World soccer news: For week of December 20th Soccer Crusaders: Crosses on shirts upset Moslems Soccer is known for knocking down many barriers, except for those fortified in religious fanatism. One Baris Kaska, a Turkish lawyer from Izmir, filed a complaint against UEFA with the local court asking for the annullment of Inter Milan's 3-0 Champions League win over Fenerbahce on account that the "Italians wore a red cross on a white surface." For Kaska, a clear symbol of the Crusades. "The cross reminded me of the bloody days of the past. In my opinion, the design of the shirt openly suggests the superiority of one religion," claims Kaska. Naturally, the complaint has no chances of prospering since UEFA approved the design of Inter's reserve kit, inaugurated on the occasion of the Milan club's forthcoming centenary. Indeed, Inter had the sensitivity to ask Fenerbahce whether they would object to their using the crossed shirt at San Siro, and the Turks said no problem. Barcelona, who sell tons of shirts in Islamic countries, have forestalled a possible customers' boycott by redisigning their coat of arms in the batches intended for Moslem markets. Instead of the city's patron saint St George's cross in the upper left corner, Barça's coat of arms on sale in Islamic states cointains an ordinary vertical red line on the white surface. "They don't tolerate crosses, be it Barça's or another club's," said a Spaniard living in Saudi Arabia to the La Vanguardia daily. "Barcelona's merchandise sells well, but it would not be the same if there was a red cross drawn within a white square." John Terry six weeks out of action Chelsea's captain and England international John Terry will spent at least six weeks on the sidelines after sustaining an injury during the London derby against Arsenal. The team doctors confirmed Terry broke three bones in his left foot. The international defender tried to continue playing even after Eboué's rough tackle, but the pain was too strong, forcing him to abandon the pitch. Eboué apologized to Terry for the tackle before getting injured himself. This has been yet another blow to the Blues, already without Ricardo Carvalho since the early stages of the season. The brave skipper could return to action against Birmingham in late January and should certainly be ready for Fabio Capello's England debut against Switzerland at Wembley on February 6th. Kaká's double triumph The journalists who determine the winner of the Golden Ball in France Football's poll have a similar taste to that of the coaches and skippers of national teams taking part in FIFA's contest for the world's best player. As a consequence, the same player has won the Golden Ball and the FIFA's award in the same season for the tenth time in 17 years. This year's double winner is Milan's Kaká, the fifth Brazilian to have unified the two most prestigious individual prizes in soccer. That was not the end to Kaká's astonishing run of trophies: by winning FIFA's World Club Cup, the 25-year-old attacking midfielder has become only the second player to have won the set of soccer's most distinguished trophies. Just like Marco van Basten in 1989, Kaká has collected the Champions' League, the Supercup, the World Clup Cup and the Golden Ball. Van Basten could not win FIFA's player of the year award simply because it was not given before 1991. Here are the ten double-winners since 1991, when FIFA started to award the prize for the top player of the year. Golden Ball plus FIFA award 1992. Marco van Basten (Netherlands) 1993. Roberto Baggio (Italy) 1995. George Weah (Liberia) 1997. Ronaldo (Brazil) 1998. Zinedine Zidane (France) 1999. Rivaldo (Brazil) 2002. Ronaldo (Brazil) 2005. Ronaldinho (Brazil) 2006. Fabio Cannavaro (Italy) 2007. Kaka (Brazil) Inzaghi like Cruyff and Rijkaard! Filippo Pippo Inzaghi has become the third European player to have scored a goal in all three finals of club cup competitions in the same cycle. Before Pippo, only two Dutchmen achieved that distinction. The first was Ajax' Johan Cruyff, who scored twice against Inter in the Champions' Cup, twice against Rangers in the Supercup and once against Independiente in the Intercontinental Cup in 1972 and early 1973. Eighteen years later, Milan's Frank Rijkaard repeated the feat in the games against Benfica, Sampdoria and Olimpia of Asunción. Milan's third hat-trick AC Milan has joined for the third time the select group of the elite European clubs who won the three most important international trophies in one competitive cycle. Before winning the World Club Cup by beating Boca Juniors 4-2, Milan collected