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	<title>michael-ballack &amp;laquo; WordPress.com Tag Feed</title>
	<link>http://en.wordpress.com/tag/michael-ballack/</link>
	<description>Feed of posts on WordPress.com tagged "michael-ballack"</description>
	<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:08:06 +0000</pubDate>

	<generator>http://en.wordpress.com/tags/</generator>
	<language>en</language>

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<title><![CDATA[I thought this was...]]></title>
<link>http://confinedwisdom.com/2009/11/30/i-thought-this-was/</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:14:43 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Noman Ali</dc:creator>
<guid>http://confinedwisdom.com/2009/11/30/i-thought-this-was/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Whether it&#8217;s a shortage of face molds up in the sky, or just pure coincidence, many people, fa]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Whether it&#8217;s a shortage of face molds up in the sky, or just pure coincidence, many people, fa]]></content:encoded>
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<item>
<title><![CDATA[Auf anderen Plätzen: Artikel über Michael Ballack auf independent.co.uk]]></title>
<link>http://dfcmitglied472.wordpress.com/2009/11/29/auf-anderen-platzen-artikel-uber-michael-ballack-auf-independent-co-uk/</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:36:29 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jan</dc:creator>
<guid>http://dfcmitglied472.wordpress.com/2009/11/29/auf-anderen-platzen-artikel-uber-michael-ballack-auf-independent-co-uk/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Das hat jetzt zwar nur am Rande mit Fortuna Köln zu tun und liegt auch schon ein paar Tage zurück. A]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p>Das hat jetzt zwar nur am Rande mit <strong>Fortuna Köln</strong> zu tun und liegt auch schon ein paar Tage zurück. Aber dennoch finde ich diesen Artikel durchaus lesens- und empfehlenswert. <a title="The Independent" href="http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/ballack-people-have-weaknesses-we-should-just-accept-it-1829699.html" target="_blank">In einem sehr ausführlichen Interview mit der britischen Tageszeitung &#8220;The Independent&#8221;</a> äußert sich der Kapitän der deutschen Nationalmannschaft hauptsächlich über den Freitod <strong>Robert Enkes</strong>, spricht aber auch über andere Dinge. Ich für meinen Teil lese sehr gerne solche Berichte, die einem mal einen anderen Blickwinkel erlauben. In dem Zusammenhang seien insbesondere die Texte ans Herz gelegt, die <strong>Raphael Honigstein</strong> für den <a title="Guardian" href="http://browse.guardian.co.uk/search?search=honigstein&#38;sitesearch-radio=guardian&#38;go-guardian=Search" target="_blank">Guardian</a> über die Bundesliga schreibt. Jedes Mal eine Freude.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[Beidfüßig]]></title>
<link>http://angedacht.wordpress.com/2009/11/22/beidfusig/</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:22:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>heinzkamke</dc:creator>
<guid>http://angedacht.wordpress.com/2009/11/22/beidfusig/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Kennt jemand von den werten Lesern wirklich beidfüßige Spieler? Ich meine nicht Leute wie Trochowski]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p>Kennt jemand von den werten Lesern wirklich beidfüßige Spieler? Ich meine nicht Leute wie Trochowski, der gerne auch mal mit dem schwachen Fuß einen Gewaltschuss ablässt, der diesen Namen verdient hat, und auch nicht die Pizarros und Gomez&#8217; dieser Welt, die aus 10 Metern mit beiden Füßen das Netz durchschießen können, sondern Spieler, die sich kurz vor dem Anlauf, vielleicht in Abhängigkeit von der gestellten Mauer, überlegen können, mit welchem Fuß sie zum Freistoß antreten werden. Oder gar auf dem Weg zur Eckfahne. Gibt&#8217;s da jemanden? Aus der Bundesliga, oder auch aus irgendeiner anderen ersten Liga? Ich weiß nicht einmal, ob Andreas Brehme so weit ging, Eckbälle mit beiden Füßen zu schlagen.</p>
<p>Aliaksandr Hleb tut es. Seit einigen Wochen tritt er Eckbälle mit links. Diese Eckbälle sind nicht schlechter als die des Linksfüßers Thomas Hitzlsperger, ganz im Gegenteil. Während Hitzlspergers Ecken in der Regel an der kurzen Torraumecke in Hüfthöhe geklärt werden, erreichen sie bei Hleb durchaus Kopfhöhe; den vordersten Abwehrspieler passieren sie jedoch auch nicht. Mit dem rechten Fuß durfte sich gestern erstmals Sebastian Rudy versuchen, der häufiger, allein der Höhe wegen, die Tormitte erreichte, dem Ball aber so wenig Wucht mit auf den Weg gab, dass bestenfalls Kopfballspieler vom Schlage der Herren Hrubesch, Pizarro oder Ballack daraus etwas Zählbares hätten machen können. Die hat der VfB allerdings nicht. Fazit: ungefähr 13:1 Ecken, aber keine ernstzunehmende Torchance, die sich daraus ergeben hätte.</p>
<p>Ansonsten hat sich der VfB im Rahmen seiner derzeitigen Möglichkeiten bemüht. Einmal mehr spielte man 25 Minuten lang gefällig und kam zu einigen Chancen, von denen zwei oder gar drei als wirklich gut gelten dürfen. Danach war es, wie so oft, vorbei mit der <span style="text-decoration:line-through;">Herrlichkeit</span> Stuttgarter Spielkultur. Man ließ die Berliner, die zuvor wirklich nicht den Eindruck gemacht hatten, noch auf den Klassenerhalt hoffen zu dürfen, geschweige denn es zu tun, langsam ins Spiel finden, gab das in Ansätzen gezeigte Kurzpassspiel auf und zeigte eine Leistung, die denen der bisherigen Saison gerecht wurde. Und Markus Babbel sah diesem uninspirierten Kick bis zur 65. Minute zu, ehe er endlich wechselte. Wobei ich fairerweise einräumen muss, dass er zumindest in einem Fall möglicherweise einen Informationsvorsprung hatte und den von den Fans als Heilsbringer geforderten Elson aus gutem Grund nicht bringen wollte. Ich habe ihn auf dem Platz nicht gesehen. Und vor allem: er hat keine der durchaus zahlreichen Standardsituationen nach seiner Einwechslung getreten. Wenn es <em>den</em> einen Grund gibt, weshalb wir Elson sehen wollen, dann sind es doch zweifellos seine Ecken und Freistöße, die Gründe wurden oben genannt. Ich muss das nicht verstehen, aber ich würde gerne.</p>
<p>Unter dem Strich bleibt ein 1:1 gegen eine Hertha, über deren Sieg man sich auf Stuttgarter Seite nicht einmal hätte beschweren können, und die Tabelle lügt noch immer nicht. Nächste Woche in Leverkusen fehlt mit Kuzmanovic zudem der -für mich- gefühlte Kapitän, der nicht nur Siegeswillen zeigt, sondern mittlerweile auch noch die Tore schießt, schießen muss. Keine schönen Aussichten &#8211; auch nicht für Markus Babbel, der gestern erstmals deutlich vernehmbare &#8220;Babbel raus!&#8221;-Rufe zur Kentnis nehmen musste.</p>
<p>Lobend erwähnen möchte ich doch noch Arthur Boka, der seine Form aus dem Länderspiel mitgebracht hatte, den souveränen Niedermeier und den engagierten Pogrebnyak, sowie zumindest für die erste Halbzeit Sebastian Rudy, der erstmals über die volle Distanz spielte. Und last not least, das hätte ich mir nicht träumen lassen, Peter Gagelmann, der ein richtig gutes Spiel ablieferte. Vielleicht sollte ich ihn mir <a href="http://angedacht.wordpress.com/2009/10/20/ich-will-mir-nicht-gagelmann-wunschen/">doch öfter wünschen</a>.</p>
<p>Bei einem letzten Punkt weiß ich natürlich, dass ich mich regelmäßig wiederhole &#8211; doch selbst wenn es dem einen oder der anderen auf die Nerven gehen sollte, verliert der Punkt nicht seine Gültigkeit: die Nachspielzeit in deutschen Stadien wird nach meinem Dafürhalten bestenfalls ausgewürfelt und dann um mindestens 50 Prozent gekürzt, anders kann ich mir das Procedere einfach nicht mehr vorstellen. In der zweiten Halbzeit fielen gestern zwei Tore, es gab vier Auswechslungen, und sechs gelbe Karten sowie ein Platzverweis (gelb-rot) wurden verteilt. Zwei der gelben Karten wurden wegen Zeitspiels vergeben, wobei allein die Verwarnung für Torhüter Drobny mindestens zwei Minuten kostete, nachdem er zuvor schon in einigen anderen Situationen ermahnt worden war.</p>
<p>Nachspielzeit: 1 Minute.<br />
Das kann ich einfach nicht mehr ernst nehmen.</p>
<p>PS: Über Hinweise zu beidfüßigen Könnern in den Kommentaren würde ich mich freuen. Beid<em>händ</em>ige kenne ich indes seit vielen Jahren: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3gfFVmw0kA#t=3m45s">Inigo und Westley</a>.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[World Cup Kits Page]]></title>
<link>http://maofootball.wordpress.com/2009/11/12/world-cup-kits-page/</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:23:19 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>mao</dc:creator>
<guid>http://maofootball.wordpress.com/2009/11/12/world-cup-kits-page/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Previously I have implored readers of this space to check follow along with all of the current kits ]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Previously I have implored readers of this space to check follow along with all of the current kits ]]></content:encoded>
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<title><![CDATA[robert enke memorial in hannover 35,000 ]]></title>
<link>http://thekrays.wordpress.com/2009/11/12/robert-enke-memorial-in-hannover-35000/</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:30:24 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>whatever</dc:creator>
<guid>http://thekrays.wordpress.com/2009/11/12/robert-enke-memorial-in-hannover-35000/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[yesterday evening the german national football team, including oliver bierhoff and michael ballack, ]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p>yesterday evening the german national football team, including oliver bierhoff and michael ballack, along with robert enke&#8217;s widow, attended a memorial for robert enke, the goal keeper of the german national team who committed suicide on november 10. enke, who suffered from depression had driven his car onto train tracks. earlier in the day he had left a suicide note for his wife. you can watch video of the memorial <a href="http://video.gmx.net/watch/7085456/Trauer_und_Entsetzen_nach_Freitod_von_Robert_Enke">here</a> which includes images of the 35,000 people who attended a memorial march in hannover.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[FIFA World Player of the Year Award Shortlist 2009 : Will it be Michael Essien?]]></title>
<link>http://rheasport.wordpress.com/2009/11/01/fifa-world-player-of-the-year-award-shortlist-2009-will-it-be-michael-essien/</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:10:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Rhea</dc:creator>
