Juve's Giovinco ruled out for season

Juventus's hopes of clinching fourth place in Serie A and UEFA Champions League football next season were dealt yet another blow on Tuesday as attacking midfielder Sebastian Giovinco was ruled out for the rest of the season.

The 23-year-old suffered a pulled muscle in his left leg in training and after undergoing tests the diagnosis was not good. "He will need 40-45 days to recover and hence his season is considered over," Juve said on their official website.
He will need 40-45 days to recover and hence his season is considered over.
Juventus club statement on Giovinco


Juve currently sit sixth in Serie A, three points behind fourth placed Palermo but they still have trips to Inter and AC Milan to come before the end of the campaign. The Turin giants have endured a torrid season, crashing out of the Champions League in December and then being humiliated by Fulham in the UEFA Europa League.

Their Italian Cup particiaption was ended by Inter in January, leaving them only fourth place to play for. Coach Ciro Ferrara was fired at the end of January and replaced by interim boss Alberto Zaccheroni but his plans have been interrupted by a succession of injuries.

Iniesta sidelined for a month

Barcelona's Spanish international midfielder Andres Iniesta will be out for up to a month after he suffered a tear to his right calf muscle during training, the club said Tuesday.

The 25-year-old will miss Barcelona's first leg semi-final against Inter Milan on 20 April as well as the return leg eight days later as well as most of the last past of the Spanish league which wraps up on 16 May, it said.

A key member of Spain's national team who are tipped as one of the favourites to win the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, Iniesta came on as a late substitute during Barcelona's 2-0 win over arch-rvials Real Madrid on Saturday.

Torres could return next week

Fernando Torres could return to action as early as next week, according to the specialist treating the Liverpool striker's latest knee injury.

Torres was ruled out for a month with an injury to the same knee earlier in the season and there had been speculation this latest problem could rule him out of the remainder of the campaign and even the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.

Torres, whose absence was keenly felt by the Reds in their goalless stalemate with Fulham on Sunday, has travelled to Barcelona for treatment from Dr Ramon Cugat, who supervised the player's recovery from recent hamstring problems.
But in normal circumstances, he could be ready to play next week, depending on how it settles down.
Fernando Torres' knee specialist


"The problem is not serious but he needs to stop and rest to avoid more risk because it's the same knee on which he had surgery in January," Dr Cugat was quoted as saying in the Liverpool Echo. "But in normal circumstances, he could be ready to play next week, depending on how it settles down. The decision is now up to Liverpool's medical staff and the manager."

Liverpool face West Ham next Monday with the club in need of a positive result to keep alive their pursuit of a fourth-placed finish in the English Premier League.

Whether Reds boss Rafael Benitez wants to risk Torres for that match remains to be seen, with Liverpool set to face Atletico Madrid - Torres' former club - in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League semi-final tie three days later.

Germany form troubles Low

Germany coach Joachim Low admitted Tuesday he has 'serious' concerns about the form of several of his squad with the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ now just two months away.

Germany's first game in Group D is against Australia on June 13, but with several of his stars struggling for form, Low says his priority is to see an improvement before the FIFA World Cup where his side also face Serbia and Ghana. "I am not worried, but the situation is serious," Low told German tabloid Bild with his side bidding to win their third World Cup title in South Africa. "As I have said before, our task must now be to get the players back to top form as quickly as possible. A lot can change in the next six weeks."
Our selection procedure is far from complete, but we will observe the players attentively, so to be prepared for various possibilities for the World Cup.
German coach Joachim Low


Germany were beaten 1-0 in Munich by Argentina last month in the pre-World Cup friendly and face three other friendlies against Malta on May 15, Hungary on May 29 and Bosnia-Herzegovina on June 3. Low's biggest headache is the lack of form of his first-choice strikers Miroslav Klose of Bayern Munich and Cologne's Lukas Podolski, who between them have scored just four Bundesliga goals all season.

Lippi offers Amauri no guarantees

Italy coach Marcello Lippi has played down talk that Amauri's decision to take citizenship will lead to his inclusion in the country's 2010 FIFA World Cup™ squad.

The Brazil-born Juventus striker became an Italian citizen earlier this week and expressed his desire to represent the Azzurri.
This does not mean that he will be certainly called up. He will be followed like all the other players.
Lippi on new Italian citizen Amauri


However, when asked about Amauri, Lippi refused to be drawn in. "This does not mean that he will be certainly called up," he said. "He will be followed like all the other players. I am taking this month to evaluate and take decisions that have to be made exclusively for the good of the national team."

The 29-year-old has struck five goals in 27 league appearances for the Turin giants this season.

Domenech worried by French egos

France coach Raymond Domenech has called on his players to set their egos to one side and work for the greater good at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.

Les Bleus made heavy weather of qualifying, relying on a play-off win over Republic of Ireland to book their place at the tournament. France's dismal early exit from UEFA EURO 2008 still casts a shadow over the Domenech regime, and he is determined his players must learn from the lessons of the past or risk finding themselves frozen out of his plans.

"They must be clever and forget their ego to realise that the only thing that matters is the team, not them," Domenech told French sports daily L'Equipe. "If they don't understand that, I will need a gun."
They must be clever and forget their ego to realise that the only thing that matters is the team, not them.
Raymond Domenech on his France players


Domenech will unveil his 23-man squad for South Africa 2010 on 11 May. However, he admitted he was still some way from knowing his final selection.

"It is useless," he said. "Today, if I make a list, what can I do? In one month it will not be the same. It could ... be worse. Qualifying was not easy and naming a squad will be difficult as well.

"When you have so many players that are injured or don't play in such a time, this is not reassuring. The players are the motor and it's them who will advance the machine. It's for that reason that selection is vital."

Jury still out on Henry
Domenech again refused to be drawn on whether he would select out-of-favour Barcelona forward Thierry Henry. "We'll think about that in due time," he explained.

"We'll look at every aspect and we'll make a decision but we still have one month left. I've always trusted great players and Titi is a great player."

France have been drawn in Group A at South Africa 2010, along with Uruguay, Mexico and the hosts.

Inter Striker Mario Balotelli Set To Start Coppa Italia Semi-Final Against Fiorentina - Report

Inter starlet Mario Balotelli will be given a chance to impress from the opening whistle against Fiorentina later today, according to tuttomercatoweb.

The Nerazzurri hold a 1-0 lead from the first-leg of the Coppa Italia tie.

The player has recently returned to first-team action after being excluded by coach Jose Mourinho for disciplinary reasons. He scored against Bologna, and also grabbed an assist as a substitute in the 2-2 draw with the Viola this past weekend.

Mourinho will employ more turnover as well, with McDonald Mariga and Thiago Motta deputising in midfield and Ivan Cordoba and Marco Materazzi set to feature at the back.

Meanwhile, Viola tactician Cesare Prandelli is expected to put out his best XI in an effort to overturn the first-leg deficit.

Here are the probable starting line-ups:

Fiorentina (4-4-2): Frey; De Silvestri, Natali, Kroldrup, Felipe; Marchionni, Zanetti, Montolivo, Vargas; Gilardino, Jovetic.

Inter (4-3-3): Julio Cesar; Maicon, Cordoba, Materazzi, Chivu; Zanetti, Mariga, Thiago Motta; Balotelli, Milito, Eto'o.

Relief For Liverpool As Specialist Says Fernando Torres Should Return Within A Week

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has been boosted by the news that Fernando Torres could return to first-team action within a week.

The Spanish striker missed Sunday's goalless draw with Fulham to travel to his homeland for treatment on his injured knee. And his doctor, specialist Ramon Cugat, believes five days rest might be enough for the 26-year-old.

"The problem is not serious but he needs to stop and rest to avoid more
risk because it's the same knee on which he had surgery in January," Cugat said, according to the Daily Mail.

