Maradona tells Messi to take charge of WC dream

November 14, 2009

Argentina coach Diego Maradona has told superstar Lionel Messi to take charge of his country’s World Cup dream, starting by masterminding victory over European champions Spain on Saturday.

The two soccer super-heavyweights clash in a friendly at Atletico Madrid’s Vicente Calderon stadium with both nations safely qualified for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

But whereas Spain cruised into the finals, winning all 10 qualifiers, two-time champions Argentina lurched from one crisis to another and just squeezed through as the fourth and last South American qualifier.

Now Maradona, under whom Messi has failed to hit peaks on a consistent basis, wants the Barcelona star to stamp his undoubted authority on his mis-firing team.

“He must be the owner of the team. He knows it. We have the best player in the world in our team,” said Maradona.

“We will give him lots of responsibility. He is doing the work that I have asked of him. I am very happy with Messi.”

Argentina trained behind closed doors on Thursday with Maradona refusing to indicate who will start in Saturday’s high-profile clash.

“Everyone says Spain will be the favourites, but if I thought this then my players wouldn’t thank me,” he said. “Spain are a great side.”

After Saturday’s clash, Maradona will face a FIFA disciplinary committee to explain his sexually-explicit rant after his team’s World Cup qualification was secured thanks to a 1-0 win over Uruguay in October.

The 48-year-old, a sporting icon in Argentina after skippering the 1986 World Cup winning team, told journalists to “suck it and keep sucking it”.

Meanwhile, Sevilla winger Jesus Navas is in line to make his international debut against Argentina.

Liverpool duo Fernando Torres and Albert Riera, as well as Villarreal’s Santi Cazorla and Marcos Senna, all miss the game through injury.

Spain will also face Austria in Vienna on Wednesday in another friendly.

MADRID (AFP)

Tags: atletico madrid, best player, cazorla, closed doors, consistent basis, diego maradona, disciplinary committee, european champions, Fernando Torres, heavyweights, international debut, jesus navas, lionel messi, marcos senna, messi argentina, time champions, Vicente Calderon, winning team, world cup dream, world cup qualification

Maradona in spotlight in battle for World Cup

October 10, 2009

Argentina coach Diego Maradona will be in the spotlight as six South American countries battle for the final berths for the 2010 World Cup final starting on Saturday.

With Brazil and Paraguay already assured of their tickets to South Africa next year, Maradona’s Argentina and five other teams will be vying for the two remaining automatic qualifying spots with the fifth-placed team going into a play-off.

Argentina, who have been further weakened by squabbling between Maradona and general manager Carlos Bilardo, need to beat Peru on Saturday, in the penultimate qualifier.

A defeat in Buenos Aires against tailenders Peru, who are already out of the running, would not end Argentina’s World Cup dream. But it would make their task extremely difficult before their visit to dangerous rivals Uruguay on Wednesday, who could also still be looking to qualify if they draw against Ecuador at the weekend.

Footballing legend Maradona acknowledged that after a disastrous qualifying campaign his job was on the line and he might quit after their must-win qualifiers.

The beleaguered football legend even sought divine intervention as he pondered Argentina’s chances of reaching the World Cup finals.

“The bearded one (God) saved me many times before – and I hope he will do so this time,” said Maradona.

The 1986 world champion famously dubbed his first quarter-final goal in that year’s competition the work of the “hand of God”.

Argentina are five points behind third-placed Chile (27) with Ecuador on 23. Sixth-placed Uruguay (21), Venezuela (21) and Colombia (20), are also in the running for qualification.

Bolivia (12) and Peru (10), are already ruled out, but will be eager to ensure that they avoid the humiliation of finishing last in the standings.

One of the two automatic qualifying spots looks certain to go to Chile, who will qualify if they beat Colombia on Saturday.

For the other, Argentina are trailing Ecuador and are just one point ahead of Uruguay and Venezuela. Maradona’s side must also be wary of Colombia who are just two points behind them.

The slightest slip up will mean Argentina fail to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1970.

Argentina don’t need to be reminded of that nightmare after what has been a trying time for the team this week after Manchester City’s Pablo Zabaleta picked up a hamstring injury on Monday.

The incident revealed a simmering row between the Argentina coach and Bilardo, who Maradona reportedly blames for not travelling to England to ensure that Zabaleta was freed earlier by his English team.

