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<p>Well it’s not been the best season for either of England’s first choice centre halves so far. Enough has been written about John Terry’s problems and Rio Ferdinand’s chronic back injury to have caused meltdown on Google through searching for both issues. Thankfully, Terry’s form seems to be picking up again and Manchester United seem to have cured Ferdinand through a calming spell of rehabilitation.</p>
<p>The issue for England would seem to be cover for both players with several high profile replacements injured, retired or bang out of form. Capello has already shown that he rates Matthew Upson, and for all his Premier League problems, Upson is clearly the first choice as a back up centre half for the Italian. He’s been dependable and reliable for England when called upon though and is clearly on the plane to South Africa.</p>
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<p>The only question mark would be West Ham United’s struggle in the relegation battle they currently find themselves in. Could relegation leave a hangover that could affect him? It will be interesting to see, but Upson should be strong enough to deal with whatever happens to West Ham. After that though, it becomes a bit of a lottery with a major question mark over another player Capello clearly rates, Ledley King.</p>
<p><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignleft" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3108/2752497863_7b0d02773e.jpg" alt="" width="187" height="319"></figure></div>What can be said about Ledley King, he simply defies science and common sense. King has been suffering for 4 seasons with a chronic knee injury that he picked up in pre-season training back in 2006. Now with no cartilage in his left knee, it is simply bone grinding on bone every time he plays, King has to have at least 5 days rest to recover. The problem is that fluid builds up in the knee, swelling it up after any vigorous exercise but it’s incurable.</p>
<p>For a player in this day and age to be able still perform without any real training week to week is astounding. Harry Redknapp rightly calls him a freak for being able to still continue at the top level and this will probably be his last major tournament for England. Even at 29, the toil of the injury will surely bring an end to the career of surely one of English football’s brightest talents far too early. Fully fit, it wouldn’t have surprised me if King had become a regular starter for his country. Unfortunately, we will never know.</p>
<p>Of the other two outstanding centre halves of this generation, one is seemingly more injury ravaged than King and the other retired after being consistently overlooked by Steve Mclaren. Jonathan Woodgate must have run over several black cats in his career, which like Kings, promised so much but has petered out in to a continual battle to even make it on a treatment table, never mind a pitch. When fit, Woodgate was a superb ball playing defender who could score a couple now and again. Time is certainly against him and he has no chance of being fit for the World Cup and maybe even the beginning of next season.</p>
<p>Jamie Carragher has stuck to his decision made back in July 2007 after being consistently overlooked by Steve Mclaren and no amount of pleading has seen him make himself available for selection. I kind of understand why he’d had enough, but hells bells, World Cups don’t just grown on trees. Yet, regardless of that, Carragher along with Wayne Bridge seem certain to stick to their principles. It’s a shame and Carragher is certainly deserving of more caps than he won.</p>
<p>Of the remaining contenders, Joleon Lescott has had a terrible season by the standards he set whilst at Everton. Injuries and criticism over the way he handled his £23 million move to Manchester City have certainly seemed to weigh on Lescott’s mind this season. Of course, his career at City along with his relationship with Kolo Toure is still in it’s infancy and it should settle down eventually, question is, will it settle down in time for the World Cup?</p>
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<p>Phil Jagielka is another high profile candidate only recently returning to playing after a 9 month lay off through injury. He’s certainly impressed since joining Everton in the summer of 2007, but it could be a little too soon for him. He’s another that has impressed with the chances available to him at international level and looks set to be involved with the England set up in the European Championship qualifying rounds when they begin in September 2010.</p>
<p>The outstanding English centre half who is not an England regular for me this season has been Michael Dawson. It’s ironic that if King and Woodgate were fit, Dawson wouldn’t be playing, never mind captaining the side in King’s absence. In fact over the last 18 months, Dawson has come on leaps and bounds and has been playing excellently all of this season. Strong in the air, reliable and passionate, Dawson in my opinion, clearly deserves to go to the World Cup.</p>
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<p>I was amazed when Ryan Shawcross was called up but Dawson overlooked once again, because he’s simply a better player at the current time. I doubt Capello picked the Stoke defender to deflect the criticism over the Ramsey challenge, but it was still a surprise. A pointless one in the end as he didn’t even get on the pitch, but the experience will have stood him in good stead. Shawcross is definitely one for the future though, along with Jagielka.</p>
<p>So for me, the final choice comes down to John Terry and Rio Ferdinand as first choice centre halves,&nbsp; Matthew Upson and Michael Dawson and Ledley King, dodgy knee as well to make up 5, taking my squad to 12 players so far. King, despite the knee issue, offers cover in both central defence and midfield and deserves his last chance after cruelly missing out in 2006. So who would you choose?</p>

