World Football Commentaries

FoxSoccer.TV Weekly EPL, Ligue 1 and Serie A Fixtures: October 15/16, 2011

2011-10-15T00:02:00.000-04:00

I am very pleased to welcome a new affiliate at World Football Commentaries: FoxSoccer.TV.

Fox offers legal live streams for residents of the United States of America for the best European football leagues:

"FoxSoccer.tv brings you LIVE streaming of Barclays Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Serie A, FA Cup, nPower Championship, Ligue 1, and many other premier soccer and rugby competitions, delivering over 1,300 live & on demand games for the 2011/12 season.

Access to the service is available on a monthly $19.99 subscription or annual $169.99."
You can also try a trial subscription for just $10 for the first month and would be free to cancel at anytime.

Flexibility and Portability

You can watch your favorite soccer teams from the comfort of your home, workplace or with a mobile device. FoxSoccer.TV is an alternative to expensive cable and/or satellite packages. The other benefit is that you can purchase a monthly or annual subscription to fit your budget.

If you support Manchester United or Manchester City, AC Milan or Internazionale Milano, Barcelona or Real Madrid, or your favorite teams in FA Cup ties, FoxSoccer.TV can supply your soccer/football needs.

Personal Observation

I have watched these streams and the video quality is excellent. The interface loads quickly and is easy-to-use. I also like the on-demand feature to watch games at your own convenience.

Upcoming Fixtures

October 15, 2011
			Competition	Start Time	Coverage start
QPR	v	Blackburn	English Premier League	10:00 AM
Stoke City	v	Fulham	English Premier League	10:00 AM	9:50 AM
Derby County	v	Southampton	Npower Championship	10:00 AM	9:50 AM
Norwich City	v	Swansea City	English Premier League	10:00 AM	9:50 AM
Catania	v	Inter Milan	Serie A	12:00 PM	11:50 AM
Portsmouth	v	Barnsley	Npower Championship	12:20 PM	12:10 PM
Auxerre	v	Lille	Ligue 1	1:00 PM	12:50 PM
Evian	v	Saint Etienne	Ligue 1	1:00 PM	12:50 PM
Rugby Union			Competition	Start Time	Coverage start
Scarlets	v	Leicester	LV Anglo Welsh Cup	1:00 PM	12:50 PM
Soccer			Competition	Start Time	Coverage start
Lyon	v	Nancy	Ligue 1	1:00 PM	12:50 PM
Montpellier	v	Dijon	Ligue 1	1:00 PM	12:50 PM
Toulouse	v	Marseille	Ligue 1	1:00 PM	12:50 PM
Brest	v	Caen	Ligue 1	1:00 PM	12:50 PM
Nice	v	Bordeaux	Ligue 1	3:00 PM	2:50 PM
Chelsea	v	Everton	English Premier League	Match Available at 11:59 PM
Manchester City	v	Aston Villa	English Premier League	Match Available at 11:59 PM

October 16, 2011
			Competition	Start Time	Coverage start
West Brom	v	Wolverhampton	English Premier League	7:00 AM	6:50 AM
Birmingham City	v	Leicester City	Npower Championship	8:00 AM	7:50 AM
Arsenal	v	Sunderland	English Premier League	8:30 AM	8:20 AM
Valenciennes	v	Sochaux	Ligue 1	11:00 AM	10:50 AM
Ajaccio	v	PSG	Ligue 1	11:00 AM	10:50 AM
Stade Rennais	v	Lorient	Ligue 1	3:00 PM	2:50 PM
Newcastle	v	Tottenham	English Premier League	Match Available at 11:59 PM

Images courtesy of FoxSoccer.TV.

Beyond The Pitch: The Michelangelo of Goalkeepers, Gigi Buffon

2011-10-14T14:04:00.004-04:00

Gianluigi “Gigi” Buffon is one of the most gifted and individually decorated goalkeepers of his generation. He has an extremely candid and keen intellect which almost seems to fuel his air of mystique: equal part exquisite talent and cold-blooded efficiency, an athlete as master craftsman and performance artist.

But Buffon rarely minces words either. He seems to sidestep a familiar sound-byte trap which often becomes front page controversy or personal minefield from an Italian press that seems to provoke them as reflex response. When journalists ask Buffon a question, they most often receive detailed and thoughtful replies.

Buffon is a man who usually has a smile on his face in the worst of situations. He became a World Cup champion in July 2006 and weeks later, voluntarily descended with Juventus to the obscurity of the Italian Serie B. From the agony of forced relegation to the ecstasy of winning the World Cup, Buffon didn’t miss a beat which speaks volumes to his unique character and enduring reputation amongst players and supporters alike.

Link to Michelangelo

Buffon was born in Carrara, Tuscany, on 28 January 1978. Carrara is the same locale where Michelangelo Buonarroti quarried marble for his famous sculptures.

To read more of my commentary at Beyond The Pitch, please click the image above or here.

Euro 2012 Qualification Group Winners and Play-off Draw

2011-10-13T09:50:00.006-04:00

Image courtesy of UEFA.

Qualification for Euro 2012 has come to its final phase.

Eight group winners and the overall best second-place finisher have secured direct qualification. Eight other second-place finishers will compete for the final four slots in November.

There will be 16 teams at Euro 2012.

Hosts (2)

Poland

Ukraine

Group Winners (8)

Germany

Italy

The Netherlands

England

Spain

Denmark

France

Greece

Best Second Place Team (1)

Sweden

Second-Place Play-Offs (4)

11/12 November and 15 November 2011

Turkey v. Croatia
Estonia v. Republic of Ireland
Czech Republic v. Montenegro
Bosnia v. Portugal

According to UEFA.com, here are their play-off records: (P = played. W = win. L = loss.)

"Bosnia and Herzegovina – P1 L1
Croatia – P2 W2
Czech Republic – P2 W1 L1
Estonia – N/A
Montenegro – N/A
Portugal – P1 W1
Republic of Ireland – P5 W1 L4
Turkey – P4 W3 L1."

Final Tournament Draw

Will be held on 2 December 2011 in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Pot 1 seeded teams: Poland, Ukraine, Spain, The Netherlands.

Eight Venues

Image courtesy of UEFA.

The Footy Pie: Abedi Pelé Ayew: "The Torino Fans Are Magnificent."

2011-10-12T23:26:00.000-04:00

Image courtesy of The Footy Pie.

AP Photo

From left, Rabah Madjer of Algeria, Abedi Pelé Ayew of Ghana, Ruud Gullit of the
Netherlands, and Luis Figo of Portugal with the "Golden Foot" career award in
Montecarlo, Monaco, on 10 October 2011.

Most of the footballing world, regardless of age and locale, knows the legendary name of Pelé. But more than one great talent has been known by this fabled name. Abedi "Pelé" Ayew was one of the most decorated African players of all-time. He was born in Dome, near Accra, Ghana, and would play professionally in France, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Qatar, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates. According to the Daily Observer, Ayew was the captain of the Black Stars of Ghana for six years making 73 appearances and scoring 33 goals. He was the first African footballer to win the prestigious African Player of the Year by France Football on three consecutive occasions.

Highlight Video

Golden Foot Career Award

On 10 October 2011 in Montecarlo, Ayew was awarded another distinction: A Golden Foot Career Award with his contemporaries, Luis Figo, Rabah Madjer and Ruud Gullit. (2)

While at the ceremony, Pietro Razzini of La Gazzetta dello Sport spoke with Abedi Pelé Ayew about his time with Torino and other themes. He discussed his relationship with the fans, how he still follows Torino in Serie B, a prediction about African football, a look back into time on a Champions League memory, and his opinion about rising Ghanian talent, Kevin-Prince Boateng.

To read more of my commentary and translation at The Footy Pie, please click here.

The Footy Pie: Zlatan Ibrahimovic: "I'm Beginning to Get Old"

2011/12 UEFA Champions League Predictions by Chris Behrens

2011-10-09T00:02:00.001-04:00

by Chris Behrens for World Football Commentaries

Editor's Note

During the last UCL season, Chris successfully predicted all 16 teams in the group round phase and five out of eight in the round of 16. Then, he correctly predicted three out of four in the quarterfinal round and the final winner.

2010/11 UEFA Champions League Final Preview by Chris Behrens

Total: 25/29 = 86%

Group A

Getty Images

Arjen Robben of Bayern Munich.

1). Bayern Munich

2). Manchester City

3). Napoli

4). Villarreal

Bayern Munich's form has been absolutely electric, both in league and showing glimpses in Europe. Their experience in Europe and spark plugs off the bench should put them comfortably (points-wise) through to the knockout round.

Second place is a very tough call, but I'm giving the nod to Manchester City with the incredible depth at Roberto Mancini's disposal in attack and wide players. Plus, Mancini's men have allowed less than a goal a game in the league thus far. Defense wins games and the Citizens' early European play jitters should wear off over time. Napoli should everyone provided Marek Hamsik and Edison Cavani stay healthy but they just aren't good enough. Villarreal are just simply not performing either, despite the undeniable talent of Guiseppe Rossi.

Group B

Getty Images

Eden Hazard of Lille.

1). Lille

2). Internazionale Milano

3). Trabzonspor

4). CSKA Moscow

Strangely, the most intriguing, bizarre group thus far. Trabzonspor are top of the group, despite not even technically earning the right to be a part of the group stage. The Turkish side shocked the men in Inter Milan jerseys at the San Siro, but don't read into that as an indication that Trabzonspor is a great side; rather Inter has just declined in form very rapidly. I'm picking Lille to win the group because of their exciting attackers and one of the great young talents in the game, Eden Hazard. Wesley Sneijder's return from injury should lift Inter to advance on, but just barely. I just can't see Trabzonspor continuing a Cinderella story for the rest of the group games, so a trip to the Europa League should ease the pain. Traveling to CSKA Moscow might be tough, but their leaky defense offsets the travel pain.

Group C

Getty Images

Wayne Rooney of Manchester United.

1). Manchester United

2). Basel

3). Benfica

4). Otelul Galati

Manchester United's superiority over the rest of their minnow competition will soon show, despite the Red Devils opening two draws against Benfica and Basel (a last gasper at Old Trafford, mind you). The depth of the squad is too much to handle to not have United finish on top of the group. The fight for second place will be between Basel and Benfica, but I think Benfica will win the battle with a superior attacking lineup. Galati, well it's a miracle they are even in the group stage. Let's give them that and move on. Maybe they'll snag a draw or two, but they shouldn't be a threat to anyone in particular.

Group D

Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid CF.

1). Real Madrid

2). Lyon

3). Ajax

4). Dinamo Zagreb

Los Blancos have improved over last year's side thanks to the Special One instilling confidence in an impressive Karim Benzema and his additions of Fabio Coentrao and others. The team's staunch defense coupled with the world-class whining machine Cristiano Ronaldo should see the side clinch first place before their last game occurs. Lyon look to be on the downtrend, but Ajax's loss of Luis Suarez has seen the Dutch club lose a true leader on the pitch. Zagreb's inexperience sees them right where they should be: The bottom.

Group E

Getty Images

Juan Mata of Chelsea FC.

1). Chelsea

2). Valencia

3). Leverkusen

4). Genk

Juan Mata has been just the creative catalyst Chelsea were seeking to give the team a breath of fresh air. The Blues irreplaceable experience at defense in Europe along with Villas-Boas' attacking mentality should see the English side march onward. Valencia's loss of Mata was big, but the team has endured bigger losses and coped (see David Silva and David Villa last year). Leverkusen is a bit too inconsistent to seriously challenge the group (one game draw with the Dortmund, the champions, another loss 4-1 at home to Koln?). Genk will collect a couple of points at home fixtures but don't have enough talent to surprise the other teams.

