• Gunners open WSL against Chelsea on TV
• Hectic fortnight includes two cup semi-finals

Arsenal will kick off their Women's Super League (WSL) campaign at Chelsea on Wednesday evening in the middle of what the manager, Laura Harvey, describes as a "crazy" schedule of fixtures following 11 months almost devoid of match action.

After clinching the Premier League title for the seventh successive season last May the Gunners had only eight competitive games before the 2-0 first‑leg defeat in their Champions League semi-final against Olympique Lyonnais on Saturday. Now Harvey's team have a hectic fortnight in which they will play two WSL games, the home leg of their Champions League tie and an FA Cup semi-final against Barnet.

"It's crazy that we've got to cram in so many big games," said Harvey. "Ideally, after travelling to Lyon and back over the weekend, we'd like to give the players time for rest and recovery before the second leg next Saturday but it's impossible.

"We've got to be absolutely up for Wednesday because the match at Chelsea is so important for the profile and the future of the women's game. It's a new league, the match is live on TV and we want to put on a show that will whet people's appetites to come and watch WSL football."

The Chelsea manager, Matt Beard, is confident that the competition's curtain-raiser can achieve Harvey's aspirations. "Anyone who's not seen a women's game before will be pleasantly surprised," said Beard. "It doesn't have the power or pace of the men's game but the players are technically as good and matches can be very exciting."

In the Premier League on Sunday Millwall Lionesses were relegated following a 3-0 defeat at Reading. Barnet beat the champions Sunderland 1-0 to climb out of the drop zone at the expense of Watford, whose game at Leeds ended in a goalless draw.

Athletico Madrid's David de Gea may find himself in a new uniform this summer. With reports circulating that Premier League giants Manchester United have bid £17.5 for the 20 year-old goalkeeper, agent Hector Rincon has confirmed that such an offer would trigger the release clause in de Gea's contract:

What I can tell you is that his release clause now is €20 million, but I have no idea if the club would sell him for less. Right now, the player has a contract with Atletico Madrid and if Manchester United or any other team want him they will have to reach an agreement or pay the whole release clause.

Although the bid figure itself is unconfirmed, if it's true than Athletico would be force to part ways with their highly-rated youngster, who's been with the first team since 2009. The La Liga side refused to confirm United had submitted an offer, but did admit that 'all the big sides in Europe' have asked after De Gea.

Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson are looking hard for a replacement goalkeeper as Edwin van der Sar, now 40, is set to hang up his boots at the end of the season after six years with the club, and have been connected with de Gea, Schalke 04's Manuel Neuer, and Olympique Lyonnais' Hugo Lloris.

Arsenal's forwards again had to rise above the defence's shortcomings to beat Partizan Belgrade and secure qualification

Arsenal's defence is the topic of the hour – can they possibly recapture the Premier League title with such an uninspiring unit? – but tonight they were not expected to have much defending to do against a side who conceded 10 goals while losing all five of their group matches before their arrival in London for the concluding fixture.

Already lacking the injured Thomas Vermaelen, the home side's back four lost Gaël Clichy before the kick-off, the French left-back suffering from some sort of seasonal complaint, allowing Kieran Gibbs to take his place as the token Englishman.

Andrey Arshavin was candid about the team's shortcomings during an interview on the eve of the match, quite sensibly attempting to lay the blame on defensive teamwork – the organisation and diligence of the whole side, in other words – rather than the defenders alone. His own covering of his partner on the left flank, he admitted, sometimes left a good deal to be desired.

But the Russian had nothing to do, by either commission or omission, with the injury that removed poor Gibbs from the contest after a quarter of an hour. The 21-year-old England international was attempting to close down Almami Moreira, Partizan's playmaker from Guinea-Bissau, when he turned his ankle and fell to the ground with his arm immediately raised in a signal for urgent assistance. Carried off, he got back to his feet and returned to the field but he was limping heavily and clearly in discomfort when, eight minutes later, he was replaced by Emmanuel Eboué.

The Ivorian's arrival at least restored the all-Francophone nature of Arsène Wenger's rearguard. It is useful, of course, for the back four to be able to communicate with each other, but the manager's default measure of filling a defensive hole with a French speaker does not suggest that he combs the corners of the earth for suitable players. Neither Laurent Koscielny nor Sébastien Squillaci, born in Tulle and Toulon respectively, was an obvious choice, or an inspiring one. The currently injured Johan Djourou, a Swiss national, was born in Abidjan and has French as his first language, while one imagines that Vermaelen, although a Flamand rather than a Walloon, must have picked up something of Belgium's other tongue.

