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Kanoute eyes Lyon meeting

Sevilla’s Frederic Kanoute says he is hoping his club draws Lyon in the second round of the UEFA Champions League.

The former African Footballer of the Year began his career with the French giants in 1997. And when asked which team he would rather face in the last 16 draw, Kanoute said he wants to play against Lyon.

“I want to play Olympique Lyon,” said the 32-year-old striker.

Kanoute played with West Ham before moving to Tottenham. The Mali international currently plays in the Spanish La Liga side Sevilla.

“I have no fear of a French club. For me it would allow me to go home and to play at a venue where I began my football career.”

Meanwhile, Kanoute’s teammate, Ivica Dragutinovic is hoping Sevilla will play Russia’s CSKA Moscow in the knockout stages.

“For me the best team to play would be CSKA Moscow,” he said.

“In February they will be in their pre-season and that could prove to be an advantage for the other team.”

The draw for the last 16 of the Champions League will take place on December 18.

Tags: cska moscow, fear, football career, footballer of the year, frederic kanoute, french club, ivica dragutinovic, knockout stages, Lyon, mali, Moscow, olympique lyon, russia, SEVILLA, spanish la liga, striker, teammate, uefa, UEFA Champions League, venue, west ham

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Mythic Maracana faces three-year shutdown

Rio’s iconic Maracana stadium will shut for three years in February to undergo a 250-million-dollar facelift ahead of the 2014 World Cup finals and 2016 Olympics.

To comply with FIFA guidelines, work will be carried out on access to the stadium, which has been classified as an historic monument, security improvements and spectator comfort.

The oval-shaped Maracana was opened on July 24, 1950 with room for 200,000 fans, although its current seated capacity is 88,992.

The Maracana will stage the 2014 World Cup final as well as the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2016 Olympics which were awarded to Rio two weeks ago.

As well as work on the venue, it’s also expected that the nearby favelas (slums) will be demolished.

RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP)

Tags: 2016 olympics, dollar facelift, favelas, FIFA, maracana stadium, Mythic, Olympics, Rio, rio de janeiro, security improvements, slums, spectator comfort, venue, world cup finals

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Euro trip to blame for Stoke stalemate, says Moyes

Everton manager David Moyes admitted his side’s uninspiring 1-1 draw against Stoke was due to their midweek Europa League travels.

A fine strike from Leon Osman salvaged a point for Everton after Robert Huth’s header had looked like helping Stoke to their first away win of the season at Goodison Park on Sunday.

But it was a poor display from the hosts and Moyes pointed the finger at Everton’s trip to Minsk to play BATE Borisov on Thursday as a reason why they failed to fire.

Eight of Sunday’s starting XI also featured in the 2-1 win in Belarus.

“I think seven or eight of them played on Thursday,” Moyes said before insisting that it should not be allowed to become an excuse.

“But that is going to happen if we want to be successful. I think more importantly we have lost a little bit of flair.”

Despite creating precious few opportunities, the Everton manager was satisfied with his side’s persistence against a side keen to do little but neutralise their threat.

“We kept knocking on the door and kept trying to go forward,” Moyes added.

“It certainly was not for lack of effort or commitment and I think at times we played as well as we have done all season.

“I didn’t expect Stoke to come here and make it easy and it was tough to try and break them down but they have done that at a few clubs away from home.

“I thought we created good opportunities in good areas and though we did what we could with finishing it off.”

Stoke regularly got all their men behind the ball on Sunday.

It was in stark contrast to last season when they lost 3-1 at the same venue and indicates that although they will never be one of the Premier League’s more entertaining sides, they are becoming increasingly difficult to beat.

“I thought we did well,” Stoke manager Tony Pulis said. “I think Everton are a good team and mix it up very well and they test you as well.

“It was a much better performance than it was last week against Manchester United.

“The players were more committed and we defended very well when we had to.”

Stoke provided very little offensive threat and although this result moves them up to 11th in the Premier League, they will need to start offering more up front if they are to reach their stated aim of avoiding relegation.

“We have to improve on our passes,” Pulis added. “There were four or five opportunities when we could have passed someone in.”

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP)

Tags: borisov, David Moyes, everton, excuse, flair, hosts, little bit, manchester united, midweek, persistence, premier league, robert huth, stark contrast, tony pulis, uninspiring, venue

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Confederations Cup preview: Spain – United States

The first of two semi finals at the 2009 Confederations Cup has European champions Spain take on the United States, whom not many expected to get this far at all.

