Esteban Solari, pemain Apoel FC seiras bintang Hollywood, Brad Pitt.

Esteban Solari - pemain bolasepak Apoel FC, Cyprus yang berasal dari Argentina


Brad Pitt, bintang Hollywood yang menjadi kegilaan wanita, namun sudah berkahwin dengan Angelina Jolie

Esteban Solari, pemain Apoel FC seiras bintang Hollywood, Brad Pitt.

Sama tapi tak serupa.

Itu yang boleh kita katakan mengenai pemain bolasepak Apeol FC dari Cyprus, Esteban Solari.

Wajahnya seakan menyerupai Brad Pitt, bintang filem Hollywood yang menjadi kegilaan ramai wanita di dunia.

Saya melihat persamaan ini ketika menyaksikan perlawanan suku akhir Liga Juara Eropah atau Champions League, antara Apoel menentang gergasi bolasepak dunia dari Sepanyol. Real Madrid di Bernabeu.

Apoel tewas 2-5 dan 2-8 secara agregat, namun kemaraan kelab kerdil dari Cyprus itu mengejutkan dunia bolasepak kerana berjaya mara sehingga ke suku akhir, pencapaian yang tidak diduga yang lebih baik daripada kelab gergasi lain yang bungkus dan tewas lebih awal iaitu Manchester United, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Juventus, Roma, Bayern Leverkusen dan banyak lagi.

Nah, Solari ada iras Brad Pitt kan?

Real Madrid 7-1 Guangzhou Evergrande, Wednesday 3rd August 2011

Real Madrid is the greatest club in the world and nobody can dispute that, not even Barcelona, Liverpool and Independiente.

Real Madrid is not only the most successful club in Spanish football but is also voted by FIFA as the most successful football club of the 20th century, having won a record 31 La Liga titles, 18 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 8 Spanish Super Cups, a record 9 UEFA Champions Leagues, 2 UEFA Cups, 1 UEFA Supercup, and 3 Intercontinental Cups.

Therefore, if you put Real Madrid against any top-class football club in Asia, the result is Real Madrid will win by more than 6 goals.

That was what exactly happened on Wednesday, 3rd August 2011 as Real Madrid trashed Chinese top club and league leader - Guangzhou Evergrande, 7-1.

Before the match, Guangzhou Evergrande who have several import players, are unbeaten in the Chinese Super League.

However against the best football club in the world, Guangzhou crumbled and were easily dethroned.



Karim Benzema netted a classy brace and Cristiano Ronaldo scored a cheeky back-heel as Real Madrid triumphed in that pre-season friendly in style.

Benzema, who has struggled to establish himself in the Spanish capital, was at the centre of everything that was good about a rampant Real before he was taken off on the hour, earning a pat on the back from Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho.

The Portuguese supremo was full of praise for his men, saying that despite far inferior opposition -- and stifling humidity -- the team had performed as if it was a league fixture.

The win also means Real are unbeaten in the build-up to a season in which Mourinho will be fully expected to dethrone great rivals Barcelona, both in domestic competition and in Europe.

"I'm happy but I'm not so concerned if we win or lose or draw, the result doesn't matter," said Mourinho.

"What matters is that the team is improving in every game, the players are getting fitter and stronger and showing more quality with every game, this is what matters.

"The players are working hard as a team, not for themselves, and for the name of Real Madrid. They're happy, and I'm happy."

Frenchman Benzema crossed for German international Sami Khedira to head in totally unmarked and put the Spanish giants, who started with more or less their full-strength side, on their way after only seven minutes.

Real went 2-0 up just after the half-hour mark when the home defence went AWOL and Khedira's international teammate Mesut Ozil rounded the keeper before walking the ball in.

A rout was on the cards by the 39th minute when Benzema fired low past keeper Yang Jun, who ought to have done far better.

There was even time for Ronaldo to rattle the bar just before the break with Yang again well beaten.

It was more of the same in the second period as Real looked to put on a show at a virtually full Tianhe Stadium in the major southern city of Guangzhou.

Benzema grabbed his second three minutes after the break and Ronaldo's extravagance made it 5-0 on 56 minutes.

Real made wholesale changes on the hour, but it made no difference as Evergrande -- who are unbeaten in the Chinese Super League this season -- were simply out-classed.

Substitute Jese made it 6-0, fellow sub Angel Di Maria made it seven, before Yang Yihu grabbed a consolation with three minutes to go for the biggest cheer of the night.

Real, who are competing with a number of other major European clubs to establish themselves as a fans' favourite in fast-developing China, continue their tour of the country with a game in Tianjin, near Beijing, on Saturday 6th August 2011.

