30 November 2017

Definitely not worth to be greedy

Last Tuesday, the world football organization has permanently removed three greedy officials from the sport. This trio were former presidents of their own football associations and pleaded guilty for corruption charges in April.
From Guam, Richard Lai confessed to two charges of fraud conspiracy. This act also tried his colleague from Nicaragua, Julio Rocha who also did racketeering. And over to Venezuela, Rafael Esquivel did the above two plus money laundering or working in bribery scheme of awarding media and marketing rights.
In addition to life suspensions, these three officials are fined appropriately with the amount of bribes they admitted they took.

29 November 2017

Sexual harassed worker

On the appearance of sexual harassment in business places (throughout the world), this bad habit has been covered into this sport as well. Just 24 hours after his resignation which happened last week, now the ex-president of Italian football federation Carlo Tavecchio is accused of sexually harassing a co-worker. Under the alias Mary for daily newspaper Corriere della Sera the lady discovered the harassment lasted for nearly three years after which she abandoned the federation. 'You look fine, I can see that you have an active sex life. Come here to touch your breasts. Close the curtains, so no one can see us...I was confused and I was ashamed' explained the lady in one of the meeting with the former president in Rome. All the audio and video evidence Mary gave to her lawyer.

28 November 2017

Middle finger in forbidden place

Five goals, lots of excitement, one bizarre situation plus this match finishes earlier than expected - in short words: all this football can provide in everyday life...except for last two. On last Sunday in November at the penultimate week in the Brazilian championship, Serie A, Ponte Preta played against Vitoria. In the end the hosts are relegated to lower division from an unusual game.
First in the twentieth minute Rodrigo earned a direct red card because he did something hideous in this professional sport. During play, home defender put his middle finger in the bum of Vitoria player Rodrigo Trellez.
Second thing is that this game ended prematurely. After the third goal from the guests from Bahia, home hooligans entered the pitch, and because there was no conditions this match to continue, referee Ricardo Marques ended the play 8 minutes from normal time.



27 November 2017

Best own goal with a superb strike

If there is an award for best own goals, probably this will be it for this year. However, the beauty lies in the strike. Last Sunday in Holland a visiting defender scored one of the amazing goal so far in the championship, which unfortunately for him went into his own net. At that point he equalized against Groningen, who also won the match at the end. 
Some players, who do not have a clue what to do with the ball, often return it back to their goalkeepers. Obviously pressured, Fankaty Dabo from Vitesse managed to score a spectacular own goal.

26 November 2017

Penultimate team for last tournament

Six continental champions will be gathered next month in United Arab Emirates to give us an answer of who is playing best club football. Today we found out the second Asian representative which is going to join this event.
Apart from the host Al-Jazira, in the Club World Cup from the Asian Champions league entered Urawa Red Diamonds. After first 90 minutes ended in a draw, a single goal at the second leg was enough for the Japanese club to win its second continental title, is being second Asian team at the final competition in December, with its second appearance overall.
The final list of champion teams will be completed next week (Wednesday morning) from the CONMEBOL region.

25 November 2017

Hosts for World Cup final draw

Only seven days are remaining for all awaiting final draw which will be performed in Moscow for the biggest football event next year. Last week the world football organization announced the hosts for the event who is going to take place in State Kremlin Palace.
One of them is an former Golden boot winner from Mexico 1986 World Cup and ex English striker Gary Lineker. After retirement he is now an successful anchor, worked for various television sport channels: Al Jazeera sports (nowadays BEIN sports), Eredivisie live, NBC Sports, ESPN, and currently is in BT Sport. On stage the 56 year old will be accompanied by Maria Komandnaya. She is a famous journalist in Russia, who also worked in media sports outlets like FOX Sports and Match TV!.
This duo will have 8 assistants. Stars like: Cafu, Carles Puyol, Diego Forlan, Diego Armando Maradona, Fabio Cannavaro, Gordon Banks, Laurent Blanc, and Russian legend from this sport - former striker Nikita Simonyan are going to be helpers who will draw balls for each groups. Another known figure - Miroslav Klose will bring the trophy onto the stage.

24 November 2017

Some fantastic goals scored on minus temperatures

Astana - Villarreal 2:3

Scorers: 1:0 21 Junior Kabananga
              1:1 39 Daniel Raba
              1:2 64 Cedric Bakambu
              1:3 83 Cedric Bakambu
              2:3 88 Patrick Twumasi

Ostersunds - Zorya Luhansk 2:0

Scorers: 1:0 40-own goal Dmytro Grechyshkin
              2:0 77 Saman Ghoddos

BATE Borisov - Crvena Zvezda 0:0

Viktoria Plzen - Steaua 2:0

Scorers: 1:0 49 Milan Petrzela
              2:0 76 Jan Kopic

Nice - Zulte-Waregem 3:1

Scorers: 1:0 05-pen Mario Balotelli
              2:0 31 Mario Balotelli
              2:1 80 Brian Hamalainen
              3:1 86 Adrien Tameze

Red Bull Salzburg - Vitoria de Gumaraes 3:0

Scorers: 1:0 26 Munas Dabbur

              2:0 45+1 Andreas Ulmer
              3:0 67 Hee-Chan Hwang

Lazio - Vitesse 1:1

Scorers: 0:1 12 Brian Linssen

              1:1 42 Luis Alberto

Lokomotiv Moscow - FC Copenhagen 2:1

Scorers: 1:0 16 Jefferson Farfan

              1:1 30 Benjamin Verbic
              2:1 51 Jefferson Farfan

Lugano - Hapoel Beer Sheva 1:0

Scorer: 1:0 50 Carlinhos

Rosenborg - Real Sociedad 0:1

Scorer: 0:1 89 Mikel Oyarzabal

Konyaspor - Olympique de Marseille 1:1

Scorers: 1:0 82-pen Nejc Skubic
              1:1 90+3 Wilfred Moke

Athletic Bilbao - Hertha 3:2

Scorers: 0:1 25 Mathew Leckie
              1:1 34-pen Aritz Aduriz
              1:2 35 Davie Selke
              2:2 65-pen Aritz Aduriz
              3:2 82 Inaki Williams

Maccabi Tel Aviv - Slavia Prague 0:2

Scorer: 0:1 45+1 Josef Husbauer
            0:2 54 Josef Husbauer

Milan - Austria Vienna 5:1

Scorers: 0:1 21 Christoph Monschein
              1:1 27 Ricardo Rodriguez
              2:1 35 Andre Silva
              3:1 42 Patrick Cutrone
              4:1 69 Andre Silva
              5:1 90+3 Patrick Cutrone

Braga - Hoffenheim 3:1

Scorers: 1:0 01 (44 seconds) Marcelo Marcelinho Goiano
              1:1 74 Mark Uth
              2:1 81 Fransergio Fransergio
              3:1 90+2 Fransergio Fransergio

Partizan - Young Boys Bern 2:1

Scorers: 1:0 12 Leandre Tawamba Kana
              1:1 25 Moumi Ngamaleu
              2:1 52 Ognjen Ozegovic

Sheriff Tiraspol - Zlin 1:0

Scorer: 1:0 11 Jairo

Skenderbeu - Dynamo Kyiv 3:2

Scorers: 0:1 15 Viktor Tsygankov
              1:1 17 Sabien Lilaj
              2:1 52 James
              3:1 56 Ali Sowe
              3:2 90+1 Nazariy Rusyn

Olympique Lyon - Apollon Limassol 4:0

Scorers: 1:0 29 Mouctar Diakhaby
              2:0 31 Nabil Fekir
              3:0 66 Mariano Diaz
              4:0 90 Myziane Maolida

Ludogorets Razgrad - Basaksehir 1:2

Scorers: 0:1 20 Edin Visca
              0:2 27 Kerim Frei
              1:2 64 Marcelinho

23 November 2017

Do not wake the host with an early goal, because they will respond you with seven

CSKA Moscow - Benfica 2:0

Scorers: 1:0 13 Georgi Schennikov
              2:0 55-own goal Jardel

Qarabag - Chelsea 0:4

Scorers: 0:1 21-pen Eden Hazard
              0:2 36 Willian
              0:3 73-pen Cesc Fabregas
              0:4 84 Willian

Anderlecht - Bayern Munich 1:2

Scorers: 0:1 51 Robert Lewandowski
              1:1 63 Sofiane Hanni
              1:2 77 Corentin Tolisso

Juventus - Barcelona 0:0

Basel - Manchester United 1:0

Scorer: 1:0 89 Michael Lang

Atletico Madrid - Roma 2:0

Scorers: 1:0 69 Antoine Griezmann
              2:0 85 Kevin Gameiro

PSG - Celtic 7:1

Scorers: 0:1 01 (56 seconds) Moussa Dembele
              1:1 09 Neymar
              2:1 22 Neymar
              3:1 28 Edinson Cavani
              4:1 35 Kylian Mbappe
              5:1 75 Marco Verratti
              6:1 78 Edinson Cavani
              7:1 80 Dani Alves

Sporting Clube de Portugal - Olympiacos 3:1

Scorers: 1:0 40 Bas Dost
              2:0 43 Bruno Cesar
              3:0 66 Bas Dost
              3:1 86 Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe

22 November 2017

Opening two identical results scored in reverse order

Spartak Moscow - Maribor 1:1

Scorers: 1:0 82 Ze Luis
              1:1 90+1 Jasmin Mesanovic

Besiktas - Porto 1:1

Scorers: 0:1 28 Felipe
              1:1 41 Anderson Talisca

APOEL Nicosia - Real Madrid 0:6

Scorers: 0:1 22 Luka Modric
              0:2 39 Karim Benzema
              0:3 41 Nacho
              0:4 45+1 Karim Benzema
              0:5 49 Cristiano Ronaldo
              0:6 54 Cristiano Ronaldo

Sevilla - Liverpool 3:3

Scorers: 0:1 02 Roberto Firmino
              0:2 22 Sadio Mane
              0:3 30 Roberto Firmino
              1:3 51 Wissam ben Yedder
              2:3 60-pen Wissam ben Yedder
              3:3 90+3 Guido Pizarro

Napoli - Shakhtar Donetsk 3:0

Scorers: 1:0 56 Lorenzo Insigne
              2:0 81 Piotr Zielinski
              3:0 83 Dries Mertens

Manchester City - Feyenoord 1:0

Scorer: 1:0 88 Raheem Sterling

21 November 2017

'Stop calling us'

When a team is losing numerous matches in the local championship and is in the relegation zone then some fans become very desperate. One West Ham passionate supporter, who did not know what to do (and obviously lost himself in reality), called the official emergency number 999 in United Kingdom due to very poor performance of his team. As the London club lost again last weekend, police have made an announcement via Twitter to stop calling this number for this purpose.


