DAY ELEVEN: SO CHELSEA HAS WON IT

After a neck-to-neck season, finally Chelsea was crowned the new holder for the Barclays Premier League. It has not been an easy, nor a straightforward season. The fact that Chelsea won the title with a mere solitary point is enough to explain and immaculate the season. No more one horse racing, but this time a two horse-racing. In fact Arsenal was still a front runner (that's three horse racing) up to their sudden collapse late last month.

With the Chelsea's win, they ended Manchester United's hope to retain the title after unprecedented three seasons win in a row, hoping to clinch their 19th to leapfrog Liverpool on the record book. Yes, Chelsea has won while Manchester united have to settle for a point behind on second. Truly, Chelsea deserves the title for been magnificent on this season. Their last 4 or 5 wins have been chalked up by a huge margin of goals spree. The hammering of Wigan by 8 goals at home Stamford Bridge proved that they can score big - something that have been lacking for the Old Trafford's side.

Nevertheless, I have been enjoying this season so much and I am excited to see how things will be different for the next season. The 2009/2010 season has been more than a wreckage of dreams and desires for many (particularly Liverpool or Everton or Portsmouth - dealing with numerous problems and struggles). The season has been a nail-biting, neck-to-neck battle - with almost five or six teams have been on top of the table throughout the season. More dramas, more unsatisfactory towards the referees should be a concern too, why not. Controversies are everywhere but the spirit of sportsmanship prevails.

Rather been disappointed, I have to say that the dismay season for Manchester United may not be long. Over the years, they continue to perform with dominance in style on the English and European soils. Probably, it is a wake up call - something need to be done to correct the agonizing current player structures or the current instable week-to-week performances. Horse race is over, but the fans of football (or soccer in some country) will continue to cheer for more excitement, with World Cup is scheduled exactly a month from now. What can you ask for more?

WORLD CUP 2010 FEVER STARTED

It is official, the fever for this summer's FIFA World Cup 2010 has finally ignited with much excitement. Early this morning, the group draw was staged in Cape Town, South Africa, at 19:00 (UTC+2) on 4 December 2009 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. The ceremony was presented by South African actress Charlize Theron, assisted by FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke.

After a heart-pounding 30 minutes of so drawing session, here we have the results for the draw. If your favourite team fell in any of these group, it will be exciting to see how they will outcome the rest during the group stage. If you are still unsure which team to be your bidding one, don't worry, you still have roughly 6 months to go.

GROUP A

Group A will see host South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay and France fighting for top two places to Round 2.

Match schedules

Team's statistics

REACTIONS

I don't feel that this is the most difficult group; that is just speculation. Nobody knows how each team will be six months from now. All of our opponents are difficult, but none of them are out of our reach. The difficulty should motivate us even more to play a great World Cup.

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez

All the groups seem balanced to me. It's never easy to play against the host country, but we’ll give it all we can. It will be our last match in the group (against South Africa) and we always know that players can raise their game in front of a great home crowd. We know Mexico well enough and Uruguay as well, because we played them recently in friendlies.

France coach Raymond Domenech

It’s a very exciting first game for us to take on the hosts. For us this is a great opportunity to show what we can do on the big stage. Uruguay and France are both very tough teams too, but we will do what we can to get ourselves out of the group. The styles in this group are very different and it will be a special blend of football.

Mexican coach Javier Aguirre

GROUP B

Group B will see Argentina, Nigeria, South Korea and Greece fighting for top two places to Round 2.

Match schedules

Team's statistics

GROUP C

Group C will see England, USA, Algeria and Slovenia fighting for top two places to Round 2.

Match schedules

Team's statistics

REACTIONS

USA are a good team. But Algeria and Slovenia are also tricky teams. Every opponent at a World Cup is going to be difficult. We’re playing the last two group games at sea level, so that’s going to be a different challenge as well. But I won’t be offering excuses. Every team will need to meet awkward opponents, play in difficult conditions and win matches to win the World Cup.

