Bolton draw 1-1 to Spurs after penalty save

February 14, 2010

Jussi Jaaskelainen was Bolton’s hero as the Finland goalkeeper saved Tom Huddlestone’s second half penalty to force a 1-1 draw against Tottenham in the FA Cup fifth round on Sunday.

Bolton dominated the opening period at the Reebok Stadium and deserved their lead after Kevin Davies finished off a fine passing move.

But Spurs equalised when Jermain Defoe fired in his fifth goal in five games and Huddlestone could have won it from the spot, only for Jaaskelainen to earn Bolton a replay with a fine stop.

Bolton may be facing up to a relegation battle but they backed up manager Owen Coyle’s insistence that they still wanted to enjoy a long cup run.

The hosts made a bright start and Fabrice Muamba sliced wide from just outside the area before Johan Elmander had a close-range effort deflected wide by Michael Dawson.

Zat Knight shot straight at Tottenham goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes after Peter Crouch headed away from Paul Robinson’s deep free kick.

Tottenham finally posed some sort of threat when Gareth Bale cut in from the left and shot well wide.

But Bolton were still dominant and Swedish striker Elmander should have done better than the sliced effort he came up with after being played through by Ricardo Gardner.

Despite Bolton’s greater possession, Gomes had not really been worked until he produced a fine low save to push a Taylor free kick around the post.

Tottenham wasted a good opportunity when David Bentley hit a corner to the edge of the area, only for Huddlestone to volley well off target and Peter Crouch also dragged wide from distance.

Bentley had a header easily saved by Jaaskelainen and then cut in to shoot straight at the Bolton goalkeeper after a quick Tottenham breakaway.

But 11 minutes before the break, Bolton got the goal they deserved with a strike of real quality.

They kept hold of the ball for some time before it was worked out to the right and South Korean midfielder Chung-Yong Lee sent Elmander into the area.

The Swede crossed to the far post and Davies beat Gomes with a low shot into the corner.

The pressure continued after the restart with Lee’s cross being laid off by Elmander before a Davies drive was deflected wide by Dawson.

A quick counter attack saw Davies flick Elmander into space and he teed up Muamba, only for the former Arsenal midfielder to slice wide.

Tottenham finally created a decent opening when Bentley crossed from the right and Crouch beat Jaaskelainen in the air only for his header to come back off the bar.

A minute later the bar saved Bolton again as Wilson Palacios drove into the box and crossed before the ball bounced off Paul Robinson and on to the woodwork.

But in the 61st minute, Tottenham pulled level with a neat goal of their own.

Gretar Steinsson backed off, allowing Bale to break into the box and the full back crossed for Defoe to stab past Jaaskelainen.

As Tottenham pressed hard for a second, Jaaskelainen was forced into a fine save from Spurs sub Niko Kranjcar.

With 20 minutes left, referee Phil Dowd penalised Sam Ricketts for a handball as Crouch attempted to lift the ball over the Bolton defender.

But Jaaskelainen guessed right and pushed away Huddlestone’s penalty to keep Bolton on level terms.

The Finnish goalkeeper was called into action again, pushing away a bobbling effort from Defoe.

BOLTON, England (AFP)

Tags: Chung-Yong, David Bentley, England, fabrice muamba, fifth goal, Finland, five games, Gareth Bale, heurelho gomes, jermain defoe, Johan Elmander, Kevin Davies, Lee, michael dawson, Niko Kranjcar, Owen Coyle, paul robinson, peter crouch, Phil Dowd, reebok stadium, relegation battle, Ricardo Gardner, Sam, tom huddlestone, Wilson, yong lee, zat knight

Crouch double puts Tottenham in party mood

December 19, 2009

Peter Crouch put Tottenham’s stars back in boss Harry Redknapp’s good books as his double secured a 2-0 win at Blackburn on Saturday.

Just a day after it was revealed that the majority of Redknapp’s squad had defied his ban on Christmas parties by jetting off to Dublin for a secret bash, Crouch put the focus back on the players’ on-field activities.

Redknapp has admitted he will read the riot act to his players on Monday for such a public flouting of his rules, but he may soften his punishment after a victory which kept the north London club on course for a top four finish.

Blackburn were the better team for long periods at Ewood Park, but Crouch put Spurs ahead on the stroke of half time. And the England forward, who only had two Premier League goals before Saturday, buried a late chance to wrap up the victory.

Blackburn’s winless run in the league is now extended to six matches, a spell that has seen them score just one goal.

Recalled South African striker Benni McCarthy immediately went close with a thumping free kick that went just wide.

Slack defending from former Spurs star Pascal Chimbonda almost let Tottenham in, but Crouch pulled the ball back behind an un-marked Tom Huddlestone, who would only have had to roll the ball into an empty net.

Franco Di Santo wasted a great opportunity when Michael Dawson failed to make decent contact to clear McCarthy’s cross, only for the on-loan Chelsea forward to drill well wide.

Just before the quarter of an hour, McCarthy’s whipped free kick looped up off Aaron Lennon and bounced off the cross bar and over.

Midway through the opening period, Jermain Defoe passed up a good opening when he was picked out by Niko Kranjcar and burst into the Blackburn area only to fire wide of Paul Robinson’s goal.

After Huddlestone robbed Australian midfielder Vince Grella he tore into the Blackburn half but, frustrated at the lack of options ahead of him, hit well over from distance.

Gomes was worked once again when McCarthy lobbed in a cross from the right and Di Santo controlled the ball on his chest only to be denied by the Spurs goalkeeper.

As the interval approached, McCarthy just missed the target with a dipping shot from 25 yards.

But in first-half added time, Spurs took the lead when Huddlestone’s wild shot almost went out for a throw, but Kranjcar crossed in from the right and Crouch headed in off the bar at the near post.

Blackburn’s poor luck continued when Grella crossed into the area and McCarthy took the ball on his chest and beat Gomes with a low shot that hit the post and ran across the goal line before being hacked clear.

Di Santo also cut in from the right and had a drilled effort held by Gomes as the pressure continued from Blackburn.

Gomes then denied Steven Nzonzi, just managing to block the French midfielder’s stinging drive.

But after the frenzy of the early stages of the second period, the hosts were growing more and more frustrated and substitute Morten Gamst Pedersen illustrated that by slicing wide from 25 yards.

Tottenham made Rovers pay as they ruthlessly doubled their lead with eight minutes remaining.

Substitute Robbie Keane, the alleged ringleader of Tottenham’s Christmas party plot, clipped the ball down the line and Jermaine Jenas just managed to flick it into the path of Crouch, who fired into the corner of the net.

BLACKBURN, England (AFP)

Tags: Aaron Lennon, benni mccarthy, christmas parties, cross bar, Di Santo, dublin, England, Ewood Park, flouting, franco di santo, free kick, Harry Redknapp, jermain defoe, kranjcar, long periods, michael dawson, Morten Gamst, Niko Kranjcar, north London, north london club, Pascal Chimbonda, paul robinson, peter crouch, premier league, premier league goals, riot act, Robbie Keane, south african striker, Steven Nzonzi, tom huddlestone, vince grella

Barry urges City for a response

December 18, 2009

Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry has insisted that City will improve against Sunderland on the weekend, after a disastrous 3-0 mid-week defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.

While, City were beaten 3-0 at White Hart Lane on Wednesday against Spurs, they still have the chance to hit back immediately when the Black Cats travel to Eastlands on Saturday.

Two goals from Niko Kranjcar and an effort from Jermain Defoe swept Mark Hughes’ team aside at the Lane, and Barry admits it was a poor performance.

However, the England international expects the team to right the wrongs they committed against Spurs.

“We’ve only got a couple of days to put it right, but we want to repay the fans that came down to Spurs and put a good performance in for them,” he said.

“It’s obviously very disappointing, because I thought in the first half an hour we played some really good football and there was nothing in the game.

“But once they scored we really did not create anything until the last 20 minutes.

“We are very disappointed and we are really hurting in the changing room, and the best thing we can do is try to put it right on Saturday.

“We knew that the first goal would be important, with them being at home their confidence was bound to grow.

“They had looked a bit nervous early on and if we had gone in front it could have been a different story.

“Shay (Given) had not had too many saves to make, we played some good stuff at times and got some shots away.

