Categoría: Tienda de Fútbol Online

Internazinale Milan of Italy this evening thumped Bayern Munich of Germany 2-0 to win this year’s UEFA Champions’ league at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, thereby ending their 45 years drought in the much lucrative and prestigious tournament.

This record has once again proven Coach Jose Maurinho to be ‘The special one’. He went to Chelsea FC of England and ended their 50 years unsuccessful runs in the premiership; and now he has done it again for Inter Milan, making it treble this season having won the Scudetto earlier.

Today’s match saw Bayern Munich playing against a very balanced, tactical and disciplined opposition. Bayern did the playing while Inter kept doing the scoring. At first half ball possession was 63%: 35% in favour of Bayern and at the end of the game it stood at 65%: 35% on the average, yet they lost the match to a more focused Inter Milan. The German boys wasted most of their chances, but it was Diego Milito who scored a brace to single-handedly hand the trophy to the Italians. His first goal came in the 35th minute courtesy of a pass he received from Wesley Sneijder. His second goal in the 70th minute sank the boat for the Munich players and finally ended their title ambition for this season.

Internazionale played as a team, doing more of mass defense and periodic counter offensive. Their defense was able to absorb all the pressure piled on them by the Germans. Arjen Robben was particularly outstanding on the Bayern side but most of his crosses were begging for someone to convert them. However, it was a night Diego Milito shone like a million stars as his superb finishing delivered the prestigious trophy into the laps of Inter. Inter Milan has by this feat silenced critics who thought their victories over championship favorites Chelsea and Barcelona were a fluke.

Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder at different times shot unto the body of Julio Caesar. Robben’s shot was also parried by the goal keeper for a corner kick in the 65th minute. Julio Caesar and his defenders frustrated the Munich attack and made sure they kept a clean slate in the match. At the end of the match, one player was particularly overjoyed and that player is Samuel Eto’o who won the Champions’ league back to back, after he had won the last edition with FC Barcelona. To get to this stage Inter Milan scored 15 goals and conceded 9.

Frank Ribery was conspicuously missing on the Munich side due to suspension; perhaps his presence would have made the difference for his side. This time around their goals’ talisman Ivica Olic failed to shine. The Milan side made history as Samuel Eto’o became the only player to have won the league back to back in recent time. Javier Zanetti made his 700th appearance for Inter.

Yes, the world is in the throes of football fever. The 2010 FIFA (International Federation of Association Football) World Cup football, which wows the globe every four years is now in its quarter final stage and all bets are on to see who will capture this year’s final cup. Will the indomitable Germans beat the resilient Argentineans or, will the Netherlands score an upset? World Cup Football is hands down, the greatest and most highly anticipated sporting event of all time. Two hundred and four nations tried to qualify for thirty two spots, with the U.S. qualifying for the first time in decades. The 2006 final match between Italy and France was watched by an estimated 715 million. With shifting demographics and 21st century technology rendering borders nearly obsolete, this year’s tally is anyone’s guess. Aficionados pour into stadiums, huddle around television sets, with gladiator-like fervor. Histories are invoked, wars waged, players pilloried and publicly chastised. Allegiances for players and countries are drawn in stone with blood and sweat.

It is known universally as, «the beautiful game,» for its elegant simplicity, the divinely appointed athletic prowess of its players and its appeal to the common man. The skill of the play, the passion and the enduring love for the game creates a brotherhood that transcends the sport. The unparalleled high and mindless exhilaration of GOOOOOAAAL! Much like basketball, it elevates its gifted players to god-like status, while simultaneously connecting them with the mortals who live vicariously through them. More than any other sport, football is a great equalizer. Because not mere color of skin, or nationality or Club can dictate ability or greatness. It simply is. A boy from a favela of Brazil with a devastating strike or from an obscure village in Côte d’Ivoire can become a striker for a world-class English Club. A good number come from exceedingly difficult circumstances, where pulling yourself up by the bootstraps often means borrowing a pair of cleats and heading to a game on a dusty bowl. Today’s black football players who hail from far-flung countries to play for European Clubs such as Inter Milan, Barcelona and Manchester United. But for World Cup, they return to play only for their national team. This is not to say that racism in football is not a serious issue. Taunts and behavior of fans can be unspeakably ugly, cruel and primitive, coming as it does from a contingent that remains stubbornly ignorant and primitive. That players consistently rise above it is a testament to their personal strength and integrity. The game has become a way of life that can change the trajectory of lives and communities. Stunning paychecks are often accompanied by lofty commercial endorsement from Nike, Gillette, and others. Players share their good fortune, donating substantial amounts to build hospitals, schools, and life-saving social service programs.

