Spain tops FIFA World Rankings

After their Euro 2008 triumph, Spain has emerged as world number one on the Fifa world rankings. The top 10 are as follows:

1) Spain - up 3 places
2) Italy - up 1 place
3) Germany - up 2 places
4) Brazil - down 2 places
5) Netherlands - up 5 places
6) Argentina - down 5 places
7) Croatia - up 8 places
8) Czech Republic - down 2 places
9) Portugal - up 2 places
10) France - down 3 places

Mourinho after Xavi

Reports out of Italy and Spain, have suggested that new boss of Inter Milan, Jose Mourinho is after the player of Euro 2008, Xavi Hernandez.
Inter Milan seemed keen on bringing Frank Lampard to the San Siro, however it now appears that Lampard will only be making the switch until his contract at Chelsea runs out in 2009.
Inter are in the hunt for a top notch center midfielder, and Mourinho apparently has indicated to club owner, Massimo Moratti to make a move for Xavi. This is not the first time that Mourinho has tried to sign Xavi, as he also made an unscuccesful bid for the player, when he was manager of Chelsea two years ago.
My guess is he will be unsuccessful at landing Xavi once again. Xavi is a very important player at Barcelona and there's no way I see them selling him now, especially after his performance at Euro 2008. Speaking on receiving the best player award at Euro 2008, Xavi said that the award was big recognition for him and that it gives him more confidence than anything else, to achieve more next season with his squad. He also said that the award will not improve his role at Barcelona, as he is already valued.
Xavi is a committed Barcelona player and given the important role he has within the team, Inter Milan will be unsuccessful at landing him, no matter how much money they offer. Reports also suggest that Manchester United and Liverpool are also pondering moves for the 28-year-old.

Euro 2008 Final Comments

I know I'm two days late and I should have written this earlier, but better late than never. I just want to say I throughly enjoyed Euro 2008. Before this competition I really wasn't a big fan of International soccer as I see it somewhat secondary to club football in several aspects. However this tournament was great, and what could possibly be better than playing for your national team.
I want to congratulate, Spain for winning, I said from the beginning of the competition that they were my favorite European team, and they proved why I like them so much. Their passes and timed runs were brilliant and I have to give a round of applause to their defense, who many people questioned since the beginning. It was good to see them end a 44 year period in which they acquired no trophies, and I have to commend Fernando Torres for that brilliant goal he scored to secure victory and the title. He was rather disappointing throughout the tournament and I was just elated to see him seal the deal.
I have to also say well done to Xavi, who played excellent all tournament and was voted Castrol Player of the Tournament. He dominated and dictated the Spanish midfield throughout the tournament, showed his maturity as a player and leader and thus he really deserved this award.
Uefa also named its Team of the Tournament which is dominated by Spain, the 23 players include: Casillas, Buffon, Van der Sar, Marchena, Puyol, Bosingwa, Pepe, Lahm, Zhirkov, Senna, Xavi, Zyryanov, Modric, Altintop, Fabregás, Iniesta, Ballack, Podolski, Sneijder, Villa, Torres, Arshavin, Pavlyuchenko.
If you look at the list you will see there is no Cristiano Ronaldo and rightly so. I am very critical of Ronaldo as I don't think he deserves to be called the best in the world just yet, even though he has won the Champions League. He is constantly a no show against big teams, missed two penalties, one in the Champions League semi-final and the other in the final, which almost cost his team the title, and he didn't show up against Germany in the Euro quarter-final. Until Ronaldo becomes unselfish in character and play, I believe he is not deserving of the award. His lack of ability to pass in the manner that Xavi did, cost Portugal dearly and hence my reason for why he's not on Uefa's 23 man list.
Once again, congrats to Euro 2008 winners, Xavi and Spain, they played the best football known to man and are worthy champions. Viva Espana!

Euro 2008 Final: Germany vs Spain Live!

After a hard fought contest with teams battling it out for honor and national pride, we are left with two of the named favorites since the beginning, Germany and Spain.
Today's game promises to be an exciting match and I will be interested to see who comes out tops. Spain I believe will play very compact, ensuring that the Germans don't get that much needed space. Interesting match-ups will be all over the pitch, we'll see how well Sergio Ramos can stop Podolski, and if Marcos Senna will be able to contain Micheal Ballack or Frings. I believe that if Spain work the ball like they did against Russia, hold possession and look for the best passes, Germany will be unable to beat them today.
On the German hand of things, Germany has to play a lot better than they did against Turkey, if they expect to win. They were quite lucky to kill off Turkey in dramatic fashion, through a Philip Lahm stunner. However I believe whoever takes control of this game first will win it. German will most likely look to hit Spain on the counterattack, as I expect Spain to dominate the possession.
This match is truly a clash of two different styles, on one hand the more technical, skillful style played by Spain, and on the other, the more physical, brute-force style played by the Germans. Today we shall see which style comes out top, and who will call themselves Euro 2008 champions.
To watch the match go to www.myp2p.eu there's a list of live sports listed on the website, just click on the Football tab for a list of today's matches and you will see the Germany vs Spain match. Bare in mind that if you don't have P2P software installed on your PC, you will need to download it. A guide for P2P software is listed on the website and my personal favorite is Sopcast. Enjoy!

Russia vs Spain Semi-final Live! Online

The second semi-final of Euro 2008 kicks off the same time today as yesterday, 20:45 GMT between favorites Spain and red-hot Russia.
Russia is the underdog as Spain thrashed them 4-1 in their first encounter in this tournament, however I do have a feeling that things will be a lot different this time. Russia has picked up momentum since that defeat and subsequently has beaten Greece, Sweden and the Netherlands to book their place in this semi-final. Also with the their star player Andrei Arshavin, back in the lineup after being suspended for their first two matches, including the one which Spain won, one can't help but think their chances of upsetting the Spanish are quite possible.
Spain, having crushed their quarter-final jinx, will be upbeat about winning this game and booking their place in the final against Germany. Their performance against Italy was somewhat frustrating especially for their strikers, and you could tell by the looks on the faces of Fernando Torres and David Villa. To win this one Torres needs to look for his teammates as he did in the first encounter with Russia, he is often marked by two, three players and only by passing the ball will he able to create room for his teammates and occasionally for himself.
Yesterday's game was a thriller and I have no doubts that today's game will be any different. To watch the match go to www.myp2p.eu there's a list of live sports listed on the website, just click on the Football tab for a list of today's matches and you will see the Russia vs Spain match. Bare in mind that if you don't have P2P software installed on your PC, you will need to download it. A guide for P2P software is listed on the website and my personal favorite is Sopcast. Enjoy!

Germany vs Turkey Semi-final Live!

Hi guys, today the first semi-final of Euro 2008 kicks off at 20:45 GMT. Don't miss a minute of the action as we will be in for what should be an exciting encounter.
I've been saying even before this one kicks off that I think Germany will win. Let's see if my prediction holds true, for we all know that in football anything can happen. Turkey in my opinion cannot rely on last gasp heroics against Germany, they need to score first and keep scoring, if they want to win this one. Turkey is also in deep trouble because as many as eight of their starters are missing, due to suspension or injury. However Turkish coach Fatih Terim has faith and is counting on his youngsters to shine.
Germany I believe will come out strong as usual, Ballack, Schweinsteiger, Podolski and Klose will be constant threats to the Turkish defense. Look for the Germans to strike Turkey on setpieces and counterattacks, and for them to make life difficult in defense because of the great physicality they possess.
So where do I stream the game? You're asking, just go to www.myp2p.eu there's a list of live sports listed on the website, just click on the Football tab for a list of today's matches and you will see the Turkey vs Germany match. Bare in mind that if you don't have P2P software installed on your PC, you will need to download it. A guide for P2P software is listed on the website and my personal favorite is Sopcast. Enjoy!

Scolari Ponders Schweinsteiger Move

After suffering defeat by the Germans yet again, both in the 2006 World Cup and at this year's Euro. Chelsea's new boss, Luiz Felipe Scolari, is pondering a move for the man who put in two devastating performances against his Portuguese side, Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Schweinsteiger is said to be keen on a move to England as he has seen his playing time reduced at Bayern Munich, due to the revelation of Frank Ribery. Scolari has had a good look at the player after suffering defeat at his hands twice, and is now contemplating bringing the 23-year-old to Stanford Bridge. Chelsea is apparently in need of fresh talent on the wings, as both Florent Malouda and Shuan Wright Phillips have had poor seasons at the Bridge, thus Schweinsteiger could be the man to fit the bill.
Giving the way Chelsea plays, that strong physical style of football, I think Schweinsteiger is a perfect fit, and even though he is just 23, he has a wealth of experience having been capped for the German National team 54 times while finding the back of the net on 14 occasions.
Scolari could definitely use a player of Bastian's caliber and you know what they say, if you can't beat them join them.

Watch Euro 2008 Online

I want to personally do something for my readers today. I know some people probably don't have cable and are wondering how they can catch Euro 2008 elsewhere. Well look no farther. Here is a website I use whenever I want to watch a game online www.myp2p.eu bare in mind that you will need to download p2p software and this site guides you to where you can get it. Personally the p2p software I use is Sopcast but they are many others. If for some reason you are skeptical about p2p software just type it in google and find out what it's all about. Also bare in mind I am not responsible for any difficulties you may have with p2p software, all I know is that it works for me. Access Granted, Enjoy!

Cesc Fabregas, Spain confident

The quarterfinals of Euro 2008 are underway and there are indeed some interesting matches ahead, but I want to speak about the Italy versus Spain game on Sunday.
The Spanish will indeed be looking to overcome their quarterfinals jinx by beating the defending World Champions, Italy, who have looked rather shaky so far in this competition. Spain on the other hand has been playing well and have won all three of their group matches, and if momentum counts for anything they will beat Italy come Sunday. I am very excited about this game and hopefully Spain can live up to their hype.
Cesc Fabregas stated in an interview today that he believes his team will overcome their Italian opponents, primarily because they take care of the ball much better in terms of possession. I too agree with his statements, as long as Spain settle into their rhythm, the game is theirs. Don't get me wrong I'm not writing Italy off, they are a very good team and I respect them very much, but they seem to be struggling in the aspect of cohesion and chemistry. They don't have a fast counter attack like Spain or the Netherlands and their creativity seems a little watered down. However in football anything can happen.
Spain will certainly be hot favorites to lift the trophy if they do beat Italy, and with their morale bursting the roof right now, they certainly believe that impossible is nothing.

Villa In Demand

Due to his amazing performances at Euro 2008, many of Europe's elite clubs are interested in signing El Guaje from Valencia this summer. Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Arsenal and now Liverpool have all been linked with the 26 year old.
Villa had been reported to say he would prefer to play for a big club in Spain but now seems to be interested in a move to England, but as I see it, it's still in the air. He could very well stay at Valencia, as the club is reluctant to sell. If i were Valencia, i would not sell my top striker either, but it all comes down to what the player wants and what's best for the club as a whole.
It's funny to me how clubs are now beginning to take notice of Villa, because in my opinion he was always a great striker and one of the best in La Liga. Dating back to the 2005/2006 La Liga season, he was the runner-up in the race for the piccici and was only outscored by Eto'o.
Villa recently said that he would be tempted to join Liverpool because of Rafa Benitez and the many friends he has at the club, including Spanish teammate Fernando Torres. However, I've heard no news of Liverpool trying to capture the player, they are currently fending off the interest from Chelsea for Torres.
Wherever Villa goes or if he decides to stay, I just hope it is the best decision for such a gifted striker, on thing is certain at Valencia, he won't see the bench.

Netherlands: Reasons For Success @ Euro

With the Netherlands securing their spot in the quarter-finals of Euro 2008 with an impressive 4-1 display over France, that literally had me jumping out of my seat, I just want to point out why I think they're being so successful thus far in this competition.

Attitude
Wesley Sneijder declared before this game that he and his teammates are afraid of no one and you can vividly see it. These players really want this cup, you see it in their attitude on the pitch ,they never look like loosing and they play at a high energy level especially on their fast-breaks.

Chemistry
With Ruud van Nistelrooy, Robben and Sneijder all playing at Madrid, it is clear that this team has an upper hand in terms of knowing each other very well. You can see how easily they play as a unit and definitely playing with each other at the same club is a big factor in competitions like this one, where teams are comprised of players who play in various leagues.

Raw Talent
Just take a look at Sneijder's screamer in the top V, Robben's fantastic left footed strike, which he scored even while Gallas was closing his space, Van Nistelrooy's incredible ability where if he isn't scoring he's providing, and also with the likes of Van Persie and Van der Vaart. Clearly the Dutch aren't short of raw talent, this team oozes it through their pores.

Good Management
I know many people question Marco Van Basten's ways and tactics, but clearly he has the formula for winning. Italy blamed their lost on the poor tactics of their manager, never giving the Dutch credit for the way they played, but they proved today that Italy's beat-down was no fluke. Van Basten's tactics and decisions may be questionable to some, but let's face it, he's Dutch, and the Dutch produce good managers.

After seeing the Netherlands destroy two heavyweights in this competition, I definitely see them going all the way to the final. Let's wait and see if my prediction holds true.

David Villa , Spain incredible in first game @ Euro

Today I was most definitely looking forward to seeing my favorite team at Euro 2008, Spain, and I was certainly not disappointed.
I had questions in my mind about how well the Spanish would play, primarily due to the previous game before this one against the United States, where they only managed to score one goal. However today in their first game at Euro against Russia, they have certainly found their stride and played the way i expected them too.
Yesterday I failed to point out players who played well in the Netherlands victory over Italy, but today I have no choice. David Villa was just brilliant, his hat trick in Spain's 4-1 victory, did a lot to soften the blow of Raul not being in this competition. He showed that Spain has top strikers besides the Spanish all time leading goal scorer, Raul. Before this match all I was hearing was Torres, Torres, Torres and although I love Torres very much as well, Villa just outshone him in this game. Aragones, to me for once did the right thing and that was to partner Torres and Villa up front, instead of using Villa as a substitute and it payed off big time.
After Villa's performances today, I'm sure Valencia will be beaming with joy, as their player is off to a good start in the competition and has thus potentially raised his value, which will intern justify the high price tag they have attached to the player. Valencia are reported to possibly sell at least one of their star players this summer in order to help ease the financial issues at the club, and Villa could very well be the one to be sold.
Spain have apparently gotten their defensive issues together but personally I think it needs some more tweaking, the defense cannot afford to loose concentration in the dying moments of the game just because they have the lead, it could cost them dearly if the scoreline was much closer. However, it was a good overall display by the Spanish and with a little bit more chemistry, it will be hard to stop them from winning Euro 2008. I give them two thumbs up.

Nehtherlands the Shock of Euro 2008?

After watching the Netherlands win convincingly over current World Champions, Italy, in their first group encounter at Euro 2008, I felt compelled to write something.
Everyone knows the Dutch have quality and they are capable of beating anybody, but nobody probably thought they would have thrashed Italy the way they did. I myself was so shocked but I throughly enjoyed the display they put on. Shadows of doubt are often placed on the Dutch because although they possess extreamely gifted players, they too like Spain often disappoint on the big stage. However after defeating current World Champions, Italy, one is left to ponder if they have what it takes to win Euro 2008.
Ajax, Barcelona and Dutch legend Johan Cruyff said in an interview before the match with Italy, that his country has a good team but he questioned head coach, Marco Van Basten's tactics, saying he has doubts about them. I wonder what he thinks of his tactics after Italy's 3-0 thrashing. Tactically what I gathered from the way the Dutch played, is that they counter attacked very well, caught Italy off-guard when they pushed heavily up the pitch, they found their wide players frequently to stretch Italy's defense and they often looked to beat the offside trap with quality balls down the middle. To me they played like an ideal Dutch team and I personally found nothing wrong with Van Basten's tactics, as they played quality attacking football.
I was going to state who I personally thought stood out in this game, however it is very hard to point a finger at any one player because overall this was an excellent team effort. The Netherlands truly played like a cohesive unit.
It is still early days in the competition and we are yet to see if the Dutch will play this well again, but after their first game against Italy, they have definitely tipped themselves as one of the favorites to win Euro 2008.

Rijkaard or Mancini, who would you choose?

Hi football fans, word out is that Chelsea are focusing on two options for the vacancy they have available after the sacking of Avram Grant. These two options are none other than Roberto Mancini and Frank Rijkaard who both lost their jobs recently.
With their other targets already preoccupied or having moved elsewhere these two are favorites to land the job. Guus Hiddink pledged his future to the Russian national team , Mark Hughes opted to caoch Manchester City, Jose Mourinho ruled out a return and was appointed coach of Inter, and Milan have declared that they will not let Ancelotti leave. Therefore if you were Chelsea who would you pick Rijkaard or Mancini.
Both these managers have been successful but Frank Rijkaard has the better track record, although Mancini has been more successful in recent times winning three back to back scudettos, while Rijkaard has been titleless in the last two seasons with Barca which ultimately cost him his job.
With Roman Abromovich wanting to see a classier style of football being played at Chelsea and his urge to win the Champions League, if I were Chelsea I would appoint Rijkaard, who has won it unlike Roberto Mancini. I would also appoint Rijkaard for his coaching philosphy and style, which includes playing very attacking football as a cohesive unit. In his system there are no stars and every player is important to the team. This kind of philosophy builds personal morale and subsequently team morale. I'm not particularly sure what coaching philosophy Mancini holds but given the way Barca played when they were in their prime I would choose Rijkaard hands down.
Chelsea are set to conduct interviews with both managers during the kick off of Euro 2008, so as to get some time out of the limelight for once. Regardless of whoever they appoint as coach, I believe either manager would be a good choice. Maybe they could have Rijkaard as head coach and Mancini as assistant or vice versa, as the assistant manager role is also vacant after Henk Ten Cate was also fired. However i could hardly see such prolific managers wanting to coach in an assistant role.