Archive for the ‘News’ Category

BERLIN (AFP) – Stuttgart’s German international midfielder Sami Khedira is closing in on a move to Spanish club Real Madrid, the club’s sporting director Fredi Bobic confirmed on Thursday.

“It’s not often we receive such an offer from Real Madrid,” Bobic told the daily Bild. “It’s up to Real and us now to reach agreement.”

The player’s agent Jorg Neubauer added: “It’s true he wants to go to Real. He’s talking now with Stuttgart.”

Khedira was one of the revelations of the 2010 World Cup where Germany finished third, and is under contract with Stuttgart until 2011.

According to media reports Stuttgart are ready to let the 23-year-old leave for 15 million euro, while Real Madrid are ready to pay between 8 million and 10 million euro.

Inter striker Mario Balotelli is on the verge of finally joining Manchester City as Sky Sport Italia report the deal could be concluded “within hours”.

Mino Raiola, Balotelli’s agent, and one of the player’s lawyers have been speaking with City chiefs in Manchester throughout Thursday as they try to reach a rapid conclusion.

The presence of Balotelli’s lawyer strongly suggests contracts could be rubber stamped by the end of play, and then Balotelli would have to put his own pen to paper.

Once an agreement is found over wages – previous reports suggested City were offering €3.8 million per annum – City directors will fly back to Milan with Raiola to close the deal on Inter’s end, believed to be worth €30m plus bonuses.

Balotelli, City and Inter are all hoping the deal is closed soon, leaving Raiola to hasten the talks.

Meanwhile, talks are still ongoing between Real Madrid and the Nerazzurri for Maicon.

Here it’s not a question of hours, but days as there are still questions at issue over wages.

Maicon is holding out for €7m a year, but Real Madrid think that is excessive given that he earns €4m with Inter.

The Spanish club have reached a €26m plus bonuses transfer agreement with Inter. Jose Mourinho has reportedly spoken to Maicon personally to tell him to lower his wage demands so the deal can go through.

If that move fails then Real Madrid will turn to Chelsea’s Ricardo Carvalho.

Maicon’s agent Antonio Caliendo has spoken to Italian media since then. “I am waiting for someone to solve this situation. I have excellent relationships with Real Madrid. I hope Massimo Moratti considers Maicon and his transfer price,” he told Calciomercato.it.?

Ghana face neighbours Nigeria in a charged west African derby here Thursday with the prize a ticket to the Africa Cup of Nations final.

The semi-finalists who face off at Luanda’s 11 November stadium made it through in wildly contrasting fashions.

While four-time winners Ghana impressed in their 1-0 quarter-final win over hosts Angola, Nigeria laboured to a goalless extra-time draw with Zambia, only prevailing on penalties, with Israeli-based goalkeeper Victor Enyeama converting the decisive spot kick for a 5-4 win.

Despite their far from impressive performance Ghana coach Milovan Rajevic is too wily a coach to take Nigeria’s form in Benguela at face value.

“If you just look at Nigeria’s quarter-final performance it can create a false impression,” warned the Serb, speaking as ever with the help of his trusty translator.

“Yesterday (Tuesday) they showed they were an experienced team who knew what they wanted.

“You can’t draw any conclusions from that game, you have to look at the bigger picture.

“Take for example Ivory Coast. They didn’t play very well against Burkina Faso, then showed they could play a lot better in their next matches.”

Rajevic has worked wonders to get Ghana this far given the injury crisis he has had to contend with, Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien among a host of key players out injured.

Yet he said he wasn’t surprised at Ghana’s progress to the semi-finals.

“When you consider we have eight younger players from Ghana’s Under-20 World Cup winning team combined with some experienced players it’s an excellent mix.

“My team has proved its quality, they know how to compete, they are tough, and there is an excellent atmosphere and spirit in the squad.”

Rajevic is due to welcome back Norwegian-based midfielder Anthony Annan, who has missed all of Ghana’s matches in Angola up to now.

“Anthony is recovering well and we can use him for the semi-final,” Rajevac confirmed.

