Category Archives: SPORTS

Japan’s Maya Yoshida, right, and Australia’s Alex Wilkinson vie for the ball. Photo: AP/Kyodo News,JAPAN OUT.

Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou insists his side will be ready for January’s Asian Cup despite guiding Australia to its eighth loss during his 12 games in charge.

While Australia more than held its own in the first half of Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to Asian Cup champions Japan at Osaka’s Yanmar Stadium, Japan turned things up a notch in the second to secure victory and reinforce the team’s status as favourites to defend its Asian Cup crown in January.

Postecoglou was left to rue Australia’s defending from set pieces which resulted in the two second-half strikes from Yasuyuki Konno and Shinji Okazaki before late substitute Tim Cahill headed home a consolation goal in injury-time.

“It was the little details that let us down, which is unacceptable,” Postecoglou said.

“We talk about wanting to progress our football, but if we are going to be that sloppy about a key part of the game, set pieces, then it doesn’t matter what we do, we are going to pay a price.”

After a string of underwhelming performances since the World Cup, Tuesday’s friendly shaped as the Socceroos’ last chance to renew Australia’s hopes ahead of the Asian Cup on home soil.

But while Postecoglou can take encouragement from the Socceroos’ spirited first half performance, the second half shows there is still a gap to be bridged with Asia’s best teams.

Tonight’s performance for the most part shows we are certainly going to be ready for that first game.
Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou

But the coach is certain his team will be ready for the opening Asian Cup clash against Kuwait on January 9 and says finally being back home after eight games on the road will be a huge advantage.

“We had a plan post World Cup to try and expose some of our less experienced players to a good level of football. We have done that,” he said.

“Tonight’s performance for the most part shows we are certainly going to be ready for that first game.”

Aziz Behich pressed his claims for the left-back role with a strong showing while Trent Sainsbury emerged as another centre-back option.

Forwards Mathew Leckie, Robbie Kruse and James Troisi combined well in the first half but ultimately lacked killer instinct while midfielder Massimo Luongo showed some fine touch.

While Leckie produced the best chance of the opening half it was again left to the Socceroos’ all-time leading goal scorer Cahill to claw one back.

But Postecoglou said there were plenty of positives to take from the match, especially in light of the absence of key players like Mark Milligan, Mathew Spiranovic and Tommy Oar.

“Our performance for the most part was extremely encouraging, and shows some progress,” he said.

“We have got some players outside this squad who can add to what we are doing. Mark Milligan, Matty Spiranovic and Tommy Oar went to the World Cup and they are all key components of our squad.

“So I guess in terms of some depth and creating some competition that’s a positive thing.”

Source: AAP

The head of referees in Greece’s Central Refereeing Committee (KED) has stepped down, the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) said on Tuesday, four days after matches were suspended indefinitely following an attack on a KED official.

Hugh Dallas, a retired Scottish referee, was appointed head of the KED in the close season and was in charge of appointing referees for matches in Greece’s top two divisions.

He will stay on as head of training for those officials.

His change in role comes after matches in Greece’s professional soccer leagues were suspended indefinitely after Christoforos Zografos, assistant director of the KED, was admitted to hospital following a violent attack.

“KED has accepted the request of Mr Hugh Dallas to no longer be responsible for the appointments of refereeing officials for Super League and Football League matches,» said EPO in a brief media statement.

“Mr Dallas will continue to be responsible for the education and training of referees in both professional categories. Both KED and EPO will hold an assembly to decide on to whom the responsibilities (of appointing referees) will be allocated.”

Dallas was given the job after continued pleas from Greek clubs for a foreign official to take on the administrative role following several match-fixing scandals in recent seasons.

source: ekathimerini.com

«Διαζύγιο» με τη νίκη έχει πάρει η Εθνική ομάδα, που ηττήθηκε και από τη Σερβία με 2-0 (60′ Πέτροβιτς, 90’+2 Γκούντελι) στον φιλικό αγώνα που διεξήχθη στα Χανιά και συμπλήρωσε έξι συνεχείς αγώνες χωρίς νίκη, αφού τελευταία φορά που «χαμογέλασαν» οι διεθνείς ήταν στο Παγκόσμιο Κύπελλο της Βραζιλίας, απέναντι στην Ακτή Ελεφαντοστού.

