Category Archives: SPORTS

Ange Postecoglou will welcome back Robbie Kruse to the squad. Photo: AAP/Lukas Coch.

As Ange Postecoglou prepares his squad in Japan ahead of their Tuesday friendly, one thing that will be instilled in all players is the need to create an abundance of opportunities.

In the past nine matches, Australia has scored just seven goals and was held goalless in its two most recent internationals against Asian rivals United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

In choosing his 23-man squad, Postecoglou wasn’t shy about revealing the team’s failings.

“If there’s somebody banging in the goals, I think that’s the area where we really need someone to come into the squad and there’s an opportunity there.”

“I’m purposely picking players who are starting to play regularly and, no doubt about it, going into the Asian Cup, we won’t take anyone we don’t think can take that load and who isn’t match fit.”

Yet Postecoglou has had to make some unavoidable changes to his striking line-up that would have certainly hurt his confidence this week.

Melbourne Victory skipper Mark Milligan has been ruled out of Socceroos duty thanks to a lack of fitness, while Terry Antonis, a player desperate to get a call up after languishing injured for two years, was cruelly ruled out after being involved in a minor car accident on the way to the airport.

At least winger Robbie Kruse is back to health and ready to play.

The regular starter in the Bundesliga declared he’s feeling as good as he did before his knee injury that ruled him out of the World Cup.

“It’s been a tough road but I’m really looking forward to this next game,” he said.

“I feel like I went back to my club and I’m a different player now. I’m a lot more confident and better in one-on-one situations.

“It helped me get back into the team at Leverkusen, I’ve been coming off the bench regularly and I think I’m close to getting into the starting 11.”

Last time the Socceroos played Japan was during the World Cup qualifiers, where the Socceroos managed a 1-1 draw.

Playing them again will give them the best test to see if they have what it takes to lead proceedings at the Asian Cup in January. It will definitely be a step up from the Middle Eastern clubs they played recently.

Japan had a match on Friday against Honduras and will be able to pick an expert line-up for the game with Australia if the players remain injury free.

Japan vs Australia
Kick-off: 9:20 pm (AEST), Tuesday 18 November
Nagai Stadium

Socceroos’ last 10 results:
Australia 3-4 Ecuador
Australia 1 -1 South Africa
Croatia 1-0 Australia
Chile 3-1 Australia
Australia 2-3 Netherlands
Australia 0-3 Spain
Belgium 2-0 Australia
Australia 3-2 Saudi Arabia
Qatar 1-0 Australia
UAE 0-0 Australia

Χωρίς να συναντήσει δυσκολίες, η Κύπρος επικράτησε 5-0 της Ανδόρας και πέτυχε τη δεύτερη νίκη της στον 2ο προκριματικό όμιλο του EURO 2016. Το ματς έγινε στο ΓΣΠ της Λευκωσίας και χατ-τρικ για την ομάδα της Χαράλαμπου Χριστοδούλου πέτυχε ο Εφραίμ (31΄,42΄,60΄) ενώ το σκορ άανοιξε ο Μερκής (9΄) και έκλεισε ο Χριστοφή με πέναλτι (87΄).

ΚΥΠΡΟΣ (Χαράλαμπος Χριστοδούλου): Γιωργαλλίδης, Δημητρίου, Μερκής, Αγγελή, Αντωνιάδης, Νικολάου, Αλωνεύτης (46΄ Μακρής), Λαμπάν, Εφραίμ (78΄ Λαϊφης), Χριστοφή, Μυτίδης (63΄ Κολοκουδιάς)

ΑΝΔΟΡΑ (Κόλντο Αλβάρεθ): Φεράν, Εμίλι Γκαρθία, Ιλντεφόνς Λίμα (49΄ Ροντρίγκεθ), Ρούμπιο (73΄ Ροντρίγκες), Βάλες, Πουζόλ, Βιέιρα (46΄ Αγιάλα), Ριέρα, Μαρτίνεθ, Λορένθο, Μαρκ Γκαρθία

Η Ολλανδία με τον Αφελάι να κάνει πολύ καλό ματς, συνέτριψε με 6-0 τη Λετονία, ενώ η Νορβηγία έφυγε με το «διπλό» από το Αζερμπαϊτζάν με 1-0.

