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Mexico coach José Manuel de la Torre confident his team can win the 2013 Confederations Cup

The draw for the 2013 Confederations Cup, to be held in Brazil, saw Mexico paired with the hosts Brazil, Italy and Japan in a very tough looking Group A, however the Mexico coach, José Manuel de la Torre, believes his side can beat anyone.

Mexico have a good record against Brazil in recent times, beating them 2-1 in the final of the Olymics in London this summer, and 2-1 in a friendly held in the US in June.

"It will be a great opportunity," de la Torre told reporters after the draw in São Paulo on Saturday.

"We have every intention of passing through the group phase and we think of winning the title. We have this very clear in our minds."

And the new Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari believes having such a tough group will benefit his team ahead of the World Cup, also to be held in Brazil, in 2014.

He said: "It will be good to have Italy, Japan and Mexico in our group because these matches will allow us to make good observations about our team.

"We hope to have the squad ready and to be competitive during the tournament so we can start making observations for the World Cup.´´

The competition kicks off on 15th June next year with Brazil taking on Japan in Brasilia.

Vi må hellere kickstarte opdateringer....

Guatemala

De 2 første semifinalister er fundet i skikkelse af Comunicaciones og Municipal.

Førstnævnte vandt uden besvær med 3-0 over Marquense (Carlos CAstrillo, Jairo Arreola, Marcelo Guerrero). Los rojos spillede 3-3 hjemme med Suchitpetepquez og kvalificerede sig til semifinalen med sammenlagt 4-4 og bedste pladsering i grundspillet. Saúl Phillips, Marío " Loco " Rodríguez og Leandrinho nettede for hjemmeholdet - mens uruguyanerne Adrían Apellaniz, Fabrizio Ronchett sa,t den lokale Wilber Pérez scorede for los Venados

El Salvador

Nicolás " El Canalero" Múñoz og Hector Mejía sikrede Isidro Metapan en 2-1 sejr over Aguila i den første semifinalekamp.

I Santa Ana spillede Deportivo FAS og Alianza 1-1 - Roberto García scorede for los albos og Ricardo Ulloa for los tigrillos. 1-1 blev det også til i udvisninger Néster Renderos for hjeemeholdet og Rodolfo " Fito" Zelaya for gæsterne..

http://www.youtube.com/w…sIc0mRhIlzA

Bolivia

2 kampe, Uafgjort i Cochabamba mellem Aurora og bundholdet Club Petrolero - Freddy Chispas for gæsterne, Vladimir Castellón.

Et andet bundhold - La Paz FC gæstede Universitario i Sucre -og tabte 3-1 på mål af Bosco FRontán og en doblete af Juan Fierro.


Paraguay

2 Kamp, CErro POrteño er gået på juleferie efter st have smidt sin mesterskabschance i de seneste par kampe 1-1 mod Independiente.

Nacional holder derimod trit med Libertad i toppen af tabellen - de måtte dog langt ind i overtiden før brasilianske Rodrigo Teixeira sikrede det forløsende 1-0 mål mod Rubio Ñu.


Argentina...

18 runde

Godoy Cruz - Quilmes 0-0

Colón de Santa Fé - Argentinos Juniors 3-1

1-0 Emmanuel " Puma " Gigliotti (25´) 1-1 Pablo "Ñe "Barzola (31´) 2-1 Ivan Moreno y Fabianesi (41´) 3-1 Emmanuel " Puma " Gigliotti (81´)

http://www.youtube.com/w…IYXqjQ0oMis

Racing Club - All Boys 3-1

1-0 Luis " Lucho " Fariña (21´) 2-0 Mauro CAmoranesi (28´) 2-1 Fernando Sánchez (50´) 3-1 Diego Villar (87´)

http://www.youtube.com/w…i_J3Jg341mA

Palermo: "Podríamos haber ganado"

MENDOZA -- El flamante entrenador de Godoy Cruz, Martín Palermo, destacó "la muy buena respuesta de los jugadores a lo largo de todo el partido. Tuvieron la predisposición y el orden que pretendíamos" tras el empate 0-0 con Quilmes en el estadio Malvinas Argentinas.

