Worldwide Football, We Got It Covered: July 2010

Friday 30 July 2010

Latics Sign Dutch Defender

WorldwideFootball can confirm Wigan Athletic have signed 26 year old Dutch defender Ronnie Stam from FC Twente for a fee believed to be in the region of £3.3m.

Stam spent 2 years at the De Grolsch Veste Enschede where he made 57 appearances for the Reds and has also played for his home town club NAC Breda and althought he is uncapped it is believed Stam could be in line to make his debut next month when Holland face Ukraine in Kiev.

Stam becomes Roberto Marinez's 5th signing this summer in what is becoming a busy period for the club after capturing the signatures of Antolin Alcaraz, Ali Al Habsi, Mauro Boselli and James McArthur and he is due to join up with his new team mates today.

He could make his debut against Real Zaragoza on Wednesday at the DW Stadium.

Ronnie Stams career:

2002-2008 - NAC Breda - 122 apps (4 goals)
2008-2010 - FC Twente - 57 apps (2 goals)

Worldwide Football Is Back

The World Cup is over and we have had time to go away and get the batteries recharged and ready for the new season.

Quite a lot seems to have happened while we have been away, Joe Cole joining Liverpool was a shock. With reports of him staying in London with Arsenal and Tottenham vying for his signature it was a suprise to see him join Roy Hodgson.

West Ham seem to have been in the news a lot. They have made a good signing in Frederic Piquionne. The striker will help tak the pressure of Carlton Cole and maybe thgis will lead to the England striker getting more goals than what he achieved last season. I see they are also trying to make David Beckham a signing before moving into the Olympic Stadium. Usually I'd be over the moon but that is two years away and he will be 37!!! Not sure whether this is a good move, unless its to replace Avram Grant!!!. West Ham also seem to be unhappy with the way Totteanham are trying to unsettle Scott Parker. Isnt this exactly what West HGam were trying to do with Graham Dorrans at West Brom. It seems to me Messurs Gold and Sullivan enjoy column inches to much and should concentrate on turning West Ham's fortunes round.

So now, we turn to the new season and have to start looking ahead to the first title match of the season. Chelsea entertain West Bromwich Albion. We will keep you up to date with all the news from Stamford Bridge before the title match and also all Premier League News so keep a look out if you have a comment let us know.

Monday 12 July 2010

Hull Complete Double Swoop

Hull have agreed deals to sign midfield pair James Harper and Nolberto Solano.

Harper, 29, was released by Sheffield United at the end of the season while veteran Solano is set for one more year in the game.

The 35-year-old former Newcastle, Aston Villa and West Ham winger follows new Tigers manager Nigel Pearson to the KC Stadium, having worked under him at Leicester.

Peru international Solano only signed a six-month deal with the Foxes back in May but has opted to make the move to Leicester's Championship rivals.

Harper, meanwhile, spent nine years at Reading between 2001 and 2010, and after a short spell with the Blades, will now move on to pastures new.

Hull's head of football operations Adam Pearson said: "We've got both players on really good, tight deals.

"Nobby (Solano) will be on a year and James on two years on wages that don't dent the finances too much.

"Those deals will be done this week and we're happy to have got two quality players in."

Nolberto Solano's career:

1992-1993 - Sporting Cristal - 11 apps (1 goal)

1993-1994 - Universitario de Deportes - 27 apps (7 goals)

1994-1997 - Sporting Cristal - 97 apps (31 goals)

1997-1998 - Boca Juniors - 32 apps (5 goals)

1998-2004 - Newcastle United - 182 apps (37 goals)

2004-2005 - Aston Villa - 49 apps (8 goals)

2005-2007 - Newcastle United - 58 apps (8 goals)

2007-2008 - West Ham United - 23 apps (4 goals)

2008-2009 - Larissa - 17 apps (2 goals)

2009-2010 - Universitario de Deportes - 32 apps (10 goals)

2010 - Leicester City - 11 apps (0 goals)

James Harpers career:

2000-2001 - Arsenal - 0 apps (0 goals)

2000-2001 - Cardiff City (loan) - 3 apps (0 goals)

2001-2010 - Reading - 302 apps (25 goals)

2009-2010 - Sheffield United (loan) - 21 apps (3 goals)

2010 - Sheffield United - 13 apps (1 goal)

Jimmy Jumps Into Trouble

The world famous pitch invader Jimmy Jump might have gone one invasion to far this time. The man famous for many appearances around the world from Eurovision to the World Cup Final has landed himself back in the dock and this time he is facing his most serious charges yet.

