Injured Liverpool midfielder Gerrard travelling to Belgium

August 11, 2008

PARIS (AFP) – Injured skipper Steven Gerrard will be making the trip to Belgium for Liverpool’s opening Champions League clash against Standard Liege on Wednesday, Reds manager Rafael Benitez said.

“I was talking with him (Gerrard) this morning and he will go with us to Belgium,” Benitez said on Liverpool’s TV channel on Monday.

“He is progressing really well but we will check after training,” he said of the 28 year old who has been recovering from a thigh strain. “I will speak with the doctor and with Steven and then decide.”

Benitez made it clear the team to face Standard Liege in this third qualifying round, first leg tie will be much the same as faced Lazio in the friendly on August 8.

The Liverpool manager warned the opponents should be treated with great respect: “People may say it’s a kind draw for us but we will treat them with respect,” said the Spaniard.

“They have not played in the group stages of the Champions League before so they will be keen to change that. Also, they will have the confidence of champions after winning their title.”

The Olympics present a relatively minor selection dilemma for Benitez. There are three absentees in Beijing: Lucas Leiva, Javier Mascherano and Ryan Babel. He can count on Robbie Keane who arrived at Anfield from Tottenham in July.

“Of course I’m looking forward to Champions League football,” the Republic of Ireland captain said on Liverpool’s website. “Liverpool is a massive club and we’re expected to beat teams, so I’m looking forward to the challenge,” he added.

“I certainly am ready. Ask any player and they’ll tell you that pre-season is just about getting fitness. Now the real business starts.

“Whenever Liverpool were playing in the Champions League or in a game which had no effect on Tottenham, I’d be cheering them on. The Champions League is part of why I wanted to come here. This is my opportunity now,” Keane added.

Judging by a statement from club management at the weekend, Benitez’ chase after Aston Villa’s Gareth Barry has hit a dead end.

The club’s US owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett are baulking at the 25 million-euro cash mountain required to prize the England international away from Martin O’Neill’s side.

Following Friday’s Lazio game, Benitez floated the possibility of another signing but it remains unclear whether he had anyone else in mind.

Fernando Torres will be there to delight the Merseyside fans again, as will fellow Spaniard Xabi Alonso whose place would be at risk if the Gareth Barry deal ever went through.

In the match against Lazio the strikers were ably served from midfield by Yossi Benayoun. The 28-year-old Israel captain is one of the stalwarts Benitez referred to when he indicated all the senior players would be deployed against Liege.

It may be worth noting that Liverpool’s Belgian opponents in the Champions League qualifier on Wednesday are known as “les rouches”, meaning “the reds” in Belgian-accented French.

In addition to the common colour, the Belgians and the Merseysiders have something else in common — the Spanish connection.

Under new manager, the Romanian Laszlo Boloni, the Belgian league champions have a development agreement with Real Madrid, a place Benitez knew very well as a player and later as youth coach. The match referee will be Tom Henning Ovrebo of Norway.

Writtend By :AFP

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Juventus open bid to return to European big time

August 11, 2008

TURIN, Italy (AFP) – Juventus are looking to take a big step towards regaining their place among Europe’s football elite when they entertain Artmedia Bratislava in their Champions League final qualifying round, first leg tie on Wednesday.

The Serie A giants have not played in Europe since drawing 0-0 to Arsenal in Turin in April 2006 to crash out of the tournament 2-0 on aggregate at the quarter-final stage shortly before the explosion of the match-fixing scandal that led to their relegation to the second tier.

After Juve won promotion back to Serie A at the first attempt and finished third in the standings last season to earn a ticket to the Champions League, the Slovak champions are not expected to pose a major threat to their ambitions in the competition they won in 1985 and 1996.

Indeed, coach Claudio Ranieri is hoping to make fast work of them.

“We have to wrap up the question of qualification (to the group stage) at home,” Ranieri said after his side drew 0-0 at European and English champions Manchester United last week.

“The opposition are not too difficult, we knew that.”

Ranieri has some injury headaches, as midfielders Marco Marchionni and Cristiano Zanetti are doubts after missing training on Sunday with muscle strains, while Croatia defender Dario Knezevic, a new signing from relegated Livorno, is battling for fitness too.

Juve are also without Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved, who is suspended after being sent off against Arsenal two years ago, as well as forward Sebastian Giovinco and midfielders Paolo De Ceglie and Claudio Marchisio, all members of the Italian Olympic squad.

But defenders Zdenek Grygera, Jonathan Zebina and Cristian Molinaro and striker Vincenzo Iaquinta are back training after shaking off knocks.

Artmedia scored 10 goals and conceded just three as they knocked out Malta’s Valletta and Finland’s Tampere United in the first two preliminary rounds.

But the prospect of facing the visitors’ prolific attack, led by 25-year-old striker Juraj Halenar, is not keeping Ranieri awake at night.

“Artmedia are a team that score a lot, but we are solid at the back and I’m not worried,” he said.

“At Manchester we again showed we are reliable in defence.”

