TBG's Team of the Year!

Here at TBG we award no individuals since our sport is about one word - team. It is with great pleasure that we will honour FC Barcelona as our team of the year. There is no need to even discuss why - the football played by FC Barcelona is among the best the world has ever seen, simply put.

Congratulations to FC Barcelona! The 2011 TBG Team of the Year!

Sorry for the lack of posts!

We know our loyal readers check this blog first for all important football news but TBG has been on a bit of a break for the holidays, just like all top-notch football leagues should be.

We will be back next week with our first-half review of the Bundesliga season and perhaps another exciting feature about the future of football in the U.S.

We at TBG wish our loyal followers a terrific holiday season and a happy new year. Keep it here on TBG in 2012 for great football blog posts!

Gotoku Sakai, and what he means to the USA

What if we told you that there's a player born in the United States who is on the rise? What if we told you that he's only 20 years old and will be playing in one of the best leagues in the world, a league that U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann is very familiar with? What if we told you this player has yet to earn a cap for any senior national team?

The player is Gotoku Sakai, who was born in New York City to a Japanese father and German mother. He has been loaned to VfB Stuttgart from his Japanese club Albirex Niigata.

Sakai has appeared in some youth teams for Japan, so there is virtually no chance he will play for any other country. He joins fellow VfB man Shinji Okazaki, Schalke defender Atsuto Ochida, Augsburg midfielder Hajime Hosogai, Wolfsburg midfielder Makato Hasebe and Dortmund superstar Shinji Kagawa as Japanese stalwarts in the Bundesliga. There are other Blue Samurai stars in the world's top leagues with Inter's Yuto Nagatomo and Novara's Takayuki Morimoto in Italy. Perhaps Japan's best player is CSKA hitman Keisuke Honda.

Sakai, meanwhile, is part of a young generation of rising Japanese players that includes Arsenal's Ryo Miyaichi and Bayern Munich's Takashi Usami, two teenagers who are on the cusp of big things.

Meanwhile, back in the United States, we have the same cast of characters playing in Europe - Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore, Steve Cherundolo, Carlos Bocanegra, Jonathan Spector and a few goalkeepers. Where are our rising players learning the game in the world's best leagues? Guess what, our teenagers and young players don't have what it takes to do what Sakai, Miyaichi and Usami are doing. And that tells you what you need to know about football here in the States.

DFB-Pokal quarter-final draw set

Here is the draw for the quarter-finals of the German Cup:
(Matches to be played Feb. 7-8)

1899 Hoffenheim v. Greuther Fürth
Hertha BSC Berlin v. Borussia Mönchengladbach
VfB Stuttgart v. FC Bayern Munich
Holstein Kiel v. Borussia Dortmund

Who do you like to win Germany's second-highest honor? Let us know in your comments below.

Bundesliga Matchday 17 review

Friday night

Bayern München v. 1. FC Köln
Prediction: 3-0
Actual result: 3-0

Even Ribery's dismissal could not stop Bayern from maintaining their three-point gap at the summit ahead of their Cup tie in Bochum.

Saturday
SC Freiburg v. Borussia Dortmund
Prediction: 1-2
Actual result: 1-4
Is this the kind of champagne football we can look forward to from Dortmund after the break? Stay tuned.

Hamburger SV v. FC Augsburg
Prediction: 2-1
Actual result: 1-1
Hamburg's 19-point haul and eight-match unbeaten streak don't look too shabby now after their dreadful start.

Bayer Leverkusen v. 1. FC Nürnberg
Prediction: 2-0
Actual result: 0-3
This stunner of a scoreline could see Dutt get the sack. He may prefer that as opposed to watching his side play Club World Cup champion Barcelona.

VfL Wolfsburg v. VfB Stuttgart
Prediction: 1-1
Actual result: 1-0
Stuttgart had a stuttering finish to their first half and Europe may be too far away now.

1899 Hoffenheim v. Hertha BSC
Prediction: 1-1
Actual result: 1-1
No surprise that Babbel is out at Hertha. The Bundesliga draw specialists are not safe yet, and neither is Hoffenheim.

