Snak

Ramón Díaz afirmó: "No cabe duda que queremos continuar"

BUENOS AIRES -- Llegó la hora de volver a hablar. Ramón Díaz, que no dio conferencia de prensa tras el triunfo de local sobre Argentinos Juniors el domingo por la noche, se presentó este martes y dejó en claro que sigue como técnico de River. "No cabe duda que queremos continuar. Lo importante es la respuesta que dio el grupo a nivel presión", afirmó.

El entrenador riojano disipó la incertidumbre que él mismo había creado. "No cabe duda que queremos continuar. Está descartado que no siga", aclaró. Lo repitió, para dejar en claro su postura, que habrá Ramón para 2014.

"Lo más importante es que sabemos que no hicimos un buen campeonato. Los casi 50.000 hinchas que vinieron contra Argentinos nos alienta a seguir; eso demuestra que cambió el club", aseguró ante los medios.

"Sabemos que estamos en deuda. No tuvimos éxito, resultados ni el juego que querían. Y seguro que en un futuro se lo daremos", expresó Ramón Díaz, ante la insistente pregunta sobre el flojo rendimiento de su equipo en el Torneo Inicial, ubicado 16º en la tabla, a una fecha del final.

"Es lo que pensaba en ese momento (sobre seguir o no). Siento que los jugadores tuvieron una reacción importante. Estoy esperando a que se incorpore el nuevo presidente, hablar con él y ver cómo hacer las cosas", agregó el DT, serio, con palabras claras y concretas.

Otra consulta sobre el presente del ´Millonario´ y otra vez la seriedad dominó la escena. "Acá siempre hay que ser protagonista, dar pelea. No puede ser que este campeonato estemos así; en algo fallamos nosotros, los jugadores y el técnico", dijo, tras confirmar que River irá de pretemporada a Tandil.

River espera una chance para poder entrar en la Copa Libertadores de 2014. "Creo que por ahí no podemos clasificar como queremos nosotros, pero existe la posibilidad y para el club es muy importante. Si entramos es porque en el primer semestre tuvimos un nivel importante. Seguro que todos los hinchas de River quieren clasificarse", explicó el entrenador.

Ramón confía en el futuro de su querido club: "River dará un cambio fundamental en el futuro. Todos los hinchas de River deben venir a votar. Este es un gran club y debe seguir creciendo". Fue el remate del DT, siempre con gesto adusto, serio. Se lo nota molesto por el presente, pero con la urgencia por salir adelante cuanto antes.

Sebastián Domínguez: "Vélez depende sólo de Vélez"

BUENOS AIRES -- Sebastián Domínguez dijo el martes que "Vélez depende sólo de Vélez" y que "sin subestimar a nadie", a partir de esa realidad, el de Liniers "se convierte en un equipo peligroso".

El defensor aseguró que "siempre se mantuvo la misma línea, la de no hablar de más ni subestimar a nadie", algo que los llevo a "llegar peleando hasta el final".

"Hay que seguir firmes en la conviccion de que Vélez depende sólo de Vélez", continuó, al tiempo que reconoció "aceptar que San Lorenzo sigue siendo el mejor posicionado".

Ademas, Dominguez tuvo un párrafo para "los chicos de Lanús", a quienes brindó su "apoyo" respecto de la postergacion en la definición del torneo Inicial.

"Apoyamos plenamente la decisión de Lanús, porque hemos estado en esa situacion y ojalá que volvamos a estar. No nos une con ellos un sentimiento, pero sí el compromiso de ser justos", afirmó.

"Nos hace bien que, estando dentro de las reglas del juego, Lanús tome esa decisión, porque en algun momento podemos estar en la misma situacion", analizó el defensor velezano.

Sobre el tema, Domínguez añadió: "Esperaremos estos 15 dias y disfrutaremos el partido con San Lorenzo, asi como tambien a un equipo argentino en la final de un torneo internacional".

El desenlace del 15 de diciembre será en Liniers, en donde Vélez espera a San Lorenzo, en un partido "con mucho sentimiento" en juego pero en el que "pueda ganar cualquiera", y que será "diferente a todo lo que ocurrió en el torneo".

"Ni nosotros llegamos mejor ni San Lorenzo se va a caer por lo que sucedió en el partido con Estudiantes (empate 0-0)", analizó.

Sin embargo, Domínguez reconoce que a San Lorenzo le tocaron "partidos muy dificiles para definir", dentro del marco de un certamen "muy complicado".

"El torneo es muy dificil en sí, no hay partidos sencillos. Nosotros no veníamos bien y agarramos un `sprint` final con 17 sobre 21 puntos. Nos pasó de venir mejor, en otro momento, agarrar la misma racha y encontrarnos con 36 o 37 unidades", señaló.

"Esta vez no veníamos bien pero aflojaron los de arriba y nos permitieron acercarnos. Pero toma valor, dimensión y respeto -en un equipo que nunca bajó los brazos- el esfuerzo que hicimos", consideró.

"Queríamos transmitir eso desde adentro de la cancha hacia afuera: que el equipo no se iba a rendir y esperar", agregó.

En cuanto a la definición del campeonato, Domínguez expresó que "ese día gana el que se levante mejor, no importa ni lo que hizo San Lorenzo, ni Velez, ni Lanus, ni Newell`s".

"Lo nuestro fue el trabajo de hormiga y venir desde atrás, hace dos fechas había equipos con los mismos puntos que nosotros y no salíamos en ningún lado", concluyó.

World Cup draw racism probe opened

FIFA is to be investigated in Brazil for suspicions of racism over the selection of the hosts of the broadcast of Friday´s World Cup draw in Bahia.

Sao Paulo state prosecutor Christiano Jorge Santos will investigate whether the decision to overlook Afro-Brazilian soap stars Lazaro Ramos and Camila Pitanga and instead hire TV presenter Rodrigo Hilbert and his model wife Fernanda Lima -- who are both white -- was motivated by discrimination by either world football´s governing body or the event´s Brazil-based organisers, TV Globo and GEO Eventos.

The World Cup draw brings social impact to the fore, writes Fernando Duarte.
"I opened the investigation due to the suspicion of a crime of racism on the part of FIFA, or by the company they selected to organise the show, GEO Eventos," Santos told Reuters, while The Sun reports him as adding: "Racism is a serious matter in Brazil. We need to find out if a crime was committed. We do not want the image of our people to be whitened or distorted."

Lima and Hilbert were both part of the launch of the tournament´s official emblem in Johannesburg three years ago, while Lima was one of the presenters for the preliminary draw the following year.

Ramos and Pitanga, who star together in Side By Side, one of Brazil´s most popular television programmes, have not been involved in any official World Cup broadcasts to date.

FIFA has denied the claims, saying in a statement to Reuters: "The selection of Fernanda Lima and Rodrigo Hilbert was mainly based on the positive experience made during the launch of the Official Emblem and the Preliminary Draw.

"FIFA´s stance against any form of discrimination and racism which is even enshrined in our various regulations amongst others is well known."

World Cup draw brings social impact to the fore

COSTA DO SAUIPE, Brazil -- Flash back to 2007. Picture the scene at FIFA´s futuristic headquarters in Zurich on a cold October afternoon, one that was warmed by the posse of Brazilian legends, directors and politicians who were all smiles and posing for pictures just after Joseph Blatter had confirmed Brazil´s second World Cup hosting gig. (Their first? 1950.) Even then, even the least skeptical sectors of the Brazilian media knew a huge task awaited despite having seven years to get ready.

Now, with the final draw just days away, time has proved their fears are far from unfounded. Itaquerao Stadium, the venue where the first kick of the 2014 tournament will take place June 12, is in question following the construction accident Nov. 27 that killed two men.

Stadiums, however, were never the main reason for concern. When saluting the return of the World Cup, newspaper O Globo published headlines saying that all the country needed were "roads, airports, hotels, trains ..."

It still does. An analysis of the most recent official report on the state of the urban mobility works by Brazilian news portal UOL.com.br shows that 19 out of 55 projects will not be ready in time for the tournament. That´s almost 35 percent of the main matrix of legacy projects. Brasilia, one of the cities that will host more games during the tournament, will have to manage its busy roads without the help of a proposed special "light railway" service from the airport to its hotel cluster.

These urban mobility projects were paraded by Brazilian authorities to sugarcoat and justify the expenditure of public money for the World Cup, currently estimated at $12.5 billion, but a significant chunk of the projects won´t see the light of day before the June deadline.

"It´s a missed opportunity to make a few things better for the Brazilian public. I am in no doubt the tournament will be a huge party, but the improvements to infrastructure are not going well," said 1970 World Cup champion Carlos Alberto, never shy to speak his mind even when working as a World Cup ambassador.

As Friday´s draw approaches, FIFA and the organizing committee are hoping that the sporting agenda will start gaining some momentum, instead of the social one currently in the spotlight. It´s wishful thinking -- last week, a simple briefing on Friday´s ceremony included questions on how the recent decision to name a pair of white presenters was interpreted by some sectors of the Brazilian population as a form of racism.

There also are more worrying news on further stadium delays: the southern city of Curitiba, scheduled to host four group games, is struggling to meet the Dec. 31 deadline established by FIFA. So, too, are Cuiaba and Manaus. That prompted an announcement by the governing body that an intervention could be declared, which would mean pressure to ensure longer working hours, just as was done in South Africa for the 2010 World Cup. It didn’t go unnoticed by the media in Brazil that those on the bottom of the pyramid would shoulder the burden.

But while few people in Brazil doubt the arenas will be ready, the feeling that the World Cup will fail to deliver on its promises is getting stronger. It didn´t help that the vortex of rage that consumed the streets of several big Brazilian cities in May and June sucked up the event as a target, right in time for the Confederations Cup. Costa do Sauipe, a secluded luxury resort some 50 miles from Salvador (and one of the protest hot spots this past summer), had been chosen as the draw venue long before trouble hit the streets, but given its location, it could not be a more appropriate "fortress" for the last big, public event before the tournament itself.

In reality, all of this is an example of the political forces at work. Politics and sports have historically been tangled up in Brazil, and the World Cup did not escape that. The original plan to limit the impact of Brazil´s continental dimensions on team and fan travels was trumped by the desire of cities and authorities to be part of the party. FIFA´s original plan to have nine host cities gave way to a group of 12, and while it limited the distances people would need to travel, it has also created some awkward transitions. Brazil´s opponents in the opening game will have to immediately go from mild temperatures in Sao Paulo to the tropical and suffocating Amazonian climate of Manaus for their next match.

Manaus is also an example of how politics can trump logic in Brazilian football. The city has no professional football clubs in the top two divisions. Neither does Cuiaba, another host. If Brasilia´s Mane Garrincha stadium is compensating for its own absence by becoming a thriving traveling ground for mass-supported Brazilian clubs such as Flamengo, the building cost of $718 million still has left a lot of people unhappy. But not as much as accusations of embezzlement in public projects. Corruption in the public sector is an old enemy in Brazil, but people´s patience is running short.

Just as are the concerns of the heat and even the exploitation of workers´ rights in Qatar, Brazil´s dimensions and infrastructural challenges should not be shocking news to anybody directly involved with the World Cup. After all, the logistical challenges were mentioned in Brazil´s bid for the tournament, but thanks to the now defunct World Cup host rotation system, voters were mindful but lenient. Now, with these problems piling up, it all adds extra pressure on both FIFA and the organizing committee.

The two parties also face a problem they can´t directly address: a wave of price hikes for hotel rooms and airfares that have led to a threat of investigations from consumer watchdogs in Brazil. The Justice Ministry has formally warned airlines and hotel groups that they are under scrutiny. The air travel issue was even more contentious, given that Brazilian airports are already running against time to adjust to the increase in domestic demand. The latter is another example of how the tournament is failing to deliver on its off-pitch legacy -- though let´s not forget that Brazilian football has needed a stadium boost for quite some time.

As for overall reaction? Brazilian social media networks the past few weeks have been flooded with comments on how some people plan to escape the bad side of World Cup fever, even though local authorities have discussed declaring holidays during World Cup games in a bid to ease congestion on the streets.

Brazilian fans at least had reasons to cheer when it came to tickets: They have grabbed more than 71 percent of the 889,305 sold so far, almost 10 times more than U.S. fans, the second-most successful nation in applications. In total, there were more than 6 million requests for tickets. Part of the success in sales must be attributed to a flexible price structure that included tickets as low as $15 that are available only to Brazilian fans.

It´s one good piece of news to a very gloomy end of year.

Farias confirmed as Xolos manager

Former Venezuela boss Cesar Farias will take over Club Tijuana, which is hoping to return to top form after a poor Apertura.

Club Tijuana announced Cesar Farias as its new manager Monday.

The ex-Venezuela manager takes over after an unsuccessful Apertura campaign saw Jorge Almiron fired. Almiron was unable to find the success of his predecesor, Antonio Mohamed, who led the Xolos to the Apertura crown in 2012 and a deep Copa Libertadores run in 2013. Almiron´s Xolos were particularly poor on the road, getting only two points away from the Estadio Caliente.

Farias, a Venezuela native, took the Vinotinto to a fourth place finish in the 2011 Copa America, the country´s best, and also took the country´s U-20 squad to the U-20 World Cup for the first time.

"Club Tijuana is prepared for the biggest challenges. Their fans have always been important in the growth of the team and together we´ll join together toward the goal," he said in a statement.

In addition to attempting to lead the club back to the Liga MX playoffs, Farias will also hope to continue the team´s CONCACAF Champions League run, which resumes with a quarterfinal series against MLS´ LA Galaxy in March.

Vazquez leaves Cruz Azul coaching post

Memo Vazquez won´t return to the club after another Liga MX campaign ended in frustration for La Maquina.

Guillermo “Memo” Vazquez is no longer Cruz Azul coach, after a “mutual agreement” Tuesday between the manager and the club.

“The club thanks Guillermo Alejandro Vazquez Herrera and his coaching staff for the effort and professionalism in these three seasons at the head of the first division team,” read a club press statement.

Vazquez took over La Maquina in May 2012, guiding the team to the quarterfinals of the Apertura 2012, having finished the regular season in sixth position.

In the Clausura 2013, Vazquez led Cruz Azul to victory in the Copa MX and almost to its first title since 1997, but with the team 1-0 up with two minutes to go in the second leg of the final, America snatched two late goals and won on penalties.

In the past Apertura tournament, Cruz Azul limped out at the quarterfinal stage after losing 3-0 in the first leg against Toluca.

The club has said an announcement about the new coach will be made in upcoming days, with press speculation in Mexico suggesting it could be Jose Manuel “Chepo” de la Torre or Luis Fernando Tena.

Tomas Boy, who has been linked to the Cruz Azul job in the past, is reportedly close to being named Atlas coach.

Adios Rocha

Former Celeste great Pedro Rocha passed away on Monday night, one night before his 71st birthday. The great Rocha was identified with 2 South American powerhouses, first with Peñarol and then with São Paulo.

Rocha won 8 Uruguayan league titles with Peñarol (1959 – 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967 & 1968) along with 3 Copa Libertadores titles (1960, 1961 & 1966) – at São Paulo, Rocha won the Paulista Championship in 1971 and 1975 and helped the club become national champions for the first time in 1977 (his last year with the club)* Wikipedia notes.

He was capped 52 times for the Sky-Blue from 1961 to 1974 scoring 17 times. He played in 4 World Cup tournaments (1962, 1966, 1970 & 1974) but scored in only one World Cup match, Uruguay vs France (1966), a match Uruguay won nonetheless.

I don’t have too many Pedro Rocha stories, this was a player who was way before my time, but a player who I heard about all my life. My father, a life-long Bolso, was convinced that if Rocha had not injured himself in the 1970 tournament, Uruguay would’ve surely beaten Brazil in the semi-final and would’ve eventually won the World Cup… well I don’t know if that’s true but I guess you can kind of see where I get most of my crackpot theories from. Still this was an important player. In 2008, I remember talking to a wedding guest at a wedding I attended in Curitiba Brazil, and when I mentioned my parents were from Uruguay, the guest smiled and responded: Pedro Rocha… ’nuff said.

RIP

Confirman la salida de Martín Palermo de Godoy Cruz

MENDOZA -- Gustavo Goñi, representante del entrenador Martín Palermo, aseguró el martes que "se terminó el ciclo" del exgoleador de Boca Juniors al frente del equipo mendocino, en tanto acusó al titular del club, José Mansur, de "tener todo arreglado con otro técnico"

De esta manera, Palermo dirigirá por última vez al equipo mendocino el próximo viernes en su visita a Racing Club, en el marco de la 19na. y última fecha del torneo Inicial.

Bajo las órdenes de Palermo, que se hizo cargo del plantel mendocino durante la presidencia del entonces titular, Mario Contreras, Godoy Cruz realizó su tercera mejor campaña en primera, debajo de Omar Asad y del uruguayo Jorge "Polilla" Da Silva.

En declaraciones formuladas a la emisora La Red, Goñi consideró que "creo que tiene arreglado a otro técnico" y que "por decisión del presidente de Godoy Cruz (José Mansur), se terminó el ciclo de Palermo. El presidente nunca lo quiso, había diferencias insalvables y no podían seguir".

Además, indicó que "también tuvieron problemas cuando Martín quería traer a (Jerónimo) Barrales y Mansur no quería. Cuando se decidió, el jugador ya se había ido a Grecia, todo eso lo llevó a una situación de desgaste".

Asimismo, afirmó que cree que el presidente godoycruceño "ya tiene apalabrado a otro entrenador", y todo parece indicar que podría ser Jorge Almirón, quien dirigió en los Xolos de Tijuana, en México, y a Defensa y Justicia, en nuestro país..

"Me negó tener a otro DT apuntó Goñi-, pero yo creo que sí. Veremos si el tiempo me da la razón".

Finalmente, manifestó que Palermo dirigirá a Godoy Cruz ante Racing Club para cumplir el contrato.

"Quiere ganarle para despedirse como se lo merece. Ahora hay que descansar un poco", concluyó el presentante de Palermo.

Man Utd keen on River Plate star

Manchester United are the latest side to be linked to River Plate’s Colombian centre back, Eder Alvarez Balanta. The 20 year-old has been outstanding for River since breaking into the side during the Torneo Final and after only a handful of performances was said to be under the consideration of several of sides in Europe.

Barcelona were the side most strongly linked to Balanta previously and the player was said to be flattered by this interest but with the Argentine season about to finish and the European Transfer window set to open, other teams could make a move.

After only a couple of performances, comparisons were made to River Plate and Argentina legend, Daniel Passarella and with no drop off in form, speculation has just continued to increase.

River moved quickly to get the youngster tied down to a new deal just some months ago but with money being tight at the Estadio Monumental, they could be persuaded to cash in.

A reported release clause of around £12.5 million would be the fee but for a prospect such as Alvarez Balanta, this could prove to be a bargain.

At only 20 years of age, Balanta was recently called up to the Colombian national side and with the defence being the point of weakness in an otherwise strong Colombia side, there is a good chance that Balanta could be in the World Cup squad next summer.

Manchester United will be seeking reinforcements to their defence in the near future with Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic looking increasingly fragile with age.

In Alvarez Balanta, they would be acquiring a centre-half with all the qualities to be a huge success in any league. Quick, strong in the air, a good reader of the game and very comfortable on the ball, Balanta possesses virtually everything that a manager would look for in a centre half.

If he goes on to become the player that those who watch Argentine football regularly believe he could, then just over £12 million could be a fantastic deal.

Reinaldo Merlo no confirmó la formación

BUENOS AIRES -- Tras sorprender realizando un ensayo de fútbol formal durante la tarde del martes, Reinaldo Merlo dispuso que el plantel de Racing no repita la rutina y no haga fútbol, a 48 horas del partido frente a Godoy Cruz.

Durante una hora y media de trabajo, los jugadores realizaron una entrada en calor con pelota, tareas de coordinación y, por último, fútbol en espacios reducidos, a lo ancho del terreno, con equipos mezclados.

Agustín Pelletieri y Gabriel Migliónico estuvieron ausentes en el entrenamiento por cuestiones personales. Igualmente, por diferentes lesiones, ambos están prácticamente descartados para enfrentar al conjunto mendocino.

Para la mañana del jueves, Merlo programó una práctica a puertas cerradas en el Cilindro de Avellaneda en la cual terminará de definir la alineación titular para el partido del viernes.

La principal duda pasa por quien será el acompañante de Valentín Viola. Gabriel Hauche, titular en el ensayo del martes, y Luciano Vietto, son las alternativas. Además, Diego Villar será aguardado hasta último momento y de mostrarse en condiciones será el reemplazante de Luciano Aued, expulsado frente a Rosario Central.

Cabe recordar que durante el ensayo del martes, los titulares se habían parado con: Sebastián Saja; José Luis Gómez, Fernando Ortiz, Esteban Saveljich, Matías Cahais; Diego Villar, Bruno Zuculini, Gastón Campi, Rodrigo De Paul; Valetín Viola, Gabriel Hauche (o Luciano Vietto).

El entrenador confirmó en conferencia de prensa que luego del partido frente a Godoy Cruz confirmará la fecha en la cual el plantel deberá volver al trabajo, de cara a la pretemporada a realizarse en Tandil. La agenda de Racing en el verano tiene dos amistosos confirmados: ante Independiente (12 de enero) y ante Newell´s (21 de enero).

Racing buscará despedir un 2013 irregular con tres puntos frente a Godoy Cruz. Igualmente, sea cual sea el resultado, el conjunto de Avellaneda no podrá abandonar la decimonovena posición, solamente superando a Colón de Santa Fe.