Fotbal Internaţional Thread

[beavis]

Niko Kovac retires from Croatia national team

Niko Kovac will no longer play for the Croatian national team. The captain announced this in an interview with newspaper Sportske Novosti.

"The decision has been made. I will never play for Croatia again. It wasn't easy to decide this, because I have achieved a lot with the national team as a person and as a footballer", the 37-year-old said.

Kovac made his international debut in 1996, but missed the 1998 World Cup as he did not fully recover from an injury. He did however appear in all three 2002 World Cup group matches but failed to help his team to the next round.

Following a similarly unsuccessful Euro 2004, Kovac took over the captain's ribbon. The 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008 were both reached, but Croatia again failed to make it to the second round at both tournaments.

The defensive midfielder currently plays his club football at Red Bull Salzburg.

[B-A-C-H]

Cum era de asteptat, a castigat C. Ronaldo.
Cand i-a decernat premiul anterior lui Kaka, Pele i-a spus portughezului: "La anul va fi al tau!" Si a avut dreptate.
Cred ca anul asta ii va spune acelasi lucru lui Messi... care e clona lui Maradona.

De remarcat: interludiul muzical al festivitatii - nu au fost manele! Nu a fost Adi de la Valcea!!!

A fost Haendel.
La genericul de final, tot Haendel.

In tarile civilizate, totul e altfel...

[beavis]

FIFA World Player Gala 2008 in Zurich (12.01.2009)

[beavis]

Lotul Croaţiei pentru amicalul cu România

Selecţionerul Croaţiei, Slaven Bilici, a anunţat cei 22 de jucători convocaţi pentru amicalul cu România din 11 februarie de la Bucureşti.

Portari: Stipe Pletikosa (Spartak Moscova), Danijel Subasic (Hajduk Split)

Fundaşi: Vedran Corluka (Tottenham), Josip Simunic (Hertha Berlin), Robert Kovac (Borussia Dortmund), Hrvoje Cale (Trabzonspor), Hrvoje Vejic (Hajduk Split), Ivica Krizanac (Zenit Sankt Petersburg)

Mijlocaşi: Danijel Pranjic (Heerenveen), Nikola Pokrivac (AS Monaco), Luka Modric (Tottenham), Niko Kranjcar (Portsmouth), Ivan Juric (Genoa), Ognjen Vukojevic (Dinamo Kiev), Ivo Ilicevic (VfL Bochum), Darijo Srna (Şahtior Doneţk), Ivan Rakitic (Schalke 04)

Atacanţi: Eduardo da Silva (Arsenal), Mladen Petric (SV Hamburg), Ivica Olic (SV Hamburg), Nikola Kalinic (Hajduk Split), Mario Mandzukic (Dinamo Zagreb)

[FanStiintza]

Eduardo revine după un an! Va juca în amicalul România-Croaţia

Atacantul Eduardo Da Silva a fost convocat la naţionala Croaţiei pentru amicalul cu România, din 11 februarie, jucătorul revenind în teren după 11 luni de absenţă, informează site-ul uefa.com.

Eduardo, legitimat la Arsenal Londra, nu a mai jucat pentru Croaţia de la amicalul cu Olanda, de la Split, din 6 februarie 2008.

"Eduardo este pregătit şi cu siguranţă va juca împotriva României. Am vorbit cu Arsene Wenger şi este de acord. Eduardo va juca 30 de minute sau o repriză", declarat selecţionerul Croaţiei, Slaven Bilic.

Eduardo a fost victima unor fracturi (tibie, peroneu şi călcâi), în timpul unui meci din campionatul Angliei, din 23 februarie 2008, când fundaşul echipei Birmingham City, Martin Taylor, l-a atacat violent.

El se alătură în lotul Croaţiei mijlocaşului Ivan Juric (Genoa), dar şi fundaşului de la Trabzonspor, Hrvoje Cale, în timp ce atacantul Ivan Klasnic, de la FC Nantes, nu a fost convocat.

[beavis]

Laursen announces international retirement

Aston Villa's Danish captain Martin Laursen announced Thursday he was retiring from international football due to his injured knee.

The 31-year-old Denmark defender has recently undergone surgery on the problem knee and will not be back in action at least until the end of March.

"It's my decision, and it's the hardest I've ever had to take in my career", he said in comments carried on the Danish Football Federation's website.

"I've done everything to avoid taking this decision because I love playing for the national team and there's nothing I want more than for the side to qualify for the World Cup."

Laursen takes his leave with 51 caps having taken part in Euro 2000, the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004.

[beavis]

Stoilov named as new Bulgaria coach

Litex Lovech coach Stanimir Stoilov was on Friday handed the job of trying to guide struggling Bulgaria into the 2010 World Cup finals.

Stoilov succeeds Plamen Markov who was sacked in December after the team's disappointing start to their World Cup qualifying campaign which has seen them draw their opening 3 games.

They are currently 7 points behind leaders and reigning world champions Italy and 4 off second-placed Ireland.

The 41-year-old Stoilov, who is likely to remain in charge of his club side, briefly coached the national team in 2007 after the resignation of Bulgaria's 1994 World Cup star striker Hristo Stoichkov.

[FanStiintza]

Kaka sau Messi pe viu!

Noul stadion Naţional nu a început să prindă contur, dar are deja programat un eveniment de excepţie: finala Europa League din 2012. Înaintea acesteia, pe noua arenă s-ar putea disputa un alt meci de gală. E vorba de un amical de lux jucat de România cu ocazia inaugurării.Pentru botezul celui mai mare şi mai modern stadion din ţară, şefii de la federaţie nu puteau lua în calcul decât o mare forţă a fotbalului mondial, o echipă care să umple tribunele şi să facă din ziua inaugurării un eveniment de ţinut minte toată viaţa. În acest sens, două echipe sunt vizate: Brazilia şi Argentina. Şefii de la FRF se ocupă deja de asta. Ionuţ Lupescu a contactat firma care gestionează amicalele celor două super-forţe, iar răspunsul a fost favorabil: Argentina şi Brazilia acceptă să joace în capitala României!

Vedetele costă măcar un milion de euro

„Ar fi o lovitură de imagine. Ca rețetă financiară nu am ieși mult în câștig. Brazilia solicită condiții de business class și vrea și drepturile TV. Pe un stadion de 55.000 de locuri, la o medie a prețului biletelor de 40 de euro, putem amortiza costurile unui asemenea amical”, a spus preşedintele FRF, Mircea Sandu. Şi, într-adevăr, costurile sunt destul de mari. În general, Dunga, Ronaldinho şi Kaka (foto stânga) nu se deranjează pentru mai puţin de un milion de euro, iar argentinienii nu se lasă nici ei mai prejos, mai ales că acum au un nou „argument”: pe lângă Messi (foto dreapta) sau Aguerro, spectatorii îl pot vedea pe noul selecţioner, marele Maradona.

Variantă de rezervă din Europa

În caz că pretenţiile Braziliei sau Argentinei sunt exagerate, iar reţeta financiară calculată de FRF nu rentează, Sandu şi Lupescu își propun ca variantă una dintre forțele fotbalului european: Anglia, Italia, Franța sau Germania. Aceste echipe ar fi mai ieftin de adus la București, dar prezintă dezavantajul că au mai trecut prin România în ultimii ani, astfel că interesul publicului ar fi mai scăzut decât în cazul Braziliei.

[FanStiintza]

Paolo Maldini Says Yes To Italy Comeback!



Legendary Milan and Italy defender Paolo Maldini admits he will return to play for the Azzurri after he heard of Goal.com's campaign to bring him back to La Nazionale for one last time...

Paolo Maldini has promised millions of fans around the world that he will wear the famous Italian jersey for one last time before he finally decides to hang up his boots.

Maldini heard of the idea and he was asked by Milan Channel whether he would like one last shot. Amazingly, Il Capitano said yes.

"Wearing the Italy shirt again? Yes, it would be a pleasure. It would not be a return to the national team, but the perfect occasion to celebrate a long career with Italy, and I would be delighted to do this," Maldini stated.

"This is something which was born spontaneously and I didn't know anything about it [the Goal.com campaign].

"If and when there is the possibility of it happening then the decision will be down to Marcello Lippi as he will take into account the needs of the team. Also, the Italy fixture list is looking dense."

Italy play Brazil in a friendly in London next week and it could be the perfect occasion for Maldini to go out with a bang.

It remains to be seen whether the Rossoneri legend will turn out for Marcello Lippi at the Emirates, but fans around the world will, no doubt, be hoping that he does.

[FanStiintza]

Costea, singurul "juvete" convocat de Piţurcă

Florin Costea îşi va întrerupe pregătirea în Antalya, urmând ca luni să se prezinte luni la Mogoşoaia, în vederea amicalului dintre România şi Croaţia, care se va disputa pe 11 februarie.
Costea este singurul jucător din lotul Universităţii Craiova, chemat de Victor Piţurcă, Valerică Găman şi Dorel Stoica nemaifiind convocaţi.

De la Universitatea Craiova au mai fost convocaţi patru jucători, însă pentru echipa de tineret, Emil Săndoi apelând la serviciile lui Silviu Lung, Cosmin Gângioveanu, Radu Barbu şi Ştefan Bărboianu. Există şanse ca şi Găman, în vârstă de 19 ani, să ajungă la naţionala de tineret.

[FanStiintza]

Radu, out pentru amicalul cu Croaţia!

Selecţionerul Victor Piţurcă a anunţat lotul final pentru meciul amical cu Croaţia, partidă ce va avea loc pe Stadionul Steaua, miercuri 11 februarie. Tehnicianul oltean a renunţat la serviciile fundaşului lazial Ştefan Radu, convocând 21 de jucători. Aceştia sunt următorii:

Bogdan Lobonţ (FC Dinamo), Costel Pantilimon (FC Timişoara) – portari; Cosmin Contra (Getafe), George Ogăraru, Dorin Goian (ambii Steaua), Gabriel Tamaş (Dinamo), Mirel Rădoi (Al Hilal), Cristian Chivu (Internazionale Milano), Răzvan Raţ (Şahtior Doneţk), Mihai Neşu (FC Utrecht) – fundaşi; Florentin Petre (Terek Groznîi), Bănel Nicoliţă, Ovidiu Petre (ambii Steaua), Paul Codrea (Siena), Alexandru Bourceanu (Oţelul Galaţi), Iulian Tameş (FC Argeş), Răzvan Cociş (Lokomotiv Moscova) – mijlocaşi; Ciprian Marica (VfB Stuttgart), Gheorghe Bucur (FC Timişoara), Adrian Mutu (Fiorentina) şi Florin Costea (Universitatea Craiova) – atacanţi.

[beavis]

Kaka to miss Brazil-Italy after foot injury

AC Milan may have picked up a point against Reggina yesterday but their draw has come at a greater cost. Midfield star Kaka had to leave the pitch 77 minutes in due to injury.

Immediately after coming off, he was taken to hospital for routine checks, but coach Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that there is more to come.

"He's going for an x-ray", said Carletto.

"We don't think it's just a little thing because he had a lot of pain. It was in his foot, not the muscle."

In fact AC Milan's official website later noted that the x-ray indicated a sprain, not a fracture, but the midfielder remains out of action.

Kaka will miss the match between Italy and Brazil in London on Tuesday and he could be in doubt for the upcoming Milan derby.

[deangel9]

Buffon, Pirlo back for Italy



Marcello Lippi has recalled Gianluigi Buffon and Andrea Pirlo to the Italy squad for next week's friendly with Brazil.

Juventus stopper Buffon and AC Milan midfielder Pirlo missed the last match against Greece in November through injury.

But there is no place again for attacking pair Alessandro del Piero, of Juve, and Antonio Cassano, of Sampdoria, while Giorgio Chiellini is missing through injury for the game at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium.

Chiellini's absence means Fiorentina's Alessandro Gamberini should partner Fabio Cannavaro in defence.

Lippi has included youngsters Alberto Aquilani, Riccardo Montolivo, Giuseppe Rossi and Simone Pepe with an eye on the World Cup next year.

Squad: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Marco Amelia (Palermo), Morgan de Sanctis (Galatasaray); Daniele Bonera, Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Andrea Dossena (Liverpool), Alessandro Gamberini (Fiorentina), Fabio Grosso (Lyon), Nicola Legrottaglie (Juventus), Gianluca Zambrotta; Alberto Aquilani (Roma), Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Daniele de Rossi (Roma), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Simone Pepe (Udinese), Simone Perrotta (Roma), Andrea Pirlo (Milan); Antonio di Natale (Udinese), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal), Luca Toni (Bayern Munich).

[FanStiintza]

Letonia 0 - 0 Armenia
Mozambique 2 - 0 Malawi
Moldova 1 - 1 Rep. of Macedonia
Libya 2 - 3 Uruguay
Liechtenstein 0 - 2 Islanda
Kuwait 1 - 1 Azerbaijan
Algeria 2 - 1 Benin
Cipru 3 - 2 Slovacia
Israel 1 - 0 Ungaria
Kazakhstan 2 - 0 Estonia
Serbia 0 - 1 Ucraina
Lituania 3 - 1 Andorra
Polonia 1 - 0 Tara Galilor
Camerun 3 - 1 Guinea
Egypt 2 - 2 Ghana
Afriaca de Sud 0 - 2 Chile
Turcia 1 - 1 Costa de Fildes
Romania 1 - 2 Croatia
Moroc 0 - 0 Cehia
Grecia 1 - 1 Denmarca
Austria 0 - 2 Suedia
Germania 0 - 1 Norvegia
Elvetia 1 - 1 Bulgaria
Tunisia 1 - 1 Olanda
Belgia 2 - 0 Slovenia
Franta 0 - 2 Argentina
Spania 2-0 Anglia

[FanStiintza]

Selecţionerul Victor Piţurcă a anunţat, duminică seară, jucătorii convocaţi la naţionala României pentru meciurile cu Serbia, din 28 martie (Constanţa) şi Austria, din 1 aprilie (Klagenfurt), din preliminariile Cupei Mondiale din 2010

Victor Piţurcă a convocat următorii jucători:

Bogdan Lobonţ (FC Dinamo Bucureşti) şi Costel Pantilimon (FC Timişoara) - portari;

Cosmin Contra (Getafe CF), Cristian Săpunaru (FC Porto), Dorel Stoica (FC Universitatea Craiova), Gabriel Tamaş (FC Dinamo Bucureşti), Dorin Goian (FC Steaua Bucureşti), Mirel Rădoi (Al-Hilal), Răzvan Raţ (FC Şahtior Doneţk) şi Mihai Neşu (FC Utrecht) - fundaşi;

Bănel Nicoliţă, Ovidiu Petre (ambii, FC Steaua Bucureşti), Alexandru Bourceanu (FC Oţelul Galaţi), Răzvan Cociş (FC Lokomotiv Moscova), Paul Codrea (AC Siena), Cristian Tănase (FC Argeş), Maximilian Nicu (Hertha BSC) - mijlocaşi;

Gheorghe Bucur (FC Timişoara), Adrian Mutu (Fiorentina), Ciprian Marica (VfB Stuttgart), Florin Costea (FC Universitatea Craiova) şi Marius Niculae (FC Dinamo Bucureşti) - atacanţi.

[beavis]

England call ups for friendly against Slovakia

Goalkeepers: Ben Foster (Manchester United), Robert Green (West Ham), David James (Portsmouth)

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), Ledley King (Tottenham), Joleon Lescott (Everton), John Terry (Chelsea), Matthew Upson (West Ham)

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), David Beckham (AC Milan), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City)

Forwards: Carlton Cole (West Ham), Peter Crouch (Portsmouth), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)

[beavis]

Iniesta out of Spain squad

Spain's midfield sensation, Andres Iniesta, will be forced to withdraw from La Seleccion's World Cup qualifying double-header against Turkey after picking up an injury during the 6-0 mauling of Malaga.

The 24-year-old tore an adductor muscle and had to be replaced 15 minutes into the second half. After further examination by the club doctors, Marca has confirmed that he will be sidelined for around 15 days.

This will effectively rule Iniesta out of both Spain's upcoming qualifier against the Turks on 28 March in Madrid and 1 April in Istanbul and he is also likely to miss Barca's next league game on 4 April against Real Valladolid.

The club, however, are hopeful that "El Nino de Coro" could return for the Blaugrana's Champions League quarter-final showdown with Bayern Munich on 8 April at Camp Nou.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque is expected to name a replacement for his La Furia Roja squad in the next few days.

[beavis]

Holland squad for World Cup qualifiers

Giovanni van Bronckhorst will return from an ankle injury to bolster the Netherlands' defence in two World Cup qualifiers against Scotland and Macedonia.

Van Marwijk said he is sticking with Maarten Stekelenburg as his first-choice goalkeeper even though Stekelenburg has been relegated to the bench at Ajax by Kenneth Vermeer.

"I have faith in him", Van Marwijk said. "I think Maarten has the most potential as a keeper. He is the best in front of the goal and has the most experience."

Van der Sar came out of retirement for two World Cup qualifiers last October as injury cover, taking his Dutch record international appearance tally to 130.

Van Marwijk said this week he tried unsuccessfully to lure the Manchester United player out of retirement again because of injury and form worries surrounding his current crop of goalkeepers.

4 Real Madrid players - Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Rafael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben - were included in the squad along with Liverpool forwards Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel.

Goalkeepers: Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Henk Timmer (Feyenoord), Michel Vorm (Utrecht)

Defenders: Khalid Boulahrouz (VfB Stuttgart), Edson Braafheid (Twente), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), John Heitinga (Atletico Madrid), Dirk Marcellis (PSV Eindhoven), Joris Mathijsen (SV Hamburg), Andre Ooijer (Blackburn), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax)

Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay (PSV Eindhoven), Mark van Bommel (Bayern Munich), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Stijn Schaars (AZ Alkmaar), Wesley Sneijder (Real Madrid), Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid), Demy de Zeeuw (AZ Alkmaar)

Forwards: Ryan Babel (Liverpool), Klaas Jan Huntelaar (Real Madrid), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Arjen Robben (Real Madrid)

[deangel9]

Vidal expects to miss Peru clash



Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal remains doubtful about his chances of playing in the World Cup qualifier against Peru.

The 21-year-old is nursing a fracture near his right eye and is due to undergo tests tomorrow and on Friday to ascertain whether he will be fit for the 'Derby of the Pacific' match.

Vidal has been training with his team-mates this week, but is sceptical of his chances of appearing alongside them against the Peruvians.

"I am training well, I am enjoying being back with my team-mates too, but I cannot say that I will definitely play against Peru. That is too difficult," he told reporters.

"I will have some tests tomorrow and on Friday to see whether I will be able to play. However, I am not expecting too much.

"My recovery has been quicker than expected, but we must be careful because the injury is in a sensitive area and further injury could carry consequences for the future."

Vidal does, however, expect to be fit in time for the crucial encounter against Uruguay in Santiago on April 1.

Chile currently sit fourth in the South American qualification zone standings, just three points ahead of Uruguay.

"Playing Peru has an extra motivation, but I am confident on playing Uruguay," he said. "The Peru match is probably too close."

[deangel9]

Albert Riera hails strike duo



Albert Riera has hailed forwards David Villa and Fernando Torres as one of the best strike partnerships in the world.

The pair have scored 43 goals between them for their country and are set to spearhead the attack in the upcoming World Cup qualifying double header against Turkey.

Spain are looking to build on a 100% record from their opening four matches in Group Five and Riera knows that a lot of the credit must go to their strikers.

"I don't know if it is the best partnerships in the world but it is undoubtedly one of the best, that's for sure," he said. "There are many national teams with very good strikers but Fernando and David's numbers count.

"There is a lot ahead for Fernando and David has just broken goalscoring records. The numbers talk for themselves and in quality they are among the best."

Torres has been in fantastic form of late for his country having scored in his past six Spain appearances and Riera admits he has been particularly impressed by his Liverpool team-mate.

"Fernando has surprised me," he said. "What is good about him is his margin for improvement.

"Personally, having him in my team he is a player who gives you everything and he gives you options.

"For that reason I'm sure that in the next few years he's going to improve more."