Euro 2012

[joew2005]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...global&cc=4716

Spain dominate shortlist for new FIFA Ballon d'Or

7 members of Spain's WC-winning squad hv made it on2 the shortlist 4 the 1st ever FIFA Ballon d'Or award, with Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan the surprise name on the 23-man list.

Xavi, David Villa, Xabi Alonso, Iker Casillas, Carles Puyol, Andres Iniesta & Cesc Fabregas were the Spaniards who made the list, but there was no place for an Englishman, Frenchman or Italian aft their poor performances in South Africa.

The winner will be revealed @ a ceremony in Zurich on January 10, 2011, with the players chosen by football experts fr the FIFA's Football Committee, the Technical & Development Committee & the Committee 4 Women's Football, the FIFA Women's World Cup, as well as by a group of experts fr France Football magazine.

The new award is a combination of the FIFA World Player of the Year award & the France Football Ballon d'Or, & on December 6, 2010, FIFA & France Football will announce the names of the 3 men who hv received the most votes.


Shortlist for the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2010:

Argentina - Lionel Messi.

Brazil - Daniel Alves, Maicon & Julio Cesar.

Cameroon - Samuel Eto'o.

Côte d'Ivoire - Didier Drogba.

Germany - Miroslav Klose, Philipp Lahm, Thomas Muller, Mesut Ozil & Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Ghana - Asamoah Gyan.

Netherlands - Arjen Robben & Wesley Sneijder.

Portugal - Cristiano Ronaldo.

Spain - Xabi Alonso, Iker Casillas, Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta, Carles Puyol, David Villa & Xavi.

Uruguay - Diego Forlan.


World Coach of the Year nominees:

Arsenal - Arsene Wenger

Barcelona - Pep Guardiola

Bayern Munich - Louis van Gaal

Chelsea - Carlo Ancelotti

Germany - Joachim Low

Inter Milan - Jose Mourinho

Manchester United - Sir Alex Ferguson

Netherlands - Bert van Marwijk

Spain - Vicente del Bosque

Uruguay - Oscar Tabarez

[joew2005]

Originally Posted by joew2005

Results.

Group C:
Italy(13) P-P Serbia(15)

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...ro2012&cc=4716

UEFA awards 3-0 win to Italy after Serbia trouble

UEFA has awarded Italy with a 3-0 victory aft their Euro 2012 qualifier against Serbia in Genoa was abandoned due 2 crowd trouble. Serbia will also hv 2 play their next 2 home games behind closed doors.

The game on October 12 was delayed 4 35 minutes following crowd trouble & when it finally did start, the referee called off proceedings after only 7 mins when Serbian supporters hurled flares on2 the pitch & in the direction of Italian fans.

Serbian supporters were also filmed attempting 2 smash Perspex barriers @ Stadio Luigi Ferrari & cutting thru protective nets separating them fr the pitch.

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has said in a statement tat UEFA has awarded a 3-0 win 2 Italy & imposed further sanctions on Serbia, though tis has not yet been confirmed officially by UEFA.

Italy hv also incurred a suspended 1-match stadium ban, according 2 the FIGC.

A statement fr the governing body detailed "a 3-0 victory in favour of Italy & 2 games behind closed doors 4 Serbia, of which 1 is conditional. Italy hv been given a conditional 1 game behind closed doors.

"This is the decision of the disciplinary commission of UEFA which met 2day in Nyon, based on the abandonment of the game between Italy & Serbia on October 12 in Genoa following the crowd unrest by Serbian fans."

The news means the Azzurri will be 3 points clear in Group C aft 4 matches. Serbia are 2nd bottom, abv Faroe Islands, with 4 points from 4 games.


Group C Table
1 Italy P4 W3 D1 L0 GS10 GA1 GD+9 Pts 10
2 Slovenia P4 W2 D1 L1 GS7 GA3 GD+4 Pts 7
3 Estonia P4 W2 D0 L2 GS6 GA5 GD+1 Pts 6
4 Northern Ireland P3 W1 D2 L0 GS2 GA1 GD+1 Pts 5
5 Serbia P4 W1 D1 L2 GS5 GA7 GD-2 Pts 4
6 Faroe Islands P5 W0 D1 L4 GS3 GA16 GD-13 Pts 1

[joew2005]

Results of qualification matches played tis morning

Group E - Finland 8 - 0 San Marino
Group F - Croatia 3 - 0 Malta

[joew2005]

Current Table Standing.

