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Algeria´s Saadane: “I have nothing to prove”

Algeria are into their first World Cup finals in 24 years and the Africa Cup of Nations quarter finals – yet the architect behind those twin achievements feels undervalued, unappreciated and underfire.

Coach Rabah Saadane has nothing to prove, yet his critics, sections of the Algerian media, have rounded on him here in Angola leaving him embattled and bitter.

Born months after the end of World War II, the father of four who graduated from university with a degree in science is on his fifth ‘marriage’ with the national team.

He was assistant coach at the 1982 World Cup, and head coach at the 1986 World Cup when Algeria failed to make it out of the first round after a draw with Northern Ireland and losses to Brazil and Spain.

Saadane, who cuts a doleful figure with his droopy eyes and walrus moustache, served his country again for an unhappy four month spell in 1999 and returned for a fourth time in 2003, leading the Desert Foxes to a quarter-final at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia.

Hired again in 2007 this latest tenure has proved his most successful, with qualification to South Africa 2010 and now a last eight date with Ivory Coast on Sunday.

He has achieved mission impossible as none of his critics believed either of those two feats were possible, especially Algeria’s progress through the Africa Cup of Nations’ first round after their opening 3-0 loss to Malawi.

That led to calls for his sacking.

“After that defeat I discovered who were my friends and who were my enemies,” Saadane, who has clearly been hurt by the press onslaught, told AFP.

“I was attacked before we came to Angola for choosing Toulon as our training base, and attacked again when we lost to Malawi.

“The criticism became personal, this was disrespectful after the sacrifice made to help put Algeria back on the continental and international stage.

“I don’t need to prove anything to anyone. My record speaks for itself.”

“I feel unappreciated,” added the man who is called ‘Cheikh’ by his players.

“No one dreamed we could qualify for the World Cup. All those who criticise me know nothing – we lost one game and nobody will forgive us.

“My critics forget who is Rabah Saadane – if they want to know who he is they must look back to the past, or to just a few months.

“I have nothing to prove.

“Training the national team is an honour for me – but it is also a huge responsibility. Eevery time I am asked to become coach I answer the challenge and I make a successful job of it.”

When he was summoned to become coach for the fifth time in 2007 his wife begged him not to accept, as when times get rough fans can get rough too.

“I took on the job again even though I know the risk it presents on my family, on my life – I do not give up easily.”

After their rocky start Algeria went on to beat Mali 1-0 and draw 0-0 with Angola to reach the quarter-finals as Group A runners-up, leaving Saadane satisfied that his team are on the right path.

“We have reached our objective of making the quarter-finals.

“We have a good team, who are making progress with each match. We will continue to work hard, to concentrate, to try to go far in this tournament.”

The North Africans are drawn in the same World Cup first round group as England, the United States and Slovenia, and Saadane, a former defender with French side Rennes, believes this Angola dress rehearsal will prove an invaluable experience for South Africa.

“We have shown here in Angola that we are on the right path for the World Cup.

“But what we have done here shouldn’t be regarded as a message to England, USA and Slovenia. The conditions at the World Cup will be very different to here in terms of weather, tactics and our preparation.

LUANDA (AFP)

Tags: 24 years, algerian media, assistant coach, droopy eyes, feats, head coach, international stage, Ivory Coast, mission impossible, moustache, Northern Ireland, onslaught, opening 3, quarter finals, walrus, world cup finals, world war ii

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Messi hits back at Argentina critics

Barcelona star Lionel Messi, the favourite to win the FIFA World Player of the Year award on Monday, has hit back at critics in his native Argentina who are angered over his failure to translate his club form to the international stage.

The Argentine media have suggested the striker does not show the same enthusiasm when he plays for the national team as when he hits the pitch for the Catalan side, which he joined at the age of 13 as a youth team player.

“It really gets me when they say I do not feel the Albiceleste. Nothing hurts me more than when they say I am not Argentine,” he said in an interview with daily El Pais, using the Spanish name for the Argentine national team.

“It does not bother me when they call me ‘the Catalan’ but it really bugs me that they think I am not Argentine,” the 22-year-old added.

Messi clinched an extra-time winner as Barcelona beat Estudiantes 2-1 Saturday to win the Club World Cup final, the European champions’ sixth trophy of the year.

Minutes after he hit the winner for Barcelona, fans took to the streets in the Argentine province of La Plata where Estudiantes is based to protest against the player, Argentine daily newspaper Clarin reported.