<guid>http://rheasport.wordpress.com/2009/11/01/fifa-world-player-of-the-year-award-shortlist-2009-will-it-be-michael-essien/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Congratulations to all True Blues out there. Aren&#8217;t we having a great year so far?  8 goals in]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-357 alignnone" title="John Terry" src="http://rheasport.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/john-terry.jpg?w=104" alt="John Terry" width="104" height="150" /><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-372" title="Fernando Torres" src="http://rheasport.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/torres.jpg?w=108" alt="Fernando Torres" width="108" height="150" /><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-376" title="Samuel Eto'o" src="http://rheasport.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/eto.jpg?w=150" alt="Samuel Eto'o" width="150" height="150" /><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-378" title="Franck Ribery" src="http://rheasport.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/franck-ribery.jpg?w=150" alt="Franck Ribery" width="178" height="150" /><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-371" title="Kaka Real Madrid" src="http://rheasport.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/kaka-real-madrid.jpg?w=150" alt="Kaka Real Madrid" width="185" height="150" /><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-379" title="David Villa" src="http://rheasport.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/david-villa.jpg?w=150" alt="David Villa" width="176" height="150" /><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-370" title="Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid" src="http://rheasport.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/ronaldoreal.jpg?w=150" alt="Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid" width="186" height="150" /><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-380" title="Wayne Rooney" src="http://rheasport.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/rooney.jpg?w=129" alt="Wayne Rooney" width="129" height="150" /><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-374" title="Gianluigi Buffon" src="http://rheasport.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/gianluigi-buffon.jpg?w=106" alt="Gianluigi Buffon" width="106" height="150" /><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-363" title="Andreas Iniesta" src="http://rheasport.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/iniesta.jpg?w=126" alt="Andreas Iniesta" width="128" height="150" /><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-361" title="Michael Essien" src="http://rheasport.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/essien.jpg?w=150" alt="Michael Essien" width="363" height="340" /><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-377" title="Fabiano" src="http://rheasport.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/fabiano.jpg?w=150" alt="Fabiano" width="185" height="150" /><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-375" title="Deigo" src="http://rheasport.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/deigo.jpg?w=150" alt="Deigo" width="180" height="150" /><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-368" title="Xavi Hernandes" src="http://rheasport.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/xavi1.jpg?w=150" alt="Xavi Hernandes" width="201" height="150" /><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-365" title="Lionel Messi" src="http://rheasport.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/lionelmessi_633791877584385000.jpg?w=109" alt="Lionel Messi" width="165" height="150" /><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-367" title="Puyol " src="http://rheasport.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/carles-puyol1.gif?w=150" alt="Puyol " width="183" height="150" /><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-362" title="Zlatan Ibrahimovic" src="http://rheasport.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/ibrahimovic.jpg?w=150" alt="Zlatan Ibrahimovic" width="183" height="150" /><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-364" title="Thierry Henry" src="http://rheasport.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/thierry_henry.jpg?w=150" alt="Thierry Henry" width="150" height="150" /><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-369" title="Iker Casillas" src="http://rheasport.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/iker-casillas.jpg?w=106" alt="Iker Casillas" width="106" height="150" /><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-373" title="Steven Gerrard" src="http://rheasport.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/steven_gerrard.jpg?w=103" alt="Steven Gerrard" width="103" height="150" /><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-359" title="Michael Ballack" src="http://rheasport.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/ballack.jpg?w=135" alt="Michael Ballack" width="135" height="150" /><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-360" title="Didier Drogba" src="http://rheasport.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/drogba.jpg?w=123" alt="Didier Drogba" width="123" height="150" /><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-358" title="Frank Lampard" src="http://rheasport.wordpress.com/files/2009/11/lampard.jpg?w=112" alt="Frank Lampard" width="112" height="150" /></p>
<p>Congratulations to all True Blues out there. Aren&#8217;t we having a great year so far?  8 goals in total against Bolton this week, top of the Premier League table and now we have the 5 players on the FIFA World Player Award shortlist. The 23 men (in a completely biased Chelsea first, order) who are in contention for the title of the FIFA World Player2009 are:</p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><strong>Chelsea</strong></p>
<p>John Terry (England),  Frank Lampard (England),  Michael Ballack (German)</p>
<p>Didier Drogba (Côte d&#8217;Ivoire) Michael Essien (Ghana)</p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><strong>Barcelona</strong></p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden),  Andrés Iniesta (Spain),</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Thierry Henry (France),  Lionel Messi (Argentina), Carles Puyol (Spain),</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Xavi Hernandez <em> </em>(Spain)</p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><strong>Real Madrid</strong></p>
<p>Iker Casillas (Spain),  Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal),  Kaká (Brazil)</p>
<p style="text-align:center;">
<p style="text-align:left;"><strong>Liverpool</strong></p>
<p>Fernando Torres (Spain),  Steven Gerrard (England)</p>
<p style="text-align:center;">
<p style="text-align:left;"><strong>Juventus</strong></p>
<p>Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Diego (Brazil)</p>
<p style="text-align:center;">
<p style="text-align:left;"><strong>Inter Milan </strong></p>
<p>Samuel Eto&#8217;o (Cameroon)</p>
<p style="text-align:center;">
<p style="text-align:left;"><strong>Sevilla</strong></p>
<p>Luis Fabiano (Brazil)</p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><strong>Bayern Munich</strong></p>
<p>Franck Ribéry (France)</p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><strong>Valencia</strong></p>
<p>David Villa (Spain)</p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><strong>Manchester United</strong></p>
<p>Wayne Rooney (England)</p>
<p>According to me, the FIFA World Player should go to  Michael Kojo Essien and its not because he is a Chelsea player but because he is an incredible player. A player whose contribution to Chelsea&#8217;s success is often overlooked because of the presence of such superstars in the Chelsea line-up. Essien is a very talented midfielder who creates great chances for the team and is  also very strong in defence.  The stunner he scored in the Chelsea-Blackburn game is yet another reminder of what a powerful footballer he is, something which is somtimes  overlooked by the starry-eyed fans mesmerised by the glamour of Michael Ballack,  Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, John Terry and Nicholas Anelka.  An all-rounder and a handful for any team,  Essien is the quintessential talented, hard-working, focused player who is an asset to any team that he plays for. While he might not have won the title of Chelsea&#8217;s top pin-up boy, which is proudly held by Michael Ballack, Michael Essien has definitely  won the respect of all as Mr. Dependable. He is admired by opposition players and absolutely adored by his Chelsea and Ghana teammates who recognise just how important a part he plays in the team&#8217;s success. I know he  probably isn&#8217;t going to win and  everyone senses that this year is finally going to be  Lionel Messi&#8217;s  turn to win it but I think one of these year&#8217;s someone is going to have to give Essien this award. Messi is marvelous and it will be great to see him crowned the Best Player in the World  but then who knows maybe FIFA will surprise us all.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[2009 FIFA World Player of the Year Nominations]]></title>
<link>http://henryhauck.wordpress.com/2009/10/30/fifa-world-player-of-the-year-nominations/</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:15:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>henryhauckjr</dc:creator>
<guid>http://henryhauck.wordpress.com/2009/10/30/fifa-world-player-of-the-year-nominations/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[2008 FIFA Men&#39;s World Footballer of the Year, Cristiano Ronaldo. WOMEN: Nadine Angerer (Germany)]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><div id="attachment_578" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 522px"><a href="www.fifa.com"><img class="size-full wp-image-578 " title="2009 FIFA World Player of the Year Nominations" src="http://henryhauck.wordpress.com/files/2009/10/991609_full-lnd.jpg" alt="FIFA World Player of the Year Nominations" width="512" height="384" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">2008 FIFA Men&#39;s World Footballer of the Year, Cristiano Ronaldo.</p></div>
<p><strong>WOMEN:</strong> Nadine Angerer (Germany), Sonia Bompastor (France), Cristiane (Brazil), Inka Grings (Germany), Mana Iwabuchi (Japan), Simone Laudehr (Germany), Marta (Brazil), Birgit Prinz (Germany), Kelly Smith (England) and Abby Wambach (USA).</p>
<p><strong>MEN: </strong>Michael Ballack (Germany), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Diego (Brazil), Didier Drogba (Côte d&#8217;Ivoire), Michael Essien (Ghana), Samuel Eto&#8217;o (Cameroon), Steven Gerrard (England), Thierry Henry (France), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden), Andrés Iniesta (Spain), Kaká (Brazil), Frank Lampard (England), Luis Fabiano (Brazil), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Carles Puyol (Spain), Franck Ribéry (France), Wayne Rooney (England), John Terry (England), Fernando Torres (Spain), David Villa (Spain) and Xavi (Spain).</p>
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<title><![CDATA[FIFA Player of the Year Short List Revealed]]></title>
<link>http://zizouandbecks.wordpress.com/2009/10/30/fifa-player-of-the-year-short-list-revealed/</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:01:24 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>zizouandbecks</dc:creator>
<guid>http://zizouandbecks.wordpress.com/2009/10/30/fifa-player-of-the-year-short-list-revealed/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The 23 nominees for FIFA World Player of the Year and 10 nominees for Women&#8217;s World Player of ]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p>The 23 nominees for FIFA World Player of the Year and 10 nominees for Women&#8217;s World Player of the Year have been announced by FIFA.</p>
<p>The five finalists for each award will be announced at the beginning of December with the winner being revealed on Dec. 21.</p>
<p>Cristiano Ronaldo won the honor last year and makes the list again.  All five finalists from 2008 are on the short list again this year (Ronaldo, Fernando Torres, Kaka, Xavi and Lionel Messi).</p>
<p>I&#8217;d have to give the edge to Messi this year as he played such a pivotal role in Barcelona&#8217;s treble last season.  Despite Argentina&#8217;s struggles in World Cup qualification, he&#8217;s always an incredibly dangerous threat.</p>
<p>On the women&#8217;s side, Brazil&#8217;s Marta has won the award three years running and I wouldn&#8217;t be surprised at all if she won it again.</p>
