Beckham By Demand

As Real Salt Lake dashed LA Galaxy's hopes to win the MLS title, an injured David Beckham promised to put up another fight for his team next year. For now, he's on yet another loan to AC Milan and he's got his fingers crossed that he gets to play for England in the 2010 World Cup at South Africa...

Having played 11 games for Galaxy this season, Becks tried to give it all he's got in the final match against Real Salt Lake, in spite of an ankle injury that had him wincing in pain. But this may just cost him a shot at surpassing England's international appearances record of 125 caps currently held by goalkeeper Peter Shilton. With 115 international appearances for England, Beckham holds the number one place among England's outfield players. Though he's keen on beating Shilton's record, Beckham stood by his team Galaxy by refusing to play for England's national team in a friendly match against Brazil. The Los Angeles Galaxy were to face the Houston Dynamo, and then, Real Salt Lake for the Major League Soccer title, if it managed to defeat Houston. Guess Becks has got his priorities right by giving Galaxy's championship match more importance than England's friendly, which means little since it has already qualified for the 2010 World Cup at South Africa. Since Becks moved to the United States, he's been hoping to play a title match for his team and he got his chance, even though Galaxy lost to Real Salt Lake.

Beckham, who is known to wear and prefer the soccer shirt number 23, has to make sure that he now plays limited matches until the World Cup in order to get a chance to surpass Shilton. But this would also depend on England reaching the semifinals of the World Cup. Only then would Beckham be able to put his 124th international cap on, that's if he gets selected to play in the first place! Hypothetically speaking, Becks could equal Shilton's 125 caps in the final or the match for third place. After the 2010 World Cup, it's highly unlikely that Beckham could play another World Cup. For now, he needs as much rest as possible to heal his ankle bone. He joins AC Milan (where he'll wear red and black stripes soccer uniforms) on loan next month where he'll have to fight for a place in the team. And then, he plans to return to Galaxy next year.

There's no denying that Becks is a much loved idol across the world, be it England, Los Angeles, or Milan. And the fact that he gave everything he had during the MLS final match in spite of injury and illness has only won him more admiration. As Real Salt Lake's captain puts it, "It must have been tough for him, but he's just a class act, top drawer."

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Italian Serie A - Uncertain Future for Defender Alessandro Nesta

The Italian player of 32 years-old Alessandro Nesta, still has an uncertain future on Serie A and in his football career due to his chronic back injury. Nesta has been in Miami for a while in rehabilitation, but it is suspected that he is not getting better and his back problems continue. Some Italian papers and rumours have stated that is possible that the Italian football defender will need surgery soon so he can end his back problems, but this could leave him out for the rest of the season and could even mean the end his football professional career.

Nevertheless, for Nesta his career is not over yet and has alleged he is probably coming back to play soon. He has stated that he will prove everyone he still have some good football and that he can recover his physical condition, defying the prognostications made about him.

"I know that you predict the worst and that you are taking for granted that I will never recover physically. However, the work I have done here has worked. During these weeks I worked hard. I will return to Italy, and I will return not to say goodbye to football and my career," expressed Nesta to the Italian press, referring to his rehabilitation.

This Italian player started his football career playing in Lazio youth academy since 1985 and was ascended to the senior team in 1993. As of 1997, Nesta was named captain of Lazio and with his leadership and defensive skills, he accomplished several titles with the Biancocelesti, including the Coppa Italia in 1998, the UEFA Winners Cup and European Super Cup in 1999 and finally in the season 1999-2000 he earned a Scudetto, a Coppa Italia and two Italian Super Cups. However, for the season 2002-2003, Alessandro Nesta was sold to the AC Milan because of Lazio's financial problems. That first season with AC Milan, Nesta conquered the UEFA Champions League title and the Coppa Italia. In his second season with the Rossoneri, Nesta accomplished his second European Super Cup and his second Scudetto.

In the following campaigns Nesta began with his injuries, especially during season 2006-07 and 2007-08. Even though he was out for most of the season 2006-07 due to a shoulder injury, Nesta was a key player in Milan's Champions League final victory against Liverpool. Subsequently, during last year his chronic back injury appeared constantly at the end of the season and has unable him to play since then.

Now things look unclear for the A.C Milan defender, especially if he has to face the surgery that has been rumoured. Nevertheless, nothing is official yet and at the present the club is looking for another defender for the team.

We hope the best for Alessandro Nesta, who is a great player and who is also considered as one of the best defenders in the Italian League and in the world. We wish the best of luck for the Italian player in his recovery.