England coach Fabio Capello

It’s a very interesting group. We all know the English players, but we will need to do a little more research on Slovenia and Algeria. Bob Bradley (USA coach) is a very organized coach and we will need to focus our attention on our first game against England at this point. We have some injuries that we’ll need to overcome and we’ll need to come together as a team.

USA playmaker Landon Donovan

GROUP D

Group D will see Germany, Australia, Serbia and Ghana fighting for top two places to Round 2.

Match schedules

Team's statistics

REACTIONS

I'm not really happy with the group we've landed in. It’s a very strong section. Germany is one of the best teams in Europe and of course the favourite to take first place.

Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac

It's an interesting group. We have to accept the challenge. It's important to win the first game against Australia. After that we will have to play with confidence against Ghana and Serbia.

Germany coach Joachim Loew

GROUP E

Group E will see Netherlands, Denmark, Japan and Cameroon fighting for top two places to Round 2.

Match schedules

Team's statistics

GROUP F

Group F will see Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia fighting for top two places to Round 2.

Match schedules

Team's statistics

REACTIONS

The moment you consider a group easy, every match becomes difficult. Paraguay led the South American qualifying group for a long time and Slovakia is a team that's growing up very quickly with some very strong players in some strong leagues.

Italy coach Marcello Lippi

GROUP G

Group G will see Brazil, Korea DPR, Cote d'Ivoire and Portugal fighting for top two places to Round 2.

Match schedules

Team's statistics

REACTIONS

This group will be very close. It is probably the most difficult of all the sections. But I don’t think it’s a bad thing to have challenges from the start. On the contrary, we will start more focused on this World Cup as a result of it.

Brazilian star Kaka

GROUP H

Group H will see spain, Switzerland, Honduras and Chile fighting for top two places to Round 2.

Match schedules

Team's statistics

Note: All informations and print screen is taken from Fifa.com

MANCHESTER UNITED STUMBLED BECAUSE FANS TOOTHBRUSHING ON THE STADIUM

Yeah, probably many have heard about it.

Manchester United stumbled to the late goal by John Terry, no thanks to the superb free kick by Frank Lampard that has created a bit of havoc. The 76th minute goal is to become the only goal of the match, a decisive marginal victory for Chelsea and a marginal defeat for Man United.

Despite several chances from both sides, several misses and several saves can be seen. Watch the highlight video below. Wayne Rooney missed two good chances.

Chelsea's win marked their 11th straight home wins in any competitions.

Also, for a bizarre story- some moments from the fan box. A fan filmed brushing teeth at Stamford Bridge during the match. WOW!! I wonder why he did that?

According to UK's Telegraph newspaper, this is what they wrote about it:

"During his show on BBC Radio 5 Live, DJ Spoony asked: "Why has he got a toothbrush in the stadium? And more importantly, why is he brushing his teeth in the stadium?"

Co-host Gabriele Marcotti joked: "Dental hygiene. Every time you eat something, afterwards you should be brushing your teeth. You were taught that, right? You should also be flossing too, I would add."

Spoony went on: "So you're in the football stadium, you have had your pie, you brush your teeth. I mean where do you rinse, or gargle?"

He appealed for calls from the fan's friends to explain why he cannot leave his toothbrush at home."

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE MATCHDAY 5

A week break for international duty and the EPL resumed for the Match Day 5. The international duty has soared England to eventually qualify for next year’s World Cup in South Africa with styles, indulging a 100% win record in the qualifying stage along with Netherlands, Brazil, Australia and Japan among others.

Back home, EPL matches last weekend saw both Chelsea and Manchester City continued their impressive run for 100% win while Portsmouth became the only team pointless, rotting down on the bottom of the table.

Man of the week this week was none other than Liverpool’s Israeli midfield, Youssi Benayoun whom had scored a pulsating hattrick to help Koppers trashed out Burnley by 4 goals to none.

