Who Are Stronger - Brazil Or Argentina?

South American powerhouses - Brazil and Argentina - have struggled in the region's World Cup qualifiers but their performances during mid-week friendly matches suggest that they are back to their best.

South American powers - Brazil and Argentina - count with extraordinary squads, but although both nations are expected to be candidates for the 2010 World Cup they have been extremely inconsistent during the World Cup qualifiers.

In recent months Brazil have picked up some positive results on the road, but at home their record has been awful. Dunga's side haven't managed a victory in their last three home games - after three goalless draws against Argentina, Bolivia and Colombia. Immense pressure has hit the squad, and it seemed that Dunga would be out of a job.

Meanwhile, Argentina have only won once in their last seven matches, a run of results that led to Alfio Basile's eventual resignation. With the amount of quality in their squad, Argentina should be doing a great deal better. Instead they have been neutralized by difficult opponents, who have found a way to contain them, even with inferior squads.

Despite lots of problems during the qualifiers, if the results both teams picked up during mid-week friendly matches were any indication, they should be back at their very best when the World Cup qualifiers resume in March 2009.

Brazil played arguably their best game since Dunga took charge of the national team in 2006, with a stunning 6-2 demolition of a highly-rated Portugal side in Brasilia.

The Selecao came from behind to record a massive win that will surely boost the side for future matches. What caught the attention of most viewers was the offensive power of the side, and the way they were able to penetrate the Portuguese defense at relative ease. Also some of the goals Brazil scored were nothing less than extraordinary. Are Brazil back to their all-time best? We think so.

Diego Maradona debuted as the coach of Argentina with a narrow 1-0 victory over Scotland in Hampden Park. The Argentines played some entertaining football during the encounter, and must have been relieved by the win, particularly because they have struggled to claim victories in recent qualifiers, even when playing in-front of their own fans. But is it a sign of things to come, will Maradona manage to change their mentality for the more decisive matches?

After impressive results, it seems that both Brazil and Argentina are back on track, and at this rate, both teams will surely secure qualification to the World Cup. Although it is early, when the tournament gets underway in South Africa, both teams should be firm candidates for the title.

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Zidane To Florentino: You Go Back, I Go Back

Real Madrid legends Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo were in Morocco last night where they held a charity match against poverty. The pair crossed lines with their former president, Florentino Perez...

Former Real Madrid president Florentino Perez was in Morocco yesterday where he met up with Ronaldo and Zidane, who were holding the traditional Ronaldo & Friends vs Zidane & Friends match against poverty.

Prior to the game, the famous trio took pictures for the press and held a friendly conversation. "With the way you look, you should still be playing," said Perez to Zidane.

The French legend was quick to respond. "If you return, Florentino, I'll come back too!" he joked, with that popular smile on his face.

Injury plagued Ronaldo was sentimental when recalling his days at the Bernabeu. "What good times we spent together, President, back in the day," he mused.

The talk was then moved on to more serious subjects, most notably Real Madrid's current crisis. "Schuster is not to blame for what is happening, the problem lies elsewhere," declared Ronaldo.

After being asked by journalists twice, supremo Florentino Perez refused to talk about making a return as Real Madrid's president in the near future. "I'm here to visit my family and friends, on vacation," said Perez bluntly.

Ronaldo's friends edged Zidane's in the encounter, winning by a score line of 6-5. Ronaldo was taken off early in the first half, in order to avoid aggravating his knee again.

However, Zidane scored a fantastic double, as well showing off those incredible touches that made him one of the most brilliant players in the history of the game.

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English Special - Liverpool And Chelsea's Early History

Ahead of Liverpool's visit of Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon, Alan Dawson looks at a corresponding fixture from 103 years ago, and explains it's relevance to the two teams today...

Liverpool and Chelsea have accrued countless talking points thanks to their recent encounters in both domestic competition and the Champions League.

The most notable of which was the 2005 Semi Final in Europe where a Luis Garcia 'phantom goal' separated the two sides and had then-manager Jose Mourinho seething by the touchline and lambasting each and every officiator for chalking a goal on the scoreboard when no ball had seemingly crossed the line.

What the cocky press-savvy Portuguese coach failed to publicly notice though was that his goalkeeper Petr Cech had impeded Liverpool forward Milan Baros prior to Garcia's effort and should the goal not have stood then the Reds could have claimed for a penalty, and the Blues may have had to finish the tie with a goal, and a man, down.

Opposition fans like to play a game of poke the lion when they visit Stamford Bridge. Chants of: ''Sh*t fans, no history!" bellow out the mouths of the visiting support, but what constitutes history? Trophies? Don't be daft. The answer is notable events.

Sheffield FC for instance (not to be confused with Sheffield United or Sheffield Wednesday) are the world's oldest club to still be playing Association Football. Have they won a major trophy though? Ha! Jog on. Of course they haven't. But what they have given football has been recognised by FIFA when the club were awarded the FIFA Order of Merit in 2004; one of only two clubs to have ever received the highest honour to be dished out by the world's governing body for football. The other side being Real Madrid. Do these two facts contribute significantly to Sheffield FC's interesting history? Of course they do.

In a similar vein, despite only accumulating four major trophies in the pre-Premier League era: an old league title in 1955; a League Cup in 1965; an FA Cup in 1970; and a Uefa Cup Winners Cup in 1971, Chelsea do indeed possess history that spans back five score and three years ago.

In a west London hotel in 1904 a chap that answered to the name H R Mears had just bought Stamford Bridge Athletic Grounds with the intention of forming a formidable football club that could be housed there. With the help of John Tait Robinson the pair spent a monkey (£500) investing in the team that included goalkeeper Billy 'Fatty' Foulke; a nifty £50 signing from Sheffield United who was appropriately given the moniker due to his corpulent 306 pound weight.

Despite the rotund nature of the Blues' new captain, Foulke was described back in the day like thus: "As fine a specimen of manhood as ever stepped onto the field. In spite of his bulk he possesses all the agility of a cat, combined with the playfulness of a kitten."

That summer the Pensioners were refused entry to the Southern League, but instead were accepted into Division Two, and their first game was away to Stockport County on the 2nd of September in 1905: they lost 1-0.

The next match was the first ever held at Stamford Bridge. A scheduled friendly against north west club Liverpool who were duly trounced 4-0 two days after the Blues' Stockport trip on the 4th of the same month. Despite the loss the Reds still went on to have a successful season claiming the league title, and nearly winning the FA Cup.

Some things change, some things stay the same... if you were pressed to think for someone that could weigh 22 stone now you would presumably never assume it were the glovesman guarding goal, but the pie-loving gym-dodger in row A.

Liverpool though are again making the trip down south to take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The stadium may have been completely rejuvenated over the years, but the home support will be hoping for a repeat scoreline from the corresponding fixture 103 years ago.

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Calcio Comedy: Pele & Maradona In Birthday Punch-Up

Footballing legends Pele and Diego Maradona were involved in an explosive fist-fight last night during a special party to celebrate the Brazilian’s 68th birthday.

Pele has had a long and bitter feud with Argentine hero Maradona, who has always accused the Brazilian of being part of the ‘devil’ family of FIFA.

The dispute hit a real low in 2000 when FIFA conducted an internet fan poll to elect the ‘Player of the Century’. Maradona won the poll but then FIFA altered the way in which the winner was chosen, and opted to give the prize to Pele. Maradona protested and eventually both players were presented with an award, with El Pibe d’Oro claiming that his rival’s trophy was worthless.

Last night the most explosive scene in this volatile soap-opera was played out as the pair actively engaged in a fully blown fist-fight during Pele’s 68th birthday celebrations.

