Brazilian sex workers are going to be offered free English for the world cup 2014

From cnn we just got that the Brazilian sex workers are going to be offered free English lessons before 2014 World Cup. CNN's Shasta Darlington reviews.
Ahead of Brazil Planet Cup, free English instruction planned for prostitutes.

Now everyone is getting ready for the world cup!

Barcelona's Lionel Messi now breaks Gerd Muller's goalscoring report with Real Betis brace.

Lionel Messi set an archive for goals scored in a season as unbeaten La Liga leaders Barcelona stayed six points away from chasing Atletico Madrid with some sort of nervy 2-1 win at Genuine Betis.

The Argentine World Player with the Year netted his 85th along with 86th goals of 2012 within an entertaining game at the Benito Villamarin in Seville to overhaul the last best of 85 set simply by German Gerd Mueller in 1972.

Messi's uses overshadowed those of Atletico striker Radamel Falcao, who earlier put bottom side Deportivo Coruna towards sword with a five-goal haul in the crushing 6-0 home wins.

The prolific Colombian who is known as 'the tiger' and coveted by most of Europe's richest clubs, took his tally for that season to 16 in 15 complements as Atletico restored a five-point advantage over city rivals Real This town.
Jose Mourinho's Real side was required to twice come from behind in order to scrape a 3-2 win on Real Valladolid on Saturday which in turn closed the gap to Atletico, who they beat 2-0 at the Bernabeu last weekend, to a couple of points overnight.

 Atletico who responded by romping to a 12th win in 15 outings this term against a promoted Depor side vulnerable to dropping straight back to the next division.

Barca have won all their games this very season apart coming from a 2-2 draw at home with Real in October and Messi's double wear them 43 points, with Atletico upon 37 and Real on 34.


Messi equalled Mueller's record when he found the ball in a central position from the 16th minute and left the actual Betis defence standing before delivering an angled shot (below) across goal in to the bottom right corner.
Andres Iniesta's clever high heel set Messi up to ranking again nine minutes later which has a sweeping strike from a similar position just into the penalty area that flew in to the same corner of the aim.

Ruben Castro pulled a goal back for that home side in the 39th minute setting the stage for a difficult second half for that visitors.

Messi came close to some sort of hat-trick just over five moments from time when he spun in the community and Betis goalkeeper Adrian switched his shot onto a submit before Jordi Alba struck the rebound from the top off the crossbar.

The defeat was tough so on Betis, who beat Real 1-0 at your home last month and gave Barca one of their toughest workouts so far shock as to which deserved at least a spot.

Barcelona made new record; Real conquer Atletico in Madrid derby.

The Lionel Messi brace helped Barcelona with a 5-1 win over Athletic Bilbao plus a new La Liga record on Saturday.

With 13 wins plus another draw so far, Tito Vilanova's side surpass the previous record to find the best start to a year set by Real Madrid the government financial aid 1991-92.

Gerard Pique put the house side ahead in the actual 22nd minute with Messi doubling the actual lead three minutes after.

Adriano all but sealed the points with a goal by the end of the first 50 percent and Cesc Fabregas manufactured doubly sure 12 minutes as soon as the restart.

Ibai Gomez goal inside the 66th minute ensured Bilbao's getaway wasn't completely wasted but it really was Messi who once more had the final say storing up his second of the actual match moments later.
Ronaldo's finest ever goal?
A distinct side of Cristiano Ronaldo

The Argentine is one goal away via equaling German Gerd Muller's record of 85 goals within a calendar year set throughout 1972.
Barcelona's nearest rivals inside the title chase squared up to one another in the Madrid derby along with Real overcoming Atletico 2-0 for the Bernabeu.

A stunning 30-yard free of charge kick from Cristiano Ronaldo inside the 15th minute put Jose Mourinho's males ahead before Mesut Ozil acquiring all three points having a strike in the 65th instant.

The result sees True reduce their arrears along with Atletico to five items with Barca still 11 items ahead.

Earlier on Weekend, Mauricio Pellegrino was sacked seeing that manager of Valencia after a 5-2 defeat as a result of Real Sociedad.

The result sees Philippe Montanier's side move up to seventh, one location behind Getafe who conquer fourth-placed Malaga 1-0.

On the other hand in Serie A, Juventus extended their guide over Napoli -- which play Pescara on Weekend -- to five points having a 3-0 home win over Torino.

The visitors were lessened to 10 men inside the 40th minute when Develop defender Kamil Glik ended up being shown a red credit card.

Juventus took full toll from the numerical advantage in your second half with two objectives from Claudio Marchisio and another from Sebastian Giovinco.

Chelsea stay unbeaten

CHELSEA remained on top of the Premier League as Juan Mata inspired them to a 2-1 win over London rivals Arsenal yesterday.

Roberto di Matteo’s side are three points clear of second-placed Everton, who maintained their promising form with a 3-1 home win over Southampton.

Unsurprisingly, Chelsea captain John Terry endured taunts from Arsenal fans after this week’s Football Association verdict he was guilty of racially abusing QPR’s Anton Ferdinand in a Premier League match last October.

