Player #88 Leonardo Bonucci (Italy)

Name:  Leonardo Bonucci 
Age: 26 
National Team:  Argentina 
Team: Juventus FC (Italian League) 
Position:  Centre Back   

Description of his Game:  Bonucci is a ball-playing centre back, known for his great field vision and a tremendous ability to make a wide variety of passes.  

Leonardo Bonucci's Highlights:

(was not able to find a decent highlight video)

Career News:  Juventus announced signing Bonucci to a new 5-year contract in 2012.  His only World Cup goal came in a 2-1 loss to Mexico and later missed a penalty kick in a semi-final loss to Spain at the FIFA Confederations Cup earlier this year.   

Interesting Personal Facts:  His father owns a paint shop.  Bonucci is married to his long-time girlfriend Martina Maccari, a former model.  Late last year, as we've seen with other players in Italy, Bonucci was mugged as he walked out of a Ferrari dealership with his wife and 3-month old baby.  Bonucci was able to defend himself my attacking the mugger and then chasing him away until the mugger jumped on a bike and got away. 

Upcoming Matches Where You Can See Him Play:

Italy's National Team 
September 6th -Bulgaria
September 10th - Czech Republic
October 11th - Denmark 
Schedule:  http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=ita/index.html 

Juventus FC (Italian League)
September 1st - Lazio
September  15th - Inter 
Schedule:  http://www.juventus.com/juve/en/campo/partite/classifiche-e-risultati/prima

Player #89 Javier Pastore (Argentina)

Name: Javier Pastore  
Age: 24

National Team: Argentina
Team: Paris Saint Germain (French League)
Position: Attacking Midfielder

 
Description of his Game:  Not only is Pastore a great passer, he's shown a great deal of poise during his early 20's.  Next year's world cup may be somewhat of a coming-out party for this highly skilled midfielder.

Javier Pastore's Highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ESDUk9OAog

Career News:  Pastore was first called up to the national team in 2009 by Maradona for one game.  The following year was called up again for the 2010 World Cup, though he did not get much playing time.

Interesting Personal Facts:  Pastore, along with another Argentinian teammate, has started a foundation for the protection of dogs and cats.

Upcoming Matches Where You Can See Him Play:

Argentina's National Team
September 10th -Paraguay
September 18th - Brazil
October 2nd - Brazil
October 11 - Peru (World Cup Qualifier)
Schedule:  http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=arg/index.html


Paris Saint Germain (French League)
August 31 - Guingamp
September 14 - Bordeaux
Schedule:  http://www.psg.fr/en/News/201001/Fixtures-results

Player #90 Henrik Mkhitaryan (Armenia)

Name:  Henrik Mkhitaryan

Age: 24 

Nationality: Armenian

Team: Borussia Dortmund (German League)

Position:  Midfielder

Description of his Game:  At 23, accepted as the greatest Armenian player since the break-up of the USSR.  His multifaceted skills allow him to thrive as both a central striker and as an attacking midfielder.  Perhaps Chelsea legend Pat Nevin said it best when he said, "Eleven goals in eight league matches already is fantastic, but when you add that he is a midfielder, it is phenomenal. You may not have heard of him yet, even if all the scouts at the top European clubs have, but you soon will. He has pace, skill, and a rocket of a shot."

Henrik Mkhitaryan's Highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxYs8DDHJmQ

Career News:  While he was the MVP of last year's Ukrainian Premier League, many believe Mkhitaryan will only get better.  While Shakhtar, his previous team in Ukraine, had tended to field Brazilians in creative positions and eastern Europeans at the back, Mkhitaryan broke that trend due to his improvisational abilities while attacking. 

Interesting Personal Facts:  Mkhitaryan is not only physically talented, he's also highly intelligent.  He currently studies economics at the Yerevan branch of the St. Petersburg Institute and eventually plans to be a lawyer.  He also speaks five languages (English, Armenian, Russian, French and Portuguese).  His father, an Armenian international, was a prominent striker for FC Ararat Yerevan and later played for ASOA Valence in France, where Mkhitaryan grew up and saw his father play.   Mkhitaryan was seven when his father died from a brain hemorrhage. His mother is the head of the national teams department in the Armenian Football Federation and his older sister, Monica, works at the Union of European Football Association's (UEFA's) headquarters

Upcoming Matches Where You Can See Him Play:

Armenia's National Team
September 6th -Czech Republic
September 10th - Denmark
October 11th - Bulgaria
Schedule:  http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=arm/index.html


Borussia Dortmund (German League)
September 1st - Eintracht Frankfurt
September 14th - Hamburger SV
Schedule:  http://www.bundesliga.com/en/liga/clubs/borussia-dortmund/ergebnisse.php

Player #91 Moussa Dembele (Belgium)

Name:  Moussa Dembele
Age: 26   
National Team:  Belgium
Team: Tottenham Hotspur (English Premier League) 
Position:  Central Midfielder

Description of his Game:  He has been described as being "big, powerful, technically gifted", with excellent "dribbling and passing abilities. 

Mousa Dembele's Highlights:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkbJ1ctW6eo

Career News:  After making his first international appearance in 2006, he participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics, where he led Belgium to the semi-finals.

Interesting Personal Facts:  Dembélé is the son of a Malian father who emigrated to Belgium.

Upcoming Matches Where You Can See Him Play:

Belgium's National Team
September 6th - Scotland
October 11th - Croatia
Schedule:  http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/europe/teams/team=43935/index.html

Tottemham Hotspur  (English Premier League)
September 1st - Arsenal
September 14th - Norwich
Schedule:  http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/matches/

Player #92 Hatem Ben Arfa (France)

Name:  Hatem Ben Arfa 
Age: 26 
National Team: France 
Team: Newcastle United (English Premier League)
Position:  Winger and Attacking Midfielder 

Description of his Game:  Fans love him but managers are constantly concerned about his discipline.  He's been described as "one of the best-rated talents in France", but has been criticized by the media and players for his lack of discipline at times. He's got incredibly quick feet that allow him to trick defenders and work his way out of crowds.  His speed allows him to outrun defenders and his passing ability make him more dangerous still.  

Hatem Ben Arfa's Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydF8_mNzMdc

Career News: As a youth player, Ben Arfa played at all levels, including the team that won the 2004 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship. He grew up playing alongside Samir Nasri, Benzema, and Menez. 

Interesting Personal Facts:  His father, a former Tunisian international footballer, arrived in France in 1973. 

Upcoming Matches Where You Can See Him Play:

France's National Team 
September 6th - Georgia  (World Cup Qualifier)
September 10th - Belarus (World Cup Qualifier) 
Schedule:  http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/europe/teams/team=43946/index.html

Newcastle United (English Premier League)

August 31 - Fulham
September 14 - Aston Villa

Schedule: http://www.nufc.co.uk/page/Match/FixturesAndResults/0,,10278~2013~2013,00.html

Marquee Matchup in the English Premier League

Due to an amazing match-up today featuring some of the world's greatest players, I decided to use today's blog entry to highlight this viewing opportunity for you. 

English Premier Site:
http://www.premierleague.com/content/premierleague/en-gb/matchday/matches/2013-2014/epl.tickets.html/man-utd-vs-chelsea

Player #93 Samir Nasri (France)

Name:  Samir Nasri

Age: 24 

Nationality: French

Team: Manchester City (English Premier League)

Position:  Attacking Midfielder and Winger

Description of his Game:  Samir has a great deal of technical ability, creativity, pace, and a high soccer IQ.  Because of his excellent control with the ball, speed, dribbling, crossing, and ability to use both feet, he's a remarkable midfielder.

Samir Nasri's Highlights:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wr6PohFEYw

Career News:  As a youth player, Nasri represented his nation at every level for which he was eligible.  In December 2010, he was named the French Player of the Year and in August 2011, after three seasons with Arsenal, Nasri joined Manchester City on a four-year contract. Nasri has represented France at two major international tournaments: UEFA Euro 2008 and UEFA Euro 2012.

Interesting Personal Facts:  Being of Algerian descent, he gets compared to Zinedine Zidane, another Algerian who became a legendary player for France. His father was a bus driver before becoming his son's personal manager.

Upcoming Matches Where You Can See Him Play:

France's National Team

September 6th - Georgia  (World Cup Qualifier)

September 10th - Belarus (World Cup Qualifier)

Schedule:  http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/europe/teams/team=43946/index.html Manchester City (English Premier League) August 25 -Cardiff City August 31 - Hull City September 14 - Stoke City September 22 - Manchester United Schedule:  http://www.mcfc.com/Fixtures/First-Team