Lloyd shines as Americans triumph

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The United States won the Women's World Cup for the third time after crushing Japan.

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Vancouver - The United States won the Women's World Cup for the third time, crushing Japan 5-2 on Sunday with striker Carli Lloyd scoring the tournament's fastest ever hat-trick, including a spectacular goal from the half-way line.

The American captain struck three times inside 16 minutes as the US stormed into an unexpected and unsurmountable 4-0 lead over their shell-shocked opponents.

Japan, winners four years ago, were utterly stunned as America’s deadly finishing ensured they added to their 1991 and 1999 titles, and became the first nation to win the Cup three times.

The game, played in front of 53 341 spectators at a packed BC Place, was the highest-scoring Women's World Cup final ever and, for non-Japanese at least, was an entertaining finale to what has been an excellent tournament.

No team had ever scored more than two goals in a Women's World Cup final but the brilliant Lloyd went one better all by herself - and within just 16 minutes.

The opener came in the third minute when Megan Rapinoe drove a low diagonal ball across the area and Lloyd timed her run to perfection, meeting the ball with a powerful, first-time drive past Japan keeper Ayumi Kaihori.

Japan were stunned further just two minutes later when Lloyd doubled the lead - again from a set-piece.

Another low ball into the box did the damage, this time from a Lauren Holiday free-kick which the Japan defence failed to clear and the ball fell to Lloyd, who gleefully slotted home.

Japan had barely time to regroup before they found themselves 3-0 down in the 14th minute with an awful attempted headed clearance from Azusa Iwashimizu falling to Lauren Holiday, who blasted in a volley from inside the penalty area.

Japan had conceded as many goals in the opening 14 minutes as they had in the entire previous six games of the tournament.

However, one of the most remarkable goals ever witnessed in a Women's World Cup arrived just two minutes later when Lloyd, gathering the ball in her own half, saw Kaihori far off her line and shot from 50m out, with the scrambling Japanese keeper only able to palm the ball onto the post and into the net.

Japan restored a little bit of pride in the 27th minute when Yuki Ogimi turned Julie Johnston in the area and fired past Hope Solo to make it 4-1.

The Japanese have been widely praised for their short-passing game but it was an old-fashioned route that brought them, temporarily, back into the game early in the second half.

Aya Miyami's long free-kick into the box was aimed at Sawa and Johnston rose for the ball but could only deflect a header past a helpless Solo.

The glimmer of hope flickered for just two minutes, however, when a US corner fell to Morgan Brian beyond the far post and she did well to find Tobin Heath, who confidently fired home to make it 5-2 and effectively end Japan's hope of a comeback.

Reuters



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Messi business for Argentina

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Victory continues to elude Argentina despite boasting the world’s best player in Lionel Messi.

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Buenos Aires – Former Argentina and Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa says you learn more from defeat than victory.

So Chile will be eternally grateful to the Argentine for having sowed the seeds of their first Copa America triumph, carried through by his disciple and compatriot Jorge Sampaoli.

Bielsa changed perennial losers Chile’s mentality and built a team that reached the World Cup finals in South Africa in 2010 – their first appearance in 12 years.

They reached the last 16 in both competitions, but more than half of Sampaoli’s team that won the Copa America beating Argentina on penalties after their goalless stalemate had played in Bielsa’s team in South Africa five years ago.

Argentina, meanwhile, cannot quite seem to learn from a string of lost finals, including the 2004 Copa America under Bielsa, despite boasting the world’s best player in Lionel Messi.

Messi’s failure with Argentina raises again the debate of how best to have him play for his country when he carries all before him with Barcelona.

It would appear to justify unfavourable comparisons with Diego Maradona, who led Argentina to their second World Cup title in 1986.

MESSI FIT

Messi is a brilliant player who has enjoyed so much success with Barcelona also because he has been accompanied by some great players - first Ronaldinho, then several Spanish World Cup winners notably Xavi and Andres Iniesta, now Brazilian Neymar and Uruguan Luis Suarez.

