2010 WORLD CUP TEAMS
Can they reach the World Cup final again and win it this time?
France is the clear favorites for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, despite only qualifying for it with Thierry Henry’s infamous handball against Ireland.
Under-fire coach Raymond Domenech has somehow kept his job after a disastrous Euro 2008 campaign but [...]

Can they reach the World Cup final again and win it this time?

France is the clear favorites for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, despite only qualifying for it with Thierry Henry’s infamous handball against Ireland.

Under-fire coach Raymond Domenech has somehow kept his job after a disastrous Euro 2008 campaign but will be under massive pressure to take his side into the knock-out stages this time around.

Despite being ranked seventh in the FIFA World Rankings, France was unseeded for the draw. Their qualification was very controversial, thanks to an overtime victory over the Republic of Ireland in Paris in which the winning goal was set up by a deliberate hand ball by striker Thierry Henry.

While they are still a team to be reckoned with, the French are no longer the free flowing skilful side that they were when the great Zinedine Zidane patrolled their midfield.

Despite having Thierry Henry, who is now the country’s leading international goal scorer of all time, leading the attack, they have at times struggled to find the back of the net. In fact, during 2009, they went through seven matches in succession in which neither team managed to score more than one goal.

They played 12 matches, won seven, lost two and drew three.

France finished second in their qualifying group behind Serbia, but booked their place with their controversial two-leg win over the Republic of Ireland. It marked the first time the French had qualified for the World Cup four times in succession.

It should also be pointed out that the French go into…

Holy shit. Apparently, Real Madrid really wants to win.

In what has been a chaotic series of events for football fans, Real Madrid just signed the two biggest stars of the sport. After signing Kaka to a whopping €67.2 million, the entire blockbuster deal involving the Brazilian is now yesterday’s news with the club now having finalized a deal involving Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United.

You read it, Real Madrid just signed Cristiano Ronaldo to a mind-boggling €80 million contract, eclipsing the deal Kaka just signed with the club. The ex-Milan ace, however, has no problems vacating the spotlight for the Portuguese and, if anything, he is looking forward to playing alongside the soon-to-be former Red Devil.

”I rejoice in the signing of Cristiano,” Kaka said when, upon touching down in Johannesburg, he was informed that his new employers had made an official bid for CR7. ”There’s no doubt that Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best players in the world and he will help Real Madrid fight for every title next season.”

Kaka became the world’s second most expensive footballer following his switch to the Spanish behemoths, but he was soon demoted to the third spot on the list after Ronaldo’s mega €80 million transfer from Manchester United to Real Madrid went through.

As expected, questions have already been raised about…

Just when you thought you’ve seen it all in the world of soccer, this happens.

Real Madrid just confirmed the signing of Brazilian footballer Kaka. You read it, the Spanish football giants just came up with yet another blockbuster signing that could probably eclipse the deal the L.A. Galaxy pulled back in 2007 when they got David Beckham.

This deal Kaka has with Real Madrid is expected to set a new world record transfer fee although we still have no idea how much exactly did Real Madrid pay to get the Brazilian away from AC Milan.

There are rumors that claim AC Milan was paid around 68 million euros for Kaka. If that’s true, that means Real Madrid just broke their own world record when they paid Juventus 47 million euros for Zinedine Zidane back in 2001.

As far as Kaka is concerned, he says his heart will remain with AC Milan even though he is now a part of Real Madrid.

”I can officially say I’m a Real Madrid player. My professional link with AC Milan finishes now, but my sentimental link will never end,” Kaka said. ”Real Madrid intend to build a great team, with historic players such as Raul and Casillas. We will make history again, both in Spain and Europe. I guess the sport project is very good.”

Kaka also talked about Manchester City, when the…

Cristiano Ronaldo is on the brink of becoming the world’s most expensive player if he decides to take on Real Madrid’s generous offer.

Now that Cristiano Ronaldo’s stint in the 2008 UEFA European Football Championship is over after Portugal lost to Germany, he is now looking into a possible move from Old Trafford and the defending Champions League champions Manchester United, to Real Madrid and the Spanish Premiere League.

After failing to lead Portugal deeper into the Euro 2008 tournament, it seems that didn’t hurt his market value so to speak. Real Madrid still wants to land the fiery Portugese striker and after he captured both the English Premiership and the UEFA Champions League titles with Manchester United, Real Madrid is STILL willing to make him the highest paid football player in the world.

Zinedine Zidane, still the highest paid footballer after moving from Juventus to Real Madrid, agrees with his former club. He believes that Cristiano Ronaldo is worthy to break his own record breaking fee and the Portugese’s 3-2 loss to Germany should not slow down his bandwagon.

”He has had a great season, a league and Champions League winner, and I think the fact that he and Portugal got knocked out at the quarter-finals doesn’t mean anything because they were up against a great Germany team,” retired Zinedine Zidane said.

”It doesn’t say anything about the merits during…”

Remember the ”Zinedine Zidane head-butt” that ended France’s chances of winning the 2006 FIFA World Cup?

Apparently, both France and Italy still remember it so well that they can’t help it but generate some controversy already heading to their Euro 2008 qualifier this Saturday at the San Siro stadium.

For one, France head coach Raymond Domenech is suspended for this Saturday’s fixture between the two rival countries. Domenech was suspended for the Euro 2008 qualifier for accusing Italy of fixing an Olympic qualifying match that happened eight years ago.

And just because Italy probably provoked France’s Zinedine Zidane to unleash a vicious head-butt to Italy’s Marco Materazzi during the World Cup final that virtually let the Italian contingent celebrate with the 2006 FIFA World Cup title, the France head coach decided to tell all of us about something that happened for almost a decade ago.

”The hype surrounding this game doesn’t surprise me. The memory of July 9 is still within all of us,” Italy forward Alessandro Del Piero said, recalling the date last year when Italy beat France on penalties in the 2006 FIFA World Cup final.

France currently leads these…

David Beckham? Zinedine Zidane? Forget those guys. Abel Xavier has just signed for the Los Angeles Galaxy too.

Who?!? Abel Xavier. He is now the former Middlesbrough defender who became the latest player to sign with an MLS team, particularly the Los Angeles Galaxy. Yep, these English guys sure love L.A. eh?

Abel Xavier can now make his MLS debut once the second MLS transfer window opens on June 15. And in case you don’t know what the heck is a transfer window, let me break it down for ya.’

In soccer, they have TWO transfer windows with each stretching for about a month. During this time, teams can buy, sell (or even loan…) players left and right as long as they have the cash. The first transfer window usually happens at the early stages of the season whereas the second one happens in the middle.

As for Xavier, yep, he will be making his MLS debut once the Los Angeles Galaxy starts the second half of their season. Of course, the LA Galaxy is excited to have another player from the Premiership playing for them. Heck, with soccer virtually NOWHERE to be found in the premiere stage of North American sports, these guys are desperate that they will sign ANYONE from the Premiership.

Los Angeles Galaxy president and general manager Alexi Lalas said, ”Abel brings immense experience and a wonderful personality to our team. He’s a great defender and we’re excited that…”

Despite all the controversies surrounding the Serie A, (thanks to Juventus…) Inter Milan still played to win the damn thing.

Yep, Inter Milan won its 15th Serie A title, beating Siena 2-1, after Marco Materazzi, the same guy who virtually screwed Zinedine Zidane and the rest of France in the 2007 FIFA World Cup final, scored two goals to help his squad move 16 points ahead of second-place AS Roma. Roma, by the way, lost to Atalanta 2-0.

Marco Materazzi was simply phenomenal for Inter Milan. He scored from close range in the 18th minute before scoring with a penalty kick in the 60th minute. Siena could only come up with one measly goal from Paolo Negro, tying the game 1-1 in the 21st.

”The team has had an extraordinary season,” Inter Milan head coach Roberto Mancini said. ”To win five games from the end is a fantastic achievement. I am delighted for all Inter fans.”

Inter Milan president and owner Massimo Moratti is happy about his team’s latest achievement, especially after the match-fixing scandal that put a dark cloud over the entire Italian Serie A season last year.

”We have won without stealing,” Massimo Moratti said. ”We are all really happy. But my first thought is for Giacinto Facchetti. This championship has the imprint of his generosity and honesty.”

The former Inter player and president died in September.

Inter Milan’s win of the 2007 Italian Serie A matched Torino back in 1948 and Fiorentina in 1956 for the league record of winning the Serie A title with still…

So, if Zidane plays in the United States, then he can’t call himself a ”football” player now right? Unless he signs up with the Colts…

Seriously now, will Z play in the US with the Los Angeles Galaxy and stand side-by-side with David Beckham? Hmm… Yeah, I know, for some of you following these developments, I know you’re just itching to know how true these rumors are.

Well, Los Angeles Galaxy general manager and president Alexi Lalas tells his take about all these Zinedine Zidane rumors.

Lalas said, ”I can’t comment on specifics of any of our ongoing talks with players. I will say that we continue to try to identify world-class talent to come to the Galaxy and I think Zidane would qualify.”

Not much of an answer now was it?

To make things more complicated, Major League Soccer (MLS) teams start with only one ”designated player” slot which basically means a legal salary cap-buster. With David Beckham coming in, he will be LA’s ”designated player,” giving Z no room at all if ever he chooses to come out of retirement.

Lalas said, ”We’ll have difficult choices at the end of this season, regardless. There is always pressure playing for the Galaxy. Hopefully, we’re about winning.”

”And regardless of a player’s designation, we need players that can win. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a designated player or a developmental player.”

Well, the Los Angeles Galaxy better find BETTER players soon. Their bad start to the season is not something both David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane will like. Heck, if LA keeps on losing soccer games, Zidane just might give Galaxy president Alexi Lalas one vicious…

Zinedine Zidane, you remember him, he’s the guy who cost France the 2006 FIFA World Cup title.

Still don’t ring a bell? Try this one, he’s the guy who gave that Italian, Marco Materazzi, a vicious head butt that will make John Cena look like a nine-year-old little girl trying to compete with ”real” wrestlers.

Wait, Cena already looks the part. Anyway, yeah, Zinedine Zidane made the soccer headlines again and apparently, the French phenom is contemplating on the idea of coming out of retirement to play in the MLS.

Major League Soccer, after signing former England captain David Beckham a multi-million dollar contract that will see him earn over $10 million a year playing for the Los Angeles Galaxy, is now eying ”the Z” Zinedine Zidane himself, to play in their league.

Considering all the negativity in some quarters over the $10 million or so annual salary that David Beckham will be receiving to suit up for the L.A. Galaxy this summer, one can only imagine that those same pessimists are having a field day with the rumors that legendary (and retired) soccer star Zinedine Zidane of France is contemplating renewing his career in MLS.

That is if interested teams can…