So to Shizuoka in 2002 and Gelsenkirchen in 2006 we must add Bloemfontein in 2010, as England’s golden generation now face up to the reality of another exit from a tournament. Whatever gold they were made of, it was probably a fool’s one.

Whereas in 2002 it was a freak of a goal which separated Sven Goran Eriksson’s team from the eventual champions and in 2006 it was that dreaded gambit of a penalty shootout. Here, it was a rout, a humiliation against team which was technically and tactically far superior.

While the central debate from the game may stem around Frank Lampard’s disallowed goal, in truth it mattered little. England were lucky then to be merely one goal behind, and in the final reckoning, a three goal margin was simply flattering on them.

It was hardly the way in which fine servants to English football such as Lampard, Steven Gerrard and John Terry, not to mention the absent Rio Ferdinand, Michael Owen and the watching David Beckham, will have wanted their time to end.

But the message, ringing painfully loud and clear was that change-both big and small-must come, as England’s golden generation must walk into the sunset, with the promise of brighter times ahead for their clubs teams.

Meanwhile England, must look forward, not that they are alone-they have hardly fared worse than the likes of Italy and France in South Africa, yet the need for change is perhaps even more pressing.

Quite where this leaves Capello is up for debate. In recent history this has been the worst performance by England in a tournament, and for that the Italian will receive more than his fair share of blame.

Yet his record, this recent blemish aside, is outstanding. Were England to act on impulse and dismiss the Italian, few decent options present themselves, and would England really have fared any better under somebody else anyway?

Meanwhile in terms of personnel, the situation darkens. Whereas both Italy and France have the relative luxury of a deep and talented pool of players, the fact that England have remained relatively unchanged in personnel over the past six years is because no-one as yet has challenged their position.

Whereas Germany were able to dismantle a side which reached the Euro 2008 final and rebuild a brand new team in the space of two years, England are still waiting for a new team after ten.

Yet at some point the cycle must break, and players of promise, whether ready or not, must be chosen, and more importantly persevered with, regardless of the initial result.

While the likes of Wayne Rooney and Glen Johnson will remain (though England fans may question it on recent form), plus squad men like Aaron Lennon, Joe Hart, James Milner and Michael Dawson provide a nucleus from which to build.

Others such as Theo Walcott, Tom Huddlestone, Adam Johnson and Gabriel Agbonlahor must be given more exposure, to determine whether they will, if ever, be up to the rigours of international football.

Add in the longer term potential of Arsenal duo Kieran Gibbs and Jack Wilshere, Jack Rodwell, Gary Cahill and Daniel Sturridge, and you have a potential base from which to rebuild from Euro 2012.

Though both the team, and Capello, will have to embrace a greater sense of tactical freedom than the basic remit of 4-4-2, a formation whose days of prominence have long since ended.

Whether they have what it takes to surpass the achievement, or underachievement, of their predecessors is something that both England fans and Capello will be keen to discover over the coming months.

But this remains a significant day, a significant time. England’s team, which was packed with players who grew up on the world stage before our very eyes, will now be broken up, as English football finally moves on.

Their high point was, and will remain, that night in Munich nine years ago, when Michael Owen wreaked havoc against a shell-shocked German team.

At that stage, a young team genuinely appeared set on the path to greatness, yet that performance perhaps set the bar unrealistically high. So perhaps it was fitting that a young German team that called time on them.

The future, both for those players and England, is far from certain, though quite how we remember this golden generation, be it as over or underachievers, could well depend on what English football does next.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Perhaps the most prolific and finest exporter of footballing talent in the world will always be Brazil. No country that has managed to remain a bastion for footballing excellence for over 50 years deserves to be considered anything less.

Yet, if Brazil have the tradition to deserve such an accolade, make no mistake that at the moment the quality of talent being produced from the academies of Spain deserve to push them mighty close, as they continue to produce prodigious talents and at a quite prolific rate.

Spain has always been a producer of sublime footballing talents, from the dynamism of Rafael ‘Pichichi’ Aranzadi and Ricardo Zamora in the 1930s through to the development of the likes of Emilio Butragueno, Andoni Zubizarretta and Fernando Hierro in the 1980s and of course, the goalscorer supreme, Raul in the 1990s.

Yet even by these standards, the sheer number and quality of talents being produced by Spain is quite unprecedented, as is reflected by the dominance of their national team over the international game and, the presence of the likes of Carlos Puyol, Iker Casillas, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, David Villa and Fernando Torres at the top table of world football.

But the development of this identifiable brand of prodigious Spanish football talent shows no signs of abating, and is reflected throughout the domestic game in Spain which continues to produce some immensely gifted individual talents which should ensure that Spain’s success continues into the next generation.

The latest to snatch the headlines was the eye-catching performance of Racing Santander’s young midfielder Sergio Canales-an 18 year old midfielder whose two-goal performance, and two wonder goals no less, was at the heartbeat of his team’s 2-1 victory over Champions League chasers Sevilla.

A prodigious talent at youth levels, his mature arrival into the Spanish league for Racing Santander has left pundits and players alike purring, and proclaiming their “new star.” Manager Miguel Angel Portugal merely insisted: “Sergio Canales is talented in many positions.” But one writer was so moved by his performance he said: “It’s not often you get to witness the birth of a true star, still less a Spanish one.”

And with the likes of Real Madrid and Chelsea strongly interested in the wunderkind, who is out of contract at the end of the season, Portugal admitted: “His future is up to the board. It would be best for Racing if he stayed until he matures, but his family will have their own thoughts.”

Yet Canales arrival was in keeping with a tradition of emerging young Spanish talents, even this season. The story of the early season was of Athletic Bilbao’s 16-year old starlet Iker Muniain, a record breaker for his club, and one whose close control and nimble speed should ensure a bright future.

His team-mate, Bilbao legend Joseba Etxeberria, was struck by his potential. He said: A footballer of this class integrates themselves very well – football only has one language, and Iker has mastered it. Muniain will certainly be a quality player, not just for this team. If he continues along this path, I believe he will become a world class player.”

But looking beyond the prodigies, their development is perhaps the most eye-catching for the sheer maturity displayed by these youngsters, but it is hardly not in keeping with the current pattern in the Spanish league. A number of the break out players in the Spanish league this season have been emerging young Spaniards.

From the continued development of Juan Mata, working in conjunction with Spanish international team-mates David Villa and David Silva at Valencia, to the star performances of Jesus Navas on the Sevilla right flank, the emerging young talents of La Liga continue to be the homegrown ones, and it is these who are favourites to break into the Spanish national team.

Yet looking beyond the more obvious international talents, there are talents aplenty who are rapidly developing at apace, and are taking positions of seniority at their clubs even at a young age.

For all the problems which Atletico Madrid have endured this season, the performances of young goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo suggest that they do not need to worry about a goalkeeper any time soon, yet his path to the national team is barred by Iker Casillas and Pepe Reina. Not to mention the likes of Diego Lopez and Victor Valdes, now is not the time to be a young Spanish goalkeeper.

Then there is Pedro, whose goalscoring exploits at Barcelona have proved to be more than useful to Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering team, and seen him become the first player to score in six different competitions in one season.

