Memorable Games: Australia vs Italy (0-1 Germany 2006 World Cup)

Italy went on to win the 2006 World Cup in Germany, however not without facing a few hurdles on the way. Australia had qualified for just their second World Cup and were on a roll, qualifying for the round of 16 for the first time in their history. It looked to be going well for the Aussies who had Italy on the ropes, as the Italians were down a man.

In the 93rd minute a dubious penalty was awarded, and was converted by Totti, it inevitably sealed the fate of the Aussies who were knocked out by the soon to be Champions of the World.

Edinson Cavani pledges his loyalty to Napoli

Napoli forward and Parlermo loanee Edinson Cavani has been in scintillating form this Serie A campaign. He has lead Napoli to possibly, qualification in the Champions League and sits second on the top scorers list just one goal behind Antonio Di Natale (26 goals).

His stunning performances have rightfully attracted the attention of big name clubs, including Chelsea, Juventus and just recently Real Madrid who are looking to add to their strikeforce, with the loan of Adebayor coming to an end. With uncertainty about his future arising Cavani did the work of his agent and quashed all rumours by pledging his loyalty to Napoli.

The forward was quick to say that he wanted to stay at the club and play for them in the Champions League next season. Napoli had been challenging Milan for the title, but a recent loss to the Rossoneri have all but ended their hopes. They face Parlermo this week, the club that Cavani may return to next year.

Madrid's title crushed...... under the tyre of a bus!

After defeating Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final 1-0, Real Madrid celebrated long into the night with their fans. The well deserved win came after a Cristiano Ronaldo header in the 102nd minute.

Whilst the players were caught up in the celebration, Spanish international Sergio Ramos dropped the trophy off the parading team bus, which inevitably lead it to be crushed beneath the tyre of the team bus.


Check it out below!

Video - Highlights from Real Madrid vs Barcelona - Copa del Rey 21/4/2011

Madrid prevail in the second of the four El Clasico's 1-0 after an extra time goal by Ronaldo. The header was Ronaldo's second goal against Barcelona in a week. Madrid will face Barcelona once again in the Champions League, where they will look to qualify for the final.

Check out the goal below!

The Barclay Premier League Title Race is Blown Open: Chelsea FC 3 - 1 Birmingham City

Manchester United now have to sleep with one eye open, despite already having one hand on the EPL title.

Chelsea FC have now moved into second position on goal difference thanks to a 3 - 1 win over Birmingham. Florent Malouda got the scoring underway for the Blues in the third minute of play after firing home a Paulo Ferreira cross. Saloman Kalou added Chelsea's second midway in the second half before Malouda killed off any chance of a Birmingham revival with his second for the game and Chelsea's third.



Birmingham were given a consolation goal with David Luiz was judged to have foaled Matt Derbyshire in the box. Sebastien Larsson duly stepped up and slotted home the resulting penalty, ending the game 3 - 1 in favour of the home side.

Watch extended highlights of the game here:



By Marcel Abboud

Off the field controversies spice up North London derby

It’s not as if it needed it, but it looks like we have one hell of a derby on our hands tonight. Aside from the usual chest thumping and football bets being placed, both managers have been side-tracked by their own agendas ahead of what is a pretty important night for both sets of players.

Both teams still need to fight for their lives if they are to leave their mark on the Premier League this season.  Arsenal’s draw against Liverpool was labelled as disastrous, but placed in the context of Manchester United’s stalemate against Newcastle; ground has neither been lost or gained.

Tottenham, following a poor run of form which saw them become the only team to lose to Blackpool in 13 games as the Seasiders plummeted towards the relegation zone, while draws against fellow relegation strugglers West Ham and Wigan, and Wolves is hardly the form of a Champions League side, yet somewhat inexplicably, they still have a chance of overhauling Manchester city for fourth once more, and are just three points behind Roberto Mancini’s side with a game in hand – which just so happens to be a North London derby.

Not that Harry Redknapp or Arsene Wenger seems to be aware of what is at stake tonight.

