Prestigioso medio europeo dice que Sánchez es el nuevo Cristiano Ronaldo

"SA7, el nuevo CR7" titula el perfil del chileno publicado en el sitio de la cadena de televisión Eurosport.

 

Continúan las alabanzas para Alexis Sánchez en Europa. Ahora la cadena televisiva Eurosport, en su sitio web en francés, dedica un perfil al chileno titulado "AS7, el nuevo CR7". 
"Alexis Sánchez, puntero derecho de Udinese, es una de las grandes revelaciones del año en Italia. Es más pequeño que Cristiano Ronaldo y menos poderoso, pero también tiene dinamita en sus pies... es un de los mejores dribleadores del mundo", sostiene el artículo. 
"CR7 tiene que saber que el pequeño, como él, no le falta carácter. En la cancha, con la pelota, es una verdadera batería eléctrica", agrega.
El artículo destaca el "autismo del chileno ante los micrófonos", su niñez en Tocopilla y sus primeros pasos como jugador bajo el mando técnico de Nelson Acosta, quien asegura que ver jugar al "Niño Maravilla" es un placer. 
"Tiene la capacidad de eliminar a su rival con una rapidez excepcional... Es un espectáculo, un verdadero placer para los ojos... Es simplemente excepcional y pronto firmará en un grande de Europa en una suma record para nuestro país", asegura Acosta. 
Pese a las comparación con el portugués, Eurosport cita las palabras que alguna vez sostuvo el propio Sánchez respecto al tema. "Cristiano es uno de los mejores jugadores del planeta, pero yo soy Alexis Sánchez y no Cristiano Ronaldo. Quiero dejar una huella: la mía. Y ser en el tiempo, el mejor jugador del mundo".
Por otra parte, en Italia, el representante del chileno, Fernando Felicevich, aseguró que el jugador se irá de Udinese en junio. 
"Yo puedo confirmar algo: en junio Alexis Sánchez cambia de equipo", dijo. Además, reconoció el interés de varios técnicos en el chileno.
"Han hablado bien Alex Ferguson, Leonardo o Roberto Mancini, aunque no quiere decir que sus clubes estén interesados en él", sostuvo.

Toronto FC's preseason training camp continues in Turkey! The boys played their first match of 2011

Toronto FC's preseason training camp continues in Turkey! The boys played their first match of 2011 on Wednesday and tied 1-1 with Partizan Belgrade of Serbia. Nana Attakora scored the goal for the Reds.

FULL TIME: Toronto FC 1-1 Partizan Belgrade

REPORT:
Nana Attakora scored Toronto FC’s goal as the Reds tied 1-1 with Partizan Belgrade in their first preseason game of 2011 at the Calista Luxury Resort near Antalya in Turkey on Wednesday.

Toronto took the lead as early as the 6th minute when Attakora scored off a corner. The Canadian defender came forward for the set piece and when the delivery sailed to the back of the penalty area, he crossed back into the danger zone, only to see the ball go straight into the net.

Toronto had lots of possession in the early stages and in the 12th minute, trialist Gianluca Zavarise fired over the bar with a free kick from the edge of the penalty area after a foul on Jacob Peterson.

Zavarise was one of four trialists named in the starting lineup by Head Coach Aron Winter along with Uruguyan attacker Santiago Gonzalez Areco and Dutch forwards Nick Soolsma and Javier Martina.

Partizan went close to equalizing when they hit the post in the 19th minute when a corner was only half cleared, and Reds goalkeeper Stefan Frei also made an excellent double stop to keep the Serbians out in the 32nd minute.

Toronto had a golden opportunity to double their lead nine minutes before half time when Gonzalez was fouled in the penalty area. Dwayne De Rosario stepped up to take the spot kick, but blasted the shot against the post.

Just four minutes before half time, Partizan gained a penalty of their own and scored to tie the game at 1-1.

Toronto changed all 11 players at half time but maintained their 4-3-3 formation. The second half lineup included two more players on trial with the club, Ghanaian midfielder King Gyan Osei and Dutch winger Bas Ent. 2011 MLS SuperDraft pick Joao Plata also saw action in the second half along with Toronto FC Academy players Ashtone Morgan and Oscar Cordon.

Partizan almost took a 62nd minute lead with a free kick that hit the post, and then it was Toronto’s turn to go close at the midway point in the second half when Ent found himself played through on goal following an excellent pass from Gyan, but the Dutch winger shot wide.