20 November 2017

Everything points out at number five

Fifth leg, five different time slots and some clubs may reach the knock out round from this part. In short: EuroCups are back! After the exciting World Cup qualifiers that we had this and last week, another part of tournaments are resuming. Next week both European leagues will play the penultimate leg.

Until now the strongest 'Champions' league had at least a game that ended sooner than the others only in one day. From the last full week this month things will change, so we are going to experience that situation in both days. Of course, the 'guilty party' for this is (always) the time difference.

Tuesday, 21 November at 18.00 CET: Besiktas - Porto.
Tuesday, 21 November at 18.00 CET: Spartak Moscow - Maribor.

Tuesday, 21 November at 20.45 CET: APOEL Nicosia - Real Madrid.
Tuesday, 21 November at 20.45 CET: Borussia Dortmund - Tottenham.
Tuesday, 21 November at 20.45 CET: Manchester City - Feyenoord.
Tuesday, 21 November at 20.45 CET: Monaco - RasenBallsport Leipzig.
Tuesday, 21 November at 20.45 CET: Napoli - Shakhtar Donetsk.
Tuesday, 21 November at 20.45 CET: Sevilla - Liverpool.

Wednesday, 22 November at 18.00 CET: CSKA Moscow - Benfica.
Wednesday, 22 November at 18.00 CET: Qarabag - Chelsea.

Wednesday, 22 November at 20.45 CET: Anderlecht - Bayern Munich.
Wednesday, 22 November at 20.45 CET: Atletico Madrid - Roma.
Wednesday, 22 November at 20.45 CET: Basel - Manchester United.
Wednesday, 22 November at 20.45 CET: Juventus - Barcelona.
Wednesday, 22 November at 20.45 CET: PSG - Celtic.
Wednesday, 22 November at 20.45 CET: Sporting Clube de Portugal - Olympiacos.

Here only one time difference is changing the whole concept of play, while other two time slots are standard ones. From never thrilling Europa league we expect lots of goals, as usual, in this cold weather throughout the continent.

Thursday, 23 November at 17.00 CET: Astana - Villarreal.

Thursday, 23 November at 19.00 CET: Athletic Bilbao - Hertha.
Thursday, 23 November at 19.00 CET: BATE Borisov - Crvena Zvezda.
Thursday, 23 November at 19.00 CET: Koln - Arsenal.
Thursday, 23 November at 19.00 CET: Konyaspor - Olympique de Marseille.
Thursday, 23 November at 19.00 CET: Lazio - Vitesse.
Thursday, 23 November at 19.00 CET: Lokomotiv Moscow - FC Copenhagen.
Thursday, 23 November at 19.00 CET: Lugano - Hapoel Beer Sheva.
Thursday, 23 November at 19.00 CET: Nice - Zulte-Waregem.
Thursday, 23 November at 19.00 CET: Ostersunds - Zorya Luhansk.
Thursday, 23 November at 19.00 CET: Red Bull Salzburg - Vitoria de Gumaraes.
Thursday, 23 November at 19.00 CET: Rosenborg - Real Sociedad.
Thursday, 23 November at 19.00 CET: Viktoria Plzen - Steaua.
Thursday, 23 November at 19.00 CET: Zenit Saint Petersburg - Vardar.

Thursday, 23 November at 21.05 CET: AEK - Rijeka.
Thursday, 23 November at 21.05 CET: Braga - Hoffenheim.
Thursday, 23 November at 21.05 CET: Everton - Atalanta.
Thursday, 23 November at 21.05 CET: Ludogorets Razgrad - Basaksehir.
Thursday, 23 November at 21.05 CET: Maccabi Tel Aviv - Slavia Prague.
Thursday, 23 November at 21.05 CET: Milan - Austria Vienna.
Thursday, 23 November at 21.05 CET: Olympique Lyon - Apollon Limassol.
Thursday, 23 November at 21.05 CET: Partizan - Young Boys Bern.
Thursday, 23 November at 21.05 CET: Sheriff Tiraspol - Zlin.
Thursday, 23 November at 21.05 CET: Skenderbeu - Dynamo Kyiv.

19 November 2017

Long acrobatic throw

Two weeks ago in Prva liga Telekom Slovenije (First Slovenian league) happened one unusual move in a match between Olimpija Ljubljana and Ankaran Hrvatini. Guest midfielder Tim Vodeb has merged football and gymnastics together to perform one of the best throws.