It even seems a strange anomaly that there has been no French or French-speaking goalkeeper at Arsenal during Wenger's 14 years in charge. Not within sniffing distance of the first team, anyway, although a few years ago he called Guillaume Warmuz of Lens into the squad. Wenger was also linked for a while with Mickaël Landreau, the captain of Nantes, a gifted technician who ultimately proved not quite tall enough for the very top flight.

This summer, trying to confront the most serious deficiency in his current squad, Wenger was linked with Hugo Lloris, but the current France international remained with Olympique Lyonnais, leaving the manager to choose between Manuel Almunia and tonight's choice, Lukasz Fabianski. Lloris's father, a Monaco-based merchant banker, is a friend of the Arsenal manager and, acting as his son's agent, is said to have planned Lloris's career in three-year stages: three years with Nice, followed by three years with Lyon. This is his third year at the Stade Gerland, and it seems highly likely that he will be starting next season at the Emirates, thus increasing the ability of the defence to share their thoughts in the language of Descartes and Balzac.

Tonight the current line-up was tested principally by the combination of Moreira and Cléverson Gabriel Córdova, better known as Cléo, a tall, long-haired 25-year-old Brazilian who last year became the first player in 20 years to transfer to Partizan from their bitter local rivals FC Crvena zvezda, formerly Red Star Belgrade. Cléo's first goal for his new club came on his debut against Rhyl. Seven days later, in the return leg, he scored his first hat-trick, opening with a bicycle kick.

The goal with which he equalised was nowhere near as spectacular, but rather more relevant, considering the quality of the opposition. Sasa Ilic was allowed to play a neat square pass across the area from the left to the Brazilian, who feinted to put Squillaci off balance before shooting from 20 yards and seeing the ball spin off the centre back's foot to defeat Fabianski's dive.

The failure of Alexandre Song and Denílson to make any sort of intervention was perhaps more significant than Squillaci's inability to produce an effective block. Once again Arsenal's deficiencies in the area of the holding midfield player, evident since the unwise decision to pension off Gilberto Silva, were exposed.

The construction of a great football team involves every aspect of the game, and it is hard to excuse Wenger's refusal to take seriously the piecing together of an effective rearguard, particularly when they concede a goal like Cléo's equaliser, which left Arsenal's supporters praying that Sporting Braga would not snatch a win in Ukraine.

But then, 20 fretful minutes later, came the smooth volley from Theo Walcott and the nimble finish from Samir Nasri that quieted, once again, the familiar misgivings.

LYON: French club Lyon have grabbed a late equalizer to deny Israel’s Hapoel Tel Aviv maximum points in the final Group B match in the Champions League.

Lisandro Lopez finally edged the home side in front in the 61st minute from 12 yards after Hapeol’s Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama kept his side in proceedings with a string of top-class saves but parity was soon restored when Ben Sahar leveled in similar fashion to Lopez less than a minute later.

Eran Zahavi then put the visitors ahead in the 68th minute when he finished a Salim Toama cross but Hapeol were cruelly denied a win which would have put them into the Europa League when Alexandre Lacazette slotted home with two minutes left to force a 2-2 draw.

The point allowed Lyon to stitch up second place behind FC Schalke as Hapoel were consigned to the bottom behind Benfica.

UEFA Champions League – Group B
Olympique Lyonnais (FRA): 2 (Lisandro Lopez 61’, Alexandre Lacazette 88’)
Hapoel Tel Aviv (ISR):

2 (Ben Sahar 62’, Eran Zahavi 68’)

Venue: Stade de Gerland, Lyon
Crowd: 35,000

Jasper Juinen - Getty Images

2 months ago: BARCELONA SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 14: David Villa (R) of Barcelona celebrates scoring his sides second goal with his teammate Lionel Messi during the UEFA Champions League group D match between Barcelona and Panathinaikos on September 14 2010 in Barcelona Spain. Barcelona won the match 5-1. (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images)

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On Thursday, FIFA announced the 55 finalists for the FIFA/FIFPro World XI, a team which will be announced at the Ballon d'Or gala on January 10. The World XI will identify the best goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards of 2010 as chosen by FIFPro's worldwide membership of an estimated 50,000 professional players.

With a list that large, it's hard to have any major omissions, which is why some of the inclusions are more noteworthy. A number of players whose 2010s have been defined by injury problems or dips in form have found places on the shortlist. Perhaps that's to be expected given the bulk of names (and the nature of the electorate). Still, it gives us something interesting to talk about.

