2011年7月3日星期日

Mariners to rest Amini for Celtic

在 ServiceModel 客户端配置部分中,找不到引用协定“TranslatorService.LanguageService”的默认终结点元素。这可能是因为未找到应用程序的配置文件,或者是因为客户端元素中找不到与此协定匹配的终结点元素。
在 ServiceModel 客户端配置部分中,找不到引用协定“TranslatorService.LanguageService”的默认终结点元素。这可能是因为未找到应用程序的配置文件,或者是因为客户端元素中找不到与此协定匹配的终结点元素。
Posted July 1, 2011 19:23:00

Central Coast young gun Mustafa Amini will miss his side's clash with Scottish giants Celtic in an effort to be fit for Australia's upcoming FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Colombia.

The in-demand Amini, who is reportedly being courted by many European clubs - including Celtic, is feeling the effects of a hectic schedule and will take no part in Saturday's friendly at the Olympic stadium.

Mariners coach Graham Arnold said the 18-year-old is coping with a groin injury he sustained during a busy A-League off-season.

"We're quite upset he can't play because the kid was desperate to play," he said.

"But he's just had such a heavy program over the last year with A-League games, he's been involved in three national team set-ups in the last two months ... the developing Socceroos squad in Germany, under-23s and under-20s.

"Hopefully it's going to be fine (for the U-20 World Cup) but he's got quite a bit of discomfort at the moment and with something in that area, the groin, you don't mess around with it.

"It could end up real bad if you push it too far."

Australia opens its U20 World Cup campaign on July 31 and Arnold, a former coach of the Socceroos and the national Under-23 side, has an idea of the bigger picture.

"For the good of the Australian under-20 team, who have the World Cup soon, it would be stupid for me to play him," he said.

"He hasn't had a break and he just turned 18 ... the whole national team program stuff has been too heavy for him."

On top of national team commitments, Amini trained with German club Borussia Dortmund, whose initial offer of 100,000 euros ($137,000) was too low for the Mariners.

Arnold refused to apportion blame when it came to Amini's ailment.

"He never had a problem with us. It's nobody's fault but the kid just needs a break before he breaks," he said.

"I think it's all down to fatigue and overload, too much football."

The Mariners lost last season's A-League final on penalties to the Roar and the classic is likely to be a major talking point ahead of the season-opening rematch on October 8.

However it is the furthest thing from Arnold's mind.

"Not at all. That's history," he said.

"The team had a fantastic season, they were champions but didn't get the championship - that's how I look at it.

"We've already moved forward, we don't talk about it anymore, we don't even look at it any more."

Celtic will use its three-game tour of Australia to help build cohesiveness ahead of the Scottish Premier League season, which has an earlier start date this year, July 23.

Manager Neil Lennon is also keen to develop a series of youngsters and new recruits.

"James Forrest, he's very exciting. Adam Matthews is a new signing from Cardiff who came here on a free transfer. Young Richie Towell is an Irish kid who has just come through the academy," he said.

"It's important for them to gel with the first-team boys, and interact with them, because they're going to be, hopefully, breaking through and being a part of it."

The visitors will field an understrength side on Saturday, with Greek striker Georgios Samaras, South Korean Ky Sung-Yueng and Swede Daniel Majstorovic set to join the team in Perth on July 5.

- AAP

Tags: sport, football, aleague, australia, nsw, gosford-2250


View the original article here

Socceroos to face Wales for first time

在 ServiceModel 客户端配置部分中,找不到引用协定“TranslatorService.LanguageService”的默认终结点元素。这可能是因为未找到应用程序的配置文件,或者是因为客户端元素中找不到与此协定匹配的终结点元素。
在 ServiceModel 客户端配置部分中,找不到引用协定“TranslatorService.LanguageService”的默认终结点元素。这可能是因为未找到应用程序的配置文件,或者是因为客户端元素中找不到与此协定匹配的终结点元素。
Posted June 29, 2011 08:22:00

Australia will play Wales for the first time in international football when the teams meet in Cardiff in August, the Football Association of Wales (FAW) said on Tuesday.

The Socceroos will play Gary Speed's team at Cardiff City Stadium on August 10, as the Wales manager looks to follow up his first win in charge against Northern Ireland.

The match will help Wales prepare for its ongoing Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, with the FAW also announcing on Tuesday the dates and venues for Wales's last two home games in Group G for Euro2012 qualifying.

An FAW statement read: "The Football Association of Wales can confirm that Wales will play a friendly international against Australia on Wednesday, August the 10th.

"The venue will be the Cardiff City Stadium and kick off will be at 7.45 pm (local time).

"This will be the first of two international fixtures at the stadium in the space of three weeks, with Wales set to face Montenegro in Cardiff on Friday, September 2."

- AFP

Tags: sport, football, socceroos, australia, wales


View the original article here

Flores leaves Adelaide for China

在 ServiceModel 客户端配置部分中,找不到引用协定“TranslatorService.LanguageService”的默认终结点元素。这可能是因为未找到应用程序的配置文件,或者是因为客户端元素中找不到与此协定匹配的终结点元素。
在 ServiceModel 客户端配置部分中,找不到引用协定“TranslatorService.LanguageService”的默认终结点元素。这可能是因为未找到应用程序的配置文件,或者是因为客户端元素中找不到与此协定匹配的终结点元素。
Updated June 27, 2011 11:41:00

Argentine playmaker Marcos Flores has quit A-League club Adelaide United for a deal in China.

The Reds say they are disappointed the attacking midfielder rejected the club's three-year marquee player offer.

Flores, a Johnny Warren medal winner, has signed with Chinese Super League club Henan Jianye.

Adelaide will receive around $500,000 for the player.

The 31-game Adelaide player asked to be released last Friday, but the club's board initially refused.

"Marcos advised the club he did not intend to remain in Adelaide and intended to take up the offer from China," the club said on Monday in a statement.

Flores is the 11th player to leave Adelaide United since the end of the A-League season.

The departed include captain Travis Dodd, defenders Robbie Cornthwaite and Iain Fyfe, wingers Matthew Leckie and Lucas Pantelis, and midfielder Adam Hughes.

-AAP

Tags: sport, football, aleague, australia, sa, adelaide-5000

First posted June 27, 2011 08:54:00


View the original article here

Gold Coast United signs classy Dutchman

在 ServiceModel 客户端配置部分中,找不到引用协定“TranslatorService.LanguageService”的默认终结点元素。这可能是因为未找到应用程序的配置文件,或者是因为客户端元素中找不到与此协定匹配的终结点元素。
在 ServiceModel 客户端配置部分中,找不到引用协定“TranslatorService.LanguageService”的默认终结点元素。这可能是因为未找到应用程序的配置文件,或者是因为客户端元素中找不到与此协定匹配的终结点元素。
Posted July 1, 2011 18:10:00

Cynics might not be surprised that extrovert Gold Coast United coach Miron Bleiberg is speaking double Dutch ahead of the A-League season.

However, United fans can breathe easy - Bleiberg is merely unveiling yet another injection from the Netherlands to his dramatically drained 2011-12 Gold Coast squad.

Days after welcoming Dutch defensive utility Paul Beekmans to the tourist strip, Bleiberg has confirmed the signing of countryman and midfield dynamo Peter Jungschlager for the depleted Gold Coast outfit.

It is a major shot in the arm for perennial A-League finalist United.

The club is still reeling from the off-season departures of ex-skipper Jason Culina, Kiwi marksman Shane Smeltz, Zenon Caravella, Steve Pantelidis, Dino Djulbic, Bas van den Brink and Bruce Djite.

Indeed, speculation was rife about United's future after the mass exodus came amid rumours players were only being offered one-year contracts.

Sanity prevailed after billionaire owner Clive Palmer met A-League boss Lyall Gorman recently - still, Bleiberg was left to pick up the pieces with few senior stars and plenty of untried youth.

However, Bleiberg is quietly confident of launching yet another A-League finals campaign after snaffling up his latest Dutch treat.

The Gold Coast coach claims United signed Jungschlager despite competition from clubs in England, Holland, Germany and Austria.

The 184cm, 27-year-old midfielder - who takes up United's fifth and final visa spot on its roster - is expected to arrive mid-July.

"Peter's pedigree speaks for itself and we are very confident he will prove to be a first-class signing for the club," said Bleiberg.

"Players of his age who are playing first team football in a top European league don't become available very often to A-League clubs, especially when there are other European clubs trying to sign them as well.

"Taking all that into account makes us even more delighted and excited to have finalised this deal."

Jungschlager was lured away from leading Netherlands' outfit De Graafschap, where he made 79 appearances - 31 of those last season in the Eredivisie (top division).

A product of the famous ADO Den Haag youth academy, Jungschlager was voted the most underrated Eredivisie player by leading Dutch football magazine Voetbal International and reportedly attracted interest in April from English Championship side Coventry City.

"Peter was not a fringe player at De Graafschap. He only missed three matches for them last season and that alone says a lot about his quality," Bleiberg said.

"He can play in a number of midfield roles so he brings plenty of flexibility to the squad."

United has signed 20 out of the permitted 23 for the senior roster for 2011-12.

- AAP

Tags: sport, football, aleague, australia, qld, robina-4226


View the original article here

Joeys get lucky break thanks to weather

在 ServiceModel 客户端配置部分中,找不到引用协定“TranslatorService.LanguageService”的默认终结点元素。这可能是因为未找到应用程序的配置文件,或者是因为客户端元素中找不到与此协定匹配的终结点元素。
在 ServiceModel 客户端配置部分中,找不到引用协定“TranslatorService.LanguageService”的默认终结点元素。这可能是因为未找到应用程序的配置文件,或者是因为客户端元素中找不到与此协定匹配的终结点元素。
Posted June 27, 2011 12:40:00

Bad weather provided a lucky break for the Joeys when their crucial under-17 World Cup match against Denmark was called off with Australia behind 1-0.

Lightning and a heavy downpour at the venue in Queretaro, Mexico forced officials to suspend the match just 25 minutes in.

Following an hour and a half delay in which conditions did not improve, the organising committee decided to abandon the match and replay it entirely tomorrow at 12:45am (AEST).

