Maradona in Zurich for FIFA hearing
November 15, 2009
Argentina coach Diego Maradona arrived Sunday at the headquarters of world football’s governing body FIFA for a disciplinary hearing over his sexually-explicit rant after his team’s World Cup qualification.
The former star player was facing a possible fine and suspension from international matches after he rounded on critics during a press conference after Argentina qualified for next year’s World Cup finals in South Africa.
Maradona flew into the Swiss city from Madrid where Argentina lost 2-1 against Spain in a friendly late Saturday.
Wearing sunglasses and tracksuit, a demonstrably impassive looking Maradona kept silent as he was escorted through Zurich airport into a nearby hotel complex by an Argentine football official and bodyguards.
He later arrived in a convoy of limousines at FIFA headquarters about 50 minutes after the originally scheduled time for the hearing.
He was to face a disciplinary hearing here scheduled to start at 2.00 pm (1300 GMT) behind closed doors. FIFA have declined to give details although they said they would release a statement afterwards.
Maradona’s public outburst came after Argentina’s 1-0 win over Uruguay in October, which allowed the two-time world champions to squeeze narrowly into next year’s finals in South Africa after a lowly and tense qualifying round.
At the time, the 48-year-old, a sporting icon in Argentina after skippering the 1986 World Cup winning team, lashed out at journalists.
FIFA chief Sepp Blatter has said Maradona may have flouted regulations which could result in a fine of up to 29,400 dollars and/or suspension.
“According to article 58.a anyone who harms the dignity of a person through acts or words can be punished,” he added.
Maradona later sought to make amends and admitted that if Argentina had failed to qualify he “would have taken myself off to Haiti.”
ZURICH (AFP)
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Injury blow for Van Persie
November 15, 2009
Robin van Persie could be sidelined for weeks after injuring his ankle during the Netherlands’ 0-0 draw with Italy this weekend, the Dutch press reported on Sunday citing sources close to the player.
The Arsenal striker was stretched off the pitch after being tackled by Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini 14 minutes into the game at Pescara.
Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk believes the player has torn ligaments, which the ANP news agency estimated could sideline the player for weeks or even months.
“It’s a hard blow for him because he was in the form of his life,” said van Marwijk.
THE HAGUE (AFP)
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Uruguay down Costa Rica to seize World Cup edge
November 15, 2009
Uruguay took a step toward the 2010 World Cup Saturday as captain Diego Lugano’s first-half strike proved enough for a 1-0 victory in the first leg of their qualifying playoff against Costa Rica.
The second leg of the tie will be on Wednesday in Montevideo, where Costa Rica can expect to be hard pressed to turn things around.
But Costa Rica’s Brazilian coach Rene Simoes insisted his players can win in Stadio Centenario.
“We have to believe in ourselves,” Simoes said. “Why ca’t we win in Centenario?”
Uruguay are hoping to return to the global football showcase after failing to qualify in 2006.
Costa Rica, who have appeared in the last two World Cups, were less than 30 seconds from qualifying last month when they allowed Jonathan Bornstein’s goal in injury time to give the United States a 2-2 draw at Washington.
That gave Honduras the third and final direct entry berth from the North and Central America and the Caribbean region.
Uruguay reached the playoff by finishing fifth in South American qualifying.
In an often patchy first half, it was Uruguay who pressed the action forward.
Costa Rica, unable to challenge Uruguayan keeper Fernando Muslera, were unlucky in the 20th minute when injury forced defender Gilberto Martinez off after a collision with Alvaro Fernandez.
While he was receiving treatment, Uruguay took full advantage as Diego Forlan came close to scoring with a center that crossed the face of the goal.
On the ensuing corner Forlan rose to head the ball, Costa Rica failed to clear the danger and Lugano seized upon the loose ball to slot it home in the 21st minute.
Costa Rica had a chance to equalize shortly before halftime, but Bryan Ruiz’s header off Randall Azofeifa’s cross went over the crossbar.
Costa Rica’s efforts to find the equalizer were further hindered when they were reduced to 10 men in the 52nd minute when Azofeifa recieved his second yellow card.
Uruguay were unable to capitalize on their advantage, but neither could Costa Rica make their spirited efforts pay as attempts from Alvaro Saborio and Walter Centeno failed to really test Muslera.
Fernandez had a chance to add to Uruguay’s lead with three minutes remaining, but his header was blocked by Junior Diaz.
Simoes said Costa Rica’s big mistake was failing to apply enough pressure on the Uruguayan goal in the first half.
“We played very well in the second half. This part of the match was really good.”
SAN JOSE (AFP)
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Burley´s future in the balance after Scotland surrender
November 15, 2009
George Burley admitted his future as Scotland coach is in the balance after the Tartan Army called for him to resign during the dismal 3-0 friendly defeat against Wales.
Burley’s side slumped to their third successive loss as goals from David Edwards, Simon Church and Aaron Ramsey in the opening 35 minutes sparked a furious response from the travelling fans.
Former Hearts and Ipswich boss Burley had received a vote of confidence from the Scottish FA despite his failure to lead the team to next year’s World Cup in South Africa.
But the abject manner of Saturday’s defeat at the Cardiff City Stadium raised fresh doubts about Burley’s ability to get the job done.
Burley knows SFA chief executive Gordon Smith will come under pressure to sack him and, asked if he would still be in charge for the March friendly against Czech Republic, he said: “Well, that’s up to other people, isn’t it?
“I’m just thinking about this game, it wasn’t good enough, we’ve got to do better and we were beaten too easily.
“As far as positives for this game, I couldn’t pick one out, whereas in the other games we had been going in the right direction. We’ve got to assess it again.
“We started well but we just switched off and, in that spell, we conceded three goals. It’s not an easy one to take.
“As a manager, you are disappointed by a defeat. I’ve got a squad of players that I’m utilising, I’ve got a squad of players out there and we didn’t perform.
“It’s one of those areas where you’ve got to look at it and move on. The first half wasn’t good enough, it was shocking the way we conceded the goals, so that’s something that’s got to be better.”
Burley conceded he couldn’t blame the 4,000 Scotland fans who travelled to south Wales for turning on him after such a poor performance.
“I’m not surprised,” he said. “If you are a manager and your team performs like that, you are going to get stick from the crowd because the performance wasn’t good enough.
“We folded like a pack of cards. It was shocking defending after that, conceding three goals and we never recovered.
“It was a very poor display and we never really got going. We made the six changes but it didn’t really change too much. The first half was terrible and that’s something we can’t afford to let happen.
“It’s not a favourite venue for Scotland. I lost here 3-0 on my debut and the last time we played here it was 4-0. Overall, there is no excuse because that performance wasn’t good enough.”
Burley has now won just three games in 14 attempts and said: “That’s where we are as a country, as a group of players, as a team.
“I can’t go and bring other players into the squad. I’m picking the best squad of players, working together with them and trying to get the best out of them. That’s all I can do as a manager.”
As for his defensive pairing of Stephen McManus and Gary Caldwell – who have also been criticised for their displays with Celtic this season – Burley said: “It’s a team, not (about) picking out individuals.
“Maybe one or two players are finding it hard at club level but, as a team, it wasn’t good enough.
“And it was all the way through. Every department, especially in the first half, didn’t function. That’s something you can’t afford to happen.
“I can’t put my finger on one area because all areas were poor.”
CARDIFF (AFP)
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Brazilian stroll exposes England´s lack of depth
November 15, 2009
Brazil kept their World Cup preparations on track by cruising to a 1-0 win over a second-string England side here on Saturday that was much more comfortable than the close scoreline suggested.
A superbly-taken header by Villarreal striker Nilmar settled a contest the five-times world champions were always in control of and might easily have won by a bigger margin.
A penalty miss by Luis Fabiano ensured England, captained for the first time by Wayne Rooney, remained in contention until the end but, overall, the evening served to underline the importance of the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard — all of whom were absent injured — being fit for next year’s finals.
Brazil never demonstrated the kind of gear changes that will be required to overcome the likes of Spain in South Africa next year. But a cautious England never required them too and there was genuine quality in the angled through ball from Galatasaray midfielder Elano that enabled Nilmar to head the winner two minutes into the second half.
Twelve days after becoming a father for the first time, Rooney took his bow as England captain after John Terry became the ninth member of Fabio Capello’s first-choice line-up to be ruled out by injury.
Joleon Lescott came in for the regular skipper while Capello was also forced into a last-minute adjustment in midfield, where an ankle injury to Michael Carrick ensured Jermaine Jenas started his first international in over a year.