Group A Table
1 Germany P4 W4 D0 L0 GS13 GA1 GD+12 Pts 12
2 Austria P3 W2 D1 L0 GS9 GA4 GD+5 Pts 7
3 Turkey P4 W2 D0 L2 GS6 GA6 GD0 Pts 6
4 Belgium P4 W1 D1 L2 GS8 GA8 GD0 Pts 4
5 Azerbaijan P3 W1 D0 L2 GS2 GA9 GD-7 Pts 3
6 Kazakhstan P4 W0 D0 L4 GS0 GA10 GD-10 Pts 0


Group B Table
1 Russia P4 W3 D0 L1 GS6 GA3 GD+3 Pts 9
2 Armenia P4 W2 D1 L1 GS9 GA4 GD+5 Pts 7
3 Ireland P4 W2 D1 L1 GS7 GA5 GD+2 Pts 7
4 Slovakia P4 W2 D1 L1 GS4 GA4 GD0 Pts 7
5 Macedonia P4 W1 D1 L2 GS4 GA4 GD0 Pts 4
6 Andorra P4 W0 D0 L4 GS1 GA11 GD-10 Pts 0


Group C Table
1 Italy P4 W3 D1 L0 GS10 GA1 GD+9 Pts 10
2 Slovenia P4 W2 D1 L1 GS7 GA3 GD+4 Pts 7
3 Estonia P4 W2 D0 L2 GS6 GA5 GD+1 Pts 6
4 Northern Ireland P3 W1 D2 L0 GS2 GA1 GD+1 Pts 5
5 Serbia P4 W1 D1 L2 GS5 GA7 GD-2 Pts 4
6 Faroe Islands P5 W0 D1 L4 GS3 GA16 GD-13 Pts 1


Group D Table
1 France P4 W3 D0 L1 GS6 GA1 GD+5 Pts 9
2 Belarus P4 W2 D2 L0 GS3 GA0 GD+3 Pts 8
3 Albania P3 W1 D2 L0 GS3 GA4 GD-1 Pts 5
4 Bosnia-Herzegovina P3 W1 D1 L1 GS4 GA3 GD+1 Pts 4
5 Romania P3 W0 D2 L1 GS1 GA3 GD-2 Pts 2
6 Luxembourg P4 W0 D1 L3 GS0 GA6 GD-6 Pts 1


Group E Table
1 Netherlands P4 W4 D0 L0 GS12 GA2 GD+10 Pts 12
2 Hungary P4 W3 D0 L1 GS12 GA4 GD+8 Pts 9
3 Sweden P3 W2 D0 L1 GS9 GA4 GD+5 Pts 6
4 Moldova P4 W2 D0 L2 GS5 GA3 GD+2 Pts 6
5 Finland P4 W1 D0 L3 GS10 GA6 GD+4 Pts 3
6 San Marino P5 W0 D0 L5 GS0 GA29 GD-29 Pts 0


Group F Table
1 Croatia P4 W3 D1 L0 GS8 GA1 GD+7 Pts 10
2 Greece P4 W2 D2 L0 GS4 GA2 GD+2 Pts 8
3 Georgia P4 W1 D3 L0 GS3 GA2 GD+1 Pts 6
4 Israel P4 W1 D1 L2 GS5 GA5 GD0 Pts 4
5 Latvia P4 W1 D1 L2 GS3 GA5 GD-2 Pts 4
6 Malta P4 W0 D0 L4 GS1 GA9 GD-8 Pts 0


Group G Table
1 Montenegro P4 W3 D1 L0 GS3 GA0 GD+3 Pts 10
2 England P3 W2 D1 L0 GS7 GA1 GD+6 Pts 7
3 Switzerland P3 W1 D0 L2 GS5 GA5 GD0 Pts 3
4 Bulgaria P3 W1 D0 L2 GS1 GA5 GD-4 Pts 3
5 Wales P3 W0 D0 L3 GS1 GA6 GD-5 Pts 0


Group H Table
1 Norway P3 W3 D0 L0 GS5 GA2 GD+3 Pts 9
2 Portugal P4 W2 D1 L1 GS10 GA7 GD+3 Pts 7
3 Denmark P3 W2 D0 L1 GS4 GA3 GD+1 Pts 6
4 Cyprus P3 W0 D1 L2 GS5 GA8 GD-3 Pts 1
5 Iceland P3 W0 D0 L3 GS2 GA6 GD-4 Pts 0


