Team GB in medal hunt but gold is Brazil's to lose

 

Team GB continue their hunt to medal in men's football at London 2012 but the gold remains Brazil's to lose.
Mano Menezes' men are the only side to have a 100 per cent record heading into the quarter-finals but Stuart Pearce's side beat Uruguay 1-0 en route to the knockout stage.

The South American nation face Honduras at St James' Park at 5pm on Saturday evening before Great Britain take on South Korea at 7:30pm at the Millenium Stadium.
 

Tweet Follow @omomani

Van Persie's glee at new Arsenal arrivals

 

Oh, what do we have here then?'

Yes, that is essentially Robin van Persie's inner monologue after hearing the news that Arsenal are close to sealing deals for Malaga attacker Santi Cazorla and Real Madrid's Nuri Sahin.
Since announcing his intention not to renew his contract, which has just 12 months left to run, the striker could now have a change of heart as Arsene Wenger continues the biggest spending spree seen at the Emirates in years.
 

Tweet Follow @omomani

Mourinho must splash the cash for Modric

 

In a transfer saga that doesn’t look like ending anytime soon, Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas has rejected Real Madrid’s latest offer for Luka Modric.
As exclusively revealed by Goal.com on Wednesday, the Spanish giants have proposed a player-plus-cash deal involving Nuri Sahin and Ricardo Carvalho plus a lump sum to convince the north Londoners to part with the influential Croatian.

However, Tottenham have turned down the offer as they look for strictly cash to fund a move for a replacement, thought to be Porto playmaker Joao Moutinho.

Tweet Follow @omomani

Berlusconi vetoes AC Milan summer spending spree

 

It turns out AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi is a spoilsport.

Just after raking in close to €60 million (£47m) from the sale of influential pair Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva, an appetite-whetting shopping spree was expected in Milan.
However, Berlusconi has told those involved that no such flirting with the market will now take place as the cash was needed to balance the books at the San Siro outfit – with the club instead needing to nuture young talent in order to survive.

"The economic situation no longer allows for the shopping sprees of the early '90s," the former Italian Prime Minister told Milan Channel.

"We cannot buy well-established players, such as those that characterised the transfer campaigns of recent years.

"We must build a great team from the youngsters. Barcelona have done it like this. And remember that Milan also started like this, with [Paolo] Maldini, [Franco] Baresi, [Alessandro] Costacurta."

Tweet Follow @omomani

Tevez erases dreams of Van Persie

 

Robin van Persie was omitted from Arsenal's tour of Asia earlier this month and is believed to be heading to Manchester City following his decision not to renew his contract.

Yet, a month into the transfer window, the Dutchman remains in north London. Meanwhile on City's very own Asian tour, Carlos Tevez has done his best to remind Roberto Mancini that he still exists, netting his first goal of pre-season on Monday against Malaysia XI.

And so, as the new Premier League season fast approaches, perhaps utilising a revitalised Tevez would overshadow Mancini's dreams of Van Persie.

Tweet Follow @omomani

Ronaldo runs from 'martian' Messi

 

It is a regularly debated topic by readers of Goal.com: Who is the best player in the world, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo?

The pair are set to come up against each other again this season in La Liga, and in the running for personal accolades such as the Ballon d'Or and the Goal.com 50.

But, according to Argentine coach Alfio Basile, the Barcelona superstar is hiding something of an unfair advantage.

"You cannot compare anyone to Messi," Basile said. "Cristiano Ronaldo is a great human player, but Messi is a Martian."
Tweet Follow @omomani

Shevchenko the elder statesman of strikers retires to go into politics

 

It was the end of an era for Ukrainian football on Saturday, with legendary striker Andriy Shevchenko announcing his retirement from the game.

The 35-year-old has concluded an illustrious career which saw him line up for the likes of AC Milan, Chelsea and Dinamo Kiev, with his final appearance for the national team coming in last month’s Euro 2012 tournament – played host to by Ukraine and Poland.
Yet a career in management does not await for Shevchenko, with the player announcing his intention to enter the world of politics instead…

Tweet Follow @omomani

Balotelli dreams of UFC glory

 

A Premier League title followed up by three goals for Italy on the way to the final of Euro 2012 - you could be forgiven for thinking Mario Balotelli might be happy with what he achieved over the last season.

But the striker - who is never too far from the news - harbours some sporting ambitions of an entirely different kind.

The Manchester City man has declared his love for UFC and suggested had he not become a professional footballer, he might have turned his hand to fighting in the octagon.

Tweet Follow @omomani

Jimmy Jump at the Olympics

Tweet Follow @omomani

Team GB & Spain fall at first hurdle

 

The men's London 2012 Olympic football tournament kicked off on Thursday, and there was no shortage of entertainment - as well as a few surprises along the way.

Despite Craig Bellamy's first-half opener, Team GB were pegged back by a physical Senegal side and had to settle for a draw at Old Trafford.
And earlier, in the biggest shock of the round, Spain, featuring Juan Mata and Javi Martinez among others were beaten by Japan.

With the host nation and one of the favourites to win the gold medal stumbling at the first hurdle, another nation could emerge as victors.

Tweet Follow @omomani