Group F

Getty Images

Andrew Ayew of Marseille.

1). Marseille

2). Arsenal

3). Borussia Dortmund

4). Olympiacos

Marseille should top the group, in large part to the emergence of Andre Ayew and Arsenal's misery. The Gunners' woes are well documented and frankly becoming nauseous. The club was never going to be as good as they were when Fabregas, Nasri, and Clichy all graced the Arsenal jersey before exiting the Emirates doors for greener pastures. However, Wenger is still a great manager, despite his arrogance in his transfer policy and the club should squeak into the knockout rounds thanks to the incredible Szczesny between the posts. Dortmund certainly appear to be missing Nuri Sahin, who would have been invaluable to have right now. The German club appear to be a one-hit wonder, but it doesn't mean they aren't still an exciting young side to watch. Olympiacos simply are out of their depth but should make some headlines for their impressive home play.

Group G

Reuters Pictures

Hulk for Porto.

1). Porto

2). Zenit St. Petersburg

3). Shakhtar Donetsk

4). APOEL

APOEL are one of Europe's darlings right now after being on top of the group following two matchdays. The club scored a home win over Zenit and earned a surprise draw at the Shakhtar's typically impenetrable home fortress. Don't look too much into it. Porto's Hulk and the club's general winning mentality after last year's treble winning effort should see the club top this weak group. Zenit's side are very tough at home so look for them to scrape enough points together to move on in the group, despite Shakhtar's similar feel at home fixtures. For those who cry foul on the prediction of APOEL going from first to last, answer me these questions (without looking it up on Wikipedia): Which country does APOEL reside from, what formation does the club play in, and who are three players on the side? That's what I thought.

Group H

Getty Images

Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona.

1). FC Barcelona

2). AC Milan

3). Viktoria Plzen

4). BATE Borisov

Amazingly, the Spanish side have gotten even better than last year's Champions League winning side, adding Alexis Sanchez and youth club member Cesc Fabregas back to the club. The tiki-taka play of the club are just too much to overcome as long as the majority of the squad stays healthy. Milan should have no problem disposing of the lesser Viktoria and BATE Borisov in their upcoming fixtures, even if they club do get injuries along the way. Neither Viktoria nor BATE are ready to be in the competition so it should just be a fight for third place. Frankly, does anyone care who gets third in the group besides these two teams involved?

About the Author

Chris Behrens is the Champions League Oracle at Soccerpro.com. Chris gets his all of his licensed soccer equipment at soccerpro.com. Please check out SoccerProse: A soccer blog for soccer players, fans, parents and coaches. You can follow Chris on Twitter @ChrisGBehrens

Eric Abidal: Inspirational Man of the Year

2010/11 UCL Financial Distribution to Clubs

The Footy Pie: Zlatan Ibrahimovic: "I'm Beginning to Get Old"

2011-10-06T00:02:00.001-04:00

Image courtesy of The Footy Pie.

I was kindly invited by Anthony Lopopolo of The Footy Pie in Toronto, Canada to contribute a guest article. I chose an interesting recent interview that Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave to a Swedish journalist, Jennifer Wegerup.

Getty Images

Zlatan Ibrahimovic of AC Milan scoring from the spot against
Tottenham Hotspur on 28 September 2011 in Milan, Italy.

In a detailed interview from Stockholm with Jennifer Wegerup that was published by the Milan sport's daily, La Gazzetta dello Sport, Zlatan Ibrahimovic of AC Milan and the Swedish national team began with an intriguing and candid admission:

"Comincio a invecchiare. Non ho la stessa grinta che avevo prima. Mi divertivo ancora di più alcuni anni fa, rimanevo dopo l'allenamento per giocare, scherzare".

"I'm beginning to get old. I don't have the same fight in me that I had before. I enjoyed myself more years ago. I used to stay after training to play and joke around."

To read the rest of my translation, please click here.

An AC Milan (San Siro) and AS Roma (Stadio Olimpico) Fan Perspective by Rick Olivieri

2011-10-04T00:02:00.004-04:00

by Rick Olivieri for World Football Commentaries

The famous "Curva Sud" supporters area at the San
Siro in Milan, Italy.
Editor's Note

I asked Rick to provide us with his observations during a recent trip to the San Siro in Milan and the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Please enjoy his excellent commentaries about the fan experience in two different Italian venues.

Please note: All images are courtesy of and copyrighted by Rick Olivieri. All rights reserved.

I have always wanted to see a Serie A match in person. I was born in Rome and spent 10 years living in Italy, but my father refused to take me to the stadio because “It was too dangerous.” But was it? My father always went back to an incident in 1979, before I was even born, in which Lazio fan Vincenzo Paparelli was hit in the eye by a flare that had been fired by a Roma fan in the opposite end of the stadium. Paparelli later passed away from the injury. That was enough to scare my parents and keep our family away from the stadiums.

Fortunately, this summer I was able to not only attend a match at the fabled San Siro, but also at the Stadio Olimpico during a trip to Italy to visit friends and family. My experience was nothing like the one my parent’s envisioned.

ROME, ITALY

September 5, 2011

My soccer experiences in Italy this summer started away from the pitch, as I was invited by a mutual family friend to Rome’s Tor Vergata University to a ceremony in which Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United fame was given an award for Ethics in Sport. Not surprisingly, it was a packed house in the auditorium. After some brief remarks in Italian by professors of the university, and a hilarious attempt by another professor to read the same remarks in English (think “Sear” Alex Ferguson of Manchester “Unite” instead of “Sir” Alex Ferguson of Manchester “United”), it was time for the legend himself to speak.

Sir Alex was clearly impressed by the crowd as he humbly accepted his reward. His key message to the students in the room was stressing the importance of working hard at whatever you do in order to achieve your goals. He said that he hasn’t changed at all since he was young, even while his players were becoming busy with “Facebooks” and “Twitters.” He also said that he always tells his players to always remember where they come from among their fame and fortune.

Sir Alex Ferguson at Tor Vergata University in Rome.

Sir Alex then spent some time answering a couple questions from students. He was very politically correct when asked who the best player he’s ever coached was, naming the likes of Beckham, Christiano Ronaldo, Giggs, Cantona, and Keane. He was also asked about the new Financial Fair Play rules and their effect on football. His first response was to say that the rules weren’t taking effect for another year, so he wasn’t too sure of their impact. He then surprised me by mentioning an example “From hockey in the USA” in which a player was given a “30-year contract” to get around the rules. He was of course referring to the Ilya Kovalchuk situation, in which the NJ Devils offered him a 17-year deal as a way to lower his salary cap hit. Sir Alex was off on the specific details, but I was impressed with his ability to bring up that example.

Despite his surly sideline demeanor, it was clear that Sir Alex is a class act.

A.C. Milan vs. S.S. Lazio

MILAN, ITALY

September 9, 2011

Before the game at the San Siro.

The first match I attended during my trip to Italy was the season opening A.C. Milan - Lazio match at the San Siro. The day prior to the match, I took the stadium tour and learned some great tidbits about the stadium. To A.C. Milan fans, the stadium is known as the Stadio San Siro because of it’s location in the San Siro district of Milan. To F.C. Inter fans, it is known by its official name, the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, named after an Inter player and two-time World Cup winner from the 1930’s who is known as one of the best players of his generation. To others, it is known as “La Scala Del Calcio,” a reference to Milan’s world-renowned Teatro alla Scala opera house. While living in Milan, I had played baseball for the Milano Sparks U-14 and U-15 teams at a facility near the San Siro, but never made it into a match. My first visit inside the stadium was a memorable one.

Outside of the stadium in Milan.

Saw the Game from the Press Box

My experience at San Siro was different than that of the typical fan, as I was seated in the press section of the stadium by my contacts with A.C. Milan. My hotel was only a 20-minute walk from the stadium, so I walked to soak up the game day atmosphere. There was definitely a buzz in the neighborhood that started early in the day when street vendors set up tables showcasing their A.C. Milan wares around the metro stop closest to the stadium. As I was walking to the stadium alone in the evening, I kept my eyes peeled, but there were no signs of hooligans or gangs of Laziali (Lazio supporters) out to start trouble. The worst I saw was two teenage boys with what looked like a one-liter water bottle full of beer. The stadium grounds had many mobile food and merchandise vendors, some selling items that didn’t look 100% authentic, but no authorities disturbed them. Outside one of the entrances, tifosi (fans) waiting to enter the stadium chanted while police officers watched nearby, but there was never a hint of violence.

I entered through the media entrance. There were two layers of security, one to check my ticket and identification (all soccer tickets in Italy require an identification for purchase and confirmation at the stadium), and another to scan my ticket. The press room was stocked with some snacks and water, and access to Wifi. The seats were located close to midfield in the second tier of the stadium and were blocked off from the regular seats. We had a great view of the match, and stadium security stood guard at each corner of our section. No Wifi in the seats, however, meaning that my Tweets would be limited to pregame, halftime, and post-match.

The official attendance sheet from
AC Milan: Abbonati = season ticket holders.
Paganti = tickets at gate.
Incasso = Total gate receipts in euros.
Spettatori = spectators.

The announced attendance was 48,543, not nearly at the stadium’s 82,995 capacity, but the supporters made for a great atmosphere nonetheless. The Curva Sud Milano was packed and in full-voice for the match. I only saw a couple smoke flares lit during the match, and the supporters seemed most interested in supporting their club with their voices.

Witnessing Something Special

A night match under the lights at the San Siro is a sight to see. You really get the impression that you’re about to witness something special. A.C. Milan entered the field while the team’s anthem blared over the loudspeaker. The anthem features the lyrics, “Milan, Milan, solo con te, Milan, Milan sempre per te.” Meaning, “Milan, Milan, only with you, Milan, Milan, always for you.” The supporters sang along to the song in full voice. When the players took the field for the starting lineups, the P.A. announcer read all the players first names, and let the supporters yell out their last names.

At the kickoff between AC Milan and Lazio.

A Rough Start for A.C. Milan

The match itself was the disjointed affair that one would expect from an opening weekend match. New Lazio acquisition Miroslav Klose opened his 2011-12 account with a goal in the 12^th minute, giving Lazio a lead that was extended just six minutes later, by another summer acquisition, Djibril Cisse. To my surprise, the gentleman next to me in the press box was very vocal in his exultation after the two Lazio goals, a major faux pas here in the U.S. My only thought was that perhaps he too was connected to one of the teams in some way rather than a credentialed media member.

Going down two-nil at home certainly wasn’t the start that the defending Serie-A champions would have hoped for. To their credit, the tifosi in the Curva chanted louder as they urged on their team. They were rewarded in the 29^th minute when Zlatan Ibrahimovic ran onto a pass from Antonio Cassano and put the Rossoneri on the board. A quick strike equalizer came just four minutes later, as a cross from Milan’s key summer signing, Alberto Aquilani, found the head of Cassano. The rest of the match was a quiet one, as the two teams were clearly not in peak form. Milan missed a few chances to go ahead, including Cassano’s rocket that hit the post. At the end of the night both teams should have been pleased with the result.

Lazio Fans Told To Remain After the Match

One interesting thing to note was the P.A. announcements repeated two or three times during the last 10 minutes of the match, directed at the visiting team supporters, instructing them to remain in their seats until the stadium had cleared out. An acquaintance from the La Gazzetta dello Sport, one of Italy’s sports newspapers, explained to me that the Laziali were going to be escorted by police to an area fenced off from other fans, where they would then be put on buses, taken directly to the train station and then put on a train back to Rome. The authorities should be applauded for their proactive approach to preventing fan violence. My walk home from the stadium was also uneventful, and at no point did I ever feel in any danger.

Players departing the pitch after the game at the San Siro.

Match Highlights: AC Milan 2 - Lazio 2

One of the landmarks of the eternal city of Rome, the
Coliseum.

