Jose Mourinho to Quit? “My only options are Madrid or Inter”

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jose mourinho 210x300 Jose Mourinho to Quit? My only options are Madrid or Inter Jose Mourinho has admitted that the only two options for him this summer are to stay at Inter or make the switch to Real Madrid.

Mourinho has not officially been contacted by Madrid but the Portuguese has fuelled speculation after telling the Italian press, “I want to coach Real 100 per cent. If it is next year or later, I can’t say.

“All I say is that if you are a coach or a great player, to not play in a club like Madrid leaves a hole in your career.”

Mourinho has established himself as one of the world’s most prestigious managers, winning titles in Portugal, England and Italy – so far.

The former Chelsea boss is always looking for a new challenge and that, combined with his fiery relationship with the Italian media, could lead to an exit from the Milan side.

Mourinho has publically commented on the fact that he and his family don’t feel at home in Italy and has blasted the Italian FA for making him what he describes as a hate figure.

A move to the Spanish capital would certainly provide Mourinho with a fresh start and what would surely be his biggest managerial challenge to date.

Current Real coach Manuel Pellegrini and his side amassed 96 points in the league this season and were only beaten to the title by a rampant Barcelona side on the final day.

So, if Mourinho does make the switch, he can expect enormous pressure to win both La Liga and the Champions League in his first season – most Real Madrid managers don’t get two.

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Champions League Final Build Up. Robben Expects Inter to Attack, Inter Expects Mourinho To Go

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champs league 300x225 Champions League Final Build Up. Robben Expects Inter to Attack, Inter Expects Mourinho To GoGerman champions Bayern Munich lock horns with their Italian counterparts Inter in the first UEFA Champions League final to be played on a Saturday and both sides are eagerly anticipating the biggest game of the season excluding the World Cup.

Dutch wizard Arjen Robben has stated he expects Inter to start the game with attacking intentions, but pointed out that Bayern have to play their own game if they are to be successful at the Santiago Bernabeu.

“I don’t expect Inter to defend as much as they did against Barcelona, though of course they also had a player sent off,” Robben was quoted as saying by the official UEFA website.

You Can Bet On This Outcome Now: Inter v Bayern Champions League Final

“We have to play our own game. We can’t change our tactics. We’ve played the whole season the same way and that’s what we will do in the final as well. On the day you have to sometimes be a bit lucky, but at least you have to be sharp in front of goal and the chances you get you have to take.

“The main goal for Bayern was to win the league and that’s what we did. But now we’re in the final of the Champions League and you have to try to win it. You have to give all on this day and I think we will see 22 players who will play for their lives.”

Meanwhile the speculation regarding Joes Mourinho’s future after the Champions League final has hit override with reports of Inter Milan lining up Liverpool’s Rafa Benitez to replace the ‘Special One’ should he depart for Real Madrid. Mourinho has poured more fuel on the fire by once again stating his dislike for Italian football and his desire to have two-to-three days to think about his future after the Champions League final. So as Inter fans brace themselves for life without Mourinho they can take comfort in the fact that Frank Ribbery will definitely be suspended for the final after UEFA upheld his ban

You can bet on the Champions League final with PartyBets.com, Inter Milan are favourites at 2.30 with the Germans available at 3.20.

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The Premiership Review 2009/10

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premiership review 300x210 The Premiership Review 2009/10Chelsea edged out Manchester United by a single point which meant these two clubs have shared the last six Premiership titles. So on the surface little had changed in the competition but in practice, the Premier League is undergoing radical alterations.

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The top two may have been predictable but the fact that they lost thirteen games between them wasn’t. Standards began to level off and it was Liverpool who felt this most keenly. For the first time since 2004/05, the ‘Big 4′ failed to lock out the Champions League places.

Arsenal retained third position with some comfort but the distance to the chasing pack was reduced- and the Gunners poor record against Manchester United and Chelsea didn’t bode well for the future.

The London club at least kept their Champions League berth. Liverpool crashed down to seventh, passed by Tottenham, Manchester City and Aston Villa. It was Spurs who pipped the big spenders from Manchester to fourth position.

Chelsea and Manchester United may have become a ‘Big Two’ in the style of Spain but both clubs have some serious recruitment to do over the summer. United need support for Wayne Rooney and Chelsea are a squad that needs renewal and new blood.