But Terry had the last laugh as visitors Chelsea, unbeaten in the league this season, handed the Gunners their first league defeat of the campaign.

Chelsea took the lead in the 20th minute at the Emirates Stadium when Spain forward Fernando Torres volleyed in Mata’s free-kick.

Arsenal equalised in the 42nd minute when Ivory Coast forward Gervinho turned in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s cross.

But Mata put the European champions back in front as the Spanish midfielder’s 53rd-minute curling free-kick glanced in off Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny.

“It was a big challenge to play against a quality side like Arsenal,” said Chelsea manager di Matteo.

“Fernando Torres was excellent. It was right to pick John Terry, he showed his leadership again today.”

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger slammed a poor defensive display that will raise fresh questions about whether the Gunners, without a major trophy in seven years, are genuine title contenders.

“I am deeply disappointed,” the Frenchman said. We gave two cheap goals away. It is unacceptable to give goals like that away in the big games.”

Brendan Rodgers enjoyed his first Premier League win as Liverpool manager, with Luis Suarez scoring his second hat-trick in as many seasons at Carrow Road during a 5-2 win away to Norwich that took the Reds out of the bottom three.

Uruguay striker Suarez needed just two minutes to score and he made it 2-0 in the 38th minute.

Turkey international Nuri Sahin added a third goal early in the second half before Suarez completed his treble with a curling shot in the 57th minute.

Norwich’s Steve Morison scored four minutes later before Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard made it 5-1 with a deflected shot.

Grant Holt pulled a second goal back for the Canaries.

Everton remained the top team on Merseyside after Nikica Jelavic scored twice in a 3-1 home win over Southampton.

Saints’ 12 million (RM60 million) record signing Gaston Ramirez gave the visitors the lead, the Uruguayan striker scoring his first goal for the club with a header before Leon Osman equalised for Everton.

Croatia striker Jelavic then made it 11 goals in 13 matches before half-time with a shot and a header.

Reigning champions Manchester City came from behind to win 2-1 away to Fulham with substitute Edin Dzeko scoring the winner three minutes from time moments after being brought on by Roberto Mancini.

Mladen Petric gave Fulham a 10th minute lead from the penalty spot after Pablo Zabaleta fouled John Arne Riise before Sergio Aguero drew City level in the 43rd minute. AFP

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Seattle Seahawks overcome Green Bay Packers on problematic play.

SEATTLE - Inside a bizarre ending that capped a difficult weekend for replacement officials, the Seattle Seahawks beat the Environment friendly Bay Packers 14-12 on Friday night.

Russell Wilson threw a problematic 24-yard touchdown pass to Golden Tate for the final play of the online game, a game that finally finished 10 minutes later when both teams were brought back on the field for the additional point.

Wilson scrambled from the pocket and threw to the corner of the end zone since the clock expired. Tate shoved Green Bay's Sam Shields taken care of, then wrestled with M. Debbie. Jennings for possession. It was ruled for the field as a touchdown and from a lengthy review, referee Wayne Elliott arrived from under the hood and announced "the ruling for the field stands" and CenturyLink Subject erupted in celebration.

It was nearly 10 minutes prior to teams were brought back for the extra point.

The final decision is only going to fuel debate about the substitute officials coming off a weekend filled up with disputed calls.

"Don't ask me a question concerning the officials, " Green Bay instructor Mike McCarthy said. "I've never seen anything like that in all my years inside football.

"I know it's been a wild weekend inside the NFL and I guess we're a part of it now. "

And one more game of the weekend will debated more than any other.

Seattle (2-1) received its second straight, while Environment friendly Bay (1-2) and saw the streak of wins in 6-8 straight road openers snapped.

Wilson's heave came at the conclusion of a final frantic travel after Seattle had previously missed on a fourth-down attempt from the Environment friendly Bay 7 with 2 minutes left. The turnover on downs appeared to end Seattle's hopes and cap an impressive second-half comeback by the Packers as well as Aaron Rodgers, who was sacked eight times -- all inside the first half.

Green Bay averted disaster when John Kuhn fumbled for the Packers first play following the change of possession but centre Jeff Saturday recovered. The Seahawks held and pushed Green Bay to punt on the 4 with 57 seconds remaining. The 41-yard punt set Seattle up for the Green Bay 46 with 46 seconds remaining.

Wilson hit Sidney Rice for 22 yards on a slant then went for Tate in the long run zone but the ball has been batted away with 18 mere seconds left. He threw over the pinnacle of Evan Moore on second down leaving 12 seconds staying and missed Tate again for the 5.

Wilson took the remaining snap with 8 seconds staying. He appeared to be looking for Rice on the right side in the end zone, but rolled remaining and threw for Tate, who was in a crowd of three Packers defenders. His shove of Shields was obvious and it was never clear who experienced possession between Tate and Jennings.

Seattle instantly celebrated while Packers argued with anyone in a striped shirt. Both teams were eventually shoved to the sidelines as Tate stomped throughout the end zone in celebration. Following review, Elliott's announcement sent the stadium into delirium sometimes more confusion ensued until the teams finally returned to the field for the extra level.

