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Here’s a new article from Yahoo! News Search Results for Football

The Football Association have heaped praise on the Premier League ‘s Howard Webb after he refereed the 2010 World Cup final. Thirty nine year-old Webb has been slammed by Dutch media after flashing 14 yellow cards in Spain’s 1-0 win, sending off the Netherlands’ Everton defender John Heitinga.

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Football Association Officials Praise 2010 World Cup Final Referee Howard Webb

Here’s a good post from World Cup Soccer – South Africa 2010 about “Jong Tae-Se Is Coming To Europe” .

The man who took the world by storm in telling the world he would score against all teams in the Group O’Death and staggered them twice with his brazen show of patriotism by blubbering during the national anthem has done what so many do this time every four years: parlayed the World Cup into a European contract. Only it may not be what you may think.

Jong’s signed for Bochum in the Bundesliga. Excuse that – just relegated Bochum, which means one of the stars of Asian football and someone very, very skilled will be plying his trade in the second division, Bundesliga.2, next year. Not exactly the lotto everyone expects come World Cup time.

(And before anyone gets to it: Jong played – for Kawasaki Frontale – and lived (or lives) in Japan, so he clearly had access to the internet to know that Bochum will not be in the Bundesliga.2 next year.)

Jong’s also setting his goals more modestly nowadays.

“I was gutted when I could not score any goal at the World Cup,” the 26-year-old told reporters at Tokyo’s Narita airport. “I want to vent my frustration in Germany. My target is to score 10 goals a year.”

“My dream is the (English) Premier League,” said Jong, who was born in Japan and played for J-League Kawasaki Frontale after graduating from an ethnic Korean university in Tokyo in 2006.

“I won’t restrain myself just because I am an Asian. I will be assertive both in private life and on the pitch,” he said. “I want to help bring the team back to the first division with confidence.”

To be fair, acclimating yourself to a new continent/league/style of play in the second division is a smart move for many players, but Jong is simply a better player than that.

I’m a big fan of the “thanks for having me but I’m already planning my next move” arrivals of new transfer signees. Or even better, the “thanks for buying me and reportedly making me the highest paid player in the league but I’m going back to my old club first chance I get” – recently perfected by Yaya Toure.

But regardless: Jong is coming to a European league near you. Maybe in 2011, when Bochum get promoted. So get your kleenex ready.

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Jong Tae-Se Is Coming To Europe

Here’s an interesting post from FIFA.com – 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ – News

Uruguay striker Diego Forlan has ruled out ever returning to the Premier League although he insists he has fond memories of his time with Manchester United.

Read the original here:
Forlan rules out English return

Here’s a new post from World Cup Soccer – South Africa 2010 about “Match Review & Highlights: England 1-0 Slovenia” . See more here:
Match Review & Highlights: England 1-0 Slovenia

It wasn’t the greatest England performance of all time, but it was night and day when compared to the struggle against Algeria. Fabio Capello changed tactics and went more 4-4-2, with James Milner wide right instead of Aaron Lennon and Jermain Defoe partnering Wayne Rooney up front instead of Emile Heskey. The result was a livelier, more Premier League style performance from England.

It paid off in the 22nd minute when Milner put a smart cross into the Sloevnian box and Jermain Defoe was lievly enough to meet it.

Milner’s crossing was a constant menace. Proof that wingers don’t need the pace of Aaaron Lennon or Theo Walcott if they’ve got good enough technique to put dangerous balls into the opposition penalty area. It was almost like having David Beckham back on England’s right flank, with added tricks and a more reliable haircut.

England failed to extend their lead, despite looking capable of doing so. Rooney cleverly set up Gerrard for a shot that was saved, and Rooney also saw an impressive strike of his own hit the post after Lampard had chipped him through. They were definitely the better team, but could still have conceded an equalizer in the 68th minute when first Milivoje Novakovic and then Zlatko Dedic had shots blocked by England defenders, before Walter Birsa finally shot wide.

Highlights:

England won’t have been keen to finish second to the USA in Group C, but that’s how it’s ended. Now they face the Group D winner, which we should know very shortly….

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Match Review & Highlights: England 1-0 Slovenia

Here’s an interesting post from World Cup Soccer – South Africa 2010 about “Preview: Nigeria vs. South Korea” .

THE BIG PICTURE
It’s all been getting rather serious in the Nigeria camp, with Sani Kaita reportedly receiving over 1,000 death threats since his sending off against Greece. Nigeria certainly haven’t had the tournament they planned. Both sides have been swept away by the quality of Argentina but a defeat to Greece has angered many Nigerian fans who felt their side should’ve played much, much better against weaker opposition. Fortunately the group remains wide open and both nations stand a chance of going through to the next stage with a win. Argentina are expected to beat Greece so this affectively becomes a second place cup final. It won’t fill Nigeria with confidence that against Asian opposition, only one African side has ever come out victorious in 8 World Cup attempts, with Cameroon beating Saudi Arabia 1-0 in 2002. They should be spurred on by the fact they still have a chance despite two group losses and will keeping everything crossed that Argentina can do them a favour on the final day.

WHAT’S AT STAKE
Group B Qualification Picture


The good news for the Nigerians: Somehow, despite an atrocious tournament, they can still qualify for the knockout stages, and realistically too, with a win here. The bad news: they are without a win in their last seven World Cup matches, losing six of those in the process. If they want to give themselves a genuine chance they have to turn that stat around. They’ll be expecting more from some of their big Premier League stars like Yakubu whilst everyone by now knows what to expect from the South Koreans. They’ll know they can’t rely on Greece to get them a decent result in the other game, so despite a 3 point advantage over the Nigerians, they know just how important a win is themselves.

Bet on Nigeria vs. South Korea

OUR PREDICTION
Despite the romance of Nigeria somehow sneaking through on the final day, I just can’t see them overcoming the South Koreans who are gritty and determined, with a lot of skill to match. They’ll give it a real good go but South Korea will finish 2-1 victors.

FAN RESOURCES

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Nigeria Team Blog | Follow on Facebook | Follow on Twitter Nigeria Football Jerseys | Nigeria Tickets

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South Korea Blog | Follow on Facebook | Follow on Twitter South Korea Jerseys | South Korea Tickets

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Preview: Nigeria vs. South Korea

Premier League table does not lie, explains Merseysiders’ talisman

Steven Gerrard has admitted that he is not surprised by Liverpool’s current lowly league position and has insisted they deserve to be seventh as they have simply not been good enough so far this season.

Rafael Benitez’s side welcome Arsenal to Anfield on Sunday sitting 13 points behind leaders Chelsea having already lost five times in the league this season.

Having also exited the Champions League and the League Cup, it is proving to be a miserable campaign for the Merseysiders and Gerrard has admitted that seventh place is not a false position.

“To me it’s not puzzling at all that we are where we are. The league table never lies and we’re in the position we’re in for a reason,” he told The Sunday People.

“That tells me we haven’t been good enough and consistent enough, so it’s down to myself and the rest of the boys to take responsibility and put that right.

“At the beginning of the season we had the intention of being in the title race from start to finish.

“Unfortunately we’ve had a bad start, but the idea now is to get back to full strength and start moving up the league. I’m confident we can do that. Being in seventh is difficult to take, especially after finishing second last season.”

Victory over Arsene Wenger’s side would go some way to restoring some pride on Merseyside and Gerrard admitted the Reds were desperate to force their way back into the top four.

“But now is not a time to hide. We need to get out there and roll our sleeves up and get on with it. We are responsible for where we are in the league,” he added.

“We need to try to get back into a top-four position as soon as we can, that is now the number one priority for everyone at the club.

“It’s all right looking at why things are happening but we just need to put it right on the pitch.”

However, the midfielder also warned his team that Sunday afternoon’s fixture would be a tough test, against a side he described as one of the best in Europe.

“Because of the start to the season we’ve had, every game is now a massive game, a cup final if you like,” admitted Gerrard.

“Playing against Arsenal is very difficult. They are one of the best teams in Europe for passing the ball very quickly and moving it about, so we have to get about them, press them very high up and force them to make mistakes.”

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