Toronto pushed forward as they searched for a winner, and in the 75th minute Cordon shot against the woodwork from the edge of the box after a feed from Plata. Then with six minutes remaining, Brazilian Maicon Santos fired just over the bar with a free kick from 25 yards out.

Dwayne De Rosario came back into the game with five minutes left to play after an injury to Cordon, and Toronto finished the game with 10 men after Doneil Henry’s 90th minute sending off for picking up a second yellow card.

Toronto FC’s squad will remain in Turkey through until February 12. There is one more match currently scheduled; against Dinamo Zagreb on Thursday, February 10.

Toronto FC first half lineup:
Stefan Frei, Dan Gargan, Nana Attakora, Adrian Cann, Gianluca Zavarise, Jacob Peterson, Nick LaBrocca, Dwayne De Rosario, Nick Soolsma, Javier Martina, Santiago Gonzalez Areco.

Toronto FC second half lineup:
Milos Kocic, Ty Harden, Doneil Henry, Emmanuel Gomez, Ashtone Morgan, King Gyan Osei, Nathan Sturgis, Oscar Cordon (Dwayne De Rosario 85’, Bas Ent, Maicon Santos, Joao Plata

Second Half Notes:

90' Ejection. TFC's Henry sent off for a second yellow card.

81' Free kick TFC. Maicon from 25 yards - flies just over bar.

77' Handball by Partizan. Free-kick from 30-yards, weak from  TFC - cleared.

75' Plata to Cordon, he shoots from edge of box off woodwork.

68' Excellent through ball by Gyan finds Ent who shoots just wide.

67' Oscar Cordon making an impact – setting up plays, causing problems for Partizan.

62’ Free kick Partizan - off the post after a foul by Doneil Henry on a Partizan forward.

58' Approaching the hour mark, teams still tied 1-1.

51' Not much action so far in this half.

46' Second half underway...

TFC Second Half Starting XI v. Partizan Belgrade: Milos Kocic, Ty Harden, Doneil Henry, Emmanuel Gomez, Ashtone Morgan, King Gyan Osei, Nathan Sturgis, Oscar Cordon, Bas Ent, Maicon, Joao Plata

HALFTIME: Toronto 1-1 Partizan
Toronto FC are tied 1-1 with Partizan Belgrade at half time in their first preseason game of 2011. The match kicked off just after 5 p.m. local time at the Calista Luxury Resort near Antalya in Turkey.

Toronto took the lead as early as the 6th minute when Reds defender Nana Attakora scored off a corner. The Canadian came forward for the set piece and when the delivery sailed to the back of the penalty area, he crossed back into the danger zone, only to see the ball go straight into the net.

Toronto had lots of possession in the early stages and in the 12th minute, trialist Gianluca Zavarise fired over the bar with a free kick from the edge of the penalty area after a foul on Jacob Peterson.

Zavarise was one of four trialists named in the starting lineup by Head Coach Aron Winter along with Uruguyan attacker Santiago Gonzalez Areco and Dutch forwards Nick Soolsma and Javier Martina.

Partizan went close to equalizing when they hit the post in the 19th minute when a corner was only half cleared, and Reds goalkeeper Stefan Frei also made an excellent double stop to keep the Serbians out in the 32nd minute.

Toronto had a golden opportunity to double their lead nine minutes before half time when Gonzalez was fouled in the penalty area. Dwayne De Rosario stepped up to take the spot kick, but blasted the shot against the post.

Just four minutes before half time, Partizan gained a penalty of their own and scored to tie the game at 1-1.

Toronto FC first half lineup: Frei, Gargan, Attakora, Cann, Zavarise, Peterson, LaBrocca, De Rosario, Soolsma, Martina, Gonzalez.

First Half Notes:

41' GOAL: Nemanja Tomic. PENALTY to Partizan - they score. Match level 1-1.

36' PENALTY to TFC - De Rosario hits the post. Missed PK.

35’ Long shot by De Rosario awkwardly saved by the keeper and cleared for a corner.

33' End-to-end game. Peterson shot blocked. TFC corner - cleared.

32’ Double save from super Stefan Frei to keep Partizan out.

31' Zavarise lively down the left. Fouled. Free kick taken quickly but comes to nothing.

27' Partizan corner – half cleared. Ball back into the box, they shoot wide.

22' TFC dominating on possession – stretching Partizan through width.

19' Reds escape a close call as Partizan hits the post following a corner.

