Snak

Colón repite equipo ante Central

BUENOS AIRES -- Mientras disfruta de un gran presente como uno de los sorpresivos punteros del Torneo Final, Colón de Santa Fé no puede perder de vista la tabla de promedios ya que aún continúa cerca de los puestos de descenso. Ante esto, el plantel se entrenó el viernes por la mañana y quedó concentrado para el encuentro del sábado ante Rosario Central, a las 20.30, en el Gigante de Arroyito.

En principio, el técnico Diego Osella planea no realizar modificaciones con respecto al equipo que venció a River la fecha pasada. Por lo tanto, Germán Montoya; Luis Castillo, Gerardo Alcoba, Lucas Landa, Cristian Saín; Gabriel Graciani, César Meli, Ezequiel Videla, Jacobo Mansilla; Facundo Curuchet y Lucas Alario serían los once para enfrentar al conjunto de Miguel Angel Russo.

Por su parte, el volante Mariano Bíttolo, quien continúa recuperándose de un esguince de rodilla derecha que sufrió ante Quilmes, quedó fuera de los convocados. El ex Vélez será preservado para el encuentro del próximo martes ante Godoy Cruz, viral en la lucha por la permanencia, o en su defecto, para el choque del sábado 8 de marzo frente a Gimnasia.

En cuanto a cuestiones institucionales, en las próximas horas Colón cancelará la deuda con el Atlante de México referente al pase de Juan Carlos Falcón, que se mantenía desde diciembre de 2006. Una vez concretada, el presidente Eduardo Vega viajará la próxima semana a Zurich para reunirse con el Comité Disciplinario de FIFA, con el fin de recuperar los seis puntos que le fueron descontados debido a esta deuda.

El conjunto Sabalero arrancó este 2014 en puestos de descenso directo. Con los 9 puntos cosechados en las primeras cuatro fechas, producto de tres victorias y una derrota, se ubica en la 16° posición en la tabla de promedios y manteniendo la categoría.

Seba Domínguez espera que Vélez se posicione ante Boca

BUENOS AIRES -- El defensor de Vélez Sebastián Domínguez se mostró el jueves confiado en que si le ganan el sábado a Boca se posicionarán "nuevamente en la tabla", pero advierte que será "un partido muy duro" porque el conjunto xeneize llega motivado luego de vencer a Estudiantes de La Plata.

"Vamos de a poco. Es un partido tan importante como los otros, aunque si es especial para la gente", dijo Domínguez en una entrevista con radio La Red.

Para el experimentado defensor, el encuentro puede ser un envión anímico muy importante si es que logran ganar.

"Tratamos de llegar con mucha humildad, pero si sacamos un buen resultado nos volvemos a posicionar en la tabla", remarcó Domínguez, quien estará acompañado en la zaga por el juvenil Fernando Cardozo, ya que Fernando Tobio debe cumplir una fecha de suspensión porque ante Lanús recibió la quinta tarjeta amarilla.

El exzaguero de Newell´s y Estudiantes de La Plata, entre otros equipos, sabe que enfrente estará un equipo que llega tonificado luego de ganarle a Estudiantes, uno de los líderes del torneo.

"Ellos ganaron el último partido más allá de que no arrancaron de la mejor manera. Se han motivado y para Boca también es lindo jugar contra Vélez", destacó Domínguez.

Por último, Domínguez confió que el partido del sábado será una buena oportunidad para "revertir" la tendencia del último tiempo en los enfrentamientos ante Boca.

"Sen han dado buenos partidos y en el último tiempo le ha ido mejor a Boca , por eso esperamos revertir eso", concluyó el defensor. Vélez recibirá a Boca el sábado desde las 18, con arbitraje de Sergio Pezzotta.

Honduras reveals roster for Venezuela friendly

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras – Honduras head coach Luis Fernando Suarez on Wednesday announced a roster of 23 players for his team’s international friendly against visiting Venezuela at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula.

It will be the Catrachos’ first pre-World Cup match in preparation for Brazil 2014.

"I look at all the players, but unfortunately I can only call 23,” said Suarez, adding later, “I´m the first responsible for the selection. I´m sure of the work I do and my work, like all of the coaching staff accompanying me, is going on the right track.”

"We´re fine, we´re on track. From here to the World Cup, we are going step by step. I firmly believe that we will do a good job in the World Cup.”

The selection is headed by a pair of players with 100 caps or more – Olimpia goalkeeper Noel Valladares and defender Maynor Figueroa of England’s Hull City.

Also earning inclusion is forward Jerry Bengtson, who topped the Honduran 2014 World Cup Qualifying scoring chart with nine goals in 12 games.

HONDURAS ROSTER

GOALKEEPERS: Donis Escober (Olimpia), Luis Lopez (Real España), Noel Valladares (Olimpia)

DEFENDERS: Bryan Acosta (Real España), Victor Bernardez (San Jose Earthquakes/USA), Henry Clark (Real Sociedad), Maynor Figueroa (Hull City/England), Juan Carlos Garcia (Wigan Athletic/England), Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic/Scotland), Arnold Peralta (Rangers/Scotland), Walter Williams (Real Sociedad)

MIDFIELDERS: Marvin Chavez (Colorado Rapids/USA), Jorge Claros (Motagua), Edder Delgado (Real España), Roger Espinoza (Wigan Athletic/England), Oscar Boniek Garcia (Houston Dynamo/USA), Luis Garrido (Olimpia), Andy Najar (Anderlecht/Belgium)

FORWARDS: Jerry Bengtson (New England Revolution/USA), Rony Martinez (Real Sociedad), Jerry Palacios (Alajuelense/Costa Rica), Rommel Quioto (Olimpia), Diego Reyes (Marathon)

Jamaica unveils roster for March friendlies

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica head coach Winfried Schafer announced Wednesday a 22-man roster for away friendlies against Barbados on March 2 and St. Lucia three days later.

The side is split down the middle as 11 players come from teams in the Jamaican Premier League and the others based abroad.

Leeds United midfielder Rodolph Austin is the most experienced player in the squad with 61 caps.


JAMAICA ROSTER

(International Friendlies: March 2, 2014, at Barbados; March 5, 2014, at St. Lucia)

GOALKEEPERS: Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union/USA), Gariece McPherson (Cavalier SC)

DEFENDERS: Upston Edwards (Portmore United), Kemar Lawrence (Harbour View), Adrian Mariappa (Crystal Palace/England), Wes Morgan (Leicester City/England), Alvas Powell (Portland Timbers/USA), Dicoy Williams (Harbour View)

MIDFIELDERS: Rodolph Austin (Leeds United/England), Nicholas Beckett (Harbour View), Romario Campbell (Waterhouse), John Ross Edwards (Harbour View), Nicholy Finlayson (Waterhouse), Hughan Gray (Waterhouse), Jobi McAnuff (Reading/England), Garath McCleary (Reading/England), Ricardo Morris (Portmore United), Je-Vaughn Watson (FC Dallas/USA)

FORWARDS: Deshorn Brown (Colorado Rapids/USA), Renae Lloyd (Arnett Gardens), Darren Mattocks (Vancouver Whitecaps/Canada), Michael Seaton (D.C. United/USA)

Barbados prepares to face Jamaica

FONTABELLE, Barbados -- It’s been a long time since it has stepped on the pitch – 17 months to be exact – but Barbados will return to action on Sunday against visiting Jamaica at the National Stadium.

The last time the Bajans played a competitive match, they defeated Aruba, 2-1, on September 27, 2012.

At a press conference earlier this month, Barbados head coach Colin Forde signaled he would be fielding a young squad, mostly comprised of players from the Barbados Premier League.

“The team have been training quite well so I’m happy with the turnout at this time,” Forde expressed.

While Forde said he’s pleased his players have remained active in 2013 in terms of club competitions, he understands the challenge of facing the Reggae Boyz is a large one.

“Let’s be honest, Jamaica is the No. 2 team I would say within the region with Trinidad probably being the No. 1 team,” Forde noted. “If you look at the history of Jamaica, five-time Caribbean champions, they’re ranked 80th at this time in the FIFA ranking, in CONCACAF they’re ranked probably around eighth, so this is a big test for us.”

Considering the inactivity and relative inexperience of his team, Forde’s expectations are somewhat tempered. A tie would be acceptable. A win would be great.

“Hopefully on the day we will apply ourselves and we will give a good performance,” Forde concluded.


BARBADOS ROSTER

(International friendly: March 2, 2014, home v Jamaica)

GOALKEEPERS: Jason Boxill, Kerry Holder, Bentley Springer

DEFENDERS: Andre Bourne, Akeene Browne, Romel Burgess, Teriq Highland, Ramar Miller, Ramuel Miller, Ricardio Morris, Zico Phillips

MIDFIELDERS: Diquan Adamson, Jamal Chandler, Carl Joseph, Ramario Harewood, Jomo Harris, Rahiem Sargeant, Rashida Williams

FORWARDS: Jabarry Chandler, Mario Harte, Armando Lashley, Chai Lloyd

Flamengo´s Elano enjoying the challenges at his new club

New Flamengo signing Elano has spoken of the challenges that lie ahead at the club but insists he still has the hunger and desire to succeed at what he perceives to be one of Brazil´s very biggest clubs.

The 32 year-old has joined the Rio de Janeiro based club on loan from Gremio and chatted with journalists after their last Copa Libertadores game: "Flamengo is a big challenge for me. It´s like starting from scratch."

"When you play at a club like Flamengo, you know you have to win on Wednesday and again on Sunday. To me it is a way of fulfilling a dream to return to the Selecao and I know that Flamengo can help me."

Elano, who has also played in England and Turkey, has earned 50 caps for Brazil, scoring nine goals. However, his last call-up was in 2011 and Luiz Felipe Scolari has fancied the midfielder at all in recent times.

Lancenet readers don’t trust Fred to be Brazil’s main striker in the World Cup

Despite scoring on Wednesday for Fluminense, Lancenet.com readers are still unsure that Fred should be trusted as Brazil’s main striker for the 2014 World Cup.

In a poll recently conducted by the Brazilian newspaper only 35% voted that Fred should be trusted at the World Cup with 65% against him.

7,412 people voted and it seems the medical issues surrounding the Fluminense striker are still in the back of voters minds.

Although his club insists their 30-year-old forward is 100% fit now he isn´t up to match fitness speed yet.

This is something Brazil´s national team doctor Jose Luiz Runco believes, he did reveal his confidence in the Seleção striker though.

Runco said: “The last time I was with Fred I examined him and he was fine. He has full confidence in the medical department of the Brazilian team and the coaching staff.

“He has shown that he is physically well in the games he has played for Fluminense. Of course there is still a question of match fitness but there is a long time until the World Cup.”

This type of news should only prove to be motivation for Fred to show his nation that he is the man to lead Brazil into the World Cup.

Emerson Sheik to return to boost Corinthians

Corinthians head coach Mano Menezes has confirmed that he expects an imminent return of striker Emerson Sheik to boost his sides options up front. The Qatar international, who has represented Brazil at under-20 level, has been out after undergoing surgery to remove an abscess and will help fill the void after fellow striker Guerrrero picked up a small injury.

"Emerson will be back in the next game to help us," Menezes told reporters, "It´ll be good for him as the team are playing well and our attackers will have to play well as the opportunities are being created for them."

"When the team collectively begins to improve, the players feel the effects. Because everyone is working hard, I think goals will naturally come for Emerson."

The 35 year-old has been at Corinthians since 2011 and made contributions to their Copa Libertadores and World Club Cup triumphs of 2012.

He has also won three Campeonato Brasileiro titles- with Corinthians, Flamengo (2009) and Fluminense (2010).

What’s eating Paulo Henrique Ganso?

On Sunday, the first San-São derby of the season took place at the Morumbi stadium. This was a chance for two of Brazilian football’s traditional giants to measure each other up in the relatively inconsequential surrounds of the group stage of the Campeonato Paulista.

Both Santos and São Paulo are in transition, the former acclimatising to life with coach Oswaldo de Oliveira and without departed playmaker Walter Montillo, and the latter desperately trying to forget their nightmare 2013. Both had shown tentative signs of life coming into the weekend.

The game was a washout. (Not surprisingly. Selected results between the four São Paulo state grandes in 2013: Santos 0-0 Corinthians, São Paulo 0-0 Palmeiras, Palmeiras 0-0 Santos, São Paulo 0-0 Corinthians, Corinthians 0-0 São Paulo, São Paulo 0-0 Corinthians.) One man, however, enjoyed his afternoon even less than the fans who had stumped up cash to attend.

“Did you see Ganso?”

The question, posed by Folha de S Paulo columnist Juca Kfouri on Monday, was of course rhetorical. No one saw him. The São Paulo midfielder was denied the chance to face his former employers, relegated to the bench by coach Muricy Ramalho and failing to make an impact after coming on for the final 15 minutes.

The decision to leave Ganso out raised the odd eyebrow, but the truth is that most understood Muricy’s reasoning: converted full-back Douglas came in to offer energy and width on the right flank, with Dorlan Pabón given the responsibility of buzzing around Luís Fabiano. It worked, as well; after a shaky opening, São Paulo enjoyed much the better of the match, even if they failed to find the target. Not for the first time, Ganso was left moping on the bench, wondering what the future holds.

It was just the latest disappointment for a player whose star has waned drastically in the past few years. Paulo Henrique (‘Ganso’ being a nickname meaning ‘goose’) was once viewed as the heir to Brazil’s playmaking crown, but is in danger of becoming a footnote in history. It was not supposed to be like this.

The tale of Ganso, really, is the tale of Ganso and Neymar. The two came up through the ranks at Santos and starred together for Brazil’s youth teams. Their friendship was grounded in a telepathic understanding on the pitch, with Ganso supplying the bullets for his cohort. They looked destined to become key players for the Seleção – a feeling strengthened by the Ganso’s commanding performance in his senior Brazil debut against the USA.

For a time at least, Ganso was seen as the more talented of the pair. A patient passer capable of unpicking the tightest knots, he would coax full-backs forward, slip through-balls to strikers, organise matches. The playmaker was the star turn as Santos won the São Paulo state championship in 2010, memorably refusing to be substituted as the seasiders clung on to beat Santo André in the final.

But gradually, he was overtaken. The process started away from the pitch, as Neymar began to show his flair in the fame game. The forward, after all, was a marketing department’s dream: the photogenic hair; the J-pop grin; the neon boots with “joy” and “daring” stitched onto them; the step-overs. He appeared tailor-made for a generation of football fans who spend more time doing skills on the FIFA loading screen than in the game proper.

The gawky Ganso, on the other hand, always looked ill at ease in the spotlight. A Santos group cameo on Brazil’s version of Hollyoaks in 2011 was surprisingly illustrative: Neymar pranced around like a lost member of an am-dram theatre troup; Ganso looked to be gripped by crushing, existential pain.
That awkwardness often came across as aloofness as Ganso grew into adulthood. With his steadfast refusal to defend and fairly modest physical attributes, he was increasingly seen as a luxury – a classic number ten who could only thrive if the entire side was calibrated to his needs. At times he has resembled a player out of time, born into a generation destined to reject him.

Ganso’s attitude has hardly helped, admittedly. His acrimonious departure from Santos – masterminded by the third-party investors who seem to have his ear – left a bitter taste, while he has shown precious little sign that he is willing to work on his shortcomings.

It would be wrong to write him off as a lost cause just yet; he is still just 24, after all. São Paulo certainly appear to believe in him; their decision to let Jádson leave for Corinthians is perhaps the biggest vote of confidence Ganso has received since joining the club.

But if Ganso wishes to fulfil even a third of his potential, he needs to wake up, and soon. Players of his talent should be starring in clássicos, not watching them from the sidelines.

Bianchi aún no definió el equipo titular

BUENOS AIRES -- "Todavía no tengo formado el equipo". Esa fue la declaración de Carlos Bianchi en la clásica conferencia de prensa de cada viernes, dando a entender que todavía no tiene definidos quienes saldrán desde el inicio en el partido que Boca disputará en la tarde del sábado, ante Vélez.

A diferencia de cada semana de trabajo, Bianchi no programó ningún ensayo de fútbol formal para el equipo titular, por lo cual es una incógnita cuál será el equipo que jugará desde el minuto cero.

Lo que es un hecho es que todavía no se producirá el regreso de Juan Román Riquelme, quien volverá a estar en el banco de suplentes. Mientras tanto, el entrenador analiza si les da titularidad a Juan Sánchez Miño, Diego Rivero o Diego Perotti.

Con las dudas por despejar, un probable equipo sería: Agustín Orión; Leandro Marín, Daniel Díaz, Juan Forlín, Emanuel Insúa; Diego Rivero o Cristian Erbes, Pablo Ledesma, Fernando Gago, Juan Sánchez Miño o Diego Perotti; Luciano Acosta o Diego Perotti; Emmanuel Gigliotti.

Además de los mencionados anteriormente, concentrarán Emanuel Trípodi, Hernán Grana, Claudio Pérez, Juan Manuel Martínez y Claudio Riaño.

Boca visitará a Vélez desde las 18:00 hs. del sábado, con el arbitraje de Sergio Pezzotta. Un dato a tener en cuenta es que los "Xeneizes" no cayeron en sus últimas dos visitas al José Amalfitani (triunfo 1-0 en el Inicial 2012 y empate 0-0 en el Apertura 2011).