Review of Players Short Listed for the FIFA 2007 Player of the Year Award

By Damien Ong

It is time of the year where the FIFA world player of the year is decided by the votes of coaches and captains of national team worldwide.

But before we go into the discussion of the list of players drawn for 2007, an introduction of the mechanism of the system would be discussed first. The award was started in 1991 for the male player and in 2001 for the female player categories respectively. Basically, the coaches and national team captains would vote for players drawn by the technical committees of FIFA. The system used is called the Borda count where each coach and captain would get three votes (one of five points, one of three points and one of one point) to cast for the players of his choice. And the winner would be determined by the total of points received. The winner last year is Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro of Real Madrid.

Now to the list of players short listed for the award this year. Heading the list are five players of Italian descent, they are Cannavaro, Gianluigi Buffon, Gennaro Gattuso, Alessandro Nesta and Andrea Pirlo. Except for Cannavaro and Buffon (Juventus), the remaining three players of the UEFA 2006-2007 champions league winners AC Milan. However the chances of an Italian repeating the feat of winning is slim this year as the national team did not perform to its best after World Cup 2006 and as for domestically, the Serie A is recovering from the scars of the scandal hit season.

Next up would be the discussion of the English contenders for the title. They are Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), John Terry (Chelsea) and Wayne Rooney (Manchester United). Looking at chances of the English contenders, none of them have high chances of clinching the title as the English national team has a difficult Euro 2008 qualifying campaign so far and they did not any outstanding club exploits last season. The other reasons are although Manchester United and Chelsea went head to head in the Premiership race, they failed to impress at the UEFA Champions league level. As for Gerrard, if Liverpool did won the last season UEFA Champions league final against AC Milan, then his chances would be different. However they did not and Liverpool had another of its forgettable seasons in the league again.

As for the French, they have Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Lillan Thuram (Barcelona) and Patrick Vieira (Inter Milan) short listed. At the moment, the chances of the French are as slim as the English for similar reasons. Henry has been a world class player, but he could not inspire Arsenal to the Premiership title and for this season, he is still adapting to his new club, Barcelona. Ribery also did not have the best of seasons last year and has changed clubs in the summer, leaving for Bungesliga Giants, Munich from the sleeping giants of French Football, Marseille. In Vieria’s case, Inter Milan did retain their Serie A title last season, but as mentioned above, the title seen to be given to Inter midst point deduction for several Serie A clubs and demotion of Juventus. Hence he would not have a high chance in this year’s competition for the best player’s title. For Thuram, it is even more gloomer as he did not feature in a lot of his club’s games last season and Barcelona failed to defend its La Liga title.

Brazil has three players short listed in Kaka (AC Milan), Juninho (Lyon) and Ronaldinho (Barcelona). Although the Brazilians have a forgettable world cup 2006, however one of three can be considered as a highly possible contender for the title. He is Kaka. The reason is that he has also won the FIFPro 2007 Player of the year award and it was he that inspired AC Milan to winning the UEFA Champions League midst a disappointing Serie A 2006-2007 campaign. As for Ronaldinho, a previous two time winner (2004 and 2005), his chances this year are quite slim as he was not in the best form last season with the Catalans Giants as they lost out to Real Madrid in the La Liga title. In the case of Juninho, other than inspiring Lyon to six consecutive French Ligue 1 titles, he had no major efforts of note last season.

As for Brazil’s South American rival, Argentina too has three players short listed in Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Juan Roman Riquelme (River) and Carlos Tevez (Manchester United). Of the three, Messi’s chances are the highest as he has continued where he left off last season with eight goals in as many games this season. Tevez had a difficult season in which his transfer reeks of a drama serial while Riquelme with his talent to a lot of people has choked on the big stages once too often.

Another highly possible contender for the title is Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United. With his 23 goals, English Premiership Player of the year award and PFA player’s player of the year award last season, he can be seen as a major reason why Manchester United managed to regain the English Premiership title. Furthermore, in midst of enduring an anti-Ronaldo season after his antics at World Cup 2006, it is a wonder that he could conjure up such a wonderful season. Another Portuguese short listed is Deco of Barcelona who for all his talents was a bit player for Catalans last season and hence his chances are not very high then.