Group I Table
1 Spain P3 W3 D0 L0 GS10 GA3 GD+7 Pts 9
2 Czech Republic P3 W2 D0 L1 GS3 GA1 GD+2 Pts 6
3 Scotland P4 W1 D1 L2 GS4 GA5 GD-1 Pts 4
3 Lithuania P3 W1 D1 L1 GS2 GA3 GD-1 Pts 4
5 Liechtenstein P3 W0 D0 L3 GS1 GA8 GD-7 Pts 0

[joew2005]

Latest Uefa ranking update on 17 Nov.
Next update on 15 Dec 2010.

http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/ra...27275&rank=198

1. Spain (Fifa 1)
2. Netherlands (Fifa 2)
3. Germany (Fifa 4)
4. England (Fifa 6)
5. Portugal (Fifa 8)
6. Croatia (Fifa 9)
7. Greece (Fifa 11) - UP
8. Norway (Fifa 12) - UP
9. Russia (Fifa 13) - DOWN
10. Italy (Fifa 14) - UP
11. Slovenia (Fifa 15)
12. Slovakia (Fifa 18) - UP
13. France (Fifa 21) - DOWN
14. Switzerland (Fifa 21) - UP
15. Serbia (Fifa 25) - DOWN
16. Montenegro (Fifa 26)
17. Denmark (Fifa 27)
18. Turkey (Fifa 29)
19. Czech Republic (Fifa 31)
20. Republic of Ireland (Fifa 32)
21. Sweden (Fifa 35) - UP
22. Co-host Ukraine (Fifa 36) - DOWN
23. Belarus (Fifa 40) - UP
24. Northern Ireland (Fifa 42) - DOWN
25. Hungary (Fifa 43) - UP
26. Bulgaria (Fifa 45) - DOWN
27. Lithuania (Fifa 46) - UP
28. Austria (Fifa 49)
29. Bosnia-Herzegovina (Fifa 51) - UP
30. Romania (Fifa 52) - DOWN
31. Scotland (Fifa 54) - UP
32. Israel (Fifa 55) - UP
33. Albania (Fifa 58) - UP
34. Armenia (Fifa 59) - UP
35. Belgium (Fifa 62)
36. Co-host Poland (Fifa 71) - DOWN
37. Latvia (Fifa 73) - DOWN
38. Estonia (Fifa 74)
39. FYR Macedonia (Fifa 76) - DOWN
40. Georgia (Fifa 78) - DOWN
41. Moldova (Fifa 84) - DOWN
42. Finland (Fifa 87) - DOWN
43. Azerbaijan (Fifa 90) - UP
44. Cyprus (Fifa 93) - DOWN
45. Iceland (Fifa 110)
46. Wales (Fifa 111) - DOWN
47. Faroe Islands (Fifa 131) - UP
48. Luxembourg (Fifa 133) - UP
49. Kazakhstan (Fifa 137)
50. Liechtenstein (Fifa 158) - UP
51. Malta (Fifa 169) - DOWN
52. Andorra (Fifa 202)
53. San Marino (Fifa 203)

[joew2005]

Co-host Poland & Ukraine r in Euro 2012.(2 slots taken)

The final group winner of Group A to Group I will clinch the automatic quanlification berth 2 Euro 2012.(9 slots taken)

The final best runner-up between the 9 runner-ups fr Group A to Group I will also clinch the auto quanlification berth.(1 slot taken)
The best runner up must hv the best overall record against the teams tat finishs 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th in the same group.

The remaining final 8 runners-ups will face-off in a 2-legged play-off.(4 slots taken)

Euro 2012 shall be compete among 16-teams tat qualify as the 2 co-host, the 9 Group Winners, the 1 best runner-up among the 9 groups & the 4 winners in the 2-leg play-off games.

