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Published: Thu, 12 February 2009, 06:40, also tagged: sport, england, internationals, football, soccer
Last nights international friendly between Spain and England shows that Fabio Capello and the England squad still have plenty of work to do before England look anything like a championship winning team.
England did field a squad lacking depth with Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard missing from the team but it's hard to take anything away from the Spanish victory. Agbonlahor and Heskey seemed out of their depth with Spain doing well to cut the connection between the English midfield and strikers making any attacking play from England improvised and rushed with possession more often than not going straight back to Spain. On the other hand Spain controlled the game with confident passing, high possession and patience – something that England lacked.
Spain's first goal was a show of individual brilliance by David Villa who received the ball from a wayward pass by Jagielka to the feet of Xabi who accurately supplied a great ball to Villa who did the rest to leave the ball in the back of the England net. Llorente's header from Xavi's fine free kick sealed the deal for Spain who commanded much of the play.
Published: Thu, 17 July 2008, 08:50, also tagged: politics, islam, religion, christianity, saudi arabia, judaism, islamism, secularism, hypocrisy, king abdullah, religious tolerance
King “hypocrite” Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has called for the followers of the world’s major religions to be more tolerant towards other faiths and to turn away from extremism.
This is at a conference in secular Spain were religious freedom is alive and kicking. Saudi Arabia on the other hand teaches institutionalised Islamism. Religious freedom and tolerance is prohibited in Saudi Arabia, children’s text books teach that Jews and Christians are pigs and apes and that non-Muslims are evil. Women’s rights are also restricted due to Islamic Sharia law, which for example would require women to have 4 Muslim witnesses if she has been raped, otherwise she might be tried for adultery or pre-marital sex. King Abdullah’s words should be taken with a grain of salt.
Maybe we’ll listen when you permit the construction non-Islamic places of worship, accept the practice of other faiths and stop teaching your children that Christians and/or Jews are turned into “apes and/or pigs” (Koran: 2:65-66, 5:58-60, 7:166).
Published: Wed, 16 July 2008, 03:04, also tagged: sport, england, football, italy, soccer, ronaldinho, barcelona, brazil, ac milan, premier league, manchester city, noel gallagher, kaka, transfer news
Manchester City has missed out on what would have been a huge signing for them. Ronaldinho is set to sign on the dotted line for the Italian giants AC Milan. Man City had bid £25.5 million for the Brazillian play maker but this offer has been declined by Barcelona in favour of a reported £14.6 million bid from AC Milan. A possible reason for this decision is that Ronaldinho will feel more comfortable playing alongside his countryman Kaka.
The question is: “is Ronaldinho the player he once was?” - my guess is no. He had a poor final season at Barcelona missing most of it through injury and then being indifferent the rest of the time, seemingly upstaged by the phenomenal Lionel Messi. It is quite possible he will be overshadowed by Kaka at AC Milan.
Here’s a choice quote from Noel Gallagher:
Published: Mon, 30 June 2008, 09:24, also tagged: europe, sport, football, germany, final, vienna, soccer, uefa, euro 2008, european cup, henri delaunay trophy
Spain has won Euro 2008 after beating Germany 1 – 0 in the final. The goal came from Fernando Torres and was undoubtedly a great goal.
Germany, like on so many occasions in this tournament looked average. Spain dominated play as they have done so many times this tournament and their tactics of stylish passing football has earned them the European Cup after a wait of 44 years.
My prediction for the final has proven once again to be wrong, like so many times in this tournament. Congratulations to the Spaniards, their victory is well deserved.
Published: Sat, 28 June 2008, 07:00, also tagged: europe, sport, football, germany, final, vienna, soccer, russia, turkey, austria, uefa, euro 2008, european cup, андрей аршавин, andrei arshavin
The Euro 2008 football tournament is finally wrapping up with the final to be played in Vienna this Sunday.
Spain comfortably beat a disappointing Russia, a team which promised so much but just simply didn’t deliver. Russian team play and energy was non-existent in comparison to their previous two matches against the Netherlands and Sweden. One key reason I believe is because their man of the moment, Andrei Arshavin, wasn’t really involved in the game. On previous matches he was orchestrating the Russian play, this time he was silent.
Spain hasn’t won a major football honour since 1964 when they won the European Cup. Amazingly, this is even further back than England’s victory in the 1966 World Cup.