United nearly man Ljajic signs for Fiorentina

January 14, 2010

Serbia’s promising midfielder Adem Ljajic has signed for Fiorentina, the Italian club said on its website on Wednesday.

The teenager still needs to pass a medical to complete his move from Partizan Belgrade for a reported eight million euros, according to the Belgrade daily Press.

Ljajic, 18, came close to joining English champions Manchester United before the Red Devils pulled out of a deal last year.

Considered one of the most talented youngsters in Serbian football, Ljajic previously refused several offers from clubs in Russia.

A year ago, Ljajic was unveiled by Manchester United alongside countryman Zoran Tosic.

However, while Tosic joined United immediately, Ljajic was too young to do so and United stated that he would be loaned back to Partizan and would join in January 2010, by which time he would have turned 18.

However, last month United announced that they had passed up their option on the playmaker due to problems in securing a work permit.

ROME (AFP)

Tags: Belgrade, countryman, Devils, english champions, italian club, Ljajic, Manchester, manchester united, playmaker, red devils, ROME, russia, serbia, serbian, signs, talented youngsters, teenager, work permit

France to honour slain fan at Faroes match

October 10, 2009

Raymond Domenech revealed on Friday that there will be a minute’s silence in memory of Toulouse fan Brice Taton ahead of France’s World Cup qualifying match with the Faroe Islands.

Taton died at the end of September after being attacked by thugs prior to Toulouse’s Europa League match at Serbian side Partizan Belgrade.

“We’ll do a minute’s silence in his memory and in the memory of everyone who’s been the victim of this kind of thing,” said France coach Domenech, whose team face the Faroe Islands in Guingamp on Saturday.

“We find it unbelievably stupid that someone should die like that for a football match.”

World football governing body FIFA have threatened to dock World Cup qualifying points from Serbia if their supporters are found to have engaged in further hooligan activity.

“Sometimes warnings are useless,” Domenech said.

PERROS-GUIREC, France (AFP)

Tags: Belgrade, body fifa, brice, Brice Taton, faroe islands, football match, France, france coach, governing body, guingamp, honour, memory, raymond domenech, serbia, silence, Toulouse, World Cup, world football

You can still watch Ukraine v England on TV … you just have to come to Croatia

October 6, 2009

A quick look around the blogosphere suggests that for many England fans the idea of watching the World Cup qualifier against Ukraine in front of a computer screen at the mercy of an ISP, or at a crammed cinema, sounds about as appealing as making the long trip to Dnipropetrovsk.

But do not despair, England fans, because there is an option for those of you determined to watch it on telly.

Croatia’s HRT 2 state television, also viewable in Serbia on cable, is showing the game live, so here is your chance to combine a bit of light football watching with an autumn dip in the Adriatic somewhere along Croatia’s mesmerising coast, or an evening spent sampling Belgrade’s unique and vibrant nightlife, epitomised by boat-bars and clubs along the Danube.

And fear not that the Croatian faithful might have a go at you after their team’s recent 5-1 drubbing at Wembley. They will be praying for an England win that would leave their boys in the driving seat for a runners-up spot in Group Six.

PHOTO: A subscription page is shown on a laptop computer at a cafe in central London October 5, 2009. REUTERS/Toby Melville

Source

Tags: adriatic, Belgrade, blogosphere, central london, croatia, danube, despair, driving seat, drubbing, England, england fans, laptop computer, long trip, melville, mesmerising, runners, state television, subscription page, ukraine, vibrant nightlife, Wembley, world cup qualifier

Domenech puts faith in Benzema for World Cup

October 1, 2009

France coach Raymond Domenech insisted Thursday he would stand by Karim Benzema after picking the Real Madrid striker for 2010 World Cup qualifiers at home against the Faroe Isles on October 10 and Austria four days later.

Benzema caused a storm after last month’s draw with Romania, which compromised French chances of overhauling group leaders Serbia to reach the finals, when he suggested he had not given 100 percent after being restricted to a late appearance from the bench.

“I’ll not condemn him for one phrase. I am not a journalist,” said Domenech pointedly, adding he would “extend a hand” to the player even if his comments had been “unacceptable.”

“He is young, he has talent and a future. He understands he made a mistake.”

Barcelona striker Thierry Henry is in the squad, despite going off injured in last week’s win over Malaga.

“He is not certain for Saturday (with Barca), but thereafter there is a week” for him to join up with the squad “and so we’ll see where we are with him,” Domenech said.

Assuming Henry misses out, then Benzema, who has settled in well at Real, will take on added importance, as will Nicolas Anelka, who was on target in the Champions League for Chelsea in Wednesday’s win at Apoel Nicosia.

Bordeaux’s classy midfielder Yoann Gourcuff will definitely be out after he picked up an injury in his club’s Champions League win over Maccabi Tel Aviv on Wednesday.

The French have to ensure they win both their final matches to have any hope of catching the Serbians.

Serbia have a four-point cushion and will push the French into the uncertainty of the playoffs if they see off Romania in Belgrade with a match in Lithuania to follow.

A new face in the squad is Rennes goalkeeper Nicolas Douchez, while Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery will be back to provide some creative focus in the absence of Gourcuff after overcoming his own injury problems which kept him out of action for the opening month of the season.

PARIS (AFP)

Tags: apoel nicosia, Austria, Barcelona, bayern munich, Belgrade, Bordeaux, CHELSEA, creative focus, faroe isles, France, france coach, franck ribery, Goalkeeper, group leaders, Karim Benzema, Lithuania, maccabi tel aviv, MADRID, Malaga, midfielder, new face, Nicolas Anelka, nicolas douchez, Nicosia, PARIS, point cushion, raymond domenech, Rennes, Romania, serbians, target, Tel Aviv, thierry henry, world cup qualifiers

Rennes on high as French tighten grip on troublemakers

September 26, 2009

Unheralded Rennes will be raring to prove that they merit their place among the big boys when they travel to champions Bordeaux as the French league returns to action at the weekend under tight security.

Rennes, sitting fourth after a stormy 4-0 win over Grenoble last weekend, are counting on pulling off an exploit at Bordeaux on Sunday after coming from behind to book their place in the last 16 of the League Cup with a 2-1 win over Sochaux on Wednesday.

This weekend’s matches will be the first since the French government announced new security measures following violence which has marred the start of the season.

The measures include increased police surveillance and points reductions for teams whose supporters are involved in violence at matches.

Bordeaux, meanwhile, will be keen to maintain their unbeaten run at their Chaban Delmas stadium this season.

The western French side are on top of the league, two points ahead of former champions Lyon and Marseille with Rennes a further two points behind, after the Brittany outfit made a surprisingly strong start to the season and are unbeaten after six games.

The chasing pack will be looking for the champions, who could be without midfielder Yoann Gourcuff after he suffered a thigh strain, to trip up.

And Didier Deschamps has ordered his Marseille to focus on Valencienes and not next week’s Champions League tie against Spanish giants Real Madrid despite their league rivals having earned just seven points from six games.

“If my players already have Real at the back of their minds, I’m not going to take that away from them. But I’ll remind them that the priority is the championship,” said Deschamps.

Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda added: “It would be a lie to say that we’re not thinking a little about Madrid. We know that this match is looming but today it’s Valenciennes.”

Lyon coach Claude Puel, meanwhile, has injury worries ahead of his side hosting midtable Toulouse and will be without Argentine striker Lisandro Lopez, Brazilian midfielder Michel Bastos and defender Jean-Alain Boumsong.

And midfielder Kim Kallstrom is expecting a tough test against Toulouse, riding high after coming away with a win from Partizan Belgrade in the Europa League recently.

“Toulouse are very strong and are coming off a very good season,” he said. “They also have a great striker (Andre-Pierre Gignac). We have to watch out for this team.”

Elsewhere fifth-placed Monaco host St Etienne, while Paris St Germain travel to Lorient, while Sunday sees Le Mans host Lens and Nice visit Lille.

Tailenders Grenoble travel to Auxerre, as the Burgundy side bid to kickstart their season after their 3-1 League Cup flop to second division strugglers Sedan.

Saturday (all times 17:00 GMT unless stated)

Auxerre v Grenoble

Lorient v PSG

Monaco v St Etienne

Montpellier v Boulogne

AS Nancy v Sochaux

Valenciennes v Marseille

Lyon v Toulouse (19:00)

Sunday

Lille v Nice (15:00)

Le Mans v Lens (15:00)

Bordeaux v Rennes (19:00)

PARIS (AFP)

Tags: Andre-Pierre Gignac, Argentine, Belgrade, big boys, Bordeaux, Boulogne, brazilia, Brittany, claude puel, didier deschamps, french league, french side, Germain, Grenoble, injury worries, jean alain boumsong, kim kallstrom, league rivals, league tie, Lens, Lille, Lorient, Lyon, Mans, Marseille, Michel Bastos, Monaco, Montpellier, Nancy, new security measures, PARIS, police surveillance, real madrid, seven points, six games, sochaux, Steve Mandanda, thigh strain, tight security, Toulouse, valenciennes, western French, yoann gourcuff

Ten arrests in Serbia after French fan attack

September 19, 2009

Serbian police have made ten arrests in connection with a violent attack which left a French football fan fighting for his life.

The fan, 28-year-old Brice Taton, was said to be in a “critical” condition after chest surgery on Friday following the assault which took place after French side Toulouse’s 3-2 win over Partizan Belgrade on Thursday.

“The Serb government praises the work of the Interior Ministry which has led to the arrest of ten people,” a government statement confirmed on Saturday.

Taton was one of two Toulouse supporters hurt when 30 Partizan fans stormed into a bar where French fans had congregated and attacked them.

The second victim was hospitalised with less severe injuries and later released.

A Serbian employee of the bar who was injured in the violence was also released from hospital.

One French fan told AFP that the Partizan supporters had attacked their group with baseball bats, bicycle chains and torches.

Serbian President Boris Tadic condemned what he called “wild and barbaric acts by football fans and attacks on foreign citizens” and insisted that the “state must do everything to arrest those who have committed violence and punish them as strictly as possible”.

BELGRADE (AFP)

Tags: barbaric acts, baseball bats, Belgrade, bicycle chains, boris tadic, brice, Brice Taton, chest surgery, critical condition, football fan, football fans, french fan, french fans, french football, french side, government statement, interior ministry, president boris, President Boris Tadic, serb government, serbian police, Toulouse, violent attack

French fan critical after violence in Serbia

September 19, 2009

A French football fan hurt in a violent clash with Serbian supporters was fighting for his life on Friday, according to doctors who operated on him.

The 28-year-old man “had his chest aorta operated on for more than three hours,” Drago Jovanovic, a spokesman from the Medical Centre in Belgrade, told AFP.

“Doctors did their best, but this kind of surgery is complicated and difficult, one of the most difficult of all,” Jovanovic added.

“The thing is even more complicated by the fact that, besides his chest aorta, he has injuries to almost all his vital organs. We will be following the post-operative period to see how it goes.”

Djordje Bajec, head of the Medical Centre, told B92 television that the Frenchman had undergone “practically open-heart surgery. The outcome for operations of this kind is very uncertain.

“We should be aware that the patient also has severe injuries to his brain, lung and pelvis… His life is still very much in danger.”

The man’s condition appeared to have worsened throughout the day, as earlier on Friday doctor Vladimir Djukic told AFP that the “seriously injured French patient is very much better” and that his return to France was being arranged.

Two supporters of the French side Toulouse were hurt ahead of their team’s 3-2 Europa League victory over Partizan Belgrade on Thursday when 30 opposition fans stormed into a bar where French fans had congregated and attacked them.

The second was hospitalised with less severe injuries but held overnight for observation, before being released from hospital during the day.

A Serbian employee of the bar who was injured in the violence was also released from hospital.

One French fan told AFP that the Partizan supporters had attacked their group with baseball bats, bicycle chains and torches.

The French embassy in Belgrade asked the Serbian Interior Ministry to “clear up” all events and bring the perpetrators to justice, a statement said.

“The state will react in accordance with its authorities to any act of violence on the streets of Belgrade and it will not allow an atmosphere of chaos to be created,” Tadic said in a statement.

BELGRADE (AFP)

Tags: aorta, barbaric acts, baseball bats, Belgrade, bicycle chains, boris tadic, djukic, football fan, France, french embassy, french fan, french fans, french football, french side, league victory, medical centre, open heart surgery, president boris, President Boris Tadic, serbian interior ministry, serbian president, Toulouse, violent clash, vital organs, Vladimir Djukic

Vidic: Draw against France would be enough

September 7, 2009

Serbia defender Nemanja Vidic says a draw against beleaguered France in a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday would be as good as a victory.

The Serbs will reach next year’s World Cup if they win on Wednesday, while France is clinging to its fading hopes of direct qualification from Group 7 after stumbling to a 1-1 draw against Romania at Stade de France on Saturday.

“We have to keep our heads cool and be aware that a point against France is as good as a win,” Vidic of Manchester United said Monday.

Serbia leads the group with 18 points from seven matches, with France trailing four points behind. A French win in Belgrade would leave Raymond Domenech’s side one point behind Serbia with two games to play.

A draw on Wednesday would mean that Serbia needed to win only one of its two remaining group matches – against Romania at home or Lithuania away – and still clinch a direct World Cup spot, no matter what France did against the Faeroe Islands and Austria at home.

“We must not rush toward the French goal,” Vidic said. “We have to be disciplined and organized because their players are great individuals who can easily solve one-on-one situations.”

Serbia captain Dejan Stankovic agreed with Vidic, although he said that “it would be a pity to waste this match point against France.”

Stankovic said he spoke to his Inter Milan teammate Christian Chivu, who led Romania’s defense on Saturday against France and who gave him some advice.

“Christian said that the French midfield and defense are very strong and that we should keep our defense tight without giving them much space,” Stankovic said.

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: Austria, Belgrade, Christian, Christian Chivu, dejan stankovic, faeroe islands, four points, France, inter milan, Lithuania, Manchester, manchester united, match point, midfield, Milan, raymond domenech, Romania, stade de france, teammate, two games, victory, vidic, world cup qualifier, world cup spot

France boss Domenech gets vote of confidence

September 6, 2009

Under-fire French coach Raymond Domenech received the dreaded vote of confidence on Sunday, just hours after the 1998 world champions suffered another setback in their bid to reach the World Cup.

Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Romania in Paris left France, the 2006 runners-up, needing to beat Serbia in Belgrade on Wednesday to keep their hopes of automatic qualification alive.

“I repeat: yes, yes, yes. I have to say it three times. He has the job of qualifying us for the World Cup,” said French Football Federation (FFF) president Jean-Pierre Escalettes.

“And I repeat that even if we have to go into the play-offs, it’s still Raymond Domenech’s job.”

France’s desperate fight to finish top of their group has also been hit by injuries to playmaker Franck Ribery and defender Julien Escude, who scored an own goal in Saturday’s game.

“We don’t know whether they will be able to play on Wednesday,” said Domenech.

“We shall see, we generally wait a day after a match (Monday in this case) to take an overall analysis.”

Ribery, who has a calf problem, has endured an injury-plagued summer and has barely played for Bayern Munich this campaign.

He came on in the 57th minute against Romania without making much of an impression.

Serbia lead France by four points in Group Seven with just three matches remaining.

PARIS (AFP)

Tags: automatic qualification, Bayern, bayern munich, Belgrade, desperate fight, escude, fff, four points, France, franck ribery, french coach, french football federation, jean pierre, PARIS, play offs, Raymond, raymond domenech, Romania, runners, serbia, setback, vote of confidence, world champions, World Cup

Wolves sign Castillo, Maierhofer

September 1, 2009

Premier League newboys Wolverhampton signed Ecuador midfielder Segundo Castillo on a season’s loan from Red Star Belgrade on Monday.

Castillo spent last season on loan at Everton, making eight league appearances, but the Toffees opted not to sign him on a permanent basis.

The 27-year-old is Wolves boss Mick McCarthy’s eighth signing since the end of last season as he seeks to establish the Molineux outfit in the English top-flight.

Wolves have an option to sign Castillo permanently when the loan expires and Jez Moxey, the club’s chief operating officer, said: “We are delighted to announce Segundo as our latest signing.

“He is a player who arrives with extensive experience at international level as well as one of the leading Premier League clubs in Everton.”

Wolves have also clinched the signing of Austria striker Stefan Maierhofer from Rapid Vienna on a three-year deal.

Maierhofer, who scored 23 goals in 37 games for Rapid last season, has joined for an undisclosed fee and the deal includes an option for the club to extend the contract with the 6ft 7in frontman for a further season.

“We are delighted to bring Stefan in as our ninth new arrival this summer,” said Moxey.

“He is a player who has been a regular goalscorer for Rapid Vienna in recent seasons and helped the club qualify for the Europa League by contributing to their win against Aston Villa last week.

“Stefan had been targeted by Mick to add competition for places in the striking department, and once again we are pleased that the board and chairman Steve Morgan have been able to support the manager.”

WOLVERHAMPTON, England (AFP