(Soccer365.com) - Chicago Fire coach Dave Sarachan was walking on air after his charges scooped up the 2006 U.S. Open Cup with a sound 3-1 defeat of Los Angeles.

"I can't help but smile," he told MLSNet. "It's just not very often you get to say you're a champion and we've made it a priority this year to try and win a couple championships and you saw tonight the guys put everything into it tonight."

"L.A. didn't make it easy," offered Sarachan. "We knew even with 2-0 at halftime that we were going to be in for a fight, and sure enough they get that goal, and yet the poise that we showed and the confidence to keep playing and withstand their barrage."

"You just keep your fingers crossed and maybe we catch them on the counter, which we did, and game, set, match."

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Posted by soccer365 at 10:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

(Soccer365.com) - Barcelona goal monster Samuel Eto’o could miss the rest of the calendar year after injuring his knee in their Champions League draw at Werder Bremen.

"He has suffered a tear to the outside of the meniscus in his right knee," announced club medico Ricard Pruna.

"Early indications point to a recovery period of between two and three months."

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Posted by soccer365 at 10:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)

(Goal.com) - Claudio Ranieri says he would have no hesitation about taking over at Leeds United if chairman Ken Bates offered him the job.

The Championship club are currently looking for a new manager after parting company with Kevin Blackwell.

Bates and Ranieri were together at Chelsea, and the Italian told The Sun: "Ken knows me very well. If Ken wants Claudio, he should phone Claudio.

"If he wants to strike a good deal with me and then wants Leeds back in The Premiership, I am the man for the job.

"I am ambitious and Mr Bates is too.

"I could take Leeds back into The Premiership. But my target would be to take them back into Europe too, at least in the Uefa Cup.

"I worked under Ken Bates for three years at Chelsea and, if he wants these things for Leeds, my message is 'No problem, call me'.

"I'd love to come back to England. What matters is the ambition of the club and the programme it would have for the future.

"I have worked in the Italian league, in England and in the Spanish league, too. I would be prepared to work in any of those countries again.

"But if you want the truth, my first choice would be England.

"You cannot beat the atmosphere there. It is so exciting."

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Posted by soccer365 at 10:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

(Soccer365.com) - Inter Milan chief Massimo Moratti has urged the team to regain their swagger in order to avoid further displays like their home Champions League loss to Bayern Munich on Wednesday night.

The Nerazzurri could not crack the visitor’s net, then succumbed on a pair of second half strikes.

"We tried to play a match to contain Bayern in the first half, maybe this is not allowed in the Champions League," stated Moratti. "We must aim at winning, without too much prudence."

"Otherwise, it becomes a psychological problem and you always find problems in scoring goals."

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Posted by soccer365 at 10:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

(Soccer365.com) - U.S. National Team netminder Kasey Keller has made the startling revelation that he would become a field player if he had it all to do over again.

Despite all of his success, the Borussia Mönchengladbach star admits to wondering how the other 10 players live.

"Nobody would want to become a keeper if they knew," Keller cracked German magazine Rund. "But somebody has to do the job."

"Even at the level I’ve achieved, I am totally serious."

"We cannot run with the ball or make challenges, we always have the same stress level," explained the American Abroad. "People say ‘Well, today you had a calm afternoon’."

"That doesn’t happen – I must always be attentive whether I am in the action or not."

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(Goal.com) - FC Copenhagen striker Marcus Allback has taken a swipe at Thomas Gravesen following the Champions League clash with Celtic on Tuesday.

Dane Gravesen came up against his fellow countrymen Copenhagen at Parkhead, and although he emerged on the winning side, former Aston Villa striker Allback was left unimpressed.

He said: "We did not think too much about Thomas Gravesen. We tried to just play our game and we know how he is.

"I was involved in one incident with him. He was so afraid to tackle me that he put his foot right up to cover himself and into me. So I told him that.

"I said 'You're afraid to put a proper tackle in, Gravesen.' He did not take it too well."

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(Soccer365.com) - FC Groningen have rewarded coach Ron Jans with an improved deal on the eve of their UEFA Cup tie decider against Partizan Belgrade.

Gang Green trails 4-2 from the first leg, but the manager has been impressively building a winner over his five years on the job.

"I really like it here and we just decide from year to year whether we want to continue with each other," said Jans.

"I do not feel my job is done here yet."

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Posted by soccer365 at 09:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

(Soccer365.com) - Bayern Munich striker Claudio Pizarro was quite proud to have taken part in the team’s slump-buster against Champions League foe Inter Milan on Wednesday night.

The Bavarians had not won in Italy over their last seven tries.

"We are very happy because we've made a piece of history," Pizarro told uefa.com. "The team hasn't won here for along time and I'm very happy because it's important to stay top of the group."

"It was a very tough, physical match, but we kept trying to play football and stuck to our game plan, which was to pass the ball and take our chances."

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Posted by soccer365 at 09:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

(Goal.com) - Arsenal vice-president David Dein says manager Arsene Wenger can stay at the club for as long as he wants.

The Frenchman, who has won three league titles with the Gunners, celebrates his 10th anniversary at the club this week.

Dein said: "We want him for the rest of his career. If he wanted to give up the tracksuit he'd be invaluable in the boardroom in a technical role."

Wenger’s Arsenal travel to Charlton this weekend as they look to win their fifth match on the bounce.

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Posted by soccer365 at 09:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

(Soccer365.com) - Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard has assured observers that he is instructing his charges to be prepared for a tough Champions League fight at Werder Bremen.

The Germans dropped a pair of two-goal decisions to Los Blaugrana in last year’s edition.

"Bremen are an excellent side and made life hard for us here last term," he told reporters.

"I'm sure they've learned from the experience of playing against us, but my players are by no means satisfied with what we've achieved so far and we'll continue to work hard to meet our own expectations."

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(Soccer365.com) - Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini is already feeling the heat and has declared their Wednesday Champions League clash with Bayern Munich a must-win game.

"We've played one and lost one, so it's essential for us to get some points on the board," he reasoned. "We can't afford to be chasing already at this early stage."

"The players need to think before they act," urged Mancini. "They must think calmly and do the right things."

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(Goal.com) - Liverpool entertain Galatasaray in the Champions League Group C match tonight aiming to build on the away draw they secured gainst PSV Eindhoven two weeks ago.

And manager Rafael Benitez believes if they take full advantage of playing at Anfield they should negotiate the group and reach the knock-out stages.

Benitez, who guided Liverpool to their fifth European Cup triumph in 2005, said: "We got a good draw in our first group match in Eindhoven - that was important. But we must follow that up with a home win now. If you win three home games, you should qualify for the next stage.

"The team now has more confidence and they are playing at home, where we have a good record over the past year.

"We are playing with a high tempo and I feel we are in the right mood and form now."

Benitez added: "I have watched Galatasaray's last few games and they like to control the ball and they do not play too deep. But we must play with pace and stop them controlling and passing the ball.

"If we let them do that, then they can be dangerous. They are used to winning as the best team in Turkey, they have quality and dangerous players so we must press them and win the ball back quickly."

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(Soccer365.com) - AS Roma defender Christian has admitted to feeling uneasy over their Champions League visit to Valencia, but says the club can find a way to win.

"I know from personal experience that you need real personality as a team to win here," he assured. "Not many sides take three points from the Mestalla and you have to find a way to prevent the volcanic support here connecting with the team."

"It's an old-fashioned atmosphere, the fans are right on top of you, but I'm 100% sure that this Roma team has enough personality to get the scoreline we want."

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(Goal.com) - Milan playmaker Kaka was left frustrated by the tactics deployed by coach Carlo Ancelotti during the 0-0 Champions League draw with Lille on Tuesday night.

The Brazilian and Clarence Seedorf were fielded in more advanced roles, with Alberto Gilardino up-front on his own, and Filippo Inzaghi left on the bench.

"Personally I much prefer the tactic with two forwards, as that way I don’t have to hold on to the ball so much," said Kaka.

"When we play that style (with one striker) I always get marked very closely and by the end of the game I had no energy left to create anything.

He added: "Some say I’m egotistical when I run with the ball and go for a one-on-one, but when you’re a forward then it’s necessary. With two strikers it’s easier for me to release the ball and get the whole team moving."

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(Soccer365.com) - Benfica defender Luisão admits to having a great admiration for Tuesday Champions League foes Manchester United, but would just assume jump start their campaign with a victory.

The Portuguese giants have stumbled out of the league gate, but will look to take control of Group F by repeating last year’s Stadium of Light success against the Red Devils.

"We didn't start the league season well, but it's a UEFA Champions League match with a wonderful atmosphere," Luisão told reporters. "We hope to win and to move into first place in the group."