EPL MATCHDAY 5

Saturday, 12 September 2009

BLACKBURN ROVERS 3-1 WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS

Ewood Park, Blackburn (Att: 24,845)

BLA: Diouf 19", Roberts 56", Dunn 63"; WOV: Maierhofer 88"

LIVERPOOL 4-0 BURNLEY

Anfield, Liverpool (Att: 43,817)

LIV: Benayoun 27”, 61”, 81”, Kuyt 41”

MANCHESTER CITY 4-2 ARSENAL

City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester (Att: 47,339)

MANC: Almunia 19” (og), Bellamy 74”, Adebayor 80”, Wright-Phillios 83”; ARS: van Persie 62”, Rosicky 87”

PORTSMOUTH 2-3 BOLTON WANDERERS

Fratton Park, Portsmouth (Att: 17,564)

POT: Kaboul 25”, Boateng 63”; BOL: Cohen 13”, Taylor 41” (pen), Cahill 88”

STOKE CITY 1-2 CHELSEA

Britannia Stadium, Stoke (Att: 27,440)

STO: Faye 32”; CHE: Drogba 45”, Malouda 90”

SUNDERLAND 4-1 HULL CITY

Stadium of Light, Sunderland (Att: 38,997)

SUN: Bent 12" (pen), 66", Reid 49"; HUL: Drogba 45”, Malouda 90”

WIGAN ATHLETIC 1-0 WEST HAM UNITED

DW Stadium, Manchester (Att: 17,142)

WIG: Rodallega 55”

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1-3 MANCHESTER UNITED

White Hart Lane, London (Att: 35,785)

TOT: Defoe 1”; MANU: Giggs 24”, Anderson 40”, Rooney 78”

Sunday, 13 September 2009

BIRMINGHAM CITY 0-1 ASTON VILLA

St Andrews Ground, Birmingham (Att: 25,196)

AST: Agbonlahor 84”

FULHAM 2-1 EVERTON

Craven Cottage, London (Att: 24,191)

FUL: Konchesky 57”, Duff 78”; EVE: Cahill 32”

GREEN TEA GIVES YOU EPL RESULTS MATCHDAY 2 AND 3

I checked back my recent posts and I realized I forgot to update one. Well, as a football fan, I totally forgot to mention about last week’s English Premier League results – how saddening! Anyway, update has to be done and on this post I will present to you again regarding Match Day 2 and Match Day 3.

MATCH DAY 2

August 18, 2009

SUNDERLAND 1-3 CHELSEA
Stadium of Light, Sunderland (Att: 41,179)
SUN: Bent 18” – CHE: Ballack 52”, Lampard 61” (pen), Deco 69”

WIGAN ATHLETIC 0-1 WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
DW Stadium, Manchester (Att: 16,661)
WOV: Keogh 5”

August 19, 2009

BIRMINGHAM CITY 1-0 PORTSMOUTH
St Andrew’s Ground, Birmingham (Att: 19,922)
BIR: McFadden 90” (pen)

BURNLEY 1-0 MANCHESTER UNITED
Turf Moor, Burnley (Att: 20,872)
BUR: Blake 18”

HULL CITY 1-5 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Kingston Comms Stadium, Kingston upon Hull (Att: 24,735)
HUL: Hunt 24” – TOT: Defoe 9”, 44”, 90”, Palacios 14”, Keane 78”

LIVERPOOL 4-0 STOKE CITY
Anfield, Liverpool (Att: 44,318)
LIV: Torres 4”, Johnson 45”, Kuyt 78”, Ngog 90”

MATCH DAY 3

August 22, 2009

ARSENAL 4-1 PORTSMOUTH

Emirates Stadium, London (Att: 60,049)

ARS: Diaby 18", 22", Gallas 51", Ramsey 69" - POT: Kaboul 37"

HULL 1-0 BOLTON WANDERERS
Kingston Comms Stadium, Kingston upon Hull (Att: 22,999)
HUL: Ghilas 60”

MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester (att: 47,287)
MANC: Adebayor 17”

SUNDERLAND 2-1 BLACKBURN ROVERS
Stadium of Light, Sunderland (Att: 37,106)
SUN: Jones 31”, 53” – BLA: Givet 20”

WIGAN ATHLETIC 0-5 MANCHESTER UNITED
DW Stadium, Manchester (Att: 18,164)
MANU: Rooney 55”, 64”, Berbatov 58”, Owen 85”, Nani 90”