Το χειρότερο, όμως, είναι ότι οι διεθνείς (που σε πολλές περιπτώσεις έδειξαν νευρικοί και έχασαν τον αυτοέλεγχό τους με άσχημες αντιδράσεις απέναντι σε αντιπάλους), δεν φάνηκε να εκμεταλλεύονται το ηλεκτροσόκ της αποχώρησης του Κλαούντιο Ρανιέρι.

Το πρώτο ημίχρονο της συνάντησης δεν διεκδικεί δάφνες ποιότητας. Οι δύο ομάδες εστίασαν στην ανασταλτική λειτουργία τους, μιας και αμφότερες προέρχονταν από εντός έδρας ήττες στα προκριματικά του Euro 2016 και δεν θα ήθελαν να προσθέσουν ακόμη μία.

Ως εκ τούτου οι φάσεις έλειψαν στο πρώτο 45λεπτο, με την ελληνική ομάδα να έχει να επιδείξει ένα άστοχο μακρινό σουτ του Μανιάτη και τους «πλάβι» να απειλούν στο 38΄ με την απευθείας εκτέλεση φάουλ του Ζόραν Τόσιτς που απέκρουσε ο Γλύκος και τη νέα επέμβαση του Έλληνα τερματοφύλακα στο πλασέ του Μίτροβιτς από πλάγια, μετά το λάθος γύρισμα του Μανιάτη.

Σαφώς καλύτερο το θέαμα στην επανάληψη, καθώς ο ρυθμός ανέβηκε και στο 50΄ ο Στοΐκοβιτς αναγκάστηκε σε δύσκολη απόκρουση στη γωνία του, στο σουτ του Χριστοδουλόπουλου. Τελικά στο γκολ έφτασαν οι Σέρβοι στο 60΄ με κεφαλιά του Πέτροβιτς, που σηκώθηκε ανενόχλητος για κεφαλιά σε εκτέλεση φάουλ από δεξιά.

Η «απάντηση» των διεθνών ήταν ένα επικίνδυνο συρτό σουτ που εξουδετέρωσε πέφτοντας στη δεξιά γωνία του ο Σέρβος τερματοφύλακας (63΄), για να πράξει το ίδιο ο Γλύκος στην απέναντι εστία σε προσπάθεια του Τζούρισιτς, στο 70ο λεπτό, για να χαθεί η τελευταία ευκαιρία της ελληνικής ομάδας να φτάσει στην ισοφάριση στο 86΄, όταν η κεφαλιά του Μάνταλου έφυγε άουτ. Το τελικό σκορ διαμόρφωσε με καταπληκτικό σουτ ο Γκούντελι από τα 25 μέτρα.

ΔΙΑΙΤΗΤΗΣ: Νιλ Ντόιλ (Ιρλανδία)

ΚΙΤΡΙΝΕΣ: Κονέ, Μανιάτης, Χριστοδουλόπουλος – Μαξίμοβιτς, Ν. Μάτιτς, Τόμοβιτς, Τόσιτς

ΕΛΛΑΔΑ (Κώστας Τσάνας): Γλύκος, Τοροσίδης (61΄ Μπακάκης), Βύντρα, Μανωλάς (73΄ Μόρας), Αβ. Παπαδόπουλος, Μανιάτης, Σάμαρης (79΄ Μάνταλος), Κονέ (64΄ Τζιόλης), Χριστοδουλόπουλος, Μαυρίας (71΄ Κολοβός), Αθανασιάδης (64΄ Γκέκας).

ΣΕΡΒΙΑ (Ράντοβαν Κούρτσιτς): Στοΐκοβιτς, Ιβάνοβιτς, Τόμοβιτς, Ντούσαν Τόσιτς (88΄ Ρουκάβινα), Μαξίμοβιτς (88΄ Μίτροβιτς), Πέτροβιτς, Μάτιτς, Γιόζιτς (66΄ Τζούρισιτς), Μάρκοβιτς (66΄ Λάζοβιτς), Ζόραν Τόσιτς, Μίτροβιτς.

Πηγή: in.gr

The Socceroos’ Asian Cup preparations started on the wrong note with a 2-1 loss to Japan in Osaka on Tuesday night.

Australia failed to find the back of the net despite having the majority of possession in the first half and were steamrolled by a revitalised Samurai Blue in the second 45 minutes in front of a capacity crowd at Nagai Stadium.

Yasuyuki Konno and Shinji Okazaki struck within seven minutes in the second half for the hosts, before Tim Cahill added a consolation goal in stoppage time.