However, he will be without Agyemang Opuku, who is suspended.

Rajevic, meanwhile, may be a ‘blow in’ from Serbia but he doesn’t need reminding of the importance Ghanaians attach to beating Nigeria.

“There is a definite rivalry between the two countries. On top of that this is a semi-final in the Africa Cup of Nations, with a place in the final up for grabs.”

Recent history is on Ghana’s side, after they knocked out Nigeria in the quarter-finals at the 2008 competition on home soil.

Asamoah Gyan scored the decisive goal in Ghana’s quarter-final win over the hosts in Luanda on Sunday and the Rennes striker is relishing facing Nigeria again.

Gyan said: “Every Ghanaian knows how important it is to play Nigeria. We are ready for them and prepared and we will stick to the game plan that the coach has mapped out for us.

“We beat Nigeria two years ago. We have a lot of young guys in the team but we are concentrated and we will do everything possible to win.”

Ghana are four time winners of the competition but their last title dates back to 1982.

Nigeria, meanwhile, champions in 1980 and 1994, have yet to catch fire in Angola, and will have to put in a more convincing display than they did against Zambia to see off Ghana.

Nigeria’s under-fire coach Shaibu Amodu said after edging Zambia: “I was worried for the reputation of Nigeria, not for my job. It wouldn’t have been good to once again be knocked out in the quarter-finals.

“We’ve said from day one that we have a team that can win this tournament. I know that I have the players to win it.

“We didn’t play very well against Zambia but we showed how to play as a team.

“We’re not at our best at the moment but we are improving all the time, and in five months (at the World Cup) we’ll be a lot better.”

 

Tony Pulis confirmed Stoke were looking to sign Portsmouth goalkeeper James on loan until the end of the season, with reports persisting that Bayern Munich are interested in current goalkeeper Thomas Sorenson. The six-month deal had been expected to go through on Friday, but problems emerged and Stoke were said to have pulled the plug.

An insider said: “When a Premier League club loan a player, they pay his wages. Here, Stoke don’t want to do that.”

 Stoke have presented a scaled payment plan in one of the most complex loan proposals ever to have occurred within the Premier League.

Stoke do not want to pay all the player’s wages and were looking to withhold payments until James made a certain number of appearances. Another amount would have been paid if Stoke avoided relegation.

Portsmouth would have to underwrite the shortfall – which would amount to them paying a proportion of James’ £2 million-a-year salary. Portsmouth have refused, and talks reached a critical stage as Stoke were unable to resolve the matter before the midday deadline for James to make his Stoke debut against Liverpool.

The insider said: “There will be more talks through the afternoon to see if it can be sorted out.”

Unless there are compromises, the move looks like being either held up over the weekend or called off completely, and a decision is likely to be made later on Friday.

 

Leg strength (thighs):
Find something no taller then a foot high, and no wider then a foot. Jump from side to side as fast as you can (but make sure you are doing it the right way, and not hurting yourself.) While you are jumping from one side to the other, make sure you are getting your [knees up.] You don’t want to keep your legs straight. knees MUST come up high. As soon as your feet touch the ground quickly pop your legs back up and over to the other side. Quick feet.

Also, squats are painful, but they are a guaranteed way to make your thighs stronger.

Core strength:
Crunches, planks (which you can look up how to do online) and many other ab workouts are important and very helpful.

Ball control drill:
Practice Juggling the soccer ball for at the very least half hour a day. Thighs, feet, chest, head. See if you can go from your foot to your thigh to your chest to your head and back down again. Very good drill to keep your footwork and body on the ball.

Sprinting drill:
If you are on a soccer field you know how there are lines from the endline to the center line. There is the endline, the 6 yard box, the 18 yard box, and half way.
Start at one end line, and sprint out to the 6 yard box. Jog back to the endline. Then sprint out to the 18 yard box, jog back to the endline. Then sprint out to the center line. Jog back to the endline. Then work your way down again. Center, end, 18, end, 6, end. It helps with endurance BIG TIME, (though it sucks, it helps) and helps with sprinting skill.

