SPAIN WON - BEST PLAYERS STATEMENTS - EURO2008
Posted on July 1, 2008
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Joachim Loew (national coach):
“I impact the aggroup a kudos for the terminal sextet weeks, that’s fantastic. The players are apparently disappointed, but we requirement not secure his nous about. Ins finals came to be is something special. The Spaniards had today meliorate chances and were in the incoming shitting better. ”
Michael Ballack (Germany):
“It is ever unsatisfactory to retrograde a final. The aggroup has played a enthusiastic Championship. Unfortunately, today we impact digit to digit mistakes likewise much. We wanted, but we could not. If the take of the team, has they are superior sold. We crapper be chesty of. Despite every the dissatisfaction - the aggroup great. ”
Jens Lehmann (Germany):
“I am rattling frustrated most the outcome of the Finals. It was belike my terminal dweller Championship. There are today thought: maybe something would impact been better. The clamant is the adversary of the Verlierers, modify if we impact the peak rausgeholt. On intense Followed beatific games, but this rhythm, we did not stop out. ”
Philipp Lahm (Germany):
“We impact not played substantially nervy as we hoped. We impact likewise whatever mistakes. We desired to intend the title. But today there is a World Cup qualifier that we poverty to create and create.”
Thomas Hitzlsperger (Germany):
“The Spaniards impact separate the ball well, so that you crapper scarce has a chance. You impact attained the competition to win. If they impact a quantity to vex them. We impact already reached the finals. It’s ease absent what we staleness ease further. Maybe we crapper support a aggregation from this mettlesome rausziehen. We impact a aggregation of potential. ”
Luis Aragones (Spain coach):
“We impact the status well. We won, period, Off. I module not be at the crowning of the team. I do not impact been healthy to stay.”
Fernando Torres (Spain):
“It was exclusive extraordinary, meet a dream. It is my prototypal bounteous title, I am overjoyed.”
Cesc Fabregas (Spain):
“It’s meet fantastic. This is the most bonny period in my chronicle as a player. I do not conceive that we are alive of what we impact achieved. We had to move 44 years. It was digit of my dreams, and I impact achieved it . We impact whatever opportunities herausgespielt and played bonny football. And we impact eventually achieved the success that we deserve. We are a teen aggroup and fisticuffs modify at the World Cup in digit eld for the title. ”
Angela Merkel (Chancellor):
“In the final, is already a enthusiastic success. We impact fought, but it has not quite enough. We were at the World Cup ordinal in the dweller Championship Second - let’s wager how it is in traffic to the World Cup 2010 continues. I impact archangel Ballack said that we ease impact to move a taste until we crapper fete doll. ”
After the 0-1 finish in the finals of the Euro against Espana praises fiddler Loew in an discourse the newborn denomination winner, saith the DFB pick but a “huge compliment”: “What in the terminal sextet weeks has been fantastic,” Loew summarizes the competition history.
Question: “Joachim Loew how do you appraise the 0-1 finish in the dweller Championship test against Spain?”
Joachim Loew: “We requirement the broad calibre of Spaniards recognise. They were technically superior and they had the meliorate chances. Gegentor would not fall, but the Spaniards were in the nervy shitting dangerous. The conclusion is in order.”
Question: “If the dissatisfaction so limited?”
Loew: “Of instruction we are every frustrated that we impact not won finals and it is not enough. But I impact the aggroup but a Brobdingnagian compliment. It has everything läuferisch and combative. What they in the instance sextet weeks, was fantastic. We had a aggregation of recreation and experience and respect. That staleness be commended mention. ”
Question: “What did the aggroup in the cabin?”
Loew: “I impact every said that the nous crapper not hang. We impact succeeded to the finals to come. This is something rattling special.”
Question: “What has eventually lacked the bounteous hit?”
Loew: “Save me today direct after the mettlesome analysis. We module yield us in pact absent unitedly and the competition and the players analyze. After the mettlesome are likewise whatever emotions here. But we are already alive of the areas in which we We requirement to improve. We did not ever endeavor the broad calibre we in the instance digit eld ofttimes had. ”
Question: “What do you feature to the action of archangel Ballack?”
Loew: “I was rattling pleased that he could play. It is for the aggroup on the earth staggeringly important. As the action of individualist players, I do not poverty to talk. It was essential that he was.”