Would Messi have done as well, breaking scoring records galore and winning tons of silverware at another club?

Would he have been able to do what Maradona did at Napoli and lift the southern Italian club out of mid-table mediocrity and make the sum of its parts better than the individuals, inspiring them to two Serie A titles?

Former Argentina coach Sergio Batista fell on his sword when he said he wanted Argentina to play like Barcelona before their ignominious quarter-final loss on penalties to Uruguay in the 2011 Copa America that cost him the job.

But he must have had a point, that Messi needed the right context to bring out the best in him for Argentina and his successors on the bench have continued with the quest without quite finding the key.

Coach Gerardo Martino sees his own team, brilliant in a 6-1 demolition of Paraguay in the semi-finals, as a work in progress towards the ultimate goal, the World Cup in 2018.

“The defeat doesn’t mean anything with respect to the future,” Martino said. “I’ll carry on with these 23 footballers plus some who weren’t here.

“I imagine tomorrow exactly the same as today in terms of the search ... Today we carry on, as these same lads did after the World Cup final in Brazil. I’m with this team to the death.” – Reuters



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Nigeria axes national coach

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Nigeria’s coach Stephen Keshi has been sacked “for not being committed enough”.

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Lagos – The topsy-turvy troubled relationship between the Nigeria Football Federation and their coach Stephen “Big Boss” Keshi has ended with the NFF sacking him because “he is not committed enough” to the job, the NFF said in a statement.

The former Nigeria international, who coached his country to victory in the African Cup of Nations in 2013 and into the last 16 of the World Cup in Brazil last year before losing to France, has been replaced by Shuaibu Amodu, who was appointed Nigeria’s technical director last week.

The statement issued by the NFF said it had reviewed Keshi’s “actions and inactions” and found he lacked “the required commitment to achieve the federation’s objectives as set out in the coach’s employment contract.”

It added it had “decided to exercise its option to summarily terminate the employment contract of Mr. Stephen Keshi with the federation with immediate effect”.

An NFF disciplinary committee headed by Chris Green has been investigating allegations that Keshi applied to coach Ivory Coast while under contract with Nigeria.

Keshi, 53, took over the national side in 2011 and led them to a long-awaited third African title two years later.

The charismatic coach then quit the day after their 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso in the final, only to change his mind a day later.

The same thing happened after the World Cup last year when he quit and was then reinstated before threatening to leave again last October after a poor run of results as they failed to qualify for this year’s African Cup of Nations.

Keshi is the only African coach to qualify two African teams for the World Cup finals – Togo in 2006, as well as Nigeria. He played 64 times for his country and spent the peak years of his playing career in Belgium in the 1980s and 1990s. – Reuters



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Bafana ease to victory over Mauritius

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Bafana snapped up a 2-0 win over Mauritius in their CHAN second-leg qualifier on Sunday.

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Johannesburg – Bafana Bafana eased to a 2-0 win over Mauritius in their African Nations Championships (CHAN) second-leg qualifier at Stade Anjalay, in Belle Vue Maurel, on Sunday.

It took second-half goals from Mandla Masango and Wandisile Letlabika to separate the sides on the day, and the victory gave the South Africans a 5-0 aggregate win over the two legs as Bafana moved onto the next stage of CHAN qualifying against Angola.

Bafana began the affair in far more dominant fashion than their hosts, and play was mostly restricted to the Mauritius half with the South Africans launching successive waves of attack. Despite their authority in the midfield, there were few serious chances on goal for Bafana.

The visitors had a good chance in the 22nd minute from a set-piece. A free-kick allowed William Twala to run with the ball into the left hand side of the box before crossing for the unmarked Siphelele Ntshangase who deposited his shot into the crowd.

Thamsanqa Gabuza in the 27th minute made a bustling run into the area, but under the close attention of a Mauritius defender could not keep his effort on target.