The 2010 World Cup in South Africa is the first played on the continent of Africa and has the potential to shift global perceptions on a number of levels. From the Africa Cup of Nations to 2010 World Cup, footballers of African descent and nationality have put the world on notice: they are a force with which to be reckoned. Just ask Team USA.

And no self-respecting football fan ever calls it soccer. It’s football, now and always.

Here are eight of the world’s best and brightest black football players of the 2010 World Cup South Africa.

Samuel Eto’o

Country: Cameroon

Club: Inter Milan; Cameroon national team

Position: Striker

Earnings: $12. 7 million

The world’s been put on notice. Hands-down one of the top left-back in the world, Samuel Eto’o’s achievements are momentous for his country and his club. He exemplifies football excellence in the vein of the great legends and has surpassed expectations in every club for which he has played. His performance has been consistently excellent and he is at present the most decorated African player of all time, including African Player of the Year for three consecutive years. A goal scoring machine, Eto’o scored over 100 goals in five seasons with FC Barcelona. He is captain of the Cameroon national team and currently Africa’s best-paid football player. He has participated in two World Cups and five African Nations Cups and is the all-time leading scorer in the history of the African Nations Cup, (capturing championship twice) with 18 goals. In the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, Eto’o became joint leading goalscorer

As a member of the Cameroon national team, he was a gold medalist at the 2000 Summer Olympics.

Didier Drogba:

Country: Ivory Coast/Côte d’Ivoire

Club: Chelsea

Position: Striker

Earnings: $7.5 million Endorsements: Pepsi; Nike, Samsung

Mark the name for it is the future of football. Don’t be fooled by Drogba’s late entry to the football arena, he in a powerhouse. Known for breaching impregnable defenses, Drogba is a goalkeepers’ nightmare. Signed by Chelsea for $37 million, he has proved invaluable. He has scored more goals for the club than any other foreign player and is it’s 7th highest goal scorer ever. most promising African football players, he is one of the top scorers in the Premier League. Captain and all-time top scorer of the Côte d’Ivoire national football team, Drogba was signed to Chelsea for a record breaking fee of £24 million, making him the most expensive Côte d’Ivoire player in history. Drogba came to prominence as one of the world’s foremost strikers in 2006 when he won the league title with Chelsea and captained the national team for the first time. In the 2006 World Cup he scored Côte d’Ivoire’s first ever goal of the competition and was chosen the 2006 African Footballer of the Year. He is the only player to score in six English cup finals.

But much of this pales in comparison to his humanitarian work for his country. After Côte d’Ivoire qualified for the 2006 World Cup, Drogba pleaded for a ceasefire between the combatants of his country’s deadly 5 year civil war, which was honored shortly after. In 2007, he was appointed Goodwill Ambassador by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and donated his $4.5 million signing on fee for his endorsement of Pepsi towards the construction of a hospital in his hometown of Abidjan.

Maicon Douglas Sisenando

Country: Brazil

Club Team: Internazionale AKA Inter Milan

Position: Defender

Earnings:$5.4 million

A gifted righ-sided fullback and formidable back-field, Maicon is a something of a phenomenon in Brazilian football – not an easy feat. He excels at defensive games and provides great support for his team. Maicon scored Brazil’s first 2010 World Cup goal – a tight angle shot – against Korea in their first game. Maicon’s contribution to Inter Milan have included staunch defending and offensive support, place him in contention for the 2010 ballon d’Or, the European Footballer of the year award. In a nod to his prowess, Real Madrid recently paid £28 million for him to join their Club.

Patrice Evra:

Country: France

Club Team: Manchester United

Position: Defender, Full-back; French captain

Earnings: $4 million

Evra is his own version of the United Nations. Born in Senegal of Guinean heritage and a French national, he is one of Manchester United ‘s most valuable players and oddly, captain of the French national team. Arguably one of the best left backs in the world and a wicked left wingback Evra has won Premier League titles and the Champions League with Manchester United. During United’s 07-08 season, Evra became a key member of United’s defense. But he is not without controversy. Following the dismissal of teammate, Nicolas Anelka from the squad after his dust-up with coach Raymond Domenech, Evra led a player mutiny against the decision and publicly denounced the coach. Asa result, Evra was benched for the final game against South Africa. Even so, he returns to a highly distinguished career.

