Rafa closes in on Inter post

Posted on June 7, 2010 by SoccerCapper

Former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez appears to have wasted little time in moving on following his departure from Liverpool (10/1 2010/11 Premier League champions) last week by reportedly agreeing a deal to take over as the new manager of European champions Inter Milan.

Inter president Massimo Moratti has dropped a big hint that the Spanish coach will be installed as Jose Mourinho’s replacement at the San Siro and he is expected to be officially confirmed as their new boss in the next 48 hours.

Moratti told reporters in Italy: “The next few hours could be decisive. But we must ask (technical director Marco) Branca.”

Benitez will also reportedly take his Anfield assistant Mauricio Pellegrino, goalkeeping coach Xavi Valero and fitness coach Paco de Miguel with him to Italy, leaving Liverpool with plenty of holes to fill in their coaching staff when they do move to make an appointment.

It is believed Benitez has agreed a three-year deal with Inter, worth five million euros per season, as he looks to keep the Italian treble winners at the pinnacle of club and European football next season.

Benitez, who won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005 and the FA Cup in 2006 during his six-year tenure on Merseyside, was linked with a move to Serie A towards the end of last season but it was Juventus who were courting the former Valencia chief, but a deal failed to materialise and he has instead opted for Milan.

Meanwhile, Liverpool continue their search for a new boss with plenty of candidates said to be keen on taking the hot-seat despite the ongoing uncertainty over the club’s ownership.

American pair Tom Hicks and George Gillett continue to look for new investment but the lack of financial clout in the transfer market could affect who is eventually named new manager as there may not be much money to spend on new players.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson seems to be the top choice for the Reds and is totesport’s 6/4 favourite, but Kenny Dalglish (5/1), Martin O’Neill (3/1), Harry Redknapp (11/1) and Sven Goran Eriksson (10/1) are the other names in the frame at the minute.

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Algeria record much needed win

Posted on June 7, 2010 by SoccerCapper

Algeria secured a 1-0 win over the UAE in Germany in their final pre-World Cup match (Algeria 500/1 outright winners).

Karim Ziani scored the only goal of the match from the penalty spot in the second half as coach Rabah Saadane answered some of the critics who rounded on him in the defeat in Ireland last week.

The squad Saadane used included defensive pillars Madjid Bougherra and Antar Yahia as well as Medhi Lacen in midfield, while under-fire Yazid Mansouri kept his place in the starting line-up despite his poor showing against Ireland.

Srecko Katanec’s UAE team were well organised early on and put pressure on Faouzi Chaouchi on two occasions.

Algeria should have taken the lead in the 17th minute after an inspired run by Ziani who found Rafik Djebbour in the box but the AEK Athens forward failed to get on the end of the pass.

The game was a sloppy yet energetic affair, with the UAE more than holding their own against their World Cup-bound opponents.

Forwards Matar and Ahmed Khalil were doing their best to trouble the resolute Algerian backline while the Fennecs attempted to inject as much pace into the game as possible, desperately in search of their first goal in three matches.

The start of the second half saw Khalil once again pestering the Algerians with his constant pressure but Chaouchi was alert and brave to come out of his goal and make a vital clearance.

Four minutes into the second half, Algeria won a penalty when Sabil handled the ball in his area. Ziani stepped up and blasted the ball past Humaid with a powerful shot to give the Desert Foxes a 1-0 lead.

Faisal Khalil was subbed into the match for Al Shihi in the 54th minute as Katanec looked for more offensive solutions. Saadane countered by putting in Ghezzal for Rafik Saifi, Djebbour for Boudebouz, and Foued Kadir for Mansouri.

Algeria dominated possession for the rest of the encounter but still couldn’t add a second and remain without a goal from open play in their last three four outings.

Saadane said after the game: “This game was a good test for us. It was very tough and a high level.

“It demonstrated the capabilities of the team, especially with the players returning from injury and took us a step closer to where we want to be. There was a lot of willingness on the part of players, who have given a great deal in these last few weeks.”

He added: “Among the positives are the physicality of the players. We played an attacking game today to try and win, given our status as a World Cup team.