Question: “How do you bear throughout the tournament?”
Loew: “He was the leader. He has a aggregation for the aggroup and finished rattling substantially represented Germany.”
Question: “Can you envisage the Spaniards as a model?”
Loew: “Absolutely. Espana has a technically broad quality. This is in upbringing already strongly encouraged. The players are also in the Champions League at the maximal take ever. They are in cacoethes of the ball staggeringly strong.”
Question: “How would you exposit your aggroup for this competition lane?”
Loew: “It has prefabricated the dweller Championship and also in the fittingness seen that we in aggregation are rattling farther ahead. We impact scholarly and developed. We are in the perspective of aggregation and the world. But we should not obligate the forcefulness and retrograde in visit to move to impact hard. ”
Question: “Will Jens Lehmann in content with the domestic aggroup continue?”
Loew: “I impact worked with him impact not uttered most the future. I impact congratulated him. He has a beatific job. He is also a cheater in the aggroup and rattling essential for the team.”
Question: “In Sept starts the World Cup qualification. What crapper the fans expect?”
Loew: “The finish is an motivator in the incoming digit eld whatever things to impact whatever things nervy and whatever things to meliorate so that we for the World Cup in South continent qualify. Where do we poverty a kindred persona as in the dweller Championship . ”
He had fought, bled and suffered, but in the modify everything was in vain. archangel Ballack change forfeited after the dweller Championship finals of the Teutonic domestic aggroup against Espana exclusive an intrinsic emptiness. Apparently in separation from his man players looked at the Teutonic officer in the Vienna period sky and could not apprehension that he again denied the enthusiastic intercommunicate failed. Then he permit his interference liberated command and locate downbound for everybody with aggroup trainer jazzman Bierhoff.
“It was meet a diminutive matter. archangel was rattling emotionally disturbed. He had quite a task, then it has not worked. This is ground I impact disposition for him,” reportable Bierhoff and additional meet added: “He had previously exclusive asked me That we after in the curve. I do not undergo whether he was misunderstood. There was a short discussion, but that was apace done. ”
Ballack to hair stitched
Ballack could or modify desired null to say. According to authorised figures, he was after the correct at the hair stitched, then directly prefabricated in the Mannschaftsbus. It was country to him that he had after the 0:1 against Espana on the ikon of the “eternal second” adheres.
The word “Vice” the England vet from FC Chelsea in the season with his edifice in Champions League and the Championship See had not heard. Indeed, for the ordinal instance in his occupation had to the 31-year-old mitigated with ordinal place.
Not sufficiency instance to a enthusiastic finish to win
“He was apparently frustrated because he has no beatific memories of finals. I told him but said that they ease crapper repair. He ease has whatever beatific eld aweigh and boost the quantity of a earth denomination to get,” said DFB President Theo Zwanziger, the “Captain” as digit of the prototypal getröstet had the sid. Even Chancellor Angela Merkel proven to start the autochthonous Görlitzer in start for the teams to rebuild: “I impact archangel Ballack said that we ease impact to move a taste until we crapper fete doll.”
Aufmunternde text for Ballack was also from his spouse Simone, the prototypal instance in Vienna during the dweller Championship in the room mitgefiebert and had he ease in July before the Traualtar occurs. Until the farewell at sextet proven both the “losers banquet” in the edifice environs “Phoenix” the test trauma fairly be processed.
Spain ofttimes luckless
However, the Sun for Ballack started well. Against 11st 45 gave the naif reddened by doctors that he, despite his semi-finals in calfskin trauma suffered in the finals from accumulating. Since the semi-finals had the past city with an light curing in the correct calfskin herumgequält its ingest until the test defence on the edge.
Against the Spaniards proven the “boss” everything to eventually Vice-curse to finish and its prototypal planetary denomination to win. Ballack ran with a Kineseo enter in the calf, which promotes the circulation and the body’s anti-pain grouping is activated.
Ballack rackerte, ackerte, rubbed in digit fights and was modify a chromatic card, but erst more in this competition he was the broad demands on his mortal is unable to perform. The digit most essential matches against Oesterreich (1-0) and Portugal (3-2) were low the forbid likewise lowercase for the aggroup captain, not exclusive Franz Beckenbauer at the dweller Championship predicts a striking role.
But these advances coronal Ballack was erst again not fair. Somehow it fits into the represent that he is in a impinging with Marcos Senna in the 36th Minute fissure harm above the correct hair (36) zuzog and twice on the mettlesome earth bounds had to be treated. In his possess emotive land desired the Görlitzer dropped in 2002 in metropolis in the World Cup test against Brasil (0:2) because of a chromatic hair had missed, but null to say.
Too whatever mistakes
“Of instruction we are every frustrated that we forfeited the finals. The aggroup has fought great, but perhaps digit or digit pivotal mistakes likewise much,” he commented mostly process the test activity of the DFB in their Mountain Tour 2008. Ballack was clearly: “Spain has eventually attained the mettlesome won. We wanted, but we did at the modify of the mettlesome no individual the key motion point.”
For fiddler Loew, in the Euro-days instance and again the conversation with his long limb on the instruction had led, however, that Ballack the aggroup as a officer for World Cup 2010 South continent module advance to: “He was the leader. He has rattling such for the aggroup and FRG finished rattling substantially represented. It is for the aggroup on the earth staggeringly important. ”
World Cup 2010 as a incoming earth goal
Ballack had modify before the competition prefabricated clear: “By 2010 I poverty also to every cases ease in the domestic aggroup play. And also as a captain, because this persona gives me a aggregation of fun.” Whether his persona as the unending module same Second, he did not feature that.
SPAIN WON RUSSIA - EURO2008
Posted on June 27, 2008
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Under the recognise of Vienna, Espana vapuleó astonishing to Russia: won by 3-0 and were hierarchical the effort of Euro 2008 after 24 years; intense the trauma was the official Villa. Will FRG before?
Vienna (AP) - Espana awoke from his imagine to land and imposed its call of endeavor to acquire the forfeited standing in aggregation and contact the sky 24 eld later, with goals from Xavi, Güiza and Silva in a mettlesome of enthusiastic arts line effort of Euro 2008.
Germany-Spain. Final Euro 2008 which module go downbound in story by backward to the selected of Spain. Having overcome the obstruction of rooms. Eliminate fears to Italia from the gesture of malefactor commission the semifinals to decimate Russia, the sentiency of the championship, endorsing the ordinal content in succession.
Luis Aragones visaged the appointment with story with a aggroup that knows of module Spain. There are nowadays to do so, such inferior a rivalry in short, full with semipolitical parties. Fears of fleshly dress him not to change, but what meditated.
We visaged digit choices we hit in fuck with her mettlesome to Europe. The contact of Espana to the regenerate Russia. Memories inform a Gol (4-1) at the execute of the Euro, which healthy the duel. It repeated the weather, with fall that benefited the Slavonic quickly, but the call of mettlesome was different.
The initial effort was clear. Battle for the ball. For the command. Spain, centering on edge the illusion of Arshavin, along the lines. He defended well. land was institute with a bag grown, immersed in a impulsive with which wiped soured the transpose with a sport carats to Sverige and Holland.
When every notices to Sergio Ramos Arshavin danger of descending to lateral with the separate of coercive Zhirkov, land astonied by added banda. Capdevila began to undergo Saenko, who threw threesome centers that institute no sell but place emotion into the body.
Spain played live. With someone of Senna in midfield, Xavi not slept cacoethes and apace institute the movements of revolutionary and Torres, ascension by assail by Sergio Ramos. It was the most intelligent lateral in the auction. Not reached by millimeters a edifice which was launched in shackle and gutter twice with the left-handed, after activity his symbol at the safekeeping of Akinfeyev.
The fisticuffs Torres and revolutionary are cragfast repeated as the entry period of hope. A brawny effort from the crossway of the Atlantic of Guaje again effort the reflexes of netkeeper Russian, in a dewy lawn by the flood, which gave the ball faster (m.11).
Russia had land ideas when they dominated the ball. Those 20 transactions of initial entry was not a mirage. He played with discretion, with measure and created danger with auctions of Pavlyuchenko. A expand start to the crossbar obstructed rondo (m.16) and a effort from the front, cod to the squad, led to the shutdown of the championship, with Iker air to give the ball with his mitt gloves (m.31).
He returned the Savior. The bowman who decides games. Espana was ease shocked. Seconds before, in actuation a lack, revolutionary had been injured. The gunner of the Euro suffered a depreciate in actuation a effort that ended up in the safekeeping of Akinfeyev. The device is alas with the activity today wore yellow, metallic for the superstitious.
Luis Aragones reacted quickly. He spent the organisation b, to 4-1-4-1. Jump to environs Cesc Fabregas. Within transactions of tension, imposed his call and cacoethes of the ball returned to Spain, became the owner. Only artefact to encounter the absent crown. No digit island to delivery Torres, in which Pavlyuchenko was not invited. The Slavonic mover followed his possess decade transactions from the fortuity and again around the goal. Drivers with his dresser exclusive the Atlantic and in career, lidded touching follow thanks to a contact of his measure Marchena.
The prototypal conception makes land that it is never cushy get in a earth competition. Much inferior repeat. But this activity is winning. It has no damage. For his nous not pay fears of the past. And mitt to overcome. It chromatic measure with the modify in mind.
Xavi institute Iniesta, wear in the title but finally deciding with the convey of the wall, which pushed with every his feeling to the meshwork Xavi, to release the insanity crossways the country.
The content sparked the sport controlling the nerves of Espana and Russia. Torres was healthy to clew the ordinal Slavonic in moments of doubt, but to go to sunken Cesc, kicked high.
The inclemency of land did not prevent the land imagination. They were easy in the field. Iniesta and Cesc invented not ended (m.60). Ramos returned to existence a beatific wound but his hunch was not owlish in the sell Torres (m.62). He was not Kolodin, nous of the Slavonic behind, and we were first to acknowledge. They were vulnerable.
It was when Cesc. The youngest of Espana became the someone and invented in meters final. First proven ordain with a Zapatazos that pleased Akinfeyev (m.69), for quaternary transactions after the sentencing duel, with a transfer to cut Güiza, dominated with his chest, and stung before the feat of Slavonic goalkeeper. The bowman was sentenced.
Russia had died. There was no shack for reaction. Espana imposed its style, had curb of the correct with spaces and accumulated the damage. Again Cesc unregularity and attended Silva, who lidded with the mitt to the network. Explosion of experience and effort kibosh of Casillas, which is presented in the effort correct without a content in the terminal digit games. No inferior than in the lodge and semifinals.
Spain agrees to the place of the elect. 24 eld after backward to an modify with the mend intend of defeating Germany. 1964 before the state Union. 1984 compared to France. In 2008. In the Prater, Espana backwards to contact the sky.
CAN DOSSENA BE AS EFFECTIVE AS EVRA, CLICHY AND COLE?
Posted on June 27, 2008
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Liverpool are hoping to finally complete the signing of Udinese full-back Andrea Dossena next week, with the transfer fee reported in some quarters to be 7m.
Is Dossena good enough to be categorised in the same bracket as Gael Clichy, Patrice Evra or Ashley Cole / Wayne Bridge?
From all accounts, Dossena has the technical ability and the mental fortitude to succeed in the Premiership. He’s a solid defender, good in the air but also with an excellent first touch and dangerous going forward. He’s tall for a full-back - and could also theoretically deputise at center-back (we all know how much Rafa loves these interchangeable players).
He’s liable to have some problems early on but he should prove to be a success in the Premier League.
Can he match the efforts of the left backs gracing the first team squads of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United? Let’s compare:
Gael Clichy (Arsenal) - at his age, to play with such drive, commitment and composure - Clichy is a true success story of the Arsenal academy. He was picked up at the age of 18 and was Ashley Cole’s understudy for 3 seasons before bursting on to the big stage and justifiably laid claim to being the best fullback in the Premier League. Clichy lacks the experience of his rivals but makes up for it in sheer ability and self-belief.
Ashley Cole (Chelsea) - some say he shouldn’t be Chelsea’s first-choice left-back, but when on form Cole is better than Wayne Bridge by a mile and a half. He’s fast, has an impeccable sense of tackling (that rash tackle apart) and is the best defender from the trio being discussed. Last season he had some problems, in terms of form as well as with the referees, and he’s probably the most hated player in the Premier League, but in terms of ability and experience this man is definitely top 3, if not the best (his attacking play let’s him down at times although he doesn’t have the right formation / players in front of him at Chelsea.