Thierry Henry

Country: France

Club Team: Barcelona; French national team

Position: Striker

Earnings: Annual salary plus bonus: $6.2 million, Other income: $6.2 million

Endorsements: Pepsi, Gilette, Reebok

He is one of the most recognized and lauded players in football and certainly A worthy distinction for one of the most prominent forwards in the sport. During his meteoric rise at Arsenal, the phenomenal Henry emerged as leading goal-scorer for almost every season with 226 goals in all competitions. The phenomenal Frenchman won two league titles and three FA Cups and was twice nominated for FIFA World Player of the Year. Possessed of devastating speed and superhero agility, he remains the leading all-time goal-scorer in Europe with 42 goals with a flair for impossible, dramatic goals. Despite the controversy surrounding Henry’s propensity for using his hand to set up a goal, he is a football institution that has elevated the sport to an art form.

Nicolas Anelka

Country: France

Club Team: Chelsea (ENG); French national team

Position: Striker

Earnings: $5.8 million Endorsements: Puma

Though his petulance rivals his potential, Anelka has shown tremendous potential as a striker. A relentless scorer who is lightning fast with superb control, Anelka’s goal won France its World Cup match against Ireland. His three-and-a-half year deal and his reported fee means more money has been spent on transferring Nicolas over the course of his career than on any other player in football history.

Sully Muntari Country: Ghana

Club Team: Internazionale AKA Inter Milan

Position: Midfielder

Earnings: $5.3 million, Endorsements: Puma

If Ghana takes World Cup, you can bet Muntari will be instrumental to their win. A football prodigy, Muntari was just 16 when he played for Ghana at the 2001 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina. He was voted as an All-Star Player during the 2008 African Cup of Nations Tournament in Ghana.

Yaya Toure

Country: Ivory Coast

Club Team: Barcelona

Position: Midfielder

Earning: $3.7 million

Toure’s titanic stature and gushing energy combine to make him one of the best midfielders in modern football, with a perfect combination of physical power with superb technique. He is the first player from Côte d’Ivoire to win the UEFA Champions League, in 2008/09 and one of the driving forces behind the team that rewrote football history by winning six trophies in a single season. He was recently transferred from Barcelona to Manchester City for £25m, where he’ll join his brother, brother and club captain, Kolo. He was a powerful midfielder for his native Côte d’Ivoire, who made their first appearance in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

As we all know from geography, Spain can be found in Europe’s southwestern part and is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea. The countries near Spain include France as well as Andorra and of course Biscay Bay; all can be found in the north of Spain. On the western and northwestern side of Spain, the elements bordering it are the well known Atlantic Ocean as well as Portugal.

Spain, when referred to formally, should be called the Kingdom of Spain with the city of Madrid as its capital which incidentally is also one of the most popular tourist spots in the country. Spain is also Europe’s second biggest country next to the country of France, with a size of 560,000 sq m. The three cities that are considered to be Spain’s most popular are Madrid, Barcelona as well as Valencia.

Spain’s climate is usually described as diverse, mainly because of its geographical location as well as the country’s orographic conditions. However, the weather here differs from one place to the next, incidentally, rain will most likely occur in Spain’s mountainous regions rather than the Spanish plains. Another interesting fact about Spain is the length of its coastline with beaches running along 8,000 kilometers of Spanish land.

Spanish is what the official language of Spain is called, but of course a variation of different dialects also exists here. Some of them are referred to as Catalan, Euskera along with Valencian as well as Gallego.

Spain’s current monarch is King Juan Carlos the First. It was the year 1978 when Spain’s government turned to Parliamentary monarchy. The country’s Parliament has a bicameral legislature and Spain’s Prime Minister heads its Minister Council.

Catholicism is the main religion visible in Spain but Protestants, Jews as well as Muslims are also present in Spain. Gypsies, thousands of them are still living in Spain.

To the rest of the world, Flamenco is known as the traditional Spanish dance, but in Spain, it is more than that. To them, Flamenco, apart from the dance part of it is also about other forms of art like singing and playing the guitar.

Soccer also plays an important part in the life of the Spanish people. This sport is introduced to children at a very young age. Due to that Spain’s soccer teams, namely Real Madrid as well as FC Barcelona are very well known all over the world. Madrid is also home to three major Spanish soccer teams.

International license for driving must be carried by foreigners at all times when driving along the streets of Spain. But if you come from countries from the European Union, your driver’s license would count. Driving is illegal in Spain if you are below eighteen.

The reigning African highest goal scorer of all time in the nations’ cup history Samuel Eto’o Phils yesterday added yet another profile to his unassailable record after helping his country Cameroon to qualify for the quarter finals in the ongoing competition in Angola. He scored his side’s equalizer in the 1st minute of the second half after the Cartridge Eagles of Tunisia went into the lead in the first half. The match eventually ended 2-2 to ensure that the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon and the Chipolopolo of Zambia moved on into the quarter finals.

Samuel Eto’o had earlier scored in their second match against Zambia to increase his goal tally to 17, but with his goal against Tunisia yesterday he now has 18 goals. Before his emergence on the African nations’ cup scene the highest goals record stood at 14 goals which was set and held by Laurent Poko of Cote d’ivoire. But at Ghana 2008 nations’ cup this record was broken by Eto’o. I remember I did predict that he was likely to break his own record this year, and he has just done that: with 18 goals in his kitty it would remain an uphill task for anybody seeking to equal and break this record. This young man came into soccer limelight in Nigeria/Ghana 2000 nations’ cup and ever since he has not stopped scoring great and thrilling goals.

I can almost hear you ask what is so special about this guy; Let me just answer that away. He parades a very intimidating record – three time African footballer of the year award winner, 2 nations’ cup trophies (Nigeria/Ghana 2000 and Mali 2002), all time highest goal scorer in African nations’ cup history (18 goals), Olympics Gold medalist at Sydney 2000 Olympics, two time UEFA champions with FC Barcelona of Spain (2006 and 2009), UEFA Super Cup winner, several domestic and FA titles with FC Barcelona, etc. He has really achieved much as far as African football is concerned.

Age is one advantage on the side of this player and if he endures like his counterpart Roger Miller, he might just still be there in 3 or more editions of the competition; and if he does, what would that translate into? He would score more goals of course: he might just get to score 30 goals which would make it more difficult for any player to equal or break considering how long it took to break the record set by Laurent Poko. The likes of Rasheed Yekini of Nigeria and Joel Tiehi of Cote d’ivoire had tried to break this record but the highest they could do was get close to it. Eto’o has no doubt proven to be force to reckon with in Africa football whose record is yet to be equaled by any of the players from the continent. George Weah won the African footballer, European footballer and FIFA world footballer of the year awards, and also UEFA champions league but compare that with the above-listed records by Eto’o and decide for yourself who you think is Africa’s greatest footballer of all time.

The former footballer of 42 years old, Coach Jose Angel Ziganda, was dismissed by the Osasuna team of the Spanish League this past October 13th due to the results the team has been having at the beginning of this season.

The team is relegated to the 16th position of the 20 teams in the league, with only 4 points on the first six games of the season. The team had 4 tied games with Villarreal, Mallorca, Deportivo and Numancia, and had 2 losses against Valencia and Racing. With these results and the close the team ended to relegation last season, the franchise of Osasuna decided that it was time for coach Ziganda to leave the club.

The news of his release took Jose Ziganda and his assistant coach Andoni Goikoetxea by surprise, but they do accept that the results were not the best for the club. The fact that surprise them the most was that Ziganda became the first coach in 11 and half years to be fired by the club, because in the past, the franchise did not seemed to be focusing on the results. But now the expectations of the franchise are higher as they want to get out of the last positions of the table and be a more remarkable team in the league.

Ziganda expressed that he is leaving the club a little heartrending because he wanted more time to improve the team results and get the best performances of every player, but he accepts that he didn’t managed to win and that the team needed points. »We are very sad but we have to accept it, the reasons are obvious, we have not managed to win and the team needed a change. We wanted more time, because I think that the team has been capable of winning all the games, but the club want results,» expressed Coach Ziganda.

Jose Angel Ziganda was in charge of Osasuna for two seasons, replacing the Mexican coach Jose Aguirre. In his first season 2006-07, Ziganda took the team to the 14th place of the league and leaded them into the 2007 semifinals of the UEFA Cup, which they lost against Sevilla 2-1. However, for the 2007-08 season, Ziganda left Osasuna at the 17th place and very close to relegation. Although the club directives meant to keep him for another year, giving him the chance to turn things around, but the results obtained so far were not different.

The club has acknowledged the press that Coach Jose Antonio Camacho will replace Ziganda; he already signed a contract with Osasuna until June 2009. Camacho was the coach of the Spanish national team between 1998 and 2002, guiding the team to the quarter-finals of both Euro 2000 and World Cup2002. He also coached the teams Espanyol, Rayo Vallecano, SL Benfica and was in charge of Real Madrid for two brief spells; 22 days in 1998 and four months in 2004. More recently, in 2008, Camacho was coaching Benfica again, but after some issues with the club, he decided to leave them. Now his expectations are placed on Osasuna, since he wants to take them out of the last positions of the table and convert them in a successful club in La Liga.