Australia can not lose by more than three goals to the Danes in its the final group match if it hopes to be in the top three which progress through to the knockout stage.

-AAP

Tags: sport, football, socceroos, world-cup, australia, denmark, mexico


View the original article here

Germany, France open World Cup with wins

在 ServiceModel 客户端配置部分中,找不到引用协定“TranslatorService.LanguageService”的默认终结点元素。这可能是因为未找到应用程序的配置文件,或者是因为客户端元素中找不到与此协定匹配的终结点元素。
在 ServiceModel 客户端配置部分中,找不到引用协定“TranslatorService.LanguageService”的默认终结点元素。这可能是因为未找到应用程序的配置文件,或者是因为客户端元素中找不到与此协定匹配的终结点元素。
Posted June 27, 2011 11:24:00

Hosts and defending champions Germany got its women's World Cup campaign off to a flying start as it beat Group A rivals Canada 2-1 at Berlin's Olympic Stadium on Monday morning.

Meanwhile, Marie-Laurie Delie struck the only goal for France to secure a 1-0 win against Nigeria.

Having won both the 2003 and 2007 editions, Germany is bidding to complete a hat-trick of titles on home soil and had few problems against the Canadians, who threatened the German goal on only rare occasions.

First-half goals by midfielders Kerstin Garefrekes and Celia Okoyino da Mbabi put the hosts in control before Canada captain Christine Sinclair, who broke her nose in the first half, slotted home a late free-kick for the guests.

"It was the first game so we were a bit nervous. There is room for improvements and we will improve," said goal-scorer Garefrekes, who also supplied the pass for the second goal.

The win puts the Germans top of Group A on goal difference above France.

"We got two goals in the first half and didn't play so well, then in the second half we were much better organised, but we couldn't score," said Germany coach Silvia Neid.

"Things got tight at the end and it could have been 2-2, so I am very happy we won the first game."

The hosts squandered a string of second-half chances, while Canada grew in confidence as the game wore on.

"The first game in a World Cup tournament is always tough and maybe were a bit intimidated at the start, but I think we did well," said Canada coach Carolina Morace, who paid tribute to her plucky captain Sinclair.

"Christine is a fantastic player and she took her chance well. The doctors have told me the nose was broken, but she insisted on playing on.

"She knows what she can do and it would have been hard to take her off with her experience."

Unstoppable Delie

France's 23-year-old forward Delie struck the winner against Nigeria to continue a torrid pace very few players - men or women - could match.

Delie has tallied 22 goals in just 21 caps, and if that was not good enough, her last six games have seen her tally 12 goals.

"I give it my best each time. The purpose of a striker is to score and voila," answered Delie, who scored three goals as the top goal scorer at the 2007 U19 FIFA's Women World Cup.

Delie's first cap for France's senior side came in a 7-0 routing of Croatia - in which she scored a goal on September 23, 2009. She also scored nine goals in France's qualifying for the 2011 World Cup.

"It just keeps going. She is really unbelievable. I cannot say it will be her World Cup. But it is her time," said French coach Bruno Bini.

- AFP

Tags: sport, football, canada, france, germany, nigeria


View the original article here

Spain beats Swiss to win Euro U21 final

在 ServiceModel 客户端配置部分中,找不到引用协定“TranslatorService.LanguageService”的默认终结点元素。这可能是因为未找到应用程序的配置文件,或者是因为客户端元素中找不到与此协定匹配的终结点元素。
在 ServiceModel 客户端配置部分中,找不到引用协定“TranslatorService.LanguageService”的默认终结点元素。这可能是因为未找到应用程序的配置文件,或者是因为客户端元素中找不到与此协定匹配的终结点元素。
Updated June 26, 2011 08:12:00

Ander Herrera and Thiago Alcantara scored the goals as Spain beat Switzerland 2-0 on Sunday morning to win the European Under-21 championship.

Spain, dominant at senior level where they are world and European champions, sealed their third continental Under-21 title thanks to a first-half header from Herrera and an audacious free kick from Alcantara in the 81st minute.

Switzerland, who had been seeking their first trophy, managed to shackle the Spaniards well in the opening half hour in Aarhus and could have gone ahead when Xherdan Shaqiri half-volleyed a shot that goalkeeper David De Gea had to punch away.

Instead, the Swiss defence was breached for the first time in the tournament as Didac Vila's pinpoint cross found Herrera arriving at pace, and the midfielder planted his header firmly past keeper Yann Sommer at the near post in the 41st minute.

Innocent Emeghara had a great chance to put Switzerland back on level terms after 52 minutes but he scuffed his shot straight at De Gea.

Switzerland upped the tempo and went close on several occasions from set pieces with Timm Klose and Pajtim Kasami heading wide from promising positions.

As the Swiss tired of chasing possession, Thiago put the result beyond doubt with a free kick in the 81st minute.

Spotting Sommer off his line, the Barcelona midfielder floated the ball over his head from 40 metres out, triggering wild celebrations from the Spanish.

- Reuters

Tags: sport, football, spain, switzerland

First posted June 26, 2011 07:46:00


View the original article here