His rise has been rapid, though not as rapid as that of his team-mate Sergio Busquets, but when Vicente Del Bosque recently stated: “Pedro is a possible World Cup player with or without the goal he scored in the Club World Cup final against Estudiantes”few disputed it, such has been his rise to the top.

There are others, and plenty of them. Honourable nods should go to Osasuna’s 20-year old full-back Cesar Azpilicueta who has attracted plenty of attention from some of Europe’s bigger teams.

Another should go to Esteban Granero-one young player whose reputation has been enhanced by the Galacticos project at Real Madrid. And of course Barcelona’s forgotten prodigy Bojan Krkic-whose career has stalled somewhat after a stellar beginning, yet one whose talent should never be doubted.

One thing which is beyond doubt is that regardless of whether this generation of Spanish footballers can manage to emulate their illustrious predecessors or not, the Spanish league will continue to churn out players of the highest quality. Spain’s conveyor belt of talent shows no sign of slowing down.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

In the wake of Ireland’s heartbreaking aggregate defeat to France, where Thierry Henry’s handballed assist for William Gallas to score an equaliser in extra time denied a team who had performed magnificently to haul themselves level, we pay tribute to five of the greatest footballing heartbreakers in recent memory.

We start off, perhaps predictably, with the greatest last-gasp turnaround of events in recent footballing history.

1) Bayern Munich – Champions League Final 1999 v Manchester United

Only the most hardened of hearts, or the most ardent of Manchester United fans could not have felt some sympathy for Bayern Munich in 1999 as a three minute spell right at the death wrenched arguably the biggest match in Europe away from their grasp and handed it to a brilliant Manchester United side.

This was undoubtedly the year of Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United. He had built a brilliant team, with Peter Schmeichel, Jaap Stam, Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole all arguably at the peak of their powers. They had managed to clinch victory in the league over a brilliant Arsenal team only on the final day courtesy of a home victory over Tottenham Hotspur, and then brushed aside Newcastle United with ease to claim the FA Cup. Now with the Champions League final, they stood on the brink of a historic treble and for Ferguson it was the chance to win Europe’s biggest prize for the first time.

Yet in their way was Bayern Munich, and by no means a poor Munich team. Oliver Kahn, Samuel Kuffour, Patrik Andersson, Stefan Effenberg, Giovanne Elber, Paulo Sergio and Mehmet Scholl were all immensely talented individuals, who would go on to enjoy future success in Europe’s premier club competion, and were masterminded as a team by another legend of management, Ottmar Hitzfeld.

It was they who took the lead, as a Mario Basler free kick after five minutes gave the underdogs the lead. The response from United was muted, and it was Bayern Munich who were the dominant side-as they twice hit the crossbar, and were denied by Peter Schmeichel, on his final appearance for the club.

Gradually as the second half grew on, they appeared to be heading towards inevitable football. Ferguson, desparate to turn the tide threw on Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, yet still to no avail. Then in stoppage time, Bayern Munich’s rearguard failed to clear a Beckham corner and the ball was eventually hooked in by Sheringham for United’s equaliser.

After 85 minutes of the lead, Bayern appeared shell-shocked, whereas United were roused, and two minutes later, another Beckham corner was glanced on by Sheringham and Solskjaer, a master predator, reacted quickest to volley home to seal the win and cap a spellbinding late comeback for United.

For Bayern it was the cruellest of blows-85 minutes of potential glory, had gone up in smokes in the space of two minutes. At full-time it was all too much for Ghanaian defender Samuel Kuffour who broke down in tears on the turf, it was all joy for United but heartbreak for Bayern.

2) England – Euro 96 Semi-Final v Germany 1996

Another England v Germany encounter, which was in it’s own unique way a heartbreaker. In truth, it was either this or the tears of Gazza in 1990-both were in their own special way symbolic for a generation of English football fans. Yet it was the defeat of England’s Euro 96 team which stood out as the most poignant.

Euro 96 was, in many ways, a wonderful time to be an English football fan. The song Three Lions became the soundtrack of the summer, English football showed it had the stadia, the passion and the infrastructure to put on a wonderful show of football. And the home nation finally had a team which they could be proud of. In many ways it remains a halcyon time for English football-no English team has come closer to glory since. Alan Shearer emerged as an international class striker, David Seaman became a national hero for his penalty saving heroics, England had a team which played good, attractive football-epitomised by their glorious 4-1 defeat of Holland which really kicked the mood into overdrive.

Yet the tournament will always be remembered for that night in Wembley, and the curse of the penalty shoot out. England had started so well against the Germans, with Shearer, on his way to becoming the tournaments top scorer, heading in an early corner. Yet this was itself a Germany team packed with some high class players. Matthias Sammer, European player of the year, was a high class sweeper, Jurgen Klinsmann-a goalscorer English crowds had seen at first hand, and the playmaking talents of Andreas Moller and Thomas Hassler.

It was not long before the German’s levelled, taking advantage of the enforced absence of Gary Neville, the German’s levelled through Kuntz. England then proceeded to dominate much of the match, without being able to force home their advantage. Extra time came, and suddenly England had two golden opportunities-yet failed to take either. Darren Anderton, managing to reach a Steve Mcmanaman cross could only divert it against a post. Then six minutes later, Paul Gascoigne failed by mere inches to get on the end of an Alan Shearer cross with the goal gaping. In the midst of these chances, Kuntz had risen highest the head the ball in from a corner only for it to be disallowed for a push.

So it was onto a penalty shoot-out, and memories of six years early were hanging in the air. This time however, none of the five mandatory men from either team missed, so it went to sudden death. Up stepped Gareth Southgate, the centre half who had a wonderful tournament, but his spot-kick was saved by Andreas Kopke. It was up to Andreas Moller to score the winning penalty, which he did so with utter aplomb-and the much clichéd German efficiency.

For England it was penalty heartbreak once again, for England fans, this will always be remembered as the time when football almost came home.

3) Italy – World Cup Final 1994 v Brazil

Fate can be a cruel mistress at times, take the case of Roberto Baggio for instance. Here is a man whose career was the envy of many millions of men around the world, whose footballing talents dwarf those of more vaunted, more rewarded individuals, a man whose footballing skills have delighted us for his very unique skill, flair and sheer ability. Yet this is a man whose career will always be remembered for one very sad reason-the World Cup final 1994.

The tragedy of this is that Baggio had been so good. The 1994 World Cup is not one of the more fondly remembered World Cups, yet Baggio had performed wonders to galvanise an Italian team who had succumbed to Ireland in their first match into a unit capable of winning the tournament. He was a player who appeared destined for greatness, already a World Player of the Year, and in the semi-final where his two goals took Italy to the final, he had scored an exquisite goal to give the Italians the lead.

Yet Baggio was not alone in this Italian team, it was a team which boasted the likes of Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, Demetrio Albertini and Gianfranco Zola, but Baggio was the star. In the final they would face Brazil-a functional side compared with the legendary selecao of 1970 and 1982, but a side more than capable of winning-and possessing in Romario, a striker of their own capable of moments of sheer genius.

The final itself was a poor event-a non event. Both sides-built with defence in mind, and relying on their respective stars-each needing a goal to become joint level scorers for the tournament-for inspiration, cancelled each other out. The veteran Franco Baresi rolled back the years with a magnificent display alongside Paolo Maldini, while for Brazil, the vastly underrated defensive pair of Aldair and Marcio Santos were equally superb.

Neither side could fashion chances, with Romario and Baggio subdued, and so it came to penalties. The outstanding Baresi missed first, as did Marcio Santos, before Taffarel saved from the Italian Massaro and then Dunga, Brazil’s captain, put them in front. Then it was down to Baggio, Italy’s saviour throughout the tournament, to put them in the lead. His miss was spectacular, as Brazil rejoiced around him, Baggio could only hang his head and think of what so easily could have been.

4) Liverpool – League Championship 1989 v Arsenal

The most dramatic finish to a league championship ever they say, the most pulsating finale to a league title there has ever been, and while for Arsenal it was one of the greatest nights in their clubs history, as with any story, there are winners and there are losers, and for Liverpool this was a heart breaker like no other in English football.

In fairness, these two had been the standout teams in the league. Arsenal, managed by the iron will of George Graham, whose style as a player was firmly swapped for a cold efficiency and dourness as a manager which made his Arsenal team so successful and built on youth team products like Tony Adams and David Rocastle, and bargain buys such as Lee Dixon and Nigel Winterburn.

Liverpool on the other hand were managed by their own incarnation of the messiah, Kenny Dalglish, whose skills as a player had seemingly transferred into management. His was a team which was settled, and still capable of playing some exhilarating football-as any team which boasted the likes of John Barnes, Ray Houghton, Peter Beardsley John Aldridge and Ian Rush naturally would.

Theirs had been a troubled season, with the Hillsborough disaster, yet one which had still brought them success with an emotional FA Cup victory, and they were looking to add the league title to their haul.

Liverpool had in truth set up this finale with a stirring comeback after being 19 points behind Arsenal in February, and they entered this match knowing that anything but a defeat by two goals or more would be sufficient for them to triumph.
The game itself was an even match, with Arsenal’s strong defence of Adams, Bould and O’Leary stifling any threat from Liverpool’s vaunted attacking team, but they appeared to be offering little in the way of attack. Then Alan Smith, the league’s top scorer and a much underrated striker, headed home a Winterburn freekick.

Suddenly the game was alive, one more goal from other team would be enough to win it. Chances came and went for both sides but still there was no sign of another goal-and it was advantage Liverpool as the game headed into extra time. Then Lee Dixon launched a long ball downfield, Smith flicked it onto Thomas, bursting through from midfield, holding off two challenges and then his own nerves, to flick the ball past the advancing Grobbelaar to give Arsenal their second goal.

Cue delirium, Arsenal had done it, they had not only secured the league title, but had broken a fifteen year hoodoo at Anfield. After such a long season, the destination of the league title had been decided two minutes from the end of the season, for Arsenal it was sweet victory, but for Liverpool it was the most heart-breaking of defeats.

5) Manchester United – FA Cup Final 1979 v Arsenal

We started with Manchester United so it’s only fitting that we finish with them. This was an FA Cup final which goes down as a classic, only on the virtue of a mad five minute spell, but what a spell. Five minutes of madness, three goals, potentially three different outcomes, and a wonderful end to what in truth had been a poor match.

It had proved to be Arsenal’s afternoon, for eighty five minutes of this match they had been the dominant team, their dominance exemplified by the superlative skills of Irish playmaker Liam Brady whose touch, skill and passing range was a joy to behold in a game devoid of skill and technique.

It was Brady who set Arsenal on their way, as he instigated the move which saw Brian Talbot finish put the Gunners into the lead, and then it was he who accelerated past two defenders to cross for Frank Stapleton to head home neatly to double their advantage.

United were in total disarray, and never appeared likely to get back into the match, as Arsenal’s defence-led by Pat Rice their captain looked like holding firm. Yet five minutes from the end, and seemingly coasting to victory, Arsenal suddenly let things slip. A Coppell freekick was swept back into the middle by Joe Jordan, which allowed Gordon McQueen to score from close range, and suddenly this match which had been for so long in Arsenal’s grasp was suddenly in the balance.

Arsenal’s concentration had snapped and their nerves were frayed, two minutes later Sammy McIlroy received a pass from Coppell, wriggled away from David O’Leary and Steve Walford to fire his shot past the outstretched hand of Pat Jennings. Three second half minutes, two goals and it was game on once again.

Or was it? They say when their team really needs them, the great players come to the fore, and for Liam Brady here was his time. In truth in the record books, it registers him as neither scoring the goal or even assisting it, but his part in the goal was as crucial as any other. Arsenal were by this point stunned, the momentum and the match had deserted them. Yet Brady had other ideas.

Picking up the ball in his own half, he ran at the United defence, veering one way then the other to deceive the men in Red, as he approached the penalty area, he rolled the ball perfectly to Graham Rix on the left wing. Rix barely had to check his stride so accurate was the pass, and his cross was hanging high to the backpost. The United keeper Gary Bailey stretched out a hand but couldn’t get a touch and arriving unchecked was Alan Sunderland to put the ball into an empty net.

Suddenly the game was Arsenal’s once again, they had lost it, and won it all over again. For United it was a real heartbreaking moment, they had seemingly been out of the match, been resuscitated back into it, and then were firmly, and finally put out of it once again. It was a brilliant finish to a poor match, but a sickening blow for United who had fought back so bravely, only to be denied at the last.

Also Read:
Knockout Kings: 10 of the best European comebacks
When did football last made you cry with joy (or despair)?
Daily Mail’s Footballing Heartbreakers list.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

After years of waiting for a promising young player to develop, Wales have perhaps discovered that young players, just like buses, often come all at once. Their 3-0 victory over Scotland was ample demonstration of the burgeoning potential of players coming through for the Welsh, and while there is a long way to go, as with any journey, the hope must be that Saturday can be a starting point for something special.

An average of 22, a team full of players who should have their best years in front of them, and a stand out performance from perhaps the best young British central midfielder, this was the sort of performance which will have excited a footballing fraternity starved of success, arguably since the halcyon days of Mark Hughes’ management.

The star of the show was Aaron Ramsey, who few would now doubt is perhaps the finest player Wales have produced since Ryan Giggs. While their styles may differ vastly, the promise is perhaps just as considerable, just ask Giggs’ current team-mate Darren Fletcher.

For it was he who was brushed off was relative ease as Ramsey marched through to score Wales’ second. Yet the goal itself simply rounded off a performance which moved Gary Speed, himself a Welsh midfield stalwart of many campaigns, to declare him “a fantastic footballer.” While his team-mate David Edwards said: “Aaron is not 19 until Christmas, so he’s going to be a great player. He’s going to be one of the best in Europe when he gets into his prime.”

It merely confirmed what many Welsh fans have known, that Wales’ future will very much be built around their precocious midfielder. Just earlier on that very day Ryan Giggs had said: “He is an exciting talent and I hope Wales can build their side around him, he is that sort of central midfield player and is a future Wales captain.”

For all Ramsey’s qualities, he is by no means the only promising young talent the Welsh are developing even if he is the standout one.

As Wales’ results have declined, it has been a testing time for John Toshack, a manager not unused to challenges having worked under the mad-cap Jesus Gil at Atletico Madrid. Yet he deserves credit for persevering with his strategy of blooding young players despite the pressure of results.

