Tag Futebol

Commentators and pundits are always keen to tell us that the International game has lost its edge over domestic and European football. But, without a doubt if I could only watch one game a year it would be the World Cup final every time. International football is the arena where players test themselves to the highest degree. The pressures that come with representing your nation far outweigh the pressures of domestic and European football. Thos simple fact got me thinking: all the medals in the world seem to pail into insignificance if you haven’t been called up to your senior International squad. Here are five players that have never been called up by their nation, and I am sure you will agree, if these players never received a cap, the standard can’t be that bad.

Steve Bruce

Formed one of the strongest defensive partnerships Manchester United and arguably the Premier League have ever had but Steve Bruce was never seen to have the ability to cut it for England. It is one of the true injustices in football that a man who played 309 times for Manchester United and won three Premier League titles was never considered for the England side. Sure, England had some great defenders in the 80′s and 90′s but somehow it seems wrong that he never got a chance in the side. However, his domestic career was hardly bad so I am sure he cant take some solace from that.

Steed Malbranque

This midfielder who has played over 200 times in the Premier League has never been considered good enough to play for the French national team. Without a doubt the French team has had some of the greatest players in world football but to never be capped is very strange. It’s especially queer, considering that during his time at Tottenham the midfielder was good enough to play for most international sides as his technique and craft was as good as anyone in the Premier League.

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Sylvain Distin

Sylvain Distin has always been considered a defender that is as solid as a rock. Distin is sure on the ball, good in the air and a threat in the opposition’s box but he has never been capped by the French national team. Very strange indeed considering he played 178 times for Manchester City and has been in sides that have won both the French Cup and the FA Cup. Surely there was a friendly match or a qualifying match somewhere along the line in which a French manager could have given Distin a chance to showcase his talents on the International scene.

Mikel Arteta

Most fans in the Premier League would want Mikel Arteta in their side. He is a player that would offer so much to any team – even Spain. He has a good eye for goal and his imagination, flair and intelligence have made him a star in the Premier League. Yet he has never been capped at full International level. Spain were not always the all conquering side that they are now, and four or five years ago Arteta should have won a few caps at least for Spain. Ivan Campo was capped four times and Arteta has not received one. There is something very wrong with that statistic.

Tony Coton

Without a doubt, Tony Coton has to be the most unfortunate goalkeeper in recent memory. He was simply born into the wrong era, he had to see the end of Peter Shilton’s days and witness the rise of David Seaman. He was a better goalkeeper than most of the ‘keepers England have had since David Seaman, he was just born in the wrong era. It is a shame for a goalkeeper that represented Manchester City 163 times and there can be no doubt that Tony Coton is one of the finest goalkeepers never to be capped at senior international level. Since retiring, Tony Coton become one of the top goakeeping coaches in the world but an injury and subsequent operations limited Coton’s involvement at Manchester United.

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Read more of Tom’s articles at This Is Futbol

Arsenal fans will no doubt be delighted with the news that their prodigious midfielder Aaron Ramsey is back in training. It’s been almost 8 months since the 27th of February when a wild tackle from Stoke’s Ryan Shawcross left Ramsey with a career-threatening injury. In physiological terms he fractured the tibia and the fibula of his right leg – yet these terms do little to capture the full horror of Ramsey’s injury. In a very real sense Ramsey’s leg was left shattered. I’m sure everybody saw the pictures of Ramsey holding his leg slightly aloft, his injured foot swinging at an unnatural angle to the rest of his body (for those of you with iron stomachs, click here to see the picture). Seeing that picture again I am reminded how lucky it is that Ramsey is returning at all.

And yet, here he is. Ramsey has undergone an extensive rehabilitation programme and is now back at Arsenal’s London Colney training grounds. Unsurprisingly, Ramsey seems delighted with his progress. “I’ve been doing strengthening exercises and those sorts of things for a long time now and I’m starting to feel the benefits,” he told Arsenal TV Online. “I’m now outside training with the fitness coach and I feel good… I am a very motivated guy and I’ve missed football a lot, it’s made me realise how much it means to me. I just want to get back out there and start doing what I used to do”.

