Despite having Cristiano Ronaldo, the reigning Fifa World Player of the Year, in their ranks, Portugal made hard work of qualifying. They were languishing in fourth in Group One at one stage before a late rally earned them second and a play-off berth. Without the injured Ronaldo they secured a place in South Africa thanks to two hard-fought 1-0 victories over Bosnia-Hercegovina.
Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz: "Bosnia are a good team but Portugal are too strong for them because we have an explosive combination of confidence, desire and determination. I must congratulate my team for a spirited performance, while Bosnia will have gained respect after getting this far and proving to be stiff opponents."
Friday, February 5, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Nesta hopes to avoid key pair
AC Milan stalwart Alessandro Nesta has admitted that he would prefer to avoid two of Europe's powerhouses ahead of the Champions League last 16 draw next Friday. The Rossoneri secured their safe passage to the knockout stages of the competition with a 1-1 draw at FC Zurich and, after finishing second to Real Madrid in their group, the San Siro outfit look set to be handed a tough draw. Speaking to Calciomercato.com, Nesta said: "Barcelona and Chelsea are the strongest, I'd rather not meet them. "We would gladly play any of the others, even though Manchester United are a strong side as always."
Agent fires Milan warning
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar's agent has told AC Milan to either start playing the Netherlands striker or let him move on in the transfer window. The 26-year-old frontman has struggled to break into the first team since joining the Rossoneri from Real Madrid last summer and agent Arnold Oosterveer fears his client's World Cup chances will be harmed by his lack of action. "Three months ago, (coach) Leonardo said that Huntelaar would have more opportunity to play," he declared. "And the leadership of the club has always shown confidence in him, reiterating their intention to keep him. "But now there's only a few months until the World Cup and it's time to clarify the situation." Huntelaar has scored only two league goals for the Rossoneri following his 15million euros transfer.
Pirlo hails Beckham capture
AC Milan star Andrea Pirlo has hailed the club's decision to bring David Beckham back to Italy for a second loan spell. He will join in January on a six-month deal from LA Galaxy and could feature against former side Manchester United in the Champions League knock-out stage. Pirlo believes the Rossoneri are bagging one of the world's best players, even though the England international is coming towards the end of his illustrious career. Pirlo said: "You could see Beckham come off the bench to score a free-kick at Old Trafford. That is his kind of mentality. Knowing David, he would not celebrate if he scored. He has too much class. "Beckham is among the top five players in the world and has demonstrated that at both club and international level."
Beckham handed United return
David Beckham will make an emotional return to Manchester United with AC Milan while Chelsea will come face-to-face with former manager Jose Mourinho following the draw for the first knockout round of the Champions League. Beckham will be hoping to make a fond farewell in the twilight of his career when Milan take on the 2008 European champions in the last 16. The former England midfielder will join the Italian giants on loan from Los Angeles Galaxy in the new year and the second leg of the mouthwatering encounter will see Beckham back at Old Trafford. The midfielder ended his long association with the Red Devils when he signed for Real Madrid in 2003 and has not played club football at Old Trafford since. Milan have never lost to United in four previous Champions League and European Cup encounters. Meanwhile, Mourinho will also be making a return of his own to Stamford Bridge. He left Chelsea under something of a cloud in September 2007 but not before leading lthe Blues to two Premier League titles, one FA Cup and two League Cups during three trophy-filled years in London. However, the Portuguese coach never managed to take Chelsea past the semi-final stage of the Champions League. He will renew rivalries with Carlo Ancelotti after the pair jousted regularly in the Italian media last season when the now Chelsea boss was in charge of Inter's city rivals AC Milan. Elsewhere in an interesting draw, Arsenal - the other remaining English club following Liverpool's surprise exit - have been paired with FC Porto. Defending champions Barcelona will take on Stuttgart while big-spending Real Madrid have been handed a tie against French side Lyon. The first leg of the last 16 ties will be played on 16/17 and 23/24 February, with the returns scheduled for 9/10 and 16/17 March. Champions League first knockout round draw:
Germany goalkeeper Enke found dead after suspected suicide
Germany international goalkeeper Robert Enke has died, after being struck by a train at the level crossing on Tuesday near his home in Neustadt-Eilvese.
The 32-year-old Hannover player was confirmed dead at the scene by German police, with early indications suggesting probable suicide.
"We are all shocked," said Germany's general manager Oliver Bierhoff. "We are lost for words."
The president of the German Football Association, Dr Theo Zwanziger, said the nation's football community was "deeply distressed and in mourning".
Enke lost his two-year-old daughter Lara to a rare heart condition in 2006. He leaves behind his wife, Teresa, and their adopted eight-month-old daughter.
