joi, 12 septembrie 2013
El Madrid no se olvida de Neymar
Ahora desde el rencor intenta y la venganza, intenta castigar al Barça y al jugador. Y, para ello, está incentivando al grupo inversor DIS (que tenía el 40% de los derechos económicos de Ney hasta recalar en el Camp Nou), para que demande judicialmente a las tres partes implicadas en el traspaso: el Santos FC, como vendedor, el Barça, como comprador, y el jugador, que era el activo de la venta.
Desde hace más de dos meses, DIS lleva amenazando que irá a los tribunales, porque entienden que, más allá del precio oficial del traspaso 17,1, millones de euros), de los cuales cobraron el 40% correspondiente, Santos y Barça buscaron fórmulas alternativas para driblarlo, entre las cuales estaría, en primer lugar, la disputa de dos amistosos (el del Gamper de este año y un segundo en territorio brasileño que se jugaría en agosto de 2014 o 2015), y, en segundo término, el derecho preferencial que el Barça ha adquirido en tres jóvenes perlas santistas, Víctor Andrade, Giba y Gabibol, por el cual han pagado 7,9 millones de euros. Esta es la visión de DIS y del Madrid.
Para el Barça, el escenario es interpretado de forma diferente. El buena sintonía que se estableció con el Santos, a raíz de las negociaciones por la venta del Mohicano, propició acuerdos paralelos, que nada tienen que ver con la ‘operación Neymar’.
Florentino es un mal perdedor. Y ha dado muchas muestras de ello, como cuando el Madrid cayó en las ‘semis’ de la Champions y denunció a varios jugadores blaugranas ante la UEFA con el único objetivo que no pudiesen disputar la final de Wembley. En el caso Neymar, su actuación roza el patetismo. Fuentes cercanas a la directiva del Santos FC alucinan al ver como el Madrid, que no pinta nada en la venta de Neymar, ahora se dedica a meter cizaña.
En mayo, Florentino sabía por boca del representante del jugador, Wagner Ribeiro, y de Neymar padre, que la Joya no estaba por la labor de ir al Madrid. Ante este panorama, otros hubieran recogido las bártulos y se hubieran retirado. Florentino no. A la desesperada intentó torpedear la operación, encareciéndola. Y, para ello, activó dos frentes, el agente de Neymar, que ha sido su fiel aliado desde hace su primera etapa en la presidencia blanca, y el grupo DIS. También sondeó al Santos, pero vio que no le seguían el juego,
A Wagner Ribeiro y a DIS los motivó prometiéndoles una suculenta prima, que en el caso del grupo inversor alcanzaría los 40 millones de euros. Éste es un detalle (y no precisamente menor) que los representantes del grupo DIS omiten cuando han sido entrevistados por varios medios de comunicación catalanes.
Es muy curioso que precisamente DIS (o llámese Florentino) se queje porque considera que el Barça usó fórmulas paralelas para saltarse el porcentaje del grupo inversor. Estas acusaciones, absolutamente infundadas, son hechas por alguien que no pensaba dividir la prima, que el Madrid, le daba por fuera del acuerdo con el Santos. Éticamente la actuación de DIS deja mucho a desear.
Si DIS se posicionó al lado del Madrid fue por el vil metal. El grupo gestiona derechos económicos, que no federativos, y su razón de ser es lucrar con la venta de jugadores que, anteriormente, han comprado. Y, en el caso de Neymar el Madrid le garantizaba unos ingresos superiores, a través de esta prima, y porque estaba dispuesto a pagar más al Santos de los 17,1 millones que abonó el Barça.
El Barça, por su parte, tuvo una actitud intachable en la ‘operación Neymar’. En 2011, Sandro Rosell entró en contacto con su homónimo santista, Luis Álvaro Oliveira, para pedirle permiso para negociar con el jugador, mientras que el Madrid fue por las espaldas, ya que estaba dispuesto a pagar la cláusula de rescisión de 45 millones de euros. Ahora en 2013, cuando se tuvo que ejecutar la incorporación, el Barcelona sólo negoció con el Santos FC y nunca se entablaron conversaciones con los grupos inversores que tenían parte de los derechos federativos: DIS (un 40%) y TEISA (poseía un 5%). Este hecho irritó profundamente a DIS (a TEISA no porque son muy próximos a la actual directiva santista) y ahora buscan venganza.
miercuri, 11 septembrie 2013
Un Neymar estelar liquida a Portugal
Neymar regateó a tres adversarios para hacer el segundo tanto de la noche y antes sirvió con categoría un saque de esquina que Thiago Silva cabeceó a gol. Fue una gran noche para el azulgrana.
Jô redondeó la victoria brasileña al comienzo de la segunda parte, dando la vuelta al tanto inicial de Raul Meireles, que abrió el marcador en un fallo defensivo de Maicon.
La selección brasileña dio buena imagen en la primera parte, cuando fue agresiva, competitiva y creó varias ocasiones de gol, sobre todo cuando el balón pasaba por los dominios de Neymar, aunque el equipo bajó la intensidad de juego en la segunda mitad.
Portugal sintió la ausencia de Cristiano Ronaldo, que fue dispensado por el exceso físico del pasado fin de semana en la victoria contra Irlanda del Norte.
El equipo de Paulo Bento sólo plantó cara en la primera media hora, pero sin Cristiano Ronaldo sus opciones ofensivas se vieron limitadas.