FC Schalke 04 v. Werder Bremen
Prediction: 3-1
Actual result: 5-0
There was no doubt that Bremen would falter. Our only mistake was to believe the scoreline would be semi-respectable.

Sunday
1. FC Kaiserslautern v. Hannover 96
Prediction: 1-2
Actual result: 1-1
The point won't suit either side's ambitions - 'Lautern have a huge trip to Berlin for a Cup tie on Wednesday while Hannover can get ready for the second half.

Mönchengladbach v. FSV Mainz 05
Prediction: 1-0
Actual result: 1-0
Mainz may have deserved a better fate but 'Gladbach cap a terrific first half heading into their Cup match with flying Schalke FC.

Hertha BSC fire Babbel!!!

As predicted in our Matchday 17 predictions, Hertha BSC have fired coach Markus Babbel. The ungrateful Babbel refused the club's generous offer of a contract extension since he is dreaming of somehow coaching Bayern. Hertha had enough of his foolishness and he is gone.

Candidates to replace him include former Frankfurt and Leverkusen boss Michael Skibbe.

As for now, Hertha's main focus is the upcoming DFB Cup matchup with Kaiserslautern, with a spot in the quarter-finals on the line.

Good riddance Babbel!

Bundesliga Matchday 17 predictions

Friday night

Bayern München v. 1. FC Köln
Prediction: 3-0

This mouth-watering fixture pits top scorers Gomez and Podolski probably playing his last match for the Goats. Bayern have somehow failed to win their last five at home against Köln but that should change tonight.

Saturday
SC Freiburg v. Borussia Dortmund
Prediction: 1-2
The champions should avoid another slip-up, but a discontent Barrios bears watching in the second half.

Hamburger SV v. FC Augsburg
Prediction: 2-1
Hamburg are unbeaten in seven and could gain a first-half finish close to the top of the table.

Bayer Leverkusen v. 1. FC Nürnberg
Prediction: 2-0
Robin Dutt blamed Champions League football for his side's sixth-place standing. He won't have that excuse in the future after drawing holders FC Barcelona.

VfL Wolfsburg v. VfB Stuttgart
Prediction: 1-1
Neither side has been lighting the country on fire and both look like they are relishing the winter break.

1899 Hoffenheim v. Hertha BSC
Prediction: 1-1
Compper is suspended for Hoffenheim while Berlin coach Markus Babbel could be out the door in this matchup of mid-table mediocrity.

FC Schalke 04 v. Werder Bremen
Prediction: 3-1
Thomas Schaaf's side have been awful on the road and Schalke should be well worth the three points.

Sunday
1. FC Kaiserslautern v. Hannover 96
Prediction: 1-2
'Lautern need points but could be caught loking ahead to next week's Cup tie with Hertha while Hannover have no fixtures remaining after this one.

Mönchengladbach v. FSV Mainz 05
Prediction: 1-0
Reus looks to make a heroic return and give 'Gladbach a boost in their finale.

Brad Freidel was right

With US superstar Clint Dempsey (pictured above) scoring in tonight's Europa League action, it reminds us at TBG of the recent remarks made by Spurs 'keeper Brad Friedel about Dempsey and faux US star Landon Donovan.

Friedel told the BBC: "You get a player like a Landon Donovan, who in my opinion chose to take the easy road and stay in the States. It's much harder to ply your trade over here. (The Premier League) is the best league in the world to play in, and this is where (Dempsey) got better in my opinion. This is where he became one of the best the United States ever produced."

Well now Friedel is backing down from his words. That's really a shame because he is 100 percent right.

For Dempsey to become the greatest Premier League goal scorer in US history is quite an accomplishment. Dempsey has played in a European final. Does anyone in their right mind compare Donovan - probably the third-best player on his own team this past season - to Dempsey.

The answer is a resounding no. Clint Dempsey represents the best of American soccer. Landon Donovan represents taking the easy way out. That's the way it is.

Bundesliga Matchday 16 review

Friday night

Hertha BSC v. FC Schalke 04
Prediction: 2-2
Actual result: 1-2

Schalke are even on points with second-placed Dortmund after a gritty win in the nation's capital against a poor Hertha side.

