Simoes installed as new manager of Ticos
September 18, 2009
Rene Simoes, who was dismissed as Jamaica’s manager a year ago, has been selected as coach of Costa Rica, looking to resurrect the Ticos chances of qualifying for the World Cup.
The Costa Rican federation announced the appointment Wednesday night, installing the 56-year-old Brazilian two days after dismissing Rodrigo Kenton following a third straight loss in World Cup qualifying. The latest loss, 1-0 to El Salvador on September 9, dropped Costa Rico to fourth in the final round of World Cup qualifying.
Three teams are guaranteed a berth in the World Cup finals in June in South Africa, while the fourth-placed team earns a two-game playoff against the fifth-placed South American team, currently Argentina, for the last spot in the 32-team field. Costa Rica has 12 points, four behind “hexagonal” leader the United States, one behind third-placed Honduras and four ahead of fifth-placed El Salvador.
“We will, with a lot of courage, do what we can so that Costa Rica has a strong group that can qualify to the World Cup,” Simoes said in a statement released on the Costa Rican federation Web site.
(“Con mucho coraje, haremos lo posible para que Costa Rica tenga un grupo fuerte que pueda clasificar al mundial”, dijo Simoes.)
Simoes was fired as Jamaica’s manager after the Reggae Boyz were virtually eliminated from the semifinal round of World Cup qualifying in September 2008 following two losses in five days.
He coached Jamaica from 1994 to 2000, including to the 1998 World Cup in France, coached Brazil’s women to the silver medal at the 2004 Olympics and also Trinidad & Tobago from 2001 to 2002. He resigned from Brazilian second-division club Portugesa on August 26 after only two weeks on the job, saying armed men threatened his players in the locker room after a loss.
Costa Rica next plays Trinidad & Tobago at home on October 10 before finishing against the United States in Washington four days later.
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica
Tags: 2004 olympics, armed men, berth, brazil, Con, Costa Rica, costa rico, courage, El Salvador, federation web, France, game playoff, Honduras, Jamaica, jose costa rica, locker room, Olympics, qualifying for the world cup, reggae boyz, Rene Simoes, Rico, rodrigo, Rodrigo Kenton, San Jose, san jose costa rica, september 9, silver medal, South Africa, South American, straight loss, Tobago, Trinidad, United States, Washington, wednesday night, world cup finalsRelated posts
No World Cup role for ´Klinsi´, insists Bierhoff
September 2, 2009
Ex-coach Jurgen Klinsmann is still a source of advice for the German team, but manager Oliver Bierhoff on Wednesday downplayed speculation ‘Klinsi’ is set for an official role at the next World Cup.
With Germany set to face 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa in Leverkusen on Saturday, team manager Bierhoff said Klinsmann still has regular contact with the national team and head coach Joachim Loew.
Germany are top of Group Four and set to guarantee themselves a place at next summer’s World Cup if they beat Azerbaijan in Hanover on September 9 and then group-rivals Russia in Moscow on October 10.
But while Bierhoff says Klinsmann’s opinion is still highly regarded, the team manager brushed off any speculation the former national coach could be involved again in an official capacity.
“We still have very, very close links with Jurgen. We are always pleased to hear his views and use his footballing experience,” revealed Bierhoff.
“Jurgen is not tied to any club at the moment and therefore he can judge things more objectively.
“Just like in previous times, he is still an important contact and someone for us to bounce ideas off.
“(But any speculation) is a dead duck. We will have no official co-operation with Jurgen Klinsmann.
“We don’t think there is a way of merging him with the national team or giving him a coaching role.”
Klinsmann was head coach of the Germany team in 2006 with current trainer Joachim Loew as his assistant and Bierhoff as team manager when the side finished third.
And German Football Federation (DFB) president Theo Zwanziger also put the brakes on any speculation Klinsmann could return in an official role.
“The opinion of Jurgen Klinsmann was and still is important to us,” said Zwanziger.
“He showed he is able to forge and motivate a successful side and he is still highly appreciated here by the DFB.
“But Joachim Loew is the coach of the national side and he is the boss.
“The coach of the national team does not need an advisor.”
Klinsmann has recently moved his family back from the United States to Munich with his children set to start the new school year this month.
The 45-year-old was sacked as Bayern Munich coach in April after a poor run of results in his first role as a domestic coach after just ten months in charge of the German giants.
