Friday, December 30, 2011

Mexican Primera División - Official Club Websites

The official websites of teams in Mexico's Primera División.

América
http://www.clubamerica.com.mx

Atlante
http://www.atlantefc.com.mx/

Atlas
http://www.atlas.com.mx/

Club Deportivo Estudiantes Tecos
http://www.tecos.com.mx/

Club San Luis
http://www.sanluisfutbol.com.mx/

Club Tijuana
http://www.xolos.com.mx

Cruz Azul
http://www.cruz-azul.com.mx/

Guadalajara
http://www.chivasdecorazon.com.mx/

Jaguares de Chiapas
http://www.jaguaresdechiapas.com.mx/

Monarcas Morelia
http://www.fuerzamonarca.com/

Monterrey
http://www.rayados.com

Pachuca
http://www.tuzos.com.mx/

Puebla
http://www.pueblafutbolclub.com.mx/

Querétaro
http://www.clubqueretaro.com

Santos Laguna
http://www.clubsantoslaguna.com.mx/

Tigres de la U.A.N.L.
http://www.tigres.com.mx/

Toluca
http://www.deportivotolucafc.com/

UNAM
http://www.clubpumasunam.com

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Oceania National Team Logos

American Samoa

Cook Islands

Fiji

New Caledonia

New Zealand

Papua New Guinea

Samoa

Solomon Islands

Tahiti

Tonga

Vanuatu

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

East African Players in Europe

East African (EAC) Players currently with 1st or 2nd division European clubs.

Burundi
Cristophe Nahimana - FC Brussels (Belgium.2)
Dugary Ndabashinze - KRC Genk (Belgium)
Gael Bigirimana - Coventry City (England.2)
Saidi Ntibazonkiza - MKS Cracovia (Poland)
Valery Twite Nahayo - KAA Gent (Belgium)

Kenya
Amos Ekhalie - IFK (Finland)
Arnold Origi Otieno - Fredrikstad FK (Norway)
Dennis Oliech - AJ Auxerre (France)
George Odhiambo - Randers FC (Denmark.2)
Jamal Mohammed - FCM Targu Mures (Romania)
James Situma - KF Tirana (Albania)
Johanna Omolo - Beerschot AC (Belgium)
McDonald Mariga - Real Sociedad (Spain)
Moses Arita - KF Tirana (Albania)
Patrick Oboya - Baník Most (Czech Republic.2)
Patrick Osiako - Mjällby AIF (Sweden)
Victor Wanyama - Celtic FC (Scotland)

Rwanda
Edwin Ouon - AEL Limassol (Cyprus)
Henri Munyaneza - WS Woluwe (Belgium.2)
Mohamed Tchité - Standard Liège (Belgium)

Tanzania
Henry Joseph Shindika - Kongsvinger IL (Norway.2)

Uganda
Abel Dhaira - ÍBV (Iceland)
David Obua - Heart of Midlothian (Scotland)
Eugene Sseppuya - FK Borac Čačak (Serbia)
Hassan Wasswa - Kayseri Erciyesspor (Turkey)
Ibrahim Sekagya - Red Bull Salzburg (Austria)
Tonny Mawejje - ÍBV (Iceland)

Thursday, December 22, 2011

70% Possession in Top European Leagues

Teams in the top 5 European leagues that have had 70% or better possession in a 2011/2012 league game.



83% - FC Barcelona vs CA Osasuna
80% - Tottenham Hotspur vs Bolton Wanderers
79% - Bayern Munich vs 1.FC Nuremberg
76% - Rayo Vallecano vs Levante UD (L)
73% - Liverpool vs Bolton Wanderers

73% - Real Madrid vs CA Osasuna
72% - Bayer Leverkusen vs 1.FC Nuremberg (L)
72% - AC Milan vs Genoa
71% - Chelsea vs Norwich City
71% - Mainz 05 vs FC Augsburg (L)

71% - Juventus vs AC Cesena
71% - Sevilla vs Racing Santander
70% - Manchester United vs Norwich City
70% - Arsenal vs Fulham
70% - Werder Bremen vs 1.FC Köln

70% - Borussia Dortmund vs. Mainz 05
70% - Atlético Madrid vs Real Betis (L)
70% - Real Betis vs Levante UD (L)
70% - Lille vs AS Nancy


(L) = Loss
Only the best possession game for each team is included as some teams have had 70%+ possession in multiple games.

Stats from Transfermarkt.co.uk

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

FIFA Confederation Ranking Comparison - December 2011

Comparing FIFA Confederations using the average ranking of the top 5 teams from each region.

