Soccer Capsules: Manchester United routs MLS All-Stars
Comments 0HOUSTON (AP) — Manchester United turned the Major League Soccer All-Star game into its own showcase of talent.
Federico Macheda had two early goals, Mexican star Javier Hernandez scored in his debut for the Red Devils, and Manchester United routed the MLS All-Stars 5-2 on Wednesday night in the final exhibition game of its North American tour.
Darron Gibson and Tom Cleverley added goals for the Red Devils, tuning up for the start of the Premier League season next month.
Houston Dynamo star Brian Ching had a goal and an assist for the All-Stars, who were hoping for a validating victory against one of the world's pre-eminent soccer powers. But Macheda scored twice in the first 13 minutes, quickly dashing the MLS team's hopes.
The Red Devils, who played without several top players, circled the field and applauded the fans after the game.
The sellout crowd was announced at 70,728, the largest for an MLS All-Star game since the first one in 1996 drew 78,416 to Giants Stadium. The attendance figure was the largest for a soccer game at Reliant Stadium.
MLS All-Star teams had won five of their last six matchups against international competition, including a 1-0 win over former Premier League champion Chelsea in 2006. They were confident this week, eager to show how much progress the league has made since its inception in 1996.
But the Red Devils, stinging after a 2-1 loss to Kansas City on Sunday, took a 1-0 lead before the smoke had cleared from the pregame fireworks display. Macheda intercepted a weak pass by defender Kevin Alston and chipped a low shot past goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts just 24 seconds into the game.
Macheda made it 2-0 in the 13th minute, beating Ricketts with a header off a corner kick by Nani.
The All-Stars got their best scoring chance of the half about 3 minutes later, when Juan Pablo Angel fired a direct kick that United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar punched over the crossbar. The Red Devils controlled possession from there and hardly allowed the All-Stars a decent scoring chance for the rest of the half.
American star Landon Donovan was among those who stayed on the MLS bench in the first half. Donovan and Los Angeles Galaxy teammate Edson Buddle played in a CONCACAF Champions League game Tuesday night in California and flew to Houston on Wednesday.
Sir Alex Ferguson inserted Hernandez in the 63rd minute, prompting roars from the thousands of Mexican fans in attendance. The Red Devils acquired the 22-year-old Hernandez in April, the club's first Mexican player.
Ching scored a minute later, heading in David Ferreira's free kick from the left side. The four-time All-Star was a second-half substitution by MLS coach Bruce Arena.
Hernandez got behind the All-Stars' defense in the 69th minute and was tackled by defender Wilman Conde, who earned a yellow card. Gibson converted the resulting free kick, curving a shot from just outside the penalty area into the upper left corner of the goal.
Cleverley scored about 3 minutes later, flipping the ball over Conde and beating backup goalkeeper Nick Rimando with a low left-footed shot.
Hernandez, a speedy striker, took a long pass from Paul Scholes and hooked a long shot over Rimando in the 84th minute for a 5-1 lead.
Donovan, the star of the U.S. World Cup team, trotted onto the field in the 74th minute, drawing a loud ovation. Donovan played the final 16 minutes without taking a shot.
Dwayne De Rosario scored in the 90th minute to round out the scoring.
Manchester United will play Chivas Guadalajara on Friday in Mexico before returning to England. The Red Devils open their Premier League schedule on Aug. 16, against Newcastle.
Silverdome owner seeks fan input on vuvuzelas
PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — If you think vuvuzelas were loud at the outdoor venues of the recently completed World Cup, imagine how loud they'd be inside the Pontiac Silverdome.
If enough are in favor, Detroit-area soccer fans might just find out.
The 82,000-seat indoor venue's owner is asking fans whether the buzzing, plastic horns should be permitted at the Aug. 6 match between club teams AC Milan of Italy and Panathinaikos FC of Greece.
Fans can weigh in at the Silverdome's website.
The constant drone of vuvuzelas during World Cup matches in South Africa was a source of annoyance to broadcasters and players alike.
The Silverdome is the former home of the Detroit Lions. It is owned by Triple Investment Group LLC, which acquired the facility and began renovations last year.
Mexico Soccer
Manchester City tops Club America in shootout
ATLANTA (AP) — Brian Kidd called his Atlanta homecoming a success. It helped that his Manchester City team made him a winner.
Given blocked two penalty shootout kicks and Manchester City beat Club America 4-1 in the tiebreaker after the teams played to a 1-1 draw in the exhibition game Wednesday night.
Kidd, the assistant coach for Manchester City, played as a professional for the old Atlanta Chiefs in 1981.
"This was sentimental for me," Kidd said. "I always have fond memories of the city and the people. Atlanta is always close to my heart."
Emmanuel Adebayor, Silva Jo, Vladimir Weiss and Patrick Vieira made Manchester City a perfect 4 for 4 on the penalty kicks. Pardo Pavel had Club America's only successful penalty kick.
Manchester City improved to 2-2 on its exhibition tour of the United States.
Adebayor scored the only goal of the first half and Club America's Enrique Esqueda tied it early in the second half.
Midfielder Yaya Toure made his debut after signing this summer with Manchester City, joining his brother, Kolo Toure. The brothers played for Ivory Coast in the World Cup.
Manchester City also was bolstered by the first appearances for Gareth Barry and Shaun Wright-Phillips since England was eliminated from the World Cup.
"The team got a lot out of the game in terms of fitness and working together," said Manchester City's Adam Johnson.
Club America's Aquivaldo Mosquera's takedown on Johnson in the box set up Adebayor's penalty kick in the 36th minute. Adebayor scored with his kick past goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.
Johnson insisted the penalty, which appeared marginal, "was 100 percent a foul."
Club America tied it early in the second half on Esqueda's shot from the right corner.
Daniel Montenegro of Club America was denied in each half on shots that deflected off the posts. Adebayor almost won the game in regulation, but his shot in the 88th minute hit the crossbar above Ochoa.
Less than a minute later, Montenegro's penalty kick was too high.
Atlanta organizers hoped to use the exhibition to showcase the city's enthusiasm for soccer as it bids for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup. FIFA will announce the host countries on Dec. 2.
Last year, more than 50,000 fans attended Club America's 2-1 win over A.C. Milan at the Georgia Dome. Wednesday night's crowd of 33,721 included 3,000 free tickets to various Atlanta youth organizations, according to Michael Reene of the organizing committee. Promotions for the game included advance sales of two tickets for $25.
"Times are tough," Reene said. "I would have loved to have seen 75,000 here, but nobody was promising that. ... This is a respectable crowd."
Reene said he was encouraged the exhibition attracted more "traditional" soccer fans, along with those with loyalties to the teams from Mexico and England.
"To me the mix of the crowd is very balanced this year," Reene said.
Natural grass was installed for the game, temporarily replacing the FieldTurf used by the NFL's Atlanta Falcons.
-- Charles Odum
Inter beats Sao Paulo 1-0 in Copa Libertadores
PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (AP) — Substitute midfielder Giuliano scored in the second half to give Internacional a 1-0 win over fellow Brazilian side Sao Paulo in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores semifinals Wednesday.
Giuliano sent the ball off the inside of the post following build up play by Andres D'Alessandro and Alecsandro in the 68th minute, three minutes after taking the field.
The return leg will be played in Sao Paulo's Morumbi stadium next Thursday.
Mexico's Guadalajara was held to a 1-1 draw at home against Universidad de Chile on Tuesday in the other semifinal first leg.
The Copa Libertadores is the top club competition in Latin America. The tournament took a break after the quarterfinals to make way for the World Cup, restarting at the semifinal stage.
Inter won the Copa Libertadores in 2006, while Sao Paulo was champion in 1992, 1993 and 2005.
The semifinal between the teams is a repeat of the 2006 final, which Inter won.
