Swedish superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic greeted fans of his new club Paris Saint-Germain in an ostentatious presentation ceremony in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris on Wednesday. Having completed his €20million (24.5million USD, £15.7million) move to the ambitious French side from AC Milan earlier in the day, the 30-year-old striker made a brief appearance at the Place du Trocadero to the west of the city centre. In front of several hundred fans, onlookers and journalists, the Sweden captain posed with a PSG jersey before kicking a ball high into the crowd, as Paris' iconic Eiffel Tower shimmered in the sunshine behind him. He was then ushered to a waiting car by security personnel wearing black suits and sunglasses, as supporters chanted 'Ibra! Ibra!' and 'Merci Zlatan!' ('Thank you, Zlatan!'). Earlier, he had appeared in front of the media at PSG's Parc des Princes stadium, after signing a three-year contract that will reportedly earn him €14million a year. "I want to thank Paris Saint-Germain and [sporting director] Leonardo for the great work they've done," Ibrahimovic told reporters. "I think they've made something that looked impossible, possible. I'm very happy to be sitting here. After lots of talks, I'm finally a PSG player. It's a big step in my career, another dream come true. "I think this is a very interesting project and I had no doubts," he added. "In my mind I was very clear and I knew what I wanted. I want to be part of this club's history and I'm pretty sure we will make history. I came here to win, not for anything else and I'm pretty sure we'll win some trophies." It's a big step in my career, another dream come true. Ibrahimovic on his move to PSG Ibrahimovic follows in the footsteps of former Milan colleague Thiago Silva, who completed a move to Paris last week that made the Brazil centre-back the most expensive player in French football history. The departures of Thiago Silva and Ibrahimovic have robbed Milan of their two brightest stars, but Ibrahimovic said he had not been encouraged to leave the cash-strapped San Siro club with whom he won the 2011 Italian title. "No-one at Milan influenced me," he said. "It was my choice and my choice alone. I was very happy to be at Milan. They gave me my smile back [after a disappointing season at Barcelona in 2009-10]. It's a club that will stay in my heart. They helped me and my family and I don't want to put a shadow over my time there. They made it easy for me to come to PSG so I thank them and I wish them all the best." Having seen their side pipped to the Ligue 1 title by Montpellier last season, PSG's owners, Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), have redoubled their efforts to turn the team into one of Europe's leading sides. "I'm very proud to announce our biggest transfer, the superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic," said PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi. "I'm very happy that he's here and that we've signed him today. I'm sure he'll add great value to PSG, but also to the French championship." Ibrahimovic is the fourth player to have joined the club from Serie A this summer, after Thiago Silva, Argentine forward Ezequiel Lavezzi and 19-year-old midfielder Marco Verratti, who was also presented to the press on Wednesday. The signings of Ibrahimovic and Verratti take PSG's spending on transfers alone to around €100million this summer and over €200million since QSI bought the club a year ago. Leonardo said that the acquisition of Ibrahimovic represented the end of the club's summer spending. "The market is closed for new arrivals," he said. "With Zlatan we've finished in the transfer window this year." Ibrahimovic, who underwent a medical examination at a Paris hospital on Wednesday morning, met fans outside the PSG club store on the Champs Elysees after the press conference, before being whisked to the Eiffel Tower. Formerly of Malmo, Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona and Milan, Ibrahimovic has won league titles in three different countries and finished as the top scorer in Serie A last season.

United start world tour with narrow win Manchester United started a six-game pre-season world tour with a 1-0 win over AmaZulu before a capacity 50,000 crowd at Moses Mabhida Stadium Wednesday. Federico Macheda scored the winner midway through the first half for the Red Devils, who came closest to increasing the lead just before time when another Italian, substitute Davide Petrucci, rattled the crossbar. It was a closer match than anticipated, with many South Africans believing mid-table AmaZulu would be swept aside by the former European champions even though they were lacking many first-choice players like Wayne Rooney. Political icon Nelson Mandela, the first democratically elected president of South Africa, was remembered before the kick-off with the teams wishing him a happy 94th birthday in song. "My players tired during the second half which was quite even," said United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. "I'm happy with the result and it was nice to give Nelson Mandela a birthday present of a United victory. I gave a few young players a chance tonight and we have high hopes for two or three of them. Jesse Lingard has got a lot of potential and Scott Wootton impressed in the heart of defence." United left new signing Shinji Kagawa from Japan on the bench as they started with a mix of experienced stars like captain Rio Ferdinand and young players Robbie Brady, Scott Wootton, Frederic Veseli and Jesse Lingard. I gave a few young players a chance tonight and we have high hopes for two or three of them. United boss Sir Alex Ferguson The Red Devils were quick into their stride on a clear mid-winter evening in the Indian Ocean city of Durban and could have taken the lead inside two minutes had Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez been sharper. Kapini failed to grasp a close-range Macheda shot and the ball fell invitingly for the Mexican in front of goal, but he failed to connect with the ball and it was hastily cleared. United were dominant in the early stages against nervous opponents and the 2012 English Premier League runners-up to Manchester City would not have been flattered by a three-goal lead after ten minutes. Macheda broke the deadlock on 20 minutes by finishing off good work from Paul Scholes and Dimitar Berbatov with a close-range shot that touched the hand of the AmaZulu goalkeeper and the foot of a defender before crossing the line. The goal triggered greater urgency from AmaZulu, a mid-table South African Premiership side coached by Swede Roger Palmgren, and Ayanda Dlamini twice threatened the visiting defence. Bulgarian Berbatov was unlucky not to score a second goal for United before half-time as his sweetly struck volley off a corner was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Zimbabwean Kapini. A frenetic start to the second half saw both teams come close to scoring and AmaZulu posed more of a threat as it progressed, although they were continually let down by wild shooting. Kagawa, a June signing from German champions Borussia Dortmund, finally came on one minute from time after a prolonged wait on the touchline before the ball went out of play. United play Ajax Cape Town Saturday before flying to China for a midweek clash against Shanghai Shenhua, the club that recently signed Chelsea's UEFA Champions League hero Didier Drogba. The Old Trafford club will also face Valerenga in Norway, Barcelona in Sweden and Hanover in Germany during a 22,000-mile (35,400-kilometre) pre-season tour before opening their Premier League campaign against Everton.

Schelin: We can beat the best ( Though regular qualifiers and invariably ranked among the favourites, Sweden have yet to win a major global competition. Lotta Schelin and her team-mates came close to putting that record straight at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011™, where they eventually had to make do with third place after an impressive run. Speaking exclusively to FIFA.com, the Lyon forward reflected on the lessons of the past and voiced her optimism at Sweden’s chances of finally striking gold in the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament at London 2012. “We know we haven’t been given an easy group, but we can beat Canada, even though they are a very good team and always perform well,” said Schelin, assessing one of Sweden’s opponents in Group F, which also features South Africa and Japan, the side she expects to push them hardest for first place in the section. “We’re aware that whoever finishes third will still have a chance of going through, but our objective is to win all our matches.” Unfinished business Coming as it does a little over a year after their semi-final defeat to the eventual world champions at Germany 2011, Sweden’s meeting with Japan presents the Scandinavians with an opportunity to exact some revenge. That third place at the last World Cup has boosted our confidence going into the Olympics. Lotta Schelin on Sweden's chances “The Japanese are very strong, but when we played them we didn’t perform the way we had been doing earlier in the tournament,” explained the 28-year-old striker, reflecting on the fact that Sweden had as good a chance as ever of going all the way in Germany after having beaten the mighty USA in the group phase. The Swedes’ momentum was checked, however, by injury to their midfield linchpin and skipper Caroline Seger, forcing her to pull out of the starting line-up just before kick-off in that fateful semi-final. Taking full advantage of Seger’s absence, Homare Sawa and Co then turned in a superb team display to win 3-1. “They played a great game, but that was also because we weren’t 100 per cent and we lost our bearings a bit on the pitch,” lamented the Lyon player, who gained some consolation by helping the Swedes to victory in the match for third place against a France side containing several of her club colleagues. Born in Trangsund, near Stockholm, Schelin nevertheless believes that Japan’s win was good for women’s football, and that the fact that a different team came through to claim the ultimate prize is an indication of how much the women’s game has improved. Turning to Sweden’s hopes for London, she said: “That third place at the last World Cup has boosted our confidence going into the Olympics. Our performances there showed that we can beat the best. We used to beat the USA in friendlies but the fact that we defeated them in a World Cup changes a lot of things for us from a mental viewpoint. It’s in those kinds of tournaments that the real matches are played.” Third time lucky? Currently preparing for the third Olympics of her brilliant career, Schelin believes that the absence of Germany from London 2012 is another encouraging sign for the Swedes: “The Germans are very strong and they’ve often blocked our path. In 2008 we lost to them in extra time in the quarter-finals, and I almost felt a sense of relief when I found out they wouldn’t be there this year (laughs). A medal would make all the difference. We finished fourth in 2004 and nobody remembers that. Lotta Schelin on her Olympic dream “Along with the USA, Germany used to snaffle up pretty much all the titles, but these days you have to watch out for Brazil, Japan and Sweden too.” The Lyon star’s first appearance at the Games came in Athens eight years ago. “I’d only played four times for my country and I didn’t think I’d make the side,” she said. “There was another striker with a pretty similar game to me, but she got injured and the coach put her faith in me. I was only 20 and I didn’t fully appreciate the significance of it all.” Since then Schelin has gone on to become one of the greatest players in the women’s game. Indeed, she has just enjoyed unquestionably the best season of her career, winning a historic French Cup, French league and UEFA Champions League treble with Lyon and scoring the small matter of 38 goals in the process. The trip to London could hardly have come at a better time for the Swedish sensation, who is at the peak of her powers and has genuine designs on a place on the podium. “A medal would make all the difference,” she said. “We finished fourth in 2004 and nobody remembers that.” Intent on making up for past disappointments, the determined Schelin has her sights set on one thing only: leaving London with a much coveted piece of gold hanging from her neck.

