S.Korea, Japan eye World Cup at E.Asian meet
February 6, 2010
Defending champions South Korea and archrivals Japan see the men’s edition of the East Asian football championships in Tokyo as vital preparation for the World Cup in June.
The hosts and South Korea will try out home-based players at the four-team round robin, which kicks off on Saturday when Japan, three-time runners-up, play the 2005 champions China.
South Korea take on little-fancied Hong Kong on Sunday, but South Korean coach Hoo Jung-Moo will not be taking the game — or the tournament — lightly.
“We want to get off to a very good start looking forward to the World Cup,” Hoo said. “Although we miss the Europe-based players, we want to put on a good performance and take home the title.”
“The World Cup will definitely be on our minds when we play.”
Japan will also be without the services of Europe-based players led by influential Espanyol midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura and CSKA Moscow’s Keisuke Honda.
But Japan coach Takeshi Okada said that would not matter.
“I want to try several patterns of our attacking tactics. I also have some ideas towards the World Cup,” he said.
“We must win the championship because it’s a home competition and Japan have never won the title before,” he said. “I want to improve the team’s ability one rank or even half a rank, looking forward to the World Cup.”
At the World Cup finals in South Africa, South Korea will play Argentina, Nigeria and Greece in Group B. Japan face the Netherlands, Cameroon and Denmark in Group E.
For China it will be a chance to save some face after again failing to qualify for the World Cup, while the sport is mired in controversy and allegations of match-fixing back home.
“We took part in the championship many times but I’ve never been satisfied with our performances. We hope for the best result — that is to win the tournament,” said China coach Gao Hongbo.
It is the first time Hong Kong have reached the finals of the East Asian tournament, inaugurated in 2003, having beaten North Korea, Taiwan and Guam in the last qualifying round.
Hong Kong’s confidence is high after they beat a young Japan side on penalties to take the gold medal in December at the East Asian Games on home soil.
“We want to improve the team. Our goal is to finish with five points. We will play hard to reach that goal,” said Hong Kong’s South Korean coach Kim Pan-Gon.
In the women’s four-team tournament, defending champions Japan and 2005 winners South Korea take on China and Taiwan.
Taiwan, runners-up in the qualifying round, replaced North Korea after the communist country pulled out because of a visa problem.
“We will face excellent teams,” said Japan coach Norio Sasaki. “We will have the Asian Cup in May, which is a qualifying round for the Women’s World Cup in Germany. So I really want to win the title to build up the team.”
TOKYO (AFP)
Tags: allegations, asian football championships, asian tournament, cameroon, controversy, Espanyol, gao, home competition, japan coach, keisuke, North Korea, okada, shunsuke nakamura, south africa south, south korea, south korean, takeshi, time runners, world cup finalsRelated posts
South Africa´s McCarthy moves to West Ham
February 1, 2010
South Africa’s Benni McCarthy completed his long anticipated move to West Ham United from Premier League rivals Blackburn Rovers on Monday’s transfer deadline day.
McCarthy joined for an an undisclosed fee on a contract that will keep the 32-year-old at Upton Park until 2012.
“West Ham United are pleased to confirming the signing of South Africa striker Benni McCarthy from Blackburn Rovers for an undisclosed fee,” said a West Ham statement.
McCarthy, who could make his debut for the London side in Saturday’s league match against Burnley, said he had wanted West Ham to be his first club in English football when he left Portuguese side Porto.
“I am very pleased and extremely happy,” McCarthy, South Africa’s record goalscorer, with 32 goals in 77 internationals, told West Ham’s website.
“This is a great club. The reason why I am happy that it has finally happened is because about five years ago I had a disappointing experience when I thought I was going to be a West Ham player until Porto pulled out and I had to go back.
“I would have loved this to be my first Premier League club. I went to Blackburn instead but West Ham kept pursuing me and eventually I am here,” added McCarthy, who scored 37 goals in 109 league matches for Rovers after arriving at Ewood Park in July 2006.
McCarthy had grown disillusioned with his lack of first-team starts under Rovers manager Sam Allardyce and wanted a move to ensure regular football in the run-up to the World Cup finals in his home country in June and July.
West Ham are 15th in the table but just a point above the relegation zone.