The remaining players of the short list are Fernando Torres (Spain, Liverpool), Ruud Van Nistelrroy (Holland, Real Madrid), Petr Cech (Czech Republic, Chelsea), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast, Chelsea), Michael Essien (Ghana, Chelsea), Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon, Barcelona) and Rafael Marquez (Mexico, Barcelona). Of seven remaining players, Ruud Van Nistelrroy may have the best chance as he was the top scorer for Real Madrid in their title winning squad last season and has continued his fine form this season. As for players of Chelsea and Barcelona, their failure in defending the title and poor UEFA Champions League showing would count against them. Lastly, Torres, the sole Spanish in the list, like Henry has traded clubs where he left his boyhood club, Atletico Madrid for English side Liverpool in the summer. His chances are very slim as during his time as Atletico Madrid, the team failed to establish it as La Liga contenders and as for his new club, he is still adapting there.

Lastly to summarize my views on FIFA 2007 Player of the year, my choice of player to win is the Kaka of AC Milan with Lionel Messi (Barcelona) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) to give him a run for the title. The results would be out this December 2007 at the FIFA World Player Gala in Zurich.

For more news, predictions and results from English Premiership, Italy Serie A, Spainish Liga and Bungelsia, check out http://epllatestnews.blogspot.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Damien_Ong

Cheap Football Shirts Needed Please

By Thomas Baugh 

Cheap football shirts should be everywhere, but they’re not because clubs refuse to lower their prices. I’m of the opinion however that this should be something they consider, as when you think about the value you get out of them, it’s actually not that great.

I buy my clubs home football shirt every couple of seasons and pay the standard forty quid, which by any stretch of the imagination isn’t cheap. However, as a season ticket holder I probably get my wear out of it, as I’m more or less guaranteed to pull it on at least forty or fifty times before it’s no longer current.

That doesn’t sound too bad really but the thing that gets my goat is away shirts. Why should football teams be allowed to sell shirts that they might only wear once or twice over the course of a season for forty quid? It’s just ridiculous.

Away shirts should be cheap football shirts, simple as that. I think a fair price would be thirty quid for adults and twenty for kids. That’s currently a tenner cheaper than most retail for.

I mean, how many kids beg for these shirts every year and then refuse to wear them after what seems a couple of months because they’re no longer current? Even die hard fans that go to every match, home and away can only expect to be showing the right colours on the odd occasion.

Maybe I’m just mad to think that in this day in age when everything in football is geared towards business, that some of the clubs might give us a break and sell football shirts for a fraction cheaper.

What’s even more painful is if you’ve got a naff manufacturer. I mean, if you’re shopping for sports clothes you wouldn’t pay the same price for a Jako sports shirt (that’s a real make) as you would a Nike one would you? So why just because they have a couple of badges on should this be the case?

Thomas Baugh writes articles for a site that reviews and discusses football shirts and then approaches manufacturers to ensure they think about the views of fans. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Baugh

A Profile of Deco

By David Leigh 

Deco is considered one of the heavyweights of FC Barcelona and one of a small number of players who has won the Champions League with two different clubs. In fact when he won the UEFA Best Midfielder award for his performance in the 2005-6 Champions League he was the first player to have won the award twice, having won it first with Porto.

In his career Deco has won the 2006 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball, the 2003-4 UEFA Champions League Most Valuable Player, the 2004 Portuguese Footballer of the Year and the 2006 South American Sportsman of the Year.

Anderson Luis de Souza was born in Sao Bernardo, Brazil on 27th August 1977. His early professional career got off to a shaky start when he was playing for Corinthians, who didn't consider him good enough and he moved to Benfica in Portugal.

From there he moved to FC Alverca for a season where he performed well and almost renewed his contact with Benfica. However they failed to reach agreement and instead moved to S.C. Salgueiros in for the 1998-99 season, where he scored two goals in 12 matches. His performances were noticed by FC Porto staff, where he moved during the winter transfer window.

After assuming Portuguese nationality in 2002 after living there for 6 years, Deco was called up to play for the national squad; his first match for Portugal was against Brazil in which Deco scored. It was also Portugal's first win over Brazil in 37 years.

