There Is Only One Sinnacle

If you can’t have a beautiful game in the World Cup final at least have the best team win and with that Spain are worthy winners of the 2010 Fifa World Cup thanks to a late Andrés Iniesta winner.

Dutch football may of invented Total Football in the late 1960′s throughout the 70′s but this 2010 Dutch team perfect Total Thuggery. For Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk to criticised Howard Webb for a lack of control in this match takes some gall considering all the dirty fouls the likes of Mark van Bommel and Nigel De Jong. I’m usually one to pick on Howard Webb but while he wasn’t perfect he did the best job he could do. To his credit Howard Webb didn’t try to make the game about him, he didn’t try to decide the World Cup with a red card early in the game and in the end despite how it happen Spain proved to be the best team in the World.

How good do you feel if your Vincent Del Bosque right now? I know it’s most likely water on the bridge but after getting let go by Real Madrid, Del Bosque stood on the sidelines for five years before taking over as head coach of Spain. What is most impressive about Del Bosque is the fact taking over Spain after winning Euro 2008 is no easy feat. Just ask Roberto Donadoni and hell even Marcelo Lippi this year how tough it is to try and repeat the magic of a previous Championship team. Every move Del Bosque made was on point during the World Cup. He gave Fernando Torres more than enough rop to hang himself with and during the finals his substitutions were perfect as Jesus Navas and Cesc Fabregas gave Spain the lift they needed in the final 30 minutes.

How good was Andrés Iniesta feel right now. While the degree of difficulty was greater on Diego Forlan goal against Germany that ball must of felt like it was bouncing up there forever before Iniesta got a perfect foot on it. I also loved how Iniesta has a message on his t-shirt for friend and former Espanyol captain Dani Parque who tragically passed away of a heart attack last year. I’m not one for all the mushy stuff but with Antonio Puerta passed away before Euro 2008 and Dani Parquq last year it does appear Spain has some angels watching over them.

Enjoy the next four years as Champions and for the likes of Iker Casillas, Víctor Valdés, Carles Puyol, Andrés Iniesta, and Xavi Hernández who have won everything a player could win in the World of Football.

Winning the best young player award is one thing but it will be hard to top winning the Golden Boot with five goals and his three assists being the tiebreaker. Bayern Munich have one hell of a player in Thomas Muller who at only 20 years old his loss was felt when Germany couldn’t overcome Spain in the semi finals.

Muller is like Forlan where if you don’t watch the Bundesliga week in and week out may slip under the window but after this display Thomas Muller will be a household name for the next decade with his name often linked up in transfer rumours. Not a chance Bayern Munich lets him go however.

Kudos to Fifa for getting it right by awarding Uruguay’s Diego Forlan the 2010 World Cup Golden Ball. While there was a four way tie for most goals in the World Cup Diego Forlan made magic on each of his five goals basically created goals out of nothing. All four players who tied for the most goals are World Class players but felt the nod rightly should of been given to Forlan. David Villa great as he is has his table set for him by the great duo of Xavi and Andrés Iniesta. Wesley Sneijder and Thomas Muller had great World Cup but Arjen Robben made Holland tick just as much as Sneijder and all things being equal didn’t see Fifa giving a 20 year old the Golden ball considering the career Muller has before him. You can also make the case Muller wasn’t the best player on his team.

Congrats to Diego Forlan who goes down in history as the best player in the last World Cup. This maybe a surprise to people who hasn’t seen Forlan since leaving Manchester United but for the last three years Forlan as been tearing up La Liga with Atletico Madrid and Villarreal previously.

Chelsea are set to open the bidding for Liverpool’s Fernando Torres with a cut-price £30m offer for the Spain striker. Daily Star

Does Liverpool even counter offer that? What happen to those Sergio Aguero to Chelsea rumours? When will Chelsea ever spend big again?

Inter Milan’s Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder says he will turn down a £29m move to Manchester United to remain with the European champions. Daily Mail

Manchester United isn’t what it once was a few years ago. Sneijder is happy at Inter Milan, why uproot everything to a new country/league where he career can stall like it did with Real Madrid.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson may now turn his attentions to Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil who is valued at around £25m by his club Werder Bremen. Daily Express

All things considering Ozil would be easier to sign and may even become a better player than Wesley Sneijder.

Manchester City are lining up a £20m bid for Chelsea striker Didier Drogba. the Sun

Not going to happen but I’d love to see Drogba and Adebayor in the same locker room. Can’t see those two getting along.

Man City meanwhile have turned down a £16.7m offer for Brazilian international forward Robinho from Turkish club Besiktas as the Eastlands side want more for their record £32.5m signing. Daily Mail

I’ll wish Manchester City luck turning a profit on Robinho.

Barcelona have admitted they will need to sell striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic in order to fund a move for Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas. Daily Star

Or to pay there players. One thing is clear Ibrahimovic wasn’t a great fit for Barcelona. Zlatan is at his best when he is able to hold the ball up or attacking crosses in the air. Not exactly Barcelona style with the midfielders typing to break the defender with thru balls.

Aston Villa have told Manchester City they may accept a player in part-exchange for their England midfielder James Milner. Daily Mirror

Let’s get this done already. Everyone knows it’s only a matter of time.

They may be knocked out of the World Cup but throughout the last month kept thinking of the other countries who would love to have some of the German players playing for them. Below is a list of players on Germany’s World Cup team who could of played for another country.

Dennis Aogo – Born in Germany could of played for Nigeria but backed out at the last minute due to being good enough to crack the German National team.

Serdar Tasci – Also born in Germany but could of played for Turkey due to his parents being from there.

Jérôme Boateng – His brother Kevin Prince Boateng may of slipped through there fingers deciding to play for Ghana instead but the new Manchester City defender played a key role in helping Germany advance to the semi finals.

Mesut Özil – His family is 3rd generation German who came over from Turkey but just knowing Ozil has Turkish blood must make Turkish fans rue not seeing Ozil playing for them.

Piotr Trochowski, Lukas Podolski, and Miroslav Klose – I’m not even going to touch on the history between Poland and Germany but knowing all three players were born in Poland must hurt Polish fans. What’s even worse is all the success Podolski and Klose has had scoring goals for Germany when Poland has been missing an elite striker for aslong as I can remember.

Marko Marin – I’m sure Bosnia and Herzegovina wouldn’t mind having Marin suit up for them when they were taking on Portugal to qualify for the World Cup.

Cacau – Every top team needs a converted Brazilian national and Cacau fills that role for Germany.

The agent of Sevilla’s Luis Fabiano has played down speculation linking the Brazil striker with a move to Manchester United or AC Milan. The 29-year-old is out of contract at the Spanish side next summer but has a buy-out clause which would allow him to move for £25m. (Press Association)

Just can’t see Luis Fabiano being a success with Manchester United, also 29 year players are generally not the type who Sir Alex Ferguson spends big money on. A.C Milan haven’t had the greatest of luck with Brazilian strikers as of late with the world still waiting on Alexandre Pato and Ricardo Oliveira before him being a bust.

Felipe Melo has moved a step closer to leaving Juventus after general director Giuseppe Marotta indicated the Serie A club will listen to offers for the Brazil midfielder. Reports in Italy claim Melo could join Arsenal this summer in an exchange deal which would see Gunners left-back Gael Clichy move the other way. Gazzetta dello Sport

Felipe Melo value wasn’t sky high going into the World Cup and it has now dropped even further. If Arsenal make a move for him surely they won’t need to part with Gael Clichy.

Manchester United have shown an interest in Netherlands midfielder Wesley Sneijder, according to Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti. Daily Mirror

United are apparently willing to pay £29m for Inter playmaker Sneijder and the Premier League club are also ready to compete with Manchester City for Inter’s £30m-rated striker Mario Balotelli. Daily Mail

Still early in the transfer season but waiting for Manchester United to make a splash. After what most would call a down year for the Red Devils a shake up seems to be in store.

Barcelona’s financial problems could scupper deals for Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas and Liverpool’s Fernando Torres and Javier Mascherano. Daily Mirror

Somebody needs to be read the riot act for Barcelona missing last months wages.

Manchester City will make Aston Villa an improved offer of £24m for midfielder James Milner but will turn their attention elsewhere if the latest bid is turned down. the Guardian

Angel Di Maria didn’t have a great World Cup but he is still a better player than James Milner. Only in English football would he be wroth that much.

Monaco striker Eidur Gudjohnsen is set to complete another loan move to Tottenham after spending the end of last season at White Hart Lane. the Sun

Bye bye Robbie Keane?

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson will bid for Wigan’s Maynor Figueroa – if he can sell left-back Emiliano Insua for £5m. Daily Mirror

Insua was thrown to the wolves last season and while he didn’t have me out of my seat Insua did show enough to prove he should be given a chance with Liverpool.

West Ham were due to sign Bayern Munich striker Miroslav Klose on a free transfer this summer but the German’s excellent performances at the World Cup have made a deal “unlikely” to go through according to the Hammers’ co-owner David Sullivan. the Independent

Something would be wrong if Klose ties or breaks Ronaldo World Cup goals record.

Sunderland have entered the race for Ghana’s £7m-rated striker Asamoah Gyan. The Rennes striker has also been linked with a move to West Ham. Daily Mail

Despite the penalty miss can see why clubs would want to sign Gyan from his overall World Cup performance.

