Monday news round-up (including FIFA Puskás Award shortlist)

[mundodeamor.livejournal.com]

ZLATAN REVEALS HIS DREAM TEAM

GK Gigi Buffon: “the wall”
RB Lilian Thuram: “the animal”
CB Thiago Silva: “complete”
CB Fabio Cannavaro: “the pitbull”
LB Maxwell: “elegant, simple as that”
RW Andres Iniesta: “magic”
CM Patrick Vieira: “the leader”
CM Xavi: “perfect, very simple”
LW Pavel Nedved: “because he is a machine”
FW Lionel Messi: “genius”
FW Zlatan Ibrahimovic: “The God”

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FIFA Puskás Award NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

Besides the shortlist of forwards for the World XI and Ballon d'Or nominees (share your wishes/predictions here!), FIFA also announced the shortlist for the Puskás Award aka the best goal. Here are the 3 nominees:

• Stephanie Roche - 20 October 2013, Peamount United v Wexford Youths, BEWNL (Ireland Republic)
• James Rodriguez - 28 June 2014, Colombia v Uruguay, 2014 FIFA World Cup
• Robin van Persie - 13 June 2014, Spain v Netherlands, 2014 FIFA World Cup

(Last year the winner was Zlatan The God's acrobatic goal in a friendly against England. Rewatching it now, I think this year only The Flying Dutchman can compare.)

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OTHER NEWS:

• THIERRY HENRY confirms MLS exit

• BALOTELLI still sidelined for Liverpool

• GERRARD offered new contract

• KLOSE unhappy at Lazio due to little play time

• WENGER hits out at critics: "I started to manage a team at the top level in 1983. If I am completely useless tactically, I am a genius [because] I can hide it very well. Look, in [each of] the last 15 years, we are qualified for the last 16 in the Champions League. Give me another club who has done that. I think we have shown extreme consistency and that’s all we can do. We’ve had ups and downs in the league - yes, it’s true, but you only come back again when the spirit is strong and healthy and united inside the club. And I think if you have shown such a consistency, it’s because we have that at the club. We have values and we respect them."

• LOUIS VAN GAAL praises himself: "Before I came here, of course, I had heard of his reputation. But, from the first day, he was not the Wayne Rooney that people had talked about. He was, in my eyes, a great example in training and, of course, he has achieved a certain level. I think he shall always play with me - although, when he is in a bad moment, maybe I can be convinced to change him. But he is my captain now. He is the man who sets the example for the other players. So I'm very pleased. I have the impression that he lives for football and that he likes being the captain of Manchester United. Of course, being captain of England helps him to be a better captain of United. He has more experience. But I have to remind everyone that I put him first as captain. Roy Hodgson followed my advice. I can make every player better. I'm sorry. That's arrogant, but I can."

• SIMEONE will leave Atlético sooner or later: ''I'm a spontaneous guy, and spontaneous people are notoriously impatient. I can't stay for 10 years at the same club.''

• KLOPP is not leaving BVB because (as long as?) there is no one to replace him: "If it is only about luck and a change of coach can bring that, you only have to call me up and I will step aside. But it is not so simple. As long as nobody comes and says to me, 'we have someone who does it better', then I cannot go. I won't stand in the way, but I cannot go before there is a better solution, the responsibility is great and I can accept it."


Which 11 players would you have in YOUR Dream Team?

Comments

[blackjedii.livejournal.com]

Zlatan honey you are a bit late on the Iniesta/Xavi combo they have slowed down and splintered somewhat also if you're gonna go spain go puyol

I want one from Thomas. It will be ridiculous.

Also a little surprised at Klose - he normally doesn't say a word and IIRC he was considering retiring next year and finishing out with Lazio. But maybe he is re-considering and will come to MLS?

[aquaecolore.livejournal.com]

that is interesting about Klose.. source is Bild though.. article behind paywall and they're speculating about him returning to the Bundesliga (http://www.bild.de/bild-plus/sport/fussball/miroslav-klose/fordert-aussprache-mit-rom-bossen-38781894,var=x,view=conversionToLogin.bild.html) from the headline at least

[blackjedii.livejournal.com]

BILD is usually pretty accurate. It may be that klose is frustrated, idk. He' just usually the most tactful and polite of any player out there so him voicing frustration to the press is unusual. And his contract runs out, so it's not like he has anything to protest besides playtime (and it's not like he has to think about his NT career, unlike Poldi I AM SO NOT TALKING TO YOU ARSENE WENGER).

