Is Guardiola the man to tame Robinho?
October 16, 2009
“Of course I would like to play for Barca, who wouldn’t? We could have a lot of fun. It would be a pleasure to play with Messi, with my colleague Alves, with Xavi, Iniesta, Ibrahimovic, with all of them. They are a brilliant team.
“I have played against them and I know their quality. But at the moment I can only do it on my Playstation.”
Manchester City’s gifted but controversial Brazilian forward Robinho was thus quoted in Barcelona-based newspaper El Mundo Deportivo on Thursday.
According to the paper and its fellow Catalan sheet Sport, Robinho could join Pep Guardiola’s European champions on loan in January and has asked City for permission to leave.
Sport reported on Tuesday the deal would cost Barca 3.2 million euros ($4.8 million) and they would assume the payment of his current annual salary of 6.2 million.
A transfer had also been mooted, according to Sport, that would see Barca pay City 35 million euros and Robinho agree a contract through 2014.
Robinho, full name Robson de Souza, told El Mundo Deportivo he knew nothing about a possible deal.
“I assure you that as of this moment my father, who is my only representative, has not told me anything about Barca,” he said.
“Out of respect for Manchester City, which is my team, it should be the two clubs that talk about my loan or transfer and then tell me.
“It’s not right to talk about this hypothetical transfer or loan until there is something more concrete. I repeat: I don’t know anything, believe me.”
Robinho has been dogged by controversy on his journey from Brazil to Manchester via Real Madrid.
The word “unsettled” has stuck to him throughout his career but Sport reckons he wants to spend the second half of the season at Barca as a springboard for next year’s World Cup in South Africa.
City’s assistant manager, Mark Bowen, has said the club want to hold on to him but made it clear he will have to fight for his place in the side when he returns from injury. He has been sidelined since August with a stress fracture and Craig Bellamy has impressed on the left wing in his absence.
“Robi is one of those players who will always be surrounded by rumour and speculation,” Bowen said on the club’s website .
Guardiola is known for his man-management skills but his decision to sell Samuel Eto’o showed he is ready to stand up to anyone who threatens dressing-room harmony.
With France forward Thierry Henry out of sorts, Robinho could be deployed on the left wing to create a formidable forward line with Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Argentina forward Lionel Messi.
El Mundo Deportivo said Henry was open to returning to England and could form part of a swap deal.
Sporting director Txiki Begiristain has said Barca are looking to strengthen their squad in the January transfer window.
“He (Robinho) is a very interesting footballer and could play (for us) in the Champions League,” he told Sport.
The paper has rowed back somewhat from their banner headline on Saturday of “Robinho loan deal in January” to Thursday’s “He wants to come to Barca” but the prospect of Robinho, Ibrahimovic and Messi tearing defences apart is a mouthwatering one.
PHOTO: Brazil’s Robinho stands of the field before the World Cup 2010 qualifying soccer match against Argentina in Rosario, September 5, 2009. REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci
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CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal draw set for November 17
October 16, 2009
Quarterfinalists in the CONCACAF Champions League will learn their knockout round opponents on November 17 when the draw at the confederation’s New York headquarters will set the pairings for the final eight.
The group winners will be drawn against one of the four teams that finished in second place, with no team playing another that it faced in the Group Stage in the two-leg series.
The teams that finished second will host the first leg of the quarterfinals the week of March 9-11, with the group winners hosting the second leg the week of March 16-18.
The potential pairings for the semifinals, to be played the weeks of March30-April 1 and April 6-8, also will be set with the winners advancing to the finals April 20-22 and April 27-29.
Three of the eight quarterfinalists already have been determined with Pumas, Pachuca and Cruz Azul of Mexico already clinching their berths. Ten clubs still remain in contention for a place in the knockout round and will be determined next week in the final round of the Group Stage.
Houston and Arabe Unido are fighting for the last berth from Group A; Toluca, D.C. United and Marathon all are still in contention for the berths in Group B; the last place from Group C will go to either the Columbus Crew or Saprissa; while Real Espana, Comunicaciones and W Connection are still in contention for the second spot from Group D.
NEW YORK
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Bornstein goal ripples through CONCACAF
October 16, 2009
Jonathan Bornstein’s equalizer deep into second-half stoppage time did more than just earn a 2-2 draw for the United States against Costa Rica. It rippled through CONCACAF.
It gave the United States bragging rights over Mexico, forced Costa Rica into another two games to try to earn qualification to South Africa, and – most importantly – help send Honduras to only its second World Cup and first since 1982.
“Bornstein, Honduras te ama” (Bornstein, Honduras loves you) screamed the headline in Honduras’ La Prensa on Thursday.
The defender’s header finished the United States atop the six-team standings in the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, one point in front of Mexico, which played Trinidad & Tobago to a 2-2 draw in Port-of-Spain.
It was the second straight time the Americans had finished first in World Cup qualifying, just ahead of Mexico – which was some satisfaction after being routed 5-0 in the Gold Cup final by their arch nemesis in July.
