Snak

The South American qualifiers enter the hot zone

They started back in October 2011 with the South American teams fighting for four direct berths to the 2014 World Cup and now in September the qualifiers enter the final stretch.

The picture will become clearer this Friday and next Tuesday as we see which teams will make it to the big tournament. It´s time to win or say goodbye to the World Cup dream.

Argentina leads the table with 26 points with 13 games played and a +16 goal difference. Next comes Colombia (23, 12, +14), Ecuador (21, 12, +5), Chile (21, 13, 0) and Uruguay (16, 12, -3).

The first four teams will get automatic berths to the WC while the fifth team will have to play a playoff with the fifth team from the Asia region.

After Uruguay comes Venezuela (16, 13, -4), Peru (14, 12, -5), Bolivia (10, 13, -9) and Paraguay (8, 12, -14).

For a ticket to the World Cup

The fifteenth round will be played on Friday and Argentina with a bye. It would take a nuclear physicist to figure out all the different calculations but a draw in Lima between Peru and Uruguay and a Chile loss to Venezuela in Santiago will give the ticket to the World Cup to Argentina without them having to step on the pitch.

Otherwise they will get their ticket on Tuesday if they beat Paraguay in Asuncion or even a tie if other results go their way.

Serving suspensions for Argentina will be central defenders Ezequiel Garay (Benfica, Portugal) and Federico Fernandez (Napoli, Italy).

Nor can midfielder Javier Mascherano (FC Barcelona, Spain) or striker Gonzalo Higuain play (Napoli, Italy).

Newell´s Old Boys midfielder Maximiliano Rodriguez said the match against Paraguay "is dangerous because they can play more open with no obligation to qualify, without that pressure."

Meanwhile Paraguay will have the official debut of their new coach, Victor Genes, who called up a squad mixed with veterans and youth, thinking more in the qualifiers for Russia-2018 than next year in Brazil.

If both the previous scenarios work out for the games in Lima and Santiago on Friday, Colombia will also qualify for the World Cup if they beat Ecuador in Barranquilla.

Colombia hasn´t been to a WC since France in 1998 but they received the worst possible news: their biggest star Radamel Falcao García is doubtful with a sprained ankle he suffered playing for Monaco last weekend.

"He is progressing well but day by day we can make a determination whether he will be ready or not" for the game, said team doctor Carlos Ulloa to reporters.

"I think the match in Colombia will be complicated and difficult, but I think those who make up the team are ready mentally, we know what´s at stake," said attacker Narciso Mina (América, Mexico).

Thirst for points

Chile and Venezuela are in different situations in the table but still cannot be trusted.

"We will not give anything away (to Chile and Peru). We want to play well and we have prepared", said the coach of Venezuela, Cesar Farias, in a press conference Tuesday afternoon in Caracas, before leaving for the capital of Chile with his 24-man squad, 16 of whom are ´foreigners´.

Venezuela is fighting for their first ever WC appearance but the home loss to Uruguay (1-0) in June complicated the situation.

Chile on the other hand comes to the matches on an upswing and a win against Venezuela will leave them at the door to Brazil.

The only news coming from Chile´s camp was the physical discomfort of midfielder Matias Fernandez, which kept him out of training and in doubt for Friday.

And in Lima there will be a duel between two teams hungry for points knowing that the last train to the World Cup is coming and they are still running on the tracks: Peru and Uruguay.

Uruguay are in fifth place but come in on a high after beating Venezuela at home and getting to the semifinals of the Confederations Cup.

But if they want to relax they have to win in Lima.

"We are going out to win and that´s the most important objective and is what every player is fixated on," said Edinson Cavani, Paris Saint Germain striker and one of the stars of Uruguay.

Peru however needs the three points to get some breathing room.

Their coach, Uruguayan Sergio Markarian, said he has "the tools (players) needed to face Uruguay. We will use them in the best way possible because my team has been set for a month."

Peru has its fearsome strikers Jefferson Farfan, Paolo Guerrero and Claudio Pizarro to count on. Uruguay has Luis Suarez, Cavani and Diego Forlan.

The two teams that see the WC train from afar are Paraguay and Bolivia. Paraguay, which will be the host, have a chance to reach the playoff if they win but they would need to count on so many other results to go their way that it is almost like waiting for man to reach Neptune.

For the Bolivians it is no longer a question of humanity, reaching the finals depends on a divine act, the greatest miracle of history.

Waterman: “Todos que están en el equipo pueden ser titular”

La convocatoria del delantero Cecilio Waterman para afrontar los partidos de eliminatorias ante Jamaica y Honduras, ha sido una de las más criticadas, debido a la poca efectividad del jugador en la pasada Copa Oro.

Waterman señaló que no se siente presionado por la falta de gol, porque como todo delantero, a veces no se le dan las cosas.

‘ No estoy tan mal, porque a veces uno quiere hacer las cosas bien, pero no se de, ojalá Dios quiere que las cosas me salgan bien el viernes y le pueda dar una alegria al pueblo’, sostuvo el delantero, quien milita en el Fénix de Uruguay.

El delantero aseguró que los más importante es que el equipo haga bien las cosas y que él, personalmente, se siente bien físicamente.

Pero, a pesar de la falta de gol, el delantero parece tener el visto bueno del técnico Julio César Dely Valdés.

En una entrevista con La Estrella, Julio Dely defendió la convocatoria del delantero diciendo que a Waterman, lo único que le faltó en la pasada Copa Oro, fue el gol.

‘Tengo la confianza del técnico y de mis compañeros y eso es un respaldo que me da confianza para seguir luchando. Sé que debo poner de mi parte’, aseguró el delantero.

Waterman asegura que todos los jugadores que están en el equipo pueden ser titular, pero eso es algo que depende del técnico, dijo.

‘Siempre trato de mejorar, como persona y como jugador. Yo me siento muy bien’, sostuvo Waterman.

Con respecto al partido ante Jamaica, el jugador dice que será un partido complicado, pero que Panamá necesita salir con el triunfo para seguir soñando con el Mundial de Brasil 2014.

Última práctica

La Selección de Fútbol de Panamá se encuentra en su tercer día de entrenamientos a puertas cerradas justo cuando falta un poco más de 24 horas para el partido de eliminatoria al Mundial Brasil 2014 contra Jamaica en el estadio Rommel Fernández.

Los jugadores y el cuerpo técnico bajaron del autobús del equipo, que los recogió en el Hotel El Panamá (lugar de concentración).

Se espera que después de la práctica se realice una conferencia de prensa en la que es posible que el técnico Julio César Dely Valdés emita sus declaraciones.

Kampe fra midtugen...

Guatemala - 6 Runde

Suchitepequez avancerer til 2 pladsen efter 0-0 hjemme mod Heredia, Coatepeque henter et overraskende point hos Mictlan, mens Marquense på Jorge Ortiz scoring besejrer USAC. Israel Silva , den nationaliseret brasilianer scorer 2 gange for Xelajú i 3-2 sejren over Izapa.


Panama

Udsat kamp mellem Plaza Amador og Sporting San Miguelito, grundet sidstnævntes deltagelse i CONCACHAMPIONS, 3-2 sejr til El conjunto placino på mål af Angelo Lombardo, Ricardo Buitrago og Joshua Holderth.


Colombia

Udsatte kampe er afviklet grundet Itaguis og La Equidads deltagelse i Copa Sudamericana. førstnævnte vinder 2-0 over Patriotas på en doblete af Yessy Mena , mens sidstnævnte spiller 0-0 mod Cucuta.

The brothers Romero, a new and rare case of twins on a national team

On this "World brother day" I bring to you a situation that is rare in football but is now happening on the Paraguayan national team. We are talking about the presence of twin brothers on a national team. The "World brother day" is held in tribute to the fantastic work of Sister Teresa of Calcutta.

Brothers who play together on clubs is not that rare but to speak of TWIN brothers well then the cases start shrinking. We have for instance the Barros Schelottos, Guillermo and Gustavo, who have been among the most famous on the continent in recent years although Guillermo, an idol for many years at Boca Juniors, went on to have a more distinguished career. Also in Argentina are the Funes Moris, Ramiro and Roger, of River Plate. If we talk about twins who have played on a national team then the number is significantly smaller and, moreover, if we go to the narrowest part of the funnel then we talk about twins who have starred on teams.

A BRIEF BIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION

Before establishing THE biological differences between identical and fraternal twins we can take a quick minute to look at the etymology of both words.

Etymologically, both terms have the same origin (Latin gemellicium) and were used interchangeably to refer to children born at the same time. However, the semantic evolution of both words has been accompanied by the numerous advances in the field of genetics and knowledge of the human embryo. In fact, in the last edition of the RAE dictionary they were differentiated:

Identical twin: Born at the same time from the same egg.

Fraternal twin: Born at the same time and of a double birth from different eggs.

THE CHAMBERS IN ENGLAND AND THE DELY VALDES IN PANAMA

Besides the biological technical issues, people identify these pairs of siblings simply as twins.

Let´s talk about the Chambers, Adam and James, who are not only in the history of English football but of all sports history in that country for having been the first twins who defended the colors of England at any level at the 1999 youth World Cup.

The Dely Valdes, Julio Cesar and Jorge from Panama. The first is well known in Spain after his travels, quite successfully, in Oviedo and Malaga. Not so famous is his brother, despite also being considered one of the best strikers in Central American football, and an icon in Japan: he has played on six different Japanese clubs and scored well over a hundred goals.

IN HOLLAND, TWO SETS OF TWINS THAT STOOD OUT

The Netherlands had the distinction of having not one but two sets of twins playing at the highest level and for the national team.

These are probably the most famous pair of twins. The De Boer brothers, Frank and Ronald, initially played at Ajax in their country and on the national team, the former as a defenseman and the later as a midfielder. Both were signed by Barcelona when the coach was Louis Van Gaal. Of the two it was Frank who stood out at the time as one of the best defenders in the world.

Before the De Boers, Holland had another set of twins, the Van de Kerkhofs, Rene and Willy, perhaps the first twins who reached a place of importance in world football as they played for their country in two World Cups, the German WC of ´74 and that of Argentina in ´78 in which Holland was a finalist. In the first WC they did not have much of a chance to play on the memorable "Clockwork Orange" team coached by Johann Cruyff but in Argentina they did make an impact so much so that they also entered into the history books as the first twins to score goals at the same World Cup.

Rene is well remembered due to the incident before the 1978 World Cup final, when the Argentinians, led by captain Daniel Passarella, objected to the cast he wore on his injured forearm since it could have injured an Argentinian player. The Dutch players threatened to walk off the field. But in the end the solution was to add an extra layer of padding to the cast and the match could start.

AS PARAGUAY REBUILDS THEY ARE TRUSTING IN OSCAR AND ANGEL

The Romero twins, Oscar and Angel, first appeared with Cerro Porteño and quickly earned a place in the team and in the hearts of the fans. The excellent performance of both came to the attention of Paraguayan national team coach, Victor Genes, who called them up for the next two qualifying matches against Bolivia and Argentina. Paraguay is in the middle of a rebuilding stage and the twins are part of the new generation.

For Oscar, who had been called-up for the friendly against Germany a few weeks back, the good news keeps getting better as he was signed by club Bani Yas in the UAE and will join the team after these two qualifying games.

For now their dreams are being fulfilled as they both climbed up to the first division and then together on to the national team. And according to them the only thing lacking is that both "only need to play together overseas." For Oscar that door has opened with the hope that his brother will follow in his steps.

The mentor and his pupils

Several players from Colombia´s national team are partially in debt to Reinaldo Rueda who is now the coach of Ecuador. But on Friday that debt will go into the background when they go up against their old mentor in the South American qualifiers.

Those players include midfielders Abel Aguilar (Toulouse, France), Freddy Guarin (Inter, Italy), Macnelly Torres (Al-Shabab, Saudi Arabia) and Aldo Leao Ramirez (Morelia, Mexico), key players on the team looking for qualification to the World Cup.

"With him I had some pretty good moments on the Under-20 team and with the senior team also. But now we are on the other side and we will fight for our goal," Aguilar told reporters in the Caribbean city of Barranquilla.

For the midfielder, feelings like affection and gratitude "have to be put to one side."

Under the baton of Rueda, Aguilar and his companions reached a historic third place at the U-20 World Cup in 2003, the best finish ever at a tournament in that category.

The Colombians had returned to the tournament after a ten year absence, with Rueda at the helm.

In the Persian Gulf, the Colombian group fell in the semifinals against Spain with a solitary goal from midfielder Andrés Iniesta (FC Barcelona), who seven years later would score the goal that crowned Spain world champions in 2010 in South Africa.

That feat was enough to catapult the coach to the senior team where he betted on the youth that he had molded on the U-20 team for a new challenge: the World Cup in South Africa.

Although the team didn´t qualify for the WC in Africa, Rueda was close to getting Colombia back to football´s showpiece event after their participation in the World Cups of 1962, 1990, 1994 and 1998.

The helmsman had taken charge of the national team, replacing Francisco Maturana who resigned after getting just one point in four matches in the qualifiers for Germany in 2006.

Although many wanted continuity on the team, the directors of Colombia decided to go in another direction and Rueda ended up coaching Honduras taking them to the WC in South Africa. That achievement landed him his latest gig as coach of Ecuador.

In parallel Aguilar, Guarin, Torres and Ramirez continued their successful careers and today have Colombia on the threshold of the 2014 World Cup. Colombia is in second place in the table with 23 points, three behind leader Argentina, and followed by Ecuador and Chile both with 21 points.

And Rueda couldn´t be happier for his ex-pupils.

"I am honored. It´s a great satisfaction to see for example Abel Aguilar, Macnelly Torres, Aldo Leao Ramirez, among other kids who played under me," he said in a recent interview with the newspaper El Espectador.

And although not part of his team, the reserve goalkeeper of Colombia, Camilo Vargas, believes the knowledge that Rueda has on some of his teammates may be an advantage for Ecuador.

"The ´professor´ Reinaldo knows many players and our game, and perhaps that would be an opportunity to attack Colombia," he said.

One of the three defeats suffered by Colombia in the current qualifiers was precisely against Ecuador in Quito, where they lost 1-0 on June 10, 2012 with a goal from forward Christian Benitez, who died suddenly on July 29th of a heart attack.

Markarián: "I have the team and the tools to face Uruguay"

Peru football coach, Sergio Markarián, said on Tuesday he has the team defined that will face Uruguay on Friday in Lima in the qualifiers.

"I have the tools (players) needed to face Uruguay. We will use them in the best way possible because my team has been set for a month," Markarián said in a press conference.

"It will be the best game played that we can. We know how important it is, we know it now depends on us," said the coach to journalists.

Markarián said thankfully his team does not depend on mathematics to qualify to the World Cup, only a win.

Meanwhile, striker Paolo Guerrero (Corinthians, Brazil) said that they are focused and psyched to get the three points against a Uruguayan team that will arrive in Lima with their key attackers: Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani.

"Uruguay is a great opponent. Not only do they have their three players but they are a great team that has a lot of experience," said Guerrero.

"We have to concentrate the entire ninety minutes and arrive in good shape physically," said the attacker.

Markarián will continue the workouts on Wednesday behind closed doors at the Villa Deportiva of Lima with his 27 players (15 foreign and 12 local).

"These are our matches and it is up to us to win them. Friday will be our day," said midfielder Juan Vargas.

On Tuesday, the team practiced defense, attack and definition in a match with the U-18 team.

Four days after facing Uruguay, Peru will visit Venezuela in Puerto La Cruz, two games considered crucial to maintain their aspirations to qualify for the World Cup.

Argentina is leading the table with 26 points followed by Colombia (23), Ecuador (21), Chile (21), Uruguay (16), Venezuela (16), Peru (14), Bolivia (10) and Paraguay (8).

Bolivia finishes training with their team decided for the match against Paraguay

Spanish coach of Bolivia, Xabier Azkargorta, announced he will bring to Asuncion 20 of the 26 players who were called up and the others will be reserved for the match against Ecuador at the height of La Paz on the 10th of this month.

Nine of those selected, including its leading figures, Marcelo Martins (Brazilian Flamengo striker) and Rudy Cardozo (Bolívar midfielder) are in trouble for yellow card accumulation.

Although Bolivia, who has not qualified to a World Cup since 1994, has nothing to win or lose at this time, their captain Ronald Raldes (Colon, Argentina) said that "hopefully this time we can achieve a good result."

Raldes, a veteran defenseman, welcomed the young blood on the team and said he hopes that "new talent will be found" for the next tournaments such as the Copa America-2015 and the next World Cup qualifiers.

As for Paraguay he said that although they are last in the table "we shouldn´t take them for granted" and that the team must be prepared for the game.

The star of the team, Marcelo Martins, said that they should take advantage of the remaining matches "to improve the level of play."

In the last training session before traveling to the Paraguayan capital, Azkargorta kept the backbone of the Bolivian squad with the experienced Sergio Galarza in goal, Raldes in the rear, Alejandro Chumacero (Sport Recife, Brazil) and Cardozo, in midfield, and Martins as the lone attacker.

After the match with Paraguay, Bolivia will welcome Ecuador to La Paz four days later.

Focus on total teamwork - Reggae Boyz face Panama in crucial clash

PANAMA CITY, PANAMA:

TOTAL TEAMWORK, fuelled by a constant supply of optimism and discipline, are key components of Jamaica´s strategy for a much-needed victory in tonight´s CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying football match against Panama.

Bottom of the hexagonal home and away play-off series with only two points after six matches, Jamaica - having bolstered its squad - need to start winning in order to maintain faint hopes of qualifying for next year´s finals in Brazil.

Counting the 9 p.m. encounter at the Rommel Fernandez Stadium here later, Jamaica have four remaining games.

"Everybody knows this game is our key match," said newly appointed head coach German Winfried Schafer said yesterday, shortly after the team´s arrival in this Central American country.

"The ambition is for three points. It´s not easy, but I´m sure if everybody gives 100 per cent we can win. I met my players in England and the United States and talked to them. Confidence is important, discipline on the field and 100 per cent for Jamaica."

Schafer was appointed head coach recently after Theodore Whitmore was pushed aside when Jamaica lost their fourth consecutive match against Honduras in Tegucigalpa.

The squad began assembling Sunday and had a couple training workouts in Jamaica.

"We worked with our players in the two days in Jamaica; very concentrated, very hot and everybody knows what to do tomorrow for three points. It´s not easy, Panama have played the Gold Cup, built a new team, a very good team."

The Panamanians are actually one spot above Jamaica in the qualifiers, with six points, and are also desperate for a win to strengthen their chances.

This is the second meeting between Jamaica and Panama in this final round, with both playing out a 1-1 finish at the National Stadium in Kingston when Marvin Elliott´s 23rd-minute headed goal was cancelled by Luis Hernandez´s 67th-minute strike.

The result mirrored Panama´s hard-to-beat status against Jamaica as in 13 tries, Jamaica have won twice, while losing on five occasions.

Despite all that has gone wrong - before and during this campaign - the Boyz appear very upbeat; a result of new blood and coaching guidance.

Chief among Schafer´s additions are proven international goalscorers Luton Shelton and Marlon King. Shelton, the nation´s all-time scoring leader with 35 goals in 73 outings, was dropped for the last two matches, following Jamaica´s loss in Costa Rica. King, with 12 goals in 21 matches, had announced his retirement last November after being snubbed by Whitmore.

Satisfying Sentiments

Additionally, the popular Jermaine ´Tuffy´ Anderson, the local premier league´s leading scorer and a perennial frontman on the scoring charts, is in the squad, satisfying sentiments at home.

King appears Schafer´s number one strike option.

While explaining the way he wants his striker to play ahead of the late-evening training session, Schafer said: "In Marlon King we have a good player for this system and I´m looking for the second striker, (so) when he goes out he can go play in his position. I have a good feeling for tomorrow, for the 11 players."

However, on the matter of a starting 11, the German kept his cards close to his chest.

"No, I cannot tell you the 11 players. What is important is tomorrow Ricketts plays his 100th match for the national team."

That makes two sure starters.

Schafer is also contemplating alterations to the flat back four system, considering a 3-5-2 formation that provides added coverage with an additional central defender. "I talk to our team and watch the team in the clubs and training and (try to figure) what´s the best system for our team, not for me. That is very important," he stressed.

"Many players play the system 3-5-2. In the past I hear you have very good results (with 3-5-2) and maybe we´ll change."

Jermaine Taylor looks certain to be in the middle of defence, along with British-based Wes Brown, another new addition. Young Alvas Powell and Watford´s Lloyd Doyley should occupy the flank defensive roles. Rodolph Austin, the attacking spark of the campaign thus far, Jermaine Johnson, Garath McLeary, Jobi McAnuff and Elliott representing live starting options in Schafer´s plot.

In his brief stint, Schafer has not only brought an all-inclusive strategy to learn his players, their thoughts and gain insight for the all crucial engagements lying in wait. He also has a strategy to defend his opponents.

The man who guided Cameroon to the World Cup quarter-finals explained methods to counter key Panama players, noting they have to attack the tasks confidently.

"The players must approach the game with confidence," he said. "Teamwork is important, teamwork; when you lose the ball everybody must fight for the ball to be returned. If it´s one-on-one, the second player must go help, teamwork and team spirit."

Schafer pointed to another main component.

"Discipline is number one, not only here in the hotel, in the training, very important in the match, discipline. The midfielder or the defender cannot make what he wants, he has to do what is important for the team.

"We don´t need player for the media, we need player for three points. Everybody must help as a player, not only the 11 players; if you have a good bench then you have a good team," he emphasised.

Depending on its success, that level of teamwork could secure a much-needed win for Jamaica´s Reggae Boyz.


Points standing

1. United States 6 4 1 1 7 3 4 13

2. Costa Rica 6 3 2 1 7 3 4 11

3. Mexico 6 1 5 0 3 2 1 8

4. Honduras 6 2 1 3 6 7 -1 7

5. Panama 6 1 3 2 5 7 -2 6

6. Jamaica 6 0 2 4 2 8 -6 2

@Deportivo FAS
Fogo er helt klart det bedste bud fra Rio, når det kommer til mesterskabspotentiale, igen Cruzeiro, Fogo eller Gremio :-)

Helt bestemt. Nu tror jeg heller ikke, vi må glemme Atletíco Paranaense (de vandt i 2001, anden plads 2004 og sølvmedajle i Copa Libertadores 2005) som ser ud til at gøre det ekstraordinærende godt. Inter, Corinthians og Goías tør jeg heller ikke afskrive på dette tidspunkt. Men bare i top 4 ser vi kun en klub fra Rio de Janeiro og 0 fra São Paulo - det er da også lidt underligt. São Paulo ser rigtig skidt kørende.

@KayOkay
jeg var godt nok faldet i søvn inden kampen overhovedet begyndte, men hvilket mål!

http://www.youtube.com/w…iTOf1bPqU-fw

Hvem har dog brug for Vitinho???

Botafogo spillede en udemærket kamp, specielt første halveg - men overbeviste mig ikke i anden. Såvidt jeg hørte fra kommentatorene, så snakkede de løbende omkring Vitinho´s skifte til CSKA Moskva - og deres begejstring af den unge Hyuri. Kæft en vanvittig scoring ..
Desuden så er det værd at nævne, at Botafogo i anden halveg havde hele 6 hjemavlet spillere på banen - da Lucas Zen blev skiftet ind. Det er fandme et spændende projekt der er igang og Seedorf virker til at tage ansvar for de unge spillere.

Avs og så må vi ikke glemme, at den kamp faktisk var Hyuri debut.. ikke dårligt!