"We are going to be up against a great team," he added. "We had a lot of respect for Manchester United last season and we respect them just as much this time round."

"They have many top players and we have to watch them closely."

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(Soccer365.com) - Still reeling from their sound Champions League Group E opening defeat to Lyon, Real Madrid boss Fabio Capello has placed priority #1 on beating Dynamo Kyiv on Tuesday night.

"It's a vital match," he asserted. "After a defeat like that, it is of huge importance that we take the three points."

"We know that when Dynamo play away from home they can be a very dangerous team," instructed Capello.

"They have a lot of pace in their side and we have to be wary of that."

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Posted by soccer365 at 11:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

(Goal.com) - Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand says team-mate Wayne Rooney will come good despite his indifferent start to the season.

The England star has not scored since the opening day and has attracted criticism for some average displays.

"If Wayne had scored against Reading on Saturday, the questions about him would probably not be being asked," said Ferdinand.

"I thought he did well at the weekend and got stronger as the game went on.

"But, as we all know, strikers are judged on goals. Everyone knows what a quality player he is and once he scores, people will soon be singing his praises again."

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Posted by soccer365 at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

(Soccer365.com) - D.C. United boss Peter Nowak was pleased to see his side collect the Eastern title with a weekend win over New York, but admits to being concerned over their sudden misconduct crisis.

The capital crew survived a Facundo Erpen ejection to hold off the Red Bulls 4-3.

“You cannot score three goals then give the other team a gift so they can come back,” Nowak told MLSNet. “It's unacceptable right now.”

“We had two red cards against Chicago, and another red card tonight.”

“We cannot go with this kind of mentality,” said the coach. “It was a beautiful performance from us tonight, though."

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(Soccer365.com) - Hamburg manager Thomas Doll knows his side don’t have time to worry about their poor league start when they host dangerous Champions League visitors CSKA Moscow.

The injury-hit Rothosen have surprisingly started the Bundesliga campaign with but four points from five games.

"We cannot think of our position in the league and cannot get overly concerned that everyone is saying everything has gone downhill," insisted Doll. "Against Moscow, we have another chance to show what we can do and take another step forward."

"We do not have a lot of time to recover, but we will find our rhythm."

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Posted by soccer365 at 02:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

(Soccer365.com) - French strugglers Lille are busy working on a plot that sees them defeat Champions League giants AC Milan.

"We beat Manchester United last year," stated defender Mathieu Chalme. "Nothing is impossible and it is good to play in the Champions League right after bad domestic results."

"We have two consecutive (Champions League) home matches and we must take four points from these games if we are to advance."

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Posted by soccer365 at 02:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

(Goal.com) - Five home-based players have been named in a 30-man provisional Ivory Coast squad by new coach Uli Stielike for the 2008 African Nations Cup qualifier against Gabon in October.

Stielike’s move is to encourage promising home-based talent in a squad that is mostly composed of foreign-based players.

The five home-based players that have been named are goalkeepers Stephane Dimy, Aristide Zogbo and Tiasse Kone as well as midfielder Didier Ya Konan and the defender Bakary Soro.

Ivory Coast are in Group 1 and will be playing their opening group match in October.

Only three teams are in the group and only the top team will qualify for the finals.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Boubacar Barry (Beveren, Belgium), Stephane Dimy (EFYM), Aristide Zogbo (Issia Wazi), Tiasse Kone (Africa Sports)

Defenders: Emmanuel Eboue, Kolo Toure (both Arsenal, England), Abdoulaye Meite (Bolton, England), Arthur Boka (Stuttgart, Germany), Mamadou Doumbia (Istres, France), Steve Gohouri (Young Boys, Switzerland), Seydou Kante (Beveren, Belgium), Bakary Soro (Asec Mimosas)

Midfielders: Kader Keita (Lille, France), Yaya Toure (Monaco, France), Didier Zokora (Tottenham, England), Emerse Fae (Nantes, France), Kanga Akale (Auxerre, France), Romaric N'Dri (Le Mans, France), Didier Ya Konan (Asec Mimosas), Guy Demel (Hamburg, Germany), Christian Manfredini (Lazio, Italy), Gilles Yapi Yapo (Young Boys, Switzerland)

Strikers: Didier Drogba (Chelsea, England), Aruna Dindane (Lens, France), Bonaventure Kalou (PSG, France), Arouna Kone (PSV Eindhoven, Holland), Bakari Kone (Nice, France), Boubacar Sanogo (Hamburg, Germany), Amara Diane (PSG, France), Kandia Traore (Le Havre, France)

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Posted by soccer365 at 02:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

(Soccer365.com) - Heerenveen striker Rob Friend is hoping that Feyenoord starlet Jonathan Guzman will choose to play for Canada instead of opting for Holland, as he is pondering.

"It would be an enourmous loss for Canadian soccer if Jonathan didn’t play for the national team," said the target man.

"The problem is really that many Canadians who play in Europe think in a sporting way – you see this with Owen Hargreaves."

"The boy spent the first 17 years of his life living in Canada, but plays for England," noted Friend.

"I understand that players want to play for the bigger teams, but naturally it is a shame for Canadian soccer."

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Posted by soccer365 at 02:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

(Soccer365.com) - Valencia forward Francesco Tavano has threatened to search for the exit door if he isn’t given a chance to show his wares in league play.

The Italy hitman has yet to see time since arriving from Empoli for €10 million this summer.

"To me, it seems everything I have done in my career up to now has been a waste," Tavano told Corriere dello Sport. "It seems that I have not ever done anything in my life."

"Here they do not consider me."

"(General manager Amadeo) Carboni says to be calm, but it is not easy, also because it is not he who selects the team," blared Tavano.

"Now I have asked my agent to come here so we can talk, because I cannot go on like this."

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Posted by soccer365 at 02:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

(Goal.com) - Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs has started jogging as he begins his comeback from his latest hamstring injury.

The Welsh star was ruled out for up to a month after injuring himself in the 3-2 win over Celtic two weeks ago.

"Things are going okay," Giggs told MUTV.

"I did some light jogging for the first time on Sunday. All I can do now is wait and see how the injury progresses."

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Posted by soccer365 at 02:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

(Soccer365.com) - West Ham United defender Jonathan Spector may still be waiting on his league debut for the club, but he found time to greet graduates of a youth program that helps hard luck school drop-outs get their lives back on track.

The American Abroad, who is in the final stages of recovery from a spring shoulder setback, greeted a large group of youngsters from the The Prince's Trust.

The social organization provides job training to 16-25 year olds in East London, getting many back in school.

"I think it's good that West Ham is so involved within the community, and with the Prince's Trust in particular, as it has a huge impact and makes a big difference to these children's lives," Spector told the club website.

"I found it a very humbling experience to hear about what they had gone through and see what they had achieved."

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Posted by soccer365 at 02:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

(Soccer365.com) - Perú coach Franco Navarro has disclosed that attack ace Nolberto Solano could end his international retirement once he has regained fitness.

"We know that Solano has another motivation now and that he is thinking about the chance of returning to the national team if I recall him," he explained.

"What is most important at the moment is that he has time to get recovered from an injury that is not letting him play at Newcastle," noted Navarro.

"We will wait to see how recovers and then we will decide when we will recall him, as we don't want to disturb the work that Newcastle are doing with him."

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Posted by soccer365 at 02:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

(Goal.com) - Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has heaped praise on Michael Essien after the Ghanaian’s strong start to the season.

Essien was criticised for some average displays after his big money move from Lyon last season but is now showing his true worth.

"Everything is perfect defensively," said Mourinho. "Offensively he has more qualities and scored his goal (against Werder Bremen).

"From a disciplinary point of view, he is completely clean. He has not one single yellow card.

"This is because everything is about the strength of his body not about bad fouling or actions in the game."

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Posted by soccer365 at 02:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

(Soccer365.com) - Fresh from topping New York on Wednesday night, New England boss Steve Nicol praised his side for covering the injured absence of midfield stopper Shalrie Joseph.

"I think clearly losing Shalrie is a blow to us," he told MLSNet. "He's a big influence on the team, but I think you saw tonight that we have a good squad and everyone has picked up the slack."

"The three guys in the middle of the park did a great job for us both going forward and defensively."

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Posted by soccer365 at 02:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

(Soccer365.com) - Inter Milan assistant coach Sinisa Mihajlovic claims the team were motivated to win at AS Roma on Wednesday night in order to lower the San Siro heat.

"All this criticism, most of it unjust in my opinion, made us angry," he told reporters. "We turned that anger into something positive."