Το Βέλγιο κόλλησε στο 0-0 με την Ουαλία, ενώ η Ιταλία έμεινε στο 1-1 με την Κροατία όπως και η Βουλγαρία με τη Μάλτα.

Εύκολη νίκη για το Ισραήλ με 3-0 επί της Βοσνίας/Ερζεγοβίνης και της Τουρκίας επί του Καζακστάν με 3-1, ενώ η Τσεχία επικράτησε 2-1 με ανατροπή της Ισλανδίας.

Στον αγώνα της Ιταλίας με την Κροατία υπήρξε 15λεπτη διακοπή αφού οι οπαδοί της Κροατίας, περίπου 6.000, στο 74ο λεπτό άρχισαν να πετούν φωτοβολίδες στον αγωνιστικό χώρο. Ο διαιτητής Κάιπερες διέκοψε για λίγο το ματς μέχρι να ηρεμήσουν τα πνεύματα και να καθαρίσει η ατμόσφαιρα.

Τα αποτελέσματα και οι σκόρερ στις αναμετρήσεις για την 4η αγωνιστική των προκριματικών του EURO 2016:

1ος ΟΜΙΛΟΣ

Ολλανδία-Λετονία 6-0
(6΄ Φαν Πέρσι, 35΄,82΄ Ρόμπεν, 42΄,89΄ Χούντελααρ, 78΄ Μπρούμα)

Τσεχία-Ισλανδία 2-1
(45′ Καντεράμπεκ, 61′ αυτ. Χάλφρεντσον / 9′ Ράγκναρ Σίγκουρντσον)

Τουρκία-Καζακστάν 3-1
(26′ πέν. και 29′ Μπουράκ Γιλμάζ, 83′ Αζίζ / 87′ πέν. Σμάκοβ)

Βαθμολογία
1. Τσεχία 12 (10-5)
2. Ισλανδία 9 (9-2)
3. Ολλανδία 6 (9-5)
4. Τουρκία 4 (5-7)
5. Λετονία 2 (1-9)
6. Καζαχστάν 1 (4-10)

2ος ΟΜΙΛΟΣ

Βέλγιο-Ουαλία 0-0

Κύπρος-Ανδόρα 5-0
(9΄ Μερκής, 31΄,42΄,60΄ Εφραίμ, 87΄πεν. Χριστοφή)

Ισραήλ-Βοσνία/Ερζεγοβίνη 3-0
(36′ Βερμούτ, 45′ Νταμάρι, 70′ Ζάχαβι)

Βαθμολογία
1. Ισραήλ 9 (9-2)*
2. Ουαλία 8 (4-2)
3. Κύπρος 6 (9-5)
4. Βέλγιο 5 (7-1)*
5. Βοσνία/Ερζεγοβίνη 2 (2-6)
6. Ανδόρα 0 (2-17)

*έχουν ματς λιγότερο

8ος ΟΜΙΛΟΣ

Αζερμπαϊτζάν-Νορβηγία 0-1
(25΄ Νόρντβεϊτ)

Βουλγαρία-Μάλτα 1-1
(6′ Γκαλαμπίνοφ / 49′ πέν. Φάιλα)

Ιταλία-Κροατία 1-1
(11′ Καντρέβα / 15′ Πέρισιτς)

Βαθμολογία
1. Κροατία 10 (10-1)
2. Ιταλία 10 (6-2)
3. Νορβηγία 9 (6-3)
4. Βουλγαρία 4 (4-5)
5. Μάλτα 1 (1-7)
6. Αζερμπαϊτζάν 0 (2-11)

Πηγή:in.gr

The mafia-like attack on the Alternate President of the Central Refereeing Committee (KED), Christoforos Zografos on Thursday night, and everything that followed with the knee-jerk reaction by the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) to decide the suspension of all league action indefinitely, along with the accusations by Olympiakos president Vangelis Marinakis and by Dimitris Melissanidis, highlight and confirm the extent of rot in Greek soccer.

