Clash of the Giants

fire works are expected in the final.
Picture:Foxsoccer.com

One of the most anticipated finals in the soccer calendar has got closer. The UEFA Champions league final between Barcelona FC and Manchester United at the Wembly stadium on Saturday night will be one of the highlights of the year for 2011.

The Wembly final will be the repeat of the 2009 final at the stadio olympico in Rome which Barca went on to beat the Red devils 2-0 the courtesy of an early Samuel Eto’o goal in the 10^th minute, and Lionel Messi added the second one that took the game away from united.

United have been impressing this season with their star striker Wayne Rooney on target, helping the team to clinch their 19^th FA premiership title this season. Another player who’s been very helpful for the team is the Mexican born Xavier “Chicharito” Hernandez. The youngster has been impressive throughout the season scoring crucial goals that led United to the Championship title.

Barca on the other hand is known as the team of ball passers who are dangerous on attack. As usual everyone is already claiming the Catilans will take the trophy to Nou Camp. They also clinched the La liga title beating their arch rivals Real Madrid on the race for the Spanish championship. Barca looks onto players such as Lionel Messi to mesmerize the united defense to get goals, as well as playmakers like Xavi Hernandez and Andries Iniesta to make the United seek the ball in the Midfield.

With both teams claiming their domestic league titles, the final is set to be very interesting and will be a cracker with no doubt. Both Manchester and Barcelona are looking on to win the trophy.

By Tshepo Ntsoelengoe

Japan Pull Out Of Copa America Again

 

Japan will not be playing in this July's Copa America after all.

The Samurai Blue initially pulled out of the competition after an eartquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster devastated large swathes of their country earlier this year.

Spain were on the verge of replacing them as guests, but Japan then agreed to participate.

However, the Samurai Blue have been unable to secure the release of their Europe-based players for the competition, and so have declined to play after all.

"I regret very much to communicate to you that the Japanese national team cannot take part in the Copa America," JFA president Junji Ogura told tournament organising committee chief Jose Luis Meiszner in a letter to the Argentine Football Association.

"Although the European clubs understand our situation, unfortunately most of them have told us they cannot release their players," Ogura told the AFA's website.

Central American country Costa Rica will now be approached by the AFA to see if they will consider playing in the Copa America at short notice.

If Costa Rica accept the invitation they will take Japan's place in Group A at the competition, and will play Argentina, Bolivia and Colombia.


source soccer laduma

who will it be?

Messi And Ronaldo Neck And Neck

 Messi and Ronaldo after the game

The last votes have been cast for Soccer-Laduma's first ever European Player of the Year campaign.

Over night Barcelona's two-time World Player of the Year, Lionel Messi, held a slight advantage over his fierce rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

But the king of the step-over Ronaldo was still in striking distance.

The two mega-stars of contemporary football divide the opinions of football plans around the world, but also entertain us more than any other players on the planet.

Will Messi ride the wave of global admiration all the way to Soccer-Laduma's inaugural European football acknowledgment?

Or will CR7's phenomenal scoring streak see him pip La Pulga Atomica to the finish line?

from socer laduma.