Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic

Yesterday I had the chance to go and watch a few of the games that were being played at the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic. This even showcases MLS teams as well as local Florida pro teams.

This year MLS teams Sporting Kansas City, DC United, Philadelphia Union, Toronto FC, Columbus Crew, and Impact Montreal were paired with Florida teams Orlando City and the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Yesterday's game I saw was Sporting Kansas City v DC United. The game started slow, with both teams having starters out on the field I was expecting a more exciting first half of soccer. What I got was a disappointing exhibition of cautious play. There seemed to be no urgency from the teams with their established players out on the field. It wasn't until the second half when the teams brought on players that were on a trial run and nonestablished players that the game took off. The flow of the game, the creativity, and the fact it started raining made the game much more exciting to watch. I found myself actually getting involved with the game, moaning at misses, getting excited about chances being created, complaining about fouls and calls. For the small turnout because of the weather (hopefully that is why there was a small turnout) it was a great fan atmosphere.

The result of the match was 2-0 to SKC, but that wasn't the real reason I enjoyed yesterdays event. The fact I got to see a competitive match of soccer live for the first time in months.

The event overall was lacking in total support, it seemed a bit thrown together, even for an event that has been going for a few years now. No clear signs directed you to the field, field announcer would randomly just stop announcing for a good while and would only talk when subs came in. As I said, I did enjoy the event for what it was, not so much a pro soccer event, but an event that was trying to get more people in America interested in soccer. And that is something this country really needs, more support for the MLS and other pro soccer leagues.

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Weekend Recap

This weekend almost solidified the Champions for 3 of the worlds premier leagues.

                                                Barcelona went 12 points clear in La Liga with an easy win.

Barcelona went 12 points clear at the top of La Liga with a 6-1 thrashing of Getafe at Camp Nou. Atletico Madrid took a hit to their second place bid with a 2-1 loss at Rayo Vallecano, while Real Madrid pushed their way to 4 points within Atletico with an easy 4-1 win over Sevilla. There is no question that Barcelona have La Liga wrapped up and that the two Madrid teams will finish 2 and 3, it is just a matter of which Madrid team comes in second.

                                          David Alaba bagged a brace as Bayern Munich tore apart Schalke.

In Germany, Bayern won convincingly over slumping Schalke 4-0 to go 15 points up on second place Borussia Dortmund. Goals from David Alaba (2), Bastian Schweinsteiger, and Mario Gomez carried Bayern. Dortmund lost ground with a 4-1 loss to Hamburg. An early goal by Robert Lewandowski ended up only being a consolation as Hamburg dismantled the reigning champions.

                                           Gareth Barry scores a terrible own goal as City fall to Southampton.

Manchester United were all but gifted the title this weekend by cross town rivals Manchester City. The Red Devils 2-0 win over Everton following a 3-1 defeat of Manchester City by Southampton almost guaranteed a 20th title for United. It was all going wrong early for City, as they went down 2-0 early in the game. Edin Dzeko pulled one back for City, but a terrible Gareth Barry own goal sealed City's fate on Saturday. Meanwhile, Chelsea continued their push for second as they romped Wigan 4-1 at the Bridge. Tottenham kept their bid for 4th place alive with a brace by Gareth Bale, while Arsenal kept right on their heels with a 1-0 win at Sunderland.

                                                      Balotelli scores again for AC Milan to earn a draw.

Juventes pulled a little farther away of second place Napoli in Italy this weekend with a 2-0 win over Fiorentina. Mario Balotelli scored again to earn new club AC Milan a 1-1 draw at Cagliari. Balotelli now has 3 goals in 2 games for the Rossoneri. Inter stay 2 points above their city rivals following a 3-1 win over Chievo Verona. The top 2 teams in Serie A seem set with Juventes and Napoli set to battle it out for first over the next couple games.

                                                             PSG go 6 points clear at the top of Ligue 1.

Paris Saint-Germain pulled 6 points ahead of Lyon in Ligue 1 following a 3-1 win over Bastia. Goals from Menez, Ibrahimovic, and Lavezzi earned PSG all three points. Elsewhere in France, Lyon fell 3-1 to Lille putting a dent in their title hopes. Marseille salvaged a point against Evian Thonon Gaillard to pull within 2 points of Lille for second.


What did you think of this weekends games? Do you think La Liga, the Bundesliga, and the EPL are won already?

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Real Madrid v Manchester United

Could you have asked for a more exciting matchup this early in the group stage of the Champions League? Real Madrid and Manchester United are set the square off this week, and on the field will be a plethora of the games biggest stars. The amount of story lines involved in this matchup are endless.

                                                        Cristiano Ronaldo returns to face former club Manchester United.

What will Ronaldo do in his return to Old Trafford? The man some say is the best in the world returns to face his former employers this week. Will United's slippery defense be able to stop CR7? Ronaldo tuned up for this weeks game by putting in a man of the match performance against Sevilla, bagging a hat trick. United will have a tough time against one of the best players on the planet this week, I expect at least a goal from CR7.

                                                                           Can Real Madrid stop Robin Van Persie?

