Barzagli: Magath ´changed my level´ Juventus defender Andrea Barzagli has paid tribute to ex-Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath, saying his influence changed his mental approach.
Barzagli joined Juventus from the Bundesliga outfit in January 2011 for a fee of around 300,000 euros and has gone on to make 94 appearances for the club so far.
Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, the 31-year-old Italian praised his former coach and highlighted the changes he made to his game under the German's tutelage.
"Magath was the coach who has changed my level mentally," the former Palermo defender said.
Category: News Views: 969 Added: SkyDate: 24.03.2013 - 21:23
Podolski eyes starting place Germany forward Lukas Podolski is unhappy with his role as a substitute for his country and hopes to earn a starting spot.
Podolski came on as a replacement for the injured Julian Draxler after just 19 minutes in the 3-0 win over Kazakhstan on Friday, earning his 108th cap.
Speaking to Bild am Sonntag, the 27-year-old said he was unsurprised to be on the bench in Astana but would like to use it as a platform to once again become a regular for coach Joachim Loew.
"I've been training hard the last three weeks but missed the last game with Arsenal," the former Cologne forward said.
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Category: News Views: 866 Added: SkyDate: 24.03.2013 - 21:21
Mourinho hints at Real exit Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has hinted that he could return to one of his former clubs next season.
The 50-year-old, who guided Inter and Porto to Champions League glory, has been linked with a move back to Chelsea, the scene of his two Premier League triumphs as manager.
Speculation has grown over Mourinho's future in Spain after reports of friction between the coach and senior Real players, while the Portuguese has also endured a mixed relationship with the club's fans this term.
Mourinho admits his future is uncertain and says he might be willing to return to a former club.
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Category: News Views: 734 Added: SkyDate: 24.03.2013 - 21:18
Ferguson ´like a father´ to De Gea Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea says Sir Alex Ferguson has acted 'like a father' to him at Old Trafford.
The 22-year-old, who arrived from Atletico Madrid in June 2011, has faced criticism over some of his performances this season, while the United manager has consistently backed the Spaniard in the media.
When asked about the comparisons between Ferguson and Spain coach Vicente del Bosque, de Gea told AS: "They are two great coaches and everyone has their own things but yes, the two are very paternalistic.
"I know Ferguson a little more and he is like a father, especially fo
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Category: News Views: 848 Added: SkyDate: 24.03.2013 - 19:46
Barcelona still the best, says Rosell Barcelona president Sandro Rosell says his club have proven they are still the world's leading football power.
Back-to-back defeats against Real Madrid and a 2-0 Champions League loss away to AC Milan in February had prompted some to speculate this dip was symptomatic of a deeper decline at the club.
But Rosell said in an interview with Mundo Deportivo that there was never any serious cause for concern, and played down the significance of the 4-0 win over Milan.
"If the question is from the point of view of those who began to doubt (it makes sense), because I did not remove any burden," he replied
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Category: News Views: 687 Added: SkyDate: 24.03.2013 - 19:43
Tottenham will miss out on top four Former Tottenham manager George Graham believes Andre Villas-Boas' men will miss out on a top-four English Premier League finish this season.
The 68-year-old, who managed Tottenham between 1998 and 2001, feels Chelsea and Arsenal are in the driving seat because they have easier remaining fixtures and a game in hand.
"Tottenham will be the ones to lose out," Graham told the Daily Mirror.
"They have a difficult run-in and they have played a game more than the others. (Arsenal) have recovered of late and it would appear they have the easiest programme to come.
Category: News Views: 788 Added: SkyDate: 24.03.2013 - 18:13
Deschamps backs struggling Benzema Didier Deschamps has backed Karim Benzema to star for France despite growing frustration over his lack of goals for the national side.
The 25-year-old was booed by a section of fans in Les Bleus' 3-1 win over Georgia on Friday, but Deschamps insisted that he sees no issue with continuing to use the Real Madrid forward, including for the upcoming World Cup qualifier with Spain.
"I have faith in Karim," Deschamps said.
"You just have to look at the public comments of his team mates after the Georgia game. I won't deny that Karim had chances against Georgia and didn't score."
Category: News Views: 738 Added: SkyDate: 24.03.2013 - 17:33
Gerrard: Fans have right to blast Ferdinand England captain Steven Gerrard insists that fans are entitled to voice their opinion over Rio Ferdinand's withdrawal from the squad.
The Manchester United defender pulled out of Roy Hodgson's original party after claiming that he could not follow his detailed pre-match training program while on international duty.
Ferdinand worked as a television pundit during England's 8-0 victory over San Marino on Friday evening, while fans chanted abuse towards the 34-year-old.
"I think the fans have shown their frustrations about Rio not being here. They are entitled to their opinion. They've spent good mone
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Category: News Views: 675 Added: SkyDate: 24.03.2013 - 17:28
Sydney was right destination, says Del Piero Alessandro Del Piero insists that he made the correct decision when he opted to sign for Sydney FC last summer.
Del Piero scored 236 times in 573 matches for Juventus, before signing for the A-League outfit last September.
Speaking in an interview with Corriere dello Sport, the 38-year-old was adamant that he had made the right move and enthused about his new life in Australia.
"Every day that passes I am convinced that, for me and for my family, I made the right choice," he said.
"If I wanted to experience life in a cou
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Category: News Views: 762 Added: SkyDate: 24.03.2013 - 17:09
Hodgson not turning back to Terry England manager Roy Hodgson has no intention of persuading John Terry out of international retirement.
The Three Lions boss was asked after Friday's 8-0 win over San Marino whether he had considered contacting the Chelsea captain - who quit international football last year - in the wake of withdrawals by several centre-backs.
But Hodgson insists that any suggestion that he should lure the 32-year-old back is disrespectful to the defenders in his squad.
"No. The fact is John Terry has retired from international football, a decision I have respected," he said.
Category: News Views: 744 Added: SkyDate: 24.03.2013 - 17:06
Butland happy with Stoke choice Jack Butland believes he was right to choose Stoke over Chelsea, saying that his game will develop better at the Britannia Stadium.
The England international could have joined Chelsea in January but chose Tony Pulis' side, though he remains at Birmingham on loan until the end of the season.
Butland is adamant that he made the right choice as, despite admitting that the current European champions were a big draw.
The goalkeeper feels that Stoke have the right set-up for him to prosper.
"It was and it wasn't (a hard choice). Chels
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Category: News Views: 732 Added: SkyDate: 24.03.2013 - 17:04
Quagliarella full of praise for Serie A Juventus striker Fabio Quagliarella has praised Italian football for recovering from an exodus of stars in 2012.
Ahead of his team's Serie A match against fierce rivals Inter next Saturday, Quagliarella warned that Andrea Stramaccioni's men will still pose a considerable threat despite their difficulties this season.
"It's a strange league," the Italy international told Juventus' official website.
"Important figures like (Alessandro) Del Piero, (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva may have departed, but it's great to see teams like Napoli, Fiorentina and Roma all proving capable of pl
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Category: News Views: 1014 Added: SkyDate: 24.03.2013 - 17:01
Owen stands by Newcastle exit Michael Owen has defended himself against claims he abandoned Newcastle following their relegation from the English Premier League in 2009.
After an injury-hit four years at St James' Park, the striker went on to sign for Manchester United, where he often struggled for game time.
The 33-year-old joined Stoke City after leaving United last year, and has since announced he will retire at the end of the season after failing to make an impact at the Britannia Stadium.
The former Liverpool man has now denied claims he opted not to remain with Newcastle in the Championship, insisting the club did not
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Category: News Views: 623 Added: SkyDate: 24.03.2013 - 16:57
Ramos wants maximum focus Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos has called for his team to maintain concentration ahead of their Champions League tie with Galatasaray.
Turkish Super Lig title holders Galatasaray overcame Schalke in the round of 16 to be drawn against Jose Mourinho's Spanish champions in the last eight.
Ramos, on international duty with Spain this week, has said that despite the draw appearing to be kind to Real, no team represents an easy opponent in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
"Galatasary are a pretty strong team with their new signings. They are a force to be reckoned with," the 26-year-old to
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Category: News Views: 611 Added: SkyDate: 24.03.2013 - 16:55
Sao Paulo see off Bragantino Sao Paulo have regained their five-point lead in the Campeonato Paulista after a hard-fought 2-0 win over an impressive Bragantino side.
An own goal by Bragantino midfielder Preto and Luis Fabiano's strike just before half-time proved the difference at Sao Paulo's Estadio Cicero Pompeu de Toledo as the home side moved to 32 points at the top of the standings.
Saturday's win means Sao Paulo again lead Santos by five points after the latter had moved within two with a victory on Thursday.
Santos are level on 27 points with Ponte Preta, while Botafogo SP are fourth on 25 but have played
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Category: News Views: 612 Added: SkyDate: 24.03.2013 - 16:53
Lescott targets regular England spot Joleon Lescott says he is ready to feature more for England after starting the 8-0 win over San Marino on Friday.
The 30-year-old has fallen down the pecking order at Manchester City, failing to start an English Premier League game since the 3-1 defeat to Southampton in February.