At the end of the World Cup Final Jimmy Jump, who's real name is Jaume Marquet i Cot, ran onto the pitch with the intention to get up to the trophy and place his trademark red beret on top of it. He nearly made it too, he got up as close as the plinth before officials wrestled him to the ground and placed him under arrest where he is facing charges of trespassing and attempted theft.

Jimmy Jump has made a career out of pitch invasions, most of which happen at the Camp Nou including a famous moment when he ran and threw himself into the goal but he doesn't just invade football pitches.

During the 2009 French Open final Jump got courtside and even got as far as to place a beret onto the red of Swiss player Roge Federer and just before the 2007 Rugby World Cup final between England and South Africa Jump got onto the pitch.

He's most recent venture was in Oslo, May 2010 and the final off ... the Eurovision Song Contest.

Spains entry Daniel Diges was performing and right at the end Jump made it onto the stage and even started to dance and pose before being hauled of the stage.

Its not known what will happen to Jimmy Jump when he appears in court but he was fined over €60000 in 2006 when he got onto the pitch during a Champions League semi-final between Villareal and Arsenal so this time, could he be going inside?

Blackpool v Wigan Athletic Fixture Change

Worldwidefootball understands Blackpools opening Premier League match, scheduled against Wigan Athletic at Bloomfield Road will now be played at Wigan's DW Stadium due to works going on at Blackpools Bloomfield Road.

Blackpools website www.blackpoolfc.co.uk released a statement saying:

"Following ongoing discussions with the Premier League in respect of the agreed improvements to both Bloomfield Road and it's facilities it has been decided, by all parties, to reverse the clubs opening day fixture against Wigan Athletic FC.

This means the Seasiders first fixture in the Premier League will now be away at Wigan Athletic FC on Saturday 14 August (3pm kick-off) at the DW Stadium. The club's home fixture against Wigan Athletic FC is now scheduled for Saturday 16 April 2011"

The Tangerines supporters will now have to wait until Saturday 28th August before they can host their first Premier League match when they entertain Fulham.

Mulumba Travels To L'Orient

Lorient have continued their summer recruitment drive with the signing of promising youngster Remi Mulumba from third division Amiens.

Mulumba has signed a three-year contract with the Ligue 1 side subject to a medical.

The 17-year-old midfielder has played for France's junior teams and Lorient beat off stiff competition from other Ligue 1 sides to his signature.

Mulumba is Lorient's fifth signing of the summer and joins fellow new recruits Mathias Autret, Alaixys Romao and Bruno Ecuele Manga, who have all signed four-year deals, and Francis Coquelin, who is on loan from Arsenal.

Arnold Mvuemba, who helped Lorient to a seventh-place finish last season has also signed a four-year contract with the club.

Nene has completed his move to Paris St Germain on a three-year contract.

The Brazilian has long been linked with a move to PSG and he linked up with his new team-mates last night at their pre-season training camp after passing a medical.

PSG and Monaco had already agreed a fee of 5.5million euros and the final details were thrashed out this morning.

"I'm really happy to have signed for Paris," Nene told the club's official website. "I hope that everything will go well on the pitch now.

"PSG are a great club. The supporters and the atmosphere at the stadium are incredible. It reminds me of stadiums in Brazil and for a player that's amazing.

"Moreover, just like Paris, I want to have a great campaign and succeed in the Europa League.

"I will get to know everyone bit by bit and the understanding will develop naturally."

Nene will become one of the most highly paid players at the club and much is expected of him after the 28-year-old fired in 14 goals last season on his return from a year's loan deal at Espanyol.

