Snak

Maurice leads Haiti squad for Korea Rep. friendly

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Haiti will take a 19-man roster, led by striker Jean-Eudes Maurice, to the Korea Republic for an international friendly on Friday against the host in Incheon.

The 27-year-old forward scored the Grenadiers’ only two goals at the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup in a 2-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago.

Interim head coach Pierre Roland Saint Jean has called on several new players that were not part of the squad that was eliminated following the Group Stage at the biennial CONCACAF event, including midfielder Soni Mustivar and forward Gary Ambroise.

Haiti will be hoping to regain the form that pushed it to an all-time high 38th position in the FIFA rankings this past January. Despite impressive results against in friendlies against Spain (2-1 loss) and Italy (2-2 draw) in June, the Haitians currently sit 74th.

It will be the first-ever time the two sides in a match that will be played at Incheon Football Stadium.


HAITI ROSTER

(International Friendly – September 6, 2013 away v Korea Republic)

GOALKEEPERS: Johny Placide (Stade De Reims), Gabard Fenelon (FC St Leonard)

DEFENDERS: Mechack Jerome (Sporting Kansas City), Jean Jacques Pierre (SM Caen), Kevin Lafrance (Widzew Lodz), Wilde Donald Guerrier (Wisla Krakow), Jean Robert Jean (Valencia)

MIDFIELDERS: Jeff Louis (AS Nancy), Peterson Joseph (Sporting Kansas City), Pascal Millien (Sligo Rovers), Soni Mustivar (FC Petrolul), Yves Hadley Desmaret (Dhofar FC), Jean Monuma Constant (Racing Club Haitien), Charles Herold Junior (Tempete)

FORWARDS: Sony Norde (Sheik Jamel Diamond), Leonel Saint Preux (Felda United, Jean-Eudes Maurice (Paris Saint Germain), Kervens Belfort Fils (Le Mans FC), Gary Ambroise (AFC Tubize)

Honduras’ Claros optimistic ahead of Mexico clash

SUNRISE, Florida – As Honduras continues to prepare for this Friday’s World Cup qualifier at Mexico, the prevailing perspective within in its Sunrise, Florida, training camp is best summarized in the words of Motagua midfielder Jorge Claros.

“We are in optimal condition and we are focusing on what we have to do,” stated Claros. “We have to worry more about ourselves and let them talk all they want. Where we have to talk is on the field and nothing more.”

The 27-year-old expressed that Honduras is confident heading into matchday seven in the CONCACAF Hexagonal, the final round of qualifying in the region for Brazil 2014.

Honduras sits fourth in the table with two wins and a draw from six games, one point behind third-place Mexico. Claros, however, made it clear that it is not the time to think of El Tri solely, the Catrachos must also focus on themselves.

“Believe in the team, believe in what can be done and I think that anything can be achieved,” he explained.

For Claros, who spent last season at Scottish club Hibernian, the fact that the Mexican roster contains naturalized players – Christian Gimenenz and Damian Alvarez -- changes nothing. The commitment of any player who pulls on the jersey of the six-time CONCACAF Gold Cup champion should never be underestimated.

“I think that it really doesn’t matter,” commented Claros. “The Mexico that we have in front of us we are going to respect until a certain point regardless if it is a Mexican or a naturalized player, I think that matters little. The player we face who wears the Mexico shirt is going to defend it as if he was born there. We are going to focus more on the match and less on the player that we are taking on that day.”

Above all, Claros realizes that Honduras needs to overcome all opponents if it wishes to return to the World Cup finals.

Messi makes payment amid tax charges

Lionel Messi and his father Jorge have filed a "corrective payment" with the Spanish authorities amid allegations of tax fraud.

The pair are alleged to have filed incorrect tax returns between 2006 and 2009 and a court located near Barcelona confirmed on Wednesday that a payment of just over €5million has been received.

This means Messi will not be set bail, as the State Agency for Tax Administration had requested, with the statement to the media explaining that "given the global impact" of the Barcelona and Argentina star, there was no doubt as to his "solvency".

The statement added that the payment meant there was little chance of Messi and his father withholding further monies "during the legal process of a pending tax fraud trial".

A court hearing has been set for September 17, although Messi´s lawyers have requested this be postponed due to prior commitments.

Spanish authorities have looked to crack down on tax payments in recent years. Former Barcelona and Real Madrid star Luis Figo was ordered to pay €2.4m in missing tax payments last year.

FIFA World Cup Qualifying Preview: Colombia v Ecuador

Ecuador will aim to record a poignant victory in their bid to reach the 2014 FIFA World Cup when they meet Colombia on Friday.

The two sides will face each other in their return clash in Barranquilla, 15 months after the reverse fixture in which the late Christian Benitez scored the winner to give Ecuador a 1-0 victory.

Striker Benitez died suddenly on July 29 after suffering a cardio-respiratory arrest shortly after playing for his club side El Jaish in Qatar.

His death has hit the whole of Ecuadorian football hard, with national coach Reinaldo Rueda - who also recently lost his father - telling FIFA.com: "Dealing with the grief has been difficult, but you just have to keep going."

The clash with Colombia will mark the first time that the squad has gathered for World Cup qualifying action since Benitez´s death, with Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia among the travelling party just a few weeks after taking to Twitter to express his sadness at the passing of his team-mate.

Along with Valencia, Rueda’s squad also includes Russian-based duo Cristian Noboa and Felipe Caicedo as well as Vitesse winger Renato Ibarra - who all joined up with the group on Monday after arriving from their respective clubs.

Striker Joffre Guerron, who plays for Beijing Guoan in China, has insisted that he and his team-mates will be doing everything they can to make their fans proud.

“We have a big commitment to the country and we will endeavour to achieve qualification,” he told local media.

Ecuador head into the clash third in the CONMEBOL qualification standings, five points ahead of Uruguay in the intercontinental play-off spot.

Colombia, meanwhile, are second in the group having lost only once in their qualifiers - against Venezuela - since that last meeting with Ecuador in Quito.

They have been boosted by the inclusion of Milan´s Cristian Zapata, while Inter´s Fredy Guarin and Monaco´s James Rodriguez are also among Jose Pekerman’s squad.

Radamel Falcao, Colombia´s top scorer in the qualifiers with seven goals, is a fitness doubt for the clash, though.

He suffered an ankle injury playing for Monaco on Sunday and will be assessed ahead of the match.

"We´re going to go day by day trying to get him as fit as possible to see if he can get to the match," team doctor Carlos Ulloa told reporters.

With four games to go, Colombia sit three points behind leaders Argentina with a game in hand.

With the top four qualifying automatically for a place in Brazil in 2014, Pekerman’s side have their fate in their own hands.

Ahead of what could be a crucial fixture goalkeeper Camilo Vargas insists the squad are fully focused on their task.

"We look to Ecuador with great respect," he told Futbolred.com.

"They are our rivals at the top of the table. We have four games left and everyone’s objective is the World Cup."

Júlio César: I did not consider leaving QPR

Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Júlio César says he did not consider leaving the club this summer and insists things have “gone back to normal”.

César has been at the centre of reported interest from teams all around Europe following QPR’s relegation from the Premier League last season, with Arsenal, Benfica and Fiorentina seemingly the main suitors.

Speculation rose when the 34-year-old was not involved in any of the match-day squads at Loftus Road so far this season with Rob Green being restored as first choice amid the questions over his future.

However, the Seleção ‘keeper has no qualms about still being part of Harry Redknapp´s squad and does not feel playing in the Championship will affect his prospects of being part of Brazil´s plans for next year´s World Cup, reports Sky Sports.

César, who made 26 appearances last season, told Globo Esporte: "I didn´t think in any moment about leaving QPR.

"Of course, if anything came up, as it happened, it was something to sit down and talk about with the club´s chairman.

"But, in my head, things have gone back to normal.

"I don´t think I´ll have to do anything different due to the fact I am in the Championship. It´s a strong competition in England with competitive teams.

"We play 46 games, eight more games than in the Premier League."

Racing: Ischia paró su primer equipo

BUENOS AIRES -- El entrenador Carlos Ischia alineó este miércoles a su primer equipo en una práctica desde que está en Racing, con abundancia de jugadores en el medio para evitar filtraciones rivales.

Tres cambios realizó en relación con el equipo que perdió ante All Boys, pero también dispuso traslados de posiciones, como que Matías Cahais, recuperado de una lesión, jugó como lateral izquierdo en una línea de cuatro que puede convertirse en una de cinco.

El equipo formó con Sebastián Saja; José Luis Gómez, Fernando Ortiz, Leonardo Migliónico, Cahais; Diego Villar, Agustín Pelletieri, Bruno Zuculini, Luis Ibáñez; Rodrigo De Paul y Luciano Vietto.

Así, ingresaron Villar, De Paul y Vietto por Roger Martínez, Gabriel Hauche y Valentín Viola.

Pelletieri y Zuculini son claro doble cinco, con el segundo de ellos con chances de desprenderse en ataque. Las puntas del balancín por los laterales serían Gómez e Ibáñez, corriéndose los tres zagueros de fondo según del lado que venga el ataque.

Racing jugará ante Lanús el sábado a las 20.15 y por primera vez en el Torneo Inicial podrá contar con su público al haber cumplido las dos fechas de suspensión por los festejos por el descenso de Independiente, en el último partido del pasado certamen.

Newell´s presentará dos cambios

ROSARIO -- El director técnico de Newell´s, Alfredo Berti, dispuso que Cristian Díaz ingrese por el paraguayo Marcos Cáceres y que Martín Tonso reemplace a Maximiliano Rodríguez, en las dos variantes obligadas que realizará para intentar mantener la punta el viernes al visitar a Vélez.

Con Cáceres afectado al seleccionado paraguayo y Rodríguez, al argentino, Berti se decidió por las dos variantes con las que se especuló desde el inicio de la semana.

Así, Díaz ocupará el lateral derecho de la defensa y Tonso jugará de extremo por el mismo andarivel en el partido que reeditará la SuperFinal que Vélez le ganó 1 a 0 Newell´s en Mendoza en junio, en el duelo entre los dos últimos campeones locales.

"Estamos tranquilos porque los dos jugaron de buena forma contra Boca y son los reemplazantes naturales de Maxi (Rodríguez) y Marcos (Cáceres)", dijo Berti sobre Díaz y Tonso en una conferencia de prensa que dio tras la práctica a puertas cerradas en el predio de Bella Vista.

Allí, el técnico ensayó jugadas de pelota parada con los mismos once que el viernes enfrentarán a Vélez en Liniers, a las 20.10: Nahuel Guzmán; Díaz, Víctor López, Gabriel Heinze, Milton Casco; Pablo Pérez, Diego Mateo, Lucas Bernardi; Tonso, Víctor Aquino y Víctor Figueroa.

"Si sabemos manejar el partido, nos podemos llevar los tres puntos", dijo Berti.

El técnico comentó que Newell´s y Vélez son dos equipos que se conocen "bien" e imaginó "un partido abierto".

Consultado por David Trezeguet, quien volverá a estar entre los suplentes, Berti respondió: "Está muy bien, trabajando mucho en los últimos días, entrenando de buena forma y cada día se lo ve mejor. Eso también me genera mucha tranquilidad y nos da una opción más en el ataque".

Estudiantes, con Verón y Patito

LA PLATA -- Juan Sebastián Verón y Patricio Rodríguez fueron incluidos en la alineación inicial de Estudiantes de La Plata de cara al próximo encuentro ante Belgrano de Córdoba.

En relación al equipo que empató la jornada pasada con Newell´s en Rosario, el DT Mauricio Pellegrino excluyó a Israel Damonte y Joaquín Correa.

Los titulares en el ensayo del miércoles fueron Gerónimo Rulli; Leonardo Jara (en la posición de Matías Aguirregaray, afectado al seleccionado uruguayo), Santiago Vergini, Leandro Desábato y Jonatan Silva; Gastón Gil Romero y Verón; Jorge Luna, Carlos Auzqui y Patricio Rodríguez; Guido Carrillo.

En el segundo tramo de la práctica el entrenador dos cambios: Mariano González por Auzqui y Correa por Luna.

El jueves el equipo volverá a entrenarse desde las 10 en el predio de City Bell a puertas cerradas y quedará definido el equipo que recibirá el sábado a Belgrano, partido que será arbitrado por Mariano González.

Verón, que no juega desde la segunda fecha con All Boys (1-0), se movió sin inconvenientes y su regreso está confirmado.

Luego del trabajo, en conferencia de prensa, el defensor Santiago Vergini habló de su adaptación al club: "La verdad no me costó demasiado adaptarme ni en lo táctico ni en lo humano, porque me recibieron muy bien. En lo futbolístico hay algunas ideas distintas a las de Newell´s, pero también cuestiones similares".

"Hoy la idea es seguir trabajando, mejorando y sumando puntos. No pensamos mucho más que eso, porque todavía es muy prematuro. Esto recién empieza y si seguimos en este camino con el correr de las fechas veremos para qué estamos", agregó el defensor.

Por último, Vergini estableció una comparación entre su actual DT Pellegrino y Gerardo Martino, con quien fue campeón la temporada pasada en Newell´s antes de su partida a Barcelona.

"Son dos personas muy serias, responsables, que trabajan muy bien y que cada día le aportan cosas al jugador. Está en cada uno saber aprovecharlos", consideró.

Gareca hace 5 cambios en Vélez

BUENOS AIRES -- Tras la derrota con Boca la última fecha, el entrenador de Vélez, Ricardo Gareca, dispuso el ingreso del capitán Fabián Cubero, Juan Sabia, Lucas Romero, Héctor Canteros y Lucas Pratto, pensando en el encuentro ante Newell´s por el Torneo Inicial.

De acuerdo con la práctica realizada el miércoles, el once inicial para medirse con el último campeón del fútbol argentino será con Sebastián Sosa; Fabián Cubero, Fernando Tobio, Juan Sabia y Emiliano Papa; Agustín Allione, Lucas Romero, Héctor Canteros y Ariel Cabral; Lucas Pratto y Ezequiel Rescaldani.

Serán, entonces, cinco los cambios respecto de la formación que perdió con Boca la fecha pasada: Cubero por Leonardo Rolón, Juan Sabia por Sebastián Domínguez (afectado al seleccionado argentino), Lucas Romero por Leandro Desábato, Héctor Canteros por Francisco Cerro y Pratto por Federico Insúa.

Además de los titulares, se concentrarán Alan Aguerre, Facundo Cardozo, Insúa, Desábato, Eduardo Puchetta, Jonathan Copete y Ramiro Cáseres.

No así Zárate, la incorporación estrella del último receso, que todavía no se recuperó del desgarro sufrido ante All Boys, por la tercera fecha.

El plantel volverá a entrenar el jueves desde las 9.30 en la Villa Olímpica de Ituzaingo y una vez terminado el trabajo el plantel quedará concentrado.

Vélez Sarsfield, clasificado para los octavos de final de la Copa Sudamericana, ocupa el 11º lugar en la tabla de posiciones del Torneo Inicial 2013 con 6 puntos.

Vergini erstatter Rojo til kampen mod Paraguay.

Vergini fue citado en Argentina

BUENOS AIRES -- El entrenador Alejandro Sabella convocó a Santiago Vergini, defensor de Estudiantes de La Plata, para incorporarse al seleccionado que se prepara para enfrentar a Paraguay por el boleto al Mundial de Brasil 2014.

Vergini, dos meses atrás campeón con Newell´s Old Boys en el Torneo Final, reemplazará al lateral Marcos Rojo, lesionado en un hombro.

La AFA informó a través de su web oficial que Vergini deberá presentarse el jueves para el entrenamiento matutino en el predio de Ezeiza.

La incorporación de Vergini, un zaguero central, consolida la chance de José Basanta para que juegue como lateral, en tanto que Cristian Ansaldi es la primera alternativa.