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An absolutely gripping encounter at Craven Cottage replete with "Where is Mark Schwarzer?"

Rumours are that he was kept out because of a back injury but others suggest that Hughes kept out the wantaway goalie who might have compromised a meeting with his old nemesis, Sir Alex Ferguson.

For United, Wayne Rooney nursing a stomach bug did not travel with the team. His place was taken by Mexican wunderkid Chicharito Hernandez.

Whatever the reasons, his replacement David Stockdale did nothing to diminish himself coming up with some spectacular saves to deny before Paul Scholes put United through with this rocking blast which Stockdale could do nothing about. (see above video)

Fabio Capello was at hand to see the evergreen Man Utd man riding a purple patch- the thought that he will ditch his "young uns" policy to get the former international on board is too tempting. Hugh Grant was at his side - maybe pitching for Zamora?

United were ascendant for the first 20 minutes as Fulham struggled for midfield coherence. Dimitar Berbatov was a threat with his clever flicks and heads up service, one which isolated Scholes for his scoring blast.

But slowly the Cottagers led by Danny Murphy and Simon Davies got back into the game with clever link up play between Clint Dempsey and Bobby Zamora. The former West Ham striker was a handful constantly besting Jonny Evans with his physicality and ability to play with his back to goal. The last 15 minutes produced a 60% to 40% imbalance in possession. Van Der Sar's quality goalkeeping kept out two very close attempts by Dickson Etuhu to preserve their first half lead.

The second half saw Fulham exert even more control and in the 57th minute Duff got past Evra on the right sideline and fed it to the racing Zamora who blew past Evans and then cut the ball back to the middle to find Davies. A swing of the leg and the ball was past Van Der Sar whose reflexes were not quite enough. Fulham were level. (video)

Man Utd brought in Nani whose presence made an instant difference as his pace pushed the Fulham midfield into defensive duties. Utd were knocking on Fulham's door. A series of corners taken by the Portugese international saw a fascinating tussle between Vidic and Hangeland, won by the Man Utd center back with only the direction on his headers missing.

The citadel finally fell as Hangeland was drawn into making inadvertent contact with the ball after a Nani corner leading to an own goal. (video)

Man Utd should have put away the game after Duff unintentionally handballed a pass in the Fulham box. Referee Andre Marriner saw it fit to award a spot kick. Nani was the penalty taker, an unusual choice with Scholes and Owen ahead of him. And it showed as he hit the ball with force but without direction and Stockdale diving to his right was able to save it.

Nani's miss came back to haunt them as Fulham forced a corner in the last minutes of the game and Hangeland besting Vidic's effort was able to elevate himself to meet Duff's floater to nod the ball at an angle. Again Van Der Sar was able to get a hand but it was not enough. (see above video)

Great game which kept you glued. Absolute first class fare between the two sides. Fulham have shown that they will be tough to beat at home.

When asked about his MLS future in a pre-match interview before the All Stars game, Landon Donovan gave a very non-committal answer which gave the distinct impression that he might be looking elsewhere.

Now, the buzz is that he will leave for Everton before the transfer period closes down by end August.

"I would love to go back to Everton. I love the people there, I love the fans there, but that said I love being in America too, so we're going to take everything into account and see where it ends up."

This runs contrary to Don Garber's thinking for the MLS to deepen its bonds with the US soccer fan, a player like Donovan has to be off limits.

"We need to deepen the connection between the American fan as an MLS fan first and a Premier League fan second," said Garber.

"In order to do that, we need our best American players here. We need somebody like Landon, who has grown up in southern California, who is bi-lingual, almost like Captain America for our national team, somebody who is really inspiring a nation of soccer fans."

Garber is looking at it from the wrong perspective. One needs to define, "Who is an American fan?" This is not one size fits all. The extant of the cultural and ethnic demographic that defines an American fan is wide and varied.

This is soccer, the world's game after all- many Hispanic fans watched Cuauhtemoc Blanco because he is Mexican but they could easily give Donovan a pass. On the other hand, Thierry Henry is going to attract a wide spectrum of fans because he is a global superstar.

