Brazilian great Zico fired at Olympiakos

January 19, 2010

Brazilian legend Zico was fired Tuesday as the coach of Greek champions Olympiakos as the team fell seven points behind arch-rivala Panathinaikos in the domestic table.

Olympiakos announced that the caretaker coach will be the team’s Bosnian Serb scouter Bozidar Bandovic.

Zico, 56, joined Olympiakos last September signing a two-year contract after last coaching at CSKA Moscow but failed to lead the team to first place in the league.

After the weekend’s scoreless draw at Kavala, Olympiakos finds itself in second place, seven points behind leader Panathinaikos.

The team continues to play in the Champions League with a last 16 round tie against French side Bordeaux coming up next month.

Zico has also coached the Japanese national team (2002-2006) with whom he won the 2004 Asian Cup as well as Kashima Antlers (1999), Fenerbachce (2006-2008) and Bunyodkor (2008).

PIREAUS, Greece (AFP)

Tags: antlers, asian cup, Bandovic, Bordeaux, bosnian serb, Bunyodkor, caretaker coach, CSKA, cska moscow, Fenerbachce, french side, greece, japanese national team, kashima antlers, kavala, last september, Moscow, Olympiakos, panathinaikos, PIREAUS, pireaus greece, scouter, seven points, zico

Real´s Higuain sidelined with leg muscle injury

January 13, 2010

Real Madrid’s Argentine international striker Gonzalo Higuain has suffered a tear in his left calf muscle and will be sidelined for three weeks, the club said on Tuesday.

The injury was detected after the 22-year-old underwent medical tests at a Madrid hospital on Tuesday, it said in a statement.

“We were all very surprised because nobody thought that he had such an injury. But this happens during such a long season with so many matches,” said Real keeper Iker Casillas.

Higuain has been a regular for Real this season, scoring 11 times in the league and two in the Champions League despite the arrival of Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Brazil’s Kaka and France’s Karim Benzema.

Benzema, the top scorer in the French league the 2007-2008 season who has struggled to impress since he joined Real from French side Lyon in July, is likely to take Higuain’s place.

Real are currently in second place in La Liga, two points behind Barcelona.

MADRID (AFP)

Tags: Argentine, Barcelona, barcelona madrid, calf muscle, champions league, cristiano ronaldo, France, french league, french side, kaka, Karim Benzema, leg muscle, Lyon, MADRID, medical tests, muscle injury, portugal, real madrid, ronaldo, ronaldo brazil, striker, top scorer

Togo football team must come home: government

January 10, 2010

Togo’s government is sticking by its decision to recall the national football team from the African Nations Cup after a deadly attack, despite the players’ wish to play, a government minister said Sunday.

“The government is maintaining its decision to call the team back home,” administration minister and government spokesman Pascal Bodjona told AFP.

Hours before the competition starts Sunday, players said they wanted to stay in Angola.

“In memory of the dead, the national team has decided to play in the African Nations Cup,” Thomas Dossevi, who plays for French side Nantes, told AFP.

But Bodjona said “the best thing to do is not to stay”.

“People are dead. The goalkeeper (Kodjovi) Obilale is in intensive care,” he said.

Hooded gunmen opened fire on the teams’ buses as they crossed into the restive Angolan enclave of Cabinda, killing the assistant coach and squad spokesman.

The attack was claimed by a faction of the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC) separatist group embroiled in a struggle for independence in the oil-rich territory.

LOME (AFP)

Tags: african nations cup, Angola, assistant coach, buses, cabinda, enclave, faction, french side, Goalkeeper, government minister, government spokesman, gunmen opened fire, home administration, home government, intensive care, liberation, LOME, Nantes, national football team, pascal, Pascal Bodjona, rich territory, separatist group, thomas dossevi

Freiburg sign Namouchi

December 24, 2009

Bundesliga side Freiburg have announced the signing of Hamed Namouchi on a free transfer.

The 25-year-old has had to endure a nervous few months having been without a club since leaving French side Lorient at the end of last season.

However the former Rangers midfielder has now penned a deal until the end of the season, with the option of an additional year included in the contract.

