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Final 23 players for World Player of the Year

The final list of candidates for Fifa World Player of the Year have been drawn up and from the 23 names 10 are Premiership players. These include Ronaldo, Torres and Deco but there are 3 English players too Lampard, Terry and Gerrard.

The clear favourite for the competition is Ronaldo who had an outstaning season last year and has already picked up an award voted for by fellow players.

This award is decided by a poll of national team captains and coaches.

A shortlist of three will be revealed in December, with the winner announced at a ceremony in Zurich in January.

The list comprises three African players, three South Americans and 20 Europeans.

A 10-name shortlist for the Fifa women’s world player of the year award has also been published, including Arsenal’s Kelly Smith and Brazil’s Marta, who is aiming to win the award for the third year running.

Fifa world player of the year 2008 shortlist:

Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo), Sergio Aguero (Argentina), Andrei Arshavin (Russia), Michael Ballack (Germany), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Iker Casillas (Spain), Deco (Portugal), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon), Cesc Fabregas (Spain), Steven Gerrard (England), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Kaka (Brazil), Frank Lampard (England), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Franck Ribery (France), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), John Terry (England), Fernando Torres (Spain), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Netherlands), David Villa (Spain) and Xavi (Spain).

Fifa women’s world player of the year 2008 shortlist:

Nadine Angerer (Germany), Shannon Boxx (USA), Cristiane (Brazil), Daniela (Brazil), Marta (Brazil), Birgit Prinz (Germany), Christine Sinclair (Canada), Kelly Smith (England), Hope Solo (USA) and Ingvild Stensland (Norway).

Pele wishes Maradona good luck

Brazil Legend Pele has wished Maradona the best of luck in his role as coach of Argentina but he warns the Argentina legend that very rarely do great players make great managers.

“I hope that everything goes well for him and that he’ll be able to overcome what’s happened in the past and that he’ll know how to manage the Argentine players well,” Pele, making reference to Maradona’s past problems with drugs and health.

Pele feels Maradona is lucky to have Carlos Bilardo as his Director of Football as he has experience of leading Argentina as he did in 1986 and Pele feels he will play a huge role in whether Maradona is a success or not.

“He has at his side an experienced manager who knows football really well.

“If Maradona listens to Bilardo he can go far. He can learn a lot if he wants to.

“But often a great player doens’t become a great coach. And sometimes players who weren’t very good footballer like (Wanderlei) Luxemburgo (former Real Madrid and Brazil manager) become good managers.”

Maradona’s first match in charge is the February 2009 friendly with France in Marseille.

Ballack backs down

Michael Ballack had criticised Low for dropping a Frings from World Cup qualifier this month and had said that he wasn’t showing the players enough respect but it now looks the German captain is to apologise to his coach.

“I will sit down with Joachim Low as soon as my injury permits and apologise for my behaviour,” said Ballack.

Low said: “I’ve noted Ballack’s explanation, but much more important is our private discussion,”

Ballacks statement that caused the problem was : “If he (Frings) is no longer wanted, he should be told so honestly. Respect and loyalty is the least you can expect as a deserving national team player.”

But now the German captain was much calmer and his tone was much more conciliatory.

“I told Jogi Low that it was never my intention to criticise the work he is doing as national team coach,” said Ballack. “I admire Jogi Low as a player and a professional very much.”

Bilic linked to Tottenham job

Tottenham Hotspur, an English club, started the Premier League on the wrong foot with 0 wins in eight games. If they were to replace someone, Slaven Bilic was an ideal name on the list for a position. If he were to go to Spurs, he would be joining Luka Modric and Vedran Corluka, but he has dismissed the idea.

Over the summer, Bilic was considered for two other managing positions, also on the Premier League, and he has revealed before, “I dream of being a manager in the Premier League.” But like the two summer offers, he has said, “I have a job with Croatia and that’s all I am concentrating on.”  

Bilic admits the interest that the English clubs show in him is “flattering.” Maybe after he sees Croatia through to the World Cup 2010, a position in England will be right.

Jill Guthrie 

Ballack has a go at Low

Germany captain Micheal Ballack is set for a confrontation with Germany manager Joachim Low over comments he made about the manager dropping Torsten Frings from this months 2010 World Cup qualifiers.

Low said: “I am disappointed with what he has said. What happens next depends on our conversation.”
Ballack questioned Low’s respect for the senior players.

“If he (Frings) is no longer wanted, he should be told so honestly. Respect and loyalty is the least you can expect as a deserving national team player.”

Ballack said he also felt sympathy for Kevin Kuranyi after he walked out on the team during their recent match over Russia and Low has said he will never pick the forward again.

Low added: “Quite often in the past, we have asked Michael Ballack as captain to address things which he sees critically or differently.

“The fact that he chose to air these criticisms of our work in the media is utterly wrong and incomprehensible. No player, and the captain isn’t an exception, has the right to criticise the selection policy or decisions of the coach, or to level public criticism against the team.

“I will call Michael Ballack and insist on a meeting in Germany. The decision I make will depend on this conversation.”

Zwanziger said: “I am disappointed with Michael Ballack over his style. His comments have led to a complicated and difficult situation developing.

“The team has developed in a very positive way in the last few years and therefore I don’t understand the fact there has been criticism from the team aimed at Joachim Low in the media.

“Such comments are absolutely inappropriate. In the interest of the success of the team, the authority of the national team coach must have the highest priority.”

Draw for final round of 2010 World Cup qualifiers and Africa Cup of Nations

The draw has been completed for the final round of qualifiers which will decide which teams will be playing in the 2010 World Cup and the African nations Cup.  The draw took place in Zurich and out of the 5 group it looks like Egypt has been handed the easiest draw so they will be even more confident of a passage into the finals after star striker Zaki claimed they feared no one.

Egypt face Algeria, Zambia and Rwanda so if they overcome these teams they will reach their 3rd World Cup finals.
The 5 group winners will go directly t the World Cup finals while the first three in each group will go to Angola to play for the Africa Cup of Nations.

The full draw:

Group A:
Cameroon
Morocco
Gabon
Togo

Group B
Nigeria
Tunisia
Kenya
Mozambique

Group C
Egypt
Algeria
Zambia
Rwanda

Group D
Ghana
Mali
Benin
Sudan

Group E
Ivory Coast
Guinea
Burkina Faso
Malawi

6 English players up for FIFPro World XI Players Award

There have been 55 candidates selected which now has to be narrowed down to the 11 players but from this 55 players 21 are based in the Premiership, the most from any one league, and six of this 21 are English.

Chelsea is the main contributor from England with 8 nominees including Lampard, Terry and Ashley Cole. Manchester United are just behind with 7 including Rooney and Ferdinand whilst Liverpool have 3 with Gerrard being the English player nominated from their team .

Arsenal have 2 nominees in Clichy and Fabregas but don’t have as many as their league rivals.
Spain are the next most represented league with 18 nominations so it will be interesting to see which league gets the most places in the final XI.

Full List of Nominees

Goalkeepers: Artur Boruc (Celtic), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Petr Cech (Chelsea), Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United).
Defenders: Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Jose Bosingwa (Chelsea), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Ricard Carvalho (Chelsea), Gael Clichy (Arsenal), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Lucio (Bayern Munich), Paolo Maldini (AC Milan), Pepe (Real Madrid), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), John Terry (Chelsea), Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United), Gianluca Zambrotta (AC Milan), Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan), Yuriy Zhirkov (CSKA Moscow).

Midfielders: Deco (Chelsea), Michael Ballack (Chelsea), Michael Essien (Chelsea), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Kaka (AC Milan), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Marcos Senna (Villarreal), Wesley Sneijder (Real Madrid), Xavi (Barcelona).

Forwards: Andrei Arshavin (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Dimitar Berbatov (Manchester United), Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Samuel Eto’o (Barcelona), Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter Milan), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid), Ronaldinho (AC Milan), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Carlos Tevez (Manchester Untied), Luca Toni (Bayern Munich), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), David Villa (Valencia).

Beckham set to equal England great

LA Galaxy player David Beckham looks set to win his 108th Cap in a friendly against Germany next month giving him the same number as Bobby Moore.

Beckham hasn’t started the last 4 competitive matches but he looks set to be handed a starting role in this match.

Capello said: “Beckham might have played five minutes against Belarus but, for the next game, it is possible he might play all the game.”

Although Capello hasn’t picked Beckham in his starting 11 in recent game she sees him as still a major part of the team.

“For the game against Spain, if he is not playing, he will not be in the squad,” Capello explained as the MLS will be in close season.

“He is good for the group. This is important. In fact, this is very important - his influence.

“He knows everything. He transmits confidence in the other players. This is very important for the group.

“I have to choose the first XI and at the moment I choose Theo Walcott and Shaun Wright-Phillips who are playing well.”

“It is frustrating to now have six months without a competitive game but we knew this.

“We have been lucky because we have played two games twice. Some have only played three matches.

“We have to wait a lot now. At the moment we are in very good physical condition because we always play better in the second half of games because the other teams play strong and press a lot.

“In the last 20 minutes, they are competed out and we are strong. Whether we will be the same physical condition in April, I don’t know.”

Rakitic Saves Croatia World Cup Hopes

Before Croatia met Andorra at the Makismir Stadium in Zagreb, the Croatian squad predicted that if they could get the first goal of the match they would be well on their way to a victory. 16 minutes into the game, Ivan Rakitic found the back of the net fulfilling their first goal prediction. Just before the half time whistle, Ivica Olic went down in the box and a penalty was awarded to Croatia. Luka Modric stepped up to take the kick but it was superbly blocked by the Andorran keeper. Luka’s follow-up was pushed wide and Olic tapped it in making the score 2-0.

In the second half, Croatia secured their victory when Modric reacted to a quickly taken cross and fired in the third goal. The last goal went to Rakitic, after another spot-kick found by Mandzukic; this sealed the game with a much needed 4-0 victory.

The only down side to this victory is the yellow card shown to Josip Simunic after he had a few words with the referee, which means he will not be present for the return fixture at the beginning of next year. Now with seven points in the group tables, still five behind England, Croatia take second place; Bilic has said they will “remain optimistic” about where they are placed in their group. When the qualifiers start up again next year, they will have Eduardo Da Silva and Niko Kranjcar back, fully fit, and ready to go. Also Niko Kovac and Dario Srna will return after a yellow card from their last match with the Ukraine.

“I would like to congratulate Andorran as well as Croatian players for their fair play. Special congratulations go to my players, who played very well, because it is not an easy task to play when you have on your mind the need to break through the field bunker and score four, five, or six goals. Although Petric and Klasnic did not score, they are also responsible for this win,” said Bilic in praise after the game.

Jill Guthrie  

Basile quits as Argentina coach

Alfio Basile has quit as manager of the Argentina national team, only 24 hours after watching his side lose 1-0 to Chile in a 2010 World Cup qualifier.

The announcement came after he had spoken with Argentinean Football President Julio Grondona.

Grondona had attempted to make him change his mind but unsuccessfully. Basile had coached Argentina on a previous occasion from 1990 – 1994.

Argentina are currently still on course to reach the World Cup finals, but are only three points ahead of 5th placed Uruguay after the tenth round of matches.

Currently there is no immediate replacement but leading contenders are likely to be include Argentina youth coach Sergio Batista, River Plate’s Diego Simeone and Miguel Angel Russo.

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