The 2008 GOLDEN FOOT edition was presented in Turin earlier this afternoon. During the presentation press conference Alessandro Del Piero, who won the award in 2007, revealed the 10 names of the nominees for the 2008 Golden Foot award, the prestigious international career prize under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco. Here are the ten names of the players chosen by the jury consisting of the event international Media Partners:
1. David Beckham (England),
Date of birth: 02/05/1975
Current club: Los Angeles Galaxy (Usa)
Position: right or central midfielder
HONOURS
English League (1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003)
English Cup (1996, 1999)
UEFA Champions League (1999)
Intercontinental Cup (1999)
Spanish League (2007)
Spanish Super Cup (2003)
English League Young Footballer of the Year (1997)
UEFA Champions League Footballer of the Year (1999)
David BECKHAM PROFILE
Simply the most famous footballer in the world, David Beckham's main attributes are his long-range shooting ability - especially from free-kicks - pin-point accurate crossing from the right. He established himself in the Manchester United FC first team in the 1995/96 English double-winning season and a goal from the halfway line in the first game of the next campaign, at Wimbledon, marked his arrival as a star. Beckham's efforts in the treble-winning team of 1998/99 that lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy won him the second place behind Rivaldo in the voting for FIFA World Player of the Year and European Player of the Year. His coruscating form in 2001 brought another second place in the FIFA poll, behind Luís Figo. In 2003 summer, he joined Real Madrid CF (where he won a Liga title in 2007), then in summer 2007 he transferred to the United States Major League Soccer to play with Los Angeles Galaxy. On March, 26th 2008, Beckham becomes the fifth to win 100 caps with English national team.
2. Gianluigi Buffon (Italy),
Date of birth: 28/01/1978
Current club: Juventus FC (Italy)
Position: goalkeeper
HONOURS
FIFA World Cup (2006)
U21 European Championship (1996)
UEFA Cup (1999)
Italian League (2002, 2003)
Italian Cup (1999)
Italian Supercup (1999, 2002, 2003)
Official Italian Republic's Order of Merit (2006)
IFFHS Best Goalkeeper of the Year (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007)
UEFA Champions League MVP (2003)
UEFA Champions League Goalkeeper of the Year (2003)
Lev Yashin award (2006, best goalkeeper of the World Cup)
Gianluigi BUFFON PROFILE
Gianluigi Buffon is unanimously considered the best goalkeeper in the world, but only after his retirement it will be possible to say if he was, as it seems, one of the strongest ones ever. He seemed immediately predestined to become what he is now: "Gigi" worked his way through the youth ranks at Parma that signed him as a professional player at the age of 17 in 1995, going on to make his Serie A debut for the club against AC Milan that year and winning the UEFA Cup with Parma in 1999. Buffon went on to make 168 appearances for Parma while building a reputation as one of Europe's best young goalkeeping talents and it wasn't long until the major clubs started looking his way. Juventus won the auction for Buffon's services in 2001 and paid Parma a world record fee of over £32m for the 23- year- old goalie. Personal prizes such as UEFA's Most Valuable Player Award and Best Goalkeeper Awards have continued to add to Buffon's trophy cabinet alongside notable club and international successes as the Scudetto (Italian national title) with Juventus and a World Cup victory with Italy in 2006. The Calciopoli (match-fixing) scandal which saw Juventus relegated to Serie B did not scare Buffon away from the club and he duly helped his club to the Serie B title in 2006/2007 as they battled their way back to Serie A in only one season. Buffon's international career began at the age of 19 when he replaced injured Gianluca Pagliuca between the goalposts but it was to be a few years before he made the position his own. Buffon's greatest career triumph has to be the 2006 World Cup during which he kept a 453-minute scoreless streak as he helped Italy to propel towards the World Cup glory.
3. Fabio Cannavaro (Italy),
Date of birth: 13/9/1973
Current club: Real Madrid CF (Spain)
Position: central defender
HONOURS
FIFA World Cup (2006)
U-21 European Championship (1994, 1996)
UEFA Cup (1999)
Italian Cup (1999)
Italian Supercup (1999)
Spanish League (2007, 2008)
European Footballer of the Year (2006)
FIFA World Player of the Year (2006)
FIFPRO Footballer of the Year (2006)
Italian Serie A Footballer of the Year (2006)
Fabio CANNAVARO PROFILE
The captain of the Italian national team, 2006 world champions, is one of the best defenders in the world. A SSC Napoli youth product, he made his Serie A debut when he was 20 and became a regular in the blue of his boyhood club in 1993/94. Departing for Parma FC in 1995/96, Cannavaro won the UEFA Cup and two Italian Cups during a seven-year spell. Internazionale FC paid €23m for him in 2002 but after two seasons he made a surprise move to Juventus FC in August 2004. In a typically imperious form in Turin, he was ever-present as Juventus won the title two years in a row but those triumphs were wiped out by a match-fixing scandal. With Juventus relegated Cannavaro joined Real Madrid CF in the summer of 2006, signing a three-year contract. Cannavaro made his full Italy debut against Northern Ireland in January 1997, subsequently emerging as a mainstay at international level alongside another great Italian defender, Alessandro Nesta. He starred at the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship 2000 where he played in the final loss to France. Captain and ever-present in qualifying for UEFA Euro 2004, Cannavaro played twice in Portugal, but enjoyed his crowning glory two years later, lifting the World Cup trophy as Italy defeated France on his 100th appearance. Thanks to this great victory, in 2006 he was elected European Footballer of the Year (voted by journalists), FIFA World Player of the Year (voted by coaches and captains of national teams) and FIFPRO Footballer of the Year (voted by his colleagues).
4. Luís Figo (Portugal),
Date of birth: 04/11/1972
Current club: Internazionale FC (Italy)
Position: right or left midfielder
HONOURS
UEFA Champions League (2002)
Intercontinental Cup (2002)
UEFA Cup Winners Cup (1997)
European Supercup (1998, 2002)
U-16 FIFA World Cup (1989)
U-20 FIFA World Cup (1991)
Spanish Supercup (1996, 2003)
Spanish Cup (1997, 1998)
Spanish League (1998, 1999, 2001, 2003)
Italian League (2007, 2008)
Italian Cup (2006)
European Footballer of the Year (2000)
FIFA World Player of the Year (2001)
Portuguese Footballer of the Year (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002)
Luis FIGO PROFILE
A teenager of outrageous talent and now one of the game's premier wide midfield players, Luís Figo relishes teasing defenders with his trickery and dribbling ability. The leader of the Portuguese "golden generation", Figo won a FIFA World Youth Championship in 1991, the same year he made his debut for Portugal in a game against Luxembourg. After joining aged eleven, Figo made his Sporting Clube de Portugal debut when he was 16 in 1989 and went on to make 124 appearances, winning the Portuguese Cup and earning the captaincy before joining FC Barcelona in 1995. It was at Camp Nou that his career took off: Figo won a UEFA European Cup Winners' Cup in 1996/97, back-to-back Primera División titles and went on to appear 172 times for the Azulgrana, scoring 30 goals. In 2000, there was his controversial, world-record transfer to Real Madrid CF. The move caused outrage among Barcelona fans and many others baulked at the €65m transfer fee. Yet Figo justified the investment by helping Madrid to the Primera División title and UEFA Champions League semi-finals as well as winning the FIFA World Footballer of the Year award. In 2001/02, he went one better, playing through injury for an hour of the final against Bayer 04 Leverkusen as Madrid prevailed 2-1. In 2002/03 season, Figo played a major role as Madrid won the Spanish title, scoring ten times in 33 matches. In 2005 he went to Internazionale FC where he won two Italian titles in a row.
5. Ryan Giggs (Wales),
Date of birth: 29/11/1973
Current club: Manchester United FC
Position: left wing/midfielder
HONOURS
UEFA Champions League (1999)
Intercontinental Cup (1999)
European Supercup (1991)
English League Cup (1992, 2006)
English Premier League (1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008)
English FA Cup (1994, 1996, 1999, 2004)
English League Young Footballer of the Year (1992, 1993)
U-21 European Footballer of the Year (1993)
Intercontinental Cup MVP (1999)
Ryan GIGGS PROFILE
Ryan Giggs is one of very few players to have spent their entire career at the same club, he is the most decorated player in the history of Manchester United FC with more than 500 appearances for the club, Welsh winger Ryan Giggs's main strengths are his speed and his ability to manipulate the ball while running at full pace. Giggs is Manchester United's longest-serving current player, having made his first appearance for the club during the 1990-91 season and been a regular player since the 1991-92 season. He has played the highest number of competitive games for the club (more than Sir Bobby Charlton, the previous recordman), and holds the club record of team trophies won by a player (24). As well as being a fine dribbler, Giggs is also a regular goalscorer: it is very famous a magnificent solo score to win the 1999 FA Cup semi-final replay against Arsenal FC, from which point the club went on to secure an unprecedented treble of league, cup and UEFA Champions League, later adding the Intercontinental Cup. He has claimed nine other English titles (his overall tally of ten is a joint English record), two more FA Cups and a League Cup, one more Champions League (2008) and is the only player to win the Professional Footballers Association Young Player of the Year award on two occasions in a row (1992 and 1993). As Welsh international Giggs has been a regular in his side since becoming the youngest player to represent his country aged 17 years and 321 days against Germany in 1991, although he has never played in a final tournament. With his country's shirt, the Welsh Wizard has played 62 games scoring 12 goals.
6. Thierry Henry (France),
Date of birth: 17/8/1977
Current club: FC Barcelona (Spain)
Position: forward
HONOURS
FIFA World Cup (1998)
UEFA European Championship (2000)
FIFA Confederations Cup (2003)
French League (1997)
English FA Cup (2002, 2003, 2005)
English Premier League (2002, 2004)
French Young Footballer of the Year (1997)
French Footballer of the Year (2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006)
English Premier League Top Scorer (2002, 2004, 2005, 2006)
English Premier League Footballer of the Year (2003, 2004, 2006)
FIFA Confederations Cup Top Scorer (2003)
FIFA Confederations Cup MVP (2003)
Thierry HENRY PROFILE
Henry first made his mark with AS Monaco (1993-99), helping them to the French title in 1997 and a UEFA Champions League semi-final in 1998. He joined Juventus FC in January for a significant fee but failed to settle and seven months later Wenger took Henry to Arsenal. Reaching the 2000 UEFA Cup final, Premiership titles followed in 2001/02 and 2003/04, when Henry was the league's leading scorer, a feat he repeated in 2004/05 and 2005/06, he won the ESM Golden Boot award in 2003/04 and 2004/05 and FA Cup winners' medals in 2002, 2003 and 2005. In 2005/06 Henry became Arsenal's all-time leading goalscorer and played in the UEFA Champions League final, a superb campaign ending in a disappointing 2-1 loss to FC Barcelona. In 1998, when he was only 20, with France he finished as his country's leading scorer as they won the FIFA World Cup. Further success followed at UEFA European championship in 2000, when he was again his country's top scorer with three strikes. Scored six goals in seven qualifiers for the European championship in 2004 and then found the net twice against Switzerland to help France to reach the last eight. In the 2006 World Cup he scored three times, including the winner in the quarter-final against Brazil, as Les Bleus finished runners-up.
7. Raúl González Blanco (Spain),
Date of birth: 27/6/1977
Current club: Real Madrid CF (Spain)
Position: forward
HONOURS
UEFA Champions League (1998, 2000, 2002)
Intercontinental Cup (1998, 2002)
European Supercup (2002)
Spanish League (1995, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008)
Spanish Supercup (1997, 2001, 2003)
Uefa Champions League Top Scorer (2000, 2001)
Spanish League Top Scorer (1999, 2001)
European Bronze Boot (1999, 2001)
Best Spanish Footballer (1997)
Intercontinental Cup Best Player (1998)
Champions League Best Forward (2000)
Balón de Plata (2001)
Third Fifa World Player (2001)
IFFHS Best World Scorer (1999)
Best Scorer ever of the Spanish selection
RAUL Gonzalez PROFILE
Raúl is born in Madrid and lives at San Cristobal de los Angeles, a modest area to the south of the city. His father Pedro is an electrician and a great fan of the Club Atlético de Madrid and signs his son to his favourite club. Jesus Gil y Gil, the club's chairman, promises to pay for the 13-year-old kid's studies up to the university, but it never comes true. Even if the Atlético "infantil" (the youth team) wins the Spanish championship with 65 goals by Raúl, the year after the boss decides to dismantle the youth team, and then Real Madrid CF come forward to sign the young champion. Gil reacts offering him a contract as a professional player (he is 15) but the kid does not trust him and leaves. On 29 October 1994 Raúl made his debut with Real Madrid CF, he was only 17 and entered the pitch as a replacement of Emilio Butragueño, one of his youth idols. He is the youngest player making his debut in the history of the club, but it was not one of Real's best periods: the last Champions League won dates back to 1966, and the last national title to 1990. The league title arrives immediately, but they have to wait more to win the Champions League: on 20 May 1998 their "seventh" trophy gets to the museum of the club. The "Blancos" beat by 1 to 0 Juventus FC in Amsterdam, the goal is scored by Mijatovic and Raúl is one of the protagonists of the match. The same happens in 2000, in the final in Paris they win 3-0 over Valencia CF, his is the last goal after a solo that is much applauded, and they lift their eighth Champions League Cup. Figo, Zidane, Ronaldo, Beckham will come later to play alongside Raúl. No one of them, however, overshadows the young player from Madrid. On the pitch his reputation stays the same: he scores in the 2002 Champions League final, his is the first goal of a show ended by Zidane's goal. Beating Bayer 04 Leverkusen by 2 to 1 Real Madrid CF is the new European champion, while in the Liga the titles keep piling up and get to 29 (2003). With a contract expiring in 2010, Raul will be a madridist player for life, but by now he is already a legend of the "casa blanca".
8. Roberto Carlos (Brazil),
Date of birth: 10/4/1973
Current club: Fenerbahçe SK
Position: left defender
HONOURS
FIFA Confederations Cup (1997)
FIFA World Cup (2002)
Copa América (1997, 1999)
UEFA Champions League (1998, 2000, 2002)
Intercontinental Cup (1998, 2002)
European Supercup (2002)
Brazilian Championship (1993, 1994)
Spanish League (1997, 2001, 2003, 2007)
Spanish Supercup (1997, 2003)
ROBERTO CARLOS PROFILE
Roberto Carlos is known for his trademark powerful free kicks. He is also known for his speed and his aggressiveness at joining the offense, often leading counter attacks from the back of the field. He is regarded as one of the best full backs ever. After three seasons with SE Palmeiras, in 1995 he was transferred to Internazionale FC: it was a good season for him and scored 5 goals (as a defender!) in 30 matches. At the end of that season he was transferred to Real Madrid CF, and with this club he has started his titles collection: three Spanish Leagues and three Champions League (competition in which he is one of only five players to have played more than 100 matches in the Champions League as of March 2007) in all. As a Brazilian international, he has been a member of the Brazil national team in three World Cups, helping the team to reach the final in the 1998 edition and to win the 2002 tournament. He finished his career with the Seleção with 125 matches played and 29 goals scored. He finished second to countryman Ronaldo in the 1997 FIFA World Player of the Year award poll and was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004. In 2007 he was transferred to Fenerbahçe SK.