New York, Houston close on leaders e Thierry Henry's stunning second-half strike secured a 1-0 Major League Soccer win for the New York Red Bulls against Chicago Fire on Wednesday. The former Arsenal and Barcelona striker controlled a diagonal pass on his chest before unleashing a left-footed volley which flew in off the far post in the 71st minute. The victory lifted New York to second place in the Eastern Conference standings - one point adrift of Sporting Kansas City, who went down 2-1 against Houston at BBVA Compass Stadium. Calen Carr's netted a goal in each half for the Dynamo, with Kei Kamara's 42nd-minute equaliser for Sporting in between. The Los Angeles Galaxy scored twice in the final 10 minutes to salvage a 2-2 draw against Vancouver at BC Place. David Beckham's deflected shot and 17-year-old Jose Villarreal's curling strike - his first MLS goal - nicked the point for the defending MLS Cup champions after first-half goals from Gershon Koffie and Barry Robson had put the Whitecaps in the driving seat. Montreal edged New England 2-1 at Stade Saputo, Sanna Nyassi's brilliant second-half volley proving the difference between the teams after Patrice Bernier's penalty opener for the Impact had been cancelled out by Lee Nguyen before the break. The Western Conference-leading San Jose Earthquakes extended their advantage to seven points over Real Salt Lake with a 2-1 win against FC Dallas. First-half goals from Marvin Chavez and Alan Gordon put the hosts in command before Hernan Pertuz grabbed an 89th-minute consolation. Toronto FC clinched their third straight win with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory against Colorado 2-1 at BMO Field. Ryan Johnson and substitute Andrew Wiedeman were on target in the second half to condemn the Rapids - who had taken a first-half lead through Conor Casey - to a fourth consecutive loss. Finally, Miller Bolanos' 16th-minute goal gave Chivas USA a 1-0 triumph over the Portland Timbers at the Home Depot Center.

Goal sprees and a Swedish sensation Goal sprees from Atletico Mineiro, Kashiwa Reysol and Los Angeles Galaxy make FIFA.com’s latest statistical review, along with a 16-year-old Swede, a club-changing Uruguayan and a Shakhtar Donetsk rout. 16 years and 269 days was the age at which Melker Hallberg rose from the bench to snatch Kalmar a 2-1 comeback victory over Swedish Allsvenskan leaders Elfsborg in Round 15 on Sunday. A header from Daniel Mendes, 31, had cancelled out a sumptuous curler from the 36-year-old Anders Svensson, before the former made way for Hallberg in the 73rd minute. The midfielder was probably only summoned from the bench because captain Henrik Rydstrom, who made his Kalmar debut two years before Hallberg was born, was suspended. The teenager, who has been likened to Freddie Ljungberg, nevertheless took his chance in style, collecting the ball from the right flank in the last minute, cutting inside and cracking home a superb strike from outside the box for his maiden Allsvenskan goal. The result allowed Malmo, who were six points behind Elfsborg having played a game more heading into Round 11, cut the leaders’ gap to just three points with the teams having played 15 times apiece. 16 clubs have now been defended by Sebastian Abreu – including two in different spells – after the striker debuted for Figueirense on Saturday. A recent loan move from Botafogo made the Florianopolis outfit the 35-year-old’s third Brazilian employers, while he has also played in his native Uruguay, Argentina, Spain, Mexico, Israel and Greece. And Abreu’s Figueira bow appeared set to end successfully when he left the field in the 63rd minute of the visit of Atletico Mineiro, given that he had led the line impressively and his side had recovered from an early Ronaldinho penalty to establish a 3-1 lead. However, three goals in the space of 11 minutes thereafter – from Leonardo Silva, Bernard and Guilherme - thrust Atletico to a thrilling 4-3 victory that kept them two points clear of Vasco da Gama at the Brasileirao summit. 6 unanswered goals was what Shakhtar Donetsk put past Arsenal to equal their biggest Ukrainian Premier League win since May 2001 and get their 2012/13 campaign off to a flying start. Armenia forward Henrikh Mkhitaryan continued his fine form of last season by scoring a brace and setting up another two to earn the man-of-the-match award, while Brazilians Fernandinho and Alex Teixeira, who cheekily scored with his chest, also caught the eye at the Donbass Arena. Shakhtar, who took maximum points from their last nine games of 2011/12 to outsprint Dynamo Kyiv to the line and seize their sixth championship in eight attempts, have now won their last ten league matches. Furthermore, Mircea Lucescu’s men have emerged triumphant – and kept clean sheets – in each of their last four season curtain-raisers. 4 goals in nine first-half minutes is what propelled Los Angeles Galaxy to a 5-3 win away to Portland Timbers on Saturday, and tied their own record for the fastest four-goal spree in Major League Soccer history. Bruce Arena’s defending champions were trailing to a Kris Boyd opener when David Beckham’s spectacular 35-yard curler restored parity in the 19th minute, and the former England captain swiftly put them ahead with another superb strike, this time from a trademark free-kick. On 27 minutes, Landon Donovan converted a penalty to make it 3-1, and a minute later the same player set up Robbie Keane to increase the lead and equal the record the Galaxy themselves set in 2004, when they raced into a 4-0 advantage en route to a 4-2 defeat of DC United. Donovan’s role in the California outfit’s fourth goal made him just the sixth player of all time to reach 100 regular-season assists in the MLS, after Steve Ralston (135), Carlos Valderrama (114), Preki (112), Jaime Moreno (102) and Marco Etcheverry (101). The Galaxy, who were bottom of the Western Conference little over a month ago after collecting just one point from a possible 21, are now fifth in the section having won five of their last seven outings. 3 goals in eight last-gasp minutes is what Kashiwa Reysol struck to turn a deficit away to Shimizu S-Pulse into a 5-3 win as the second half of the J.League got underway. Former Asian Footballer of the Year Shinji Ono missed the chance to score the 1,000th goal of S-Pulse’s history from the spot, but after a Leandro Domingues penalty had put the visitors ahead, Genki Omae made no mistake from 12 yards to equalise with that landmark goal. Despite having had defender Keisuke Iwashita sent off at the end of the first half, Shimizu raced into a 3-1 lead thanks to efforts from Naohiro Takahara and Alex Brosque. Kashiwa’s Jorge Wagner and Shimizu’s Yutaka Yoshida then received red cards to reduce the teams to ten and nine men respectively, before Masato Kudo’s 75th-mniute volley gave Reysol a glimmer of hope. With two minutes of normal time remaining, however, the game looked like ending 3-2 in the hosts’ favour, until Wataru Hashimoto levelled the scores, Koki Mizuno edged the defending champions ahead, and Masato Kudo, with virtually the last kick of the match deep into stoppage time, completed a dramatic 5-3 success. Although S-Pulse scored three times as many goals in 90 minutes at the weekend than they did in their previous six games, they are now winless in eight. Reysol, meanwhile, have won six successive away contests - scoring 11 goals in the last two of those – and sit fifth, six points behind Sanfrecce Hiroshima, who knocked Vegalta Sendai off top spot for the first time since Round 2.