If Spurs can gain a foothold at Europe’s top table they could push on and there is no doubting the wealth in the blue half of Manchester. Arsenal have a fight to retain their status and Liverpool fans will spend the period to August worrying about whether they can keep Fernando Torres.

At the bottom the relegated sides weren’t a surprise. Hull City only just survived last season and Burnley faded after a bright start. The Clarets spent sensibly but from the moment Owen Coyle left they looked doomed.

Portsmouth’s financial woes overwhelmed the club and their best players from the Harry Redknapp era had leaked away before the campaign began. Even before a nine point deduction for going into administration their cause appeared lost- and the FA Cup Final helped their fans forget what will be a struggle for survival in the Championship.

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Everton managed to climb up to eighth after a poor start caused by a horrendous injury list. Missing out on Europe might work to the Toffees advantage but bigger clubs are threatening to take away some of their squad.

If David Moyes can keep them together and add quality, Everton might be another top four contender, in what is becoming a crowded field for 2010/11.

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Host a Norway themed Eurovision Party

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2010 eurovision 2010 oslo betting 300x225 Host a Norway themed Eurovision PartyAlthough we’ve updated our eurovision sweepstake kit and many of our Eurovision Party tips from last year are still good ideas for this years knees up, our hosts are now Norway who really know how to party so its worth updating our advice with some extra hints and tips.

Traditionally, Norwegians are hunters, fishermen and winter-sportswomen. All themes which are hard to translate to a Eurovision style party, but in the interests of helping our faithful readers we’ve given it our best shot.

Viking Theme

An obvious theme but one which will surely be fun. Whether you encourage guests to go all out fancy dress or allow access to anyone wearing ugg boots and some paper horns stuck onto their hat, its a style which even those men who normally refuse to even consider dressing up will generally attempt. Decorate your home with piles of ‘gold and treasure’, plastic axes and shiny shields made of cardboard covered tinfoil.

Aurora Borealis Evening

Anyone with one of those swanky lights which washes the wall with light and changes colour will be able to mock up a northern lights display to rival the Aurora, at least after a few glasses of aquavit. Light the remainder of the room with just twinkling stars (fairylights) and the glow of the widescreen TV and you’ll have a magical setting. After everyone has marvelled at your creativity switch the lighting to ‘disco pulse’ and you’ll have an instant disco to end the night in style.

Red, Blue and White

Drape the Norwegian flag over tables, walls and balconies, tell everyone that they will only be able to attend if dressed in red, white or blue and theme your food along the same lines – this is quite easy even if you wish to stick to the Norwegian food theme using the traditional bright red sausage, lingonberries, cheese, pickled herring and blue potatoe salad (no really – Adirondack potatoes. Its that or blueberries)

a-ha!

Perhaps best known for their awesome ‘Take on Me’ video in the early 80’s, a-ha are probably Norways most famous mainstream musical export, and seem worthy of a themed Eurovision party, although they have never represented their country in this greatest of all musical challenges.  Use an online image search for ‘aha video’ and print out some poster sized prints to decorate your walls*, encourage everyone to wear a quiff or floppy fringe for the evening and make the dress code bleached denim. If I thought my wombles confession was embarrasing last year, its nothing to confessing that I had a Morten Harkett picture on my wall.

Norweigan food ideas

Food is an essential part of any Eurovision Party – the classic Norwegian favourite of smoked salmon is popular in the Uk and through most of the world, making it an easy choice both to source and be sure your guests will enjoy. For the slightly more adventerous, why not try rollmops – while not quite authentic Norwegian pickled herring they have the advantage of being available in jars next to the pickled onions in nearly all deli’s and supermarkets.

If you decide to stick with cold food, you could setup a smorgasbord (properly, in Norway, this is called a koldtbord). Include breads, Norwegian butter and cheese (Jarlsberg, Ridder and Gjetost are available in the UK), smoked and pickled fish, cold meats, sausages (generally in Norway pork sausages are preferred – good Deli’s may sell prinskorv, a small hot dog style sausage, but pork chipolata’s will embrace the Eurovision spirit without offending any Scandinavians present.) Add some potato dishes and you’ll have a good selection.

