Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon is expected to be fit for Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final second-leg against Real Madrid.Spurs were without the speedster during the 4-0 thrashing at the Bernabeu after he withdrew due to illness minutes before the first whistle.
Lennon took no part in the 3-2 victory over Stoke City in the English Premier League on Saturday, but manager Harry Redknapp expects him to be ready by Wednesday.
“Aaron wasn’t well again on Friday and not well enough to play against Stoke,” Redknapp said.
“He did some work on Friday with the fitness coach and then joined in with a little game but didn’t feel well enough.”
“I think he will be fit enough to play on Wednesday.”
Braga coach Domingos Paciencia is adamant his side can overturn the 2-1 deficit in the reverse Europa League semi-final tie against Benfica.Paciencia’s side could not contain Benfica, who scored a 2-1 win at the Estadio da Luz on Thursday courtesy of a sumptuous free-kick from Paraguayan Oscar Cardozo.
Braga now welcome the Portuguese giants to the Estadio AXA next Thursday, and will be hoping their precious away goal will count in their favour in front of their home crowd.
“Defeat is not a good result but we know that everything is open,” 42-year-old Paciencia said. “We will try to come back at home and go through.”
“What I can say is that it will certainly be a different Braga than here.”
Paciencia admitted the occasion caused pre-match jitters within his dressing room, and that may have impacted on their display early in the game.
“We need to start better. We were very nervous because of the importance of the game. As the match went on we got better and in the second half we created chances,” he said.
“We could have scored one more but we know that 1-0 will be enough, so the players have confidence. Playing at home in front of our fans we will be great.”
Benfica manager Jorge Jesus, while lamenting his side’s failure to put more goals past their opponents, is confident his side is headed for the final in Dublin on May 18.
“We have won the first match,” he said. “It was like that against PSG and Sttutgart, so this result at home is nothing new for us.”
“We deserved more (or) at least to end with a two-goal advantage. Braga didn’t create any chances to score.”
“Their goal was from a set-piece situation and they didn’t create many difficulties for us. We go to Braga better than we started the tie. Of course I believe that I will go to Dublin, the result gives us that faith.”
Former Valencia playmaker Pablo Aimar, who is suspended for the corresponding fixture, reminded his Benfica team-mates that there was still another 90 minutes to play before they could think about the final.
Should they progress to Dublin, they will likely face bitter rivals Porto, who recorded a resounding 5-1 win over Villarreal in the first leg of the competition’s other semi-final.
“We knew that they would defend well – they came to prevent us from scoring,” the Argentine said.
“We created many chances to score, especially in the first half. A 2-1 advantage is narrow; the tie is still open. It will be hard to miss the second leg.”
Marseille closed to within a point of Ligue 1 leaders Lille with a 2-1 win at Montpellier on Sunday, while Lyon fell in the capital.In a dress rehearsal for the Coupe de la Ligue final at the Stade de France on Saturday, OM came from a goal down to edge the hosts on Taye Taiwo’s late penalty.
Both teams had earlier gone down to 10 men in the ill-tempered clash, with Montpellier defender Abdelhamid El Kaoutari and OM forward Loic Remy handed red cards for an ugly spat deep in the second half.
Their suspensions mean the pair will automatically miss Saturday’s cup final.
The game broke open following a staid and chanceless first half, with Montpellier seizing control through striker Olivier Giroud in the 64th minute.
The towering forward turned the ball into the net off his left boot after being fed by Joris Marveaux.
But their lead would last all of five minutes before Andre-Pierre Gignac conjured up a wonder goal, having sprung the offside trap on Benoit Cheyrou’s long, defence-splitting bomb.
The drama kicked up a gear in the 78th minute after El Kaoutari gave away a penalty for tugging on Remy’s shirt.
The France international remonstrated with his marker, blows were exchanged and the pair were given their marching orders.
Taiwo kept his cool as he awaited the all-clear to take his spot kick, and four minutes later he sent OM into the lead and secured a vital three points for the defending champions.
