REAL MADRID TRANSFER NEWS 2008: BAPTISTA GOES TO AC ROMA

Local Sports daily “Marca” has published on its web that Italian Club
AC ROMA has finally signed REAL MADRID Brazilian International
midfielder JULIO BAPTISTA

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SPANISH NATIONAL TEAM: DEL BOSQUE CALLS UP BOJAN, AMOREBIETA, IRAOLA & CAPEL AGAINST DENMARK

New Spanish National Team Selector & Coach VICENTE DEL
BOSQUE (pictured below) has handed in his first list of players for
next Wednesday´s friendly game against DENMARK. Del Bosque was
faced beforehand with injuries to Goalkeeper Palop, defender
Marchena & midfieder Cesc Fabregas, all members of the winning
European Nations Cup Team.

Added to this Del Bosque has dropped Sergio Garcia (Zaragoza)
& Arbeloa (Liverpool) also members of the European Champions
Team.

The news is that Bojan (Barcelona), Amorebieta & Iraola (At.
Bilbao) & Capel (Sevilla) have been called up to fill in the gaps
& make up the final list.

Here is the FULL LIST of Spanish players:

Goalkeepers: Casillas (R.Madrid) & Reina (Liverpool)

Defenders: Sergio Ramos (R.Madrid),Puyol (Barcelona), Juanito
(Betis), Albiol (Valencia), Amorebieta (pictured; At.Bilbao),

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BARCELONA SECURES ITS CHAMPIONS PRELIMINARY 1º LEG AGAINST WISLA WITH VICTORY (SEE VIDEO)

It was new Coach Guardiola´s debut for FC BARCELONA in its
Preliminary 1º Leg game to qualify for this years Champions League
against Polish side WISLA CRACOVIA, & his side did not disappoint.

The “new look” Barça dominanted throughout the whole game, &
although the final score was 4-0 it could have been much, much
more than what the final score reflects. Barça played well & moved
the ball in the stylish fashion they are famous for with Alves, Keita,
Henry, Puyol, Iniesta, Xavi & Eto´o standing out. However, it was
XAVI HERNANDEZ that deserves a special mention as he is
definately Europe´s best midfielder at this moment. So much so, that
Xavi got on the scoresheet tonight with his teams 2ºgoal in the 24th
min with a powerful “crack” from outside the box.

SAMUEL ETO´O showed why he has earned his place at Barça
& has made the Club “eat their words” by scoring two great goals:
in the 17th & the 83rd min. He is one of the World´s best Center
Forwards & Barça has earned itself money & regained a value
asset for its team. He is having an outstanding pre-season!

Great news for THIERRY HENRY who was mobile, in action,
quick, smart & scored Barça 3ºrd goal in the 50th min. He could
have scored more, but was unlucky & it was enough to show
everyone that he is motivated & that this could be his year.

Great victory for FC Barcelona & the 2º leg should be a
formality for them as they head into Champions League 2008/09

See Video of highlights ( if YouTube does´nt pull back due to rights):

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ATLETICO LOSE AWAY TO SCHALKE 04 IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PRELIMINARY

It was always going to be a tough affair for ATLETICO DE MADRID
in the home leg of the Champions League Preliminary match
against German side SCHALKE 04. The optimistic levels were high
for the Spaniards, until they saw how hard the game really was: 8 yellow
cards & 1 Red (Antonio Lopez, Atletico), with a final result 1-0 in
favour of the Germans.

It now all goes down to the away match ( 2ºleg) at Madrid, were Atletico
MUST WIN if they are to participate in the dreamed Champions
League 2008/09. Let´s face it, if your an Atletico fan you must be
immune to the fact that you & Atletico will have to suffer until the
last minute to know if your objective will be achieved.

The only goal come in the 29th min from a direct free kick that
was scored by PANDER ( seen above celebrating). From then
on it was an even fight for the rest of the game, with Atletico
holding on with 10 men on the field for the latter part of the 2º
half.

The scenario is not good, but not a disaster, as Atletico has its
opportunity to re-group, attain the home advantage & go for the
qualifier in the 2ºleg. Lets wish them luck.
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DJALMINHA : THE "FORGOTTEN" BRAZILIAN MAGICIAN OF SPANISH & WORLD FOOTBALL

While the World marvels at the increible skills, plays & dribbling
of Brazilians like Ronaldinho, Kaka, Robinho…etc, we ( & perhaps
the youngsters) forget that before them was DJALMINHA
(pictured below) who played in DEPORTIVO DE A CORUÑA,
who helped take them to their first Liga title in the year 2000.

Why bring this up now? Because it seems most contempary Football
followers only talk about Ronaldinho & company, & SFS though it
maybe the moment to remember that Djalminha has a place in
Football history: as one of Brazil´s & World Football´s great
talents.

Their is no denying, Djalminha was difficult, controversial & some
may say a little crazy, but are´nt most Brazilian Stars? He is
best known for his time in Spanish Football were he was vital in
Deportivo winning: La Liga (2000), Spanish Cup (2002) & 2
Spanish Super Cups (2000-01 & 2002-03).

The odd piece in this story is that he was only 14 times International
for Brazil . His controversial character played a part here & halted
his progression in the Brazil National side, it also halted him from
performing on the World stage & grabbing more media attention.

However, its his Football that we are here for & wish to remember
him. Here is a GREAT video on the player - in Spanish - that
deserves to be watched in full. Highly recommended. You will soon
see that his skill was beyond words at times…making Ronaldinho
look like (stop)…well, they are all good really. Let you judge:

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