Robert Lewandowski Poland, age 23 Co-hosts Poland are the lowest ranked team at this year’s championships: 62nd, behind countries like Armenia and El Salvador. But everyone knows that the FIFA rankings don’t really mean squat, and the Poles come into the tournament on the back of a good run of friendly results – drawing against Germany and Portugal in the last year and convincingly beating lowly ranked teams like Latvia and Andorra.

Poland’s big number nine, Robert Lewandowski, holds the key if they are to progress out of their group. “Lewy” comes into the Euros on the back of a sensational season for Borussia Dortmund, netting 30 goals in 46 games, including a hat-trick against Bayern Munich in the German Cup final. A physical presence and a clinical poacher, Lewandowski won’t be confronting major defensive strongholds against any of his Group A opponents, so expect goals – and plenty of ‘em.

Marco Reus Germany age 23 The young attacking midfielder has been a revelation for Borussia Möchengladbach this season, helping them to fourth place in the Bundesliga and reaching the Champions League after a 16-year hiatus from European competitions.

Along with Mario Goetze and André Schürrle, Reus is part of a new generation of German talent hoping to make the same sort of spry impact that Mesut Özil and Sami Khadira made during the World Cup two years ago. Reus probably won’t be starting many games but, given the chance coming off the bench, he can provide strength and creativity in the centre of the pitch, a vital part of Germany’s strategy in linking the midfield up with the lone striker (either Miroslav Klose or Mario Gomez, we don’t know who yet). Reus has also already signed to play for Borussia Dortmund next season, hinting at a potential shift in the German power politics that Bayern Munich have previously dominated.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain England, age 18 As Alex Oxlade-Chamberlan began playing an ever-more prominent role in Arsenal’s season, the team spirit suddenly galvanized, the fans began to get excited again, and in the end the Gunners managed to pip third-place in the PREMIER League. His performances against Manchester United and AC Milan are regarded as his two best, so thriving on the big stage does not seem to be too much of an issue for the teenager.

England manager Roy Hodgson selected Oxlade-Chamberlain for the national squad despite the youngster having never even played a single game for England. An unusual choice but, frankly, a necessary one. “The Ox” has pace, skill and unrestrained confidence on the ball and fans hope he will bring some much needed pizzazz to an otherwise mundane and bland England squad.

Christian Eriksen Denmark, age 20 When you look at Denmark’s Group B opponents – Germany, Holland and Portugal – it would seem fair to assume that the Danes are pretty much totally screwed. They go into the tournament as total underdogs and as long as they show a degree of grit and determination, their fans should be happy.

But perhaps this is just the right environment in which a player like Christian Eriksen might thrive. And history tells us that when the Danes have nothing to lose, they tend to do pretty well (1992, for example). The Danish playmaker is hugely talented and demonstrates the right levels of intelligence that his role behind the frontman requires. He links up well with the strikers in front of him and effortlessly spans the ball out to the wings.

So are the Danes really that screwed? Well, supposedly the Germans are facing a psychological crisis after Bayern Muenich’s Champions League final defeat; we all know that the Dutch do not have a stable defense; and in Portugal lost to Denmark in their final qualifying match, leaving the Danes to top the group by three points. Hello!

Jordi Alba Spain, age 23 The Valencia left-back only made his international debut last October. Fast-forward eight months and five international caps later, and Jordi Alba is already expected to make the current world champion’s starting line-up.

The Spaniards will be expecting a good defensive performance from the young man. Their backline has been significantly weakened with the withdrawal of Carlos Puyol to injury and Gerard Pique might struggle without his familiar partner alongside him. A good relationship between Pique and Alba is therefore imperative if Spain are going win a third consecutive tournament. It would also give the Barcelona scouts, who are reportedly pursuing the young left-back, a good idea of how well the two can play together. No pressure, then.

Photos courtesy of the Bleacher Report and the Sun

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But for Japan, this was much more than just a soccer match, as Twitter confirmed.

There was so much at stake as Saki Kumagai approached the penalty spot to take what would be the deciding spot kick in the Women’s World Cup final. She knew only too well that just one more kick would lift a nation still wounded by the devastation of a deadly earthquake, tsunami and nuclear catastrophe to jubilation and euphoria. Kumagai beat US goalkeeper Hope Solo from the spot, winning Japan the World Cup and shocking the favorites.

Japan’s joy, however, was shared the world over. Trailing 2-1 with only three minutes of extra time remaining, Homare Sawa equalized for the Japanese for a second time in the match. As the crowd and players celebrated, meanwhile the Twitter-sphere suddenly erupted, producing an incredible 7,196 tweets per second (TPS) and breaking records as the most tweeted event in the social networking site’s five-year history.

And tweeters were clearly in the mood on Sunday evening. The Copa America quarter final between Brazil and Paraguay set a new second-place record, hitting a peak of 7,166 TPS.

However, while Brazil’s hopelessly failed to net a single penalty in their shoot-out, making them the laughing stock of tweeters that evening, the Women’s World Cup final’s astounding success over Twitter will hopefully sum up the newly carved legacy of both Japan’s triumph and women’s soccer in general.

Japan’s players knew full well that they were carrying the hopes of a crippled nation, not just into the final, but throughout the tournament. Coach Norio Sasaki had shown his players pictures of the destroyed townships along Japan’s northeastern coast. An odd-method to inspire a squad, no doubt, but the mental strength the Japanese women displayed was palpable as beat powerhouses Germany, Sweden and finally the US to take the World Cup, the first Asian team to do so.

However, the US women’s team shouldn’t wallow in despair for too long. They were the better teams for the majority of the game but ultimately felt the tough justice that can be served in this sport. The US won’t relive the glory of victory in 1999, but they will return home from Frankfurt, Germany, as the best team in a competition that produced the highest and most entertaining level of women’s soccer yet. Maybe now, not only girls but also boys now have reason to look up to the likes of female US players such as Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan.

It would still be naïve to suggest that women’s soccer will overtake men’s in terms of popularity. The dollars and cents simply aren’t there. But this is a big step forward for the women’s game as well as big step forward for the bruised Japanese psyche.

More Faster Soccer:

Oops Ola!: Copa Del Rey Run Over By Bus

Obama Compares Himself to Lionel Messi

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Obama was presented with a Rapids jersey, sporting the name ‘OBAMA’ above the number 10, by Rapids managing director Jeff Plush. When told that the number 10 shirt was usually granted to the team’s leader, Obama joked “Yes, me and Messi”.

Obama said that his daughters, Malia and Sasha, had converted him into a soccer fan, but his analysis of the sport could do with some work. He said that he had become “used to watching everyone crowd round the ball, then it kind of pops out somewhere and everyone runs over to it.” Sorry, but it reminds of a Harry Enfield clip ridiculing early 20th soccer. He knows that these athletes are professionals now, right?

His comparison may be a little deficient, too. Sure, Obama knows how to boss the West Wing, but little Leo Messi can dominate both wings, the outside of the box and even the defence.

Obama isn’t the first US president to declare a love of the sport. Bill Clinton admitted being a Chelsea fan, having gone to see them in the 60s while studying at Oxford University. His daughter, however, is allegedly named after the Joni Mitchell song ‘Chelsea Morning’. Willy also attended the US’s match against Ghana at last year’s World Cup, although he looked less than happy about being seated next to Rolling Stones frontman, Mick Jagger.

Photo courtesy of sportige.com

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There is something tragically entertaining about the scandal unravelling in FIFA’s Zurich headquarters. The slanderous allegations of bribery among all fronts is tearing the corporation apart, essentially nullifying its merit and the good it brings to football. High-profile delegates have been suspended, an investigations team has swooped in and attempted (and failed) to fix the problem and now the upcoming presidential election only has the incumbent running. And yet, it doesn’t seem as though the turmoil is affecting any of FIFA’s delegates, who still has self-righteous and conceited as ever.

Let us take a look at some of the characters in this tragic comedy.

Sepp Blatter: FIFA’s president is an exceptional figure; football’s answer to Colonel Gaddafi. Cleared of any wrong-doing by the appointed ethics committee (appointed by whom is not yet clear), Blatter shares many qualities with the Libyan leader, as was apparent in the press conference he gave on Monday. Peering down at a room of journalists with total disregard, he bluntly spat out: “Crisis? What is a crisis?”

Blatter’s smug then transcended into a more casual stance, as if everything was just fine. With all the skills of a corrupt politician, thriving on contempt towards any inquiry, he laughed off any suggestions of wrong-doing on his behalf, addressed a female journalist as “Lady,” and even accused the press of not doing their own job appropriately. Signing off, Blater told the room: “I will not go into discussions with people who like to create problems. I just want to tell you one thing. You can laugh, that’s an attitude. So is respect. I have learned this in my life also as a journalist. I said this is finished. Thank you.”

And like any authoritative leader, Blatter has absolutely zero reservation when it comes to throwing his enemies into the fire.

