Just like the A-League, we'll be taking a couple of weeks of over Christmas, but don't worry, we've still got our snoops out on the beat and they'll be posting news stories on au.fourfourtwo.com every day over the festive season.

So here's to a great year of football. Thanks so much for all your support and feedback - we always love to hear from you lot of football tragics. Have a great Christmas and we'll see you next year for crunch time in the A-League. Can't wait!

Cheers,

Richard Cann
Deputy editor, Australian FourFourTwo

Win Cool Stuff!

competitions
Have you checked out our competitions page lately? Want to catch some live A-League action in the New Year? We're currently giving away Queensland Roar, Melbourne Victory and Perth Glory home tickets. You could also score a FIFA 08 game, an Official English Premier League Review/Goal of the Season double disc DVD, or, for those Chelsea fans out there, a copy of Blue Revolution - The Inside Story, a fascinating behind-the-scenes feature length doco on the Mourinho years at Stamford Bridge. But you've got to be in it to win it!

Four... things you must know about the week in football

Australia News
Tough Draws In Asian Champs
Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United face tough routes to the quarter finals of the Asian Champions League - but that's what it's all about - matching it with the very best. It should be fun!

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Australia News
Ago Blow Hits Reds' Finals Hope
He's been finding the back of the net, but marquee signing Paul Agostino will miss the remainder of the A-League regular season with a quad injury, hurting Adelaide's chances of hanging onto its finals spot.

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World News
Maldini to Quit At End of Season
One of the greatest defenders the world has ever seen is set to retire at the end of the season. After winning the FIFA Club World Cup this week, what's left for AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini to achieve anyway?

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World News
Romario Banned for Four Months
Legend Romario has been banned for four months after testing positive for banned substance finasteride. There's absolutely no truth in the rumour that he sourced the drugs on the Adelaide party circuit...

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Four... things we loved this week

Australia News
Townsville: FFA Meeting 'Very Positive'
The A-League needs more teams, as long as they're strong enough to survive and prosper. So it's good news that Townsville's A-League bid team is quietly confident following a series of high-level meetings with the FFA.

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Australia News
Butcher vs Arnie
No it's not the title of Schwarzenegger's latest silver screen opus. Former Sydney FC coach Terry Butcher and former Socceroos boss Graham Arnold are among those in the running to coach Dunfermline. The biggest battle since Alien took on Predator...

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World News
Kaka Crowned World's Finest
The accolades keep pouring in for Kaka. FourFourTwo's top player in the world has added the FIFA World Player of the Year award to the European Player of the Year gong he won three weeks ago.

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Australia News
Sydney's New Boy Drafted In
Well, he's not a fullback or even a defender really, but Sydney FC sure needs some help. Anything is better than leaving Fyfe as Popovic's only defensive partner. Welcome aboard former Socceroo Mark Robertson...

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Two... things that made us laugh

Australia News
Boogaard's Bizarre Injury
Injury can strike at any time! Nigel Boogaard's mobile phone gave him a groin strain after it surprised him by ringing, making him slip when he jumped up to answer it. Either that or he was phoning Red Hot Pie at the time...

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Australia News
Yoga Knocks Milligan Out
Far more chilled but even more damaging was Mark Milligan's injury-causing activity. Yoga has been blamed, although it could be that he just felt left out given that most of his team-mates seem to be in the treatment room.