"From what I understood on the officials it was a simultaneous catch. Tie goes to the athlete. Good call, " Seattle instructor Pete Carroll said.

Rodgers had an amazing different opinion.

"It was dreadful. Just look at the replay. And then the fact that it was reviewed, it has been awful, " he said. "That's all I'll say about it.

"We shouldn't have been around in that position.

It was Tate's second touchdown in the game after catching a 41-yard TD inside the second quarter to give Seattle the 7-0 lead. He finished using three catches for 68 metres, while Wilson was 10 of 21 for 130 yards.

This Packers' frustration was almost quick. Guard T. J. Lang was a lot more emphatic, tweeting that the Packers were being robbed "by the refs. Thank you NFL. "

Green Bay shook off the disastrous first half where Rodgers has been sacked eight times and completely controlled possession inside the final 30 minutes. Green Bay ran 41 offensive plays inside the second half, got field targets of 29 and 40 metres from Mason Crosby and Cedric Benson's 1-yard TD run with 8: 44 left to take a 12-7 lead.

Others chatted their mind by tweeting.

Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman tweeted "These games certainly are a joke, " while NBA MVP LeBron James tweeted "I just LOVE the NFL to much to find out these mistakes. I'm sick like I merely played for the Packers"

Patriots lost inside chaos.

Do your livelihood, Bill Belichick tells his people. Ignore the noise. A wide range of people thought the Patriots [team stats] could be riding high three weeks in this bizarre NFL season, and that is why. Chaos was coming. Things were about to get crazy. And Belichick, most of us thought, would handle it superior to the rest. We thought the Patriots would likely keep their heads when exactly about them were losing theirs.

This was allowed to be their time, Belichick’s time, Brady’s period. This is when they would likely thrive — when chaos reigned along the NFL and lesser teams searched for excuses and pointed hands. Others would unravel when the growing season devolved into an Occupy NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE rally. Not Belichick. Not the actual Patriots. They have made their particular legend ignoring the noise, and here we're in the 2012 season, playing about the deck of an aircraft service, with Megadeth doing a sound check into the sideline and Fran Drescher handling the play-by-play.

Never has the actual noise been so deafening. Never has there been more yapping, badly behaved, whining, fighting and faking. Never provides the game required more focus, much more discipline, more wisdom and leadership through the unflappable one, Bill Belichick. That’s what we were expecting at the beginning of this season. Surprisingly, this is what we got: Belichick as Woody Hayes chasing down an upgraded official and yanking on the arm, demanding to know precisely what just happened.

The Patriots blew a nine-point fourth-quarter lead. The Ravens kicked a last-second field goal for your 31-30 win. The play had not been reviewable. Esteban Garza, the lowly replacing official, knew the rule. Belichick, apparently, did not. The NFL may soon fine him $50, 000, maybe more, for his actions.

This Patriots lost their cool and their second straight game, and it's, of course, all the refs’ problem. As Brandon Spikes tweeted following defense gave up 503 yards, “Can someone please tell these kind of (expletive) Zebras foot locker called and they’re needed back at the job!!! ” If you’re keeping score at your home, that’s three more exclamation points than sacks of Joe Flacco. In fact, Flacco dropped back 41 times and the Patriots did not record a single QB hit. Not one.

Bleeping zebras.

Why don’t you go back to Foot Locker?

Now we all agree the officiating has been a disaster. No debate there. The game is too fast for this option, the rules too complicated, the actual players and coaches too a little overwhelming. Clearly, Roger Goodell should have either made a cope with the real refs long before the season began, or fired the full entitled bunch of them. You don’t want to switch to a 401(k)? Good. Get lost. We’re moving on to Plan B. Then he could have attracted away the best college refs in the country — and for $10, 000 a game title (which is about what they’re featuring the old refs), it wouldn’t happen to be that hard. The players and coaches would have understood that the new refs were permanent and weren’t time for Division 3 or to Foot Locker.

Instead this is that which you get: eight substitute teachers plus much more than 100 large, violent men attempting to intimidate them. One question, Mr. Commissioner: Did you really think this was a good idea? What was your second decision — to let some dude make the calls from the table at Buffalo Wild Wings? It truly is such a foolish plan that it’s hard to trust Bud Selig didn’t think of it first. Ed Hochuli had a tough time with the NFL pass disturbance rules. Did we think some dude from the Lingerie League was going to grasp them?

The chaos should come as a surprise to no one. This Patriots’ performance amid the mayhem? Stunning. Upset of the year up to now. On Sunday night, the Patriots briefly found themselves in a shootout with Flacco and the actual Ravens. For those new for the NFL, this should give the Pats a huge advantage. Their quarterback is the best in the game at spreading out his receivers and choosing apart a defense. He did a number of that Sunday. He also did many handing off to Danny Woodhead, that's like Michael Jordan looking for Will Perdue about the break.

Woodhead carried nine times for 15 yards inside second half. When it was clear the refs were wanting to throw a flag on any contact by pass defenders, precisely what did the Patriots do? Ran 18 times inside second half. Brady threw just 19. With the aging remains of Ray Lewis patrolling the center of the field, Rob Gronkowski was targeted just one occasion in the second half. He did not make a catch. The Patriots blew the actual lead. They lost. They’re 1-2, tied with Miami for last invest the AFC East.

