European/World Football Thread

[Gary J]

ET TOU GARY J?

ENRICO CHIESA, THURMAN, CANNOVARO, BUFFON, BAGGIO, TINO, ZOLA OOOFFF what an era

Sorry SOF but i always had a soft spot for Fiorentina due to champ manager italia i'd start off with Fiorentina as they were in Serie B at the start of the game and Batistuta and Daniele Beltrami would lead me to glory.

You are right though that was one hell of a team i used to love watching Serie A on Channel 4 with my sunday dinner. Nearly all the top sides at that time had at least 2-3 players i enjoyed watching.

[Alf]

SOF doesn't stand a chance.

Show us a pic then.

That is it right there. That's not me though. That's my fucking HERO.

Parma at that time was one of the things that really got me properly into football. That and RTE showed Premiership games on a 30 minute delay

Didn't that Argentine striker who went on to play for Chelsea play for Parma during that era?

It's on the tip of my tongue....

[Alf]

Crespo.

[Simon]

I was all about Signori when I was a kid.

[Andy]

How generous are Inter with their managers usually?

Benitez has to be on the edge now.

[Chris Scott]

Definitely Andy.

[Second City Saint]

Interesting argument for the current Barca squad being the best ever (club or country)

http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/new...-best-all-time

[MichaelC]

I know a certain poster on here...who shall remain nameless....who lost 10-1 at FIFA not so long ago.

I'll name him for you. It was Torn. Against me. In the Xbox League.

I have just found out that the 10-1 scoreline is inaccurate.

BBF actually beat Torn 14-2 at the game.

We apologise for the inaccuracy in making Torn appear better at the game than he was.

[JIJ]

Rijkaard ?

Great shout. That wouldn't surprise me at all.

[Keano's Magic Hat]

BARCELONA (AP) Doping doctor Eufemiano Fuentes should fit in with the info that can deprive Spain both World Cup and European Championship gold in football.
"If I speak, we will no longer be the world and European champions in football."

This quote is from the doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, rendered in the major Spanish newspaper El Mundo today, suggests that Spanish football has adopted illegal means on the road to the European Championship gold in 2008 and World Cup gold in 2010.

Fuentes is known as one of the perpetrators in the Operación Puerto case in 2006, where top riders Jan Ullrich, Ivan Basso and Alejandro Valverde was among those who were caught blood doping, after it was found large amounts of blood bags and other evidence of Fuentes in Madrid.

Thursday Fuentes was arrested in the take-up of a new doping case in Spain: Operación Galgos.

Coming from fellow prisoner

The quote in El Mundo does not come directly from Fuentes, but through a person he was imprisoned by the weekend. Despite this, the case turned up in many large Spanish media sources.

As a result, coach Vicente Del Bosque gone out and said that he did not know about doping in Spanish football.

- In my 43 years in football I have not known or seen anything suspicious, "said Del Bosque .

Barcelona star Xavi, who helped to win both European and World Championships, says the same thing.

- Currently, no one found guilty, but it's a shame with this case. We in the football are confident that we won the World Cup without doping. We relate to this quiet, there's no problem for us, "said Xavi .
Fuentes has said that he has also worked with the football teams in the top two levels in Spain.

[Keano's Magic Hat]

Fuentes was Barca's doctor when they beat United in the Champions League final. Cheats.

Just give United the trophy.

[MichaelC]

Yeah, that's not going to happen.

[Gary J]

It will just get swept away like when Zedenek Zeman accused Juventus of using these methods.

[Bennedy]

Fuentes was Barca's doctor when they beat United in the Champions League final. Cheats.

Just give United the trophy.

He was the doctor when they beat us in the Semi final.

Chelsea vs United this Sunday, winner takes the Champions League title.

[JIJ]

Wouldn't surprise me. Messi has been using growth hormones for years. If it wasn't for drugs he'd be crap.

[turdpower]

http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/86/it...to-sensational

Amazing.

[Alf]

SOF doesn't stand a chance.

Spot the difference lads...

[JIJ]

Hahaha

[Andy]

Anyone watching Stuttgart vs Bayern? Absolutely mental game.

