Ferdinand impressed by Kagawa

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand is backing Japan international Shinji Kagawa to be a big hit in the Premier League.
The 23-year-old former Borussia Dortmund midfielder, currently in China with the rest of the United squad, has already impressed his new team-mates.
Ferdinand said: "I've been very, very impressed. I'd seen him play for Dortmund on TV and I looked on YouTube.
"He's been fantastic. He's quick, he's sharp, he has great awareness, he plays off both feet. I'm excited about playing with him and getting the season started.
"He's been one of the better players in Germany for the last few years. I think he will bring that form to Manchester United. I think he'll be a great acquisition."
Kagawa arrived at Old Trafford on a four-year deal last month and has taken little time to adapt to his new surroundings.
Manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been delighted with how quickly he has got to grips with life at his new club despite not yet having a grasp of English.
The Scot told a press conference in Shanghai: "The thing that's quite impressed me is that every exercise we do on the training ground, he's never needed it to be explained.
"After one demonstration, he joins in as if he's known the language forever. Of course, we know he doesn't speak the language, but it isn't a problem.
"It just goes to show that a good footballer can pick up exactly what's needed. He's been fantastic in that respect. I've been quite surprised at that."
Kagawa and his team-mates will play their latest pre-season friendly on Wednesday when they take on Shanghai Shenhua, the latest destination for Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba.
The Chinese game is proving a lucrative market for big-name players approaching the end of their careers, although England defender Ferdinand has insisted it is not yet on his horizon.
He said: "I think when you get to my age, if you look too far ahead, your legs can get taken beneath you.
"All I'm interested in is playing for United. It's what I enjoy.
"Pre-season began well. I'm just thinking about this season and playing for Manchester United. I'm obviously very happy here and not looking at going anywhere else."
Meanwhile, Ferguson admitted finding a long-term replacement for 37-year-old midfielder Paul Scholes, who came out of retirement last season to star for United once again, is an ongoing concern with illness preventing Darren Fletcher from staking his own claim.
Ferguson said: "Darren has a medical situation that he's trying hard to keep under control. We don't expect him back immediately, but hopefully he does come back at some point.
"Paul Scholes a year ago was coaching my reserves - now he's back playing, and everybody attached to United is delighted. He's such a fantastic player.
"In the long-term, trying to replace Scholes is very difficult. To replace a great player like him would be hard for anyone."

VIEW TV SCHEDULE SUBSCRIBE FOX SOCCER PLUS SIGN UP FOR FOX SOCCER 2GO Sign In SCORES USA PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LATIN AMERICA LA LIGA EURO 2012 TV VIDEO SHOP GAMES MORE PREMIER LEAGUE SCORES SCHEDULES STANDINGS STATS TEAMS TRANSFERS VIDEO TV SCHEDULE PL FANTASY PHOTOS LISTS Premier League Modric back in training with Spurs

Luka Modric has returned to training with Tottenham, the Barclays Premier League club have confirmed.
Modric has been fined for missing training amid speculation of a move away, with Real Madrid thought to be the favourites for the midfielder's signature.
But a statement on the club's official website on Monday night read: "The club can confirm Luka Modric has returned to training today at Spurs Lodge. The coaching staff will now determine the remainder of his pre-season preparation."
Modric has stated his desire to leave the north London club this summer, having remained faithful to them last season after widespread interest - including from Chelsea, then managed by current Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas.
Tottenham are willing to sell Modric at the right price, but it is understood they are looking for a fee nearer to £40million than the widely-reported figure of £35million. Manchester United and Paris St Germain are also reported to be interested in the 26-year-old.
Villas-Boas said at a news conference in America, broadcast by Sky Sports News: "Hopefully the situation does not drag on because it doesn't help Luka and it doesn't help to solve in any way the situation.
"The situation is not dependent on Tottenham, it is dependent on the clubs who are interested in the player.

"It's the first time Luka has taken these actions. The chairman and myself have been very open with the situation by saying we are willing to listen to offers for the player, which is uncommon.
"He has had many (expressions of) interest in the past, like last year, but he has always behaved professionally.
"We never doubt his human qualities but the club has to take action regarding a player who is missing on club duty and that's what we are doing.
"We have to hold on to our values and our rights and at the moment, the situation for Luka is that he is under club discipline."
The Portuguese, who was speaking before Modric's return to training was confirmed, added: "The player's behaviour at the moment is not what we want and that's why we are trying to bring him back to Tottenham duties. The last I heard he was back in London.
"Unfortunately for him he is going to have to be fined by the club for not being present.
"He is a player who has offered so much to Tottenham so we have to have a sense of respect for what he has done over the years for us, but the chairman feels that the fact he is not present is not common professional behaviour.
"Hopefully the situation can be solved in one of two ways - the two ways being that the clubs interested meet the demands of Tottenham regarding the player's value, or the player continues and returns to club duty."

Ganso the fallen star

It's August 2010 and the Meninos da Vila (Kids of the Vila) are in full swing. Santos are crowned Copa do Brasil champions, their first national title in six years, and the back pages of the country's newspapers are dominated by the team's young stars.

