Archive for July, 2011|Monthly archive page
Alexandre Pato, Brazil, Copa América, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Neymar, Paraguay, Pato, Venezuela
In Copa America on July 14, 2011 at 11:28 am
Neymar and Alexandre Pato both scored two goals each in Brazil’s 4-2 win over Ecuador in the Copa America on Wednesday.
Brazil advances to the quarter-finals as the Group B leader.
The reigning Copa champion had a shaky start to the tournament with a scoreless draw against Venezuela and then a 2-2 draw against Paraguay.
Venezuela tied 3-3 against Paraguay on Wednesday and advances to the quarter-finals as Group B’s second place finisher.
Paraguay also advances to the quarter-finals, eliminating Costa Rica.
Argentina, Atlético Madrid, Copa América, Costa Rica, Fernando Gago, Lionel Messi, Madri, Madrid, Manchester City F.C., Real Madrid C.F., Sergio Agüero, Sergio Batista
In Liga, Transfers and Rumors on July 14, 2011 at 11:09 am
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In case there was any doubt, striker Sergio “Kun” Agüero told reporters on Wednesday he wants to leave Atlético de Madrid.
Agüero is in Argentina for the Copa America with the host country. He scored twice in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Costa Rica to advance to the next round.
The striker told reporters that his agent was handling negotiations and that he was uncertain where his future lay, but one thing was clear: Agüero does not want to stay at the Vincente Calderon stadium in Madrid.
Agüero also alluded that a clásico match between Real Madrid (one of the clubs interested in signing the striker) and Argentina teammate Lionel Messi’s Barcelona would be interesting.
Borussia Dortmund, Bundesliga, Fußball-Bundesliga, Los Angeles, Madrid, Nuri Şahin, Xabi Alonso
In Liga on July 14, 2011 at 12:03 am
Recent Real Madrid acquisition Nuri Sahin will miss the next 2-3 weeks due to a knee injury.
The midfielder suffered a bruise on his left knee during Tuesday’s training session in Los Angeles. A magnetic resonance done at UCLA Health System Hospital on Wednesday confirmed Sahin suffered a Grade I sprain on his internal lateral ligament.
Sahin recently recovered from an injury to his right knee at the end of the 2010-11 Bundesliga season.
Real Madrid paid Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund 10 million euros (approx. $14 million) to sign Sahin to a six-year contract.
Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso also missed Wednesday’s training session due to a problem with a toe nail.
Madrid is in Los Angeles to kick off the North American leg of its pre-season tour.
Arsenal, Arsenal F.C., Barcelona, Cesc Fabregas, Ibiza, Spain, Xavi, Xavi Hernandez
In Liga on July 13, 2011 at 11:50 pm
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Barcelona mid-fielder Xavi Hernandez provided some insight on his national teammate and friend Cesc Fabregas’ condition.
Hernandez said a press conference on Wednesday: “I spoke to Cesc in Ibiza and he said he was suffering, because he really wants to come. It’s what he most wants, he’s done everything he can to come and wants Arsenal to let him go.”
Hernandez also spoke on Barcelona’s next likely addition, Alexis Sanchez, calling the Chilean “dynamic, vertical, and direct.”
He also said the possible selling of Bojan Krkic to Roma “might be the best” for the young player.
Update
Arsenal manager Arséne Wenger called Xavi’s remarks “disrespectful” to the club. He reiterated to The Guardian that Cesc has a contract with Arsenal and the club has no intention of selling their captain.
Alexis Sánchez, Alexis Sánchez (footballer), Barcelona, Cesc Fabregas, Chile, FC Barcelona, Nou Camp, Sandro Rosell, Spain, Udinese Calcio
In Liga, Transfers and Rumors on July 12, 2011 at 9:26 pm
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Will he, won’t he? FC Barcelona and Udinese have reportedly struck a deal for Alexis Sanchez.
Barça has had Sanchez in their sites for the past few months, and manager Pep Guardiola has reportedly urged club president Sandro Rosell to pay the Italian team whatever it wants for the Chilean midfielder.
Footballpress.net reports Barcelona will make an official announcement today.
If the Sanchez deal is true, Barcelona will have accomplished half of its acquisition goals for the season. Nou Camp is still pending an agreement wtih Arsenal for Cesc Fabregas.
Update
The Telegraph reports Barcelona and Sachez will complete a 26 million euro (approx. $51 million) deal this week.
Update 2
Barcelona newspaper El Mundo Deportivo reports that Udinese backed away from negotiations Wednesday after Chelsea increased its bid for Alexis Sanchez.
Emmanuel Adebayor, Gonzalo Higuain, José Mourinho, Karim Benzema, Los Angeles, Madrid, Sergio Agüero
In Liga on July 12, 2011 at 6:57 pm
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Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho may be building the club he wants, but there is still a piece missing: a new striker.
In an interview with RealMadrid.com before traveling to Los Angeles to start the pre-season friendlies, Mourinho voiced wishes for a new forward to complement existing strikers Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema.
Recall from last season Higuain went down for most of the year with an injury, and Mourinho had to rely on Benzema (whom he likened to taking a cat – instead of a dog – on a hunting trip) as his focal point of attack until Madrid acquired Emmanuel Adebayor on loan from Manchester City.
Adebayor returned to City at the end of the season (partly because his performance failed to meet expectations and because City asked too much for him), and Madrid has yet to sign a new striker (they’ve signed winger Jose Maria Callejon, midfielders Fabio Coentrao and Nuri Sahin, and defenseman Rafael Varane so far).
So who will Madrid sign to lead the attack? Several names are up in the air including Sergio Agüero (Atletico de Madrid), Neymar (Santos) and Carlos Tevez (Manchester City).
Autonomous Communities, Madrid, Pepe, Real Madrid C.F., Sergio Ramos, Sevilla, Sevilla FC, Spain
In Leagues, Liga, Transfers and Rumors on July 12, 2011 at 6:36 pm
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Real Madrid on Tuesday secured the futures of half of it’s back four: Sergio Ramos and Pepe.
Ramos, 25, signed a contract that will keep him in Madrid until the 2016-17 season. The defensive back joined Madrid from Sevilla in 2005. With Ramos, Madrid has won two Ligas, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup.
Ramos is also a regularly featured player on the Spanish national squad and won the 2008 EuroCup and the 2010 World Cup.
Pepe, 28, signed a deal that will last until the 2015/16 season. The central defender joined Madrid in 2007 from Porto.
Ángel di María, Carlos Tevez, Costa Rica, Esteban Cambiasso, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Fernando Gago, Gonzalo Higuain, Lionel Messi, Sergio Batista
In Copa America, Cups and Tournaments on July 12, 2011 at 10:44 am
Sergio “Kun” Aguero scored two goals and Angel Di Maria scored one to give Argentina a 3-0 win over Costa Rica on Monday.
Until now, Argentina has had a lackluster performance in the Copa America, and Lionel Messi – in particular – has been struggling to find the back of the net.
For Monday’s match, coach Sergio Batista made several changes to the starting lineup in an effort to turn his team’s performance around. Fernando Gago, Di Maria, Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain came on for Ever Banega, Esteban Cambiasso, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Carlos Tevez.
Last night’s win was the first for Argentina in this year’s tournament and sends them to the next round with Group A leader Colombia. Costa Rica will have to wait until the end of the group phase to see if they will advance as one of two third-place teams.
In Premier on July 11, 2011 at 5:10 pm
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Arsène Wenger has been on Arsenal’s bench since 1996. Maybe it’s time he called it a game and went home. Here’s why.
- When was the last time Arsenal won a title? 2005 FA Cup. Six years are a long time to go without a title and still keep your job.
- They are a constant disappointment in Champions League. In 15 years they made it to the final only once back in 2006, and even then they took a beating from Barcelona.
- Their standing in Premier is slipping. The Gunners finished in fourth place last season.
- Players want out. Cesc Fabregas wants to go to Barcelona and Samri Nasri is getting a lot of interest from Manchester United. Whether it’s because of Wenger’s coaching style or the lack of titles, I can’t blame them for wanting to leave.
In Transfers and Rumors on July 11, 2011 at 4:51 pm
Arsenal, Stoke and Fulham inked deals with new players.
The Gunners announced on Monday that they will sign Lille striker Gervinho.
Stoke picked up free agent Jonathan Woodgate with a one-year contract. Woodgate’s contract with Tottenham expired at the end of the 2011 season.
Fulham signed Hungarian goalkeeper Csaba Sogmoyi after having done a one-week trial at Craven Cottage.
Liga club Valencia, meanwhile, announced it has no intention to sell Juan Mata. Demand for the winger’s services, especially by Arsenal, increased after Spain won the Under-21 Euro Cup in Denmark last month.
Soccer Times 