Arteta pondered England option

Arsenal's Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta has revealed he wanted to play for Fabio Capello's England but was thwarted by a little known FIFA rule

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Arteta, who hails from the city of San Sebastian in the Basque region, has played in England since joining Everton in 2005 and could have turned out for the national side at Euro 2012.

Evra to decide future in summer

Patrice Evra will sit down with Manchester United in the summer and decide whether or not he will stay with the club, according to the player's agent.

Patrice Evra has been linked with a move away.

Evra has been a popular player at Old Trafford ever since joining from AS Monaco in 2006, winning three Premier League titles and a Champions League crown in a successful spell to date. But recent rumours have increasingly linked the left-back with a move away from the club, with Real Madrid the name most frequently mentioned.
The Frenchman's agent, Federico Pastorelo, denied that the 29-year-old has any imminent plans to leave, but admitted it is a possibility that is being considered with his client's contract set to expire in 2012.
"We will sit down in the summer with Manchester United and decide whether he will extend his contract or move on," Pastorelo told Sport.co.uk. "But for the moment there is nothing special to say on the situation
"There has been interest, and I have read about Real Madrid but really the only official interest was from Inter Milan last summer. We had a long chat with Sir Alex Ferguson and it was decided he would stay in Manchester. His contract runs out in the summer of 2012 and there he is concentrating and focused on this season."

2010 World Cup South Africa - Qualifiers Update

The road to the 19th World Cup (which as we all know is being held in South Africa in June 2010) is becoming that bit shorter both in terms of knowing who the 32 participating countries will be, and the time that we have to wait for the thrill of the matches to kick off!
Check out our guide to the 2010 World Cup Qualifiers update...
The 2010 World Cup runs for a month and will feature footballing nations from all over the globe competing for the mantle of World Champions. A total of 64 matches will be played at 9 venues throughout the country. The following teams have officially qualified for the most prestigious tournament in the football world, which kicks off on June 11th 2010:
European Qualifiers
Italy (2006 World Champions), Germany, Spain, Denmark, England, Serbia, Switzerland, Slovakia.
African Qualifiers
South Africa (Host Nation), Ivory Coast, Ghana.
South America Qualifiers
Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Chile
Central America/North America Qualifiers
USA, Mexico, Honduras
Asia/Oceania Qualifiers
Japan, Australia, North Korea, South Korea
There are 9 more places in the tournament up for grabs, and to this end there will be a number of play off matches in the European zone on the 14th and 18th November so as to ascertain the final four European qualifiers. The matches were decided by a draw at FIFA headquarters on the 19th October and are as follows:
France v Republic of Ireland
Russia v Slovenia
Portugal v Bosnia Herzegovina
Ukraine v Greece
Matches to be played on a home and away basis, with aggregate scores to determine the winners.
Three more teams from the African zone have still to qualify, and the final round of qualifying matches will be played in November 2009.
The final place for the Asia/Oceania region will be decided by the play off match between Bahrain and New Zealand.
The final qualifying place at South Africa 2010 will be decided by the match between the 5th place team in the South America zone and the 4th place team in the Central/North American zone. Uruguay will face Costa Rica in a play off match on a home and away basis.
December 4th 2009 sees the World Cup Qualifying draw taking place at the Cape Town Confederation Centre.

Never Concede From a Corner Again!

This is a virtual fool-proof exercise to prevent your team conceding goals from corners. Corners are generally a good opportunity for any team to score a goal, but at a young age, you should remember that taking corners is a difficult skill to master. Therefore, positioning a player in front of an opposition corner-taker is an assured way to put them off taking a corner that might lead to your team conceding a goal.
The player should stand at the edge of the penalty area, ready to both run towards the corner taker in the situation of a short-played corner, or to distract the corner taker enough to make a mistake. The advantage of this is to kick-start another important element of soccer coaching - the counter-attack. The player positioned to intercept the corner is in a prime position to initiate a counter-attack, which will catch out the opposition as most of their players will still be in your penalty area.
Place another one of your players- preferably a fast and skilled finisher- up the field whilst the rest of the team defend the corner. In your soccer drills, use just three players- a corner-taker, the player defending at the edge of the penalty area and the counter-attacker up the field- to practice this move. The defender should intercept the corner and then quickly and accurately pass the ball up the pitch towards the attacker.
Ensure that your players practice SMART defending: Specific, Measured, Agreed, Realistic, Timed.
SPECIFIC: The specific target is to clear the ball when it enters the penalty area from the corner
MEASURED: Your players should clear at least 50% of the corners must be cleared
AGREED: Make sure your targets are agreed upon by your players during training.
REALISTIC: Make sure the targets of practice are realistic and within their capabilities.
TIMED: Don't spend too long on the exercise- the point is to achieve a quick counter-attack!

