..::Football II::..

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Messi: Being Argentina captain has not changed me

Argentina ace Lionel Messi says being named captain of his country last year has not changed the way he acts around his fellow players.


La Albiceleste have won four and drawn two of their seven competitive fixtures since head coach Alejandro Sabella handed the Golden Shoe winner the armband.

They now sit top of their qualifying group, one point above Colombia and Ecuador, but have two crucial World Cup qualifiers ahead of them, against Uruguay on Friday and Chile on Tuesday.

"I lived through some sad times with the results [we were having]," Messi told Fox Sports Radio. "Now that we are winning everything gets easier. I always really enjoy coming to play with Argentina. We are growing as a team, and we are still becoming stronger as a group."

"Wearing the captain's armband has not changed me", he added. "I still do the same things with my teammates."

The 25-year-old also spoke of his excitement at the prospect of being with his unborn son.

"I am grateful to God for all he gave me. I cannot wait to be with my son," said the Barcelona forward.

When asked about what team his child would support, Messi replied: "I guess my son will be a Barca fan...sure."

 

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Bojan stresses AC Milan improvement following derby defeat

AC Milan striker Bojan Krkic revealed that he was happy with his side's display despite the team's 1-0 defeat to Inter in the Milanese derby on Sunday.

Massimiliano Allegri's side was beaten by Walter Samuel's early goal as it failed to overcome its city rival, despite Yuto Nagatomo's red card at the start of the second-half.

The former Barcelona forward has yet to open his account for the Rossoneri after joining on loan from Roma, but he reassured fans that their failure to win should not hide the fact that the club's performances are much improved from previous Serie A displays this season.

"It was tough to swallow the derby defeat, as there were certain incidents and details that proved decisive," he wrote on his Facebook page. "We are nonetheless happy that we saw our style of play improve and develop. We are eager to give you fans some satisfaction soon."

The 18-times Italian champions currently sit 11th in the Serie A table after suffering their fourth defeat from their opening seven matches.

 

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El Clasico set perfect example, says Del Bosque

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has spoken of his pride at watching El Clasico after rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid put their differences aside to produce a fine spectacle on Sunday evening.

The two Spanish powers played out a 2-2 draw at Camp Nou with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo accounting for all four goals, and the former Real Madrid manager has praised both teams for the attitude they showed in an encounter which has been littered with controversy in recent years.

Matches between Spain's two most decorated sides, which both feed an abundance of players to the national team, have become more famous for red cards and unsavoury incidents over the last few seasons, but the 61-year-old Del Bosque explained that the players helped set an example to the next generation of football supporters in the country.

"Not that long ago there was some behavior that left a lot to be desired, but (Sunday) the players were fantastic, and that must not be forgotten, because these are the values that are transmitted to young people," he explained as he collected the TELVA prize for science, arts and sport in Valencia. "The fact they set an example was great."

 

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Manchester United and Real Madrid lead shirt sale charts

Manchester United and Real Madrid sit atop of the global shirt sale charts with 1.4 million shirts sold per season on average over the past five years.


United and Madrid are two of the three teams that have managed to surpass the one million mark between 2007-08 and 2011-12, with Spanish titans Barcelona completing the top three with 1.15m shirts sold per year.

England has four teams in the top 10, with Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal accompanying Manchester United, while Juventus, Inter and AC Milan represent Serie A. Bayern Munich completes the top 10 in fifth position.

All of the teams in the top 10 either wear Adidas or Nike jerseys, with both brands having five representatives in the list.

The figures, which were published by Sportingintelligence, have been compiled by veteran analyst Dr Peter Rohlmann and his team at the consulting bureau, PR Marketing,

 

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Hodgson 'not experimenting' but ready to make changes to England starting XI

Roy Hodgson has rebuffed suggestions that making changes to the England lineup for Friday’s clash with San Marino means he is experimenting.


The Three Lions will host the minnows in front of a sold-out crowd at Wembley Stadium, and Hodgson looks set to change the team around, with Tuesday’s trip to Poland in mind. The 65-year-old Hodgson insists the side he picks is one that he knows will win the game, though, and he is prepared to use all members of the squad in both ties.

"I don't know if it's a question of experimentation, it might be a question of utilizing the squad in a different way, because we have a very important game against Poland on Tuesday," Hodgson told reporters. "So of course a lot of my thoughts this week have been based on how best to use the squad knowing that really, whatever team I choose at Wembley is likely to be able to win that game, and how many players do I maybe spare and keep fitter, if you like, or fresher for the game on Tuesday.

"That's been the decision to be made and that's something we've given a lot of thought to."

Wayne Rooney, named by Hodgson on Thursday as England captain, insists the players are concentrating on their own game, not the opposition.

"We have to focus on ourselves," the Manchester United striker said. "We have to play the football we’ve been trying to do. We’ve been working hard all week, and the manager's been trying to get a point across to us all, what he wants and expects of us. We have to try and make sure we do that the best we can and try and put the training sessions into the game."

Hodgson meanwhile expressed his delight at Friday’s game being a sellout, and is keen to make sure his side gives the crowd something to be proud of.

"It's magnificent," Hodgson said. "It just goes to show two things: It shows what a fantastic support there is for national team football in the country, and how lucky we are really to have a stadium that takes 90,000 people and to have 90,000 people that want to come and watch us play.

"On this occasion it's not the opponents who are attracting them, it's purely our players, so we're very happy with it, we're very concerned not to let them down and to do a good job, and that's what we've been working from all week I guess."

 

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Nuno Gomes: Cristiano Ronaldo has a lot left to achieve in his career

Veteran Portugal striker Nuno Gomes believes Cristiano Ronaldo has a lot left to achieve in his career.

Real Madrid forward Ronaldo has established himself as one of the best players in the world, scoring 160 times in just 155 appearances in all competitions for los Blancos.

The 27-year-old is in his fourth season at the Santiago Bernabeu, and Gomes has praised Ronaldo as one of the game’s best ever players, but is expecting a lot more from the Portugal international.

“He’s young and he still has a lot of things to do yet in football,” the 36-year-old told Sky Sports.

“He still has a lot of things to do at Real Madrid and I don’t know if he wants to move or not, even if another team wants him. In football, we never know.

“It’s not easy to stop him. For me he is one of the best that I’ve ever seen and it’s very hard to stop him if he has a good day.

"I’m glad that he’s Portuguese and that I don’t have to play against him.”

Meanwhile, Gomes, who is now plying his trade at Blackburn Rovers, is hoping for a new manager to be swiftly appointed at Ewood Park, after Steve Kean resigned in September.

“We have some problems now with the coach situation and everything but we are united and we know that we have to work hard to reach our goal,” he added.

“We want to return to the Premier League this year and will fight until the end to do that.”

 

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Del Bosque: Iniesta will 'almost certainly' play against Belarus and France

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has declared that Andres Iniesta is "almost certain" to play against Belarus and France.

The Barcelona star had been a doubt for La Roja's upcoming World Cup 2014 qualifiers after picking up a knock in last Sunday's El Clasico, but Del Bosque has revealed that the 28-year-old is likely to feature in both matches.

“Iniesta is a specific case, he could play both games perfectly, but we will focus," he told reporters at a press conference. "We have players on the roster who can replace him, but he will almost certainly play both games.”

The 61-year-old also gave his thoughts on the on-going dispute between Iniesta and Real Madrid defender Pepe, in the aftermath of the 2-2 draw at Camp Nou.

“These players do not know theater," he said. "Here everyone wants to be the purest and cleanest. Anyway, the players are focused on the match against Belarus, that's what's important right now."

Del Bosque then went on to warn his players against complacency when they take on Belarus on Friday, pointing to Bayern Munich's shock defeat at the hands of BATE Borisov as proof that any opponent should not be taken lightly.

“We are not clear who will win, in sport there is no guarantee,” he added. "Just ask Bayern Munich, who lost in this same stadium. We have watched the Belorussian team, mainly the last three games they've played. We've also paid attention to their Under-21 team and to BATE, we put eyes on their game against Bayern.”

 

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Fellaini sets sights on swift Everton comeback

Everton's Marouane Fellaini is hoping for a swift return to action after being forced out of international duty with a knee injury.

The Belgium international was unable to join up with the squad for two World Cup qualifying games against Serbia and Scotland after sustaining the knock in the Toffees’ 2-2 draw at Wigan.


David Moyes’ side faces QPR after the international break before the Merseyside derby at home to Liverpool, and Fellaini is eying the earliest comeback possible, but faces a race against time to make it back for the next two games.

"As you have probably seen and heard I am currently suffering from a knee injury," he told the club’s official website. "Fortunately it is not too serious but I will have to miss the two games with Belgium.

"I am hoping to be back playing for Everton as soon as possible."

The Belgian Football Association yesterday released a statement confirming that the 24-year-old will undergo rehabilitation in his home country, and estimated he would be out of action for at least three weeks.

Fellaini has been an influential figure for Everton so far this season, scoring three goals and helping guide the Toffees to fourth in the Premier League.

 

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Menezes: Pato must resolve injury problems

Brazil boss Mano Menezes has hailed Alexandre Pato's "extraordinary quality" but says the forward must resolve the injury problems that have hampered his start to the season.

The 23-year-old was part of the Selecao's silver medal-winning side at the Olympics during the summer, but has yet to make an official appearance for AC Milan this season due to an abductor complaint. The talented attacker has seen his early career blighted by injuries, but Menezes has stressed that the striker still has a big part to play for his national team once he resolves his current fitness problems.

"In my Brazil, Pato has played very little. Despite this, however, he is the second-best goalscorer of the team, which means that his quality is extraordinary," Menezes told Gazzetta dello Sport. "I'm looking forward for his return on the field, but the more important thing is that he heals once and for all."

Pato was restricted to just 17 appearances for the Rossoneri last season due to a string of injuries, and while Menezes maintains that he is still in his plans, he admitted he is baffled by the former Internacional man's continued problems.

"In my opinion his constant physical problems are not due solely to bad luck," Menezes said. "I talked about Pato with my medical staff, and they told me that he has no structural abnormality, so he is not a player destined to be injured. Therefore, we need to understand why there are so many accidents. Pato can return to be great, but this negative moment must end. I still look at him for my national team."

 

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Dempsey: Tottenham could have a special season

Clint Dempsey is confident Tottenham can have a successful season as long as it maintains its run of fine form.

Andre Villas-Boas endured a tough start to life in charge at White Hart Lane, failing to register a win in his first five games in charge, but Spurs’ fortunes have turned around with four straight Premier League victories.

Dempsey scored in Tottenham’s dramatic 3-2 win at Manchester United in September, and believes consistency will be the key to any success.

“It’s been good, we’re happy with the results we’ve been getting and the run of form that we’re on, although we’re still trying to put together two strong halves,” the 29-year-old told London 24. “The fans are used to seeing good football and seeing the positive results, and it’s our job to give that to them because we have the quality to do it.

“I think we’re showing that and we are getting results, but we’ve got to keep it going. It’s not just about a few games, it’s about a whole season being consistent and that’s what we’re working on. We’re in fifth place right now, trying to get more points, and trying to finish as high as possible. We’re in a good position and if we get the right type of results we can find ourselves going even higher than that.

“We’ll have to see as the season goes on what level we are really at, but I think we have the quality to do something special.”

Spurs’ next big test comes after the international break when they host league leaders Chelsea on Oct. 20, and Dempsey is confident they can keep their run going.

“We know that we can get results against the top teams away from home, like we did against United,” he added. "I think we showed a lot of character in the second half of that game to grind out a result, and it will be no different when we play Chelsea here in our next game at home.

“We’ll all be up for it and want to get the job done.”

 

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FA confirms Rooney will captain England against San Marino

Wayne Rooney will captain England in Friday's World Cup qualifying clash with San Marino at Wembley Stadium, the Football Association and Roy Hodgson have confirmed.
The Manchester United star will lead out the Three Lions in the absence of regular skipper Steven Gerrard - who is suspended following his dismissal against Ukraine - and Frank Lampard, who was forced to withdraw from the squad with a thigh injury sustained in Chelsea's victory over Norwich City on Saturday."It’s a great honor, something I’m really proud of and it’s a big challenge for myself," Rooney said at a pre-match press conference. "It’s something I’m really looking forward to, I’m excited and hopefully we’ll cap the day off with a good victory."

Explaining the decision, Hodgson said, "I’m really pleased about that [to have Rooney available]. I enjoyed working with Wayne, we had a good Euros. I enjoyed working with him there. I’ve been a bit disappointed of course when he got that terrible gash.

"I was even worried at the time that it would keep him out not only of the September games but also the October games. Luckily he’s made a very quick recovery and now he’s available for the games and will certainly captain the team in the first one."
It has been almost three years since Rooney last captained his country in a friendly against Brazil in Doha in November, 2009, a match the Three Lions lost 1-0.Rooney is yet to score for United this season but has been widely praised for his performances since returning from a gashed leg picked up against Fulham, helping set up two goals in Sunday's 3-0 away win over Newcastle.

 

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Suso eager to sign new deal at 'ideal club' Liverpool

Liverpool youngster Suso has signalled his desire to sign a new contract with the Reds, describing the club as "ideal" for him.

The 18-year-old joined the Merseyside outfit from boyhood club Cadiz in 2010 and made his first-team debut in the recent 5-3 UEFA Europa League win over Young Boys. With his current deal set to expire in the summer, the attacker has underlined his intention to pen new terms as soon as possible.



"Liverpool is the ideal club for me. I'll sign a new deal soon and be here for a long time. The fans can relax, it'll be done ASAP," Suso told the 'Al Primer Toque' show on Spanish radio station COPE.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has also revealed his willingness to offer the youngster a new contract following his impressive recent performances.

"He's in the last year of his contract, and it's something we will look at," Rodgers said in the Daily Mirror. "We did have a couple of offers for Suso in the summer, but I always said I didn't want him to go."

Suso also revealed that things changed for the worse at Liverpool under Roy Hodgson, after he had been tempted to join the club by the Englishman's predecessor Rafael Benitez.

"Rafa phoned me and convinced me to leave Cadiz CF. When he left us and Hodgson came in, everything was totally the opposite," he said.

 

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Khedira: Germany must improve

Sami Khedira has admitted that Germany will have to up its game if it is to maintain its perfect record in UEFA's 2014 World Cup qualification campaign.

The Real Madrid midfielder feels the his country was lucky to bag the full three points against Austria in September and has urged his side to improve in the upcoming matches against the Republic of Ireland and Sweden.

"We have the maximum score from our opening two game,s and nobody's taking that away from us; however, we also realize that we have to do more than we did against Faroe Islands and versus Austria in particular," Khedira said to the German federation's official website.

"We had a lot of luck in the match in Vienna, and that's not the way Germany should win games. We have to improve if we want to be successful against Ireland and Sweden. We can make a huge step forward if we beat them. Our group is pretty balanced with a lot of teams that are quite even. The advantage of that is that teams like Sweden, Ireland and Austria will spill points against each other."

 

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Ibrahimovic: I haven't reached my peak yet

Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has insisted that he still has room for improvement as he aims to become a better player.

The Sweden international has been in sublime form since moving to Parc des Princes from AC Milan over the summer, netting 10 goals in nine official appearances, but he is determined to keep on improving.

"Each day that you play and every match that you play, you get stronger in experience. I feel I am getting better with each year that passes and I'm playing in a manner that I want to play," the towering attacker told reporters. "The day I stop progressing is the day that I stop playing football."

Ibrahimovic then reflected on his performances so far this season, and stressed that he is not fully match fit yet.

"I am not yet at 100 percent fitness. I've scored goals and I've played well but I've had two matches when I wasn't good and my teammates know it."

The striker is currently away on international duty with Sweden as it prepares for Friday's World Cup qualifier against the Faroe Islands.

 

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Pique reignites war of words with Mourinho

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has struck another verbal blow in his ongoing dispute with Jose Mourinho.

The 25-year-old center back was absent for Sunday's 2-2 draw with Real Madrid, but was keen to reignite his personal war of words with the Portuguese coach after Barcelona maintained its eight-point advantage over its fierce rival.

"It is clear that there is not that same tension [towards Barcelona] that Mourinho had last season," Pique told Catalunya Radio. "Mourinho has realized that there is no need to look at Barcelona because you will not find any problems.

"Additionally, now it seems that he is looking for it in his own house."

Pique then insisted that the title race is still very much open despite Barca's early lead.

"The truth is that we expect a very good year, with many challenges and emotions," he explained. "The league is not won, it is true, but no one imagined a start so good Do not forget that in my first year we had 12 points and had to go to the Bernabeu to win the league."

The former Manchester United defender was also keen to praise Tito Vilanova, who has handled the task of succeeding Pep Guardiola with aplomb so far.

"He has won over the dressing room," said Pique. "He has something special. We anticipate some great years with him at the helm."

A foot injury has sidelined Pique for Spain's World Cup 2014 qualifier against Belarus, but the defender expects to be back for the Blaugrana's clash with relegation-threatened Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday, October 20.

"The injury is fine and I will be back against Depor."

 

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Brazil 6-0 Iraq: Kaka strikes on international return as Selecao romp to victory

Brazil secured a comfortable 6-0 over Iraq in Sweden, as a much-changed starting 11 dominated the game without the presence of a recognized number nine.

The Canarinho were looking for their fifth consecutive win, as Mano Menezes looks to re-instate his side as a major footballing superpower before the nation hosts the World Cup in 2014.

Brazil started the better of the two sides and its pressure quickly came to fruition, as two of the country's hottest prospects combined. Neymar slid a scything pass through the Iraqi defense, allowing Oscar to race through on goal and stroke the ball past the onrushing Sabri, to give Selecao a deserved lead in the 22nd minute.

Minutes later Oscar struck again, with Kaka picking up an assist, as the Real Madrid playmaker pulled the ball back to the edge of the six yard box for the youngster, who passed home comfortably for his second of the night.

The heroics of Sabri and the aid of the Iraqi woodwork kept the Asian side's deficit to only two goals at the halftime break, as Brazil dominated possession and chances, with Hulk, Kaka and David Luiz being denied.

Iraq failed to register a shot on target in the opening 45 minutes, with the majority of the football being played inside its own half, as it struggled to string passes together to break out of the Brazilian siege.

Sabri was immediately called into action in the second half as normal service was resumed, making a reaction save to deny Oscar a 47 minute hat trick. However, the early pressure did force a goal, as Kaka capped his return to the Brazil set-up with a powerful near post finish in the next passage of play.

In the 56th minute, the Samba Boys were celebrating yet again, as Hulk saw a deflected effort find its way past the helpless Iraqi goalkeeper, off the boot of an Iraqi defender.

Iraq almost pulled a goal back in the 60th minute, as it looked to land its first shot on target, but Younes Mahmoud was left frustrated as he saw his effort blocked en route to goal.

Total control was restored for Brazil in the 76th minute however, as the lively Neymar scored a wonderful goal, as the Santos star brought down a lofted ball, before curling an effort inside the far post. Substitute Lucas Moura added the sixth goal five minutes later, finishing easily from the edge of the box.

No more chances materialized for Selecao after Lucas's strike, as Brazil was happy to sit back and retain possession. Iraq finally managed to achieve a shot on target in stoppage time, in a game where it rarely threatened Diego Alves' goal.

After a commanding 6-0 win, which extends Brazil's current unbeaten run, coach Menezes will be satisfied with his side and pleased with Kaka's contribution on his return to the international stage.

 

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Liverpool forward Fabio Borini suffers foot fracture

Liverpool striker Fabio Borini has suffered a foot fracture while on international duty with Italy's Under-21 side.

The Italian was due to play Sweden on Friday in the Under-21 Championships but an MRI scan revealed the injury.

It also leaves Liverpool with a striker crisis, with Luis Suarez the team's only recognizable striker.

Manager Brendan Rodgers will now be relying on youngsters such as Adam Morgan and Samed Yesil to step up to the fore during Borini's rehabilitation.

It also leaves Italy's Under-21 manager Devis Mangia with a headache as he now has to patch up his side as it goes into a double-header with the Swedes. The return fixture is next week. Whoever wins books their place in the 2013 European Championship in Israel.

At his disposal now are strikers Giuseppe De Luca of Atalanta, Manolo Gabbiadini of Bologna, Ciro Immobile of Genoa and Samuele Longo of Espanyol.

The injury comes days after Borini called for 'the utmost concentration' over both legs as the Under-21 side beat Belarus 2-0 in the first leg, only to beaten 3-0 in the return fixture in 2010.

 

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It will be difficult to catch Barcelona, admits Khedira

Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira accepts that it will not be easy for his side to catch current league leader Barcelona, but he is not giving up just yet.



The Spanish champions have been inconsistent in La Liga so far this season and they currently sit eight points behind their Catalan rivals, a gap Khedira believes will be tough to bridge.

"Of course, it is difficult with a team as strong as Barcelona and with the difference in points between us and them," he was quoted as saying by Marca.

"We do not have our destiny in our own hands and it is not a good feeling to have to wait for them to falter.

"But we will give it our best. If we can win our games and show some consistency in doing so then I am sure that something good will happen."

Jose Mourinho's side drew 2-2 at Camp Nou on Sunday, and the former Stuttgart man has admitted that his teammates felt they could have come away with more than a point.

"We would have liked to win. The development of the game was very positive for us, so we were upset at not being able to defeat them," he added.

With the additions of Luka Modric and Michael Essien to the Madrid ranks, Khedira has seen more time on the bench this season, despite being a regular throughout the previous campaign. However, he remains convinced that he is an important player to his coach.

"Up to now, I have been lucky. I have been chosen to play in almost all the important matches. Mourinho knows what he does and what he has in me. This is my third year at Real, and when I've been fit I've almost always played," he continued.

The 25-year-old also reflected on Los Blancos' upcoming Champions League doubleheader against Borussia Dortmund.

"The evolution of Borussia is phenomenal. Marco Reus, Mario Gotze and Marcel Schmelzer are fantastic players. They put Manchester City up against the wall. Now they are one of the big teams, we know that," he concluded.

Khedira is currently in Dublin with the German national team as it prepares for its World Cup qualifier against Republic of Ireland on Friday.

 

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Huntelaar not distracted despite closing in on Netherlands scoring record

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has stated that he is not losing sight of "what really matters", despite closing in on the all-time Netherlands scoring record.

He took his tally to 33 with his goal in the 4-1 World Cup qualifying win over Hungary in September, and he is now closing in on Patrick Kluivert's haul of 40.

And while he admitted that he would like to break the record of Kluivert, who is now an Oranje coach under boss Louis Van Gaal, Huntelaar insists that he is focusing on the team as they bid to make it to Brazil 2014.

"Of course it would be nice and an honour, too," Huntelaar told Algemeen Dagblad. "Such accomplishments are the things you can look back on later, so of course I would like to. Patrick and I sometimes joke about it whenever we talk, but I'm not thinking about it too much, it only distracts from what really matters."

Huntelaar is currently with the Dutch squad as they prepare to face Andorra on Friday, before travelling to play Romania on Tuesday.

 

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Neuer: Germany must concentrate more to enjoy success

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has stressed the importance of having a strong defense - a facet to his side's game he believes must be worked on.

The Euro 2012 semifinalist has made a 100 percent start to its World cup qualifying campaign with two wins from two, yet, despite only conceding once, the Bayern Munich custodian thinks die Mannschaft still have room for improvement.

"We have to concentrate more, that is very important. We have got many great players in attack, but we cannot disregard the defense," he told TZ in an interview. "In my opinion, it is important to have a stable defense. Klose is the best example. His defensive qualities as a striker are outstanding."

The 26-year-old then went onto play down the claim made by club and international teammate Bastian Schweinsteiger that not every player put in their best effort during the summer's showpiece event in Poland and Ukraine.

"I did not see one man after the loss against Italy who was happy to go home. We were a unit," he added. "No one can rest. The competition is strong in our team. Everyone has to work hard to gain his place in the starting 11."