Snak

Torres lifts Panama past Mexico

PASADENA, CA – Gabriel Torres scored twice to lead Panama to a 2-1 win over Mexico in the CONCACAF Gold Cup opener for each at the Rose Bowl Sunday. The 24-year-old netted early in each half, earning the Panamanians three points in Group A.

Panama went ahead in the seventh minute, when Torres converted a penalty kick after referee Walter Quesada spotted Alberto Quintero being tripped in the box by Mexico’s Raul Jimenez. Torres buried the ball into the left side of the net, out of the reach of a diving Jonathan Orozco.

Mexico tied the game at 1-1 during first-half injury time. Marco Fabian beat his defender to a pinpoint pass from Israel Jimenez, brought the ball down and knocked it in with his right foot.

It was a play that appeared to give head coach Jose Manuel de la Torre’s team a confidence boost.

El Tri pushed in the final moments of the first half. As Rafael Marquez Lugo’s header off an Israel Jimenez pass sailed wide right.

Panama took the lead for good in the 48th minute thanks to Torres’ second goal. The Venezuela-based forward Torres beat defender Joel Huiqui to a Quintero pass into the six-yard box and one-touched past Orozco.

Mexico tried to answer with a series of counter attacks, including a give-and-go play between Fabian and second-half substitute Carlos Pena in the 53rd minute. Pena filtered a feed to Fabian, whose low, rolling shot went off the right post.

De la Torre then opted to replace three of his midfielders, hoping to create some fluidity and provide better service to his forwards.

The two-time defending Gold Cup champion produced a chance with six minutes left in regulation, however, Juan Carlos Valenzuela’s header went straight into Penedo’s hands.

According to FIFA records, the win was Panama’s first in 10 all-time games against the Mexicans.

Group A action resumes on Thursday in Seattle with a top-of-the-table clash between Panama and Martinique, followed by an encounter between Mexico and Canada.

@Dibben

var det noget ?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/…m27d49477da

Kaká to be replaced as Real Madrid´s No.8 - report

Kaká’s future at Real Madrid is in doubt again as new signing Asier Illarramendi will reportedly wear the Brazilian’s No.8 shirt when he arrives at the club.

The 31-year-old has long been linked with a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu, having failed to reproduce the form that saw him awarded the FIFA Ballon d’Or in 2007.

And although Kaká recently revealed he has had "positive talks" with new coach Carlo Ancelotti, who masterminded his rise to stardom at Milan, the veteran playmaker could be on his way out.

According to Marca, Illarramendi wore the same number shirt at Real Sociedad last season and is expected to don the jersey as Kaká is deemed to be surplus to requirements.

Kaká, who was given the No.8 shirt when he joined for €68.5 millian in 2009, has insisted that he remains under contract and wants to stay and fight for his place at Madrid.

However, with the likes of Xabi Alonso, Sami Khedira, Ángel di María and other new recruit Isco also ahead of him in the pecking order, he may struggle further for playing time next season.

And with the 2014 World Cup in Brazil less than one year away, he will need more first-team football to stand a chance of making Luiz Felipe Scolari’s 23-man squad.

São Paulo and Corinthians have previously voiced an interest in Kaká, while clubs in the USA are also keeping tabs on the situation.

Vélez: necesitan vender a Gino Peruzzi

BUENOS AIRES -- La directiva mete presión para que el lateral Gino Peruzzi defina pasar al Sunderland inglés y le permita al club salir a comprar refuerzos.

"Si no se define Peruzzi se nos atrasa el pago de las primas y complica la proyección para los refuerzos de próximo semestre", sostuvo el vicepresidente del club, Julio Baldomar, a modo de meter presión para que el jugador defina afirmativamente pasar al club inglés en unos 5 millones de dólares.

Si bien de club a club está todo acordado, el futbolista es reticente porque no le convence los valores que cobrará, y en ello el jugador es libre de decidir.

Baldomar bajó la confrontación luego de haber deslizado que podría resolver que el futbolista no juegue en Vélez, lo que comúnmente se dice "colgar", lo cual le restaría chances de jugar para el seleccionado a menos de un año del Mundial de Brasil. "Hay que tratar de buscar el equilibrio y pensar fríamente", sostuvo Baldomar.

Vélez espera trasferir a Peruzzi y al delantero Facundo Ferreyra al Shaktar Donesk de Ucrania para poder avanzar en refuerzos.

Desestimó que el zaguero Sebastián Domínguez vaya a jugar a Boca como Emiliano Papa a Racing.

Vélez, que ganó la Superfinal a Newell´s el 29 de junio en Mendoza, volverá mañana al trabajo para iniciar la pretemporada.

PSG close in on Cavani, deal imminent

When Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo missed the court appeal over his initial nine-month ban for pushing referee Alexandre Castro last week it was because he was "negotiating with a great player", according to club officials.

The "great" player in question is Edinson Cavani, as everybody suspected.

PSG moved quickly, towards the end of last week, once it became clear that negotiations with a player of the highest calibre were underway. Leonardo was then reported to have met with Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis to discuss the Uruguayan international, and by Sunday, according to L´Equipe, a deal was complete barring a "catastrophe".

Leonardo, currently on holiday in Ischia in the Gulf of Naples, confirmed the club´s intentions to sign the predatory striker known as ´the Matador´ over the weekend.

"We presented De Laurentiis with an offer that I consider to be very interesting," he told Il Mattino newspaper. "The negotiations are on-going. We´re still in contact and there could be news in the coming days."

Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini, whose now-Serie B club is owed a slice of any fee that Napoli recoup on their original €17 million investment, went as far as congratulating the Partenopei on their business, telling the Italian press that Cavani to PSG is "a done deal".

Famous last words perhaps? Well, it looks unlikely that the deal will be stopped.

The French champions´ new coach Laurent Blanc was nonchalant last week over the club´s reported interest in the 26-year-old.

"If he was part of the PSG squad, I´d be happy. That player would interest quite a few coaches," he told the press gathered at his team´s pre-season training camp in Stegersbach, Austria.

However, that stance has now changed greatly after Blanc told L´Equipe over the weekend that PSG´s interest in Cavani is genuine, and that he would represent a substantial coup for the club.

"It´s true that the club is following this player," the 47-year-old said. "We´re not the only ones chasing him. If we could hit the jackpot it would be, number 1, a great coup in sporting terms. Number 2, it would be a big signal sent to PSG´s potential rivals in France and in Europe."

With Monaco having dominated the headlines in France so far this summer with the captures of Radamel Falcao, James Rodriguez and Joao Moutinho, PSG faded away as they frantically searched for a successor to Carlo Ancelotti. Now with ´Le President´ appointed as the Italian´s replacement, the capital club have been able to finally put their grand plans for this summer´s transfer window into action.

Although the news of Cavani´s potential arrival is being greeted with excitement in the capital, questions are now being asked over the future of Cavani´s striker partner-to-be, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The club appear intent on playing the prolific pair together, but news of PSG´s desire to sign Cavani has once again sparked speculation that Swedish talisman Ibrahimovic could look to leave the Parc des Princes after a successful, but solitary, season in the French capital.

"Yes, they are compatible," Blanc told L´Equipe. "Cavani is a generous player, who has an important presence in front of goal. In terms of their profile, they are complementary. As they are two big players, normally, they should get on. After that, there will maybe be ego problems to sort out. The club should come before everything else."

The former France national coach added that he hoped to sign "three to five" new players, including another left-back, but his comments do hint that there could be possible tension should Cavani arrive.

However, there was no such indication from Ibrahimovic´s agent Mino Raiola when he gave his thoughts on the potential deal last week.

"Certainly, Cavani and Ibra would form a great duo, although even I could play with Zlatan - he´s the best," Raiola told Gazzetta dello Sport. "It is 100% sure that Ibrahimovic will stay at PSG. The buying of Cavani demonstrates PSG´s desire to build a dream attack."

The significance of Raiola´s comments is that PSG appear to have already run the idea past Ibrahimovic and his outspoken agent. With the Swedish international´s blessing, it seems the 31-year-old acknowledges the need for the French champions to bring in a natural second striker.

Despite the largely positive reaction to the news that PSG are close to signing the former Palermo man, Ciro Ferrara is one a handful of Italian football luminaries to have spoken out against the possible deal.

"With all the respect for my friend Laurent Blanc (the pair played together at Napoli), PSG don´t have the same attraction as Real Madrid and Chelsea," Ferrara told Corriere dello Sport. "If I were to choose, I would certainly not go to Paris," added the former Juventus and Sampdoria coach.

The deal is not only stirring up animosity in Italy though, figures in French football have voiced their opinions too. Frederic Guerra, the agent of highly rated Lyon midfielder Maxime Gonalons, who was believed to be in discussions with Napoli over a potential transfer, suggested that PSG were interested in Cavani out of greed and not necessity.

"PSG could have got a deal," the agent told Le Parisien. "But their egos led them to want to break records for the most expensive French transfer."

"Monaco spent €60 million for Falcao. It´s like those billionaires who want a yacht three meters longer than someone else just to show they are wealthier."

He may have a point in that the clubs are now set to be locked in a battle of one-upmanship with each other until there is one clear winner, but there can be no doubt that PSG are currently in the lead with regards to that.

Guerra´s bleating sounds like sour grapes considering how difficult Lyon President Jean-Michel Aulas has made it for Gonalons to join Monaco or Napoli this summer.

PSG should brace themselves for more vitriol though if they do manage to complete the signing of Cavani, reportedly set for Tuesday, as the financial struggles of their Ligue 1 rivals are further exacerbated.

Douglas Santos, hvad kan siges om denne u-landsholdsbrasser?

Venstrebacken er lige skiftet til Granada for ca. 6M reais (2M euro) fra Náutico, hvor han nåede relativt mange kampe (22) sidste sæson.
- I Granada skal han jo oplæres af og kæmpe med den stærke landsmand, Siqueira.

http://pt.wikipedia.org/…glas_Santos


I øvrigt har du helt ret i det med fanboyismens manglende sprogkundskaber. En god måde at tjekke, om brugere mestrer et mere eksotisk sprog eller i det mindste researcher i sådanne medier, er at tage højde for trykstreger - som er meget udtalte i både spansk og portugisisk.

Douglas Santos, venstre back, ved ikke så meget om hans tid i Nautico, fik debut på U-20 landsholdet, blev kaldt ind til Selecãos kamp mod Bolivia, skulle efter sigende have været interessant for Santos (klubben) - Samba har nok en del mere på ham...


ja det med trykstregerne er ganske afslørende, bl.a når et par fra "Messi Messi Barca Barca" fanklubben spammer Valencia-klubtråden med deres ligegyldigheder :-)

Soca Warriors looking for the golden touch

HARRISON, N.J. -- After losing in the final of the 2012 Caribbean Cup, Trinidad & Tobago will seek to make amends by winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

The twin island republic will begin its campaign against El Salvador at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, on Monday.

Stephen Hart, who recently was named head coach of the Soca Warriors, was confident his team will do well and stood ready for the challenge.

“The atmosphere has been fantastic in the group," he said on Sunday. "The training sessions have gone as well as anyone can ask for and I think there is just an eagerness and anticipation of the games ahead. I think more so it’s an analytical opportunity to see exactly where the county stands in CONCACAF and then to build for the upcoming World Cup qualifications in 2018. One thing I know is that the past doesn’t come back, so this ... is our starting point."

Hart hails from the Trinidad village of San Fernando and took over the reins of the team less than a month before the tournament.

“It is never easy when a new coach comes in, but we have worked hard and tried to take on board in a very short period of time the ideas collectively," Hart said. "The captain has done a tremendous job in making sure the team stays together as that is part of his responsibility and I just want them to go out and enjoy the tournament."

T&T captain Densill Theobald stated that being appointed captain was an honor, but that was not his main priority.

“It is always an honor to captain your country and as I have always told my teammates if I can give up the captaincy for us to get Trinidad football back to where it belongs at a successful level, I will definitely do that," he said. "It is important for us to keep on improving and being better."

Haiti looking to build on recent success

HARRISON, N.J. -- A recent 2-2 draw with World Cup powerhouse Italy after a 2-1 defeat to the defending World Cup champions Spain has earned Haiti a level of respect at the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

The Haitians begin their campaign against Honduras at Red Bull Arena on Monday with the hopes of a nation still rejoicing about their team´s accomplishments. But these warriors remain surprisingly humble.

Head coach Israel Blake Cantero brought everyone back to earth by saying that while he was pleased with the recent play of his team, the results came in international friendly games.

“Haiti is definitely a stronger team now but those matches were friendlies, and now we are in a major tournament and we want to do well and focus on making it to the next round,” Cantero said during a press conference at the stadium on Sunday.

They might have been friendlies on paper, but on the field the Haitians showed a kind of resolve rarely seen when football minnows face a more powerful and respected opponent.

“I am proud of these players, they play a complete 90 minutes of football and remain positive throughout, a coach could not want a better bunch of guys," Cantero said. "The Haitian federation has supported the team very well and we are all in agreement about development and where we want Haitian football to be.

“This tournament and other tournaments we feel would be a very good time for us to give Haiti some good news and move in a different direction."

Boca: Pretemporada en Costanera Sur

BUENOS AIRES -- El plantel de Boca Juniors entrenó por la mañana en la Reserva Ecológica de la Costanera Sur porteña mientras la dirigencia espera cerrar la incorporación de Emanuel Gigliotti y la llegada del defensor Daniel "Cata" Díaz.

El técnico Carlos Bianchi, que viene sorprendiendo al llevar a futbolistas a obras de teatro, ahora dispuso que haga trabajos físicos y 6 kilómetros de trote en la Costanera Sur en una fría aunque soleada mañana, en el marco de la pretemporada a doble turno.

Entre los nuevos estuvo el delantero Claudio Riaño pero no Gigliotti, por la cesión de los derechos federativos.

En tanto, la dirigencia espera que la tercera vuelta de tuerca que dio Cata Díaz en la negociación sea la definitiva y resuelva en forma personal su desvinculación con Atlético Madrid.

Riaño es el único nuevo por ahora, además de los repatriados Jesús Méndez, por tercera vez en Boca tras jugar a préstamo en Rosario Central, y Franco Cángele, de vuelta de Turquía.

Boca tendrá el domingo próximo su primera prueba con un amistoso ante Estudiantes de La Plata por la llamada Copa de Invierno.

Boca sigue interesado en el volante Fernando Gago, por ahora en Valencia.