The fans left insulting graffiti against Messi on walls throughout the province and chanted “Messi is no Argentine”, it said.

Messi told El Pais that the Club World Cup win was one of his best moments of the year.

“It is much better than an individual prize because it is a collective prize that makes many people happy,” he said.

Messi was awarded the Ballon d’Or award for the European player of the year earlier this month, winning the prize by the biggest percentage of votes since it was created in 1956.

He joined Barcelona from Newell’s Old Boys which is based in Rosario, Argentina in 2000.

In September the player signed a two-year contract extension which will keep him at the club until 2016. The deal increased his buy-out clause to 250 million euros from 150 million euros.

MADRID (AFP)

Tags: Argentina, Argentine, Barcelona, catalan side, Clarin, club world cup, contract extension, european champions, european player of the year, extra time, fifa world player, fifa world player of the year award, international stage, La, La Plata, Lionel, lionel messi, MADRID, native argentina, old boys, Rosario, rosario argentina, spanish name, striker, team player, time winner

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World Cup hosts SAfrica recall McCarthy

World Cup hosts South Africa recalled controversial striker Benni McCarthy Thursday for mid-November home friendlies against Japan and Jamaica.

The scorer of a record 31 Bafana Bafana (The Boys) goals was ignored for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa after shunning a call-up for warm-up games against Norway and Portugal.

McCarthy claimed he had a hamstring injury, but Blackburn Rovers medical staff said the 31-year-old who burst on to the international stage at the 1998 African Nations Cup was fit to play.

There was no place for Spain-based defender Nasief Morris in a 24-man squad chosen by coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, who replaced fellow Brazilian Joel Santana last month and is scheduled to hold his first media conference Friday.

Morris was dumped ahead of the Confederations Cup for indiscipline by Santana, sacked after South Africa suffered eight defeats in their last nine matches.

He shares with captain Aaron Mokoena the distinction of being the only South African footballers playing regularly in an elite European league and was widely expected to be recalled.

South Africa failed to score in away losses against Germany, Republic of Ireland, Norway and Iceland during the last two months, prompting calls from local coaches for McCarthy to be given yet another chance.

Although the outstanding goal predator since South Africa returned to international football in 1992 after three decades of apartheid-induced isolation, McCarthy has frequently ignored national team call-ups.

The Blackburn striker claims he is unfairly singled out as the Bafana ‘bad boy’ during cash-related disputes between the team and South African Football Association officials.

Anti-McCarthy officials and national team supporters accuse him of being an overweight “spoilt brat” wanting to wear national colours only when it suits him.

McCarthy has not impressed Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce this season and reports have linked him with a mid-season loan move to English Premiership strugglers Portsmouth.

The inclusion of midfielder Daine Klate from champions SuperSport United ends a long media campaign for the inclusion of one of the best crossers available to South Africa.

There were also places for three of the team that reached the second round of the World youth championship in Egypt last month – goalkeeper Darren Keet, midfielder Daylon Classen and striker Kermit Erasmus.

South Africa will play the friendlies at 2010 World Cup venues, hosting World Cup qualifiers Japan at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on November 14 in Port Elizabeth and Jamaica at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein three days later.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Rowen Fernandez (Arminia Bielefeld/GER), Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates), Darren Keet (Wits University)

Defenders: Morgan Gould and Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport Utd), Siboniso Gaxa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa/ISR), Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth/ENG, capt), Anele Ngcongca (Genk/BEL), Siyabonga Sangweni (Golden Arrows), Lucas Thwala (Pirates)

Midfielders: Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs), Daylon Classen (Ajax Amsterdam/NED), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Fulham/ENG), Daine Klate (SuperSport), Teko Modise (Pirates), Macbeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan/RUS), Elrio van Heerden (Blackburn/ENG)

Strikers: Mabhuti Khenyeza and Katlego Mphela (Sundowns), Kermit Erasmus (Excelsior Rotterdam/NED), Benni McCarthy (Blackburn/ENG), Bernard Parker (Twente/NED)

JOHANNESBURG (AFP)

Tags: 2009 fifa confederations cup, african nations cup, Amsterdam, association officials, bafana, Bay Stadium, Bernard Parker, Bloemfontein, captain Aaron Mokoena, carlos alberto, Carlos Alberto Parreira, Darren Keet, Egypt, english premiership, friendlies, fulham, GER, Germany, Iceland, indiscipline, international football, international stage, Joel Santana, Kermit Erasmus, last two months, Lucas Thwala, man squad, Morris, national colours, NED, nelson mandela, Norway, Orlando, Portsmouth, portugal, republic of ireland, ROTTERDAM, Sam, south african football, south african football association, Spain, spoilt brat, team supporters, three decades, warm up games

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WCup hangover complicates life for Premier League

A week of World Cup qualifying drama will weigh heavily on the Premier League this weekend as Chelsea head to Aston Villa aiming to maintain their lead over Manchester United at the top of the table.