The left winger moved to Europe in 2003, and spent four years in Spain with with Real Mallorca, Deportivo Alaves and Celta Vigo, before joining Monaco.

There Nene had an impressive first season but requested a return to Spain after a fallout with then-coach Ricardo.

Nene becomes PSG's second signing after Mathieu Bodmer.

Nene's career:

1999-2001 - Paulista - 0 apps (0 goals)

2001-2002 - Palmeiras - 24 apps (5 goals)

2002-2003 - Santos - 9 apps (8 goals)

2003-2004 - Mallorca - 29 apps (9 goals)

2004-2006 - Alaves - 78 apps (21 goals)

2006-2007 - Celta Vigo - 38 apps (9 goals)

2007-2010 - Monaco - 63 apps (19 goals)

2008-2009 - Espanyol (loan) - 34 apps (4 goals)

WorldWide Football's Team Of The Tournament

World Cup Roll Of Honour

World Cup 2010 Champions:

SPAIN

Runner Up: Holland
3rd Place: Germany
4th Place: Uruguay

adidas Golden Ball Winner:

Diego Forlan (Uruguay)

2nd place: Wesley Sneijder (Holland)
3rd place: David Villa (Spain)

adidas Golden Boot Winner:

Thomas Muller (Germany)

2nd place: Wesley Snijder (Holland)
3rd place: David Villa (Spain)

adidas Golden Glove Winner:

Iker Casillas (Spain)

Best Young Player Winner:

Thomas Muller (Germany)

FIFA Fair Play Award

Spain

Holland 0 Spain 1 (after extra time)

Scorer: Iniesta (Spa)

Attendance: 84490

Champions of Europe and now champions of the world, Spain captured football's Holy Grail for the first time with a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands thanks to Andres Iniesta's 116th-minute strike at Soccer City.

The solitary goal came with penalties looming as substitute Cesc Fabregas played in Iniesta and the little midfielder drove emphatically across Maarten Stekelenburg and into the far corner. With this victory – their fourth successive single-goal win in South Africa – Spain became the eighth name on the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy and also the first European team to have triumphed on a different continent. For the Netherlands, who lost defender John Heitinga to a red card in extra time, there is only the heartache of another tale of what might have been after they completed a hat-trick of Final losses.

This was a match preceded by much talk of two like-minded footballing cultures, of the influence of Dutchmen like Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels, of 'tiki taka' and Total Football. In many ways, as the first 116 minutes showed, it was also a case of the irresistible force versus the immovable object. The Dutch had won 14 straight games to get to the Final, in qualifying and the tournament proper, and Spain 15 out of 16, their only slip the defeat by Switzerland in their first game here in South Africa.

It was the Spanish found their stride first, living up to their pre-game billing as favourites. Vicente del Bosque's side dominated possession and created the early chances. With the Dutch penned inside their half, goalkeeper Stekelenburg had to make a save after five minutes, diving low to stop a Sergio Ramos header from Xavi's free-kick from the right. Gerard Pique looked poised to follow up only to be denied by a combination of Joris Mathijsen and Dirk Kuyt.

Ramos came again in the tenth minute, beating Kuyt on the right and driving in a low centre that Heitinga deflected behind. From the corner came another scare for the Netherlands. Xavi played the ball back to Xabi Alonso whose cross went beyond the far post to David Villa but the in-form No7 sliced his volley into the side-netting. After those near things, however, both defences got on top with none of the flair players on either side able to take a grip on proceedings. Instead the yellow-card count began to rise with Nigel de Jong becoming the fifth player in Howard Webb's notebook by the time the half-hour mark arrived.

With the orange sections of the 84,490 Soccer City crowd finding their voice, Bert van Marwijk's men almost gave them something to sing about from a corner in the 37th minute. Robben rolled the ball to Mark van Bommel on the edge of the box and although he failed to make a clean connection he unwittingly diverted the ball on to the unmarked Mathijsen but the defender missed his kick. As half-time approached, Iker Casillas had barely had a save to make but entering stoppage time, he had to be alert to deny Robben at his near post as a spell of Dutch pressure ended with the winger spearing in a low shot from the corner of the box.

