Wayne Rooney is flying right at you!

January 29, 2010

Beer and football go together like, well, beer and anything else, but add in a pair of plastic stereoscopic spectacles plus the inevitability of someone taking a camera phone picture of you looking ridiculous and I can see the combination wearing a bit thin.

Still, I’m sure there’ll be plenty of people happy to give it a try on Sunday when the Premier League goes all Avatar on us.

Pubs in nine British cities, kitted out with expensive new TVs and all manner of electronic jiggery-pokery, will be screening the Arsenal v Manchester United game in 3D. So before the ink is even dry on that HD contract you signed over Christmas, there’s a chance for a peak at what broadcasters must be praying will be The Next Big Thing.

How do you like the idea?

I guess that might depend on how appealing you find the prospect of vein-popping, mud-splattered, spittle-flecked young athletes leaping out of a 50-inch screen and coming straight at you.

Me? I’m holding out for football in 4D, where you can take time back and make sure your goalkeeper was in the right place to save that winning penalty. Now that’d be a must-have service.

PHOTO: France’s Prime Minister Francois Fillon wear a pair of special 3D glasses for use in a virtual environment during a presentation at Dassault Systemes in Velizy near Paris January 18, 2010. REUTERS/Charles Platiau

Source

Tags: 3d glasses, 4d, british cities, broadcasters, Charles Platiau, D. So, dassault systemes, France, francois fillon, Goalkeeper, inevitability, Manchester, manchester united, mud, Photo, photo france, premier league, Prime Minister Francois Fillon, reuters, service photo, spectacles, spittle, velizy, virtual environment, wayne rooney, young athletes

Can Owen revive career at Manchester United?

July 4, 2009

On the face of it, replacing world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo with an injury-prone forward whose side just got relegated does not seem like a great bit of business.

The British media is certain that Michael Owen, a free agent after leaving Newcastle United, is on the verge of joining Manchester United if he passes a stringent medical.

Has Alex Ferguson gone mad? Far from it. Having banked 80 million pounds from the sale of Ronaldo to Real Madrid, he is poised to bring in one of English football’s most renowned goalscorers for free. And Owen is still under 30.

Even if Owen only ends up playing half a season, he will still be able to contribute and his England partnership with Wayne Rooney always looked promising.

However, United fans will hope Owen and Wigan’s Antonio Valencia will not be the only new recruits.

What do you reckon? An inspired signing or a gamble doomed to failure?

PHOTO: Newcastle United’s Michael Owen reacts during their FA Cup third round replay against Hull City, Jan. 14, 2009. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

Go to Source

Tags: alex ferguson, Antonio Valencia, Cristiano, England, english football, English Premier League, FA Cup, failure, free agent, hull city, Manchester, manchester united, michael owen, new recruits, NEWCASTLE, newcastle united, Nigel Roddis, partnership, Photo, real madrid, replay, reuters, ronaldo, verge, wayne rooney, Wigan, world player of the year

Ronaldo set for Real Madrid – your views

June 11, 2009

Manchester United said on Thursday they have received a world record 80 million pound ($131.2 million) bid for forward Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid.

“At Cristiano’s request – who has again expressed his desire to leave – and after discussion with the player’s representatives, United have agreed to give Real Madrid permission to talk to the player,” a statement on the United website said.

“Matters are expected to be concluded by 30 June. The club will not comment until further notice.”

So Florentino Perez isn’t just stopping at Kaka. It’s shaping up to be one of the most amazing transfer windows ever. Will he go for Franck Ribery too or will United want him as Ronaldo’s replacement?

It’s not a done deal yet, Ronaldo wanted to go last year and it didn’t happen, but this seems pretty definite. How much money has Perez got?

PHOTO: Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo is seen celebrating after scoring his second goal during their English Premier League match against Aston Villa in Manchester, April 5 2009 REUTERS/Phil Noble

Go to Source

Tags: Cristiano, cristiano ronaldo, English Premier League, florentino perez, further notice, how much money, kaka, LA Liga, MADRID, Manchester, match, Phil Noble Go, Photo, photo manchester united, real madrid, reuters, ribery, ronaldo, world record

Bayer Leverkusen and the hunt for lost trophies

June 2, 2009

When Bayer Leverkusen, 1-0 down in the German Cup final against Werder Bremen, desperately poured forward in search of a late equaliser, somehow you knew there was no way they would turn this round.

They ended up losing another final on the same day their former midfielder Michael Ballack, who has also missed or lost everything there is to lose in football, including World Cup, European Championship and Champions League finals, was lifting the FA Cup with Chelsea after beating Everton.

But for Leverkusen it was more of the same bitter story of the past 12 years.

In 2002 they famously let slip a “treble”, losing in the Champions League final to Real Madrid, choking over the final three matches of the league to end up second to Borussia Dortmund and losing the German Cup final against Schalke.

Since 1997 they’ve finished second in the Bundesliga four times, most painfully in 2000 when a Ballack own goal against Unterhaching cost them the title on the last day.

That’s why they are called “Vize-kusen”.

Hold on, some might say. They have been to two Cup finals, fought for the Bundesliga four times and almost won the Champions League. There are not many teams out there who can boast to have done all that in such a short period.

That is true. But do these seven near-misses count more than Borussia Dortmund’s one Champions League win? Are they more precious than Schalke’s solitary UEFA Cup win? Or newly-crowned Bundesliga champions VfL Wolfsburg’s one and only trophy?

Whether fairly or not, no one apart from the Werkself fans themselves will remember Bayer’s almost-seven titles, nor will there be anything to display in the trophy cabinet.

Leverkusen keeper Rene Adler had a hard time fighting back the tears after the final whistle:

“It is difficult to say anything meaningful. Second place, you don’t get anything for that. Second place is the first loser. It’s terribly bitter. Vizekusen is just a word. It is a shame it was again confirmed tonight.”

PHOTO: Bayer Leverkusen’s Michael Ballack walks past the European Cup after his team lost the Champions League final against Real Madrid at Hampden Park. May 15, 2002. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Go to Source

Tags: bayer, bitter story, borussia dortmund, Bremen, Bundesliga, champions league, CHELSEA, equaliser, European, everton, FA Cup, fighting back the tears, german cup, hampden park, MADRID, Michael Ballack, Photo, real madrid, rene adler, Schalke, second place is the first loser, treble, trophy cabinet, UEFA Cup, Vizekusen, werder bremen, whistle, Wolfsburg

Barcelona beat Manchester United — your views

May 28, 2009

Barcelona deposed Manchester United as European champions with an outstanding 2-0 victory in the Champions League final at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday.

Samuel Eto’o struck the opener after 10 minutes when he cut in from the right past Nemanja Vidic with surprising ease and his low shot beat United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar at his near post. Xavi cracked a free kick against a United post at the start of the second half before Lionel Messi sealed the win after 70 minutes when he scored with a beautifully timed header from Xavi’s cross.

It was a curiously subdued performance from United, while Barcelona got full value for a performance that was thoroughly professional but hardly brilliant.

Alex Ferguson was content to say the best team won. Do you agree? Let us know in the comments.

PHOTO: Barcelona’s Xavi (R) and Victor Valdes celebrate victory over Manchester United. REUTERS/Albert Gea

Go to Source

Tags: Albert Gea, alex ferguson, Barcelona, champions league, Edwin van der, edwin van der sar, european champions, free kick, Goalkeeper, Lionel, lionel messi, Manchester, manchester united, nemanja vidic, Photo, reuters, samuel eto, samuel eto o, second half, stadio olimpico, UEFA Champions League, victor valdes, victory, xavi

Exploding egg just the first of Broadfoot’s troubles

May 22, 2009

Rangers defender Kirk Broadfoot is an unlucky man.

Earlier this month, the 25-year-old Scotland international was taken to hospital after an egg he was microwaving exploded. He was trying to poach the egg but hot liquid squirted out when he opened the microwave door, burning his cheek.

There followed lots of newspaper headlines about him having “egg on his face”.

The player was already ruled out for the rest of the season because of a series of niggles.

Now he has been told he won’t play again until November following surgery on his left foot.

It seems he isn’t a broad foot after all…

PHOTO: Scotland’s Kirk Broadfoot celebrates scoring against Iceland during their World Cup 2010 Group 9 qualifying soccer match in Reykjavik September 10, 2008. REUTERS/David Moir

Go to Source

Tags: broadfoot, cheek, David Moir, egg, Kirk Broadfoot, left foot, match, microwave, newspaper headlines, Photo, rangers, reuters, reykjavik, scotland, scotland international, soccer, unlucky man, world cup 2010

Ranieri sacked by demanding Juve

May 19, 2009

Just three years ago Juve were facing up to the fact they’d be playing in Serie B after being found guilty of match-fixing.

Now, they sit third in Serie A with two games to go but that is not good enough for the Old Lady of Turin. The risk they might miss out on an automatic Champions League spot was too great.

Claudio Ranieri has been sacked despite doing wonders last term when they comfortably finished third.

His team beat Real Madrid home and away this season in the Champions League and they reached the Italian Cup semi-finals.