9. Francesco Totti (Italy),
Date of birth: 27/9/1976
Current club: AS Roma (Italy)
Position: forward
HONOURS
FIFA World Cup (2006)
U21 European Championship (1996)
Italian League (2001)
Italian Cup (2007, 2008)
Italian Supercup (2001, 2007)
Italian League Top Scorer (2007)
ESM Golden Boot (2007)
Francesco TOTTI PROFILE
Francesco Totti is one of the most exciting and impressive attacking footballers to emerge in this generation and is widely recognised as AS Roma's talisman having never left the club to play elsewhere. Totti made his first appearance for AS Roma at the age of only 16 and his talent coupled with an eagerness to impress was soon rewarded as he forced himself into a regular place in the first team. His development at the club continued in earnest and he was named Serie A Player of the Year both in 2000 and in 2003. Totti's influence in the squad was one of the major factors that contributed to AS Roma securing the Italian league title at the end of the 2001 season with the young man scoring thirteen goals for his team. Totti's outstanding performances for Roma continued as Totti was moulded into the player and creative genius that we know and love today. Recently, in the 2006-07 season Totti scored an impressive tally of 26 goals securing the trophy for the top goal scorer in the League as well as the European Golden Boot. In international football Totti has played as a regular for the Italian national squad since he first made his senior debut in 2000. Totti was a member of the successful Italian squad that lifted the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He announced his retirement from the national team in July 2007 emphasising that he wishes to concentrate on his domestic football with Roma.
10. David Trezeguet (France).
Date of birth: 15/10/1977
Current club: Juventus FC (Italy)
Position: forward
HONOURS
FIFA World Cup (1998)
UEFA European Championship (2000)
Italian League (2002, 2003)
Italian Supercup (2002, 2003)
Italian League Top Scorer (2002)
French League (1997, 2000)
David TREZEGUET PROFILE
David Trezeguet is one of the best forwards and goal scorers in the world. He is one of the many French players whose origins lay outside France. He was born in France, the son of an Argentine footballer (Jorge Trezeguet), grew up in Argentina and played his first professional games there for CA Platense before joining AS Monaco in 1995. He has been pretty much a first choice ever since the 1998 World Cup win where he played a part in every game except the final. One of his greatest moments so far has been scoring, with French nartional team shirt, the winning extra-time golden goal against Italy in the final of Euro2000, a great striker's finish, swivelling and firing a rocket up into the net. He's much more of a goal poacher than a creator in the Henry mould and his goal scoring record throughout his career has always been excellent, his ratio of goals to games must be around two in every three. He's the type of player who can win a game when the team is not playing well by having the knack of getting on the end of a half chance. Besides winning the World Cup and European Championship you can add two French and two Italian titles won with AS Monaco and with Juventus FC.
Among them, the player who will get most votes on the web site www.goldenfoot.com from May 9th through August 29th, will have the honour of receiving the precious Golden Foot award in the presence of H.S.H. Prince Albert II in the Principality of Monaco on 1 September next. The winner will also leave his footprints on the CHAMPIONS PROMENADE, the Walk of Fame of international football on the seafront of Monaco. (PRESS KIT).
(taken from: here)
[...]
Monday, June 9, 2008
Here Are The Nominees For The 2008 Golden Foot Award
Injuries hit Italy and Holland squads hard
It may be the pick of the early fixtures at Euro 2008, but both Holland and Italy will be limping into tomorrow's Group C showdown in Bern.
Injuries to big names have struck in both camps, with Holland the latest to receive a major blow when it was confirmed that Arjen Robben is out of the match with a groin problem.
'First of all it's very disappointing for Arjen,' said Holland coach Marco van Basten.
'However, it's also a pity for the team, especially as we lost Ryan Babel, also a left winger, already last week.'
Robin van Persie is also expected to miss out despite returning to training while defender Mario Melchiot is rated as doubtful with a groin injury of his own.
Good news has been short in supply from the Dutch treatment room, but Real Madrid's Wesley Sneijder is expected to be fit for the match after problems earlier in the week.
Still, the list of absentees leaves Van Basten short-handed for his team's first test in the so-called 'Group of Death', which also features France and Romania.
Holland can at least take heart from the fact that the Italians have been hit with injury problems of their own, most notably in defence.
The world champions are already without influential captain Fabio Cannavaro, ruled out for the tournament after undergoing surgery on damaged ankle ligaments, and they are now sweating on the fitness of Roma veteran Christian Panucci.
The 35-year-old limped out of training on Friday with a knee injury, but did his best to sound upbeat on Saturday.
'I feel better,' he said. 'Yesterday I felt a pain in my tendon in my knee and having suffered the same problem earlier this year I decided to stop training as a precaution.
'I really don't want to miss the game against Holland, not to be a hero but rather because I believe I'm fine and I think I can recover.'
Italy will feature Alessandro Del Piero after the Juventus star was restored to the national team recently, having been dropped following the World Cup.
However, Serie A's leading scorer could be deployed on the left wing rather than a forward position.
(taken from: here)
[...]
Saturday, June 7, 2008
World Soccer's Top Young Players For 2008
While old school football fans may bemoan the lack of a new Pele or Maradona coming through in every generation of young footballers, we feel that the current crop of young football geniuses strutting their skilful stuff on the world's biggest footballing stages deserve a little praise and recognition. We present About.com's Top Young World Soccer Players for 2008.
1. Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi's growth from the ranks of "prodigious young talent" to "probably the best footballer in the world" has been nothing short of meteoric over the past twelve months or so. Still only twenty years old, Messi has had the extraordinary pressure of being dubbed the latest "new Maradona" but none have so far came as close to deserving the title. Messi, on current form, comes close, damn close.
He may still have to bring World Cup glory back to his native Argentina for the first time since the aforementioned Maradona captained them to victory in Mexico 1986 but his displays for Barcelona where he has taken the mantle of attacking favourite from Ronaldinho and shot himself into top goalscorer position is enough for now.
2. Bojan Krkic
One would think that 961 goals in seven seasons for Barcelona's youth teams would prove to be an unbearable millstone around a young player's neck but not so for the recently capped 17 year old Spanish international Bojan Krkic.
His slight frame gave the Barcelona powers-that-be concern that he may not make the transition to the more physcial aspect of first team professional football but, given his head by Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard this season, Bojan has delivered emphatically and has shown that the goals in first team football are placed in exactly the same spot as he found them 961 times for the youth teams.
Spain's decision to cap Bojan could be one of their best decisions in decades.
3. Giovani Dos Santos
Another young star plucked from his native country at a young age by the eagle eyed scouts from Barcelona's youth academy (spotting a pattern here with the development of the world's best young players?), Giovani, like Bojan, also came from professional footballing stock with his father Zizinho having played professionally in North and South America.
Still only 18 years old himself, Giovani has made the breakthrough into Frank Rijkaard's multi million pound, star studded Barcelona side and been rewarded on the international stage by Mexican coach Hugo Sanchez with his first caps in 2007.
Confident in front of goal and possessing a fantastic left foot, Giovani has a bright future in front of him.
4. Cesc Fabregas
How Barcelona must curse Arsene Wenger and Arsenal for having poached the 16 year old Cesc Fabregas from under their noses when they had laid the groundwork for his football development at their world renowned youth academy (yes folks, the fourth player out of five to learn his trade at Barcelona!)
Whether Fabregas would have received so much gametime in the Barcelona centre midfield as he has over the past four years at Arsenal is debatable and Wenger's confidence in the young playmaker's abilities has seen him flourish into a seasoned Premier League and European campaigner while still only twenty years old.
In no hurry to rush back to Spain, Fabregas could be wowing English crowds for many years to come.
5. Alexandre Pato
AC Milan could hardly wait for January 2008 when they were finally allowed, under Italian laws on non-EU young footballers, to elevate young Brazilian forward Pato into their first team as coach Carlo Ancelotti fought desperately to save his job.
A goal on his debut against Napoli was the exact response the Milan hierarchy were looking for and a new Brazilian star was born in Milan. His international team-mate Ronaldinho had already heaped on the pressure by pointing to Pato as the young Brazilian most likely to make the grade at the very top level and with a $22m price tag on his head it would be understandable if the 18 year old faltered. He hasn't and already looks like one of world football's most exciting young talents.
(taken from: here)
[...]
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
France's Vieira sets Euro 2008 injury deadline
France captain Patrick Vieira has given himself until the end of the week to prove his fitness for this summer's European Championships, which begin on Saturday.
