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Image courtesy of Associazione Sportiva Roma, SpA. AS Roma are known as "I Giallorossi." (The Yellow and Reds.) They were founded in 1927 and have been Serie A champions three times.
Thomas R. DiBenedetto of DiBenedetto AS Roma LLC met in Boston, Massachusetts, with AlessandroCatapano of the Milan sports daily, La Gazzetta dello Sport. The interview took place before Mr. DiBenedetto arrived in Rome this week to finalize the purchase of AS Roma.
Contracts will be signed in Boston on or about the 20th of April. Mr. DiBenedetto will become the new President of AS Roma, and represent the first foreign ownership group in the Italian Serie A.
"Beyond The Pitch is a new and creative endeavor that has dedicated itself to the global game from numerous points of view. We not only provide our Anglo and Latin views on the game, but also seek out industry experts to offer their unique perspectives. Our goal is to provide our loyal listeners with numerous voices of analysis and deliver fresh new perspectives."
Steve Amoia is a freelance writer, editor and translator from Washington, D.C. He is the founder of World Football Commentaries. He has written and translated for AC Cugini Scuola Calcio (Italian soccer school), Beyond The Pitch, Football Media, Italian Soccer Serie A, Keeper Skool and Soccerlens. You can also follow Steve @worldfootballcm on Twitter.
by Robert Kennerney for World Football Commentaries
I’m working with Cracks TV and thought you and your readers would enjoy this video, featuring Zinedine Zidane and Enzo Francescoli. This is to preview the upcoming season of Soccer Aces 2011, which starts in June:
Soccer Aces became the world’s first international soccer reality TV show in 2010, when it gave thousands of young players the opportunity to play the world’s game at the professional level. Under the mentorship of soccer greats Zidane and Francescoli, 18 finalists were put to the test over seven weeks with an online community of over 140 countries looking on and voting off.
The unique focus of the show is the combination of bringing attention to the talents of young soccer players from North, South and Central America in particular, and broadcasting the events for the world to see through their web site: http://socceracestv.com
Personally, I enjoy the show since it presents a rare opportunity to see Zidane informally since his retirement following the 2006 World Cup Final. Zidane involves himself with every aspect of the player’s development through the show, from the training ground to the locker room, and it’s truly a privilege to see him back on the field again.
Hope you can share this video with your readers at World Football Commentaries – many of them will enjoy seeing the greats and future greats alike and perhaps even compete for a chance to join the show. Last year tryouts were held in several cities across the United States and information will soon be available for this season’s tryouts.
About the Author
Robert Kennerney works with Crack TV and the Cake Group.
Please choose from a wide variety of UEFA Champions League kits/shirts online at SoccerPro.
AS Roma vs Shakhtar Donetsk
Shakhtar surprised the world by topping a group that included Arsenal, especially after getting hammered 5-1 at the Emirates. The Ukranian side is full of confidence and tend to dictate the flow and pace of the game. However, the glaring red mark on Shakhtar will be their form away from home. Roma play well in front of their home crowd and will look to pounce on Shakhtar at the Stadio Olimpico. Marco Borriello will be the key in securing a comfortable home win to set the Italian side up for success in a trip to the Donbass Arena. Interesting tie, but I’m giving the nod to Roma.
At Stadio Olimpico: Roma win 4-1 (2 x 3: wrong)
At Donbass Arena: Shakhtar win 2-0 (3 x 0: correct on winning team)
Roma advance 4-3 on aggregate. (Wrong: Skakhtar Donetsk advances 6 - 2 on aggregate.)
AC Milan vs Tottenham Hotspur
This match-up has goals written all over it and I couldn’t be more excited. Milan sit at the top of the Serie A table while Tottenham amazingly won their group after qualifying for the Champions League group stage for the first time in club history. Gareth Bale will be the difference in this one, as he has been terrorizing outside backs for the tournament thus far, the men in AC Milan’s jerseys clear weak point in the squad. However, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been on fire and Alexandre Pato should be hitting his stride after returning from injury by the time these fixtures roll around. As much as I want to pick Spurs for their exciting play, I think Milan’s veterans will grind out enough of a result to push on into the quarterfinals.