Obviously, it’s important that Ramsey isn’t rushed back into action as any set-backs would have a devastating effect on his career. This won’t stop the Arsenal faithful from salivating over the prospect of their talented young Welshman adding weight to their midfield. But this leads me to wonder; exactly what kind of role will Ramsey play when he returns to the Arsenal fold? For better or worse, things have changed for Arsenal since Ramsey’s injury. He will be returning to a highly competitive central midfield that includes the likes of Cesc Fabregas (who is a staple and will play almost every game he is available for), Diaby (whose stocky-build usually sees him picked against teams that present a physical threat), Denilson (who appears to have fallen out of favour at Arsenal), Alex Song (an essential part of Arsenal’s title challenge and likely to play every game he is available for) and finally, the burgeoning talent of Jack Wilshere.

It’s young Jack that I believe really throws a spanner in the works for Ramsey. Before his injury a string of excellent performances had seen Ramsey rise above Denilson in the pecking order. This meant if the likes of Fabregas, Diaby and Song were for some reason unavailable (or if Diaby was going through a bad phase as he is sometimes prone to do) that Ramsey could expect a game. Now, however, times have changed and if a space in the midfield opens up Wenger will have to choose between Ramsey and Wilshere. A difficult decision at the best of times, but with Wilshere’s meteoric rise through the ranks continuing at lightning pace as he proves himself capable from game to game, you have to feel that it is he who would be picked should such a situation arise.

So where does this leave young Aaron Ramsey? Does Arsenal have room for two prodigious young talents? I don’t picture him as a lad who will be satisfied getting his first-team experience solely in Arsenal’s Carling Cup exploits. Of course, there’s always the chance that Ramsey will put in a series of good performances as a sub, or in the Carling Cup and that this will throw him into contention for more first-team games. However, Ramsey needs game-time to recover his match-fitness and more importantly he will require a consistent challenge week-by-week so that he can rediscover his level. Then there’s always the worry that Ramsey will never be quite the same player he was before his injury. Arsenal fans will remember all too well that their Croatian striker Eduardo (who was moved on to Shakhtar Donetsk last summer) never fully recaptured his best form after returning from his own horrific leg-break. We can only cross our fingers and hope that the talented Welshman recovers his terrific form, whether or not that happens in the red-and-white of Arsenal is another question entirely.

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QPR have failed in their attempts to sign Brazilian striker Henrique, as the player has been refused a work permit.

The Loftus Road club are on the warpath in this month’s transfer window, and had hoped to bring the 20-year-old to England to bolster their attacking options.

Despite agreeing a fee with the forward’s club Sao Paulo, the Brazil under-20’s star will not move to London due to complications in registration.

“He didn’t get a work permit for various reasons,” a QPR spokesman told reporters.

The news will not have been a huge surprise for Mark Hughes’ men, as Henrique is yet to represent his nation at senior level.

Meanwhile, Sky Sports have stated that Taye Taiwo has completed a loan move to QPR from AC Milan.

The Nigeria international left back had been speculated as a potential target for Hughes, with negotiations over a deal underway last week.

Taiwo has had limited opportunities in Italy since moving to the San Siro from Marseille back in the summer, and will hope to get his career back on track with a short-term spell in the Premier League.

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By Gareth McKnight

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Bolton host Sunderland at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday in a game of little significance to either end of the English Premier League table.Wanderers are nine points and goal difference behind fifth-placed Liverpool and sixth-placed Tottenham, meaning Owen Coyle’s side will not be featuring in Europe next season.

Birmingham City and Stoke City have qualified for the Europa League courtesy of their respective Carling Cup and FA Cup heroics.

All that is left for Bolton this season is pride and they could edge higher up the table if they defeat the Black Cats and seventh-placed Everton lose to Manchester City on Sunday.

Sunderland are just six points above the relegation zone and have lost nine of their past 11, with their only win since their 2-1 triumph over Blackpool in January a com-from-behind 4-2 win over Wigan.

Steve Bruce’s side seem safe from the relegation mire, but an away win would certainly lift confidence levels and mathematically sew up their top-flight status for next season.

Sunderland’s problem has been their impotency in front of goal, having been kept scoreless in six of their past eight games, losing five of them.

Their profligacy in the front third has not been helped by season-ending injuries to strikers Asamoah Gyan and Danny Welbeck – the latter of which scored the only goal in Sunderland’s victory in the reverse fixture in December.

Darren Bent – now with Aston Villa after an 18 million-pound move in January – provided the assist for Welbeck against Bolton at the Stadium of Light, just one sign of how the fortunes have changed for Bruce’s side in the space of a season.