Garber is giving us a prescription for " a So Cal, bi-lingual, Captain America type figure" conveniently forgetting that for soccer to grow we have to go beyond these labels- first, for many these are bits of cultural flotsam and jetsam and secondly, many fans have other icons in mind when they come to watch club soccer.

That is because soccer can't be transported back 50 years to a Knute Rockne, all American hero era. The soccer heroes of today are an amalgam of the present demographic realities of this country. Local associations make much more difference when we talk about strengthening bonds between fans and their club. We need more partisans, more rivalries.

Garber's statements are actually counterproductive because it suggests a familiar trap, the "one player makes the league" type of thinking which defined the David Beckham signing. We can't weigh players down with these unrealistic expectations.

A growing league builds its connection on a two way traffic: On its imports and exports. Donovan, the public face of the MLS, has built his reputation in what can be considered a second tier league. It is a huge vote of confidence that a big European club wants him.

The fans want to watch this talent before they leave overseas- it drives up attendances and deepens the bond between the fan and his club. They can also look forward to Donovan's replacement. A homegrown talent could step in or the MLS could go outside to sign a big name. Or Donovan could come back in a few seasons, now a true legend, to a transformed league and to an even wider audience.

Either way, it means that we are looking at a dynamic league, a league that will go on making inroads and deepening associations irrespective of whether a player even as singular as Donovan commits to an MLS future or casts his eyes across the pond. An Everton future means that the national team can benefit from an even better Donovan. It just comes back to this old CSNY song.

The ESPY "best moment" of the last 12 months......

We have a game. Maarten Stekelenberg will be none too pleased about the goal he gave up. Diego Forlan curls a shot which bounces off the Dutch goalie's fingertips and into the net.

Forlan's amazing World Cup continues. He also turned down Spurs to remain in the Liga- just as well as an Arsenal supporter.

Chile and Spain go head to head today.

For Spain it is a must win situation. Only top of the group will do because even if they qualify as runners up, they could meet Brazil if they win or draw Portugal in their match today. It is between a rock and a hard place.

A win with their potent attack firing on all cylinders and putting away those numerous chances will be a huge confidence booster no matter who they face in the group of 16.

Spain goes to its 4-3-3 formation with Torres in the middle, Iniesta and Villa outside, forming a trident. Torres will be looking to shake of that rust and get his timing and accuracy back in his shots.

Del Bosque has gone for two holding midfielders in Xabi Alonso and Sergio Busquets, a move which he was criticized for by Luis Aragones. The former Spanish coach was fortunate in having the services of Marcos Senna. Look for a second half substitution with Cesc Fabregas coming on if the midfield is not able to push the ball upfield quickly enough.

The defense has to be wary of El Conejo, the scampering Alexis Sanchez and El Chupete, the bull like figure of Humberto Suazo who scores a lot of goals. In the midfield lurks Matias Fernandez, their playmaker who will try and find that outlet which will bisect Gerard Pique and Joan Capdevila. There is a lot of speed down the Chilean flanks with Sanchez and Beausejour which the veteran Spanish defense will try and snuff out through experience.

A gripping match is at hand. Both teams might be nervously looking at Honduras vs Switzerland as these two countries including the Catrachos with a very outside chance could pull of a huge upset. All bets are off in this World Cup as the group stage winds down.

The Ivory Coast skipper is in the starting line up. He will go up against Lucio and Juan.

Gilberto Silva goes up against some familiar faces- Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue were former Arsenal team mates. Julio Baptista is also familiar to Gunners from his 2007-2008 transfer from AS Roma.

Dunga has retained the same line up that opened against North Korea.

The Ka Mate of the All Whites strikes terror into the opposition

Do you remember Brandi Chastain's condescension after the US Women's team demolished the Kiwis, 4-0 in the Beijing Olympics.

"We have to remember. New Zealand is a small island in the middle of the ocean, so they don't get a lot of games."