<p>From FIFA.com:</p>
<p><em>The following 23 men (in alphabetical order) are in contention for the title of FIFA World Player 2009;</em></p>
<p>Michael Ballack (Germany), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Diego (Brazil), Didier Drogba (Côte d&#8217;Ivoire), Michael Essien (Ghana), Samuel Eto&#8217;o (Cameroon), Steven Gerrard (England), Thierry Henry (France), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden), Andrés Iniesta (Spain), Kaká (Brazil), Frank Lampard (England), Luis Fabiano (Brazil), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Carles Puyol (Spain), Franck Ribéry (France), Wayne Rooney (England), John Terry (England), Fernando Torres (Spain), David Villa (Spain) and Xavi (Spain).</p>
<p><em>The following ten women (in alphabetical order) are in contention for the title of FIFA Women&#8217;s World Player 2009;</em></p>
<p>Nadine Angerer (Germany), Sonia Bompastor (France), Cristiane (Brazil), Inka Grings (Germany), Mana Iwabuchi (Japan), Simone Laudehr (Germany), Marta (Brazil), Birgit Prinz (Germany), Kelly Smith (England) and Abby Wambach (USA).</p>
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<title><![CDATA[It is great to be Roman Abramovich!]]></title>
<link>http://rheasport.wordpress.com/2009/10/24/it-is-great-to-be-roman-abramovich/</link>
<pubDate>Sat, 24 Oct 2009 20:24:43 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Rhea</dc:creator>
<guid>http://rheasport.wordpress.com/2009/10/24/it-is-great-to-be-roman-abramovich/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Reasons why its great to be Roman Abramovich, the owner of Chelsea: Who wouldn&#8217;t want to be ri]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p><strong>Reasons why its great to be Roman Abramovich, the owner of Chelsea:</strong></p>
<p>Who wouldn&#8217;t want to be rich, cute and own a football club? We all know Roman has a fleet of luxury  yachts (are there any other kind?) , beautiful houses, diamonds, paintings, butlers and well, all sorts of stuff! But while its good to be the rich and successful Roman Abramovich, here is why  it&#8217;s great to be Roman Abramovich, simply the owner of Chelsea FC.</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?" target="_blank"><img src="http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/f/2/3/3/Roman_Abramovich_To_eca6.jpg?adImageId=6507583&amp;imageId=3509768" width="397" height="594" border=0  /></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.js"></script></p>
<p><strong> </strong><strong>6. You get to have Stamford the Lion, as your very own pet. Isn&#8217;t he the cutest mascot ever?</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong>He furry, he&#8217;s cute, he&#8217;s cuddly, he dances  and he is not  at all ferocious. Who wouldn&#8217;t love such a pet lion? No wonder John Terry always pats Stamford the Lion&#8217;s head when the team comes on the pitch.</p>
<p style="text-align:center;">
<p><strong>5. You have your very own Stadium in Stamford Bridge!</strong></p>
<p>If one day Roman got up with the itch to become a rock star, he could invite 42,055 of his friends over, close the exits and sing his heart out.</p>
<p><strong>4. You inherit with the club it&#8217;s 50,000 supporters and growing.</strong></p>
<p>Roman from the day he acquired the club (and spent, spent, spent) got himself more than  50,000 people (yep, we don&#8217;t come cheap) plus Bryan Adams (the Canadian singer and Chelsea fan) who adore him.</p>
<p><strong>3. You get to hang with Terry and Lampard whenever you feel like it:</strong></p>
<p>A dream come true for any football fan or a female hot footballer stalker!  To be able to meet and talk to his footballing heroes is stuff most football fans dream about and there is no better (or better-looking) defender than JT and no one as talented as Frankie Lampard. Oh and you get the added bonus of hanging with Michael Ballack &#8230; he&#8217;s just cooool!</p>
<p><strong>2.You get to have the power to bring and then sack Jose Mourinho.</strong></p>
<p>Money makes the world go round baby. And if you own Chelsea FC and your name is Roman Abramovich, you got plenty of dough. This gives you the ultimate power to rule your very own little kingdom, yikes!. I remember being pretty upset when the Special one was sacked (or as the Portuguese manager stressed,  arrived at a mutual decision), but you got to admit, it must have been fun to be able to sack him.</p>
<p><strong>And the no 1. reason why its great to be Roman Abramovich:</strong><strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p>Your team gives you the most unique, unmatchable, wonderful birthday gift ever. They win 5-0! Yep, that is what<a href="http://www.premierleague.com/page/MatchReports/0,,12306~48283,00.html" target="_blank"> Chelsea did today against Blackburn</a> Rovers and if we&#8217;d been a little lucky we would have scored a few more. The team played fabulously with a goal and a penalty from Lampard. Boy, am I glad he scored, because the dry spell in the league seems to be frustrating him . Frankie Lampard relax, your role has changed since Ancelotti&#8217;s diamond and everyone in the press who is saying  that you are losing your touch is a buffoon of the highest degree. We see how much you contribute to the game most of the time. &#8216;Michael-dynamite-Essien&#8217; was also on the score sheet with a  superb strike which I am sure Roman loved. Drogba got us the penalty and forced an own goal and also headed one in off a Ballack corner kick. Joe Cole who was back from his 9-month injury was in incredibly good form. I wonder how he managed that, maybe played a lot of  FIFA 10?  It was a sheer pleasure watching him.</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/default.aspx?" target="_blank"><img src="http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/b/0/7/c/59.JPG?adImageId=6510211&amp;imageId=3821158" width="450" height="401" border=0  /></a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.js"></script></p>
<p>All in all, Chelsea were magnificent.  Top of the table, 5 goals, clean sheet, super play&#8230; wow! Roman could you tell them your next birthday is on <strong>November 8</strong> when we meet Manchester United?</p>
<p>Happy Birthday Roman Abramovich. ktbffh</p>
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<title><![CDATA[About Last Night]]></title>
<link>http://avoidingthedrop.com/2009/10/23/about-last-night-148/</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:00:16 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Magnakai Haaskivi</dc:creator>
<guid>http://avoidingthedrop.com/2009/10/23/about-last-night-148/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[What you missed while napping in the cockpit arguing about airline policies&#8230; Wednesday: Sir Al]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p><em>What you missed <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8321748.stm">while <span style="text-decoration:line-through;">napping in the cockpit</span> arguing about airline policies&#8230;</a></em></p>
<p><!--more--></p>
<ul>
<li>Wednesday: Sir Alex Ferguson <a href="http://fourfourtwo.com/news/england/40387/default.aspx">isn&#8217;t interested</a> in Igor Akinfeev. Today: Sir Alex Ferguson thinks <a href="http://fourfourtwo.com/news/england/40541/default.aspx">Akinfeev is impressive.</a> Akinfeev should expect a hand written note any day now, right?</li>
<li>Andriy Arshavin doesn&#8217;t find <a href="http://fourfourtwo.com/news/england/40538/default.aspx">living in London</a> as easy as living in, I don&#8217;t know&#8230;Barcelona. Just to pull a city out of a hat, of course.</li>
<li><a href="http://fourfourtwo.com/news/england/40542/default.aspx">John Terry</a> and <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/23/jermaine-pennant-rafael-benitez-liverpool">Jermaine Pennant</a> are the latest two to members on the &#8220;Wow, Liverpool blows this season&#8221; bandwagon.</li>
<li>After losing 4-0 to Chelsea on Wednesday, Atletico Madrid have sacked <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=688354&#38;sec=europe&#38;cc=5901">manager Abel Resino.</a></li>
<li>Michael Ballack thinks that <a href="http://fourfourtwo.com/news/england/40562/default.aspx">England should get the World Cup</a> in 2018.</li>
<li>Carles Puyol has signed a contract extension that will <a href="http://fourfourtwo.com/news/spain/40588/default.aspx">keep him at Barcelona</a> until he&#8217;s 35.</li>
<li>Traditional African leaders plan <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/feedarticle/8770341">to sacrifice live animals</a> to bless the World Cup site next year.</li>
<li>Germany and Argentina <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=688413&#38;sec=worldcup2010&#38;cc=5901">will play a friendly match</a> on March 3rd in Munich.</li>
</ul>
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<title><![CDATA[German soccer players to wear bullet-proof vests in South Africa]]></title>
<link>http://mcsavage.wordpress.com/2009/10/21/german-soccer-players-to-wear-bullet-proof-vests-in-south-africa/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:43:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>mcsavage</dc:creator>
<guid>http://mcsavage.wordpress.com/2009/10/21/german-soccer-players-to-wear-bullet-proof-vests-in-south-africa/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[There&#8217;s always one hey? The other day i posted something about the US, UK and Australia  warni]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p>There&#8217;s always one hey?</p>
<p>The other day i posted something about the US, UK and Australia  warning tourists about the dangers of South Africa during the 2010 Soccer World Cup.[<a href="http://mcsavage.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/uk-australia-and-usa-warning-tips-for-visitors-to-south-africa/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#ffff99;">HERE</span></a>]</p>
<p>Now, ze Germans have jumped on the bandwagon, but they are not messing around. They are taking their sh*t seriously.</p>
<blockquote><p><span style="color:#ff9900;">&#8220;The possibility for the players of moving outside of the hotel boundaries should be kept to a minimum. Otherwise there must be a full escort: armed security guards and bullet-proof vests for the players,&#8221; Guenter Schnelle told German magazine Sport-Bild. </span>[<a href="http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&#38;click_id=2831&#38;art_id=nw20091021141211626C768393" target="_blank"><span style="color:#3366ff;">iol.co.za</span></a>]</p></blockquote>
<p>Come now people&#8230;taking things a tad too far are we not?</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3013" title="ballackpussy" src="http://mcsavage.wordpress.com/files/2009/10/ballackcat.jpg" alt="ballackpussy" width="300" height="350" /></p>
<p>Paranoid much?</p>
<p>Like what i did there with the cat? Thought you would.</p>
<p> I think out of the box sometimes. Its a rare gift.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[Verrat am eigenen Publikum]]></title>
<link>http://flutlichter.wordpress.com/2009/10/16/verrat-am-eigenen-publikum/</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:34:38 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>kunstphrasen</dc:creator>
<guid>http://flutlichter.wordpress.com/2009/10/16/verrat-am-eigenen-publikum/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Flutlichter: Das Bundesliga-Blog. Garantiert pointiert! Nur 1:1 gegen Finnland: Die Pfiffe des Hambu]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Georgia,serif;"><strong><strong><strong>Flutlichter: Das Bundesliga-Blog. Garantiert pointiert!</strong></strong></strong></span></p>
