..::Football III::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Fiorentina swoop for Brillante

Newcastle Jets confirmed on Friday that promising young midfielder Josh Brillante is set to join Serie A club Fiorentina.

Brillante was part of Australia's extended 30-man squad for the World Cup and, although he did not get picked to go to Brazil, he has done enough to earn a move to the Viola, subject to a medical.

The 21-year-old becomes the second young Newcastle player to head to Europe since the end of last season, after striker Adam Taggart, who did appear at the World Cup, signed with Fulham last month.And Brillante is thrilled at the prospect of linking up with Vincenzo Montella's Fiorentina."I'm very excited to be joining Fiorentina and I'm looking forward to the challenge ahead," Brillante said in a statement released by the Jets.

"I've had an amazing couple of years at the Jets and I'm very thankful that I came to a club like Newcastle who develop young players and give them an opportunity.
"Having the chance to play regular first-team football has helped my game improve a lot and it is a big reason why I've been able to achieve things like playing for the Australian national team."

Brillante burst onto the scene with some impressive performances at the 2013 Under-20 World Cup, including a blistering strike against El Salvador, and he made his senior international debut at the East Asian Cup last year.The Queensland-born midfielder leaves the Jets after making 46 appearances over the last two seasons, while he also played 14 A-League matches with former club Gold Coast United.

Brillante won Newcastle's player of the year award at the end of the 2013-14 season.Newcastle CEO Robbie Middleby said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for Josh to join a club which is competing in one of the toughest leagues in world football and will also playing be in the Europa League next season.

"On behalf of [the] members and everyone at the club, I'd like to thank Josh for his services and wish him all the best with his move to Fiorentina."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Fernando: It's an honour to play with Yaya Toure

Fernando says he considers it "an honour" to be able to play alongside Yaya Toure after joining Manchester City from Porto.

There are question marks over Toure's future at the Premier League champions following a number of public statements of unhappiness at City's actions regarding his birthday and recently passed brother and he talks are scheduled between him and the club.

Fernando finally sealed a move to the Manuel Pellegrini's side last month after a failed bid in January and is hoping to impress as City look to defend their 2014-15 crown.

"City are known all over the world, footballers are aware of Manchester City," Fernando told reporters. "It's a dream to be here and part of this great club, and I also hope to become one of the club's great players.

"The player I most admire and who I watch a lot of his games, is Yaya Toure. He's a great player and for me it will be an honour to play alongside him.

"I work hard, I always look for a way to win back control of the ball as quickly as possible, and give it to my colleagues.

"I consider myself a good team player and always try to be at my best on the pitch and transmit good energy to the other players."

Fernando won four league titles in Portugal, plus a Europa League crown in 2010-11, and said he understands the pressure that comes with being champions.

"We know expectations are higher, because after winning the title everyone believes they can do better," said Fernando.

"All we have to do is make sure we deliver the same performance as last season so we can win it again. And in the Champions League we must give our all this year.

"I left a good legacy in Porto, and hope I can repeat the same here with City, winning titles and playing regularly.

"That's what everyone can expect from me – willpower and dedication, always with eyes on trophies. That is what City and I want."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Argentina were lucky Robben hesitated, says Mascherano

Javier Mascherano has admitted Argentina might not have made it to the World Cup final had Netherlands attacker Arjen Robben not hesitated before taking his shot in their semi-final encounter.

The Bayern Munich star got a big chance to open the scoring in the dying seconds of Wednesday's encounter, but Mascherano's last-ditch tackle eventually prevented the Dutchman from finding the net.

The game went to extra time following Mascherano's interception and Argentina eventually booked their ticket for the final after penalties, with goalkeeper Sergio Romero saving two spot-kicks.

"Robben played a great exchange with [Wesley] Sneijder but, because of that extra touch, he didn't quite hit it so early, it gave me the possibility, that extra split second," Mascherano told The Independent.

"The team was lucky Robben took one more touch. To get to a final, you always need a bit of luck.

"It was a terrible moment. I thought I'd slip, I thought I wouldn't make it, I thought he'd get ahead of me. I thought so many things. But I did get there and it wasn't a goal.

"Anyone could have done it, but I was lucky to get there. The truth is there was not much doubt for me. I just threw myself into it. If I was a moment off, it was a penalty. There's no doubt."

Mascherano then went on to voice his delight with Argentina's successful World Cup campaign as they made it to the final for the first time since 1990.

"We did the things we had to do. We have the tranquillity of having given everything, of having performed like we had to. That forms part of this group.

"It's been so many years but now our country, and our flag, are in the eyes of the world, returning to a World Cup final, the most important match of our careers.

"It's a delight, a delight that lifts your soul. It's something you can't explain, something I never imagined, but there we are."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Navas will join Bayern Munich, claims Levante vice-president

Levante vice-president Tomas Perez has claimed goalkeeper Keylor Navas will join Bayern Munich for a transfer fee of €10 million.

The Costa Rica international was one of the revelations of the 2013-14 La Liga campaign and also impressed at the World Cup with a string of fine displays.

Navas had also attracted the interest of Monaco with his sublime performances, but he seems destined to continue his career at Bayern instead.

"He's going to one of the best teams in Europe and I'm sure that he's going to enjoy playing there and will be good competition for his new team-mate, [Manuel] Neuer," Perez was quoted as saying by Teletica Deportes.

"We're happy for him, because I think he deserves it as a player and a person. He's earned it. He had a great year and we are happy to have helped him grow in his career."

The 27-year-old started his professional career with Saprissa and also wore the Albacete jersey before joining Levante in the summer of 2011, where he developed into a key player for the Spanish club.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

K.Navas pattaManuel Neuer ge cover 1kak widiyata use karai​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

'Alexis is one of the world's best' - Arteta

Mikel Arteta has hailed new Arsenal signing Alexis Sanchez as one of the world's best strikers and feels the club have made a "statement" by signing him from Barcelona.

The Chile international has joined the north Londoners for a fee in the region of €40 million, having completed a medical in North London on Thursday.

And Arteta believes that the signing of the former Udinese man is a statement of intent from Arsene Wenger as his side look to push on from their FA Cup triumph in May.

"I’m very positive about next season. What the club has done today, signing Alexis Sanchez, is great," he told Goal at the club's official launch of their new Puma kit.

"Everyone was waiting for a big signing like this. He’s a proper player, he’s got experience, he’s got the technique and he’s got the pace.

"He had many options and he decided to join us which makes us very proud. He likes the sound of the Arsenal and I’m excited by his arrival.

"It’s a big statement for the club to say early on [in the transfer window], 'OK let’s go and get one of the best strikers in the world at the moment.'

"They have convinced him to come and I can’t wait to see him play.

"I spoke to him this morning. He said is very excited and wants to get involved as soon as possible and hopefully he can deliver.

"I think we have been missing that pace in behind. Sometimes we played with [Santi] Cazorla, [Olivier] Giroud, [Jack] Wilshere up front – and we had no pace.

"Hopefully bringing in a player like Sanchez means we will only get better. We are going to need to do that because the other top teams are strengthening and it is going to be a very exciting Premier League.

Alexis looks set to be the first of a number of new faces arriving at the club this summer, with Mathieu Debuchy's move from Newcastle imminent while it is understood that Wenger is also weighing up a move for Brazil winger Bernard.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Barcelona & Liverpool confirm Luis Suarez transfer

Liverpool have confirmed they have reached agreement with Barcelona for the transfer of striker Luis Suarez.

The Spanish giants have long been linked with the Uruguayan forward and confirmation of the move came on Friday, with Barca saying in a statement on their official website that he will be in Catalonia next week to put pen to paper on a five-year deal and complete his medical.

The Premier League club added: "Liverpool FC confirms that Luis Suarez will be leaving the club after a transfer agreement was reached with FC Barcelona. The player now has permission to complete the usual formalities, which will then conclude the transfer.

"We would like to thank Luis for his contribution and the role he played in helping bring Champions League football back to Anfield.

"Everyone at Liverpool Football Club wishes Luis and his family well for the future."

The transfer comes a year after the Uruguay striker tried to force through a move to Arsenal, only for Liverpool to stand firm and refuse to sanction a deal and the forward later signed a new four-and-a-half-year contract at Anfield.

Real Madrid had been continually linked with a move, but Barcelona gradually entered the picture and have stepped up their interest in recent weeks.

With Suarez leaving the World Cup early after being banned from football for four months and nine international matches by Fifa for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini, talks with Barca over a transfer accelerated.

Various Barca representatives, including sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta and new signing Ivan Rakitic, praised Suarez for apologising for his latest bite, while talks behind the scenes progressed.

Suarez will be unable to train with his new team-mates under the terms of his Fifa ban, which was upheld by world football's governing body on Thursday, although Uruguay are expected to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Should Uruguay's CAS appeal fail, Suarez will only be free to return to action for Barcelona in October. The Primera Division are yet to announce the fixtures for the 2014-15 season, though it is scheduled to start on August 23.

Suarez was due to miss up to 14 Liverpool matches if he had stayed at Anfield, and he will be forced to sit out a similar number for his new club, including their opening Champions League fixtures.

The 27-year-old is banned from all football-realted activities, which includes attending charity events with his team-mates, promotional campaigns, handing out trophies at grassroots events and being involved in his club's team photograph.

Suarez’s time in England was plagued by controversy. Having been signed from Ajax in January 2011 in the midst of a ban for biting Otman Bakkal, he was later suspended for eight matches after being found guilty by the Football Association of racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra in his first full season at Anfield.

At the end of the following campaign he was banned for 10 games for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic, but returned in 2013-14 to propel the Reds in their first serious title challenge since 2008-09 with 31 goals in 33 Premier League appearances.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Good bye Suarez!

 

[රජ්ජුරුවෝ]

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[rcccc]

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[රජ්ජුරුවෝ]

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thanks anyway.

 

[^Buddhika^]

 

[Wolverine GTR]

'Suarez ban is draconian and fascist'

Luis Suarez’ lawyer has vowed to take his fight against the striker's four-month ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after labelling the suspension "draconian and fascist".

The Uruguay international was also hit with a nine-match international ban and a €82,000 fine by Fifa for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup

Appeals against the sanction from Suarez himself and the Uruguyan FA were rejected by Fifa this week, but his legal representative, Alejandro Balbi, isn’t ready to give up the fight.

“We knew that Fifa would uphold the ban because they are corporatists,” Balbi told Cope.

“We won't stop, we are going to go to CAS and we will keep taking every legal path available to us.”

Suarez, who is set to leave Liverpool for Barcelona after the two clubs confirmed on Friday that an agreement had been reached over his transfer to La Liga, is banned from all football-related activity until October 26.

“It’s blatantly draconian, totalitarian and fascist,” Balbi said.

“The right of a footballer to do his job is being violated and football should be concerned about that.

"The nine international matches may seem excessive, but the fact that he can’t watch a game of football or train or do his job, we are talking about very unpleasant things here."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Van Gaal: I will ask Netherlands players for a leaving present

Louis Van Gaal will ask his players to give him a leaving present on Saturday by becoming the first Netherlands side to return undefeated from a World Cup.

The Holland coach will step down to take over at Manchester United following the third-place play-off against hosts Brazil in Brasilia.

The Oranje lost to Argentina on penalties in their semi-final clash on Wednesday – but Van Gaal is eager to ensure that his team return from the World Cup able to boast that they were only beaten in a penalty shootout.

“It’s going to be part of my speech that it will be my last match and I hope the players want to give me a present in the form of a victory, so that we remain undefeated,” Van Gaal said in his pre-match press conference.

“Slowly but surely we are realising that we have to go for it. A Dutch team has never returned home unbeaten and that is now our aim.

“There is still something for us to do. We can still write history because the Netherlands lost matches in 1974 and 1978.”

Van Gaal was critical of the third-place match after the Argentina match and admits the Netherlands are still recovering from the blow of failing to reach a second World Cup final in a row.

"It was very, very sad and a dream has been broken. It’s not going to come back because it was all about being number one," Van Gaal added.

"Everything is disappointing. I’m disappointed because we came here with only one objective and we had the confidence that we could achieve it."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Alex: Thiago Silva told me to join Milan

New Milan signing Alex said former team-mate Thiago Silva helped convince him to join the club.

Alex, 31, joins on a free transfer after his contract with the French champions expired last month and revealed Silva - who was a Rossoneri player before playing with Alex in Paris - played a role in his decision to move to Italy.

"We have talked much about Milan together, the talks were long,” said Alex. “Thiago Silva always spoke well of this team and the environment.”

With new coach Filippo Inzaghi tasked with improving Milan's eighth-placed finish in Serie A last term, Alex feels he can play a part in strengthening their defensive ranks.

Milan shipped 49 goals last term but, in his first foray into Italian football, Alex wants to help repay fans for the welcome he has received.

"This season we will put in a lot of effort, while the fans will support us. Yesterday [at the pre-season launch at Casa Milan] it gave me chills throughout the reception," he said.

"We will work hard to repay all this affection [and] I am sure I can lend an important hand to the team, I will bring to them my experience.

"With work and commitment we will also fight for the Scudetto. Tactically, we are already working on avoiding conceding these goals.”

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Emanuelson seals Roma switch

Roma have confirmed the signing of Netherlands international Urby Emanuelson from Milan.

The 28-year-old arrives on a free transfer after leaving the Rossoneri this summer and has signed a one-year deal in Rome.

The former Ajax man spent time on loan with Premier League club Fulham in 2012/13 after failing to hold down a regular place at San Siro.

“AS Roma announces that it has signed a one-year contract employment contract with Urby Emanuelson,” read a club statement.

“The agreement also reserves the right to extend the contract for another two seasons.”

Emanuelson made 33 appearances for Milan last term, but the 18-time Serie A champions opted not to renew the 28-year-old's contract following a disappointing campaign in which they finished eighth in the Italian top flight.

His capture comes four days after the arrival of former Chelsea full-back Ashley Cole, ensuring competition on the left-hand side of Roma's defence.

Rudi Garcia’s side finished second in Serie A last term, which sealed a return to the Champions League next season.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Muller: I’ve never lost a game to Messi yet

Germany forward Thomas Muller has never lost against a team including Lionel Messi, and doesn’t plan on bucking that trend when he faces Argentina in the World Cup final on Sunday.

Muller has enjoyed another stellar World Cup, with his five goals in six games matching the tally that won him the golden boot four years ago in South Africa.

And the Bayern Munich man says he and the rest of the team will do everything in their power to lift the trophy for the first time in 24 years.

"It'll be very important to push ourselves to the limit, especially defensively. You need to be quick to keep up with [Lionel] Messi.

"We've played against Messi a few times. I've never lost a competitive game against him.

"We haven't had a tour of Rio de Janeiro yet but for me the only reason for going back there is to win the World Cup."

Germany thrashed hosts Brazil 7-1 in the semi-final but Muller expects Sunday’s clash at the Maracana to be a much stiffer test for Joachim Low’s side.

"I don't know what kind of a game it will be on Sunday, but I don't expect it to be 5-0 at half-time," he said. "That would be nice, but it's probably going to be tight like it was against Algeria or France."

"We'll give everything we've got to win the World Cup.”

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Rodgers: Liverpool bigger than Suarez

Brendan Rodgers has insisted Liverpool are "bigger than any individual" following Luis Suarez's €88 million move to Barcelona.

Both clubs confirmed an agreement has been reached for the sale of the striker on Friday, with Suarez set to undergo a medical and pen a five-year deal at Camp Nou next week.

Rodgers is now keen to focus on the progress the club have made rather than dwell on the loss of the striker who scored 31 Premier League goals last season.

"We are focused on the future. As we strive to continue with the progress we have made and build on last season's excellent Premier League campaign," he told the club's official website.

"I am confident we will improve the team further and will be stronger for this coming season, when we will be competing on all fronts; domestically and in the greatest club competition in the world, the Champions League.

"If there is one thing the history of this great club teaches us, it is that Liverpool is bigger than any individual.

"I hope our supporters continue to dream and believe that we are moving forward and with continued improvement and progression, together we will bring the success we all crave and deserve."

Rodgers is proud of Suarez's achievements, both personally and for the club, but insists Liverpool did everything they could to prevent the Uruguayan from leaving Anfield.

"Luis is a very special talent and I thank him for the role he has played in the team in the past two years, during my time at Liverpool," he continued.

"I think he would be the first to accept he has improved as a player over that period, along with the team and has benefited from being here, as we have benefited from him.

"The club have done all they can over a sustained period of time to try to keep Luis at Liverpool.

"It is with great reluctance and following lengthy discussions we have eventually agreed to his wishes to move to Spain for new experiences and challenges."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Di Maria not ruled out of World Cup final yet - agent

Argentina midfielder Angel Di Maria is still in with a chance of being fit for Sunday's World Cup final against Germany, according his agent.

The Real Madrid winger, who scored the extra-time winner in a 1-0 victory over Switzerland in the second round, limped out of his country's quarter-final against Belgium with a thigh complaint.

Di Maria subsequently missed Wednesday's semi-final, with Enzo Perez starting in his place, and remains a doubt for the clash with Germany at the Maracana."Angel is at a stage of recovery and there cannot be a time frame put on it," his agent, Eugenio Lopez, told radio station FM Delta.

"He was subjected to treatment with stem cells to accelerate recovery."Angel wants to play, no matter what, and he will make every effort to get there."Whether Angel will play will depend on the decision taken by [coach Alejandro] Sabella."

Argentina booked their first World Cup final in 24 years with a penalty-shootout victory over Netherlands on Wednesday.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Rizzoli to referee World Cup final

Italy's Nicola Rizzoli will referee Sunday's World Cup final between Argentina and Germany.

The 42-year-old has already presided over two of Argentina's games at the tournament in Brazil - the 3-2 win over Nigeria in the group stage and their 1-0 quarter-final success over Belgium.

Rizzoli also oversaw Netherlands' 5-1 demolition of Spain in Group B's opening game, and has handed out nine cautions in those three matches, with no red cards.

The Italian's appointment could cause a stir among the Germany camp, after Belgium coach Marc Wilmots accused the official of favouring Argentina during their quarter-final clash.

"I don't want to be a cry baby, but I noticed the referee never gives fouls against Argentina," Wilmots said after the match.

"Every time something happens with Messi the referee gives him a free kick. I notice he made three fouls and no yellow card, we made one foul and got one yellow card."

Rizzoli will be familiar with many of the Germany starting XI, however, after refereeing the Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund at Wembley last year.

Massimo Busacca, head of refereeing for Fifa, confirmed that Rizzoli will be in charge of the showpiece while Fifa vice-president and chair of the refereeing committee Jim Boyce declared that the Serie A referee was the right man for the job.

"We choose the best referees for the best matches, and the Italian will referee the final," he said.