Real Madrid, kelab teragung bolasepak dunia

Jika ada menyatakan Manchester United (the Red Devils) atau Barcelona atau Independiente, Boca Juniors, Santos, Penarol atau Juventus, Inter Milan dan AC Milan sebagai kelab teragung dunia... anda silap.

Menurut Persekutuan Bolasepak Dunia, FIFA, kelab paling berjaya di abad ke 20, tidak lain dan tidak bukan ialah Real Madrid.

Real Madrid merajai arena bolasepak domestik Sepanyol sejak penubuhannya pada 6 March, 1902 yakni 108 tahun lalu.

Kelab tersohor itu menjuarai La Liga, iaitu liga domestik Sepanyol sebanyak 31 kali.

Real Madrid juga sudah 17 kali menang Piala Spanish "Copa del Rey", 8 kali Spanish Super Cups, 9 kali juara UEFA Champions Leagues, 2 kali juara UEFA Cups, 1 kejuaraan UEFA Supercup, dan 3 juara Intercontinental Cups.

Manakala pencabar terdekatnya di Sepanyol, Barcelona pula hanya menang 20 kali kejuaraan La Liga.

Dalam tempoh 108 tahun di kancah teratas bolasepak Sepanyol, Real Madrid juga tidak pernah diturunkan ke liga divisyen dua, sebaliknya kekal di Liga paling atas iaitu La Liga!!!

Gelanggang keramatnya ialah Santiago Bernabeu, dimana banyak pasukan ternama dunia seperti Barcelona, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester United dan banyak lagi, sudah terkulai dan tersungkur layu.



Stadium itu mengambil nama sempena nama Presiden Real Madrid, Santiago Bernabeu yang meninggal dunia pada 2 Julai 1978 ketika Piala Dunia 1978 sedang rancak dilangsungkan di Argentina yang dimenangi tuan rumah Argentina.

Santiago Bernabeu adalah orang yang bertanggung jawab di era paling gemilang Real Madrid apabila menang 5 Piala Eropah berturut turut pada 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959 dan 1960!!!



Tiada pasukan yang boleh berbuat demikian pada zaman ini... mahupun di planet Marikh, Zuhal, Musytari dan Galaxi lain..!!

Pasukan paling kuat Real Madrid pastinya pada era Alfredo D'Stefano (lagenda bolasepak Argentina) dan Ferenc Puskas (lagenda bolasepak Hungary) yang membantu Real Madrid menang 5 Piala Eropah berturut turut pada 1956 hingga 1960.

Kemenangan teragung pada final Piala Eropah 1960 dimana Real Madrid membelasah Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3. 4 gol dijaringkan Ferenc Puskas manakala 3 gol dijaringkan Alfredo D'Stefano.





Bayangkan pasukan sekuat Barcelona pun begitu mudah diratah 4-2 oleh Real Madrid paDA 2005 yang dibarisi striker Ronaldo (3 kali pemain terbaik dunia dan penjaring terbanyak dalam sejarah Piala Dunia dengan 15 gol serta pemenang 2 Piala Dunia pada 1994 dan 2002), Raul (penjaring terbanyak Real Madrid dengan 323 gol) dan Michael Owen (pemain terbaik Eropah 2001).

Manakala midfieldnya diperkuatkan oleh Zidedine Zidane (juga 3 kali pemain terbaik dunia dan menang Piala Dunia sekali bersama Perancis pada 1998), David Beckham (2 kali naib juara pemain terbaik Dunia) dan Luis Figo (Pemain terbaik Dunia 2001 dan pemain terbaik Eropah 2000) dan dibantu attacking leftback dari Brazil, Roberto Carlos (pakar sepakan lencong dan naib juara pemain terbaik dunia 1997)

Barcelona pun menangis beb...

Manchester United pun pernah menangis di tangan Real Madrid apabila tewas 5-6 secara agregate dalam UEFA Champions League musim 2002/2003.



Hidup Real Madrid.!! Selamanya...

Alan Shearer's sheer agony for Newcastle United

Newcastle United Manager - Alan Shearer

Tears on the Tyne as Newcastle are relegated

Despite boasting some of the finest players in England, including 2001 European Footballer of the year, Michael Owen, Newcastle United's 16-year stay in the top flight of English football, ended in the tamest fashion possible as they dropped into the Championship with a 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa.

Aston Villa showed Newcastle no mercy.

The result means Australia's international striker, Mark Viduka once again has to find another club if he wants to play at the Premier League.

A few years ago, Viduka left Leeds United for another club after Leeds was also relegated.


What will happen to Michael Owen?? Owen was once a feared striker in the world, his 1998 World Cup spectacular goal against Argentina was one of the best in the history of the tournament.

Had he remained at Liverpool, Owen would have tasted glory including the 2005 champions league winner trophy when Liverpool trounced AC Milan in the final.