If you fancy hot food, then Polser, or hotdog sausages, served in soft white buns is an easy and authentic Norwegian partyfood. Alternatively meatballs in a tomato sauce make a good hearty mopping-up-the-alcohol meal which nearly everyone will enjoy. Traditionally made of beef, you could consider adding some Elk meat (yes, this is available online, or use venison which is more locally sourced for most of us). Ikea are also currently offering moose-lasagne for £1.50 a portion which doesn’t sound very traditional to us, but has the virtue of being quick, cheap and easy, if you can pursuade your local store to sell you a tray to take home.

Skal!

And of course no Eurovision Party would be complete without some drinks. Pils and aquavit (schnapps) are the national drinks of Norway and after extensive testing we can confirm that they’re both great Eurovision drinks. Ensure you have plenty of soft drinks for the drivers and those who get a little too enthusiastic too early and you’ll be sure to have a great evening.

Have a great party! Ha Det Fest!

*obviously ensuring its allowed under copyright law

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Eurovision National Selection Events

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eurovizija 2010 dizainas 300x101 Eurovision National Selection EventsFor some people how to host a Eurovision party has been front of mind for some months.

In lots of countries there are weekly Eurovision parties at selection events where a country chooses who they want to represent them – or who they think could be a potential Eurovision 2010 winner!

If you are looking for ideas about how to plan a Eurovision themed fest, check out individual Eurovision country qualifiing song competions.

Lots of countries have switch to choosing a song by public vote (Sweden’s Melodifestival the biggest of these), a bit like Pop Idol or X factor voting. below is a list of Eurovison National selection events by country.

National selection events

Albania Festivali i Këngës
Austria Song Festival
Azerbaijan Land of Fire
Belarus EuroFest
Belgium Eurosong (VRT)
Bosnia and Herzegovina BH Eurosong
Croatia Dora
Czech Republic Eurosong
Denmark Dansk Melodi Grand Prix
Estonia Eurolaul
Finland Euroviisut
FYR Macedonia Skopje Fest
Germany Unser Star für Oslo
Iceland Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins
Ireland National Song Contest or Eurosong
Israel Kdam Eurovision
Italy Sanremo Music Festival
Latvia Eirodziesma
Lithuania Lietuvos Dainų Daina
Malta Malta Song for Europe
Montenegro MontenegroSong
Netherlands Nationaal Songfestival
Poland Eurowizji
Portugal Festival da Canção
Romania Selecţia Naţională
Serbia Beovizija
Serbia and Montenegro Evropesma
Slovakia Eurosong
Slovenia EMA
Spain ¡Tu país te necesita!
Sweden Melodifestivalen
Turkey Eurovizyon Şarkı Seçmeleri
United Kingdom Eurovision: Your Country Needs You
Yugoslavia Jugovizija

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Copa Del Rey Final: Atletico Madrid v Sevilla Too Close To Call

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Copa del Rey copa 300x187 Copa Del Rey Final: Atletico Madrid v Sevilla Too Close To CallThe curtain falls on the Spanish domestic season tonight with the encounter between Atletico Madrid and Sevilla in the Copa Del Rey Final.

This game could easily go all the way and end up being decided on penalties such is the closeness of each side’s abilities. The draw is available at 3.25, with the inform goal machine Diego Forlan going at 6.00 to score the first goal at PartyBets.com.

Chance to silence sceptics

Both sides have performed inconsistently throughout the 2009/10 season but both managed to salvage their season’s right at the end. Atletico Madrid enjoyed Europa League success with a 2-1 win after extra time against a determined Fulham side in Hamburg, whereas Sevilla came out on top of an epic tussle with plucky Real Mallorca in a fight for fourth place and Champions League football next season. Both sides now have the chance to turn their season into a truly memorable one.

Sevilla (2.60) finished five places higher than Atletico (2.60) in the final league standings and go into the final as slight favourites. However, Sevilla coach Antonio Alvarez has stated that the two sides will be evenly poised at Camp Nou.

“I do not like to go in as favourites. That can stir up the pride of the opposition. We come with a 50 per cent chance. It is you [the media] who have to say those things, we respect Atletico Madrid a lot,” he said at a press conference.

Advantage Sevilla

Sevilla managed to find some winning form in the run-in, winning six and losing three matches of their last nine. Atletico on the other hand have already proven this season they can win cup competitions and produce the goods in the games that really matter.

These two sides played each other twice this season with Atletico winning their home match 2-1 and Sevilla winning 3-1 at home as well.

