A Terrific Gift Idea

Looking to shop for the football fan who has everything? May we suggest this item made popular by Mario Balotelli?

Bundesliga Matchday 23 review

Friday night

Mönchengladbach v. Hamburger SV
Prediction: 2-0
Actual result: 1-1
We asked how 'Gladbach would fare without Herrman? The answer is not as a title contender.

Saturday

1. FC Köln v. Bayer Leverkusen
Prediction: 0-2
Actual result: 0-2
Credit TBG for the exact final score since there was 'Never'-kusen going to be a third straight loss in this derby for Leverkusen.

VfB Stuttgart v. SC Freiburg
Prediction: 2-1
Actual result: 4-1
Stuttgart are flying high after this victory as we underestimated how bad the visitors would be.

VfL Wolfsburg v. 1899 Hoffenheim
Prediction: 3-2
Actual result: 1-2
Credit Markus Babbel for winning twice at the VW-Arena this season.

FSV Mainz 05 v. 1. FC Kaiserslautern
Prediction: 2-0
Actual result: 4-0
'Lautern and their hooligan fan base should soon be headed to the Zweite-liga.

FC Augsburg v. Hertha BSC
Prediction: 1-2
Actual result: 3-0
Ditto the Zweite-liga for the rot coming out of the nation's capital with Hertha.

Werder Bremen v. 1. FC Nürnberg
Prediction: 3-1
Actual result: 0-1
Results like this are hard to explain sometimes.

Sunday
Bayern München v. FC Schalke 04
Prediction: 2-1
Actual result: 2-0
Ribery's brace left the visitors with nothing. Are Bayern's woes over ahead of a tricky trip to Jupp Heynckes' old stomping grounds at Leverkusen?

Borussia Dortmund v. Hannover 96
Prediction: 3-1
Actual result: 3-1
Dortmund continue to win in style and even better, Sven Bender came out of the match OK.

Worst Miss Ever

More embarrassing play from the world of football - Deivid from Flamengo ...



"I was certain I was going to score," Deivid said. "I hit it and started turning to celebrate, and in that fraction of a second, in a moment of carelessness, it happened what it happened. Even my 5-year-old son would have scored."
Flamengo lost 2-1 to Vasco da Gama.
His daughter woke up on Thursday and said, "You missed the goal," and said she was sorry for him.

Bundesliga Matchday 23 predictions

Friday night

Mönchengladbach v. Hamburger SV
Prediction: 2-0
Can 'Gladbach truly contend without Patrick Herrmann? Maybe for this week.

Saturday

1. FC Köln v. Bayer Leverkusen
Prediction: 0-2
Leverkusen have never lost two derbies to the Goats in a single campaign, and it looks like Eren Derdiyok will be back for the visitors. Köln are forced to use a makeshift backline with Brecko suspended (again) and numerous injuries.

VfB Stuttgart v. SC Freiburg
Prediction: 2-1
Stuttgart continue to disappoint but should have enough to gain all three points from the league's bottom side.

VfL Wolfsburg v. 1899 Hoffenheim
Prediction: 3-2
Markus Babbel won at the VW-Arena with Hertha this season, but the Wolves are a much different opponent now.

FSV Mainz 05 v. 1. FC Kaiserslautern
Prediction: 2-0
Mainz lost the reversal 3-1 and should be primed for a backlash in this derby.

FC Augsburg v. Hertha BSC
Prediction: 1-2
Hertha begin the Rehhagel era in Bavaria in a relegation six-pointer. Expect the capital side to finally break their goal drought with Adrian Ramos healthy.

Werder Bremen v. 1. FC Nürnberg
Prediction: 3-1
Bremen should roll at home as they try to solidify their hold on a Europa League place.

Sunday
Bayern München v. FC Schalke 04
Prediction: 2-1
Bayern are ringing the alarm bells after last Sunday's 0-0 with Freiburg and an even more damaging 1-0 loss at FC Basel in the Champions League. Will Schalke have enough in their legs after needing an extra 30 minutes in Europe?

Borussia Dortmund v. Hannover 96
Prediction: 3-1
Dortmund have not lost in 16 league matches since they fell 2-1 at Hannover, and they want revenge. The 96ers had a demanding Europa League match Thursday, while Kagawa is making a quicker return than expected from a torn ankle ligament for the champions.

Onyewu hurt again

Bad news has struck the U.S. back line once again with the news that Oguchi Onyewu has a torn knee ligament.

The U.S. has critical friendlies upcoming against top-class European opponents Italy and Scotland as well as matchups with more local rivals Canada and Brazil. The question American supporters are asking of boss Jurgen Klinsmann now is "WWJKD"?

Champions League preview

Last week's picks in Europe's most prestigious football competition did not go so well. Fortunately we have four more Champions League fixtures to fare better this week.

Tuesday

CSKA Moscow v. Real Madrid
A treacherous trip to frigid Moscow awaits the La Liga champions-elect, with CSKA boss Leonid Slutsky basically saying "his side have no chance". The Russians are without goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev and Japanese star midfielder Keisuke Honda. Jose Mourinho, meanwhile, has everyone at his disposal except for Angel di Maria, who apparently is not handsome enough for Madrid head honcho Florentino Perez. Real have outscored foes 19-2 in this competition, including 6-0 on the road.

Prediction: CSKA 0, Real Madrid 3.

Napoli v. Chelsea FC
It's crisis and panic time at Chelsea, where Andres Villas-Boas seems set
to ditch Fernando Torres from the lineup, to the relief of any football fan. Napoli have posted four straight clean sheets in Serie A and won 3-0 over Fiorentina last Friday. The Italians' objective should be to finish this tie as much as possible before going to London and that should not be a problem given the Blues' drab state of affairs, with John Terry unlikely to feature.

Prediction: Napoli 3, Chelsea 0.

Wednesday

Olympique Marseille v. Inter Milan
Inter Milan have five defeats and a draw in their last six and have been outscored 8-0 in their last three defeats. However, Inter picked up seven points of nine on their Champions League travels and Diego Forlan is finally eligible for this competition. The Italians have a great draw in a struggling OM squad that will be without Loic Remy, who has two goals in the Champions League. There's some pre-match hype about this managerial rematch but on the pitch, Inter can gain a slender advantage.

Prediction: Marseille 1, Inter Milan 2

FC Basel v. Bayern München
FC Basel created one of the shocks of the tournament by knocking out fancied Manchester United and their occasionally obnoxious fan base. While Xherdan Shaqiri became a star for the Swiss side, now he's gushing about the team he will join after this season. Bayern turned in their worst performance over the weekend with a scoreless draw against the bottom side in Germany, but should be ready to get the job done in Europe.

Prediction: FC Basel 0, Bayern München 2

Bundesliga Matchday 22 review

Friday night

1899 Hoffenheim v. FSV Mainz 05
Prediction: 1-1
Actual result: 1-1
We correctly predicted an exact final score since Markus Babbel was never going to win his home debut and should have truly lost it.

Saturday

Hertha BSC v. Borussia Dortmund
Prediction: 0-2
Actual result: 0-1
A terrific match in the nation's capital saw a battling Berlin fall short before the Rehhagel era begins. Said Jurgen Klopp: "Phew, that was a lot of hard work here today, but we didn't mind because we had prepared for it."

Hamburger SV v. Werder Bremen
Prediction: 2-1
Actual result: 1-3
Bremen put aside their road woes at the most opportune time. Said Marko Arnautovic: "That was an awesome derby. Everyone was against us, but we 20 players on the pitch went against them all. This victory means a lot for us.

1. FC Kaiserslautern v. Mönchengladbach
Prediction: 1-2
Actual result: 1-2
Marco Reus played through pain for 'Gladbach who got three points against a side fighting for its Bundesliga life.

Bayer Leverkusen v. FC Augsburg
Prediction: 2-0
Actual result: 4-1
Andre Schurrle has his concerns about the club's atmosphere but this was a welcome result after a Champions League flop.

1. FC Nürnberg v. 1. FC Köln
Prediction: 1-1
Actual result: 2-1
These two sides appear to be safe now barring a huge downturn in their fortunes.

SC Freiburg v. Bayern München
Prediction: 0-3
Actual result: 0-0
The shock result of the matchday as Bayern are now in third place as the title seems to be slipping away.

Sunday
FC Schalke 04 v. VfL Wolfsburg
Prediction: 2-1
Actual result: 4-0
Schalke ran riot over Felix Magath's side. Said Royal Blues boss Huub Stevens: "Wolfsburg really were welcome opposition."

Hannover 96 v. VfB Stuttgart
Prediction: 3-1
Actual result: 4-2
Stuttgart may want to work on their set-piece defending after Hannover scored three times off corners - a first in the Bundesliga this season.