<p><em>Nur 1:1 gegen Finnland: Die Pfiffe des Hamburger Publikums waren trotzdem nicht in Ordnung, sagt Michael König in der &#8220;Süddeutschen&#8221;. Das sieht Nils Kemter ganz und gar nicht so. Eine Antwort</em></p>
<p>Es war langweilig. Es war peinlich. Und es war eine Offenbarung gegenüber den Fans. Was die deutsche Fußball-Nationalmannschaft im zum Freundschaftsspiel degradierten WM-Qualifikationsmatch gegen Finnland (1:1) in Hamburg bot, war schlichtweg unterirdisch. Dies erzürnte die Fans so, dass es im weiten Rund der Hamburger Arena minutenlange Pfiffe gegen die eigene Elf gab. Nachvollziehbar!</p>
<p>Nicht jedoch für den Journalist Michael König, der in der Süddeutschen Zeitung unter dem Titel „Verrat am eigenen Trainer“ einen Kommentar veröffentlichte, in dem er genau diese Pfiffe anprangert und sie als „absurd“ bezeichnet. Wäre es nicht am 15. Oktober erschienen, sondern am 01. April, mein Kopfschütteln wäre ausgeblieben und in ein leichtes Schmunzeln übergegangen.</p>
<p>Offenbar vergas der ehrenwerte Herr König die Aussagen der Protagonisten im Vorfeld des Spiels. Man wolle den Fans „Danke“ sagen, eine engagiere Leistung bringen und das Publikum noch einmal mit tollem Fußball verwöhnen. Mission gründlich misslungen!</p>
<p>Offenbar vergas der Autor aber auch, dass sich viele Fans der deutschen Mannschaft bereits frühzeitig Karten für dieses Spiel gekauft hatten, im Glauben es gehe um die wichtige Qualifikation für Südafrika. Diese war nun – zum Glück – bereits geschafft und das Spiel nahezu bedeutungslos geworden. Ein Pflichtprogramm eben. Trotzdem zahlten die Besucher Ticketpreise von 45 bis 60 für einen ganz normalen Sitzplatz. Jede noch so billig produzierte Comedy-Sendung hätte im Fernsehprogramm an diesem Abend für mehr Unterhaltung gesorgt. Der zahlende Besucher in der Arena hatte jedoch nicht die Chance, einfach weiter zu zappen und musste es über sich ergehen lassen. Für ein Pfeifkonzert dann nicht das Mindestmaß an Verständnis aufzubringen, bleibt rätselhaft.</p>
<p>Auch die Spieler hielten nach dem Schlusspfiff eine Entschuldigung für die fußballerische Magerkost nicht für nötig. Kapitän Michael Ballack „taten die Pfiffe weh“ und Torwart Rene Adler fand die Reaktion „unangebracht“.</p>
<p>Michael König schreibt dazu, dass es nicht fair sei, eine Mannschaft auszupfeifen, die in der gesamten WM-Qualifikation kein Spiel verloren hat. Diese Tatsache ist beachtlich und verdient Respekt. Zweifelsohne!</p>
<p>Doch lässt man die bisherigen Länderspiele des Jahres 2009 einmal Revue passieren, so bekommt man einen sich verhärtenden Verdacht: Geht es für die Nationalelf um wichtige Punkte, so ist stets Verlass auf die Leistungen der hochbezahlten Millionäre. Trägt man den Bundesadler jedoch in Testspielen oder durch Asien spazieren, so scheint die Motivation, das eigene Land zu repräsentieren, nicht auszureichen.</p>
<p>0:1 gegen Norwegen, 1:1 gegen China, 7:2 gegen die Vereinigte Arabische Emirate und 2:0 gegen Südafrika. Das waren die bisherigen Testspiele 2009. Klar, nur eine Niederlage. Doch außer dem Schützenfest gegen die Emirate waren die Spiele stets Enttäuschungen und hatten mit den offensiven Feuerwerken, die man von Klinsmann und Löw gewohnt war, nichts mehr zu tun.</p>
<p>Bundestrainer Joachim Löw, den das Publikum also scheinbar verraten hat, ist daran wohl schuldlos. Zwar gibt es Entscheidungen, die in der Bundesliga kaum auf Zustimmung stoßen, doch Löw ist nun mal der Chef. Seine Entscheidungen sind stets richtig, solange die Leistungen stimmen. Gegen Russland taten sie das. Wir sahen eine kämpferisch und taktische Höchstleistung unserer Elf und waren stolz auf einen hart erarbeiteten 1:0-Sieg im fernen Moskau. Den Auftritt gegen Finnland mit den personellen Änderungen zu begründen, ist schlichtweg zu wenig. Michael König sieht das so: „Dass die Mannschaft in dieser Startaufstellung keinen Zauberfußball bieten würde, war zu erwarten. Löw nahm das in Kauf, weil es in der Partie ohnehin um nichts mehr ging.“ Das ist falsch, denn es ging für jeden einzelnen Spieler um nicht weniger, als um die Ehre für das Vaterland spielen zu dürfen. Wenn dies im heutigen Geschäft nicht mehr ausreicht, um ansprechende Leistungen zu bieten, dann ist das eine traurige Entwicklung hin zu einem emotionslosem Wirtschaftszweig und: Verrat am eigenen Publikum. Des Weiteren kann man von einer deutschen Nationalmannschaft, egal in welcher Konstellation, einfach mehr erwarten. Hier spielte nicht die von Verletzungen gebeutelte Reserveelf von Hannover 96, sondern das Beste, was Deutschland in Sachen Fußball zu bieten hat. Mindestens jedenfalls das Zweitbeste.</p>
<p>Man kann also nur hoffen, dass die Tests gegen Chile (14.11. in Köln) und gegen Ägypten (18.11. in Gelsenkirchen) etwas mehr „Zauberfußball bieten“ werden. Ansonsten sollte sich der DFB ernsthaft überlegen, ob die Tickets für Testspiele der Nationalmannschaft nicht künftig verschenkt werden. Dann hätten die Fans immerhin keinen Grund mehr lautstark zu pfeifen.</p>
<p>Der Kommentar in der &#8220;Süddeutschen&#8221; zum Nachlesen: http://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/681/491052/text/</p>
<p>(Nils Kemter)</p>
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<title><![CDATA[For Club Or Country?]]></title>
<link>http://kdowner.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/for-club-or-country/</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:12:31 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>jmajka</dc:creator>
<guid>http://kdowner.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/for-club-or-country/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[With the 2010 World Cup Qualifiers wrapping up in the coming weeks, it seems to me that it might be ]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p style="text-align:left;">With the 2010 <a href="http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=26854&#38;uid=2204768366#/group.php?gid=24063656972">World Cup Qualifiers</a> wrapping up in the coming weeks, it seems to me that it might be time for some national team managers to start resting some of their veteran players. </p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Chelsea have many international players that have made their way through to South Africa in the summer of 2010 and can afford to be left out of the starting 11 for the remainder of the qualifiers.  The last thing that a club wants to hear is that one of their players, or “investments”, was injured on international duty for a friendly or a meaningless qualifying match.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Right now, if I was Carlo Ancelotti, I’d be on the phone with Loew, Capello, Dunga, Rajevac, and <a title="Vahid Halilhodžić" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vahid_Halilhod%C5%BEi%C4%87">Halilhodžić</a> asking them to rest certain players or give them a limited role in the match. Having already qualified and finished first in their group, there is no reason for the likes of Ashley and Joe Cole, Lampard, Terry, Ballack, Essien, Drogba, and Kalou to take a major part or any part at all in the last qualifying match. </p>
<p> There are some players that are questionable though in the role their country needs them to play.  For example, Malouda and Anelka  are destined for the November play-offs. France are 4 points behind Serbia and 4 points ahead of Austria in Group 7, so the result is not as important.</p>
<p>There are some of our players that are much needed by their country though. Portugal are only ahead in 2<sup>nd</sup> place in Group 1 by one point over Sweden. It does seem like a long shot that Malta could defeat the Portuguese, but a Portugal draw or loss combined with a Swedish win sends the likes of Carvalho, Bosingwa, Deco, and Ferreira home for the summer.</p>
<p>Our Cech connection is also in danger of not qualifying as they sit 2 points behind 2<sup>nd</sup> place Slovenia in Group 3.  Mikel is also in danger of missing out on the competition as Nigeria sit 2 points behind Tunisia in the African qualifiers.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">However, the decision to sit a player or give him a limited role in a match is not always easily accepted by a player.  Playing for your country’s national team is one of the greatest honors a player can achieve without lifting silverware.  Take Beckham for example, he is doing everything possible ensure that he is wearing an England shirt next June.  The bottom line is though, players that have achieved the level of success because of their competitive nature and they are going to want to play.  Good luck telling the likes of John  Terry and Michael Ballack to “sit this one out and get some rest.”</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">By Joey Majka</p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><strong>JOIN US ON <a href="http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=26854&#38;uid=2204768366#/group.php?gid=24063656972">FACEBOOK</a></strong></p>
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<title><![CDATA[Discipline]]></title>
<link>http://socasoul.wordpress.com/2009/10/13/discipline/</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2009 06:01:53 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>zygier</dc:creator>
<guid>http://socasoul.wordpress.com/2009/10/13/discipline/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A disciplinarian with self-discipline needed The inevitable happened of course and only those who be]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[A disciplinarian with self-discipline needed The inevitable happened of course and only those who be]]></content:encoded>
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<title><![CDATA[Sieg trotz Kunstrasen]]></title>
<link>http://welovesoccer.wordpress.com/2009/10/11/sieg-trotz-kunstrasen/</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 11 Oct 2009 14:20:18 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Steffie</dc:creator>
<guid>http://welovesoccer.wordpress.com/2009/10/11/sieg-trotz-kunstrasen/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Die deutsche Nationalmannschaft hat gestern gezeigt das sie auch auf unbekanntem Terrain bestehen ka]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p>Die deutsche Nationalmannschaft hat gestern gezeigt das sie auch auf unbekanntem Terrain bestehen kann. Mit einem 0:1 Sieg verließen die Spieler jubelnd den Platz.<br />
Damit dürften alle weiteren Diskussionen über Kunstrasen passé sein.</p>
<p>Torschütze war Miroslav Klose. In der 35. Minute traf der Bayern-Stürmer nach Vorlage von Mesut Özil. Somit ist das Ticket zur WM in Südafrika gesichert.</p>
<p>Löw sprach sogar von <em><strong>&#8220;Sieger-Gen&#8221;</strong></em> und auch Ballack zeigte sich zufrieden. <em><strong>&#8220;Wir waren nervenstark, wir haben an uns geglaubt heute. Wir haben uns nicht hinten rein gestellt. Deswegen haben wir verdient das Ergebnis erzielt, das wir wollten.&#8221;</strong></em></p>
<p>Als einzigen Pechvogel könnte man vielleicht Nationalfrischling Jeromé Boateng bezeichnen. Denn der Hamburger Abwehrspieler wurde nach widerholtem Foulspiel in der 69. Min. mit Gelb-Rot vom Platz geschickt.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[Nummer 1 gefunden]]></title>
<link>http://welovesoccer.wordpress.com/2009/10/11/nummer-1-gefunden/</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 11 Oct 2009 12:33:29 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Steffie</dc:creator>
