A nice write up of a famous World Cup game between America and Brazil way way way back in 1994 - on Independence Day.Brazil went down to 10 men in the 43rd minute.Their star Leonardo got a red card.The second half started with the scores reading 0 - 0 and the clock ticked on till the game was 71 minutes old.Then……..[If you want to know what happened next check here…]

Anyone who has any lingering doubts whether Juergen Klinsmann is determined to be an agent of change at Bayern Munich should have a word with the city’s picjournalists. 

All 20 picgraphers accredited for Klinsmann’s first news conference on Wednesday stood up and walked out in a silent (and somewhat silly) protest because of a new rule limiting them to three minutes of pics at the start.

Just as Klinsmann was a catalyst for change in his two years shaking up some of the antiquated structures in the German FA from 2004 to 2006, it seems abundantly clear the former Germany striker isn’t going to be satisfied with the status quo in Munich. 

They might have won the Bundesliga and German Cup last year, but that’s not enough for Bayern.  

In a refreshingly open 45 minutes, Klinsmann sketched out his ideas about Bayern’s direction — candidly saying the goals are a German domestic double and reaching the final of the Champions League — and kept referring to the centrepiece of his masterplan, a new Hochleistungszentrum (high performance centre).

He’ll be anticipating his players to spend all day — from 9:30 to 5:30 — on site and use the few hours between morning and afternoon training sessions to work on their language skills, fitness abilities or learn about new things.  

“Matches are decided in the head,” he said at the news conference, which was broadcast live by two German television networks. “It’s important to keep learning, to stay hungry to learn more.”  

Klinsmann, who spent the last decade living in California, has a number of critics in Germany sceptical of his American-style optimism. They are also unsure about imported training methods from a country they tend to view as a minor soccer nation.

But as well as working with the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns, Klinsmann spent time in South America in the last two years and has worked hard to learn Spanish — adding to his Italian, French and English skills.

“I did a lot of travelling. And obviously I spent a lot of effort to learn more about soccer. It’s my belief that everyone can learn something from someone else. You just have to open yourself up to it,” he said.  

He was certain his players were going to welcome the new challenges rather than feel any burdens, adding it will “set new energies free.” Klinsmann said one of his massivegest challenges will be keeping all his talent-laden squad happy.

“We’ve got two players for every position and for some positions there are even three people at a very high level,” he said. “I’ve got my work cut out for me. But I’m really looking forward to it.”  

He said he’d intentionally refrained from any television or print interviews of any kind for the last six months but had been excited about the new season in the Bundesliga since the moment Bayern bosses called him just before Christmas.

“I’m extremely ambitious and sometimes as a player I was a bit too ambitious at times. But I want to move something here at Bayern. What I’ve missed most the last two years was the day-in and day-out work with the players. If everyone gets a little bit better the team will automatically be better. I can’t describe how happy I’m to be back.”

PHOTO: Klinsmann smiles during a news conference in Munich. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle

Premiership clubs have already had their (faint) hopes of signing one star of the Spanish triumph at Euro 2008 dashed this week, and now it looks like the door is firmly shut on another.

Spanish newspaper Marca reports that David Silva will be staying at Valencia next season, having dismissed any talk of a move to Barcelona.

David Silva evaded discussing the interest of FC Barcelona and recalled that he belongs to Valencia. Concerning a possible transfer to another club, he specified, “I belong to Valencia”. [Marca]

Is there any mention of the Premiership there? The British redtops would have you believe that the only destination for Europe’s star performers is Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool. Have a good few seasons, make a name for yourself and then you’re funnelled into the all-consuming Premiership moneymaking machine. It spits you out the other end £100,000 a week richer in any club shirt of your choice (as long as it’s a top four one). And actually, even if you’ve a defect, you can still get your £100,000 a week and an attractive Newcastle or West Ham shirt.

The only realistic move for David Silva this year would have been to Barcelona, a club who are selling off their massivegest assets and rebuilding a team for the future. Silva is very much a family man and now a Spanish hero to boot, so he has little reason to leave the country at the moment. The riches of England can’t compete with the romance of Spain, hence why the ideal player in the world wants to leave the ideal club in the world. Silva signed a 7-year contract just last season and so the transfer fee required would be even out of the reach of Roman Abramovich’s millions.

Valencia’s catastrophic campaign means that he’ll not be playing Champions League football this year, but at 22 years old Silva has plenty of time left to achieve that goal once again. In ex-coach Ronald Koeman’s time at the club confidence was all but destroyed, but with four players returning home with Euro 2008 winners’ medal round their necks, perhaps next season will see a change in fortunes for Los Che.

So with David Silva off the market, whom do top-four fans turn to next?

The end of the 05-06 season which saw Tottenham cruelly lose out on a Champions League place due to an ‘accidental’ food poisoning, gave birth to the ongoing debate as to whether Spurs should be finishing in the top 4.

However, I believe this debate has been blown out of proportion. Spurs, before 2006, were a depressing mid-table side never competing for much. Since the great season in 05-06 fans have almost demanded Champions League football.

What English football fans fail to realise is how strong the ‘Big Four’ teams really are. They are four of the strongest clubs in the world who are improving each year due to their strong financial backbone. A lot of this money comes from the Premier League’s television rights, the most money given out than any other league in the world. The top 4’s strength is shown in their recent performances in the Champions League, with 5 finalists in the last 4 years. However, we’ve seen a monotony in the last three Premier League Seasons with the same four clubs finishing in the top 4.

In comparison to what’s regarded as the second ideal league in the world, La Liga, there’s constant change in the top 4 every season, only Barcelona and Real Madrid finish in the Champions League places each season. In 2005-2006, Osasuna managed to finish 4th, followed by Valencia, Real and Barca. The following season, Sevilla managed to qualify for the CL finishing 3rd. And finally, last season saw 2 new teams in the top 4, Atletico finishing 4th and incredibly Villareal, who were non-league until the early 90s, beating Barcelona to 2nd.

I’m not trying to say that Tottenham’s aim is impossible, it isn’t, the summer signings of Gomes, Modric and Giovani are actually the ideal of any Premiership clubs and are signs of the club’s ambitions. I believe the goal will be reached within the next few years, with Liverpool’s inconsistency and failure to sign top-class players in areas they need catching up on them. The main thing that all Spurs fans need is PATIENCE. It is no failure if we finish 5th this season when you see which clubs are infront, moaning about it just puts pressure on a good situation that’s waiting to happen.

THE TIME WILL COME

Can money purchase lasting success in football? This week vlog on the pitch host Owen Wyatt hangs out with some models to find out.

West London club Queen’s Park Rangers have spent the last 12 seasons outside the Premier League, but with Formula One tycoons Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore now at the helm, the hoops will be looking to get back to the massive time.

Do you think that Briatore and co will be able to replicate their success on the circuit and turn the club around?

Let us know your views.