All eyes on Cairo in Champions League The second matchday of the group stage in the CAF Champions League could go a long way to deciding who escapes into the semi-finals of Africa’s biggest club competition. Game of the week Zamalek – Al Ahly Not only have Egyptian giants Zamalek and Al Ahly been the most successful teams in the history of the competition, with five and six titles respectively, but they are fierce local rivals trying to one-up each other in a difficult time for Egypt and Egyptian football. With domestic action still a question mark, continental play is the only respite for the players and supporters of these proud clubs, and so a run further than the group stage would be seen as a massive triumph. The security situation also means that the hugely-anticipated contest will be played behind closed doors at the Military Academy Stadium on Sunday. Al Ahly have dealt better with the last six months of crisis as Zamalek have struggled with fitness, want-away players and financial loss. The latest concern for the Whites is a thin backline hit by injuries to Mahmoud Fathalla and Salah Soliman and suspension for Hani Saied. One bright spot is new striker Abdoulaye Cisse, who scored a brace in his debut – a shock 3-2 defeat to Berekum Chelsea on the first Group B matchday. Al Ahly won their opening contest: a massive 2-1 victory over TP Mazembe that could leave them in the driver’s seat if they win the derby. Other matches Elsewhere in Group B, four-time African champions Mazembe will try to rebound against the Ghanaian upstarts named after the current European champions. The DR Congo side were sluggish in their defeat to Ahly, and will be anxious to claim full points in front of their fans at the new Stade TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi as they look for a third title in four years. The Crows have a potent attack that has yet to lift off in this competition apart from a 6-0 mauling of Zimbabwe’s Power Dynamos back in April, and they will be dealing with the suspension of both Joel Kimwaki and Luka Lungu. Chelsea have a breakout star in Emmanuel Clottey, who nabbed an impressive hat-trick against Zamalek to take his competition-best total to nine goals – four better than the next closest player. In Group A, the Tunisian duo of Esperance and Etoile du Sahel are at home trying to consolidate away wins in the first round. Holders Esperance are hosting Algerian side ASO Chlef on Friday, and the Blood and Gold top the group on goal difference with an eye towards August’s match against their domestic rivals. Algerian international Mohamed Youssef Belaili could make his debut for Esperance in Rades after the young striking prospect’s transfer from MC Oran. In transformative pre-season mode, Chlef also have a new recruit in Cameroonian Anisat Eninga, who will hope to spark a sometimes sluggish attack, and they will welcome back Samir Zaoui from suspension even as Walid Hichri will miss out through surgery. Nigeria’s Sunshine Stars also may call on a new face as they travel to face ESS after signing winger John Owoeri, who has spent time in the Netherlands, Belgium and Egypt. Player to watch Despite being linked to some of Europe’s biggest clubs, Esperance’s Youssef Msakni recently announced he would be transferring to Qatar’s Lekhwiya at the end of the year. The delay is so that the Tunisian starlet can help his side defend their continental crown and go out with a big finish at the FIFA Club World Cup, and he has scored in every round of Champions League action so far – including a fortnight ago against Sunshine Stars. The stat 13 – The record number of goals scored by an individual in a Champions League campaign, accomplished in 2008 by Stephen Worgu for Enyimba, but within reach for Berekum Chelsea’s in-form Clottey. What they said "When Ahly play Zamalek the matches are the biggest dates on the Egyptian football calendar no matter the time or the tournament and under any circumstances,” Ahly manager Hossam El Badry. Have your say Who will win the big Cairo derby on Sunday?

Vallar: Football is my whole life Nicolas Vallar is one of the latest footballers to prove the maxim that the cream always rises to the top. The Tahiti international, however, has had to wait longer than most for his ascent to glory. After spending the best part of a decade in France, Vallar is now back playing in his homeland, where he finally appears to be living the dream. Just a year after his return to the South Pacific island, the 28-year-old defender helped his club, AS Dragon, to the league title, and lifted the 2012 OFC Nations Cup with the Tahiti national team. Those recent triumphs carry huge significance for Vallar’s club and country. Dragon’s conquest was the first in their 44-year history, while Tahiti’s Nations Cup victory made them the first side other than Australia or New Zealand to take the continental crown since the competition’s creation in 1973. “It’s a reward for my past struggles,” Vallar, a central figure in both of those historic achievements, told FIFA.com. “After having so many doubts, I proved to myself that I could still make it back to the highest level.” Vallar is understandably savouring his new-found success, which has been a long time in the making. After moving to France to join Angers as a 16-year-old, he continued his development with a number of lower-league clubs before achieving promotion to Ligue 2 with Sete. “That was when the troubles started,” Vallar said. Indeed, injuries, coaching decisions and fruitless trials combined to dent his hopes of making it as a professional footballer. “I found myself without a club or an agent," he explained. "It was a very difficult period." I get another chance to join a big club in Europe or elsewhere, I’ll take it. I have no ties: I’m single with no children, and football is my whole life. Nicolas Vallar Vallar has enjoyed a rapid upturn in fortunes since moving back to Tahiti one year ago, and the coming season already appears full of promise. Not only will he play in the OFC Champions League with Dragon, but he will also represent Oceania with Tahiti at the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013. “It’s every footballer's dream to play against the biggest nations and the best players in the world,” said Vallar, captain of a Tahiti side that sits 138th on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. “That’s even more true for a small team like ours.” Big-game performer Tahiti coach Eddy Etaeta had little hesitation in giving Vallar the captain’s armband. “He has a great athletic presence and is very aggressive on his man,” Etaeta told FIFA.com. “I can tell you that the forwards who’ve faced him this year have been left feeling rather dazed. That's what our national team had really been lacking. “He is a very reassuring presence in defence. The remarkable thing is that he does it all cleanly: in five Nations Cup matches, he only received one yellow card. He was voted player of the tournament, which is very rare for a defender. I think his best match was the final against New Caledonia. The mark of great players is that they succeed in big matches.” Vallar prefers, modestly, to attribute his side’s success to their all-round team spirit. “What I like about this group is that none of the young players tried to put themselves before the team. Many of them came from the U-20 side that played in the World Cup in Egypt in 2009.” These visible signs of progress for Tahitian football are the result of a long-term effort to improve facilities and training methods in the country. And Vallar, for his part, does not want Tahiti to go to Brazil in 2013 just to make up the numbers. “We mustn’t be too overawed, and I hope we play our own style of football,” he said. “We don’t want to look like fools and have regrets later on. For now, we’re still on our island, in our little world, and I don’t think we’ve yet realised just what lies in store for us. “I think it could be a good opportunity for our young players to make names for themselves. I feel good here, for sure. But if I get another chance to join a big club in Europe or elsewhere, I’ll take it. I have no ties: I’m single with no children, and football is my whole life.”

Happy birthday to you! In our regular Sunday feature, FIFA.com presents you with some of the biggest names in football who will be celebrating their birthdays over the coming week. 15. Alexander Frei (33) has taken part in the FIFA World Cup™ with Switzerland on two occasions, at Germany 2006 and South Africa 2010. At the former, he notched two goals, thereby helping his nation to reach the knockout stage. He also appeared at two UEFA European Championships. The prolific front man began his career in his homeland, turning out for Basel, Thun, Luzern and Servette, with whom he won the Swiss Cup. He exported his talents to Ligue 1 side Rennes, before joining Borussia Dortmund. Frei’s effective performances during his three seasons in Germany turned him into one of the most feared forwards in the Bundesliga. He returned to Basel in 2009, going on to win three consecutive league titles as well as two Swiss Cups. His clinical finishing has seen him finish top scorer in the Swiss league over the past two campaigns, a repeat of the feat he achieved in France while with Rennes. 16. Sergio Busquets (24) should have a wide grin on his face as he blows out the candles on his cake this year, having just lifted the European Championship trophy with Spain, and in the process adding to his other notable achievements at international level, such as the FIFA World Cup winners’ medal he obtained in 2010, and the third-placed slot he played a part in earning at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. His exploits at club level are no less impressive; since breaking into the first team at Barcelona four years ago, the defensive midfielder has won every available trophy. Domestically, he has picked up three Liga titles, two Spanish Cups and three Spanish Super Cups, while in Europe he was part of the Barça teams that triumphed in two UEFA Champions Leagues and two UEFA Super Cups. He has also twice finished on the winning side at the FIFA Club World Cup. 17. Claudio Lopez (38) starred for Argentina at two FIFA World Cups, namely France 1998 and Korea/Japan 2002. Prior to that, he claimed a silver medal at the Olympic Football Tournament at Atlanta 1996. Lopez has had a varied and successful club career, starting out in Argentina with Estudiantes and then Racing Club, before moving abroad to sign for Valencia, where he lifted the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup. He enjoyed similar triumphs at his next club, Lazio, hoisting the Coppa Italia and the Italian Super Cup. After four seasons in Rome, the explosive winger tried his hand at Mexican football, leading Club America to the championship, the Super Cup and the CONCACAF Champions League. Following a brief return home to Racing, Lopez packed his bags for the United States, where he defended the colours of the Kansas City Wizards and the Colorado Rapids, with whom he won the Eastern Conference Championship and the MLS Cup. 18. Anis Ben Hatira (24) will be hoping to make a big impact on Tunisia’s qualifying campaign for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, after having recently committed to representing the country of his parents rather than that of his birth. Ben Hatira was born and grew up in Germany, and was talented enough to play a part in Die Nationalelf’s UEFA U-21 Championship victory in 2009 and to finish top scorer at the UEFA U-19 Championship. After having come through the ranks at Tennis Borussia Berlin and at Hertha Berlin, he joined Hamburg, from where was sent on loan to Duisburg to gain experience and playing time. The midfielder returned to Die Rothosen for a further season, before putting pen to paper with Hertha Berlin again in the summer of 2011. 19. Carles Busquets (45) can give himself a pat on the back for two reasons as he celebrates his birthday this year: being a part of the legendary Barcelona squad that became European champions for the very first time, and fathering of one of Spanish football’s biggest current stars, Sergio Busquets. Back-up goalkeeper to the untouchable Andoni Zubizarreta for many years, Busquets eventually became the Catalan side’s No. 1 after the Spanish legend’s retirement, before being promptly relegated to the bench once more following the signings of Vitor Baia and Ruud Hesp. Despite this, his medal haul during his time at Camp Nou makes for impressive reading: six league titles, two Spanish Cups, four Spanish Super Cups, one European Cup, one UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup and two UEFA Super Cups. 20. Alessandro Santos (35) made the decision early on in his career to represent Japan, the country that welcomed him with open arms at the age of sixteen. After having established himself at club level, the Brazil-born midfielder earned a place in the Japanese national side and went on to perform in two FIFA World Cups (Korea/Japan 2002 and Germany 2006). He also took part in two AFC Asian Cups, emerging on top in the 2004 edition of the continental event. Domestically, he began his career at Shimizu S-Pulse, with whom he reigned supreme in the AFC Cup Winners’ Cup, the Emperor’s Cup and the Japanese Super Cup. Moving on to Urawa Red Diamonds, he tasted success in the league, two Emperor’s Cups and another Super Cup. A stint in Austria saw him win the championship with Salzburg, after which he returned to Japan to sign for Nagoya Grampus. A further J. League title followed in 2010. 21. Vahid Hashemian (36) helped Iran to re-emerge onto the world stage at Germany 2006, after his country had endured an absence of eight years from FIFA’s flagship event. He also participated in two Asian Cups. Hashemian launched his professional career at Pas Tehran, but it was in Germany that he made his name. He initially attracted the interest of Hamburg, from where he moved to Bochum. He subsequently realised a childhood dream by joining Bayern Munich. After a year at the Bavarian club, the forward signed for Hanover, before returning to Bochum. After a decade spent plying his trade abroad, he headed home to pull on the jersey of Iranian giants Persepolis in December 2010.

