sport t shirts: February 2010

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Ibrox Stadium (Rangers v Celtic)

For more pictures of Ibrox see this post and this one.

Yesterday, after having lived in Scotland for over nine years, I finally visited my first Old Firm derby. Tickets for the meetings between Glasgow giants Rangers and Celtic are never on general sale and it is typically only season ticket holders from both clubs that attend these fixtures, apart from some sponsor and hospitality seats.

I am not a supporter of either of the clubs but I was able to borrow my friend Martijn's season ticket so I took my seat in the Copland Stand amongst the Rangers support. Before this game Rangers were seven points ahead of their bitter rivals in the league and it was a must-win match for Celtic. Earlier this week Celtic also appeared to have increased pressure on referee Dougie McDonald when an 'anonymous source' at Celtic revealed that the Parkhead club had complained to the SFA about various dubious decisions made by referees this season that all went against Celtic.

Before kick-off there was supposed to be a minute's silence as well for Gerhardt 'Gerrie' Neef, who was Rangers' goalkeeper when they won their first, and only, European trophy, the 1972 European Cup Winners' Cup. Unfortunately this silence was not observed by an admittedly small minority of the Celtic support which provoked booing from the home support. Embarrassing for both sets of supporters if you ask me and disrespectful to Neef's family who apparently had asked for a minute's silence instead of the cringe worthy minute of applause.

Of course this kind of controversy is all to be expected on derby day in Glasgow. Like it or not this is the biggest fixture on the Scottish football calendar. The Glasgow derby is followed with interest by the majority of the people in the West of Scotland and I think all these incidents are just a reflection of what is going on in society in this part of the world. This is not typical of Scotland I think, I know it is the same when Ajax and Feyenoord are playing each other in Holland. I was very impressed with the policing of the match and the crowd segregation before and after the game however.

The game itself was fast and tense with chances on both sides with both goalkeepers, Artur Boruc for Celtic and Allan McGregor for Rangers, in excellent form. It looked like Maurice Edu opened the score for Rangers but referee McDonald rightly disallowed the 'goal' because Kenny Miller had handled the ball.

In the second half Rangers looked the dominant side and they knew that a draw would suit them much better than Celtic. After 66 minutes Scott Brown was controversially sent off after he and Kyle Laffery clashed but it seemed a harsh decision. Rangers tried frantically to capitalise on the advantage but only in the third minute of injury time did Edu score the winning goal after a goalmouth scramble.

Approaching Ibrox from Paisley Road West.

Celtic fans queueing up outside the Broomloan Stand.

The Main Stand.

Again the Main Stand.

Flag waving before kick-off.

Both sets of players are entering the pitch. The Broomloan Stand, the opposite end, housed the Celtic fans.

Celtic are getting ready to take a free kick.

Banners on display during half time.

The players are getting ready for the second half.

Celtic ended up playing with ten men after Scott Brown was sent off.

Maurice Edu scores the only goal of the match three minutes in injury time.

The Main Stand after the game.

The Govan Stand.

The Broomloan Stand.

Sunday 28th February 2010
Scottish Premier League
Rangers 1 Celtic 0
Goal: Edu 90+3.
Att: 50,320

Ibrox Stadium (Rangers v Celtic)

For more pictures of Ibrox see this post and this one.

Approaching Ibrox from Paisley Road West.

Celtic fans queueing up outside the Broomloan Stand.

The Main Stand.

Again the Main Stand.

Flag waving before kick-off.

Both sets of players are entering the pitch. The Broomloan Stand, the opposite end, housed the Celtic fans.

Celtic are getting ready to take a free kick.

Banners on display during half time.

The players are getting ready for the second half.

Celtic ended up playing with ten men after Scott Brown was sent off.

Maurice Edu scores the only goal of the match three minutes in injury time.

The Main Stand after the game.

The Govan Stand.

The Broomloan Stand.

Sunday 28th February 2010
Scottish Premier League
Rangers 1 Celtic 0
Goal: Edu 90+3.
Att: 50,320

UDINESE READY FOR INTER TEST

Udinese defender Cristian Zapata was delighted to get back to winning ways in midweek and is now targeting a second-successive victory when they face Serie A leaders Inter Milan on Sunday.

Pasquale Marino celebrated his return to the bench by steering the Bianconeri to only their second triumph of 2010 on Wednesday as they came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory over Cagliari.

Udinese parted company with coach Gianni De Biasi and placed Marino back in charge last week, just two months after he left the post, and he had an immediate effect.

The Bianconeri crept up to 15th with that result, while they extended their advantage over the drop zone to four points.

As impressive as the result was the manner of their performance and Zapata has urged his team-mates to repeat that against Inter on Sunday.

"We played very well on Wednesday," he told the official club website.

"Jeda's goal after two minutes could have taken our feet from under us, but instead we reacted spectacularly.

"It wasn't easy to take back the match in our hands because we were anxious to recover.

"But in the second half we crushed Cagliari in their half of the pitch and we showed all our desire to win.

"It will definitely be a difficult game against Inter but we will try to impose our game even against the league leaders."

Udinese will be hoping tiredness plays some part in hindering the opposition.

Inter battled to a 2-1 victory in the Champions League in midweek and that was preceded by a gruelling goalless draw against Sampdoria where the Nerazzurri were forced to play 52 minutes with just nine men following the dismissals of both Walter Samuel and Ivan Cordoba.

The centre-half pairing will be suspended tomorrow while Inter also have several other absentees.

However, Zapata knows they have more than enough strength in depth.

He added: "They have at their disposal a squad with such quality that for them it will not be a problem.

"If Samuel is out, Materazzi is ready and if (Esteban) Cambiasso is out (Thiago) Motta and (McDonald) Mariga are ready.

"They will come here even more charged after the Champions League success against Chelsea."

Zapata has earmarked Inter's top goalscorer Diego Milito as the danger man, but is well aware Udinese have their own star attacker.

Antonio Di Natale scored again last week to take his tally to 18 for the season - four more than Milito, his closest challenger to the Capocannoniere title.

"Their strikers are all players who are capable of scoring in any moment," continued the full-back.

"I fear Milito more than any, he is an extraordinary footballer with a great awareness of goal.

"But Di Natale is doing really great and we want to give him a hand so he can score many more goals.

"He's our reference point."

Udinese have been hit by the news that Antonio Floro Flores has not recovered and he joins Gaetano D'Agostino, Christian Obodo and Dusan Basta on the sidelines.

As well as Samuel and Cordoba, Cambiasso and Sulley Muntari are both suspended for Inter, while coach Jose Mourinho will be forced to watch from the stands after the club lost their appeal against his three-match touchline ban.

Inter imposed a media blackout following the news on Friday morning.

The Nerazzurri will also be without injured defensive duo Cristian Chivu and Davide Santon but will be confident of getting a result against Udinese, who haven't beaten them in nearly six years.
UDINESE READY FOR INTER TEST

CAPELLO: TERRY WON`T CAPTAIN AGAIN

England boss Fabio Capello claims Chelsea defender John Terry is unlikely to ever captain his country again while he's in charge.

Capello sacked Terry as captain of the national team after allegations of an extra-marital affair emerged involving the former partner of Wayne Bridge, Terry's former team-mate at Chelsea.

Terry was snubbed by Bridge in the pre-match handshakes before Manchester City's 4-2 win over Carlo Ancelotti's side at Stamford Bridge, with Capello watching the game from the stands.

And the Italian landed a devastating blow to the 29-year-old's hopes of making a return to the role in future by insisting he will never skipper the team under his reign.

Capello said in the News of the World: "As long as I am England manager, I don't think John Terry will be captain again.

"The problem between John Terry and Wayne Bridge was not good and that is the only reason he is no longer captain.

"I expect my captain to be responsible to children and for the fans. I told him all of this."

Despite the bleak outlook for Terry's attempts to regain the armband, Capello explained the Chelsea captain still had an important role in leading England on the field.

Terry looks set to be Capello's only fully fit member of his preferred back four going into the finals, with Ashley Cole, Glenn Johnson and Rio Ferdinand all struggling with injury problems.

And even though he will not skipper the side, Capello told Terry to continue his role as the team's commander-in-chief at the heart of the defence - and insisted spirit amongst the England players had not been affected despite the saga.

