<p><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignright size-full wp-image-2084" src="/files/2010/02/Ronaldinho.jpg" alt="Ronaldinho" width="200" height="327"></figure></div>The next couple of weeks will witness two clashes between Italian and English clubs in the Champions League. In perhaps&nbsp;the most anticipated clash of the Round of 16, Inter will take on Chelsea in a battle between the league leaders of their respective leagues. Inter’s lead in Serie A is much more comfortable than Chelsea’s after the London club suffered a 2-1 defeat to Everton. For a more detailed breakdown of the clash which pits outspoken Coach Jose Mourinho against his former club Chelsea please refer to the following article: <a href="http://www.championsleaguetalk.com/inter-chelsea-sub-plots-make-tie-one-to-watch/675">http://www.championsleaguetalk.com/inter-chelsea-sub-plots-make-tie-one-to-watch/675</a></p>
<p>The second European tie between English and Italian clubs will feature Milan and Manchester United in&nbsp;an encounter between two of the most dominant forces in recent European history. The Rossoneri have won the European Cup in 2003 and 2007 while The Red Devils took the trophy home in 1999&nbsp;and 2008 with both clubs making another appearance &nbsp;in the final during the 2000s. Only other clubs to have a similarly&nbsp;impressive record are&nbsp;Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid&nbsp;who have&nbsp;two titles each since 2000.</p>
<p>In 2007 Milan and Manchester United met in the semi-finals of the Champions League with the English side taking a 3-2 lead to Italy only for the Rossoneri to turn the tables on Manchester and comfortably beat them 3-0. Then the Rossoneri went on to lift the trophy against Liverpool&nbsp;to avenge the historic collapse in the 2005 Champions League final. The&nbsp;two clubs currently share three things in common having each lost their star player from the 2007 tie with both Manchester’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Milan’s Kaka departing the club this summer. Ironically both icons signed for Real Madrid to signal the beginning of the second Los Galacticos era.</p>
<p>In the other striking similarity, the two clubs share the nickname with il Diavolo standing for the Devil in Italian while Manchester go by The Red Devils. The tie between those two prestigious clubs will depend on the form of a couple of stars in each squad. For the Rossoneri, Alessandro Nesta and Alexandre Pato must be healthy while Brazilian Ronaldinho needs to perform at his best.</p>
<p>On the other hand, Wayne Rooney will be expected to shoulder much of the responsibility in terms of scoring and creating goals since Ronaldo has moved and the&nbsp;remaining forwards have failed to compensate for his departure. Michael Owen was signed this season but he is no longer the same player with age and injuries beginning to take their toll on the striker. The Red Devils will be hoping to have Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic ready for the European clash with Ferdinand serving a domestic suspension while the Serbian Vidic has been sidelined due to injury.</p>
<p>The lack of playing time may affect the performance of both defenders but they will be needed against Milan as they create a very solid partnership which was key to Manchester United’s triumph in the Premiership last season. Ferdinand received a morale boost recently after being named as England captain by Fabio Capello instead of the troubled John Terry. The first leg in Milan will be key in deciding how the tie will end given the Rossoneri’s recent struggles. Milan have not won in their last four matches in all competitions and are finding it difficult to score goals.</p>
<p>While Inter are doing well in Serie A, Milan are renowned for their expertise in European football so it would be wrong to simply dismiss their chances. As for Chelsea, they have never won the coveted Champions League and will be aiming to go all the way under former Milan Coach Carlo Ancelotti who has won the trophy twice during his stint at Milanello. Manchester have reached the last two finals but will be looking to make up for last year’s defeat to Barcelona as Sir Alex Ferguson would relish adding another major trophy to his illustrious career.</p>
<p>Will Ferguson be able to outsmart Leonardo using his vast experience to nullify the threat posed by Milan and its rookie Coach? The next couple of weeks ought to feature some delightful football when the two sides take to the pitch in Milan in the first-leg. While Inter-Chelsea might be the encounter capturing most of the public’s attention, the two clubs tend to be more efficient as opposed to being a joy to watch.</p>
<p>Milan-Manchester will feature two&nbsp;sides who tend to put on a spectacle when performing at their best with Ronaldinho and Rooney expected to shine. One player who must not be overlooked is David Beckham with the England midfielder making his return to Old Trafford as an opponent of The Red Devils. This tie will carry great emotional&nbsp;significance for Beckham and it will be interesting to see whether he will start and how he will perform.</p>
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England vs Italy In Champions League

