Fútbol, Le Foot, Voetbal, ποδόσφαιρο

[cn174]

It surprises me that Inter wants rid of Santon, being Italian and one of very few own talents Inter have developed in the last years.

Yea, but Rafa is in charge and intent on ballsing everything up it seems!! I'm sure from his time at Liverpool he wasn't bothered much about young talent, unless it was Spanish. He's probably of the same opinion at Inter.

[Tim Southampton Rover]

Another 5 goals scored by Barca, this time against their fierce rivals Espanol.

[Bobby G]

So impressive were Espanyol. Score flattered Barcelona. But it shows if you try to play against Barcelona, they will rip you to pieces cause they play better.

[cn174]

Just watched Stuttgart vs Bayern for the second time in 4 days.

On Sunday it was 5-3 to Bayern, tonight in the cup 6-3 to Bayern! Both pretty decent games with some great goals and terrible defending.

Then Real madrid just been Levante 8-0.

Some crazy scores around in the German and Spanish cups.

[alexanders]

What's the best team in the Scotland these days?

Thinking about betting on the old firm.

[Tim Southampton Rover]

I personally think Rangers but i'm sure now I have said that, the old firm result will make me look silly.

[Tim Southampton Rover]

Did I say Rangers? I meant Celtic.

[Commondore]

Take a look at this fit young man who's the first to congratulate Roberto Carlos after this goal in the Brazilian regional championship...

Edited January 18, 2011 by Commondore

[67splitscreen]

Ali Syed completes Racing Santander buy out. My link

[bep]

Ali Syed completes Racing Santander buy out. My link

Be intresting to see just how much he spends on players.

[tony gale's mic]

Ali Syed completes Racing Santander buy out. My link

This will be very interesting to watch...

[bep]

This will be very interesting to watch...

This could give certain people a big stick to hit Venky's with if he starts flashing the cash.

[Amo]

This could give certain people a big stick to hit Venky's with if he starts flashing the cash.

Yeah, 'cos that worked so well for Pompey.

[67splitscreen]

Yeah, 'cos that worked so well for Pompey.

it will be interesting but may take a few years to get the true picture, no doubt they will spend big (100m at least) but if he does not stick it on the club then ...............

[Amo]

Footballer fakes sister's death for time off.

[CrazyIvan]

Footballer fakes sister's death for time off.

I feel sorry for the guy. What he did was wrong but it sounds like he had a bit of a breakdown. Not an excuse but people do strange things under huge stress like that.

[Valois]

Footballer fakes sister's death for time off.

Sad story, the guy obviously had a few issues going on, lets hope he recovers.

Reminded me slightly of the Stephen Ireland incident, although he wasn't going through a breakdown, he was just a complete plonker. Unbelieveable how he first lied that his Grandmother had died, then said it was his paternal Grandmother, then saying one of his grandfathers had divorced, and it was his second wife who had died. Only to then come out with saying his girlfriend had a miscarriage, which was found to be a lie also. All just so he didn't have to play for Ireland, for what ever reason.

A private chartered flight was even arranged for him to fly back to Ireland.

Edited January 22, 2011 by Valois

[philipl]

German side St Pauli have asked the owners of one of their executive boxes to stop strippers performing during games after they installed a pole and mirror. "They can do what they like after games," said club president Stefan Orth. (Observer)

[incy wincy little spider]

Hannover 96 0-1 Schlake 04

Hannover 96: Zieler - Cherundolo, Haggui, Pogatetz, C. Schulz - Schmiedebach, Pinto - Schlaudraff, Rausch - Ya Konan , Abdellaoue

Schalke: 04: Neuer - Moritz, Höwedes, Metzelder, Schmitz - Kluge, Rakitic - Farfan, Draxler - Raul - Huntelaar

Attendace: Close to a full capacity of 49000

Bought the tickets at the last minute. Costed €25 for a student ticket. Normally priced between €10-40. Arrived 1 hour before the game and you could hear the fans singing inside the ground almost before you could see the stadium!

First half: Schlake just shaded it. Only goal of the game came from Raul. He was playing in the gap between the number 6 position and the 2 defenders so wasn't man marked. Cross game over and he ran from behind the defender and passed it past the keeper.

Second half: Hannover were all over Schalke but didn't score. Played some nice football but always passed it out to the wings when counter attaking which slowed the play down a bit for the Schalke players to re-group. Their keeper made some great saves and was a typical german keeper. The difference between the two teams was Raul, but if you can afford to pay for a quality striker then you win games like this.

Referee: Schalke had an agenda to stop Ya konan scoring as he is one of the main reasons why Hannover are in second place in the league. The referee wasn't strict enough, infact he was pretty poor, even allowing Raul in the space of 5 seconds, to shout and scream at him, then punch a Hannover defender and not get a red, or even a yellow!

Atmosphere: Amazing, sung the whole way through the game apart from a 5 second pause, which felt odd as it was so quiet. They have a standing section behind the goal where the hardcore fans stand, bounce and sing.

AWD arena: Built for the 2006 world cup. Looks like 2 doughnuts placed ontop of each other. You enter a zone surrounding the ground after being checked for weapons/flares/vodka etc. Almost impossible to spend cash inside the ground and the surrounding area as you buy a card and load it with €'s so you can buy your pretzel, bratwurst and beer. You can also drink in your seats and at the end of the game give your cup back for either your €1 deposit back or give it to a charity stall so they can reclaim the 1€.

P.S. If anyone is interested I can write another review after the next game I attend - hopefully to see Schweine and co. play for Bayern

Edited January 23, 2011 by incy wincy little spider

[Commondore]

Played some nice football but always passed it out to the wings when counter attaking which slowed the play down a bit for the Schalke players to re-group.

I went to see Hertha Berlin last year, and they did the exact same thing!

[Steve Moss]

. . . you can buy your pretzel, bratwurst and beer. You can also drink in your seats and at the end of the game give your cup back for either your €1 deposit back or give it to a charity stall so they can reclaim the 1€.

I noticed that spectators can't do this in England. Which surprised me as I'm used to being able to sit and watch a game beer in hand in the USA, and thought it it would be even more prevalent in England since England = Pubs = Beer in many American minds.

[Tim Southampton Rover]

I think it's only at football games you can't drink alcohol in view of the game. In rugby, cricket etc it's perfectly acceptable.

[cn174]

I think it's only at football games you can't drink alcohol in view of the game. In rugby, cricket etc it's perfectly acceptable.

Indeed. In Feb I'll go to the DW twice - once to watch Rovers, once to watch Wigan rugby. For Rovers I can't drink beer whilst watching the game, for Wigan I can. Annoying.

Anyway, glad that the other leagues have all started back up again.

Dortmund had a little wobble vs Stuttgart yesterday - only 11 points clear now!!

Not looking good for St Pauli though, slipped into the bottom play off place.

Also, there's been very little coverage here (compared to the African Nations anyway) but Australia have made it to the semi-s of the Asian cup. They play Uzbekistan, so you gotta think they should win that! Japan vs Rep. Korea in the other.

Edited January 23, 2011 by cn174

[Seggie]

Also, there's been very little coverage here (compared to the African Nations anyway) but Australia have made it to the semi-s of the Asian cup. They play Uzbekistan, so you gotta think they should win that! Japan vs Rep. Korea in the other.

I find that odd too, I always thought the Copa America was never broadcasted that well here. The African competition is crap in comparison to the Asian and South American ones.

[Valois]

Games are on Eurosport. I watched Oz the otherday, terrible game though.

I think the increase in African players in the PL, lead to the increased coverage of the African Cup of Nations. Also the standard of football is better. IMO