Can You Tell the Difference Between Mancini & Balotelli?

I know that both Roberto Mancini and Mario Balotelli are from Italy, and they're both at Manchester City now, but I think I could tell them apart . . . this British reporter, he had some trouble doing that:

Palermo's Appeal Denied

Pato's two goals for Milan have been slightly overshadowed by the post Roma-Palermo fireworks. Following their 1-0 loss to the Giallorossi, Palermo filed an appeal complaining that Mancini's goal in the 59th minute was the improper result of a Ball Boy's coming around the boards to get the ball to Roma for a quick corner. Palermo requested that it receive a 3-0 victory or a rematch, today this appeal was rejected.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/01/29/sports/EU-SPT-SOC-Ballboy-Goal.php

Week in Review

-Tonight the USMNT takes on Sweden at the Home Depot Center in southern California. This weekend is not an FIFA international break, so we'll see how a primarily MLS squad will fare against Sweden. The next match will be against Mexico, here in Houston on February 6. Yesterday it was announced that the USMNT will have a pre Euro 2008 friendly against Spain in Spain on June 4, I hope they can fit in a couple other matches against teams preparing for Euro 2008.


http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=499626&cc=5901


-Yesterday was the MLS SuperDraft, and I for one was a bit surprised by the Dynamo's picks: Geoff Cameron of Rhode Island and Jeremy Barlow of Virginia. Both of them are midfielders, a position where the Dynamo have a good deal of depth. Well, Dominic Kinnear did indicate that he would draft the best available players regardless of position, so I guess he did.

-As you know, the MLS SuperDraft is part of the NSCAA Convention in Baltimore. Some of the 2008 MLS Kits were unveiled at the convention:

http://www.yoursportshooter.com/albums.php?albumId=14493

-Congratulations are in order for Dwayne De Rosario who was named Canada's top soccer player:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=499626&cc=5901

-If you live in Texas' Golden Triangle, Houston Dynamo GM, Oliver Luck, will be speaking to the Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce on the 22nd:

http://houston.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20080118&content_id=135742&vkey=pr_hou&fext=.jsp&team=t200

Now for some Serie A related news:

-Looks like Mancini will be staying with Roma afterall:

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=551288

-This past week saw the second leg the last 16 in Coppa Italia. The Quarterfinals will begin on Wednesday January 23 and feature the following matches:

Udinese v. Catania

Sampdoria v. Roma

Inter Milan v. Juventus

Lazio v. Fiorentina