Posts Tagged ‘soccer’

The Spanish League’s Top Soccer Players

Monday, February 15th, 2010

There are plenty of soccer superstars plying their trade in Spain’s top division, and it is rightly regarded as the number one domestic league in the world. Listed below are the players who are widely regarded as being the best in Spain…

Messi : Spearheading Barcelona’s treble winning team of 2008-09, Argentinean Lionel Messi dazzled Europe with his creativity and flair. Even though he is just 22, he is the current “World Player of the Year” and, if he remains injury free, he is likely to chalk up awards, goals and assists for many years to come.

Cristiano Ronaldo : Blistering pace and explosive power are the qualities that first alerted veteran manager Alex Ferguson to Cristiano Ronaldo’s outstanding talent.Now sporting the colors of Real Madrid, Ronaldo is hoping to make as big an impact for el Madrid as he did in the famous red shirt of Man Utd.

David Villa : Playing for one of La Liga’s less glamorous teams, Valencia, David Villa Sanchez (to give him his full name) boasts an absolutely outstanding goals to games ratio. He was the winner of the “Golden Boot” for Spain at Euro 2008 and is expected in the near future to become Spain’s all time highest goal scorer. Villa consistently attracts attention from Europe’s top clubs, who are all eager to land this prolific striker’s elusive signature.

Kaka : Brazilian midfielder Kaka, is a creative genius. Able to make pinpoint passes across the entire length of the field, or dribble past players to create a chance or score a goal, Kaka was the darling of AC Milan and led them to “Champions League” success in 2007. Now one Real Madrids so called “Galaticos”, he aims to bring the La Liga title back to the Bernabau (where Real Madrid play their home games) after a few years absence.

This article is sponsored by ‘Car Hire Malaga‘, a site offering car rental bookings in Malaga and Malaga tourist information.

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Everything You Need To Know About Soccer Field Dimensions

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

When it comes to soccer field dimensions, it is worth noting that the dimensions are uniform, regardless of the level of play. According to FIFA, the governing body of soccer, for professional events involving 11 players for each team, the soccer field must have a span of 100 to 130 yards and a width between 50 to 100 yards. Soccer fields in England are believed to be smaller than that resulting to more physical games. Conversely, in South America, the fields are much bigger which provides more room and time on the ball.

For recreational soccer, playing on a smaller soccer field is recommended. By doing this, players will of course make the game enjoyable and learning is more achievable. The size of the playing field should be proportional to the size of the player. In a outsized field, recreational players would waste their time running and become tired by half time. Therefore, the kicks will be much longer.

Another downside of playing recreational soccer in a large field is that teaching strategies and team play is unlikely. Smaller soccer fields are finest for average players who are slower and lack stamina, which is usually common in 50% to 75% of recreational players.

The Penalty Area

This is the area where the goalkeeper usually uses their hands and fouls are punished. It includes the penalty spot, which is 12 yards from the goal and the six-yard box 6 yards more from the goal. The top portion of this box includes a small arc commonly referred to as “the D.” It has a radius of 10 yards and has no point in the rules of soccer but merely serves as a guide for the players.

The Goal

Not considering of the level of play, the goal has a uniform measurement of 8 feet tall and 24 feet wide.

Center Circle

It divides the soccer field into two areas and is where the kickoff takes place. No player is allowed to cross their area until kickoff commences. It has a 10-yard circle in it and only the two players kicking off is allowed to stand within the inner circle.

Although soccer field measurements remain unchanged regardless of the players competing, the rules of the game allows the dimensions to be smaller for female players, people with disabilities, or those who are under 16 years old and more than 35 years of age.

related reading:
Dart Board Dimensions
World Cup Trophy Dimensions

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The Best Players Chelsea Has To Offer

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

While Chelsea’s team is packed with skill all across the field there are a few key players that make the team perform at the level they do. Without these players Chelsea just wouldn’t be on the same level.

1. JOHN TERRY (England, Central defender)

Terry is captain of club and country and he sets the benchmark which the other Chelsea players adhere to. A skilful and brave defender, showing technically sound style and a great amount of skill. Always a danger at set pieces and never afraid to lead by example, you could not find a better player to captain your club and country.

2. ASHLEY COLE  (England, Left back)

He may not be the most popular player amongst Arsenal fans, although he is still considered by many to be the best left back in the soccer world. His form and confidence has not been consistently great, but at his best his marauding runs down the left and quality balls into the box are only matched by his ability to shut down some of the world’s best players. noone else managers to keep players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo quite during games. That’s no fluke, that is because Ashley Cole is a world class left back.

3. MIKAEL ESSIEN (Ghana, Central midfielder)

Last seasons injury made all Chelsea fans realise how important a role Mikael Essien played, even in a midfield that boasts so many outstanding, world class players. Essien gives the midfield wonderful balance. His energy, work rate and defensive skills are first class, but he is also a technically gifted soccer player of great intelligence. He gets forward at the right time along with a powerful and accurate kicking game from a distance. At today’s prices the 24.4 million pounds that it cost to buy him looks like a bargin.

4. FRANK LAMPARD (England, Central Midfielder)

Who wouldn’t want a player like Lampard in the midifled scoring handfuls of goals. This season he has been deployed in a slightly deeper role under Carlo Ancelotti and the result has been a marked return to form for the midfielder and the goals are once again going in. Frank Lampard is a vital source of attacking strength due to his accurate shooting and ability to link play with his strikers.

