News - Page 2

`Lady`Ballack` · 07-04-2006, 06:34 PM

European champion Greece has been suspended from international competition by soccer's ruling body because of government interference in the domestic administration of the sport.
FIFA announced the sanction Monday, saying the Greek federation and all its members - clubs, players and officials - were "suspended with immediate effect and until further notice from all international contact."
Under the ban, Greek clubs cannot enter qualifying for the Champions League next month.
FIFA's Emergency Committee, comprising the presidents of all continental confederations, decided that the administration of the Hellenic Football Federation did not comply with FIFA's statutes regarding independence of the decision-making process from government.
In September 2005, the federation was given a July 15 deadline to obtain from the Greek government an amendment to the national law on sports so that the national association conformed with international and European soccer regulations.
FIFA said Greek authorities have failed to deliver on commitments to amend the law.
"In fact, the recently presented draft of a new law on professional leagues constitutes another example of interference from the government in football affair," FIFA said in a statement.
In a statement, the federation said Sports Minister Giorgos Orfanos was "leading Greek football to international isolation and placing it outside the international soccer community."
Greece's opening qualifying match for the 2008 European Championship had been scheduled for Sept. 2 at Moldova. The Greeks also were supposed to play an international friendly at England on Aug. 16

`Lady`Ballack` · 07-04-2006, 06:42 PM

This year's World Cup is still waiting for its first hat-trick.

And if it doesn't come in the next four games, the 2006 tournament in Germany will be the first World Cup to go without one.
There have been 60 games and 138 goals scored so far in Germany. Miroslav Klose has twice come close to getting a hat-trick in this year's tournament, scoring two goals in Germany's opening match against Costa Rica, and then getting two more against Ecuador.
Klose scored three against Saudi Arabia at the last World Cup in South Korea and Japan.
The last player to score three goals in a World Cup match was Pauleta, who had a hat-trick in Portugal's 4-0 win over Poland at the last World Cup. The first World Cup hat-trick came from Bert Patenaude, who scored his goals in a 3-0 win over Paraguay on July 17, 1930. The most hat-tricks at a single World Cup came in 1954 in Switzerland when there were seven. The 1938 tournament in France had five.
Two goal scorers: Lukas Podolski of Germany, Italy's Luca Toni, Brazil's Ronaldo, Spain's David Villa and Fernando Torres, Mexico's Omar Bravo, Australia's Tim Cahill, the Czech Republic's Tomas Rocisky, Argentina's Maxi Rodriguez, Poland's Bartosz Bosacki, Costa Rica's Paulo Wanchope and Ivory Coast's Aruna Dindane.

`Lady`Ballack` · 07-04-2006, 07:44 PM

TOTTI OFFERS SYMPATHY TO FRINGS

Germany have had to make late tactical changes ahead of their World Cup semi-final with Italy after FIFA banned midfielder Torsten Frings for throwing a punch at the end of his teamÂ´s win over Argentina.
Just as Francesco Totti was punished at Euro 2004 after TV images captured him spitting in the face of a Danish opponent, FIFA examined television replays after GermanyÂ´s win on penalties over the South Americans in the last eight.
Totti said: "IÂ´m sorry for Frings. He was supposed to mark me but I guess it could be a slight advantage for us that Germany will not have him. Whoever takes his place will nevertheless want to prove his worth."

`Lady`Ballack` · 07-04-2006, 07:46 PM

Fabregas signing by Madrid won't be easy

MADRID, Spain (AP) - Real Madrid will encounter difficulty in persuading Arsenal to trade Cesc Fabregas, the midfielder's agent said Tuesday.

Fabregas reportedly signed an agreement last week to join Madrid if Ramon Calderon won the club's presidential election.
Calderon took charge on Monday and the Spanish powerhouse is expected to make an offer for the 19-year-old Spanish international, who helped Arsenal reach its first Champions League final last season. Arsenal lost 2-1 to FC Barcelona, Fabregas' first club.
However, Fabregas' agent, Joseba Diaz, said Arsenal wouldn't want to offload the player "for all the gold in the world."
"It's not going to be easy. From now on, there will be a lot of negotiating," Diaz was quoted as saying by the Web site of leading sports daily Marca. "What's clear is that Real Madrid has knocked on Cesc's door and Cesc thinks Real Madrid is a great team. He has always said he'd like to return to Spain."
Diaz said he didn't want Arsenal to feel let down by Cesc.
"We've always said we're very grateful to Arsenal. I would never consider stabbing Arsenal in the back," Diaz said.
At 16, Fabregas became Arsenal's youngest first-team player and scorer. Fabregas made his international debut in a March friendly against Ivory Coast.

`Lady`Ballack` · 07-04-2006, 08:16 PM

Manchester United striker Giuseppe Rossi has agreed a two-year contract extension keeping him at Old Trafford until 2010, the English Premier League club said on Tuesday.
"We are delighted that he has signed a new contract. He represents the future of the club," said manager Alex Ferguson.
"Last year he had a remarkable season and he is developing all the time. Giuseppe is a fantastic talent and we see a great future ahead."
Rossi, who was born in the United States but has Italian nationality, joined United from Parma in July 2004.
The 19-year-old has started just six senior games for United but has scored four times and is highly thought of by Ferguson, who regards him as the best natural finisher at the club.
Rossi said: "It is great to have extended my contract with the best team in the world. I just hope to keep progressing and developing my career."
The teenager is likely to be given further opportunities at first-team level by United next season, particularly if Dutch striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy is allowed to leave.

`Lady`Ballack` · 07-04-2006, 08:19 PM

UEFA deadline looms for Italian teams

Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool will know by July 27 at the latest whether Italian representation in next season's Champions League will be severely diminished.
The date is the deadline set by UEFA for football's domestic governing bodies to submit their list of teams for next season's European club competitions.
If the recommendations of Stefano Palazzi, the federal prosecutor at the Italian match-fixing trial, are passed, then Inter Milan may be Italy's sole representatives in the Champions League.
Palazzi sent shockwaves through Italy on Tuesday by asking for reigning Serie A champions Juventus to be relegated to at least Serie C, the equivalent of Coca-Cola League One, and handed a six-point penalty for next season.
He has also suggested the three remaining clubs involved in the scandal - AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio, who finished second, fourth and sixth respectively last season - are demoted to Serie B, with the former docked three points and the latter duo deducted 15.
Milan's billionaire owner and former primer minister Silvio Berlusconi is outraged at Palazzi's requests, insisting Milan are innocent and believing if Juve are found guilty then his side should be awarded the last two Scudettos won by the Turin club.
"Milan have never had refereeing favours, on the contrary, they've been victims of refereeing favours in favour of other clubs," said Berlusconi.
On a dark day for Juve, they also lost the services of manager Fabio Capello, reluctantly accepting his resignation and now a return to Real Madrid is expected to be confirmed within the next 48 hours.
His departure comes as no surprise as it was known he had become increasingly disgruntled with Juve's off-field problems, while new Real president Ramon Calderon had made the appointment of Capello one of the principle elements of his election campaign.
A Juve statement read: "Juventus Football Club has accepted the resignation of Fabio Capello, in accordance with his wishes, and thanks him for the work that he has done."

`Lady`Ballack` · 07-04-2006, 08:21 PM

HSV Decide Against Keeping Ailton
Hamburg have cut loose veteran striker Ailton after much staff deliberation, perhaps clearing the way for a swoop for PSV Eindhoven goal starlet Jefferson FarfÃ¡n.
"We have had many discussions on the subject, but have come to the conclusion that it's time to move in another direction," stated general manager Dietmar Beiersdorfer.
With Naohiro Takahara also flying the coup this summer, HSV will definitely be looking for a new striker.
Fiorentina ace Valeri Bojinov and Cologne prodigy Lukas Podolski have also been mentioned as AOL Arena targets.

`Lady`Ballack` · 07-04-2006, 08:24 PM

Argentines wonder why Messi sat out

BERLIN One big question lingers in Argentina after it was eliminated in the quarterfinals. Why didn't JosÃ© Pekerman play Lionel Messi against Germany?
Messi, the 19-year-old Barcelona striker, scored only one goal in the tournament and did not leave the bench in the quarterfinal. Visibly angry, he declined to speak after the game.
In the 79th minute, having already made two substitutions against Germany, Pekerman made his last as Argentina's coach. He took off HernÃ¡n Crespo and replaced him with another tall striker, Julio Cruz.
"We know Julio is a player who gives us some scoring punch in the area," Pekerman said later. "We needed a player who gave us this option, and Cruz gives us this."
Pekerman's explanation was fuzzy, particularly since Argentina players spoke of needing to beat the taller Germans on the ground, not in the air.
This tournament could have been defined by Esteban Cambiasso's exquisite goal in a 6-0 landslide against Serbia and Montenegro in the first round, coming at the end of a 26-pass sequence. Or Maxi RodrÃ*guez's stunning volley against Mexico in the second round, a ball the right- footed player hammered home with his left for the 2-1 victory in extra time.
Instead, there is the Messi question.
For much of the tournament, Messi had seemed isolated, and the veteran defender Roberto Ayala made an oblique reference to Messi's having to wait his turn to play. Pekerman hinted at it, too, during the team's monthlong training camp.
Argentina chose the 56-year-old Pekerman to succeed Marcelo Bielsa, partly because of his success with Argentine youth teams. He won three World Youth titles, in 1995, 1997 and 2001. Argentina won it again last summer, this time with one of Pekerman's assistants.
Carlos TÃ©vez, the national player of the year in Brazil last season with Corinthians, is only 22. He played the entire quarterfinal, the team's biggest threat against Germany. Ã“scar Ustari, the goalkeeper of the future, is the same age as Messi. Of the 23 players chosen by Pekerman, 17 played on Argentina's championship youth teams.
A few minutes after Argentina lost in the shootout, Pekerman said he would not renew his contract, leaving a job he took almost two years ago.
The new coach will have plenty to work with. He will also face great expectations. Reaching the quarterfinals is not good enough in Argentina.
The two-time champion, currently ranked ninth in the world, has not reached the semifinals of a World Cup since 1990, when it lost by 1-0 to West Germany in the final. In 1986, it defeated West Germany, 3-2, to win its second title. It won the first in 1978.

`Lady`Ballack` · 07-05-2006, 04:53 PM

Fabregas open to Madrid move

Cesc Fabregas' agent has revealed the Arsenal midfielder is open to the possibility of a move to Real Madrid provided the north London club are willing to sell their young playmaker.
New president Ramon Calderon announced that teenage midfielder Fabregas would be heading to the Bernabeu to play a major role in the club's future.
However the 19-year-old remains contracted to Arsenal, and agent Joseba Diaz explained: "We had meetings prior to the elections and there would be no problems on our part, but now they (Madrid) have to go to Arsenal to see what they say."
He added: "We have always expressed our gratitude to Arsenal. I don't think we would ever stab Arsenal in the back and whatever must happen, will happen."
Diaz told www.marca.com: "I don't think Arsenal are a club who wants to let the player go for all the gold in the world."
Calderon has also vowed to sign Chelsea winger Arjen Robben and AC Milan playmaker Kaka.

`Lady`Ballack` · 07-05-2006, 04:56 PM

Germany coach JÃ¼rgen Klinsmann said his side had much to be proud of despite losing a FIFA World Cup semi-final to Italy in Dortmund last night. Goals from Fabio Grosso and Alessandro Del Piero in the final minute of extra time decided a dramatic tie in Italy's favour to end the host nation's dream of reaching Sunday's showpiece in Berlin.
'Character'
"Of course the dissapointment is huge," Klinsmann said. "This team showed character, it made an entire country proud, we can only compliment them. The World Cup was a huge success for the team and all of Germany. We have shown the world a different image of Germany." Italy will now play either France or Portugal, who meet tonight, in the final and Klinsmann added: "I congratulated [Italy coach] Marcello Lippi and wished him good luck for Sunday."
Pride
Germany striker Miroslav Klose said: "I think we can still be proud of this team. We have a lot of young players and I think we have a future. It is very hard to lose to two late goals. Congratulations to the Italians, they made a very good game and in extra time caught us with a classic counterattack."
'Disappointed'
Italy struck the woodwork twice in extra time but Germany too created chances in a match that flowed from end to end. "We are very disappointed. When you are in the semi-final, you want to go all the way," left-back Philipp Lahm added. "We were on par with them, if not better. It is painful to lose the game to two late goals. We didn't lack any freshness. We were still fit, everyone could still run."