Worst Penalty Ever

Our friends over at The Guardian have provided this nomination for the worst penalty ever. You decide.

The MLS version of Jeremy Lin

The rise of the NBA's Jeremy Lin with the New York Knicks continues to draw worldwide headlines. The league MVP favorite has landed on the cover of Time magazine in Asia.

Lin's incredible rise caused MLS blogger Simon Borg to ask which player will become the MLS version of Lin. With the MLS season around the corner, it's worth trying to come up with your picks of who will will be a breakout star in 'Major Lin Soccer.'

Bundesliga Matchday 22 predictions

Friday night

1899 Hoffenheim v. FSV Mainz 05
Prediction: 1-1
Hoffenheim ran riot at the Coface Arena with a 4-nil victory but Mainz should show more pluck under the Rhein-Neckar lights.

Saturday

Hertha BSC v. Borussia Dortmund
Prediction: 0-2
Hertha's 1,000th Bundesliga match could not come under worse circumstances after the dismissal of Skibbe. Meanwhile, the reigning champions come to the nation's capital on a 15-match unbeaten run and looking for revenge for a shock defeat at home in the first half. Japanese superstar Shinji Kagawa will miss out.

Hamburger SV v. Werder Bremen
Prediction: 2-1
We predicted European football for Hamburg in our season preview. Well they are clearly on the rise and will be out for revenge in the northern derby against a
Bremen team with some notable injuries.

1. FC Kaiserslautern v. Mönchengladbach
Prediction: 1-2
Marco Reus may miss out on this trip for 'Gladbach but it is difficult to see
Lautern having enough to threaten Favre's men.

Bayer Leverkusen v. FC Augsburg
Prediction: 2-0
Leverkusen has one foot out the door in Europe after predictably losing to Barcelona, but also embarrassed the club and the league afterward. Still it will be hard to drop points against Augsburg.

1. FC Nürnberg v. 1. FC Köln
Prediction: 1-1
It's difficult to predict these sides that seem evenly matched in Bavaria. Brecko, arrested due to alcohol abuse during Carnival, returns from suspension - he was also sent off in the first fixture with Nürnberg.

SC Freiburg v. Bayern München
Prediction: 0-3
Will Bayern look ahead to the Champions League against FC Basel? We doubt it after they beat Freiburg 7-0 on Matchday 5.

Sunday
FC Schalke 04 v. VfL Wolfsburg
Prediction: 2-1
Schalke got a positive result on the road in Europe and should do enough to take all the points from the Wolves as Magath returns to the Veltins Arena taking credit for last year's run to the Champions League semi-finals.

Hannover 96 v. VfB Stuttgart
Prediction: 3-1
Hannover got a victory in the Europa League while Stuttgart are on a major slide on the road. VfB won the first fixture 3-0 so we'll go the other way in the rematch.

Champions League preview

It's time to get serious folks, as Europe's most prestigious football competition will resume play tomorrow. Let's take a look at the four Champions League fixtures on tap this week.

Tuesday

Bayer Leverkusen v. Barcelona
On paper the defending champions look invincible in this tie, with Leverkusen midfielder Simon Rolfes saying that this is "a classic David versus Goliath game." It should be noted that Barcelona are under pressure with the league title out of grasp with a 10-point margin. The holders know this is the competition they must win.

Prediction: Leverkusen 1, Barcelona 2.

Olympique Lyonnais v. APOEL Nicosia
OL will need a good performance at home against the surprising Cypriots, who enter as group winners. Lyon were dismissed by Caen over the weekend and have a terrible defence. APOEL drew all three away matches and could be poised for a good result.

Prediction: Lyon 1, APOEL 1.

Wednesday

Zenit St. Petersburg v. Benfica
Benfica make the long journey to Russia in fine form, with eight straight Superliga wins to open a five-point margin at home. Midfielder Javi Garcia is out but Nicolás Gaitán and Oscar Cardozo will be available. Zenit are unbeaten in their last 19 home matches, and have been training without a competitive match since their Matchday 6 draw with Porto. This has draw written all over it.

Prediction: Zenit 1, Benfica 1

AC Milan v. Arsenal
The marquee fixture of this week is Arsenal's trip to Italy to face Serie A table-toppers AC Milan. The Gunners have Thierry Henry in uniform one final time before he leaves the continent to waste his time playing for New York Red Bulls in obscurity. Milan usually bow out to English clubs and face a stern examination, with a mouth-watering duel between strikers Robin Van Persie and Zlatan Ibrahimovic ready to set the continent ablaze.

Prediction: AC Milan 1, Arsenal FC 1

Bundesliga Matchday 21 review

Friday night

VfL Wolfsburg v. SC Freiburg
Prediction: 3-1
Actual result: 3-2
The new-look Wolves won one of the most entertaining fixtures of the season, putting relegation well behind them.

Saturday

Werder Bremen v. 1899 Hoffenheim
Prediction: 2-0
Actual result: 1-1
Markus Babbel almost came up with all three points in his Hoffenheim debut before Arnautovic came to the rescue for the home side.

Borussia Dortmund v. Bayer Leverkusen
Prediction: 2-1
Actual result: 1-0
Dortmund continue to rack up the points - will anyone stop them?

Bayern München v. 1. FC Kaiserslautern
Prediction: 3-0
Actual result: 2-0
Bayern have a trip to Freiburg upcoming before crunch matches with Basel and Schalke.

VfB Stuttgart v. Hertha BSC
Prediction: 2-1
Actual result: 5-0
The Skibbe era has ended in Berlin - and not soon enough. Hertha look to bounce back at home next weekend - against Dortmund!

FSV Mainz 05 v. Hannover 96
Prediction: 1-1
Actual result: 1-1
Sobiech rescued a point late for the visitors ahead of their Europa League tie with Belgian side Club Brugge. The 96ers should welcome Ya Konan back from the African Nations Cup.

Mönchengladbach v. FC Schalke 04
Prediction: 1-2
Actual result: 3-0
We could not have been more wrong about this result. The margin was three goals inside of 30 minutes and 'Gladbach are truly contenders.

Sunday
FC Augsburg v. 1. FC Nürnberg
Prediction: 1-0
Actual result: 0-0
There were six bookings and no goals at the SGL Arena in an ill-tempered relegation six-pointer with these sides sharing the spoils.

1. FC Köln v. Hamburger SV
Prediction: 1-1
Actual result: 0-1
Guerrero gives Hamburg all three points and suddenly they could be European contenders.

Bundesliga Matchday 21 predictions

Friday night

VfL Wolfsburg v. SC Freiburg
Prediction: 3-1
Freiburg won the reverse fixture 3-0 but the Wolves look like one of Germany's most-improved teams.

Saturday

Werder Bremen v. 1899 Hoffenheim
Prediction: 2-0
Bremen may be sub-par but they sit fifth in the table ahead of this match-up with Markus Babbel's new club.

Borussia Dortmund v. Bayer Leverkusen
Prediction: 2-1
We'll take Dortmund to edge this match-up with Leverkusen possibly looking ahead to next week's thriller with FC Barcelona. Bayer must replace the suspended Kadlec.

Bayern München v. 1. FC Kaiserslautern
Prediction: 3-0
Nothing of note to see here.

VfB Stuttgart v. Hertha BSC
Prediction: 2-1
These sides crashed out of the German Cup but Stuttgart simply have more quality than woeful Hertha. Stuttgart will use Sakai, profiled here in the past, in place of the Suspended Molinaro.

FSV Mainz 05 v. Hannover 96
Prediction: 1-1
This shapes up as a tight affair and a draw would probably suit both sides.

Mönchengladbach v. FC Schalke 04
Prediction: 1-2
'Gladbach have seen a slight dip in form despite reaching the Cup semi-finals and Schalke will want revenge for being knocked out of that competition.

Sunday
FC Augsburg v. 1. FC Nürnberg
Prediction: 1-0
This presents FCA with an excellent opportunity to drag FCN back into the relegation mix. Expect them to take full advantage.

1. FC Köln v. Hamburger SV
Prediction: 1-1
These sides played a seven-goal thriller the last time they met. Expect a drab affair this time.

Bundesliga Matchday 20 review

Friday night

1. FC Nürnberg v. Borussia Dortmund
Prediction: 0-3
Actual result: 0-2
Credit FCN for a terrific first-half display but Dortmund are simply the class of German football right now.

Saturday

Hertha BSC v. Hannover 96
Prediction: 1-1
Actual result: 0-1
The bad times continue in Berlin, where former boss Lucien Favre will bring 'Gladbach for a DFB Cup match on Wednesday.

Bayer Leverkusen v. VfB Stuttgart
Prediction: 2-1
Actual result: 2-2
Stuttgart ended a four-game slide with a draw and every point counts for a side on the fringes of the relegation race. Both teams finished with 10 men.