The Spanish didn’t have much difficulties in their group phase, beating New Zealand, Iraq and South Africa by a total goal record of eight scored and none conceded. Against more defensive teams, Spain seemed to be struggling a little more but the USA may be the type of opponent they like to face at this point.

After losing their first two games by two and three goals respectively, the USA were practically out of this tournament. But the 3-0 win over Egypt while Brazil beat Italy by the same margin was enough for Bob Bradley’s men to secure a spot in the semi’s. Whether the final is a realistic target remains to be seen, as bookmakers don’t seem to give the Americans much of a chance.

Spain manager Vicente del Bosque should be sticking to his usual line-up while Bradley has to decide whether to field some of the players he also selected for the match against Egypt.

The senior teams of Spain and the USA have met three times before, most recently in a friendly last year. Spain won that match 1-0. The most important meeting was in the group phase of the 1950 World Cup, where the Spanish beat the Americans 3-1.

The match starts at 8:30pm local time and is to be played at the Free State Stadium of Bloemfontein. Spain haven’t had to travel since their last match, which was also played at this venue. Uruguayan Jorge Larrionda is the referee for this game.

Written by: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: Bloemfontein, bob bradley, brazil, confederations cup, cup preview, Egypt, european champions, group phase, Iraq, Italy, Jorge Larrionda, LA Liga, local time, MLS, opponent, referee, roorda, semi finals, South Africa, Spain, State Stadium, target, three times, two games, United States, venue, vicente del bosque, World Cup

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Confederations Cup preview: Spain – South Africa

Spain are already through to the semi finals of the Confederations Cup, but South Africa still have everything left to play for as the hosts want to avoid an early elimination.

The Spanish know that this match against South Africa doesn’t matter that much, when it’s about this tournament. However, Vicente del Bosque and his players will realize that a win would mean a new record, one of 15 victories in a row. A unique chance that Spain might not want to miss out on.

South Africa need a draw to secure a spot in the semi’s. In case of defeat, the hosts need for Iraq to lose to or draw with New Zealand. If South Africa lose and Iraq win, goal records will decide which team joins the best four of this tournament.

These two teams met only once before, with Spain beating the South Africans 3-2 at the 2002 World Cup in Asia.

The match is set to start at 8:30pm local time with Bloemfontein’s Free State Stadium as venue.

Written by: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: Asia, Bloemfontein, confederations cup, cup preview, free state stadium, hosts, Iraq, local time, match, New Zealand, roorda, semi finals, South Africa, south africans, Spain, State Stadium, venue, vicente del bosque, WC Qualifying South-Africa

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MLS to welcome another team in 2011

The Major League Soccer is set to welcome yet another team in 2011, as the Portland Timbers have been granted a license.

The Timbers are owned by Merritt Paulson, who also owns a minor league baseball team in Portland and has a history in Basketball.

It is expected that the new team will play its home games at the PGE Park, currently used by baseball team Portland Beavers, who are to switch to a new venue.

Soccer is flourishing in the region, as the Seattle Sounders joined the MLS this year and the Vancouver Whitecaps are confirmed for 2011.

Written by: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: basketball, home games, jonathan, Major, Major League Soccer, merritt, Merritt Paulson, minor league baseball, minor league baseball team, MLS, paulson, PGE Park, Portland, portland beavers, portland timbers, roorda, Seattle, seattle sounders, soccer, Vancouver, vancouver whitecaps, venue, Whitecaps

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Credit crunch claims new Pompey stadium

LONDON (AFP) – The credit crunch has forced Portsmouth to shelve plans for a new stadium and concentrate instead on expanding Fratton Park, the struggling Premier League club has confirmed.

Portsmouth’s growth potential is restricted by their current ground’s capacity of just over 20,000, which the club now hopes to expand to 30,000 by 2011.

"The issue of the ‘credit crunch’ has affected housing and almost all other developments, as well as lenders’ attitudes to large projects," the club said in explanation of the decision.

Portsmouth still hope to go ahead with the new stadium and have it finished in time for it to be considered as a venue for World Cup venues in the event of England winning the 2018 or 2022 tournament.

Written by: AFP

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Costa Rica outlasts Honduras on penalties to reach CONCACAF U-20 Championship final

MACOYA, Trinidad — Costa Rica outlasted upstart Honduras 4-2 on penalty kicks after a 0-0 draw Friday, advancing to the title game of the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship and a chance at a second title.

The Ticos will play the winner of the second game between host Trinidad & Tobago and the United States, which has qualified 12 times for the U-20 World Cup, but has never won the CONCACAF title. This is the first time since 1996 that CONCACAF has conducted its under-20 tournament at a single venue to determine a champion.

