One team short. Serie A's chance to get a "perfect quartet" into the UEFA Cup GS round will have to wait another year. Indeed, three of Italy's four UEFA Cup contenders are through to the group stage as AC Milan, Sampdoria and Udinese all won their first-round ties. Udinese needed a penalty shoot-out to thwart [. Click to continue reading...

What is this call to glory ? goes that commercial over and over. Too bad that glory is on hold until TFC learns how to handle these road games. What new way to raise and then dash hopes will the team create tonight ? -could be the opener for the next commercial . I guess the call to glory involves patience and wisdom. Click to continue reading...

Thanks for the tip off from our friends to the north.
According to this article:

TORONTO — Toronto FC's search for goal scoring went to Portugal as the Major League Soccer club made an attempt to sign Benfica striker Nuno Gomes.

But both sides of the negotiation that has taken place over the past month say there will be no deal.

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Wow, the past eight weeks just kind of flew by, now didn't they? Sheesh. Eight weeks being the last time I posted here, there's been so much that's transpired since that I've failed to comment on that I could write a multi-volume encyclopedia on. But I won't. I'm lazy.

Let's touch up on a few things, though, that are worth a mention:

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This match just goes to show you... If you want to spend a small percentage of a game in attack, you had better make it count. Germany did just that and had the following line up to contend with at the beginning of the match...

Cristiano Ronaldo - Nuno Gomes - Simão
Deco - João Moutinho - Petit
Paulo Ferreira - Ricardo Carvalho - Pepe - Bosingwa
Ricardo

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Out of sixteen very capable countries in the 2008 UEFA European Championship, we have gotten rid of half of the field, so we are down to eight. These next four days will see the field cut in half once more, with the semi finals, and finally the Holy Grail of European football, the Euro final, waiting in Vienna next Sunday.

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Another Euro 2008-themed quiz to hurt your head 1. Career path Werder Bremen, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Werder Bremen (current) 2. Multiple choice Patrick Kluivert and which other player top scored at Euro 2000? a) Nuno Gomes, b) David Trezeguet,... Click to continue reading...

Blogger disclaimer: Sagres and Macieira are a lethal combination. Especially when you're faking a sales meeting during working hours in order to watch a match. And you have to go BACK to the office after the game. As with the match against Turkey, Portugal again lined up exactly how I figured they would:

Cristiano Ronaldo - Nuno Gomes - Simão
Deco - João Moutinho - Petit
Paulo Ferreira - Ricardo Carvalho - Pepe - Bosingwa
Ricardo

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Real Madrid striker Pepe scored his first goal for Portugal today in their game against Turkey. While the goal was impressive, the interplay between Pepe and captain Nuno Gomes was exceptional. There are few aspects of soccer that are a better example of teamwork than a well executed one-two. Watch this perfect example: If you're new [. Click to continue reading...