Final tragedy for Robert Enke

November 11, 2009

Germany and Hanover 96 goalkeeper Robert Enke has died after being hit by a train in an apparent suicide, local police said on Tuesday.

“First indications point to suicide,” a media officer for the Niedersachsen police told Reuters before adding that Enke’s body was found at a train crossing some 25-km northeast of Hanover.

The German soccer federation (DFB) said in a statement: “The German team has learned of the death of Robert Enke with great shock.”

His two-year-old daughter died of a heart ailment in 2006.

PHOTO: Germany’s goalkeeper Robert Enke gestures during his team’s World Cup 2010 qualifying soccer match against Liechtenstein in Vaduz September 6, 2008. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann

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Tags: apparent suicide, Christian Hartmann, german team, Germany, gestures, Goalkeeper, Hanover, hanover 96, Liechtenstein, match, Niedersachsen, reuters, robert enke, shock, soccer federation, vaduz, world cup 2010

Beckenbauer criticizes Van Bommel

November 5, 2009

The dramatic loss against Bordeaux (0-2) meant a huge blow to Bayern Munich’s self-confidence. President Franz Beckenbauer was disappointed with the way Bayern played and especially with Mark van Bommel’s performance.

“Of course it’s nice to play well and be dominant on the pitch,” said Der Kaiser in Bild. “But what’s the use of 70 per cent possession if the ball doesn’t move forward? You’ve got ninety minutes to claim the win, but then you can’t afford making blunders like Mark van Bommel did for 1-0.”

“Only Arjen Robben, who came on in the second half, brought a bit more pace in Bayern’s play. He’s fast and capable of beating his direct opponent 1 on 1. That causes confusion with the opponent. Another player who’s able to do that, is Bastian Schweinsteiger. He proved that in earlier games. Unfortunately, only in the German team.”

Meanwhile, Bayern boss Louis van Gaal prepares for the next, important match against Schalke 04, on Saturday. The Dutch coach has consequently decided to cancel training on Thursday, â??so that he players freshen up mentally and turn their attention to Schalke.”

“It’s another important game,” acknowledged Van Gaal, “and itâ??s another one we have to win.”

Paul Haring

Tags: arjen robben, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Bayern, bayern munich, blunders, Bordeaux, boss, confusion, dramatic loss, franz beckenbauer, german team, kaiser, louis van gaal, Mark van Bommel, opponent, pace, Paul Haring, pitch, possession, President Franz Beckenbauer, schalke 04, schweinsteiger, second half, self confidence, Van Bommel, Van Gaal

No World Cup role for ´Klinsi´, insists Bierhoff

September 2, 2009

Ex-coach Jurgen Klinsmann is still a source of advice for the German team, but manager Oliver Bierhoff on Wednesday downplayed speculation ‘Klinsi’ is set for an official role at the next World Cup.

With Germany set to face 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa in Leverkusen on Saturday, team manager Bierhoff said Klinsmann still has regular contact with the national team and head coach Joachim Loew.

Germany are top of Group Four and set to guarantee themselves a place at next summer’s World Cup if they beat Azerbaijan in Hanover on September 9 and then group-rivals Russia in Moscow on October 10.

But while Bierhoff says Klinsmann’s opinion is still highly regarded, the team manager brushed off any speculation the former national coach could be involved again in an official capacity.

“We still have very, very close links with Jurgen. We are always pleased to hear his views and use his footballing experience,” revealed Bierhoff.

“Jurgen is not tied to any club at the moment and therefore he can judge things more objectively.

“Just like in previous times, he is still an important contact and someone for us to bounce ideas off.

“(But any speculation) is a dead duck. We will have no official co-operation with Jurgen Klinsmann.

“We don’t think there is a way of merging him with the national team or giving him a coaching role.”

Klinsmann was head coach of the Germany team in 2006 with current trainer Joachim Loew as his assistant and Bierhoff as team manager when the side finished third.

And German Football Federation (DFB) president Theo Zwanziger also put the brakes on any speculation Klinsmann could return in an official role.

“The opinion of Jurgen Klinsmann was and still is important to us,” said Zwanziger.

“He showed he is able to forge and motivate a successful side and he is still highly appreciated here by the DFB.

“But Joachim Loew is the coach of the national side and he is the boss.

“The coach of the national team does not need an advisor.”

Klinsmann has recently moved his family back from the United States to Munich with his children set to start the new school year this month.

The 45-year-old was sacked as Bayern Munich coach in April after a poor run of results in his first role as a domestic coach after just ten months in charge of the German giants.

BERLIN (AFP)

Tags: Azerbaijan, Bayern, berlin, brakes, dead duck, german football federation, german football federation dfb, german team, Hanover, head coach, joachim loew, joachim loew germany, jurgen klinsmann, klinsi, LEVERKUSEN, Moscow, Munich, national coach, oliver bierhoff, rivals, russia, september 9, South Africa, speculation, Theo, theo zwanziger, United States, World Cup

Trochowski penalty puts Hamburg top

August 31, 2009

A late penalty from Hamburg winger Piotr Trochowski put Hamburg top of the Bundesliga on Sunday and sealed a 3-1 win over Cologne.

