Fotbal Internaţional Thread

[beavis]

Grosso axed from Italy squad

Fabio Grosso, who scored the decisive penalty when Italy won the 2006 World Cup, has been axed from Marcello Lippi's squad for the defence of their title.

Lippi was due to reduce his 30-man squad to the required list of 23 but has instead cut just Grosso and Juventus team-mate Antonio Candreva and will wait until nearer 1 June deadline to make a final decision.

"I didn't pick the team with debts of gratitude", Lippi said.

"And the fact I've still got 28 players I have given myself 10 more days to reflect."

Left-back Grosso has been in poor form for Juventus, who finished a miserable 7th in Serie A this term, but his exclusion was still a surprise given Lippi has tried to base his group on the 2006 World Cup winners.

Genoa's Domenico Criscito now looks set to play left-back despite limited international experience.

Midfielder Candreva was always on the fringes of the squad.

Lippi made no direct comment about his future but again hinted he will step down after the World Cup, just like he did 4 years ago, with the Italian football federation promising a final decision before the team depart for South Africa.

Italy head for altitude training on Sunday in the Alpine ski resort of Sestriere in a bid to get used to South African conditions and Lippi now has extra time to run the rule over his strikers with perhaps two needing to be cut.

He decided against recalling injury-prone AS Roma forward Francesco Totti, officially retired from international football, when he named his 30-man squad last week.

"We all know the difficulty of Totti playing one game every 3 days", Lippi added.

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli), Federico Marchetti (Cagliari), Salvatore Sirigu (Palermo)

Defenders: Salvatore Bocchetti (Genoa), Leonardo Bonucci (Bari), Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus), Mattia Cassani (Palermo), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Domenico Criscito (Genoa), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Gianluca Zambrotta (AC Milan)

Midfielders: Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Andrea Cossu (Cagliari), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria), Simone Pepe (Udinese), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan)

Forwards: Marco Borriello (AC Milan), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Giampaolo Pazzini (Sampdoria), Fabio Quagliarella (Napoli), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal)

[FanStiintza]

Lung jr. după debutul la "naţionala" mare: "A fost o senzaţie extraordinară!"

Portarul oltean care vineri a împlinit 21 de ani a bifat aseară, în amicalul cu Honduras (3-0), primele sale minute în prima reprezentativă.

Lung jr. l-a înlocuit pe Lobonţ în minutul 84 al meciului. "Mă bucur că am debutat, chiar dacă am jucat numai cinci minute. A fost o senzaţie extraordinară!", spus goalkeeper-ul Universităţii. Un alt fotbalist al Ştiinţei, Ovidiu Dănănae, a fost integralist şi a reuşit o evoluţie sigură în defensivă.

[portughezu']

Laurent Blanc noul selectioner al naţionalei Franţei

Laurent Blanc a devenit oficial noul selecţioner al naţionalei Franţei, informează L'Equipe.

Fostul tehnician al echipei Bordeaux l-a înlocuit astfel pe Raymond Domenech şi a semnat un contract pentru doi ani, acesta putând fi prelungit cu încă doi ani în cazul în care echipa are rezultate satisfăcătoare.

Obiectivul principal al lui Blanc, campion mondial în 1998 şi european în 2000, va fi calificarea "cocoşilor galici" la Euro 2012.

Deşi a semnat deja cu Federaţia Franceză de Fotbal, noul selecţioner se va pune oficial pe treabă începând cu data de 2 iulie.

Raymond Domenech a stat la cârma naţionalei Franţei timp de patru ani, în perioada 2004-2010, după ce, în prealabil, a condus selecţionata Under21 a "cocoşilor" timp de 11 ani (1993-2004).

[portughezu']

Francezul Thierry Froger, noul antrenor al nationalei Togo

Francezul Thierry Froger a fost numit noul selecţioner al echipei de fotbal a statului Togo, în locul compatriotului său Hubert Velud, care nu şi-a reînnoit contractul cu Ministerul Sportului, a anunţat miercuri Federaţia togoleză de fotbal.

Potrivit unor surse concordante, tehnicianul francez, 47 de ani, a semnat un contract de 18 luni cu federaţia din Togo.

[portughezu']

Fernando Santos înlocuitorul lui Rehhagel pe banca naţionalei Greciei

Portughezul Fernando Santos a fost numit la conducerea tehnică a naţionalei Greciei, joi, în locul germanului Otto Rehhagel, la serviciile căruia s-a renunţat după prestaţia de la Cupa Mondială din Africa de Sud.

