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Topic: STRICTLY FOR THE DIE HARD SOCCER FANS. (Read 22839 times)
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Rivaldo leads Olympiakos to victory at start of Greek league
« Reply #856 on: August 19, 2006, 09:25:13 PM »
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ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Brazilian star Rivaldo scored twice to help Olympiakos Piraeus come from behind and beat Xanthi 2-1 Saturday in the opening round of the Greek Super League.
Giorgos Barkoglou gave Xanthi the lead in the 5th minute.
"It's very important to win the first match," Olympiakos coach Trond Sollied said. "We had a lot of chances before we scored ... I would have liked a more secure result earlier, but first games are always special."
In the day's other match, AEK Athens played to a scoreless draw against PAOK Thessaloniki.
The Athens club plays Scotland's Hearts in a Champions League qualifier at home Wednesday after winning the first leg 2-1.
Olympiakos pressed for an early goal, playing before a capacity home crowd of 33,000 at Karaiskakis Stadium.
But Xanthi surprised the champions. Barkoglou exploited lax defending from Thanassis Kostoulas and beat keeper Antonis Nikopolidis from close range.
The hosts failed to find the net in the first half, with successive shots from Yiannis Okkas and Pandelis Kafes saved by Czeck goaltender Pietr Pizanowski.
Zissis Vryzas could have added a goal in a 41st minute counterattack, but Nikopolidis got his foot to the low shot.
Rivaldo netted the equalizer in the 67th with a free kick from the edge of the box.
Seven minutes from the end, French defender Didier Domi of Olympiakos saw his second booking for a reckless tackle.
But 10-man Olympiakos sealed the game one minute later, when Rivaldo drove a well-placed shot from outside the box past Pizanowski.
On Sunday, league contender Panathinaikos Athens visits Egaleo.
Source: Fox Sports
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Rooney threatens sponsor strike over FA ban
« Reply #857 on: August 22, 2006, 04:54:24 AM »
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Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has threatened to withdraw all co-operation with the Football Association's commercial programmes in response to the three-match ban he was handed last week.
Despite United claiming they were informed Rooney would escape punishment following his red card against Porto in the recent Amsterdam tournament, the striker must sit out the Premiership encounters with Charlton, Watford and Tottenham.
An independent three-man disciplinary panel backed up the view of referee Ruud Bossen that Rooney deserved to be dismissed for his aerial challenge on Porto defender Pepe, even though the TV replays showed the striker clearly keep his eye on the ball as he jumped.
The verdict drew an angry response from United, with skipper Gary Neville describing it as `shocking', while new England coach Steve McClaren has declared it `unhelpful' as he tries to foster relations with the Premiership's major clubs.
Now, having taken legal advice, Rooney has hit back. And, in a letter to FA chief executive Brian Barwick, issued by his advisor Paul Stretford, copied to United counterpart David Gill and which McClaren was informed of on Friday, the 20-year-old is threatening not to allow his image to be used as part of any promotional campaign, or get involved in commercial events with FA partners.
'Strong representation has been made to the FA regarding the imposition of this three-match ban, which Wayne Rooney feels strongly is entirely unjustified,' a spokesman for Rooney confirmed to PA Sport.
In the letter, Stretford expresses 'Wayne's complete dismay' at the decision, adding that Rooney feels `extremely let down'.
'While he will continue if selected to play for his country with pride and commitment, he is considering withdrawing his support for the FA's commercial programme: in other words, he will not allow his image to be used or exploited, or participate in personal appearances for and on behalf of the FA's commercial partners unless he is satisfied with how the FA conducts its affairs in regard to player matters.'
Rooney is now awaiting a reply to the letter before deciding on his next course of action.
Although it would appear there is no imminent problem given the striker is suspended for next month's Euro 2008 qualifiers against Andorra and Macedonia, the FA's marketing arm will be making plans to promote the Old Trafford encounter with Macedonia on October 7.
With former skipper David Beckham not part of McClaren's plans, Rooney is now by far the most recognisable member of the England fold.
It would be safe to assume the FA planned to use Rooney's picture in their plans to sell tickets for the Macedonia clash.
However, until the present dispute is resolved, they will be unable to do so and neither will the FA be able to plan any commercial campaigns around him.
Source: BBC ESPN
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Bayern threaten to report Man Utd
« Reply #858 on: August 22, 2006, 07:23:43 AM »
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Bayern Munich have claimed they will report Manchester United to football's world governing body Fifa unless they end their pursuit of Owen Hargreaves.
United have confirmed they want to sign the 25-year-old midfielder, who has also stated his desire to join them.
Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has warned United to cease their interest or "we will turn to Fifa".
"A club may only contact a player when the club holding his contract agrees to it," he told German newspaper tz.
England international Hargreaves has a contract with Bayern running until 2010.
And Bayern have already made it clear they expect it to be honoured.
The German club's general manager Uli Hoeness said: "Hargreaves is well advised to keep quiet.
"Otherwise I will get very angry and that will not be good for him. I can't understand that after two discussions he is still forcing the issue."
Hargreaves was omitted from Bayern's side for the Bundesliga match with Bochum on Sunday after talks with the club.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is determined to bring the player to England and is thought to be willing to pay £17m.
But Hoeness added: "He won't be released under any circumstances. He needs to accept the decisions of those above him and show some respect."
Ferguson has already admitted Bayern have so far resisted their attempts to add Hargreaves to the summer capture of Michael Carrick, saying: "We are trying hard but Bayern are proving very stubborn and resistant, which I can understand."
A Bayern statement said they had not held negotiations with United and asked for the English side to cease pursuing the player.
Hargreaves has been at Bayern since moving to the club from Canada as a 16-year-old in 1997.
He helped Bayern to the Champions League crown in 2001 and has also won four Bundesliga titles with the club.
He seems determined to seize on his raised profile in England following his combative and tough-tackling displays during the World Cup and an impressive performance against Greece in coach Steve McClaren's first game in charge.
Source: BBC Sport
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Bayern threaten United with FIFA action
« Reply #859 on: August 22, 2006, 07:25:18 AM »
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Bayern Munich have claimed they will report Manchester United to football's world governing body Fifa unless they end their pursuit of Owen Hargreaves.
United have confirmed they want to sign the 25-year-old midfielder, who has also stated his desire to join them.
Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has warned United to cease their interest or "we will turn to Fifa".
"A club may only contact a player when the club holding his contract agrees to it," he told German newspaper tz.
England international Hargreaves has a contract with Bayern running until 2010.
And Bayern have already made it clear they expect it to be honoured.
The German club's general manager Uli Hoeness said: "Hargreaves is well advised to keep quiet.
"Otherwise I will get very angry and that will not be good for him. I can't understand that after two discussions he is still forcing the issue."
Hargreaves was omitted from Bayern's side for the Bundesliga match with Bochum on Sunday after talks with the club.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is determined to bring the player to England and is thought to be willing to pay £17m.
But Hoeness added: "He won't be released under any circumstances. He needs to accept the decisions of those above him and show some respect."
Ferguson has already admitted Bayern have so far resisted their attempts to add Hargreaves to the summer capture of Michael Carrick, saying: "We are trying hard but Bayern are proving very stubborn and resistant, which I can understand."
A Bayern statement said they had not held negotiations with United and asked for the English side to cease pursuing the player.
Hargreaves has been at Bayern since moving to the club from Canada as a 16-year-old in 1997.
He helped Bayern to the Champions League crown in 2001 and has also won four Bundesliga titles with the club.
He seems determined to seize on his raised profile in England following his combative and tough-tackling displays during the World Cup and an impressive performance against Greece in coach Steve McClaren's first game in charge.
Source: BBC Sport
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BERLIN, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Bayern Munich have threatened to report Manchester United to FIFA if they do not give up their pursuit of England midfielder Owen Hargreaves.
The German champions told the English club last week to cease all interest in the 25-year-old Hargreaves.
'Otherwise we will turn to FIFA,' Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told the Munich-based tz newspaper on Tuesday. 'A club may only contact a player when the club holding his contract agrees to it.'
United manager Alex Ferguson confirmed on Friday that he wanted to bring in Hargreaves, who could help fill the gap left by Roy Keane. Hargreaves himself has been quoted as saying he would like to move to United.
The midfielder has a contract with Bayern running until 2010.
Newspapers have speculated that United might be prepared to pay 25 million euros ($32.15 million) for a player who greatly enhanced his reputation during England's run to the World Cup quarter-finals.
Bayern said they left Hargreaves out of their squad for Sunday's 2-1 win over Bochum in the Bundesliga because of a bout of flu. He will miss Tuesday's friendly match against Barcelona at the Nou Camp for the same reason.
Source: ESPN
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The 'Banana On Toast' Gossip
« Reply #860 on: August 22, 2006, 07:38:55 AM »
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The latest on Gallas and Cole, Manchester United's midfield woes and much more...
GALLAS AND COLE STILL IN LIMBO
Chelsea are either determined to let William Gallas rot in the reserves this season or have offered their want-away defender to Arsenal in a straight swap for Ashley Cole, depending on which particular newspaper you happen to be be reading this Tuesday morning.
The swap offer also happens to be either 'cheeky', 'provocative' or a ruse 'to bring Arsenal back to the table', depending on what you want to believe.
Given that The Gunners value Cole at around £25m and offered just £5m for Gallas at the weekend, the motives behind Chelski's doomed-to-failure offer are certainly questionable.
While The Daily Mirror believe it was a cunning ruse to 'break the logjam', The Sun says that 'the Blues' latest offer is as good as telling Arsenal they will NOT sell him', and The Times reports that the 'offer seems certain to be met with derision in North London and may be seen as an act of provocation.'
The Guardian, however, has an entirely different account of events. It claims that 'Gallas faces a year in football oblivion after Chelsea's patience finally snapped over the France international's attempts to move out of Stamford Bridge. Having tolerated the defender's refusal to attend pre-season training with his team-mates in Los Angeles due to "fatigue", Chelsea's hierarchy is poised to order the World Cup finalist to spend the final year of his contract in the reserves, a decision that has Jose Mourinho's blessing.
'Such is the strength of feeling at Stamford Bridge that Chelsea would prefer to take Cole in a cash deal worth between £15m and £20m and condemn Gallas, who they do not expect to sign the tabled offer of a contract extension, to 12 months out of the first team.'
So, in short, nobody has a clue what's going on.
MAN UTD FACE MIDFIELD MISERY
Man Utd's hopes of signing another midfielder this summer are in tatters with Bayern Munich refusing to budge over Owen Hargreaves.
The Germans are adamant that, despite his reluctance to stay, the England midfielder will have to honor his contract.
"Hargreaves is well advised to keep quiet," General manager Oli Höness is quoted as saying in The Times. "Otherwise I will be very angry and that will not be good for him. I can't understand that after two discussions between us he is still forcing the issue. He won't be released under any circumstances. He needs to accept the decisions of those above him and to show some respect."
But in the increasingly-likely event of the Hargreaves deal floundering, Man Utd risk also failing to sign Marcos Senna, the nominated back-up option. According to The Times, the Villarreal midfield player has grown 'tired of waiting for Sir Alex Ferguson to proceed with a £4 million bid that was put on hold at the start of the month.'
TOON STILL WANTS STRIKERS
Inter Milan striker Obafemi Martins insists that he will finalise a £10.5m move to Newcastle in the next 48 hours, according to The Sun.
Martins claims the deal - which will see him pick up a £45,000-a-week salary - is 80% done.
Of course, Newcastle are sneaking around behind his back trying to bring in someone better, but Glenn Roeder confirmed that Werder Bremen have told them they have no chance of signing Miroslav Klose.
DOWNING GOING DOWN SOUTH
All the debate in the F365 mailbox over the last few days as to which of Aaron Lennon and Stewart Downing is better has seemingly convinced Martin Jol that he wants both.
The Sun reports that Spurs are planning another cut-price bid for the Middlesbrough winger, having already had a £6m offer snubbed by Boro.
Meanwhile, Middlesbrough will pull the plug on their attempts to sign Manchester City defender Sylvain Distin unless agreement is reached in the next 24 hours
AND THE REST
Argentinian star Carlos Tevez has demanded a move from his Brazilian club Corinthians, with Manchester United said to be keen on a move for the £25m-rated striker...Sunderland face competition from West Brom in their bid to sign Aston Villa striker Kevin Phillips...Sheffield Wednesday are set to move for Reading striker Shane Long...Manchester City have tabled an offer of £2m plus Antoine Sibierski in a bid to sign Lens midfielder Olivier Thomert...Reading want to sign Leeds defender Matthew Kilgallon for £1m, while the Royals are also finalising a season-long loan deal for Lokomotiv Moscow midfielder Andre Bikey...Celtic's move for PSV Eindhoven striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink may be some days away due to complications over a pay-off clause in his PSV contract...Wolves boss Mick McCarthy says that they will not be forced into selling left-back Lee Naylor to Celtic.
Source: Fox Sports
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Seleção Mujer
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The 'Stone Age Technology' Gossip
« Reply #861 on: August 22, 2006, 07:42:58 AM »
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Latest on Cole, more on Hargreaves and plenty more gossip...
THE LATEST ON CASHLEY...
Heavens, is this still going on? This week's take is pretty similar to a couple of weeks ago, with Chelsea's wantaway defender William Gallas thrown into the mix.
The Daily Express claims that Cole and Gallas will move in oppostie directions across London, with Chelsea also handing over £10m as part of the deal.
The Guardian have the deal as less complicated than that, claiming that Arsenal have made a straight £5m offer for the Frenchman. And the Daily Mirror claim that that offer has been turned down. So we just don't know.