Elsewhere, Paris-Saint Germain climbed to fourth on the table with a 1-0 win over title hopefuls Lyon.
PSG defender Zoumana Camara edged the hosts into the lead with a 76th-minute goal, his first of the campaign.
Lyon, who suffered just their second league clean sheet since September, remain third on the table but fall five points behind Marseille and six points off leaders Lille.
Finally, Arles’ relegation to the second division became a mathematical certainty as the bottom-placed side fell 1-0 at home to Valenciennes.
The visitors, without a win in their past seven league games and hovering above the drop zone by virtue of their superior goal difference, had top-scorer Gregory Pujol to thank after the striker’s rich vein of form continued with a 68th-minute winner.
Valenciennes rise to 13th on the table, three points clear of the relegation places, with seven games left in the season.
The game of football we all love so much is ultimately about two teams going head to head on a pitch, is it not? Let me answer my own question: Well yes, of course it is, everyone knows that! However, unfortunately it’s not quite as simple as that. Money is inevitably at the route of the beautiful game and it dictates almost every aspect from top flight football right down to the amateur leagues. In order to survive, the top sides depend on fans paying their money to watch their teams each week, buying their merchandise, along with the income of TV money and money from the F.A for league standings and winning trophies. In much the same way, amateur football clubs need players to pay their signing on fees and match fees to keep their clubs alive. The message I’m trying to convey here is that without money football wouldn’t be able to function.
So you can imagine how much of a blow it would be for English teams, who qualify for the Champions League, if a European ruling regarding a slash in TV money from ITV and Sky goes against them. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) is planning to reconfigure the way TV money is dished out to teams in the Champions League from 2012-2015. This would have a major effect on English clubs income. It would result in one single TV deal across all of Europe, as opposed to the current individual national TV pools which benefits English clubs. The current deal sees English clubs take a home a considerably larger amount than some of their European counterparts. While this will be detrimental to English sides, I personally see this as a positive move, as it would mean a financial level playing field for all Champions League participants.
Qualifying for the Champions League should ultimately be about the privilege of playing in Europe’s elite club competition, the financial gold mine that comes with it should be an added bonus, not the priority. The new ruling would be a shock to the system for the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea who annually take home between £20 – £35 million. The new ruling would be beneficial to clubs of smaller nations who qualify for the competition, the likes of Celtic and Rangers for example, who receive the comparatively lower figure of £10 million. I fail to see an argument that the English clubs can put forward in this case. Why should they monopolise the TV rights of the Champions League just because the multi million pound companies of Sky and ITV are based in England?
Bear with me here and let me get a little educational with you! I see the current system that supplies English clubs through television rights as a form of Karl Marx theory, the rich clubs getting richer at the expense of the smaller, less wealthy clubs. Clubs such as Chelsea and Manchester United are already streets ahead financially of most their Champions League opponents. So having an equal opportunity for all competing clubs to earn the same amount of television money may well be a kick in the teeth for them, but quite frankly it’s a fair cop!
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The ECJ’s court ruling may also come into effect within the Premier League. My views on this differ however from that of the Champions League payments. Domestically in England television money is currently equally shared out across the Premier League clubs and this system works fairly. If Premier League football was given one single TV deal covering the whole of Europe, instead of just domestic TV rights I don’t see the benefit. The only argument I can muster in favour of this is that it would stop the airing of 3pm games being shown in pubs on foreign TV channels. The Premier League said in February that any change resulting from the case ‘would damage the interests of broadcasters and viewers of Premier League football across the EU.” (Daily Mail)
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This issue is certainly an area of concern for the Premier League big boys and the reductions they will see in Champions League income is going to be a bitter pill to swallow for them. They have had it so good for years so it may result in some budgeting restructuring, but I have no qualms that they have enough current financial power to be able to cope with it. Whether what I have suggested is right or wrong is all down to opinion, but I maintain that the ECJ’s ruling will be for the greater good of the Champions League.
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Listen to the third episode of our brand new podcast – The Football FanCast. – Featuring Razor Ruddock, Gary O’Reilly and singer/songwriter Alistair Griffin, who performs a live version of his cult tribute to Mark Viduka, with Razor on backing vocals!
There are few moments that carry as much pressure as having every eye on the stadium on you as you step forward to take a penalty. The goal is just 12 yards away from the penalty spot, but because you’re expected to score, the pressure on the striker’s shoulders is immense. Some players have managed to deal with it expertly, with former Newcastle striker and all-time Premiership top scorer Alan Shearer one of many penalty specialists alongside Matt Le Tissier who had an incredible record from the spot for Southampton.
While the pressure is incredibly high, some players still have the confidence to show off their skills and take a somewhat cheeky penalty. Here are some of the current Manchester United squad showboating from the penalty spot:
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However, a real game situation is completely different and those players that have taken a ‘cheeky’ penalty have to be applauded. We have picked out 10 of the best for your viewing enjoyment.
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Head to PAGE TWO for the TOP 10 Audacious Penalties…
10: There’s no better way to start this list than with a chipped penalty. Here’s France legend Zinedine Zidane’s effort in the 2006 World Cup final made even better by the underside of the bar action:
9: Not a particularly cheeky penalty, but audacious nonetheless. Goalkeeper Kevin Pressman steps forward to take a penalty in a shoot-out and this is the incredible result:
8: The chip has become the penalty of choice for many people, including former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke. Here’s Antonin Panenka leading the way in the 1976 Euro Championships for the Czech Republic:
7: German defender Andreas Brehme was known for taking penalties with his left foot, but in the 1990 World Cup final of all places he switched to his right foot:
6: Penalty shootouts are incredibly tense situations. Uruguay’s Sebastian Abreu clearly thinks otherwise as this effort from the 2010 World Cup shows. Arguably the best chip of the lot:
[youtube PLrE5VBMHDQ]
5: Classy effort from former Leeds and Liverpool midfielder Harry Kewell. Shame it was in training and not at Elland Road or Anfield:
4: Spanish U19 international Ezequiel Calvente made the headlines earlier this year for this audacious switch-hit penalty. They were 2-0 up at the time:
[youtube J5SXBFhkpk4]
3: However, Calvente wasn’t the first to try this. Gerardo Reinsos did the same thing in an Argentina friendly in 1991 and has to be ahead of Calvente for sheer originality:
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Head to PAGE SIX to see which Audacious Penalties top the list…
2: This isn’t in a real game situation but it still had to be included. If Totti did this in an actual Serie A match it would definitely be top of the pile:
1: The originality of this penalty has helped it top the list. What Johann Cruyff and Jesper Olsen did for Ajax isn’t easy, just ask former Arsenal pair Thierry Henry and Robert Pires!
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So what do you think? Have we missed any cheeky penalties off of our list and would you have the courage to pull off one of these audacious pens?
Following the previous article that previewed Group B, this one takes a closer look at the third and final group at the 2011 Copa América, Group C.
Group C will see fourteen-time Copa América Champions Uruguay face off against Mexico, Chile and Peru. This group promises to very closely-contested given the quality of the teams in Group C.
The teams
Uruguay
World Ranking: 7
Star player: Edison Cavani
Following Uruguay’s resurgence as a superpower in world football at last summer’s World Cup in South Africa, they will want to build on their fourth place finish there and find themselves competing with South America’s other big guns for the 2011 Copa América. In Edinson Cavani they have a striker who has had an outstanding season for Napoli and he is likely to be paired with the 2010 FIFA World Cup Player of the Tournament Diego Forlan. Uruguay boasts an impressive squad and they seem to have gotten the balance between experienced players and younger players coming through just about right. As in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Uruguay will probably fight it out with Chile and Mexico for top spot in Group C.
Mexico
World Ranking: 23
Star player: Javier Hernandez
As the second invitee team, Mexico is a top quality addition to the 2011 Copa América. They advanced to the second round at the 2010 World Cup where they were eliminated by a combination of poor refereeing and an inspired Argentina. Mexico boasts an impressive squad and a good record in previous Copa América tournaments where they have advanced to the quarterfinals at least on each of their previous seven appearances (five semi-finals). Then Manchester United-bound Javier Hernandez showed glimpses of his talent at the 2010 World Cup and has proven to have been a shrewd buy by Sir Alex Ferguson. As mentioned, Mexico will probably find themselves locked in battle with Uruguay and Chile for the top spot in Group C.
Chile
World Ranking: 14
Star player: Arturo Vidal
Chile qualified for the second round of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and were eliminated by Brazil. They boast a very talented group of young players and play exciting attacking football. In Arturo Vidal, Alexis Sanchez, Gary Medel and Mauricio Isla they have top quality players, some of which have been linked with possible moves to some of Europe’s biggest clubs in recent months. Chile definitely brings some exciting players and football to the Copa América 2011 and they may be the surprise package of the tournament.
Peru
World Ranking: 54
Star player: Juan Manuel Vargas
Despite Peru’s dramatic climb up the world rankings over the past two years, they find themselves in an extremely tough group with quality opposition. As a result they may find the going too tough against these teams and, although they will be competitive and give their best, they will probably end last in Group C and be eliminated from the tournament.
The fixtures
Uruguay vs. Peru – 4 July 2011, Estadio del Bicentenario, San Juan
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Chile vs. Mexico – 4 July 2011, Estadio del Bicentenario, San Juan
Peru vs. Mexico – 8 July 2011, Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza
Uruguay vs. Chile – 8 July 2011, Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza
Chile vs. Peru – 12 July 2011, Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza
Uruguay vs. Mexico – 12 July 2011, Estadio Ciudad de La Plata, La Plata
Group C of the 2011 Copa América will probably be the closest contested group of the tournament and it is difficult to separate Uruguay, Chile and Mexico. Depending on results and standings in the other groups, all three of these teams may find themselves qualifying for the quarterfinal stage.
It appears one of Tottenham’s biggest transfer battles this summer will be to keep Luka Modric out of the clutches of their Premier League rivals. The player confirmed his desire to move to West London this summer, much to the frustration of supporters.
At FFC this week we have seen a mixed bag of Spurs blogs that includes 10 things we learned from this season; a new culture is required at WHL and should Harry flirt with Becks again this summer
We also look at the best Spurs articles around the web this week.
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‘Suits you sir!’ – The Premier League club’s Kit collection for 2011/12 season
VIDEO: The GREATEST Premier League goal ever…you decide!
Should Tottenham flirt with Becks again this summer?
A new club culture has to be moulded if Tottenham are to succeed
10 BIG Things That We Learned From Tottenham’s Season
Tottenham finally unearth the complete midfielder they craved
Spurs linked with striking duo
FIVE potential signings for Harry to ponder
Tottenham set to renew interest in Atletico ace
*Best of WEB*
Mod-Rich still at The Lane by Greg Meyer. – Spurs Musings From JimmyG2
Gio dos Santos and Adel Taarabt walk into a pub… – Dear Mr Levy
Levy Steps In & Signs A Winner – Harry Hotspur
Spurs still focusing in the wrong direction? – THFC 1882
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The NextGen Series – groups and fixtures – Windy Blog
Don’t blame me, blame him – Dear Mr Levy[divider]Click below to see the latest addition to the WAG Arena
With two of the unsung heroes of modern football, Wes Brown and John O’Shea finally leaving Manchester United this week after 14 years and 13 years respectively at the club, it got me thinking about other players who have never really received the recognition they deserved for their careers.
Some obvious choices for the list would have been the likes of Park Ji Sung, Alexander Song, Darren Fletcher and Scott Parker but they have made the headlines this season after their fine performances on the pitch so they were not included.
The players I have selected have made a huge impact in football whatever level that maybe but have gone relatively unnoticed in comparison to the huge stars of the game. It is time to give them the praise they deserve……here are my ten unsung heroes of the modern game.
