Soccer Capsules: Ching, Orozco added to U.S. training camp
CHICAGO — Forward Brian Ching and defender Michael Orozco have been added to the 23-man roster U.S. roster for a training camp ahead of a Feb. 24 World Cup warmup against El Salvador at Tampa, Fla.
The all-Major League Soccer roster includes 21 of the 30 players, and 10 of the starting 11, invited to last month’s training camp ahead of a 3-1 exhibition loss to Honduras on Jan. 23. Players will gather Feb. 10 in Carson, Calif., and travel to Florida on Feb. 21.
Ching, a member of the 2006 World Cup roster, decided to skip the January camp to concentrate on individual workouts ahead of the Houston Dynamo training. He is the veteran on the roster with 10 goals in 43 international appearances.
Orozco was acquired by the expansion Philadelphia Union on Jan. 29 from the Mexican club San Luis.
"These are important opportunities for these players as we continue to formulate our plans for the roster for the World Cup," U.S. coach Bob Bradley said. "This camp and the game against El Salvador provide a chance for the coaching staff to get one more long look at this group."
Three players who had been in the January camp were dropped by Bradley: Kansas City goalkeeper Kevin Hartman (Kansas City), San Jose defender Brandon McDonald (San Jose) and Chivas USA forward Justin Braun.
Kansas City defender Jimmy Conrad was ejected from the Honduras match and likely will be suspended for the El Salvador game.
New England midfielder Jeff Larentowicz and Aalborg forward Marcus Tracy left the January camp early because of knee injuries.
Three of the players who had been with the national team returned to their teams in Scandinavia: IK Start defender Clarence Goodson, Orebro midfielder Alejandro Bedoya and Aarhus midfielder Benny Feilhaber.
Europe-based players will be called in for a March 3 exhibition at the Netherlands, the last match before Bradley selects his 23-man World Cup roster.
The Americans plan two exhibitions in the Northeast before heading to South Africa., They open their sixth straight World Cup appearance against England on June 12, play Slovenia six days later and close the first round on June 23 against Algeria.
The training camp roster:
Goalkeepers: Troy Perkins (D.C.), Nick Rimando (Salt Lake), Zach Thornton (Chivas USA)
Defenders: Kevin Alston (New England), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles), Chad Marshall (Columbus), Michael Orozco (Philadelphia), Heath Pearce (Dallas), Marvell Wynne (Toronto)
Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Salt Lake), Geoff Cameron (Houston), Brad Davis (Houston), Brad Evans (Seattle), Eddie Gaven (Columbus), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas), Dax McCarty (Dallas), Chris Pontius (D.C.), Robbie Rogers (Columbus)
Forwards: Conor Casey (Colorado), Brian Ching (Houston), Jeff Cunningham (Dallas), Robbie Findley (Salt Lake)
U.S. midfielder Holden closer to making Bolton debut
BOLTON, England —U.S. midfielder Stuart Holden is set to resume light training as he recovers from a thigh injury sustained after joining Bolton.
Bolton needs Holden to helps its battle against relegation — the Premier League club is above the three-team drop zone on goal difference.
"Stuart will start some light training with the group tomorrow," Bolton manager Owen Coyle said Thursday. "It has been frustrating for him as he is such a fit lad.
"He did well in America, had a break, then came here and did some training. Maybe he tried too hard. Who knows? There is no doubt when he is fully fit he is a talented kid. He will get his opportunity like the rest of players."
Holden is looking for regular action to clinch a spot at the World Cup, which begins in June.
Holden accepted Thursday that it was a "risk" joining Bolton on a deal until the end of the season.
"I could have taken the easy route, spent six months playing every game at Houston," he said. "And if I’d been playing the way I had, then I would have probably been going to the World Cup.
"But in terms of my career, I didn’t want to make a decision based solely on one World Cup. It’s a decision that affects the next few years of my life. It’s the next step and I’ll never look back and have any regrets."
Estonia midfielder Lindpere signs with Red Bulls
TROMSO, Norway — Estonia midfielder Joel Lindpere has signed with the New York Red Bulls from Norwegian club Tromso.
Tromso spokesman Eirik Haldorsen said Thursday that Lindpere signed a two-year contract with the Red Bulls with an option for two additional years.
The 28-year-old Lindpere scored twice in 24 appearances for Tromso last year. He previously played for CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria and FC Flora in Tallinn, Estonia.
He has scored five goals in 74 matches for Estonia.
Lindpere told Estonian daily Eesti Paevaleht he had tryouts at German and Russian clubs and was surprised the Red Bulls wanted to sign him. Lindpere said he has never visited New York City.
Revolution keeper Reis has surgery on left knee
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis has had surgery on his left knee.
Reis had a procedure to fix his quadriceps tendon Thursday at Massachusetts General Hospital.
The 34-year-old had rotator cuff surgery in December and has been rehabilitating since then. The shoulder injury is expected to keep him out 12-16 weeks. He should be recovered from the knee injury before then.
Reis led Major League Soccer in saves and save percentage while posting eight shutouts in 2009.
Recently acquired veteran Preston Burpo is expected to be the team’s opening-day goalkeeper while Reis recovers.
The Revolution’s season starts March 27 at the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Boxx goes first to Saint Louis in dispersal draft
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Midfielder Shannon Boxx has been selected first by Saint Louis Athletica in the Women’s Professional Soccer disperal draft.
Athletica traded several players to the Atlanta Beat to get the first pick in the draft, which is being used to disperse players whose rights were held by the Los Angeles Sol.
The Sol discontinued operations last week.
Philadelphia used the second pick Thursday on goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc, who led the league with 12 shutouts last season, while Bay Area club FC Gold Pride used the third pick to get four-time FIFA player of the year Marta.
The WPS is expanding to eight teams for its second season, despite losing the Los Angeles franchise. The Washington Freedom and Boston Breakers open the season April 10.
Mexico Soccer
Torres out with hamstring injury
MEXICO CITY — Pachuca coach Guillermo Rivarola says American midfielder Jose Francisco Torres has an injured right hamstring and could be sidelined for a few weeks.
Torres sustained the injury against Queretaro in the second round of league matches, but the strain took its toll last weekend and forced the U.S. national player to come out during the second half against Atlante.
Rivarola told reporters on Thursday that the player, known as "El Gringo," will be missed, particularly because his play at midfield has been improving. Torres was on the roster for the last two U.S. World Cup qualifies and is expected to be in the mix for a spot on the U.S. team for this year's tournament in South Africa.
League News
Arsenal at Chelsea with chance to revive title bid
LONDON — Being held by relegation-threatened Hull has proved to Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka that the Premier League title race is still wide open.
The Blues could have been four points clear of Manchester United had they won at Hull, but could now be toppled from the summit this weekend by the defending champions.
That would happen if Chelsea loses at home to Arsenal for the second successive season and United beats bottom-place Portsmouth. Even if Chelsea draws, United could go top with victory by three goals or better.
"Things can change very quickly," Anelka said. "If we lose one game and draw one game and Arsenal win two games, then we are back to how it was before. We have to just stay positive and try to win every game."
Making that more likely is the return of Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba from the African Cup of Nations.
"He is a target man and he plays with a lot of quality up front," Anelka said. "It works well because Didier likes to play in front of goal and I love to play around him, I feel most comfortable in this position these days and it's working well."
Chelsea's 1-1 draw at Hull has lifted some of the gloom engulfing Emirates Stadium after Arsenal's 3-1 loss to Manchester United on Sunday.
Arsenal has spent the season on the back foot, with Arsene Wenger's side left facing an 11-point deficit on Chelsea after collapsing 3-0 to the west London club in November.
Although the Gunners have clawed some of that back, with 14 matches to go Arsenal is on 49 points, behind United on 53 and Chelsea on 55.
"We are on schedule to do good things this season. We have only a little step to get back to the top of the league," goalkeeper Manuel Almunia said. "When you think about where we were after the Chelsea game, that is a great achievement.
"Sometimes it is better to come back from third or fourth to challenge than to be at the top all the time."
The tussle for the Champions League places will be in the spotlight Saturday with fourth-place Tottenham hosting Aston Villa, which is two points behind in seventh.
Liverpool and Manchester City, which are both just a point behind Spurs, will be hoping Spurs slip up. City is at Hull, while Liverpool hosts Everton in the Merseyside derby, with the Reds unbeaten in the league since Dec. 19 following a steady recovery.
"We are close to the top four, which is where we want to be, and the only thing we can promise is we will fight for that to make it happen so we are in the Champions League next season," Liverpool winger Albert Riera said. "We are winning games now. We are more confident and we believe we can be in the top four come the end of the season.
"We are doing better defensively now and not conceding silly goals. At the start of the season when we were giving free kicks away just outside the box, we were not confident. We have worked a lot on that in training and we have improved."
At the bottom of the standings, there is a tight fight against relegation. West Ham, Bolton and Wolverhampton are only out of the drop zone on goal difference at the expense of Hull, which is also on 21 points.
West Ham goes to next-from-bottom Burnley on Saturday when Bolton hosts Fulham, while Wolves is at eighth-place Birmingham in Sunday's lunchtime kickoff.
"The coming weeks are going to be interesting because we've got some games against teams fighting for their lives at the bottom of the league and desperate for points," Birmingham manager Alex McLeish said. "There are some real battles ahead and we've got to be prepared for those."
On Saturday, Wigan is at Sunderland. The Latics are on 22 points, two behind Sunderland.
-- Rob Harris
Madrid seeks to cut Barca lead with improved form
MADRID — With a recent improvement in form and several players recovering from injuries, Real Madrid hopes to cut the gap on Spanish league leader Barcelona this weekend.
On Saturday, Madrid hosts 14th-place Espanyol and No. 7 Getafe visits Barcelona. The unbeaten Catalans have 52 points, a five-point lead over Madrid.
However, last weekend's 3-1 win against Deportivo La Coruna that broke a 19-year winless streak for Madrid at Riazor Stadium has fueled hopes it is running into title-winning form.
The performance of Jose Maria "Guti" Gutierrez in particular has earned plaudits. He was sidelined for much of the first half of the season following a run-in with coach Manuel Pellegrini. However, his vision, exemplified by an extravagant backheel to set up a goal for Karim Benzema against Deportivo, has seen the 33-year-old midfielder's stock soaring again.
"Guti has been playing at a high standard in the last games," captain Raul Gonzalez said. "Only a genius could do (that backheel) and that's what he is. He's returned with a lot of enthusiasm and he's comfortable."
In midfield, Pellegrini could also have Lassana Diarra and Rafael van der Vaart available as they recover from injuries.
