No surgery for Dempsey eases US World Cup fears

January 20, 2010

Fulham striker Clint Dempsey will not require surgery to repair his injured right knee, the English Premier League side announced Tuesday, easing US fears that he might be lost for the World Cup.

Dempsey, who plays forward as well as attacking midfielder, suffered moderate ligament damage but an MRI scan indicated there was not a torn ligament and that he might play for Fulham before the end of the season.

That means he should be healthy when the Americans face England on June 12 in their World Cup opener in South Africa.

“The news about Clint’s injury is positive, especially given the fact that he will not require surgery,” US coach Bob Bradley said. “We are confident that Clint will be ready to be an important part of our team during the World Cup.”

Dempsey, 26, was injured during a 2-0 Fulham loss Sunday at Blackburn. US team medical staff have spoken daily with Fulham officials since then and will monitor Dempsey’s progress in the months of rehabilitation to come.

Dempsey has 17 goals in 60 caps for the Americans and seven goals for Fulham this season.

The US side is already dealing with injuries to star defender Oguchi Onyewu, who is rehabilitating after knee surgery, and forward Charlie Davies, who suffered two broken right leg bones and a lacerated bladder in a car crash.

CHICAGO (AFP)

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Benzema escapes injury in car crash

December 1, 2009

Real Madrid and France striker Karim Benzema has reportedly escaped injury from a minor car accident on his way home after his team’s 1-0 defeat to Barcelona on Sunday night.

According to Spanish sports daily Marca, the Frenchman’s vehicle was seriously damaged when he hit a barrier while travelling in the Madrid suburbs, but the player was not hurt.

The 21-year-old former Lyon striker was introduced with half an hour remaining at the Nou Camp last night as Manuel Pellegrini’s side surrendered top spot in La Liga.

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: abhimanyu, Barcelona, car accident, car crash, France, frenchman, half an hour, Karim Benzema, Lyon, MADRID, manuel pellegrini, nou camp, real madrid, spanish sports, striker

US forward Davies released from hospital

November 11, 2009

Charlie Davies, severely injured in a car crash last month after helping the United States qualify for the World Cup, was released from hospital on Tuesday after four weeks of treatment and recovery.

The 23-year-old forward was a passenger in a vehicle that crashed on a parkway in suburban Washington, where the US squad stayed ahead of a 2-2 draw with Costa Rica after a qualifying victory in Honduras had secured a Cup berth.

Davies, who plays for French club Sochaux, will work with the medical staff of the US national team in his rehabilitation after suffering a broken right tibia and femur, lacerated bladder, broken left elbow and facial fractures.

“Charlie faces a long recovery,” said James DeBritz, Washington Hospital Center’s orthopedic trauma director. “It will take time and extensive physical therapy for his bones and soft tissue to heal.

“His overall health, age and positive attitude should help him to have a good outcome.”

A passenger in the car, Ashley Roberta, 22, was killed in the one-car wreck. The driver, who has not been identified, was also hospitalized in the incident, which is still under investigation by US Park Police.

Davies, who scored three goals in 13 matches this year as a regular starter, is expected to need between six and 12 months to recover, all-but ensuring he will not play in the 2010 World Cup finals next June in South Africa.

“I would like to take the time to thank everyone who has dealt with me for really putting in the time to help me get better as a person and as an athlete,” Davies said in a statement.

“I continue to improve every day and I look forward to getting back on my feet and attacking rehabilitation.

“Thank you for everyone’s support. It really means a lot to me.”

WASHINGTON (AFP)

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Injured US forward Davies leaves intensive care

October 20, 2009

US forward Charlie Davies has left intensive care as he continues to recover in hospital from serious injuries suffered in a road accident last week.

Davies suffered two broken bones in his right leg, a broken left elbow, a lascerated bladder and facial fractures in a fatal one-car crash last Tuesday.

Davies, who helped the United States seal a World Cup spot in a 3-2 victory at Honduras on October 10, was to have surgery early next week to repair a broken left elbow and may require operations to repair the facial fractures.

The one-car crash occurred when the US team was in Washington for last Wednesday’s final CONCACAF World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica.

The driver of the car, who has not been indentified, was hospitalized and 22-year-old Ashley Roberta was killed in the wreck.

Davies, who plays for French club Sochaux, is expected to need six to 12 months to recover, essentially ruling him out of the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa next June.

The 23-year-old scored three goals in 13 matches this year for the Americans and was a regular starter for the US side.

WASHINGTON (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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US break Costa Rican hearts but lose Onyewu

October 15, 2009

Jonathan Bornstein’s header in the fifth minute of stoppage time gave 10-man United States a 2-2 draw with Costa Rica that denied the Ticos a berth in the 2010 South Africa World Cup.

On a cold and rainy night where Bryan Ruiz scored in the 21st and 24th minutes to give Costa Rica a 2-0 lead, the Americans fought back to finish North American qualifying with three wins and two draws when foes score first.

“It’s a good thing we respond and compete,” US coach Bob Bradley said. “It was a strong effort. It’s not how you draw it up but it showed their maturity, the spirit of our team and we’re very proud of that.”

But the victory came at a heavy cost.

US star defender Oguchi Onyewu of AC Milan will be out three to four months with a torn left patellar tendon, the injury coming a day after a car crash that severely injured US forward Charlie Davies and likely took him out of the World Cup.

“We’ve had two days of tough news,” Bradley said. “It’s another setback for us.

“Gooch (Onyewu) has been such an important part of our team. It’s normally three of four months recovery time. He’s young. He’s healthy. He has good doctors. He’s someone we’re sure is going to get back.”

With Onyewu carried off on a stretcher in the 83rd minute, a 10-man US side was left since the Americans had used all their substitutions. It proved enough.

Michael Bradley, the US coach’s son, scored in the 72nd minute but the Ticos were still on track for a World Cup berth until defender Bornstein took a pass from Robbie Rogers and nodded it past Costa Rican goalkeeper Keilor Navas.

“We put a lot of numbers in the box,” Bornstein said. “I don’t usually go up for that but it was last shot time. No one marked me. I just snuck in there and the ball landed on my head.”

Seconds away from a victory that would have booked a third consecutive trip to the global football showdown, Costa Rica instead lost out to Honduras and must now play Uruguay in a two-leg playoff to decide which makes the World Cup.

The Americans finished atop the North American regional qualifying group at 6-2-2 for 20 points, one more than Mexico with Honduras third ahead of Costa Rica on goal difference plus-six to nil after each finished 5-4 with one drawn.

“We’re very proud to win the group,” coach Bradley said.

The Americans won a 19th consecutive World Cup home qualifier despite early struggles as Costa Rica has now gone 24 years since winning a qualifier on US soil.

Ruiz opened the scoring by racing around US defender Steve Cherundolo to the right of goalkeeper Tim Howard and left-footed the ball past the sprawled US netminder.

Ruiz struck again in the 24th minute on a give-and-go play, taking the ball at the top of the area and curling a left-footed kick high into the far corner past a diving Howard.

“Every time. Every (expletive) time,” Howard screamed at US defenders after the goal, which delighted thousands of loud, flag-waving Costa Rica supporters.

Bradley answered 27 minutes into the second half after Navas stopped a Landon Donovan shot, Bradley chipping the rebound over Navas into the net.

Ticos coach Rene Simoes, a Brazilian and former Jamaica coach hired for the last qualifiers, was ejected in stoppage time, escorted off before Costa Rica was delivered a heartbreaking blow.

The Americans lead Costa Rica 12-11 with five drawn in the all-time rivalry.

WASHINGTON (AFP)

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Ronaldo unhurt after car crash

January 8, 2009

Cristiano Ronaldo escaped unhurt on Thursday after his Ferrari hit a roadside barrier in a tunnel near Manchester airport.

“No one was injured in the collision,” Greater Manchester Police said in a statement, while reports say the Ballon d’Or winner was at training as usual after the crash.

From the damage done to the car, it looks like a lucky escape for the player, who came on as a sub in United’s defeat by Derby in the Carling Cup on Wednesday night.

REUTERS PHOTO: Police examine Cristiano Ronaldo’s car after Thursday’s crash. REUTERS/Phil Noble

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Tags: ballon, car, car crash, Carling Cup, defeat, English Premier League, ferrari, Greater Manchester, greater manchester police, lucky escape, Manchester, manchester airport, nbsp, Phil Noble Go, Photo, photo police, reuters, reuters photo, ronaldo, United, wednesday night

Ronaldo escapes injury in horror smash

January 8, 2009

LONDON (AFP) – Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo escaped unscathed Thursday from a car crash that left his Ferrari a mangled wreck, and will be fit to play in Sunday’s Premier League showdown with Chelsea.

His luxury sports car collided with a roadside barrier in a tunnel near Manchester airport as he was driving to training on Thursday morning.

A photographer who arrived at the scene shortly afterwards described the Portugal winger’s car as a "terrible mess" but Greater Manchester Police said no one had been injured.

"Officers attended and discovered a Ferrari had collided with a barrier," a statement said. "No one is believed to have been injured."

A spokeswoman for United said the club’s star player had not required treatment for shock or any other injuries.

"Cristiano is fine," the spokeswoman said. "It was on his way to training. He did not receive any treatment. He has trained this morning with the team and is ok."

The Portugal international played as a second-half substitute in United’s 1-0 defeat away to Derby County in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final on Wednesday.

Barring any delayed reaction to Friday’s crash, he will be back in the starting line-up for Sunday’s match at Old Trafford as United seek to overcome one of their major rivals in the battle to retain the Premier League trophy.

Written by: AFP