One of the best players in the history of soccer is the Spanish forward Raul. Raul is currently playing for the German club FC Schalke 04 after he had to leave the Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid. He was pretty forced to leave after they didn't want to sign a new contract with him. I think that was a big mistake from Real. Raul who, before he joined Schalke have spend his whole career with Real Madrid stand for tradition and professionalism that you cant buy for money. He is a leader on and of the field and even though he is not scoring that many goals anymore he contribute with something that is so important. Tradition of what the club stands for, its values and norms. Like I said professionalism and winner mentality.

He is also the most successful goalscorer in the Champions League with 71 goals in 143 games. He has won the tournament three times with Real Madrid and multiple times ha has won the league with the with Powerhouse Real.

Read more about the Spanish forward Raul at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ra%C3%BAl_Gonz%C3%A1lez

Wath him in action and notice how good goalscorer he is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov18UMkHLn4

It was the third game in less than two weeks between Real Madrid and Barcelona yesterday. The game was the first of two Champions League games and was played at Bernabeu, home of the Real Madrid. The game ended with a victory for Barcelona with 2-0. This game was, like the games played before between these two teams very controversial. I have to say, I don't like Real but I really hate Barcelona. The game yesterday gave me more reasons to dislike them. Barcelona is the best team right now but they are also a team full of guys whining about everything. I don't like them. I also don't like the fact that every time Mourinho played against Barcelona he got one of his players sent off with a red card.

But it wasn' the only thing that happened in this game. On the way in to the locker room the players started to fight which ended with Barcelona's backup goalie got a red card. But what really decided the game was the red card to Real Madrid's Pepe. I don't think the referee did anything wrong with sending him off. However, if he is going to give Pepe red card you have to give red for the same kind of situations in the game. Five minutes before the situation when Pepe got his red card Barcelona's Mascherano kicked one of Real Madrid players really hard and got away with a yellow. By the way Pepe didn't touched Alves. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAPTsee5x8k here is the situation when Pepe got sent off.

According to all this, Jose Mourinho got sent off from the bench and now the two teams are blaiming each other for different occasions. Uefa are going to investigate all this. What we now is that the next game is going to be really interesting.

Read more about the game yesterday at http://en.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=1619918.html

Yesterday it was the Spanish cup final between the two powerhouses Real Madrid and Barcelona. It was the first time theyplayed each other in the Spanish cupfinal in 20 years. The game was played at Mestalla and it was Real who won that one. The game was a close one and went to overtime where it was the portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo who scored the winning goal with a header in the 103 minute.

As we all know this was the second game between these two teams in less than a week. They are going to play each other four times in three weeks since they are playing each other in the semi finals of the champions league. In the first two games the results have been, 0-0 (in the league) and 1-0 Real, (Spanish cup final). The Next two games is going to be really exciting. Everyone have been talking about Barcelona is invincible but I think they have started to shake a little bit. In the big games they see they cant play the same type of game they want to play.  Last year they lost against Inter in the semi finals in the Champions League. Yesterday they lost in the Spanish Cup final. I think they have started to think a little bit about their performance in the big games. I think Real can win this serie of games.

Here is a link from the celebration yesterday in Madrid when the Real players went by bus through the city. The right defender Sergio Ramos is holding the trophy and suddenly drops it in front of the bus, which is driving over it and destroyed it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXxSuzRpTps Enjoy.

Here is a link from the European soccer association UEFA. They are talking about the Real Madrid and their history. Read it and learn more about this impressive powerhouse http://en.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=1621707.html

Today, saturday the 16 of april was another big soccer day. First it was the FA cup semifinal between the two powerhouses from Manchester, City and United. As a United fan I really wanted United to win this game, specially since City has bought star players the last couple of years and been a real competitor to the "big four" in the PL. But I didn't got what I was asking for, City won with 1-0 by a goal from Yaya Toure. The game was a hard one with more hard tackles than dangle. United started the game best and got their opportunity to score in the first half when Dimitar Berbatov was alone with the keeper twice but missed. Also worth to notice from the game was that Paul Scholes got a red card after he tackled Zabaleta in the 76th minute. After the game city player Balotelli showed the world once agains what kind of an asshole he is when he chirped the United players, which ended up into a samll fight.Read more about the game at: http://www.manutd.com/en/Fixtures-And-Results/Match-Reports/2011/Apr/City-v-United-report.aspx

The second game today was between two other powerhouses, Real Madrid and Barcelona. This game was the first one between these teams in three weeks. The games between Real Madrid and Barcelona is called El Clasico and this El Clasico ended 1-1. This game you could see that Real Madrid had a game plan to play more defensive than they use to, which almost gave them a victory. It will be interesting to see what this serie if games will turn out to. It will be a lot of hide and seek I think.

