Snak

Klinsmann plans to have 2 teams in 2013 — qualifying and Gold Cup

KANSAS CITY, Kansas — Expect a lot of players wearing the red, white and blue for the United States next year.

That’s because the U.S. will not only try to qualify for the 2014 World Cup, it will participate in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

There is no way coach Juergen Klinsmann will use the same players in qualifying for three June matches and then in the Gold Cup, which will be played in July because Mexico will play at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil from June 15-30.

After the U.S. defeated Guatemala, 3-1, in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday night, to book a spot in year’s hexagonal Klinsmann said that 2013 will be very busy for us.”

He noted that the team will play friendlies, WC qualifying and the Gold Cup.

“We have to build two rosters for that because we can’t have the players do both,” Klinsmann said. “That’s good to see that we have players now coming through MLS, they are knocking at the door and getting stronger in MLS.”

Klinsmann said he and his coaching staff had not yet figured out on they will coordinate the qualifiers and Gold Cup.

“We don’t know how we’re going to manage that whole thing,” he said. “It’s more down to how their own schedule looks like and what league they play in and how does the league work and we have to put that puzzle together. It’s not going to be an easy one.”

Report: Richards says his late brace was most important goals of career
Dane Richards sometimes can be short on words, but many times long on important goals.

Just take, for example, what he accomplished on Tuesday night for the Jamaican National Team. He struck for a late-game brace as the Reggae Boyz defeated Antigua & Barbuda, 4-1, in a CONCACAF Group C match to reach the final round of World Cup qualifying. The goals helped the host Jamaicans finish with a great goal differential (plus three to plus one) than Guatemala, 3-1 losers at the United States.

When asked by a reporter if those goals were the most important of his career, Richards told the Jamaican Observer: “Definitely, man!”

Richards, who plays for the Vancouver Whitecaps after a July trade from the New York Red Bulls, has tallied 10 times for the Reggae Boyz, but could not have picked a better time to register a brace. He scored in the 77th and 88th minutes to boost the hosts from a 2-1 lead into a 4-1 advantage that turned out to be the final score.

“We wanted to go to the next round and it was our fault why we weren’t secured,” Richards was quoted by the Observer. “When we went to Antigua we should have won and got three points and then we gave up a goal late in Guatemala. So we wanted to come here and get back the fans in the stadium.”

The Jamaicans will be joined by Mexico, the United States, Panama, Honduras and Costa Rica in the hexagonal.

“Now the real work starts,” Richards told the Observer. “Now is the crucial time, we can’t slip up like how we slip up in this round, we have to take care of the work early.”

Faldt lige over den her....vi har rundet en del af dem før ..Pabon, Oscar, Arevalo etc...men fornuftig læsning for de som ikke kender til dem.

Destination Europe: 5 South American players to watch in 2012-13

by Gordon Fleetwood

Each year a multitude of footballers from across South America take the worn path to Europe to seek fame and fortune. Some fail to settle and head back to the comforts of home after only a few months. Others stay and ply their trade far from the limelight for a number of years.

Then there are a select few who light up the European stage. Here are 5 new South American imports who could start making a name for themselves this season:

Marcelo Diaz (Chile/FC Basel)

Universidad de Chile has arguably been the best team in South American over the past year and a half. Without a doubt, they have certainly been the most entertaining to watch. The high tempo, intricate, passing football imposed by their coach Jorge Sampaoli—a disciple of Marcelo Bielsa—led La U to triumph in the 2011 Copa Sudamericana, the Copa Libertadores semifinals in 2012, and three consecutive Chilean Primera titles.

Among the maelstrom of passes and movement, Marcelo Diaz stood as the control room for all the on-field activity. The twenty-four year old sat just in front of the defense controlling the tempo of the game, playing delightful passes, and also standing as a calm buffer between the opposition and his own goal.

He’s also a superb set piece taker to boot. It’s little wonder that Diaz was labeled with the sobriquet the “Chilean Pirlo”. A move to Swiss champions Basel this summer came as a bit of a surprise. However, if he keeps up his form, there is little doubt that Diaz will soon be displaying his talents on a bigger stage.

Leandro Castan (Brazil/AS Roma)

Corinthians’ path to their long sought after maiden Copa Libertadores trophy was built on a defensive solidity that the Great Wall of China would envy. The Brazilian club conceded an historical low of four goals in the entire competition using a novel 4-2-4-0 formation.