“We were also a bit unlucky with a couple of offsides, but there are not too many positives to take and plenty of things to put right.”

Following the defeat, City go four points behind Spurs with a game in hand as the race for a much-coveted UEFA Champions League place hots up.

Tags: Barry, black cats, changing room, different story, England, england international, four points, Gareth Barry, half an hour, Hart Lane, hots, Hotspur, jermain defoe, kranjcar, manchester city, Mark Hughes, midfielder, Niko Kranjcar, offsides, poor performance, shay, spurs, Sunderland, uefa, UEFA Champions League, white hart lane

Spurs claim bragging rights over City

December 17, 2009

Tottenham maintained the pressure on the top four as two goals from Niko Kranjcar and Jermain Defoe’s 13th league goal of the season completed a comfortable 3-0 victory over Manchester City.

But City manager Mark Hughes was left facing growing problems after his side failed to improve on a run that has now brought just one win in ten league games.

While Spurs sit fifth, just two points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa, City have slumped to eighth, a further four points adrift of the Champions League places.

For Spurs manager Harry Redknapp this win marked a return to form after the uninspired performance in the weekend home defeat to struggling Wolves had raised questions about their ability to sustain their challenge at the head of the table.

Hughes, though, is still looking for a winning formula after a summer of heavy investment and this result places greater pressure on the weekend meeting with Sunderland.

The City manager was forced into changes following the weekend dismissal of Craig Bellamy that paved the way for Robinho to return.

But the City manager?s plan suffered another unexpected blow in the build-up to this clash when England centre-back Joleon Lescott was ruled out for up to five weeks with a knee problem.

Nedum Onuoha came in but Lescott’s absence meant City lost height in the backline.

And with the towering Peter Crouch restored to the Tottenham attack following Robbie Keane?s ineffective showing against Wolves, the visitors were clearly more vulnerable to Spurs? greater aerial threat.

There was little evidence of any threat from either side during a frantic opening half hour that was interspersed by a series of snatched, long-range efforts directed at either goal but precious few clear chances.

Carlos Tevez fired in two hopeful efforts that flew tamely wide while Robinho forced Heurelho Gomes into his only real save of the first half when a dipping shot that the Tottenham keeper easily tipped over.

At the opposite end Kranjcar should have done much better when Aaron Lennon pulled the ball back from the byline and Defoe was later slow to react when he found himself on the end of a similar move.

The balance of play was tipped in Tottenham?s favour though, largely because of Lennon?s ability to get past City left-back Sylvinho.

The England winger had been successfully bottled up by Wolves when it was noticeable that Spurs lacked an alternative source of quality service.

But this time Lennon benefited from the extra space he was given by his opponents and it quickly became clear that Spurs best opportunities were likely to come from the right.

And they owed their 37th minute opening goal to another darting run by Lennon, who sent in a deep cross towards Crouch at the far post.

The striker out-jumped his marker and powered in a downward header that was blocked initially by City midfielder Stephen Ireland on the line only for Kranjcar to follow up and stab the ball home from close range.

The goal injected life into the home side and Crouch should have made it two a minute later when Defoe played him in only for the striker hesitate and City keeper Shay Given smothered the danger.

City’s front three of Robinho, Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor had laboured during the opening half with only Tevez showing any signs of urgency.

And that pattern continued after the interval when Tottenham continued to press before claiming a second nine minutes into the second period.

Crouch was again involved, but this time Gomes was the unexpected provider with the Spurs keeper sending a long punt that the striker flicked on into Defoe?s path and the in-form forward finished with ease.

Robinho was quickly withdrawn in favour of Roque Santa Cruz and was clearly unhappy at the decision, heading straight down the tunnel.

City finally started applying some pressure in the Brazilian’s absence but were unable to gain a foothold in the match before Kranjcar completed a comfortable win for Spurs with a close range effort in added time.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: backline, champions league, craig bellamy, four points, gomes, half hour, Harry Redknapp, jermain defoe, league games, league goal, manchester city, Niko Kranjcar, peter crouch, Robbie Keane, Robinho, spurs, tottenham, wolves

Cahill and Howard help Everton frustrate Spurs

December 7, 2009

Australia midfielder Tim Cahill scored a late equaliser and Tim Howard saved Jermain Defoe’s stoppage time penalty as Everton came from two goals down to snatch a dramatic 2-2 draw against Tottenham on Sunday.