Neymar and Ganso have seen their careers go in different directions

The Meninos of Robinho, Ganso, Neymar and Andre have amassed 27 goals between them in just ten games. An 18-year-old Neymar is the tournament's top-scorer and Ganso, just two years his senior, its best player. This was a tantalising glimpse of Brazil's future - Neymar and Ganso in tandem, leading club and country to glory.
A year later, the glorious vision was partially realised. Andre had departed for pastures new, whilst Robinho's peculiar loan arrangement at Santos from Manchester City had expired. Santos were irresistible, sweeping to Copa Libertadores glory in fine style, suffering just one defeat in 14 games. The Peixe had been floundering in continental competition since the time of Pele 50 years previous, but now they could once more boast a side their rich history deserved. Neymar and Ganso once more shared the plaudits. The former voted the competition's best player; the latter Man of the Match in the final. It was now surely just a matter of time before the double act led the national side to equivalent success, or so it was believed.
The warning signs were there, but the ever-increasing hype was all-consuming. Whilst Neymar was taking it in his stride, Ganso was silently breaking. The youngster's Copa Libertadores final display was a remarkable achievement, not for the skill demonstrated, but for the circumstances leading up to the game. Following the side's Copa do Brasil triumph, Ganso underwent knee surgery that would keep him out of action for six months. After a return lasting just nine games, the procedure needed repeating. The Copa Libertadores final second-leg was to be his comeback game and he shone. Beneath the surface, though, the cracks were appearing. A year on, they are gaping chasms.
The past 12 months have not been kind to the elegant playmaker. Brazil manager Mano Menezes insisted his side would be built around Ganso, but the Copa America of last summer proved to be a disaster. Unfit following his injury lay-off, the languid enganche, otherwise known as trequartista, struggled to deal with the rugged, battle-hardened defensive midfielders the continent had to offer.
In a role that very few players master, his inexperience was glaring and his confidence in tatters. By September, injury struck again and Ganso arrived at the Club World Cup in Japan short of fitness once more. Santos may have cruised past Kashiwa Reysol, but Barcelona would not be so kind. The final was a savage lesson to the Brazilian side, Neymar included, but it was Ganso who found his faults laid bare for all to see by the relentless pressure of the Blaugrana defence. All the while, the relationship between midfielder and club was creaking, having failed to see eye-to-eye over a new contract.
Whilst Neymar is now the golden boy of Brazilian football, Ganso is the forgotten man. ''Ganso is upset with the club. They put together a project for Neymar but forgot about Ganso," his agent, Delcir Sonda, complained this week. ''Ganso will not play for Santos again. That is guaranteed."
The beautiful vision of the future had soured. Two had become one in the eyes of the Brazilian public, and Ganso had been the one to lose out. Whilst Neymar's form and charisma make him a sponsor's dream, his often dour colleague does not hold the same appeal. The former's earning power allowed Santos to offer a mammoth contract worth more than £600,000-a-month, Ganso was offered just a quarter of that. With Ganso still the second lowest paid player in the Santos first-team, the relationship is now seemingly over.
A year ago there would have been considerable European interest at this development. Indeed, AC Milan are believed to have backed out of a deal last summer only at the last minute, following yet another unfortunate injury set-back. The current transfer window presents quite some contrast. Manchester United and Chelsea are bandied around as suitors in the English media, but this is ultimately speculation with little substance, with many unaware of the midfielder's recent travails.
The only concerted interest in recent months has come from Porto, who had a "derisory" bid of €8 million rejected by Santos in January - a far cry from the €20-30 million touted just last summer. That was January. Since then, Ganso has encountered little except poor form and injury. Indeed DIS, who own 55% of the player's economic rights, will this week look to buy the remaining share off Santos. If the Paulista side get anything in excess of €5 million for their share, they will be mildly content.

GettyImagesGanso is crestfallen after Santos lost to Corinthians in the semi-finals of the Copa Libertadores last month

Talk in Brazil this week suggests Ganso will head south to Internacional, if his owners succeed in their attempted buy-out. A loan deal would see Ganso link up with the talented Andres D'Alessandro in midfield, behind a newly reinforced strikeforce of Leandro Damiao and Diego Forlan. The arrival, though, would surely see the departure of rising star Oscar, who appears headed for Chelsea.
Whilst Ganso's career has stalled, Oscar's has sky-rocketed. A wonderful hat-trick against Portugal in the 2011 Under-20 World Cup final kickstarted his rapid ascent to stardom, which culminated in four sublime appearances for the national team last month. As fate would have it, the former Sao Paulo youngster would never have been given the opportunity had it not been for Ganso's latest injury setback. The Olympic Games now loom on the horizon; they were supposed to be Neymar and Ganso's test-run for the 2014 World Cup. Now, even the latter's place in the team is in significant doubt.
Injuries have undoubtedly done untold damage to the youngster's progression, but the root of his poor form lies deeper than simply bad luck. On the biggest stages and against international standard defences, Ganso has consistently been found wanting over the past two years. As Juan Roman Riquelme and the deeper-lying Andrea Pirlo, or Paul Scholes, manage to compete at the top level at little more than walking pace, Ganso has been unable to replicate this success.
The enganche, or traditional South American number 10 playmaker role, is a dying art, with the aging Riquelme the only present master. Whilst the Argentine still dominates games, his Brazilian junior has failed to master this skill. Inexperience and a reticence to seek the ball see his undeniable talents too easily nullified. Compared with the vibrant, dynamic game offered by Oscar, Ganso is currently coming up short.
If ever a player needed a move to Europe to progress, it is Ganso. Whilst Oscar and Neymar already frequently find themselves simply too good for their domestic opponents, they emit an aura that suggests the transition to the Old Continent would be a mere formality. For Ganso, it would surely require a whole new learning process. The vast open spaces afforded in Brazil would be no more, and the very high pressure marking systems which have caused him so much bother to date would become a weekly occurrence. It would be sink or swim time for one of Brazil's most naturally gifted talents.
With his game simply not ready for the pressure of a move to a European giant, perhaps previously linked Porto or PSG would be suitable locations from where the playmaker could hone his skills. The onus would then be on him, and his body, to prove that he is capable of performing at the highest levels.
Hope still exists that one day, in the near future, Ganso's game will mature to once more be a match for his precocious colleague. Santos, though, look prepared to cut their losses on a player whose promising career appears to be stuck in an ever-deepening rut.

Sabatini: Liverpool want Borini

Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini has confirmed that Liverpool are looking to sign Italy striker Fabio Borini.

Borini, 21, worked under current Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers at both Swansea and Chelsea, before moving to Italy with Roma last summer.
Roma only purchased Borini outright in June, paying nearly £4 million in order to acquire the remaining 50% of the player's economic rights from Parma.
"There is a real interest shown by Liverpool for Borini,'' Sabatini said. "We are evaluating the situation with (Roma general manager) Franco (Baldini)."
Sabatini also confirmed that Roma are giving serious thought to selling Borini, who scored nine times in 24 Serie A appearances last season to earn a place in Italy's Euro 2012 squad.
"It's an option that we have," Sabatini said. "We'll see how we work it."
Meanwhile, Liverpool confirmed on Tuesday that midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has signed a new "long-term" contract at Anfield.
The 20-year-old has found himself on the fringes of the first team at Anfield, making 37 appearances in all competitions since joining from Charlton in May 2010, but has put pen to paper on an improved deal.
"I am really happy. Last season I was itching to try and push for a new contract. Now it's happened and I am ready to kick on again now," Shelvey said. "I want to get into the first team and be in the starting XI on a permanent basis. That's going to be hard, but it's something I've got to work towards.
"It's lovely to know I am in the plans for the future. At the moment, it's just about getting things right each day and proving myself to the gaffer here. The gaffer and his way of playing will suit me down to the ground and hopefully I can be in his plans.
"I think he's great. With all the passing drills he's doing, he's encouraging us to play all the time which is nice for a football player. Instead of doing a lot of long-distance running and things like that in pre-season, everything has been with a ball, which is more enjoyable. Everyone is enjoying training and looking forward to coming in.
"I think going away (on loan) to Blackpool helped me a lot. It gave me some experience, I scored some goals and I came back a better player. Kenny (Dalglish) gave me a chance towards the latter stages of the season and I thought I showed what I can do."

Chelsea agree fee for Oscar

ESPN understands that Chelsea have agreed a fee with Internacional for Brazil midfielder Oscar.

Oscar, 20, has been linked with a move to Europe this summer, and both Chelsea and Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur have been mooted as interested parties.
The Blues are now closing in on the playmaker's signature after a fee of €25 million was accepted by the player's club Internacional.
An ESPN source said: "Nothing is signed but a deal in principle is agreed for €25 million."
Champions League winners Chelsea have already brought in Eden Hazard from Lille and Werder Bremen's Marko Marin ahead of Roberto Di Matteo's first full season in charge as permanent boss.
Oscar, who will represent his nation at the 2012 Olympics, is highly-rated in his native Brazil, with an arguable career highlight being a hat-trick against Portugal at the 2011 Under-20 World Cup final in Colombia.
Spurs, meanwhile, look set to focus their efforts on landing Porto's Joao Moutinho, who has been lined up as a replacement for Luka Modric, should Real Madrid lodge an acceptable bid for the Croatian.

10 stories you need to read

Russian roulette

The Russian Football Union (RFU) has announced its shortlist of candidates as it looks for a successor to national team coach, Dick Advocaat, who stepped down following their exit at Euro 2012.
It’s a stretch to call it a short list as it’s an extensive who’s who of managers, many of whom are out of work, though some are currently in gainful employment. Indeed, there’s a suspicion that the RFU has simply produced a list of all the managers they had heard of who hadn’t already managed Russia. You think I’m joking, well consider the following names:  Rafael Benitez, Pep Guardiola, Fabio Capello,  Marcelo Lippi, Marcelo Bielsa and Harry Redknapp. Yes, you read that right: Harry Redknapp!
Redknapp’s willingness to give up the easy life of Sandbanks must be in some doubt, but when you consider that the RFU is considering paying €6 million a year, I wouldn’t rule it out. At least not until I’d checked out commuting times between Dorset and Moscow..
The full list comprises: Rafael Benitez, Anatoliy Byshovets, Marcelo Bielsa, Valery Gazzaev, Pep Guardiola, Fabio Capello, Andrey Kobelev, Yuri Krasnozhan, Marcelo Lippi, Valery Nepomniaschy, Nikolai Pisarev, Harry Redknapp and Yuri Semin.

Court case latest

Lawyers acting on behalf of John Terry have asked for the the racial abuse case against the former England football captain to be dismissed from court, calling it “weak and tenuous.”
The Chelsea captain is accused of using a racist slur against Queens Park Rangers player Anton Ferdinand during a match between on October 23 last year.
The 31-year-old’s lawyer George Carter-Stephenson applied to judge Howard Riddle to dismiss the case, saying Ferdinand was an unreliable witness.
The case was “so weak and tenuous it does not warrant it going any further,” he said.
Terry has denied the charge and denied the suggestion that he was a racist.
“I have been called a lot of things in my football career, and off the pitch, but being called a racist I am not prepared to take,” Terry told the court.
Defending his character to police, Terry highlighted his work helping to integrate a ”multicultural group of players” at Chelsea and his support for the charity work of black former teammates Marcel Desailly and Didier Drogba.
”My commitment to the projects demonstrates I’m not racist,” Terry told police.
Some of his best friends are black…

Goal of the day

Spain, surprise surprise, are through to the semi finals of the European Under-19 championships. A 2-0 win over Estonia ensured their passage to the past four, with Francisco Alcacer scoring a most uncharacteristically Spanish goal by lashing home from outside the box.

Quote of the day


“We haven’t made Chamakh an offer.

 He earns over three million a year.”

Director Daniele Prade explains why Arsenal’s Marouane Chamakh is not a target for Fiorentina. The Serie A club being priced out of the market for a fringe Premier League player, does indicate the growing gulf in financial clout between the respective leagues.

Amnesty international

A two-match ban given to Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho for poking Barcelona assistant Tito Vilanova in the eye has been lifted as part of a general amnesty, the Spanish football federation (RFEF) has confirmed.
The ban, applicable only in the Super Cup, was overturned by RFEF president Angel Maria Villar, who traditionally exonerates some players and coaches after re-election.
Presumably, the amnesty applied to high profile managers, who were in charge of big clubs, who had just won the Spanish League and were therefore guaranteed involvement in the Super Cup.
The ruling meant Vilanova’s one-match ban for reacting to Mourinho’s aggression was also lifted. Which is handy as he is now the head coach at Barcelona.
Both can take their place on the bench when the two sides meet next month in the 2012 Super Cup. If nothing else, their presence on the touchline will certainly raise the profile of the curtain-raiser while simultaneously allow both men to renew old hostilities.
Seconds out…

Please don’t go

Thousands of Boca Juniors fans have turned out across Argentina, waving blue and yellow club flags and pleading with midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme to stay with the Buenos Aires club.
The 34-year-old said he had played his last game for the club after losing the Libertadores Cup final to Corinthians. Amid reports the midfielder is considering a move to Brazil, the fans took to the streets to express their dismay.
The largest demonstration included 5,000 at Boca’s La Bombonera in Buenos Aires, where supporters filled the streets and made their way to the stadium. The supporters were eventually let inside the ground and chants of “Riquelme is Boca, Boca is not going!” echoed around the stands.