Palermo reconoció que vivió "el partido con mucho nerviosismo y adrenalina" y evaluó que "podríamos haber ganador por lo que busco el equipo, ellos casi no llegaron y nosotros no aprovechamos las que tuvimos. Pero estoy conforme por el esfuerzo de todos".

El ex goleador de Boca Juniors reiteró "que por ahora la búsqueda es desde lo anímico. La actitud fue positiva y el sacrificio, enorme. Quizás un buen resultado hubiera sido ganar pero también era importante sumar y que no te conviertan".

Palermo confió que "todos los jugadores, aún los que no estaban en la lista para jugar, estuvieron en el vestuario. Y eso habla del compromiso del plantel. Y en la medida que trabajen con esfuerzo, todos van a tener una oportunidad".

"Hay que seguir trabajando -continuó-, sobre todo en la ofensiva, porque si tenés buen orden y sólida defensa pero no generas jugadas de gol, no alcanza".

Luego reiteró que le generó "mucha ansiedad estar otra vez en un cancha. Lo viví muy intensamente y me quedé un poco afónico de tanto dar indicaciones, lo que tendré que revertir con el tiempo".

En cuanto al partido con Boca el próximo fin de semana, reconoció que "va a ser muy especial pero lo tengo que tomar con tranquilidad" y "lo vamos a ir pensando desde el lunes".

"Todos sabemos lo que significa jugar en La Bombonera pero vamos a ir a proponer lo mismo. Vamos a corregir algunas cosas durante la semana, siempre con la idea de obtener un buen resultado".

LA Galaxy rallies to win MLS final

CARSON, California -- The LA Galaxy overcame a 1-0 half-time deficit to defeat the Houston Dynamo 3-1 on Saturday and capture its second consecutive MLS Cup. A sold-out crowd of 30,515 at The Home Depot Center watched the dramatic encounter, which closed the curtain on David Beckham´s six-year career with the four-time U.S. champion.

The match pitted two squads that met in last year´s final, have advanced to the quarterfinals of this season´s Champions League and qualified for the 2013/14 edition of the CONCACAF club championship.

Calen Carr gave the Dynamo a 44th minute lead, netting his second career postseason goal. The 30-year-old forward perfectly timed a run into the box and capitalized on a delightfully measured pass from Adam Moffatt.

Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez, who was named the game´s Most Valuable Player, headed a Juninho cross past Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall in the 60th minute to level the score.

"I was hoping that Juninho was just going to loft one up there to me and he did," Gonzalez said after the game. "I was able to get over him (the Dynamo defender) and get the goal."

Momentum swayed further in the Galaxy´s favor five minutes later, when Houston´s Ricardo Clark was called for a handball three yards from the goal after an attempted bicycle kick by Mike Magee. Landon Donovan calmly slipped what proved to be the game-winner low and to the left of Hall.


The LA Galaxy captain scored the lone goal in his team´s win over the Dynamo in the 2011 final and became only the third player in league history to win five championships.

With the clock winding down, Robbie Keane was fouled in the box by Hall, who impeded forward´s path to the goal with his right hand. The Ireland international converted the penalty effortlessly in the fourth minute of injury time, scoring his sixth goal in six 2012 playoff games.

Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena substituted Beckham in the 89th minute, giving the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star an opportunity to be on the receiving end of booming applause from the home supporters.

"I just hope people have enjoyed me playing here and watching me play for the Galaxy," said Beckham, whose next playing destination remains unknown. "It´s what I always hope for when I step on the field, that people enjoy watching myself and watching the team I play for."

