CSA World Rankings May 2008

The CSA World Rankings for May 2008 have been announced.

Top 20

1. England
2. Brazil
3. Netherlands
4. Argentina
5. Italy
6. Spain
7. Germany
8. France
9. Portugal
10. Canada
11. United States
    
12. Czech Republic
13. Turkey
14. Croatia
15. Sweden
16. Scotland
17. Ireland
18. Hungary
19. Wales
20. Serbia
    

Germany overtakes France by one place, Canada overtakes USA by one place and European champion Hungary and newcomer Serbia replace Colombia and Ghana in the top 20.

England announce Euro squad

England CSA coach Marco Garibaldi has named his 23 player squad for next month's CSA EuroCup.

England CSA EuroCup 08 Squad

Goalkeepers:
Simon HERDING (London United, MLF)
Jack STACKMAN (Barnsworth, E-League)
Christian WATSON (FC London, MLF)

Defenders:
Liam COLE (Newcastle Geordies, MLF)
Neil CRANDALL (Middlesbrough Monsters, MLF)
John MACDONALD (London United, MLF)
Gary MITCHELL (London United, MLF)
Dan PERRY (Barnsworth, E-League)
Ashton REID (London United, MLF)
Mark STRICKLAND (London United, MLF)
Steven TWEEDY (Newcastle Geordies, MLF)

Midfielders:
Craig "CRAICO" Cohen (London United, MLF)
James DOUGLAS (FC London, MLF)
Bradley HATFIELD (FC London, MLF)
Kevin HENDERSON (Sheffield Strikers, MLF)
Ian PARKER (London United, MLF)
Kevin SIMMS (Manchester Magic, MLF)
Adam STOCKWELL (London United, MLF)
Kevin WARHURST (London United, MLF)

Forwards:
Adam CARTER (Barnsworth, E-League)
Peter ELKINS (Ajax London, MLF)
Brian NIXON (East Anglia Knights, MLF)
Edward REDWOOD (London United, MLF)

Scots name EuroCup squad

Scotland CSA have named their CSA EuroCup 2008 squad:

Goalkeepers:
Stuart McDONALD (Nottingham Fire, MLF)
Michael DA SILVA (London United, MLF)
Mike McGUIRE (Glasgow FC, MLF)

Defenders:
Craig BORCHERS (Edinburgh Eagles, MLF)
Craig BRENNAN (Edinburgh Eagles, MLF)
Eddo CAMPBELL (Glasgow FC, MLF)
Warren DAVIS (Nottingham Fire, MLF)
John JEFFRIES (Glasgow FC, MLF)
Kevin MacRAE (Glasgow FC, MLF)
David McDAY (Abertoon, CSA Scotland First Division)
Kevin TENNANT (Reading Ruckus, MLF)

Midfielders:
Jackie COOPER (Dublin Druids, MLF)
Steve MAGUIRE (Leeds Lightning, MLF)
Aaron McLEOD (Glasgow FC, MLF)
James McSTANLEY (Edinburgh Eagles, MLF)
Bob MICKELSON (Dunberry Town, CSA Scotland First Division)
Adam PARTRIDGE (Glasgow FC, MLF)
Charlie SMITH (Edinburgh Eagles, MLF)

Strikers:
Iain BURNS (Glasgow FC, MLF)
Paul McCONNELL (Glasgow FC, MLF)
Ryan McQUEEN (Edinburgh Eagles, MLF)
Craig WISNIEWSKI (FC London, MLF)

Final: London United 3-1 FC London

Mark Strickland lifts the CSA Champions League trophy aloft

Wednesday 21st May - CSA Champions League Final
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy

London United denied FC London a third successive Champions League title with a 3-1 victory in Milan.

Rodrigo Santos headed United in front after 18 minutes, before James Douglas equalized on the stroke of half-time.

CraiCo made it 2-1 on 60 minutes, and then Edward Redwood's 81st minute goal gave United their first CL title.

Video report:

CSA Champions League Final 2008 Preview

London United v FC London

The 85,000-seat San Siro will host this season's final in Milan. This is FC London's third successive and overall CL final, looking for their third successive triumph after beating Munich Maniax in Barcelona (2006) and Nottingham Fire in Cardiff (2007). This is London United's first ever CL final.

United have got six players that played for FCL in 2006 and 2007. Lionel Nunez, Simon Herding, Edward Redwood, Kevin Warhurst, Neil Boyle and Dean Whitley. Cristiano Costa also played for FCL in the 2007 final.

Key Players

LONDON UNITED

Edward Redwood: Has scored eight goals this CCL campaign. Dangerous shot.
CraiCo: Geordie playmaker. Lightning speed.
Kevin Warhurst: Possibly the best midfielder in the world today. Wonderful long balls and wonderful shot.

FC LONDON

James Douglas: Top midfielder. Great passing. Great shot.
Sasha Gurshkov: Belarusian winger. Quick dribbling.
Craig Wisniewski: Magical Scot striker. Thunderous shot.

Final: Monsters 1-0 Rio FC

Wednesday 14th May - CSA Cup Final
Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona, Spain

Middlesbrough Monsters won the CSA Cup after a 73rd minute goal from Kevin Nel.

The Monsters and Rio FC played in front of 56,000 spectators in Barcelona's Olympic Stadium on a beautiful Catalan evening and the massive crowd were entertained by the sweet attacking football played by both sides.

Rio created the first chance of the game - Goncha firing from 30 yards out but Igor Kuljman slapped out the powerful strike.

But no matter how hard the Brazilians tried, they could not find a goal.

The Monsters did when Kevin Nel was caught clear ahead of the Rio defence, including their star centre-back and captain Hugo, and the giant South African midfielder put it through Etherson's legs.

Monsters skipper Neil Crandall lifted the trophy in front of a sea of green and purple as the MLF side fully deserved their title.

Video report:

2nd Semi 2nd Leg: Rio FC 2-0 Rage (3-0)

Thursday 1st May - CSA Cup Semi-Final Second Leg
Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rio FC win 3-0 on aggregate

A Goncha double made Rio FC the first South American team to reach a CSA Cup Final, at the expense of Italians Rome Rage.

1st Semi 2nd Leg: Western Villa 1-0 Monsters (1-1)

Thursday 1st May - CSA Cup Semi-Final 2nd Leg
Western Stadium, Weston, England
1-1 on aggregate, Monsters win 4-2 on penalties

Middlesbrough Monsters held their nerve to reach the CSA Cup Final after a dramatic penalty shootout win against Western Villa.

Villa midfielder Jimmy Clarke's goal sent the game into extra time and then penalties.

Michael Matsson converted the winning penalty to sent the Monsters into the final.