Read more about the El Clasico here: http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1419374.html

Here is a video of one of the best soccer players ever, Francesco Totti. Enjoy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IwmIoto1d0&feature=fvst

The Swedish soccer league started again last weekend. "Allsvenskan" as we call  is definitely not the best league in the world, but probably one of the most exciting one. The last ten years has no team accomplished to win the league two years in a row, which is very rare if you look at the other soccer leagues or any league in any sport for that matter. Why it is like that is hard to say. We have been discussing that in Sweden for a long time and we haven't found an answer or solution. What we do know is that it is a lot of things that has to be done, one of them is increase the amount of money.  Read more about Allsvenskan here: http://svenskfotboll.se/allsvenskan/

But we Swedes love our league anyways. We have learned how to love the unpredictable league where 10 teams can win it every year. We have our favorite teams. The teams we hate. The players we love, and of course, the players we hate. Soccer is the biggest sport in Sweden and gets the most space and attention in media compared to any other sport. What we have had problem with though is to get the crowd to the games. There are reasons for that. One of them is the hooligans who creates an environment that is not safe for families. Other reasons is the poor quality of many arenas. When we compare most of the arenas we have in Sweden with the arenas they have in other countries it becomes pretty embarrassing. But many teams the last five years has build new top quality arenas which is good for the soccer in Sweden. Keep it up.

But like I said. All the weaknesses our league have, we still love it. It is something for us to be proud and is a part of our history. I love Allsvenskan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jBMZZnPeS8

I went to my first NHL game wednesday, it was awesome. The game I attented was between Detroit Red wings and Vancouver Canucks. I have always wanted to go to a NHL game so it was a little bit of a dream come true for me. I played hockey when I was younger and always had a big interest for the game. I have followed the NHL as long as I can remember, so to finally attend a game was an awesome experience for me. It was also fun for me that it was two teams with many swedish players. Detroit has been a little bit of "the Swedish team" in the NHL the last then years and Vancouver has also many swedish players this year.  I was fun to see Niklas Lidstrom play, he is a legend.

The game was good. It was two good teams (the first and second in the Western conference) playing against each other. It was a high tempo and good quality. Vancouver won the game and with 2-1 and my fellow country man in Vancouver Daniel Sedin scored two goals. I also think Roberto Luongo goalie in Vancouver Canucks was the difference between the two teams. He is probably the best goalie in the show right now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yphUl_FTSA Watch Niklas Lidstrom score the winning goal in the Olympic final 2006.

It is the qualifrication for the Euro 2012 in soccer right now and Sweden will play Moldova. I assume Sweden will win, anything else would be a big surprise. Read more about the game here on UEFA official webistehttp://en.uefa.com/uefaeuro2012/news/newsid=1610869.html

First of all I'm sorry for giving you the wrong info about the game Saturday. It was the FA cup, not the league. However ManU won that game against Arsenal with 2-0 and they are in the semifinal and is going to play against the little brother Manchester City. That game is going to be an interesting one, I'm really looking forward for it.

The game today was a good one. Good performance and a win with 2-1 against Marseille. Two goals from Javier Hernandez which I think is really fun. I like him much as a player and I think it is really fun and impressive that he play so well his first year in ManU. He has scored a lot of goals and is contributing with hard work and attitude and shows a lot of maturity in his game. I like it.

 Javier Hernandez

Summary: Good past couple of days for ManU. Last week wasn't that good with two losses and one tie (Chelsea, Liverpool and Marseille). Anyways now they have raised again and showed the good old mentality of a champion and I hope they can finish strong and win at least one title this year.

