Global News Post: Football

FIFA RANKS URUGUAY AMONG WORLD'S THREE BEST FOOTBALL NATIONAL TEAMS

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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">  </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">MONTEVIDEO (NNN-MERCOPRESS) - Uruguay’s national football team makes history and for the first time climbs to third position in FIFA’s listing, behind Spain which continues to lead and Germany that replaced Holland and is now in position four.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Based on the strong boost of the national team which managed a successful fourth position in the 2010 South Africa World Cup (behind Spain, Holland and Germany) and having conquered the Americas Cup in 2011, the sky-blue shirt has kept climbing with outstanding international performances, local media reported.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Precisely and reflecting such a performance FIFA - the world governing football body - this week ranked Uruguay in third place for the first time ever since the international football organisation began elaborating the list.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Meanwhile Brazil slips a position and now is ranked fifth while Argentina is down two steps to position ten. Chile climbs one position and is ranked thirteen and Mexico is up two steps to reach position 20.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The next FIFA ranking is scheduled to be released May 9 this year.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The ranking list:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1. Spain 1.442 puntos (1)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2. Alemania 1.345 (3)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">3. Uruguay 1.309 (4)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">4. Holland 1.207 (2)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">5. Portugal 1.190 (7)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">6. Brazil 1.165 (5)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">7. England 1.132 (6)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">8. Croatia 1.114 (10)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">9. Denmark 1.069 (11)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">10. Argentina 1.066 (8)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">11. Russia 1.049 (12)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">12. Italy 1.041 (9)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">13. Chile 967 (14)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">14. Greece 961 (13)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">15. Ivory Coast l 951 (15)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">16. France 938 (16)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">17. Sweden 931 (17)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">18. Switzerland 891 (18)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">18. Ireland 891 (19)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">20. Mexico 868 (22)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">------</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">23. Colombia 815 (31)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">25. Paraguay 803 (25)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">34. Peru 719 (34)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">37. Ecuador 673 (39)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">43. Venezuela 617 (46)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">109. Bolivia 308 (106) -- NNN-MERCOPRESS</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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FIFA RANKS URUGUAY AMONG WORLD'S THREE BEST FOOTBALL NATIONAL TEAMS

MONTEVIDEO (NNN-MERCOPRESS) - Uruguay’s national football team makes history and for the first time climbs to third position in FIFA’s l...

Egyptians Protest Security Failure That Caused Soccer Disaster

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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh726qLJCiTXosZCTGLxUsvj7-kd7COXq6b8HAXhx5Dxb11sx8ekGmc6wH1SJhyQr6YRyRyTpod_coHbfP0dr_F0sRH5H-W_OwfBiRARvN0Y2fCJJPoPm6A5hsIqh3i3Ci-ZRyENWWE8eE/s1600/2012020215230988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh726qLJCiTXosZCTGLxUsvj7-kd7COXq6b8HAXhx5Dxb11sx8ekGmc6wH1SJhyQr6YRyRyTpod_coHbfP0dr_F0sRH5H-W_OwfBiRARvN0Y2fCJJPoPm6A5hsIqh3i3Ci-ZRyENWWE8eE/s640/2012020215230988.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 8.0pt;">Hell broke loose at a soccer stadium in <st1:city w:st="on">Port Said</st1:city> city, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region> Feb. 1, 2012 where 79 people were killed and at least 1,000 injured during a mass invasion of the pitch by rivals fans at the end of a match between <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Port   Said</st1:city></st1:place> team Al-Masry and Al-Ahly. Describing it as the biggest disaster in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region>’s soccer history, the Muslim Brotherhood, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s largest Islamist group, blamed the violence on supporters of ousted President Hosni Mubarak. A three-day period of national mourning has been declared.The match ended with <st1:city w:st="on">Port Said</st1:city> team Al-Masry beating Al-Ahly, one of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s most successful clubs, 3-1.Photo courtesy agencies---NNN<o:p></o:p></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Egyptian activists are taking to the streets Thursday to protest the failure of police to prevent violence at a soccer match that left at least 74 people dead and hundreds injured in the northern city of Port Said.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The protesters are angry that most riot police in the stadium appeared to stand idly by as the worst case of soccer violence in Egyptian history unfolded on Wednesday night. Others are concerned that some of the fans were apparently allowed to carry weapons into the stadium.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8XKOPA2qlRM" width="640"></iframe></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>How it happened </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The violence broke out when fans of the home team, Al-Masry, stormed the field at the end of the match, attacking players and supporters of the visiting Al-Ahly club.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">VOA correspondent Elizabeth Arrott reported a tense environment Thursday in Port Said, where troops were deployed to prevent further clashes.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She said some protesters in the city are blaming the police and military for the incident, while others are calling for retaliation against the fans who instigated the violence.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The deputy director of the Port Said General Hospital told VOA that many of the casualties appeared to be the result of suffocation and stab wounds. Witnesses say others died after being trampled or thrown from the terraces of the stadium.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Reaction </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's largest political party, blamed the violence on supporters of ousted President Hosni Mubarak, saying some are "intent on forcing Egypt into chaos and destruction."</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Egypt's cabinet and parliament are discussing the events during emergency meetings on Thursday, at the beginning of an official three-day period of mourning. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Investigation </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The head of Egypt's military council, Field Marshal Mohamed Tantawi, has formed a task force to investigate the incident, and promised the riots "will not affect Egypt and its security." </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"God willing, if there is any person planning to destabilize Egypt, he will fail to achieve his goal. Everyone involved in this incident will be handed a fair sentence," he warned.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Police have so far arrested 47 people for involvement in the case. The country's football association called for an indefinite suspension of league games. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Security </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The incident has raised fresh concerns about the ability of Egypt's military rulers to preserve security and manage crowds. In April, state police were also criticized after they failed to stop similar riots at a soccer match in Cairo.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The latest incident comes as Egypt struggles to deal with several other security incidents, including a recent increase in armed robberies and kidnappings for ransom.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Some security officials have said that Egypt's often-criticized and largely unpopular state police have been given strict orders to deal carefully with civilians following clashes between protesters and police that left 40 people dead in November. ---VOA News</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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Egyptians Protest Security Failure That Caused Soccer Disaster