Costa Rica, which won its other title in 1988, has scored only three goals in four games but has allowed only one. Honduras was eliminated after becoming the last team to qualify for the eight-team field, beating St. Vincent & the Grenadines in a one-game playoff four days before the start of the tournament.

All four semifinalists already have qualified for the U-20 World Cup in Egypt September 24-October 16.

The match was the first in CONCACAF U-20 play to into extra time since December 2000, when Honduras beat Panama 2-1, and the first to go to penalties since August 1980, when the United States outlasted Honduras in Washington.

Costa Rica extended its unbeaten streak in the CONCACAF U-20s to 11 matches and improved its record against Honduras to five victories with two draws in eight matches.

Go to Source

Tags: 24 october, amp, concacaf, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, Costa Rica, Egypt, extra time, four games, game playoff, grenadines, Honduras, macoya, match, Panama, penalty kicks, second game, semifinalists, st vincent, ticos, title game, Tobago, tournament, Trinidad, u 20 world cup, unbeaten streak, United States, venue, Washington

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Honduras-Canada, Cuba-USA to open CONCACAF Under-17 Championship

NEW YORK – Honduras will play Canada to open the CONCACAF Under-17 Championship in Tijuana, Mexico, on April 21, with Cuba facing the United States later in the day to complete the Group A doubleheader.

The schedule announced Thursday has Mexico highlighting the second day of play on April 22, facing Trinidad & Tobago in the second game of a Group B doubleheader that will open with Guatemala vs. Costa Rica.

The groups will play on alternate days with matches at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. at the 33,000-capacity Estadio Caliente, the home of Mexican second-division Club Tijuana, ending with Trinidad-Guatemala and Mexico-Costa Rica on April 26.

The semifinals will be played at Estadio Caliente at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29, with the third-place match and final the following Saturday.

This will be the first time since 1996 that the CONCACAF U-17 event will be played at a single venue to determine a champion. The tournament will qualify four teams for the U-17 World Cup in Nigeria October 24-November 15.

The United States has never failed to qualify for the U-17 World Cup, the only nation in the world to play in all 12 championships. It won the CONCACAF championship twice when it was contested, one less than Mexico, which has qualified for eight World Cups and won the FIFA event in 2005.

FIRST ROUND

Tuesday, April 21

Honduras vs. Canada, 1:30 p.m.

Cuba vs. USA, 4:00 p.m.

Wednesday, April 22

Guatemala vs. Costa Rica, 1:30 p.m.

Mexico vs. Trinidad & Tobago, 4 p.m.

Thursday, April 23

Honduras vs. Cuba, 1:30 p.m.

USA vs. Canada, 4 p.m.

Friday, April 24

Costa Rica vs. Trinidad & Tobago, 1:30 p.m.

Mexico vs. Guatemala, 4 p.m.

Saturday, April 25

Canada vs. Cuba, 1:30 p.m.

USA vs. Honduras, 4 p.m.

Sunday, April 26

Trinidad & Tobago vs. Guatemala, 1:30 p.m.

Mexico vs. Costa Rica, 4 p.m.

SEMIFINALS

Wednesday, April 29

Semifinal 1, 12:30 p.m.

Semifinal 2, 3:30 p.m.

FINALS

Saturday, May 2

Third-Place Match, 12:30 p.m.

Championship, 3:30 p.m.

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Tags: 24 november, alternate days, amp, april 24, april 29, champion, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, concacaf championship, doubleheader, Guatemala, match, november 15, october 24, second game, tijuana mexico, venue, World Cup, world cups

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Wembley to host 2011 Champions League final

NYON, Switzerland (AFP) – Wembley stadium was on Thursday chosen by UEFA to host the 2011 Champions League final with the same season’s UEFA Cup final going to Dublin’s new Lansdowne Road ground.

London and Dublin were named as venues for the two European showcase matches by UEFA’s Executive Committee meeting in Nyon.

European football’s governing body also named Munich’s Allianz Arena as the venue for the 2012 Champions League final with Bucharest’s National stadium hosting the 2012 UEFA Cup final.

For the Republic of Ireland this will be the first time the country has staged a major European final with the venue, the new Lansdowne Road, still under construction.

This year’s Champions League final is in Rome and the UEFA Cup final in Istanbul.

Written by: AFP

Tags: AFP, allianz, allianz arena, bucharest, champions league, committee meeting, dublin, european showcase, executive committee, governing body, Istanbul, lansdowne road, Munich, new lansdowne, nyon switzerland, republic of ireland, ROME, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup, venue, wembley stadium

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