Brandi, stand up and applaud the All Whites right now. It was a magnificent display by them. They exited the stadium to a standing ovation by everyone including the Italians.

This was not a timid team that went into damage control mode to stop the Italians.

They took the game to them. And there might have been a hint of an offside in the Shane Smeltz goal but weren't the Azzurri good enough to come back and put the Kiwis to the sword.

Lets put it this way, given Koman Coulibaly's track record (a linesman for this match), Tommy Smith could have mugged Daniele De Rossi in full view and he would not have given a spot kick. But such has been the inconsistency in officiating that a mild shirt pull by Smith was punished. Maybe it was a make up call. Who can divine such intention?

Robbie Savage who knows a thing or two about fouls:

"That's shocking. That's not a penalty, he's hardly touched him. That's a disgrace, it's embarrassing really. There's slight contact and De Rossi, being a professional, has gone down and made a meal of it. New Zealand shouldn't get too disheartened."

With the score reading 1-1 at halftime, New Zealand were looking at a team that would surely storm back with Lippi introducing the attacking talent of Pazzini, Camoranesi, and Di Natale.

But we saw Mark Paston, Ryan Nelsen, Winston Reid, Leo Bertos, Ivan Vicelich, and every Kiwi play their socks off. Paston was magnificent denying Montolivo's fearsome blast and then Camoranesi from 30 yards out. Wenger, I've heard that you might be in the market for a goalkeeper?

23 shots on goal to 3. 15 corners to none. 57% possession to 43%. 571 passes to 310. Every stat in favour of the Azzurri. But they just could not take flight past the Kiwis who remained stubborn to the end.

New Zealand captain Ryan Nelsen:

"It was an amazing effort from the lads, lots of determination and guts - and their goal shouldn't have been, no way. They are an amazing team, Italy, but everyone put in an incredible shift - I've cramped every single muscle in my legs!"

Extraordinary. Do we know what this match will do to the rugby nation? We can't have the Kiwis all playing football after this, can we? They can advance if they draw against Paraguay and the Slovaks hold Italy. A coin toss? Rule nothing out in this World Cup.

Nothing. After the excitement of yesterday with yellow card palooza, exciting goals, stirring comebacks, robbed goals, shock results and Wayne Rooney rounding off on the England fans. Nothing.

Time to put on Ibrahim Affelay and Eljero Elia.

Against Austria in Euro 2008, James muffed a simple collection allowing Andreas Ivanschitz to equalize for Austria. Robert Green is in good company when we talk of bungling English goalkeepers.

The VfB Stuttgart midfielder shows he is ready

Michael Ballack may not be missed at all. That is because his replacement Sami Khedira was so good against the Australians that Ballack's absence may not be a good enough excuse any more not to do well.

Khedira played box to box, darting forward deep from midfield and on a couple of occasions almost scoring and then falling back equally quickly to defend. He was entrusted by Jogi Low to protect the back four especially the inexperienced Holger Badstuber. A job he did very effectively neutralizing the threat of Brett Emerton on the left.

He also showed effectiveness as a passer completing 43 out of 53 passes for an accuracy rate of 81% compared to the team average of 76%. Like Ballack, Khedira is used to a leadership role being the captain of a very talented German U21 team that won the Euro 2009 Championship beating England.

The Mannschaft have very clear goals - apart from doing well in this World Cup, they are more importantly preparing a squad for the future. Jogi Low also started Mesut Ozil as attacking midfielder and Manuel Neuer in goal. Both were part of the U21 squad. Another member Marko Marin came on as a second half substitute. On the bench there was Danny Aogo and Jerome Boateng. Thomas Mueller one of the goalscorers and Holger Badstuber are part of the present U21 squad.

Such was the dominance of Mueller and Ozil, that they were involved in three of the four goals, all down the left flank.The only exception was Philip Lahm's cross that was headed by Klose for his goal. Khedira, Mueller, and Ozil look ready to take over in the 2014 World Cup when they will be at their peak of their powers.