"We've got a great group of players," asserted Mihajlovic. "We showed that a couple of weeks ago in Florence and now we've done it again here."

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Posted by soccer365 at 02:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

(Goal.com) - Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech says Andriy Shevchenko needs time to get used to English football after his move from Milan.

The Ukrainian has scored just twice for the Stamford Bridge outfit, with one of those coming in the Community Shield.

"He will need some time,” Cech told sport.

"English football is much different than Italian where he received a lot of passes behind the defence or between defenders and he could squeeze between them and score goals.

"Here, everybody has a big respect for him so he is always surrounded by many players who don't allow him to run away.

"Also our midfield must get used to him.

"Anyway he showed with his two goals that he is a striker with talent from God."

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Posted by soccer365 at 02:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

(Soccer365.com) - Red Bulls coach Bruce Arena has tipped recent acquisition Markus Schopp to pay big dividends when next season rolls around.

The former Austria ace made his MLS debut with a second half appearance in New York’s Wednesday loss at New England.

"I thought he showed that he is going to be a quality player," Arena told MLSNet. "However, we realize this year that it is going to be hard to get him to a point were he is going to play 90 minutes."

"He's a player that we think next year is going to be important for us," he added. "We're obviously going to try and get as much out of him as we can this year."

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Posted by soccer365 at 02:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

(Goal.com) - Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand says team-mate Wayne Rooney believes he can be better than club legend George Best.

The 20-year-old has excelled at Old Trafford since his big-money move from Everton in 2004, and in his book Rio My Story, Ferdinand reveals the extent of his ambitions.

“We were talking about [George] Best, Bryan Robson and [Eric] Cantona and how they were legends at United and he went, ‘I’ll be the best player to play for United’, and smiled,” said Ferdinand.

“Deep down he really does believe he is, but he’s not being cocky.

“People can see he’s so good that it’s possible he will be the best United player of all time, provided he can steer clear of the unfortunate injuries.”

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Posted by soccer365 at 02:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

(Soccer365.com) - Longtime U.S. Women’s National Team star Shannon MacMillan has quietly retired from international soccer after a career that spanned 175 caps over 12 years.

The University of Portland product was a 1996 Olympic and 1999 Women’s World Cup champion

MacMillan scored 60 goals with the Lady ‘Nats and was named the 2002 U.S. Soccer Women’s Athlete of the Year.

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Posted by soccer365 at 01:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

(Soccer365.com) - Bayern Munich chairman Karl Heinz Rummenigge has publicly suggested that coach Felix Magath should take his players to task more often.

"I've told him that I would advise him not to keep protecting his players because all you do is give them an alibi," the former striker told German daily tz.

"The team has to know that they must perform better, indeed much better than that."

"I think it's time to stop looking for explanations for poor games and defeats," insisted Rummenigge.

"I can only advise everyone at the club to put their foot on the accelerator as we are now entering a crucial phase in the season."

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Posted by soccer365 at 01:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

(Goal.com) - Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez says that Steven Gerrard will not always be able to play in his preferred position of central midfield.

The England international has featured on the right and left for Liverpool this season, with the likes of Momo Sissoko and Xabi Alonso playing in central midfield.

"Steven is happier playing in the middle and we know that but I cannot put Xabi or Momo on the wing," said Benitez.

"If they are playing well, we know Steven has a lot of quality and we can use him in another position, on the right, the left or behind the main striker, that will benefit the team.

"Zinedine Zidane played on the left many times even though he preferred to play just behind the strikers and Ronaldinho plays on the right, even though he would prefer to be behind the strikers too.

"That's how it is with good players. They can play in any position. Steven is our captain and he knows that."

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(Soccer365.com) - Spain midfielder David Albelda believes the players are overly consumed by club affiliations, which he says cannot be blamed on coach Luis Aragones.

The Iberians stand fifth in Group E ahead of an October Euro2008 qualifer at Sweden.

"Whether Luis Aragones is there or not, it will be very difficult to achieve anything because there is no unity," the Valencia star told Spanish radio. "In fact, it more like disunity."

"The players and the fans are disillusioned," offered Albelda. "The fans identify more with their clubs, as do the players."

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Posted by soccer365 at 12:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

(Soccer365.com) - The agent for Ajax midfield terror Wesley Sneijder claims his client has no knowledge of reported interest from Barcelona.

The Holland star has been linked with AC Milan, Manchester United and Real Madrid in the past.

“Wesley has told me that he is perfectly happy to stay at Ajax,” Sjaak Swarts told Amsterdam television show De Godenzonen.

“He does not want to leave anytime soon.”

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Posted by soccer365 at 12:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

(Goal.com) - Former Nigerian international Stephen Keshi is a prospective candidate to take up the job as Kenya coach thus replacing former France goalkeeper Bernard Lama.

According to reports, Kenya Football Association officials are talking to Keshi on the possibility of taking up the job.

"We are in touch with Stephen Keshi and a Briton, Collin Stewart, who are ready for the job.

"But we are leaving our options open," said KFF Secretary General, Dan Omino.

"Keshi is especially more interested in the job and was making enquiries even last week about the possibility of stepping in," he added.

Omino also confirmed that Lama, who was hired last month to guide the team to the 2008 African Nations Cup, had left the job after he missed an ultimatum to return to camp by Monday.

Lama returned to France last week after Kenya lost to Eritrea in their opening qualifier for the 2008 African Nations Cup early this month and threatened not to return if the Kenya football authorities failed to meet his conditions.

"I'm asked to qualify the team for the African Nations' Cup and then the World Cup without having the minimal means required to do so," Lama wrote in a column in French sports weekly L'Equipe Magazine.

According to Omino, Lama requested that the team train in Europe as well as having an 88 million Kenya shilling (US$1.2 million) budget for the team approved where an independent body will be charged to manage it, something that did not go down well with the Kenyan football authorities.

"This was not realistic to us. We can't afford that kind of money here," said Omino.

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(Soccer365.com) - AS Roma executive Rosella Sensi has revealed that the club are hard at work on an improved contract for coach Luciano Spalletti.

The former Udinese mastermind has the Giallorossi off to a fast start, but his current deal runs out at the end of the season.

"Luciano Spalletti will remain for a long time on Roma's bench," assured Sensi.

"The team are doing good things, but let's keep our feet on the ground."

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Posted by soccer365 at 12:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

(Soccer365.com) - Los Angeles star Landon Donovan has proudly stated that he doesn’t even spend time thinking about another move across the pond.

The U.S. attacker has come under fire from some observers for cutting his Bayer Leverkusen stays short when the going got tough, but he insists life is better at home in California.

"I'd probably become a better soccer player just from the day-in, day-out grind of it there," the Galaxy ace told Reuters. "But I wouldn't be a better person. I wouldn't be a happy person."

"I'd be pretty miserable."

"Spain or England might fit my style, but the last time I checked there weren't any teams knocking on the door to get me," continued Donovan. "I'm not going anywhere for a while."

"There are a lot of factors that would go into it: the country, the language, the people, the playing situation… I have no time for going over and trying out and doing things like that - that doesn't interest me."

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(Soccer365.com) - AS Roma manager Luciano Spalletti has revealed that midfielder Francesco Totti will not be available to Italy coach Roberto Donadoni for October’s EURO2008 qualifiers.

"For now, Francesco will not play with the national team," he told Sky Italia. "I spoke to Donadoni after lunch and this is what he confirmed to me."

Totti is not yet 100% from the ankle injury he suffered in February and has opted to remain on the proper comeback trail.

"Francesco is working well and is continuing his treatment," assured Spalletti. "But he fears he is not in the condition to give his best to the Italy team."

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(Goal.com) - Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has revealed that he thought his time at Old Trafford was over after being pictured with Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon last year.

The pictures sparked speculation of a move to Stamford Bridge, and Ferdinand has now revealed the extent of Sir Alex Ferguson’s anger.

"I feared the worst when the picture was in the papers and decided that I would go and see the manager when I arrived for training and explain," he said in his book, which is being serialised in The Sun.

"I didn't need to. He called me in first thing and went absolutely bananas. He said 'what the hell's going on?'

"He hammered me and quite rightly. I got the treatment. I'd never seen him so angry; it was far worse than when I missed the drugs test. Much worse.

"I couldn't say a lot because I was in the wrong. I just said again 'boss, I don't want to sign for nobody. I want to sign for Man United. I told you at the beginning I want to sign for United'.

"For a moment I was worried he was going to say, I'm going to sell you.

"The meeting went on for 15 minutes and he was going: 'You know how people will interpret it. It doesn't matter what you said.

"It doesn't matter if you were talking about the price of milk, the time of day or the colour of the table you were sitting at. It's just so stupid of you to go there and meet Kenyon'."

