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ROBERTO AYALA spoke of his delight after becoming only the third player to reach a century of appearances for Argentina. Ayala brought up the milestone in his country's 2-0 friendly win over Angola on Tuesday to join the retired Diego Simeone (106) and Javier Zanetti (102) in the hundred club. "It's a very special day for me. Very special. I'm very happy for entering the history of AFA (the Argentinian Football Association)," said the Valencia defender. Now Ayala is planning to follow up that landmark with another red-letter day - holding aloft the World Cup trophy. "I hope to go on making history with a world title," he added. Regarding the friendly itself, Ayala admitted he expected Angola to be "more aggressive."
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| Jerzy Dudek is a world–class goalkeeper, Martin Demichelis is a top midfielder and Clarence Seedorf is the only man to have won the Champions League with three teams. But the Pole, Argentine and Dutchman are among those who will miss the World Cup in Germany after being passed over by their coaches. If these players formed their own team, they might well compete for the trophy.
World Cup veterans Javier Zanetti, Juan Sebastian Veron and Fernando Morientes are others who would walk onto most squads, but were unlucky enough to have overwhelming competition for their positions. Dudek was left off Poland’s squad a year after his crucial shootout saves helped Liverpool beat AC Milan in the Champions League final. He lost his place at the English club to Pepe Reina – Spain’s third choice for the World Cup – and started only five league games all season. Unfortunately for him, Artur Boruc starred on Celtic’s Scottish league–winning team while Lukasz Fabianski of Legia Warsaw and Tomasz Kuszczak of West Brom also had strong seasons. “He is a definitely a very good ‘keeper, but the issue was he played in only a couple matches and we wanted goalkeepers who all played,” Poland coach Pawel Janas said. While Dudek may have expected the disappointment – he tried to leave Liverpool to get more playing time – Demichelis was shocked to be left off Argentina’s squad. “It’s not only that I don’t have any desire to play anymore,” the Bayern Munich midfielder said. “I don’t have any desire to live.” Zanetti, also a midfielder, was omitted despite having played at the last two World Cups. Argentina’s first–round exit in 2002 may have persuaded coach Jose Pekerman to rely heavily on players he led to three world youth championships. “Nobody told me what I did wrong to be left out,” Zanetti said. “I’m at peace because I did everything in my power to be there and I always answered the call of the national team when they needed me.” Seedorf and midfielder Edgar Davids were both left off the Netherlands’ squad, making this the first tournament since 1992 their country has competed at a major tournament without the pair. What’s more, the top native scorers in this season’s Dutch and English leagues were left at home, too. Netherlands coach Marco Van Basten left off Klaas–Jan Huntelaar, calling him “unlucky” despite scoring 33 goals in 34 games. | ||
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| There's certainly no doubting the pedigree that the Argentine coach Jose Pekerman can call upon but one cannot help wondering how much fuel those players will have left in the tank When I drew up my outline for this series of features, I realised that this particular category would be the most difficult to nail down. I was well aware that the task of pinpointing the tell-tale signs that trigger potential for teams to fire on all cylinders would be about as easy as trying to bottle lightning. Nonetheless, I was adamant that it was dangerous for pre-tournament analysis to be swayed too much by key players who are in top form and full of confidence. For me, the World Cup is a blank canvas and every player goes into the tournament with a clean slate on which to paint their reputation. A barnstorming season at club level will soon be forgotten when a rival player is writing headlines the following year, the same goes for a bad season. But make your mark at the World Cup and you carry your reputation around like a badge of honour for the next four years. What more incentive does an out-of-form top-level pro need for putting all of his troubles to the back of his mind? So my chain of thought led me to seek out teams with a high proportion of players of proven calibre who have endured a difficult season at club level and will be desperate to set the record straight in Germany. And, guess what, one team in particular is dominating my thoughts once again: Brazil! With Ronaldinho the obvious exception, several of the Brazilian team have endured an unhappy season in European club football. Dida has made some howlers in goal for Milan, the 36-year-old Cafu is returning from knee surgery, strikers Adriano and Ronaldo both seem to have lost their enjoyment for the game and the form of Roberto Carlos for Real Madrid has been almost embarrassing. So let me get this straight: that's the goalkeeper, both full backs and both centre forwards all out-of-sorts recently and this team can be laid at under 3/1 in the outright market? Maybe there's nothing unique in the way I'm thinking at all! As well as looking for teams with a high proportion of players who will want to release a frustrating club season from their system, the same criteria can be applied to individuals with the potential to figure prominently in the Golden Boot market. In this respect, the name Ruud van Nistelrooy should immediately spring to the forefront of anyone's thoughts. Only 12 months ago, it was unthinkable that the Dutchman could fall so far from grace in the opinion of Sir Alex Ferguson but his days at Manchester United appear to be numbered after a torrid season playing second fiddle to Louis Saha and the World Cup stage will no doubt serve as the greatest imaginable shop window for securing a lucrative move elsewhere later in the summer. Let's not forget that this is a man who has netted an astonishing 46 goals in 55 Champions League games and will probably be playing as the lone centre-forward for Holland, with ammunition supplied by the likes Rafael van der Vaart and Arjen Robben. Great players out of favour are not the only ones with an added incentive to showcase their talents at the World Cup finals, the same can be said of those footballers whose careers appear to be heading down the avenue of the journeyman after falling to hold down a place with their current clubs. As we all know from the countless number of players with exciting potential who have flopped in the Premiership down the years, it's not unusual for good players from unfashionable countries to encounter cultural difficulties when signing a deal in one of the bigger European leagues but a tournament of this nature can act as the springboard that resurrects their careers. When you've spent an entire season feeling sorry for yourself on the sidelines, the prospect of joining up with familiar faces can be just the boost one requires to start fulfilling the potential that others are beginning to doubt existed in the first place. In this instance, there are three particular nations whose coaches will stick by a fair proportion of players finding themselves in such a predicament: Portugal, Poland and Croatia. Luiz Felipe Scolari is a man renowned for his loyalty and he is unconcerned by the lack of playing time some of Portugal's key players have had at club level. Costinha has hardly kicked a ball in Russia this year, Maniche and Paulo Farreira have struggled to hold down a place at Chelsea and Nuno Valante has just recovered from a serious thigh injury that limited his chances at Everton. Naturally, these players have no excuses when it comes to fatigue because they ought to be fresh, a point that Jerzy Dudek is keen to make with regards to a Poland team that contains undoubtedly the highest proportion of players who cannot get a game with their respective clubs. Croatia coach Zlatko Kranjcar is one man actually excited by the scenario his players find themselves in. With seven of them nearing the end of their club contracts, he insists it has lightened his load ahead of the finals because he need not worry about motivating those players so much and can direct more energy into the tactical side of Croatia's preparations. The other side of the coin is the capacity for big-name players who are instrumental at club level struggling to hit the same standards at international level, a factor that can only really affect the very biggest nations to a widespread degree. It should be of little