More information about soccer coaching or soccer drills.

Manchester United FC - Busby's Legacy

If you haven't heard the anthem U-ni-ted - U-ni-ted! chanted by 70,000 Mancunians then you've obviously never been to Old Trafford, home of Manchester United. If you've ever tried to book Manchester hotels on a Friday or Saturday night and wondered why there are no hotels in Manchester available then it's because the most famous sports team in the world has a home game.
Manchester United is one of the most famous football teams on the planet and you don't necessarily need to be a huge sports fan to have heard of them or recognize their trademark red and white strip. But how was the legend born?
Manchester United began as humble Newton Heath FC in 1878 and struggled for the best part of a decade with financial instability. But in 1902 the club found both an important investor - John Henry Davies- and also their revered, modern-day name.
After modest success during the first four decades of the century, the story of Manchester United as a footballing superpower began on October 1st 1945 when Matt Busby was appointed manager. Busby did a good job from the outset, leading United to runners-up medals in the league in 1946, 1947, 1948 and 1949 and to an FA Cup win in 1948. The best though was yet to come, albeit as a tragic cost.
Busby and United won the league in 1952, 1956 and 1957 before tragedy struck in February 1958 with the Munich Air Disaster - 23 of the 44 passengers were killed including many of Busby's exciting new team, nicknamed 'The Busby Babes'.
With emotions still raw for many years to come, Busby built a new team around survivors including Booby Charlton and won more league trophies in 1965 and 1967 before being crowned European Champions in 1968 after which Busby retired. It was this era that created the winning mentality at Manchester United and shaped the trophy-laden side we see today led by Alex Ferguson - a manager leaving a legacy every bit as important as Busby.
In fact today Manchester United is more than just a team, it's a brand. Visit the town on a match weekend and Manchester hotels will have been fully booked for weeks as fans from across the globe descend on the city to watch their heroes. So if you're looking for Manchester hotels, it's definitely worth checking the Manchester United match programme beforehand!

Who Created Freestyle Soccer?

Over the last decade freestyle soccer has turned into a craze. Everyday a handful of talented tricksters are posting their amazing soccer skill videos on websites like YouTube, Metacafe and Facebook whilst millions of fans all over the globe spend hours on end, marvelling at the complexity of such audacious moves performed with a ball.
What fans seem to forget though is where did it all start, who created freestyle soccer? For those who are curious to know, you first have to take the journey to where it all began...
It has been well known throughout a very long period of time that soccer has been coined as 'the beautiful game'. The reason for this being is quite simply because it is a sport in which you can use almost your entire body - apart from your hands and arms - to decide the outcome of a ball game, whether through the use of a feint or trick, a controlled trap on the chest or knees, but most of the times through a powerfully executed strike - unlike any other sport.
Although soccer had such flexible rules from the start of it's existence, the most notable player to have taken considerable advantage over these rules was Pele. Commencing in the late 1950's Pele took soccer to a whole new level by performing dazzling tricks and maneuvers (never seen before with a ball) and totally fooling opponents on the field - left, right and center. Fortunately for everybody, it wasn't long after players and coaches discovered why he had possessed strikingly abnormal abilities. It turned out that Pele had practiced keeping the ball up in the air with various parts of his body since a young age and continued developing these particular skills in training. It was after this discovery that many players followed in Pele's footsteps, thus freestyle soccer was born - not the name but certainly the concept, and the creator most likely being Pele.
So, where is the proof?
It was very unlikely freestyle soccer was created before Pele's era because of the fact that balls were too heavy. Also take note that Pele has many old coaching videos where he shows you how to use parts of your body to keep the ball up in the air. These videos can be purchased through many websites on the internet. It is possible that Pele was the first top soccer player to have a his/her coaching video released.

For more freestyle soccer articles visit http://www.FreestyleSoccerProfits.com. This article is written by Thiago De Carvalho, the freestyle soccer expert.