En un inicio sin dominio claro por parte de ningún equipo, Brasil intentó llevar el peso del juego, pero sin excesiva profundidad, mientras que Portugal, esperando a la contra, dispuso de las primeras ocasiones.
Raul Meireles avisó con un testarazo al palo y, acto seguido, materializó la amenaza de gol, al aprovechar un grave despiste defensivo de Maicon, que le regaló el balón al centrocampista luso cuando quería hacer una cesión al portero Julio César.
Brasil reaccionó rápido, cinco minutos después, en un saque de esquina botado por Neymar que remató con un cabezazo inapelable Thiago Silva, que estaba libre de marcaje.
A partir del empate Brasil se creció, comenzó a tocar el balón con más fluidez y creó peligro principalmente a través de las internadas de Neymar, a quien los portugueses intentaron frenar con faltas duras.
Precisamente Neymar anotó el segundo de Brasil en una jugada brillante, un eslalon vertiginoso con el que se desembarazó de tres defensas portugueses antes de definir con un toque sutil.
El equipo brasileño tuvo entonces sus mejores minutos y rozó el gol en un par de centros, desde ambas bandas, y en especial en un nuevo saque de esquina, que malogró Paulinho por poco.
El tercer gol brasileño llegó también en un centro al área, del lateral izquierdo Maxwell, sustituto del lesionado Marcelo, que remató a gol Jô al comienzo de la segunda parte.
Después ambos equipos se acomodaron, bajaron las revoluciones del partido y, con la rueda de cambios, el duelo terminó por perder intensidad.
12-year old Jordan McCabe basketball
11-Year-Old Girl Shatters Climbing Records
Netherlands and Italy qualify for World Cup finals
Robin van Persie ensured the Netherlands qualified for the World Cup finals from Group D with a 2-0 win over Andorra.
The Dutch striker scored a quick-fire brace in the second half as Louis van Gaal's side claimed a win that will take them to Brazil following Romania's defeat by Turkey. The win means Holland finished the night on 22 points - nine clear of both Romania and Turkey following the latter's 2-0 win in Bucharest and eight ahead of Hungary who are in second place with 14.
Italy came from behind to beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in Turin and join the Netherlands in qualifying for the finals.
Aston Villa striker Libor Kozak put the visitors ahead in the 19th minute before Giorgio Chiellini equalised shortly after the re-start. Mario Balotelli scored the winner from the penalty spot in the 54th minute after he was brought down by Gebre Selassie in the box.
The Czechs ended the game down to 10 men after substitute Daniel Kolaf was sent off with one minute remaining for a double booking. Victory leaves Italy unbeaten in Group B and seven points clear of nearest rivals Bulgaria, who beat Malta 2-1 earlier today.
The Italians have now won six of their eight qualifying matches and clinched their place in next year's tournament in Brazil with two games to spare.
The Netherlands and Italy reach next year's event along with Brazil, South Korea, Iran, Australia and Japan.
Germany moved to within a win of securing their place at the World Cup thanks to a 3-0 victory over the Faroe Islands.
Per Mertesacker gave Joachim Low's men the lead midway through the first half, but Germany had to wait until midway through the second half before a penalty from Mesut Ozil doubled their advantage from after Atli Gregersen was sent off. Thomas Muller, who had earned the penalty, then rounded off the win in the 84th minute as Germany maintained a five-point lead over Sweden at the top of Group C.
A quickfire goal from Zlatan Ibrahimovic was enough to secure victory for Sweden in Kazakhstan as the Scandinavians remained three points clear in second place over Austria.
Fabio Capello's Russia took a big step towards securing their place in Brazil after a strong second half show saw off Israel 3-1 in their Group F clash in St Petersburg.
Two goals from Fabian Schar helped Switzerland move ever closer to a place at the 2014 World Cup finals as they beat Norway in qualifying Group E.
France belatedly found their scoring touch as they twice came from behind to finally beat Belarus 4-2. Franck Ribery, passed fit after a buttock injury, equalised twice after first Egor Filipenko and then Timofey Kalachev had given Belarus the lead.
Goals in the final 20 minutes from Samir Nasri and Paul Pogba then sealed a hard-fought victory for Didier Deschamps' side, keeping alive their slim hopes of beating Spain to automatic qualification but more importantly keeping them five points ahead of Finland in the race for second place
Like Him or Not, Yankees Rely on Rodriguez
BALTIMORE — For all their distrust of him personally, for all of their anger at his deceit, the unmistakable truth of this pennant race is that the Yankees need Alex Rodriguez. He is free on bail, essentially, appealing his 211-game drug suspension, and his line-drive doubles helped spark a 7-5 victory over the Baltimoreand drive it to all fields.”
Alas, Rodriguez is not the most reliable player to depend on for a playoff push. With his surgically repaired hips, his documented history of performance-enhancing drug use and his age — 38 — he is a risky bet to hold up very long.
So it was that Rodriguez doubled to start a go-ahead, four-run rally in the top of the eighth inning, and then was replaced in the bottom of the inning by David Adams. He said he felt a knot in his left hamstring coming around third to score, but iced it and said it “checked out O.K.”
Manager Joe Girardi said he would probably use Rodriguez as the designated hitter Wednesday.
“We need to keep him in there,” Girardi said, “so we’ll figure something out.”