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(Soccer365.com) - Atlético Madrid striker Fernando Torres claims he was never going to leave the club this summer, despite all the speculation.

The Spain ace revealed that he rebuffed every approach from some eager Real Madrid presidential candidates.

"After a very hectic summer when nobody thought I would end up staying here, the most important thing was that I wanted to stay and the club wanted me here," said Torres.

"The club knows that many important teams came in with a lot of money, good for both me and the club, but nothing is more important than feelings."

"I have never said I wanted to leave," he declared. "There is not the money nor the titles to make me change my mind."

"I have extended my contract for three years, but it could become more."

"Not all the Real Madrid presidential candidates called me, but some did," concluded Torres. "I directed them to Atlético because my intention was to continue."

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(Goal.com) - Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech says that Didier Drogba has proved his critics wrong.

The Ivory Coast star was targeted by the Blues fans after some poor performances last season but has started the new campaign strongly and scored a spectacular goal against Liverpool at the weekend.

"He got over this (the booing) and you can see him playing well again for us," said Cech. "Last season, he was injured at the beginning of the season and it was difficult for him.

"Against Liverpool, he was the man of the match. He did everything. He was fighting and he kept fighting to the end of the game when everyone could see he was tired.

"He was on his limits, working hard and he scored a spectacular goal. He's scored goals like this before, in his first season, but he's a great striker. He can do everything."

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(Soccer365.com) - Barcelona vice president Txiki Begiristain has knocked back conjecture that coach Frank Rijkaard has been told to bench Javier Saviola.

The Argentina forward could have left during the summer transfer window, but rejected all options to fight for his Nou Camp place.

"There has been absolutely no recommendation from the club telling Rijkaard not to call him up, as it is possible that he will be needed some day," he told local radio. said Begiristain to a Barcelona based radio station.

"However, there were opportunities to find a solution to this situation."

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(Goal.com) - Robinho believes that he has what it takes to earn a regular place in the Real Madrid team and is prepared to play anywhere to make it happen.

The Brazilian has started as a substitute in all four of the team's games this season, but is determined to show coach Fabio Capello that he should be starting.

Despite that, Robinho recognises that he has a lot to learn: "I try to show my quality in every training session and to give everything," he said."But there is still room for improvement.

"I know that I have the ability to be a regular in the team.

"There a lot of good players here and during training it is the coach that must decide who players.

"Everyone wants to play, but only 11 can and I am prepared to earn my place."

Reflecting on the change of fortune in the second half against Real Sociedad at the weekend, Robinho is confident that Madrid can take that form into their next game against Real Betis on Saturday.

After a drab first period, Capello's side lifted themselves after the break to defeat the San Sebastian outfit 2-0.

"The team changed in the second half on Sunday and we improved a lot and I hope that we can carry on playing like that, we have to show how good we can be," Robinho said.

"In the opening period the team looked tired, but we lifted things after half-time and managed to win.

"Capello told me to play out wide, to find space for Guti. I always try to follow his instructions in order to keep playing.

"I feel that I am stronger on the left side, but if I am asked to play more centrally then it is not a problem.

"The coach likes me to move about and not to just stay out on the left."

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(Soccer365.com) - Manchester City loan item DaMarcus Beasley has only played once for the club, but says he is already hoping for an extended stay.

"I am here for this season to start with but I would like to stay far longer," said the American Abroad. "I have only been at City for a couple of weeks but so far, everything has been great."

"Ideally, I would like to be here for at least three or four years."

The US international explained that he was no longer comfortable with PSV Eindhoven, who have him on a contract through next season.

"I didn't see eye-to-eye with (new coach Ronald) Koeman on certain things and I wasn't guaranteed a place in his starting line-up either, so I decided it was time to look for another club," explained Beasley.

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(Soccer365.com) - AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti promised reporters that striker Alberto Gilardino will not be suffering any long term effects from a blow to the head during their weekend win over Parma.

The world champion bumped with Massimo Paci and came down with a gash on his forehead.

"Gilardino is at the hospital under observation just to do further checks," said Ancelotti. "There aren't any problems."

"He has three stitches, but the situation is not worrying."

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(Goal.com) - Italy coach Roberto Donadoni expects to welcome back a number of players who helped the Azzurri win the World Cup this summer.

Italy face a European Championship qualifying double-header with Ukraine and Georgia in October, having started the series with a draw against Lithuania and a defeat to France.

“I think I will have the world champions at my disposal, but a lot depends on them,” said Donadoni.

“I have no favourites, all the players know that I am observing everyone with no exception.

“Our only task is to work hard from now until the next matches on October 7 and 11 – although our physical condition is improving, our opponents are still at a more advanced stage in their preparation.

“We need these six points and I trust I will be able to have everyone I need at my disposal – this would make me very happy.

“Francesco Totti? He is determined to recover quickly and I can see that he is working hard. His return to the Nazionale only depends on him.”

Totti suggested recently that he doesn't plan to return to the team until next year.

The likes of Alessandro Del Piero, Luca Toni, Mauro Camoranesi and Marco Materazzi (suspended) missed the opening two matches.

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(Soccer365.com) - Barcelona midfield engine Deco says he is intent on joining the select crowd of players to win three European Cup titles.

The playmaker won last season with the Catalans to go with the crown he wore Porto in 2003.

"My dream is to win my third Champions League and to take a place next to great starts like Rijkaard, Cruyff and Neeskens," said the Portugal star.

"I am an ambitious person and I always desire maximum success in my career."

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(Goal.com) - Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has denied throwing pizza at Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson when the two sides met at Old Trafford in 2004.

Ashley Cole said in his autobiography that the guilty culprit was not English or French, leading some to point the finger at Fabregas.

But the Spaniard, who was man-of-the-match as Arsenal defeated United 1-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday, denies he was involved in the infamous episode.

"I still can't understand why he (Cole) wanted to leave Arsenal,” said Fabregas.

"He said it was just for the money but in the press and in his book I see a lot of resentment, which has surprised me.

"And about the pizza at Old Trafford ... it definitely wasn't me."

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(Soccer365.com) - New England attack ace Clint Dempsey has made it clear that he intends to permanently hop over the pond as soon as possible.

The US World Cup 2006 scorer saw a summer move to Charlton nixed by MLS, and has also been linked to West Ham United.

"It's a matter of time," Dempsey told the Boston Globe.

"If the right situation comes along, I'll go or I'll wait it out."

"This is the biggest thing in my life, the thing I have always dreamed of doing," he intimated.

"There is no way in the world I am staying in the MLS, or coming back later in my career."

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(Soccer365.com) - Everton manager David Moyes has publicly raved about Tim Howard’s attitude and performance thus far on the young season.

The American Abroad, over on loan from Manchester United, has allowed but two goals in four games for the third place Toffees.

"Tim has come ready to play, and maybe he had a bit of a point to prove," Moyes told icLiverpool. "He had barely played for a year, and I was a bit worried how long it would take for him to get back up to speed, but I think he has done that quite well."

"We've been quite pleased with how he has done, but we will now find there will be bigger tests coming up for him."

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(Soccer365.com) - Inter Milan chief Massimo Moratti has lashed out at the team for a 1-0 Champions League loss suffered at Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday night.

The Nerazzurri could not get the lid off of the Lion’s net and succumbed to a sparkling Marco Caneira strike in their group opener.

"There are no excuses for this defeat," blasted Moratti. "We played badly with a lot of people out of shape."

"We knew this was a difficult round and weren't wrong to be concerned."

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(Goal.com) - Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc has claimed that Ryan Giggs dove to win a penalty in Wednesday night’s 3-2 defeat to Manchester United.

Referee Lubos Michel awarded United a penalty on the half-hour mark after Giggs collided with Boruc on the edge of the area.

"For me it was never a penalty, so I was angry," said Boruc. "I tried not to touch him, and he just dived. It looked like he dived.

"I am upset, and so are my team-mates. We played well, but it was not enough.

"It was really a big thing in the match. We were playing well and we had scored a goal at that time.

"After the penalty, we were afraid about what was going to happen."

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(Soccer365.com) - AC Milan attack engine Kaká was over the moon after the club drilled AEK Athens at the San Siro to open their Champions League group slate.

"We had fun tonight," he told reporters. "In the past, we have struggled to make a good start to the season, but this year we've started well and that's vital if we are to have a good campaign."

"It wasn't easy out there, but we made it seem that way," said Kaká. "The players deserve the credit for that."

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(Soccer365.com) - Villarreal playmaker extraordinaire Juan Román Riquelme has reluctantly announced his retirement from the Argentina national team to tend to his ailing mother.

