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Archive for Marzo 12th, 2011
12
Mar
Wolfsburg 1 – 2 Nurnberg
12
Mar
Tevez out of Argentina squad
Carlos Tevez has again been omitted from the Argentina squad, ahead of forthcoming friendly matches against the United States and Costa Rica.
Coach Sergio Batista has said there is no reason for the Manchester City striker’s omission – only that he wants to see how different players fare. He did not call on Tevez for the international against Portugal last month.
However, Argentinian FA president Julio Grondona claims the move is a punishment after Tevez stepped down from a match against Brazil citing an injury – but played for City only a few days later.
Atletico Madrid’s Sergio Aguero is another key player who will miss the games against USA – on March 26 – and Costa Rica three days later.
There are several newcomers to the squad, goalkeeper Adrian Gabbarini, defender Federico Fazio, midfielder Fernando Belluschi and forward Eduardo Salvio.
Squad: Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar), Mariano Andujar (Catania), Adrian Gabbarini (Independiente); Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan), Pablo Zabaleta (Man City), Nicolas Burdisso (Roma), Ezequiel Garay (Real Madrid), Marcos Rojo (Spartak Moscow), Nicolas Otamendi (Porto), Gabriel Milito (Barcelona), Federico Fazio; Esteban Cambiasso (Inter Milan), Lucas Biglia (Anderlecht), Jose Sosa (Napoli), Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid), Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Ever Banega (Valencia), Javier Pastore (Palermo), Mario Bolatti (Internacional de Porto Alegre), Fernando Belluschi (Porto); Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli), Eduardo Salvio (Benfica), Nicolas Gaitan (Benfica).
Credit: http://soccernet.espn.go.com
12
Mar
The FA Cup’s Greatest Goals
We at ESPNsoccernet will be taking you through the season with a series of FA Cup features detailing the highlights of the competition’s long and proud history. Here is a selection of the goals that have entered FA Cup lore as some of the very best.
Ryan Giggs: Manchester United v Arsenal 1999
The goal that Giggs will be associated with for the rest of his life gave Manchester United the edge over their title rivals in a thrilling FA Cup semi-final that would be the last time the competition would ever host a replay at that stage.
The first game had ended a dour 0-0, but the replay at Villa Park saw much more action as David Beckham hammered a glorious shot past David Seaman for the opener, before Dennis Bergkamp’s shot deflected off Jaap Stam to level the scores. United captain Roy Keane was sent-off for a second yellow card and, in the last minute of normal time, the Gunners were awarded a penalty, although there was even more drama as Bergkamp’s effort was saved by Peter Schmeichel.
But, despite having their backs against the wall, United would go on take the advantage in extra-time thanks to one man.
Picking up the ball inside his own half after a loose pass from Patrick Vieira in the centre of the pitch, Giggs took off on a solo run. Beating Vieira (who was tracking back to atone for his error) with a drop of the shoulder, Giggs then cut across and forced full-back Lee Dixon inside in a move that would see Sir Alex Ferguson coin the phrase “twisted blood” when trying to describe it.
With Dixon drawn inside and Martin Keown dragged out wide by the presence of Andy Cole on the left wing, there was a point where Giggs was surrounded by three Arsenal players, all within a metre of him just outside the box. But, with Cole creating space simply through his movement, Giggs cut between Keown and Dixon, avoiding the former’s tentative attempts to get a foot on the ball and drove towards goal.
Shrugging off Dixon with a strong arm, the Welshman then hammered a thunderous left-footed shot over David Seaman at the near post, before the diving tackle of Tony Adams arrived.
Cue what is surely the most famous celebration in FA Cup history to date, as he wheeled away, peeling his shirt off to reveal a crop of chest hair to make compatriot Tom Jones proud, before swinging it in ecstasy over his head.
Arsenal would not recover and, as Giggs’ chest rug burned itself into football folklore, United lifted the Treble that season with more late drama in Barcelona.
Ricky Villa: Tottenham v Man City 1981
Argentine midfielder Ricky Villa may not consider it his greatest ever goal, but the finals of the FA Cup have seen none better than his effort to hand Spurs the 1981 trophy against Manchester City. Villa had been substituted in the first game after a poor performance, but netted twice in the replay to become an instant hero. Taking on the City defenders, Villa’s slaloming run from outside the box took him past two men, before he beat centre-back Tommy Caton again to cut inside and poke a shot under the oncoming goalkeeper Joe Corrigan.
Steven Gerrard: Liverpool v West Ham 2006
A great goal, not just because of how it was scored, but also in the context of the game. In an end-to-end match, the Hammers led 3-2 after Paul Konchesky’s flukey lob put them ahead and on the verge of picking up their first trophy since 1980. With four minutes of added-time left, John Arne Riise put in a cross that was headed out to a half-injured Gerrard, who lashed the bouncing ball into the bottom corner from 30 yards out. Cue extra-time and a penalty shootout, which the Reds won to fittingly give captain Gerrard the honour of lifting the trophy at the Millennium Stadium.
Gianfranco Zola: Chelsea v Norwich 2002
A moment of magic that any great player would be proud of, the little Italian wrote himself into FA Cup history with a sublime touch that lit up an otherwise routine 4-0 win for Chelsea. Graeme Le Saux’s corner was driven in low towards the near post and Zola, running away from goal, flicked the ball into the net with his heel from just outside the six yard box. “You have to try crazy things to make them come true. It’s a gift,” he said after the game.
Keith Houchen: Coventry v Tottenham 1987
Tottenham defender Gary Mabbutt may have taken a lot of the headlines for this game, because of his two goals – one in his own net – but Houchen’s contribution will never be forgotten. A long punt by goalkeeper Steve Ogrizovic was flicked on to the forward, who played it out wide to Dave Bennett, scorer of Coventry’s first goal. Houchen continued his run to get on the end of Bennett’s cross and, losing Richard Gough, he directed a stunning diving header into the net to help the Sky Blues to the only major trophy in their history.
Charlie George: Arsenal v Liverpool 1971
George sealed a famous Double for the Gunners with a goal that handed them their first English trophy since 1953. Having been held to a goalless 90 minutes, Arsenal went behind in extra-time to a Steve Heighway goal that beat Bob Wilson at his near post before Eddie Kelly levelled after a messy scramble in the box. But, with nine minutes of the game left, George picked up the ball from John Radford, before taking a touch and blasting an unstoppable shot past Ray Clemence.
Credit: http://soccernet.espn.go.com
Arsene Wenger believes mental strength will be the decisive factor as Arsenal and Manchester United each look to bounce back from disappointing defeats in their FA Cup quarter-final on Saturday.
Arsenal crashed out of Europe to Barcelona in midweek, which followed on from their shock Carling Cup final defeat against Birmingham at Wembley. Meanwhile, United’s grip on the Premier League lead has loosened after losses at Chelsea and Liverpool.
The clubs are both still in the hunt for multiple trophies but they stand in each other’s way in both a grinding Premier League title race and the more immediate task of progressing to a Wembley FA Cup semi-final.
Another loss so soon after the others could bring about talk of a full-blown form slump for either team so Wenger is well aware of the importance to respond to the setbacks with victory at Old Trafford.
“At the moment the two teams have a little disappointment with results recently, so it is still the one who deals with that the best who can come out on top,” Wenger said. “Manchester United lost two games, we just lost two [big games] as well, so it is how well we deal with that which will be certainly vital.”
With United still to visit Arsenal in the Premier League, Saturday’s tie adds the chance to deliver a psychological blow ahead of that fixture. Arsenal lost 1-0 on their trip to Old Trafford on December 13, but have not been beaten in 11 league matches since, winning eight. The Gunners had chances to get a positive result from that encounter, with midfielder Samir Nasri claiming United were “scared” of what Arsenal could do if they tried to play an open game. Wenger expects United to focus on what they feel is needed to get the job done.
“They always play always against us with a very tight midfield, try to put pressure on us from midfield, and [in December] they had only [Wayne] Rooney up front, so I think they always set up against us to defend well,” the Arsenal boss said. “However, I wouldn’t say they are scared. They have no reason to be scared because they have enough experience. They are always have a realistic approach to the game.”
Wenger added: “At home they score more goals than before, and you feel they are still a dangerous side – when they get in the final third they can score goals.”
Victory would bring relief to either club’s manager after a testing couple of weeks. In addition to their recent defeats, Wenger (UEFA) and Sir Alex Ferguson (FA) have found themselves in hot water over comments about referees. Wenger acknowledged Ferguson will be just as eager as he is to move on from their recent dramas with victory and a semi-final trip to Wembley.
“When you are a football player you want to win. Ferguson will want to win the game, I will want to win the game,” he said. “My real problem is to get the team back with positive vibes, and for us the game on Saturday is important on that front.”
Meanwhile, Ferguson turned the tables when asked whether he felt sympathy for Wenger in light of his punishment for the same offence that led the United boss to call a media blackout last weekend.
“I have sympathy for myself. I didn’t have an easy week myself,” he said. “But when you get the bad moments, you have to recover. You never go through a season where everything is rosy and this has happened a few times. It is just another day in the history of Manchester United. There are a lot of challenges ahead for the rest of the season. We have big opportunities.”
United will be without up to ten players, Nani and Rio Ferdinand among the injured, although Nemanja Vidic returns from suspension. Arsenal, meanwhile, have Wojciech Szczesny and Cesc Fabregas among their unavailable players.
Credit: http://soccernet.espn.go.com
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