Rooney, winning his 57th cap at the age of 24, was supported in attack by Darren Bent, but England’s lack of adventure ensured the Sunderland striker had little chance to press his own World Cup case and he made way for Jermain Defoe before an hour had elapsed.
Given that England had won just three of their 22 previous encounters with Brazil, a hint of nerves among the back-up players on display was to be expected.
Matthew Upson, in particular, looked to be affected by stage fright as he left England exposed twice in quick succession by losing possession deep in England’s half.
A wayward shot by Felipe Melo and Nilmar’s failure to produce a telling cross ensured the slips were not exploited and it was not until the 23rd minute that the Brazilians had a clear sight of goal.
Kaka’s clever pass inside Wes Brown played Michel Bastos into the box and the leftback’s drive forced Foster into a full-length dive as it skidded beyond the far post.
England responded immediately with a half-chance of their own, Bent heading James Milner’s cross from the left over the bar.
Foster, who had looked tentative as he fluffed an early clearance, appeared more composed as he gathered strikes from Felipe Melo and Kaka.
The stifling effect of Brazil’s deployment of two midfielders charged with protecting their back four was limiting Rooney’s involvement but there was a glimpse of his threat when he sidestepped Thiago Silva on the edge of the box, provoking a body check from the centreback that went unsanctioned.
Given how cautiously his side had played, Capello would have been happy to be level at the break but they were soon behind to a goal that served as a reminder of the importance of Terry and Ferdinand to their hopes in South Africa.
From just to the right of the centre circle, Elano floated a ball over the heads of the stand-in centrebacks and, having darted in behind them from the left, Nilmar steered his header beyond Foster into the far corner of the net.
England should have fallen two behind after Wes Brown’s misguided attempt to chest the ball back to Foster allowed Luis Fabiano to nick the ball past the goalkeeper.
Foster’s dive sent the striker tumbling but England were granted a double reprieve as the referee only produced a yellow card and Fabiano lifted the resulting spot-kick over the bar.
James Milner might have made the Brazilians pay for that when Wright-Phillips’ cross found him unmarked at the back post.
But the Aston Villa winger’s volley comfortably cleared the bar and there was another late let-off for England when a shot from Brazilian captain Lucio beat Foster but came back off the post.
DOHA (AFP)
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Germany´s football stars set to honour tragic Enke
November 15, 2009
German football stars past and present will gather in Hanover on Sunday to pay their last respects to tragic goalkeeper Robert Enke, who committed suicide last week.
Enke, 32, who had been set to travel with the Germany squad to next June’s 2010 World Cup in South Africa, flung himself under a busy commuter train at a small town near Hanover last Tuesday evening having suffered from depression.
The tragedy has stunned football-mad Germany and the national team’s planned friendly against Chile on Saturday was called off as a mark of respect.
A public memorial service will be held at 11:00 am (1000 GMT) in Hanover 96’s stadium, which the entire Germany squad — led by captain Michael Ballack — will attend, before Enke is buried in a private ceremony.
Representatives from Enke’s former clubs — Spanish giants Barcelona and Portugual’s Benfica — will attend while many former German football greats are also expected.
A tribute on behalf of the Germany squad will be printed in several newspapers here on Sunday.
“Robert inspired and moved many people both with his life story and his career,” said the text signed by Germany coach Joachim Loew, team manager Oliver Bierhoff and Ballack.
“Robert was both an exceptional sportsman and a wonderful human being.
“People like Robert are like stars. They shine brightly, even in the darkest night. They do not die but live in our hearts forever.”
Enke had been treated for depression since 2003 and had an acute fear of failure.
He leaves his wife Teresa, 33, and eight-month-old daughter Leila, whom the couple adopted in May after their two-year-old daughter Lara died from a heart infection. Enke will be buried next to his daughter.
With more than 50,000 mourners expected at the memorial service, the club’s 45,000-seater stadium is expected to be packed and two giant video screens will be erected outside for those who do not get in.
“We will see how much Robert Enke meant to some people and what a great personality he was,” said Hanover 96 president Martin Kind.
“The scale of the sympathy is overwhelming – not only in Hanover, but in all of Germany and even abroad.”
The service will be screened live on five German television channels and Enke’s coffin will be in the centre circle at the Bundesliga club before six of his former Bundesliga team-mates will carry him to his final resting place.
“We will all never forget Robert,” concluded his team-mates’ moving tribute.
BERLIN (AFP)
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