<guid>http://welovesoccer.wordpress.com/2009/10/11/nummer-1-gefunden/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Könnte man meinen, denn Adler hielt gestern wie ein Großer. Für René Adler selbst war es das emotion]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p>Könnte man meinen, denn Adler hielt gestern wie ein Großer.</p>
<p>Für René Adler selbst war es das emotionalste Spiel seiner Karriere, wie er selbst sagt. Das er <em><strong>&#8220;innerlich aufgewühlt&#8221; </strong></em>war hat man dem Leverkusener Keeper kein Mal angesehen. Er lieferte eine grandiose Leistung ab, die es den Konkurrenten Wiese (Werder Bremen), Neuer (Schalke), Enke (Hannover 96) schwer machen wird zu toppen.</p>
<p>Der Bundtrainer ist voll des Lobes für Adler. <em><strong>&#8220;Was die Leistung von René Adler betrifft, kann man ihm nur Komplimente aussprechen&#8221;</strong></em> Löw weiter<em><strong>&#8220;Er hat viel Ruhe ausgestrahlt und viel Souveränität. Er hat glänzend reagiert&#8221;</strong></em></p>
<div id="attachment_49" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px"><img class="size-medium wp-image-49" title="Rene Adler, Arne Friedrich" src="http://welovesoccer.wordpress.com/files/2009/10/rene-adler-arne-friedrich.jpg?w=300" alt="Adler und Friedrich nach Sieg ©dpa" width="300" height="225" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Adler und Friedrich nach Sieg ©dpa</p></div>
<p>Selbst vom Mannschaftskapitän Ballack wurde er gelobt. <em><strong>&#8220;Beim Stand von 0:0 hat René einen entscheidenen Ball gehalten, damit lenkst du ein Spiel in Bahnen. Mit solchen Leistungen empfiehlst du dich und bestätigst deinen Platz&#8221;</strong></em></p>
<p>Löw hielt sich bei der leidlichen Torwartfrage jedoch weiterhin bedeckt. <em><strong>&#8220;Ich zerbreche mir nicht den Kopf über die Rangfolge unter den Torhütern&#8221; </strong></em>Dabei hat Adler gestern eindrucksvoll gezeigt was in ihm steckt und dass er breit ist zur WM im Tor zu stehen. Alles was ihm jetzt noch in die Quere kommen könnte wäre eine Verletzung.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[O que acontece com Michael Ballack????]]></title>
<link>http://bonsdebola.wordpress.com/2009/10/02/o-que-acontece-com-michael-ballack/</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:11:21 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>giupedro</dc:creator>
<guid>http://bonsdebola.wordpress.com/2009/10/02/o-que-acontece-com-michael-ballack/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Alguém sabe o que acontece com o Ballack???]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p>Alguém sabe o que acontece com o Ballack???</p>
<p><span style='text-align:center; display: block;'><object width='425' height='350'><param name='movie' value='http://www.youtube.com/v/G4HTau6c9_I&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;hd=0' /><param name='allowfullscreen' value='true' /><param name='wmode' value='transparent' /><embed src='http://www.youtube.com/v/G4HTau6c9_I&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;hd=0' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' allowfullscreen='true' width='425' height='350' wmode='transparent'></embed></object></span></p>
<p><img src="http://bonsdebola.wordpress.com/files/2009/10/ballack1.jpg" alt="ballack1" title="ballack1" width="116" height="199" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-216" /></p>
<p><span style='text-align:center; display: block;'><object width='425' height='350'><param name='movie' value='http://www.youtube.com/v/mvtnhJCWNys&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;hd=0' /><param name='allowfullscreen' value='true' /><param name='wmode' value='transparent' /><embed src='http://www.youtube.com/v/mvtnhJCWNys&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;hd=0' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' allowfullscreen='true' width='425' height='350' wmode='transparent'></embed></object></span></p>
<p><img src="http://bonsdebola.wordpress.com/files/2009/10/ballack2.jpg" alt="ballack2" title="ballack2" width="166" height="199" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-217" /></p>
<p><span style='text-align:center; display: block;'><object width='425' height='350'><param name='movie' value='http://www.youtube.com/v/61HZQA1PIn4&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;hd=0' /><param name='allowfullscreen' value='true' /><param name='wmode' value='transparent' /><embed src='http://www.youtube.com/v/61HZQA1PIn4&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;hd=0' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' allowfullscreen='true' width='425' height='350' wmode='transparent'></embed></object></span></p>
<p><img src="http://bonsdebola.wordpress.com/files/2009/10/ballack3.jpg" alt="ballack3" title="ballack3" width="90" height="198" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-218" /></p>
<p><span style='text-align:center; display: block;'><object width='425' height='350'><param name='movie' value='http://www.youtube.com/v/CTjsJ6PkDCw&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;hd=0' /><param name='allowfullscreen' value='true' /><param name='wmode' value='transparent' /><embed src='http://www.youtube.com/v/CTjsJ6PkDCw&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;hd=0' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' allowfullscreen='true' width='425' height='350' wmode='transparent'></embed></object></span></p>
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<title><![CDATA[The Art of Football From A to Z (2006)]]></title>
<link>http://superheroesofvideo.wordpress.com/2009/10/02/the-art-of-football-from-a-to-z-2006/</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:00:32 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>jdmartinho</dc:creator>
<guid>http://superheroesofvideo.wordpress.com/2009/10/02/the-art-of-football-from-a-to-z-2006/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Este documentário sobre futebol, é apresentado por John Cleese e Tom Konkle, garantido algumas garga]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2371" title="art_of_football" src="http://superheroesofvideo.wordpress.com/files/2009/09/art_of_football.jpg" alt="art_of_football" width="300" height="300" /></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Este documentário sobre futebol, é apresentado por <a class="zem_slink" title="John Cleese" rel="imdb" href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000092/">John Cleese</a> e Tom Konkle, garantido algumas gargalhadas com os sketches que a dupla vai fazendo ao longo do alfabeto. Para cada letra é apresentado um conceito e são mostradas algumas entrevistas a jogadores como Kaká, <a class="zem_slink" title="Thierry Henry" rel="wikipedia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thierry_Henry">Thierry Henry</a>, <a class="zem_slink" title="Ruud van Nistelrooy" rel="wikipedia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruud_van_Nistelrooy">Ruud Van Nistelrooy</a> e <a class="zem_slink" title="Michael Ballack" rel="wikipedia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Ballack">Michael Ballack</a>, treinadores como Arséne Wenger, dirigentes como Platini ou Beckenbauer e ainda várias personalidades do cinema e outras artes que aparentemente se interessam por futebol (o que é jogado com os pés). Vejam se não sabem o que é um fora de jogo ou se nunca viram o Alemanha &#8211; Grécia dos Monty Python, ou simplesmente já têm saudades dele.</p>
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<div id="attachment_2372" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 665px"><img class="size-full wp-image-2372" title="art_of_football_still" src="http://superheroesofvideo.wordpress.com/files/2009/09/art_of_football_still.png" alt="Estou desde já disponível para treinar o Sporting. Garanto que ponho os adeptos a sorrir na primeira época." width="655" height="367" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Estou desde já disponível para treinar o Sporting. Garanto que ponho os adeptos a sorrir na primeira época.</p></div>
<p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Vale a pena deixar de ver a bola e a caneca da cerveja a aquecer para ver isto</strong></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><strong><span style='text-align:center; display: block;'><object width='425' height='350'><param name='movie' value='http://www.youtube.com/v/JmC9JOcaofI&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;hd=0' /><param name='allowfullscreen' value='true' /><param name='wmode' value='transparent' /><embed src='http://www.youtube.com/v/JmC9JOcaofI&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;hd=0' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' allowfullscreen='true' width='425' height='350' wmode='transparent'></embed></object></span><br />
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<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top:10px;height:15px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/e3336d9f-a728-4317-829e-fa3fbaa08fb0/"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border:medium none;float:right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=e3336d9f-a728-4317-829e-fa3fbaa08fb0" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" /></a></div>
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<title><![CDATA[Ja, Michael!]]></title>
<link>http://sophsticated.wordpress.com/2009/09/26/ja-michael/</link>
<pubDate>Sat, 26 Sep 2009 18:34:53 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Isabela</dc:creator>
<guid>http://sophsticated.wordpress.com/2009/09/26/ja-michael/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Meu alemão favorito faz aniversário hoje. Sim, falo dele, o deus Michael Ballack. Alles Gute zum Geb]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p style="text-align:justify;">Meu alemão favorito faz aniversário hoje. Sim, falo dele, o deus Michael Ballack.</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, Michael!</strong></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">
<div id="attachment_625" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://sophsticated.wordpress.com/files/2009/09/ballack11.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-625" src="http://sophsticated.wordpress.com/files/2009/09/ballack11.jpg?w=300" alt="&#34;Ah, Isa, não precisava me ligar...&#34;" width="300" height="200" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">&#34;Ach, Isa, du brachtest nicht zu telefonieren...&#34;</p></div>
<p>Xiii, minha profa de alemão vai me matar&#8230; meu alemão anda <em>mooooito </em>enferrujado (e eu me pergunto se, algum dia, ele esteve 100%&#8230; hunf)!</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Bom final de semana!</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><em>Sabadão promete: muitos vírus, bactérias e protozoários para todo mundo!!</em> Life&#8217;s not fair&#8230;</p>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Ballack: Premier League Race Is Between Chelsea &amp; Manchester United]]></title>
<link>http://footballdirecta.com/2009/09/22/michael-ballack-premier-league-race-is-between-chelsea-manchester-united/</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:24:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>footballdirecta</dc:creator>
<guid>http://footballdirecta.com/2009/09/22/michael-ballack-premier-league-race-is-between-chelsea-manchester-united/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The English title will be a two-horse race this season, according to the German midfielder. Chelsea ]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p><a rel="attachment wp-att-16894" href="http://footballdirecta.com/2009/09/22/michael-ballack-premier-league-race-is-between-chelsea-manchester-united/chelsea-3/"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-16894" title="Chelsea" src="http://footballdirecta.wordpress.com/files/2009/09/chelsea.jpg?w=300" alt="Chelsea" width="300" height="240" /></a></p>