18' End to end game, but not much flow. LaBrocca, Zavarise and Gargan most active.

12' Free Kick Toronto. Zavarise shoots over the bar.

11' Foul on Peterson.

8' Free Kick Partizan. Cleared by Cann.

6' GOAL: Nana Attakora - Toronto 1-0 Partizan

Wednesday 9:35 a.m. - TFC first half Starting XI v. Partizan Belgrade:

Stefan Frei, Dan Gargan, Nana Attakora, Adrian Cann, Zianluca Zavarise, Jacob Peterson, Nick LaBrocca, Dwayne De Rosario, Nick Soolsma, Javier Martina, Santiago Gonzalez

--
Toronto FC will play its first preseason match against Partizan Belgrade on Wednesday at 10 a.m. ET from the Calista Luxury Resort in Belek, Turkey.

Comité Olímpico de Chile no descarta intervenir en crisis del fútbol

Neven Ilic criticó que la ANFP tenga más poder que la Federación, y dijo que si el asunto se agrava, podrían ayudar.

Neven Ilic, presidente del Comité Olímpico de Chile, criticó el conflicto que se vive debido a las elecciones en la ANFP y no descartó que tomen medidas si la crisis se agrava, considerando que la Federación de Fútbol es miembro del Coch.
Ilic entregó sus opiniones tras la exhibición de la seleccion chilena de vóleibol playa, que venció a Argentina, en Mar del Plata, en la primera fase de la Continental Cup, clasificatoria para los JJ.OO. de Londres.
El timonel del Coch dijo que la situación del fútbol se enredó y que "me preocupa mucho. Habíamos visto el fútbol en un manejo que parecía profesional, prolijo y hoy es el hermano más complicado que tenemos. Estuvimos conversando si nos corresponde... Me parece que es la Federación de Fútbol la que rige y la que está inscrita en el Comité Olímpico de Chile y la ANFP es un brazo de esa federación. Pero hoy parece que la que maneja el cuento es la ANFP. Es muy negativo para la imagen del deporte, del fútbol y hay que buscar alguna forma de solucionarlo. se está encendiendo cada vez más y no veo muchas voluntades de arreglarlo. Hay que darle un corte lo antes posible".
Ilic agregó que "si este tema estuviera en otra federación nosotros deberíamos participar de alguna manera, en el fútbol, que tiene otro carácfter no estamos convencidos. Pero si vemos que esto sigue creciendo veremos como podemos ayudar... No sé con qué acción concreta, porque esto se desodenó mucho y muy rápido, Y tieje problemas de forma, nace mal. Hay un estatuto y los estatutos deben respetarse. Que después creas que el estatuto no te es muy cómodo y hay que cambiarlo, se cambia.
Respecto de la organización, Ilici opinó que "la federación de fútbol debe representar todas las instancias del desarrollo de ese deporte y la ANFP debería ser el brazo que agrupa los intereses profesionales. Pero ma perece que es la ANFP la que manda el desarrollo.Está mal estructurado, así no funciona".

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba recovering from malaria

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba recovering from malaria

Chelsea FC announced Tuesday that star striker Didier Drogba is recovering from a lightning bout of malaria he apparently contracted on holiday.

The bout of the mosquito-borne blood disease couldn’t have been too serious. The 32-year-old Ivorian played 76 minutes against Spartak Moscow last Wednesday. He was on the bench for the first half of Sunday’s game against Liverpool with what the club described as “a virus.” But he was scrambled into action for the second half, where he did appear sluggish.

His condition was diagnosed Monday after a blood test. According to his manager, he’s already fully recovered.

“Didier has had problems,” Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti said Tuesday. “He had a virus and lost power in training. We now know what he had was malaria. He was given some time off and came back with malaria.

“Now he’s OK and will be back, immediately, in his best condition. He suffered because he was not 100 per cent but after the treatment he will be better.”

Drogba’s celebrity in his native Ivory Coast and throughout Africa is immense. As such, he’s intimately involved in a Right To Play initiative to combat the disease, called United Against Malaria.

“My foundation is involved because the objective of the foundation is health. We buy a lot of nets to give to people every year to help prevent malaria,” Drogba said earlier of the initiative, according to the Guardian.

It’s been an eventful year for Drogba on the health front.

He broke his arm shortly before World Cup 2010 got under way in South Africa, but played in a cast.