Maybe it’s not really Josh McDaniels’ fault. He’s been gone a little while. Someone has to remind him or her: He has a great quarterback and a few dangerous receivers. He also features some skittish, flag-happy officials. Make use. Spread them out. Run for the line. Throw and keep organizing. More Gronk, less Woodhead. More pressure about the defense, fewer huddles.

Ignore the actual noise. Enjoy the chaos. We don’t know when it is going to end, but we know this kind of: Only the losers will blame their failures about the substitute teacher.

Arsenal's draw together with Manchester City should restore each of our belief, says manager Arsene Wenger.

The Gunners earned a place at the Etihad Stadium when Laurent Koscielny made it 1-1 eight minutes from time but it really was the least they deserved, particularly after largely dominating the very first half.

They were made to purchase a defensive lapse in the actual 40th minute when Vito Mannone flapped at the corner and Joleon Lescott went in, but Arsenal kept pressing and could even have won it had Gervinho made one of the most of a late opening.

The doom-mongers were predicting some sort of season of struggle for Arsenal whenever they sold Robin van Persie to Manchester United inside the summer and also saw crucial midfielder Alex Song leave, nonetheless they are yet to lose and possess picked up nine points by five games.

Wenger said with the result: "I'm pleased because I am it was the minimum we deserved. I'm pleased as well with the caliber of our performance and our soul. I'm a bit frustrated because I am there was room to do more.

"We had early chances and lastly very late chances, especially the possibility of Gervinho at the edge with the box where we missed the target.


"But overall I hope the game will reinforce our belief, our confidence and reassure us about our potential within this league. "

City manager Roberto Mancini was considerably less happy with his side's 3rd draw from five games, which came five days whenever they suffered a last-gasp defeat by Real Madrid inside their opening Champions League game.

The Italian is specially concerned his side have not really yet kept a clean published, with Koscielny's strike the seventh they've conceded in the league witout a doubt.

Mancini said: "I'm very sorry to the players because it was complicated after Madrid but I'm worried because we conceded a mission. We need to improve and we should instead work.

"In the last several games we've conceded three aims from set-pieces. This can't occur. I'm frustrated but the players are frustrated with this. If you want to get, clean sheets are important. inches

The result left City inside seventh, four points behind commanders Chelsea and three adrift of Manchester United, and Mancini urged his team to ignore last season.

He said: "What we did has finished – it is history. Now we are like other teams and I don't like that we drew three games. Probably we're missing two points, from the game against Stoke maybe. inches

Mancini, though, shrugged off an incident following game where he appeared to be able to push striker Mario Balotelli, some sort of late substitute, down the canal.

He admitted the Italy forward may well be unhappy about his lack of playing time, but said: "I don't remember what happened following game. I don't know if they was asking me something – it turned out not important. Tomorrow I'll inquire him. "

Simply no tears as Terry quits.

English newspapers on Monday expressed regret over the loss to the national group of ex-England captain John Terry - but contrasted his impressive record on the pitch with his chequered individual history.

Terry's shock retirement from international football came hours prior to a Football Association was due to support a hearing into claims the Chelsea defender racially abused Queens Park Rangers' Anton Ferdinand, despite a court having found him not liable.

The football editor of The days newspaper said "the game has been tarnished" by the incident past October and "Terry did the right thing last night. It may possibly have been the hardest point he's ever done. "

"JT walks out on England, " proclaimed the Sun tabloid in a headline, adding "78 caps nevertheless no tears".

It said many fans "have grown to dislike a new player who, nevertheless, remains this country's best defender with a distance... Terry's career has already been a soap opera and, on occasion, an unsavoury one. "

Terry's reputation has suffered from episodes like a nightclub brawl, a fine over claims of drunkenly taunting US tourists soon there after the 9/11 attacks, and 2010 reports of affair with model Vanessa Perroncel, ex-partner associated with team-mate Wayne Bridge.

Twice Britain captain, Terry, 31, had become "not a symbol of unity but of scale, " according to a commentator inside the tabloid Mirror, who said their "legacy had become tainted beyond repair".

But the Sun said the Chelsea skipper retained the ability to surprise.

"He will probably return 1 day... as manager, " it believed boldly.

"Equally, it would not be the greatest surprise if one morning, we see Terry in an England shirt again. This is a bloke who was stripped of the England captaincy, won it back again but lost it again.

"Do take into account. Nothing seems to stick along with Teflon Terry. ".

Fingers crossed for Obafemi Martins as he aims for re-invention in Spain

Lolade Adewuyi (Goal.com)

COMMENT
By Ed Dove

The first time I saw Obafemi Martins in the flesh was May 2009, an optimistic early summer evening in the North East of England, a local derby between Newcastle and Middlesbrough, at the cathedral of St. James’ Park. At the time, both clubs were swamped in the mire of a relegation battle, and with the scores tied at 1-1, and the pair equally needing the three points, Magpies boss Alan Shearer beckoned over to the substitutes behind him. A change was needed.

