Showing posts with label Fabio Cannavaro. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fabio Cannavaro. Show all posts

Fulham 4-1 Juventus (agg 5-4)

Fulham produced a stunning second-leg comeback against nine-man Juventus to make the Europa League quarter-finals.
David Trezeguet appeared to have ended the tie with an early goal for Juve but Bobby Zamora soon fired Fulham level. 
Fabio Cannavaro's sending off for a professional foul on Zoltan Gera swung the game in Fulham's favour before the Hungarian's neat finish put them ahead. 
Gera's penalty levelled the tie overall and substitute Clint Dempsey's chip won it before Jonathan Zebina was sent off. 
Fulham fans have been treated to some inspiring Europa League football this season, and their side did not disappoint, once again putting on a gripping and passionate display. 
The Cottagers, trailing 3-1 from the first leg at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin, still retained hope of reaching the last eight due to Dickson Etuhu's solitary away goal.
That Juventus did their utmost to extinguish such fragile belief by taking the lead inside three minutes and still failed is largely a testimony to the spirit and belief that permeates through Roy Hodgson's side, and partly owing to the controversial decision of referee Bjorn Kuipers to send off Cannavaro. 
The intent of Cannavaro's foul - the result of a clash with Gera as he eyed a clear route to goal - was uncertain and there was a likelihood that Zebina could have covered the Hungarian midfielder's run but Kuipers felt a goal-scoring opportunity had been denied and showed the Italian national captain a straight red.
The dismissal ended what had been an albeit brief mauling for Cannavaro at the hands of the Fulham front line, and England hopeful Zamora in particular, who made good on his pre-match promise to get the better of the World Cup winner.

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Friday's gossip column


TRANSFER GOSSIP 

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has made Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz his number one summer transfer target - and hopes he can land him for a cut-price £12m. (Daily Express) 
Wenger's interest in Santa Cruz could signal the end of Emmanuel Adebayor's Arsenal career. (Daily Mirror)
Manchester City say they may miss out Santa Cruz but are back in the race to sign £35m-rated Valencia striker David Villa. (The Independent) 
And City are interested in winger Arjen Robben, who could be offloaded by Real Madrid in the summer. (Daily Mirror)
Manchester United are poised to make a £30m bid for Lyon striker Karim Benzema - to replace Carlos Tevez. (The Sun) 
Tevez has told Madrid's Cadena COPE radio station that he is likely to leave Manchester United at the end of the season. (Press Association)
Everton manager David Moyes is set to make a £6m bid for Rennes full-back Rod Fanni. (The Sun) 
Real Madrid defender Fabio Cannavaro has revealed that he rejected an offer to move to Manchester City. (The Guardian)
And Everton winger Andy van der Meyde, who is a free agent in the summer, is wanted by both Stoke and Wolves. (Daily Mail) 
Djibril Cisse's goal drought could lead to him failing to secure a permanent deal with Sunderland. (The Sun) 
Stoke manager Tony Pulis wants the club to finish as high in the league as they can so that he can sign Cardiff midfielder Joe Ledley in the summer. (Daily Mirror) 
Wigan boss Steve Bruce will turn his attention to Manchester United's Fraizer Campbell after an unproductive scouting trip to Mexico. (The Sun) 
Aston Villa striker John Carew has disappointed Tottenham by insisting he wants to stay in Birmingham. (Daily Star) 
Promoted Wolves want to bring experienced Liverpool centre half Sami Hyypia to Molineux. (The Sun)  

OTHER GOSSIP 

Manchester United skipper Rio Ferdinand will be out of action for at least three weeks after the cracked rib he picked up during the Champions League win over Arsenal led him to start coughing up blood. (Daily Mail, Daily Mirror) 
However, some reports are saying Ferdinand's injury is not as bad as first feared and the 30-year-old could be fit to face Arsenal in the second leg on Tuesday. (Daily Star, The Guardian)
West Ham's European hopes have been dealt a blow with the news that midfielder Scott Parker is unlikely to play again this season. (Various) 
Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has warned Barcelona's players, who complained about being kicked during the Champions League semi-final first leg, that they will be just as tough at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea midfielder Jon Mikel Obi has been told that he will have to wait until the summer before discussions open on a new contract. (Daily Telegraph) 

AND FINALLY 

Newcastle tea lady Kath Cassidy, who has spent over 40 years serving cuppas to the great and good at St James' Park, has her own ideas about how to motivate the players in their battle against relegation. 
"I might go into the dressing room before a game with my picture of Jackie Milburn holding his medals. I'd say to the players 'Get your finger out, look what he won for £20 a week.'" (The Sun)
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Thursday's gossip column


TRANSFER GOSSIP 

Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o is on Rafael Benitez's transfer target list at Liverpool. (Daily Mirror) 
Chelsea are putting together a list of English transfer targets, with Aston Villa's Ashley Young near the top of it. (Daily Mirror) 
They are also interested in Juventus striker David Trezeguet, who has recently fallen out with Juve's ex-Blues coach Claudio Ranieri. (Daily Express) 
Manchester City target Fabio Cannavaro has said it would "not be a huge drama" if he left Real Madrid when his contract expires in the summer. (Daily Mirror)  

OTHER GOSSIP 

Alan Shearer will earn around £1m for his eight games in charge of Newcastle, with an additional £1m to come if he keeps them in the Premier League. (Daily Mail) 
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has admitted he seriously considered walking out on the club before signing his new contract last month. (Daily Mirror) 
Robinho says he is benefitting from playing for Manchester City as he is getting more regular games than he did at Real Madrid. (Daily Telegraph) 
Wigan duo Mido and Amr Zaki have fallen out while away on international duty with Egypt. (Daily Mirror) 
The Football Association says any possible 10-point penalty on Southampton if they go into administration will not come into effect until next season. (Daily Mail) 
Cash-strapped Charlton are considering selling off their training ground and other facilities and laying off staff to try and tackle their £20m debt. (The Sun) 
Promotion-chasing Wycombe will be without defender Leon Johnson for the rest of the season after knee surgery. (Daily Star) 
Scottish FA chief executive Gordon Smith refused to back team boss George Burley after he dropped Allan McGregor and Barry Ferguson for the World Cup qualifier with Iceland on disciplinary grounds. (The Times) 
Burley will today be grilled by Scottish FA bosses on his decision to allow players to drink three days before the crucial World Cup qualifier against Iceland. (Various) 
 
AND FINALLY 

John Terry's goal celebration for England against Ukraine was based on Wayne Rooney having given him a hair cut earlier in the week, and Peter Crouch's was inspired by comedian James Corden's Comic Relief sketch. (Daily Mail) 
BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson said he thought it was an April Fool's joke when he received a phone call telling him about Alan Shearer's return to Newcastle. (Daily Mirrror) 
Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov says he feels left out in the dressing room as he is the only one without a Premier League or Champions League medal. (Daily Express) 

Gordon Brown is to give the president of Brazil an England shirt signed by David Beckham during his visit as part of the G20 summit. (The Guardian)

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