Final Nominees for FIFA Goal of the Year Puskas Award

Time for vote casting for the FIFA Puskas Award has come to an end. Feeling excited to know who are the nominees? Yes hold your hearts as here are final 10 Nominees of FIFA Puskas Award:

Tim Cahill

billtnj / Foter / CC BY-SA

The Australian footballer and the all time top scorer, Tim Cahill is the nominee. As a matter of fact, he is the only Australian player who has set a record for scoring at three World Cups in different years. His incredible strike at FIFA World cup 2014 was over-the-shoulder left-foot volley is still unmatchable.

Robin Van Persie

wonker / Foter / CC BY

Everyone knows the battle among the Netherlands and Spain, held in Brazil 2014. But one clash that created a sensation among the audience was of Robin Van Persie’s sublime header from almost 15 yards towards Iker Casillas.

James Rodriguez

Calciomercato24 / Foter / CC BY

Yet another beautiful volley was performed at Brazil 2014 world stage by none other than Columbian superstar James Rodriguez. The lethal volley against Uruguay also let Rodriquez won the title of Goal of the Tournament.

Diego Costa

The stunning bicycle kick that gone overhead by Diego Costa in match of Atletico Madrid against Getafe shows this player burning desire for scoring. If he carried on like this then he will become unstoppable.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Doha Stadium Plus / Foter / CC BY

Talking about the goals of the year and not mention Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not possible. Winner of the last year award for a stunning bicycle kick, this year he had gone inventive. He used his infamous backheel kick to a cross that landed behind him and sent the ball home.

Pajtim Kasami

The Swiss phenomenal player Pajtim Kasami one incredible hit made the match leveled. After chasing the long ball, he took the ball on his chest and striked it right to the goal.

Stephanie Roche

In the match of Peamount United versus Wexford Youths, a remarkable world class hit from Stephanie Roche kept the audience mouths hanging open. Another remarkable fact is that this hit was done in the same week of Ibrahimovic and Kasami’s hit.

Marco Fabian

The Mexican player Marco Fabian put life to a soulless and goalless match by controlling a high ball with a superb first touch and flaked the keeper with a 4 yards distance.

Camilo Sanvezzo

The match is on its peak, only 10 minutes are remaining. It seemed like Whitecaps needs to up the level hurry. Then came the Camilo Sanvezzo who shot his best flying scissor kick to the corner and won the hearts of audience.

Hisato Sato

With a neck to neck side trailing, Hisato Sato picked the ball with his back and brushes it in the air and sends a looping hit over the keeper. It was a priceless moment.

Final Nominees for FIFA Goal of the Year Puskas Award

Oregon Now Top 4 - College Football Playoff Top 25

The second edition of the College Football Playoff was released on the Tuesday for all the fans were great exited to find out that Mississippi State and the Florida State still hold the top two spots respectively. As per the expectations of the people the Oregon, moved to the fourth spot which was being considered to be an important spot. The Tigers have remained on the number 3 spot after they edged the Rebels. The tigers are still the rated one loss team of the ranking. The list for the rest of the team is as follows:

1. Mississippi State (8-0)

2. Florida State (8-0)

3. Auburn (7-1)

4. Oregon (8-1)

5. Alabama (7-1)

6. TCU (7-1)

7. Kansas State (7-1)

8. Michigan State (7-1)

9. Arizona State (7-1)

10. Notre Dame (7-1)

11. Ole Miss (7-2)

12. Baylor (7-1)

13. Nebraska (8-1)

14. Ohio State (7-1)

15. Oklahoma (6-2)

16. LSU (7-2)

17. Utah (6-2)

18. UCLA (7-2)

19. Arizona (6-2)

20. Georgia (6-2)

21. Clemson (6-2)

22. Duke (7-1)

23. West Virginia (6-3)

24. Georgia Tech (7-2)

25. Wisconsin (6-2)

The committee will issue its ranking weekly on Tuesdays through the end of the season.

Schlüsselbein2007 / Foter / CC BY

Oregon Now Top 4 - College Football Playoff Top 25

Cricket ODI, Australia beat India by 4 Wickets in a thrilling Encounter!