The midfielder has eight goals from 36 caps, and enjoyed a strong World Cup 2006.

"Since the World Cup, my mother has been taken to hospital twice and my responsibility is to take care of her," he stated. "It was an easy decision to make"

"It will hurt me deeply not to wear the Argentina shirt again, but my mother's health comes first."

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(Soccer365.com) - Hamburg coach Thomas Doll was quite proud of his charges after a tough 2-1 Champions League loss at Arsenal that nearly saw them come back with 10 men.

"We showed against a world class team that we could compete even with one player down," he told reporters. "If the goal had come earlier, maybe we could have got an equalizer as well."

"I don't think we would have lost with 11 men."

"We will take strength from this," insisted Doll. "We worked superbly in midfield."

"The result is not the right one, but we will take many, many positives from this match."

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(Soccer365.com) - Chivas USA boss Bob Bradley conceded that the team wasn’t at the best at FC Dallas Wednesday night, but was certainly appreciative that they managed to scrape out a slim win.

"It wasn't our best game, but it's important to know how to win on the road, even when you don't play your best," he told MLSNet.

"Tonight, we had a good team effort, good mentality… a lot of things went our way tonight."

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(Soccer365.com) - AC Milan starlet Yohan Gourcuff was on cloud nine after scoring a goal on his debut – a Champions League match, no less.

"I am happy with my debut, and to score in the UEFA Champions League," exclaimed the summer Rennes transplant.

"I did not have many minutes in my legs and I did fail with a few passes, but I think I also played some good balls."

"What is my hope? To play as much as possible in this team," asserted the young Frenchman.

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(Soccer365.com) - Blackburn netminder Brad Friedel has urged the team to band together for another shutout when they open UEFA Cup play at Red Bull Salzburg on Thursday night.

Rovers benefited from two penalty kick saves among a pack of big stops from the American Abroad in drawing Sheffield United on the weekend.

"We take our first clean sheet into a European game, we are going away from home and we don't want to concede," Friedel told the club website. "We'd love to nick (a win) if we can, but we don't want to go there and lose."

The former US star believes the team need to drop a gear from their usual Premiership speed to improve a weak European record in recent years.

"It is a completely different style of play, it is more strategic to be honest," he explained. "You've a home and away leg, you are counting on away goals and it is a different pace in the game."

"It is a little bit slower of a game and more calculating, but one mistake kills you," noted Friedel. "In the Premier League a mistake can kill you, but you probably get three or four chances to get it back, but in Europe they just kill the game off and that's how it is."

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(Soccer365.com) - Real Madrid boss Fabio Capello believes his side will need the play without mistakes if they have any chance of beating Champions League nemesis Lyon at the Gerland on Wednesday night.

"We made a lot of changes in the summer and our team will take time to gel," he began. "I'd rather not be playing such a tough fixture so soon, but if we avoid making errors we can succeed."

"In particular, we must be careful not to commit fouls, as Juninho is the best free kick taker around."

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(Soccer365.com) - Hamburg coach Thomas Doll says he and his players are itching to get their Champions League campaign underway against Arsenal on Wednesday night.

"We can’t wait for the action to start," he told the club website.

"We can beat any side in our own stadium," boasted Doll. "(Our fans) stand behind us like a wall, and their support will be crucial against Arsenal."

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(Goal.com) - Ivory Coast have appointed Former German international defender Ulrich Stielike as coach of the national team, the Elephants, on Tuesday.

Stielike replaces Frenchman Henri Michel who guided the team in the 2006 World Cup finals where they crashed out in the first round.

The 52-year-old is expected to sign a two-year renewable contract with the Ivory Coast Football Federation (Fif) on Thursday in the West African country.

He first task will be to qualify the team for the 2008 African Nations Cup in Ghana and will be in charge when the team takes on Gabon in a Nations Cup qualifier on 8 October.

Ivory Coast were impressive in this year’s Nations Cup finals where they reached the final only to lose to hosts Egypt in a penalty shootout and Stielike will be expected to take the team to higher heights with the 2010 World Cup being the next target.

Stielike made 42 international appearances for his country and was part of the team that lost to Italy in the 1982 World Cup final.

He has previously had coaching stints with Switzerland before moving to Neuchatel Xamax, Mannheim and Almeria. He also got involved in the German national team in 1998 when he became assistant to Erich Ribbeck and before taking over the youth team in 2000.

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(Soccer365.com) - AC Milan skipper Paolo Maldini says the team are placing highest priority on winning their seventh Champions League crown this season.

"Playing in the UEFA Champions League holds the same huge importance as ever for myself and for all of the players," he insisted. "It's our number one goal."

"We’re in good form considering the league's only just started for us," added Maldini. "Obviously, we're not 100%, but we're certainly ready for this match."

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Posted by soccer365 at 12:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

(Goal.com) - George Lucas has been ruled out for four months after shattering his ankle as Celta Vigo's injury worries continue to mount.

The Brazilian full joined the Galician club in the summer, but will now be sidelined until the New Year after only two league games.

Just before the hour mark in Celta's game with Gimnàstic, Lucas fell awkwardly on his ankle and broke the fibula in his leg.

An operation has seen doctors have to put screws into support the bone in a complicated operation that the medics described as a 'success'.

Celta are due to play Standard Liege in the UEFA Cup on Thursday, but will also be without Pablo García, Jorge Larena, Antonio Guayre and Daniël de Ridder.

Pablo García has a thigh injury that will see him miss the next month, while Larena pulled out training and tests revealed that he has pulled a ligament in his right knee.

De Ridder has been ruled out for at least two months with inflamed tendonitis in his knee, while Guayre was given an initial time of two weeks to recover from a muscle injury, but tests could mean a six-week lay-off if the blow is discovered to be more serious.

Despite the long list of casualties, Nené is confident that Celta can still win against the Belgian side in the UEFA Cup and progress to the group stages.

"It is true that we have had a lot of injuries," the summer signing from Alavés said. "But I am sure that there replacements will be fine.

"We will go there looking for a positive result because their is a lot of quality in this team."

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Posted by soccer365 at 12:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

(Goal.com) - Brazil coach Dunga has issued a warning to Inter striker Adriano.

The former Parma star is still looking to regain his best form for club and country, with goals remaining hard to come by.

"He is a champion, but he must rediscover his motivation, the right spirit and focus," said Dunga.

"Inter is like a national team, there are 18 champions in the squad. "Every day Adriano must fight to keep his place."

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Posted by soccer365 at 12:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

London, England (Sports Network) - Arsenal captain Thierry Henry will not dress for Wednesday's game against Hamburg due to a foot injury suffered in a Euro 2008 qualifying match last week.

Henry supplies 50-percent of the offense for the London squad with one of the team's two goals in the early season.

The captain should only miss the Champions League Group G opener, as he's listed out for 2-3 days.

"Thierry Henry is not playing," Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger told the club's website. "He has a foot injury, he doesn't know how he got it but he got it during the game against Italy."

"We have a big squad and in the short term we can cope without him."

Wenger made alterations to his 18-man squad with the addition of Theo Walcott, who rested during Saturday's 1-1 draw to Middlesbrough, and return of goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.

The German fulfilled his two-match suspension at the conclusion of last weekend's game.

Henry scored three times for France in the World Cup this summer en route to a World Cup Final appearance.

With the retirement of French star Zinedine Zidane, Henry looks to follow in his footsteps.

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(Soccer365.com) - Inter Milan winger Luis Figo knows their Champions League group opener at Sporting Lisbon will be shades apart from the friendly the two teams waged in the preseason.

"This time it will be for real," said the former Lion star. "It will be a UEFA Champions League game and therefore we will find a completely different atmosphere compared to the friendly game."

"Sporting are strong opponents in a very difficult and balanced group," added Figo.

"However, we want to win the UEFA Champions League and to do so we have to beat every opponent, even the most difficult."

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Posted by soccer365 at 12:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

(Soccer365.com) - Real Madrid summer catch Mahamadou Diarra can repeat his role as a member on the winning side when they open Champions League play at former club Lyon.

The French champs took the home meeting in last year’s tournament by a convincing 3-0 margin.

"I don't want to go back there to lose," Diarra told the club website. "I'm familiar with French football and I know what we have to do to avoid losing."

"We are capable of springing a surprise."

The midfielder admitted he has no idea how the Gerland faithful will welcome him on his return.

"I don't know how the fans will react," he said. "Maybe some people will cheer me for the four seasons that I was there, but I'm not sure."

"Anyway, I have to be focused on the game and can't afford to get nervous about that."