At White Hart Lane: 2-2 draw (0 x 0: correct on draw result)
At San Siro: AC Milan win 3-2 (0 x 1: wrong)
AC Milan advance 5-4 on aggregate. (Wrong: Tottenham advances 1 x 0 on aggregate.)
Valencia vs Schalke 04
An interesting match-up to say the least. Many things have changed since these two squads last squared off in the Champions League back in the 2007-08 group stage. David Villa and David Silva are far removed from the technical Spanish squad while Schalke added experienced Raul and Huntelaar to the strike force (who both have performed to their ability on occasion). Despite the added firepower, the German side have been bumbling through league play, sitting in 10th position and honestly should be farther down the table than that. However, Felix Magath somehow led the squad to top their group. This is one of the hardest match-ups to get a read on, but I’m thinking Raul will be the difference in this tie. Two boring games, with possession dominated by Valencia, ultimately lead to Schalke somehow squeaking by.
At Mestalla: 1-1 Draw (1 x 1: correct on score also)
At Veltins-Arena: 0-0 Draw (wrong: 3 x 1)
Schalke 04 advance on away goals rule. (Correct: Schalke 04 advance 4 x 2 on aggregate.)
Internazionale Milano vs Bayern Munich
On paper (and without knowing anything about the current state of these squads), one would pick this to be the most interesting match-up of all the round of 16. Both squads are shells of their team’s from last season, which both reached the final of the Champions League. Inter looked lost without the chosen one but have done well under the new reign of Leonardo. But they are beginning to show their age. The only thing the team has to really celebrate is the meaningless trophy in the Club World Cup. Bayern aren’t doing much better, already well off the pace in the Bundesliga and searching for answers. However, Munich will be out for revenge in this tie following the master class Inter performance seven months ago. I see Ribery, Muller, and Gomez all firing through the frail Inter defense with ease and getting a much needed boost of confidence heading into the home stretch of league play.
At San Siro: 2-2 Draw (0 x 1: wrong)
At Allianz Arena: Bayern win 4-1 (2 x 3: wrong)
Bayern advance 6-3 on aggregate. (Wrong: Inter Milan advance on away goals 3 x 3.)
Lyon vs Real Madrid
The round of 16 has been a problem for Los Galaticos in the past six seasons and an all too familiar match-up for Madrid will not see them excited. Lyon knocked Madrid out of the competition last season at the same stage in un-emphatic fashion, but both squads have changed drastically in less than a year’s time. Mourinho has made the squad disciplined and organized in just a short time and strolled the team through arguably the toughest group in the Champions League (included AC Milan and Ajax) with five wins and one draw to their name. Lyon play a relatively similar game but rely on physicality over organization. Mourinho’s men have one loss to their name in the entire season thus far and with Ronaldo’s incredible form in those crazy Nike superflys as of late, I don’t see the squad fumbling at this point in tournament.
At Stade Gerland: 1-1 Draw (1 x 1: correct on score also)
At Santiago Bernabeu: Madrid win 2-0 (3 x 0: correct on outcome)
Real Madrid advance 3-1 on aggregate.(Correct: Real Madrid advance 3 x 1 on aggregate).
Arsenal vs FC Barcelona
The Gunners could not have asked for any match-up worse than this. Cesc Fabregas will get another shot at his former club and what could have been if he had transferred to the Nou Camp this summer, and he probably won’t be happy. Arsenal’s defensive frailties and disappearing act in big games are all too familiar of a story for the Emirates faithful and Barca will be dying to prove how dominant they can be. Messi is virtually unstoppable at the moment and Sergio Busquets has proven to be a huge asset in winning balls in the midfield. Expect an absolute clinic from the Blaugrana.
At Emirates: Barcelona win 1-2 (2 x 1: wrong)
At Nou Camp: Barcelona win 5-1 (3 x 1: correct on winning team)
Barcelona advance 7-2 on aggregate. (Correct: Barcelona advance 3 x 2 on aggregate).
Marseille vs Manchester United
With only one loss in league play and in Champions league matches thus far, Sir Alex’s men should be pleased with their progress thus far and the draw they received. United’s defense has been a point of question this season, however Marseille’s lack of firepower shouldn’t really threaten the weak defense. Sure the French squad knocked seven past Zilina but that squad is one of the worst ever to grace the Champions League group stage. With no “in-form” forward available, expect this to be a low scoring, dull affair pointed toward United advancing onward.
At Stade Velodrome: Manchester United win 1-0 (0 x 0: wrong)
At Old Trafford: Manchester United win 3-1 (2 x 1: correct)
Manchester United advance 4-1 on aggregate. (Correct: Manchester United advance 2 x 1 on aggregate.)
FC Copenhagen vs Chelsea
A collective sigh of relief was breathed when Chelsea discovered they’d play Copenhagen. The Blues erratic and torrid form as of late needed to see the squad to get a draw like this. Copenhagen won’t be a pushover, however. Dame N’Doye leads the Danish Superliga in scoring, but in reality, that’s due to the squad being over reliant on the Senegalese striker. Copenhagen will be determined and organized throughout the fixtures but the power of Didier Drogba and Nicholas Anelka should see the West London side comfortably satisfied heading into the quarterfinals.
At Parken: Chelsea win 1-2 (0 x 2: correct on win)
At Stamford Bridge: Chelsea win 3-1 (0 x 0: wrong)
Chelsea advance 5-2 on aggregate. (Correct: Chelsea advance 2 x 0 on aggregate.)
On Sunday, Cagliari was defeated 0 x 4 by Udinese, but something rare happened.
When the joint men-of-the match, Alexis Sanchez and Antonio Di Natale were subbed out, they received standing ovations from the home fans. Even more rare was the response by the Cagliari President, Massimo Cellino.
Free Tickets to Next Match v. Brescia
Nonostante la pesante sconfitta subita in casa con l'Udinese, ieri il pubblico del Sant'Elia non ha mai smesso di incitare la propria squadra, e alla fine ha pure riservato una meritata standing ovation a Sanchez e Di Natale (al momento delle rispettive sostituzioni) e applausi ai vincitori. Per questo motivo il presidente del Cagliari Massimo Cellino, nel ringraziare «il pubblico per la maturità sportiva dimostrata» ha deciso di regalare ai tifosi presenti ieri il biglietto per la prossima gara interna con il Brescia. «Un esempio di civiltà - si legge nel sito internet della società - una manifestazione di attaccamento ai colori rossoblù con grande spirito di appartenenza, che riafferma i valori perseguiti negli anni dalla società».
Despite the heavy defeat at home by Udinese, the public yesterday (Monday) at Sant'Elia stadium never stopped cheering on their own team. And at the end even reserved a standing ovation for Sanchez and Di Natale (when they were subbed out) and applauded the victors.
For this reason, the President of Cagliari, Massimo Cellino, in a way of thanking them, "For the maturity that the fans displayed," decided to give the fans who were present yesterday a free ticket for the next home match against Brescia.
"An example of civility" was read on Cagliari's website, "A manifestation of attachment to the team's colors with a great spirit of belonging that reaffirms their value for following the team for years."
Source: Corriere dello Sport, 14 March 2011.
Fair Play in its Truest Form
Many critics say that Italian football is on the decline. But this rare show of Fair Play should be honored. It did not happen in England, Germany or Spain.
Bravo, Signor Cellino and the fans of Cagliari.
Steve Amoia is a freelance writer, editor and translator from Washington, D.C. He is the founder of World Football Commentaries. He has written for AC Cugini Scuola Calcio (Italian soccer school), Football Media, Italian Soccer Serie A, Keeper Skool and Soccerlens.
