 |
| *Alvaro |
Romario-Ronaldo In BitterIT’S that time of the week when we scour the globe for tid bits of World Cup news as we count down the days until the world’s eye turn to Brazil.
But today, the focus is on Brazil of yesteryear, with two
legends of the sport involved in some feisty bickering.
The ‘Ronaldo-Romario’ combination is a revered one, but it
looks like the affection doesn’t extend to feelings between the pair.
Ronaldo has blamed Romario, who is running for the senate in
October and has been a critic of the money being spent on the Cup, of
improperly accusing him of promising handicapped children free tickets, which
never eventuated.
“It is deplorable to see Romario, once again, make me
publicly responsible for things which are outside my remit,’’ World Cup Local
Organisation Committee member Ronaldo wrote on his Facebook page.
Ronaldo added: “Is it opportunism piggybacking on my image
or ignorance?
“I do not know. What I do know is that instead of wasting
time and energy trying to denigrate me, we would all gain if the congressman
dedicated himself to seeking out good opele or institutions.’’
 |
| *Romario |
And back to the football pitch …
Brazil’s
Group A rivals should be happy with the latest FIFA rankings showing the World
Cup host ranked ninth in the world, behind even the likes of Switzerland.
Cheekiness aside, it does show the folly of these rankings
as the Selecao are the overwhelming favourites to lift the trophy on home soil
in front of their adoring fans.
GROUP B: Australia, Spain, Netherlands,
Chile
Spain
and Real Madrid right-back Alvaro Arbeloa is in a race to be fit for the World
Cup after suffering a knee injury that is set to keep him sidelined for “six to
eight weeks”.
The 31-year-old - who was hurt in Real’s La Liga clash with
Atletico Madrid a fortnight ago – says he’s
hopeful to recover in time for Spain.
“It is worse than first thought but if everything goes well,
I’ll be out for six-to-eight weeks,” said Arbeloa.
“Hopefully I’ll be back in time to play in the Champions
League final if Real make it and the World Cup if I’m picked.”
Before the Socceroos get too excited, Spain’s other right-back Cesar César Azpilicueta
has been in pretty decent form for Chelsea
this season.
RVP’s form woes
Robin Van Persie is still the main man for the Netherlands,
but his form at Manchester United must be of some concern to national team
coach Louis van Gaal.
Following the first leg Champions League loss to Olympiakos,
RVP’s complained about his teammates occupying the space he normally does, a
gripe van Gaal echoed.
An ill-disciplined display against West Brom followed and
the Dutch striker was ineffective in Sunday morning’s humbling loss to Liverpool.
The 30-year-old has reiterated his commitment to the Red
Devils and now those at the Oranje will be hoping he can find form ahead of Brazil.
Group C is one of the most open of the eight and it’s almost
a lottery to predict who from Colombia,
Greece, Ivory Coast and Japan will make it through.
Gervinho is in no doubt Ivory Coast can get the job done
and go on to challenge more-fancied opponents.
The striker has found a new lease on life at Roma after a
disappointing stint at Arsenal, and the 26-year-old has sounded out a warning
to other countries.
“Ivory
Coast can play on par with any national side
and will compete with any team we face at the World Cup,” the Ivorian told
French website RMC sport.
“Several players in the squad are playing at the high-level
teams so we have a great chance.
“Firstly, we want to get through the group stage and then
try and get as far as possible.”
GROUP D: Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy
One of the more anticipated early fixtures of the World Cup
is Group D encounter between former winners England
and Italy.
They last time they locked horns in a major tournament was
the quarter finals of Euro 2012 – a match Italy won on penalties – but Azzurri
coach Cesare Prandelli says the Three Lions will be a tougher test this time
round under Roy Hodgson.
“I think England
have improved a lot,” he said. “They have discovered new players, especially
the wingers, and athletic players who run a lot.”
Hodgson will field a relatively youthful side, including the
likes of Liverpool duo Raheem Sterling (19) and Daniel Sturridge (24) and
Prandelli is expecting a more open game than the 0-0 Kiev stalemate in 2012.
“We’ll find a different England, with different
footballers, because like I said, in the last months they have been good and
lucky enough to scout new and talented players.”
Meanwhile, Antonio Cassano hopes his 10th and 11th goals of
the season help his Cup claims.
“I’ve never played at the World Cup before, so it would be
wonderful,’’ said Cassano, who has lost several kilos this season to produce
some solid form for Roberto Donadoni’s side.
England
will have a secret advantage heading into the tournament thanks to men in white
coats. Scientists carried out DNA tests on 25 players at two Premier League
team and a leading European club to determine players’ power, endurance and
their likelihood of injury.