Cricket News

Australia’s summer is just getting better and better with every day passing. After managing a comprehensive test series victory over India and then winning their first ODI of Carlton Mid Day Tri Series, the men in Golden slides past a competitive Indian side today. It was a brilliant performance by the likes of Aaron Finch with the bat and Mitchell Starc with the bowl for the Kangaroos. However, the brilliant century scored by Rohit Sharma went in vain at the end for Team India.

After winning the toss, Indian Captain MS Dhoni decided to bat first on a batting friendly MCG pitch. However, that decision immediately back fired when Shikhar Dhawan got out in the very fast over, with Starc getting his first of the match. After losing the first wicket, Team India just couldn’t materialize a long partnership. Virat, Dhoni, Rahane, all failed to play against an imperious bowling of Mitchell Starc. He took 6 wickets for 43 in his 10 overs.

However, thanks to Rohit Sharma who stayed there and played brilliant shorts all around the ground. The Right handed Batsman came as an opener and scored 138 runs for India’s benefit. He got a little help from Raina as well who managed a 53 in the lower middle order. After the end of 50 overs, Team India put 267 on the board with the loss of 8 wickets.

Australia started their run chase in an impressive manner. First Finch and Warner gave a solid start to their team by building a 51 runs first wicket partnership. After David Warner got out to Umesh Yadav, Watson came in and started just from where his partner left. The 2nd wicket partnership managed 64 runs between them. Finch was in imperious form and scored 96 runs after coming as an opener.

Just when Australia were looking in a comfortable position to win the match, key wickets began to fell down. At one stage, Kangaroos were 2 down for 215 but then 4 wickets fell in quick succession leaving them to 246 for 6. However, a little cameo by Faulkner and Haddin in the end helped Australia to go over the line. With 1 over still to go, Australia managed a nail biting 4 wicket victory over India.

Scorecard:

India

267-8 in 50 overs

Rohit Sharma: 138 M. Starc: 6/43

Australia:

269-6 in 49 overs

Aaron Finch: 96 U. Yadav: 2/55

Match Center

Cricket ODI, Australia beat India by 4 Wickets in a thrilling Encounter!

No favours for favourites in World Cup qualifying

France and Portugal will be made to work hard for their place at next year's World Cup finals, after being given arguably the two toughest draws in the play-off stage.

The 2006 runners up France, were beaten into second place in their qualifying group by Serbia. They now play the Republic of Ireland, who are unbeaten under current boss Giovanni Trappattoni.

Trappattoni's men won a lot of praise for their performances in a difficult group, that also included France's World Cup conquerors, Italy. The Irish drew home and away against the holders and will be looking to take that good form into the World Cup play-off games.

The Football Association of Ireland chief executive John Delaney said: "I've spoken to the manager, he's quite relaxed about it.

"We don't lose games on many goals, we don't win games on many goals. I wouldn't expect that pattern to change."

France boss Raymond Domenech has come under almost relentless pressure since leading the nation to an early exit at Euro 2008 and defeat to the Republic could signal the end of his five year tenure. However, like Delaney, he too seems quietly confident.

"They're a team who have not lost in qualifying, who drew with Italy in their last game after conceding a late goal." said the 57 year old. "We know they're tough, but so are we."

Meanwhile, Christiano Ronaldo's Portugal will be happy just to have reached the play-offs, after a slow start to the group stage, which included an embarrassing draw with Albania, very nearly put paid to any hopes of qualification and ruined their odds of winning the World Cup.

Under pressure boss Carlos Queiroz will have been hoping for an easier time in the play-offs but unfortunately for him, Portugal have been drawn against a highly talented Bosnia-Herzegovina side.

The Bosnians may well have qualified automatically had they not been drawn in a group alongside European champions Spain. Nevertheless, they will fancy their chances against a Portugal team that could be without their World Footballer of the Year, who was injured during a recent qualifier with Hungary.

