Van Persie stripped of Holland's arm band, Robben appointed as new captain

Arjen Robben has been made captain of the Netherlands in Danny Blind’s first squad since taking over from Guus Hiddink as national coach, replacing striker Robin Van Persie. Blind said on Friday he needs a captain with more “on-field presence” as his team heads into two crucial European

Championship qualifiers against Group A leader Iceland and Turkey.

“I have not made this choice based on their soccer skills,” Blind told the Dutch federation’s website.
“In the guidance and coaching of teammates Van Persie and Robben are not inferior to each other — but they are two different personalities and right now I need a leader with [Robben’s] on-field presence.”

Robben said: “I consider it a great honour that the coach has asked me to be captain and will fulfil this role with great pride and responsibility. “But I also want to emphasise that we should do it right, all together. We have a common goal — to make the European Championships.”

Van Persie said he understood Blind’s decision.
“I have had a good talk with the coach, who indicated his understanding to choose his own captain in this new project,” the Fenerbahce striker said.

“I’ve always said Arjen, I and the other guys did it together. I will fill the role of vice-captain with pride. I will always give everything for my country.”

Photos: Pep Guardiola, Arjen Robben, Thomas Muller, others let their hair down at Bayern Munich's annual Christmas party

Bayern Munich President, Karl-Heinze Rummenigge; coach, Pep Guardiola; players; Arjen Robben, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Franck Ribery, Xabi Alonso, Thomas Muller, Claudio Pizarro etc all let their hair down at the 2014 Christmas party held yesterday December 7, 2014.

The players and their friends/girlfriends or wives were in good spirits as they stormed the chef Alfons Schuhbeck’s theatre, venue of the festive event.

Photocredit: Getty Images/ Daily Mail

Cristiano Ronaldo named UEFA’s Best Player in Europe

Real Madrid playmaker, Cristiano Ronaldo has been named UEFA’s Best Player in Europe. He piped out Bayern Munich duo, Arjen Robben and Manuel Neuer to win the prestigious award.
“I’m really, really happy. I have to say thank you to my team-mates, to my family, my friends. I don’t have this trophy in my museum – I’ll put it there straight away.”  Ronaldo said after receiving the award
The Portuguese forward scored a total of 17 goals in 11 European games, scored thrice as Madrid clinched the Copa del Rey,won the Champions League trophy with Real Madrid in the 2013/2014 season.

Lionel Messi snubbed as UEFA announces shortlist for the 2013/2014 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award

UEFA has announced three-man shortlist for the 2013/2014 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award and surprisingly (or not), Barcelona playmaker, Lionel Messi is not included in the list. Shortlisted players include Real Madrid star, Cristiano Ronaldo and Bayern Munich duo Arjen Robben and Manuel Neuer.
The outright winner will be decided by a live vote in Monaco on 28 August during the UEFA Champions League group stage draw. The winner will be announced in Monaco on August 28.

Cristiano Ronaldo wins Goal 50. Enyeama the only Nigerian in the list

Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Goal 50 award for the world’s best footballer
after a record-breaking season. The Portuguese forward claims the trophy from digital football brand Goal.com for the third time.
Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama was also named in the list and finished in 27th spot after impressive performances with Lille and the Super Eagles in the last season. Enyeama helped the reigning African champions to the second round of the World Cup where he kept two clean sheets. His heroics with Lille saw him go 1062 minutes without conceding a goal in the 2013/13 Ligue 1 season.
The Goal 50 title – presented by the world’s biggest single-sport website – is in recognition of a magnificent campaign during which Ronaldo led his club to a long-awaited 10th Champions League crown.
Ronaldo, 29, who also claimed the Copa del Rey, struck 51 goals in all competitions for club and country. He shared the European Golden Shoe with Luis Suarez and also picked up the 2013 Fifa Ballon d’Or.
“It’s a very big honour for me to have been chosen as the best player,” Ronaldo told Goal at the trophy presentation held at Real Madrid’s
pre-season training camp in Los Angeles.
“I’m sincerely grateful for this award. I also want to thank the fans for their support and for their passion for the game, which is what makes this sport so fascinating throughout the world.”
The Goal 50 is regarded as one of the most credible and respected awards in sport, chosen by over 600 Goal journalists, covering 35 editions around the world to a global audience of over 64 million users.
Voting takes place at the end of domestic and international seasons for the majority of countries. Ronaldo heads this year’s list in front of second-placed Arjen Robben, who starred for Netherlands at the World Cup and helped Bayern to four trophies in 2013-14. Last year’s winner Lionel Messi finished third after another prolific season for club and country.

The Goal 50 has a track record of identifying many of the future stars of
the game. Youngsters James Rodriguez and Thibaut Courtois featured in the
2013 list, and this year both made it into the top 10.
Commenting on the results, Graham Shaw, Goal’s Editorial Director, said:
“Goal 50 gives a truly global view on the players who have lit up an epic
season. Congratulations to Cristiano Ronaldo who fully deserves to top this
year’s list after a sensational campaign.”