DON'T MISS

• Martins signs for Levante in the La Liga

Off was hauled Michael Owen, stumbling limply towards the SJP exit door, and on strode Obafemi Martins, a substitution which changed the complexion of the evening both on the pitch and in the tribunes. Some said it took Martins only 55 seconds to make his contribution, others even less; the travelling Middlesbrough fans covered their eyes as what looked like a lucky slip and a scruffy shot managed to beat Brad Jones. The home fans weren’t interested, Martins was electric, the pace was there, the power was unquestionable, and that evening, the fox in the box, the hotshot forward, the instant impact. The Magpies on their way to a crucial home win, consigning their local rivals to a near-inevitable descent.
Sadly, the striker’s efforts couldn’t save the Sleeping Giants of the Tyne, and victory over Boro merely afforded a brief stay of execution. Some weeks later, Newcastle joined them in the second tier, the ugly nadir of the club’s recent history. Something struck me that evening, amidst the euphoria of relief, amidst the delirious hoards of Newcastle fans dreaming of sanctuary and celebrating like the crew of the Andrea Gail before the shadow of that final wave engulfed them in horrific reality; I wasn’t the only one who spotted it, noted the subdued reaction of the man in the middle, the man so famed for his exuberant somersaulting celebration merely walking towards the fans and offering a slightly embarrassed clenched fist to sate them.

Martins | Expected by Levante fans to bring dynamism to their game

It was perhaps perceptible back in 2009 that the striker’s spark wasn’t what it had been, and that something about this electric young forward had dulled. Maybe it was the plight of relegation with Newcastle, maybe it was the politicking and animosity that surrounded the club at that time, maybe it was just a young man with a taste for new horizons. Either way, it’s hard to suggest that things have ever been as promising for Oba since that May evening, and the poacher’s finish, that for a day or two at least, gave those on Tyneside hope.
A month or so later, he had left Newcastle. After initially suggesting that he would be keen to stick around and help the club in the Championship, then German champions Wolfsburg made an offer of £9 million to bring the coveted frontman to Lower Saxony. Despite the promise of a new frontier, and of the chance to test himself in the Champions League, Martins departed only a year later.
After never quite managing to unseat the club’s legendary strike partnership of Edin Dzeko and Grafite, and with the newly appointed Steve McClaren looking to reshuffle the deck, Martins moved to Rubin Kazan, once again by a manager looking to add an extra dimension to domestic champions. On arriving in Russia, the talk was of rejuvenation, of a striker ready to put recent disappointments behind him, and once more demonstrate the capabilities that had made his a household name.
Despite a Russian cup win, Martins’ stint in Russia was disappointing. Following the birth of his child, the striker expressed his desire to return to England and enjoy a closer proximity to his family. His wish was granted, and Birmingham came calling, fending off other suitors to seal a 6 month loan deal on deadline day in January 2011. Unfortunately, the Nigerian frontman failed to leave any significant impact in the second city. A League Cup final winning goal against Arsenal at Wembley masked an ineffective and disappointing spell. A shin injury curtailed his latest stint in England, and the offer of purchase was not taken up by Alex McLeish; a sad indictment of Martins’ decline.

	OBAFEMI MARTINS'  CAREER
2006	After five years at Inter, Martins moves to Newcastle where he is expected to fill in the shoes of Alan Shearer. He scores 28 league goals.
2009	He moves to German champions Wolfsburg and scores six goals in 16 league games
2010	After a year in Germany, Martins moves to Russia to play with Rubin Kazan.
2011	A loan move in January to Birmingham results in an English League Cup victory over Arsenal as he scores against Wenger's men.
2012	Unsettled in Russia after falling out with his coach, his Rubin contract is mutually cancelled and he signs for Levante in Spain as he hopes to revive career.

 Returning to Russia in the summer of 2011, the last year of Obafemi’s career has produced little of note. His brother’s tragic passing from a heart attack in that same summer can’t have helped but have left an impact, and without an international call up in recent memory, Martins, and his enviable scoring record for Nigeria, are threatening to be lost in the distant mists of time. Martins had hoped that his Birmingham sojourn would reinsert him into the minds and consciousness of Super Eagles selectors, but it hasn’t been the case. The likes of Victor Moses, Emmanuel Emenike, and Ideye Brown have emerged as viable, competent options for the national side, while Martins’ exile continues.
The Albion attempted to obtain the forward’s signature this summer, their loan offer being rejected before Levante finally stepped in after Kazan chiefs terminated the striker’s contract. It was a telling end to a dismal few years for the forward, and he will be hoping that his recent poor form and his catalogue of injury woes are over – here is a man who will surely be identifying a starring role for Nigeria in the 2014 World Cup as a realistic option, and Levante may well be the place to demonstrate his capabilities. Reports suggest that he has taken a large cut on his reported £40,000 a week salary at Kazan, and the older, more mature Martins shouldn’t be blighted by the financial woes that have followed him in the past.
I last saw Martins in October of last year, when he appeared for Kazan against Tottenham as a second half substitute. A few fans will have cowered when he appeared – many still remember the 20 yard belter he scored against Spurs in January 2007 – but few marvelled at his performance that night, a muted half hour where he was all but silenced by Younes Kaboul.
Will Martins ever be capable of changing a game’s complexion again? Only time will tell, but Levante and Nigeria fans will certainly have their fingers crossed.





