Tuesday's World Cup round-up

Argentina playmaker Lionel Messi has agreed a double or quits bet with coach Diego Maradona that he scores against in Saturday's World Cup quarter-final against Germany. Messi bet Maradona he would score against Mexico in the previous round, although he has since refused to reveal the size of the stake
Maradona has also made it clear that Messi has a free role. He said: "Nobody ever told me where to play. So, I shouldn't have to tell Messi where to play either. It's up to him to decide where to play. He's a grown-up. I did it back in my era - and now it's his turn."

Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan needed an ice pack after hurting his ankle in training on Monday but officials expect him to recover in time for Friday's quarter-final against Uruguay. Black Stars defender Hans Sarpei is also reportedly carrying a leg injury.
Meanwhile, Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng has revealed Italian side Lazio are interested in signing him from Portsmouth. He stated: "Lazio want me. I know about their interest but I don't want to think about it. For now, I just want to do well in South Africa." 

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez, whose side have impressed so far and beat South Korea in the second round, believes he is reaping the benefit of the majority of his players plying their trade overseas.
He said: "Most of the squad joined the national squad when they were still playing in Uruguay at around 22 years of age. Four years later, almost all of them are playing at important clubs overseas and they are capitalising on that experience of playing high-level football abroad."

Guus Hiddink thinks Sepp Blatter should only continue as Fifa president if he is prepared to allow the introduction of goal-line technology and video replays in order to avoid future controversies.
The former Netherlands boss, now in charge of Turkey's national side, stated: "Sepp Blatter should announce tomorrow that video replays will be implemented, or he needs to resign." 

Fit-again Netherlands winger Arjen Robben does not believe he is back to his best yet, despite returning to the starting line-up with a man-of-the-match performance in the 2-1 victory against Slovakia.
Robben, who had been out with a calf injury, said: "It was a great feeling to start the game. I am not yet at my top level but I was pretty confident."

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Saturday's World Cup round-up

Reports in the American media suggest the referee who disallowed a last-gasp goal for the United States in their 2-2 draw against Slovenia may have taken charge of his last match at this World Cup.
Fifa sources have apparently suggested that Malawian official Koman Coulibaly's performance in the Group C encounter is to be assessed by the governing body's refereeing committee, and he may not be assigned any more games in the competition.

Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon will have an operation after the World Cup on the back problem which could rule him out of the rest of the tournament. It means he could miss up to four months of the Italian domestic season.
Buffon, who was substituted in his team's opening group match against Paraguay, has a herniated disc and will not feature against New Zealand. The 32-year-old has delayed surgery in the hope of playing some further part in South Africa. 

Didier Drogba is being tipped to start for the Ivory Coast in their match against Brazil on Sunday after making a steady recovery from a fractured elbow.
"Do not be surprised if Drogba starts," said coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, who brought the Chelsea striker on as a second-half substitute in the 0-0 draw with Portugal.

Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar has defended coach Dunga's abrasive style - and likened him to Jose Mourinho, who led Italian side Inter Milan to the treble last season.
Julio Cesar, who played under Mourinho at the San Siro, said: "Dunga is only putting in place a work philosophy. Mourinho did exactly the same as what Dunga is doing now. We won everything with this work philosophy." 

France midfielder Jeremy Toulalan has admitted that his side have failed to operate as a team in South Africa, despite having a number of talented individuals.
The French, beaten by Mexico in their last match, are struggling to make the second round and Toulalan said: "The difference between us and Mexico is that they are playing as a team, and we have 11 individuals. We have high-quality players. What we missed was being a collective on the pitch."

Germany coach Joachim Loew remains convinced his team will still progress to the second round despite the shock defeat against Serbia that means a loss against Ghana could eliminate them from the competition.
"It is obvious that we are going to be under more pressure now, but we will make the round of 16," insisted Loew, who admitted to being "devastated" by the Serbia result. 

Manchester City's Roque Santa Cruz believes Paraguay are capable of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time in the country's history.
"We want to go at least to the quarter-finals. In Paraguayan history it's never been done," declared the striker, who came on as a substitute in the 1-1 draw against Italy.

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Tuesday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Birmingham are keen on signing Portsmouth striker Frederic Piquionne after failing to land the Frenchman in the January transfer window.(Daily Mirror) 
Egypt and Borussia Dortmund star Mohamed Zidan was watched by Arsenal scouts in the 3-1 defeat to England, according to the 28-year-old striker. Zidan, who scored their only goal at Wembley, said: "My agent told me about Arsenal's interest. He asked me to try to impress them and become the first Egyptian to play for the Gunners.(imscouting.com) 
Sunderland are keeping tabs on Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara, who is on loan at Portsmouth, with a view to making a summer swoop for the 23-year-old.(The Times) 
Lokomotiv Moscow will resume their efforts to prise striker Roman Pavlyuchenko away from Tottenham in the close season. (Daily Mail) 
Everton are hoping to extend American Landon Donovan's loan deal, which is set to expire after Saturday's match at Birmingham but will not pursue the matter if it threatens to upset their good relationship with the forward's team Los Angeles Galaxy. (The Times) 
Chelsea midfielder Miroslav Stoch is a target for Dutch giants Ajax and PSV Eindhoven. The 20-year-old is currently on loan with Steve McClaren's side Twente Enschede and has impressed with 10 goals in 36 appearances this season.(imscouting.com) 
Fulham are eyeing Shakhtar Donetsk centre-back Yaroslav Rakytskyi as a possible summer target after the 20-year-old impressed against the London side in their recent Europe League clash.(imscouting.com) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Arsenal defender William Gallas could face another month on the sidelines after the former captain, out since mid-February, injured his calf muscle in training. (Daily Mail) 
Gallas, meanwhile, will have to accept a drop in wages if he wants to extend his Gunners contract beyond the summer.(The Times) 
Middlesbrough striker Jeremie Aliadiere is in danger of missing the remainder of the season as he recovers from a broken toe suffered in the weekend defeat by Cardiff. (Daily Mail) 
Premier League managers are preparing for action in protest at the recent decision by football's international governing body Fifa to drop experiments with goal-line technology.(Daily Mirror)

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Sunday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

World governing body Fifa is investigating 15 top transfers involving English clubs.(Mail on Sunday) 
Manchester United are planning a £25m bid for Valencia's attacking midfielder David Silva.(Sunday Express) 
Arsenal will sign 20-year-old Wales midfielder Jack Collison from West Ham in January - and may bring Matthew Upson back to the club as well.(News of the World) 
The Gunners will continue what already looks like a busy January with the completion of their convoluted deal for Marouane Chamakh, who will join from Bordeaux for £1.5m.(Mail on Sunday) 
Martin O'Neill plans to offload Nigel Reo-Coker to Tottenham after his bust-up with the Aston Villa manager.(News of the World)
Manchester City manager Mark Hughes expects to sign midfielder Yaya Toure from Barcelona once the January transfer window opens.(News of the World) 
Chelsea have evidence from the Football Association proving they had clearance to sign former Lens player Gael Kakuta, as the club plan their appeal against a transfer ban.(News of the World) 
Meanwhile, Manchester United are facing the prospect of their own transfer ban after the club's attempts to sign teenagers Paul Pogba and Alberto Massacci were referred to Fifa.(Mail on Sunday) 
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp will recall Jamie O'Hara from his loan deal at Portsmouth as soon as he can. "I like Jamie as a player and I didn't want him to go," said Redknapp.(News of the World) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester City's players have already received £459,000 in win bonuses this season, with a further £9,000 each if the club beat arch-rivals Manchester United on Sunday.(News of the World) 
Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has lined up another mystery buyer for the club, prepared to meet his £100m asking price. Talks are said to have progressed to a more serious stage than with other recently reported bidders.(Sunday Express) 
That mystery bidder is Barry Moat, the Tyneside businessman previously linked with a bid for Newcastle, who has come up with the means to finance the deal.(Sunday Telegraph) 
Notts County have not yet provided the Football League with detailed information about their new owners, who have funded the signings of Sven-Goran Eriksson and Sol Campbell.(Mail on Sunday) 
Lakshmi Mittal may buy out fellow QPR investor Flavio Briatore following the latter's fall from grace over the Renault scandal in Formula 1.(Sunday Telegraph) 
Liverpool are hoping to earn £240m in a naming rights deal for their new stadium.(News of the World) 
Guus Hiddink could return to Chelsea as an executive director with sporting director Frank Arnesen set to leave.(Mail on Sunday) 
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola admits Dean Ashton's long-term ankle injury has put the striker's career at risk.(Sunday Times) 
David Nugent, on loan at Burnley from Portsmouth, says he "made a mistake" moving south and wants to stay at Turf Moor permanently.(News of the World) 