Injuries picked up on international duty threaten to sideline the likes of United striker Wayne Rooney and Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard while all of the league’s 20 managers will be grappling with the emotional hangover suffered by players who experienced World Cup joy and heartbreak.

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti can count on Didier Drogba firing on all cylinders after a week’s rest in the wake of the Ivory Coast’s draw with Malawi which clinched their place in next year’s finals in South Africa.

In contrast, goalkeeper Petr Cech, who returns from suspension, will have spent the last few days digesting the disappointment of the Czech Republic’s failure to even reach the play-offs for a final slot.

For Villa boss Martin O’Neill, the week has left him with an unwanted headache following Emile Heskey’s public declaration that his lack of first-team football at the club might lead him to seek a January move in order to bolster his hopes of starting for England at the World Cup.

Villa also have Ashley Young, James Milner, Stewart Downing and Gabriel Agbonlahor hoping to go to South Africa with England, and O’Neill is determined to prevent them being distracted by thoughts of glory on the international stage.

“Players need to remember themselves here,” the Northern Irishman said. “The World Cup is not next week, not before Christmas and not even before Easter. It’s a long, long way away.”

Spanish defender Carlos Cuellar predicted the toughest test of the season to date for the Villa back four.

“A lot of people said Nicolas Anelka and Drogba could not play together but they have are in great form as a partnership now,” Cuellar said. “But we must not underestimate ourselves. We have been defending well and we have to keep that up.”

Rooney may be doubtful for United’s meeting with Bolton after missing England’s final World Cup qualifier with a calf injury.

But United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will have been cheered by the form of Dimitar Berbatov, who struck a 38-minute hat-trick for Bulgaria in midweek, and has Michael Owen fit again as a potential partner.

Harry Redknapp takes third-placed Tottenham travel to bottom side Portsmouth for what promises to be a highly-charged encounter against his former club.

Redknapp, who won the FA Cup in his second spell in charge at Fratton Park, left the club for Spurs last year. He knows some fans will give him a bit of abuse but he has refused to countenance any special security measures.

“People who have got any sense look at what I did for that football club,” Redknapp said.

“I took them from the bottom of the Championship to winning the Championship and becoming a top-seven, top-eight Premier League club, winning the FA Cup.

“If people are stupid enough to shout abuse they need their heads looking at in my opinion. Am I bothered about some nutter running up to me? No. I don’t need security, I can look after myself.”

Sunderland, who were denied a famous win over Manchester United by an injury-time equaliser in their last outing, will seek to end a seven-year wait for a home win over Liverpool.

The combination of Kenwyne Jones and seven-goal top scorer Darren Bent will provide a significant test of a Liverpool defence that has appeared uncharacteristically shaky this season.

Arsenal entertain Birmingham in what will be the visitors’ first outing since Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung completed his takeover of the club.

The Gunners have a 100 percent record at home this season and manager Arsene Wenger is determined to extend that run.

“We know that our season will be decided at home,” the Frenchman said.

Fixtures (1400 GMT unless stated)

Arsenal v Birmingham, Aston Villa v Chelsea (1145 GMT), Everton v Wolves, Manchester Utd v Bolton, Portsmouth v Tottenham, Stoke City v West Ham, Sunderland v Liverpool

Sunday

Blackburn v Burnley (1200 GMT), Wigan v Manchester City (1500 GMT)

Monday

Fulham v Hull (1900 GMT)

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: carlo ancelotti, cech, firing on all cylinders, gabriel agbonlahor, international stage, irishman, Ivory Coast, James Milner, manchester united, Nicolas Anelka, play offs, public declaration, stage players, Steven Gerrard, stewart downing, team football, wayne rooney

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North Korea to play World Cup warmups in France

North Korea’s footballers will play three matches in France in October as part of their build-up to the 2010 World Cup, the Asians’ first venture into Europe for 40 years.

The squad will be based near the western city of Nantes from October 5-15, the French organisers Sports Live Agency said.