Calls for him to resign have been frequent, yet Toshack has always kept to the partyline that playing the young players will be best for the future. In truth you can sympathise with Toshack for sticking with such a strategy.

It is to forget that when he took over the Welsh team he inherited had peaked under Mark Hughes, yet with key protagonists such as Ryan Giggs, Gary Speed, Paul Jones and John Hartson all retiring, Toshack realised early that there would be a short-fall. While the bitter row with Robbie Savage did little to enhance his image or popularity, it spelt out the message he was trying to send.

Now, while the young players have slowly but surely emerged, Toshack must hope that the results must follow. The issues with inconsistency of performance, commonplace among young players is something which Toshack himself has admitted is “frustrating”, the belief in what he is trying to do has grown. Even his arch-nemesis Savage said recently “He’s taking Welsh football in the right direction with the kids and I can see that now.”

These “kids” as Savage calls them, are a bright bunch-not all of whom featured against Scotland. Wayne Hennessey’s performances with Wolves show that he can look forward to a long career as a Premier League goalkeeper, Gareth Bale, despite his problems at Spurs both remain young enough to return the better, while Joe Ledley continues to be one of the best players in Britain currently plying his trade outside the top flight. Plus the likes of Joe Allen and Simon Church are two of the brighter prospects currently being schooled in the rigorous domain of the Championship.

When you consider that the Welsh were missing Jack Collison, whose decision to opt for Wales over England will cause some English fans some regret should he continue his rapid development, along with James Collins, Craig Bellamy, Simon Davies and Chris Gunter-all players with Premier League experience, it points to a pool of talents which is growing fast.

Add in the potential defensive solidity of Ryan Shawcross, the English under 21 player who the Welsh are attempting to entice with the promise of regular international football, and you have a potent mix of Premier League experience and exciting young talent.

Certainly all signs point to a brighter future for the Welsh, which is more than could be said of Scotland on Saturday. Yet it is only 11 years since Scotland last qualified for an international tournament, while for Wales it has been a long 51 years since that 1958 World Cup quarter-final defeat against a Pele-inspired Brazil.

After 51 long years Welsh fans will hope that more days like Saturday are on the horizon.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

As the eyes of the footballing world switch to the glittering international events, no not the friendlies, that are the World Cup Play-offs to see just who will take final spots in the world’s biggest football tournament, so we take a look back over some of the finest play-offs in World Cup history.

1) 1997: Iran v Australia November 22nd and 29th

A game which marked unbridled joy for the victors and complete despair for the losers, it cued jubilant scenes in Iran and once more left an English manager, in this case Terry Venables, tasting the rough end of international football’s own peculiar brand of justice.

These two teams were widely recognised as two of the best in the Asia/Oceania sections, containing some of the finest talents which either side have ever produced. For Iran, Ali Daei, Mehdi Mahdavikia and Khodadad Azizi, one of the best Asian players of the nineties, they had an attacking unit capable of causing plenty of problems.

While for Australia, Mark Viduka and 17-year old Harry Kewell were up and coming young players set for brighter futures, Mark Bosnich was a proven Premiership performer at Aston Villa and players like Stan Lazaridis, Craig Moore and Tony Vidmar would become names familiar to British football fans.

Australia had entered this match in prime form, having built up a then world record 14 match winning spree while Iran had lost to Japan to finish third in the qualifying campaign and for them this was the last chance at World Cup glory.

The first match took place in front of an estimated crowd of 128,000 in the Azadi Stadium in Tehran and ended 1-1, but now with the game taking place in front of 75,000 raucous Australian fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground the odds were stacked firmly in favour of the Socceroos.

They quickly took a 2-0 lead as Harry Kewell swept home Aurelio Vidmar’s cross and then Vidmar himself got in on the act. It appeared there was little to stop Australia from qualifying for France 98, and a radio commentator at this point famously announced: “Pack your bags, we’re off to France!”

Yet Iran hit back, thanks in part to a five-minute delay caused by a spectator invading the pitch. After 71 minutes, having enjoyed little attacking threat of note, they scored through Karim Bagheri who was set up by the dangerous Azizi. Suddenly Australia were rocking, having looked so secure their confidence was shattered and four minutes later Azizi raced onto a through-ball and slotted past Bosnich.

The MCG fell silent, Australia’s confidence was gone and so was their World Cup dream as Iran proceeded to hold out for the draw which put them through to the final. The atmosphere among the home fans was equivalent to that found in a graveyard, TV pundit Johnny Warren openly wept on air and Harry Kewell would later recall it was “painful.”

For Iran the scene was sheer jubilation, the team were greeted by 70,000 fans upon their return to Tehran and they would go on to enjoy one of their greatest sporting moments at that World Cup when they beat the USA 2-1. Meanwhile for Australia in the short-term their disappointment was short-lived as they reached the 1997 Confederations Cup final before losing 6-0 to the mighty Brazil.

2) 1997: Hungary v Yugoslavia – October 29th and November 15th

Football fans in Hungary have not had much to cheer about over the past fifty years, not since the days of Puskas and Kocsis and the Golden Generation who came so close to World Cup glory have they had a team worth shouting about. The days of glory have gone, and since then it is as if the whole of football in Hungary has been about conducting a post-mortem into what happened to that Golden Generation. There have, in essence, been many more bad days than good days, and on this very night it was a particularly bad day.

Yugoslavia were by no means a poor side, any team which contains talents such as Savo Milosevic, Sinisa Mihajlovic and Predrag Mijatovic-who was emerging off the back of some sumptuous performances for Real Madrid, could hardly be termed awful. They were a team who at times could play like the very best, unfortunately for Hungary this was one of those times.
Seven goals, only one in reply, and a home crowd who were silenced, and stunned perhaps into submission. A goal down after one minute, four down after 26. This match wasn’t just finished after those 26 minutes, the tie-all 164 minutes that remained of it-was and Hungary’s World Cup hopes lay in ruins.

Branko Brnovics early goal, a mishit volley which somehow crept in, was a hammerblow to their chances which then all but disappeared once Miroslav Djukic was left unmarked to head home a corner then Dejan Savicevic escaped his marker to fire home. The fourth goal-after only 26 minutes was sublime, future Chelsea midfielder Slavisa Jokanovic drew in two defenders before slipping it between them to Predrag Mijatovic. He advanced on the area and then fired home a shot which even Ferenc Puskas would have been proud of.

Mijatovic then added another before half-time opportunistically finishing after two Hungarian defenders failed to clear, and then completed his hat-trick in the second half by beating two men and slotting the ball home. Mijatovic was then substituted only 54 minutes in, but his replacement Savo Milosevic completed the rout nine minutes later.

There was late solace for Hungary with a late goal from Bela Illis, which was a distinct afterthought given the rout which had come before. Hungary, shell-shocked then travelled to Belgrade to suffer another masterclass from the Yugoslavians as they lost 5-0, with Mijatovic grabbing 4 goals, to take the aggregate score over two legs to 12-1.

3) 2005: Turkey v Switzerland – November 12th and 16th

We move quite literally from the sublime to the ridiculous. This match gets its own distinct niche in history not for the match itself, although it was a tight affair which Switzerland edged on away goals 4-4, but for its aftermath.

In the aftermath of Turkey’s 4-2 victory Swiss player Benjamin Huggel appeared to kick Mehmet Ozdelik, a member of the Turkish backroom staff as they were leaving the pitch after the staff member attempted to trip Swiss midfielder Valon Behrami. Then Turkish defender Alpay was said to have kicked Swiss striker Marco Streller. Later reports emerged that a Swiss player, Stephane Grichting had to be taken to hospital.

The Swiss members of staff on the bench later alleged they were attacked by stewards afterwards in the stadium tunnel. “It was unbelievable,” Burgener told French sports daily L’Equipe.

“I was punched in the face and was hit on the hip. I was beaten up by stewards. When I saw four or five guys come and beat me while they were supposed to protect me, I got really scared.”

The scenes overshadowed a gripping encounter, where Turkey-who had lost 2-0 in the first leg in Switzerland-fought hard to put themselves back into World Cup contention before having it cruelly ripped away.

They suffered an early blow when Alexander Frei scored a penalty after 2 minutes after Alpay’s handball, which gave Switzerland a decisive away goal. But the Turks hit back through Tuncay Sanli who scored two first half headers-and then a Necati Ates’ penalty brought Turkey level and needing one goal to qualify for Germany.

But then Marco Streller struck a decisive blow to put the Swiss back in front after 84 minutes and despite a late Tuncay goal which wrapped up his hat-trick, it was enough for the Turks. Yet it was the events which took place after full-time which will make this match something to remember.

4) 2001: Slovenia v Romania – November 10th and 14th

A tense tight encounter by two of Eastern Europe’s football’s finest is the next in our list. In theory these two had entered World Cup qualifying as two of the surprise packages in Euro 2000 and were heavily fancied to qualify, but found themselves facing off against one another in the playoffs.

Slovenia caused a surprise by managing to qualify second in a group containing Russia, Yugoslavia and Switzerland while Romania finished second to the much vaunted Italy. Both sides contained fine individual talents, Romania managed by former national hero Gheorghe Hagi contained players such as Adrian Mutu, Christian Chivu and Cosmin Contra. While Slovenia, featuring the country’s finest ever player Zlatko Zahovic had managed to sneak through scoring nine goals and conceding just eight but managed to go through qualifying without losing.

The first leg in Slovenia was a tight affair, Marius Niculae gave the away team the lead with an early strike. But then Tottenham flop Milenko Acimovic headed Slovenia level and then a wonderful goal by Milan Osterc gave Slovenia a lead which they clung onto for dear life. The game finished 2-1, but few gave them much chance of getting a result in Romania and qualifying.

Yet as football history tells us, you should never write anyone off. A tense first half ended goalless, further increasing the pressure on the home team, and then ten minutes into the second half, Mladen Rudonja-the pacey Slovenian winger managed to grab a priceless goal for the Slovenes-his first goal in 55 international games.

This was a vital goal, and despite a Cosmin Contra goal and a late rally it was ultimately decisive. Slovenia took up their place in Japan and South Korea in 2002. The result forced Romanian hero Hagi to resign as manager as he reflected on his side’s inability to qualify, however under a year later his counterpart that very day in Romania Sretko Katanec was ousted as manager amidst a clash with star man Zahovic as Slovenia crashed out of the World Cup they had worked so hard to qualify for.

5) 1997: Ukraine v Croatia – October 29th and November 15th

Another clash of two of Eastern Europe’s finest, as two of the most promising ‘young’ teams in Europe at the time clashed in 1997. As they currently rank among two of the best countries in international football it is easy to forget that these international teams are themselves two of the younger teams-having only existed since the fall of Communism in the late 1980s.

Yet by the late 1990s both teams were building teams which would lay the roots for the success which both countries have enjoyed over the decade since. Croatia may well have had one of the finest teams Eastern Europe has ever produced, and had served notice of their intent in Euro 1996 when they defeated reigning champions Denmark-a match which saw a wondergoal from their master striker Davor Suker.

Suker himself was still in residence and at the peak of his powers, preparing to embark on a wonderful season with Real Madrid culminating in a Champions League win. Alongside him were Zvonomir Boban, Goran Vlaovic, Robert Prosinecki, Aljosa Asanovic and current Croatia manager Slaven Bilic as part of a group widely recognised as Croatia’s “Golden Generation.”

Meanwhile for Ukraine, they were a team being built around a fine Dynamo Kiev team, with exciting young strikers Andrei Shevchenko and Sergei Rebrov emerging and the qualities of defenders Oleg Luzhny, Oleksandr Holovko and Vyacheslav Vashchuk.

Both teams had finished second to much fancied opposition in their groups, but had been impressive qualifiers with Ukraine only losing twice-away from home at Portugal and Germany. While Croatia disappointingly lost their decisive match in Copenhagen 3-1 to Denmark condemning them to the lottery of a playoff.

The first game was played in the intimidating Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb and was easily won by Croatia-who were virtually unbeatable at home. Goals from Slaven Bilic and a fine strike from the gifted Goran Vlaovic beat a Ukraine team who were badly missing their young star Shevchenko. Croatia had dominated the match, but the second leg in Kiev would be a different matter.

Shevchenko, restored to the starting line-up, gave Ukraine hope with a goal after four minutes, but a deflected goal by Juventus’ classy forward Alen Boksic effectively sealed the tie for Croatia as they got the precious away goal to seal the win.

The tie itself was a fairly one-sided tie, but its importance cannot be underestimated as it served notice of what was to come for both teams.

For Ukraine, beaten but unbowed, it was a sign that they were on the brink of emerging as a footballing force once again. Meanwhile for Croatia, qualification took them to France 98 where they would enjoy their finest ever footballing moment in finishing in third place in the tournament-only losing to eventual champions France.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

This weekend plays host to arguably the match of the Premier League season when Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea take on reigning champions Manchester United in what could be reasonably termed, a championship “six-pointer”.

To honour this occasion, we look back over some of the finest games between these two giants of English football:

You can catch the Soccerlens preview for the Chelsea – Manchester United game and our predictions in this week’s podcast.

1) Manchester United 1-3 Chelsea: Tuesday May 10th 2005

This was the game which not so much underlined the dominance of Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea in his first season, as highlighted it was a fluorescent marker with stars alongside.

His team was built like a machine, driven by a mixture of ego, talent and plain hard graft. Mourinho had turned promising talents such as John Terry, Frank Lampard, Arjen Robben and Damien Duff into winners with his own brand of brilliant self-regard and willingness to put the noses of the established order out of place.

This was a match that highlighted the gap which Mourinho had managed to construct in his first season in England and that of the previously unbeatable top two of Arsenal and Manchester United. At the beginning of the season this will have been viewed as a litmus test for Chelsea, but the fact that it wasn’t said it all about this team. They entered this match searching for their 29th win of the season and a Premier League record 94 points-and they duly got it.

United were forced to put up a guard of honour to the new champions, a galling feat for born winners such as Roy Keane and Gary Neville, and then proceeded to demonstrate why they had been bested by the champions. On the face of it, United were fielding a full strength line-up including the attacking totems Cristiano Ronaldo, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Wayne Rooney whereas Chelsea were without John Terry and Petr Cech.