<p><span style="color:#888888;">The English title will be a two-horse race this season, according to the German midfielder.</span></p>
<p><span style="color:#888888;">Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack feels that this season&#8217;s battle for the Premier League title is looking like a two-team tussle between the Blues and Manchester United, despite the presence of a bigger chasing pack of challengers this year.<br style="color:#333332;" /><br style="color:#333332;" />&#8220;It looks a little bit like a two-horse race but we don&#8217;t underestimate anybody. Manchester City did well until now. Tottenham [Hotspur], Arsenal and Liverpool are all teams that can have a run any time of the season,&#8221; he told </span><em><span style="color:#888888;">The Daily Telegraph</span></em><span style="color:#888888;">.<br style="color:#333332;" /><br style="color:#333332;" /></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#888888;"><!--more-->&#8220;But United have a lot of good years behind them with the Champions League win and three title wins in the Premier League, which will give them a lot of confidence.&#8221;<br style="color:#333332;" /><br style="color:#333332;" />Ballack also credits new manager Carlo Ancelotti with imbuing a new ruthlessness into the Chelsea squad, something which has led to a boost in confidence amongst the players.<br style="color:#333332;" /><br style="color:#333332;" />He added: &#8220;That’s what he always tells us – you have to wait for your chance and you can see it now when they come, we are deadly. He gives the team a lot of confidence.&#8221;</span></p>
<p><em><span style="color:#888888;">Goal</span></em></p>
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<title><![CDATA[Sunday 360°]]></title>
<link>http://apintofthebitter.wordpress.com/2009/09/20/sunday-360%c2%b0-4/</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:29:27 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Justin</dc:creator>
<guid>http://apintofthebitter.wordpress.com/2009/09/20/sunday-360%c2%b0-4/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;m just going to get right into it today: Calcio: Juventus 2-0 AS Livorno &#8211; Four in a r]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p>I&#8217;m just going to get right into it today:</p>
<p><strong><em>Calcio</em></strong>:</p>
<p><strong>Juventus 2-0 AS Livorno &#8211; </strong>Four in a row for Juve &#8211; Ciro Ferrara&#8217;s men<em> </em>just keep on rolling, and newly-promoted Livorno couldn&#8217;t do anything to stop it. That&#8217;s not to say that <em>l&#8217;</em><em>Amaranto </em>were helpless in Saturday&#8217;s match in Torino, but two first-half goals and another superhuman performance from Gianluigi Buffon were enough to see Juventus take three points away from the fixture. Vincenzo Iaquinta and Claudio Marchisio both appeared on the scoresheet for <em>i Bianconeri,</em> who now sit tied atop the table and two points clear of bitter rivals Inter.</p>
<p><strong>Inter 2-1 Cagliari &#8211; </strong>Speaking of Inter, the reigning <em>scudetto</em> champions came from behind to win away at Cagliari this evening, largely thanks to a certain Argentine. <em>I Nerazzurri</em> went behind early in the match after Maicon got a little rough in the box with Alessandro Matri and Jeda converted the ensuing spot kick on 16&#8242;.<em> Gli Isolani</em> managed to hold their lead for the better part of an hour, but in the 52nd minute a gross defensive error saw the tides turn as Diego Milito capitalized on Cagliari&#8217;s mistake. Just four minutes later, Cagliari&#8217;s luck would worsen as the Argentine took advantage of a long ball and beat Federico Marchetti once more to put his side ahead. The slim lead would prove to be enough for <em>La Beneamata</em> (and I use that nickname with all due sarcasm) who take three points home to Milan this evening. However, it was not all smooth sailing for Jose Mourinho&#8217;s side, as Cagliari regained their confidence midway through the second half and youngster Daniele Dessena should have equalized on two seperate occasions. Mourinho himself had a mixed bag of a night, celebrating wildly upon Milito&#8217;s second goal but being sent off the bench just minutes later for complaining about a decision regarding Mario Balotelli &#8211; he would watch the remainder of the game from the stands. All in all, not an overly convincing victory for Inter &#8211; but a victory nonetheless.</p>
<p><strong>AC Milan 1-0 Bologna &#8211; </strong>It seems that all of Milano will be celebrating tonight, as the <em>Rossoneri </em>managed to grab a late win at home in the San Siro this evening. Despite starting the match positively<em> </em>enough and retaining possession for the majority of the play, it took Milan 75 minutes to finally break down Bologna and take a deserved lead. That lead came via Clarence Seedorf, who <a title="Seedorf does the trick for Milan in CL" href="http://apintofthebitter.wordpress.com/2009/09/16/these-are-the-champions/" target="_self">once again</a> proved that old dogs don&#8217;t need to learn new tricks &#8211; just be really good at the ones they know. The (flying?) Dutchman came barrelling up the wing, and finding no one to pass to, instead turned defender Andrea Raggi inside out and fired home himself. Bologna looked close to a late equalizer on a 30-yard bullet from Nicola Mingazzini in the 87th minute, but a spectacular save from Marco Storari ensured that Milan got the three points they were due.</p>
<p><strong>Udinese 0-0 Napoli &#8211; </strong>Another case of the scoreline not telling the full story as both sides created more than their fair share of chances in highly spirited match at the Stadio San Paolo. Perhaps the closest of all of these was Antonio Di Natales&#8217;s wrongly disallowed goal (he was definitely on-side), doubly notable because the striker showed his class by not celebrating (he didn&#8217;t realize it had been disallowed) out of respect to his Neapolitan heritage. In truth, Napoli looked the stronger side going forward, but were unable to beat Samir Handanovic, who worked miracles between the uprights for <em>le Zebrette</em>. All in all an entertaining draw &#8211; neither side should be overly disappointed with the result as both could have gone behind on innumerable spurned chances from the other.</p>
<p><strong>AS Roma 3-1 Fiorentina &#8211; </strong><em>Oh</em> <em>no, no, no</em> &#8211; this one gets its own <a title="Rodney Roma Ranieri!!!" href="http://apintofthebitter.wordpress.com/2009/09/20/the-rodney-dangerfield-special/" target="_blank">article</a>.</p>
<p><strong><em>Football:</em></strong></p>
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<div id="attachment_304" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 144px"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-304" title="Eboue on his 'arse'." src="http://apintofthebitter.wordpress.com/files/2009/09/80261531.jpg?w=134" alt="The next Maradona? Somehow, I doubt it." width="134" height="150" /><p class="wp-caption-text">The next Maradona? Somehow, I doubt it.</p></div>
<p><strong>Arsenal 4-0 Wigan Athletic &#8211; </strong>Arsenal have bounced back from last week&#8217;s loss away in Manchester to trounce Wigan in an impressive performance at the Emirates. The home side&#8217;s four goals came from Eduardo and Cesc Fabregas, who netted one apiece, and Thomas Vermaelen who bagged a brace and put in a man-of-the-match performance. However, none of these goals could compete with what was undoubtedly the most memorable event in the match &#8211; Emmanuel Eboue&#8217;s Diego Maradona impression. Eboue was booked for deliberately striking the ball with his hand in attempt to score a Maradona-esque goal for the home side &#8211; an attempt which has some outraged (though not the Gunner support, who applauded him off the pitch after he was substituted in the 73rd minute). It&#8217;s not the first time the Ivorian has been booked for actions of an unsportsmanlike manner, as he was booked earlier in the season for diving when Arsenal faced Manchester United. What the game means for Arsenal is clear &#8211; three points &#8211; but what it means for Eboue is a little less certain. Cheatin&#8217; bastard.</p>
<p><strong>Manchester Utd 4-3 Manchester City -</strong> This, friends, is what a derby should be. It was truly one for the ages; a goal-fest in which the two teams competed as equals for perhaps the first time, Carlos Tevez was roundly booed by the Old Trafford faithful, and United&#8217;s winning goal was scored by a former Liverpool legend. Wayne Rooney gave his side an early lead on 2&#8242;, Gareth Barry equalized on 16&#8242;, Darren Fletcher twice gave his side the lead only to have Craig Bellamy twice equalize minutes later (including a 90th minute equalizer), and Michael Owen played the unlikely role of hero for United with a goal that came in the 95th minute of play. Sir Alex Ferguson and Mark Hughes have been engaged in a sort of war of words lately, and while Fergie will no doubt be happy to rub the loss in his opposite&#8217;s face, Hughes shouldn&#8217;t be too displeased with his side, who proved to be more-than-worthy opponents for the reigning EPL champions even without the suspended Emmanuel Adebayor. A derby to remember, and (though City fans will beg to differ) a good day for United and City fans alike.</p>
<p><strong>Chelsea 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur &#8211; </strong>Judgement day for the Spurs &#8211; it was a second chance after losing to United, an opportunity to test their mettle against Champions League-level competitors and see if they could beat Chelsea at home for the first time in 20 years (give or take). Spoiler alert: They couldn&#8217;t. Tottenham went on the attack early, with Wilson Palacios and Jermaine Jena attempting to test Petr Cech early from range, but their efforts proved fruitless. Chelsea&#8217;s retaliation was swift, as Jose Bosingwa and Nicolas Anelka poured on the pressure down the right flank &#8211; though the opening goal would eventually come from the left, as Didier Drogba&#8217;s cross found the head of Ashley Cole and beat Carlo Cudicini. Chelsea would go into the half up one goal &#8211; but they weren&#8217;t done yet. When the two teams returned, Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba would double and triple Chelsea&#8217;s lead, respectively, in a furious span of 5 minutes. The Spurs would be unable to fight their way back into it, and while Carlo Ancelotti will be pleased with his players&#8217; performance, one can be sure that Harry Redknapp&#8217;s men will be getting an earful as they return to the Lilywhite half of London tonight.</p>
<p><strong>Liverpool 3-2 West Ham &#8211; </strong>Liverpool came out on top of a hotly contested match that saw West Ham twice come from behind to equalize and Fernando Torres twice give his side the lead with a brace that would ultimately win the game for the Scousers. Dirk Kuyt also netted for the Reds, while Carlton Cole and new signing Alessandro Diamanti each netted for West Ham. The first half of the match was energetic and fast-paced, with West Ham&#8217;s Zavon Hines impressing &#8211; though he should have put his side ahead early after Jamie Carragher committed a calamitous error &#8211; essentially offering the ball up on the edge of the &#8216;Pool box. In the second half the tempo slowed inevitably, though it remained a closely-fought match and Liverpool will feel happy (and perhaps a bit fortunate) to have won it.</p>