Such was the dominance of Bafana that the home team only managed their first corner after the half-hour mark, and the set-piece was easily defended by the men in yellow.

Three minutes before the break, Thamsanqa Gabuza ran into space on the edge of the area and fired off a low shot just wide of the left post.

Goalkeeper captain Itumeleng Khune was reduced to a spectator in the first half with no shots on target from Mauritius.

Just after the hour mark, Ntshangase produced a fierce strike in the area but was denied by the woodwork as the ball hurtled into the crossbar as the score remained goalless on the day.

Minutes later, Fabien Pithia, for Mauritius, threatened Khune’s goal with a curling long-range strike which sailed just centimetres over the crossbar.

The visitors finally broke the deadlock in the 69th minute when Masango scored the opener. The player sent in a free-kick from the edge of the area which was deflected into the back of the net off the wall as Bafana moved into a 1-0 lead.

Letlabika doubled the advantage of Bafana in the 84th minute when he finished a move he started as he sprinted into the area and fired past the Mauritius goalkeeper to make it 2-0.



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Tovey begins the spade work

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The work for Neil Tovey, who knows what a winning Bafana can do for the country, starts now.

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Johannesburg – February heralds the 20th anniversary of Bafana Bafana’s sole Africa Cup of Nations title.

In the two decades since, our national team, the pinnacle at which our footballing endeavours should be aimed, has plumbed considerable lows.

It has not again climbed to those heights on the field, even as the Premier Soccer League was growing into one of the most commercially viable competitions on the planet.

There was always a missing link, a loose bolt in the development chain, especially considering the strides that teams like the national under-17s and the under-20s have made at times.

Now, after years of to-ing and fro-ing, the South African Football Association (Safa) has gone to the man who lifted African football’s greatest prize, Neil Tovey and tasked him, as its new technical director, with realising the Vision 2022 that it has put in place.

“It’s a massive challenge,” Tovey acknowledged.

“Probably one of the biggest I’ve had.”

That coming from a man who has survived a heart scare is no small talk.

Like many former players concerned with the fortunes of South African football, Tovey is very serious about turning these around.

“I must just reiterate from the onset that I am not interested in Shakes Mashaba’s job with Bafana,” he said.

“My role is to try and add support, not just to Shakes, but to all the national coaches across the age groups, for men and women.”

In the few days that Tovey’s appointment has been public knowledge, there has been a huge wave of support for the former national captain.

But inevitably there have also been those who have cried foul, questioning the process followed in identifying Tovey as the best candidate.

“I’m not interested in politics or egos. I am here to work,” Tovey insisted.

“The people who have appointed me have their reasons, and all I want to focus on now is getting on with the job.”

As it is, Tovey will have to spend a considerable time on the road as he looks to get to the roots of the issues that continue to hold South African football back.

“We will be meeting football administrators and identifying what the problems are,” Tovey said.

We want to give them a base to work from, across all regions, and then make sure that we are all working towards a common goal.”

That goal, as ever, remains a strong Bafana team, one that is consistently performing and competing on the African stage (and the world) stage.

“Vision 2022 is real and it is also achievable. We first want our team to be back among the top teams in Africa, and then we will build on that.

“But first we have to make sure that we have the systems in place that allow us to have a strong under-17 team,

and then make sure that they go on to under-20, and under-23, because then your senior side takes care of itself.”

Continuity and consistency pop up regularly in Tovey’s answers.

He is adamant that without structure, South African football will continue to flatter to deceive.

“We have to make sure that we have top coaches across the ranks, for the professional and for the youth ranks. What is key is to develop a common mindset in these players from a young stage, so when they step up to an international stage, they are not overawed and can perform.

“To get that, we will need to train up these coaches, and then work hand-in-hand with high-performance centres that are being developed all over the country.”

As technical director, Tovey’s mandate includes making sure that all those streams are flowing into one pool of talent that will give Mashaba, and the national coaches below him, the cream of the crop to compete internationally.

