Jo joins Neill at Galatasaray

January 22, 2010

Brazil striker Jo has joined Turkish club Galatasaray on loan until the end of this season, it was announced Thursday.

Jo was on a season-long loan from Manchester City to their Premier League rivals Everton, where he scored seven goals in 36 appearances during two spells at Goodison Park, but the Merseysiders confirmed that deal had been cut short.

He did not endear himself to manager David Moyes by returning to Brazil earlier this month without the Everton boss’s permission and a club statement said: “A season-long loan deal for the player had been agreed between Everton and Manchester City in the summer, but this has been cut short.

“Earlier this month David Moyes revealed that Jo had been suspended by the club for returning to Brazil without permission. That sanction proved temporary but Jo’s association with Everton has now ended,” the statement added.

Jo joined Australia defender Lucas Neill in leaving Everton for Galatasaray.

Neill only arrived at Everton in the close-season but left Goodison Park in a transfer reported to be worth 750,000 pounds (1.22 million dollars)

Jo came to City from Russian side CSKA Moscow in July 2008 for a fee of around 18 million pounds (29 million dollars).

But the 22-year-old did not become a regular at Eastlands, hence his loan spells with Everton.

A statement on Galatasaray’s official website said: “Our club have agreed to sign Brazilian Joao Alves de Assis Silva (Jo’s full name) on loan until the end of the season from English Premier League team Manchester City.

“He is welcome and we wish him success in the yellow and red jersey.”

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: boss, brazil, cska moscow, David Moyes, English Premier League, everton, galatasaray, Goodison Park, Joao Alves, league rivals, loan deal, Lucas Neill, manchester city, million dollars, Moscow, premier league, russian side, Silva, spells, striker, turkish club

Maxi López refuses to play for Grêmio

January 6, 2010

Argentine forward Maxi López told Brazilian side Grêmio on Tuesday that he does not intend to stay on at the club, and could be headed for a move to Europe.

López, 25, is on loan to the Porto Alegre side from Russian Premier League outfit FC Moscow. In 24 games with the club, López has scored 11 goals for Grêmio, who finished eighth in the most recent Série A season that ended in December.

Grêmio has indicated that they intend to pursue legal action against López, who was set to remain with the club for the 2010 season. He has been rumored with a possible move to Italian side Lazio for the second half of the Serie A season.

Grêmio paid half of the money needed to secure the rights to the player from the Russian side permanently, but López remains adamant that he will not play for Grêmio in 2010.

López is yet to respond to the report of legal action.

Tags: brazilian side, Europe, games, italian side, lazio, maxi lópez, money, Moscow, porto alegre, premier league, russian side, second half

Mission accomplished for Germany´s Loew

October 11, 2009

It was mission accomplished for Germany coach Joachim Loew after his squad booked their place at the 2010 World Cup finals as the ten-man Germans sealed a 1-0 win over Russia in Moscow.

A first-half goal from striker Miroslav Klose was enough to give Germany an unassailable four-point lead at the top of Group Four and even the second-half dismissal of Jerome Boateng did not hamper the guests.

“I’m happy about the game, we spent the whole whole week preparing well and the result is very pleasing, of course,” said Loew.

“The team played with discipline and deserved to get the berth at the finals.”

Hamburg defender Boateng started his first international in the cauldron of Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium, but a second booking earned him a red card with 20 minutes remaining as Germany finished with ten men.

Russia missed out on a penalty in the dying stages when replacement defender Arne Friedrich appeared to commit a foul on Russia captain Andrei Arshavin in the box, but the referee waved play on.

“I don’t know whether it was a penalty on Arshavin but anyway I think it was the right decision by the referee,” added Loew.

“The red card for Boateng was also justified.”

Klose, the top-scorer at the last World Cup, struck in the 34th-minute after Lukas Podolski and Mesut Oezil combined to unlock the Russian defence.

“We dealt well with the pressure here – it was not an easy place to play,” admitted Bayern Munich striker Klose.

“We used our chance, it was not a top-class game and the match was difficult in places, but Mesut Oezil and I are developing a good understanding.”

Russia play Azerbaijan in Baku while Germany host Finland in Hamburg in their last qualification game, but Guus Hiddink’s Russian side now face two-legged play-off matches if they are to reach South Africa.

“We cannot be happy with the result of course, but the team showed character in the second half,” said Hiddink.

“We were not good enough at finishing our chances or on the counter-attack.

“But we still have a chance to qualify for the finals in November’s play-off.”

Germany goalkeeper Rene Adler was the visitors’ hero with at least four world-class saves and looks set to travel to Africa as the number one choice ahead of Hanover’s Robert Enke.

“That was the most emotional match of my career,” admitted the 24-year-old Adler.

“The fact that the game went so well for me personally makes me very happy, but I only wanted to share in the victory.”

And Germany captain Michael Ballack, who brushed off a first-half ankle injury to lead his side to victory, said his side showed plenty of mental strength to leave Moscow’s Luzhinki Stadium with three points.

“We showed strong nerves and belived in ourselves with some disciplined play,” said the Chelsea star.

“We came here with a positive attitude and it showed in the way we played.”

Joachim Loew’s side safely saw out the game and leave Moscow with the three points.

“The team did well: we needed a bit of luck, but we have made sure of qualifying for the World Cup and you can’t ask for more,” beamed Loew.

MOSCOW (AFP)

Tags: arne friedrich, Baku, Bayern, berth, boateng, captain Andrei Arshavin, captain Michael Ballack, cauldron, class game, Finland, germans, Germany, good understanding, guus hiddink, Hamburg, Hanover, Jerome Boateng, joachim loew, Lukas Podolski, Luzhinki Stadium, luzhniki stadium, mesut, miroslav klose, Moscow, referee, rene adler, right decision, robert enke, russian defence, russian side, South Africa, top scorer, world cup finals

Writing on wall for Moscow as Grafite hits hat-trick

September 16, 2009

Bundesliga champions VfL Wolfsburg got off to a winning start on their Champions League debut in Group B as Brazil striker Grafite scored a hat-trick to seal a 3-1 win here on Tuesday over Russian side CSKA Moscow.

The German champions brushed off defeats in their last three league games to begin their campaign in style.

The hosts will face bigger challenges ahead in their quest to get out of Group B, where they are also up against 2008 champions Manchester United and Turkish champions Besiktas – who were beaten 1-0 aty home by United – but they had few problems here at the Volkswagen Arena.

“It was not exactly an intoxicating match to watch, but that was part of the plan,” said Wolfsburg coach Armin Veh.

“We didn’t want to deliver a spectacle, we wanted to put in a good defensive performance and win.

“We were the better team, we created and took a few good chances and deserved to get the victory.”

The Wolves got the early breakthrough they needed when playmaker Zvjezdan Misimovic put Grafite in the perfect position and the Brazilian drilled his shot through the legs of Moscow goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev on 36 minutes.

The Brazil hot-shot then slotted home a 41st minute penalty after he was held back in the penalty area by Moscow defender Deividas Semberas by his shirt and he scored with his spot-kick.

Moscow pulled a goal back when Russia defender Alan Dzagoev smashed home his shot past Wolfsburg goalkeeper Diego Benaglio on 77 minutes.

But the night belonged to Grafite, the Bundesliga’s top scorer last season, when he put the result beyond doubt by netting after being set up by Marcel Schaefer in the 87th minute.

It was a bad European start for Moscow’s former Tottenham and Real Madrid manager Juande Ramos, who replaced Brazilian legend Zico as coach of the Russian side last weekend.

The Spaniard, 54, has been out of work since his contract at Real expired at the end of last season.

Both sides are next in action again when Wolfsburg travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on September 30, while Moscow are home to Besiktas the same night.

WOLFSBURG, Germany (AFP)

Tags: Alan Dzagoev, Armin Veh, brazil, Bundesliga, cska moscow, defensive performance, diego benaglio, german champions, Germany, Goalkeeper, grafite, hat trick, igor akinfeev, juande ramos, MADRID, Manchester, Marcel Schaefer, Moscow, old trafford, russia, russian side, schaefer, striker, wolves, zico

Champions League winner Maniche joins Cologne

July 20, 2009

Veteran Portuguese international midfielder Maniche joined German side Cologne on a free transfer, the club’s website said on Monday.

The 31-year-old – a Champions League winner with Porto in 2004 – was released from his previous contract with Spanish side Atletico Madrid in May.

“Maniche is one of the great names in European football and we are proud to have signed him,” Cologne chairman Wolfgang Overath said.

Maniche – capped 52 times – enjoyed a golden spell under Jose Mourinho at Porto also collecting the 2003 UEFA Cup before an unhappy 16million pounds move to Russian side Dynamo Moscow.

The Russian side loaned him to Chelsea where Mourinho was manager but he failed to shine and moved to Atletico, who in turn loaned him to Inter Milan in 2008.

Maniche – who was part of the Portugal side beaten by Greece in the Euro 2004 final – joins a team attempting to consolidate on its 12th place finish in the Bundesliga last season.

