Adiós Albicelestes as penalty kings Germany reign

June 30th, 2006 by admin

Argentina bid ends in disappointment and disgrace

Azzurri do it for Pessotto

—— Germany’s mastery of the penalty shoot-out serves them well again as the hosts go through to the semi-finals of the World Cup.
The road ends in Berlin for favourites Argentina with their World Cup not only ending in disappointment but in disgrace after an ugly brawl breaks following the shoot-out.
The Albicelestes were in control after Roberto Ayala headed home a Juan Riquelme corner on 49 minutes.
They appeared to lose the initiative after the influential Riquelme was replaced and, with 10 minutes to go, Miroslav Klose strengthened his leading scorer tag when he headed in his fifth of the tournament.
With no goals in extra time, despite a 100% win record in three previous World Cup shoot-outs, Argentina were no match for Germany.
In clinical nerveless fashion, the Germans made it four-out-of-four in their World Cup shoot-outs.
Furthermore, you still have to back to 1982 to find the last time they missed a single shoot-out kick.
Having contributed so much to Germany 2006, amid violent scenes, Argentina take defeat badly as players and officials exchange punches with the victors.
Unused sub Leandro Cufre is shown a red card but it is expected that FIFA will take further action in due course.
Shortly afterwards, Argentina coach Jose Pekerman announces his resignation.
Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann is in a rather happier frame of mind: “It’s difficult to find words. I’m incredibly happy, proud and thankful.
“The fantastic crowd carried us, they believed in us. We knew that even down a goal we’d come back.
“We were convinced that if we got to penalties we’d advance. The belief we have in ourselves is really strong.”

……W OR L D…C U P…M A TC H…R E P O R T S……

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—– Italy dedicate their 3-0 quarter-final win against Ukraine to Gianluca Pessotto - the Juventus sporting director and former midfielder who is gravely ill after falling from a window at Juve’s offices earlier in the week.
The Azzurri extend their unbeaten run to 23 games in Hamburg as outsiders Ukraine are soon in arrears via a sixth minute shot from Gianluca Zambrotta - a close friend of Pessotto.
Italy extend their lead through Luca Toni on the hour and this season’s leading scorer in Serie A seals the win when he converts Zambrotta’s 69th minute cross.
With the match-fixing scandal still dominating the news headlines in Italy, the Azzurri’s progress is coming as a welcome relief.
And match-winner Toni believes there’s more to come: “It will now be a very tough game against the Germans in the semi-final as they are at home and they have knocked out Argentina.
“But we played very well today and are ready to take them on.”

—– Meanwhile back in England, former Celtic and Scotland midfielder Paul Lambert is named the new manager of League Two Wycombe Wanderers.
The 36 year-old replaces fellow Scot John Gorman who left Adams Park last month.
Three days before the emergency general meeting called by major shareholder Michael Wilde, Rupert Lowe ends his ten-year reign as chairman of Southampton.
Sunderland chairman Bob Murray officially leaves the Stadium of Light after 20 years at the helm of the Wearside club. He resigned on 14 June but remained on the board while takeover negotiations with the consortium led by former player Niall Quinn continued.

………………..F E E D B A C K………………

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Poll quits tournaments

June 29th, 2006 by admin

Parkinson caught by the Tigers

McDonald moves in at Carlisle

—– England’s World Cup referee Graham Poll announces his retirement from international tournaments.
It follows his embarrassing and much-criticised blunder when he showed Josip Simunic three yellow cards during Croatia’s 2-2 draw with Australia but failed to send-off the defender off after producing the second caution.
Amongst with other officials deemed in excess of needs, Poll was sent home from the tournament after the group stages.
In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News, the Premiership ref explains: “Certainly what happened a week ago is something I deeply regret.
“We were unaware of what had happened. Disbelief went around the dressing room when we were made aware of the error. We had to look at the DVD around 11.30 that evening and we realised, for me, that 26 years of hard work of refereeing, working up from park level, it meant my dream was over.
“I wouldn’t be going to Euro 2008, that decision is taken. It’s not a knee-jerk decision, I discussed it with The FA already and it’s time for someone else from England to have a go. For me, tournament football is over.”

………M A I L I N G…….L I S T…….R E V I E W…….