For years, youngsters of promise couldn’t see through the maze in which they could start as a junior star and weave their way, eventually, to the Bafana ranks.

Tovey wants to make that path a lot clearer.

“Nothing would give me more pleasure than to have in, say, five years a system that has everyone going in the same direction – the right direction.

“I’m hugely motivated for this, and I want to do a good job because this game matters to so many people.”

Having touched the hearts of all those people almost 20 years ago, Tovey knows better than most what a winning Bafana can do for the good of the country. And, with that in mind, he knows just how much graft lies ahead.

But hc

“I’m excited. And very grateful for the opportunity. And the work starts now.”



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No price on club’s integrity

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Not many would have predicted the big news in the July week would be about AmaZulu.

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Return flights for two from Joburg to Durban – R5 000. Luxury hotel stay – R10000. VIP tickets to a high-end marquee – R2500. The look on your face when you see your bank balance on Monday morning – priceless.

They say that during Durban July week, money can buy you most things. If you’re short of VIP tickets, it will cost you, but deep enough pockets will get you into the right chill zone. The same applies for hotels, and the long list of after-parties. No one wants to be outside, looking enviously on as others have a ball.

But, not many would have predicted that the biggest news in July week would not come out of Greyville, but would concern the patrons at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, namely AmaZulu FC. The numbers and the actual details are still fuzzy, but the supposed R82 million quoted as the going rate to get a PSL franchise is quite something.

As soon as these rumours started circulating, eyebrows were raised. But how? Just like that? With what money? Are there no rules to stop this? Money really can buy you anything, it seems. But, and this is a serious concern, what doors do deals like this open?

And, more importantly for AmaZulu as a club, what is the thinking behind this decision? Yes, the people of Durban would have been starved of football for a season, at the least. But, save for games involving Kaizer Chiefs, the people of Durban have barely raised a whisper at Moses Mabhida Stadium during the regular season.

Surely, if such lavish amounts of moolah were available, they would have been better utilised acquiring the players that would have made a better fist of preventing relegation? Or, now that the axe has fallen, that money could have been used in keeping the current squad together, as they were making strides under Steve Barker, and bounce straight back.

There is value in a team taking a collective step back, and then taking a giant stride forward together, with everyone pulling in the same direction, united by a single goal to change fortunes. If AmaZulu wanted examples, they could have looked at losing Champions League finalists, Juventus, who have come back from the humiliation of going to Serie B for corruption, but return to win multiple Serie A titles, domestic cups and restored pride in Europe.

Actually, AmaZulu don’t even need to look that far. Just down the road, Lamontville Golden Arrows have just bounced back into the top-flight, and the club as a whole are better for it. Of course, they parted ways with the man who steered them there, but that is not the point.

Arrows went down but gathered themselves and came back up at the first time of asking. In the process, they have unearthed some exciting youngsters, and played to crowds that were bigger and more passionate than those seen at PSL games. They restored pride in their jersey, and did it the hard way; the noble way.

There is no nobility in getting a bailout, buying out an eager seller and then carrying on as if it’s business as usual. Of course, one burning question will remain; what happens if AmaZulu, heaven forbid, find themselves relegated again at the end of the 2015-16 season?

Do they then dig deeper into these eternal pockets that they have revealed, and scour the country for another desperate seller? Or do they then look to sort themselves out as a club, going right down to their development programme, and making sure they never find themselves in that position again? One wonders, too, how the people of Durban, will welcome this transaction, knowing that AmaZulu ought to be plying their trade in the first division?

Acquiring a new franchise – R82m. Monthly PSL grant for clubs – R2m. A club’s integrity – priceless ...



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Siphelele in goal-spree mood

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Leopards’ star Siphelele Ntshangase aims to shine in the Bafana clash with Mauritius today.

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Bafana Bafana will look to seal the second of their two-leg tie against Mauritius in the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers at the Stade Anjalay in Mauritius today.