A.S. Roma v Cagliari Calcio

ROME, ITALY

September 11, 2011

My second match of the weekend was Roma-Cagliari. In Rome, I had lived on Monte Mario, a stone’s throw from the Stadio Olimpico (Olympic Stadium). I could hear the chanting and roar of the crowd on game days, but was never allowed to go. Talk about torture! I finally attended my first Roma match with some family friends who hadn’t been to a match at the Olimpico in many years. The ticket purchasing process had required collecting everyone’s ID cards (and my passport) for our friend to display at one of the ticketing centers located around Rome. All of our tickets had our full names on them. We purchased tickets in the Curva Sud behind one of the goals, where Roma’s Ultras (the hard-core supporters) typically sit.

One of the most prized tickets in Rome for a Roma fan.

It was a beautiful Roman day for an afternoon match. The walk to the stadium featured fewer food and merchandise vendors than the San Siro, but most of the supporters were heading to the match after a great meal at a local ristorante (as was I!). The Stadio Olimpico featured a triple-layer of security for supporters in the Curva Sud. The first was the ticket and identification check well away from the stadium gates. Once you passed through that fence, there was a bag check closer to the gates. Last, but not least, were the ticket scanners and turnstiles. Upon arriving to our seats, I was extremely surprised to see many of them covered in dust and bird droppings. There were also cobwebs on the glass dividers meant to separate the ultras from the more expensive seats along the sidelines. For the first match of the season, I would have expected a cleaner stadium. No one else seemed phased though, as everyone’s focus was directed on the players and warm-ups. I guess that’s the price of community-owned and run stadiums. The clubs have little control over such stadium matters.

Fans Singing at Stadio Olimpico during the Author's Visit

Conspicuously absent from both matches I attended was a playing of the national anthem as you would hear at U.S. sporting events. Instead, “Roma, Roma,” a beautiful anthem by famous Italian singer Antonello Venditti (and A.S. Roma supporter) played over the loudspeakers. To my amazement, all 33,000 supporters at the stadium sang the lyrics at the top of their lungs while waving their flags and holding up their scarves. The scene gave me goosebumps. The only thing I could compare it to was my first time seeing 80,000+ fans doing the Warchant at FSU’s Doak Campbell Stadium. This might have been even more impressive. As the players started walking out onto the field for the match, the singing got even louder. The kicker was when the audio was turned off for a verse so that only the voices of the tifosi were heard. It was incredible.

The Curva Sud in Milan was great, but nothing compared to this. Much the same as at the San Siro, when the starting lineup for the home team was announced, all the P.A. announcer said was the player’s first names and let the tifosi yell their last names. There were a few of the typical flares or smoke bombs, and one loud blast from what was likely an M-80 firecracker. Other than that, I didn’t see anything remotely violent in the stadium. In fact, I learned that Roma has introduced a “family section” in a corner of the Stadio Olimpico. It wasn’t packed, but the fans seated there were a start and an important initiative for the Serie A team.

The Curva Sud at the Stadio Olimpico where the author
viewed the game on September 11th, 2011.

Surprisingly, new Roma boss Luis Enrique went with FIVE new Serie-A players on the pitch, including goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, defenders Gabriel Heinze and Jose Angel, Miralem Pjanic, and forward Bojan Krkic.

The match started off much like the A.C. Milan-Lazio game did, with little action and disjointed play for teams that looked like they hadn’t had a competitive match in months. With Francesco Totti, Simone Perrotta, and Daniele De Rossi in the midfield, Roma was able to control possession, but created few true chances on goal. The tifosi in the Curva Sud did their best to cheer on the team.

The second half was disastrous for the home side. In the 68^th minute, young defender Jose Angel’s poorly headed clearance off a cross dropped at the feet of Cagliari’s Daniele Conti, who slotted home and gave the visitors a 1-nil lead. Compounding matters was Angel’s expulsion just one minute later. Pressing forward into the attack, he lunged at the feet of Davide Astori after giving up the ball in the Cagliari penalty area. While it was a rash tackle born out of frustration, I’m not sure that it deserved a red card. Up until that point, Angel’s Serie A debut had been a solid one.

Roma Down to 10 Men

To Roma’s credit, down a man and down a player, the team kept battling. Totti had two great chances that were somehow saved by Cagliari goalkeeper Michael Agazzi. The fourth official signaled that there were to be four minutes of injury time, and there was a buzz in the stands as the supporters could sense a draw coming. Unfortunately, their hopes were dashed by El Kabir’s strike on the counter, making it 2-nil in injury time to the visitors. The small section of Cagliari supporters in the top corner of the arena celebrated, as well they should- the victory would mark their first win over Roma in 27 road trips to the Eternal City! Daniele De Rossi scored on a last minute rebound from a Totti free kick to bring one back to the home team, but the referee would blew the final whistle at almost the same time.

Match Highlights: AS Roma 1 - Cagliari 2

Recap

What a trip! I accomplished both goals I had for my visit to Italy: to see old friends and family, and finally catch a match at the San Siro. Seeing Sir Alex Ferguson in Rome and sitting in the Curva Sud for the Roma match really put things over the top. Both matches had different, but equally special atmospheres. A night match at the San Siro really gave you the impression of being at a grand event. The seats are close to the pitch and at a sharp angle, bringing you close to the action. The Stadio Olimpico has an Olympic track around it, putting fans further back from the action, but the vigor and enthusiasm of their tifosi really impressed me.

While the tifosi were extremely passionate, and there was a lot of cursing, yelling, and singing, not once did I ever feel in danger or feel like something bad was about to happen. What else is there to say other than I can’t wait to get back for another match!

About the Author

Rick Olivieri is the Director of Guest Services for the Washington Capitals professional hockey club and was born in Rome, Italy. You can follow Rick on Twitter @rickolivieri

Contributors at World Football Commentaries

2011-09-29T00:02:00.002-04:00

Getty Images

"Newspaper work will not harm a young writer and could help him if he gets out of it in time."

--- Ernest Hemingway

World Football Commentaries is pleased to have provided a platform for a variety of contributors.

Please Contact Us if you would like to see featured articles by any of our contributors or if you would like to view our submission guidelines.

Oscar R. Amoia (Argentina)
Miguel Aviles and Martin Cutler (USA: Soccer/Futbol Forum)
Elicia Banks-Gabriel (USA: Anomaly and Copa NYC)
Chris Behrens (USA: SoccerPro)
Dvir Ben-Aroya (Israel: IMScouting)
Robin Blacklock (Scotland: EuroChampsChallenge)
Tom Clark (USA: Soccer Artwork)
Philip Clarke (UK: Leaders in Football)
Vince Cullotta (SerieALive.com)
George Das (Malaysia: Asian Football Watch)
John Di Diana (USA)
Ben Faukes (Switzerland: Football Filter)
Justin Ham (USA: Cake Group and Yahoo!)
Henrik Hegedus (Hungary)
Andrew Helms (USA)
Adam Howard (UK & New Zealand: SoccerPro and They Think It's All Over)
Robert Kennerney (USA: Cake Group, Crack TV and the Football Factory)
Leader Enterprises (USA)
Dan Leo (USA)
Ken McGannon (Republic of Ireland)
Don Mullan (Republic of Ireland)
Guilherme Neto (Portugal: Ronaldo7.net)
Rob Penner (USA: Women's Professional Soccer)
Jim Riggio (USA)
Carmelo Ruggieri (UK)
John Stevanja (Australia: Keeper Skool)
Matt Stronge (Northern Ireland: SoccerData.Net)
Ken Sweda (USA: Precision Soccer Skills LLC)
Theresa Tran (USA: New York Cosmos)
Providence Tucker (USA: SoccerPro)
Beatriz Villamor (USA: Cake Group and Havaianas)
Kenneth Walker (South Africa: Lion House Lodge)
Matthew Wall (USA: SoccerPro)

Signed Soccer and International Football Memorabilia: Icons

2011-09-25T00:01:00.002-04:00

World Football Commentaries is very pleased to add a new affiliate, Icons.

They are the leading provider of signed soccer and international football memorabilia, and have some great items for fans.

Icons.com specialize in signed shirts, photographs, boots and other memorabilia for casual and serious collectors.
They host official signing events with past and present stars.

Each item comes with a certificate of authenticity to validate and protect your sports memorabilia investment.

Here are some of their unique offerings:

Signed Memorabilia of Famous Stars

Famous Current Player Signed Shirts and Pictures

Unique Gifts and Presents

Diego Maradona Signed Memorabilia

Pele' Signed Memorabilia

Please visit the Icons website.

Liverpool Signed Memorabilia (Along with other clubs.)

They can ship your signed merchandise around the world.

Beyond The Pitch: Two Unlikely Trailblazers: Bob and Michael Bradley

2011-09-23T20:21:00.004-04:00

Getty Images

Bob Bradley with EFA President Samer Zaher and Magdey
Adelghany of the EFA in Cairo on 24 September 2011.

Most of us inherited our love of sport from our fathers. They were the first ones to throw or kick a ball to us, coach our teams, correct our mistakes and encourage our efforts. Few men share that special bond on a professional level. From recent times in world football, the most celebrated example was Cesare and Paolo Maldini with the Azzurri and AC Milan. Vladimir and Valdimir, Jr. Weiss of Slovakia are another recent example. And here in the United States, there is another father and son soccer duo: Bob and Michael Bradley.

Critical Juncture in Both Men’s Careers

For the last five years, Bob Bradley managed the US men’s national team. For the last four years, his son, Michael, featured prominently on his team. This past summer has been one of distinct change in both men’s lives: Bob was relieved on his duties in August and Michael was married. Similar to his father, the welcome mat at Borussia Mönchengladbach was suddenly lifted under Michael’s feet. The younger Bradley needed to find a new club before the August transfer market deadline expired.

In a surprise move for an American player, Bradley signed with Chievo Verona of the Italian Serie A. His father, Bob, is reportedly in final negotiations for the Egyptian national team job. Two men with the same DNA. Two men who love the same sport. Two men who are taking roads much less traveled than their peers. Two unlikely trailblazers.

To read my full commentary, please visit Beyond The Pitch.

Getty Images

Michael Bradley in action against Juan Camilo Zuniga of Napoli
in his first Serie A start on 21 September 2011.

Related Articles

Italian Football Terminology Guide

A Napoli Fan Experience at Stadio San Paolo by John Di Diana

2011-09-20T14:54:00.003-04:00

by John Di Diana for World Football Commentaries

Stadio San Paolo and the game ticket.

Editor's Note

All images are courtesy of and copyrighted by John Di Diana. All rights reserved.

As you will read, supporting SSC Napoli is a passionate family experience. Please enjoy this excellent match commentary by John Di Diana.

NAPLES, ITALY
18 September 2011

Sunday evening began for me about 6 p.m. local time. My cousin Andrea and his friend Nello picked up my mother and I from my aunt's house in Acerra, a province of Napoli about 20 kilometers from the Stadio San Paolo. We jumped on the Autostrade, which is a superhighway, and made our way.

Excitement Was in the Air

The closer we came to the stadium, you could tell the anticipation among the natives was building. People were outside everywhere. I mean everywhere on the streets. Flags, banners and the color of blue everywhere in sight. People outside of the stadium were selling everything 'Napoli' from scarves, flags, posters, bracelets and key chains. We decided to park in a garage a kilometer or so outside the stadium as parking was scarce and it is also not ideal to park on a public street with such a huge event.

The author and his cousin.

