Who Ate All The Bratwurst

Like Bratwurst? Then have a chomp on our Pies…

You may have noticed a distinct lack of new posts on Who Ate All the Bratwurst recently. Well, Bratwurst has reached its natural conclusion – we only meant it to be a World Cup '06 blog but it was so successful that we carried on with it – so now if you want the skinny on international and European football, plus Premiership action of course, you should bookmark Who Ate All the Pies, Bratwurst's sister site.

Huge thanks to all Bratwurst readers for their support over the past few months. You've been great and we hope that you continue to follow us as we make the transition to Pies. Vielen dank und aufwidersehen!

Darren Bent takes place of Andrew Johnson in England squad

Andrew Johnson is out of the England squad (again) and Darren Bent is set to take his place in the squad... and presumably, it's Bent's form from last season that has influenced the decision.

[Mof Gimmers]

Ruud van Nistelrooy and Mark van Bommel reject Holland call-ups

Ruud van Nistelrooy and Mark van Bommel have both refused call-ups to the Holland squad for the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Albania. The pair had fallen out of favour with coach Marco van Basten (under similar circumstances to David Beckham with England), who instead preferred to blood younger players.

The pair have now snapped the olive branch offered by van Basten by refusing his call up. Van Bommel was named in the initial squad despite being previously told by van Basten that he had no international future. Van Nistelrooy was called up as a replacement for the injured Klaus Jan Huntelaar.

Phew! That post had more 'vans' than a Ford dealership!

[Rob Parker]

Pick your Great Britain Olympic football squad

The British Olympic Association has said that plans to enter a Great Britain football team at the 2012 London games will go ahead whether or not the Scottish and Welsh FAs give their backing.

It is a bit far into the future to ask you to pick your squad for 2012, but who would make your current GB team?I am struggling to think of too many Wales or Scotland players who would make the squad. Ryan Giggs? An on-form Craig Bellamy or Kris Boyd?

[Rob Parker]

England squad announced: Scott Parker is called up and Wayne Rooney returns

England manager Steve McClaren has announced his squad for the forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers against Macedonia and Croatia. The only surprise - although it had been widely touted anyway - is a recall for Newcastle captain Scott Parker after a two-and-a-half year absence from the England setup.

There was no recall for David Beckham and Middlesbrough's Jonathan Woodgate also missed out. Aaron Lennon and Joe Cole are both injured, while Darren Bent drops down to the England Under 21s. Click below to read the full squad.

England squad announced: Scott Parker is called up and Wayne Rooney returns continued

Robinson (Tottenham), Foster (Man Utd), Kirkland (Liverpool); G Neville (Man Utd), P Neville (Everton), Brown (Man Utd), Terry (Chelsea), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Carragher (Liverpool), King (Tottenham), A Cole (Chelsea), Bridge (Chelsea); Lampard (Chelsea), Gerrard (Liverpool), Jenas (Tottenham), Carrick (Man Utd), Richardson (Man Utd), Downing (Middlesbrough), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Parker (Newcastle), Rooney (Man Utd), Crouch (Liverpool), Johnson (Everton), Defoe (Spurs)

[Rob Parker]

Eto'o out for 5 months

Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o will be out of action for up to five months after he underwent surgery for a serious knee injury on Thursday. The Barca striker suffered the injury while playing in their 1-1 draw with the German side Werder Bremen in the Champions League.

"The operation was to repair the meniscus of the knee, not take it out, which lengthens the recovery to eight weeks," said club doctor Ramon Cugat. This is bad news for Cameroon, as the striker won't be available for his country's Nations Cup qualifier against Equatorial Guinea next month.

It's good news for Chelsea however as Eto'o will miss Barca's Champions League games with the boys at Stamford Bridge in October. Real Madrid fans will also be delighted as he will also miss Barca's trip to rivals Madrid in La Liga on 22 October.

[Mof Gimmers]

Derry City fans rejoice against PSG

How happy the Derry City fans were after their shock draw against PSG at the Brandywell. Do you think they'll be as happy tonight? Something tells me they will, regardless of the result!