James Troisi had a great chance after just 30 seconds, but his shot from the edge of the box at the end of a left-wing attacking raid flew wide and high.

Mathew Leckie produced the Socceroos’ only real chance for the rest of the half in the 17th minute, forcing Japanese goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima to produce an athletic diving save to turn his powerful header past the post.

That was one of very few shots on target for either side in the first half, but the best opportunity of the opening stanza came at the other end.

Japan stormed on to goal after Shinji Kagawa got away from Aziz Behich as the Australia attempted to milk a penalty in the 40th minute.

The ball went to Keisuke Honda before returning to Kagawa, who dribbled to the near post and, if not for the shin of Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak just forcing a corner, would have delivered the final ball for an easy tap-in goal.

Five minutes later, Jedinak’s name went in the referee’s book for a slightly mistimed challenge on Honda, but Ryan collected the distant free-kick to end a first half in which Australia’s woes in front of goal were plain to see.

The hosts came out of the sheds with plenty of intent and Ryan was called on to make a brilliant reflex save from the boot of a sliding Okazaki five minutes into the second half.

The 2011 Asian champions had a number of chances in the next 10 minutes and made it count in the 61st when the Socceroos defence failed to deal with a tame cross from the right wing.

Yasuyuki Konno, subbed on for Yasuhito Endo at the break, was waiting at the back post and easily headed past the outstretched hands of Ryan.

The Socceroos woes were compounded in the 68th minute when Okazaki, who botched a great chance a minute earlier, produced a brilliant back heel to score Japan’s second.

Australia’s leading goal-scorer Cahill replaced Matt McKay in the 72nd and minute and headed home his requisite goal in the 92nd minute.

source: abc.com.au

Μία νίκη που θα σταματήσει το αρνητικό σερί, θα ανατρέψει το κακό κλίμα και ουσιαστικά θα λειτουργήσει ως… φάρμακο στην πληγωμένη Εθνική αναζητούν σήμερα (19:00, Novasports1) οι διεθνείς στο φιλικό με τη Σερβία στα Χανιά. Ωστόσο το συγκεκριμένο ματς δεν παύει να αποτελεί… αγγαρεία για την ελληνική ομάδα, που βλέπει το EURO 2016 να είναι πολύ μακριά και στον πάγκο να υπάρχει κενό.

Η ντροπιαστική ήττα με 1-0 από τα Νησιά Φερόε στο «Γ. Καραϊσκάκης» έστειλε τον Κλαούντιο Ρανιέρι και ο Κώστας Τσάνας, τεχνικός της ομάδας των Ελπίδων θα δώσει τις οδηγίες στο γήπεδο των «Περιβολίων».

Έτσι ο νεαρός τεχνικός δεν δείχνει διατεθειμένος να προβεί σε αρκετές αλλαγές στο αρχικό σχήμα συγκριτικά με την αναμέτρηση απέναντι στα Νησιά Φερόε.

Κάτω από τα δοκάρια θα μείνει ο Καρνέζης ύστερα από την εξαιρετική του εμφάνιση, ενώ και η τετράδα της άμυνας δεν θα αλλάξει με τους Μόρα και Μανωλά να είναι στο κέντρο με τους Καράμπελα και Τοροσίδη στα άκρα.

Ως αμυντικό χαφ θα χρησιμοποιηθεί ο Μανιάτης με του Σάμαρη και Κονέ ως εσωτερικοί χαφ. Η μοναδική αλλαγή, έρχεται στα πλάγια της επίθεσης καθώς αντί του τραυματία Καρέλη θα χρησιμοποιηθεί ο Μαυρίας.

Στο άλλο άκρο θα είναι ο Χριστοδουλόπουλος με τον Γκέκα να παραμένει στην κορυφή.

Την αποστολή συμπληρώνουν Καπίνο, Γλύκος, Μπακάκης, Τασουλής, Αβραάμ Παπαδόπουλος, Βύντρα, Μάνταλος, Αθανασιάδης, Κολοβός και Ντίνας.

Στο απέναντι στρατόπεδο, ο Ράντοβαν Κούρτσιτς αναμένεται να χρησιμοποιήσει τους εξής έντεκα: Στοΐκοβιτς, Ιβάνοβιτςε, Μιτροβιτς, Τόμοβιτς, Τόσιτς, Μάτιτς, Γκουντέλι, Τόσιτς, Γιόγιτς, Μάρκοβιτς και Λάζοβιτς. Στον πάγκο θα είναι οι Μπρκιτς, Ραΐκοβιτς, Ρουκάβινα, Μαξίμοβιτς, Πέτροβιτς, Αλ. Μίτροβιτς, Τζόρτζεβιτς και Τζούρισιτς.

Πηγή:in.gr

Coach Ange Postecoglou has cleared Tim Cahill to play in the Japan friendly. Photo: AAP.

The Asian Cup may be just around the corner but Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou is in no rush to show Australia are genuine title contenders.

The Socceroos face reigning Asian Cup champions Japan, who are favourites to defend their crown, at Osaka’s Yanmar Stadium on Tuesday.

The clash will be the Socceroos’ last outing before they kick off their Asian Cup campaign against Kuwait on January 9.

But despite Australia’s underwhelming performances since the World Cup, most recently against the UAE and Qatar, Postecoglou said he did not feel the need to prove they were realistic Asian Cup contenders on Tuesday.

‘‘No, I think the time to show that will be the first game [against Kuwait],’’ he said.

‘‘Regardless of what we do tomorrow night, it’s still about being ready for that first game. That’s going to be the important one for us and we want to be ready for that tournament so everything in between is just preparation for that.

‘‘Everything else is just a distraction. It’s got nothing to do with what we’re thinking or what our focus is. Our focus is to make sure that we’ve got a really strong pool of players ready for that first game on the ninth of January.’’

Postecoglou said he would field his strongest side against Japan. Talisman Tim Cahill had been in doubt after copping a bad knock to his hip on Friday but Postecoglou said the veteran would rejoin team training on Monday and indicated he would be fit for the clash at Yanmar Stadium.

There is speculation that Japan’s coach, Javier Aguirre, may not start big-name players Keisuke Honda, who plays for AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund’s Shinji Kagawa and FC Schalke’s Atsuto Uchida, who were all in action in their 6-0 drubbing of Honduras on Friday. But Postecoglou said he would not be doing the same and would put his best XI on the field.

‘‘For us the most important thing is that tomorrow everyone’s available and we’ll put our strongest team out there and we also want to continue to give some opportunities to some players, even off the bench, to play some quality opposition.

‘‘We’re using this as our final preparation and this game is an important part of that so we’ll field a strong team.’’

Captain Mile Jedinak remembers all too well the Socceroos’ extra-time loss to Japan in the 2011 Asian Cup final and the tense draw in their World Cup qualifier in Saitama last year.

But despite Tuesday’s game only being a friendly, he says there’s still so much on the line for both sides.

‘‘Whenever we have played against Japan it brings out the best in both nations,’’ Jedinak said.

‘‘Whenever we do play we always have that great rivalry and there’s always been something at stake, whether it be for three points in a qualifier or like in 2011 in the Asian Cup final.’’

Source: AAP

Greece named youth coach Costas Tsanas as interim coach of the senior national team on Sunday but there was no official confirmation yet of the sacking of Italian Claudio Ranieri.

The country’s soccer federation (EPO) has effectively suspended Ranieri for the time being as both sides work out the financial settlement surrounding his 1.6 million-euro contract.

Ranieri, 63, was expected to stay on for Greece’s friendly with Serbia in Crete on Tuesday but that is no longer the case

“The Hellenic Football Federation announces that the role of interim coach for the friendly match with Serbia with be Costas Tsanas and Nektarios Pantazis,» EPO said in a brief media statement.

EPO chief Giorgos Sarris had made clear the organization’s intentions to part company with Ranieri on Saturday following the humiliating 1-0 defeat to the Faroe Islands which left Greece bottom of Euro 2016 qualifying Group F.

Ranieri was appointed after the 2014 World Cup, taking over from Portuguese boss Fernando Santos on a two-year deal amid enthusiastic media hype.

Under the former Chelsea, Juventus and Monaco boss, Greece showed incredibly poor form and a total lack of ideas in attack.

Greek media termed the national team’s shock 1-0 home defeat by Faroe Islands as a «black night» for football in the country.

Local media linked two Greek coaches – Giorgos Donis and Angelos Anastasiadis – with the post.

source: ekathimerini.com

Η τελική βαθμολογία έφερε τη Σούπερ Λιγκ στην τελευταία θέση…  

Το χειρότερο πρωτάθλημα στον κόσμο είναι η Σούπερ Λιγκ σύμφωνα με έρευνα που έκανε η Daily Mail. Σε αυτή επιλέχθηκαν 34 μεγάλα πρωταθληματα από την Ευρώπη, την Ασία, την Αυστραλία, την Αφρική και τις ΗΠΑ, με αυτό της Ελλάδας έρχεται στην 34η και τελευταία θέση της έρευνας.