surprise that England, Spain and Italy will send out teams consisting almost entirely of players who earn their wages in their homeland. As the three biggest domestic leagues on the planet, there has been no hiding place for the players of these nations over the last nine months, especially when the majority of them play for the top three or four clubs and have been heavily involved in Champions League action as well. The worldwide exposure they receive is quite phenomenal and the downside for their World Cup potential is that they cannot possibly have any tricks up their sleeve that lesser-known opponents haven't witnessed on television before. Everybody knows what they're about and a dedicated opponent will have had six months since the draw in Liepzig to compile a catalogue of video evidence on a player he will come face-to-face with in the group stages. I'm not for one moment suggesting that this can be a leveller between a great player from a big league and a mediocre player from an average league but it can certainly go some way to diluting the impact of the stars in certain games. Rather than David versus Goliath, these individual battles can be more like David's elder brother versus Goliath's younger brother. Either way, it'll still require a pretty decent slingshot for the relatively unknown player to get the better of his more esteemed adversary. Meanwhile, a glance through the player/club lists of every other squad should really cause a little concern for Argentina backers. Virtually every outfield player who has any realistic chance of a game in Germany will be playing on the back of a taxing club season in Europe - and such is the sheer quality of the Argentina squad, the majority of those players have been instrumental in their club's achievements. In La Liga, Lionel Messi has helped Barcelona on the way to their league title and Champions League successes, Juan Pablo Sorin and Juan Roman Riquelme have taken Villarreal to last four of the Champions League, Javier Saviola has led Sevilla to UEFA Cup glory and Pablo Aimar has assisted Valencia towards Champions League qualification. In Serie A, Walter Samuel, Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso have guided Inter to Champions League qualification, while Hernan Crespo and Martin Demichelis have also won their respective league titles with Chelsea and Bayern Munich. There's certainly no doubting the pedigree that the Argentine coach Jose Pekerman can call upon but one cannot help wondering how much fuel those players will have left in the tank. Positives: Brazil, Portugal, Poland, Croatia Negatives: England, Spain, Italy, Argentina | ||
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| Ahead of this afternoon's training session at Angelo Moratti Sports Centre, Inter captain Javier Zanetti gave a news conference. How are you feeling after your exclusion from Argentina's World Cup squad? "To be honest I'm disappointed because I wanted to play in my third World Cup. But I am also very calm because I know I did everything possible to be there. Coach Pekerman's decisions have nothing to do with me, he has called up other players. The most important thing now is to support all my friends and team-mates who have been called up to the national team so they can play a great World Cup." Have you spoken with Pekerman about the reasons why you haven't been called up? "Just before he announced his list Pekerman told me I wouldn't be part of the squad that will go to Germany. He didn't give me any reasons, I don't know if there are any footballing or non-footballing reasons. But I can sleep peacefully because I have given so much to my national team, and I still feel a player of the Argentine national team. I'm certainly not Pekerman's kind of player." But haven't you tried to ask Pekerman why you have been excluded? "No, because I understood that he didn't want to give any explanations. He is the coach, I have no rancour towards anyone and I wish him the best of luck at this World Cup." Will you end your international career after this exclusion? "On my part this is certainly not the end. I will continue to work like I have done in all these years so I can return to defending my country's shirt. There will be many matches and I still hope I can play in a few." Don't you think Pekerman had it in for the Argentine players at Inter? "There are many of us Argentines at Inter and unfortunately quite a few of us have been left out. Pekerman has chosen his men and he has confidence in them. Let's hope they can get good results." Is it true that Argentina's World Cup run in Korea/Japan was a failure because the squad was divided? "This is not true. And with Pekerman I played almost every World Cup qualifying match and also the Confederations Cup. I only missed a few games. This whole matter has been a bit strange, especially in the last few months when the press started saying I wouldn't be called up. Pekerman has never spoken with me in these last few months. My truth is that I have been excluded and I'm very disappointed. There's nothing I can do about it now. I will support my team-mates who will go to Germany in search of glory." De Michelis, another of the players excluded by Pekerman, said he no longer wants to live. Is this perhaps too strong a thing to say? "It's a bit strong but I can understand how De Michelis is feeling because he still hasn't played at a World Cup. I have played in two and I'm very proud of this. It's useless to talk about it now. The list has been made and we should keep quiet." How has the Argentine press reacted to your World Cup exclusion? "The press and all the people were a bit surprised, and I'm very pleased about this. The national team belongs to everyone, and I am part of that national team." When Gianluca Vialli was left out of Italy's USA '94 squad by Sacchi, he said he would have supported Brazil. What about you? "I don't wish any harm to anyone, particularly my friends and team-mates who will defend my country's shirt at the World Cup. I will support Argentina more than ever. I hope they can bring the World Cup back to my country." Could Inter's season be the reason why you weren't called up? "Absolutely not. I don't think these are the reasons why someone is called up to the national team or not." Have you spoken with Walter Samuel and the Inter players who have been called up for the World Cup? "I still haven't seen Samuel. Cambiasso and Burdisso knew they would be called up. Cruz has deservedly earned his World Cup place because of his season. I really am happy for him because he wasn't called up for Korea/Japan. He deserved this revenge." What's your opinion of what is happening to Italian football? "The first thing I want to say is that I feel prouder than ever to be an Interista. We are waiting and we hope all these things are cleared up quickly, and that Italian football can be clean." Before Inter v Juventus you said you hoped the game would be fair, without strange incidents, and that it would be decided on the pitch. Was there the feeling that something wasn't quite right? "There were many polemics but this has happened in other matches, not just against Juventus. Now all these new things have emerged, we are waiting. The most important thing is that we are on outside of all this." Is being on the outside of these things a bit of a revenge for Inter fans? "I'm not sure if we can call it revenge. It will certainly give us a bit more tranquillity. Many things were said about the reasons why Inter wasn't winning, and now we probably know why." Do you think any teams will be relegated, or do you think the whole thing will be shelved? "I don't know. Let's hope all these things are cleared up so we can go back to talking about football." It has been reported that the Scudetto could be given to Inter. Would you take it? "Let's hope so. I would take it willingly because I think we deserve it." Yesterday Massimo Moratti confirmed Roberto Mancini for next season and said Fabio Capello is a great coach. "I'm pleased. Mancini has done an excellent job in these two years. Not only Moratti thinks Capello is a great coach, many people think so. But there isn't just Capello. There are many other good coaches." Is Capello's work in these last two years lessened because of the current situation at Juventus? "I don't know. He has won everywhere and has continued to win at Juventus. I can only say that Mancini has done a great job with us." | ||
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| Former captain Javier Zanetti was left out of Argentina’s World Cup squad on Monday while Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze, who has been out all season with a knee injury, was included.
Coach Jose Pekerman also selected Valencia playmaker Pablo Aimar, who recently suffered an ankle sprain followed by a bout of viral meningitis, and forward Javier Saviola, who has refound his best form with Sevilla this season after two years of uncertainty. Nineteen-year-old Oscar Ustari was included as the third-choice goalkeeper but there was no place for his club-mate, 17-year-old forward Sergio Aguero, regarded as one of Argentina’s most exciting prospects. Zanetti, 32, played for Argentina at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups and was present in most of the 18-match qualifying campaign for 2006. He said earlier on Monday that Pekerman had called him to tell him he would not be going to Germany. “Nobody told me I had done anything wrong but I’d known for the last week, I wasn’t going to be in the squad,” he said. The Inter Milan player, who can play on the right side of either the defence or midfield, has lost his place to West Ham United’s Lionel Scaloni. Pekerman took a gamble on the fitness of Heinze, who has not played a competitive game since suffering cruciate ligament damage in the Champions League match away to Villarreal on September 14. Meanwhile, central defender Roberto Ayala, who missed out on the 2002 World Cup through a last-minute injury, only returned to action for Valencia in March after a knee surgery. “We respect the players ... and of course these decisions are painful, there’s never going to be a logical explanation,” said Pekerman. “This is the squad in which I have confidence.” “This is a top level squad with desire and hunger to bring back a little bit of happiness,” he added. “I hope everyone gets behind this group which gives me hope and great confidence.” Pekerman was previously Argentina’s under-20 coach and more than half of the players chosen have played in one of the teams which he coached to victory in the World Youth championships of 1995, 1997 and 2001. “There’s been a constant renovation of players and I’m enthusiastic about this,” he said. The other surprises were the inclusion of Boca Juniors forward Rodrigo Palacio, one of only three home-based players in the squad, and Inter Milan striker Julio Cruz. | ||
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| Madrid - and a chance for Argentina to step up their World Cup preparations. With a month until the soccer tournament, coach Jose Pekerman gathered together a provisional squad of 16 in the Spanish capital on Monday. Inter's Javier Zanetti wagering, Valencia's Pablo Aimar and Bayern Munich's Martin Demichelis were nowhere to be seen, with officials pointing to domestic commitments. With recent defeats to Croatia and England, the two-times winners are not playing like world champions but key man Hernan Crespo is unfazed. "Although the results in the last few games have not been satisfactory, I am relaxed because we can count on some very good players. We still have a month to work together, so I am fine.": Hernan Crespo, Chelsea and Argentina striker. Questions persist over Juan Roman Riquelme's involvement in Germany, with the Villarreal playmaker flying to Buenos Aires as the two-day meeting got underway. | ||
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| Argentina coach Jose Pekerman has revealed the names of 16 players he will be meeting next Monday and Tuesday in Madrid. The list, containing some notable omissions, offers the first concrete sign of what Pekerman's final squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup will look like. Of the 16 players called up on Friday, all but one are European-based. The exception is Boca Juniors goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri, who will fly to Spain on Sunday night after a key game in his country's Clausura championship. According to a statement from the Argentine Football Association (AFA), the respective players' clubs had no objections to the meeting, which will not involve any physical work-outs or squad training. "The coach and his staff will take full advantage of the meeting to show videos, chat individually and collectively to the players, refresh concepts and assess the physical and medical well-being of those present," the AFA said. Some sections of the country's media expressed surprise at the players not on the list, among them Javier Zanetti, Pablo Aimar and Martin Demichelis. However, several of these are involved in key end-of-season games with their clubs, and their absence does not rule out the possibility of inclusion in the final 23-man squad to be named on or before 15 May. The list announced by Pekerman is as follows: Goalkeepers: Roberto Abbondanzieri (Boca Juniors), Leonardo Franco (Atletico Madrid, Spain) Defenders: Roberto Ayala (Valencia, Spain), Nicolas Burdisso (Inter Milan, Italy), Fabricio Coloccini (Deportivo La Coruna, Spain), Leandro Cufre (AS Roma, Italy), Gabriel Heinze (Manchester United, England), Gabriel Milito (Real Zaragoza, Spain), Juan Pablo Sorin (Villarreal, Spain) Midfielders: Esteban Cambiasso (Inter Milan, Italy), Luis Gonzalez (Porto, Portugal), Juan Roman Riquelme (Villarreal, Spain), Maximiliano Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid, Spain), Lionel Scaloni (West Ham United, England) Forwards: Hernan Crespo (Chelsea, England), Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Spain). | ||
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| Mancini, why haven't you named Walter Samuel and Javier Zanetti for Inter v Siena? "Those two and Luis Figo have not been called up because they will rest for the Tim Cup final return against Roma. They are the players who have been used most this season and I thought it was right to rest them for a round. Solari is also out with a leg biceps problem. I don't think he will make it for tomorrow. We're hoping he will be ready to face Roma on Thursday." In Argentina they're saying Walter Samuel and Javier Zanetti might not be selected for the World Cup in Germany. What do you think about this? "I am very surprised by this because they have both had an extraordinary season and they are very important for Argentina. Zanetti is the most-present player in his national team and he has always done everything to play for them, and Samuel is a very important player. I hope they are selected because they are two essential players who I believe will be very useful at the World Cup. And a while ago I had already said that I thought Argentina couldn't do without Veron who is a great champion and can be a strong point for his national team." Have you heard from anyone on the Argentine national team coaching staff recently? "No. They came to Italy a while ago (1 November 2004). As I said, I can only say that both Walter Samuel and Javier Zanetti have had a positive season." | ||
