soccer

Korea/Japan 2002

Brazil became champions for the fifth time as top scorer Ronaldo exorcised the ghosts of 1998, scoring both goals in the Final against Germany. This was Asia's first FIFA World Cup™ and both host nations made history by reaching the knockout rounds – Korea Republic going as far as the last four. A tournament of surprises, it opened with France losing to Senegal and closed with Turkey third in the world.

Winner: Brazil
Runners-Up: Germany
Third: Turkey
Fourth: Korea Republic
adidas Golden Ball: Oliver KAHN (GER)
adidas Golden Shoe: RONALDO (BRA)
Yashin Award for the Best Goalkeeper: Oliver KAHN (GER)
Best Young Player Award: Landon DONOVAN (USA)
FIFA Fair Play award: Belgium
FIFA Award for the Most Entertaining Team: Korea Republic

Germany 2006

Italy won their fourth world crown in Germany, beating France on penalties in Berlin. If Zinedine Zidane's red card was the Final's defining image, Italy's triumph would be remembered as a team effort with ten different Azzurri players finding the net. It was also a special month for Germany, the goals of Miroslav Klose helping secure third place in a tournament memorable for the festival mood across the host country.

Winner: Italy
Runners-Up: France
Third: Germany
Fourth: Portugal
adidas Golden Ball: Zinedine ZIDANE (FRA)
adidas Golden Shoe: Miroslav KLOSE (GER)
Yashin Award for the Best Goalkeeper: Gianluigi BUFFON (ITA)
Best Young Player Award: Lukas PODOLSKI (GER)
FIFA Fair Play award: Spain, Brazil
FIFA Award for the Most Entertaining Team: Portugal

Diego Forlan of Uruguay won the best player of the tournament award on Sunday after lighting up the World Cup with some wonderful goals that helped his team become South America's only semifinalist.

The striker won legions of admirers -- not least among South African women -- for his fantastic play on the pitch and courteous attitude off it .

Forlan took 23.4 percent in the "Golden Ball" poll organised by world soccer body Fifa and voted for by journalists. Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder was second with 21.8 percent and Spain's David Villa third on 16.9 percent.

All three got five goals, making them joint top scorers along with Germany's Thomas Mueller.

Mueller took the "Golden Boot" award given to the top scorer who was also named as Best Young Player, using assists and number of minutes played as a tie-breaker, Fifa said in a statement.

As well as winning the World Cup, Spain also took the Fifa Fair Play Award. Their captain Iker Casillas won the "Golden Glove" prize for best goalkeeper.

Oh!!!! no!!!!!!!!! Lionel Messi came into the World Cup with the expectation that he would light up the tournament, but the Barcelona superstar leaves empty-handed and without a goal.
Despite being just 23, Messi has won almost every accolade there is and already has an impressive medal collection that few other players, if any, can match.
He must now wait until he is 27 for another chance after Germany crushed Messi and his Argentine teammates 4-0 in the quarter-finals on Saturday, with a brace from Miroslav Klose and goals from Thomas Mueller and Arne Friedrich.
Coach Diego Maradona gave Messi a free role to do as he pleases in the match and the striker opted to operate down the middle.
It is the second time that Messi has seen his World Cup dream shattered by Germany, after they were beaten 4-2 on penalties at the same stage in 2006.
Back then, former coach Jose Pekerman described Messi as "a jewel" but he benched the youngster instead of allowing him to provide the extra degree of lustre required to see off Germany.
Maradona never had similar thoughts, but despite starting this time Messi leaves empty-handed once again.

Let's hope he will get more and more goals in next tournament.............................

1: Signal Iduna Park
Borussia Dortmund’s ground is a classic. Two huge end terraces (and they are terraces, with the use of safe standing) that fling noise down at the playing area with deafening intensity. This place was built for football and for fans to express themselves. Every European Cup final should be held here. The best atmosphere on the Continent on a game-to-game basis.


2: San Siro
The first time you see the Giuseppe Meazza stadium (to give it its correct title), it is impossible not to gasp. Lit up, it looks like a spaceship set down in suburban Milan. It could take on the Death Star and win, it’s that impressive. Inside, the stands are like cliff-faces. Those with vertigo better hope they are not on the top level. A fabulous place to watch football.

3: Anfield
Not what it was by any stretch of the imagination, but — especially on European nights — it retains the capacity to astound. Come those spring nights, the Kop gets a surge of energy and sound pounds down onto the pitch, crushing the weak-willed (Chelsea, Real Madrid, Juventus), recreating Shankly’s “Bastion of Invincibility.” For Liverpool, home advantage has just a little more edge to it.


4: Inonu Stadium
You can make a case for the Sükrü Saracoglu and the Ali Sami Yen, homes of Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray respectively, but Besiktas’s ground wins the day by virtue of its magnificent location. If they get bored, the fans behind one end can look across the Bosphorus to Asia. But their boys don’t get bored, to judge from the row they kick up. Brilliant atmosphere and a setting that’s unbeatable.


