Crisis club Juve hoping to bounce back

February 6, 2010

The Serie A title race will most likely take a back seat for the foreseable future after Inter Milan opened up an eight-point lead over bitter neighbours AC Milan.

Inter’s victory in the Milan derby two weeks ago despite playing more than two-thirds of the match with a numerical disadvantage seems to have settled the title question.

But there is still much to play for in Serie A and many issues to be resolved.

Not least there is the Juventus situation.

They are the biggest and most decorated team in Italy with 27 titles to their name and they began the season expecting to wrest back the Serie A crown from Inter.

Indeed many pundits, including Italy coach Marcello Lippi, tipped them to bring to an end Inter’s four-year reign.

But now they are a club in turmoil, knocked out of both the Champions League and Coppa Italia and out of the title race, down in fifth place – they trail Inter by 15 points having played a game more.

Their recent form is abysmal and reads more like a relegation candidate than a title contender – three wins, a draw and nine defeats in their last 13.

Ciro Ferrara paid for that run with his job and has been replaced by Alberto Zaccheroni but first game failed to yield a victory as it finished 1-1 at home to lowly Lazio.

They have a tricky away tie against Livorno on Saturday in a match that holds some significance due to how their first clash earlier in the season affected their campaign.

Juve began the season with four straight league wins, the fourth of which was a 2-0 home success over Livorno.

However, they were dominated in the second half and had goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon to thank for coming away with the three points.

And that game heralded the beginning of Juve’s troubles as other teams took heart from their difficulties in overcoming the minnows and started to exploit their failings.

And now this is a team desperate to rediscover itself with Zaccheroni even mulling a switch to a back three to try to shore up a leaky defence – only seven teams in the 20-team league have conceded more goals than Juve.

Juve’s other problem is that the two teams liable to deny them a place in next season’s Champions League are the two most in-form in the league.

Since a difficult start under coach Claudio Ranieri and losing three in a row in October, AS Roma have been on an incredible run, winning 14 and drawing three of their last 17 games in all competitions.

They have stormed up from just above the relegation zone to level on points with second-placed AC Milan.

But their trip to Fiorentina on Sunday will be as tough a test as they’ve faced on this run.

Napoli are fourth and four points ahead of Juve. Since losing to Roma in October, a match that saw Roberto Donadoni fired and replaced by Walter Mazzarri, they are unbeaten in Serie A.

Eight wins and seven draws later they have proved defensively sound and difficult to beat – they haven’t conceded a goal in six matches.

They travel to Udinese on Sunday looking to continue this run.

Milan have a tricky away trip to Bologna as they hope to bounce back from their last two disappointing results, the defeat at Inter followed by a home draw with Livorno.

They had been the form team in Serie A until then but will have to continue for the moment without injured pair Alexandre Pato and Andrea Pirlo, although Gianluca Zambrotta should make his return.

Inter’s clash on paper looks straight-forward at home to Cagliari but the Sardinians have proved tricky opponents this season and beat Juventus 2-0 back in November.

Fixtures:

Saturday

Livorno v Juventus, Palermo v Parma

Sunday

Atalanta v Bari, Bologna v AC Milan, Fiorentina v AS Roma, Genoa v Chievo, Inter Milan v Cagliari, Lazio v Catania, Siena v Sampdoria, Udinese v Napoli

ROME (AFP)

Tags: Alberto Zaccheroni, back seat, ciro, coach marcello lippi, coppa italia, defe, first game, gianluigi buffon, home success, inter milan, italy coach, lazio, livorno, marcello lippi, minnows, pundits, straight league, title contender, title question

Robben calls for Ribery’s return

January 29, 2010

Arjen Robben hopes Franck Ribery will get a chance to show his qualities from the first whistle when Bayern München takes on FSV Mainz 05. It seems though that Robben’s wish will not be granted by Louis van Gaal.

On Friday, the Dutch coach said that Ribery will start on the bench against Mainz. “Because I don’t think he is 100 percent fit yet,” Van Gaal told the German press. “It’ll take a while, he hasn’t played for months and I can only use players that are 100 percent fit.”

Van Gaal doesn’t bare any nice memories of Saturday’s opponent, as he stated clearly after Friday’s training session. “When I hear the name Mainz, I instantly think of our first defeat of the first competition half.

“It was the first game I lost with Bayern and the first game where my players weren’t 100 percent focused. That really disappointed me.”

Tags: Bayern, bench, coach, defeat, first game, franck ribery, FSV, fsv mainz 05, german press, hasn, Louis, louis van gaal, memories of saturday, name, opponent, percent, robben, Saturday, training, training session, van, Van Gaal, whistle

Maradona: ‘I could only talk on phone with my players’

January 26, 2010

Diego Maradona returns to Argentina’s bench when they play Costa Rica on Tuesday. The Argentine legend found it hard to cope with his two-month ban. “I would not wish this on anyone.”