Rodriguez went 2 for 4 on Tuesday with a run batted in and a run scored, improving his average to .301 in 31 games. Small sample, maybe, but as a hitter, Rodriguez looks a lot better than an average or slightly above-average third baseman, which was General Manager Brian Cashman’s stated expectation.
Rodriguez has been playing, while Derek Jeter sits with soreness in his rebuilt left ankle. The Yankees traded for Seattle shortstop Brendan Ryan after the game, adding more depth to a depleted left side of the infield.
Rodriguez, Robinson Cano, Alfonso Soriano, Curtis Granderson and Mark Reynolds helped in Tuesday’s comeback, with Soriano homering twice. But Rodriguez has that look again, showing flashes of being one of the greats his career numbers say he is — however he did it.
“He’s looked really good; that’s why we moved him up to the 2 hole,” Girardi said, adding later, “I don’t think you can ask him to do much more.”
Rodriguez’s emergence helps explain why Girardi’s confidence in the team — which never wavers in public — has a reasonably solid foundation.
Soriano is the biggest reason, with 15 home runs and 47 R.B.I. in 43 games since his trade from the Chicago Cubs on July 26. Since then, no player in the majors has hit more home runs.
But Granderson, Reynolds and especially Rodriguez, who is slugging .496, have also come along to support Cano as hitters who can quickly change a game.
“I always believe these guys are going to fight back,” Girardi said. “I think that’s the belief you have to have, because I’ve seen them do it. With the punch that we have, you feel you can come back now.”
The Yankees did their punching with their bats Tuesday; nothing spilled over from Monday’s clash of managers, when the Orioles’ Buck Showalter confronted Girardi for barking at the Baltimore third-base coach, whom Girardi suspected of telegraphing pitches to hitters.
Showalter’s willingness to challenge Girardi — he was restrained by the umpires — should have surprised no one. Having spent so many years in their organization, Showalter acutely understands the importance of the Yankees, to his players and the fans, symbolically and, of course, in the standings.
Last year, the teams split their 18 games in the regular season. This year, the Orioles have won nine and the Yankees have won eight.
“It’s two very competitive groups that are competing for the same thing,” Showalter said. “That’s the way it’s supposed to be. It matters. You care, it matters, like a lot of things in life. You’re not very passionate about things you don’t care about.”
For all the noise generated last month by some Boston Red Sox, who said Rodriguez should not be playing while he appeals his suspension, Showalter’s objections had little traction. In comments he later said he never intended for publication, Showalter told USA Today that the suspension was too harsh because it could give the Yankees a temporary escape hatch from his bloated contract.
“If Bud lets them get away with that, they’re under the luxury tax,” Showalter said, referring to Commissioner Bud Selig. “If they can reset, they can spend again and I guarantee you in two years, Matt Wieters is in New York.”
Wieters, the Orioles’ two-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove-winning catcher, would be an easy fit in New York. But the point was that the Yankees should suffer from the bad deal they made with Rodriguez.
On Tuesday, that deal helped the Yankees win a game they badly needed. They gained on every team they trailed for the second American League wild-card spot, and now stand just two games behind Tampa Bay and a half-game behind Baltimore and Cleveland.
Rodriguez will have a big say in the outcome, as long as his body cooperates. The Yankeesand their fans can thank the appeal process for that
.
.
Limbo-skating is all the rage
Boy wonder: Doing the splits at high speed is par for the course for six-year-old Aniket
How low can you go? Not anywhere as low as this six-year-old who is the junior king of the limbo-skaters.
Skating under stationary cars in organised competitions has become the latest craze in India and no one can do it as well as Aniket Chindak.
With legs split, torso bent forward and head skimming no more than 20cm (8in) above the road, Aniket combines the bravery of a downhill skier and the agility of a gymnast as he sails under a 4×4.
Unfolding his body from eye- watering positions, the whizz-kid explains proudly how he is training to break his own world record of skating under 57 cars in 45 seconds.
‘I first saw a girl skate under a car on TV two years ago and decided to learn how to do it myself,’ he said.
Not one to try at home
‘It took three months before I could get my body in the right position.
‘Since then I have skated under lots of cars and have never hurt myself.’
Aniket, who trains four hours a day, began skating aged just 18 months. After smashing the world record of 43 cars in March, he started training to skate under 100 cars.
‘The hardest thing is to go fast enough before I bend down because that’s how you can skate under so many cars at once,’ he said.
‘I think it will be very difficult for someone to beat 100 cars.’
Aniket’s father Ramesh, from Belgaum in southern India, said: ‘He has been skating long distances for the last three years, but since he started limbo-skating his passion has increased. Aniket was always very flexible but for limbo-skating you need strength as well.
‘It took him a while to condition his body to hold the correct position – now his battle is to get the speed and control necessary for 100 cars.’
Bale reports for duty in Madrid
Gareth Bale arrived in Madrid on Wednesday afternoon. The player, accompanied by Javier García Coll, was greeted by a handful of journalists waiting outside the Mirasierra Suites Hotel but refrained from speaking to the press although he did stop momentarily to pose for photographs with a number of fans before disappearing to his hotel room. Bale just missed Carlo Ancelotti who left the hotel minutes before his arrival.
The Welsh winger will train with the rest of the squad in the early evening session at Valdebebas when coaching staff will be able to gauge his level of fitness ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Villarreal.
marți, 10 septembrie 2013
Germany's Thomas Bach elected new IOC president
0
Germany's Thomas Bach has been named the new president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) after being elected at the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires.
