Rampant Argentina thrash Paraguay

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,,,,,

Argentina produced their best performance of the Copa America so far to crush Paraguay and set up a classic final against hosts Chile.

|||

CONCEPCION, Chile - Argentina produced their best performance of the Copa America so far to crush Paraguay 6-1 and set up a classic final against hosts Chile.

Angel di Maria scored twice and Marcos Rojo, Javier Pastore, Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain also found the net in a brilliant display orchestrated by an inspired Lionel Messi.

Argentina had scored only four goals in their four previous matches but Messi said it was not because the team had not been playing well.

“We talked about that just before the match and we said it was just chance that we hadn't scored more because we've been playing well,” Messi said.

“Today all the goals came at once.”

Gerardo Martino's side took the lead after 15 minutes when Messi swung a free kick in from the left, Rojo failed to connect cleanly with his first touch but swept the ball home from close range with his second.

Argentina doubled their lead 12 minutes later and again Messi was the provider, threading an inch-perfect pass through the Paraguayan defence for Pastore to run on to. His powerful low shot gave goalkeeper Justo Villar no chance.

Things went from bad to worse for Paraguay when both their strikers, Derliz Gonzalez and Roque Santa Cruz, limped off injured.

Santa Cruz's replacement, Lucas Barrios, gave them hope with a goal just before the break but in the second half Argentina were unstoppable.

Minutes into the second half Pastore burst through midfield and fed Di Maria, who buried a left-foot shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Six minutes later Messi destroyed the Paraguayan defence with a mazy run to set up Pastore. His shot was parried by Villar but Di Maria was on hand to slot home the rebound.

On 80 minutes Di Maria turned provider, crossing from the left for Aguero to head home, and minutes later Higuain came off the bench to score a sixth.

Argentina will face Chile at Santiago's national stadium on Saturday. – Reuters



from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1CIsJKR
Read More

Pearson, Leicester part ways

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,,,,,

Leicester City have sacked manager Nigel Pearson because of a breakdown in his relationship with the club's owners, the club said.

|||

London - Leicester City have sacked manager Nigel Pearson because of a breakdown in his relationship with the club's owners, the Premier League side said on Tuesday.

Pearson guided Leicester to top-flight safety in the final matches of last season after they appeared to be doomed to relegation and they finished 14th in the Premier League.

The club said their directors recognised the success Pearson had brought Leicester in his two spells in charge.

“However, it has become clear to the Club that fundamental differences in perspective exist between us. Regrettably, the Club believes that the working relationship between Nigel and the Board is no longer viable,” the statement said.

“Leicester City's owners, Vichai and Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, and the board of directors would like to place on record their thanks to Nigel for the considerable contribution he has made during his time with the Club and wish him well in the future.”

The statement added that the owners had always acted in the best interests of the club and remained “wholly committed” to development and investment so that Leicester would remain competitive in the Premier League.

Assistant managers Craig Shakespeare and Steve Walsh will take charge of the first team while the club look for a new manager.

Pearson, 51, took over for a second spell at Leicester in November 2011 and led them back to the Premier League from the Championship. – Reuters



from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1CIro6W
Read More

Blatter will skip women’s final

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,,,,,

Embattled Fifa boss Sepp Blatter has decided not to attend the final of the women’s World Cup in Canada.

|||

New York - Fifa President Sepp Blatter will not travel to Canada for the final of the women's World Cup on July 5 for personal reasons, a US-based lawyer for Blatter said on Tuesday.

Senior executives of Zurich-based Fifa were charged with corruption on May 27 by prosecutors in the United States over bids for major soccer tournaments dating back 24 years and involving up to $150-million in purported bribes.

Blatter came under pressure to step down, and he announced on June 2 that he would do so.

US prosecutors have not accused Blatter of wrongdoing but his stewardship of world soccer's governing body is under scrutiny, sources familiar with investigations in the United States and Switzerland have said.

“He's not going to go to the finals in Canada,” said the lawyer, Richard Cullen. “He has informed the organisers of that and cited personal reasons.”

Cullen said that Fifa Senior Vice-President Issa Hayatou of Cameroon would preside at the trophy ceremony after the final in Vancouver instead.

This will be the first time Blatter has not presented the trophy to the winners of the women's competition, which is held every four years, since he became Fifa president in 1998.

Blatter, the self-styled “godfather of women's football”, said before the tournament began on June 6 that he was looking forward to being in Canada. The tournament's semi-finals will be contested by the United States and Germany on Tuesday and England and Japan on Wednesday.

Investigations by US and Swiss authorities also include scrutiny of how Fifa awarded World Cup hosting rights to Russia and Qatar for the 2018 and 2022 men's tournaments.

Reuters



from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1NtWipO
Read More

Chile coach banking on Sanchez

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,,,,,

Chile need Alexis Sanchez shine as they try to end their wait for a first Copa America, coach Jorge Sampaoli said.

|||

Santiago - Chile need Alexis Sanchez to recover his best form as they try to end an almost century-long wait for a first Copa America, according to coach Jorge Sampaoli.

Sampaoli's team reached the final with a 2-1 win over Peru on Monday and will meet the winners of Tuesday's semi-final between favourites Argentina and Paraguay at the national stadium on Saturday.

“When Alexis is not in the fullness (of form) that he has us used to, Chile feel it,” Sampaoli said.

“If he is feeling good, he's the most decisive player in this team. We must recover him well because he's vital to us,” added the Argentine.

Sanchez has shown flashes of his class in the tournament but contributed only one of Chile's 13 goals in five matches.

Sampaoli suggested the pressure from home fans to reach the final as hosts and win the 99-year-old tournament for the first time affected the team.

Chile were not at their best trying to break down a Peru side reduced to 10 men for 70 minutes after a red card for defender Carlos Zambrano, he said.

“This was the match in which we most lost our shape. Defensively the team struggled a lot to get their shape to recover the ball, we usually get it back much quicker than today (Monday),” Sampaoli said.

“Our anxiety played against us,” Sampaoli told reporters.

Defender Mauricio Isla, scorer of the goal that gave Chile a 1-0 win over 2011 champions Uruguay in their quarter-final, echoed that sentiment.

“It wasn't our best match, we had been showing good touch, great finishing and today we got tired,” he said.

“Peru complicated us quite a bit, even with a man less. I think the pressure got to us.”

The Peruvians were not given much of a chance before the tournament but Sampaoli believes they can carry their much improved form into the 2018 World Cup qualifiers starting in October.

“(Peru) grew throughout the tournament and their big names became stronger and are in great form,” said Sampaoli of the work of their coach Ricardo Gareca in the short time he has been in charge.

“From midfield towards the front they have nothing to envy any national team in the Americas.”

Peru had a poor 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign and are still looking to reach the finals for the first time since 1982.

Reuters



from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1g7RrQ3
Read More

Cardiff to host 2017 Champions League final

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,,,,,

The Millennium Stadium will host the 2017 Champions League final, Uefa general secretary Gianni Infantino said.

|||

Nyon, Switzerland - The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff will host the 2017 Champions League final, Uefa general secretary Gianni Infantino said on Tuesday.

The Friends Arena in Stockholm will be the venue for the 2017 Europa League final.

It will be the first final of Uefa's flagship competition to be held in Wales, but the 12th time it will be staged in the British Isles, with seven previous finals at Wembley, three in Glasgow and one in Manchester.

The Millennium Stadium, which is owned by the Welsh Rugby Union, opened in 1999 and staged the English FA Cup finals from 2001 until 2006 while Wembley was being rebuilt.

It has a capacity of 74,500 and staged soccer matches during the Olympic Games in 2012.

It will be the second major Uefa showpiece staged in the Welsh capital after the Cardiff City Stadium provided the venue for the European Supercup match between Real Madrid and Sevilla at the start of last season.

The Friends Arena in Stockholm opened in 2012 and the Europa League final will be the first Uefa club competition final to be staged in Sweden, which hosted the 1992 European Championship.

Uefa also announced that the 2017 Supercup match, the European club season curtain-raiser between the winners of the Champions League and Europa League will be staged in Skopje in Macedonia.

The venue for the 2016 Champions League final is the San Siro in Milan and the Europa League final will be at St Jakob Park in Basel.

Reuters



from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1U491UC
Read More

Bafana should only play at FNB stadium

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,,,,,

Newly appointed Safa Technical Director Neil Tovey believes that Bafana Bafana’s matches should be played at FNB Stadium only.

|||

Newly appointed Safa Technical Director (TD) Neil Tovey believes that Bafana Bafana’s matches should be played at FNB Stadium and nowhere else in the country.

Tovey was over the weekend appointed Safa’s TD in Nasrec, Johannesburg on a five-year deal.

