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Showing posts from 2006

Cannavaro wins Fifa player crown

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Italy's World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro has been named Fifa World Player of the Year. The award polls votes from national team coaches and captains and Cannavaro beat three-time winner Zinedine Zidane and reigning champion Ronaldinho. Real Madrid central defender Cannavaro was crowned European Footballer of the Year in November. "It's a great honour for me to be here because it has been an incredible season'" said Cannavaro. He added, "The competition is scary, so strong. It's not usual for a defender to sit between Ronaldinho and Zidane. "Of course it must be a great compliment for the coaches I've had this year. "It also underscores the way I am playing - and look at the matches we are playing in the teams I've had, and at Real. "I can't ask for anything else' with the World Cup and Golden Ball award - you can't do any better than that." Brazil's Marta won the women's award ahead of Germany's

ROONEY's fire and fitness mask a multitude of sins

A paper cup was blasted into the pitchside wall. The roof of the dugout reverberated to a slap of the hand. His boots were torn off and thrown at the grass. Imprecations were uttered. Wayne Rooney was in a strop. But it was a rage of frustration, a young man's anger that he had been unable to finish the match and to complete the job he had started. "I asked him about it afterwards and he told me it was because he was disappointed," Sven-Goran Eriksson said, reflecting on his decision to remove the 20-year-old in the 69th minute. "But he played better than last time. He lasted longer, and he will get better and better. I took him off because I can't risk him getting injured." Seldom was a truer word spoken by an England manager. The team's absolute reliance on Rooney's presence was emphasised last night by a first half in which they functioned properly for the first time in the tournament, despite starting the match with a stroke of wretched misfortun

Owen to miss rest of World Cup with knee injury

Michael Owen will miss the rest of the World Cup after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. The England striker was injured Tuesday in the second minute of his team's 2-2 draw with Sweden in Cologne. Owen had a scan on his knee Wednesday near England's team base in southern Germany and was to return home later in the day. "Obviously it's a massive blow to suffer the injury -- and be out of the World Cup," Owen said in a statement. "As soon as it happened I knew I was in trouble. It was a major disappointment to pick up the injury so early in the game." Owen's right knee buckled after he played a pass. He rolled off the field and lay on the sideline clutching his leg while play continued. He was treated by doctors and then strapped to a stretcher and taken away. The English Football Association said Owen's recovery would be handled by his English Premier League club Newcastle. Freddy Shepherd, the club's chairman, said Owe

TORRES comes of age in World Cup cauldron

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High-flying Spaniard Fernando Torres is set to blow his way through Saudi Arabia's leaky defence boosting a World Cup goals tally that could in turn spark English Premiership interest in his talents. The Spain striker, who sits one goal behind Germany's four-goal hero Miroslav Klose in the World Cup scoring table, may be relatively unknown outside the Primera Liga where he plays for Madrid's unfashionable Atletico. However his World Cup performances for Spain - capping some blistering attacking displays with three goals in two games - could change his footballing horizons. Torres has in the past been courted by some of England's biggest clubs and at only 22 years old, the player known as 'El Nino' (The Kid) is still a huge prospect. Torres opened his account with a goal against Ukraine, and was on hand with two crucial goals to help Spain qualify for the second round in Stuttgart on Monday with a convincing 3-1 win over Tunisia. While regularly criticised for m

Ghana's ESSIEN brings two-way worries for US

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Michael Essien is on the verge of leading World Cup stunner Ghana into the second round, the Chelsea midfielder having already convinced a worried US squad that he could destroy their Cup dreams. A victory over the Americans here Thursday in a Group E showdown would send the World Cup debutantes into the round of 16, possibly against reigning champion Brazil. "It would be hard, but we are prepared for it," Essien said. "We're not afraid to meet the Brazilians. We are ready to play anyone. First we have to deal with the USA. They play good football and they will be tough." The 23-year-old star sparked Ghana past second-ranked Czech Republic 2-0 in the biggest Cup shocker so far, a landmark triumph for the Cup debutantes. "It really shows what we are made of," Essien said. "The win was very important for Ghana and for African football." A draw with the USA might be enough to send the Black Stars through, but with their destiny in their hands,

RAUL once more the king of Spain

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Spanish football icon Raul shook off a dose of the substitutes' blues to help relaunch Spain's World Cup campaign in a pulsating 3-1 win over Tunisia in Group H on Monday. Raul came off the bench at the start of the second half to equalise Jawer Mnari's shock eighth-minute opener for Roger Lemerre's former African champions to settle the nerves of Luis Aragones and his players. Atletico Madrid's Fernando Torres then struck the first of two goals after beating the Tunisian defence to a through ball from second half substitute Cesc Fabregas. Torres, who also scored in Spain's 4-0 thrashing of Ukraine, finished Spain's top scorer on the night after he beat Tunisia keeper Ali Boumnijel from the penalty spot to take his World Cup tally to three goals. However it was Raul's revival, after what has been an uncertain start to his third World Cup, that stole the show as Spain booked their second round ticket with a match to spare. Torres admitted it was Raul'

Mature TERRY ready to face challenge of his life

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England's ambition at the World Cup is a mosaic of individual aspirations. This is a youngish squad yet its members have mostly been around long enough to experience the struggle of a career. John Terry, captain of dominant Chelsea though he may be now, recalls how far he was from being equipped for the 2002 version of this tournament when he was 21. "It didn't even enter my head that I should be in the squad," he said. "I wasn't ready. When you look at Rio [Ferdinand] and Sol Campbell, they were different class. I wasn't near them. I feel ready now and it's time for me to prove myself." Terry is right to suppose that he is still to demonstrate his worth fully. During Euro 2004, his sole tournament with England, they conceded four goals in the three matches he played. Though he was not particularly to blame, all their attacking prowess will be in vain this summer unless the defence functions much better. He feels added experience and greater unde

LAMPARD wears weight of expectation lightly

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If you were one of England's team of physios, you might try to talk Frank Lampard out of wearing the gigantic gold-encrusted watch that glittered from his left wrist when he turned up to meet the press in the garden cafe of a Baden-Baden hotel yesterday. Not only did it look heavy enough to pull his vertebrae out of alignment, its high bling quotient seemed an affront to a man who, having grown out of his phase of youthful indiscretions, otherwise radiates maturity and good sense. Unfailingly polite and considerate, he was nevertheless quick to correct one journalist who prefaced a question about a 40-year record of disappointment in major tournaments with the casual suggestion that "England are the greatest nation in the world". "I don't think anyone's got a divine right to win any tournament," Lampard replied. "And I don't know about England being the greatest nation in the world. I understand what you're saying, and with the top clubs and

Captain BALLACK writes off Germany's chances of victory

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On the eve of the World Cup Germany's captain Michael Ballack yesterday gave a remarkably bleak assessment of their prospects in the tournament, describing his team as "deficient". In an interview with the German newspaper Der Tages-spiegel Ballack admitted his side, who take on Costa Rica tomorrow in the opening match in Munich, lacked the experience of previous squads. Ballack, who is almost certain to play tomorrow after being cleared by doctors to resume training after a calf strain, said: "In comparison with some of the big teams we have deficiencies. Perhaps I'm wrong. I very much hope I'm wrong." The midfielder missed two training sessions this week, prompting fears that Germany would be without their talismanic captain tomorrow, but he said: "It's not so bad. I'm sure I can play against Costa Rica. It's a hangover of the game against Colombia. I noticed on Sunday evening that there was still a stubborn twinge in my calf. But I

CISSE out for France after breaking leg in friendly

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Djibril Cissé's chances both of featuring in the World Cup finals and leaving Liverpool appeared to have been dashed last night when he was stretchered from the field with a suspected broken leg during France's final pre-tournament friendly against China in Saint-Etienne. The 24-year-old striker was chasing the ball down the right flank only 10 minutes into the fixture when he was knocked off balance by a China defender and, as he fell, his right leg twisted under him and buckled above the ankle. He departed the turf in agony and was replaced by David Trezeguet, with the France medical team's initial assessment suggesting he had broken his right tibia. Should scans on the injury confirm the worst today Cissé will definitely miss his country's campaign in Germany - they depart for Hanover this morning - and may also be denied an escape route from Anfield. The Marseille sporting director Pape Diouf was on Merseyside yesterday discussing a possible move for the former Auxe

ROONEY is injury free

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Sven-Goran Eriksson today insisted Wayne Rooney is "injury free" and now just needs to obtain match fitness before he plays in the World Cup. The England coach declared the final decision on when the Manchester United striker can play in Germany will be "Rooney's and mine" after the player's club stated that independent medical opinion pointed to him not being ready to play until after the group stage. Rooney joined in training with the rest of the squad in Baden-Baden this morning after undergoing a scan on his broken metatarsal in Manchester yesterday. United said last night that the 20-year-old "will require very careful assessment in order to address his suitability" to play. However, Eriksson said today: "The good news from yesterday evening and today is Rooney has no more injury. He is injury free and it is up to us now to get him match-fit and when we think he is match-fit I am prepared to take him to any specialist we or Manchester Un

Who's the greatest? RONALDINHO?

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Can Ronaldinho, the smiling, mouth-full-of-teeth, feet-full-of-tricks Brazilian midfielder and goalscorer approach or even surpass the stature of Pele? Epoca, a Brazilian weekly magazine, asks that question in a recent cover story. The fact it even dares to raise the issue suggests how far Ronaldinho, 26, has come in a few years from humble beginnings at the Gremio soccer club in southern Brazil. Without question, Ronaldinho is now the best-known, most-feared footballer around. When he gets the ball a hush descends. Anything can happen: an opponent left gaping; a defense-splitting pass of perfect weight and unlikely vision; a shot of outrageous precision. All executed with a playful whimsy, as if genius were the most natural thing in the world. Ronaldinho has just helped his club, Barcelona, to its second consecutive Spanish League title, and to a European Champions League triumph over Arsenal. He was the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005, and also won the Golden Ball awar

Pires shuns future plans before Barca game

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By Richard Clarke Robert Pires will not let talk about his future interfere with preparations for the Champions League Final. It is possible that Wednesday’s clash with Barcelona could be the 32-year-old’s last game in a six-year spell with Arsenal. He is out of contract in the summer and has been talking to other clubs for sometime, including vanquished Semi-Finalists Villarreal. For his part Arsène Wenger is hopeful Pires will stay. "The situation is quite simple at the moment," said the French midfielder. "We’ve got the Final coming up and we're going to focus on that and then afterwards I'll decide whether I’m going to stay or leave." "At the moment I honestly don't know what I'm going to do. I can say that Arsenal has been a fantastic Club for me at every level and in every sense but I need to think as to whether I’m going to stay here or try going to another country." "But I think at the moment we need to really concentrate on th

JOHN OBI MIKEL thrives on centre stage

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Mikel thrives on centre stage Matt Spiroan , from Cairo When John Obi Mikel was replaced in the second half of Nigeria's African Cup of Nations semi-final against the Ivory Coast the game seemed to be up for the Super Eagles. Trailing to Didier Drogba's goal, Nigeria looked devoid of ideas without their teenage prodigy and not even the introduction of Jay-Jay Okocha, so often a match-winner in the past, could raise their flagging spirits. Mikel impact That Nigeria are already relying so heavily on the SFK Lyn Oslo midfield player says much about the impact he has made in Egypt. Rarely can a player have been hyped up so much before even featuring at the highest level, but the elegant 18-year-old, who is the subject of a much-publicised tug-of-war between Manchester United FC and Chelsea FC, wasted little time in showing people what the fuss was about. Playing with remarkable poise for someone so young and displaying the vision of a genuine creator, Mikel lit up the tournament wi

Togo's Adebayor takes flight

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Standing an impressive 1.90 metres tall, Togo's Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor has been Arsene Wenger's choice for Arsenal's starter squad in many match. Adebayor (21) has signed for Arsenal from AS Monaco on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee at January. He was the top scorer in the entire African Zone in the 2006 World Cup Qualifiers with 11 goals, helping Togo reach the World Cup Finals for the first time in the country's history. Emmanuel has been a regular in the AS Monaco team over the past three seasons and was part of the squad which came runners-up in the 2004 UEFA Champions League. Before joining AS Monaco, Adebayor spent two seasons at French side Metz, where he made his first team debut for the club in Ligue 1 at the tender age of 17. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said: "Emmanuel Adebayor is a great addition to our squad. He has shown in his performances with Monaco and Togo that he will add great quality to our offensive game. He is tall, good in the

Ramos' dream within reach

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While Spain were battling it out at Korea/Japan 2002, a 16-year-old Spaniard by the name of Sergio Ramos was roaring them on from his home in distant Seville and longing for the day when he too would don the famous red jersey. Now, four years down the road, it looks as if the youngster's dream is about to come true. Ramos' progress both at club and international level has been nothing short of meteoric. He made his Spanish league debut with Sevilla in February 2004 and then went on to play six more top-flight games that season. After another 31 appearances for the Andalusian club the following year, Real Madrid were sufficiently impressed to fork out an eye-watering €27million to take the gifted defender to the Bernabeu. "Very few kids of my age have managed to do what I've done," says Ramos during an exclusive interview with FIFAworldcup.com. "It's true the only thing I have right now on my CV is the European U-19 Championship, but that's something I

Owen bids to repair damage from Sven gaffe

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Instead the England striker finds himself attempting to repair a fracture in his relationship with Newcastle's fans caused by Sven-Goran Eriksson's ill-considered suggestion that he is unhappy at Newcastle and only joined the Magpies for the money. Eriksson's claim was made during an indiscreet discussion with an under-cover reporter posing as a sheikh claiming to be interested in taking over Aston Villa and installing the England manager as boss of the Midlands club. Along with a description of Rio Ferdinand as "lazy", it was the comments about Owen which were most embarassing for Eriksson because they appeared to confirm an impression that was already firmly implanted in the minds of many Newcastle fans. Owen, who has just had the cast on his broken foot removed, insisted however that he was happy on Tyneside following his 16-million-pound move from Real Madrid in August. "I'm enjoying my time here," the 26-year-old claimed. "I enjoyed it out

JI-SUNG PARK, profile

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Ji-sung Park, or "Ji" as he is called by his United team-mates, is a skilful and energetic player, who can play on the left, on the right, or in the centre of midfield. His potential to make the leap from Asia to Europe was spotted by Guus Hiddink, who coached Park in the national team before and during the 2002 World Cup. Later that year, after Korea's phenomenal run to the semi finals, Park followed Hiddink to PSV. Although he gained widespread recognition in 2005 after scoring against AC Milan in the Champions League semi-finals, Park had been gradually building a reputation at PSV as one of the most highly-regarded young midfielders in Europe. He began his career with Japanese side Kyoto Purple Sanga in 2000. A regular in the South Korean national side from a young age, he played in all of his country's seven matches in a sensational run to the semi finals of the World Cup in Japan and South Korea. He moved to PSV on 21 December 2002, but played only a fleeting pa

Argentina in thrall to Messi

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Lionel Messi became the toast of Argentina when, just days after his 18th birthday, he inspired his country's U-20 side to a fifth world title with a series of masterful displays at the FIFA World Youth Championship Netherlands 2005. Such was the impression made by the prodigious midfielder that in addition to taking home a gold medal he also picked up the adidas Golden Shoe award as top scorer, and the adidas Golden Ball as best player. "Although he's already a great player, Lionel needs to take things slowly. What he did in this tournament was fantastic, but in order to keep developing his game and improving, he needs to continue along the same lines," said his Argentina coach Francisco Ferraro. 'Messimania' has also broken out back in Argentina with many supporters and analysts already comparing him to the young Diego Maradona. Indeed 'El Diego' himself was so taken with the youngster's mercurial displays that he personally phoned to offer his

DIDIER DROGBA Profiles

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After a gentle-paced start to his career in France, Didier hit full sprint after his move to the big time at Marseille where his stunning form and goalscoring helped his club to the 2004 UEFA Cup Final and himself to the France Footballer of the Year Award. And sprinting plays a big part in the big man's armoury; his pace allied to strength making Didier the type of forward not seen at Stamford Bridge for a long, long time. He also possesses aerial power in front of goal that at times borders on awesome. Signed for Chelsea in the summer of 2004, Didier's transfer fee makes him the second most expensive striker in British football history, only surpassed by the money paid by Man United for Wayne Rooney. The man who has spearhead the Ivory Coast to a first World Cup Finals moved from Africa to live in France as a young child and played his early junior football at right-back. He dabbled with various small clubs and even turned down the chance of a trial at Paris Saint-Germain, pr

THIERRY HENRY We Are Learning the Hard Way

Thierry Henry believes Arsenal are paying a heavy price for their mistakes this season. The captain was disconsolate as he spoke after Tuesday’s heartbreaking exit from the Carling Cup at the hands of Wigan. Arsenal were on the cusp of another trip to Cardiff before Jason Roberts profited on hesitancy in the home defence to fire in from close range. “I think that is a reflection of our season right there,” said Henry. “It is difficult to take. I know they had a lot of opportunities to score but we had a lot of opportunities. “On the other side it difficult with the goal we conceded. We conceded the same goal at Everton when maybe we were not playing that great but it looked like we were going to get back to a good position. “It was a long ball not really looking for anyone. It would have been sweeter if they had scored with one of their better chances. “When you play like we did — desire, commitment and creating chances — there is nothing to say about it. I thought we played tremendous

WAYNE ROONEY Biography

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Birthdate: 24 Oct 1985 Birthplace: Croxteth, Liverpool Position: Striker Appearances: 271 Goals: 122 Joined United: 31 Aug 2004 United Debut: 28 Sept 2004 v Fenerbahce (H) International: England Wayne Mark Rooney was born on October 24th, 1985 at Croxteth, Liverpool. He is the first child of parents of Irish descent Thomas Wayne and Jeanette Marie Rooney. Wayne Rooney burst onto the Old Trafford stage in September 2004, netting an unforgettable hat-trick against Fenerbahce on his debut। He'd arrived from Everton, his boyhood club, a few weeks earlier, becoming the world's most expensive teenager in the process. But it wasn't his performances for the Toffees that had sparked United's interest, mind you. Staff at Carrington knew about Wayne from a much, much earlier age. "Our U-9 side played Everton's boys one day and they absolutely hammered us," now-Academy manager Paul McGuinness remembers. "Rooney scored a few [six, actually], but there was one

RONALDINH0 Best of the Best

" I still have a video of my father, which I watch before every game I play for Brazil. It gives me strength, makes me determined ." - Ronaldinho Ronaldo de Assis Moreira -- or Ronaldinho Gaucho to nickname-happy Brazilians -- was born on March 21, 1980 in the southern city of Porto Alegre. Like most Brazilian soccer prodigies, he came from a poor family and was raised in the heart of the dirt road-laced settlements known as favelas. But his family loved the sport and found joy in playing it. Ronaldinho's father, Joao da Silva Moreira, played in an amateur club when he wasn't working as a welder or guarding the Gremio soccer stadium. Even though it was Ronaldinho's older brother Roberto who was a rising star in the Gremio club, Joao saw in young Ronaldinho a true champion. The way the boy dribbled a ball around the furniture at home was unbelievable. Sadly, Joao would never get to see Ronaldinho shine on the world stage. When Ronaldinho was only eight, Joao drowne

THE RISE OF THE OTHER RONALDO

Imagine being a full-back confronting Manchester United and Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo in full stride - the ball is at his feet, except you can't keep track of it as he drags his legs and steps over it two, three, four times and all the while you are scrambling backwards, trying to maintain concentration. Ronaldo is most certainly a Player to Watch - but only if you can keep your eyes on him for long enough. If such a hypothetical scenario had been played out in reality, at least you would have been in good company because Ronaldo has been tormenting the world's finest full-backs over the course of the past few years. Manchester United broke the world record transfer fee for a teenager when they paid Sporting Lisbon £12.24m for the youngster in August 2003 - handing the then 18-year-old a five-year deal. United, who had just sold David Beckham to Real Madrid, needed a new star on the right flank to somehow plug the gap left by the England captain. Their attention was fir

PRODIGY ROONEY GROWING UP

In the fast-track world of Wayne Rooney, the Player to Watch tag could be considered a good three years too late. All eyes have been on the young Manchester United and England striker ever since 17 August 2002 when he made his debut for his boyhood club, Everton. Indeed his first senior goal of any description, in an Everton pre-season friendly against Austrian minnows SC Bruck earlier that summer, prompted an excited stadium announcer to declare: "The third Everton goal is scored by Wayne Rooney, who many believe will be England's next Alan Shearer!" But where Shearer was 21 when he made his England debut, Rooney – who today celebrates his 20th birthday – has already become his country's key player. His first goal in the English Premiership, a spectacular last-minute strike that ended then champions Arsenal's 30-match unbeaten run in October 2002, signalled that with Rooney anything is possible. Just as defenders bounce off his stocky boxer's frame, so Rooney