Core strength and thigh strength are the two most important muscle areas in your body you need for soccer. It wont help with running up and down the field for 60 minutes, (all the running exercises would) but it helps with stability for one.

Other then that, jog around your neighborhood for a mile. 3/4 times a week. Its very important you hydrate too. That will keep you going longer, and keep muscles from cramping up.

Check out the other articles we are adding on hydration and nutrition.

Lens have made a €10 million bid for Portsmouth’s Younes Kaboul, although have had their move for the defender rejected.

 Sunderland are also in the hunt for the Frenchman and would be prepared to offer £7 million plus centre half Anton Ferdinand, or a straight cash deal of £9 million.

ESPN Soccernet revealed last week that Pompey have slapped a £14 million price tag on the head of Kaboul who is pushing for a World Cup place but, so far, the club have kept their nerve and their vow not to sell their star players (the few that are left) on the cheap.

Kaboul is clearly the man to bring in the short term cash boost to help the club over their current financial crisis and there are a number of big Premier League hitters taking a look at Kaboul, including Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal.

Lens, though, are leading the chase for Kaboul, but with the January transfer window still with plenty of time to run, Pompey would expect to get closer to their £14 million valuation.

A Pompey insider told ESPN Soccernet: “When you think about it, where are the next generation of centre halves, who is going to take over from the likes of John Terry and Rio Ferdinand? Kaboul has the quality, he is pushing for the French World Cup squad, and his value will soar in the summer.”

However, Pompey might not be able to wait until the summer to attract an offer that reflects their valuation, so a comprise is likely to be sorted out before the close of the January window.

Birmingham City have finally concluded their lengthy pursuit of Sporting Gijon midfielder Michel after announcing that the Spaniard has joined the club for a fee of £3 million.

Michel has been a target for Birmingham manager Alex mcelish for over 12 months and, having signed a two-and-a-half-year deal, he becomes the first signing of what is expected to be a busy transfer window for the Premier League club.

“Michel is in a great age group and has got good legs and a lovely touch on the ball, as you would imagine from a Spanish player performing at La Liga level,” McLeish told the club’s official website.

Birmingham have also failed with a bid for Liverpool forward Ryan Babel and have in the region of £40 million to spend in January.

Michel is the first acquisition of the window though and he is making his first move abroad having emerged from the Sporting youth system.

The 24-year-old made 138 appearances for the Spanish side, scoring seven goals, and will now aim to break into a midfield that has taken on a very settled look in recent weeks.

The quartet of Sebastian Larsson, Barry Ferguson, Lee Bowyer and James McFadden have played an important role in Birmingham’s stunning run of 13 games unbeaten in all competitions. Blues are currently eighth in the Premier League.

 

 

It may be impossible to focus minds on football after the horrors that descended upon the Togo national team on Friday, but that is the agenda Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba is doing his best to promote as the African Cup of Nations kicks contentiously into gear.

Togo coach Hubert Velud has been among those suggesting football authorities should call-off the continent’s showpiece tournament following the machine gun attack that led to the inevitable withdrawal of Emmanuel Adebayor’s Togo on Sunday, yet Chelsea striker Drogba believes the moment has come for Africa’s football family to unite.

 

The sporting battles scheduled for Angola will need to be an electrifying spectacle if they are to lift the dark cloud currently hovering over the event, with news that the death toll in the terror attack had risen to three heightening the sense of shock that has descended on the sporting public.

 

However, Drogba is urging the African football community to put on a show to remember in the African Cup of Nations and with the World Cup finals a matter of months away, he believes his Ivory Coast side are capable of putting the continent on the sporting map like never before.

 

“People have an opinion of Africa and it is not so good, but we have to let sport unite us all,” says Drogba. “They see us as being behind the rest of the world in financial and in sporting terms, but this year give us a chance to show people a different Africa.

 

“Africa has some problems, we all know that, but we all have a chance to make 2010 the special year that puts this continent on the sporting map forever. We have this Africa Cup of Nations and then there is the big prize of the World Cup.

