MADRID Nike Air VaporMax Plus Orange White Women's , Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Spanish sports paper 'Diario AS' reported on Tuesday that the reigning champions of the BBVA Primera Liga are going to open 200 retail outlets in China.
Such a move would give Atletico, who on Saturday defeated local rivals, Real Madrid 4-0 in the Vicente Calderon Stadium, a bigger presence in China than any other European club, including their illustrious neighbors Nike Air VaporMax Plus Women's Light Menta White Blue , Real, FC Barcelona or English powerhouses such as Manchester United, Arsenal or Chelsea.
The Atletico stores would be opened in Wanda Malls, which are owned by Chinese businessman, Wang Jianlin.
Wang became one of the major shareholders in the Spanish club earlier this year when he bought 20 percent of Atletico's shares.
The club views the stores as an important doorway into the Asian market. Atletico already have a co-operation signed with Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua and trains a number of Chinese youngsters as part of the 'Project Wanda' scheme to help develop the next generation of Chinese footballers Nike Air VaporMax Plus Women's Reverse Sunset Barely Grey , while it is thought this summer will see Atletico include a tour of China in their plans for pre-season.
The English weather takes a battering in the press.
This week Neymar claimed he spurned a move to Manchester City because Premier League pitches appeared so muddy that he thought he would need "specially tailored footwear."
Elsewhere, Arsene Wenger has claimed that English soccer players can trace their deficient technique (in comparison to their continental cousins) to the country's wind, while -Louis van Gaal made installing sheltering trees around Manchester -United's training ground his first -order of business this summer.
Weather is close to the hearts of the English. It's the first thing they talk to one another about. It's also become the cliché of their national game. "Can he do it on a wet Wednesday night in Stoke?" is the question asked of Fancy Dans and Johnny Foreigners in the belief that they would never set foot on the pitch of the Britannia Stadium, let alone light it up in such circumstances.
Neymar might prove those -doubters right, but there are foreigners who have proved everybody wrong. Thierry Henry is one of them. He might also be their very best.
He never actually did it on a wet Wednesday night in Stoke but that's only because he was doing it on balmy evenings in Barcelona by the time Stoke City returned to the top flight in 2008-09. Henry did it every-where. The only Premier League team he has played against and never netted is Swansea and that was because he only played 27 minutes as a substitute during his brief return to Arsenal on loan in 2012.
From 1999 until 2007 he tormented every single side he faced. He bagged 228 goals for the Gunners to become their top scorer. He is the highest-scoring foreigner in the Premier League with 175 goals Nike Air VaporMax Plus Women's Bleached Aqua Black , which is also the most Premier League strikes for a single club.
With respect to Eric Cantona, the foreign talisman that spurred my own Manchester United to their grip on the Premiership trophy from the mid-1990s until Ferguson retired, Henry is the best foreign import that England has ever known.
Henry can look back on a World Cup, European Championship, one Ligue 1 title Nike Air VaporMax Womens , two Premier Leagues, three FA Cups, two La Ligas, one Copa del Rey and a Champions League.
We can look back on the memories: Those quick free kicks, that turn-and-volley against Barthez Nike Air VaporMax Mens , the opening-up-and-then-side-footing past every helpless keeper, that celebration against Spurs.
Henry had it all, he did it all and he won it all.
His move to Sky Sports means a permanent home in England for his thoughtful punditry, cardigans and gallic shrugs. It's also a reason for English soccer fans to look forward to yet more delight from Henry.
BEIJING, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Australia Nike Air VaporMax Utility Womens , Japan, South Korea and Iran are ready to launch their title race in the AFC Asian Cup which will kick off in Melbourne on Friday.
Australia, in front of home fans, will be the most favorite to win the tournament, despite losing all the three games in the 2014 World Cup.
Coach Ange Postecoglou is depending on young talents such as Mathew Leckie Off-White x Nike VaporMax Womens , Robbie Kruse and Tommy Oar. But Tim Cahill will always be the most dangerous weapon for the Aussies. Neither Holland nor Chile could stop the 35-year-old last June.
The Socceroos, in their home soil, are hoping they can be a little luckier than four years ago.
In the 2011 Asian Cup finale, the Socceroos suffered a bitter defeat to Japan, who claimed the title with striker Tadanari Lee's goal in extra time. Making their debut in the 2007 AFC Asian Cup Nike Air VaporMax Flyknit Womens , Australia found themselves facing Japan in the quarterfinals, and the Socceroos lost the match 5-4 in penalty shootout.
Japan have proved themselves to be a roadblock for the Socceroos in the past eight years, and they will continue to be the biggest threat in this edition.
The Samurai Blue defeated defending champions Saudi Arabia to win their first Asian Cup in 1992 and again took the title from the Saudis eight years later in Lebanon. Their third trophy came in 2004 with victory over hosts China and they made a record fourth title in 2011 after edging Australia.
Although Italian Alberto Zaccheroni departed after the 2014 World Cup, new coach Javier Aguirre could make a difference.
With superstars Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa running the midfield and the red hot Shinji Okazaki up front, Japan will be the technically best team among the 16.
South Korea Nike Air VaporMax 2.0 Womens , however, are seeking to end their 45 years continental title drought since they won the inaugural 1956 Asian cup and successfully retained the trophy in 1960.
Uli Stielike, who took over the team from Hong Myung-Bo after a disappointing World Cup campaign, are desperate to make impression in the upcoming Asian cup.