[Mof Gimmers]

Peter Crouch hails the best goal of his Liverpool career

Peter Crouch has allowed his brace against Galatasaray to briefly go to his head as he hailed his spectacular scissor kick as the best goal of his Liverpool career to date. He said: "It was a special moment for me to score that goal at the Kop end. I'd have to say it's the best of my Liverpool career so far. You don't get many goals like that, usually they go over the stand but thankfully that one went into the net and got us the win."

Here at Bratwurst we weren't surprised at Crouch's athleticism, especially after the amount of time he has spent practising. Here is the magic moment:

[Rob Parker]

Fantasy Football Update: Matchday 2

It's all change at the top of The Bratwurst League. Felix Winstone's alllright have been propelled to the top of the table from sixth place on the back of a Peter Crouch scissor kick. Felix also benefited from the 20 points picked up by skipper Juninho. Former leaders McIntyre Utd swapped places with alllright, and are in sixth place after scoring a disappointing 27 points.

The league's biggest climbers were Elton Woo's OTTV who jumped from 11th to second with an impressive haul of 62 points - 22 of which were bagged by Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Fantasy Football Update: Matchday 2 continued

We also have a new record low score. We thought Bratwurst XI's 24 points from Matchday 1 would take some beating (they managed double that this week by the way!), but Gavin Campbell's macca have topped that with just 23 points this week. Naughty Zlatan Ibrahimovic must take the blame after his red card.

1 alllright Felix Winstone 114
2 OTTV Elton Woo 104
3 ARCEALONA Mandeep Bansal 96
4 Horizon FC Mohamed Shifau 96
5 Dynamo George Vader Robert Williams 93
6 McIntyre Utd Ross McIntyre 92
7 Baron's Bombers Mike Nothum 88
8 LAGER BOYS Andrew Millard 87
9 Where Was Ashton? Thomas Wilkinson 87
10 onimans euro legends James Sanders 84
11 Modbury Juniors Oliver Irish 82
11 mart_j Martin James 82
13 Gringos United Matt Scheffert 82
14 Girondins de G Funk Gareth Weijburg 76
15 Escobar's Own Goal Keith Moss 72
16 Bratwurst XI Rob Parker 70
17 jillie Jill Bailey 62
18 Aston Fritter Steven Lynch 57
19 awferfuxsake Jon Reisner 56
20 macca Gavin Campbell 52

Who Are Ya: Levski Sofia

Ahead of Levski Sofia's Champions League clash with Chelsea tonight, Bratwurst takes a sneaky peek at the Bulgarian champions so that you can know what to expect.

Who Are Ya? Levski Sofia (Bulgaria)

Why you need to know them
Jose and the boys from the Bridge are in town.

One to watch
Frenchman Cedric Bardon is arguably Levski's star player, but fellow striker Georgi Ivanov is in better goalscoring form with eight goals in six games at the start of the Bulgarian season. Ivanov first joined Levski in 1999 and became a fans' favourite before joining Stade Rennais in 2003. He re-joined Levski this year and is still regarded as a hero for his 14 goals in derby games against CSKA Sofia. Ivanov will face a late fitness test for tonight's game.

Coach
Former Levski player Stanimir Stoilov is the boss. He has been on the backroom staff since July 2000 despite still only being 39 years old.

On the home front
Top of the table and unbeaten after seven games. Six wins and a draw has given them a one-point advantage over local rivals Loko and CSKA.

Kit Parade

Odds 7/1 to beat Chelsea [Blue Sq]

Don't I remember you from...
Being knocked out of the Uefa Cup by Liverpool in 2003 with a little help from a Steven Gerrard volley.

[Rob Parker]

Highlights of all Tuesday's Champions League goals

Follow the link below for video highlights of all eight of last night's games from Champions League Matchday 2. Look out for a nice strike from Luis Saha, a brace from his old understudy Ruud van Nistelrooy and a terrific goalkeeping blunder from Steaua Bucharest's Carlos Alberto Fernandes.

Highlights of all Tuesday's Champions League goals

AEK Athens v Anderlecht

Arsenal v Porto

Benfica v Manchester United

Celtic v FC Copenhagen

CSKA Moscow v Hamburg

Lille v AC Milan

Real Madrid v Dynamo Kiev

Steaua Bucharest v Lyon

ManYoo - Remember Benfica.

Man Yoo versus Benfica. It's a guaranteed banker for Fergie's lot... isn't it?