You Can Bet On This Outcome: Atletico Madrid v Sevilla

The team news for Sevilla is that Brazilian forward Luis Fabiano is injured and will play no part in the Final. Fernando Navarro will be missing from the weakened defence and Avero Negredo is suspended.

Atletico face no major injury worries and welcome back their star players who were given a rest at the weekend.

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Will Torres feature when Liverpool fixtures start in July?

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fernando torres liverpool 300x225 Will Torres feature when Liverpool fixtures start in July?The three teams to represent England in next season’s Europa League have been decided and Liverpool will be back in the competition from which they were eliminated in the semi-finals last month.

The other two Premier League clubs joining them are Manchester City and Aston Villa. All three clubs might have mixed feelings about taking part after seeing what Tottenham Hotspur achieved this season.

Spurs weren’t in Europe at all this year and it was noticeable that their players were fresh and sharp as the campaign came to a close. By not being in the Europa League, the London club played less matches but also avoided the many long journeys across the Continent.

You Can Bet on This Outcome: Football today & World cup betting

Harry Redknapp’s team were able to grab fourth place and achieve a first attempt at the lucrative Champions League- they pipped Manchester City, who also had a season fre of European trips.

By contrast, Aston Villa and Everton who finished eighth (a drop from fifth last year), both took part in the Europa League.

In 2010/11 Everton will not play in the Europa League which may help their challenge to break into the top four. Manchester City will have to pick themselves up from the bitter disappointment of finishing fifth.

Liverpool only squeezed into European competition for next season at all because Chelsea won the FA Cup. The three English qualifying spots go to the Cup winners and the 5th and 6th placed teams in the league. As Chelsea are safely in the Champions League their place came to seventh-placed Liverpool, because Cup runners-up Portsmouth have no licence to play in Europe.

The Premiership held out some hopes of gaining a fourth berth by being high enough in UEFA’s Fair Play League but eventually these places went to Scandinavian clubs. If England had received one of these berths, relegated Burnley would have got it.

You Can Bet on This Outcome: Football today & World cup betting

Fulham’s great effort this year showed what can be done if teams take a positive approach to the Europa League. Manchester City and Aston Villa go through to the play-off round direct but Liverpool have the indignity- for a club with their European record -of appearing in the Third Qualifying Round.

It means that the Reds start their season in late July just a few short weeks after many of their players will have been involved in the World Cup Finals in South Africa.

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How Messi won Barcelona back-to-back La Liga titles

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messi barca football shirt 300x271 How Messi won Barcelona back to back La Liga titlesBarcelona retained the Spanish Primera Liga for a second year in a row after beating Real Valladolid 4-0 at Camp Nou on Sunday evening.

A Bojan strike and a Luis Prieto own goal in the first half plus a brace from Lionel Messi in the second period saw Pep Guardiola’s side clinch all three points in their final game of the season to finish in first position with 99 points.

The defeat for Valladolid condemned them to the second division.

The hosts had to do without Xavi who was suspended and Andres Iniesta was on the bench, meaning that Yaya Toure, Sergio Busquets, and Seydou Keita started in the midfield with Bojan Krkic, Lionel Messi and Pedro making up the attacking trio. Valladolid had Diego and Manucho as their two forwards.

Relegation-battling Valladolid had the better of the opening exchanges of the match, however, from then on Barcelona began to dominate proceedings and began to run the opposition ragged with their quick paced footwork. Keita tried his luck from 25 yards but unfortunately missed the target by only a yard.

GOAL! (finally)

The Barcelona goal, eventually came from an own goal. Pedro worked on the left side and drove the ball from the byline towards the Valladolid six-yard box that Luis Prieto deflected past his own keeper.

Bet on this outcome:  Spain to Win the World Cup

Four minutes later the score went to 2-0 to the Catalans as Pedro struck. Messi was the originator of this goal as he placed a fantastic through ball between the legs of Jacobo that Pedro pushed into the Valladolid goal with great ease.

On the 61st minute, Toure stormed past Navas and cut back the ball; Pedro performed a smart dummy to allow Messi to take a shot at the goal from only six yards. The ball went straight into the net, making it 3-0.

Messi grabbed his second goal of the match and 34th goal of season in the 76th minute, the 22-year-old they call ‘the flea’ wriggled his way past two defenders to rocket one into the net.