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The majority of the contributors are not only AFS members, but also some of the most dedicated researchers in to the game’s long and colourful history. It means the AFS community offers an unparalleled wealth of contemporary and historical football stats knowledge.
For a very limited example, among the topics under discussion in the last week have been the Football Combination in 1888-89, how player appearances should be recorded where a game has been doubled-up as a league game as well as cup-tie and when numbered shirts were introduced.
If you need a question answered or would like to join in the discussion, please go to the Mailing List section in the Members Area for more details.
Please also note that membership to the Mailing List is included in the standard AFS subscription, so there is no additional charge.

—– Two weeks after tendering his resignation to Colchester United, Phil Parkinson is appointed manager of Championship rivals Hull City.
Having led the unfashionable Essex club to promotion, the 38 year-old has become the most sought after young managerial talent in the Football League.
Charlton Athletic, Ipswich Town and Derby County all asked for permission to talk to him about their vacancy but were denied by the Layer Road club.
The Us took out a temporary court injunction to prevent Parkinson walking out when the Tigers declared their interest last week but compensation of around £400,000 has now been agreed.
Parkinson replaces Peter Taylor who left to take over at Crystal Palace earlier this month.

League One new boys Carlisle United appoint Neil McDonald as their new manager.
The 40-year-old, who was assistant to Iain Dowie at Crystal Palace last season, began his coaching career at Preston North End before joining Bolton Wanderers.
Former boss Paul Simpson left Brunton Park to take up the vacancy at Preston earlier in the month having led the Cumbrians to back-to-back promotions.
McDonald began his playing career as a trainee at Carlisle.

—–

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Kits throughout the years

June 28th, 2006 by admin

It’s the time of year when clubs are parading their new strips for the coming season and some will no doubt claim they have revolutionary content.

Of course, football strips have developed out of all recognition over the years, and we are pleased to bring to your attention a new web site that charts the history of the kits of all Football League club.

The site has been lovingly and impressively compiled by David Moor, who explains: “I have recently launched a web site featuring the kits worn by every club that has played in the Football League throughout history.

“After four years of research, the site was launched at the beginning of June 2006 and has attracted considerable interest.

“My aim is to create the most comprehensive and complete archive possible and to this end, I am inviting visitors to contribute missing material and correct my errors. The response has been phenomenal.

“I believe this site will be of interest to AFS members and encourage them to contribute.”

The site and contact details can be found at http://www.historicalkits.co.uk

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Ronaldo breaks record as Brazil hit 200

June 27th, 2006 by admin

French old guard catch the young pretenders

Italy rocked by Pessotto fall

—– Ronaldo becomes the World Cup’s record goalscorer as his early opening goal against Ghana in Dortmund sets Brazil on course for the quarter-finals.
The Read Madrid ace marksman hits his 15th finals goal to go past the record held by the great German goal machine Gerd Muller.
Although they never move up in to top gear, Brazil end Africa’s hopes with further strikes from Adriano and Ze Roberto.
Adriano’s goal also means that Brazil become the first nation to score 200 goals in the history of the World Cup finals.
Ronaldo, who has suffered heavy criticism for being overweight and sluggish, continues to answer his detractors in the best possible way: “The record had stood for seven World Cups so I am naturally very pleased to beat it. I’ll now just have to keep on scoring to fire us to another title.
“We win as a team. I get goals and on we go. Now I want more and more and more!”

—– In a classic tortoise and hare-type tale in Hanover, France come from behind to beat Spain 3-1.
The younger Spanish team, who had been one of the most impressive teams in the group stage, is quickly out of the traps and look set to trounce the ageing French team - the oldest squad at the finals - after taking the lead through a David Villa penalty.
After Frank Ribery levelled just before the break, Spain once again went on to prove their tag as the World Cup’s great under-achievers.
France gradually assume control to claim a quarter-final meeting with Brazil through late goals from a couple of thirtysomethings - Patrick Vieira and captain Zinedine Zidane.
Rather like England, the 1998 champions have so far failed to impress. It looks like they are now coming on to their game though, to the relief of under-fire coach Raymond Domenech: “We may have a team of old men but we know how to be patient. Younger people run out of breath. There’s something exceptional waiting for us; unique emotions.
“As for Zidane, he kept going for the whole match. In the 89th minute, he stuck to it - he still accelerated.”
The consolation for Spain is that, with the benefit of experience, they will be amongst the fancied teams for the Euro 2008 championships.

