Buzzin Football Blog

Real Madrid have agreed a deal with Lyon’s Karim Benzema, subject to the player passing a medical. A transfer fee of £30million rising to£35million for reaching performance related targets, has been reported.

Lyon have fought off suitors such as Manchester United and Chelsea for 21 year old Benzema all through the summer transfer window, but the lure of playing for his favourite team has proved to much for the French club to hang on to their prized asset.

It is thought that Real Madrid senior advisor Zinedine Zidane was instrumental in identifying the player to club president Florentino Perez after talks broke down between  Madrid and Valencia striker David Villa, who now looks certain to join La Liga rivals Barcelona in yet another snub toward the Premier league.

Manchester United had been the media favourites to sign Benzema although Lyon have repeatedly denied having received any firm offers for the player.

Carling One-All Awards 2009

Carling is set to honour the heroes of amateur football as they launch the Carling One-All Awards 2009. They are looking for teams, players, managers, referees, and fans up and down the country to nominate those they deem to be worthy winners of this year’s One-All Awards.

The Carling One-All Awards (previously named the Carling Pub Football Awards), now in their third year, will celebrate the all-too-often overlooked sporting triumphs taking place every weekend on pitches across the UK.

The judging panel this year will consist of BBC Radio Five Live’s Mark ‘Clem’ Clemmit and Carling’s Simon Pick as well as a John Nagle from The Football League.

They will once again pick out the very best nominations, and put their heads together to find a winner for each award.

The nomination process is open until Friday 7th August, so get your votes in for as many categories as you like, and help us celebrate all things from the world of amateur football.

Voters can nominate in the following 11 categories:

• Player of the Year
• Manager of the Year
• 11-a-side Team of the Year
• 5-a-side Team of the Year
• Administrator of the Year
• Referee of the Year
• Supporter of the Year
• One-All Website of the Year
• Dodgiest Kit Award
• Team Spirit Award
• One-All Legend Award

One–All is the online community for players, managers, coaches and fans of the beautiful game. Over 5300 teams have already signed up, and the One-All community provides registered users with a free website for their team or league, profile pages, competitions to win top prizes, and a chance to join the Carling Big Debate.

Rob Salmon, Marketing Communications Partner at Carling, said: “There are a number of high profile awards for the professional game - but the One-All Awards look to recognise the unsung heroes of the grassroots game.

If your team has had a great season or if you know a player, supporter, referee or manager that deserves to be recognised, then please log-on to Carling.com/oneall and tell us all about them. You’ve got to be in it to win it!”

A range of Carling prizes are on offer for the winners.

To nominate anyone for the aforementioned awards, go to www.carling.com/oneall

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has finally got his man, Roque Santa Cruz from former club Blackburn Rovers. Hughes of course had bought the Paraguayan to Blackburn from Bayern Munich two years ago.

Cruz was an immediate hit at Rovers, scoring 23 goals in his first season in the Premier League although an injury hit Cruz could only manage six goals during last season. No fee has been confirmed although it is believed the player has a buy-out clause in his Rovers contract of £18million, he was contracted to Rovers until 2012.

Former Chelsea player Glen Johnson has snubbed the chance to return to the club from Portsmouth and chosen ‘big four’ rivals Liverpool instead. Portsmouth have accepted a fee of £17.5million for Johnson who has become a fan’s favourite after joining from Chelsea in 2007 for just £4million. A nice bit of business from Pompey.

And finally Michael Owen will quit relegated Newcastle when his contract ends at the end of June. He will be looking for offers from Premiership clubs or top European teams. Owen will be available on a free transfer although he will want paying a salary. Great opportunity for a pay-as-you-play option.

USA 1-3 Italy (Group B)

In the final game of the first round of the group stages in the Fifa Confederations cup, World champions Italy took on the USA in South Africa last night. Surprisingly, it was USA who had most of the early possession in the game, looking comfortable enough to take the game to Italy, although both teams squandered good chances to take the lead.

Italy found it difficult to live up to their world champions tag, but when Clark was sent of for an over zealous tackle on Gattuso, you felt that the Italian’s would take control of the game. When USA defender Bornstein turned the ball into his own net immediately after the sending off, it appeared that Italy had indeed turned the tide, but the ‘goal’ was ruled out as an Italian player was in an offside position.

With five minutes to half time, USA were awarded a penalty when Chiellini brought down Altidore and Donavon converted to give the US a well deserved lead. The second half continued in the same vein, with USA looking the brighter of the sides and Italy looking rather short of ideas.

The introduction of Rossi for Italy around the hour mark will be seen as  a master stroke from Italian boss Lippi, the former Manchester United striker immediately making an impact with a stonking left foot shot that left Howard no chance. The pace of Rossi gave a new dimension to the Italian game and as the legs of ten  man USA tired, the Italians took the lead through another long range effort, this time from De Rossi.

Even then, as Italy played their boring keep ball to see out time, USA went close to grabbing an equaliser through Davies, before Pirlo found Rossi who sealed the game with another well taken goal on the half volley.

I was impressed with the attitude shown by the US who play to their limited strengths, but Italy, despite a bright final twenty minutes, really did nothing to convince me that they are worthy world champions.  The introduction of Rossi gave Italy some much needed pace in what must be the slowest international team around. I do look forward to seeing more of the young American born striker Giuseppe Rossi, now playing in Spain for Villareal, who reminded me a lot of England’s Joe Cole.

South Africa 0-0 Iraq (Group A)

The 2009 Fifa Confederations cup kicked off Johannesburg on Sunday, the opening game featuring the hosts South Africa and Iraq. This was a lively and oddly exciting game, given that both teams were found very lacking in the final third of the pitch. The game had its chances and South Africa came closest when a goal bound shot from Digkacoi was accidentally blocked on the line by his own striker Parker.

On this evidence it seems unlikely that either of these two teams will progress past the group stages.

New Zealand 0-5 Spain (Group A)

New Zealand were given a tough lesson by the Euro champions Spain in the second game of the tournament, with Liverpool striker Fernando Torres scoring a hat trick within the first 17 minutes of the game. Fabregas added a fourth in the 24th minute to all but finish the game, but New Zealand managed to see out the remainder of the half without further damage.

David Villa side footed in the fifth goal early in the second half.  Spain start as favourites to win the title with Italy and Brazil the only real contenders. Spain are without Iniesta in this competition but his place is well filled by Fabregas, Liverpool’s Alonso is the replacement for Senna. I can’t see anyone here beating this Spanish team.

Brazil 4-3 Egypt (Group B)

Brazil had a dream start scoring within five minutes against Egypt, with Kaka juggling the ball over two defenders before finishing. Brazil looked in control and another goal fest seemed on the cards, but the next goal came out of the blue when Zidan headed home an equaliser for Egypt.

Brazil continued to have the better of the game and soon extended the lead through Fabiano and further still by Juan, before half time. But Egypt were finding some confidence themselves in the late stages of the first half with two excellent chances going astray.

The second half saw Egypt start the stronger team and pretty soon pulled a goal back through Shawky. Within a minute the Egyptians had drawn level with the goal of the game from Zidan.

In the dying minutes of the game a goal bound shot from Brazil was stopped on the line by Egypt’s Mohamady,who used his hand to stop the ball. The player was shown the red card before Kaka stepped up to convert the penalty and save his teams blushes.

I was drawn to Egypt as the game went on and their confidence grew. They did not deserve to lose this game. But Brazil are always a joy to watch even if it is only for a small part of the game these days.

Italy play the USA tonight in the remaining first round game in Group B.