Goals either side of half-time by Peru striker Jose Paolo Guerrero had put Hamburg 2-0 ahead, but Germany winger Trochowski’s late spot kick made sure of the win to put the north German team ahead of Bayer Leverkusen.

With Bayern Munich’s new signing Arjen Robben scoring twice in the 3-0 win over champions Wolfsburg on Saturday, Hamburg took their chance to keep their unbeaten record and go top.

The opening goal at Hamburg’s HSH Nordbank Arena came after just 19 minutes when Guerrero was the first to react to a mistake in the Cologne defence.

With 66 minutes played Guerrero scored again while Cologne’s super sub Adil Chihi hit a consolation goal on 76 minutes just two minutes after coming off the bench, but Trochowski hit a penalty with time running out.

Hamburg’s victory means winless Cologne stay rooted to the foot of the table.

Earlier Werder Bremen went third after a 3-2 win over Hertha Berlin.

Second-half goals by Germany pair Mesut Oezil and Tim Borowski put Werder 2-0 up in the German capital before Berlin’s Poland midfielder Lukasz Piszczek pulled a goal back on 77 minutes.

Bremen made sure of the three points when Oezil then turned provider by setting up Brazilian defender Naldo on 83 minutes, only for Berlin’s Patrick Ebert to hit his side’s second at the Olympic Stadium in injury time.

“We had already had superiority in the first half, but we didn’t show enough purpose,” said Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf.

“I am happy about the result, we applied some good pressure and got the rewards.”

The defeat leaves Hertha Berlin third from bottom of the table after their third straight league defeat in four games while Bremen are behind Hamburg and Leverkusen with seven points.

On Saturday, Robben celebrated his Bayern Munich debut in sensational style when his two second-half goals sealed a 3-0 win over Wolfsburg.

Having only signed a four-year deal with the German giants on Friday from Real Madrid, the Dutch star came on just after half-time and made an early impact when fellow second-half substitute Franck Ribery put him clear.

Robben beat Wolfsburg defender Andrea Barzagli to curl his shot wide of goalkeeper Diego Benaglio on 68 minutes. Ribery then set up Robben again on 80 minutes as the defending champions were comprehensively out-played.

Robben, who cost Bayern 26 million euros, and Ribery gave their club their first win of the season in four attempts after Bayern were humiliated 2-1 at minnows Mainz the previous weekend.

The victory at Bayern’s Allianz Arena lifts the Bavarians up to eighth and eases the pressure on coach Louis van Gaal who took over in July.

The win was also sweet revenge after Wolfsburg humbled Bayern 5-1 in April.

The defeat leaves Wolfsburg seventh after their second consecutive defeat while Bayer Leverkusen kept up the pressure at the top thanks to Germany reject Steffan Kiessling hitting a second-half winner to seal a 2-1 win over Bochum.

Germany coach Joachim Loew has found no place for Kiessling in his squad for next Saturday’s friendly against South Africa or the World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan on September 9, but the Leverkusen star responded in style with an 68th-minute strike.

Schalke 04 went down without a fight as they were shocked 1-0 at home to minnows Freiburg.

Nuremberg held Stuttgart to a 0-0 draw while Dortmund drew 1-1 with Frankfurt.

On Friday, Mainz were brought down to earth after their Bayern triumph when they slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Borussia Moenchengladbach.

BERLIN (AFP)

Tags: Adil Chihi, Andrea Barzagli, bayer leverkusen, Bayern, bayern munich, berlin, Bremen, coach thomas, cologne, diego benaglio, four games, FRANKFURT, german capital, german team, Germany, Hamburg, hamburg 2, hertha berlin, hsh nordbank arena, injury time, joachim loew, jose paolo guerrero, LEVERKUSEN, louis van gaal, lukasz piszczek, Naldo, north German, nuremberg, olympic stadium, Patrick Ebert, peru, piotr trochowski, Poland, robben, South Africa, straight league, stuttgart, Thomas Schaaf, tim borowski, unbeaten record, werder bremen

Real set to relaunch pursuit of Ribery – report

August 13, 2009

Real Madrid could relaunch their bid to sign Bayern Munich’s French midfielder Franck Ribery by offering two of their Dutch internationals plus 30 million euros to the Bundesliga giants, reports said Thursday.

The Spanish giants said earlier this month their mega pre-season spending spree had ended with the capture of Xabi Alonso from Liverpool.

However sports dailies Marca and AS claim the Spanish giants are desperate to loosen Bayern’s grip on Ribery.

Real failed to sign the French midfield star this summer in the face of stiff opposition from Bayern but Real president Florentino Perez “is still not ruling out Ribery” ahead of the close season transfer deadline on August 31, Marca said Thursday.