Drastic measures due to loss of a team

Some supporters football are looking this sport like plenty of fun, passion and love, but some are taking drastic measures on themselves. One of them is a passionate Sport Recife spectator, who cannot stand to watch a loss of his team. After his loved club lost to Botafogo RJ as hosts last Thursday in Brazilian Serie A, the 54 year old has decided to burn himself up in his apartment. His wife tried to prevent him in such an intent, but failed. The unfortunate fan got second degree burns, with 15 percent of his body completely burned and is in a very difficult condition.
On top of that, Sport Recife lost the game and is in a relegation zone.

Kung-fu fighter

For things happened on 02 November at the Europa league against Vitoria de Guimaraes, Patrice Evra has found out about his punishment last Friday from UEFA. During the warm-up before the match he kicked one spectator from its team in an kung-fu style. The European football organization hand the defender a suspension from both European leagues competitions (EuroCups) until 30 June. Learning about this penalty, his club, Olympique Marseille initially awarded him indefinite suspension, but later got dismissal from the team. As from finance: the Portuguese club received a fine of 5.000, the 36 year old is additionally penalized with 10.000, while the French club has to give away 25.000 euros. You can search this unusual incident on social networks.


Monthly payment from international teams

Six teams have to pay fines mostly for misbehavior of their fans from the World Cup qualifying matches played from October. The world football organization issued them last Tuesday. Five of them are from both American continents: four teams comes from the south and one from north. Remaining one that is heavily punished is from Europe.
Mexico and Brazil has to give 10.000 Swiss francs (8.615 euros) each. Chile has to pay 20.000 Swiss francs (17.230 euros), five thousand more comes from Peru (21.538 euros), while for Argentina the penalty is 40.000 Swiss francs (34.460 euros). Spectators from all these five countries insulted rival players. The most difficult punishment received Serbia, who has to pay even 210.500 Swiss francs (181.348 euros). Against Austria and Georgia, Serbian spectators emphasized 'political and discriminatory' flags.

World Cup tickets on sale, part two

Immediately after the last qualifier in Lima, this Thursday from 10.00 CET second phase of tickets were starting to sell for the World Cup Russia 2018. As there is no lottery in this stage they will be purchased in real time or under the basis 'who come first-his ticket'. Although final groups are not known yet, tickets can be purchased in three ways: from a certain match in the group, certain stadium or certain team. It can be bought most four tickets from the FIFA website. This part is going to last until 28 November.
From stage one, the world football organization sell 622.117 tickets, from which 57 percent went to Russian fans. Lottery process was needed for this phase as it was applied for 3.49 million tickets. Last and third stage of purchasing will be divided in two parts: from 05 December until 31 January 2018 and from 13 March as far as 03 April. For the 'forgotten ones' FIFA secured 'last minute' buying, from 18 April until 15 June.

18 November 2017

How jubilant fans can cause tremor

This generation has done it. With well deserved win at the second leg of the last qualifying cycle for World Cup 2018, and after 36 years, Peru is returning to the worlds main football competition.
Immediately after the opening goal from Jefferson Farfan, ecstatic supporters in Lima caused the same effect as the earthquake. Spanish version of the application 'Earthquake network' notified its users of seismic activity in the city. However, investigators has concluded that the application was activated by the fans on streets in the capital, which were passionately and terribly cheering loud for its national team. Soon after 'Sismologia Chile' on Twitter confirmed that there was no earthquake in Lima, as the fans triggered that movement.







17 November 2017

Determined pots for World Cup draw

After the last play off match between the Oceania qualifying winner and fifth place team from CONMEBOL region, the world football organization has announced pots for the 32 teams. In a reverse order from final groups, FIFA have assigned 4 bowls with 8 teams for the draw next month.

Pot 1: Russia, Germany, Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, Belgium, Poland, France.

Pot 2: Spain, Peru, Switzerland, England, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, Croatia.

Pot 3: Denmark, Iceland, Costa Rica, Sweden, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, IR Iran.

Pot 4: Serbia, Nigeria, Australia, Japan, Morocco, Panama, South Korea, Saudi Arabia.

What it means being at the finals for Nordic countries

Sometimes its extremely difficult to control happy emotions in a football match. After the final whistle in Milan and Dublin, two Scandinavian teams expressed jubilation in their own way for qualification at the World Cup next year. On both occasions their 'target' was one of the best sport television channel in Europe in their local language.
In the first case scenario players from Sweden completely 'destroyed' improvised mini Eurosport studio by the pitch. On top of that Mikael Lustig even performed a little dance before the camera.


Night later, neighbor players Denmark were very careful not to break anything, but they completely poured Eurosport guests near the pitch with champagne. Former Danish national footballer Lars Jacobsen, together with the TV host, professionally did the coverage until the end - all wet. 

16 November 2017

Powerful goals from each halves enough for Russia

Peru - New Zealand 2:0

Scorers: 1:0 27 Jefferson Farfan
              2:0 64 Christian Ramos

Additional information: Peru completed the 32 team line up for World Cup. After 36 years of absence, Los Incas earned its fifth appearance at next summer football fiesta.

15 November 2017

Triple joy lead to finals

Australia - Honduras 3:1

Scorers: 1:0 53 Mile Jedinak
              2:0 72-pen Mile Jedinak
              3:0 85-pen Mile Jedinak
              3:1 90+3 Alberth Elis

Additional information: Mile Jedinak is the second hat-trick scorer in these overall (12) play-off matches (so far). His goals qualified Australia to World Cup next year.

Most entertaining play-off duel

Republic of Ireland - Denmark 1:5

Scorers: 1:0 05 Shane Duffy
              1:1 29 Andreas Christensen
              1:2 31 Christian Eriksen
              1:3 62 Christian Eriksen
              1:4 73 Christian Eriksen
              1:5 90-pen Nicklas Bendtner

Additional information: Save the best for last! From whole (8) European play-off games this was the most interesting duel and highest away victory. Well deserved win for Denmark makes them second and last representative from the Scandinavian region and thirtieth team which qualified for World Cup in Russia next summer.

Group D winners with a late victory

Burkina Faso - Cape Verde 4:0

Scorers: 1:0 45 Prejuce Nakoulma
              2:0 57 Prejuce Nakoulma
              3:0 63 Prejuce Nakoulma
              4:0 90+4 Banou Diawara

Senegal - South Africa 2:1

Scorers: 1:0 54 Opa Nguette
              1:1 64 Percy Tau
              2:1 90+3 Kara Mbodji

Almost double figure in West Bank

Nepal - Philippines 0:0


Turkmenistan - Chinese Taipei 2:1

Scorers: 1:0 22 Murat Yagsiyev
              2:0 40 Altymyrat Annadurdyyew
              2:1 88-pen Po-Liang Chen

Tajikistan - Yemen 0:0

Cambodia - Jordan 0:1

Scorer: 0:1 16 Monther abu Amara

Macau - Kyrgyzstan 3:4

Scorers: 0:1 26-pen Anton Zemlianukhin
              0:2 36 Vitalij Lux
              0:3 55 Anton Zemlianukhin
              1:3 73 Chan Pak Chun
              2:3 79-pen Nicholas Mario Tarrao
              2:4 84 Mirlan Murzaev
              3:4 87 Carlos Leonel Fernandes

Singapore - Bahrain 0:3

Scorers: 0:1 64 Ali Mahdi Abduljabbar
              0:2 81 Rashed Jamal Rahman
              0:3 83 Ali Mahdi Abduljabbar

Bhutan - Oman 2:4

Scorers: 0:1 48 Sami Hamis Naqi al Hasani
              1:1 59 Karma Shedrup Tshering
              1:2 76 Raed Ibrahim Saleh
              1:3 86 Khalid Khalifa al-Hajri
              1:4 89 Said Salim al Razaiqi
              2:4 90+3 Chencho Gyeltsen

Hong Kong - Lebanon 0:1

Scorer: 0:1 43-pen Hassan Maatouk

Vietnam - Afghanistan 0:0

Palestine - Maldives 8:1

Scorers: 1:0 06 Mahmoud Yousef
              2:0 15-own goal Mohamed Faisal
              3:0 30 Sameh Maraaba
              4:0 32 Mahmoud Yousef
              4:1 52 Hassan Naiz
              5:1 53 Sameh Maraaba
              6:1 54 Sameh Maraaba 
              7:1 55 Jonathan Zorrilla
              8:1 59 Sameh Maraaba

India - Myanmar 2:2

Scorers: 0:1 12 seconds Yan Naing Oo
              1:1 13-pen Sunil Chhetri
              1:2 19 Kyaw Ko Ko
              2:2 69 Jeje Lalpekhlua

13 November 2017

Scandinavians goes into the World Cup

Italy - Sweden 0:0

Additional information: Diverted ball into the back of the net from first leg was enough for Sweden to produce one of the upsets of these play-off matches (overall). Thanks to that (a little strange) goal, we are going to see the Scandinavian team next summer in Russia.

Copied game from three days ago

Malaysia - North Korea 1:4

Scorers: 0:1 15 Ju-Song Kim
              0:2 20 Ju-Song Kim
              0:3 44 Ju-Song Kim
              0:4 78 Kwang-Ryong Pak
              1:4 85 Muhammad Safawi bin Rasid

Tired teams will be more tired

Those who just came will be now hosts, and those who will arrive their opponents. For both applies one rule: not to concede a goal. On top of that if final results are scoreless, comes more running for 30 minutes and that, which no one likes - penalties. If this scenario is on, each player will be on the pitch for approximately two hours and 45 minutes.
Two intercontinental duels are chosen to close this World Cup qualifying campaign for Russia 2018. Their first leg were disappointing (for many) and now 90 minutes are remained or more for 2 lucky teams to be last travelers to the big football holiday in June.