North Korea, who last qualified for the World Cup in 1966 in England, will take on second division side Nantes at La Roche-sur-Yon on October 9 and the Congo national team on October 13 at Le Mans.

The date for a third game, probably against a French footballer’s union side, is being arranged.

The North Koreans secured their place in the 2010 tournament in South Africa with a 0-0 draw away at Saudi Arabia last June.

In 1966, North Korea became many people’s second team as they beat mighty Italy on the way to the quarter-finals, where they went out to Portugal 5-3.

But in recent years the team has made little impact on the international stage.

Football is the most popular sport in the North but Pyongyang’s leadership banned the national squad from travelling abroad after losing to arch-rivals Japan and South Korea in qualifiers for the 1994 World Cup.

The North returned to international football at the Bangkok Asian Games in 1999 but did not compete in qualifying for the 1998 World Cup in France or the 2002 edition.

The North’s return to the World Cup finals comes amid grave international concern after Pyongyang test-fired several rockets and tested a nuclear bomb.

NANTES, France (AFP)

Tags: arch rivals, asian games, England, Europe, first venture, footballers, France, international concern, international football, international stage, Italy, la roche, Mans, Nantes, North Korea, north koreans, nuclear bomb, play three, popular sport, portugal, pyongyang, quarter finals, s union, saudi arabia, south korea, stage football, third game, warmups, world cup finals

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Olimpia looks to regain international form against Arabe Unido

Olimpia realized last year how challenging the CONCACAF Champions League can be.

No stranger to international competition with 26 Champions’ Cup appearances, much was expected from the most storied club in Honduran football.

But a meager pair of victories and outscored 8-6 in six matches left it behind eventual runner-up Atlante and Canadian second-division side Montreal in Group C.

Olimpia hopes to improve on its showing in the inaugural CONCACAF Champions League when it hosts Arabe Unido of Panama Thursday at Estadio Tiburcio Carias Andino in a Preliminary Round series in the capital of Tegucigalpa.

The series will then shift to Estadio Augustin “Muquita” Sanchez in La Chorrera, Panama, for the second leg on August 6.

Despite qualifying automatically for the Group Stage last year, Olimpia this year was only second best of the Apertura/Clausura winners behind Marathon, which claimed the berth. That left Olimpia to slug it out through the Preliminary Round.

Olimpia, which also is dealing the death of three of its fans from clashes with supporters of rival Motagua over the weekend, will have to do it, though, without talismanic leader Wilmer Velasquez.

The 37-year-old striker, who is the Honduran league’s all-time leading scorer, is recovering from a right knee injury.

That will place the offensive load on Ramiro Bruschi, who had six goals last season. He and his teammates will try to exploit an opponent that’s making its Champions League debut.

Arabe Unido advanced to the Champions League after beating Tauro 3-2 in extra time to capture the 2008 Clausura.

The young club has success on the domestic front, reaching the final seven times in its 15 years in ANAPROF, Panama’s top league, and will look to replicate it on the international stage.

Richard Parra will employ a two-man strike force in 24-year-olds Orlando Rodriguez and Manuel Mosquera, who combined for 29 of the team’s 39 goals. Rodriguez led the 2008 Clausura with 18 goals, while Mosquera added 11 to finish tied for fourth in league scoring.

Arabe’s motivation will stem from several roots, especially a willingness to make a mark internationally against one of Central America’s most famous and storied clubs.

By Vijay Setlur

Tags: ANAPROF, atlante, Augustin, berth, bruschi, C. Olimpia, Central America, champions cup, concacaf, concacaf champions league, group stage, international competition, international stage, knee injury, la chorrera panama, league debut, manuel mosquera, Montreal, motagua, offensive load, Orlando, Panama, parra, Richard Parra, seven times, strike force, Tegucigalpa, tiburcio carias andino, time leading scorer, Vijay Setlur, Wilmer Velasquez

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San Francisco returns, Jabloteh debuts in Champions League

Panama’s San Francisco FC return to the international stage on Wednesday looking to reverse last year’s Champions League fortunes when they host Trinidad and Tobago’s San Juan Jabloteh who will be making their first appearance in the tournament.

San Francisco failed to win a match in the Group Stage of last year’s tournament, but returned for this year’s edition by defeating Chorrillo on penalties in the 2009 Panamanian Apertura title game in June, their seventh title since the club’s formation in 1971.

Manager Ruben Guevara announced at a July 24 news conference the re-signing of Colombian striker Carlos ‘El Loco’ Vilarete, midfielder Amir White and defender Joel Solanilla.

Since its league season doesn’t begin until August 9, it warmed up for its Champions League Preliminary Round opener with a 2-1 friendly win over league rivals Alianza on Sunday on goals by Vilarete and White.

Jabloteh will need to thwart Boris Alfaro, San Francisco’s leading scorer last season with eight goals, and midfielder Victor Hererra Piggott, who had five.

Panama’s third-most successful club has had midfielder Ricardo Phillips back for more than a week since his Gold Cup experience with the Panamanian national team, and will have a defense anchored by Carlos Ruben Rivera, veteran Argentine Victor Suarez and goalkeeper William Negrete.

Jabloteh replaced popular English coach Terry Fenwick with Earl John in June, who has the club atop Trinidad and Tobago’s pro league standings, one point ahead of Joe Public and Caledonia with a game in hand.

The club arrives in the Champions League coming off a 4-3 victory over Police Force FC on Friday thanks to Cyrano Glen’s 66th-minute equalizer and striker Jason Marcano late winner.

Jabloteh remains Trinidad’s most successful team having won four titles since the founding of the nation’s pro league in 1999.

Although they represented Trinidad at the 2004 CONCACAF Champions Cup, this is its first appearance in the Champions League.

Glen, along with midfielder Marvin Oliver, lead the team with three goals each while Marcano,  midfielders Ataullah Guerra and Lester Peltier have two apiece.

Midfielder Elton John has emerged as one of Jabloteh’s top players and was a standout in their third-place finish at the CFU club championship, where it beat Haitian club Tempete for its berth.

Jabloteh’s defense has looked inconsistent during some matches and this could be a factor which San Francisco could exploit in front of a home crowd in Wednesday’s opener.

During a July 7 loss,  Joe Public played numerous through balls that Jabloteh failed to solve in a 4-0 loss.

After Wednesday’s game in La Chorrerra, Jabloteh will return home for the second leg in Marabella on August 6.

By Peter Mallett

Tags: CONCACAF Champions' Cup, english coach, first appearance, gold cup, hererra, international stage, joe public, league rivals, league standings, negrete, piggott, ruben rivera, san juan jabloteh, successful club, title game, trinidad and tobago

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Liberia, Espana clash in battle of Champions League debutantes

When Liberia won its first Costa Rican league title, fans crowded the streets of the town to celebrate late into the night

They hope it won’t be the only time they’ll get to revel in a triumph.

With the Clausura crown secured, Liberia will look to carry the momentum to international stage on Wednesday when it will face Real Espana of Honduras in both teams’ debut in the CONCACAF Champions League.

Liberia will “host” the first leg of the Preliminary Round, aggregate-goal series at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela before the series shifts to San Pedro Sula, Honduras, for the second leg on August 6.

Liberia doesn’t have the pedigree of an Espana, but is coming into the series with some inertia.

On the way to the Clausura championship, Liberia beat Perez Zeledon, Costa Rican giant Deportivo Saprissa and finally traditional power Herediano.

A big reason behind the success was the play of midfielder Victor Nunez.  The Costa Rican international, who has appeared in four 2010 World Cup qualifiers, ran away with the scoring race with eight goals.

The club will need Nunez’s offensive prowess to fend off Espana and get the early jump in the series.

Espana lost in the final of both the Honduran Apertura and Clausura to perennial contenders Marathon and Olimpia, who claimed the Honduras’ two guaranteed Champions League berths.

But Espana benefited from CONCACAF stripping Belize of its lone berth for lacking an adequate stadium and gave Honduras a third berth, which the Aurinegros was granted by having finished runner-up in both seasons.

The nine-time Honduran-league champion hopes to capitalize, and will look to Honduran internationals Allan Lalin and Melvin Valladares to lead offense.

Lalin, who had five goals in the Clausura, and Valladares are in form after having played the past month in CONCACAF Gold Cup 2009.

Both strikers are threats for manager Ramon Maradiaga, the one-time manager of Guatemala.

Defenders Nery Medina and Carlos Palacios also played in all five games for Honduras during the Gold Cup.

Their Gold Cup experience and fitness could give Espana the advantage.

That shouldn’t come as a surprise, much to the dismay of Liberia’s supporters hoping for another celebration.