Marca and AS said the midfielder, who is keen to join Real, issued a “new challenge” to Bayern by playing for France on Wednesday in a World Cup qualifying match against the Faroe Islands even though he has not played for his club this summer due to injury.

Marca said “the key” to capturing Ribery may be for Real to offer two of their Dutch internationals plus cash to Bayern coach Louis Van Gaal, a Dutchman. Real “would be ready to offer two of its Dutchmen and more than 30 million euros for Ribery,” it said.

Real would thus be able to make “an appetising offer to the German team as the amount would surpass 60 million euros — 30 in cash and a bit more than 30 more for the players released, a figure approaching the 80 million that Bayern was demanding at the start of the summer for Franck Ribery”.

Perez has splashed out over 250 million euros on the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema as he seeks to make the nine-times European champions a formidable force again.

Real are still looking to offload Dutchmen Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben, Royston Drenthe and Rafael Van der Vaart.

MADRID (AFP)

Tags: arjen robben, Bayern, bayern munich, cristiano ronaldo, Drenthe, Dutchmen, european champions, faroe islands, France, german team, internationals, Karim Benzema, louis van gaal, MADRID, midfield star, Rafael van der, rafael van der vaart, real madrid, ronaldo, royston drenthe, spending spree, stiff opposition, transfer deadline, van der vaart, Wesley Sneijder, xabi alonso

Ivanschitz joins Mainz

July 18, 2009

Austrian international midfielder Andreas Ivanschitz is on his way to promoted Bundesliga side Mainz from Greek outfit Panathinaikos, the German team’s manager Georg Stanggassinger said Saturday.

The 25-year-old former Austrian team captain will sign a three-year contract worth 1.5 million euro on Sunday.

Ivanschitz arrived at Panathinaikos in 2006 after playing for Rapid Vienna and Salzburg, but failed to feature last season.

In three years he has played some 50 league games.

Ivanschitz was national skipper from 2003 until early this year but has been sidelined from the side by new coach Didi Constanini.

VIENNA (AFP)

Tags: 5 million, andreas ivanschitz, austrian team, Bundesliga, coach, contract, contract worth, didi, georg stanggassinger, german team, league games, mainz, manager, midfielder, outfit, panathinaikos, rapid vienna, Salzburg, skipper, team captain, Vienna

Inamoto hopes for another World Cup chance

July 2, 2009

RENNES, France (AFP) – Veteran Japanese midfielder Junichi Inamoto is hoping that his move to French First Division side Rennes will boost his chances of playing in a third World Cup finals next year.

The 29-year-old – capped 71 times and scorer of four goals – was an iconic presence, aided by his dyed blond hair, when Japan co-hosted the 2002 World Cup finals with South Korea which saw the Japanese go out in the second round.

However, since then Inamoto – part of the Japanese squad that won the 2000 Asian Cup in Lebanon – has, like many of his compatriots who have tried to make a career in European club football, earned the moniker of ‘much travelled’ with Rennes being his seventh club since he signed for Arsenal in 2001.

However, Inamoto is insistent that being reunited with one of his former bosses, the fiery Frederic Antonetti, who coached him at J-League club Gamba Osaka, will get him to settle at last.

“Up till now I have not stayed longer than two years at any one club in Europe,” said Inamoto, who scored two of his four international goals in the 2002 World Cup.

“But that is not very important for me, nor that I am the Japanese player to have played abroad the longest.

“What is important, is that I have been able to acquire an enormous amount of experience and if that can be put to good use at Rennes, that would be ideal.

“If I can contribute in steering them into the European Cup that would be my first target this season.

“Of course I have a burning ambition to play in the World Cup and in that sense playing in a top championship will make it easier for me to be selected.

“And if that is the case then I want to play well in the World Cup.”

Inamoto, who just appeared in the League Cup for Arsenal before moving on to Fulham and has also seen service with Turkish giants Galatasaray, West Brom, Cardiff and German team Eintracht Frankfurt, said that Antonetti being coach of Rennes had helped him make his mind up.

“I was delighted the club were interested in me and came in for me when my contract with Eintracht was finished,” said Inamoto, who has not scored in 26 games for the national side since a 2003 friendly with Uruguay.

“And then I know the coach with whom I worked with 10 years ago.

“When he got angry he would always express himself in French, but it is 10 years since I have not heard his voice and it gives me great pleasure to hear it once more.

“Rennes is a good club, with a nice atmosphere, so all that motivated me to come here.”

Inamoto conceded that he had a habit of playing under French coaches having been with Arsene Wenger at Arsenal and Philippe ‘the white witch doctor’ Troussier for the national side in the 2000 Asian Cup and the 2002 World Cup.

“It is true that there have been a lot of French coaches who have appreciated my style of play,” said Inamoto.

“Now I must show in France that these coaches were right and I am really happy to be able to play there.

“When I came to Arsenal, everyone said that I was going to help sell a lot of shirts. But in reality there were no sales in Japan, therefore I don’t think that my presence here is going to help increase sales of Rennes shirts,” he added laughing.