Aldiss Site

Simon Rolfes Trikots bestellen

December 6, 2006 

After some struggles to earn promotion to the Bundesliga 1, Munich 1860 signed another American, reports Kicker. Striker, Josh Wolff, will be relied on to score goals in close matches to help the team escape second division soccer.

The Lions are currently only four points short of earning promotion. The team counts on a strong backline led by American defender, Gregg Berhalter, who appeared for the U.S. National Team in World Cups 2002 and 2006.

The former captain of Energie Cottbus helped the East German team climb into the Bundesliga 1 last season, only to remain in the Bundeliga 2 by signing with Munich 1860.

Wolff will join his American comrade after several successful campaigns in Major League Soccer. Wolff was a Fire original and played 84 matches for Chicago. While in the Windy City, the young striker tallied 32 goals.

After his success in Chicago, the Georgia native moved to Kansas City to play for the Wizards. While with the Wizards, Wolff put in 27 goals in 80 matches. 

In 2003, Wolff suffered a meniscus tear and ankle injury which slowed his blistering pace significantly. However, the forward finished his last three MLS seasons healthy. Wolff scored 25 goals in the past three seasons with the Wizards and all but maxed out his salary under the league's tight cap.

Like most European teams, 1860 only signed the striker to an 18 month contract. The reasons for the short contract are multi-fold.

Few European teams will give any player pushing 30 more than a one year deal. The belief is by that age most players, especially forwards, are finished. Wolff is 29.

Munich 1860 also struggles with budget issues. Despite the team's recent success, previous pushes toward the “Big Show” have hurt Munich's funds. The team simply can't afford to issue a big contract.

Wolff is an American. Although signing American players is becoming more common in Europe, it is still viewed as a gamble. Despite appearing in two World Cups, Munich will keep in mind that he only scored once in both.

For Wolff, this move is elementary. His salary is largely fixed in the MLS, and he's still fairly young. For the forward to start preparing for retirement, he needed to go abroad. This move will help him further develop his on-field smarts and ideally help him establish a comfortable nest egg.

from: Khyas Weblog

With just 20 days until the FIFA 2010 World Cup kicks-off at Soccer City, SI Online shines the spotlight on the 32 teams vying for soccer supremacy. Our first port of call is the 2010 World Cup hosts themselves.

 

Team: South Africa.

 

Profile: Nicknamed Bafana Bafana, the South African team will face a tough task on their home soil. Ranked a lowly 90th on the official FIFA World Rankings, they are only higher than one other qualifier, North Korea (106). However, when the men from the rainbow nation take to the field, rankings will go out the window. A swarm of Vuvuzela-blowing, Makarapa-wearing fanatics will undoubtedly spur them on to greater heights. This is South Africa’s third World Cup appearance.

 

Their group: Bafana were drawn as one of the eight seeded teams for the first football World Cup on African soil. However, this hindered rather than helped them as they share Pool A with previous World Cup winners France, Uruguay and the in-form Mexico.

 

Opening match: As hosts, Bafana Bafana enjoy the honour of kicking off the tournament against Mexico on June 11 at the home of South African football, Soccer City. The African calabash is likely to hold a melting pot of vociferous fans cheering on the host nation and to a lesser extent their rivals. Expect plenty of noise, and Mexican waves on offer.

 

Star man: It’s hard to look past the slightly built Steven Pienaar. Everton’s player of the Year was in scintillating form this season in the Premier League. His ability to pick a pass and cut open a defence with his silky running style, is mesmerising to watch. The boy from Westbury in Johannesburg is South Africa’s talisman, and midfield playmaker. His teammates are likely to look to him for inspiration.

 

One to watch: Striker Katlego Mphela announced his arrival on the world stage with a thunderbolt of a strike against Spain during last year’s Confederations Cup. Top shotstopper Iker Casillas had no chance of stopping the superbly taken free kick. Mphela is in good goal-scoring form at present and most recently scored a brace in a friendly international against Thailand. He will be aiming to carry that form into Africa’s first World Cup.

 

The coach: Brazilian Carlos Alberto Gomes Parreira is the man tasked with guiding the host nation’s hopes. The experienced mentor, 67, has been to two previous World Cups and knows first-hand what it takes to prove a success at the soccer showpiece. He won the coveted gold trophy with Brazil in 1994 and while he is not expected to repeat the feat with his current charges, he is a proud man intent on getting Bafana to play to the best of their ability.

 

Provisional 30-man World Cup squad:

 

Goalkeepers:  Itumeleng Khune, Shu-Aib Walters, Rowen Fernandez, Moeneeb Josephs

 

Defenders: Matthew Booth, Bevan Fransman, Siboniso Gaxa, Innocent Mdledle , Bongani Khumalo Tsepo Masilela, Aaron Mokoena, Bryce Moon, Anele Ngcongca, Siyabonga Sangweni, Lucas Thwala.

Midfielders: Surprise Moriri, Franklin Cale, Lance Davids, Kagisho Dikgacoi, Andile Jali, Teko Modise, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Thanduyise Khuboni , Steven Pienaar, Macbeth Sibaya.

Forwards: Benni McCarthy, Katlego Mphela, Siyabonga Nomvete, Bernard Parker.

Likely starting XI: Khune, Gaxa, Mokoena (C), Booth, Masilela, Sibaya, Pienaar, Modise, Tshabalala, Mphela, McCarthy

World Cup prediction: Unlikely to progress past the group stage.

 

With just 20 days until the FIFA 2010 World Cup kicks-off at Soccer City, SI Online shines the spotlight on the 32 teams vying for soccer supremacy. Our first port of call is the 2010 World Cup hosts themselves.

 

Team: South Africa.

 

Profile: Nicknamed Bafana Bafana, the South African team will face a tough task on their home soil. Ranked a lowly 90th on the official FIFA World Rankings, they are only higher than one other qualifier, North Korea (106). However, when the men from the rainbow nation take to the field, rankings will go out the window. A swarm of Vuvuzela-blowing, Makarapa-wearing fanatics will undoubtedly spur them on to greater heights. This is South Africa’s third World Cup appearance.

 

Their group: Bafana were drawn as one of the eight seeded teams for the first football World Cup on African soil. However, this hindered rather than helped them as they share Pool A with previous World Cup winners France, Uruguay and the in-form Mexico.

 

Opening match: As hosts, Bafana Bafana enjoy the honour of kicking off the tournament against Mexico on June 11 at the home of South African football, Soccer City. The African calabash is likely to hold a melting pot of vociferous fans cheering on the host nation and to a lesser extent their rivals. Expect plenty of noise, and Mexican waves on offer.

 

Star man: It’s hard to look past the slightly built Steven Pienaar. Everton’s player of the Year was in scintillating form this season in the Premier League. His ability to pick a pass and cut open a defence with his silky running style, is mesmerising to watch. The boy from Westbury in Johannesburg is South Africa’s talisman, and midfield playmaker. His teammates are likely to look to him for inspiration.

 

One to watch: Striker Katlego Mphela announced his arrival on the world stage with a thunderbolt of a strike against Spain during last year’s Confederations Cup. Top shotstopper Iker Casillas had no chance of stopping the superbly taken free kick. Mphela is in good goal-scoring form at present and most recently scored a brace in a friendly international against Thailand. He will be aiming to carry that form into Africa’s first World Cup.

 

The coach: Brazilian Carlos Alberto Gomes Parreira is the man tasked with guiding the host nation’s hopes. The experienced mentor, 67, has been to two previous World Cups and knows first-hand what it takes to prove a success at the soccer showpiece. He won the coveted gold trophy with Brazil in 1994 and while he is not expected to repeat the feat with his current charges, he is a proud man intent on getting Bafana to play to the best of their ability.

 

Provisional 30-man World Cup squad:

 

Goalkeepers:  Itumeleng Khune, Shu-Aib Walters, Rowen Fernandez, Moeneeb Josephs

 

Defenders: Matthew Booth, Bevan Fransman, Siboniso Gaxa, Innocent Mdledle , Bongani Khumalo Tsepo Masilela, Aaron Mokoena, Bryce Moon, Anele Ngcongca, Siyabonga Sangweni, Lucas Thwala.

Midfielders: Surprise Moriri, Franklin Cale, Lance Davids, Kagisho Dikgacoi, Andile Jali, Teko Modise, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Thanduyise Khuboni , Steven Pienaar, Macbeth Sibaya.

Forwards: Benni McCarthy, Katlego Mphela, Siyabonga Nomvete, Bernard Parker.

Likely starting XI: Khune, Gaxa, Mokoena (C), Booth, Masilela, Sibaya, Pienaar, Modise, Tshabalala, Mphela, McCarthy

World Cup prediction: Unlikely to progress past the group stage.

 

Your Comment:

Paraguay Trikots

After a year's worth of regional tournaments, each soccer confederation has had one team persevere to enter the Club World Cup. With only a few weeks before the tournament kicks off in Toyota City, Japan, the brackets are finally set. 

The opening round contenders will be Auckland F.C. (New Zealand) of the OFC, CONCACAF's Club America (Mexico), AFC side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC (Republic of Korea), and Al Ahly (Egypt) from CAF. These four teams will play for the chance to face either Internacional (Brazil) or F.C. Barcelona (Spain) in the semi-final round.

Because the tournament has always been won by either a CONMEBOL (South American) or UEFA (European) side, these teams enter the tournment on a bye. Last year's title was taken by Sao Paulo who dealt Liverpool an astounding 1-0 loss in the final.

The first match will be played between Auckland and Al Ahly. Al Ahly is coming off their second straight CAF Championship, after topping Tunisian side, Sfaxien, 2-1 on aggregate only a few weeks ago. 

Auckland, on the other hand, holds a tight grip on the third place position in New Zealand with only two losses on the season. The New Zealanders have yet to lose at home, and their last defeat was suffered against Manwatu on October 21. 

With both teams playing at such a high level, it will be hard to say who will come out on top on December 10. However, it is likely that Al Ahly played through tougher competition in the CAF regional tournament. With champion club teams coming from a variety of strong soccer nations in Africa like Tunisia, Nigeria, Senegal, and Camaroon, Al Ahly certainly had to play at a higher level more regularly than Auckland, whose only strong opponents were likely from Australia. Al Ahly is expected to move on and face Internacional in the semi-finals.

On December 11, the champion from CONCACAF (North and Central American and the Caribbean) will square off against the AFC (Asian) champion. Club America of Mexico will represent CONCACAF after beating former regional title holder, Saprissa of Costa Rica. America recently finished its Apetura campaign with 29 points in a group which included strong competition from Pumas and Toluca. America's next opponent will be Chivas de Guadalajara in the semi-finals of the Liga Mexicana Championship.

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors has tended to be a mid-table team in the K-League since the team's foundation in 1993. The team recently overcame a new kind of competition having faced the champions of China, Syria, and Japan. The newcomers to the regional tournament handled the pressure well and took home the title after defeating Al Kamara of Syria. 

With Club America being the more exprienced side, they are anticipated to win this match. However, Jeonbuk has already proven itself to be a capable giant slaying team. This should prove to be the more interesting of the two opening round matches. The winner will move on to play Ronaldinho and Barcelona.

It is more than likely that both Internacional and Barcelona will win their respective semi-final matches and end up playing each other in another UEFA vs. CONMEBOL championship. In recent years, the title has alternated between South American teams and European teams. 

Last year, Sao Paulo took the title, but the year before FC Porto took home the title after beating Once Caldas 8-7 in penalty kicks. Also of note Boca Juniors beat Milan for the 2003 championship, but in 2002 Real Madrid topped Olimpia of Paraguay. Although this pattern is no way to determine a winner, Barcelona should be able to take home the title. 

Depite losing Samuel Eto'o to injury, the team is still an assembly of international superstars. Ronaldinho will lead the team on the attack but will certainly have plenty of support from Deco, Giuly, and Gudjohnsen. The team's defense is also remarkably strong with Rafael Marquez, Lilian Thuram, and Gianluca Zambrotta. Although Zambrotta and Thuram are starting to age, their defensive skills can't be denied. 

Internacionel will count on a host of Brazilian players, who will likely give it their all to attract the attention of the big league scouts which will most certainly be in attendance. The team currently relies on Iarley and Alex for its production up front. The team will also expect their young Colombian to be at his best. Reneteria has made 23 appearances for Internacional but only managed to score twice. For Internacional to keep the title in South America, their forwards will have to put some in the back of the net.

The safe bet in this year's tournament lies with Ronaldinho. This Brazilian phenom is always a sure bet, and in combination with players like Messi and Deco, fans expect magic and miracles to happen. Barcelona is often times full of splendor on the pitch and should have what it takes to be named the best team in the world.

from: Krins Weblog
Suckis Blog
Elwyns Blog

Cricket News

• Overs and out for Dunnikier as team withdraws from cricket league

  ONE of Kirkcaldy’s oldest surviving clubs is in a sticky wicket …

• Overs and out for Dunnikier as team withdraws from cricket league

  ONE of Kirkcaldy’s oldest surviving clubs is in a sticky wicket … after pulling out of the 2010 cricket season due to dwindling player numbers. (06/05/2010 10:59:46)

• Keath earns full Vic cricket deal

  Multi-talented sportsman Alex Keath has been rewarded for committing to cricket by earning a full contract with domestic powerhouse Victoria for next season.

Marcel Schäfer Fussball Trikot kaufen

Sophia Loren, the famous Italian film star, is vocally giving support for here favorite soccer team. She has stated that if the Naples team moves up further in the ranks for the Italian championship, she will do a public strip tease.

The Naples team has been struggling for the last twenty years since it won its first Italian championship. Many of the Maples fans have been praying for a comeback from their favorite team ever since.

The Napoli, the term for the team from Naples, have been considered an underdog since the beginning of the season. Every win so far has added more exuberating to their fans this year.

Currently, Naples is in third place in the second division in the running for the Italian Championship. They have five more games left to progress themselves into the top two positions in the division. If they acquire one of the top two positions, they will make their way into the playoffs.

Sophia Loren has publicly stated that she will strip if the Naples team makes it to the playoffs. She thinks that it is a great way to get fans behind the team. She also believes that this is a great incentive for the Naples team to win.

Mind you that Sophia Loren is 72 years old. While she still has a phenomenal figure for someone her age, she is still 72 years old. Some fans may consider this to be an incentive for their team to win. Some other fans may be considering that this is a reason for the Naples team to lose.

There has not been official word from the Naples team as to their support of this suggested incentive from Sophia Loren. There has also not been any word against it either from the team.

There has not been any more word from Sophia Loren as to where she will perform her strip tease if the team wins. While this may be considered against the law in Italy, many laws are allowed to be broken during a soccer match, or in the aftermath.

With the amount of protests that have come from the current Pope and the Vatican about the state of affairs in Italy, it will not be a surprise to many if there is a comment against the suggested strip tease. It will be interesting to see how far the Vatican goes to condemn the possible actions of one of Italy's favorite daughters.

Reuters:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070515/od_nm/soccer_italy_loren_dc;_ylt=Ag9TskNa1AVBncUPZEPPKj_MWM0F

from: Anndreeas Site

Some interesting patterns are evident on these maps. Much of Arabic and Anglopone Africa stands out with a large number of references to both terms (in fact, “football” and “soccer” are some of only a small number terms that we have thus far encountered that have a comparatively high number of hits in Africa). A quick sample of the hits for football and soccer in a few different African cities reveals a range of geographic associations with the terms: bars that show football, soccer pitches, conversations that were had about football, recorded memories of a soccer game that took place, and of course references to the forthcoming World Cup in South Africa. Yet it remains unclear why Libya, Sudan, Tanzania and many other countries on the continent score so highly.

There are many times when bloggers will claim the worst, the best, and even sometimes the greatest thing they’d ever seen.

I’m guilty of it as much as anybody as prefaced by the next line….

The Greatest Soccer Fail ever

Video via Deadspin

As somebody who has no soccer skill and whose best moves usually come in a buffet line, I sympathize with Kei Kamara. I personally enjoyed his pleading to the linesman on the play, totally ignoring the fact he had possibly the dumbest handball of all-time.

Well done sir, well done.