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Yepes quiere jugar en River o Cali

BOGOTÁ -- El capitán de la selección colombiana de fútbol, Mario Yepes, quien está a una semana de terminar su contrato con el Milán italiano, afirmó el jueves que River Plate y el Deportivo Cali son los equipos a los que le gustaría volver.

"Es muy difícil pensar ahora en volver a jugar en River Plate (en el que militó entre 1999 y 2002), pero obviamente es un equipo al que quiero mucho por lo que representó en mi carrera, como quiero también mucho al Deportivo Cali, del cual soy hincha", declaró Yepes en rueda de prensa.

El defensa colombiano, de 37 años, que juega en el Milan desde el 2010, dijo que su contrato termina en una semana, una decisión que tomó de común acuerdo con los dirigentes del club.

"El contrato con el Milan termina la semana próxima y a partir de ahí vamos a mirar qué hacer. Por ahora estoy pensando en prepararme bien, en hacer un muy buen año, por eso la decisión consensuada de salir del Milan, porque había la posibilidad de seguir, pero quiero tener un poco más de continuidad para llegar de la mejor manera el próximo año al Mundial, si clasificamos", dijo.

Y señaló que tiene ofertas de tres equipos colombianos, de los que no confirmó sus nombres "para no comprometerlos".

El capitán colombiano habló también del actual momento que vive la selección absoluta, y la posibilidad de clasificarse al Mundial de Brasil 2014.

"Tenemos un equipo sólido, fuerte, tiene grandes jugadores y además hay gran unión, hay una familia dentro del grupo", dijo.

Y agregó que "la gente en la calle está muy contenta, muy emocionada y agradecida con lo que está haciendo la selección y eso se siente en el calor que uno recibe en cualquier lugar a donde uno va", manifestó.

El exjugador de los franceses Paris Saint Germain y Nantes, y del Chievo italiano, elogió el trabajo del seleccionador de Colombia, el argentino José Pekerman.

"Pekerman es una persona que llegó con su estilo. Desde el primer momento dijo que teníamos un gran equipo, creyó en nosotros, quiere y admira a nuestro país, y la gente ha aprendido a tenerle cariño y a respetarlo", afirmó.

"Ahora todos lo estamos siguiendo por un objetivo común que es llegar al Mundial", puntualizó.

41 días de cárcel a Johnny Herrera

SANTIAGO -- El arquero de Universidad de Chile, Johnny Herrera, fue condenado el jueves a una pena de 41 días de presidio remitido --en libertad-- y a la suspensión por dos años de su licencia de conducir por el "cuasidelito" de homicidio contra la universitaria Macarena Cassasus, a quien atropelló y mató en diciembre de 2009.

El juez Alejandro Aguilar, que dio a conocer la sentencia, dijo que Herrera también estará sujeto a la vigilancia de la policía de prisiones y deberá pagar los costos del juicio.

Herrera, que no se presentó a la lectura del fallo, fue encontrado culpable la semana pasada, aunque sólo el jueves se difundió la condena.

La noche en que Herrera atropelló a la joven venía de estar en dos discotecas, por lo que inicialmente fue acusado de conducir ebrio, pero la aparición de alcoholemias con distintos niveles hizo que los jueces cambiarán la acusación.

El padre de la joven, Patricio Cassasus, calificó la sentencia como "una puñalada en la espalda".

"El tenía todo el poder del mundo para defenderse, tenía mucha plata para hacerlo porque él es, en este momento, un personaje que produce plata y mi hija no".

Aseveró que después de la muerte de su hija, sorprendieron a Herrera "mil veces tomando en discotecas, paseándose a toda velocidad y eso es impresentable".

El fallo de primera instancia puede ser apelado ante la Corte de Apelaciones.

U.S. U20s eliminated by Ghana

https://www.youtube.com/…0nT_v710M-w

KAYSERI, Turkey -- Needing a victory to qualify for the knockout round, the United States was eliminated from the FIFA U-20 World Cup with a 4-1 loss to Ghana on Thursday.

The Americans finished last in Group A, securing only one point in three games. The Ghanaians (1-0-2, 3 points) took third place and await the other results to see if they could move into the Round of 16 as one of the four wild-card teams.

Spain (3-0-0, 9 pts.) won the group, followed by France (1-1-1, 4 pts.), which also progressed.

For the third time in seven years, Ghana eliminated the U.S. from a FIFA-sanctioned competition. The Ghanaians defeated the Americans, 2-1, in the last group match at the 2006 World Cup in Germany and ousted their rivals by the same score in the Round of 16 at the 2010 competition in South Africa.

Ebenezer Assifuah led the Africans with a second-half brace. Frank Acheampong scored in the first half and second-half substitute Kennedy Ashia closed out the scoring at Kadir Has Stadium.

Shane O´Neill tallied the lone American goal.

The Ghanians came out strong as Assifuah shot wide in the second minute and Moses Odjer fired a free kick that just missed the crossbar eight minutes later.

Acheampong lifted Ghana into a 1-0 lead, netting from a scramble in front of goalkeeper Cody Cropper in the 38th minute.

The Ghanaians took advantage of a Daniel Garcia giveaway at midfield to double their lead in the 58th minute. Assifuah fired a 16-yard strike to the far right corner.

O´Neill gave the Americans some hope in the 69th minute, scoring from nine yards to the left far post to make it 2-1.

A bullet header from Assifuah restored Ghana´s two-goal lead in the 78th minute.

Ashia, who came on in the 74th minute, completed the score line with seven minutes left in regulation

Portugal downs Cuba at U-20 World Cup

https://www.youtube.com/…23Dv_cRGBsg

KAYSERI, Turkey -- Cuba´s hopes of reaching the knockout round of the FIFA U-20 World Cup ended on Thursday with a 5-0 defeat to Portugal.

Competing in their first U-20 World Cup, the Cubans completed Group B with three losses in three games. They dropped a 2-1 decision to the Korea Republic on June 21 and were blanked by Nigeria on Monday.

The Portuguese (2-1-0, 7 points) secured the group crown and will play a third-place finisher from one of the other groups in the Round of 16.

Bruma scored twice -- on either side of halftime -- at Kadir Has Stadium to take over the competition´s scoring lead with five goals.

The Portuguese, who enjoyed a significant territorial advantage and outshot Cuba (27-16), took a 3-0 halftime lead.

They drew first blood in the 15th minute as Ricardo, after some fine work by Bruma on the left side, fired home a 15-yard shot past goalkeeper Sandy Sanchez.

Aladje doubled Portugal´s lead in the 37th minute.

Bruma finally got into the act with his first of the game in the 43rd minute as Toze provided a right-sided cross that the Sporting striker had little trouble finishing from one-yard out.

The 18-year-old increased Portugal´s lead to 4-0 in the 62nd minute, scoring off a spectacular volley.

Seven minutes later, Toze completed the scoring, slotting in Ricardo´s pass into the lower right corner.

Philippe Coutinho tops Liverpool FC shirt sales

Liverpool’s Brazilian attacker Philippe Coutinho has been the most popular name on the back of the latest version of the club´s kit, according to Liverpool’s official website.

Liverpoolfc.com listed the top ten most popular players based on shirt name and number personalisation, as fans requested their favourite player’s name on around 42% of shirts bought.

Coutinho made an almost instant impact at Liverpool after joining from Inter Milan in January 2013 for around £8.5 million, and fans have taken to their new number ten after some impressive displays for his new club.

The 21-year-old is ahead of the likes of Steven Gerrard, who is currently the second most popular name printed on the back of new shirts, and Luis Suarez who lies in fourth place.

Coutinho will be hoping he can continue his ompressive form into the 2013/14 season, as his Liverpool side look to improve on last season’s 7th place finish.

Grêmio release defender Gerson and midfielder Misael

Grêmio have decided to release two players from their contracts at the club, as defender Gerson, and midfielder Misael are told they are surplus to requirements.

The players will now be on the look-out for new clubs, with Gerson’s release already alerting the interest of French Ligue 2 side Angers, and it’s rumoured that negotiations are already underway between the clubs and the player.

Gerson is still technically under contract at the club, but Grêmio have made it clear to the player that he is no longer in their plans, so a loan move is also probable.

Misael is owned by a group of investors who also own the football club Deportivo Maldonado in Uruguay, so the player was only ever on loan at Grêmio from this group of businessmen. If no other club can be found it would seem likely that he could join this Uruguayan team.

UOL reports that Grêmio are looking to give more game time to Matheus Biteco when the season re-starts after the Confederations Cup, as they are reportedly keen to get him in the shop window to encourage an already growing interest from European clubs, including Liverpool.

As Biteco plays in the same position as Misael, this will be another reason the Porto Alegre club have decided to let him go.

The Grêmio squad return to training this week, ahead of their game against Atlético PR on July 6.

Corinthians´ Paulinho denies Real Madrid approach

Corinthians midfielder Paulinho has rejected reports of an approach from La Liga giants Real Madrid.

The Brazilian says the only offer he has is from Premier League outfit Tottenham who are reportedly set to seal a £17 million deal with Corinthians for the player.

"There is nothing true about Real; the only proposal that came to me was from Tottenham," Paulinho told reporters. "I´ve talked to them but I´ll look at it after the Confederations Cup."

The Brazilian club are resigned to losing their prized asset and are ready to put into action plans for life without him.

"Besides the signings we also suffered harassment from the world´s top clubs for some of our key players," said president Mario Gobbi Filho in a statement.

"We make every effort to keep them but we have to evaluate the good proposals and understand the goals and aspirations of life of each of our athletes.

"With the imminent departure of Paulinho we trust in football other players that are being prepared for some time, as William and Edenilson, or even the newly hired Ibson."

Santos´ Felipe Anderson set for medical with Lazio

Santos starlet Felipe Anderson is set to undergo a medical ahead of a move to Lazio according to the club president.

Lazio´s president Claudio Lotito confirmed to Goal.com that the move is going ahead with Anderson arriving in Italy for a medical.

Lotito told reporters: "I believe he will join Lazio, but we must now wait on him to pass his medical examinations.

The 20-year-old will finally complete a move to Serie A after a move collapsed in January over complications with paperwork.

Anderson will join compatriot Hernanes at the Biancocelesti and sign a long term contract should the medical pass with no issues.

Shakhtar complete €15m signing of Internacional´s Fred

Ukraine giants Shakhtar Donetsk have completed the €15 million signing of Fred from Brasileirão outfit Internacional.

Fred has passed a medical and signed a new contract with the Ukrainians and the Brazilian is delighted to play for the club.

"I know Shakhtar very well, they are a huge club,” he told reporters."I have followed their progress in Europe and am very happy to make the move."

Fred follows Fluminese’s Wellington Nem and Gremio’s Fernando to the club this summer, with compatriots Luiz Adriano, Maicon, Douglas Costa, Taison, and Alex Teixeira already established in the side.

"I already know some players here like Taison, Luiz Adriano and Douglas Costa. They are my friends," he continued.

"My task is to break into the first team and play a part in the Champions League. I will also do my best to help this club succeed and fulfil its goal of winning the Champions League.”

æv, ærgeligt for ligaen. Fred, Felipe, Neymar og Paulinho. Bernard ligner også en mand der kunne blive solgt.