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This week’s Champions League games will go a long way in deciding the final spots in the knockout stage.  Liverpool need a miracle, namely they need to beat Debrecen and they need some Lyon (who’s already in) to beat Fiorentina.  If Fiorentina wins or draws either of their final two games, Liverpool is out.  The Reds will be without Fernando Torres, who’s still battling a groin injury.  Fellow striker Ryan Babel also picked up an injury in the draw with Manchester City this weekend. Defending champion Barcelona finds themselves in a similar boat.  They need to beat Inter Milan at home to keep their chances at advancing alive.  Barca will likely be without Lionel Messi due to injury.  Several players are also ill with the H1N1 virus.

Tuesday’s games
Rubin vs. Dynamo
Arsenal vs. Standard – 9 p.m. ET/Fox Soccer (Delayed)
AZ vs. Olympiacos
Barcelona vs. Inter – 7 p.m. ET/Fox Soccer (Delayed)
Debrecen vs. Liverpool – 2:40 p.m. ET/Setanta (Live); 5 p.m. ET/Fox Soccer (Delayed)
Fiorentina vs. Lyon – 2:30 p.m. ET/Fox Soccer (Live)
Rangers vs. Stuttgart
Unirea Urziceni vs. Sevilla

Well this was the kick that Lio Messi took to his mug during Saturday’s match against Bilbao. But that is not the injury Pep will be stressing about. Messi limped of in the second half, and now we hear it was because of a thigh problem . Apparently it is a grade one injury to his left adductor (that’s the muscle on the inside of your thigh). So it’s not a really serious injury, but now Pep faces a dilema on his hands: does he play Messi in the crucial Inter match and risk him aggrevating the injury; or does he rest him and do without one of his best players? The official site stated that Lio will not be ruled out of Tuesday’s game, and he is undergoing extensive tests to see what can be done about the injury.

One Barca Player who will most definitley be ruled out is Toure, who is still in pretty bad shape after been hit with the H1N1 virus. Rafa Marquez on the other hand has been cleared. After undergoing tests, fcbarcelona.cat confirmed that he does not have Swine Flu and may be match fit for Tuesday.

Some good news for Barca: Ibra has been recovering well and the Barca docs feel that he might even be ready by Tuesday (Yay!).

Former Glory...

Another Champions League matchday is upon us, the fifth of this year’s annual competition featuring some of the worlds greatest football clubs and players.  One of the greats who may likely miss the matchday is Barcelona striker Lionel Messi who recently sustained a thigh muscle injury on Saturday night during a 1-1 tie against Athletic Bilbao. Messi helped lead his club to a Champions League title in the 2008-2009 with a league-leading 9 goals.

Goal.com reports that he will more than likely be fit enough to play next Saturday in domestic play for Barcelona’s clash (“El Classico” for all you football snobs) against Real Madrid for tops in La Liga. His participation in Tuesday’s bout against division leading Inter Milan will be a game-time decision.  This is a critical match for Barcelona as they sit third in their group standings, and need the win to take control of the division, which will more than likely secure their spot in the Round of 16.

Barcelona is an ailing team with rumors of defender Rafael Márquez having recently presented symptoms of the H1N1 virus and teammates  Eric Abidal and Toure Yaya having already been diagnosed with the same illness. In other somewhat despairing news for the Catalan faithful,  Messi’s co-striker Zlatan Ibrahimovich did not practice with the club on Sunday as he is also recovering from a thigh strain. Both have combined for a modest 2 goals scored in four Champions League matches this season.  Notice matching stats to go with their matching injuries. Maybe they just want to be twins?

The team may look to them to play against Inter despite their less-than-perfect condition. Regardless, it might be hard to notice them on the pitch given their lack-luster performances so far.  Coach, Josep Guardiola has already stated:

“If players aren’t there… we’ll play with others. You don’t win titles with two or three players”

…Yes, but you can definitely lose titles without two or three players. To add insult to injury (pardon the pun),  Inter’s Jose Murinho announced the return of striker Samuel Eto’o. Save your tears Barca fans, it will definitely be an up-hill battle for the defending champs but they certainly have the depth and talent to pull off an epic win they so desperately need.

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What you missed while scientists were finding a new type of predator coral that can eat jellyfish…

