The Football Thread

[Kwijibo]

I believe i know more about Spanish fb than you know about Greek.
You can't compare the level of violence in sports between the two countries, to do so would be delusional.
Neither Barca nor Real decide on who will rule the country.
Olympiacos did.
As i said Franco is long gone.
Lastly, i repeat you live in your own azulgrana world and have no idea what goes on outside.
It is only natural if it feels like the "bold and the beautiful".

Maybe at violence greek teams have a bit more pressure but in terms of sport barcelona has got the biggest pressure of all team in the world. Next season we have 6 tittles and we have to win all of them

[demitriusluke]

Wow , This is getting heated...

[Kwijibo]

Eusebio Sacristan will be the coach of Barça B next year:

http://www.mundodeportivo.com/20110617/fc-barcelona/eusebio-sacristan-nuevo-entrenador-del-barca-b-la-proxima-temporada_54173402548.html

As Barça player he won 4 leagues, 1 champion league, 1 european supercup, 3 spanish supercup, 1 cup of the king and 1 recup

As Barça second coach he won 2 leagues, 1 champion league and 2 spanish supercup

[Kwijibo]

Bojan Krkic will play in AS Roma next season

[oksford2001]

Bojan Krkic will play in AS Roma next season

difficult ligue for players from Spain

[Kwijibo]

difficult ligue for players from Spain

At least the coach is from spain too

[oksford2001]

Im not fan Roma. Only PSG Waiting for big transfers

[oksford2001]

Mexico won in the final CONCACAF Gold Cup - the championship of North America, Central and the Caribbean in Pasadena United States 4-2 (2-2). Match record number of spectators watched the competition in the U.S. - 93420

Nice number!

[Kwijibo]

Spain won agaisnt suza european sub-21 2-0 in denmark. Spain still dominating in football

[Gonzaka]

And River Plate is relegated to 1ª B!!!

What a shitty game... A failed penalty, an illegal gol of Belgrano... And now the police shooting water to the fans. OMG.

[Kwijibo]

Im not fan Roma. Only PSG Waiting for big transfers

From PSG barça is interested in Sakho

[oksford2001]

you know, sheikhs spend Cards

[CKR13]

According to sources, Arsenal's board members are ready to sell Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/13928823.stm

[Kwijibo]

According to sources, Arsenal's board members are ready to sell Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/13928823.stm

Cesc is barcelonista since he born so for 35-40 millions he will play in his dream team

[dxjayrock2008]

Triumphant Mexico soccer team becoming a major brand in the U.S.

By Simon Evans
06/28/2011 | 05:22 PM

LOS ANGELES - Mexico's national soccer team not only retained their continental Gold Cup crown but in the past three weeks have also made their mark as one of the most successful sports brands in North America.

In their six games at different venues across the United States, Mexico attracted an average attendance of 71,500 fans including the 93,000 who turned out at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday.

Stadiums built for NFL teams have been packed with Spanish-speaking families singing and chanting and dressed in green jerseys.

The result has been a passionate 'home field' advantage for Mexico against all opponents -- even the United States in Los Angeles.

"It's an unbelievable feeling, we have some many Mexican fans in the United States and we have to say thanks for all the support we get," said Manchester United striker Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez, fast becoming a global name in the sport.

The team is also generating the kind of attention that would be the envy of most of the top American sports teams.

The Mexicans have produced television audiences that have pushed Spanish-language network Univision to the top of the U.S. ratings for peak-time on Saturday night for the past two weeks, beating all the leading England-language channels.

The final, which Mexico won 4-2, attracted an average audience of 8 million throughout the broadcast -- in Spanish.

To put into context, game seven of the NHL's Stanley Cup, averaged 8.5 million in the States on NBC and the final round of the U.S. Open golf drew 9 million on the same channel -- both in English.

Not surprisingly the Mexican team have attracted some top-level sponsors, eager to gain from association with a true Hispanic success story in the States.

"The team are now one of the top sports brands in the States and companies have stepped up and seen the value of that," said Michael Hitchcock of Texas-based Playbook Management International, who specialize in soccer business in North America

"They are selling out stadiums, selling jerseys, selling sodas, selling beers -- anyway you look at it they are a money-making machine because the fans are so passionate."

Among those sponsoring the team are 'All American' brands normally more associated with traditional U.S. sports -- among them Coca Cola and Home Depot.

Anheuser Busch's 'Bud Light' beer has been pushing their association with the Mexicans through various mediums.

In L.A., visitors to the international airport have been greeted with a giant billboard promoting the beer's sponsorship of the team.

Insurance company All State have pushed their link-up with 'El Tri' heavily on television during the Gold Cup and have also interacted directly with fans through their 'Futbol Fiesta' initiative outside stadiums.

"We've expanded our presence and support of soccer overall because it is such a popular sport that is growing sport in the States," says All State's Caitlin Morse.

"We've had a lot of success with the Mexican national team -- being able to interact with fans, we have found the team a great way to communicate to a Hispanic audience."

All State, like Budweiser, also sponsor the U.S. national team, indicating that brands may well choose to have a foot in both camps of North America's biggest soccer rivalry.

Mexico's commercial success is also helping U.S. soccer in another way - the U.S. deals, including the organization of five games a year in the States, are handled by Soccer United Marketing (SUM) which is the marketing wing of Major League Soccer -- the club championship in the U.S. and Canada.

SUM has been marketing Mexico in the States since their link up with the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) began in 2003.

"To be able to align a brand with that passion point has been something that has been extremely valuable to some industry-leading brands," said SUM's vice-president of global sponsorship David Wright.

"The growth will mirror somewhat you see in this country - the demographic shift and the evolution and growth of the Hispanic market place.

"We don't need to educate (potential) partners - they know what this team means and the results show it."

-- Reuters