Another addition to the squad has been the return of German international striker Lukas Podolski, back after a three year spell with Bayern Munich.

BERLIN (AFP)

Tags: Bayern, bayern munich, berlin, champions league, CHELSEA, cologne, Cup, dynamo moscow, euro 2004, greece, Jose, jose mourinho, league winner, Lukas Podolski, MADRID, maniche, midfielder, Milan, Moscow, PORTO, portuguese, russian side, spanish side, striker, uefa, UEFA Cup, veteran, wolfgang overath

Celtic to play Dynamo Moscow in Champions League

July 17, 2009

Former European champions Celtic will play Dynamo Moscow in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round, announced here on Friday.

UEFA Cup winners Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine will clash with Romanian debutants FC Timisoara, while Anderlecht are up against newcomers Sivasspor from Turkey.

Sparta Prague and Panathinaikos come face to face and Portugal’s Sporting take on FC Twente of the Netherlands.

Under UEFA’s new seeding pattern for the tournament, clubs which do not qualify directly into the group stage have two ways of reaching the core part of the competition.

One way is destined for teams progressing from the second qualifying round, being played currently.

The other, known as the “best placed path” is for the remainder – named in the ties on July 28/29 and August 4/5.

The winners of the five best-placed path ties will face one of Arsenal, Lyon, Stuttgart, Fiorentina and Atletico Madrid in the play-off round.

For Celtic, their July 29 home game against the Muscovites will be new manager Tony Mowbray’s first competitive game in charge.

The Russian side finished third in the league last season, while they sit seventh in the current campaign after 13 matches of the Russian season.

The last time Celtic played Russian opposition was two years ago when they faced Spartak Moscow in a similar stage of European club football’s showpiece tournament.

After a 1-1 draw in the Russian capital, the sides fought out a 1-1 draw at Celtic Park, with the Hoops progressing to the group stages of the competition following a dramatic penalty shoot-out, with Artur Boruc the hero on the night.

Champions League 3rd rd fixtures

Best-placed path draw:

(First leg: July 28/29; Second leg: August 4/5)

Sparta Prague (CZE) v Panathinaikos (GRE)

Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) v Timisoara (ROM)

Sporting (POR) v FC Twente (NED)

Celtic (SCO) v Dynamo Moscow (RUS)

Anderlecht (BEL) v Sivasspor (TUR)

Champions path draw:

Salzburg (AUT) or Bohemian (IRL) v FC Pyunik (ARM) or Dynamo Zagreb (CRO)

Zrinjski (BIH) or Slovan Bratislava (SVK) v Olympiakos (GRE)

FC Zurich (SUI) v WIT Georgia (GEO) or NK Maribor (SLO)

EB/Streymur (FAR) or Apoel (CYP) v Rhyl (WAL) or Partizan (SRB)

International Turku (FIN) or Sheriff (MDA) v Slavia Prague (CZE)

Hafnarfjordur (ISL) or Aktobe (KAZ) v Maccabi Haifa (ISR) or Glentoran (NIR)

Ekranas (LTU) or FK Baku (AZE) v Levski Sofia (BUL) or Sant Julia (AND)

Ventspils (LVA) or Dudelange (LUX) v Makedonija Skopje (MKD) or Bate Borisov (BLR)

Wisla Krakow (POL) or Levadia Tallinn (EST) v Debreceni (HUN) or Kalmar (SWE)

FC Copenhagen (DEN) or FK Mogren (MNE) v Tirana (ALB)

NYON, Switzerland (AFP)

Tags: Artur Boruc, atletico madrid, Baku, Bratislava, celtic park, copenhagen, DEN, dynamo moscow, fc pyunik, fc twente, FIN, Georgia, group stage, group stages, Julia, Krakow, Lyon, MADRID, Makedonija, Maribor, Moscow, muscovites, NED, panathinaikos, POL, portugal, PRAGUE, russian capital, russian opposition, russian side, Salzburg, shakhtar donetsk, sivasspor, Sofia, sparta prague, spartak moscow, stuttgart, Switzerland, Tallinn, the Netherlands, Timisoara, TIRANA, tony mowbray, Turkey, Turku, UEFA Champions League, uefa cup winners, ukraine, Zagreb, zrinjski, ZURICH

Advocaat confirmed as Belgian coach

July 2, 2009

BRUSSELS (AFP) – Former two-time Dutch national coach Dick Advocaat was named officially as coach of Belgium on Wednesday on a two year contract.