The Tunisia international has been on trial with the Bundesliga club throughout December and impressed manager Robin Dutt enough to secure full-time terms.

Meanwhile Freiburg have allowed Cameroon midfielder Alain Junior Olle Olle to join Bundesliga 2 side Rot-Weiss Ahlen on loan.

The 22-year-old has struggled to hold down a regular first-team place since signing in January 2008.

Tags: ahlen, Alain Junior, bundesliga 2, cameroon, end, former rangers, french side, Hamed, Lorient, manager, Namouchi, olle, option, Robin Dutt, rot weiss, transfer, Tunisia, Weiss

Liverpool take on Unirea, as Juventus meet Ajax

December 19, 2009

Liverpool take on another team knocked out of the Champions League after being drawn against Romania side Unirea Urziceni in the last 32 of the Europa League here on Friday.

Rafael Benitez’s side finished third in Group E while Unirea were third in Group G, but scored an impressive 4-1 win over Rangers at Ibrox.

If they win, Liverpool will next meet the winner of the two-legged tie on February 18 and 25 between French club Lille and Turkish outfit Fenerbahce.

Benitez insisted they would not be under-estimating their opponents.

“It will be a tough game because they were in the Champions League,” said Benitez. “I was following their group because I have some friends in Sevilla and so I know it will be difficult. But we are Liverpool and we have to have confidence.

“The main thing for me is that the game isn’t until February so we have plenty of time to prepare and analyse the other team.

“They went very close in the Champions League so we know it will be tough.”

He added: “For us every competition and every game is important and the Europa League gives us an opportunity to win a trophy.”

Italian club Juventus face a stiff test as they drew Dutch club Ajax, and would meet either English side Fulham or titleholders Shakhtar Donetsk of the Ukraine.

Everton are up against Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon, Spanish club Villareal meet German champions Wolfsburg, Greek club Panathinaikos face AS Roma and Portuguese side Benfica are paired with Hertha Berlin.

In other last-32 ties, French side Marseille face FC Copenhagen, Athletic Bilbao play Anderlecht and Atletico Madrid are up against Galatasaray.

Marseille coach Didier Deschamps was pleased with their draw.

“Obviously we could have done worse, Copenhagen are among the teams less famous on the international scene,” he said. “What is really advantagous for us is that we host the return match at home.”

Draw for the Europa Cup round of 32:

1. Rubin Kazan (ENG) – Hapoel Tel-Aviv (ISR)

2. Atletico Bilbao (ESP) – Anderlecht (BEL)

3. FC Copenhagen (DEN) – Marseille (FRA)

4. Panathinaikos (GRE) – AS Roma (ITA)

5. Atletico Madrid (ESP) – Galatasaray (TUR)

6. Ajax (NED) – Juventus (ITA)

7. FC Bruges (BEL) – FC Valencia (ESP)

8. Fulham (ENG) – Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)

9. Liverpool (ENG) – Unirea Urziceni (ROM)

10. Hamburg (GER) – PSV Eindhoven (NED)

11. Villareal (ESP) – Wolfsburg (GER)

12. Standard Liege (BEL) – Salzburg (AUT)

13. FC Twente (NED) – Werder Bremen (GER)

14. Lille (FRA) – Fenerbahce (TUR)

15. Everton (ENG) – Sporting Lisbon (POR)

16. Hertha Berlin (GER) – Benfica (POR)

First leg: February 18 (except Everton: February 16)

Second leg: February 25 (except Benfica, Galatasaray: February 23)

Round of 16 match draw:

Winners of Match 10 – Winners of Match 2

Winners of Match 1 – Winners of Match 11

Winners of Match 5 – Winners of Match 15

Winners of Match 16 – Winners of Match 3

Winners of Match 4 – Winners of Match 12

Winners of Match 14 – Winners of Match 9

Winners of Match 6 – Winners of Match 8

Winners of Match 7 – Winners of Match 13

First Leg: March 11

Second Leg: March 18

NYON, Switzerland (AFP)

Tags: athletic bilbao, atletico bilbao, atletico madrid, didier deschamps, dutch club, europa cup, french side, german champions, greek club, hapoel tel aviv, hertha berlin, italian club, rafael benitez, return match, rubin kazan, shakhtar donetsk, spanish club, sporting lisbon, stiff test, urziceni

Marquez extends Barca contract until 2012

December 1, 2009

Mexican international defender Rafa Marquez on Monday extended his contract with Barcelona until 2012, becoming the eighth player to renew with the European champions so far this season.

