Barry wants Robinho at City

November 13, 2009


England international and Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry has urged Brazilian star Robinho to stay at Manchester City, and claimed that any team in the world would welcome him.

Robinho’s future at Eastlands appears to be in doubt and he has been linked with a move to Barcelona.

He is also a candidate to feature in his country’s friendly international with England in Doha on Saturday despite injuries having sidelined him at City.

But, despite all the controversy, England midfielder Barry is keen for his club-mate to show his commitment to Mark Hughes’ side.

Barry said: “Robinho is one of the best players in the world and the way he plays football is typically Brazilian.

“All his flair and attacking abilities are probably the best around.

“I’ve only played three or four games with him since I came to City at the start of the season.

“But training with him on a regular basis is superb and he is great to have around.

“He’s a big star for Man City and a big star for Brazil.

“I’m not too sure how his fitness is at the moment and he has missed a lot of games for us.

“But I’m keen for Robinho to stay and he is a class player any team in the world would welcome.”

The possible absence of skipper John Terry with a calf injury has added to England’s problems and they will be missing many of their first-choice players.

But Barry is urging the players who are given a chance to use it to stake their claim to be part of Fabio Capello’s World Cup squad next summer.

England were decimated in similar fashion when they took on Germany in Berlin 12 months ago and produced an excellent performance to triumph 2-1.

Barry said: “When the fixture was announced, a lot of the players were looking forward to coming out here and playing Brazil but all the injuries seem to have come together.

“At the same time, the chance is now presenting itself for a lot of players to stake their claims.

“We are playing against the best team in the world so, if you can perform to a good level against them, it’s going to put you forward in line for the World Cup.

“The history for England recently has been injuries leading up to the big tournaments and, touch wood, that doesn’t happen next year.

“But you do need a big squad so there will be players trying to put their name forward.”

Barry is a massive fan of Brazilian football and knows a win against them would add to the high level of confidence that has developed among the players after clinching a World Cup spot with nine victories from 10 qualifying games.

He said: “I suppose, when I was growing up, the player that stands out would have been Ronaldo, who was a great striker.

“Brazil have always had great flair and have been the number one nation in football for a lot of years.

“To put in a performance against Brazil and get a victory would lift everyone’s spirits. The confidence is already high but a victory would send it through the roof.

“Playing Brazil is something I’ve been looking forward to for a while. To test yourself against them, with their history, is a big challenge.”

Abhimanyu Rajput

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Last-minute Tunisia grab draw in Nigeria

September 6, 2009


Nigeria’s World Cup quest suffered a setback on Sunday when Tunisia grabbed a last-minute 2-2 draw at the Abuja National Stadium.

The Super Eagles were on course for a much-needed victory in the 80th minute when Esperance striker Michael Eneramo scored Nigeria’s second goal only for his Tunisian club mate, Oussama Darragi, to snatch a last-minute equaliser for the north Africans.

Tunisia remain top of Group Two with eight points from four matches, two points clear of second-placed Nigeria with two rounds of matches to be played. Mozambique climbed to third place after they pipped Kenya 1-0 in Maputo.

Only the group winners will qualify for the World Cup finals.

Russia-based Osaze Odemwingie opened the scoring after 23 minutes when he collected a pass from the lively Ikechukwu Uche before darting past two Tunisian defenders and thundering home from inside the box into the roof of the net.

Tunisia drew level two minutes later when Sliti Nabil also produced a rocket of a shot from outside the box to beat diving goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.

From the kick-off, the home team took the attacking initiative with Uche and Odemwingie threatening the Tunisian goal.

A combination between both strikers allowed Odemwingie to take a crack at goal, which missed the target.

Tunisia were closest to going ahead in the 20th minute when Lens striker Issam Jemaa rounded Enyeama, but his final effort hit the side netting, much to the relief of the 60,000 fans.

The Carthage Eagles created several more chances.

Enyeama saved from Ben Saada after 36 minutes and Saada again came close to getting his name on the scoresheet when his free-kick from the edge of the box a minute later was off target.

Nigeria continued to attack on the resumption of the second half, but looked increasingly suspect when the Tunisians attacked in numbers.

Esperance striker Eneramo replaced Seyi Olofinjana in the Super Eagles and within a minute of his entrance saw his header miss the target by inches.

At the other end, Enyeama saved from the ever-dangerous Jemaa, while a minute later, Nigeria had to thank the woodwork to save them from a misdirected header by Adeleye.

Nigeria fought back and regained the lead in the 80th minute when Eneramo stabbed home after great attacking play that involved John Mikel Obi and Obinna Nsofor.

