Barring a successful appeal, England's main man Wayne Rooney looks set to miss the group stages of the European Championships next year. Yet is he deserving of a place on the plane to Poland and Ukraine at all?

Since his sending off against Montenegro and the three match ban that resulted from it, there has been much debate on whether England manager Fabio Capello should take his star striker Wayne Rooney to the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine next year.

Pakistan Premier League Fixtures for October 12, 2011

PAF vs NAVY at Municipal Football Stadium Rawalpindi at 15:30 Hours
Baloch FC vs PIA at Sadiq Shaheed Football Stadium Quetta at 13:00 Hours
Muslim FC vs NBP at Sadiq Shaheed Football Stadium Quetta at 15:30 Hours
PEL and KPT at Sadiq Shaheed Football Stadium Quetta at 10:30 Hours

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PREVIEW SERIE A WEEK 7

Bon Giorno sports fans ! This is Basit Ali coming to you with a preview of week 7 of the Italian Serie A 2011-12. season. We have two blockbuster matchups this week with Champions AC Milan squaring off against one of their arch rivals Palermo on saturday ,and the AS Roma facing Lazio on Sunday.

First lets take a look at AC Milan vs Palermo .

These two teams have developed a heated rivalry over the years and last season it was Palermo who knocked AC Milan out of the Coppa Nazionale in the semi-final but was AC milan who endeed up winning the Scudetto. The match will take place at the Stadio Giusseppe Miazza and will be a fiercely contested match. My prediction? 2-2 . Basically the whole AC Milan squad  is out of form and I say that they will only manage to get a draw. The champiions are currently struggling in 15th place with only 5 points from 5 games while Palermo are 4th with 10 pts.

Every week I will be doing predictions (Imy’s gimme) on the English Premier League. I expect you people to challenge me and we can see who has the better prediction. So here it goes.

Saturday 15 October 2011

Liverpool V Man Utd: - 12.45 local time, 16.45 PST

This game at Anfield brings together England’s two most successful teams. Liverpool will be looking to win against their rivals to maintain a title charge, whereas the inform United will look to win to stay as the leaders of the league.

Imy’s Gimme: - Despite a valiant effort from the Merseyside club, the champions will win 1-2

Man City V Aston Villa: - 15.00 Local 19.00 PST

The high flying Manchester club will look to maintain a superb start to the season, which as seen them, along with Man Utd, run away clear at the top. 7th place Villa will know a win can take them into the top 5.
Imy’s Gimme: - The richest club in the world will overcome the midlands club with ease. 2-0

Norwich V Swansea: - 15.00 Local, 19.00 PST

Two, of three, promoted clubs will play in what can become a fascinating encounter. Both clubs have had a great start and will look to take three points and in order stay clear of a possible relegation tussle towards the end of the season.
Imy’s Gimme: - A really entertaining game will end 2-2

QPR V Blackburn: - 15.00 Local, 19.00 PST

After losing their last game 6-0 QPR will look to get things back on track against a Blackburn team that are 2^nd from bottom.

Imy’s Gimme: - More misery for Blackburn as QPR take the 3 points, 1-0

Stoke V Fulham: - 15.00 Local, 19.00 PST

Both teams are around mid table and both teams would be looking to take the spoils in, as expected, a physical encounter.

Imy’s Gimme: - A tight encounter will end with the points shared. 1-1

Wigan V Bolton: - 15.00 Local, 19.00 PST

Both teams are in the relegation zone and in desperate need to win and gain three points.

Imy’s Gimme: - Both teams will show why they are in the relegation zone in a dire game. 1-1

Chelsea V Everton 17.30 Local, 21.30 PST

The inform Londoners take on Everton that have been a mixed bag this season.  Chelsea need a win to create pressure on the Manchester clubs and Everton need a win to stay away from the relegation zone.

Imy’s Gimme: - Expect a rampant Chelsea romp 3-0

Sunday 16 October

West Brom V Wolves: - 12.00 Local, 16.00 PST

Another encounter against two teams near the relegation zone and a win will be imperative.

Imy’s Gimme: - A close encounter will finish 1-1

Arsenal V Sunderland: - 13.30 Local, 17.30 PST

Struggling Gooner’s take on Sunderland, who are one place below them in the league.  A must win for Arsenal.

Imy’s Gimme: - Arsenal back on track, but not before another fragile defensive performance. 2-1

Newcastle V Tottenham: - 16.00 Local, 20.00 PST

4^th placed Newcastle take on 6^th placed Spurs in what promises to be a exhibition of attacking Football.
Imy’s Gimme: - Going to really stick my neck in this one and say a 2-3 win Spurs.

I must say I enjoyed Fottball more in the early 80's when my beloved Aston Villa won the title and the European Cup.

Though must admit the English Premier League formed in 1992 has been the greatest revolution in football in a long time.

From a viewers point of view it truly is a thrill a minute,high quality theatre.

Here is my top 25 ever in the Premier League:

The new campaign of UEFA Champions League kicked off on 13-14 September with the holders Barcelona still favorite to retain their prized asset. The standout fixtures in the opening match day were FC Barcelona kicking off their European season with a home game against AC Milan, Europa League winners FC Porto hosting last year' surprise quarter-finalists Shakhtar Donetsk, Manchester City making & Napoli making their Champions League debuts, Villarreal hosting Bayern Munich and last term's Europa League finalists Benfica hosting Champions League finalists Manchester United.

Read the full article for group-wise analysis of teams.

Lionel Andres Messi, Also known as “Leo”, is not just a Football player but a Messiah, a born genius, a man that’s capable of changing any game, against anyone, at any point. Messi, born 24^th June 1987 to a working class family in Argentina. When Leo started to play for his local club at the age of 5, little did his father know how far his son would go.

Messi suffered from growth problems, and at the age of 11 was diagnosed with Growth Hormone Deficiency, he was at the time being trailed by star team River Plate but they cold not afford his medical bills, which were high as $900 a month at the time. The world famous Barcelona academy was alerted to his talent and offered to take on all medical bills, if Leo moved to Catalonia and join the Barca Academy. Messi, along with his father moved and unfolded a fairy tale story.

Between 2000-2003 Messi represented the junior team at Barca and scored 37 goals in 30 games for the A team in junior level. By the following season he represented the Barca “C” and then “B” teams, he scored 5 goals for the C team in 8 games and then went on to not to score for the B team in as many games. Was this Leo’s level? Had he reached his peak? Within a year of that, Messi played in his league debut against local rivals Espanyol, aged just 17, Later on that 2004-2005 season Messi scored against Albacete, which was going to be a first of many goals for the “The Little Master”.

Spurs Croatian Sensations Modric and Kranjcar

In 1978 the then Tottenham Hotspurs Manager Keith Burkinshaw indulged in what was a brave move at the time by investing in two Agentinian stars in Ozzie Ardiles and Ricky Villa.The risk being that foreign players traditionally struggled with the unique English game.Plus the lack of English for the two players was seen as a huge drawback.