Athletic Bilbao captain Joseba Etxeberria has declared that a draw against Barcelona in the Primera Liga this weekend would be a good result for his side.
The two teams meet at the San Mames on Saturday night and Etxeberria says that while a draw would be a favourable outcome, Athletic Bilbao shirt will be doing all the can to beat the treble champions.
"The truth is that this game is very difficult, but the timing may be ideal for us because the team is doing well in the league and we also have had time to prepare well, which they have not because they have many internationals, and that gives us a small advantage," he told AS.
"We must go after them from the first move and everything will be difficult. But if we keep waiting and see what they do with the ball, then there is nothing to be gained.
"Against Barcelona, a draw can be a good result but you cannot take to the field thinking about a draw. Barcelona is the favourite in every game they play.
"We're talking about a great team, one of the best teams in history."
Etxeberria is also hoping that the home support give a hostile Barca a reception at San Mames because he fears that if Barca feel at home, they will win.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Aston Villa need Milner
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has hailed his 'Mr Versatile', James Milner, and insisted the winger could eventually find himself in central midfield for the Villians in the future.
The 23-year-old, who arrived at Aston Villa shirt in an £12million deal from Newcastle United in 2008, featured in England's disappointing 1-0 defeat to Brazil on Saturday, but Three Lions boss Fabio Capello praised Milner's efforts.
"James Milner is improving, Maicon is one of the best right-backs in the world. He is very fast. He is a good defender and when he goes forward he is really dangerous. But Milner played well. He is a good player too," Capello told Sky Sports News.
O'Neill has also been delighted with Milner's impact since joining the club and he has admitted he may be used in a more central role in the future.
"He has got a good football knowledge and a good football brain. In terms of other positions, I feel he can move infield as well," O'Neill told the club's official website.
"I think because he is not concerned about receiving the ball under pressure at some stage between now and the end of the season he will play in there for us," he added.
O'Neill's prediction may be due to the return to training of summer signing Stewart Downing, who is looking to make his return to competitive action next month.
Ironically, Villa have potentially three wingers battling out for one of Capello's World Cup places next summer with Milner, Downing and Ashley Young desperately seeking to be included in the squad.
With this positional move in mind, Milner's undoubted versatility could prove to be the deciding factor on his ticket to South Africa.
The 23-year-old, who arrived at Aston Villa shirt in an £12million deal from Newcastle United in 2008, featured in England's disappointing 1-0 defeat to Brazil on Saturday, but Three Lions boss Fabio Capello praised Milner's efforts.
"James Milner is improving, Maicon is one of the best right-backs in the world. He is very fast. He is a good defender and when he goes forward he is really dangerous. But Milner played well. He is a good player too," Capello told Sky Sports News.
O'Neill has also been delighted with Milner's impact since joining the club and he has admitted he may be used in a more central role in the future.
"He has got a good football knowledge and a good football brain. In terms of other positions, I feel he can move infield as well," O'Neill told the club's official website.
"I think because he is not concerned about receiving the ball under pressure at some stage between now and the end of the season he will play in there for us," he added.
O'Neill's prediction may be due to the return to training of summer signing Stewart Downing, who is looking to make his return to competitive action next month.
Ironically, Villa have potentially three wingers battling out for one of Capello's World Cup places next summer with Milner, Downing and Ashley Young desperately seeking to be included in the squad.
With this positional move in mind, Milner's undoubted versatility could prove to be the deciding factor on his ticket to South Africa.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Broncos secure services of Mooney
Former Queensland Reds coach Phil Mooney has been appointed as backs coach at the Brisbane Broncos in a shock move to the NRL giants.
Despite boasting just a 23 per cent winning rate in his two seasons at the helm of the embattled Reds, Mooney is known as for his outstanding work with young players and his technical proficiency developing backlines.
He made his name in rugby union guiding the Australian under-19s side to victory in the 2006 World Cup -- a tournament in which Australia has traditionally struggled.
After watching his side bow out of the 2009 premiership race at the hands of eventual premier Melbourne, Broncos jersey coach Ivan Henjak foreshadowed changes in his second year in the post Wayne Bennett held for 21 seasons.
And he has followed through on the promise, promoting highly-regarded under-20s coach Anthony Griffin into a full-time assistant role.
Despite boasting just a 23 per cent winning rate in his two seasons at the helm of the embattled Reds, Mooney is known as for his outstanding work with young players and his technical proficiency developing backlines.
He made his name in rugby union guiding the Australian under-19s side to victory in the 2006 World Cup -- a tournament in which Australia has traditionally struggled.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
No sell off at Parma
Parma shirt general manager Pietro Leonardi has categorically denied that the club will be selling their best players during the January transfer window.
The Gialloblu fans were worrying that the team could be dismantled during the transfer market, but Leonardi's words will surely reassure them.
"In January we will not be selling any of our jewels," the Crociati's director told sportmediaset.it.
"I say it because the rumours of the past days - about [McDonald] Mariga, [Daniele] Galloppa and [Valeri] Bojinov leaving the team - are destabilising the environment.
"These things are worrying the players, especially the younger ones who need certainties, and even our fans. Once the transfer market resumes, Parma will increase the value of the club's wealth with the players who are used less."
Parma have had a fantastic season so far in Serie A. They currently stand in sixth place along with Napoli and Genoa, boasting 17 points from 11 games played, just two points behind a Champions League spot.
The Gialloblu fans were worrying that the team could be dismantled during the transfer market, but Leonardi's words will surely reassure them.
"In January we will not be selling any of our jewels," the Crociati's director told sportmediaset.it.
"I say it because the rumours of the past days - about [McDonald] Mariga, [Daniele] Galloppa and [Valeri] Bojinov leaving the team - are destabilising the environment.
"These things are worrying the players, especially the younger ones who need certainties, and even our fans. Once the transfer market resumes, Parma will increase the value of the club's wealth with the players who are used less."
Parma have had a fantastic season so far in Serie A. They currently stand in sixth place along with Napoli and Genoa, boasting 17 points from 11 games played, just two points behind a Champions League spot.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Stuttgart not happy
Bundesliga outfit Stuttgart shirt were held to a goalless draw by Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday and dropped to 15th spot in the table as a result, but despite the Schwaben's failure to pick up the full three points, head coach Markus Babbel was quite satisfied with the final result.
"That was certainly a lucky point for us today," he told the club's official website. "We had a lot of problems getting into the game and allowed Gladbach far too much space to operate in, which they turned into chances on goal which they didn't take.
"We managed to battle our way into the game eventually and improved all the time. Unfortunately we just couldn't find that final pass, but we also shouldn't forget that the lads have been playing every three days in recent weeks.
"During that period we failed to get the results that we'd hoped for, which is something that has unsettled us. At the end of the day, I'm quite satisfied with the point."
"That was certainly a lucky point for us today," he told the club's official website. "We had a lot of problems getting into the game and allowed Gladbach far too much space to operate in, which they turned into chances on goal which they didn't take.
"We managed to battle our way into the game eventually and improved all the time. Unfortunately we just couldn't find that final pass, but we also shouldn't forget that the lads have been playing every three days in recent weeks.
"During that period we failed to get the results that we'd hoped for, which is something that has unsettled us. At the end of the day, I'm quite satisfied with the point."
Thursday, November 5, 2009
NRL Final move?
THE NRL has dangled another carrot in front of the Queensland and Victorian governments by once again admitting it would consider taking the grand final away from Sydney after 2012.
Amid reports Queensland and Victoria would make multi-million dollar bids to secure the game's showpiece event, NRL chief executive David Gallop last night reiterated the grand final would be up for grabs when the existing contract came to an end in 2012.
"We have an open mind about it once our contract with the NSW Blues jersey government runs out at the end of 2012," Gallop said.
"We would be mad not to at least consider it."
Earlier this year, Gallop revealed he had received a letter from Queensland Premier Anna Bligh in which she expressed her state's interest in stealing the grand final from Sydney. The possibility of moving the grand final has also been a subject of discussion in talks between the game's powerbrokers and the Victorian government.
Both states have legitimate claims. The game is booming in Queensland thanks to the continued success of the Brisbane Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys jersey, and the emergence of the Gold Coast Titans.
Victoria, on the other hand, is home to the NRL's flagship franchise, the Melbourne Storm.
Any decision to take the game from Sydney is likely to be met with stern resistance from NSW.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Barcelona sweep the board
Football club Barcelona shirt was unbeatable in both Spain and Europe last season and that domination was reflected in the awards ceremony held by the Spanish Football League (LFP) late on Monday night.
The Primera Liga, Copa del Rey holders and Champions League winner was named the Best Club of last season by the LFP and its players were singled out for a host of individual awards.
Leo Messi was named Player of the Season and also the Best Striker of the 2008-9 campaign by his fellow professionals.
Meanwhile Andres Iniesta won the nomination as the Best Attacking Midfielder and Xavi Hernandez was given the prize as the Best Holding Midfielder in Spain.
Right back Dani Alves was considered to be the Best Defender in the Liga BBVA, while young midfielder Sergio Busquets was the Revelation of the Season.
The only player able to break Barcelona's total dominance was Real Madrid's Iker Casillas. The Spain shirt international won the vote as the Best Goalkeeper in Spain in the last campaign.
Meanwhile Deportivo la Coruna's Juan Carlos Valeron won the Fair Play award.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Chase is on for Adiyiah
European giants Barcelona and Arsenal have launched late bids to snap up hot-cake Ghana youth Dominic Adiyiah if AC Milan shirt fail to wrap up a deal on Monday.
Milan announced on Saturday a deal has been reached with his Norwegian side Fredrikstad and expecting to finalize the move subject to him passing a medical.
Adiyiah and his agents are due in Milan by 11:00 GMT to hold final talks with the Rossoneri to stitch up the deal.
Both Barcelona and Arsenal have contacted the agent of the 19-year-old waiting for a failed move to the San Siro.
The Fifa Under-20 World Cup Golden Ball and Golden Shoe award winner has been promised unlimited playing time in both the La Liga and English Premier League.
Milan announced on Saturday a deal has been reached with his Norwegian side Fredrikstad and expecting to finalize the move subject to him passing a medical.
Adiyiah and his agents are due in Milan by 11:00 GMT to hold final talks with the Rossoneri to stitch up the deal.
Both Barcelona and Arsenal have contacted the agent of the 19-year-old waiting for a failed move to the San Siro.
The Fifa Under-20 World Cup Golden Ball and Golden Shoe award winner has been promised unlimited playing time in both the La Liga and English Premier League.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Kangaroos march on past England
England's rugby league stars almost pulled off a big shock before losing 26-18 to Australia in Wigan.
England staged a brilliant second-half fightback to give the world's best team a scare, after a first half that ended 26-0 to the visitors.
At that point it seemed as if England were on the way to a record defeat, thanks to some brilliant Aussie play.
But after the break the home team came alive, and grabbed tries through Sam Burgess, Gareth Ellis and Lee Smith.
That wasn't enough to give them a win, but will fill the team's fans with hope for the rest of the Four Nations tournament.
England's next match is against New Zealand warriors jersey on 7 November, and if the home side can win that one they'll probably play Australia in the final seven days later.
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