Pliatsikas ruled out of World Cup
January 7, 2010
Young Greek star Vassilios Pliatsikas has been ruled out for the rest of the season by Schalke after tearing a knee ligament in training. The injury will also keep him out of Greece’s squad for this summer’s World Cup.
Pliatsikas, 21, suffered the injury on Monday as Schalke trained in Spain during the Bundesliga’s winter break. Team doctors confirmed the extent of the injury after further examination in Düsseldorf.
The youngster, who typically plays in a defensive midfield role for Schalke, joined the club on a €300,000 transfer from AEK Athens at the start of the season. He has made eight appearances for Schalke this season.
Pliatsikas, who has four appearances all time for Greece since his debut at age 19, had been in line to possibly be named to Otto Rehhagel’s 23-man squad for South Africa, though that dream is likely ended with the injury.
Tags: aek athens, Bundesliga, debut, extent, greece, greek star, knee ligament, man squad, otto rehhagel, pliatsikas, Schalke, South Africa, Spain, team doctors, winter break, World Cup, youngsterRelated posts
Carlton Cole frustrated with his injury
December 21, 2009
Carlton Cole has sounded out his disappointment and frustration at being sidelined with injury. As Cole looks on from the stands, other English strikers, who hope to make it in England’s World Cup squad, have the chance to impress on the pitch.
The West Ham striker is currently battling a knee injury. Cole has been tipped to make Fabio Capello’s squad. However, there will be fierce competition for the 23-man list.
The likes of Wayne Rooney and Emile Heskey are almost certain to feature in England’s squad, but Cole, Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch, Darren Bent and even Michael Owen can only hope to fly to South Africa with the rest of the team.
Cole was in good form for Gianfranco Zola’s Hammers, scoring 7 goals in 13 Premier League games before he suffered his injury.
“It doesn’t feel good to see these guys scoring all the time,” he said in the Daily Star.
“But they’re all top players and it’s what you expect. That’s why I was so disappointed when I got injured because I knew I would be overtaken in the goal rankings.
“I’ve been trying to keep up with the likes of Defoe, Bent, Rooney and others – and to make sure I stayed in the top ten all season.
“I think I was seventh before my injury – so I know I’ve got to work hard to get the problem out the way and come back strong in the second half of the season.
“It’s been my dream to play and score at a World Cup finals since I was little kid. Hopefully, I can keep that dream alive.”
Cole is an integral part of West Ham’s squad and the sooner he returns the better for his struggling team. The Hammers are keen to perform well again in order to pull themselves away from the relegation zone.
The English striker wants to come back from injury, focus on his club career, perform well again and earn a place in Capello’s 23-man squad in the process.
“I really want to focus on West Ham,” he added.
“But, if you’re going to be injured in World Cup year, I suppose the earlier in the season it happens, the better it is.”
Tags: Carlton Cole, Cole, daily star, Darren Bent, Emile Heskey, England, fabio capello, gianfranco zola, hammers, jermain defoe, knee injury, little kid, man squad, michael owen, peter crouch, premier league games, South Africa, strikers, wayne rooney, west ham, world cup finals, world cup squad, ZolaRelated posts
Weiss extends City deal
December 18, 2009
Young Slovakian star Vladimir Weiss agreed on a contract with Manchester City on Thursday, keeping the midfielder at Eastlands through the end of the 2011-12 English Premier League season.
Weiss, 20, joined the youth ranks of City in 2005 and made his first-team debut with the Blues late last season in the Premiership. Heralded by both City and Slovakia as a future star on the European football scene, Weiss has been limited to a handful of Carling Cup appearances this season.
City manager Mark Hughes said of Weiss, “He has all the attributes that…can turn matches and we look forward to his further development.”
Weiss is a third-generation Slovakian footballer, his father and grandfather of the same name both appearing for national teams over the course of their careers. Weiss’ father is the current coach of the Slovakian team that will play at this summer’s World Cup.
Weiss has appeared six times for Slovakia and is likely to be on their 23-man squad in South Africa.
Tags: attributes, Carling Cup, Eastlands, English Premier League, european football scene, further development, handful, man squad, manchester city, Mark Hughes, midfielder, premiership, six times, slovakia, slovakian, South Africa, team debut, third generation, vladimir, Vladimir Weiss, World Cup, youth ranksRelated posts
SAfrica can reach WCup quarter-finals, says Parreira
November 6, 2009
New coach Carlos Alberto Parreira says struggling 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa can defy the odds and reach the quarter-finals.
“The greatest challenge is getting to the second phase. South Africa must work hard but I’m confident we will get there,” he told Brazilian television ahead of a second spell in charge of Bafana Bafana (The Boys).
“I hope that with the backing of home fans we will reach the quarter-finals and after that the sky is the limit,” said the 66-year-old, who guided Brazil to the 1994 World Cup title.
“The World Cup is kill, kill, kill, and it is not always the best teams that reach the final. It is different from a championship and I think we could have a very competitive team.”
Brave words from a man inheriting a national team ranked 85 in the world by FIFA and demoralised after eight losses in nine matches with the sole success coming at home against African lightweights Madagascar.
The defeats were inflicted by Spain (twice), Brazil and Serbia at home and away to Germany, Republic of Ireland, Norway and Iceland and cost another Brazilian, Joel Santana, his 200,000-dollar-a-month coaching post.
Parreira ended his first spell as a moderately successful coach of South Africa in mid-2008 to be with his ill wife in Rio de Janeiro and reportedly recommended Santana to take over despite no national team experience.
Toward the end of his reign Santana axed striker Benni McCarthy from English Premiership club Blackburn Rovers after he shunned a call-up for friendlies against Norway and Portugal.
Parreira has decided to give McCarthy, scorer of a record 31 goals for Bafana Bafana since his 1997 debut, another chance by naming him in a 24-man squad for home friendlies against Japan and Jamaica this month.
“I think Benni is the best South African striker and if he is willing to play, make sacrifices and commit himself to the team, he deserves an opportunity,” insisted Parreira.
South Africa, who qualified for the World Cup in 1998 and 2002 without progressing beyond the first round, hope to stage training camps at home and in Brazil and Germany before the June 11 to July 11 tournament.
“Training in Brazil will be a valuable experience, but we need an agreement with the coaches of the players’ clubs because the planned dates are not on the FIFA calendar and the teams are not obliged to release them.
“For the camps to be successful we need at least 70 percent of the main team present,” warned the Brazilian who also coached Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia at World Cup finals.
South Africa complete their 2009 friendly schedule with fixtures against Japan on November 14 in Port Elizabeth and Jamaica three days later in Bloemfontein.
JOHANNESBURG (AFP)
Tags: bafana bafana, benni mccarthy, brave words, brazilian television, carlos alberto, Carlos Alberto Parreira, competitive team, english premiership, friendlies, greatest challenge, home fans, Iceland, ill wife, Japan, Joel Santana, lightweights, man squad, Port Elizabeth, premiership club, quarter finals, republic of ireland, rio de janeiro, sky is the limit, south african striker, team experienceRelated posts
World Cup hosts SAfrica recall McCarthy
November 6, 2009
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 gamesRelated posts
Owen set to resume training on Tuesday
October 6, 2009
Manchester United striker Michael Owen will return to full training on Tuesday after missing his side’s draw with Sunderland on Saturday.
Owen was forced off during last week’s Champions League victory over Wolfsburg after suffering a groin injury and didn’t recover in time for the Sunderland clash.
But, although it was initially feared the former Liverpool star would be out for three weeks, he is now ready to return to action.
“I’m back in full training from tomorrow (Tuesday),” Owen told At The Races on Monday. “The older you get the more you get to learn your body.
“Probably a few years ago I would have carried on playing and pulled something and been out for a couple of months or a few weeks at least.
“I felt something coming. If I’d continued or done another sprint then I think I would have pulled my groin.
“So I came off just before it happened and instead of three or four weeks it’s three or four days. So that’s something you get with experience.”
Meanwhile, Owen, who has 89 caps and 40 goals for England, has not given up hope of making Fabio Capello’s 23-man squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Owen has yet to feature for Capello and was left out of the Italian’s squad for England’s final World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine and Belarus.
“We’ll see about that,” he replied when asked about featuring in next year’s finals.
“Every aim for an English footballer is to go to the World Cup and get in that squad.
“I’ve got six or seven months to do as well as possible for Manchester United and hopefully Fabio Capello will be watching.”
LONDON (AFP)
Tags: aim, belarus, caps, champions league, clash, England, Fabio, fabio capello, footballer, groin injury, league victory, Liverpool, london, man squad, Manchester, michael owen, Owen, seven months, South Africa, sprint, striker, Sunderland, ukraine, Wolfsburg, world cup qualifiersRelated posts
Austria hit by injury crisis ahead of WC qualifier
September 29, 2009
Austria will miss five regular starters because of injuries for next month’s 2010 World Cup qualifying games against Lithuania and France.
Defenders Emanuel Pogatetz, Martin Stranzl and Sebastian Proedl, along with strikers Rubin Okotie and Marko Arnautovic were all missing from the 22-man squad announced Tuesday by Austria coach Dietmar Constantini.
Defender Gyoergy Garics and former captain Andreas Ivanschitz, who was expected to return to the team for the first time under Constantini, were both overlooked.
LASK Linz midfielder Thomas Prager received his first call-up since February 2008.
Three players could make their first appearance in the team – goalkeeper Christian Gratzei, defender Ekrem Dag and midfielder Christopher Drazan.
Austria has a slim chance of reaching the qualifying playoffs from Group 7.
It needs France to drop at least two points against the Faeroe Islands, and it must beat both Lithuania in Innsbruck on Oct. 10 and France in Paris four days later.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Christian Gratzei (Sturm Graz), Helge Payer (Rapid Vienna), Andreas Schranz (Austria Kaernten).
Defenders: Ekrem Dag (Besiktas), Aleksandar Dragovic (Austria Vienna), Christian Fuchs (Bochum), Manuel Ortlechner (Austria Vienna), Juergen Patocka (Rapid Vienna), Paul Scharner (Wigan), Franz Schiemer (Salzburg), Andreas Ulmer (Salzburg).
Midfielders: Julian Baumgartlinger (Austria Vienna), Daniel Beichler (Sturm Graz), Christopher Drazan (Rapid Vienna), Andreas Hoelzl (Sturm Graz), Jakob Jantscher (Sturm Graz), Yasin Pehlivan (Rapid Vienna), Thomas Prager (LASK Linz).
Forwards: Erwin Hoffer (Napoli), Marc Janko (Salzburg), Stefan Maierhofer (Wolverhampton), Roman Wallner (LASK Linz).
Abhimanyu Rajput
Tags: abhimanyu, Andreas Hoelzl, Andreas Schranz, Andreas Ulmer, austria vienna, captain Andreas Ivanschitz, christian fuchs, Christopher Drazan, Dag, dragovic, emanuel pogatetz, erwin hoffer, faeroe islands, first appearance, Franz Schiemer, Graz, Helge, helge payer, injury crisis, Innsbruck, Jakob Jantscher, Julian Baumgartlinger, lask linz, man squad, Manuel Ortlechner, Marc Janko, napoli, Paul Scharner, pehlivan, rajput, rapid vienna, roman wallner, Salzburg, stefan maierhofer, sturm graz, Thomas Prager, world cup qualifying games, Yasin PehlivanRelated posts
Burley gambles on Kyle for final throw of dice
August 25, 2009
Beleaguered Scotland boss George Burley defended his decision to hand Kevin Kyle a shock recall to the international set-up after rewarding the Kilmarnock striker for his freescoring recent form.
The 28-year-old forward, who last appeared for his country in 2004 during Berti Vogts’ ill-fated spell in charge, has been included in a 25-man squad for make-or-break World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and the Netherlands next month.
Scotland must win their last two qualifiers to have any chance of snatching second place in group nine — which the Dutch have already won — and reaching next year’s finals in South Africa via the play-offs.
Burley, who is widely expected to be sacked if Scotland fail to get the wins they need, has also handed recalls to veteran Rangers defender David Weir, Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon and injured Celtic defender Stephen McManus.
He insisted that former Sunderland and Coventry hitman Kyle, who comes in at the expense of the injured Ross McCormack, would give Scotland something they have been lacking of late.
“Kevin gives us that physical prescence, he scored eight in nine at the end of last season. He had a knock in pre-season but came back and scored two goals on the first game of the season.
“He is strong and aggressive and can score goals. We don’t have that type of player and that’s the reason we brought him in. I’ve taken advice on him as well. Kevin is a bit different and that’s something you might look to start or bring on as a sub in the last ten minutes if you’re looking to get the ball into the box early.”
While Kyle is not assured of a starting place, Burley confirmed that Gordon, who made his first competitive start in four months in Sunderland’s 4-1 League Cup win over Norwich on Monday, and Weir will both start against Macedonia on September 5.
Weir, 39, was dropped from the squad that was beaten 4-0 in Norway last month but with Gary Caldwell suspended for the clash against Macedonia as a result of the red card he received in Oslo and doubts over the fitness of Steven Caldwell and McManus, Burley said he had no choice but to bring him back to the fold.
He added: “I’ve been in touch with Davie ever since I’ve been the manager. He has played in some of the games but he’s coming on 40 and it’s a big ask for a player of his age to play international football. He is a model professional and one I’ve always admired, but you are always trying to introduce other players.
“I wouldn’t pick him unless I was going to play him. We felt that if I wasn’t going to play him it would be better if he was preparing with his club. He will be in the starting line-up for this game. International football is a big jump from the SPL. We have a number of centre-halves not 100 percent fit, Gary Caldwell is suspended, so David comes into the equation.”
Provided he stays fit, Weir will become Scotland’s oldest outfield player since Jimmy McMenemy in 1920.
Burley dodged questions about his own future but it seems increasingly likely that he will be dismissed if he fails to take Scotland to at least the play-offs to give them a crack of competing in a major tournament for the first time since the World Cup in 1998.
“Macedonia are level on points with us and have a lot of talent,” he said.
“I am sure it will be very close and if things go for us then hopefully we can take the three points into the Holland game. My focus is for Scotland and I will do my best for my country, nothing else matters Will I keep my job? Who knows, but I will do my best to get the results. This is for my country and I will do my best.”
GLASGOW (AFP)
Tags: clash, coventry, Craig Gordon, David, David Weir, first game, four months, Gary Caldwell, george burley, Glasgow, hitman, Holland, Kevin, Kevin Kyle, Macedonia, man squad, mccormack, mcmanus, Norway, Norwich, oslo, prescence, Ross McCormack, scotland, South Africa, Stephen McManus, Steven Caldwell, striker, Sunderland, the Netherlands, world cup qualifiersRelated posts
Nigeria drop Yakubu, Martins from crunch tie
August 21, 2009
Everton striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Obafemi Martins of Wolfsburg have not been picked by Nigeria for next month’s crunch World Cup qualifier against Tunisia in Abuja.
Nigeria coach, Shuaibu Amodu, who announced Friday a 21-man squad for the Group Two qualifier on September 6, said he left out both strikers because they are yet to attain full match fitness after recovering from injuries.
However, Amodu has recalled Hoffenheim forward Chinedu Obasi for the Tunisia clash. He said he was delighted Obasi has recovered from an injury which prevented him from being part of the Super Eagles matches in June.
“I’m happy that Obasi is back from injury. He will be a valuable addition to the team,” Amodu said.
Amodu will also decide on two more call-ups by Monday. He said he has to choose between England-based defender Danny Shittu and Obinna Nwaneri, who features for FC Sion in Switzerland, as well as between forwards Joseph Akpala from Club Brugge and John Utaka, who plays for Portsmouth.
Tunisia lead the group with seven points from three matches, two points ahead of second-placed Nigeria. Kenya and Mozambique are the other teams in the group.
LAGOS (AFP)
Tags: abuja, abuja nigeria, clash, club brugge, crunch, danny shittu, eagles, England, forwards, John Utaka, Joseph, kenya, LAGOS, man squad, martins, match, Mozambique, nigeria, obasi, Portsmouth, striker, strikers, Switzerland, Tunisia, ups, world cup qualifierRelated posts
Real Madrid coach mulls over final squad
July 26, 2009
Real Madrid still has still not determined what its final squad and its starting 11 will be for the upcoming season, new coach Manuel Pellegrini said Saturday.
The Spanish giants spent over 200 million euros on new players in the pre-season, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Kaka, and earlier this month Pellegrini said he hoped to have the final squad ironed out by July 27 when all of the club’s internationals returned from holidays.
“I said that, but I added that it was important not to make mistakes, that we should make the right decisions. We’ll wait longer if we must,” the Chilean coach told a news conference ahead of Real’s friendly at home Sunday against Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad.
“I wish the squad was tighter by now, but it isn’t a big deal. We train normally and there is a good atmosphere in the team. Every player tries to do his best. Our duty is to do the same job with every footballer we have and we’ll keep on doing so,” he added.
Real’s spending spree has left it with an overcrowded dressing room as the club has been less successful at offloading players than it has been at recruiting new ones.
Pellegrini repeated Real’s desire to sell its Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who has been linked with a move to Stuttgart and more recently with Tottenham.
“I’ve spoken to every player and Huntelaar knows what I want. We have many strikers on the team and they can’t all stay. Everybody knows how good he is. We have an excess of strikers right now and he knows there is no place for him,” he said.
Argentine defender Gabriel Heinze is also on the “for sale” list, but the size of his wage packet is proving an obstacle. Marseille were interested in the player but cooled off when confronted with a 4.2 million euro price tag.
Pellegrini included Ronaldo and Benzema in his 20-man squad for the match on Sunday against Al-Ittihad.
If Ronaldo is sent on the pitch it will be the first time that he plays for Real at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium since his record-setting transfer from Manchester United last month.
“We haven’t started to try out a defined starting 11 yet. Ronaldo will sometimes play down the wing and will sometimes be positioned as a striker. He is comfortable anywhere in attack,” said Pellegrini.
“These are friendly games in which we aren’t looking for a starting lineup,” he added.
Ronaldo made his debut for Real last week as they eked out a 1-0 victory over Shamrock Rovers in Ireland. Benzema scored the winner.
The 24-year-old Portuguese winger was taken off at half-time having failed to sparkle against some muscular defending.
MADRID (AFP)
Tags: Al-Ittihad, Argentine, benzema, dressing room, footballer, gabriel heinze, internationals, Ireland, kaka, Karim Benzema, klaas jan, MADRID, man squad, Manchester, manuel pellegrini, Marseille, news conference, obstacle, price tag, real madrid, ronaldo, Santiago, santiago bernabeu stadium, saudi arabian, spending spree, striker, strikers, stuttgart, tottenham, wage packetRelated posts
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