Valencia: Canizares, Miguel, Marchena, Helguera, Moretti, Mantoro, Albelda, Joaquin, Arizmendi, Morientes and Silva

Barcelona: Valdes, Puyol, Marquez, Milito, Abidal, Xavi, Toure, Inietsa, Gudjohnsen, Messi and Etoo

Chance for Eidur Gudjohnsen in 30 seconds but he could not find Samuel Etoo as his first touch was not very precise.

Bad first touch by Etoo as Messi found him with only Canizares to beat but he fluffed it in the 3rd minute.

Good chance for Yaya Toure from a corner kick but his header was straight at Canizares and he palms it over in the 9th minute.

Fantastic goal by Etoo, as he skips past the challenge of Marchena and Mantoro; and rifled the shot past Canizares in the 13th minute.

Another chance for Etoo as Puyol won a header and it fell kindly towards Etoo but his header was straight at Canizares in the 21st minute.

Absolutely brilliant 2nd goal for Barcelona as they passed and moved the ball between 6 players, it finally came to Etoo, he passed to Iniesta who passed it to Messi back to Etoo and its 2-0 in the 26th minute.

Another fantastic piece of football from Barcelona, started by Gudjohnsen, continued by Messi to Etoo then to Iniesta, whose cross was just missed by Messi to make it 3-0 in the 31st minute.

First attempt of any note by Valencia in the 33rd minute as Arizmendi cut inside Puyol but his shot was well over.

Another chance for Etoo, as he makes a great run behind the Valencia defence but Marchena was able to stick out a leg to prevent Etoo’s hattrick in the 36th minute.

Morientes has to come off injured for Vicente in the 39th minute.

Etoo is at it again, this time he went through 2 defenders and was just about to release the trigger when a desperate lunge by Marchena stopped him from making it 3 in the 42nd minute.

Lionel Messi is off due to an injury that may be muscular in the 43rd minute replaced by Giovanni.

Half Time

Valencia 0 Barcelona 2

As poor a performance as Valencia have given all season and they have been dire this season to be fair. Barcelona were so superior with Etoo being on supreme form, it was embarrassing.

It was just too easy for Barcelona and some of their players did not have to break sweat. The only downside for them is that Messi went off injured and may miss the big clash next week against arch-rivals Real Madrid.

Valencia can surely not play worse than they have in the 1st half.

Etoo has another chance in the 47th minute after he skipped past a challenge and his shot was straight at Canizares though.

Good defending by Milito to stop Joaquin from putting a cross and the resulting throw-in was hit by David Silva that Valdes saved with difficulty in the 51st minute.

Great shot by Giovanni but it was saved by Canizares in the 53rd minute.

Its 3 -0 with another piece of good passing involving Xavi and Giovanni, who passed unselfishly to Gudjohnsen to just tap home in the 61st minute.

Chance for Valencia from a Vicente free kick and again Valdes fumbles the ball over the crossbar in the 65th minute.

Deco is on for Toure and Mata is on for Joaquin in the 65th minute.

Etoo comes off for Bojan Krkic in the 67th minute.

Lomban is on for Moretti in the 71st minute.

Chance for Giovanni to make it 4 but as he collceted a pass from Xavi in the 73rd minute but his shot was well wide.

It really should have been 4 as Barcelona started a move from their own half with Deco, who gave the ball to Giovanni and his cross field pass was well controlled by Gudjohnsen; he skipped past 2 challenges, passed a cute ball to Xavi, he went round Canizares, crossed to Giovanni but his weak shot was cleared off the line by Miguel in the 76th minute.

Nice shot by Bojan as he controlled a pass from Xavi well on his chest but was straight to Canizares in the 80th minute.

Half chance for Vicente in the 81st minute as Marquez was very sloppy with his pass out and it went straight to Villa and he passed to Vicente but the angle was too acute for him to score from.

Free kick in a dangerous position for Valencia, in the 90th minute, taken by Vicente, but clawed to relative safety by Victor Valdes.

Full Time

Valencia 0 Barcelona 3

It was too comfortable in the end for Barcelona as Valencia were just marginally better in the 2nd half but still nowhere good enough at the highest level.

There were a lot of good performances from Barcelona players with Gudjohnsen, Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, Toure, Deco, Giovanni, Abidal and especially Etoo all in top form.

The only players that came out with any credit for Valencia are possibly Canizares and Miguel, the rest were awful.