[Mof Gimmers]

Who Are Ya: Benfica

It's Champions League Matchday Two (or at least half of it), people! Tonight is all about two Anglo-Portuguese affairs. Allow Bratwurst to run the rule over Benfica who will take on Manchester United tonight.

Who Are Ya? Benfica (Portugal)

Why you need to know them
In case you happen to catch Clive Tyldesley cheering his United boys on against them tonight.

One to watch
Simao Sabrosa is a long-term transfer target of a lot of Premiership clubs, particularly Liverpool and Arsenal. Simao has an excellent record against English clubs in European competitions having already netted against United and Liverpool. The Benfica skipper is still only 26 years old and can play on the wing or through the middle.

Coach
The 51-year-old has punctuated his tour of Portugal's top clubs with spells managing in Greece with both AEK Athens and Panathinaikos.

On the home front
Mid-table after an indifferent start to the league season. After three games Benfica have one win, one draw and one defeat.

Kit Parade

Odds 9/4 to beat Manchester United [Blue Sq]

Don't I remember you from...
Getting beaten by George Best in the famous 1968 European Cup final.

[Rob Parker]

Riquelme retires from national side

Sad news folks. We'll never see Roman Riquelme tearing through the opposition in a World Cup ever again. At just 28, Riquelme has decided that "...family comes first before soccer, I have no right to make [my mother] suffer due to my part in the national team. Since the World Cup, my mother has been taken to hospital twice and my responsibility is to take care of her. It will hurt me deeply not to wear the Argentina shirt again but my mother's health comes first. My mother is my mother and I can't compare her with the Argentina shirt or anything else." Bloody 'ell.

[Mof Gimmers]

European football weekly TV guide

It is time for another round of European matches. This week is Matchday 2 of the Champions League and the second leg of all the Uefa Cup first round matches will be played. We have put together a couch potatoes TV guide for this week's European games so you don't have to exert yourself too much by flicking through the channels! Click below to see when you can catch the matches.

European football weekly TV guide continued

Tuesday 26 September - Champions League
19.45 Benfica v Manchester United (ITV1)
19.45 Arsenal v Porto (ITV4)
19.45 Celtic v Copenhagen (Sky Sports 2)
19.45 CSKA Moscow v Copenhagen (Sky Sports 1)
19.45 Real Madrid v Dynamo Kiev (Sky Sports Xtra)

Wednesday 27 September - Champions League
19.45 Liverpool v Galatasaray (Sky Sports 2)
19.45 Levski Sofia v Chelsea (Sky Sports Xtra)
17.00 Spartak Moscow v Sporting Lisbon (Sky Sports 1)

Thursday 28 September - Uefa Cup
19.30 Newcastle United v Levadia (Five)
19.45 Blackburn Rovers v Red Bull Salzburg (British Eurosport)
20.00 Tottenham Hotspur v Slavia Prague (ITV4)

(all times BST)

[Rob Parker]

Porto's Chelsea/Barcelona-bound wonderkid Anderson

Brazilian wonderkid Anderson is tipped to make frosty relations between Chelsea and Barcelona even icier as they battle it out for his signature. The 18-year-old has been dubbed 'the new Ronaldinho' because both players began their careers at Gremio. Keep an eye open for Anderson when Porto meet Arsenal this week and enjoy this compilation showcasing some of his skills.

[Rob Parker]

FIFA to pay out for players injured on international duty?

Fifa may be ready to give some leway on one of the thorniest financial issues in football in the form of compensation for clubs whose stars are on international team duty. Fifa is currently in dispute with the G14 group of clubs over who should pay to insure players on national duty, and pay their wages should the stars then be injured.

Fifa rules say players must be released for international football without entitlement to financial compensation. However, in a very surprising move, Fifa says it is now "ready to reform the regulation" in light of the lawsuit from Belgian club Charleroi over an injury suffered on international duty by Morocco's Abdelmajid Oulmers. Charleroi are being backed by the G14 teams.

Charleroi say the loss of Oulmers damaged their hopes of success, and they also had to pay his wages while he was out of action. In May, the case was moved from a tribunal in Charleroi to the European Court of Justice, where it is waiting to be heard.