“We are very proud to win the group,” U.S. coach Bob Bradley said. “It took a really determined strong effort by our team and we always talk about when you step on the field, you show people what you’re all about. Tonight is not the way you draw it up on the board before the game, but it still showed the mentality, the spirit and we’re very proud of that.”
It was an emotional result for the United States, which dedicated the game to forward Charlie Davies, who was seriously injured in a fatal, one-car accident early Tuesday morning.
“For me, and a lot of the guys, Charlie is a brother,” Jozy Altidore said. “We’re all very close and that news hurt us a lot. We played with him in our hearts tonight and I think it helped us out big.”
Carlos Pavon, who missed a critical penalty kick in a 3-2 loss to the United States Saturday night in San Pedro Sula, achieved some redemption, scoring the lone goal in the 1-0 win against El Salvador. But it still appeared Los Catrachos was destined to finish fourth with Costa Rica leading 2-0 with 20 minutes remaining in Washington.
However Michael Bradley struck in the 72nd minute and Bornstein followed with the equalizer with 30 seconds left in the match, setting off a wild celebration at RFK Stadium, but also in Honduras.
“We knew it would be a very tight game with an El Salvador team that is very well drilled, but that’s football,” Honduran coach Reinaldo Rueda said. “Today it’s the Honduran fans’ and the team’s turn to celebrate, thanks to the work of many years. Now we have months of work, months of matches and let’s hope this victory works out for the good of all.”
While Honduras claimed CONCACAF’s third automatic bid to the 2010 World Cup ongoal difference ahead of Costa Rica, the Ticos were relegated to a two-leg aggregate series against Uruguay, the fifth-place finisher in South America, for the last berth in the 32-team World Cup field
“First I have to rebuild their spirits,” Ticos coach Rene Simoes said. “They are in the dumps. This was a shock to them. Everything was going fine up until the last minute. The game just ended and it’s just very sad.”
Like the United States, Mexico already had qualified for South Africa ahead of the final matchday. El Tri played the Soca Warriors to a 2-2 draw in Port-of-Spain, but Mexico manager Javier Aguirre wasn’t upset about failing to finish atop the group.
“We came through in qualification,” Aguirre said. “They never said we had to be first.”
Aguirre took over after Sven-Goran Eriksson was sacked following consecutive losses to Honduras and El Salvador. As he did in 2001 when he replaced Hugo Sanchez, Aguirre helped lead El Tri, which won five straight before Wednesday’s draw, to the World Cup.
“I am satisfied because we qualified for the World Cup,” Aguirre said. “I am also satisfied because that’s what they hired me for. I am delighted to see that the players have recuperated their pride in playing for their country.”
By Dylan Butler
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Ghana seek Brazil revenge in U20 World Cup final
October 16, 2009
Ghana will have revenge in mind when they confront four-time champions Brazil in the final of the Under-20 World Cup at the Cairo International Stadium here on Friday.
Sellas Tetteh’s side booked their place in the tournament decider with an enterprising 3-2 semi-final victory over a dogged Hungary team and will now look to avenge Ghana’s 2-1 defeat to Brazil in the 1993 competition in Sydney.
Abeiku Quansah’s spectacular late strike killed off the Hungarian fightback after Dominic Adiyiah had netted his seventh and eighth goals of the competition, and Tetteh says his side are coming into form at the right time.
“What matters isn’t just that we’re in the final, but that we got there thanks to a great victory,” he said.
“We’re not surprised by our performance because we played really well in the qualifying competition in Rwanda and we’ve had continuity and consistency here.
“It doesn’t matter who we meet next. We’re 90 minutes away from lifting the trophy.”
Brazil triumphed in their semi-final by a similarly slender margin, overcoming Costa Rica 1-0 via a 67th-minute volley from centre forward Alan Kardec.
Rogerio Lourenco’s charges will now seek to capture the trophy for the first time since their 2003 triumph in the United Arab Emirates.
“Above all, I’m delighted that the players have achieved our goal of reaching the final,” Lourenco said.
“They must be congratulated, as getting through six matches in a row is no easy feat. I know we didn’t play well, but what mattered was reaching the final, nothing else.”
With the tournament drawing to a close, FIFA vice-president and chairman of the organising committee Jack Warner saluted the quality of football on show.
“It’s been a tournament of surprises,” he said. “Costa Rica have reached the semi-finals for the very first time, despite them finishing third in the group stage.
“That’s a testimony to their hard work and progression. It’s also the first time that Hungary have gone so far in a FIFA youth tournament.”
Hungary confront Costa Rica in the third-place play-off match earlier on Friday, with the Central Americans’ coach Ronald Gomez vowing to go all-out for victory.
“We treat each match in this tournament the same, and that has enabled us to get this far,” he said.
“We will spare no effort to win third place. I will give all I have to win this game. It will be a great feeling to return to our country having won our final match.”
CAIRO (AFP)
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Togo threatened boycott of Japan friendly – reports
October 16, 2009
Togo’s national team players had threatened to boycott an away friendly match against Japan before going down 5-0 to the Blue Samurai this week, Japanese media reported Thursday.