Saturday
Werder Bremen v. VfL Wolfsburg
Prediction: 3-0
Actual result: 4-1
Bremen lost 4-1 the week prior so a reversal of that result was in order.

1. FC Köln v. SC Freiburg
Prediction: 2-1
Actual result: 4-0
It wasn't hard to see Köln prevail but the margin was a bit much as Freiburg look like true relegation fodder.

FSV Mainz 05 v. Hamburger SV
Prediction: 1-1
Actual result: 0-0
Excellent prediction by TBG as the honours ended even.

1. FC Nürnberg v. 1899 Hoffenheim
Prediction: 1-0
Actual result: 0-2
US International Timmy Chandler's first-half dismissal paved the way for FCN to join the relegation mix.

FC Augsburg v. Mönchengladbach
Prediction: 1-2
Actual result: 1-0
The shock result of the weekend proved that Reus is badly needed for 'Gladbach, as if that wasn't already known.

Hannover 96 v. Bayer Leverkusen
Prediction: 2-2
Actual result: 0-0
This point probably did not help either side's European ambitions, with Leverkusen now in sixth place.

Sunday
Borussia Dortmund v. 1. FC Kaiserslautern
Prediction: 5-1
Actual result: 1-1
A stunning point at the Signal Iduna for K-Town has surely ended the champions' hopes of a repeat.

VfB Stuttgart v. Bayern München
Prediction: 1-1
Actual result: 1-2
Bayern showed their class after going a goal down early and now must navigate the final league fixture and a cup tie without Ribery.

Bundesliga Matchday 16 predictions

Friday night

Hertha BSC v. FC Schalke 04
Prediction: 2-2

Schalke return to the Olympiastadion, where they won the DFB-Pokal last season. Hertha are Bundesliga draw specialists and continue to ship goals, with Maik Franz out for the season now.

Saturday
Werder Bremen v. VfL Wolfsburg
Prediction: 3-0
The Wolves have been tough opponents in the past for Bremen, but that should change this time.

1. FC Köln v. SC Freiburg
Prediction: 2-1
Köln are limping to the break but should have more than enough to take down a mediocre Freiburg.

FSV Mainz 05 v. Hamburger SV
Prediction: 1-1
This one has draw written all over it with Hamburg on the uptick and Mainz generally good enough for a point at home.

1. FC Nürnberg v. 1899 Hoffenheim
Prediction: 1-0
Both sides have six losses away from home so Der Klub should have the advantage here.

FC Augsburg v. Mönchengladbach
Prediction: 1-2
'Gladbach was well worth their point against champions Dortmund without Reus and should make the most of this trip to Bavaria.

Hannover 96 v. Bayer Leverkusen
Prediction: 2-2
We'll call this a Hannover 'hangover' for Leverkusen after failing to top their Champions League group with a sloppy draw.

Sunday
Borussia Dortmund v. 1. FC Kaiserslautern
Prediction: 5-1
Expect the champions to take out their Champions League frustrations on a hapless 'Lautern.

VfB Stuttgart v. Bayern München
Prediction: 1-1
Bayern have one win in their last four away league fixtures and should be held by a battling VfB.

Leverkusen meet American baseball star 'A-Rod'

On Tuesday, Bayer Leverkusen missed a chance to qualify as group winners in the Champions League with a disappointing 1-1 draw at Genk.

On Wednesday, Leverkusen received a pick-me-up from a top athlete in world sport. Leverkusen have hosted their share of famous athletes in North Rhine-Westphalia, most notably LA Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant. Great sportsmen from around the globe love the club's cryogenic chamber.

Now add Alex Rodriguez to the list. The New York Yankees superstar, known as 'A-Rod' to his die-hard fans, stepped into the chamber on Wednesday. The 36-year-old third baseman is hoping the 'icelab' can help revive his career after a sub-par season.

Bundesliga Matchday 15 review

Friday night

Bayer Leverkusen v. 1899 Hoffenheim
Prediction: 2-1
Actual result: 2-0
Derdiyok and Sam couldn't carry the momentum of this performance into a Champions League snoozer with Genk.

Saturday
SC Freiburg v. Hannover 96
Prediction: 1-1
Actual result: 1-1
Freiburg were on target twice - once into their own net.

1. FC Kaiserslautern v. Hertha BSC
Prediction: 1-2
Actual result: 1-1
Hertha continue to be the top-flight's draw specialist with their seventh and third in a row.

Bayern München v. Werder Bremen
Prediction: 3-1
Actual result: 4-1
Bremen have been outscored 11-1 by the teams above them, excluding Schalke who they have yet to face.

VfL Wolfsburg v. FSV Mainz 05
Prediction: 1-1
Actual result: 2-2
Leave it to the Wolves to throw away a two-goal lead.

Mönchengladbach v. Borussia Dortmund
Prediction: 1-2
Actual result: 1-1
Dortmund were surprisingly content after losing the top spot, and should be ruing their inability to finish once more.

VfB Stuttgart v. 1. FC Köln
Prediction: 4-1
Actual result: 2-2
Gentner's double is canceled out by Podolski's.

Sunday
Hamburger SV v. 1. FC Nürnberg
Prediction: 2-1
Actual result: 2-0
FCN have been outscored 13-1 in their last five away fixtures.

FC Schalke 04 v. FC Augsburg
Prediction: 2-0
Actual result: 3-1
Augsburg have scored in four straight matches and six of seven as they continue to battle hard to no avail.

Euro 2012 Analysis

The official mascots, Slavek and Slavko (pictured above), are excited about the Euro 2012, are you?

The draw was held Friday and we are all set for an exciting Euro 2012 from Poland and Ukraine. Let us analyze the draw.

Group A: The Poles hit the jackpot as they drew Russia, the Czech Republic and Greece in their group - easily the most boring of the four. The Poland-Greece opener could be the worst match of the entire tournament. Russia are the hot favourites to advance, and we believe Greece will join them.

Group B: Here is the vaunted "Group of Death," with the Netherlands, Germany and Portugal joining a dangerous Denmark side. The pressure should be on the Dutch to start with three points against the Danes. We believe Germany and Portugal will survive this gauntlet.

Group C: The opener between defending champion Spain and Italy is the match to watch. Spain have not beaten Italy in a major competition since 1920. A draw in that fixture should be enough for both sides to see off Croatia and Ireland the rest of the way.

Group D: This quartet contains England, France, Ukraine and Sweden. The big question is can England screw this up? The resounding answer is yes. With Wayne Rooney banned and a tough trip to Donetsk to face the home side lined up last, the Three Lions are poised to crash out once again in spectacular fashion. Go with France and Sweden while enjoying the English implosion.

What do you think? Leave your comments below and the most intelligent commenter may win a prize, courtesy of this blog.

Bundesliga Matchday 15 predictions

Friday night

Bayer Leverkusen v. 1899 Hoffenheim
Prediction: 2-1
Expect three points for Bayer ahead of a crunch trip tp Belgium to attempt to win their Champions League group.

Saturday
SC Freiburg v. Hannover 96
Prediction: 1-1
Hannover have gone straight from Belgium to the Black Forest country to take on Frieburg and surely the time away from home will result in some dropped points.

1. FC Kaiserslautern v. Hertha BSC
Prediction: 1-2
Hertha have been a solid form team away from home, and should have enough to succeed in the Betzenberg against a struggling 'Lautern.

Bayern München v.Werder Bremen
Prediction: 3-1
Bayern are hot favourites this weekend, but this match should entertain to the end with Pizarro back for Bremen.

VfL Wolfsburg v. FSV Mainz 05
Prediction: 1-1
Mainz should crash bath to earth after beating Bayern while the Wolves should have enough pride to muster up a point.

Mönchengladbach v. Borussia Dortmund
Prediction: 1-2
Hard to see 'Gladbach winning without Reus, although they won this fixture last season in stunning fashion.

VfB Stuttgart v. 1. FC Köln
Prediction: 4-1
There's no reason to believe Stuttgart won't rout the Goats.

Sunday
Hamburger SV v. 1. FC Nürnberg
Prediction: 2-1
Hamburg are probably the better side now and should get the three points.

FC Schalke 04 v. FC Augsburg
Prediction: 2-0
Huub Stevens may not admit it, but his club is a serious title contender and will prove so again this weekend.