Bolton have problems of their own, with Gretar Steinsson, Sam Ricketts, Stuart Holden, Mark Davies and Daniel Sturridge all missing in Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Blackburn.

Only Sturridge is rated a chance to return and – with seven goals in nine appearances since the striker’s loan move from Chelsea in January – he looms as one Bruce will have to watch carefully on Saturday.

When Harry Redknapp brought Rafael van der Vaart to White Hart Lane on transfer deadline day, it was not a move that was greeted with universal praise. Although the fee Spurs had paid was pleasing, many fans believed that the club simply did not need him, due to the plethora of midfield talent already available to Redknapp, in particular Luka Modric and Niko Kranjcar who were seen as similar players to the Dutchman. However, Van der Vaart’s performances so far have more than justified the decision to buy the him, and confirmed Harry Redknapp as one of the shrewdest operators in the transfer market.

Rafael van der Vaart’s career bloomed early. A graduate of the famous Ajax academy, Van der Vaart became a regular for the Dutch giants as a teenager, and picked up his first full international cap at the tender age of 18. He was seen as one the hottest prospects in European football but his career drifted somewhat, and when he moved to German outfit Hamburg it came as a surprise. Van der Vaart was excellent for his new club and when Real Madrid came calling, you got the feeling that he had finally got the move that his talent warranted. However, his time at the Bernabeu proved frustrating, as he was unable to hold down a place in the first team, with the signing of Mesut Ozil and Angel di Maria this summer, it was clear the Dutchman’s time was up.

It looked like Tottenham and Harry Redknapp were going to endure a disappointing transfer window, but when the call came that Van der Vaart’s proposed move to Bayern Munich had collapsed the night before, and that he was available for half of the price the German club were willing to pay, Redknapp wasted no time in making the deal happen. As much as he might hate it, Harry Redknapp has the tag of a master ‘wheeler-dealer’ and it is this kind of transfer that have earned him that title.

A few years ago Spurs fans would have been in euphoria at the prospect of a player like Van der Vaart joining them, yet the reception that greeted his signing was decidedly muted. Many believed that it was not an area Redknapp needed to be strengthening. For me though, Van der Vaart’s quality is such that there was never any doubt in my mind that it would prove to be a fantastic deal.

The Dutchman’s performances so far have been nothing short of brilliant. He has settled in well and already looks like one of the most dangerous midfielders in the league, some of the balls he has put in to the box, as he did this weekend against Wolves, have been world class. Van der Vaart is a hugely talented player who would not look out of depth for any team in the world, and for Redknapp to sign him for such a small price is a major coup.

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When you consider that £25 million was spent on James Milner this summer, Spurs’ deadline day signing must go down as one of the best deals of the window. He adds quality to Tottenham, and that is what they need in an increasingly competitive league if they wish to be challenging at the top table again this season.

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Mark Hughes takes charge of his first game as QPR boss against Newcastle on Sunday hoping to guide his new side to a much-needed win and away from danger.

Beating the Magpies at St James’ Park won’t be easy though after they swept past Manchester United with ease a fortnight ago to start 2012 in style. Alan Pardew’s side endured a frustrating festive period winning just once and having to contend with a series of injuries and suspensions to key players. However their display against the champions certainly laid down a maker for the New Year as they aim to qualify for the Europa League. The goals of free transfer Demba Ba have been a huge plus point for the Toon Army with the Senegal hit man scoring 15 times already this season. He’ll be missing for the visit of QPR on Sunday after jetting off to the African Cup of Nations along with midfielder Cheick Tiote. With the former West Ham forward leaving a massive hole in attack the likes of Leon Best, Shola Ameobi and Hatem Ben Arfa will need to step up over the next couple of weeks and ensure Newcastle continue on the straight and narrow until Ba returns. Ben Arfa has offered a glimmer of hope for supporters with his sparkling displays in recent weeks putting him into contention for a regular starting berth. The Magpies will need his Gallic artistry on Sunday as they aim for a second win on the spin in 2012.