Here is some nice soccer videos I think you should watch:

First one is Javier Zanetti in the Uefa Cup 1998 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AD1phZv-5Ow

The second one is probably my favourite goal of all time, just because of the celebration. The goal is made by Eric Cantona in 1996  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmDTh-hlL8A&feature=related

It happened this year too. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has to continue to keep waiting for the Champions League title, which is the big piece he miss in his carreer. Last year he was really close to win it when he played for Barcelona but they got knocked out by Inter in the semifinal. Yesterday it happened again when his Milan  tied against Tottenham and the result over to game was a lost with 1-0.  Here is Zlatans record in the champions league: 2001-2002: Ajax, ut i tredje kvalomgången mot Celtic.
2002-2003: Ajax, lost in quarterfinal vs Milan.
2003-2004: Ajax, out in the groupstage.
2004-2005: Juventus, out in the quarterfinal vs Liverpool.
2005-2006: Juventus, out in the quarterfinal vs Arsenal.
2006-2007: Inter, out in the round of 16 vs Valencia.
2007-2008: Inter, out int the round of 16 vs Liverpool.
2008-2009: Inter, out int the round of 16 vs  Manchester United.
2009-2010: Barcelona, out in the semifinal vs Inter.
2010-2011: Milan, out in the round of 16 vs Tottenham

Better luck next year Zlatan.

Read more about the Chamions League at UEFA official website http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/index.html

Saturday. New big imortant game for Manchester United against Arsenal. The third big game in short time. I said that they had to win against Liverpool last week but they really need to win this game. I think this game is the keygame for both teams since it is between the first placed (Man U) and the second placed (Arsenal) teams in the league. Big game and also a little bit of rivalry. ManU and Arsenal has some history and very hard games against each other. Specially when Roy Keane and Patrick Viera played in ManU and Arsenal. Take a look at the link of how it looked like when they played against each other:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwcpFXOsrY8 

United forever

Long time since I wrote something here but I have been really busy the last week. I will try to be better with my posts.

Anyway it was a big game today for Manchester United against Liverpool (you can read more about the game on the link here  http://www.manutd.com/en/Fixtures-And-Results/Match-Reports/2011/Mar/Liverpool-v-United.aspx . Unfortunately they lost (3-1) and like I wrote last time it is very hard to lose against a rival and Liverpool is the Rival. Man U has a little down period for the moment with two losses in one week. Not good but if I was the opponent in the next game I would be really scared.  The next opponent is Arsenal which is alos a big rival. That will be a very interesting game since it is two rivals but also because it is the nr1 and nr 2 in the league who play against each other. 

From soccer to hockey. The playoff in Sweden starts next week and the top four teams choosed opponents yesterday. Here is the teams playing each other: HV71-AIK, Luleå-Djurgården, Skellefteå-Linköping and Färjestad-Brynäs. Interesting. The most surprising thing was that Skellefteå choosed to play Linköping since they have a really good team but have struggled a little bit this year and is a "dark horse" with a lot of potential. Hopefully my team HV71 will win it this year again. Come on HÅVE!

Here is a video from last year when HV71 won the playoff: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-NDD42kGR0&feature=related

Manchester United won the second derby against Manchester City saturday morning and showed once and for all who is NR1 in Manchester and the league.

I have been a United fan my whole life and and have seen many good players represent the club. But it is two players I like more than others. David Beckham and Wayne Rooney. Beckham doesn´t play anymore for the Club but is still a hero for many United fans. Rooney is for me the best player in the world right now, in my opinion ever. He has the whole package: quality, skill, speed, physique and heart, and he still improve his game every season. Lately as a goal scorer. Against City he scored the match winning goal with a bicycle kick. Fantastic goal! You can see the goal on the link here and you will understand what I mean. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55_m5-8rQm0

See United beat their rivals is fantastic. The biggest rivals has always been Liverpool and Arsenal, since City struggled with their performance and been playing in the second division for a long time. That changed when City got new owners. They simply bought a completely new team and made City over a night a competitor to win the league, and one of Uniteds biggest rivals again. One of the players they bought is Carlos Tevez. They bought him from Manchester United. The forbidden move. That makes the win even better. Show them which team that is Nr1 in Manchester and England. The Big Brother.

Read more about the game on Manchester Uniteds official webpage on the link:

http://www.manutd.com/en/Fixtures-And-Results/Match-Reports/2011/Feb/United-v-Man-City.aspx