Mata: Gold is not a given Juan Mata is hoping to complete the "perfect summer" with a gold medal at the upcoming Olympics, but the Spain ace knows that, contrary to some expectations, it is not going to be easy. Mata heads to the Olympic Games having already tasted success in three competitions this year, winning the UEFA Champions League and FA Cup with Chelsea before helping Spain retain their European championship title earlier this month. It has been an unforgettable time for the 24-year-old, but there is still more silverware up for grabs as Spain seek to claim the Olympic football title they last won on home soil at Barcelona in 1992. Luis Milla's squad, which counts on the likes of Jordi Alba, Javi Martinez, David De Gea and Iker Muniain, are highly fancied to do well in London, but Mata is refusing to get carried away. We have to be isolated from these expectations about winning. Spain midfielder Juan Mata "It seems that we must win the gold without even playing first, and that's not the case," Mata said. "There are other very strong teams, who have squads that can challenge for the title. "We have to be isolated from these expectations about winning. We want to do as well as possible, but we know that it will be difficult." Mata, who was also part of the Spain squad that won the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, added: "Spain have won in recent years because behind the success there is sacrifice and a lot of hard work, and this is a good path to follow. "Personally I've had a fantastic season, and if we win, it would be a perfect summer and a first season in England in which I couldn't have asked for more."

Van Marwijk in no rush to return Bert van Marwijk is in no hurry to return to football coaching following his resignation as Netherlands coach. The 60-year-old stepped down from the post last month as a result of Oranje's dismal UEFA EURO 2012 campaign, in which they failed to win a single point during the group stage. Since then, Van Marwijk has been linked with several jobs in his home country and overseas but he admits he is not ready to return just yet. I have no idea when and, in that respect, these are exciting times. Bert van Marwijk on when he will return to coaching "There have been interesting offers, both financially and on a sporting level," Van Marwijk told Spits Nieuws. "I have total freedom and no obligations, and right now I have no appetite. Who knows? Maybe in a month I'll go to work somewhere or maybe I'll stop altogether. "No, I won't do that, it is more likely I will go back to work. But I have no idea when and, in that respect, these are exciting times."

Contrasting fortunes for frontrunners The weekend provided vastly divergent experiences for the leaders in east Asia’s major leagues. Reigning Korea Republic champions Jeonbuk Motors continued their outstanding form, having now stretched their winning streak to 12 matches. However, long-term leaders Vegalta Sendai were finally toppled from top spot in Japan, while defending Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande suffered a surprise defeat as Shanghai Shenhua’s high-profile recruit Didier Drogba again remained on the sidelines. FIFA.com’s review of club action in Asia also visits Iraq, Malaysia and Thailand. Japan’s J.League: Sanfrecce shine as Vegalta stumble Vegalta Sendai were finally toppled from the summit just past the halfway mark of the season with Sanfrecce Hiroshima claiming top spot, albeit only by virtue of goals scored. In-form striker Hisato Sato hit a double as Sanfrecce cruised to a 3-0 victory over Kawasaki Frontale, with all the goals scored inside the opening 20 minutes. Despite just two losses in their 18 matches, Vegalta were overhauled from pole position after being held to a goalless draw by 2010 champions Nagoya Grampus Eight. Urawa Red Diamonds maintained their hold on third despite being held to a scoreless draw at Albirex Niigata. Big game: Last season’s champions Kashiwa Reysol continued their steady climb up the table with a drama-charged 5-3 victory over Shimizu S-Pulse to sit fifth behind Jubilo Iwata on goal difference. The 2011 FIFA Club World Cup participants equalised at nine-man Shimizu with two minutes remaining, before hitting two more goals during injury time. Headline-grabber: While Kashiwa continue to shine, fellow 2011 title rivals Gamba Osaka maintained their slide. The J.League foundation club lost at home against Yokohama F Marinos, with Manabu Saito’s winner coming deep into injury time and leaving Gamba second-from-bottom, ahead of only newly-promoted Consadole Sapporo. Korea Republic’s K-League: Jeonbuk extend lead, Seoul and Suwon stumble Reigning champions Jeonbuk Motors extended their unbeaten streak to 12 matches with a 3-0 win at Suwon Bluewings, while second-placed FC Seoul slumped to a 3-2 defeat at Incheon United. Ulsan Horangi spoiled coach Kim Hak-Beom’s debut at Gangwon by defeating the hosts 2-1 to stay in fourth. Elsewhere, Busan I’Park came from behind to beat Chunnam Dragons 3-2, and Pohang Steelers edged Gyeongnam 1-0. Big game: Struggling Suwon desperately needed to get back on track after two heavy defeats, coming into the crucial home encounter against leaders Jeonbuk. However, it was the visitors that drew first blood with a penalty from former Bluewings man Eninho. Substitute Lee Sung-Hyun then doubled his side’s lead midway through the second half, before turning provider for another ex-Suwon midfielder Luiz Henrique to seal the victory. Headline-grabber: Jeju United midfielder Song Jin-Hyung struck twice in a 4-1 victory over Daejeon Citizen, having scored a last-gasp equaliser to hold Ulsan to a 2-2 draw on Thursday. The former Newcastle Jets playmaker has established himself since his move from French outfit Tours FC earlier this year, scoring six goals and setting up four in his 19 outings. China PR's Super League: Shock defeats for top sides The latest action in the globe’s most populace nation saw last season's top two sides both defeated, with defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande falling 1-0 to city rivals Guangzhou R&F, while Beijing Guoan stumbled 3-1 at Shanghai Shenhua. The results allowed Jiangsu Sainty to cement their hold on second with a 2-1 defeat of Hangzhou Greentown, reducing the gap on Evergrande to four points and taking a lead of the same margin over Beijing. R&F, meanwhile, climbed to fifth, level with Guizhou Renhe on 27 points. Big match: Shanghai Shenhua's new signing Didier Drogba and injured fellow striker Nicolas Anelka watched from the stands as their side routed Beijing Guoan at home. Song Boxuan opened the scoring for the hosts on 19 minutes before Cao Yunding doubled the lead six minutes after the restart. Moises put the game beyond doubt with a quarter-hour remaining, leaving Wang Xiaolong's late penalty nothing more than a consolation. Headline-grabber: Marcello Lippi was dealt his first defeat in charge of Evergrande as his side again lost to R&F, having been stunned 2-0 in the two sides' first meeting in the season opener. The re-match proved to be an interesting debut for eye-catching imports Lucas Barrios and Yakubu Aiyegbeni. The former may have rocked the woodwork as Evergrande missed the opener. However, it was the latter that stole the show, acrobatically netting the match-winner four minutes from time. Elsewhere Kelantan celebrated last week’s Malaysian Super League title in style with an action-packed 3-1 home win against Sarawak in the final round of the season. A double from Mohd Norfarhan Muhammad ensured Kelantan remained undefeated at home as the Red Warriors finished ten points ahead of Singapore LionsXII and a whopping 17 clear of third-placed Selangor. Kelantan are now eyeing a unique treble, with the AFC Cup quarter-finalists having also clinched the Malaysia Cup in May. In Thailand, Chonburi United lost ground on leaders Muang Thong United after third-from-bottom Samut Songkhram recorded a stunning 2-1 comeback win on Saturday. Muang Thong took full advantage a day later by stretching the margin to eight points, with national team star Teerasil Dangda hitting a double in a 3-0 home win against TTM Phichit. Arbil remain well placed to claim their fourth Iraq league title despite suffering a surprise 1-0 loss against struggling Karbala. Second-placed Duhok remain six points off the pace after losing by the same scoreline against 16th-placed Al Masaf, having played three games more than Arbil.