Puyol, Spain's semi-final matchwinner, showed his aerial threat once more minutes after the restart when he rose above Heitinga and headed to the far post but Joan Capdevila failed to make contact. The game was gradually opening up and the Dutch spurned a golden opportunity in the 62nd minute when Wesley Sneijder sent Robben running clear. Casillas came to Spain's rescue, deflecting the shot behind with his right foot when falling the wrong way.

Spain coach Del Bosque had already sent on Jesus Navas for Pedro on the hour and the winger helped pick a hole in the Dutch defence in the 70th minute. Xavi sent him flying down the right into the box and when Heitinga failed to deal with Navas's low cross, the ball fell to Villa who looked odds-on to score only to see his effort deflected behind. Ramos was equally profligate after 78 minutes when he headed over a Xavi centre when unmarked, after Villa had forced another corner.

Spain were looking the more likely winners and it took Sneijder of all people to foil Iniesta with a smart tackle after his jinking run into the box. Yet Robben's pace was a persistent threat and theOranje No11 almost embarrassed Puyol in the 82nd minute, speeding clear of the Spain defender when second-favourite to reach a through-ball. Resisting Pique's attempt to tackle too, he was foiled only by Casillas, the captain saving at Robben's feet as the Dutchman tried to round him.

Extra time began with opportunities for Spain. Xavi failed to connect when well positioned and when the ball ran to Villa, his shot went wide off an orange shirt. Substitute Fabregas then broke clear on to Iniesta's through-ball but was foiled by Stekelenburg. Mathijsen headed wide from a corner but like waves, Spanish attacks kept rolling on to the Netherlands back line and Navas was close with a shot deflected into the side-netting.

Fernando Torres replaced Villa midway through the extra period and Spain gained a man advantage four minutes later with Heitinga's dismissal for pulling back Iniesta on the edge of the box, the offence earning him a second yellow. Iniesta would not be denied, however, and his fine late strike put Spain into the history books and left a Dutch dream shattered.

Goal Count

We aim to give you as much information as possible during the World Cup Finals.

Everyone says the most entertaining leagues in the world are the English and Spanish so we have decided to do a goalcount and let you know which league had the most goalscorers in so keep an eye out on your league and the winner would surely then have to become the most entertaining league.

(La Liga, Spain) 25 goals

Forlan (Uruguay) 5 goals, Villa (Spain) 5 goals, Higuain (Argentina) 4 goals, Luis Fabiano (Brazil) 3 goals, Uche (Nigeria) 2 goals, Marquez (Mexico), Simao (Portugal), Ronaldo (Portugal), Y.Toure (Ivory Coast), Romaric (Ivory Coast), Puyol (Spain), Iniesta 1 goal

(Bundesliga, Germany) 21 goals

Muller (Germany) 5 goals, Klose (Germany) 4 goals, Podolski (Germany) 2 goals, Robben (Holland) 2 goals, Cacau (Germany), Bradley (United States), Hugo Almeida (Portugal), Demichelis (Argentina), Ozil (Germany), Friedrich (Germany), Jansen (Germany), Khedira (Germany)

(English Premier League, England) 19 goals

Robinho (Brazil) 2 goals, Tevez (Argentina) 2 goals, Chung Yong Lee (South Korea) 2 goals, Ji Sung Park (South Korea), Gerrard (England), Dempsey (USA), Kuyt (Holland), Alcaraz (Paraguay), Bendtner (Denmark), Drogba (Ivory Coast), Yakubu (Nigeria), Defoe (England), Cahill (Australia), Van Persie (Holland), Kalou (Ivory Coast), Boateng (Ghana), Upson (England)

(Serie A, Italy) 17 goals

Sneijder (Holland) 5 goals, Tiago (Portugal) 2 goals, Eto'o (Cameroon) 2 goals, De Rossi (Italy), Maicon (Brazil), Iaquinta (Italy), Di Natale (Italy), Quagliarella (Italy), Huntelaar (Holland), Juan (Brazil), Muntari (Ghana), Cavani (Uruguay)