England vs Italy In Champions League - World Soccer Talk

<div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/m.gmgrd.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/manchester_united_article.jpg" alt="" width="450" height="300"></figure></div>
<p>This decade has seen the Premiership continue to grow and attract some of the worlds greatest players throughout the last ten years. By continuing to attract some of the biggest stars in the world, only La Liga can truly consider itself a rival for the quality of the players on show throughout the league. Yet who would make the best Premiership team of the decade?</p>
<p>Which players have consistently delivered year in, year out, or given years of sterling service throughout the decade? Well I present you with my best 11 of the last ten years, from goalkeeper to striker and I think you may be surprised with some of my choices. Once you’ve glanced through the team, let me know who you think should have been in or your best 11 of the decade.</p>
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<div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/m.gmgrd.co.uk/2009/11/aaagiven.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="385"></figure></div>
<p><strong>1. Shay Given</strong></p>
<p>The most consistent goalkeeper of the last ten years, with only the criminally underrated Jussi Jaaskelainen coming close for me. Seemingly trying to keep Newcastle up on his own, he served under 9 managers at St James Park this decade until he finally ran out of patience with the chaos in the boardroom and accepted a move to Manchester City. Since joining City in January, along with Craig Bellamy, he’s easily been head and shoulders above the other high profile signings at Eastlands.</p>
<div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/m.gmgrd.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/gary_neville8.jpg" alt="" width="353" height="257"></figure></div>
<p><strong>2. Gary Neville</strong></p>
<p>England’s most underrated player of the last 15 years and one of the best fullbacks this country has ever produced. Solid, dependable and wholly committed to Manchester United, Neville has often been in the shadow of higher profile players at United. For all the plaudits that Scholes, Giggs and Beckham received, without Gary Neville, it would have been a very different period without his consistent quality for club and country.Was clearly the best full back in Europe for a while along with Michel Salgado.</p>
<div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/m.gmgrd.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/ashley-cole.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300"></figure></div>
<p><strong>3. Ashley Cole</strong></p>
<p>Yes, he’s got the personality that gets on your nerves and his autobiography was beyond deluded, but he’s been head and shoulders above most other left backs in the last ten years. Despite his issues, Cole is a fabulous full back and his duels with Ronaldo for both club and country have been more exciting than they should be. Only Patrice Evra can come close to him over the last few years. If only he could score more goals!</p>
<div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/m.gmgrd.co.uk/res/56.$plit/C_71_article_1022718_image_list_image_list_item_0_image.jpg" alt="" width="298" height="298"></figure></div>
<p><strong>4. Roy Keane</strong></p>
<p>Love him or hate him, Keane was the ultimate midfield enforcer over the first half of the decade in the Premiership. When Arsenal and Manchester United clashed, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFkYRXlwQxA" target="_blank">Keane vs Vieira </a>was always worth the waiting for. Yet, he scored more than his fair share of important goals than Vieira and Makelele who were the other two key players in a similar position. Controversial until the end, Keane has always spoke his mind, but as a player, for me he was peerless.</p>
<div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/m.gmgrd.co.uk/files/2009/07/john-terry-300x400.jpg" alt="" width="291" height="388"></figure></div>
<p><strong>5. John Terry</strong></p>
<p>Mr Chelsea, 100% no nonsense defending, Terry epitomises everything that defenders represent. Tough, uncompromising and occasionally has too much to say on the pitch but as captain of club and country, Terry has given everything for the cause at domestic and international level. When he retires, Chelsea will have a major job on replacing him.</p>
<div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/m.gmgrd.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/rio-celebration.jpg" alt="" width="348" height="321"></figure></div>
<p><strong>6. Rio Ferdinand</strong></p>
