Weekly Football News, May 27 2013
No era of German dominance: Hansen
English-based football commentator Alan Hansen, the former Liverpool central defender, has refuted suggestions that German football is about to embark on an era of European dominance after Saturday's all-German Champions League final.
Bayern Munich beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 at Wembley in an entertaining final after having disposed of Barcelona and Real Madrid in the semi-finals.
However, Hansen believed that the final confirmed that the gulf between the Bundesliga and the English Premier League was not "even remotely intimidating", according to an article in the Daily Telegraph.
"What I witnessed on Saturday was a cracking spectacle. It was a thrilling, open football match between the two best teams in this year's competition," said Hansen.
"But I also saw two very beatable German sides that were as vulnerable in defence as they were impressive pushing forward."
He continued: "For all the attacking verve on display, there were plenty of flaws - especially in both defences. The more tactically adept teams of the recent past would have exposed those inadequacies."
A fortnight to forget for Benfica
A fortnight ago, Benfica were eyeing a treble, but the Portuguese powerhouse have finished the season without any silverware after being shocked by Vitoria de Guimaraes in the Portuguese Cup final.
What's more, the Lisbon club have seen the domestic league, the Europa League and now the Portuguese Cup wrestled from their grasp in the most heartbreaking fashion.
In all three crunch games, Benfica have conceded late goals to lose 2-1.
They lost both their decisive league match against Porto and the Europa League final against Chelsea because of stoppage-time goals by their opponents.
And they suffered a similar fate against outsiders Guimaraes in the domestic cup final over the weekend following late goals from El Arbi Hillel Soudani and Ricardo.
"I don't know what happened in the last 10 minutes," said Benfica midfielder Nemanja Matic. "We surely deserved to win something this season."
Neymar lured to Europe - finally
Santos have admitted that the lure of European football – and European-level wages – has ultimely proven too much for Neymar to resist.
The Brazilians accepted a fee, understood to be worth close to €40m, for Neymar from Barcelona over the weekend following four seasons of chasing by a host of European clubs since the then-17-year-old striker burst onto the scene in 2009.
The 21-year-old has since scored 156 goals in 256 matches for Santos and 20 times in 32 appearances for Brazil.
"Every effort was made to keep him in Brazil as long as possible, even offering to renew the current contract, which ends in July 2014," the club's statement said.
"At this time, however, it was not possible to compete with the terms offered from abroad, which affected the decision of the player to review his professional life."
Rogers re-enters football in the MLS
United States midfielder Robbie Rogers has become the world's most high-profile openly gay footballer after coming out of retirement to sign for Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS.
Four months ago, Rogers, capped 18 times by the United States and a 2008 Olympian, came out as gay and quit football.
However, the 26-year-old said on the Galaxy's website: "I'd like to thank everyone at Major League Soccer, the LA Galaxy and the Chicago Fire for allowing me to return to playing the game that I love. I look forward to getting back out onto the field and continuing my soccer career as a member of the Galaxy."
Rogers was playing for Leeds United when he revealed in his blog that he wanted to live a new life outside football.
Compiled by Marc Fox
2013 World Soccer News
Rafa's Return - 11 April Football News - Rafa wants to return to Liverpool one day.
Manchester City Plan B - 8 April Football News - Manchester City lack a plan B according to Gary Neville.
World Cup Qualifying - 27 March Soccer News - A round up of all the World Cup Qualifying matches in Europe and South America.
Champions League - 4 March Soccer News - Real and Manchester United in Champions League showdown.
FA Cup Shocks - 18 February Soccer News - FA Cup springs more surprises.
Liverpool and Spurs Lose in FA Cup - 28 January Soccer News - Liverpool and Spurs are knocked out of the FA Cup by lower league opposition.
League Cup - 23 January Soccer News - Bradford City are through to the League Cup Final after beating Aston Villa over two legs.
Manchester Title Race - 14 January Soccer News - the Manchester title race and Newcastle's new striker.
Theo Walcott - 10 January Soccer News - Theo Walcott edges closer to new contract at Arsenal.
Kevin-Prince Boateng - 7 January Soccer News - Milan's Kevin-Prince Boateng walks off after racist abuse.
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