I would go with the following 2 clinch the winner spot in the 9 groups;
Group A - Germany
Group B - Russia
Group C - Italy
Group D - France
Group E - Netherlands
Group F - Greece
Group G - England
Group H - Portugal
Group I - Spain

[joew2005]

Latest Uefa/Fifa ranking update on 15 Dec 2010.Next update on 12 Jan 2011.

http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/ra...27275&rank=199

1. Spain (Fifa 1)
2. Netherlands (Fifa 2)
3. Germany (Fifa 3)
4. England (Fifa 6)
5. Portugal (Fifa 8)
6. Croatia (Fifa 10)
7. Greece (Fifa 11)
8. Norway (Fifa 12)
9. Russia (Fifa 13)
10. Italy (Fifa 14)
11. Slovenia (Fifa 17)
12. France (Fifa 18) - UP
13. Slovakia (Fifa 20) - DOWN
14. Switzerland (Fifa 22)
15. Serbia (Fifa 23)
16. Montenegro (Fifa 25)
17. Denmark (Fifa 28)
18. Czech Republic (Fifa 30) - UP
19. Turkey (Fifa 31) - DOWN
20. Sweden (Fifa 33) - UP
21. Co-host Ukraine (Fifa 34) - UP
22. Republic of Ireland (Fifa 36) - DOWN
23. Belarus (Fifa 38)
24. Hungary (Fifa 42) - UP
25. Northern Ireland (Fifa 43) - DOWN
26. Bosnia-Herzegovina (Fifa 44) - UP
27. Austria (Fifa 46) - UP
28. Bulgaria (Fifa 49) - DOWN
29. Israel (Fifa 50) - UP
30. Scotland (Fifa 52) - UP
31. Lithuania (Fifa 55) - DOWN
32. Romania (Fifa 56) - DOWN
33. Belgium (Fifa 57) - UP
34. Armenia (Fifa 60) - UP
35. Albania (Fifa 65) - DOWN
36. Co-host Poland (Fifa 73)
37. Georgia (Fifa 73) - UP
38. FYR Macedonia (Fifa 76) - UP
39. Latvia (Fifa 78) - DOWN
40. Estonia (Fifa 82) - DOWN
41. Finland (Fifa 83) - UP
42. Moldova (Fifa 84) - UP
43. Cyprus (Fifa 90) - UP
44. Azerbaijan (Fifa 98) - DOWN
45. Iceland (Fifa 112)
46. Wales (Fifa 112)
47. Luxembourg (Fifa 134) - UP
48. Faroe Islands (Fifa 136) - DOWN
49. Kazakhstan (Fifa 138)
50. Liechtenstein (Fifa 148)
51. Malta (Fifa 164)
52. Andorra (Fifa 202)
53. San Marino (Fifa 203)

[joew2005]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...857184?cc=4716

Mourinho feels he deserves Ballon d'Or

Jose Mourinho believes he should be named coach of the year @ the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards.

Vicente Del Bosque appears 2 be ahead of Mourinho in the running 4 the award aft he led Spain 2 their 1st World Cup triumph, but the Real Madrid coach - who won Serie A, the Coppa Italia & Champions League with Inter last season - feels his achievements were more substantial.

"I've made my choice - 11 months' work, 57 matches played, 3 titles including the most important of all, the tournament, the Champions League," he told Gazzetta dello Sport. "I hv won everything. I could not do anymore than tat, and nor could the players."

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola is also nominated for the award, which will be announced @ a ceremony in Zurich on January 10.

Mourinho also raised questions over Wesley Sneijder's controversial omission from the 3-man shortlist 4 player of the year. Barcelona trio Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez & Andres Iniesta were selected ahead of Sneijder, who played a key role in Inter's success last season b4 helping Netherlands 2 the WC final.

Mourinho said: "If the winner is Andres Iniesta, who unhappily was not able 2 play 4 the first 5 months of the year becos of injury, but aft tat played 6 matches & scored a goal in South Africa, then anything k happen in the year of a WC final & the rest counts 4 nothing."

Madrid president Florentino Perez, in his festive message to the club's supporters, backed Mourinho as the finest coach in football.

"May the dreams of all Madridistas come true," he said on the club's official website. "This will happen by winning titles.

"We hv a young, talented team hungry 4 titles, & we also hv the best coach in the world. We've laid the foundations for 2011 2 bring us all the satisfactions we dream of."

[joew2005]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns...854713?cc=4716

Global Player of the Year: Xavi

Sometimes, statistics can obscure. They k disguise shortcomings, flatter reputations or fail 2 communicate brilliance. Aft all, no sane critic would judge Pele on the percentage of his shots tat hit the target, or rate Franz Beckenbauer on the strength of his ProZone figures. But sometimes, statistics can illuminate, & cold, hard, tangible facts do serve 2 illustrate jz why Barcelona & Spain star Xavi is ESPNsoccernet's Global Player of the Year for 2010. Aft all, the notoriously self-effacing playmaker is unlikely 2 sing his own praises. We will hv 2 let his statistics do the talking.