The 61-year-old will take up his duties on January 1 2010 as he is still under contract to Russian side Zenit St-Petersburg where he has enjoyed great success guiding them to the 2008 UEFA Cup and European Super Cup.

Advocaat, a former manager of Scottish giants Rangers and who enjoyed less successful spells with South Korea and Borussia Monchengladbach, replaces Rene Vandereycken.

The 55-year-old was sacked as coach of Belgium at the beginning of April after three years in the role.

Belgium are currently fourth in World Cup qualifying group five and stand little chance of qualifying for next summer’s tournament in South Africa.

They also failed to qualify for the 2008 European Championship.

Tags: Belgium, Borussia, borussia monchengladbach, brussels, dick advocaat, Eredivisie, giants, january 1, little chance, national coach, rangers, Rene Vandereycken, russian side, Scottish, South Africa, south korea, spells, st petersburg, two time, UEFA Cup, World Cup, world cup qualifying group

No Diego but UEFA Cup final will have strong Brazilian influence

May 20, 2009

There will be a heavy Brazilian influence in Wednesday’s UEFA Cup final between Shakhtar Donetsk and Werder Bremen in Istanbul — despite the absence of Werder’s influential playmaker Diego through suspension.

Brazilian players have made a major impact in recent finals and with Ukraine’s Shakhtar boasting five in their ranks, and Naldo lining up for their German rivals, expect the boys from South America to take centre stage.

A quick look back at previous finals this decade shows the influence Brazilians have made.

In 2003, Porto became the first team to win the trophy on the now-defunct ’silver goal’ rule thanks to Brazilian Derlei’s strike in extra time against Celtic.

Two years later Brazilian playmaker Daniel Carvalho played a starring role for CSKA Moscow, setting up all three of the Russian side’s goals, including one for compatriot Vagner Love, in the 3-1 victory over Sporting in the Lisbon final.

In 2006, Sevilla cantered to their first UEFA Cup triumph as a goal from Brazilian Luis Fabiano set the Spaniards on their way to a one-sided 4-0 demolition of Middlesbrough in Eindhoven.

Sevilla did it again the following year in Glasgow, Adriano scoring their opening goal before fellow Brazilian Jonatas got Espanyol’s equaliser in extra time in the 2-2 draw.

Shakhtar’s policy of signing promising Brazilians in recent years has also paid off with the Ukraine team, owned by Russian billionaire Rinat Akhmetov, one game away from their first European silverware.

Ilsinho scored a superb late winner in the semi-final second leg against Dynamo Kiev after compatriot Jadson had netted Shakhtar’s first. Fernandinho scored Shakhtar’s equaliser in the 1-1 draw in the first leg while Willian and Luiz Adriano have also played their part.

PHOTO: Shakhtar Donetsk’s Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho controls the ball during a practice session at Sukru Saracoglu stadium in Istanbul, May 19, 2009. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

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Tags: brazilian players, brazilians, Bremen, compatriot, cska moscow, cup triumph, daniel carvalho, derlei, Diego, dynamo kiev, Eindhoven, equaliser, Fernandinho, Glasgow, Istanbul, jonatas, Kiev, Lisbon, luis fabiano, Luiz Adriano, Moscow, Naldo, playmaker, PORTO, practice session, russian side, SEVILLA, shakhtar donetsk, silver goal rule, South America, UEFA Cup, uefa cup final, ukraine, werder bremen

Advocaat edges closer to Belgium job

May 12, 2009

BRUSSELS (AFP) – The Belgian Football Federation (URBSFA) announced Tuesday they have held a second meeting with Dutch coach Dick Advocaat, who is a candidate for the vacant position of Belgian national coach.

“The URBSFA is continuing to speak to Mr Dick Advocaat,” the federation said in a press release.

“The discussions are evolving positively with a view to a possible agreement.”

Adovcaat has indicated his interest in the Belgium job a number of times in the media.

He is currently under contract at Russian side Zenit St Petersburg until December 2009, having led the club to the UEFA Cup title in 2008.

According to the Belgian press, Advocaat could take charge of the Belgium team from January 1, 2010, with interim coach Franky Vercauteren continuing in his role until then.

The URBSFA have also approached Advocaat’s compatriot Louis Van Gaal, who recently led AZ Alkmaar to the Dutch championship, but he is expected to be named as the new manager of German giants Bayern Munich.

Rene Vandereycken was sacked as coach of Belgium at the beginning of April after three years in the role.

Belgium are currently fourth in World Cup qualifying group five and stand little chance of qualifying for next summer’s tournament in South Africa.

They also failed to qualify for the 2008 European Championship.