Mohamed bin Hammam: The now suspended president of the Asian Football Confederation was supposed to be Blatter’s rival in the FIFA election. However, as the ethics patrol bandwagon rolled into FIFA’s Zurich headquarters, bin Hammam, a paramount figure in Qatar’s successful bid to host the 2022 World Cup, was swift to withdraw his nomination, leaving Blatter to stand election unopposed.

Bin Hammam’s suspension relates to allegations that bribes were offered to the Caribbean Football Union in exchange for votes. Bin Hammam is now appealing his suspension, claiming that “The way these proceedings have been conducted is not compliant with any form of justice,” and now wants the panel to look into allegations that Blatter knew all about the bribery and refused to do anything about it. In the meantime, however, if bin Hammam is found guilty he could face a lifetime ban from all “football-related activity” (his Gol TV subscription will obviously be the first victim). The odds of such a penalty are looking ever-increasing, especially since Jack Warner has made it to clear that he will be pulling bin Hammam down with him.

Jack Warner: Within minutes of being suspended over more allegations of bribery, former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner released an email exchange between bin Hammam and FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke that claimed that Qatar has essentially “bought” the 2022 World Cup finals. Valcke’s excuse was that he may have been using colloquial language, but Warner was adamant, shoving print of the email right the lens of television cameras, proclaiming: “You don’t have to believe me, you don’t have to like me, nobody has to eat with me, drink with me or sleep with me but Jesus Christ, take the truth when you see it.”

He is also accusing Blatter of kow-towing guests of CONCACAF, North America’s football confederation, by offering them gifts and a $1 million “donation”.

And just like everyone else at FIFA, Warner is insisting that he has done nothing wrong. Rather, it is the investigation team that should be doing its job properly. “I look on the suspension as the worst form of justice by any sporting organisation,” said Warner. “The guys were hand-picked by Blatter. A kangaroo court would be a decent thing to say.”

Given the personalities that run it, FIFA’s delegation looks as though it is on the brink of collapsing in on itself. Packed to the brim with arrogance and where every person thinks they are irreproachable, the only way this mess can be properly cleaned up is if the money’s taken out of the organization all together. And, thankfully, it seems like it may happen.

Three of FIFA’s chief sponsors, Adidas; Coca-Cola and Emirates Airlines, have all piled the pressure on FIFA, insisting that allegations of corruption is doing no one’s image any favours – not the brands, not the delegates, not the sport. And since FIFA’s president and his delegates only speak in the language of currency, maybe this will finally make them listen.

Until then, we all have to sit and watch as, to quote “Mississippi Burning,” “The starting to eat each other”.

Photos courtesy of the Guardian, the Telegraph and Sportsfeatures.com

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So, here we are – the big one, the final match of the season, the pinnacle of club football, the “holy cannoli” winner-takes-all bout between Manchester United, the champions of England, and Barcelona, the champions of Spain and regarded by many as the best club side of, oh, only all time. As well as having the privilege of lifting the famous European Cup, the winning team is also expected to receive an ice-cool

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The World Cup triumph of the French national team in 1998, and the projection of Zinedine Zidane – son to Algerian immigrants and raised in the ‘banlieues’ of Marseille – onto the Arc de Triomphe – Paris’s most famous monuments alongside the Eifel Tower and a symbol for peace – was supposed to represent the multi-cultural French ideal.

But the problems in France’s urban suburbs didn’t go away and tolerance towards minorities remains lukewarm; in April, the Burqa ban went into full effect. And in football, a sport that seeks to promote the coming together of different cultures, racial tensions remain a problem.

This week, it was revealed that senior figures in the French Football Federation (FFF), including national coach Laurent Blanc allegedly approved quotas on the number of players of African and Arab origin entering training academies once they reach the age of 13. The limit is said to have stood at 30 per cent for non-white kids hoping to turn professional.

According to Mediapart, an investigative news website based in France, Blanc, a World Cup winner in 1998, accepted the proposals, stating that young talent should reflect “our history, our culture”. He reportedly cited the success of the reigning world champions, Spain, saying: “The Spanish, they say, ‘We don’t have a problem. We have no blacks’”.

The French team’s media team officer said that Blanc “categorically denies that he could have supported selections based on ethnicity or skin colour,” and that he is “outraged” by the allegations.

However, National Technical Director to the FFF Francois Blaquart has been suspended, pending the conclusion of the investigation. He told AFP that the idea was discussed but “abandoned”. He said: “We have 45 percent of players in our national sides (including junior teams) who have a possibility of leaving us.