We start getting closer to the stadium and noticed a huge gathering in a particular corner outside the stadium. One of the locals tells us the Napoli team bus is coming shortly. Quickly, the four of us try to get a good spot on the street corner. Local time now is about 7:15 p.m. and we saw the bus heading our way. I get in the best position possible to record the bus coming our way. Everyone begins to start chanting, "If you're not jumping up and down, you're a Milanista!" The bus passes me by and I can only get a glimpse of Walter Mazzarri, the team manager, in front looking stoic as ever and Marek Hamsik with this headphones on. My blood is flowing tremendously now...

The Cauldron of Stadio San Paolo

We enter the Stadio San Paolo and we have tickets for the Distinti Superiore. We try to get seats near the middle of the pitch but they are taken. We decided to buy seats in the corner near the Curva A. By the time we get to our seats, it is about 50 minutes until kickoff. Seats are filling up quickly and the banners begin to come out. The Curvas (areas with the most passionate supporters) are already filled to the maximum and singing and cheering has already begun.

Light shows start to show up everywhere. People begin to start jeering the Milan players as they come out for pre-game warmups. Appropriately so, wild cheers begin for Napoli as they come out. At this time, the stadium is about 50,000 people deep and I get goosebumps. The last time that I was here was in 2000 for a Serie B match and the atmosphere was similar. But you can't compare this night night to that one. The players return to the dressing room and now the Milan supporters go to their seats where they are secluded. An enormous amount of whistles are shot their way. Now the announcement begins of the Napoli starting XI. The announcer says the players' first name and the crowd shouts the last name. After this is done, more flares go off and the match is about to kick off.

The author and his cousin.

Early Stages of Napoli - AC Milan

The first 10 minutes Milan dominate possession. Napoli rarely touches the ball. They seem timid. After a foul outside of the Napoli box, a free kick towards Alberto Aquilani and he heads home a beautiful goal where Napoli keeper, Morgan De Sanctis, had no chance. The crowd quickly goes silent as everyone is in disbelief. Although we could see it coming. I said to my mother this is when the match begins. Wouldn't you know about 2 minutes later Napoli score! It's Edinson Cavani up to his usual tricks. 1-1 and the stadium is rocking! The Napoli dominance has just begun.

The author and his mother outside of the
stadium.

The players settle in and Napoli look dangerous as ever on the counter. Napoli continue to grow with their attack and it pays off a few minutes before the end of the first half. Walter Gargano with a beautiful box-to-box run supplies Cavani with a beautiful pass where he beats Christian Abbiati to his near side: It is 2-1 and the stadium erupts again. I am going nuts because I have caught this wonderful moment live on the camera of my phone. Napoli really have control of the game and the first half ends.

Video Link of Cavani's Second Goal (Along with other stadium videos. Clicking any of the images will take you to the author's videos from this event.)

Second Half

The second half starts as the first half ended: Napoli with loads of possession. To me, the Milan players look tired. Especially Antonio Cassano. Then, wouldn't you know, Signor Matador strikes again! Another hat trick for Cavani and now the crowd is in absolute delirium. Two ridiculously loud "bombas" go off. Flares are lit. Singing from both Curvas is loud and immense. 3-1 to Napoli and the home team never looked back. They have the bulk of the possession in the second half and Milan really never threatened. Napoli should have really made it 4-1 on a few occasions. The final whistle blows and the game is over. 3-1 to Napoli and the reigning Serie A champions have been defeated.

A figurine of Edinson Cavani.

The crowd begins to sing "O Surdat Nnammurat." (A famous Neapolitan tune.) Everyone is hugging each other. The Curvas are still singing. This night is like no other in my life.

FORZA NAPOLI la nostra unica fede si chiama Napoli!

About the Author

John Di Diana is from Chicago, Illinois and a passionate supporter of SSC Napoli. You can follow John @ForzaNapoli_1 on Twitter.

Viewing Party at the Football Factory Soccer Bar at Legends by Robert Kennerney

2011-09-14T18:45:00.010-04:00

by Robert Kennerney for World Football Commentaries

On Saturday, September 17, during the New York Red Bulls vs. FC Dallas game at 8:30 p.m., the Football Factory Soccer Bar at Legends in NYC will attempt to set a record for the largest viewing party in MLS history. Throughout the season, Red Bulls fans have been showing up in numbers for every away game in the bar that resides beneath the Empire State Building, but this Saturday they will look to take it a step further and assemble a record number of fans.

For the past few months, the Football Factory has been representing the voice of the American, European and general soccer fan alike. Much of the work is evident on their Facebook page http://facebook.com/FootballFactoryNY where many jerseys and nationalities are represented.

Attempt to Break a Record

Although this event is an attempt to break an MLS record, another purpose for the night is to throw the gauntlet down to the other well-represented sports in New York City. We would like to show them that on a weekend when the Jets, Giants, Yankees and Mets will play, the largest group of people cheering on a New York team in one place will be for soccer.

MSG and MLS will be present on the night, along with New York Red Bull's staff, with many giveaways and incentives. It is believed that a minimum of 250 people will need to attend in order to set the record which will be confirmed later this week. More information can be found at the Football Factory website: http://FootballFactoryNY.com. Whether you can make it to the party on Saturday, or be inspired to make a stand and support your city's MLS team, we hope this is a step in the right direction for the national league of soccer in the United States.

About the Author

Robert Kennerney is a Marketing and Social Media Manager for The Football Factory at Legends on 6 West 33rd Street between 5th Avenue and Broadway.

Website: http://footballfactoryny.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/footballfactoryny
Twitter: @FFactoryNY

2011/12 UEFA Champions League Tournament Draw

2011-09-13T00:02:00.003-04:00

2011/12 UEFA Champions League Fixtures

Reuters Pictures

Thiago Silva heads in the equalizer at the Camp Nou.

The draw took place in Monaco to organize the final 32 teams into 8 groups for the upcoming Champions League season. The defending champion is FC Barcelona and the final will be held on 19 May 2012.

Highlights from the 2011 Final

Participating Teams

Club	Route	Last in	Years*	2010/11**	Best***
Pot 1
FC Barcelona	Holders / Champions, Spain	2010/11	15	Winners	Winners
Manchester United FC	Champions, England	2010/11	16	Runners-up	Winners
Chelsea FC	Runners-up, England	2010/11	9	Quarter-finals	Runners-up
FC Bayern München	Third place, Germany	2010/11	14	Round of 16	Winners
Arsenal FC	Fourth place, England	2010/11	13	Round of 16	Runners-up
Real Madrid CF	Runners-up, Spain	2010/11	15	Semi-finals	Winners
FC Porto	Champions, Portugal	2009/10	15	UEL, winners	Winners
FC Internazionale Milano	Runners-up, Italy	2010/11	10	Quarter-finals	Winners
Pot 2
AC Milan	Champions, Italy	2010/11	14	Round of 16	Winners
Olympique Lyonnais	Third place, France	2010/11	11	Round of 16	Semi-finals
FC Shakhtar Donetsk	Champions, Ukraine	2010/11	6	Quarter-finals	Quarter-finals
Valencia CF	Third place, Spain	2010/11	7	Round of 16	Runners-up
SL Benfica	Runners-up, Portugal	2010/11	6	UEL, semi-finals	Winners
Villarreal CF	Fourth place, Spain	2008/09	2	UEL, semi-finals	Semi-finals
PFC CSKA Moskva	Runners-up, Russia	2009/10	5	UEL, round of 16	Quarter-finals
Olympique de Marseille	Runners-up, France	2010/11	7	Round of 16	Winners
Pot 3
FC Zenit St Petersburg	Champions, Russia	2008/09	1	UEL, round of 16	Group stage
AFC Ajax	Champions, Netherlands	2010/11	9	UEL, round of 16	Winners
Bayer 04 Leverkusen	Runners-up, Germany	2004/05	6	UEL, round of 16	Runners-up
Olympiacos FC	Champions, Greece	2009/10	12	UEL, third qualifying round	Quarter-finals
Manchester City FC	Third place, England	Debut	0	UEL, round of 16	First round
LOSC Lille Métropole	Champions, France	2006/07	3	UEL, round of 32	First knockout round
FC Basel 1893	Champions, Switzerland	2010/11	3	UEL, round of 32	Second group stage
FC BATE Borisov	Champions, Belarus	2008/09	1	UEL, round of 32	Group stage
Pot 4
Borussia Dortmund	Champions, Germany	2002/03	6	UEL, group stage	Winners
SSC Napoli	Third place, Italy	Debut	0	UEL, round of 32	Second round
GNK Dinamo Zagreb	Champions, Croatia	1999/2000	2	UEL, group stage	Group stage
APOEL FC	Champions, Cyprus	2009/10	1	UEL, play-offs	Group stage
Trabzonspor AŞ	Runners-up, Turkey****	Debut	0	UEL, play-offs	Second round
KRC Genk	Champions, Belgium	2002/03	1	UEL, play-offs	Group stage
FC Viktoria Plzeň	Champions, Czech Republic	Debut	0	UEL, third qualifying round	N/A
FC Oţelul Galaţi	Champions, Romania	Debut	0	N/A	N/A

*Past group stage appearances not including 2011/12
**UEFA Champions League unless stated
***Includes pre-1992 European Champion Clubs' Cup
**** Trabzonspor replaced Fenerbahçe SK, who were withdrawn from the competition by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF)
UEL = UEFA Europa League

Chart and text courtesy of UEFA.com.

Group A: FC Bayern München, Villarreal CF, Manchester City FC, SSC Napoli

Group B: FC Internazionale Milano, CSKA Moskva, LOSC Lille Métropole, Trabzonspor AŞ

Group C: Manchester United, SL Benfica, FC Basel 1893, FC Oţelul Galaţi

Group D: Real Madrid, Olympique Lyonnais, AFC Ajax, GNK Dinamo Zagreb

Group E: Chelsea FC, Valencia CF, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, KRC Genk

Group F: Arsenal FC, Olympique de Marseille, Olympiacos FC, Borussia Dortmund

Group G: FC Porto, FC Shakhtar Donetsk, FC Zenit St. Petersburg, APOEL FC

Group H: FC Barcelona, AC Milan, BATE Borisov, FC Viktoria Plzeň

Financial Rewards

According to UEFA.com on 13 September 2011:

"Each of the 32 clubs involved in the group stage will receive a participation bonus of €3.9m. In addition, they will be entitled to a match bonus of €550,000 per match played in the group stage. Performance bonuses will also see €800,000 paid for every win and €400,000 for every draw in the group stage.
The sides competing in the round of 16 can also expect to pick up €3m each, the quarter-finalists €3.3m and the semi-finalists €4.2m. The UEFA Champions League winners will receive €9m and the runners-up €5.6m."

Beyond The Pitch: Italian Football Guide

2011-09-09T00:02:00.015-04:00

Getty Images

2010/2011 Serie A Champions, AC Milan.

Calcio is derived, to the best of my knowledge, from the medieval game of calcio fiorentino, or Florentine kickball. Calcio does not literally mean "football" or "soccer." In Italian, calciare means "to kick." A soccer player or footballer is a called a calciatore. When Italians translate the word calcio into English, they use the common term of “football.”

Calcio, quite obviously, is a great part of Italian culture, and the word represents their unique identity in the world of international football. Another word close to the hearts and souls of Italians is Gli Azzurri or “The Blues.”

Video of Italian Commentators

Nobody produces football matches quite like the Italians do - always history delivered in operatic tones for its biggest events. Perhaps enshrouded in some of the widest held myths that its tactical reputation means that calcio is little more than slow and defensive football, some of the world's most technically gifted players are little more lost in translation with a language so very unique to the Italian game. But to understand what is being said amongst its domestic commentators, here are some Italian football terms, along with related topics, which should help you to better understand calcio italiano in the mother tongue. Football with the performance and temperamental precision of some of Italy's finest crafted automobiles.

Guarda. Ascolta. Impara. Watch. Listen. Learn. Witness the passion of calcio italiano.