O Rei, who is currently in Europe on a Viagra promotional tour, threw a lavish party in his mansion in Zurich, Switzerland. The 300 listed guests read out like a who’s who of the footballing, political and celebrity world. Outgoing American President George Bush and UK PM Gordon Brown were both present, as were movie director Steven Spielberg, singer Elton John, and of course FIFA top-dogs Sepp Blatter, Joao Havelange and Jack Warner.

Some major football figures were also chosen to represent some of the most prestigious countries. Dino Zoff (Italy), Michel Platini (France) and Hong Myung-Bo (South Korea) were just some of these.

The party all seemed to be going well, with Elton John and Celine Dion providing the music, Spielberg and Tom Cruise playing out a scene from their upcoming film, and Blatter performing some Swiss stand-up comedy on stage.

Then, like any dramatic Spielberg Hollywood disaster-thriller, the evening started to descend into something of a horror show. First of all English Representative Paul Gascoigne consumed a little too much alcohol and began smashing up Pele’s Grand Piano. He was eventually ejected by security, but not before he had thrown a cocktail of vodka, whisky and Grappa over ex-German midfielder Lotthar Matthaus, who he blamed for his infamous Italia ’90 semi final yellow card.

Matthaus responded by declaring that “all Englishmen were drunks”, which caused a stir between some of the German and English guests.

At 2200 local time, Blatter then called for everyone’s attention in order to issue a birthday toast to Pele, stating: “Ladies and gentleman, let us all raise our glasses to the greatest player in the history…

While Blatter was at mid-sentence, suddenly a most unexpected guest burst into the ballroom. It was none other than Pele’s arch-nemesis Diego Maradona, who had gate-crashed the fun, having been humiliatingly snubbed when the invites were sent out.

Maradona stubbed out his Cuban cigar into Pele's expensive Persian rug and immediately launched himself into a tirade: “Greatest player in the history? Haha…Greatest player in the history of what?

“Pele, you are the biggest myth there has ever been. You are not even close to being the greatest ever player in your own country. Were you better than Zico, Garrincha, Rivelino, Ronaldo? Only FIFA and all the dirty people behind you proclaim you as the best ever.

“The real people know that I am the greatest and this is all that matters. I am the real deal, you are a fraud and a sell-out.”

Pele then responded in kind. “Diego, please tell me, what drugs have you been taking tonight?

“You are a cheat and a bad role model. You are a bad example to young children. Now get out of my house and stop embarrassing me in front of these distinguished people.”

Maradona squared up to Pele, before American boxing promoter Don King stepped in and proposed that the pair have a three-round fight, with the winner officially being declared as 'The Greatest'. The South Americans reluctantly accepted, and former Ecuadorian official Byron Moreno was called to referee the bout.

Maradona dominated the first two rounds, and shook Pele with a couple of stinging left hooks, dancing around the Brazilian, who was unable to match the Argentine’s workrate.

At the beginning of round three Maradona dropped Pele with a beautiful uppercut that brought back memories of the 1986 ‘Hand of God’. However, in an astonishing decision, referee Moreno deemed the punch as illegal, and disqualified Maradona who, like Gascoigne before him, was ejected by security and put on a plane back to Georgia, where he will be playing in an exhibition match. The party then continued without him.

A video of this amazing fight, including the knockdown, appeared on Youtube late last night, although it was removed soon after. However, a new, heavily edited video was this morning posted on the official FIFA website, which mysteriously shows Pele actually flooring Maradona before having his arms raised by Blatter and Moreno.

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People Should Keep Their Virginity Until Marriage - Kaka

Milan and Brazil playmaker Kaka believes his decision to stay a virgin until he gets married should be an example to every youngster around the world...

Although the Rossoneri star is active on the training pitch, the same cannot be said in the bedroom department following his latest revelations.

Kaka, who is a very devoted Evangelist, believes it's right not to have sex before marriage and he has a message for all those who have their doubts.

"I am a great example. The majority of people say that after marriage, they don't like jumping into bed with their partner because there is no desires. However, this is not true, my wife is the person I love and it was worth waiting," Kaka told Fohla de Sao Paulo.

"A lot of people were surprised and shocked with me but I think it's the best decision. I am an evangelist and I believe in those values. I think people need to prevent themselves from making love before marriage.

"Of course, everyone has their own opinions but I think it was worth the wait."

The Milan star has been away on international duty with Brazil but he will be back in action for his club on Sunday when Sampdoria make the trip to San Siro.

The Rossoneri are three points off the pace in Serie A.

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Emile Heskey - The Makélélé Of Forwards

England's striker crisis may well be at an end courtesy of the most unlikeliest of heroes, and Goal.com's Sulmaan Ahmad argues just why he should keep his place on merit...

For the majority of his career, Emile Heskey has only ever been famous for an apparent resemblance to former heavyweight boxer Frank Bruno. On the pitch, the Leicester-born frontman has been branded something of a donkey - leading to the unfortunate nickname of 'Emule' - and far out of his depth in the England set-up.

He made his name in the late 1990s as part of a Leicester City side on the rise, before sealing a high-profile transfer to Liverpool in 2000 for a club record fee of £11 million. He was by and large thought at best to be a foil for strike partner Michael Owen and little more, eventually leaving the Reds for Birmingham City - a significant backwards step - and failing to build on his promising start at St Andrews before switching to Wigan Athletic, where he has rediscovered his confidence and forced his way back into the England set-up.

Latics boss Steve Bruce is convinced that Emile is the best striker of his type that the country has to offer - a claim met with much derision from the majority of England fans - but old Bruno is going some way towards defying his critics, in his own way, with every passing game for both club and country.

England's striker dilemma has haunted them ever since Michael Owen's career became blighted by injury. Though it did not take long for Wayne Rooney to emerge as the new prodical son, the Manchester United ace is far from a striker in the mould of Owen or Alan Shearer before him. England needed something, or someone, new.

Every name under the sun has been banded about in preference to the very thought of Heskey leading the line for the Three Lions, but they have all fallen short. With Wayne Rooney rightfully a fixture in the forward line, it is simply an issue of finding the perfect partner.

The consistent rejection of Michael Owen has been the most contentious selection issue during Fabio Capello's reign so far, but the Newcastle United front-man still hasn't hit top fitness, and the thought of him being stretchered off in an England shirt - again - is probably one Don Fabio is keen to avoid. Furthermore, Owen is one that has always functioned at his best playing alongside a more imposing strike partner (such as Heskey) - something Rooney is not. Dean Ashton remains every idealist's choice, but remains in far too poor a physical state to put himself in contention. Jermain Defoe, much like Owen, has always been at his most effective playing alongside a targetman. The same can be said of the in-form Gabriel Agbonlahor. Darren Bent has shown all the qualities necessary to be the perfect man for the job, but has thus far failed to perform consistently enough to get the nod.

What rapidly became obvious is that many of the best available strikers would not fit into the team setup. While Capello is at least for now persisting with the highly criticised midfield pairing of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, up front, he has learnt his lessons and gone for a far less remarkable player, in Heskey, who has already begun bringing out the best in everyone around him. Peter Crouch was the final option, and of a similar mould to Bruno, but lacking in his strength, positional sense and selflessness.

Against Belarus yesterday evening, Heskey notched up his 50th England cap, and with a measly five goals to his name, it's not hard to see why he has been written off by the vast majority of casual observers. However, one of his greatest achievements as an England international was bringing out the best in Michael Owen, whose goal-scoring record for England alongside Heskey is greater than a goal every other game. Old Bruno made up for his own inability to score by ensuring his strike partner scored twice as many as would usually be expected.

