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Villa ruled out as Spain look to Torres to provide Euro 2012 spark

David Villa has been ruled out of Spain’s Euro 2012 campaign, leaving Spain without their all-time record goalscorer. The onus will now fall on the likes of Llorente and of course Torres to step up to the plate and help Spain defend their European Championship crown. The Barcelona forward has failed to prove his fitness…

Champions League Preview: Real and Barca the teams to beat

It seems that in almost every aspect of the game, two clubs dominate the footballing world. They are Spanish super heavyweights Real Madrid and Barcelona. Any team boasting multiple stars is said to echo Real’s Galactico era, while teams – from League Two to the K-League – are said to be a mini-Barcelona. Even the…

Why Can’t the Football World Keep Up With Spain?

As the dust settles on Barcelona’s fantastic 3-1 demolition of Manchester United in the Champions League Final, and the national side recently so effortlessly thumped the United States 4-0, one thing is for certain – Spain are the best footballing nation in the world at this moment in time. Spanish football’s contemporary success is hugely…

USMNT Outclassed by Relentless Spain

When the U.S. scheduled today’s fixture with Spain they likely felt it would be a good tune up for a team destined to fight it out with Mexico for CONCACAF supremacy in the coming weeks. Spain got a brace from Santi Cazorla and goals from Negredo and Fernando Torres to down the host 4-0 ahead of their Gold Cup opener against Canada on Tuesday.

What happened in Boston today was nothing less than a confidence shaker. Playing most of the match with their reserves, the U.S. were undone by a four goal performance from the reigning world champions on the backs of a number of outstanding performances from a mix of Spain’s “A” and “B” level players.

2011 Champions League Final Live Blog: Barcelona – Manchester United

Whichever way the 2011 UEFA Champions League final goes, both of these teams will be remembered as dynasties. Manchester United are playing their third Champions League final in four years, an astonishing testament to consistency and excellence in a competition more often ruled by luck and fate. Domestically, United wrapped up a record 19th first…

2011 Champions League Final Boots

Nike has just released images of the football boots to be worn by players in the Champions League final tomorrow. Wayne Rooney, Andres Iniesta, Pedro, Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique will have their own names, number, ‘FCB vs MUFC’ (alternatively FCB vs FCManUTD) and the date ’28.05.2011′ written on their boots. Iniesta will also have…

Barcelona vs Manchester United – What has changed since 2009?

2008/2009 was all-in-all Barcelona’s season. Pep Guardiola led his childhood club to glory like no other manager had done before him. United on the other hand, weren’t too bad the whole season. They were back again in the UEFA Champions League final to defend the title that they had won last year against Chelsea. 08/09…

Beyond Lionel Messi: An Alternative List of the Top 25 Football Players in the World (10-1)

In my previous article, I argued that the process by which we decide who the world’s best players are has been grossly distorted. A combination of mainstream media hype (backed up with its ‘statistics’ – often little more than a ruse to get people gambling) and a nostalgic longing for the return of the great…

Real Madrid 1-1 Barcelona: Catalans Close in on the Title, But Mourinho’s Men Rejuvenated

Barcelona practically wrapped up La Liga with a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu, but there were few celebrations fron Pep Guardiola’s men as Real Madrid appear to have gained a big psychological advantage going into the three remaining Classicos.

Barca And Inter Dominate UEFA ‘Team Of The Year’ 2010

UEFA have taken the time and good grace to bestow upon us their Team of the Year, and it should come as scant surprise that both Barcelona and Inter Milan dominate proceedings – with 8 of the final 11 slots being occupied by their employees, along with a further 7 of the 44 ‘unsuccessful’ nominees.