Everything that was said on Friday points clearly to the clash of strong and well-organized interests, that is taking place on the field of soccer and tends to spiral out of control.

AEK Athens strongman Melissanidis responded to the accusations by Marinakis – that Melissanidis demanded Zografos and EPO head Giorgos Sarris to appoint specific referees to the second-division match between Panachaiki and AEK – saying that “the people who have been summoned for some time now to answer to Justice and the prosecutors in the context of the investigation into the existence of a criminal organization in soccer, those who are accused of blackmailing, bribing, beatings and explosions, and who have ignored any value of healthy competition by undermining soccer in our country, have the cheek to speak about morality, values and progress.”

Panathinaikos, which plays a leading role in the highlighting of corruption instances in soccer, has expressed its position saying: “We unequivocally condemn [Thursday’s] deplorable occurrence, which people under investigation by Justice cannot hijack. We are blaming the government for its criminal tolerance of the growing rot in soccer all these years. This tolerance, as we have already stated, now entails guilt. We are also calling on Justice to accelerate its work and avert the upcoming statute of limitations for felonies.”

For its part, the federation rushed hastily to make that spectacular decision for the indefinite suspension of all leagues, following its typical tactics of burying its collective head in the sand. It has failed to order an investigation to determine the actual facts after one of its members was attacked due to his competences.

The federation has also failed to refute what Marinakis claimed at the board meeting of the Super League, i.e. that Sarris and Zografos have been at the receiving end of pressures and threats intended to have specific referees appointed. On the contrary, Sarris unashamedly put the blame for the attack on Zografos on the press!

Yet what is most important is that the EPO president and its administration have incited the intervention of Justice and have already been summoned to testify as suspects about the case concerning the existence of a criminal organization in soccer. The EPO management is also facing criminal charges on the “healthcare card”, according to Article 391 of the Penal Code, and its members have been summoned as suspects for the case of the fake social security and tax clearance documents.

Against all these phenomena of complete rot and corruption, the government has chosen to play the role of the passive viewer, showing a characteristic indifference. Furthermore, part of the Justice system is clearly stalling on cases of criminal character, such as the scandal of match-fixing, running the risk of the statute of limitations.

source: ekathimerini.com

Scott Jamieson of the Glory scores a goal from a free kick during the match between Perth Glory and Western Sydney Wanderers at NIB Stadium on Saturday. Source: Getty Images

IT’S not a sight any football fan ­expected to see six weeks into the season — Asian champions and successive A-League grand finalists Western Sydney are bottom of the table without a point. 

 Even allowing for their recent murderous travelling and playing schedule, the Wanderers are a club that has shown in their short 2½-year history they are capable of rising above hurdles.

Yet coach Tony Popovic’s men are now in uncharted waters, a 2-1 loss to Perth Glory at NIB Stadium on Saturday night consigning them to a fourth straight defeat and leaving the Sydneysiders 15 points behind the top-of-the-table Glory.

It’s not all doom and gloom, though. With two games in hand and a stretch of four straight games — three in the next seven days — at home, the Wanderers are more than capable of turning it around.

Popovic made no apologies for going with a weakened, largely inexperienced side against a Glory side setting the pace this season.

In a bid to ease the heavy burden on his players, Popovic made eight changes to the side that was beaten by Wellington last week.

In the process, he fielded an XI that included Alusine Fofanah (16), Daniel Alessi (17) and Joshua ­Sotiro (19).

“There isn’t much you can do,” Popovic said. “I have to be mindful of the load on the players.

“You have to understand we had a number of players last week (against Wellington) who were playing their first games since May and June and we had a lot of players who were fatigued from all the travelling.

“We’ve got three games in seven days so we had to juggle it around a bit and a lot of young boys got a chance tonight and they did very well.

“There were many reasons but in no way are they excuses,” he added.