5: Allianz Arena
If you have to build a new stadium, this is the way to do it. The architects who created the home of Bayern and 1860 Munich managed to equal the comfort level of the Emirates but also built in some atmosphere. The iconic design — like a huge, discarded car tyre — has made it a tourist attraction, too. And it lights up at night. More entertaining than some of the teams who play in it.


6: Bernabéu
The Nou Camp’s evil twin. Real Madrid’s palatial home does everything better than its Catalan counterpart except, perhaps, big-game atmosphere. But it’s a close-run thing. Effortlessly stylish, the place has the easy charm of a brilliantly successful tycoon whose career has been underpinned by a ruthless streak. Franco would feel right at home.


7: La Bombonera
There can be no such thing as health and safety inspectors in Argentina: if there were, Boca Juniors’ ground would be closed in a heartbeat. Three sides of the stadium are traditional sloping seating areas but the fourth, a vertical stand, makes the Bombonera a design classic. This stadium bounces, never more so than when River Plate come to play. Nothing sweet about this “chocolate box”. It’s hostile.


8: Stadionul Dinamo
A running track is normally enough to destroy a stadium’s credibility. However, Dynamo Bucharest’s ground is a masterpiece of Cold War chic. You are greeted by Stalinist statues before arriving at a sunken bowl. A wide staircase behind the goal takes you pitchside — you can imagine a baby’s pram rattling down the stairs — and the closest thing to executive boxes are the balconies of neighbouring tower blocks.


9: Nou Camp
Depending on the match, this place could easily end up on the list of worst stadiums. When it’s dull, it’s deathly. But on nights when Barça fans are hurling pigs’ heads at Luis Figo, it’s electric. The Cathedral of Catalan identity — even if the locals queue up to sell their tickets to tourists. It’s a shame the Champions League has made visits to places like this commonplace. It was better when it was a rare treat.


10: Craven Cottage
In the era of identikit bowls, the ramshackle little ground on the banks of the Thames is like a throwback to a different age. It’s a genteel place, but it feels right. Despite being situated in a wealthy area, the approach to the Cottage is through terraced streets — and that’s the only way to approach an English ground. Homely and comforting. Like a glass of warm milk at bedtime.

1. Soccer City Stadium
Location : Johannesburg
Built : 1987
Status : New Renovation
Capacity : 94,700

2. Durban Stadium
Location : Durban
Built : 2009
Status : New
Capacity : 70,000

3. Green Point Stadium
Location : Cape Town
Built : 2009
Status : New
Capacity : 70,000

4. Ellis Park Stadium
Location : Johannesburg
Built : 1928
Status : New Rennovation (2009)
Capacity : 61,000

5. Loftus Versfeld Stadium
Location : Pretoria
Built : 1906
Status : New Rennovation (2008)
Capacity : 50,000

6. Nelson Mandela Stadium or Port Elizabeth Stadium
Location : Nelson mandela bay / Port Elizabeth
Built : 2009
Status : New
Capacity : 46,500

7. Free State Stadium
Location : Bloemfontain
Built : 1952
Status : 2008
Capacity : 48,000

8. Mbombela Stadium
Location : Nelspruit
Built : 2009
Status : New
Capacity : 46,000

9. Peter Mokaba Stadium
Location : PolokWane
Built : New
Status : 2010
Capacity : 46,000

10. Royal Bafokeng Stadium
Location : Rustenburg
Built : 1999
Status : New Rennovation
Capacity : 42,000

Real Madrid tops list of richest football clubs

Real Madrid became the first team in any sport to post revenues in excess of 400 million euros ($540.9 million) in a single year, according to an annual survey of the richest soccer clubs by accountancy firm Deloitte.

In its survey released on Tuesday, Deloitte said the figure of 401.4 million had been helped by high broadcast revenue. Real topped the "Football Money League" report, which ranks the 20 biggest clubs by revenue, for the fifth consecutive year.

European and Spanish champions Barcelona overtook Manchester United, who were hit by the weak pound, to move to second.

Barcelona posted the largest absolute increase in the Deloitte report, from the 2008-09 season. The club's revenue rose by 57 million euros to 366 million euros.

"Real Madrid and FC Barcelona have created a clear revenue gap between themselves and their European competitors, and look set to contest the top two positions in the Money League for the foreseeable future, particularly if the pound doesn't strengthen against the euro," Alan Switzer, director in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, said in a statement.

Top clubs weathered the worst economic crisis in decades thanks to their loyal fan bases and large broadcast audiences, according to the report. The combined revenue growth for the 20 clubs slowed compared with previous years to over 3.9 billion euros ($5.27 billion).

"However, it will not be until 2009-10, the season currently in progress, before we see the full impact on clubs' revenues," said Paul Rawnsley, director in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte.

The top 20 was little changed from last year, with Werder Bremen and Manchester City replacing VfB Stuttgart and Turkish club Fenerbahce. The list was again dominated by European clubs, with seven English clubs, four from Italy, and two each from France and Spain. The number of German clubs grew to five from four.