Consiliul de Administraţie al Federaţiei Elene de Fotbal a votat, joi, în unanimitate, numirea lui Santos, care va semna un contract pe doi ani, având ca obiectiv calificarea la Campionatul European din 2012.

Principal arhitect al surprinzătoarei victorii a Greciei la Euro-2004, Rehhagel (72 de ani), selecţioner din 2001, este considerat drept salvatorul fotbalului elen, echipa naţională fiind clasată acum pe locul opt în ierarhia FIFA, după ce la preluarea de către german era pe 61.

Fernando Santos (55 de ani) a antrenat mai multe echipe din campionatul Greciei, dintre care Panathinaikos (2002-2003), AEK Atena (2004-2006 şi 2001-2002), şi PAOK Salonic (2007-2010). În Portugalia, el a pregătit formaţii ca Benfica Lisabona (2006-2007) şi FC Porto (1998-2001).

Santos anunţase, în luna mai, plecarea de la PAOK Salonic, din motive personale.

Săptămâna trecută, Federaţia Elenă de Fotbal a anunţat că doreşte să renunţe la selecţionerul naţionalei Greciei, Otto Rehhagel, după eliminarea echipei din faza grupelor la Cupa Mondială.

[beavis]

Brazil set to dump Dunga

Dunga's reign as Brazil coach looks to be at an end following their World Cup exit on Friday at the hands of Holland.

The 46-year-old took up the post following the Selecao's elimination from the 2006 World Cup in Germany, signing a 4-year deal.

Asked about his future after yesterday's 2-1 quarter-final defeat to the Dutch at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Dunga said: "I have been contracted for 4 years and we knew this right from the start".

"During the last 4 years, I have been very happy to coach this Brazil team and if you were to look at our players' faces now, you would probably understand how they feel."

Robinho's 10th-minute opener, which came shortly after he had seen an earlier strike ruled out for offside, gave the Brazilians a deserved lead in Port Elizabeth.

It could have been all over by the break but for the heroics of Oranje goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, who made a stunning 31st-minute save from Kaka.

However, Felipe Melo's 53rd-minute own goal gave the Dutch a lifeline and a rare header from Wesley Sneijder 22 minutes from time gave them their winner before Melo was sent off for stamping on Arjen Robben.

The defeat came as a bitter blow to the 5-times winners.

Dunga added: "We are all extremely saddened. We didn't expect this and we hoped for a different result".

"We knew it was going to be a very delicate, very difficult game, but we weren't able to maintain the rhythm we had in the first half in the second half."

du-te tare

[portughezu']

Gerets este noul antrenor al Marocului

Belgianul Eric Gerets a fost numit, luni, selecţionerul Maroculului, conform anunţului Federaţiei Regale Marocane de Fotbal (FRMF), informează AFP.RMF l-a ales şi pe Dominique Cuperly drept secundul lui Gerets.

La 7 iunie, Eric Gerets, fost antrenor la Olympique Marseille, declarase în presa belgiană că a ajuns la un acord pentru a deveni selecţionerul Marocului.Gerets va părăsi actuala sa echipă, Al Hilal (Arabia Saudită), unde joacă şi Mirel Rădoi, cel mai târziu în luna noiembrie, după Liga Campionilor Asiei.

[beavis]

Henry retires from French NT

The 32-year-old forward announced his decision Thursday at the offices of The Associated Press before a news conference to discuss his signing with Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls.

A member of France's 1998 World Championship and 2000 European Champion teams, Henry said he will not try to emulate England's David Beckham and commute between the USA and Europe.

"I always want to be here 100% and fully committed to this cause and the organization", Henry said.

Henry had a French record 51 goals in 123 international appearances. He made his debut 11 October 1997, scoring in injury time of a 2-1 win over South Africa. His finale was 22 June against the Bafana Bafana, when he entered in the 55th minute as the French were eliminated from the World Cup with a 2-1, first-round loss.

"That was my last game against South Africa", he said. "Ironically, it was also my first game in the national team against South Africa."

Henry made up his mind before the tournament.

"I couldn't announce it before because that's not the type of thing you announce before a World Cup", he said.

"We still have a good team", Henry said. "I think the guys that are going to stay they still are great players. If you see the guys playing individually in their team, they're always doing great. But as you know, in a team sport, it's always a matter of having a great team, it's not only about individuals and I think Laurent Blanc can do this."

Still, Henry doesn't think this World Cup was the lowest point in his career. The 2002 World Cup in South Korea has that distinction.

"We didn't even score one goal and we were the reigning World Champion", he said.

"And we bounced back, and we went to the final of the World Cup in 2006. Obviously we didn't win it. It still hurts."

[portughezu']

Puyol încă 2 ani în naţionala Spaniei

Deşi anunţase încă din noiembrie 2009 că se va retrage din naţională după CM din 2010, promisiune reiterată după ce Spania a devenit în premieră campioană mondială în Africa de Sud, se pare că fundaşul a decis să-şi amâne momentul în care-şi va agăţa ghetele în cui. Căpitanul Barcelonei şi unul dintre jucătorii emblematici ai Spaniei a decis să amâne cu doi ani momentul retragerii din naţională.

"Am decis acest lucru după ce am discutat mult cu amicii, cu coechipierii şi cu Hierro (directorul sportiv al federaţiei, n.r.).", a scris Puyol, acum în vârstă de 32 de ani, pe site-ul său personal.

Carles Puyol a debutat în naţională în noiembrie 2000, la un meci cu Olanda, acelaşi adversar din finala CM. Are 90 de prezenţe în naţionala Spaniei, pentru care a înscris de 3 ori. Cel mai important gol este, fără îndoială, cel din semifinala Campionatului Mondial din Africa de Sud, contra Germaniei.

[portughezu']

Sven-Goran Eriksson înlocuit de Gerard Gili la cârma naţionalei Coastei de Fildeş

Tehnicianul francez Gerard Gili va fi noul selecţioner al echipei naţionale a Coastei de Fildeş, înlocuind-ul pe suedezul Sven-Goran Eriksson, a anunţat, vineri, presa ivoriană.

Sursa citată notează că singurul impediment al numirii francezului este de natură financiară, dar precizează că acesta cunoaşte foarte bine fotbalul african şi este preferat argentinianului Jose Pekerman.

Gili a fost adjunctului lui Henri Michel la naţionala ivoriană, pe care a preluat-o ca principal în 2006 şi alături de care a participat la Cupa Africii pe Naţiuni în 2008.

Gerard Gili a fost şi antrenorul selecţionatei olimpice a Coastei de Fildeş, reuşind în premieră calificarea la Jocurile Olimpice de la Beijing, din 2008.

[portughezu']

Wes Brown a spus adio naţionalei lui Capello

Fundaşul formaţiei Manchester United, Wes Brown, şi-a anunţat, duminică, retragerea din naţionala Angliei, la câteva ore după ce şi portarul echipei Blackburn Paul Robinson făcuse acelaşi lucru.

"Wes Brown a anunţat duminică seară că se retrage din echipa naţională" , se arată într-un comunicat al federaţiei engleze.

Brown, care nu a fost reţinut în lotul anunţat de selecţionerul Fabio Capello pentru meciul amical cu Ungaria, l-a anunţat personal pe tehnicianul italian de decizia sa.

Wes Brown, 23 de selecţii, a debutat în naţională în 1999 la meciul cu Ungaria. Convocat de selecţionerul Sven-Goran Eriksson la Cupa Mondială din 2002, Brown nu a jucat niciun meci.

El a jucat primele două meciuri din "era Capello", contra Elveţiei şi Franţei, însă apoi s-a accidentat şi nu a fost reţinut pentru Cupa Mondială din Africa de Sud.

[portughezu']

Germanul Wolfgang Sidka va antrena Irakul

Germanul Wolfgang Sidka este noul selecţioner al naţionalei de fotbal a Irakului, cu care a semnat un contract pe un an, urmând s-o pregătească la Cupa Asiei pe Naţiuni din luna ianuarie, când echipa va încerca să-şi apere titlul.

Sidka, 56 de ani, a fost prezentat luni de preşedintele Federaţiei Irakiene, Hussein Said, la o conferinţă de presă organizată în oraşul Arbil, scrie Reuters.

"Nu voi avea o misiune uşoară la naţionala Irakului, deoarece voi fi antrenor în timpul Cupei Asiei pe Naţiuni", a declarat Sidka. "Sunt sigur că voi alcătui o echipă redutabilă", a adăugat el.

Tehnicianul, care a pregătit-o pe Werder Bremen la sfârşitul anilor 90, a mai lucrat în Asia, cu formaţii din Bahrein şi Qatar.

Participarea Irakului la Cupa Asiei pe Naţiuni a fost în pericol la începutul lui august, din cauza disputelor politice care au paralizat federaţia locală şi au fost la un pas să ducă la suspendarea din competiţiile internaţionale.

Două încercări de a alege în iulie un nou preşedinte la Arbil au eşuat, deoarece prea puţini delegaţi au făcut drumul până în oraşul din Kurdistanul Irakian, unde FIFA a hotărât că votul trebuie să aibă loc din motive de securitate.

Recent, (FIFA) a acordat un an suplimentar oficialilor din fotbalul irakian, pentru a pregăti alegerile. Problemele de la federaţie sunt semnificative pentru diviziunile care afectează ţara, la şapte ani de la invazia americană.

La Cupa Asiei pe Naţiuni, care se va desfăşura în Qatar între 7 şi 29 ianuarie, Irakul face parte dintr-o grupă cu Iran, Emiratele Arabe Unite şi Coreea de Nord.

[portughezu']

FIFA nu mai vrea ca meciurile să se încheie la egalitate

FIFA intenţionează să introducă loviturile de departajare în primul tur al Cupei Mondiale, pentru a nu mai exista meciuri nule şi ca partidele să devină mai interesante, a declarat preşedintele forului, Joseph Blatter, într-un interviu ce va apărea luni, în publicaţia Focus.

"Ne gândim să nu mai existe meciuri nule în primul tur şi să nu mai fie prelungiri. Dacă nu există o echipă câştigătoare după 90 de minute, să se treacă direct la loviturile de departajare", a spus Blatter.

Joseph Blatter a precizat că o altă variantă ar fi introducerea "golului de aur". "Prima echipă care înscrie a câştigat, sunt ambele obligate să atace", a adăugat preşedintele FIFA.

Regula "golului de aur" a fost aplicată în competiţiile oficiale, în perioada 1996-2002.

Scopul schimbărilor vizate de FIFA este ca meciurile din grupele Cupei Mondiale să devină mai interesante.

[beavis]

Anelka given 18-match France suspension

Nicolas Anelka has been banned for 18 matches by the French Football Federation (FFF) over his conduct at this summer's World Cup.

Anelka, 31-year-old, was sent home from South Africa after a row with coach Raymond Domenech and, in protest, the France squad boycotted a training session.

Patrice Evra was captain of the team and has been banned for 5 matches for his part in the revolt.

Franck Ribery has been suspended for 3 and Jeremy Toulalan for one.

Eric Abidal made up the 5 players who were summoned to the FFF disciplinary hearing on Tuesday and he escaped punishment.

The quintet were highlighted as the key players in the embarrassing controversy which surrounded the French team at the World Cup following Anelka's outburst at Domenech during the loss to Mexico saw him banished.

[beavis]

Drogba quits national team

The week-long rumours of Didier Drogba's probable withdrawal from the Cote D'Ivoire national team have been confirmed.

The team's new coach Francois Zahoui told reporters in Abidjan on Saturday, during his official presentation by the FA, that his recent meeting with the Premier League top scorer in London had not been fruitful.

Zahoui personally visited Drogba to summon him for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda on Saturday, but the Chelsea's forward declined the call, giving more awful news of his departure.

"I truly met Drogba in London. He told me he was so tired that he wanted to withdraw from the national team for a while. Drogba is a world class player who is indispensable for the Elephants, but I had to respect his decision. We will let him rest to recover his mental and physical strength and pray he comes back some day to the national team", Zahoui said.

However, sports analysts across the country are suggesting Drogba was leaving not because he was tired, like he said, but was simply frustrated with unending criticisms he is facing at the FA and in the team's set-up.

But the FA president Jacques Anoma reassured there was no problem between the FA and the 32-year-old former captain of the Elephants.

[beavis]

Diarra out of France squad

Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra will miss France's EURO 2012 qualifiers against Belarus and Bosnia through injury.

"There is one player who has been ruled out, Lassana Diarra", coach Laurent Blanc told journalists at the team training camp in Clairefontaine, near Paris.

Blanc said the 25-year-old would be replaced in the squad by Olympique Lyon's Anthony Reveillere and Yohan Cabaye of Lille.

"As Lassana could cover two positions as defensive midfielder and right back, we decided it would be better to call up two players", he added.

France host Belarus on Friday at Stade de France before facing Bosnia in Sarajevo 4 days later.

Van Nistelrooy gets Dutch recall



Striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has been recalled to Holland squad for the first time in 2 years.

Coach Bert van Marwijk called up the 34-year-old Hamburg striker to replace Robin van Persie who sustained an ankle injury in Arsenal's match against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.

Van Nistelrooy won 64 caps and scored 33 goals before quitting internationals after the EURO 2008 quarter-final defeat by Russia but he went back on his decision last season.

He was left out of the squad for this year's World Cup in South Africa where the Dutch reached the final.

Van Nistelrooy has scored 3 goals in the first 2 league matches of the season for SV Hamburg.

"Ruud looked fresh and sharp and that has all to do that he played the end of the season then had holiday and completed the whole pre-season build-up", Van Marwijk said.

"But this was one match and we also have to consider his age as he will be 36 over 2 years, but when he plays like this we can't ignore him."

Holland will start their EURO 2012 qualifying campaign on Friday in San Marino and host Finland next week.

[beavis]

Fernando Morientes retires

Former Real Madrid and Spain striker Fernando Morientes has decided to retire from professional football.

"After 17 years among the footballing elite, it's a difficult moment that I need to adjust to little by little," Morientes told Spanish radio.

Morientes made a name for himself in an 8-year stint at Real Madrid, broken by a year on loan at AS Monaco, and afterwards had spells with Liverpool, Valencia and finally Olympique Marseille, whom he left at the end of last season.

During that time he won 2 Spanish league titles and 4 European Cups - 3 with Real and one with Liverpool in 2005.

He had a remarkable scoring record for Spain, netting 27 goals in 47 international appearances between 1998 and 2007.

Morientes said he had turned down a number of offers for his services as a player to take up work as a commentator.

[beavis]

Benzema ruled out for France

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema will miss France's EURO 2012 qualifier against Belarus because of an ankle injury, the French Football Federation said, a few hours before the game at Stade de France.

"After a last test on Friday morning, it has been decided Benzema will not be included in the team selected by Laurent Blanc to face Belarus", the FFF said in a statement.

"At this stage of the evolution of his right ankle, the safety of the player was essential."

The 22-year-old Benzema is still under treatment in the hope he will be able to return to the squad for next Tuesday's game against Bosnia in Sarajevo.

[beavis]

Germans lose Schweinsteiger

Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger will miss his country's EURO 2012 qualifiers against Turkey and Kazakhstan after pulling out of the squad with an injury.

Schweinsteiger, who has 83 caps, was injured on Sunday in Bayern Munchen's 2-0 defeat at Borussia Dortmund, twisting his ankle.

"He informed the national coach today by telephone that he cannot be at his disposal", the DFB said.

Germany, top of Group A with 2 wins out of 2 games, take on Turkey in Berlin on 8 October and travel to Kazakhstan 4 days later.

Reveillere added to France squad as Sagna out

Olympique Lyon defender Anthony Reveillere has been called up for France's next two EURO 2012 qualifiers against Romania and Luxembourg as Bacary Sagna pulled out injured, the French federation (FFF) said on Monday.

The FFF said Arsenal's Sagna had pulled out with a thigh injury.

France take on Romania at Stade de France on Saturday and Luxembourg in Metz 3 days later. They have 3 points from 2 matches.

[beavis]

Messi fit to play for Argentina

Lionel Messi is set to play for Argentina against Japan after recovering from an ankle injury according to national coach Sergio Batistuta.

The FC Barcelona forward is unlikely to start in Friday's friendly in Saitama but has made quick progress after getting hurt playing against Atletico Madrid on 19 September.

"Messi has recovered from his injury", Batistuta said.

"He is definitely able to play. I can't tell you my line-up yet because I haven't told the players."

"But physically Messi is 100% and ready to play."

Batistuta said he will give Messi's Barca team mate Javier Mascherano the captain's armband against Japan.

"I spoke to Leo and he understands", said Batistuta.

"I don't want him to feel any extra pressure by making him captain. I want him to be relaxed."

Batistuta defended Messi's record at national level, insisting criticism of the 23-year-old was unjustified.

"Playing for your club and playing for your country are totally different", he said.

"I don't accept that Messi has not played well for Argentina."

The South Americans were thrashed 4-0 by Germany in the quarter-finals of this year's World Cup in South Africa.

"People expect too much from him", added Batistuta.

"He played well at the World Cup whatever people say. He can still improve too."

Pato set to start for Brazil in Iran friendly

AC Milan star Alexandre Pato will lead Brazil's attack when the Selecao take on Iran tomorrow in Abu Dhabi and the forward admitted that he was delighted to be pulling on the "Canarinha" once again after a sparkling performance against United States.

Globoesportes reports that the 21-year-old will make his 10th appearance tomorrow afternoon in the friendly. The former Internacional wonderkid revealed that it was a pleasure to play in the young group of talents convened by coach Mano Menezes in the last 2 friendly run outs.

"I am delighted to be with the Selecao, with this group. I am motivated and now it is just a case of working hard to stay there", the attacker affirmed from United Arab Emirates.

And Pato added that he would show no discomfort from a recent muscle problem that had impeded him in recent games.

"I am at 100%. I was able to play a little at the weekend with AC Milan and all the pains have passed. I am feeling very comfortable."