On the other side of the field, can Real Madrid stop Robin Van Persie? Heck can ANYONE stop RVP right now? The Flying Dutchman is on course to eclipse his goal tally from last season and is the main reason the Red Devils are in prime position to win the EPL. Madrid have faced world class strikers before, having to face Lionel Messi multiple times a season, but RVP's game has evolved beyond last season. His attack positioning and spectacular playmaking and shot making ability will be tough for Real Madrid to handle.

And lastly, is this a try out for Jose Mourinho? With all the speculation that The Special One may be canned by Madrid at the end of the year, a likely landing spot for him is at Old Trafford. Having been at United's game against Everton this weekend, it seems a job at Man U may be on Mourinho's mind.

What do you think is the most interesting story line of this matchup? Leave a comment below!

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Top 5 Young Players

The future of soccer is bright with these 5 players leading the way for a new era of players.

5. Mario Götze

Mario Götze emerged onto the scene during the 2010-2011 Bundesliga season, having become an integral part of his club, Borussia Dortmund, upending reigning champions Bayern Munich to capture the league title. Götze, age 20, is heralded as an up-and-coming player, possessing world class speed, decision making, and technical ability. Already becoming a staple in his clubs side, Götze is on pace to break into a starting spot with the German national team. Already notching 30 caps for his country, Götze is a hot commodity and is sure to be courted by the major European clubs soon. Götze's future is bright, and as long as he can stay healthy the sky is the limit for the young German.

4. Jack Wilshere

Jack Wilshere is one of the most promising young players on the planet. Possessing mental and physical toughness, great vision, great speed, and having a commanding presence in the center of the field Wilshere is an all around midfielder. Wilshere suffered a setback in 2011, suffering a stress fracture in his ankle during a friendly. Having made his return this season to Arsenal, Wilshere has cemented his spot in the starting 11, proving to be invaluable for his club, Arsenal. Having picked up 3 goals and 5 caps this campaign on 85 appearances, Wilshere is proving his worth. Wilshere also has made his way into the England squad, having a breakout performance recently against Brazil.

3. Stephan El Shaarawy/Gareth Bale

Stephan El Shaarawy made headlines early in his career starting his first game at the age of 16 for Serie A side Genoa. It was evident then that El Shaarawy would be a future star. In 2011 he signed for AC Milan and just recently has becoming a vital part of their attack. El Shaarawy is a complete attacker, able to play on the wing or up front he is skilled with both feet. He makes life difficult for defenses with his speed and excellent ball control, matched with his nose for goals he is deadly. Having featured only 3 times for his country, Italy, El Shaarawy is sure to become more of a frequent player in the Italian squad.

Gareth Bale tends to fly under a lot of peoples radars when it comes to young players. Being anchored to a team that doesn't play Champions League soccer is probably a main reason, but Bale is one of the most exciting players in the world today. Already establishing himself in Tottenham's starting squad, Bale is the undisputed leader of the team. With world class speed, ball control, and goal scoring capability it is no surprise Bale has been courted by major clubs, having been linked with a move to Real Madrid in the upcoming summer.

2. Eden Hazard

Eden Hazard is no stranger to top young players lists. On some lists he is the best in the world at the moment in terms of young players. Hazard is a world class player, with speed, vision, agility, ball control, and goal scoring capabilities it is no wonder that Chelsea broke the bank to bring in the young Belgian. Having featured 24 times for Chelsea, Hazard has scored 9 goals and tallied 16 assists. The reason he doesn't make the top of this list is his production when it comes to his national team. Hazard has featured 34 times for his country, but has only produced 3 goals. It is exciting to see what becomes of him in the future, as his future looks bright especially if he can keep his production up like he has this season with Chelsea.

1. Neymar

Heralded as the next Lionel Messi, Neymar tops this list of the best young players in the world. It is not hard to see why Neymar has been linked to almost every major club in Europe when you see him play. Possessing the abilities you would expect out of every great striker, speed, technical ability, playmaking, goal scoring, etc. Neymar is the most sought after player in the world at the moment. Linked with moves to Barcelona and Real Madrid, Neymar has yet to decide his future when he inevitably leaves Brazil. Having made 102 appearances for club, Santos, he has scored 54 goals. For Brazil he has been equally impressive, in 28 appearances he has scored 17 goals. Neymar's potential is limitless, especially if he goes to the right team that has proven leaders and a manager that teaches him the European game.

What are your thoughts? Disagree with me? Leave a comment below and rank your top 5!

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International Friendlies in review.

What an exciting week it was for international soccer! We saw some instant classics played and the emergence of new stars.

Netherlands v Italy

                                                         Jeremain Lens celebrates his goal versus Italy.

In probably the most boring of the big match-ups this weekend, the Netherlands took on Italy in what looked to be a promising game. However, this was not the case as the game ended in a 1-1 tie. The Oranje took the lead in the 33rd minute through a Jeremain Lens goal. After that, the action subsided for a little while as neither team could really break the others defense down. It wasn't until the 91st minute when there would be another score, this time by the Italians. Marco Verratti equalized for Italy who were on the brink of a loss.