“We think it’s a lot. We want to reduce it. We envisaged limited this situation to avoid putting ourselves in danger, but as soon as it stopped being a good solution, we abandoned it.”

The issue also goes back to the French team’s mutiny to train at the World Cup finals last summer. The fiasco was privately blamed by some on the black and Muslim players in the squad, and speculation was rife that the team fragmented due to a lack of “national identity”.

The problems surrounding integrating immigrants into French society will be, as always, a touchy subject come next year’s general election. Certainly, the rising popularity of the far-right National Front party is worrying, but you’d expect cultural acceptance and understanding to overwhelmingly prevail.

But if it can’t happen on the football pitch, one of the few areas that thrive on diversity, where can it? To see forms of racism occurring in the stands is sad and pathetic, but to see it take shape behind the scenes is deeply disturbing.

If the high-point of Zidane’s career was an example of the greatness offered by cultural diversity, then the climax to his career, the infamous head-butt on Italian Marco Materazzi, who it is widely alleged threw racist slurs and Zidane, was symbolic of how it had all gone badly wrong, and how Europe had failed to successfully integrate its non-white population.

Will we ever learn, or will colonial conceptions never cease to exist?

Photo courtesy of www.legreffon.com

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Real Madrid, celebrating victory over arch-rivals Barcelona in Spain’s Copa del Rey, dropped the trophy from their open-topped bus and saw it crushed under the wheels.

It was Real’s first victory in the domestic cup final for 18 years and the team was being greeted by 60,000 fans at Cibiles, a fountain in downtown Madrid where the tradition is to drape club colours over the Roman Goddess who dominates the square.

International defender Sergio Ramos has been identified as the player who let the 15 kilogram trophy slip from his grasp as the bus entered the square. “The whole thing about the cup was a misunderstanding,” he tweeted later. “It didn’t fall. It jumped off at Cibeles when it saw so many Madrid fans. Ha ha ha, but don’t worry – have a good day.”

Club spokesman offered a slightly different take on events. “It is not in good shape. Evidently, it was run over by a bus. It has to be fixed now.”

Real beat Barcelona 1-0 in the final with Cristiano Ronaldo’s extra time goal bringing the club its first silverware for three years and a first trophy under coach Jose Mourinho.

Once the Copa del Rey is fixed it will take its place of honour in the trophy case at the club museum. Until then, a replica will act as substitute.

Watch the unfortunate event happen in the video below (and take part in the Urtak poll):

Copa Del Rey

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Here are my picks for the Champions League semi-finals.

Shalke 04 versus Manchester United

Who would have thought that German side Shalke 04, under the leadership of Ralf Rangnick for only a couple of weeks, would completely outclass the holders Inter Milan, an incredible 7-3 over the two legs? The Gelsenkirchener will be going into the tie against Manchester United with confidence coming out of their ears.

But can they do it again? Certainly Manchester United’s record against German opposition in this competition has a stench to it. Last season, after going out to Bayern Munich, it all got to United manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s head, who described the Germans’s performance as “typically German,” whatever that means.

So, has Fergie learned his lesson? Probably not, but United go into this tie aiming for another sensational treble and, at the moment, an injury-free squad. Ryan Giggs, at the tender age of 37, is playing as if he hasn’t aged in the past 15 years; Wayne Rooney’s taking his temper out on the ball again, as opposed to the camera man; and Javier Hernandez, with 18 goals in 20 starts, hasn’t stopped smiling since he fist put on a United Shirt. Bad news, Shalke.

But then again, Shalke scored five goals at the San Siro (FIVE!), so it will be a tough draw for the United defence. Edu’s been on fire in this competition, although hardly at all in the Bundesliga, and Raul – who I thought retired back in 2004 – as found the joy in his football again.

Manchester United to make it Wembley, where they won their first European Cup back in 1968. They’ll need to be wary of any banana peels those dastardly Germans will no-doubt be planingt, but they should take the tie, 3-1.

Real Madrid versus Barcelona

AKA: El Classico. In fact, the two Spanish giants will come face-to-face four times in the space of 18 days – twice in the Champions League, once in the domestic league and once in the Spanish cup final. It’s almost like they’re playing out a mini World Series.

But seriously now; rewind to this time last year where Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho, then of Inter Milan, met in the same round. Everyone expected Barcelona to sweep passed Inter, only to falter at the last hurdle to some cheap, cheap tactics. Pundits the world over hailed Mourinho for his ingenious strategy in having 10 men stand on the goal line for the entire second half to keep Barcelona at bay.

