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Monty wants Woods Cup role

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Colin Montgomerie says he wants Tiger Woods to be part of this year’s Ryder Cup (Europe 4/6 with totesport to win back the trophy) at Celtic Manor, claiming his presence will make it a bigger event.

The world number one is facing another enforced break due to a neck injury, which he suffered in The Players Championship at Sawgrass, a tournament he couldn’t complete.

Due to his off-the-course personal problems, Woods’ schedule is unclear with the only tournaments he is expected to play in being the US Open (5/1f to win at Pebble Beach) and July’s Open Championship.

Much of the media doubt whether the 14-time major winner will travel to Wales in October, as the US look to retain the trophy they won in 2008 in Valhalla.

European captain Montgomerie says Woods’ availability for the team event is an ‘unanswerable question at this stage’, but is hoping that he does make himself available.

The Scot told Sky Sports: “I’d like him to be in the Ryder Cup to be honest, I think any golf tournament with the world’s number one player in it is a bigger event, and if we happen to win the Ryder Cup with him playing I think it’s a better win for us.”

Woods’ Ryder Cup record is not that impressive for a player commonly regarded as one of, if not the best player to have played the sport.

The 34-year-old has played in five USA v Europe meetings, teeing it up in 25 matches, winning 10, losing 13 and halving two, and claiming just 11 points from a possible 25.

The US team have won the cup on just one occasion when Woods has been part of the team, at Brookline in 1999, although he will undoubtedly strengthen Corey Pavin’s team.

Meanwhile, Monty says he ‘very happy’ with how his team is shaping up with just over four months until the event begins.

With Europe having eight players in the top twenty of the world rankings, the captain is understandably upbeat about the team’s prospects of winning back the cup.

Montgomerie added: “I must be the happiest captain in many, many years to see what’s been happening. We might go there as favourites, I’m not denying that, we just have to play and prove ourselves the way we can.”

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Santa Cruz delivers Paraguay win

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Paraguay (50/1 to win World Cup 2010) needed a late penalty from Roque Santa Cruz to earn a 1-0 win over North Korea on Saturday.

Santa Cruz beat keeper Ri Myong Guk after the referee ruled substitute Nam Song Chol had handled the ball in the area.

Paraguay hit the post twice in a seven-minute spell midway through the second half.

Choe Kum Chol had North Korea’s best chance in the 35th but lifted his shot over the bar.

North Korea (12/1 to qualify from Group G) were without Japan-based An Yong Hak and Jong Tae Se who had not been released by their clubs.
Santa Cruz, who had looked off the pace for most of the match, stroked his shot high into the net to settle the match.

Marcelo Estigarribia and Eduardo Ledesma hit the post for Paraguay while Ri Jung-il nearly turned Jonathan Santana’s low cross into his own goal as the South Americans had the best of the second half.

North Korea, who drew 0-0 with South Africa in their previous match, defended tenaciously and showed flashes of skill in attack as they occasionally threatened Diego Barreto’s goal.

Lacking physical bulk, the North Koreans rarely troubled Paraguayan goalkeeper Diego Barreto despite the darting efforts of home bred North Korean striker Mun In-Guk and Russian league player Hong Yong-Jo.

Both teams are holding training camps in the region, Paraguay (7/2 to win Group F) in Evains-Les-Bains on the French side of Lake Geneva and North Korea in the Alpine village of Ayent.

Paraguayan coach Gerardo Martino admitted afterwards that his side had tailed off in the first half against the organised Korean defence, despite a clear athletic advantage in one-on-one challenges.

“That’s the characteristic of the North Korean team,” he said. “They defend well, can create difficult situations near goal, and are very quick on the break.”

“In the first half we weren’t very productive except for the first ten minutes,” Martino added.

But Paraguay picked up the pace in the second half, as Santa Cruz pressured the North Koreans into errors.

Long range shots from Marcelo Estigarribia and Eduardo Ledesma hit the woodwork before the penalty finally gave Paraguay the scoreline to reflect their efforts.

Paraguay next play Ireland in Dublin on May 25, the same day North Korea meet fellow World Cup qualifier Greece in Austria.

Paraguay are in Group F at the World Cup, which starts on June 11, with champions Italy, New Zealand and Slovakia.