However, as the talks rumble on, Cole looks unlikely to feature in Arsenal's Champions League game this week.
...AND THE LATEST ON HARGREAVES
While the Cashley Cole saga might be the longest-running of the summer, the funniest is without doubt Man Utd's pursuit of Owen Hargreaves.
Presumably following a formula of doubling whatever the last reported asking price was, The Sun is today claiming that Bayern Munich want £34m for a player widely regarded as rubbish just two months ago.
Hargeaves was left out of the Bayern Munich side that beat Bochum at the weekend.
THE TALK ON THE TOON
The Daily Mail reckon that Newcastle will finally manage to sign a striker this week, when Obafemi Martins will join from Inter Milan.
The deal is expected to set Newcastle back about £8m, according to the Mail, but as the Gossip Column has seen every price from £4m to £15m attached to Martins, that may well not be entirely accurate.
More amusingly, Newcastle may have managed to flog Jean-Alain Boumsong for £2.7m to Juventus, of all people. It seems relegation, fines, points docking and all the rest has been deemed too light a punishment for Juventus, and they will be sentenced to spend the next season with the most bumbling Frenchman since that chap from 'Allo 'Allo! (who we can guarantee is a better player than Boumsong) in the middle of their defense.
Meanwhile, The Daily Star claims that the Magpies are also hopeful of landing Chelsea left-back Wayne Bridge if the Blues sign Ashley Cole.
In one more piece of news from the frozen wastes of the north-east, The Guardian reports that 'a Jersey-based investment firm, Belgravia Group, has made an approach to Newcastle's major shareholder, Sir John Hall, who has a 28.8% stake.'
VILLA TO HIJACK NEWCASTLE BID
While Newcastle have possibly identified a transfer target to fill the hole up front, they might be set to miss out on Real Madrid's Thomas Gravesen, who may move to Aston Villa.
Gravesen is available for a cut-price £2m, and Martin O'Neill is keen to bring him in to strengthen Villa's small squad after missing out on Stilian Petrov. A key part of the deal that Villa would offer would be regular first team football - Gravesen would be unlikely to displace either Emre or Scott Parker from the middle of the Newcastle midfield.
Meanwhile, Villa have rekindled their interest in Toon youngster James Milner. The right winger spent last season on loan at Villa, and made no secret of the fact that he would welcome a permanent deal. Again, that is largely down to the fact that he would be first choice at Villa - currently without any natural right-sided midfielder - whereas he will have to spend another season at least as Nolberto Solano's understudy at St James' Park.
BORO SET TO PAY UP
Middlesbrough's capitulation to Reading on Saturday has, somewhat understandably, further convinced Gareth Southgate of the need to strengthen his defense. As a result, Boro will up the wages on offer to Man City's Sylvain Distin in an effort to attract him to the Riverside.
The Distin-to-Boro saga is another that has rumbled on all summer, but the crucial moment came last week, when the Frenchman turned down Middlesbrough's contract offer. Conceding two goals in a matter of minutes seems to have convinced Boro it's worth spending a few pounds more.
However, if Boro cannot get their man, the Daily Mirror reports that they are lining up Fiorentina's Tomasz Ujfalusi instead.
AND THE REST
Blackburn are lining up a £2m move for PSV Eindhoven defender Andre Ooijer, with the Dutch club then moving for Liverpool's Jan Kromkamp, and the Reds then moving for Blackburn's Lucas Neill...Celtic are closing in on the signing of PSV Eindhoven striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink...Wigan are set to make a shock move for Bolton midfielder Gary Speed...West Brom are hoping to sign Middlesbrough striker Malcolm Christie on loan...Coventry have made a £1m bid for Sheffield United striker Ade Akinbiyi.
Source: Fox Sports
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Report: Cassano set for Italy return
« Reply #862 on: August 22, 2006, 07:47:13 AM »
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ROME (AP) - Italy coach Roberto Donadoni is set to recall striker Antonio Cassano for the first time in more than a year.
Cassano received a preliminary call up for the 2008 European Championship qualifiers against Lithuania and France next month, the Gazzetta dell Sport reported Tuesday.
The Real Madrid striker was Italy's top scorer at the 2004 European Championship with two goals, although Italy failed to advance from the group stage. He has not played for the national side since a 0-0 draw against Norway in a World Cup qualifier in June 2005.
Italy hosts Lithuania in Naples on Sept. 2. It then travels to the Stade de France in Paris four days later to play France in a rematch of the World Cup final, which Italy won in a penalty shootout.
Donadoni is slated to release his official squad list for the qualifiers this weekend.
Source: Fox Sports
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