2014 Goal 50 – Top 10
1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
2. Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich)
3. Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
4. Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich)
5. Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich)
6. James Rodriguez (AS Monaco)
7. Luis Suarez (Liverpool)
8. Thibaut Courtois (Atletico Madrid)
9. Arturo Vidal (Juventus)
10. Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)

2014 Goal 50 – positions 11-50
11. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris Saint-Germain)
12. Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla)
13. Angel di Maria (Real Madrid)
14. Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid)
15. Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund)
16. Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich)
17. Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund)
18. Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal)
19. Yaya Toure (Manchester City)
20. Miralem Pjanic (AS Roma)
21. Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund)
22. Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)
23. Keylor Navas (Levante)
24. Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid)
25. Javier Mascherano (Barcelona)
26. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)
27. Vincent Enyeama (Lille)
28. Juan Cuadrado (Fiorentina)
29. Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
30. Neymar (Barcelona)
31. Joel Campbell (Olympiakos)
32. Blaise Matuidi (Paris Saint-Germain)
33. Enzo Perez (Benfica)
34. Charles Aranguiz (Internacional)
35. Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain)
36. Daley Blind (Ajax)
37. Gervinho (AS Roma)
38. Paul Pogba (Juventus)
39. Rafael Marquez (Leon)
40. Abdelmoumene Djabou (Club Africain)
41. Robin van Persie (Manchester United)
42. David Silva (Manchester City)
43. Ciro Immobile (Torino)
44. Serge Aurier (Toulouse)
45. Yoshito Okubo (Kawasaki Frontale)
46. Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City)
47. Caner Erkin (Fenerbahce)
48. Nadir Belhadj (Al-Sadd)
49. Kim Shin-Wook (Ulsan Hyundai)
50. Tim Cahill (New York Red Bulls)

http://www.goal.com The Goal 50 is voted for by editors representing each of the 35 editions of Goal around the world.

Goal.com is the most-read football site in the world, according to ComScore, with editions in 16 languages spanning five continents. The Goal 50 is voted for based on the performance of the players over a full season rather than a calendar year.
Details of 2013 winner Lionel Messi (from FC Barcelona’s website):
http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/leo-messi-wins-goal-50-award

Goal 50 previous winners:

• 2007/2008 Cristiano Ronaldo
• 2008/2009 Lionel Messi
• 2009/2010 Wesley Sneijder
• 2010/2011 Lionel Messi
• 2011/2012 Cristiano Ronaldo
• 2012/2013 Lionel Messi

Netherlands Vs Argentina clash: Arjen Robben consoles crying son (Photos)

these pictures, who wouldn’t feel for Arjen Robben? The Dutch Winger has been magical in this tournament but unfortunately his team crashed out of the World Cup after losing to Argentina during penalty shoot outs. After the game, the Bayern Munich star walked straight to his wife Bernadien and consoled his son Luka, who was weeping uncontrollably in his mother’s arms.

“For me Germany will win the World Cup, no doubt about it. Argentina don’t stand a chance.” He said during the post-match interview.

Brazil 2014: Arjen Robben sets new record.

Asides the fact that his team has not done badly so far, Netherlands winger, Arjen Robben has added another achievement to his list. He is now the world’s fastest footballer. The Bayern Munich talisman achieved the feat in the ongoing World Cup tournament. Last friday, on June 13, 2014 to be precise, he recorded a speed of 37km/h, the fastest ever clocked by a footballer during his team’s clash against Spain.

The record was previously held by Arsenal’s Theo Walcott who ran a recorded speed of 35.7km/h sometime in September 2010. The 25 year-old England player however congratulated him on twitter, “Robben, Congrats for beating my clocked speed but thought it looked a bit downhill. #SpeedMatters”.

Top 8 fastest footballers in the world.

Arjen Robben – 37km/h

Theo Walcott – 35.7km/h

Antonio Valencia – 35.2km/h

Gareth Bale – 34-7km/h

Aaron Lennon – 33.8km/h

Cristiano Ronaldo – 33.6km/h

Lionel Messi – 32.5km/h

Wayne Rooney – 32.1km/h

UCL clash: Arjen Robben hits back at Arsene Wenger

The barrage of insults unleashed on Arsene Wenger these days though! Very soon we might start drawing up the list of players and Managers who have slammed the French boss. Bayern’s Arjen Robben has angrily lashed out at the Arsenal coach after the latter tagged him a “good diver” in the wake of the German’s club victory over the Gunners last night.

The 63 year-old Manager who faulted his penalty was quoted thus after last night match, “He is a very good diver, but that is the way it goes. It is the referee – Robben is a fantastic player, but he doesn’t need to do it. He gets in front of the player, he goes down. We spoke about this yesterday. If the referee gives him a yellow card he will not do it again.”

The Holland international hit back at him, “I always say if you are a big manager then take your loss. If you win be happy, enjoy, but if you lose don’t complain about silly things. It was two legitimate penalties but I don’t want to defend myself. From a big manager you expect a little bit more.”

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