Chepo faces Arabe Unido for Panamanian title

PANAMA CITY, Panama -- Panama has the honor of being the first Central American nation to crown a champion this season, when Chepo and Arabe Unido meet in the Grand Final on Sunday at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City.

The two sides advanced to the championship match by seeing off their semifinal opponents in home-and-away series disputed over the last two weeks. Now, in an event unique to Panamanian football on the regional scale, the teams will square off in a one-game final to determine the champion of the 2012 Apertura.

The road to the final has been distinct for nine-time champion Arabe Unido, known as one of the "big four" in the Panamanian game, and Chepo, a relative newcomer to these heights of the tournament, but a team set to play in its second-consecutive final.

Arabe Unido came on strong as the season wound down, nearly catching early leader Rio Abajo in the regular-season table, and finishing second in the standings. In the playoff semifinal round, the Blue Express easily saw off Plaza Amador, 5-1 on aggregate, despite having to play its home leg in Panama City, due to the torrential rains that have fallen on its home city of Colon for the last week.

"We wanted to give some happiness to the town of Colon, for all that´s happened with the environment, and all they´ve suffered in recent days," forward Orlando Rodriguez told TV Max in Panama. "Thanks to God everything came out well and we´re in the final."

To most, as the second seed, Arabe Unido comes in as a slight favorite to secure another title. Chepo, which is looking for its first trophy, will be no easy out.

The Orange knocked off regular season table topper Rio Abajo in the semifinals to advance 3-1 on aggregate, and have had Arabe Unido´s number in recent years. Of the last ten matches between the two sides, over the last two years, Chepo has lost only one, while winning five and tying four. The Tigrillos have outscored Arabe Unido by a count of 14 to eight during that period.

Chepo, which finished fourth in the regular season, edged into the playoffs ahead of Chorrillo by a single-goal margin in goal differential. The Orange -- bolstered by the league´s second-best defense -- is led by Panamanian national teamer Armando Gun and lost only three times in eighteen matches, while tying ten.

Arabe Unido, which has qualified for two editions of the CONCACAF Champions League, dropped only two matches this season.

The Chepo-Arabe Unido pairing is an intriguing one for a final that is certain to come down to the wire.

2 kampe i Brasilien i nat. Neymar sluttede fodboldåret i opvisningsstil. 2 mål og én assist i 3-1 sejren over Palmeiras. Dermed når Neymar op på 43 mål i 47 klubkampe i 2012. Det 17-årige stortalent Victor Andrade scorede Santos´ første mål i kampen. Der kom også talenter på måltavlen, da Botafogo og Flamengo spillede 2-2 på Engenhão. 18-årige Sassá åbnede scoringen for Fogo, mens 20-årige Nixon fk udlignet på et saksespark. Efter pausen overtog rutinen scenen. Vitor Júnior for Fogo og Vagner Love for Fla.
Serie A spilles færdig i dag med 8 kampe. Flu er jo mestre, São Paulo bliver 4´er og får plads i Libertadores 2013, mens Atlético Goianiense, Figueirense og Palmeiras rykker ned. Vi skal i dag have fordelt sølv og bronze, hvor kandidaterne hedder Grêmio og Atlético Mineiro, og så skal vi have fundet den sidste nedrykker. Her hedder kandidatfeltet Sport Recife, Bahia og Portuguesa. Vi skal også tage afsked med Olímpico i Porto Alegre. Gre-Nal-derbyet bliver den sidste match på det legendariske stadion. "O Tricolor" skal i fremtiden spille sine hjemmekampe på Arena Grêmio.

Beckham helping LA Galaxy in Kaká move

LA Galaxy´s David Beckham has attempted to convince former Real Madrid teammate Kaká to move to his employers in the MLS according to reports in the United States.

Tim Leiweke, president of AEG who own LA Galaxy, says Beckham introduced Kaká to him after the Brazilian revealed his interest in playing in the MLS.

"We´re well aware of Kaka´s interest in MLS, and we in turn have made it very clear to him that he´s aware of our interest in him," said Leiweke.

"We have a great relationship with Real Madrid, and just as we worked through a player with them six years ago (Beckham), I´m absolutely convinced we could find the right deal this time, too.

"The guy who introduced us to this player is David Beckham. David has done the yeoman´s work on our behalf at introducing us, getting him comfortable, getting his family comfortable, talking about L.A. and the organization," Leiweke said.

Neymar urges Robinho to join him at Santos

Neymar has urged AC Milan´s Robinho to join him at boyhood club Santos as speculation mounts over a possible return.

Robinho has been linked with a move back to Santos in recent days as his old club look to make an impact in the January transfer window.

"I am biased because he is my idol and to have an idol back at the club is always important,” Neymar said.

"If the fans want him, then I want him too. But it’s the president who decides. I always want the best players to come to Santos. The doors are always open to him."

Robinho helped Santos win the 2002 Brasilerão with an outstanding debut season as an 18-year-old. He also played a crucial role in the club’s league win in 2004 before being sold to Real Madrid in 2005.

Santos coach Muricy Ramalho and Ribeiro have openly stated their interest in the player but admit Milan’s asking price is a barrier to any potential move.

2 kampe i Brasilien i nat. Neymar sluttede fodboldåret i opvisningsstil. 2 mål og én assist i 3-1 sejren over Palmeiras. Dermed når Neymar op på 43 mål i 47 klubkampe i 2012. Det 17-årige stortalent Victor Andrade scorede Santos´ første mål i kampen. Der kom også talenter på måltavlen, da Botafogo og Flamengo spillede 2-2 på Engenhão. 18-årige Sassá åbnede scoringen for Fogo, mens 20-årige Nixon fk udlignet på et saksespark. Efter pausen overtog rutinen scenen. Vitor Júnior for Fogo og Vagner Love for Fla.
Serie A spilles færdig i dag med 8 kampe. Flu er jo mestre, São Paulo bliver 4´er og får plads i Libertadores 2013, mens Atlético Goianiense, Figueirense og Palmeiras rykker ned. Vi skal i dag have fordelt sølv og bronze, hvor kandidaterne hedder Grêmio og Atlético Mineiro, og så skal vi have fundet den sidste nedrykker. Her hedder kandidatfeltet Sport Recife, Bahia og Portuguesa. Vi skal også tage afsked med Olímpico i Porto Alegre. Gre-Nal-derbyet bliver den sidste match på det legendariske stadion. "O Tricolor" skal i fremtiden spille sine hjemmekampe på Arena Grêmio.

Syntes det er en fed feature at lukke turneringen af med en sidste runde - næsten udelukkende bestående af classicos...

..vi får sat navn på mestrene var mexico og panama idag...og muligvis også i Argentina og Uruguay.

Ja, sidste runde er classico-dag. Så er man sikker på, at der ikke er et hold, der lægger sig ned i sidste spillerunde. Der bliver endnu mere damp på kedlerne, når de store stadions melder sig på banen igen.
Et eksempel: I Belo Horizonte spiller Atlético-MG i dag derby mod Cruzeiro. Det sker på Independencia med plads til kun 20.000 tilskuere. Af sikkerheds- og kapacitetsmæssige årsager er det kun Galo-fans, der får adgang til dagens kamp. Til næste år bliver scenen et renoveret Mineirão med plads til ca. 60.000 fans. Flere indtægter og rigtig derbystemning, når der bliver plads til begge klubbers supportere. Maracanã kommer også til at feje Engenhão af banen.
PS! Det skal lige med, at det ikke altid er en fordel med classicos i sidste runde. Fluminense spiller mod Vasco i en kamp, der ikke betyder en g... Flu har sendt mesterholdet på ferie, og Vasco lufter også B-kæden. Prisen for se denne reservekamp ligger mellem 30 og 60 R$ (90-180 kr.)