World Cup » News » Football: Rooney wound is a horror show, says Walcott

Football: Rooney wound is a horror show, says Walcott

Theo Walcott says the head injury that has sidelined England colleague Wayne Rooney looks like “something out of a horror film”.

Rooney was left with a sizeable gash on his forehead after being caught in the face by Manchester United team-mate Phil Jones earlier this week.

The wound required stitches and forced the 27-year-old striker to withdraw from England’s squad for the World Cup qualifying double-header against Moldova and Ukraine.

Asked to describe the injury during a press conference at England’s St George’s Park training base on Tuesday, Walcott pointed to a bottle of water beside him and said: “I’ve seen a picture of it and it’s about that big.

“It is a very big gash. It is not a nice sight, to be honest. It is not going to help his looks, I wouldn’t think. It’s not very nice to see. It’s like something out of a horror film.”

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge had been in line to deputise for Rooney at home to Moldova on Friday, but he is now doubtful with a thigh injury that prevented him from training on Tuesday.

With Tottenham Hotspur’s Jermain Defoe yet to start a league game this season, it means either Rooney’s United team-mate Danny Welbeck or Southampton’s Rickie Lambert will lead the line against Moldova.

“It is sad to see Wayne out, but it is an opportunity for someone to come in and take their chance,” Walcott added.

“Danny Welbeck has started the season well for his club and Rickie Lambert has had a great start to his England career, so the manager has some great options and I am sure he knows what to do.”

Primera División » News » Football: Bale must earn place, says Real Madrid coach

Football: Bale must earn place, says Real Madrid coachGareth Bale (l.) wurde bei Real Madrid offiziell vorgestellt

Gareth Bale will not be guaranteed to start every game at Real Madrid despite his enormous price tag, rgw Spanish club’s assistant coach Paul Clement warned on Wednesday.

The Welshman was officially presented as a Madrid player on Monday, after signing from Tottenham Hotspur on a six-year contract for a fee of around £80 million ($124 million, 94 million euros).

However, Clement says that Bale must prove his worth if he is to hold down a place in manager Carlo Ancelotti’s team.

“There’s a lot of competition for places — no-one will be guaranteed anything,” Clement told BBC Sport.

“Coach Carlo Ancelotti has a clear idea how to use him, but things can change.”

Ancelotti must also decide how to accommodate Bale in his team.

The 24-year-old habitually played on the left for Spurs, occasionally being deployed in the centre, but the left flank at Madrid is Ronaldo’s established domain.

“Carlo is flexible enough to use Gareth and other players in different capacities,” said Clement, who previously worked alongside Ancelotti at Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.

“At Southampton, Bale played at left-back, which he also did at Spurs, where he became a more left-sided player. He recently became more central. He’s got that versatility.

“It’ll be interesting to see how players fit in together. We’ll be trying to find their best position and what’s best for the team as quickly as possible.

“Gareth has the goalscoring talent and ability to set up goals for others.”

Bale, who is currently on international duty with Wales, is expected to make his Madrid debut in the Liga game against Villarreal on September 14.

Premier League » News » Football: Laziness was my secret weapon, says Charlton

Football: Laziness was my secret weapon, says Charlton

Former Manchester United and England great Bobby Charlton claims the secret of the huge success he enjoyed during his playing days was being a “little bit lazy”.

Charlton won the World Cup with England in 1966 and the 1968 European Cup with United, for whom he played 758 games and scored a club-record 249 goals.

However, after being presented with a lifetime achievement award by GQ magazine at a ceremony in London on Tuesday, he said his “whole career was really fortunate”.

“I’ve been lucky,” said the 75-year-old, who is now a United director.

“I’ve spent almost 50 years in the game of soccer and I’ve been so lucky I’ve never had one injury in 21 years of professional football, and I think it was because I really was just that little bit lazy.”

Current United defender Rio Ferdinand, who presented Charlton with his award, said he was “one of the greatest sportsmen that has ever been produced by this country”.

He added: “All the young foreign lads who come into the club, Manchester United, they are are shown his picture and how he carries himself as an ambassador for not only our football club, but our country”.

World Cup » News » Football: Key absences prompt Italy changes for Bulgaria

Football: Key absences prompt Italy changes for BulgariaKaká wird beim AC Mailand euphorisch begrüßt

Key absences could force Italy coach Cesare Prandelli to deploy a relatively experimental side against Bulgaria on Friday as the Azzurri look to edge closer to qualifying for the 2014 World Cup.