[JIJ]

Ahaha bloody hell it was 0-2 last I checked

[Simon]

German football seems to be a bit mad nowadays.

[MichaelC]

I always miss the high scorers. Sounds like a good game, surprising too as one of Bayerns problems this season has been scoring!

[JIJ]

Is Robben back yet?

[MichaelC]

Robben has resumed full training but didn't play today.

[Andy]

Gomez is looking more and more like the player Bayern spent all that money on. Ribery was class too. Massively enjoyable game.

[Dreyski]

Funny scenes from the Belgian Jupiler league:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...ht-club-brugge

Makes a change from coins

[Andy]

Haha, great stuff.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7XrKK6yz_g&feature=player_embedded"]YouTube - Football player dodges snowballs from opposing fans[/ame]

[JIJ]

ahaha fucking hell.

Sorry for the lack of updates on the main page. Will try and get it sorted for next week.

[Chris Scott]

Slacking JIJ.

[Andy]

Having had ESPN back for a few weeks, I have to say I am absolutely loving the Bundesliga. Fantastic stuff every week. The Eredivisie is pretty good too.

Serie A is almost always dull though, really disappointing. Having said that, Lazio vs Udinese was a good game yesterday. Hernanes for Lazio looks a very exciting player.

Shame they don't show any French or Russian games, I'm sure they used to.

[son_of_foley]

whingebag i posted in your support forum thread go try it out

[Chris Scott]

Yeah Andy, I have like had ESPN for yonks catch up mate.

[Andy]

Here's a lovely conspiray theory for you.

Italy Serie B
Albinoleffe v Piacenza
Home Win - 3.80
Draw - 1.40
Away Win - 8.00

Also there's been almost £2mil matched, which seems an awful lot for a Serie B game which doesn't kick off for another 4 hours

the biggest bookmaker in Italy has stopped taking bets

Home team have won last 4 of 5 in the league. Those odds are insane there's definitely something very dodgy about this. It's going to reach £3m on Betfair for a Serie B game.

edit... it's just gone over £3m and still 15 minutes left.

Odds at k/o Albinoleffe 4.3, draw 1.43, Piaczenza 12.5.

The game finished 3-3.

[JIJ]

Ahaha fuck sake there will almost definitely be an investigation into that. Odds-on draws are always suspicious, but lower than 1/2?? I've never seen that before, what did the bookies have the draw as?

Oh and Andy, ESPN do have the Russian PL but there season has finished now

[JIJ]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/timvicker...lower_can.html

Nice little story from Peru

[Simon]

All well and good until one of his team's mad fans puts a bullet through him.

[JIJ]

Yes but he'll have the last laugh when Tim Vickery writes him a positive obituary

[Andy]

Anyone watching the Atletico game? De Gea really is a world class goalkeeper already. Stunning save there.

[Simon]

Just the seven for Madrid tonight. Mad.

[JIJ]

Eight in the end.

Spain has become a right joke. I really don't find the league that interesting anymore (outside of El Clasico).

[Andy]

Xavi tonight becomes Barcelona's all-time appearance record holder.

[BBF]

Only 30 too. With his vision and passing he could have another 5/6 years at Barce too.

[JIJ]

Was he always this good? He seemed to explode out of nowhere around the time Ronaldinho started his decline.

[Andy]

I can only say I've been watching Barca religiously for the past five years or so and he's certainly always been amazing since then. Iniesta only emerged relatively recently though.

[Bennedy]

I think he was a bit like Claude Makelele. Never got the credit he deserves until later on in his career.

[Simon]

"The best five players in the world (and Xavi)"

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...-football.html

That was as recent as January 2009, and while a lot of people who knew what they were talking about derided it as an idiotic thing to say, he was still something of an unsung hero in the media even then.

It's understandable that he was somewhat ignored outside of Barca during the eras of Ronaldinho, Eto'o, Rivaldo etc as he wasn't as high profile or exciting, plus don't forget he replaced a genuine legend in Guardiola, so maybe it took a while for people to fully realise or accept just how good he was. Iniesta was the same for a long time, he came through pretty late (as Pedro has done more recently) and it took a while for people to believe that he was genuinely world class rather than enjoying a purple patch.