Winning is a term that has become alien at Loftus Road with the R’s recording just two wins in their last 15 games causing them to plummet down the table towards the drop zone. The sacking of Neil Warnock last week courted a large amount of controversy with supporters unhappy that their former boss had been ousted after just half a season. However the appointment of Hughes has cooled the anger towards owner Tony Fernandes with the former Blackburn boss seen as the man to save Rangers’ Premier League skins. Scoring goals has been the biggest problem for the club this season with Heidar Helguson the only player managing to find the net on a regular basis. As an ex-striker himself there is no doubt Hughes will provide a solution to that with both Jay Bothroyd and DJ Campbell struggling for goals since joining last summer. He’ll have to sort it out quickly though with the QPR scoring a paltry five goals in their seven games over Christmas. Doing it at Newcastle on Sunday will be a huge task against one of the top flights strongest defences who also benefitted from a managerial change mid-way through previous campaign.

Newcastle United 7th : 33 points

Last six: W L W L D L

Team news: Sammy Ameobi and Danny Simpson are both sidelined but Danny Guthrie could return to replace Cheick Tiote who is at the African Cup of Nations with leading scorer Demba Ba.

Key Player: Yohan Cabaye

The Frenchman has enjoyed a superb first season in England and kicked off 2012 in style with a stunning free kick in the win over Manchester United. With Cheick Tiote off on international duty there is extra responsibility on Cabaye’s shoulders to hold the midfield together and still be Newcastle’s chief playmaker.

QPR 17th : 17 points

Last six: L L D L L L

Team news: Captain Joey Barton is suspended for the game against his former club whilst Alejandro Faurlin is out for the season.

Key Player: Heidar Helguson

With Jay Bothroyd and DJ Campbell both struggling for goals this season the Icelandic striker has stepped up to the plate finding the net scoring seven times in 11 starts. His power in the air and penchant to score important goals will be key to beating Newcastle on Sunday.

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PREDICTION

Newcastle will be purring after beating Manchester United last time out but with Demba Ba missing they will be going all out to ensure he isn’t missed. Mark Hughes takes charge of his first game as QPR boss and will be hoping his positive influence can have a positive effect on his new side.

Score: 2-0

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Real Madrid host Barcelona in a potential title decider on Saturday, the first of four eagerly anticipated clashes between the two teams.Reigning champions Barca top the La Liga table by eight points from second-placed Real.

Pep Guardiola’s side dismantled Real 5-0 during their first meeting at the Camp Nou in November.

A victory in the corresponding fixture at the Bernabeu could see them stretch their advantage to a near-unassailable 11 points.

And with only six matches of the season remaining after this round, it would make Barca overwhelming favourites to collect their third consecutive championship crown.

But the title race is one only part of a fascinating series of matches between the two arch-rivals.

On Wednesday they contest the Copa del Rey final at Valencia’s Estadio Mestalla, before meeting over two legs of the Champions League semi-final in the last week of April and first week of May.

Elsewhere in La Liga, bottom club Almeria have a daunting assignment at home to third-placed Valencia, who thrashed immediate rivals Villarreal 5-0 last weekend.

Almeria went down 3-1 away to Barca after taking a surprise lead early in the second half at the Camp Nou.

They are four points adrift of second bottom Malaga and seven points away from safety.

Malaga have an opportunity to climb above third-from-last Hercules and draw level with 17th-placed Real Zaragoza when they are in action at home to mid-table Mallorca.

Also on Saturday, Sevilla travel to Getafe with their hopes of securing a Champions League qualification berth fading.

Gregorio Manzano’s side are fifth, eight points behind fourth-placed Villarreal, who do not play until Monday, when they host Zaragoza.

In Sunday’s matches, Hercules will hope to continue their survival bid when they travel to Levante.

Deportivo La Coruna are at home to Racing Santander, Sporting Gijon travel to face Real Sociedad and Osasuna await the visit of Athletic Bilbao.

Atletico Madrid, seventh in the table but level on points with sixth-placed Bilbao, are away at Espanyol.

One thing nobody has control over is what they are to be named when they arrive on Earth. Here I’m going to give you five footballers whose parents were either a fantastic laugh or deliciously cruel. It can simply be that in some cases it was a matter of not knowing any English slang when naming their child. Whatever way these blokes must have took some stick over the years.

5. Quim (Braga, Benfica)

For those who don’t know Quim is a slang term for a woman’s downstairs parts. I first heard the use of quim on Bo Selecta. Go on Youtube and find ‘Marilyn Manson Bo Selecta’ and watch a posh toff parody of the musical freak calling everybody ‘Mildred’ and asking ‘where does he keep his quim?’