And the South American press has fired up the controversy even further by claiming that referees are being put under pressure to ensure that Argentina, World Cup champions in 1978 and 1986, qualify automatically.

“The only thing that worries me is the referee,” said Peru strike Johan Fano.

But Maradona’s main worry will be the configuration of his team.

The former play-maker has called up 78 players since his appointment a year ago, but is still looking for the right mix, and has given the nod to debutants Liverpool defender Emiliano Insua and Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain.

He has also recalled up Pablo Aimar to try and help Lionel Messi work some miracles for Argentine.

Uruguay, who play Ecuador on Saturday, will have every incentive to win as they can still grab fourth spot in the group and an automatic finals berth.

“We’re all dreaming of going to the World Cup. We have to get through these two matches to make it happen,” said coach Oscar Tabarez.

“It’s difficult but not impossible.”

Chile look assured of their spot in the World Cup for the first time since 1998 in France, and can qualify directly if they beat Colombia on Saturday and if Ecuador or Argentina lose.

Colombia need to win against both Chile and Paraguay to be in with a chance of making the fifth-place play-off against the fourth-placed Central American zone team.

Ecuador, meanwhile, are also dreaming of qualifying for their third consecutive World Cup finals. But they must beat Uruguay on Saturday, a result which would practically assure them the play-off spot and take a point from Chile in Santiago next week.

Venezuela have a difficult task to qualify for their first World Cup. They first need to beat Paraguay and four days later topple Brazil.

MONTEVIDEO (AFP)

Tags: aires, Argentina, berths, bolivia, diego maradona, divine intervention, Ecuador, five points, football legend, hand of god, humiliation, one god, peru, rivals, South Africa, south american countries, spotlight, world champion, world cup dream, world cup finals

Scotland keep World Cup dream alive

September 5, 2009

Scotland kept their World Cup dream alive with a 2-0 win over Macedonia at Hampden courtesy of Scott Brown’s first international goal and a superb solo effort from James McFadden.

Macedonia, inspired by Lazio’s Goran Pandev, had looked the better team in the first-half but a magnificent second-half showing sealed the three points for Scotland, who now need to beat the Netherlands on Wednesday to secure second place in Group Nine.

Brown, who caused controversy in the first-half when he refused to return the ball to the Macedonians from a drop-kick, headed Scotland into the lead.

McFadden scored the second after a mazy run starting in his own half ended with him rounding Jane Nikoloski to score and help ease the pressure on under-fire manager George Burley.

Scotland struggled to cope with Macedonia’s movement up front in the early stages and Goran Pandev in particular came in for some tough treatment from the Scottish defenders.

The first chance of the match fell to the Lazio striker when IIcho Naumoski laid the ball off to him in the box and Pandev’s thumping strike from just inside the area produced a fine save from Craig Gordon low down at his near post.

Things got worse for Scotland in the 13th minute when Burley’s game plan was thrown into disarray as Preston’s Callum Davidson limped off with a hamstring injury to be replaced at left-back by Steven Whittaker.

Scotland slowly settled into the game and were soon presented with a chance. McFadden’s deflected free-kick fell to Graham Alexander who laid it off to Brown and his powerful strike just went wide.

Another set-piece in the 24th minute produced another chance when Brown spun his marker on the edge of the box after controlling a Darren Fletcher free-kick but his angled drive hit the side netting.

Macedonia always looked dangerous on the attack and Gordon was called into action in the 44th minute when Pandev’s shot took a deflection but the Sunderland keeper did enough to keep it out.

Trouble broke out on the stroke of half-time when the ball was put out of play for a Macedonian player to receive treatment.

Instead of giving the ball back to the visitors Brown whacked the ball off a Macedonian to win a corner.

The Macedonian players reacted furiously to Brown’s unsporting behaviour and in the resulting melee McFadden was booked, meaning he will miss Wednesday’s qualifier against Holland.

Scotland started the second-half brightly and McFadden should have given them the lead in the 50th minute.

Fletcher’s cross fell to the Birmingham City star on the edge of the box but after twisting and turning to create room for himself he mishit his shot to send it high over the bar.

At the other end Pandev was sent clean through on goal but Gordon did well to block his shot and clear the danger.

Macedonia survived a scare in the 52nd minute when Nikoloski’s save from a Kenny Miller shot spun across the face of goal but Igor Mitreski scrambled the ball away for a corner as Fletcher slid in.