Among his many responsibilities, the former Bafana skipper is expected to oversee a roll out of training of coaches, as well as developing young football talent within the country.

At the SAB Under-21 National Championships in Soshanguve, Pretoria yesterday, Tovey stated that he won’t be interfering with Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba’s coaching methods. However, he will offer advice whenever he feels it necessary.

“I made it quite clear that I won’t have time to run around behind the senior national team, given the amount of work I’ll have to do as a Technical Director,” Tovey said. “Yes I’ll be there to lend a hand. Not from a coaching perspective per se, but to talk to the technical team and exchange ideas with regards to, for example, where a national team match should be played.

“To be quite honest, I was not happy we played Gambia (in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier) in Durban. The game should have been played at altitude to make the Gambian team suffer. In that game they were panting and out of breath in the last 15 minutes of the game. I believe they’d have been out of breath in the last 45 minutes had we played them at altitude.

“I understand these decisions are influenced by finances. But I believe that financial perspectives can be applied when it comes to friendly matches. This is the only time when the national team should play outside of Gauteng,” he added.

“If you’ve got a national stadium then that’s where you need to be playing your national games. Otherwise why should you call it a national stadium? You’ve got to turn it into a fortress, a place other national teams will dread.”

Meanwhile, Northern Cape started off their U-21 National Championship campaign with a 1-0 win over Gauteng. USSA beat North West 3-1, while the Western Cape were held to 1-1 draw by Mpumalanga. Gauteng were subjected to another defeat as they lost 3-2 against defending champions Free State. It proved to be Free State’s day as they went on to beat Mpumalanga 2-1 in a tight encounter. KwaZulu Natal lost 2-0 to Limpopo. - The Star



from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1C4wQGx
Read More

Gervinho’s ‘obscene’ transfer demands

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,,,,,

Gervinho’s requests for a helicopter and a private beach as part of the deal that would take him to Al-Jazira were described as 'obscene' by the Emirati club.

|||

Requests by Gervinho for a helicopter and a private beach as part of the deal that would take him from Roma to Al-Jazira were described as 'obscene' by the Emirati club, according to reports on Tuesday.

Gervinho was set to end his mitigated two-year spell with the Serie A club and join Al-Jazira in the United Arab Emirates this week on a reported four-year deal worth 13m euros.

But the move collapsed because of Gervinho's string of demands, which also included accommodation for his family and regular airplane tickets to travel to his native Ivory Coast, said La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Reports from the Emirates suggest Gervinho's demands alerted the club to possible future problems with the player, and they are not expected to pursue the deal any further.

Gervinho remains on the market but will now be expected to turn up for Roma's first training camp of the summer at their Trigoria base just outside Rome on July 5. – AFP



from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1IJvihW
Read More

Wolfsburg’s De Bruyne ‘not for sale’

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,,,,,

Wolfsburg has sent a “hands off” signal to the clubs chasing Kevin de Bruyne by insisting their Belgium midfielder is not for sale.

|||

Wolfsburg has sent a “hands off” signal to the clubs chasing Kevin de Bruyne by insisting their Belgium midfielder is not for sale as they look to improve his contract.

Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain have all been linked to the 24-year-old attacking midfielder who helped steer Wolfsburg to a Champions League place next season and scored in last month's German Cup final win over Borussia Dortmund.

De Bruyne has a contract with Wolfsburg until 2019 and Wolfsburg's director of sport Klaus Allofs says they want to sit down and offer him an improved deal to keep him at the Bundesliga's runners-up.

“Kevin has a contract until 2019, so the signal has already been sent out. He will stay with us,” Allofs told German broadcaster Sport1.

“We've said we will look at his contract.

“The aim is to take into account financially Kevin's extraordinary development and I think we will reach an agreement here very quickly.”

The Belgian attracted plenty of attention after scoring 16 goals and setting up 29 more in all competitions in a stellar season after joining from Chelsea where he was given few opportunities by Blues boss Jose Mourinho.

Wolfsburg will be back in the Champions League next season for the first time since 2009 having finished second only to Bayern Munich in the German league last season. – AFP



from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1LFthJD
Read More

Uefa ease FFP restrictions

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,,,,,

Uefa has presented new financial fair play rules easing restrictions on clubs in a bid to tempt investors.

|||

Uefa has presented new financial fair play rules easing restrictions on clubs in a bid to tempt investors after a tough three-year campaign to cut sky-high debt in the European game.

With Gulf state-owned Manchester City and Paris Saint Germain still feeling the pain of sanctions ordered last year, Uefa's executive eased the rules at a meeting in Prague on Monday.

They will force clubs to give extra information on ownership but will also start new voluntary financial revival plans to allow clubs to avoid sanctions and to spend on players if they have a “plausible and conservative” business plan.

The new Uefa rules are clearly intended to attract investors.

Since the introduction of Financial Fair Play in 2011 clubs have basically been ordered to live within their means.

Uefa says that European clubs' overall debt has been cut from 1.7 billion euros ($1.89 billion) in 2011 to 487 million euros in 2014.

Uefa president Michel Platini insisted that the new fair play is “an expansion and a strengthening” of the rules.

“The overall objectives of financial fair play remain the same. We are just evolving from a period of austerity to one where we can offer more opportunities for sustainable growth and development,” he said.

But Uefa general secretary Gianni Infantino acknowledged legal challenges made against the rules and doubts raised by some clubs about the restrictions.

“This is what we were hearing: 'Why should we invest if it's forbidden. If I invest I am in breach (of fair play and) there are consequences,'“ Infantino said after the executive committee approved the new rules.

“We are sure that these new rules will encourage investors to invest in European football because European football is the best product in the world when it comes to club football.”

Manchester City, owned by an Abu Dhabi state entity, and Paris St Germain, controlled by a Qatar government entity, both recorded losses of more than 100 million euros ($110 million) in some seasons, leading to questions about how debts are covered.

Uefa in particular said that a backdated 200 million euro sponsorship deal with the Qatar Tourism Office was not market value and a secret subsidy.

In future, any sponsor that gives more than 30 percent of a club's revenue's will be considered a “related party” to the club.

In the past two years, Uefa has had fair play plans with 23 clubs including City, Paris St Germain, Inter Milan, AS Roma and Sporting Lisbon. Dynamo Moscow have been banned from European competition next year while others have faced huge fines.

Four clubs have already left their fair play plans though and Uefa said it did not anticipate any new major cases.

The fair play rules have faced a legal challenge from Manchester City and Paris fans who got a Brussels court to block the implementation of a new phase of the existing rules.

Uefa's legal counsel Alasdair Bell said however the governing body was confident the ruling would be overturned. The fans and a players' agent want to stop Uefa reducing the permitted deficit from 45 million euros to 30 million euros.

Infantino insisted that fair play has been a success and “is really in the head of everyone: of every club manager, every coach, the players, the agents, everyone.” – AFP



from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1eXijlH
Read More

Ramos wants United move

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,,,,,

Sergio Ramos has told Real Madrid he wants to join Manchester United this summer.

|||

Sergio Ramos has told Real Madrid he wants to join Manchester United this summer.

United made an opening bid of £28.5million last week which was rejected by Madrid. However, after being informed of the offer, Ramos has made it clear to Madrid that he wants them to negotiate with United and reach an agreement.

The development has shocked Madrid, who expected the Ramos affair to end with a revised contract offer. Ramos has a buy-out clause of £142m but believes United’s offer represents good value for a player of his age — considering he has two years left on his contract.

Real will attempt to appease Ramos over his contract but his brother and agent Rene is understood to have intimated to the club hierarchy that the opportunity for that has passed. Madrid’s next likely step is to demand United goalkeeper David de Gea as part of negotiations.

United remain confident of signing Morgan Schneiderlin too from Southampton although a fee has yet to be agreed for the 24-year-old France international. – Daily Mail



from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1Ju2Bev
Read More

Spurs cut their losses with Paulinho

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,,,,,

Tottenham Hotspur have managed to offload misfit midfielder Paulinho to Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande for £9.8million.

|||

Tottenham Hotspur have managed to offload misfit Brazilian midfielder Paulinho to Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande for £9.8million.

The 26-year-old failed to live up to expectations at White Hart Lane after signing for £17m from Brazilian club Corinthians in 2013.

His four-year deal at Guangzhou reunites him with former Brazil manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, who included the midfielder in his squad at last year's World Cup.

Paulinho arrived in England with a reputation as an all-action midfielder for Brazil. But he struggled to adapt to the Premier League and failed to stay in the Tottenham side under Mauricio Pochettino. He made 30 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring just twice.

Southampton defender Nathaniel Clyne underwent a medical yesterday ahead of his £12.5m move to Liverpool.

The 24-year-old England right-back was in the city after returning from holiday and is likely to be announced as the club's sixth summer signing tomorrow.

Sunderland hope to complete the signing of Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates this week. They are close to tying up a £2m deal for the 24-year-old Uruguay centre-back who was on loan at the Stadium of Light last season.

Coates is enjoying a break after Uruguay's Copa America camaign but with just a year of his contract at Anfield to run, he should become Dick Advocaat's first signing as the head coach attempts to rebuild his squad.

Coates was signed on loan by compatriot Gus Poyet last season and although he struggled to make an impact early on in the North-east, he came to the fore during Sunderland's successful survival bid, playing every minute of the final six games from which they took nine points.

England defender Phil Jones yesterday signed a new contract designed to keep him at Manchester United for four more years.– The Independent



from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1eX4Uda
Read More

Netherlands coach Hiddink quits

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,,,,,

Guus Hiddink has quit as coach of the Netherlands after spending less than one year in his second spell in the job.

|||

Amsterdam - Guus Hiddink has quit as coach of the Netherlands after spending less than one year in his second spell in the job, the Football Association (KNVB) announced on Monday.

The 68-year-old hands over to assistant Danny Blind with the Dutch third in their Euro 2016 qualifying group, facing the possibility of a playoff tie to win a spot at next year's championship in France.

The much-travelled Hiddink has delivered some mediocre results and been heavily criticised since taking over from Manchester United-bound Louis van Gaal in August.

It was previously planned that Blind would take over as the number one following Euro 2016.

“I think it's a real pity things worked out like this,” Hiddink said in a statement.

“It was an honour to be the national coach again and I wish my successor and all the staff every success on the road to Euro 2016.”

The Dutch finished third at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and since then they have won four games in 10 matches, drawing once and losing five times.

They are five points behind leaders Iceland and three adrift of Czech Republic in Group A although they still have to host both in Euro 2016 qualifying.

Hiddink's team lost to Czech Republic and Iceland in September and October last year and also dropped points at home to Turkey in March.

He was questioned by reporters in recent months over an apparent failure to forge the special bonds with his players that he had in the past.

Hiddink, who has also coached a host of top clubs including Real Madrid and Chelsea, responded by saying the negative reaction was disproportional.

The Dutch reached the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup in France during his first spell in charge. – Reuters



from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1FMFp3b
Read More

Cech thanks Abramovich for move

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,,,,,

Petr Cech thanked Roman Abramovich after the Chelsea owner allowed the goalkeeper to join arch-rivals Arsenal.

|||

London - Petr Cech thanked Roman Abramovich from “the bottom of my heart” after the Chelsea owner allowed the club's long-serving goalkeeper to move across London and join arch-rivals Arsenal.

Cech, the most successful keeper in Chelsea's history having won four Premier League titles and one Champions League, said he never envisaged leaving Stamford Bridge but had no choice after becoming second-choice to Belgian Thibaut Courtois last season.

“I thought this would never happen ... it is time for me to say goodbye to Chelsea,” the 33-year-old said in a personal message to the fans.

“The club I have lived every single minute for since joining in July 2004, the club in which I thought I'd hang my gloves and boots one day and finish my career, but life doesn't always turn out the way you think it will.

“Last summer things changed and I understood I was no longer the first choice...the limited playing time gave me the chance to refresh and rest mentally as well as make me realise just how much I enjoy playing football at the highest level,” said Cech.

“That's why I spoke to Mr Abramovich about me staying in the Premier League and I'd like to thank him from the bottom of my heart for his support in this matter. It means so much to me because without him Chelsea would not be where it is now.”

Cech, who will play one of his first games for Arsenal against his former club in the Community Shield at Wembley on Aug. 2, described his 11 years at Stamford Bridge as “an incredible journey”.

“I couldn't be more proud,” he said. “As a team we made history together. I would personally like to thank everybody involved with Chelsea for their support, all the players, staff, managers and coaching staff.

“But most important of all a huge thank you goes to all the Chelsea fans. I did everything for you and you gave me your love back. I'll never forget it, it will stay with me forever.”

Some of Arsenal's players have already welcomed their new team mate to the club.

“Wow what a signing! One of the best @PremierLeague keepers ever! Welcome @PetrCech,” Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey said on his Twitter account.

“From blue to red - welcome @petrcech to the @Arsenal family,” added Germany playmaker Mesut Ozil. – Reuters



from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1JtZHX6
Read More

Chile into Copa America final

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,,,,,

Chile took another step towards their dream of winning a first Copa America on home soil with victory over Peru.

|||

Santiago - Chile took another step towards their dream of winning a first Copa America on home soil with a 2-1 win over Peru on Monday but Eduardo Vargas' match-winning double was overshadowed by an early refereeing decision that turned the game the hosts' way.

Carlos Zambrano's harsh sending off for a high tackle after 20 minutes was the second game in a row that Chile's rivals have been hit with controversial red cards.

The decision was a hard one to swallow for Peru, who in spite of being underdogs had started well in front of a capacity crowd at Santiago's National Stadium.

“I think Zambrano's expulsion was a bit tough,” Peru striker Paolo Guerrero told television cameras.

“I don't want to complain about the refereeing but there were a lot of unexpected decisions. If it had been 11 against 11 it would have been a different story.”

Chile's opponents in last week's quarter-final, Uruguay, were reduced to nine men in controversial fashion with Edinson Cavani and Jorge Fucile being sent off in Santiago.

Cavani's red card came after Chile defender Gonzalo Jara stuck his finger up the striker's backside and when he responded with the slightest of touches Jara fell to the ground theatrically, prompting the referee to send the Uruguayan off.

Chile got the decisive goal shortly after.

Jara later had a three-game ban for provoking Cavani cut to two by the governing body of South American football.

Peru refused to cave in after Zambrano's dismissal and matched their hosts in a pulsating first half.

But just when it looked like the teams would go in all square at half time Chile took the lead when striker Vargas poked the ball home from three yards after an Alexis Sanchez cross had come back off the post.

Television replays showed Vargas was marginally offside, but justice seemed to be done seconds into the second half when he had what looked like a legitimate goal chalked off for offside.

Peru came back into the game and equalised on the hour mark when Guerrero split the Chilean defence with a pass for Luis Advincula. He whipped in a cross from the right that Gary Medel turned into his own net.

Peru's lead lasted just four minutes, however, and again it was Vargas who did the damage as he picked up the ball in midfield and lashed home an unstoppable strike from 30 yards.

Chile, who have never won the Copa America in its 99-year existence, will play the winners of Tuesday's semi-final between Argentina and Paraguay. – Reuters



from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1U2RwnL
Read More

Cech joins Arsenal

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,,,,,

Petr Cech ended a highly successful 11-year spell at Chelsea when he moved to Premier League rivals Arsenal.

|||

London - Czech Republic goalkeeper Petr Cech ended a highly successful 11-year spell at English champions Chelsea when he moved to Premier League rivals Arsenal on Monday.

Cech, who made over 400 appearances at Stamford Bridge and won the Champions League and four Premier League titles, joins Arsenal on a long-term contract for a fee British media reported to be worth around 11 million pounds ($17.31 million).

"I'm really excited about joining Arsenal and can't wait to join up for pre-season," Cech, 33, told the club's website (www.arsenal.com)

"I have the same commitment to football, the same motivation and the same hunger for success as I had at the beginning of my career.

"When (Arsenal manager) Arsene Wenger spoke to me about his ambitions for this club, and how he saw me as part of this team, the decision was clear."

One of Cech's first games for Arsenal will be against Chelsea at Wembley on Aug. 2 in the traditional match between the FA Cup winners and Premier League champions.

Before that his new club play in the four-team Asia Trophy in Singapore next month and then host the Emirates Cup against Olympique Lyonnais, Villarreal and VfL Wolfsburg.

Chelsea were reluctant to sell the Cech but accepted he did not want to spend another campaign as deputy to Thibaut Courtois who is 10 years younger.

Belgian international Courtois became manager Jose Mourinho's first choice last season after returning from three years on loan at Atletico Madrid.

Cech moved to Stamford Bridge from Stade Rennes in 2004 but made only six appearances in last season's league triumph.

His other major honours included the Champions League in 2012, when he saved a penalty in the final against Bayern Munich and two more spot kicks in the shootout, the 2013 Europa League, four FA Cup wins and three League Cups.

"Petr Cech is a player that I have admired for a long time and I am very pleased that he has decided to join us," Arsenal boss Wenger said.

"He has proven over many seasons that he is one of the outstanding keepers in the world and he will add great strength to our squad."

Reuters



from Soccer Soccer Extended RSS http://ift.tt/1SXX6Gt
Read More