Italy are top of qualifying group B with a four-point lead over Bulgaria and a five-point cushion on the Czech Republic, against whom the Azzurri could seal their ticket for Brazil in Turin next Tuesday.

First up, though, are Bulgaria in Palermo, and Prandelli, who according to reports on Wednesday will quit his post following next summer’s showpiece, has been forced to pore over his tactical options.

Strikers Mario Balotelli (Milan) and Dani Osvaldo (Southampton) and midfielder Riccardo Montolivo (Milan) are all suspended while midfielder Claudio Marchisio and defender Andrea Barzagli (both Juventus) are injured.

Prandelli believes Bulgaria, against whom Italy were lucky to eke out a draw at the start of their campaign in Sofia a year ago, should not be taken lightly.

“On Friday we’re expecting a difficult match against a tough opponent and since we want to win this match we’re counting on the quality of our midfield and our wingers,” he said.

Prandelli, who led Italy to the final of Euro 2012 two years after the Azzurri’s first-round exit from the 2010 World Cup, has tinkered with personnel and tactical formations throughout this campaign and that is set to continue.

This week the 56-year-old tested a 4-3-2-1 formation which, in theory, requires the left and right-backs to provide presence in wide areas but allows the three-man defensive midfield to be relatively fluid as they seek to move the ball forward to the two attacking midfielders.

Prandelli’s four-man defence could be composed of Ignazio Abate (Milan), Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini (both Juventus) and Luca Antonelli (Genoa), the latter replacing the experienced Barzagli (Juventus).

Experienced campaigner Andrea Pirlo (Juventus) is set to orchestrate a three-man defensive midfield alongside Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma) and Brazilian-born Thiago Motta (Paris St Germain), who could make his first appearance since suffering a hamstring injury during Italy’s 4-0 Euro 2012 final defeat to Spain.

Antonio Candreva (Lazio) and Emanuele Giaccherini (Sunderland), meanwhile, could occupy the attacking midfield roles with one of them expected to play in a free role.

Prandelli also tested Napoli forward Lorenzo Insigne in Giaccherini’s position in training this week, while Alberto Gilardino (Genoa) is expected to occupy the lone striker’s position.

World Cup » News » Football: Austria out to settle score with Germany

Football: Austria out to settle score with GermanyDie Spieler von RB Leipzig haben wieder was zu feiern

Austria have a score to settle with Germany in Friday’s World Cup qualifier as they look to shock the Group C leaders, striker Marko Arnautovic has said.

Germany are five points clear at the top of the qualifying group, with Austria second on goal difference, but Werder Bremen forward Arnautovic believes the Austrians have nothing to fear from Joachim Loew’s Germany.

The 24-year-old squandered a late chance to equalise in Austria’s 2-1 defeat to Germany in Vienna in September 2012 in a qualifier and insists the Austrians can go into the Allianz Arena showdown with confidence.

“We mustn’t hide against the Germans, we can go out with our heads held high,” Arnautovic told German daily Bild, nearly 27 years after Austria’s last win over Germany.

“They certainly have respect for us and know that we can hurt them.

“It’s not just me, we all have a score to settle with Germany.”

A Marco Reus goal and a Mesut Ozil penalty were enough to seal Germany’s 2-1 win in Austria, but Zlatko Junuzovic pulled a goal back for the Austrians before Arnautovic squandered a great chance directly in front of goal in the dying stages.

Austria can go into the Munich match with confidence as Germany’s defence has buckled alarmingly on a few occasions in recent months.

Paraguay held Loew’s side to a 3-3 draw last month while the USA enjoyed a 4-3 victory in Washington DC in June.

Loew’s side have won five of their six qualifiers on the road to the 2014 Brazil World Cup, but they threw away a 4-0 lead in October 2012 when Sweden fought back to claim a stunning 4-all draw in Berlin.

While Germany hold a commanding lead in Group C, Austria, Sweden and the Republic of Ireland are all level on 11 points behind them.

Primera División » News » Football: Bale must earn place, says Real Madrid coach

Football: Bale must earn place, says Real Madrid coachGareth Bale (l.) wurde bei Real Madrid offiziell vorgestellt

Gareth Bale will not be guaranteed to start every game at Real Madrid despite his enormous price tag, the Spanish club’s assistant coach Paul Clement warned on Wednesday.

The Welshman was officially presented as a Madrid player on Monday, after signing from Tottenham Hotspur on a six-year contract for a fee of around £80 million ($124 million, 94 million euros).

However, Clement says that Bale must prove his worth if he is to hold down a place in manager Carlo Ancelotti’s team.

“There’s a lot of competition for places — no-one will be guaranteed anything,” Clement told BBC Sport.

“Coach Carlo Ancelotti has a clear idea how to use him, but things can change.”

Ancelotti must also decide how to accommodate Bale in his team.

The 24-year-old habitually played on the left for Spurs, occasionally being deployed in the centre, but the left flank at Madrid is Ronaldo’s established domain.

“Carlo is flexible enough to use Gareth and other players in different capacities,” said Clement, who previously worked alongside Ancelotti at Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.

“At Southampton, Bale played at left-back, which he also did at Spurs, where he became a more left-sided player. He recently became more central. He’s got that versatility.

“It’ll be interesting to see how players fit in together. We’ll be trying to find their best position and what’s best for the team as quickly as possible.

“Gareth has the goalscoring talent and ability to set up goals for others.”

Bale, who is currently on international duty with Wales, is expected to make his Madrid debut in the Liga game against Villarreal on September 14.

World Cup » News » Football: Loew bemused by Real selling Ozil to Arsenal

Football: Loew bemused by Real selling Ozil to ArsenalDie Spieler von RB Leipzig haben wieder was zu feiern

Mesut Ozil’s move to Arsenal is good for the German national side, coach Joachim Loew believes, but he is bemused by Real Madrid’s decision to sell their midfield star.

Ozil, 24, joined Premier League side Arsenal for 50 million euros (US$65.88m, £42.5m) on Monday’s transfer deadline day after Real completed the signing of Gareth Bale from Tottenham Hotspur.

Loew said he was happy to see Ozil move to the Gunners to work under coach Arsene Wenger, but bemused as to why Real let him go.

“The transfer is good for the national team, he will have a top coach at Arsenal and will be playing at a very high level, that’ll suit him well,” said Loew with Germany hosting Austria in a World Cup qualifier in Munich on Friday.

“I have heard a few players like Cristiano Ronaldo or Sami Khedira are sad to lose a class player.

“And for me it’s hard to understand why Real let one of their top scorers go, but that’s business.”

Ozil netted 10 goals for Real last season, setting up a further 24 as Cristiano Ronaldo finished as Real’s top scorer with 55.

Loew said he has already noticed Ozil is clearly “happy and satisfied” with the move during his training sessions with the Germany squad in Munich.

“He’s a sensitive player who needs a lot of confidence in him from his club and coach,” said Loew.

“I phoned him in the days before the transfer, because you could feel that this trust was not quite 100 percent there.”

Ozil has made 47 appearances for Germany, scoring 14 goals.

Serie A » News » Football: Record-setter Buffon will always heed Azzurri call

Football: Record-setter Buffon will always heed Azzurri callDrin – oder auch nicht

Italy goalkeeping great Gianluigi Buffon has no intention of hanging up his gloves, as long as he is still desired by the Azzurri, he said on Wednesday.

Buffon, 35, is two games away from equalling Fabio Cannavaro’s record of 136 appearances for Italy – a landmark the Juventus ‘keeper can match in Turin when Italy host the Czech Republic next Tuesday.

The match, the second of two World Cup qualifiers — Italy will host Bulgaria in Palermo on Friday — could see Cesare Prandelli’s side book their ticket for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

At the football extravaganza next summer, Buffon would likely extend the record. And he hinted he has no intention of retiring just yet.

“For me, playing for and representing my country is something you don’t take for granted,” Buffon said.

“Not a lot of players are lucky enough to get the opportunity, that’s why I could never say I’ve had enough, it would be like defecting.”

Buffon, who began his club career with Parma before moving to Juventus in 2001, is widely regarded as one of the world’s top goalkeepers and has been voted Serie A’s top ‘keeper a record nine times.

A World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, he has also experienced the lows of seeing Juventus losing two league titles (2005, 2006) and being demoted to Serie B for their involvement in the Calciopoli match-fixing affair.

Despite the advancing years, his place as Italy’s number one has never been questioned.

Number two ‘keeper Federico Marchetti of Lazio, who is 30, has played only 10 times for the Azzurri while Paris Saint Germain’s Salvatore Sirigu has worn the blue shirt only six times.

Buffon said he will only retire from the international game when he is told he is no longer needed.

“If one day they don’t call me up or put me on the subs’ bench for the good of the national team, no problem,” he added.

“I’m not the president or the owner of the national team, but I won’t say my farewells until I am told I’m no longer wanted.”

World Cup » News » Football: Rooney wound is a horror show, says Walcott

Football: Rooney wound is a horror show, says Walcott

The head injury that has sidelined Wayne Rooney looks like “something out of a horror film”, according to his England colleague Theo Walcott.

Rooney was left with a sizeable gash on his forehead after being caught in the face by Manchester United team-mate Phil Jones earlier this week.

The wound required stitches and forced the 27-year-old striker to withdraw from England’s squad for the World Cup qualifying double-header against Moldova and Ukraine.

Asked to describe the injury during a press conference at England’s St George’s Park training base, Walcott pointed to a bottle of water beside him and said: “I’ve seen a picture of it and it’s about that big.

“It is a very big gash. It is not a nice sight, to be honest. It is not going to help his looks, I wouldn’t think. It’s not very nice to see. It’s like something out of a horror film.”

United midfielder Michael Carrick, who saw Rooney get injured, dismissed suggestions from journalists that his team-mate should have taken inspiration from Terry Butcher’s iconic, blood-stained performance in a 1990 World Cup qualifier against Sweden by putting himself forward to play.

“We know what he (Rooney) is like,” Carrick said.

“If there was a way of playing, he would. It is easy for people to look at the past and compare with what has gone on, but every situation is different.”

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge had been in line to deputise for Rooney at home to Moldova on Friday, but he is now doubtful with a thigh injury that prevented him from training on Tuesday.

With Tottenham Hotspur’s Jermain Defoe yet to start a league game this season, it means either Rooney’s United team-mate Danny Welbeck or Southampton’s Rickie Lambert will lead the line against Moldova.

“It is sad to see Wayne out, but it is an opportunity for someone to come in and take their chance,” Walcott added.

“Danny Welbeck has started the season well for his club and Rickie Lambert has had a great start to his England career, so the manager has some great options and I am sure he knows what to do.”

Defence is also an area of concern following a run of four games without a clean sheet, and centre-back Gary Cahill admits the squad are still adjusting to life without John Terry and Rio Ferdinand, who both retired from international football last season.

“They were two huge players and they retired at similar times, so there had to be a transitional period and that’s what it is at the minute,” said Cahill, who plays alongside Terry at Chelsea.

“We have some quality centre-backs as well, but when two big names, two big, top-class centre-halves come out of the set-up, there is that worry. People are always going to talk about it.”

World Cup » News » Football: Klose deserves German goal record, says Mueller

Football: Klose deserves German goal record, says MuellerDie Spieler von RB Leipzig haben wieder was zu feiern

Gerd Mueller beleives Germany striker Miroslav Klose deserves to break his 39-year-old goalscoring record which could fall in Friday’s World Cup qualifier against Austria.

Klose, 35, is just one short of Mueller’s all-time record for Germany of 68 goals, the last of which came in the 1974 World Cup final.

Having scored his last two goals for Germany in the 4-4 draw with Sweden in Berlin in October 2012, Klose now has 128 international appearances and 67 goals and Mueller said he would be pleased to see the Poland-born forward claim his record.

“For a long time, it has just been a question of time until he breaks my record. I am really pleased for him,” the 67-year-old Mueller told SID, an AFP subsidiary.

“Miro is an awesome striker and a great bloke, who I got to know during his time with Bayern Munich. He deserves the record.”

Germany host Austria in a World Cup qualifier on Friday at Munich’s Allianz Arena and ex-Bayern star Mueller said he has no problem if the record falls in his home city.

Klose has said he expects the record to fall soon and it could well be broken in the next week as Germany also play minnows Faroe Islands next Tuesday.

The Lazio striker has often been asked about the record and is embarrassed to be compared to Mueller, who needed just 62 games to set the record, and has said: “It’s an absolute joke to compare me to him.

“He shouldn’t be compared to anyone, what he has achieved, with that many goals in that many games, is unique. I have told him that myself.”

Set to celebrate his 36th birthday before the 2014 World Cup, Klose expects to retire after the tournament and with 14 goals spanning three tournaments, he could break Ronaldo’s record of 15 in Brazil.