Soccer’s world governing body, FIFA, has launched an investigation into alleged match-fixing in two international friendlies played on Wednesday, February 9th, 2011.
Recent Friendlies in Question
Scoring Summaries
Estonia 2 x Bulgaria 2
Konstantin Vassiljev: Estonia (pen 20')
Ivelin Popov: Bulgaria (pen 41')
Konstantin Vassiljev: Estonia (pen 80')
Ivelin Popov: Bulgaria (pen 83')
Latvia 2 x Bolivia 1(Video not available)
Maris Verpakovskis: Latvia (pen 42')
Marcelo Martins: Bolivia (pen 57')
Aleksandrs Cauna: Latvia (pen 49')
Match statistics courtesy of ESPN Soccernet.
The games were a double-header where Latvia beat Bolivia 2-1 followed by a 2-2 draw between Bulgaria, coached by German World Cup winning captain Lothar Matthaus, and Estonia were played at the Stadionas Skonto in the Turkish resort of Antalya. The fixing allegations emerged amidst confusion over the nationalities of the match officials involved and the fact that all seven goals were converted penalties.
Unusual Betting Patterns
FIFA have been contacted by representatives from the football associations of both Baltic states who want the investigation to center on possible unusual betting patterns and on the officials who took charge of the games. Last Friday, Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) President Borislav Mihaylov said:
“We will provide full assistance to FIFA”, adding “We had some doubts about the refereeing in this match.”
Offical reports from the BFU and Estonian FA say the referee was Hungarian Krisztian Salmeczi; however, Hungarian referee’s chief Laszlo Wagner, as well as Hungarian media have indicated that the game was officiated by Salmeczi’s compatriot, Kolos Lengyel. Wagner indicated that Salmeczi, Lengyel and a third official Janos Csak would be suspended.
Footy Sport International
Estonian FA spokesman Mihkel Uiboleht said:
“We received information of possible manipulation even before the game, as the same agency also organised the match between Latvia and Bolivia and there was the same scenario there.”
The agency involved was Footy Sport International, who are based in Thailand. Under FIFA Match Agent Regulations, they must be in possession of a license issued by the world governing body in order to arrange matches between teams belonging to different confederations.
Latvian Football Federation spokesman Martins Hartmenis claims that two weeks before their game, the names of three officials, supposedly from Czech Republic, were given but that shortly before kick off, the organisers said they were from Hungary. Only for the officials themselves to claim they were Croatian.
Last year, a fake Togo team lost 3-0 to Bahrain arranged by a match agent with Singaporean connections.
About the Author
Ken McGannon is the chief foreign correspondent for SoccerPro.com.
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Steve Amoia is a freelance writer, editor and translator from Washington, D.C. He is the founder of World Football Commentaries. He has written for AC Cugini Scuola Calcio (Italian soccer school), Football Media, Italian Soccer Serie A, Keeper Skool and Soccerlens.
Special Visits to Singapore and Hong Kong by New York Cosmos Ambassadors to Focus on Spreading Goodwill Through Sport, Commitment to Developing Young Talent, and Building Global Partnerships
March 1, 2011 (New York, NY) – It is announced by The New York Cosmos that soccer legends Pelé, Eric Cantona and Cobi Jones have just touched down in Singapore - officially kicking off The 2011 New York Cosmos Asia Tour. The tour will continue onto Hong Kong starting March 6, 2011 (featuring Pelé only) – and will end on March 9, 2011.
While The New York Cosmos played in Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing back in the late 1970’s - this tour marks the club’s first trip to Asia since its rebirth seven months ago. This trip also represents the first time that Honorary President Pelé, Director of Soccer Eric Cantona and Associate Director of Soccer Cobi Jones will have traveled together as ambassadors of The New York Cosmos – taking their collective expertise, insights and passion for the sport and sharing it with fans throughout the world. Also joining the tour are Chairman Paul Kemsley and Vice Chairman Terry Byrne.
Image courtesy of the New York Cosmos.