This has to be short and brutal. But a ruptured achilles tendon could spell the end of David Beckham's career. His World Cup dream of representing England four times in a row lies in tatters. The midfielder is flying to Finland for surgery.

The Tendo Achilles (TA) is the powerful tendon (heel cord) that connects the calf muscles (gastrocnemius and soleus) to the heel bone (calcaneus). The Gastrocnemius/ Soleus- TA complex helps in flexing the knee, pointing the foot down, moving your instep. In terms of function, this musculo-tendinous unit virtually allows you to walk, run, and jump.

Elite athletes and cyclists have well defined calf muscles because they need to push down hard every time they sprint or pedal to generate extra-ordinary amounts of force which facilitate those blistering speeds. Depending on the speed, stride, terrain and additional weight being carried or pushed, the TA can be subjected to 10 times the body weight during a sprint or push off.

Tendons are tough, strong bands of inelastic fibrous tissue that connect muscle to bone. They are the body's strongest connective tissue. The TA's "achilles heel" is actually a region called the "watershed area" about 2-6 cms away from the heel insertion that suffers from a relative lack of blood circulation. The poor vascularity makes this area more susceptible to the dangers of repetitive microtrauma with a higher incidence of irritation, degeneration, and eventual rupture. (Here is a link to tendon physiology).

The problem Beckham faces is that the TA is liable to re-rupture (5% to 7% chance) and lose valuable connective strength after surgical reconstruction. There are marked deficits in the strength of push off post surgery of a ruptured TA which improves through rehabilitation but still remains significant six months later.

Leonardo's decision to play Beckham through 90 minutes might have hastened the injury. Instead of introducing him as usual as a substitute to improve the passing game and the team's set piece ability. Such injuries are commonest in athletes with insufficient levels of conditioning. Sudden changes in the level of activity can also cause the TA to rupture. Beckham's history of chronic ankle instability precluded him from extended minutes of playing time.

Perhaps sensing this was one of the rarer opportunities to impress Fabio Capello for an England spot, it was apparent that the AC Milan midfielder also applied himself vigorously. He appeared to get forward more and there was an occasion when Beckham scrambled almost in striker fashion to latch onto a Ronaldinho pass. However, his injury came from no contact as the midfielder suddenly pulled away in pain while standing. This gives credence to his TA rupturing through a cumulative process of repeated stress and not to a single traumatic event.

At 36 years of age, Beckham's recuperative powers are not that of a younger athlete. It could take 6 months to a year for him to come back to elite levels of athleticism. With the concomitant danger of re-rupturing the TA and drop off in functionality, he may never attain that level. Beckham has always pushed himself well beyond his physical capabilities but this time the spectre of his long and storied playing career coming to an end is very real.

We might talk about this in a dry and objective fashion but for someone who obviously loves the game like Beckham, this must be agonizing. So we at Soccerblog wish him full speed on the road to recovery.

No time to lose. Check out Partners in Health >>

In addition to providing emergency relief, these organizations are providing the following aid to those in need:

2008

June 26: Euro 2008 semi-final

Spain 3 Russia 0

June 29: Euro 2008 final

Spain 1 Germany 0

Aug 20: Friendly

Denmark 0 Spain 3

Sept 6: World Cup qualifier

Spain 1 Bosnia 0

Sept 10: World Cup qualifier

Spain 4 Armenia 0

Oct 11: World Cup qualifier

Estonia 0 Spain 3

Oct 15: World Cup qualifier

Belgium 1 Spain 2

Nov 19: Friendly

Spain 3 Chile 0

2009

Feb 11:Friendly

Spain 2 England 0

March 28: World Cup qualifier

Spain 1 Turkey 0

April 1: World Cup qualifier

Turkey 1 Spain 2

June 9: Friendly

Azerbaijan 0 Spain 6

June 14: Confederations Cup

Spain 5 New Zealand 0

June 17: Confederations Cup

Spain 1 Iraq 0

June 20: Confederations Cup

South Africa 0 Spain 2

Note: Spain surpassed the record held by Australia (1996-1997), Brazil (1997) and France (2003-2004)

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A book of 90 such pictoral analogies between images from Euro 2008 and the Swiss countryside etc.
Details and more pics to preview here..