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HEARTS could have to beat the likes of Real Madrid, Liverpool or Inter Milan if they are to qualify for the lucrative group stages of the Champions League. The Jambos made history on Wednesday night when a 1-0 triumph over Aberdeen at Tynecastle ensured they would become the first team outwith the Old Firm to represent Scotland in the new format of Europe's Premier club competition. The win was the culmination of a season's hard work achieved against a backdrop of off-field drama that saw two managers sacked and a chief executive and chairman also depart. Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov has had many critics of his management style but most admitted he would be vindicated if the club achieved its goal of competing in the Champions League next term. Indeed it would seem that the end has justified the means and as the wild celebrations that greeted that achievement begin to die down supporters of the Gorgie club will now be turning their thoughts to some of the mouth-watering teams that could lie in wait for their heroes. But while it took a massive effort from the Capital club's stars to stave off the challenge from Glasgow giants Rangers in the SPL it looks as though that will be nothing compared to what will be required if the team is to qualify for the tournament proper. Valdas Ivanauskas' charges will go into the second of three qualifying rounds for the competition where they are likely to be seeded. This means they would avoid most of the big guns at that stage and are likely to be paired with teams from Sweden, Hungary or Cyprus who they would probably be favourites to beat. However, the real glitz and glamour would start for Hearts in the following round where there is every chance they would face one of the giants of European football. With several league campaigns still underway and indeed the Champions League also still to reach its conclusion on May 17 a definitive list of teams has yet to be finalised but the way things stand at the moment the Hearts support could well be cheering on their side against some of the biggest names in European football. Real Madrid, complete with Roberto Carlos, Raul, David Beckham and Robino currently sit third in La Liga two points behind Valencia but with a game in hand. Should they fail to overhaul their rivals they would be arguably the biggest name that Hearts could be paired with. Italian giants Inter Milan are another of the big guns that could be heading for Murrayfield next season and there is little doubt that the prospect of seeing Adriano, Javier Zanetti or Walter Samuel at close quarters would whet the appetites of Hearts fans who missed out on European competition this term after being pipped to a UEFA Cup spot by Hibs. But a draw against either of the aforementioned teams or a potential "Battle of Britain" against Liverpool would more than make amends for that disappointment. The prospect of Paul Hartley lining up against Steven Gerrard would surely excite the Jambos faithful and should the Anfield club remain third in the Premiership as they are just now there is every chance of that happening. Not every possible opponent is quite of the stature of that trio, of course, but even the supposed "easier" teams currently in position to be among the seeded clubs would provide Hearts with a stern test. Clubs like AEK Athens, Levski Sofia or even Basel - the team Hearts beat 2-1 in Switzerland thanks to a last-gasp Robbie Neilson goal - may not contain household names for Hearts fansbut there is little doubt it would still require a monumental effort for the Jambos to progress. "Believe" has, however, been the Hearts fans' motto this season and, after watching their side achieve what at the start of the season would have seemed impossible, they'll be in no mood to give up their faith just yet. • THE Jambos kick off their European campaign on July 25 or 26 with the first leg of the second qualifying round. The draw is made on June 23. | ||
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| The day after Inter's 1-0 defeat at Empoli, Roberto Mancini analysed the Nerazzurri's Stadio Castellani performance with Roberto Scarpini on Inter Channel programme Bordo Campo: Mancini, let's start with your formation in Empoli. You continued with a 4-3-3, even though it could also have been a 4-4-2 due to the versatility of the players who played. "Yes, it's true. There's not much difference between a 4-3-3 and a 4-4-2. There's not much difference, it depends on how those who play interpret it. If used well, the 4-3-3 perhaps gives us the chance to play with more strikers and attack with more players. It also gives you the chance to defend with the central midfielders. But there's not much difference." Inter dominated the match. Empoli were more aggressive in the first half but the tempo dropped after the restart. "It was a faster match in the first half, and this changed also because of the results that came through from the other grounds. In the second half Empoli brought all their players behind the halfway line, and even though we always kept the ball and did better in terms of our game, we had a few problems in the last twenty metres." Like you said after the match yesterday, you have often had these problems in the last twenty metres this season. You've had lots of ball possession and played many balls, but you've had fewer scoring chances. Do you agree? "If we have played nine or ten away matches without scoring it means we have had a few problems, otherwise we would have collected more points." In the second half you fielded three strikers ( Cruz, Martins & Adriano), but as you often say, it's the team's general attitude that makes an attacking team, and not the number of strikers on the pitch. Is this right? "Yes. If I have three strikers and each time they get the ball they go one on one and create numerical superiority, this situation becomes lethal. But if this doesn't happen everything is a bit more difficult because you give reference points to your opponents and you're without those who get up from the back. We were a bit unlucky yesterday because we were without Stankovic and Cambiasso who are good at getting up. We didn't have that kind of solution." Even though you underlined the good job done by Javier Zanetti betting and Santiago Solari who played in different roles from their usual ones. "This is true. It was their first time in this midfield and they did well. We used this solution because we had many players out, and those two still did well." Inter didn't give much away to Empoli. This is characteristic of Inter's season away from home: you have conceded the same number of goals at home and away, but you have scored half the number scored at the Meazza. Will this be a starting point for the work you will do to improve, with the Tim Cup final first leg away from home in mind? "Definitely, even though in Rome on Wednesday it will be a different match and the motivations will be different from the Empoli game. What happened to Inter yesterday must not happen again. The result didn't count for much, but losing is never nice and is always annoying. Inter are obliged to play to win. Away from home we manage to be superior to our opponents in terms of our game, and in those cases a goal can change the match for you. Unfortunately this hasn't happened to us much away from home. We have had this problem." Rome drew 4-4 with Chievo yesterday. Looking ahead to the Tim Cup final first leg are you more worried about the four goals scored by the Giallorossi or more confident about the four goals conceded? "What gives me confidence is the fact that we're in good physical form and that we'll have back a few players who rested yesterday. The confidence in the team is unchanged. Also, it's a final and we'll have to be careful because Roma have fast players who run, sprint and move forward quickly." Inter are mathematically sure of third place in the league. "This is true and it certainly wasn't our goal. We wanted to do better and we had the chance. The defeat against Juventus in Milan aside, we have had the chances to to do better. Something has probably been lacking. We need to understand what it is and try to improve." Do you think Juventus wrapped up the Scudetto yesterday? "Anything can always happen, but I don't believe Juventus will have any problems winning their next two matches." Roma can still reach that fourth place in the league which means a place in the Champions League qualifying round. Could the Giallorossi be distracted by this in the Tim Cup final? Could the race for fourth place distract your colleague Spalletti a little bit? (Mancini smiles) "If I were him I'd focus more on the championship... Jokes aside, they're already in the UEFA Cup but getting into the Champions League is always very important for a team." | ||
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| Marco Materazzi's injury-time own goal gave Empoli a 1-0 victory over Inter at the Stadio Castellani, a result which guarantees the Tuscan outfit Serie A safety, but sees the Nerazzurri lose any remaining chance of a second-place place finish as AC Milan beat Livorno 2-0 at the Meazza. In the first of three added minutes at the end of the second half the Italian defender beat Empoli substitute Pozzi to a ball then saw his 40-yard back pass sail over Julio Cesar and into the net. Despite the result Inter had the lion's share of the chances, with Argentine pair Javier Zanetti spreads and Santiago Solari sending long-range shots wide before Buscè rose above Cesar to head a Lucchini cross behind off the crossbar. Julio Cruz fired wide from 20 yards then Balli saved long-distance efforts from Figo and Zanetti before Obafemi Martins sent a flicked header from Cesar's cross over at the end of the first half. The Nigerian striker headed over a Javier Zanetti cross, with Balli saving a Pizarro free kick as Inter continued to dominate after the restart. Empoli were limited to counter-attacks, with Buscè firing wide before Julio Cesar twice intercepted to deny Vannucchi. With the match heading for a goalless draw Materazzi lobbed into his own net to hand Empoli their fifth consecutive home victory. | ||
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| The World Cup isn't just about which country has the best team.
The tournament in Germany, which kicks off 50 days from Thursday, is also a shop window for stars who don't know where they will be playing next season. About 25 percent of the world's population is expected to watch Brazil attempt to defend its title and try win its sixth World Cup, while club owners will be in the crowds hoping to snap up a big name player. Some of the biggest of all may be on the move before the opening match on June 9. Germany captain Michael Ballack has admitted he is talking with English champion Chelsea and seems likely to disappoint Bayern Munich fans by leaving the Bundesliga. Thierry Henry won't give Arsenal a decision on his future until the end of a season in which he's trying to help the Gunners win their first Champions League title. The France striker has been at Arsenal for seven seasons and has been linked with a move to either FC Barcelona or Real Madrid. Ahead of Wednesday's Champions League match against Villarreal, he didn't want to talk about his future even when told that he owed the Arsenal fans an answer. "Who do I owe, and for what?" he snapped. "Don't you see my commitment on the pitch? I think you can see it. I don't think about the word owe. I owe something to my Dad, who put me on this planet." According to the British papers, Chelsea striker Hernan Crespo could be leaving Stamford Bridge and returning to Italian soccer. Chelsea, on the verge of winning the English Premier League for the second season in a row, has the vast wealth of billionaire Russian owner Roman Abramovich to spend. He has already spent more than 300 million pounds (US$532 million) as well as underwriting debts of 140 million (US$248 million). With that sort of wealth, no player appears to be out of Chelsea's range and the English champions could be among the big movers in the World Cup marketplace. The Blues, who have the ambitious Jose Mourinho as manager, have also been linked with AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko, who will be Ukraine's main threat on its World Cup debut in Germany. Both Shevchenko and Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti have said the Ukrainian is staying at San Siro. But Ancelotti's future at Milan may also be in doubt. After Tuesday's 1-0 loss to visiting Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals, Milan looks likely to miss out on European glory again. It's also trailing Juventus in Serie A. If that happens, that could lead to a clear-out at Milan and the breakup of a star-studded squad which also has Brazilians Kaka, Dida, Cafu and Serginho - some of whom will be playing at the World Cup. The same applies to neighbor Inter Milan and the futures of Brazil striker Adriano, Portugal midfielder Luis Figo and Argentina internationals Javier Zanetti spreads and Esteban Cambiasso. Thirteen points behind Barcelona in the Spanish league, Real Madrid is another powerhouse set to miss out on a major trophy this season and is looking for new talent and a replacement coach. France midfielder Zinedine Zidane could even retire after the World Cup. Madrid sports director Benito Floro told a radio station Wednesday the club would be interested in signing "a powerful center forward such as Adriano" and a dynamic midfielder such as Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, who will be one of England's leading players at the World Cup. With speculation that Netherlands striker Ruud van Nistelrooy could be leaving Old Trafford after losing his starting place to Louis Saha, there could be changes at Manchester United, too. The Red Devils, now run by American businessman and Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner Malcolm Glazer, are chasing midfielders rather than strikers, however. Whatever position a team may need to fill, owners will likely be able to find someone in Germany. | ||
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| In eleven years at the helm of Internazionale, chairman Massimo Moratti has burned through approximately €700 million (US$869 million) on over 200 players in a personal quest to bring glory to his club. It hasn't quite worked out as intended: a solitary UEFA Cup, acquired in 1998, together with two more recent trophies -- the 2005 Coppa Italia and, in the same year, the Italian Super Cup, is hardly a great return on such a gargantuan investment. Indeed, this yield seems yet stranger given the immense caliber of the names that have worn the Inter shirt without turning it into a regular contender for the major European and domestic club titles. These include the almost incomparable Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos of Brazil, France's Laurent Blanc, Netherland stalwart Clarence Seedorf (who has won three Champions League winner's medals, but none of them with Inter), Turkish World Cup stars Emre Belozoglu and Okan Buruk, and Chile's Ivan Zamorano. All have arrived and departed the Nerazzuri without lasting impact. However, the great irony is that Moratti's first signing -- and at least initially one of his most unheralded -- has almost certainly been his best. Javier Zanetti wagering arrived at Internazionale in 1995 as a 21 year-old from anonymous Banfield, a minor team that even many in Zanetti's native Argentina are unfamiliar with. He has gone on to become one of the greatest players in the history of a very illustrious club, as well as establishing himself as a central element of the Argentina first eleven. Zanetti has many elements to his game. While he does possess a turn of pace and some dribbling ability, it is his tactical awareness, positional astuteness, and flexibility that have won him so many admirers. Zanetti shot to prominence in 1998, when Inter won the UEFA Cup in breathtaking style against compatriots Lazio in Paris; Zanetti netted an outstanding goal, a rasping drive from outside the penalty box as his team powered past their Roman rivals, 3-0. Later that summer, Zanetti was instrumental in Argentina's victory over England at Saint Etienne in the last sixteen of France '98, scoring with a superb shot from an ingenious set-play, which tied the score at two goals each, Argentina eventually prevailing on penalties. Now Inter captain -- he supplanted legendary defender Giuseppe Bergomi, the last Internazionale skipper to lift Lo Scudetto (in 1989) -- Zanetti has proven to be something of a magnet for his countrymen, who in his presence have flocked to join the club. Presently, Inter have no less than seven Argentine internationals on their books aside from Zanetti: defenders Nicolas Burdisso and Walter Samuel; midfielders Juan Sebastian Veron, Santiago Solari, Esteban Cambiasso and Kily Gonzalez; and striker Julio Cruz. This Argentine colony have over 300 international caps between them -- Zanetti has over 100 of them to his name -- and except for Veron, who has fallen out of favor with Argentina coach Jose Pekerman, and Solari -- all of them are in contention for first team places at this summer's World Cup. Zanetti has also proven that, unlike so many of the world's rich, he has a highly-developed social conscience. In response to Argentina's recent economic crisis (1999-2002), which threw millions of people into poverty, Zanetti and his wife Paula set up the PUPI Foundation, a charity which aids social integration by assisting some of the poorest children in Argentinean society by giving them educational opportunities, as well as taking care of their nutritional requirements. For this, Zanetti has been recognized by the municipality of Milan, who awarded him the Ambrogino d'Oro for this sterling initiative. In short, Javier Zanetti, one of Internazionale's finest servants, will be one of the star attractions at Germany 2006 in what will almost certainly be his final World Cup. But whatever Argentina achieve this summer, they can be sure that they have one of football's most accomplished players, both on and off the pitch, sporting their shirt. | ||
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Brazilian maestro Adriano may have been grabbed the headlines with outspoken comments in the build-up to this game but a resounding victory over Reggina proved Internazionale can live without their cantankerous genius. Adriano had been critical of his team-mates and coach Roberto Mancini prior to the game as he believed he was being made the scapegoat for what has been another disappointing season for the club. However, Mancini showed his ruthless streak by omitting his leading scorer from the squad for his outburst along with Adriano's dressing room adversary Juan Sebastian Veron as the Nerazzurri claimed their fifth consecutive home win in Serie A. Julio Cruz opened the scoring from the penalty spot, Obafemi Martins doubled the lead shortly afterwards and Cesar nodded in the third in a devastating 12 minute spell before Cruz wrapped up the scoring in the last minute. Inter bristled with verve and energy in the opening part of this game as they seemed intent on banishing the memory of their derby defeat against AC Milan in their last outing. Cruz showed his intentions for the afternoon after just four minutes as he weave his way past some statuesque defenders before firing a shot narrowly wide. David Pizzarro also tested Ivan Pelizzoli from 20 yards but his attempt was eagerly gathered by the visiting goalkeeper. However, the opener was not long in coming as Pizarro's penetrating run was brought to an abrupt end as Francesco Modesto conceded a penalty. Cruz stepped up to take the penalty and calmly sent Pelizzoli the wrong way after 16 minutes. The industrious Javier Zanetti betting produced one of his trademark runs and shots but it was easy for Pelizzoli to repel. Martins, though, doubled the lead after 23 minutes with a neat close range finish after clever work from Cristiano Zanetti to create the opening. Cesar effectively ended the game as a contest after 28 minutes when he nodded the third goal in after some impressive work by Cruz who delivered an inch perfect cross. Lambros Choutos had Reggina's first chance of the game 10 minutes before the interval when he waltzed past two defenders with the aid of some magnetic close control before rifling a shot that Julio Cesar saved with his legs. Inter continued to dominate after the break and showed that on their day they can be as destructive and efficient as any team in Serie A. Dejan Stankovic fired in a powerful free-kick that Pelizzoli opted to punch clear rather than catch. Stankovic was the recipient of another goalscoring chance when Cesar worked the ball to him after some neat play, but the Reggina defence managed to smother the chance at the final moment. Cruz, though, wrapped up the points and the game when he fired in his second and Inter's fourth after clever wing play from former Real Madrid star Santiago Solari, who squared the ball across the penalty area for the Argentinian to smack home. | ||
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| The World Cup isn't just about which country has the best team.
The tournament in Germany, which kicks off 50 days from Thursday, is also a shop window for stars who don't know where they will be playin About 25 percent of the world's population is expected to watch Brazil attempt to defend its title and try win its sixth World Cup, while club owners will be in the crowds hoping to snap up a big name player. Some of the biggest of all may be on the move before the opening match on June 9. Germany captain Michael Ballack has admitted he is talking with English champion Chelsea and seems likely to disappoint Bayern Munich fans by leaving the Bundesliga. Thierry Henry won't give Arsenal a decision on his future until the end of a season in which he's trying to help the Gunners win their first Champions League title. The France striker has been at Arsenal for seven seasons and has been linked with a move to either FC Barcelona or Real Madrid. Ahead of Wednesday's Champions League match against Villarreal, he didn't want to talk about his future even when told that he owed the Arsenal fans an answer. "Who do I owe, and for what?" he snapped. "Don't you see my commitment on the pitch? I think you can see it. I don't think about the word owe. I owe something to my Dad, who put me on this planet." According to the British papers, Chelsea striker Hernan Crespo could be leaving Stamford Bridge and returning to Italian soccer. Chelsea, on the verge of winning the English Premier League for the second season in a row, has the vast wealth of billionaire Russian owner Roman Abramovich to spend. He has already spent more than $532 million as well as underwriting debts of $248 million. With that sort of wealth, no player appears to be out of Chelsea's range and the English champions could be among the big movers in the World Cup marketplace. The Blues, who have the ambitious Jose Mourinho as manager, have also been linked with AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko, who will be Ukraine's main threat on its World Cup debut in Germany. Both Shevchenko and Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti have said the Ukrainian is staying at San Siro. But Ancelotti's future at Milan may also be in doubt. After Tuesday's 1-0 loss to visiting Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals, Milan looks likely to miss out on European glory again. It's also trailing Juventus in Serie A. If that happens, that could lead to a clear-out at Milan and the breakup of a star-studded squad which also has Brazilians Kaka, Dida, Cafu and Serginho -- some of whom will be playing at the World Cup. The same applies to neighbor Inter Milan and the futures of Brazil striker Adriano, Portugal midfielder Luis Figo and Argentina internationals Javier Zanetti odds and Esteban Cambiasso. Thirteen points behind Barcelona in the Spanish league, Real Madrid is another powerhouse set to miss out on a major trophy this season and is looking for new talent and a replacement coach. France midfielder Zinedine Zidane could even retire after the World Cup. Madrid sports director Benito Floro told a radio station Wednesday the club would be interested in signing "a powerful center forward such as Adriano" and a dynamic midfielder such as Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, who will be one of England's leading players at the World Cup. With speculation that Netherlands striker Ruud van Nistelrooy could be leaving Old Trafford after losing his starting place to Louis Saha, there could be changes at Manchester United, too. The Red Devils, now run by American businessman and Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner Malcolm Glazer, are chasing midfielders rather than strikers, however. Whatever position a team may need to fill, owners will likely be able to find someone in Germany. next season. | ||
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KAKHA Kaladze's magnificent 70th-minute strike earned AC Milan victory over Inter-Milan in a strangely subdued Serie A derby on Friday night. The Champions League semi-finalists kept the title race alive with their 1-0 victory, four days before they face Barcelona at the San Siro in the first leg of their European tie. Milan's win closes the gap on leaders Juventus at the top of the Serie A table to just four points and leaves Inter five points further adrift in third place. Juve went to Cagliari overnight (Singapore time), with no matches in Italy on Easter Sunday. The derby result increases the pressure on Inter coach Roberto Mancini, who has been the target of criticism from the club's fans since his team were dumped out of the Champions League by Villarreal two weeks ago. It was sweet revenge for Carlo Ancelotti's men, who were sunk by a last-gasp Adriano goal in the corresponding fixture in December. The winning goal arrived when Clarence Seedorf dinked in a cross from the left which Georgia international Kaladze controlled superbly on his chest before sending a volley into the back of the net. Esteban Cambiasso had a chance to snatch a point for Inter in the 88th minute but veteran defender Paolo Maldini snubbed out the threat. Despite a 74,000 crowd there was an unusually subdued atmosphere in the San Siro, largely due to a boycott by Inter fans who left their section of the north stand largely empty. The 'ultras' were protesting against a disappointing season and in place of the colourful flags that normally fill their sector, banners criticising the team were displayed in front of empty seating. The derby came at the end of a troubled week for Inter. In the early hours of last Sunday morning, two players - captain Javier Zanetti and midfielder Cristiano Zanetti - were attacked by fans at Milan's Malpensa airport. Then on Thursday, Inter owner Massimo Moratti, who has been in charge of the club since 1995, said he was ready to listen to offers from potential buyers. It took only 10 minutes for more bad news to reach Inter coach Roberto Mancini when Serbian defender Sinisa Mihajlovic limped off with a muscle problem and was replaced by Marco Materazzi. Then on the hour, Inter's best chance was wasted by Figo, who was picked out by Dejan Stankovic but produced a poor header that went harmlessly wide. Milan rarely looked in trouble after Kaladze's goal. | ||
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| In his 10th season at Inter Milan, their Argentine captain Javier Zanetti spreads has had to deal with more disappointment and frustration than most top footballers.
In his time at the club Inter has managed to win just one UEFA Cup and a single, barely meaningful Italian Cup, while its neighbor Milan and rival Juventus have been adding to their lengthy list of honors. Zanetti is, deservedly, known simply as 'Il Capitano' because there are few footballers who have been willing to take the responsibility for constant delusion of hopes in the way the Argentine has. Whenever Inter has entered one of their periodic 'crises', it is always the skipper who comes to face the press and present the public face of the team - even when on occasions his coach has been too cowered to deal with the questions of a hostile press. So if there were one player who Inter Milan fans should have spared from their abuse and protest following the club's Champions League exit at the hands of Spain's Villarreal then it was 'Il Capitano'. Yet early on Sunday morning Zanetti, along with Italian team mate and namesake Cristiano Zanetti, faced kicks and punches from Inter fans as he headed towards the car park at Malpensa airport. Passions are often high in Italian football and protests against teams - at stadiums, training grounds and airports - are not at all unusual and nor, sadly, is violence. As Sergio Campana, head of the Italian player's union noted, the only thing unusual about this incident was that it involved top players. "We're talking about it now because the victims are footballers at Inter, but the outbreaks of violence are frequent, above all in Serie C (Italy's third division) and, I'm sorry to say it, on the pitches in the center-south of Italy," Campana said. "Attacks outside the stadiums, in the dressing rooms, buses stopped as they come back from away matches, cars vandalized, threatening telephone calls at home. And we shouldn't make the mistake of blaming it all on a minority of fans," he noted. Stupid violence "This was an episode of barbarity, intolerance and stupid violence fueled by the hysteria that surrounds football in Italy. We need a cultural revolution - we need to learn to lose gracefully. But I believe it will take a generation." That may be optimistic - a cultural revolution in Italian football does indeed require tackling that hysteria but that also means challenging the whole status of the game in the country and putting football in it's place. The exaggerated importance of football is created, in part at least, by a hyperbolic media: there are three daily sports papers with pages to fill and there are the loud and crude television shows where players and officials are put on 'trial'. In Italy football exists almost as an alternative world to politics and the economy and a significant part of the population live in a 'calcio bubble' where the daily debates, created by the media and fought out over coffee in sports bars across the country, are almost exclusively about the game. Added to that, the local patriotism that creates the enthusiasm of so many for the game, places many clubs in the position of being symbols of a city - refereeing decisions are taken as plots against the city, decisions of presidents, coaches and players viewed as betrayals. It is not a view that is uncommon elsewhere in the world - in Africa and South America violence and threats against players and officials are far from unusual as Inter defender Pierre Wome can testify to after missing a penalty for Cameroon in a vital World Cup qualifier against Egypt in October. In Europe such extreme reaction is more rare but even then one has to wonder about the kind of people who, faces contorted, scream abuse at referees and players. Football is a game that arouses more passion than any other in the world and it wouldn't be the same if fans stopped caring deeply about the results. The upcoming World Cup finals in Germany will lead millions of people to re-organize their lives throughout June in order to follow the fortunes of their national teams and in bars and homes across the globe there will be cheers and tears. But it really is just a game - cheers and tears are part of the sport but kicks and punches come from people who have lost any sense of perspective about what sport is all about. | ||
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PUNTERS have been quick to back Roberto Mancini, the Inter Milan coach, to become the next Newcastle United manager after he spoke of his intention to quit Italian football after players from his side were attacked by fans at the weekend.
Mancini, who is in to 3-1 from 7-2 with totesport to take the helm at St James’ Park, has become increasingly disillusioned with the scene in Italy and was left disgusted at the weekend after Javier Zanetti, Inter’s Argentinian captain, and Cristiano Zanetti, the Italian midfield player, were punched and kicked by fans at Malpensa airport, near Milan, as they returned from Saturday’s Serie A win at Ascoli.
Martin O’Neill is totesport’s 2-1 favourite to be the next manager at Newcastle, but the former Celtic manager’s position at the head of bookies’ lists is under threat. Paul Petrie, spokesman for totesport, said: “It seems that punters have realised that O’Neill does not want the Newcastle job and are looking around elsewhere. We still make O’Neill the favourite, but I can definitely see that changing by the end of the week as more rumours start to circulate around the North East.” | ||
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| Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini, whose players were attacked by fans at the weekend, said he would leave Italian soccer when his time at the Serie A club ends.
Inter's Argentine captain Javier Zanetti and Italian midfielder Cristiano Zanetti were punched and kicked by fans at Malpensa airport, near Milan, as they returned from Saturday's Serie A win at Ascoli. "This matter has speeded up my plans to go abroad -- when I finish with Inter I will leave Italy, that's a certainty," Mancini said on Monday. "Playing and enjoying yourself, which is what the game is all about, is no longer possible. You can't win or lose and think only about what happens on the field, unfortunately if you lose you have to think about other things as well," he added. Mancini, who has come under pressure following Inter's Champions League elimination by Spain's Villarreal last week, said he was not about to throw in the towel however. "For my part, there is still the desire to carry on. I do it because I like this sport and enjoy being out on the field with the players -- I don't do it for money as some have said. Passion is the motivation that pushes me," he said. Mancini's comments came after the president of the Italian Footballers' Association called for a change in the culture surrounding the country's favourite sport. 'STUPID VIOLENCE' "This was an episode of barbarity, intolerance and stupid violence fuelled by the hysteria that surrounds football in Italy," Sergio Campana told Radio Anch'io. "We need a cultural revolution, we need to learn to lose gracefully. But I believe it will take a generation." The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday as Inter players exited the terminal building at Malpensa airport, where they were met by about 50 fans, angry at last week's Champions League exit. Most of the fans limited themselves to hurling insults, but the situation degenerated in the car park. Javier Zanetti and Cristiano Zanetti were punched and kicked by a smaller group before police intervened. Neither player was seriously injured. "We're talking about it now because the victims are footballers at Inter, but the outbreaks of violence are frequent, above all in Serie C (Italy's third division) and, I'm sorry to say it, on the pitches in the centre-south of Italy," Campana said. "Attacks outside the stadiums, in the dressing rooms, buses stopped as they come back from away matches, cars vandalised, threatening telephone calls at home. "And we shouldn't make the mistake of blaming it all on a minority of fans." VIOLENCE CONDEMNED Inter president Giacinto Facchetti condemned the violence. "We cannot accept that disappointment degenerates into violence. Violence is unacceptable for anyone that declares himself an Inter fan," he said in a statement on the club's website. The police chief at Malpensa airport, Enzo Ricciardi, said he would be studying closed-circuit television footage of the incident. "We have enough evidence to be able to identity some of the people that were involved," he was quoted as saying in La Gazzetta dello Sport. In recent years, Inter have built up a reputation as having one of the most violent fan-bases in Italian football, the outbreaks of aggression often coinciding with disappointing results. In December 2000, they threw a Molotov cocktail at Inter's team bus as it entered the San Siro stadium before a Cup match against Parma. Last season, they brought the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against AC Milan to a halt by raining flares and fire-crackers down on the pitch. The match, which Inter were losing, was abandoned and UEFA ordered the club to play their next four European matches behind closed doors. | ||
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| "The defeat is our fault only. It's hard to find the words to comment on this game," said Inter captain Javier Zanetti on Inter Channel after the Champions League defeat at Villarreal. "We must account for this match we didn't manage to play. We managed to do quite well in the first half, but after conceding the goal we should have given a reaction but it didn't come." | ||
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