North Korea are in Group G with Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast.

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Bayern still on track for historic treble

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Bayern Munich coach Louis van GaalBayern Munich are still on course to win the Treble after defeating Werder Bremen 4-0 to win the German Cup (Bayern 7/5 to win the Champions League).

An Arjen Robben penalty gave Bayern the lead against the cup holders, before goals from Ivica Olic, Franck Ribery and Bastian Schweinsteiger completed the rout.

Following the win, Bayern coach Louis van Gaal shot a warning to Jose Mourinho, ahead of the Champions League final: “We produced an impressive performance against a very good team, it was perhaps one of our best games of the season.

“Our victory was well deserved. On Wednesday we will start our preparations for the Champions League final.

“Jose Mourihno will have to have seen that we can produce some good football.”

The 4-0 win marked the 15th occasion that Bayern have won the German Cup and their eighth domestic Double.

Bayern have never won the Treble of domestic league and cup along with the Champions League, and could face an Inter side that might also be able to claim the unique honour (90 minutes betting Bayern 23/10 Draw 9/4 Inter 6/5) .

Jose Mourinho’s team won the Italian Cup with a victory over Roma and could complete a domestic Double by winning Serie A later today. Twice champions of Europe, Inter Milan have also never won a Treble.

Only five teams in history have swept the board in such a manner. Celtic were the first team to achieve the distinction in 1976 and have been followed by Ajax in 1972, PSV Eindhoven in 1988, Manchester United in 1999 and Barcelona in 2009.

There is also a personal honour at stake for Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho. Whoever is victorious will join Ernst Happel and Ottmar Hitzfeld as the only managers to become champions of Europe with two different clubs.

Happel was the first coach to have done this, having won the European Cup with Feyenoord in 1970 and Hamburg in 1983. Hitzfeld followed him with wins for Borussia Dortmund in 1997 and Bayern Munich in 2001.

Louis van Gaal first won the Champions League as manager of Ajax in 1995, while Jose Mourinho won the trophy in 2004 with Porto.

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Fabregas fears future distraction

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Spain’s Cesc Fabregas says unless his club future is sorted out quickly it could prove a damaging distraction at the World Cup.

But the Arsenal star says he is in no rush to leave the Gunners for Barcelona.

The midfielder was in the youth ranks at Barcelona before transferring to Arsenal at the age of 16 and he has often been linked with a move back to the Primera Division leaders.

Reports suggest he could be the subject of an offer this summer as Barcelona prepare for their presidential elections at the end of the season.

Fabregas readily admits that he does want to play for Barca at some point in his career, but is adamant he is not pushing for a move away from Arsenal.

However, the 23-year-old is keen to ensure any uncertainty regarding his club future is put to bed before Spain start their World Cup challenge in South Africa. They are 4/1 favourites to lift the trophy.

“I want to make a decision about my future before the World Cup,” said Fabregas, who expects to recover from a cracked fibula in time to be fit for the tournament.

“It’s impossible to perform at a tournament such as the World Cup if you’re not fully focused on the sporting aspects of the game. It does not benefit anyone.

“If I ever leave Arsenal it will be to play for Barcelona. I would like to go, whether they want me or not is another matter.

“I am 23 years old and I have a long career in front of me. I’ve never hidden the fact that playing for Barcelona is a dream that I would like to fulfil.

“I’m very happy at Arsenal. I’m in no hurry to leave the club.

“Barcelona are still playing for the Liga title and I’m still an Arsenal player. It would be a lack of respect to discuss a transfer now.

“No candidates for the Barcelona presidency have approached me, so I don’t feel used.”

Fabregas has been part of the Spanish set up since playing in the Under-17 side at the 2003 World U-17 Championships in Finland, and he was given a national call-up in 2006.

He played in the 2006 World Cup and at Euro 2008 where he helped Spain to lift the trophy. Fabregas was named in the Team of the Tournament, a 23-player squad selected by the UEFA Technical team.

He now has 47 caps for Spain, and has scored five goals, most recently in the friendly 1-1 draw against Austria in Vienna last November.

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Ferguson wants to end on a high

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Sir Alex FergusonManchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that he would not leave the club if the side were struggling (Manchester United 11/5 to win the 2010/2011 Premier League outright).

The 68-year old has denied speculation that he will be retiring at the end of next season and has recently stated that his health is the only factor that would see him leave Old Trafford.

Ferguson saw his side win the League Cup this season and run Chelsea close for the Premier League title.

The Scotsman, who has been at the club since 1986, would only leave the club if they were in a ‘good, healthy’ position.

He said: “If we hit a bad spell, it would not be the right time to go.

“I would not want to put the new manager into a situation where he was taking over a bad team,” he added.

The United boss is already looking to next season as he hopes to regain the Premier League title from Chelsea.

Ferguson said: “It’s a challenge. A few years ago it was Arsenal,  then it was Chelsea, and each time we’ve managed to raise the bar at our football club – and that is exactly what we are going to do next year.”

The manager was close to retiring from football back in 2002 but changed his mind after he saw his team suffer a poor run of form.

Ferguson also revealed that his wife Cathy had a big influence on his decision after he felt that 60 was a good age to retire.

United’s chief executive David Gill has stated that the manager will have a substantial transfer budget to buy players this summer.

The Old Trafford club have been linked with a number of players including Aston Villa midfielder James Milner and Joe Cole, whose contract at Chelsea ends this summer.

New signings may be coming to the club in the next few weeks as transfers get rushed through before the World Cup in South Africa starts, which will increase the cost for potential targets.

United have already made two signings in the form of defender Chris Smalling and striker Javier Hernandez and will be hoping to make a few more additions to the squad in an attempt to bring the Premier League title back to Manchester.

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Evra targets England final

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Patrice EvraManchester United defender Patrice Evra wants to banish the memory of losing out on the Premiership title by beating England in the final of the World Cup, with France 16/1 to take the title this summer.

The 28-year-old was part of the United side who did their bit by beating Stoke 4-0 on the final day of the season, only to see Chelsea down Wigan by an incredible 8-0 scoreline.

But now the former Monaco star has turned his attention to the international scene as France look to win their second World Cup, following victory back in the 1998 tournament.

Evra has taken the loss of United’s Premiership crown badly and hopes that the upcoming showpiece in South Africa can go some way to deflecting thoughts of Chelsea claiming the trophy from his mind.

“The World Cup is the only thing that makes me keep smiling,” he told L’Equipe.

“I will be with the team of France on May 15 and I will have had six days off.

“But I will give the best of myself, as I have done for Manchester United.”

France are not many pundits’ choice as potential winners this summer, with Spain the red-hot favourites at 4-1.

Brazil trade at 5/1 with England at 6/1 and Evra would love to overturn those odds and beat the country in which he plies his trade at the business end of affairs.

“I hope to win the World Cup,” he added. “I hope we play England in the final and beat them, certainly.”

France face a tricky task to qualify from Group A in South Africa and are priced at 1/3 to make it to the knockout phase of the world’s greatest football tournament.

But they will have to work hard to get past Mexico (4/5), Uruguay (evens) and the hosts, who are on offer at 21/10 to make an unlikely appearance in the last 16.

France’s glory years appear to be behind them at present but momentum is an important factor in major tournaments and, if they get on a run, Raymond Domenech’s men may yet cause a few shocks over the next couple of months, with the likes of Thierry Henry and Frank Ribery in their ranks.

The initial 30-man squad contains a number of English-based players, with Chelsea stars Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda sure to remind Evra where the Premiership trophy will be displayed over the next 12 months.

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Chile boss makes surprise picks

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Luis Marin, Jaime Valdes and Charles Aranguiz were the surprise names in Chile (9/2 to win Group H) coach Marcelo Bielsa’s 30-man preliminary squad for the World Cup.

Union Espanola’s Marin has won the battle for the third goalkeeping berth over Universidad Catolica’s Cristopher Toselli and will travel to South Africa alongside Real Sociedad’s Claudio Bravo and Miguel Pinto.

Atalanta midfielder Valdes and Colo Colo midfielder Aranguiz, who has just recovered from a knee injury, did not feature in qualifying, but both make the squad.

Flamengo midfielder Claudio Maldonado was not included despite getting over cruciate ligament surgery very quickly.