Apart from a 3-0 thumping from Hamburg at the Emirates Cup in London this month and a 1-0 defeat to Serie B Piacenza, Juventus’s form has been good in pre-season friendlies.

They beat Danish side Brondby and Germany’s Borussia Dortmund 1-2 and 1-3 respectively last month and claimed a 1-0 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Cup before the respectable draw in Manchester.

Captain Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet, who have looked sharper than Iaquinta and new Brazilian signing Amauri in recent games, are likely to lead Juve’s attack on Wednesday, according to Italian media reports.

The return leg of the Champions League final qualifying round tie takes place in Bratislava on August 27.

Writtend By :AFP

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Fabregas ready to ruin McClaren´s Champions League debut

August 11, 2008

LONDON (AFP) – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger expects Cesc Fabregas to ruin Steve McClaren’s Champions League debut with FC Twente in the third qualifying round on Wednesday.

The Gunners travel to the Netherlands for the first leg against former England coach McClaren’s new club with plenty of questions still to be answered about Wenger’s side.

After his chastening experience as England coach, McClaren would love to stick two fingers up at his critics by knocking out Arsenal.

But Twente are making their Champions League debut after defeating Ajax in a play-off last season and, although Arsenal have only just completed their pre-season programme, McClaren knows his side have only a slim chance of advancing to the Champions League group stages.

He is already describing the match more as a learning experience for his players than a realistic opportunity to progess in the competition.

“Playing Arsenal will be a great experience for the players and if they don’t become better players after playing against Arsenal, they shouldn’t be in football,” McClaren said.

“That’s how you learn. That’s how you grow and playing against one of the best teams in Europe, obviously the players will grow from that.”

McClaren is still finding his feet at Twente – his knowledge of the Dutch language only extends to ‘thank you very much’ so far – and the match has probably come too early for him and his team.

But the former Middlesbrough boss is adamant perceptions of him back in England are the last thing on his mind.

“I really don’t know and I don’t care,” McClaren said. “I know what I am, who I am and the most important people to me are those around me, those I’ve worked with.

“People have called me up to say, ‘We admire you because of the gamble you’ve taken.’ I don’t see it like that, I see it as a challenge. Although I’ve had success and I’ve managed England, I still have a lot to learn.”

While McClaren bids for redemption, Wenger has loftier ambitions. He wants to erase the painful memories of last season’s Champions League quarter-final exit against Liverpool and Fabregas is the key to achieving that target.

The Spanish star has returned from his post Euro 2008 break just in time because Wenger has been unable to sign replacements for departed central midfielders Mathieu Flamini and Gilberto Silva.

Wenger has gone on record with his desire to bring in a new partner for Fabregas, but links with Gokhan Inler, Udinese’s Swiss international, Aston Villa’s Gareth Barry, Manchester City’s Michael Johnson and Xabi Alonso of Liverpool have yet to yield a positive conclusion.

So, although Fabregas is still of full match fitness, the midfielder’s presence at Vitesse Arnhem’s Gelrodome will be reassuring for Wenger.

“I believe Cesc will be ready for Wednesday. He has worked very hard since he came back,” Wenger said.

“You cannot say he will be at his best, but he will be fit enough.

“To win big trophies makes you more confident and gives you something you can pass on to the team around you.

“At 21 he already has a lot of experience. He is an intelligent boy. But I would not like to put too much pressure on him.

“We know every single player in his area is very important. Cesc in midfield is a player now who has maybe more experience than the others.”

With Abou Diaby sidelined for a month with a thigh injury, Wenger is likely to use Denilson alongside Fabregas in central midfield.

“It worked well with Denilson and Fabregas against Ajax last week. Of course you cannot say after just one match, you need a run of games to see if a partnership will work, but I am confident it will,” Wenger said.

Writtend By :AFP

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Tags: English Championship, Eredivisie, UEFA Champions League

Marchena out for three weeks

August 11, 2008

VALENCIA (SW) – Valencia CF defender Carlos Marchena will have to miss the start of the coming season as result of an ankle injury and is expected to be out for three weeks.

Marchena, who helped leading Spain to victory at the European Championships in June, will therefore most probably miss the Super Cup match first leg match with Real Madrid next Sunday.

The born Sevillan joined Valencia in 2001 and has formed a key part of ‘los Ches’ since.

Marchena’s absense is bound to give Valencia manager Unai Emery some head-ache as the Copa del Rey winners have difficulties filling their defensive positions.
Written by: Jonathan Roorda

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Tags: LA Liga

Rangers agree 7.8m-pound fee to sell Cuellar to Villa

August 11, 2008

LONDON (AFP) – Rangers confirmed on Monday they had given the thumbs up to a 7.8-million-pound (10-million-euro) offer from Aston Villa for their Spanish defender Carlos Cuellar.

Now it is down to the 26-year-old to hammer out personal terms with Villa, whose bid activated a release clause in his Rangers’ contract.

Cuellar moved to Scotland from Spanish side Osasuna last season and was a key player in their run to the UEFA Cup final, but now leaves just after their humiliating exit from the Champions League to Lithuanian club FBK Kaunas in the qualifying stages.