LONDON (AFP)
Tags: benni mccarthy, debut, english football, Ewood Park, first premier, internationals, league rivals, london, PORTO, portuguese side porto, premier league, relegation zone, South AfricaÂ, striker, transfer deadline, undisclosed fee, upton park, west ham, west ham united, world cup finalsRelated posts
Judge lifts media gagging order on John Terry
January 30, 2010
England and Chelsea defender John Terry was named on Friday as the sportsman behind a gagging injunction involving his private life.
Terry’s identity was revealed after a judge gave his reasons at London’s High Court for lifting the order which he originally granted at a private hearing last Friday.
It covered the alleged relationship between “LNS” – as married Terry was referred to in court – and another woman.
It also covered details about the relationship, including certain specific consequences, information leading to their identification and any photographs. Justice Tugenhadt was told that News Group Newspapers – publishers of tabloids The Sun and News of the World – wanted to publish a story about the footballer last Sunday.
The judge said: “I do not consider that an interim injunction is necessary or proportionate having regard to the level of gravity of the interference with the private life of the applicant that would occur in the event that there is a publication of the fact of the relationship, or that the applicant can rely in this case on the interference with the private life of anyone else.”
Terry, 30, who is expected to captain England at the World Cup finals this year, is married and has twins.
LONDON (AFP)
Tags: AFP, alleged relationship, captain England, CHELSEA, consequences, gagging order, gravity, interference, interim injunction, john terry, Justice Tugenhadt, last sunday, lns, london, news group, private life, sportsman, tabloids, world cup finalsRelated posts
Judge lifts media gagging order on John Terry
January 30, 2010
England and Chelsea defender John Terry was named on Friday as the sportsman behind a gagging injunction involving his private life.
Terry’s identity was revealed after a judge gave his reasons at London’s High Court for lifting the order which he originally granted at a private hearing last Friday.
It covered the alleged relationship between “LNS” – as married Terry was referred to in court – and another woman.
It also covered details about the relationship, including certain specific consequences, information leading to their identification and any photographs. Justice Tugenhadt was told that News Group Newspapers – publishers of tabloids The Sun and News of the World – wanted to publish a story about the footballer last Sunday.
The judge said: “I do not consider that an interim injunction is necessary or proportionate having regard to the level of gravity of the interference with the private life of the applicant that would occur in the event that there is a publication of the fact of the relationship, or that the applicant can rely in this case on the interference with the private life of anyone else.”
Terry, 30, who is expected to captain England at the World Cup finals this year, is married and has twins.
LONDON (AFP)
Tags: alleged relationship, captain England, CHELSEA, consequences, gagging order, gravity, interference, interim injunction, john terry, Justice Tugenhadt, last friday, last sunday, london, news group, news of the world, private life, sportsman, twins, world cup finalsRelated posts
Judge lifts media gagging order on John Terry
January 30, 2010
England and Chelsea defender John Terry was named on Friday as the sportsman behind a gagging injunction involving his private life.
Terry’s identity was revealed after a judge gave his reasons at London’s High Court for lifting the order which he originally granted at a private hearing last Friday.
It covered the alleged relationship between “LNS” – as married Terry was referred to in court – and another woman.
It also covered details about the relationship, including certain specific consequences, information leading to their identification and any photographs. Justice Tugenhadt was told that News Group Newspapers – publishers of tabloids The Sun and News of the World – wanted to publish a story about the footballer last Sunday.
The judge said: “I do not consider that an interim injunction is necessary or proportionate having regard to the level of gravity of the interference with the private life of the applicant that would occur in the event that there is a publication of the fact of the relationship, or that the applicant can rely in this case on the interference with the private life of anyone else.”
Terry, 30, who is expected to captain England at the World Cup finals this year, is married and has twins.
LONDON (AFP)
Tags: alleged relationship, CHELSEA, consequences, gravity, interference, interim injunction, last friday, last sunday, lns, news of the world, private life, sportsman, twins, world cup finalsRelated posts
Hammers line up McCarthy-Gudjohnsen strike force
January 27, 2010
West Ham’s battle for Premier League survival is set to be spearheaded by a strike force of Eidur Gudjohnsen and Benni McCarthy.
Former Chelsea and Barcelona striker Gudjohnsen, who is now at Monaco, looks set to join South Africa striker McCarthy at Upton Park after Tottenham admitted defeat in the race to sign the Icelander on loan.
“I like Eidur, but I think he’s going to West Ham,” Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp said after his side’s 2-0 win over Fulham on Tuesday evening. “I spoke to his agent today but I’ve left it with chairman.