Universidad Catolica defender Hans Martinez and Osvaldo Gonzalez, who reached the Mexican Bicentenario semi-finals with Toluca, also missed out.

Squad: Claudio Bravo (Real Sociedad), Miguel Pinto (Universidad de Chile), Luis Marin (Union Espanola); Roberto Cereceda (Colo Colo), Pablo Contreras (PAOK), Ismael Fuentes (Universidad Catolica), Mauricio Isla (Udinese), Gary Medel (Boca Juniors), Gonzalo Jara (West Brom), Waldo Ponce (Universidad Catolica), Arturo Vidal (Bayer Leverkusen); Charles Aranguiz (Colo Colo), Carlos Carmona (Reggina), Marco Estrada (Universidad de Chile), Matias Fernandez (Sporting Lisbon), Gonzalo Fierro (Flamengo), Jose Pedro Fuenzalida (Colo Colo), Manuel Iturra (Universidad de Chile), Rodrigo Millar (Colo Colo), Pedro Morales (Dinamo Zagreb), Rodrigo Tello (Besiktas), Jorge Valdivia (Al-Ain), Jaime Valdes (Atalanta); Jean Beausejour (America), Mark Gonzalez, Hector Mancilla (Toluca), Fabian Orellana (Xerez), Esteban Paredes (Colo Colo), Alexis Sanchez (Udinese), Humberto Suazo (Real Zaragoza).

Meanwhile, Juventus winger Mauro Camoranesi feels Italy (12/1 to win World Cup) have “a very strong squad for the World Cup and nobody wants to take us on.”

Camoranesi has had a poor campaign, but remains in Marcello Lippi’s 30-man preliminary list.

“This is a very strong Italy squad for the World Cup and if I look at our opponents, nobody wants to take us on,” said the 2006 winner.

“The other teams know they’d be facing a side that has lifting the trophy as its sole objective.”

The Azzurri are the reigning holders with many of the same players who were in Berlin four years ago.

“We feel in good shape and now need to work ourselves very hard indeed over the next two weeks,” continued Camoranesi.

“History tells us the favourites for the World Cup are always the same, basically: Germany, Brazil, Argentina, and France.

“On top of them Spain have proved they are very strong by winning Euro 2008 and will fight to the end.

“With Fabio Capello’s arrival, England have improved a great deal.”

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Martinez starting Wigan overhaul

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Wigan are closing in on the signing of Paraguay defender Antolin Alcaraz and hope he will be a big hit in the Premiership next season.

The Latics just managed to beat the drop this season and it is going to take more than the arrival of Alcarez to prevent them from being sucked into another relegation battle in the next campaign.

Roberto Martinez’s men played some great stuff at times and looked world beaters when turning over both Chelsea and Arsenal at the DW Stadium but they were far too inconsistent and hovered just above relegation all season.

The 9-1 hammering at Tottenham earlier in the season highlighted all their frailties, while the 8-0 defeat at Chelsea, albeit with 10 men for much of the game, showed Martinez has a stack of work to do.

At least he recognises the problem areas and the Spaniard believes that Alcaraz will add some much-needed quality at the back.

“We are thrilled to have been able to capture a player of calibre of Antolin,” Martinez told the club’s website.

“I think everyone will realise what a quality player he is when we see him at the World Cup for Paraguay.

“He is a highly versatile defender with great awareness and distribution and has great pride in keeping clean sheets.

“He is entering the best period of his career and is looking forward to adding to his international and European experience, as well as playing for his country in the World Cup.”

Martinez needs even more quality if Wigan are to edge their way up towards the top 10 but it is not the only problem he faces this summer.

Trying to keep his best players will also be a difficult job as the vultures are already starting to circulate.

There are already rumours doing the rounds suggesting Charles N’Zogbia is a target for Birmingham, while there will be no shortage of interest in Hugo Rodallega this summer.

Wigan are without doubt a selling club and any big offers that come in will be accepted. That has been proven in the past when the likes of Wilson Palacios, Antonion Valencia and Lee Cattermole have all been allowed to leave as soon as the big money comes out.

Even so there is still plenty to be optimistic about at Wigan. It is not that long since they were playing in the non-league and the fact they are turning themselves into an established Premiership club is a near miracle.