Bach won a landslide victory over his four rivals for the post in the second round of voting. The German garnered 49 votes, compared to the 29 picked up by Puerto Rico's Richard Carrión, his nearest challenger. The pair was followed by Singapore's Ng Ser Miang (6), Switzerland's Denis Oswald (5) and Ukraine's Sergey Bubka (4).
Taiwan's Ching-Kuo Wu was eliminated in the first round following a run-off after originally tying with Ng.
Bach becomes the IOC's ninth president, succeeding Belgium's Jacques Rogge, who had been in the position since 2001. He will enjoy an initial eight-year term, which is renewable once for a further four years.
The German, who turns 60 in December, was a gold medallist in the team foil event at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, also being crowned a world champion in the event that same year and in 1977.
Bach's victory continues Europe's stranglehold over the IOC's top post, with every single president of the organisation, with the exception of the American Avery Brundage (1952-1972), hailing from this continent.
Nadal: "Nobody brings my game to the limit like Novak"
D
Nadal won the second US Open of his career after beating Djokovic in the final, who pushed him to the limit. During the awards ceremony, the Spaniard heaped praise on his rival, as well as expressing his delight.
"I'm very, very emotional," confessed Rafa. "Playing against Novak always is a very special feeling. Probably nobody brings my game to the limit like Novak," he stressed. "You are an amazing player and you are having an amazing career," he said.
"I never thought something like this could happen. I feel very lucky about what happened since I came (back from injury). I'm so excited to be back on tour trying to be competitive. For me, it is much more than what I ever thought, what I ever dreamed. It couldn't be better," said Nadal.
More than the trophy, the Spaniard said that what really makes him happy is "what I have done over these months to achieve this".
BOXING, UNDEAD
The biggest boxing match of the year—this coming Saturday’s fight between Floyd Mayweather, the brash virtuoso, and Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez, the soft-spoken young idol—recently got some free publicity on an ESPN program called “Pardon the Interruption.” The concept of the show is that two commentators, Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon, deliver strong and sometimes plausible opinions about sports. One day last week, Wilbon paid grudging tribute to Mayweather, whom he had previously criticized. “He is the last guy out there, for a sport that is all but dead,” Wilbon said. He told Kornheiser, “You need to stay up and watch this fight, because this is it—it’s over for boxing after this.”
Suffice it to say that, during the past few decades, boxing fans have become, like Mayweather in the ring, rather defensive. The sport they love has regularly been pronounced dead, and somehow the regularity of this pronouncement has had the effect of increasing, rather than decreasing, their sensitivity to it. Kevin Iole, who covers boxing for Yahoo! Sports, foundWilbon and Kornheiser guilty of “pure laziness.” Mark Ortega, on the Web site of The Ring,criticized their “limited knowledge” of the sport. And Dan Rafael, ESPN’s indispensible boxing reporter, took to Twitter to declare his colleagues “ignorant and/or lazy,” adding, “I declare afternoon sports talk banter dead.”
You might say that Wilbon was merely engaging in a tactic familiar to any boxing fan: hyping the next big fight, using whatever claim is most convenient. Certainly the executives at Golden Boy, one of the promotional companies behind the fight, couldn’t have been unhappy to hear Wilbon saying, “You need to stay up and watch this fight.” And it’s true, too, that boxing isn’t nearly as popular today as it was half a century ago. “What other names do you know? You know the Klitschko name,” Kornheiser said, referring to the Ukrainian brothers, Vitali and Wladimir, who have dominated the heavyweight division for nearly a decade. “That’s it.”
Kornheiser was exaggerating (even casual sports fans know about Manny Pacquiao, who is scheduled to fight in November, in Macau), but perhaps not by much. No doubt plenty of ESPN viewers are unfamiliar with Andre Ward, the Bay Area super-middleweight who might be the second-best fighter on the planet, after Mayweather. And Gennady Golovkin—a ruinouspuncher from Kazakhstan, who ranks among boxing’s most exciting stars—is so obscure that ifSports Illustrated were to put him on the cover, readers might wonder if they were beinghoaxed. Last week, at a press conference in New York, Richard Schaefer, the C.E.O. of Golden Boy, shared the results of a nationwide survey that found that boxing inspired the seventh-highest “level of interest” of any sport: twenty-one per cent of respondents said they had some interest, putting boxing somewhere between hockey (twenty-five per cent) and mixed martial arts (seventeen per cent). It tells you something about boxing’s difficulties that Schaefer wasn’t bemoaning this finding—he was celebrating it.
Devoted boxing fans might nevertheless draw an encouraging lesson from this gloomy recent history: it turns out that a sport can die a kind of death and nevertheless survive. When Wilbon says that “it’s over for boxing,” what he really means (if he means it at all) is that boxing is over for him. This, more or less, is what Howard Cosell said more than thirty years ago, yet fighters kept fighting, and a smaller but no less captivated group of fans kept watching. Live boxing is broadcast on cable television just about every weekend of the year, and scarcely a month goes by without something memorable—something awesome, in one or more senses of the word—happening in a boxing ring.