To read more of my commentary at Beyond The Pitch, please click here.

Related Articles

Language Learning Guide

Click here to visit Fluent in 3 months.

Nothing But Nets: Diego Gutierrez of the Chicago Fire

2011-09-07T00:02:00.003-04:00

Photo courtesy of
Nothing But Nets.

Click the image to
make a contribution.

Editor's Note

This article originally was published on 2 November 2007. Mr. Gutierrez is now retired and with the Philadelphia Union.

Today, 7 September 2011, is End Malaria Day.

In a story discussed a few days ago by Steve Goff of the Washington Post and Soccer Insider, Diego Gutierrez of the Chicago Fire was named Major League Soccer Humanitarian of the Year.

Mr. Gutierrez, who is a native of Bogota, Colombia, is the spokesman for a very interesting cause called Nothing But Nets. This charity was formed to help alleviate the spread and suffering of malaria on the African continent. He helped to raise over US $400,000 to provide insect nets that cover beds. This simple yet effective remedy has saved many lives.

According to Nothing But Nets, “The African malaria mosquitoes generally bite late at night or early morning, between 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. A bed net is usually hung above the center of a bed or sleeping space so that it completely covers the sleeping person… Currently, nets are treated with pyrethroid insecticides. These insecticides have very low levels of toxicity to humans, but are highly toxic to insects. By repelling the mosquitoes, a bed net can protect other people in the room outside the net.”

One million children die each year from malaria.

For only $10, you may purchase a net to assist this worthy cause.

“Send a net. Save a life.”

To visit their site, please click here.

Interview with Diego Gutierrez of the Chicago Fire-Soccerlens

Fluent in 3 Months: The Language Hacking Guide by Benny Lewis

2011-09-02T00:02:00.000-04:00

Click here to visit Fluent in 3 months.

I am pleased to welcome a new affiliate at World Football Commentaries.

Benny Lewis of Fluent in 3 Months has created an interesting way to learn languages quickly.

"My name is Benny (Brendan) Lewis. I’m a vegetarian from Cavan Ireland, and I don’t drink. I like to think of myself a “technomad” - a full-time technology-enabled globe-trotter.

When I turned 21, the only language that I spoke was English and I had done quite poorly with languages in school. In fact, I initially had problems even with English and had to go to speech therapy when I was younger because of it. So I am not naturally talented with languages! I have a degree in Electronic Engineering!

My love affair with other cultures and speaking foreign languages began in 2003, after graduation when I moved to Spain. I discovered that learning languages wasn’t so hard when you apply the right method! You also have to stop making excuses that you are too old, don’t have time, too shy to try to use it etc.

After finally successfully reaching a confident stage in Spanish, my travels led me elsewhere. Dozens of countries and many languages (8 of which I speak fluently; shown on the right) later, I am now a full-time language hacker!"

Quotes courtesy of Fluent in 3 Months.

Promotional Video

Part 1: "At the Origins of the Phenomenon Mourinho: 'How I Became Special 1' "

2011-08-31T00:02:00.000-04:00

Image courtesy of Apasciuto.

In a detailed interview with Sky Sports, former Italian international, Christian Panucci, had a great discussion with José Mourinho on a variety of topics. Panucci also played for AC Milan, AS Roma, Chelsea, Internazionale Milano, Monaco, Parma and Real Madrid.

Part one of this translated discussion covers Mourinho's youth in Portugal, his early years as a school teacher with special-needs children, his decision to become a football manager, the influence of Sir Bobby Robson and Louis Van Gaal, along with his first years in professional management at Benfica, Leiria and Porto.

You may notice that a new journalist, Christian Panucci, developed quick rapport with Mourinho. The result was lengthy quotes without the usual edge or arrogance that are common with many of Mourinho's past public statements. Please enjoy this discussion and learn more about another side of the Special One.

Tu sei laureato in scienze motorie, però hai lavorato molto con i disabili. Ti è servita nella tua carriera da allenatore questa esperienza?

"Per me è stata un’esperienza incredibile perché tutto è psicologico là, tutto è affetto, tutto è emozione. Ti puoi preparare all’università per lavorare con loro, però poi quando arrivi lì, tutto è passione, cuore, è rapporto diretto, empatia. Io ho lavorato con bambini con problemi motori e poi ho lavorato anche con bambini con problemi mentali, psicologici, e tutto è amore. Tu riesci a fare delle piccole cose che per loro sono delle grandi cose. Io ero molto giovane e nello stesso tempo in cui allenavo ragazzi di 14-15 anni, lavoravo nella scuola con questi bambini e bambine e per me questa è un’esperienza fantastica che dopo tu prendi per la vita e tante volte dico ai giocatori, quando loro non sono felici, che devono essere sempre felici e che ci sono tanti problemi nella vita e questi bambini ne sono un esempio. Un giocatore deve sfruttare la sua vita come giocatore che sono 10-15 anni e quindi deve essere felice tutti i giorni".

CP: You graduated with a degree in motor science but you worked a great deal with the disabled. Did this experience serve you in your career as a manager?

JM: For me, it was an incredible experience because everything is psychological there, it's all affection and emotion. You can prepare in University to work with them. but when you arrive there, everything is about passion, heart, direct rapport and empathy. I worked with children who had motor problems and then I worked also with kids who had mental and psychological problems. It's all love. You succeed in doing the little things which for them are big things. I was very young and at the same time in which I was training 14 to 15 year-old boys, I was working at the school with these children and for me this was a fantastic experience that you take with you for the rest of your life. And many times, I tell my players, when they are not happy, that they need to be always happy and that there are many with so many problems in life and these children are an example. A player has to exploit his life as a player that only lasts 10 to 15 years and therefore needs to be happy every day.

Nasci da un padre calciatore e da una madre benestante. In un Portogallo degli anni ’70 e di grandissimi cambiamenti. Come hai vissuto quegli anni?

"Con un po’ di paura, perché dopo la rivoluzione tutta la gente aveva la speranza di un cambiamento positivo ma anche la paura di un cambiamento negativo. La mia famiglia ha pensato a volte di uscire dal Portogallo, altre volte invece pensi che il cambio deve essere positivo e tu devi rimanere. Però allo stesso tempo era un momento di libertà, di libertà di espressione, di vivere e questo è stato un momento bello. Io ho avuto sempre una famiglia senza problemi economici, una famiglia che viveva nella tranquillità, però allo stesso tempo anche nella realtà. Ho avuto da bambino amici al top della classe sociale e amici che vivevano con grandissime difficoltà e questo mi ha fatto essere preparato a tutto nella vita. Saper convivere, vivere e avere rapporto con tutti. E' stato un momento di cambiamento in Portogallo e per me un’esperienza di vita molto positiva che mi ha preparato per la vita".

CP: Your father was a footballer and your mother was from a well-to-do family. In a Portugal during the 1970s of great changes. How did you live in these years?

JM: With a little bit of fear, because after the revolution, everyone had hope for a positive change but also feared a negative one. My family thought at times to get out of Portugal. Other times, instead, you thought that the change would be positive and that you had to stay. But at the same time, it was a moment of freedom, of freedom of expression. To experience this was a beautiful time. I always had a family without money problems. A family that lived in peace, but at the same time also was aware of reality. From my childhood, I had friends at the top of the social classes and friends who lived with great difficulties. This made me be prepared for everything in life. To know how to coexist, to live and get along with everyone. It was a time of change in Portugal and for me, a very positive life experience that prepared me for a lifetime.

Quando hai deciso di fare l’allenatore?

"Non lo so. Da bambino non volevo essere allenatore, da bambino volevo essere giocatore. Arrivavo a casa con il pallone sotto braccio e non con il libro per studiare come allenare. Io volevo fare il giocatore, ma allo stesso tempo studiare è stato sempre importante perché, senza studiare, non avevo la possibilità di giocare a pallone perché avevo questo controllo in casa. Dopo, con tuo padre giocatore, a casa impari a leggere una partita in un modo diverso, un po’ come io con mio figlio adesso, che dopo una partita mi chiede perché ho cambiato uno invece che l’altro, perché ho fatto questo e non quello, chi giocherà la prossima partita. Entri in una dinamica di pensare il calcio in modo diverso da un bambino che non ha il calcio in casa. Dopo ho capito che non potevo essere un grandissimo giocatore: potevo essere un fenomeno quando giocavo con i miei amici vicino a casa mia, ma quando passavo al campionato organizzato diventavo un giocatore come tanti altri. Ho capito che anche da giovane ero più allenatore in campo che giocatore. Organizzavo la squadra, dicevo chi doveva giocare qua e chi là, quanto tempo durava la partita. Quando non segnavo finiva la partita e io andavo a casa con la palla, ero un po’ più un leader che propriamente un giocatore. Poi, ho studiato tutte le cose con una sequenza quasi naturale: mio padre mi chiedeva di andare a vedere gli avversari e di fare la relazione e questo mi sembra un modo molto importante di imparare a leggere la partita e di imparare a esprimere quello che vedevo, perché una cosa è quello che tu vedi e un’altra cosa è far capire agli altri quello che tu hai visto. E questo mi ha aiutato tantissimo. Poi, quando sono andato all’università e stavo per finire, ho iniziato a lavorare con il settore giovanile. Dopo mi è arrivata la possibilità di andare come assistente in prima squadra. Tutto è stato graduale e, esperienza dopo esperienza, mi arrivava sempre un’opportunità più difficile".

CP: When did you decide to become a manager?

JM: I don't know. When I was a child, I didn't want to be a coach; I only wanted to be a player. I used to come home with a ball under my arm and not with a book to study like I trained. I wanted to be a player but at the same time, to study. It was always important because, without study, I didn't have the chance to play football because those were the house rules. Later, with a father who was a footballer (he was a goalkeeper) at home you learn to read a game in a different way. A little like me with my son now, that after a game, he asks me why I subbed out one instead of another, why did I do this and not that, who will play in the next match. You enter into a dynamic of thinking about football in a different manner than a child who doesn't have football in his house.

I was able to be a star when I played with my friends near my house. But when I went into an organized league, I became a ordinary player like the rest. Later, I understood that I didn't need to be a great player like so many others. I understood also from a young age that I was more of a coach on the pitch than a player. I organized the team, I told who should play here or there for as long as the game lasted. When I didn't score, the game ended and I went home with the ball. I was a little more of a leader than a proper player. Then, I studied everything in an almost natural sequence.

My father asked me to go watch opposing teams and take notes and this seemed to me to be a very important part to learn how to read a game and to learn how to express what I saw. Because it's one thing is what you see and it's another thing to be able to make others understand what you have seen. And this helped me a great deal. Later, when I went to college and was about to finish, I started to work in the youth sector. Later on, the possibility to become an assistant in the first team came. Everything was gradual and, experience after experience, I was always arriving at more difficult opportunities.

Translator's Note:

This is a quote by Sir Bobby Robson about Mourinho's scouting abilities:

“The Englishman quickly understood that Mourinho was more than simply a translator and asked him to watch forthcoming opponents. ‘He’d come back and hand me a dossier that was absolutely first class. I mean first class,’ Robson told the journalist Patrick Barclay, who has recently (2005) published a fine biography of Mourinho, subtitled Anatomy of a Winner (Orion). ‘As good as anything I’ve ever received. Here he was, in his early thirties, never been a player, never been a coach to speak of either, giving me reports as good as anything I ever got.’ "

Source: "The Second Division was My Level."

Che cosa hai preso da Van Gaal e Robson?

"Sono due persone completamente diverse. Robson arrivava all’allenamento dieci minuti prima, giocava a golf e aveva una vita incredibile, piena di gioia. Era sempre positivo e il calcio per lui non era una pressione, ma un motivo di soddisfazione. Io preparavo tutto l’allenamento, organizzavo e pianificavo i dettagli e lui era innamorato dello spazio dell’allenamento: 'Josè, cosa facciamo oggi?'. Gli rispondevo: 'Mister, facciamo questo, questo e questo'. Let’s go and enjoy! Van Gaal era esattamente il contrario. Van Gaal arrivava due ore prima e tutti questi dettagli di pianificazione li preparava lui. Quello che facevamo noi assistenti era allenare. Io che non allenavo tanto con Bobby, allenavo tanto con Van Gaal. E per me è stato importante perché un’esperienza è stata completamente diversa dall’altra. Nell’ultimo anno con lui al Barcellona, mi dava la squadra per partite del trofeo Gamper, partite di coppa Catalunya e anche questo è stato molto importante. Lui mi dava la squadra e andava in tribuna, era tutta responsabilità mia: questo per me è stato fantastico. Io dico sempre che Bobby mi ha dato un opportunità fantastica di andare a Barcellona, perché sono andato con lui, però poi Van Gaal mi ha dato un’autonomia e una fiducia che mi hanno preparato tanto".

CP: What did you take from Louis Van Gaal and Bobby Robson?

JM: They are two completely different persons. Robson used to come to training sessions 10 minutes before they began. He used to play golf and had an incredible life that was full of joy. He was always positive and football for him wasn't about pressure, but a way of satisfaction. I used to prepare the whole training session. I organized and sorted all the details and he was in love with the training area. 'Jose, what are we going to do today?' I used to respond: "Boss, let's do this, this and this. Let's go and enjoy!'

Van Gaal was exactly the opposite. Van Gaal would arrive two hours (before the training session) and all of these details were prepared by him. What we assistants did was to train. I, who didn't train that much with Bobby, I really trained a lot with Van Gaal. And for me, this was important because the experience was completely different than the other. He gave me the team and went into the stands. It was all my responsibility. This for me was fantastic. I always say that Bobby gave me a fantastic opportunity to go to Barcelona, because I went with him. But then Van Gaal gave me self-esteem and a confidence that have prepared me a great deal.

Quindi tu hai vinto la coppa Catalunya a Barcellona! Quando hai deciso di tornare in Portogallo, cosa hai pensato in quel viaggio?

"A me non piace tanto guidare, però mi piace tanto stare da solo in macchina. In quel viaggio pensavo che mi aspettava una vita completamente nuova, che ero preparato, andavo per vincere e potevo fare la differenza. Avevo una convinzione e un’autostima assolutamente altissima ed ero molto preparato. Pensavo di andare in Portogallo in una squadra non tra le tre al top e pensavo che la strada normale sarebbe stata quella di prendere una squadra media e poi arrivare. Però poi sono arrivato in Portogallo e il mio ex allenatore Jupp Heynckes era stato esonerato e sono andato al Benfica, che per noi in Portogallo è come il Milan, l’Inter o la Juve. E per uno che non era mai stato allenatore, non era un’esperienza facile. E sono arrivato in un gigante, in Portogallo è come in Spagna e i presidenti sono un gruppo politico. E dopo che ero lì da due mesi, c’è stato un cambio di presidenza, abbiamo vinto con lo Sporting 3-0, però sia con una vittoria che senza non potevo continuare. C’è stato un cambio enorme nel club e la gente che mi aveva scelto era andata via. La gente che era arrivata e che aveva vinto le elezioni, era gente con delle idee completamente diverse dalle mie e io sapevo che non potevo assolutamente continuare. Tu puoi immaginare di essere nel Benfica, la squadra sta bene e sta migliorando e con la sensazione di poter vincere il campionato e andare via per propria iniziativa è una sensazione molto difficile. Poi sono andato a Leiria che è come una squadra che gioca per rimanere in serie A".

CP: Therefore you won the Catalan Cup at Barcelona! When you decided to return to Portugal, what did you think about in that journey?

JM: I don't like to drive too much, but I like to be alone in the car. On that journey, I thought that a completely different new life awaited me. That I was prepared, I went back to win and could make a difference. I had a conviction and a very high absolute self-esteem and I was very prepared. I thought about going to Portugal to a team that was not among the three top sides and I thought that the normal road would be to take a mid-table side and then I could move up. But then I arrived in Portugal, and my former manager, Jupp Heynckes had been sacked and I went to Benfica. Who for us in Portugal is like AC Milan, Inter Milan or Juventus. And for one who had never been a manager, it wasn't an easy experience.

I arrived at a giant club. In Portugal, it's similar to Spain and the presidents are a political group. And after I was there for two months, there was a change in presidents. We had won against Sporting, 3-0, but it was a must-win situation for me. There was an enormous change in the club and those who selected me were gone. The people who arrived and who won the elections were those with completely different ideas from mine and I knew that I absolutely coudn't continue. You can imagine being at Benfica, the team is doing well and getting better and with the sensation to be able to win the championship. And to leave by virtue of an initiative is a very difficult sensation. Then I went to Leiria which is like a team that battles relegation in Serie A.

E fai un miracolo: arrivi quinto.

"No, arrivo terzo. A dicembre e in Portogallo è possibile cambiare squadra nella stessa stagione, non come in Italia e in Spagna che puoi allenare solo una squadra. E arriviamo là a dicembre, eravamo terzi e alla fine della stagione il Leiria finisce quinto, però senza me negli altri sei mesi. Io arrivo a dicembre e il Porto vive una crisi profonda, in quel momento era quinto, sesto, settimo e il presidente del Porto, che mi conosceva da quando ero assistente di Robson al Barcellona, mi voleva e la sua idea era che quell’anno non potevamo vincere niente perché eravamo troppo dietro e dovevamo solo cercare di finire in posizione di Coppa Uefa, finire nei primi cinque e l’anno successivo costruire una squadra per tornare a vincere. Sono rimasto a Leiria solo da giugno a dicembre e poi sono andato a Porto per fare la seconda parte del campionato. Abbiamo finito al terzo posto e abbiamo raggiunto la posizione per giocare la Coppa Uefa nella stagione successiva.

CP: And you performed a miracle: You arrived in fifth place.

JM: No, I ended up in third place. During December in Portugal, it's possible to change teams in the same season. It's not like in Italy and Spain where you can only manage one team. And we arrived there in December. We were third and at the end of the season, Leiria finished in fifth. But without me for the last six months. I arrrived in December and Porto was experiencing a profound crisis. At that time, it was fifth, sixth, seventh and the President of Porto, who knew me from when I was an assistant to Robson at Barcelona, wanted me and his idea was in that year, we couldn't win anything because we were too far behind and only could look to finish in position for the UEFA Cup. To finish in the top five, and in the next year, build a team that would return to win. I remained at Leiria only from June to December and then I went to Porto to manage the second part of the season. We finished in third place and we reached the position to play in the UEFA Cup in the next season.

Però lì costruisci per la prima volta la tua squadra.

"Si, è stato perfetto. Il Porto aveva una squadra con due portoghesi quando siamo arrivati. Era la squadra dei brasiliani e degli argentini. Non vinceva niente e non c’era empatia con i tifosi, un problema grande. Io che lero nel calcio portoghese da sei mesi, conoscevo tutti i talenti portoghesi che giocavano nelle altre squadre più piccole. Abbiamo comprato 12 giocatori tutti portoghesi, tutti giocatori che giocavano in squadre più piccole e che noi pensavamo che avessero la capacità di giocare in una grande squadra come il Porto. I giocatori erano Paulo Ferreira che adesso sta al Chelsea, Carvalho che sta al Real Madrid, Nuno Valente che ha smesso, però ha giocato in Nazionale un Mondiale e un Europeo, Maniche che ha giocato con il Chelsea e la Nazionale. Tutti giocatori che sono diventati importanti nel Porto e in Nazionale e che hanno fatto una carriera molto bella. Era una squadra a cui avevo detto in pre-stagione: 'Noi non abbiamo vinto niente, né io né voi. Tutti zero. Titoli zero'. Era solo Vitor Baia che con i suoi 32 anni aveva già vinto qualcosa, però tutti gli altri zero. E dopo, insieme, abbiamo vinto campionato, coppa Uefa, Champions League, abbiamo vinto tutto con una squadra che è partita da zero prima di arrivare".

CP: But there you built your own team for the first time.

JM: Yes, it was perfect. Porto was a team with two Portuguese when we arrived. It was a team of Brazilians and Argentineans. It hadn't won anything and there wasn't empathy with the fans. It was a huge problem. I had been in Portuguese football for six months. I knew all of the Portugese talents that played in the smallest of teams. We bought 12 players and all of them were Portuguese. All of them played in small sides and we thought that they had the capacity to play in a great side such as Porto. The players were Paulo Ferreira who is now at Chelsea, Carvalho who is at Real Madrid, Nuno Valente who has retired, but who played for the national team in a World Cup and Euro. Maniche who played with Chelsea and the national team. All of the players who became important for Porto and the national team and who had great careers. It was a team in which I said in the preseason: 'We haven't won anything. Either you or me. Zero for all of us. Zero Titles.' It was only Vitor Baia who at the age of 32 had won something, but all of the rest, nothing. And later, together, we won the league championship, the UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League. We won everything that a team starting out from nothing could win.

Se non sbaglio, giocavi con il 4-4-2?

"Giocavamo col 4-3-3 in campionato e col 4-4-2 in Europa. Eravamo una squadra molto organizzata, tatticamente molto disciplinata. Avevamo Deco che in quel momento aveva 23-24 anni, era al top della sua carriera ed è stato un grandissimo giocatore, dietro due punte. Era una squadra molto disciplinata tatticamente con una grande voglia di vincere e una concentrazione enorme ed era molto difficile per noi perdere una partita. In Portogallo, se sei una buona squadra, vinci il campionato, non è difficile. Perché è alla base un campionato di due, tre squadre e c’è una grande differenza fra quelle tre e tutte le altre. Però, in Europa, penso che giocare la Coppa Uefa sia stato importante per noi perché la squadra non sarebbe stata preparata per andare direttamente dal confronto con piccoli club ai grandi club della Champions. Giocare la coppa Uefa penso sia stato importante per questa squadra perché nella seconda stagione, quando siamo arrivati in Champions, eravamo campioni d’Europa, avevamo giocato la Supercoppa Europea contro il Milan, i giocatori giocavano già in Nazionale e quando siamo arrivati in Champions eravamo una squadra con un background già abbastanza importante".

CP: If I'm not mistaken, you played with a 4-4-2 formation?

JM: We played with a 4-3-3 in the league and with a 4-4-2 in Europe. We were a very organized side. Tactically very disciplined. We had Deco who in those days was 23 or 24 years old. He was at the top of his career and was a briliant player who played behind two strikers. It was a very disciplined team tactically with a great desire to win, and an enormous concentration that was difficult for us to lose a game. In Portugal, if you are a good side, you win the league. It's not difficult. Because basically, it's a championship with two to three teams and there is a great difference between those three and all of the rest.

But in Europe, I think that playing in the UEFA Cup was important for us because the team wasn't prepared to go directly from games against small clubs to the best of the Champions League. To play in the UEFA Cup, I think it was important for this team because in the second season, when we arrived in the Champions League, we were champions of Europe. We had played the European Super Cup against AC Milan. The players had already played in the national team and when we arrived in the Champions League, we were already a team with a sufficiently important background.

Part II of this translated interview:

Mourinho discussed his time with Porto, opening his doors to the Real Madrid basketball coach, the situation before and after he arrived at Chelsea, his relationship with Roman Abramovich and differences between English and Italian media.

Italian source of quotes: La Gazzetta dello Sport, 3 February 2011, "Alle origini del fenomeno Mou: 'Come Sono Diventato Special 1' ".