Next Season…

Barcelona won the game 4-0 to confidently defend the league title. Valladolid finished second from bottom in the standings and as a result have been relegated.
For next season the rumours are that Valencia’s Spanish star David Villa will join as doubts surround the future of Ibrahimovic while Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, a product of Barca’s youth system, is a long-term target.

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Inter Milan add Serie A brace to Coppa Italia

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inter win serie a 300x199 Inter Milan add Serie A brace to Coppa ItaliaInter secured their 18th Scudetto at Siena with a 1-0 win courtesy of Diego Milito that sparked the celebrations for the Milan kings as they added the league title to their trophy cabinet to go with the Coppa Italia and possibly the Champions League next week.

The visitors began the day knowing that a win would guarantee them the title, no matter what happened in Verona between Roma and Chievo.

Jose Mourinho saw the return of Wesley Sneijder after being out with injury. Mario Balotelli and Marco Materazzi retained their places in the starting XI after last weekend’s victory against the Flying Donkeys.

The hosts had the first opportunity as a defensive mix-up saw the ball land at the foot of Albin Ekdal in the box, but somehow he ended up going wide despite being in a promising position.

Balotelli almost put the Nerazzurri in the lead at 13 minutes when a long cross missed Thiago Motta’s head and the teenager volleyed wide from close range.

Knowing that they needed a goal, Mourinho’s men were pushing harder as the second-half started and a one-two between Maicon and Balotelli gave the Brazilian the opportunity to break into the area, but at the last second his shot was deflected away.

Milito was running the game and creating plenty of chances but to no avail but the pressure finally showed at 57 minutes. Zanetti yet again made a run through the defence and laid off for Milito, who took a touch and slid the ball past Curci.

Siena almost found a spectacular goal as Inter had their heart in their mouths when Rosi’s whipped in cross-shot just missed the corner as the clock counted down at 83 minutes.

However, the Coppa Italia winners pushed on as Mourinho won his second title in Serie A for the club, coming on top in what was a very close race, just two points ahead of the Giallorossi.
It is an incredible fith straight Serie A title for Inter Milan as Mourinho described it as the toughest league title he has ever won. Now Inter will be hoping to wrap up an historic treble winning season when they face Bayern Munich in Madrid, who have also won their respective league and cup double this season.

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Chelsea Complete The Club’s First ‘Double’

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chelsea double record 298x300 Chelsea Complete The Clubs First DoubleChelsea fans have enjoyed the greatest successes in the club’s history since Roman Abramovich took over the club in 2004. Two big prizes have eluded them though-the Champions League and,up to this weekend- the domestic ‘Double’.

Now the Double has been secured thanks to a hard-fought victory over Portsmouth. The record books will show a bland 1-0 scoreline but that hardly tells the story of a match that refused to follow the script.

Chelea had been favourites to score a bagful of goals and they could easily have come in at half-time with a decisive lead. The Blues hit the woodwork five times in the first period including miss of the season- and possibly the decade- by Salomon Kalou from five yards out and no one in front of him.

Portsmouth battled hard but Chelsea seemed able to cut through the relegated side with some ease. The South Coasters clearly took heart though, because Avram Grant’s team came out after the break with a sharper approach and matched Chelsea for long spells.

The feeling crept in that this might be Portsmouth’s day and when substitute Javier Belletti rashly challenged Aruna Dindane, Pompey had a penalty. Unfortunately for their fans, Kevin Prince-Boateng hit a weak shot that Petr Cech saved with his legs.

As is often the case, Chelsea were in front very quickly after that let -off. David James had produced one excellent save to deny Didier Drogba’s free kick in the first half but he couldn’t reach another precise effort from the Ivorian.

The striker makes a habit of scoring in cup finals and though Portsmouth remained in the game they never really created another gilt-edged chance. The afternoon became notable for a second missed penalty when Frank Lampard of all people pulled his shot wide of the post.

Chelsea’s defence made sure that Lampard didn’t have to regret his miss. Michael Ballack might have felt justice was done as he was forced to leave the action after a late challenge from Prince-Boateng in the first half.

Chelsea have now won the FA Cup three times in four seasons and Ashley Cole has broken the record for winner’s medals, which has stood since the Nineteenth Century. The left back now has six in his collection- three with Chelsea and three with Arsenal.

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