AND FINALLY

Emmanuel Adebayor's row with Robin Van Persie, which boiled over during Manchester City's game against Arsenal last week, began when Adebayor walked off with his then team-mate's boots at the end of last season.(News of the World) 
West Ham's Calum Davenport has thanked people who donated blood for transfusions which "probably" saved his life after he was stabbed last month.(Sunday Telegraph) 
Pele insists he is not the world's greatest ever footballer - but says Diego Maradona isn't, either.(Mail on Sunday)
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South Africa - New Zealand

Rainbow Nation is under a cloud. Team is feeling the pressure after failing to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since the end of apartheid. They were playing WC qualifications, but results counted only for Cup of Nations, because Bafana Bafana directly qualified for World Championship as the host country. Only six points from seven games in group made a negative atmosphere in the country. Now, qualification for the semi-finals on Confederations Cup is the minimum target. Defence-minded coach Joel Santana is unpopular with the media, while two very important players, Benny McCarthy and Nasief Morris are moved from the squad ‘cause arguing with Santana. The hosts took only a point from Iraq game and Santana is accused again for defensive tactic against outsiders. Another draw would put them in the clueless position, facing the prospect of having to beat Spain to reach the semi-finals. Steven Pienaar is expected to start and to add some much-needed creativity to the side. Skipper Aaron Mokoena should recover from a shin problem.

New Zealand was considered as the weakest team on the competition, even before it started. Opening game didn’t change that impression. The All Whites are winless in their last six matches, with five defeats and one draw (Botswana, 0-0 on the road). They have lost all seven of their Confederations Cup games, scoring two goals and conceding 22. Coach Ricki Herbert says his side has a "burning desire" to win at least their first point in the finals of one Fifa competition. In the previous game, against Spain, squad managed to concede four goals for 24 minutes! Fortunately, Spanish side was satisfied with that, otherwise would be a real shame. The biggest problem for New Zealand is they used to play against teams like Thailand, Fiji, or New Caledonia. They planed to attack Spain(!?), before that in friendly scored three times against Italy (defeat 3-4), simply haven’t learnt to respect stronger. I expect from them attacking attitude, again. The main problem will be the “rusty” defence line, this time even weaker, without the skipper Ryan Nelsen.

South Africa is a big favorite (again). Santana will try to balance between his understanding of football logic and fans’ expectations about the first eleven. Usually, it means a big problem. They will attack, but New Zealand won’t defend. My choice is goals, before home win. Sunderlands offer 1.95, Expekt and the others 1.75. Over.

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Wales 0-2 Germany

Germany took another ominous step towards the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ but at least Wales' youngsters were not humiliated at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. 
Wales boss John Toshack can at least be thankful for that small mercy after the soul-searching which followed Saturday's embarrassing home defeat to Finland, but the points in World Cup Group 4 were always heading to a Germany side which was never stretched.
Germany took the lead after just 11 minutes when Ballack unleashed a swerving drive from 30 yards that crashed into the top corner past Wayne Hennessey. 
To their credit Wales side were running and fighting for every ball as the Germans' passing game threatened to overrun them.

After an encouraging first half Wales did not need a stroke of bad luck just three minutes into the second period. Collins had held up Gomez on the right and looked to have run the ball out but the Stuttgart striker kept the ball in. His low cross to the near post was then stabbed past Hennessey by Williams' out-stretched boot for Germany's second.

