You know there's something going on when the headline story in the press is that Cristiano Ronaldo does 3000 sit-ups a day. It comes hot on the heels of an investigation being opened by UEFA on 300 players interspersed between the top four divisions of Spanish football, with allegations of illegal betting and match fixing. Some might think that the Spanish FA would want to mask this with a petty story about their most marketable asset. Other might believe they are diverting attention away from the newly crowned winner of the Ballon D'or, Lionel Messi, and towards someone who can rake in the euros. I like to think they are simply offering sound advice on how to get some rock-solid abs. _
On the day that Atlético Madrid announced a debt of over €200 million, it has been reported that the club is willing to worsen an already shocking backline by signing that big Swiss oaf, Phillipe Senderos. Fresh from rejection at Arsenal, where he was even behind Mikael Silvestre in the pecking order, he would fit in perfectly at a club where defending is actively frowned upon.
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Big day tomorrow as we'll discover exactly who will be playing who in the World Cup group stages in South Africa next summer. Vicente del Bosque wants his Spain side to avoid Ivory Coast, United States, Ghana, Chile and Portugal. Interesting to see he ignored France.
UEFA Europa League Result - 03.12.09
Austria Vienna 0 - 3 Athletic Bilbao (Llorente 19, San José 61, Llorente 103)
(Athletic Bilbao qualify from their group)