The South Africans have an advantage over the hosts, after beating them 3-0 at the Dobsonville stadium two weeks ago.

Shakes Mashaba will be hoping his players do not underestimate their opponents.

With the Chan games only allowing players plying their trade in their respective country’s leagues, Mashaba has assembled a team of unknowns in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and the National First Division (NFD) looking to make a name for themselves in international football.

More specifically, 12 of the initial 23-man squad were withdrawn by their clubs ahead of the first leg, as preparation by PSL teams for the 2015-16 campaign has started.

Players from Orlando Pirates had to pull out of the squad because of their ongoing CAF Confederations Cup commitments.

This, however, has given a platform for the likes of Siphelele Ntshangase, who plays for Black Leopards in the NFD, to shine for the team.

The midfielder is one of several players in the squad barely known in South African football circles.

However, the Leopards player has caught the eye of many football fans, with his lovely touches since making his Bafana Bafana debut.

Ntshangase has been in scintillating form.

The Leopards star grabbed the attention of many a football fan and impressed the national team head coach, particularly in the Promotion/Relegation play-offs. He scored nine league goals for the Limpopo side.

Ntshangase has already scored two goals for the senior national team, after netting a brace in the first leg clash against Mauritius and was named Man of the Match after that game.

Now a lot more is expected from the youngster.

“I’m nervous, but I will play my game. If I have to score 10 goals, then I will do it,” said Ntshangase with confidence.

The Leopards midfielder is the key player for Mashaba’s team going into this encounter.

Mauritius, on the other hand, will be looking to make amends after their two recent games.

Prior to their 3-0 loss to Bafana, they were thrashed 7-1 by Ghana in their opening game of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

They have so far conceded 10 goals and found the back of the net once in two matches.

The Islanders will be looking to get a win under their belt as they are playing at home.

But reversing a 3-0 deficit would prove to be a difficult task, especially with Ntshangase and company on form and looking hungry for more goals.



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Chile lift Copa America for first time

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Chile bagged the Copa America for the first time with a cheeky Alexis Sanchez penalty on Saturday.

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Santiago – Chile won the Copa America for the first time on Saturday when a cheeky penalty from Alexis Sanchez clinched a shootout victory over Argentina and glory for the host nation’s golden generation in front of their own fans.

The two sides were deadlocked 0-0 after 90 minutes and when another half an hour of extra time failed to produce a goal, the contest was destined to be decided by penalties.

Lionel Messi stepped up to score Argentina’s first spot kick but, as the first three Chileans converted unerringly, Gonzalo Higuain and Ever Banega missed.

That left the stage set for forward Sanchez, who made up for a quiet game by dinking the ball into Sergio Romero’s net to send the capacity crowd at Santiago’s National Stadium into raptures.

“Our whole idea was to win something, we knew that this was the moment,” goalkeeper Claudio Bravo told reporters.

“This is a privileged generation and now it is time to enjoy it. We are not used to winning anything so this is an exception.”

Chile had beaten Argentina just once in 38 competitive matches before the final and were outsiders to take the trophy for the first time in the 99-year history of the tournament.

Few sides were able to handle their fast-paced football, however, and they won four of their five games on their way to the deciding match, scoring 13 goals and delighting their home fans.

“This is something so nice for all the Chilean people,” midfielder Arturo Vidal told reporters after the whistle.

“We Chileans needed a triumph, something like this Cup, today we took an incredible step, we’re America’s best.”

The final itself was a poor game with neither side able to create many chances.

With Messi uninspired and Sanchez faltering, the teams attempted just 19 shots between them - less than all but one of the Copa America finals contested since 1993.

Higuain came closest to breaking the stalemate for Argentina in the last minute of regulation time.

Messi sent Ezequiel Lavezzi through on the left and he crossed to Higuain at the far post but the striker could only put the ball in the side netting.

Sanchez had one great chance to steal the game for Chile in extra time but blazed over with just the goalkeeper to beat. – Reuters



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Argentina side is the best - Martino

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The current generation of Argentina players is the best ever, even though they have won nothing, Gerardo Martino said.

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Santiago - The current generation of Argentina players is one of the best ever even though the team have not won a major trophy in 22 years, coach Gerardo Martino said on Friday.

Argentina head in to Saturday's Copa America final against Chile seeking their first silverware since 1993, when they last won this tournament.

Since then they have twice reached the final, losing to Brazil both times, and made the World Cup final last year only to lose to Germany.

After the successes of the 1970s and 1980s, when they won the World Cup twice, Argentina's fans and players are hungry for trophies.

Argentina are used to having great generations of footballers, some of whom have won things and others who have not,” Martino told a news conference.

“This is one of the best - not just one of the many Argentine sides in history but one of the best.

“Unfortunately in football you're judged by your achievements, so obviously they'll be more highly regarded if they get the chance to win something.”

Martino also described the current Chile side as “the best Chilean generation in history”.

Argentina striker Sergio Aguero said he was hopeful Saturday's match could mark a turning point for his team.

“It's a long time, 22 years, that we haven't won anything, but we've reached two finals in two years and now we have a great opportunity to win something,” he said. “Hopefully it will become a habit.”

Reuters



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Shakes targets a Bafana ‘goal or two’

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"We hope we can get a goal or two, but the priority is to consolidate on the goals we have."

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Johanensburg - Bafana Bafana completed their home preparations before flying out to Mauritius on Friday.

South Africa takes on Club M, as the Mauritius national football club is known, on Sunday, at the Stade Anjalay.

This will be in the second leg clash of a 2016 Chan qualifier. Kick-off is at 1pm.

Bafana Bafana were scheduled to leave on Thursday, but due to unavailability of flights delayed departure to Friday.

“This has not affected us at all, in fact it was a plus because we managed to squeeze in another fruitful training session. In Mauritius, we would have had to look for a field, but now we don’t have to do that.

“For now we have completed our preparations and are left with just the 45 minutes or so the day before the match at the match venue - in any case we can’t do much except feel the pitch, so we are happy with the turn of events,” said Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba after the squad’s final training session at the University of Johannesburg Stadium in Auckland Park.

The squad has had to make changes to the playing personnel which has also forced changes in the starting line-up. Marc van Heerden starred at left-back in the first leg but injury has ruled him out of the team. Lehlohonolo Nonyane of Mpumalanga Black Aces has been called up and could be thrown into the fray. The defender trained with the team.

“Changes will always be there, but we haven’t decided on who we are going to play. By tomorrow (Saturday) when we get to Mauritius, we will know exactly who will start. But I can confidently say we have a left-back which has been a problematic area since the start of the week, unfortunately the player (Nonyane) arrived late in camp and his level of fitness is suspect,” said Mashaba.

“When we get down to Mauritius we hope he would have settled and will be ready to play. Our physical trainer will assess him so that in the match we will know how to help him and cover for him if needed”.

Mashaba is also delighted with the way things went this week compared to the preparations leading to the first-leg clash.

“It was a very positive and fruitful week for us. The boys showed a lot of hunger - a clear indication that they want to don the national team jersey and we are happy about that,” said the Bafana Bafana mentor, adding this could lead to a good game.

“The question of an avalanche of goals is not easy, the truth is we were happy to score three goals because we haven’t done that in a long time. We can only look forward to doing the same when we get there. We hope we can get a goal or two, but the priority is to consolidate on the goals we have. We are doing everything we can so that our boys are not swallowed by the 3-0 victory that we got in the first leg. All our boys are professional enough and I know they will forget about the past - we always tell them that they must forget about yesterday and prepare for tomorrow. What we achieved yesterday is history now”.

ANA



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No Blatter? No problem!

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The absence of embattled Sepp Blatter will not have any impact on the Women's World Cup final, organisers say.

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Vancouver - Players do not care who hands out trophies and the absence of embattled Fifa president Sepp Blatter will not have any impact on the Women's World Cup final, organisers said on Friday.

With world soccer's governing body embroiled in corruption investigations, Blatter's US based lawyer has told Reuters the Fifa chief will not travel to Vancouver for Sunday's final between the United States and Japan.

It 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.

“The players don't care who gives them the trophy to be quite frank with you,” Canadian Soccer Association president Victor Montagliani told reporters during the tournament's final press conference.

“It's the prerogative of the president, or anybody at Fifa, to go to whatever competition they want.

“The choice was made but I actually think in light of the circumstances, the focus needs to be on the games and the players not the suits that run football like myself or anybody else.

“As I said, whoever wins the World Cup, whether it's you or me who hands them the trophy, I'm sure they are not too bothered by it.”

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.

Fifa said in a statement that Secretary General Jerome Valcke would also not travel to Vancouver.

Reuters was unable to determine the specific reasons why Blatter, a Swiss national, had decided not to attend the final.

Some lawyers with experience in international criminal cases said that Blatter would be ill-advised to travel after an indictment announced on May 27 by US prosecutors against nine current and former Fifa officials and five sports marketing businessmen.

US prosecutors have not accused Blatter, 79, of any 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.

Richard Cullen, Blatter's attorney, told Reuters that that Fifa Senior Vice President Issa Hayatou of Cameroon would preside at the trophy ceremony.

But Tatjana Haenni, the Fifa deputy director of the competitions division and head of women's football, would not confirm who would take over the duty.

“I think who hands the trophy over and what kind of dignitaries we have and what kind of politicians are in the stands is maybe for the teams and spectators maybe not so important,” Haenni told reporters.

“People come to watch the players and watch the game and want to be part of it in the stadium or on TV or whatever means they have that is what people are excited about.

“Mr. Blatter and Mr. Valcke are not here, I think that is another topic.”

Reuters



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Ramos is quick fix LVG needs

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Sergio Ramos, in some ways, the antithesis of the players Ferguson sought towards the end of his tenure.

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London - The restructuring of Manchester United in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era continues apace. Old Trafford’s academy system is being remodelled along more modern lines while United’s scouting network remains under review.

It is, however, deep within the first-team squad that dramatic change at England’s most successful club is being felt and nowhere is that more apparent than in the pursuit of Spain international Sergio Ramos.

The Real Madrid defender is, in some ways, the antithesis of the players Ferguson sought towards the end of his tenure. He is undeniably talented but, at 29, is approaching the final stages of his career. If Ramos does come to Manchester, he will do so on the back of a pay dispute with his current employers.

The transfer, likely to take a fee north of £35million to pull off, would have set alarm bells ringing for Ferguson.

However, the current United - the one left by Ferguson, then passed rather unfortunately by David Moyes to Louis van Gaal - is in need of experienced players, those who can help the club make some forward steps very quickly, players bought for the here and now.

For the time being at least, words such as ‘potential’ and phrases like ‘resale value’ - judged to be so important at Old Trafford until recent times - have been set aside. United find themselves playing catch-up in the slipstream of clubs like Manchester City and Chelsea and this is why they have turned in part to expensive, experienced players.

Those who know Van Gaal are surprised he has authorised a bid of almost £30m for Ramos. The Madrid player is not necessarily a Van Gaal type in terms of character or technical ability.

Nevertheless, the United manager has identified clear failings at the centre of the defence and midfield.

These are fundamental areas and Van Gaal has decided he doesn’t have time to wait and see if Phil Jones will ever fulfil his potential, or if players like Paddy McNair or Tyler Blackett can make the step up from reserve-team level for the long term.

To Van Gaal’s credit, he is doing what he can to look after United’s future. The Dutch international Memphis Depay, signed from PSV Eindhoven, is only 21, Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin, also interesting Arsenal, is 25 and approaching his peak years while another target, Lazio’s Brazilian midfielder Felipe Anderson, is just 22.

Van Gaal is the first manager to be appointed by United for a long time who carries a fundamentally short-term brief. His role is one founded on damage repair, stability and then rapid recovery of ground lost.

This is why the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss continues to hope that Bayern’s midfield totem Bastian Schweinsteiger can be tempted at the age of almost 31.

As Van Gaal prepares to take his team back into the Champions League - they have a two-legged qualifier next month - he is aware the club’s squad has been allowed to run dry of genuine know-how in key areas.

It was not that long ago that United would brief reporters that players over 27 would not be considered for purchase. The signing of Robin van Persie, then 29, from Arsenal three years ago was said to be an exception - a player bought with regaining the Barclays Premier League title in mind.

That piece of business worked brilliantly, of course. Van Persie scored heavily as United wrestled the title back from City in 2013. As the Dutch striker’s contract runs down and his £1m-a-month salary begins to feel a little painful, it is rightly considered to have been worth every penny.

Times are a little different now. Back in 2012, Ferguson’s United squad needed a tweak. This one needs something of an overhaul after a first season under Van Gaal that saw his team finish fourth in unconvincing style.

No matter which way you look at it, United’s pursuit of Ramos seems at odds with what they have traditionally been about. They paid £30m for Rio Ferdinand in 2002 but he was only 23.

Ramos would be a glamour signing but United have never needed to pay for that particular commodity. This is not about that. This is about a manager who inherited a team without a reliable spine.

Van Gaal, 12 months into a three-year contract, does not have time to build one. The only alternative is to try to buy one.

Daily Mail



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Aguero praises Chile trio ahead of final

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Gary Medel, Jorge Valdivia and Eduardo Vargas are three Chile players who have caught Sergio Aguero's eye.

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Santiago - Gary Medel, Jorge Valdivia and Eduardo Vargas are three Chile players who have caught Sergio Aguero's eye at the Copa America, the Argentina striker said on Friday.

“I think Medel is crucial in defence and Valdivia is a player who can create things in midfield,” Aguero told a news conference ahead of Saturday's final between the two sides.

“Vargas is on form and can create a goal out of nothing at any moment. He's a player who maybe doesn't get that many touches of the ball but he's always there so you have to be careful.

“Chile have some great players... they have a great team,” added the Manchester City marksman.

Medel may hold the key as Chile try to stop Aguero and attacking partner Lionel Messi.

Valdivia has been the host nation's most inventive midfielder in the tournament while Vargas has scored four of their 13 goals including a double in the 2-1 defeat of Peru in the semi-finals.

Aguero has bagged three of Argentina's 10 goals and is their top scorer in the competition.

Reuters



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Peru beat Paraguay to claim 3rd place

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Peru beat Paraguay at the Copa America to ensure they finished in third place.

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Chile - Peru beat Paraguay 2-0 at the Copa America on Friday to ensure they finished in third place for the second consecutive edition of the tournament.

Midfielder Andre Carrillo gave them the lead three minutes into the second half, stabbing a shot into the bottom corner of the Paraguayan net after striker Paolo Guerrero had nodded down a Christian Cueva corner.

Guerrero sealed a deserved victory with his fourth goal of the tournament in the 89th minute.

At the last Copa America in 2011, Peru also finished third, beating Venezuela in the clash between the losing semi-finalists. Hosts Chile face Argentina in the final on Saturday.

Reuters



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Chelsea sign Falcao on one-year loan

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Chelsea have signed Radamel Falcao on a season-long loan from Monaco, the Premier League champions said.

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London - Chelsea have signed Colombia striker Radamel Falcao on a season-long loan from Monaco, the Premier League champions said on Friday.

The 29-year-old spent last season on loan at Manchester United, scoring four goals in 29 games.

“I am very happy to be joining Chelsea and can't wait to start training and help with our aim of retaining the league title and being successful in Europe,” Falcao told the club website.

Falcao previously played for River Plate, Porto and Atletico Madrid.

Reuters



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