the Champions' League at the expense of Liverpool (2-1) and the European Supercup against Sevilla (3-1). The world's most successful club picked up their first two hat-tricks in 1989 and 1990 under the guidance of Arrigo Sacchi. This elite group includes Ajax (twice), Porto, Juventus and Real Madrid. Hat-trick of titles 1972. Ajax 1987. Porto 1989. Milan 1990. Milan 1995. Ajax 1996. Juventus 2002. Real Madrid 2007. Milan Wanchope says goodbye in January Paulo Wanchope, Costa Rica's top soccer export, will bid a final farewell on January 13th against Sweden in San José. The gigantic striker, who announced his retirement last month, will play his final game at the national Ricardo Saprissa stadium, where he debuted for the national team back in 1996. The former Derby County, West Ham and Manchester City player scored 45 goals in 73 appearances for Costa Rica and was the country's top scorer until Rolando Fonseca recently overtook him. European leagues' top scorers Kruno Lovrek, the leading scorer in the Croatian 1st Division, is the highest scoring player in all of Europe with 14 hits, a goal above a group of six players with 13 goals each. This group includes Celtic's Scott McDonald and Ajax' Jan-Klas Huntelaar alongside two other players from the Croatian League – Nikola Kalinic and Radomir Djalovic. Only two strikers from the top leagues are present among the European top scorers: the French boy wonder Karim Benzema of Lyon and Juventus' David Trezeguet, both with 12 goals. The Spanish number one is Sevilla's Brazilian Luis Fabiano with 10 goals, while both in the Premier League and Bundesliga the leading scorers are still within single digits. Bayern's Klose and Toni, Hamburg's Van der Vaart and Werder's Diego have finished the first part of the season with nine goals on their account, like Arsenal's Adebayor, Manchester United's Ronaldo and Everton's Aiyegbeni. 1. Kruno Lovrek (Zagreb) – 14 goals 2.-7. Nikola Kalinić (Hajduk) – 13 Radomir Đalović (Rijeka) - 13 Jan-Klas Huntelaar (Ajax) - 13 Gheorghe Bucur (Politechnica T.) – 13 Scott McDonald (Celtic) - 13 Hakan Yakin (Young Boys) - 13 8-17. Karim Benzema (Lyon) - 12 David Trezeguet (Juventus) - 12 Oleksandr Hladki (Šahtar) – 12 Peter Graulund (Arhus) – 12 Juraj Halenar (Artmedia) – 12 Sanel Jahić (Željezničar) - 12 David Bunderla (Primorje) – 12 Dario Zahora (Domžale) – 12 Marek Zienczuk (Wisla) - 12 Pawel Brozek (Wisla) - 12 Argentina bought 1978 World Cup, says a mafioso The former Columbian mafioso Fernando Rodríguez Mondragón has revealed new details of the scandal that allegedly took place at the 1978 World Cup in Argentina and that cost the Brazilians the title. According to the ex-narco dealer, it was the then Argentinian vice-admiral, Carlos A. Lacoste, who masterminded the bribing of the Peruvian FA so that Argentina would beat Peru by at least four goals and qualify for the finals ahead of Brazil. "My uncle and dad were called by the players' agent Carlos Quieto asking them to mediate between the Argentinian and the Peruvian FA's, since he was the Peruvian FA's president's friend," said Mondragón to terra.es digital newspaper. "Two days before the key game, at the meeting in Lima, the Argentinian bought the favours of four players for 50,000 USD each, and their government gave Peru some grain free of charge," continued the infamous Guillermo Rodríguez Mondragón's son, promising to reveal all the names, amounts and other details of the scandal in his forthcoming book. Lacoste was the chairman of the World Cup organizing committee, short lived president of Argentina and long-time FIFA vice-president. Argentina won that World Cup by beating Peru 6-0 in the crucial semifinal group game and the Netherlands 3-1 in the finals. All players involved have always rejected claims of foul play. 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FIFA President Sepp Blatter has signalled that the policy of World Cup rotation is about to be ditched. Speaking to the BBC, Blatter admitted he would welcome England bidding for 2018, a tournament which under the present model, should be held in North or Central America. "I am advocating we open the market," said Blatter. Back in May, he described rotation as "a milestone", speaking to FIFA delegates in Zurich, while only a month ago, announced that a final decision on rotation with regard to 2018 would come at the end of October. With 2010 going to (South) Africa and 2014 to South America (Brazil), Europe's next turn would not have been in 2018 (CONCACAF) but in 2022, a ridiculously long wait for that continent's front runner, England.

