Lippi wary of taking group too easily

December 5, 2009


Italy coach Marcello Lippi sounded a warning to celebrating Italians after the reigning world champions were on Friday given what looked an easy draw in the World Cup.

Italy were grouped alongside debutants Slovakia, outsiders New Zealand and South Americans Paraguay in Group F.

But while that looks to be one of the weakest pools in the whole draw, Lippi warned that it would be dangerous to start thinking along those lines.

“The more you think a group will be easy the more difficult it becomes,” he said.

“Paraguay were top of the South American qualifying group for a long time before being overtaken by Brazil at the end.

“Slovakia are improving, they have players we know well, also some who play in Italy and they beat some good teams to get here.

“I’m neither satisfied nor upset. We will start to assess our opponents and their characteristics.

“They are all difficult opponents but then we will also cast an eye on the (possible) second round and quarter-final (opponents).”

However, while Lippi urged caution, Italian pundits were less reserved in their reactions.

On Sky Sport’s live televised coverage of the draw their commentators openly laughed and celebrated as each of Italy’s opponents was read out.

And former Chelsea manager and now TV pundit Gianluca Vialli said this was a group from which Italy should expect to progress.

“It’s a very manageable group but these are teams who will be going to the World Cup expecting to play three matches whereas Italy are going there hoping to play seven games, so we have to be very careful,” he said.

Slovakia actually topped a qualifying group including Slovenia, Poland and Czech Republic while Paraguay were only pipped by Brazil in South American qualifying.

New Zealand’s Oceania campaign was simple but then they had to negotiate a tricky two-legged play-off against Bahrain.

Paraguay are expected to be Italy’s toughest opponents with Brazil coach Dunga, who lifted the World Cup as a player in 1994 in the United States when Italy were beaten on penalties in the final, told the reigning champions to watch out.

“Italy’s group is not easy, Paraguay are a very solid team. They did very well during qualification, Italy will have to be careful,” he told Rai TV.

Italy begin their campaign against Paraguay in Cape Town on June 14 and the South Americans’ Argentine coach Gerardo Martino admitted that would be his team’s toughest encounter.

“Playing the first match against the reigning champions will of course be difficult but we’re confident that we will be well prepared enough to put up a fight not only in this match the also the others,” he said.

Underdogs New Zealand gave Italy a fright in a pre-Confederations Cup friendly in Pretoria a year ago before going down 4-3 and assistant coach Brian Turner says that has given them belief.

“We took a lot of confidence out of that game. We took the game to Italy but at the end of the day Italy were still too good, they’re a football power,” he said.

“But we’re delighted with the group we’re in and we’re delighted to be with Italy.”

ROME (AFP)

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Switzerland win FIFA Under-17 World Cup

November 16, 2009


Debutants Switzerland were crowned Under-17 World Cup champions here on Sunday when they defeated hosts and defending champions Nigeria 1-0 inside a packed Abuja National Stadium.

Haris Seferovic gave Switzerland the title courtesy of a 63rd minute header.

The Swiss were impressive leading to this championship game, and did well to contain the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria, before they dealt the killer blow through Seferovic to the disappointment of the 60,000-strong crowd.

Nigeria were overwhelming favourites to win their fourth Under-17 World Cup, particularly on the back of the full international team’s dramatic qualification for next year’s World Cup in South Africa 24 hours earlier.

Spain took third place when they defeated Colombia 1-0.

Isco scored the winner in the 75th minute after Spain struggled to translate their dominance into goals.

Nigerian striker Sani Emmanuel was picked as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. He scored five goals, all as a substitute.

LAGOS (AFP)

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Mourinho insists Group F wide open

October 21, 2009


Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho claimed there are no favourites in his team’s Champions League group after a 2-2 home draw against Dynamo Kyiv left the Italian champions bottom of the pile.

All four teams in Group F are separated by just a single point though with Barcelona, Rubin Kazan and Kyiv all on four points and Inter on three after three games.

What also makes the group stand out is that it is the only one of the eight Champions League groups to include four teams who are champions of their country.

“There’s no favourite. We have the chance to qualify. With three teams on four points and one on three, eight or nine points should be enough to qualify,” said Mourinho.

“I didn’t expect us to have only three points after three games, of course I expected more but the difference between a draw and a win is minimal.

“This group is very difficult but we already knew it would be. There’s four teams who are champions of their country and if you compare it with other groups it’s clear that other teams have been more fortunate whereas we four teams have been unlucky, but that’s the way it is and we’ll fight to the end.”

The group picture could have looked very different if Barcelona had won at home to debutants Rubin but the Russian champions’ stunning 2-1 win at the Camp Nou has left everything in the balance.

Mourinho was asked if it would have been better for Barca to win, allowing them to run away with the group while leaving Inter’s rivals for second place with fewer points.

But the former Chelsea boss explained that if reigning champions Barca were to qualify in advance it would make their last game, away to Dynamo, meaningless for them, making it easier for the Ukrainians to get a result.

“The equality in this group is a positive thing. The Rubin result is good because it leaves everything open,” said Mourinho.

“It means that when we get to the last match we won’t know who has qualified so when Barca play Dynamo at the end it will be a decisive game for them too.

“Every match is one where every result is possible. We have three draws and of course this one is the worst because the first was against Barcelona and the second was away, but it’s difficult for everyone.”

The draw means Inter have won only two of 11 Champions League games under Mourinho, continuing the club’s dismal trend in Europe’s premier competition despite their dominance at home.

But the Portuguese said it was too early to suggest his team has a psychological block when playing in Europe.

“Wait a little while, we’re only halfway through, there’s three more games and we’ll talk after them. I think my team will qualify,” he said.