Play-off draw in full:

Republic of Ireland v France

Portugal v Bosnia-Herzegovina

Greece v Ukraine

Russia v Slovenia

Source: ScoresPro.com

Heskey considers future as England ring the changes

England striker Emile Heskey may leave Aston Villa during the January transfer window in a bid to cement his place at next year's World Cup.

The 31 year old has been a regular under national boss Fabio Capello but has struggled to break into the Villa first team of late and may now decide that a transfer is the best option.

"I will have to sit down and think about my next move," said Heskey.

"I don't know whether I can get a World Cup place if I'm not playing for Villa."

His concerns appear well founded, with Capello previously stating that his players should be fully fit and playing regular football if they are to make his squad. Heskey is not currently fulfilling the second criterion and fears that he may find his international future in jeopardy if the situation doesn't change soon.

He continued: "I'm happy to be playing for England and, obviously, not playing at club level is difficult,

"It's something I will have to look at when I get back and try to address it."

In the meantime, it does seem likely that Heskey will start England's next match at home to Belarus, as fellow striker Wayne Rooney has withdrawn from the squad with a calf injury.

Rooney picked up the knock in Saturday's defeat to Ukraine and is one of a number of players set to miss the final World Cup qualifying match.

Also sidelined is goalkeeper Robert Green, who is suspended and Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, who is a doubt with a groin problem.

Green was sent off against Ukraine after bringing down Artem Milevskiy and he is likely to be replaced by David James. Manchester United's Ben Foster has also been drafted into the squad.

Source: ScoresPro.com

Will any of the Premier League's strugglers put together a run and beat the drop?

The three teams currently occupying the relegation places in the Premier League seem to have all but given up hope of survival with three games to go. West Brom could be relegated this weekend if they lose to Wigan and other results go against them but the Baggies have been heading that way all season and never really looked as if they were going to survive. The real disappointments though are Newcastle and Middlesbrough who both have fairly good players yet they still seem unable to put in a decent performance as they attempt to reach survival.

Last season both Fulham and Bolton Wanderers looked destined to go down but they both put together what were frankly amazing runs and retained their Premier League status. With Newcastle and Middlesbrough facing each other on Monday night one of those sides could snatch a victory and start their push while the loser would be all but consigned to relegation. The only saving grace for these two troubled clubs is the equally poor form of Sunderland and Hull City, Sunderland are four points clear of safety with just one win in their last six games while Hull are a precarious three points above the drop zone and haven't managed a win since March 4.

Hull City face Stoke on Saturday in a game that represents their best chance to move away from the drop zone. The game will take place at Hull's KC Stadium and Stoke are a side who do not travel well, winning just once on the road so far this season. If Hull do fail to see off Stoke I would suggest that either Newcastle or Boro may just survive in their place but they also need to make sure they get enough points on the board to overtake the Tigers.

Newcastle's woes have been deepened by the current problem with Joey Barton, who has been suspended by the club following his red-card in the 3-0 defeat to Liverpool last weekend. There are strong rumours to suggest a back-room bust up between Barton and manager Alan Shearer took place after the game and this is exactly the kind of distraction sides battling the drop don't need, especially at this point in the season. Newcastle's final three fixtures see them take on Middlesbrough and Fulham at home before a trip to Aston Villa on the last day of the season, I would suggest they need at least six points to survive but given the way both Sunderland and Hull are performing they may need just a win and a draw, though I'm not convinced they will even manage to get that.

Of the clubs in the mire it is Middlesbrough who have impressed me the most in their recent fixtures. They saw off Hull City 3-1 before a draw with Fulham, however Boro hammered Fulham and were only denied a win by an exceptional performance by Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer - ironically a former Boro player. They suffered defeats at the hands of Manchester United and Arsenal, though this is no disgrace but their remaining games are fairly tough. They face a trip to rivals Newcastle before a home game against Aston Villa and they end the season with a visit to West Ham's Upton Park. Like Newcastle they probably need at least six points but they have a tough run-in and to be honest I doubt they'll do it.

