This is, perhaps, the most bizarre part of the year on the world soccer calendar. Most of the big Euro leagues are still just stirring from their winter breaks, while the big English clubs have been -- almost literally -- balls to the wall with no break in holiday action and back-to-back cup-competition play to start the year.
Meanwhile, Argentina and Brazil are readying for their respective preseason tournaments. And how's this for perplexing? Eight Mexican clubs are playing on American soil for the right to compete in South America.
Through it all is one theme that links everyone together: the January transfer window. This is the time of the season when clubs figure out if they're buyers or sellers in efforts to either make serious runs this season or throw in the towel, cut their losses and look ahead. Predictably, transfer buzz dominates our first Rankings of 2008. This is about as dishy as the sport gets until summertime, so fire up the hot stove.
Note: All rankings, records and statistics are through Jan. 9.
| World Soccer Power Rankings |
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Inter Milan
It was the matchup we'd all been dreaming of: Inter vs. Inter! OK, it was just an exhibition tournament in Dubai during the winter break, and the Brazilians (Internacional) actually beat the Italians 2-1. In other news, Inter may be poised to grab yet another up-and-coming young Latin American, this time one of the heroes of underdog Lanús' Argentine Apertura-winning squad: midfield stud Diego Váleri.
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4 |
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Arsenal
Gooners, thy new breakout star is Eduardo da Silva. The Brazilian-born Croat has come on like gangbusters over the last month, scoring four goals in Arsenal's last six matches. That form has helped the North Londoners leapfrog Man. Utd to take back first place in the Premiership. And until Wednesday's draw with Tottenham in the first leg of the Carling Cup semis, Arsenal had strung together a six-game winning streak in all competitions, a nice follow-up to its nine-game run of victories earlier this season.
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3 |
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Real Madrid
Real fails to move up because it needed a desperation goal to hold off fifth-rung Alicante in the Copa del Rey. Complain if you must about Ruud van Nistelrooy's supposedly limited game ("All he can do is score goals" -- say what?), but extending the prolific Dutch striker's contract for another year is a good move. The bigger shame is losing his countryman Arjen Robben to a third injury this season. The talented winger's reputation for being brittle and a bit of a head case isn't for nothing.
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2 |
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Manchester United
The Mancs drop a couple spots mainly for their inability to capitalize on a golden opportunity to keep first place -- their reign at the top lasted exactly three days. Also worth mentioning that, yes, even though the Carling Cup is basically fourth priority, United's absence from this week's semifinals didn't go unnoticed. And is Alex Ferguson's supposed interest in Dimitar Berbatov for real? Or is it just a defensive maneuver to keep the Spurs striker from landing at Chelsea or Man. City?
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5 |
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AS Roma
There has been a smattering of names linked to moves to the Eternal City: strikers Adrian Mutu and Antonio Di Natale, Bayern defender Lúcio, etc. But perhaps the best news from Roma during the midseason window is that the club is reportedly set to re-sign two of its most important players to long-term deals: keeper Doni and midfield linchpin Daniele De Rossi. Those may ultimately be better moves.
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FC Barcelona
Why does it feel like there's an air of desperation around Barça? This is a unit that has the talent to dominate any team on earth, but it has often looked uninspired and hasn't worked well together. The injuries haven't helped, and the whirlwind of rumored exits -- Ronaldinho? Deco? Andrés Iniesta? Gianluca Zambrotta? Manager Frank Rijkaard? -- can't do much to help the players focus.
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7 |
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FC Porto
Are the Dragons serious about holding their ground? They've stretched their lead in Portugal to nine points and boast perhaps their strongest squad since their '04 Champions League winner. Let's see if they're prepared to turn away Fiorentina's reported bids for Lucho González and Paulo Assunção. José Bosingwa and Bruno Alves are also being eyed by English clubs.
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São Paulo
The early signs are that the Tricolor Paulista will be, predictably, one of the heavy favorites to win the '08 Copa Libertadores. They got another boost last week in agreeing to a new three-year deal with Richarlyson. Young Breno may be gone to Bayern, but the versatile midfielder/winger will stay at the Morumbí this season after flirting with a move overseas to Roma. Is a Brazil call-up ahead?
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Chelsea
The panicked Stamford Bridge roster purge is here. Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, John Obi Mikel and Michael Essien have all left to represent their countries at the African Cup of Nations, which leaves a huge, month-long hole in the Blues' attack during a crucial period on the calendar. Chelsea is clinging to third place in the Premiership and faces big matches in both the Carling and FA Cups before the African quartet returns. Paging Nicolas Anelka?
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Espanyol
No, last season's surprise UEFA Cup finalists aren't in any European competitions this year. But they haven't lost in 17 games -- dating back to September. That includes victories over Real Madrid, Villarreal and Sevilla and a furious rally to draw crosstown rival Barça, lending tons of credibility to the less-popular club of the Catalan capital. Captain Raúl Tamudo has led the way with 10 goals in 18 matches, putting the veteran striker second on La Liga's scoring sheet and catapulting him back onto national-team coach Luis Aragonés' radar.
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Honorable mentions: Celtic, Juventus, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Werder Bremen, Fenerbahçe, Olympiakos
Dropped off: Liverpool
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