—– Elsewhere, Juventus sporting director Gianluca Pessotto is seriously injured after falling from a window at club headquarters.
Juventus, along with AC Milan, Lazio and Fiorentina, are about to face a sports tribunal in Italy over the Serie A match-fixing scandal but their 35 year-old recently retired midfielder is not implicated.
Italy captain and Juventus defender Fabio Cannavaro walked out of a World Cup media conference at their training camp in Duisberg on hearing the news of Pessotto’s fall.
Alessandro Del Piero and Gianluca Zambrotta leave the squad to visit their stricken former colleague.
Pessotto’s wife reveals that he has been unhappy with his role at the Turin club and had been suffering from depression.

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Last kick heartbreak for Socceroos

June 26th, 2006 by admin

Totti topples Socceroos

Ukraine reign as Swiss miss in bore draw

—– Australia’s dreams of a place in the World Cup quarter-finals are shattered as, for the first time in the competition’s history, a finals game is decided in normal time by a last minute penalty.
The Socceroos looked to have every chance of another historic victory as they were about to take ten-man Italy in to extra-time in their Round of 16 tie in the heat of Kaiserslautern.
The deluge of red cards continued with Marco Materazzi harshly sent-off after 51 minutes.
Referee Luis Medina Cantalejo then, as the game entered added time, judged that Fabio Grosso was fouled as he fell over Lucas Neill’s prone body.
Totti, who had come on as a 75th minute sub, kept his nerve to hit the winner with the last kick of the game.
Aussie coach Guus Hiddink gives a very honest appraisal of the afternoon’s events: “You can have doubts about the penalty; it was questionable.
“We are very disappointed because we were so close. I think the only thing we can blame ourselves for is that we were not deadly enough in the area.”

—– In their first World Cup finals, Ukraine progress to the quarter-finals.
At the end of a turgid game in Cologne, the Round of 16 tie with Switzerland goes to the first penalty shoot-out of Germany 2006 after 120 goalless and largely lifeless minutes.
The Swiss pay the price for their lack of ambition and lose the shoot-out 0-3.
In doing so, they become the first-ever team to be knocked out of the finals without conceding a goal in the tournament. They are also the first team to fail to score in a penalty shoot-out.
Despite losing their first group game 0-4, Ukraine now face Italy in the last eight.

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Three-timer Becks puts England through to last eight

June 25th, 2006 by admin

Ill captain throws up Scolari re-match

Four off as Portugal do Dutch double

—– David Beckham becomes the first England player to score in three World Cup finals as his winner takes his country through to the last eight.
The skipper struck on the hour with a trademark free-kick for the only goal of the Round of 16 game against Ecuador in Stuttgart.
It’s a results business but, yet again, it was a less than convincing England display as coach Sven-Goran Eriksson shuffles the pack again.
Despite the on-going criticism, it’s not all doom and gloom for Sven’s men either.
Michael Carrick - in his first competitive game for England - gives an encouraging showing in the holding midfielder role.
After his lengthy injury problems, Ashley Cole is back to his very best - emphasised by a goal-saving challenge on his 50th appearance for England that would win a Tackle of the Tournament competition.
And playing as a lone striker, Wayne Rooney lasts the full 90 minutes in the stifling heat.
It was particularly pretty but it’s courageous captain Becks who is the hero on the hour, especially as shortly after scoring he was physically sick due to the effects of dehydration.
The Real Madrid superstar reflected: “It was an ugly performance but it was what we wanted and we’ll take ugly performances.
“I didn’t feel well before the game but I thought I would be fine and in the first half I felt fine. But the sickness continued in the second half and it just came out.”

