“If you follow Spanish football at all, chances are you’ve heard of the Pichichi. As an award it holds status as one of the most prestigious individual merits Spanish football has to offer. As a name it rolls off the tongue delightfully. But what is the Pichichi award and what is the history behind it?” (Just Football)

“James Richardson is joined by Jonathan Wilson, James Dart and trusty steed Barry Glendenning to round up the midweek Champions League action. They discuss yet another defeat for Liverpool, a make-shift Manchester United side edging out Wolfsburg and wonder: why all the talk about Michael Owen going to the World Cup when it blatantly isn’t going to happen?” (Guardian)

“What broke Marcel Schuon was his fear of the gun. A middling player in Germany’s second-tier soccer league, Schuon had gambled away everything. He had borrowed from the bank. Built up debts with a dingy betting office. Borrowed more. Gambled more. Lost more.” (NYT)

“Of all the events in contemporary history, it is the soul-shattering military defeat of 1967, when Arab armies lost land to Israel, that some Egyptians have pointed to for comparison as the nation struggles to come to terms with the debacle that followed their loss to Algeria in a soccer game.” (NYT)

“In feverish anticipation of the World Cup, we are going to take a moment and recall, relive, recycle, some of our favorite World Cup moments. These patterns constitute the fabric of the international game, these recurrences form the waves of the World Cup ocean.” (futfanatico)

“Has the Scotland job become the most poisoned chalice in the world? In the wake of George Burley’s inevitable dismissal there has hardly been a queue of recognised coaches desperate to follow in his footsteps. The Hampden chiefs certainly appear to be no closer to finding a successor to former Ipswich and Hearts boss Burley, who was dismissed in November following a string of dismal performances.” (ESPN)

“Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Internazionale, Lyon, Manchester United, Porto, and Real Madrid.” (billsportsmaps)

“While having a drink at a local coffee shop Wednesday evening with Kartik Krishnaiyer, the topic of Graeme Souness came up and what an abysmal football manager he was especially at Newcastle. It got me thinking, though, that just as footballers retire from playing, football managers should be put out to pasture too when they’re obviously inept or past their prime.” (EPL Talk)

“Daniel Alves paid tribute to FC Barcelona’s pass masters after the UEFA Champions League holders negotiated a safe passage to the knockout rounds of the competition.” (UEFA)

Messi free-kick seals top spot
“Lionel Messi’s brilliant late free-kick helped Barcelona recover from a nightmare start to defeat Dynamo Kiev and secure top spot in Group F, while the Ukrainian side waved goodbye to European competition for the season.” (ESPN)

“Liverpool’s miserable Champions League campaign ended in defeat to Fiorentina. The visitors grabbed a late winner through Alberto Gilardino in the second minute of added time to clinch top spot in Group E. Looking at the positives, Liverpool started with Alberto Aquilani at last – and Fernando Torres returned from a groin injury for the final 25 minutes.” (ESPN)