[Star fruit surf rider]

Xavi is obviously the best in the world in his position but I would argue that it is more difficult to be a player in a position like Torres, Kaka, Messi, Ronaldo etc. Therefore they are on a slightly higher level (when on top form).

[JIJ]

I think Iniesta is overrated actually. I'd love to see him in a different team and test my theory.

[Glen]

http://www.adifferentleague.co.uk/p6...eighbours.html

Kaka's coming back, in like, literally minutes. Which is lucky considering Higuain is absolutely fucked again.

Watching Real is like watching porn at the moment. I would literally bum Sergio Ramos. Best right back of, possibly, all time.

[Simon]

He's not even the best right back in La Liga. Cafu would kick you up the arse for saying that, or more likely just keep you in his pocket so no one knows you're even here while also wreaking havoc down the forum's right flank.

[Andy]

46 in 46 La Liga games for Ronaldo now.

Good to see Villarreal doing so well again this year.

[Glen]

He's not even the best right back in La Liga. Cafu would kick you up the arse for saying that, or more likely just keep you in his pocket so no one knows you're even here while also wreaking havoc down the forum's right flank.

You are literally more wrong than anyone has ever been about a footballer in the history of football ever.

[JIJ]

Lilian Thuram is up there.

So is David Bardsley.

[Second City Saint]

I missed a lot of Cafu's career but from what I've read he seems the consensus pick for best all-time RB. Thuram's a great shout as well but I'd like to throw in Zambrotta and Lahm as two of the best RBs I've seen in Europe. If we're adding Englishmen then add Neville.

...

Simon, I'm very biased against Madrid and still I can't think of a better RB in La Liga than Ramos. Who's above him in your eyes?

[Andy]

Dani Alves.

[Second City Saint]

I thought that might be his selection but his defending abilities aren't at Ramos' level. Alves offers more going forward and maybe is a superior a two-way player but Ramos is the better RB.

[Star fruit surf rider]

Carlos Alberto.

[Beefy]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...637769,00.html

I doubt this will make him too popular with the Fenerbahce fans.

[Chris Scott]

Bloody hell huge move for him.

[Andy]

Motta just finished off a beautiful team goal for Inter.

[Andy]

Fantastic game between Real and Villarreal so far. 1-2 after 15 minutes.

[Andy]

Ronaldo is ridiculous. Hat trick and an assist.

Mourinho just celebrated five yards away from the Villarreal bench too.

[Bennedy]

Ronaldo and Messi are in a different league when it comes to scoring goals.

[Andy]

That was a fantastic game, probably my favourite of the season so far.

[Bennedy]

Totally forgot to record it. I knew it would be special.

The Barca game last night was good. Messi's free kick was different class.

[1_Pablo_Angel]

He wasn't 5 yards away, he was standing right in front of it waving his fist at the fans behind it

I love him but if he ever pulled any of that shit against the Villa I'd probably wish death on his children. Luckily for them he never has despite our decent record against Chelsea when he was there.

[Bennedy]

Leave Jose alone, he is just a bit of a mental case.

[JIJ]

I've just had a bet on the Uzbekistan/Kuwait match and I'm watching it on Betfair but I don't know who is who and commentator hasn't given any clues in the 10 mins I've been watching.

Fuck sake.

[JIJ]

Ah OK Uzbekistan just scored.

[Simon]

Uzbekistan will probably have a decent side in a few years when all their shipped-in Brazilians get citizenship.

[JIJ]

Anyone been following the Asian Cup by the way?

India did well to hold Oz to 4 the other day. Cahill got 2 and Harry Cool smashed in one.

[Simon]

Literally could not give less of a shit.

[JIJ]

Ahaha the Asian colour commentator for this match is brilliant.

Main commentator, standard rhetorical question after Kuwait go 2-1 down: "Can Kuwait dig deep here and stay in this tournament?"

Colour commentator: "No. They cannot. They are not capable."

Brilliant accent too.

[Simon]

Surely they are both colour commentators.

[JIJ]

Casual racism.

[Simon]

Jimmy Saville making fun of a black man.

[MichaelC]

I didn't even know the Asian Cup was on.

Saw a lot of it in 2003(ish) due to Eurosport, when Uzbekistan I think it was went out due to one of the worst missed penalties of all time. The player tried to chip the ball, and did it so well it casually landed in the keepers hand without the keeper moving!

Complete misread JIJ's post above and thought India had got a draw against Australia! Ahem...

[MichaelC]

Damn, missed Iraq/Iran yesterday. That should have been a fiery one.

I'll try and catch Qatar/China later, unless I bloody well forget again.

[Andy]

http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodi...asuna-8182710/

Not bad. Villarreal have been one of my favourite teams to watch this season.

[Andy]

Real just dropped points at bottom-of-the-league Almeria. Could cost them the league.

[Bennedy]

I was just about to post the exact same thing.

They have to pray Barca lose points against Mallorca.

[Andy]

Malaga are 25/1. Draw 12/1.

[Andy]

Beautiful goal from Iniesta after 8 minutes.

[Bennedy]

Why did I think they were facing Mallorca?

Barca should really win this then.

[Andy]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9w26Ydu33g"]YouTube - Lecce vs AC Milan 0-1 Ibrahimovic AMAZING Goal 16-01-2011[/ame]

[Bennedy]

Class goal.

[JIJ]

Off to Seville tomorrow night, staying till Sunday. Hopefully gonna get to the Ramon Sanchez Pijuan Saturday evening to watch the Sevilla/Levante game

[Andy]

Get some pics.

[JIJ]

Pics are for women I take pictures in my mind

[BBF]

Sounds like Autism, mate.

[JIJ]

I'm definitely a bit OCD.

So are you though judging by the number of times you use the word mate these days so don't throw stones.

[Andy]

People who live in glass houses have to open the door.

[BBF]

I'm definitely a bit OCD.

So are you though judging by the number of times you use the word mate these days so don't throw stones.

Nah not OCD. Just a bit of a cunt, mate.

[Andy]

Just watching Alexis Sanchez for the first time (other than the World Cup) on ESPN. He's a petulant little fucker but very exciting. Just created the equaliser with a lovely bit of skill.

[JIJ]

Instead of trying to update the live football schedule every week (which obviously I wasn't bothering doing anyway) I've just whacked a link in which shows the live schedule on UKTV

[Andy]

I know I shouldn't but I love Adebayor, he's a great character.

I really wouldn't be surprised if Real signed him permanently and shipped Benzema out at the end of the season. He came on for Benzema and did more in 10 minutes than Benzema had done all night, including scoring and drawing a sending off. He'll get so much service over in the top and from crosses in this team, I can easily see him scoring 10 goals before the end of the season. Assuming he can avoid fighting with anyone for a few months.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

He's not really there to score goals. Higuain and Benzema have both struggled to score goals this season, the aim is to make sure Ronaldo gets chances. Everything goes through him which is why Real Madrid are pretty fucked when he's not up for it.

[Andy]

Higuain was averaging 1 in 2 wasn't he? It can't be healthy for a club like Real Madrid to rely on one player for all their goals, surely Adebayor's mission is to help him out.

Also they were after Ruud van Nistelrooy so they obviously wanted someone to score a few between now and the end of the season.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

They wanted an old-fashioned target man to lead the line and hold the ball up. Benzema isn't that sort of player, he wants to roam about and play a bit, get it deep and run and link the play up. Higuain is a genuine target man, so is Adebayor. It's not so much that they rely on Ronaldo for all their goals but everything is set up to get the best out of him and to create chances for him.

Higuain scores goals when he plays, he's brilliant. 1 in 2 is actually less than usual for him, he's previously averaged nearly a goal a game or just under it.

[Andy]

Yeah but I think that's because as you say, the whole side has been built around Ronaldo this season, not with Higuain as he focal point. He's still class.

I reckon Adebayor is expected to score some goals and I think he will. He'll get so much service, Ronaldo alone created at least three chances for him when he came on.