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(Goal.com) - Barring any hitch, Super Eagles and FC Lyn-Oslo attacker, Chinedu Ogbuke, should make a switch from Norway to London, England to join Arsenal when the transfer window re-opens in January.

A close source to the player's agent, John Ola Shittu, told our correspondent yesterday that the football agent had made the revelation during his recent visit to Nigeria that arrangements have been concluded to ensure that the 20-year-old makes a move from Norway to England.

The source told Goal.com that Shittu had refused to divulge the destination of the former Flying Eagles' marksman, saying "by January Ogbuke should will be joining a club in England and that is much I can divulge."

However, the persistence of our source to know the exact destination of the player in England yielded results, as Shittu opened up that Ogbuke would be moving to the Emirates Stadium.

Last month, Goal.com had reported that Arsenal have been hot on the heels of the 20-year-old Nigerian after their scouts have repeatedly watched the player during the Norwegian league matches involving FC Lyn-Oslo.

Ogbuke is already being valued in the region of £4 million.

It is widely believed that Ogbuke's eminent move to last season's UEFA Champions League finalists may not be unconnected with the close ties between Arsenal and Sports Entertainment Media, the outfit of Shittu.

Also, England's The Sun Online had reported last month that Chelsea and Manchester United have been linked with a race to sign Ogbuke.

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(Soccer365.com) - Shakhtar Donetsk strike sensation Elano Blumer says the club are intent on starting off well when they begin Champions League action with a visit to AS Roma.

"I am very excited about the Champions League," he told uefa.com. "This is the first time I am taking part in the competition and I am going to give my best."

"I think Shakhtar's chances are good, despite being in a very difficult group," added the recently capped Brazil international.

"All three of our opponents will be tough teams to beat, great clubs who will also be thinking of reaching the next stage of the competition."

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(Soccer365.com) - PSV Eindhoven boss Ronald Koeman knows his team are up against it with Champions League visitors Liverpool.

The manager was successful in dethroning the Reds while leading Benfica in last year’s tourney.

"Liverpool were hard to beat last year, and will be the same again this time round," Koeman told reporters. "They have given themselves more options in a number of positions, but they still have Rafael Benítez as coach, and I don't think there will be a great deal of difference about the way they play."

Koeman says the Framers have been busy at work on their set piece offense and defense.

"At this level, there is never much space and opposing teams tend to get a lot of men behind the ball," he exlpained.

"That is why, in my opinion, dead-ball situations are the most important factor in the modern game."

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(Goal.com) - Chelsea defender Ashley Cole has turned on his own club in the second extract from his autobiography being serialised in The Times.

Cole, an Arsenal player until recently, and Chelsea were both fined after an illegal meeting involving Blues manager Jose Mourinho, chief executive Peter Kenyon and agents Jonathan Barnett and Pini Zahavi in a London hotel 16 months ago.

Cole has now criticised the evidence given by the Blues in the ‘tapping-up’ inquiry.

"I told the inquiry that everything that had been said about the hotel meeting was rubbish," Cole said.

"Jose Mourinho talked about me and Jonathan both being unhappy.

"I grew more and more agitated as he continued by saying that I also wasn't happy with the relationship [Arsenal manager] Arsene Wenger had with some of the French players and that they were in control of the dressing-room.

"The rest of his evidence wasn't good for me. Nor was the evidence of Peter Kenyon, who was next up. He said Pini Zahavi made the approach on our behalf."

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(Soccer365.com) - AS Roma midfielder Simone Perotta says that he and the club’s other World Cup 2006 winners – Daniele De Rossi and Francesco Totti – need to show the way when Champions League foes Shakhtar Donetsk come to town.

"Winning the World Cup gives you more inner strength," he explained. "Right now, I've got enthusiasm to spare."

"We must all three of us show we are world champions, not just from the point of view of performance, but also behavior on the pitch."

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(Soccer365.com) - Olympiakos defender Didier Domi has warned his teammates to demand their best display when they open Champions League group play against Spanish giants Valencia.

The Greeks will be underdogs, but according to Domi, that doesn’t mean they should play like ones.

"A very important competition is starting for us and the fans," he asserted. "Valencia are the best team in the group and I think they are a very compact team, so we have to play a very good game."

"We need to play with confidence."

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(Goal.com) - Nigerian striker Bartholomew Ogbeche is currently eying a move to France and is the country on trails.

He is with Ligue 1 side Lorient on trail after his contract with United Afrab Emirates club, Al Jazira, ended.

The 21-year-old already has experience in the French league after previous stints with Paris St Germain and Metz.

Ogbeche has also represented his country after he was surprisingly called up into the Super Eagles squad for the 2002 World Cup finals in Japan/South Korea.

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Reading, England (Sports Network) - Ivar Ingimarsson's aggressive header in the 22nd minute was all Reading needed, as the home team goes to 2-0 at its stadium, 2-2 overall.

Leading up to the play, Manchester City's Sylvain Distin committed a foul on Leroy Lita before getting booked for unsportsmanlike conduct. American Bobby Convey's bending free kick found the head of Ingimarsson six yards out for the game-winner.

Manchester City had the opportunity to tie it up with a minute left in the first on a corner kick. Blues defender Micah Richards took a header toward the goal, met by a sea of Reading back fielders in front of the sellout crowd.

The two teams battled throughout the second half and Ousmane Dabo did not help his team's chances, after being sent off in the 80th minute for violent behavior.

The newly promoted Reading took advantage, almost adding an insurance tally twice in the 90th minute.

The first, a blazed shot by Brynjar Gunnarsson 30 yards out. This forced Manchester City keeper Nicky Weaver to get dirty, diving to his left to make the stop.

Kevin Doyle also tried to ice it with a left-footed shot just outside of the penalty area, cleared by Distin.

Four Americans were on the rosters Monday, split evenly between the two squads. Reading's Bobby Convey and man in net Marcus Hahnemann both hail from the U.S., along with Manchester City midfielders Claudio Reyna and newly signed DaMarcus Beasley.

All started besides Beasley, who didn't see the field of play at Madejski Stadium.

The visitors signed DaMarcus Beasley last month from PSV Eindhoven.

Posted by SoccerAdmin at 09:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

San Siro, Italy (Sports Network) - Filippo Inzaghi and Ricardo Oliveira each scored a goal apiece to lead AC Milan to a 2-1 victory over visiting Lazio.

This earned the home team three much needed points after starting eight down due to a match-fixing penalty.

Italian striker Inzaghi struck first in the 26th minute, blazing a grounded shot past Lazio's goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi. The veteran collected a pass from midfielder Kaka with his back to the goal and created the room to turn and get the shot off.

Newly signed Ricardo Oliveira also connected for Milan, heading home what would prove to be the game-winner in the 70th minute.

Oliveira joined the team two weeks ago, acquired from Real Betis.

Lazio didn't hang up their cleats yet, as Stephen Makinwa connected three minutes after Oliveira's goal.

The short-lived comeback would not be enough for the visitors who still sit -11 points back in the standings after a match-fixing penalty of their own.

In other Serie A play: Nicola Ventola's two goals led home team Atalanta to a 3-1 win over Ascoli; Catania came out victorious in their first game since being promoted from Serie B, 1-0 against Cagliari; Chievo played with 10 men and suffered a 2-1 loss to Siena; A 72nd minute goal was all Messina needed to give first-year coach Bruno Giordano win number one against Udinese 1-0; Despite a two goal effort from Rolando Bianchi, Reggina fell 4-3 to Palermo, keeping them at a 15-point match-fixing deficit in the points standings; Sampdoria couldn't snap a 14-game winless streak, losing to Empoli 2-1; Torino and Parma settle for a 1-1 decision in Delle Alpi.

Posted by SoccerAdmin at 03:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

With the transfer window now closed, here’s a look at how a few EPL clubs have faired in the player market.

The Good:

Chelsea – No surprise that the Blues were one of the most active in the transfer market, nor is it a shock that they’ve added even more world class names. Andriy Shevchenko joins the multi-million dollar minions along with Michael Ballack. Letting Crespo go to Inter Milan should not hurt them with their wealth of strikers, and the loss of star defender Gallas can be somewhat mitigated by the addition of one of the best outside backs in the business in former Arsenal man Ashley Cole along with Wayne Bridge and Netherlands defender Khalid Bouhlarouz. Salomon Kalou also joins the attack.

West Ham – Some big moves here for the Hammers with the acquisition of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano both from Corinthians. Other additions of note include striker Carlton Cole from Chelsea, American defender Jonathan Spector from Manchester United and midfielder Lee Bowyer from Newcastle. At 1-1-1, West Ham are in decent position early, and these transfers should quickly start paying off. The sublime skill of Tevez will bring goals and quality additions in midfield and the maturation of young Spector should do a lot to strengthen the squad in the other areas of the field. Nicely done West Ham.

