The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Arsenal's Frimpong gets green light to join Ghana
- Ancelotti 'disappointed' by Pastore
- Brazil need to be Brazil - not Barca: Scolari
| Arsenal's Frimpong gets green light to join Ghana Posted: 30 Nov 2012 07:17 PM PST ACCRA: Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong has been given the green light by FIFA to represent his native Ghana, the national football federation (GFA) confirmed on Friday. Frimpong, who is currently on loan to English Championship side Charlton Athletic, last year expressed his desire to play for Ghana, the country of his birth, although he has British nationality. The 20-year-old has already played for the England under-16 and under-17 sides. The Black Stars qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations from January 19 to February 10 in South Africa. - AFP |
| Ancelotti 'disappointed' by Pastore Posted: 30 Nov 2012 07:15 PM PST PARIS: Paris Saint Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted Friday he was disappointed by the recent performances of Argentine midfielder Javier Pastore. The 23-year-old Pastore has scored a goal and set up four decisive passes in Ligue 1 this season, but was replaced by Nene at half-time in last weekend's 4-0 win against Troyes, and did not feature in Tuesday's League Cup defeat at Saint Etienne. "I'm disappointed by his performances, the player is as well I think," Italian Ancelotti told a press conference here. "He's working hard at the moment, these past few days he's been training twice a day," said Ancelotti, adding that for this reason Pastore would "surely be used tomorrow (Saturday)" for the Ligue 1 trip to Nice. "It's surely not easy for him at the moment," added striker Ezequiel Lavezzi. "Like any player when he losses confidence he can't show his characteristics and qualities. If he can play and gain in confidence no one can have any doubts about his qualities as a player." Pastore joined PSG in a 42-million-euro deal in the summer of 2011. - AFP |
| Brazil need to be Brazil - not Barca: Scolari Posted: 30 Nov 2012 07:13 PM PST SAO PAULO: Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, tasked with delivering home-flavoured World Cup glory in 2014, insisted Friday his team had to develop its own identity and respect Brazilian characteristics, rather than pretend they are Barcelona. "If we import (Ballon d'Or finalists and Barcelona stars Andres) Iniesta and (Leo) Messi and the players who play in Barcelona then we would play like Barcelona," said Scolari, referring to Spaniard Iniesta and Argentina star Messi. "But these are not our characteristics. We need a team to play good football - but according to the characteristics of our players," said Scolari, who was in the dugout when Brazil landed their fifth and most recent World Cup title in 2002 in Japan. Scolari, drafted for a second spell in charge after Brazil sacked predecessor Mano Menezes last week, insisted the Selecao could come good even though the current team lacks top-drawer international experience as they have no World Cup qualifiers to play, having pre-qualified as hosts. "We have top players - I don't agree we lack experience. Our team has many qualities. What is missing is the opportunity to play against stronger teams to see the reaction of the players in competition," said the former Chelsea handler, who stressed the key was to strike a correct balance of youth and experience. Asked to respond to earlier comments by 2002 star striker Ronaldo, who said Brazilian football was in the doldrums, Scolari looked vexed and snapped: "I don't know what he is talking about - you have to ask him." Scolari insisted he had been given a challenge which enthused him - starting with June's Confederations Cup. "It is an interesting opportunity, especially for me as this competition is in Brazil. It's the first time this tournament has been held in Brazil. We face difficult matches - in the past three years we didn't have any qualifiers so this is an opportunity to see how our players will react at this level." - AFP |
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