Germany crush Hungary 3-0 on away friendly games
May.29, 2010, under Others
Germany won a comfortable 3-0 victory against Hungary as Brazilian-born Cacau scored his third goal in two games for his adopted country.
Lukas Podolski and Mario Gomez were also goalscorers in the penultimate friendly match for Germany before the World Cup.
With Germany captain Michael Ballack ruled out of next month’s World Cup through injury and substitute Philipp Lahm rested, Bayern Munich striker Miroslav Klose took the captaincy in Budapest.
German midfielder Sami Khedira replaced Ballack in midfield with an impressive performance before being taken off with a minor muscle injury in the second half. Had it not been for a string of saves during the first half by Hungarian keeper Gabor Kiraly, Germany’s goal tally would have been much higher.
Penalty breakthrough
Podolski fired a penalty shot into the top right hand corner four minutes after defender Per Mertesacker was fouled in the area.
It finished 1-0 at the break and early in the second-half national coach Joachim Loew brought on Stuttgart striker Cacau for midfielder Mesut Oezil, who had several first-half shots on goal saved. (continue reading…)
Japan vs England match preview -Nakamura could be miss in this match
May.29, 2010, under Others
The 31-year-old, who now plays for Japanese side Yokohama F Marinos, was replaced midway through the second half of the 2-0 home defeat to South Korea on Monday and was struggling with a sore ankle during training on Friday.
“Shunsuke needs a bit more time to get back to his best condition and I am not sure if he can play,” Japan coach Takeshi Okada said, according to Kyodo News.
Sunday’s game against England is Japan’s penultimate warm-up match prior to the start of the World Cup, where the Blue Samurai have been drawn in Group E alongside Holland, Denmark and Cameroon.
The three-time Asian champions are desperate for a positive result against Fabio Capello’s side having lost three of their last four home games.
Plenty for Capello to explore tomorrow with uncertainty still surrounding as many as four different positions in his team to face the USA in England’s first World Cup game. Will be the last chance for a number of fringe players, but also an opportunity to look at Wayne Rooney playing alone as the main central striker. (continue reading…)
Mourinho Set to Become Coach at Real Madrid
May.28, 2010, under La Liga, Serie A
Jose Mourinho is set to coach Real Madrid in a deal between European soccer powers, leaving Inter Milan less than a week after guiding the Italian club to the Champions League title.
The agreement was announced after a meeting in Milan between Madrid president Florentino Perez and Inter counterpart Massimo Moratti. Madrid will pay $19 million in two installments, the Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport said.
Real Madrid said Mourinho will be introduced Monday at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. He replaces Manuel Pelligrini, who was fired Wednesday.
Mourinho confirmed he wanted to join Madrid after Inter beat Bayern Munich 2-0 in the Spanish capital last Saturday to win the Champions League.
In two years with Inter, Mourinho led the club to two league titles, one Italian cup and its first European Cup since 1965. Before that, he led Chelsea to two Premier League titles. He also won the Champions League with FC Porto of Portugal in 2004.
Mourinho is a defensive-minded coach and questions have been raised over how he will blend the attacking talents of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema.
”We have to know what we have and apply it in the best possible way to create damage,” Mourinho told the Spanish daily AS. ”Madrid has Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka who are very good on one-on-ones. We have to find a style of play that allows them to do that. The principles of play depend on the players you have.”
Madrid has won nine European Cups but its last Champions League triumph came in 2002. Last summer, Madrid spent large sums on Ronaldo, Kaka and Benzema but failed to progress past the first knockout round of the Champions League.
”I think Madrid have signed me because they know that they can demand aims in the short term, but that I am also capable of leaving a base for the future,” Mourinho said. (continue reading…)
Kevin-Prince Boateng upset by hate campaign after Michael Ballack tackle
May.26, 2010, under Others
The 23-year-old Ghana international, who is set to take part in his first World Cup in South Africa, committed the late tackle on Ballack when playing for Portsmouth in the FA Cup final 11 days ago.
He has repeatedly apologised to the Germany international but told Sport Bild magazine that he and his family have become the target of a hate campaign.
“What is happening has gone too far,” he said. “Some people have managed to involve my family in this whole affair and we have been turned into an evil enemy.
“On the other hand, many are minimising and ignoring the slap around the face I got from Michael Ballack. Even my public apology a week last Monday has been swept under the table. People have overstepped the mark.”
Boateng said that he had apologised three times to Ballack during and after the FA Cup final but added that several of Ballack’s Chelsea team-mates have been in touch with him to lend their support.
“I have had contact with two or three Chelsea players and they say that a foul like that can happen,” he continued. “They say I should not let what is being reported about me get to me. It was not intentional.
“I don’t want to be seen as a victim, but I would like criticism to be constructive.”
Boateng is set to make his debut for Ghana in a friendly match against as-yet-unconfirmed opponents in Paris tomorrow.
Ghana then face Holland in Rotterdam on June 1 and Latvia in Milton Keynes on June 5 before jetting out to South Africa.
Boateng will come up against Germany on June 23 in a group fixture.
England 3-1 Mexico
May.25, 2010, under Others
On a night of Mexican waves, Wembley waved goodbye to England but Fabio Capello can wave goodbye to any hopes of winning the World Cup unless he deploys Steven Gerrard more centrally. Only when Gerrard was liberated from his left-sided wilderness did England look a team close to finding a path to the promised land in South Africa.
England were leading 2-1 by the time of Gerrard’s switch inside, first-half goals from Ledley King and Peter Crouch masking a multitude of sins. Just before the break, Guillermo Franco pulled one back and Capello’s face bore the look of thunder. Gerrard and James Milner swapped positions and suddenly England had more balance, more conviction.
The positives were clear: Robert Green impressed in goal during his 45 minutes, making two exceptional saves from Carlos Vela, Glen Johnson confirmed his attacking talent with a sublime strike, Theo Walcott looked lively down the right while Adam Johnson delivered a sparkling late cameo.
The negatives were difficult to avoid: England’s back-line looked vulnerable to sudden attacks and central midfield lacked substance until Gerrard shifted inside. The scoreline will have engendered some hope but the way Mexico’s nimble ball-players passed their way through England was alarming. (continue reading…)
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge : we can do it
May.22, 2010, under Champions League
Keen anticipation, plenty of confidence and a happily relaxed attitude were the hallmarks of the Bayern party which arrived in Madrid on Thursday lunchtime, ready for the Champions League final against Inter. “We’re optimistic and we think we can do it,” said chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge prior to take-off from Munich, “this team deserves to win the Champions League.”
“The mood in the dressing room is very good. We’re all delighted and proud to be here. We have a massive chance to make history,” commented Arjen Robben at the news conference held in the team hotel after the squad’s arrival. The former Real star and his FCB team-mates landed in the Spanish capital after a flight lasting just over two hours, to be greeted by sunny skies and 25-degree temperatures.
Apart from the suspended Franck Ribéry, who has joined up with the France squad to begin preparations for the World Cup but will travel to Madrid for the final, the entire Munich squad boarded Lufthansa flight LH 5018 in time for take-off at 11.30 on Thursday morning. “There’s a little bit of tension, but also a keen sense of anticipation,” reported keeper Jörg Butt. Alongside skipper Mark van Bommel, the shot-stopper is the only Bayern man to have featured in a Champions League final to date. (continue reading…)
Van Gaal and Mourinho, Teacher v pupil
May.22, 2010, under Champions League
“See you in Madrid,” Bayern boss Louis van Gaal texted his Internazionale counterpart José Mourinho, even before their respective teams had made it to the Champions League final. As it turned out, the appointment will be kept. “He’s a good friend from the world of football. And you don’t have many friends in the world of football,” said van Gaal, referring to his former assistant at Barcelona.
Inter’s Portuguese supremo, not otherwise known as a soft-hearted representative of his trade, responded with an unusually warm thought. “We’ll embrace before and after the match – I’m absolutely confident of that,” the 47-year-old Mourinho remarked.
Clash of tacticians
Despite their friendship, the pair will spend the whole of Saturday evening’s game trying to outwit and outmanoeuvre the other. “He’s a cunning tactician, just like our coach. They’ll be thinking about how to catch the other by surprise,” mused Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. More than any other Champions League final of recent years, the Madrid showdown is a battle between master strategists. Both have formed and led to the final teams which rated as unfancied before the start of the season. (continue reading…)
Mourinho : My only options are Madrid or Inter
May.20, 2010, under Others
The Special One looks certain to replace Manuel Pellegrini as coach of the Galacticos after leading Inter Milan into Saturday’s Champions League final.
Yet while the former Chelsea chief revels in his self-proclaimed lofty status, Benitez isn’t so sure.
And the Liverpool boss thinks Real could be dropping a clanger if they think the Portuguese coach is the man to turn them into European kings again.
The two men enjoyed almost constant verbal battles throughout Mourinho’s time at Stamford Bridge and will never be the best of buddies.
And Benitez insisted: “I know Mourinho has dreamed a lot of coaching Real Madrid but I do not know if he is the right person to train Madrid.
“Pellegrini has done a great job and deserves great respect because he’s still coach and it’s not pleasant to hear talk about who’s going to replace you.”
Mourinho has admitted: “My only options are Madrid or Inter.
“To get me to leave this club after two years of incredible work, only Real Madrid could achieve that.
“If I go, I will move with a clear conscience having changed the club.”
Sevilla win Copa del Rey
May.20, 2010, under Others
Diego Capel scored in the fifth minute and Jesus Navas added a goal in second-half injury time to lead Sevilla over Atletico Madrid 2-0 Wednesday night for its second Copa del Rey title in three seasons.
Capel beat goalkeeper David de Gea with a rising shot from just outside the penalty area before a crowd of about 90,000 at Camp Nou. Goalkeeper Andres Palop denied Diego Forlan in the 79th minute, and Navas scored on a counterattack against the Europa League champions.
Sevilla, which beat Getafe 1-0 in the 2007 final, has won the Spanish cup five times.
-
Hi! Welcome to TheDailySoccerNews.com!
Thanks for dropping by! Feel free to join the discussion by leaving comments, and stay updated by subscribing to the RSS feed. See ya around!