This past Saturday night, at a casino outside Palm Springs, a legendary Mexican veteran named Rafael Márquez faced a tough but rather undistinguished fighter named Efrain Esquivias. Márquez is much slower than he was in his prime, but he was hoping for a late-career revival (last year, his older brother, Juan Manuel, knocked out Pacquiao), and for a few rounds it seemed likely that he would prevail. Esquivias was aggressive but rather predictable; Márquez ate some punches, while slipping and countering others. In the fourth round, Tim Starks, a leading boxing blogger, tweeted, “This fight is both good and sad.” But Márquez’s punches weren’t very powerful, and as Esquivias realized this, he grew even more aggressive, and the old veteran started looking less like a competitor and more like a victim. “This fight is no longer good and sad. It is just sad,” Starks wrote, a few rounds later. In the ninth round, after Esquivias knocked Márquez onto his backside with a straight right hand, the referee stopped the fight, and no one—not even Márquez—complained. As Márquez prepared for a post-fight trip to the hospital (where he was reportedly diagnosed with an orbital fracture), Mauro Ranallo, the blustery Showtime announcer, said, “Great stuff, there.” Ranallo sounded too glib, but there was something transfixing (and, of course, sad) about watching Márquez fail to do something he probably never should have tried.
Viewers hungry for a more cheerful spectacle got one in the main event, which was a lot less sad, and plenty of fun—while it lasted. Seth Mitchell, a former college football player, has spent the past few years trying to convince the country that he is a credible heavyweight boxer. After a string of wins, he suffered an upset loss last year, and then won, not very convincingly, in the rematch. To prove himself, Mitchell was fighting Cristobal Arreola, a lovable Californian known for his powerful fists and for his fluctuating commitment to hard workouts and a healthy diet. Arreola didn’t think Mitchell deserved to be in the ring with him, and once Mitchell had been buffeted around the canvas for a few minutes, the referee was inclined to agree. Having essentially debunked the Seth Mitchell phenomenon, Arreola was gracious in victory. “Trust me, he hits hard,” he told Jim Gray, during the post-fight interview. “Because when he hit me a couple times, I was like, ‘Holy shit! A lot harder than I thought’—pardon me, sorry, I apologize.” Arreola is known for cursing during post-fight interviews, but on the premium cable networks where boxing mainly lives, no one seems to mind. Most of the time, the rest of the world isn’t paying attention, anyway.
Mayweather-Álvarez is not the end of an era, but it is a rarity: a fight that everyone will be talking about. Then, when it’s over, boxing fans can look forward to the next batch of promising fights (Stevenson vs. Cloud! Haye vs. Fury!), and everyone else can go back to ignoring boxing. Maybe this isn’t an ideal state of affairs—but then maybe, in an ideal world, boxing wouldn’t exist at all. In this world, it does exist, still, and those of us who love it would be greedy to ask for anything more.
NADAL’S U.S. OPEN VICTORY: TENNIS IN A VACUUM
On the final point of last night’s almost-classic U.S. Open men’s final, Rafael Nadal waited to unleash his serve. He was leading 5-1 in the fourth set, after winning the first and third, and up 40-15, so the possibility of losing the match was all but gone. Flashbulbs were going off and there were screams from all sections of the stadium, and if he were Novak Djokovic, Nadal’s opponent, one might be tempted to think that he was simply relishing the moment, taking it all in. But Rafael Nadal does not enjoy himself while playing tennis. This was simply a laboratory researcher waiting for his experiment’s proper conditions; the results wouldn’t be any good if there were too many variables in play.
Tennis fans like to analyze pre-serve routines for signs of character—it’s the only moment when the modern game slows enough to get a good look. This often represents a misguided hope. But with Nadal, now the owner of thirteen Grand Slam titles, the interpoint auguries are actually instructive: Nadal wants to play tennis in a vacuum, and does his best to create one. Between games, he places two water bottles—one slightly colder than the other—in a precise arrangement, labels facing toward the side of the court to which he is heading next. Unlike other men in professional tennis, he brings two towels with him to the back of the court, for more efficient access. “Two times! Two times!” Nadal yelled at the chair umpire last night, after a man in the crowd had yelled twice during a point. When the game ended, Nadal’s coach and svengali, Uncle Toni, got up from Nadal’s box, walked over to another section of the court, and directed security toward the offending shouter, who had made his charge’s environment slightly uncomfortabl
2013: Cristiano Ronaldo suma 39 goles por los 34 de Leo Messi
En lo que va de año 2013 Cristiano es el mejor goleador de nuestro fútbol, por encima del hasta ahora intocable Messi. Tanto en cantidad como en promedio. El crack portugués acumula, tras su espectacular hat-trick a Irlanda del Norte en Belfast, un total de 39 goles. A esa cifra llegó en 38 partidos, lo que le permite superar por unas décimas el increíble promedio de un gol por encuentro disputado.
Messi, sin embargo, se queda en el promedio raspado de un gol por partido (34 en 34). Ello confirma lo que se ve venir desde hace tiempo: Cristiano le está ganando el pulso personal a Messi y lo demuestra en su cuenta realizadora.
La regularidad de Cristiano es asombrosa. 21 goles en 20 partidos de Liga y guarismos idénticos (6 goles/6 partidos) en Champions, Copa y con Portugal. Sin embargo, Messi es más inestable y basa su potencial estadístico en la Liga (25 goles en 17 partidos). El argentino pinchó en la Champions (apenas tres goles en cinco partidos), culminando su fracaso en la eliminatoria de semifinales con el Bayern (inédito en Múnich, 4-0, y escondido en el banquillo en la vuelta del Camp Nou: 0-3).