However, another Esperance striker Darragi ensured there will be no victory party in Abuja with a last-ditch equaliser.

ABUJA, Nigeria (AFP)

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Aston Villa bid for Stoke target Collins

August 21, 2009


Premier League side Aston Villa have reportedly matched Stoke’s £5million bid for James Collins with Sylvain Distin and Stephen Warnock being tracked as potential transfer targets.

Martin O’Neill, who is understood to be an admirer of Matthew Upson, has been put off by an asking price of around £12million for the 30-year-old.

He is, however, reported to have bid for Upson’s West Ham team-mate Collins, who has held talks with Stoke over the last couple of days.

Portsmouth defender Distin would also cost around the £5million mark, but O’Neill is reluctant to pay over the odds for the 31-year-old having already had two bids rejected for the former Manchester City player.

The Villa boss is desperate to bring in proven quality at the heart of his back four to supplement Carlos Cuellar and Curtis Davies.

The retirement of Martin Laursen and the sale of Zat Knight to Bolton for £3million has left him short in that department.

Stephen Warnock has also been tracked for several months with Villa already having had one bid turned down for the Blackburn full-back.

He is keeping his fingers crossed that Rovers boss Sam Allardyce may make Warnock available after signing Real Madrid defender Michel Salgado.

In the midfield department, Tottenham’s Jermaine Jenas is a player O’Neill is still keen on although his interest in his club-mate David Bentley appears to have cooled.

Abhimanyu Rajput

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Robinho masterclass shatters Lippi´s record bid

February 11, 2009

LONDON (AFP) – Brazil forward Robinho shattered Italy coach Marcello Lippi’s record bid with a breathtaking display in his side’s 2-0 friendly win over the world champions here on Tuesday.

Robinho made the opener for Manchester City club-mate Elano with a defence-splitting pass and scored a sublime second himself to give Brazil an impressive victory at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.

Lippi was attempting to set a new world record for consecutive unbeaten matches by an international coach, but his run ended at 31 as he suffered a first loss with Italy since defeat against Slovenia during his first spell in charge way back in 2004.

As Lippi reacquaints himself with the unpleasant taste of defeat, Brazil coach Dunga is finally looking more comfortable in one of football’s most demanding jobs.

Dunga’s perceived penchant for cautious tactics has riled some in Brazil but this performance should earn him some respect at last.

These two giants of the global game have won nine World Cups between them, contested two finals and produced some of the finest matches in the competition’s history, but this was their first meeting for 12 years.

In the intervening decade each country had added another World Cup to their collection, yet both teams arrived in England with plenty to prove after spluttering starts to their 2010 qualifying campaigns.

With that in mind it wasn’t surprising that the match started at a frenetic pace. Italy had the ball in the net in the opening moments when Fabio Grosso met Andrea Pirlo’s lofted pass with a volley past Julio Cesar but the left-back’s effort was ruled out for offside.

The absence of AC Milan playmaker Kaka gave Dunga a chance to bring Ronaldinho back from a three-match exile, while Adriano, carrying more weight than ever, was also in the Selecao’s forward line.

While those two remain two of Brazil’s star attractions, the relatively unheralded Elano has become an integral part of the team under Dunga and the right sided midfielder underlined his importance as he opened the scoring in the 13th minute.

A swift and incisive exchange of passes with Robinho opened up the Italian defence and Elano gracefully applied the finishing touch as he guided his shot past Gianluigi Buffon.

Brazil have become accustomed to playing friendlies at Arsenal in the last two years and they were clearly in the mood. Even a defence as parsimonious as Italy’s couldn’t contain them.

If Elano’s opener had been a tasty appetiser, then Robinho’s strike in the 27th minute was a truly sumptuous main course.

Quickly dispossessing Pirlo as he dwelt on the ball in his own penalty area, Robinho teased Nicola Legrottaglie with a series of elaborate step-overs before wrong-footing his marker with a neat back-flick and driving a low shot into the far corner.

Debutant midfielder Felipe Melo was driving Brazil forward impressively and the Italians were being made to look distinctly second rate.

There was no sign of Brazil easing off, with Elano sending a stinging drive inches over on the stroke of half-time.

The capacity crowd of 60,077 were lapping up every feint and flick from Brazil’s showmen, but Italy emerged after half-time determined to salvage some pride.

Luca Toni beat Cesar with a bundled effort midway through the second half, only to see his strike disallowed because he had handled while trying to control Pirlo’s pass.

Both teams were fiercely competitive until the end. It was Italy who finished on top though and it took a brilliant reflex stop from Cesar to deny Toni a late consolation goal.

Written by: AFP

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