..::Football III::..

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Official: Southampton sign Tadic from FC Twente

Southampton have signed Serbia international Dusan Tadic from FC Twente, the club have announced.

The winger has signed a four-year deal at the club and becomes manager Ronald Koeman's first signing at St Mary's.

Southampton have seen Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert leave the club in this transfer window and are expected to significantly strengthen as a result of the departures, with Tadic the first step towards rebuilding their squad.

The 25-year-old enjoyed a stunning season for Twente in 2013-14, scoring 16 goals and providing 14 assists in 33 Eredivisie appearances.

Upon completing his move, he told Southampton's official website: “It is a really nice feeling to sign. This is a really nice club of which I have heard a lot of good things about.

“I have already seen the beautiful training centre and there are lots of nice people that work here including the coaches so I am really happy to be here.

“I watched a lot of [Southampton’s] games last season and saw that the club plays really nice football which will suit me because I like to play in the same way.

“The manager obviously knows me from the Dutch league so, when he called me and told me his plan, it was an easy decision to make.

“I know the manager well because he is one of the biggest Dutch legends in football – everyone knows him. He is a really good coach and you can always expect his teams to play well because he is leading them and because he is so good tactically. I am really excited to start playing for the club."

And Koeman also hailed the signing, and hinted at further moves in the close-season.

“It was very important to get this signing done – not only for me, but for the rest of the squad and for our fans," the Dutchman added. "It’s fantastic news.

“We’ve lost some good players but we want to continue the ambition and philosophy of the club, so it’s a great signal to have brought in our first player.

“He’s a great player. I know him very well from Holland, where he had a great season last year.

“We now look forward to bringing in more players because we want to continue and maybe even better what Southampton did last season.”

 

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M'Vila: I only want to join Inter

Yann M'Vila has revealed that he has his heart set on move to Inter and that the only thing he is lacking is Rubin Kazan's formal permission to join the Serie A side.

The French midfielder only joined the Russian outfit last season but a deal has been agreed that will see him join the Nerazzurri on loan for the 2014-15 campaign, with the option of a permanent switch next summer.

M'Vila has already undergone a medical in Milan but is now just awaiting the return of official documentation from Rubin to complete the move and insisted that there is no chance of him changing his mind or being tempted by 11th-hour offers from elsewhere.

"I only want Inter," the 24-year-old told Sky Sport Italia. "We will not leave Milan until we get the okay from Rubin.

"The medical visit went very well. We're only missing the okay."

M'Vila, who has 22 France caps to his name, joined Rubin from Stade Rennais for a reported €12 million.

 

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Robben: More to Argentina than Messi

Netherlands ace Arjen Robben has dismissed the notion that Argentina are a one-man team, claiming that there is more to Alejandro Sabella's side than Lionel Messi.

The Bayern Munich winger holds the Albiceleste attacker in the highest esteem but he does not feel that Oranje's World Cup semi-final opponents rely too heavily upon the four-time Ballon d'Or winner.

"Argentina have a huge player in him, true, but that does not mean that everything revolves only around Lionel Messi," Robben told reporters ahead of Tuesday's last-four showdown in Sao Paulo.

Meanwhile, Netherlands centre-back Stefan de Vrij insisted that he is not in the least bit perturbed by the prospect of dealing with Messi.

"I'm not afraid of anyone," the defender told Algemeen Dagbald. "Not even Messi.

"I am especially focused on him, but I’m not afraid of him. In fact, I am very happy to play against him.”

Netherlands are bidding to reach their second successive World Cup final, having been beaten 1-0 by Spain in the tournament decider in South Africa four years ago.

 

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Darren Fletcher relishes 'feisty' pre-season with Manchester United

Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher is excited at the prospect of a challenging pre-season tour of United States.

The Red Devils are due to visit the States later in July, with a minimum of four games against strong opposition. Following a clash with LA Galaxy, they will take part in the International Champions Cup, in which they will come up against Roma, Inter and Real Madrid.

Should they reach the final, Louis van Gaal's side will take on Manchester City, Liverpool, AC Milan or Olympiakos and Fletcher is looking forward to a tough build-up ahead of the 2014-15 season.

"You want to challenge yourself against the best and, although it's pre-season, if you're playing against someone like Real Madrid you are going to be against top-quality opposition," the Scot told the club's official website.

"It's like in training here: when we play in two teams it becomes quite competitive and you'll see the same in these tour matches.

"Once you get on that pitch it's competitive and you always want to win every game and every tournament you're involved in.

"I'm sure the sports science lads will be saying that it's all about minutes and not getting injured but sometimes these games can get feisty.

"It's what you want as you want to make an impression and impress the fans and the manager because you want to be in the team for the start of the season."

 

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Liverpool star Jose Enrique thrilled at return to fitness

After a season plagued by injuries, Liverpool full-back Jose Enrique is desperate to hit the ground running in the 2014-15 campaign.

The Spaniard made just eight Premier League appearances last term before a knee injury in November curtailed any further involvement.

However, with the Reds' new season set to begin on August 16 at home to Southampton, Enrique is approaching full fitness and cannot wait to get started.

"I've been here since last week and I'm really happy," he told the club's official website on his return to pre-season training.

"I've been waiting for this moment for so long. I'm feeling great.

"I'm really happy to try to be playing games again. I've been working in the summer and I've been here for the last week. I've been working quite a lot in fitness terms.

"You can work on your own but, when you work with other people, it's different.

"They told me little by little, I have to be careful, because I don't want a setback.

"I've been working with the physios; I only stopped for a week but for the rest of the holidays, I have been working because I have to be completely fit for this season."

 

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'If I get Italy job, Balotelli must grow up' - Mancini

Roberto Mancini says he "loves" Mario Balotelli but admitted he must "grow up" after revealing his desire to become Italy boss.

Mancini left his post at Galatasaray at the end of the season, after guiding the club to a second-place finish in his sole campaign at the helm of the Super Lig outfit.

Despite signing a two-year contract extension ahead of the World Cup, Italy's first-round exit prompted Cesare Prandelli to depart as national team boss, and he has since taken up the role vacated by Mancini in Istanbul.

That move has paved the way for Mancini to take over as Italy head coach, and the former Manchester City and Inter boss would be humbled to be offered the job.

"Italy would be an honour for me," he told Corriere dello Sport. "No one called me but I would be proud.[The] FIGC [Italian Football Association] need serious and competent men."He added: "The national team were too old? The age does not matter.

"I love [Mario] Balotelli, but he must grow up. With [Marco] Verratti and [Ciro] Immobile, the team can be reconstructed."

Mancini worked with Balotelli during spells as Inter and Manchester City boss, but on both occasions the pair became embroiled in heated disputes over the striker's disciplinary issues.

 

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Nike to end Manchester United kit deal

Nike have confirmed they will not sponsor Manchester United's kit after the 2014-15 season.

The sportswear giant has been kit sponsors of the Premier League club for the last 12 years - taking over from former suppliers Umbro - with the upcoming campaign scheduled to be the last of their current deal.

Recent reports had suggested that Nike and United had failed to reach an agreement over an extension, and the US company confirmed on Tuesday they did not feel the terms demanded by the club were acceptable.

"Manchester United is a great club with passionate fans," Nike said in a statement released to Perform.

"We are proud to have partnered with them for the last 12 years and will continue to sponsor the club until the end of the 2014-15 season.

"Any partnership with a club or federation has to be mutually beneficial and the terms that were on offer for a renewed contract did not represent good value for Nike’s shareholders.

"We look forward to a successful final season with the club."

United unveiled their kit for the 2014-15 campaign on Monday, complete with new shirt sponsor Chevrolet.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester United kit sponsors la wenas wena 1ka hodai mata hithena hatiyatanam

Adidas​

 

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Maradona: I learned a lot from 'maestro' Di Stefano

Diego Maradona has paid tribute to Alfredo Di Stefano, hailing the Real Madrid icon's impact upon his own career.The 88-year-old Argentinian, who passed away on Monday following cardiac arrest, enjoyed a glittering career in football, winning eight La Liga titles and five European Cups in 11 seasons with los Blancos.

Maradona spent two seasons at Madrid's great rivals Barcelona, who had initially claimed to have signed Di Stefano when he arrived in Spain in 1953, and the former forward revealed how influential his compatriot had been on his own career."For me he was a maestro, he taught me a lot," the 53-year-old said on Telesur programme 'De Zurda'.

"I remember a lot of great moments of his and truthfully football today is grieving because a great died today, not just a player, but a person. He was a terrific person."

The Argentina national side also lamented the passing of the great forward, who played six times for the Albiceleste as well as twice for Colombia and 31 times with Spain.

"Whilst I didn't see him play, my father and grandfather spoke about Alfredo and his play a lot," Javier Mascherano said.

"He was a gift to world football, and without doubt we will miss him a lot. He did so much for this sport, and all that he left means he is a true legend." Gonzalo Higuain echoed his team-mate's sentiments in hailing one of the greatest players of all time."He helped me a lot when I was younger and arrived in Madrid," the Napoli striker said.

"He was always close and treated me brilliantly. I can't say any more about my thanks and how much his passing hurts. He deserves all the demonstrations of warmth that the world of football is paying him."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Brazil 1-7 Germany: Klose makes World Cup history as hosts suffer semi-final obliteration

Germany have reached the World Cup final after they annihiliated hosts Brazil 7-1 in their semi-final clash in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday.

Shorn of injured playmaker Neymar, who suffered a fractured vertebra in the quarter-final against Colombia, and suspended captain Thiago Silva, Brazil were torn apart by a ruthless Germany at Estadio Mineirao.

Miroslav Klose became the leading scorer in World Cup finals history as Joachim Low's side scored four goals in the space of six first-half minutes and led 5-0 after only 29 minutes, then struck twice in the second half to set up a final against either Netherlands or Argentina at the Maracana on Sunday.

Thomas Muller set the ball rolling with his fifth of the tournament and veteran striker Klose netted his 16th World Cup goal, surpassing legendary Brazil striker Ronaldo's tally as the shell-shocked Selecao were totally outclassed.

Brazil had no answer to Germany's passing and movement as Toni Kroos struck twice and Sami Khedira added a fifth before substitute Andre Schurrle scored twice in the second half as the hosts were totally humiliated in the most emphatic semi-final win in World Cup history.

Oscar pulled back a late goal on the break, but it was no consolation on a miserable night for Brazil.

Germany were a class apart and Brazil fans sportingly applauded as they became the first team to score seven goals in a World Cup semi-final and will take some beating as they attempt to win the trophy for the first time since 1990, while the inquest will now start for the home nation.

The hosts started brightly against Colombia in the quarter-finals, but looked nervous early on and Germany took full advantage when Muller put them in front just 11 minutes in courtesy of some dreadful defending.

It was all too straightforward for the Bayern Munich forward, who side-footed home after being left unmarked from an outswinging Kroos corner.

Brazil looked disjointed as they gave the ball away far too easily, while Germany were playing with a swagger and doubled their lead with a landmark Klose goal after 23 minutes.

Muller was involved once again, as he cut in from the right and laid the ball off for Klose after being picked out by an incisive Kroos pass. The veteran striker slotted into the corner with his right foot after Julio Cesar had kept out his initial attempt.

Luiz Felipe Scolari's men were stunned, but far worse was to come as Germany capitalised on more shambolic defending to score another three goals in the space of five minutes.

First, Kroos was on hand to fire home with his left foot from 18 yards after Muller had failed to make contact with a Philipp Lahm pass, then the midfielder struck again almost straight from the kick-off as Brazil fell apart.

The Bayern Munich man robbed Fernandinho as he dithered in possession and laid the ball off for Khedira, who unselfishly cut it back for his fellow midfielder to net.

And the outstanding Khedira got in on the act by adding a fifth with only 29 minutes gone, driving forward and passing to Mesut Ozil and then finishing with his right foot after the Arsenal midfielder cut the ball back to him inside the penalty area.

Scolari replaced Fernandinho and Hulk with Paulinho and Ramires at half-time and both substitutes were in the thick of the action early in the second half as they brought saves out of Manuel Neuer.

But normal service was resumed as Germany showed no mercy and Cesar produced a fine save to tip over Muller's goal-bound striker on the hour mark.

Cesar could do nothing to deny substitute Schurrle a sixth goal 69 minutes in, though, and once again it was all too easy as Lahm fed Khedira, who in turn picked out the Chelsea forward and he made no mistake with a simple finish.

And Schurrle put Germany in seventh heaven with a clinical left-foot finish at the near post 11 minutes from time that prompted Brazil fans to sportingly applaud despite their heartbreak.

Oscar pulled a goal back when he cut inside Jerome Boateng and finished a minute from time, but the damage had long since been done.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Klose breaks Ronaldo record

Miroslav Klose has become the top goalscorer in World Cup history after scoring in Germany's semi-final against Brazil on Tuesday.

The 36-year-old struck in the first half against the host nation, tapping home from point-blank range after Julio Cesar had denied him at the first attempt.

Since his last World Cup in 2006, Ronaldo's record tally of 15 goals in the competition had remained untouched, but Klose has now surpassed that tally at last in his fourth tournament.

The Lazio striker netted five goals at the 2002 World Cup, five times four years later, four in 2010 and now twice during this summer's showpiece.

Ronaldo amassed his strikes across three tournaments, in 1998, 2002 and 2006 - and lifted the famous trophy once along the way, 12 years ago this summer.

Klose, 36, started the tournament level on goals with compatriot, Gerd Muller, who starred in the 1970 and 1974 tournaments and boasts an incredible ratio of 1.08 goals per World Cup games.

Klose, who was born in Poland, made his Germany debut as a substitute on March 24, 2011 and marked the occasion with a goal.

He struck again against Greece just four days later - despite being afforded just 33 minutes over the course of his first two international outings - and the goals just never stopped coming, particularly in major tournaments.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Congratulations Klose!

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Matanam hithenne Germany thamai FIFA World 2014 clear favourites!Agollange hodama playersla wena Reus,Gundogan & Bendner nathuwai mehema play karanneanith 1ka okkoma playersla wage agollangen balaporotthu wena 100% team 1kata denawa

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Klose breaks Ronaldo record

congratz Klose

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Netherlands have their own Messi in Robben - Sabella

Arjen Robben is as important to Netherlands as Lionel Messi is to Argentina, according to Alejandro Sabella.

The two stars will come head to head in Sao Paulo in the World Cup semi-finals on Wednesday night as their respective nations battle it out to meet Germany in Sunday’s final.

And Sabella insists that Messi remains the better player, but says the Dutch could be just as buoyed by the form of Robben as his own side will be by the four-time Ballon d’Or winner.

“He is a very dangerous player when one against one, so we have to pay special attention to him. When he gets a bit of speed up, it is more difficult to take away the ball from him,” Sabella told a press conference on Tuesday.

“I think he is a great player, very important for Netherlands, like Neymar is to Brazil or Messi for Argentina. But Messi is the best of them all.”Wednesday’s fixture will represent Argentina’s first World Cup semi-final appearance in 24 years, but Sabella claims there will be no greater pressure on his side than usual.

“The pressure is always there. [Getting to the semi-finals] was an extra pressure, I have no doubt. Now it’s a different kind of pressure.“We enjoyed the quarter-final win over Belgium for a short moment, but we have to save energy, the celebrations have to be modest and we have to think about recovering strength because this goes on and it becomes more difficult.”

Some have painted the match as an opportunity for Argentina to gain revenge for their quarter-final loss to Netherlands in 1998, but the coach insists there will be no such talk from him.

“Those are ugly words, revenge and vengeance, especially vengeance. This is football and those words are not in my dictionary.”The clash at the Arena Corinthians kicks off at 22:00CET on Wednesday.

 

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Everton complete Barry signing from Manchester City

Everton have made their first signing of the summer, with Gareth Barry moving to Goodison Park on a three-year deal from Manchester City.

The veteran midfielder spent last season on loan with the Toffees where he enjoyed a productive campaign, helping fuel the club's ultimately unsuccessful bid for Champions League football.

And Roberto Martinez has opted to sign the 33-year-old permanently after his contract with City came to an end, as the Spaniard aims to bolster his squad to make a renewed charge for the top four this season.

"I've learned so much from the boss, it's a great set of players and the fans are fantastic - everything about Everton feels right," said Barry upon completing the transfer.

Martinez added: "We all know the type of player Gareth is and the type of person he is. He will fit perfectly well into what we are at Everton."

Barry made 175 appearances in all competitions over five years with City, winning the FA Cup and Premier League during his time at Etihad Stadium.

The former Aston Villa man has also been capped 53 times for England, though he was overlooked by Roy Hodgson for England's ill-fated World Cup campaign in Brazil.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Muller hails 'crazy' Brazil thrashing

Thomas Muller could not hide his delight with Germany's 7-1 victory over Brazil in the World Cup semi-finals, describing the result as "crazy."

Germany launched an onslaught with a flurry on first-half goals, Muller opening the scoring before Miroslav Klose, Sami Khedira and two from Toni Kroos left the hosts trailing 5-0 at half-time.

Andre Schurrle added two more after the break and, though Oscar managed to grab a consolation for the Selecao, Muller could not disguise his shock at such a remarkable victory."Of course, you couldn't expect that," the 24-year-old told ZDF.

"That shows how different games can be. Brazil played differently than defensive teams and we took advantage of this in an extraordinary way. It was just crazy."
However, as Germany look forward to a final with either Argentina or Netherlands at the Maracana on Sunday, the Bayern Munich forward urged his team-mates not to get carried away."You should keep a sense of proportion," he continued.

"Every match is different. Just like everyone talked us down after the match against Algeria, they will hype us now. We are a squad with big quality, with an awesome team."Muller's words were echoed by Miroslav Klose, whose goal allowed him to surpass Brazil's Ronaldo to become the World Cup's all-time top scorer with 16 - although he abstained from his traditional somersault celebration.

"We had a great start," the 36-year-old said."You can see in training that we can play together. We really are a unit. It is important that set-pieces work, you could see that today again when we scored the first [following a corner].

"Toni [Kroos] passes the ball where it needs to go - that's a real strength. I did no flip [after my goal] because someone kicked my foot when I shot before."