The England Outsiders #3. The Centre Halves

The England Outsiders #3. The Centre Halves - World Soccer Talk

<p><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2400" src="/files/2009/12/Messi-226x300.jpg" alt="Messi" width="226" height="300"></figure></div>As expected Lionel Messi succeeded Cristiano Ronaldo as the winner of the Ballon d’Or award. The Barcelona star comfortably won the prize but he&nbsp;admitted&nbsp;his&nbsp;surprise at the margin of victory as he received 240 points more than Cristiano Ronaldo who finished second.</p>
<p>Messi&nbsp;was quite close to winning all 480 points &nbsp;possible as he finished with a near perfect 473 points while Real Madrid’s Ronaldo got 233 points which is less than half of Messi’s total! There is no doubt the Argentinian deserved to win since he was one of the main driving forces behind Barca’s treble winning season. He led all scorers in the Champions League with nine goals and scored in the final triumph against none other than Ronaldo’s Manchester United. The Catalan club’s star also scored 23 times in la Liga and was on the score sheet six times in the Copa del Rey.</p>
<p>The goals scored by Messi do not tell the whole story since his contributions transcend beyond the occasions he found the back of the net to include the assists he provided his fellow Barca players&nbsp;with. Messi’s assists&nbsp;totalled 18 in all competitions. The top spots on the list were dominated by Barca players which is also not surprising considering the influence of the likes of Xavi and Andres Iniesta as well as current Inter striker Samuel Eto’o.</p>
<p>Messi mentioned to <em>France Football </em>he is honoured to win the award and dedicated it to his family. He also said he was delighted to become the first Argentina to win the Ballon d’Or. Given the performances of Messi the past year, it is near impossible to find any other player more deserving of the individual award. It will not be a shock if Messi repeats next year, but his chances&nbsp;will be hindered if&nbsp;his country continues to struggle&nbsp; under Maradona’s leadership and fails to impress in South Africa 2010. Despite the concerns over Argentina and Maradona, who can bet against Messi repeating as the award winner?</p>
<p><a href="http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/2324441/">Who Will Win The Ballon d’Or Next Year?</a><span style="font-size:9px">(<a href="http://www.polldaddy.com">polls</a>)</span></p>