 

“All of us in the Ivory Coast squad believe we can create history and becomes the first African team to win the World Cup. There is no outstanding favourite for the tournament and we also have the massive advantage of playing in Africa this time. In the past, it’s always been a story of so close for African teams, but now we have players who are proven at the top level of the game and they have the experience to compliment their talent. The Ivory Coast are ready to be winners at last.

 

“Just imagine what it would mean to the people in our country and to the whole of Africa if we won the World Cup. It would be one of the greatest sporting moments of them all and we can be the heroes who make it happen. This is our chance of a lifetime.

 

“First we have to prove we are the best in the African Cup of Nations and as this will be the last time I play in this competition, I have to avoid the pain of not winning it once in my career. I will sweat from every pour to make it happen.”

 

Drogba’s confidence in his Ivory Coast side is backed up by their tag as favourites, with fellow Chelsea star Salomon Kalou, Arsenal’s Emmanuel Eboue and the Toure brothers of Kolo (Manchester City) and Yaya (Barcelona) giving them with a powerful depth of talent.

 

Yet the facts don’t support Drogba’s boasts that they are the dominant African force as the last two editions of the Nations Cup have seen the Ivorians fail to live up to their billing, with their semi-final defeat against Egypt two years back exposing their tendency to freeze at the big moment.

 

Some 18 years have passed since the team known as the Elephants triumphed in the African championships and their challenge this time has not been made any easier by a group draw that sees Drogba preparing for a meeting with second favourites Ghana, who will be led by his Chelsea pal Michael Essien.

“The draw has not made it easy for us in this competition or the World Cup,” reflects Drogba, who has been spared a meeting with Adebayor following Togo’s withdrawal. “Ghana will be tough opponents in the group stages in the Nations Cup and then you look at the teams we have been put next to in South Africa summer. Getting Brazil and Portugal in our World Cup group means there will be no room to start slowly, but I see this as a positive.

 

“Our team has been in development for a long time and now the Ivory Coast needs to prove we are ready. We are all proud to represent a nation where the people do not have the good fortune all of us in the team have enjoyed in our lives and it is important that we help to make our people happy.

 

“I know some Chelsea fans who don’t understand why we go away in January every couple of years, but we cannot let our country down. It’s not perfect to leave in the middle of the Premier League season, but the organisers insist it is like this.”

 

Drogba’s positive words cannot disguise the damage the attack on the Togo team bus has done to the image of African football, with question marks over the continent’s ability to stage this summer’s World Cup bound to be raised in the coming months.

 

South Africa will be better equipped to stage a major event when compared to the troubled outpost of Angola, but there are still grave concerns over the safety of spectators preparing to visit crime hotspots such as Johannesburg this summer.

 

After numerous reporters covering the Confederations Cup in South Africa last summer were victims of muggings and car-jackings, many came to the conclusion that the World Cup will provide a jamboree for the criminals who recklessly tarnish the country’s beautiful landscape.

 

While security is bound to be tightened around all the competing teams after the events in Angola this week, the spectators dreaming of a holiday of a lifetime at South Africa 2010 need to act with common sense to ensure their holiday of a lifetime does not turn into a nightmare this June.

 

It would be a tragedy if the biggest stories of the World Cup finals took place away from the football pitches of South Africa, though the events of the last few days have reminded us all that bringing the game’s ultimate competition to a continent still in its development phase can only be viewed as a gamble for all concerned. 

Togo coach Hubert Velud has been among those suggesting football authorities should call-off the continent’s showpiece tournament following the machine gun attack that led to the inevitable withdrawal of Emmanuel Adebayor’s Togo on Sunday, yet Chelsea striker Drogba believes the moment has come for Africa’s football family to unite.

 

The sporting battles scheduled for Angola will need to be an electrifying spectacle if they are to lift the dark cloud currently hovering over the event, with news that the death toll in the terror attack had risen to three heightening the sense of shock that has descended on the sporting public.

 

However, Drogba is urging the African football community to put on a show to remember in the African Cup of Nations and with the World Cup finals a matter of months away, he believes his Ivory Coast side are capable of putting the continent on the sporting map like never before.

 

“People have an opinion of Africa and it is not so good, but we have to let sport unite us all,” says Drogba. “They see us as being behind the rest of the world in financial and in sporting terms, but this year give us a chance to show people a different Africa.

 

“Africa has some problems, we all know that, but we all have a chance to make 2010 the special year that puts this continent on the sporting map forever. We have this Africa Cup of Nations and then there is the big prize of the World Cup.

 

“All of us in the Ivory Coast squad believe we can create history and becomes the first African team to win the World Cup. There is no outstanding favourite for the tournament and we also have the massive advantage of playing in Africa this time. In the past, it’s always been a story of so close for African teams, but now we have players who are proven at the top level of the game and they have the experience to compliment their talent. The Ivory Coast are ready to be winners at last.

 

“Just imagine what it would mean to the people in our country and to the whole of Africa if we won the World Cup. It would be one of the greatest sporting moments of them all and we can be the heroes who make it happen. This is our chance of a lifetime.

 

“First we have to prove we are the best in the African Cup of Nations and as this will be the last time I play in this competition, I have to avoid the pain of not winning it once in my career. I will sweat from every pour to make it happen.”

 

Drogba’s confidence in his Ivory Coast side is backed up by their tag as favourites, with fellow Chelsea star Salomon Kalou, Arsenal’s Emmanuel Eboue and the Toure brothers of Kolo (Manchester City) and Yaya (Barcelona) giving them with a powerful depth of talent.

 

Yet the facts don’t support Drogba’s boasts that they are the dominant African force as the last two editions of the Nations Cup have seen the Ivorians fail to live up to their billing, with their semi-final defeat against Egypt two years back exposing their tendency to freeze at the big moment.

 

Some 18 years have passed since the team known as the Elephants triumphed in the African championships and their challenge this time has not been made any easier by a group draw that sees Drogba preparing for a meeting with second favourites Ghana, who will be led by his Chelsea pal Michael Essien.

“The draw has not made it easy for us in this competition or the World Cup,” reflects Drogba, who has been spared a meeting with Adebayor following Togo’s withdrawal. “Ghana will be tough opponents in the group stages in the Nations Cup and then you look at the teams we have been put next to in South Africa summer. Getting Brazil and Portugal in our World Cup group means there will be no room to start slowly, but I see this as a positive.

 

“Our team has been in development for a long time and now the Ivory Coast needs to prove we are ready. We are all proud to represent a nation where the people do not have the good fortune all of us in the team have enjoyed in our lives and it is important that we help to make our people happy.

 

“I know some Chelsea fans who don’t understand why we go away in January every couple of years, but we cannot let our country down. It’s not perfect to leave in the middle of the Premier League season, but the organisers insist it is like this.”

 

Drogba’s positive words cannot disguise the damage the attack on the Togo team bus has done to the image of African football, with question marks over the continent’s ability to stage this summer’s World Cup bound to be raised in the coming months.

 

South Africa will be better equipped to stage a major event when compared to the troubled outpost of Angola, but there are still grave concerns over the safety of spectators preparing to visit crime hotspots such as Johannesburg this summer.

 

After numerous reporters covering the Confederations Cup in South Africa last summer were victims of muggings and car-jackings, many came to the conclusion that the World Cup will provide a jamboree for the criminals who recklessly tarnish the country’s beautiful landscape.

 

While security is bound to be tightened around all the competing teams after the events in Angola this week, the spectators dreaming of a holiday of a lifetime at South Africa 2010 need to act with common sense to ensure their holiday of a lifetime does not turn into a nightmare this June.

 

It would be a tragedy if the biggest stories of the World Cup finals took place away from the football pitches of South Africa, though the events of the last few days have reminded us all that bringing the game’s ultimate competition to a continent still in its development phase can only be viewed as a gamble for all concerned.

Togo have withdrawn from the African Nations Cup in Angola following the machine gun attack on their team bus on Friday, with the death toll now understood to have risen to three.

The team bus was attacked by rebels after crossing the border from the Democratic Republic of Congo into the Angolan enclave of Cabinda ahead of the tournament.

 

There have been conflicting reports about the identity of those shot, but Togo assistant coach Abalo Amelete and a spokesperson, Stanislas Ocloo, have died along the bus driver; while the condition of goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale, who was reported dead earlier, is unclear.

Kodjo Samlan, a Confederation of African Football (CAF) official, confirmed that Ocloo and Amnalate had died. “Communications chief Stanislas Ocloo and assistant coach Abalo Amnalete died at four o’clock this morning,” he said.

Confusion came as striker Jonathan Ayite confirmed that Obilale had also been killed, telling French radio station RMC: “He (Obilale) is dead and even if you bring the president and even (Barack) Obama himself, we’re leaving immediately. We’re going back home. Ghana and the Ivory Coast are in solidarity with us.”

But a statement from Obilale’s club, French team GSI Pontivy, read: ”According to news given by coach Alain Le Dour and GSI Pontivy president Philippe Le Mestre, Kodjovi Obilale is not dead, despite the news reported on the internet, radio and television, and has been moved to South Africa.”

Defender Serge Akakpo, who plays his club football in Romania, was confirmed by his club last night as the other player shot in the attack. Reports in France suggested early on Saturday that the players had taken the decision not to take part in the competition, which starts on Sunday, and midfielder Alaixys Romao later confirmed they had withdrawn.

“We’re waiting for the plane to return to Lome,” the Grenoble player told L’Equipe. “We’re also talking to the other teams in our group to try to convince them to boycott the competition, too.”

A statement on Manchester City’s website also stated that Emmanuel Adebayor and his team-mates were returning to their clubs.

It read: “Togo has pulled out of the Africa Cup of Nations after their team bus came under gunfire in Angola. City star Emmanuel Adebayor, who is captain of the Togo side, was unharmed in the ambush and he and his team-mates met this morning before deciding that they wished to pull out of the tournament.

“Their first game in the tournament had been scheduled to take place on Monday against Ghana, but they are now heading home to their families. Two players were shot and injured in the attack in the northern province of Cabinda, and the coach driver was killed. Seven others were wounded. Organisers have so far insisted the tournament will go ahead.

“The club is in regular contact with Emmanuel, his advisors and the English Football Association. It has been made clear by manager Roberto Mancini and senior officials that Emmanuel will now be given as much time as he needs to recover from the horrific attack.”

Coach Hubert Velud had earlier claimed the authorities should seriously consider whether to call off the tournament after the attack. Angola insist their country is committed to hosting a secure tournament and said they would step up security.

Officials are set to hold a meeting with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Saturday and Velud believes the future of the competition should be called into question.

“We can at least pose ourselves that question,” Velud told French radio station RMC on Saturday morning. “It’s an act of barbarism while we are here to celebrate African football.

“We left the hospital a short time ago to come to the centre for the teams in the competition. We stayed in the hospital a long time so that we could be very united. In these situations, you become a bit paranoid, you doubt everything. We don’t feel that the authorities are taking this very seriously.

“I don’t mean that they want to hush up the matter, but almost. What will happen I don’t know. We will have a meeting with the players and technical staff to take a decision.”

Cesc Fabregas has been linked to Real Madrid for some time, but it appears as though a deal will only be realized if Gonzalo Higuain moves in the opposite direction.

According to Marca, Arsene Wenger is a huge fan of ‘El Pipita’, and would be willing to let Fabregas leave if he got Higuain in return. For their part, Los Merengues have no intention of letting the Argentine go, unless the Gunners can cough up a minimum of €35 million.

However, the fact that Barcelona’s presidential candidates are all likely to focus on trying to snare Fabregas means that Madrid may be willing to make a sacrifice in order to snatch him from their bitter rivals. Therefore, Arsenal believe they can pick up Higuain in the bargain.

Both players have recently stated their commitment to their respective clubs, but whether the prospective deal tempts either team is another matter.