He is now bringing out a similar instinct in Wayne Rooney and proving a formidable outlet up front for Capello's men, even if not the most remarkable or impressive player in possession or in front of goal. In that respect, he is very much comparable with former Real Madrid, Chelsea and France stalwart, Claude Makélélé. While Makélélé sits in front of his own defence, Heskey perches alongside the opposition's, and facilitates the rest of the team's play with a quintessentially English physical approach to forward play.

"I had hardly played for four years so it has been nice to be back," said Heskey after winning his 50th cap, insisting he never gave up hope of reaching the milestone, despite what was almost a complete absence from the national fold for four years. "It's been pleasing the way it has gone and England are going in the right direction now and it has been good to work up a partnership with Wayne [Rooney]."

Though it may only be cosmetic in comparison to the successes of the team, Heskey has admitted he is itching to improve his goal-scoring record for the national team. "I don't think I've changed my approach - although I am a bit more relaxed - and I am keen to improve my goal tally with England," he continued. "I know I played on the left a few times, particularly during Sven [Goran Eriksson]'s spell in charge and I've also moved around a bit when playing club football. But strikers are judged on their goals so I would like to make the record a lot better. I have never been a prolific scorer but I always want to improve on that." True, even when he rose to prominence in the 90s he did not score at a particularly impressive rate, nor is he now at club level with Wigan, though he is - as he does with such ease - bringing the best out of the newly recruited Egyptian goal machine, Amr Zaki.

Though the obvious limitations of such players means they will disappear out of games, targetmen like Heskey, poachers like Filippo Inzaghi or even lightweight wingers Diego Capel will always offer a team a whole new dimension single-handedly, and that cannot be underestimated in the increasingly competitive and pressurised environment of modern football.

Don Fabio has always insisted it is not an individual's talent which concerns him, but their commitment to and synergy with the team. In that respect, Heskey was not such a surprise selection as it may have been under more media-conscious coaches of past England eras. It was nevertheless a brave and justified choice that looks well worth persisting with, certainly up until the World Cup.

"Emile Heskey is very important for us," said Capello following the win in Minsk. "He has good movement, he is strong, he is quick - and Heskey and Wayne Rooney do very well together." The 'Bespectacled One' was keen to add that Heskey had earned his place by improving his performances at the start of this season, following a poor finish to the last, in which he was held back by injuries.

Heskey's inclusion has done such wonders for the fluidity and freedom of the team, not to mention their newfound ability to grind out results by any means necessary. Now, it just remains a matter of time until Capello is forced to make a similarly brave call in midfield...

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Vieira: Gerrard Is Best Midfielder

Patrick Vieira believes Steven Gerrard is currently the best midfielder in the world - and that Cesc Fabregas will become the best in the future.

Ahead of the 2001 FA Cup final between Liverpool and Arsenal, Steven Gerrard described it as an honour to be on the same pitch as the Gunners’ powerful midfielder Patrick Vieira. The Frenchman was the gold standard for other midfielders to aspire, reckoned Gerrard.

So there is a neat symmetry about Vieira now telling skysports.com that he regards Gerrard as the best midfielder in the world today.

Ironically, Gerrard has recently been criticised for failing to reproduce his outstanding club form in an England shirt, and the Scouse idol could even be demoted to the substitutes' bench tomorrow night when England take on Belarus in their World Cup qualifier in Minsk.

But as far as Vieira, now at Internazionale in Milan, is concerned, 28-year-old Gerrard is one of the world’s greatest.

"The best midfielder I would say is Steven Gerrard. I really rate him as a player and as a man. I think he is still one of the best," Vieira said at an event run by Ford's Feel Football debate website www.feelfootball.com.

And asked who would one day rival Gerrard as one of the best midfielders, Vieira cited his former Arsenal team-mate, Cesc Fabregas.

"Fabregas [has the potential to be the best]. I think he is learning every year.

"Now he is a top quality player. He is one of the best. In the years to come he can be at the top."

And although Fabregas continues to be linked with a return to his boyhood club Barcelona, Vieira is convinced the 21-year-old Catalan can achieve all his ambitions with the Gunners.

"I think if the club matches the same desire as the player, then why not?" said Vieira.

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Kaka's return lifts Brazil

Eleven months is a long time for a team to be without its talisman. It is long enough, too, for the sceptics to raise their concerns, even if those in question are the record five-time FIFA World Cup™ winners and the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year.

But this doubt pales in comparison to the pyrrhonism that once clouded Kaka's future in football. The Brazilian was 18 and on the books at Sao Paulo when, in 2000, he slipped on a water-toboggan slide and thumped his head on the bottom of a swimming pool, suffering a fracture of the vertebra; an injury which often leads to paralysis. He was told he may never play the sport again.

Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite nevertheless refused to languish in self-pity. Instead, he composed a list of ten goals he wished to realise in football. They included returning to action; signing a professional contract at Sao Paulo; earning a Brazil cap at senior level; joining a major club in Italy or Spain; and appearing at the FIFA World Cup.

It appeared preposterously ambitious. It proved comfortably attainable. Central to Kaka's accomplishment was his ability to cruise past opponents with the balance and elegance of a champion racehorse, the passing that made his virtual second sight lethal, and the capacity to consistently score from distance with shots as precise as they were powerful.

"He's got everything. When he plays like that he's unstoppable," said then Ecuador coach Luis Suarez after his side had succumbed 5-0 to a Kaka-inspired Brazil in a South Africa 2010 qualifier one year ago.

Missed in absence
Dunga can certainly corroborate the attacking midfielder's irrepressibility. Under his reign, Brazil have lost just once in 16 matches with Kaka on the field, during which period he has scored eight goals, while they have failed to win seven times in 15 attempts without him. Moreover, the Seleção have won - and scored in - just one of their last five matches in the 26-year-old's absence.

A series of niggling injuries have kept the canary-yellow jersey off Kaka's back since a 2-1 win over Uruguay on 21 November 2007, but his return to the squad for Brazil's forthcoming qualifiers against Venezuela and Colombia has evoked palpable relief. This feeling is reciprocated.
I missed being part of the squad so much and I'm happy to be back. Now I want to transfer my happiness on to the pitch
Kaka is aiming to make up for lost time.

Brazil sit second in the ten-team South American qualification group, four points behind Paraguay and above Argentina and Chile on goal difference. They could, however, mathematically find themselves third-bottom come Wednesday night.

I will do everything within my capability to help. I'm 100 per cent fit and ready to serve the Seleção
Kaka is eager to help Brazil post victories over Venezuela and Colombia.

La Vinotinto beat Brazil 2-0 in a friendly in the USA in June, and will have home advantage to their benefit on Sunday. "Venezuela are no punching bags. It will be a tough game but Brazil live by results," said Kaka. "I'm not the saviour of my homeland. It's not only my responsibility but I will do everything within my capability to help. I'm 100 per cent fit and ready to serve the Seleção."

The long-suffering Brazil supporters are equally ready to chant the name of Kaka, which derives from the inability of his brother, Standard Liege defender Digao, to pronounce Ricardo during his infancy. Its inscription on the FIFA World Player of the Year trophy results from the inability of defenders the world over to nullify him throughout 2007.

This year has not gone according to plan for Kaka. His crack at making up for lost time with Brazil begins against Venezuela. Will the relationship between player and team be as consummate as it was before?

Absence, as the say, makes the heart grow fonder, and Kaka will be determined to mark the reunion by taking another step towards the crowded pantheon of Brazilian greats.

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Eat For Goals - the footballers guide to healthy eating.