Για κάθε λίγκα, μελετήθηκαν -σε βάθος χρόνου δέκα ετών- τα έσοδα, οι μισθοί, οι τιμές των εισιτηρίων και η προσέλευση του κόσμου, τα τρόπαια που έχουν κατακτηθεί ενχώρια αλλά και σε μεγάλες διοργανώσεις, οι προσφορά των ομάδων στην Εθνική, το επίπεδο ανταγωνισμού, τα τρόπαια των προπονητών και η παραγωγή ταλέντων.

Όλα αυτά τα στοιχεία συγκεντρώθηκαν και βγήκε μια βαθμολογία που φέρνει την Premier League στην πρώτη θέση με 77 βαθμούς και την Σούπερ Λιγκ στην τελευταία με 28 βαθμούς…

Πηγή:in.gr

The city of Melbourne will entertain football royalty Real Madrid, Manchester City and Inter Milan in the third leg of the International Champions Cup next July.

Superstars Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Aguero, Gareth Bale, David Silva and James Rodriguez will be the star attractions when Madrid faces City at the MCG in late July.

The visit of Madrid, City and Inter is expected to be confirmed as part of the Australian leg of the third annual ICC, News Limited reported.

The State Government of Victoria has pledged more than $10 million to bring the European heavyweights to Melbourne, with three games scheduled between 18-24 July.

Since the three-team extravaganza will take place a month before the start of the next European season, the famous teams will be expected to bring over their full squads.

The round-robin event will receive an added spice when Inter’s new coach Roberto Mancini will lock horns with his former club Man City.

source: theworldgame.sbs.com.au

The AFC Asian Cup may be just around the corner but Australia coach Ange Postecoglou is in no rush to show the Socceroos are genuine title contenders.

The Socceroos face fierce rival and Asian champion Japan, which is favourite to defend its crown in January, at Osaka’s Yanmar Stadium on Tuesday.

The clash will be the Socceroos’ last outing before they kick off their Asian Cup campaign against Kuwait in Melbourne on 9 January.

But despite Australia’s underwhelming performances since the World Cup, most recently against United Arab Emirates and Qatar, Postecoglou says he doesn’t feel the need to prove they’re realistic Asian Cup contenders on Tuesday.

“No, I think the time to show that will be the first game (against Kuwait),” he said.

“Regardless of what we do tomorrow night it’s still about being ready for that first game. That’s going to be the important one for us and we want to be ready for that tournament so everything in between is just preparation for that.

“Everything else is just a distraction. It’s got nothing to do with what we’re thinking or what our focus is. Our focus is to make sure that we’ve got a really strong pool of players ready for that first game on 9 January.”

Postecoglou says he’ll field his strongest side against Japan.

Talisman Tim Cahill had been in doubt after copping a bad knock to his hip on Friday but Postecoglou said the veteran would rejoin team training on Monday and indicated he would be fit for the clash at Yanmar Stadium.

There is speculation that Japan’s coach Javier Aguirre may not start big name players Keisuke Honda, who plays for AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund’s Shinji Kagawa and FC Schalke’s Atsuto Uchida, who were all in action in their 6-0 drubbing of Honduras on Friday.

But Postecoglou says he won’t be doing the same and will put his best XI on the field.

“For us the most important thing is that tomorrow everyone’s available and we’ll put our strongest team out there and we also want to continue to give some opportunities to some players, even off the bench, to play some quality opposition,” he said.

“We’re using this as our final preparation and this game is an important part of that so we’ll field a strong team.”

Captain Mile Jedinak remembers all too well the Socceroos’ extra-time loss to Japan in the 2011 Asian Cup final and the tense draw in the World Cup qualifier in Saitama last year.

But despite Tuesday’s game only being an uncompetitive match he says there’s still so much on the line for both sides.

“Whenever we have played against Japan it brings out the best in both nations,” Jedinak said.

“Whenever we do play we always have that great rivalry and there’s always been something at stake, whether it be for three points in a qualifier or like in 2011 in the Asian Cup final.
”But that doesn’t lessen the significance tomorrow night. It’s an important hitout for both teams and I think you’ll see both teams go at it and give it their all.

“So it should be another good, strong contest.”

source: theworldgame.sbs.com.au