I'd stay here always. The more time I can stay here, the better for me, I feel really comfortable and very liked. But before retiring I want to play in my country, I'm very sure that I want to play in Argentina. It is a dream of mine and it will come true," Messi declared to Buenos Aires sports newspaper Ole.
Since arriving on the world-stage Messi has always affirmed his intentions to one day return to Newell's Old Boys, the Rosario-based club where he commenced his youth career.
Arch-rivals Argentina and Brazil set to meet in high-profile friendly match in June
The South American rivals will fight for supremacy in the latest edition of the 'Derby of the Americas' at the MetLife stadium.
The Argentine Football Association confirmed on Tuesday that South American heavyweights Argentina and Brazil will lock horns in a high-profile friendly match in the United States on June 9.Widely regarded as the biggest international derby in the world, the one-off match will be staged at a fitting venue: the impressive $1.6 billion 83,000-capacity MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The match will serve both sides as preparation for the 2014 World Cup, which will be held in Brazil. While Brazil have already qualified for the tournament as being the hosts, Argentina will have to fight it out during the South American World Cup qualifiers for a berth in the finals.
Argentina boss Alejandro Sabella compares Lionel Messi with a Scalextric toy car
Prior to being named World Player of the Year for the third time 'La Pulga' received wide praise from his national team coach.
Alejandro Sabella, the coach of the Argentine national team, praised Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi prior to being named FIFA World Player of the Year for the third consecutive year. "I already knew that he was the best player in the world, but I was surprised when I had the opportunity to see him from up close, his change of rhythm to explosion, his technique [when running] at speed, how he controls the ball at that pace.
"He looks like that old game of Scalextric which we used when we were kids, those tiny cars that would start from zero right to full-speed," Sabella said to the official website of soccer's world governing body FIFA.
Argentine tactician Jose Pekerman confirmed the new coach of Colombia
The innovative coach will occupy the vacancy left by Leonel Alvarez in December.
Jose Pekerman transformed himself into the new coach of the Colombian national team after signing a two and a half year deal on Friday, confirmed Luis Bedoya, the president of the Colombian Football Association."Pekerman already signed, there has been an agreement. He is the new coach of the senior Colombian national team. It is an honour because of what he is and what he represents," Bedoya declared to Caracol Radio.
"He [Pekerman] believes Colombia are passing through a very good moment, they possess quality players, he thinks it is possible to pick up what has been lost. He believes it is a good moment to take over the national team," affirmed Bedoya.
Argentina's highest scorer Ruben Ramirez wants to move to Boca Juniors at all costs
The prolific striker could well reinforce Argentina's most popular club for the Clausura championship.
Godoy Cruz scoring-machine Ruben Ramirez admitted that he would be delighted with a future transfer to Boca Juniors. The striker has recently attracted the attention of several clubs, including the Argentine Apertura champions.Ramirez, who finished as the leading scorer of the Apertura with twelve goals, wants to return to a 'big' Argentine club after a disappointing stint with Racing Club in 2009.
"After my time with Racing I want to have my revenge at a big club and if I had the choice I'd like to be coached by [Julio] Falcioni," confessed Ramirez, in reference to the title-winning Boca coach.
Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona wants to coach the United Arab Emirates
'El Pibe de Oro' is hoping to be presented with the opportunity to coach the national side.
Diego Maradona affirmed on Wednesday that he would like the idea of taking charge of the United Arab Emirates national team, who sacked their coach a few months ago after a dismal World Cup qualifying campaign.Maradona, who has coached Al Wasl since last May, is rumoured to be one of the candidates to occupy the vacancy left by Slovenian coach Srecko Katanec, after the UAE suffered a 3-1 defeat to Lebanon in September. The national team went on to lose their following three matches when under an interim coach.
The legendary Argentine soccer genius didn't declare whether the UAE FA made him an offer, but he indicated that if he were to receive an offer he would accept it "with pleasure."
Diego Simeone is presented as the new coach of Atletico Madrid
The former Argentina captain promises big things at the Vicente Calderon.
Diego Simeone promised to help Atletico Madrid relive its glory days upon his official presentation as the new coach of the club at the Vicente Calderon stadium on Tuesday.Simeone, 41, was brought in to replace Gregorio Manzano after Atletico's horrendous start to the season, where not only do they lie in 10th place in La Liga but last week were knocked out of the Copa del Rey at the hands of third-tier Albacete.
"I like an aggressive team. I want to see a strong team, a team which is committed and quick on the break. These are things which Atletico fans have always liked and which they identify themselves with for the love of this shirt," Simeone stated to the press during his first news conference as the coach of the club.
Colombia seek the services of Argentine coach Jose Pekerman
The Argentine tactician could return to the international spectrum with Colombia.
The Colombian national team are still looking for a new coach to occupy the vacancy left by Leonel Alvarez when he was fired from his duties in mid-December. Colombia's first priority was Gerardo Martino, but the coach rejected the offer in favour of a return to his beloved Newell's Old Boys. Due to this, Colombia now seek the services of Jose Pekerman.
"He is an excellent coach," Luis Bedoya, the president of the Colombian Football Association, told Colombian newspaper El Tiempo. "To count with his services would be very good."
Since the dismissal of Alvarez, after a horrible start to Colombia's 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign, Colombia have been after a coach with vast international experience. Pekerman fits perfectly into this category, after having coached the Argentine national team between 2004 and 2006.
Carlos Bianchi believes "Messi is better than Maradona and Pele"
The prized tactician regards his blessed countryman as the greatest player of all time.
According to former Argentine coach Carlos Bianchi, Lionel Messi and his club Barcelona are from a completely different planet when compared to the rest.Bianchi, who coached Boca Juniors, Atletico Madrid and AS Roma, amongst others, summed up Barcelona's Club World Cup triumph over Santos as incredible. He believes the 4-0 thrashing confirmed Barcelona's status as the best team in history.
"We are in the presence of the best team in history," stated Bianchi.
"Something similar occurred to me in respect to Lionel Messi: a few days ago, I did a talk for a business, and in the middle of the conference a Brazilian asked me who I considered as the best player in history, Pele or [Diego] Maradona. I responded with all the respect that both deserved, in this moment I see Messi as being superior to everyone."
Argentina Primera Division Report: Week 19 (Dec 12)
Godoy Cruz grabbed Argentina's final Copa Libertadores berth after defeating Atletico Rafaela on Monday. Racing, Independiente and Tigre missed out at their expense.
Godoy Cruz of Mendoza grabbed Argentina's final Copa Libertadores spot after cruising to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Atletico Rafaela in the 19th and final round of the Apertura championship on Monday.Independiente, Racing Club and Tigre had all hoped for a Godoy Cruz slip-up, in order to stay in the hunt for a Libertadores berth, but El Tomba maintained their composure and will feature in the competition for a second consecutive year.
Had Godoy Cruz dropped points against Rafaela, Independiente would have qualified instead, after they came from behind to defeat Tigre 2-1 in Avellaneda.
Meanwhile, Racing Club were beaten 1-0 by Velez Sarsfield in Liniers, but still finished in second-place with 31 points, twelve points behind Apertura champions Boca Juniors.
In this report: