..::Football II::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Carrick earns England recall and Terry misses out as Hodgson experiments for Italy friendly

England manager Roy Hodgson has named an experimental squad for the upcoming friendly against Italy, with Wayne Rooney and John Terry missing out, while Adam Johnson and Michael Carrick have both earned recalls to the team.

There are first senior call-ups for Tottenham dup Steven Caulker and Jake Livermore as well as Ryan Bertrand, while Tom Cleverley joins Manchester United teammate Carrick in the midfield.

There are two goalkeepers in the squad both hoping to earn their first senior caps, as John Ruddy is back in the team after breaking his finger in the pre-Euro 2012 training camp, while Jack Butland is included after impressive displays for Team GB at the Olympics.

Frank Lampard is back in the team after pulling out of Euro 2012 with injury, while up front Hodgson has chosen a mix of strikers including Andy Carroll, Jermain Defoe, Theo Walcott, and Daniel Sturridge, who was not picked for the squad at Euro 2012.

The squad is due to meet up on Sunday evening after the Community Shield between Chelsea and Manchester City at Villa Park, and will travel to Switzerland on Tuesday ahead of Wednesday's match.

Goalkeepers: Jack Butland (Birmingham City), Joe Hart (Manchester City), John Ruddy (Norwich City).

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Steven Cauker (Tottenham Hotspur), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur).

Midfielders: Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Jake Livermore (Tottenham Hotspur), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Jack Rodwell (Everton), Ashley Young (Manchester United).

Forwards: Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), Theo Walcott (Arsenal).

 

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Juventus vows to back Conte after Scommessopoli verdict

Juventus has reiterated that Antonio Conte and his assistant Angelo Alessio still have the club's full support, despite the duo being sanctioned for their role in the Scommessopoli scandal.

The coach was handed a 10-month suspension for his involvement in the match-fixing scandal, while his deputy was banned for eight months.

"Following the verdicts given by the FIGC's disciplinary committee regarding the involvement of Juventus employees in incidents while at other clubs, Juventus are extremely satisfied with the acquittal of footballers Leonardo Bonucci and Simone Pepe," read an official statement.

"Furthermore, the club underlines its full support for Antonio Conte and Angelo Alessio, in the hope that their innocence will emerge during the appeals process.

"The coaches' legal team, comprising of professionals chosen by the parties themselves in complete agreement with the club, is already drawing up the grounds for appeal, in the firm belief that the coaches had no involvement in the matter.

"Antonio Conte and Angelo Alessio will be assisted by lawyers Antonio De Rensis and Luigi Chiappero, and additionally by Giulia Bongiorno."

The verdicts come only one day before Juventus' Supercoppa Italiana match against Napoli on Saturday.

 

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Real Madrid, unsatisfied with status quo, chases steady improvement

A quick summer after breaking several Spanish La Liga records, including total points (100) and goals scored (121), Real Madrid heads into a fresh season. The goal for Jose Mourinho's charges? Steady improvement.

"We're aspiring to take another step just like the last few seasons since Mourinho has been here," captain Iker Casillas said. "At the beginning of this year we want to keep on consolidating the team."

By all accounts, Los Blancos are consolidating well. They torched the LA Galaxy and AC Milan by identical 5-1 scorelines and sweated out a 2-1 win over Mexican champion Santos Laguna in between. Now the onus is on Madrid to keep at bay a Barcelona that won three titles in a row prior to last season.

"I think we've taken a giant step forward, a large step to compete against a Barcelona that had a very good season," Casillas said through a translator. "We won a very difficult league. I believe this year we will do the same."

Real Madrid also made it to the semifinals of the Champions League, losing out on penalties to Bayern Munich. The club's next Champions League trophy would be a record-setting 10th, la decima.

"It's not an obsession, the decima," the 31-year-old goalkeeper said. But he does see Ole Big Ears as a very real possibility. "For me, the team that we have, the players that we have, the public, the field, the trainer that we have, this team is a European contender."

Thus far, Mourinho hasn't added to his side. Rumors continue to swirl around the possibility of Luka Modric joining from Tottenham, but thus far, relatively the same team that won La Liga has toured the United States. Even Nuri Sahin and Kaka are still around earning preseason minutes with the league season a little over a week away.

"Last year we won the league, practically with the same players we have here," Pepe said in Spanish.

Rather than banking on a big-money signing, Mourinho expects his third season to foster deeper understandings among his players.

"We know each other much, much better in human terms but also footballistically," he said. "We have conditions to have again a very good season."

In the offseason, Barca promoted Tito Vilanova to head coach after Pep Guardiola departed to take a sabbatical. The Galacticos know they have to maintain their hunger to prevent a Catalan resurgence.

"We have that same desire in every training," Pepe said. "We're showing and we believe that we're working very well. The team is picking up a pretty high level. We're ready to start the new season."

Casillas, who also won Euro 2012 this summer with Spain, has seen his motivation to thrive change as he matures. Now his drive is more altruistic.

"It's because of the fans," he said. "Once you've won, you start thinking a little less about yourself and more about the people – that they can enjoy, that they can get the same light that I have with a lot of titles."

If Real Madrid can continue its steady improvement under Mourinho, fans should see plenty of that same light in the year to come.

 

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Conte handed 10-month ban in Scommessopoli scandal

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has announced that Juventus coach Antonio Conte has been suspended for 10 months due to his involvement in the Scommessopoli scandal.

The 43-year-old has been found guilty of failing to report attempts to influence the outcome of two Serie B matches against Novara and AlbinoLeffe in the 2010-11 season, when he was in charge of Siena.

He had previously reached a plea bargain deal with prosecutor Stefano Palazzi over a three-month ban, but the agreement was rejected by the FIGC's Disciplinary Committee.

Furthermore, Angelo Alessio, Conte's assistant at both Siena and Juventus, has been handed an eight-month ban for his involvement in the match-fixing probe.

Lecce and Grosseto have both been relegated from Serie B, while the presidents of both clubs have been suspended from all soccer activities for five years.

However, Juventus duo Leonardo Bonucci and Simone Pepe are among the players who were acquitted due to a lack of evidence, with Montreal Impact striker Marco Di Vaio also walking away unscathed.

 

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Villas-Boas reveals 'pact' between Tottenham and Modric as Real Madrid move stalls

Andre Villas-Boas has reiterated that Luka Modric continues to train separately at Tottenham as the club struggle to reach an agreement with Real Madrid over the transfer of the Croatian.

The 26-year-old midfielder has long harbored a desire to leave Spurs, publicly declaring his interest in moving to Chelsea last season before opting to miss the club's U.S. tour this summer ahead of a proposed move to the Spanish capital.

However, Tottenham has set a 40 million pound asking price for the Croatia international, a figure the Spanish giant has refused to meet thus far, leading Villas-Boas to once again state the importance of the club's stubborn stance.

"There is still no deal between the two teams because Real Madrid don't get closer to what Daniel Levy asks for, but we understand what Modric wants and he understands our behavior as well," Villas-Boas told reporters.

"Modric is still training on his own. This is a 'pact' between the two of us and that's the way it will be until his future is decided.

But Villas-Boas, who saw his side lose its final preseason friendly of the summer 2-0 to Valencia in the Mestalla on Thursday night, suggested there could be a way back for Modric, adding: "We will try to recover him mentally in case he finally doesn't leave.

"Of course we respect Real Madrid and their claims, but they should also respect us."

 

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Rooney: Van Persie would be a great addition to Manchester United

Wayne Rooney heaped praise on Arsenal's Robin van Persie as Manchester United aims to convince the forward to move to Old Trafford this summer.

The Dutchman revealed in July that he would not sign a new contract at the Emirates, citing a disagreement "in the way Arsenal should move forward." Speculation over his future has been rife ever since.

Although Van Persie missed the club's Asia tour, he flew out to Germany on Monday for a week-long training camp, suggesting a potential move is far from certain. Indeed, claims that the demands of his agent looked as if they would scupper the move to Manchester surfaced on Thursday.

Despite this, Rooney was happy to speak about a potential move for the Arsenal captain.

"Of course he's a player that I admire," Rooney told the Daily Mail. "He's a fantastic player, he's been amazing for Arsenal over many years. Last season was probably his best season of all, he scored a lot of goals.

"If he does come here he would be a great addition to the squad."

Asked whether he could play alongside Van Persie, Rooney added: "I'd like to think so - but you'd have to ask the manager about that.

"There's a lot of forwards here already with myself, [Danny] Welbeck, Chicharito and [Dimitar] Berbatov, who's still here. So there's a lot of forwards fighting for a place."

Sir Alex confirmed on Wednesday that United had made an offer for Van Persie but revealed there had been no breakthrough with Arsenal.

United has just one game remaining in its preseason schedule against German side Hannover on Saturday after drawing 0-0 with Barcelona in a glamor friendly in Gothenburg on Wednesday. Rooney was substituted at half time having missed a penalty in the first half and the forward commented: "I'm not sure why that was, you’d have to ask the manager.

"I think he felt some other players needed minutes. But I'm excited, I feel good, I feel fresh and I'm looking forward to the new season. It's a big season for us after last season and we all need to be ready for it.

"It was a good workout. I would have obviously liked a bit longer but it was a chance for some of the players to get some more game time. It was a good result - disappointing to lose on penalties but a good run-out."

 

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West Ham completes signing of Marseille's Alou Diarra

West Ham has completed the signing of Marseille midfielder Alou Diarra for an undisclosed fee.The France international has agreed a three-year contract at Upton Park, becoming manager Sam Allardyce's eighth signing of the summer.
Diarra has won 44 caps for his country and played in three matches at Euro 2012, including Les Bleus' opening fixture against England.
"I am very happy to be here at West Ham - everything is signed now which is good and I am excited to be here at this club and to be playing for them in the Premier League," Diarra told the club's official website.

"I know a lot about West Ham as a club and when I knew they were interested in signing me, I was very happy and knew it would be a good choice for me.

"We are a Premier League club and I know of players who were here before like Paolo Di Canio and Scott Parker, but of the players now in the team, I know Guy [Demel], Mo [Diame] and of course, Modibo Maiga, who played in the French league last year.

"The club has just been promoted and I am looking forward to a good challenge with the team ahead. I see this as my chance in the Premier League to do well with West Ham. I hope that my experience can help and the fans will see me give my all in the matches."The 31-year-old joined Bayern Munich from minnows Louhans-Cuiseaux in 2000, but failed to make a first team appearance for the German club.He then moved on to Liverpool, but again could not break into the senior side and has spent his entire career since in France. After joining Lens in 2005 following a loan spell, Diarra went on to appear for Lyon and Bordeaux before joining Marseille.

He made 18 appearances in Ligue 1 for the south coast side last season having won the division with Lyon and Bordeaux in previous years.

 

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Bellamy completes Cardiff City switch

Cardiff City has announced the signing of Liverpool forward Craig Bellamy on a two-year deal.

The 33-year-old Wales international, who spent the 2010-11 campaign on loan with the Bluebirds, completed a medical in South Wales on Thursday.Bellamy was born in Cardiff and has dropped down to the second tier of English football to return to his hometown club, where he will wear the number 39 shirt.He made 33 appearances in all competitions for the Reds last season, scoring nine goals, and will join up with his new teammates ahead of their opening game of the season against Huddersfield Town.
"I would like to place on record my thanks to a number of key parties that have facilitated Craig's return," Cardiff chief executive Alan Whiteley told the club's official website.

"Firstly to the club's Malaysian investors, Tan Sri Vincent Tan and Dato' Chan Tien Ghee; their support, commitment and confidence in the vision and ambition of the club has enabled us to attract and retain a squad containing the calibre of players that we now have. This, quite clearly, is demonstrated by Craig's confidence in joining us at this time.

"I would also like to thank our manager for his tenacity and single mindedness in ensuring the transfer could take place - and for making my life a misery until such time as it could be completed!

"And of course to Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool Football Club; their assistance and support during the process of negotiations have been conducted in an extremely professional and amicable manner, of which we are grateful.

"Finally to Craig, for having the confidence and courage to buy into and wanting to be a part of the club's future.

"I am sure that Liverpool will agree that their loss is this football club's gain and that Craig's return will be met with huge excitement and enthusiasm by all Cardiff City fans - and as the perfect backdrop to the start of the new season."

 

[hansak.]

good thread bro.
keep updating

 

[Wolverine GTR]

good thread bro.
keep updating

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Allen joins Reds

Liverpool have completed the signing of Swansea midfielder Joe Allen for an undisclosed fee, ending one of the summer's longest transfer sagas.

Allen, 22, watched Liverpool's Europa League victory over FC Gomel from the Anfield directors' box last night and has now signed a long-term contract after completing a medical.

The Welsh midfielder becomes the club's second summer signing, following the £11m arrival of striker Fabio Borini from Roma.Allen told Liverpool's official website: "I feel incredible. Everyone knows the history of this club, it's a massive club, and I'm delighted to have joined.

"The passion that people here have for football is something I share and I want to be part of that."I'm looking forward to being part of some great years ahead for Liverpool Football Club."

Allen played at the Liberty Stadium under Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, who had agreed not to make any approaches for Swansea players for 12 months after taking charge at Anfield.However, a technicality in Allen's Swansea contract allowed him to join one of five clubs, including Liverpool, for £15m.Rodgers said: "I'm absolutely delighted that Joe has made the decision to come with us on this journey.

"Joe is a player whose profile will fit perfectly with the ideas of this group. His ability to control and dominate the ball is an important ingredient in our attempt to gain success on the field.

"Joe has had a fantastic education at Swansea City and will now begin the next chapter in his exciting career, and I wish him all the very best in what I'm sure will be a long and distinguished career here at Liverpool."

 

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Liverpool lath Hoda Signs tikak Karagattha!

 

[motta kolla]

 

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Cristiano Ronaldo is good but I prefer Lionel Messi, admits Gheorghe Hagi

Lionel Messi is the best player in the world according to former virtuoso Gheorghe Hagi, who has been speaking ahead of Barcelona's final preseason friendly against Dinamo Bucharest.

The 47-year-old featured for both the Catalans and Real Madrid in a glittering career spanning almost two decades, and revealed before Saturday's friendly, his preference for the Argentine star.

"Cristiano Ronaldo is very good, but I prefer Messi. He's amazing." Hagi told reporters.

"Not only for what he does on the field but also because he is a role model and, in these times [that] is very important for children."

When queried about his prediction for the upcoming Supercopa clash against Real Madrid, the former Galatasaray midfielder remained on the fence.

He continued: "Barca has marked an era. What [Pep] Guardiola has done is impressive."

Tito Vilanova's men take on Dinamo at the National Stadium on Saturday.

 

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Real Madrid in talks with Higuain over improved deal until 2018

Real Madrid is in advanced talks with Gonzalo Higuain over a contract extension until the summer of 2018, AS reports.

The 24-year-old attacker's current deal with the Liga champions runs until June 2016, but Los Blancos are ready to reward the Argentine for his good performances in the 2011-12 campaign with an improved contract.

The striker is currently on an annual salary of 3.8 million euros, but a pay rise to 4.5 million euros per season awaits the Argentina international.

Higuain joined Madrid from River Plate in January 2007, and has since developed into an important first team member at the Santiago Bernabeu side. The prolific hitman has netted 91 goals in 162 league appearances for Madrid so far.

Madrid recently already tied down players such as Raul Albiol, Alvaro Arbeloa and Angel Di Maria to new deals.

 

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Ancelotti: Winning Ligue 1 is Paris Saint-Germain's priority

Paris Saint-Germain boss Carlo Ancelotti says his big-spending side are targeting the Ligue 1 title as their number one priority this season.

Les Parisiens have been heavily active in the transfer market, with marquee names Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Lucas Moura all arriving at Parc des Princes over the summer.

"I think that PSG has worked hard in order to buy the right players," he said.

"From the start of the season we want to win Ligue 1 and I hope our performances match our desire to win the title."

Unfancied Montpellier are the division's reigning champions, pipping PSG to the title on the final day of last season, and the 53-year-old is well aware of the threat posed by a number of clubs in the division.

"Lille lost Eden Hazard, but they have replaced him with an experienced player in Salomon Kalou. I think they could have a good season," he continued.

"Olivier Giroud was a great player for Montpellier, but they have bought a strong replacement in Emanuel Herrera and I think Marseille and Lyon will competitive again as well."

 

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We can beat anyone, says Mexico's Oribe Peralta ahead of Olympic final

Oribe Peralta says Mexico "can beat anyone" as they look to pull off an upset by beating Brazil in the London 2012 Olympic final on Saturday.

The Santos Laguna forward, one of the three overage players in Luis Fernando Tena's squad, helped guide his country to the top of Group B, before eliminating Senegal in the quarterfinals.

Peralta scored one of the goals of the tournament - a long-range drive in the semifinals - as El Tricolor fought from a goal down to beat Japan 3-1.

The striker expressed his pride at representing his country at the Olympics, and is determined to add a gold medal to his mantlepiece.

"Pulling on a Mexico shirt is unbelievably important to me," he told FIFA.com.

"Our biggest strength is that we never give up. We're a very strong team, and we have it in us to beat Brazil. We can beat anyone," Peralta said a day before the final match.

Neither country has won Olympic football gold in the history of the competition, but the 28-year-old is determined to suppress the challenge of the Selecao and achieve an international dream.

"It would be a huge honor for Mexico, but we want it and we'll definitely give it everything we have," Peralta finished.

 

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FIFA opens Mohamed bin Hammam investigation

The FIFA Ethics Committee have opened investigatory proceedings against the former Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed bin Hammam.

The Qatari was banned from taking part in "any kind of football-related activity" for 90 days, on July 26, 2012, after he was found guilty of bribery in his bid to become president of FIFA back in 2010.

He was originally handed a lifetime ban, before that ruling was annulled by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on July 19, on the grounds of insufficient evidence.

Bin Hammam was a former running mate of Sepp Blatter during previous presidential campaigns, and provided his private jet on various campaign trails, but was accused of bribery when he went up against the Swiss in 2010.

Prior to the scandal, the 63-year-old had played a vital role in bringing the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.

 

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South Korea 2-0 Japan: Park & Koo strikes secure bronze

South Korea earned the Olympic bronze medal against Japan thanks to a 2-0 victory in what was a keenly-contested match.

The game began with both sides playing an intense, uncompromising brand of football, and after several yellow cards, it was South Korea who took the lead through Arsenal striker Park Chu-Young in the 38th minute.

The second half saw South Korea double its advantage in the 56th minute through their captain Koo Ja-Cheol, and they managed to hold off the Japanese attacks and earn themselves third place in the tournament.

South Korea made three changes to the team that lost 3-0 to Brazil in the semi-finals, with a recall for Arsenal’s Chu-Young Park up front in place of Hyun-Sung Kim and also for first-choice goalkeeper Sung Ryong-Jung as he returned from injury.

Meanwhile, the Japanese named an unchanged side from their 3-1 defeat to Mexico in the other semi-final, with Kensuke Nagai retained as the lone striker.

The first half began with the Millennium Stadium bathed in late-evening sunshine, but both sides began cagily as they struggled to keep the ball on a slightly bobbly pitch.

The South Koreans initially enjoyed slightly more possession in the opening stages, but neither side managed to create any real openings, other than a skied volley by Japan’s Keigo Higashi in the 16th minute.

Despite the lack of clear chances, the game had a very intense feel to it, with Korea’s Oh Jaesuk and Sung Yong-Ki both being cautioned within a couple of minutes of each other for fouls on Japan’s Yuki Otsu around the 25th minute.

It took until the 27th minute for either side to create what could be called a goalscoring opportunity, as Japanese midfielder Hiroshi Kiyotake tried to curl a shot around Sung-Ryong Jung in goal, but the Korea managed to push the ball clear.

The game then descended into near-chaos in the 34th minute, as Korea’s captain Koo Ja-Cheol slid in with a bad tackle on Otsu right in front of the Japanese bench, earning the skipper a yellow card and sparking some minor scuffles between the two teams.

However, Japan created a good chance of their own in the 36th minute, as from a corner, Gotoku Saki found himself unmarked but could only put his header wide of the post.

Immediately, Korea staged a breakaway move, and after receiving a long ball through, Park Chu-Young managed to wriggle past several Japanese defenders and slot home for a superb individual goal in the 38th minute.

It was perhaps slightly against the run of play, but the Koreans had a chance to double their lead just a minute later, as the ball dropped to left-back Yun Suk-Young inside the penalty area, but he sent his shot wide of the post.

Japan’s Takahiro Ogihara earned a late yellow card, then the first half ended with the Koreans just edging the game 1-0.

The second half began in a similar vein as the first, but in the 49th minute Park had a chance to double his tally for South Korea as he nearly latched onto a poor backpass, but Shuichi Gonda was out from his goal quickly to avert the danger for Japan.

Japan then created a golden opportunity in the 55th minute through Otsu, who was instrumental in a number of intricate passes with team-mates, but he scuffed his shot and it was not picked up by any of the players who had joined him in the Korean penalty area.

However, just a minute later, the Koreans were celebrating again, as a long ball was taken on by captain Ja-Cheol, who controlled the ball and calmly stroked it home to give his side a 2-0 lead just before the hour mark.

The Koreans clearly had the momentum, and in the 59th minute Kim Bo-Kyung tried to curl a shot into the top corner, but saw it clawed onto the post superbly by Gonda, who managed to keep his side in the game by his fingertips.

The game then descended into something of a midfield battle, as both teams struggled to gain any supremacy in the match and were unable to keep possession for a good amount of time.

In the 87th minute, Japan thought they had pulled a goal back through Yoshida’s header from a corner, but the referee ruled that South Korea’s goalkeeper Sung-Ryong had been impeded.

However, the Japanese could not create any further chances, and it was South Korea who took the bronze medal in the tournament at the final whistle.

 

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Varane thanks Real Madrid for first France call up

Raphael Varane says that he owes his call up to the France national squad to Real Madrid and coach Jose Mourinho.

Earlier on Friday, Didier Deschamps announced his first Bleus squad for Wednesday's friendly against Uruguay, and the 19 year-old center back, who was joined by club team-mate Karim Benzema on the list, was full of praise the input of the current Liga champions.

"I'm very pleased and surprised," he told realmadrid.com. "It's an honor and a privilege for me. I owe this call up to Real Madrid for believing in me, to Mourinho, who I learn from everyday, and for the excitement I have about playing each day".

Varane added that he was determined to make a breakthrough into the national side and become an integral part of their future plans.

"Playing with France is the challenge of playing with one of the national teams with the greatest football histories," he continued.

"I'm going to do everything possible to add to the confidence that the [French Football] Federation and my coach have in me."

Varane made 15 appearances for Real Madrid last season, scoring two goals in the process.