But Owen chose to join Real Madrid instead who at that times already boasted great players like Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Roberto Carlos, David Beckham, Raul and others.

His stay at Real Madrid was cut short and Owen joined Newcastle and he seemed lost.

In yesterday's match, Damien Duff's unfortunate own goal - deflecting in Gareth Barry's 20-yard shot seven minutes before the interval - ensured Alan Shearer's mission to save Newcastle from relegation ended in devastating failure.

Newcastle's performance was a prime example of why they have failed to survive this season, lacking any fire and urgency despite the scale of the prize on offer if they escaped.

And seconds before referee Chris Foy blew the whistle on Newcastle's Premier League existence, defender David Edgar summed up a desperate day when he was sent off for his second bookable offence after fouling Ashley Young.

Newcastle had opportunites to grasp at a lifeline in the first half, with Obafemi Martins firing off target and Mark Viduka having a shot cleared off the line by Carlos Cuellar.

But when Newcastle needed to find inspiration in the second half, all that was on offer was an almost passive acceptance of their decline as they failed to exert any serious pressure on Villa - at times seeming barely aware of the fate that awaited them if they lost.

Michael Owen made an appearance as substitute midway through the second half, but he made no impact and barely touched the ball. It now appears relegation will almost certainly mark the end of his Newcastle career.

Shearer led the applause for Newcastle's heartbroken fans as the despair of relegation sunk in - and it was clear their affection for the Tyneside icon has not diminished despite this bitter end to his spell in charge this season.

Owner Mike Ashley must now try to persuade Shearer to stay on and provide some semblance of stability to this most dysfunctional of clubs as they attempt to rebuild and reclaim their place in English football's elite.

Shearer may have been the manager when they dropped into the Championship, but the damage was largely done before he attempted to come to the rescue.

And Newcastle's hierarchy must now indulge in serious soul-searching after a season that saw Kevin Keegan's reign as manager end in acrimony and Joe Kinnear's surprise temporary appointment, which ended prematurely after he suffered health problems.

Chris Hughton and Colin Calderwood could not stop the rot, and the task of reviving Newcastle proved beyond Shearer.

For now, though, Newcastle can only try and digest the disappointment of relegation - and accept that they have been the architects of their own downfall.

It will be a summer of upheaval for whoever takes charge, with a collection of highly-paid players, led by Owen, likely to quit the club.

Owen was only fit enough to take a place on the bench as Newcastle went in search of the result that would preserve their Premier League status - but Shearer's side were lively in attack during the opening exchanges.

Villa keeper Friedel almost let Duff's deflected shot slip in and Cuellar smuggled Viduka's goal-bound shot off the line as Newcastle pressed for an early breakthrough.

Martins also volleyed over the top when he found space 12 yards out in the penalty area, with boss Shearer showing obvious frustration on the sidelines as another chance came and went.

Newcastle, however, were nowhere near as convincing at the back and Fabricio Coloccini was regularly threatened with embarrassment by Gabriel Agbonlahor's raw pace.

Craig Gardner brought a fine fingertip save from Steve Harper before Villa took the lead seven minutes before the interval, helped by a liberal sprinkling of good fortune.

Barry's shot was struck with power, but it was a crucial deflection off Duff that took it out of the reach of Harper and into the bottom corner of the net.

Newcastle's fans, who were in ecstasy when news of Manchester United's goal at Hull filtered through, were stunned into silence as their Villa counterparts celebrated.

There was still time for another opportunity for Newcastle before the interval, with Martins sending a glancing header just wide from Nicky Butt's free-kick.

Newcastle could not apply any pressure in the early stages of the second half, leaving Shearer to make his first change after 56 minutes. Jose Enrique replaced Peter Lovenkrands, leaving Duff to move forward into a more familiar attacking role on the left-flank.

And Shearer swiftly followed this move with the introduction of Owen, giving the injury-plagued England striker the opportunity to possibly end an unfulfilling spell on Tyneside with a flourish.

Barry then missed the chance that would have condemned Newcastle to Championship football. He robbed Butt 20 yards out, but then sent a curling shot inches wide with Harper helpless.

Newcastle were surprisingly lacking any sense of real urgency, and Shearer played his final card with 20 minutes left by sending on Shola Ameobi for the tiring Viduka.

Carew then contrived to waste another opportunity to finish off Newcastle when he somehow failed to find the target after being set up by Agbonlahor six yards out.

Newcastle, despite the increasing desperation of their situation, were offering nothing and Ashley Young fired just over the top after a powerful run.

Enrique's speculative cross almost spared Newcastle in the dying seconds - but it drifted agonisingly wide and referee Foy's final whistle was the catalyst for predictable tears among travelling supporters.

Goodbye Shearer, Goodbye Newcastle, Goodbye Viduka, Goodbye Owen...!!!