The friendly match against Costa Rica marks the end of Maradona’s ban. El Pelusa was banned from football for two months following controversial comments at a press conference after his team secured their place at the World Cup finals.

“It was very hard but it’s past and now I’m only thinking about the World Cup,” said Maradona. “Those two months were very painful.

“I asked FIFA if I could pay a fine with my money and not to distance me from the players but I couldn’t do absolutely anything, just speak to the players on the phone.

“I don’t wish it on anybody.”

Maradona has called up more than 90 players for 15 matches, eight of them World Cup qualifiers, since his first game in charge, a friendly against Scotland in Glasgow in November 2008.

“Of course I called up many, but I want to see them all.”

Tags: Argentina, Argentine, bench, controversial comments, Costa Rica, diego maradona, first game, friendly match, Glasgow, money, pelusa, scotland, world cup finals, world cup qualifiers

Levein wants Ferguson back in Scotland squad

January 26, 2010

Scotland manager Craig Levein is aiming to convince former captain Barry Ferguson to return to international duty along with Allan McGregor and Kris Boyd.

Levein, whose first game in charge is an international friendly against the Czech Republic on March 3, has confirmed Boyd and McGregor are in his thoughts after discussions with the Rangers duo.

Now he hopes he can have a similar conversation with former Rangers midfielder Ferguson, now playing under former Gers boss Alex McLeish at English Premier League Birmingham City.

“I very much want him to be part of the international set-up, I think he’s one of our best players,” Levein told BBC Radio Scotland on Monday.

Ferguson and Rangers goalkeeper McGregor were banned for life for their behaviour before and during a World Cup qualifier against Iceland in April.

The pair were dropped after an all-night drinking session and then made V signs at photographers from the bench.

Boyd withdrew when former manager George Burley was in charge after being overlooked repeatedly.

Meanwhile former Dundee United manager Levein will look to expand Scotland’s player pool by compiling an extensive dossier of eligible players.

Levein and scout Michael Oliver plan to contact every agent in the UK in a bid to assess who could qualify for the country, either through established bloodline or the new five-year school rule.

“What we are trying to do is establish everybody – in the UK first and foremost – who is eligible to play for Scotland,” Levein told www.scottishfa.co.uk.

“In the past, we’ve relied on word of mouth or maybe speaking to managers, coaches and, sometimes, even physios down in England who say ‘Do you know so-and-so has a Scottish grandmother?’.

“In the past we’ve had some fantastic players for Scotland who were born in England but qualified through parentage or grandparents.

“The rules are there and every other country in the world uses them.

“My main aim is to help Scotland qualify for the European Championships in 2012 and, in order to achieve that, I think that the player database is a fairly sensible idea.

“I want the best players available and, to get the best players available, we need to know who they are and where they are.”

Scotland have not qualified for the finals of a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup in France.

GLASGOW (AFP)

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Ivory Coast 3-1 Ghana: Elephants seal passage to quarters

January 16, 2010

Tournament favorites Ivory Coast became the first team to reach this year’s African Nations Cup last eight after beating Ghana 3-1 with 10 men in Group B on Friday.

A Didier Drogba header in the last minute finished off the Black Stars after Gervinho put the Ivorians ahead at the Chiazi National Stadium in the first half and Siaka Tiene added another midway through the second.

But Elephants’ task was made harder when Arsenal’s Emmanuel Eboue received his marching orders for a two-footed challenge as Ghana failed to take advantage.

The win put Ivory Coast, held 0-0 by Burkina Faso in their opening game, top of the group with four points from two games. Burkina Faso are second with one point and Ghana, playing their first game in the three-team group, are third.

Ghana got a consolation goal with a stoppage-time penalty by Asamoah Gyan. Ghana must beat Burkina Faso in Luanda on Tuesday to progress.

Tags: african nations cup, arsenal, asamoah gyan ghana, burkina faso, consolation, elephants, emmanuel eboue, first game, four points, ghana, Ivory Coast, Luanda, midway, quarters, seal passage, stoppage time, team group, time penalty, tournament favorites

Essien misses plane and could be out of first game

January 12, 2010

Michael Essien will join Ghana’s training camp a few days later than planned.

The Chelsea midfielder received permission to stay in England until Sunday and was set to travel to Angola that day but the big freeze across Europe delayed his departure from London on Sunday.

“Essien was unable to make it out of London on Sunday,” according to a Ghanaian FA spokesman. “The bad weather (snow) prevented him from doing so as some flights were canceled.

“We are still in touch and he is now booked to arrive on Wednesday.”

Ghana’s scheduled Group B opener against Togo on Monday was called-off after the Hawks flew home on Sunday following the deadly gun attack on their bus in Cabinda two days earlier.

The Black Stars will play their first group match on Friday, against Cote d’Ivoire. It’s not sure if Essien is able to face the Elephants.

The midfielder will arrive in time in Angola, but hasn’t trained with the group so far while he also has been suffering from a hamstring injury.