By Vijay Setlur

Tags: Alajuela, berth, berths, concacaf champions league, deportivo saprissa, gold cup, international stage, internationals, lalin, league champion, offensive prowess, olimpia, perennial contenders, perez zeledon, san pedro sula, san pedro sula honduras, series shifts, time manager, victor nunez, world cup qualifiers

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Van Gaal savours sixth league title

THE HAGUE (AFP) – Louis van Gaal put an end to a decade-long trophy famine by guiding AZ Alkmaar to the Dutch league title on Sunday and he promptly hailed the achievement as arguably the highlight of his career.

Van Gaal, who won back-to-back Spanish titles with Barcelona in 1998-99, said on Monday: “This was perhaps the most notable because it was the most unexpected.

“I am truly very proud.”

Since leaving Barcelona in 2000 the 57-year-old had struggled to make his mark, failing to qualify Holland for the 2002 World Cup in his stint as national coach.

A brief return to the Nou Camp between 2000 and 2003 came to nothing after which he had a spell as technical director at Ajax, a club he had guided to three Dutch titles between 1994 and 1996.

But the call of the dug out proved too strong and in 2005 he returned as manager at AZ Alkmaar where his managerial career had begun back in 1986.

“When I arrived here there was still an old 8,000-capacity stadium which was almost never full,” recalled van Gaal who has achieved success on an annual budget of 20 million euros, the sixth lowest in the Dutch first division.

“Since 2008 we’ve had a new ground for almost 20,000 fans and since last season we’ve had a full house at each game.”

He added: “The aim now is to turn AZ into a big national club and one that is known in Europe. The president wants to do things in stages which touches every domain and not merely results on the pitch.”

Van Gaal, who is under contract until 2011, is key to the club situaterd 40km outside Amsterdam and which came into existence in 1967 with the amalgamation of Alkmaar’54 and FC Zaanstreek.

“He’s a teacher beyond compare,” noted AZ Alkmaar’s Belgian striker Moussa Dembele.

“With him you learn something new every day.”

But for how long van Gaal, who also led Ajax to UEFA Cup and Champions League glory in 1992 and 1995, remains at AZ is open to question, as he hankers for a return to the international stage.

“I’ll honour my contract unless a top national team comes knocking at my door,” says the man whose dream is “to one day compete in a European Championships or World Cup”.

Tags: Ajax, alkmaar, amalgamation, Amsterdam, Barcelona, contract, dutch first division, dutch league, Eredivisie, Europe, existence, famine, full house, hague, highlight, Holland, international stage, Louis, louis van gaal, managerial career, moussa, national coach, new ground, nou camp, spanish titles, stint, team co, technical director, Van Gaal, zaanstreek

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Walcott hints at extending Arsenal contract

LONDON (AFP) – Theo Walcott, whose contract with Arsenal is due to run out in June 2010, has hinted that he’s ready to extend his playing days with the English Premiership giants.

The 20-year-old England star, who is in talks about extending his deal, has become a key member of Arsene Wenger’s side this season despite missing four months with a shoulder injury and is also a first-choice pick for England coach Fabio Capello.

“I’ll let my agents deal with the contract situation and just get on with playing,” Walcott told the Daily Mail.

“But I do look around and think what a great team this is. We’ve got a great squad and some great talents. Some of the things Robin (van Persie) and Eduardo do in training are just ridiculous.

“There are so many examples of players who have developed into great players under our manager, Thierry (Henry) for a start, and I want to be one of them.”

Walcott really announced himself on the international stage with a hat-trick in the 4-1 World Cup qualifying win over Croatia earlier this season but he is hoping to return to under-21 level this summer for the European Championships in Sweden.

“For me, playing for England at any age is an honour,” the former Southampton youngster continued. “And while it’s ultimately up to the managers to decide, I think I probably will play.

“In my opinion it would be good experience to play in a tournament because I haven’t really had that. It’s good experience for young players if they can win something as well.”

The shoulder injury, suffered while training with England, put the brakes on Walcott’s season but he believes the extra gym work that was part of his recovery has made him a better – and faster – player.

“Now my sprinting action is much better,” he added. “I’m more balanced when it comes to using my arms. I was a bit of a lightweight before.

“That was part of the problem. I’m more powerful now and much better equipped to deal with the physical demands of the game.”

Tags: arsene wenger, croatia, daily mail, Eduardo, England, england coach, england star, English Premier League, english premiership, fabio capello, first choice, four months, good experience, hat trick, Henry, honour, international stage, london, physical demands, Robin, shoulder injury, Southampton, Sweden, theo walcott, Thierry, thierry henry, youngster

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