SHOOT

Van Nistelrooy still in the picture for Holland, says coach

noreply@blogger.com (baby) — Wed, 05 May 2010 17:22:00 +0000

THE HAGUE: Dutch coach Bert Van Marwijk insisted yesterday that veteran striker Ruud van Nistelrooy could still make the World Cup Finals despite being omitted from an initial training squad.
“As for Ruud, I’m giving myself until May 11 to decide,” Van Marwijk told the De Telegraaf daily newspaper.
“I’m leaving him until that date to convince me that he is sufficiently in shape to take part in the World Cup.”
Van Marwijk on Monday named a 26-strong squad for a first training camp at Hoenderlo from May 10-14 ahead of the June 11-July 11 World Cup in South Africa. This camp is for players whose season has come to an end.
A second camp with those players still involved with their clubs will be held in Austria between May 19-31.
Among those who will be allowed to miss out on the first camp are Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben and Mark van Bommel as they are preparing for the Champions League final on May 22 between Inter Milan and Bayern Munich.
AC Milan’s Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Rafael van der Vaart of Real Madrid have also been given the green light to miss the first camp.
“My assistants and I have seen a lot of Ruud playing recently. We don’t think it would be useful to call him up at the first step but that does not mean that he’s out of the picture,” the coach said.
The 33-year-old Van Nistelrooy, who joined Hamburg midway through the season from Real Madrid, had recently indicated that he would like to end his self-imposed exile from the national squad.
The former Manchester United striker has scored 33 goals in his 64 international appearances for Holland.
The Dutch – who have yet to win the World Cup despite reaching two finals in 1974 and 1978 – have been drawn with Denmark, Japan and Cameroon for the Finals. — AFP

Inter Milan Advances, Denying Barcelona a Chance to Repeat

noreply@blogger.com (baby) — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 08:11:00 +0000

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Inter Milan reached the European Champions League final for the first time in 38 years, surviving Thiago Motta’s first-half ejection to defeat the defending champion, Barcelona, 3-2 on aggregate, despite a 1-0 loss Wednesday night.

Inter, which will play Bayern Munich in the final on May 22 in Madrid, will seek its third title. It previously won in 1964 and 1965.

Full Story here

Barcelona youngster Jeffren highlights importance of Inter Milan match

noreply@blogger.com (baby) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:32:00 +0000

MADRID, April 25 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona's young forward Jeffren Suarez this Sunday highlighted the importance of Barcelona's Champions League semifinal return leg at home to Inter Milan next Wednesday.

Jeffren opened the scoring as Barcelona prepared for the Inter clash with a 3-1 home win over Xerez on Saturday night, but with domestic business over with he turned his attention to Europe.

Barca needs to win by 2-0 or better after losing the first leg to the Italian outfit 3-1 last Tuesday and there will be a packed house and a tense atmosphere in the Camp Nou stadium for the second match between the two teams.

"It's the game of the year for us and it is going to be very difficult," he said in declarations published on the official Barcelona website.

"However, even though it is a tough match, we are going to be calm about preparing it. We are going to do the best we can to try and win. The whole squad is really motivated to try and win," he said.

Jeffren also discussed his goal against Xerez, the second he has scored in the Primera Liga this season.

"It could be the best goal I have scored, above all because I scored it in the Camp Nou Stadium," he added.

Source: FC Barcelona

Man United remains world's most valuable club

noreply@blogger.com (baby) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 22:46:00 +0000

LONDON (AP): Manchester United has been ranked football's most valuable team by Forbes magazine for the sixth straight year as a group of investors and fans try to buy the heavily indebted club.

The American business magazine's valuation is $1.8 billion, but the Glazer family owners are resisting the hostile Red Knights campaign to buy the 18-time English champions and their debt of $1.1 billion.

Based on Forbes' estimation, which takes into account revenue growth, profitability and debt levels in the 2008-09 season, United is the most valuable sports team in the world.

Real Madrid is second in the football list at $1.323 billion, with Arsenal third at $1.181 billion - the same top three as last year.

Barcelona has leapt to fourth from seventh after winning the Champions League plus a Spanish league and cup double last season, taking Bayern Munich's place after the German side's value dropped by 11 percent to $990 million.

Liverpool, which is sixth at $822 million, is looking for a buyer and its American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr. are confident that their off-field activities this year have increased the value of the club despite being unlikely to qualify for the Champions League next season.

The top ten is completed by AC Milan ($800 million), Juventus ($656 million), Chelsea ($646) and Inter Milan ($413 million).

Source:

Mourinho’s men stun champs Barca in thrilling match

noreply@blogger.com (baby) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 22:43:00 +0000

MILAN: Tireless Inter Milan produced a rip-roaring home performance to overpower Barcelona 3-1 and leave the holders in real trouble after a thrilling Champions League semi-final, first leg on Tuesday.

Barca lost by a two-goal margin for the first time under manager Pep Guardiola as strikes from Wesley Sneijder, Maicon and Diego Milito, after Pedro had given Barca the lead, set up a fascinating second leg at the Nou Camp next Wednesday.

Barcelona captain Carles Puyol was booked and will miss the return along with Inter midfielder Dejan Stankovic.

In one of the most electric atmospheres inside the San Siro for years, both sides stretched every last sinew to the limit as Europe’s top club competition again showed why fans the world over are so hooked on the excitement.

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Jose Mourinho - Best Coch In World Football

noreply@blogger.com (baby) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 22:32:00 +0000

Jose Mourinho(Inter Milan): Proved why he is the best coach in world football by getting his tactics spot on. Inter allowed Barcelona to have the ball where they couldn’t hurt them before pressing, stealing possession and launching speedy counter-attacks from which their three goals were scored.

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