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De Rossi: Forget The English, Pirlo Is The Best
Italy goal hero Daniele De Rossi has thanked Marcello Lippi for comparing him to Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, but says that the England duo are nothing compared to the best midfielder in the world – Andrea Pirlo.
"Daniele is already one of the most complete midfielders in the world,” said the Viareggio-born tactician.
“He is not inferior to either Frank Lampard or Steven Gerrard of England.”
De Rossi has immediately replied to Lippi’s comments, stating: "I thank the coach for his compliments.
“The Liverpool player [Gerrard] is of the highest international class, and I work every day to do better.”
De Rossi, however, has no doubts over who he considers to be the best midfielder in the world at this time.
"We can talk about the British, but Andrea Pirlo remains the best,” he concluded.
Ironically, Pirlo did not have one of his better games for Italy last night, and he was substituted at half time for Sampdoria’s Angelo Palombo.
Bayern Munchen striker Luca Toni has slammed the press in his native Italy for consistently criticising him since he joined the German giants last year.
The 2006 World Cup winner claims he has been given a rough ride by the Italian media since Fiorentina sold him to Bayern for €11 million in the summer of 2007.
Despite scoring 24 goals in 31 Bundesliga matches last season, Toni played poorly for Italy during last June's Euro 2008 tournament where the world champions were beaten by Spain in the semi-finals.
"If the Italian national team wins, Toni played badly. If Italy loses, it is Toni's fault", the striker moaned to German agency SID after Italy's 2-0 win over Georgia in Udine, on Wednesday night in a World Cup qualifier.
"Italy were knocked out of the European Championship and Toni is responsible for it."
"Basically, I am fed up with it!"
The 31-year-old failed to score and was replaced after 71 minutes against Georgia as Daniele De Rossi scored either side of half-time.
"Since I moved to play abroad, I have been attacked again and again, I find it unfair", added Toni.
"It is not easy to have the media and people against you."
"Against Georgia, I played the way coach Marcello Lippi wanted."
"I am happy with my performance."
"The truth is I would be treated better if I played for AC Milan or Juventus, I am convinced of that."
Cannavaro a implinit astazi 35 de ani si anunta ca vrea sa se retraga dupa Mondialul din 2010.
"Deja 35 de ani. Ma uit in urma mea si sunt foarte fericit. Am jucat la cele mai mari cluburi din lume, cu cei mai buni jucatori din lume. Ma trezesc in fiecare dimineata cu aceeasi dorinta sa joc, asa ca totul este perfect.
"Cand te intorci dupa 3 luni de accidentare, esti foarte bucuros, pentru ca nu a fost usor. Am lucrat mult singur. Trebuia sa ajung pregatit inainte de primul meci din Champions League."
"Sunt gata ca la 35 de ani sa joc din nou 40 de meciuri pe sezon. Stam bine in aparare si oricand putem sa ne rotim."
"Nu este ultimul meu sezon ca jucator. E ultimul an de contract cu Real si vreau ca inainte sa ma retrag, sa joc macar un an pentru Napoli. Ramane ca in iarna sa discut cu clubul. Vreau sa mai rezist pana in 2010, ca sa pot juca la Campionatul Mondial."
"La Balonul de aur o sa se bata Iker Casillas cu Cristiano Ronaldo. Sunt cei mai buni jucatori din lume", spune Cannavaro pentru AS.
Creatorii "Balonului de Aur" vin cu inca o idee care ar putea revolutiona fotbalul. Francezii propun infiintarea unui "turneu al celor patru natiuni". Vizate sunt Italia, Spania, Germania si Franta.
Potrivit Gazzettei dello sport, Federatia franceza a inaintat si ideea infiintarii unei federatii Transalpine.
Turneul ar urma sa se desfasoare intre 6 si 10 iunie 2009.
"Nimic nu s-a stabilit, insa ne gandim ca acest turneu ar putea fi programat in iunie si ar putea avea loc in fiecare an sau la doi ani, cu natiuni precum Franta, Germania, Italia si Spania. Insa, repet, niciun acord nu a fost semnat cu acestea", a declarat Escalettes, presedinte al Federatiei Franceze.
Interesant este ca Anglia, una dintre marile puteri europene in fotbal, nu a fost inclusa in planurile francezilor.
Totti And Nesta Are Welcome To Return - Lippi
Italy coach Marcello Lippi has left the Nazionale door open for Roma captain and legend Francesco Totti and Milan stopper Alessandro Nesta.
Totti has always said that he wouldn’t return to the national set up but Lippi has dropped a massive hint to his former player and it seems as if the coach wants him back as he leaves the door open.
“Totti and Nesta decided to leave voluntarily and I have respect for their decisions because they gave Italy so much playing for La Nazionale,” Lippi told FIFA magazine.
“However the door will always be open for them. I expect determination and enthusiasm from my players, that’s the only way we can defend our 2006 title.
“I think Italy is on the same level as Germany, Brazil and Argentina in terms of football and we are condemned to win.
“Thankfully we have [Gianluigi] Buffon and he is the best goalkeeper in the World.”
Italy have started their World Cup defence in positive fashion after picking up two wins from their games against Cyprus and Georgia in their group 8 South Africa 2010 qualifying group.
Luni seara s-a desfasurat la Johannesburg o ceremonie in cadrul careia s-a prezentat mascota Cupei Mondiale din 2010 ce va fi gazduita de Africa de Sud. Aceasta reprezinta un leopard cu parul verde, ce semnifica esenta primei Cupe Mondiale oganizate pe continentul sud african. Numele cu care africanii au botezat mascota este Zakumi, care provine de la acronimul Africii de Sud (ZA) si de la cifra 10 (kumi), evident pentru marcarea anului 2010.
De Bleeckere va arbitra România-Franţa
Arbitrul belgian Franck De Bleeckere va oficia la centru partida România-Franţa, care va avea loc sâmbătă, 11 octombrie, la Constanţa. Purtător al ecusonului FIFA din 1998, De Bleeckere (42 de ani) va fi ajutat la cele două tuşe de conaţionalii săi Peter Hermans şi Alex Verstraeten, arbitru de rezervă urmând a fi Luc Wouters.
Slovacul Jozef Marko va evalua prestaţia cavalerilor fluierului, în timp ce calitatea de Comisar Fifa i-a fost încredinţată cipriotului Andreas Akkelides. De asemenea, fiind considerată o partidă extrem de importantă, întâlnirea de la Constanţa va beneficia şi de un observator special, delegat de FIFA, în persoana tunisianului Slim Chiboub.
FIFA fine Croatia Football Federation
FIFA's disciplinary committee has fined the Croatia Football Federation following racist abuse in this month's World Cup qualifying match against England.
They will pay £14.920 after sections of the crowd abused England striker Emile Heskey during the game in Zagreb on September 10.
The federation has received a warning regarding future conduct and told that "more severe sanctions" would follow if there is any repeat.
A FIFA statement said: "Racism has no place in football."
"FIFA is determined to continue broadcasting this message around the globe and deploying all of the means at its disposal to eliminate this form of discrimination."
There was no place for AC Milan's Ronaldinho on Thursday as Brazil coach Dunga named his 22-man squad for next month's 2010 World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Colombia.
Dunga called on Ronaldinho's club-mate Kaka, whose last game for his country was against Uruguay in November last year, and Manchester City's new wonder signings Jo and Robinho.
Despite appearing at the Beijing Olympics last month, where he scored 2 goals before Brazil were knocked out in the semi-finals, Dunga chose to leave Ronaldinho out.
"Ronaldinho has not had enough time to improve with his new club. He is missing rhythm", said Dunga. "I have confidence in him, as do all Brazilians, and I hope he can become again the Ronaldinho that all the world knows."
Brazil play Venezuela on October 12 then Colombia 4 days later.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Inter Milano), Doni (AS Roma)
Defenders: Maicon (Inter Milano), Daniel Alves (FC Barcelona), Lucio (Bayern Munchen), Juan (AS Roma), Thiago Silva (Fluminense), Alex (Chelsea), Kleber (Santos), Juan (Flamengo)
Midfielders: Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos), Josue (WfL Wolfsburg), Lucas Leiva (Liverpool), Anderson (Manchester United), Elano (Manchester City), Kaka (AC Milan), Amantino Mancini (Inter Milano), Julio Baptista (AS Roma)
Strikers: Luis Fabiano (FC Sevilla), Jo (Manchester City), Pato (AC Milan), Robinho (Manchester City)
Fostul mare jucator al nationalei Germaniei, Franz Beckenbauer, vrea sa modifice incepand cu 2016, formatul Campionatului European.
Membru in Comitetului Executiv al FIFA, Beckenbauer spune ca a ajuns la un acord ca la Euro 2016 sa participe 24 de echipe, in loc de 16 cum a fost pana acum.
1960-1976: turneu final cu 4, precedat de o fază de eliminare directă (1960 şi 1964) înlocuit de un sistem de grupe de calificare (începând din 1968 şi rămas în vigoare de atunci)
1980-92: 8 participante la faza finală
1996-2012: 16 participante la faza finală
2016-...: "Acord" pentru o trecere la 24 de participante la faza fnală, potritvit lui Beckenbauer (53 ţări compun în prezent UEFA).
Wales welcome back Bellamy for World Cup qualifiers
Wales manager John Toshack has recalled Craig Bellamy and James Collins for October's World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Germany.
Toshack welcomes back captain Bellamy and defenders Collins and Lewin Nyatanga after long-term injuries.
West Ham striker Bellamy has made two short substitute appearances after groin surgery, while club-mate Collins has yet to figure for the first team this season after a knee operation, but both are key figures for Toshack.
Nyatanga has been an unused substitute in Derby's last 3 matches against QPR, Cardiff City and Sheffield United after an ankle problem.
Midfielder David Vaughan is also recalled, having ended his unhappy spell with Real Sociedad with a move to Blackpool.
Nottingham Forest's Arron Davies and Middlesbrough's Rhys Williams are both out through injury, while Wrexham defender Steve Evans has been omitted now Collins and Nyatanga are available.
Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey, who was in the last full squad, is now involved in Wales U21s' UEFA Championship play-off with England.
Sneijder plans van Persie chat
In the quarter-final defeat to Russia, Van Persie went against what had been agreed and took a set-piece himself, failing to score.
"We never spoke about this again, because we left Switzerland the day after and I haven't played for the Oranje since then," the Real Madrid star, who suffered a serious knee injury in pre-season, told Voetbal International magazine.
"I don't want to say that I would have scored a goal, but it's simply a matter of agreements.
"As soon as we see each other again, I will speak with Robin about it.
"We don't have to make a big issue out of it but I want to make it clear that everyone must keep to the agreements."
Rooney gets England green light
A recuperating Wayne Rooney is set to feature in England's World Cup qualifying matches against Kazakhstan and Belarus.
Rooney was substituted after scoring United's opener and although news of his recovery will be good news for England, the striker is a serious doubt for this Saturday's Premier League encounter with Blackburn Rovers.
According to a statement released on United's official website: "Wayne has an ankle injury and is considered doubtful for Saturday's game against Blackburn.
"Nevertheless, he should recover in time for England's forthcoming matches."
Rooney will now link up with Capello's squad for the matches on October 11 and 15.
Ballack back for Germany
Joachim Low has recalled Torsten Frings and Michael Ballack for Germany's World Cup qualifiers with Russia and Wales.
"We expect a lot from Patrick in the future," said Low of the 24-year-old. "He has enormous potential and has shown this emphatically for his club (Bayer Leverkusen) recently.
"Jermaine Jones has also made a name for himself recently and he is physically very strong."
Real Madrid defender Christoph Metzelder was once again left out of the squad, but Low has refuted suggestions his international career is over.
"We had a good chat and he still plays an important role in our plans," explained Low.
Low's 22-man squad will meet on Tuesday in Dusseldorf to prepare for the match with Russia in Dortmund on Saturday.
Four days later, Wales are the opponents in Monchengladbach.
Scoţia vrea Euro 2012
Zvonurile despre schimbarea gazdei turneului final european din 2012, prevăzut a se desfăşura în Polonia şi Ucraina, se înmulţesc pe zi ce trece. Şi asta, în ciuda asigurărilor oficialilor UEFA potrivit cărora ţările respective îşi respectă promisiunile.
Din câte se pare, incertitudinea care domneşte în Ucraina, dar şi lipsa unor arene moderne în Polonia, face ca numirea unei noi gazde să devină, pe zi ce trece, o certitudine. În context, Scoţia a anunţat public că doreşte ca Euro să se desfăşoare pe teritoriul ei. Gordon Smith, directorul executiv al federaţiei, a declarat, în cotidianul Scotsman, că "dispunem de tot ceea ce ni se cere şi putem satisface toate pretenţiile."
Scoţienii pot pune la bătaie trei arene super moderne la Glasgow (Hampden, Celtic şi Ibrox Park) şi de încă una la Edinburgh (Murrayfield). Restul locaţiilor sunt mai mici, putând primi între 20 şi 22.000 de spectatori. "Oricum", spune Smith, "nici Austria, nici Elveţia nu aveau stadioane mari şi, cu toate astea, organizarea a fost impecabilă", a încheiat federalul.
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