Will we see similar tactics deployed here, though? If Real Madrid are leading the tie at any point – absolutely. But Madrid need to grab a lead first, something Guardiola, with all of last year’s memories, will not want to give up at any cost.

We all know what Barcelona can do in attack, but their defence as to be at their best against Madrid, otherwise Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. will capitalize. Carlos Puyol and Gerard Pique have been two of the world’s best centre-backs for a while now, though, having won pretty much everything together, including the World Cup, so if anyone can halt the Madrid charge, it’s them.

Barcelona’s defence will remain resolute and see-off the Madrid threat, while leaving it to Lionel Messi and David Villa to get the goals on the other side of the field to take the tie 2-0 overall. Gerard Pique will have a man of the match performace before going home to girlfriend Shakira. Lucky SOB.

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Just joking, Barca will falter eventually. But for now, here are the Champions League quarterfinal power rankings:

Real Madrid versus Tottenham Hostpur:

Spurs are in the midst of losing their Champions League virginity and so far they’re pulling it off painlessly, knocking out Silvio Berlusconi’s underlings – the ones who wear AC Milan shirts on the football pitch, not in the bedroom.

Their first ride, however, may soon turn into something of a sadomasochistic experience as ‘Arry and co face the larger-than-life Read Madrid for a place in the semis. And Madrid are looking pretty good – Karim Benzema in particular who looks a completely new person, like a blind man who’s learned to see again.

That, and the blimp-sized ego Mourinho will be parking over White Heart Lane will probably see Real through, although it will be close. Gareth Bale will impress and Van Der Vaart will seek vengeance against the club that threw him out in August, but I’m not sure whether they can play beyond to old ‘Thump it up to Crouch’ strategy.

But if they keep Ronaldo quiet, anything is possible.

Madrid to progress in a 4-3 classic at White Heart Lane

Chelsea versus Manchester United:

The all-English tie of the quarterfinals, and a rematch of the 2008 final, which United snatched on penalties. Blues coach Carlo Ancelotti has been quick to dismiss the notion that Chelsea will be out seeking revenge, but, let’s face it, they definitely will.

And they may well make it, too. Roman Abromovich splashed out a cool

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It’s not often that a soccer match provokes a government inquiry and dire warnings that future games might have to be played behind closed doors or abandoned altogether.

But that’s what happened after the latest clash between Glasgow Celtic and Glasgow Rangers, colloquially known jointly as the Old Firm, in front of more than 60,000 incensed and hostile fans.

The violence on the pitch between the players extended to the touchline where the two-team managers squared up and had to be physically separated, and then rippled out into the city streets where crime levels soared, with personal assaults at least doubling and the incidence of domestic abuse rising fourfold.

After the game they quickly apologized but by then Scotland’s First Minister had called an emergency summit with club officials and senior policemen to try and find some kind of solution.

When the two teams face each other on Sunday in the League Cup final they will be lectured in the dressing room beforehand and warned that violent behavior could lead to them being arrested on the pitch if need be. Players have been convicted of breach of the peace offences and fined before but always only after the final whistle.

Celtic and Rangers are giants of European and world soccer trapped in the same city in a small country with only five million people. They take turns to win just about everything on offer in Scotland and make no secret of the fact that they would like to leave all other Scottish teams behind and join the English Premier League, the most valuable and competitive in the world. The English, however, don’t want them.

The historical enmity of the Old Firm is legendary, underpinned by a legacy of sectarianism that both clubs have tried to root out without too much success. The politically charged ‘folk songs’ of the fans, many of them pro and antic the Irish Republican Army, are supposed to be banned but regularly break out nonetheless.

Rangers play in blue and are the Protestant team; Celtic plays in green and white and flaunts their Irish Catholic roots. The Troubles in Northern Ireland, only a handful of miles off the west coast of Scotland, fuelled the division in the past and still blur the point where sporting rivalry changes into irrational hate.

The irony of the current situation is that, as police and politicians panic about the aftermath of Old Firm games, the broadcasters can’t get enough of the spectacle and passion distilled into the crucible of the sporting arena and are willing to sign huge checks for broadcast rights secretly hoping that the police will march onto the pitch and handcuff a star player.

Such coverage would be priceless; ratings would soar.

And so the game goes on.

MORE FASTER SOCCER:

UEFA Champions League: Barcelona eliminate Arsenal 3-1 (4-3 Aggregate)

UEFA Champions League: Round of 16 First Leg Wrap-up

Marseille and Manchester United Produce 0-0 Snoozefest

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