"Eat for Goals "is a book created by UEFA and the World Heart Federation.It is about good food, cooking and football. It has been created to encourage young people to be more conscious of living active lifestyles and eating well. 20% of children in the EU are overweight and the rate of increase of childhood obesity is ten times higher than in the 1970s. Ronaldo and Ronaldinho are also part of the target audience.
Some of the suggested foods :Scotland and Rangers captain Barry Ferguson goes for fresh fruit salad,Thierry Henry has something in Pasta,chicken and fish.Steven Gerrard has given the recipe for his favourite - aromatic sea bream.

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Kaká Backs Messi For Ballon d'Or

Kaká has revealed that he would like to see Lionel Messi win the Ballon d'Or ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo this year. He seemed to rule himself out of contention, but the AC Milan and Brazil playmaker vowed to be back to win the trophy in the future...

The Brazilian star vowed to return to challenge for personal honours after tipping the Barcelona forward to pick the France Football award ahead of Ronaldo.

Many have tipped the Manchester United playmaker after he helped the club win the title and the Champions League, but for ability alone, Kaká prefers Messi.

"Messi is a truly great player. Cristiano Ronaldo is also very good and deserves the away, but I want Leo to be my successor," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"He has incredible ability and can control the ball superbly and that makes him one of the best players in the world.

"I think he is the sort of player that you would always want in your team.

"I am only talking about this year. My aim is to recover my form as quickly as possible and to try and win th trophy again in Paris and the FIFA World Player of the Year in Zürich.



"But for that to happen I have to be playing at a consistently good level for Milan."

Kaká then stated that he believes Ronaldinho's move from Barça to Milan will turn out to be a bargain for the Serie A side and explained that he enjoys playing alongside him.

"Without doubt he will be the best signing of the season in the Italian league. Our paths in life have been very different, but that does not mean that we cannot be friends," he continued.

"Above all, it does not mean that we cannot play together either."

Finally, Kaká moved to reiterate his desire to stay with Milan despite the annual rumours of him attracting the biggest clubs on the continent.

"First it was about Madrid now everyone is talking about going to England. That is how the market is, but I insist that I am not going anywhere, he explained.

"My relationship with everyone at the club is excellent and unless someone has a change of plans one day and decides to sell me, I will not be moving."

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2008-09: Is This The Year Of The ‘Messiah’?

Lionel Messi admirer, Clark Whitney gives his take on why he thinks “The Messiah” will go from a young phenomenon to a world class footballing icon in the 2008/09 season....

It was a warm June afternoon in 2006. Having finished my classes for the day, I rushed to the nearest TV to tune in to the World Cup. Argentina were up against Serbia and Montenegro and the South American heavyweights were comfortably ahead 3-0. A foregone conclusion.

But there was good reason to keep watching. Shortly after tuning in, a substitution was made: Maxi Rodriguez was withdrawn for a young Lionel Messi, who was just six days shy of his 19th birthday.

Just four minutes into his entrance, the teenager was released down the left flank, creeping behind the defensive line. Having a nearly impossible angle wherefrom to shoot, he provided an inch-perfect pass across the face of goal. It evaded three defenders and the goalkeeper, but not Hernan Crespo, who tapped the ball into the net.

Then, in the 88th minute, Messi made a long run off the ball to receive a pass from Carlos Tevez just as he burst into the box. With just one defender to beat, Messi raced ahead and coolly knocked the ball past Dragoslav Jevric, capping a 6-0 rout. It was on this day that I became a Lionel Messi fan.

Lionel Messi’s talent is undeniable, although the extent of it is still heavily debated. Some hail him as the next Diego Maradona, while others think that he will never reach the heights of some of the great wide forwards, such as Maradona himself and, more recently, Cristiano Ronaldo. While I cannot compare Messi to the great Diego – I was just four years of age when Maradona left Napoli for Sevilla and entered the autumn of his career – I can compare Messi to Ronaldo.

I will be the first to admit that comparing players is generally a difficult and flawed process. After all, in spite of their having similar playing positions on the pitch, Messi and Ronaldo have different playing styles and talents.

Ronaldo is, marginally, the faster of the two, and is certainly stronger. He benefits greatly from the fast pace of the English game, as he is able to instantaneously transition from defence to lead a breakaway. However, he often wastes his strength and balance by falling when he could easily stay on his feet. As for his technical advantages, the Portuguese ace is far better in the air than Messi, and has a better shot. And yet, I have plenty of reason to believe that Argentine will emerge the better player at the end of this season.

To begin with, I doubt Ronaldo will be able to replicate last year’s success in the 2008-09 season. Missing the early stages of this season with injury has given him plenty of time to lose focus and brood over his failure to move to Real Madrid in the off-season. To add to this, he has received (and will continue to do so) every individual award imaginable for his performance last year. In addition, he also picked up winners’ medal for the Champions’ League and the Premiership with Manchester United. So, what else does he have to prove?

Plenty, if you ask me – he has never won anything with Portugal and his displays in important Premier League and Champions League matches have sometimes been far below his performance against low-level league teams. However, this knowledge will not weigh heavily on the mind of a self-assured, distracted, and discontented Ronaldo.

Messi, on the other hand, has everything to prove and, with Ronaldinho having left Barcelona, finally has his chance to do so. His dribbling is unmatched by anyone in the world and while he lacks Ronaldo’s flashiness, he is far more effective in one-on-one situations, and has the unique ability to take on several defenders at once. Moreover, his work rate exceeds that of Ronaldo’s by leaps and bounds.

The Argentine uses his diminutive stature to surprisingly good effect. Having a low centre of gravity, he is amazingly agile and has incredible balance. Unlike Ronaldo, Messi continues to play after contact with opposing defenders, using a combination of speed, balance, and ball control. Instead of trying to run behind a defensive line as Ronaldo does, the Argentine runs towards his opponents, cutting to the centre. In doing so, he puts himself in an ideal position for making plays. Instead of simply shooting (Ronaldo did manage 42 goals last year, but took 255 shots), the Barça winger creates openings and he does it with great efficiency.

While Ronaldo had only eight assists in 49 appearances, an injury-riddled Messi amassed 13 assists to complement his 16 goals in 38 appearances. He also initiated countless attacking moves that resulted in goals for his team but for which he was never credited with a direct assist.

Perhaps most importantly, Messi is a big-game player, whereas Ronaldo, as the argument goes, is not. Many are quick to hail the United ace for his 42 goals – a feat that is absolutely remarkable regardless of how they were scored – without considering the opponents against whom he scored. Ronaldo did indeed tally more strikes (eight) than any other in the Champions League, but, for example, he was surprisingly anonymous in both legs of the semi final against Barcelona, doing little more than missing an early penalty at the Camp Nou.

Against Chelsea, in perhaps the most important match of his life, the Portuguese again did little, but had a Gerd Mueller-like flash of brilliance and managed to score a great goal. Still, he could have cost his team the Champions’ League trophy with his missed penalty during the shoot-out if not for John Terry’s even less impressive effort moments later.

As for his outstanding total of 31 Premiership goals, 20 of them were scored against teams in the lower half of the table, and just three against the “big four”. Of course, the statistic of three goals in six matches is still very good, especially considering the fact that they were scored against top teams. However, we can’t say that Ronaldo truly led his team to any of their success last season. He helped very much, but in the important matches, he failed to perform to the best of his ability.

Messi, on the other hand, is a great leader and tends to play his best in important matches, although he still has much to prove. While Ronaldo failed to impress in either leg of the 2008 Champions League semifinals, the bullish Argentine was an omnipresent force at the Camp Nou and even put on a good showing at Old Trafford, although he could not save his team from a 1-0 defeat in the second leg.

