TOKYO: Japan has 13 prospective venues should the country win the right to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cups, the country’s bid leaders said on Thursday.
Japan has bid for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups despite initially saying it would only do so if Tokyo won the vote to stage the 2016 Olympics. Rio de Janeiro was picked to host those Games.
The Japan Football Association (JFA) plans to use nine of the 10 venues from the 2002 World Cup which the country co-hosted with South Korea.
Tokyo, which did not host matches at the 2002 tournament, has put forward two stadiums with another in Toyota, near Nagoya, and another on the outskirts of Osaka.
Football’s governing body FIFA will announce the hosts for both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in December.
New FIFA rules require World Cup host countries to build a stadium with a minimum capacity of 80,000 for the opening game and final.
The JFA had planned to use the proposed 100,000-seater waterfront Olympic stadium had Tokyo won the 2016 Olympic vote. Yokohama, venue for the 2002 World Cup final, has Japan’s biggest stadium with a capacity of 70,000. Osaka is planning to build an 80,000-seater venue to solve the problem.
Japan faces challenges from England, Australia, Russia, the United States and joint bids from the Netherlands and Belgium and Spain and Portugal for both 2018 and 2022. South Korea, Qatar and Indonesia are bidding for 2022 only.
Showing posts with label Football. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Football. Show all posts
Friday, January 15, 2010
Cup joy for Juve as Reds, Barca crash out
ROME: Juventus’ 3-0 win over Napoli qualified the Bianconeri for the Italian Cup quarterfinals and helped coach Ciro Ferrara hold onto his job on a day when Barcelona exited its first competition under coach Pep Guardiola when the defending champions dropped out of the Copa del Rey and Liverpool were eliminated from the FA Cup.
Diego put Juve in front in the 24th minute at Stadio Olimpico in Turin, captain Alessandro Del Piero found the target in the 77th and added a penalty in the 82nd following a foul on Diego.
Ferrara was under pressure after three losses in Juve’s last four Serie A games, a run that followed the team’s elimination from the Champions League.
Ferrara called the win “very, very important for all of us.”
“We played with humility and determination and we deserved to win,” Ferrara said. “I’m very happy, most of all for the lads.”
Juventus will next face Inter Milan, which advanced with a 1-0 win over Livorno last month.
AC Milan needed a late goal from midfielder Mathieu Flamini to beat third-division Novara 2-1.
Filippo Inzaghi put Milan ahead in the 12th minute at San Siro. Novara forward Pablo Andres Gonzalez equalized in the 47th before Flamini scored the winner in the 81st with a shot from the edge of the area.
Also, Gianvito Plasmati scored twice early as Catania eliminated nine-man Genoa 2-1.
A cross from Hasan Salihamidzic set up Diego’s goal before Del Piero made it 2-0 following a cross from Jose Caceres and Napoli defender Matteo Contini was shown his second yellow card for the foul on Diego that set up Del Piero’s penalty.
Elsewhere, Barcelona were eliminated from the Copa del Rey inspite of beating Sevilla 1-0. Sevilla advanced to the quarter-finals of the domestic cup on away goals after the two-leg series ended 2-2.
Barcelona’s unrelenting second-half pressure paid off in the 64th minute as Xavi Hernandez chested down Ndri Romaric’s weak clearance outside the area to curl a shot through a crowd and past the outstretched Andres Palop.
Barcelona had won every competition it had competed in since Guardiola’s arrival before the start of the 2008-09 season, lifting an unprecedented six major trophies along the way.
“It’s not a problem,” said Guardiola, who fielded a full-strength lineup.
“There are few things I can say to the team. We tried to come back, we played a great second half. We just have to recover going forward.”
Sevilla will play Deportivo La Coruna after the Galician club scored twice in the second half to draw 2-2 against Valencia and advance 4-3 on aggregate.
Third-tier Alcorcon, which knocked Real Madrid out in the last round, couldn’t maintain its good run as it drew 0-0 at Racing Santander to lose 3-2 on aggregate.
Racing will play Osasuna after Masoud Soleimani’s impressive 49th-minute strike gave Osasuna a 1-0 win over second-division leaders Hercules, which dropped out on away goals after the teams finished tied 2-2 overall while Roberto Soldado scored twice as Getafe routed Malaga 5-1 to easily advance 6-3.
Over in England, Liverpool’s troubled season took another turn for the worse when it was eliminated from the FA Cup on Wednesday night with a 2-1 loss to second-tier Reading in their third-round replay.
Steven Gerrard’s deflected shot off defender Ryan Bertrand put the Reds ahead in first-half stoppage time, but Reading tied the score in the fourth minute of second half stoppage time when Yossi Benayoun fouled Shane Long in the penalty area, and Gylfi Sigurdsson converted the penalty kick.
Reading, which had never won at Anfield, went ahead Long scored from six yards in the 100th minute.
Liverpool forward Fernando Torres left in the 29th minute because of a twisted knee inside the first 30 minutes and Gerrard departed at halftime with what was thought to be a strained hamstring.
The only trophy Liverpool realistically can win is the Europa League. Manager Rafa Benitez’s team already has been eliminated from the European Champions League and the English League Cup, and it is seventh in the Premier League at 10-7-3, in danger of missing next season’s Champions League.
“We have to think about the future,” a downbeat Benitez said after losing to a club with a 5-11-8 League Championship record, one place above the relegation zone. “We will try to do our best.”
Reading plays Burnley in the fourth round fixture.
In Wednesday’s other third-round replay, Newcastle beat Plymouth 3-0 and will go to West Bromwich Albion on January 23. Peter Lovenkrands scored three goals for the Magpies, who extended their unbeaten streak to 13 games.
Diego put Juve in front in the 24th minute at Stadio Olimpico in Turin, captain Alessandro Del Piero found the target in the 77th and added a penalty in the 82nd following a foul on Diego.
Ferrara was under pressure after three losses in Juve’s last four Serie A games, a run that followed the team’s elimination from the Champions League.
Ferrara called the win “very, very important for all of us.”
“We played with humility and determination and we deserved to win,” Ferrara said. “I’m very happy, most of all for the lads.”
Juventus will next face Inter Milan, which advanced with a 1-0 win over Livorno last month.
AC Milan needed a late goal from midfielder Mathieu Flamini to beat third-division Novara 2-1.
Filippo Inzaghi put Milan ahead in the 12th minute at San Siro. Novara forward Pablo Andres Gonzalez equalized in the 47th before Flamini scored the winner in the 81st with a shot from the edge of the area.
Also, Gianvito Plasmati scored twice early as Catania eliminated nine-man Genoa 2-1.
A cross from Hasan Salihamidzic set up Diego’s goal before Del Piero made it 2-0 following a cross from Jose Caceres and Napoli defender Matteo Contini was shown his second yellow card for the foul on Diego that set up Del Piero’s penalty.
Elsewhere, Barcelona were eliminated from the Copa del Rey inspite of beating Sevilla 1-0. Sevilla advanced to the quarter-finals of the domestic cup on away goals after the two-leg series ended 2-2.
Barcelona’s unrelenting second-half pressure paid off in the 64th minute as Xavi Hernandez chested down Ndri Romaric’s weak clearance outside the area to curl a shot through a crowd and past the outstretched Andres Palop.
Barcelona had won every competition it had competed in since Guardiola’s arrival before the start of the 2008-09 season, lifting an unprecedented six major trophies along the way.
“It’s not a problem,” said Guardiola, who fielded a full-strength lineup.
“There are few things I can say to the team. We tried to come back, we played a great second half. We just have to recover going forward.”
Sevilla will play Deportivo La Coruna after the Galician club scored twice in the second half to draw 2-2 against Valencia and advance 4-3 on aggregate.
Third-tier Alcorcon, which knocked Real Madrid out in the last round, couldn’t maintain its good run as it drew 0-0 at Racing Santander to lose 3-2 on aggregate.
Racing will play Osasuna after Masoud Soleimani’s impressive 49th-minute strike gave Osasuna a 1-0 win over second-division leaders Hercules, which dropped out on away goals after the teams finished tied 2-2 overall while Roberto Soldado scored twice as Getafe routed Malaga 5-1 to easily advance 6-3.
Over in England, Liverpool’s troubled season took another turn for the worse when it was eliminated from the FA Cup on Wednesday night with a 2-1 loss to second-tier Reading in their third-round replay.
Steven Gerrard’s deflected shot off defender Ryan Bertrand put the Reds ahead in first-half stoppage time, but Reading tied the score in the fourth minute of second half stoppage time when Yossi Benayoun fouled Shane Long in the penalty area, and Gylfi Sigurdsson converted the penalty kick.
Reading, which had never won at Anfield, went ahead Long scored from six yards in the 100th minute.
Liverpool forward Fernando Torres left in the 29th minute because of a twisted knee inside the first 30 minutes and Gerrard departed at halftime with what was thought to be a strained hamstring.
The only trophy Liverpool realistically can win is the Europa League. Manager Rafa Benitez’s team already has been eliminated from the European Champions League and the English League Cup, and it is seventh in the Premier League at 10-7-3, in danger of missing next season’s Champions League.
“We have to think about the future,” a downbeat Benitez said after losing to a club with a 5-11-8 League Championship record, one place above the relegation zone. “We will try to do our best.”
Reading plays Burnley in the fourth round fixture.
In Wednesday’s other third-round replay, Newcastle beat Plymouth 3-0 and will go to West Bromwich Albion on January 23. Peter Lovenkrands scored three goals for the Magpies, who extended their unbeaten streak to 13 games.
Gabon upset Cameroon in Africa Cup of Nations
LUANDA: Gabon became the latest underdogs at the Africa Cup of Nations to punch above their weight when they claimed the scalp of continental giants Cameroon with a 1-0 win on Wednesday.
Later, in Lubango, 2004 champions Tunisia were unable to capitalise on Cameroon's slip up when they escaped with a 1-1 draw against Zambia to leave Group D wide open.
Angola 2010 is fast earning a reputation as a tournament of upsets, with Angola squandering a 4-0 lead to draw 4-4 draw against Mali, Algeria whipped 3-0 by Malawi, and Ivory Coast held by Burkina Faso.
Egypt, the two-time champions, are the only side to do themselves justice in the opening week with their 3-1 defeat of Nigeria on Tuesday.
On paper Cameroon, offically rated the best side in Africa, should have taken Gabon to the cleaners.
But Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto'o and his teammates were unable to respond to Gabon's Hull City striker Daniel Cousin who produced the only goal of the game to go top of Group D.
Veteran Cameroon central defender Rigobert Song became the first man to play in eight Nations Cup tournaments, but he would have surely traded his place in history for a different result.
Tunisia avoided embarrassment when five minutes before the break teenage striker Youssef Msakni tore the Zambian defence apart down the left, cutting the ball back to Zouhaier Dhaouadhi who slammed it into the roof of the net.
Zambia coach Herve Renard reckoned his side had let slip maximum points, especially after Gabon's win.
Thursday sees the second batch of matches in Group A in Luanda, with Angola facing giantkillers Malawi while Mali tackle Algeria.
Later, in Lubango, 2004 champions Tunisia were unable to capitalise on Cameroon's slip up when they escaped with a 1-1 draw against Zambia to leave Group D wide open.
Angola 2010 is fast earning a reputation as a tournament of upsets, with Angola squandering a 4-0 lead to draw 4-4 draw against Mali, Algeria whipped 3-0 by Malawi, and Ivory Coast held by Burkina Faso.
Egypt, the two-time champions, are the only side to do themselves justice in the opening week with their 3-1 defeat of Nigeria on Tuesday.
On paper Cameroon, offically rated the best side in Africa, should have taken Gabon to the cleaners.
But Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto'o and his teammates were unable to respond to Gabon's Hull City striker Daniel Cousin who produced the only goal of the game to go top of Group D.
Veteran Cameroon central defender Rigobert Song became the first man to play in eight Nations Cup tournaments, but he would have surely traded his place in history for a different result.
Tunisia avoided embarrassment when five minutes before the break teenage striker Youssef Msakni tore the Zambian defence apart down the left, cutting the ball back to Zouhaier Dhaouadhi who slammed it into the roof of the net.
Zambia coach Herve Renard reckoned his side had let slip maximum points, especially after Gabon's win.
Thursday sees the second batch of matches in Group A in Luanda, with Angola facing giantkillers Malawi while Mali tackle Algeria.
African football: Angola goes on top beating Malawi
LUANDA, Angola: The second game in Group A kicked off with hosts Angola taking on one of the surprise teams from the first round Malawi.
Angola made just one change from the side that started against Mali on Sunday with Djalma coming in for Dede in the midfield. Malawi meanwhile were forced into two changes, the most notable being the loss of Russel, who scored the opening goal for his country in the 3-0 win over Algeria.
In front of a noisy and expectant home crowd, Angola started the game at breakneck speed, but were unable to force clear cut chances despite seeing the majority of the ball. The tricky surface at the Estadio 11 de Novembro also didn’t make life any easier for the players with the ball bouncing away in unpredictable fashion and on other occasions rearing up. Nevertheless it was a high tempo beginning to the game, if rather low on outright quality,
Several half chances fell the way of midfielder Djalma for Angola, who timed his runs into the Malawian penalty area well, but couldn’t make any of his opportunities count. Whilst on 27 minutes the two-goal hero against Mali, Flavio could have done better with a chance he curled straight into the gloves of Swadic Sanudi in the Malawian goal from about 20 yards out.
Malawi very nearly gifted Angola a lead after conceding dangerous possession in their half on 33 minutes. Former Manchester United forward Manucho collected the ball and fired towards goal with a well placed effort. However Sanudi performed heroics in the Malawian goal to turn the effort behind via his fingertips for a corner.
In another match of the group, Rafik Halliche scored with a header Thursday to give World Cup qualifier Algeria a 1-0 win over Mali in Group A of the African Cup of Nations.
Algeria kept its hopes of reaching the quarterfinals alive after winning a tough physical contest and bounced back following its surprising 3-0 loss to Malawi.
Angola made just one change from the side that started against Mali on Sunday with Djalma coming in for Dede in the midfield. Malawi meanwhile were forced into two changes, the most notable being the loss of Russel, who scored the opening goal for his country in the 3-0 win over Algeria.
In front of a noisy and expectant home crowd, Angola started the game at breakneck speed, but were unable to force clear cut chances despite seeing the majority of the ball. The tricky surface at the Estadio 11 de Novembro also didn’t make life any easier for the players with the ball bouncing away in unpredictable fashion and on other occasions rearing up. Nevertheless it was a high tempo beginning to the game, if rather low on outright quality,
Several half chances fell the way of midfielder Djalma for Angola, who timed his runs into the Malawian penalty area well, but couldn’t make any of his opportunities count. Whilst on 27 minutes the two-goal hero against Mali, Flavio could have done better with a chance he curled straight into the gloves of Swadic Sanudi in the Malawian goal from about 20 yards out.
Malawi very nearly gifted Angola a lead after conceding dangerous possession in their half on 33 minutes. Former Manchester United forward Manucho collected the ball and fired towards goal with a well placed effort. However Sanudi performed heroics in the Malawian goal to turn the effort behind via his fingertips for a corner.
In another match of the group, Rafik Halliche scored with a header Thursday to give World Cup qualifier Algeria a 1-0 win over Mali in Group A of the African Cup of Nations.
Algeria kept its hopes of reaching the quarterfinals alive after winning a tough physical contest and bounced back following its surprising 3-0 loss to Malawi.
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