Top 5 Avg. - Confederation (+/- November)

3.6 - Europe (+/- 0.0)
1 - Spain
2 - Netherlands
3 - Germany
5 - England
7 - Portugal

11.4 - South America (+/- 0.0)
4 - Uruguay
6 - Brazil
10 - Argentina
13 - Chile
24 - Paraguay

29.8 - Africa (+/- 0.0)
16 - Cote d'Ivoire
29 - Ghana
30 - Algeria
31 - Egypt
43 - Nigeria

38.0 - Asia (+/- 0.0)
19 - Japan
23 - Australia
32 - South Korea
45 - Iran
71 - China

42.2 - CONCACAF (-1.0)
21 - Mexico
34 - USA
49 - Panama
53 - Honduras
54 - Jamaica

153.8 - Oceania (+4.2)
119 - New Zealand
149 - Samoa
161 - Fiji
166 - New Caledonia
174 - Vanuatu

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Castrol Ranking: Top 5 EPL Players by FIFA Confederation (Dec 2011)

The top 5 English Premier League players from each FIFA Confederation (Europe and UK listed separately) according to the December 2011 Castrol Rankings.

Europe
4 - Robin van Persie (Netherlands)
13 - Edin Džeko (Bosnia-Herzegovina)
28 - Florent Malouda (France)
30 - Branislav Ivanović (Serbia)
61 - Nemanja Vidić (Serbia)

UK
24 - Frank Lampard (England)
26 - John Terry (England)
42 - Joe Hart (England)
55 - Daniel Sturridge (England)
58 - Wayne Rooney (England)

South America
17 - Luis Suárez (Uruguay)
21 - Sergio Agüero (Argentina)
64 - Anderson (Brazil)
81 - Ramires (Brazil)
175 - David Luiz (Brazil)

Africa
5 - Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo)
23 - Gervinho (Cote d'Ivoire)
48 - Demba Ba (Senegal)
116 - Alex Song (Cameroon)
127 - Michael Essien (Ghana)

CONCACAF
18 - Javier Hernández (Mexico)
91 - Clint Dempsey (USA)
137 - David Hoilett (Canada)
467 - Brad Friedel (USA)
648 - Tim Howard (USA)

Asia
79 - Ali Al Habsi (Oman)
307 - Mark Schwarzer (Australia)
691 - Park Ji-Sung (South Korea)
899 - Park Chu-Young (South Korea)
935 - Tim Cahill (Australia)

Oceania
1086 - Ryan Nelsen (New Zealand)

Monday, December 19, 2011

UCL Round of 16 "Outsiders" since 1999

Teams from outside the top leagues in England, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain that have progressed to the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 since 1999/2000.

Round of 16

2011/2012
APOEL FC (Cyprus)
FC Basel (Switzerland)
CSKA Moscow (Russia)
Zenit St Petersburg (Russia)
Benfica (Portugal)

2010/2011
FC Copenhagen (Denmark)
Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine)

2009/2010
CSKA Moscow (Russia)
Olympiacos (Greece)
Porto (Portugal)

2008/2009
Panathinaikos (Greece)
Porto (Portugal)
Sporting (Portugal)

2007/2008
Celtic (Scotland)
Fenerbahçe (Turkey)
Olympiacos (Greece)
Porto (Portugal)

2006/2007
Celtic (Scotland)
Porto (Portugal)
PSV (Netherlands)

2005/2006
Ajax (Netherlands)
Benfica (Portugal)
PSV (Netherlands)
Rangers (Scotland)

2004/2005
Porto (Portugal)
PSV (Netherlands)

2003/2004
Lokomotiv Moscow (Russia)
Porto (Portugal)
Sparta Praha (Czech Republic)


Second Group Stage

2002/2003
Ajax (Netherlands)
Basel (Switzerland)
Lokomotiv Moscow (Russia)

2001/2002
Boavista (Portugal)
Galatasaray (Turkey)
Panathinaikos (Greece)
Porto (Portugal)
Sparta Praha (Czech Republic)

2000/2001
Anderlecht (Belgium)
Galatasaray (Turkey)
Panathinaikos (Greece)
Spartak Moscow (Russia)
Sturm Graz (Austria)

1999/2000
Dynamo Kyiv (Ukraine)
Feyenoord (Netherlands)
Porto (Portugal)
Rosenborg (Norway)
Sparta Praha (Czech Republic)


Round of 16 Appearances by Nation (1999-2012):
12 - Portugal
6 - Netherlands
6 - Russia
5 - Greece
3 - Czech Republic
3 - Scotland
3 - Turkey
2 - Ukraine
1 - Austria
1 - Belgium
1 - Cyprus
1 - Denmark
1 - Norway
1 - Switzerland

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Videos: The Acting Skills of Francesco Totti

Italian TV commercial spots for Vodafone and Sky Sport that Francesco Totti has appeared in over the past couple of years.











Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Best Current Unbeaten Streaks in Europe

The longest league unbeaten streaks (10+ games) currently in top division European leagues. (As of Dec 12, 2011)

21 - FK Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova)
20 - Dynamo Kiev (Ukraine)
19 - FK Vardar Skopje (Macedonia)
17 - Debrecen (Hungary)
15 - Lille (France)
14 - CS Grevenmacher (Luxembourg)
14 - Juventus (Italy)
13 - Heerenveen (Netherlands)
13 - Partizan Belgrade (Serbia)
13 - İnter Bakı (Azerbaijan)
13 - Ironi Kiryat Shmona (Israel)
13 - FK Ekranas (Lithuania)
12 - FC Basel (Switzerland)
12 - Benfica (Portugal)
12 - FC Porto (Portugal)
12 - Konyaspor (Turkey)
12 - FK Željezničar (Bosnia-Herzegovina)
11 - Twente (Netherlands)
11 - Široki Brijeg (Bosnia-Herzegovina)
11 - Cliftonville FC (Northern Ireland)
10 - Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
10 - FC Lusitanos (Andorra)
10 - AC Libertas (San Marino)
10 - NK Maribor (Slovenia)
10 - HJK (Finland)

Monday, December 12, 2011

FIFA Rankings: Euro 2012 Groups

The current FIFA rankings of the Euro 2012 qualified nations.


AVG GROUP RANK - Group

5.75 - GROUP B
2 - Netherlands
3 - Germany
7 - Portugal
11 - Denmark

9.75 - GROUP C
1 - Spain
8 - Croatia
9 - Italy
21 - Republic of Ireland

23.25 - GROUP D
5 - England
15 - France
18 - Sweden
55 - Ukraine

31.25 - GROUP A
12 - Russia
14 - Greece
33 - Czech Republic
66 - Poland

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Qatar Stars League Club Logos

Club Logos from the Qatar Stars League.





Al-Ahli Doha



Al-Arabi Doha Sports Club



Al-Jaish (Army Club)



Al-Kharitiyath Sports Club



Al-Khor Sports Club



Al-Rayyan Sports Club



Al-Sadd Sports Club



Al-Wakrah Sports Club



Al-Gharafa Sports Club



Lekhwiya



Qatar SC



Umm-Salal Sports Club




A few players formerly based in Europe currently playing in Qatar:
Christian Wilhelmsson (Roma, Deportivo La Coruna, Nantes, Bolton Wanderers, Sweden)
Karim Ziani (Lorient, Sochaux, Marseille, VfL Wolfsburg, Kayserispor, Algeria)
Nadir Belhadj (Lyon, Lens, Portsmouth, Algeria)
Madjid Bougherra (Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton Athletic, Rangers, Algeria)
Zé Roberto (Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Hamburger SV, Brazil)
Afonso Alves (Malmö FF, Heerenveen, Middlesbrough, Brazil)
Mamadou Niang (Strasbourg, Marseille, Fenerbahçe, Senegal)
Abdul Kader Keïta (Lille, Lyon, Galatasaray, Cote d'Ivoire)
Bakari Koné (Lorient, Nice, Marseille, Cote d'Ivoire)
Aruna Dindane (Anderlecht, Lens, Portsmouth, Cote d'Ivoire)
Kanga Akalé (Sion, Zurich, Auxerre, Lens, Marseille, Cote d'Ivoire)
Youssef Safri (Coventry City, Norwich City, Southampton, Morocco)
Abdeslam Ouaddou (Nancy, Fulham, Rennes, Olympiacos, Valenciennes, Morocco)
Talal El Karkouri (PSG, Aris, Sunderland, Charlton Athletic, Morocco)

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Bundesliga Unique Internationals (Dec 2011)

Nations that are currently represented by a single player in the German Bundesliga.