With Dutchman Dick Advocaat seemingly rubberstamped as the next boss of the Australian national team, caretaker coach Graham Arnold has departed by biting back at critics who accuse him of steering the Socceroos ship off course since the highs of last year's World Cup. It's been a tumultuous journey for Arnold, Guus Hiddink's former assistant, since accepting the national team senior position when Hiddink elected not to renew his short-term contract 15 months ago. It doesn't take much reading between the lines to recognise Arnold feels somewhat unappreciated in his efforts in transitioning an aging Socceroos line-up into one which can consistently compete with the rigours of Asian tournament football.

Brazil confounded the doubters to bag their fourth Copa America title in five, beating much-fancied Argentina 3-0 in Maracaibo, Venezuela. The two South American giants had met in the previous final in 2004 in Peru, which Brazil had won on penalties after a 2-2 draw, but it was their old rivals who had been the more impressive going into this game. Brazil had lost their opening match 2-0 to Mexico while Argentina had dazzled the tournament with some fireworks football, blitzing all opposition including Mexico 3-0 in the semi-final. Much was expected of their three musketeers of Juan Riquelme, Carlos Tevez and Lionel Messi, but before the albiceleste could find their feet in the 34C Venezuelan afternoon, Julio Baptista gave Brazil a dream start with a thumping strike in the fourth minute. Baptista, who was on loan at Arsenal from Real Madrid last season, picked up a long spear from Elano, took two taps to beat veteran Roberto Ayala and then rifled past a frozen Roberto Abbondanzieri in the Argentina goal to give Brazil the lead. Riquelme hit the post with Argentina’s first attack five minutes later and a dream final looked in the making. Argentina then took the game to Brazil but always looked vulnerable to a swift counter from their more muscular opponents. Riquelme then drew a diving save from Brazil goalie Doni before disaster struck again for the albiceleste. Five minutes before the break, Daniel Alves swung over a cross from the right and the unlucky Ayala, threatened by the lurking Vagner Love, stretched and turned the ball into his own net. Two-nil down, Argentina laboured hard in their efforts to eke out a comeback, only to succumb again to a break in the 69th minute. Vagner Love carried the ball forward against the retreating Argentina defenders before releasing Alves, who found the net with an inch-perfect diagonal drive to make it 3-0. Carlos was the victim of a split-second offside call error late on as he found the goal, but otherwise his country was well-beaten by the hitherto-underrated holders. Brazil’s strength and power comfortably dominated Argentina’s skill and finesse, and every time the albiceleste strove to drag themselves back into the match, their silky techinique ran aground against a yellow wall of rugged tackles and massed defending.

Sunday's Copa America final has a familiar look to it as Argentina dismissed Mexico 3-0 in the second semi-final to set up a meeting with old foes Brazil for the championship. CONCACAF guests Mexico had threatened to trespass on the CONMEBOL showpiece event ever since they beat holders Brazil 2-0 in their opening match, and yesterday in Puerto Ordaz los tricolores began strongly, threatening the favourites with a number of thrusts through the middle in the first half. But the Mexicans were guilty of over-elaboration when it came to shooting. Starlet Andres Guardado sold the Argentine defence a delightful dummy ten minutes before half time but delayed too long and only grazed the outside of the post when he finally let rip.

The 2007 CONMEBOL Copa America quarter-finals produced an avalanche of 22 goals this weekend in Venezuela. Much fancied Argentina's comprehensive 4-0 dismissal of Peru in Barquisimeto was the lowest-scoring of the ties. Attacking ace Juan Riquelme notched a pair of goals while Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano added to the second half blue and white windfall. The prize for Argentina is a mouth-watering semi-final clash with Mexico, the revelation of the tournament. Their semi-final is a chance for the Central Americans to bounce back after the USA pipped them 2-1 to win June's CONCACAF Gold Cup , as well as an opportunity to extract revenge from Argentina for eliminating them by the odd goal at last summer's World Cup in Germany.

Juan Roman Riquelme Otpadnik u Barci, junak u Villarrealu Ozren Podnar Riquelme je godinama slijedio putanju Diega Maradone: Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona. Čak je debitirao u Boci ušavši umjesto Diega. Gledajući ga u dresu Argentine u kvalifikacijama i na Kupu konfederacija, shvatili smo da je pred nama savršen vezni igrač. Nikad nećemo znati zašto Barcelona nije razumjela njegovu umjetnost, no važno je da Villarreal i argentinska reprezentacija jesu, na vlastitu sreću i na radost milijuna koji ljube nogometne virtuoze. Dan prije no što će Argentina osvojiti prvo Svjetsko prvenstvo u Buenos Airesu rođen je Juan Roman Riquelme. Bio je 24. lipnja 1978. kad je skromna obitelj Riquelme dobila jedno od svoje jedanaestero djece.

Quotes to follow tomorrow but, as expected, the Brazilians proved effusive customers as they prepared for the final with a session in Frankfurt two hours before their opponents... apart, that is, from Gilberto Silva, who was plain elusive. Brazil's confidence is understandably high and the players were conspicuously relaxed as they went through a 10 v 10 practice match using only half the pitch. Ronaldinho may look good wearing most things, but a rapper's bandana is not one of them. Players and journalists alike got the jaw-jaw out of the way with half an eye on catching the u-20 curtain-raiser live from the Netherlands, which Brazil promptly lost.

Well, it may not have been head-to-head, presidential election style, but the coaches of the Confed finalists both entered the media fray after training on Tuesday and no one was talking about Velez Sarsfield or Santos. Yesterday´s big news was Adriano`s recovery from an ankle problem picked up in training on Monday, as Brazil boss Carlos Alberto Parreira revealed that his starting line-up would remain unchanged. Jose Pekerman revealed a clean bill of health too... although the accumulated strains of a long season have taken their inevitable toll: "There are some players who have had too many minutes on the field but they could all still play. There's no big injury.

Argentina kicked off the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup with a comfortable 2-1 win over Tunisia in Cologne. Goals from Villareal's Juan Riquelme and Monaco's Javier Saviola were enough to kill off the spirited though limited African champions. The North Africans started as firm underdogs but took the game to the twice World Cup winners in the opening minutes, backed by the noisy drums and chants of their expat support in the half-full Rhein-Energie Stadion. The Tunisians, coached by Roger Lemerre, the man who led the French to the most pathetic defence of a World Cup in Korea three summers ago, gave Argentina an early scare in the fifth minute when Imed Mhadhbi's flick released Haykel Guemamdia who left Fabio Coloccini for dead before before Mario Santana intervened with a last-ditch tackle.