Scotland’s pressure paid off when Brown gave Scotland the lead in the 56th minute.

Fletcher floated in a cross from the left and the Celtic star got in front of his marker to glance a header into the bottom corner of the net.

McFadden sealed the win in the 80th minute with a superb solo goal. The Birmingham star picked up the ball in his own half before beating one man and then running through the middle of Mitreski and Goce Sedloski.

He then raced into the box and rounded Nikoloski before stroking the ball into the empty net.

GLASGOW (AFP)

Tags: Birmingham, birmingham city, Brown, callum davidson, Craig Gordon, darren fletcher, deflection, disarray, drop kick, first chance, Fletcher, free kick, game plan, george burley, Glasgow, Goran Pandev, Graham Alexander, Holland, Igor Mitreski, international goal, James McFadden, Jane Nikoloski, kenny miller, lazio, Macedonia, mazy, Preston, scotland, solo effort, Steven Whittaker, striker, the Netherlands, whittaker, world cup dream

Portugal name newboy Liedson to salvage World Cup dream

August 27, 2009

Brazilian striker Liedson, who recently became a Portuguese citizen, was on Wednesday named in the Portugal squad for crucial World Cup qualifiers against Denmark and Hungary.

Coach Carlos Queiroz has turned to the 31-year-old Sporting Lisbon player with his team struggling to make up ground in the qualifying race for the 2010 finals in South Africa.

Portugal, World Cup semi-finalists in 2006, are currently in third place in Group One with nine points. They are four behind Hungary and seven behind leaders Denmark.

Liedson has played at Sporting since 2003 and is the third Brazilian to play for Portugal following Deco and Pepe.

Portugal squad for World Cup European zone Group One qualifiers against Denmark on September 5 and Hungary on September 9:

Goalkeepers: Beto (FC Porto), Eduardo (Sporting Braga), Rui Patricio (Sporting Lisbon)

Defenders: Jose Bosingwa (Chelsea/ENG), Bruno Alves (FC Porto), José Castro (Deportivo La Coruna/ESP), Miguel (Valence/ESP), Pepe (Real Madrid/ESP), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea/ENG), Rolando (FC Porto).

Midfielders: Deco (Chelsea/ENG), Duda (Sevilla/ESP), Joao Moutinho (Sporting Lisbon), Maniche (Cologne/GER), Miguel Veloso (Sporting Lisbon), Raul Meireles (FC Porto), Tiago (Juventus/ITA).

Attackers: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/ESP), Liedson (Sporting Lisbon), Nani (Man Utd/ENG), Nuno Gomes (Benfica), Simao (Atletico Madrid/ESP).

LISBON (AFP)

Tags: Braga, Bruno Alves, Carlos Queiroz, CHELSEA, chelsea eng, cologne, denmark, deportivo la coruna, Eduardo, fc porto, GER, Hungary, joao moutinho, jose bosingwa, jose castro, la coruna, liedson, Lisbon, MADRID, meireles, Miguel, nani, nuno gomes benfica, Patricio, PORTO, portugal, Raul Meireles, ricardo carvalho, Rolando, ronaldo real madrid, semi finalists, SEVILLA, Simao, South Africa, sporting braga, sporting lisbon nani, world cup dream

Karimi keeps Iran´s World Cup dream alive

June 10, 2009

TEHRAN (AFP) – Midfield star Ali Karimi scored the only goal as Iran defeated the United Arab Emirates 1-0 on Wednesday to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

Iran remain in fourth place in Asian qualifying Group B with 10 points from seven matches, one behind North Korea and Saudi Arabia.

South Korea, with 15 points, have already made sure of their place in the finals in South Africa next year.

The second automatic qualifying spot will be decided next Wednesday when Iran travel to South Korea while the Saudis welcome North Korea to Riyadh.

The team who finishes third will have to face the third-placed team in Group A, either Bahrain or Uzbekistan, with the eventual winner going on to face New Zealand for a spot in the 2010 finals.

In a tense, must-win game for Iran, the 100,000-seater Azadi Stadium was two-thirds empty with heavy rain making passing difficult.

Karimi struck the crucial goal on 52 minutes after drifting past two UAE defenders before unleashing a fierce drive.

Iran have now beaten UAE 10 times in 13 matches with three games drawn.

The Iranians are trying to reach a fourth World Cup having qualified for the 1978, 1998 and 2006 finals.