As cut-and-pasted from FIFA's web site:

The 55-player shortlist in full:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy, Juventus FC), Iker Casillas (Spain, Real Madrid C.F.), Petr Cech (Czech Republic, Chelsea FC), Julio Cesar (Brazil, F.C. Internazionale), Edwin van der Sar (Netherlands, Manchester United FC)

Defenders: Daniel Alves (Brazil, FC Barcelona), Gareth Bale (Wales, Tottenham Hotspur), Michel Bastos (Brazil, Olympique Lyonnais), Ashley Cole (England, Chelsea FC), Patrice Evra (France, Manchester United FC), Rio Ferdinand (England, Manchester United FC), Philipp Lahm (Germany, FC Bayern Munchen), Lucio (Brazil, F.C. Internazionale), Maicon (Brazil, F.C. Internazionale), Marcelo (Brazil, Real Madrid C.F.), Alessandro Nesta (Italy, AC Milan), Pepe (Portugal, Real Madrid C.F.), Gerard Pique (Spain, FC Barcelona), Carles Puyol (Spain, FC Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Madrid C.F.), Walter Samuel (Argentina, F.C. Internazionale), John Terry (England, Chelsea FC), Thiago Silva (Brazil, AC Milan), Nemanja Vidic (Serbia, Manchester United FC), Javier Zanetti (Argentina, F.C. Internazionale)

Midfielders: Esteban Cambiasso (Argentina, F.C. Internazionale), Michael Essien (Ghana, Chelsea FC), Cesc Fabregas (Spain, Arsenal FC), Steven Gerrard (England, Liverpool FC), Andres Iniesta (Spain, FC Barcelona), Ricardo Kaka (Brazil, Real Madrid C.F.), Frank Lampard (England, Chelsea FC), Javier Mascherano (Argentina, FC Barcelona), Thomas Muller (Germany, FC Bayern Munchen), Mesut Ozil (Germany, Real Madrid C.F.), Andrea Pirlo (Italy, AC Milan), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany, FC Bayern Munchen), Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands, F.C. Internazionale), Xabi Alonso (Spain, Real Madrid C.F.), Xavi (Spain, FC Barcelona)

Forwards: Dimitar Berbatov (Bulgaria, Manchester United FC), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast, Chelsea FC), Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon, F.C. Internazionale), Diego Forlán (Uruguay, Atletico Madrid), Gonzalo Higuain (Argentina, Real Madrid C.F.), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, AC Milan), Lionel Messi (Argentina, FC Barcelona), Diego Milito (Argentina, F.C. Internazionale), Arjen Robben (Netherlands, FC Bayern München), Ronaldinho (Brazil, AC Milan), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid C.F.), Wayne Rooney (England, Manchester United FC), Carlos Tevez (Argentina, Manchester City FC), Fernando Torres (Spain, Liverpool FC), David Villa (Spain, FC Barcelona)

Broken down by league, 18 of the names play in Spain. Seventeen play in England, with 15 working in Italy, meaning 50 of the list's 55 names reside in the old "big three" leagues. While (on league quality) the German Bundesliga is generally recognized for having tracked-down Italy's Serie A, that league got only four nominations. The other nominated player works in France, meaning leagues like Portugal's (Fabio Coentrao), Russia's (Igor Akinfeev), and the Netherland's (Luis Suárez) where overlooked.

France's nomination went to Lyon's Michel Bastos thanks to some curious positioning. I'm not sure Claude Puel considers Bastos an all-world defender, highlighting one of three major problems I found with the shortlist. Issues with positioning are the easiest to forgive, particularly in light of the shortlist's two major problems. Of greater concern, there are a number of players just that haven't been very good in 2010; at least, they haven't been good beyond a few flashes of brilliance. That issue is compounded by the presence of players who have missed significant time with injury.

Briefly (and not too seriously), let's take a closer look at these three problems:

Positioning: Michel Bastos played left back for Brazil at the World Cup, but he is an attacker. Given how Lyon sets-up, he's closer to a forward than a defender. Likewise, listing Gareth Bale as a defender is curious given his 2010 ascension has coincided with most of his play taking place in midfield.

Seeing Kaká and Ronaldinho listed in different groups is also worth a thought, though Arjen Robben and Thomas Müller's listings are outright perplexing. Both could be forwards, both could be midfielders, but if you were to split the two, Müller would seem the more likely to be listed as a forward. On this list, he's a midfielder while Robben is a forward. Both should probably be forwards.

Overlooking injuries: Gianluigi Buffon hasn't played since the World Cup and isn't slated to do so until early 2011. That's half the calendar year without playing a match. It's difficult to justify his place on this list, particularly with players like Igor Akinfeev, Maarten Stenkelenburg and Hans Jorg Butt (amongst others) excluded.

Likewise, it's difficult to see Rio Ferdinand, Pepe and Michael Essien on this list. Their inclusion makes an implicit claim that half a season of their play outweighs a year's worth of from players like Juan, David Luiz, or Sami Khedira.

Some of these guys just weren't good: Steven Gerrard shouldn't be on a list like this unless recognizability is a factor. He had a down 2010 and shouldn't be listed ahead of somebody like Florent Malouda, to pick one of many possible alternatives. Including him hints this list is more about celebrity than performance.

Kaká has not only been hurt for much of the year but hasn't been exceptional when he has played. Franck Ribery could have his spot, as could Ángel Di Maria. If you're looking for more of a playmaking type, consider Javier Pastore, whose strong play at the end of Palermo's 2009-10 season augments his recent rise to prominence. At some point, the name Dirk Kuyt should be mentioned, too.

Andrea Pirlo missed the World Cup and has lost a step. Daniele de Rossi would have been a better choice. You could also make the case that Dutch deep-sitters Nigel de Jong and Mark van Bommel, although different types and unpopular, were better throughout 2010.

Other qualms: Dimitar Berbatov has had one good month in the last ten (at least) and should not be here above Mirko Vucinic. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was benched at the end of his club season and missed the World Cup. Pedro Rodriguez is an obvious and better choice. Wayne Rooney hasn't scored an open play goal in around nine months. His teammate Nani, amongst others, would have been a preferable selection, and if you want to stick with a "true" forward, Giampaolo Pazzini deserves some recognition, as does Rooney body-clone Humberto Suazo. Fernando Torres is a great talent, but his 2010's been too disappointing to justify this honor.

Ultimately, don't take this nit-picking too seriously. It's just a team, one voted on by the players themselves. While there are a number of players deserved this recognition ahead of Kaká and Steven Gerrard, demanding those changes would overlook one very important thing. This list as much celebration as it is recognition. To a certain extent, FIFA and FIFPro want some Rios and Pirlos, particularly when their peers are providing the legitimacy by voting for them.

While it may err in some choices on the periphery, this process is still likely to pick a pretty strong World XI. In the interim, it gives us something interesting to discuss: Why some players are on this list while others are not.

Mike Stobe - Getty Images for New York Red Bu

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If you missed it last week, we've started a regular column breaking down the best matches of the week outside of the English Premier League, Major League Soccer, La Liga, Serie A, and the Bundesliga, the five leagues that get the most coverage on SBNation. There's great football all around the world, but most of us only have time to take it in small doses.

Do you have unlimited space on your DVR and/or hard drive, as well as unlimited free time on your hands? Here are the matches that just barely missed the cut.

10. Newell's Old Boys vs. Boca Juniors (Argentina)

9. Olympiakos vs. AEK Athens (Greece)

8. Genk vs. KAA Gent (Belgium)

7. Olympique Lyonnais vs. Paris St. Germain (France)

6. Besiktas vs. Galatasaray (Turkey)

Usually an Istanbul derby would be a lock for this column, but Galatasaray have been absolutely awful to start this season. Lyon vs. PSG definitely has some intrigue seeing as Lyon manager Claude Puel's job security is questionable. As intriguing as some of these matches are, they didn't make the cut for a reason. 

I've scoured the globe to find the best matches and I'm proud to say that unlike last week, we're not doubling up. This week, we're previewing great footy matches in Uruguay, France, Turkey, Mexico, and Portugal. The big game between FC Porto and Sporting Lisbon definitely takes the cake, and we'll save the best for last. Our first preview will be for the big match in Montevideo between Defensor Sporting and Nacional.

Benfica versus Olympique Lyon Location: Estádio do Sport (Lisbon) Date: Tuesday, November 2 Time: 3:45 p.m. Eastern Records (W-D-L, +/-, Place): Benfica, 1-0-2, -2, 3rd Lyon, 3-0-0, +5, 1st

In a tough Group B, Benfica find themselves in a tougher situation. After three matches, Lyon sit on nine points, Schalke sit on six, and Benfica sit on three. Wtihout a win tonight at Estadio da Luz, Benfica will be in serious trouble. Without at least a draw, they will be all but eliminated if Schalke do what is expected of them and defeat Hapoel Tel-Aviv.

The good news for Benfica is that Estadio da Luz has been a bit of a fortress both domestically and in Europe over the last couple years, other than their embarrassing opening day slip-up against Academia de Coimbra. The bad news for Benfica is that they will be without their star target man, Oscar Cardozo. Talented youngster Alan Kardec figures to start in his place.

Lyon have been unstoppable in UEFA Champions League action so far, taking maximum points from all of their matches, but they have been less than impressive in Ligue 1. Their weekend win over Sochaux took them to ninth, but a team of Lyon's talent should never be outside of the top five in France for an extended period of time. Their draw against last placed Arles on October 24th was downright embarrassing.

Les Gones have injury problems of their own. Jeremy Toulalan, Ederson, Cesar Delgado, Aly Cisshoko, and Lisandro are all out with injuries. Still, they have the ability to field a very solid team, though the bench might look a little thin and be littered with youngsters.

Between Lyon's advantage in midfield and Benfica's home field advantage, as well as some guys who can create goals out of nothing, this looks like a fairly even affair. Benfica will stay undefeated in Europe at home, but won't get the three points they need to feel good about advancing to the knockout stages. 

Prediction:

Benfica 1-1 Lyon

Dejan Lovren, born on 5th July, 1989 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a Croatian superstar in the making.

Dejan Lovren started his career in youth team of NK Karlovac. In 2005, after great performances in NK Karlovac, he moved to the greatest Croatian football club, Dinamo Zagreb.

One year later, Dejan debuted for the senior squad of Dinamo in Prva HNL match against Inter Zaprešić. Everybody knew about Dejan's perspective to become a great defender in future.

In 2007, he was loaned to Inter Zaprešić club for two seasons, in which he featured in 50 league matches. 50 matches is a great statistic for such a young guy like Lovren.

Following his return from loan, Lovren regularly featured in NK Dinamo's first eleven, appearing in 38 matches throughout 2008–09 season, bagging three goals.

During 2008-2009 season, Dejan Lovren scored a key goal for Dinamo Zagreb, who played against Czech Republic team, Sparta Prague. Lovren's goal brought Dinamo Zagreb group stage of UEFA Cup.

He won everything with Dinamo Zagreb (domestic league and Croatian cup).

After so many great perfrormances in Dinamo Zagreb shirt, Dejan deserved a great transfer in one of the greatest football clubs in the world, Olympique Lyon.

In January 2010, Lovren signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with French Ligue 1 club Olympique Lyonnais. Lyon paid 10 million€ for Dejan, which is a great transfer considering that Lovren was only 20 years old.

He was given the number 26 shirt at the club and made his competitive debut on 24 January 2010 in their 2–1 defeat at Monaco in the Coupe de France, playing the entire match.

His Ligue 1 debut came on 31 January 2010 in Lyon's 2–1 win at home to Paris Saint-Germain, once again completing the full 90 minutes.

Lovren was first called–up to Croatia national team in 2009 by manager Slaven Bilić, who included the player in his match squad against Belarus on 12 August. He was an unused substitute, but still was delighted with the new experience.

Currently, he has played five times for the Croatian national team.

Lovren was also capped 48 times in the various Croatia youth national teams and scored four goals.

Lyon has a huge trust in this young player and I am pretty sure that Dejan Lovren is not going disappoint Lyon's directors and their fans. Lyon did a great deal by signing Lovren because they didn't just got a great player, they also got a great person.

One thing is for sure: Dejan Lovren is the future of Croatian Football!

French club Lyon were able to see off Israel’s Hapoel Tel Aviv 3-1 thanks to a Michel Bastos double in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

The Brazilian winger got his team off to a great start in their Group B clash when he converted a 7th minute penalty before scoring a 20-yard screamer in the 36th minute which will long live in the memory of those present at the Ramat Gan Stadium.

Hapoel hit back when goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama stepped up to the penalty spot and finished neatly but it wasn’t enough as Miralem Pjanic made it 3-1 in injury time.

