Fotbal Internaţional Thread

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Gomis called in for Ribery

France have called up striker Bafetimbi Gomis for their crucial World Cup qualifiers as a replacement for Franck Ribery.

The 24-year-old, who has already won 4 caps, was added to the squad after star player Ribery pulled out with tendinitis in his left knee.

Les Blues take on the Feroe Islands on Saturday and Austria next Wednesday, but they face a tough task if they are going to avoid finishing second in Group 7, which would leave them to fight it out in the play-offs.

Raymond Domenech's side are currently 4 points behind group leaders Serbia, who only need a win against Romania to secure qualification for South Africa.

As well as the absent Ribery, France will also be without Yoann Gourcuff for their crunch games, leaving two of their most creative players sidelined.

Meanwhile, defender Sebastien Squillaci is a doubt for Saturday's game after he suffered a rib injury in Sevilla's 2-1 win over Real Madrid at the weekend.

Maradona talks of quitting Argentina job

Under-pressure Argentina coach Diego Maradona has announced that he might quit after must-win World Cup qualifiers against Peru and Uruguay.

"After the qualifiers, I will talk to Julio Grondona", Maradona told reporters Tuesday.

"I'll see if I carry on and it will be on my conditions", he said.

"When Julio offered me this job, I was the happiest man in the world, but since there have been things that I have not liked", Maradona said, without further explanation.

He was appointed in November last year but recent poor form, including back-to-back losses at home to Brazil and in Paraguay, has left Argentina fifth in the regional standings - and there are only 4 automatic slots for the finals in South Africa.

Argentina, World Cup champions in 1978 and 1986, last failed to make the finals in 1970.

But they are currently headed only for the play-offs against the 4th-placed Central American zone team.

Maradona is battling to find the right formula with morale having sagged following 4 losses in 5 games - including a 6-1 hiding in Bolivia.

Argentina face Peru in Buenos Aires on Saturday and travel to Montevideo 4 days later.

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Torres suffers groin injury scare

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres limped out of training with Spain on Wednesday night, but his groin injury is not thought to be serious.

Torres abandoned the training session as a precautionary measure when he pulled up with a groin problem, but was later able to exercise on his own in the gym.

The Reds hitman should be fit for Spain's World Cup qualifying double header which is good news for coach Vicente del Bosque, who is already without Valencia forward David Villa who pulled out of the squad earlier this week with a hamstring injury.

With Spain having already booked their ticket to South Africa, Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez will hope La Roja do not risk Torres, who has scored 8 goals in 7 league games this season.

Spain face Armenia on Saturday before visiting Bosnia 4 days later as they aim to see out their qualifying campaign with a 100% record.

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Ronaldo fit for Portugal's crunch Hungary game

Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo is fit to play in Portugal's crunch World Cup qualifier against Hungary on Saturday after recovering from a twisted ankle, according to coach Carlos Queiroz.

"All the players are fit with the exception of Tiago, who has not recovered", Queiroz said.

Ronaldo, who resumed normal training with team-mates on Friday, added: "I'll be fit for tomorrow's match and the following one."

Portugal, who play Hungary on Saturday and Malta 4 days later, are third in Group 1 with 13 points and need to win both matches and for second-placed Sweden to slip up in Denmark, to book their ticket to South Africa.

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World Cup Qualifying preview: Ukraine - England




FORM GUIDE

Ukraine

Belarus 0-0 Ukraine

Ukraine 5-0 Andorra

Ukraine 2-1 Kazakhstan

Croatia 2-2 Ukraine

England 2-1 Ukraine

England

England 5-1 Croatia

England 6-0 Andorra

Kazakhstan 0-4 England

England 2-1 Ukraine

Belarus 1-3 England

TEAM NEWS

Ukraine
FC Barcelona defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy is Ukraine's main absentee due to injury, while Andriy Rusoland and Vitaliy Mandzyuk are both also out. However, Dynamo Kyiv duo Taras Mykhalyk and Oleksandr Aliev do return.

England
Robert Green is battling to retain his place as goalkeeper, with the returning David James an option. Rio Ferdinand is hoping to be fit to partner captain John Terry in central defense. Bolton center-back Gary Cahill could win his first cap from the substitutes' bench.


PREDICTION: Ukraine 1-2 England

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Olic doubt for Croatia

Croatia have called up Sporting Gijon striker Mate Bilic for next week's World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan after Ivica Olic suffered a muscle injury in training.

Bayern Munich striker Olic is doubtful for the game after becoming the latest name on a list of injured first-choice players which already included forwards Eduardo da Silva and Mladen Petric.

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Niko Kranjcar suffered an ankle injury during the 3-2 friendly win over Qatar and is doubtful for Wednesday's trip to Kazakhstan.

Croatia can clinch second spot in Group 6 if they beat Kazakhstan and England, who have already qualified for next year's finals in South Africa, avoid defeat in Ukraine on Saturday.

The second-placed team will advance to a 2-legged play-off against another European runner-up for a place in the finals.

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Henry ready to go into "combat" for France

He was a slight doubt during the week because of an adductor problem, but FC Barcelona forward Thierry Henry has declared himself fit for France's World Cup qualifying match against Feroe Islands on Saturday evening.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the game in Brittany, he declared: "I have always felt like this since the beginning of the season because I have some minor glitches, but I am ready to go into combat."

Les Bleus had an uncomfortable run in qualifying thus far and it would seem that they are destined for the play-offs. However, in order to secure their place in one of the 4 two-legged knock-outs, they have to defeat the North Atlantic islanders, something that Henry does not take as a given.

"They are team who have not lost by more than 2 goals since the start of the competition. They are not an easy team to beat like they were in the past", he declared.

Making life more awkward for Raymond Domenech's side is the absence of the teams 2 main playmakers Franck Ribery and Yoann Gourcuff, both of whom are injured.

"They are team players", France's record scorer mused.

"They are rather modern playmakers, not like the old No. 10's. But the key is to create chances and put them in the net."

France will certainly be hoping for an affair simpler than the one they played out in August, when they could only edge the Feroe Islands 1-0 thanks to an Andre-Pierre Gignac goal.

[FanStiintza]

Nouăsprezece echipe, din 32 de participante, şi-au asigurat deja calificarea la Cupa Mondială din 2010, din perioada 11 iunie-11 iulie, din Africa de Sud.

Zona Africa: Africa de Sud (ţara organizatoare), Coasta de Fildeş, Ghana

Zona Europa: Olanda, Anglia, Spania, Germania, Italia, Serbia, Danemarca

Zona America de Sud: Brazilia, Paraguay, Chile

Zona Asia: Coreea de Sud, Coreea de Nord, Australia, Japonia

Zona Concacaf: Mexic, SUA.

[beavis]

Fabregas & Xavi among 5 Spanish to miss Bosnia match

Cesc Fabregas of Arsenal and FC Barcelona midfielder Xavi are among 5 Spanish internationals who will miss their final World Cup qualifier against Bosnia on Wednesday.

Fabregas has opted out for personal reasons while Xavi is among 3 players to have picked up injury niggles.

Fenerbahce striker Dani Guiza was injured on Friday while Valencia central defender Carlos Marchena picked up an injury during Spain's 2-1 defeat of group opponents Armenia on Saturday. Xavi also picked up a knee knjury in that game.

FC Barcelona defender Carles Puyol's yellow card tally is reaching dangerous levels and so he has been rested while Fabregas is out for "serious" family reasons, according to the Spanish football federation.

Terim set to quit as Turks fail to qualify

Turkey coach Fatih Terim said he will resign after his side, which failed to qualify for the World Cup finals after a 2-0 defeat to Belgium on Saturday, play their final qualifier against Armenia.

"The match we play against Armenia will be my farewell match", said Terim on the Turkish federation's official website Sunday.

Turkey play Armenia in Bursa, northern Turkey on Wednesday but a win against the Group 5 basement side will not be sufficient.

With only 3 wins so far Turkey are third in the group, 7 points behind play-off bound Bosnia and 15 behind automatic qualifiers Spain.

Terim led Turkey to the semi-finals of the 2008 European championship, won by Spain, but in the World Cup qualifiers his side went from bad to worse having at one point led the group.

"We started well but we failed to maintain any kind of consistency", said Terim, a 56-year-old who led Turkish side Galatasaray to UEFA Cup triumph in 2000.

Terim also coached Italian sides Fiorentina and AC Milan before taking over the national side in 2005.

[beavis]

Danemarca - Suedia | Portugalia - Ungaria | Franţa - Feroe

Irlanda - Italia | Cehia - Polonia | Serbia - România

Slovacia - Slovenia | Estonia - Bosnia | Grecia - Letonia





PARTEA 1

PARTEA 2

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Rooney out of England's final qualifier

England striker Wayne Rooney will miss Wednesday's final 2010 World Cup qualifier against Belarus after the Manchester United forward picked up a calf strain in Saturday's 1-0 defeat away to Ukraine.

The news is a surprise as Rooney got through the entire game, turning in a decent performance for an England side that was reduced to 10 men after 15 minutes following the dismissal of Robert Green.

Rooney, however, must now undergo treatment in the hope of being fit for United's Premier League encounter with Bolton.

Unless injury hits one of his other 4 strikers, Capello is unlikely to call in a replacement.

The Italian has the option of pushing Steven Gerrard into a more advanced position, which he plays in so successfully for Liverpool.

Alternatively, he could pair Carlton Cole with Emile Heskey, or possibly Aston Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor, who was an unused substitute on Saturday.

England, with wins in their first 8 matches, had already ensured automatic qualification to the world Cup before the defeat to Ukraine as Group 6 leaders.

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Larsson şi-a anunţat pentru a doua oară retragerea din naţională

Atacantul suedez Henrik Larsson a anunţat pentru a doua oară că se va retrage de la echipa naţională, după ce Suedia a a pierdut partida cu Danemarca din preliminariile CM din 2010 şi mai are doar şanse teoretice să ajungă la turneul final.

"Cred că este de ajuns şi, din păcate, aventura mea la naţională trebuie să se termine aici. Sper ca echipa să ajungă într-un fel la baraj, chiar dacă este extrem de greu, dar decizia mea rămâne definitivă. Am multă experienţă şi am văzut ce se vrea de la fotbalişti, iar acum e greu să mă menţin la acelaşi nivel", a spus Larsson.

Atacantul în vârstă de 38 de ani s-a mai retras o dată de la echipa naţională, în anul 2002, dar peste doar 2 ani a revenit asupra deciziei. Larrson a strâns peste 100 de jocuri la naţională, pentru care a reuşit să marcheze 37 de goluri.

Atacantul a evoluat la echipe precum Feyenoord, Celtic Glasgow, FC Barcelona sau Manchester United, iar acum intenţionează să se dedice carierei de antrenor.

"It will be a battle of life and death"

The World Cup qualifying in South America approaches its showdown. On Wednesday, four countries will fight for the last ticket to South Africa. The most promising fixture is the match between Uruguay and Argentina.

The two teams meet each other in Montevideo in a direct battle for qualification. The winner claims the 4th automatic qualification place.

Uruguay striker Diego Forlan has mixed emotions before Wednesday's decisive match. "I have warm feelings for Argentina. I've played there for 4 years and I have many Argentine friends."

"Of course there is some rivalry between the two countries. But not as much as between Argentina and Brazil or Brazil and Uruguay. We are small and Brazil is big in everything. But it's going to be a battle of life and death", Forlan said.

The 4th place in the group means direct qualification for the World Cup. The country that ends up fifth in the group is forced to play a decisive play-off against Costa Rica or Honduras.

Besides Uruguay (24 points) and Argentina (25), Ecuador (23) and Venezuela (21) are also still in the race for a World Cup ticket. Ecuador travels to Brazil while Venezuela visits Chile.

[deangel9]

Totti ponders Azzurri return



Francesco Totti is considering performing a U-turn and making himself available to the Italy national team again.

The Roma captain brought an end to his Azzurri career in July 2006 shortly after helping his country win the World Cup in Germany.

Former Italy coach Roberto Donadoni attempted to lure Totti out of retirement for Euro 2008 but was unsuccessful.

However, Totti has now opened the door to the possibility.

When asked if he was willing to come out of international retirement, the 33-year-old told Gazzetta dello Sport: "It depends on what my condition will be and on (coach Marcello) Lippi's selection.

"I owe Lippi so much."

Totti, who has scored nine goals in 58 matches for Italy, has struggled with injuries in recent seasons.

Earlier this year he was sidelined for four months with a knee injury and he is currently out of action with another knee problem.

Italy secured their place at next year's finals in South Africa with a 2-2 draw against Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.

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Trezeguet ready to return for France in play-offs

David Trezeguet is willing to come out of international retirement to help France in next month's World Cup play-offs, he said Tuesday.

The 31-year-old Juventus striker, who helped Les Bleus lift the 1998 World Cup and scored the "golden goal" in the final of Euro 2000, had a strained relationship with coach Raymond Domenech and decided to quit the national team last year.

"World Cup qualification is at stake in the play-offs", Trezeguet told Sky television. "It could also be a positive experience for me, maybe my last one in the national team as I'm getting to an age that means it will be less likely after."

"I am open to a call-up. I'll never be able to forget what has happened but I think France's World Cup is more important now."

Domenech, whose side booked a play-off berth by beating Feroe Islands 5-0 Saturday to ensure second place in Group 7 behind Serbia, left Trezeguet out of his squad for Euro 2008.

[deangel9]

http://www.sport.ro/nationala/rusino...a-belgrad.html

[beavis]

Crouch & Agbonlahor to start for England

England boss Fabio Capello will turn to Gabriel Agbonlahor and Peter Crouch against Belarus when he experiences his first World Cup qualifier without Wayne Rooney.

Rooney has played all 9 of Capello's competitive matches but has a calf strain for the 10th and is joined on the sidelines by Steven Gerrard, whose groin complaint has given the Italian another reason to experiment with systems and fringe players in the dead rubber.

Capello is aware there needs to be an alternative way to success and said: "The two forwards will be Crouch and Agbonlahor".

He added: "We need to play other styles, style A, B, C. It depends on the opposition and the style of the game we need to play. We played always more or less the same style in all the games we've played."

"Sometimes, during the friendly games, we've changed it. But we need to practise other styles. I want to see some players in different positions."

"When I decide the squad, I decide always different styles that I can play with it with the players who will be with me. Why wouldn't they have that capacity?"

Rob Green is suspended after his red card against Ukraine at the weekend, but David James's return has been complicated by a knee complaint. The Portsmouth goalkeeper will need a late fitness test.

Gerrard's absence could give James Milner an opportunity on the left wing, Agbonlahor and Crouch will lead the attack, while Rio Ferdinand will get the chance to atone for his mistake in Dnipropetrovsk that led to Green's dismissal.

Capello has talked to Ferdinand about his error and insists he has total confidence in the Manchester United centre-back.

"I spoke with Rio on Monday and I will speak also with some other players", Capello said.

"We will see the DVD of the game to understand what happened and I will see the mistakes."

"I spoke with him about the moment and different things. It was only about the last game. He's a good man, a big man, an important player for England and United."

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"We will beat Argentina"

It's D-day for Uruguay and Argentina. On Wednesday night the South American giants will decide who will qualify for the World Cup 2010 directly. Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez is confident his country will succeed in qualifying: "We will beat Argentina".

The difference between Uruguay, fifth in the rankings, and Argentina is only one point. The country that ends up 4th in the group grabs a ticket to South Africa while the fifth spot means a play-off against Costa Rica or Honduras.

Suarez, who plays alongside Diego Forlan in attack, realizes Uruguay has to win tonight.

"We need the 3 points, we know we can win and that's our only goal."

"We don't think about the play-offs, we want to qualify directly for the World Cup."

The player from Ajax Amsterdam thinks the pressure is on Argentina.

"We respect our opponent but we are performing well lately and we play at home. With the support of our fans we will battle for the win", added Suarez.

"Uruguay has fought 2 years for this and it's time we reward ourselves."

[beavis]

Anglia - Belarus | Italia - Cipru | Portugalia - Malta

San Marino - Slovenia | Polonia - Slovacia | Cehia - Irlanda de Nord

Suedia - Albania | Elveţia - Israel | Grecia - Luxemburg

Andorra - Ucraina | Bosnia - Spania | Uruguay - Argentina















FRANŢA - AUSTRIA (poze meci)

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Jankulovski quits as Czech World Cup hopes end

AC Milan's Czech defender Marek Jankulovski said he was quitting international football after the Czech Republic lost all hope of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup on Wednesday.

"I can confirm this. This was my last game", he said after the last Group 3 qualifier in which the Czechs were held to a surprise goalless draw by Northern Ireland.

The Czechs ended third in Group 3, trailing winners Slovakia by 6 points and runners-up Slovenia by 4.

"It's been a wonderful 10 years", said the 32-year-old former Banik Ostrava, Napoli and Udinese player, who has won 78 caps, scoring 11 times for his country.

Czech coach Ivan Hasek also confirmed he would quit after the match with Northern Ireland - a move he had announced when he took over the national team in July, shortly after he was elected head of the Czech Football Association.

"Yes, it was the last game", said the 46-year-old former Sparta Prague and Strasbourg player and manager, capped 56 times for his country.

His former Sparta teammate and now assistant Michal Bilek, 44-year-old, seems to be the most likely replacement, according to Czech media.

The Czechs, who played at the 2006 World Cup and all Euro tournaments between 1996 and 2008, started the 2010 campaign as odds-on favourites in Group 3.

But they ended up pinning their hopes on San Marino - in vain as the minnows lost at home to Slovenia who clinched a spot in the play-offs after a comfortable 3-0 win.

Slovakia beat Poland 1-0 to reach the finals.

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Maradona blasts critics and names first 4 World Cup players

Diego Maradona took a shot at the media after the win against Uruguay that ensured Argentina's World Cup ticket. "I want to say that all the people that criticised me and treated me as garbage can eat their words."

Mario Bolatti's late goal made an end to all the doubts and secured a place in South Africa next summer.

Under fire boss Maradona hailed his players but blasted his critics after the last chapter of a historic qualification route.

"This one is for the Argentine people. I thank the squad", an emotional Maradona told at a press conference following the match.

"This victory is for the people that trusted in us, but it's not for those that said lies about us."

"I am not going to name them but they know who they are", "El Pelusa" told the press.

Asked if he would still be Argentina boss at the World Cup finals, Maradona answered: "I don't know, I have to talk with Julio Grondona and then I will decide."

The Argentine legend also confirmed his first 4 players for the World Cup squad.

Javier Mascherano, Jonas Gutierrez, Martin Palermo and Mario Bolatti can pack their bags for the World Cup.

Mascherano isn't a surprising name because ever since Maradona became the national coach, he praised the Liverpool midfielder saying things like Argentina are "Mascherano and 10 more".

Maradona's confidence in Jonas Gutierrez has a different reason. The Newcastle midfielder has earned himself a place in the team due to his fighting spirit while Palermo and Bolatti scored the crucial goals against Peru and Uruguay.



URUGUAY - ARGENTINA (poze meci)

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WORLD CUP EUROPEAN PLAY-OFFS

Republic of Ireland vs France

Portugal vs Bosnia

Greece vs Ukraine

Russia vs Slovenia


The first legs take place on 14 November with the returns on 18 November.