David Moyes’ injury-ravaged side looked dead and buried with 12 minutes to go at Goodison Park after second half strikes from Defoe and Michael Dawson put Spurs firmly in control.

But Louis Saha came off the bench to reduce the deficit and Cahill headed home four minutes from full time.

Defoe had a chance to win it from the penalty spot but the England striker’s kick was kept out by American goalkeeper Howard.

After three successive league defeats, Everton’s great escape will feel like a victory, although the Toffees are still just three points and three places above the relegation zone.

Tottenham would have gone third with a win but stay fourth after a meltdown that capped a dispiriting week which also included a League Cup exit at Manchester United.

Everton’s lengthy injury list had deprived Moyes of nine potential first-team regulars including defenders Sylvain Distin and Phil Jagielka, so right-back Tony Hibbert had to play at centre-back alongside Joseph Yobo.

It wasn’t long before Tottenham began to turn the screw on Everton’s under-manned defence. Peter Crouch fired over after Aaron Lennon’s pass cut open the home back-four, then Defoe completely wrong-footed Hibbert and brought a fine stop from Howard.

Nigeria international Yobo had been passed fit after a hamstring injury but he lasted just 15 minutes before limping off with a recurrence of the problem as Moyes’ injury woes continued.

The lack of options at Moyes’ disposal became clear as he sent on Seamus Coleman, 21, for only his second Premier League appearance in place of Yobo.

Defoe always looked capable of tormenting the Everton defence and he took Niko Kranjcar’s clever pass in stride before poking his shot narrowly wide.

Tottenham defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto was lucky to escape with a yellow card after appearing to scrape his boot down the back of Cahill’s head as the pair lay on the floor and then pushing the Australian and Marouane Fellaini.

Fellaini was also cautioned in the same incident and the Belgium midfielder could have been sent off seconds later for elbowing Crouch.

Defoe gave Tottenham the perfect start to the second half as he opened the scoring in the 47th minute.

Lennon whipped in a cross from the right and Defoe got ahead of Hibbert at the near post to turn in his 13th goal of the season.

Dawson made it 2-0 as he escaped Lucas Neill’s attentions to meet Kranjcar’s 59th minute corner with a diving header that flashed past Howard for his second goal in successive games.

But substitute striker Saha set up a dramatic finish when he volleyed in Coleman’s cross at the near post in the 78th minute.

Everton had been given a lifeline and Cahill equalised in the 86th minute with a low header from Leighton Baines’ cross.

That wasn’t the end of the drama. In the second minute of stoppage time, Crouch headed down to Wilson Palacios and Hibbert conceded a penalty with a clumsy barge on the midfielder.

A lengthy delay followed while Palacios received treatment and when Defoe finally stepped up to take the spot-kick his low strike was pushed away by Howard’s legs to cap a remarkable finale.

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP)

Tags: Aaron Lennon, american goalkeeper, Australia, Belgium, Benoit Assou-, David Moyes, distin, England, equaliser, Goodison Park, injury woes, jermain defoe, lengthy injury, Liverpool, Louis, louis saha, Lucas Neill, Manchester, michael dawson, nigeria, Niko Kranjcar, peter crouch, Phil Jagielka, premier league, relegation zone, Seamus Coleman, stoppage time, tim cahill, tim howard, time penalty, Tony Hibbert, Wilson, yellow card

Five-star Defoe as Spurs put nine past Wigan

November 23, 2009

Jermain Defoe scored five goals as Tottenham Hotspur thrashed Wigan Athletic 9-1 at White Hart Lane here on Sunday, a record victory for the hosts in the top-flight.

Spurs were only 1-0 up at the break, thanks to a goal by Peter Crouch before fellow England striker Defoe ran riot after half-time with Aaron Lennon, an own-goal by Chris Kirkland and Niko Kranjcar’s 90th minute effort adding to the North London club’s tally.

Although Defoe seemed certain to grab the headlines for his five goal return, Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp said Lennon had made a key contribution to this thumping win.

