0 Messi score a brace in Brazil 2014 World cup qualifier against Uruguay.

Lionel Messi netted a brace and Sergio Aguero score the other in Argentina 3-0 victory against Uruguay in Brazil 2014 World cup qualifier. The Barcelona star scored his 6th goals and level the score with Argentina team mate Gonzalo Higuain and Luis Suárez. Sergio Aguero scored the other goal following great effort by Angel Di Maria. Messi have been in great form for international game and was delighted with another three points: "We mustn't forget that Uruguay are the last Copa America champions, therefore this was a big triumph………" He said.

Argentina National Soccer team 2012. Credit to football galleries

Oscar Tabarez was without injured Diego Perez and suspended Alvaro Pereira but Argentina were strong to avoid threat from top strikers Diego Forlan, Luis Suarez and Edison Cavani. Argentina leads the group with 17 points ahead of Ecuador and Colombia by one point. Ecuador beats 9 men Chile 3-, Felipe Caicedo score twice. Colombia hit man, Radamel Falcao scores both 2 goals in 2-0 victory against Paraguay. Loss to Argentina means, Uruguay seat on final automatic qualification position with 12 points same as fifth placed Chile. 

The results means in 222 competition and international friendlies, Argentina have won 100 vs 66 for Uruguay. But the trophies counts is still on favor of Uruguay with 19 trophies (2 world cup, 15 Copa America and 2 olympic) vs Argentina’s 16 trophies (2 World cups, 13 Copa America and 1 Olympic).  

Argentina vs Uruguay Video Highlights all goals 3-0 

 

2 Wayne Rooney brace push him to 5th in all time top scorer as England top group H in Brazil 2014 World cup qualifiers

Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck both scored twice at Wembley as England top group H in World Cup 2014 qualifier following 5-0 over San Marino which is ranked 201 below. San Marino lost their 109 match out of 115 played. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain completed the rout. Rooney has so far scored 31 goals for his country to become 5th in England all time national team scorers moving from 8th position. This come on his first cap as England Captain following John Terry retirement. 

Allan Shear back in June backed Rooney to smashed his record and become all time top scorer. It seems Rooney is right on the course to prove Shear’s statement. Though it is very tough to score 19 goals and beat Bobby Charlton’s record of 49 goals he can still close the gap in these world cup qualifiers. He might as well use the World Cup in Brazil and 2014 European championship in France.

England all time scorers 

Bobby Charlton 49 

Gary Lineker 48 

Jimmy Greaves 44 

Michael Owen 40 

Wayne Rooney 31 

 

England VS San Marino goals summary 

Wayne Rooney – England pen 34' 1-0 

Danny Welbeck - England 36' 2-0 

Wayne Rooney - England 69' 3-0 

Danny Welbeck - England 71' 4-0 

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - England 76 5-0

0 FIFA world football ranking: England move to 5th, Colombia back to top 50.

The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking for October edition has been released today. The edition had 136 matches played including Brazil 2014 world cup qualifiers and international friendly games.The world cup and European champions Spain and Germany still leads in FIFA ranking as world cup finalist Netherlands keeps dropping.

England climb to 5th after two Brazil world cup qualifiers.

England 5-0 win over Moldova and 1-1 draw against Ukraine saw them climb to 5th. There is nothing for Roy Hodgson to celebrate as the move is more due to bad performance of other top five teams including 2011 Copa America champions Uruguay which drawn 2 and beaten 4-0 by Colombia.

Atletico Madrid's hitman Falcao and coach Jose Pekerman impact.

Colombia under Colombia managed to climb back to FIFA ranking top 10 after earning highest points than all the teams (259), first appearance since 2002. The team is under Jose Pekerman coach and their squad has Atletico Madrid hitman Radamel Falcao whose performance has been incredible both at club and national team. So far has scored 3 in World cup qualifiers including in 3-1 win over Chile and 4-0 against Uruguay. 

