Football

Man Utd midfielder Tom Cleverley called up by England

 

Cleverley is one of five Manchester United players in the England squad

Manchester United's Tom Cleverley has been called up to the England squad for Wednesday's friendly against the Netherlands.

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere and Manchester United's Michael Carrick have both withdrawn.
Cleverley, 21, came on as a substitute during United's 3-2 Community Shield victory over Manchester City on Sunday.

ENGLAND EURO 2012 QUALIFIERS

• 2 September Bulgaria away
• 6 September Wales home
• 7 October Montenegro away

He has spent most of his United career out on loan, first at Leicester, then at Watford and last season at Wigan.
Cleverley played for England at Under-20 level before making his Under-21 debut against Macedonia in 2009.
England squad to play Netherlands on 10 August:
Robert Green, Joe Hart, David Stockdale, Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Phil Jagielka, Joleon Lescott, Micah Richards, John Terry, Kyle Walker, Gareth Barry, Tom Cleverley, Stewart Downing, Adam Johnson, Frank Lampard, James Milner, Scott Parker, Ashley Young, Andy Carroll, Peter Crouch, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck

Guardiola: Barcelona will win Super Cup

Josep Guardiola confirmed coach of Barcelona, ​​he is still confident of his ability to lead the team to win the Spanish Super Cup football at the expense of Real Madrid.
Barcelona will meet on Saturday with a team
Club America of Mexico in a friendly match in the preparations for the new season, which opens to face Real Madrid in the Super Cup.
Barcelona are looking to bounce back in tomorrow's game after losing two games in the last two friendlies against Manchester United (1-2) on July 30 last in front of Mexico's Chivas Guadalajara (1-4) Thursday.
Said Guardiola, who led Barcelona to win the Super Cup last season at the expense of Seville, "Super Cup title we all want to win it," adding that Real Madrid will also try to give all he has to grab the title.
Barcelona will meet with Real Madrid in the Super Cup back and forth on 14 and 17 August / August

Arsenal chief meets Barcelona over Fabregas deal

 

Fabregas started his career with Barcelona at the age of 10

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis will meet Barcelona officials on Friday over the future of Cesc Fabregas.

BBC Sport has learned that the Gunners are yet to receive a second bid beyond the £27m Barca offered last month.
But the club are prepared to sell their 24-year-old skipper if the Spanish giants meet their £40m valuation.
Majority shareholder Stan Kroenke will not take part in the talks having flown home to the US after a visit to the Emirates on Thursday.
Fabregas has been linked with a move back to the Nou Camp, where he started his career as a 10-year-old in the academy, for the past two summers.

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We will fight to the end to try to get Cesc because we believe he will improve the team and the squad

Pep Guardiola Barcelona coach

The Spanish international was even forced to wear a Barca shirt by his team-mates as the country celebrated winning the World Cup last year.
Fabregas did not take part in Arsenal's pre-season tours to Germany and Asia, but looks set for his first pre-season appearance for the Gunners when they take on Benfica at the Emirates on Saturday.
The transfer window does not close until the end of this month, but Barca will be keen to complete a deal before Tuesday 16 August when Arsenal face Udinese in a Champions League play-off.
If Fabregas lines up against the Italian side he will be cup-tied in the competition.
Last month Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola revealed his desire to sign the Arsenal star.
"We will fight to the end to try to get Cesc because we believe he will improve the team and the squad," he said.

 

Arsenal face Udinese in Champions League play-off

 

Wenger guided Arsenal to the 2006 Champions League final

Arsenal have been drawn against Udinese in the play-off to reach the group stage of the Champions League.

The Gunners will be at home for the first leg of the tie against the Italians on Tuesday 16 August, with the return leg seven days later.
Bayern Munich face FC Zurich, Dutch side FC Twente take on Benfica and Lyon take on Russia's Rubin Kazan.
The Gunners are bidding to join Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City in the group stage.
Arsenal face the qualifying tie to reach the group stage of the Champions League for a 14th consecutive season because they finished fourth in last season's Premier League.