The Internazionale midfielder has been ruled out of France's opening Group C match, against Romania in Zurich on Monday, with a left thigh injury.
He was expected to be fit for Les Bleus' final two group games but, given his nagging injury problems this season, some are predicting his tournament could be over before it has even started.
Vieira, who revealed he has a 'little tear' in his thigh, knows the next few days will determine whether he has a role to play in this month's showpiece in Austria and Switzerland.
'It is nothing serious, but unfortunately it has happened at a bad time because every day counts now and the tournament is approaching,' the former Arsenal skipper told French television station TF1, prior to Les Bleus' 1-0 friendly win over Colombia in Paris.
'Now, what I have to do is try to recover as quickly as possible.
'If by the end of the week I am not training with the squad, that would mean I will not be participating in the Euros.
'But I am still optimistic.'
Mathieu Flamini, who will play for AC Milan next season, has been called up to train with France's 23-man squad and will come in as a replacement should Vieira be forced out of the tournament.
(taken from: here)
[...]
Italy's Cannavaro has successful ankle surgery
Fabio Cannavaro had a successful operation on Wednesday to mend ankle ligaments he tore in Italy's first Euro 2008 training session.
The defender was ruled out of the tournament after being injured on Monday when he was tackled by team mate Giorgio Chiellini in a training session.
'The surgery lasted little more than half an hour and was perfectly successful,' the Italian soccer federation said in a statement after the Real Madrid player went under the knife at a clinic in Vienna.
Cannavaro, who said he expected to be out for a few months, will stay with the squad in Austria to offer support during the tournament. The federation said UEFA had given the 34-year-old a special accreditation for the finals.
He was replaced in the squad by Alessandro Gamberini although a decision on who will take over as captain has yet to be made.
Italy start their campaign against Netherlands in Berne on Monday before facing Romania and France in a tough Group C.
(taken from: here)
[...]
Monday, June 2, 2008
Ferguson takes stand on Ronaldo
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says the club would rather put Cristiano Ronaldo in the stands than sell him to Real Madrid.
United have threatened to report Real to Fifa over their publicly declared interest in signing Ronaldo.
Ferguson has met the Glazer family, who own the club, and said: "Their attitude is 'To hell with them'.
"They'd sit a player in the stand, I'm telling you, absolutely no doubt about it, just to prove a point."
Ronaldo, 23, is currently with the Portugal squad ahead of Euro 2008 after a season in which he inspired the Old Trafford club to a Premier League and Champions League double.
He has a deal with United, which runs until 2012 but has refused to state publicly that he is to stay with the club.
Real Madrid manager Bernd Schuster has made no secret about his admiration for Ronaldo.
But the Spanish outfit's president Ramon Calderon has defended their conduct, saying recently: "We know they [United] aren't a selling club. It is a problem between player and team."
Ferguson insists that the Glazers are determined to keep their prize asset, even if it means taking a tough line.
And, despite criticism of the Glazers when they took over the club in 2005, Ferguson praised them for the impact they have had at the club.
"They have been good to this club, believe me," he said. "They have been brilliant owners."
(taken from: here)
[...]
Robben, Sneijder score to secure happy send-off to Euro 2008 for Dutch team
Real Madrid teammates Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder scored Sunday to give the Netherlands a 2-0 win over Wales in its send-off game for the European Championship.
With a dash of sheer pace in the 35th minute, Robben picked up a loose ball in midfield, took the square Welsh defense by surprise and coolly slotted the ball under goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey.
Sneijder doubled the score in the 53rd with a curling free kick from 24 meters that sailed in the upper right corner.
It was enough for a rousing goodbye by 50,000 fans on Dutch soil as Oranje heads for Switzerland. It was the last home game for Netherlands goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, who ends his international career after the tournament, and coach Marco van Basten, who moves to Ajax next season.
For some spells, the Dutch produced the famed "Clockwork Orange" play, with cocky moves from Robben and creative midfield passes from Rafael van der Vaart and Sneijder.
"At times, we played very good soccer," said Van Basten.
At times, Robben's confidence bordered on selfishness as he squandered a couple of chances from tight angles while teammates were fully open in the center.
He admitted as much, but was still the standout player of the day.
"I'm ready for it," Robben said. "I have been out for a while and now I'm ready. I feel very fit and very strong."
The Dutch team didn't have to count on center forward Ruud van Nistelrooy, who completes the Madrid creative triangle but had an indifferent game.
"You have to see they were standing with six men around him," Van Basten said of Van Nistelrooy.
The Dutch arrive at their camp in Lausanne on Tuesday and will have Arsenal winger Robin van Persie training with the group for the first time after a prolonged thigh injury. It will open up the offensive options even further.
Despite its physical strength, Wales lacked the fundamental skills to pressure the defense, leaving it unclear how the much-criticized Dutch back four will stand up to the firepower of Italy on June 9.
The Dutch also play France and Romania in Group C, which looks to be the toughest of the four groups.
In three preparation games, though, including a 3-0 win over Ukraine and a 1-1 draw with Denmark, the Dutch defense has conceded a single goal.
In the second half, Van Basten changed half his team. The industrious Dirk Kuyt certainly proved to be a valuable asset for high-pressure matches.
In the first half, Orlando Engelaar again left a good impression as a controlling midfielder, increasing the chances that the FC Twente player, with only five international appearance, will be facing the likes of Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso in a week's time.
-----------
Lineups:
Netherlands: Edwin van der Sar, Andre Ooijer, John Heitinga (Nigel de Jong, 46), Joris Mathijsen (Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, 79), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Tim de Cler, 46), Demy de Zeeuw (Mario Melchiot, 46), Orlando Engelaar (Dirk Kuyt, 46), Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart (Ibrahim Affelay, 66), Arjen Robben, Ruud Van Nistelrooy.
Wales: Wayne Hennessey, Sam Riccketts (Andrew Crofts, 77), Lewin Nyatana, Ashley Williams, Craig Morgan, Chris Gunter, David Edwards (Ched Evans, 56), Carl Robinson (Jack Collison, 46), Jason Koumas (Sam Vokes, 73), Joe Ledley (Neal Eardley, 88), Freddy Eastwood (Craig Bellamy, 56).
(taken from: here)
[...]
Summer transfers: a club-by-club guide
- Arsenal
If Arsène Wenger has an ambitious transfer target, it may be Micah Richards, the Manchester City defender who supported Arsenal as a boy. Yaya Touré, of Barcelona, has been mentioned to replace Mathieu Flamini as the holding midfield player, but when has Wenger resigned a player he released?
Reality check
Wenger is more likely to promote Alexandre Song to third-choice centre back than buy an expensive defender. Samir Nasri, the attacking midfield player, is expected to join from Marseilles for £12.8 million. He follows Francis Coquelin, 17, a midfield player, who joined from Laval on a free transfer. Wenger is monitoring Blaise Matuidi, the St-Etienne midfield player, and has watched Dani Güiza, the Real Mallorca forward, who was top scorer in La Liga last season.
On their way out
Nasri’s arrival indicates that Alexander Hleb will be allowed to leave. Gilberto Silva, 31, the midfield player, has a year left on his contract and could depart.
Preseason matches
July 19: Barnet (a).
July 30: VfB Stuttgart (a).
Aug 2: Juventus (h).
Aug 3: Real Madrid (h).
Aug 6: Huddersfield Town (a).
- Aston Villa
Thierry Henry may get more of a regular game at Villa Park than at the Nou Camp. Joe Hart, Wayne Hennessey, Carlo Cudicini, Jussi Jaaskelainen, Ben Foster – and that’s just the goalkeepers.
Reality check
Steve Sidwell and Shaun Wright-Phillips could be enticed from Chelsea and James Milner could return from Newcastle United. If Foster is not available on loan from Manchester United, Brad Guzan, the United States goalkeeper, is still a target. Villa’s new right back may be Giourkas Seitaridis, of Atlético Madrid, or Hugo Campagnaro, of Sampdoria. Tom Huddlestone and Aaron Lennon, of Tottenham Hotspur, Habib Habibou, of Charleroi, and Peter Crouch, John Arne Riise and Jermaine Pennant, of Liverpool, are also targets.
