SOCCERWORLD: February 2015

Saturday 28 February 2015

Everton Line Up Nani Move

Manchester United’s Nani has become a summer transfer target for Everton, the Metro claims.
The Merseyside club are believed to be eyeing up a move for the Portuguese winger, who has found himself surplus to requirements at Old Trafford.
Nani was allowed to leave on loan this season, and agreed to join his former club Sporting Lisbon, whom he left to join United from in 2007 for a tidy €25.5 Million.
He is now set to be given another chance to prove himself in England’s top division, as a possible replacement for Kevin Mirallas, who refused to sign a new contract at Goodison Park recently, despite having entered into the final 18 months of his current deal.
The Belgian has been linked with Tottenham Hotspur this season, with the North-London side looking for a long-term replacement for Aaron Lennon, who joined Everton on loan during the previous window.
Nani has scored eight goals for his on-loan side so far this year.

Liverpool To Bid €14m For Khedira

Liverpool are ready to seal Sami Khedira’s arrival from Real Madrid at the end of the season, the Metro claims.
The World Cup winner is out of contract at the end of the season, and is said to have recently turned down a new contract with the European champions.
Khedira joined Real Madrid from Stuttgart for a reported €14 Million back in 2010, but has fallen down the pecking order since the arrival of Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez this summer, as well as Lucas Silva in the previous window.
The German is heavily linked with a move to the Premier League, with a host of clubs believed to be interested, but is now said to be the subject of a two-way battle between Schalke 04 and Liverpool.
The Anfield club are on the look-out for a long-term replacement for Sami Khedira this summer, with their captain joining MLS side LA Galaxy at the end of the season.

Dortmund goal flurry seals another win

Fast-improving Borussia Dortmund notched their fourth straight Bundesliga win after scoring three times in eight minutes late on to earn a 3-0 home victory over Ruhr Valley rivals Schalke 04 on Saturday.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put them ahead in the 78th minute, after last season's runners-up had squandered a dozen scoring chances, and the Gabon international celebrated by donning a Batman mask.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan tapped in from close range a minute later before Marco Reus made it 3-0 in the 86th.
"This was a big afternoon," beaming Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp told reporters after his side reignited their hopes of European football next season. "This is what I wished for this morning when I woke up."
Dortmund, who produced some sloppy finishing earlier in the game and also came up against superb goalkeeping from Schalke teenager Timon Wellenreuther, are up to ninth with 28 points.
The 19-year-old, promoted to first choice recently because of injuries, kept his cool when Aubameyang charged forward and managed to block his effort in the fourth minute.
Wellenreuther was lucky when Shinji Kagawa's lob sailed just wide but he pulled off a string of excellent stops especially from Reus and Aubameyang.

IMPATIENT CROWD
Dortmund kept pushing and hit the woodwork through a deflected Reus effort as the 80 000-crowd grew impatient.
Reus wasted several more good chances before Gabon international Aubameyang picked the ball up on the edge of the box and slotted in his 10th league goal of the season.
Armenian Mkhitaryan added another, as the Schalke defence buckled under pressure, before Reus finished them off four minutes from time.
Fifth-placed Schalke (35 points), who were toothless and did not produce a single shot on goal despite having striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar back from suspension, have now won only one of their last five league games.
Fellow Champions League combatants Bayer Leverkusen, buoyed by a 1-0 midweek win over Atletico Madrid, grabbed their first win in four league games as they beat Freiburg 1-0 to climb to fourth, a point ahead of Schalke.
Hertha Berlin needed an 88th-minute goal from Salomon Kalou to defeat in-form Augsburg 1-0, the win lifting them to 14th in the table.
Former champions VfB Stuttgart drew 1-1 with Hanover 96 to remain bottom.
Both teams ended the game with 10 men after Lars Stindl was sent off for Hanover and Stuttgart's Martin Harnik received a straight red card.
Leaders Bayern Munich are 11 points clear at the top after crushing Cologne 4-1 on Friday. Second-placed VfL Wolfsburg (47) travel to Werder Bremen on Sunday.

Friday 27 February 2015

Uefa Euro Championships 2016 :Wales force goalless draw in Belgium

Wales survived a late onslaught to force a goalless draw against Belgium in their Euro 2016 qualifying Group B match on Sunday, with their key man Gareth Bale making a game-saving intervention in the dying seconds.
The Real Madrid star, who started his career as a left-back, was back in his old position with seconds remaining to clear a header off the line from substitute Christian Benteke.
But a winner for Belgium then would have been a huge injustice as Wales defended heroically against the team ranked fourth in the world.
Belgium, virtually camped in Wales' half for the last 10 minutes. were left to rue wasted chances in the first half, the best of which saw Nicolas Lombaerts hit the post.
"We're disappointed. Today we lacked that bit of luck for the ball to fall well in front of goal," Belgian keeper Thibaut Courtois said afterwards.
However, the reaction was different from the Welsh side.
Coach Chris Coleman told Sky Sports: "It was exciting and my heart was in my mouth once or twice, but I thought it was an incredible performance from our lads. We were up against a team labelled as the best Belgium team ever, so to come here and take a point speaks volumes for our players."
Bale said afterwards: "That is a tremendous result. Coming to the home of the team ranked fourth in the world and getting a point is fantastic. We started a bit slow but we showed true courage and true character."
Asked about his late clearance he said: "You have to do those things. Everyone has to do everything we all work for each other and that showed it."
Wales came close to an early lead, when Courtois was forced to fist a skilfully curled free kick by Bale away from the post.
Bale had another big chance in the second half, when he sped past the Belgian defence on the left and his shot only went a few inches past Courtois's far post.
Wales, hoping to qualify for a major tournament for the first time since they reached the World Cup finals in 1958, are unbeaten after four games and top the group with eight points.
Second-placed Israel, who have six points from their opening two games, play Bosnia later on Sunday.
Belgium, who have played one match less than Wales, have five points.

Falcao sets to benefit from RVP injury

Manchester United striker Robin van Persie will miss Saturday's Premier League match against Sunderland with an ankle injury that could hand out-of-sorts forward Radamel Falcao another opportunity to prove his worth at Old Trafford.
Van Persie damaged ligaments during United's 2-1 defeat by Swansea City last weekend and left the Liberty Stadium on crutches with his right foot in a protective boot.
"It is an ankle problem. I do not think it is very heavy but ankle problems can take a long time," manager Louis Van Gaal told a news conference on Friday. "It is not one or two weeks."
Dutch striker Van Persie has struggled for fitness and form this season, scoring 10 goals in 24 appearances, and could be replaced by Falcao.
However, the Colombian, who joined United on a season-long loan from AS Monaco for £6 million, has failed to live up to expectations, scoring just four goals in 19 appearances.
United have the option of paying around 43 million pounds to make Falcao's move permanent at the end season, but Van Gaal did little to boost the 29-year-old's confidence when asked if he would start against Sunderland.
"The possibility is higher (that Falcao will play) of course because when a striker is away another has to play," he said. "We will have to wait and see."
United could climb above Arsenal into third in the Premier League table if they beat Sunderland at Old Trafford as the Gunners host Everton on Sunday.
Van Gaal admitted it was "a rat race between five clubs" to finish in the top four and said it would be a "big disappointment" if United failed to qualify for the Champions League.
"Our process is continuing and always we are going better," the Dutchman said. "In spite of the many injuries we have had in the first half of the season and also in spite of the criticism of our defence, we are there.
"We are still in the FA Cup so I am pleased with the results, but not with a lot of the performances of my team.
"When you see our matches we are mostly the better team, but the better team is not always winning."

Courtois Want Chelsea To Defy Matic Absence

–Ahead of Capital One Cup Final against Spurs
Thibaut Courtois is confident Chelsea will overcome the absence of Nemanja Matic when they face Tottenham in the Capital One Cup final.
Matic was sent off for his violent reaction to a nasty studs-up tackle from Ashley Barnes in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Burnley that narrowed the Barclays Premier League leaders’ advantage at the summit of the table to five points.
Chelsea will now be without their midfield destroyer for the Wembley showpiece against their London rivals next weekend and for league matches against West Ham and Southampton.
“We have a difficult game next week and Matic has been very good for us this season,” Courtois told Chelsea TV.
“It’s a pity he can’t play in the final, but of course we have other players who also need to do their job. “We will still have a strong side, so I don’t think it will be a
huge problem, although of course Nemanja will be missed.”
Matic’s dismissal was the turning point of a match Chelsea were controlling, ending a dominant spell as the title favourites poured forward in search of a second after Branislav Ivanovic had fired an early opener.
Ben Mee nodded home the equaliser in the 81st minute, leaving Blues boss Jose Mourinho raging at referee Martin Atkinson over a string of perceived injustices. Mourinho stopped short of condemning Atkinson outright, but clearly blamed the official for the two dropped points, adding that Chelsea will win the title unless the ‘conspiracy’ against them succeeds. Courtois admits Matic’s departure shifted the balance of power towards relegation-threatened Burnley.

Vieira: Iheanacho Will Be Okay

Manchester City academy coach believes Kelechi Iheanacho’s injury during last Tuesday UEFA Youth League game against Schalke won’t keep him out for a long time.
The 18-year-old came off the bench in the second half of the game but only lasted ten minutes before going down under a heavy challenge and signalling to the bench to be replaced.
Iheanacho was able to pick himself up and walk off though, and afterwards Vieira did not appear to think the injury was too serious.
“I hope he is ok,” he said. “We need to find out with the doctor but hopefully he will be ok.”
There has been bubbling excitement about the Nigerian striker since he featured heavily on City’s US tour last summer, scoring twice in three games and this latest setback has already cost him aplace in the Nigerian team to the African Youth Championships next month in Senegal.

Ramos Picks His Three Best Coaches

Sergio Ramos has named Carlo Ancelotti, Joaquin Caparros and Luis Aragones as the three best Coaches under whom he has played.
Ramos has been interviewed by FIFA’s official website and was asked the keys to a happy dressing room, particularly at a club like Real Madrid, who boast so many big names.
“The basis is respect. Of course a dressing room can get very complicated when it includes people from very different cultures, languages and countries,” he said.
“When there’s such a mix of everything you have to know how to handle it very well. In that sense we [at Real Madrid], through humility and respect, always try to make life easier for players who joins us, we try to help them settle in as quickly as possible.
“Ancelotti is very important in this: he was a player himself, he knows all about players who come in from outside the club and he understands the problems they might have.
“He notices how a player settles in, whether he makes an effort to open up to his teammates or not. He’s a Coach who takes you aside, talks to you and makes everything as smooth as possible, both on a professional and personal level. That’s the key to success, which is why he’s a truly great Coach.
“In my view, he’s one of the best I’ve had in my whole career. And above all else he’s a good person, which is a bonus when it comes to dealing with players.”

Di Maria vows to fire United to UCL

Angel di Maria has promised to make up for his spluttering start at Manchester United by firing his side into the Champions League.
Louis van Gaal's team face Sunderland at Old Trafford on Saturday with the race for a top four finish in the Premier League hotting up.
Fourth placed United are one point ahead of Southampton in fifth place and hope to return to winning ways after seeing a seven-game unbeaten run ended by a 2-1 loss at Swansea in their last outing.
Their bid to return to Europe's elite club competition after a one-year absence would be significantly boosted if di Maria can finally hit peak form.
The Argentina international has only offered occasional glimpses of his vast talent since a British record £59.7 million move from Real Madrid last year and he told MUTV: "I've had a couple of games where things haven't gone as well as they could have.
"I think it's part of that settling-in process to the English game.
"I started off quite well but I think that then made expectations rise and everyone thought I would just carry on in the same way.
"But football is like that, sometimes you have these ups and downs. It took me a while to settle fully in each of the countries where I've played before."
Scarred by mid-week Champions League disappointment, Manchester City have a golden opportunity to enhance their title defence when they visit Liverpool on Sunday.
City's hopes of reaching the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time were dealt a sizeable blow on Tuesday when they fell to a 2-1 loss at home to Barcelona in the first leg of their last 16 tie.
The result seriously compromises their chances of going through and the extent of Barcelona's first-half dominance will take some forgetting, but Sunday's return to domestic duties promises much.
With leaders Chelsea not in action due to their participation in Sunday's League Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur, a City win at Anfield will lift the defending champions to within two points of the summit.
City then face a kind run of fixtures, against Leicester City, Burnley, West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace, at a time when Chelsea, held to a 1-1 draw by Burnley last weekend, have begun to show frailties.

The Winter World Cup Conundrum

The year 2022 is still seven years away but it is already generating a great deal of heat.

Ever since the World Cup for that year was awarded to Qatar in 2012, the event has been lurching from one controversy to another.

FIFA has been accused of taking bribes before awarding the rights to the oil-rich Middle East country; Qatar has been accused of building stadiums with slave labour; and the stifling heat in the Gulf summer has been a burning issue.

While FIFA has vehemently rejected the bribery claims and Qatar has promised to look into its labour situation, the heat issue has stood out like a sore thumb. Even the promise of airconditioned stadia didn’t placate the anti-Qatar brigade.

Now, a solution seems to have been found with the proposal of a winter World Cup, to be held in November and December instead of the traditional June and July. But that has also thrown up more problems.

The European season will be in full swing in November/December and a World Cup around that time would cause chaos in planning.

The truth is no matter what FIFA comes up with, a Qatar World Cup would not be perfect. But when has a major event like the World Cup ever been perfect?

There was opposition to South Africa 2010, but see how it turned out.

FIFA and Qatar have seven years to get this right. They should be given the chance to do it.

EPL Failing European Exams

The English Premier League had a genuine case to be regarded as the best league in the world five years ago. Sadly, that claim is no longer true.

A league’s representatives’ performances on the continent are the true measure of that league when comparing it with others. And back in 2008, the EPL was well on top, head and shoulders above any other league bar La Liga.

That season, two English clubs – Manchester United and Chelsea – met in the Champions League final, the first time since 2003 when Italy’s Juventus and Milan contested the final.

And the 2008 final produced high-quality football that cemented the English top-flight as an elite championship.

These days, no championship comes close to the EPL in terms of edge-of-your-seat excitement. But that doesn’t make it the best league in the world.

While it’s a bit knee-jerk to write off the league on the basis of one or two European performances, recent results on the continent have been damning.

Rather than being a one-off, accidental poor showing, Arsenal’s utter destruction by Monaco is symptomatic of English football’s decline in Europe.

Arsenal lost 3-1 at home to Monaco, champions Manchester City were lucky to lose only 2-1 at home to Barcelona, while league leaders Chelsea were relieved to get a draw at PSG after being outplayed.

So no wins for English clubs in three round of 16 matches. In contrast, Spain’s three representatives won two of their three away games; Germany won one home game, drew one away and lost the other one.

Also instructively, of the four English representatives in the Champions League group phase,

only Chelsea won their group. Arsenal and City finished second; Liverpool got dumped out from a group containing Basel and Bulgarian lightweights Ludogorets. The same Liverpool that almost won the Premier League title last season.