ARSENAL'S CL RECORD

• Finalists - 2006
• Semi-finalists - 2009
• Quarter-finalists - 2001, 2004, 2008, 2010

Wenger was charged with using "inapproriate language" towards match official Massimo Busacca after he showed Robin van Persie a second yellow card for shooting at goal after he had blown his whistle for offside.
Van Persie's dismissal means he will sit out the first leg against Udinese, while midfielder Samir Nasri is also banned after been reprimanded by Uefa for his outburst at Busacca.
The first leg of their tie with Udinese is sandwiched between the first Premier League game of the season at Newcastle and the visit of Liverpool to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday 20 August.
The second leg, in Italy on 23 August, precedes their Premier League trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.
The 10 play-off winners will then join the 22 automatically qualified teams for the group stage draw to be held in Monaco on 25 August.

Champions League play-off draw:

Wisla Krakow v Apoel Nicosia
Maccabi Haifa v Genk
Dinamo Zagreb v Malmo FF
FC Copenhagen v Plzen
BATE v SK Sturm Graz
Odense BK v Villarreal
FC Twente v Benfica
Arsenal v Udinese
Bayern Munich v FC Zurich
Lyon v Rubin Kazan
Ties to be played 16/17 and 23/24 August

Owen winner gives United friendly win over Barcelona

Owen's winning goal was set up by 21-year-old Tom Cleverley

Michael Owen scored a 76th-minute winner as Manchester United beat European champions Barcelona 2-1 in a pre-season friendly in Washington DC.

In front of nearly 82,000 fans Nani put United ahead in the 22nd minute.
Barcelona, without Lionel Messi, equalised in the 70th minute with a stunning strike from Thiago Alcantara.
Owen latched on to a pass from Tom Cleverley to score the winner as United end their North American tour win five wins out of five.
Owen Tweeted after the game: "As normal with Barca, opposing striker hardly gets a touch! That was the case today! Thankfully I scored but I missed a sitter late on too."
United were beaten by Barcelona in the Champions League Final at Wembley in May, and a record crowd for a football match in the American capital saw the Premier League champions gain a small measure of revenge.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side will return home and prepare for the Community Shield against FA Cup winners Manchester City next Sunday at Wembley.
Ferguson's assistant manager Mike Phelan said: "Tonight wasn't a do-or-die situation. It was important that the players we put out on the pitch understand what it takes to play against an exceptional team.
NBA star Kobe Bryant was among the record crowd for a football match in Washington DC "We have some very good young players out there and [they] proudly conducted themselves to a high standard."
Wayne Rooney missed an early chance before Nani's opening goal was created by Danny Welbeck on a counter-attack. The Portuguese winger beat the offside trap and scored through the legs of Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes.
As well as missing Messi Barcelona chose not to play Xavi, Carlos Puyol or Gerard Pique in their starting line-up. Pep Guardiola's team drew level with 20 minutes remaining when 20-year-old midfielder Thiago scored with a fabulous curling shot that flew past new United goalkeeper David De Gea.

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Javier Hernandez is coming back with us. He is fine

Sir Alex Ferguson

The game would have gone to penalties if it had finished level, but Owen ensured that United left North America with a 100% winning record when he chipped the ball past Valdes following some sloppy defensive play from Barcelona.
Brazilian defender Rafael was injured in the first half and was replaced by his brother Fabio.
Ferguson confirmed after the match that Mexican striker Javier Hernandez was given the all-clear to fly back with the squad after he suffered a concussion in a training session.
"Javier is coming back with us. He is fine. He won't play for a couple of weeks but that would have been the case anyway.
"He was always going to need a break until he got his fitness back. He will do some training, then we will have him back in three to four weeks."
Ferguson also dismissed on-going speculation about the club making an approach to sign Dutch international Wesley Sneijder from Inter Milan, saying: "Absolute nonsense. I have never discussed him. There is nothing new."

Aston Villa sign Charles N'Zogbia from Wigan Athletic

New Villa signing N'Zogbia scores double (UK users only)

Charles N'Zogbia has completed his move from Wigan to Aston Villa after agreeing personal terms on a five-year deal at Villa Park.

The two clubs settled on a fee, reported to be about £9.5m, for the 25-year-old winger on Monday, after Villa's initial bid was turned down.
"I am really happy and excited to sign for Aston Villa," said N'Zogbia.
"It is a great club and a really big step for me in my career, so I am sure I will enjoy my football here."
N'Zogbia scored 15 goals in 83 Premier League appearances for Wigan after an offer of Ryan Taylor and a reported £6m fee secured his services from Newcastle in January 2009.
Five of those goals came in the left-sided attacker's final six Premier League matches for the club as the Latics avoided relegation on the final day of the season.
His goal-scoring run extended to France's friendly against Poland in June in which his first international goal was the difference between the sides.

N'Zogbia at-a-glance

• Born May 1986 in Harfleur, France
• Signed by Sir Bobby Robson for Newcastle in 2004
• Joined Wigan in January 2009
• Made France debut in August 2010
• Scored nine Premier League goals in 2010/11 as Wigan avoided relegation

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez believes that his departure has come at the right time for all parties.
"We're all disappointed to lose a player like Charles N'Zogbia, who has been fantastic for Wigan Athletic over the past two years," he said.
"Now is the time for him to move on to a club who have matched the market valuation for him and allow us to move on reinvest and take our football club onto another level."
Villa's purchase of N'Zogbia's has been funded by the departure of their own big names, with Ashley Young leaving for Manchester United and Stewart Downing sold to Liverpool.
It is new manager Alex McLeish's second foray into the transfer market this summer after the signing of goalkeeper Shay Given, a former Newcastle team-mate of N'Zogbia's, from Manchester City.

Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby sidelined for 10 weeks

Diaby played 20 times for Arsenal last season

Midfielder Abou Diaby will miss the start of Arsenal's season after having ankle surgery during the summer.

Diaby, 25, has been troubled by the injury since the end of last season and was absent from the club's summer tour of Asia and a training camp in Germany.
Manager Arsene Wenger expects Diaby to miss league matches against Newcastle, Liverpool and Manchester United.
"Normally he should be back eight to 10 weeks after his surgery, which means the end of August," said Wenger.

DID YOU KNOW?

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• Both Abou Diaby's goals for Arsenal last season came against Blackpool

Arsenal travel to Tyneside for their Premier League opener on 13 August, before a home match against Liverpool on 20 August and a visit to Old Trafford on 28 August.
After taking only five points from their last six games last season, which saw them slip down to fourth place after being well-placed for a title challenge, Arsenal also face a two-legged play-off to qualify for the group stage of the Champions League.
Diaby will also miss those matches, against as-yet-unknown opposition, on 16 or 17 August and 23 or 24 August.
The Frenchman's absence for a tricky start to the Gunners' league programme will be exacerbated by Denilson's departure to Sao Paulo on loan.

ARSENAL'S SENIOR MIDFIELDERS

• Cesc Fabregas
• Abou Diaby
• Tomas Rosicky
• Samir Nasri
• Aaron Ramsey
• Alex Song
• Jack Wilshere
• Andrey Arshavin
• Emmanuel Eboue

The situation could get even worse for Wenger with the possible loss of further midfield personnel before the close of the transfer window.
The future of captain Cesc Fabregas, a long-time Barcelona target, is still uncertain while Samir Nasri has been linked with a move to either Manchester United or Manchester City.
And occasional winger Theo Walcott has been sent home from Germany for a scan in an attempt to clear up a recurring ankle problem while 19-year-old Conor Henderson has been ruled out for the first six months of the season with a knee injury.

Guardiola talks up Thiago, coy on Cesc

Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola has sung the praises of 20-year-old Thiago Alcantara after his double against Bayern Munich on Wednesday. The Italian-born Spaniard bagged a double in Barca's 2-0 Audi Cup final win, with his second goal particularly catching the eye. His stellar performance at Munich's Allianz Arena led to some kind words from Guardiola, who feels Barcelona are 'lucky' to have him. "He is an extraordinary guy, he is very competitive and as you have seen he plays very good football," Guardiola said. "For this reason we decided to take him out of the juniors and play him in the first team." "He's a kid that loves to play and wants to have a career in this sport and we are fortunate to have another player from our juniors. He was brilliant not only for the goals but also for his defensive play. We are very lucky to have this player." Guardiola was pleased to have won the pre-season tournament as the Catalan giants claimed another trophy to add to an already packed cabinet. "We have won a prestigious tournament against a great Brazilian team (Internacional) as well as two of the best teams in the world and Europe - Milan and Bayern Munich," he said. "Basically we competed very well. We did everything - we maintained a good level, we competed well and everyone gave a helping hand to the youth players." But Guardiola refused to be drawn into discussions on how good his side would be if they signed Cesc Fabregas, insisting that he was not involved in the negotiations. "Fabregas is a player of Arsenal. Many clubs would like to have him since he is a very good player, but he is an Arsenal player. This is a task for the people dealing with negotiations, it is not up to me. I only know he is a player of Arsenal, nothing else."

Kalou up for Chelsea challenge

Striker Salomon Kalou is ready to fight for a first-team place under new Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas. The 25-year-old was linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge following the arrival of Fernando Torres in January, but he said that competition for places at last season's English Premier League runners-up can only be a good thing. Kalou, Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka, Daniel Sturridge and Torres are are vying for places up front this season for the Blues. "I like to have a challenge, it is part of the game and when you play in a big club like Chelsea, of course, we will get challenged," Kalou told Citi FM. "Everybody has to fight to play and I am ready to fight." "The new manager has been very good, it is just the beginning. We have been training very hard and I and my colleagues will give everything to ensure we have a great season." The Ivory Coast international believes that the London outfit can improve on last season, when they lost in the UEFA Champions League semi-final against Manchester United, exited the FA Cup at the fourth-round stage and lost their Premier League title to United. "It's going to be really competitive and we (are) looking to win back the Premier League, the FA Cup and possibly win the Champions League for the first time," he said. "It won't be easy, but we know we have the team and players to go back and win the trophy so we are confident about it." "This season will be a great season for Chelsea, because this will maybe be the last opportunity for us to win the Champions League or to win more prizes together." "The desire and hunger is still there. We have good professionals in the team, good experience and people are hungry to win because. It was not so good for everyone at Chelsea last season."

 

Sergio Batista removed as Argentina coach after poor Copa America

 

Sergio Batista has agreed to step down as coach of Argentina after their quarter-final exit at the Copa America.

Hosts Argentina went out to champions Uruguay on penalties in the last eight.

Batista, 48, had been in charge for a year, initially on a caretaker basis, after Diego Maradona was dismissed following the 2010 World Cup.

An Argentine Football Association (AFA) spokesman said Batista had not been sacked, but it had been decided to "rescind" the coach's contract.

"He put his future as the head of the national team up for consideration by the executive committee," added spokesman Ernesto Bialo.

Argentina, whose last major trophy was their 1993 Copa America triumph, have cancelled a friendly scheduled for 10 August against Romania in Bucharest.

"The coaching staff of Argentina teams at all levels are under evaluation by the national teams commission," added Bialo.

"There are no deadlines, there's no rush, no urgency [to appoint a new coach] so there will be a process of consideration and study."

Batista oversaw a disappointing Copa America campaign that started with Argentina drawing their first two group games, against Bolivia and Colombia.

ARGENTINA'S RECENT MISSES

• 2011 Copa - lost to Uruguay in quarter-final
• 2010 World Cup - lost to Germany in quarter-final
• 2007 Copa - Lost to Brazil in final
• 2006 World Cup - Lost to Germany in quarter-final
• 2004 Copa - Lost to Brazil in final

They beat Costa Rica 3-0 to qualify for the last eight, but then lost on penalties to neighbours Uruguay after a 1-1 draw. Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez missed his spot kick in the shoot-out.

Argentina's team boasted an array of world stars, including current World Player of the Year Lionel Messi of Barcelona, his Barca team-mate Javier Mascherano, formerly of Liverpool, and Manchester City target Sergio Aguero, but Batista failed to match that talent with results.

Maradona, who captained Argentina to their last World Cup triumph in 1986 but fared less successfully as coach of the national team, was critical of Batista's reign.

After the Copa America he told Argentina's Radio Belgrano: "If I had only beaten Costa Rica, I would have gone on my own. What is happening right now is not the fault of the players."

Batista's tenure as Argentina coach started well with friendly wins over Spain and Brazil but the AFA has decided to make a change before qualifying starts for the 2014 World Cup, which is being hosted in neighbouring Brazil.

Local media have suggested several names as potential replacements for Batista.

One of the favourites is Alejandro Sabella, who won South America's premier club competition, the Copa Libertadores, with Estudiantes in 2009 and recently took charge of Al-Jazira in the United Arab Emirates.

Sabella had playing spells with Sheffield United and Leeds United between 1978 and 1981.

Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino, who is Argentine, and Carlos Bianchi, who has won four Copa Libertadores as manager, have also been mentioned as possible replacements for Batista.

The AFA has also announced it plans to merge the teams from the country's top two divisions into one next year, combining all 20 from the top flight and 16 or 18 from the second tier.

It is likely that the teams will be divided into regional groups, meaning a reprieve for River Plate who were relegated for the first time in their history at the end of the 2010-2011 season.

Chick Young's view on the new season

 
The Old Firm battled out a close title race last season

Explain to me how Rangers are going to square their oncoming tax bill and I'll wager you could teach us how to nail jelly to a tree.

Frankly I still don't quite comprehend how the Ibrox club's takeover has built a jigsaw puzzle picture of a sunny future. But then why listen to me? I never thought Craig the Whyte knight would get his hands on the club in the first place.
So off we jolly well go into another season which has already fired up more questions than answers, with its embarrassing hiccupping start as the Old Firm take their sabbatical before the term has learned to walk.
Of course I understand the desire - requirement, maybe - for the big clubs to go big buck hunting, but I still find it humiliating for the SPL that the big kick-off is followed by a couple of weeks of damp squibs as Celtic then Rangers throw the other clubs a deaf one.
It's like getting married then bodyswerving your own reception.
Rangers fans can't be full of the joys of life. All window shopping in the transfer market, but no real spirit of the shop to drop. Sure, they've been linked with more big names than Piers Morgan…but headlines don't mean signings.

CHICK'S PREDICTIONS

• SPL champions: Celtic
• Second: Rangers
• Third: Hearts
• Relegated: Kilmarnock
• Scottish Cup winners: Hearts
• League Cup winners: Dundee United

Ally McCoist once compared taking the baton from Walter Smith to accepting the microphone from Sinatra and of course he was right. But it strikes me that Nelson Riddle has just taken the orchestra off the stage too.
He took the job because ultimately he had no option. But privately he must reflect that somewhere down the line there might have been a better time.
Like Neil Lennon timed his run, for example. After the Tony Mowbray shambles, the only way was up.
No fence sitting from your old reporter. I'll be stunned if Celtic aren't champions by the time autumn and winter have blown their last and dear spring is in the air once again.
Rangers were champions last year because they deserved to be, not because of Celtic's spectacular trip at Inverness as they toddled to the finishing line. A title race is a distance event and it is never won or lost on any given Saturday afternoon or Wednesday night.
But this time at Parkhead, I suspect the lesson will have been learned.
Mind you, to be fair there hasn't been a run on the ink at Lennoxtown. Signings there too have been a collector's item.
But the difference is the depth of squad already on the employment register. Atlantic deep: Rangers meanwhile have to set sail in a puddle.
What we need them both to do is progress in Europe in their respective competitions, to ensure a little midweek action in the Champions and Europa Leagues. That would put a little light in our lives.
And talking of a little brightness, why do I have a good feeling about St Mirren?
It's a worry. This time last year I was insistent that they would be relegated and if not quite gloriously wrong then I looked like being spot-on for a fair few months.
Scotland coach Craig Levein faces crucial Euro 2012 qualifiers But the signings of Gary Teale, Nigel Hasselbaink and Stevie Thompson and a general something in the air over Paisley - and maybe the strong drink - has me think better days are coming.
And here's a thing as I juggle my feel good factors: Scotland - I think we might make it to Poland and Ukraine although hopefully not Donetsk, quite the dreariest place I have ever been. There, even the birds cough.
Certainly the play-offs of the European Championship qualifying group beckon at least, where Lithuania's turning over by Liechtenstein opened the door for Scotland and a straight two-way fight with the Czechs for second prize to World Champions Spain.
So let SPL battle commence, earlier than ever but still too late. We should have been back three weeks ago thereby allowing our European representatives some run-up to their ties and freeing up some time for the inevitable winter back-log of postponed games.
And maybe even a January shutdown…
Hey, but I'm not one to spoil a bright new dawn with a bit of mumping.
But watch this space.