 http://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/4082/editorial/2012/09/20/3389884/fingers-crossed-for-obafemi-martins-as-he-aims-for-re

Liverpool v Manchester United: Steven Gerrard will tell Luis Suarez to shake hands with Patrice Evra at Anfield

Flashback: Luis Suarez refused to shake hands with Patrice Evra the last time the two sides met Photo: 

Sunday’s game is the first at Anfield since the publication of the report by the independent panel which completely exonerated the Liverpool supporters and the 96 who died in the Hillsborough disaster 23 years ago and Gerrard joined in the appeals to stop the “vile chanting” from both sets of fans stating he hoped “human decency will break out”.

There is also the continuing enmity between Suárez and Evra after the eight-match ban handed to the Liverpool striker for racially abusing the United defender last season. Suárez refused to shake Evra’s hand in the previous encounter although he did later apologise to the club.

“I think them two players could be the key,” Gerrard said. “That’s going to be at the beginning of the game, the handshake and if it goes ahead then they’ve got a responsibility to start the day off on a good note.

“I just think it’s time to move on. My advice to him [Suárez] would be to shake hands and move on. Suárez will make his own decision, of course he will. But I’d like to think he would want to move on himself.”

United’s players, including Evra who is expected to be in the starting line-up, are all planning to respect the occasion and will shake hands with Suárez.

Gerrard said the events of Hillsborough, the continuing campaign for justice and the commemorations planned for Sunday all put the handshake issue in perspective.
“It does,” he said. “This game is about two tremendous teams. It’s a big clash. It’s an important game. I want to try and focus on what’s going to happen on the pitch and not going into the game thinking about what Luis and Evra are going to do and what’s going to be chanted on the terraces.
“If it’s a fantastic match, there’s a handshake before the game and there’s no vile chanting, it will be a great advert to everyone around the world.
“There’s going to be millions and millions of people watching this so it’s a great opportunity to send out the right message from the fans, from the players and from the game itself.”
Asked whether he was nervous about the fans’ behaviour — Liverpool supporters have been criticised in the past for songs about the Munich air disaster just as United’s have chanted about Hillsborough — the 32-year-old midfielder said: “I’m hoping human decency breaks out. I think it’s a great opportunity for both sets of fans to put the sick chants to bed on both sides, both Liverpool and Manchester United. It’s set up for it to happen.
“[Managers] Alex Ferguson and Brendan Rodgers and Man U’s captain [Nemanja] Vidic have spoken about it and this is the right time and occasion to put it all to bed and I’m certainly hoping that’s the case and if I can reiterate that message, not just to the United fans but to the Liverpool fans I think it would be a great occasions for that to happen.”

Tiger Woods doesn’t look particularly intimidated since he grabs share of Excursion Championship lead.

Over a day that simply could not need been better for golf -- azure skies, temperatures in the seventies, greens as welcoming as the mother at Thanksgiving -- Padraig harrington posted an opening-round 66, some under par, to hold a share with the lead with Justin Rose. In addition to Rory McIlroy, he of this intimidating game? Well, he's three strokes back after playing alongside Woods within the day's final group. Other notables: Phil Mickelson matched McIlroy and will also be his playing partner on Friday. Brandt Snedeker bested both of which by a stroke and rests tied for sixth. And Computer chip Watney? Uh... he's ranked thirtieth, a. k. a. DFL. This was the amount of day that you didn't want to leave strokes on the training, because nobody else was. The greens were "perfect, " inside Woods' words, and throughout the morning roars echoed around the course within the faint but unmistakable style regarding another little Georgia course. "It had been playing so hot, " Forest said, "the ball was soaring forever. " Woods has a good amount of success at East Lake; inside his last Tour Championships, he's got a win and three runner-up finishes. This marks the 27th period he's led or shared the lead following your first round; he would embark on to win 13 of those people tournaments. Oh yea, and as for those challenges with McIlroy? Woods is now 6-2 from the kid. And as Woods himself noted in a very rare moment of candor, those head-to-head battles can also get into his head: "I've [lost track of the field] maybe once or twice playing against Phil in the final group, and we've gotten run over, " he said. "We were playing against the other person and some guy gets off with a start, and we're 7‑under as a result of 10, and next thing you know we're several back. It's happened a couple instances where we just didn't have the leaderboards, so we don't really know what's going on. We're playing against each other. Next thing you know, you get through nine, and you glance at the leaderboard, and it's like, 'hello. Now we've got to begin. '" If Woods and McIlroy get paired together about the final day, expect both guys to pay a good amount of attention with $10 million at stake. Yes, it's a long way to Sunday, but this first round goes to the old guy.

