Xavi hails club like Spain

March 6, 2010

Barcelona and Spain midfielder Xavi believes the bonding amongst the team members gives the national side a club like feeling.

The reigning European Champions are favourites to win the World Cup in South Africa this summer.

And their 2-0 midweek win over France further strengthened their credentials to lift the supreme trophy in world football.

The case has not gone unnoticed as Xavi has hailed his nation’s “modern” style of play, comparing it to that of Barcelona and Arsenal, who are both famed for their free-flowing attractive football.

“Our style of game is very similar to the work in Barca or Arsenal,” said Xavi. “This is modern football.

“Spain have still not found success in the World Cup but the squad is very concentrated and all the companions are in a compact group.

“In that sense, Spain appear more like a club than a national team.”

The win in the Stade de France prolonged Spain’s incredible record of 42 wins in their last 45 fixtures and that run is expected to continue this summer having been drawn in Group H with Switzerland, Honduras and Chile.

“At the minute Spain are in a good run of form and the supporters are happy with our game,” added Xavi. “I personally am happy to be in this group.

“It is important to be in the list of candidates for the title in South Africa but without confidence and a cool head it cannot be done.”

Xavi is aware of the hype Spain are generating ahead of the finals, but he is keen to remind people that Brazil and Italy still have many World Cup winners within their squads.

2002 World Cup winners Brazil are currently captained by Inter defender Lucio, who was part of the success in Japan and South Korea, while midfielders Kaka and Gilberto Silva are also medal holders.

Current holders Italy are expected to bring a host of players who were part of their successful squad in Germany 2006, and Xavi insists their knowhow could prove vital this time around.

“For me, the squads that have won the World Cup before are bigger favourites than us,” admitted Xavi. “Their history is important and other teams will have chances in this tournament.”

Tags: arsenal, barca, Barcelona, brazil, Chile, compact group, cool head, european champions, France, Germany, germany 2006, hype, Italy, Japan, kaka, knowhow, lucio, midfielder, midfielders, midweek, modern style, South Africa, south korea, Spain, stade de france, Switzerland, world cup winners, world football

Domenech hints at Trezeguet olive branch

October 13, 2009

France coach Raymond Domenech on Tuesday welcomed Juventus striker David Trezeguet’s comments about wanting to return to the national set-up.

Trezeguet, 31, announced his retirement from international football after being left out of Domenech’s squad for the 2008 European Championship, but recently said he would like to be involved in November’s World Cup play-off matches.

“I like it when players say that they want to play, to hear that players need the French team and want to play for it,” Domenech said.

“It’s healthy, it’s good.”

France face Austria here on Wednesday in their final group seven qualifying match, having already secured a place in the play-offs behind group leaders and automatic qualifiers Serbia.

The 1998 World Cup winners have flattered to deceive during their qualifying campaign, with goals in particularly short supply, and captain Thierry Henry also declared himself pleased at the prospect of Trezeguet’s return.

“It’s good,” said Henry, a former team-mate of Trezeguet’s at Monaco.

“David was injured last year. David is David. You could put him in any team at the age of 60 and if there were any chances they would fall to him.

“He’s extraordinary, but at the end of the day it’s down to the coach. It’s great to hear that though.”

In an interview with French sport daily L’Equipe published on Tuesday, Trezeguet said that he was still available for selection.

“I’ve not turned my back on the French team,” he said.

“I’m always available during this difficult time.”

Speaking after France’s group-stage exit at Euro 2008 last year, Trezeguet laid the blame for his retirement firmly at Domenech’s door, saying: “The disappointing Euro and the backing shown to the coach have forced me to take this irreversible decision.”

PARIS (AFP)

Tags: Austria, automatic qualifiers, captain Thierry Henry, David, david trezeguet, euro 2008, former team, France, france coach, french sport, french team, group leaders, group stage, international football, irreversible decision, juventus, Monaco, olive branch, PARIS, play offs, raymond domenech, sport daily, team mate, thierry henry, world cup winners

Malouda out of suqad, Henry denies criticising coach

September 8, 2009

1998 World Cup winners France’s increasingly fraught qualifying campaign for next year’s finals deepened on Monday when captain Thierry Henry denied he had criticised coach Raymond Domenech in front of the rest of the squad.

Squad-mate and fellow 2006 World Cup finalist Florent Malouda also revealed that he had only learnt he was not even among the substitutes for last Saturday’s qualifier with Romania at the Stade de France when he entered the dressing-room and he saw there was no shirt for him.

Henry’s denial – Le Parisien claimed on Monday that in Friday’s team meeting the Barcelona star had publicly slammed Domenech – and Malouda’s clear displeasure at the manner in which he learnt of his non-selection will do nothing for morale as they head for a crucial qualifier with Group Seven leaders Serbia on Wednesday.

Henry was forced to clarify what had gone on on Friday on the eve of the 1-1 draw which left the French four points adrift of the Serbs with just three matches remaining and in danger of having to go through a play-off to progress to South Africa.

“Nothing happened on Friday evening,” protested Henry to French TV station TF1.

“There was a discussion between the squad and the coach as is usual.

“It was a constructive discussion… which must stay between the players and the coach.

“I did not question the coach’s qualities. There was never a clash between us,” added Henry, who was quoted by Le Parisien as telling Domenech that the players had no idea where they were to play and lacked any direction.

Henry, who scored France’s goal in the Romania match, insisted the camp was a happy one, something clearly not in Malouda’s vocabulary.

“I saw when I entered the dressingroom that there no shirt had been prepared for me,” the Chelsea star – who has enjoyed distant relations with Domenech having criticised him – told RTL radio station in an interview recorded on Sunday but only broadcast on Monday.

“I deduced from that that I was in either the starting line-up or the substitutes bench, that is how I came to learn of it.

“I was surprised, I thought at the very least I would feature at some stage.

“However, it is important to support ones friends, even from the stands, one has to get over one’s disappointment.

“One is powerless to do anything sitting in the stands, one has fleas in ones pants, but that is how it is, it is the choice of the coach.

“It is a delicate matter to discuss, and is not an agreeable experience to live through, but it is important not to think about it too much, even if it is disappointing.”

PARIS (AFP)

Tags: Barcelona, captain Thierry Henry, CHELSEA, chelsea star, criticised, cup finalist, displeasure, distant relations, dressing room, dressingroom, florent, four points, France, friday evening, last saturday, le parisien, radio station, raymond domenech, Romania, serbs, starting line, thierry henry, world cup winners

Argentina hand Maradona sky-high pay deal

June 26, 2009

BUENOS AIRES (AFP) – Argentina legend Diego Maradona has signed a bumper contract to continue as coach of the national football team.

Press reports here Thursday said Maradona will earn 1.2 million dollars (860,000 euros) for his one-year stint as coach, which comes in at 100,000 dollars (139,000 euros) a month and covers the period November 2008 to October 2009.

The deal means Maradona, who has worked as coach of Argentina since November 2008 but without signing a contract, will remain in the post at least until the end of the World Cup qualifiers in October.

If the former World Cup winners qualify for the 2010 showpiece in South Africa Maradona’s contract is likely to be extended.

The news will prove interesting reading for former Argentina coaches Daniel Passarella, Marcelo Bielsa, Jose Pekerman and Alfio Basile, who were all paid between 40 and 50,000 dollars a month.

The Argentine football federation justified Maradona’s bumper pay packet by highlighting the positive influence he had on the team – attracting huge crowds even for friendly matches and thus benefiting the team’s sponsors.

Maradona has come in for some criticism of late, however, after Argentina slipped to fourth in the South American zone qualifying table for the 2010 World Cup.

A fifth place finish would force Argentina into a playoff, while anywhere beyond that would lead to elimination.

Tags: american zone, Argentina, Argentine, argentine football, BUENOS AIRES, daniel passarella, diego maradona, football federation, huge crowds, Jose, jose pekerman, marcelo bielsa, million dollars, national football team, pay packet, positive influence, showpiece, South Africa, South American, stint, World Cup, world cup qualifiers, world cup winners

Iaquinta scores twice to spare Italian blushes

June 11, 2009

ATTERIDGEVILLE, South Africa (AFP) – A second-half double from Juventus striker Vincenzo Iaquinta gave world champions Italy a nervy 4-3 victory over New Zealand in a FIFA Confederations Cup warm-up match at Super Stadium on Wednesday.

The ‘All Whites’ stunned Marcelo Lippi?s men by taking a 2-1 half-time lead, and seemed on course for an astonishing victory when Celtic striker Chris Killen?s penalty put them 3-2 up on 57 minutes.

However, Iaquinta, one of a spate of second-half substitutions, had other ideas, netting twice in the final half-hour to spare Italian blushes ahead of their first Cup game against the United States in Pretoria on Monday.

Ranked 82nd in the world, New Zealand put on a brave display and consistently troubled Italy from set pieces.

Ricki Herbert?s men face European champions Spain in their opening match on Sunday.

Lippi made six changes to the side that beat Northern Ireland 3-0 in Pisa last Saturday.

Davide Santon, Alessandro Gamberini and Nicolas Legrottaglie continued in defence, Gennaro Gattuso captained the side from midfield and Giuseppe Rossi was up front, this time alongside Fiorentina?s Alberto Gilardino.

It was a second-string ‘Azzurri’ with World Cup winners like Luca Toni, Andrea Pirlo and Fabio Grosso on the bench and Fabio Cannavaro rested.

Nevertheless, Italy were expected to cruise past the ‘All Whites’.

Instead, Herbert?s team more than held their own and took the lead after just 13 minutes when Shane Smeltz rose to head home a Leo Bertos free kick.

Italy?s class did eventually show with a stunning equaliser. Simone Pepe?s glorious crossfield pass found Fabio Quagliarella surging down the left wing, and his cross was headed coolly home by Gilardino.

New Zealand refused to lie down and grabbed a second from another set piece as Bertos swung in one of nine corners forced by the Oceania champions and Killen rose unmarked to head home.

Italy threw on Pirlo for Rossi after the break and grabbed an equaliser on 48 minutes. Again Quagliarella crossed, and again Gilardino headed in.

Parity was shortlived as Killen won a penalty after being brought down by Italy goalkeeper Marco Amelia just nine minutes later and the Celtic striker dusted himself down and slotted in the penalty.

Lippi made a spate of substitutions and one of those, Iaquinta, raced clear of the New Zealand defence to make it 3-3 on 68 minutes.

And he struck again five minutes later, steering home after Glenn Moss had parried Ricardo Montolivo?s shot.

Tags: alberto gilardino, Alessandro Gamberini, andrea pirlo, astonishing victory, chris killen, crossfield, cup game, equaliser, european champions, fabio cannavaro, Fabio Grosso, fifa confederations cup, gennaro gattuso, Giuseppe Rossi, Herbert, Italy, legrottaglie, Leo Bertos, lippi, luca toni, Marco Amelia, Moss, New Zealand, Nicolas Legrottaglie, Northern Ireland, Pisa, pretoria, Ricardo Montolivo, Ricki Herbert, santon, second string, Serie A, shane smeltz, Simone Pepe, South Africa, Spain, Super Stadium, United States, vincenzo iaquinta, Whites, World Cup, world cup winners

Booing France “a form of racism” – Domenech

June 4, 2009

PARIS (AFP) – France coach Raymond Domenech on Thursday said the jeering of his players during their 1-0 friendly defeat to Nigeria on Tuesday was “a form of racism”.

The 1998 World Cup winners were whistled at throughout by a less than appreciative St Etienne crowd, who reserved most of their ire for players from local rivals Lyon.

“It’s a form of racism, whistling at players because they don’t belong to your club,” said Domenech, himself a former Lyon player, whose side take on Euro 2008 semi-finalists Turkey in another friendly in Lyon on Friday.

“I’ll never stomach it, like I’ll never stomach the other forms of racism.

“The other (whistles) are understandable (due to the defeat), but the whistles when (Lyon players) Karim Benzema and Sidney Govou came on I will never accept. It’s absurd and it always will be.”

Benzema, 21, has endured a disappointing season, having seen his club side fail to win the French title for the first time since 2001 and struggling to nail down a starting place in the French first XI.

Domenech revealed that, although Benzema had shrugged off the incident, he had clearly been unsettled by it.

“Karim was affected,” the French coach said. “At 20 or 21 it’s not always obvious. He pretended not to be, he said the opposite, but it’s clear to see, he reacted in a different way.

“I felt that he was really affected. You can be prepared for anything, but when it happens it’s never as you expect.”

France’s unconvincing start to their World Cup qualifying campaign means they are currently two points behind leaders Serbia in European group seven with five games remaining, and Domenech believes the only way to get the fans back onside is to produce some better performances on the pitch.

“It’s up to us to have the attitude and the performances to make sure people don’t have to react,” he said.

“The players always want to react, to play well, to perform.

“They were a bit shocked (against Nigeria) and we cannot play in the same way again. I hope they have learned their lesson. If we make the same mistakes twice, it’s a concern.”

France’s World Cup qualifying campaign resumes on August 12 with a trip to perennial whipping boys the Faroe Islands, followed by a home encounter with second-bottom Romania on September 5.

Tags: crowd, european group, faroe islands, five games, forms of racism, France, france coach, french coach, french title, Karim, Karim Benzema, Ligue 1, Lyon, nigeria, PARIS, pitch, raymond domenech, rivals, Romania, semi finalists, sidney govou, st etienne, Turkey, whistles, World Cup, world cup winners

France braced for Lithuania double jeopardy

March 28, 2009

PARIS (AFP) – France, marshalled by an in-form Thierry Henry, put their World Cup qualifying lives on the line in back-to-back games against Lithuania over the next five days.

Coach Raymond Domenech is looking for a maximum harvest of points from Saturday’s trip to Kaunus and Wednesday’s return at the Stade de France.

And a quick look at Group Seven explains why, with the 1998 World Cup winners and 2006 finalists trailing co-leaders Serbia and Lithuania in third place and by five points although the French have a game in hand.

Henry is France’s leading scorer and his buoyant form for Barcelona this season makes him the key man in attack in the absence of the injured Nicolas Anelka.

The influential Chelsea forward was ruled out of contention at the start of the week with a toe injury, while another striker, Rennes novice Jimmy Briand, is also a non-starter after picking up a knee injury in training on Wednesday.

Henry aside, the relative inexperience of France’s forwards is mirrored in defence with Willy Sagnol and Lilian Thuram retired and Eric Abidal injured.

Domenech, who must also contend with an injury concern surrounding novice Andre Pierre Gignac of Toulouse, is in no doubt over the former Arsenal star’s importance.

"We can’t say that we are at our best at the moment, except for ‘Titi’, who is sensational," said the coach who has been under attack since France crashed out of Euro 2008.

Domenech, asked about tactics for Saturday’s qualifier, was his usual guarded safe.

"I have lots of ideas, I have lots of options," he said. "If there are no more problems, it will be a system with one striker and three attacking midfielders behind, or two strikers.

"But with ‘Titi’ (Henry), we can use him anywhere, except as a right wing, where even he doesn’t feel comfortable."

Despite the positive showing of number two keeper Hugo Lloris, Domenech did reveal that for stability and continuity’s sake he planned to stick with his top stopper Steve Mandanda, who turns 24 on Saturday,

Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra spelled out precisely what was at stake in the Lithuania double header.

"A good result from the two matches would be six points. I like to feel pressure to win, even if Lithuania are top of the group, but we respect them."

He said he wasn’t about to contemplate the unthinkable of France not making it to South Africa next year.

"We are not ready to think about that, but it is important not to allow teams to get too far ahead of us which would then make it difficult. For us to be comfortable, we need to win these two matches."

Waiting for France in Kaunus is a Lithuania side set to feature Deividas Cesnauskis, the Hearts midfielder, and Tomas Danilevicius, who plays his club football in Italy with Livorno and is the only out and out striker in the squad.

But fellow Serie A player Marius Stankevicius, the Sampdoria defender, is injured and will miss both qualifiers.

Evra meanwhile took a swipe at those French supporters who have taken to whistling their national side.

"It is really unbelievable. You get the impression that sometimes it would be better if we told the public to stay at home and not come and support the players," Evra said.

"We have already spoken about it amongst the players. You come onto the pitch and get whistled already. You have to ask the public, maybe they don’t like football."

Written by: AFP

Tags: euro 2008, five points, gignac, Italy, jimmy briand, key man, knee injury, lilian thuram, Manchester, Nicolas Anelka, no doubt, raymond domenech, relative inexperience, South Africa, stade de france, Steve Mandanda, striker, thierry henry, titi henry, toe injury, World Cup, world cup winners

Fulham out to make it bitter Cup for Utd

March 7, 2009

LONDON (AFP) – Roy Hodgson has been around long enough to remember the last time Fulham reached an FA Cup final.

That was 34 years ago and Hodgson was just a year away from embarking on a managerial career that has seen him fill 16 coaching posts in Denmark, England, Italy, Sweden and Switzerland.

Now 61, Hodgson has put all his experience to good use in lifting Fulham from the brink of relegation to within sight of European football in just over a year in charge.

And he is relishing the prospect of derailing Manchester United’s charge for an unprecedented haul of five trophies by pulling off an upset in a quarter-final meeting what is arguably the pick of this weekend’s ties.

Fulham’s run to the last eight has triggered thoughts of the club’s last Wembley appearance, the 1975 final.

"This is my first time in the quarter-finals," Hodgson said. "It would be lovely if we could reach the semi-final and even better if Fulham could recreate the magic of 1975."

Hodgson was a spectator at Wembley that day as Alec Stock’s side went down to a 2-0 defeat by West Ham.

"Fulham were in the old Second Division at the time but had just brought back Alan Mullery and signed Bobby Moore, people who boosted the team," Hodgson recalled.

"I clearly remember before the game Stock was asked if he was worried about the game, as they were coming up against the famous West Ham team, which contained so many World Cup winners.

"His response? ‘Not at all, we’re going to have a thunderingly good day out!’ The FA Cup is part of the Fulham tradition."

While United pursue their ‘quintuple’ Chelsea will be looking to extend their winning start to life under Guus Hiddink to five matches. The Dutchman watched his new charges dispatch Watford in the last round but had not formally taken over the team.

Three weeks later, his influence has been clearly stamped on a Chelsea side that looks better organised and significantly more motivated than it did under Luiz Felipe Scolari.

With Michael Essien set to feature for the first time since rupturing knee ligaments in September and Ricardo Carvalho also fit again, Hiddink is set to benefit from a strengthened squad and it is hard to imagine a Coventry side currently residing in the bottom half of the Championship delaying their progress to the last four.

Burnley will also fly the flag for English football’s second tier although Owen Coyle’s giantkilling side are only at the fifth round stage.

They visit Arsenal on Sunday, looking for a memorable double following their elimination of Arsene Wenger’s youngsters from the League Cup in December.

Burnley also accounted for Fulham and Chelsea in that competition and have already beaten Premier League outfit West Brom in the FA Cup.

Arsenal though appear to be on the up having put together an unbeaten run of 16 matches in all competitions and will expect to progress to a quarter-final home tie against Hull.

The final clash of the weekend sees Middlesbrough — inspired against Liverpool last weekend but woeful against Tottenham on Wednesday — travel to Everton, for whom the Cup represents the last chance of silverware this season.

Saturday

Quarter-finals: Coventry v Chelsea (1230 GMT), Fulham v Manchester Utd (1715 GMT)

Sunday

Fifth round: Arsenal v Burnley (1330 GMT)

Quarter-final: Everton v Middlesbrough (1600 GMT)

Written by: AFP

Tags: alan mullery, alec, Alec Stock, bobby moore, brink, CHELSEA, denmark, denmark england, dutchman, England, English Premier League, FA Cup, fa cup final, fulham, hiddink, HULL, Italy, Liverpool, london, luiz felipe scolari, managerial career, Manchester, manchester united, Michael Essien, Moore, Owen Coyle, quarter finals, quot, relegation, ricardo carvalho, roy hodgson, spectator, Sweden, Switzerland, Wembley, west ham, world cup winners

Fulham out to make it bitter Cup for United

March 7, 2009