It is perhaps the Arsenal manager who is trying to douse the most amount of fires before tonight’s game. The Frenchman was indignant following the decision to award Liverpool a very late penalty, an attitude that has drawn a wave of criticism as Wenger has the accusation that his side are over-protected and soft when it comes to the big games levelled at him.

Comments from his club captain will have done little to improve his mood. Cesc Febrages has seemingly admitted what most believed but had yet to hear vocalised – that their trophy-less run that stretches back to 2005 is a weight that hangs heavy around their necks.

“From 2007 I had already started saying we're not winning, but we're playing well. And then you realise that's no use.” The Spanish midfielder said.

"The problem is that the team needs to win something and that's why it was so important to win the Carling Cup (they lost 2-1 to Birmingham in the final).

"You have to make a decision: either go and win, or develop players." He added.

The Gunner’s captain has targeted not only his side’s inability to win trophies affecting their approach to the game as they grown in desperation to be freed from the shackles of their barren run, but also the philosophy that under-pins the ethos of the club. After all what has Wenger worked so hard to build in his time at Arsenal? And if he cannot win trophies then he has always been able to fall back on their style of play – that isn’t good enough anymore according to the captain.

Meanwhile Harry Redknapp has found himself confronting the FA over the fixture list. After the game between Stoke and Manchester City was shifted because of their FA Cup commitments last weekend, a tenuous set of circumstances mean that it could well benefit Stoke if they were to lose the re-arranged fixture.

Why Redknapp has decided to become embroiled in an argument of which he has little control over is a little confusing, and could be a distracting tactic from the pressure placed on his own side to replicate their performances last season, and regain entry to the Champions League once more, a competition they excelled in this time round.

If not already, the game between the two fierce rivals tonight is loaded with potency as the implications of the result are wide reaching, and stretch even beyond the three points on offer. A win for either side would do little harm to both their on the pitch ambitions or their off-field arguments. After a series of dramatic results in recent meetings between the two, and with football betting unable to separate the two - this could well be the best of the lot.

Manuel Neuer, will he still be at Schalke next season?

Manuel Neuer (25) is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. In fact many claim he is the second best, after Casillas. He is currently the captain of the German club FC Shalke 04, where he has been playing for almost 20 years! Over the last year there has been many rumours regarding a transfer for the German international. Manchester United and Bayern Munich are assumed to be his next employer, unless he wants to stay with Schalke in Gelsenkirchen.

Neuer has been playing for Shalke for many, many years going up the clubs youth ranks. In 2009 he won the UEFA European under- 21 football championship with the Germany national under-21 football team. But he’s real breakthrough did not com until the summer of 2010, during the world cup. He played every match for Germany in South Africa, except the bronze finale (due to illness).

Both Bayern Munich and Manchester United will be looking for a new goalkeeper this summer. Bayern and United are clubs with many resources. If they want, it should be possible for at least one of the clubs to seal a deal with Schalke and Neuer himself. At the moment it seems likely that he is on his way to the Allianz Arena to play for Bayern Munich.

So far Neuer has denied all rumours, however he has declared hat he has made a decision on his future. So one can only speculate.

I for one look forward to the summer transfer window.

Aksel Petter Spence

Milan look to further add to their attack - Hulk

Supreme talent, and Porto forward Hulk has attracted the attention of Serie A leaders AC Milan. The Brazilian is one of the most potent attacking forces in all of Europe and a he would not be out of place in Milan's star studded forward line.

With Ibrahimovic's loan deal coming to an end, Hulk could be the perfect replacement for the expensive Ibra. However the Swede was instrumental behind Milan's climb to the top and Milan would be keen to possibly permanently sign the frontman. Hulk has recently been pursued by the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City and in the end Porto will look to squeeze the highest price out of their superstar, who is still in contract with the club.

Porto will want to quell all rumours until they complete their campaign in the Europa league. The Portugese side are amongst the favourites to take out the title, and if so may want to hold on to Hulk for the Champions League.