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28
Jul 2012
19:19 Comments (71)
Quo Vadis EPL?, by Rafa Benitez

General Articles

Rafa Benítez

After eight years in England, I am really pleased to see how many teams in the Premier League are little by little changing their style of play. Despite some opinions to the contrary, the arrival of foreign managers has benefited English football. These days not many question, for example, Manchester City’s zonal marking in corners or the necessary rotations carried out this season to ensure that English players could reach the European Cup with fresh legs. Furthermore, as time goes by we can see how the game is starting to be analysed taking into account aspects like team formation instead of just the performance of individual players...
23
Jul 2012
08:59 Comments (5)
Special Football Planning, by Paco de Miguel

Professional Football

Paco de Miguel

Planning is one of the pillars that sustain athletic performance. There are many teams that season after season are dealing with congested calendar.

The calendar has become a major obstacle to persons responsible for programming the activities carried out, as well as another series of factors that influence directly in its design and development.

This document attempts to capture an idea of intervention in the planning considering all factors and elements that influence, from the mainly empirical information, although supported by the academic knowledge...
12
Jul 2012
10:02 Comments (0)
Away victory for LA Galaxy, by Edu Parra

Professional Football

Eduardo Parra

A double by Robbie Keane gave an away victory (0-2) to LA Galaxy at Toyota Park. They faced Chicago Fire who completed a second game without a win as they drew the previous game after a run of consecutive wins. On the other hand, the californian team put a stop to their run of losses with a sound victory...
07
Jul 2012
11:15 Comments (2)
Corinthians win Libertadores Cup; by Edu Parra

Professional Football

Eduardo Parra

For the first time in their history, Corinthians have become champions of the Libertadores Cup after winning the final against Boca Juniors with an overall score of 3-1 (1-1 and 2-0). It was clear that this last match of this year´s tournament confronted two classic teams in South American football. For the ‘xeneize’ team (Boca) it was the tenth final (six titles won) whilst the ‘timao’ team (Corinthians) were facing their first final of this tournament. In the end, history changed and we now have a new team in the champions ranking...
06
Jul 2012
14:34 Comments (2)
Draw in Toronto, by Edu Parra

Professional Football

Eduardo Parra

We will analyse the MLS game played in Toronto on the 30th of June. Two teams with different objectives faced each other: The Red Bulls were higher in the table, with Thierry Henry but without Rafa Marquez who was injured, whilst the local team faced the game with the need to get the necessary points to escape from the bottom part of the table...
02
Jul 2012
14:27 Comments (26)
Spain achieve an even greater feat, by Rafa Benitez

Euro 2012

Rafa Benítez

Spain has done it, they have achieved it and what’s more it was a big job accomplished in a great manner. The Spanish national team became last night the only national team to win three major tournaments in a row: two European Cups (2008 and 2012) and a World Cup in between (2010). Without a doubt this is something which is difficult to reach by many and began with a great historic achievement led by Luis Aragones four years ago and reaching even greater heights with Vicente Del Bosque. Del Bosque, originally from Salamanca, deserves a unique mention as he has become the most distinguished coach in football history after winning two European titles and a World Cup both with a club and a national team. It is because of this and our friendship that has joined us for so many years, I would like to congratulate the national team and everyone who work with them and, especially, I would like to send my congratulations to the technical staff. Congratulations Vicente, Toni, Javi, Paco, Otxo...and the rest of the staff who have been working so hard to achieve this even greater feat...