James: Hart is Europe’s top keeper David James, one of the most durable footballers of his generation, can point to some impressive numbers when summing up a career that continues to this day. Three FIFA World Cup™ tournaments, the last of which – South Africa 2010 – he embarked upon as England No1, almost 1,000 games as a professional, and 42 years of age, the birthday he will be celebrating at the start of next season, are just some examples. In addition, James is knowledgeable and articulate about the game, and these were traits that enabled him to successfully make a temporary transition to the television studio as a pundit during the recent UEFA EURO 2012. And it was while getting to grips with this latest challenge that he put some time aside to grant an exclusive interview to FIFA.com relating to his nation’s performances at the event, the current state of goalkeeping worldwide, and the possibility of an extension to his long and varied club career in the English leagues. FIFA.com: David James, how did you feel England did overall at EURO 2012? David James: I thought England did pretty well. They got a good draw against the French, who’d come into the game on a 20-odd match unbeaten run. After an important win over Sweden, they then beat Ukraine, an achievement that shouldn’t be understated, because it’s never easy to book your ticket for the next round against the host nation. After that, getting knocked out by Italy in the quarter-finals is no disgrace; far from it. You pulled on your country’s jersey for more than a decade. Do you feel that the England players are put under too much pressure from the media and fans? I think so. As a player, when a fan or reporter asks you, “Do you think you can win it?”, saying "no" is simply not an option, because the entire nation believes that you can. Before the start of the tournament, Steven Gerrard was asked if he would be happy with a draw against France, and when he said “yes”, everyone acted surprised. For me, it was an honest answer, and that’s how it should be, in my opinion. He’s in a very good position; the fans love him and regard him as the best goalkeeper in England by far. David James on Joe Hart Do you think Joe Hart enjoyed his first experience at a major tournament as the team’s undisputed No1? As a fellow goalkeeper, you are better placed than anyone to answer that question... He loved it. We exchanged a few text messages, and I know that he really enjoyed himself. At the last World Cup, having seen him at close quarters in training and during friendly matches, I was sure that he had the quality to play at that level. When I was told that I wasn’t going to start the first game, my first thought was that it was Joe who would be picked. In the end, Fabio Capello went for Robert Green and the rest is history, but he’s certainly shown how talented he is for quite some time now. In addition, he is also a relatively young keeper, by international standards. I don’t believe that age is really a factor. In my case, I made my England debut at the age of 27 and didn’t play a competitive match until I was 31, which is pretty late. But I was competing with a living legend in the shape of David Seaman, and it was very tough to dislodge him from the side. Joe is 25 and has already earned more than 20 caps. He’s in a very good position; the fans love him and regard him as the best goalkeeper in England by far. Do you think that England’s goalkeeping situation is now settled, then? As I see it, the fact that Joe lacks competition is a bit of an issue. Goalkeeper is a unique position in that, if you’re not injured or experience a huge drop in form, it’s unusual for you to be replaced. Because of that, you need someone to keep pushing you so that you can maintain your fitness and your mindset. At the moment, clearly he’s the best, but within three or four years, if a new keeper doesn’t emerge to challenge him, it could become a bit of a problem. I have confidence in Jack Butland, though, who was England’s third-choice keeper at EURO 2012. I don’t think it’ll be long before he starts to knock on the door of the national side. Who do you consider to be the top goalkeeper in the world? For years, Buffon was my favourite, but now it’s Joe Hart. I think that Gianluigi is still an extraordinary goalie, but he’s had a lot of injuries and that has caused his level to drop somewhat. He’s also not got much competition in Italy. It’s the same thing with Iker Casillas – he’s won all there is to win, and now people have stopped asking if he’s still the top keeper out there. Victor Valdes and Pepe Reina are both great, but as they never get to play for Spain, it’s impossible to judge if they’re up to it or not. I’m not in any way saying that Iker hasn’t been playing well, on the contrary. A World Cup and European Championship winner, with over 130 caps – that’s impressive stuff. But what I mean is that it’s difficult to set the criteria by which you decide who the world’s best keeper currently is. Do you really feel that Joe Hart has been the best in Europe lately? I watch a lot of European football, and I can’t think of a keeper who’s impressed me more. For example, Casillas has amazing reflexes, but he has trouble with crosses and he’s average with the ball at his feet. Buffon is excellent at stopping mid-range shots and at positioning himself, but his kicking game is not what it should be. Joe, meanwhile, is good at all these things, which makes him the most complete keeper playing at present. Getting knocked out by Italy in the quarter-finals is no disgrace; far from it. David James on England's performance at EURO 2012 You’re still playing as you approach your 42nd birthday. Can you tell us a little bit about what the future might hold for you? I ended this past season with Bristol City and I’d like to play another year. I’m in the process of applying for my UEFA ‘A’ coaching licence, so that’s where I see my future, but I’m not quite ready to hang up my gloves yet. What motivates you to keep going at an age where most footballers have already retired? I just keep setting myself new targets. I’ve made 960 appearances, but I’d like to reach 1,000, and I’d like to play one, maybe ten, maybe 100 more matches in the Premier League – there’s always something to aim for! (laughs). I really would love to taste top-flight football again, but it’s easier said than done, because there are 20 teams and hundreds of goalies. You just never know, though. And after that? I’ll obviously go into coaching; my main goal will be to win games, but what excites me the most is the idea of helping young players to totally fulfil their potential, to reach the top of their profession and to stay there as long as possible once they get there. There’s so much to do, but I have a lot of good ideas and am very keen to make a contribution as soon as I can.

Villas-Boas: I learned from Chelsea experience Andre Villas-Boas believes the painful lessons of his disappointing spell in charge at Chelsea will help him succeed at Tottenham Hotspur. The Portuguese was the surprise choice to replace Harry Redknapp at White Hart Lane following a turbulent period at Stamford Bridge that ended with him being sacked after just eight months. At the time of Villas-Boas's dismissal, Chelsea were a club in crisis following reports of rifts between the manager and a host of senior players including Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Nicolas Anelka. But the Blues improved to such an extent after his exit that they were able to win the UEFA Champions League and FA Cup. The 34-year-old acknowledges he made mistakes during his time at Chelsea, and he is determined to avoid falling into the same trap on his return to London. "You always learn from experience," Villas-Boas told Sky Sports News. "The Chelsea experience was maybe not so gratifying in terms of success, but very gratifying professionally for me. I learned a couple of things that maybe I've done wrong, and I've learned in a club you have to trust the right people at the right time." Despite winning four trophies in his only full season in charge of Porto, Villas-Boas still has plenty to prove after such a damaging spell at Chelsea. He is happy to have a second chance to impress in England, but insists bringing success to Spurs is more important than restoring his own reputation. He said: "It is not a mission of restoring my reputation; it's a mission to put Tottenham back on track with titles. Since 2008 we haven't won anything. It is right we take the club forward, mixing it with titles and with success. Hopefully I can bring them to this football club. "It is a massive opportunity for me, and I am extremely pleased to be given that opportunity. I am pleased to come to a club with such high ambitions for the future, and I hope to repay the trust of the chairman with success." The Chelsea experience was maybe not so gratifying in terms of success, but very gratifying professionally for me. I learned a couple of things that maybe I've done wrong. Andre Villas-Boas Villas-Boas, who was linked with the Liverpool and Roma jobs, revealed he had held talks with other clubs before joining Tottenham. But he opted for Spurs after deciding the structure at White Hart Lane would suit him best. "Since I stopped there has been a couple of discussions with other clubs, a couple of them have even been made public, but I was always willing to wait for the right opportunity at the right time," he explained. "After Chelsea it was important to be surrounded by the right commitment and the right people, and I think I have found that." Villas-Boas hints at Modric departure Villas-Boas also admitted Tottenham would consider selling Real Madrid and Manchester United target Luka Modric if they get a big enough bid for him. The north Londoners turned down offers of around £30m for the Croatian from Chelsea last year, and it would take an increase on that fee to land the 26-year-old. "The interest that we have from various different clubs shows the importance of the player and what he's done for Tottenham," Villas-Boas said. "It's fair to say that the club respects Luka's ambitions and his willingness to move on, and he respects the fact that he's an important player for the club and can help us move forward. Ongoing discussions will continue with these clubs until we reach an agreement which is acceptable for each party."