Heinz Taennler, the director of Fifa's legal division in Zurich says Fifa is now prepared to look at establishing an insurance fund and compensation fund for international players. Mr Taennler stated that sometimes after international duty the clubs had "a player, an employee, not available for a short time, or sometimes a long time, but still has be paid. Fifa wants to take the clubs into consideration. In order to take the clubs into consideration Fifa will probably reform the regulation at some time in the future. We are working on the possibility of an insurance fund, and compensation fund. This will take time as Fifa is a political organisation."

[Mof Gimmers]

Steaua Bucharest living in denial on Cloud Nine

Steaua Bucharest's official website has decided against reporting on their 1-0 defeat to bitter rivals Dinamo Bucharest on Wednesday night. Instead the site's most recent news is waxing lyrical about Steaua's win over Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League last week.

By way of explanation, the website offers: "We are still in the ninth cloud and we cannot get to terms following to our win from Kiev in the first game of the E Section In Champions League." Old Communist habits die hard it seems! Dinamo, on the other hand, seem to vaguely recall the game in question and have even got a slideshow of photos from the match on their homepage!

[Rob Parker]

Jean Alain Boumsong's goal for Juventus against Crotone

Jean Alain Boumsong scored a goal (I know what you're thinking, but no - it wasn't an own goal!) for Juventus in their 3-0 Serie B win over Crotone on Tuesday night. It looked a lot like this:

Headed goals from corners? Where is your sense of entertainment, Jean Alain? Now this is more like it!

[Rob Parker]

Highlights of England versus Germany, 1966

With the England side being a bit crap for years, lets remind ourselves of our most famous victory.

[Mof Gimmers]

David Albelda: 'Spain fail because there is no unity'

If you thought England fans had a tough World Cup, spare a thought for Spain. Knocked out in the second round having put themselves among the favourites with an outstanding performance against Ukraine in their opening match. Then defeat to Northern Ireland in the Euro 2008 qualifiers. Coach Luis Aragones offered to resign after the Spanish public called for his head, but the Spanish Football Federation wants him to stay in the job.

Midfielder David Albelda has now claimed the difficulties are due to problems within the squad, not Aragones. "Whether Luis Aragones is there or not, it will be very difficult to achieve anything because there is no unity. In fact it more like disunity," he said before going on to defend his own clique of Carlos Marchena, Juanito, Michel Salgado and Raul! Click here to read more from The Guardian.

[Rob Parker]

Hartson to be recalled for Wales

Supersized lump of bulldozer lard, John Hartson, is set to be recalled to the Welsh national side. Hartson is expected to join up with the squad for their matches against Cyprus and Slovakia.

Hartson, now a ripe old 31, retired from Wales duty in February, but made himself available again last month for emergencies. With doubts over Ryan Giggs' fitness and Wales' poor scoring record in recent games, manager John Toshack must look at every possible option. This could also mean a lifeline for fellow Baggie Jason Koumas is also set for a recall after proving his fitness.

[Mof Gimmers]

Old posh runner takes job in football

Sebastian Coe, posh old long distance runner, has been appointed to become the first chairman of Fifa's new independent watchdog. Lord Coe, the chair of the commitee responsible for the success of the London 2012 Olympics bid, has agreed to head the Fifa's ethics commission.

The Beeb report that the commission will judge all cases alleging conflicts of interest and breaches of Fifa rules. Fifa president Sepp Blatter made the announcement in Zurich on Friday and said: "It is perhaps a surprise but it has been very well received. We have found an outstanding personality in the world of sport, a great personality in the Olympic movement." Watch out next week as Steve Ovett becomes fourth official...

[Mof Gimmers]

Overweight Adriano ate all the Bratwurst, claims Mihajlovic

Brazil and Inter Milan striker (occasionally, at least) Adriano has been told to lose weight in order to get his career back on track. Inter club official Sinisa Mihajlovic has told the 24-year-old to slim down to regain his top form.

Mihajlovic said: "Fitness is essential if he wants to play as he used to. I believe he needs to lose at least five kilos as this can represent a big problem on the pitch." At the World Cup, Adriano and strike partner Ronaldo represented two huge problems on the pitch - in size rather than threat. Playing two articulated lorries up front would have provided greater mobility.