UEFA Champions League Group B
Hapoel Tel Aviv (ISR): 1 (Vincent Enyeama (p) 79’)
Olympique Lyonnais (FRA): 3 (Michel Bastos (p) 7’, 36’, Miralem Pjanic 90’)
Venue: Ramat Gan Stadium, Tel Aviv
Referee: Howard Webb
Yellow cards: HTA - Walid Badir 7’, Dedi Ben Dayan 45’, Etey Shechter 55’, Shay Abutbul 86’
LYO - Jimmy Briand 29’, Jeremy Pied 66’, Dejan Lovren 78’

Starting Line-Ups

HTA
Vincent Enyeama (gk), Douglas Nunes, Walid Badir, Dedi Ben Dayan, Dani Bondar, Avihay Yadin, Eran Zehavi (Abutbul 59’), Gil Vermouth, Romain Rocchi (Shivhon 60’), Etey Shechter, Ben Sahar (Tamuz 76’)

Subs - Galil Ben Shaanan (gk), Shay Abutbul (59’), Yossi Shivhon (60’), Gal Shish, Omri Kende, Bevan Fransman, Toto Tamuz (76’)

LYO
Hugo Lloris (gk), Dejan Lovren, Pape Diakhate, Aly Cissokho, Anthony Reveillere, Jeremy Toulalan, Yoann Gourcuff (Pjanic 77’), Kim Kallstrom, Michel Bastos (Gonalons 89’), Bafetimbi Gomis (Pied 63’), Jimmy Briand

Subs - Remi Vercoutre (gk), Jeremy Pied (63’), Miralem Pjanic (77’), Lamine Gassama, Maxime Gonalons (89’), Grenier Clement, Alexandre Lacazette

French club Lyon were able to see off Israel’s Hapoel Tel Aviv 3-1 thanks to a Michel Bastos double in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

The Brazilian winger got his team off to a great start in their Group B clash when he converted a 7th minute penalty before scoring a 20-yard screamer in the 36th minute which will long live in the memory of those present at the Ramat Gan Stadium.

Hapoel hit back when goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama stepped up to the penalty spot and finished neatly but it wasn’t enough as Miralem Pjanic made it 3-1 in injury time.

UEFA Champions League Group B
Hapoel Tel Aviv (ISR): 1 (Vincent Enyeama (p) 79’)
Olympique Lyonnais (FRA): 3 (Michel Bastos (p) 7’, 36’, Miralem Pjanic 90’)
Venue: Ramat Gan Stadium, Tel Aviv
Referee: Howard Webb
Yellow cards: HTA - Walid Badir 7’, Dedi Ben Dayan 45’, Etey Shechter 55’, Shay Abutbul 86’
LYO - Jimmy Briand 29’, Jeremy Pied 66’, Dejan Lovren 78’

Starting Line-Ups

HTA
Vincent Enyeama (gk), Douglas Nunes, Walid Badir, Dedi Ben Dayan, Dani Bondar, Avihay Yadin, Eran Zehavi (Abutbul 59’), Gil Vermouth, Romain Rocchi (Shivhon 60’), Etey Shechter, Ben Sahar (Tamuz 76’)

Subs - Galil Ben Shaanan (gk), Shay Abutbul (59’), Yossi Shivhon (60’), Gal Shish, Omri Kende, Bevan Fransman, Toto Tamuz (76’)

LYO
Hugo Lloris (gk), Dejan Lovren, Pape Diakhate, Aly Cissokho, Anthony Reveillere, Jeremy Toulalan, Yoann Gourcuff (Pjanic 77’), Kim Kallstrom, Michel Bastos (Gonalons 89’), Bafetimbi Gomis (Pied 63’), Jimmy Briand

Subs - Remi Vercoutre (gk), Jeremy Pied (63’), Miralem Pjanic (77’), Lamine Gassama, Maxime Gonalons (89’), Grenier Clement, Alexandre Lacazette

International Lineup of 17 FIFA 11 Cover Athletes Unveiled as FIFA 11 demo launched today.

16 September 2010, AUSTRALIA – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today that a full playable demo of EA SPORTS™ FIFA 11 is now available to download for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system at the PLAYSTATION Store, for the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system by Xbox Live Gold Members from Xbox Live Marketplace, and for PC at WWW.FIFA.EASPORTS.COM. Xbox Live Silver Members will have access to the demo from 23 September.

Play as Chelsea, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen and Olympique Lyonnais and experience how FIFA 11 reinvents player authenticity, on and off the ball, with the all-new Personality+ feature. Individual abilities are now reflected in-game, allowing clear differentiation for every player on the pitch.

Users will also experience true freedom in man-to-man interactions with 360° Fight for Possession options, that transforms physical play from lateral jostling to full 360° collisions. The new Pro Passing feature also ensures pass accuracy is determined by a gamer’s ability on the control pad, and player skill, situation and urgency on the pitch.