BIRMINGHAM CITY 0-0 STOKE CITY
St Andrew’s Ground, Birmingham (Att: 21,694)

August 23, 2009

WEST HAM UNITED 1-2 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Boleyn Ground, Upton Park, London (Att: 33,095)
WHU: Cole 49” – TOT: Defoe 54”, Lennon 79”

BURNLEY 1-0 EVERTON
Turf Moor, Burnley (Att: 19,983)
BUR: Elliott 34”

FULHAM 0-2 CHELSEA
Craven Cottage, London (Att: 25,404)
CHE: Drogba 38”, Anelka 76”

August 24, 2009

LIVERPOOL 1-3 ASTON VILLA
Anfield, Liverpool (Att: 43,667)
LIV: Torres 72” – AST: Lucas 33” (og), Davies 45”, Young 74” (pen)

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE MATCHDAY 1

So, you shall see this lion logo banner more often. Why not when the English Barclay Premier League (EPL or BPL - and which ever would not be a matter at all) has begun and all we need is to endure a 10-month long football league that accumulates to about 380 football matches.

Enough said, Manchester United goes into the new season as a defending champion but may face some difficulty defending it since two jewels - Ronaldo and Tevez will not be around - there goes about 40 goals. Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea are looking strong at the beginning of the season as ever, been the traditional Big Four. Manchester City is looking good as well as Tottenham and several other teams.

Fine, forget about those introduction and let us look at last week's match results.

EPL MatchDay 1

CHELSEA 2-1 HULL CITY

Stamford Bridge, London (41,597)

CHE: Drogba (36", 90"); HUL: Hunt (27")

ASTON VILLA 0-2 WIGAN ATHLETIC

Villa Park, Birmingham (35,578)

AST: - ; WIG: Rodallega (30"), Koumas (55")

BLACKBURN ROVERS 0-2 MANCHESTER CITY

Ewood Park, Blackburn (29,584)

BLA: - ; MAC: Adebayor (2"), Ireland (90")

BOLTON WANDERERS 0-1 SUNDERLAND

Reebok Stadium, London (22,247)

BOL: - ; SUN: Bent (5")

PORTSMOUTH 0-1 FULHAM

Fratton Park, Portsmouth (17,510)

POT: - ; FUL: Zamora (13")

STOKE CITY 2-0 BURNLEY

Brittainia Stadium, London (27,385)

STO: Shawcross (19"), Jordan (33" OG) ; BUR: -

WOLVERHAMPTOM WANDERERS 0-2 WEST HAM UNITED

Molineux, (28,674)

WOL: - ; WHU: Noble (22"), Upson (68")

EVERTON 1-6 ARSENAL

Goodison Park, Liverpool (39,309)

EVE: Saha (90"); ARS: Denilson (26"), Vermaelen (36"), Gallas (40"), Fabregas (47", 69"), Eduardo (88")

MANCHESTER UNITED 1-0 BIRMINGHAM CITY

Old Trafford, Manchester (75,062)

MAN U: Rooney (34"); BIR: -

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2-1 LIVERPOOL

White Hart Lane, London (35,935)

TOT: Assou-Ekotto (44"), Bassong (59"); LIV: Gerrard (55" PEN)

MAN OF THE WEEK

CESC FABREGAS (Arsenal)

MatchDay 1 belongs to Cesc Fabregas, a Spaniard talent inside The Gunners. He simply explosive on that day, producing 2 assists and scored 2 goals on his own.

GLORY GLORY MAN UNITED - THE NEW BLOOD

Manchester United had lost the 2008's Footballer of the Year to Real Madrid, following last month's gigantic 80 million Pound move of Christiano Ronaldo to the Spanish club. Not only that, the inspirational Carlos Tevez also made an exit to the city rival, Manchester City. This has left Sir Alex Ferguson with out a possible strong attacking options. Losing both inspiring players at the end of 2008/2009 season could be a dreadful feeling for the supporters.

Recently, Manchester has brought in a few players to replace them. (Note: Only pictures of those confirmed entrance will be here)

WHO'S COMING IN?

Michael Owen arrived to Old Trafford with a free transfer following the end of his contract in Newcastle. Before signing in, there were speculations that linked him with Hull City, Stoke City, Everton and Aston Villa. I bet you didn't see him coming, don't you. (status: CONFIRMED)

Antonio Valencia in the meantime arrived with an undisclosed fee, presumably around 16 million Pound from Wigan. This Ecuadorian right-midfielder will be a property to watch, I hope, in years coming. Nominated for the Best Young Player at the 2006 World Cup it appears the 23 year old who has 34 caps for Ecuador has a bright future. (status: CONFIRMED)

Gabriel Obertan, a young arrival from French club Bordeaux. Playing int he winger position, he may not be absolute replacement for Ronaldo but with 3 million Pound with a four-years contract sealed recently, this player dubbed to be another younger version of Thierry Henry. (status: CONFIRMED)

Frank Ribery should be an expensive one. The French is a possible suitable candidate to replace Ronaldo. But Bayern Munich could not be ready to release him yet and possibly he may going to Spanish sides instead. Fergie has booked a 60 million contract bid on him. His abilities are unquestioned, great dribbler, pace and immense skill, he also added goals to his repertoire scoring 14 in all competitions this season. (status: SEEMS HE IS MORE ON SPAIN THAN ENGLAND - COULD BE AS HIGH AS 87M Pound)

Karim Benzema could be as great as Eric Cantona, or maybe I am too over-rated on him. The French striker is a hot property of Lyon. A seasoned Champions League performer, 24 caps for France and over 50 goals for Lyon in two seasons tells you a bigger picture about him. He has been a primary target for Fergie for years. (status: LYON SAID THAT HE IS NOT 'UNTRANSFERABLE' - AROUND 30-40M Pound...Now he has signed for Real Madrid - BUGGER!!!)

David Silva, a Spanish with great pace, skill, vision, great technical ability and a lethal shot on him. Valencia's financial burden may sees him off soon but rivals like Liverpool, Barcelona and Real Madrid are after him as well. (status: LOWER 30M POUND)

And a part of those list, you also have names like:

• Mirko Vucinic (AS ROMA - STRIKER)
• Douglas Maicon (INTERNACIONAL - DEFENDER)
• Luis Fabiano (SEVILLE - STRIKER)
• Douglas Costa (GREMIO - WINGER)
• Sergio Aguero (ATLETICO MADRID - STRIKER)
• Andre-Pierre Gignac (TOULOUSE - STRIKER)
• Nilmar (INTERNACIOANL - DEFENDER)
• Iker Casillas (REAL MADRID - GOALKEEPER)
• Ashley Young (ASTON VILLA - WINGER)
• Zlatan Ibrahimovic (INTERNACIONAL - STRIKER)

EPL: IT'S THREE DIFFERENT STORIES

Matchday 32 in the Barclay's English Premier League. The weekday match is a bit too much for the Big 4. Manchester United already had a run of 6 games successive all weeks round and it is getting too much hectic. Liverpool had a rest day over the weekend when the FA Cup Semi Final was enrolled. The weekday matches produced slightly different stories for different teams, particularly the Big Four.

LIVERPOOL vs ARSENAL

Liverpool was thrown out of the Champions League after a dramatic finish in Stamford Bridge last week. Nevertheless, the title which is still within their reach is the League title. Arsenal meanwhile is still in CL but suffered a comeback defeat by Chelsea over the weekend. Arsenal is still within points of reach to catch up the third place of Chelsea at the moment.