Comeback kids and a continental conquest Returning is the prevalent theme in FIFA.com’s latest stats review, which features Jordi Alba going back to Barcelona, the Netherlands reappointing Louis van Gaal and Steve Zakuani making an emotional comeback from injury. Also in the spotlight are South America’s latest champions and a seemingly unstoppable African giant. 33 league matches without defeat is the streak currently being protected by Sudan’s Al Hilal. The Omdurman outfit, already their country’s record champions with 26 national titles, haven’t tasted defeat in the Sudani Premier League since Al Ahly Shendi beat them 1-0 on 28 April 2011, over 14 months ago. The consequence of their subsequent run is that Al Hilal, with 13 wins and a draw from 14 matches in their 2012 campaign, are already four points clear of last year’s champions Al Merreikh and edging ever closer to an eighth championship in ten seasons. 15 months after suffering a career-threatening injury, Steve Zakuani returned to action for Seattle Sounders on Saturday. The comeback would have been laden with emotion in any circumstances, but it became all the more memorable for a heart-warming show of sportsmanship from the Congo DR forward following his six-minute cameo. At full-time, Zakuani made a point of hugging and swapping shirts with Colorado Rapids’ Brian Mullan, the same player roundly vilified - and banned for ten matches - for the tackle that inflicted the Sounders’ star’s horrific double leg-break. Elsewhere in Major League Soccer, 15 was also the number of minutes required by Alvaro Saborio to single-handedly sew up a 3-0 win for Real Salt Lake against Portland Timbers with the fastest hat-trick of the week. 14 matches, zero defeats and one trophy: that was the sum total of Corinthians’ extraordinary efforts in this season’s Copa Libertadores. The Sao Paulo outfit became the first team in 34 years to survive the entire tournament unbeaten, with defeated finalists Boca Juniors ironically the last side to have held that distinction. O Timão also became the ninth different Brazilian club to win South America’s premier club competition, strengthening their nation’s grip on that particular record. Furthermore, their success ensured that the Libertadores trophy returned to Brazil for a third year in succession, the first such run since Cruzeiro, Vasco da Gama and Palmeiras strung together an identical streak between 1997 and 1999. Nonetheless, Argentinian clubs still hold the greatest overall number of South American crowns, with 22 to the their old rivals’ 16. Juan Roman Riquelme has won the tournament three times with Boca, but last Wednesday represented a sad swansong for the midfield maestro, who retired 16 years on from his Xeneizes debut. 10 years and five months after his first stint as Netherlands coach ended in disappointment, Louis van Gaal regained control of the national team on Friday. The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager has been charged with leading the Oranje to the FIFA World Cup™, a tournament they missed out on during his previous spell - despite Van Gaal winning 12 of his 14 games in charge. The Dutch have a well-established habit of reappointing former coaches, with Van Gaal following in the footsteps of Karel Kaufman, Friedrich Donenfeld, Leo Beenhakker and Dick Advocaat, all of whom spent more than one spell in charge, not to mention the legendary Rinus Michels, who led the team on four separate occasions. 7 years after he was released by Barcelona at the age of 16, Jordi Alba returned to Barcelona last Thursday at a cost of €14 million. Prior to his rejection, Alba spent nearly seven years at Barça’s famed La Masia academy before resurrecting his career with another Catalan club, Cornella, who sold him to Valencia for the rather less impressive figure of €6,000. The left-back returns to the Camp Nou on a high, having played all 570 minutes of Spain’s triumphant UEFA EURO 2012 campaign, earning rave reviews in the process. Yet while he is Tito Vilanova’s first signing as coach, he cannot claim to be the most expensive full-back on the Barça staff, an honour still reserved for the world record-holder in this respect, €32.5 million man Dani Alves.

Mullen: A young Aussie on Chinese shores The Chinese Super League has become a destination league for some of the game’s big names of late. After Didier Drogba agreed a move to Shanghai Shenhua to join his former Chelsea team-mate Nicolas Anelka, Sevilla forward Frederic Kanoute made his way to China's capital to join Beijing Guoan. In the biggest suprise, though, Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita completed an unexpected two-and-half-year deal with newly-promoted Dalian Aerbin at the weekend. FIFA.com caught up with Aerbin's new Australian import Daniel Mullen, who is looking forward to playing alongside Keita, and against some of the other big names. "I heard of Keita's signing on Sunday, although I haven’t seen him yet," the 22-year-old Aussie international said. "I am glad to have such a team-mate and you can always learn by playing together with someone like Keita. The Chinese league is growing with these big-name imports and I am looking forward to rubbing shoulders with these stars." Heading to China Going west has become the Asian trend in recent years, with the continent's most sought-after talents seeking European moves after starting out on the local stage. One of Australia's most promising stars, Mullen went the other way when he decided on a transfer to China. "I had a few offers from European clubs when Aerbin came to me with this opportunity," the former Adelaide United defender continued. "The Chinese league has fast developed and Aerbin is a good club. There are plenty of high-quality players here so I think I can improve from match to match." Mullen is not the first Australian player in the Chinese League, with Mark Milligan and Joel Griffiths among the trail-blazers joining Shanghai and Beijing respectively in 2009. His former Adelaide club-mate Milan Susak was signed by Tianjin Teda this February and that player’s advice proved an important factor in Mullen's decision to move to China. "Milan told me that it is a good league with high-quality teams and good players," he added, "and he said China is a good place to live." Coincidentally, it was in his Chinese debut that the two old friends re-united. Five days after his arrival at Dalian on Tuesday, Mullen came off the bench to play the second half in Aerbin's home game against Susak's Tianjin, which ended in a 1-1 draw. "It was a good game and both sides played well. It was nice to see Milan and the result was good as neither of us was disappointed." The Chinese league has fast developed and Aerbin is a good club. There are plenty of high-quality players here so I think I can improve from match to match. Dalian Aerbin defender Daniel Mullen Adelaide boy Aerbin is only Mullen's second professional club, having spent the past four years with Adelaide. While expecting to improve in China, Mullen acknowledged that his home club will always have a special place in his heart. "Adelaide is my hometown where I was born and bred. The home club provided me with the chance to play professional football when I joined them as an 18-year-old. And I gained good experience and developed my play with the club during the past seasons. These are something which I will never repay." Mullen became a fan favourite in Adelaide by helping his hometown club to the 2008 AFC Champions League final, where they fell to Japanese giants Gamba Osaka. They took sweet revenge in the two sides' rematch in this year's AFC Champions League group campaign, though, with Daniel twice scoring as Adelaide dispatched Gamba 2-0. From there, Mullen maintained his superb continental form as Adelaide stormed into the last eight to set up an enticing clash with Bunyodkor. "It is a good game against Bunyodkor as the two sides have met four times before. I think Adelaide have all required elements to win it all the way through this year's competition. The current squad have a solid defence and are very strong as a team. When they come out with counter attack, they have a good chance to win against any Asian opponents." FIFA World Cup™ dream Mullen is no stranger to global competition with his national team either, having featured in the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup before representing Australia in the following year's FIFA U-20 Cup Egypt 2009. "I was fortunate to play in the two FIFA tournaments," he said. "Not everyone is so lucky to boast such experience. I learned a great deal from these games and gained good experiences. These are things that can never be replicated." His progress didn't go unnoticed by former Australia manager Pim Verbeek, who gave Mullen his first international cap during qualifying for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. The then teenager played the entire game against Kuwait in March 2009 in Canberra which saw an under-strength Australia lose 1-0. It remains Mullen’s only senior cap to date, but he is looking for a return in short order. "It's everyone's dream to represent their country,” he summed up. “But I must work harder and make consistent progress if I want to join the naitonal team. Australia's physical ability and coaching knowledge used to give the team an edge in Asian qualifying, but in recent years other Asian teams, notably Japan and Korea Republic, have picked up. I hope I can play a part in our qualifying and help my country to Brazil 2014."