In attack, Cristiano Ronaldo has the second game of his two-match ban to serve for breaking the nose of Malaga's Patrick Mtiliga.
Raul could form the same partnership with Benzema, who scored two goals against Deportivo. However, Gonzalo Higuain could also feature on Saturday on his return from injury.
Higuain's goals and the arrival of Ronaldo and Benzema have resulted in Raul spending increasing time on the bench this season, a situation he appears to have accepted.
"For anyone, not playing regularly is not ideal but I can't complain," Raul said. "For 15 years, I have played in virtually everything and now I've spent three months playing less. It's a situation that had to arrive at some point."
League champion Barcelona seeks to extend its 20-game unbeaten run. However, it will be wary of a Getafe team which has avoided defeat in its last two visits to the Camp Nou. The Madrid team is also enjoying a fine cup run, despite losing the first leg of its Copa del Rey semifinal 20 to Sevilla on Wednesday.
Although Pep Guardiola's team is out of the cup, it is enjoying an excellent run in both attack and defense. In its last five league and cup games, Barcelona has scored 14 goals without conceding.
"The boss focuses a lot on defense and that's showing results," defender Rafael Marquez said. "Now we have more experience with the system we use."
Some Madrid media have questioned Barca's 1-0 win against Sporting Gijon last weekend, claiming the free kick that led to Pedro Rodriguez's goal was not taken correctly and that the striker was offside.
"If Madrid is behind us (in the standings) it's because we're doing things better," midfielder Seydou Keita said. "If referees are being talked about it's probably just to unnerve us, because if we're leaders it's because we've been better."
Defender Daniel Alves is doubtful for the Getafe game due to injury.
Third-place Valencia plays Valladolid on Saturday. Now 13 points off the lead, Valencia's realistic aim for the season is to remain in the Champions League spots.
On Sunday, it's: Malaga vs. Deportivo La Coruna; Athletic Bilbao vs. Xerez; Mallorca vs. Villarreal; Osasuna vs. Tenerife; Almeria vs. Sporting Gijon; Zaragoza vs. Sevilla and Racing Santander vs. Atletico Madrid.
-- Guy Hedgecoe
Atletico beats Santander 4-0 in Copa del Rey semi
MADRID — Atletico Madrid virtually secured a place in the Copa del Rey final after beating Racing Santander 4-0 in the semifinal first leg on Thursday.
Atletico, which has reached the semifinals 17 times, scored twice in each half at its Calderon Stadium against Santander, which was making only its second ever appearance in the top four.
On Wednesday, Sevilla beat Getafe 2-0 in the other semifinal.
Atletico went ahead in the ninth minute, Simao Sabrosa volleying in Sergio Aguero's cross from the right. Jose Antonio Reyes swept in the second in the 40th after the Santander defense failed to clear a Sabrosa cross.
Diego Forlan converted a penalty in the 63rd, after Toni Moral brought Jose Manuel Jurado down, albeit outside the area, and another in the 72nd, following Marc Torrejon's clumsy challenge on Aguero.
Atletico started with some of the best attacking football of its erratic season. In the seventh, Reyes crossed to Aguero, who shot just wide. Seconds later Tiago Mendes struck the near post from a corner.
Aguero was at the heart of things again in the 14th, when Fabio Coltorti saved his close-range header from Tomas Ujfalusi's cross and the goalkeeper then just managed to push Forlan's shot from a tight angle on the left.
Santander occasionally threatened on the break and Oscar Serrano had a fine shot from the left saved in the 16th.
Jurado replaced Reyes at the start of the second half after the midfielder limped off with a knee injury.
Santander's teenage forward Sergio Canales, who reportedly has agreed to join Real Madrid, was put through by Moral in the 57th, though he was ruled offside.
Jurado should have scored a fifth for Atletico in injury time, when he blasted over after Ujfalusi crossed following a stunning individual play by Aguero.
Atletico withstood some late pressure to take its four-goal lead into the second leg next week. The two teams meet again on Sunday, in the league.
Berlusconi questions Milan acquisition of Mancini
ROME — AC Milan needs to bounce back from a three-game winless streak and is hoping newly signed midfielder Amantino Mancini can help despite club president and Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi questioning the acquisition.
Milan takes on Bologna on Saturday, and Berlusconi isn't happy at signing Mancini from city rival and Serie A leader Inter Milan.
"He's been inactive for two years and he's another playmaker," Berlusconi said of the Brazilian. "We need someone who scores goals, a finisher."
Told about Berlusconi's comments, Mancini responded: "I know. I've got to get back in form. When you don't play for a long time you tend to gain some weight. But this is the ideal place to bounce back and find my game. Milan plays with the ball on the ground and with speed."
However, as Berlusconi points out, Milan already has three playmakers in Ronaldinho, Clarence Seedorf and Andrea Pirlo.
Milan was beat 2-0 by Inter in the derby two weeks ago, was then eliminated from the Italian Cup by Udinese before being held to a 1-1 draw by Livorno last weekend.
Mancini, who was a key member of AS Roma's attack before transferring to Inter in 2008, played a total of seven games in the first half of this season with Inter.
"I had a difficult year with Inter, then I threw away another six months," Mancini said. "Over the summer, Mourinho told me to stay because he believed in me, but then I hardly ever played and sometimes I wasn't even included in the squad."