Across the breadth of 2010, on only 24 occasions did an individual player exceed 100 completed passes in 1 game. Xavi, who played nearly 90 times, was responsible for 12 of those landmarks. In the WC, he attempted a tournament-high 669 passes, with 544 finding their target - another record. In tat defining & unforgettable rout of Real Madrid in November's clasico, he completed 114 of 117 passes. If possession is 9 10ths of the law, then Xavi is demonstrably football's very own Judge Dredd, no side escaping his 0 tolerance policy towards enforcing his superiority.

But it is not jz the raw data tat makes Xavi such an exceptional player, hw could it be given he is a son of Barcelona, a city besotted with architecture, where the practice of construction & presentation is equal 2 the importance of function. Local hero Gaudi is the man who sculpted the Catalan capital, but now a new architect is feted in the city, a player who is the inspiration behind not 1, but 2 of the most aesthetically pleasing & devastating sides of modern times.

At Barcelona, Xavi is the living embodiment of a philosophy of quick-moving, intricate possession football tat was introduced by the iconic Johan Cruyff & originally channelled through Pep Guardiola. Now coach, Guardiola describes Xavi as "the best midfielder in the history of Barca", & @ the heart of the vast majority of the club's brilliant moves over the past 12 months, stunning team goals tat entailed scores of passes, is the quiet Catalan, dictating the flow & pace of the game with his masterful brushstrokes.

Perhaps Xavi's crowning glory was the 5-0 hammering of Real Madrid in el clasico @ Camp Nou in November, a performance tat led the normally rabidly pro-Madrid newspaper Marca 2 declare: "Xavi broke the game with 20 minutes of genius. There is no other like him. Xavi was a cyclone. He dominated all aspects of the game."

Meanwhile, with Spain, Xavi is equally a force of nature. The player who, @ Euro 2008, shepherded Spain 2 their 1st major title since 1964 added the WC crown 2 his collection in July as Vicente del Bosque's side reigned supreme in South Africa, emerging fr a fractious final against Netherlands with their necks adorned by gold thanks 2 a goal fr Xavi's partner in crime @ Barcelona, Andres Iniesta. But while his was not the decisive blow, it was Xavi, always central 2 Spain's pretty passing patterns, who shaped their tournament & ensured the consummation of a golden age of Spanish football.

Given the pre-eminence of both Spain & Barcelona in football culture @ present, it is a certainty tat in years 2 come, the term tat denotes their shared style, tiki-taka, will become every bit as familiar an entry in the football lexicon as Brazil's joga bonito, or Netherlands' Total Football. Xavi, undeniably, inescapably, is the amplifier thru which tat phrase booms across the football landscape @ present, & will echo through the sport's history.

Infamously, when Cristiano Ronaldo was named World Player of the Year in 2008 & Barcelona's maestro finished 5th, the Daily Mail ridiculously married a picture of the top 5 with the headline: "The best players of the world (& Xavi)".

Now, in a year when Xavi is joined by club colleagues Lionel Messi & Andres Iniesta on the shortlist for FIFA's leading award, his genius k be ignored no longer. As the great Cruyff puts it: "Xavi deserves the Ballon d'Or more than any1 becos it is necessary in a team 2 hv a guy who makes things work. Xavi is the player who sets the rhythm, who takes care of possession. If Xavi has a bad day then Barca do not play even half as well."

That is the influence the quiet man wields in the best club & international teams on earth. Tat is why he is now recognised as a great of the game. Tat is why Xavi is our Global Player of the Year.



Honourable mentions:

Lionel Messi - Barcelona & Argentina
Quite simply the best player in the world, Lionel Messi is beaten narrowly in2 2nd place by our man of the year, Xavi, due 2 the latter's WC win. Messi breathes in a rarefied air - very infrequently is 1 player acknowledged as being so superior 2 his contemporaries. Fr his 4 goals against Arsenal in the Champions League in April 2 his run of 17 goals in 10 games between October 20 & November 24, Messi has shown a remarkable capacity 2 dazzle & destroy, exhilarate & entertain. 'The Flea' just keeps making giant strides.