Hull need to make their next two games count as they face Manchester United at home on the last day of the season, despite home advantage I very much doubt they'll get anything out of United and their home game against Stoke City followed by a trip to Bolton Wanderers are now critical ties for the Tigers. As I said ealier Stoke do not travel well and Hull should go into the game with some confidence, they'll need to get at Stoke straight away and not allow themselves to be bullied by the physical nature of the Potters' game. The trip to Bolton will not be an easy one but Hull boss Phil Brown should know all about Bolton having spent a number of years there as assistant manager, the Wanderers have been inconsistent all season but if  Hull can get the first goal it should set them in good stead - Bolton haven't come back from a goal down to win a game all season.

Sunderland also have to travel to Bolton's Reebok Stadium and they will be eager to repay the Wanderers who ran out 4-1 winners in the corresponding fixture in November. Bolton's form of late hasn't been great but then again neither has Sunderland's and it wouldn't surprise me if the game ended in a stalemate, as Bolton are still not mathematically safe themselves yet and will not want to lose to a team below them. They then face an away day at Portsmouth which is never an easy place to go before taking on Chelsea at the Stadium of Light on the final day of the campaign. I don't hold out much hope of Sunderland picking up many points from these fixtures myself and their survival could hinge on whether any of the teams below them can actually put a run of results together and overtake them.

The relegation battle this season has offered little in terms of spectatcle.  In previous years teams have started to put runs together and push away from the bottom three but this just hasn't been the case this year with no one seeming to even want to get out of the bottom three. If Hull and Sunderland do manage to get something out of this weekend's fixtures it will put the pressure on Middlesbrough and Newcastle who will both desperately need to win when they meet on May 11. I'm an optimistic person in general and my great hope is that the game between Newcastle and Boro will indeed be a hard-fought game with both teams playing for their survival, if one side does manage to emerge victorious I would even suggest they might be the ones who beat the drop and upset the football odds by sending Hull City or Sunderland down in their place.

Source: ScoresPro.com

Could we be set for the ultimate El Classico?

Whatever you're doing this weekend my advice is to make sure you've got the time to tune in to 'El Classico' on Saturday. Barcelona and Real Madrid games are always high-tempo affairs full of passion and Saturday's game will be no different, and could indeed be one of the most exciting encounters between these two Spanish giants for some years.

With five games to go Barcelona's lead has been cut to just four points and should Real emerge victorious at the weekend they will have closed the gap to a single point – so there is a lot riding on this encounter. Real have been on a fantastic run, they've won 17 of their last 18 games and will go into this full of confidence.

Barca have a Champions League semi-final to prepare for but should still throw everything into this game. They've been rocked by Rafael Marquez's season ending injury which is a massive blow for the Catalans as he has been outstanding all season.

Not only does this game have a lot riding on it but there will be some of the world's best talent on display. In Lionel Messi Barca have one of the world's most exciting and skilful players but it is in midfield where Barca really shine. Andres Iniesta is, for me, the best midfielder in the world. He can score and create (he assisted three goals against Sevilla) as well as having excellent vision and passing ability. His partners in midfield Yaya Toure and Xavi are also top-quality and when those three are on song there is little the opposition can do to break down Barca's lightning attacks.

Real Madrid may not be the team they once were but there is still plenty of quality in their side. For Real Madrid their key players will perhaps be Gonzalo Higuain and Raul, the two strikers. Raul has been at the top of his game for well over a decade now. Higuain is the perfect heir to Raul's throne and has flourished alongside the Bernabeu favourite this season, it will be an interesting battle between the Madrid attack and a Barca defence minus Marquez.

Real have home advantage and the crowd will be well behind their team. In a way this is perfect preparation for Barca who face a daunting trip to Chelsea next Wednesday. I'm anticipating a high-tempo game with plenty of attacking football and hopefully plenty of goals. Both Iker Casillas in the Real goal and Victor Valdes between the posts for Barca are decent keepers and both are capable of pulling off a wonder save. I won't risk making a football prediction concerning the winner, Real need the win more but Barca know if they take all three points the title will be all but theirs. One thing is for sure though – the game will provide a great spectacle and should not be missed!

Source: ScoresPro.com