Messi Wins Ballon d'Or

Messi Wins Ballon d'Or - World Soccer Talk

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<p>Well, you can’t blame them for trying, two weeks after that hand ball incident and FIFA and UEFA being as patronising as possible, the Football Association of Ireland have asked to be included in the World Cup draw on Friday as a 33rd team.I’ve just had the misfortune of sitting through a Sepp Blatter press conference, which saw a bunch of smug and arrogant bureaucrats laugh at Ireland’s suggestions. Quite what was so funny about it and Blatter’s excuse that Costa Rica would also want to go simply makes them look out of touch from reality.</p>
<p>He then decided to mention that Henry’s family had received death threats. Quite what that had to do with Irelands request wasn’t clear, but the message was. Ireland haven’t a prayer against this cartel. I’m struggling to understand what’s so funny about FIFA’s cowardice in dealing with this situation in an adult manner. An organisation that is <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/may/08/fifa-mohamed-bin-hammam-afc" target="_blank">run by autocratic</a> and <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/1999/apr/25/newsstory.sport5" target="_blank">very undemocratic voting</a> procedures seems adamant to cling to the past as long as it possibly can. By continually refusing to look at the bigger picture here, which has seen FIFA’s <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/19/sports/19iht-soccer.2865931.html" target="_blank">standing fall even lower</a> than most <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/5076282.stm" target="_blank">people thought possible</a>, they are beginning to resemble dinosaurs.</p>
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<p>This continual defence of “We can’t introduce video technology” is fast losing any semblance of reality. Football is now the only major sport which will not allow video replays to decide incidents in play. Cricket, NFL, Rugby League and Rugby Union all now use the technology available to them to assist in supporting the match officials. How many mistakes must be brushed under as “human error” before Blatter and his cronies get the message. The match officials need help and only video technology can do it to the level required.</p>
<p>The old argument about the game being able to be played from top to bottom of the football tree with the same set up up is beyond pointless now. Top level football bares absolutely no comparison with Sunday morning football anymore. The balls, boots, pitches, officials, diets, goalkeepers gloves even the half time refueling are all miles apart now. When such matters as World Cup qualification are on the line, especially when accusations of bias abound, video technology allows the officials postion to be strengthened not weakened.</p>
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<p>The other argument of slowing the game down is also pointless. Ireland’s protestations over Henry’s cheating took over 3 minutes to settle down. Are you telling me it would take 3 minutes for the replay to prove Henry handled it twice? Of course it wouldn’t. People say that it’s decisions like this that make the game what it is today and we need things to talk about. What an idiotic argument, we live in the 21st century, if anything it’s incidents like the Henry incident that can do untold damage to the game. It makes fans like me think whats the point when blatant cheating can go unpunished.</p>
<p>By refusing to even consider the possibility of bringing football into the 1980’s never mind the 21st century, Sepp Blatter and his self protecting friends are pouring scorn on the beautiful game. The <a href="http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1136804.html#gallas+breaks+irish+hearts">dodgy European seedings</a>, constant slating of English sides, refusal to accept video technology and the obvious fact that South Africa will be given the easiest group in Friday’s World Cup seedings show that FIFA is only interested in paying lip service to fair play and its place in the modern world. The reality is that FIFA will always protect its favourite countries over teams such as Ireland, Costa Rica and Turkey, surrounding itself with useless bureaucrats who only care about themselves and stuff the fans and football.</p>

Breaking News: Ireland Ask FIFA To Let Them Go To South Africa

Breaking News: Ireland Ask FIFA To Let Them Go To South Africa - World Soccer Talk

<p>A common complaint about Major League Soccer is its failure or unwillingness to observe FIFA International breaks.  As recently as this month we have seen MLS matches played at the same time as crucial World Cup Qualifiers involving the United States National Team, this despite earlier indications from MLS that the League was going to pay closer attention to these FIFA breaks during the 2009 season.  While frustrating, this attitude by MLS towards the FIFA breaks is not surprising since, historically, MLS does not suspend its season during the World Cup finals.</p>
<p>Today there was finally some good news for those of us who have criticized MLS and its stubbornness when it comes to the FIFA breaks, MLS has announced that it would suspend its 2010 season during the two week group stage portion of the 2010 World Cup finals.  Additionally, MLS will not schedule any matches on the same days that the South Africa 2010 semifinals and finals will be played.  While this is not a total victory for those of us that would prefer to see MLS suspend all league action during the World Cup finals, it is a positive, and realistic, step forward for the League, which was criticized earlier this year by FIFA President Sepp Blatter for not following the traditional European club schedule of a fall-winter-spring season.</p>
<p>Admittedly, suspending the league season through the entire World Cup finals would affect the match fitness of MLS players not playing on the US National Team, and would create scheduling headaches for MLS clubs that share their stadiums with high school, college, and/or professional thowball teams.</p>
<p>If marketed right by MLS and ESPN, the league hiatus could work to the League’s advantage in attracting newly minted football fans.  The first two weeks of the World Cup finals are an utter football orgy, but the number of daily matches starts to drop after the knockout stage.  New fans looking to learn more about the game might be more willing to seek out their local MLS side or MLS matches on ESPN2 or Fox Soccer Channel once the group and knockout stages have taken place.  Additionally, after the group stage the possibility of MLS matches conflicting with U.S. National Team matches drops exponentially.  Should the U.S. National Team go on a shocking run, there won’t be any conflicts during the semifinals and finals. </p>
<p>Finally, this acknowledgement of the World Cup finals is a smart move by MLS in the sense of supporting the United States’ bid to bring the World Cup finals back to the States in 2018 or 2022.  The last thing the bid committee needs to deal with is having its competition argue that the U.S. does not deserve to host the finals since its Top Flight League’s schedule plays on as if the World Cup finals are not occurring.</p>
<p>The other important news coming out of MLS headquarters today is that, for the first time in MLS’s short history, the 2010 season will be a balanced season.  Each team will play 30 matches in 2010, meaning one home and one away match against every other team in the League.  This move is another step that should satisfy football purists and followers of the European leagues who have previously ridiculed the MLS season as not really counting since it wasn’t balanced.</p>
<p>I for one applaud MLS for making these scheduling moves.  These are small steps, but it is by making such small steps that MLS manages to improve its product and survive financially.</p>
<p>– As a follow up to a recent article I posted here regarding Vincenzo Bernardo, MLS’s transfer window has closed without seeing the young Italian-American sign on with an MLS club; however, there has been some chatter lately about the possibility of Bernardo joining the expansion side Philadelphia Union for the 2010 season.  This would be a good move for both the new side and the New Jersey native.  Signing Bernardo would give the Union good press in regards to obtaining the services of a young American who has trained in Europe and would create an immediate connection to the strong football fan base in New Jersey.</p>


The 2010 MLS Season: Fair To The World Cup & Balanced

The 2010 MLS Season: Fair To The World Cup &amp; Balanced - World Soccer Talk

<p><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Federacion-Colombiana-de-Futbol.jpg"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/2014/11/Federacion-Colombiana-de-Futbol-570x400.webp" alt="Federacion-Colombiana-de-Futbol" width="570" height="400" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-122395" sizes="(max-width: 570px) 100vw, 570px"></figure></div></a></p>
<p>Sevilla defender Aquivaldo Mosquera will be out for three weeks due to an ankle sprain. &nbsp;In the MRIs that were done Mosquera’s absence will allow Ivica Dragutinovic to once again be a part of the <span style="font-style: italic" class="Apple-style-span">nervionense</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;Starting XI. The Colombian international was carried off the pitch after a hard foul by Chica should have earned Espanyol midfielder his walking papers. &nbsp;Sevilla ended up winning their match 2-0 at the Estadio Sánchez Pizjuan on Wednesday evening in the fourth week of the Spanish La Liga. &nbsp;MRIs indicated that Mosquera suffered a second degree sprain in his right ankle but did not suffer any damage to the lateral malleolus.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The injury will force Mosquera to be out for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers when the Colombians face Paraguay and Brazil. &nbsp;He will be the second player missing for the Colombians after River Plate forward Radamel Falcao García suffered a muscle tear a few weeks ago as well. &nbsp; &nbsp;</p>


Mosquera Big Blow For Colombia

Mosquera Big Blow For Colombia - World Soccer Talk

<p>Atlético Madrid forward will be out for approximately three after injuring his right thigh in Tuesday night’s Champions League opener against PSV Eindhoven. &nbsp; &nbsp;Forlán injured the medial portion of his quadriceps in the 26th minute of the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic">Colchoneros´ 3-0 </span>win at Philips Stadion<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic">. &nbsp;<code> </code></span><code> </code><code></code></p><code>
<p class="picappstyle"><a href="http://www.picapp.com/PublicSite/ViewDetails.aspx?ImageId=1415341" class="remove" target="_blank"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://www.picapp.com/ftp/Images/b/4/6/e/ae.jpg" alt="AS Awards" height="345" width="234"></figure></div></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;font-size: 16px">The injury will see Forlán miss out on the Madrid derby as well as clashes against Sevilla, Recreativo, Barcelona, and Getafe in La Liga. &nbsp;He will also be out Champions League match against Liverpool and Olympique Marseille. &nbsp;Uruguay will also suffer a huge blow as he will miss out on the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in October when Uruguay cross the River Plate to play Argentina and then head to Bolivia. &nbsp; &nbsp;</span></p>
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Forlán Out For Three Weeks

Forlán Out For Three Weeks - World Soccer Talk

<p>Oscar Washington Tabárez not only has to deal with the pressure that the Uruguayan media is putting on him, but he will have to play two vital games against direct rivals that are fighting for one of those direct spots to South Africa 2010.&nbsp;&nbsp; Uruguay is currently in sixth place and depending on how they do in matchdays seven and eight they could see themselves in the driver’s seat or on the way out with Tabárez looking for employment.&nbsp; What stands out the most in his call up is the fact that six players from Spain were on that list.</p>
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<p>Uruguay will head to Colombia where they will face the only unbeaten team in the CONMEBOL qualifiers up to now.&nbsp; The last time that the <em>Charrúas</em> played in Colombia, they were torched by 5-0, but that game was in the heat of Barranquilla instead of the altitude of Bogota.&nbsp;&nbsp; They will then head back home to take part in a midweek clash against an Ecuador side that is no longer just a team that obtains their points in Quito.&nbsp; They were 30 seconds away from obtaining their first-ever victory in Buenos Aires until Rodrigo Palacio’s miracle header salvaged a point for the <em>Albiceleste</em>.</p>
<p>GOALKEEPERS: Juan Castillo (Botafogo-BRA); Fabián Carini (Murcia-ESP), Martín Silva (Defensor Sporting).</p>
<p>DEFENDERS: Diego Lugano (Fenerbahce_TUR ); Diego Godín (Villarreal-ESP), Martín Cáceres (Barcelona-ESP); Jorge Fucile (Porto-POR); Bruno Silva (Ajax-NED), Carlos Valdez (Reggina- ITA), Andrés Scotti (Argentinos Juniors-ARG).</p>
<p>MIDFIELDERS: Diego Pérez (Mónaco-FRA); Maximiliano Pereira (Benfica-POR); Alvaro González (Boca Juniors-ARG); Walter Gargano (Napoli-ITA); Sebastián Eguren (Villarreal-ESP); Cristian Rodríguez (Porto-POR); Ignacio González (Valencia-ESP), Robert Flores (River Plate), Jorge Rodríguez (River Plate).</p>
<p>FORWARDS: Diego Forlán (Atlético Madrid-ESP); Luis Suárez (Ajax-NED); Sebastián Abreu (Beitar Jerusalem-ISR); Vicente Sánchez (Schalke 04-GER), Carlos Bueno (Peñarol).</p>


Tabárez Makes Crucial Call Up

Tabárez Makes Crucial Call Up - World Soccer Talk

<p>Daniel ¨Cata¨ Díaz got the call from coach Alfio Basile as a replacement for Inter defender Nicolás Burdisso.&nbsp; Burdisso suffered a calf injury and will be out of action for approximately 45 days. The Getafe defender&nbsp; will</p>
<p>This injury ocurred in this weeks Italian Super cup final at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.&nbsp; The injury&nbsp; excerbates the crisis for Jose Mourinho´s side as Burdisso as well as Iván Córdoba, Marco Materazzi, Walter Samuel,&nbsp; and Cristian Chivu will be out of action from extended periods of time.</p>
<p>In addition to Díaz, Newcastle´s Jonás Gutiérrez, and Napoli´s Germán Denis will be part of Alfio Basile 23-man squad that will take on Paraguay and Peru.</p>


Díaz Replaces Burdisso

Díaz Replaces Burdisso - World Soccer Talk

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