TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Ancelotti: slump will not derail challenge • Ancelotti: 'It's not our best moment'• One win in seven is 'not a big problem'Carlo Ancelotti believes Chelsea are still on track to win the Premier League title despite a run of disappointing results.The Blues have won one of their last five league games, and one in seven in all competitions, following yesterday's goalless draw at Birmingham. Ancelotti's side face a west London derby against Fulham tomorrow before the departure of three key players to the African Cup of Nations, but the Italian coach insists his team's current form is not "a big problem"."It's not our best moment; one victory in seven is not good for us," said Ancelotti. "I don't see a big problem, though. I think we have some problems, because we have two players out who are very good in Nicolas Anelka and Michael Essien and we don't always play well. But not against Birmingham – in this match I think we played good football."Our aim is to win the title and we are at the top of the table at the moment. This was the halfway point in the season and we're top so that's good for us. We hope to be [at the top of the table in May]. If we do a good job and work hard like we have until now, then I think we can win it."In our mind it is impossible to win the title in December. You have to win the title in May and you have to be ready in May because I think it will be a long race right until the end of the season."A difficult afternoon for Chelsea at Birmingham – during which the hosts could have snatched a win had Christian BenÃtez's first-half effort not been disallowed for a questionable offside – was compounded by the late dismissal of Florent Malouda for a second booking.Ancelotti remains unconcerned about the subsequent suspension, however, despite being without another attacker in Anelka."We will put other players in on Monday against Fulham, it's not a problem," he said. "There's no Malouda but there are other players. Birmingham and Fulham, at this moment, are in very good condition and I expect a tough game on Monday for sure, just like today," he continued. "Anelka and Essien are important players for us because they have a lot of quality but they are out and we have to find other solutions. I think we have a very good squad and we will find a different solution.""It is not easy to prepare for a game every two or three days but it is not only our problem, it is a problem for every team. So we are all in the same situation."Chelsea also dismissed a report suggesting they are looking to replace goalkeeper Petr Cech and have drawn up a list of possible signings.A spokesman for the Premier League leaders said: "It is absolute rubbish."ChelseaCarlo AncelottiPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Recreativo 3-0 Atlético Madrid Copa del Rey: Atlético's season got worse as they lost in the first leg of their tie to the Liga Adelante side guardian.co.uk |
South Africa hit by poor ticket sales South Africans have purchased more tickets to watch England than Bafana Bafana, mirroring disappointing sales in AfricaAfrica's first World Cup has met with apathy on the continent with fewer than one in 10 tickets sold so far going to African fans, the organisers admittedtoday. More South Africans have bought seats to watch England than their own national team who, extraordinarily for hosts, do not even figure in the top 10 best supported sides. The figures raise the spectre of Africa's historic opportunity to present a different face to the world turning into a more conventionally western affair."We want this World Cup to be an African World Cup and yet so far none of the African teams involved are coming to the party," said Danny Jordaan, the chief executive of the local World Cup organising committee.Jordaan said that fewer than 100,000 tickets have been sold to fans of the six African countries competing in the finals in June and July. More than 1m have been sold or requested worldwide but sales for the South Africa team, Bafana Bafana, have been sluggish and lag far behind previous World Cup hosts.Jordaan said: "This will be the first time in World Cup history that the host nation are not topping the ticket sales list. Bafana are not even in the top 10. South Africa has more supporters of England than Bafana – the sales for England matches here are higher. It will be tragic if this trend continues and I appeal to local fans to come out and support their country."South African football's cause has not been helped by disarray both on and off the field. The national team have won one – against lowly Madagascar – drawn two and lost eight of their past 11 matches, and failed to qualify for the current Africa Cup of Nations.Bafana Bafana, who in 1996 won the Cup of Nations and were ranked in the top 20 in the world, have slipped to 85th in the rankings – making them easily the poorest team on paper in the World Cup. That miserable run of form led to the sacking of the coach Joel Santana last October and the return of his fellow Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira in an attempt to turn things around before the opening game against Mexico on 11 June.The South African Football Association endured a power struggle between Jordaan and Irvin Khoza for the presidency, which eventually went to a compromise candidate, Kirsten Nematandani. Last week the association parted company with its chief executive, Raymond Hack.Football fans in South Africa are not in the habit of buying tickets in advance, more usually paying at the gate on the day of the match. Despite 2010 seats being cheaper than in previous World Cup finals, they are still beyond the means of many poor people. There is also disappointment with sales across Africa, where the expense of travel is likely to be a factor for fans of Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Nigeria."The ticket sales on the continent are not what we expected," said Jordaan. "I am going back to Angola to have a meeting with the six qualified countries from Africa to begin to work with them to see if there are any issues that restrict them. As it stands now, we are less than satisfied with the number of tickets sold."At a press conference at Safa headquarters, Jordaan bristled at questions about security following the attack on the Togo team in Angola. "The events in Angola have absolutely nothing to do with the World Cup in South Africa and the reason for that is very clear: Angola is, by flight, three and a half hours from Johannesburg. We surely must be judged on the reality, not just on flights of fantasy and imagination."World Cup 2010South AfricaDavid Smithguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Reading 1 Burnley 0: match report After third-round replay win over Liverpool, Gylfi Sigurdsson's late winner sees Championship side produce another Cup upset. telegraph.co.uk |
Australia press on with World Cup bid • Fifa president discouraged Australia's 2018 bid in favour of Europe• Australia 'not surprised' by comments, pledge to continue bidAustralia will press ahead with their bid to host a World Cup despite Fifa president Sepp Blatter's comments indicating only European nations will be considered for 2018.Speaking in Madrid recently, Blatter revealed he had discussed the European-only deal with the Uefa head Michel Platini."There is a movement at the moment among the various candidates that in the end it would be a good solution if the candidates for 2018 would only be those from Europe," he said. "It's not been finally decided, but it's the idea, also to make the work of Fifa easier, and especially that of the executive committee."The Football Federation of Australia (FFA) have openly stated their desire to host a World Cup in either 2018 or 2022 and a statement released today admitted they have been aware for some time of the possibility of Europe being favoured for the former."In response to recent comments by Fifa President Sepp Blatter, FFA confirms it has been aware for some time that there is a push for the 2018 World Cup to be awarded to one of the European bidders," read the statement. "Hence FFA is not surprised by the President's comments as they are reflective that those discussions have occurred in some quarters."FFA chairman Frank Lowy stressed Australia would continue with their bids to host either edition unless advised to do otherwise by Fifa."If we come to the view that we have a better chance for 2022, than 2018, we will act accordingly," he said.Fifa's executive committee will announce their decision on the host for both years in December.World Cup 2018Sepp BlatterFifaguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |