Soccer Capsules: Internacional edges Guadalajara for Libertadores title
PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (AP) — Brazil's Internacional claimed its second Copa Libertadores title as Rafael Sobis, Leandro and Giuliano scored in a 3-2 win over Mexico's Guadalajara on Wednesday, completing a 5-3 aggregate victory.
Brazilian club Internacional had won the first leg 2-1 in Mexico last week and clinched the title in Latin America's most important club competition before a packed Beira-Rio stadium.
"We played well in Mexico and we played well here, we deserved to win this title," Internacional's Argentine midfielder Andres D'Alessandro said.
Midfielder Marco Fabian De la Mora put Guadalajara ahead with the opening goal in the 43rd minute, but Sobis equalized in the 63rd from a cross by World Cup veteran left back Kleber.
Substitute striker Leandro scored on a breakaway in the 76th and Giuliano sealed the victory in the 90th. Patricio Araujo scored a consolation for Chivas in injury time.
"This is an incredibly special moment for Internacional and its fans," captain Bolivar said moments after receiving the trophy from football great Pele. "We fought hard to win this and it finally happened. This is huge."
Bolivar and the rest of the players celebrated wildly on the pitch, hugging each other and chanting along with the fans in the stands. Sobis ran around the field with a huge Internacional flag, to the delight of the crowd.
Players had scuffled on the field after the match but police quickly intervened. The Mexicans said they were provoked by the Brazilian players and that a fan punched De la Mora. They complained of a lack of security.
"I don't know why they let something like this happen," Guadalajara coach Jose Luis Real said. "It's seems it's OK to happen when it's here."
Guadalajara fell short in its attempt to become the first Mexican club to win the competition.
Real blamed the loss on "silly mistakes we made in the two goals."
"We played well in the first half, but we can't make those mistakes against a team like Internacional," he said.
Internacional's win was the 14th Copa Libertadores title for a Brazilian club. Argentine teams have the most with 22.
The Porto Alegre club won the competition in 2006, and went on to clinch FIFA's Club World Cup by beating Barcelona in the final. Since then, it has won four other international competitions: the Recopa Sudamericana, the Copa Sudamericana, the Dubai Cup and the Suruga Cup.
Internacional was already guaranteed a spot in this year's Club World Cup in Dubai because Mexican clubs are part of the North and Central American region and can't represent South America at the tournament.
The home team controlled most of the match in front of nearly 50,000 fans and had several scoring chances, but Chivas was more dangerous in the few opportunities it created in the first half.
After allowing the late goal in the first half to level the tie on aggregate, Internacional returned after the break applying more pressure.
Sobis, who stared the match as a replacement for injured Alecsandro, received a passl just in front of the goal after a breakaway in the 55th but was unable to beat goalkeeper Michel.
He made up for that with his next opportunity, latching on to Kleber's perfect cross from near the six-yard box on a play set up by midfielder Tinga.
Leandro then scored just three minutes after replacing Sobis.
Chivas' Omar Arellano was red carded in the 87th for a foul on D'Alessandro, and Internacional quickly converted the numeric advantage when Giuliano beat two defenders and chipped past Michel from inside the area.
It was Internacional's seventh win in as many matches at the Beira-Rio. The team hasn't lost at home in the Libertadores since 1993.
Celso Roth took over as Internacional coach after the World Cup break, just before the Copa Libertadores semifinals. He replaced Uruguayan coach Jorge Fossati, who was fired because of poor results in the Brazilian league.
"The players accepted the new philosophy that I brought into the team and I'm glad it worked out with Internacional winning the title," Roth said.
Guadalajara was only the second Mexican club to reach the final since the country joined the Copa Libertadores in 1998. Cruz Azul made it in 2001, losing to Boca Juniors.
Chivas was given a first-round bye in this year's competition as compensation for being forced to pull out of the 2009 tournament because of the swine flu outbreak in Mexico, which prevented opponents traveling there.
Chivas striker Adolfo Bautista was booed nearly every time he touched the ball because he ignored the Brazilian national anthem before the match and warmed up on the field while the rest of the Guadalajara players lined up. Bautista said he did that because they cut the Mexican anthem short.
Guadalajara players claim attack by fans
PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (AP) — Guadalajara players say they were attacked by Internacional fans after their defeat in the Copa Libertadores final on Wednesday.
Players said midfielder Marco Fabian De la Mora was punched by fans who entered the field to celebrate Internacional's 3-2 victory, which gave the Brazilian club the title of Latin America's most important club competition. The alleged attack led to a quick scuffle between players from both teams.
