TRANSFER GOSSIP
West Ham want to sign David Beckham should he consider a return to England after his recovery from injury.(News of the World)
Manchester United are leading the chase to sign Spanish striker David Villa for about £35m after the World Cup.(Daily Star on Sunday)
Arsenal are keeping a close eye on Wigan midfielder James McCarthy. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has sent chief scout Steve Rowley to watch the 19-year-old Republic of Ireland player.(News of the World)
Liverpool are prepared to replace Ryan Babel, Albert Riera and Alberto Aquilani with top new players in a bid to keep Fernando Torres at the club.(Mail on Sunday)
Chelsea are set to pip Manchester City to the signing of 18-year-old Brazilian striker Neymar from Santos.(News of the World)
Arsenal are planning an £8m bid for AZ Alkmaar goalkeeper Sergio Romero, who has impressed Wenger during the Dutch side's European campaign.(News of the World)
OTHER GOSSIP
Jose Mourinho is very interested in becoming the next Liverpool manager, but would only take the job if American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett leave.(News of the World)
Manchester City will ask Mourinho to name his price to become their manager in the summer.(Sunday Express)
Liverpool's Javier Mascherano is looking for a hefty pay rise of around £1m-a-year to stay at Anfield.(Sunday Mirror)
Juventus could look to Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini to restore their club to its former glory following their exit from Europe.(Sunday Mirror)
German midfielder Michael Ballack has been offered a new contract at Chelsea, which could keep him at the club until 2012.(IM Scouting)
Dozens of English footballers are missing out-of-competition drug tests, while QPR and Bradford City have been fined for failing to provide accurate information to sampling officers over their players' whereabouts.(Sunday Times)
AND FINALLY
Chelsea skipper John Terry admits that the club's top players fear the drop following the defeat by Inter Milan in midweek.(Sunday Mirror)
Gareth Barry bemoans the loss of David Beckham to the England squad saying that the injured star is a "good bloke to have around".(Sunday Telegraph)
www.bbc.co.uk
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.
www.bbc.co.uk
Fulham are two goals down (1-3) after the first game. Positive for them is scored away goal, but also not so bad and competitive display. They have good home record in Premier, but also in European competitions (9 wins, 4 draws). Many of those European games weren’t against the clubs of Juve’s calibre, but Cottagers have already beaten there Man Utd and
Juve have two goals lead from the first game, possess more quality and much more experience playing in
Cottagers really believe (most important for this bet) they can progress. Smaller pitch gives the advantage to their aggression and decreases Italians’ technical superiority. Result from the first match won’t allow home side to give up, while on the other side Juve won’t defend 0-0. Also, Del Piero and Trezeguet can score at anytime. I see goals on both sides and see over 2.5 as a logic conclusion.
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Inter moved into the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia with a win over Juventus, but they had to come from behind after Diego had given the Bianconeri the lead. Goals from Lucio and Mario Balotelli in the second half gave the Nerazzurri a deserved win.
Balotelli threatened as he broke into the penalty area early on before Amauri tried to catch Francesco Toldo out with a shot from range in a lively start to the game.
The first goal of the evening game in the 10th minute when Toldo allowed a shot from Diego to squeeze past him after some fine build up play by Antonio Candreva and Momo Sissoko.
With a third of the game to go, Inter were beginning to show signs of desperation. Balotelli threw himself to the ground after Chiellini eased him off the ball in the penalty area, but moments later he forced Buffon into a smart save after finding himself in all sorts of space on the left side of the penalty area.
Felipe Melo then picked up a yellow card for a foul on Maicon on the edge of the area, and it proved to be a costly one. Sneijder stepped up to take the free kick and Lucio stabbed the ball past Buffon for the equaliser.As the clock ticked towards full-time, Inter grabbed a deserved winner as Juventus played for extra-time. Thiago Motta's shot was saved by Buffon, and Balotelli pounced on the loose ball to put the Nerazzurri ahead in the 89th minute.
www.goal.com
Inter - Juventus
Strong eleven are expected for Inter, including Eto'o. Juve will miss several keys and some youngsters will appear. At the same time, players have expected Benitez or Hiddink but will get Gentile as new boss. Seems their nightmare never ends. Mourinho smells the blood. Home win and over.
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I'm going on the road tonight. Thinking to take a weekend off, too much stress since December. However, will post gossips and will be back with new picks soon.
Cheers lads,
Dule
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Well, I still think betting on CL last round is just looking for a trouble, but would like to hear some reasons why Juve-Bayern shouldn't be an over. What,Juve will keep a goalless draw?Doubt so. They can practice it in Serie A, not against raging Bayern. Odd 2.20 is definitely value for me.
Carrick will act central defender and keep the eye on Dzeko? Yea, sure. Another over.
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Juventus - Bayern Munchen, Over 2.5
Wolfsburg - Manchester United, Over 2.5
Small bets, however.
.
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Italy came from behind to beat Belarus 2-1 in Helsingborg to ensure they finished top of Group A at the European U21 Championships.