Patrice Evra (Manchester United) - Used the excellent season he had in 06/07 as a springboard to launch himself into 07/08 as the Premier League’s best attacking full-back in several years. It’s not so much what he does on the ball - his shooting can be wayward - as what he does off it, with his constant forward runs pulling defenders away and creating room for the likes of Ronaldo, Giggs, Rooney, Nani and co to pop up and create scoring chances. He’s improved on his positioning and made some crucial last-ditch tackles last season.
How does Dossena stand up to these three? One, he’s taller and possibly a tad bit slower, and two, he’s less liable to go rampaging up the left flank as opposed to the likes of Evra and Clichy. He seems to be a very sound defender though, so at the very least Liverpool will have a solid defensive base to build their attacks on.
What do you guys think - will Dossena, given time, be as important a part of Liverpool’s defence as the three left-backs mentioned above? Will he be as good (if not better) than them? Sound off in the comments below.
"Can Dossena be as effective as Evra, Clichy and Cole?" was originally published at Soccerlens.com - Football News.TRANSFER RUMOURS (27 JUNE 08): LIVERPOOL GO FOR DOWNING, ARSENAL FOR VELOSO, TOTTENHAM GET GOMES, CAVANI TO WEST HAM AND MORE
Posted on June 27, 2008
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And then there were two - Spain slowed the game down and Russians were out of depth in the patience game. Hiddink’s team can go home with their heads held up high and Aragones will now lead Spain against Germany in the Euro 2008 final on Sunday.
Today’s column is a short one - let’s get started:
PSV and Tottenham have reached a 7m deal for keeper Heurelho Gomes, subject to personal terms and a medical.
Rumor Rating: 5 - Spurs have finally got their keeper, so that’s one set of rumours that will die down. Now it remains to be seen who will be Tottenham’s #2, and whether anyone will buy Robinson.
Liverpool have announced that their deal with Udinese for full-back Andrea Dossena will be completed next week.
Rumor Rating: 5 - No snags are expected so Liverpool should wrap up the deal and bring in John Arne Riise’s official replacement in the squad. Thing is - is he good enough?
Liverpool have also been linked with Middlesbrough’s Stewart Downing, rating at 12m.
Rumor Rating: 2 - Now that Tottenham have signed their fill of wingers-cum-playmakers, I suppose it’s Liverpool’s turn to get linked with Middlesbrough’s most-wanted player. I don’t think Liverpool are seriously interested, but even if they are Boro could price them out and force them to look elsewhere.
Manchester City can’t seem to finalise the Ronaldinho deal (apparently he wants to play for a bigger club) but they’re close to singing CSKA Moscow’s Jo.
Rumor Rating: 3 - We’ve heard this ‘they’re close to’ bit for a month now. Just sign him already.
The Daily Mail suggests Everton want to sell Andy Johnson to raise cash for transfers. Suitors include half a dozen bottom-half Premier League sides.
Rumor Rating: 2 - How much Everton need to strengthen is a different story but if they sell Johnson, who will replace him in the squad?
Miguel Veloso’s agent has blabbed to the press about how a member of Arsenal’s technical staff have been in touch with his player.
Rumor Rating: 3 - This doesn’t ‘really’ classify as a proper rumour but Veloso would plug a Flamini-sized gap in Arsenal’s squad, that’s for sure.
Liverpool have asked Pompey to pay more money upfront if they want to bag Peter Crouch for 9m.
Rumor Rating: 4 - I expect Redknapp to get his man, although one wonders why Liverpool would need to scrap over pennies? It’s not as if they’re bringing in expensive players…
A Premier League return is possible for Thomas Gravesen - with Stoke looking to bag the former Everton and (gasp!) Real Madrid midfielder and Celtic open to release him on a free transfer.
Rumor Rating: 2 - If Real Madrid buying Gravesen was stupid, so is Stoke paying exorbitant wages for a player who feels that he deserves to be playing with a big club. Better to bring in a young midfielder on loan - it’s not as if Gravesen is going to last for long.
The Times reports that West Ham have talked to Palermo about bringing in Edison Cavani on loan.
Rumor Rating: 3 - You should check out Cavani on Football Manager if you get the chance - good, strong striker with a lot of potential. Don’t see why Palermo would be up for sending him out on loan or why he would come to West Ham - if he’s good enough to be starting West Ham he should be good enough to start for Palermo. Unless West Ham want to buy him, which would be a good idea.
That’s it for today folks - there are a couple of articles going up today about Tottenham and Liverpool in the transfer rumours section, be sure to check them out. Graham Fisher will cover over the weekend and possibly on Monday as well.
"Transfer Rumours (27 June 08): Liverpool go for Downing, Arsenal for Veloso, Tottenham get Gomes, Cavani to West Ham and more" was originally published at Soccerlens.com - Football News.NIKE MERCURIAL VAPOR IV - EURO 2008 EDITION - REVIEW
Posted on June 27, 2008
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Last month we reviewed the Nike Euro 08 shoes over at the football kits blog - and our friends from SoccerPro were kind enough to send us a sample pair to test out and review.
The Euro 08 category features the Mercurial Vapor IV and Air Legend boots from Nike - we had already reviewed the Vapor IVs and I was looking forward to testing out the shoes.
The actual playing experience is going to differ from person to person, but personally I thought 4 things stood out with the Vapors:
Pros:
Lightweight
Very light and a comfortable fit. As a SL reader said previously, it truly is like you’re barefoot. Performance-wise the weight of your shoes is not going to make a significant difference (considering that all football boots made for the top level are similar in weight with marginal differences) but running in these shoes is a good experience and you feel more natural while on the field.
Control
Ball control is a matter of individual skill but once again the Vapor IV gets your feet closer to the ball than with most other shoes, giving you a dimension of control getting close to what you’d feel while playing barefoot. I admit that this could be more psychological than anything else due to the ‘natural’ feel the shoe gives and I suppose you’d need to do extensive cross-product testing to be sure (and that sounds like an interesting summer project for anyone fanatical about football shoes).
Cons:
Looks
Granted that the pictures are always better than the product, but the Nike shoes seem almost ‘flimsy’ to me. This has a lot to do with the material used to make the shoes - incredibly light-weight and durable but ultimately not so classy-looking.
Safety
There’s a trade-off between making a shoe lightweight / enhancing its performance and making the shoe safe for the rough n tumble world of football. The Vapor is definitely more performance-oriented than safe, but then again you’re supposed to play football and go for the ball (and jump out of the way if someone comes studs up at you), not kick out at other peoples’ feet or leave yours in to see if your shoe can stand up to an Essien crunch.
Balance-wise the shoe is fine, so if you’re OK with the looks then this is definitely a pair of football boots to buy.
You can get your own set of Nike Euro 08 Shoes here (Legends or Vapors).
"Nike Mercurial Vapor IV - Euro 2008 Edition - Review" was originally published at Soccerlens.com - Football News.TOTTENHAM AGREE £7M GOMES DEAL WITH PSV
Posted on June 27, 2008
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Tottenham have agreed a deal with PSV Eindhoven to sign goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes for £7m, subject to personal terms, a medical and a work permit.
Gomes, 27, has played for Brazil and conceded only 24 league goals last season with PSV. Gomes made his name at Cruzeiro in Brazil before moving to PSV in 2004 where he has won four Dutch titles.
His arrival will be a source of optimism for Spurs fans who have seen their side concede some ridiculous goals because of schoolboy keeping and defending errors. Now all they need is a fit King and Bale to partner Gunter and Woodgate in defence next season.
Gomes joins Giovani Dos Santos and Luka Modric as the Jaunde revolution picks up pace at White Hart Lane.
"Tottenham agree £7m Gomes deal with PSV" was originally published at Soccerlens.com - Football News.CHIVAS USA 2, FIRE 0: A SUPPORTER’S VIEW
Posted on June 27, 2008
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The Goats are back (for now).
After a two-game losing streak with two shutout losses, Chivas USA looked like it might slip back into its early-season funk. Not so fast. All the Goats did was put together a convincing 2-0 win against the suddenly slumping Chicago Fire. A win that has Chivas USA thinking about moving up in the West.
What has happened to the Fire? Winless in June, Chicago dropped their third straight MLS decision and look like a shell of the team that dominated the league for the first two months. With a defense showing cracks, and an attack that has managed one goal in three matches, the Fire need to regroup in a hurry in the loaded Eastern Conference.
SBI correspondent John Sandate was at Home Depot Center for the match and gave us his report on the action (Chicago correspondent Stephen Wattles' was unable to file a report due to the birth of his child last weekend.)
Guzan stars as Chivas USA shines
By JOHN SANDATE
Tonight, Chivas USA won its fourth game in its last six contests. An awesome display of offensive attack and top level goalkeeping from Brad Guzan must have surely made MLS bigwigs gush with joy. Especially, since Chivas’ 2-0 drubbing of the once-might Chicago Fire was on ESPN2 before a national audience. This was Chivas USA soccer. Check that, futbol. The players may have changed slightly from past line-ups (again) but the voracious pursuit to put the ball in the back of the net was something not to common in the MLS. Don’t believe me? Even with one man down, Chicago still could not find the net in the second half. Chivas USA is not an offensive juggernaut as of yet, make no mistake about it.
However, you have to wonder if Preki’s sadistically-intense practices and Denis Te Klose’s Ajax influence are starting to morph into a league version of “Total Football”. Don’t laugh. This team never stopped pushing forward and always had players shifting around to defend the ball and keep the attack flowing. Intense defense and sublime passing. The Fire look flustered.
The crowd was significantly larger than recent Chivas USA games and you can thank Cuauhtemoc Blanco for that. His Club America fans came out in droves. This was good for the league and most importantly, for Chivas USA finances. Unfortunately, this game also brought out the bad seeds, too. Club America’s infamous supporters, La Monumental, also came out to get their “Blanco” fix and brought their shanks to the game to celebrate. You may have spotted them during the telecast; they took off their shirts to show off their beer guts and Mexi-mullets and proceeded to spend the entire night trying to taunt Chivas fans in section 104. Thankfully, trouble was averted due in large part to the Department of Home Depot Security and a few dozen or so Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies WITH GUNS. Oh well, it really is a double edged sword when Chicago fire comes to LA to play Chivas USA: good for business, bad for living free. Kudos to the Chivas USA front office for taking extreme security measures again to protect all the fans.
Here’s what I learned from this game about Chivas USA and not in any particular order. Raphael Wicky is still world class-quality, when healthy. Sacha Kljestan obviously is close to becoming the next Clint Dempsey or better. Pancho Mendoza is a better left back than left wing. Justin Braun plays better when knows he’s 6’3” 215lbs. Ante Razov can still play, no goals but 2 assists. Claudio Suarez is old, real old. Can he still defend? Damn skippy. Last, a copy of this game should be sent to every European football team that is in need of a goalkeeper who plays smart and fearless. I don’t think even MLS-hater Steven Cohen can’t argue that Guzan is world class now. Tonight’s game was really a global tryout for Brad Guzan. If Chivas USA doesn’t get at least 6 million in a transfer fee for this man, than something is wrong.
As for the match, everything went right.
TOP RANK SIGNS NONITO DONAIRE
Posted on June 27, 2008
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Top Rank Promotions has signed IBF flyweight titleholder Nonito Donaire after the 25-year old Filipino parted ways in a dispute with Gary Shaw, reports Dan Rafael.
Donaire (19-1, 12 KO) publicly feuded with Shaw last year after upsetting Vic Darchinyan and getting just one fight the rest of the year, against Luis Maldonado. That was Donaire's last fight, and it took place in December.
Donaire was approved by Shaw to fight on that ill-fated card in Dubai that got called off, but after that, it's rumored all Shaw offered Donaire was a spot on the undercard of the upcoming Darchinyan-Kirilov fight on Showtime. It's worth being fair -- maybe that's all Shaw had open.
Donaire's not the only fighter to leave Shaw recently, as rising junior middleweight knockout artist James Kirkland has also split from his stable. Both men are managed by Cameron Dunkin, who has almost all of his fighters signed with Arum's Top Rank, including Kelly Pavlik.
Arum says that Donaire will likely fight in August and then hopefully be part of a massive October card in Macau, where Arum wants to stage a championship triple-header. It's rumored that he could be matched with 115-pound titlist Fernando Montiel or Jorge Arce, a contender in the same division, both exciting fighters and good opponents for Donaire, who seems to have the body to move up at least two more divisions if he wishes.
Kirkland, for the record, has a date on October 4th scheduled, and it's rumored that Deandre Latimore may be his opponent. Latimore recently upset Sechew Powell on ESPN2.
CHAGAEV OUT FOR JULY 5 REMATCH WITH VALUEV
Posted on June 27, 2008
Filed Under Boxing | Leave a Comment
Source: Dan Rafael
WBA heavyweight titlist Ruslan Chagaev has been forced to pull out of a July 5 rematch with the man he beat for the title, 7-footer Nikolai Valuev, as a result of a nasty injury suffered in training.
The 29-year old Chagaev (24-0-1, 17 KO) suffered a complete tear of his left Achilles tendon and is scheduled for surgery on Monday. It's the third time since he claimed the belt in April 2007 that Chagaev has had to pull out of a scheduled bout, and the second time a rematch with Valuev has been called off. Chagaev has fought just once since the win over the giant, beating England's Matt Skelton in January.
Valuev's co-promoter, Don King, had this to say:
"How many times is this dude going to pull out of a fight," King said. "He doesn't really want to fight the giant (Valuev) again. Valuev has trained for this fight twice. I want to see if the WBA will allow him to fight for the interim title immediately."
Frankly, King is right to demand an interim title fight for his guy. The injury is no joke; it's not like Chagaev can fight with a torn Achilles tendon, even though the prognosis is relatively positive. But this is the second time Chagaev has had to cancel. Valuev has earned his shot; he should get a shot.
The fight was to main event the July 5 show in Germany, but now the main event will be the WBA middleweight title rematch between Felix Sturm and Randy Griffin, who fought to a pretty exciting draw last year.
PETERSON AND MARTIROSYAN WIN ON ANOTHER TOP RANK STINKER
Posted on June 27, 2008
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The day that Top Rank's promotional deal with the Versus Network ends cannot come fast enough. Tonight's show featured Anthony Peterson and Vanes Martirosyan against tough veterans -- fine idea in theory, sort of, but yet another stinker when all was said and done.
I don't blame Versus for the series being terrible. Their commentators are solid and know their stuff, they present everything in the classic boxing on TV fashion, and they are gifted with the Top Rank association in that they have interesting young fighters available for broadcast.
Of course, we don't get good fights. This series has been so God awful bad that the network re-airs to this very day awful fights like Ulises Solis-Will Grigsby II and Hasim Rahman-Taurus Sykes. Neither fight wound up worth watching once, let alone several times in the next year.
From the repeated promotion of Tye Fields -- a nice guy, but a hack fighter who fights crap opponents -- to flat-out yawners like tonight's two-fight card, there is hopefully no way that Versus will renew with Top Rank, and will instead go with Golden Boy or someone else. Anyone else. Arum and Co. obviously have no real interest in broadening the scope of their series on Versus, so get them out of there and let someone else try. It can't get any worse, can it?
Anyway, tonight's fights went largely as expected, at least in terms of the winners. Anthony Peterson (27-0, 19 KO) pitched an essential shutout (120-108, 120-108, 119-109, and 118-110 on my generous card) over veteran Fernando Trejo, who had last been seen when Bobby Pacquiao knocked him out in the fourth round.
Peterson, 23, was highly tentative and seemed at times afraid to open up on Trejo, who is hardly a tricky fighter. Trejo stood right in front of Peterson, tried to come inside on him, and was met with good defense and fine fundamentals, but no sizzle from Peterson. Now, look, Anthony Peterson is 23 years old. I'm not trying to judge how he would do against top 10 opposition the way Wally Matthews did tonight. He's clearly not at that level yet. But even a half-step up against a puncher might test him the way he fought tonight. It was a solid advancement in his career, but nothing special.
The same could be said of Vanes Martirosyan (20-0, 13 KO), who beat former Winky Wright challenger Angel Hernandez (28-7, 16 KO). The 22-year old Martirosyan knocked Hernandez down in the opening round with an uppercut and stunned him a lot throughout the ten round sweep (100-89 on all three cards, and on mine). But Hernandez proved double tough, taking Martirosyan's best and staying up, even taunting him and asking for more on several occasions. But in the end, it was a one-sided beatdown that showed more than Hernandez was shot than it did anything (again) special about Martirosyan.
The fights went well for Arum's interests, and for the two winning prospects. But who watched? And what did they think after? These are valid questions.
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