“Last week we had many players and it was their first game since May or June and we had a lot of fatigued players from the trip to Wellington as well.

“The chances we had could have changed the game. Even at 0-0, we had a couple of fantastic opportunities. We didn’t take them.

“The good thing is the boys didn’t give up so I can’t be dis­appointed about the effort, but in the end we fell short.”

Popovic is expected to make wholesale changes for Wednesday’s catch-up game against Central Coast at Pirtek Stadium with goalkeeper Ante Covic, defender Matthew Spiranovic, Iacopo La Rocca, Seyi Adeleke, Romeo Castelen and Tomi Juric all expected to play in what is looming as a ­crucial game.

Glory coach Kenny Lowe was trying to put a lid on the fanfare over the club’s rise to the top ­following several disappointing seasons.

“I am happy to be where we are, but one part of me says let’s not get carried away after six or seven games,” Lowe said. “The season is 27 games, plus finals.

“The guys in that dressing room deserve all the plaudits they are getting at the moment. They have worked really hard and they have a certain mindset and they want to carry that through.

“You saw that in the last 15 minutes tonight when we were very tired after our heavy schedule. The guys just dug deep and weren’t going to give the game away.”

source: theaustralian.com.au

Close, but no cigar: David Williams reacts after missing a goal. Photo: Getty

Melbourne City paid the price for its wasteful finishing giving up two late goals to draw with Central Coast Mariners at AAMI Park on Sunday.

City were headed for a comfortable win after going 2-0 up early in the second half via goals from Mate Dugandzic and Erik Paartalu.

But a free kick from Mariners substitute Glen Trifiro gave the City crowd of 9402 a nervous finale. Then Mariners captain John Hutchinson made their worst fears a reality, cracking home a low strike just before the final whistle to make it 2-2 and give his struggling side a share of the points.

City’s defence and midfield controlled much of the match, but once again they lacked poise in the box, something they hope will be rectified when marquee signing Robert Koren returns from injury in early December and Socceroos striker Josh Kennedy takes the field in February.

City coach John Van’t Schip said his side had dropped too deep after the first goal thus allowing the Mariners chances to score.

“You never have it in the bag,” Van’t Schip said “We put on the board in our prematch talk that its 90 minutes plus that we need to concentrate for.

“That showed today again that in the last second of injury time we conceded the goal for the draw.

“We were not taking it for granted that we had the win, we dropped too deep at the end.

“It’s a shame because if you look at the whole game we played better.”

Van’t Schip also questioned why referee Adam Fielding moved Trifiro’s goal-scoring free kick closer to goal for his repeat attempt after City player Jacob Melling had run out of the wall too early during Trifiro’s first shot.

“First it was correct that Melling came out and got a yellow card,” Van’t Schip said.

“But then to put it 10-metres more up front, I think that was a strange decision – normally you give the player a yellow card and the free kick is at the same spot.

“In the other situations the referee did very well, we all make mistakes but I think that was a crucial one.”

Mariners coach Phil Moss said Hutchinson’s goal was much deserved and he hadn’t lost faith his side could find an equaliser.

“Hutchy is in there at the moment getting drug tested because he scored with his right foot from outside the box,” Moss said with a beaming smile.

“Great to see the boys have such enjoyment on their faces at full time.

“Overall I thought we were good value for the point.”

On nine minutes, Iain Ramsey stormed down the left flank and put in a perfect cross to the near post that found forward Mate Dugandzic. His header perfectly went across the goal and into the far bottom corner to make it 1-0.

It was the lively attacker’s second goal in two games following his pivotal goal against Brisbane Roar last start.

On 53 minutes the weight on City’s possession finally bore a second goal with Duff’s corner from the right side curving onto the head of midfielder Erik Paartalu who thundered home a header into the far left corner of the goal to make it 2-0.

The Mariners contested the corner believing the ball had come off a City player but they couldn’t blame anyone but themselves for a player of Paartalu’s size and athleticism being able to leap for the cross.

Williams had a clear-cut chance to kill off the contest soon after as he was put on goal, but his shot drilled into Reddy’s body.

City looked primed for a third goal when Williams sent Duff down the right side of the box but his dangerous low cross went untouched on 62 minutes.

The Mariners looked shaky on their feet and the introduction of young striker Marc Marino gave the home side a focal point in the box with the AIS product almost connecting with two Duff crosses just minutes after he replaced Williams.

Melling deserved a goal in the 75th minute when he drilled a rolling pass towards the top right corner only for Reddy to save.

Melling then  earned a yellow card minutes later for moving too close to a Mariners’ free kick just to add salt to his wound.

Former Northcote City midfielder Glen Trifiro gave the Mariners’ late hope with a curving free kick on the 79th minute with the substitute’s  strike looping over Redmayne’s driving hand into the left corner. Hutchinson’s strike at the death set off wild celebrations from the visitors as the City faithful were left to slam their seats shut and trudge home.

Melbourne City host Sydney FC at AAMI Park this Saturday night at 7.30pm.

Melbourne City 2 (M Dugandzic 9th minute, E Paartalu 53rd) drew Central Coast Mariners 2 (G Trifiro 79th, J Hutchinson 93rd) at AAMI Park on Sunday. Crowd: 9402.

source: smh.com.au

Western Sydney remains on the bottom of the A-League table after suffering a 2-1 defeat to Perth Glory at nib Stadium on Saturday night.

The Asian champions are winless after four games while Glory is sitting pretty at the top of the league after claiming a fifth win from six matches.

Dino Djulbic and Scott Jamieson helped Glory claim the three points with goals either side of half-time before Jaushua Sotirio pulled back a late consolation goal for the Wanderers.

WHAT THEY SAID
Kenny Lowe: “I think that’s the first time we’ve had a crowd like that in for a while. I’ll think they’ll go home a little bit happy. It was end to end. It was like a game of three pots in. Throw a couple of courts down and see who wins. That’s the only one he’s scored (Jamieson). Every one went in the trees on the training ground, we lost about 10 balls!”

Goals
1-0 Dino Djulbic (9’) The former Gold Coast defender scored his first goal since returning to Glory when he ran from the top of the box to the back post and cleanly headed a pinpoint Nebojsa Marinkovic corner into the back of the net.

2-0 Scott Jamieson (78’ ) Chris Harold was brought down by Antony Golec about 30 yards out from goal. Jamieson stepped up to take the kick in the absence of dead ball specialist Marinkovic, who was subbed out 17 minutes earlier. The full back showed up his Serbian teammate with a stunning left-foot kick which sizzled into the top-right corner.

2-1 Jaushua Sotirio (85’ ) Vitor Saba’s attacking high ball was headed on by Daniel Mullen and Sotirio then won an aerial contest with Scott Jamieson and goalkeeper Danny Vukovic to pull back a late consolation goal for the Wanderers.

Key moment
Wanderers striker Labinot Haliti looked set to put the visitors ahead in the sixth minute after being brilliantly fed from the left by teammate Alusine Fofanah. Haliti had only Danny Vukovic, but the Glory goalkeeper somehow managed to keep the ball out and three minutes later the home side took the lead. It set the tone for the rest of the match as Vukovic commanded his area and thwarted almost every attack that came his way, including another brilliant save to deny Jason Trifiro in the 16th minute.

Opta Data key stats
Western Sydney has proven to be a bogey side for Glory, having lost five of the previous six battles against the A-League’s newest club and managing just two goals across each of those encounters. Glory put up 25 shots on Saturday night compared to just 13 from the Wanderers and Kenny Lowe’s side was rewarded for it with the three points.

Highlights reel
Youssouf Hersi lined up against his former side for the first time and played arguably his best game in purple. The Ethiopian-born winger made several attacking runs which had the boisterous Perth crowd on the edge of their seats, but the 32-year-old failed to convert his many chances in front of goal. Still, his dashing style of play made for some entertaining viewing.

Coach killer
Nebojsa Mariknovic staked his claim as the best set-piece taker in the A-League with two stunning free kicks in his past two matches, including last Tuesday’s FFA Cup win over Bentleigh Greens. But the Serbian midfielder still has some work to do when the ball is on the move. Glory striker Andy Keogh recovered what appeared to be a certain goal kick and knocked the ball back towards the top of the box, but Marinkovic was oblivious to it and just stood there as ball rolled out of the area.

Back to the drawing board
Wanderers coach Tony Popovic made eight changes to the side which suffered a shock 1-0 loss to Wellington Phoenix in New Zealand last weekend, including leaving out a number of first-choice players. It’s not yet clear if the move was designed to rest some of his travel-weary stars or reignite his team’s season – or a combination of both – but it didn’t pay off and the Asian champions are still winless after four games.

The Final Word
Glory will aim for a fourth straight win and sixth from seven games this season when they host Wellington Phoenix at nib Stadium on Friday night. Perth coach Kenny Lowe could even welcome Mitch Nichols and Jamie Maclaren back into the fold from international duty.

The winless Wanderers are holding up the table and remain the only team in the league without a point next to their name. Popovic’s side desperately need to recapture the form that guided them to the position of Asian champions in only their third year of existence. Expect the likes of Ante Covic, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Tomi Juric, Matthew Spiranovic and Iacopo La Rocca to return  against the struggling Newcastle Jets next Saturday evening.

Teams
Perth Glory: Danny Vukovic (GK), Rostyn Griffiths, Dino Djulbic, Youssouf Hersi (Chris Harold 67’), Andy Keogh, Nebojsa Marinkovic (Ruben Zadkovich 61’), Richard Garcia, Josh Risdon, Daniel De Silva, Scott Jamieson, Michael Thwaite (C).

Western Sydney: Daniel Mullen, Brendan Hamill, Antony Golec, Labinot Haliti (Nikita Rukavytsya 67’), Mateo Poljak, Jaushua Sotirio, Mark Bridge (C), Dean Bouzanis (GK), Jason Trifiro (Kearyn Baccus 76’), Alusine Fofanah (Vitor Saba 55’), Daniel Alessi.

Scorers : Dino Djulbic (9’), Scott Jamieson (78’), Jaushua Sotirio (85’)

Red cards : None
Yellow cards : Josh Risdon (34’), Daniel Mullen (48’), Antony Golec (76’)
Conditions : 20C, cool
Attendance :  12,166 @ nib Stadium

source: goal.com

Ο πονοκέφαλος στην ΕΠΟ για την διάδοχη κατάσταση στην τεχνική ηγεσία της Εθνικής ομάδας ποδοσφαίρου ύστερα από την απομάκρυνση του Κλαούντιο Ρανιέρι έχει ξεκινήσει. Ωστόσο ήδη τα πρώτα ονόματα στη λίστα των υποψηφίων έχουν γραφτεί.

Βασικό απαιτούμενο λόγω πλέον της κακής εμπειρίας με τον Ιταλό, είναι ο προπονητής που θα αναλάβει να έχει γνώση του ελληνικού ποδοσφαίρου και των παικτών. Με τη Σερβία πάντως θα κοουτσάρει ο Κώστας Τσάνας, όπως έγινε γνωστό αργά το βράδυ του Σαββάτου.

Έτσι ο Γιώργος Δώνης  φαίνεται να είναι ιδιαίτερα ψηλά, όμως ο 45χρονος τεχνικός έχει συμβόλαιο με τον ΑΠΟΕΛ

Τιμούρ Κετσπάγια, Αγγελος Αναστασιάδης ακούστηκαν ως ονόματα χωρίς όμως συνέχεια, όπως και αυτό του πρώην προπονητή του Ολυμπιακού, Ιβάν Γιοβάνοβιτς, που δουλεύει στην Αραβία, αλλά έχει υψηλή ρήτρα αποδέσμευσης.

Mε Τσάνα την Τρίτη

Με τον Κώστα Τσάνα στον πάγκο θα παραταχθεί την Τρίτη στα Χανιά η Εθνική ομάδα για τον φιλικό αγώνα με τη Σερβία, καθώς η ΕΠΟ έδωσε άδεια στον Κλάουντιο Ρανιέρι και τους συνεργάτες του έως το τέλος του 2014.

Αν και αρχικά υπήρξε ενημέρωση ότι στην αναμέτρηση χρέη τεχνικού θα εκτελούσε ο Ρανιέρι για τελευταία φορά, εν τούτοις η απόφαση άλλαξε στη διάρκεια του Σαββάτου.

Αυτό έγινε για δύο λόγους: πρώτον, επειδή κρίθηκε σκόπιμο να αποφορτιστεί το κλίμα (και) στην εξέδρα από ενδεχόμενες αποδοκιμασίες προς το πρόσωπο του προπονητή και, δεύτερον, από τη στιγμή κατά την οποία ο Ιταλός τεχνικός δεν θα συνεχίσει ούτως ή άλλως στον πάγκο του αντιπροσωπευτικού συγκροτήματος, δεν υπήρχε απολύτως κανένας λόγος για να βρεθεί στην Κρήτη.

Η ανακοίνωση την οποία εξέδωσε η Ελληνική Ποδοσφαιρική Ομοσπονδία αργά τη νύχτα του Σαββάτου (προς ξημερώματα Κυριακής) αναφέρει:

«Από την Ελληνική Ποδοσφαιρική Ομοσπονδία ανακοινώνεται πως δόθηκε άδεια στον κ. Κλάουντιο Ρανιέρι και τους συνεργάτες του έως το τέλος των αγωνιστικών υποχρεώσεων της Εθνικής Ομάδας για το 2014.

Ρόλο υπηρεσιακού προπονητή στην Εθνική Ανδρών για τον φιλικό αγώνα με τη Σερβία (αναλαμβάνει ο κ. Κώστας Τσάνας και υπηρεσιακού γυμναστή ο κ. Νεκτάριος Πανταζής, οι οποίοι θα μεταβούν στην Κατερίνη όπου βρίσκονται με την Εθνική Νέων απευθείας στα Χανιά.

Προπονητής για τις υπόλοιπες υποχρεώσεις της Εθνικής Νέων στο τουρνουά που διεξάγεται στην Κατερίνη αναλαμβάνει ο κ. Μιχάλης Ιορδανίδης».

Πηγή: in.gr

Ενώ ο Κλαούντιο Ρανιέρι ετοιμάζεται να περάσει την πόρτα της εξόδου από την Εθνική Ελλάδας, ένας άλλος Ιταλός ετοιμάζεται να έρθει.

Πιο συγκεκριμένα, ο Τζιοβάνι Τραπατόνι συγκεντρώνει πολλές πιθανότητες να είναι ο επόμενος προπονητής του αντιπροσωπευτικού μας συγκροτήματος.

Ο 75χρονος τεχνικός, με πλούσια καριέρα σαν προπονητής (από τη Μίλαν μέχρι τη Β. Ιρλανδία), είναι ο άνθρωπος που η ΕΠΟ είχε επαφές πριν το ματς με τα Νησιά Φερόε θέλοντας να μάθει τις προθέσεις του. Ο Ιταλός προπονητής έχει περάσει, μεταξύ πολλών άλλων, από τον πάγκο της Μίλαν και της Γιουβέντους, της Μπάγερν Μονάχου και της Εθνικής Ιταλίας, μέχρι τον πάγκο της Εθνικής Βατικανού! Σαν προπονητής έχει κατακτήσει πρωτάθλημα με την Γιουβέντους, την Ιντερ, την Μπάγερν Μονάχου, τη Μπενφίκα και τη Σάλτσμπουργκ, ενώ έχει κατακτήσει και ευρωπαϊκούς τίτλους, όπως το Κύπελλο Κυπελλούχων, το Κύπελλο UEFA και το ευρωπαϊκό Σούπερ Καπ.

Ο Τζιοβάνι Τραπατόνι δέχθηκε κρούση από την ελληνική ομοσπονδία πριν από αρκετές μέρες και έχει πει το “ναι” στην πρόταση που του έγινε εφόσον προχωρήσει το διαζύγιο με τον Ρανιέρι.

Πηγή:madata.gr

Την ευθύνη για την άκρως αποτυχημένη, – εκ του αποτελέσματος- επιλογή του Κλαούντιο Ρανιέρι στον πάγκο της Εθνικής, ανέλαβε ο πρόεδρος της ΕΠΟ, Γιώργος Σαρρής με δηλώσεις που έκανε το Σάββατο στη ΝΕΡΙΤ.

Μάλιστα, τόνισε πως θα συγκαλέσει έκτακτο Δ.Σ στην Ομοσπονδία, στο οποίο θα αναλάβει και τις ευθύνες του… μοιράζοντας, πάντως αρκετές και στον πρώην τεχνικό διευθυντή των Εθνικών ομάδων, Τάκη Φύσσα.

Ο πρόεδρος προσπάθησε να… δικαιολογηθεί υποστηρίζοντας πως ο Φύσσας του είχε πει ότι ο Ιταλός ήταν η καλύτερη επιλογή.

Αναλυτικά:

«Και τώρα ξανά την ίδια επιλογή θα έκανα. Όλα κρίνονται εκ του αποτελέσματος όμως. Συμφωνούμε ότι πρέπει να γίνει ένα ηλεκτροσόκ Την πρώτη ευθύνη την έχω εγώ που επέλεξα τον Ρανιέρι. Δεν μπόρεσε να προσαρμοστεί στα ελληνικά δεδομένα και να δώσει στην ομάδα αυτό που έπρεπε.

Δεν θα ήταν σωστό να φύγει νωρίτερα. Είχαμε και ατυχίες. Αρχίσαμε με ήττα. Θεωρούσαμε ότι θα κερδίζαμε χθες και πως θα είχαμε τον καιρό μέχρι την άνοιξη να ανασυνταχθούμε. Μετά το χθεσινό αποτέλεσμα θα πρέπει να παρθούν δραστικά μέτρα».

Για την επιλογή του Ιταλού τεχνικού: «Ασχολήθηκα και εγώ και ο Φύσσας με αυτή την περίπτωση. Όταν το είπα στον Φύσσα για τον Ρανιέρι, μου είπε ότι είναι η καλύτερη επιλογή».

Για τις σκέψεις του Γιώργου Καραγκούνη να παραιτηθεί: «Ο Καραγκούνης δεν παραιτήθηκε, εξέφρασε μια επιθυμία στους ποδοσφαιριστές, όμως την ανακάλεσε αυτή τη σκέψη».

Για το αν σκέφτεται ο ίδιος να υποβάλει την παραίτησή του: «Θα καλέσω έκτακτο Δ.Σ., θα αναλάβω τις ευθύνες μου και θα απολογηθώ σε αυτό».

Για την τοποθέτηση του Ρανιέρι όσον αφορά την επιλογή των τεχνικών στις μικρές Εθνικές ομάδες: «Ο κ. Ρανιέρι πήρε τα βιογραφικά των προπονητών και ήρθε μια μέρα στο γραφείο μου μαζί με άλλα δύο άτομα και μου είπε ότι επιλέγω αυτούς. Μου είπε αφού είδε τα βιογραφικά ότι ‘θέλω τον κ. Νταμιάνο ως επικεφαλής για όλες τις Εθνικές».

Για την απομάκρυνση του Φερνάντο Σάντος: «Τον Σάντος τον παρακαλούσαμε 1,5 χρόνο και δεν δέχτηκε. Σας υπενθυμίζω ότι ο κ. Σάντος δήλωνε συνεχώς ότι θέλει να δουλέψει σε σύλλογο».

Για την διάδοχη κατάσταση: «Δεν υπάρχει καμία σκέψη για τον νέο προπονητή. Είναι πάρα πολύ νωρίς».

Πηγή:in.gr