The History of the FIFA World Cup Football Trophy

There are many trophies presented for various sporting endeavours today, however one of the most famous of these is the FIFA World Cup. Yet what many people do not realize is that the FIFA World Cup Trophy awarded today has only been in existence since 1974. Prior to this date those nations that were winners of this particular sporting event were presented with the Jules Rimet Trophy instead.
The main reason why a new FIFA trophy was introduced was in 1970 Brazil were awarded the Jules Rimet Trophy outright as they had won this competition three times. As they were presented with this trophy so the FIFA had to arrange for a new trophy to be made to replace it.
The new FIFA World Cup trophy was then presented to the winning Nation in 1974 and this was West Germany who at the time were captained by Franz Beckenbauer. The trophy that they were presented with was designed by Silvio Gazzaniga and produced by Bertoni Milano.
This trophy just like the Jules Rimet one before is very elaborate in design. On the body there are two figures shown holding up the Earth and on its based are engraved "FIFA World Cup" in out pouring letters. The actual trophy is made from 18 carat solid gold and weighs a total of 11lb and measures to a height of 14.4 inches. To ensure that the cup stands correctly the base which measures a width of 5.1 inches has been made from a strong carbonate mineral known as Malachite.
To be able to view the names of the winning nations on this particular trophy it needs to be turned upside down. This is because the names and dates when the trophy was won are engraved on plaques in English on the bottom of the base.
Today there are still enough plaques available to allow a further 9 nations to have their winning details placed on this trophy. It is only after the FIFA World Cup Competition in 2038 will a decision need to be made as to whether this particular trophy should be retired and replaced with a new one.
The biggest difference with this particular FIFA World Cup Trophy is that it is not one that can be won outright as Brazil did with the Jules Rimet Trophy. Today although the winning team are presented with this trophy on the day of their victory they don't actually get to keep it and instead of provided with a replica.
The main reason for this is that following Italy winning the competition in 2006 after the FIFA World Cup Trophy had been restored it was damaged. A number of days after the trophy had been presented to Italy pictures appeared in newspapers showing a small piece of the Malachite base had broken off. The damage to the trophy was repaired but in order to prevent such a situation in the future the FIFA decided no longer to allow the winning nation to retain the trophy until the next tournament.
The FIFA World Cup Trophy replica that the winning nation now receive is the same size as the original. However, unlike the original these are not made from solid gold but rather they use gold plating instead.

With such a rich history and tradition in the FIFA world cup, one can easily see why it remains one of the most popular trophies and most watched tournaments on earth. Many young footballers aspire to one day play in the World Cup one day.
Trophy Store supply a range of football trophies online and already supply a number of football clubs throughout the UK with their presentation trophies.

Soccer Essentials - Rehearsing For a Match

Every other day as players get to the pitch for practice they do so with the thought of an impending match in mind. All games are played as competitions and therefore wining the competition is a very rewarding experience for any team. A soccer match is very daunting as well as straining to the players and thus the day of the game should be well known so that the team prepares well both psychologically as well as tactfully and physically.
When rehearsing with a particular match in focus a soccer team has to sit back and outline the opposing team's weaknesses and strengths against their own. For these reason the preparation for each match will be slightly different from the other basing on the team you are meeting. Specific soccer tips may work for one team and fail to do the same when meeting another team. Take the example of a situation where you are meeting a team that plays very fast soccer or one that is known to score most of their goals from a particular player. All this knowledge should play a very important role in picking the strategy or plan to employ when meeting the particular team. Soccer speed will be very important when you are playing against a team that is known to have a very fast game.
The most reasonable thing to do when rehearsing for a game against any team is to try to gather lots of information about the team at hand. This information may include the knowledge of their key players and their strengths, the pattern of play they are best at among other details. This information can be obtained by watching video clips of the target team's previous games. There is no better way of gauging a team's performance other than watching their games. If possible, it may be very convenient to watch some of their matches live as this will help in making right judgments about their abilities.
On the eve of the anticipated match the coach should be well advised to go slow on the physical training of his team to avoid exhausting the players. It is better to concentrate on few targeted moves such as taking of free kicks, soccer shooting and specific attacking and defending tactics for the concerned players. It is also vital to form two teams and organize a match for assessment. The teams should be split with the first eleven being divided into two groups; the defenders should all be in one team and the strikers in the other team so that they get to play against each other the mid fielders should be interchanged. This match should not be too long. Twenty minutes or there about should do. The full starting line up should be given a chance to play together to see how well they blend for a few minutes too.
After the soccer drills I the pitch it is important to sit down and talk to prepare the players, mentally instill confidence and let every one go to bed with a well set mind for the next day. It is very important to stay away from stuff like alcohol or go clubbing and dancing all night in the eve of a match.

At http://www.BetterSoccerNow.com you will find free tips and tricks to dominate your soccer game, resources for players, coaches, and parents. Go to http://www.BetterSoccerNow.com to see training tips that will take your game to the next level.