<p><strong><em>Fußball</em></strong><em>:</em></p>
<p><strong>VfL Wolfsburg 2-1 Schalke 04 &#8211; </strong>A brace from Edin Dzeko saw the reigning Bundesliga champs rise above hopeful contenders Schalke and the manager who took them to the title &#8211; Felix Magath. Magath left Wolfsburg last year for greener pastures after the club was crowned German football champions for the first time in its history. The scoring didn&#8217;t open until the 55th minute, when and unmarked Dzeko headed a perfect cross from Sascha Riether into the net. Magath&#8217;s side thought they had equalized in the 80th minute thanks to a strike from Benedikt Höwedes &#8211; only for Dzeko to restore the lead less than a minute later, finishing superbly on another well-placed cross. Wolfsburg parked the bus for the last nine minutes of the game, ensuring that Schalke could not get back into it and grab a share of the points.</p>
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<div id="attachment_306" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 106px"><img class="size-full wp-image-306    " title="He's good, he's young and he's... German?" src="http://apintofthebitter.wordpress.com/files/2009/09/ericmaximchoupomoting_1347268.jpg" alt="Choupo-Moting - that sounds German, right?" width="96" height="131" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Choupo-Moting - sounds German, right?</p></div>
<p><strong>Bayern Münich 2-1 Nürnberg &#8211; </strong><em>Die Roten </em>continued their fiery run of form, although the first half that didn&#8217;t really get started until 20 minutes in and Bayern did not really hit their stride until the half-hour mark. However, the second half would produce more results, as Ivica Olic game the home side the lead on 55&#8242; minutes. After scoring the opener just Bayern maintained control of possession, but did not apply overt amounts of pressure on the Nürnberg goal. After falling behind, the visitors introduced German U-21 star Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to instant effect, as the youngster caused Bayern&#8217;s back line all sorts of trouble, and showed a knack for getting behind defenses &#8211; he would equalize for his side on 73&#8242; after doing just that. However, Bayern weren&#8217;t going to settle for anything less than a win, and it would be Daniel van Buyten who would put his side ahead less than ten minutes later (with less than ten minutes left). His effort would be enough to see his side take full points at the Allianz-Arena and keep their winning streak &#8211; and their confidence in the title race &#8211; intact.</p>
<p><em><strong>Futbol:</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Barcelona 5-2 Atlético Madrid &#8211; </strong>Barcelona beat <em>los Colchoneros </em>by a wide margin despite strikes from the deadly duo of Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero. Unfortunately for Atléti, the entirety of Barca&#8217;s squad seemed deadly last night, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Daniel Alves, Seydou Keita and Lionel Messi all appearing on the scoresheet. It was never an even match, as Barca went up 4-0 before Aguero and Forlan would pull two back for their side. Messi&#8217;s extra time goal in the 93rd minute would finish his brace and finish Atlético, who simply could not withstand the might of the Spanish champions.</p>
<p><strong>Real Madrid 5-0 Xerez &#8211; </strong>Madrid&#8217;s other team fared much better this weekend, with <em>Los Merengues </em>stomping all over Andalucian squad Xerez &#8211; who are appearing in La Liga&#8217;s Primera division for the first time in their club&#8217;s history. Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring for his side in the first minute &#8211; though they would not improve upon their one-goal lead until the 74th minute, when CR9 would net again. This opened the floodgate for <em>Los Blancos</em>, with Guti, Karim Benzema and Ruud van Nistelrooy all joining Ronaldo on the scoresheet in the game&#8217;s final minutes. This was clearly a case of a little fish in a big pond &#8211; a pond called the Bernabéu in which little fish are caught, gutted, and fried.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[Det är mycket nu]]></title>
<link>http://linusdp.wordpress.com/2009/09/20/det-ar-mycket-nu/</link>
<pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 2009 11:41:16 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Linus Dagbäck Printz</dc:creator>
<guid>http://linusdp.wordpress.com/2009/09/20/det-ar-mycket-nu/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Jag har inte diskat på ett par dagar nu, men det händer så mycket att jag prioriterar bort disken va]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p>Jag har inte diskat på ett par dagar nu, men det händer så mycket att jag prioriterar bort disken varje gång. Men det blir väl så när separationsångesten kommer smygandes och hela ens värld vänds upp och ner, när man går från sambo till singelhushåll. Historikern som har bott hos mig sedan slutet av augusti har lämnat mig för en egen lägenhet. Vi visste båda att det inte skulle vara för evigt, att den här dagen en dag skulle komma – förr eller senare och vare sig jag ville eller inte. Nu när han är borta känns det så tomt och så tyst, jag saknar ljudet av små fötter i huset. Tur då att vi nu bor bara knappt ett hundra tal meter ifrån varandra.</p>
<p>Natten mot idag var det <a href="http://www.lund.se/kultur2/kulturdefault____61918.aspx">kulturnatt i Lund</a> så igår natt stod jag och stor skara anhängare och lyssnade när <a href="www.bleckhornen.org">Bleckhornen</a> konkurrerade med den öppna scenen på Mårtenstorget. <a href="http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academimusiccorpset_Bleckhornen">Bleckhornen</a> levererade som vanligt en helgjuten spelning (även om förste trumpetare Doktorn tyckte det gick lite halvbra) med allt från ett axplock musik från Star Wars till Benny Hill temat. Jag vet inte varför, men varje gång jag hör den tänker jag på <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXt5l4FQef0">Michael Ballack</a>.</p>
<p>När konserten var över var kulturnatten fortfarande ung, så Doktorn, Historikern, Civilingenjören och jag styrde kosan mot Vildanden och upplevde kultur av ett annat slag när vi inmundigade de drycker Pub Vildanden hade att erbjuda. Efter det gick vi hem till Historikern och samtalade om allt ifrån hyperbler till Spotifys musikkatalog.</p>
<p>Det blev inte så farligt sent, för man var ju tvungen att vakna pigg och alert idag då det är dags för val. I ärlighetens namn är jag inte jätte insatt, men jag har så pass mycket koll och känsla har jag att jag vet att <a href="http://traditionochfason.wordpress.com/2009/09/19/alla-far-plats-utom-jesus/">kyrkans uppgift ska vara att sprida, förstärka och utveckla tron på Jesus Kristus som världens frälsare</a> och inte en arena för partipolitik och därför ansåg jag det viktigt att lägga min röst på den nomineringsgrupp som jag tror är bäst för Kyrkomötet.</p>
<p>Men nu då, när allt är fixat och klart kan jag väl ta mig an disken? Nja, om en timme eller så ska Historikern, Civilingenjören och jag till City Gross och storhandla lite, så det får bli först när jag kommer hem. Men diska måste jag, för jag måste ju laga min kvällsmat i något.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[Premier League 2009-10: Nr. 1: Chelsea FC]]></title>
<link>http://sygogmunter.wordpress.com/2009/09/14/premier-league-2009-10-nr-1-chelsea-fc/</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:04:48 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>sygogmunter</dc:creator>
<guid>http://sygogmunter.wordpress.com/2009/09/14/premier-league-2009-10-nr-1-chelsea-fc/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Nummer 1: Chelsea FC Stiftet: 1905 Stadion: Stamford Bridge (Kapacitet: 42.055) Kælenavn: Blues, Pen]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><h2><span id="last-edit"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-110" title="link-chelsea" src="http://sygogmunter.wordpress.com/files/2009/07/link-chelsea.jpg" alt="link-chelsea" width="75" height="75" /></span>Nummer 1: Chelsea FC</h2>
<p><strong>Stiftet</strong>: 1905</p>
<p><strong>Stadion</strong>: Stamford Bridge (Kapacitet: 42.055)</p>
<p><strong>Kælenavn: </strong>Blues, Pensioners</p>
<p><strong>Seneste tre ligaplaceringer:</strong> (07/08/09): 2/2/3</p>
<p><strong>Første fem kampe:</strong> 15/8 Hull (H), 18/8 Sunderland (U), 22/8 Fulham (U), 29/8 Burnley (H), 12/9 Stoke (U)</p>
<p><strong>Manager:</strong> <em>Carlo Ancelotti (Siden juni 2009)</em></p>
<p>Efter Big Phil Scolaris rædselsregime og Guus Hiddinks heroiske genrejsning af Chelsea i sidste sæson fortsætter Roman Abramovich sin heftige shoppingtur blandt alverdens største trænernavne. Italienske Ancelotti er således blevet lokket til efter en lang og mestendels succesfuld årrække i italiensk fodbold. Her har Ancelotti nået at stå i spidsen for såvel Parma som Juventus og Milan gennem de sidste 13 år, og mange vil særligt huske ham for de sidste 8 år i Milan, hvor det ganske vist kun blev til et enkelt mesterskab. Til gengæld blev det til to eksemplarer af det trofæ som Chelsea tørster mest efter &#8211; pokalen med flyveørene: Champions League-trofæet.</p>
<p>I Milan var Ancelottis varemærke desuden at formå at få hold bestående af aldrende spillere til at fungere som et godt og stabilt godstog, som måske ikke altid var prangende på afstand, men som til gengæld ydede det nødvendige. I Chelsea får italieneren en utrolig stærk trup, som oven i købet er lidt yngre &#8211; og antageligvis noget mere sulten.</p>
<p><strong>Truppen generelt: Skræmmende</strong></p>
<p>På kassen har <strong>Petr Cech</strong> tilhørt den absolutte verdenselite på målmandspladsen de seneste år. I sidste sæson vaklede den store tjekke dog helt usædvanligt, og leverede en række tvivlsomme præstationer. Det rokker dog ikke ved indtrykket af at Chelsea har en absolut topkeeper som sidste skanse. Backupen <strong>Hilario</strong> har imidlertid ikke vist nogen udpræget grund til hverken at råbe hurra eller æv-bæv, når han har fået chancen. På henholdsvis venstre - og højreback er <strong>Ashley Cole</strong> og <strong>José Bosingwa</strong> i verdensklasse, alt imens anfører John Terry og Ricardo Carvalho er en meget stærk stopperduo. <strong> Alex</strong>, <strong>Branko Ivanovic</strong>, <strong>Juliano Beletti</strong> og <strong>Paulo Ferreira </strong>er alle aldeles glimrende breddespillere, som desuden er ganske alsidige.</p>
<p>På midtbanen er alsidighed ligeledes et nøgleord, og mange spillere kan bytte plads på kryds og tværs alt efter omstændighederne. Kraftværket <strong>Michael Essien</strong> en fremragende fodboldspiller, mens viceanfører <strong>Frank Lampard</strong> aldrig stopper med at løbe og desuden har en næsten paranormal evne til at lave mange mål fra sin plads på den offensive centrale midtbane. En lignende rolle vil portugisiske <strong>Deco</strong> vældig gerne indtage, uden dog for alvor at slå igennem i sin debutsæson. Chelseas ofte kompakte midtbane kan desuden bestå af <strong>Michael Ballack</strong> og he-manfiguren <strong>John Obi Mikel</strong>. Dette bevirker ofte den luksus at enten Ballack eller Essien får en rolle på højrekanten, hvor også <strong>Salomon Kalou</strong> kan benyttes. På den modsatte kant har <strong>Florent Malouda</strong> været et fast indslag i sidste sæson, uden på noget tidspunkt at imponere undertegnede. Kloge hoveder hævder dog han er fremragende, så det tror vi delvist på. Nu er <strong>Joe Cole</strong> imidlertid så småt på vej tilbage efter en særdeles slem knæskadde, og den lille engelske troldmand kommer givetvis til at spille en rolle inden sæsonen er omme.</p>