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10. Romario (BRA)

The fact that a player with over 1000 goals to his name only comes tenth on this list speaks volumes about the quality of the others who make up the top ten. There have been few, if any, better goal-poachers in football history and perhaps no-one is better deserving of the "genius of the goal area" tag bestowed on him by Johan Cruyff.

A journeyman at club level, Romario is perhaps best associated with Vasco de Gama, where he started and finished his illustrious career. In between those times, Romario picked up a whole host of silverware, namely four Rio de Janeiro State Leagues, three Dutch Cups, three Dutch leagues, and a Spanish League.

9. Arthur Friedenreich (BRA)

"The King of Football" is a tag that has since been taken away from him by a certain fellow countryman, but Arthur Friedenreich was a deserving recipient of that title before the world have ever even heard of Pele.

There remains some confusion over his goalscoring achievements, but either way, they are outstanding. Some sources claim Friedenreich scored 1239 goals in 1329 games, while others suggest it was 1329 goals in 1239 games.

8.Marco Van Basten (NED)

Had his career not been cut short by an ankle injury aged just 27, Marco Van Basten could very well be higher up in this list. His all-round play won him many admirers, and also helped his teams win many trophies.

During his career, he managed to win a Cup Winners' Cup, three Dutch League titles, three Dutch Cups, three Serie A titles and two European Cups. He was also an indispensable figure in Holland's 1988 European Championships success, scoring a spectacular volley in the final to help secure the trophy.

7.Fernando Peyroteo (POR)

If you are looking for the greatest goal-scorer of all-time, you need look no further than Fernando Peyroteo. No other player in history can match Peyroteo's goals to game ratio.

While playing for Sporting, Peyroteo scored 331 goals in 187 games. Yes, you read that right. His record of 1.68 goals per game is unparalleled in world football. He often scored multiple times in a game, once scoring nine times in one match.

6.Ronaldo (BRA)

Yes, "the Phenomenon" Ronaldo only makes it to sixth place, such is the quality of the players ahead of him. During the late '90s and early '00s, Ronaldo was the most feared player in the world, and for good reason.

His time at Inter Milan was hampered by injury, but he still did enough to secure a move to Real Madrid's "Galacticos". During his career, Ronaldo won a Brazilian Cup, a Dutch Cup, a Cup Winners' Cup, a Spanish Cup, a UEFA Cup and two La Liga titles.

5.Gerd Muller (GER)

"Der Bomber" Gerd Muller was as important to the success of Bayern Munich and Germany as "Der Kaiser" Franz Beckenbauer. His prolific scoring elevated both sides to be the very best in the world.

At club level he won four Bundesliga titles, four German Cups, a Cup Winners' Cup and three consecutive European Cups. He scored 582 goals in 669 games throughout his club career, and was even more prolific at international level, scoring 68 goals in just 62 caps. Those caps included success at the 1972 European Championships and the 1974 World Cup.

4.Eusebio (POR)

Eusebio is the biggest name in the history of Portuguese football. His speed, power, and deadly finishing made him one of the most prolific goalscorers in history, and he led Benfica through their golden period.

While at Benfica, he won the Portuguese League 11 times, the Portuguese Cup five times, and the European Cup twice, reaching another three finals. By the end of his career, he had scored 727 goals in 715 games, although some statisticians claim he scored as many as 1137.

3. Ferenc Puskas (HUN)

Ferenc Puskas was part of two of the greatest sides ever assembled: Hungary's Magical Magyars, and Real Madrid's all-conquering side of the early '60s. Some may argue that his Honved side, who provided many of Hungary's golden team, could join that list.

Throughout his club career, the "Galloping Major" won five Hungarian League titles, five Spanish League titles, and three European Cups. He scored 514 goals in 529 matches and is widely regarded as the best shooter in world football history.

2. Diego Maradona (ARG)

Love him or hate him, you cannot deny the quality Diego Maradona possessed. His pace, dribbling skills, and unpredictability are matched by very few, if any, in the annals of football.

This helped his club teams to much silverware, including an Argentinian League title, a Spanish Cup, two Serie A titles, an Italian Cup and a UEFA Cup. The latter three were with Napoli, a team he almost single-handedly made into a major European force.

Internationally, he inspired Argentina to success in the 1986 World Cup, with the infamous "Hand of God" and sublime "Goal of the Century" coming along the way. He ended up scoring 34 times in 91 appearances for Argentina.

1. Pele (BRA)

It may not be an entirely original choice for the greatest striker of all time, but there is a reason why Pele is considered the best player to ever kick a ball - because he is the best player to ever kick a ball. The "King of Football" ruled his empire from the second he laced up his first pair of boots to the second he hung them up for the final time.

He played for Santos for the vast majority of his career, winning silverware almost every year. His trophy haul makes him, together with former Portugal 'keeper Victor Baia, the player with most career titles.