'Face to face'. En los duelos directos de 2013, también el madridista salió vencedor ante el argentino. En la semifinal de Copa, Cristiano hizo un doblete en el Camp Nou en la exhibición del partido de vuelta (1-3). Messi fue anulado esa noche por Varane y no vio puerta. El 10 azulgrana también quedó inédito en la ida del Bernabéu. Cristiano, 2-Messi, 0.
En el partido de Liga jugado tres meses más tarde en el Bernabéu, los blancos salieron con un equipo plagado de suplentes (el 7 quedó fuera del once). Messi fue titular esa tarde y marcó el gol del 1-1, pero no volvió a tocar bola. Cristiano salió tras el descanso y provocó la locura en el estadio. Ramos firmó el 2-1 de la victoria madridista...
Ese 39 a 34 para Cristiano, incluyendo mejor promedio goleador, deja en evidencia a los votantes del Premio UEFA entregado en Mónaco hace diez días. Ribéry, que sólo marcó un miserable gol en Champions, resultó ganador. Y Cristiano sólo recibió tres votos pese al año de lujo que lleva. Normal que prefiriese jugar con su equipo el Teresa Herrera que asistir a una nueva pantomima...
Unbeatable, even on a bad day
To review Chile’s footballing history, often wretched, is to walk into a trap. This is a team who have been in the semi-finals of the World Cup, and currently are a side with fighting spirit, stupendous footballers with good skills who play in the big European leagues, a coach with a plan, outstanding recent results and the enthusiasm of an entire country spurring them on. They are a side who don’t hold back and who want the ball. A ‘Roja’ writ large, who deserve attention and to play against the best. But Del Bosque had to the play his number one team against Finland and in Geneva he was obliged to share out the exertions. Only five of the side that beat the Finns started. It was a chore for the bench and for Valdés, whose prize for the patience he’s shown was picking the ball out of his net twice. It was also a warning for the back-ups, whose role in a long-term campaign, as the World Cup is, will be important. Only the greyhound Navas appeared to understand this. But Champions are Champions because they show they’re unbeatable even on their worst days. That’s why Spain beat Chile in time added on two years ago and equalised tonight. Faith prevented Spain from losing.
Chile, extremely energetic, were up for the game from the off. They shortened their team from back to front, with three central defenders, and pressed ferociously, with Vidal on Javi Garcia and Pizarro and Díaz on Xavi and Cesc, leaving Spain with no supply; meanwhile Alexis went around causing trouble for Spain wherever he went. And in the whirlwind start Chile found the net. Isla played a fine ball in, Ramos was asleep and played Vargas on-side and the Chilean, unopposed, slotted home. After that Chile stayed firm, not allowing much to happen in the game, and overcame Spain equalising through Soldado with another goal from Vargas just before half-time. Albiol failed to second guess Vargas’ neat turn before he put the ball past Valdés. The striker has scored in seven out of his last nine games with his national side, and he showed why against Spain.
Spain missed Iniesta, who came on at half-time; confirmed that the centre of defence is the area needing most work (no rest for Albiol and Ramos, and tears at the absences) and yearned for the starting midfielders, the zone where they suffered the most. The hyperactive Vidal, a player who can play in various positions and is good in all of them, was too much for Javi García. He did production and direction in an outstanding game. Monreal lacked Alba’s daring and lost his duel with Isla. Soldado didn’t do enough, despite scoring, and isn’t the obvious solution up front. Everything was harder than it was in Helsinki, starting with the opposition.
In the list of the blameless was Cesc, definitively the player at the centre of the side. He currently contributes more than Xavi and that doesn’t seem like changing soon. He hit a genius shot that came back off the post. Pedro was also exonerated. He was the first to shoot, gifted a goal to Soldado and another to Navas (it was between him and defender Menas as to who got the decisive touch). The Barcelona player, with his pace and directness, was a nuisance for Chile all night. The draw came about from his faith, his effort and his dedication.
It also came from Del Bosque’s changes. Iniesta settled Spain, Navas made them faster and wider. Nacho made his debut, with no major mistakes; Reina didn’t fall apart when things were tough at the back; and Koke played well in his natural midfield position. By the end Spain looked like deserving the draw they got. But if they meet Chile when it matters they’d do well to be fitter and more focused.
England fans injured in Ukraine attack
England fans: Last night's scene in Kiev
A group of England football supporters were injured in an alleged attack in Kiev on Sunday night.
The fans, in the city ahead of Tuesday's World Cup qualifier against Ukraine, were reportedly set upon by a gang of around 30 men.
The gang, armed with knives, attacked the England supporters in a coffee shop, leaving three needing hospital treatment.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware of incidents in Kiev involving British nationals.
"We are providing consular assistance."
Ukraine head coach Mykhaylo Fomenko later apologised for the incident.
"We are very sorry about this," he told a pre-match press conference at Kiev's Olympic Stadium.
World Cup qualifier: Five-star Poland hammer San Marino to keep hopes alive
Piotr Zielinski grabbed a brace as Poland raced past San Marino with a 5-1 victory on Tuesday evening
Piotr Zielinski scored twice as Poland brushed past San Marino, who had the consolation of breaking their goal duck in World Cup qualifying Group H.
