Barbara

Marchisio was such a non-factor in this first half Pirlo was amazing, as usual.

don't like this Italy kit at all....

1) stupid back 2) it wasn't a penalty imo

legendary beard is legendary

Italy imo But Mexico hit the post a few minutes ago

we disagree then interesting match so far between Italy and Mexico. It doesn't stop. Very nice fast paced football to watch Pirlo's beard is legendary

no, it's yet another chance for FIFA make tons of money. It didn't exist until two decades ago and NT made it to the WC just fine with their continental competitions and qualifying as preparation... It's a way to fuq up the players physically as well just a year before WC.

it's not because they're both seeds. I'm very excited for Spain x Uruguay - the two teams I'm supporting in this joke of a competition.

I'm tired of this guy to be honest. He can lick Bayern's ass for the rest of his life for all I care. FFS you'd think he's the best thing ever based in those words. and he's also either delusional or stupid if he thinks he'd ever be undisputed #1 in Bayern. IN BAYERN of all teams.

as I supporter to both teams, I remember quite vividly when I heard about both signings. A friend of mine says I jinxed Kaká because I bitched so much about his signing even before he touched the ball that she said I ruined him. As he if needed help for that... Torres isn't much different imo. Overrated players, that had success because of something they did very well (Torres score - although he'd always missed a lot; Kaka run and good finishing), but very, very, very limited compared to others in the same position. How Kaká ever won the Best Player award will always appall me.

True, but my love for my clubs will always be much bigger than my love for the NT. I don't even love the NT at this point. And just to make it clear, by default, I can't stand Argentines Unless they prove otherwise - but they normally fail on doing so

Oh don't mention our captain. Javier Zanetti is probably one of the players I've loved the most in my life. Currently he's my most loved player in activity. He's my idol!

btw I'm meant it's NOT that important in Europe. I eat 'nots' and 'nos' for lunch, dinner, snack, etc... I always drop them from my sentences. And yeah, @LDN Blue it seems like European players prefer to have their special numbers these days.

Oh it should

so in that Inter team it was Cambiasso and Stankovic or Cambiasso and Thiago Motta (the pivot)? Got it. Such an amazing explanation as well, Nour. You indeed are a sweetheart. Thanks a lot. I now will use the DLP thing. I liked it. You guys are all amazing. Thanks a lot. also the weight that shirt has in Brazil might be bigger than in clubs in Europe. It's mystical here - I'm sure it's that important there as most teams don't even follow more the traditional 1-11 line up numbers. But here in Brazil 90% of teams still use the 1-11 to their 11 most important players that will start 95% of the matches. And the most important or glamoured or heaviest shirt is #10. Neymar thinks that now he's playing for Barça he deserves it - although in his press conference on Camp Nou last week he said numbers didn't matter to him. LIAR!!!!!! And this comes from someone who actually likes Neymar.

but he's so thin... he looks fragile if you ask me and he had been injured once while in Inter - if memory doesn't fail me (it normally does)

hahahahahahahaha you really made me laugh in real life

I think I read somewhere Mourinho wanted him in the team. Don't know him to be honest. But I trust Mourinho for sure. the thing is we keep being linked to players I'm not sure we need. The ones I think we need we aren't that much linked for real, just some rumor and rubbish the journos write

Well he wasn't too reassuring to Torres in his latest interview... the so-so comment killed me I love Mou!

first of all, thanks a lot. You guys have tons of patience with me here. I'm spoiled Also, are you a teacher as well? Because I must say as one myself, your didactic is flawless. I understood you so perfectly! I love that you brought the formations. It's easier to understand like that and I worship the ground Pirlo walks on, so using him as an example is pretty great as well. I feel accomplished with this post. Where do I save it? Liking it is definitely not enough. now do you speak Portuguese at all, or you were just trying to be nice to me? I know my English isn't that bad, but I'm so clueless about the lingo in some areas that it hurts.

you ignore everything I said just to comment on my avatar? That's what PM's are for (I'm kidding and thanks)

I wish I could understand better some expressions you guys use in English. I'm pretty worded in Portuguese and I feel like sometimes I disagree with people because the words in English are too different from portuguese or simply because of smaller differences we don't say here. I was talking privately to one of the guys the other day and I told him Xabi Alonso and Ramires are DM's and he said they aren't. In Brazil we call 'volante' the defensive midfield that protects the fullbacks and have mainly defensive responsibilities. We have first volante - the most defensive - and second volante - someone less defensive, but defensive nonetheless. Xabi is one of the best in the 2nd volante position imo - because in Brazil that's what we call him. He has amazing stats - pretty perfect if you ask me - in interception, tackling and making the transition between defensive and offensive sides of the pitch. Is that what you guys call pivot? A guy who tackles a lot, tries to recover the ball at all times and has a good pass to start a counter-attack? Also, the deep-play you guys mean is the long passes from defense to attack? (sorry for being an English dummy and bothering you with this stuff, but I'm here to learn too ) If that's the case, I don't see Oscar being this guy. He's way too talented to be a Xabi Alonso only and I don't think he has the defensive skills - not even close - and I don't see him developing defensively to the point of being a world class in the position (as far as I understand the position) I think he's great as a CAM or a RW and with the tactical discipline Mourinho is going to teach him, he'll be amazing tackling the ball in the attacking field. I don't want him to go too behind, I want him to play at all times in the attack field, only going to the defensive field when there's heavy attack from the opponent. He's too light (physically) to be a good 'volante' imo although Ramires proves me wrong in that department just fine.

mark my words, Lucas will never even kiss Oscar's boots. I don't know the fascination people have for a kid that isn't that much talented at all. He has his moments, but overall he will just be a good player. Not even a great one, let alone world class. The same can be said about Hulk in my opinion, except Hulk will make a difference in more matches than Lucas. My ex-husband supports Sao Paulo - Lucas' team in Brazil - so I've watched many of matches in the past years by Lucas. The boy has his merits - which aren't many - but he's so basic it hurts. I don't think a player is talented because once in a while he shows some talent to make a play. That's Lucas. He sucks in many matches in a row and then he does a great play. Maybe with a better manager - Carlo is pretty competent if you ask me - he could develop, but he really lacks a few things imo. As I said many people like him though... As for Hulk not even Brazilian fans like him of course they don't hate him, but managers (the current and the previous one) got slammed by fans for using him. Although he normally plays well with NT I don't want either in Chelsea. Not in the past, not now and not in the future.

I think we should be happy to have them all. Some of us will like one better than the other. I like Eden better, but I think Oscar is amazing and should play. And also think the pass was brilliant. ITA with everybody who pointed out the difference between adapting from Brazil to England compared to adapting from another country in Europe. It's about the style, the structure and even what's expected about the player. Most managers in Brazil still give a lot of tactical freedom to players like Oscar and the way the game is played (and the quality and level of it) is so different, that it really makes no sense to make a comparison. I expect nothing short of greatness from him next season. Nothing less. I know he will deliver.

Telegraph version of the news http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/10122510/Chelsea-manager-Jose-Mourinho-says-he-would-have-spurned-Manchester-United.html How do you guys make the link appear with its title instead of it address? edit: SSN new (sort of pointless) article Jose Mourinho will quickly lay down the law at Chelsea I guess I learned editing the link