[itsacoco.livejournal.com]

Based on his other choices, he probably meant Xavi/Iniesta at their prime.

[minervasolo.livejournal.com]

That Stephanie Roche goal is good. It's not going to win, sadly, but it is a really nice goal.

[mundodeamor.livejournal.com]

Yeah, don't get me wrong, her goal is good too - what I meant with my comment is that only Van Persie's goal is ''crazy'' (unusual) enough to have a lot of hype surrounding it. And hype = memory = votes.

[peiro.livejournal.com]

oh, Cholo. :(

[mundodeamor.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that was a bit sad to read. I think he's waiting for a/another big trophy, preferably the CL since they were robbed last season, and then leave on a high (when he can't top their success).

[the4thjuliek.livejournal.com]

Oh, I hope not! I'd like Atletico to win a CL before he leaves.

[aquaecolore.livejournal.com]

Also from today (http://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/borussia-dortmund/reus-pakt-mit-bayern-38776084.bild.html), apparently there was some sort of an agreement between Bayern and Dortmund a year ago that if Dortmund didn't let Lewa go to Real Madrid (before his contract was over), Bayern would not go for Marco Reus

Not sure why this is coming out now though (other than some more speculation that Dortmund is unhappy that Bayern do actually still want Reus now)

[blackjedii.livejournal.com]

Borgen Munchen must assimilate all the players.

All. The. Players.

[marsyke.livejournal.com]

So Zlatan chose his epic bromantic partner Maxwell. I'll just spam them a bit
Early days, winning the Dutch league with Ajax

Inter

Barcelona

PSG

having fun

[40wtsily.livejournal.com]

aw cuties. ibra is really one of a kind (for better or worse lol), only zlatan to put himself in his dream team and call himself 'the god'.

[koyuki]

Oh, Miro.

Remember when Lazio was like, "We're not selling Klose" after the WC? So what, you're going to leave him on the bench instead? Ugh. (I mean, this is also how I feel about Poldi...and Rosicky.........Grandpere, what are you doing ): SIGH)

lmfao @ Zlatan. He irritates me on occasion, but most of the time, I just find him hilarious and weirdly charming.
Unlike Van Gaal, whose arrogance is instead annoying.

[blackjedii.livejournal.com]

My favorite thing about Zlatan is how self-aware he is about being full of himself. He knwos he has an ego and plays it up for his own amusement.

Also that he paid for a disabled team to get to go to their own World Cup because he could. (http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/soccer-dirty-tackle/zlatan-ibrahimovic-pays-to-send-swedish-learning-disabled-team-to-brazil-for-inas-world-cup-213308379.html)

[koyuki]

Well, I mean, Van Gaal just said what he said in a self-aware arrogant way too, but it's like... if Zlatan said he thought he was the handsomest man on earth, it'd be funny because there's no question he thinks he's handsome, but he always takes it to such hyperbolic levels that there's a wink-wink nudge-nudge in there, whereas people like Van Gaal are just like "suck my dick" which.........................no.

[mundodeamor.livejournal.com]

I don't mind Van Gaal, but I agree about Zlatan being weirdly charming.

[itsacoco.livejournal.com]

I don't think I could field a dream team of my own right now since I haven't really watched football for that long, lol. But Zizou would probably be in mine.

I didn't know Simeone was in charge of Atleti for three seasons. What changed last season that caused his team to shoot up to #1 in La Liga and in the CL finals?

And the possibility of Titi going back to Arsenal in a coaching capacity. :o Maybe Wenger can mentor him.

[the4thjuliek.livejournal.com]

Simeone has slowly built up the team. His first season, Atletico won the Europa League, the second season which was 2012-13, they won the Copa del Rey and finished third in the La Liga which was their best finish since 1996. Last season, they won the La Liga and made it to the CL finals. No fluke.

Zizou in everyone's dream team should be a footballing law :D