BERLIN (AFP)
Tags: Azerbaijan, Bayern, berlin, brakes, dead duck, german football federation, german football federation dfb, german team, Hanover, head coach, joachim loew, joachim loew germany, jurgen klinsmann, klinsi, LEVERKUSEN, Moscow, Munich, national coach, oliver bierhoff, rivals, russia, september 9, South Africa, speculation, Theo, theo zwanziger, United States, World CupRelated posts
Milner rejects Croat kicking allegations
September 2, 2009
England winger James Milner has ruled out conspiracy theories that Croatia midfielder Luka Modric was deliberately injured ahead of a crucial World Cup qualifier at Wembley next week.
Croatia FA chiefs are frustrated that key midfielder Modric broke a leg in a tackle with Birmingham’s Lee Bowyer just 10 days before a match against England that could decide the World Cup fate of both teams.
They already have bitter memories of how key striker Eduardo also suffered a broken leg playing against the same opposition for Arsenal in February 2008 and Croatia FA supremo Vlatko Markovic on Tuesday said: “First Eduardo, now Luka Modric. This is horrible. I can only ask myself if it was really an accident.
“I’m close to thinking it was done to us deliberately before the England match. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw what happened to Luka. He is irreplaceable.”
But Markovic’s claims have been quickly dismissed in Fabio Capello’s camp with Aston Villa star Milner, speaking at England’s team hotel in Watford, saying: “It’s just bad luck, that’s the way it is in football.
“People are making more of it but obviously it’s nonsense. We just go out there and try and play as well as we can. You don’t look at who you are tackling or anything like that when you are on the field.
“You don’t think ‘oh it’s him, I’ll go in hard on him.’ You just are just trying to win the ball.”
Far from being frightened of Modric, Milner would have relished facing the playmaker on September 9.
He added: “You’ve seen what a good player Modric has been since he’s been in England, he makes Tottenham tick and it’s the same at international level. He will be a big miss.
“But as players you want to play in the best competitions in the world against the best players.
“In a way it helps you if the best players aren?t there but also you want to challenge them. That?s what being a professional in any sport is all about.”
Milner, 23, is hoping to make a big impact against Croatia and also against Slovenia in a friendly at Wembley on Saturday, having finally made his debut in the recent draw in Holland after winning a record 46 caps at Under 21 level.
He showed great potential as a youngster, becoming the Premier League?s youngest ever goalscorer at the age 16 years and 309 days – just three months after Wayne Rooney had set the previous record.
But his progress has always been slower in comparison to the Manchester United striker.
He said: “That goal put me on the map but Wayne came through at a very similar time and progressed very quickly at a very similar age. In a way, he took a lot of limelight off me, which helped massively. If that had not happened, I would probably have had more attention than I had.
“I am very grateful to him! When you look at how well he dealt with it, it just shows what a strong character he is and what a fantastic player. But now I feel ready for it to be my turn.”
Milner has certainly waited a long time for his international breakthrough and perhaps it should come as no surprise that it happened after he moved to Aston Villa and left behind the trauma of crisis clubs Newcastle and Leeds.
The winger, who has astonishingly played under 12 different managers already in his career, said: “Hopefully this could be the first season in my whole career when I start and finish with the same manager. Believe it not that?s never happened before.
“I am not making excuses but that hasn’t helped. As a young player coming through, you need that stability.
“Now I am lucky enough to be at a club with some good, young English talent and some great experienced players as well. I am working for a great manager with a great track record in Martin O?Neill.”
WATFORD, England (AFP)
Tags: aston villa, bad luck, Birmingham, bitter memories, chiefs, competitions, conspiracy theories, croatia, Eduardo, England, fabio capello, fate, Holland, James Milner, Lee Bowyer, LEEDS, Manchester, markovic, Martin, midfielder, Neill, NEWCASTLE, nonsense, opposition, playmaker, premier league, september 9, team hotel, watford, Wayne, wayne rooney, Wembley, winger, world cup qualifierRelated posts
Germany boss Loew calls for more respect
September 1, 2009
Germany coach Joachim Loew said Tuesday he expected to be shown more respect by Bundesliga coaches over who he selected in the national squad ahead of the friendly against South Africa.
Loew opted to leave out Werder Bremen’s goalkeeper Tim Weise and Bayer Leverkusen striker Stefan Kiessling for Saturday’s friendly with South Africa and next Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan in Hanover.