2014 World cup host worst ranking could affect 2014 performance.

Brazil, the world cup 2014 host had three consecutive wins in international friendly games. As friendly game has less weights/points, hosts have dropped even more to reach record lowest level, 14th. Of the three wins, only 2-1 win against Argentina was convincing but a narrow win against South Africa and 8-0 win over China would not count that much. Not participating in really competition before 2014 could have a negative impact on Brazil performance in the world cup or Mano Menezes need to pick strong teams for friendly games. 

Superb FIFA cocacola raking progress by Central African Republic

The continuous surprise package in the FIFA ranking is Central African Republic. They rise to 49th and in top 50 for the first time, this time up by 15 places. The African Country has been on successive up move for 7th month in a row. One would like to dig and know what is the secret behind. 

FIFA COCACOLA world football ranking October 3rd 2012

Rank	National team	Points	+/- Pos
1	Spain	1611	0
2	Germany	1459	0
3	Portugal	1259	1
4	Argentina	1208	3
5	England	1196	-2
6	Netherlands	1141	2
7	Uruguay	1140	-2
8	Italy	1106	-2
9	Colombia	1102	13
10	Greece	1029	1

1 Neymar net hat-trick as Chelsea midfielder assisted three and score one in Brazil 8-0 win over China in International friendly (Video highlights)

Is name is Neymar, The Samba boy, wonder kid who displayed poacher or goal getter. 

Santos starlet Neymar scores a hat trick as Brazil rout China 8-0 in international friendly as new Chelsea midfielder Oscar displayed wonderful performance with three assists and score from penalty kick. Three Neymar’s goals all came from tap-ins, watch his first goal, second goal and third goal, the tap-ins showing his predator side similar to the likes of Filippo inzaghi and Hernan Crespo.

Neymar was criticized by Brazil fans for under performance in previous game against South Africa when five time world champions won by only 1-0 thanks to new Zenit St Petersburg signing Hulk. Neymar was quoted asking for fans support for the national team. "I do not ask the fans to like me, but I ask them to cheer for the national team." He said. 

South American team under head coach Mano Menezes is busy on friendly game having been exempted from The 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers displayed unfriendly performance to China. The results is China’s worse defeat since 5-0 loss to United States in 1992. World cup qualifiers for Brazil 2014 for South American are currently ongoing where as Argentina is leading the CONMEBOL group.

Brazil vs China goals summary 

Ramires - Brazil (22') 1-0 

Neymar - Brazil (25') 2-0 

Lucas - Brazil (49') 3-0 

Hulk - Brazil (52') 4-0 

Neymar - Brazil (54') 5-0 

Neymar - Brazil (60') 6-0 

Jianye Liu - Brazil (OG 70') 7-0 

Oscar (PG 75') 8-0  

Brazil national team before international friendly match vs China. From left to right David Luiz, Dede, Oscar, Marcelo, Lucas Moura, Ramires, Romulo, Diego Alves, Hulk, Daniel Alves, Neymar.  

Brazil first 11:- Diego Alves, Daniel Alves, Dede, David Luiz, Marcelo, Romulo, Ramires, Oscar, Lucas Moura, Neymar, Hulk 

China first 11:- Cheng Zeng, Zhao Peng, Liu Jianye, Yu Yang, Lupeng, Zhao Xuri, Tang Miao, Zhu Ting, Hao Jumin, Gao Lin, Liu Jian Recife, Brazil.

Video Highlights Brazil vs China all goals. Video credit to BestManagerFootball

0 USA under-20 women beat defending champion German 1-0 to lift FIFA world cup.

A goal from by Kealia Ohai just before half time won USA women under 20 FIFA world cup for the third time after 2002 and 2008, thank to Crystal Dunn great work to assist the goal. It was the first goal Germany the defending champions conceded in the tournament and after 610 minutes in 6 matches, having won group D tie 3-0.

Unites States celebrate women under-20 FIFA world cup. Photo by Getty Image

USA head coach Steve Swanson described how United States learned from the defeat in first game vs Germany. 

USA coach Steve Swanson sport news quotes “We all felt good coming into the game. We knew what Germany was about. Playing them in group play obviously gave us a good perspective of what they can bring. Yes we lost 3-0, and it was very shocking to us, but we learned from our mistakes. Just marking tight in the box and not letting them get any chances they didn’t really deserve.” 

In another FIFA U-20 match for third place, Japan beat Nigeria 2-1 to clinch third place. Japan goals come from Yoko Tanaka and Asuka Nishikawa while Nigeria’s consolation goal was scored by Desire Oparanozie.  USA and Germany women under-20 are still the top teams having shared 5 of the six crowns at this level three for USA and two for Germany. Video by Jeffy2U

0 2014 Brazil World Cup: Argentina thrashed Ecuador 4-0 as Lionel Messi shine again

Lionel Messi national team form is improving as he helped Argentina climb to the top of the South American World Cup qualifying group gathering 10 points in 5 games after a 4-0 victory over Ecuador. Argentina is in one group with Chile with 9 points, Uruguay and Venezuela both with 8 points. Two Real Madrid players Sergio “El Kun” Aguero and Angel Di Maria, Barcelona and Manchester City players all scored once in the game.


Lionel Messi impressed by performance as Aguero celebrate his birthday
Lionel Messi had his contribution to two others goals by direct assist and superb run which then lead to assist by his team-mate. Looking satisfied by national team performance Messi said   "We've always searched for the connection with the fans. It was a hard game, but we came through it well. Now we have to use every game to improve as a team.'' And Sergio Aguero was happy to celebrate his 24th birthday with a win ''I'm happy because we won on my birthday,'' said Aguero.

Lionel Messi in Argentina vs Ecuador match Photo newhopper

Messi broke European club goal record of 67 by Bayern Munich striker Gerd Mueller in 1972-73, and a world club goals record of 70 set by Archie Stark of Bethlehem Steel in the American Soccer League in 1924-25 by finishing the season with 73 goals. It is a record which will take a long time to be beated by any player including himself.


Argentina is now on course for the 2014 Brazil World Cup with a new coach Alejandro Sabella after Diego Maradona failed in 2010 World Cup and Sergio Batista had disappointing results in Copa America.


Argentina vs Ecuador goals summary
Sergio “El Kun” Aguero (19′)
Gonzalo Higuain (29′) 
Lionel Messi (31′)
Angel di Maria  (75′)


Argentina vs Ecuador video highlights of all goals



Argentina squad
Sergio Romero; Pablo Zabaleta, Federico Fernández, Ezequiel Garay, Clemente Rodríguez; Fernando Gago, Javier Mascherano, Ángel Di María; Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuaín and Sergio Agüero. Coach: Alejandro Sabella.


Ecuador squad
Alexander Domínguez; Gabriel Achiller, Jairo Campos, Geovanny Espinoza, Walter Ayoví; Antonio Valencia, Segundo Castillo, Cristian Noboa, Fernando Saritama, Cristian Suárez; Cristian Benítez. Coach: Reinaldo Rueda.

0 Lionel Messi won FIFA Ballon d'Or award and FiFPro XI and Neymar clitch FIFA Puskás Award for 2011-2012.

Lionel Messi won his third consecutive FIFA Ballon d'Or award after beating Cristiano Ronaldo and Xavi. So far he has won every title and some of them twice but the world cup still a tough one despite the possibilities of playing two more world cups. Individually he performed well, but also get a push fantastic top player like Inesta and second run-up Xavi. Club achievement played a major role and made it easy for him to beat Cristiano Ronaldo. Spanish Liga title, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. Messi has become the second player after Michel Platini to have won the Ballon D'Or awards in three consecutive years.

Barcelona star Lionel Messi won his third consecutive FIFA Ballon-d'Or award and singer Shakira

FiFPro XI only come from three European teams, Barcelona - 5, Real Madrid 4, and Man Utd – 2 and six of them from Spain national team.

Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Dani Alves (Barcelona), Gerard Piqué (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Nemanja Vidic (Manchester Utd), Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Xavi (Barcelona), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Wayne Rooney (Manchester Utd).

Other awards
FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year -- Homare Sawa (Japan National team)
FIFA Men’s Football Coach of the Year -- Pep Guardiola (Barcelona)
FIFA Women’s Football Coach of the Year -- Norio Sasaki (Japan women’s national team)
FIFA Presidential Award -- Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United)
FIFA Fair Play Award -- Japan FA
FIFA Puskás Award for the best goal– Neymar (Santos)

0 FIFA World Cup qualification draws for 2014 in Brazil

The FIFA 2014 World Cup has been scheduled to feature 32 national teams from FIFA six continental confederations. Only the host, The 5 times world cup champions, Brazil will be allowed to participate in world cup finals without competing in qualification draw.. Spain, World cup and European Champions will join other 30 national teams in competing for their place in World cup finals.
The preliminary draw of the 2014 FIFA World Cup draw was made on 30 July 2011 at the Marina da Glória in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The 32 world cup place distribution
1. Europe (UEFA): 13 places
2. Africa (CAF): 5 places
3. Asia (AFC): 4 or 5 places
4. South America (CONMEBOL) 4 or 5 places (Brazil host)
5. North, Central American and Caribbean (CONCACAF): 3 or 4 places
6. Oceania (OFC): 0 or 1 place

2014 FIFA World Cup qualification for European zone-UEFA
The road to 2014 world cup for European zone teams will kick off on August 2012 after the Euro 2012. 53 national teams will compete for 13 allocated places for this zone. 9 group winners will automatically enter the world cup finals and eight best runners-up will face play-off for the remaining 4 places.

France recent poor performance pushed them to 15 in FIFA World Rankings world wide and have been drawn with World cup champions, Spain. In the last world cup play-off, France won a controversial play-off win over Ireland to qualify for the 2010 World cup inals in South Africa. France coach Laurent Blanc speaking to French FA's website, he said "At least we won't receive the tag of favourites with the world champions and European champions in our group. It's extremely exciting to compete with the best. It's through such matches that we can improve.''
''It'd be a lie to say that we're in an easy group. But we will focus on our task and France will take its chances as usual.
''Spain will definitely be our toughest opponent in the group. But I have confidence in our team and the goal will be to advance in first place.''

0 FIFA/Cocacola world ranking for Africa (CAF) national teams 2011

Africa national football teams FIFA/Cocacola ranking released on Jun 2011. FIFA ranking for (CAF)Africa teams moved Cote d'Ivoire 7 place up in world ranking: their best position ever in the ranking. After the 2010 world cup success, South Africa seems to be dropping having moved from 90th to 38th in the last ranking.

1 Netherlands 2-2 England: Defoe's rescue England

Jermain Defoe scored two goals to secure a 2-2 draw for England national team. Defoe’s two goals came in second hold after Holland took a lead on first half after mistakes by Rio Ferdinand and Gareth Barry. Fabio Capello was also impressed by his team reaction on second after which saw Defoe, Cole and James Milner shining.

1 FIFA World Cup Awards

FIFA World Cup awards
FIFA World Cup has several awards for teams and individual players awards and some media have started predicting what team or player will winner some of these awards in World Cup 2010 in South Africa. Apart from World cup champion and fisrt runner up awards, the tournament has six other awards usually given after the final game, these awards are
The Golden Shoe 1930 (Golden Boot, "adidas Golden Shoe"scorer 1982)
The Golden Ball ( "adidas Golden Ball") for best player.
The Yashin Award for best goalkeeper (first awarded in 1994)
The FIFA Fair Play Trophy for the team with the best record of fair play (first awarded in 1970)
The Most Entertaining Team award for the team that has entertained the public the most, during the World Cup final tournament, as determined by a poll of the general public, first awarded in 1994
The Best Young Player (currently commercially termed as "Gillette Best Young Player") award for best player under 21 years of age at the start of the calendar year, first awarded in 2006.
An All-Star Team (currently commercially termed "Mastercard All-Star Team") comprising of the best players of the tournament and is also announced for each tournament since 1990.