FC Schalke 04 v. FSV Mainz 05
Prediction: 2-0
Actual result: 1-1
This is the slip-up that Schalke's rivals have been waiting for as the title trace continues to tighten.

VfL Wolfsburg v. Mönchengladbach
Prediction: 1-2
Actual result: 0-0
Credit the Wolves for enjoying the run of play and a well-deserved point.

1899 Hoffenheim v. FC Augsburg
Prediction: 2-0
Actual result: 2-2
Make that five draws in a row for the Hoff at the Rhein-Neckar.

Hamburger SV v. Bayern München
Prediction: 1-2
Actual result: 1-1
Both sides went out in an all-out attack for the winner after Olic scored against his former side to equalise.

Sunday
SC Freiburg v. Werder Bremen
Prediction: 1-1
Actual result: 2-2
We saw a draw coming but Freiburg were on top throughout the match and may have deserved more.

1. FC Kaiserslautern v. 1. FC Köln
Prediction: 0-0
Actual result: 0-1
Köln never seem to beat 'Lautern but Odise Roshi's maiden Bundesliga goal changed that.

German Cup quarter-final preview

While the world waits for Wednesday's slate featuring a wounded Hertha BSC Berlin hosting Borussia Mönchengladbach as well as the matchups of VfB Stuttgart-FC Bayern Munich and 1899 Hoffenheim-Greuther Fürth, the German Cup has quite a clash set for Tuesday.

It's a classic David v. Goliath showdown between Holstein Kiel and Borussia Dortmund. The underdogs from Kiel are in the fourth tier of German football but understand that they have outscored their last three Cup opponents 7-0.

Dortmund are the champions of Germany, but they will be without influential midfielder Sven Bender, and are already without über-star Mario Götze.

In addition, Dortmund usually crash out of the cup, advancing past the quarter-finals once in the last 23 campaigns.

Kiel may have an emotional edge. Kiel's Fabian Wetter told the Neue Westfaelische Zeitung: "It is not easy for other teams to play at a fourth-division team. The opponents are scared to embarrass themselves, and some also forget that we have some really good footballers within our ranks."

The temperature is expected to be in single digits Fahrenheit. The snowy conditions should help the underdogs and anything is possible when the DfB-Pokal is on the line!

Worst Bundesliga Injury of the Season

When we last were discussing the exploits of Leverkusen's Eren Derdiyok, it was about this wonder goal vs. Wolfsburg.

Well Derdiyok is in the news now for the wrong reason - the dumbest Bundesliga injury of the season. To shatter a toothbrush holder and now have to miss this matchup against a team you may have heard of is one of the dumbest things we have heard.

The only stupider one may have been this preseason injury to Kaiserslautern striker Adam Nemec, but at least he had the sense to let that happen in the pre-season!

Bundesliga Matchday 20 predictions

Friday night

1. FC Nürnberg v. Borussia Dortmund
Prediction: 0-3
There's no reason to believe that a ruthless Dortmund won't rack up the goals against a poor FCN defence.

Saturday

Hertha BSC v. Hannover 96
Prediction: 1-1
Hertha are in crisis mode but Hannover are always in poor form on the road meaning a point should suffice for both sides.

Bayer Leverkusen v. VfB Stuttgart
Prediction: 2-1
Stuttgart have lost four straight and present an ideal opponent for a Leverkusen outfit that is tired of all the distracting Ballack talk.

FC Schalke 04 v. FSV Mainz 05
Prediction: 2-0
Schalke are the title contenders no one seems to believe in, but they can match a club record Saturday with a sixth straight Bundesliga victory.

VfL Wolfsburg v. Mönchengladbach
Prediction: 1-2
There's no reason to start doubting Reus and company now.

1899 Hoffenheim v. FC Augsburg
Prediction: 2-0
Hoffenheim have drawn four straight at the Rhein-Neckar, and that streak should end in favorable fashion.

Hamburger SV v. Bayern München
Prediction: 1-2
Much has been said of Fink's Bayern connections, but the Bavarians have the better squad by a longshot.

Sunday
SC Freiburg v. Werder Bremen
Prediction: 1-1
Bremen seem to be unsettled since the re-start and Freiburg should have enough to muster a point.

1. FC Kaiserslautern v. 1. FC Köln
Prediction: 0-0
A dreadful match will see no winner and no goals.