“I’d take him on loan because he’s a good player and we could play different systems with him.” he added.
Blackburn have agreed to sell McCarthy to the Hammers for a reported fee of 2.25 million pounds and the deal was expected to be wrapped up on Wednesday following a medical and negotiations on the striker’s personal terms.
McCarthy had grown disillusioned with his lack of first-team starts at Blackburn under manager Sam Allardyce and wanted a move to ensure regular football in the run-up to the World Cup finals in his home country in June and July.
He has departed Ewood Park in acrimonious circumstances however after failing to turn up for training sessions this week, conduct which Allardyce branded “unprofessional”.
Allardyce said: “It shows you that the only loyalty a player has got is to himself.
“This is what we deal with today in football, there’s not such a thing as loyalty as there used to be in the older days when I was a player.
“It’s a selfish attitude they have and that’s not just about Benni, that’s all players today. If they want something they do anything to try and get it.”
West Ham are currently hovering just above the relegation zone with only goal difference keeping them out of the bottom three following Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw at Portsmouth.
The Hammers had looked on track for a valuable win after taking the lead with a scrappy effort from club captain Matthew Upson seven minutes into the second half.
But former Manchester United trainee Danny Webber came off the bench to claim his first Premier League goal and rescue a point for the Premier League’s bottom side, who remain four points adrift of the side above them, Hull, and five away from safety.
Pompey manager Avram Grant admitted afterwards that the lifting of a Premier League transfer embargo may have come too late to help their survival bid.
Grant is hopeful of landing “three or four” new players by the end of the month but the club’s perilous financial position means he can only take players on loan or on free transfers.
“We’ll try to do our best but we have only four days,” Grant said. “It will be very difficult but we’ll do it because the squad is very short.”
Grant hopes to bring left-sided midfielder Jamie O’Hara back to the club on loan from Tottenham and he played down the possibility of Younes Kaboul and Nadir Belhadj leaving.
“If these players go, I would need to play, and I cannot play!” Grant joked.
Portsmouth are however expected to allow England goalkeeper David James to go to Stoke on loan until the end of the season in a move dictated by the financial pressure currently on the club.
LONDON (AFP)
Tags: benni mccarthy, captain Matthew Upson, CHELSEA, club captain, Danny Webber, David James, different systems, eidur gudjohnsen, Ewood Park, goal difference, hammers, Harry Redknapp, HULL, Jamie O'Hara, league survival, london, Manchester, matthew upson, Monaco, personal terms, Portsmouth, premier league, relegation zone, Sam, sam allardyce, strike force, striker, taking the lead, tuesday evening, upton park, west ham, world cup finalsRelated posts
Time for Spain coach Del Bosque to reward Valdes?
January 27, 2010
It’s hard to believe Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes has yet to win a cap for Spain and that he isn’t even in the running for the World Cup finals this summer.
The 28-year-old has been Barca’s number one since the 2003-4 season and was a fundamental cog in Pep Guardiola’s Barca machine that swept to an unprecedented six trophies last year.
He has two European Champions League and three La Liga titles to his name and the best statistics this season in the Spanish top flight with only 10 goals conceded in 19 games.
Valdes, who looks like a U.S. Marine with his imposing bulk and shaven head, was on top form again on Saturday, making a string of important saves against Real Valladolid before Barca broke out to win 3-0.
“He’s been playing very well for many years now. He’s getting better day by day,” Guardiola said.
“In Tenerife (two weeks ago) he saved us and he has done it again here.”
The problem for Valdes is that European champions Spain have an embarrassment of goalkeeping riches.
Coach Vicente del Bosque has Real Madrid’s Iker Casillas as his number one, Liverpool’s Pepe Reina number two and Villarreal’s Diego Lopez as third choice.
Spain were the only country to have three representatives in the top ten in the 2009 IFFHS (International Federation of Football History and Statistics) rankings for goalkeepers, with Casillas first, Valdes sixth and Reina seventh.
Valdes has shrugged off a reputation for being gaffe-prone, but although he is having perhaps his best season yet, calls for his inclusion in the Spain squad are few and far between.
Has anyone checked whether he’s eligible for England?
PHOTO: Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes reacts during the Club World Cup final against Estudiantes in Abu Dhabi, Dec. 19, 2009. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
Tags: abdallah, abu dhabi, club world cup, Del Bosque, Diego Lopez, England, england photo, european champions, football history, goalkeepers, iker casillas, international federation of football history and statistics, Liverpool, MADRID, pep guardiola, pepe reina, real madrid, real valladolid, reuters, shaven head, source time, Spain, Tenerife, third choice, U.S. Marine, valladolid, vicente del bosque, victor valdes, win 3, world cup finalsRelated posts
Angry Allardyce rounds on McCarthy
January 27, 2010
South Africa striker Benni McCarthy received a furious farewell from Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce after the club confirmed Tuesday they have agreed a fee for his transfer with West Ham.
McCarthy has missed training sessions this week, in what has been seen as a bid to force through a move away from Ewood Park, but his controversial action may not have been necessary after the Premier League clubs agreed a fee reported to be 2.25 million pounds.
The 32-year-old striker has grown disillusioned with his lack of first-team starts under Allardyce and has been seeking a move to ensure regular football in the run-up to the World Cup finals in his home country in June and July.
But Allardyce said there was no excuse for McCarthy not turning up at training, branding his conduct “unprofessional” and saying it was symptomatic of too many players in the modern game.
“What he’s done is unprofessional. It shows you that the only loyalty a player has got is to himself,” Allardyce said.
“This is what we deal with today in football, there’s not such a thing as loyalty as there used to be in the older days when I was a player.
“It’s a selfish attitude they have and that’s not just about Benni, that’s all players today. If they want something they do anything to try and get it.”
Allardyce added: “If he is trying to manipulate a move by staying away it’s not the right thing to do.
“Sometimes players will get advised wrongly and I think whoever is advising him to stay away is very wrong as he’s done himself no favours.”
The Hammers are only presently above the Premier League relegation zone on goal difference while Blackburn are five points clear of the bottom three.
BLACKBURN, England (AFP)
Tags: benni mccarthy, controversial action, England, Ewood Park, excuse, farewell, five points, goal difference, loyalty, premier league, premier league clubs, relegation zone, Sam, sam allardyce, sessions, South Africa, striker, west ham, world cup finalsRelated posts
Maradona: ‘I could only talk on phone with my players’
January 26, 2010
Diego Maradona returns to Argentina’s bench when they play Costa Rica on Tuesday. The Argentine legend found it hard to cope with his two-month ban. “I would not wish this on anyone.”
The friendly match against Costa Rica marks the end of Maradona’s ban. El Pelusa was banned from football for two months following controversial comments at a press conference after his team secured their place at the World Cup finals.
“It was very hard but it’s past and now I’m only thinking about the World Cup,” said Maradona. “Those two months were very painful.
“I asked FIFA if I could pay a fine with my money and not to distance me from the players but I couldn’t do absolutely anything, just speak to the players on the phone.
“I don’t wish it on anybody.”
Maradona has called up more than 90 players for 15 matches, eight of them World Cup qualifiers, since his first game in charge, a friendly against Scotland in Glasgow in November 2008.
“Of course I called up many, but I want to see them all.”
Tags: Argentina, Argentine, bench, controversial comments, Costa Rica, diego maradona, first game, friendly match, Glasgow, money, pelusa, scotland, world cup finals, world cup qualifiersRelated posts
Wanderers sign Weiss from City
January 25, 2010
Bolton Wanderers announced Monday that midfielder Vladimir Weiss would join them on loan from Premier League rivals Manchester City until the end of the season.
Slovakia international Weiss becomes Owen Coyle’s first signing for the club since the manager’s controversial move from Burnley – who Bolton play in a Lancashire top-flight derby on Tuesday.
Weiss, 20, recently signed a new contract with City but has only made four first team appearances this season, scoring against Arsenal in City’s 3-0 League Cup quarter-final victory.
But with opportunities restricted at Eastlands, Weiss has made the short journey from Manchester to Bolton in a bid to get more game time and so boost his chances of being a member of Slovakia’s squad at this year’s World Cup finals in South Africa.
“Vladimir is an exciting young player who adds further options to our squad and can help to get the fans out of their seats,” Coyle told www.bwfc.co.uk.
“The fact that he has a chance of going to this year’s World Cup shows just how much ability he possesses.”
BOLTON, England (AFP)
Tags: bolton england, bolton wanderers, burnley, CITY, controversial move, Eastlands, England, final victory, game time, Lancashire, league rivals, Manchester, manchester city, midfielder, new contract, Owen Coyle, premier league, slovakia, South Africa, team appearances, top flight, vladimir, Vladimir Weiss, world cup finalsRelated posts
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