"But in normal circumstances, he could be ready to play next week, depending on how it settles down. The decision is now up to Liverpool's medical staff and the manager."

Liverpool face West Ham United on Monday in the Premier League, and then head to Madrid for what could be a Europa League homecoming for Torres against his former club, Atletico.

But they may face interference from the Spanish FA, who are monitoring the situation closely and do not want their star forward prematurely rushed back into action ahead of the summer's World Cup.

Aston Villa Manager Martin O’Neill Keen To Bounce Back From FA Cup Semi-Final Defeat Against Chelsea

Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill wants his side to bounce back from Saturday’s 3-0 FA Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea with a win over Everton.

Villa host David Moyes’ side in the Premier League on Wednesday knowing that a win will go some way to helping the club qualify for next season’s Europa League.

O’Neill hopes his players will be able to move on from their FA Cup defeat, and overcome an in-form Everton side.

The Villa boss told Press Association Sport: "After the disappointment of the weekend we just have to get on with the games to come. You cannot bring things back. It's gone.

"The players are very upbeat. Naturally, they are disappointed but they have to get over it.

"We have an opportunity against Everton to win a game and put ourselves back into contention.

World Cup 2010: Panini Leave Francesco Totti Out Of Italy Squad

Panini, one of the world's leading sticker book companies, has released their estimation of Italy's preliminary squad for World Cup 2010 and it does not include Francesco Totti, according to tuttomercatoweb.

Historically, Panini has often shown a knack for being accurate with their picks of national team squads and of the 17 players in their album, 'Er Pupone' does not appear. The final Italy squad will have 23 players.

Also notably absent are Milan veteran Alessandro Nesta, who also previously retired from international football, Totti's Roma team-mate Luca Toni and Juventus hitman Amauri, who recently received his Italian passport.

In terms of inclusions, perhaps the biggest surprise is Milan striker Marco Borriello, who did not impress in Italy's 0-0 draw with Cameroon in March.

According to Panini the Azzurri World Cup team will include:

Goalkeepers: Buffon
Defenders: Cannavaro, Chiellini, Grosso, Zambrotta, Legrottaglie and Criscito
Midfielders: Palombo, De Rossi, Gattuso, Pirlo, Camoranesi and Marchisio
Strikers: Di Natale, Borriello, Gilardino and Iaquinta

Chelsea's Premier League Push Set To Be Affected As Carlo Ancelotti Is Summoned To Give Evidence In Calciopoli Trial

Chelsea's crucial Premier League run-in looks set to be hindered as manager Carlo Ancelotti will have to return to Italy to give evidence in a court case.

The 50-year-old has been summoned by judges presiding over the criminal trial into Italy’s 2006 match-fixing scandal, Calciopoli, to give evidence from his time as AC Milan manager.

Ancelotti has been asked to attend the next hearing, which is set for April 20.

Chelsea are scheduled to face Tottenham Hotspur on the April 17, before Stoke City visit Stamford Bridge on the 25th. If the hearing goes ahead as scheduled, Ancelotti would almost certainly have to miss a number of training sessions between the two games — an unwelcome distraction as he aims to guide his side to a first title since 2006 and first double in the club's history.

Ancelotti is not accused of any wrong-doing in the case, although his club AC Milan were deducted points for their part in the scandal which saw Juventus stripped of two league titles and demoted to Serie B.

Juve's controversial former director, Luciano Moggi, caused a stir at Tuesday's hearing as his lawyers presented wiretap evidence that they suggested implicated the previously untarnished Inter Milan — who were awarded Juve's lost titles — in the scandal. Prosecutors refuted such suggestions, however.

Ancelotti's Blues currently sit a point above Manchester United in the league with a game in hand, and face Bolton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

Veteran Cappa appointed River Plate coach

Veteran coach Angel Cappa said on Tuesday he had been appointed coach of ailing Argentinian giants River Plate.