On their way out
Marlon Harewood is wanted by Stoke City and Fulham while Shaun Maloney could join Sunderland. Olof Mellberg has left for Juventus and Patrik Berger has rejoined Sparta Prague. Gareth Barry?
Preseason matches
July 19-20: Intertoto Cup third qualifying round, first leg.
July 26-27: Second leg: opposition to be confirmed.
- Blackburn Rovers
Would like to break into the top four and the Champions League, and win a cup. First, need to keep Mark Hughes as manager, fending off the apparent attentions of Chelsea.
Reality check
They narrowly missed out on qualification for the Uefa Cup and Intertoto Cup last season, but could reach a Uefa competition if they can improve their consistency and finish higher than seventh in the league.
On their way out
Stéphane Henchoz, Bruno Berner and Peter Enckelman have been released. Maceo Rigters, the striker, is available while André Ooijer, the Holland defender, is frustrated at a lack of a regular first-team place.
Preseason matches
July 25: Benfica.
July 27: Sporting Lisbon (both at Vila Real, St António, Portugal).
Aug 2: Wolves (a).
- Bolton Wanderers
Gary Megson, the manager, will revive his interest in Johan Elmander but is unlikely to be able to match Toulouse’s £16 million asking price for the forward. Sporting Lisbon are asking a similar fee for Miguel Veloso, the midfield player.
Reality check
Zoltan Gera, the West Bromwich Albion midfield player, is considering an offer from the club after becoming a free agent while Brian Howard, the Barnsley midfield player rated at £4 million, ranks high on Megson’s list of targets.
On their way out
El-Hadji Diouf is attracting interest from Marseilles and Manchester City and will be allowed to follow Iván Campo, Stelios Giannakopoulos and Andranik Teymourian out of the club if an offer of about £3 million is made for the Senegal player.
Preseason matches
July 25: Rochdale (a).
July 29: Tranmere Rovers (a).
Aug 1: Doncaster Rovers (a).
- Chelsea
Roman Abramovich sees the light and José Mourinho has a last-minute change of heart and returns to Stamford Bridge, followed by Kaká, Lionel Messi and Fernando Torres.
Reality check
There is about £50 million for the new manager to spend. David Villa, the Valencia forward, is keen to move to London and Rafael van der Vaart, Karim Benzema, Dimitar Berbatov and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have been linked with the club.
On their way out
Paris Saint-Germain are interested in signing Claude Makelele. Didier Drogba, Andriy Shevchenko, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Steve Sidwell are expected to leave and there are question marks over the futures of Frank Lampard, Ricardo Carvalho, Nicolas Anelka, Florent Malouda, Tal Ben-Haim, Claudio Pizarro and Juliano Belletti.
Preseason matches
July 23: Guangzhou Pharmaceutical (a).
July 29: Malaysian XI (Kuala Lumpur).
- Everton
The main priority of David Moyes, the manager, is to bring in a creative midfield player. Xabi Alonso would fit the bill perfectly but the prospect of the £16 million-rated Spaniard moving across the city is just about nil.
Reality check
Moyes has watched Michael Bradley, the United States midfield player who plies his trade in the Netherlands for Heerenveen, on numerous occasions and is also keen to bring Michael Johnson, the Manchester City midfield player, to Goodison Park.
On their way out
Thomas Gravesen has already returned to Celtic after his loan stint at Goodison while Moyes is also keen to offload Andy van der Meyde, the Dutch midfield player, who has a year left on his contract.
Preseason matches
July 19: Cambridge United (a).
July 22: Preston North End (a).
July 25: Nottingham Forest (a).
July 30: Chicago Fire (a).
Aug 3: Colorado Rapids (a).
- Fulham
Louis Saha returns to Craven Cottage from Manchester United, Steve Finnan comes back from Liverpool and brings Harry Kewell with him, George Boateng follows Mark Schwarzer from Middlesbrough on a free transfer and West Ham United cut their losses and return Luis Boa Morte to sender.
Reality check
Some obscure Scandinavian players who turn out to be half-decent and Marlon Harewood – if Roy Hodgson can convince the Aston Villa striker to swap the West Midlands for West London.
On their way out
Ten players have been released, while Kasey Keller, the goalkeeper, Chris Baird, Moritz Volz, Gabriel Zakuani, Dejan Stefanovic, the defenders, Steven Davis, Lee Cook, Alexei Smertin, the midfield players, and Diomansy Kamara, Seol Ki Hyeon, Collins John and Hameur Bouazza, the forwards, are all available.
Preseason matches
July 19: Celtic (h).
July 23: FC Seoul (a).
July 26: Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i FC (a).
Aug 2: Birmingham City (a).
- Hull City
None at all, really. Probably still surprised to be members of the most exclusive club in the world. Survival would be a memorable achievement, on a par with gaining promotion.
Reality check
A season of struggle lies ahead for Phil Brown, the manager, and his players, but they are unlikely to be as poor as Derby County. No one can be that bad again, surely.
On their way out
Brown should get one more campaign out of Dean Windass, the veteran striker, but the future of Craig Fagan is unclear. The forward spent the last three months of last season on loan from Derby. Mark Tyler and Simon Walton will leave.
Preseason matches
To be arranged.
- Liverpool
Rafael BenÍtez, the manager, wants to bring in a world-class striker to complement Fernando Torres, who enjoyed an outstanding first season in the Premier League. Dimitar Berbatov, of Tottenham Hotspur, is likely to favour Manchester United ahead of Anfield.
Reality check
Having angered Martin O’Neill, the Aston Villa manager, by making public his admiration of Gareth Barry, the England midfield player, BenÍtez can expect to seal Barry’s signature before the start of the new season.
On their way out
Juventus have not been put off by the £16 million price tag for Xabi Alonso, while Peter Crouch, the forward, is moving closer to completing a move to Portsmouth. John Arne Riise, Jermaine Pennant and Scott Carson are also likely to be surplus to requirements.
Preseason matches
July 26: Rangers (a – tbc).
July 30: Villarreal (a).
- Manchester City
Until Ronaldinho moves somewhere else, Thaksin Shinawatra, the owner, will hope to lure the Barcelona player and would also like to sign another Brazilian, Jô, from CSKA Moscow.
Reality check
All depends on who is in charge, but City could end up looking at the likes of Tal Ben-Haim, Steve Sidwell and Claudio Pizarro, of Chelsea, or El-Hadji Diouf, of Bolton Wanderers.
On their way out
Micah Richards, Joe Hart and Michael Johnson are all likely to be sought after, while Richard Dunne is definitely leaving along with a host of fringe players such as Sun Jihai, Emile Mpenza, Andreas Isaksson and Georgios Samaras.
Preseason matches
July 17 and 31: Uefa Cup first qualifying round.
- Manchester United
Micah Richards, the Manchester City defender, may prove an optimistic target, with City loath to sell to their great rivals. Prising Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham Hotspur may also be a costly exercise.
Reality check
Aaron Ramsey, the Cardiff City midfield player, could arrive as “one for the future”, but Daniel Alves, the Seville defender, and his teammate, LuÍs Fabiano, the forward, are top targets, despite expensive price tags.
On their way out
Bordeaux are ready to sign Mikaël Silvestre, the defender, while Louis Saha, the forward, is expected to go. Fringe players such as Chris Eagles and Jonny Evans are likely to follow Gerard Piqué, who has returned to Barcelona, out of the club.
Preseason matches
July 12: Aberdeen (a).
July 19: Kaizer Chiefs (Cape Town).
July 22: Orlando Pirates (Durban).
July 26: Winners of Kaizer Chiefs v Orlando Pirates (Pretoria).
Aug 2: Espanyol (h).
Aug 10: FA Community Shield: Portsmouth (Wembley).
- Middlesbrough
Wage restraint is a theme at the Riverside Stadium, so ambitious targets such as Steve Sidwell, of Chelsea, may not materialise, but the club are focusing on the team ethic rather than hiring illustrious names for the sake of it.
Reality check
Should Gary O’Neil be sold, James Milner, of Newcastle United, will be targeted, while Zoltan Gera, of West Bromwich Albion, is available on a free transfer. Midfield is the priority.
On their way out
Mark Schwarzer, the long-serving goalkeeper, has joined Fulham, while Gaizka Mendieta, Fabio Rochemback and Lee Dong Gook have been released. George Boateng has been told he can leave, while O’Neil is unsettled on Teesside.
Preseason matches
July 18: York City (a).
July 22: Celtic (Algarve Stadium).
July 24: Vitória Guimarães (Algarve Stadium).
July 29: Carlisle United (a).
Aug 2: Hibernian (a).
Aug 5: Darlington (a).
- Newcastle United
As always, high. Kevin Keegan wants three or four players to “light the place up”, but expenditure is likely to be limited to £20 million and directors are determined to reduce the wage bill. That rules out any nonsense regarding Thierry Henry.
Reality check
The manager fancies the proven experience of Richard Dunne, of Manchester City, and John Arne Riise, of Liverpool, but Newcastle cannot offer European football and face stiff competition. Dennis Wise’s scouting team are keen to sign young foreign players with a potential sell-on value.
On their way out
Stephen Carr, James Troisi, Lamine Diatta and Peter Ramage have been released. Emre Belözoglu has joined Fenerbahçe, Shola Ameobi is expected to leave and Charles N’Zogbia may follow.
Preseason matches
Aug 9: Valencia (h).
- Portsmouth
Harry Redknapp has denied that there has been any contact with Liverpool about Peter Crouch, but the manager has admitted that Richard Dunne, of Manchester City, is a target. But so are Shaun Wright-Phillips and Wayne Bridge, of Chelsea, Sidney Govou, of Lyons, John Mensah, of Rennes. And Crouch, of course.
Reality check
Younès Kaboul has not impressed at Tottenham Hotspur but is a long-time target for Redknapp. Nathan Dyer (Southampton), Danny Haynes (Ipswich Town), Jonás Gutiérrez (Real Mallorca), Edu (Valencia) and Achille Emana (Toulouse) are also on his list. Reports in Israel suggest that Ben Sahar, the Chelsea and Israel forward, will spend the season on loan at Fratton Park.
On their way out
Redknapp does not have to sell, but David Nugent is surplus to requirements. Sean Davis may look elsewhere for first-team chances.
Preseason matches
July 16: Exeter City (a).
July 18: Swindon Town (a).
July 21 or 22: Bournemouth (a).
July 23 or 24: Manchester United (National Stadium, Abuja, Nigeria).
Aug 10: FA Community Shield, Manchester United (Wembley).
- Stoke City
Kevin Phillips, out of contract at West Bromwich Albion, and Marlon Harewood, a £4 million substitute at Aston Villa, would constitute a reasonable front pairing for a newly promoted club. Middlesbrough want to keep Chris Riggott.
Reality check
Jay Bothroyd is available from Wolverhampton Wanderers after finishing last season on loan with Stoke. Guirane Ndaw, a midfield player with Sochaux, is also on Tony Pulis’s radar.
On their way out
Marlon Broomes, Russell Hoult and Dominic Matteo have been released, while the loan signings that Pulis made late last season, Stephen Pearson and Shola Ameobi, may have served their purpose in bringing the best out of other players in the squad.
Preseason matches
July 18: Newcastle Town (a).
July 29: Notts County (a).
Aug 2: Shrewsbury Town (a).
- Sunderland
Roy Keane has talked about needing £50 million, but he wants quality ahead of stellar individuals. Persuading Sir Alex Ferguson to sell Jonny Evans, the Manchester United defender, would be regarded as a coup.
Reality check
Stephen Hunt, of Reading, and Julio Arca, of Middlesbrough, are realistic possibilities and the calibre of player Sunderland hope to attract now they have proved themselves in the top flight. Finding a nimble partner for Kenwyne Jones would help.
On their way out
Only Craig Gordon and Jones are “untouchable”, Keane says, and departures are expected to reach double figures. Ian Harte, Stanislav Varga, Stephen Wright and Andrew Cole have been released.
Preseason matches
July 20: Sporting Lisbon (a).
July 23: Vitória Setúbal (a).
July 30: Nottingham Forest (a).
Aug 3: Ajax (h).
Aug 7: Athlone Town (a).
Aug 9: Shamrock Rovers (a).
- Tottenham Hotspur
Flirting with big-name players has frequently ended in failure, so perhaps it was wise of Gustavo Poyet, the first-team coach, to dampen speculation of a move for Samuel Eto’o. That has not stopped the club being linked with several top players in Spain. David Bentley, the Blackburn Rovers winger, would be expensive to purchase.
Reality check
If Barcelona let Giovani dos Santos move to White Hart Lane, how good can the attacking midfield player be? The search for a left winger continues, with Adam Johnson, of Middlesbrough, and Diego Capel, of Seville, mentioned. Richard Dunne, the Manchester City defender, could follow the arrival of Luka Modric and John Bostock.
On their way out
Lee Young Pyo should be the first of many to leave. He is likely to return to PSV Eindhoven, but Ricardo Rocha’s salary could be a stumbling block to the defender’s return to Benfica. Few takers so far for Benoît Assou-Ekotto, Darren Bent or Younès Kaboul.
Preseason matches
July 28: Norwich City (a).
July 30: Leyton Orient (a).
Aug 1: Celtic (Rotterdam),
Aug 3: Borussia Dortmund (Rotterdam).
- West Bromwich Albion
Keeping Kevin Phillips and Zoltan Gera is high on the fans’ wish list. Seyi Olofinjana, of Wolverhampton Wanderers, is a target while Alexandre Song, Arsenal’s Cameroon midfield player, may join on a season’s loan.
Reality check
Paul McShane could return after a disappointing time with Sunderland. Several loan players are staying on: Roman Bednar (Heart of Midlothian, £2.5 million after loan), Luke Moore (Aston Villa, £3 million), Kim Do Heon (Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, £550,000) and Michal Danek (Viktoria Plzen, loan extended).
On their way out
Bostjan Cesar (Marseilles, after loan), Luke Steele (Barnsley, free). Gera and Phillips look set to chase a pound.
Preseason matches
July 22: Shrewsbury Town (a).
July 23: Cheltenham Town (a).
July 26: Ipswich Town (a).
July 29: Northampton Town (a).
Aug 1: Hereford United (a).
Aug 5: Walsall (a).
- West Ham United
Ambitions do not extend much farther than a couple of full backs and some young players. Marco Zambelli, the Brescia right back, may be too expensive, but Dean Ashton should sign a new contract this week.
Reality check
So far, the targets seem to be escaping. Davide Lanzafame, the forward, has moved to Palermo from Juventus, Richard Dunne, the Manchester City defender, is wanted by Tottenham Hotspur and there has been no move for Nicky Shorey, of Reading.
On their way out
Nolberto Solano is unlikely to be offered a new contract, despite being one of the most creative players last season. Available for transfer are Nigel Quashie, Danny Gabbidon, John Pantsil, Carlton Cole, James Collins, Calum Davenport, Lee Bowyer, Luis Boa Morte, Richard Wright, Fredrik Ljungberg and Anton Ferdinand.
Preseason matches
July 20: Columbus Crew (a).
July 24: MLS All-Star team (Toronto).
Aug 1: Southampton (a).
- Wigan Athletic
Steady progress has been made since Steve Bruce arrived at the JJB Stadium and the team could push for an Intertoto Cup place. Mid-table would be creditable.
Reality check
Probably be scrambling around near the foot of the table for most of the campaign, although they should be good enough to stay out of the bottom three. Like last season, should survive with a few games to spare.
On their way out
Josip Skoko, Salomon Olembe, Julius Aghahowa, Peter Moore and Russell Saunders have been released. Futures of Henri Camara, Andreas Granqvist, Carlo Nash and David Cotterill to be clarified.
Preseason matches
July 19: FC St Veit (a).
July 22: Eintracht Frankfurt (Austria).
July 25: Hannover 96 (Austria).
July 29: Barnsley (a).
Aug 2: Sheffield Wednesday (a).
Aug 5: Hibernian (a).
Aug 10: Utrecht (a).
(taken from: here) [...]
Brian Barwick dances to the tune of Sepp Blatter
Sepp Blatter, the president of Fifa, behaves like a man who thinks he runs the world, and with acolytes such as Brian Barwick, the chief executive of the FA, at his feet, is it any wonder?
Barwick was representing English football at Fifa’s congress in Sydney last week, when Blatter’s proposal that only five foreign players should be allowed in each team was put to the vote. Six plus five, as the concept is known, would be ruinous for English football. There is no guarantee that it would increase the standard of the national team and it would weaken the power of English clubs in Europe.
Yet, as predicted, as far as the lick-spittle FA is concerned, anything Blatter says goes until the hustling for the right to host the 2018 World Cup finals is over. Blatter could lead a call to invade Poland and we would be first across the border. Faced with having to stand against the Fifa president, Barwick’s nerve went. He joined the ranks in favour of exploring the proposal, helping to deliver the landslide victory that Blatter’s ego hardly needs.
Later, as Barwick sought to justify this squalid little sell-out, he should have been thrown top hat, tails and a cane so he could have tap-danced properly. He voted in favour only to explore the legality of the plan under European Union law. Bringing through more high-quality players was a priority for the FA. Beyond that, it was committed to meritocracy.
What rot. Since the 2018 World Cup bid was announced, all that has been heard from Soho Square is the squeal of realpolitik. Everything is geared to one month in the summer a decade from now and if that means selling the domestic game down the river, so be it. There is no need to debate the legality of Blatter’s plan under EU labour laws; it is illegal, simple as that. As for high-quality players, there is no guarantee that this scheme would do anything to raise standards. The best English players would become vastly overpriced and corralled within the elite, the smaller clubs would be left with the herd and standards would fall.
In the days when Uefa insisted on quotas of home-nationality players in European competition, Manchester United were forced to field teams that were no longer subject to meritocracy when playing in the Champions League. On November 2, 1994, United took on Barcelona at the Nou Camp and to make his numbers work Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager, selected Wigan-born Gary Walsh in goal, ahead of Peter Schmeichel. Did this instantly make Walsh a higher-quality player, fitting in with present FA logic? No, it made him an unqualified impostor and Barcelona won 4-0. Walsh’s ability was not improved by getting a chance he did not deserve and he played out a mediocre career, frequently as an understudy, at Bradford City, Middlesbrough and Wigan Athletic.
The numbers of foreign players in the English game is a problem, but not an insurmountable one. As salaries and transfer fees rise, clubs are increasingly focused on young talent, even if some are looking to cast the net to Ouagadougou as much as Watford. This is boom time for the international contingent in the Barclays Premier League, from 11 nonBritish or Irish players in the year it was formed to more than 250 in 2007, but there will be a better balance, given time.
The Scottish league went the same way, reached tipping point with inflated wages paid to average imports and adjusted. English football can travel the same path, without the dead hand of Blatter to steer the way.
Barwick will no doubt claim privately that he had no choice but to back the president because to do otherwise would have scuppered the World Cup bid, but if those are the choices, better not to continue than an existence spent grovelling to Fifa. The present dalliance with Jack Warner, the Fifa vice-president, in Trinidad is odious enough. Barwick may also claim that a vote against would have mattered little, with Blatter’s proposal going through on a majority of 155-5, but that is not the full story. There were 40 abstentions, so 45 nations failed to back the president, a not insignificant number, and a braver man than Barwick would have been among them.
Like many of Michel Platini’s actions at Uefa, the heightened resolve of Fifa to introduce a quota system smacks of score-settling. Fifa felt slighted that the Premier League’s idea for a 39th game to be played abroad had been revealed without proper consultation. Warner said as much at the weekend. He did not think it a bad plan but whined that Richard Scudamore, the Premier League chief executive, should have talked it through with Fifa and Uefa first. In other words, cut the boys in on it, sort them out, grease and toady and tug your forelock to these jumped up little twerps that presume they operate for the good of the game.
We know what type of allies Fifa likes: the Club World Championship has just been transferred to that hotbed of football excellence, the United Arab Emirates, in 2009 and 2010. After that it will revert to Japan until 2012. And to think that some cynics claim that it is all only about money these days.
Thanks to Barwick, Fifa knows that it has English football dancing on a string. It took the Premier League 16 years to be established as the strongest in the world and the FA could yet cede that for the bounty of a month-long jamboree. This is not realpolitik. This is just real dumb.
Spurred elsewhere
“Like everything else in this miserable game, it comes down to pounds, shillings and pence,” Simon Jordan, the Crystal Palace chairman, said of John Bostock’s move to Tottenham Hotspur. “Surely it should be what is best for a 16-year-old and where he is most likely to play.”
It is always a surprise when successful businessmen, whose wealth is driven by market forces and the bottom line, wish others, such as Bostock’s father, to operate by a different set of rules. Jordan’s argument also presumes that the best place for a teenage prodigy to develop is at Selhurst Park because he will get more first-team games, and that is wrong.
Bostock is 16. He is a learner, a novice, albeit a phenomenally talented one, and at this stage the only concern should be where his abilities will be better schooled. The options are with Neil Warnock, a good club manager but offering a single season of top-flight experience ending in relegation, or Juande Ramos, twice a winner of the Uefa Cup at Seville, a trophy winner in his first season in England and widely regarded as one of the foremost developers of young players in Europe. It is not only money that makes it sensible to sign for Tottenham, then.
Beckham mystery tour
David Beckham, the most famous footballer on the planet, captained England in last night’s match away to Trinidad & Tobago, played purely to sweeten Jack Warner, a Fifa powerbroker, and encourage favour for the 2018 World Cup finals bid. Yet Beckham made his position clear when he resigned the captaincy in 2006, so his selection is a mystery. Fabio Capello says that he does not do PR stunts; but, like Carlsberg, if he did, they would probably be the best PR stunts in the world.
Private protesters
Sir Alex Ferguson claims that the attitude of the Glazer family to Cristiano Ronaldo’s proposed move to Real Madrid is that they would rather sit him in the stands every week than sell. It would be some statement and could only be made by a club in private control. No plc would be so bold.
Reluctant billionaires
The Formula One consortium that owns Queens Park Rangers contains some of sport’s richest men, we are regularly told. Among them, it is now rumoured, is Vijay Mallya, described, like the rest, as a free-spending billionaire. The trouble is, from the somewhat earthbound appointment of Iain Dowie onwards, there remains little sign of any of them wanting to spend very freely at Loftus Road. Roman Abramovich: now that is what you call a free-spending billionaire.
Community spirited
Sunil Galati, the president of the United States Soccer Federation, says that he would welcome the Community Shield match, the traditional curtain-raiser to the English season, being played in his country. Not a bad idea. After all, who over here cares about it?
Clarke conundrum
Henk ten Cate has gone and Steve Clarke, the other assistant coach to Avram Grant at Chelsea, is said to be next. Big difference. Ten Cate was always about the show, a big, tough guy to take on the players in the way Grant would not. At any properly functioning club he would have been surplus to requirements. But Clarke?
He is the sort of figure who is indispensable for a new manager, particularly one coming from abroad; a man who knows the club, their traditions, their uniqueness. Arsène Wenger spotted a man such as that in Pat Rice at Arsenal; for the same reason, Gustavo Poyet has been vital to Juande Ramos at Tottenham Hotspur.
Clarke was not brought in by José Mourinho. Already a youth-team coach, he was quickly promoted as someone capable of giving the new manager insight into what made Chelsea tick. It is a commonsense strategy for any manager entering an alien world; common sense, however, is in short supply at Stamford Bridge these days.
Saints preserve us
By any reckoning, the management career of Jan Poortvliet, the new Southampton manager, has been unexceptional. Its highlight was winning promotion from the Eerste Divisie, Holland’s equivalent of the Coca-Cola Championship, with Den Bosch in 2001. His previous employers, Helmond Sport, finished seventh in the Eerste Divisie this season. The stadium capacity is 4,100.
He must have something going for him, though, because Southampton’s new executive team of Michael Wilde and Rupert Lowe have made him their first appointment. “We need to adopt a European-style coaching system with the object of linking the academy to the first team,” Wilde said. Translation? We’ll be selling our best players, trying to stay in the division with kids and there is not an English manager of any substance who would go for it.
(taken from: here)
[...]
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Injury rules Babel out of Euros
Netherlands winger Ryan Babel will play no part in the Euro 2008 championship after he tore ankle ligaments in training on Saturday.
The 21-year-old Liverpool star had been expected to play some part of the team's final warm-up match against Wales in Rotterdam on Sunday.
And he was set to be a key part of Marco van Basten's squad for the tournament in Austria and Switzerland.
Van Basten has called up defender Khalid Boulahrouz as a replacement.
The Netherlands are in Group C along with France, Italy and Romania for Euro 2008, which kicks off on 7 June.
Van Basten also has a concern over the fitness of Arsenal striker Robin van Persie, who has been on the sidelines since joining the squad last week.
However, Van Persie is optimistic about making his side's opener against world champions Italy on 9 June.
"I am in the final phase of my recovery. I feel fit," Van Persie told NOS network.
(taken from : here)
[...]
Chelsea refused Ancelotti talks
AC Milan have rejected an approach from Chelsea for permission to talk to coach Carlo Ancelotti about the vacant manager's position at Stamford Bridge.
The Premier League and Champions League runners-up began their search for a new boss after sacking Avram Grant.
"(Chelsea) asked for our permission and naturally everything stopped there," Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani told the Serie A club's website.
"He and another Italian coach were at the top of Chelsea's list."
Chelsea sacked Grant on 24 May - three days after losing to Manchester United in the Champions League final - and also terminated the contract of assistant first-team coach Henk ten Cate five days later.
BBC Sport understands the other Italian coach to be Roberto Mancini, who was dismissed by Inter Milan this week despite leading the club to three successive Serie A titles.
It is also thought Blackburn's Mark Hughes and Portugal's Luis Felipe Scolari are among those on Chelsea's shortlist.
Ancelotti, 48, joined Milan from Juventus in 2001 and has since won Serie A once (2004) and the Champions League twice (2003, 2007).
As a player, Ancelotti helped the Rossoneri to two Serie A and two Champions League titles and he is one of five men to have won the Champions League as both a player and a coach.
In 2007, he signed two-year contract extension to keep him at Milan until 2010.
Galliani added: "The fact that our coach is sought after and esteemed pleases me a lot but Carlo Ancelotti will remain Milan's coach."
(taken from : here)
[...]
Beckham is captain again for England
David Beckham was designated as captain for England’s game against Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday, an honor for the midfielder whose international career appeared over after the World Cup.
This will be the first time Beckham has captained the team while playing for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Fabio Capello announced the move Saturday and has now chosen four different captains in his four games since becoming coach. The exhibition game Sunday will be Beckham’s 102nd appearance for England.
A permanent captain will not be appointed until England’s 2010 World Cup qualifiers in September against Andorra and Croatia. Capello said Beckham is a candidate.
“Never say never,” the coach said. “This is a new moment for the England team.”
Capello’s other three captains were Steven Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand and John Terry. Terry wore the armband for Wednesday’s 2-0 victory over the United States at Wembley, where Beckham played the first half.
Beckham already has led his country 57 times. The last time he captained England was at the 2006 World Cup, where the team lost in the quarterfinals to Portugal after a penalty-kick shootout.
His international career appeared done at 94 appearances when coach Steve McClaren dropped the star, who was then with Real Madrid. But Beckham helped Madrid win the Spanish league title and McClaren changed his mind.
England failed to qualify for the European Championship, which starts June 7 in Austria and Switzerland, and Capello has had only exhibitions since he took over in January.
“Tomorrow will be very important for me because it’s the last game away from home,” Capello said. “I want to know if some players have the confidence away from England.”
(taken from : here)
[...]
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Gerrard wants Barry at Liverpool
Steven Gerrard has said he is "desperate" for Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry to join him at Liverpool.
Barry, who is expected to lead England against Trinidad & Tobago on Sunday, will talk about his future after he returns from international duty.
"I want Gareth Barry to become a Liverpool player. I am desperate for us to sign him," said Gerrard.
"He's a good player. I want Liverpool to be as strong as possible and Gareth Barry will certainly make us stronger."
Gerrard's comments are likely to rile Villa manager Martin O'Neill who has already criticised Liverpool's handling of the situation.
O'Neill is determined to keep hold of his captain and earlier this month claimed Liverpool's £10m cash plus player bid undervalued the midfielder.
But Gerrard, a good friend of the 27-year-old, believed Barry, who has two years remaining on his contract, needed to play Champions League football.
"Gareth Barry is someone who will improve Liverpool. We can't be disrespectful to Villa. He is still their player and we will see what happens," said Gerrard.
"Naturally, they are going to try and keep hold of him, and rightly so because he is one of their star men. He has been a fantastic servant for them over many years.
"I know all about Gareth, I am good friends with him off the pitch and I am desperate for us to sign him.
"You talk about improving the team, the starting XI and the squad, and Gareth will certainly help Liverpool to become a better team.
"It is easy to play with good players. I've been asked a lot of questions this season about Fernando Torres and the simple answer is 'it's easier playing with quality players' - and Gareth comes into that category."
Barry has only ever played for Villa and is due a testimonial, having signed professional forms with the club in February 1998.
Gerrard added: "I am sure Gareth will find it hard to leave Villa. He has been fantastic for them but, in football, sometimes opportunities come along where you can better your career.
"I think Gareth is 27 now and he needs to play Champions League football. In my opinion, he needs that now.
"I've enjoyed playing with him for England. He is quite an easy player to play with. He keeps it simple, he is easy to read and I certainly enjoy playing with him because I've got a good relationship on and off the pitch."
(taken from : here)
[...]
Friday, May 30, 2008
Ferguson outlines plan to retire within three years
Alex Ferguson will retire as manager of Manchester United within the next three years, British media reported on Sunday.
Ferguson, 66, who guided Manchester United to victory in the Champions League final over Chelsea on Wednesday, told newspaper reporters: "I won't be managing here any more than three years at the very, very most. Without question. I can assure you of that."
Ferguson originally hinted that he would retire six years ago but changed his mind and has since gone on to become the most successful manager of all time in English soccer.
Wednesday's success against Chelsea in Moscow earned him his 20th major trophy since he took over at Old Trafford in 1986. In all, he has won 31 trophies, first with Aberdeen and then United.
Ferguson, speaking to Sunday newspaper reporters at Manchester United's Carrington training ground after returning from Moscow, was clear about his intentions.
"I won't be managing at 70, I can assure you of that," he said.
"I won't be managing here any more than three years at the very most and that's without question."
"You have to think about time for yourself. I think my wife deserves a bit of my time, too. The older you get, the more you feel guilty about it."
"My wife, Cathy, was the one who talked me out of retiring last time but she wouldn't do that now."
Ferguson, also said he had no immediate plans to step down, adding: "I know I would find it hard to give up managing United.
"I can't do it at the moment. The big fear has always been what would I do with myself, I know I'd find it hard."
"What I would really like to do in life is travel to places I have never been to. I would love to go to the States and spend three or four months there."
"But you do that once. What you are left with is the time when you wake up at six in the morning and you go to get out of bed and you suddenly say 'Oh yeah, I am finished, I don't do that any more.' That's going to be hard."
He also said that before he left he wanted to increase the capacity of Old Trafford to 83,000 from the current figure of 76,200, ensure Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo stayed at the club and sign a new striker this year.
(taken from : here)
[...]
