THE ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER OF FERNANDO TORRES

Fernando José Torres Sanz is one of most decorated strikers of the 21st century, who has won lots of trophies for both club and country. Let’s have a look at his journey as a footballer.

Torres started his career with Atlético Madrid, passing through their youth team to the first-team squad. He made his first-team debut in 2001 and finished his time at the club with 75 goals in 174 La Liga appearances. But before his La Liga debut, Torres played two seasons in the Segunda División for Atlético, making 40 appearances and scoring seven goals. At age 19, Torres was named the captain, captaining the now Atlético boss, Diego Simione.

Liverpool signed Torres in 2007, for a club record fee. In his first season he scored 24 goals becoming the first Liverpool player to score 20+ goal in a season since Robbie Fowler in the 1995–96 season. He went on to score 65 goals for Liverpool in 102 appearances. Sadly he didn’t win any trophies for Liverpool.

 Torres moved to Chelsea on a five-and-a-half-year contract on 31 January 2011 for an undisclosed fee reported to be £50 million, which set a new record for a British transfer and made him the sixth most expensive footballer in history. He made his Chelsea debut on 6 February 2011 in a 1–0 home defeat to former club Liverpool. On 23 April 2011, Torres scored his first goal for Chelsea against West Ham United in a 3–0 victory, which ended a run of 903 minutes of football without a goal. This was his only goal for Chelsea in the 2010–11 season, having made 18 appearances for his new club. He scored 20 goals in 110 appearances. What a bad move to Chelsea. But he did win the champions league and Europa league with Chelsea.

Torres later joined Italian Serie A club A.C. Milan on a two-year loan on 31 August 2014. On his arrival, he expressed a desire to emulate some of the club's greatest strikers, stating he said, "My shirt to rank alongside Marco van Basten, George Weah and [Filippo] Inzaghi."] He debuted on 20 September 2014, replacing Andrea Poli for the last 14 minutes of a 1–0 home defeat against Juventus and scored his first Milan goal with a  header in their 2–2 draw with Empoli two days later.

On 27 December 2014, it was announced that Torres' move to Milan would be made permanent on 5 January 2015, but two days later, he agreed to rejoin La Liga club Atlético Madrid on loan until the end of the 2015–16 season. The loan was agreed after Alessio Cerci went the opposite way from Atlético to Milan on the same day, 5 January. He scored a total of 14 goals in 49 appearances on his loan return.

On 5 July 2016, Torres signed for Atlético permanently on a one-year contract. In February 2017, he scored his 100th league goal in Spanish football when he netted a brace against Leganés. On 4 July 2017, Torres signed a new one-year contract with the rojiblancos to stay with his boyhood club for one more year after they were banned from signing new players. He scored two goals in his last match with Atlético in a 2–2 draw versus Eibar.

Torres signed for J1 League club Sagan Tosu on 10 July 2018. He scored his first goal for the club on 22 August in the Emperor's Cup, netting in a fourth round victory over Vissel Kobe.His first league goal followed five days later when he scored once and assisted a further two in a 3–0 win over Gamba Osaka. On 21 June 2019, Torres announced that he would retire from football.

Over the course of his career, he’s scores 198 goals in 571 club  appearances and he’s scored 38 times in 110 appearances for Spain.

Fernando Torres retired as one of the mode successful players winning a host of trophies.

Atlético Madrid
Segunda División: 2001–02[231]
UEFA Europa League: 2017–18[150]
UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2015–16

Chelsea
FA Cup: 2011–12[231]
UEFA Champions League: 2011–12[231]
UEFA Europa League: 2012–13[231]

Spain U16
UEFA European Under-16 Championship: 2001

Spain U19
UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2002

Spain
UEFA European Championship: 2008, 2012
FIFA World Cup: 2010
FIFA Confederations Cup runner-up: 2013; third place: 2009

Individual
UEFA European Under-16 Championship Player of the Tournament: 2001
UEFA European Under-16 Championship top scorer: 2001
UEFA European Under-19 Championship Player of the Tournament: 2002
UEFA European Under-19 Championship top scorer: 2002
Premier League PFA Team of the Year: 2007–08, 2008–09
Premier League Player of the Month: February 2008, September 2009
BBC Goal of the Month: April 2009
UEFA Euro 2008 Final: Man of the Match
UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 2008
UEFA Team of the Year: 2008
FIFA FIFPro World XI: 2008, 2009
ESM Team of the Year: 2007–08
FIFA World Player of the Year third place: 2008
Ballon d'Or third place: 2008
FIFA Confederations Cup Silver Shoe: 2009
Marca Leyenda award: 2012
UEFA European Championship Golden Boot: 2012
FIFA Confederations Cup Golden Shoe: 2013

CONGO VS UGANDA; POST-MATCH ANALYSIS

Congo vs Uganda was a pretty even match, but Congo was expected to win, as they were the bigger side on paper. With players like Bolasie, Chancel Mbemba, Cedric Bakambu who are players with enough experience to give Congo the win.

Congo controlled the game having the most possession, but couldn’t fine the killer pass to break down the Uganda defense, and they were not clinical enough offensively, until Uganda broke down the defense with a beautiful set piece in the 14th minute, with a cross from Farouk Miya and a beautiful headed goal from Patrick Kaddu.

I’m the 48th minute Emmanuel Okwi found the back of the net with a header, with another beautiful set piece cross form Farouk Miya.

The game was pretty matched, but Congo was disappointing with the quality of players they have and couldn’t win the game. Congo had their chances but were wasteful. Was a good game, but Congo could do a lot better if they played more as a team, were more composed and more clinical in front of the goal.

UGANDA VS DR CONGO; Match Preview & Predictions

Congo and Uganda have met a just twice and both times were for the qualification of the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Both have a win to their names. With the first being on the 6th of June, 2004, with Uganda winning 1-nil and the second game was a year later, with Congo winning by 4 goals to nil.

The Cranes of Uganda.

But we’re tipping Congo to win because they have more experienced players that plays in well known teams in Europe, with players like;
• Parfait Mandanda who plays as a goalkeeper for Dinamo Bucharest in Romania,
• Christian Luyindama, defender for Galatasaray/Turkey
• Arthur Masuaku defender for West Ham/England
• Marcell Tisserand defender for Wolfsburg/Germany
• Merveille Bope, Paul-Jose Mpoku both midfielder for Standard Liege/Belgium
• Jacques Maghoma, midfielder for Birmingham City/England
• Chancel Mbemba. Midfielder for Porto/Portugal
• Youssouf Mulumbu, midfielder for Kilmarnock/Scotland
• Chadrack Akolo, forward for Stuttgart/Germany
• Britt Assombalanga, forward for Middlesbrough/England
• Cedric Bakambu, forward Beijing Guoan/China
• Yannick Bolasie, forward Everton/England
• Jonathan Bolingi, forward for Antwerp/Belgium

The Mighty Leopards of D.R Congo

With such experienced player, they should ease past Uganda. Because Uganda don’t have enough experienced players. But One thing that’s sure is that Uganda won’t go down without a fight.

Afcon 2019: Egypt Opens Afcon with a win against Zimbabwe as Salah blanks..

The pharoahs of Egypt opened their campaign with a win against Rivals Zimbabwe, goal came from their front man who plies his trade at kasimpasa.

    It all Begin with the Grand opening as this was the first match of the new edition of the continent's finest Tournament. Mohamed Salah popped up here and there on a sweltering evening in the Egyptian capital but it was trezeguet who supplied the goal just before half time.

Zimbabwe's goalkeeper succumbed to a knock with 10 minutes remaining, though replacement Elvis Chipezeze proved his worth with a brilliant late stop to deny Salah and ensure Egypt had to settle for a one-goal victory.

We'll be back tomorrow for not one, not two, but three more Afcon games LIVE right here, starting with DR Congo vs Uganda.



We'll see you then.

TIPS TO KNOW FOR THE 2019 AFCON

As the African Cup Of Nation (AFCON) starts today, everyone will obviously be glued to their screens. And in the past years there’s been a lot of fantastic winners over the years; let’s a take a quick recap of the winners over the years.

Year Winner

2019

2017 Cameroon

2015 Ivory Coast

2013 Nigeria

2012 Zambia

2010 Egypt             

2008 Egypt             

2006 Egypt            

2004 Tunisia                  

2002 Cameroon     

2000 Cameroon

Most Africa Cup of Nations winner since 2000? Egypt has won three times which is the most times since 2000. Cameroon has won twice.

African Cup of Nations winners list 1957-1998

AFCON winners list 1957-1998? African Cup of Nations Champions list 1957-1998? Here is the list with all Africa Cup of Nations Winners during 1957-1998:

Year Winner

1998 Egypt

1996 South Africa

1994 Nigeria

1992 Ivory Coast

1990 Algeria

1988 Cameroon

1986 Egypt

1984 Cameroon

1982 Ghana

1980 Nigeria

1978 Ghana

1976 Morocco

1974 Congo DR

1972 Congo

1970 Sudan

1968 Congo DR

1965 Ghana

1963 Ghana

1962 Ethiopia

1959 Egypt

1957 Egypt

With that being said, this years AFCON promises to be an interesting one. 24 teams will participate in the competition with three sides making their debut at an Africa Cup of Nations tournament: Mauritania, Burundi and Madagascar.

Group A: Egypt, Zimbabwe, DR Congo and Uganda. Egypt and Zimbabwe to qualify. 

Group B: Nigeria, Guinea, Burundi and Madagascar. Nigeria and Guinea to qualify. 

Group C: Senegal, Algeria, Tanzania and Kenya. Senegal and Kenya to qualify. 

Group D: Morocco, Ivory Coast, Namibia and South Africa. Ivory Coast and Morocco to qualify. 

Group E: Tunisia, Angola, Mauritania and Mali. Tunisia and Angola to qualify. 

Group F: Ghana, Cameroon, Guinea Bissau and Benin. Ghana and Cameroon to qualify. 

16 sides will progress to the next stage with with the top two sides from each group being joined by four of the best third placed sides. With South Africa, Algeria, Mali and Uganda to qualify as best third.

Though we’re not 100 percent sure if this’ll be the out come but based on the strength of the teams we and the difficulty of the groups is how we came up with this prediction. But it can go either ways as all the teams are good in their own way. 

CAN HAZARD BREAK THE “RONALDO NO.7 CURSE”

Eden Hazard after a successful career at Chelsea has left for Real Madrid in hopes of replacing Cristiano Ronaldo. But the question on everyone lips is, “Can he pick up from where Ronaldo left off ?”

Cristiano Ronaldo Dos Santos Aveiro is arguably one of the best player to every step foot on a football field and is one of, if not the best player to ever put on the number 7 jersey. He’s won numerous trophies for every team he has played for, and whenever he leaves, he leaves a big hole in the team.

Real Madrid has promised Eden Hazard the number 7 jersey, but there’s been rumors which suggest Hazard might flop at Madrid. Why? you ask.

You see any player that’s try to replace Ronaldo and also wearing the number 7 jersey has all failed, leaving rumors that Ronaldo curses anyone who wears the number 7 jersey for any teams he plays for.

Ronaldo left Manchester United in 2009 and ever since then United has been looking for a replacement for him, all who wore the iconic number 7 had all flopped.
• Micheal Owen, 31 appearances, 5 goals
• Antonio Valencia, 30 appearances, 1 goal
• Angel Di Maria, 27 appearances, 3 goals
• Memphis Depay, 33 appearances, 2 goals
• Alexis Sanchez, 32 appearances, 3 goals
And Manchester United still hasn’t been able to replace him since then.

Ronaldo left Madrid for Turin in the summer of 2018, when he left, Mariano Diaz and Vinicius Junior were brought in to replace the big man, with Mariano given the number 7 and both have failed to replace him, with both racking up just 5 goals.

It’s Hazard time to put on the iconic Number 7 jersey for Real Madrid, will this move to Madrid and having the 7 on his jersey be detrimental to his career and could he flop at Madrid because of the “Ronaldo No.7 Curse”?

Hazard who is known to be a good playmaker who create chances well and score goals even though he doesn’t score much, can fare much better than Mariano and Junior but can never replace the great Cristiano Ronaldo Dos Santos Aveiro.

But, will he flop like the rest of Ronaldo’s replacement, carrying on the curse or actually have a good performance for Real, thereby breaking the curse? To know this, we’ll have to wait.

Messi's Chances of winning the Copa America 2019

Lionel Messi is one of the greatest footballer of this century, and arguably Barcelona best ever player, but he’s not the same Messi in his international colors.

Messi with Barcelona jersey in a successful span of sixteen years has won five ballon d’ors, three UEFA best player in Europe, six golden boots and has also winning four champions league, ten La liga, six Copa del Rey, eight supercopa de españa, three UEFA super cup and three Fifa club World Cup.

There are different rumors that Messi hasn’t won a trophy for The La Albiceleste (White and Sky-Blue); that isn’t true, he won the Olympic twice and the Fifa U-20 World Cup with Argentina.

But he’s still yet to win a senior Major trophy with Argentina. With all his brilliance with Barcelona, how come he hasn’t won a senior Major trophy yet? Why?