Don’t bet on it

UEFA says it has warned Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere after he posted a Twitter message which suggested he broke betting rules during a Champions League match.
The Arsenal midfielder, who was injured for the entire season, wrote last December that teammate Emanuel Frimpong was worth betting on to score the first goal against Olympiakos.
When Frimpong’s shot narrowly missed early in the game, Wilshere wrote that “Frimmy nearly won me some money there!”
Wilshere, almost certainly at the prompting of his lawyer, later insisted that he had only been joking, tweeting: “I didn’t actually bet on the game. I know we’re not allowed to! I was only messing just to be clear.”
A UEFA spokesman said: “The player has been warned for being in breach of the principles of integrity of matches and competitions.
“The disciplinary measure was a warning.”

Man City get their Mancini

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has agreed terms on a new deal that will keep the Italian at Eastlands for another five years.
“Manchester City Football Club today are pleased to announce that a new contract has been agreed with manager Roberto Mancini,” said a club statement.
“The deal, which runs until the summer of 2017, follows the club’s most successful season in more than four decades, which concluded in the most dramatic of circumstances in the team’s thrilling 3-2 win over QPR in May this year.”
The new deal, coming amid reports that Mancini was in Russia’s thoughts as they searched for a new national coach, could be interpreted as a pre-emptive move to deter any further interest from Moscow. It turns out they need not have worried; as mentioned above, just about every manager of working age was on the board they were throwing darts at.
“I am delighted to be able to give all of my efforts to Manchester City for a further five years,” Mancini told City’s official website.
“The opportunity which exists to build on our recent success is enormous. Manchester City is a fantastic football club, from the owner, chairman, board and the executive team, through to the players, staff and fans.
“I am very much looking forward to the challenges and excitement ahead.”
And looking at the almost infinite resources at his disposal, it would be an unusual man who would walk away from such a challenge.

Loan shark

One minute he’s the most expensive British player of all time, the next, he needs a spell on loan to give him a bit of playing time.
Yes, it’s the incredible life of Andy Carroll, £35 million striker, officially England’s Plan B and possibly, under new manager Brendan Rodgers, surplus to requirements at Liverpool.
Asked about the short term prospects for Carroll and whether the striker could be loaned out next season, Rodgers conceded it was a possibility.
“It’s something I would have to look at, I have to be honest,” said the newly-appointed Liverpool boss. .
“Andy’s always going to be linked with clubs, whether he was here or not. He knows exactly where he stands, but I have had no inquiries about him.”
Rodgers said: “There are many things to going on loan. Is it going to be beneficial for the club, that’s the most important thing?
“Sometimes a player going out on loan – in general, not just Andy – can benefit the club in the long term.
“It gets them game experience and they come back a better player, a more confident one. Certainly more so than if they’ve been sitting on the bench for the majority of the season.
“I’m not going to sit here and say I will never let anyone go on loan, then come in here in two weeks and a player’s gone, and you’re saying ‘you said you wouldn’t let them go’.”

Finally…

Mahmud Sarsak, a Palestinian footballer who went on hunger strike for nearly three months while in an Israeli jail, has been freed and returned to the Gaza Strip.
The 25-year-old entered the Palestinian territory in a Red Cross ambulance where he was greeted by hundreds of people, including relatives, who waved Palestinian flags and pictures of other prisoners.
Tens of them surrounded the ambulance chanting “Victory, victory!” and “Freedom for the prisoners!”
Sarsak was taken immediately to Gaza City’s Shifa hospital, where he is expected to undergo tests before returning to his home in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
Sarsak went on hunger strike for nearly three months in protest against his detention without charge under Israel’s “unlawful combatants” law.
But on June 18, his lawyer announced that he had reached an agreement with Israel’s prison services to end his hunger strike in exchange for his release on July 10.
Sarsak was arrested in July 2009 as he was on his way from Gaza to sign on with a West Bank football team.
His protest attracted international attention, with world FIFA and Amnesty International expressing concern over his ongoing detention.
Israeli officials called Sarsak an “Islamic Jihad terrorist who planned attacks and bombings,” but never made public any charges or evidence against him.

Nick Sabetti: Impact hope Nesta can cure defensive afflictions

With 35 goals conceded in 19 games, the Montreal Impact is hoping newly signed Italian defender Alessandro Nesta can bring solidity to the team's fragile back line.

It’s only a formality at this point.
Alessandro Nesta will be playing for the Montreal Impact for the remainder of this season and the next.
Club sporting director Nick De Santis confirmed in Thursday's training that Nesta would not be a designated player, though it is expected that the Italian defender will be a DP in 2013.

Inter still want Lucas, says Moratti

Inter president Massimo Moratti has made it clear they still want to sign Sao Paulo midfielder Lucas this summer.
The Serie A side have made the 19-year-old one of their primary targets of the transfer window, but a move still seems far away following his current club’s insistence to hold on to the Brazilian.
“Our dream to sign Lucas? We will keep hoping until the end. I don’t know if it’s a hope or more a target to keep an eye on, though, considering the times we’re in,” Moratti told reporters.
Moratti then went on to discuss the future of Giampaolo Pazzini, who recently hinted at a summer move away from the Nerazzurri.
“He didn’t say he doesn’t want to be part of Inter’s plans any more. I think he expressed doubts over whether he’ll be able to be a part of this project,” Moratti said.
“I think that everyone is perhaps getting a bit ahead of themselves at the moment, maybe caught up in the emotion of finding themselves in certain situations for the first time.
“We’ll see what happens with Pazzini, but I don’t think anything dramatic has happened; there’s just a bit more emotion going around.”
The striker has a contract with Inter that runs until June 2015.

Isaksson leaves PSV for Turkey

Kasimpasa have completed the transfer of Sweden international Andreas Isaksson.
The Turkish club confirmed on their official website that the goalkeeper has signed a contract until the summer of 2015.
Isaksson was available on a free after being released by PSV earlier this summer.
The Istanbul side were desperate to add an experienced goalkeeper to their squad following their promotion to Turkey’s top flight, and have now found their man in Isaksson.
The 30-year-old started his professional career with Trelleborg, and also featured for Juventus, Djurgarden, Stade Rennais and Manchester City before joining PSV in the summer of 2008.
He made 123 Eredivisie appearances for the Eindhoven side, but became surplus to requirements with the arrival of Przemyslaw Tyton.

