Peter Crouch backs lauds Spurs team-mate King to shine at World Cup

Peter Crouch argues England will have a "world class" central defender at their throwing away if Ledley King can remain fit for the FIFA World Cup™ finals.

Peter Crouch think Tottenham team-mate Ledley King would be "a definite" for the World Cup if Fabio Capello were influenced by his strength.
King's career has been hampered by a knee injury but his chances of being named in Tuesday's 30-man provisional squad were boosted after coming through three games in nine days.

"He has proved his quality this season, hopefully he has proved his fitness. He played the last three games of the season, all for the 90 minutes, he came through those and trained this week with England as well."

David Villa declare to improve Barça

David Villa assures to add "his little bit" to a Barcelona side he already considers is the best in the world after implementation his €40m move from Valencia. The Spain international passed a medical and signed a four-year deal, which has an option for a further 12 months, at Camp Nou today before being presented to 35,000 wholehearted fans in the Catalonian capital.

Barça keep hold of their La Liga crown last weekend and the calculation of Villa to an already redoubtable forward line ought to make it even tougher for arch-rivals Real Madrid to reclaim the title. After signing a deal which contains a €200m buy-out clause, the 28-year-old said: "I hope that all Barcelona fans will be happy with my performances, I am sure that will be the case.


"I have come to a club that has won everything in recent years, so I will add my little bit to make the club better than it is now and continue that run of success. It is already the best team and club in the world."

Spain striker David Villa completes £34.2m move to Barcelona

The Spain star has signed a four-year deal after the Catalan side approved a £34.2m fee with former club Valencia. 

David Villa, the Spain forward, has fulfilled his move from Valencia to Barcelona after passing his medical this morning. 


The 28-year-old signed a four-year contract, with an option for a further twelve months and a buy-out clause of 200 million euros. 


"Anybody would be happy to come to a club like this - as everybody says, this is the best team in the world," Villa told Barcelona's website. 

"I'm very happy and proud to be here." 

"At Valencia I have grown as a player and as a person. At Valencia I have felt at home from day one and nobody will doubt it to be that way forever. 

"I want everyone to know that it has been a great source of pride for me to wear this shirt. It has given me so much and I will always carry it in my heart." 

2010 FIFA World Cup Rooney eyes South Africa success

Wayne Rooney tonight collected the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year award and immediately set his sights on emulating Bobby Moore and Sir Bobby Charlton by helping England to FIFA World Cup™ glory.

The 24-year-old topped the poll of journalists with just over 81 per cent of a record number of votes cast, finishing ahead of Chelsea forward Didier Drogba and Manchester City's Carlos Tevez to win the prestigious accolade, which has been running since 1948.

Rooney, who led Manchester United's ultimately unsuccessful challenge to Chelsea for the English Premier League title, received his award at the FWA's gala dinner at the Lancaster London Hotel this evening. "It is a privilege to be given this award by the Football Writers' Association," said Rooney, who scored 34 goals in all competitions this term. "I am very proud. If you look at the list of previous winners, they are all great players and for me to be part of that now is a great feeling."

For me I am just looking to get myself right to get to the World Cup and do my best and with a bit of luck, hopefully we can be successful.
England and United striker Wayne Rooney 

Sir Alex Ferguson We'll be back

DETHRONED Sir Alex Ferguson congratulated rival Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti after being forced to hand over the Premier League trophy on an afternoon of anti-Glazer protests at Old Trafford.

Chelsea’s victory over Wigan at Stamford Bridge denied United a fourth successive title, although Ferguson’s men did their bit with a thumping victory over Stoke.

But the day was marred by angry scenes before kick-off and at half-time with fans demonstrating against the ownership of the club

Sir Alex Ferguson has thrown down the gauntlet to Barclays Premier League champions Chelsea by vowing: "We'll be back".

Manchester United lost this season's title by one point to the Blues, who could go on to complete the domestic double if they overcome Portsmouth in Saturday's FA Cup final.

Ferguson has only the Carling Cup to show for his efforts this term, but he is ready to go all out to wrest the championship back from Stamford Bridge and chalk up a record 19th title for the Red Devils.

"It was a disappointment but you can agonise over these things and I'm experienced to know you can't win them all," said Ferguson.

"It's a challenge. A few years ago it was Arsenal, then it was Chelsea, and each time we've managed to raise the bar at our football club - and that is exactly what we are going to do next year."

Ferguson is showing no signs of slowing down at the age of 68 and is as motivated as ever to bring more silverware to Old Trafford. "I'm at the right club," he added. "It's easy to be motivated at Manchester United simply because of the great players we've had over the years.

"Also what drives me on is expectation. In the modern world, once you achieve some succes

FIFA World Cup 2010 Preliminary Squads Announced Today

Competing at a FIFA World Cup is invariably the highlight of any footballer’s career, and this week we discovered which players have moved a step closer to realising that dream. The final 23-man squads will not be known until 1 June, but this week coaches from each of the participating nations named the 30 players from which that ultimate decision will be made.

To view the provisional squads selected by all 32 finalists, just click on the link on the right-hand menu.

Midnight tonight Central European Time is the deadline for World Cup teams to submit their preliminary 30 man World Cup rosters. From there they’ll have to cut the squads down to 23 by June 1st. So if you’re not in the 30, you’re not in the 23. Which means today is the day it all starts to take shape.

Selected news items so far are that Francesco Totti, Luca Toni and Alessandro Nesta have all been left out of the 30 man Italy squad. Brazil coach Dunga cut to the chase and named his 23 with no Ronaldinho, no Roberto Carlos, no Ronaldo, no Adriano, no Neymar and no Alexandre Pato. He’ll name an additional seven later today, but it seems Dunga already knows who he wants to take. England coach Fabio Capello didn’t spring too many surprises, but did include internationally retired defender Jamie Carragher.

2010 AFC Champions League review

Korea Republic maintained their stunning 2010 AFC Champions League form with all four of their participants advancing to the last eight to record a clean sweep in east Asia. In doing so they made history with 2010 being the first occasion four teams from one nation have reached the competition’s quarter-final stage.

The game
Adelaide United 2-3 (extra time) Jeonbuk Motors
Goals: Robert Cornthwaite 78, Sergio van Dijk 90+5; Eninho 38, 87, Lee Dong-Gook 116

The two sides began tentatively and following a cagey start Jeonbuk were the first to attack, Choi Tae-Uk testing the Adelaide keeper Eugene Galekovic with a distant shot. The K-League champions' efforts paid dividends seven minutes from break when Brazilian hitman Eninho finished off a move he initiated. Roared on by the home crowd, the Reds hit back with both Travis Dodd and Daniel Mullen close to netting the equaliser but it did not come until the 78th minute when Robert Cornthwaite popped up to pull them level.

With just three minutes remaining, Eninho appeared to have grabbed the winner, but once again the hosts equalised in dramatic fashion. Dutchman Sergio van Dijk bundling the ball over the line deep into injury time to force the game into the extra half-hour. Adelaide were then twice denied by the woodwork with Cássio rattling the post before Adam Hughes's free-kick crashed against the crossbar, while Jeonbuk's Lee Dong-Guk also saw his header bouncing off the bar. However, the Korean international had the final say when he latched onto Park Won-Jae's pass to seal an action-packed win.

Shakira sing Official FIFA World Cup™ song with perform Freshlyground

According to FIFA.com FIFA and Sony have chosen Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) as the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa. The song was written by Shakira, the world-celebrated singer from Latin America, who will perform with South African band Freshlyground.


Once again, the announcement of the official FIFA World Cup™ song was enthusiastically awaited. Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) is the name of the new football anthem, and with its rhythmical African sounds, the song represents the vitality and energy of the host continent. South African guitars back up the Afro-Colombian rhythm and Soca beat. The singing group is similar to that of a popular Cameroon song made famous by Golden Voices in meticulous.

FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter is delighted with the new FIFA World Cup Song: “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) represents what we football fans can expect in South Africa: liveliness, power and dynamism. It represents the four-week festival of football we are about to witness in South Africa. Nothing represents the joy of football better than music, especially when it is a song so full of energy and dynamism like Waka Waka.”

Shakira will perform the song with the famous South African band Freshlyground. “I am honoured that Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) has been chosen to be part of the excitement and the legacy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup,” said Shakira. “The FIFA World Cup is a miracle of global excitement, connecting every country, race, religion and condition around a single passion. It represents an event that has the power to unite and integrate, and that’s what this song is about.”

“We are thrilled to have collaborated with Shakira on Waka Waka (This Time For Africa), especially as we feel that the song captures the spirit and energy of the African FIFA World Cup,” said Zolani Mahola of Freshlyground. “We are certain that the song will inspire people around the world to celebrate the gathering of nations at the place where it all started. Here in Africa!”

All proceeds from the single as well as from the “Listen Up: The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Album” will be donated to the 20 Centres for 2010 campaign. The aim of the official campaign of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ is to achieve positive social change through football by building 20 Football for Hope Centres in Africa to offer education and healthcare services as well as football training.

