Champions Italy have moved to second place, moving 11 places , right behind Brazil who are still on top. On the other hand, previous 2nd place holder Czech dropped 8 places into 10th.
Hosts Germany moved 10 places up and are 9th.
Argentina are third, moving 6 places up, while France(+4) and England(+5) are fourth and fifth.
Other top teams who dropped places are Spain(-2), Portugal(-1), the Netherlands(-3) and the USA(-11).
One of the biggest movers are Ukraine, who moved 30 places up to 15th.
While the worst losers are Saudi Arabia who lost 47 places and are 81st.
Top 10
1-Brazil
2-Italy
3-Argentina
4-France
5-England
6-Holland
7-Spain
8-Portugal
9-Germany
10-Czech Republic
Top 10 Arab teams
1-Egypt (29th, -12)
2-Tunisia (31st, -11)
3-Morocco (40th, -4)
4-Qatar (76th, +2)
5-Libya (79th, +7)
6-Saudi Arabia (81st, -47)
7-Oman (86th, -4)
8-Iraq (88th, -36)
9-UAE (90th, -19)
10-Algeria (93rd, -6)
Note: Bahrain are 94th and lost 40 places, while Kuwait are 100th losing 26 places.
Filed under: World Cup 2006
After launching an investigation into the events surrounding Zinedine Zidane’s headbutt, FIFA president Sepp Blatter has hinted at the possibility that Zidane might be stripped of the Golden Ball.
I’ve also just found out that voting for the Golden Ball was open before the match and FIFA could not confirm how many of those votes were cast before Zidane’s red card.
The French headbutter is set to speak tonight on French TV station Canal Plus.
Al-Qabas today also wrote that Italy might be stripped off the World Cup title. The news was on their first page, but the article itself did not include how, why or any details what so ever about Italy losing the title. The title itself was quoted from Der Spiegel, a German magazine. A visit to their International and German websites showed there was no such news item.
Filed under: World Cup 2006
World Cup winning coach Marcelo Lippi has left the Italian squad and resigned.
“At the end of an extraordinary professional and human experience at the head of an exceptional group of players, and with the collaboration of a first-rate staff, I believe I have come to the end of my role as coach of the Italian national team,” Said the 58-year old coach.
Lippi took over Italy in 2004, after Euro 2004, and has lost only twice during his helm.
He was also recently linked with Manchester United as a replacement for Alex Ferguson. While there was no mention on who’s going to take over the Azzuri.
Klinsmann has also left his post as German coach, after days of consideration on his future. Assistant Joachim Loew would take his place.
“This was not an easy decision. I would like to thank everybody for two exciting, two wonderful years,” the 41-year-old said.
All 23 players in Germany’s squad, 93 percent of the public, according to opinion polls, and even some of Klinsmann’s harshest critics had said they wanted him to continue.
Filed under: The Rumour Mill
Liverpool
Hamann is set to make a record with the shortest transfer spell in Premiership history. Liverpool had agreed to let the player go and at one time the player was destined to sign for Bolton. Then Manchester City entered the picture and wanted the German veteran. Eventually Hamann signed for Bolton, but in the same day he had a change of heart and will sign for Manchester City now. Hamann is officialy a Bolton player, and the club agreed to let him go after a short while of signing the contract.
Reports from Spain are saying that Benitez is considering to bid for Argentinian veteran Roberto Ayala. The 33-year-old has less than a year remaining on his current contract and has indicated that he is ready to test himself in the Premier League.
Benitez is also waiting on the Juventus situation. It seems like he’ll wait for the verdict before he concludes his business elsewhere.
Manchester United
Looks like the Red Devils aren’t that fun to play at anymore. With the recent C.Ronaldo statements of wanting to leave, Gabriel Heinze is said to be desperate to go, and Real Madrid is the destination. Manchester are having a real problem at their hands if that turns out to be true. The club is probably looking for a replacement for Nistelrooy, who is also said to be going to Madrid.
Real Madrid
Speaking of which, Madrid are posed to snatch Franck Ribery under the noses of Lyon and the Premiership clubs linked to him. The player himself have made contradicting statements, saying he wants to play for Lyon in one statement and for an English club in another.
Real Madrid also claim they are close to capturing Italy’s World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro from Juventus.
The rest..
Portsmouth look like they have a mini-sugar daddy in their Russian owner. The English club are making serious bold bids for international players, and just recently the bid for Real Betis forward Edu, which was initially rejected. They are also close to completing the £10m signing of PSV Eindhoven striker Jefferson Farfan plus the £4m acquisition of Croatian midfielder Darijo Srna.
Seems like Huth didn’t really complete a move to Middlesborough from Chelsea as the transfer is encountering problems.
Blackburn manager Mark Hughes believes he can still attract Mido to Ewood Park.
After Sol Campbell left the club, Arsenal are trying to sign WBA’s Curtis Davies as a replacement. They are also linked to Buffon, but the goalkeeper is also linked to Milan, which is his most likely destination, knowing how Italians usualy stay home.
Aston Villa has pulled the plug on Baros’ move to Hamburg, after the German club couldn’t meet Villa’s demands.
Italian and Juventus defender Gianluca Zambrotta has confirmed he has received an offer from Spanish champions Barcelona. He has confirmed he is set to leave Juventus this summer.