Kyiv twice took the lead through Taras Mikhalik and a Lucio own goal but Inter pegged them back through Dejan Stankovic and Walter Samuel.

Even so, with two home games and only one away match left, Dynamo coach Valeri Gazzaev insisted they were in with a good chance of progressing.

“It’s a good thing to be playing two more games at home. It’s a very difficult group, Inter and Barca are great teams,” he said.

“We can do it but there’s still everything left to do. Rubin and ourselves have shown ambition but we have young players who still need more experience.

“We played well today but it’s difficult to be thrust straight into such a hard group.”

MILAN, Italy (AFP)

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Real fans wait for stars to take Spanish League stage

August 29, 2009


Real Madrid fans are tingling with excitement at the prospect of seeing Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and company strut their stuff as their new-look ‘Galactico’ team host Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday in the curtain-raiser to the 2009/10 Spanish league season.

It has been an unforgettable summer with Real splashing around 250 million euros to build a star-studded team and there are likely to be a number of debutants against Depor with Ronaldo, Kaka, Xabi Alonso, Karim Benzema, Raul Albiol all expected to start.

French striker Benzema has been firing in the goals in pre-season while Ronaldo has been installed as chief free-kick taker as he was at Manchester United.

It will also be Manuel Pellegrini’s first competitive game in charge of Real and everyone will expect the former Villarreal coach to have Real playing attractive winning football.

“We have to play a game of two or three touches to play attractive football,” explained Pellegrini. “We have to take it a game at a time but a club of Madrid’s stature has to aspire to win all the competitions.”

Pellegrini will be without centre-back Pepe who is suspended for the first four matches as his ten-match ban for stamping is carried over into the new season.

Depor will hope to gatecrash the first outing of the Galacticos and Real should be wary as they lost the opening fixture of last season 2-1 against Depor at their Riazor Stadium.

Due to European Super Cup commitments treble winners Barcelona begin their title defence on Monday at home to Sporting Gijon.

Sporting were beaten 6-1 and 3-1 last season so it looks a good game for Barcelona’s 69 million euro club record signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic to make an impact.

Striker Ibrahimovic has to convince Barca fans that he is a worthy replacement for the departed Samuel Eto’o and shrug off his reputation as someone who often flatters to deceive.

“Ibrahimovic has been adapting to our style of play and I am happy with him,” said Barca coach Pep Guardiola. “He is so tall that sometimes he doesn’t seem so dynamic but he has proven it in the past and will do in the future.”

Last season Barca lost their opening game 1-0 to promoted Numancia before clicking into gear as they won a league, Kings Cup and Champions League treble.

The big game of the opening weekend is on Sunday when Valencia host Sevilla in a duel between two teams aiming for a top four finish.

Valencia had a disastrous finish to last season missing out on the Champions League but managed to hang onto Spanish internationals David Villa and David Silva amid strong interest from Europe’s top clubs.

“We are one of the best teams in the league going forward but conceded too many goals last season,” said Villa.

Sevilla, third last season, should test Valencia’s suspect backline with striker Alvaro Negredo giving them more firepower following a 15 million euro move from Real Madrid.

Atletico Madrid go into the new season with wind in their sails after defeating Panathinaikos 5-2 on aggregate in their Champions League qualifier.

Atletico travel to Malaga on Sunday as they start their bid for a first piece of silverware since 1996.

Atletico have been quiet in the transfer market with promising Spanish goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo, 20, the only big name arrival from Valladolid.

Villarreal begin a new era after losing coach Pellegrini to Real and his replacement Ernesto Valverde makes his bow on Sunday at Osasuna.

Pellegrini achieved a lot in his five seasons at Villarreal so Valverde has big shoes to fill and he will hope record 12 million euro Brazilian signing Nilmar delivers the goods.

Elsewhere Japan midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura is poised to make his debut for Espanyol in Sunday’s match at Athletic Bilbao.

Nakamura, 31, has arrived on a free transfer from Celtic and Espanyol fans can look forward to some spectacular free-kicks from the dead-ball specialist.

Fixtures

Saturday

Real Madrid v Deportivo La Coruna 20:00 (1800 GMT), Real Zaragoza v Tenerife 22:00 (2000 GMT)

Sunday – all 15:00 GMT unless stated

Malaga v Atletico Madrid, Real Mallorca v Xerez, Racing Santander v Getafe, Osasuna v Villarreal, Athletic Bilbao v Espanyol, Valencia v Sevilla (17:00 GMT), Almería v Valladolid (1900 GMT)

Monday

Barcelona v Sporting Gijon (2000 GMT)

MADRID (AFP)

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Fowler dismisses talk of return to England

July 8, 2009


MELBOURNE (AFP) – Former Liverpool and England striker Robbie Fowler on Wednesday dismissed reports he would leave Australia to play for ex-teammate John Barnes at English League One side Tranmere Rovers.

The 34-year-old signed a two-year contract with A-League debutants North Queensland Fury in February and said he had no intention of walking away from the deal.

“It looks like somebody’s put two and two together and come up with six,” Fowler said.

“I’ve got a two-year contract with North Queensland Fury and I’m a man of my word — I’ll play it out.”

Fowler, whose goal-scoring exploits once saw him idolised in the red half of Merseyside, said his family had recently arrived in Australia ahead of his A-League debut later this month.

“They wouldn’t have travelled all this way if I had any intention to leave,” he said.

Fury coach Ian Ferguson said he had not been contacted by Barnes and was confident his marquee signing was staying.

“When you’ve got a world-class player in your team there’s always going to be speculation about him going to other clubs,” he said.

Fowler scored 120 goals in 236 league appearances for Liverpool and also played for Leeds United, Manchester City, Cardiff City and Blackburn Rovers.

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