Only 14 Togo players, missing eight teammates including Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor, arrived in Japan on Tuesday after losing 3-0 to Cameroon and missing their chance to qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals.
After the defeat “all the players refused at one point to come to Japan”, the daily Asahi Shimbun said, adding that the players and the Togo Football Association had argued over “their treatment and other issues”.
The skeleton squad arrived in Japan late Tuesday after a total flight time of 40 hours ahead of Wednesday’s friendly.
The 14 players were given 3,300-5,600 dollars each in appearance money at their hotel just before the match, the Sports Hochi daily said.
But even then, some players complained over the different size of the payments, Hochi reported, quoting Togo FA officials.
Goalkeeper Dodji Obilale demanded a raise and threatened to boycott the match, it added.
“We were prepared for the unprecedented cancellation of an international match” involving Japan, an unnamed Japanese FA executive was quoted as saying by the two dailies.
Togo managed just one shot on goal against 30 for Japan, who have already qualified for their fourth straight World Cup, in the match featuring a hat-trick by J-League striker Shinji Okazaki.
TOKYO (AFP)
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US work begins with World Cup berth settled
October 16, 2009
Qualifying for the 2010 World Cup was one thing for the United States. Doing well in eight months in South Africa is another, especially in the wake of major injuries to key starters.
The Americans concluded North American qualifying for next year’s global showpiece with a 2-2 draw against Costa Rica on Wednesday to finish top of the group, a feat US coach Bob Bradley hopes will bring a seeding boost.
“We had big goals and we achieved them,” Bradley said. “Now we have to work hard to continue to improve.
“We understand the responsibility of the World Cup. It’s great to get there but there’s a responsibility to get there and play at a high level. We’re proud to win the group but we know what is ahead of us.”
The Americans reached the 2002 quarter-finals but were ousted in the opening group stage in Germany in 2006, setting the stage for Bradley to take over the US side.
Bradley made it clear that the US goal is nothing less than capturing the World Cup, but to that end the next goal will be simply to make it through the first round against foes he will learn in December’s draw.
“We can only control this situation when we get there,” Bradley said. “You have to be able to play those three games in a certain way. You have to adapt after the first game.”
The Americans are likely to have to play without striker Charlie Davies, who suffered major injuries in a car crash on Tuesday and is expected to need six to 12 months of rehabilitation.
Added to that was defender Oguchi Onyewu’s torn left patella tendon suffered late in Wednesday’s game, leaving a 10-man US team to fight back for the equalizer on Jonathan Bornstein’s header in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
“It’s another setback for us,” Bradley said. “‘Gooch’ has been such an important part of our team. He is someone we are sure is going to get back.”
Whether the AC Milan defender will be at peak form for the World Cup is unknown but the US squad, a mix of veterans and new faces such as Davies, has been able to rely upon different players to come through at key times.
That includes a run to the FIFA Confederations Cup final earlier this year in South Africa, where the US team led Brazil at half-time before losing the championship match.
WASHINGTON (AFP)
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Brazilian legend Pele congratulates Argentina
October 16, 2009
Brazilian legend Pele congratulated bitter rivals Argentina on their World Cup qualification on Thursday, insisting that the finals need to have Diego Maradona’s team involved.
“I wasn’t against Argentina. They are my friends,” said triple World Cup winner Pele.
“I said before the match (Argentina beat Uruguay 1-0 on Wednesday to secure their place in the 2010 finals) that a World Cup without Argentina would not be the same.
“It’s good for Maradona that Argentina qualified,” Pele told TV Globo. “For those who love football, Argentina could not be out of the World Cup.”
RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP)
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Blatter says Russian World Cup bid has ´good chance´
October 16, 2009
FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Thursday said he thought that Russia had “a good chance” of winning the right to host the 2018 World Cup.
“You have a good chance,” Blatter said in a meeting with Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin here, according to Russian news agency RIA Novosti.
“Russia made a very attractive bid.”
Blatter said that the Eastern European country had never hosted the World Cup before adding that this fact may become an additional forcible argument in the favour of Russia’s bid.
“Competitions of such a high rank should be hosted by countries that have never staged a World Cup before,” Blatter added.
“I had a chance to become acquainted with your plan of preparations for the hosting of the World Cup,” Blatter told Putin. “All of the documents that I have seen looked very impressive.”
Putin, whose support was key to Sochi winning the right to host the 2014 Winter Olympics, replied: “I think that organising a tournament of such prestige would without doubt provide a catalyst for the development of football in the whole of Eastern Europe and particularly in the former Soviet Union.”
On October 9 Russia presented their candidature for the right to organise the World Cup in either 2018 or 2022.
The executive committee of world football’s governing body FIFA will announce the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups at the end of 2010.
England, Australia, the United States, Indonesia, Japan and joint bids from Spain and Portugal and Belgium and the Netherlands are the other candidates for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, while South Korea and Qatar have bid only for the 2022 edition.
The 2010 World Cup will take place in South Africa, with five-time world champions Brazil hosting the tournament four years later.
MOSCOW (AFP)
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