Soccer Capsules: Mexico leans on Gold Cup champs for U.S. rematch
MEXICO CITY — More than half of the Mexico team which won the Gold Cup will face the United States again on Aug. 12 in a critical World Cup qualifier at Azteca Stadium.
Coach Javier Aguirre named 12 players from the Gold Cup squad that beat the United States 5-0 in Sunday’s final.
None of the Americans are likely to start against Mexico next month. The Americans have never won at Azteca Stadium.
Mexico desperately needs a victory in a struggle to qualify for next year’s World Cup in South Africa.
The 12 from the Gold Cup team are: Goalkeepers Guillermo Ochoa and Jose de Jesus Corona; defenders Efrain Juarez, Jose Antonio Castro and Jonny Magallon; midfielders Israel Castro, Gerardo Torrado and Alberto Medina; and forwards Miguel Sabah, Giovani Dos Santos, Carlos Vela and Guillermo Franco.
Aguirre added five defenders: Ricardo Osorio, Carlos Salcido, Rafael Marquez, Oscar Rojas and Aaron Galindo. Also called up were midfielders Andres Guardado and Cuauhtemoc Blanco, and forward Nery Castillo.
Midway through qualifying, Costa Rica leads the North and Central America and Caribbean region with 12 points. The U.S. has 10 followed by Honduras (7), Mexico (6), El Salvador (5) and Trinidad and Tobago (2). The top three advance automatically to South Africa. The No. 4 team plays off with the No. 5 from South America for another berth.
Ronaldo doing well after surgery on broken hand
SAO PAULO — Doctors say Brazilian striker Ronaldo is doing well after undergoing surgery on his broken left hand.
Corinthians doctor Joaquim Grava says surgeons inserted 12 screws Wednesday in the hand that Ronaldo broke during a Brazilian league match over the weekend.
Ronaldo is expected to be sidelined for at least a month.
Corinthians said on its Web site that Ronaldo will remain hospitalized until Thursday.
The striker was injured after falling 20 minutes into Corinthians’ 3-0 loss to Palmeiras on Sunday following a contest for the ball.
The injury comes less than five months into Ronaldo’s successful return from the third serious knee injury of his career.
Grondona downplays possible Argentine failure
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Argentine Football Association president Julio Grondona has hinted at the unthinkable. How would he react if Argentina doesn't qualify for next year's World Cup in South Africa.
The last time that happened was 39 years ago.
"If we don't qualify, we don't qualify," Grondona said in an interview published on Wednesday in La Nacion.
"I'm not going to kill myself. I'll be sad, but I'm not going to kill myself."
Five-time World Cup winner Brazil leads the South American qualifying group with 27 points. Argentina has 22, good for fourth place — the last automatic qualifying spot. The two archrivals face off on Sept. 5 in Rosario in a critical match for the two-time champions.
Argentina has three matches remaining following the Brazil game — at Paraguay on Sept. 8, home against Peru on Oct. 10, and at Uruguay on Oct. 13.
The fifth-place team in South America faces a playoff with the No. 4 team from the North and Central America and Caribbean region for another berth in South Africa.
"But I'm optimistic," Grondona said. "We have a very good team, a good coaching staff and we're in good shape (to advance)."
Argentina won the World Cup in 1978 and 1986 but has not reached the final four since 1990, when it lost the final to Germany.
Arbeloa joins Madrid on 5-year deal from Liverpool
MADRID — Spain defender Alvaro Arbeloa is joining Real Madrid on a five-year contract from Liverpool.
The 26-year-old Arbeloa passed a medical Wednesday in Madrid before completing his 3.5 million-pound ($5.7 million) transfer from the Premier League club.
"The results of every test are very satisfactory," Dr. Carlos Diez said. "He is delighted about playing for Real Madrid. It's always been his dream. He can't wait to join his teammates."
Arbeloa becomes the club's seventh offseason signing, after Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema, Raul Albiol, Alvaro Negredo and Esteban Granero.
"Arbeloa's versatility allows him to play anywhere in defense," Madrid said on its Web site. "He is a very regular and consistent player who thrives in one-on-ones."
Arbeloa, who was part of the Spain squad that won the 2008 European championship, was with Madrid as a youth player before moving to Deportivo La Coruna in 2006 and then on to Liverpool six months later.
The right back was in the final year of his Liverpool contract, having moved to Anfield for 2.6 million pounds in January 2007. He played 99 games for the English club and scored two goals.
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has already spent 17.5 million pounds on England right back Glen Johnson, who is expected to take Arbeloa's place in the side.
Liverpool also has Swiss international Philipp Degen back after rib and lung injuries. Jamie Carragher has also filled in at right back.
Lyon agrees deal to sign striker Bafetimbi Gomis
LYON, France — Lyon has agreed a deal to sign France striker Bafetimbi Gomis from Saint-Etienne on a five-year deal worth an initial €13 million (€18.2 million).
The seven-time French champion said on its Web site that it will soon complete the deal once the 23-year-old Gomis passes his medical.
The fee could rise to €15 million ($21 million) with performance bonuses.
Since selling Karim Benzema to Real Madrid, Lyon has bought striker Lisandro Lopez and defender Aly Cissokho from FC Porto, and Lille winger Michel Bastos.
The move will irk rival fans at nearby Saint-Etienne, where Gomis came through the youth ranks before making his debut in the 2003-04 season.
He scored 39 league goals in 142 games for the club, but was regularly jeered last season as the team struggled near the bottom of the French league and only narrowly avoided relegation.
Gomis held tense talks with Roland Romeyer, one of the club's co-presidents, after he had criticized him for being a lazy player during a meeting with fan groups midway through the tough campaign.
Gomis scored 16 league goals in 27 starts during the 2007-08 campaign. He forced his way into the France squad for the 2008 European Championship just a week before it was announced by scoring twice on his international debut against Ecuador.
Lyon had been trying to sign Toulouse forward Andre-Pierre Gignac — the French league's top scorer with 24 goals last season — and had been trying to buy back striker Loic Remy a year after selling him to Nice for €8 million ($11.2 million).
Lyon offered around €15 million ($21 million) plus its winger Anthony Mounier — rated at €4 million ($5.6 million) — to tempt Nice to sell Remy back. But Lyon has now pulled the plug on the deal and has strongly criticized Nice's behavior.
"Lyon regrets the way Nice delayed and constantly upped the price during the negotiations concerning the potential transfer of Loic Remy," Lyon said Wednesday in a statement. "As a consequence, Lyon has decided to renounce on this transfer despite making an extremely big financial effort."
Lyon says it is still looking to bring in another striker before it starts its season at Le Mans on Aug. 8.
Kolo Toure joins Manchester City from Arsenal
MANCHESTER, England — Kolo Toure joined Manchester City on a four-year deal from Arsenal on Wednesday to bolster the defense for the English Premier League's biggest spenders.
The Ivory Coast defender joined City for 14 million pounds ($23 million) after seven years with the Gunners.
City had tried and so far failed to sign both John Terry from Chelsea and Joleon Lescott from Everton.
Using owner Sheikh Mansour's wealth, City manager Mark Hughes is revamping the squad in the hope of winning the club's first league title since 1968.
"It is no secret that we have been looking to strengthen our defense, and in Kolo I feel we have recruited a world-class player," Hughes said. "He brings a wealth of Premier League experience from his seven seasons with Arsenal.
"Kolo has been a central figure in a very strong Arsenal team for many years, and I have been an admirer of him for a long time. He is strong, quick, reads the game well and will be an influential figure in the dressing room."
Toure has been reunited at City with Emmanuel Adebayor, the Togo striker who left Arsenal this month and is now part of a strike force including Robinho, Carlos Tevez and Roque Santa Cruz. England midfielder Gareth Barry was also bought from Aston Villa.
"I felt the time was right for a new challenge and I am still at an age, 28, where I feel I am at my peak and will play my best football," Toure said. "The ambition here is clear to see and is big. Everyone knows this club is moving and that is really, really important."
The departure of Toure from Arsenal marks the end of an era for the club. He was the last surviving member of the "Invincibles," who went unbeaten for 49 straight Premier League matches in 2003-04.
Austria forward Hoffer to join Napoli
VIENNA — Austria forward Erwin Hoffer has joined Italian Serie A club Napoli on a five-year contract, moving from Rapid Vienna.
The deal was closed late Tuesday, Rapid said on its Website, adding that financial details won't be revealed.
However, Austrian newspapers on Wednesday suggested that Napoli were to pay a €5 million ($6.6 million) transfer fee, the highest ever for an Austrian player.
The 22-year-old Hoffer has been with Rapid for three seasons, scoring 44 goals in 95 matches.
He has played 11 international games and scored twice for Austria.
Defender Rozehnal moves to Hamburg from Lazio
PRAGUE — Czech international defender David Rozehnal has completed a move from Serie A club Lazio to Hamburg in the Bundesliga.
The defender signed a three-year contract that includes the possibility of a fourth, contingent on appearances, his agent Pavel Zika said Wednesday.
Financial details were not given but the Italian club reportedly received €8 million for the central defender.
Rozehnal previously played for Newcastle in the Premier League, French club Paris St. Germain and Brugge in Belgium.
He completed a permanent move to Lazio from Newcastle in June last year after spending the second half of the season on loan in Rome.
The 29-year-old has played 56 times for the Czech Republic.
Boa Morte out until 2010
LONDON — West Ham midfielder Luis Boa Morte is expected to be out of action until early 2010 after he injured his knee playing in a preseason friendly in Beijing on Wednesday.
The 31-year-old Portuguese international caught his studs in the turf and fell awkwardly in a game against Tottenham in the Beijing Workers' Stadium.
The Hammers said he damaged the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He was fitted with a knee brace before being carried off the field and then taken to a hospital for treatment.
He returned to the team hotel walking with the aid of crutches and will have further tests to determine whether he needs surgery when the swelling on the knee goes down.
Eduardo included in Croatia squad
ZAGREB, Croatia — Eduardo Da Silva will join Croatia for its World Cup qualifier against Belarus next month after a lengthy absence due to injury, coach Slaven Bilic said Wednesday.
Eduardo, who scored 14 goals in 24 matches for Croatia, missed most of the country's qualifying matches because of a broken leg he sustained playing with his club side, Arsenal. He will be part of the team to face Belarus on Aug. 12 in Minsk.
Croatia is under pressure to hold on to the No. 2 spot in European qualifying Group 6. England leads the group and can clinch its fourth straight World Cup appearance with a victory over Croatia at Wembley on Sept. 9.
Bilic also introduced Dinamo Zagreb defender Dejan Lovren to the team, after losing Robert Kovac and Hrvoje Vejic to injury.
Man United beats Boca Juniors 2-1 in friendly
MUNICH — New signing Antonio Valencia scored the winning goal for Manchester United in a 2-1 victory over Boca Juniors in a friendly tournament Wednesday.
In the second game of the Audi Cup, Bayern Munich was set to play AC Milan.
Midfielder Anderson gave Manchester United the lead with a curling free kick. Valencia, newly signed from Wigan, sealed the victory before halftime with a low shot that went under goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri and into the net.
Federico Insua pulled one back for the Argentines in the 55th.
Arsenal beats Hannover 1-0
HANNOVER, Germany — Midfielder Cesc Fabregas scored after eight minutes to give Arsenal a 1-0 victory over Hannover in a friendly on Wednesday.
Arsenal controlled the game, which was also the official farewell for Hannover's retiring Michael Tarnat.
The fans jeered Hannover off the field for its uninspired performance.
UK gov't to release Hillsborough disaster papers
LONDON — Previously unseen documents relating to the 1989 Hillsborough stadium disaster will be released by the British government.
Home Secretary Alan Johnson agreed Wednesday to waive a 30-year secrecy rule to allow documents related to the tragedy to be made public. Ninety-six Liverpool fans died at an FA Cup semifinal against Nottingham Forest staged at the ground.
A newly created Hillsborough Independent Panel could start going through the papers in September.
Documents will be made available to the families before they are made public because they may contain sensitive and personal information related to the victims' final minutes.
Although an inquest jury ruled in 1991 that the deaths at Sheffield Wednesday's stadium were accidental, South Yorkshire Police were strongly criticized for their handling of the tragedy. Officers herded up to 2,000 Liverpool fans into caged-in enclosures that were already full, resulting in many being crushed and suffocating.
The relatives of those who died have pressed for criminal charges against the police and suggested that there was a cover-up of evidence.
Marseille moves match due to stadium death inquiry
MARSEILLE, France — Marseille will play its first home game of the season away from Stade Velodrome because of an ongoing inquiry into an accident that killed two workers at its stadium earlier this month.
Marseille said Wednesday that its home game against Lille on Aug. 16 will instead be played at Montpellier's Stade de la Mosson because the inquiry into the stadium deaths will not be completed in time.
"We will not be able to play at the Velodrome on August 16 because the work of the experts will not have been finished yet," Marseille's mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin said on the club's Web site.
Marseille, which finished second in the French league last season, hopes to face French champion Bordeaux at the 60,000-capacity Stade Velodrome on Aug. 30.
On July 16, two workers were killed and eight injured when part of a roof of a stage built for a scheduled Madonna concert collapsed.