Alessandro Della Valle ended San Marino's five-year wait for a goal to cancel out Zielinski's opener but Jakub Blaszczykowski, Waldemar Sobota, Zielinski again and Adrian Mierzejewski restored order at the Stadio Olimpico.
The result keeps Poland in the qualifying picture, although they lie fourth and trail group leaders England by three points.
San Marino keeper Aldo Simoncini had already saved well from Pawel Brozek and Sobota before the opener arrived in the 11th minute, Zielinski finishing after Sebastian Boenisch delivered the ball from the right.
Zielinski saw a volley saved before the hosts surprisingly equalised, Della Valle heading home their first competitive goal since October 2008 from Matteo Vitaioli's free-kick.
Poland's response was swift, Blaszczykowski hammering home to restore their lead within two minutes.
Pawel Brozek then set up Sobota to give Poland a 3-1 half-time lead.
They went in search of further goals at the start of the second period, Zielinski and Piotr Celeban going close before Brozek forced a scrambling save from Simoncini.
The hosts' experienced striker Andy Selva volleyed over from 25 yards before Poland's fourth finally arrived, Zielinski curling home a free-kick after Della Valle fouled Mateusz Klich.
Mierzejewski hammered home the fifth and Simoncini brilliantly denied Klich, before Alessandro Bianchi went close to a brilliant second for San Marino in injury time.
World Cup qualifier: Frank Lampard pleased with 100 caps for England
The Chelsea midfielder became only the eighth player in history to reach a century of appearances for England.
And while Lampard admitted that it was a proud night for him, he was more focused on the game as Roy Hodgson's side drew 0-0 in Kiev to remain in control at the top of Group H.
"It was a special personal night for me. It was a very tough game so I was trying to focus on the game alone, but when I look back 100 caps is a long road so I am pleased to get there," he told Sky Sports.
Lampard insists England can take a lot from the performance in Kiev as qualification for Brazil 2014 remains in their hands.
"It was a tough performance, I felt we were controlling the game for big periods in the the first half and we started to get on the ball a bit without creating loads but they didnt create too much," he continued.
"They put us under pressure at times in the second half but we dug in. This is a very difficult place to come and we knew that before the game.
World Cup qualifier: England boss Roy Hodgson pleased with point against Ukraine
England boss Roy Hodgson felt the draw with Ukraine was a 'fair result' and he was more than happy with how they played in Kiev.
The Three Lions rarely threatened in the Olympic Stadium, with their best chance of the match coming in the final minutes through centurion Frank Lampard.
The point means that England remain on top of Group H in their World Cup qualifying campaign and know that wins against Montenegro and Poland in their final two matches will seal their place at the World Cup finals.
"I thought it was a fair result, we did very well, especially in the first-half and we had clear control of the game and could have obviously won it in the last minute with Frank's header, what a chance," Hodgson said.
"But Moldova and this game are two were very different games, there were 70,000 people here, it was a big test for the players.
"We have lost seven players from the original squad so a lot of players come into the squad this time who are not normally there and not used to this level of performance and pressure.
"So we have got be more than satisfied with the result against Moldova and now the result here, especially as we gained the result without riding our luck in any way, we gained it because we were very good defensively.
"Had we shown a little more composure in the final third or had someone like a Rooney or Sturridge available, who knows we might have even got the goal we needed."
Hodgson admits England did not really push for the winner, but he was happy with their tactics.
"I don't think we were that adventurous, but it was for them to be adventurous, not us," he said.
"We had to make sure we controlled them and in the first half particularly there were a few interesting situations in the final third, but as I said perhaps we didn't have the quality to make that count.
"On the other hand if we had thrown caution to the wind and tried all-out for the winner and we came out with a 0-1 which would have virtually ended our chances of finishing top of the group, I don't think we would have got any thanks for that."
Roberto Carlos: "Eto'o wanted to control Anzhi"
Roberto Carlos has criticised Samuel Eto'o in an interview with Brazil's 'Globoesporte': "There were a few small problems in the dressing room with the arrival of Eto'o, which were resolved. His signing had to be explained to several players. Then there came a point when Samuel wanted to interfere in my work. He wanted to control the club, taking my place and that of the coach, Guus Hiddink".
The former Real Madrid player accused the Cameroon striker of being selfish, "I've known Eto'o since he was 16 and I've always liked him. He's a good person, but he always thinks of himself, not the group. It's quite confusing and odd when a footballer, instead of playing, is interested in bringing in players who are his friends. He did everything at Anzhi, except play football"
Ancelotti recalls Coentrao
Fabio Coentrao has another shot at the Real Madrid left back position. during the game he played for Brazil against Australia, and Ancelotti is planning to draft in the Portuguese defender to fill the Brazilian's boots.
At the beginning of the transfer window, the full back was virtually certain to leave 'Los Blancos'. The player wanted out and he was a step away from packing his bags for a move to Manchester United right up until transfer deadline day. His departure would have heralded the arrival of Benfica's new full back, Siqueira, formally at Granada. In the end, after a rocky summer, Coentrao's wish to leave Real did not come true.
The former Benfica player knows that he has a new opportunity this season and will have to make the most of every minute on the pitch. "I want to do better than last season, despite having already been at a pretty high level. I want to prove to everyone that if I'm at Real Madrid, it's because I deserve it. I'm at the best club in the world," he told 'O Jogo'.
The Portuguese knows that Marcelo's injury gives him another chance to enjoy some game time with his club and win back his place.
