Due to the critisim of the official FIFA world rankings system, alternative rankings systems have surfaced over the years. The most prominent of these awards is the World Football ELO rankings. As the name suggests the system is based of the ELO ranking system designed by Hungarian mathematician Dr. Árpád Élő to rank chess players. The system was adopted for Football by Bob Runyan in 1997.

The ratings take into account all international “A” matches for which results could be found. Per the Elo website:

“Ratings tend to converge on a team’s true strength relative to its competitors after about 30 matches. Ratings for teams with fewer than 30 matches should be considered provisional. Match data are primarily from International Football 1872 – Present web site maintained by Raoul S. da Silva Curiel. Other sources are listed on the football links page. If you wish to be notified by e-mail every time the ratings are updated, use the sign-up form.”

This indeed looks like a tedious rating system, and to some, it remains an absolute head-scratcher. Regardless, if you want to debate the world rankings, Dr. Élő gives you that option with his difficult-to-follow rating system. Here’s the formula:

The ratings are based on the following formulas:

Rn = Ro + K × (W – We)

Rn is the new rating, Ro is the old (pre-match) rating.

K is the weight constant for the tournament played:

60 for World Cup finals;
50 for continental championship finals and major intercontinental tournaments;
40 for World Cup and continental qualifiers and major tournaments;
30 for all other tournaments;
20 for friendly matches.

K is then adjusted for the goal difference in the game. It is increased by half if a game is won by two goals, by 3/4 if a game is won by three goals, and by 3/4 + (N-3)/8 if the game is won by four or more goals, where N is the goal difference.

W is the result of the game (1 for a win, 0.5 for a draw, and 0 for a loss).

We is the expected result (win expectancy), either from the chart or the following formula:

We = 1 / (10(-dr/400) + 1)

dr equals the difference in ratings plus 100 points for a team playing at home.

Sample Winning Expectancies

Difference in Ratings: 0, 10, 20

Higher Rated: 0.500, 0.514, 0.529

Lower Rated: 0.500, 0.486, 0.471

Also See:

World Football Elo Ratings – an alternative to FIFA rankings
Top 50 Ranked Teams in FIFA and Elo (30 May 2008)

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

It’s been a while (the 2004 US Tour, to be exact) since the United States last tasted a summer football event quite like World Football Challenge. This summer’s event will bring some of the biggest names in football together for one week in the States, thereby giving some starved football fans the chance to watch their favourite club go head-to-head with some of the most storied names in the sport.

It’s amazing to think it’s taken this long for a company to bring back the world’s best club to the States, considering how well the US Tour did back in 2004. With Fox Soccer and ESPN leading the way, football has the chance to become a mainstream sport in the States going forward.

Tournaments such as the World Football Challenge are the first step in getting people excited about the sport. And with such names as Inter, Chelsea and AC Milan leading the way, chances are goode you’ll see packed stadiums to watch some of the best clubs in the world.

2009 World Football Challenge Venues

6 venues will serve as hosts for this year’s event.

Palo Alto, California
Stanford Stadium, 50,000

Pasadena, California
Rose Bowl, 92,542

Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia Dome, 71,228

Baltimore, Maryland
M&T Bank Stadium, 71,008

Foxboro, Massachusetts
Gillette Stadium, 68,756

Arlington, Texas
Cowboys Stadium, 80,000

All six venues play host to American football teams. Based on the clubs involved in the tournament and the new interest in international football, there’s a good chance a couple of the stadiums listed above will be packed to the hilt with football fans who’ve never seen a live match in their life.

World Football Challenge Fixtures

The WFC commences on 19 July and runs until 26 July. The tournament is a round-robin tournament that allows every clubs the opportunity to play three matches. The winner of the event will be decided by the club with the most points after six matches.

Fixtures

The current schedule is as follows:

July 19, 2009 19:00 EST	Club América	v	Internazionale	Stanford Stadium, Palo Alto, CA

July 21, 2009 23:00 EST	Chelsea	v	Internazionale	Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA

July 22, 2009 19:00 EST	Club América	v	Milan	Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA

July 24, 2009 20:00 EST	Chelsea	v	Milan	M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD

July 26, 2009 17:00 EST	Internazionale	v	Milan	Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA

July 26, 2009 19:00 EST	Chelsea	v	Club América	Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, TX

World Football Challenge Prediction

Rules: Each club plays three matches; the winner will then be decided based on the team with the most points at the end of the six matches.

Participants: Chelsea, Club America, Internazionale, AC Milan

Predicted Winner: It’s hard to pick a serious winner in an event like this. All of the clubs playing in the WFC are rumoured to be brining their first team; however, I doubt you’ll see very many of them playing the entire time, as each team plays three matches in the span of a seven days.

The main reason these clubs are playing in the States is to give football fans the chance to see some of the best clubs in the world — and promote their club as an international brand. You’ll see Lampard and Ibra bossing down the pitch in a couple of matches…but I doubt it’ll be at full speed.

They call these friendlies for a reason: It’s because they’re supposed to be friendly. The Inter/Milan match could get heated, but other than that I see this being a chance to promote the game in a potential hotbed.

If you put my feet to the fire and asked me to pick a winner, I’d probably have to go with Chelsea based on the fact that they have the most to lose/gain. Considering their involvement with clubs in the States, I’d assume they’d be the one that would most want to put on a show.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

People always say that, to understand how far we’ve come, you need to look in the past. Whilst that sentence probably sounds a bit cliché, it could surely be used in discussions regarding the evolution of the common Premier League football supporter over the last 30-40 years.

If you’ll recall, the Premier League has only turned into a global league in the last 10 or so years. With the boom in the Britain’s biggest league came international contracts to show the matches in places as far away as Indonesia. Clubs like Manchester United and Chelsea are no longer secrets, nor are they really clubs: they’re now international brands.

Whilst the word “brand” makes Premier League purists cringe — and those who grew up with the game — many of us, myself included, understand that the global “brand” is what makes the league so appealing. Without the international television, there’d be less international flavour. And without the international flavour, I can guarantee you there’d be less money coming into the league.

With that in mind, I think most would be in agreement that the international influx in the Premier League has diluted one group that built the league: the British football supporter. Most of us only know of the club supporters we see on the telly, chanting their lungs out in the streets, but being silenced in the stands.

The supporters of the Premier League have changed drastically over the years. Today’s Premier League fan culture is a hodgepodge of fans from all over the globe supporting a club they’ve probably known for maybe 10 years tops. That’s not to say new fans are a bad thing; far from it. But if there’s one thing that used to make British football so intriguing, it was the fans.

Starting with the 1960s, a British subculture know as ‘casual’ culture was born. These were supporters who supported their club, but instead of wearing their club’s shirt to the match, they brought their news fashions to the football terraces instead (back when terrace football was still the rage).

The 1970s were followed by a mod revival that was brought on by Liverpool fans who introduced the rest of England to European fashions that they acquired while following the club at their European Cup quarter final in France against St. Etienne. Those expensive European and Italian designer clothes they were wearing when they came home were most likely looted from stores during violent outbreaks that were commonplace when supporters travelled abroad. It was just part of the culture and the times.

To get these designer clothes, football supporters travell abroad to the outer most reaches to get them by any means possible; or in some cased, find a spot that sold counterfit luxury goods that looked dead-on to the original. Soon enough, grafters from the Northwest of England were travelling abroad on a consistent basis, immersing themselves in new cultures, music, and closthing styles. Some came back after the buzz had worn off; others decided to stay and make a new life for themselves.

This is where Ian Hough comes in to the picture. Hough is a writer from Manchester who grew up in the ‘casual’ culture and saw it first hand. His first book, Perry Boys, detailed the “casual hooligan trend from its origins on northwest England’s terraces to its later metamorphisis into the rave/’Madchester’ culture.”

For so many of us who never grew up with the sport and are still novices to the history of the game in Britain, Hough’s first book gives us a great idea of what it was like growing up during the height of hooliganism is the country.

After his first book came out to great reviews, Hough decided to take his Perry Boys story a bit farther. His new book called Perry Boys Abroad takes a look at the Perry Boys from Hough’s first book; only this time Hough chronicles his own abroad experiences chasing in the height on Manchester’s changing fashions.

But Hough isn’t the only voice in this book. He takes the time to sit down and talk with these Northwest England grafters who made a life for themselves doing all kinds of legal (and sometimes illegal) work to live a different life in the outer corners of the world. This book isn’t so much about the ‘casual’ culture (most of which was centered around fighting at footbal match) at home, but rather what the culture did when they went abroad.

Like Hough said, “if you think casual culture was limited to fighting at football matches, think again.” I was amazed to read how these men gave up everything they knew for the chance to live a life as a relative vagabond, going from country to country, exploring everything they possibly could.

“Post-rave Brits,” as Hough calls them in his book, are few and far between these days. They truly are a dying breed that chased a different lifestyle most of today’s generation would never go after. But for those rare few who still exist in such places as Mexico, America, and Thailand, Hough allows them the chance to tell their story. And I can assure you it’s a story worth reading about.

Ian Hough is a hidden gem when it comes to writers who know British culture. Whilst there are plenty of people out there who can write a book about Manchester United’s history, there are very few who can write about the culture and history of those who sat and witnessed club such as Manchester United in the flesh, and lived to tell the stories in a way that brings you back to your childhood.

If you’ve never heard of the ‘casual’ culture, I emplore you to read Hough’s work to get a better idea of what it was like to live in the Northwest of England (Liverpool and Manchester played an intergal role) during the ‘casual’ culture.  There’s more beyond the history of the game than just the football on the pitch. The lads in this book lived a life most of us will never experience. But there’s one way you can live vicariously through their stories, and that’s by reading Hough’s new book.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Favourite exceprt from the book: “Replica football kits were a new fetish item back then. Being poor in 1977, Christmas was my one hope of ever owning one. I remember nervously scrutinising the only red home shirt I ever had like it was a lunar astronaut suit. As the crackers and glasses of sherry made the rounds, I couldn’t believe I’d finally managed it. Mentally obsessed by that stadium and feeling unworthy of the colours, I made my trembling way into the world of Manchester United. I was branded for life, penned in behind those red railings with the other animals, my heart heald aloft on a roasting rod, sacrificed to the immortals who stroked that white leather pill about the park.”

Perry Boys Abroad can be purchased on Amazon.co.uk for £5.99.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

The football betting dictionary is here to help novice and experienced bettors understand the terms and odds associated with sports gambling. If you’re new to betting, please make sure you take a look at this page and familiarise yourself with these terms and odds before you place your first bet.

We hope the terms and odds descriptions prove to be a valuable tool in the coming months and years.

What is spread betting?

Any of various types of wagering on the outcome of an event, where the pay-off is based on the accuracy of the wager, rather than a simple “win or lose” outcome, which is known as fixed-odds or money-line betting. A spread is a range of outcomes, and the bet is whether the outcome will be above or below the spread. Spread betting has been a major growth market in the UK in recent years, with the number of gamblers heading towards one million. Spread betting carries a high level of risk, with potential losses or gains far in excess of the original money wagered. In the UK, spread betting is regulated by the Financial Services Authority rather than the Gambling Commission. (via Wikipedia)

Introduction to betting odds

There are three different betting odds currently being used today. The first is the European format (decimal odds), the second is the UK format (fractional odds), and the third is the American format (moneyline odds).

The European format is favoured in continental Europe, Canada, and Australia. They are the ratio of the full payout to the stake, in a decimal format. Decimal odds of 2.00 are an even bet. UK format (fractional odds) are favoured by British bookmakers. They are the ratio of the amount won to the stake. Fractional odds of 1/1 are an even bet. US format odds are favoured in the United States. They are the amount won on a 100 stake when positive and the stake needed to win 100 when negative. US odds of 100 are an even bet. (via Wikipedia)

Here’s an idea what each looks like:

Conversion Formulas

To put all of this into simple terms: If Liverpool are +100 to beat Chelsea at Anfield, that would mean you’d need to place a £10 bet to win £10. The odds are essentially even money on your return. But if Liverpool -200 to beat Sunderland, that would mean you’d need place a £20 bet to win £10. The higher the odds on the favourite, the more money you’d need to stake on them to make a profit. That’s why it’s also more profitable to find an underdog that has good value. (We’ll discuss value later on.)

Betting Systems

Betting systems are derived from bettors who think they’ve found a loophole in the betting system. They might bet Hull City when their odds are at 3/2 or 2/1, or they could bet against Reading when they’re playing away. There really is no set system to go by.

The best way to come up with a system is to bet small for a couple of months and track your bets and trends. If you notice that you’re winning when you bet on Liverpool, take a look at their odds and figure if they’re winning at a particular price. You may just find a system that works for you by using a pen and paper to track every wager you make.

Chasing

The term is one you never want to see associated with your name! Chasing is when someone (who most likely had been winning up until a recent bad bet) tries to make the money they lost on a previous bet back on the subsequent bet. The bet is usually larger than the original one, and most likely ends up hurting them in the longterm.

Chasing can unfortunately led to losing even more more and on some occasions, can lead you to losing more than you can afford. NEVER let it get to this point.

To combat chasing, make sure you have a money management plan in place.

Money Management

The most important term in the betting dictionary. Without money management, a bettor has a higher chance of losing their money in the first week compared to someone with a management system.

Assume for a second that you put £100 in a new account. When you place bets starting out, you should never make a bet that’s more than 10% of your bankroll (the amount of money in your account). Assuming you place a £10 bet at +100 odds (10% of your bankroll) and win, that would mean you could place a max bet of £11 the next time around. Mind you, that means you can place a MAX wager of that amount. You can always place less.

Now if you lost that first bet you’d then have to pull back on the 10% rule and make a bet of half that (5%) the next time around. The goal would then be to build the account back up to £100 with smaller bets that won’t get you in a bigger hole.

Once you build the account up, you’d then find a number where you’d either cashout half of the winnings or change your bet percentage. Remember that the bankroll percentage can change based on your ability and the funds in your account.

Live Betting

The newest form of betting around. It allows you to place a bet whilst the game is going on. Instead of placing a bet prior to the match, you can instead place in-game where the odds will fluctuate. Everything from Tennis to Football is now available for live betting.

Why is it worth doing live betting or a regular before match bet? Well the odds can change, meaning that you may be able to get great odds on a club if they go down a goal. For instance: Manchester United may be a goal down at the half to Fulham with odds of 2/1 to win the match.

The odds on Manchester United winning the match from the start was, say, 1/2. Now you’ve essentially got the chance to pick Manchester United at a bargain price for them to win the match and come away with a tidy profit. If United come out and score to open the half, that would most likely drop the odds. The flow of the game can change the odds in an instant. Novice bettors should go to a betting site like BWIN to watch how the odds move before placing a bet.

The problem with live betting is that one can lose a lot more money if they place a bet and the game changes a second later. That leaves live bettors open to the chance of losing more money than they bargained for from the start. Instead of placing one bet, you can place as many as you want. That can be a problem if you starting chasing your losses.

How to compare football betting odds

Imagine football betting odds are different brands of beer at the liquor store. You walk in and take a look at all of them and notice that they range in prices from high to low depending on the brand new and quality. Just like brands of beer, betting odds tend to range from higher to lower prices depending on where you go to look for them.

Whilst one book may have the odds at 2/7 for Brazil to win the Confederations Cup, another may have them at 1/4. Right there it would be better to place a bet with the book that’s offering 2/7 odds because it would allow you to bet less to win more money.

Football-data does a great job giving you the lines from a multitude of books. The only problem with finding the best betting lines is that you’ll most likely have to open a couple of accounts. As you grow as a bettor, you’ll notice which books give you the best lines for favourites and underdogs. Those books will become you go-to books in the future. You’ll notice that the best and most experienced bettor around will “line shop” for the best possible price.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Paddy Power Overview

Paddy Power has been known for one thing, and one thing only for the longest time: fantastic promotions. You can always rely on the biggest Irish bookmaker around to give bettors a tidy sum of free money when they need it most. But that’s not all Paddy Power is being known for these days.

Aside from the great promotions, the site is now offering even better odds starting with last season. Not only that, but they offer some amazing betting outcomes that we’ll get to in the best of section, after the jump. Overall, you’d be mad not to open an account with one of the biggest bookmakers around.

The Best of Paddy Power

So what makes Paddy Power such a good book? Here are five reasons why you should consider betting with this bookmaker:

1) Expected Outcomes: I promise you’ll never see this at another book: Imagine betting on a match and watching Manchester United dominate the play, only to see them lose 1-0 on a gift own goal in the 90th minute. You bet on a draw for the match, but instead you get the shaft. Paddy Power has a “justice payout” where they pay out based on what they think should have happened, as well as paying out for the actual result.

Now name me another book who does this? I think it’s a brilliant idea.

2) Large Withdrawals: I’m going to assume that you’re going to be winning big at Paddy Power in the future. Knowing this, I’d imagine you’ll be withdrawing large sums in the near future, right? Well if so, be sure to notice Paddy Power’s giant withdrawal limits that allow you to take out up to £2500 per day. That’s a very big limit!

3) Variety and Fun: You have more than enough options with regards to betting on various football matches. But the one thing I do enjoy about the site is their novelty bets. For instance: you could place on punt on the sex of Rooney’s child, as well as when it would be born. Whilst these bets sound silly, they do add to the fun a betting.

4) Money-back Specials: The seems to offer these on a fairly consistent basis during the year. Check back on their site once you’ve opened up an account to see if you qualify for a money-back deal. That’s free money back in your account. How is that not a good thing?

5) The Lines: Paddy Power has taken a look at their previous lines compared to those of other bookmakers and decided to make a change. They now offer competitive lines that usually come out near the top (or at the top) when compared to lines from some of the top bookmakers. I commend them for making this change and giving bettors some fantastic lines for the big matches.

Paddy Power Accepted Currencies:

Just two currencies make it really easy to bet with ease at Paddy Power.

British Pound, Euro.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

William Hill Overview

There are very few betting sites who do it with as much class and professionalism as William Hill. If there’s one thing that makes the site so reputable, it’s the fact that their offices are located right in the UK. As opposed to most betting sites that are offshore, WH is a local bookmaker with deep roots in many British sports – most importantly, the Premier League.

Besides the feeling of betting with a site that’s close to home, WH also has a quality online customer service group that’s second to none. Please note: they don’t have a customer service phone line. Regardless, you can feel at ease when you bet with a quality book like Will Hill.

The Best of William Hill

So what makes William Hill such a good book? Here are five reasons why you should consider betting with this bookmaker:

1) Ease of Use: I’m tired of betting sites claiming they’re easy to use and have great sign-up bonuses, only to find out that whilst the bonus may be great, their site is a load of tosh! WH is clean, has a minimal, easy-to-use toolbar that allows you to page through the games of the day, as well as a quick betting bar that allows you to make a wager in record time.

2) Live Betting: Sure, they may not have the live betting quality of Betfair; but then again, who does? WH gives you ample sports to bet on, including the option to wager on the horses, tennis, and of course football. Their football in-game betting is quality and is up to the minute with the match. I’d imagine you’d find it hard to locate a bookmaker with a better in-game betting section.

3) Currency Options: Like it says, WH gives you multiple currency to open an account. And whilst I wouldn’t say it’s the biggest reason to bet at WH, I can assure you it’s one of the most important. You don’t want to be left waiting to see your funds end up in your account two days later; and I’m certain you’d never see that at WH. It doesn’t matter what country you’re from, they’ve got your currency covered.

4) Extras: OK, so the most important thing to look at when you pick a book is their rating (based on a site like SBR), and of course the lines they offer. But if you’re like me, you probably enjoy the gimmicks that come along with some of the better sites. WH isn’t any different. They offer Racing TV, available for a selection of races once you have placed a £5 minimum bet on. You can watch the races from the comfort of your computer. Also, the Betlive TV Diary, an extremely useful television schedule for upcoming sports events, comes in handy when you want a peek at the week ahead. Also, there’s a live scores feed that’s updated every minute for multiple sports.

5) The Lines: Sometimes a book’s name tends to overshadow one big issue that’s most important of all: the lines. When a book gets too big, it sometimes has a tendency to inflate lines due to the fact that they think people will stay hang around because they’re one of the bigger books. I can assure you WH has quality lines for one of the bigger bookmakers, and that, more than anything, is the most important thing of all when you’re placing a wager.

William Hill Accepted Currencies:

Don’t be fooled by other book touting multiple currencies! William Hill allows you the option of being able to bet and deposit money with ease.

The following currencies are accepted: British Pounds, Euro, US Dollar, Australian Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Swiss Franc, Danish Krone, Hong Kong Dollar, Japanese Yen, Swedish Krona, Singapore Dollar.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Betfair Overview

It’s easy to see why Betfair is one of the best books on the market. Fair prices, loads of live betting, and a quality support staff make this the top dog amongst bookmakers with in-game betting. But Betfair goes beyond the typical bookmaker mould — in actuality they’re more of a betting exchange. What’s the difference?

Well a betting exchange is where all bets are placed by users, who either want to bet for a selection (back it) or against it (lay it). That means you get options when betting at Betfair — something you don’t get at other bookmakers. Instead of being forced to pick a team, you get increased options in backing a club, or laying against them. I can assure you options are a good thing!

The Best of Betfair

So what makes Betfair such a good book? Here are five reasons why you should punt with this betting exchange:

1) Best Betting Odds: Take a look at any other book around and compare betting odds for a moment. I’d imagine you’ll see Betfair near or at the top when it comes to having the most competitive lines for every league. So how is that possible? Well it’s due to the fact that the site is a betting exchange, and with betting exchanges bettors get to make the lines.

Now the catch is you need someone to lay for or against your bet, so you’ll need to make the lines somewhat competitive, but if there’s something that should entice bettors, it’s the thought of being able to play the role of the bookmaker. Not only that, but the low odds means you’ll be able to bet and lay less money to win. The exclusion of the vig is something that should have every quality punter in the world betting at Betfair.

2) Easy Layout: If you couldn’t tell already, I’m a big proponent of betting sites with minimal fuss and ease of use. Who wants to put money in an account at a betting and then struggle to figure out how to place a proper wager? I know I don’t.

The left hand toolbar gives you an easy idea of the sports Betfair allows you to wager on, as well as search toolbar that gives you the ability to search for your event via club name, etc. Plus — and this is the biggest one of all — the site is quick to load. No more frustration trying to place a bet minutes before a big match and getting lag from the site because everyone else is betting. I’ve used the site during peak in-game matches and have never had an issue.

3) Currency Options: I mentioned this below, but I think it needs mentioning again: the currency options at Betfair are the best around. Betting from Sweden and need to add money to your account? Betfair takes the Krona. Not only that, but it takes away from having to go a backwards way and place the bet by changing currencies.

They take the mess out of the whole process.

4) No Limit Stakes: Think you’ve got a great idea on who’s gonna win a match? Are you willing to bet your whole load on it? Well unlike other sites, Betfair allows you to go no limit style, meaning you can bet as much as you’re willing to win/lose. While that can be good or bad depending on the outcome, I can assure you some books have a limit on your bet size.

5) Live Betting: Ever wished midway through a match that you could have placed a punt on a particular club? Well now you can in the middle of the match. Betfair is the best in the game at taking bets during the middle of the match. They have odds on everything from the number of red/yellows cards, all the way down to corner kicks. You can also take the conventional route and just bet on a winner…

Either way you can bet in-game and enjoy the match at the same time. I highly recommend in-game betting for more advanced bettors as you can lose money fairly quickly if you don’t know what you’re doing.

http://ads.betfair.com/redirect.aspx?id=bid=2280;pid=7966;zid=0;pbg=0;cid=0;ctcid=0;redirecturl=http://adfarm.mediaplex.com/ad/ck/6730-60881-22624-21?pid=7966&bid=2280&mpt=713200982821PM2138

Betfair’s Accepted Currencies:

Don’t be fooled by other book touting multiple currencies! Betfair allows you the option of being able to bet and deposit money with ease. I don’t tout quality books unless they have easy options to deposit funds. I can assure you Betfair is all about ease of use.

The following currencies are accepted: UK Sterling, Euro, US Dollar, Hong Kong Dollar, Australian Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Danish Krone, Norwegian Krone, Swedish, Singapore Dollar

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Can Kaka, Ronaldo and Benzema co-exist on the same football pitch?

The Peace Cup returns to the summer football schedule with the fourth edition of the event hosted by Spain. The first three Peace Cup’s were played in South Korea, and the event is usually played every other year.

This year’s marquee story will of course be the addition of Real Madrid to the Peace Cup. The Spanish giants have been in the news all season with the addition of Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema to the squad. The moves by Florentino Perez were made in the hopes of building a new version of the Galacticos for the future. The tournament will give viewers the chance to see just how well the three superstars play when they’re on the same team.

Aston Villa, Juventus and Sevilla will try topple Madrid and show the rest of the world that the richest squad in football isn’t worth the hype.

2009 Peace Cup Venues

6 venues will serve as hosts for this year’s event.

Madrid, Spain
Santiago Bernabeu, 80,354

Seville, Spain
La Cartuja, 57,619

Seville, Spain
Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, 45,500

Malaga, Spain
La Rosaleda, 28,963

Jerez, Spain
Chapin, 20,300

Huelva, Spain
Estadio Colombino, 13,000

Spain is of course hosting this year’s Peace Cup, and two of the venues being used house some of Spain’s best clubs (Sevilla and Real Madrid). The venues range in size from 13,000 seats, all the way up to 80,354.

Peace Cup 2009 Fixtures

The Peace Cup commences on 24 July, followed by the semi-final round on 31 July. The final will be played at La Cartuja in Seville, Spain, on 2 August.

Group A

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Sevilla	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Juventus	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

2009-07-24 22:30	Sevilla	–	Juventus	La Cartuja, Seville

2009-07-26 20:30	Sevilla	–	Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma	Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville

2009-07-28 20:30	Juventus	–	Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma	Chapín, Jerez

Group B

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Real Madrid	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
LDU Quito	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Al-Ittihad	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

2009-07-24 20:30	LDU Quito	–	Al-Ittihad	Chapín, Jerez

2009-07-26 22:30	Real Madrid	–	Al-Ittihad	Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid

2009-07-28 22:30	Real Madrid	–	LDU Quito	Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid

Group C

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Málaga	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Aston Villa	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Atlante	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

2009-07-25 22:30	Málaga	–	Aston Villa	La Rosaleda, Málaga

2009-07-27 20:30	Málaga	–	Atlante	La Rosaleda, Málaga

2009-07-29 20:30	Aston Villa	–	Atlante	La Rosaleda, Málaga

Group D

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Lyon	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Beşiktaş	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Porto	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

2009-07-25 20:30	Lyon	–	Beşiktaş	Estadio Colombino, Huelva

2009-07-27 22:30	Lyon	–	Porto	Estadio Colombino, Huelva

2009-07-29 22:30	Beşiktaş	–	Porto	Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville

Final Round

Semi Finals

Third Place

Final

2009 Peace Cup Predictions

Rules: The winner from each group will advance to the semi-final round. From there, the winner of each semi-final will advance to the final, with the losing clubs advancing to the Third Place match.

Group A: Sevilla, Juventus, Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
Group B: Real Madrid, LDU Quito, Al-Ittihad
Group C: Malaga, Aston Villa, Atlante
Group D: Lyon, Besiktas, Porto

In Group A I fully expect the winner of the Sevilla/Juve match to advance to the semi-final round. It’s going to be hard to choose one over the other based on the fact that you really can’t predict who will be starting, so I’ll take Sevilla to advance with the home stadium behind them.

In Group B should be the most entertaining of the tournament. I’m sure the sponsors and tournament officials are over the moon knowing they’ll get the chance to showcase the most talked about club in the world. Ronaldo and Kaka should play, as should Benzema. I think you’ll see a squad that’s just trying to find their groove before the league campaign starts. Regardless, I think Real Madrid is a lock to advance.

In Group C look for Aston Villa to advance out of this group. The last time the Peace Cup was played back in 2007, Bolton managed to make it all the way to the final against Lyon. Whilst I wouldn’t say English clubs have a knack for making it to the final round, I will say that Villa’s style of play (and the English style in general) should prove to be too much for Malaga and Atlante.

In Group D look for 2007 Champions, Lyon, to advance to the semi-final round. Porto and Besiktas should prove to be great foils for a club that will surely be looking for a new identity without star striker Karim Benzema.

Predicted Semifinals: Juventus v Real Madrid and Aston Villa v Lyon

Predicted Final: The first semi-final should be an absolute cracker, with Real Madrid showcasing their superstar talent against Juve. I’ll take Real Madrid to get past one of the great keepers in the world (Buffon) and make it to the final with some considerable flare.

From there I think you’ll see a tough battle between Aston Villa and Lyon. Whilst I’d love to see Lyon go up against Benzema in the final, I think Villa’s duo of Agbonlahor and Young should prove to be too much for Lyon to handle.

Once again, I think you’ll see an English team in the final for the second straight time. Look for Real Madrid to push the tempo early and often and grab a goal in the first half match. From there I think you’ll see Villa press and give up on the counter late in the match. Whilst I really like Young against Madrid’s defence, I think Ronaldo, Kaka, Benzema, and the rest of the Madrid squad will prove to be too much for Villa’s backline.

Madrid’s summer splurge pays dividens with a summer Cup victory.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

During yesterday’s unveiling of Kaka, Real Madrid sporting director, Jorge Valdano, was questioned about the possibility of the Madrid club splurging for another big name this summer, after being linked with Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema, amongst others.

“We do not discard the possibility that in the next few hours, something could happen,” Valdano stated to a packed press room. It looks like he wasn’t kidding.

Just a few weeks removed from the announcement of Madrid’s swoop for Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo, the La Liga club is once again back in the headlines, splashing the cash and signing up another massive name for next season. That massive name is, of course, Lyon striker Karim Benzema.

Benzema, who wasn’t keen on a summer move until recently, gave his seal of approval to the transfer this afternoon in a move that’s rumoured to be worth £30m (the fee could rise to £35.2m). Lyon were adamant that the striker would only be leaving this summer if a “crazy offer” came their way. It only took Real Madrid a couple of days to come up with the funds for such an offer.

“We needed to make a quick decision and we decided to let Karim go where he wanted,” Lyon coach Claude Puel told reporters.

“It’s an important decision for him with a year to go before the World Cup,” Puel added. “We are losing a high quality player and we know how much Lyon owe him but he needed a new challenge and he is, I believe, strong enough to face it.”

The addition of another offensive threat means Real Madrid are officially the new Galáctico’s. There is still the rumour floating around that Madrid will take Ribery off the market in the coming weeks to end what would be considered the most unbelievable summer haul is football history. You could almost debate it’s the greatest in sports history even without the addition of Ribery.

The move also has implications for other clubs, most notably Manchester United, who were still chasing the striker for his signature this week. Benzema’s move now means Sir Alex Ferguson will have to look elsewhere for a young star to fill the void left by Ronaldo and Tevez.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Watch the Gold Cup live online here.

Can the United States win the 2009 Gold Cup?

They managed to turn some heads at the Confederations Cup in South Africa with convincing wins over Spain and Egypt to make it to the their first FIFA final before bowing out to Brazil in a hotly contested final. Whilst the United States didn’t get the trophy they were looking for, they did manage to gain some new found respect.

Tired and most likely a bit weary, United States coach, Bob Bradley, has decided to change things up a bit for the Gold Cup by sending a B squad comprised of young players to defend the CONCACAF Gold Cup trophy for a third straight year. Bradley’s squad will take the pitch against 11 other CONCACAF countries on 3 July in stadiums located around the United States.

This year’s tournament will also mark the fourth time the Gold Cup has been played without guests from other confederations. But even without the addition of guests, the field will still provide a stiff test for countries such as Guadeloupe, Costa Rica, Mexico, and the United States.

2009 Gold Cup Venues

13 venues — the largest in the history of the Gold Cup — will serve as hosts for this year’s event.

Carson, California
Home Depot Center, 27,000

Seattle, Washington
Qwest Field, 67,000

Columbus, Ohio
Columbus Crew Stadium, 22,555

Oakland, California
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, 47,416

Washington, D.C.
RFK Stadium, 45,596

Houston, Texas
Reliant Stadium, 71,500

Miami, Florida
Florida International University Stadium, 20,000

Foxborough, Massachusetts
Gillette Stadium, 68,756

Glendale, Arizona
University of Phoenix Stadium, 63,400

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Lincoln Financial Field, 68,532

Arlington, Texas
Cowboys Stadium, 80,000

Chicago, Illinois
Soldier Field, 61,500

East Rutherford, New Jersey
Giants Stadium, 78,741

A large majority of the stadiums being used for the Cup are currently home to teams in the National Football League (NFL), therefore making it more accessible for large numbers of fans to come and watch the matches. At 80,000 seats, the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium will be the largest venue, while FIU’s stadium at 20,000 will be the smallest.

Based on the list of current stadiums, it’s safe to assume that all countries will have the best amenities possible during their stay in the States. The large number of venues were selected in an effort to give fans from all over the country the chance to watch some of the best teams in the world playing in the high profile event.

Gold Cup 2009 Fixtures

The Group Stage will begin on 3 July, followed by the knockout stage starting on 18 July. The final will be played at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on 26 July.

Group A

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Canada	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Costa Rica	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
El Salvador	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Jamaica	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

3 July 2009 17:00 PDT	Costa Rica	v	El Salvador	The Home Depot Center, Carson

3 July 2009 19:00 PDT	Canada	v	Jamaica	The Home Depot Center, Carson

7 July 2009 19:00 EDT	Jamaica	v	Costa Rica	Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus

7 July 2009 21:00 EDT	Canada	v	El Salvador	Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus

10 July 2009 19:00 EDT	Canada	v	Costa Rica	FIU Stadium, Miami

10 July 2009 21:00 EDT	El Salvador	v	Jamaica	FIU Stadium, Miami

Group B

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Grenada	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Haiti	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Honduras	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
United States	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

4 July 2009 16:00 PDT	Honduras	v	Haiti	Qwest Field, Seattle

4 July 2009 18:00 PDT	Grenada	v	United States	Qwest Field, Seattle

8 July 2009 19:00 EDT	Haiti	v	Grenada	Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington

8 July 2009 21:00 EDT	Honduras	v	United States	Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington

11 July 2009 19:00 EDT	Haiti	v	United States	Gillette Stadium, Foxborough

11 July 2009 21:00 EDT	Honduras	v	Grenada	Gillette Stadium, Foxborough

Group C

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Guadeloupe	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Mexico	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Nicaragua	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Panama	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

5 July 2009 14:00 PDT	Panama	v	Guadeloupe	Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland

5 July 2009 16:00 PDT	Mexico	v	Nicaragua	Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland

9 July 2009 19:00 CDT	Guadeloupe	v	Nicaragua	Reliant Stadium, Houston

9 July 2009 21:00 CDT	Mexico	v	Panama	Reliant Stadium, Houston

12 July 2009 14:00 MST	Panama	v	Nicaragua	University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale

12 July 2009 16:00 MST	Mexico	v	Guadeloupe	University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale

Knockout Round

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Final

(Credit: Wikipedia)

2009 Gold Cup Predictions

Rules: The top two teams from each of the three groups advance to the knockout stage. The two remaining spots in the knockout stage will be reserved for the third places countries from each with the best point total.

Group A: Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Jamaica
Group B: United States, Honduras, Haiti, Grenada
Group C: Guadeloupe, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama

In Group A I expect Costa Riva and Canada to advance to the knockout round. Both countries have great records in the Gold Cup, and I see no reason why that record should stop this year.

In Group B I fully expect the United States to advance to the knockout stage — even with a squad comprised mostly of B squad players (forward Brian Ching and right back Steve Cherundolo are the only regulars in the squad). I’ll take Honduras to pip the rest of the group and advance as well.

In Group C I’d say expect the unexpected. The group is loaded with quality and, as far as I’m concerned, is the group of death in the tournament. Guadeloupe was a semifinalist in 2007, so I’d look for them to get back to the knockout stage again this year. And whilst Mexico is the big name, I’m taking Central American champions, Panama, to move on to the knockout stage.

Look for Mexico and Jamaica to grab the final two spots in the knockout stage based on their point total.

Predicted Semifinals: Costa Rica v United States and Canada v Guadeloupe

Predicted Final: I fully expect the United States to get back to the Gold Cup final for the third straight year. I’d imagine the B squad of the United States will feel like they have something to prove to Bob Bradley and their CONCACAF counterparts.  I’ll take the youthful exuberance  over Costa Rica in the semifinal round. From there I’m expecting a tightly contested affair between Canada and Guadeloupe, two countries with strong French bloodlines. I’ll take Canada in AET.

We’ll see a fantastic final played out in East Rutherford, New Jersey, between the two neighbouring countries. I’d expect the United States to grab an early goal and go on to win their third straight Gold Cup.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News