Wesley Sneijder - Inter & Netherlands
A Treble-winner with Inter & the joint top scorer @ the WC finals, Sneijder was harshly excluded fr the FIFA Ballon d'Or shortlist & would hv been a deserving winner of ESPNsoccernet's award as well. His debut season with the Nerazzurri was nothing short of spectacular, the Dutch playmaker bringing invention 2 the Inter midfield & inspiring the club 2 unprecedented success. Sneijder also scored 5 goals in South Africa but was 2 be denied in the final by Spain.

Bastian Schweinsteiger - Bayern Munich & Germany
Schweinsteiger's transformation fr a talented but erratic wide midfielder 2 a dominant force in a central role became complete in 2010. Aft winning the domestic Double with Bayern Munich, only 2 lose the Champions League final 2 Inter, Schweinsteiger stepped in2 the breach left by Michael Ballack & became the driving force of a wonderfully talented young Germany side tat finished 3rd @ the WC. His performance against Argentina in the quarter-finals was nothing short of a masterclass & demonstrated his potent combination of technique, determination & energy.

Andres Iniesta - Barcelona and Spain
Though fitness issues partially restricted his contribution 2 the conclusion of Barcelona's 2009-10 season, during which they won La Liga with a record points tally, the unassuming Iniesta took centre stage @ the WC in South Africa when scoring the winning goal in the final against Netherlands. With his wonderful vision, accomplished dribbling & expert use of the ball, Iniesta is 1 of world football's leading midfielders & has demonstrated as much over the past 12 months, marked by his inclusion on the Ballon d'Or shortlist.

Diego Forlan - Atletico Madrid & Uruguay
If inspiring Atletico Madrid 2 a first trophy in 14 years when scoring twice in a Europa League final win over Fulham was not enough, Forlan then turned his attention 2 international affairs & played a pivotal role in Uruguay's unexpected run to the WC semi-final. Dropping deep & operating as much as a playmaker as a striker @ times, Forlan still claimed 5 goals as he captained his side 2 their best performance in a WC in 40 years.

[joew2005]

Remaining Matches For Group A, Group B & Group C.

Group A
25 March 2011 - Germany vs Kazakhstan
29 March 2011 - Belgium vs Azerbaijan / Turkey vs Austria
3 June 2011 - Belgium vs Turkey / Kazakhstan vs Azerbaijan / Austria vs Germany
7 June 2011 - Azerbaijan vs Germany
2 September 2011 - Azerbaijan vs Belgium / Turkey vs Kazakhstan / Germany vs Austria
6 September 2011 - Azerbaijan vs Kazakhstan / Austria vs Turkey
7 October 2011 - Belgium vs Kazakhstan / Turkey vs Germany / Azerbaijan vs Austria
11 October 2011 - Kazakhstan vs Austria / Germany vs Belgium / Turkey vs Azerbaijan


Group B
26 March 2011 - Republic of Ireland vs FYROM / Armenia vs Russia / Andorra vs Slovakia
4 June 2011 - FYROM vs Republic of Ireland / Slovakia vs Andorra / Russia vs Armenia
2 September 2011 - Russia vs FYROM / Republic of Ireland vs Slovakia / Andorra vs Armenia
6 September 2011 - FYROM vs Andorra / Slovakia vs Armenia / Russia vs Republic of Ireland
7 October 2011 - Slovakia vs Russia / Armenia vs FYROM / Andorra vs Republic of Ireland
11 October 2011 - Russia vs Andorra / Republic of Ireland vs Armenia / FYROM vs Slovakia


Group C
25 March 2011 - Serbia vs Northern Ireland / Slovenia vs Italy
29 March 2011 - Northern Ireland vs Slovenia / Estonia vs Serbia
3 June 2011 - Faroe Islands vs Slovenia / Italy vs Estonia
7 June 2011 - Faroe Islands vs Estonia
10 August 2011 - Northern Ireland vs Faroe Islands
2 September 2011 - Northern Ireland vs Serbia / Slovenia vs Estonia / Faroe Islands vs Italy
6 September 2011 - Estonia vs Northern Ireland / Italy vs Slovenia / Serbia vs Faroe Islands
7 October 2011 - Serbia vs Italy / Northern Ireland vs Estonia
11 October 2011 - Slovenia vs Serbia / Italy vs Northern Ireland

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro2012/sta...959/index.html

[joew2005]

Remaining Matches For Group D, Group E & Group F.

Group D
25 March 2011 - Luxembourg vs France
26 March 2011 - Albania vs Belarus / Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Romania
29 March 2011 - Romania vs Luxembourg
3 June 2011 - Romania vs Bosnia & Herzegovina / Belarus vs France
7 June 2011 - Belarus vs Luxembourg / Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Albania
2 September 2011 - Belarus vs Bosnia & Herzegovina / Albania vs France / Luxembourg vs Romania
6 September 2011 - Luxembourg vs Albania / Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Belarus
/ Romania vs France
7 October 2011 - Romania vs Belarus / France vs Albania / Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Luxembourg
11 October 2011 - France vs Bosnia & Herzegovina / Albania vs Romania


Group E
25 March 2011 - Hungary vs Netherlands
29 March 2011 - Sweden vs Moldova / Netherlands vs Hungary
3 June 2011 - San Marino vs Finland / Moldova vs Sweden
7 June 2011 - San Marino vs Hungary / Sweden vs Finland
2 September 2011 - Netherlands vs San Marino / Hungary vs Sweden / Finland vs Moldova
6 September 2011 - Finland vs Netherlands / San Marino vs Sweden / Moldova vs Hungary
7 October 2011 - Finland vs Sweden / Netherlands vs Moldova
11 October 2011 - Sweden vs Netherlands / Hungary vs Finland / Moldova vs San Marino


Group F
26 March 2011 - Israel vs Latvia / Georgia vs Croatia / Malta vs Greece
29 March 2011 - Israel vs Georgia
4 June 2011 - Latvia vs Israel / Croatia vs Georgia / Greece vs Malta
2 September 2011 - Israel vs Greece / Malta vs Croatia / Georgia vs Latvia
6 September 2011 - Malta vs Georgia / Latvia vs Greece / Croatia vs Israel
7 October 2011 - Greece vs Croatia / Latvia vs Malta
11 October 2011 - Georgia vs Greece / Malta vs Israel / Croatia vs Latvia

[joew2005]

Remaining Matches For Group G, Group H & Group I.

Group G
26 March 2011 - Bulgaria vs Switzerland / Wales vs England
4 June 2011 - Montenegro vs Bulgaria / England vs Switzerland
2 September 2011 - Wales vs Montenegro / Bulgaria vs England
6 September 2011 - England vs Wales / Switzerland vs Bulgaria
7 October 2011 - Montenegro vs England / Wales vs Switzerland
11 October 2011 - Bulgaria vs Wales / Switzerland vs Montenegro

Group H
26 March 2011 - Cyprus vs Iceland / Norway vs Denmark
4 June 2011 - Portugal vs Norway / Iceland vs Denmark
2 September 2011 - Norway vs Iceland / Cyprus vs Portugal
6 September 2011 - Iceland vs Cyprus / Denmark vs Norway
7 October 2011 - Cyprus vs Denmark / Portugal vs Iceland
11 October 2011 - Norway vs Cyprus / Denmark vs Portugal

Group I
25 March 2011 - Spain vs Czech Republic
29 March 2011 - Czech Republic vs Liechtenstein / Lithuania vs Spain
3 June 2011 - Liechtenstein - Lithuania
2 September 2011 - Lithuania vs Liechtenstein
3 September 2011 - Scotland vs Czech Republic
6 September 2011 - Scotland vs Lithuania / Spain vs Liechtenstein
7 October 2011 - Czech Republic vs Spain
8 October 2011 - Liechtenstein vs Scotland
11 October 2011 - Lithuania vs Czech Republic / Spain vs Scotland

[joew2005]

Winners of the new FIFA Ballon d'Or would be out 2morow.

Shortlist for the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2010:
Argentina - Lionel Messi.
Brazil - Daniel Alves, Maicon & Julio Cesar.
Cameroon - Samuel Eto'o.
Côte d'Ivoire - Didier Drogba.
Germany - Miroslav Klose, Philipp Lahm, Thomas Muller, Mesut Ozil & Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Ghana - Asamoah Gyan.
Netherlands - Arjen Robben & Wesley Sneijder.
Portugal - Cristiano Ronaldo.
Spain - Xabi Alonso, Iker Casillas, Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta, Carles Puyol, David Villa & Xavi.
Uruguay - Diego Forlan.

World Coach of the Year nominees:
Arsenal - Arsene Wenger
Barcelona - Pep Guardiola
Bayern Munich - Louis van Gaal
Chelsea - Carlo Ancelotti
Germany - Joachim Low
Inter Milan - Jose Mourinho
Manchester United - Sir Alex Ferguson
Netherlands - Bert van Marwijk
Spain - Vicente del Bosque
Uruguay - Oscar Tabarez

[joew2005]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...63859/?cc=4716

Messi named Player of the Year

Barca star Lionel Messi has been named the FIFA Men's World Player of the Year for 2010.

Messi was on a 3-man shortlist with Barca team-mates Xavi & Andres Iniesta but, despite Spain's World Cup triumph, the Argentina 4ward came out on top in the voting.

He becomes the 1st winner of the FIFA Ballon d'Or, which merges France Football magazine's European Footballer of the Year prize with the FIFA World Player of the Year. The awards were based on the votes of the coaches & captains of national sides as well as global journalists.

Messi scored more than any other player in Europe's top 5 leagues in 2010, with 42 goals in 36 La Liga games, as well as finishing top scorer in the Champions League in 2010 with 12 goals in 12 games.

He totalled 60 goals 4 the year 4 club & country.

"To be honest, I didn't expect 2 win 2day, but it was already great 2 be here next to my 2 mates," Messi said as he accepted the award. "2 win it makes it even more special.

"I want 2 share with all of my friends, my family, all the Barcelonistas & the Argentinians."

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho had earlier been named FIFA World Coach of the Year 4 Men's Football. Mourinho won Serie A, the Champions League & Coppa Italia with Inter Milan in the 2009-10 season & has made an impressive start 2 life @ the Bernabeu.

In his acceptance speech, Mourinho paid tribute 2 Spain's Vicente Del Bosque & Barcelona's Pep Guardiola, who had been shortlisted 4 the award.

Speaking 2 Sky Sport Italia, he also reserved special praise 4 the players & staff @ Inter.

"I'm the best coach in the world for 2010 becos I was the coach of the best team in the world in 2010," he said. "We were a family & we continue 2 be a family. I continue 2 be part of it fr afar.

"I 1 Inter 2 win every game except those against my team."

Hamit Altintop won the FIFA Puskas Award 4 best goal in recognition of his strike 4 Turkey against Kazakhstan.

[joew2005]

Latest Uefa/Fifa ranking update on 12 Jan 2011.
Next update on 2 Feb 2011.

http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/ra...27275&rank=200

1. Spain (Fifa 1)
2. Netherlands (Fifa 2)
3. Germany (Fifa 3)
4. England (Fifa 6)
5. Portugal (Fifa 8)
6. Croatia (Fifa 9)
7. Greece (Fifa 11)
8. Norway (Fifa 12)
9. Russia (Fifa 13)
10. Italy (Fifa 14)
11. Slovenia (Fifa 17)
12. France (Fifa 18)
13. Slovakia (Fifa 20)
14. Switzerland (Fifa 22)
15. Serbia (Fifa 23)
16. Montenegro (Fifa 25)
17. Denmark (Fifa 28)
18. Czech Republic (Fifa 30)
19. Turkey (Fifa 31)
20. Sweden (Fifa 33)
21. Co-host Ukraine (Fifa 34)
22. Republic of Ireland (Fifa 35)
23. Belarus (Fifa 37)
24. Hungary (Fifa 41)
25. Northern Ireland (Fifa 43)
26. Bosnia-Herzegovina (Fifa 45)
27. Austria (Fifa 46)
28. Bulgaria (Fifa 49)
29. Israel (Fifa 50)
30. Scotland (Fifa 52)
31. Lithuania (Fifa 55)
32. Romania (Fifa 56)
33. Belgium (Fifa 58)
34. Armenia (Fifa 60)
35. Albania (Fifa 64)
36. Co-host Poland (Fifa 72)
37. Georgia (Fifa 72)
38. Latvia (Fifa 76) - UP
39. Finland (Fifa 79) - UP
40. FYR Macedonia (Fifa 81) - DOWN
41. Moldova (Fifa 84) - UP
42. Estonia (Fifa 86) - DOWN
43. Cyprus (Fifa 89)
44. Azerbaijan (Fifa 97)
45. Iceland (Fifa 113)
46. Wales (Fifa 113)
47. Luxembourg (Fifa 132)
48. Faroe Islands (Fifa 134)
49. Kazakhstan (Fifa 137)
50. Liechtenstein (Fifa 148)
51. Malta (Fifa 163)
52. Andorra (Fifa 202)
53. San Marino (Fifa 203)