Juve have been riddled with injuries, Alessandro Del Piero suddenly stopped scoring at the turn of the year yet the run of seven league games without a win is deemed as Ranieri’s fault.

Like when he was dumped by Chelsea, Ranieri has carried himself with great dignity through recent weeks when the media and most of his own fans were calling for his head.

But at Italy’s biggest supported club and the most successful domestically, there is no place to hide.

PHOTO: Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri looks on during thier Italian Serie A soccer match against Lecce at the Olympic stadium in Turin, May 3, 2009. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

Go to Source

Tags: Alessandro Del Piero, alessandro garofalo, champions league, CHELSEA, Claudio Ranieri, coach claudio, dignity, italian cup, italian serie a soccer, Italy, juve, juventus, league games, lecce, MADRID, madrid home, match, Old, old lady, Olympic, olympic stadium, Photo, photo juventus, reuters, semi finals, Serie A, serie a soccer, turin, two games

Robbie & Claudine Keane Welcome a Baby Boy

May 12, 2009

Claudine Keane has given birth to a baby boy named Robert Ronan Keane.

Named after his Daddy, Robert jr weighed in at 7lbs 5oz and is said to being doing well along with Mummy Claudine.

Many congratulations to the couple and their new arrival.

I’m looking forward to seeing the glamorous photo shoot in OK! with Claudine inevitably back to her pre-baby weight.

Go to Source

Tags: Baby, baby boy, baby weight, Birth, claudine, Claudine Keane, Daddy, Mummy, new arrival, Photo, photo shoot, Robbie, Robert Ronan Keane, ronan keane, WAGS

Game, set and match: Real 2 Barça 6

May 3, 2009

If Chelsea were cautious in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Barcelona, what will they do after seeing this display?

Spain’s sports journalists will be doing their best to outdo one another in superlatives after a performance that ranks right up there with the 5-0 Barça managed at the Bernabeu with Johan Cruyff in their team in 1974.

If that Barça team was largely about one man, the current vintage has quite extraordinary talent running all the way through it. From Puyol and Piqué at the back, to Xavi and Iniesta in central midfield to the attacking trio of Henry, Messi and Eto’o this is quite some collective.

We’ll have more on this tomorrow, but for now let’s take a quick look at the early reaction from Spain:

Marca: A humiliation to decide the league. In the big games, the big names should show up. In the Barça team today virtually all of them did: Henry, Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Piqué, Puyol… Samuel Etoo was the only one missing.

As: They say you have to learn to walk before you can run. While Barcelona go sprinting towards their date with history, Madrid have barely taken their first steps.

Sport: Madrid came down like a house of cards… What you saw today in the Bernabeu was a true reflection of the enormous gulf that today separates one of these teams from the other. There was no comparison.

El Mundo Deportivo: Ecsta-six.

Wonder what Guus Hddink made of it… Perhaps he’ll take the view that this was as much a sign of Real Madrid weakness as it was Barcelona strength.

PHOTO: Barcelona’s Gerard Pique, Thierry Henry and Daniel Alves celebrate a goal against Real Madrid during their match at the Bernabeu, May 2, 2009. REUTERS/Juan Medina

Go to Source

Tags: Barcelona, bernabeu, big games, central midfield, CHELSEA, daniel alves, el mundo deportivo, enormous gulf, eto o, game set, gerard pique, Henry, house of cards, johan cruyff, Juan Medina Go, LA Liga, MADRID, Photo, puyol, real madrid, reuters, samuel etoo, Spain, sports journalists, thierry henry, true reflection

Barcelona frustration at textbook Chelsea display

April 29, 2009

Chelsea will feel they are within touching distance of the Champions League final after holding Barcelona to a goalless draw a the Nou Camp in the first leg of their semi-final.

The Chelsea performance oozed professionalism, with Guus Hiddink’s players showing terrific resilience to leave Barca coach Pep Guardiola bemoaning Chelsea tactics and the performance of the referee.

“Five or six players in defence, a lot of players back, physically very strong,” said Guardiola. We tried to attack, we created chances and we presented a good image to people around the world but playing football is always difficult when one side doesn’t want to.”

Neutrals may have some sympathy for Guardiola, but Hiddink would be entitled to look at those comments as evidence that his team did just about everything right.

There were no gifts of the sort they enjoyed in the quarter-final against Liverpool, hence no away goal, but they will go into the second leg at Stamford Bridge with no fear … and against Barcelona that’s half the battle.

What do you think? Are we looking at another all-English final?

PHOTO: Guardiola shakes hands with Hiddink at the Nou Camp, April 28, 2009. REUTERS/Toby Melville

Go to Source