5. DIDIER DROGBA (Ivory Coast, Attacker)

There are many who believe that Didier Drogba is the finest attacker in world at the moment, and on current form, it is hard to dispute that. Didier Drogba wearing the 09/10 Chelsea jersey makes all goalkeepers fear the upcoming game. The big striker may have his critics, who lambaste his theatrics when he falls over when tackled, or who bristle at his continual insistence to argue with officials and opposition players, but on his day the Ivorian striker is unstoppable. His goal scorring ability and excellent presence are vital for Chelsea, and at times he has carried the team on his back. His form is vital for Chelsea if they are to end Manchester United’s dominance of the Premier league.

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How to Safely Buy Manchester United Football Tickets Online

Monday, December 28th, 2009

Purchasing Manchester United football tickets online is actually a pretty safe way to get them, but there are scammers out there and it is important to be aware of how they operate. Should you want genuine Manchester United Football tickets, then you need to find a business selling them online that is tried and trusted. It is best to read customer reviews prior to making a purchase. Not only do you have to worry about an illegitimate site taking your money, you also do not want to purchase from a vendor who has a reputation for being slow on delivery. When reading a customer review on a ticket vendor, it is important to make sure it is a legitimate review and not just clever advertising. Look for a hyperlink towards the end of the review is the best way to discern if a review is genuine or advertising. 

Customers don’t usually have a reason to post a link to the very product they are reviewing and a  legitimate customer reviewing a product is of that kind. Advertisers have found a new way to advertise since most email spam blockers today block their ads, and so they turn to reviews. If a review is link free it is more than likely trustworthy. Though buying tickets on eBay can often get you cheaper prices, it is probably a good idea to buy tickets from established websites that specialize in tickets alone. Sometimes ticket sellers on eBay ship the ticket too late, and sometimes not even at all. While you can assume that the majority of people who sell on eBay are above board, it’s still in your best interest to read feedback about them so get a sense of how they operate.

Another way to avoid being scammed is to make sure the checkout page is encrypted before you type in ANY purchasing information. The importance of it can not be understated, but this is a feature not many people look for when checking out. So how do you tell if a web page is encrypted or not? You will normally se HTTP at the beginning of all web addresses. If a web page is encrypted the HTTP will change to “HTTPS”. It is always a good idea to make sure the page is encrypted because even if a company is completely honest but does not use encryption, it does not show a lot of respect for the customers’ personal information. If you find an online ticket vendor that uses encryption and has good reviews, then this must be a site worth buying from.

These guidelines are important to follow in order to avoid being scammed, but it is also important to go with your gut. Should a vendor’s pitch not seem plausible to you, avoid buying anything from that vendor. If something seems off then there is a good chance something is. Doing some research will prove invaluable in fending off scam artists. Your job now is to find a price that is the best! You will be able to make your next purchase with confidence after reading all the information on this article.

The next time you buy sporting events tickets, buy from your online concierge for global sporting events.. PremiumTicketHub.com.

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Sir Alex Ferguson To Buy Marek Hamsik

Monday, December 28th, 2009

Midfielder Marek Hamsik it appears, has caught the attention of Alex Ferguson for the January transfer window.

The form of veteran former England midfielder Paul Scholes, plus the fact that Ryan Giggs is not getting any younger has convinced Sir Alex Ferguson of the need to bring in a top notch quality replacement to bolster what is perceived by some critics to be United’s biggest weakness, midfield.

Manchester is not alone in regards to Hamsik, both Chelsea and Liverpool rivals have shown interest in the star midfielder. Starting his career with Slovan Bratislava the Slovakian international quickly proved his ability and was bought by Brescia. Transferring to Napoli for 5.5m Euros after dominating the midfield at Brescia scoring 10 goals from the midfield.

Since 2007, Hamsik’s efforts in Serie A have established him as one of the best midfielders in the world. Many strikers would be proud to boast a similar strikerate as Hamsik with 25 goals from 81 games. Recently Hamsik scored twice as Napoli recorded their first win over Juventus in Turin for 21 years and his performances have impressed many experts in Italy, who have been quick to label the Slovakian international as the best midfielder in Serie A.

Hamsik’s form for Slovakia has been equally impressive. He has been the driving force behind the countries qualification for the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa and he is being touted as being one of the major stars to emerge from the tournament in the summer.

Interest and a big offer from major teams may not be enough however with sporting director Riccardo Bigon stating:

“Manchester United are after Hamsik? If we rejected the rumours regarding a friend like [Carlo] Ancelotti and his Chelsea, it is obvious we also reject these rumours.”

Napoli chairman has supported these comments and stated:

“Many clubs have requested Hamsik, it’s true, but he will stay with us for the long-term”

Whether this stance will soften in the summer, when United hope to make their move, remains to be seen. Whether Napoli really plans to keep Hamsik into the future only time will tell, with not a lot of cash in the club it can be hard to see them not be at least tempted to sell the player if the offer is right.

Chelsea’s current situation however might put a stop to any dealings between Napoli and Manchester United. With Carlo Ancelotti given the go ahead to spend £25m on a player by Roman Abramovich in January. However with Chelsea set to be banned from transfers from February, it seems likely that the Blues will only be able to make a move for Hamsik during the transfer window and as such, the Londoners could gazump United’s own plans for the midfielder many pundits feel is cut from the same cloth as Frank Lampard and Paul Scholes.

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