The 32-year-old Hannover player was confirmed dead at the scene by German police, with early indications suggesting probable suicide.
"We are all shocked," said Germany's general manager Oliver Bierhoff. "We are lost for words."
The president of the German Football Association, Dr Theo Zwanziger, said the nation's football community was "deeply distressed and in mourning".
Enke lost his two-year-old daughter Lara to a rare heart condition in 2006. He leaves behind his wife, Teresa, and their adopted eight-month-old daughter.
Memorable losses: Wembley goal and Game of the Century
After finishing fourth in the 1958 World Cup and reaching only the quarter-finals in the 1962 World Cup, the DFB had to make changes. Following examples set abroad, professionalism was introduced, and the best clubs from the various Regionalligas were assembled into the new Bundesliga. In 1964, Helmut Schön took over as coach, replacing Herberger who had been in office for 28 years.
In the 1966 World Cup, West Germany reached the final after beating the USSR in the semifinal, facing hosts England at Wembley Stadium. Wolfgang Weber's last minute goal took the game into extra time, a goal claimed to be controversial by the English, with the ball appearing to hit the hand of a German player as it travelled through the England penalty area before he prodded it in. The first extra time goal by Geoff Hurst, nicknamed Wembley-Tor (Wembley goal) in Germany, is still controversial after all this time. Later video evidence indicates that the ball never crossed the line after hitting the crossbar.[4] As the Swiss referee did not see the situation properly, the opinion of the Soviet linesman Tofik Bakhramov who believed that the ball bounced back from the net rather than the crossbar led to one of the most contentious goals in the history of football. While the Germans pushed hard to tie the game, spectators entered the field in the final seconds, and Hurst scored another controversial goal giving England a 4-2 win.
West Germany gained a measure of revenge in the 1970 World Cup by knocking England out in the quarter-finals 3-2, having been 2-0 down, before they suffered another memorable extra time loss, this time in the semi-final against Italy at Estadio Azteca. Karl-Heinz Schnellinger scored during injury time to level the match at 1-1, and during extra time, both teams held the lead at one time. Memorably, Franz Beckenbauer remained on the field even with a dislocated shoulder, his arm in a sling strapped to his body, as West Germany had used up their two allowed substitutions. Eventually won 4-3 by Italy, this match with five goals in extra time is one of the most dramatic in World Cup history, and is called "Game of the Century" in both Italy (Partita del secolo) and Germany (Jahrhundertspiel). While the exhausted Italians lost to Brazil, West Germany went on to claim third place by beating Uruguay 1-0, and Gerd Müller finished as the tournament top scorer with 10 goals.
In the 1966 World Cup, West Germany reached the final after beating the USSR in the semifinal, facing hosts England at Wembley Stadium. Wolfgang Weber's last minute goal took the game into extra time, a goal claimed to be controversial by the English, with the ball appearing to hit the hand of a German player as it travelled through the England penalty area before he prodded it in. The first extra time goal by Geoff Hurst, nicknamed Wembley-Tor (Wembley goal) in Germany, is still controversial after all this time. Later video evidence indicates that the ball never crossed the line after hitting the crossbar.[4] As the Swiss referee did not see the situation properly, the opinion of the Soviet linesman Tofik Bakhramov who believed that the ball bounced back from the net rather than the crossbar led to one of the most contentious goals in the history of football. While the Germans pushed hard to tie the game, spectators entered the field in the final seconds, and Hurst scored another controversial goal giving England a 4-2 win.
West Germany gained a measure of revenge in the 1970 World Cup by knocking England out in the quarter-finals 3-2, having been 2-0 down, before they suffered another memorable extra time loss, this time in the semi-final against Italy at Estadio Azteca. Karl-Heinz Schnellinger scored during injury time to level the match at 1-1, and during extra time, both teams held the lead at one time. Memorably, Franz Beckenbauer remained on the field even with a dislocated shoulder, his arm in a sling strapped to his body, as West Germany had used up their two allowed substitutions. Eventually won 4-3 by Italy, this match with five goals in extra time is one of the most dramatic in World Cup history, and is called "Game of the Century" in both Italy (Partita del secolo) and Germany (Jahrhundertspiel). While the exhausted Italians lost to Brazil, West Germany went on to claim third place by beating Uruguay 1-0, and Gerd Müller finished as the tournament top scorer with 10 goals.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
African Nations Cup to hit Premier League teams
There have been seasons where Arsenal, now four points off top spot, would have had as many players on African Nations Cup duty as London rivals Chelsea.