“I?m very happy to renew with a club where I?ve felt very wanted, where I?ve enjoyed myself and where I?ve suffered. I have to enjoy these moments, they pass very quickly,” he said after signing his new contract.

“Now I need to recover full match fitness to try and win back a place in the starting eleven, though competition is tough. I think I still have a good chance of being in the starting line-up.”

Marquez, whose contract was due to expire in June 2010, joined Barcelona in 2003 from French side Monaco.

Various injuries have restricted his appearances this season and he faces stiff competition to regain his place from the likes of Barcelona captain Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique who put in strong performances during the club’s 1-0 league win on Sunday over arch-rivals Real Madrid.

Barcelona gave no financial details except to say that Marquez’s buy-out clause remains unchanged at 100 million euros (149 million dollars).

He joins Eric Abidal, Yaya Toure, Victor Valdes, Pedro Rodriguez, Lionel Messi, Puyol and Andres Iniesta in renewing their contracts with Barcelona.

MADRID (AFP)

Tags: Andres Iniesta, Barcelona, barcelona madrid, carles puyol, eighth player, eric abidal, european champions, financial details, french side, gerard pique, good chance, lionel messi, MADRID, Monaco, new contract, rafa marquez, real madrid barcelona, starting line, stiff competition, victor valdes

Bayern need both victory and luck for Haifa clash

November 25, 2009

German giants Bayern Munich go into their home Champions League group stage fixture against Israel’s Maccabi Haifa FC on Wednesday with their destiny no longer in their own hands.

After home-and-away defeats by French side Bordeaux, Louis van Gaal’s men have slipped to third in Group A – four points behind second-placed Juventus.

All they can do now is defeat Haifa and hope that Juventus fail to beat Bordeaux in the other group game in France.

Bayern have also drawn their last three Bundesliga games to go seventh in the German league and with coach Van Gaal under increasing pressure, a defeat to the Israeli side could make his position precarious.

“We’re unhappy, because none of us likes the situation in the league table,” said chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

“The fans don’t like it, the coach doesn’t like it, the team doesn’t like it, and neither do I, naturally enough.

“We need a big win to relieve the pressure.”

Haifa travel to Munich still seeking their first points after their own successive losses to Juventus left them out of the running at the foot of the table.

Four points adrift, they retain a slim hope of finishing third and claiming entry into the Europa League, but they must beat Bayern to keep that ambition alive.

Bayern won the first-ever encounter between the two sides at the Ramat Gan Stadium in the first group stage match on September 15, when Daniel Van Buyten and Thomas Mueller scored on the way to a 3-0 win.

But the Germans go into the match looking for the first home goal of their campaign having recorded blanks in a stalemate with Juventus and a 2-0 loss to Bordeaux.

Elisha Levi’s Haifa have even bigger problems in front of goal as they are the only team of the 32 in the group stage yet to find the back of the opposition’s net.

If they fail to reach the knock-out stages, this would be the first time they have missed out on a place in the last 16 in their five previous attempts.

The last time they failed to do so was in 2002/03 when they finished bottom of their group with just two points.

BERLIN (AFP)

Tags: bayern munich, champions league group, Daniel van Buyten, elisha, four points, french side, german league, group game, group stage, haifa, home goal, israeli side, karl heinz, knock out, louis van gaal, maccabi haifa fc, ramat gan stadium, slim hope, stalemate, thomas mueller

No Great Escape for Liverpool

November 25, 2009

Liverpool hopes of one more great Champions League escape were dashed on Tuesday night, as Fiorentina sealed their place alongside Olympique Lyon with a 1-0 win over the French side, leaving the English team’s 1-0 success against Debrecen irrelevant.

Liverpool, of course, only have themselves to blame for leaving their fate in the hands of a team that had already secured their own qualification.