“I thought we started really bright, we had 25 minutes where we really got off after them in the first half before they came back into it,” Redknapp told Sky Sports.

“We came in at half-time and said we had to get back to how we started, pressing them all over the park, and we decided to work them and made the opportunities and took them.

“Their keeper (Chris Kirkland) made some great saves as well.

“Lennon is a fantastic talent, anybody would have had a hard day with him in that sort of form. He deserved that goal at the end.”

Speaking about Defoe, Redknapp added: “For Jermain to get five goals was an outstanding performance.

“Yesterday (Saturday) in training he looked so sharp and I felt if he could carry that into the game he would be a real handful.

“You don’t get too many nines in the Premier League, it’s a bad day for Roberto Martinez but he’ll come back even stronger.”

Wigan manager Martinez added: “We finished the first half very strongly and looked like a team who were going to dictate things.

“But we have ourselves to blame for the goals we conceded and after that you are climbing a mountain.”

Tottenham’s haul was all the more impressive as Redknapp decided to rest striker Robbie Keane after the Republic of Ireland international’s involvement in the controversial midweek World Cup playoff loss to France.

Wigan could have been forgiven for agreeing to put this match back by 24 hours following the international break as their defence took a pummelling.

Spurs went ahead in the ninth minute when Crouch headed home a cross from Lennon.

Kirkland then had to be alert to deny both Lennon and former Wigan favourite Wilson Palacios.

Defoe, who hit the crossbar before half-time, led a rout in the second half with a hat-trick in seven minutes.

From Lennon’s cross, he got in front of Titus Bramble to shoot into the roof of the net before he slotted home at the far post after the Wigan defence failed to cut out Palacios’s centre.

Paul Scharner then pulled one back for Wigan although the Austrian midfielder clearly used his hand to control the ball before shooting past Heurelho Gomes.

Tottenham protested to referee Peter Walton but barely a minute later Defoe had his hat-trick as Spurs’ three-goal lead was restored when he volleyed in Lennon’s cross.

Lennon himself added a fifth after Crouch did well to find the winger in a congested penalty area.

Defoe grabbed his fourth 21 minutes from time by scoring off the post after latching on to Vedran Corluka’s through ball and had a fifth late on when he shot through Kirkland’s legs.

David Bentley’s free-kick then appeared to hit both the bar and Kirkland before going in and, in the closing seconds, Kranjcar’s shot went in off the woodwork. Record English Premier League wins.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: Aaron Lennon, bad day, chris kirkland, Harry Redknapp, Hotspur, jermain defoe, minute effort, Niko Kranjcar, nines, north london club, peter crouch, premier league, record victory, republic of ireland, roberto martinez, Sky Sports, striker, top flight, white hart lane

Everton land Heitinga, Spurs sign Kranjcar on deadline day

September 1, 2009

Everton signed Dutch defender Johnny Heitinga from Atletico Madrid for six million pounds (6.8 million euros) just before the transfer window shut on Tuesday.

Heitinga agreed a five-year contract with the Premier League club and the move was announced in the final hour before the 1600GMT deadline.

The 25-year-old follows French defender Sylvain Distin to Goodison Park as Toffees boss David Moyes strengthens his back-four after Joleon Lescott’s move to Manchester City.

Atletico could eventually receive seven million pounds (7.8 million euros) for the Holland international due to clauses in the terms of the deal.

On a relatively low-key transfer deadline day, Tottenham swooped for Portsmouth’s Croatia midfielder Niko Kranjcar.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp moved for Kranjcar, who cost a reported 2.5 million pounds (2.8 million euros), after Croatian playmaker Luka Modric suffered a broken leg, which will keep him out for six weeks, against Birmingham on Saturday.

Aston Villa spent five million pounds (5.8 million euros) to sign Wales defender James Collins from West Ham.

Collins put pen to paper on a four-year contract and could make his debut against local rivals Birmingham on September 13.

“It’s been a mad 24 hours since coming up here but I’m delighted to have it all sorted. It’s a fantastic setting. I just can’t wait to get cracking now,” Collins said.

“Aston Villa is a massive club so, after coming here looking around the place it didn’t take a lot of persuading on my part.”