Inter had the best chances at home in the Beira-Rio stadium, with Andres D'Alessandro curling a free kick wide from 25 yards (meters) in the 19th minute and winger Taison's header forcing a diving save from goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni in the 29th.
Ceni pushed Andrezinho's shot from the edge of the area round the post in the 47th minute as Inter increased the pressure in the second half.
After Giuliano opened the scoring, defender Kleber had a chance to extend the lead, but shot over from close range in the 73rd minute.
Sao Paulo had few chances, with Dagoberto's deflected shot flying wide in the 57th minute and Hernanes shooting at Inter goalkeeper Renan in stoppage time.
League Roundup
Inter to start Serie A title defense at Bologna
MILAN (AP) — Inter Milan will begin its Serie A title defense at Bologna at the end of August, while AC Milan starts at home against newcomer Lecce, Juventus travels to Bari and AS Roma hosts newly promoted Cesena.
The opening round is on Aug. 28 and 29.
"We're playing in the European Super Cup a few days before and the thing I was worried about was getting a long away trip," Inter chief executive Ernesto Paolillo said. "From that point of view Bologna is a good start."
Inter, under new coach Rafael Benitez, will be chasing a sixth consecutive league title. The team's first big test will be in the fifth week, traveling to 2010 runner-up AS Roma. A week later, Inter meets Juventus at the San Siro.
"Roma is always our toughest opponent," Paolillo said. "This match will be particularly difficult because we have a Champions League match a few days afterward."
The first Milan derby of the season is on Nov. 14. The reverse fixture takes place on April 3, 2011.
Milan meets Juventus at home on Oct.31, while Roma visits the San Siro on Dec. 19 in the last round of matches before the two and a half week winter break.
Lazio meanwhile will attempt to again avoid suffering two defeats in the Rome derby against city-rival Roma on Nov.7 and March.13.
"The derby is the most important match for Lazio," club president Claudio Lotito said. "I wouldn't say winning it is as big as the title, but nearly. It certainly is ahead of all the others."
Ajax held by PAOK in Champions League qualifier
LONDON (AP) — Four-time European champion Ajax was held to a 1-1 draw on the road by PAOK, and FC Braga beat Celtic 3-0 in the third round of qualifying for the Champions League on Wednesday.
Luis Suarez put Ajax ahead with a 13th-minute overhead kick, but Vladimir Ivic scored a crucial away goal for PAOK after a counterattack in the 72nd minute of the first leg at Amsterdam Arena.
Ajax had a penalty appeal in the final seconds dismissed when Anis Boussaidi appeared to handle a cross from Suarez, whose goal-line handball against Ghana helped Uruguay reach the World Cup semifinals.
It was a worse night for another former European champion, with Celtic failing to get a single shot on target at Braga.
Alan scored first from the penalty spot after Ki Sung-Yeung had handled the ball. Uwa Elderson Echiejile hit a debut goal and substitute Nascimento Matheus scored from a free kick.
The winners of the 15 qualifiers next week will have another playoff before reaching the 32-team group stage.
Ivica Ilijev, Sasa Ilic and Gabriel Cleo gave Partizan Belgrade a 3-0 victory over HJK Helsinki. Rosenborg defeated AIK Stockholm 1-0 in a Scandinavian derby thanks to 18-year-old Markus Henriksen's goal, and Kazakhstan champion Aktobe downed Hapoel Tel Aviv 1-0 following captain Samat Smakov's penalty kick.
Swiss champion FC Basel won 2-0 at Debreceni VSC, while Young Boys drew 2-2 at home against Fenerbahce after twice falling behind.
Alexander Erokhin scored an away goal for Dinamo Zagreb in a 1-1 draw with Sheriff in Moldova, while BATE Borisov drew 0-0 at home with FC Copenhagen.
Nagoya keeps pace in J-League with win over Shonan
NAGOYA, Japan (AP) — Marcus Tulio Tanaka and Danilson scored a goal apiece Wednesday as Nagoya Grampus held on to third place in the J-League with a 2-1 win over Shonan Bellmare.
Tulio opened the scoring with a header in the 17th minute and Danilson doubled the lead in the 68th with a low drive from 25 meters that beat Shonan goalkeeper Ryota Tsuzuki.
Yutaka Tahara pulled one back for Bellmare with 11 minutes remaining but the visitors couldn't find an equalizer.
Nagoya moved on to 29 points, one behind Shimizu S-Pulse and two behind leaders Kashima Antlers. Fourth-placed Kawasaki Frontale failed to keep pace after being held to a 0-0 draw at Montedio Yamagata.
Elsewhere, Urawa Reds scored four goals in the second half for a 4-0 thrashing of last-place Kyoto Sanga.
Wilfried Sanou, Robson Ponte, Edmilson and Tomoya Ugajin found the net as Volker Finke's Reds moved into sixth place on 23 points.
Takashi Usami opened the scoring in the 13th minute and Hideo Hashimoto and Shoki Hirai added goals after the break to lead Gamba Osaka to a 3-1 win over Vissel Kobe in a mid-table clash.
Yokohama F Marinos took a share of the points in a 1-1 draw with Omiya Ardija when Ariajasuru Hasegawa equalized in the second minute of stoppage time. Kazuhiro Murakami looked to have won the game for Ardija with an 86th-minute strike.
FC Tokyo and Jubilo Iwata also ended in a 1-1 draw.
Marseille beats PSG to win Champions Trophy
RADES, Tunisia (AP) — Marseille beat Paris Saint-Germain 5-4 in a penalty shootout on Wednesday to win the Champions Trophy after it ended 0-0 in regulation time.
The preseason match pitted French champion Marseille against French Cup winner PSG.
No extra time was played and Marseille won the match when Edouard Cisse converted his penalty after PSG winger Ludovic Giuly's spot kick was saved by goalkeeper Steve Mandanda.
PSG had more chances to win the game, but striker Peguy Luyindula and Brazilian midfielder Nene were wasteful with their finishing late on.
Marseille defender Souleymane Diawara limped off with a left thigh injury just before halftime.
World Cup
Silva: FIFA will be 'surprised' with preparations
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazil's sports minister defended the preparations for the 2014 World Cup on Wednesday, while acknowledging that there are no plans yet for the Sao Paulo stadium meant to stage the opening ceremony.
Orlando Silva said he has been reassured by local officials that a proposal is due within days, and said FIFA has been slow to approve plans.
FIFA has previously criticized Brazil's readiness, saying the country is behind schedule in several areas, including stadium renovation and infrastructure.
"These are the opinions of those who ignore the reality of the country," Silva said, adding that FIFA will soon "see the reality close up. They will be surprised with the preparations for the World Cup.
"FIFA will have to do its part. Because projects for the stadiums were approved only this May, and you could not start work on the stadiums without the projects having been approved."
In May, FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke was fiercely critical of preparations and Brazilian officials have previously acknowledged they have to pick up the pace.
A recent report by a government watchdog outlined the delays and warned that construction in some key areas, such as airports, may not be completed in time.
However, Silva said the lack of progress in building a stadium in Sao Paulo — Latin America's largest city — is the biggest hurdle.
"Sao Paulo is the only bottleneck in preparing for 2014 World Cup because the other 11 cities are preparing at a very good pace," he said.
Brazil football federation president Ricardo Teixeira said during a visit to a stadium in Belo Horizonte on Wednesday that he thinks the city is now the frontrunner to host the opening ceremony and first match.
Renovations to Belo Horizonte's Minerao stadium have already begun.
"Because they have started and they began before the others, Belo Horizonte has an advantage," Teixeira said.
Silva said a Brazilian bank has provided $2.7 billion of financing for the renovation or construction of stadiums, with a credit limit of $226 million for each project.
Earlier this month, the Brazilian government said it would invest nearly $3 billion to renovate and expand airports, and guarantee about $400 million to upgrade ports — news that Silva highlighted as proving the country was on track in its preparations.
But Silva said plans have yet to be finalized for other major areas — primarily in security, a major concern for foreign visitors. It proved to be a bigger spending drain than expected for the organizers of this year's World Cup in South Africa.
South African officials have agreed to provide a report of the positive and negative lessons learned from hosting the event, Silva said.
-- Bradley Brooks
Asia chief backs Qatar as FIFA visits Australia
SINGAPORE (AP) — Qatar will have the backing of Mohammad Bin Hammam for its 2022 World Cup bid, with the Asian Football Confederation president reiterating his support Wednesday even as FIFA's inspection team toured rival Asian bidder Australia.
The declaration by Hammam, a Qatari, meant the gulf nation would get at least one of the 24 votes from FIFA's executive committee that will decide the host countries for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups when it meets in December.
"I have one vote among 24 votes and frankly speaking I will vote for Qatar," Hammam said Wednesday. "But if Qatar is not in the running, I will vote for another Asian country."
Under bin Hammam's presidency, Qatar had already been awarded the 2011 Asian Cup unopposed. Australia, which joined the Asian confederation from Oceania after its second-round exit at the 2006 World Cup to eventual champion Italy, is expected to be awarded the 2015 Asian Cup.
Bin Hammam's latest declaration was sure to cause a stir in Australia, where organizers were surprised last month when the AFC chief announced he would vote for a European host for 2018, even though Australia was still in the bidding. Australia subsequently dropped out of the 2018 race to focus on 2022.
Qatar is considered an outsider in the bidding to host 2022 but the head of its bid committee thinks the desert nation has a good chance to be chosen by FIFA.
"Our chances are good," Hassan Al-Thawadi told reporters at an Asian football forum in Singapore. "It will be a close call, but I do believe coming to Qatar and the Middle East in 2022 will be a new frontier for FIFA."
Qatar is bidding against the U.S., Japan, South Korea and Australia. It is aiming to become the first Middle Eastern country to host football's biggest tournament, but faces several hurdles, including its scorching summer heat and restrictive alcohol and dress policies. Australia has never hosted the World Cup, but has hosted the Olympics twice — at Melbourne in 1956 and Sydney in 2000 — and the World Cups of rugby and cricket.
Al-Thawadi said Qatar is developing "second-generation cooling technology" which will keep stadiums, training facilities and fan areas at about 27 Celsius (81 degrees), far cooler than the 41 degrees Celsius (106 degrees) that Qatar averages in June, July and August. Qatar also plans to allow alcohol consumption in fan zones and bathing suits to be worn at hotel pools.
"I don't see it as a cultural clash," Al-Thawadi said. "We accept other people's cultures."
Qatar plans to invest $4 billion to build 12 stadiums which would all be within an hour of each other, allowing teams and fans to cut down on travel time and cost. It will host the 2011 Asian Cup and will unveil a new $5 billion international airport next year that will be able to accommodate 50 million passengers a year.
Qatar, which has large reserves of oil and gas, has one of the world's highest gross domestic product per capita at $81,692, according to the International Monetary Fund.
Hammam warned that China's bid to host the 2026 World Cup would be unlikely to succeed if an Asian country were chosen for the 2022 tournament, as the event rotates between continents.
"If any of these countries succeed, there will be no chance for Asia to host in 2026," Hammam said. "So the ambition of China has to go a few years after."
A FIFA delegation is ending a three-day visit to Australia on Wednesday. It has been inspecting some of the stadiums and other facilities for the 2022 bid. At the end of the inspection tour, the delegation will submit a report to assist FIFA's 24 executive members select a host for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, which will be announced by FIFA on Dec. 2 in Zurich.
The U.S. is competing for both the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, though it appears likely one of four European bids — England, Russia, and the joint bids of Spain-Portugal and Netherlands-Belgium — will be chosen for the earlier of those two.
-- Alex Kennedy
FIFA team commends bipartisan support in Australia
SYDNEY (AP) — Rival politicians took time out from a tight federal election campaign to host FIFA delegates at the prime minister's residence overlooking the iconic Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge in a show of bipartisan support for Australia's 2022 World Cup bid.
The six-member FIFA delegation spent three days in Australia examining its credentials to host the 2022 World Cup, concluding the trip on a wet Wednesday in Sydney.
"After checking the bid book presentation on site, we must conclude that this country seems to be prepared in all the aspects to organize the World Cup in 2022," said Chilean Football Federation President Harold Mayne-Nicholls, who led a delegation also containing Danny Jordaan, the chief executive of 2010 South Africa World Cup committee.
Australia was the third stop on a tour of nine countries for the delegation after Japan and South Korea.
"We all agree that it was organized in a very professional way," Mayne-Nicholls said. "We also received the full support from the government to the bid process."
Mayne-Nicholls said he was impressed that the senior member's of Australia's opposition party were at a dinner hosted by Prime Minister Julia Gillard at Sydney's harborside Kiribilli House for the FIFA delegation, just weeks out from a federal election.
"For us was very impressive to know that the Opposition ... was also present at such a dinner," he said. "Beside that the commitment of the country seems to be outstanding, taking into consideration that both parties, in the middle of an election process, made time to enjoy a wonderful evening with us."
Mayne-Nicholls noted that soccer had grown 60 percent in Australia in the last decade.
Australia has never hosted the World Cup, but it has hosted the Olympics twice — in Melbourne in 1956 and Sydney in 2000 — and has hosted the World Cups of rugby and cricket.
Australia's Socceroos have qualified for the last two World Cups, reaching the second round before a stoppage-time loss to eventual champion Italy in 2006 and making a first-round exit at South Africa 2010.
Australia's plans include 10 host cities, with three new stadiums to be built and others to be renovated.
The FIFA delegation did not directly face the Australian media, releasing details of its visit via daily statements.
The Australian bid was cleared last week by FIFA of wrongdoing.
FIFA said it reviewed newspaper allegations that expensive gifts were provided to some FIFA Congress delegates in May 2008 — eight months before official campaigning began — but decided there were "no grounds to open a formal case."
Although it considered the matter closed, FIFA reminded Australia's football federation about bidding rules.
The delegation will submit a report to assist FIFA's 24 executive members select a host for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments, which will be announced by FIFA on Dec. 2 in Zurich.
Australia is competing with bids from South Korea and Japan, which co-hosted the 2002 World Cup, Qatar and the United States for the 2022 World Cup.
The U.S. is also in the contest for 2018, which is expected to be awarded to one of four European bids: England, Russia, and the joint bids of Spain-Portugal and Netherlands-Belgium.
Australia, which joined the Asian confederation from Oceania after the 2006 World Cup, had a minor setback Wednesday when Asian Football Confederation chief Mohammad bin Hammam told reporters in Singapore that he'd vote for his native Qatar in the first-round of the knockout poll.
"I have one vote among 24 votes and frankly speaking I will vote for Qatar," bin Hammam said Wednesday. "But if Qatar is not in the running, I will vote for another Asian country."
Report: NKorea's World Cup team reprimanded
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea's national football team and coach have been reprimanded for losing all three games at the World Cup in South Africa, a news report said.
The team and coach Kim Jong Hun were summoned to a meeting at the People's Palace of Culture in Pyongyang on July 2, the U.S.-financed Radio Free Asia reported Monday.
Sports Minister Pak Myong Chol was among some 400 government officials, athletes and others at the six-hour-long closed-door session, the report said.
Team members were forced to reprimand their coach at the end of the gathering, the report said.
Japan-based players Jong Tae Se and An Yong Hak were exempted from the meeting, RFA said.
Competing in its second World Cup finals after an absence of 44 years, North Korea exited at the group stage, beaten 2-1 by Brazil, then lost to Portugal 7-0 and to Ivory Coast 3-0.
The report cited two unidentified sources in North Korea and a Chinese businessman named Yu, described as knowledgeable about North Korea affairs.
South Korea's National Intelligence Service, the country's main spy agency, said Wednesday it could not immediately confirm the report.
Groups in Seoul that monitor information out of North Korea said they could not corroborate the report, and there was no mention of any such meeting in Pyongyang's state media.
A veteran of North Korea's 1966 squad had previously said the team would be receive a warm welcome despite their poor performance.
"Now when the Korean team gets home, officials and crowds of people will go to the airport to welcome them," Pak Du Ik, who led his country to the quarterfinals in England 44 years ago, told television news agency APTN in Pyongyang last month.
"We have learned a lesson from the three World Cup matches, we accumulated experience and we found an answer to how to improve our football," he told APTN.
Elsewhere
Diego Maradona says Carlos Bilardo 'betrayed' him
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Diego Maradona says he was lied to and betrayed by Argentina soccer officials who decided not to renew his contract as coach of the national team.
The former superstar whose team was beaten by Germany in a quarterfinal, said national team director Carlos Bilardo and association president Julio Grondona worked to get rid of him.
"They called me to put out a fire, and we put it out," Maradona said. "Grondona lied to me. Bilardo betrayed me. While we were still in mourning, Bilardo worked in the shadows to throw me out."
Bilardo was Argentina's and Maradona its star player when the team won the World Cup in 1986.
The Argentine Football Association had said several weeks ago that it planned to offer him a new four-year deal, and Maradona said Grondona asked him in a meeting Monday to continue but without seven of his assistants. Maradona said he couldn't meet those conditions.
Grondona, replying after Maradona spoke, said he didn't lie to the famous No. 10.
"I continue being sorry that he has gone because it's very sad," Grondona said. "But I did not lie to Maradona. I told Maradona that I was content with him, that he had to continue. What he misinterpreted was that the conditions weren't the same."
Maradona read from a script for about 10 minutes in a restaurant in the Buenos Aires suburb of Ezeiza. And despite a room packed with reporters and family members — including his two daughters — he took no questions.
The 49-year-old Maradona suggested the 21 months he spent as coach was not enough. Argentina was beaten 4-0 by Germany in the quarterfinals three weeks ago in South Africa.
In a meeting Monday, Bilardo asked Maradona to continue without seven of his assistants. Maradona said he could not meet those conditions and his contract was not renewed.
"My technical team and I were prepared to keep going," Maradona said. "Grondona, in the changing room in South Africa, said in front of witnesses that he was very happy with my work and wanted me to continue. But back in Argentina things started to change."
Maradona was hired by Grondona despite having little coaching experience.
"I've given everything, everything," Maradona said, ending his speech. "I am convinced that Argentine football needs to be in a better position. I have tried to transmit the pride that I feel, being Argentine."
-- Vicente L. Panetta
Longtime Madrid forward Raul joins Schalke
BERLIN (AP) — Longtime Real Madrid forward Raul Gonzalez signed a two-year contract with Bundesliga club Schalke on Wednesday.
Raul joined Schalke on a free transfer after 15 seasons with Madrid, ending lengthy speculation about the move.
The club presented the 33-year-old striker at its stadium in Gelsenkirchen, giving him the No. 7 shirt.
"I'm looking forward to starting on a new challenge," Raul said. "It's an important challenge for me."
Coach Felix Magath, who secured Raul's agreement on Tuesday evening, said it was "great news for Schalke."
"I'm glad that we succeeded in enthusing such an exceptional footballer and world-class goal scorer about a move to the Bundesliga and to Schalke," Magath said. "His signing is a decisive step in our efforts to strengthen and restructure the squad."
Schalke had a gap to fill in its attack after Kevin Kuranyi left for Dynamo Moscow at the end of last season. Kuranyi's 18 goals helped the club to a second-place finish in the Bundesliga behind Bayern Munich, qualifying it for Champions League play.
Raul is Schalke's second signing from Real Madrid in the offseason, joining former Germany defender Christoph Metzelder who spent three injury-filled seasons at Madrid and saw little playing time.
Raul announced his departure from Real Madrid on Monday.