Tiger takes charge, Scott in the mi

Padraig harrington is usually tied for your guide following the 1st rounded on the US ALL PGA Excursion Championship with The atlanta area although Australian Adam Scott is definitely 2 from the rate. Immediately after promises by means of Australian good Greg Grettle that they ended up being now intimidated by means of new world Not any. 1 Rory McIlroy, the 14-times major-winning Forest photo the four-under-par 66 with East Sea Driver to sign up Englishman Justin Increased together with the leaderboard. Australian Adam Scott is definitely 2 pictures back in the wrap pertaining to seventh following a 68 although People in america Scott Piercy, Bo Van Pelt, Shiny Kuchar as well as Steve Stricker talk about 3rd after units involving 67. McIlroy, having fun with Forest, mustered the 69 to become tied twelfth. Forest birdied 2 involving his or her beginning three slots to acquire moving earlier nevertheless made bogey for the final while he found bunker difficulty. The birdie for the 9th plus a chip-in birdie for the twelfth pushed your ex in to the mix as well as, even though he slipped an effort with 15 carrying out a 1st tee photo in to the trees, the 36-year-old countered using back-to-back birdies hitting prime location. Sooner, Increased birdied a few involving his or her very last 11 slots to become the primary in the club with four-under. Scott started out improperly which has a three-putt bogey by forty-four ft for the 2nd hole as well as, even though he made a great eight-foot birdie for the final, difficulty emerged for the up coming 2 slots. This Queenslander drawn his or her approach photo for the 5th in to the bunker as well as wouldn't acquire up and down pertaining to par then his or her 1st tee photo for the normal water safeguarded par three 6th went skating. This individual diminished the deterioration by means of pitching close up on the decrease region as well as creating bogey nevertheless seemed certainly not the challenger with two-over. But alternatively in comparison with put on obscurity Scott kick-started his or her rounded by means of drilling the 19-foot birdie with for the 8th then cracked with on the entrance on the 10th green to become returning even for the time. Back-to-back birdies for the 14th as well as 15th slots, the primary by several ft and also the up coming the tap into with following a overlooked 11 ft . bald eagle test, made certain the 32-year-old nonetheless provides wish involving proclaiming catastrophe get on the season. 'I played out actually beautiful aside from a couple of ups and downs for the entrance, i Scott explained. 'I ended up being playing great, nevertheless naturally a few as well as 6 usually are challenging, as well as I made a couple poor ups and downs as well as made bogies. 'But I thought I am playing great as well as I'd personally acquire my opportunities, and so i got in for you to hitting fairways as well as vegetables as well as acquired a number of odds that is wonderful. i David Senden, really the only other Australian in the subject, wasn't with his or her ball-striking finest as well as was battling to some two-over-par 72 to become tied 26th in the 30-man subject. Senden ended up being one-under-par through several slots nevertheless bogeyed three involving his or her up coming a few for you to slide from the rate. 'I merely didn't play properly today. I ended up being somewhat tossed for the returning being unfaithful as well as made some crap bogeys throughout the convert, i Senden explained. 'I wasn't emotion as good as I want to therefore I need to keep coming back clean another day as well as go after that.

Juventus earn a point

They'd been made to wait and were determined to relish it. Six long years after an away visit to the Stadio Romeo Neri, residence to lowly Rimini, Juventus go back to European football’s elite levels of competition as Italian champions. They did so in style, coming from two goals right down to snatch a draw away to help trophy holders Chelsea.

Of study course, they have played in the Champions League subsequently, even enjoying a memorable win at the Santiago Bernabeu that saw Alessandro Delete Piero given a standing ovation simply by an appreciative Real Madrid audience, but from the outset this felt completely different. Those previous returns proved to get little other than false dawns, plus a sense of entitlement as a squad loaded with ageing and angered veterans pulled Turin’s Old Lady ‘back where she belongs’ after their enforced relegation to Serie B.

Gigi Buffon, the only real first-team regular remaining from your pre-Calciopoli era, now captains a and hungry side, one who - instead of believing Juventus have a directly to be there - treated this fixture to be a reward for years of efforts. Accepting the club must yet again earn their place as one of the truly great sides, the goalkeeper himself, humbled by the journey he's taken, spoke for almost everyone linked with the club after the match up when he told reporters: “We do sense the enthusiasm of the fans. I am one of the few left who went from the past successes and the 6 years of decline. I can easily assure you, six years is. Throughout that time we dreamed of winning a Scudetto and profitable back the respect of teams in Europe.

“That doesn’t imply lifting the trophy, but having our say about this stage again. It is surely difficult, if not impossible, to win the Champions League this year. It would also be a very arrogant thing to consider in September. ”

What has happened at Juventus in those six years have been well documented, their trials - from time to time an all too literal term - and tribulations written about in countless columns and mentioned in endless hours of television. But many are aggrieved, feeling there may be so much misinformation printed that the reputation of the Bianconeri have been tainted even more than it should ever have been.

Yet here's a club doing so much to alter that perception in every conceivable way. A brand new stadium stands to be a shining beacon that the rest of Serie A must follow if the league would be to once more be regarded united of Europe’s best. Undefeated given that moving there, the team around the field play a brand of football that fans over the continent can only admire. The visit to Chelsea drew many quizzical looks from a poor not followed them closely as Juve would not even appear to settle from 2-2, pressing on in search of any winner as the match drew to some close.

