South American Soccer / Football Cheerleaders

Apparently soccer / football cheerleaders are quite popular in South America. Here are a few of them from Argentina. Maybe someday you’ll see these girls at the performing at the FIFA World Cup. Click on the thumbnails to see large versions of the pictures.

Julio Baptista AS Roma Official Presentation

AS Roma new Brazilian player, forward Julio Baptista, shows his new jersey as he poses during a press conference at Trigoria, in Rome on August 22, 2008.

Baptista, who joined Real from Sevilla in 2005, had been hoping to leave the Spanish champions where he has endured an unhappy time, warming the bench more often than running around on the pitch and was even loaned out to Arsenal in a swap with Jose Antonio Reyes during the 2006/07 season. Roma have been chasing the player known as ‘The Beast’ but his agent last month ruled out a loan deal with the Italian club.

Video: Chicago Fire 1 – LA Galaxy 0 (Major League Soccer)

CARSON, CA. – John Thorrington scored the game’s only goal, once again popping up to knock off the Los Angeles Galaxy, as the Chicago Fire claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory Thursday night at The Home Depot Center.

Three key people in familiar to U.S. national team fans were on different sides of the clash. The Galaxy welcomed coaches Bruce Arena and Dave Sarachan, while the Chicago Fire marked the debut of Brian McBride as a starter. McBride had the bigger impact, notching an assist on the winning goal in the 65th minute.

That added a bit of intrigue to a game that was missing big names and key players. Landon Donovan, David Beckham and the newly signed Eddie Lewis were absent for the Galaxy, while the Fire were without Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Gonzalo Segares and Marco Pappa. The players had all participated in games for their national teams the night before.

With the result, Chicago remains in 2nd place in the MLS Eastern Conference while LA dips to 5th in the league’s Western Conference. Surely the return of Landovan and David Beckham will lead to an improvement over last night’s meager performance by the Galaxy.

Video: Men’s Bronze Medal Olympic Soccer / Football Highlights and Summary – August 22, 2008

FULL GAME HIGH DEFINITION VIDEOS of all of the Beijing 2008 Olympic soccer / football games are available at at this link.

Jo stars as Brazil claim bronze

Click here for the game highlights video

A Diego strike and a brace from Jo gave Brazil their second bronze medal in four Olympics following a 3-0 win over Belgium at Shanghai Stadium.

Save for a good spell of pressure in the 15 minutes before half-time, the South Americans were largely in control and the scoreline was a fairly accurate description of their dominance, although Belgium were perhaps unlucky not to score on a hot and humid evening in eastern China.

Indeed, the Diables Rouges were quickest off the blocks and had a chance as early as the second minute when Maarten Martens’ swerving right-footed shot almost evaded Renan, the Brazilian goalkeeper doing well to guide the ball into his arms.

Soon after, Faris Haroun fed Tom De Mul on the right hand side, who crossed inside the box looking for Maartens. But with the Belgium captain shaping to shoot, Rafinha showed great awareness to nip in front of his man and clear the ball.

Manchester City striker Jo had a great opportunity to open the scoring with ten minutes on the clock, but put his free header from Ronaldinho’s corner wide of the target. The latter, meanwhile, found himself in the referee’s notebook on the 26th minute for simulation.

A minute later, Brazil broke the deadlock. Jo, gathering possession in midfield, fed the ball to Rafinha, whose cross was turned home by Diego under pressure from Thomas Vermaelen and Haroun.

After going behind, Belgium played their best football of the match. Maartens beat Rafinha down Brazil’s right hand side and whipped in a cross with the onrushing Kevin Mirallas inches away from applying a decisive touch.

The architect of that chance had two good opportunities in two minutes to draw Brazil level. Right-sided midfielder De Mul found the AZ Alkmaar midfielder inside the box, but he screwed his shot wide. Then, after some great approach play down the left, Maartens’ goalbound shot – which had Renan beaten – was deflected out for a corner by Breno’s thigh.

However, with the Europeans committing men forward, gaps were left at the back and they paid the penalty as half-time approached. Ronaldinho played the ball to Ramires on the right, who struck the a shot inside the near post. Logan Bailly parried, but the ball fell straight into the path of Jo, who headed the deflection into the empty net.

Trailing 2-0, Belgium coach Jean Francois de Sart made a double substitution in the 54th minute with Maartens and Mirallas coming off for Landry Mulemo and Anthony van den Borre. However, the move had little impact, as aside from an off-target Vermaelen header and Jan Vertonghen’s left-footed drive which was inches away from the target, the Europeans rarely threatened Brazil’s goal.

In a dull second 45, Brazil’s attacking forays were as rare as the Belgians, but substitute Thiago Silva stung the hands of Bailly with a long-range drive. The Racing Genk goalkeeper was called into action once again, saving smartly to deny Marcelo his second goal of the tournament.

With seven minutes left to play, Sepp De Roover had a great opportunity to pull one back, when he twisted his way past Marcelo in the box and fired a shot through the legs of Alex Silva. The ball was turned away unconvincingly by Renan’s right wrist and the chance was gone.

Jo added Brazil’s third with virtually the last kick of the game, sprinting clear after being released by Diego. The tall striker outstripped Vermaelen for pace and threaded the shot through the legs of the unfortunate Belgium keeper.

So it’s Dunga’s Brazil to fly to Beijing to receive their bronze medals on Saturday night, while Belgium head home empty handed. With this victory, a replica of the 1996 podium standings is still on the cards, providing Nigeria beat Argentina in Saturday’s final. But will lightning strike twice at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament? Time will tell.

Ronaldinho proves that he is not fat

Everton FC Umbro 2008-09 Third Kit / Jersey

Everton FC have revealed their striking new third kit.

The fluorescent yellow jersey will be worn for the first time on Saturday, August 23, 2008 when the Toffees take on West Brom.

The kit, which also comprises navy shorts and yellow socks, will be the change jersey for European matches too.

Names and numbers will be available in navy, with the special Uefa Cup numbers to be launched prior to the first round of the competition.

The eye-catching colour choice has proved to be a fashionable choice, with the likes of FC Barcelona adopting the flourescent look in recent years.

Everton midfield stars Mikel Arteta and Tim Cahill donned the kit for our photoshoot and were impressed with the new offering.

Here are the Everton home and away kits for the 2008-09 Barclays Premier League season.