FIFA and Sony Music have enjoyed a successful partnership in the official music programme ever since 1994. The tradition of an official song dates back to the 1966 FIFA World Cup™ in England with a song for the first Official Mascot, “World Cup Willie”, who was a lion. Ever since, the official music programme and the Official Mascot have become a more and more significant component of the event, providing an excellent opportunity for more than just football fans to identify with the world’s biggest single-sport event.

Official songs at recent FIFA World Cup™ competitions have included Un’estate italiana by Edoardo Bennato and Gianna Nannini in 1990, Gloryland by Daryl Hall with Sounds of Blackness in 1994, and La Copa de la Vida by Ricky Martin in 1998. In 2002, the official song was Boom by Anastacia, while Vangelis’ vocal official anthem featured typical Korean and Japanese sonic elements. In 2006, The Time of Our Lives by the Il Divo quartet was a resounding success.

Alexandre Pato joyful to stay with Milan

Alexandre Pato is a important part of the Milan team

The English and Italian press claimed to the new Premier League champions are keen to lure Pato to Stamford Bridge after being impressed with the Brazil international's performances in what has been a unsatisfactory season for Milan.

And regardless of compatriot Leonardo leaving his position as coach at the end of the season, Pato - who has scored 12 goals in 22 Serie A games this season,- persevere he does not want to move away from the club he has played for since moving from Internacional in 2007.

"I want to remain at AC Milan and win everything with them,'' Pato was quoted as saying in Gazzetta dello Sport. "But I am a Rossoneri player and my future will be decided by the club.''

A move to the London outfit would see Pato reunited with former Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti, who joined Chelsea last summer, but he is confident he will be playing in red and black again next season.

"Carlo is a great person,'' Pato said. "He helped me grow in Italy but I am under contract until 2014 and I am happy to remain at AC Milan.''

FIFA announced places special order with Louis Vuitton for Trophy case

From the FIFA.com, today at the Home of FIFA in Zurich, Louis Vuitton and FIFA announced their collaboration on a new travel case for the FIFA World Cup Trophy. Currently being designed, it will be used for the first time at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.


The FIFA World Cup Trophy, which stands 36.8cm high, weighs 6.175 kilograms and is made of 18-carat gold, is the world's greatest football prize. The trophy remains in FIFA’s possession whilst the winner of the FIFA World Cup™ takes home the FIFA World Cup Winner’s Trophy. In the future, thanks to the collaboration with Louis Vuitton, the authentic FIFA World Cup Trophy will travel in a unique and elegant case.

FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter decided to place a special order for a case for the most coveted trophy in the world: the FIFA World Cup Trophy. “The FIFA World Cup Trophy is our most precious asset. It’s the most coveted trophy, not only in the world of football but beyond. It succeeds in uniting fans all around the world in a healthy competition for the final prize. A trophy as precious as the FIFA World Cup Trophy deserves a travel case of the same elegance and prestige. From now on, the trophy will not only travel in safety, but it will also travel in style.”

Antoine Arnault, Head of Communications for Louis Vuitton, commented: “We are very proud to have been chosen by FIFA to dedicate our know-how to creating the case for the most beautiful trophy: the FIFA World Cup Trophy. From the legendary bed-trunk developed by Georges and Louis Vuitton in 1868 for the explorers, to the case for the oldest sporting trophy – the America’s Cup – and the special order for the iPod case from a well-known designer, the ‘Maison’ has always combined clever and elegant ways to satisfy the very specific needs of its clients, allowing them to express their uniqueness or achieve their dream

Dortmund sign with Japan's Kagawa

Dortmund 21-year-old, he missed out on going to the next month's FIFA World Cup™ and joined Osaka in 2006 and helped the club make it into the first division by scoring 27 goals last season. The Officials did not provide details on the length of Kagawa's contract. Full Article at FIFA

Landon Donovan very excited

Landon Donovan McNabb With excellent pace and vision, a keen eye for goal With a handful of games gone in the current Major League Soccer campaign, Donovan is leading the league in assists and has his LA Galaxy leading the table. With a busy schedule at the moment – the FIFA World Cup™ is right around the corner and MLS is in full swing – the 28-year-old schemer found time for an exclusive chat with FIFA.com.

The topics up for discussion: Donovan’s recent successful loan sting with Everton in the English Premier League, his firm belief that, on their day, the USA can beat anyone, last year’s FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa and the state of Bob Bradley’s USA squad on the eve of a return to that beautiful country for what will be Donovan’s third FIFA World Cup.

Lagerback opts for the "Premier" strikers

Lars Lagerback has included Kanu, while also recalling John Utaka and Everton’s Victor Anichebe in his makeshift squad for the FIFA World Cup.

Nigeria will play with Argentina, South Korea and Greece in B Group