Snak

Victor Manuel Vucetich names Mexico squad for training camp

Rafa Marquez makes his return to the Mexico team for a training camp ahead of the October World Cup qualifiers.

Victor Manuel Vucetich has chosen his first Mexico team, and while it is not for any matches, it is for an important training camp. El Tri will hold a training camp next week, for which this roster was chosen and the team for the crucial October World Cup qualifiers will presumably come from the 25-man training camp squad, plus European-based players.

Of note is the return of Rafa Marquez to the Mexico team. The former El Tri captain has been excellent for Club Leon this season and looks set to take the veterans role along the back line from Maza Rodriguez, who has not been called in after being a favorite of former manager Jose Manuel "Chepo" de la Torre for years. The naturalization debate won´t go away under Vucetich, as evidenced by his called up Argentina-born Lucas Lobos and Christian "Chaco" Gimenez.

The 25-man roster isn´t a complete representation of Vucetich´s plans for October because it is made up of only domestic players -- Mexican clubs agreed to release their players for this training camp, but European clubs are under no obligation and, justifiably, have not -- so players like Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, Hector Moreno, Giovani dos Santos, Andres Guardado, Diego Reyes and Hector Herrera are not included. Because Europeans players are not included, there is also no indication if Carlos Vela will accept the invitation Vucetich has said he will extend to the player, leaving one of Mexican football´s biggest mysteries an ongoing affair.

The training camp is designed to give Vucetich a chance to meet his team and install his system before the team congregates next month. He has been hired with just two matches left in the final round of World Cup qualifying and Mexico´s backs against the wall so the FMF and he decided to host the training camp to prepare.

Mexico currently sits in fifth in the Hex, which is not a World Cup place. They are level on points with fourth place Panama, but behind on goals scored. The two sides will meet at the Azteca on October 11, the next matchday, where Mexico almost certainly needs a win because Panama hosts a United States team that has already qualified for the World Cup in their final match and is expected to win.

If El Tri does not beat the Canaleros, they appear unlikely to qualify for the World Cup. Even if they win, they will need to get a result four days later at Costa Rica, who has also already qualified for Brazil. But even doing that will not put Mexico in the World Cup. Fourth place in the Hex is only good for a spot in a play-off against New Zealand, which will be played in November for a World Cup place.

Roster

- Damian Alvarez
- Fernando Arce
- Hugo Ayala
- Isaac Brizuela
- Jose de Jesus Corona
- Aldo de Nigris
- Marco Fabian
- Christian Gimenez
- Raul Jimenez

- Miguel Layun
- Lucas Lobos
- Jonny Magallon
- Rafa Marquez
- Severo Meza
- Hiram Mier
- Luis Montes
- Jonathan Orozco
- Carlos Pena
- Oribe Peralta
- Angel Reyna
- Carlos Salcido
- Alfredo Talavera
- Gerardo Torrado
- Jorge Torres Nilo
- Jesus Zavala

NO MERCY! US vow full strength team vs Jamaica

Jamaica can expect no favours from the United States when the countries clash in a World Cup football qualifier next month, although the Americans have already advanced to football´s biggest tournament in 2014 while the Reggae Boyz desperately cling to fading hopes of a trip to Brazil.

US head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has vowed to field a full strength team for the Americans´ final home game in the CONCACAF Hexagonal round on October 11 in Kansas City, Missouri. The aim is to beat the Boyz and then win against Panama away four days later to cap US competition in the ´Hex´.

"Definitely for our last two qualifiers against Jamaica and Panama, our approach is six points," Klinsman told ussoccer.com earlier this week.

"We want to win these two games badly, and we are going to bring in the best players. We are going to bring in everyone that is available and finish this qualifying campaign on the highest note possible."

US are already buoyed after defeating Mexico on September 6 to secure a World Cup place and top spot in the six team group with 16 points, 12 more than cellar dwellers Jamaica. Costa Rica, with 15, also qualified.

Honduras, 11, and Mexico and Panama, both on eight, round out competition for the third and last automatic World Cup spot. Jamaica can only hope for fourth place, which earns a play-off against New Zealand for another place in Brazil.

But American fans expect nothing less than victory at Livestrong Park, which has a capacity of 18,400-plus. The stadium is sold out and Klinsmann believes the US should reward supporters by closing out America´s home stand strong against Jamaica.

" ... We owe them a real good game," he said. "Therefore, everybody that is fit and healthy and belongs in that group will be there."

Torrid time for Boyz

The last time Jamaica played the Americans in the US, the Boyz endured a torrid time in Columbus, Ohio before going down 1-0 on September 11, 2012 in the CONCACAF semi-final round. Four days earlier the Boyz had clipped the Americans 2-1 in Kingston, the first time Jamaica defeated the US in a senior football international.

However, Jamaica lost 2-1 on June 7 at the National Stadium when the countries met in the ´Hex´.

Much has changed since. Theodore Whitmore was replaced as Jamaica´s head coach by German Winfried Schäfer for the last two qualifiers. Improved defence earned draws against Panama (0-0) and Costa Rica (1-1). Anything short of victory next month - against the US and Honduras on October 15 - and the Boyz are out of the World Cup. A win by either Panama or Mexico eliminates Jamaica as well. To qualify for the fourth spot, Jamaica must win and hope Panama or Mexico secure no more than one point total from their last two games.

The US, meanwhile, expect no letdown. With a deep pool of players chasing precious places in next year´s World Cup squad, Jamaica can expect a tough night in Kansas City.

"Competition is an ongoing, never-ending topic in our environment," Klinsmann told ussoccer.com. "We want to challenge everyone. The starting guys need to feel there is a guy behind that wants to take his spot away, and even that guy is challenged by another guy.

" ... This competition is really just starting now."

Jamaica must brace for the brunt of it.

Schäfer picks Campbell for special training

Twenty-three-year-old former Jamaica Under-20 and Under-23 representative, Romario Campbell, has been put on a special fitness programme by national head coach, Winfried Schäfer, after an impressive display in his debut for Waterhouse against Boys´ Town in the Red Stripe Premier League on Sunday.

Schäfer was impressed by Campbell´s "creativity, vision, an eye for the pass, scored a wonderful goal and showed a willingness to fight for his team, running back to tackle and defend when his team went a man down."

Following the game, Schäfer spoke with Campbell and invited him to a meeting at the Federation´s office on Monday. Campbell was quizzed about his fitness and advised that with improved fitness he stood a chance of being a part of the Reggae Boyz squad for the country´s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against the United States and Honduras on October 11 and 15. A training schedule was then set up, in consultation with Waterhouse Football Club, with fitness trainer Andre Waugh.

fitness programme

Campbell is the second player that the national coach has put on a fitness programme ahead of the country´s next set of World Cup qualifiers, with his clubmate, Jermaine ´Tuffy´ Anderson having been placed on a similar programme.

"We have to give the talent the opportunity to improve now, but the talent must also have the self-discipline and ambition to develop," Schäfer said of his decision to invite Campbell to the squad.

Campbell, he said, was not the only talented youngster that he has seen in the matches that he has watched locally, but in order for young players to get into the national squad they must have the right attitude.

Schäfer, who presided over the development of former Germany internationals Oliver Khan, Mehmet Scholl, Jens Novotny and others at Karlsruher Soccer Club, is working closely with the Jamaica Football Federation and local clubs to identify and develop young talent across the island.

‘Junglists’ slay Lion

Campbell hat-trick spurs Waterhouse


ARNETT Gardens FC waltzed into the quarter-final of the Flow Champions Cup KO competition after a comfortable 4-0 spanking of Humble Lion FC at the Anthony Spaulding Complex yesterday.

The 20-year-old midfielder Vishinul Harris scored in the third and 27th minutes, while burly striker Newton Sterling (15th) and substitute Carlos Barrett (69th) added the other goals.

In another game, Waterhouse were imperious when they decimated St Thomas’ Port Morant United 7-1, with new signee Romario Campbell hitting a hat-trick at Drewsland.

For the opener at the Anthony Spaulding Complex, Sterling nodded on a free kick taken by Arnett Gardens’ goalkeeper Damion Hyatt to the pacy Kemal Malcolm whose shot was blocked by the advancing Humble Lion custodian Damion Crooks. But the rebound fell to Harris and he swivelled and kicked home from six yards.

Humble Lion created a few attacks of their own as they began to settle, but they could not find the right pass in the final third. Arnett scored a second when Harris combined with Kirk Ramsey, who turned cheekily to outfox his marker and though he fluffed his shot, Sterling was on hand to poke past the Lion ´keeper.

It was 0-3 against the visitors after Lion´s captain Wolry Wolfe was dispossessed by Harris, and the youngster, a former Manning Cup star with Charlie Smith High, toyed with bemused defender Ricardo Campbell before slotting home from 10 yards.

Humble Lion head coach Geoffrey Maxwell then made two substitutions — including the withdrawal of Wolfe — within seconds of his team conceding the third goal.

The Clarendonians started positively in the second half and mounted several attacks, but the Arnett defence was equal to the crosses and through pass attempts that came their way.

The home team got the easiest chance of the second period on the hour mark when substitute Fabian Reid and Harris combined to put Sterling in on goal, but the latter scooped his left-footed effort way over bar from 12 yards out.

Barrett made it 4-0 for Arnett following a sublime cross-field volleyed pass from Oneil Thompson that set free Ramsey down the right side. The fleetfooted striker passed to Barrett, who cut inside his marker before firing a leftfooted grounder beyond the diving Crooks, to complete the scoring.

MBU clip Holland to book Flow Cup quarter-final spot

TUCKER, St James — Montego Bay United advanced to the quarter-finals of the Flow Champions Cup Knockout competition yesterday after scoring a close 1-0 victory over Western Confederation Super League team Holland United at the WespoW Park in Tucker.

Despite creating the majority of the scoring chances in the game that was mostly played in a steady heavy drizzle, the Premier League team only prevailed through a second-half penalty conversion from the veteran Lacon Brissett.

Holland, who had eliminated relegated Premier League team Savannah SC a week ago in the first round, gave as good as they got and should have at least forced overtime, but for a missed header from point-blank range in the 70th minute by Donovan Clarke who had advanced from his defensive position.

Montego Bay United made four changes to their team that had beaten Rockfort FC 5-0 the previous round and included strikers Dino Williams and Lesly St Fleur who teamed with Allen Ottey, but found the going tough in front of goal.

Ottey had the entire goal to choose his spot in the 29th minute but hit a ball straight at goalkeeper Renard Brown and minutes later Williams shot just wide from close range.

The home team finally got the break though in the 54th minute when Jermaine Woozencroft was tripped up in the penalty box and Brissett easily beat the goalkeeper with the spot kick.

Sporting cruise into Flow Cup quarter-final

CLARENDON, Jamaica — As expected, Sporting Central Academy advanced to the Flow Champions Cup quarter-final with a handsome 6-1 victory over lowly Black Stars at Juici Patties Park.

And, as the scoreline suggests, this was a comprehensive display from the hosts.

Despite fielding a much-changed side from the one that beat Harbour View Sunday, Sporting were always in control of the game -- even with their opponents failing to equalise from the penalty spot midway the first half.

Jamoly Powell, one of five players retained from Sunday´s starting 11, was their most influential player on the day. The left-footed midfielder set up two and scored the other in Sporting´s 3-0 half-time lead.

First, Powell set up Melford Simpson for an easy header on 11 minutes, before firing in a 38th-minute free-kick. Just one minute later, he provided another assist for Simpson, who was replaced at the break.

Simpson´s replacement, Huggart Nugent, picked up from where his fellow centre-forward left off -- scoring a brace in the 57th and 60th minutes, before Richard Reid, another substitute, added a sixth.

Dwayne Brown scored Black Stars´ consolation in time added.

Bianchi probó con Chiqui Pérez

BUENOS AIRES -- El entrenador de Boca, Carlos Bianchi, paró un posible equipo titular para jugar el domingo ante Argentinos con Claudio Chiqui Pérez como segundo marcador central, en la práctica de fútbol que se realizó este jueves en el predio de Casa Amarilla.

El equipo titular forma con Agustín Orion; Cristian Erbes, Ribair Rodríguez, Claudio Chiqui Pérez y Nahuel Zárate; Joel Acosta, Pablo Ledesma, Fernando Gago y Juan Sánchez Miño; Juan Manuel Martínez y Emmanuel Gigliotti.

Para los suplentes juegan Emanuel Trípodi; Alan Aguirre, Juan Cruz Komar, Guillermo Burdisso y Maximiliano Padilla; Gonzalo Escalante, Federico Bravo, Leandro Paredes; Franco Cángele, Claudio Riaño y Nicolás Blandi.

Previo al comienzo de las práctica del jueves, Bianchi tuvo una conversación a solas en el centro de la cancha por espacio de 25 minutos con el defensor Matías Caruzzo, quien el domingo había reemplazado en el triunfo ante Racing (2-0) al lesionado Daniel Cata Díaz.

Caruzzo jugó en la práctica de doble turno realizada el miércoles para los titulares, pero su actuación no dejó conforme al cuerpo técnico, ya que entre numerosas fallas, perdió la pelota en una salida en solitario, y posibilitó el gol del empate de los suplentes que convirtió Blandi.

En tanto, alrededor del campo de juego, acompañado por Caruzzo, el volante Jesús Méndez realiza un entrenamiento diferenciado debido a la fatiga muscular que padece, pero que no le impedirá jugar ante el equipo de La Paternal el domingo a las 18.15 en el estadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Falcioni espera árbitros "justos"

BUENOS AIRES -- El DT de All Boys, Julio César Falcioni, espera que los árbitros "sean justos" en el encuentro del próximo domingo ante River, por la 8va. fecha, ya que el equipo millonario sufrió algunos fallos que lo perjudicaron en varios encuentros del torneo.

"Desde la humildad pedimos justicia. Como River se viene quejando de lo que pasó, con o sin razón, todos vamos a estar mirando lo que haga el árbitro. Pero esperemos que si hay errores no sean provocados", manifestó Falcioni.

Para el entrenador del albo, su equipo, que viene de golear 4-0 a Quilmes, tuvo "mejores rendimientos de lo que marcan estos 9 puntos que sumamos, por eso estamos tranquilos y encaminados".

"Comenzamos un proceso de trabajo con jugadores que venían sin mucha competencia e hicimos una buena puesta a punto. En este recorrido deberíamos tener más puntos", dijo el jueves Falcioni.

"Contra Quilmes tuvimos una muy buena expresión y marcamos una diferencia importante, pero para mí los 9 puntos no reflejan lo que hicimos en el campo. Ante Rafaela, Olimpo, Vélez, íbamos ganando, y después nos empataron sobre el final. Con Argentinos y Estudiantes no deberíamos haber perdido", analizó el DT de All Boys.

Sobre su paso por Boca, Falcioni aseguró que "no me cambió nada dirigir Boca en el día a día. Tal vez me dio más exposición, estuve más en los medios, pero asumimos la misma responsabilidad en todos los equipos".

"Hoy en All Boys seguimos tratando de tomar las decisiones más acertadas, de minimizar los errores y de potenciar a los jugadores. Vamos con pasos cortos pero seguros, porque no podés dar ventaja en este fútbol", concluyó.

Nuevas pintadas de la barra de Boca

BUENOS AIRES -- Una nueva pintada amenazante en torno a la interna de la barra brava de Boca Juniors apareció esta madrugada cerca de la casa del fiscal y jefe de seguridad del club, Carlos Stornelli.

"Fiscal, dejá de negociar la barra", fue la leyenda de autor anónimo y sin destinatario fijo pintada en aerosol en una pared cercana al domicilio de Stornelli.

El martes pasado, en las inmediaciones de La Bombonera, hubo otra amenaza anónima un tanto más violenta: "Si no hay acuerdo, habrá balas en La Boca".

En Boca, cuyo presidente Daniel Angelici se tomó licencia por "un viaje programado", sostuvieron tras las primeras pintadas que las advertencias se debieron a las exigencias de la barra de que haya acceso a visitantes al Superclásico con River que se jugará el domingo 6 de octubre.

En esa dirección, en el encuentro del domingo pasado ante Racing en La Bombonera, detrás de uno de los arcos se vio una bandera fue un poco más consistente y clara en cuanto al reclamo: "Sin visitantes Boca-Riber (sic) no se juega".

Sin embargo, la lucha por el liderazgo de la barra brava, que en julio pasado tuvo su último capítulo al provocar dos muertes en un enfrentamiento en las adyacencias del estadio de San Lorenzo, parece ser otro de los causales de tantas advertencias en forma de pintadas.

Balearon el estadio de Central

ROSARIO -- Al menos dos hombres que circulaban en moto balearon en la noche del jueves el estadio de Rosario Central y acrecentaron el nivel de violencia generado en torno a esa institución durante la última semana, se informó el viernes.

Aproximadamente a las 23.30 del jueves, dos proyectiles calibre 38, según las primeras pericias policiales, impactaron contra la puerta 7 ubicada sobre el boulevard Avellaneda. Los balazos pegaron contra los pilares de la puerta que está situado al lado del portón por donde ingresan los micros que transportan a los distintos planteles hasta la zona de vestuarios.

Según las primeras informaciones, una garita cercana a ese sector del estadio también recibió impactos de bala, aunque la policía deslizó que sólo fueron piedrazos.

El primero en llegar al lugar de los hechos, que comenzaron a ser investigados por personal de la comisaría 9° con jurisdicción en la zona, fue Hernán Brest, jefe inspector de la zona, quien confirmó que se trató de dos disparos de arma de fuego.

Fuentes del club rosarino sostuvieron que en las próximas horas se revisarán las cámaras de seguridad con las que cuenta el estadio. Según consignó hoy el diario La Capital de Rosario, una testigo que cenaba en un restaurant cercano relató que "el guardia de la garita decía que (los que efectuaron los disparos) habían sido dos personas que pasaban en una moto negra".

El presente del equipo dirigido por Miguel Angel Russo en el torneo Inicial, en el que marcha antepenúltimo con sólo dos victorias y cinco derrotas, fue el detonante para que sus simpatizantes manifestaran su descontento, aunque de un modo bastante violento.

Es que el pasado martes, los futbolistas de Central fueron amenazados de muerte a través de una pintada anónima en las cercanías del estadio Gigante de Arroyito.

En esas leyendas, le exigían al plantel ganar el clásico de la ciudad a Newell´s Old Boys que se disputará dentro de un mes.

"Jugadores mercenarios. Central vale más que sus vidas. Ganen el clásico o muerte", advirtieron en el mensajes intimidatorio escritos en la esquina de Cordiviola y el Paseo Ribereño.