Dr Keith Grimaldi, who developed the test for UK firm DNAFit,
said: “The genes concerned determine muscle capacity and inflammation, blood
flow and protein processes – all important in training, recovery and injury.
“It allows coaches to design tailor-made training programmes
for players. For instance, a players’ genes may reveal shorter recovery times
from injury.”
Unfortunately the tests won’t reveal who’s calm under
pressure in the event of another penalty shootout.
Lambert wants to replicate Gazza
Rickie Lambert got his first taste of international football
with England last year aged
31 and is hoping he can now force his way into Hodgson’s squad for Brazil.
And if he makes the plane, the Saints forward will turn to
his first memories of the World Cup – watching Paul Gascoigne at Italia 90.
Without a doubt my World Cup hero is Gazza and the memories
of watching him play for England
in 1990,” Lambert said.
“It is the pinnacle of football, the best tournament in the
world and the first one I remember.
“All I can do is try my best and take every chance that
comes to me and hope that I am chosen.
“I need to start scoring again more regularly and give
myself the best opportunity I can of being selected.”
Will he get ahead of Sturridge and Wayne Rooney? The Liverpool man has credited Rooney for helping him and
praised the relationship he enjoys with the United man.
“We just want to try and help the country be successful,
that is the most important thing,” he told The Sun.
“Wayne’s
a nice guy and helps me out. He helped me score my first goal for England at Wembley when he gave me the penalty
against Montenegro.
“He has helped my career and I’m thankful to him.”
GROUP E – France, Switzerland, Ecuador,
Honduras
Monaco
captain Eric Abidal says he has fully recovered from the problem that saw him
briefly admitted to hospital last week and insists he still has his sights set
on the World Cup.
Abidal, 34, spent time in hospital last week after taking
the wrong flu medication and missed last Saturday’s 2-1 Ligue 1 victory against
Sochaux as a result.
However, the player, who underwent liver transplant surgery
in 2012, said that it was little more than a precaution given his medical
history.
His recent form meant he was not called up to the France
squad for last week’s 2-0 friendly win against the Netherlands and he has
slipped down coach Didier Deschamps’ pecking order ahead of the World Cup in
June.
He last played for Les Bleus in the 2-0 defeat to Ukraine in the
first leg of the decisive World Cup qualifying play-off in November but says he
told the coach not to pick him during his run of poor form.
“I spoke to the coach before he named his squad. I have
always said that I am not someone who lies. I said that I wasn’t in the right
condition on the field and you could see that. He appreciated my frankness.
“I believe,” he said of his World Cup chances. “I hope to be
back to my best quickly.”
GROUP F: Argentina,
Bosnia, Iran, Nigeria
While fans from across the globe were left frustrated as the
latest round of Cup tickets sold out in a matter of minutes, supporters from
Bosnia and Nigeria were given a silver lining, with the little interest in the
nations’ June 21 meeting in Cuiaba.
That and the Greece
versus Ivory Coast clash in Fortaleza were the least
sought-after tickets.
Tickets for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil are selling fast with more
than two-thirds of the matches being sold out less than three hours after FIFA
opened new ticket sales on Wednesday.
Tickets for all Brazil matches were gone in about
an hour, as were the ones for all the quarterfinals and nearly all second-round
match ups in the June 12-July 13 tournament.
Ex-Holland international Ruud Gullit has tipped Ghana to shock
the world and reach the knockout stages of the World Cup finals.
The former AC Milan and Chelsea man believes the Black Stars
can nab one of the two qualifying spots from Group G which contains European
heavyweights Portugal and Germany as well as the USA.
“I have been monitoring the development of Ghana and other
African countries like The Nigerians and the Ivory Coast and I see them getting
into the knock out stage of the World Cup,” Gullit said at a UEFA event.
” I enjoy watching Ghana play at the World Cup and I
think they have enough ammunition to tackle any opponent.”
“The weather condition in Brazil will favor the Africans and
that could be a key factor.
“European teams have never won the World Cup in South
American soil so that is a plus for the Africans.”
This time a year ago, Christian Benteke would have been a
lock to be Belgium’s
first choice striker. Romelu Lukaku has upped the ante in that battle, but The
Beast has pledged his focus between now and Brazil to Aston Villa’s EPL quest.
“I’ve been away with Belgium
playing Ivory Coast
and it got me in the mood for it,” he added. “It’s going to be a great
experience and we’ve got to be ready for that. We still have a few games to go
and we have to see what happens.
“I’m not thinking about the World Cup just now. My focus is
on Villa first. I want to finish the season well and after that we will see
what happens.
Meanwhile, Australia’s host status for the 2015 Asian Cup
has bumped South Korea, ranked 60th, out of the top seeding pot for the 105 AFC
Asian Cup.
No comments:
Post a Comment