15 November, Wednesday at 10.00 CET: Australia - Honduras.

16 November, Thursday at 03.15 CET: Peru - New Zealand.

Group D to close this qualifying cycle

With some strange schedule group D has been chosen to close this World Cup qualifying cycle for Africa. Although all 5 travelers from the continent is already known, what it is more interesting is that three teams can still reach that second place - which (unfortunately) gives nothing. Maybe that is why both duels are starting at the same time.

14 November, Tuesday at 20.30 CET: Burkina Faso - Cape Verde.
14 November, Tuesday at 20.30 CETSenegal - South Africa.

Lots of complications for remaining games

Most of the second placed teams from Europe has been disappointing so far. With a very low (dreadful) efficiency, next 4 teams have to score some goals. Nobody wants to go in additional minutes or even penalties for final deciders of the game. However, it is now understandable that whoever qualify out of these 4 may be easy target for the favorites in the World Cup. Although it is 7 months until start, the future for the following teams is not very bright.

13 November, Monday at 20.45 CET: Italy - Sweden.

14 November, Tuesday at 20.45 CET: Republic of Ireland - Denmark.

Penultimate fifth leg will be played two days

All teams will be in action for this leg and many duels will be playing on the second day. Three teams already qualified for the final competition in United Arab Emirates, so 9 places are still left. For this penultimate leg everyone wants to achieve good results. As always, last two group games are very complicated and interesting to watch from now on.

13 November, Monday at 13.00 CET: Malaysia - North Korea.

14 November, Tuesday at 09.15 CET: Nepal - Philippines.
14 November, Tuesday at 11.00 CET: Turkmenistan - Chinese Taipei.
14 November, Tuesday at 12.00 CET: Tajikistan - Yemen.
14 November, Tuesday at 12.30 CET: Cambodia - Jordan.
14 November, Tuesday at 12.30 CET: Macau - Kyrgyzstan.
14 November, Tuesday at 12.30 CET: Singapore - Bahrain.
14 November, Tuesday at 13.00 CET: Bhutan - Oman.
14 November, Tuesday at 13.00 CET: Hong Kong - Lebanon.
14 November, Tuesday at 13.00 CET: Vietnam - Afghanistan.
14 November, Tuesday at 15.00 CET: Palestine - Maldives.
14 November, Tuesday at 15.30 CET: India - Myanmar.

Last three official qualifying days for this year

In the following 3 days for 2 main competitions 18 games will be played. All are qualifying matches, divided unequally while most of them (12) prevails for the Asian big football event in early 2019. Cut in half, the rest are aimed at the biggest holiday for this sport next summer. Playing in order and according to schedule, the list supposed to be like this:

1. Asian Cup qualifications for United Arab Emirates 2019.
2. European play-off games (second leg) for World Cup Russia 2018.
3. Qualifiers from Africa for World Cup Russia 2018.
4. Intercontinental play-off games (second leg) for World Cup Russia 2018.

12 November 2017

First European play-off overall winner

Switzerland - Northern Ireland 0:0

Additional information: Northern Ireland is eliminated from the World Cup, which means Switzerland is going to next big football event with 1:0 victory from 180 minutes play.

In a space of three minutes, four goals have been scored from two games

Congo - Uganda 1:1

Scorers: 1:0 10 Marvin Baudry
              1:1 11 Milton Karisa

Ghana - Egypt

Scorers: 0:1 60 Mahmoud Abdel Razek (aka Shikabala)
              1:1 63 Edwin Gyasi

Unpopular result

Denmark - Republic of Ireland 0:0

Quintet from Africa already known

Zambia - Cameroon 2:2

Scorers: 1:0 25 Patson Daka
              1:1 31 Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa
              2:1 64 Brian Mwila
              2:2 90+1 Yaya Banana

Gabon - Mali 0:0

Ivory Coast - Morocco 0:2

Scorers: 0:1 24 Nabil Dirar
              0:2 30 Medhi Benatia

Democratic Republic of Congo - Guinea 3:1

Scorers: 1:0 61-own goal Ousmane Sidibe
              1:1 71 Karamokoba Keita
              2:1 90+1-pen Jonathan Bolingi
              3:1 90+2 Neeskens Kebano

Tunisia - Libya 0:0

Additional information: Despite having one more leg to be played in groups D and E, Tunisia, Nigeria, Morocco, Senegal and Egypt will represent African continent at the World Cup next summer.

11 November 2017

Second intercontinental disappointment

New Zealand - Peru 0:0

Players afraid of nets

Honduras - Australia 0:0

10 November 2017

Golden substitute

Sweden - Italy 1:0

Scorer: 1:0 61 Jakob Johansson

Two goals each from two matches, but with different outcomes

South Africa - Senegal 0:2

Scorers: 0:1 12 Diafra Sakho
              0:2 38-own goal Thamsanqa Mkhize

Algeria - Nigeria 1:1

Scorers: 0:1 62 John Ogu
              1:1 87-pen Yacine Brahimi

Entertaining match with plenty of goals

North Korea - Malaysia 4:1

Scorers: 1:0 11-pen Kwang-Ryong Pak
              2:0 42 Yu-Song Kim
              3:0 48 Yong-Il Kim
              4:0 59 Il-Gwan Jong
              4:1 66 Muhammad Safawi bin Rasid

09 November 2017

Debatable penalty saved this rainy and boring night

Northern Ireland - Switzerland 0:1

Scorer: 0:1 58-pen Ricardo Rodriguez

Avoiding severe punishment

After strong denial, one famous coach, obviously pressured, paid certain amount to avoid penalty. Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho at the end of last week 'lost' 3.3 million euros who had to give to the Spanish tax authorities. The prosecutors accuse him of tax fraud on the Spanish state in 2011 and 2012 for image rights when he was a coach of Real Madrid. It turned out to be that the 54 year old was hiding his revenues in offshore companies in British Virgin Islands, New Zealand and Republic of Ireland.