Algeria - Chadli Amri (1.FC Kaiserslautern)

Bulgaria - Ilian Micanski (1.FC Kaiserslautern)

Egypt - Mohamed Zidan (Borussia Dortmund)

England - Michael Mancienne (Hamburger SV)

Finland - Teemu Pukki (FC Schalke 04)

Iceland - Gylfi Sigurdsson (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim)

Iran - Ashkan Dejagah (VfL Wolfsburg)

Macedonia - Nikolce Noveski (1.FSV Mainz 05)

Mali - Garra Dembélé (SC Freiburg)

Mexico - Maza (VfB Stuttgart)

Philippines - Kevin Ingreso (Hamburger SV)

Paraguay - Lucas Barrios (Borussia Dortmund)

Russia - Pavel Pogrebnyak (VfB Stuttgart)

Sierra Leone - Gibril Sankoh (FC Augsburg)

The Gambia - Dawda Bah (FC Augsburg)

Ukraine - Anatoliy Tymoshchuk (Bayern Munich)

Zambia - Andrew Sinkala (FC Augsburg)

Zimbabwe - Knowledge Musona (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim)

Monday, December 5, 2011

Players from the Middle East in Europe

Players from the Middle East (excluding UEFA members Israel, Cyprus, and Turkey) currently playing in top division leagues in Europe.

Bahrain
Abdulla Omar - Neuchâtel Xamax (Switzerland)
Mahmood Al Ajmi - KF Tirana (Albania)

Egypt
Mohamed Zidan - Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
Ahmed Elmohamady - Sunderland (England)
Mohamed El Gabas - Lierse SK (Belgium)
Mohamed El Yamani - Floriana FC (Malta)
Mohamed Tawakol - PFK Svetkavitsa (Bulgaria)
Islam Magdy - PFK Svetkavitsa (Bulgaria)
Mahmoud Abelaati - PFK Svetkavitsa (Bulgaria)

Iran
Ashkan Dejagah - VfL Wolfsburg (Germany)
Javad Nekounam - Osasuna (Spain)
Masoud Shojaei - Osasuna (Spain)
Reza Ghoochannejhad - VV St. Truiden (Belgium)

Iraq
Imad Khalili - IFK Norrköping (Sweden)
Anmar Almubaraki - Heracles Almelo (Netherlands)
Dylan Nissan - CS Petange (Luxembourg)

Jordan
Thaer Bawab - Gaz Metan Medias (Romania)

Kuwait
None

Lebanon
Abbas Hassan - IFK Norrköping (Sweden)
Yousef Fakhro - Trelleborg FF (Sweden)
Zakaria Charara - Ermis Aradippou (Cyprus)
Mahmud Suleiman - B36 Torshavn (Faroe Islands)

Oman
Ali Al Habsi - Wigan Athletic (England)

Palestine
Imad Zatara - Syrianska FC (Sweden)

Qatar
Hussein Yasser - Lierse SK (Belgium)

Saudi Arabia
None

Syria
Louay Chanko - Aalborg BK (Denmark)
Sanharib Malki - Roda JC (Netherlands)
Gaby Jallo - SC Heracles Almelo (Netherlands)
Mohammed Abdulrahman - GAIS Göteborg (Sweden)

UAE
None

Yemen
None

Thursday, December 1, 2011

CONCACAF FIFA Rankings: Nov 2007 vs Nov 2011

Comparing CONCACAF rankings from November 2007 with the current November 2011 rankings.

Format:
+/- Ranking - Nation (Current Rank)

Better Current Ranking 
+88 - Puerto Rico (108)
+74 - Antigua and Barbuda (83)
+72 - El Salvador (69)
+63 - Grenada (107)
+63 - Belize (140)
+51 - Jamaica (47)
+43 - St. Kitts and Nevis (117)
+33 - Aruba (172)
+29 - Bermuda (109)
+29 - US Virgin Islands (177)
+28 - Suriname (122)
+18 - Bahamas (153)
+18 - Dominican Republic (129)
+17 - Dominica (173)
+14 - Panama (52)
+14 - Guatemala (90)
+11 - Cayman Islands (181)
+8 - Nicaragua (154)
+5 - Costa Rica (64)
+2 - Anguilla (197)
+1 - Montserrat (206)

Same Current Ranking
+/- 0 - Honduras (54)

Worse Current Ranking
-67 - St. Vincent and the Grenadines (146)
-37 - Barbados (161)
-21 - Cuba (92)
-17 - Canada (72)
-15 - USA (34)
-14 - British Virgin Islands (194)
-13 - Turks and Caicos Islands (195)
-11 - Haiti (78)
-8 - St. Lucia (185)
-5 - Mexico (20)
-4 - Guyana (97)
-3 - Trinidad and Tobabo (86)