2 Jack Wilshere, Promising Arsenal midfielder

Jack Wilshere, Promising Arsenal FC midfielder will be taking lots of headline this season and could make in under U21 squad and even. He joined Arsenal FC at age of 9 years, and become a creative midfielder who is seen by Fabio Capello as talented young player in premiership. Jack Wilshere just turned 17 years on January 1st this year. He is also tipped to be able to even earn a call to World cup 2010 if he get regular matches.

Fabio Capello on Jack Wilshere

.
"He plays without fear, with confidence," said the Italian. "And the other players passed the ball always to him. This is not normal to be so young and so good."
His performance in preseason matches have been great and really impressed Arsenal Manager, Arsene Wenger and Under 20 England coach, Brian Eastick

Arsene Wenger on Jack Wilshere

"I believe what is good in Jack's case," said Wenger, "[is] he reminds me a bit of Rooney when he started"

Brian Eastick, England's U20 coach

.
"Jack Wilshere is a real talent and we think he'll be knocking on the door of the U20 and Under-21 teams this year." Jack Wilshere

1 Zambia football team aiming for World Cup Qualification

Zambia football team picture Coach
Hervé Renard (France)

Goalkeeper
Kalililo Kakonje / AmaZulu
Kennedy Mweene / Free State Stars

Defenders
Joseph Musonda / Golden Arrows
Hichani Himoonde / Zanaco FC
Emmanuel Mbola / Pyunik Yerevan
Nyambe Mulenga / ZESCO United
Dennis Banda / Green Buffaloes

Midfielders
Noah Chivuta / Maritzburg United F.C.
Felix Katongo / Free agent (football)
Andrew Sinkala / FC Augsburg
Stoppila Sunzu /
Fwayo Tembo /
Chanda Mwaba / RoPS
Francis Kasonde / Power Dynamos F.C.

Forwards
Christopher Katongo / Arminia Bielefeld
James Chamanga / Dalian Haichang
Emmanuel Mayuka / Maccabi Tel Aviv
Jacob Mulenga / FC Utrecht
Given Singuluma / TP Mazembe

0 New FIFA WORLD FOOTBALL RANKING RELEASED

New updated FIFA football ranking for August have been released. The table have very little change to the previous one. In the top ten list German and Italy swap number 4 and 5. Italy have dropped to fifth as German rise to fourth.

Other changed in top 25 list saw Paraguay move two placed up to 20th at the expense of Uruguay and Czech Repubblic in 21is and 22nd repectively. The new FIFA ranking will be released again on 2nd of September 2009.

0 Okocha, Weah, Kalusha, Kuffor, Fofana played in Lagos Friendly

Nigeria’s 1994 Super Eagles squad beat Africa all stars 2-1 in friendly match scheduled by MTN as welcome to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The game was played at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos (the battle of legends).

The Nigerian (Super eagles) side captained by Enyimba coach, Augustine Eguavoen took the lead on 3rd minute when Garuba Lawal, beat goalkeeper Alain Goumeni from Cote d’ Ivoire for the Africa. The African stars side, had the 1995 World Footballer of the Year, George Weah, the former Liberian presidential candidate.
Titi Camara equalized for the Africa all stars in 23rd minute before Jonathan Akpoborie add the second goal for super eagles in 28th minute, making it 2-1 for Nigeria. Austin Okocha, was a great entertainer and most fans wanted him back to the Nigerian national team. Among Nigeria football legends were Amuneke, Victor Ikpeba and Okocha were thwarted by who stood as a rock in defence till the end of the match.

The African side represented by football greats like Titi Camara of Guinea, Kalusha Bwalya from Zambia, Phil Massinga of South Africa, Ghanaians Odarty Lamptey and Samuel Osei Kuffor, Cote d’Ivoire’s Abdullahi Traore, Youssouf Fofana and Paul Ndiefi of Cameroon.