The FIFA 11 demo features an exhibition match with three minute halves in Real Madrid’s home stadium, Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, and users will be able to upload created in-game videos to EA SPORTS Football World. Fans who go to Facebook® to play EA SPORTS FIFA Superstars and complete achievements will receive exclusive access to Arsenal and Emirates Stadium to play in the FIFA 11 demo.

EA SPORTS today unveiled its global lineup of international football stars that will adorn FIFA 11 packaging and be integrated into marketing and advertising campaigns around the world.

FIFA 11 will be localised into 18 languages and available in 51 countries. Led by the 28-year-old Brazilian, Kaka, the 17 global superstars hail from 15 countries, represent 14 different teams and play in 9 international football leagues, an ideal match for the World’s best-selling* sports videogame. With 2 FIFA World Cup™ titles, 5 Champions League titles, 32 national championships and 1 European title, EA SPORTS presents the strongest team of cover athletes it has ever assembled for its FIFA franchise.

“It is a great honour to unite so many exceptional football players on the FIFA 11 team,” said Matt Bilbey, Vice President of Football, EA SPORTS. “This mix of superstars from all over the world, each with their own unique style and passion for the game, and their different kind of amazing playing styles perfectly represents what FIFA 11 stands for – a true authentic and global football game of unprecedented quality.”

FIFA 11 Player Line Up:

Visit http://www.facebook.com/easportsfifa to join the EA SPORTS FIFA Facebook group or visit WWW.FIFA.EASPORTS.COM for more information about the game. Screenshots are available at http://info.ea.com.

FIFA 11 will be available in Australia from 30 September 2010 for the PlayStation®3, Xbox 360®, Wii™, PC, PlayStation®2, Nintendo DS™, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system and mobile.

On Xbox 360, PS3 and PC

EA Sports has released the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC versions of its highly-anticipated playable demo of FIFA 11, on Xbox Live, PlayStation Store and www.fifa.easports.com respectively.

The demo allows you to play two 3-minute halves in the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu?as?Chelsea, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen or Olympique Lyonnais. Additionally, Arsenal can be unlocked by completing certain achievements on the Facebook footy management game FIFA Superstars.

Many of the game's new features are present, including Personality+, the new individual skill set for different players, 360 degree Fight for Possession that introduces a more physical type of play, and Pro Passing, where accuracy is determined by a gamer’s ability, combined with in-game player skill.

EA Sports also revealed its full line-up of international stars that will adorn the cover art Internationally and be involved with marketing of the title in different regions:

Kaka - Brazil, Real Madrid
Wayne Rooney - England, Manchester United
Petr Cech - Czech Republic, Chelsea
Karim Benzema - France, Real Madrid
Hugo Lloris - France, Olympique Lyonnais
Mesut Oezil - Germany, Real Madrid
Rene Adler - Germany, Bayer Leverkusen
Giorgio Chiellini - Italy, Juventus
Andres Iniesta - Spain, FC Barcelona
Tim Cahill - Australia, Everton
Balasz Dzudzsak - Hungary, PSV Eindhoven
Ricardo Carvalho - Portugal, Real Madrid
Sergei Semak - Russia, Zenit St. Petersburg
Valentin Stocker - Switzerland, FC Basel
Carlos Vela - Mexico, Arsenal
Landon Donovan - USA, LA Galaxy
Jakub Blaszczykowski - Poland, Borussia Dortmund

You can guarantee that each of those will feature their specific skill sets with Personality+, but it remains to be seen how much Wayne Rooney will get involved in the game's release considering the recent revelations in the UK press about his personal life.

FIFA 11 is scheduled for release on multiple formats on 1 October 2010.

Related links:

• News - FIFA 11 Career Mode blog reveals all
• News - Play as the goalie in FIFA 11
• News - FIFA 11 - quick play preview
• Feature - Gentlemen's debate: FIFA 11 vs PES 2011

Tags: Gaming FIFA 11 Electronic Arts EA Sports Xbox 360 PS3 PC games PlayStation

FIFA 11 demo now available for download originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 12:41:45 +0100

The thigh muscle injury that Brazilian defender Thiago Silva picked up in AC Milan's Saturday loss to Cesena has not healed and he will miss Wednesday's Champions League opening match against Auxerre.

Silva was replaced at halftime after getting injured in the first half of Saturday's upset.

Massimiliano Allegri is expected to start Daniele Bonera alongside center back Alessandro Nesta in the middle of the defense.