PSG announce Lavezzi signing ( Paris Saint-Germain have completed the signing of Argentine international Ezequiel Lavezzi from Napoli on a four-year deal after he completed a medical on Monday, the French giants have announced. No fee has been revealed, but reports say that PSG will pay in the region of €30million ($38m) for Lavezzi, making him the third most expensive player in their history behind Javier Pastore and Nicolas Anelka. A statement on the PSG website read: "This Monday, Ezequiel Lavezzi has been transferred from Napoli to Paris St Germain for the duration of four years. The new offensive asset of the club will wear the number 11 shirt." Napoli also confirmed the move on their website, adding: "President Aurelio De Laurentiis and everyone associated with the club want to thank 'il Pocho' for contributing to the growth of the team and the achievement of important goals both in Italy and Europe." Lavezzi, 27, began his career with Estudiantes de La Plata and also played for San Lorenzo before moving to Napoli in 2007, scoring 38 goals in five seasons in Serie A. The player, who is PSG's first summer signing, has also been capped 19 times by Argentina.

David Silva: A unique feeling ( David Silva is one happy man. The Spain playmaker has just achieved what many players can only dream of: winning a major championship and scoring a goal in the final. If that were not impressive enough, yesterday’s UEFA EURO crown comes on top of his triumph at 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ and an unforgettable Premier League title win with Manchester City last season. This native of Gran Canaria would seem to have the world at his feet, yet just moments after Spain’s historic 4-0 win over Italy in Kiev, he made time for an exclusive chat with FIFA.com. Congenial and good humoured, he spoke of his immediate reaction to the triumph as well as the goals and challenges of the season ahead. FIFA.com: David, what an unforgettable experience that must have been. You’ve won EURO 2012 and scored a goal in the final. What more could you ask for? David Silva: Not a lot really. I was fortunate enough to grab our first goal, which helped pave the way and give us more options. We knew it was vital to score first and really focused on that before the game. That’s why we came out of the blocks as attack-minded as possible, and luckily we managed it. Perhaps Spain’s smallest player scoring with a header… Ah no, don’t tell me I’m the shortest (laughs). But yes I timed it just right. I saw the play develop and felt I should hold back a tad for Cesc’s cross. And that’s exactly how it played out. It happened in a flash but just as I’d anticipated. The night was also an unqualified success for Spain. Absolutely. Finals are generally very tight affairs, often settled by a single goal or a tiny detail. We know very well it’s not easy to win a game like that by such a big margin, and I think that’s one of the reasons we’re so thrilled. Our effort was amply rewarded, and that’s not something you see too often in football. Was playing against a more open team like Italy easier than an ultra-defensive opponent? Yes, in truth that made it easier. When we play against more defensive sides, it’s harder work, and we know we’re going to have to endure and be patient. Tonight we knew Italy would attack us, not just because of their style, but because in a final you can’t just protect what you have; you must try to win. That was something we were aware of. Was it significant that you’d faced Italy already in the tournament, and what changed from one game to the other? That was our first group game and at that stage teams tend to keep a bit more in reserve. I also think they were a bit more defensive on that occasion. Something very important for us is the pitch, which was much faster and shorter today. That’s vital for our style of play so that worked out very well for us. Spain had less possession than in other games, with Italy even enjoying more than you in the first half. Was that something the team had planned for? No, not at all. That’s just how the game panned out. Nor had it anything to do with our going ahead and their need to push for an equaliser. I think we clearly understood that hitting them on the break would work for us, and in that sense it was the perfect game for us – even if that was a bit more because of the circumstances than a set plan. The team has now made history with three major titles in succession. What’s the secret to staying motivated? The desire to win titles is always there, because the sensation you get when you do it is truly unique. That’s why we go into tournaments aiming to experience those emotions again. From a personal standpoint, I also have to try to hold down a position. In Spain, every generation seems to be better than the last, so if you let your guard down, there is someone else ready to take your place. You need to be always on your game, which naturally helps bring the best results. So what now for you guys? Right now it’s time to celebrate, and first with the fans, who have always been there for us. We’ll do that in Spain obviously, but also here in Poland and Ukraine, where we’ve had incredible support in every game. That’s been really impressive. After that, we’ll have time to rest and enjoy it with our families, who are all waiting for us. And what a season for you! Now you need to recharge the batteries and go for another Premier League title with Manchester City… For sure, that’s an extra motivation. It’s sure to be a long, hard season competing with teams like Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal. They’re used to fighting it out for titles and won’t have enjoyed seeing us win the league. Then, of course, there’s the incentive that is the Champions League. We’ll be hoping to win a couple of titles, or at least one, as we have done in recent years. Finally, given your experience playing in England, what’s your take on their national team? England have a really great team but have not had a lot of luck. They’ve got great quality players, who will win something one day. It’s just a question of time. What’s certain, however, is that they’ll be battling it out among the best.

Pearce names Team GB squad Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs and Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy have been included in the Team GB squad for the Men's Olympic Football Tournament announced by coach Stuart Pearce on Monday. Joining the Welsh duo as the squad's third over-age player was England defender Micah Richards. However, Team GB manager Stuart Pearce has not picked any Scottish or Northern Irish players for the tournament. Swansea City have three players named, the most of any club: Scott Sinclair, Joe Allen and Neil Taylor, while Tottenham defender Steven Caulker, who has also been included, was on loan at the Liberty Stadium last season. Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge is also chosen, as is Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey and Manchester United Tom Cleverley. Tottenham's Gareth Bale would have been selected but has been ruled out due to injury. Every player in this squad should be very proud they have a chance to compete for a gold medal on home soil. Stuart Pearce, Team GB coach. Pearce said: "It has not been an easy task to finalise my squad for this tournament, and the stature of the competition and uniqueness of the occasion has underlined the importance of every choice I have made. "With just 18 places it is very different from other international tournaments, the options are limited, but it is the Olympic Games and every player in this squad should be very proud they have a chance to compete for a gold medal on home soil. "I remember the huge advantage we gained from playing in front of our own fans during EURO 96, and I'm sure with the nation behind us it could be a fantastic tournament for us." London 2012 will be the first time that Team GB have competed in the men's football competition since the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, where they finished third in their group. Team GB kick off their campaign at Manchester's Old Trafford against Senegal on 26 July, play the United Arab Emirates at Wembley on 29 July, before their final group fixture against Uruguay at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on 1 August. Squad: Jack Butland (Birmingham), Jason Steele (Middlesbrough); Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea), Steven Caulker (Tottenham), Craig Dawson (West Brom), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Neil Taylor (Swansea), James Tomkins (West Ham); Joe Allen (Swansea), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Jack Cork (Southampton), Ryan Giggs (Manchester United), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal), Danny Rose (Tottenham), Scott Sinclair (Swansea); Craig Bellamy (Liverpool), Marvin Sordell (Bolton), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea). (*Please note that squad lists only become official after they have been submitted to and announced by FIFA.)

Modest Arsenal celebrate first league crown The 2012 Argentinian Clausura tournament built to a thrilling climax, in which the final round of matches decided the champions and determined the fate of the sides battling to avoid the drop. History will show that the last short-format tournament to crown an outright champion enabled Arsenal de Sarandi, the most recently founded and least supported club in the top flight, to claim the first domestic title in their 55-year existence. Coach Gustavo Alfaro assembled his team with the relegation average table in mind. But events elsewhere in the competition gave Arsenal the opportunity to aim higher and, thanks to their low profile and consistent form, they were able to take full advantage. Alfaro was also at the helm in 2007, when the club drew on the same qualities to win the Copa Sudamericana. Tigre, for their part, started the Clausura with one foot in the second division. But thanks to an impressive campaign, they not only avoided relegation, but also came within a whisker of the title, before ultimately finishing runners-up. It was a similar story for All Boys and Newell’s Old Boys, who fell just short in their respective title bids, but gave their relegation averages a welcome boost for the future. Third place went to Velez Sarsfield. Velez finished with a superior goal difference to Boca Juniors, who, with three rounds remaining, appeared to have their second league title of the season in the bag. The Clausura competition was also marked by the relegation of Olimpo and Banfield, a dramatic escape for San Lorenzo and the retirements of Juan Sebastian Veron, Gabriel Milito and Esteban Fuertes. The revelations Lisandro Lopez (Arsenal) At just 22, Lopez was one of the stand-out performers in a young Arsenal side. The centre-back capped a brilliant campaign by scoring the goal that clinched the title against Belgrano. Alongside Guillermo Burdisso, brother of Roma defender Nicolas, Licha helped form one of the three meanest defensive pairings in the championship, with 15 goals conceded, and emerged as a real international prospect. Carlos Luna (Tigre) Luna’s 12 goals not only played a vital role in keeping Tigre in the Primera Division, but they also ensured El Chino finished as top scorer for the first time in his career. The 30-year-old former Racing Club and Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito player is in his third spell with Tigre, and now lies eighth in the club’s list of all-time leading marksmen with 59 goals. The number 38 – The number of points with which Arsenal won the title. Their total came from 11 wins (the best win record in the competition), five draws and only three defeats. However, Arsenal’s championship-winning points tally is the joint second lowest in a short-format tournament since the switch to award three points for victories. 2007 Apertura champions Lanus are the other side to have won the title with 38 points. Only Newell’s Old Boys have been crowned champions on fewer points, with their total of 36 enough to clinch the Apertura title in 2004. The memorable moments 11 March 2012 – In the fifth round of matches, leaders Boca Juniors hosted Independiente, who went to the Bombonera without a point on the board and with Cristian Diaz as their interim coach, following the resignation of Ramon Diaz. What looked like a mismatch on paper turned out, in fact, to be the best game of the competition. El Rojo led 2-0 and then 3-1, only for Los Xeneizes to turn the game around and take the lead with 15 minutes left. However, Ernesto Farias scored in the 88th and 93rd minutes to seal his hat-trick and secure an unforgettable 5-4 victory for the visitors, bringing to an end Boca’s 33-game unbeaten league run. 31 March 2012 – Visitors Banfield inflicted a heavy 5-2 defeat on Olimpo in what would prove to be their last victory in the Primera Division. El Taladro, Apertura champions in 2009, followed that win with three draws and eight defeats, a run that saw them slide down into the second tier after 11 years in the top flight. The eighth matchday also featured a 3-0 victory for Boca Juniors against Estudiantes in La Plata. The result took Boca back to the top of the table, where they would remain for nine of the 12 remaining rounds. 25 May 2012 – Four rounds from the end of the competition, San Martin came from 2-0 down in San Juan to beat Olimpo 3-2, condemning the latter to the second division for the third time in six years. Two days later, San Lorenzo beat Newell’s Old Boys by the same margin to pick up valuable points in their survival quest, and in doing so leave Gerardo Martino’s side further adrift of the frontrunners. Arsenal, meanwhile, drew 1-1 with Estudiantes in La Plata, prompting coach Alfaro to declare: “If we win our three remaining matches, we’re the champions.” 17 June 2012 – In the penultimate round of matches, a brace from Luciano Leguizamon helped Arsenal to a convincing 3-0 victory over Boca at the Bombonera, and moved them two points above Los Xeneizes at the top of the Clausura table. The result took Arsenal level at the summit with Tigres, who had won away to Velez the day before. At the other end of the table, San Lorenzo slipped down into the automatic relegation places. 24 June 2012 – Seven crucial games took place on the final matchday. Arsenal beat Belgrano 1-0 and celebrated the title after learning that Tigre had only managed a 2-2 draw with Independiente. El Matador were unable to find a winner but, along with Atletico Rafaela, they still managed to avoid the promotion-relegation play-offs. Forward Esteban Fuertes ended his career on a high with two goals in Colon’s victory over Banfield, which confirmed El Taladro’s relegation to the second tier. The result gave San Lorenzo, who beat San Martin, a place in the promotion-relegation play-offs along with their defeated opponents. Both sides later won their respective showdowns to remain in the top flight. Juan Sebastian Veron received an ovation at the end of his side’s draw with Santa Fe – the final game of his career. Veron bowed out shortly after Gabriel Milito had announced his retirement, with the latter unable to play in the final round of matches due to injury.

Alonso: We heard the criticism Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso is certain Spain changed a few minds with the manner of their stunning UEFA EURO 2012 triumph over Italy on Sunday. The build-up had been dominated by allegations that the reigning world and European champions had turned into a boring team. Coach Vicente del Bosque insisted the negative comments played no part in motivating his team to produce arguably their best performance since EURO 2008. However, Alonso confirmed the opinions were heard inside the Spain dressing room, and following a record 4-0 win in the finals, said he thinks a revision is required. "We heard the criticism and we saw what was written," said the 30-year-old Alonso. "That happens. Now they will have a different opinion." With a FIFA World Cup™ sandwiched between two European Championships, Spain have become the first side to lift three major tournaments in a row. For that reason alone there can be no challenge to any claim of greatness. Yet there is still much to achieve. We heard the criticism and we saw what was written. That happens. Now they will have a different opinion. Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso The feeling persists that Spain have the capability of improving still further and rivalling the Brazil team of 1970 as what is generally regarded as the best international side of all time. In Brazil, two years from now, Spain could create more history by becoming the first European team to win the FIFA World Cup in South America. However, for Alonso, such thoughts are for another day. He just wants a bit of time to bask in what has already been done. "We don't feel we have an obligation to keep winning trophies, but we also knew what was expected of us," he said. "Maybe four years ago we enjoyed it more because it was the first time. "Now it will take time for it to sink in. It is not the time to think about the future. We can do that in the months ahead. But it does not feel like the end of anything." Add your comment

Seven contenders await African addition © Getty Images A Pacific island and a four-time FIFA World Cup™-winning nation joined the qualifiers for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup over the past month, with the tournament now just anticipating an African participant to complete what is a intriguing line-up of teams from around the globe. Seven countries have pencilled the dates 15-30 June into their diary ahead of next year’s competition in Brazil, with the hosts, reigning world champions Spain and the team positioned second in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, Uruguay, leading a stellar cast which also includes Italy, Japan, Mexico and Tahiti. Africa’s representative will be decided at the 2013 CAF Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa next January/February. Brazil is currently locked in preparation on two fronts, readying the country for hosting the FIFA Confederations Cup and the FIFA World Cup a year later, as well as honing young talents such as Neymar for A Selecao’s assault on a sixth triumph on the biggest stage of all. Brazil supporters will be expecting Mano Menezes and his men to keep the FIFA Confederations Cup on home soil first, however, and history is undoubtedly on their side. The hosts have won the competition on three occasions, more than any other team, including the last two editions. Dunga was at the helm when Brazil were crowned champions at South Africa 2009 following a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over USA in the Johannesburg final, while Carlos Alberto Parreira was in charge when old foes Argentina were defeated 4-1 to take the 2005 trophy. Spain set the standard Three years ago, Brazil were expected to face Spain in the showpiece only for La Roja to suffer the rarest of competitive defeats in their semi-final against USA. Having recovered from that disappointment to lift the FIFA World Cup Trophy a year later, Vicente del Bosque will again take his side to the FIFA Confederations Cup and look to continue a run of unprecedented success in international football. After years of near misses and heartbreaking eliminations, the Spaniards began their domination at UEFA EURO 2008, where they were crowned European champions, and followed that up in 2010 with their first-ever FIFA World Cup. A 4-0 thrashing of Italy in Sunday’s EURO 2012 final sealed a third consecutive major international title for Spain, who will therefore enter next year’s warm-up for the FIFA World Cup as firm favourites. With Spain automatically qualifying as world champions, Italy’s run to the EURO final and runners-up spot earned them Europe’s second ticket to the FIFA Confederations Cup. Despite falling at the last hurdle, Gli Azzurri can reflect on a memorable tournament which showed much-improved performance after their below-par 2010 FIFA World Cup campaign and group-stage exit at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. The first team to qualify for Brazil 2013 through competitive action were Japan, who booked their place as the AFC representative after winning the 2011 AFC Asian Cup in January last year. An extra-time winner from Tadanari Lee against Australia cemented Japan’s claim to be the continent’s finest, an argument strengthened by their impressive performance in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying to date. Four times previously the Blue Samurai have participated in the FIFA Confederations Cup, with a contrasting record to say the least. On three occasions they were knocked out at the group stage, but in 2001, when Japan were co-hosts along with Korea Republic, French coach Philippe Troussier guided the team to a 1-0 final defeat by his home nation. Mexico will fly the flag for CONCACAF next year after they edged USA 4-2 in a sensational Gold Cup final 12 months ago. El Tri, spurred by the talents of Giovani dos Santos and Javier Hernandez, won all six of their games at the tournament, scoring 22 goals in the process to secure a sixth invitation to the FIFA Confederations Cup. The Mexicans have pedigree at the event too, winning as hosts in 1999 plus finishing third and fourth in 1995 and 2005 respectively. Uruguay ready to defy the odds Since finishing fourth at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Uruguay have been one of the most consistent national teams around, rising to second behind Spain in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. La Celeste have silverware to add tangible proof of their ability too, having claimed the 2011 Copa America title. The triumph in Argentina was Uruguay’s 15th victory in the South American competition and ensured a return to the FIFA Confederations Cup after a 16-year absence. Every tournament has to have a fairytale and the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup will be no different, due to the historic qualification of Tahiti. The Pacific Island nation emerged victorious from last month’s OFC Nations Cup in the Solomon Islands, breaking the stranglehold of Australia and New Zealand by beating New Caledonia 1-0 in the final. Though they will be massive underdogs, Tahiti can now look forward to testing their skills against the cream of world football. The eighth and final contender for Brazil 2013 will be decided on 10 February 2013 at Soccer City when the 2013 CAF Africa Cup of Nations final takes place. Record champions Egypt have again failed to qualify for the continental competition, but 2010 FIFA World Cup quarter-finalists Ghana and holders Zambia will be among those trying to join what will be a festival of football in Brazil a year from now. Add your comment