Donovan picked for record 12th All-Star Game

Landon Donovan was named to the 2012 MLS All-Star First XI, surpassing the league record for most All-Star selections he shared with Eddie Pope.Three defenders -- Steven Beitashour, Aurelien Collin and Jay DeMerit -- and midfielder Graham Zusi are first-time picks in fan voting. The First XI picks are not necessarily included on the game-day roster for the 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game against Chelsea July 25 at PPL Park in Chester, Pa. (TV: ESPN2, TeleFutura, 8:30 p.m. ET). MLS All-Star coach Ben Olsen will select the MLS all-star roster based on player availability and tactical considerations.

La Coca Cola silura Ronaldinho! Colpa di una gaffe del Dentone...

La Coca Cola ha in mente di interrompere la sponsorizzazione da oltre 700mila dollari a Ronaldinho dopo un incidente diplomatico occorso durante la presentazione del Dentone all'Atletico Mineiro. Dinho si era presentato bevendo Pepsi in conferenza stampa.
La casa di Atlanta non ha gradito. E in un comunicato ha definito la collaborazione con Dinho "imbarazzante". "Il fatto che il giocatore sia apparso con una lattina di Pepsi è stata la goccia che ha fatto traboccare il vaso, ma certamente non è la sola ragione per la rescissione del contratto", ha affermato il capo del marketing di Coca Cola, Marcelo Pontes. Anche le continue voci sulle serate alcoliche di Ronaldinho hanno pesato, contribuendo a peggiorare la sua immagine in Brasile.

Milan su Dzeko? Strani rumors...

Il Milan e Dzeko, un matrimonio che non si materializzò nel calciomercato del 2009 ma che oggi torna prepotentemente d'attualità. La notizia del riavvicinamento tra le parti, che al momento non trova conferme, arriva dal portale goal.com, che precisa come i dirigenti rossoneri si sarebbero già incontrati, nella scorsa settimana, con i vertici del Manchester City per discutere dell'eventuale trasferimento dell'attaccante bosniaco.
Il City pagò il giocatore 32 milioni di euro; una cifra monstre, considerando che poi Dzeko non è mai riuscito ad imporsi nello scacchiere tattico di Roberto Mancini, accumulando comunque un discreto quantitativo di presenze e gol.
Oggi il City sarebbe disposto a venderlo, per fare cassa e rientrare della cifra spesa. Ma solo a determinate condizioni. I rossoneri avrebbero già formulato un'offerta di 24 milioni di euro pagabili in quattro anni: sarà vero?

Del Piero all'Inter: affare o bufala?

Alessandro Del Piero all'Inter: fantamercato all'apparenza anche se nel calcio di oggi tutto può succedere. Secondo quanto riporta Christian Recalcati sul suo profilo Facebook la dirigenza nerazzurra starebbe lavorando nell'ombra per portare Alessandro Del Piero all'Inter. La bandiera della Juventus compirà 38 anni a novembre e ha lasciato i bianconeri dopo 19 stagioni. Il fuoriclasse di Conegliano Veneto non sa ancora dove giocherà nella prossima stagione e questa indiscrezione, tutta da confermare, avrebbe del clamoroso.
Del Piero firmerebbe per una stagione e percepirebbe un ingaggio di 2,5 milioni di euro più eventuali bonus legati alle presenze, ai gol e ai risultati conseguiti. La voce ufficiale dell'Inter per Mediaset Premium ha lanciato questa indiscrezione che stuzzica i tifosi nerazzurri che vorrebbero vendicare il passaggio di Lucio proprio alla Juventus.
Naturalmente non si possono paragonare le due situazioni: Lucio dopo sole tre stagioni ha rescisso il contratto con l'Inter e si è accasato alla Juventus. Se Del Piero firmasse con l'Inter sarebbe un alto tradimento alla Vecchia Signora e siamo sicuri che i tifosi bianconeri vedrebbero cadere un mito. Questa indiscrezione è ancora tutta da confermare e pare essere una "bufala" di mercato che se si tramutasse in realtà acuirebbe ancora di più la rivalità fra Juventus e Inter.

Primapagina Inter, Ranocchia: titolare o addio

Non c'è pace per Andrea Ranocchia. Nemmeno il tempo di 'liberarsi' di Lucio che ha dovuto accogliere Matias Silvestre, buon giocatore sì, ma chiaro segnale di poca fiducia nei confronti dell'italiano. Per questo motivo l'addio del difensore ex Bari ai colori nerazzurri non è un'ipotesi totalmente tramontata. Se in questi giorni di ritiro Ranocchia non dovesse convincere pienamente Stramaccioni, le possibilità che possa partire si impennerebbero anche perché lo stesso giocatore si è mostrato dubbioso sul proprio futuro: "Resto? Boh".
D'altra parte gli offerenti per quello che da molti era stato considerato il futuro della Nazionale italiana, non mancano. Il Psg si è mostrato interessato ma davanti a tutti c'è sempre il Manchester City con Roberto Mancini che sarebbe disposto anche a spendere un buon gruzzoletto per portare Ranocchia in Premier League. L'Inter da parte sua (e non l'ha mai nascosto) vorrebbe riportare a casa Andreolli dal Chievo, chiaro segnale che non farà follie per trattenere il difensore nonostante i 18 milioni spesi un paio di stagioni fa.
Resta da capire qual è il problema. Andrea Ranocchia ha dimostrato prima al Bari e poi al Genoa di avere qualità importanti anche in relazione alla giovane età. E' il momento però per fare il salto di qualità ma per farlo serve la fiducia dell'ambiente, basti guardare Bonucci, che sbagliando oggi e sbagliando domani, ha imparato a tal punto da disputare un ottimo Europeo con la maglia dell'Italia. Di fiducia però all'Inter ce n'è poca, viene data a occhi chiusi a Silvestre, giocatore di 27 anni che ha sempre giocato in squadre medio-piccole con un sistema difensivo completamente diverso da quello nerazzurro. Ranocchia al primo vero anno di Inter ha sbagliato, ha perso l'appuntamento con la svolta. Ma crescerà, privarsene sarebbe delittuoso. Lo sarebbe di più farlo marcire in panchina però...

Alongside Alonso, in place of Ozil: Where will Modric fit in at Real Madrid?

With the Croatian playmaker looking more and more likely to head to the Santiago Bernabeu, Goal.com examines the possible positions the 26-year-old can take up

 After what has been a eerily quiet summer so far by Real Madrid's shopping standards, the reigning Spanish champions could be about to seal their first signing for the 2012-13 campaign in the form of Luka Modric.

The minimal buzz linking high-profile stars to Madrid so far could suggest that, much like last summer, this will be a conservative assault on the market as coach Jose Mourinho looks to bring in just a small selection of players who will strengthen the squad without upsetting the balance - just enough to continue where they left off in La Liga last term, but also to go one step further in the Champions League

  David Silva and Modric have been the only big names linked with the Santiago Bernabeu in the early days of this transfer window, but with the former having recently snubbed a return to Spain, it appears that the latter will become Real's main priority in the coming days, with the transfer looking imminent at this stage.

Mancini signs new City contract

Roberto Mancini has signed a new deal at Manchester City which keeps him at the club for another five years, running until the summer of 2017.

The deal follows the club's most successful season in more than four decades when they clinched the Premier League title on the final day with a thrilling 3-2 win over QPR.
Having lifted the FA Cup in his first year in Manchester, Mancini has earned praise for his handling of the club's stars - including the well-documented problems with Carlos Tevez - and has been rewarded for his efforts.
Mancini told the club's official website: "I am delighted to be able to give all of my efforts to Manchester City for a further five years. The opportunity which exists to build on our recent success is enormous. Manchester City is a fantastic football club, from the owner, chairman, Board and the executive team, through to the players, staff and fans. I am very much looking forward to the challenges and excitement ahead."
Interim Chief Executive Officer John MacBeath added: "Roberto's managerial credentials have been well proven in Europe for many years and in leading a team which has won the FA Cup and an unforgettable Barclays Premier League title in successive seasons, his ability to manage in the English domestic game is also undisputed.
"This new agreement allows Roberto to focus on the challenge of guiding a team which is capable not only of defending the Premier League title, but one which can compete for European honours."

South Americans ready to stop Spanish stroll

Spain's win at Euro 2012 - their third consecutive major tournament win - has sparked off all kinds of comparisons in the bar room debate over the best international team of all time.
Of course, such conversations have a strong subjective component, but it is hard to formulate arguments against the facts - and a fourth consecutive trophy will surely tip the balance in Spain's favour.
But title number four looks set to be the hardest of the lot. It entails doing what no European team has ever done - winning the World Cup on South American soil when the world come to Brazil in 2014.
Worse, it comes at a time when the South Americans, who have always won the trophy when it has been staged on their continent, have an unprecedented degree of strength in depth. This is something the reigning world and European champions should know from experience.

 

Lionel Messi will look to topple a Spain side that contains many of his Barcelona teammates. Photo: Getty

Spain, of course, have breezed through the knock-out stages of their three victorious tournaments without conceding a single goal. It is worth remembering that in all that time the most difficult, most even game was the 2010 World Cup quarter-final against Paraguay, who even missed a penalty.
Paraguay, though, may well not be in Brazil in two years' time. The agonising progress they made to the final of last year's Copa America was the last hurrah for the team that had pushed Spain all the way. Coach Gerardo Martino resigned, replacement Francisco Arce tried to change too much too soon and was sacked.
Whoever takes over (combative Uruguayan Gerardo Pelusso is the favourite) faces an uphill task.
As does the new coach of Bolivia, still to be named after Gustavo Quinteros resigned last week. Dependent on the extreme altitude of playing in La Paz, Bolivia have surely already dropped too many points at home to be serious contenders for a World Cup place.
Peru have made an even worse start, a bitter disappointment after coming third in the Copa America. They have had an appalling run with injuries. If they can get their dangerous strikers fit they could make up lost ground - and they are at home in both of September's next two rounds. But there is no margin for error - unlike Chile.
With a third of the qualification campaign gone, the Chileans already have half the points they need to book a place. They gave Spain an interesting game in the last World Cup, and an even more interesting one in a friendly in Switzerland last year, when they went two goals up only to lose 3-2 to a dubious injury-time penalty. For all their attacking threat, though, it is hard to imagine Chile finding the defensive solidity to unseat the Spaniards should their paths cross in the next World Cup.
Uruguay are a different matter, combining a hugely talented collection of strikers who work well together with a tough defence, an abrasive midfield and a team well drilled enough to tweak their formation in accordance with the strengths and weaknesses of their opponent.
They have also made a good start to the qualification process - but key components of the side are starting to age and may need replacing by 2014. This is part of the importance of the coming Olympics to the Uruguayans, a subject that I will explore in two weeks' time.
At the other end of the continent, Venezuela are in contention to qualify for the World Cup for the first time. Their progress has been truly amazing. But should they make the World Cup it is hard to see them having enough real quality to trouble Spain and the other major challengers from Europe. Much the same applies to Ecuador, full of powerful options down the flanks, but defensively suspect away from their mountain stronghold of Quito.
But if they can qualify for the first time since 1998, Colombia could give the heavyweights something to worry about. There are problems in their squad - the centre-backs are all ageing together, for example. But there is also the hint of something very interesting. Radamel Falcao is one of the most feared centre-forwards in the game.
To get the best out of him Colombia must give him better service. He struggles with his back to goal, so Colombia need to get behind the opposing defence and play in balls that he can attack. It is for this reason that the emergence of attacking midfielder James Rodriguez is so significant. Versatile, mature, strong on the ball and full of ideas, he looks like being a key piece in the jigsaw now being put together by former Argentina boss Jose Pekerman.
Current Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella is having problems with a jigsaw of his own. Argentina are very much a work in progress, a team looking for a blend and a shape. Sabella confesses that there are problems at both full and centre-back - he could have included goalkeeper as well, because undisputed first choice Sergio Romero can often look untidy.
Federico Fernandez and Ezequiel Garay are still feeling their way as a centre back combination. But there are some positive signs as well. Up front the interplay between Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero can be dazzling. And in the last World Cup qualifier at home to Ecuador, Fernando Gago served as an excellent supply line for Messi.
Surround the little Barcelona genius with enough of these little partnerships and Sabella is well on the way to putting together a team fit to contend with Spain and anyone else in the World Cup. And he has the advantage of the world's most competitive qualification campaign to help him find the right balance.
This is something Brazil, automatically qualified as hosts, do not have. Coach Mano Menezes has lamented the lack of competitive fixtures in his quest to build a team for 2014 - all of which makes the London Olympics all the more important for him and his country. But that is a topic for next week.

Comments on the piece in the space provided. Questions on South American football to vickerycolumn@hotmail.com and I'll pick out a couple for next week.
From last week's postbag:

Q) I've just moved to Lima in Peru on a teaching contract for two years. I'm keen to get involved with the local football, but have no idea where to start. What is Peruvian football like in general and who are the big, or local teams to follow?
Dafydd Gwyon

A) You arrive in interesting times. On the downside, the league is in deep financial crisis, with most of the clubs, especially the Lima giants, mired in debt. Indeed, a new administrator-type figure has been appointed at a number of clubs in a bid to sort it all out.
On the plus side, first there is a pleasing and very necessary movement of decentralisation. Historically Lima monopolises, but last season Juan Aurich of Chiclayo took the title up north for the first time, and this year Cesar Vallejo from nearby Trujillo are leading the way.
There are also some interesting young players coming through, especially at Universitario in the capital, currently coached by Nolberto Solano, where Polo, Flores and my current favourite Ampuero (a tall, left-footed midfielder with an imperious air) are all worth a look. Universitario (more linked with the elite) and Alianza Lima (mass of the population) are the big two. But the best team in the capital to watch at the moment are Sporting Cristal, who have an impressive collection of attacking talent.
Or, if you want something more offbeat, there's San Martin, a new club whose tiny support base mainly consists of university students.

'Phenomenon' Park signs for QPR

This is a huge signing for this football club, says Mark Hughes

 

 

Queens Park Rangers have confirmed the signing of Park Ji-sung from Manchester United on a two-year deal.

The 31-year-old South Korea international has joined the Loftus Road club for an undisclosed fee after a seven-year stay with the Red Devils.
QPR's official website hailed the player as a "global phenomenon" as Mark Hughes attempts to strengthen the club having dodged Premier League relegation on the final day of last season.
And Hughes believes the signing is a significant one for the Hoops given Park's impressive record at Old Trafford - particularly in big games.
"This is a real coup for QPR," he told the club's official website. "We are delighted Ji is going to join us because his record speaks for itself.
"He has been a big player for Manchester United and played a big part in their success in recent years.

Respected

"He is hugely respected there because of what he has achieved, his application to his work and the impact he has on games.
"He was always picked for the big matches because they could rely on him, and we are going to reap all those qualities.
"I think it is fair to say Ji has been attracted not to where QPR are, but where QPR are going.
"We were able to show him where the club is heading and he embraced it. Ji gets what we are trying to do. This is a huge signing for this football club."
Park echoed the sentiments about the direction the club are going and the 100-times capped midfielder is convinced QPR can become a force.
Park told QPR player: "The project was simply too good to resist and I am excited about getting started in pre-season and going on tour to Asia in the coming days.
"I am joining a club that is very much on an upward curve - a club that has a very bright future."

Overjoyed

QPR owner Tony Fernandes is much of the reason for that bright future and the enthusiastic investor was full of optimism about the signing.
"I am overjoyed and can't wait to see him in a QPR shirt," Fernandes added.

"It shows our determination and our ambition to build this club.
"Ji is a global star with a Champions League winner's medal to his name, and he is as excited about this move as we all are."
Park was omitted from Sir Alex Ferguson's squad for the final of their 2008 UEFA Champions League success but collected a medal as a member of the 25-man squad.
But he did start in both the 2009 and 2011 finals in which United lost out to Barcelona and played more than 200 games for the club he joined from PSV Eindhoven in 2005.

Milan yet to make Carroll moveRodgers says Reds have received no approach for striker

Rodgers says Reds have received no approach for striker

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers claims reports linking Andy Carroll with AC Milan are wide of the mark, with the Italian outfit having made no contact.

It has been claimed that the Serie A giants are keen to strike a loan deal for the England international after being impressed by his displays at Euro 2012.
Carroll has not enjoyed the best of times at Anfield since completing a £35million move from Newcastle United, but his performances towards the end of last season suggest he is close to recapturing his best form.
Rodgers considers the 23-year-old to be an important part of his plans heading forward and appreciates that transfer gossip will follow good players around.
He told Sky Sports News HD: "He's a good player, Andy. He will always be linked whether he was here or not.

Good player

"I have spoken to Andy on his holidays and he knows exactly where he stands. He's a very good young player and he will be linked with clubs like that because he's such a good player."
Asked if Milan had made an approach, Rodgers added: "I haven't heard anything from them at all."
Rodgers has also hinted that he is prepared to offer a clean slate to Joe Cole and Alberto Aquilani, two players that have been sent out on loan in recent seasons after struggling to settle at Anfield.
Rodgers said: "Both players are back. I had a good chat with Alberto the other day. He's a good guy and it obviously hasn't quite worked out for him as of yet. But he's a player that has got the qualities, the technical ability, to play.
"What's going to be important for every player is that they have the steel and the mindset to play. That's something I will find out about all of the players during pre-season."

ITALY/ AC MILAN, Eyes on a young Slovakian midfielder AC Milan management have targeted Slovakian 1996 born midfielder Jakub Hromada (16), who's playing for KAC Jednota Kosice juvenile squad, and has been targeted by several Italian c

AC Milan management have targeted Slovakian 1996 born midfielder Jakub Hromada (16), who's playing for KAC Jednota Kosice juvenile squad, and has been targeted by several Italian c

Galliani: «Ibra-Thiago Silva, può succedere di tutto»

L'ad del Milan: «Gli obiettivi sono sempre gli stessi: campionato, Champions e Coppa Italia. È un anno particolare, abbiamo cambiato pelle. Ambrosini ultimo dei mohicani, il mercato è lunghissimo e il 31 agosto dirò qual è la nostra rosa. Che sarà competitivissima»

GERMANY/ BAYERN MUNICH, Maxi-offer for Marchisio

Recently ranked at the second place at Euro 2012 with Italian NT, well-rounded midfielder Claudio Marchisio (26) has been the item of an offer coming from Bayern Munich management, who declared themselves available to pay Juventus 30 million euros for his ownership. Bianconeri, which Marchisio (who Manchester United are keen on as well) is currently on a deal with until June 2016, are however really unlikely to take into account any pro

GERMANY/ HAMBURG, New attempt for Van Der Vaart

According to latest rumours, Hamburg management are ready to try signing Dutch international offensive midfielder Rafael Van Der Vaart (29), currently on a deal with Tottenham until June 2014. The player, who's already been playing for German club from 2005/06 to 2007/08, is tracked by Lokomotiv Mo

ENGLAND/ ARSENAL, Trial period for talented young striker Niang

Currently on a deal with Caen until June 2014, 1994-born French Under-21 international striker M'Baye Niang (17) is about to join Arsenal on a trial period. The player's ownership is esteemed around 5 million euros, and Tottenham, Chelsea, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Inter are tracking him as well.

Hamsik: «Napoli voglio lo scudetto»

Il centrocampista slovacco: «Juve e Milan da battere poi ci siamo noi e l’Inter. Sarà uno spettacolo. Attenzione alla Roma Zeman ha gli uomini giusti per il suo 4-3-3. Curioso andare in ritiro e non trovare Lavezzi dopo 5 anni insieme»

 ROMA - Ecco un estratto dell'intervista esclusiva ad Hamsik che potete leggere integralmente sull'edizione odierna del Corriere dello Sport-Stadio.

Hamsik, si torna a sudare...
«Oramai ci sono abituato e non ci faccio più caso: certo che al mare si sta bene».

Girano foto su Internet, due bimbi che si contendono un pallone....
«Questi diventeranno calciatori, fidatevi».

Uno si chiama Christian Hamsik, l'altro Matias Gargano...
«Puntate su di loro....».

Il papà di Christian che dice?
«Devo chiedere a mio padre se ero più forte di quanto non lo sia già adesso mia figlio. Ma quando mi vede giocare, vuole scendere in campo pure lui. E questo vale pure per Matias. E' complicato riuscire a frenarli».

E frenare voi del Napoli? A poco meno di due mesi dall'Olimpico, viene naturale chiedersi cosa avvertite...
«La vittoria in Coppa Italia ci ha reso ulteriormente consapevoli del nostro valore. Però ad inizio di stagione si azzera tutto e si ricomincia. Noi sappiamo ciò che valiamo e quel trionfo ha contribuito ad accrescere l'autostima. I risultati servono eccome e contribuiscono a livello psicologico alla crescita di una squadra».

E le altre come se la passano?
«Confesso: devo aggiornarmi, perché in vacanza ho staccato la spina. Però per quel che mi è arrivato alle orecchie, sarà un'altra stagione intensa. Io penso che il divertimento non mancherà, perché qui ci sono club che hanno formazioni già attrezzate ed altre che lo faranno».

Si parte subito con Juventus-Napoli, ad inizio agosto ed in Cina.
«E con l'assegnazione della Supercoppa. Per noi è un avvenimento insolito, ripartire mettendo in palio un trofeo è particolarissimo. E' anche assai seducente. Una gran vetrina, con tanto richiamo: a quei tempi, una volta, si giocavano le amichevoli. Ora invece si va subito al dunque. E nessuno vorrà perdere». 

Nel libro dei sogni di Marekiaro c'è...
«Il mio desiderio è vincere ancora, chiaramente. E ciò vuole dire inseguire un grande traguardo: la coppa Italia lo è stato».

Giochino banale d'estate: scelga...
«Risposta scontata: lo scudetto».

Chi sono le favorite?
«Presto per dirlo, perché il mercato rimarrà aperto sino al 31 agosto e chiunque può scovare i rinforzi giusti. Ma Juventus e Milan, che hanno duellato sino all'ultima giornata, vanno considerate le favorite. Poi ci siamo noi. E poi vedremo come l'Inter reagirà a questi cambiamenti. E la Roma».

Neymar, messaggi al Real: «Adoro Ronaldo e Ozil»

MADRID - «Ozil e Cristiano Ronaldo sono i miei giocatori preferiti». Neymar chiama il Real Madrid durante un'intervista rilasciata al sito ufficiale della Fifa. L'attaccante brasiliano, cercato dai club di mezza Europa, parla senza filtri del suo presente, delle Olimpiadi di Londra ormai imminenti e dei Mondiali che si giocheranno in casa fra due anni. Senza tralasciare il suo futuro, sempre più vicino alla Spagna. «Le gare olimpiche non sono solo partite di calcio. Per me sono un sogno, proprio come disputare la Coppa del Mondo. Ovvamente il nostro obiettivo è tornare in patria con la medaglia d'oro al collo», ha detto l'attaccante del Santos. «Io protagonista delle Olimpiadi? Beh, ci saranno anche campioni del calibro di Lebron James e Usain Bolt quindi non penso di essere io l'attrazione principale dei Giochi. Siciramente voglio godermi queste Olimpiadi anche da spettatore, non voglio perdermi nulla. Chiederò gli autografi e proverò a fare una foto con tutti i campioni presenti».

SULLE OLIMPIADI - Tornando a parlare delle Olimpiadi, Neymar fissa l'obiettivo del suo Brasile: «Abbiamo tutto il necessario per laurearci campioni olimpici. La Seleçao parte sempre come favorita, a prescindere dalla concorrenza. E' sempre stato così. Abbiamo una squadra molto buona, e giocatori di altissimo livello», ha dichiarato. «Non mi considero la stella di questa squadra, anche perchè in rosa abbiamo tantissimi fuoriclasse e i successi arrivano sempre grazie all'apporto di tutti». «Le mie congratulazioni via Twitter ad Iniesta? Beh, la Spagna si è laureata meritatamente campione d'Europa. Ho visto il torneo e il livello era altissimo. Mancavano solo Brasile ed Argentina...», ha detto Neymar a proposito dell'Europeo appena terminato in Polonia ed Ucraina. Neymar non si sbilancia sul suo futuro: «Non so dove giocherò. Chi mi piace? Adoro Iniesta, penso che sia un giocatore sensazionale. Impazzisco anche per Cristiano Ronaldo e Mesut Ozil. Sono sempre stato un loro fan». L'esca è stata lanciata: il Real abboccherà?