2011 Women World Cup Qualification: Canada wins CONCACAF Championship

Canada defeated Mexico for the second time in six days to win the CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifier championship on Monday 8 November in Cancún, Mexico. Canadian captain Christine Sinclair’s sixth goal of the tournament in the 54th minute was enough to lead Canada to a 1:0 victory. The win capped an impressive tournament for the Canadian squad who finished undefeated with a 5-0-0 record; tallying 17 goals while conceding zero in the process.

With its place at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011 already safely secured, the Canadian’s faced a confident Mexico side that was coming off an impressive win over USA to advance to the final. The final proved to be a much tighter contest than the Group A match played between the two sides earlier in the competition.

The Canadian side created more in the way of clear cut chances in a cagey opening 45 minutes. Forward Melissa Tancredi saw a flicked header come back off the cross bar six minutes into the match and her follow up effort from the rebound was deflected wide.

Playing in front of an enthusiastic home crowd the Mexican side started much more confidently than it had when Canada dominated Mexico 3:0 the final group stage match six days earlier.

Sinclair nearly broke the dead lock in the 22nd minute as she weaved through the Mexican defence before hitting a low shot which was saved at full stretch by Erika Vanegas in the Mexican goal.

Veteran Mexican forward Maribel Dominguez was the most dangerous Mexican on the pitch and it was the tricky forward who won a pair of dangerous free kicks on the edge of the Canadian penalty area. Fortunately for Canada, the Mexican attackers were unable to trouble Karina LeBlanc in the Canadian goal with its resulting shots.

LeBlanc did have to be sharp in the 38th minutes as a low cross was destined for the far corner before she reached out a strong hand to push the ball away from danger.

The match exploded into life in the 53rd minute. Canada worked a short corner routine to perfection to set-up Sophie Schmidt for a strike on goal which came back off the post. The rebound fell to Josée Bélanger at the top of box and her first time effort was goal-bound until Mexican defender Veronica Perez deliberately used her hand to tip the ball over the bar. The Trinidad referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot and produced a red card for Perez. Sinclair stepped up and calmly converted the penalty kick to give Canada the lead it wouldn’t relinquish.

Down a player the Mexican’s picked up the physical intensity as both teams committed to each tackle following the goal.

The Canadian squad kept its defensive shape and limited Mexico’s chances while comfortably seeing out the remainder of the match.

With the 1:0 victory over Mexico Canada completes the competition without conceding a single goal, an impressive feat at an international competition. Canada’s well organized team defence was expertly marshalled by ever-present centre back Candace Chapman, who along with Sinclair and Schmidt were the only Canadians to play all 450 minutes of play during the qualifiers.

Coach Morace named the same starting eleven from the side that defeated Mexico 3:0 in the final group stage match as Tancredi and Carmelina Moscato returned to line-up while youngsters Jonelle Filigno and Desiree Scott returned to the subs bench. LeBlanc started in goal, Marie-Eve Nault, Candace Chapman, Schmidt, and Rhian Wilkinson left to right across the back line, Kaylyn Kyle, Moscato, and Diana Matheson in midfield while Belanger and Sinclair joined Tancredi in attack. Canada made one halftime substitution as Moscato was replaced by Scott. The two other Second half substitutions saw Bélanger replaced by Filigno in the 73rd minute and Tancredi replaced by Christina Julien in the 83rd.
Canada, whose title sponsor is Winners and presenting sponsor is Teck, will now shift its focus to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011. 2011 will mark Canada’s fifth consecutive FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance. The 22 day football celebration will be held in nine cities across Germany beginning on 26 June leading to a 17 July final in Frankfurt. Mexico has also qualified for Germany 2011 by virtue of reaching the CONCACAF final. USA, the third place finisher, will try to become the third team to qualify from CONCACAF as it faces Italy in a home and home series with the winner advancing directly to the World Cup.

Soccer Canada announces men’s U-23/Olympic camp

The Canadian Soccer Association has announced it will hold a men’s U-23/Olympic identification camp this 8-18 November. Coach Tony Fonseca has invited 18 players to the camp which will be held in Sunrise, FL, USA. This will be coach Fonseca’s second camp this season.

As part of Fonseca’s identification camp in Sunrise, FL, the team will train twice daily and take part in a pair of exhibition matches against local clubs.

The men’s U-23 program features players born 1989 or later, which from an age category includes players that took part in last year’s 2009 CONCACAF Men’s Under-20 Championship. Coach Fonseca will have until early 2012 to prepare this age category for the CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualification Tournament.