Sweden vs Argentina

                    Two of the worlds top strikers failed to score Wednesday as Argentina beat Sweden.

In the highest scoring top match-up of the week, Sweden and Argentina faced off at Nya Ullevi Stadium. Within the first 30 minutes the score was already 3-1 to Argentina, with Mikael Lustig netting an own goal, Jonas Olsson equalizing for Sweden, and Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain extending Argentinas lead by 2. The second half was much less entertaining, only producing 1 goal, but the game itself was highly entertaining.

France v Germany

                                        Germany's Sami Khedira celebrates his game winner against France.

In my personal favorite match of the day, the Germans traveled to Paris to take on France. For a very exciting game that was full of great attacking play from the start, it was relatively low scoring. Both teams had great opportunities in the first half but it was France who capitalized through a Valbuena goal at the end of the first half. Both teams came out strong again after the half, with Germany scoring an equalizer through Thomas Muller early in the second half. With both teams level again the game was wide open, until Mesut Ozil threaded a ball to Real Madrid teammate Sami Khedira that left Hugo Lloris with no chance to stop the game winner.

England v Brazil

                                      England's Jack Wilshere put in a Man of the Match performance against Brazil.

In the most anticipated game of the day, England hosted Brazil at Wembley Stadium. From the get-go the teams looked even, with Brazil's attack looking just a bit more menacing than England's. The deciding factor of the match was the excellent midfield play of the Three Lions. Jack Wilshere and Steven Gerrard combined for a deadly central midfield combo, with Gerrard playing more of a holding role while Wilshere was free to run forward and distribute the ball menacingly. Early in the first half though, it was Brazil with the first real chance of the game having won a penalty. Legendary Brazilian international, Ronaldinho, stepped up to the spot, but his attempt was saved by England keeper Joe Hart and the rebound shot also saved. It was not long until England took control. With Wilshere pulling the strings, he found Theo Walcott bombing in from the right wing. Walcott's shot was saved by Julio Cesar, but the rebound fell to Wayne Rooney who had an open net to smash the ball into. Coming out of the half England looked in control, until a Chris Smalling error deep in his own half gave Brazil the equalizer through a Fred goal. It wasn't long, however, until England put the game away. A rebounded ball fell to substitute Frank Lampard who curled his shot off the post and into the net to put the game away for England 2-1.

What was your favorite match of the week? How did your favorite team do? How did your favorite player do? Leave comments below.

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Liverpool match involved in fixing scandal.

A Champions League match between Liverpool and Hungarian side, Debrecen, is under investigation for match fixing.

Dirk Kuyt scores the lone goal vs Debrecen for Liverpool. The match shown here is under investigation for match fixing.


Liverpool is not under investigation at the time, just the match. It is suspected that Debrecen took a bribe from a Croatian-led crime group to throw the match 3-0. The match did end up in only a 1-0 defeat for the Hungarians, however.

This match is the only one highlighted, so far, of the 680 matches that Europol, the European Union's police organization, is investigating.

More info on this is sure to come, but for now let me know your thoughts!

Do you think Liverpool's win is tainted by this if the allegations are true? Do you think Liverpool could have been involved? Leave comments below.

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Exciting International Friendlies This Week.

This week, club soccer takes a break to make way for international friendlies. Don't fret though, because there are some surprisingly exciting fixtures this week!

Spain v Uruguay

A game between Spain and Uruguay is never a dull one. With such stars as Iniesta, Pique, Suarez, Ramos, Fabregas, David Villa, David Silva, Diego Forlan, and Edison Cavani you can expect lots of quality soccer to be played. Fans of crisp passing and excellent build up play will want to keep an eye on this one.

Netherlands v Italy (Watch on espn3)

A battle of soccer powerhouses, Netherlands and Italy square off for a sure to be exciting friendly. Watch for Robin Van Persie up front to bother the Italians. On the other side of the pitch look for exciting striker duo, and new teammates, Mario Balotelli and Stephen El Shaarawy to provide much needed creativity and speed.

France v Germany (Watch on espn3)

Another battle of soccer powerhouses, France and Germany square off at the Stade de France. Two of the most promising and exciting sides in international soccer, watch for Karim Benzema, Franck Ribery, and new Chelsea star Moussa Sissoko to attempt to torment the German defense. On the other side, be on the lookout for Bayern stars Thomas Müller, Mario Gomez, and Toni Kroos to attempt to link up early and often for Die Mannschaft.

England v Brazil (Watch on Fox Soccer)

Probably the most anticipated match of the week, England and Brazil face off at Wembley. England and Brazil both field star studded squads for this one. Watch for England's Wayne Rooney to linger in the penalty box while Theo Walcott uses his speed on the wings. Keep an eye on Brazilian sensation, Neymar, to use his superb skills on the ball to get by defenders. Also watch for Ronaldinho as he makes his return to the Brazilian squad.

Other notable games: Sweden v Argentina, Ireland v Poland, Greece v Switzerland, Portugal v Ecuador