The 63-year-old - who is expected to be unveiled officially later at a press conference with club president Daniel Passarella - replaces Leonardo Astrada, who was sacked on Monday after presiding over the club's worst series of results in its trophy-laden history.

River Plate, twice crowned Copa Libertadores champions, lie 17th in the domestic title race while Cappa - whose mentor was 1978 World Cup winning coach Cesar Menotti - had guided Huracan into second spot.

Totti believe in sacrifice and team spirit

Roma captain Francesco Totti believes that their sacrifice and team spirit carried them to the top of Serie A.

The Giallorossi are one point ahead of Inter with just five games remaining of the current campaign.

Writing in Il Corriere dello Sport, Totti revealed the hard work that has gone into Roma's title challenge.

Totti said, “Considering how we started the season and where we are now, it all seems unreal. But we have got to top spot through sacrifice and our team spirit on the pitch.”

“We have to consolidate our leadership now by playing our next five games as if they were five finals.”

“Together with the fans and the club, we have to be a solid unit in order to realise what we all wish for,” he concluded.

Roma are back in action at the weekend when they take on Lazio in the derby.

Wenger praises tough Vermaelen

Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger hails Thomas Vermaelen for his mental and physical toughness by playing through the pain barrier this season.

Little was known of the Belgian defender when he arrived at Emirates Stadium last summer but the 24-year-old has been a revelation in his first year in English football.

Vermaelen's stats tell their own story. He has started 44 games - eight more than any other Arsenal player - and has missed only one Premier League match, when he was serving a suspension at Birmingham last month.

The former Ajax defender has been commanding at the back and, rather more surprisingly, has contributed eight goals too, making him Arsenal's fourth top scorer. Wenger had high hopes for Vermaelen - and he admits the Belgian has exceeded them.

"I quickly knew that Thomas Vermaelen was a good football player but you don't know while he doesn't come to England, how tough he is mentally and physically," said Wenger.

He continued, "That was the big surprise to us because this guy has been exceptional this year and he has played so many games, sometimes with big pain.”

"That's why I believe he will be a very important player in the future for us,” he explained the importance of Vermaelen.

Ferdinand: Tevez took it easy in training

Rio Ferdinand has accused Carlos Tevez of taking it easy in training during his time at Old Trafford.

Tevez left the Red Devils to join bitter rivals Manchester City in the summer, and is set to meet his former club in Saturday's derby clash at Eastlands.

The Argentina international has scored 22 Premier League goals for Roberto Mancini's side, but England defender Ferdinand has mischievously suggested that the energy Tevez shows on a matchday is not necessarily reflected in his attitude to training.

Ferdinand was quoted in The Sun as saying: "Carlos is an interesting character. When he was at United, he saved all his energy for the games - he didn't really go over the top at training.

"He worked hard in the gym - he was a professional in that sense - but everything he did was geared towards the match at the weekend. You could see him conserving his energy during the week and then laying it all on the line out on the pitch.

"That's not the way I operate, I have to train at a high level every day. But it works for Carlos and he can be a real handful to defend against."

Thai trailblazer Surat extends Aussie stay

Trailblazing Thai defender Surat Sukha has extended his contract with Melbourne Victory for a year, keeping him at the club until 2012, club officials announced today.

The 27-year-old has made 18 appearances including last month's Grand Final since joining from Chonburi FC last year, when he became the A-League's first south east Asian player.

"He's the first player from south east Asia to play at the highest level in Australia and we couldn't be more impressed with the way he's adapted and performed since joining the club," said operations manager Gary Cole.

"He's fitted in so well, he's always laughing and smiling and he and his family thoroughly enjoy living in Melbourne."

59 days to go

Undoubtedly one of the greatest goalkeepers ever, Dino Zoff captained Italy on 59 occasions and to FIFA World Cup™ glory in 1982.

That triumph came during a 15-year international career that saw Zoff amass 112 caps in total to leave only Paolo Maldini and Fabio Cannavaro ahead of him in the Azzurri's all-time appearance records. Zoff made his international debut in the quarter-finals of the 1968 European Championships as Italy went all the way and won the tournament on home soil.

At club level, he was part of an all-conquering Juventus side that picked up six Serie A titles as well as the UEFA Cup in 1977 and Coppa Italia (twice). As a coach, Zoff took the Azzurri to the brink of glory at UEFA EURO 2000, only to suffer final heartache against hosts France.

Hiddink: Bafana need a good start

Guus Hiddink, the celebrated Dutch coach who has guided three different sides to the FIFA World Cup™, is the latest international football figure to offer rave reviews of the country that will host the 2010 FIFA World Cup, South Africa.

During his visit to the tip of the African continent, the coach, who is on his last lap of his employment with the Russian team, said he believes South Africa will play capable hosts to the tournament. He also hinted that the country’s national team, Bafana Bafana, might pose a threat to many teams if underestimated.

“I think this is a fantastic country with great infrastructure. I have no doubt that teams will be impressed with the facilities when they land in South Africa before the World Cup. It was the right time that the tournament was given to an African country and if you look around in Africa, with all respect to other countries, then South Africa was always going to be the best option,” he said.
The 12th man in the stands is important because they can lift the team to another level. But sometimes the pressure can negatively affect the players. What is important is to get the campaign off to a perfect start -that lays the foundation.
Guus Hiddink on the key for hosts South Africa


The former Chelsea manager believes that while South Africa are underdogs, with the right preparation they can spring few surprises during the tournament. "Preparations are very important for any country that plays at the World Cup and for South Africa it will be vital that they prepare adequately for the event," he said. "You need to find the right balance and assemble not only a strong team but a balanced team. In [Carlos Alberto] Parreira, they have one of the most experienced coaches in the game today who knows how to prepare a team. He has a lot of experience and has been to a number of World Cup tournaments."

Dorantes sends Godoy Cruz top

Rodrigo Salinas Dorantes scored a hat-trick as Godoy Cruz moved to the top of the Bicentenario Clausura with a 6-2 hammering of Tigre.

Francisco Dutari, Daniel Vega and Leonardo Sigali got the other goals for the home side with Leandro Lazzaro and a Zelman Garcia own goal proving mere consolation for the visitors.

Argentinos Juniors moved up to second place with a 3-1 victory over Colon Santa Fe. Nestor Ortigoza, Jose Calderon and Ismael Sosa had put Juniors 3-0 up before Jonathan Bauman got a late goal back for Sante Fe.

Struggling Boca Juniors picked up just their third win of the season as they hammered Arsenal de Sarandi 4-0. Veteran striker Martin Palermo (2), Cristian Chavez and Juan Riquelme getting the goals.

Estudiantes were also 4-0 winners as Jose Ernesto Sosa, Clemente Juan Rodriguez and Leandro Gonzalez (2) got the goals against Racing Club.

Vitoria move out of drop zone

A 1-1 draw against fellow strugglers Academica on Monday was enough to lift Vitoria Setubal out of the Liga relegation zone.

Both goals came in the final four minutes, with a Ney Santos own goal putting Academica ahead and Bernardo Henrique levelling within two minutes for the hosts.

The point lifts Vitoria above Olhanense courtesy of their superior head-to-head record. They remain one point behind Academica.

Terry reveals crisis talks fired Chelsea´s title charge

John Terry has revealed Chelsea's stars held crisis talks with the club's management in a successful bid to get their Premier League title challenge back on track.

Just two weeks after Carlo Ancelotti's team looked in danger of fading away in the title race, the revitalised Blues can move four points clear at the top of the table with a win over Bolton at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday

It is a remarkable transformation from the weary-looking group that crashed out of the Champions League against Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan and then dropped two vital points in a 1-1 draw at Blackburn.

That result left Chelsea four points behind Manchester United, but an open and honest meeting between the players, Ancelotti and his coaching staff after the Blackburn game has given Terry's men a new lease of life.

Now it is Sir Alex Ferguson's United who are wilting under the intense pressure of fighting for first place.

United's draw at Blackburn on Sunday has provided Chelsea with a golden opportunity to put distance between themselves and their rivals and Terry, whose team reached the FA Cup final with a 3-0 win over Aston Villa in Saturday's semi-final at Wembley, believes his club will take full advantage.

Barcelona aim to build on ´Clasico´ win

After outclassing Arsenal and Real Madrid in the space of five days treble winners Barcelona are on for a league and Champions League double and aim to build on their three-point lead over Real at the top of La Liga when they host Deportivo La Coruna on Wednesday.

Barcelona had a week to cherish crushing Arsenal to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League and then beating Real 2-0 in 'El Clasico' at the Santiago Bernabeu to seize the upper hand in the title race.

The champions look to consolidate that Real win by beating Depor at Camp Nou while Real must pick themselves up for a trip to Almeria on Thursday.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola watched his side end Real's perfect 15 home wins in the league and maintain his flawless record in the Clasicos winning all four since taking charge.

"There aren't any secrets, I work hard, work long hours and I've got good players," said Guardiola. "They know that if they don't run, I'll let them know and since they know that they all work harder.

Senior Groundsmen Slam State Of Wembley Pitch After FA Cup Semi-Finals

Dave Saltman, the former head groundsman at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, has blasted the state of the Wembley pitch, claiming that the playing surface at England's national stadium is embarrasssing.

The slippery nature of the surface attracted criticism following the weekend's two FA Cup semi-finals, and Saltman believes that the heavy schedule of events from different sports held on the pitch with such frequency means that the problems have become almost impossible to solve.

"It's never going to be perfect because there will be times when the timescales between different events are so tight that you have to hold your hands up and say 'That is going to have to do for the next game'," Saltman told reporters.

"It cannot ever be viewed like one of the Premier League grounds, unless Wembley look at reducing the amount of different events that are on there.

Carlo Ancelotti: Bolton Wanderers Clash Is Chelsea's 'Most Important' Game Of The Season

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is allowing his side no illusions about the vital nature of their Premier League game against Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday night.

The Blues' boss believes that Owen Coyle's Trotters can cause the west Londoners problems with their athelticism and tempo in what could be a crucial fixture in terms of where the ultimate destination of the title may lie.

A win for Chelsea would put them into a four-point lead over Manchester United with four games remaining, but Ancelotti inisists that his players must not get too far ahead of themselves with an FA Cup final on the horizon as well.

"Every game we need to do our best because every game will be difficult," the Italian told reporters ahead of the match.

"Bolton will not be an easy game because they didn't play on Saturday.

"They will come to Stamford Bridge fresh. They can do a game with high tempo so we have to pay attention. Bolton is one of the most important games of our season.

"Now is not the moment to think 'If we win the double' or not. The most important thing is to stay focused game by game.

"Our minds are focused on the Bolton game. Nothing else."

Tottenham Hotspur Winger Aaron Lennon To Miss North London Derby Against Arsenal - Report

Aaron Lennon will reportedly be unavailable to feature for Tottenham Hotspur in the crunch north London derby against Arsenal on Wednesday.

Both sides still have all to play for, as the Gunners are well in the chase to pip their rivals and win the Premier League come May, while Spurs are hot on the heels of Manchester City - who currently occupy the coveted fourth spot.

The fleet-footed 22-year-old has been suffering from a persistent groin injury that has kept him from making an appearance this year, and The Daily Mail claims that the former Leeds United man underwent a scan yesterday and will not be fit in time to play a part in a potential season-decider for both sides at White Hart Lane.

It is said that midfielder Niko Kranjcar will also miss the derby date owing to the ankle injury sustained during the recent 2-0 loss to Portsmouth in the FA Cup.