Juventus ace Alessandro Del Piero has given his most clear intention that the Bianconeri will overcome Fulham in their Europa League clash today. After overcoming Ajax in the last fixture, Juventus will be looking to build on their improving form in the competition.
After starting the season strongly, Juve suffered a series of defeats that left fans baying for coach Ciro Ferarra’s blood. The beleaguered Italian was finally sacked after the club officials patience ran out. Alberto Zaccheroni was the man tasked with restoring Juve to its former glory and he has faired pretty well if you ask me. Read more... (308 words, 3 images, estimated 1:14 mins reading time)
photo credit: jikatu
Uruguay
The Keeper
Viera and Castillo will battle it out for the honor of starting goalie. Either way Uruguay decides to go means that they lack a really solid keeper in the net and this is one of their most suspect units right now. Usually a solid defensive club, they will have to prove their worth this Cup because the club’s D didn’t play up to their potential in the WCQ.
Grade: C +
The Defense Read more... (412 words, 4 images, estimated 1:39 mins reading time)
Manchester United hammered AC Milan 4-0 to move into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Leading 3-2 after the first leg, Man Utd tightened their grip on the tie when Wayne Rooney scored again. With the goal Rooney became on the second player in history to score in both legs of a European tie against Milan.
Any hopes that Milan had of getting back in the game were killed a minute into the second half when Rooney ran onto a brilliant ball from Nani to score his 30th goal of the season and knock Milan out of the Champions League. Read more... (467 words, 3 images, estimated 1:52 mins reading time)
7 time European champions AC Milan have an uphill task tonight when they face a very in form Manchester United at the Old Trafford. United who won the first leg of this match 3-2 at the San Siro will be hoping that leading scorer Wayne Rooney will be available to help deliver them from Milan’s noose.
Both these teams have met 4 times with Milan emerging victorious on all occasions. This is what makes this tie all the more exciting. United will want to break the curse that follows them whenever they meet Milan. The city of Manchester will welcome back one of their most famous players ever. David Beckham will for the first time in 7 years grace the turf that propelled him to international stardom. Read more... (444 words, 3 images, estimated 1:47 mins reading time)
photo credit: JannahHAIR
This Wednesday at 2:45 PM Eastern US time, AC Milan will head to Old Trafford and square off against Manchester United.
THE PAST
Manchester United is one of the most historically significant clubs in all of the world and since the Premier League was established in the early 1990’s the club has dominated the top tier with eleven championships in the last twenty years. Many of the greatest Premier League players proudly wore the red uniform and the team possesses the most famous coach in the league, Alex Ferguson. They also have won 11 FA Cups and 3 UEFA Champions League titles as well. Last season they finished the tournament in second place behind Barca. Read more... (320 words, 4 images, estimated 1:17 mins reading time)
photo credit: Vironevaeh
This Tuesday, Fiorentina will take on Bayern Munich in the second match of their UEFA Champions League battle at 2:45 PM Eastern US time.
THE PAST
Bayern Munich is without a doubt the best German squad in their league’s history and the club has won the title a record 21 times in their long existence. The club has also won their domestic Cup 14 times and the UEFA Champions League title 4 times as well. The last time the German side was honored with the UEFA title was in 2001 and most people consider the club’s Golden Years to be in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s when the club was among the best in the world year after year. Read more... (349 words, 4 images, estimated 1:24 mins reading time)
Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho Gaucho has taken the responsibility of steering his Milan side to an important victory in their upcoming Champions League fixture against Manchester United at Old Trafford this Wednesday.
The Rossoneri take a 3-2 deficit to the Theatre of Dreams and they are hoping that their pedigree in Europe’s prestigious club tournament will see them through to the quarter finals.
In the past Milan have been United’s obtacle to European success at least when they have met at this stage. The last time these two teams met was back in 2007 and although they lost by a similar 3-2 goal margin, Kaka gave one of his best performances ever in a Milan shirt. Read more... (242 words, 3 images, estimated 58 secs reading time)
Juventus centre-back Giorgio Chiellini will miss the first leg of the Italian club’s UEFA Europa League round of 16 tie with Fulham on Thursday but could be back for the return in London next week after a scan revealed that his left thigh injury is less serious than first feared.
The 25-year-old suffered the injury during the 2-1 victory at Fiorentina on Saturday, but analysis revealed no serious damage to any muscles. The Italy centre-back, who has contested 25 games in Serie A and six in Europe this term with Juve, will be out of action for about a week. Nicola Legrottaglie is expected to deputise against Fulham in Turin. Read more... (116 words, 2 images, estimated 28 secs reading time)
photo credit: steven rt
THE PAST
Most people do not know this little fact, but Uruguay was the first ever champions of the World Cup and the nation was also the host of the first ever World Cup as well. The team did win the Cup under much different rules then the current ones (only 13 teams competed), but they also won the title once again in 1950 in Brazil. After that second victory the club did make it to the semi-finals twice, but they haven’t advanced that far in the tournament since 1970. In their last five attempts to make the Cup, Uruguay has only made the event twice and haven’t advanced past the second round since that 1970 Cup run. Read more... (346 words, 4 images, estimated 1:23 mins reading time)
Here in the states we pay tribute to the twelfth man as they say. Many of our football stadiums often reference this important factor in any competition. In Seattle, WA the Seahawks raise a flag with the number twelve on it right before kickoff to get the crowd rowdy. In college football the Texas A&M Aggies reference this idea on their stadium wall.
With technological advancements over the last twenty years it is hard to walk into an NFL stadium and not be overwhelmed with this feeling of the twelfth man. It’s all over stadium walls, banners, and giant TV screens. Being encouraged to cheer on the home team has gone completely digital with expensive visual effects on the stadium jumbo screen and celebrities hyping their favorite teams. Rooting for your club has taken on a whole new ideology. Read more... (317 words, 3 images, estimated 1:16 mins reading time)