When Deco was on the verge of moving to Chelsea in 2004, a deal that was assumed to be concluded, Deco surprised everyone by announcing that he'd prefer to move to Barcelona. After intense negotiations he signed a four year deal with the Catalan club in July of that year.

When joining FC Barcelona he was felt by many to be surplus requirements as he was an attacking midfielder. However, when he was played in central midfield he strengths came out and he has been a popular member of the squad ever since.

For more details of FC Barcelona's players, general information about the club and reservation of FC Barcelona tickets online visit http://www.SimplyBarcelonaTickets.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Leigh

Introduction to Mexico Soccer

By Niv Orlian 

In Mexico, soccer started developing in different regions of the country, with the first form of an organized championship being the Primera Fuerza, which was a local league consisting of various teams around the Federal District area. Players were semi-professional during this time, in a time where Europe had already promoted soccer professionalism.

With FIFA gaining strength as an international soccer governing organization, Mexico decided to organize a national soccer organization of their own in 1927, called the Federacion Mexicana de Futbol Asociacion (FMFA), who became a member of FIFA in 1929, just in time to participate to the first World Cup with the newly formed Mexican National Soccer Team.

Although participating in the first World Cup, the Mexico soccer team wasn’t considered a soccer power at that time, which was confirmed by their lack of results in World Cup qualifications until 1950. Although the team was now a constant presence at the World Cup, they had difficult times competing against the more powerful European and South American nations and only won 1 match in 5 tournaments, against Czechoslovakia in 1962.

But in 1970, in an effort to promote soccer nationwide and seeing the economical importance of hosting a World Cup, Mexico managed to get hold of the rights to organize their first World Cup in history. The Mexico soccer team managed to reach the quarter-finals on this occasion, which is still their biggest international performance to date.

However, they would equal this performance 16 years and 4 World Cups later, again on home ground, as they would organize the 1986 World Cup, considered by many as the most entertaining in the history of soccer.

Nowadays, reaching the quarter finals of a World Cup is considered harder than it was in the 70s or 80s and although Mexican soccer progressed substantially, they’re still suffering in major competitions when facing soccer giants from Europe or South America. However, the future is looking a lot brighter for Mexican soccer in general and for the Mexico national soccer team.

Club soccer in the country is now deemed as one of the richest in the Americas and some powerful clubs take part in the Copa Libertadores, a competition that was normally allowed only for South American clubs.

Several top quality players have moved from the Mexican league towards more powerful ones, the clearest examples being Rafael Marquez and Giovani Dos Santos, who were bought by Spanish side FC Barcelona and are both important members of the squad.

With these two players in the team, as well as several other emerging talents playing in the national league, the Mexico national soccer squad looks tougher than ever and ready to beat their quarter-final best finish in the upcoming World Cup in South Africa, 2010.

Niv Orlian is the author and the owner of a Soccer Fans website that provides information on various topics related to soccer. Did you find this article interesting, useful and well written? You can learn a lot more about Mexican soccer here. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Niv_Orlian

Football Shirts

By Thomas Baugh 

The world of football shirts seems to have gone a little mad in recent times since the whole scam to do with supermarkets and cheap prices, but make no mistake about it, it’s still massive business.

Football is a business these days, we all know that and the shirts have a massive impact on profits for clubs, so getting things just right in terms of design and sales must rank highly in terms of importance.

Why is it then, that so many teams have so many awful football shirts? I mean event the teams at the very top, will all the money and resource in the world seem to fall victim to some of the most god awful tops you could ever hope to see.

This season, let’s take Chelsea for instance. They’ve won two Premiership titles and countless other trophies and plaudits over the last three or four seasons and this year they’re being paraded round in fluorescent green tops that make them look like traffic wardens.

Is it just the fact that manufacturers think they have to come up with designs for football shirts that stand out from the crowd in order to be considered worthy? There is one kit manufacturer who seems to have things down however, and that’s Nike.

No matter who they’re asked to design for, they always seem to come good and they’ve been doing that same high class job for years now. Arsenal, Celtic and Man Utd are just three teams to benefit from the quality of their shirt designs in recent times and I’m sure there’s a line of others waiting in the wings.