Hell broke loose at a soccer stadium in Port Said city, Egypt Feb. 1, 2012 where 79 people were killed and at least 1,000 injured during...

Nasaf wins AFC Cup

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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">UzA- Nasaf football club (Karshi, Uzbekistan) for the first time in the history of Uzbek football won the main prize of the Asian Football Confederation Cup.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In the final, held in Karshi, Nasaf beat Kuwait SK with 2-1.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The first goal in the 63rd minute was scored by Ilhom Shomurodov. Two minutes later Andrey Perepletkins made the second goal.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The only return goal was made in the 68th minute by Boris Kabi.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Thus, Nasaf became the first club of Uzbekistan, which won the continental football tournament.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The AFC awarded Nasaf with the Fair-play prize, while Ivan Boskovic, who scored 10 goals during the cup, was named the best goal-scorer of the tournament---UzA</span></div>
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Nasaf wins AFC Cup

UzA- Nasaf football club (Karshi, Uzbekistan) for the first time in the history of Uzbek football won the main prize of the Asian Footba...

SOCCER: INDIA, PAKISTAN NOT TO CLASH IN BRITAIN

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<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/All-India-Football-Federation-German/dp/6135044338?ie=UTF8&tag=glob036-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="All India Football Federation (German Edition)" height="320" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=6135044338&tag=glob036-20" width="214" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glob036-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=6135044338" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />NEW DELHI  (NNN-IBNS) -- The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Friday announced that India's UK tour been postponed due to London riots, where two Pakistanis were killed.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"We have been informed by Touchskysports, the Organisers of Clash of the Titans India Pakistan UK Tour that the matches have to be postponed on account of the fact that two Pakistani boys were killed during the Birmingham riots and as the matches were being dedicated to their families it cannot be held till the mourning period of 40 days is over," said an AIFF statement.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"The AIFF is speaking to the Pakistan Football Federation regarding this development. A decision in this regard will be taken shortly," it said. -- NNN-IBNS</span></div></div>

SOCCER: INDIA, PAKISTAN NOT TO CLASH IN BRITAIN

NEW DELHI (NNN-IBNS) -- The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Friday announced that India's UK tour been postponed due to Londo...

BRAZILIANS CELEBRATE U-20 FIFA WORLD CUP TITLE

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<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/FIFA-Soccer-11-Nintendo-Wii/dp/B003KZQTW0?ie=UTF8&tag=glob036-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="FIFA Soccer 11" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B003KZQTW0&tag=glob036-20" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glob036-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003KZQTW0" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />RIO DE JANEIRO (NNN-Xinhua) -- Brazilians throughout the country were glued to their television screens on Saturday night to watch the national team in the finals of the under-20 FIFA World Cup.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Thrilled with the team's 3-2 win in extra time against Portugal, Brazilians celebrated the national team's fifth World Cup title.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Bars, restaurants, hotels and homes were tuned in to the finals of the under-20 men's World Cup in all four corners of Brazil.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Internacional's own Oscar was responsible for scoring all three of Brazil's goals, leading to his team's tournament title. The tournament, which took place in Colombia, received the largest public audience in under-20 World Cup history, attracting more than 1.3 million people.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">FIFA president Joseph Blatter was on hand to watch the match and congratulate the winners of the tournament. Brazil's national team head coach, Mano Menezes, was also in attendance to observe the players and scout them for the 2014 World Cup on Brazilian soil.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Brazil's Henrique was selected as the tournament's most valuable player, causing many Brazilians to believe that he will be a valuable asset in the 2014 World Cup. Oscar's performance in the finals also caught the attention of the country.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">"Both Henrique and Oscar should definitely be called to the national team as soon as possible in order to gain more practice and prepare for the 2014 World Cup. The players appeared calm and secure, something that the current national team lacks. In my opinion, the under-20 national team is playing better than the current Brazilian national team," described soccer fan Moises Carvalho.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">"Head coach Ney Franco has been a perfect fit at the head of the under-20 national team. Personally appointed by Mano Menezes, I hope they can openly talk and give each other advice as to who to play and who not to play. There is a lot of pressure to win the 2014 World Cup since it is here in Brazil. I hope we will be able to repeat the feat of the under-20 team and win our sixth World Cup title," said fan Paulo Neves.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Mano Menezes will lead Brazil into its next friendly match on September 5 when it will play against Ghana. The national team recently lost to Germany 3-2. After the loss, the Brazilian Confederation of Soccer (CBF) president, Ricardo Teixira, decided to cancel two already scheduled matches against Italy and Spain, claiming that the national team needs to regroup and focus before encountering any strong opponents.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Menezes recently called veteran midfielder Ronaldinho Gaucho to the national team for the friendly against Ghana. The player celebrated the news and was praised by his teammates at Flamengo as well as the public throughout Brazil. </span></div></div>

BRAZILIANS CELEBRATE U-20 FIFA WORLD CUP TITLE

RIO DE JANEIRO (NNN-Xinhua) -- Brazilians throughout the country were glued to their television screens on Saturday night to watch the nati...

Barca is from another planet: India coach Armando Colaco

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt;">By <a href="http://www.groundreport.com/armscuncolim"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Armscuncolim</span></a> <span id="article_date">  </span><o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUq2qjNsou7f44t5FOB2-1yw3Uodbj0Y_YV_iyznhW7dqsdw-2s9GitVAoViM1huffvycuOKSUiVcg1oi2VK964Yc76M2VduldcvRHaTizP9nv9z8vzYGHxw1g8w8ttkW_Qz2TXq1720/s1600/sportslogo-4e2c818473510.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUq2qjNsou7f44t5FOB2-1yw3Uodbj0Y_YV_iyznhW7dqsdw-2s9GitVAoViM1huffvycuOKSUiVcg1oi2VK964Yc76M2VduldcvRHaTizP9nv9z8vzYGHxw1g8w8ttkW_Qz2TXq1720/s320/sportslogo-4e2c818473510.png" width="320" /></a></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt;">I want India to play the Dempo way<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt;">When national football team coach Armando Colaco wrote ‘It’s a new beginning’ after the July 10 international friendly match against Maldives on his drawing board in his hotel as his players were huddled around him. There was a mission behind it. The Goan wanted to instill in the belief that India can compete against the best in Asia and hold its head high.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt;">There were a few takers for his bold statement outside the dressing room atmosphere. Only a handful of die-hard Colaco’s fans could take it as a gospel truth. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt;">A week later in Qatar on Sunday July 17, the doubts were truly buried in the Qatari sands. A 2-1 win over the 2022 World Cup hosts was a moment out of the blue for the Bhangra boys and which came in the host’s backyard.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt;">A 1-1 draw against lowly Maldives, ranked four places below to India was nothing to rave about, Colaco’s critics had argued.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt;">Well in Qatar, ‘a new era in Indian football has just begun’, says Colaco. For the records, Colaco’s boys did what the country had not achieved for a long time. India had not beaten a top Asian side for many years. Qatar is ranked 94th in the world and ninth in<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Asia</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>while India is at 147th in<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>FIFA<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>rankings.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt;">“I see the self belief among the players that they can beat a top side in Asia. They were not concerned about the reputation of Qatar who is ranked much higher than us. The win was a great achievement as we have beaten Qatar in Qatar. We have shown that we can compete against the best in Asia," he said.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt;">Well a win against Qatar, none including yours truly will; not have in his wildest dream will have imagined that. A win or a draw for the visitors was nowhere on the minds of the 200-odd Indian fans who were at the stadium cheering the Indian boys.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt;">Strangely there were no Qatari fans at the stadium to cheer the home team.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt;">The Indians who were present at the stadium savored the most of the magical moments on the football field.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt;">If earlier, in the Asian Cup and in the recent Under-23 Olympic qualifiers the Indian fans had to depart the stadium on a sad note, Sunil Chettri and his team-mates ensured it was different story as they rewrote the script at Al Sadd stadium, and replica of the Old Trafford stadium of England.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt;">Colaco was humble as ever. No arrogance no airs.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt;">Kudos to the boys, they deserve it more than me. A lot of work needs to be done before the 2014 <br />
FIFA world Cup qualifiers against UAE on Saturday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt;">Colaco’s phone keeps ringing and on Sunday night in Qatar it was no different. He was the most sought after man of Indian football.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt;">Its 11.30pm in the night and it’s time to retire to bed but the phone calls keep coming, every time he has to cut his hold back his prayers. Yes, like all Goans, he does not retire to bed without saying his rosary.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt;">In UAE on Saturday, Colaco and his boys will face familiar settings aka like Qatar, lot of Indian crowd support.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt;">But one thing will be different, the match in Qatar was played under the cooling conditions to beat the oppressive Qatar heat of 45 degrees and 75 percent humidity, the Indian players will not have the same luxury in Abu Dhabi.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt;">But Colaco has taken sufficient care to train the boys under the hot and humid conditions in Qatar and that should hold them in good stead in the desert heat and humidity.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt;">“It’s time we believe we can do it and we can do it, that feeling has to sink in’ says Colaco.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt;">The Dempo SC coach then dispels doubts about the lack of quality coaches in India, a fact which was constant bragged upon by former English coach Bob Houghton.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt;">‘We do have quality coaches in India. But, we need more coach education training programmes, we need more academies and we need good infrastructure. AIFF should bring more foreign coaches to train our coaches.’<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt;">A new beginning has been made for Indian football but there is a long way to go. Colaco’s boys have won a few hearts in Qatar with their short passing game and ball possession, all of which was pleasing to the eye.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt;">‘No we cannot play the Barca way. I have always said Barca are from a different planet. I want the Indian team to play the Dempo way,’ says the 58-year-old coach who hails from Curtorim village in South Goa. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.groundreport.com/Sports/Barca-is-from-another-planet-India-coach-Armando-C/2940347"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Published</span></a> from Ground report under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div></div>

Barca is from another planet: India coach Armando Colaco

By Armscuncolim I want India to play the Dempo way When national football team coach Armando Colaco wrote ‘It’s a new beginning’ afte...

Japan Wins Women's World Cup

<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLo4XohRLjUEFoVqeaol9CtWucKfd7JbGkJ5CgZUKJqf_qp3NtANfgbAgDoeKAoRHorg-Emb_P3kdfFqHUv9JjZy5rd3M0-Mk2mS7qV0299oT5Po9b9wWcUUWMJ8O5xXlapyKmqhOEfZs/s1600/worldcupwomen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLo4XohRLjUEFoVqeaol9CtWucKfd7JbGkJ5CgZUKJqf_qp3NtANfgbAgDoeKAoRHorg-Emb_P3kdfFqHUv9JjZy5rd3M0-Mk2mS7qV0299oT5Po9b9wWcUUWMJ8O5xXlapyKmqhOEfZs/s320/worldcupwomen.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #5f5f5f; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: 115%;">Copyright © <span class="apple-style-span"><a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/" title="Attribution-ShareAlike License"><span style="color: #5f5f5f; text-decoration: none;">Rights reserved</span></a></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="apple-style-span">by</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/afeistenauer/"><span style="color: #5f5f5f; text-decoration: none;">afeistenauer</span></a></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">VOA Sports- Japan's women's football team has won the 2011 World Cup championship, beating the United States in a penalty shootout following a 2-2 draw after extra time.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The win Sunday made Japan the first Asian nation to win the World Cup title, and it denied the United States a chance to become the first team to win the championship three times. The Americans won the World Cup in 1991 and 1999.<br />
<br />
The U.S. team was top-ranked in this year's (FIFA) tournament. As such, it was the strong favorite to win the finals match played in Frankfurt, Germany.<br />
<br />
On Sunday of last week, the United States scored a come-from-behind victory over Brazil to get into the semifinals, and then beat France on Wednesday to reach the finals.<br />
<br />
Japan qualified for the finals by defeating Sweden on Wednesday. It earlier scored a quarterfinal victory over host team Germany.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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Japan Wins Women's World Cup