8/31/2008
goal.com

It was Iran 1 Villarreal 1 on the opening weekend of the Spanish season as the Iranian duo of Javad Nekounam and Masoud Shojaei combined to help club side Osasuna come back to earn a point.
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8/31/2008
By Kaveh Mahjoob, lastkick.com

In swimming, the finger nails determine the champions. In Football home field advantage and fan’s passion provide weaker teams hope for shaving points off of mightier units. In Group two of Asian World Cup qualifying, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Iran are Asia power houses. The other two nations in the group, North Korea and UAE are expected to look for miracles to break in to the top three and have an eye for qualification. As structured in Asia, the top two teams of each group (two groups) qualify directly for the world cup while the third place team of each group moves to play-offs.
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goal.com

Goal.com looks at the career of Ireland captain Robbie Keane, the Tottenham Hotspur striker being linked with a possible move to Premier League rivals Liverpool…

Particulars

Name: Robert David “Robbie” Keane
Date of Birth: 8th July 1980 (Age 28)
Place of Birth: Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Height: 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position: Striker
Teams Played For: Wolves, Coventry, Inter, Leeds

Another Big-Money Move?

It was something of a surprise when Robbie Keane’s name suddenly appeared in the transfer gossip this summer. Tottenham’s leading scorer, three-times player of the year and captain in the absence of injured Ledley King, the Irishman seemed a solid fixture at White Hart Lane. But when the possibility of Spurs buying Liverpool striker Peter Crouch was being discussed, the Reds’ interest in Keane emerged. And Robbie, a boyhood Liverpool fan (though he is also said to have supported Celtic, in common with many Irish lads) asked Spurs to keep him informed of developments.
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By Mike Collett

MONACO, Aug 29 (Reuters) – UEFA Cup holders Zenit St Petersburg became the first Russian team to lift the European Super Cup after beating Champions League winners Manchester United 2-1 on Friday.

Goals from Pavel Pogrebnyak and record signing Danny, on his debut, gave Zenit’s Dutch coach Dick Advocaat victory over his old rival Alex Ferguson who was bidding to become the first manager to win the trophy for the third time.
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8/27/2008
presstv.ir

Iran's national soccer team defeats Azerbaijan 1-0 in a friendly ahead of a FIFA World Cup qualification match against Saudi Arabia.

Mohammad Nouri, who replaced Mojtaba Jabbari in the second half, scored the winner for Iran 8 minutes from time at Tehran's Azadi Stadium, which saw an attendance of about 10,000.
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goal.com

The often-maligned Cameroonian began his Arsenal career with fans questioning the calibre of the player, and even Wenger’s vision. Was he going to join the likes of Cygan and Stepanovs in the lightly weighted pool of Arsene’s misfits? Or subtly grow into a solid prospect, a capable performer, and once again prove that the Professor can still spot and develop talent like no other?

Particulars

Name: Alexandre Song Billong
Place of birth: Douala, Cameroon
Date of birth: September 9 1987
Position: Defender [can also play in midfield]
Weight: 75 kg
Height: 1.83 m

Blood

Football runs in the Song bloodline. When Alexandre was seven years old he would have been watching his uncle, Rigobert, represent their nation in 1994 on the greatest stage of them all – the World Cup. With every passing year, Rigobert would collect more caps and, with 119 appearances, he is now Cameroon’s most capped player. Rigobert also holds the record as the youngest footballer to ever be sent off in a World Cup, aged 17. What attributes did Rigobert, of former Liverpool and West Ham United fame, pass down to nephew Alex? For starters they are both defensively sound, good in the tackle, and display a responsible attitude to work-rate. (more…)

8/24/2008
goal.com

Iran have recalled Mehdi Mahdavikia and Vahid Hashemian to their preliminary 38-man squad for September’s 2010 World Cup qualification match against Saudi Arabia.

New boss Ali Daei has included the experienced German-based pair for the first time since he took over the job in March.

Daei has also summoned Iman Mobali and Mehrzad Madanchi.

There is still no room for 2004 Asian Player of the Year Ali Karimi.

The former Bayern Munich star was thrown out of a recent national meet after criticising Iranian football authorities. It has been reported that he is now clear to play but he will have to wait.
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8/24/2008
presstv.ir

Ali Karimi has not been invited to Iran's national soccer team for next month's World Cup qualification match against Saudi Arabia.

Iran's coach Ali Daei called up 38 players for the September 6 match against Saudi Arabia, including Frankfurt's Mehdi Mahdavikia and Bochum's Vahid Hashemian who were both absent in the first round of the World Cup qualifiers.
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8/24/2008
by Neil Johnston

WIGAN, England (AFP) – A goal of pure quality from Deco sent Chelsea to the top of the Premier League, although Luiz Felipe Scolari's side made heavy weather of overcoming a determined Wigan side 1-0 at the JJB Stadium on Sunday.
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goal.com

Not since the days of the young Francesco Totti has a player been earning such rave reviews for his performances with the Italy Under-21 national team. Sebastian Giovinco has been dazzling journalists and fans all around the continent, and it seems; the player could be destined for greatness.

Background

Born in Turin on January 26, 1987 Giovinco comes from a family that is well-known for its football talents, and his father even played as a defender for Beinasco; a small village near Turin.

Sebastian joined Juventus in 2001 at the age of 14, but it wasn’t until quite recently that the player started to become really well known. Giovinco started off by impressing in the “Campionato Primavera” tournament in the 05-06 season, when Juve went on to be crowned champions.
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