Keep an eye on: Mathias Nielsen

               Age: 21

                    (02-03-1991)

          Position: Center Back

              Club: Viborg FF,

                    Danish

                    Betsafe Liga

                    (on loan from

                    FCN)

             Debut: 05-04-2012

                    against AB

International Caps: Denmark U20:

                    1 Match(es)

                    1 Goal(s)

             Value: £125.000

                  (transfermarkt.co.uk)

 

Mathias Nielsen started playing football in Herfølge Boldklub (Now known as HB Køge) aged four and signed a contract with the youth department in 2007. After being on contract for three years, Nielsen, joined FC Nordsjællands U19 squad in the summer 2010.

Then, coach of FC Nordsjælland, Morten Wieghorst said:

"Mathias is a development player, which we are given the opportunity to take the next step here [FCN]. He has given us the impression of, being a player, who is willing to do what it takes to make it. Mathias has areas [in his play] he needs to work hard on. He will without a doubt has the opportunity to do so, here with us, and there from it is up to himself and his will, how far he wants to reach."

Asked what he thought his strengths and weaknesses were, Mathias Nielsen said:

"My strengths are my heading, and when I have the ball, while me weaknesses could be that I sometime have some problems with defending because I am very impatient. Furthermore, I tend to be a bit rough in my play."

A month after he signed with FC Nordsjælland, Nielsen had his debut in the Europa League match against Sporting Lissabon as a substitute during the second leg. The debut was followed up by a selection for the Danish U20 national team. Mathias Nielsen, here had his debut and, so far only match in the red national shirt, against USA in the NI Milk Cup Semifinal, where Nielsen scored his first goal.

"I want to represent my country, but I am not focusing on that right now, Nielsen said."

FC Nordsjælland was quick to sign a new two year long contract with the defender, when Italian clubs Napoli and Parma were reported interested in Mathias Nielsen. However, Nielsen was not ready to join a club abroad, anyways. The player said:

“I am taking on step at a time, and right now my focus is on Viborg. I would like to play in Holland or Germany or England, no doubt about it. It is three great football countries.”

The defensive football player joined Viborg FF on loan in February 2012 after four appearances in FC Nordsjælland, but is ready to return to the club by the end of this season. The most important for the player right now is to “play some matches and get some routine.”

   

This film is a classic for all nostalgic football fans. A group of allied prisoners of war is interned in a  German prison camp during World War II. The group agrees to play a match against a German team and finds themselves being part of the German propaganda.  The team decides to escape in the halftime of the match, but ends up playing the match to the end, before escaping.  This film features several football legends, as Bobby More, Olsvaldo Ardiles, Kazimierz Deyna, Mike Summerbee, Paul Van Himst, Hallvar Thoresen and Pelé. Goalkeeper for the team is no one else than Sylvester Stallone. This is a must see!

2.  Kicking & Screaming 

    Released 22 July 2005 

Will Ferrell plays the family man Phil Weston, who is suffering from his fathers over-competitiveness. Phil’s son Sam is playing on his grandfathers soccer team, The Gladiators which is the most successful little league soccer team in the district. However, he is only used as a benchwarmer.  When the grandfather transfers Sam to the Tigers, the worst team in the district, Phil decides to coach the team. He now gathers a team of children with no talent at all and takes the battle with his father transfering himself into a maniac. This film feature hilarious scenes and can be watched by people with no clue of how to kick a ball.

3.   Shaolin Soccer (Siu Lam Juk Kao)
     Released 12 November 2001

Mix material arts fighting with football and you get a hilarious football comedy. The main character Sings goal in life is to promote the Shaolin kung fu to the modern society and meets “Golden Leg” Fung, a legendary Hong Kong football star, and together they start their own football team.  Throughout the film, the team is successive and wins almost ridiculous one-sided victories, until they meet Team Evil. A team of players, injected with an American drug, which gives them superhuman strength and  speed. The game is on!

4.   Fever Pitch 

     Released 4 April 1997 

There are football fans and then there is Paul Ashworth. This film is based on the book of the same name written by Nick Hornby. The film concentrates on Arsenal’s First Division Championship winning in 1988-89 and the effect on the main character and his romantic life. This film pictures the emotions of real football fans and is certainly worth watching, especially if you are an Arsenal fan. Make sure you watch the 1997-edition and not the 2005, concentrating on the American baseball team Boston Red Sox. 

5.   Once in a lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of The New York Cosmos 

     Released 19 May 2006

There is room for a documentary film. Once in a lifetime is one of the football documentaries that you simply need to see. This film pictures the rise and fall of New York Cosmos in the late 1970’s early 1980’s. The Cosmos is one of the most famous clubs in North America and changed “soccer” in USA, with players as Pelé and Franz Beckenbauer. Watch the film, if you do not know the story of NY Cosmos. If you do know the story, watch it anyways. The film shows how fast things can turn in football and is quite enjoyable to watch.

Follow up: Uffe Manich Bech - 5 shoot shootout

He is one of the most influential, but also most underestimated, foreign players in British football. Now, the career may be over for the Aston Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov.

Last Friday, the 30th march, Aston Villa fans were shocked by the news of their captain diagnosed with acute leukaemia. Petrov had complained of a fever following the Aston Villa defeat against Arsenal and began recovery immediately on Friday after he had been diagnosed.  As always, the Bulgarian midfielder showed that he is a fighter as he told his team mates that he will win this battle, according to several British media.

The player received support from fans and players as well as his former manager in Celtic, Martin O’Neill, who recommended the specialist who treated his wife in 2004. Stiliyan Petrov’s influence in British was expressed when both Aston Villa fans and Chelsea fans held a standing ovation in the 19th minute (Petrov’s shirt number) of their match in the weekend. In Glasgow, Celtic fans also held a standing ovation for the player in their match against St. Johnston.

It has been out that Petrov would stop his career as a result of the leukaemia, but it has now been confirmed yet. This would be a loss, not only for Aston Villa, where the Petrov has played since his move from Celtic in 2006, but also for the Bulgarian international team. He started his professional career in CSKA Sofia, before moving to Celtic, where he became one of the star players, under the O’Neill regime. In Aston Villa, Petrov has become a leader and one of -  if not - the  most respected player in the team.

The player started his international career with his debut for Bulgaria in 1998, but decided to resign from the team, as long as Hristo Stoichkov was manager for the team. However, Petrov made amends with Stoichkov and came back on the team, which he has played 106 matches for.

The question is now if Stiliyan Petrov will comeback or if his career is over. One thing is for sure he probably will not play the rest of the season. A major loss for Aston Villa, who is struggling in the bottom of the table as well as for the Bulgarian national team.

What's worth watching this week? 

Week 14

Barcelona - AC Milan

Champions League Quarter Finals

Camp Nou

03-04-12 at 19.45 UTC/GMT + 1

Head-to-head (last 10 matches):

Barcelona: 3 victories / 12 goals

    Draws: 15

 AC Milan: 2 victories / 12 goals

This is the second leg of the Quarter Finals, and with a 0-0 draw in the first match, the game is pretty open. AC Milan succeeded holding Barcelona away from scoring on San Siro, but the question is now, if they can do it again. With Barcelona’s astonishing offensive line and the crowd behind them on Nou Camp, AC Milan is going through some test. However, a goal or two for AC Milan will put the Catalans under pressure. The clash between two of Europe’s most historical teams is going to be worth watching.     

Chelsea FC - Benfica

Champions League Quarter Finals

Stamford Bridge

04-04-12 at 19.45 UTC/GMT + 1

Head-to-head (only one match):

Chelsea FC: 1 victory / 1 goal

     Draws: 0

   Benfica: 0 victories / 0 goals

Another second leg of the UEFA Champions League Quarter Finals. Chelsea won the first leg at Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica with a 1-0 result. It looks like Chelsea is back on track with Roberto De Matteo behind the wheel. However, Benfica have not lost their last four games, and Chelsea’s 1-0 lead may not be enough. A Champions League title will light up an otherwise dark season for Chelsea, and this match will reveal if Chelsea is re-born or if Benfica is too big a mouthful for the South London team.

 Valencia - AZ Alkmaar

Europa League Quarter Finals

Mestalla

05-04-12 at 20.05 UTC/GMT + 1

Head-to-head (only one match):

Valencia: 0 victories / 1 goal

   Draws: 0

 Alkmaar: 1 victory / 2 goals

Dutch football and in particular AZ Alkmaar have become better and better the last couple of years, and the club is now standing with one foot in the Europa League Semifinals. After a surprising 2-1 victory against Valencia at home, the question is if they can keep their lead at Mestalla. Valencia has something to prove for their fans, and with a, on paper, much stronger squad they should be able to win at home.  I’m looking forward to this match, as I see Alkmaar as one of this year big surprises in international football and is looking forward to see if they can go all the way.

Lazio - Napoli

Serie A Round 31

Stadio Olimpico

07-04-12 at 20.00 UTC/GMT + 1

Head-to-head (last 10 matches):

 Lazio: 3 victories / 13 goals

 Draws: 5

Napoli: 2 victories / 10 goals

Napoli can bring themselves on a shared third place in Serie A, if they can win against number three, Lazio. Both Napoli and Lazio have some talented attackers in form of Édison Carvani and Miroslav Klose, and this match could well end up in a goal show. Napoli has not won once in the last three rounds in Serie A and is hungry for a victory, while Lazio’s last few games has been a rollercoaster with good and bad results. Napoli is going in to a hard match against Lazio at Stadio Olimpico, and it is well worth watching, which team will end up with the victory.

Arsenal - Manchester City

 Premier League Round 32

Emirates Stadium

08-04-2012 at 16.00 UTC/GMT + 1

Head-to-head (last 10 matches):

        Arsenal: 3 victories / 10 goals

          Draws: 2

Manchester City: 5 victories / 13 goals 

Three points are vital for both Arsenal and Manchester City is the Premier League match. Arsenal can put some distance to Tottenham (given Tottenham looses), while Manchester City will be able to keep up their chase of the Manchester United. The last two clashed between the teams has been won by Manchester City, and Arsenal will be keen on winning, the last meeting in this season. The match will also feature a meeting between the top scorer in the league, Robin Van Persie with 26 goals, and the second best goalkeeper in this season, Joe Hart with 13 clean sheets.  This match is more than any match worth watching!