Steve Amoia is a freelance writer, book reviewer and translator from Washington, D.C. He is the founder of World Football Commentaries . He has written and translated for AC Cugini Scuola Calcio (Italian soccer school), Beyond the Pitch, Football Media, Italian Soccer Serie A, Keeper Skool, Serie A Weekly and Soccerlens.

US International Michael Bradley Signs with Chievo Verona

2011-08-30T20:32:00.010-04:00

Getty Images.

Michael Bradley in action against Mexico
in June 2011.

US international, Michael Bradley, will become the fifth American in the modern era to play in the Serie A. He will join Chievo Verona who are affectionately known as the "Flying Donkeys." They have been in the Serie A since 2001 and have a strong city rivalry with Hellas Verona.

Predecessors in the Serie A

Alexi Lalas at Padova Calcio from 1994 to 1996.

Gabriel Ferrari at Sampdoria in 2007. (He appeared in a Coppa Italia match.)

Giuseppe Rossi at Parma in 2007.

Oguchi Onyewu at AC Milan in 2009. (He never appeared in an official game.)

Official Statement

"Un rinforzo dagli Stati Uniti per impreziosire il centrocampo di mister Di Carlo. L'A.C. ChievoVerona comunica di aver acquisito dal Borussia Moenchengladbach il giocatore Michael Bradley, colonna della nazionale statunitense, con una buona esperienza internazionale alle spalle, oltre all'esperienza nella Bundesliga con Heerenveen in Olanda e con l'Aston Villa in Inghilterra. Dopo Lalas e Onyewu un altro giocatore americano arriva in serie A.

Bradley, 24 anni, indosserrà la maglia gialloblù numero 6 e verrà presentato alla stampa domani mattina alle ore 12 al centro sportivo di Peschiera del Garda."

"A reinforcement from the United States to put a unique stamp on the midfield of Coach Di Carlo. A.C. Chievo Verona announces the acquisition of Michael Bradley from Borussia Moenchengladbach. A fixture of the US national team with a good international experience behind him. Besides his Bundesliga experience, he also played for Heerenveen in the Netherlands and with Aston Villa in England. After Alexi Lalas and Oguchi Onyewu, another American arrives in the Serie A.
Bradley, 24 years of age, will wear the number 6 shirt of Chievo Verona and will be presented to the press tomorrow morning at 12:00 noon at the sporting center of Peschiera del Garda."

Source: A.C. Chievo Web Site, 30 August 2011.

A Message from Michael Bradley

Related Articles

Italian Football Terminology Guide

North American El Clasico Coverage

2011-08-18T00:02:00.001-04:00

2011 Spanish Super Cup: Barcelona Wins

The two Spanish rivals will meet in a two-legged Super Cup. The first game will be on Sunday from the Santiago Bernabeu and the return match will be on Wednesday from the Camp Nou. Below the fold is el clasico coverage from earlier this year.

First leg at the Santiago Bernabeu: 2 (Ozil, Alonso) - 2 (Villa, Messi)

Second leg at the Camp Nou: 3 (Iniesta, Messi 2) - 2 (Ronaldo, Benzema)

Jose Mourinho: "About 'Pito' Vilanova or how you call this one, I have nothing to hide. The cameras saw everything." Marca.com

Jose Mourinho was asked about image of his players, himself and Madrid at end of game? "My players? Me? I don't know Vilanova..." He walked out.

Pep Guardiola was asked about Mourinho and his face tightened in anger. "I don't want to talk about Mourinho or enter into this argument."

Pep Guardiola: "I'm proud how we won. Intensity of game. Great result. Dynamic spirit. Against a strong rival. Merited by all my players."

--- Last three quotes courtesy of Premium Calcio which I translated from the Italian.

League Match in 2010: FC Barcelona 5 - Real Madrid 0

Last Saturday marked the first of four "el clasico" Spanish derbies in the span of 18 days between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.

League Match in 2011: Real Madrid 1 - Barcelona 1

16 April 2011: Real Madrid 1 x FC Barcelona 1: La Liga: 2100 GMT. Pep Guardiola had defeated Real Madrid five times since 2008.

Copa del Rey Final: Barcelona 0 - Real Madrid 1 AET

20 April 2011: FC Barcelona 0 x Real Madrid 1 AET: Copa del Rey from Valencia: 2030 GMT. This is their first meeting in the King's Cup final since 1990. (Barca won.)

Champions League Semi-final: Real Madrid 0 - Barcelona 2

szólj hozzá: RM 0-2 BAR - Highlights

27 April 2011: Real Madrid x FC Barcelona: UEFA Champions League semi-final: 1945 GMT. This is their first meeting at the semifinal stage of the competition since 2002. (Madrid won.)

Pep Guardiola

"El equipo ha estado mucho más agresivo y Keita nos ha dado la vida para contrarestar el poderoso juego aéreo del Madrid."

"The team was much more aggressive and Keita gave us a lifeline to counteract the powerful aerial game of Madrid."

Jose Mourinho

"Sí, ya estamos eliminados."

"Yes, we are already eliminated."

"Guardiola es un fantástico entrenador pero ha ganado una Champions que a mi me daría vergüenza ganar con el escándalo de Stamford Bridge."

"Guardiola is a fantastic coach but he won a UCL Cup that would have made me ashamed to win with the scandal at Stamford Bridge."

Cristiano Ronaldo

"No me gusta jugar así, pero tengo que adaptarme".

"I don't like to play like this but I have to adapt myself."

Source of Spanish text: Marca.com, 28 April 2010.

Champions League Semi-final: Barcelona 1 - Real Madrid 1

3 May 2011: FC Barcelona x Real Madrid: UEFA Champions League semi-final: 1945 GMT.

szólj hozzá: Barça 1-1 RMadrid - Highlights

Iker Casillas

"Jugando once contra once el Madrid no tuvo complejos. Nos vamos orgullosos por haber peleado hasta el final".

"Playing 11 v. 11, Real Madrid didn't have complexes. We're going out proudly for having fought to the end."

Source: Marca.com, 3 May 2011.

Aitor Karanka on Sky was asked about Higuain's goal:

"100 million people saw it." Did he speak to Mou re: subs? "We spoke before the game."

Cristiano Ronaldo

"Era Misión imposbile 4. La próxima temporada es mejor que le den al Barcelona la copa directamente".

"It was Mission Impossible 4... Next season, it's better that they give Barcelona the Cup directly."

Source: Marca.com, 3 May 2011.

Josep Guardiola on Eric Abidal

"Es un chico muy fuerte... Solamente él, con su fuerza de voluntad, podía hacer esto".

Source: Clarin of Buenos Aires, 3 May 2011.

"He's a very strong guy. Only he, with his strength of desire, could have done this."

La Liga Table

live scores

Coverage

Image courtesy of GolTV.

GolTV will provide their usual excellent coverage of Spanish futbol with Juan Arango, Ray Hudson, Phil Schoen and the rest of their team. They are broadcasting special historical features as a build-up to the games.

Images courtesy of Forza Futbol.

Forza Futbol: A Better Lens at Spanish Football is a great site by Elisa and Armando about La Liga and La Furia Roja.

Image courtesy of FSC.

Fox Soccer Channel will provide detailed UEFA Champions League coverage with Warren Barton, Christoper Sullivan and Eric Wynalda.

Beyond The Pitch-Jurgen Klinsmann: Translating a Career of Emotions

2011-08-10T00:02:00.006-04:00

Reuters Pictures.

Sunil Gulati, President of US Soccer and Jurgen Klinsmann.

In many ways, the new US men's national team manager, Jurgen Klinsmann, has a role never entrusted to any of his predecessors.

He must not only inspire and develop a next generation of footballers who have largely punched above their weight for several World Cup cycles, but also translate the tactics, thought process and raw emotions from his extensive playing career to players who did not grow up in a culture consumed by the very sport he is now charged with inspiring.

Many players coming through US Soccer today have only seen Klinsmann, who retired in 1998, on YouTube videos and found their inspiration in far different ways than he did.

Please read my full commentary at Beyond The Pitch.

Steve Amoia is a freelance writer, book reviewer and translator from Washington, D.C. He is the founder of World Football Commentaries . He has written and translated for AC Cugini Scuola Calcio (Italian soccer school), Beyond The Pitch, Football Media, Italian Soccer Serie A, Keeper Skool, Serie A Weekly and Soccerlens. You can follow Steve @worldfootballcm on Twitter.

Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez: The Goblin and The Apache

2011-08-09T00:02:00.000-04:00

by Oscar R. Amoia for World Football Commentaries

Translated from the Spanish by Steve Amoia.

Reuters Pictures.

Leo Messi and Carlos Tevez after Argentina
was eliminated by Uruguay in the 2011 Copa
America.

Lionel Messi. What hasn't been said of this authentic virtuoso of football up until now. Hundreds and thousands of words have been written and read analyzing this exceptional player. But what happens to him when he plays for Argentina?

As usual, a unique truth doesn't exist. What you do find is a blend of questions that make a theme and a team that does not have a definite style of play. The players come together days before to form a group. The pressure to want to assume a leadership role that by his personality, Messi doesn't have. Exaggerated anxieties to demonstrate before his people who he really is. All of this influences, all of this is felt, all of this produces a result that has been seen. The best player in the world playing fastidiously, exaggerating more than what is usual without success, not achieving what he wants, what the fans want. Everything is fed again through the circuit.

Not the New Maradona

Reuters Pictures.

Diego Maradona, Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez,
July 2011 in Havana, Cuba.

The Argentinean fan believes that Messi is the new Diego Maradona, but nothing is further from reality. They are not comparable in many aspects but fundamentally in how their personalities are manifested. Maradona has been and still is a rebel. A rebellious leader that puts all of the pressure on his own back, who is angry with everyone, who was discussed by the whole world by his words and his play. Who can forget his insults during the 1990 World Cup final in Rome when they played the Argentinean Hymn and all of the Italians present at the stadium jeered and whistled? That was Diego, a rebel, a born leader, an exceptional player in every aspect but with an added measure that made him different.

Messi: His Only Love is the Ball

Demotix Images.

Leo Messi during a benefit friendly
in July 2011.

Messi is almost a goblin of the football. A Playstation player who does what nobody does with the pace like nobody. But he doesn't have the charisma or the attitude of a leader. He is a guy with a low profile. He only speaks with the ball, he doesn't insult anyone, he doesn't fight. You almost don't even recognize his voice. His love is the ball and certainly he treats it as such. But if you don't ask him to be Diego, he would be calm, in his play that entertains and that he isn't the boss of the team. With FC Barcelona, Messi is that goblin. The one who appears with his demonic bursts and cuts opposing defenders to threads. But he isn't the leader of the team. That is not for him. Messi wants to play with the ball; nothing more than that. We should leave him to do what he surely does better than anyone.

Carlos Tevez, the People's Player from Fort Apache

Reuters Pictures.

Carlos Tevez in action against Fernando Muslera at
the 2011 Copa America.

Tevez is the player from the village, the people's player, born in a very humble place in a very marginal neighborhood: Fort Apache. He developed in a footballing sense with C.A. Boca Juniors from where he launched himself abroad. A player loved by the people, for his cunning, for his success, for never forgetting his past, for his simplicity, for his almost epic permanent force on the pitch. Until the last two months, he wasn't considered in the manager's plans for the Copa America. The pressure by the media, from the fans and from some other directives put him in the team to be selected for this tournament immediately after a phone call.

It didn't go well. Batista put Tevez out on the left flank (#11 position) and it didn't work out at all. He did what the manager asked of him but not with his recent history or with the fans behind him. Tevez put forth all of his heart and soul as always, but his powerful football and his goals didn't show up. He tried, he pushed, he hoped, but he couldn't deliver. He wondered around lost on that left flank taking to task his assigned position but disappearing. Almost unrecognizable in a team that like always appeared disconcerted.