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Italia Serie A Soccer - AC Milan Lost another Key Game

The 17-time champion of the Italian Serie A, the AC Milan, lost again another important game in the Italian Serie A after, being defeated for team Sampdoria 2-1 on Sunday. With this defeat, AC Milan is getting away from the top team Inter Milan, who has now 60 points. Currently AC Milan has 48 points, 12 points away from Inter and 5 points away from the second place Juventus, which has 53 points. Also, with this result, some critics' doubt that AC Milan could even battle for the Scudetto this season, but Coach Ancelotti still has a hope for his team.

During these past two weeks, the results of AC Milan haven't been positive; first losing against Inter Milan 2-1 on week 24 of the season, then exiting the UEFA Cup in the Round of 32 against Werder Bremen with an overall score of 3-3 (with the away goal rule in favour of the German squad) and now losing against the 14th place Sampdoria 2-1.

As well, there's some rumours about that Carlo Ancelotti is in risk of getting replaced at the end of the season; however, the owner of the AC Milan franchise, Silvio Berlusconi, has expressed that the job of Ancelotti is safe for now, especially since he knows that the manager is dealing with injuries in some key players and as a result the positive outcomes have not been easy to accomplish.

Nevertheless, Carlo Ancelotti is sure that his team will get better these following weeks as he expects that players like Kaka, Ronaldiho and some others will come back to the field.

"It is no doubt a difficult moment, but I am sure that things will get better soon. As soon as we recover our injured players and get a chance to train adequately, we will get back on track. I think it will take a couple of weeks but you will soon see a very different side," stated Ancelotti.

Another concern for the AC Milan is the departure of the English midfielder David Beckham, who is leaving on March 9th to reunite with his team, the LA Galaxy. The retention of the midfielder has been a constant drama these past weeks in Italy, due to the fact that he was becoming an important part of the AC Milan late success and they want him to stay, however LA Galaxy did not want to make any negotiations over his player and now the superstar Beckhman has to leave to comply his contract with the MLS team.

Despite all these difficulties, AC Milan players, Coach Ancelotti and the franchise are hoping that things will get better, so they can achieve their only and last objective, which is obtaining the third place of the standings at the end of the season to get a berth in the Champions League.

The next game of AC Milan in the Italian Serie A will be against Atalanta on Sunday March, 8th at San Siro and the hopes are set in having several injured players back in the field. This also will be a special day as this will be David Beckham's last game with the "Rossoneri".

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Italia Serie A Soccer - AC Milan Lost another Key Game

The 17-time champion of the Italian Serie A, the AC Milan, lost again another important game in the Italian Serie A after, being defeated for team Sampdoria 2-1 on Sunday. With this defeat, AC Milan is getting away from the top team Inter Milan, who has now 60 points. Currently AC Milan has 48 points, 12 points away from Inter and 5 points away from the second place Juventus, which has 53 points. Also, with this result, some critics' doubt that AC Milan could even battle for the Scudetto this season, but Coach Ancelotti still has a hope for his team.

During these past two weeks, the results of AC Milan haven't been positive; first losing against Inter Milan 2-1 on week 24 of the season, then exiting the UEFA Cup in the Round of 32 against Werder Bremen with an overall score of 3-3 (with the away goal rule in favour of the German squad) and now losing against the 14th place Sampdoria 2-1.

As well, there's some rumours about that Carlo Ancelotti is in risk of getting replaced at the end of the season; however, the owner of the AC Milan franchise, Silvio Berlusconi, has expressed that the job of Ancelotti is safe for now, especially since he knows that the manager is dealing with injuries in some key players and as a result the positive outcomes have not been easy to accomplish.

Nevertheless, Carlo Ancelotti is sure that his team will get better these following weeks as he expects that players like Kaka, Ronaldiho and some others will come back to the field.

"It is no doubt a difficult moment, but I am sure that things will get better soon. As soon as we recover our injured players and get a chance to train adequately, we will get back on track. I think it will take a couple of weeks but you will soon see a very different side," stated Ancelotti.

Another concern for the AC Milan is the departure of the English midfielder David Beckham, who is leaving on March 9th to reunite with his team, the LA Galaxy. The retention of the midfielder has been a constant drama these past weeks in Italy, due to the fact that he was becoming an important part of the AC Milan late success and they want him to stay, however LA Galaxy did not want to make any negotiations over his player and now the superstar Beckhman has to leave to comply his contract with the MLS team.

Despite all these difficulties, AC Milan players, Coach Ancelotti and the franchise are hoping that things will get better, so they can achieve their only and last objective, which is obtaining the third place of the standings at the end of the season to get a berth in the Champions League.

The next game of AC Milan in the Italian Serie A will be against Atalanta on Sunday March, 8th at San Siro and the hopes are set in having several injured players back in the field. This also will be a special day as this will be David Beckham's last game with the "Rossoneri".

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