THE OUTCOME: A goal spree in a dramatic styles again. Is this Liverpool way of giving out so much entertainment? 8 goals last week and another 8 goals this week - Liverpool has let down 11 goals in the last 4 competitive games - that is not good. Indeed, Mr Gerrard is still struggling with injury in which he has been sidelined for weeks. The massacre of 4 goals a piece is made more entertained when Andrei Arshavin exploded 4 goals for Arsenal. He is a goal-scoring-wild-machine, in fact all 4 goals by Arshavin were created through 4 shots on target. Liverpool failed to capitalise the dominance they have while seeing endless shots that never get pass Lukasz Fabianski, a young Pole keeper on the other side. Not even 2 goals by Torres and Benayoun could do much to avoid any more points dropped.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Andrei Arshavin

CHELSEA vs EVERTON

Chelsea is through to the semi-final of CL and final of the FA Cup. Everton is still eyeing for the fifth place when Aston Villa's form began to deterioriate. This is the first match out of the two that will see this both side will be competing each other. Wait for another epic on the end of May where both will battle it out again for the lucrative FA Cup.

THE OUTCOME: It was not easy for both teams as both are known to be resilient in some form of artistic in football. It was the night when both goalkeepers were forced to make much of it to which in a resultant of frustrating goalless draw. Joleon Lescott, Steven Pienaar and Tim Cahill fired much of the ball towards Cech but it was some form of misfortune that the ball just did not went in. Meanwhile good runs by Frank Lampard were frantically cut out by a over-working Joseph Yobo, if not his performance may lead to the ball lurking straight for Drogba. Drogba was not much on fire but still he is dangerous. Set pieces fell to be converted by Lampard and Ballack. In fact the attention of the night was Tim Howard, with superb saves. In the end, no goals and a frustrating night for both.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Tim Howard

MANCHESTER UNITED vs PORTSMOUTH

Manchester United booted out by everton on an extra-long match with a casual-lifeless penalty shootout. Nevertheless, no more quintiplet titles but letting go one may ease some pressure and ensuring the focus on the League title. Either way, Portsmouth still lingering on the mid of the table but may still find themself lucky enough for another season in top flight, mathematically.

THE OUTCOME: It is a less interesting match where as usual United dominates but sprung only few goals. A good pass by Anderson allowed a thought-offside Giggs to cross before Rooney converted the first goal. After that the total domination was seen, with great passing and runs were not materialize with the failure to convert - finishing was somehow blunt. It was not until the substitute Carrick found his run unchallenged before kicked the ball pass David James for the second in dying hour. Portsmouth on occassion looked dangerous but somehow still not capable to breach Van Der Saar. In the end, a sweat victory over Pompey and the winner of the week is perhaps The Red Devils. However, Fergie must be concerned with the double injury on Gary Neville and John O'Shea - the priceless left back.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Wayne Rooney

THE STANDINGS

Manchester United (74pts, with a game in hand, GD +35)

Liverpool (71 pts, GD +38)

Chelsea (68 pts, GD +35)

Arsenal (62 pts, GD +26)

WHO EVER THEY ARE, HUMAN ARE JUST ARROGANT

It was supposed to be match of the week, but after 74 minutes into the game, it turned sour and it turned very ugly. After 90 minutes of lifeless performance by my favourite team, it quickly turned hopes into dopes. I agreed, should the nervousness and the plans went well, the ending may not be like this. Eventually I could not stand it anymore, walked out of the cafeteria where all eyes of the fans or the anti-fans were fixing to the medium-sized television in the dining hall. Later, I went to my room and I just bursted into tears while still typing the message into the Innit chatbox.

Yes, last Saturday, it was the day when all Manchester United fans gloomed. We mourned for our lost in the hands of the in-form Kop. We failed to defend our good record against them in our home, Old Trafford since 1936. We failed, outclassed, outpaced and outsmarted in all forms. I don't really care if they lost the game but the defeat at such number is a humiliation. However, as the disappointment looming and growing expansionally, with the jeers of all the Liverpool fan; I was still fortunated that there were some good words coming out from peoples surrounding me.

Oh yes, losing a game even as terrible as this will not make any differences. Manchester United is still on a less-cushioned 4 points lead with an extra gane in hand. Losing a game whether a big margin or small margin still gives no point and winning a game big or small is still worth a three points. There is one even reminded me that any teams in the world will eventually need a wake up call. Barcelona and Real Madrid were once a champion of Europe. So do Juventus or Inter Milan or even Liverpool itself whom had won any trophy they contested. Once a champion, there is no assurance that you will remain a champion tomorrow.

