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[reality]

Penultimate stop on route to gold

(FIFA.com) Monday 6 August 2012

© FIFA.com

Tournament favourites Brazil remain firmly on course for what would be a maiden gold medal at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament. Next up for A Seleção at London 2012 are semi-final opponents Korea Republic. It is only the second time in the history of the men’s tournament that a South American side will face an Asian team in the last four, following Paraguay’s 3-1 victory over Iraq in 2004.

The match
Korea Republic-Brazil, Manchester, 19:45 (local time)

The stakes
Over the course of the competition, the Brazilians have shown why they were considered favourites from the off. The team, with superstar Neymar as its focal point, won all three group games and also overcame Honduras in the quarter-finals despite going behind twice. The South Americans’ main strength is in attack and their tally of 12 goals so far is more than any other team at London 2012.

By contrast, the Koreans have been somewhat more pragmatic on their route into the last four. A win and two goalless draws in the group stage were enough to send the Asians into the last eight. There they drew once again with Great Britain before eventually going through on penalties.
The sides have faced each other once before at a Men’s Olympic Football Tournament. In 1964 they met in the group stage, with the South Americans prevailing 4-0 thanks to goals from Elizeu (2), Roberto and Ze Roberto.

The stat
11 - If Marcelo plays against Korea Republic, he will join Ademir as Brazil’s second most capped player at Olympic tournaments. Having featured in six games at Beijing 2008, it would be Marcelo’s 11th appearance overall. The current national record of 12 Olympic outings is held by Bebeto.

The words
“We are very pleased to play against one of the top teams in the world in a big tournament like this. It will be very good for the players and their experience. We will study each individual in the Brazilian side to make sure that we're prepared. It would be a mistake to focus all of our attention on Neymar and we have to be organised and work as a team to play against them,” Hong Myung-Bo, Korea Republic coach.

“From the beginning the fact that Brazil had never won a gold medal at the Olympic Games’ men's football tournament is what has created the pressure. I expect the Korea team to play with intensity, a lot of movement and to play a very dynamic game for the whole 90 minutes. The game will have a lot more tension because it's a semi-final and there's a place in the final at stake,” Mano Menezes, Brazil coach.

[nettooran]

Sprint star Bolt wants United trial


It may or may not have been said with his tongue firmly in his cheek but Olympic sprint superstar Usain Bolt has called on Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson to hand him a trial.


Bolt cemented his position as the fastest man on the planet when defending his Olympic 100m title on Sunday. The Jamaican has been musing about his next move, with a step up to 400m a possibility.
But he is not short of confidence and has often claimed he has the skill to make it as a footballer.
He is a huge United fan, has met Ferguson and the players in the past, and has put out a call for a trial.
"People think I am joking, but if Alex Ferguson called me up and said, 'OK let's do this, come and have a trial', it would be impossible for me to say no," Bolt is quoted as saying in the Sun.
"I would not take up the challenge if I didn't think I was good enough. I am a very accomplished player and know I could make a difference.
"I would be the fastest player in the team - but I can play as well."
He added: "I am in Britain for a few more days. If Alex Ferguson wants to give me a call he knows where I am."

[Giggs]

Ibra brace saves PSG

Big-spending Paris St Germain almost fell at the first hurdle as they drew their first Ligue 1 game of the season 2-2 with Lorient in a thrilling match at the Parc de Princes.

Lorient took a shock fourth minute lead through a Maxwell own goal and held on as PSG started to look for an equaliser. But before half-time they were 2-0 up as Jeremie Aliadiere raced through to slot past Nicolas Douchez.

The capital club came out with passion after the break but were almost three down as Alain Traore had a goal disallowed and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, by far the most dangerous player on the pitch, poked PSG back into the game in the 64th minute.

PSG were then handed a lifeline late on as Gregory Bourillon hacked down substitute Blaise Matuidi in the penalty box and Ibrahimovic slotted the penalty home for his second of the game.