About The Author

Oscar Amoia is a financial professional from Buenos Aires, Argentina who grew up in the neighborhood of La Boca. Oscar is a socio vitalicio, or lifetime member, of C.A. Boca Juniors. He has contributed commentaries at the International Herald Tribune 2006 World Cup Fan Blog, Soccerlens and World Football Commentaries. You can read his other commentaries here.

Paul Scholes Testimonial Match by Theresa Tran

2011-08-06T00:02:00.000-04:00

by Theresa Tran for World Football Commentaries

Reuters Pictures.

Paul Scholes and Pele'.

Reuters Pictures.

Saying good-bye after a legendary career.

Cosmos Roster

1. Brad Friedel (USA)
2. Gary Neville (ENG)
3. Wayne Bridge (ENG)
4. Patrick Vieira (FRA)
5. Fabio Cannavaro (ITA)
6. Sol Campbell (ENG)
7. Robert Pirès (FRA)
8. Nicky Butt (ENG)
9. Dwight Yorke (TRI)
11. Robbie Keane (IRE)
12. Michel Salgado (ESP)
13. Chad Calderone*
14. Ibrahim Diaby*
15. Yanik Reyering*
16. Stefan Dimitrov*
17. Dane Murphy*
18. Marvin Iraheta*
19. Moriken Sangary*
20. Brian McBride (USA)
21. Armando Gaitan*

*Denotes Cosmos U-23 player

North American Broadcast

Fox Soccer Channel will televise the game live at 2:30 p.m. Eastern time and 11:30 Pacific time.

Pele' at 10 Downing Street

Getty Images.

About the Author

Theresa Tran is the Director of Communications for the New York Cosmos.

Voice: 212-369-7000 / email: ttt@newyorkcosmos.com /

Jurgen Klinsmann: "You Can't Stop Soccer Anymore in This Country"

2011-08-01T01:28:00.017-04:00

Reuters Pictures.

Jurgen Klinsmann becomes the 35th
US men's national team head coach.

US Soccer has courted Jurgen Klinsmann since 2006. Today, he was introduced at Niketown in New York City as the new head coach of the US Men's National Team.

His Provocative Quote from South Africa

"You are the only country in the world that has the pyramid upside down. That means you pay for having your kid play soccer. Because your goal is not that your kid becomes a professional soccer player because your goal is that your kid gets a scholarship in high school or college. Which is completely opposite from the rest of the world."

Source: ESPN, June 2010 from South Africa.

Highlighted Quotes from His Press Conference

Reuters Pictures.

With Sunil Gulati, President of US Soccer.

"I'm really excited about the chance to coach the US team having lived here for 13 years."

"I've always stayed for family reasons very connected to the US program."

"US Soccer doesn't need fixing... You build basically on what was built before. And if you look back on the last twenty years a lot has been built."

"I have played in different countries, and they all have their own identities and style... The Italians sit back and wait for you to make a mistake and then kill you for it. Soccer reflects the culture of a country."

"I won't select a permanent coaching staff until two months from now. I'll work with guest coaches/technical advisers until then... We want to build a network to move US Soccer forward."

"I want Claudio Reyna (US Youth Program leader) very close to me and he will part of the staff."

"I want Tab Ramos' (A former US national team player in the 1990's) perspective at the U-17 and U-20 levels."

"Youth teams should reflect the mixture of your cultures. That's why Claudio Reyna will be so important. There is so much influence coming from the Latin environment in the last 15 years. It has to be reflected in the US national team... You won't have a copy at U-17 or U-20 with the senior team... There should be a broader understanding of how youth teams should play. Youth academies will get bigger and bigger. Media have to have your say in it."

"We want to play possession. We want to dictate the pace of the game."

"Expectations are always based on the last 15 to 20 years. In Germany, the expectation is to be in the final. Here, it's different. A Quarterfinal is huge... You want to improve. Get better. In the knockout stage, anything can happen... The foundation is youth. How much time they should spend with the ball (etc.) all feeds into Claudio Reyna's new role."

"The amount of time that kids play the game is missing. A kid in Mexico plays 20 hours a week. Perhaps four is organized and 16 unorganized with his buddies in the street. Passing, instinct on the field it shows. A lot of work is ahead of this. MLS has come a long way but still a hectic college style. We have to get it on a more comfortable, technical level with the ball. We have a long way to go to break into the top 10 in the world. We have to be realistic that we're not in that group yet."

My Thoughts

Mr. Klinsmann said publicly what many thought privately: A lack of Hispanic influence, rigid nature of college soccer and the lack of unorganized soccer. The soul of soccer comes from the streets/playgrounds/beaches around the world. American parents and children don't understand this basic concept.

Arnold Schwarzenegger once said "If you read 15 minutes a day on a topic you'll be an expert in 1 year." We need to apply that method to street soccer in the USA. Children need to be encouraged to embrace the ball as a friend without parental and coaching supervision 24/7. For many American children, soccer is seen as work instead of pleasure.

Please click the image for US team gear at SoccerPro.

Juventus Roster for 2011 World Football Challenge Tour

2011-07-29T00:02:00.000-04:00

Image courtesy of
Juventus FC.

Juventus FC will play in three North American friendlies in the 2011 World Football Challenge. Juventus arrived in Philadelphia on Tuesday, 19 July, and will be based from that city. Juventus has been training at the Novacare Complex of the Philadelphia Eagles according to Juventus.com and La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Getty Images.

Alessandro Del Piero, the heart and soul of Juventus FC.

Juventus Roster

Barzagli *
Bonucci
Buffon *
Chiellini
De Ceglie
De Silvestro
Del Piero *
Giandonato
Grygera
Immobile
Krasic
Lichtsteiner
Manninger
Marchisio
Marrone
Martinez
Matri
Motta
Pasquato
Pazienza
Pepe
Pirlo *
Quagliarella
Sorensen
Storari
Toni *
Ziegler

* 2006 World Cup winners.

Source: "27-Man Squad Announced for the USA"; Juventus.com, 17 July 2011.

Fixtures

24 July 2011: Juventus 1 (Alessandro Del Piero) - Sporting Clube de Portugal 2 (Yannick Djalo) from BMO Field in Toronto. Attendance: Approximately 10,000.

26 July 2011: Club America 0 - Juventus 1 (Cristian Pasquato) from Citi Field in Flushing, New York. Attendance: Approximately 20,000.

Buffon and Del Piero After Club America

28 July 2011: Chivas de Guadalajara 0 - Juventus 1 (Fabio Quagliarella) from Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina. Attendance: Approximately 16,200. This was held on the campus of NC State University. The team trained at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina.

Training at NovaCare

Related Articles

Juventus in North America for 2011 World Football Challenge (Serie A Weekly)
My Chance Meeting with Juventus FC

Juventus Gear

Image courtesy of Juventus FC.

Please click the image to view Juventus gear from SoccerPro.com.

2011/2012 Serie A Calendario/Fixtures

La Gazzetta Dello Sport: PDF

Beyond The Pitch: Copa America Argentina 2011 Fact Sheet and e-book

2011-07-25T00:02:00.004-04:00

The 43rd Copa America, or America's Cup, took place in Argentina from 1 July to 24 July 2011. This competition is similar to the European Nations Cup (Euro), and represents the continental championship of the Americas. This tournament is one of the oldest football competitions in the world. The first Copa America was held in 1916 in Argentina and the winner was Uruguay.

Cup Final Highlights: Uruguay 3 - Paraguay 0

Uruguay wins La Copa America for a record 15th time.

Group Round Phase Statistics

10 wins/losses and 8 draws.

37 goals from 18 games.

Elimination Round Fixtures

16 July from Cordoba: Colombia 0 - Peru 2
16 July from Santa Fe: AET: Argentina 1 - Uruguay 1 (4-5)

17 July from La Plata: AET: Brazil 0 -Paraguay 0 (0-2) Brazil missed all four penalty kicks.
17 July from San Juan: Chile 1 - Venezuela 2

Highlights from the Quarterfinal Round

Semi-Final Round Fixtures

19 July from La Plata: Peru 0 - Uruguay 2

20 July from Medoza: AET: Paraguay 0 (5-3) - Venezuela 0

Highlights from Argentina v. Uruguay

(46 goals after 24 games. Sergio Aguero and Luis Suarez are tied for the Golden Ball with three goals, respectively.)

Third Place

23 July from La Plata: Peru 4 - Venezuela 1

Paolo Guerrero of Peru leads the 2011 Copa America with five goals.

Final

24 July from Buenos Aires: Uruguay 3 - Paraguay 0

This was the first Cup final for Uruguay since 1999 who became the first 15-time winner of La Copa America. Paraguay had tied five straight games to reach the final. This was their first final since 1979.

Justo Villar of Paraguay was named the best goalkeeper, Luis Suarez of Uruguay was named the best player and Paolo Guerrero of Peru was the top scorer at the 2011 Copa America. Diego Lugano of Uruguay was named the best defender at the tournament.
Diego Forlan of Uruguay joins his grandfather and father as a winner of the Copa America.

Final Goal Tally: 54 goals in 26 games or 2.08 per game.

Eva "Evita" Duarte de Peron

Learn More About the land of Futbol, Las Pampas and Tango Argentino

Lonely Planet Argentina Guide
Argentina Football World by Dan Colasimone is a great site about Argentinean football and will have detailed tournament coverage.

World Football Commentaries

FoxSoccer.TV Weekly EPL, Ligue 1 and Serie A Fixtures: October 15/16, 2011

Beyond The Pitch: The Michelangelo of Goalkeepers, Gigi Buffon

Euro 2012 Qualification Group Winners and Play-off Draw

The Footy Pie: Abedi Pelé Ayew: "The Torino Fans Are Magnificent."

The Footy Pie: Zlatan Ibrahimovic: "I'm Beginning to Get Old"

2011/12 UEFA Champions League Predictions by Chris Behrens

The Footy Pie: Zlatan Ibrahimovic: "I'm Beginning to Get Old"

An AC Milan (San Siro) and AS Roma (Stadio Olimpico) Fan Perspective by Rick Olivieri

Contributors at World Football Commentaries

Signed Soccer and International Football Memorabilia: Icons

Beyond The Pitch: Two Unlikely Trailblazers: Bob and Michael Bradley

A Napoli Fan Experience at Stadio San Paolo by John Di Diana

Viewing Party at the Football Factory Soccer Bar at Legends by Robert Kennerney

2011/12 UEFA Champions League Tournament Draw

Beyond The Pitch: Italian Football Guide

Nothing But Nets: Diego Gutierrez of the Chicago Fire

Interview with Diego Gutierrez of the Chicago Fire-Soccerlens

Fluent in 3 Months: The Language Hacking Guide by Benny Lewis

Part 1: "At the Origins of the Phenomenon Mourinho: 'How I Became Special 1' "

US International Michael Bradley Signs with Chievo Verona

North American El Clasico Coverage

ASK KAKA' by adidas in Washington, D.C.

FC Barcelona: The Best Team in the World by Adam Howard

Part 1: "At the Origins of the Phenomenon Mourinho: 'How I Became Special 1' "

Part 2: "At the Origins of the Phenomenon Mourinho: 'How I Became Special 1' "

Beyond The Pitch-Jurgen Klinsmann: Translating a Career of Emotions

Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez: The Goblin and The Apache

Paul Scholes Testimonial Match by Theresa Tran

Jurgen Klinsmann: "You Can't Stop Soccer Anymore in This Country"

Juventus Roster for 2011 World Football Challenge Tour

Beyond The Pitch: Copa America Argentina 2011 Fact Sheet and e-book