Soccer Youth/ Pro Select 2008 – June Trip – Brazil Youth Soccer 2008

Pro Select trip to Brazil now is going on and the boys and girls are having a chance to develop their skills in an international training program with ATI SOCCER including professional clinics with first division soccer coaches and scrimmage games against the top youth pro-clubs in Brazil.

Everyday at the comments you will have a chance to know whats is going on here in Brazil!!!

Hello everyone! We are waiting for your comments. This blog is being made for you!

Friday Football: Waiting for the Weekend

It’s a rare weekend when both the Galaxy and Chivas USA are on the road, but that’s the case Saturday and Sunday.

Still, there’s plenty going on including:*The Galaxy visiting San Jose (1 p.m. FSN) where fans there still loathe Landon Donovan.

*Long Beach State kicks off their season at 5 p.m. today against BYU at George Allen Field.

*Other college games locally include Pepperdine playing at 3 p.m. today at Tari Frahm Rokus Field against Fresno State. Tickets are $8 adults, $5 students, seniors and children.

*The Cal State Northridge women play at UC Santa Barbara tonight then play the first-ever home game under lights at 7 p.m. Sunday against Portland at Matador Field. The floodlights were installed this summer. Tickets are $5 adults, $3 youths and seniors.

*San Diego Padres management may be thrilled about the Chivas USA-CD Guadalajara game announced Thursday, but players with the baseball franchise are not.

*Check out this cool soccer map that won awards at a recent San Diego convention for mapmakers. (Click on it to enlarge).

*Finally, Daily Breeze columnist John Bogert today pays tribute to his late father-in-law, John Crisp Yellowley, a huge soccer fan and former club physician for Scotland’s Dunfermline Athletic. Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who banged in 45 goals in 51 games for Dunfermline back in the 1964-1965 season, will attend his funeral Tuesday.

*For those of you loathe to leave the comfy confines of your couch this weekend, Clint Dempsey’s Fulham hosting Manchester United at 8 a.m. Sunday on Fox Soccer Channel is probably the pick of the televised games from the EPL.

Stephen Ireland earns our sympathy

How bad is Roberto Mancini? The only creative midfielder in your midst and he is sidelined. Sure, he is a bit surly and not given to the warm fuzzies but no one can deny Ireland is a talent that needs to be nurtured.

Mancini is even worse than Hughes. He will buy all this attacking talent but his mindset is all about preventing goals which means that the three man holding midfielder set – Nigel De Jong, Yaya Toure, and Gareth Barry is his centerpiece. Slow, slower, and slowest.

On the day of his trade to Aston Villa, Ireland unloads on the Italian and it does not make for a pretty sight. He has undoubted baggage but if you ever saw Ireland play under Hughes you were treated to some sublime stuff.

Hopefully at Villa he gets his opportunity to shine – nothing would be sweeter if Villa takes out City and Ireland scores the winning goal or sets it up. He is capable of both. In multiples.

Huge blow for Arsenal: Nasri out for four weeks

The French midfielder picked up a meniscal injury in the Liverpool game and will undergo a minor surgery which will keep him out for four weeks.

Arsenal’s statement:

“Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri will today [Wednesday] undergo minor surgery on his knee following a meniscal injury sustained during the match against Liverpool on Sunday,” read a club statement. “Nasri, who has been in impressive form, will be out of action for a month.”

Nasri was one of the few Gunners who looked bright in that match and his deft touch kept the midfield humming. There was always a chance the moribund attack would get going with him in the midst. Arsenal fans had big expectations of Nasri this season and even coach Laurent Blanc is rebuilding Les Bleus with him in mind.

An injury so early to a key player is not good for team morale. It exposes Arsenal’s fragility once again. His absence now puts more pressure to Cesc Fabregas who will have to regain his match fitness and mental composure quickly to put Arsenal back on firm footing.

On the other hand, it gives Tomas Rosicky and Andrei Arshavin an opportunity to step up their game, especially the Russian who looks sluggish and unfocused.

The lucky part is that Arsenal’s upcoming fixtures are against relatively weaker teams and Nasri should be back on the pitch to face Chelsea in early October.

I wanted to play with the best and the best is Mourinho

Mesut Özil is presented at the Bernabeu as he completes his move to Real on a 6 year contract.

It happened very quickly as his former team Werder Bremen took to the field against Sampdoria with conjecture surrounding his appearance. Apparently, the transfer negotiations all fell into place on Tuesday.

Özil is determined to win the Liga and the Champions League with Real. So ambition is not a problem. He also explained that although he is an observant Muslim he does not adhere to the strict rules of fasting during this period of Ramadan which should come as a relief to Jose Mourinho who’s had his run ins with religious practices.

His arrival reunites him with German team mate, Sami Khedira. Real boasted two Germans in Gunter Netzer and Paul Breitner 35 years ago which proved to be a good omen because they won the Liga and the Copa Del Rey that year (1974-75). Real are hoping that this proves to be true this year.