According to Coentrao, things will go back to the way they were when Marcelo recovers: "It will be the same fight as always. I've been at Real for two years. Marcelo has always been here and I've played lots of games. Obviously, I'm going to work hard to play, whether Marcelo or any other player is here. What I want is to play."
Dani Alves joins Barcelona training
Barcelona has returned to training after a two-day rest. Dani Alves attended the Monday session, but trained separately after leaving the Brazil camp with injury problems, the club reports.
In total, nine players trained at the Ciudad Deportiva under the orders of Jorge Pautasso, assistant to Gerardo Martino, who is still in Argentina.
Sergio Busquets trained with his teammates for part of the session as he recovers from a strained muscle in his right thigh, whilst Dani Alves trained separately after suffering from tendonitis in his right ankle, which forced him to abandon the Brazil camp.
Finally, Carles Puyol, who will soon hopefully be able to rejoin squad training as normal, continued with his recovery work.
Piqué: "Barcelona was a slave to tiki-taka"
erard Piqué has come out with some surprising comments in the Italian press this Tuesday. In an interview with 'Extra Time' – a supplement of 'Gazzetta dello Sport' –the Barça defender is reported as saying that "Barcelona was a slave to tiki-taka".
"We've had a number of years with homegrown coaches in charge, first Pep and then Tito and we tended to exaggerate our style of play to the point where we were almost slaves to it." Piqué remarked.
"Now Tata has come in from the outside. He has the same football philosophy, to maintain possession of the ball, but he also has other options and that's a good thing, in the sense that it gives us alternatives."
"If the pressure is on, there is nothing wrong with a long ball now and then. It can change the pace of the game and give you a breather. In football you have to keep improving and developing, otherwise you become predictable." he concluded.
Falcao, favourite with fans
As MARCA reported on Monday, Real Madrid has €50 million to find a centre forward if Benzema finally doesn't come up with the goods. The names on the table are Falcao and Luis Suárez.
The survey carried out by MARCA.com leaves no room for doubt. The former Atlético Madrid player, currently at Monaco, is the definite favourite with the fans.
73.2% of those who voted – with over 19,000 votes cast - chose the Colombian over the Liverpool striker, whose name had already been associated with Real Madrid during the summer transfer window.
Bale season starter - more agony than ecstasy
After a hectic start to his season, and with everyone resigned to the fact that Gareth Bale would not be featuring in the game against Serbia either, coach Chris Coleman sent him on in the 58th minute to replace Leicester's midfielder, Andy King.
Bale's half hour on the pitch for Wales represented not just a tardy, but also a sad, season kick-off for Florentino Pérez's latest star signing.
With his team already a hefty 0-3 down, the appearance of the Cardiff Magician was not enough to make any difference to the outcome, the Welsh side having already thrown in the towel in the face of a superior Serbia. Neither team, however, were playing for a chance of qualifying for the next World Cup.
The Welshman had not played in a competitive match for 116 days after having to leave the field on 11th May during an English league game for Spurs against Sunderland.
Bale is not expected to play for Real Madrid in the next La Liga tie, but his appearance in the Coleman line-up reassuringly suggests that his muscle injury problems are now behind him.
Le frère de Mohamed Merah restera en prison six mois supplémentaires
La détention provisoire d’Abdelkader Merah, l’un des frères du "tueur au scooter" mis en examen notamment pour complicité d’assassinats, a été prolongée de six mois, a-t-on appris mardi 10 septembre de source judiciaire, confirmant ainsi une information de RTL.
Abdelkader Merah, 30 ans, est incarcéré depuis mars 2012. Fin mars, son avocat, Me Eric Dupond-Moretti, avait déclaré que le juge envisageait sa libération avec bracelet électronique.
Les juges cherchent à établir le degré de complicité d'Abdelkader Merah dans les actes de son frère. Il a reconnu devant les enquêteurs avoir été au courant des déplacements en Afghanistan et au Pakistan de l’auteur des tueries de Montauban et de Toulouse de mars 2012 mais il nie avoir été informé de ses intentions criminelles.
Il a été mis en examen pour complicité d’assassinats, association de malfaiteurs en vue de la préparation d’actes de terrorisme et complicité d’assassinats avec circonstances aggravantes en raison de l’appartenance de victimes à une race ou à une religion.
En mars 2012, Mohamed Merah a assassiné tour à tour trois militaires, trois enfants et un enseignant d’une école juive de Toulouse avant d’être abattu par les forces de l’ordre lors de l’assaut de son logement, à Toulouse.
Les juges cherchent à établir le degré de complicité d'Abdelkader Merah dans les actes de son frère. Il a reconnu devant les enquêteurs avoir été au courant des déplacements en Afghanistan et au Pakistan de l’auteur des tueries de Montauban et de Toulouse de mars 2012 mais il nie avoir été informé de ses intentions criminelles.
Il a été mis en examen pour complicité d’assassinats, association de malfaiteurs en vue de la préparation d’actes de terrorisme et complicité d’assassinats avec circonstances aggravantes en raison de l’appartenance de victimes à une race ou à une religion.
En mars 2012, Mohamed Merah a assassiné tour à tour trois militaires, trois enfants et un enseignant d’une école juive de Toulouse avant d’être abattu par les forces de l’ordre lors de l’assaut de son logement, à Toulouse.
Abonați-vă la:
Postări (Atom)