1-4 defeat to Liverpool is really a wake up call. A solid defence line up for the past two seasons headlined by Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand with Edwin Van Der Sar on the goal mouth had rarely did mistake for all this while. Truly last Saturday was not their night. Performances on the midfield failed to shine as well with most passes mis-Q terribly. However, those dark episode is just one of hundreds episode need to endure by each giant team every season. It is a lost that humiliate us and make us humble-down-to-Earth and this is just football. Whatever written on the piece of paper may not translate well into a result. Champion or no champion, some day they will bow down.

This morning, when I read the paper when Mr. Rafael benitez claimed that since Liverpool had beaten both Real Madrid and Manchester United in a single week, especially Manchester United been the European champion and world champion, they can now claimed themselves as the true champion. Manchester United fans may regard this remark as somehow arrogant. It is the same way the Liverpool fans may regarded all those remarks made by Sir Alex Ferguson himself over the last two seasons. The same statement was uttered by Rafa few years back when they won the Champions League which in the end, they did not defended their title at all and mostly played as rank third behind Manchester United and Chelsea.

Even the mastermind of once mighty Chelsea, Jose Mourinho when they were the dominant in 2006 and 2007, although failed to win the European Champions League, also once said that Chelsea was the best team in the world. Ironically, they failed to win the European club title, not at one under Mourinho's helm. Not to forget, Arsene Wenger also claimed that they have the best and talented team in the world but yet still unable to make any impact, while winning three times of the Premier League since inauguration in 1992.

So, who ever they are, human will always been arrogant. In football, tell me which of them never been arrogantly said that they are the best team in the World? Who said Fergie didn't? Who said Rafa never said so? Who said Chelsea or Arsene Wenger never? In football, arrogancy plays a vital role in building the team spirit or destroying reputation once they fall.

Come on, tell me who is not selfish and arrogant in this world? As a football fans, you only have two options, two roads in front of you - Manchester United fan or no Manchester United fan. What disgust me the most, some people wearing Arsenal's or Chelsea's jerseys and pledged support for Liverpool. Or else some Liverpool fan supported Chelsea or Arsenal when playing against Manchester United. This is reality. It's either you love or you hate them.

ENGLAND On Rampage!! F1 Is Near To End!!

This Summer, the England made a disappointed season when they failed to qualify for the European Championship or Euro. They missed the sparklight, the glimmers and the news publicity they desperately needed. Euro Champion eventually was won by the Spainiard armada which proved poisonous and retained their performance throughout the game.

Anyway, Euro 2008 had drawn its curtain. The attention and stakes are now on the World Cup 2010 which will be held in South Africa, the first African nation to host such an event. England was again in the same qualifying group for the second time with their own archnemesis during the Euro qualifier - Croatia. Group Six in which England is in also comprised of Ukraine, Croatia, Belarus, kazakhstan and Andorra. Earlier, England won 2-0 against Andorra with both goals scored by Joe Cole. England then had their sweet revenge over their nemesis Croatia 4-1, including a hatrick by Theo Walcott and a strike by Rooney. Last Saturday, England triumphed over Kazakhstan 5-1, surviving a hairy first half and the heroes were Jermaine Defoe, Rio Ferdinand, two goals by Rooney and an own-goal. Therefore, England stayed atop with 9points followed by Ukraine 7, and Croatia with 4.

Turning to F1, Fernando Alonso made it double in what looked to be the bullish improvement from Renault in the final part of the season. He won in the inaugural Singaporean GP and yesterday won the Japanese GP too. On Sunday, the podium for the last weekend race was filled by Alonso, Kubica and Raikkonen. With third place of 6 points, Raikkonen is out of the championship driver title, meaning that he will not defending his  Driver title he won last year. The race for the top driver is now down to the showdown between Lewis Hamilton, Felipe Massa and Robert Kubica. For the constructor champion, Ferrari lead McLaren with 142-135 and BMW Sauber is 128.

That's some short update on England and F1...