Meanwhile, Filippo Inzaghi is one of five attackers chosen for the match by Allegri, along with Ronaldinho, Robinho, Pato, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Inzaghi has scored 68 goals in UEFA competition, which includes the Champions League, UEFA Cup/Europa League, and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, and is hoping to tie and break Gerd Muller's all time UEFA record of 69 goals.

"Above all, it's important to start well against Auxerre," the 37 year old said. "I care about it a lot. I would like to equal Muller's record in front of my fans. I want to score to make Milan win."

Inzaghi also pointed out that he is not the only one in striking distance of the record. While Inzaghi will get his chance tomorrow, Schalke 04 striker Raul will be aiming at the record tonight when his side take on Olympique Lyonnais. Raul is also on 68 goals, with an incredible 66 of them being scored in the Champions League whilst playing for Real Madrid.

It is very possible that very soon, two players will have passed Gerd Muller and his long standing record.

Wednesday will be more about recovery for Milan, however, as the club will be looking to bounce back from that shock loss to Cesena. They will be hoping for the new front line of Ronaldinho, Pato, and Ibrahimovic with Robinho and Inzaghi on the bench can mold together and prove to be a deadly attack that buckles Europe at its knees.

Allegri has called up 19 players for his Champions League squad. Silva and Mathieu Flamini are unavailable due to injury while Marek Jankulovski, Massimo Oddo, and Sokratis have been left off the squad. Alessandro Nesta and Clarence Seedorf return after missing the Cesena match with injury.

The 19 players are as follows:

GK:

Christian Abbiati

Marco Amelia

Flavio Roma

DF:

Luca Antonini

Danielle Bonera

Alessandro Nesta

Gianluca Zambrotta

Mario Yepes

MF:

Ignazio Abate

Massimo Ambrosni

Kevin-Prince Boateng

Gennaro Gattuso

Andrea Pirlo

Clarence Seedorf

FW:

Filippo Inzaghi

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Ronaldinho

Robinho

Alexandre Pato

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes Gerard Houllier wanted the Aston Villa post because he missed the pressure of the job.

The 63-year-old has been without a club since leaving Olympique Lyonnais in 2007 and Wenger thinks the daily involvement of club management is what appealed to his fellow countryman.

"In our job, some people always have mixed feelings," Wenger told arsenal.com.

"Maybe he went to be the technical director of the French Football Federation to get into maybe a little bit less of a pressurised job.

"When you are out of it you feel you miss it - and you come in again.

"I believe that is what happened to him more than the feeling that he has unfinished business."

 

Click here for the best Arsenal coverage on the 'net. All your Gunners news and gossip in one spot.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes Gerard Houllier wanted the Aston Villa post because he missed the pressure of the job.

The 63-year-old has been without a club since leaving Olympique Lyonnais in 2007 and Wenger thinks the daily involvement of club management is what appealed to his fellow countryman.

"In our job, some people always have mixed feelings," Wenger told arsenal.com.

"Maybe he went to be the technical director of the French Football Federation to get into maybe a little bit less of a pressurised job.

"When you are out of it you feel you miss it - and you come in again.

"I believe that is what happened to him more than the feeling that he has unfinished business."

 

Click here for the best Arsenal coverage on the 'net. All your Gunners news and gossip in one spot.

The 2010/11 UEFA Champions League is set for a September 14 kick-off following the group stage draw on Thursday.

The 32 teams who qualified for the initial phase of the competition were drawn into eight groups in Monaco and the home-and-away matches will commence with Groups A through to D commencing on Tuesday the 14th and Groups E through to H following on Wednesday the 15th.

The eight groups for the 2010/11 Champions League are as follows:

Group A
Inter Milan (Italy)
Werder Bremen (Germany)
Tottenham (England)
FC Twente Enschede (Holland)

Group B
Olympique Lyonnais (France)
Benfica (Portugal)
Schalke 04 (Germany)
Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israel)

Group C
Manchester United (England)
Valencia (Spain)
Rangers (Scotland)
Bursaspor (Turkey)

Group D
Barcelona (Spain)
Panathinaikos (Greece)
Copenhagen (Denmark)
Rubin Kazan (Russia)

Group E
Bayern Munich (Germany)
AS Roma (Italy)
FC Basel (Switzerland)
CFR Cluj (Romania)

Group F
Chelsea (England)
Olympique Marseille (France)
Spartak Moscow (Russia)
Zilina (Slovakia)

Group G
AC Milan (Italy)
Real Madrid (Spain)
Ajax Amsterdam (Holland)
Auxerre (France)

Group H
Arsenal (England)
Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine)
Braga (Portugal)
Partizan Belgrade (Serbia)