Former champions Bordeaux made a winning start with a 3-2 victory at minnows Evian.

Midfielder Ludovic Obraniak opened the scoring on 14 minutes with a powerful left-foot strike which left goalkeeper Bertrand Laquait rooted to the spot as it screamed into the top corner. Striker Yoan Gouffran then doubled the lead, tapping the ball past Laquait from a cross by Ben Khalfallah, who had outflanked the home defenders on the right.

Evian central defender Daniel Wass pulled a goal back from a free-kick just outside the penalty area on 16 minutes but it was no surprise when Bordeux extended their lead, courtesy of a close-range header from Henri Saivet from a cross by Sertic which gave Laquait no chance. Evian though managed a consolation goal in stoppage time when Tunisian international Saber Khelifa volleyed in a cross from Mohamed Rabiu.

Lyon opened their campaign with a 1-0 win after battling past a Rennes side who played more than half of the game with 10 men.

Yoann Gourcuff grabbed the winner for the visitors after 15 minutes and Rennes put themselves at a distinct disadvantage when Jires Kembo-Ekoko was sent off in the 30th minute.

Benoit Pedretti made a dramatic entrance for Lille as he scored a winner in the dying seconds after coming on as an 87th-minute substitute at St Etienne.

Aurelien Chedjou put Les Dogues, who finished third in Ligue 1 last season, on the front foot with a 58th-minute goal but Romain Hamouma levelled in the 74th minute for Les Verts. The match looked set to end in a draw until Pedretti's crucial intervention.

Ajaccio got their season off to a winning start with 10 men as they claimed a narrow 1-0 victory away to Nice .

Brazilian forward Eduardo got the Corsicans in front in the 10th minute when he turned home a cross from Sigamary Diarra, and the visitors survived almost the entire second half with 10 men following the dismissal of Mehdi Mostefa.

Bastia began their new campaign in style with an impressive 3-2 away victory against Sochaux. After falling behind early on, the Corsican side produced a stunning second-half comeback with three goals, before a late consolation for the home team.

Yohan Mollo scored a late free-kick as Nancy beat Brest 1-0, while it was also 1-0 in the game between Troyes and Valenciennes as Rincon's 34th minute own goal gave the points to the away side.

[solomon joseph]

Worlds most valuable wingers:

1- Ronaldo €90M
2-Ribery €42M
3-Luis Nani €36M
4-Bale €35M
5-Juan Mata €34M
6-Hulk €34M
7-Robben €32M
8-Di Maria €32M
9-Alexis €30M
10-Pedro €28M

[hitman87]

Iniesta, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been shortlisted for UEFA's Best Player in Europe award.

[Viru]

Iniesta, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been shortlisted for UEFA's Best Player in Europe award.

Cristiano Ronaldo

[solomon joseph]

List of Notable International friendly matches on Wednesday 15th August:

(16:00 BST) Russia - Ivory Coast
(19:00 BST) Bulgaria - Cyprus
(19:00 BST) Norway - Greece
(19:00 BST) Sweden - Brazil
(19:00 BST) Ukraine - Czech Republic
(19:15 BST) Denmark - Slovakia
(19:30 BST) Austria - Turkey
(18:15 BST) Croatia - Switzerland
(19:30 BST) Hungary - Israel
(19:45 BST) Belgium - Holland
(19:45 BST) Estonia - Poland
(19:45 BST) Germany - Argentina
(19:45 BST) Northern Ireland - Finland
(19:45 BST) Serbia - Rep. of Ireland
(19:45 BST) Wales - Bosnia-Herzegov ina
(20:00 BST) England - Italy
(20:00 BST) France - Uruguay
(20:00 BST) Scotland - Australia
(21:00 BST) Portugal - Panama
(16:00 BST) Puerto Rico - Spain

[Mr.Cool]

Germany vs Argentina Preview - Goal.com

[solomon joseph]

Fabrice Muamba has retired from football on medical advice.

[solomon joseph]