08 November 2017

Battle for 2020 finals

Last Saturday two European cities has expressed their desire to host the Champions league final in 2020. Competing to be the good host for the 'strongest' competition in three years time are Lisbon and Istanbul. At the same year the European championship will start with a multi-host event across 13 chosen countries, and neither Stadium of light nor Ataturk Olympic stadium are in that list. This means that these two have a great chance to be picked for the grand finale.
Meanwhile, for the other European club competition Gdansk (Poland) or Porto (Portugal) wants to host the Europa league final for the same year.

07 November 2017

One big tournament need OUR help

If you want to travel to the Asian Cup in 2019 for free now is the time. But before that you need to activate your brain and think an exclusive slogan for the Asian football main event.
Only 14 months are left to the continents biggest football attraction and organizers think up a perfect opportunity to involve also loyal fans. It only requires a little exclusivity: everyone is invited to come up with the slogan for the event. This contest started from 12 October and is lasting until 16 November. Despite lots of various goods from the tournament, the winner will enjoy an all expense paid trip to United Arab Emirates and will have an exclusive access to the opening match at the Zayed sports city stadium in the capital Abu Dhabi. Winner will be announced on 05 January 2018, exactly 365 days before the tournament begins. Entries are only valid from the Asian football confederation website.
The competition is open to every football lover throughout the world.


06 November 2017

Journey to the other side of the world

These four teams are making every possible effort to get to the main showpiece next year in Russia. But their task will not be easy. Despite play, fatigue may be the main reason of slipping out, because travelling to the other side of the world may become a real problem. Trying to overcome this, these four teams are hoping for the best and every praise goes to them: either the winning or the losing side. Called intercontinental play off matches, next week are scheduled both duels on two different days.

10 November, Friday at 23.00 CET: Honduras - Australia.

11 November, Saturday at 04.15 CET: New Zealand - Peru.

Three groups are open

African continent is filling this last month of World Cup qualifiers with its last leg, except one duel. Because of big mistake, one game will be repeated all over again. However, we still await for winners in three groups, so we have to have plenty of entertainment watching the duels. Three winners are wanted, but the most interesting one will be the middle group where two teams are meeting each other in direct clash for the final spot. In most cases and as always all matches are starting on weekend.

10 November, Friday at 18.00 CET: South Africa - Senegal.
10 November, Friday at 20.30 CET: Algeria - Nigeria.

11 November, Saturday at 14.00 CET: Zambia - Cameroon.
11 November, Saturday at 15.30 CET: Gabon - Mali.
11 November, Saturday at 18.30 CET: Democratic Republic of Congo - Guinea.
11 November, Saturday at 18.30 CET: Ivory Coast - Morocco.
11 November, Saturday at 18.30 CET: Tunisia - Libya.

12 November, Sunday at 15.30 CET: Congo - Uganda.
12 November, Sunday at 16.30 CET: Ghana - Egypt.

Suspended match, part one

Finally their game will start this month. After two postponements these rivals will face each other at the same country, same stadium, 2 times in a space of 3 days. Buriram stadium in Thailand will pretend to be the host for North Korea, so officially this pair sound North Korea - Malaysia, who will play on 10 November, Friday at 10.00 CET. To stay everything in fair play second 90 minutes of this duel will be the reverse match at the same place of the start of next week.

No time for mistake

The old continent came to the final stage of qualifiers. Eight teams are given second chance to go to the main event next year at the World Cup, but first they have two play two additional games which are also known as play off matches. First 90 minutes for all teams are crucial while next weekend we will already know two overall winners.

09 November, Thursday at 20.45 CET: Croatia - Greece.
09 November, Thursday at 20.45 CET: Northern Ireland - Switzerland.

10 November, Friday at 20.45 CET: Sweden - Italy.

11 November, Saturday at 20.45 CET: Denmark - Republic of Ireland.

12 November, Sunday at 18.00 CET: Switzerland - Northern Ireland.
12 November, Sunday at 20.45 CET: Greece - Croatia.

International qualifying week

Eighteen official games in total awaits us next week. There will be two qualifying editions for main tournaments which will entertain us and most duels are for entering the World Cup next year plus a pair, which finally will start after their game was suspended two times. According to schedule, matches should kick off in the following order:

1. Second round from the European region for World Cup Russia 2018.
2. Suspended qualifying game from the first round for the Asian Cup United Arab Emirates 2019.
3. Qualifying matches from the African zone for World Cup Russia 2018.
4. Two intercontinental play off duels for World Cup Russia 2018.