Still, Messi has a record, albeit limited, of leadership and success. In 2005, he won the U-20 World Cup with Argentina, earning himself both the Golden Ball and Golden Boot awards. Last month, he led Argentina to the gold medal at the Olympics, providing a perfect assist to Angel Di Maria for the tournament winner. He also won the 2006 Champions League with Barcelona, although he only participated in 7 of the 13 matches during that competition. Ultimately, he still has much to prove for both club and country, which will provide plenty of motivation to the 21 year old.

Judging from his performances at the Olympics, it seems as though Messi is finally coming of age. That said, the young “Messiah” has plenty of room for growth and may not peak for another two to three, or even five years. And yet, barring injury, I still think he will win the 2009 Ballon D’Or.

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Zidane: Ronaldo Is World's Best

French legend Zinedine Zidane has hailed the talent of Manchester United's number 7 Cristiano Ronaldo...

Holder of the world's largest transfer fee Zinedine Zidane picked up plentiful individual awards during his playing days and believes Cristiano Ronaldo is set to do the same.

Zidane, who was awarded the Fifa World Player of the Year on three separate occasions, has backed Ronaldo to pick up the first of his this year for his 42-goal return last season.

"Cristiano Ronaldo is in a good position to win it," Zidane is quoted by Setanta Sports as saying.

"Then, it’s a question of feeling. When I was playing, some preferred Zidane to Ronaldo and vice-versa... As far as I’m concerned, Cristiano Ronaldo has an edge regarding the whole season," he concluded.

Ronaldo was recently rewarded with the Uefa Player of the Year award for his performances in last season's Champions League. He also scored the opening goal in the European final in Moscow.

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Top Twenty Transfers Of The Summer

list of the top twenty transfers of the summer. In this edition, we considered all moves officially concluded by the start of Monday, 1 September 2008...

The factors taken into account are

(a) form over the last 12 months,
(b) potential, and
(c) transfer fee involved.

The extension from ten to twenty was compiled by taking into account previous editions.

There's just one new entry this week. Find out who below...


20. Hatem Ben Arfa (Lyon to Marseille)
Last Week: 19

Marseille have lost Samir Nasri to Arsenal, but have managed to land the perfect replacement in the man Arsene Wenger had his sights on to start with. What is more, they can keep him for a year or two, and make a cool 8-10 million profit.


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19. Alberto Gilardino (Milan to Fiorentina)
Last Week: 18

On the face of it, it looks like the Viola have signed an unhappy, out-of-form striker. However, that was just what Adrian Mutu's move from Juventus looked like not so long ago. The fans will help him forget Milan in a hurry, and rediscover the striker that wowed Calcio when at Parma. The partnership with Mutu can be backed to produce some special moments in the Champions League.


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18. Andriy Shevchenko (Chelsea to AC Milan)
Last Week: 17

After two seasons of mediocrity at Chelsea, the Ukrainian is back at his spiritual home. Nonetheless this is a considerable gamble for the rossoneri: with a full complement of fit strikers, a Shevchenko who cannot hit form may warm the bench. On the other hand his return - even as a 30-year-old - could signal a goalscoring comeback unseen in Serie A since... well, since Andriy Shevchenko.


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17. Julio Baptista (Real Madrid to AS Roma)
Last Week: 16

The Beast, The Tank - you'd be as well calling him The Happy Wanderer, for the Brazilian has now experienced three countries in as many seasons. The 26-year-old has only seldom repeated the form that saw him shine at Sevilla four seasons ago, but he began the last campaign well enough with Madrid. Part of the problem is that he's been kept out of position for so long in order to accommodate more prestigious players: if Roma can build a system around him, instead of slotting him in wherever there happens to be a space, they could have a real superstar on their hands.



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16. Seydou Keita (Sevilla to Barcelona)
Last Week: 15

At the time of his arrival he was the best signing Barcelona had made this season, particularly in light of the way their soft underbelly was exposed on the road last year. With him partnering Yaya Touré in the middle, it will ensure that the likes of Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi do not get bullied, and also get the full license to thrill. 15 million euros worth their value.



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15. Ezequiel Garay (Racing Santander to Real Madrid)
Last Week: 14

What a capture! Barcelona seemed to have him in the bag, but hesitated a little too much as they waited for Frank Rijkaard to leave and a new coach to take charge. Madrid managed to snatch Sergio Ramos a few years ago, and what a signing that has turned out to be. This one may be no different.


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14. Deco (Barcelona to Chelsea)
Last Week: 13

On the wrong side of 30, a first look suggests that he is past it, but nothing could be further from the truth. There is a fire that burns in him as we saw during Euro 2008, and he has a lot more to give to football. He is not what Frank Lampard is, as he will never score as many goals. But then, he is also everything Lampard is not. Superb creativity, a great eye for the game, and an ability to run the show that has seen him win the Champions League with two different clubs. Finally, Chelsea have a player who can orchestrate the pleasing football their owner wants. With Ballack and Essien set to play around him, it will be an ominous midfield.


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13. Amantino Mancini (Roma to Inter)
Last Week: 12

Jose Mourinho does not quite promote exciting football, but he does like a fast, aggressive winger forward at least on one flank. That is just what he has found in Mancini, who will be handed the license to thrill just as Arjen Robben was during the glory years at Chelsea. Tends to blow hot and cold, though, as Roma found out last season. Lack of consistency will not go down well with the 'Special One', so he does need to focus a lot more.


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12. David Bentley (Blackburn to Tottenham)
Last Week: 11

A great way for Spurs to show their ambition - by winning the race for the talented Blackburn winger, and in the process signing a former Arsenal youngster. Given what Juande Ramos did with Jesus Navas - a very similar player - this one has success written all over it. He has the potential form a formidable attacking midfield along with Giovani Dos Santos and Luka Modric.


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11. Robbie Keane (Tottenham to Liverpool)
Last Week:10

Make no mistake, I rate him very highly. That said, the Reds paid a few millions too many. He will still score the 15-20 goals needed to complement Fernando Torres' 25-30, so Rafa might just have splashed the extra cash with good reason. Their draw happy start to the season destroyed their title challenge last time around, so goals is what they need, and that is what they will get.


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10. Amauri (Palermo to Juventus)
Last Week: 9

The Brazilian-Italian striker made it to number three after earning himself a long overdue move to a top four club, but now slips down to nine. He has already shown his potential with Palermo, and the prospect of him getting some top quality service from the Juve midfield is simply mouth-watering. Champions League, here he comes.


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9. Vincent Kompany (Hamburg SV to Manchester City)
Last Week: 8

The former Hamburg man left Germany under something of a cloud in order to affect a very quick transfer to City, but for all the "shotgun wedding" nature of the move it seems to have been the Mancunians' best of the summer. Put it this way: just one game into his tenure he put in a confident, mature showing in what is thought to be the world's fastest and most furious league, then said afterwards with characteristic nonchalance that he learned his new teammates' names on the pitch. Imagine what he'll be like once he's settled in and has a bit more experience.


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8. Daniel Alves (Sevilla to Barcelona)
Last Week: 7

Chelsea, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester United – these are just some of the clubs that have queued up for him over the last 18 months or so. However, it is Barcelona who land him after some difficult negotiations with Sevilla. Perhaps a touch overpriced at 30 million euros (he would have been number one on this list at 20m), but then again, he is the best attacking full-back this world has seen since Roberto Carlos.


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7. Quaresma (FC Porto to Inter)
New Entry

The only transfer saga of the summer more long-running (and some would say more boring) than that of Amauri, it seems as though Ricardo Quaresma has finally made his move from Porto to Inter. A class act at domestic level for years, the Portuguese international still has much to prove in Europe, particularly in light of the fact that his time with FC Barcelona was deemed a failure. Nonetheless he brings with him considerable talent and pedigree. His price tag - €30.6m - is on the high side, but he is nonetheless a fine acquisition for José Mourinho's side. Remember - he's still only 24.