This time around the Gunners will only be without Ivory Coast defender Emmanuel Eboue and Cameroon midfielder Alex Song.
Even so, with Robin van Persie and Johan Djourou both long-term injuries, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger would rather his squad was not disrupted by a tournament which, unlike the World Cup or European Championships, takes place while the English season is in progress.
"On occasions, the players come back affected by a negative experience," Wenger said.
However, Wenger reduced his African Nations Cup worries with the pre-season sale of both the Ivory Coast's Kolo Toure and Togo's Emmanuel Adebayor to Premier League big-spenders Manchester City.
"They play the African Nations Cup every two years and I believe that when you have too many players who go in January, it is a big problem," Arsenal's French manager explained.
If any Premier League side is likely to be adversely affected by the tournament, it is basement club Portsmouth.
The cash-strapped south coast side are four points adrift at the bottom of the table and such is their dire financial position, Portsmouth have had a transfer embargo slapped upon them by the Premier League.
In the midst of all their other problems, Pompey are set to lose four players to the African Nations Cup in Ivory Coast international Aruna Dindane, Algeria duo Nadir Belhadj and Hassan Yebda and Nigeria veteran Kanu.
Frustrated Portsmouth boss Avram Grant, said: "I don't know why FIFA allow this. I don't know why they have the African Cup of Nations in January.
"The players go two weeks before and need one or two weeks afterwards to recover," the Israeli added.
"We pay a lot of money, especially the big teams, to players who are not with us for two months," the former Chelsea manager insisted. "I think FIFA need to think about this."
This time around the Gunners will only be without Ivory Coast defender Emmanuel Eboue and Cameroon midfielder Alex Song.
Even so, with Robin van Persie and Johan Djourou both long-term injuries, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger would rather his squad was not disrupted by a tournament which, unlike the World Cup or European Championships, takes place while the English season is in progress.
"On occasions, the players come back affected by a negative experience," Wenger said.
However, Wenger reduced his African Nations Cup worries with the pre-season sale of both the Ivory Coast's Kolo Toure and Togo's Emmanuel Adebayor to Premier League big-spenders Manchester City.
"They play the African Nations Cup every two years and I believe that when you have too many players who go in January, it is a big problem," Arsenal's French manager explained.
If any Premier League side is likely to be adversely affected by the tournament, it is basement club Portsmouth.
The cash-strapped south coast side are four points adrift at the bottom of the table and such is their dire financial position, Portsmouth have had a transfer embargo slapped upon them by the Premier League.
In the midst of all their other problems, Pompey are set to lose four players to the African Nations Cup in Ivory Coast international Aruna Dindane, Algeria duo Nadir Belhadj and Hassan Yebda and Nigeria veteran Kanu.
Frustrated Portsmouth boss Avram Grant, said: "I don't know why FIFA allow this. I don't know why they have the African Cup of Nations in January.
"The players go two weeks before and need one or two weeks afterwards to recover," the Israeli added.
"We pay a lot of money, especially the big teams, to players who are not with us for two months," the former Chelsea manager insisted. "I think FIFA need to think about this."
African Nations Cup to hit Premier League teams
The African Nations Cup is due to have a major impact upon events at both ends of the English Premier League table.
Leaders Chelsea have seen Ivory Coast forwards Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou as well as Ghana midfielder Michael Essien and Nigeria's John Obi-Mikel, all depart for Angola where the 2010 competition starts on Sunday. Related article: African football feast
Chelsea's Italian boss Carlo Ancelotti already has one of the best-equipped squads in England's lucrative top flight and, if needed, can ask the Blues' billionaire owner Roman Abramovich to bankroll some new signings during the January transfer window.
However, after overseeing holders Chelsea's 5-0 FA Cup win over Watford, which featured two goals from 20-year-old striker Daniel Sturridge, his first for the London club since a pre-season move from Manchester City, Ancelotti said: "I think that we can do a good January, good performances without the African players."
Leaders Chelsea have seen Ivory Coast forwards Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou as well as Ghana midfielder Michael Essien and Nigeria's John Obi-Mikel, all depart for Angola where the 2010 competition starts on Sunday. Related article: African football feast
Chelsea's Italian boss Carlo Ancelotti already has one of the best-equipped squads in England's lucrative top flight and, if needed, can ask the Blues' billionaire owner Roman Abramovich to bankroll some new signings during the January transfer window.
However, after overseeing holders Chelsea's 5-0 FA Cup win over Watford, which featured two goals from 20-year-old striker Daniel Sturridge, his first for the London club since a pre-season move from Manchester City, Ancelotti said: "I think that we can do a good January, good performances without the African players."
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