Robert Acquafresca, who has been on loan at Cagliari for the past two seasons but who is owned by Internazionale, scored both goals for the Italians to cancel out Sergei Kislyak's opener.
The victory means that Italy avoid England in the semi-finals and will instead play Group B runners-up Germany.
Pierluigi Casiraghi's team were full value for the win but were given a real fright in the 44th minute when completely against the run of play Kislyak cleverly guided in a fine low cross from the impressive Igor Shitov.
However, Italy managed to hit back for the penalty spot before half-time when Mikhail Afanasiev was deemed to have handled in the box.
Acqufresca calmly dispatched the penalty to ensure the sides would be level at the break.
The second-half was exciting fare. With Sweden comfortably beating Serbia in the other group match Italy knew they had to win to top the group.
Similarly, Belarus knew it would be them, and not the Italians, who would play in the semi-finals if they could find a goal as they would have toppled Italy on the head-to-head rule.
Italy always looked the more likely to score though and Juventus prospect Sebastian Giovinco started to exert more influence on proceedings as the match went on.
He was denied twice in the same movement by first Belarus' goalkeeper Pavel Chesnovski and then by a great flying challenge from Shitov when it looked like the pint-sized Italian was going to nod home after Chesnovski initial save saw the ball pop up.
However, 14 minutes from the end Italy did get the key winning goal and it was a superb pass from Giovinco which cut open the Belarus defence.
That allowed lively substitute Antonio Candreva to roll the ball across to Acquafresca and the powerful striker was then allowed to quite literally walk the ball in for his third goal of the tournament.
One blow for the Italians though was a second yellow card for midfielder Claudio Marchisio who will now miss the semi-final but they will have star striker Mario Balotelli back for that match against the Germans.
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com
TRANSFER GOSSIP
Juventus will make a new bid for Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso after missing out on him last summer. (Various)
Real Madrid's Dutch winger Rafael van der Vaart has been offered to Chelsea for £8m. (Daily Mirror)
Tottenham hope to sign 17-year-old Charlton midfielder Jonjo Shelvey for about £3m but face competition from Newcastle and Fulham. (Various)
Meanwhile, Spurs are giving a trial to 19-year-old Ghanaian full-back Gladson Awako. (The Sun)
Aston Villa want £5.5m-rated Steau Bucharest defender Dorin Goian. (The Sun)
Fulham are ready to make a £1m bid for Scunthorpe United's 21-year-old striker Gary Hooper. (Daily Mirror)
AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti is confident of signing England midfielder David Beckham on a permanent deal from Los Angeles Galaxy. (Various)
Wolves manager Mick McCarthy says he is interested in signing Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia, who could be available for free at the end of the season. (Daily Star)
Bristol Rovers striker Richard Walker is lining up a move to Shrewsbury after not getting a new contract. (Daily Star)
Nottingham Forest are set to open talks with QPR over a £1.5m deal for Loftus Road striker Dexter Blackstock. (Various)
Blackburn have invited Austrian keeper Lukas Konigshofer for a trial. (The Sun)
Leicester are chasing 21-year-old Lincoln striker Dany N'Guessan. (Various)
Former Manchester United keeper Mark Bosnich, 37, has held talks with Swindon. (The Sun)
OTHER GOSSIP
Croatia coach Slaven Bilic has emerged as a shock contender to become Chelsea's new boss. (The Sun)
Liverpool winger Yossi Benayoun will be offered a new deal to keep him from quitting the club in the summer. (The Sun)
Mark Robins is the favourite to take charge at Oldham once Joe Role quits after Saturday's game against Walsall. (The Sun)
AND FINALLY
Arsenal's Mexican striker Carlos Vela was ordered to stay away from training on Monday while doctor's carried out tests on him for swine flu. The Gunners were worried after Vela had friends from his homeland visit him at the weekend but the 20-year-old was given the all-clear (Various)
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Serie A leaders Inter Milan were knocked out of the Italian Cup on Thursday when a 1-0 semi-final second leg win over Sampdoria fell short of overturning a 3-0 deficit from the teams' first meeting.In the May 13 final in Rome, Sampdoria will face Lazio who completed a 4-2 aggregate win over Juventus on Wednesday.
It will be Sampdoria's first cup final appearance since 1994 where they defeated Ancona while, for Inter, defeat meant their run of four successive final spots came to an end.
Inter were champions in 2005 and 2006 and runners-up in 2007 and 2008.
With three goals to make up, Inter coach Jose Mourinho played three strikers with Mario Balotelli, Julio Cruz and Zlatan Ibrahimovic all starting.
It was Ibrahimovic who was to score the only goal of the second leg with a superb 27th-minute volley although the Swedish international was unfortunate not have celebrated a second when he saw a 37th-minute lob come back off the post.
Sampdoria had their chances with Antonio Cassano and Giampaolo Pazzini both denied by good saves from Julio Cesar.
Inter can now turn their attentions to clinching the league title.
They have a 10-point lead with just six games left to play.
www.bangkokpost.com
Sporting Gijon 0 - 3 Espanyol
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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