Juventus are working harder than lots of their domestic rivals to lower costs and match their recent on-field accomplishment with equally positive business choices. Of course there is much work still to do as the club still recorded losses in its most current accounts, and even on the subject they do still occasionally look naïve - an area proven countless times at Stamford Bridge - but they are undoubtedly heading in the correct direction.

The fans played his or her part too, no longer endlessly chanting ‘animals’ at the first sight of English level of resistance, and the visit to West London highlighted just how determined to enjoy themselves your Juventus tifosi truly are. Only over 3, 000 supporters filled into Chelsea’s Shed End, continuously making themselves heard despite currently being heavily outnumbered; they too were glad to once more feast at European football’s prime table.

Arriving on the District Line and walking towards stadium from Fulham Broadway, the the top stands came into view just as fans learned the club’s Under-19 side had beaten Paris Saint-Germain yearly Gen Series, immediately putting them in good spirits and in some cases better voice. Home supporters were being met with handshakes and scarves were swapped; no longer may the post-Heysel ill will towards anything English colour these practitioners, humbled by recent events. The most up-to-date news regarding Hillsborough dominated talk for long spells.

They cheered all through the primary half despite Juventus desperate for the cohesion that has be a hallmark of Antonio Conte’s side and in addition they sang during half-time, briefly pausing to berate a fan inside the Chelsea section who had taken the unfortunate decision to wait wearing an AC Milan top - 3, 000 fans booing in unison as though it was Silvio Berlusconi himself sat watching. That unwavering and unyielding support was rewarded when a poor pass from John Obi Mikel had been compounded by John Terry’s inability to react, Fabio Quagliarella ghosting in slot an equaliser between your legs of Petr Cech.

The striker almost stole all three points having a vicious shot that left Cech stranded just to skim the crossbar, but a draw was ultimately a good result. They may indeed develop the motto ‘Winning is not crucial, it is the only thing that matters’ emblazoned inside collar of their shirts but here, for one night merely, a point was certainly established. Juventus, and her fans, usually are back.

Manchester United May Squeeze Nike Following Record GM Jersey Deal.

Manchester United convinced General Motors Corp. (GM) to pay a record $559 million to obtain its Chevrolet brand on this team’s red jersey. Now, the 19-time English soccer champion is able to play hard ball with Nike Inc. (NKE), their maker.

United, which this few days announced its first results due to the fact August’s initial public offering, got 33. 8 million pounds ($54. 7 million) in retail sales to the year ended June 30. That’s generally from its 13-year, 303 million-pound deal with Nike, which gives the Oregon-based company control in the club’s complete merchandise sales functions, including the jersey.

“We continue to believe that it will have an opportunity to reset our existing deal with Nike to market rates, ” United’s executive vice chairman Ed Woodward said using a conference call with analysts following team announced a fourth-quarter decrease in 14. 9 million pounds. “There are actually many changes to the globe of football since this work was negotiated in 2001. ”

Woodward’s optimism might have been fueled by the seven-year GM work, which the club says will be the largest such agreement in athletics. The carmaker will pay greater than double current jersey sponsor Aon Corp. ’s 20 million pounds a season when it takes over in 2014. Even before then it’s having to pay almost $18 million for each of the next two seasons as part of the agreement.

When United enters its exclusive negotiating period over the renewal with Nike in January, Woodward may point to new entrants from the soccer apparel market from this U. S.
More Manufacturers

Below Armour Inc. (UA) signed using Tottenham Hotspur, while Warrior, some sort of unit of New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc., is paying five-time European safe bet Liverpool 25 million pounds for each of the next six seasons even the Reds had their worst British Premier League finish since 1994 in May and therefore are yet to win after 4 matches this campaign.

Liverpool were being getting about 12 million pounds per year from Adidas AG, soccer’s top brand by sales.

Europe’s leading teams are will no longer restricted to a choice among Nike or Adidas, according to help Andy Anson, chief executive officer at online shoe retailer Kitbag Ltd.

“The main impact from the new entrants, such as Soldier and Under Armour, has been to generate a greater market for the clubs, ” Anson, United’s former commercial director, said in an interview. “As we’ve seen with this Liverpool shirt deal, where Soldier outbid Adidas, the clubs are in possession of more options and can drive up the sports marketing fee they are getting from the brands. ”

Within June, Nike announced its soccer business generated sales of $2 billion for initially. The world’s biggest sporting goods maker entered the game in the mid-1990s when the item signed contracts with Germany’s Borussia Dortmund, Greater london club Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain and also Brazil’s national team.
Best Dealers

Sales of United’s home and also away jerseys are among Nike’s greatest sellers alongside those of Spanish club Barcelona. Replica shirts with United striker Wayne Rooney’s name around the back have sold more than some other in the Premier League’s 20-year history, the league said April 30. United doesn’t break out entire jersey sales.

Nike’s deal with United comprises of a minimum guarantee, with any extra revenue generated from retail gross sales split 50-50. How much more the company would expect you'll pay depends on the business case, according to Nike manufacturer President Charlie Denson.

“It’s their job to build demand for their product and also that’s what they’re doing, ” Denson said within an interview last month. “At the end of the day, the merits of the quality of the opportunity and what it’s value will play itself out. ”