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6. Samir Nasri (Marseille to Arsenal)
Last Week: 6

The highly rated French international is the latest to join the clan of young Gunners. Many view him as a replacement for Aliaksandr Hleb, while others go a step further and call him the next Zidane. He has had some problems with injuries, but let's hope those were exceptions as opposed to the rule. The prodigous playmaker is at number five.


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5. Ronaldinho (Barcelona to Milan)
Last Week: 5

A gamble? Yes. But given the chance, would you sign one of the all time greats of football for a third of his market price last summer? You bet you would. At 28, he is far from over. Some diet planning and some tough training, and he will give at least three or four good years to the Rossoneri. A gamble nonetheless, or he would definitely have been number one. Number four for the Gaucho.

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4. Luka Modric (Dinamo Zagreb to Tottenham)
Last Week: 4

The hottest young Croatian was snapped up by Spurs despite the interest of clubs such as Barcelona and Chelsea, and what a signing it has already turned out to be. Looks set to become the jewel in Juande Ramos' midfield next season. He remains at the sharp end of our list.

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3. Aliaksandr Hleb (Arsenal to Barcelona)
Last Week: 3

A very shrewd buy, and what could very well turn out to be a stroke of genius from Barcelona. With Lionel Messi expected to run the show, what they needed was not a Ronaldinho, but a tireless, no-nosense attacking midfielder to offer support from the other flank - without hogging possession or the limelight. And they got him on the cheap too. A true critics' player in that while fans rave about others, he runs away with the technical plaudits.


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2. Mathieu Flamini (Arsenal to Milan)
Last Week: 2

The underrated Frenchman was one of Arsenal's best players last season, and Milan's signing was nothing less than a coup. That it was a free transfer makes it even better. Has been the smartest transfer this summer for a while, now, but drops down to number two, finally.

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1. Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg to Real Madrid)
Last Week: 1

A lifelong Barcelona fan and one of the best playmakers in the world today, how Madrid managed to sign him for nine million euros I don't know. What is even more baffling is how Hamburg let him go at that price (even if clauses could raise it to 13m). I would probably have put him up here even if he had cost 15 million. A downright steal, and just the kind of person who will add to Bernd Schuster's team without destroying it (get the hint?).

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What Are Italy’s Champions League Chances?

Yesterday the draw was made for the group stages of the Champions League. Carlo Garganese analyses the Italian teams’ chances in the first phase.

GROUP A: Chelsea, Roma, Bordeaux, CFR Cluj

GROUP B: Inter, Werder Bremen, Panathinaikos, Anorthosis Famagusta

GROUP F: Lyon, Bayern Munich, Steaua, Fiorentina

GROUP H: Real Madrid, Juventus, Zenit, BATE

Roma

The Giallorossi have reached the quarter finals for the last two seasons running, and they will be confident of getting through to at least the first knockout round this time around.

Chelsea are undoubtedly the big guns, and indeed they are favourites with most bookmakers to win the whole competition. The Blues have strengthened this summer by signing the likes of Deco and Bosignwa, while Real Madrid star Robinho could join too before the end of the transfer window. With Luiz Felipe Scolari also now in charge, Chelsea should finish top of the group.

Bordeaux should not be underestimated, and indeed they gave Lyon a run for their money in the French championship last season, finishing second. With former Inter and Napoli defender Laurent Blanc as their coach, they will be told everything they need to know about Serie A football. They may not possess the big names such as Jean Tigana and Alain Giresse from their legendary 1980s outfit, but the likes of Fernando Cavenaghi and on-loan Milan midfielder Yoann Gourcuff must be watched carefully.

As for CFR Cluj, I do not want to sound insular, but I must confess that I know very little about the Romanian champions from last season. With six Argentines, including former Inter man Sixto Peralta, and three Brazilians in their squad, technical quality is unlikely to be in short supply. Nevertheless if Cluj were to qualify from this group it would be an almighty shock.

Prediction: Roma to finish second behind Chelsea.

Inter

Lady luck shone brightly on Inter as they were handed, what on paper, is by far the easiest group of all the Italian teams.

Werder Bremen will be the most dangerous outfit in the group after they finished second in the Bundesliga last season, even if they were a full 10 points adrift of champions Bayern Munich. The club’s star man is undoubtedly Brazilian playmaker Diego, but there is also quality in the form of German internationals Torsten Frings, Per Mertesacker and Clemens Fritz.

Panathinaikos sneaked into the Champions League after finishing third in the Greek League, before winning a four-team playoff. Despite possessing Austrian star Andreas Ivanschitz, and new signing from Arsenal Gilberto Silva, the Greeks are unlikely to worry Inter too much, even if away trips to Athens are never easy.

The group minnows are Anorthosis Famagusta, who made history by becoming the first Cypriot team ever to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League. Players to look out for are former Real Madrid winger Savio and ex-Roma centre back Traianos Dellas. Anyhow, Inter will expect six points from their two games against Anorthosis.

Prediction: Inter to win the group comfortably, followed by Bremen.

Fiorentina

One of the most equally balanced groups in the first phase is Group F, where all four teams are likely to take points off one another.

Lyon, who are seeded first, continued their domestic dominance by winning their seventh straight French championship last season. Les Gones have superb quality in midfield, with the likes of Jeremy Toulalan, Juninho, Kim Kallstrom, and new signing Ederson. They also have one of the best young prospects in Europe up-front in the form of Karim Benzema. Defensively though they could be a little suspect, and this is something Fiorentina will need to take advantage of.

Bayern Munich return to the Champions League after annihilating the Bundesliga last season, and they will now be hoping to reproduce this form in the Champions League. There are goals in the team up-front in Lukas Podolski, Miroslav Klose and former Viola, Luca Toni, even if the latter two had poor Euro 2008’s. Star man is undoubtedly the brilliant Franck Ribery, who would walk into any team in Europe, while new signings such as Massimo Oddo, Tim Borowski and Breno have added depth.

Steaua Bucharest will be written off by a number of critics as the whipping boys of the group, but those who under-estimate them will be in for a rude awakening. Two-times reigning champions of Romania, and possessing a number of Euro 2008 stars such as Mirel Radoi and Dorin Goian, Steaua will cause trouble for teams at home, and Fiorentina would be wise to take note of their 3-1 pre-season win over Roma.

Prediction: Almost impossible to predict the outcome of this group. Steaua will pick up points at home but I still don’t expect them to qualify. Two from the other three.

Juventus



If Fiorentina thought their group was hard, then they should spare a thought for Juventus who were drawn with Spanish champions Real Madrid and UEFA Cup holders Zenit St Petersburg.

Madrid have performed poorly in this competition in recent years, and were outclassed by Roma last season. The capital giants have made few changes in pre-season, with Rafael Van der Vaart their only real notable acquisition. I don't see them as Champions League winners this campaign, but they remain a formidable outfit and will surely be favourites to top this group. Intriguingly, Fabio Cannavaro returns to face his old club.

Zenit were a revelation last season, as they romped to UEFA Cup glory, memorably thrashing Bayern Munich in the semi finals along the way. The Russians are a real danger to Juventus, and have some excellent quality with Pavel Pogrebnyak, Anatoliy Tymoschuk, and Euro 2008 stars Aleksandr Anyukov and Konstantin Zyryanov. However, they are having a poor domestic campaign this time around, and are way off the pace in sixth place. They may also lose star man Andrei Arshavin before the end of the transfer window.