Yet for the next 90 minutes United were put distinctly on their proverbial backside. Despite an early typical Van Nistelrooy poached goal, Chelsea struck back through a Tiago effort from long range. Gudjohnsen then struck again, beating Roy Carroll to the ball to score, before a Joe Cole strike sealed the win. That they could win so easily away at their title rivals with a weakened team was poignant, and was a sign of things to come. For the next two years Chelsea were to be the top dogs-this win signified that Chelsea really had arrived.

2) Manchester United 4-0 Chelsea: FA Cup Final 1994 Saturday 14th 1994

Certain games deserve to go down in the annals of history, as much for the score and the match itself, but also for the players and the teams that take part. This match deserves to be remembered so simply for the sheer majesty of Manchester United’s double-winning team of the 93/94 season.

With a mind of the great teams in United history that had come before them, and the sheer brilliance which was to follow they will perhaps never be remembered as fondly as many of United’s teams, but their place in helping establish Manchester United’s hegemony of English football for the next decade and a half deserves credit. This was a team packed with stars, established pros and burgeoning young talents who would go on to light up English football.

The starting line-up held the giant, both in size and ability, Peter Schmeichel, vastly underrated fullbacks Irwin and Parker, the doughty defensive partnership of Bruce and Pallister which was nearing an end and the combative midfield duo of Roy Keane and the Guv’nor Paul Ince. In attack they held future Chelsea striker Mark Hughes, the prolific winger Andrei Kanchelskis (whose time at United remains curiously underrated) and the livewire, soon to be legendary, Ryan Giggs. Yet the real star was Eric Cantona, whose performance in this match prompted the Guardian to say: “Eric the Baton Rouge demonstrated his match-winning qualities in a different way. Chelsea were victims of a guillotine motion. There was no appeal.”

Indeed there wasn’t. Chelsea were not a bad team, in fact they had beaten United twice already that season, but on this day they could not live with them. Gavin Peacock, scorer of the two winning goals against them in their league meetings that year, was sadly anonymous. Yet the game hinged on six second half minutes.

That was all it took for Eric Cantona to take the game away from Chelsea, courtesy of two penalties, one deserved for a Newton foul on Giggs, the other a dubious call against Frank Sinclair-who at this time was reckoned as one of the brighter defensive talents in England (oh how long ago that was!) against Andrei Kanchelskis. After that, there was little hope for Chelsea, Sinclair slipped to allow Hughes through to score before a late Brian McClair goal simply added further gloss to the scoreline. In hindsight, it has merely further enhanced their legend.

3) Chelsea 5-0 Manchester United: Sunday October 3rd 1999

Despite being the dominant force throughout the English footballing epoch which was the 1990s, on certain occasions when Manchester United lost, they lost in earth-shattering inept manners. Certain occasions specifically spring to mind, the 6-3 loss away at Southampton-when Le Tissier and Ostenstad ran riot, that 5-0 defeat at St James’ Park which Newcastle fans probably still remember as well as yesterday. Then there was this day, a game where Manchester United, having been the top dogs throughout the decade, were taught a lesson, and such was the difference between the teams that the paragon of virtue and even-handedness Sir Alex Ferguson was forced to admit: “we were well-beaten.”

In fairness, there is no disgrace in losing to what should be remembered as a potentially brilliant, yet ultimately underachieving Chelsea team. This was a team who could partner Gianfranco Zola-in his illustrious pomp, with £10million signing Chris Sutton, up front. Could boast one of the best attacking midfielders in the league in Gustavo Poyet, working in tandem with a World Cup winning captain in Didier Deschamps. This was hardly a who’s who of football mediocrity.

But United’s team wasn’t bad either, they were on the back of arguably the club’s greatest season ever, and featured the deadly duo of Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke, David Beckham back when he had pace and was probably at his most effective, Paul Scholes-emerging as a star for club and country, and Jaap Stam in defence-who at that time was probably the world’s best centre half. Yet there was one vital difference between this United team, and the one which had Treble triumphed-this was between the sticks, and a name who will forever send shivers down the fans of United fans everywhere, Massimo Taibi.

It took all of 27 seconds for Taibi’s haplessness to impinge on a potentially crucial match for United, as he charged of his line, clashed with Dennis Irwin and allowed Gustavo Poyet to score. Then a Ferrer cross allowed Chris Sutton to head home his first goal for the club, and just to underline how everything was going Chelsea’s way Nicky Butt was sent off 23 minutes for kicking Dennis Wise right under the referee’s nose.

From then on in, Chelsea merely sauntered to victory. Poyet underlined his class by reacting first to grab his third from close range, then two minutes later Henning Berg’s own goal merely rubbed salt in United’s open wounds, and then ten minutes from the end Graeme Le Saux set Jody Morris away to shoot between Taibi’s legs and send the Stamford Bridge into raptures.

4) Chelsea 5-6 Manchester United: 16th October 1954

Just to prove that there was life before the Premier League, no matter how much certain sports broadcasters (naming no names) may have you believe there weren’t. Here was a game from back in the days when footballers were normal everyday people who spent most of their days in proper jobs such as plumbing and carpentry, well at least that’s what your grandparents said.

Yet this match proved that for sheer excitement, it could compete with anything which British football has since produced. This was a game between a Chelsea team who would emerge from the season as league champions and a Manchester United team who would ultimately emerge from their chrysalis as the Busby Babes, perhaps the most celebrated group of young players that British football has ever seen.

A number of that group were playing in this match, Duncan Edwards-the versatile, multiskilled player who was a boy built like a man, and was so good that Bobby Charlton once described him as “the only player that made me feel inferior.” Then there was Dennis Viollet the lightning quick striker, Bill Foulkes and David Pegg.

Yet on this day they were coming up against a Chelsea team who were in the process of embarking on a title-winning campaign. Led by Ted Drake, himself a fine striker for Arsenal and England, and spearheaded by England international, club captain and top-scorer Roy Bentley-who scored 21 goals that year. The team itself was a team devoid of stars, but was noteworthy for featuring future England manager Ron Greenwood in their ranks.

But on this day this was a pulsating match dominated by the powerful Manchester United team. They raced into the lead, leading 5-2 at half time, but were pegged back by Chelsea, who made the score 5-3 early on in the second half. United scored again to restore their three goal cushion, before late goals from O’Connell and Jim Lewis set up a grandstand finish. Alas, Chelsea were not to pull the game back to 6-6, and making one of the finest comebacks of all time. However one Chelsea man could look back on the match fondly, as the aforementioned O’Connell grabbed a hat-trick-as an amateur inside left making his debut for the club.

5) Chelsea 1-1 Manchester United (Manchester United win 6-5 on penalties): UEFA Champions League Final: Wednesday 22nd May 2008

Quite simply the mother lode of all Manchester United and Chelsea matches. The quality of this match was not the highest, it was in fact a draw with only two goals scored, and its was played on a pitch and in conditions which were hardly conducive to the greatest of football. But for drama, high stakes and sheer gut-wrenching emotion, this match had it in spades.

This was the match of the top two teams in England being played out for all of Europe to see, as they entered into a heavyweight bout against one another which no-one deserved to lose-especially not in the manner they did.

United, enjoying perhaps the finest season they had seen since the Treble winners of 98/99 were the heavily fancied favourites. They had in Cristiano Ronaldo, a player whose utter dominance over the year was reminiscent of a legendary figure such as a Cruyff or Zidane.

In Ferdinand, Vidic and Evra, three of the finest defenders in the world, in Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez a hard-working strike partnership who troubled defenders the world over, and in Owen Hargreaves, Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick, a midfield blend of energy, passing and measured control which could run any game.

But Chelsea, as they have proved time and time again, are arguably at their most dangerous when they are written off. This was the season which saw off Mourinho, left the club briefly disunited and in disarray, and then introduced an unknown Israeli of little standing and reputation called Avram Grant, who someway, somehow managed to turn their chaotic season around into a three way fight for trophies.

This remained Mourinho’s team, run by Grant, but as formidable as ever. The dominant defence of Terry and Carvalho remained, the energetic Essien was being deployed as a makeshift right-back, Frank Lampard continued to score freely-as he had done so emotionally against Liverpool in the semi-final, and Didier Drogba remained on his day a potential matchwinner.

It was United who struck early, as Michael Essien’s unease at right-back was exploited when Cristiano Ronaldo rose above him to head home a Hargreaves cross. Chelsea struck back with Frank Lampard took advantage of defensive hesitancy to score. Didier Drogba then transformed into the villain of the piece with a lamentable push on Vidic which reduced Chelsea to ten men, yet with neither team able to force a win, penalties came.

Tevez, Ballack, Carrick and Belletti scored before Ronaldo, whose brilliance through the season had saved United, saw his penalty saved by Cech. Lampard, Hargreaves, Ashley Cole and Nani all scored to leave John Terry to step up and stroke home the winning penalty.

Everyone knows what happened next.  Terry’s slip sent the ball wide, brought tears to his eyes, and suddenly let United off the hook. Anderson and Kalou both scored before Giggs put United back in front. Then up stepped Anelka, Van der Sar guessed right, and the rest, as they say, is history.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Athletic Bilbao have enjoyed a notable start to the season, sitting in eighth place in La Liga following the weekend’s 2-2 draw away at Real Valladolid, as Joaquin Caparros has led the team to one of their brighter La Liga starts in recent years.

Caparros, who made his name as Sevilla manager, has constructed a team that is certainly not lacking in quality. Striker Fernando Llorente has been capped by Spain (scoring against England), and has scored seven goals in all competitions this season. Javi Martinez has shown why Rafa Benitez is such a fan, and Andoni Iraola remains one of Spain’s best full backs.

Perhaps the most exciting name to emerge in the Bilbao team is that of a sixteen-year old who is enjoying a dazzling start to his footballing career, Iker Muniain.

Muniain has been breaking records here there and everywhere this season. He became Bilbao’s youngest ever player when he featured against Swiss club, the appropriately named, Young Boys. Then in the return leg a week later, he became, at 16, the club’s youngest ever goal-scorer.

This weekend Muniain managed to break another record, becoming the youngest ever goal-scorer in La Liga as he scored Athletic’s equaliser in their 2-2 draw away at Valladolid, breaking the record, previously held by Xisco Nadal, by 64 days.

Muniain’s arrival has not gone unheralded, recently his team-mate Joseba Etxeberria, himself a teenage star at Bilbao’s rivals Real Sociedad said: “Muniain will certainly be a quality player, not just for this team. If he continues along this path, I believe he will become a world class player.” While the likes of FC Barcelona, Liverpool and Real Madrid are believed to have been tracking him since he was twelve.

Yet the emergence of “the Spanish Messi”, named both for his diminutive stature and similarity in style to the Barcelona star, is further proof of the quality of the Athletic Bilbao cantera. Muniain may be one of the brightest prospects to emerge from their academy, but he is by no means the only player to emerge from the academy in recent years.

The aforementioned Martinez and Iraola have both graduated from the same scheme as Muniain, Francisco Yeste, a Bilbao stalwart for years who featured in the Spain squad in 04/05 did similarly. While the likes of Etxeberria, Urzaiz and Ezquerro, despite being signed from other youth teams, all featured for Spain during their time at San Mames.

While Muniain has a long way to go before he can hope to match some of their illustrious feats, his record-breaking start at Bilbao marks him out as something very special, and demonstrates the quality of player which Athletic Bilbao continue to produce.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Watch live World Cup matches here.

With less than a year to go until the World Cup, England are sitting pretty in their World Cup qualification group. With qualification all but assured, now attentions will turn to who could be in England’s plans for South Africa.

English World Cup squads have a history of featuring late-comers to their squad who go on to play starring roles in their respective tournaments. Think Alan Ball and Nobby Stiles in 1966, who both played key roles in England’s World Cup success yet only came into the team twelve months earlier. Think Paul Gascoigne and David Platt in 1990, the young men who only emerged onto the international scene twelve months previous. Then there is Michael Owen in 1998, whose burst onto the international scene was as rapid as his burst of pace for the goal against Argentina which ultimately proved to be England’s finest moment in the tournament.

So with 12 months to go, perhaps we should assess those players who could be the late-coming, yet ultimately important stars of England’s World Cup squad in South Africa.

1. Joe Hart – Though he has been capped already, Hart has yet to feature on a regular basis for his country. After finding himself frozen out at City, his move to Birmingham City on loan could provide him with the first team action he needs in a World Cup year. A lack of credible first choice alternatives, and a star turn at the under 21 championships-where his presence was sorely missed in the final-have surely boosted his chances of being England’s first choice keeper in South Africa.

2. Kieran Gibbs – Slip ups in Champions League semi-finals aside, Gibbs’ star has long been in the ascendancy. His seamless introduction into Arsenal first team action has impressed many observers, and is reminiscent of England first choice left back Ashley Cole’s emergence almost a decade ago. Another impressive performer in the England under 21 side which reached the final in Sweden, should he gain first team football next season, he could find himself on the plane to South Africa as his Arsenal predecessor’s first choice understudy.

3. Jack Rodwell – Rodwell could possibly be the most laid back 18-year old footballer England has ever produced. Both on and off the pitch, his calm demeanour, and unfussy manner has impressed both fellow players and pundits alike. This style is reflected by his style on the pitch, as for both Everton and England under 21′s he has impressed as a holding midfielder due to his cool positional sense and tidy passing. With Owen Hargreaves’ continued injury woe, Rodwell’s emergence means that the future of English defensive midfielder seems assured.

4. Mark Noble – Perhaps one of the brightest young midfielders in the Premiership, his transformation from bright young hope to first team regular has been a progressive one. A midfielder in the West Ham tradition, Noble melds competitiveness with creativity, and is perhaps the brightest young midfielder to have developed from the West Ham academy since the trio of Carrick, Cole and Lampard. Fine performances have not gone unnoticed at under 21 level, and a consistent season could see him make a late rally into the squad.

5. Daniel Welbeck – Perhaps the first homegrown striker through Ferguson’s time at United who appears to have a genuine chance of becoming a first choice at United, Welbeck’s emergence last season gave both United and England fans a reason to be cheerful. Pacey, yet strongly built-Ferguson believes he could reach 6ft 3in in height, Welbeck has all the attributes to be an England international. Sir Alex Ferguson genuinely believes he could be on the plane for 2010, and history has shown that the United boss is scarcely ever wrong.

6. Micah Richards – While Richards has been ruthlessly discarded by boss Capello, his form over the past 12 months has been a poor reflection on a player who under Steve McLaren appeared set for a long and distinguished international career. On his day, few can match the City defender for strength, pace and power, and should he cut out his defensive errors, he could well force his way into Capello’s plans at either right back or centre half.

7. James Tomkins – Few players can have slipped so seamlessly, or so quietly, under the radar, which will suit West Ham fans down to the ground. His calm assurance, height, and capable defensive diligence has impressed observers at Upton Park and his performances for England’s under 21s have merely highlighted what a capable defender he can be. Capello’s Italian compatriot Gianfranco Zola has tipped his man to be a dark horse for England’s World Cup plans, and he could find himself partnering his West Ham colleague Matthew Upson on the plane to South Africa.

8. Daniel Sturridge – Long talked up as the next white hope of English football, Sturridge’s career has been derailed by injury but a rumoured 10 million pound move to Chelsea this summer could perhaps put his young career back on track. A bright play-making forward, capable of taking and creating goals-should he feature, and score regularly for his new team we could at last see him matching those lofty expectations of him.

9. Michael Mancienne – So he might have been included in a Capello squad previously, but should Mancienne feature in 2010 then it would certainly be a left-field selection. Bright form for his loan teams have excited English fans, but his non-selection by Chelsea has long bemused observers, and appeared to stunt his progress. But with a new coach at Chelsea, and a fan in Capello, perhaps he could play a big part in a big year for both club and country.

10. Gary Cahill – Eyebrows were raised when Aston Villa opted to sell the dominating centre half to Bolton Wanderers. Cahill was widely regarded as one of Villa’s brightest prospects, and his development at Bolton will not have gone unnoticed among Villa fans searching for a replacement for Martin Laursen. Has developed into one of the brightest young centre halves in the Premiership and Bolton have given him additional responsibility which has further added to a game based on defensive steel and aerial prowess. His form has seen him linked with a summer move to Arsenal and he has been discussed as an England prospect, should his fine form continue, he could force himself into the reckoning for the World Cup.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

A gamblers spirit, it is said, is a necessary part of all human endeavour. For a man who by all accounts is a fan of a little gamble, which some, most notably the outspoken Wigan chairman Dave Whelan, have accused of him being too focused on, Michael Owen must appreciate that he must play the odds and take the plunge for his next bet, which could well determine how English football remembers one of it’s favourite sons.

Michael Owen, as a goalscorer and a player, may not be the player he once was, but then he was one of the finest strikers of his generation. It is easy for his recent travails to muddy the waters in that regard.

Not many strikers can boast a record quite like Owen’s, a former European footballer of the year, he played for two of Europe’s finest teams, boasts a career record of 157 goals in 271 starts-less than a goal every other game, and he has thus far scored 40 international goals – hardly the record of a nobody.

Yet that is the situation Owen finds himself in this summer. Out of contract this summer, with his current club Newcastle unwilling to renew his expensive, and hastily arranged contract, Owen has hardly been flooded with offers.

His options have declined so markedly that Owen’s advisors have assembled a dossier, designed to showcase the benefits of signing a player described as “fully fit and capable of playing at Europe’s highest level for several years”, a move which has left Owen’s situation open to ridicule.

The problem Owen’s advisors have is that, regardless of what they put in a glossy brochure, it cannot hide the brutal reality. Owen as a player has a record few could argue with, but it is a record based almost solely on past realities, and though his goal-scoring record at Newcastle was fairly decent (26 goals in 58 league games), he cut a forlorn and ineffective presence for much of his time on Tyneside.

Hence why Owen now stands at the crossroads of his career. One of Europe’s major teams, one guaranteed Champions League football-where Owen sees himself, won’t take a chance on a player who at 29 has little re-sale value, and has not proven himself on the highest stage consistently for at least three years.

So what are his options? Talk of interest from the likes of Aston Villa and Everton has appeared consistently, yet there has been little concrete, and whether Owen would fit into a Villa team who rely on pace, something Owen now lacks, or an Everton team who play with only one striker, remains to be seen.

Perhaps it is a team lower in the league, Hull City have declared an interest, though after his Newcastle experience-and relegation is nice for no-one, would Owen be willing to join a team who came perilously close to replacing his current team in the Championship. While other interest from the nether regions of the Premiership could come in the likes of Sunderland (imagine the furore on Tyneside) or Stoke City, but once again there is little concrete.

Then perhaps he could go abroad, seek to finish the unfinished business from his time at Real Madrid, where he was prolific but unable to force his way ahead of Ronaldo or Raul, two of the finest strikers in football history. Owen himself has admitted that there is interest from abroad, and it is certainly an option for a player who enjoys a good reputation internationally.

Whatever option he chooses, Owen must appreciate that this is a gamble that has to pay off for him, else a glorious career could finish with an inglorious conclusion.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

As the main protagonists of last summer’s transfer sagas settled for early moves in this year’s annual ritual of transfer trials and tribulations so now the next big transfer saga has emerged. How could we forget last years seemingly endless transfer tales involving Gareth Barry and Cristiano Ronaldo, who have (thankfully) prevented a repeat performance by moving to Manchester City and Real Madrid respectively.

Yet this summer it appears that the emerging story which could be dominating the back pages across Europe for much of the summer will concern the future of the French international Franck Ribery.

Ribery, who has arguably been the shining light for Bayern Munich in an otherwise disappointing season is highly regarded around the globe, . His performances for both club and country have been exemplary, and his pacey and skilful, no-nonsense style has certainly not gone unnoticed by some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

His club Bayern Munich admitted that they had been contacted about selling Ribery, with Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge stating: “Real have asked in person, through their president, Florentino Perez, and his adviser, Pedro Jimenez, whether we will talk to them about a deal. We have rejected that request because we have no intention of selling Ribery. Chelsea’s bid has already been reported, and there’s also Manchester United and Barcelona.”

However Rummenigge went on to state that: “We are approaching it calmly, because we are the ones who have the power to make the decision. The amount is irrelevant, there is always going to be the perception that Bayern Munich are trying to push the price up and that there is a certain value at which we’ll have to accept, but we want to keep Ribery. We must do everything to make sure he stays in Munich and I am determined to do this. A player has to respect his contract, in this case until 2011.”

Despite Rummenigge’s comments the level of interest in Ribery is high, and the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, seeking to replace their recently departed Portugeuse winger, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona have been credited with an interest in Ribery, whom many consider to be one of the world’s best attacking players.

Indeed, Sir Alex Ferguson was quoted as saying: “He is fantastic, always moving and incredible energy. He is always going forward but defends a lot too, he would have no problem playing in England.”

While Bayern are keen to keep hold of their star player it is clear that this transfer saga will run and run, regardless of whether Ribery is for sale or not, and we could be hearing the name of Franck Ribery for a long time yet as the next big summer transfer saga appears set to take off.

Who will Ribery play for next season – Chelsea, Manchester United, Barcelona, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich?

From Soccerlens.com - Football News