—– Revenge is now in the air as England will face Portugal in their quarter-final.
While David Beckham was feeling ill, there was definite ill-feeling in Portugal’s Round of 16 clash with Holland in Nuremburg.
In a re-match of the Euro 2004 semi-final, two-year wounds appear to have festered as ref Valentin Ivanov shows an all-time competition record for both yellow and red cards - there are 16 yellows and both teams finish with nine men.
Amid the petty play-acting and pushing and shoving, Nuno Maniche scores the only goal after 23 minutes.
Portugal will be without Costinha and Deco against England as they were their two who saw red.
Should England need an incentive to perform to a higher standard in the quarter-final, Portugal provide it in bucket loads.
It was Portugal who knocked them out of Euro 2004 at the quarter-final stage and coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was also in charge of the Brazil team that ended their 2002 World Cup finals bid in the quarters. And, of course, Scolari recently rejected the chance to replace Sven-Goran Eriksson as England coach.

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Premiership leads World Cup goal rush

June 24th, 2006 by admin

The group stage of the World Cup has come to an end, and a total of 117 goals have already hit the back of the proverbial net.

Germany’s Miroslav Klose heads the leading scorers list with four strikes, but which club side can count itself as the leading goals supplier?

Players currently contracted to Premiership champions Chelsea are top of the shots with a total of eight goals, with their London rivals Arsenal just one behind on seven.

A third English club Liverpool is in joint third place on five goals along with Spain’s Atletico Madrid and Germany’s Werner Bremen.

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Hosts and favourites set for Quarter-Final showdown

June 24th, 2006 by admin

Early Podolski double shatters Swedes

Rodriguez wonder strike wins thriller

—– Amid a new-found wave of national fervour, host Germany’s confidence continues to grow as they reach the World Cup quarter finals with an impressive display against Sweden in Munich.
The game is effectively over in the opening 12 minutes as striker Lukas Podolski scores twice.
Sweden’s problems increase when Teddy Lucic is sent-off after 35 minutes, and any hope of an unlikely revival fade when Henrik Larsson wildly misses a 53rd minute penalty.
Coach Jurgen Klinsmann reflected the increasing optimism: “In a footballing nation like Germany and with the World Cup held here, it just cannot stop now.
“It is just so much fun watching the team play. I have never seen Germany play like we played in the first 30 minutes.”
Their victory sets up a mouth-watering quarter-final with Argentina.

—— Favourites Argentina reach the last eight but only after being given a thorough test by unlucky Mexico.
It takes a World Cup Wonder Goal from Maxi Rodriguez in extra-time to win a wonderful game in Leipzig.
The Atletico Madrid midfielder controls a cross-field pass on his chest before despatching a vicious left-foot volley into the top corner.
Argentina recover from the shock of an early opener by Mexico captain Rafael Marquez to be level on ten minutes. FIFA credit Hernan Crespo with the goal although it appeared that Jared Borgetti headed Juan Roman Riquelme’s corner into his own net.
Understandably, Mexico’s Argentina-born coach Ricardo La Volpe had mixed views: “It was an even game, just as I expected it to be, and it was a magnificent individual goal that decided it.
“Having said that, Mexico gave an excellent account of themselves. Once again, though, we didn’t achieve what we came to do, which was to reach the quarter-finals at least.”

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Gunners past and present save French blushes

June 23rd, 2006 by admin

Senderos keeps Swiss on a roll

Shev spot on for Ukraine

—– France - the world champions in 1998 - avoid the embarrassment of another early World Cup KO with the help of a couple of Arsenal legends.
After being frustrated for nearly an hour, quick-fire goals from Patrick Vieira (on his 30th birthday) and Thierry Henry give Les Bleus a 2-0 win against Togo in Cologne to secure second place in Group G.
France needed a win to be sure of not being eliminated before the second phase for the second World Cup in row. They now face Spain in the Round of 16.

—– Arsenal have a further influence on the outcome of Group G as young Gunners defender Philippe Senderos bravely heads Switzerland in to the lead as they beat South Korea 2-0 in Hanover to secure top spot.
Argentine referee Horacio Elizondo brilliantly and rightly ignores his assistant’s flag to allow Alexandre Frei to fire home the second.
It is only the second time since1938 that the Swiss have progressed beyond the first round at the World Cup finals.

—– Switzerland will now face Ukraine after their captain and national hero Andriy Shevchenko converts the match-winning penalty to reach the Round of 16 on their World Cup finals debut.
Ukraine beat Tunisia 1-0 in Berlin to finish as runners-up in Group H.

—– Despite making 11 changes from their previous game, Group H winners Spain complete a 100% record in their group games with a 1-0 win against Saudi Arabia in Kaiserslautern.
Juanito scores the only goal as Spain stroll to victory in the summer sun.

—– While there’s cheery news for Arsenal fans from Germany, there’s also good news back home.
The Football Association fails to uncover any evidence of wrongdoing by the Gunners in their relationship with Belgian side Beveren.
BBC Newsnight had alleged that Belgian police found that Arsenal made illegal payments to Beveren.
FIFA asked the FA to investigate, but they found not breach of any FA or Premier League rules.
A FA statement reads: “As a result of our inquiries, we can confirm that we have not identified any evidence to suggest that Arsenal have breached any rules of the FA or the FA Premier League in relation to their dealings with Beveren.”

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Aussies are wild about Harry as Poll loses count

June 22nd, 2006 by admin

The Phenomenon draws level with Der Bomber

Ghana are pride of Africa

Azzurri banish corruption blues

—– Rugby, cricket… now football!
In an action packed game, Australia progress to the knockout stages of the World Cup finals for the first time following an exciting 2-2 draw with Croatia - a country with whom they have close cultural links.
To add to a chaotic finale in Stuttgart, three players are sent-off by Graham Poll but the Premiership ref, amazingly, doesn’t dismiss Josip Simunic until showing the Croatia defender a third yellow card.
Needing a win to go through, Croatia take an early lead from a Darijo Srna free-kick before the Aussies strike back with a penalty from Newcastle United’s Craig Moore.
Nico Kovac restored the Croat’s advantage but Australia’s historic equaliser came in the 79th minute from Liverpool’s Harry Kewell.
Having guided South Korea to the semi-finals in 2002, it’s another staggering achievement for their coach Guus Hiddink.
The Dutch maestro is full of praise for the Aussie spirit: “This was a terrific game. It shows why the beautiful game is so exciting but it was his side’s gutsy play that impressed him most.
“This team has a lion’s heart, to fight until the end. They are very competitive; they never give up whatever happens.”
Australia now meet Italy in the Round of 16.

—– Having come under heavy criticism for appearing, to some, to be overweight and unfit, Ronaldo answers the critics in the best possible way by scoring twice in Brazil’s 4-1 defeat of Japan in Dortmund as the holders finish top of Group F.
The Real Madrid ace has now scored a total of 14 goals in World Cup finals matches, so equalling the competition record held by West Germany’s Gerd Muller.
Ronaldo reveals: “I’m happy I’ve made such a significant improvement, physically and technically, during the competition. Patience is the key word. I managed to stay calm and patient.”

—– At their first finals, Ghana maintain their interest as they finish as runners-up in Group E with a 2-1 win against USA in Nuremburg.
Knowing a victory would see them through to the Round of 16, Haminu Dramani gives Ghana the lead but Clint Dempsey makes it 1-1 before captain Stephen Appiah restores the advantage with a controversial penalty in added time at the end of the first half.
Ghana hold on for a famous victory to the delight of coach Ratomir Dujkovic: “This is a historic moment for us, we are very happy.
“This is a starting point for all Ghanaians, for this group of players and myself. The first time in the World Cup and we come in the world’s top 16.”
Ghana now face reigning champions Brazil but they will be without Michael Essien following his second yellow card of the tournament.

—– While corruption charges relating to Serie A are hitting the headlines back home, the Italian national team put those worries to one side as they convincingly finish top of Group E with a 2-0 win against Czech Republic that eliminates the team rated second in the FIFA rankings.
Italy take the lead in Hamburg via former Everton defender Marco Materazzi and the Czechs cause isn’t helped when Jan Polak is sent-off on the stroke of half-time.
Filippo Inzaghi completed the Italian job with a late strike on his 50th appearance for the Azzuri.

—– Back in Italy, four of the top Serie A clubs are indicted in the alleged match-fixing scandal.
Juventus, AC Milan, Lazio and Fiorentina all face relegation if they are found guilty in a trial that will be held as early as next week.
Thirty unnamed football officials are also indicted for sporting fraud.
Juve are the most likely to bear the brunt of a successful prosecution.
The dramatic effect on club finances would also spark a fire sale of top class players, including many of the current Azzuri squad, becoming available on the transfer market for knockdown prices.

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