Their triumph was attributed to the team’s collective sense of identity which compensated for their lack of star names. That being said, there were several excellent players in the side. A crucial component of the unit was center back Leandro Castan. The twenty-five year old is a late bloomer, but he has gone from seedling to tree at an accelerated rate.

Castan cuts a monstrous yet calm presence on the ground or in the air. His strength, superb tackling, and anticipation means that he has the assets needed to continue his growth into a top defender.

There is some concern over his adjusting to the European game after playing in such a defensive minded system. It’s a process that will be made even more difficult by his doing it under a coach like Zdenek Zeman whose football philosophy lies far from the one he’s accustomed to.

However, Castan has the quality to negotiate this tricky task, and he should be the key component of Roma’s backline this season. The early signs have been encouraging.

Dorlan Pabón (Colombia/Parma)

Atlético Nacional were the darlings of this year’s Copa Libertadores group stage as their games served the drama and excitement every football fans craves. The genesis of most of the team’s talisman eye-catching attacking play was Dorlan Pabón. The Colombian is nicknamed Memín after a popular Mexican cartoon character, but Speedy Gonzales would have been a more apt moniker.

Pabón is like a pocket rocket. He is short, stocky, and has the type speed and skill that gives defenders waking nightmares. Add a rocket shot, a wide passing range, and an unerring eye for goal, and you have yourself a one man army who can operate in a number of different attacking roles. He also takes wonderful free kicks.

Parma lost a key player in Sebastian Giovinco to Juventus this summer, but the signing of Pabón will definitely help fill the void. Once he adapts to Italian football, Memín will be poised to take Serie A by storm.

Oscar (Brazil/Chelsea)

The name Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Júnior has hit the wider football world by storm in recent months. His rise over the past year and a half has been nothing short of meteoric.

From being a promising young player, Oscar matured quickly and became an integral part of his previous club side, Internacional. His club progress was also mirrored on the international platform, as he moved rapidly from starring at the under-20 level to seizing the role of main playmaker for the Brazilian senior national team with both hands.

Now the twenty year old faces the difficult challenge of making the transition from South American football to playing for a top European club.

It is a challenge that will be made easier by his playing style. Oscar is a paradigm of the modern playmaker. He is dynamic, links with others at pace, and shows the eagle-eyed vision required to play killer passes.

Oscar’s intelligence with respect to his awareness of space is excellent, and he has a penchant for backheels that is reminiscent of Sócrates. His versatility is another plus as he can play on the right hand side as well as centrally.

The defensive side of his game is also remarkably well developed for a young attacking player. The sight of him tracking back when the team losses possession is common.

Competition for places at Chelsea is stiff, but Oscar has the talent and the mental fortitude to deal with the demands that come with this situation. His complete acclimatization to European football will take some time. When it is complete, Oscar will be ready to begin his climb to the zenith of football.

Egidio Arévalo Rios (Uruguay/Palermo)

Arévalo Rios’ inclusion may differ from the age range of the previous players mentioned, but it’s difficult to leave him out. Along with Diego Pérez, he forms what is arguably the most intimidating and effective central midfield partnerships in international football.

The defensive midfielder has certainly been a key part of Uruguay’s resurgence in recent years under Òscar Wáshington Tábarez. Now, after twelve years of plying his trade in the Americas, he makes his first trip across the Atlantic to play in Europe.

El pequeño gigante (The Little Giant) may be close to reaching the wrong side of thirty, but he still has a lot to offer. What he lacks in technical ability, he more than compensates for in his standout traits: aggression, hard tackling, diligent marking, and copious amounts of garra charrúa. Palermo have picked up a bargain that will serve them well, not only this season, but in years to come.

Some other notable names: Rômulo (Brazil/Spartak Moscow), Paulo Dybala (Argentina/Palermo), Juan Fernando Quintero (Colombia/Pescara), Junior Fernandes (Chile/Bayer Leverkusen).

Lucas Moura injury not serious, says club doctor

Lucas Moura´s injury is not thought to be serious and could return for the game against Flamengo at the weekend, according to São Paulo´s club doctor.

The Seleção playmaker was stretchered off with a knee injury in the second half in São Paulo´s 2-0 victory against Atlético GO.

Dr. Joseph Sanches told reporters: "It was just a trauma, he had just received a blow to the knee and was very sore. It shouldn´t be anything more."

São Paulo´s coach Ney Franco still expressed his doubt that Lucas would play in the Flamengo game as he told reporters: "Players usually recover in two, two and a half days. But Lucas is an atypical case as he was in Poland."

Lucas may be a doubt when São Paulo faces Flamengo at the Engenhão on Sunday as they seek to confirm their place in next season´s Copa Libertadores.

São Paulo currently lie fourth in the Brasileirão while Flamengo are struggling in 15th place

Santos fullback Juan escapes punishment for breaking drugs test rules

Santos fullback Juan has been acquitted by the Sporting Justice Tribunal for failing to comply with regulations whilst attending a drugs test.

Juan, 30, was acquitted after he tested negative for drugs when he was called in after the match against Flamengo on September 12.

The player had contravened regulations by returning to Santos´ changing rooms when he was supposed to head towards the testing location immediately after the game.

The fullback will now be available for Muricy Ramalho´s side ahead of their game against Ponte Preta on Sunday.

The player had been charged with ´refusal or escaping collection´ and ´attempting to change any component of the control´ as stated under Articles 2.3 and 2.5 of the World Anti-Doping code.

If he had been found guilty, the former Arsenal youth player would have found himself on the receiving end of a two year ban.

Santos still faces charges of ´failing to comply with a legal obligation´ for which they could face a hefty fine if found to be complicit in interfering with a drugs test.

Juan is currently on-loan from São Paulo until the end of the season.

Hvis Borghi fyres - Spiller Vidal ikke længere for Chile....:-)


Vidal y su permanencia en la Selección: "Si Borghi se va, no sé si vuelva a jugar en la ´Roja´

Algo similar podría ocurrir con otros seleccionados si es que el ex DT de Colo Colo no continúa su trabajo con los futbolistas.

Tajante, claro, amenazante. Arturo Vidal encendió el ambiente de la selección chilena tras mandar un "recado" a la plana directiva de la ANFP: Si deciden remover a Claudio Borghi, el volante de la Juventus no volvería a la "Roja".

En entrevista con El Mercurio, al ex Colo Colo le preguntaron si es que se sumaría al equipo nacional si es que el "Bichi" deja la banca técnica. "Celia" señaló: "Tendría que pensarlo... Si Borghi se va, no sé si volvería a jugar por la selección". Muy claro.

Sin embargo, para el jugador con paso en el Bayer Leverkusen, la situación aún no es meditable dado que "nadie piensa que Claudio se va a ir. Es difícil creer eso".

Sobre el respaldo público que le dio el plantel al DT, Vidal dijo que "está bien que exista el respaldo de los jugadores. Ni siquiera había para qué decirlo. Está todo el apoyo para Claudio".

Incluso sobre el entrenador del combinado nacional, el mediocampista de la "Vecchia Signora" señaló que "es el entrenador que tenemos en este momento y el que queremos por mucho tiempo más. (...) Le tengo tanto cariño, tanto afecto como entrenador...".

¿Sería un fracaso no llegar al Mundial? "Sería un fracaso si no clasificamos, porque para eso una lucha, lo que todos queremos: Aparte con esta generación, la mejor de la historia", finalizó Vidal.

Remezón fuerte el del formado en Colo Colo, más considerando que la próxima semana hay una reunión entre Borghi y la dirigencia de la ANFP, a la que seguramente no le gustarán este tipo de presiones.

Habrá que ver también qué dice el "Bichi", quien para esta mañana, a las 10:00 horas, tiene pactada una conferencia de prensa donde resolverá varias dudas en torno a la selección chilena, consigna Emol.

Der er pressekonference i Chile - det ser ud til at Borghi bliver som landsholdstræner ....på trods af de løgnagtige journalister og kritikere...de er som chihuahuas (hundene) siger han...han er glad for opbakningen blandt spillrne......"Spillerne har ikke skuffet ham - men dem selv"....

Inter - Milan, Milan - Inter ....:-)

For Olimpia, the future is now

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras -- In celebrating the 100th anniversary of the club´s founding this year, historic Honduran side Olimpia has undoubtedly gotten quite used to the spotlight. The team has had a banner year on the field, winning the last two Honduran titles, and even faced off against European giant AC Milan in an August friendly played in the United States.

No single pair of games, perhaps, will have been more meaningful to the Lions´ chances of celebrating their centennial with a bang than those to be disputed in the coming days. This weekend, Olimpia takes on Motagua in the Honduran Superclasico in Tegucigalpa, before traveling to the U.S. for a decisive CONCACAF Champions League showdown with the Houston Dynamo three days later.

It all begins with the big game Saturday at the Estadio Nacional, the scene of numerous memorable encounters between two of Honduras´ most fabled teams. Olimpia comes into the derby on top of the Apertura table, while Motagua trails the Lions by a full ten points, tied for sixth position.

All is far from lost for the team in blue, though. A Motagua win would catapult the Eagles into third place and close the gap on leader Olimpia with four matches remaining in the regular season. An Olimpia triumph would assure the Lions of a spot in the upcoming liguilla and, at least temporarily, open up a seven-point lead over second-place Victoria.

A win would also give Olimpia plenty of momentum headed into its midweek tilt in Houston that will decide which of the two progresses to the quarterfinals of the regional club tournament.

With the games coming hard and fast, it´s clear that two vital fixtures in two countries in a span of four days will be a challenge even to Honduran champion.

"We must train thinking of Motagua and also thinking of the game in Houston, because we have practically no time to train between the games," Olimpia coach Danilo Tosello told media in Honduras on Thursday. "We´ll try to choose the best players for Motagua and the best ones for Houston."

No matter the lineup choices, the quick turnaround will test the Lions´ depth, and Tosello may choose to rest some of his players against Motagua that returned from recent national team duty.

Four of Olimpia´s players were part of the Honduran national team that clinched passage earlier in the week to CONCACAF´s final World Cup qualifying round, with Luis Garrido and Donis Escober starting matches in Panama and at home against Canada. Roger Rojas and Juan Carlos Garcia were also part of the national team´s triumphs.

To help deal with the fixture congestion, Tosello does get defender Johnny Palacios back from suspension on Saturday. While the La Ceiba native won´t be eligible to face Houston on Tuesday due to yellow card accumulation, he should play a role against Motagua.

Last time out in the CONCACAF Champions League, Olimpia let slip an early lead on the road in El Salvador, dropping a 2-1 decision to FAS. With four points in Group 3, the Lions enter the final group match three back of the Dynamo.

After the two teams played to a tie in Tegucigalpa earlier this year, the Hondurans know that a victory by any margin on Tuesday would send them through to next year´s quarterfinal round, enhancing an already memorable centennial celebration.

Alajuelense to face Limón before Tigres test

LIMÓN, Costa Rica -- With FIFA´s international match dates just passed, fans in Costa Rica won´t have to wait long for a return to club football.

Domestic-league action picks up again on Friday evening with a critical clash on the Caribbean coast between leader Alajuelense and fourth-place Limón. The match is being played ahead of La Liga´s CONCACAF Champions League showdown on Wednesday at Tigres.

Before contemplating the future, though, defender José Salvatierra expects a difficult match locally at the Estadio Juan Gobán: "The dimensions of the field are different, there is little space and that gives them more chance to press us, which is a strength that they have, but we are working on the game plan that the coach (Oscar Ramirez) has designed."

Alajuelense currently enjoys a two-point cushion in the Costa Rican league standings over second place Herediano -- another Costa Rican CCL competitor hoping to qualify for the quarterfinal round next week -- but La Liga has a game in hand over El Team. Limón sits in fourth position on 20 points, a full eight back of the leader.

With a host of teams breathing down the Caribbean side´s neck for the final playoff spot in the Costa Rican winter tournament, the host will be anxious to get the better of their visitors, hoping to catch Alajuelense looking ahead to the midweek match in Mexico.

Win or lose, the early weekend date gives La Liga plenty of time to prepare for the CCL trip north. Alajuelense carries an advantage into that game, leading Group 6 with seven points. Tigres trails two points behind with five.

For the Rojinegros, a CCL quarterfinal spot would mean confirmation of some excellent form in international play over the past two seasons. The club is unbeaten in six of its last seven CONCACAF games, including five wins. On Wednesday, Alajuelense will look to validate that success by booking its first-ever trip to the competition´s quarterfinals.

In the 2011/12 Champions League, Alajuelense became the first club ever not to reach the knockout round while finishing the group stage with twelve points. The LA Galaxy, Morelia and Alajuelense all finished with twelve points from six group matches, but the Costa Rican side was left out of the knockout round due to goal difference in the results among the three teams.

Alajuelense, which drew 2-2 with UANL in their first meeting this August, won´t need to worry about goal differential on Wednesday. Any result besides a loss in Monterrey would see the Costa Ricans through to the quarterfinals of the region´s most important club tournament.