Both decisions drew heavy criticism from the respective clubs concerned, but with an eye on next year’s World Cup in South Africa, Loew called for more understanding and less questioning of his decisions.
“We expect from the club coaches and managers that they respect our decisions, just as we respect theirs,” said Loew at a press conference in Cologne.
“We carry the responsibility and the consequences of all our decisions and we know all our decisions are accountable for.”
Loew has said any players not selected for the next two games stand to be given their opportunity later in the season before next June’s World Cup in South Africa.
Germany captain Michael Ballack sat out training on Tuesday with a groin strain, as did Werder Bremen’s Mesut Oezil who has a knee injury.
Likewise, striker Lukas Podolski has a knee injury, but all are expected to be back in training by Thursday at the latest.
“I assume they will train by Thursday at the latest without problems,” said Loew.
Having struggled to a 2-0 win over minnows Azerbaijan in Baku last month, Loew repeated his call for a raised standard against the South Africans on Saturday and the return leg against Azerbaijan in Hanover on September 9.
“I was also not content with our achievements in the last few games,” admitted Loew.
“We have to fine-tune our performances and work on the harmony in our play.”
A win over Russia in the World Cup qualifier in Moscow on October 10 will guarantee Germany a berth at next year’s World Cup, but Loew says it is too early to think of the game.
But with a healthy lead at the top of Group Four over the Russians, Loew knows Germany’s path to South Africa lies in their own hands.
“With 19 from a 21 possible points we are on target for the World Cup qualification,” he said.
“We know that we disappointed in the last few games and didn’t play to our potential.
“Against South Africa and Azerbaijan we want to dominate and exert our authority, I am sure we will do that.”
BERLIN (AFP)
Tags: Azerbaijan, Baku, bayer leverkusen, berlin, berth, Bremen, captain michael, captain Michael Ballack, club coaches, cologne, fine tune, Germany, Goalkeeper, Hanover, joachim loew, knee injury, Lukas Podolski, mesut, Michael Ballack, Moscow, podolski, return leg, russia, september 9, South Africa, south africans, stefan kiessling, striker, Tim Weise, werder bremen, world cup qualifierRelated posts
Croatian FA chief fumes over Modric injury
September 1, 2009
Croatian FA chief Vlatko Markovic is concerned that his country’s Premier League-based stars have been targeted for rough treatment after Luka Modric suffered a broken leg playing for Tottenham.
Modric will miss Croatia’s crucial World Cup qualifier against England at Wembley on September 9 after suffering the injury in a challenge with Birmingham’s Lee Bowyer on Saturday.
Markovic was furious when he heard Modric would be out for two months as it brought back memories of the broken leg suffered by Arsenal striker Eduardo – also against Birmingham – in February 2008, which meant he was unavailable when Croatia faced England in Zagreb last September.
Markovic told The Sun: “First Eduardo, now Luka Modric. This is horrible. I can only ask myself if it was really an accident.
“I’m close to thinking it was done to us deliberately before the England match. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw what happened to Luka. He is irreplaceable.”
LONDON (AFP)
Tags: AFP, arsenal, Birmingham, broken leg, croatia, Eduardo, England, last september, Lee Bowyer, london, markovic, match, memories, premier league, Premier League-based, rough treatment, september 9, Sun, Wembley, world cup qualifier, ZagrebRelated posts
Injured Polak out of Czech qualifiers
September 1, 2009
Anderlecht midfielder Jan Polak has been ruled out of the Czech Republic’s two World Cup qualifiers against Slovakia and San Marino after tearing ligaments in his knee while playing for his Belgian club on Sunday.
Czech coach Ivan Hasek said Monday: “We spoke on the phone and from what I can gather he will be sidelined for quite a while.”
Polak, 28, has been replaced in the squad by West Ham’s Radoslav Kovac.
After Saturday’s crunch match against bitter rivals Slovakia in Bratislava, the Czechs play the last three qualifiers at home against no-hopers San Marino on September 9 and Poland and Northern Ireland later this year.
PRAGUE (AFP)
Tags: belgian club, Bratislava, crunch, czech republic, czechs, hasek, ivan, Ivan Hasek, jan polak, ligaments, midfielder, Northern Ireland, Poland, PRAGUE, Radoslav Kovac, san marino, september 9, slovakia, west ham, World, world cup qualifiersRelated posts
Cole targets last shot at World Cup glory
September 1, 2009
Ashley Cole believes the 2010 World Cup in South Africa represents the last chance for his generation of England stars to win a major international tournament.
Fabio Capello’s side can book their place in next year’s finals with a victory over Croatia at Wembley on September 9 and Chelsea left-back Cole is well aware that for players of his age there might not be another chance to shine in the World Cup.
Cole, 28, and the likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard, David Beckham and Rio Ferdinand are all in the latter stages of their careers, leaving South Africa as their final shot at ending England’s wait to win the tournament for the first time since 1966.
“We’ve all grown up. We’ve started to realise that this World Cup finals could be our last tournament,” Cole said.
“I’ve got good young players coming up in my position, so I know there is pressure. I have to focus and make sure I do well. I think it’s the same for a lot of players.
“I think the England team is quite set in the players that play too – we’re not chopping and changing all the time.
“The manager knows his team and the squad he’ll take if we get there. He knows the way we’ll play and the lads he’ll pick.
“It feels settled, and people are starting to come into their own. Wayne Rooney, for instance, is playing very well – and we hope we can all play well up to the end of the season and then do something very special with England in South Africa.”
Wayne Rooney’s form is key to England’s chances of winning the World Cup and Capello admits the Manchester United star can get even better as he gains experience.
“Rooney is a really important player, he’s incredible and young – he can improve a lot with more experience and confidence in himself,” Capello said.
LONDON (AFP)
Tags: ashley cole, changing all the time, CHELSEA, Cole, croatia, David Beckham, fabio capello, frank lampard, john terry, lads, last chance, latter stages, london, Manchester, manchester united, rio ferdinand, september 9, South Africa, wayne rooney, Wembley, world cup finals, world cup gloryRelated posts
No Bowyer grudge for broken leg victim Modric
August 31, 2009
Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric insists he does not blame Lee Bowyer for the tackle that broke his leg.
Modric will be sidelined for at least six weeks as a result of the injury he sustained in a collision with Bowyer at the start of the second half in Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Birmingham at White Hart Lane.
The 23-year-old will miss several of second-placed Tottenham’s Premier League matches, as well Croatia’s crucial World Cup qualifier against England on September 9 at Wembley.
Bowyer has been no stranger to controversy throughout his career but Modric does not believe the Birmingham midfielder intended to hurt him.
“It was not a ferocious tackle but it hurt awfully and I knew something was wrong the moment it happened,” Modric told the Sun on Monday.
“It’s like my whole world has crumbled because I’ll be out for at least six weeks. I’m terribly sad.
“The worst thing is knowing that I’ll be watching both my club and country from the sidelines for a while.”
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp, who also saw captain Ledley King limp off as Spurs maintained their 100 percent start to the season, added: “You could see he was in a hell of a lot of pain and, even though Luka is not a big bloke, it takes a lot for him to have to come off.
“It’s a big blow for us, we are already short of bodies in midfield but we will just have to get on with it.”
LONDON (AFP)
Tags: Birmingham, bloke, broken leg, captain Ledley, controversy, England, grudge, Harry Redknapp, Hart Lane, ledley king, Lee Bowyer, london, luka modric, midfield, midfielder, premier league, second half, september 9, sidelines, six weeks, spurs, Wembley, white hart lane, world cup qualifierRelated posts
Robben´s debut double as Bayern down Wolfsburg
August 30, 2009
Flying Dutchman Arjen Robben celebrated his Bayern Munich debut in sensational style on Saturday when his two second-half goals sealed a 3-0 win over defending Bundesliga champions Wolfsburg.
Having only signed a four-year deal with the German giants having left Real Madrid on Friday, the Holland star came on just after half-time and made an early impact when fellow second-half substitute Franck Ribery put him clear on 68 minutes.
Robben beat Wolfsburg defender Andrea Barzagli to curl his shot wide of goalkeeper Diego Benaglio. Ribery set up Robben again on 80 minutes as the defending champions were comprehensively out-played.
Robben, who cost Bayern 26 million euros, and Ribery gave their club their first win of the season in four attempts after Bayern were humiliated 2-1 at minnows Mainz last week.
The victory at Bayern’s Allianz Arena lifts the Bavarians up from 16th to seventh and eases the pressure on coach Louis van Gaal who took over in July.
The win was also sweet revenge after Wolfsburg humbled Bayern 5-1 in April.