Rangers manager Walter Smith expressed his disappointment at Cuellar’s decision to leave.

He said: “This has come as a surprise and I am disappointed. Carlos Cuellar has been a great player for the football club and inevitably there has been speculation about him playing in the Premiership.

“The club has received a substantial uplift in fee and we will now reinvest in the team.”

Cuellar is set to become Villa’s sixth signing of the summer following Curtis Davies, Steve Sidwell, Luke Young, Nicky Shorey and Brad Friedel.

Writtend By :AFP

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Tags: English Premier League, premier league

Newcomers Hamilton beat Dundee United

August 11, 2008

HAMILTON (SW) – Scottish Premier League newcomers Hamilton Academical FC began their campaign with an impressive 3-1 win over Dundee United on Monday.

Hamilton had a bad start as McLaughlin scored an own goal in the 23rd minute, but Stevenson levelled the score six minutes later.

McArthur then put the home side in the lead six minutes ahead of the break, and the decider came from Graham just after the hour mark.

Hamilton made their way back into Scotland’s top flight after a nineteen-year absence, winning the 2007-08 First Division with a seven-points margin over Dundee FC.
Written by: Jonathan Roorda

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Tags: premier league

Gullit resigns as Los Angeles Galaxy coach

August 11, 2008

CARSON, California (AFP) – Ruud Gullit resigned on Monday as coach of the struggling Los Angeles Galaxy who also fired general manager Alexi Lalas.

Los Angeles are in the midst of a seven-game winless streak (0-4-3) despite having a healthy David Beckman in the lineup.

Los Angeles were expected to contend for the Major League Soccer title this year but are fourth in the Western Conference with a 6-8-5 record.

Gullit cited “personal reasons” in his decision to resign.

“Both parties have agreed on mutually agreeable terms to part company,” said Tim Leiweke, president of the AEG Group that owns the Galaxy.

“It is an amicable arrangement and we appreciate and respect the issues that Ruud has highlighted with the club and are very grateful for all the hard work he has contributed while with the organization. Hopefully, he has laid the foundations for future success for the Los Angeles Galaxy,” Leiweke said.

Los Angeles could have waited until Lalas’ contract expired at the end of the season but they chose to have him follow Gullit out the door.

“With Ruud moving on, we believe that this is the right time to make more sweeping changes throughout the organization,” Leiweke added.

Gullit took over as Galaxy coach in the offseason following the departure of Frank Yallop to the San Jose Earthquakes.

The former Holland international brought with him solid credentials as the former Newcastle and Feyenoord coach, but failed to turn around the fortunes of the Galaxy. He will replaced on an interim basis by assistant coach Cobi Jones.

Lalas joined the Galaxy’s front office from New York in 2006 after playing for the Galaxy from 2001 to 2003.

Writtend By :AFP

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Tags: MLS

Kompany changes mind and returns to Germany

August 11, 2008

BEIJING (SW) – Belgian Vincent Kompany will be leaving his national side after all in order to spent the rest of the pre-season with Hamburger SV.

Kompany, the Belgian FA and Hamburg had been involved in an ongoing row concerning the player’s stay in Beijing.

A few days after sports tribunal CAS ruled that clubs had the right to tell players to stay away from the Olympics, Hamburger SV became the only team to actually do so.

Initially, Kompany ignored the request from his employer but the 22-year-old changed his mind on Monday as he “lacked support from the Belgian FA”.

Kompany made an appearance in the opening match with Brazil but a red card in that game kept him sidelined for the second match.
Written by: Jonathan Roorda

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Tags: Bundesliga, Olympics

Gullit leaves LA Galaxy

August 11, 2008

LOS ANGELES (SW) – Dutch manager Ruud Gullit had made an immediate end to his stay with the LA Galaxy. The club says that personal reasons are the cause.

Gullit joined the MLS side in November last year, but hasn’t been very successful at the US west coast.

After having played nineteen games in the Western Conference, the Galaxy occupy the fourth place. Of the last seven games, four were lost and three ended in a draw.

Gullit, one of the Netherlands’ most successful players, has been significantly less fortunate as a manager since starting at Chelsea in 1996.

Since then, the now 45-year-old also coached Newcastle United and Feyenoord Rotterdam.

Assistant manager Cobi Jones has been appointed as temporary replacement.
Written by: Jonathan Roorda

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Tags: MLS

Poland and Japan to exchange referees

August 11, 2008

WARSAW (SW) – Yuichi Nishimura will be the referee of several matches in the Polish Ekstraklasa in August, the Polish FA (PZPN) announced today.

He is considered the top referee in his country. With assistant referee Toru Sagara, he was in charge of four World Cup 2010 qualifiers and is on the candidate list for the final tournament.

In January Nishimura was the only non-African referee at the African Nations Cup tournament in Ghana.

Also in August, Polish referee Marcin Borski and his assistants will go to the J-League as an exchange.

This will not be the first time that foreign referees whistle in the Polish league. In 2003 and 2004 Slovak Lubos Michel refereed 2 matches between Wisla Krakow and Legia Warsaw.

Written by: Andrzej Otrebski

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