´Suspicious´ Ukraine footballers turned away from Harrods

February 18, 2010

File photo of the Harrods department store in central London. Footballers from Ukrainian team Shakhtar Donetsk said they were refused entry to London´s Harrods store which is owned by tycoon Mohamed Al Fayed, ahead of a match Thursday against his team Fulham
Footballers from Ukrainian team Shakhtar Donetsk said they were refused entry to London’s Harrods store which is owned by tycoon Mohamed Al Fayed, ahead of a match Thursday against his team Fulham.

The players, in the British capital for the Europa League clash, tried to go into the upmarket shop Tuesday but staff turned them away saying their group looked “too big and suspicious.”

“The players decided to increase the earnings of one of London’s reputable shops — Harrods,” said Shakhtar Donetsk’s website.

“You may be surprised, but the (team) weren’t allowed to enter the shop. The staff said that the group was too big and suspicious. All of them were wearing similar tracksuits.

“The players explained that this was the football team and they had no habit of taking tuxedos to the training camp to go shopping.

“But those explanations were fruitless.”

They ended up buying gifts in a different shop, said the team.

Harrods said the store had been busy and the footballers were turned away over “health and safety” concerns.

“There are periods, when the store is at its busiest, that Harrods has to take the difficult decision to deny access to tour parties,” a spokesman told the BBC.

“This is done in the interest of health and safety.”

He added: “Needless to say, we do not wish to offend or upset visitors when making these decisions.”

Fulham Football Club owner Fayed, who is Egyptian, is the father of Dodi Fayed, the lover of Diana, princess of Wales. They were killed in the same 1997 Paris car crash.

LONDON (AFP)

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Hodgson dazzled by Bobby’s form

December 25, 2009


Fulham manager Roy Hodgson believes Bobby Zamora’s dazzling goal-scoring form has been instrumental in the Cottagers’ push into the top half of the English Premier League as well as into Europe.

The 28-year-old striker scored his 10th goal of the season in Saturday’s 3-0 shock win over Manchester United, justifying his decision to turn down a move to Hull in the summer.

His form has also left Hodgson unconcerned about his failed nine-million-pound bid to buy England striker Peter Crouch from Portsmouth before the season got underway.

“Crouch had the chance to join Fulham or Tottenham and he chose them. That meant we were able to keep Bobby. With Bobby playing well it’s not something we’ve missed,” said Hodgson.

“When Bobby was on his way to Hull, as was being mooted at the time, it would have been much more problematic for us. Peter made his decision and we’re pleased he’s doing well but we’ve survived with the players we have.”

Zamora will lead the Fulham attack against Tottenham on Saturday and at league leaders Chelsea on Monday.

Fulham will renew their Europa League campaign in February against Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk.

LONDON (AFP)

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Liverpool take on Unirea, as Juventus meet Ajax

December 19, 2009


Liverpool take on another team knocked out of the Champions League after being drawn against Romania side Unirea Urziceni in the last 32 of the Europa League here on Friday.

Rafael Benitez’s side finished third in Group E while Unirea were third in Group G, but scored an impressive 4-1 win over Rangers at Ibrox.

If they win, Liverpool will next meet the winner of the two-legged tie on February 18 and 25 between French club Lille and Turkish outfit Fenerbahce.

Benitez insisted they would not be under-estimating their opponents.

“It will be a tough game because they were in the Champions League,” said Benitez. “I was following their group because I have some friends in Sevilla and so I know it will be difficult. But we are Liverpool and we have to have confidence.

“The main thing for me is that the game isn’t until February so we have plenty of time to prepare and analyse the other team.

“They went very close in the Champions League so we know it will be tough.”

He added: “For us every competition and every game is important and the Europa League gives us an opportunity to win a trophy.”

Italian club Juventus face a stiff test as they drew Dutch club Ajax, and would meet either English side Fulham or titleholders Shakhtar Donetsk of the Ukraine.

Everton are up against Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon, Spanish club Villareal meet German champions Wolfsburg, Greek club Panathinaikos face AS Roma and Portuguese side Benfica are paired with Hertha Berlin.

In other last-32 ties, French side Marseille face FC Copenhagen, Athletic Bilbao play Anderlecht and Atletico Madrid are up against Galatasaray.

Marseille coach Didier Deschamps was pleased with their draw.

“Obviously we could have done worse, Copenhagen are among the teams less famous on the international scene,” he said. “What is really advantagous for us is that we host the return match at home.”

Draw for the Europa Cup round of 32:

1. Rubin Kazan (ENG) – Hapoel Tel-Aviv (ISR)

2. Atletico Bilbao (ESP) – Anderlecht (BEL)

3. FC Copenhagen (DEN) – Marseille (FRA)

4. Panathinaikos (GRE) – AS Roma (ITA)

5. Atletico Madrid (ESP) – Galatasaray (TUR)

6. Ajax (NED) – Juventus (ITA)

7. FC Bruges (BEL) – FC Valencia (ESP)

8. Fulham (ENG) – Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)

9. Liverpool (ENG) – Unirea Urziceni (ROM)

10. Hamburg (GER) – PSV Eindhoven (NED)

11. Villareal (ESP) – Wolfsburg (GER)

12. Standard Liege (BEL) – Salzburg (AUT)

13. FC Twente (NED) – Werder Bremen (GER)

14. Lille (FRA) – Fenerbahce (TUR)

15. Everton (ENG) – Sporting Lisbon (POR)

16. Hertha Berlin (GER) – Benfica (POR)

First leg: February 18 (except Everton: February 16)

Second leg: February 25 (except Benfica, Galatasaray: February 23)

Round of 16 match draw:

Winners of Match 10 – Winners of Match 2

Winners of Match 1 – Winners of Match 11

Winners of Match 5 – Winners of Match 15

Winners of Match 16 – Winners of Match 3

Winners of Match 4 – Winners of Match 12

Winners of Match 14 – Winners of Match 9

Winners of Match 6 – Winners of Match 8

Winners of Match 7 – Winners of Match 13

First Leg: March 11

Second Leg: March 18

NYON, Switzerland (AFP)

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Roma late show shocks Fulham, Celtic face Europa League exit

November 6, 2009


Fulham compromised their hopes of advancing in the Europa League on Thursday when Roma came from behind to win 2-1 in Italy, the English Premiership side ending the Group E contest with nine men, while Everton slumped 2-0 at home to Benfica.

Diomansy Kamara shocked the Stadio Olimpico by netting a spotkick on 19 minutes after Marco Andreolli brought him down but everything went downhill for the visitors thereafter as substitute Erik Nevland was dismissed within three minutes of coming on for a heavy challenge on Daniele De Rossi.

Former Liverpool man John Arne Riise then levelled after 69 minutes with a deflected effort and Stefano Okaka headed the clincher a quarter of an hour from the end before defender Paul Konchesky fouled Rodrigo Taddei to leave Fulham two men down.

The loss means Roy Hodgson’s side, who had held the Romans on their own turf, suffered their first reverse in the group and they now stand third, two points behind Roma with two games remaining.

At Goodison Park, Everton were outclassed for the second time by Benfica, the Portuguese winning with strikes from Javier Saviola after good work by highly-rated Angel di Maria, then an acrobatic volley from Oscar Cardozo to leave the Portuguese three points clear at the top of Group I.

The win meant a happy return to Merseyside for Benfica legend Eusebio, who scored six of his nine goals at Goodison in the 1966 World Cup, including two in a win over Brazil and four more in the memorable 5-3 success over North Korea.

“Today for me, for my family, it’s a good day, for Benfica to play here. This stadium for me is the best stadium in my playing life,” Eusebio told Channel Five television before the game.

The top two teams from each group will join the third-placed sides from the eight Champions League groups in the last 32.

Shakhtar Donetsk, who won the final UEFA Cup competition last season before the competition morphed into the Europa League, are through after they made it four wins in four games, beating French side Toulouse 2-0 in Group J.

Werder Bremen of Germany are through after seeing off Austria Vienna 2-0 in Group L.

French veteran Robert Pires was twice on target for Villarreal in Group G group in a 4-1 home romp over Lazio to join the Italians on six points.

Celtic’s hopes of advancing hang by a thread after they could only manage a goalless draw in Hamburg, to whom they had lost at home in Group C.

Celtic, just one win now in 25 European away ties, prop up the group with Thursday’s point only their second to date after striker Scott McDonald missed two good chances to secure maximum points at the Nordbank Arena.

The Germans lie second in the group on seven points with Israeli outfit Hapoel Tel Aviv out in front after the latter moved onto nine points following a 3-0 romp at Rapid Vienna.

Elsewhere, Ajax are as good as through after they won 2-0 away to nine-man Dinamo Zagreb with Marko Pantelic and Demy de Zeeuw on target.

Dinamo had Leandro Cufre and Adrian Calello dismissed in a match played behind closed doors owing to recent crowd trouble.

Anderlecht are also looking set fair for the next phase after a 3-1 home success over Romania’s Timisoara left them and their Dutch rivals six points clear.

In Group B, veteran Hernan Crespo was on target as Genoa edged out Lille 3-2 while Valencia, twice Champions League finalists, let slip a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Slavia Prague.

Lille are still a point ahead of Valencia and Genoa.

Turkish side Galalatasary are through from Group F after Aussie striker and former Leeds and Liverpool forward Harry Kewell netted the opener in a 3-0 win at Dinamo Bucharest.

PARIS (AFP)

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Ibrahimovic: “We have no reason to worry”

November 5, 2009


Barcelona were held to a goalless draw against Rubin Kazan. Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has no worries about Barca’s unfavourable third position in the Champions League group F.

“There are still two matches to come and if we play them well there’s no need to panic,” said Ibrahimovic on the club’s official website. “We had a great deal of chances but, no luck. One goal would have been enough.”

Despite the unsatisfying result, coach Pep Guardiola was pleased with the team’s overall performance: “The team had a good first half. In the second half, however, we let our desire take over and things were a bit harder.”

“Sometimes it’s very difficult to attack when there are ten players in the penalty area.

“Teams like Zenit St. Petersburg, Shakhtar Donetsk and of course also Rubin Kazan are good and play with good organization.”

Asked about the fact that Barça have only scored once in the last three away matches, Guardiola denied there was any cause for concern: “Goals are something special. Sometimes you play badly and score. Sometimes you play well and you don’t score.

“I’ll stick with the team’s performance. We’ll score another day”.

Paul Haring

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The all-star XI in World Cup trouble

October 10, 2009


Some of football’s biggest names, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, are in danger of missing out on next year’s World Cup, as countries such as Argentina, Portugal and France struggle in qualification.

Most, if not quite all of them, may make it in the end, of course, but for a bit of pre-weekend qualifier fun, here’s my stab at a world XI wtill fretting over their places at South Africa 2010.

Think I’ve got it about right? Missed anyone out? Let me know in the comments.

Petr Cech (Czech Republic): The Chelsea keeper is arguably the best in the business, but the Czech Republic are currently fourth in group three and could be eliminated on Saturday if results go against them.

Patrice Evra (France): The left back could pick up his fourth consecutive Premier League crown with Manchester United this season, but he could miss out on the World Cup with France currently second in their group behind Serbia and hoping for a play-off place at a realistic best.

Thomas Vermaelen (Belgium): The former Ajax defender has enjoyed a superb opening to the season since completing a move to Arsenal, but he will not get the chance to showcase his talents in South Africa after Belgium were eliminated from their qualifying group.

Dmytro Chygrynskiy (Ukraine): Barcelona paid €25 million for the former Shakhtar Donetsk defender, but Ukraine will need to overhaul Croatia in Group Six for the centre back to stand a chance of playing in the World Cup.

Christian Chivu (Romania): The Inter defender was a €16 million signing for Serie A champions Inter in 2007 and has since won consecutive Italian titles. But his Romania side need to beat Serbia on Saturday for them to stand any chance of making the finals.

Javier Mascherano (Argentina): The Argentina captain is one of the most highly regarded holding midfielders in the world, but his team have suffered an accident-prone qualifying campaign that has left them fifth in their group, clinging on to a play-off place.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal): The World Footballer of the Year became the most expensive player in history when he completed his move to Real Madrid from Manchester United. With Portugal currently third in their qualifying group, he could be the biggest absentee from this summer’s tournament.

Lionel Messi (Argentina): The miniature magician has lit up pitches across Europe for Barcelona, but he is another who could be absent from South Africa, if Argentina cannot get results from their final two group games against Peru and Uruguay.

Franck Ribery (France): He was reportedly being lined up by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson as a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo after some devastating displays in the Bundesliga for Bayern Munich. But France are currently four points behind Serbia in their group, and are likely to need the play-offs to make it to the finals.

Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo): The Togo international has courted controversy since leaving Arsenal for Manchester City, but has proved an instant hit at his new club. His country, however, are currently third in their qualifying group behind Cameroon and Gabon with only two games left to play.

Karim Benzema (France): The France striker’s move to Real Madrid was overshadowed by the signings of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo, but he has made an early impact at the Bernabeu. He may not have the same effect in South Africa, however, with France needing to beat Faroe Islands just to guarantee a play-off place.

Coach: Giovanni Trapattoni: Trap is one of the most successful coaches in the history of club football having won 10 league titles in four different countries. But as manager of Republic of Ireland, he needs to beat the country of his birth on Saturday to stand any chance of winning the group and booking a spot in South Africa.

Let me know in the comments if you disagree with my choice…

PHOTO: Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo (L) and Barcelona’s Lionel Messi shake hands before the start of the Champions League final soccer match at the Olympic Stadium in Rome May 27, 2009. REUTERS/Albert Gea

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Villarreal draw Lazio in Europa League

August 29, 2009


The clash between Spanish side Villarreal and Italian giants Lazio will be one of the highlights of the Europa League group stage after the draw made here on Friday.

Spanish clubs taking on Italians was a theme of the Champions League draw on Thursday night and it continued Friday with Villarreal meeting Lazio in a Group G which also includes Bulgaria’s Levski Sofia and Austrian outfit Salzburg.

Another Spanish side Valencia were drawn in Group B with France’s Lille, Czech champions Slavia Prague and Italian side Genoa.

Valencia have come back from the brink of bankruptcy last season and are among the favourites in a competition they won three times – 1962, 1963 and 2004.

The last UEFA Cup winners FC Shakhtar Donetsk will, meanwhile, bid to become the first team to be crowned champions of the competition’s successor against FC Bruges of Belgium, Partizan Belgrade and French club Toulouse.

Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar, who face Champions League winners Barcelona in the final of the European Super Cup later Friday, have been placed in Group J among 12 pools of four in the new competition.

“It’s a difficult group but maybe a little less so than others,” said Toulouse coach Alain Casanova. “There are the overwhelming favourites in Shakhtar Donetsk, the title holders. As for Partizan Belgrade, Serbian football is always quality, but maybe it’s not what it used to be. The draw suits me and I think we have a chance to qualify.”

Last year’s beaten finalists Werder Bremen of Germany, will take on Austria Vienna, Athletic Bilbao and Nacional Madeira in Group L.

Premier League side Everton, meanwhile, could face a potentially tricky tie against former European Cup winners Benfica in Group I.

The Lisbon club won the European Cup in 1961 and 1962 and reached the final of the UEFA Cup in 1983. The two clubs will also face Greek side AEK Athens and BATE Borisov from Belarus.

Everton club secretary David Harrison said: “Benfica is a tie everyone will be looking forward to but it will be a tough night both home and away.

“Belarus will have plenty of its own difficulties to cope with there, and AEK Athens are a big club too.”

Harrison said he preferred the new format over the old UEFA Cup where each group contained five clubs, with each playing two sides at home and two different ones away.

He added: “The finances this year are increased and in the old format there was a lot of luck involved. This evens things up a bit now.”

Scottish giants Celtic, who crashed out of the Champions League at the play-off stage after a 5-1 aggregate defeat to Arsenal, are up against Hamburg, Israeli side Hapoel Tel-Aviv and Rapid Vienna in Group C.

The Greco-Turkish duel between Galatasaray and Panathinaikos in Group F should provide fireworks as should the tie between Benelux countries with former European giants Ajax of the Netherlands and Belgian side Anderlecht in Group A.

English club Fulham travel to Italy to take on Roma and must also play Swiss side Basel and CSKA Sofia of Bulgaria in Group E.

The first round of matches will be played on Thursday, September 17, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the last 32, where they will be joined by the eight third-placed teams from the Champions League group phase.

MONACO (AFP)

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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)

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Barca coach satisfied despite loss to Man City

August 20, 2009


Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said he was happy with his young team’s performance despite losing 1-0 to Manchester City, and appealed for patience from fans over new star signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Bulgarian winger Martin Petrov scored in the 28th minute against the run of play to beat the Spanish and European champions and take the annual pre-season Joan Gamper Trophy for the big-spending English Premiership side on Wednesday.

Guardiola brought in a lot of young reserve team players and left many of his big stars on the bench.

“I am very happy with their performance, young players facing a quality team like Manchester City. We are fortunate to have a good pool,” he said.

“I made many changes, and the youngsters responded very well.”

The most anticipated moment came in the second half, when Ibrahimovic and Argentine Lionel Messi, two of the top-rated strikers in the world, came on.

The Swede almost scored in the 74th minute, but his shot lacked force.

It was his first match for the club since his transfer from Inter Milan this summer and since undergoing surgery on a broken hand last month.

Guardiola appealed to fans to give him some time to adapt.

“He has come for four or five years, not for one day,” he said, adding that combining with his teammates “takes a bit of learning.”

The player himself said he is just trying to find his “rythmn” in the new team.

“I played 45 minutes and I tried not to think about the injury to my hand. It bothered me a bit, but I play with my feet not with my hands.”

The Catalan giants, who won a unique treble of Spanish league, Cup and European Champions League last season, face Athletic Bilbao on Sunday in the return leg of the Spanish Supercup.

On August 28, they play Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk in the European Supercup.

The Spanish league season begins on the weekend of August 29-30.

MADRID (AFP)

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Messi, Ibrahimovic set to play against Man City

August 18, 2009


Barcelona’s star stikers Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Lionel Messi have both been declared fit to play against Manchester City in a pre-season game on Wednesday.

For Ibrahimovic it will be his first match for the club since his transfer from Inter Milan this summer. The 27-year-old Swedish striker underwent surgery on a broken hand last month.

Messi, 22, has been suffering from a muscle strain in his left thigh.

Both trained with the squad on Tuesday and are available to play some part for Barca in the Joan Gamper Trophy, an annual pre-season match, against the English Premiership side, Barcalona said on its website.

The Catalan giants, who won a unique treble of Spanish league, Cup and European Champions League last season, then face Athletic Bilbao on Sunday in the return leg of the Spanish Supercup.

On August 28, they play Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk in the European Supercup.

The Spanish league season begins on the weekend of August 29-30.

MADRID (AFP)

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