Two years ago, only two teams qualified through CONCACAF for the 2008 Men’s Olympic Football Tournament. Canada performed very well in the tournament and came within a win of reaching the Olympics.

Nine players called into this camp took part in Fonseca’s previous men’s U-23 camp in January. The players come from clubs in Canada, USA and Europe. The youngest players are 19 while the oldest players are 21.

CANADA
GK- Julien Latendresse Lévesque | GER / Energie Cottbus | Chambly, QC, CAN
GK- Michal Misiewicz | POL / Polonia Bytom | Calgary, AB, CAN
D- Sean Hart | USA / Schulz Academy | Toronto, ON, CAN
D- Fabrice Lassonde | GER / Ingolstadt FC | Mont-St-Grégoire, QC, CAN
D- Ashtone Morgan | CAN / Toronto FC Academy | Toronto, ON, CAN
D- Eddy Sidra | Unattached / sans club | Edmonton, AB, CAN
M- Philippe Davies | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Longueuil, QC, CAN
M- Ethan Gage | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Cochrane, AB, CAN
M- Mozesh Gyorio | USA / FC Tampa Bay | Stratford, PE, CAN
M- Jonathan Parolini | ITA / ASD Bojano | Vaughan, ON
M- Cesar Santamaria | SLV / CD Municipal | Regina, SK, CAN
M- Jarek Whiteman | CAN / Portugal FC | Brampton, ON, CAN
F- Reda Agourram | CAN / Impact Montréal | Montréal, QC, CAN
F- Randy Edwini-Bonsu | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Edmonton, AB, CAN
F- Sherif El-Masri | SIN / Home United FC | Scarborough, ON, CAN
F- Derek Gaudet | USA / Portland Timbers | Bayside, NS, CAN
F- Igor Pisanjuk | HUN / Szolnoki MÁV FC | Mississauga, ON, CAN
F- Kyle Porter | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Mississauga, ON, CAN

Canada faces Mexico today for CONCACAF title

Canada will face Mexico in the CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifier championship final on Monday 8 November in Cancún, Mexico. The two sides have already qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011, but will now play for the CONCACAF championship trophy and a set of gold medals on Monday night.

The championship final kicks off at 20.00 (local time) at the Estadio Andres Quintana Roo. The match will be broadcast live on CBCSports.ca, bold television, Radio-Canada.ca/sports and CONCACAF TV (21.00 ET / 18.00 PT). The Canada-Mexico final will be preceded by the match for third place between USA and Costa Rica (17.00 local).

'The numbers suggest we have been one of the best teams in tournament,' said national coach Carolina Morace. 'We must now try to win the tournament.'
Canada is the only undefeated team left standing in the tournament. Canada is 4-0-0 after three wins in the group stage and a 4:0 win over Costa Rica in the semi-final stage. Mexico also won its semi-final match (an impressive 2:1 win over USA), but its record is 3-0-1 including an 0:3 loss to Canada in the group stage.

The 2010 championship will mark the second time Canada and Mexico meet in a CONCACAF women’s final. Twelve years ago, the two sides met in the 1998 CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifier in Etobicoke, ON, with Canada taking gold after a 1:0 score line in the final. USA did not participate that year as it had already qualified as host of the FIFA Women’s World Cup USA 1999; Canada and Mexico, meanwhile, both booked tickets for USA 1999.

In 2011, Mexico will be taking part in its second FIFA Women’s World Cup while Canada will be taking part in its fifth-consecutive FIFA Women’s World Cup (all since Sweden 1995). USA and Costa Rica still have a chance to qualify for Germany 2011, but only the CONCACAF third-place finisher will get that chance when it faces Italy in a two-leg playoff in late November.
Canada, whose title sponsor is Winners and presenting sponsor is Teck, has 20 healthy players for Monday’s final. While it will be facing a pro-Mexican crowd at the Estadio Andres Quintana Roo, it will have the support of all Canadian fans back home as well as the contingent of Canadian fans who traveled to Cancún for the tournament.

To date, the Canadian Soccer Association has won eight CONCACAF titles, including the one by Canada’s women’s team at the 1998 CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifier. Canada’s national teams have also won gold in 1985 (Men’s Championship), 1986 (Men’s U-20 Championship), 1996 (Men’s U-20 Championship), 2000 (Men’s Gold Cup), 2004 (Women’s U-20 Championship), 2008 (Women’s U-20 Championship) and 2010 (Women’s U-17 Championship in March).