05 November 2017

It is worth to be on the World Cup

Last weekend the world football organization has announced that it will increase finance for the World Cup in Russia next year. FIFA mentioned the sum of 340.4 million euros which is an increase of 12 percent comparing to the World Cup 3 years ago in Brazil.
The champion for the next year main event in football will receive 32.3 million euros, and that is 3 million more than Brazil 2014. Losing finalist will be satisfied with 23.9 million, third place brings 20.4, while team who will be one place below earns 18.7 million euros. Quarter finalists are going to receive 13.6 million euros, whilst teams who are going to pass group stages will be rich for additional 10.2 million euros. Those teams who will exit after the first round (group stages) have to be satisfied with 6.8 million euros. Apart these enormous sums FIFA is rewarding each of the 32 teams that are qualified for Russia 2018 with additional 1.3 million euros in preparation expenses.

04 November 2017

Some surprises at Europa league, fourth leg

Maccabi Tel Aviv - Astana 0:1


Scorers: 0:1 57 Patrick Twumasi

FC Copenhagen - Zlin 3:0


Scorers: 1:0 40 Michael Luftner
              2:0 48 Benjamin Verbic
              3:0 90+1 Benjamin Verbic

Rijeka - Austria Vienna 1:4


Scorers: 0:1 41 Dominik Prokop
              1:1 60 Domagoj Pavicic
              1:2 61 Dominik Prokop
              1:3 73 Tarkan Serbest
              1:4 83 Christoph Monschein

Slavia Prague - Villarreal 0:2


Scorers: 0:1 15 Carlos Bacca
              0:2 88-own goal Simon Deli

Ludogorets Razgrad - Braga 1:1


Scorers: 1:0 68 Marcelinho
              1:1 83 Fransergio Fransergio

Apollon Limassol - Atalanta 1:1

Scorers: 0:1 35-pen Josip Ilicic
              1:1 90+3 Emilio Zelaya

Basaksehir - Hoffenheim 1:1

Scorers: 0:1 47 Florian Grillitsch
              1:1 90+3 Edin Visca

Partizan - Skenderbeu 2:0

Scorers: 1:0 38 Zoran Tosic

              2:0 66 Leandre Tawamba Kana

Lokomotiv Moscow - Sheriff Tiraspol 1:2

Scorers: 1:0 26 Jefferson Farfan
              1:1 41 Ziguy Badibanga
              1:2 58 Josip Brezovec

Young Boys Bern - Dynamo Kyiv 0:1

Scorer: 0:1 70 Vitaliy Buyalskyi

Hertha - Zorya Luhansk 2:0


Scorer: 1:0 16 Davie Selke
            2:0 73 Davie Selke 

Viktoria Plzen - Lugano 4:1


Scorers: 1:0 04 Michael Krmencik
              1:1 15 Davide Mariani
              2:1 18 Michael Krmencik
              3:1 45 Tomas Horava
              4:1 56 Ales Cermak

Koln - BATE Borisov 5:2


Scorers: 1:0 16 Simon Zoller
              1:1 31 Nemanja Milunovic
              1:2 33 Nikolai Signevich
              2:2 53 Yuya Osako
              3:2 63 Sehrou Guirassy
              4:2 82 Yuya Osako
              5:2 89 Milos Jojic

Rosenborg - Zenit Saint Petersburg 1:1


Scorers: 1:0 54-pen Nicklas Bendtner
              1:1 90+3 Aleksandr Kokorin

Vitesse - Zulte-Waregem 0:2

Scorers: 0:1 03 Marvin Baudry
              0:2 69 Onur Kaya

Arsenal - Crvena Zvezda 0:0

Steaua - Hapoel Beer Sheva 1:1


Scorers: 1:0 31 Florinel Coman
              1:1 37 Ben Sahar

Athletic Bilbao - Ostersunds 1:0

Scorer: 1:0 70 Aritz Aduriz

Red Bull Salzburg - Konyaspor 0:0

Vitoria de Guimaraes - Olympique Marseille 1:0

Scorer: 1:0 80 Paolo Hurtado

03 November 2017

The best from this sport

Last Monday the world football organization has awarded 'The Best' prizes from 9 different categories.
FIFA has chosen the best XI in a 4-3-3 formation: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus) - Dani Alves (PSG), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Marcelo (Real Madrid) - Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona) - Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Neymar (PSG). Lieke Martens from Netherlands won the award for best female player, while Netherlands coach Sarina Weigman took the honors for the female coach of the year. Celitc supporters are the best fans previous year, whilst fair play award got Francis Kone. Ferenc Puskas prize or the most wonderful goal went to Olivier Giroud. Juventus and Italian international player Gianluigi Buffon has won the award for best goalkeeper. According to the organization the manager of Real Madrid Zinedine Zidane is the best coach for last season. In the main category, for the fifth time in his career Cristiano Ronaldo has been named best player of the year. The Portuguese international won the prize before Lionel Messi and Neymar.