There will doubtless be a lot more criticism of Rafa Benitez, his transfer dealings and the perceived failures of man management, but the analysis of exactly why Liverpool failed to progress can wait for another post.

For now, consider one question: Might this result actually work in Liverpool’s long-term favour?

The club could certainly have done with the revenue from a run to the semi-finals or beyond but, with the best will in the world, did this season’s team ever really look capable of making it as far as Madrid?

With a squad that (everyone has said) is inferior to last year’s, maybe it will prove in their interests that they no longer have to juggle Champions League and Premier League campaigns. They can now have a leisurely tilt at the Europa League — if they make it to the final it will be an enjoyable run, if they don’t … well, who really cares? — and concentrate on doing something about that dreadful domestic form.

The priority, as always, must be to secure qualification for the group stage of next year’s Champions League. That 19th league title looks as elusive as ever but a top-four finish may have just become a more realistic possibility.

PHOTO: Liverpool’s coach Rafael Benitez looks on as Steven Gerrard walks off during the Champions League soccer match against Debrecen at the Puskas stadium in Budapest November 24, 2009. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh

Source

Tags: Budapest, champions league soccer, fate, favour, french side, great escape, group stage, laszlo balogh, Liverpool, man management, olympique lyon, premier league, rafa benitez, realistic possibility, semi finals, Steven Gerrard, tilt, tuesday night

French Eurostars return to title fight

November 7, 2009

After proving in midweek that French football bears comparison with the best the Champions League has to offer, Bordeaux and Lyon return to domestic action this weekend, jousting for home supremacy.

Bordeaux broke Lyon’s record run of seven straight championships last May and the pair are once again locked into the top two places with the Girondins currently two points clear of their rivals from the east after 11 games.

Any notion the two sides might find Europe a tougher proposition than a league regarded as weak compared with England, Spain and Italy, must be laid aside after Bordeaux did the double over four-time continental champions Bayern Munich and Lyon pushed Liverpool to the brink of elimination.

Bordeaux would appear to have the easier task on Sunday, when they are in action at struggling Lille, whereas Lyon host potential title rivals in Marseille.

Didier Deschamps’ Marseille, the only French side to lift the European Cup, are seven points adrift of the summit amid a season dogged by the kind of inconsistency which saw them held at home by midtable Toulouse.

But Marseille, who will again be without Argentine Lucho Gonzalez owing to an ankle strain, did glean a point at the Stade Gerland last season – dropped points which ultimately helped loosen Lyon’s long grip on the title.

Bordeaux themselves will have no reason to be complacent as they head north to Lille, having lost last year’s corresponding fixture 2-1.

Despite proving their European mettle, Laurent Blanc’s side are set to struggle to persuade striker Marouane Chamakh, a summer target for Arsenal, to put down roots.

Chamakh is out of contract next summer and told Sud Ouest newspaper he has yet to agree a new deal.

“Nothing is definitive, the door is still open. I have decided not to extend (my contract) for the time being but that does not mean I will not stay at Bordeaux next season. I’ve six or seven months to take a decision,” said Chamakh.

Seven-times league champions Monaco, whose last success came in 2000 and who host Grenoble on Saturday, have fought their way up to third, four points off the pace and one clear of Montpellier and Auxerre.

Narrowly beaten last week in Bordeaux, the Monegasques – three wins in four outings – will expect to extend Grenoble’s unwanted record start to a French league season comprising 11 straight defeats.

Elsewhere, Montpellier will hope to continue their unlikely push for a tilt at a Champions League slot with three points at fellow top six inhabitants Valenciennes.

Auxerre can harbour similar ambitions, at least for now, with a victory at second-bottom Le Mans.

And Paris Saint Germain will hope that last week’s romp at Sochaux can form the basis of an assault on the European placings as they strive to move up from midtable.

The capital club will take on a Nice side who could leapfrog them with a win at the Parc des Princes.

PSG edged last season’s fixture by the odd goal in three.

Fixtures (all times GMT):

Saturday

Valenciennes v Montpellier (1800)

Paris SG v Nice (1800)

Lorient v Boulogne (1800)

Monaco v Grenoble (1800)

Nancy v St Etienne (1800)

Le Mans v Auxerre (1800)

Sochaux v Lens (2000)

Sunday

Lille v Bordeaux (1600)

Toulouse v Rennes (1600)

Lyon v Marseille (2000)

PARIS (AFP)

Tags: ankle strain, Argentine, Bayern, Bordeaux, Boulogne, continental champions, didier deschamps, England, Europe, french football, french side, Germain, girondins, Grenoble, inconsistency, laurent blanc, Lille, Liverpool, Lorient, lucho gonzalez, Lyon, marouane chamakh, mettle, midweek, Monaco, Nancy, new deal, Nice, Ouest, PARIS, Rennes, seven months, seven points, seven times, Spain, stade gerland, straight championships, target, Toulouse

Roma late show shocks Fulham, Celtic face Europa League exit

November 6, 2009

Fulham compromised their hopes of advancing in the Europa League on Thursday when Roma came from behind to win 2-1 in Italy, the English Premiership side ending the Group E contest with nine men, while Everton slumped 2-0 at home to Benfica.

Diomansy Kamara shocked the Stadio Olimpico by netting a spotkick on 19 minutes after Marco Andreolli brought him down but everything went downhill for the visitors thereafter as substitute Erik Nevland was dismissed within three minutes of coming on for a heavy challenge on Daniele De Rossi.

Former Liverpool man John Arne Riise then levelled after 69 minutes with a deflected effort and Stefano Okaka headed the clincher a quarter of an hour from the end before defender Paul Konchesky fouled Rodrigo Taddei to leave Fulham two men down.

The loss means Roy Hodgson’s side, who had held the Romans on their own turf, suffered their first reverse in the group and they now stand third, two points behind Roma with two games remaining.

At Goodison Park, Everton were outclassed for the second time by Benfica, the Portuguese winning with strikes from Javier Saviola after good work by highly-rated Angel di Maria, then an acrobatic volley from Oscar Cardozo to leave the Portuguese three points clear at the top of Group I.

The win meant a happy return to Merseyside for Benfica legend Eusebio, who scored six of his nine goals at Goodison in the 1966 World Cup, including two in a win over Brazil and four more in the memorable 5-3 success over North Korea.

“Today for me, for my family, it’s a good day, for Benfica to play here. This stadium for me is the best stadium in my playing life,” Eusebio told Channel Five television before the game.

The top two teams from each group will join the third-placed sides from the eight Champions League groups in the last 32.

Shakhtar Donetsk, who won the final UEFA Cup competition last season before the competition morphed into the Europa League, are through after they made it four wins in four games, beating French side Toulouse 2-0 in Group J.

Werder Bremen of Germany are through after seeing off Austria Vienna 2-0 in Group L.

French veteran Robert Pires was twice on target for Villarreal in Group G group in a 4-1 home romp over Lazio to join the Italians on six points.

Celtic’s hopes of advancing hang by a thread after they could only manage a goalless draw in Hamburg, to whom they had lost at home in Group C.

Celtic, just one win now in 25 European away ties, prop up the group with Thursday’s point only their second to date after striker Scott McDonald missed two good chances to secure maximum points at the Nordbank Arena.

The Germans lie second in the group on seven points with Israeli outfit Hapoel Tel Aviv out in front after the latter moved onto nine points following a 3-0 romp at Rapid Vienna.

Elsewhere, Ajax are as good as through after they won 2-0 away to nine-man Dinamo Zagreb with Marko Pantelic and Demy de Zeeuw on target.

Dinamo had Leandro Cufre and Adrian Calello dismissed in a match played behind closed doors owing to recent crowd trouble.

Anderlecht are also looking set fair for the next phase after a 3-1 home success over Romania’s Timisoara left them and their Dutch rivals six points clear.

In Group B, veteran Hernan Crespo was on target as Genoa edged out Lille 3-2 while Valencia, twice Champions League finalists, let slip a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Slavia Prague.

Lille are still a point ahead of Valencia and Genoa.

Turkish side Galalatasary are through from Group F after Aussie striker and former Leeds and Liverpool forward Harry Kewell netted the opener in a 3-0 win at Dinamo Bucharest.

PARIS (AFP)