But what are Nike doing that all of the other manufacturers aren’t? Well, they’re keeping it simple. Most real football fans are just everyday people who don’t want a tight fitted pink shirt with a white round neck collar. They want their teams colours represented in a simple manner so they can wear the shirt with pride on a Saturday.

A lot of manufacturers seem to be forgetting this and I hope dearly that football shirts are given the attention they deserve in the future.

Thomas Baugh writes articles for a site that reviews and discusses football shirts and then approaches manufacturers to ensure they think about the views of fans. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Baugh

3 Reasons Behind 4-4-2 Formation Or System

By Damien Ong

In the modern game of soccer or football, the most common formation or system played is the 4-4-2. In most games, one would be likely to see a 4-4-2 being deployed 90% of the time. Here are three main reasons why such a formation or system is employed. A definition of the formation or the system is needed first to understand the rationale behind them.

A 4-4-2 would refer to the deployment of one goalkeeper, four defenders, four midfielders and two strikers. The basis is that for defense, the four defenders would include two centre backs (or centre defenders), one right back and left back (right defender and left defender respectively). As for the midfield, it is set up like the defense where there are two centre midfielders, one right and left midfielder (or winger). The remaining three positions would be the goalkeeper and two strikers up front. There are also variations of the formation or system in which it can be attacking or defensive in mind set. But we would not be describing them in detail here.

As for the reasons, there are as follows:

Flexibility - Football or soccer is one of the most fast paced games in the world, where an attack can be turned into the counter attack by the opposition if possession is lost. As similar to a 4-5-1 system discussed in another of my articles, a 4-4-2 offers or allows for the flexibility for the team in both attack and defense. In attack or possession of the ball, the left and right midfielders would operate as wingers to push up and join the strikers. Furthermore of the two central midfielders, one or both can also push to join the attack and fall or drop back to assist the defense in case of a break or counter attack by the opposition. As for defense or without possession of the ball, strikers would assist in dropping down to the midfield to contest possession while the midfielders assist the containing of the opposition’s attacks.

Balance – Deploying such a formation or system of 4-4-2, there is balance thoroughly the team as there are tactically cover for all positions. Without a doubt, the major reason for the popularity of the deployment of 4-4-2 is the overall balance allowed for the team as compared to most other formations. Balance here would refer to coverage of all positions on the field. In theory the whole field would be covered by the players employed under such a formation since each player is dedicated to an individual role.

Simplicity – A 4-4-2 is a very simple formation to play in as most or all players have played in the system or formation at one or the other during their careers. Hence it is the most comfortable for players.One must remember that football is a fast game and to deploy a simple formation could enable the players to play better or get into their rhythm faster.

Furthermore the tactics are very easy and common for the deployment of such a formation or system. Over complex tactics or instructions would cause miscommunications or problems in execution and might result in bad results.Hence the above reasons should help to explain the rationale behind the employment of a 4-4-2 system or formation.

For more news, predictions and results from English Premiership, Italy Serie A, Spainish Liga and Bungelsia, check out http://epllatestnews.blogspot.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Damien_Ong

In it Together

By Anja Merret 

It was one of those moments. The British would say Ah Bless. In South Africa that translates to Ag Shame. Reading about the welcome the German Women’s Football team received in Frankfurt yesterday gave me a lump in the throat and a few small tears down my cheek. They were being celebrated for having retained the Women’s World Cup by beating a scintillating Brazilian team.

Watching the video on the Spiegel home page, which led to the Bless moment, I noticed the huge numbers of German flags. I had seen these during the men’s World Cup in the previous year which had been held in Germany. And during that world cup the flags did not stop waving, even when Germany was knocked out of the competition. In fact Germany’s third place game was still hugely celebrated.

I remember when Germany got the nod by Sepp Blatter that they would be the hosts of the 2006 World Cup. We were all sitting in front of the TV, chewing our nails into oblivion hoping that South Africa would get the honour. It was not to be. Much to our embarrassment we were quite bad losers, setting off an enquiry and hounding some poor New Zealand official.

In retrospect, Germany’s holding of this world competition gave that country the opportunity to really unify itself and become a proud nation. Unification of East and West Germany had not been that long ago, in October 1990. This pride in their country could have been going on for a while of course. I haven’t been living in Europe that long to have observed the trend. It was just hugely noticeable this time and as seen from outside of the country as well.

As an aside, it seems the Brits are sending civil servants across to Germany to learn how to be more customer focused. Who would have thought! Of course my sister, who has lived most of her life in Germany says that Germans are only friendly to foreigners. They put on a friendly face to outsiders only, is her slightly cynical take on it.

What the Germans did though for several years before the World Cup, was to train the people who would come into contact with visitors, on how to be friendly towards visitors. All Germans were encouraged to be welcoming to them. The World Cup Logo had smiling faces in round footballs and the slogan was ‘A time to make Friends’. This doesn’t quite do justice to the German one which is more along the lines of - the world as a guest comes to visit friends. A bit more awkward, I suppose! I won’t take up that job as translator after all!

It was a huge campaign to ensure that Germany would come across as a friendly nation where the party never stops. And the parties did not stop. Every city and town had a central gathering spot/s where huge TV screens were set up and people were encouraged to come and participate even if they could not get into the stadiums to watch.

I travelled through Germany two weeks after the end of the competition to visit my sister. When people heard us speak English they came over to chat and to say hello and check if we needed help. What?? The last time I travelled in Germany, twenty years before, the reception was quite different.

What has the spin-off been for Germany besides a huge boost in GDP during the World Cup weeks? Considerable growth, much to the German economists’ surprise has continued into the next year. I read a day ago that a noticeable trend has recently been identified. German companies who since 2000 had been manufacturing outside of the country whether in the ‘cheaper’ east block countries or in China, are flocking back to their homeland. Sure there have been problems doing business outside Germany, but could it also be that besides strong economic growth, German business people could be more patriotic?

So watching fifteen thousand or so Germans celebrate their women’s team, and lets face it women’s football is not that popular anywhere in the world including Germany, made me think how more patriotic the Germans have become. They have certainly become a more unified nation, celebrating their successes with pride and exuberance.

In retrospect South Africa only receiving the go-ahead to host the World Cup in 2010 has been a blessing in disguise. And what a moment that was when Herr Sepp Blatter pulled out that piece of paper with the words South Africa on it. And the combined audience at the selection venue, and 44 million South Africans, waiting for Madiba’s arrival. I still get goose bumps remembering that.

Hopefully, all those observers who spent tax payers’ money enjoying the World Cup last year, will have come back to South Africa and said that that is how our competition must be run as well. It has to be a huge welcome to the rest of the world and a non-stop party. And we, as South Africans, will also show off our country with pride and passion, they should be saying - very loudly.

If it is organised as well as the T20 cricket world cup recently held in South Africa where ticket prices were kept to a minimum to ensure full stadiums no matter who was playing and a party atmosphere was maintained during the matches, then the legendary South African friendliness will create as great a feeling of togetherness world wide as the World Cup did in Germany.

If done right, the same spin-offs will be felt in South Africa. These would be a much needed unification of the country’s people which will be felt more strongly than after the Springbok’s 1995 Rugby Wold Cup win. It will most assuredly contribute further to the current strong economic growth. And maybe it will entice expat South Africans, their skills and businesses back to their homeland. She says writing from Brighton in the UK, and not the one in Durban.

Anja Merret lives in Brighton, UK, having moved across from South Africa just over a year ago. She now looks after the business interests of her daughter who is a Flash Developer and Accessibility expert. She started a blog at the beginning of the year under the heading of chatting to my generation. Although she is chatting to the baby boomer generation, she sometimes feels that all generations have the same issues to face, they just don't have hearing aids or walking sticks! One of her pet peeves is the war in Iraq and in fact anything that causes innocent people to get hurt. But she also loves tech stuff, although only as an amateur. She considers herself a Silver Surfer Gadget Geek. She is even considering queuing for an iPhone in the UK later on in the year. But her daughter has offered, so she will only be taking hot food to the Brighton Geeks waiting in line. Her musings may be found on http://www.anjamerret.com Her observations on personal power and self-development may be found on http://www.pinkblocks.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anja_Merret