Overweight Adriano ate all the Bratwurst, claims Mihajlovic

Brazil's new coach Dunga has already shown he is not afraid to leave out the big names and dropped Adriano for his first squad, so it sounds like decent advice from the former Yugoslavia international. Mihajlovic admitted carrying a bit of excess weight during his time as a player and compared it to playing with a washing machine on his shoulders. [Via Football Italia]

[Rob Parker]

Steve McClaren will shun Beckham in favour of Paul Scholes and/or Jermaine Pennant

The England rumour mill rumbles on. It seems a David Beckham recall would be too big a U-turn for Steve McClaren at this stage. Even the papers that were heralding Beckham's return over the weekend are now not so sure, which would suggest McClaren's PR team are putting word around that it's not going to happen.

Instead Macca is set to call-up Jermaine Pennant to replace the injured Aaron Lennon, and is also desperate to coax the in-form Paul Scholes out of international retirement (although that doesn't really tally with his supposed plans to build for the future). Beckham was on the scoresheet for Real Madrid yesterday though, which can't have done his chances any harm. Watch his goal below.

[Rob Parker]

Owen Hargreaves breaks his leg. Will Beckham return?

Well, that's thrown a spanner in the works. England's midfield is finally looking well-balanced... and Owen Hargreaves - the man holding it all together - breaks his leg. The 25-year-old Bayern Munich player has broken the fibula in his left leg.

The Sunday Mirror is reporting that David Beckham will make a dramatic return to the England squad, with William Hill slashing odds of a Beckham recall to 3/1. I would prefer to see a similar shape to the midfield with Scott Parker or Michael Carrick taking over for Hargreaves. Feel free to leave your own thoughts by adding a comment.

[Rob Parker]

Juventus' David Trezeguet and Mauro Camoranesi: Stop the transfer window we want to get off!

Juventus stars David Trezeguet and Mauro Camoranesi have announced they both want to leave the club in the January transfer window. Why they have both decided to say this just a fortnight after the transfer window closed is a bit of a mystery (before the window closes would be better next time, boys!).

France striker Trezeguet is being linked with a move to Arsenal, while Manchester United are rumoured to be interested in bringing Camoranesi to Old Trafford. Trezeguet said: "It is not just me and Camoranesi that are unhappy. None of us want to play in Serie B."

[Rob Parker]

10 Uefa Cup Observations

1 It was nice to see Anton Ferdinand had taken the time to show Carlos Tevez round the local hair salons.

2 Banner of the day award goes to the Slavia Prague supporters boasting: 'Fans of Alcohol'.

3 Slavia Prague also win the sneakiest corner of the day award. If you didn't see it, one player pretended to be placing the ball in the corner arc but discreetly took the corner. Another player came over as if to take it but instead dribbled it into the area. They didn't get away with it!

10 Uefa Cup Observations continued

4 To the Five commentator who said: "Newcastle are trying to re-organise since Titus Bramble went off," the 're' was not required.

5 And I'm not sure about Five summariser Joe Royle. He talks as if he isn't on TV but next to you at the pub, which is sometimes endearing and sometimes annoying.

6 When we compiled a list of future England right-backs, we missed out Tyrone Mears. He is now aged 23, but an England call-up could be in the offing if he continues to perform for West Ham.

7 Javier Mascherano in a West Ham shirt. Would you credit it?

8 I would like to see Tom Huddlestone get a run in the Spurs team (as much as anyone gets a run in the Spurs team).

9 Obafemi Martins looks sharper with each game he plays for Newcastle. He just needs a goal to get him going.

10 West Ham can't play 4-5-1. Looks like it will have to be a 4-4-2 diamond with Tevez and A.N. Other up front.

[Rob Parker]

Aigua

Sven eyes Arsenal, ManYoo and Liverpool for return

Former England ~~failure~~ coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is eyeing a top English club for his return to coaching. The Swede who drifted away from the England camp after a dismal World Cup in Germany said "I need to get back into coaching." before adding "Arsenal? Liverpool? Manchester? They're all big clubs, and any of those would be good."

Eriksson, who earned an astonishing £25m during his five-year spell in charge of the national side added: "It's the only thing in life I can do well." That may be true if you don't count cheating on the missus and getting pissed with fake Shieks.

[Mof Gimmers]