Ready for your Daily Kick Around? Today we have a bus-surfing French women’s national team, players quash rumors on Twitter and lots more! Check it out!

International 

The France Women’s National Team had a little too much fun on their bus trip after qualifying for the 2012 Olympics with a victory against England. Bus surfing anyone?

La Liga

Real Sociedad goalkeeper Enaut Zubikarai made a huge mistake in yesterday’s Copa del Rey match against Mallorca in the second round. It was only the 4th match this season that Zubikarai has played in net, all of which were Sociedad’s CdR matches, and after a mistake like that, it might be a while before he backs up his club. Note to all keepers out there: Make sure there is no one behind you when your about to kick the ball out of your box.

Earlier in the week during the Catalan Derby between Barcelona and Espanyol, there were racial remarks towards Barca player Dani Alves by a section of supporters. Espanyol boss Mauricio Pochettino says otherwise. The Brazil international claimed that he hadn’t heard any racial remarks from the crowd because he was more focused on the match. Anyone else getting tired of all these racism accusations lately? I know I am.

Congrats to Real Madrid player Gonzalo Higuain on being with the club for 5 years! He played his first match with the white 5 years ago today against Betis in the Copa del Rey. So far in his career with Madrid, he’s the fourth captain, won two league titles in 2007 and 2008, one Copa del Rey in 2011 and one Spanish Super Cup in 2008.

English Premier League

After Arsenal legend Thierry Henry made his debut with the Gunners since 2006 on Monday, rumors began that other Gunner legends could make a return to the club. But not so fast! Robert Pires, who is currently training with the Gunners, slammed down any speculation via his twitter account, of a possible return to Emirates. Pires, who left Aston Villa in May, is still in a search for a club, preferably one in Asia.

New Queens Park Rangers manager Mark Hughes claimed that Joey Barton will remain club captain despite the controversy surrounding his career.

Apparently there is some mis-communication between Newcastle’s Demba Ba and his “agent” Armand Doorn. The 26-year-old Ba took to his twitter account attacking Doorn about his remarks that Manchester United were interested in picking up Ba in the January transfer window. The tweet? “Really, I don’t know how desperate this “armand doorn” can be to talk like he’s my agent!! He’s nothing for me. Stop lying and show respect.” 

Serie A

Lazio midfielder Lorik Cana will be sidelined for about two months with a back injury. During Lazio’s 4-nil defeat of Siena, Cana was forced off during halftime, confirming through tests that he has a damaged lumbar vertebrae. With this injury, the Albanian will miss 10 Serie A matches including their Europa League match against Atletico Madrid.

Major League Soccer

The Chicago Fire has signed Uruguayan forward Federico Puppa two days after signing Colombian midfielder Rafael Robayo. This is good news for the Fire due to the international experience that Puppa has, moving well off the ball and finishing strong in front of the net.

Goodbye Robbie Rogers! The Ex-Columbus Crew midfielder has signed a new deal with English club Leeds United until 2014. That’s of course, if he can get his hands on a work permit. Rogers doesn’t meet the national team cap percentage needed to score a work permit, but Leeds seems overly confident that the Huntington Beach native can get one. Leeds beat out another MLS (who was undisclosed) club, a secret English club, and even a return offer from the Crew. All I have to say is good luck to Robbie in England! He now joins the ranks of Mike Grella, Eddie Lewis, Eric Lichaj and England Youth International Paul Rachubka as the 5th American-born player to suit up for Leeds.

I love midweek EPL games, don’t you? And today’s matches were packed full of action! LA Galaxy and USMNT star Landon Donovan got the start for Everton, and Manchester United continued their losing streak, falling to Newcastle by a whopping 3-0.

Landon Donovan makes his first appearance for Everton during his two-month loan.

Everton 1 – Bolton 2

In his first game eligible to play for Everton since going overseas on a two-month loan, Landon Donovan got the nod to start for the Toffees. Both sides had their chances in the first half, but neither team was able to break the deadlock until the second half. It was an American who scored for Everton, but not the one you would expect. Goalkeeper Tim Howard smashed a clearance from his own penalty box, sending the ball soaring to the other end of the pitch. The blistering wind and a big bounce gave him a bit of help, but Howard scored an insane goal in the 63rd minute, giving the Toffees a 1-nil lead.

Unfortunately for Everton, Bolton wasted no time in bringing the score level again. In the 67th minute, David Ngog put the ball past Howard from inside the penalty area, tying the game up at one goal apiece. The Wanderers struck again in the 78th minute, with a goal from Gary Cahill. Bolton would hold on to the 2-1 lead, spoiling Donovan’s Everton debut and Howard’s 250th EPL appearance.

Newcastle 3 – Manchester United 0

Demba Ba celebrates his goal against Manchester United.

After a stunning loss to Blackburn at Old Trafford on Saturday, Manchester United traveled to St. James’ Park in need of a win and three points to maintain their standing in the league table. But Newcastle had other plans. Despite many injuries to United players, you expect a team of their stature to at least hold their own in every game they play. That wasn’t the case today.

The Red Devils never got into a rhythm. They paid the price 33 minutes into the match, when Demba Ba sliced a shot past Anders Lindegaard, giving the Magpies a 1-0 before halftime. And it wasn’t long after the break that Newcastle struck again. They took a 2-0 lead in the 46th minute, on a cracking free-kick strike from Yohan Cabaye. An own goal in the 90th minute by United’s Phil Jones was the final dagger. A 3-0 loss to Newcastle was certainly not what Sir Alex had in mind.

Manchester United slip to the second spot on the table, three points behind Manchester City.

Stay with Aerys Soccer for all your EPL coverage!

Photos courtesy of Sporting Life