Portsmouth boss Paul Hart made a triple swoop for Watford centre-back Mike Williamson, Manchester City defender Tal Ben Haim and Benfica midfielder Hassan Yebda.

Israel international Ben Haim agreed a four-year contract and his free transfer will be rubber-stamped once he has been given a work permit.

The 27-year-old joins a team who are bottom of the Premier League after four successive defeats but he is determined to help them climb out of the relegation zone.

“It is a big challenge because after four games we have no points but I am ready for the challenge,” Ben Haim said.

Hart could pair Ben Haim with Williamson, who cost three million pounds (3.8 million euros) from Championship club Watford and agreed a four-year contract.

“He’s a young, hungry centre-half, a big lad who is uncompromising and does the basics first,” Hart said of Williamson.

Hart also landed Yebda from Portuguese club Benfica. The 25-year-old French-born Algerian has moved to Fratton Park on a season-long loan.

Elsewhere, Stoke City signed defender Danny Collins from Sunderland for 2.75 million pounds (3.1 million euros), although the fee for the 29-year-old could rise to 3.5 million pounds (3.9 million euros)

Bolton bolstered their forward line by signing Croatia striker Ivan Klasnic, 29, on a one-year loan from French club Nantes.

Wanderers boss Gary Megson said: “His goalscoring record is very good and he has an excellent pedigree at international level with Croatia and domestically in Europe.”

Birmingham signed Finland midfielder Teemu Tainio, 29, on loan from Sunderland for the rest of the season.

Hull boss Phil Brown increased his defensive options by landing Senegal centre-back Ibrahima Sonko, 28, on a season-long loan from Stoke.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: aston villa, atletico madrid, Ben Haim, broken leg, city defender, croatia, Danny Collins, David Moyes, distin, Europe, Finland, Fratton Park, gary megson, Goodison Park, Harry Redknapp, Holland, holland international, israel, israel international, ivan klasnic, James Collins, johnny heitinga, london, luka modric, MADRID, manchester city, massive club, Mike Williamson, Niko Kranjcar, paul hart, pen to paper, phil brown, playmaker, Portsmouth, premier league, relegation zone, Senegal, Stoke City, Sunderland, transfer deadline, Wales, west ham, Williamson

Spurs sign Kranjcar

September 1, 2009

Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur have completed the signing of midfielder Niko Kranjcar from Portsmouth.

A statement released by the club read, ‘We are delighted to announce that we have reached agreement with Portsmouth for the transfer of Niko Kranjcar to the Club, following the player successfully completing a medical examination and agreeing personal terms.’

Kranjcar who began his career with Dinamo Zagreb, joined Zagreb’s biggest rivals Hajduk Split, in 2005 over a disagreement with the management, helping them lift the league title the following year.

Following a string of impressive performances for the Croatian national team, Portsmouth signed the creative midfielder for £3.5million in August 2006.

A switch also sees Redknapp reunited with the player, as he was in charge at Fratton Park when Pompey signed the midfielder for £3.5million in 2006.

The Spurs boss said, ‘I’m really delighted. I signed Niko from Portsmouth. He’s a fantastic player.’

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: boss, croatian national team, disagreement, Fratton Park, impressive performances, medical examination, Niko, Niko Kranjcar, personal terms, pompey, Portsmouth, premier league, rivals, split, spurs, tottenham hotspur, Zagreb

Croatia name full-strength squad for England clash

August 24, 2009

Coach Slaven Bilic named a full-strength Croatia squad on Monday for upcoming World Cup 2010 qualifiers against Belarus and England early next month.

Croatia face Belarus at home on September 5 before travelling to London for a showdown with England four days later.

Bilic’s 24-man squad features several players from the English Premier League including the in-form Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric and Brazil-born Arsenal striker Eduardo Da Silva.

The only player missing is defender Robert Kovac due to an injury. The Dinamo Zagreb veteran was not expected to make the starting line-up for the two qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

After seven matches, Croatia sit second in World Cup qualifying Group Six on 14 points, seven behind leaders England.

They suffered a crushing 4-1 defeat in the reverse leg at home in September 2008 but have since bounced back.

Bilic refused to comment on the England match, opting to only talk about the game against Belarus whom Croatia overcame 3-1 away in Minsk earlier this month.

“The impressions are still fresh from the match in Minsk where we re-entered the race to participate in the World Cup,” Bilic was quoted as saying by HINA news agency.

“There are now three qualifying matches and maybe two more (standing between Croatia and the World Cup) but for us the most important one now is against Belarus… which we must win.”

Croatia’s final World Cup group qualifier is against Kazakhstan on October 14.

Croatia squad:

Goalkeepers: Stipe Pletikosa (Spartak Moscow/RUS), Vedran Runje (Lens/FRA), Danijel Subasic (Hajduk Split/CRO)

Defenders: Vedran Corluka (Tottenham/ENG), Hrvoje Vejic (Hajduk Split/CRO), Dino Drpic (Karlsruhe/GER), Ivica Krizanac (Zenit Saint Petersburg/RUS), Josip Simunic (Hoffenheim/GER), Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk/UKR), Hrvoje Cale (Trabzonspor/TUR)

Midfielders: Nikola Pokrivac (Red Bull Salzburg/AUS), Ivan Juric (Genoa/ITA), Ognejn Vukojevic (Dinamo Kiev/UKR), Jerko Leko (unlisted), Ivan Rakitic (Schalke 04/GER), Danijel Pranjic (Bayern Munich/GER), Niko Kranjcar (Portsmouth/ENG), Luka Modric (Tottenham/ENG)

Strikers: Anas Sharbini (Hajduk Split/CRO), Mladen Petric (Hamburg/GER), Ivica Olic (Bayern Munich/GER), Eduardo Da Silva (Arsenal/ENG), Mario Mandzukic (Dinamo Zagreb/CRO), Ivan Klasnic (Nantes/FRA)

ZAGREB (AFP)

Tags: AUS, Bayern, brazil, croatia, darijo srna, dinamo kiev, dinamo zagreb, Dino Drpic, Eduardo da, eduardo da silva, England, English Premier League, genoa, Hamburg, hrvoje, Ivan Juric, ivan klasnic, ivan rakitic, josip simunic, juric, kazakhstan, london, luka modric, Mario Mandzukic, Minsk, modric, Moscow, Nantes, Niko Kranjcar, Nikola Pokrivac, pletikosa, Portsmouth, premier league, red bull salzburg, Robert Kovac, saint petersburg, Salzburg, schalke 04, shakhtar donetsk, South Africa, squad features, trabzonspor, vedran runje, world cup 2010, world cup qualifying group, Zagreb

Fulham add to Pompey´s problems

August 15, 2009

Fulham began the Premier League season with a 1-0 win away to Portsmouth at Fratton Park here on Saturday that compounded the south coast side’s off-field problems.

Bobby Zamora’s fluke winner was the last thing Pompey needed after a pre-season that has seen several off the club’s best players depart while Sulaiman Al-Fahim’s proposed takeover has become mired in paperwork.

Zamora settled the match in the 13th minute but knew precious little about the goal after Clint Dempsey’s 25-yard strike hit his back and then span past England goalkeeper David James.

Pompey, without Peter Crouch, sold to Tottenham, were unable to equalise and Zamora might have made it 2-0 when his header from Danny Murphy’s free-kick was tipped over the bar by James.

Fulham’s goal sparked Pompey into life.

Nadir Belhadj released debutant Frederic Piquionne, the Frenchman forcing Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer into a low save with a driven shot.

Niko Kranjcar then struck a free-kick and Belhadj should have levelled when Kranjcar’s corner found him unmarked only for the left-back to completely miss his header.

Pompey had another chance early in the second-half following good work from the enthusiastic Piquionne on the right flank.

The ball was pulled back to Hayden Mullins, who found Younes Kaboul on the edge of the penalty area but the defender shot over the top.

Fulham though should have put the match beyond doubt when, after Marc Wilson missed the chance to clear Zamora’s cross, the ball fell to Andy Johnson.

But the England international shot wide, despite plenty of time and space.

Portsmouth manager Paul Hart brought on veteran striker Nwankwo Kanu but neither the Nigerian, Kaboul nor David Nugent, could rescue a point for Pompey.

PORTSMOUTH, England (AFP)