At forward, Marco Borriello is expected back after taking a knock to the head against Livorno.
Milan is tied with Roma for second, eight points behind Inter.
The Serie A leader edged Fiorentina 1-0 in the opening leg of the Italian Cup semifinals Wednesday and now hosts a Cagliari side with a goalkeeping crisis.
First-choice Cagliari goalkeeper Federico Marchetti is injured and backup Cristiano Lupatelli is also unavailable, causing the Sardinian club to purchase Michael Agazzi from Serie B side Triestina.
Agazzi could make his Serie A debut against Inter.
Roma faced Udinese in the other Italian Cup semifinal Thursday, then visits Fiorentina in the Sunday night game.
Struggling Juventus plays Livorno in new coach Alberto Zaccheroni's second match in charge.
Juve was held to a 1-1 draw by Lazio last weekend in Zaccheroni's debut, the Turin club's fifth consecutive game without a victory.
"I think from here on forward we're going to see the team improving," Zaccheroni said. "It's going to be a crescendo."
Also this weekend, it's: Palermo vs. Parma; Atalanta vs. Bari; Genoa vs. Chievo Verona; Lazio vs. Catania; Siena vs. Sampdoria; and Udinese vs. Napoli.
-- Andrew Dampf
Roma beats Udinese 2-0 in Italian Cup 1st leg
ROME — AS Roma stretched its unbeaten streak to 18 games with a 2-0 win over Udinese in the opening leg of the Italian Cup semifinals on Thursday.
Mirko Vucinic opened the scoring in the 12th minute at Stadio Olimpico and Philippe Mexes doubled the lead in the 40th.
Inter Milan beat Fiorentina in the other semifinal on Wednesday.
The return legs are tentatively scheduled for April 14.
Roma has not lost since getting beat 2-1 by Udinese in the Serie A on Oct. 28, compiling 15 wins and three draws in all competitions.
Udinese eliminated AC Milan in the quarterfinals last week but the northern club was struggling in the Serie A, only one point clear of the relegation zone.
"It's key that we scored two goals because there are two months before the return leg and I'm sure they will improve by then," Roma coach Claudio Ranieri said.
Roma, which was tied for second in the league with Milan, took the lead when Vucinic collected a 50-meter (yard) pass from Daniele De Rossi, controlled the ball expertly and found the target with a precise shot after beating the offside trap.
Mexes scored with a header from point-blank range following a cross from David Pizarro.
Mexes exited in the 85th after an apparent bruise.
Udinese midfielder Gaetano D'Agostino picked up a yellow card for a late, sliding tackle on Rodrigo Taddei in the 21st and will miss the return leg.
Bayern travels to Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga
FRANKFURT — Bayern Munich's last trip to Wolfsburg ended in its worst defeat in years and paved the way for Wolfsburg's unexpected run to the Bundesliga title last season.
Wolfsburg's 5-1 victory behind a pair of goals from Edin Dzeko and Grafite was Bayern's worst domestic humiliation in seven years.
"I don't think this (defeat) still plays any role," Bayern coach Louis van Gaal said. "We have other players now. We are in good form, Wolfsburg is not."
Wolfsburg has been unable to repeat the championship season and hasn't won in its last eight games, dropping to 11th. New coach Lorenz-Guenther Koestner, who will be looking for his first win Saturday, thinks last season's big victory could work against Wolfsburg now.
"A big club doesn't forget such a humiliation," Koestner said.
Bayern hasn't won in Wolfsburg in its last four trips there, but is riding a seven-game winning streak in the league and is second in the standings, two points behind Bayer Leverkusen (44).
Leverkusen is still undefeated after 20 games. The last time a Bundesliga club had such a run was 21 years ago and it was Bayern Munich, which won the title under Jupp Heynckes — now Leverkusen's coach.
Both Bayern and Leverkusen have won all three games since the season resumed in January. Their closest challenger, Schalke, has 41 points, five more than Borussia Dortmund. The champion is likely to come from the leading trio.
Leverkusen has a history of fading in the second half of the season and has never won the title, with four second-place finishes.
"The times could become harder," said Leverkusen's midfielder Toni Kroos, who has been voted player of the month twice in a row by Kicker magazine. "I could also fall into a slump."
Defender Sami Hyypia warned his teammates not to let their guard down.
"We can't allow the opponent so many chances as we did Sunday against Freiburg," the Finnish veteran said.
Freiburg had several chances before Leverkusen scored three goals inside four minutes for a 3-1 win.
"We have to be aggressive again, otherwise things could go wrong for us in Bochum," Hyypia said of the upcoming game Saturday.
Bochum is 14th and a win Saturday would lift the team further away from the relegation zone.
Bayern announced Thursday that it had extended the contracts of midfielder Thomas Mueller and defender Holger Badstuber, two 20-year-old players who came through its youth program and have become regulars under van Gaal. Both received new contracts until 2014.
Bayern's management still hopes to extend the contract of French star winger Franck Ribery, who becomes a free agent after the next season.
Ribery has said he could stay in Bayern and club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge believes the club's top player will choose to stay.
"I am optimistic, we are not without chances with Ribery," Rummenigge said.
The 21st round kicks off Friday with Werder Bremen hosting bottom-place Hertha Berlin. Bremen, which went undefeated in 23 games in all competitions earlier in the season, has lost its last five to fall to sixth.
On Saturday, it's Cologne vs. Hamburger SV; Freiburg vs. Schalke; Hoffenheim vs. Hannover; and Nuremberg vs. Stuttgart.
On Sunday, Borussia Moenchengladbach visits Mainz and Borussia Dortmund hosts Eintracht Frankfurt.
-- Nesha Starcevic
Montpellier's stunning rise costs club's president
PARIS — Montpellier's stunning rise up the French league may well end up costing club president Louis Nicollin too much money if his team carries on winning.
Promoted on the last day of last season, Montpellier was heavily tipped to struggle under new coach Rene Girard, but he has blended youthful talent with a few reliable veterans and Montpellier has shot up the league table.
Montpellier, which plays at struggling Boulogne on Saturday, is in second place and six points behind Bordeaux.
Last weekend's 2-0 win at home to fierce local rival Marseille impressed Nicollin so much that he quadrupled each player's win bonus, prompting raucous celebrations in the home dressing room.
Hugely popular with his players, the silver-haired Nicollin has been the club's president since 1974 and has prided himself over the years in helping nurture local talent.
Six of the 13 players who played some part in the win against Marseille came through the youth ranks. They are inexperienced, sharing only 104 league games between them and an average age of only 20, but are both talented and hungry.
"We've all known each other for five or six years because we all came through the same (youth teams) and we have become real friends," Montpellier winger Karim Ait-Fana told France Football magazine this week. "Our friendship goes beyond football, we are more than teammates. We see each other after training, and we share a lot of memories."
Montpellier's flourishing youth academy is no secret — during the 2003-04 season Montpellier even fielded a whole team of purely homegrown players — and Girard's problem will be keeping hold of these players next season.
The 20-year-old Ait-Fana is the one who has really caught the eye, and many of Europe's top clubs are reportedly flocking to see him at Stade de la Mosson. Goalkeeper Geoffrey Jourden was part of France's team that won the under-19 European Championship in 2005, while 20-year-old defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa is already playing in the under-21s.
"We can find each other with our eyes closed," Ait-Fana said. "We understand each other perfectly as we all play the same way. We're on the same wavelength."
Ait-Fana says that Girard's experience coaching France's under-21 team before taking charge at Montpellier means he instinctively understands young players.
"You can feel it," he said. "He's not afraid to trust them or to throw them straight into a big match. He trusts us completely, and that is great. It pushes us even more to repay this faith."
Girard has also made some intelligent signings, like Bosnia defender Emir Spahic, defender Cyril Jeunechamp and veteran midfielder Romain Pitau.
After 22 rounds, Bordeaux has 48 points, Montpellier has 42 and Lille is in third place with 40 points.
Bordeaux, which remains on course for the domestic treble, plays at Rennes and Lille is at Nice.
In Saturday's other games, it is: Grenoble vs. Auxerre; Lens vs. Le Mans; Paris Saint-Germain vs. Loirent; Sochaux vs. Nancy.
On Sunday, Saint-Etienne plays Monaco; Toulouse faces Lyon, and Marseille hosts Valenciennes.
Marseille is in jubilant mood after reaching the League Cup final for the first time in its history, beating Toulouse 2-1 in extra time on Wednesday with two goals from its Brazilian striker Brandao.
"It's a great boost for the players, some of whom have never played in a final before," Deschamps said.
But Marseille, which has a game in hand, has fallen 12 points behind Bordeaux in the French league.
-- Jerome Pugmire
Elsewhere
Decision on Germany coach Loew's future delayed
FRANKFURT — Germany coach Joachim Loew and the country's football federation have been unable to agree on a contract extension and have delayed a decision on his future until after the World Cup.
An emergency meeting of the federation's board Thursday in Frankfurt ended without an agreement, raising the prospect of a major distraction as the three-time World Cup champion prepares for the June 11-July 11 tournament in South Africa.
A new deal for Loew, long considered a formality, fell through over "new ideas" that were "surprisingly presented in January" and were considered unacceptable by the federation, according to DFB president Theo Zwanziger.
"A compromise proposal by the DFB was not accepted by the sporting leadership and that's why we are not continuing the talks," Zwanziger said. "We don't want to jeopardize preparations for the World Cup."
Zwanziger announced in December that Loew and he had "shook hands" on a new deal for Loew, whose contract runs out after the World Cup. But Loew later said some details still had to be settled.
Although the DFB did not give details of the disagreements, Bild newspaper reported that Loew wanted a "signing fee" bonus for himself and his assistants equivalent to an annual salary. Other reports have mentioned a dispute over the way the under-21 team is run and a veto right reportedly demanded by national team manager Oliver Bierhoff in picking a new coach after Loew.
"In principle, both sides are interested in continuing the good cooperation but could not agree on important aspects," Zwanziger said. "That's why we came to the common conclusion to abandon the negotiations and to concentrate solely on preparations for the World Cup."
Zwanziger said there were "structural problems" and "economic aspects" on which the positions were too far part for a speedy solution."
Bierhoff, a member of Loew's staff, said: "We would have preferred a quick contract extension before the World Cup. But we accept the decision and will concentrate fully on World Cup preparations."
"We were in favor of continuing the negotiations because we know that this subject will stay with us until and during the World Cup," Bierhoff said.
DFB general secretary Wolfgang Niersbach compared the current situation to the 2006 World Cup, which Germany hosted, when it was unclear if then coach Juergen Klinsmann would remain in charge after the tournament.
Klinsmann led Germany to a third-place finish and eventually decided to quit. His assistant Loew got the job.
-- Nesha Starcevic
CAS ruling lifts Chelsea's transfer ban
LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Sport's highest court ruled Thursday that a FIFA transfer ban on Chelsea signing players must be lifted.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport said Chelsea and French club Lens had reached an agreement in their dispute over teenager Gael Kakuta's move to England in 2007.
CAS said the clubs agreed Kakuta did not have a valid contract with Lens and so could not have breached any rules when he joined Chelsea.
"In light of these new circumstances, the sanctions imposed upon Chelsea and the player by the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber had to be lifted," CAS said in a statement.
FIFA had barred Chelsea from conducting any transfer business until January 2011 — through two consecutive transfer windows — though that penalty was frozen by CAS in an interim ruling until it reached a final verdict.
Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck said the clubs had reached an "amicable resolution," at the end of a case that had the potential to severely damage coach Carlo Ancelotti's squad-building plans.
"We are pleased to have come to an amicable resolution of the matter and that it has been ratified by CAS and recognized by FIFA," Buck said.
"It was always our intention to work together with Lens to reach this end, and both clubs have strengthened their relationship as a result of resolving this case to everyone's satisfaction."
Thursday's CAS ruling also frees Chelsea of a FIFA order to pay Lens €780,000 ($1.07 million) in compensation. However, Buck said Chelsea would pay a €130,000 ($179,000) fee to Lens which had been ordered by FIFA to reimburse the French club's costs in nurturing Kakuta.
Kakuta, a France youth international, is now cleared of the threat of serving a four-month ban which had been ordered by FIFA.
FIFA's disputes panel imposed the punishments last September after Lens appealed to the governing body.
AP sources: Togo goes to French court over attack
PARIS — Togo has filed a complaint in a French court against a separatist movement and African Cup of Nations organizers after the deadly Jan. 8 attack on the team in Angola, judicial officials said Thursday.
The action targets the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda, whose leader, Rodrigues Mingas, lives in France, and the Confederation of African Football.
The prosecutor’s office will study the complaint against acts of terrorism and murder to decide whether it should be pursued. It was filed Jan. 29, the officials said. The officials spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
Joined in the complaint as civil parties were the families of two people killed in the attack, Togo assistant coach Amelete Abalo, and press officer Dodji Komi Ocloo Azanledji, a judicial official said.
The Angolan bus driver taking the team to its Cup base in Cabinda also was killed in the attack on Jan. 8 in the northern Angolan region, where separatists have long sought autonomy. Togo’s team was withdrawn from the competition by its government.
Mingas has claimed responsibility for the attack in phone calls with numerous French media. He was quoted as saying that all blows are permitted in war: "In war, anything can happen, it’s just starting."
Mingas said in a new interview on Thursday with France 24 TV channel that the Togo team bus was not the target of the attack.
"This was not a premeditated hit against the bus of our brothers of Togo," Mingas said, adding that the sector where the attack occurred was "where our troops operate against the occupying Angolan forces."
He also said that Togo was right to file a suit but that it should have targeted Angola as well as competition organizers — not his movement.
"We understand our brothers of Togo, but they must understand that Cabinda is under occupation," Mingas said.
The CAF, African soccer’s governing body, could not be reached late Thursday. The CAF banned Togo from the next two editions of the African Cup for it withdrawal, citing political interference.
In addition to the suit, the Paris prosecutor’s office opened a terrorism inquiry on Jan. 15 into the separatists’ role in the killings.
Angola had protested to the French authorities about the failure to take legal measures against Mingas, who the Foreign Ministry said was a French citizen, and restrict his movements. The inquiry will examine whether the prosecutor can file formal charges against Mingas for inciting "acts of terrorism."
-- Nicolas Vaux-Montagny
Guerrero: I will be back in Hamburg in March
FRANKFURT — Hamburg's Peruvian striker Paolo Guerrero says he will overcome his injury and fear of flying and be ready to play in the Bundesliga at the end of March.
Guerrero told Kicker magazine's Thursday edition that he'd been working with two Hamburg physiotherapists and that his injured left knee is giving him no problems. Guerrero tore ligaments in his left knee and had surgery in September.
"We are building up the muscles in the left knee. We've been working on the bike, I'd like to start running in the next few days," Guerrero said. "I have no pain. The knee shows no reaction, it's not swollen and it's stable. ... I am going to be the same Guerrero, maybe even stronger. I am optimistic, I think I am doing well. I will be making my comeback at the end of March."
But Hamburg coach Bruno Labbadia said he didn't think such an early comeback would be possible, adding that the interview "took us all a little bit by surprise."
"Paolo is a long way from playing, that's a false assessment," Labbadia said.
Labbadia said it was "a pity" that Guerrero brought up the subject of his fear of flying.
"We tried to take the pressure off him, but he's brought it back in," the coach said.
The striker missed four flights back to Germany because of his fear of flying. Guerrero told Kicker one of the flights returned to Lima because he was suffering from severe stomach problems brought on by gastritis, a result of his phobia.
"I have fear of flying but I also have fear that something could happen with my stomach in the plane," Guerrero told Kicker. "First I want to be fit and then I will fly to Germany. I will fly, no problem. I also want to get rid of this gastritis, my mother is cooking special food for me. I am glad that Hamburg's management has shown so much understanding."