4. Danny Shittu (QPR, Watford)

Poor old Danny Shittu. An African name that had he stayed in Nigeria probably wouldn’t have caused many problems. Playing football in England however means Shittu must have been subjected to more ridicule already than most people would take in a lifetime. At least he sees the funny side though. In a post-match interview one time after he’d scored he said: “I’m not as bad as my name suggests.”

3. Rod Fanni (Nice, Rennes)

Do I even need to comment on his name? No? I didn’t think so.

2. Bernt Haas (Grasshopper, Sunderland, West Brom)

Hahahahaha. What a superb name. I can only imagine the one-liners Bernt must have heard a million times when he was out and about in the North East. ‘Howay Bernt, hoows your arse failing?” I can’t do a Geordie accent but you get the point.

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1.Stefan Kuntz (VFL Bochum, Kaiserslautern)

There was only ever one winner. English people around the World laughed themselves silly during Euro 96 whenever his name was mentioned. If you haven’t seen it you must Youtube Czech Republic’s Euro 96 game with Germany where John Motson says: “Bierhoff has a chance to stake his claim now that the two strikers have been taken off…..Kuntz.”

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To say that there is a lengthy line of players who in recent years have occupied more column inches on the front page than the back is something of an understatement. Whether it is down to the money in the game now, or simply the way footballers are idolised to an almost God like status by the public, they are behaving in a worse and more disgraceful manner than ever before, and at some point this is going to start impacting on what they do on the field.

Don’t get me wrong, quite frankly I could not care less what footballer’s do in their own time and how they chose to behave is down to them, but when it begins to affect both what they do on the pitch and the team morale and pre match preparations – there is a problem.

Case in point is Wayne Rooney – throughout his career he has been involved in various indiscretions, of which there would be little point listing due to the fact everyone is fully aware of them to begin with, and each and every time his form on the field has been impacted.

Nicklas Bendtner has become the latest player to be forced to issue an apology for off the field behaviour after being caught with club Captain Lee Cattermole on an alleged criminal damage spree.

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Why either player felt that this would be appropriate conduct is beyond comprehension, but it is hardly what a struggling Sunderland need – and manager Martin O’Neill will not tolerate such behaviour in any way, shape or form with neither Bendtner nor Cattermole starting what was a vital game against Spurs on the weekend.

Likewise players who find themselves in trouble with the law and have to deal with potential arrests and court appearances – this can obviously range from players who do time in prison – Pennant and Barton can testify to how this effects your career in a highly negative way – or just driving offences – yet even this is hardly a great example of behaviour from a role model for young children – something our footballers are.

It can even be something as simple as getting too involved in a hobby – long have people accused Owen of being more interested in his horses than being fit to play football, and likewise with Ferdinand and his magazine, restaurant and music – anything but football distractions.

Not to do a disservice to players who are complete and utter professionals here – someone like Gary Neville may not be your cup of tea, but he gave his heart and soul to the game for as long as he played it and was also a fantastic role model off the field, and in an age where some footballers are in danger of forgetting what they do is actually a job – yes a dream job – but a job none the less, and 100% of their attention needs to be directed towards it this is a precious commodity.

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Yes, playing football is a short career and can end in a heartbeat, and full credit to footballers for pursuing off the field interests and endorsements whilst they can, but when their off the field commitments or problems begin to impact on their day job – that is a problem.

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Nacional moved into sixth spot on the Liga Sagres table after breaking a four-game winless run with a 1-0 win over Pacos de Ferreira.An 84th-minute strike by substitute Edgar Costa was all that separated the two closely-matched sides on Monday at the Estadio de Madeira.

The 23-year-old attacker entered the fray at half-time and struck the decisive blow when Pacos goalkeeper Cassio came for a long ball and failed to collect, allowing the striker to place a cheeky chip over him and into the empty net.

Nacional midfielder Bruno Amaro was sent off in stoppage time after a clumsy foul cost him a second yellow card.

It was the first time Pedrag Jokanovic’s side had won in any competition since February 27, but it kept the Madeira club’s hopes of securing a Europa League spot alive.

Pacos’ own attempts to secure continental football took a hit. They now lie seventh and a point from a Europa League place in fifth..