TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| A long way to go for Catalunya Even though the Catalan national team is riding high after a 4-2 win over Argentina, coach Johan Cruyff's men still have a lot to do to earn the respect of the soccer world. cbc.cacbc.ca |
Fletcher backs Levein's Scotland reign • National captain has 'heard great things'• New manager has not decided on captaincyThe Scotland captain, Darren Fletcher, has welcomed the appointment of Craig Levein as his country's new manager.Under Walter Smith and then Alex McLeish, the Scots came close to qualifying for the 2008 European Championship from a group containing France and Italy. In the more recent 2010 World Cup qualifiers, Scotland looked set for a play-off before a catastrophic defeat in Norway in August which eventually cost George Burley his job. Levein has left Dundee United to be his replacement."It is important for Scotland that we went back to what we were a few years ago," said the Manchester United midfielder. "We were on the brink of something good. We were a dogged, hard-to-beat side who teams didn't like to come up against. We need to get back to that under the new manager."I have never worked with Craig Levein before but I have heard a lot of good things about him and I am looking forward to it."Levein is yet to decide whether Fletcher will remain as captain, although given that the United player has established himself as one of the most effective central midfielders in the Premier League he would appear to be the obvious choice, even if Birmingham City's Barry Ferguson ends his international exile.Levein will find out who Scotland's Euro 2012 qualifying opponents will be when the draw is made in Warsaw on 7 February. His first match in charge will be against the Czech Republic at Hampden Park on 3 March."We are desperate to get to a major championship," said Fletcher. "As a country we need it and as supporters, our fans deserve it. That is where all the focus will be."Craig LeveinScotlandManchester UnitedEuro 2012guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Vermaelen tells Arsenal to stop conceding 'stupid goals' • Everton scored 'two stupid goals', says centre-back• Arsène Wenger worried about losing Fran MéridaThomas Vermaelen believes Arsenal must stop giving away stupid goals if they are to maintain their Premier League title challenge.The Gunners missed the chance to close on the leaders Chelsea, whose game against Hull at the KC Stadium was postponed, when they were held to a 2-2 draw by an impressive Everton side at a snowy Emirates Stadium on Saturday.Arsenal even had to be grateful for a stoppage-time equaliser from the substitute Tomas Rosicky to secure a point.Arsenal's defensive frailty was exposed by both Everton goals – first Leon Osman made the most of a free run in the six-yard box to head home Landon Donovan's corner, and then the hosts were caught on the break with eight minutes left by Steven Pienaar.Vermaelen feels such lapses in concentration might ultimately prove costly for Arsène Wenger's side, who are now three points behind Chelsea, having played the same number of games."We are still there [in the title race]," Vermaelen told the BBC. "We remain in the top three and we have to be confident in our next few games.""The [bad weather] is not to blame because the pitch was very good," the centre-back continued. "We are disappointed because we were controlling and dictating the second half."OK, we were not so good in the first half, we could not play our game and we conceded two stupid goals."Arsenal are waiting on news of DenÃlson's injury, after the midfielder – just returned from a back problem – fell to the ground during the closing stages and had to be carried off.Wenger described the situation as "mysterious", but the 21-year-old was walking freely after the match and remained hopeful of being fit in time to face Bolton on Sunday.Cesc Fábregas, the club captain, is expected to be available again following a hamstring problem for the visit to the Reebok Stadium, which will be the first match in charge for the new Bolton manager Owen Coyle.But with Alex Song away at the Africa Cup of Nations, some of the younger Arsenal players have a chance to stake their claim. Aaron Ramsey was below his recent impressive form against Everton, while the Spain youth international Fran Mérida was a late replacement for DenÃlson.It was the 19-year-old's sixth appearance of the season, but as yet he has not made a Premier League start.Mérida is out of contract at the end of the season and Wenger revealed his concern a long-term deal for the former Barcelona trainee has not yet been signed.Reports in Spain suggest Atlético Madrid are ready to make a move, but Mérida – free to sign a pre-contract agreement elsewhere – insists he is only in negotiations with Arsenal.However, his uncertainty over first-team chances may hold the key to a decision. "At the moment I am in talks with the boss. I told him I needed a bit of time," said Mérida, who spent four months on loan at Real Sociedad in 2008."The first thing in my mind is definitely to stay here, but I have to look at a few things and we will see how things progress."My agent and I are only talking to Arsenal at the moment, though, and nobody else – I want to see how my situation looks here and then I will decide what to do."ArsenalPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Chicago News Cooperative | The Pulse: Chicago Withdraws From World Cup Bid After failing in a bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics, civic leaders took Chicago out of the competition to host World Cup soccer games in 2018 or 2022. feeds.nytimes.com |
Hamilton 0 Kilmarnock 0: match report Tomas Cerny's fine save from Mark Burchill was the only highlight of a dreadful game. telegraph.co.uk |