Guerrero said he would be flying with the team again and that he wanted to extend his contract with Hamburg that expires at the end of the season.
To compensate for Guerrero's absence, Hamburg has signed Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who still hasn't played in the wake of knee and calf injuries.
Guerrero said there would be a "healthy competition" between himself and van Nistelrooy for a place in Hamburg's attack.
Portsmouth has fourth owner this season
LONDON — Portsmouth has its fourth owner this season after being temporary taken over by Hong Kong businessman Balram Chainrai while he searches for yet another buyer.
Chainrai's company Portpin has taken Ali al-Faraj's 90 percent stake after exercising a clause in their agreement over a 17 million-pound ($27 million) loan made to the Saudi.
Portsmouth, which lost 1-0 at Fulham on Wednesday, is bottom of the Premier League and has failed on several occasions this season to pay its players on time. The south-coast club is also subject to a liquidation order from the government's revenue and customs department.
"(Portpin is) taking control on a temporary basis to allow new owners to be found," Portsmouth said Thursday. "Portpin's aim is to come in and stabilize the club, sort out the business with the winding up order from HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) and sell it on to new owners.
"New directors will be appointed to the board and Peter Storrie will remain as chief executive and will be running the club."
Portsmouth was on the brink of seeking bankruptcy protection before the season started, with Sacha Gaydamak still in charge.
The desperate financial situation looked to have been eased in August when Sulaiman Al-Fahim completed his protracted takeover, but his ownership lasted less than six weeks as he failed to refinance the club.
Al-Faraj's subsequent takeover was portrayed as rescuing the club, but he has struggled since October to find investors to pay taxes and the debts owed to other clubs.
France boss says no deal in place for Blanc
PARIS — French football federation president Jean-Pierre Escalettes has denied a deal is being made for Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc to take over from Raymond Domenech as coach of the national team.
Le Parisisen newspaper reported Thursday that Blanc has already started talks with senior members of the FFF, which is set to name Domenech's successor either in April or May.
"This is totally false. It's ridiculous. I completely deny it," Escalettes said on RMC radio Thursday. "I would be the first to know. We haven't reached the point where we are talking about an eventual successor. It will come when it comes."
Blanc, who is under contract at Bordeaux until the end of next season, was quick to quell the rumors.
"I deny everything that has been said," Blanc said.
After six years of an often troubled reign, Domenech will stand down after the June 11-July 11 World Cup in South Africa.
The 44-year-old Blanc would likely prove a popular choice. Well liked by fans, who remember his performances when France won the 1998 World Cup and the European Championship two years later, Blanc guided Bordeaux to the French title and the League Cup last season. Bordeaux has a comfortable lead at the top this season, and is still in both cup competitions.
Former Fulham boss Jean Tigana, Domenech's current assistant coach, is a possible contender, along with Alain Boghossian, and former France midfielder Luis Fernandez. Domenech has said that Cameroon boss Paul Le Guen and Gabon's Alain Giresse could also be candidates.
Domenech will announce his 23-man World Cup squad on May 2. France, the 1998 World Cup winner and runner-up to Italy in 2006, plays Uruguay, Mexico and South Africa in Group A of the World Cup.
Deco to retire from international football
BRASILIA, Brazil — Portugal midfielder Deco will retire from international football after this year's World Cup in South Africa.
"I'll end my run at the World Cup, because of my age and because it's tiring," the 32-year-old Chelsea player said in an interview Thursday with Brazil Radio Globo. "I'll say goodbye after the World Cup."
Deco also said he hoped to return to play club football in Brazil, though he did not specify when. Deco was born in Brazil and took Portuguese nationality several years ago.
Deco, who also played for Barcelona, was a key player on Portugal's 2006 World Cup team which finished fourth, losing the third-place match to host Germany.
Portugal struggled to qualify for this year's World Cup, with a younger squad and new coach Carlos Queiroz, whom Deco said was quite different from his predecessor Luiz Felipe Scolari.
"Scolari is more emotional," said Deco, whose full name is Anderson Luis de Souza. "Queiroz is more theoretical and he likes tactics."
Deco has won the Champions League with two different clubs — 2004 with Porto and 2006 with Barcelona. He began his career with Brazilian club Corinthians.
Maradona calls up 101 players in 15 months
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Diego Maradona has called up 101 players since he took over as coach of Argentina 15 months ago.
The latest call up for Wednesday's friendly against Jamaica in the resort town of Mar del Plata includes six who have never played for the national team. One player — Atletico Tucuman forward Juan Pablo Pereyra — was later withdrawn because he just had surgery.
Maradona has faced intense criticism over his handling of the national team. He has little coaching experience and struggled to qualify Argentina for the World Cup in South Africa despite having some of the best players in the world, including Barcelona forward Lionel Messi.
The original squad also included four players from Copa Libertadores champion Estudiantes. They were removed after it was pointed out that they play the following day in the Copa Libertadores.
The team that faces Jamaica will be made up of players only from Argentina's domestic league.
Chygrynskiy: Barca move harder than I thought
BARCELONA, Spain — Dmytro Chygrynskiy acknowledged Thursday that adapting to life as a Barcelona player has been more difficult than expected, although he insisted he will be a success at the Camp Nou.