• David Beckham’s LA Galaxy lost the MLS Cup on penalties to Real Salt Lake last night, but Beckham is still planning on coming back after his AC Milan move, possibly with an eye towards one day owning an MLS franchise. Beckham Beckham Beckham Beckham.
• Jermain Defoe scored five goals in Tottenham’s 9-1 demolition of Wigan.
• Barcelona drew 1-1 with Athletic Bilbao Saturday, dropping them behind Real Madrid on the table; even worse, Lionel Messi went down with a thigh tear that will likely leave him out of the Super Classico on Saturday.
• Gaël Kakuta, the controversial Chelsea youth prospect, made his debut against Wolves.
• Liverpool will have to beat Debrecini VSC without Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel; the way things are going lately, look for a 2-2 draw in Hungary tomorrow.
• Carlos Vela’s potential has convinced Arsene Wenger to stop trying to sign Marouane Chamakh.
• Thierry Henry considered quitting after his controversial double dribble against Ireland.
• Philipp Lahm says that Bayern Munich is “sick” and “lame”. No word on whether they’re also “bogus” and “heinous”.
• Switzerland’s FC Gossau and FC Thun have each banned players over their roles in a match fixing scandal.
• Palermo have sacked Walter Zenga for extending the club’s winless run to four games, knocking all the pieces over.
• Rubin Kazan’s scoreless draw with Zenit St. Petersburg saw them clinch their second consecutive Russian Premier League title.
• Gary Neville has hit out against “mollycoddled” players who collect paychecks but never seem to actually play rely on their agents to do everything for them.

Jumlah pemain muda berbakat atau yang sering disebut dengan istilah wonderkid terus meningkat.

Sejumlah diantara mereka telah bermain di klub-klub besar dan mulai merangkat masuk ke skuad inti sedikit demi sedikit, sebut saja Alexandre Pato di AC Milan,Mario Balotelli dan Davide Santon di Inter,Stevan Jovetic di Fiorentina,Federico Macheda dan Nani di Manchester United,Fran Merida di Arsenal,Bojan Krkic dan Lionel Messi di Barcelona,Esteban Granero,Gonzalo Higuain,Marcelo, dan Gago Di Real Madrid.

Tetapi selain pemain-pemain tadi masih banyak pemain berbekat lainnya seperti :

1. Gai Assulin

Gai Assulin

Pria kelahiran Israel tahun 1991 ini adalah slah satu produk pemain berbakat yang dihasilkan Perusaan Penghasil Pemain-pemain muda berbakat, yaitu Barcelona. Permainan Assulin yang luar biasa membuat ia disebut-sebut sebagai The New Messi. Sejumlah klub besar di Eropa sedang mengirim pemandu bakat untuk mengamati perkembangannya.

2. Sherman Cardenas

Sherman Cardenas

Pemain kelahiran Bucaramanga,Kolombia ini adalah pemain muda berbakat yang membela tim Atletico Bucaramanga. Pemain ini memiliki skill permainan yang sangat tinggi. Ia didaulat sebagai penerus Kaka meskipun belum banyak orang yang tahu. Video permainannya dapat dilihat di Youtube.com .

3. Bruno Mezenga

Bruno Mezenga

Pemain yang disebut sebagai The Next Adriano ini bermain di Flamengo. Di tim ini bakatnya mulai terlihat dan terasah. Bruno Mezenga meruapakan pemain termuda yang melakukan debut di tim inti Flamengo dalam sejarah Flamengo.

Sebenarnya masih banyak lagi pemain-pemain muda berbakat yang belum disorot publik tetapi, saya hanya mampu menuliskan sedikit saja.

Nah, klub-klub Eropa lebih baik kalian beli pemain-pemain Wonderkid seperti ini agar regenerasi dunia sepakbola dapa berjalan dengan baik.

Jika tidak percaya anda dapat mencari video pemain di Youtube.com dan meyaksikannya, memainkan game komputer Football Manager 2010 juga membantu mencari banyak pemain muda berbakat. Sejumlah pelatih ternama acap Sir Alex Ferguson dan Arsene Wenger juga memainkan game ini.

La piu’ famosa restera’ la “Mano de Dios” con cui Diego Armando Maradona si fece beffa dell’Inghilterra ai Mondiali di Messico ‘86 ma la mano “galeotta” con cui Thierry Henry ha messo lo zampino nel pari della Francia contro l’Irlanda non e’ che l’ultimo capitolo di una storia che parte da lontano.

Di mani ‘fuori posto’ che, non viste dall’arbitro, hanno poi deciso partite e destini di squadre il calcio ne ha viste tante. La piu’ importante, si diceva sopra, resta quella di Maradona, che poi si fece ‘perdonare’ siglando il 2-0 sugli inglesi con quello che e’ stato definito “il gol del secolo”, ma prima dell’ex Pibe de Oro ci fu Joe Jordan, attaccante scozzese che in Italia ha vestito le maglie di Milan e Verona, che nella partita di qualificazione ai Mondiali del ‘78 inganno’ l’arbitro toccando lui la palla con la mano in area gallese. Il direttore di gara, credendo che fosse stato un avversario, assegno’ il rigore alla Scozia, che poi vinse e stacco’ il biglietto per la Coppa a spese proprio del Galles. Nel 1990, invece, nel ritorno della semifinale di Coppa dei Campioni tra Benfica e Marsiglia, l’angolano Vata Matanu Garcia, su azione  da corner, devio’ la palla in rete con la mano, i lusitani vinsero 1-0 e ribaltarono cosi’ l’1-2 dell’andata, conquistando l’accesso alla finale persa poi contro il Milan.