That lack of appearances meant he had to rely on Rio Ferdinand's withdrawal from the squad to earn a call-up for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
With Gary Cahill also pulling out, Lescott started as England brushed aside minnows San Marino, and the former Everton man is determined to perform when called upon. <
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Category: News Views: 617 Added: SkyDate: 24.03.2013 - 16:50
ბენზემა გააკრიტიკეს
”მე ამას აქამდეც ვამბოდი და ახლაც ვიტყვი – ქარიმ ბენზემა მხოლოდ ამტკიცებს იმას, რომ იგი გუნდს მომავალში ვერაფერში გამოადგება. რაც შეეხება ფრანკ რიბერის, იგი კვლავ არასტაბილურ თამაშს აჩვენებს”, – დაწერა დომენეკმა თავისი ტვიტერის გვერდზე.
ოლივიე ჟირუს კი საპირისპირო აზრი აქვს და ნაკრებში თავის პარტნიორზე მან შემდეგი განცხადება გააკეთა:
”ქარიმმა კარგად ითამაშა და მეტოქის კართან ბევრ სახიფათო მომენტს ქმნიდა. ჩვენ არც თუ ისე ცუდად ვართ
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Category: ახალი ამბები Views: 697 Added: SkyDate: 24.03.2013 - 04:25
Serie B: Hellas Verona - FC Crotone Preview & Betting Tip
Hellas Verona - FC Crotone In this Sunday’s duel of the 33rd round of Italian Serie B will face two teams that are currently in quite good form, where Verona occupies the great second place in the table, while Crotone after three wins in the last four rounds has managed to breakthrough on the 11th positions. Their autumn duel in Crotone ended with 3-3, while in the last year both teams won at home. Begins: 24.03.2013 – 15:00 CET
Hellas Verona
Category: Betting Tips Views: 1327 Added: BetterDate: 24.03.2013 - 03:59
Segunda Division: Almeria - Sporting Gijon Preview & Betting Tip
Almeria - Sporting Gijon Given that in this round of Segunda there is no classic derby, this match seemed as the most interesting, but not because of the situation on the table where the third Almeria has even 12 points more than Sporting who is in the 14th place, but because it is a match of two former La Liga clubs which not too long ago played among the elite. Sporting was relegated last season and Almeria one season earlier, and as things stand now it could also return earlier. Right now Sporting is in a slightly better form, and they have won Almeria in the first hal
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Category: Betting Tips Views: 916 Added: BetterDate: 24.03.2013 - 03:54
Serie B: Empoli - Bari Preview & Betting Tip
Empoli - Bari In this Sunday duel of the 33rd round of Italian Serie B that we will analyse for you meet two teams that are in a great shape and that were not defeated in this month. However, Empoli stands much better in the table and is on the high fourth place, while Bari is placed just above the relegation zone. Let us say that Empoli won their last two matches, including one from the autumn part of the current season when it was 2-3 in Bari. Begins: 24.03.2013 – 20:45 CET
FC Empoli
Category: Betting Tips Views: 1109 Added: BetterDate: 24.03.2013 - 03:48
როგორ გაიცნო მესიმ აგუერო ვენესუელასთან მატჩის გამართვამდე ლიონელ მესიმ არგენტინულ ტელევიზიას ინტერვიუ მისცა, სადაც გაიხსენა აგუეროსთან პირველი შეხვედრა.
ეს ისტორია ადრე აგუერომაც მოყვა. მან 2005 წელს, როცა მესი და აგუერო ერთად მოხვდნენ რამოდენიმე ახალგაზრდული ნაკრების სადილობისას, აგუერომ მესის ვინაობა ჰკითხა.
რამოდენიმე დღის წინ ლიონელმა თავადაც გაიხსენა ეს ფაქტი.
მესი კატალონიაში 11 წლისა თამაშობდა. მაშინ ის ერთ-ერთ ახალგაზრულ ნაკრებში გამოიძახეს, სადაც აგუეროს შეხვდა. "მან შემომხედა. რომ ვერ მიცნო, მკითხა: "შენ ვინ ხარ?” ბიჭებმა კინაღამ ცოცხლად შეჭამეს”, – საუბრობს მესი.
Category: ახალი ამბები Views: 763 Added: SkyDate: 24.03.2013 - 02:22
England must perform against Montenegro - Hart The Manchester City No. 1 knows just how significant Tuesday's game will be and insists that the Three Lions will not repeat any mistakes from their last visit to Podgorica
Joe Hart has told his England teammates that they have "got to perform" ahead of their World Cup 2014 qualifier in Montenegro.
The Three Lions currently sit two points adrift of their opponents on Tuesday, who lead Group H having won four and drawn one of their five games played.
Both parties were in action on Friday and both took three points from their respective fixtures - Roy Hodgson’s men ran out 8-0 winners in San Marino, while Montenegro talisman Mirko
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Category: News Views: 761 Added: SkyDate: 24.03.2013 - 02:07
De Guzman hopes to stay at Swansea The midfielder made his first competitive appearance for the Netherlands on Friday night and believes that stability at club level will be key to his future selection
Jonathan de Guzman has stated his desire to remain at Swansea City and maintain his place in the Netherlands setup.
The 25 year-old is on a season-long loan from Villarreal and made his debut for the Oranje against Italy in a friendly last month.
The attacking midfield player revealed that he had made the decision not to join his older brother Julian in playing for Canada and hopes to keep his place in Louis van Gaal's thoughts by securing regular football permanently at
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Category: News Views: 778 Added: SkyDate: 24.03.2013 - 02:05
Fabregas:Spain must go all out to beat France Following la Roja's draw with Finland on Friday, the Barcelona midfielder has warned his teammates they they cannot afford to drop any more points
Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas has told his teammates that they must do their utmost to win their upcoming game against France on Tuesday.
The world and European champions currently sit two points behind les Bleus, and the Barcelona star feels that they have to triumph at the Stade de France to keep first place in their hands.
"We will have to go out to win on Tuesday, if we win that match things will become different [in the group]," he said at a press conference.
Category: News Views: 699 Added: SkyDate: 24.03.2013 - 02:03
Messi hails Argentina partnership with Higuain The Barcelona ace lauded the ability of his Real Madrid counterpart, before turning his attention to their next game against Bolivia
Argentina forward Lionel Messi has revealed his growing understanding with Gonzalo Higuain, after the pair combined to inspire a 3-0 victory against Venezuela on Friday.
Messi laid on his international colleague's brace before getting in on the scoring with a penalty, and the 25-year-old acknowledged the potency of their relationship on the pitch.
"Higuain is a great player because he scores a lot of goals," Messi told reporters after the match. "Every time we play, our understanding together increases. Playi
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Category: News Views: 706 Added: SkyDate: 24.03.2013 - 02:01
Mourinho:I don't need to win another Champions League The 50-year-old insists there would be "no drama" if he failed to claim Europe's top prize for a third time in his career
Jose Mourinho has claimed that he does not need to win another Champions League medal - regardless of Real Madrid's pursuit of La Decima.
Los Blancos are in the quarterfinals of Europe's elite club tournament following their two-legged victory over Manchester United in the round of 16 and could lift the coveted trophy for a 10th time in their history.
The 50-year-old has already won the competition twice in his career, but the coach insists that he is not concerned about whether or not he adds to his continental haul
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Category: News Views: 669 Added: SkyDate: 24.03.2013 - 01:49
Benzema is useless, says Domenech The ex-France coach believes his doubts about the Real Madrid striker have now been vindicated after his poor showing against Georgia
Former France coach Raymond Domenech believes that Karim Benzema's performance against Georgia on Friday has shown that the Real Madrid striker is "useless".
The former Olympique Lyonnais man has not scored for his country in 929 minutes of football and was roundly booed by Bleus fans after refusing to sing the Marseillaise before the match.
And Domenech feels Franck Ribery was also a disappointment, but was impressed with the performances of Blaise Matuidi and Mathieu Valbuena.
Category: News Views: 1208 Added: SkyDate: 24.03.2013 - 00:49
World Cup: South Africa 2:0 Central African Republic South Africa defeated the Central African Republic 2-0 at home in World Cup qualifying to revive their hopes of reaching Brazil next year.
The hosts of the last FIFA World Cup in 2010, South Africa had made a poor start in CAF Group A, drawing with Ethiopia and Botswana to sit third in the standings.
But they registered their first victory on Saturday, climbing above the Central African Republic and Ethiopia to lead the pool on five points.
Thabo Matlaba opened the scoring for 'Bafana Bafana' in the 34th minute of the match in Cape Town.
Category: News Views: 653 Added: SkyDate: 24.03.2013 - 00:46
World Cup : Cyprus 0:0 Switzerland A dogged Cyprus has denied Switzerland a four-point lead in UEFA's World Cup qualifying Group E with a 0-0 draw in Nicosia.
Switzerland headed into Saturday's match with a one-point lead in Group E over Albania and Iceland and would have been confident of stretching that margin to four points as Cyprus had lost 11 of their past 13 internationals.
But despite dominating possession at the Neo GSP, the visiting Swiss were unable to beat Antonis Georgallides in Cyprus' goal as the home team moved up to four points in Group E, rising off the bottom of the standings above Slovenia.
Category: News Views: 700 Added: SkyDate: 24.03.2013 - 00:45
World Cup : Ivory Coast 3:0 Gambia Gambia, still looking for their first victory of the qualifying campaign, kept their hosts goalless throughout the first 45 minutes at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan.
Long-serving captain Didier Drogba was conspicuous through his absence after the Galatasaray striker was surprisingly overlooked from the Ivory Coast squad by coach Sabri Lamouchi.
And without their talisman, the hosts struggled to break down a stubborn Gambia backline.
Category: News Views: 838 Added: SkyDate: 24.03.2013 - 00:43
