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Indonesians in M`sia urged to support "Garuda" team

Jakarta - Ruling Democratic Party leader Anas Urbaningrum called on Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia to show their real support for the Indonesian soccer team when meeting the host country`s team in Kuala Lumpur on December 26.

"We hope our brothers and sisters, migrant workers, would support of our team when it meets Malaysia in the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup`s final match on December 26," he said here Monday.

The Indonesian embassy in Kuala Lumpur was expected to enable the Indonesian migrant workers to watch the "Garuda" (Eagle) team at the Kuala Lumpur soccer stadium, he said.

"Our embassy is expected not only to facilitate our workers but also to help smooth their effort to come to the stadium," he said.

Indonesian soccer team`s striker Christian Gonzales said he was ready for scoring goals in the final match of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 with Malaysia on December 26 and 29.

"I am always ready if my coach picked me," he told newsmen after playing in the second leg of the AFF Suzuki Cup`s semifinal against the Philippines team here Sunday evening.

The only goal that secured Indonesia`s victory was made by Gonzales, naturalized Indonesian citizen married to an Indonesian.

In the first leg, Indonesia also defeated the Philippines with one goal also scored by Gonzales who came from Uruguay.

He said he would always do his best to bring victory to his team at anytime. But, his success in scoring goals was actually the result of a solid team work, he said.

"I cannot score goals if there is no solid support from the other players. Therefore scoring goals is the result of all players` hard work," said the naturalized playmaker who once played for Persib Bandung.

Gonzales who married Eva Siregar was publicly regarded as the one who had brought the national team to the grand final match due to be held in Malaysia on December 26 and in Indonesia on December 29.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who watched the semifinal match at Bung Karno soccer stadium here Sunday evening praised the Indonesian soccer team`s victory and spectacular performance.

However, the head of state urged the Indonesian players to focus on their final match with Malaysia.

"Don`t be inattentive. Keep concentrating on the final match with Malaysia," he said.

President Yudhoyono and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono watched the spectacular game along with tens of thousands of Indonesian fans, including senior politicians, top government officials and cabinet members.

The AFF committee decided that the two legs of the Indonesia-the Philippines` semifinals will be held at Bung Karno soccer stadium because the AFF regarded the Philippines` soccer stadium did not meet the international standards. (R013/F001/S026)

Source: http://www.antaranews.com

Indonesia's Football Team Into the AFF Cup Final

By Sandy Pramuji & Wimbo Satwiko

or the weak of heart,” Indonesia coach Alfred Riedl said.

“It was difficult to win the last time, but the Philippines made it even harder for us.”

Next up for Indonesia is Malaysia in what promises to be an emotionally charged two-leg final that will open in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday and end at Bung Karno Stadium on Dec. 29

Malaysia, the reigning Southeast Asian Games champion, secured its place in the AFF Cup final, its first since the inaugural tournament in 1996, by ousting 2008 champion Vietnam 2-0 on aggregate.

The Malaysians’ only defeat in this year’s Cup came against Indonesia — a 5-1 thrashing during the group stage.

Indonesia is heading back to the AFF Cup final for the first time since 2004 when it lost to Singapore 5-2 on aggregate.

Gonzales figured in a number of scoring chances early in the game, but the Persib Bandung striker couldn’t cash in.

One of those opportunities came just past the 20th minute mark when the naturalized Uruguay forward took a short pass in front of an unmanned goal from one of his teammates, but couldn’t control the ball which rolled past his legs.

In the 41st minute, Gonzales received a long pass at the penalty box with only goalkeeper Neil Etheridge to beat but his attempt went wide.

His frustration and those of some 85,000 fans at the Bung Karno Stadium would end a minute later though.

With a phalanx of Philippines defenders standing between him and the goal, Gonzales fired a long-range shot that bounced hard off Filipino defender Robert Gier and back to Gonzales.

Not to be denied, Gonzales found some space on his left and launched a missile from way outside the penalty area that was well out of Etheridge’s reach and landed high on the left-side net.

The Philippines was in disarray through most of the game and never found a clear target, with most of their shots coming from beyond 40 meters and none having a chance.

After the break, Indonesia was determined to double its lead, but Etheridge made sure the Filipinos would bow out of the tournament with their heads held high by stopping shots from Zulkifli Syukur and Muhammad Ridwan early in the second half.

“We had our chances in the second half but we just made a lot of bad decisions,” Riedl said.

“We weren’t looking for a good game today, but we were looking to go to the final.”

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com

"Irfan Bachdim" New Talents Indonesian Football

Irfan Bachdim is a footballer who played in the Indonesian National Team and has become a new idol in Indonesia. He is a naturalized player of Dutch descent who was born in Amsterdam. His father, Noval Bachdim, is an Indonesian while his mother is Dutch.

Irfan Bachdim prefer to defend the Indonesian National Team and has proved his ability when Indonesia against Malaysia in the opening match of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 with the victory 5-1 to Indonesia. He has become the hope of the people of Indonesia to win every match and become a champion of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010.

The quality and ability Irfan Bachdim actually not much different from other Indonesian players, such as Bambang Pamungkas, Oktovianus Maniani and Christian Gonzalez is a player other naturalized Uruguayan origin. But Irfan Bachdim opportunities as the new idol and star player football is very open compared to other players.

Viva Indonesia, we hope that Indonesian National Team will be the champion of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 and became a new force in Southeast Asia, Asia and the World. We await the appearance of the Indonesian National Team that scintillating and surprising world of football.

Source: http://www.allvoices.com

President praises national team`s performance at Asean Cup

Karangasem, Bali - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has praised the national football team`s performance at the ASEAN Football Championship.

The president made the commendation in remarks at the opening of a shrimp production center in Bugbug village, Karangasem district, on Monday.

"This is a good start. It proves that Indonesia can be successful in football," the president said.

But he also cautioned the Indonesian football team not remain content with its victory at the ASEAN championship where it had beaten Malaysia 5-1 and Laos 6-1. The president asked the team members to make its win a spur to further improve its performance in the days ahead.

The President recalled the moment when he last watched a friendly match between Indonesian and Uruguay. At the time, Indonesia was beaten 1-7 by the World Cup 2010 finalist.

"I felt sad at the time. But the national team has since continued to develop its capability and we can see the result now," said Yudhoyono. (*)

Source: http://www.antaranews.com

RI official satisfied with four golds

Jakarta - The chairman of the Indonesian contingent to the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, said he was satisfied with the four gold medals the Indonesian athletes had won so far in the events.

"We are satisfied enough with the four gold medals which we have snatched until today. This is a special achievement for us," contingent chairman Suhartono Suratman said at the office of the Indonesian Consulate General in Guangzhou, on Tuesday.

He admitted however that Indonesian athletes failed to present the best for the country in several sports branches on which Indonesia actually rest its hopes.

Suhartono said that with that failure it would pose a potential threat in the next Sea Games in Indonesia next year.

The sports branches are wushu and beach volleyball. Indonesian athletes failed to present their best achievements in these branches, he said.

"We should not be careless. we should have strong spirit in developing ourselves in branches where we failed," he said.

Up to Tuesday, Indonesia has collected four gold, eight silver and 10 bronze medals in the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.(*)

Source: http://www.antaranews.com

Ballack: England one of the favourites

Germany captain Michael Ballack considers England to be “one of the favourites” to win next summer’s World Cup in South Africa.

The Chelsea midfielder believes Fabio Capello could lead England to a first major title since 1966, and admits his own nation is lagging a bit behind.

“They have a great team and many players with exceptional individual class,” he told the Rheinische Post newspaper.

“With Fabio Capello, they now have a manager who has brought stability. That is important and the team feels that.

“They have got to be able to win games even when they are not playing at the highest level and that is what Italian managers are good at, particularly Capello.

“England are oozing self-confidence and I can sense that here. They are one of the favourites.”

Other favourites, according to Ballack, are Brazil, Italy and France – but not necessarily Germany.

“At a World Cup, everything has got to work, and then even more – you need luck,” he added.

“There are certainly teams who are better than us at the moment.”

That may well include his club Chelsea, who he feels have a better chance of winning the Champions League this season than Germany do of triumphing in South Africa.

“Of course that (the Champions League) is the title that one wants to win, especially when you have a squad like ours,” he said.

“But if you also have a chance to win the league, then that is once again a big aim.

“At a certain stage of the season, you reach the point where the strain is very high and then you have to decide which competition you want to focus on in particular.

“We have such a good squad and class that we can compete in both competitions.”

And Ballack believes that even if it were not to work out for the Blues this season, he would still have more chances to succeed, even though his contract expires in the summer.

“We will sit down together and talk soon,” he added. “But I am not under any pressure.

“Both parties know what they have in each other.”

Source: http://www.footballcupleague.com

Captain Ballack urges Germany to raise their game

Berlin – Germany captain Michael Ballack on Thursday urged the Euro 2008 finalists to raise their game for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Liechtenstein to banish the memories of their recent defeats.

The 32-year-old Chelsea star is demanding a raised effort in Leipzig from his side who have lost their last two home games: a 2-1 defeat to England last November and a 1-0 defeat to Norway in February.

Germany have not suffered back-to-back home defeats since 1956 and Ballack says only a convincing win over Liechenstein, ranked 151st in the world, will suffice.

"We simply have to play better and put in a better performance," Ballack told sports magazine Kicker.

"And it will happen."

Germany are top of their qualifying group and are unbeaten with three wins and a draw to give them a four-point lead over their main group rivals Russia.

But the Germans travel to Moscow in October for the tie which could decide the group and Ballack says it is crucial Germany win both their next two games against Liechtenstein and then Wales in Cardiff on April 1.

"Even if we don’t win these games by much, the result is very important," said Ballack.

"We must win these games and stay on course to be group leaders in the autumn when we travel to Moscow.

"We have laid the foundations for some important games which, figuratively speaking, will decide the life or death of who reaches the World Cup.

"As captain, that is something I am trying to point out."

And Ballack says he has no worries about whether Germany will reach next year’s World Cup which takes place in South Africa from June 11 to July 11.

"We will qualify for the World Cup," insisted Ballack.

"We will get through the qualifying group, even if things get a bit tight.

"After that, we will meet the big teams and we will have to play at a higher level against the type of teams like Spain, who we lost to at the Euro.

"Everybody must have an eye on the bigger picture, that is important."

Germany’s defeat to Norway in February shocked the national media and the squad can ill-afford another upset against minnows Liechtenstein.

"We can play good football, but in addition we have to have discipline and order," said Ballack who will win his 91st cap on Saturday.

"It is part of our mentality and if we don’t have it then we struggle, even against the likes of Norway."

Having sparked a media spat with coach Joachim Loew last autumn by accusing him of not showing senior players enough respect and loyalty, Ballack says he has not changed his leadership style, but is more flexible.

"My leadership style is the same as it always was and I haven’t changed it," he said.

"I have developed it, but not changed it.

"I am always open to new ideas, but you can’t always be right."

And Ballack says certain differences of opinion are healthy in a team environment.

"There must be some tensions in a team, which you can’t always wipe away or smooth over.

"Things aren’t always full of sunshine, there has to be friction at times as well."

Written by: AFP

Source: http://www.footballcupleague.com

Russia and Qatar Selections Challenge the Past and Future of Global Game

By Rob Hughes

The World Cup in Russia in 2018 will be spread across by far the biggest country in Europe. Then, four years later, the tournament in Qatar, an oil-rich land of only 1.7 million people, will be the most compact ever.

The selection of the two countries on Thursday by FIFA, football’s world governing body, surprised the audience of politicians, royalty and even a few football players in Zurich. It was the first time FIFA had chosen the hosts for two World Cups together.

In its choices, FIFA challenged the history of the game and perceptions of the future.

In both countries, there is no existing football structure to mount the world’s biggest sporting event, which demands stadiums and extensive public works for 32 countries to play 64 matches.

And the vote opened up the field to the former superpower of Eastern Europe and to a rising financial power in the Middle East.

The winning bids were backed by gargantuan budgets.

Anyone has known for two years that Russia and especially Qatar were spending huge resources from their oil and gas riches to win the monthlong football extravaganza.

The sheikdom based its bid on a vision of building nine stadiums, air-conditioned by power from the heat of a desert sun.

Many nations bid against them.

England, the motherland of association football, and the combined bids of Spain-Portugal and the Netherlands-Belgium all sought the 2018 Cup.

The United States, Japan, South Korea and another fresh ground for football, Australia, bid for the 2022 event.

Russia’s and Qatar’s ability to outspend them all in the bidding stakes was not necessarily tainted by corruption allegations against FIFA’s executive committee.

Quite possibly the source of those allegations — the British media — cost England votes because its bid, one of the most appealing in terms of organization and infrastructure, did not survive the first round of voting.

One of the first actions prompted by the announcement of the decision was that a plane was scrambled to take Prime Minister Vladimir Putin of Russia from Moscow to Zurich.

Described as the captain of Russia’s bid team, Putin unexpectedly boycotted the end of the bidding process on Wednesday and Thursday, sending a deputy instead.

But, he said, should Russia win, he would be in Zurich by the quickest possible route.

It was, it turned out, a clever move. Putin was able to denounce others, notably the English, whose prime minister, David Cameron, lobbied hard in Zurich, for “pressurizing” FIFA.

He was able to distance himself from what he called the smear tactics of the allegations against FIFA’s committee.

And he was able to send a capable first deputy prime minister, Igor Shuvalov, who had an advantage Putin lacks.

He could speak, in excellent English, to the committee at the 11th-hour presentation to FIFA.

“Russia has had many tragic days, and a history more tragic than any other in the last century,” Shuvalov told the committee.

“But for 20 years now we are building a new country, and we can achieve that better and quicker with your help.”

The new Russia that was under construction, Shuvalov said, will overcome its vast territorial distances by offering free transportation to ticket holders.

And Russia will not require separate visas for fans who arrive with a ticket for the games.

No one quite knows whether the final day presentations achieved votes. The perception is that the 22 FIFA members’ minds were already made up.

The combined bid of Spain and Portugal was reported to have had a mutual support pact with Qatar. It had guaranteed support from the committee’s Latin Americans.

And in a late play for votes, Spaniard Angel Villa Llona, a vice president on FIFA’s executive committee, addressed his fellow members on Thursday with a swipe at the British media.

“FIFA is a clean institution,” Villa Llona said. “You are all honest, hardworking people.”

But his passion did not move sufficient votes and the Spanish-Portuguese presentation was criticized as too long and dull.

David Beckham’s emotional plea on behalf of England failed to sway the decision makers as well.

But maybe Sheika Mozah bint Nasser al-Missned, the second of the emir of Qatar’s three wives, did manage to move the committee on Wednesday.

“I would like to ask you a question,” she began. “When ...” and paused. “When do you think is the right time for the World Cup to come to our region?”

Qatar had many strands to its bid. Its proposal to build the most compact tournament ever, to construct futuristic stadiums, its pledge for a carbon neutral event all pushed boundaries.

Thursday’s efforts in the voting chamber, backed by renowned sporting Muslims like Zinedine Zidane, won the hearts and minds of the voters.

FIFA has bought a two-way ticket into the unknown. There may be good cause to challenge the secretive committee in charge of the world game.

But there is no doubt now about its willingness to buy into a future for the World Cup that until Thursday nobody foresaw.

The New York Times

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com

Underachieving Madrid banks on Mourinho to deliver

A season after breaking the bank on a squad of "galactico" players that failed to deliver a single title, Real Madrid is banking on coach Jose Mourinho to turn an underachieving squad of stars into champions.

Madrid president Florentino Perez wasted little time in securing the Portuguese coach's services after he led Inter Milan to the Champions League trophy at Madrid's own Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in May.

Now, the self-proclaimed "Special One" faces his biggest challenge yet as he looks to turn around the fortunes of football's biggest club.

"Real Madrid is a unique team in how it generates such enormous expectations, it's been the best club of the 20th century," Mourinho said. "I've had little time here so far but I'm already aware of what this team is and I want to go down in the history of Real Madrid."

Counting on players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Xabi Alonso, Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas means the pressure is high - especially after another early exit from Europe last season and the humiliating Copa del Rey exit when it lost 4-0 to third-tier Alcorcon.

Madrid set a club record for points last season but two defeats by Barcelona proved the difference as its biggest rival won the league for a second straight season.

With the exits of Raul Gonzalez and Jose Maria "Guti" Gutierrz, Mourinho is set to spearhead a new age at Madrid, led by Ronaldo.

"Cristiano is very happy," Mourinho said. "He'll have a magnificent season under me."

After spending over euro250 million ($343 million) on players last summer, Madrid has been relatively quiet this time around with Argentina winger Angel Di Maria's arrival from Benfica for euro25 million ($31.7 million) its most expensive transfer. Madrid also signed Germany standout Sami Khedira from Stuttgart, Getafe midfielder Pedro Leon and longtime Mourinho favorite Ricardo Carvalho from Chelsea.

The arrivals of teenager Sergio Canales from Racing Santander and Germany playmaker Mesut Oezil from Werder Bremen are shaping up to be the most important, with Kaka out until December following knee surgery.

"(Oezil) is a creative player who is more offensive than (Fernando) Gago or Lassana (Diarra). He's got similar qualities to Canales," Mourinho said. "(Canales) is a player I like a lot. If he doesn't change, he'll get a lot of minutes in this team."

While Ronaldo and striker Gonzalo Higuain guarantee goals, Mourinho's biggest task might be in getting the best out of Karim Benzema, who has largely been a disappointment since a euro35 million ($44 million) move from Lyon last summer.

"Mentally I'm very strong and I'm convinced I'm going to score a lot of goals," Benzema said.

Carvalho will also be pressed into action immediately as Madrid is without injured center backs Pepe, Raul Albiol and Ezequiel Garay for its Aug. 29 opener against Mllorca.

Madrid's players have become quick believers in Mourinho, with Oezil saying his decision to move to the Spanish capital was all down to playing under Mourinho.

Goalkeeper Casillas said of his new coach: "He's got a lot of hope and desire to do things well. He's got a young group keen to achieve things. We have no reason to envy Barcelona."

Mourinho himself is keen on making history.

"I want to be the only one to have won the three most important leagues in the world: Spain, Italy and England," Mourinho said.

Barcelona will be Mourinho's biggest worry as it fields eight players from Sain's World Cup winning team.

But Mourinho is already familiar with Barcelona - where he previously worked as an assistant coach - from his infamous clashes while coach at Chelsea and Inter, which eliminated the defending European champions in last season's semifinals.

Mourinho is ready for the challenge - it may just be a question of whether Madrid is ready for him. (Paul Logothetis)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com

Liverpool, PSV Eindhoven face Europa League battle

Former European champions Liverpool and PSV Eindhoven face a battle to reach the group stages of the Europa League in the second legs of their qualifying playoffs on Thursday.

English side Liverpool travels to Turkey with only a 1-0 lad from its first leg against Trabzonspor at Anfield last week, courtesy of Ryan Babel's goal.

In unfamiliar territory after failing to qualify for the Champions League last season, Liverpool risk missing out on making the group stages of Europe's second-tier club competition.

"Whether the margin of victory is enough, only time will tell, but we can at least go there with a lead and having not conceded a goal," manager Roy Hodgson said.

Liverpool is yet to win in the Premier League this season, its 3-0 defeat at Manchester City following a goalless draw at home to Arsenal.

The five-time European champion should welcome back attacking midfielder Joe Cole from domestic suspension but is set to be without Javier Mascherano, who "isn't in the right frame of mind at the moment to play," according to Hodgson, after being the subject of a bid from Barcelona.

PSV fared worse in its opening match in the playoffs, losing 1-0 to Russian side Sibir Novosibirsk after having Francisco Rodriguez sent off in the first half. The Dutch club, which won the European Cup in 1988, conceded a goal to Aleksandr Degtyarev in the second minute of injury time.

PSV at least recovered from its European setback by winning in its domestic championship, 3-1 against AZ Alkmaar on Sunday.

"We're happy to have bounced back from the defeat at FC Sibir. I asked the players to switch over and that's what they've done," coach Fred Rutten said.

Rodriguez will miss the second leg after being handed a one-match ban following his sending-off.

Meanwhile, fallen Italian giant Juventus has a 2-1 lead over Sturm Graz to take into the return leg thanks to a stoppage-time winner by Brazilian striker Amauri.

Aston Villa, which is level at 1-1 with Rapid Vienna, will look to avoid being eliminated in the Europa League playoffs by the Austrian team for the second year running.

Fellow English side Manchester City will be without first-leg match-winner Mario Balotelli for its return match against FC Timisoara, which lost 1-0 in Romania last week. The Italy forward is still nursing an injury sustained late in the first leg.

Elsewhere, Turkish sides Fenerbahce and Galatasaray are struggling to make it through. Galatasaray drew 2-2 at home to Karpaty Lviv of Ukraine and Fenerbahce lost 1-0 at PAOK Salonika in the first leg. (The Associated Press)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com

Raul scores twice as Schalke beat St Pauli 3-0

Berlin - Raul struck twice and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar also got on the scoresheet as Schalke 04 beat St Pauli 3-0 on Friday to move out of the relegation zone after only their second Bundesliga win this season.

Former Real Madrid striker Raul grabbed his first after 14 minutes when Japanese Atsuto Uchida cut the ball into the box, Huntelaar failed to connect at the near post and the Spaniard slid the ball home from five metres.

The 33-year-old Raul took his tally to three for the season, again from close range, nine minutes from time after Dutchman Huntelaar headed his sixth of the campaign after the break.

Only days ago Raul was told by coach Felix Magath to stop dropping back into midfield to pick up the ball and to spend more time in the box where his natural scoring instincts have made him the Champions League`s all-time top scorer.

"I`m glad he scored in the Bundesliga again," said Magath, whose team has struggled in the league this season but can still advance in the Champions League. "I`m happy for him and I think it was a kind of redemption for him."

Schalke`s first home victory in the league this season moved them up two places to 15th with nine points from 11 games after last season`s runners-up endured a bad start to the campaign.

Mainz 05 can provisionally go top of the table on Saturday with a win at Freiburg while Borussia Dortmund, a point ahead on 25, are in action at Hanover 96 on Sunday. (A016/B002/S026)

Source: http://www.antaranews.com

Kelantan Dominate 2010 National Football Awards

Petaling Jaya - Malaysia Cup champion Kelantan dominated the 2010 National 100Plus-FAM football awards by sweeping five of the seven awards at stake.

Kelantan who beat Negeri Sembilan 2-1 on Saturday to win the Malaysia Cup after 55 years to set a historic feat, added another piece of history by becoming the first team win so many awards in a season.

Striker Norshahrul Idlan Talaha was the toast of Kelantan when he won the Best Striker award and the coveted Most Valuable Player of the season.

"This is a very significant and meaningful award in my career. After winning the SEA Games gold medal with the national team, I hope to assist the national team in the Guangzhou Asian Games," said Norshahrul Idlan who took hope a trophy and RM3,000 for Most Valuable Player and RM500 for Best Striker.

The East Coast sides goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat who performed well during the Malaysia Cup final was also a double-award winner by clinching the Best Goalkeeper and Best Young Player awards.

To cap a brilliant day for Kelantan, coach B. Satianathan who guided the team to their historic victory, won the Best Coach of the Year award.

The only awards that escaped the clutches of Kelantan players was the Best Midfielder Award that went to Baddrol Bakhtiar from Kedah and Best Defender award won by Negeri Sembilan's Mohd Aidil Zafuan Abdul Razak.

Three other teams won special awards, namely Johor FC (Best Club side), Selangor (Best Football Association) and Kedah (Best Fan Club).

-- BERNAMA

Source: http://www.bernama.com

Ancelotti dodges questions about interest in Rooney

The 24-year-old England forward's contract expires in the summer of 2012 and it is understood talks over a new deal have broken down.

"I can't really give an answer about this," said Ancelotti.

"He has some problem at this moment but when a big team has top players like Rooney, they want to keep him."

Ahead of Chelsea's Champions League match against Spartak Moscow in Russia on Tuesday, Ancelotti was asked several times if Chelsea would bid for Rooney in the January transfer window but the Italian refused to be drawn on the matter.

"If you want to know what players Chelsea want to buy and how much money they want to spend on players you should ask Roman directly," he added, referring to the club's billionaire owner, Roman Abramovich.

United chief executive David Gill has promised to give the media a "statement at the appropriate time".

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is widely expected to discuss Rooney's future at a news conference on Tuesday ahead of the Champions League game with Bursaspor on Wednesday.

Manchester City and Real Madrid have also been linked with Rooney, though the Spanish club's coach Jose Mourinho predicted the striker would stay at Old Trafford.

"I don't think he will leave," said Mourinho, ahead of Real's Champions League match with AC Milan. "I think Ferguson will persuade him to stay."

Earlier on Monday Real director general Jorge Valdano also appeared to quash speculation of an imminent move for Rooney, who has not scored for United from open play since March -although he did not rule one out in the summer.

He told Telemadrid: "The question is, who would we move aside if we signed another striker? In January, there will be neither ins nor outs. June is a long way away."

Like Mourinho, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger also predicted Rooney would stay at Old Trafford.

"I am convinced he will stay at Manchester United because it is his club. They have the power to keep him and I don't believe in the story," he said.

Real's arch-rivals Barcelona are also rumoured to be interested in Rooney, whose value is likely to drop as his contract nears expiration.

The England striker's relationship with Ferguson has been under scrutiny in recent weeks.

The striker missed United's Premier League fixture at Everton last month after allegations about his private life and he was then left out of subsequent games by Ferguson, who claimed the England international had an ankle injury.

However, last Tuesday, after England's 0-0 draw against Montenegro in a Euro 2010 qualifier at Wembley, Rooney contradicted the Scot's statement and insisted he was fit and had not had any ankle problem.

On Saturday Rooney, who has scored only one goal in five Premier League appearances for United this season, was left out of the starting line-up for the 2-2 draw with West Brom.

Ferguson brought his striker on with 20 minutes remaining, after United had squandered a two-goal lead, and asked him to play on the left wing.

From BBC

Source: http://www.manutd-blog.com

Spain players head FIFA Ballon d'Or nominations

Seven players from Spain's World Cup-winning team, including Barcelona trio Andres Iniesta, David Villa and Xavi Hernandez, were nominated Tuesday for the 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or world player of the year award.

The 23-man list also has three players who starred both at the World Cup and for their club last season: Golden Ball winner Diego Forlan of Uruguay and Europa League champion Atletico Madrid; Wesley Sneijder of runner-up the Netherlands and Champions League winner Inter Milan; and Thomas Mueller of Germany and Champions League runner-up Bayern Munich, who was top scorer and voted best young player in South Africa.

The past two winners - Lionel Messi of Argentina and Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Real Madrid - are nominated despite disappointing World Cup campaigns.

"Hopefully the trophy will remain in Barcelona," Messi told France Football magazine. "I hope it will be for one of ours."

Six players from Barcelona - Daniel Alves, Iniesta, Messi, Carles Puyol, Xavi and Villa, who joined the Catalan outfit from Valencia - are on the shortlist.

Barcelona retained the Spanish title last season with Messi scoring 34 goals to finish as the league's top scorer. Messi scored 47 goals in all competitions and won the Golden Boot, a prize awarded to Europe's top marksman.

"Of course I would be happy to win the Ballon d'Or for a second straight year," Messi said. "But I think the World Cup will weigh a lot in the balance."

Messi failed to score a single goal at the World Cup in South Africa, where Argentina lost 4-0 to Germany in the quarterfinals.

The 23 players nominated all took part in the World Cup while nine of them played the Champions League final won by Inter over Bayern Munich.

The 2007 winner Kaka is left off the list, which includes of his Brazil teammates Daniel Alves of Barcelona, and Inter Milan pair Julio Cesar and Maicon.

Chelsea's Ivory Coast forward Didier Drogba and Arsenal's Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas are among the three English Premier League players nominated while no English, French or Italian players are sortlisted.

The award, formerly known as the FIFA World Player of the Year, is being staged jointly for the first time by FIFA and France Football magazine, which first presented the original Ballon d'Or in 1956.

Votes will be cast by captains and head coaches of men's and women's national teams plus ivited journalists.

A top-three shortlist will be announced Dec. 6, and the winner named at a ceremony in Zurich on Jan. 10.

Among the 10 candidates for the women's world player award are Brazil's Marta and Germany's Birgit Prinz, who have combined to win the past seven titles.

Awards for the best en's and women's coach will be made for the first time.

Spain's Vicente del Bosque is competing for the men's honor with nine rivals including Oscar Tabarez of World Cup semifinalist Uruguay and Jose Mourinho, who won the Champions League with Inter Milan before joining Real Madrid.

The women's list cntains Maren Meinert, who led Germany to the Women's Under-20 World Cup title in July, and Albertin Montoya of FC Gold Pride, champion of the United States' Women's Professional Soccer league.

At the January gala, FIFA also will announce a World XI team in conjunction with the FIFPro group of players' unios, the Puskas Award for most beautiful goal of the year, a presidential award and a prize for fair play.

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FIFA Ballon d'Or men's nominations: Xabi Alonso (Spain), Daniel Alves (Brazil), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Dider Drogba (Ivory Coast), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Cesc Fabregas (Spain), Diego Forlan (Uruguay), Asamoah Gyan (Ghana), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Julio Cesar (Brazil), Miroslav Klose (Germany), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Maicon (Brazil), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Thomas Muller (Germany), Mesut Oezil (Germany), CarlePuyol (Spain), Arjen Robben (Netherlands), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands), David Villa (Spain) and Xavi (Spain).

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com

Newcastle to see the best of Nolan

Kevin Nolan still has an important part to play at Newcastle United, despite the face he missed the game against Wigan, manager Chris Hughton has claimed.

The midfielder had established himself as a first team regular at the club but, according to Hughton, the intensity of modern football has taken its toll and he needed a rest and the player should be fresher when he returns.

With Newcastle forced to dig deep in order to secure a draw against a Wigan side they would once have been expected to crush with ease, fans of the club could well be forgiven for being impatient in their desire to see their side return to the lofty heights they achieved under the famous reign of Kevin Keegan.

Despite not reaching these heights again just yet, newly promoted Newcastle have shown that they are a side fully capable of competing successfully in the Premier League after spending what seemed like a long season in the Championship. The Newcastle betting always suggested they’d bounce back from relegation, and they did.

However, there is still a long way before the side can once again challenge England’s best clubs on a regular basis. Indeed, a look at the football betting tips shows Newcastle are in for something of a relegation scrap this season.

Having said that, Newcastle and their fans certainly enjoy showing the footballing world that they are a top club with the most passionate of supporters and will be looking to individuals like Nolan and striker Andy Carroll to prove to their critics just how good they can be.

Source: http://www.footballnewsblog.co.uk

Do The Champions Have Enough Depth To Lift The Title Again?

Chelsea have had a fantastic start to the season and there is no doubt that they are very much the title favourites at the moment. They also have an impressive goal difference of 21 from the first 7 games. However with the news that Yossi Benayoun is set for a 6 month stint on the sidelines do Chelsea have enough in their squad to win the title again?

So far this season Chelsea have been without Frank Lampard, John Terry and Alex with Jose Bosingwa also still out. These men have all been consistent performers in Chelsea shirts and although they do have strength in some positions others, particularly central defence, looks weak especially as they didn’t sign a central defender to replace Ricardo Carvalho who moved to Real Madrid in the summer.

It is by no means panic stations for Chelsea at the moment but if they are to compete in both the Premiership and the Champions League this season then their needs to be some squad rotation involved if the players are to last the whole season.

The Chelsea squad is considerably weakened from last year with Joe Cole, Michael Ballack, Deco, Ricardo Carvalho and Juliano Belletti all having left the club and the only summer arrivals being Ramires and Benayoun. Even though all of the players above didn’t play week in week out for Chelsea they were always quality options that they had to bring on that they no longer do.

The hope is that Chelsea are able to bring through some of their younger players to fill the gaps, however there has been very little young talent coming into the Chelsea team over the last few seasons so it s going to be a big step up for the youngsters.

If Chelsea can keep the majority of their first team squad fit then they are still in pole position for the title but with Manchester City in particular not far behind. and with a much larger squad of first team players, Chelsea can not afford to get complacent or pick up too many injuries otherwise they may not be able to retain the title this season.

Written by Colin Hill, a sports blogger who writes about euro 2012 shirts.

Source: http://www.footballnewsblog.co.uk

W Sumatra woman wins FIFA license as football referee

Padang, W Sumatra (ANTARA News) - Herlin (25), an Indonesian woman from Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, has officially become a football referee after passing a test conducted by the International Football Association (FIFA) in Jakarta.

"Herlin passed the test and now holds a FIFA license to act as a football referee," Sudirman, general secretary of the West Sumatra branch of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), said here Tuesday.

She was the only woman among many men who took the referee test, Sudirman said.

The test was conducted to select Indonesians qualified to hold a FIFA license to referee football matches, he said, adding that the test comprised general knowledge of football rules, a physical and medical test.

The test was participated in by seven people who came from Aceh, North Sumatra, West Java, East Java, and West Sumatra, he said.

Herlin was scheduled to attend another advanced concentration training of referees endorsed by FIFA in Hong Kong.

The concentration training would also be participated in by referees from European and American countries who were being prepared to referee international football matches, he said.

Sudirman appreciated Herlin`s achievement that brought Indonesia and especially West Sumatra in the international football world.

Herlin`s achievement in holding the FIFA referee license had also contributed to forming a positive image of Indonesia in the football world, he said.

Sudirman hoped there would be more women referees in the future, especially from West Sumatra.

"It is very rare for a woman to participate in the football world. This will be a good step to boost Indonesia`s reputation in the world of football referees," Sudirman said.(*)

Source: http://www.antaranews.com

Japanese, Korean clubs remain on course for glory

TOKYO (AFP) – Japanese clubs remain on course to continue their AFC Champions League success after two J-League clubs booked quarter-final berths despite defeat for defending champions Gamba Osaka.

Osaka crashed out of the competition 3-2 to fellow J-League outfit Kawasaki Frontale Wednesday while Nagoya Grampus beat South Korea’s Suwon Samsung Bluewings 2-1 to book their place in September’s quarter-finals.

South Korea’s K-League also has two teams through to the last eight with victories for FC Seoul and Pohang Steelers.

The Japanese and Korean sides will battle it out against west zone teams Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia, Umm Salal of Qatar, and Pakhtakor and Bunyodkor of Uzbekistan.

Kawasaki Frontale coach Takashi Sekizuka was delighted with his team’s result.

“Winning such an important game today will bring us good confidence, and we?d like to move on and keep fighting hard as a representative of the J-League clubs and Japan,” Sekizuka said.

Dejected Osaka coach Akira Nishino said: “Key players came back from injuries and we played better than I had expected. But we lost goals when my players slowed down in the second half.”

“But it was our best eleven. I was really disappointed, because we cannot play in the Champions League any more while we are regaining our best form,” he added.

Following his side’s clash against Suwon Bluewings, Nagoya’s Serbian coach Dragan Stojkovic said his side had come through a hard battle.

“It was really a tough game but we ended with a win. It gives us a lot of confidence to reach the last eight in Asia.”

Seoul’s Turkish coach Senol Gunes, who oversaw a 5-4 win for his side on penalties after a 2-2 draw against Kashima Antlers, predicted that the winner of the game would go on to lift the trophy.

“It was an exciting game between the top teams from the K-League and the J-League,” said Gunes. “I said before that the winners of this game will reach the final. I still think so.”

“We are going to take game by game to challenge further. It will be good for the team to have a dream (to win the Champions League),” he said.

“In this Champions League, I think Kashima Antlers and FC Seoul are the two strongest teams, so I don’t expect us to have a tougher game than today’s game,” he added.

South Korean side Pohang Steelers thumped Australia’s Newcastle Jets 6-0, with a hat-trick for midfielder Choi Hyo-Jin.

Pohang boss Sergio Farias was full of praise for his midfielder.

“We prepared well and I am happy to see a lot of goals tonight. Our aim was to proceed to the next round and that mission has been accomplished,” he told the AFC Champions League website.

Gamba Osaka won the 2008 Champions League after victory for fellow J-League side Urawa Red Diamonds in 2007.

Source: http://www.footballcupleague.com

Arsenal must end trophy drought: Adebayor

LONDON (AFP) – Emmanuel Adebayor insists Arsenal must end their four-year trophy drought if they are to reclaim their place among European football’s elite.

Arsene Wenger’s side will attempt to ease their way past Villarreal in Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg, the first leg ended 1-1, before facing Chelsea in the weekend FA Cup semi-final.

After a troubled campaign, the Gunners have rescued their season on the back of a 17-game unbeaten run.

And Adebayor – who is adamant he is settled at the Emirates Stadium after being strongly linked with a move AC Milan last summer – believes Wenger’s young squad is now ready to step up to the next level and restore the club as a trophy-winning force.

“If you want to be a big club, of course you have to win things, which is normal,” the striker said.

“If most of the people say Manchester United are a big club in Europe, it is because they won the Premier League and the Champions League.

“They are the reasons they are big. We are ready for that. We were unlucky to go out in the quarter-finals of the Champions League against Liverpool last season. This season we have the chance to do it and just have to take our chances.

“I’ve been here three years and saying we have to win things and achieve things and now I think it is a real chance to win something because we are in the semi-final of the FA Cup and quarter-final of the Champions League. We just have to stand up and go for it.”

The prospect of Arsenal lifting silverware looked remote after the loss of key players Alexander Hleb and Mathieu Flamini last summer and the reports of a dressing room split that followed William Gallas’s demotion as skipper.

Gallas was critical of the efforts of some of his younger colleagues but Adebayor has no doubt that the squad is now fully united – and that he is ready to shoulder the responsibility for scoring the goals that could make the difference of success and failure this year.

He added: “The pressure is there: all the fans, the newspapers, journalists. That is normal. I can understand that.

“For me as a footballer the most important thing is how I am going to help my team to win. We know Villarreal will be one of the toughest games I will have in my life and we will have to give 100 percent. After that we will talk about other things.

“It’s been difficult with all the problems, Hleb going to Barcelona, Matthieu Flamini going to Milan and everything was struggling a little bit, are we going to buy or not, all these thing, myself going or staying.

“I know we’ve had a difficult season in the Premier League, but we’re still in the Champions League, still in the FA Cup and that’s fantastic.

“For me we are now playing quite well and we enjoy playing together as a team, we are as a team and we are back in business, that is the most important thing.”

Source: http://www.footballcupleague.com

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