The Rise and Rise of Ryan Giggs

Ryan Joseph Giggs, a legend who has devoted his entire career to Manchester United and still going strong. He is a benchmark to many young and aspirant footballers. The Welshmen is well known for his attitude, performance, loyalty and respect which he has earned over his 20 long years of professional career. He believes in performance rather than talking.
At 35, he is playing the best form of his life, which is a rare quality to come across in the modern day football. Today, when most of the players think about their retirement, from top level, the Genius from Wales is ready to add another milestone to an already illustrious and glorious career at Old Trafford.
On 29 November 1990 Ryan Giggs turned professional footballer and was hailed as one of the finest talents in English Football since George Best. On 4 May 1991, Giggsy in his first full start in a Manchester Derby was awarded with a goal (debatable goal) - his first goal for the Red Devils. In a very short span of time, Giggsy became 'Premiership First Poster Boy' and the player who ruled on millions of hearts of Manchester United fans.
Even today, his 'wonder goal' against Arsenal in the FA cup semi-finals, still lingers on the minds of thousands of fans across the world. I still remember the emotional celebration after the goal, as Giggsy whipped his short of, whirling it around his head and running all the way back to the half-line. Perhaps, the defining moment came when Giggsy set up an equalizer to Teddy Sheringham, in 1999 UEFA Champions League Final against German powerhouse Bayern Munich, winning the game in the injury time by 2-1, making a memorable treble winning season for Manchester United.
Giggsy has played 813 games for the Red Devils, in all competitions, and still counting, surpassing Sir Bobby Charlton record of most appearances for Manchester United. His inspiring career is full of individual and club honors.
Giggsy has won just about everything in the game. Have a look at his medals - 11 League titles, 7 Community Shield, 4 F.A cup, 3 League Cup, 2 Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup and Intercontinental Cup. His majestic performance, last season, won him PFA Player of the Year.
'Midas touch' - is all I can say about Giggsy performance at the Britannia Stadium and later during the mid week against VfL Wolfsburg scoring his 150th goal for the club. The Welshmen continues his remarkable form on the pitch, this season, and he is marching in the right direction. Last month he scored a beautiful free-kick at White Hart Lane, suggest that this Old Guard still has the arsenal to compete at the highest level. The inglorious Nani should take some tips from this living legend rather than Cristiano Ronaldo.
Giggsy is getting smarter and sharper, these days; his attributes like precision passing, sublime touch, accurate reading, hard work and impeccable professionalism are highly commendable. True he is aging, has even dropped few paces, but he improves his game every week.
Even after achieving oodles of success, Giggsy is modest to say that he gets inspired from youngsters like Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael, Wayne Rooney and all the youngsters coming through the academy at Old Trafford.
Last season, he made 45 appearances for the Red Devils, in all competitions, which reflects the commitment from the Genius. I must say, at 35, he is playing like 17, which might lend him another PFA Young Player award!
Giggsy has played a huge part in the success of Manchester United, over the years, and he still remains a vital figure in Manchester United plan of winning trophies. Sir Alex Ferguson is very clever to deploy him a deeper role and Giggsy have adapted to his new position very well. The gaffer believes that Ryan Giggs deserves a knighthood and rightly so. On 29 April 2009, Manchester United fans have launched an online petition to nominate Ryan Giggs for knighthood. It's a great gesture by Manchester United fans, to pay tribute to their legend, so better get use to saying 'Sir Ryan Giggs' in future.
The most decorated player in English football history and the best left wing mid-fielder from Manchester United is truly irreplaceable. I would like to end with a quote by Jose Mourinho, who once rightly said that 'Ryan Giggs is the Best Ever EPL Player'.

For more such article please visit http://footballeditorial.blogspot.com/
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Plyometric Exercises For Soccer Players

Plyometric exercises are a very significant part of an athlete's training program. Plyometric exercise is included in any kind of training program for an athlete, whether it is a top notch training program or a general training program for an average athlete. These exercises make the athlete realize his full potential and help him perform better than an average athlete on the field. An athlete would not be able to reach his ultimate potential until and unless he includes plyometric exercises in his exercise routine and training program. The goal of ultimate potential cannot be reached with any short cut and the person has to work really hard to achieve it.
Plyometric exercises are used to build the quickness inside the body by increasing the strength of the nervous system of our body. The nervous system of our body has various components like the nerves, the spinal cord, the brain, tendons and the neurons. The neurons are the basic building block of the nervous system and are contained in the nerves. The neurons are joined from end to end and the message is passed from one neuron to another neuron through these junctions in the form of electric signals.
When the strength of a person's nervous system is improved, then all the reflexes in his body are performed at a much faster rate than before. This means that the athlete will be able to run faster, jump quicker and in case of soccer players, they will be able to track the motion of the ball quickly and hence their response will be quicker than other if they include plyometric exercises in their daily exercise and training routine. From all this we can conclude that plyometrics should be a part of an athlete's life if he wants to perform to his best potential.

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