Tags: Angola, bad weather, black stars, CHELSEA, elephants, England, Europe, few days, first game, flights, ghana, gun attack, hawks, london, match, Michael Essien, midfielder, spokesman, Togo, training camp

Scotland boss Levein gets scout wish

January 8, 2010

Scotland’s new manager, Craig Levein, will have a scout to assist him after the Scottish Football Association (SFA) announced his former club colleague Michael Oliver had been appointed to the post.

For the past two years Oliver has worked at Scottish Premier League side Dundee United, where Levein was the manager until he was installed as Scotland boss last month in succession to the sacked George Burley.

“Hopefully I can have a good impact on the squad’s preparations and have a real go at creating a good picture for Craig of the teams he will face,” Oliver, who has also scouted for English Premier League sides Birmingham and Wigan, told www.scottishfa.co.uk following Thursday’s announcement by the SFA.

He added: “More often than not I’ll be watching club matches where a percentage of players involved are eligible for an international opponent.

“That is where you’ll see a player perform to their full potential and learn most about them, as opposed to an international friendly where not a lot is at stake,” explained Oliver, likely to be Levein’s only full-time member of staff.

Levein, whose first game in charge is the international friendly against the Czech Republic in March, said: “When I was working at club level I didn’t like it if I sent out my team and the opposition brought on a player who I hadn’t briefed my players about.

“When I was offered the job here I made it clear from the start that I wanted a full-time scout.

“Michael fits the role perfectly,” added Levein, who first met Oliver as a 19-year-old when he played alongside him at Scottish lower league side Cowdenbeath.

“He already has a lot of experience in a similar role, he is used to travelling around Europe watching players, and he has made a lot of good contacts along the way.

“For the past two years he was my scout at Dundee United. For me the most important thing is that Michael always gives me a definitive opinion about a player,” Levein explained.

Scotland have not qualified for the finals of a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup in France and Levein’s primary task is to get the team through to the 2012 European Championship finals in Poland and the Ukraine.

GLASGOW (AFP)

Tags: Birmingham, colleague, craig levein, czech republic, Dundee, dundee united, English Premier League, Europe, first game, full time, george burley, Glasgow, Michael, michael oliver, opponent, opposition, Poland, scotland, scottish football association, Scottish Premier League, scottishfa, sfa, stake, time scout, travelling around europe, ukraine, Wigan

Ghana held by Malawi in friendly

January 6, 2010

With both sides preparing for next week’s start of the African Cup of Nations, Ghana and Malawi played out a 0-0 draw on Tuesday in Swaziland.

The match almost didn’t happen as Ghanaian players were requesting appearance bonuses before the game, but the matter was resolved in time to allow Ratomir Dujkovic’s men to take the pitch in Mbabane.

The Malawi side never managed the breakthrough against a stern Ghanaian defense, but the Black Stars also looked a bit disinterested as the manager tinkered with lineups and tactics in his only international before the continental championship.

Ghana are winless in six games heading into the tournament, which they open on Monday against Togo. Malawi’s first game is against Algeria earlier on Monday.

Tags: African, african cup of nations, algeria, appearance, black stars, breakthrough, continental championship, Dujkovic, first game, ghana, ghanaian players, Malawi, Mbabane, pitch, six games, Swaziland, Togo

Mancini: I never spoke to Liverpool

December 24, 2009

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini insists that he was never contacted by Liverpool to succeed Rafa Benitez. Mancini was wanted by several side, however, he claims that the speculation that The Reds were after his services are false.

City chief executive Garry Cook said that the Merseyside club would have spoken to Mancini had they parted company with Benitez.

But Mancini has poured cold water on suggestions that he had spoken to Liverpol before being appointed as City manager.

When asked whether he had spoken to Liverpool, Mancini said, “No, never. Liverpool have a good manager. Rafa (Benitez) is a good manager. Absolutely not.”

The Italian’s first game in charge as City manager comes on Boxing Day against Tony Pulis’ Stoke.

Tags: Boxing, boxing day, chief executive, city chief, cold water, first game, Garry Cook, Liverpool, manchester city, Merseyside, reds, roberto mancini, speculation, tony pulis

Defensive problems mount for Mancini

December 22, 2009

Roberto Mancini will have to do without Nedum Onuoha for at least three weeks. The Manchester City youngster has been ruled out with a calf strain and adds to City’s defensive injury concerns.

Onuoha picked up his injury during the match against Sunderland (4-3 win). The 23-year-old only made his first start of the season against Tottenham last Wednesday after an injury to England international Joleon Lescott.

The former England Under-21 international is expected to be out for three to four weeks, therefore ruling him out of Mancini’s first game in charge at home to Stoke City on Boxing Day.

The new Italian manager will have serious defensive worries in January. Besides the injured Onuoha and Lescott (who is expected to remain at the sidelines for at least four more weeks), Mancini will also be without Kolo Toure who will play at the African Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast.