Who Are Stronger - Brazil Or Argentina?

South American powerhouses - Brazil and Argentina - have struggled in the region's World Cup qualifiers but their performances during mid-week friendly matches suggest that they are back to their best.

South American powers - Brazil and Argentina - count with extraordinary squads, but although both nations are expected to be candidates for the 2010 World Cup they have been extremely inconsistent during the World Cup qualifiers.

In recent months Brazil have picked up some positive results on the road, but at home their record has been awful. Dunga's side haven't managed a victory in their last three home games - after three goalless draws against Argentina, Bolivia and Colombia. Immense pressure has hit the squad, and it seemed that Dunga would be out of a job.

Meanwhile, Argentina have only won once in their last seven matches, a run of results that led to Alfio Basile's eventual resignation. With the amount of quality in their squad, Argentina should be doing a great deal better. Instead they have been neutralized by difficult opponents, who have found a way to contain them, even with inferior squads.

Despite lots of problems during the qualifiers, if the results both teams picked up during mid-week friendly matches were any indication, they should be back at their very best when the World Cup qualifiers resume in March 2009.

Brazil played arguably their best game since Dunga took charge of the national team in 2006, with a stunning 6-2 demolition of a highly-rated Portugal side in Brasilia.

The Selecao came from behind to record a massive win that will surely boost the side for future matches. What caught the attention of most viewers was the offensive power of the side, and the way they were able to penetrate the Portuguese defense at relative ease. Also some of the goals Brazil scored were nothing less than extraordinary. Are Brazil back to their all-time best? We think so.

Diego Maradona debuted as the coach of Argentina with a narrow 1-0 victory over Scotland in Hampden Park. The Argentines played some entertaining football during the encounter, and must have been relieved by the win, particularly because they have struggled to claim victories in recent qualifiers, even when playing in-front of their own fans. But is it a sign of things to come, will Maradona manage to change their mentality for the more decisive matches?

After impressive results, it seems that both Brazil and Argentina are back on track, and at this rate, both teams will surely secure qualification to the World Cup. Although it is early, when the tournament gets underway in South Africa, both teams should be firm candidates for the title.

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Eto'o: Messi Is Better Than Ronaldo

As the best player in the world debate rages, Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o has thrown his weight behind Lionel Messi's claim to the mantle. The Cameroonian believes that Messi is 'above everybody' in terms of ability, including Cristiano Ronaldo...

As the race for the Ballon d’Or heats up, influential players as well as coaches are starting to sway worldwide journalists’ decision on who to vote for come December.

It appears to be a two-horse race at present between Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo and each player have received either glowing endorsements or rave reviews over the past few months.

And Barça striker Samuel Eto’o has now thrown in his two cents’ worth by backing his Argentine goalscoring accomplice at the Camp Nou.

“Cristiano (Ronaldo) is a great player, but Messi is above everybody at the moment,” he told French television channel, TF1.

“He does things not just in training but during matches that no one has ever done before.

“He is the new Maradona. He is a player who makes other people dream of playing like him,” he added.

Eto’o then analyzed Barcelona’s current playing system under coach, Pep Guardiola, which seems to be brining enormous success.

“Our present system isn’t all that different from the one last season. It’s still a 4-3-3 formation but in reality, it looks more like the system developed by (Johan) Cryuff’s Dream Team,” the 27 year old explained.

Barcelona currently sit atop the La Liga standings on 28 points after 11 rounds, with a massive 36 goals scored, 21 of which are shared between Eto’o and Messi.

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Zidane To Florentino: You Go Back, I Go Back

Real Madrid legends Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo were in Morocco last night where they held a charity match against poverty. The pair crossed lines with their former president, Florentino Perez...

Former Real Madrid president Florentino Perez was in Morocco yesterday where he met up with Ronaldo and Zidane, who were holding the traditional Ronaldo & Friends vs Zidane & Friends match against poverty.

Prior to the game, the famous trio took pictures for the press and held a friendly conversation. "With the way you look, you should still be playing," said Perez to Zidane.

The French legend was quick to respond. "If you return, Florentino, I'll come back too!" he joked, with that popular smile on his face.

Injury plagued Ronaldo was sentimental when recalling his days at the Bernabeu. "What good times we spent together, President, back in the day," he mused.

The talk was then moved on to more serious subjects, most notably Real Madrid's current crisis. "Schuster is not to blame for what is happening, the problem lies elsewhere," declared Ronaldo.

After being asked by journalists twice, supremo Florentino Perez refused to talk about making a return as Real Madrid's president in the near future. "I'm here to visit my family and friends, on vacation," said Perez bluntly.

Ronaldo's friends edged Zidane's in the encounter, winning by a score line of 6-5. Ronaldo was taken off early in the first half, in order to avoid aggravating his knee again.

However, Zidane scored a fantastic double, as well showing off those incredible touches that made him one of the most brilliant players in the history of the game.

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Juventus top Serie A

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Nike: Albert Morgan Cristiano Ronaldo Ad

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Messi Caught Spitting At Rival

Lionel Messi could be in danger of losing his innocent, squeaky clean image after he was caught spitting at Málaga’s Duda during Barcelona’s stunning 4-1 win on Saturday...

Nicknamed ‘The Messiah’, Lionel Messi has won endless praise ever since he burst into the scenes four years ago. The gawky-looking, media-shy 21 year old has always shown exemplary behaviour on the pitch to complement his breathtaking skills with a football.

However, during Saturday’s rain-soaked game against Málaga, Messi’s true colours may have finally been exposed after television cameras caught him spitting at his opponent, Duda.

The pair had been going at each other all evening long and, when they collided and stumbled to the ground at one point, Messi got up and spat towards the Portuguese, who had his back to the Argentine ace.

It is unclear whether the Barça forward was provoked in any way prior to the incident, but the Spanish sports journals, namely Madrid-based Marca, are already having a field day with this episode.

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Ronaldo Set For Mega United Deal

Newspaper reports indicate that Manchester United will offer Cristiano Ronaldo a sizeable pay-rise during the summer in an attempt to keep him at the club...

According to the News of the World, United will tear up Ronaldo's current £120,000-per-week contract - which has more than three years remaining - in favour of a new £150,000-per-week deal.

That would make the Portuguese superstar the best-paid player in the history of the Premier League. It would also severely dent Real Madrid's hopes of landing their top target.

"Next summer will be a key element of his contract situation — he will have three years left then," said Sir Alex Ferguson.

The prospect of stopping Madrid president Ramon Calderon from delivering on his promise of bringing Ronaldo to the Bernabeu would doubly delight Sir Alex Ferguson, as the pair have been involved in a word-war through the press over the last week or so.

"There is no question of Ronaldo leaving," the United manager continued.

"Calderon promised everyone they would get the lad in the summer. There was a complete arrogance about it. So I was delighted Ronaldo stayed."

However, there remains a remote possibility that Ronaldo could turn down the new deal and exploit FIFA Article 17, which allows him to buy out his current contract at the end of next season.

But Ferguson added: "Nobody (at Manchester United) has ever bought himself out of his contract. I don’t think it will be an issue."

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