Because Argentina Messi and Barcelona Messi are two different players in one body. He’s always the shadow of himself when he plays in his international colors or maybe it’s because of the pressure the Argentine puts on him.

Argentina has a fairly strong team with good individual player, that’s plays well for their team but fails to connect and play together as a team for their international colors.

Messi has lost 4 finals with Argentina, losing the World Cup in 2017, losing the copa America in 2007, 2015 and 2016; it could be said that Messi has bad luck with Finals for Argentina.

Messi chances of winning this year copa America is slim because the Argentina team has not improved much and Messi still hasn’t improved in big game as he tends to go missing in important games.

With teams like Brazil, Colombia, Chile and Uruguay who also has a strong squad, it could be said that Argentina are in for a tough and difficult competition.

But football can be surprising and Messi could end up winning his first Major trophy with Argentina.

Uefa Nations League Final: Could it be the Balon D'or Decider???

With the UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE final coming up on Sunday the 9th of June 2019 and having two of the top three best players this season playing in the final, it could easily be said that final will define individual awards.

With”The Great Wall of Liverpool” Virgil VanDijk and “The Unstoppable” Cristiano Ronaldo both playing in the UNL final, it can easily decide who wins the Ballon D’Or, FIFA Best Player and European Best player.

VanDijk and Cristiano Ronaldo played a great part in their respective club winning a trophy or trophies. And also has great influence in getting their international teams to the UNL final, even though Ronaldo didn’t participate in all of Portugal matches from the group stage to the quarterfinals, he did play an important role in the semifinals scoring a hattrick in Portugal 3-1 victory over Switzerland.

 VanDijk played 64 times for Liverpool and was never dribbled once, he scored six goals and has 4 assists this season, he  also played a vital role in Liverpool finishing second with just one point behind league leader Man city in the EPL and also winning the Champions league also winning the PFA player of the year award.

 Cristiano Ronaldo in the other hand scored twenty eight goals and made thirteen assists in all competition for Turin this season, winning the Serie A, Supercoppa Italiana also winning Serie A most valuable player, becoming the first player to win league titles in England, Spain and Italy.

It’s no doubt that Messi is also in the race for the Ballon d’Or, Fifa best player and European best player award as he too has another stellar performance for Barcelona this season scoring 51 goals in 50 games making him European top goal scorer.

But with Van Dijk and Ronaldo both in the UNL final it could give them and edge over Messi as they could be winning their first international trophy or second international trophy respectively.

But with the three of the best player in Europe in the race for the same individual award, it’s looking to be the most difficult, toughest and tightest individual award race ever. Now the question on everyone lips is “WHO WILL WIN IT ALL?”

The answer…………………………… We’ll have to wait till the very end to know who the winners are.

VIRGIL VAN DIJK; The Epitome of a tactical Defender.

"Think of the best defenders in premier league history - John terry, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic. Van Dijk is all three rolled into one"

Those where the words of Jamie Redknapp describing the 1.93 metres tall Liverpool's no.4. Well, Virgil Van dijk caught the worlds attention when he joined Liverpool from Southampton for a world record £75 Million on January 1st,2018. Eye brows were raised, would he perform???.

Well 18 months later and i think his then outrageous transfer fee is actually a bargain for Liverpool. The towering defender has imposed himself not only in merseyside but all of Europe. He went trough out last season without being dribbled eegistering 35+ succesfull tackles helping liverpool keep 21 clean sheets and conceding a low of 21 goals in the premier league*. He also got on the attack and scored 8 goals for both club and country this season. 

He is tactically gifted, doesn't  rush into tackles, Patient enough to strike at the right time and he has a strong Ariel presence. Little wonder Jurgen klopp said "I’m really proud it’s the second time in a row I can speak about a wonderful player who won the award for Player of the Season: Virgil van Dijk."

You wonder how he metamorphosized into this... 

Well, we will give you a hint by going trough his Football manager profile right from when he was in gronigen to Liverpool. Checking his FM profile, you'll  will be convinvinced that he is a very tactical defender.

Van dijk's profile in Football Manager 2013. Virgil was at Gronigen then.

If you noticed, Virgil had high scores in Heading, Marking, Tackling and even technique. Scoring between 12 -14 out of 20. Now let's  look at when he joined Celtic.

Virgilin was in Celtic in 2015.FMM Profile

Still develop fast. Well, I'll  leave you to contrast wjen he was in soithampton and liverpool.

Liverpool in 2019