The final team of the group are BATE Borisov, who quite conceivably could finish the first phase with 0 points next to their name. They may have won the Belarus championship three years on the trot, but they are likely to be on the end of a number of hidings against Madrid, Juve and Zenit.

Prediction: Real Madrid to come first, with Juventus to just pip Zenit into second. It will not be easy for the Bianconeri.

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Nasri: Arsenal suit me perfectly

After 12 happy years spent with Olympique de Marseille, Samir Nasri opted to fly the nest this summer, spreading his wings to join the burgeoning French community at Arsenal. It proved a difficult decision for the 21-year-old, but it immediately began to look like the right one when he marked his first appearance with the winning goal and Man of the Match honours against West Bromwich Albion last week.

Advised to take the leap by his friends Djibril Cisse and Nicolas Anelka, Nasri believes that he has ultimately made the correct choice. As he explained to Full4Free.com: "When I signed for Arsenal, I knew I wasn't heading into the unknown."

Full4Free.com: Having scored in your very first match for Arsenal, you seem to have adapted quickly to English football.
Samir Nasri: I couldn't have dreamt of a better debut but I can't guarantee that I'll score in every match. When I met the boss (Arsene Wenger), he warned me that, in general, it takes six months to adapt. He mentioned Emmanuel Petit and Robert Pires as examples. But I was expecting to find the change more difficult. It's true that there's more physical contact than in France, but the biggest difference is in the intensity of the game, which is much higher here. The style Arsenal play in - attacking, one-touch football with constant movement - suits me perfectly. That's what I was looking for. And I've also been impressed by the quality of the training sessions, which are very similar to French national team sessions, and by the repetition work we do on passing. I now understand better why Arsenal's play looked so fluid on TV. It's fantastic. I'm loving it!

Why did you leave your hometown club, Marseille, at just 21 years of age?
I had a fairly difficult season last year, with lots of little health problems that kept me away from the pitch. Part of me wanted to move on to progress and raise my game. I'd been at OM since I was 12, and even if I didn't get to experience winning a title, I'd seen it all: the youth academy, four years with the pros and good times as well as crises. Added to that, I was living with my parents. It was time to become independent.

Did joining Arsenal seem like the natural choice at the time?
Not to begin with because Arsenal came in later. There were other clubs, but when my agent told me the Gunners were interested, that immediately became the priority for both me and my father. You just have to look at what the club has done in the last few years. Arsenal put a lot of faith in youth and all the French players who have come here have made an explosive impression. There's a guarantee with Arsenal; they're a club synonymous with success. And then there's Mr. Wenger. It was very important to know I wasn't heading into the unknown. I don't feel homesick at all - you hear more French than English in the dressing room. Don't forget that I'm only 21; not 26, 27 or 28. I don't have a lot of international experience, so for my first experiment abroad Arsenal is ideal.

Have you already noticed a difference between OM and Arsenal?
I was at a big French club and today I'm at a big European club. When you arrive here, you get an English mobile phone with all the important numbers in it. There's a guy on call 24 hours a day. When you show up at training, you're given your own personalised training programme. It's on a whole other level. Despite that, it's not a factory here. In the canteen at midday, you eat side-by-side with the women's team and the club's youngsters. Arsenal is a family as well.

Like many observers in England, Arsene Wenger has said you could go on to enjoy a similar career to Robert Pires.
If you told me today I could have the same career as him, I'd sign up immediately with my eyes closed! At the time, he was the best left-sided midfielder in the world. He scored and set up loads of goals. We have pretty much the same characteristics: instead of staying out on the wing, he liked to come inside a lot.

What was your aim when you agreed to move abroad?
I'm here to step up to another level, which ought to help my cause with the France team. If, in the near future, I want to become a regular with Les Bleus, I need to be a starter for a club like Arsenal. Being here has a bigger impact.

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Sheva One Of Greatest Striker In Football - Ronaldinho

Milan playmaker Ronaldinho insists Andrei Shevchenko is one of the greatest strikers in football and he believes the Rossoneri will triumph with all the fire power up front......

Sheva returned to the San Siro following a complicated transfer from Chelsea and he was greeted to a hero’s welcome as he landed in Milan.

Expectations are high at Milanello and the club have been strengthening well this term as they attempt to challenge for the Scudetto and UEFA Cup.

'Dinho is eyeing glory and he is full of praise for his new team mate.

“Shevchenko is a player who gives happiness to the fans,” said Ronaldinho.

“He is a great striker and I hope I will be able to help him and every other player at Milan.

“I really hope that we can win everything with all our important strikers up front.”

Sheva is set to undergo a medical today and then he will be straight into action as he begins training with his old and new team mates.

The Ukrainian hit-man spent seven years at San Siro between 1999 and 2006, scoring 173 goals before moving to Chelsea two years ago.

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FERGUSON VS WENGER: A THING OF THE PAST?

A THING OF THE PAST?
Has Mikael Silvestre's transfer from Manchester United to Arsenal signaled the end of this iconic feud? Alan Dawson looks back at the most dramatic moments of fierce rivalry bet...

The sight of a sophisticated Frenchman and a moxie Scot living in publicised inharmony had long been a leit motif in Premier League history.

Sir Alex Ferguson had built up such a successful team throughout the 1990s that he began to monopolise English competition. Arsene Wenger's appointment as the orchestrator of affairs at Arsenal in 1996 acted as a catalyst for a clash of personalities, cultures, and footballing creeds as the little-known former Grampus-Eight manager appeared to threaten the status quo of Manc dominance and superiority. The press loved it, the fans looked forward to it and the meetings between the two sides was constantly billed as compulsory viewing as folk from all over our green and blue ball tuned in to witness.

The fixtures contained everything: from spilt soup and pitched pizza; to boot-bombardment and cut eyebrows; to a magnitude of carding, harming, penalty-calls and brawls, as the head coaches started seething by the touchlines with at least one of them weeping pride.

My how times have changed. Despite coveting certain players within the other managers' squad, neither would cement their interest with a weighty financial bid. Ever. It was unheard of. But on August 20 here we are, contemplating how Mikael Silvestre - who spent nine trophy-laden years at Old Trafford - will fit into the Emirates regime.

How did two teams, and specifically two managers, decide to do business after a dozen bitter years of heated and well-documented animosity? What changed?

Genesis

Before Sir Alex could even offer Arsene a private post-match glass of red, he publicly whined: "He comes over here from Japan and tries to tell us how to run English football." Welcome to England Arsene, do enjoy your bonny sojourn.

Relations continued to sour in 1998 as the new Arsenal boss and his north London side were crowned Premier League victors for the first time in its new format - Manchester United claiming the trophy for four of the previous five seasons. Marc Overmars not only netted a crucial goal against the M16 team on their march to the league, but also scored the first of two in that year's FA Cup final against Newcastle. The Gunners sealed a glorious double at the expense of United.

And so began years of title tug-of-wars between London and Manchester that would increase in scurrilousness with every passing season. Each side's venom for the other ironically boiled down to the same vented belief: a disgust at the other side's disrespectful arrogance.

Exodus: Fergie's Flying Boot (February 2003)

The sixth round of the FA Cup in 2003 pitted the two adversaries against each other at Old Trafford. Three yellow cards within the opening seven minutes were issued indicating a tumultuous tie had rightly been anticipated. Jeff Winter, officiator for the emotive afternoon even appealed to captains Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira for peace. Arsenal emerged triumphant due to an Edu free-kick that took a deflection off David Beckham, and a neatly slotted side-foot courtesy of then record-signing Sylvain Wiltord.

Despite the highly charged nature of the match, it was really the calm before the storm, as a controversial melee kicked off in the home side's dressing room that David Beckham would later pay testament to in his autobiography My Side.