"What happened is that a fan entered the field and hit our player," Guadalajara coach Jose Luis Real said. "That's what caused the problem. It shouldn't have happened."
Some players were seen throwing punches while others tried to intervene to keep the altercation from escalating at the Beira-Rio stadium as fans celebrated Internacional's triumph on the stands.
"They have to respect us," Guadalajara striker Adolfo Bautista said. "That's not how they should treat us here. That's why we were upset."
The Mexicans said police and organizers should have done something to keep the fans from entering the field after the match ended.
"There was a lack of security," De la Mora said. "It was a shame."
The Guadalajara players had to be escorted by police as they headed to receive their runner-up medals.
There had been a problem before the match, too, as Bautista apparently ignored the Brazilian national anthem and warmed up on the field while the rest of the Guadalajara players lined up.
Bautista apparently was upset that the Mexican anthem was cut short, but he was heavily booed by Internacional fans nearly every time he touched the ball. He also was booed when he received his medal.
Guadalajara, known as Chivas, was trying to become the first Mexican team to win the Copa Libertadores since the nation accepted the invitation to join the competition in 1998. Cruz Azul had been the other Mexican club to make it to the final, losing to Boca Juniors in 2001.
Chivas received a first-round bye as compensation for being forced to pull out of the 2009 tournament because of the swine flu outbreak in Mexico, which kept opponents from traveling to the North American nation.
-- Tales Azzoni
Mexico to face Ecuador and Colombia
MEXICO CITY (AP) — The Mexico national team will play two friendly matches next month against Ecuador and Colombia as part of the country's celebration of 200 years of independence from Spain.
The Mexican Football Federation said the national team will face Ecuador on Sept. 4 in Guadalajara, and then play Colombia on Sept. 7 in Monterrey. Mexico celebrates its independence day on Sept. 16.
The federation said it also plans to play a friendly in October in Ciudad Juarez, although no team has been announced.
Interim coach Efrain Flores will take charge of the Mexico team for the two matches.
Cardenas scores 4 in Santos Laguna win
MACOYA, Trinidad (AP) — Jose Maria Cardenas scored four goals to give Santos Laguna of Mexico a 5-2 win over Trinidad and Tobago's Joe Public in the first rounds of the CONCACAF champions league on Wednesday.
Cardenas struck twice in the first-half but the Eastern Lions fought back to equalize on both occasions with goals from Makan Hislop and Yu Hoshide.
Cardenas added two more goals and Enriques scored in injury time.
FAS, Toluca draw 0-0
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — Salvadoran club FAS and Toluca of Mexico played a 0-0 draw Wednesday in the CONCACAF Champions League.
The scoreless game, played on a muddy, wet pitch which reduced scoring chances, left each team in Group D with one point after the first round. Group rivals Olimpia and the Puerto Rico Islanders also have one point after their 1-1 draw on Tuesday.
Toluca missed a penalty in the 79th minute when Manuel Perez hit the crossbar, then again hit the woodwork from the rebound.
Toluca was awarded the penalty after Manuel Salazar committed a foul in the area.
U.S. Soccer
U.S. men's soccer team to face Poland on Oct. 9
CHICAGO (AP) — The U.S. men will play Poland in an exhibition game Oct. 9 at Soldier Field.
The United States has won seven of its 16 matches against Poland, including three of the last four. The last time the teams met in the United States was in 2004, also in Chicago, when the Americans got an equalizer from Carlos Bocanegra in the 88th minute.
The game is on a FIFA fixture date, meaning clubs are required to release players to national teams.
"We know this is an important opportunity for Poland as they prepare for the 2012 European Championship, so we expect a challenging game," U.S. coach Bob Bradley said. "Chicago has a fantastic tradition of supporting soccer and the U.S. national team, and with the large Polish community in the area it should make for an exciting atmosphere."
Poland is co-host of the 2012 European Championships with Ukraine. Though it does not have to qualify for the continental tournament, it has exhibitions scheduled in September against Ukraine and Australia.
This will be the second game since the World Cup for the Americans. They lost 2-0 to Brazil on Aug. 10 at the New Meadowlands Stadium.
Hernandez suspension doubled for hit in game
NEW YORK (AP) — San Jose Earthquakes defender Jason Hernandez has been given an additional one-game suspension and additional $250 fine for striking a Kansas City opponent during a match.
The MLS reviewed the off-the-ball hit and decided Wednesday to double the penalty because Hernandez endangered the safety of his opponent.
Hernandez hit rookie forward Teal Bunbury in the 88th minute of the 1-0 win against the Wizards on Saturday. Officials issued a red card to Hernandez.
He will serve his suspension during games on Saturday against the LA Galaxy and August 28 against the New York Red Bulls.
Earthquakes goalie has ankle surgery
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — San Jose Earthquakes goalkeeper Joe Cannon has undergone surgery on his broken left ankle. The team says Cannon had the operation Wednesday.
Cannon has played in 12 games this season. He has six shutouts, including in his last appearance this past Saturday against Kansas City. He hurt his ankle this week in practice.
World Cup
SAfrica: Concern about future of World Cup stadiums
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Too small for cricket and missing suites for rugby, the stadiums that cost South Africa more than $1 billion for this year's World Cup already are in danger of turning into white elephants.
Both rugby and cricket are more commercially successful than soccer in South Africa, and both sports need to move into the new stadiums — built and renovated for Africa's first World Cup — to stay financially healthy.
South African Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskins told members of parliament in Cape Town on Tuesday that there had been no discussions between Durban city officials and rugby representatives before the $400 million, 70,000-capacity Moses Mabhida Stadium was built, and now it did not have enough suites to accommodate the local suite holders for the Sharks rugby team.
Hoskins said that the Sharks, who compete in the annual Super Rugby competition and the domestic Currie Cup — and who could offer near year-round use of the stadium — would have a "massive problem" moving into it now.
"What we are discussing today should have been discussed before we built the stadiums," Hoskins said. "It is tragic for us as a nation that we have to act in reverse."
The situation in Cape Town is just as bad, according to Hoskins, because of the deteriorating relationship between the local Western Province rugby union and the Green Point Stadium operators. The South African Press Association quoted Western Province Rugby president Tobie Titus as saying that on the advice of an independent financial adviser, Western Province Rugby was staying at its current stadium, Newlands.
So the picturesque Green Point Stadium, set in the shadow of the famous Table Mountain, could now be rarely used while costing more than $6 million a year just to maintain.
Cricket South Africa chief executive Gerald Majola added that the fields at the stadiums were too small to host cricket games, and blamed that on the failure of cities to consult cricket authorities before construction.
Hoskins said the positive hype generated by the monthlong World Cup hid some of the problems the stadiums are now facing.
"In 2007, before the new stadiums were built, I wrote to the minister of sport and said I foresaw major problems coming and I asked for the intervention of the ministry," Hoskins told the committee. "Unfortunately, we were all taken up by the soccer World Cup and in the hype we forgot we should have been talking to each other."
"We want to use the new stadiums," Hoskins said. "We want to take the game to the people, but these issues are going to stand in our way in a big way."
In July, South African Football Association chief executive Leslie Sedibe acknowledged before the same parliamentary committee that his sport faced a major challenge to keep the stadiums in use and profitable — largely due to traditionally low ticket prices charged at local matches and the high cost of running the world class arenas.
Sedibe's observation came just 10 days after the World Cup ended, and after South Africa spent an estimated $1.3 billion building and upgrading the 10 stadiums used for the tournament.
It was hoped rugby and cricket would help out.
Yet even as the world champion South African rugby team prepares to play its first international match at the 94,000-seat Soccer City in Johannesburg, the venue for the World Cup final, the assessments of Hoskins and Majola cast doubt on the stadiums' long-term future.
Majola said Cricket South Africa had been forced to seek special permission from the International Cricket Council to host a Twenty20 game between South Africa and India at the Moses Mabhida Stadium early next year, but it was a one-time agreement and the playing surface was still too small for major games.
He also pointed to a lost opportunity for cricket to move to World Cup stadiums in the northern cities of Rustenburg, Polokwane and Nelspruit, which are likely to struggle because of their remote locations and lack of major sports teams nearby.
"Historically, our game had not been played in some of the areas where some of stadiums were built," Majola said. "We saw an opportunity, but unfortunately we were not part of the designs of the stadiums.
"Unfortunately, we are compelled by the size of fields. When these fields were built, we were not part of that."
-- Gerald Imray
League News
CONMEBOL backs venue swap for 2015 Copa America
PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (AP) — The president of South America's football confederation said Wednesday he would support changing the 2015 Copa America venue from Brazil to Chile if the nations agree on it.
CONMEBOL president Nicolas Leoz said the two countries are negotiating to make the change and the confederation would allow it to happen.
"We will support whatever they decide," Leoz said.
Chile earlier this year said it wanted to host the tournament in 2015 to help the nation rebuild from the devastating earthquake that killed nearly 500 people in February.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva initially said Brazil would agree to host the competition in 2019 instead of 2015. Brazil is hosting the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Leoz, in Brazil for the Copa Libertadores final between Brazil's Internacional and Mexico's Guadalajara, also praised the recent integration between South American and Mexican clubs.