Bayern went ahead in the first half when midfielder Hamit Altintop smashed his shot at Benaglio, who parried the ball into the path of Germany striker Mario Gomez who fired home on 28 minutes.
The defeat leaves Wolfsburg sixth after their second consecutive defeat while Bayer Leverkusen stay top thanks to Germany-reject Steffan Kiessling hitting a second-half winner to seal a 2-1 win over Bochum.
Germany coach Joachim Loew has found no place for Kiessling in his squad for next Saturday’s friendly against South Africa or the World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan on September 9, but the Leverkusen star reponded in style.
His 68th-minute strike was enough to give his side the win which gives them a three-point lead over second-placed Hamburg, who play Cologne on Sunday when Hertha Berlin also host Werder Bremen.
“We deserved the win,” said Leverkusen coach Jupp Heynckes. “But we did make life a bit difficult for ourselves.
“In the first half, we veered between good and very good, we worked hard for our many chances. It speaks volumes for the team that we came back from being 1-0 down.
“The team has shown they have the absolute will to decide games.”
Leverkusen built on last weekend’s 5-0 win over Freiburg with a win over Bochum as Manuel Friedrich scored for both teams.
Leverkusen’s ex-Germany defender Friedrich put Bochum ahead when he won a sprint against Cameroon midfielder Joel Epalle, but stabbed the ball into his own net on 32 minutes.
To repair the damage, he scored with a header on 41 minutes before Kiessling’s second-half winner.
Leverkusen’s teenage midfielder Tony Kroos found himself free on the right side of the penalty area and passed across for Kiessling to fire home from six metres out.
Schalke 04 went down without a fight as they were shocked 1-0 at home to minnows Freiburg.
Having hit the bar midway through the first half, Freiburg took the lead when South Korean defender Du-Ri Cha scored in the 40th minute with a right-footed strike.
German magazine Kicker’s website has reported Schalke’s Brazilian defender Rafinha is being lined up by Bayern Munich for a last-minute switch to Bavaria before the transfer window closes on August 31 and the news seemed to have affected lifeless Schalke.
Nuremberg held Stuttgart to a 0-0 draw while Dortmund drew 1-1 with Frankfurt.
On Friday, Mainz were brought down to earth after their Bayern triumph when they slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Borussia Moenchengladbach.
BERLIN (AFP)
Tags: allianz, allianz arena, arjen robben, bavarians, Bayern, berlin, bochum germany, Bremen, consecutive defeat, diego benaglio, flying dutchman, franck ribery, FRANKFURT, Friedrich, Germany, Hamburg, hertha berlin, Holland, joachim loew, Joel Epalle, jupp heynckes, louis van gaal, Manuel Friedrich, mario gomez, minnows, nuremberg, real madrid, september 9, South Africa, striker, stuttgart, sweet revenge, Tony Kroos, world cup qualifierRelated posts
Japan to call up Catania striker Morimoto
August 20, 2009
Japan coach Takeshi Okada plans to call up emerging Catania striker Takayuki Morimoto for his first international cap to beef up the Blue Samurai’s perennially feeble firepower.
Okada described the 21-year-old as powerful and “strong in front of goal” Thursday as he outlined his likely squad for friendlies in the Netherlands next month.
Japan will play the hosts — ranked third in the world behind Brazil and Spain — in Enschede on September 5 and Ghana in Utrecht on September 9 as part of their preparations for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Morimoto, who moved to Catania in 2006 after three seasons with J-League side Tokyo Verdy, has scored nine goals in 42 Serie A games.
Okada, who has ambitiously set Japan’s World Cup target at a sem-final spot, is expected to call up 22 players for the Dutch tour with around six Europe-based players.
He is scheduled to formally announce his squad on August 28.
Apart from Morimoto, Okada said: “There is little possibility that I will call up untested players. We will go straight forward with what we have tried so far.”
Despite qualifying for South Africa, Japan lacked punch up front, going down 2-1 away to Australia in their final qualifier and only drawing 1-1 with unfancied Qatar at home.
TOKYO (AFP)
Tags: africa japan, Australia, blue samurai, brazil, catania, drawing 1, dutch tour, Enschede, Europe, firepower, friendlies, ghana, j league, Japan, japan coach, okada, Qatar, september 9, South Africa, striker, takayuki morimoto, takeshi, Takeshi Okada, target, the Netherlands, three seasons, tokyo, tokyo verdy, utrecht, World CupRelated posts
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