Beckham was deemed to be at fault for the first of Arsenal's goals. "I was getting bullied in public, and was backed into a corner for no reason other than spite," he said. Sir Alex was issuing his infamous hairdryer treatment to the team, but Becks was bearing the brunt of it. The fiery Scot then lashed at a football boot that socked the Golden Boy's brow. Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, and Ruud van Nistelrooy then had to hold Beckham back as he 'went for the gaffer'. The midfielder emerged the next day in front of the paparrazi with his hair tightly pulled back showing off his cut to the world and his wife.

Ferguson later apologised, but Beckham was still sold that summer.

Battle Of Old Trafford (October 2004)

Pizzagate. The nadir of their competitive rivalry unraveled in front of an estimated 500,000,000 people. Arsenal had gone the previous season unbeaten and were on a 49-game run without loss. The equivalent fixture the season before (September 2003) saw Van Nistelrooy miss a last minute penalty, who was then duly molested by an over-excited Martin Keown and a Motley Crue of furious Gunners. The whole match was marred by petty gamesmanship, with Vieira getting sent off for a kick at Ruud. Four Arsenal players were banned as a result of their altercation with van Nistelrooy and had to pay a collective fine of £275,000. Two Red Devils were also fined for improper conduct.

The Battle of the Buffet, as it had been dubbed with hindsight, was to be no different.

Claims of unsporting conduct, vicious fouls, cheating, penalty calls, and poor refereeing were made throughout the 90 minutes and beyond. Manchester United defeated the 'Invincibles' by two goals to nil. But it is the post-match antics that are of more interest as a gastronomic riot erupted in the tunnel.

In My Defence, Ashley Cole's autobiography released after the 2006 World Cup, he revealed: "This slice of pizza came flying over my head and hit Fergie straight in the mush. All mouths gawped to see pizza slip off this famous face and roll down his nice black suit."

It didn't end there. Coffee was hurled, pea and/or tomato soup was lobbed, and Paul Johnson - Arsenal's equipment manager - was seen to have claret dripping from his nose.

Arsene Wenger accused the referee, this time Mike Riley, of Manc favouritism and labelled Man U's poaching striker (RvN) a 'cheat'.

Tension was so tight that when the return leg was due at Highbury in February 2005, Metropolitan Police urged the warring managers to end their dispute for fear their personal battle would translate to opposition fans.

Revelation: Chelsea - The Rise Of The Common Enemy

The rise of London's next force - an Abramovich enriched Chelsea side - saw both Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson unite in wanting to slay a common enemy. The arrogance of a newly-installed cocky Champions League-winning manager in Jose Mourinho, together with top-class signings such as Michael Essien and Shaun Wright Phillips in 2005, and then Michael Ballack, Ashley Cole, Salomon Kalou, and John Obi Mikel in 2006, were seen as a threat that would destabalise United's and Arsenal's ability to conquer.

The signing of John Obi Mikel to Chelsea diverted Sir Alex's attention away from Arsene, and toward Jose. In 2005 Manchester United offered Norweigan club Lyn Oslo £4million in order to buy their Nigerian midfielder, Mikel. The deal was struck, it was announced on the Red Devil's website, and Mikel even appeared in a press conference with red shirt in tow, expressing his delight.

However, around the same time, Chelsea countered United's claims that Mikel was theirs, and stated the player had even trained in front of Jose Mourinho. After a long-drawn out saga Chelsea paid £4million to Lyn Oslo, and £12million to United. Ferguson lost out on a prime target.

Mikel aside though, Ferguson and Mourinho always seemed to have a mutual respect for each other. The same could not be said of Mourinho and Wenger. The Chelsea manager accused Arsene of being a 'voyeur', claiming the Frenchman to be obsessed with his ranks. Wenger on the other hand regarded Mourinho as a man 'disconnected with reality'.

The emergence of Chelsea as a Premier League contender diluted the hostility between Ferguson and Wenger.

Post-Match Grace

In recent times Sir Alex and Arsene have viewed the other with greater venerability, and this was evident at the end of Manchester United's defeat of Arsenal at the back of last season. Arsenal drew first blood, but United clawed their way back due to a Cristiano Ronaldo spot kick, and an Owen Hargreaves free kick.

At the end of the game, in seasons gone by, one would have expected twelve rounds, but there wasn't even a bell. After the final whistle Sir Alex consoled his old adversary and, with an arm round his shoulder, Wenger humbly accepted defeated: both respectful of the other's achievements and footballing ideology.

Mikael Silvestre

Mr. Wenger has a habit of surprising his supporters. His latest acquistion will come as the greatest shock though as the last footballer to have been traded from Manchester United to Arsenal was Brian Kidd in 1974, and this is the only transfer to have ever been struck involving Wenger and Ferguson.

On his arrival, Silvestre told Arsenal's official website: "I’ve spent nine years at United and I’ll remember that time fondly but I’m ready for a new challenge. Arsenal is known for playing technical and skilful football, and has a young but experienced squad. I’m really excited about this next stage of my career, hopefully playing my part in helping the Club to new successes."

Sir Alex paid tribute to his former player, but chose not to mention the club where he will now be plying his trade. "Mikael was a great servant and a wonderful professional. We wish him all the best at his new club and thank him for his service."

Where does this leave Arsene and Alex, then? Will we never again find them feuding on the touchline? Will the competitive rivalry the two clubs have built up continue to gain sustenance in the absence of violent on-and-off pitch quibbles? Will the most important fixture in the calender be earmarked for their respective local derbies, or for one of their biggest threats?

Old Testaments

Sir Alex Ferguson: "He [Arsene Wenger] is a disgrace."

Arsene Wenger: "I will never again answer any questions about this man."

Sir Alex Ferguson: "He ran at me with his hands raised saying 'what do you want to do about it?'"

Arsene Wenger: "What would I do if Alex wasn't around? I would have no one to keep me on my toes or to fight. Of course I am pleased that he changed his mind [about retirement]. I enjoy our rivalry. It is good for Arsenal, good for Manchester United and good for both of us"

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Will Ronaldinho return to his best?

One of the greatest players of his generation, Ronaldinho, finally put pen to paper with AC Milan this week to put an end to an unhappy final season with Spanish giants Barcelona. The big question remains for fans of the Rossoneri and the great man himself: can he regain the scintillating form of old on Italian soil?

With all of the fanfare surrounding the Brazilian's arrival at the San Siro this week, one might think AC Milan were welcoming a conquering hero at the peak of his form. However, despite moments of inspiration, the fact remains that Ronaldinho will be looking to revive his career at the San Siro after arguably his worst year in the game.

He went from proverbial hero to zero last year at Barcelona's fabled Camp Nou. After helping the side to consecutive La Liga titles and a UEFA Champions League crown in 2006, last season was a nightmare for the Brazilian maestro and twice FIFA World Player of the Year. Plagued by injuries and looking a shadow of his former self, the 28-year-old was considered by many to have passed his peak.

Now with AC Milan having shelled out around $30 million, the skill merchant will be keen to show that rumours of his demise are greatly exaggerated. Allowed to take part in the Olympic Games with Brazil in Beijing, Ronaldinho will be hoping to put the trademark grin back on his face by the time he begins his first season in Serie A.

So now it's over to you. Give us your opinion on the situation. Do you think Ronaldinho can regain that magical form of old, or will he continue to decline? Share your opinion with other all4all-m.blogspot.com visitors and explain why AC Milan will be the perfect locale for Ronnie's indulgent trickery, or why you think he will continue to struggle with form and fitness.

Remembering to keep your comments clean, respectful and in English, please click 'Post a Comment' to let us know whether or not you think Ronaldinho can revive his career in Milan.

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