"We always had an excellent relationship," Leoz said. "This integration was needed and we want to expand it."
The president said he is supportive of having Mexican clubs play again in the Copa Sudamericana, something that hasn't happened since 2009.
"It's up to the CONCACAF," Leoz said. "The doors are open, there is nothing keeping them from playing again."
The CONMEBOL reiterated that if Guadalajara, known as Chivas, wins the Copa Libertadores on Wednesday, it will automatically qualify for the Recopa Sudamericana.
Mexican clubs, invited to play in the competition since 1998, would still not earn a spot in FIFA's Club World Cup in Dubai. Internacional has already clinched that spot representing CONMEBOL, and Mexican clubs still must advance to the tournament through CONCACAF.
Leoz said he hopes South American teams will remain with a chance to qualify six teams to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The hosts are set to play, but Leoz said CONMEBOL would like to remain with the current format of four spots plus a playoff berth.
"We will fight to keep that system in place," Leoz said.
The president also confirmed that Japan is expected to play in the 2011 Copa America in Argentina on an invitation.
-- Tales Azzoni
Bremen edges toward Champions League group stage
LONDON (AP) — Werder Bremen and Hapoel Tel Aviv look likely to reach the Champions League group stages after playoff wins Wednesday.
Clemens Fritz, Torsten Frings and Claudio Pizarro scored in the second half to give Bremen a 3-1 win over 10-man Sampdoria, while Hapoel Tel Aviv won 3-2 at Salzburg for a crucial edge ahead of next week's second-leg matches.
Braga shocked Spain's Sevilla 1-0 in Portugal, Basel beat FC Sheriff 1-0 and Anderlecht drew 2-2 at Partizan Belgrade.
Werder was without Mezut Oezil for the first time at the Weserstadion after selling the Germany playmaker to Real Madrid this week, but still took the lead against Sampdoria in the 51st through Clemens Fritz.
Giampaolo Pazzini almost equalized when his shot across goal bounced off the far post and into the arms of stranded goalkeeper Tim Wiese. Sampdoria's luck got even worse when the referee finally tired of the Italian side's cynical defending and sent off Stefano Lucchini with a second yellow card for holding an opponent in the area.
Frings scored with the resulting penalty in the 67th and Pizarro completed the scoring for Bremen, bursting into the area after an exchange of passes and shooting past goalkeeper Gianluca Curci.
Pazzini gave Sampdoria some hope with a last-minute header from the edge of the six-yard box but Lucchini will be suspended for Tuesday's return match in Genoa, leaving the Italian side with a tough task to reach the Champions League for the first time.
"We shouldn't have conceded that late goal while being a man up," Werder Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf said.
Sampdoria lost to Barcelona in the 1992 European Cup final, the last before the tournament was revamped as the Champions League.
"Now we'll have to be very concentrated in Genoa," Pizarro said.
With away goals counting double if scores are level after next week's second-leg matches, Hapoel Tel Aviv looks set to make the group stage after scoring three in Austria.
The Israeli side took the lead with a third-minute penalty scored by goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama and, after Nikola Pokrivac equalized midway through the first half, went 3-1 up by the 53rd through Ben Sahar and Itay Shechter.
Roman Wallner scored a 66th-minute penalty for Salzburg to give the Austrian side some hope.
The winners over two games earn places in the lucrative group stage and the losers drop into the second-tier Europa League.
Sevilla won the Europa League under its previous guise of the UEFA Cup in 2006 and '07 but needs to score at least once at its Sanchez Pizjuan stadium after Brazilian striker Matheus headed in a 62nd-minute rebound to give Braga a 1-0 victory.
Basel beat Moldova's Sheriff 1-0 through Valentin Stocker's 54th-minute close-range header but missed a 90th-minute penalty when Vladislav Stoyanov saved Benjamin Huggel's spot kick.
Sheriff has been in the Champions League qualifying stages for 10 straight years but never reached the competition. This is its second appearance in the third qualifying round, having entered the Europa League after losing to Olympiakos at this stage last season.
Partizan Belgrade equalized twice to keep alive realistic hopes of edging Anderlecht to a spot in the group stages, but the Belgian side takes two away goals from defenders Guillaume Gillet and Roland Juhasz.
Four-time European champion Ajax drew 1-1 at Dynamo Kiev in one of five games Tuesday. Tottenham's hopes of reaching European football's top club competition for the first time in 48 years were hit by a 3-2 first-leg loss at Switzerland's Young Boys, while Zenit St. Petersburg beat Auxerre 1-0.
Rosenborg beat FC Copenhagen 2-1 and Slovakia's Zilina won 2-0 at Sparta Prague.
Elsewhere
Arsenal backs plan for greater fan ownership
LONDON (AP) — Arsenal endorsed a plan that allows fans to buy small stakes in the Premier League club and help resist any takeover bid by rival American and Russian shareholders.
While not as expansive as the fan-ownership model at Barcelona, supporters can make small contributions to the "fanshares" initiative before gaining an actual portion of Arsenal.
One "fanshare" is priced at $150 or one hundredth of the value of Arsenal shares, which are currently worth about $15,000. The Arsenal Supporters' Trust, which already owns about 3 percent of the club, is running the initiative.
The plan will be promoted in advertising around the Emirates Stadium at the first home game of the season on Saturday against Blackpool.
American Stan Kroenke and Russian Alisher Usmanov are Arsenal's two largest shareholders. They've offered their backing to the venture, according to The Arsenal Supporters' Trust.
Kroenke, who owns the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche, has a 29.9 percent holding, while Usmanov owns 26 percent through his investment vehicle Red and White Holdings. Kroenke has a place on the Arsenal board, unlike Usmanov.
"Arsenal for 70 to 80 years has been the model of how a club should be run, investing in youth and not spending more than it can afford," AST board member Tim Payton told The Associated Press on Wednesday. "Now at a time (where at) other clubs like Manchester United and Liverpool the relationship doesn't exist with the supporters, Arsenal is setting the lead for others to follow. As important is the symbolism of getting more people owning a part share of the club."
Buyers will be entered into a ballot for a seat at the club's annual general meetings, but anyone purchasing 100 fanshares will have their membership status converted to receive full voting rights.
Once the first influx of money arrives, the supporters' trust will acquire shares in Arsenal Holdings, which is listed on London's Plus Market.
"We are confident that the market will supply us with shares and that their first choice will be to sell to us as supporters," Payton said. "There are always a few small shareholders who need to realize some capital."
The other main shareholders are Danny Fiszman, who owns 16.1 percent, and Nina Bracewell-Smith, who is already looking for a buyer for her 15.9 percent stake.
"If the scheme is a success we may look to approach Lady Nina or other major shareholders to purchase a small number of shares from them, so they can also demonstrate their support," Payton said. "We would also talk to the club to see if we need an issue of new shares.
"We believe in plurality of ownership and having as many supporters as possible involved."
If either Kroenke or Usmanov take their stakes beyond 30 percent, an offer would have to be made for the remaining shares. If an investor buys more than 50 percent of the shares, they gain legal control of the club. Anyone who reaches 90 percent can purchase the remaining shares.
The British government urged other clubs to follow the lead of fanshare.
"It is part of the coalition agreement to encourage supporters to have more representation at their clubs," said sports minister Hugh Robertson. "Arsenal's proposal is an enlightened and forward-looking way of doing this, and makes it affordable for their fans to own a part of their club. Clearly it is for individual clubs to decide, but this is a model I'd like to see other teams explore."
Payton said Arsenal board and chief executive Ivan Gazidis supports the plan. Gazidis does not expect a change in the ownership structure.
"All of our owners and the vast majority of our fans strongly support the custodian model we have," Gazidis said.
It is unlikely fanshares would emulate Barcelona, whose 173,000 members own the club and elect the club's president.
Blackpool chairman quits one game into the season
BLACKPOOL, England (AP) — Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston quit Wednesday, four days after his club won its Premier League debut, in an apparent protest at the influence players' agents have over topflight transfers.
Blackpool did not give the reason for Oyston's resignation, which takes effect immediately, but a local newspaper quoted him this week as saying he would step down because he was unwilling to deal with agents he considered to be acting against the interests of players and the club.
Blackpool, which won its first topflight match for 39 years 4-0 at Wigan on Saturday, said no one connected with the club would comment upon Oyston's resignation.
"I'm not sure I have the right approach to be in this division," Oyston was quoted as saying by the Blackpool Gazette on Tuesday. "The more I speak to other people at other clubs, the more I realize I am a lone voice.
"There was some support for things I did and said in the Championship but there doesn't seem to be any in this division. Everyone else seems to subscribe to the way that business seems to be conducted and it is a way I find unacceptable."
Blackpool spent just 40,000 pounds ($62,500) on agents' fees last season, when it won the League Championship promotion playoffs. Only one other club in the 24-team division paid less, with the average 422,000 pounds ($659,300).
Manager Ian Holloway had expressed his frustration at the difficulty in attracting players to such a small club of limited resources, but the northwest England side has been unwilling to sanction the sort of spending that led to huge financial problems for teams including Hull.
Hull spent heavily on wages and transfer fees in an effort to stay in the lucrative Premier League but was left in debt, with players on long-term contracts, when it was relegated anyway at the end of last season.
"We are the ones who are the employers," Oyston told the local paper. "We are the ones offering the terms and the contracts. It is up to us how we go about things. I don't think any deal should be about the agent."
Oyston will stay on as chief executive until the end of the season or until a replacement chairman is appointed.
"He will continue to work closely with manager Ian Holloway," Blackpool said in a statement. "The club would like to emphasize that there will be no interruption in the recruitment of players or the work required on the stadium."
Pele says Neymar 'not prepared' to play in England
PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (AP) — Pele believes young Brazil striker Neymar would make a mistake if he moved to Chelsea to play in the Premier League.
Santos says Chelsea has been trying to sign Neymar, but Brazil legend Pele said Wednesday he thinks the 18-year-old sensation is not ready to make the move yet.
"He is not prepared to play in England," Pele said.
The former Santos star said Neymar would not easily adapt to the style of play in the English league and would be better off staying in Brazil for the time being.
Chelsea's initial offer reportedly reached €20 million ($26 million), but Santos said it will not sell Neymar unless the €35 million ($45 million) buyout clause on his contract is paid.
Brazil coach Mano Menezes also said Neymar, who debuted with the national team in a 2-0 victory in a friendly against the United States earlier this month, would be better off staying in Brazilian football a bit longer. Other football personalities in Brazil have also tried to persuade Neymar to reject the Chelsea offer, and even Sports Minister Orlando Silva reportedly is trying to convince him to stay.
Neymar has said he would like to stay, but doesn't rule out a move to play with the English club either. Santos is negotiating with the player to try to reach a deal that would give the striker more money and keep him with the club.
Neymar, who became known as the new Robinho when he appeared in Santos' senior squad, is one of Brazil's most talked-about youngsters in recent years. Along with playmaker Paulo Henrique Ganso, he helped Santos win this year's traditional Sao Paulo state championship and the Brazilian Cup. He scored a goal in Brazil's victory against the United States in New Jersey.
Pele, who is in the southern city of Porto Alegre for the Copa Libertadores final between Brazil's Internacional and Mexico's Guadalajara, backed the Brazilian federation's decision to hire Corinthians coach Menezes for the Brazil job.
"It was an excellent choice," Pele said. "He is competent and knows football. I hope it works out."
Pele defended former coach Dunga, however.
"He kept Brazil from losing for three years," he said. "Brazil lost in the World Cup on details, that's how it goes."
Pele praised world champion Spain for its performance in South Africa and said he would have fit in playing in that squad.
"I would like to have played in a team like that, no doubt," Pele said.
-- Tales Azzoni
Mesut Oezil completes Madrid move on 6-year deal
MADRID (AP) — A last-minute conversation with coach Jose Mourinho sealed Mesut Oezil's decision to move to Real Madrid, according to the Germany playmaker.
Oezil passed a routine medical on Wednesday to complete his transfer on a six-year deal from Bundesliga club Werder Bremen, worth a reported €15 million ($19.3 million).
Oezil said his future was still in the air on Tuesday, with the deal completed before Werder Bremen's Champions League playoff game Wednesday against Sampdoria. Oezil would not have been eligible to play for another club in the competition if he had been in Werder's lineup.
"I spoke with Mourinho and he convinced me," Oezil said Wednesday from the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. "What we said stays between him and I, but he's the big reason why I am here."
Mourinho joined Madrid shortly after leading Inter Milan to a Champions League triumph that was its first in Europe's top-tier competition for 45 years. The Portuguese coach also led previous clubs Chelsea and FC Porto to Champions League victories.
"Up until yesterday nothing was decided. I spoke to all of my representatives and we looked at all the options, but I wanted to come to this team because I wanted to work with the world's best coach, which is Mourinho," Oezil said. "I'm very hungry to play here."
Oezil is the second Germany player to sign for Madrid this summer after Sami Khedira joined from Stuttgart.
Oezil, who was also linked with Spanish champion Barcelona, will be expected to help overcome the four-month absence of Brazil midfielder Kaka, who underwent knee surgery.
"I know I'll improve a lot here," the 21-year-old Oezil said.
Oezil arrived in Bremen in January 2008 from Schalke. He won the German Cup in 2009 with the club and scored 12 goals in 71 games.
Although he could have played for Turkey, Oezil chose to represent Germany and was a prominent member of Joachim Loew's young team that exceeded expectations in South Africa this summer.
Madrid director general Jorge Valdano said the Spanish giant will not sign any more players in this transfer window. It had already acquired forwards Angel Di Maria and Sergio Canales as well as midfielder Pedro Leon and defender Ricardo Carvalho.
Man City completes signing of Milner from Villa
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City finally completed the signing of James Milner from Aston Villa on Wednesday, sending Stephen Ireland to Villa in part-exchange for the England midfielder.
City did not say how much it paid for Milner but British papers reported that he cost about 26 million pounds ($40.6 million) plus Ireland, who was City's player of the year two seasons ago.
That would push City's spending to almost 150 million pounds ($234 million) since the end of last season, when Tottenham edged it to fourth spot and the final Champions League qualifying berth.
City first bid for Milner, who signed a five-year contract, in May after he won the Professional Footballers' Association young player of the year award for a season in which he scored seven goals in 36 Premier League appearances.
But Villa turned down the offer, forcing City to resume its efforts to acquire him after the World Cup.
Milner scored in Villa's 3-0 win over West Ham on Saturday's opening day of the Premier League season but could make his City debut in Monday's Premier League match against Liverpool.
"I am very happy to have James with us," Roberto Mancini said. "Everybody knows we have admired him for some time. He is an excellent midfielder, who can play in a number of positions. This is important for the team, and I am looking forward to seeing him play for us.
"We have a very strong squad and this signing is a very important one for us."
Mancini said last week that Milner would be City's last signing of the transfer window, which closes Aug. 31.
The 24-year-old Milner excelled for Villa after moving infield to fill the central midfield role vacated when Gareth Barry joined City in July 2009. He played on the right of midfield for England at the World Cup.
Ireland spent the second half of last season mostly as a substitute following Mancini's arrival at City.
"He is also a very good player and he has played a big part in City's history," Mancini said. "I think he will enjoy the change of being at another club and I hope he does well for Aston Villa."
The 23-year-old Ireland signed a four-year contract with Villa.
"This is a great signing for the football club," said Kevin MacDonald, who is filling in as manager while Villa seeks a fulltime replacement for Martin O'Neill. "Stephen is an outstanding young talent who will complement the talented players we already have here and we're looking forward very much to working with him."
Anelka scoffs at 18-game France soccer ban
PARIS (AP) — Nicolas Anelka says he isn't interested in playing again for France, a day after he received an 18-match suspension from the national soccer team for his outburst against the coach during the World Cup.
The French Football Federation suspended the Chelsea striker Tuesday for his profane tirade against then-coach Raymond Domenech during France's 2-0 loss to Mexico at the World Cup in South Africa. Anelka was sent home, prompting all 23 French players to boycott a practice session.
"Who said I wanted to play again in blue?" he said in Wednesday editions of Soir newspaper in France, adding "for me, after the World Cup in South Africa, the French team is now history."
The 18-match ban is expected to last for nearly two years, meaning that by the time he's eligible to play for "Les Bleus," Anelka will be 33 and unlikely to be recalled
Anelka called the suspension a "masquerade to not lose face."
"These people are real clowns ... I'm dying of laughter," Anelka said in the article.
The French federation's disciplinary commission handed former captain Patrice Evra a five-match ban, Franck Ribery a three-match ban and Jeremy Toulalan a one-match suspension. The players can appeal.
Eric Abidal, the fifth player summoned to the 4-hour hearing, wasn't punished.
France was eliminated in the first round without winning a game at the World Cup. But it was the players' actions, including the sit-in on the team bus, that drew widespread condemnation from the public, France President Nicolas Sarkozy and other political leaders.
The French federation summoned the five players who played a leading role to a hearing Tuesday. Anelka and Ribery didn't attend and sent lawyers instead.
Ribery, who was assistant captain at the World Cup, was prevented from traveling to the hearing by his club, Bayern Munich, before the team's opening Bundesliga match on Friday.
Albiol adds worry to Madrid's injury-hit defense
MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid's defense was hit by more injury problems after learning on Wednesday it will be without defender Raul Albiol for up to five weeks.
Albiol severely sprained his right ankle in a preseason 1-1 draw at Standard Liege on Tuesday, the Spanish club said.
Albiol's injury leaves Madrid with Ricardo Carvalho as the only center back available in defense ahead of its Aug. 29 opener against Mallorca.
Pepe is already questionable for the start of the season with a leg injury, and fellow center back Ezequiel Garay is out for two months with a dislocated knee cap.
Madrid coach Jose Mourinho may be forced to use fullback Sergio Ramos in the middle of the backline, with midfielders Marcelo or Royston Drenthe available to take the Spain defender's place on the left side of defense.
Albiol strained ligaments in his right ankle while with Spain at the World Cup. He played in 43 games in his first season with Madrid.
Boateng moves to Milan on loan after joining Genoa
MILAN (AP) — Genoa signed Kevin-Prince Boateng from English second-tier club Portsmouth on Wednesday — and then immediately loaned the Ghana midfielder to Serie A rival AC Milan for the season with an option to buy him.
The 23-year-old German-born player scored against the United States at this year's World Cup. He was born in Berlin to a German mother and Ghanaian father. Boateng's brother, Jerome, plays for Germany and recently transferred to Manchester City.
Ghana reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup in South Africa, and Milan was impressed with Boateng's performances.
"We wish Kevin all the best," Portsmouth chief executive David Lampitt said. "He played an important role last season and we thank him for that."
UEFA questions Croatian referee over match-fixing
ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — The Croatian Football Federation says a UEFA investigator is questioning a Croatian referee about a national league match the German police suspect was fixed.
Bruno Maric was questioned for three hours on Wednesday in Zagreb. He didn't talk to the press.
Maric was the ref when Dinamo Zagreb beat Hajduk Split 3-0 in the final of the national Cup.
Zoran Mamic, the Dinamo manager, recently testified at UEFA about the match. He says he went there as a witness, but the Sportske Novosti daily claims he is a suspect, too.
German prosecutors, who have been investigating match-fixing across Europe since November, said recently they suspect 270 matches in several countries, including Croatia, and more than 250 people.
They say profits from manipulated bets amounted to €7.5 million ($9.6 million).
Defender Martin Skrtel gets new Liverpool contract
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel has signed a new contract that commits him to the English Premier League club until 2014.
The Slovakia international, who had two years remaining on his previous deal, joined Liverpool from Zenit St. Petersburg in January 2008 for six million pounds (then $11.7 million).
"Before I came here a lot of people thought I wasn't good enough to play for Liverpool, but I think I have shown I am," Skrtel said on Wednesday. "I'm happy to try and carry on giving good performances and doing my best for the club. Signing a new contract gives me confidence."
Skrtel has established himself as one of the club's first-choice central defenders alongside Jamie Carragher.
Australia goalkeeper Jones joins Liverpool
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Liverpool has completed the signing of Australia goalkeeper Brad Jones from Middlesbrough.
The Premier League club had already announced that it would pay 2.3 million pounds ($3.6 million) to the second-tier club. Now Jones has signed his three-year contract and will be competing with Spanish goalkeeper Pepe Reina for a starting spot.
Jones has appeared twice for Australia and was a late withdrawal from the World Cup squad because of a family illness.
Fulham signs Belgium forward Dembele from Alkmaar
LONDON (AP) — Fulham has signed Belgium forward Moussa Dembele on a three-year deal from Dutch club AZ Alkmaar.
New Fulham manager Mark Hughes described Dembele as a "strong and quick" player after the 23-year-old chose the London club over English Premier League rival Birmingham.
Hughes says he hopes to make "a few more additions" to the squad before the transfer window closes on Aug 31.
Hercules signs Paraguay striker Nelson Valdez
ALICANTE, Spain (AP) — Newly promoted Spanish club Hercules has signed striker Nelson Valdez from Borussia Dortmund.
The Paraguay striker will join the club in a deal worth a reported €3.8 million ($4.9 million). Terms of the deal were not released, but Spanish media reported that the 26-year-old Valdez agreed to a three-year deal.
Valdez, who played in the Bundesliga for the past four seasons, has scored nine goals in 43 appearances for Paraguay. He played for Paraguay at the past two World Cups.
Nasri requires knee surgery, out for a month
LONDON (AP) — Arsenal says midfielder Samir Nasri requires knee surgery and will be out of action for a month.
The France international was hurt in Arsenal's Premier League opener against Liverpool on Sunday, which ended 1-1.
Arsenal says Nasri will undergo "minor surgery" on Wednesday to heal the meniscal injury. Arsenal didn't say which knee was injured.
Hannover signs Norway striker Abdellaoue
HANNOVER, Germany (AP) — Hannover has signed Norway striker Mohammed Abdellaoue two days before the start of the Bundesliga.
Abdellaoue arrived from Valerenga and received a four-year contract from Hannover. The striker with Moroccan roots led the Norwegian league with 15 goals in 20 games.