Liverpool – The Reds add big time strike power to make up for the loan of Cisse to Marseille. The boost comes in the form of Netherlands striker Dirk Kuyt, Craig Bellamy from Blackburn Rovers and Robbie Fowler from Manchester City. Kuyt and Bellamy are already looking fit to provide frontline fireworks and Fowler will make for a solid strike option off the bench. Jermaine Pennant, brought over from Birmingham City, brings more pace and quality to the midfield, not to mention managing to hang on to a fellow by the name of Gerrard.

Portsmouth – Pompey have done fairly well here with loans and transfers. David James will be quality in goal. Signing Sol Campbell and getting Glen Johnson on loan from Chelsea will no doubt help solidify things at the back, while the attack sees the addition of Andy Cole, Nigerian striker Nwankwo Kanu, and a couple of midfield signings. So far so good at 2-1-0.

The Bad:

Manchester United – The Red Devils really did not really further their much in the transfer market. The big story was the deal with Real Madrid sending Dutch strike ace Ruud Van Nistelrooy to the Spanish side. The acquisition of England midfielder Michael Carrick is a quality signing, but beyond that, the news here was actually the lack of activity, though United are still off to a good start at 3-0-0 despite a scare against relegation battlers Watford.

We’ll See:

Arsenal – The Gunners lose Jose Antonio Reyes and Robert Pires in the midfield as well as Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell in the defense, but manage to lure Gallas away from the deep pockets of Chelsea. Arsenal also bring Julio Baptista, young Brazilian Denilson and Czech midfielder Tomas Rosicky who proved very dangerous in. The focus on youth and a new state of the art stadium leave Arsenal with a bright future, but perhaps not in better position to truly challenge Chelsea for this season’s EPL title.

Manchester City – City have a couple additions of note. Midfielder Demarcus Beasley comes over on loan from PSV. The pacey American, has seen his stock drop somewhat following a lackluster World Cup showing and subsequent injury that has kept him from the PSV lineup putting him in the “wait and see” category. Paul Dickov is paying some early dividends in the attack after being signed from Blackburn Rovers. Others include Dietmar Hamann from Liverpool and Italian striker Bernardo Corradi from Valencia.

Middlesbrough - Jonathan Woodgate, on loan from Real Madrid, and former Chelsea defender Robert Huth are added to the back line. The giant Huth fills the role that might have been Oguchi Onyewu’s until talks with the American center back fizzled. We’ll see if defensive fortifications and midfielder Julio Arca will be enough to keep them in comfortable position.

Reading – Ballsy or broke, the newcomers are content with a couple of additions and the blend of hard-nosed players and chemistry carried over from their promotion bid. South Korean Ki-Hyeon Seol is proving to be a good signing with speed and skill. Defender Sam Sodje shows promise but is already sidelined for a knee operation, so the Royals are sticking with what got them here. Will it be enough to keep them in the premiership?

There has been loads of activity elsewhere in the EPL so feel free to bring your favorite transfer signings up for discussion as well.

Posted by Heath Young at 04:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (30)

(Soccer365.com) - New AC Milan striker Ricardo Oliveira says he has no qualms about accepting the #7 shirt formerly worn by San Siro legend Andriy Shevchenko.

"Then they explained to me it was Sheva's and I've insisted that I take it," said the Real Betis transplant in Gazzetta dello Sport. "What is the problem?"

"I have a big respect for Shevchenko, who wrote big history at Milan, but I'm here to write my own history."

"I know I'll need time to be at the top, but I came to Milan to play, to score and to win," declared Oliveira. "With hard work, I'll do it."

"Milan for me are a big challenge and an opportunity."

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Posted by soccer365 at 03:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

(Soccer365.com) - Italian federation executive Demetrio Albertini says Azzurri boss Roberto Donadoni is under no pressure despite a slow start to his tenure.

The world champions have stumbled out of the Euroe2008 qualifying gate, with Wednesday France loss leaving them with one point through two matches.

"We chose him and we will defend him until the end," declared Albertini. "He has complete faith from all of us and he needs to be left to work in peace."

The former Italy star figures the late Serie A start has hurt the team in the early going.

"France ran at 200 kilometers an hour and in attack they were impressive," said Albertini. "We are really in a different physical state."

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Posted by soccer365 at 03:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

(Goal.com) - Real Madrid midfielder Guti has accepted that he must start as a substitute following his return from a pre-season injury, but vowed to fight for a starting berth.

"I begin as a substitute," admitted Guti in a press conference earlier today. "Capello has brought in two players who play in my position (Emerson and Diarra).

"Now I want to regain his confidence, and play with some continuity.

However, he insisted that the press should not look for any controversies: "I know that he counts on me (in his plans). It is not necessary to speculate too much (about the starting berth), as only eleven players can play."

He also spoke about Jose Antonio Reyes, the latest arrival: "It is clear from the recent training that he is someone we need. He is skilful and fast, and both Van Nistelrooy and Ronaldo can take advantage of his runs to score, and that is what matters."

Guti has not been called up by Aragones for a while now, and among other things, the Madrid man also gave his take on the pressure on Luis Aragones and the national team following yesterday's defeat in Dublin.

"It was a very negative result against a weak team such as Northern Ireland, and it has surprised everyone," he said. "But we have the players to get through this and qualify for the European Championships."

However, he refused to be drawn on the debate about the coach's future: "His continuity is something personal between him and the (Spanish) Federation, with whom he has a contract. In Spain, there are great coaches who could take his position, but he has all my respect because I believe that he is a great coach."

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Posted by soccer365 at 03:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

(Soccer365.com) - With great pedigree gained as 2005 UEFA Cup champions, CSKA Moscow chief Yevgeny Giner says the club are now intent on causing trouble in the second ever Champions League appearance.

"We're fully determined to make the (knockouts)," the president recently told reporters. "We were Champions League newcomers two years ago and weren't quite sure what to expect from playing against the best clubs in Europe."

"Now, we have enough international experience and confidence, so we expect to do well this time around."

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Posted by soccer365 at 03:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

(Goal.com) - Manchester United forward Alan Smith says he is ready to return to first team action, following the leg break and dislocated ankle suffered in February.

The former Leeds United player picked up the horrific injury in an FA Cup clash against Liverpool on February 18 this year, trying to block a free-kick from John Arne Riise.

He was operated upon, and was expected to be out of action for around nine months.

However, with just under seven months gone, he has already made a few appearances for the reserves, and is waiting to make Sir Alex Ferguson's bench.

"If the gaffer were to ask me if I'd be ready for the bench against Spurs, I'd say `yes' without hesitation," Smith told Manchester Evening News.

"Ninety minutes of Premiership football would be very difficult at the moment," he continued, "but to come on as a substitute would be no problem."

"If you are playing at Old Trafford, you get that adrenaline rush and that would see you through.

"If it is not this weekend then we have the Champions League starting next week against Celtic and, with seven allowed on the bench, then there might be a chance."

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Posted by soccer365 at 03:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

(Soccer365.com) - Bayern Munich forward Roy Makaay is making no secret of his happiness at the summer arrival of countryman Mark van Bommel from Barcelona.

“We really need a guy like him as we had no one who rushes forward coming from behind,” said the Flying Dutchman. “He does it in a different way than Ballack does.”

“Mark is a great passer too and I believe that us strikers will therefore have more space up front,” offered Makaay.

"To me, his signature is the signal that Bayern is ready to challenge for something big and not only in the Bundesliga.”

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Posted by soccer365 at 03:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

(Soccer365.com) - Despite a depressing 3-2 Euro2008 qualifying loss in Northern Ireland, leaders of the Spanish federation say they have no intention of jettisoning national team boss Luis Aragonés.

"We don't want him to resign," insisted federation president Ángel María Villar Llona. "He has all of our support and we are convinced that we will qualify for UEFA Euro2008."

"We are tremendously happy with the work Aragonés has done."

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Posted by soccer365 at 03:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

(Goal.com) - Newcastle United's Michael Owen has successfully undergone surgery in America on his ruptured cruciate knee ligament.

The England striker sustained the injury in the opening minutes of his country's World Cup tie against Sweden in June, and is now expected to miss most, and possibly all, of this season.

However, he can at least now commence his rehabilitation programme following the operation, which was performed by renowned specialist Dr Richard Steadman.

The Magpies' manager, Glenn Roeder, told the club's official website: "Our club doctor Roddy Macdonald is in Colorado and told me the operation went extremely well.

"As far as Michael is concerned, he can now start to focus on playing again.