Capello added: "I have asked Terry to be the same as before because he is a leader, but the situation with Bridge was not good. When I spoke with Terry, he understood everything. I know exactly what happened.

"Terry is a leader of men, even without the armband. I hope this is the end of the problem because it is not good for the fans or the players.

"The spirit of the group remains the same. I'm not interested in this problem any more and my only concern now is that the best players are fit."

The controversy led to Bridge withdrawing from the summer's World Cup finals in South Africa, putting a severe dent in Capello's plans.

The 63-year-old was expecting to use Bridge as cover for the left-back role vacated by the injured Ashley Cole, but the defender's withdrawal leaves the England manager with a selection headache.

Stephen Warnock and Leighton Baines have been earmarked to fill in for Cole, although Capello admitted it was a decision he could do without making, saying that Bridge's decision was not in the best interests of the team.

Capello did leave the door open for Bridge to return if chose, however, and with three months left till the start of the tournament insisted that any dispute with Terry could be resolved.

He went on: "I have opened the door for other players and the door is open in the future for Wayne. He knows he can change his mind. He has a different vision to me, but it's Wayne Bridge's life.

"He thinks it's better for him to stay out of the team and he has given us his reasons. It's the decision of the player, not mine. It's the opinion of the player that we are better off without him, but he could have been in the squad without a problem.

"In my opinion the decision was not in the best interests of the squad, but he could be with us next time. I only played in one World Cup and it's not easy to do that."

Capello's comments looked to underline the end of the Bridge-Terry issue following Saturday's meeting between the two sides, but the Italian conceded he had other concerns with team selection.

Chelsea's Joe Cole is struggling to rediscover the form that earned him the left-wing position under Steve McClaren following a long injury lay-off, while Arsenal midfielder Theo Walcott is also being hampered by fitness issues.

Capello delivered a warning to the duo, reiterating his long-held belief that hopefuls of making the 23-man squad must be playing regularly for their clubs.

"I saw the last game Theo played, he was on for 72 minutes and did very well, but he is not in a fantastic moment," said Capello. "He needs to regain confidence because he has lost a lot of balls. He is getting better and better but he needs to play more.

"Cole did not play against Inter (Milan) and it's not a good moment for him. Chelsea prefer Daniel Sturridge at the moment. Cole has problems and he's not the same player I remember."
CAPELLO: TERRY WON`T CAPTAIN AGAIN

WENGER SADDENED BY RAMSEY INJURY

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was unable to celebrate his side's vital 3-1 win at Stoke after teenager Aaron Ramsey suffered an horrific injury.

Ramsey was injured in the second half in a tackle with Ryan Shawcross, who was sent off and left the pitch in tears after seeing the extent of Ramsey's injury.

"I'm proud of our game because it was an unbelievable battle from the first minute. We needed to be tough and resilient to win," Wenger said.

"I'm very proud and of course very sad because of what happened. We know it's a bad injury. We have to transfer him to London tonight to see if he needs emergency surgery.

"We don't know how long he will be out but it's certainly long term.

"I'm not very happy with the tackle. We know what we are expecting, a battle everywhere, but we have now lost three players on horrendous tackles and I refuse to believe it's always coincidence.

"I don't believe it when you are hit as many times as we are. I just believe in what I see and when you see a player getting injured like that it's not acceptable. Commitment is right, but that is not right.

"All the questions I get in press conferences about we don't fancy the physical side of it, that's the result."

The game was level at 1-1 when the incident occurred but Arsenal somehow regrouped and scored a late penalty through Cesc Fabregas and an injury-time third from Thomas Vermaelen.

"We could see the team was shocked but this team is very strong mentally and we will do it for Ramsey as well because he deserves it," Wenger added.

Fabregas himself added on Sky Sports 1: "In five years I've seen three of them, Abou (Diaby), Eduardo and now Aaron. What can I say. It's difficult.

"You could say we are not protected enough. We are sometimes victims. I'm not complaining, football is like that.

"There are things that are a little too much but three times in five years is a little bit too much."

As for the rest of the game, Fabregas added: "We learned from when it happened to Eduardo, we lost a lead that day.

"It's very difficult to stand up but we showed character and knew if we won today we still had a lot to say (in the title race)."

WENGER SADDENED BY RAMSEY INJURY

Fixture (27 feb 2010)

England - Premier League

Chelsea 2 - 4 Manchester C.
(F.Lampard 42'90', C.Tevez 45'76(pen), C.Bellamy 51'87')
Birmingham C. 1 - 0 Wigan Athletic
(J.McFadden 45(pen))
Bolton W. 1 - 0 Wolverhampton W.
(Z.Knight 45')
Burnley 1 - 2 Portsmouth
(M.aterson 31', F.Piquione 25', H.Yebda 76'(pen))
Stoke C. 1 - 3 Arsenal
(D.Pugh 8', N.Bendtner 32'C.Fabregas 90'(pen), T.Vermaelen 90')

Italy - Serie A

Catania 4 - 0 Bari
(A.Ricchiuti 4', E.C. Llama 40', T.Morimoto 81', J.A.B. Martinez 90')
Lazio 0 - 0 Fiorentina
(S.Siviglia 7', Keirrison 90')

Spain - Primera Division

Getafe 0 - 2 Zaragoza
(H.Suazo 3'20')
Tenerife 1 - 5 Real Madrid
(G.P.Ayoze 46', G.Higuain 29'42', Kaka 48', C.Ronaldo 80'(pen), Raul 90')
Barcelona 2 - 1 Malaga
(P.Rodriguez 68', L.Messi 84', R.L.Valdo 81')

Germany - Bundesliga I.

Bochum 0 - 0 Nurnberg
Hertha BSC 0 - 2 Hoffenheim
(D.Ba 35', V.Ibsevic 90')
Mainz 1 - 2 Werder Bremen
(A.Bance 44', T.Borowski 31', S.Prodl 88')
Monchengladbach 1 - 1 Freiburg
(P.Cisse 56', R.Brouwers 72')
Stuttgart 2 - 1 Eintracht Frankfurt
(Cacau 41'45', B.Kohler 39')
Bayer Leverkusen0 - 0 1.FC Cologne

Xabi Alonso Football Pictures

Xabi Alonso Football Picture

Xabi Alonso with Girl

Xabi Alonso Real Madrid

Xabi Alonso Football Wallpaper

Xabi Alonso Football Pictures

Xabi Alonso Football Picture

Xabi Alonso with Girl

Xabi Alonso Real Madrid

Xabi Alonso Football Wallpaper

Xabi Alonso Football Pictures

Xabi Alonso Football Picture

Xabi Alonso with Girl

Xabi Alonso Real Madrid

Xabi Alonso Football Wallpaper

Saturday, February 27, 2010

BELLAMY TAKES A SWIPE AT TERRY

Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy took a swipe at John Terry after his side's 4-2 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

The build-up to the game had been dominated by the first on-field meeting between Terry and Wayne Bridge following the Chelsea captain's alleged affair with the mother of Bridge's young son.

Bridge made a point of refusing to shake Terry's hand before the match but had the last laugh as two goals each from Carlos Tevez and Bellamy secured a vital win for City as the home side had Juliano Belletti and Michael Ballack sent off.

Bellamy told Sky Sports 1: "You guys (the media) make a lot more of it you know. I know what JT is like and nothing surprises me about it, so I'm not going to comment on that. I think everybody in football knows what the guy is like, but that's off the field.

"On it he's an outstanding player. He's a great captain for Chelsea. It's always going to be difficult when you play him and his team."

The Wales striker admitted the result was a big boost for City's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League

He said: "Today was a big, big result for us because we have come away from the last month, we haven't been playing particularly well and it showed in the first half when we got going with the counter-attack with Carlos up there, especially on his own, which was difficult.

"I thought we got closer to him in the second half and we've got players that can score goals."

City boss Roberto Mancini paid tribute to Bridge's recent performances for the club, and praised the way his team-mates had rallied round him during his personal troubles.

He said: "Wayne Bridge has been playing well and this team has a fantastic spirit and for this reason we won this game.

"It was a difficult game because Chelsea is a fantastic team and has played for many years in the Champions League."
BELLAMY TAKES A SWIPE AT TERRY