Newcastle are confident of signing England Under-21 midfielder Dan Gosling, who left Everton on a free transfer after the Merseysiders failed to put a contract offer in writing by the middle of May. Full story: Daily Mail

Meanwhile, Newcastle are also weighing up a move for Dutch midfielder Jonathan de Guzman, 22, who has been released by Feyenoord.the Sun

Been curious as to why there hasn’t been more talk on a Jonathan de Guzman signing. Yes he has been hurt a ton these last two years but the upside is sky high for a player on a free transfer.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy is planning to offer Chelsea £4m for defender Michael Mancienne, with the London club ready to offload the 22 year old. the Sun

Michael Mancienne never got his chance with Chelsea. Something tells me Chelsea would regret it if they sold him.

Middlesbrough striker Kris Boyd turned down wages of £50,000 per week at Turkish club Kayserispor when he left Rangers. Daily Mirror

Middlesbrough want Rangers midfielder Kevin Thomson and have offered the Glasgow club former Aberdeen striker Lee Miller as a makeweight in a £2.7m deal. Daily Record

Middlesbrough should just call themselves the Old Firm considering all the players they are signing from Rangers and Celtic. Someone should tell Gordon Strachan he can sign players from outside of Scotland.

Alan Curbishley has played down his chances of securing the job as Fulham manager: “I was told I was on the shortlist but that there were a couple of people ahead of me, so I knew that was going nowhere.” (Evening Standard)

Curbishley would be smart to not say anymore than this. Coaches who talk up a job opening rarely get it in the end.

Arsenal are on the verge of completing the £10m signing of French defender Laurent Koscielny from Lorient. (Press Association)

Arsenal fans should plan the parade route now but hopefully Koscielny has the same type of season as Thomas Vermaelen did last year.

Arsenal are ready to pay £20m for German playmaker Mesut Ozil, having trailed the 21-year-old for months. Ozil has one year left on his contract at Werder Bremen. Daily Star

Can’t see Arsenal playing 20 million for Ozil and beyond that talented as Ozil is Arsenal are not lacking in creative midfielders.

Manchester City have been linked with a £16.5m move for Cologne’s Germany forward Lukas Podolski. Daily Mail

The Lukas Podolski who plays for Germany is a lot different then the one who plays who his club sides.

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is lining up a £13m move for FC Twente winger Bryan Ruiz.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Big Bryan Ruiz fan and think the Costa Rica International is ready to make the next step.

Manchester United have made discreet enquiries about the possibility of signing Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, who they were keen on recruiting before he moved to Spain from French side Lyon.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Can’t see the Special One letting Karim Benzema go until he has a real long look at him during pre season.

Sunderland are exploring the possibility of a season-long loan deal for Ghana’s young striker Dominic Adiyiah, who is at AC Milan. Daily Mail

Dominic Adiyiah didn’t let the pressure get to him during the World Cup. It he can handle that then Adiyiah can handle life in the EPL.

Manchester United are braced for a raid from Barcelona and Juventus for their left-back Patrice Evra. Daily Mail

Why anyone wants Evra now is beyond me?

Villa manager Martin O’Neill, who accepts he is fighting a losing battle to keep Milner, is ready to strike a £30m deal with City for the England international. He wants £15m and Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha in return. Daily Star

I’d make this deal in a second considering James Milner seems to have one foot out the door.

Injured onlooker Michael Ballack has been ousted from the Germany’s World Cup camp after a big rift with current captain Philipp Lahm, who insists he will not give the armband back to the former Chelsea star when he is fit again. The midfielder joined up with the squad last week to act as a cheerleader – but will not be present for the semi-final against Spain. the Sun

Ballack’s time is done. He should sit in the stands in a nice suit and not distract any of the players.

England Under-21 defender Dan Gosling has walked out on Everton for nothing because the club failed to put a new contract offer to him in writing. Everton made a verbal offer to Gosling but the Premier League sided with the player because of the club’s administrative error. Daily Mirror

Someone in the Everton office will be screamed out this morning.

West Ham co-owner David Sullivan insists that he wants to retain the services of Robert Green despite the goalkeeper’s blunder against the United States at the World Cup. the Guardian

It’s not like the market is red hot for Robert Green’s services.

Germany’s Mesut Ozil has ridiculed England for saying they were bored between games in South Africa. Ozil said: “If you find the greatest tournament on earth boring, then you probably shouldn’t be there.”
Full story: Daily Mail

Perfect way to end this post.

One can’t be shocked to see CONMEBOL chosing not to invite the United States after sending in a B team to the 2007 Copa America but that shouldn’t stop the United States from picking up the phone and begging CONMEBOL (The South American governing body for Football) to let them in again.

The United States needs to build on the momentum created by last year’s Confederations Cup and this summer’s World Cup and the Copa America is the perfect event for this to take place. I mean come on CONMEBOL why in the world did you invite Japan? Is that going to add something to the event? Mexico is a given as the 11th team but Japan doesn’t add anything as the 12th. It’s time for the United States Soccer Federation and CONMEBOL to kiss and make up.

It may not be the World Cup but the Copa America with a first choice American team could be a great television property for the likes of ESPN or Fox Soccer Channel. (who will have to cut a cheque to Goltv in order to get the rights I’m sure) With the Copa America you have a television property where most of the games can be played in prime time in a time of year where sports on TV is light. You have the World Cup in 2010, Copa America in 2011, Euro 2012, then you have the build up to the 20104 World Cup. This would keep soccer in America strong and give hard core and casual soccer fans something to look forward too each summer.

If your thinking what about the Gold Cup? Come on it’s the Gold Cup, this event is a dud and only exists to set up a United States-Mexico final. I know it’s needed in some fashion but the Copa America can offer so much more. The United States can potentially be set up with four interesting match ups in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Venezuela (The latter for political reasons.) It’s a great tournament that should come close to the European Championship but the two events don’t even come close. CONMEBOL can use the United States to gain a foothold for this event in the American market and the United States can use this event to play against some of the best teams in the World more than once every four years. It’s a perfect match but one unlike to happen anytime soon sadly.

New Barcelona president Sandro Rosell insists he won’t pay anywhere near the £60m asking price floated for Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas. Daily Mail

On one hand David Villa cost Barcelona 40 million and there is no way Fabregas is worth 20 million (roughly) more than Villa. On the other hand Barcelona did get 30 million for Yaya Toure which I’m sure they popped a bottle or two when the cheque cleared.

Lazio president Claudio Lotitto is ready to negotiate Aleksandar Kolarov’s departure provided the right offer comes along. The Serbia left back is under contract for a further season with the Serie A outfit and is a reported target of Manchester City and Real Madrid.

Basically Lotitto is saying give me money before I lose Kolarov for nothing next summer.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has flown to South Africa to try to secure the signing of Liverpool and Spain striker Fernando Torres for a British record £50m. Daily Telegraph

I’ll believe this when Abramovich whips out the chequebook again. The free spending days seem along time ago for Chelsea.

Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan has declared that he would never return to play in England. The 31-year-old scored 17 goals for Manchester United in 37 starts, with 58 appearances from the bench from 2002-04. Daily Express

Unless silly money comes Forlan’s way he should stay in Spain where his talents are a perfect fit.

New Inter Milan boss Rafael Benitez is hoping to sign either Tottenham defender Gareth Bale or Liverpool full-back Glen Johnson as a replacement for the Real Madrid-bound Maicon. Daily Mail

Like both players but both of them would be like a fish out of water playing in Italy.

Manchester United are plotting a £25m-move for Inter Milan and Netherlands playmaker Wesley Sneijder, who has excelled at the World Cup in South Africa. Daily Mirror

Inter Milan are plotting to say no to that offer.

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti says he will give the club’s young English players a chance to establish themselves in the first-team squad and maybe stake a claim for the national team.
Full story: Daily Mirror

He says this now but if Chelsea are a point back of Manchester United and about to visit Old Trafford I doubt many young English players (can’t even think of one in the Chelsea ranks mind you) will be playing.

Manchester City’s new midfield signing Yaya Toure says that one day he would like to return to Barcelona, the club he just left to join City on a reported £200,000-a-week contract. Daily Mirror

Maybe on vacation

A divorce between Sporting and Joao Moutinho had been brewing for awhile but so him leaving isn’t a surprise. What is a surprise is the fact he’ll be playing for rivals Porto next season in a €11 million dollars deal plus defender Nuno Andre Coelho. It’s very rare a top Portuguese player goes from one big club to another. It’s usually like the case of Simao and Ricardo Quaresma who each didn’t make the mark at Barcelona before returning to Portugal.

Sporting Clube de Portugal finished 4th last year and in a quest to make a return to the Champions League it isn’t the smartest move to sell him to a fellow rival your trying to catch. Personally I’ve never seen Moutinho as Portugal’s answer to Deco but he is still only 23. Moutinho should of never been given the captaincy at age 20. Way too much pressure for a young player to handle as he had to shoulder much of the blame for the teams failures. Be interesting to see if Joao Moutinho can benefit from a fresh start with Porto or will turn into the next Hugo Viana (who damnit I still find a useful player.)