"It's going to be a long haul but he can start to focus on that.

"And I look forward to the day when I can write his name on a Newcastle United teamsheet."

Owen broke a bone in his foot at the turn of the year and scarcely played again until the World Cup, when he sustained the latest serious injury.

And surgery on the ruptured ligament had to be delayed because Owen then needed an operation to repair cartilage damage on the same knee in July.

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Posted by soccer365 at 03:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Paris, France (Sports Network) - Sidney Govou scored a pair of goals to lead France to a 3-1 victory against Italy on Wednesday in a European Championship qualifier.

Two months ago, France fell to the Italians in the World Cup final, but answered back with an impressive win in Paris.

Thierry Henry also found the back of the net for France, which now sits atop EURO 2008 Group B qualifying with Scotland.

Govou lit up the scoreboard in just the second minute of the match as he volleyed William Gallas' assist into the far post past Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

Henry then doubled France's advantage in the 18th minute, curling Florent Malouda's blocked shot into the back of the net.

Minutes later, Alberto Gilardino cut the home team's lead to one as he headed in a free kick from Andrea Pirlo.

France, however, retaliated in the 56th minute as Govou sent a header past Buffon to seal the 3-1 win. Italy faces Ukraine on October 7 in their next qualifier, while France takes the field against Scotland later that day.

Posted by SoccerAdmin at 02:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

(Soccer365.com) - New Brazil boss Dunga was walking on air after completed his first road trip with victories over Argentina and Wales.

The manager looked at several exciting young players, while providing the entertaining wins Seleçao fans have become accustomed to over the years.

"We gained a lot from these games, on and off the field," he reported. "The players showed great motivation and there was a very good atmosphere in the squad."

"I was pleased with the way in which the team played."

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Posted by soccer365 at 02:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

(Soccer365.com) - Fresh PSV Eindhoven catch Patrick Kluivert says he is intent on proving to his country’s fans that he still has what it takes to excel in the Eredivisie.

"I am very satisfied (with the move from Valencia)," he began. "PSV are the best option for me.

"I feel well for 30 years old, and am eager to show all what I have in me," added Kluivert.

"The Eredivisie has changed, but I think that I will get used to that soon."

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Posted by soccer365 at 02:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

(Soccer365.com) - Valencia defender Roberto Ayala says he is prepared to begin his seventh season with the Mestalla club, effectively ending his holdout.

The Argentina star was heavily linked with a move to Liverpool, Manchester United and Villarreal over the summer.

"I am not worried by my quotes in the last few weeks," said Ayala, who once claimed he was finished in the Valencia shirt. "Life takes many twists and turns, but for now I am only interested in the present."

"I want to win the coach's confidence to play."

"I took my time to decide whether to stay in Valencia or not," said Ayala. "Now I am 100% committed to Valencia because I am a total professional."

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Posted by soccer365 at 02:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

(Soccer365.com) - New Barcelona defender Gianluca Zambrotta has waved away taunts from Turin that he is a traitor for leaving relegated Juventus.

The world champion left for Nou Camp after the Bianconeri were penalized for their place in the Italian referee fixing scandal.

"People can think what they want," he told Gazzetta dello Sport. "Sincerely, I wouldn't have left had (the penalty drop) not have happened."

"I feel myself betrayed because it was me who entered the pitch with my teammates to win matches with our technical strengths," stated Zambrotta.

"I feel myself betrayed by the old management's behavior, because we entered the pitch clean."

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Posted by soccer365 at 02:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

(Goal.com) - With South Africa preparing to host the 2010 World Cup, the country had appointed former Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira to change the fortunes of Bafana Bafana and guide them to successful outing in 2010.

Though Parreira is yet to take charge of the team until February 2007, he has cautioned the FA against interference in his job.

South African football has declined steadily since the country hosted and won the 1996 African Nations Cup but Parreira, who led Brazil to World Cup victory in 1994, is now in the country "to polish soccer diamonds" so that they can assemble a formidable squad for the 2010 World Cup.

"Thirteen coaches in 13 years is not a good record," Parreira said at his first press conference in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

The Brazilian has however threatened to quit as South Africa coach even before he starts, if he faces unfavorable conditions, something that might be linked to mounting criticisms on his salary and bonuses.

"The moment I am not happy or not feeling comfortable, then it is 'bye bye.'

"The security of the coach is results, a coach relies on results. The results of this team will be in 2010.”

The South African Football Association (safa) officials in parliament on Tuesday confirmed that the 63-year-old coach’s monthly package would see him earn US$253,000 over four years while his assistant will get $79,000 every month.

Despite the debate among different quarters over his monthly package, Parreira who arrived in South Africa over the weekend to watch the team play DR Congo to a goalless draw in an African Nations Cup qualifier cautioned that he was not in the country with the main purpose of seeking money.

"If this is a problem," he added, "I am ready to leave right away. I am not here principally for the money."

Parreira has also highlighted the fact that there is an urgent need for a comprehensive player development scheme, which would be vital towards the country’s 2010 World Cup campaign by working on discovering new talents.

"If the diamonds remain underground, if the machinery is not in place to mine them, they are of no value and there is no way the objective can be achieved," Parreira said.

He also said that certain things need to be in place for South Africa to emulate Brazilian football after which he will work on building the team with factors such as retaining possession and technique.

"But you can't ask Africans to play exactly like Brazilians," he added.

"Africans must play like Africans. For South Africa to emulate Brazilian soccer, the right structures must first be created.

"Brazil exports 5,000 players a year to countries round the world and immediately others emerge to take their places for local consumption.

"This is the kind of challenge that faces South African soccer."

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Posted by soccer365 at 02:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

(Soccer365.com) - Italy defender Marco Materazzi has disclosed what he said to France midfielder Zinedine Zidane just ahead of the famous head-butt incident near the end of the World Cup 2006 final.

The Inter Milan player admitted to making a rude remark about the Les Bleus star’s sister.

Materazzi said he didn’t even know whether Zidane actually had a sister, and suggested it was typical of the kind of trash talk commonly found in heated matches.

"I did not provoke him, I responded verbally to a provocation," Materazzi told Gazzetta dello Sport. "We both spoke and I wasn't the first."

"I held his shirt, but don't you think it is a provocation to say that 'if you want my shirt, I will give it you afterwards'?"

"I replied to Zidane that I would prefer his sister, that is true," he conceded. "I brought up his sister and that wasn't a nice thing."

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Posted by soccer365 at 02:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (26)

(Soccer365.com) - Sweden forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic has made an act of contrition after a lack of promptness compelled coach Lars Lagerback to send three key veterans home ahead of Wednesday’s Euro2008 qualifier.

Frederik Berglund, Stefan Ishizaki and Teddy Lucic were brought into the squad for the tardy three: Ibrahimovic, Olof Mellberg and Christian Wilhelmsson.

"Personally, I am very unhappy about the tense situation which has been created on the eve of an important match like the one with Liechtenstein," said Ibrahimovic.

"The reaction of coach Lagerback seemed exaggerated to me, but I accept his decisions and apologize for my lateness in going back to join the rest of the squad."

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Posted by soccer365 at 02:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)

(Goal.com) - Gordon Taylor, chief executive of English players' union the Proferssional Footballers' Association (PFA), has criticised Chelsea, accusing the Premiership champions of trying to damage William Gallas's reputation by going public about their disagreements.

France international defender Gallas joined London rivals Arsenal in the deal that saw the equally disaffected Ashley Cole move in the opposite direction just minutes before the transfer window closed last Thursday.

Chelsea have sensationally alleged that Gallas threatened to make deliberate mistakes on the pitch, score an own goal and even get himself sent off, if they forced him to play against Manchester City in the opening match of the new Premiership campaign.

Gallas responded to Chelsea's claims on Tuesday, denying the allegations and observing that the Stamford Bridge outfit "lacked class."

Now PFA boss Taylor has intervened in an attempt to end the feuding. But he is critical of Chelsea for provoking the slanging match.

Taylor said: "Why do they have to wash their dirty linen in public? I do not see what purpose it serves.

"Talking about someone threatening to put through their own goal is very damaging to the reputation of a player who has done a great job for Chelsea, and you really have to take it with a large pinch of salt.

"We have all seen William Gallas play and he has too much respect for his colleagues to even be thinking about such things.

"The player has, of course, refuted the allegations and has a choice now of whether to go to court, or to just get on with his football career.

"It just all leaves a bad taste in the mouth and I cannot see what Chelsea were hoping to achieve.

"Why did Chelsea have to spin things that way? There was no need for them to add fuel to the flames. I feel it is unnecessary."

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Posted by soccer365 at 02:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)