The trip has been defined by a number of activities focused on spreading goodwill through sport, developing young talent and building global partnerships. The New York Cosmos have also entered into a sponsorship agreement with Courts–Singapore’s largest electrical, IT and furniture retailer – who has come on board as the Official Partner of The 2011 New York Cosmos Asia Tour. While in Singapore, Courts will develop promotions and publicity to generate excitement around the partnership, while reinforcing both organizations’ commitment to youth soccer. Courts is currently the title sponsor of S-League club The Courts Young Lions, while The New York Cosmos operates two elite youth academies in New York and Los Angeles called Cosmos Academy East and Cosmos Academy West, respectively.
To officially commemorate The New York Cosmos arrival into Singapore, Courts will host a press conference on Thursday March 3, 2011 at the Jalan Basar Stadium prior to the Courts Young Lions match vs. Geyland United – where Pelé, Cantona and Jones will be present to meet the players and fans. In addition, on Saturday March 5, 2011, Pelé and Cantona will visit Courts Megastore where customers can attend an autograph session by the legends. Another exciting highlight of this partnership is the opportunity for Courts contest winners to receive an all-expenses paid trip to New York City in June 2011 to watch the 40th Anniversary New York Cosmos Celebration Match.
Other programs taking place in Singapore will include:
- A Q&A session hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore (AmCham Singapore) in conjunction with the U.S.-Asia Pacific Regional Business Summit. AmCham Singapore Chairman Dr. Steve Okun will address “What’s Next In the Soccer World” and will talk to Pelé, Cantona and Jones about the important role that soccer plays to bridge communities
- A gala dinner with Singapore President S.R. Nathan and his wife in attendance, benefiting the Bone Marrow Donor Programme
- Ribbon-cutting of a brand new soccer pitch being unveiled at the Singapore Sports School
- A soccer clinic hosted by Cobi Jones with Team Hope, an organization committed to “changing lives through football”
- An exclusive launch of the Umbro x New York Cosmos home kit with leading soccer retailer Weston at their Queensway Shopping Centre Branch
Image courtesy of Picapp.com, 2010.
While in Hong Kong, Pelé will participate in a press conference on Monday March 7, 2011, and an exclusive luncheon will take place the following day hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. Moderated by Professor Steven DeKrey of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Pelé will share the rebirth and rebuilding of The New York Cosmos with an audience of business leaders, while also discussing the impact of sports on education and philanthropy. In addition, he will make a visit to Hong Kong Football Club to motivate and inspire young soccer players across the local and expatriate community - in addition to meeting with The Crusaders, a program made possible by Prudential that is dedicated to players with special needs.
Says Paul Kemsley, “On top of the first-class hospitality and enthusiasm that we have received In Singapore and Hong Kong - we have also seen a significant commitment by organizations and individuals of many levels to developing young talent and the future of the sport. This is very complementary to the mission of The New York Cosmos. We are excited to be here to meet fans, players, partners, leaders and dignitaries – and to let everyone know that The New York Cosmos are back. We will continue to integrate Asia in all that we do, and look forward to returning to this region in the very near future.”
Photos and videos from The 2011 New York Cosmos Asia Tour will be posted to The New York Cosmos’ Official Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/TheNYCosmos.
###
About The New York Cosmos
Under new passionate ownership, The New York Cosmos continues its tradition of greatness for the next generation and vows to maintain the same ethos that made The New York Cosmos the most celebrated soccer club in the history of the United States. During its existence from 1971-1985, The New York Cosmos won five championships in the NASL (North American Soccer League). Today, as part of its rebirth and with global soccer legend and former Cosmos star Pelé as the Honorary President, The New York Cosmos will continue to inspire and develop world-class players and is committed to helping improve the future of the sport in this country with significant investment in grassroots and youth soccer. The club's ultimate vision is to field a professional team to compete at the highest level, bringing championships back to New York City. For more information, visit www.newyorkcosmos.com.
About the Author
Theresa Tran is the Director of Communications for the New York Cosmos.
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