<p>Helt på toppen råder klubben over to stærke og meget målfarlige herrer i form af <strong>Nicolas Anelka</strong> og <strong>Didier Drogba</strong>. Begge spillere er utrolig træfsikre foran mål, og særligt Drogba kan reducere de fleste forsvar til randen af tårer med sine begavede løb og overmenneskelige fysik (så glemmer vi for en gangs skyld hans utrolige fysiske svaghed når først han tackles i feltet). Salomon Kalou kan tilbyde et mere listigt alternativ, hvis Ancelotti får lyst til at forsøge sig med stor-stærk/lille-hurtig kombinationen.</p>
<p><strong>Væsentlige transfere: Stille og roligt</strong></p>
<p>Udover at benytte sommerne til at udlåne, hvad der minder om et helt ungdomshold &#8211; mest nævneværdigt forsvaren <strong>Michael Mancienne</strong> til Wolves, angriberen <strong>Franco Di Santo</strong> til Blackburn og offensivtalentet <strong>Scott Sinclair</strong> til Wigan &#8211; har Chelsea endelig fået skilt sig af med kæmpefloppet <strong>Andriy Shevchenko,</strong> som er taget hjem til Dynamo Kiev på en fri transfer. Det er de sikkert glade for i både London og den ukrainske hovedstad. En anden eksotisk angriber som aldrig slog igennem i Chelsea, <strong>Claudio Pizarro</strong>, er ligeledes smuttet fra the blues. Peruvianeren er taget tilbage til Bundesligaen, hvor han fremover skal spille for Werder Bremen.</p>
<p>Der har været rimelig stille ved indgangsdøren til Stamford Bridge. Chelsea største indkøb denne sommer &#8211; og måske et af de bedste indkøb overhovedet i dette vindue &#8211; kom i form af venstrekanten(/backen) <strong>Yuri Zhirkov</strong> som kommer til fra CSKA Moskva. Zhirkov var en del af det russiske landshold som imponerede røven ud af bukserne på alt og alle ved EM 2008, og kommer med både fart, teknik og fremragende blik for spillet til at kunne blive et kæmpehit i engelsk fodbold. At han så oven i købet har en snert af lighed med Christian Dailly bør blot fremme en hurtig og succesfuld integration. Yderligere er to unge talenter Boro-keeperen <strong>Ross Turnbull</strong> og Man City angriberen <strong>Daniel Sturridge</strong> blevet tilknyttet efter kontraktudløb i deres tidligere klubber. Særligt sidstnævnte er en spændende breddespiller pt, og potentielt en fremtidig stjerne.</p>
<p><strong>Forventninger: Nu tromler Chelsea-toget&#8230;</strong></p>
<p>Chelseas trup er skræmmende. Holdet råder over klassespillere til alle pladser, og ofte mere end en. Ydermere rammer en række af holdets profiler deres formodede allerbedste år i disse sæsoner, og motivationen har næppe været større for at vinde alt hvad de kommer i nærheden af efter et par lige-ved-og-næsten-sæsoner. Ancelotti er en begavet, forsigtig og kompetent træner som meget vel kan bibringe noget stabilitet og ro til det cirkus som ofte har omgærdet holdets omklædningsrum de senere år.</p>
<p>Derudover har holdet den fordel i forhold til sine umiddelbare konkurrenter, at man ikke har skiftet særlig meget ud i truppen, og derfor kan lade den samme maskine som sluttede sidste sæson rigtig stærkt tromle videre i denne. Hvis man dertil ligger at den særlige os-mod-verden attitude som bliver stærkere og stærkere på Stamford Bridge jo mere modgang holdet møder &#8211; ja så fremstår Chelsea godt gammeldags frygtindgydende. &#8220;Fucking-disgrace&#8221;-gate og den nylige transferban har kun skabt endnu mere sammenbidte miner hos Chelseas bundrutinerede verdensstjerner, og hvis spillere som Terry, Cole, Essien, Lampard og Drogba bliver endnu mere trodsige i deres vindermentalitet, er det næsten uhyggeligt.</p>
<p>Derfor vinder de Premier League 2009-2010. Med mindre egoerne eksploderer, Ancelloti fejler totalt i engelsk fodbold, knalder Abramovichs kone i frustration og russeren i stedet indsætter sin hemmelig kammersjuk Ole Mørch på trænersædet. Det er heldigvis aldrig kedeligt i vestlondon&#8230;</p>
<p><strong>Tip: Forventet placering: </strong>Nummer 1<strong> Supersæson: </strong>Nummer 1.</p>
<p><strong>Epilog:</strong></p>
<p>Dermed slutter den syge og muntre gennemgang af Premier League holdene. Det trak tænder ud &#8211; og trak i det hele taget bare ud. Nu kan mine fikse ideer og forudsigelser så bide mig i røven resten af sæsonen. Buddet på sluttabellen ser jo allerede ud til at være helt i skoven, og jeg er ved at formulere flere hundrede dårlige undskyldninger. Tottenhams købe af Kranjcar gør dem endnu stærkere, Portsmouth al for sene take-over ser ud til at blive dyr, Burnley har allerede gjort det bedre end antaget, og Arsenal tog vel røven på de fleste i første spillerunde. Anyways. Jeg håber i har hygget jer med det. Jeg kan se der er tusindevis af folk der har kigget ind, og jeg har da endnu ikke modtaget dødstrusler, så det tolker jeg som en munter succes&#8230;</p>
<p>Nu skal bloggen tilbage på sporet med selvmedlidende vrøvl fra the wonderfull world of West Ham, hvor der er sket mere de sidste tre uger end der sker på fem sæsoner af Glamour. Det er nemlig heller aldrig kedeligt i østlondon. Først skal skribenten dog på en tiltrængt restitutionstur ud i efterårslandet. Watch this space osv.</p>
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<title><![CDATA[Michael Ballack]]></title>
<link>http://sophsticated.wordpress.com/2009/09/13/michael-ballack/</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:27:28 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Isabela</dc:creator>
<guid>http://sophsticated.wordpress.com/2009/09/13/michael-ballack/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Amanhã é segunda-feira de novo, novamente, rsrsrsrs Mein Gott! Michael Ballack é atualmente o segund]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class='snap_preview'><p style="text-align:justify;">Amanhã é segunda-feira de novo, novamente, rsrsrsrs</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">
<div id="attachment_520" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 225px"><a href="http://sophsticated.wordpress.com/files/2009/09/ballack04.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-520" src="http://sophsticated.wordpress.com/files/2009/09/ballack04.jpg?w=215" alt="Mein Gott!" width="215" height="300" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Mein Gott!</p></div>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Michael Ballack</strong> é atualmente o segundo Michael do meu coração (preciso dizer que o primeiro é <a href="http://sophsticated.wordpress.com/2009/09/09/tre-parole/" target="_blank">Michal Lasko</a>?). E eu odeio futebol. Odeio mesmo.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Eu conheci esse deus alemão na Copa de 2006, na Alemanha. Estava eu, em casa, distraída, quando minha mãe disse, travessão, abre aspas, &#8216;você viu aquele alemão?&#8217; e eu &#8216;que alemão?&#8217;</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">
<div id="attachment_521" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 223px"><a href="http://sophsticated.wordpress.com/files/2009/09/ballack02.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-521" src="http://sophsticated.wordpress.com/files/2009/09/ballack02.jpg?w=213" alt="Dieser Deutsche!" width="213" height="300" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Dieser Deutsche!</p></div>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Pronto! Foi uma olhada e eu morri! Solta o pagodão brega aí, minha gente: &#8220;eu me apaixonei pela pessoa erraaaada, ninguém sabe o quanto eu estou sofreeeendo&#8221;, rsrsrsrsrsrsrs</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Foi então que eu comecei a acompanhar a Copa de 2006, pelo menos, todos os jogos da Alemanha (olha o patriotismo, nem os jogos do Brasil eu via &#8211; também pra ver Ronaldos, Rivaldos e Robertos, eu &#8216;tô di boa&#8217;). Achei uma das coisas mais fofas do mundo quando ele chorou em campo ao perder a semi-final para a Itália.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Esse é o verdadeiro moreno, alto, bonito e sensual! E ainda de brinde, com um belo par de olhos verdes:</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="http://sophsticated.wordpress.com/files/2009/09/ballack03.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-522" src="http://sophsticated.wordpress.com/files/2009/09/ballack03.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="206" /></a><strong><br />
Ballack</strong> nasceu em 26 de setembro de 1976 na cidade de Görlitz, que fica no estado da Saxônia, Alemanha. Nunca, na minha vida, pensei que o número <strong>13</strong> seria de tanta sorte (e recheio, kkkkkk)! Ele jogou bastante tempo no <em>Bayern</em> e atualmente joga pelo time inglês (o mesmo da foto aí de cima) <em>Chelsea</em>.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Também é o atual capitão da seleção alemã e é possível que ele jogue na Copa de 2010, mas deve parar por aí &#8211; eu, com certeza, vou assistir &#8211; na verdade, Michael é o <strong>único</strong> motivo de eu ficar na frente de uma TV para assistir futebol. Eu me peguei várias vezes acompanhando o campeonato inglês aos domingos e às partidas européias: ano passado (ou começo desse ano, não lembro), insisti pra um amigo assistir o jogo da Alemanha pela UEFA comigo e ele crente de que era porque eu gostava de futebol, rsrsrsrsrs quando falei que era por causa do Ballack, ele quase me matou!</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Na vida pessoal, Ballack namorava há quase 10 anos a mesma mulher com quem teve três filhos: Louis (2001), Emilio (2002) e Jordi (2005). Mas ele só oficializou a relação com <em>Simone Lambe</em> em 14 de julho de 2008:</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">
<div id="attachment_523" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 250px"><a href="http://sophsticated.wordpress.com/files/2009/09/ballack08.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-523" src="http://sophsticated.wordpress.com/files/2009/09/ballack08.jpg?w=240" alt="Com a mocréia" width="240" height="300" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Com a mocréia</p></div>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Eu não tenho nada contra a mulher (só acho que ela é meio baranga), mas simplesmente adoro ler o que as fãs do Ballack falam dela. Adoro os apelidos, um mais criativo que o outro, mas o meu favorito mesmo é <strong>Simocréia</strong>! kkkkkkkkkk</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Ai, ai&#8230; acho que é um ótimo post pra fechar o dia e começar bem a semana! E se quiserem deixar seu PC ainda mais bonito, recomedo esse wallpaper com <em>dieser Deutscher Gott</em>:</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">
<div id="attachment_524" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://sophsticated.wordpress.com/files/2009/09/ballack.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-524" src="http://sophsticated.wordpress.com/files/2009/09/ballack.jpg?w=300" alt="1024x768" width="300" height="225" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">1024x768*</p></div>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Ah, sim, confesso que me interessei em aprender alemão por causa dele (por que, Deus, por que eu não conheci o Lasko antes!? kkkkk brincadeira, comecei italiano antes, aquele mesmo &#8216;di grátis&#8217; na facul). <em>Aber Deutsch ist nicht leicht</em>! Só eu sei o quanto eu peno pra montar frases, declinar adjetivos, genitivos, dativos, acusativos, etc&#8230; e entender?! NOUSSA!</p>
<p><em>Ballack, kuss, telefoniere mich!</em> kkkkkkkkkkkkk</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">*PS: não fiz o wallpaper e achei na net!</p>
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