Snak

Rolando Schiavi ends an eventful career full of triumphs

Rolando Schiavi celebrates a goal for Boca against River Plate. Photo: AFP.
The solid Argentine central defender Rolando Schiavi announced Wednesday that he is hanging up his boots at the age of 40, after a long history and a rich record in Argentine and Brazilian football.

Former player on Argentina´s national team and an idol of the fans of the popular Boca Juniors, ´Skinny´ Schiavi ended his career playing for Chinese team Shanghai Shenhua.

"Finally, reached the end of my career, happy, happy, grateful for all the love received, now to enjoy from the other side, thanks," he wrote on his twitter account.

During his career he won an Intercontinental Cup, a Libertadores, two Sudamericanas and a Recopa, plus three local tournaments and one Copa Argentina.

He won the Copa Libertadores while playing for Estudiantes and won a second division championship with Argentinos Juniors, which earned the team promotion to the top division.

He won a Brazilian championship while playing for Gremio and played for Hercules in Spain for a season in the second division.

Scouting America: How good can Diego Fagundez be?

In 2013, Major League Soccer and its fans witnessed the rise of Diego Fagundez.

In his first full season as a professional with the New England Revolution, the 18-year-old exploded on the scene, scoring 13 goals, good for fifth in the league, and adding seven assists. It´s not a coincidence that the Revs are returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2009; Fagundez´s ability to score and make others better has turned the team into a formidable side.

But just how good is Fagundez? ESPN FC spoke with a scout employed with a Champions League club in a top-three league in Europe (England, Spain and Germany). The scout was willing to give his honest assessment of Fagundez as long as his identity wouldn´t be revealed.

Here is the scout´s evaluation:

Strengths

Fagundez isn´t a typical MLS striker. Despite his age, he has a certain class to his game that is fantastic. He possesses great acceleration and change of pace, which for a striker can be deadly when used in the right areas. He´s another one of those strikers who have killer instinct, and he oozes confidence for his age. He´s creative and aware of his surroundings on and off the ball.

Not only is he able to score goals in the box, but he´s also comfortable dropping off into the area between the back four and the midfield to collect the ball in order to create opportunities for himself and his teammates. If you watch him in these areas, he´s always looking to turn with his first touch and face the goal, which gives the defenders around him immediate problems.

He´s creative, intelligent, aware, technically sound and full of energy.

Weaknesses

Fagundez needs to improve his passing, especially in the final third. The youngster gets into so many good positions, both through the middle and down the flanks, but his final ball is sometimes either weighted or angled improperly. At times, it seems as if this is just a byproduct of his eagerness to go forward and get the ball into good areas.

He also needs to improve his game when he has his back to goal. That encompasses his ability to bring others into the play, holding defenders off and just keeping possession while his team joins him up the pitch. He´s comfortable popping a yard or two off defenders and receiving the ball while he opens his hips, but he has to improve his game with a defender on his back and facing his own goal.

Why he´ll make it

When you watch a player like Fagundez, you immediately notice him. He has great energy all over the pitch, but his desire to go forward and punish the opposition whenever he gets the ball is evident. He’s a natural goal scorer and can do it by poaching a goal in the six-yard box or collecting the ball 30 yards from goal, beating his man in a one-on-one situation and shooting from outside of the box. The direct nature of his game, if perfected, will be desirable in the years to come.

Why he won´t

As mentioned in his weaknesses, he has to improve his passing and his ability with his back to goal if he’s going to make it at the top level. His passing just needs to become slightly tidier, especially in and around the box.

All top strikers and wingers who play in areas similar to Fagundez are super effective when they are facing their defenders but also when they are tightly marked and facing their own goals. He´ll need to improve both his lower- and upper-body strength to hold off the world’s best defenders.

Similar player

Diego Fagundez has a lot of similarities to Liverpool´s Luis Suarez. Let´s hope he´s a bit more composed on the field though. It might just be a coincidence that I´m going with a fellow countryman of his, but Fagundez reminds of Luis Suarez.

They have similar physical builds, they are both creative, and they both have an incredibly confident and direct nature to their game. Suarez is constantly looking to score goals, no matter where he is on the pitch, and Fagundez seemingly shares that same passion in the final third. They are both creative, can score when the odds are heavily stacked against them and enjoy getting the ball to feet as much as in behind.

Rate this out of 5 for each

Dribbling: 4
Finishing: 4
First Touch: 3
Passing and Vision: 3
Speed: 4
Aerial Ability: 2
Strength: 3
Injury: 3 (where 1 means he gets injured a lot and 5 means he´s always fit)
Maturity: 3
Defense (marking, tackling): 3
Score: 32 out of 50

Potential score: 38

Ratings Meter:

0-10: Not even NASL level
10-15: Average NASL player
15-20: MLS Role Player
20-25: MLS Starter
25-30: MLS All-Star
30-35: Starter on mid-, low-table EPL side or role player on top team.
35-40: A solid starter on a top EPL club
40-45: A legit star player
45-50: Messi, Ronaldo


Current transfer fee: $3 million
Future transfer fee: $7 million to $12 million

Overview:

That aforementioned confidence encourages Fagundez to try things and he is unafraid to set lofty targets. Shortly after the Boston Red Sox won the World Series on Wednesday night, the teen tweeted from his @DiegoFagundez14 account that he wants the Revs to follow suit, which was retweeted more than 150 times. He has high expectations even if it´s a probably a long shot that New England will win the MLS Cup this year.

It´s not a surprise that the United States men´s national team is closely tracking his progress, though he has made two appearances for the Uruguay U20 team. Fagundez has said that he would be open to considering a U.S. call-up, but he is still waiting for his citizenship to be finalized before that happens.

National teams aren´t alone in following the New England striker. European teams are also following Fagundez´s games, and it is clear that his future lies in one of Europe´s top leagues at some point. It´s matter of when, not if, for the teenage sensation.

Så er vi i de danske overskrifter !!! fedt !!!


Tidligere professionel spiller fik hovedet hugget af

Tidligere spiller i den svenske liga blev halshugget - og hovedet blev sendt til konen.

Politiet i Brasiliens største by, Rio de Janeiro, er på menneskejagt oven på en makaber mordsag.

Joao Rodrigo Silva Santos blev mandag bortført af bevæbnede mænd foran en helsekostbutik, som han fornylig har åbnet i storbyen.

Og onsdag blev hans afhuggede hoved afleveret i en rygsæk til konen, Geisa Silvas, bopæl.

Narkobander menes at sende et signal

Konens bror fortæller til brasilianske ´Globo G1´, at Geisa Silva var på vej til arbejde tidligt onsdag, da hun hørte en lyd ved døren.

En rygsæk var blevet efterladt - og den indeholdt hendes mands afhuggede og mishandlede hoved.

Den tidligere professionelle fodboldspiller, Joao Rodrigo Silva Santos, har spillet i flere brasilianske klubber og i Sverige, før han for to år siden stoppede karrieren for at åbne en butik i hjemlandet.

Det menes at drabet har at gøre med Geisa Silvas job i politiet at gøre.

Hun er involveret i socialt arbejde i slumområderne for at bekæmpe narkobandernes dominans.


http://politiken.dk/spor…-hugget-af/

Ethics and egos

With Diego Costa’s choice to represent the Spanish national team and the non-story in England regarding the potential naturalisation of Adnan Januzaj, the subject of footballers’ nationality has been heavily discussed over the past month.

By the letter of the law, Diego Costa is eligible to be selected for Spain, having gained Spanish citizenship earlier this year. As a human being and a professional, he is free to choose which national team he would like to represent, and the only valid debate is over the Spanish football federation’s ethics in deciding to call up the player.

Diego Costa was not born in Spain, he has no Spanish parentage and did not arrive in the country as a refugee. He was first brought to Spain in 2007 by Atlético Madrid, who signed him from SC Braga in Portugal for a fee of €1.5 million.

His situation is different to that of ex-Stuttgart forward Cacau, who was born in São Paulo and famously represented the German national team over twenty times. Cacau migrated to Germany when he was 18 years old (of his own volition) and managed to earn a living playing for a fifth division German club before working his way up the ladder.

Furthermore, Diego Costa has already played twice for Brazil. He was part of the squad that played friendly matches against Italy and Russia in March, and he made substitute appearances in both games. The reasons behind his switch to Spain are based on his disappointment at only getting 35 minutes over those two friendlies and subsequently not being selected for the Confederations Cup.

The entire purpose of international football is to stage matches and tournaments between groups of players who identify themselves with the country they are representing. Diego is well within his rights to be angry with the CBF and change his allegiance, but that doesn’t mean Spain is right to select him. It would be akin to England calling up Januzaj, an athlete paid for and brought to the country for his talent.

If players are going to continue chopping and changing allegiances and crucially, if national associations are going to continue enabling this behaviour by selecting these players, then perhaps we should scrap international football altogether.

Ethics aside, I have been somewhat confused at the CBF’s handling of the situation. Since the appointments of Felipão and Carlos Alberto Parreira, the party line has been about patriotism and nationalism – the famous Brazilian amor à patria – yet they have persistently pursued Diego Costa, someone who was very outspoken about the Seleção. Felipão’s statement yesterday about Diego being cut from the squad sounded like a manager attempting to heal his bruised ego. Diego Costa can’t quit, because he’s fired. At this stage, the CBF is looking silly.

Blas Giunta paró un equipo con dos cambios en Quilmes

BUENOS AIRES -- El director técnico de Quilmes, Blas Armando Giunta, ensayó el jueves con dos cambios en el equipo titular con vistas al duelo del próximo domingo ante Vélez Sarsfield, como local, por la fecha 14 del torneo Inicial.

Leonel Bontempo ocupó el lateral izquierdo en reemplazo del lesionado Joel Carli y Facundo Diz fue el centrodelantero en lugar de Joaquín Boghossian, quien arrastra una lesión en el gemelo izquierdo que lo podría dejar afuera del partido.

El resto del equipo fue el mismo que perdió en el debut de Giunta ante Estudiantes de La Plata (1-0).

Es decir, Sebastián Peratta; Luciano Abecasis, Sebastián Martínez, Alan Alegre y Bontempo; Pablo Garnier, Rodrigo Braña, Sebastián Romero y Jonathan Zacaría; Miguel Caneo y Diz.

La formación no fue confirmada y en la práctica del viernes el cuerpo técnico probará variantes para enfrentar el domingo a los dirigidos por Ricardo Gareca.

Quilmes, que suma 14 puntos y dos partidos sin ganar, recibirá a Vélez Sarsfield en el estadio Centenario el domingo desde las 16 bajo el arbitraje de Diego Ceballos.

Erik Correa, otra baja para Gimnasia

LA PLATA -- Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata con la necesidad de consolidarse en primera división presentará el sábado venidero en su estadio frente a Racing Club un equipo castigado por las bajas, debido a que a las suspensiones de Franco Mussis, Matías García y Gastón Díaz, se sumó la lesión del delantero colombiano Erik Correa.

En tanto, Omar Pouso quedó prácticamente descartado para el encuentro ante Racing Club, por la 14ta. fecha del torneo Inicial.

El delantero colombiano se retiró de la práctica del miércoles con un pinchazo, posible desgarro en la zona de la lesión anterior (recto anterior de la pierna izquierda) y de esta manera no podrá ser de la partida ante la Academia, por lo que en su lugar regresa a la titularidad el juvenil delantero Federico Rasic.

En cambio, Pouso debió trabajar el jueves en kinesiología como consecuencia de un esguince leve en el tobillo derecho, y si bien aún no está descartado, de no llegar en óptimas condiciones Dardo Miloc volverá a reemplazarlo en la mitad de la cancha.

En consecuencia, el entrenador Pedro Troglio definió el equipo con cuatro cambios respecto del que empató 1 a 1 ante Arsenal, con el ingreso de Nicolás Benavídez por García, Juan Pablo Rodríguez por Díaz, Facundo Pereyra por Mussis y Federico Rasic por Correa, quedando a la espera de la evolución del mediocampista uruguayo.

De esta manera, el posible once para recibir a Racing en el Bosque será con Fernando Monetti; Facundo Oreja, Osvaldo Barsottini, Juan Carlos Blengio, Nicolás Benavídez; Maximiliano Meza, Omar Pouso o Dardo Miloc, Ignacio Fernández, Juan Pablo Rodríguez; Facundo Pereyra y Federico Rasic.

Completan la nómina de jugadores que quedarán concentrados para ocupar un lugar en el banco de suplentes Pablo Bangardino, Maximiliano Coronel, Oliver Benítez, Ignacio Jáuregui, Javier Mendoza, Luis Peralta, Iván Borghello y Omar Pouso o Dardo Miloc.

Gastón Díaz, Matías García y Franco Mussis fueron sancionados por los incidentes que protagonizaron el pasado viernes junto a los jugadores de Arsenal, en Sarandí.

Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata recibirá a Racing Club el próximo sábado desde las 20.20, en el estadio `Juan Carlos Zerillo` del bosque platense, con el arbitraje de Mauro Giannini y por la 14ta. fecha del torneo Inicial 2013.

Riquelme y Gago no concentran en Boca

BUENOS AIRES -- Juan Román Riquelme y Fernando Gago quedaron fuera de la lista de concentrados de Carlos Bianchi para el partido que jugará Boca frente a San Lorenzo, el domingo a las 18:15 en el Nuevo Gasómetro.

Durante la tarde del jueves, Carlos Bianchi programó un ensayo de fútbol formal, a puertas cerradas, del que no participó Riquelme y en el que Gago terminó con "una molestia en el isquiotibial derecho", según confirmó el parte oficial.

De hecho el mediocampista de la selección argentina, que se hará estudios, canceló su presencia en el evento "Boca le lee a la Boca", en el Museo de la Pasión Boquense, que iba a compartir con el presidente del club, Daniel Angelici.

A partir de su ausencia, Ribair Rodríguez y Leandro Paredes se perfilan como los candidatos a reemplazarlo. Otra alternativa es mover a Jesús Méndez al centro y que Gonzalo Escalante juegue por derecha.

A diferencia de lo ocurrido en la tarde del miércoles, Riquelme sí asistió al entrenamiento pero no practicó junto al grupo por precaución ya que, durante gran parte de la semana, estuvo afectado por un estado febril y se decidió no arriesgarlo ante las malas condiciones climáticas.

Los once que paró Bianchi, sin la presencia del enganche, fueron: Agustín Orion; Cristian Erbes, Daniel Díaz, Claudio Pérez, Nahuel Zárate; Jesús Méndez, Fernando Gago, Pablo Ledesma, Juan Sánchez Miño; Juan Manuel Martínez y Emmanuel Gigliotti. Ahora resta definir quién reemplazará al lesionado Gago.

El equipo titular enfrentó a un combinado de suplentes que tuvo la siguiente alineación inicial: Emanuel Trípodi; Alan Aguirre, Matías Caruzzo, Guillermo Buridsso, Maximiliano Padilla; Gonzalo Escalante, Ribair Rodríguez, Franco Cángele, Leandro Paredes; Claudio Riaño, Lucas Blandi.

Boca visitará el Nuevo Gasómetro desde las 18:15 hs. del próximo domingo. En un clásico, los conjuntos de Carlos Bianchi y Juan Antonio Pizzi se jugarán una verdadera final, para comenzar a definir quiénes se mantienen en carrera por el Torneo Inicial 2013

Copa Sudamericana Wrap: Semi-finals beckon for Libertad, Velez Sarsfield held

Paraguay´s Libertad is in pole position of their Copa Sudamericana quarter-final against Colombia´s Itagui after winning 2-0 in the first leg.

Two first-half goals were enough for the home side Libertad to see off Itagui and hold the advantage in the two-legged final-eight clash.

Midfielder Oscar Molinas opened the scoring in the 39th minute after converting Brian Montenegro´s assist.

It did not take long for the Paraguayans to strike again as Sergio Aquino provided Jorge Recalde with Libertad´s second goal five minutes later.

http://www.youtube.com/w…JOGxG9VhIPI


In the day´s other quarter-final, Argentina´s Velez Sarsfield were held to a 0-0 draw with Brazil´s Ponte Preta.

http://www.youtube.com/w…Tlhwg5cM9bQ

The second legs for both matches will be played on November 8.

Pratto: "Pudimos haberlo ganado"

CAMPINAS -- El delantero de Vélez Sarsfield Lucas Pratto consideró como "buen resultado" el empate en cero ante Ponte Preta de Brasil, de visitante, en el partido de ida de los cuartos de final de la Copa Total Sudamericana, aunque admitió que merecieron quedarse con el triunfo.
"El empate es un buen resultado pero pudimos haberlo ganado. Rescato que no nos hicieron goles, pero te queda la espina de que merecimos un poco más", indicó Pratto.

Sobre la situación clara que tuvo cuando se terminaba el encuentro, explicó: "Hice todo bien, me desmarqué, la pedí y tuve todo para marcar pero agarré mal la pelota, con la parte de afuera de la frente y se me fue por arriba".

"En el partido de vuelta tendremos que tener cuidado de las contras, ellos tienen jugadores rápidos", concluyó.

En tanto, el mediocampista Alejandro Cabral opinó: "Fuimos superiores, nos perdimos un par de situaciones claras pero el empate no viene nada mal. Igual no hay que confiarse en el partido de vuelta".

nåh men mens vi venter på Samba´s Musablog - har FLA arbejdet lidt på deres bidrag Laisiane Favarato.

http://peru.com/futbol/i…5744-657634

Piiiift!!