Che Maradona abbia fatto  scuola lo dimostrano poi Lionel Messi e Sergio Aguero. La Pulce, che lo stesso ct dell’Argentina ha designato come suo erede, e’ stato all’altezza del maestro in un derby tra Barcellona ed Espanyol del 2007, beffando i cugini con una deviazione di mano su cross di Zambrotta, mentre un anno prima il Kun, su un colpo di testa dell’allora compagno di squadra Fernando Torres, porto’ in vantaggio l’Atletico Madrid contro il Recreativo con un tocco di mano sotto porta. Prima di loro, sul  palcoscenico della Champions League, tocco’ a Raul ripercorrere le orme di Maradona, siglando con la mano la rete del 3-2 sul Leeds che valse al Real il primato nel girone anche se poi l’attaccante venne squalificato per una giornata e multato.

Anche in Italia di ”mano di Dio” ne abbiamo viste, una su tutte quella di Milan Rapajc in un Napoli-Perugia della stagione ‘96-97 che regalo’ agli umbri il pareggio, mentre sono piu’ recenti quelle di Gilardino in Palermo-Fiorentina dell’ottobre 2008 (l’attaccante viola e’ stato poi squalificato due giornate) e di Adriano nel derby vinto dall’Inter lo scorso febbraio.

Certo, non sempre la “mano” passa inosservata, vedi la finale di Supercoppa Europea tra Manchester United e Zenit dello scorso anno. Paul Scholes provo’ a ingannare l’arbitro siglando il 2-2 ma quello che ottenne fu solo il secondo giallo e la conseguente espulsione. Ieri, invece, Henry l’ha fatta franca, controllando furbescamente il pallone che poi Gallas ha trasformato nell’1-1 regalando il pass mondiale alla Francia. Gli irlandesi sono furiosi, se puo’ essere loro di consolazione pero’, sono in buona compagnia.

di Giorgio La Bruzzo per Italpress

Kaka, pemain nomor 8 ada di peringkat 8 dalam daftar 100 Pemain Terbaik versi FourFourTwo.

Prakata :

Majalah FourFourTwo merilis 100 Pemain Terbaik Dunia dalam edisi November 2009 yang telah terbit bulan lalu. Program tersebut sudah dilangsungkan sejak dua tahun lalu. Memang bukan sesuatu yang sederhana, karena pihak lain biasanya hanya menampilkan 5 besar atau 10 besar. Di sini saya sebatas menampilkan 10 besar pemain terbaik dunia versi FourFourTwo, yaitu :

1.) Lionel Messi, 2.) Cristiano Ronaldo, 3.) Xavi Hernandez dan Andres Iniesta, 5.) David Villa, 6.) Fernando Torres, 7.) Steven Gerrrard, 8.) Kaka, 9.) Samuel Eto’o, 10.) Wayne Rooney.

Tulisan di bawah ini -versi asli- merupakan hasil pengamatan saya terhadap 100 Pemain Terbaik Dunia versi FFT, yang dimuat dalam majalah FourFourTwo Indonesia edisi Desember 2009. Terima kasih untuk redaktur majalah tersebut atas perhatiannya.

Pertama, salut bagi FourFourTwo yang kembali menampilkan daftar 100 Pemain Terbaik Dunia. Sebuah kerja keras yang patut mendapatkan apresiasi. Barangkali pada umumnya kita sepakat dengan posisi Lionel Messi dan Cristiano Ronaldo sebagai dua yang terbaik. Namun untuk urutan berikutnya tampak layak menjadi bahan perdebatan kita. Dan hal itu pasti terjadi dalam penyusunan daftar apa saja, karena setiap pilihan selalu bersifat relatif.

Saya sekadar ingin menyoroti hal menarik yang terjadi pada pemain dengan peringkat atau nomor urut 8 (Kaka), 9 (Samuel Eto’o), dan 10 (Wayne Rooney). Sungguh unik bahwa posisi mereka bertiga ternyata sama persis dengan nomor kostum masing-masing pada musim 2009/10 ini. Kaka adalah pemain nomor 8 Real Madrid, Samuel Eto’o mengenakan nomor 9 di Inter Milan dan timnas Kamerun (juga sebelumnya di Barcelona), sementara Wayne Rooney pemakai kostum nomor 10 Manchester United dan timnas Inggris. Bisa jadi hal yang bersifat kebetulan tersebut hanya terjadi sekali ini dan tak bakal terulang lagi.

Tanggapan redaktur FFT Indonesia :

Hai Satya, untuk posisi tiga pemain yang kamu sebut paling akhir, kami memang sengaja kok. Eh tidak, kami bercanda. Jujur, kamu lebih teliti dari kami soal nomor-nomor punggung tersebut.

Ni porque Maradona los ha decepcionado… Los argentinos piden a Messi que se haga la permanente como cábala para ganar la Copa del Mundo Sudáfrica 2010. Acá incluyo algunos otros screens de este sitio: