Ghana sweat on skipper Kingson
January 29, 2010
Africa Cup of Nations finalists Ghana, beset by a bagful of injuries to star players, suffered a fresh setback on Friday involving inspirational captain Richard Kingson.
The Ghana and Wigan goalkeeper is one of only a handful of experienced players available to the Black Stars, who face champions Egypt in Sunday’s final.
But Kingson, who pulled off a series of match-winning saves in the 1-0 semi-final win over Nigeria, had to be taken to hospital in Luanda on Friday to undergo tests on a groin problem.
He picked up the injury in last Sunday’s 1-0 quarter-final win over hosts Angola, and was clearly not 100 percent against Nigeria, restricting his kicking to his left foot.
“I wasn’t entirely fit but I promised the boys I would do anything for them, I sacrificed myself for the guys to help them reach the final,” he said after Thursday’s historic win in the west African derby, which has put Ghana into its first Africa Cup of Nations final for 18 years.
Coach Milovan Rajevic, already missing most of his regular first XI, told AFP at the team’s hotel in downtown Luanda: “Richard has had to skip a couple of training sessions because of the injury. And as you saw he was feeling it yesterday, using only his left foot.
“He is in hospital today to have tests and treatment, but I’m hopeful he will be able to play on Sunday.
“He really wanted to play against Nigeria, he wanted to help them with his experience.”
Despite his fine performance in the quarter-finals there was a sting in the tail for the Ghana captain, who was booked in injury time.
Another yellow card in the final will see him miss Ghana’s World Cup first round opening game against Serbia in Pretoria, South Africa on June 13.
He is one of a rare breed of experienced players left in the squad following the defection due to injury of regular captain Stephen Appiah, Chelsea star Michael Essien, John Pantsil and John Mensah.
That has left the door open to Ghana’s youngsters, who have grabbed the chance to shine and state their case to be included in Rajevic’s World Cup squad.
As well as Rajevic’s home country, Ghana are drawn against Germany and Australia in Group D in South Africa.
One piece of good news for the underdogs in Sunday’s final is the return to fitness of Anthony Annan.
The midfielder, who plays his club football in Norway with Rosenborg, had to sit out Ghana’s first three games but started against Nigeria and will be even sharper for Egypt.
The champions, seeking their third straight title and seventh in total, arrive in Luanda later on Friday to prepare for what they hope will be yet another continental crown.
Victory will see coach Hassan Shehata become the first manager to win three consecutive championships.
LUANDA (AFP)
Tags: Angola, Anthony Annan, black stars, captain richard, captain Richard Kingson, captain stephen, captain Stephen Appiah, chelsea star, Egypt, Germany, ghana, groin problem, hospital today, injury time, inspirational captain, john mensah, john pantsil, Luanda, Michael Essien, miss ghana, nigeria, Norway, pretoria, pretoria south africa, richard kingson, South Africa, star players, stephen appiah, sting in the tail, west African, WiganRelated posts
Crash victim Cudicini to make full recovery, say Spurs
November 16, 2009
Tottenham say goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini is expected to make a full recovery after surgery on injuries he suffered in an horrific motorbike crash.
The 36-year-old Italian hit a car on Thursday while driving through east London, fracturing his wrist and damaging his pelvis.
The former Chelsea star was operated on at a private hospital on Friday and his north London club believe he is on course for a full recovery from an accident initially described as “life-changing” by ambulance staff.
Tottenham assistant manager Kevin Bond said on Sunday: “It’s going to take some time, he will be on crutches for a period of time and no doubt he’ll be in hospital for a good few days yet,” Bond told Sky Sports News.
“Obviously it’s such good news that all being well he will make a full recovery.
“At this moment no-one is going to put any type of time span on it – we are just glad to know that he’s well.
“That’s the most important thing and hopefully he’ll be back putting his boots on and his gloves on in the not so distant future.”
A female driver and a child passenger escaped unharmed from the car involved in the accident, which was described as a ‘write off’.
LONDON (AFP)
Tags: ambulance staff, carlo cudicini, chelsea star, crash victim, crutches, distant future, east london, gloves, Goalkeeper, motorbike crash, no doubt, north london club, pelvis, period of time, private hospital, Sky Sports, sky sports news, spurs, time spanRelated posts
Cudicini has successful surgery after bike crash
November 14, 2009
Tottenham goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini has had surgery on his right wrist and pelvis after the Italian was involved in an horrific motorbike crash.
Cudicini, 36, hit a car on Thursday while driving through Walthamstow, east London, fracturing his wrist and damaging his pelvis.
The former Chelsea star was operated on at a private hospital on Friday and his north London club believe he is on course for a full recovery from an accident initially described as “life-changing” by ambulance staff.
Tottenham Head of Medical Services Wayne Diesel said: “Both specialists are extremely pleased with the result and expect a good recovery.
“Carlo is in a lot less discomfort than before the operations and is in good spirits.
“The splint on his left wrist has been removed and he now has full use of this wrist.
“He will remain in hospital for a few more days and then be on forearm crutches for about 12 weeks.”
LONDON (AFP)
Tags: ambulance staff, carlo cudicini, chelsea star, east london, forearm crutches, Goalkeeper, medical services, motorbike crash, north london club, pelvis, private hospital, spirits, tottenhamRelated posts
Kalou gets new Chelsea deal
October 13, 2009
Salomon Kalou has become the latest Chelsea star to agree a new long-term deal, with the Ivory Coast striker signing a contract that will keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2012.
Kalou is in his fourth year at Stamford Bridge and has made 93 starts, 66 substitute appearances and scored 31 goals for the club.
Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti predicted a bright future for the striker, who has followed Didier Drogba, John Terry, Ashley Cole, John Mikel Obi, Florent Malouda, Hilario and Michael Mancienne in extending his stay in west London.
“I am very pleased that Salomon has signed a new contract with us as he is an important player for this club,” said Ancelotti.
“He is always well motivated and works hard at his game at all times. Because of this I am sure that Salomon will become an even more important player for Chelsea in the future.”
Chelsea had allowed Kalou to come within eight months of becoming a free agent, suggesting the club’s commitment to keeping him was not as great as Ancelotti’s comments imply.
The bargaining power of players on the current staff has however been increased by the fact that Chelsea are banned from signing any new players until January 2010 as a result of being found guilty of inducing teenager Gael Kakuta to breach his contract with Lens two years ago.
According to English media reports, Kalou’s new deal gives him a salary of 60,000 pounds a week.
LONDON (AFP)
Tags: ashley cole, bargaining power, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, chelsea star, Cole, current staff, eight months, florent malouda, fourth year, hilario, Ivory Coast, john mikel obi, john terry, kakuta, london, Michael Mancienne, new contract, salomon, Salomon Kalou, stamford bridge, terry ashley, west londonRelated posts
Total focus on Russia game, insists Ballack
September 29, 2009
Germany captain Michael Ballack insists his team will give everything they have to beat Russia in Moscow on October 10 and earn themselves an automatic place at the 2010 World Cup.
Germany are just one point clear at the top of the Group Four table ahead of deadly rivals Russia, but should Ballack’s team beat the home side at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium they will be uncatchable.
“We are devoting all our focus, energy and commitment to the match,” said the Chelsea star.
“We can’t let the artificial pitch be an excuse for us – we’ll just have to adapt to the conditions.
“Russia have got a strong team and they have got results in the past, so we will have to be at our very best if we are to get something out of our trip to Moscow.
“We’re confident that we will qualify directly for the World Cup, because we’re totally motivated for this match, well prepared and we know that we can get the right result.”
Having turned 33 last week, Ballack has said he will consider retiring after next June’s World Cup and is eager to finish on a high having finished as runner-up in 2002 and then Germany came third in 2006.
“Both World Cups were really tough for me emotionally as a player,” said the former Bayern Munich star.
“In 2002, we amazed everybody by getting to the final, and I scored the winners in the 1-0 victories in the quarter and semi-finals, only to be suspended for the final.
“That was a bitter pill, it really was.
“The atmosphere in 2006 was sensational.
“For us players it was a unique experience, and I don’t think that the fans ever will forget that World Cup either.
“Germany showed that we are a friendly nation who like to receive guests, and that was very important for our country’s international image.
“It was a great World Cup, both on the pitch and in terms of the atmosphere all around the country and among football fans in particular.”
Germany have a habit of turning on the style for the big tournaments and despite a poor start at Euro 2008 when they lost in the group stages to Croatia, they went on to lose 1-0 to Spain in the final.
Coach Joachim Loew is set to announce his squad for the trip to Moscow and the game against Finland in Hamburg on October 14 later this week.
BERLIN (AFP)
Tags: artificial pitch, Bayern, bayern munich, berlin, bitter pill, captain michael, captain Michael Ballack, CHELSEA, chelsea star, euro 2008, excuse, Finland, focus energy, football fans, Germany, group stages, habit, Hamburg, international image, joachim loew, luzhniki stadium, Michael Ballack, Moscow, rivals, russia, semi finals, Spain, trip to moscow, world cup germany, world cupsRelated posts
Malouda out of suqad, Henry denies criticising coach
September 8, 2009
1998 World Cup winners France’s increasingly fraught qualifying campaign for next year’s finals deepened on Monday when captain Thierry Henry denied he had criticised coach Raymond Domenech in front of the rest of the squad.
Squad-mate and fellow 2006 World Cup finalist Florent Malouda also revealed that he had only learnt he was not even among the substitutes for last Saturday’s qualifier with Romania at the Stade de France when he entered the dressing-room and he saw there was no shirt for him.
Henry’s denial – Le Parisien claimed on Monday that in Friday’s team meeting the Barcelona star had publicly slammed Domenech – and Malouda’s clear displeasure at the manner in which he learnt of his non-selection will do nothing for morale as they head for a crucial qualifier with Group Seven leaders Serbia on Wednesday.
Henry was forced to clarify what had gone on on Friday on the eve of the 1-1 draw which left the French four points adrift of the Serbs with just three matches remaining and in danger of having to go through a play-off to progress to South Africa.
“Nothing happened on Friday evening,” protested Henry to French TV station TF1.
“There was a discussion between the squad and the coach as is usual.
“It was a constructive discussion… which must stay between the players and the coach.
“I did not question the coach’s qualities. There was never a clash between us,” added Henry, who was quoted by Le Parisien as telling Domenech that the players had no idea where they were to play and lacked any direction.
Henry, who scored France’s goal in the Romania match, insisted the camp was a happy one, something clearly not in Malouda’s vocabulary.
“I saw when I entered the dressingroom that there no shirt had been prepared for me,” the Chelsea star – who has enjoyed distant relations with Domenech having criticised him – told RTL radio station in an interview recorded on Sunday but only broadcast on Monday.
“I deduced from that that I was in either the starting line-up or the substitutes bench, that is how I came to learn of it.
“I was surprised, I thought at the very least I would feature at some stage.
“However, it is important to support ones friends, even from the stands, one has to get over one’s disappointment.
“One is powerless to do anything sitting in the stands, one has fleas in ones pants, but that is how it is, it is the choice of the coach.
“It is a delicate matter to discuss, and is not an agreeable experience to live through, but it is important not to think about it too much, even if it is disappointing.”
PARIS (AFP)
Tags: Barcelona, captain Thierry Henry, CHELSEA, chelsea star, criticised, cup finalist, displeasure, distant relations, dressing room, dressingroom, florent, four points, France, friday evening, last saturday, le parisien, radio station, raymond domenech, Romania, serbs, starting line, thierry henry, world cup winnersRelated posts
Ashley Cole signs new Chelsea contract
September 2, 2009
Chelsea defender Ashley Cole signed a new four-year contract with the Premier League club on Wednesday.
Cole is the second Chelsea star to commit his future to Carlo Ancelotti’s team recently after captain John Terry put pen to paper on an improved five-year deal on Monday.
England star Cole joined the Blues in a controversial move from London rivals Arsenal in 2006 and remains arguably the best full-back in the Premier League.
He has won the FA Cup twice and the League Cup once with Chelsea, as well as reaching the 2008 Champions League final.
“Chelsea FC is delighted to confirm that Ashley Cole has signed a new four-year contract,” a statement on Chelsea’s website confirmed.
LONDON (AFP)
Tags: arsenal, ashley cole, captain john, captain John Terry, carlo ancelotti, champions league, CHELSEA, chelsea fc, chelsea star, Cole, controversial move, England, england star, FA Cup, john terry, london, pen to paper, premier league, rivals, signsRelated posts
Gudjohnsen set for a move from Barca, says father
June 30, 2009
Eidur Gudjohnsen’s father believes that the forward will leave Barcelona this summer.
The former Chelsea star’s father Arnor, who also represents the striker, claims his son’s days at the Nou Camp are over, and he is weighing up his options.
It is suggested three Premier League clubs have made their intentions known, although they face competition from other European sides.
“I think that Eidur will leave Barcelona, but I am not sure where he will end up playing next,” Arnor Gudjohnsen is quoted as saying by Sport.
“There are many possibilities open to him and apart from Aston Villa, Fulham and Everton, there are also clubs in other European countries that want him.”
The 30-year-old has previously hinted at an interest in joining former Chelsea team-mate Gianfranco Zola at West Ham, but an official approach has not yet been made by the Hammers.
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Tags: arnor, aston villa, Barcelona, CHELSEA, chelsea star, eidur gudjohnsen, English Premier League, european countries, everton, fulham, hammers, LA Liga, nou camp, possibilities, premier league clubs, striker, team mate, west ham, ZolaRelated posts
Wright-Phillips to miss England´s WCup qualifiers
May 22, 2009
MANCHESTER, England (AFP) – Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips has been ruled out of England’s World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Andorra with a knee injury.
Wright-Phillips was expected to be named in Fabio Capello’s squad for the June double-header, but City manager Mark Hughes said on Friday the former Chelsea star is due for a knee operation that will sideline him for several months.
Hughes had hoped Wright-Phillips would play in City’s clash against Bolton on Sunday to prove his fitness for England. Instead he is set for a “wash-out” of his knee in the hope he can return for the start of next season.
“Shaun trained earlier this week but he got a reaction,” Hughes said. “Now he will have to see a specialist.
“He is not going to be available at the weekend and he may well have a wash out of his knee in the close-season that would enable him to be fit for the start of pre-season training.
“He has worked really hard trying to get fit but this problem needs to be addressed and we must look at it.”
Group Six leaders England face Kazakhstan on June 6 and host Andorra at Wembley on June 10.
Wright-Phillips’ absence is the latest blow to Capello, who has already lost injured goalkeepers David James and Ben Foster for the qualifiers.
Tags: Andorra, ben foster, CHELSEA, chelsea star, clash, David James, double header, England, fabio capello, kazakhstan, knee injury, knee operation, Manchester, manchester city, manchester england, Mark Hughes, miss england, pre season training, Shaun, Shaun Wright-Phillips, W.Cup, Wembley, winger, World Cup, world cup qualifiersRelated posts
Absent stars devalues Germany´s summer tour: Loew
April 22, 2009
BERLIN (AFP) – Germany coach Joachim Loew admitted Wednesday around a dozen stars – including captain Michael Ballack – are set to miss the national team’s summer tour with a virtual B team likely to travel.
Germany fly to China on May 26 and face the national side in Shanghai on May 29 before travelling to face the United Arab Emirates in Dubai on June 2.
But Chelsea star Ballack is involved in the FA Cup final on May 30 and several other Germany stars are involved in either the German Cup final the same day or the European Under-21 Championships in Sweden from June 15-29.
“The European Under-21 Championships now takes a higher priority for us than the Asian tour with the national team,” admitted Loew, who expects to be without 15 first-choice players.
The likes of young stars like Schalke’s Manuel Neuer, Moenchengladbach pair Marko Marin and Alexander Baumjohann, Hoffenheim’s Andreas Beck and Stuttgart’s Serdar Tasci and Sami Khedira – will all be preparing with Germany’s juniors.
And with Leverkusen set to face Bremen or Hamburg in the German Cup final at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium on May 30, Loew will be missing at least five players who will be involved in that game alone.
“From a sporting point of view, the timing of the tour of Asia is not ideal,” said German Football Federation (DFB) president Theo Zwanziger.
But with Bayern Munich out of the German Cup, Loew can at least rely on stars such as Philipp Lahm, Miroslav Klose, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski or players from current Bundesliga leaders Wolfsburg.
And Loew says he will now use the tour to give players on the fringe of the national side an opportunity to impress.
“I will use the opportunity to see how several candidates, who we do not know so well, get on in the national team environment,” said Loew.
Tags: absent stars, Alexander, andreas beck, Asia, asian tour, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Bayern, berlin, Bremen, captain michael, captain Michael Ballack, CHELSEA, chelsea star, China, Dubai, european under 21 championships, fa cup final, german cup, german football federation, german football federation dfb, Germany, Hoffenheim, joachim loew, Lukas Podolski, manuel neuer, Marin, Michael Ballack, miroslav klose, olympic stadium, Sami Khedira, serdar tasci, Shanghai, stuttgart, Sweden, theo zwanziger, united arab emirates, World CupRelated posts
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