"When I signed for Barca I didn't think I was going to play without any problems immediately, but nor did I know it was going to be so hard," said the Ukraine defender, who arrived at the club in the summer of 2009. "There are lots of things you have to get used to, like the surroundings and the media."
Chygrynskiy was signed from Shakhtar Donetsk for €25 million ($34.5 million) on a five-year contract.
However, the 23-year-old defender has struggled for form and has only started nine games this season. Fans booed him during the King's Cup loss to Sevilla on Jan. 5.
"Here there's more pressure from people and from the media and the style of play is also very different to Ukraine," Chygrynskiy said. "One thing is desire, another is reality."
Chygrynskiy added that he believes he "will triumph" eventually at the club.
Capello returns to rule on Terry’s captaincy
LONDON — England coach Fabio Capello has returned to the country to determine whether John Terry can remain captain of the national team amid a sex scandal.
Capello refused to answer reporters’ questions about Terry’s future Thursday as he arrived at London’s Heathrow Airport from Switzerland, where he had been recovering from a knee operation.
Capello is set to meet Terry on Friday for the first time since allegations were made that the defender had a relationship with England teammate Wayne Bridge’s former partner.
Ahead of the World Cup later this year, the Football Association has left the final decision on the captaincy to Capello.
Hargreaves out of United's Champions League squad
MANCHESTER, England — Owen Hargreaves has been left out of Manchester United's Champions League squad for the knockout stage, putting further doubt on his recovery from a long-standing injury.
Since last playing for the Premier League champions in September 2008, Hargreaves has been forced to have two operations in a bid to cure a tendinitis problem that has plagued him since signing from Bayern Munich in July 2007.
United manager Alex Ferguson had hoped to name the England midfielder in his 25-man European squad, but he now won't be part of the quest to reach a third successive final.
United plays AC Milan in the last 16 of the Champions League, with the first leg in Italy on Feb. 16.
Man City defender Bridge set to return from injury
MANCHESTER, England — Manchester City defender Wayne Bridge is set to return from injury against Hull on Saturday.
The England left back has been out for two months after injuring his knee against former club Chelsea.
Since then, Bridge has figured in numerous newspaper reports after allegations that his former girlfriend had a relationship with married England teammate John Terry, the Chelsea defender.
City manager Roberto Mancini said Thursday that Bridge is in the right state of mind to play at Hull.
"Wayne can play on Saturday," Mancini said. "He has been working with us for 10 days now and there are no problems. The private side is not important. He has been working very well on the pitch. That is what is important."
Smith's concern over Rangers' financial plight
GLASGOW, Scotland — As Rangers moves closer to a domestic treble, manager Walter Smith is warning that the club's financial problems "will only get worse."
Rangers has a 10-point lead in the Scottish Premier League, is through to the League Cup final and is still on course for the Scottish Cup.
But Smith says that "it doesn't take away from the fact that we have a problem."
The Scottish champions have debts of around $50 million and is seeking new owner.
The club sold midfielder Pedro Mendes to Sporting Lisbon at the weekend but Smith was still unable to make his first permanent signing since August 2008 before the transfer window closed.
Belgian teen Hazard extends Lille deal till 2014
LILLE, France — Lille midfielder Eden Hazard has extend his contract by two years through till 2014.
Lille announced the deal Thursday on its Web site for the 19-year-old Hazard, one of the French league's most highly rated young players who has played 10 games for Belgium.
Hazard says he made his decision because the "coach (Rudi Garcia) believes in me and I hope things continue this way."
Hazard has scored seven goals in all competitions this season.
Lille is third in the French league, eight points behind leader Bordeaux.
Bayern Munich extends contracts of 3 players
MUNICH — Bayern Munich has extended the contracts of defenders Daniel van Buyten and Holger Badstuber and midfielder Thomas Mueller.
The 32-year-old Van Buyten received a deal that will keep the Belgium defender at Bayern another two seasons.
Badstuber and Mueller are now contracted through June 2014. The two 20-year-olds have come through Bayern's youth program.
Lippi hoping to face Capello in World Cup final
ROME — Italy coach Marcello Lippi would like to face England in the World Cup final.
The reason? So he can see the expression on the face of England coach and countryman Fabio Capello during the Italian anthem.
The ANSA news agency reported that Lippi has already decided on 17 players for his 23-man squad, leaving only six spots open before the tournament in South Africa.
Defending champion Italy was drawn in Group F with Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia.
England was in Group C with the United States, Algeria and Slovenia.
Mourinho fined for insulting reporter
ROME — Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho has been fined 13,000 euros ($18,000) for allegedly insulting a reporter.
The incident with Corriere dello Sport reporter Andrea Ramazzotti occurred after a 1-1 tie with Atalanta in December.
In addition, the Italian football federation’s disciplinary committee ordered Inter to pay a 20,000 euro ($28,000) fine.
Mourinho was accused of "insulting language" and for swiping the reporter’s forearm.
FIFA pledges $3 million to aid Haiti soccer
ZURICH — FIFA has pledged $3 million to help Haiti rebuild its soccer infrastructure.
The sport’s governing body created a special fund Thursday in addition to the $250,000 in emergency aid it provided after the Jan. 12 earthquake.
FIFA promised to help rebuild Haiti’s soccer federation headquarters, coaching centers and playing fields. FIFA also will provide equipment for leagues and youth competitions.
The ruling body is acting on a report from executive Jack Warner, who visited the country to assess what help was needed.