I have no idea why the French federation continues to repose its confidence in a manager that his team has stopped responding to.

Raymond Domenech might be relieved that Maximilian Robespierre and the Jacobins are not around. But it is hard to to avoid bad puns. The embattled France manager finds his neck on the line and against a good Serbian side, he is minus Samir Nasri.

Domenech also probably suffers from a finely tuned sense of persecution that the media is out to get him. After all the team's shoddy showing at the Euro 2008 and the defeat against Austria did not really happen. This really takes living in a bubble to the extreme.

Sir Alex Ferguson on November 7, 2007 arguing for quotas on foreign players.

“For the good of the game in England, it would be good to see more home-based players at the top clubs,” Ferguson said. “There would be opposition from clubs like Liverpool and Arsenal, but I think if you asked a neutral, they would rather see more home-based players.”

Sir Alex Ferguson on August 7, 2008 advocating no limits on foreign player participation.

Significantly, Ferguson disagrees with those who claim the number of foreign imports flooding the domestic game is weakening the England team and cutting its chances of international success.

"It is nonsense to say that England does not have players capable of competing on the international stage," he said. "The hysteria surrounding England's non-qualification for Euro 2008 does not create the right atmosphere for good decision-making."

Yep, when you were behind Arsenal last year, it was alright to complain about the number of foreign players, self servingly couch it in patriotic terms. Now that your top player, a foreigner, after scoring 70 goals in two seasons while leading the club to two Premiership titles, threatens to leave; it becomes dangerous to talk about quotas.

He is worried that the gloom over England's recent stumbles could prompt what he sees as a potentially disastrous decision to meddle with the extremely lucrative, and globally admired, Premier League formula.

"It's vital that the game takes a step back and concentrates on making the right choices," said Ferguson. "We have the strongest and the most entertaining League in the world; we should celebrate that, not denigrate it."

This man should have been a politician. And I am surprised that the Guardian reports this bilge without remarking on his volte face.

The senior team can find some consolation in this.The U 19's beat Italy 3 -1 and won the championships for the first time since 1992.That rounds up the euro championships for now - unless they are planning to have a tournament for even younger players.The technical observers for the games - Zdeněk Sivek of the Czech Republic and Northern Ireland's Roy Millar - have gathered some data and you can read that here if interested.
Things like..."Everyone now plays with a back four; gone are the days when you had three at the back or man-marking and the back four gives you more solutions whether the opposition play with one or two strikers," he said. "Having two screening midfielders who don't go beyond the ball allows the full-backs to attack wide yet still leaves you secure at the back. Most sides will now play with a lone striker, which is very effective, and usually three interchangeable players behind him. We've seen the importance of wingers coming back into the game in that position, so it's been very interesting."

Richard Sukuta-Pasu struck a 119th minute goal to knock out the Czech Republic In the other semifinal a second-half goal from substitute Fernando Forestieri took Italy past Hungary.Stories here and here..
The video of the Germany - Czech game is here .The other one cannot be located at this point in time.

Germany,Hungary,Italy and the Czech Republic have entered the semis of the competition.
Italy won a 7 goal thriller against the Czech Republic despite twice surrendering the advantage.England finally found their scoring touch to defeat Greece 3-0 but it was too little too late.They crashed out and so did the defending champs Spain.
All the latest here..

The Spanish defence of their Under-19 Championship looks a dim prospect as they crashed to their second successive defeat - this time to Hungary.

Meanwhile the arch rivals continued to impress beating Bulgaria by an impressive 3 goals to none.They have gone through to the semis.Report here and video here.

The under 19 version.Defending Champs Spain started their title defence with a loss to arch rivals Germany.Richard Sukuta-Pasu and Omer Toprak scored in each half for the Germans, while Jordi Alba pulled one back midway through the second half for Spain.