Crazy Football, GOL!
Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson was seen dining with some of Kia Joorabchian’s people. Joorabchian has been linked with a West Ham takeover.
Eriksson denies it was anything more than lunch.
On a wildly speculative side-note: If Eriksson were to end up in charge at West Ham, it would be the perfect opportunity for his fancied-superstar David Beckham to return home to his original youth team.
David Beckham has a lot to ponder at this point in his career.
With his contract in flux at Real Madrid, he needs to choose from his humbling options.
His first option is to continue to fight for a spot on a Madrid team that is riddled with talent, and rarely plays a standard 4-4-2. This one could see him spending his last few, possibly productive, years on the Real bench, being no more than a marketing tool.
His second option being a return trip to the English Premier League, where he is unlikely to find a Champions League contender interested in his services.
Or finally, he could make that long, one-way trip to the United States, where he can play in a sub-par league with half empty stadiums. After a few trips around MLS, the Beckham mystique would be gone and it would be very sad to see the one-time Champion of Europe taking free kicks on astroturf blanketed with American football markings.
The last option would surely be the end of his serious football playing days and the beginning of the acting career.
Assuming he still has fight in him, and assuming he does want to play for the national team again, his best option would be to head home to England, wait for the axe to fall on McClaren and hope he can find form that raises the likes of an Aston Villa to a European spot.
Otherwise, it could be free kicks for old-times’ sake when Real Madrid leads by a few goals and he subs-on in the 80th minute. He might get to touch the Champions League trophy again, but it’s a sad way to go out for a passionate player that still has a few years left to make a difference for a team on the fringes.
It all seems to come down to whether or not David Beckham really wants to play football again.
In all fairness, when you’ve reached the heights of superstar-dome that Becks has, it would be very difficult to leave the galacticos life behind.
But it is only going to become increasingly difficult for him to watch Real Madrid return to its former glory while he only plays a bit part.
David Beckham Stories at the BBC (new windows):
Beckham makes rare Madrid start
Capello defends Beckham strategy
Beckham frustrated by bench role
Related:
Beckham Merchandise
Real Merchandise
Copa Sudamericana Quarterfinals 25.10.06
Atletico-PR (Brazil) 4 – 1 Nacional (Uruguay) 6 – 2
Match Highlights:
A deflected free-kick in the 30th falls to Joao Leonardo who fires home for Paranaense’s first goal.
In the 39th, the tie is all but sealed when Denis Marques fires a wonderful strike from just outside the penalty area making it 2 – 1 on the night and 4 – 1 on aggregate.
In the 50th, Britez pulls one back for the visitors, but any hopes for a comeback are dashed in the 57th. Six passes go end to end to find Marcos Aurelio in the area, and the diminutive forward’s sweet move leaves three players in the Nacional defense sprawled prone in the box.
Danilo adds a header from a free kick in the 70th to finish the rout.
Nacional will have to take solace in having knocked out Boca Juniors as Paranaense goes to the Semi-Finals.
Related:
San Lorenzo v Toluca 25.10.06 Copa Sudamericana
Copa Sudamericana Quarterfinals
CONMEBOL Copa Sudamericana – English
CONMEBOL Copa Sudamericana – Español
Copa Sudamericana Quarterfinals
San Lorenzo (Argentina) 3 – 1 Toluca (Mexico) 25.10.06
Match Highlights:
San Lorenzo have a goal taken off in the 1st minute. But in the 17th, a series of volleys find Quatrocchi unmarked in the area and he appropriately heads home for the 1 – 0 lead.
In the 51st, Adrian Gonzalez fires a rocket from just inside the area, Andres Silvera brilliantly cuts in front of the keeper just before the save and heads in. Although Silvera appears onside, Toluca will justifiably argue the play was offside from two other players.
In the 56th, Silvera wonderfully heads home a 35 yard free kick for his second, and San Lorenzo’s third.
A horrible studs-up challenge by Sergio Ponce in the 58th puts Toluca down to 10. But the Mexican side keep their hopes alive with a lovely 50-yard pass over the defense that puts Bruno Marioni in alone. The Argentine striker one times a beautiful strike to give Toluca a chance in the November 1st return leg.
Related:
Atletico Paranaense v Nacional – Copa Sudamericana Quarterfinals 25.10.06
Copa Sudamericana Quarterfinals
CONMEBOL Copa Sudamericana – English
CONMEBOL Copa Sudamericana – Español