They will flirt with danger again but Martinez will be confident of again beating the drop, especially if he can keep his top men and draft a few more in at the same time.

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Fabregas unsure over future

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Cesc Fabregas says he wants his future sorting before the World Cup (Spain 4/1 favourites to win) with Barcelona keen to take him back to Spain.

Speculation linking Fabregas with a return to Spain has refused to go away but now it seems as though the midfielder is pushing for a move, and who could blame him.

Arsenal again finished the season without any silverware to show for their efforts and with the likes of Manchester City and Tottenham emerging as major forces in the Premier League, he could now be running out of patience.

The Gunners are 6/1 to win the Premier League next season with Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City ahead of them in the betting and Fabregas will no doubt feel another trophy free season could be on the cards.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has been promised transfer funds this summer but chances are it will not be enough to compete with their Premier League rivals, and the imminent arrival of Marouane Chamakh will not scare anyone.

Not many players in world football could improve Barcelona but Fabregas is certainly one of them and he would no doubt be a regular in Pep Guardiola’s starting eleven

Fabregas has insisted he is in no rush to leave the Gunners but reading between the lines it seems as though the midfielder is keen to return to the Nou Camp sooner rather than later.

The fact he wants a decision making over his future suggests he wants to leave. The player is tied down to a long-term lucrative deal at the Emirates Stadium so the only decision that Arsenal have to make is whether to sell him or not.

If he was happy to stay then why bring up the subject of a possible move to Barcelona? He would just concentrate on getting fit for the World Cup and say nothing about his club football.

“I want to make a decision about my future before the World Cup,” Fabregas revealed.

“It’s impossible to perform at a tournament such as the World Cup if you’re not fully focused on the sporting aspects of the game. It does not benefit anyone.

“If I ever leave Arsenal it will be to play for Barcelona. I would like to go, whether they want me or not is another matter.

“I am 23 years old and I have a long career in front of me. I’ve never hidden the fact that playing for Barcelona is a dream that I would like to fulfil.

“I’m very happy at Arsenal. I’m in no hurry to leave the club.

“Barcelona are still playing for the Liga title and I’m still an Arsenal player. It would be a lack of respect to discuss a transfer now.”

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Camoranesi backs Italy for glory

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Mauro Camoranesi believes that no side will want to play Italy (12-1 to win the tournament) at the World Cup in South Africa this summer.

The Juventus winger has been named in coach Marcello Lippi’s 30-man preliminary list despite having a disappointing qualifying campaign for the Azzurri.

Whether or not he is given the nod for the final 23-man squad remains to be seen but the Argentine-born Italian feels confident that the reigning champions are still the side to beat at the World Cup, four years on from glory in Germany.

“This is a very strong Italy squad for the World Cup and if I look at our opponents, nobody wants to take us on,” he said.

“The other teams know they’d be facing a side that has lifting the trophy as its sole objective.”

Whether or not teams such as Spain (4-1 favourites to lift the trophy), Brazil (5-1) and England (6-1 to win their first World Cup since 1966) will be quaking in their boots following the Juventus’ winger’s comments is open to question but Camoranesi also revealed whom he feels might have a say in proceedings this summer.

“History tells us the favourites for the World Cup are always the same, basically: Germany, Brazil, Argentina, and France,” he added. “On top of them Spain have proved they are very strong by winning Euro 2008 and will fight to the end.”

The 33-year-old also believes that England have a chance with Fabio Capello in charge as they have improved “a great deal” in recent times.

While the market suggests that Italy could have their work cut out to defend their title over the coming weeks, they are 1-14 to make it out of Group F, with Slovakia priced at 5-4, Paraguay on offer at 1-2 and New Zealand the outsiders at 12-1.

Spain have never won the sport’s most prestigious event but are favourites to go all the way this summer and are, not surprisingly, 21-10 favourites to be top European team.

England are next best priced at 13-5, while Holland trade at 13-2, the Italians can be backed at 7-1 with Germany on offer at 15-2.

Many pundits are predicting a wide open contest in southern Africa this time around and Italy’s aging squad might find the conditions catch up with them, despite Camoranesi’s bullish comments heading into the pre-tournament warm-up games.

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