<p>Another player who’s off field antics can sometimes grate with the followers of football, but there is no doubting the quality he has as a player. The silk to Terry’s steel for England and Vidic for Manchester United, Ferdinand is the best centre half of his generation. He’s had a ropey few months struggling with injuries and the scandal that the missed drug test caused unfairly tainted his reputation for a while but only Ledley King can come close as a footballing centre half over the last decade.</p>
<div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/m.gmgrd.co.uk/blogs/cristiano_ronaldo_football_hero.jpg" alt="" width="301" height="320"></figure></div>
<p><strong>7. Christiano Ronaldo</strong></p>
<p>Love him or hate him, Ronaldo’s <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GJetwg_nGs&amp;feature=PlayList&amp;p=3F9A73D9DD47BB67&amp;index=0&amp;playnext=1" target="_blank">2007-2008 season </a>was something magical. Quite how he kept scoring at the rate he did can’t really be explained and the following season was always going to disappoint but even though his head had been turned, he still kept scoring marvelous goals throughout the season. If he can replicate his domestic form internationally, then he will be remembered as one of the greats, but he has yet to deliver for Portugal. He needs a great World Cup to cement his reputation. Pace, trickery and explosive finishing that belies his size.</p>
<div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/m.gmgrd.co.uk/_kpA45f4pzBs/Sq7uUh3bBQI/AAAAAAAADps/A43z_aeFFgE/s320/Lampard_3.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300"></figure></div>
<p><strong>8. Frank Lampard</strong></p>
<p>There is a hair’s breadth between Lampard and Steven Gerrard for me but Lampard gets my nod because he creates more chances for his team mates and doesn’t have the nasty streak that Gerrard can fall back in to on the pitch. A fabulous finisher and a master of the late run, Lampard has consistently delivered season after season for club and country. Has struggled a little this season with the new system that Ancelotti has implemented at Stamford Bridge this year, but I wouldn’t back against him to score another 20 goals this season.</p>
<div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/m.gmgrd.co.uk/sport/nimg/Thierry_Henry_Thierry_880456.jpg" alt="" width="351" height="255"></figure></div>
<p><strong>9. Thierry Henry</strong></p>
<p>Well, at least he didn’t have as bad a year as Tiger Woods, his fellow Gillette endorsed scandal buddy but that handball has certainly tainted his reputation almost as much as his whining after Arsenal lost the 2006 Champions League. That aside, Henry was immense for the majority of the decade, even suffering from sciatica for the last few years. His partnership with Bergkamp left defenders dizzy during the Gunners pomp. Failings aside, a damn fine player and terrifying sight in full flight.</p>
<div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/m.gmgrd.co.uk/online/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/drogba.jpg" alt="" width="293" height="390"></figure></div>
<p><strong>10. Didier Drogba</strong></p>
<p>When Jose Mourniho signed him for <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/3852989.stm" target="_blank">£24 million from Marseille </a>back in 2004, eyebrows were raised all over England, but he has made the critics more than eat their words. On his day, he is simply unplayable and is once again banging the goals in for Chelsea. His form dipped under Scolari and he flirted with leaving the club, but he’s still at Stamford Bridge and the Blues are far more formidable for his continued presence.</p>
<div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/m.gmgrd.co.uk/images/articles/giggs_contract.jpg" alt="" width="304" height="450"></figure></div>
<p><strong>11. Ryan Giggs</strong></p>
<p>What is there to say about Ryan Giggs that hasn’t been said? How good would England have been if he’d stayed true to his schoolboy football roots instead of choosing to represent Wales. Clearly in the category of the greatest players never to have made it to a World Cup, he has scored and created more goals for Manchester United than you can think of. Even now, with Ferguson wrapping him in cotton wool he still delivers. A truly remarkable player.</p>
<p>Notable mentions must go to the following players: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Patrice Evra, Jamie Carragher, Ledley King, Patrick Vieira, Cesc Fabregas,Michael Essien, Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, Fernando Torres and Dennis Bergkamp. I don’t think anyone would come up with a similar starting 11, so comments please!</p>

The Premiership Team Of The Decade

The Premiership Team Of The Decade - World Soccer Talk

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The Premiership Team Of The Decade