“There were many problems with ball retention. No one could keep the ball and I asked the players at half-time to improve on this and they did in the second half. There are still some problems in attack, where our finishing was lacking. Hopefully we’ll have this during the World Cup.”

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Italy sweating on Pirlo fitness

Posted on June 7, 2010 by SoccerCapper

Italy will wait a week before deciding whether to call up an emergency replacement for midfielder Andrea Pirlo.

Pirlo suffered a calf injury in the world champions’ 2-1 defeat to Mexico on Thursday, and medical staff expect him to be out for up to 20 days (Italy 9/4 to be eliminated in the quarter-finals).

That would rule Pirlo out of the opening Group F fixture against Paraguay in Cape Town on June 14. (Italy 5/6 to win, Paraguay 16/5, draw 23/10)

“He will probably travel to South Africa but will, for sure, miss the first game,” said Enrico Castellacci, Italy’s head doctor.

The 2006 World Cup winner now faces a race to be fit for the second Group F game against New Zealand.

“It’s an injury which worries me but there’s time,” Castellacci said, saying the recovery period was at least 15 days.

“The intention is to take him to South Africa to see if he can be fit. Before June 13 we can change players in the squad.”

Pirlo, who would have been a definite starter, has left the Azzurri’s training camp in the Italian Alps to rest at home.

He was due to miss Saturday’s final friendly with Switzerland in Geneva in any case after coach Marcello Lippi said he would use players who did not feature against Mexico.

Lippi already has concerns over winger Mauro Camoranesi, who has a knee injury, and the loss of Pirlo for any games at the World Cup would be a big blow to the holders.

Castellacci said Camoranesi was progressing well. Lippi had already put midfielder Andrea Cossu, left out of the 23-man squad, on alert to go to South Africa if Camoranesi was not fit and the Cagliari man would also be the most like-for-like replacement for Pirlo.

If both Pirlo and Camoranesi are not fit for the tournament, midfielder Antonio Candreva could come in having been in the provisional 30-man squad.

Pirlo’s dead-ball ability and neat passing were key to Italy’s 2006 triumph but he has struggled for AC Milan in the last two years.

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Inter target Benitez

Posted on June 6, 2010 by SoccerCapper

Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has revealed that the Italian giants are looking at Rafa Benitez (Liverpool 10/1 to win the Premier League) to be their next manager.

Moratti is currently scouting for a replacement for Jose Mourinho and the former Liverpool boss is being heavily linked with the job at the San Siro.

Benitez left the manager’s position at Anfield on Thursday and was reportedly given a £6m compensation package after his side were unable to qualify for the Champions League.

According to Moratti, talks with the former Valencia manager could happen as soon as next week.

He said: “I can only speak highly of him, because he is very talented.

“It’s true, we are leaning towards Benitez and in the next few days we’ll decide.”

Inter did the treble last season after winning the domestic cup, Serie A and the Champions League, beating Bayern Munich in the final.

Moratti will be looking for a manager who can continue the success that the club experienced under Mourinho, who has taken the job at Spanish giants Real Madrid.

He said: “I know Benitez has a good record against Jose Mourinho, I think he’s beaten him five times.

“That’s a sign he does his research, works well and above all does not get the big games wrong.

“It is also important that he has already made his mark in Europe. We want to achieve more in this area,” he added.

Meanwhile Liverpool are looking to fill the role left by Benitez, with a number of big names being linked with the job at Anfield.

Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has declared his interest in the job after revealing he has been a lifelong fan of the club. Eriksson is 11/1 to be the next Permanent Liverpool manager.

Tottenham gaffer Harry Redknapp (9/1) has also been linked with the Merseyside club but is unlikely to leave the London club after helping the side reach Champions League qualification ahead of Liverpool.

Roy Hodgson (9/4f) is a likely candidate for the job, having helped Fulham reach the Europa League final. He has been linked with a move to a bigger club since the end of the domestic season.

Whoever takes over at Anfield will need to try and keep hold of the club’s top players as captain Steven Gerrard and prolific goalscorer Fernando Torres (14/1 to be top goalscorer at the World Cup) have been linked with moves to other clubs.