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Friday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP 

Barcelona have warned Chelsea and Manchester City that Argentine superstar Lionel Messi is not for sale at any price. (The Sun) 
The Spanish side are also hoping to fend off interest in Thierry Henry by offering the French striker a new three-year contract. (The Sun) 
AC Milan have reignited their interest in Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor after failing to land him last summer. (Daily Express) 
Liverpool are favourites to sign £20m-rated Spain midfielder David Silva after Valencia indicated they would prefer to sell him abroad. (Various) 
West Ham are prepared to break their transfer record by bidding more than £9m for Atalanta striker Sergio Floccari. (Daily Mirror) 
Tottenham have been told by Genoa to forget about signing their Argentine striker Diego Milito, saying £10m would not even buy his ear. (The Sun) 
Aston Villa have been alerted to the availability of Standard Liege midfielder Steven Defour. (Daily Mirror) 
David Beckham will stay at AC Milan rather than return to LA Galaxy when his loan spell ends in May, according to his Milan team-mate Paolo Maldini. (Daily Mirror) 
Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko has insisted he "does not want to go anywhere at this point" despite him being linked with Chelsea. (Daily Express) 
Stoke want to sign Manchester City striker Benjani and will move for him at the end of the season. (Daily Mirror) 
Burnley striker Ade Akinbiyi is heading to the US to tie up a deal to play for MLS side Houston Dynamo next season. (Various) 
Doncaster striker Jason Price is set to join Millwall on loan for the rest of the season. (Daily Star) 
Brighton's top scorer Glenn Murray will snub a summer move to Cardiff and stay with the Seagulls, even if they are relegated to League Two. (Daily Star) 
Spanish outfit Sevilla are set to cast an eye over Celtic winger Aiden McGeady at Saturday's Republic of Ireland international against Bulgaria. (Daily Express) 
Rangers have targeted the twin brother of Manchester United's Brazilian sensation Rafael de Silva to solve their left midfield problem. (Various) 

OTHER GOSSIP 

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has stepped up his bid to sell his 50% stake in the club, instructing financial giants Merrill Lynch to find a buyer. (Daily Mirror) 
Sir Alex Ferguson will quit as manager of Manchester United next year, according to his son Darren. (Various) 
Manchester United are in advanced talks with Saudi Telecom to replace shirt sponsor AIG. (Daily Mail) 
David Beckham has warned England coach Fabio Capello that he will not be able to curb the temper of striker Wayne Rooney. (Various) 
Capello has told his England players not to treat Saturday's clash with Slovakia as just a friendly. (Daily Mirror) 
Arsenal are on a collision course with Togo, who have vowed to play Emmanuel Adebayor against Cameroon on Saturday. The striker has not played for his club for six weeks because of a hamstring injury . (Daily Mirror) 
Gunners striker Robin van Persie has revealed he almost joined Rangers before he switched from Feyenoord to the Londoners in 2002. "I sat by the phone, hoping it would ring and that it would happen," he said. (Daily Star) 
Japanese business tycoon Yasuaki Kagami is set to take control of Plymouth when his real-estate form raises its stake in the club past the 50% mark in a seven-figure deal. (The Sun) 
Former Hearts defender Christophe Berra looks set to start for Scotland against Holland on Saturday in Amsterdam (Various) 
Cash-strapped Livingston failed to pay their players' wages on time again on Thursday, sparking further fears about the club's financial stability. (Daily Record) 
Brian McLean reckons Motherwell will bag a European slot after going on a run of sparkling form recently. (Daily Record) 
Dundee's financial future looks secure after welcoming one of Scotland's richest men, Calum Melville, to their board of directors. (Daily Record) 
Meanwhile, East Stirling have welcomed local businessman Hugh Henderson to their board to represent fans. (Daily Record) 
Robbie Winters is set to sign for Clyde in a bid to help the club win their fight against relegation from the First Division. (Daily Record) 
Queen of the South star Stevie Tosh says Aberdeen fans should lay off Jimmy Calderwood after calling for the manager's head this week (Daily Record) 
St Mirren keeper Chris Smith could be out for a year with a cruciate ligament injury. (Various) 
Robin Van Persie claims he almost signed for Rangers when Dick Advocaat was manager in 2002. (Various) 
Hearts sporting director Anatoly Korobochka has returned from a whistle-stop tour of Europe hunting for a pre-season training camp. (Daily Express) 
Fifa has ordered the four home nations to come to an agreement over a Great Britain football team for the London Olympics in 2012. (The Scotsman) 

AND FINALLY 

The Premier League's biggest clubs unveiled early designs for new kits for next season to negative reactions from supporters. Manchester United's shirt was described as "vulgar" and a "disgrace", Chelsea fans said their club's new kit would make them look like "muppets" and an Arsenal fan said his side's new shirt would be "one of the most unpopular ever". (Daily Star)

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