Click on Kevin Davies to unveil the first part of the unsung heroes of modern football
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As more premier league clubs continue to look to buy young foreign talent – does it show the flaws in the home grown ruling?
With Tottenham having signed Ivory Coast under-17 international Souleymane Coulibaly and Chelsea reportedly making an offer for Belgian 18 year old Romelu Lukaku on Wednesday, the question of young, home-grown talent is yet again raising its spotty, bum-fluff-covered head.
The introduction of the 25 man squad last season was meant to safeguard against such an occurrence. Each squad could only have 17 non-home grown players selected, and to be a home-grown player you had to have been registered to an English club for 3 years before your 21st birthday. Got it?
That all sounds well and proper, but the devil is, as ever, in the detail. Let’s take Arsenal’s squad from last season. Arsene Wenger selected a squad consisting of 7 ‘home-grown’ players. Who were these 7? Gael Clichy, Johan Djourou, Denilson, Nicklas Bendtner, Cesc Fabregas, Vito Mannone and Alex Song. If the intention of the ruling was to safeguard the development of British talent, it would appear that it has failed miserably, as the chances of any of this 7 showing up for a home nations match are approximately non-existent (although in the case of Bendtner, maybe that’s for the best).
But what of Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere? Surely they make it into the category of home-grown? They sure do, but due to the fact that they were under 21 at the time of registration they were able to sneak into the under 21 squad. This is where the ruling gets even more ridiculous, because each club is allowed an infinite pool of players under the age of 21 to draw from, and so Walcott and Wilshere didn’t need to be registered in the first team squad, allowing room for extra non-home-grown players in the team.
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Unfortunately for Arsenal, what worked last season is not going to be doable this year. Theo Walcott and Kieran Gibbs are now all above the cut-off age, meaning they have to be added to the main squad. That is assuming Arsene Wenger plans on keeping them all.
This is where it becomes a much greater issue. Due to players that would have ordinarily been part of the youth or reserve set-ups hitting the cut off age, the likes of Tom Cruise, Jay Simpson and Mark Randall have all been released as Wenger’s squad simply can’t accommodate them. More worrying for the Gunners is the fact that over the next two summer the situation becomes even worse, with Wojciech Szczesny, Gavin Hoyte, Craig Eastmond, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Henri Lansbury, Rhys Murphy, Sanchez Watt, Gilles Sunu, Francis Coquelin, Aaron Ramsey, and Kyle Bartley all set to make the step-up, in age, to the first team squad.
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If young British players are constantly being kicked out of the top clubs at the age of 21 then the game in the UK is going to take a serious battering, something that the home-grown players rule was meant to end.
Angry about the lack of progress following this ruling? Shout at your screen, or let me know on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/_tomclose
Wolves came from behind to beat Blackburn Rovers in an entertaining game at Ewood Park.
Goals from Stephen Fletcher and Ward cancelled out Mauro Formica’s strike to give Mick McCarthy some opening day joy and inadvertently put increasing pressing on Rovers boss Steve Kean.
Rovers started the game confidently and had already tested Wayne Hennessey a couple of times before Mauro Formica gave the home side the lead.
They say a football team is at their most vulnerable when they score and Wolves certainly took advantage with a quick-fire equaliser that brought the visitors to life in the game and put the hosts on the back foot who had Paul Robinson to thank for keeping it down to 1-1 at half time.
Wolves came out in the second half in much the same vain and Matt Jarvis forced Salgado into giving away a penalty. The spot kick was saved by Robinson but the clearance fell straight to the feet of Ward who rifled in a volley.
Blackburn Rovers certainly improved in the last quarter of the game and despite all their huff and puff and endeavour failed to make the breakthrough giving the three points to Mick McCarthy’s men. Not the start Steve Kean would have wanted, but there is still time in the transfer window to reinforce his squad and get them set-up for the season ahead.
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Watch the goals from today’s game by checking out ESPN’s New GOALS APP
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Check the winning the numbers from this week’s Goaldash here