"I want to experience another type of football, a different culture — that's an important challenge in life," he said at the time. "German or English football — those are the only two places I would go ... my motivation is to keep playing football."
Raul was mostly relegated to the bench at Madrid following a spending spree by the club last summer.
He made his Madrid debut as a 17-year-old in 1994 and stayed with the club since then — a span that includes three Champions League triumphs, six Spanish league titles and two Intercontinental Cups.
He leaves with 228 league goals for Madrid, and a record 44 goals in 102 appearances for Spain, though he hasn't played for the national team since 2006.
Raul is also the leading scorer in UEFA competitions with 66 goals, including 64 in the Champions League.
-- Geir Moulson
Tottenham fails in bid for West Ham's Parker
LONDON (AP) — West Ham turned down a bid by Premier League rival Tottenham for England midfielder Scott Parker on Wednesday.
The Hammers said that they will not sell the 29-year-old Parker to its London rival or any other club regardless of the size of the bid.
Parker has three years remaining on a five-year contract with West Ham. The club has responded to Tottenham's unwelcome interest by starting negotiations over a new five-year contract.
"I made a promise that I would not sell Scott and I will not, for any amount of money, break that promise to the West Ham supporters," West Ham chairman David Sullivan said. "Scott is not for sale at any price, to anyone.
"West Ham supporters, for far too long, have had owners that sell their best players and promise one thing and do another."
Parker previously played for London clubs Charlton and Chelsea before a stint with Newcastle.
Avram Grant continued his preparations for his first season in charge of West Ham by appointing former Yugoslavia international Zeljko Petrovic as his assistant.
"I am happy that we now have the staff setup that I presented to the owners when I came," Grant said. "The aim is to take the team forward with professional, positive people and have a creative atmosphere.
"Zeljko Petrovic has a lot of experience and knowledge as a player and a coach."
Grant replaced Gianfranco Zola, who was fired following a dismal season spent hovering above the relegation zone.
His coaching team also includes Paul Groves, Kevin Keen, goalkeeping coach David Coles and fitness coach Eamon Swift.
German soccer gets ruling on Ramadan fasting
BERLIN (AP) — A Muslim group and German soccer authorities said Wednesday they have determined that professional Muslim players may break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan.
The announcement followed a dispute involving second-division club FSV Frankfurt, which last year gave a formal warning to three of its players for fasting.
During Ramadan, devout Muslims fast from dawn to dusk, abstaining even from water. The club had a clause in contracts stating that wasn't allowed without its express permission.
Germany's Central Council of Muslims said it sought advice from Al-Azhar in Egypt, the pre-eminent theological institute of Sunni Islam, and elsewhere.
Al-Azhar ruled that if a player is obliged to perform under a contract that is his only source of income, if he has to play matches during Ramadan, and if fasting affects his performance, then he can break his fast, the council said.
The European Council for Fatwa and Research supported that ruling, it added.
"The Muslim professional can make good the fasting days in times when there are no matches, and so continue to pay God and the holy month of Ramadan honor and respect," Aiman Mazyek, the general secretary of the Central Council of Muslims, said in a statement.
He noted that "keeping the body healthy plays a leading role in Islam."
"We very much welcome it that an arrangement has now been found that allows players to carry out professionally their work in high-performance sport and in doing so live their faith to the full," FSV Frankfurt manager Bernd Riesig said.
Blanc to quit if France doesn't reach Euro 2012
PARIS (AP) — France coach Laurent Blanc will quit if France fails to qualify for the 2012 European Championship.
Blanc, who took over from the unpopular Raymond Domenech after France's World Cup struggles, would step down despite having signed a two-year contract.
"It's Euro 2012 or I'm going," Blanc said in an interview with sports daily L'Equipe on Wednesday. "I will be judged on results. It's not my thing to keep going when I've failed."
Blanc's contract would normally take him well past France's last qualifier against Bosnia-Herzegovina in October 2011 and any playoff matches a month later. But Blanc is adamant he will not be like his predecessor.
When France failed to get past the group stages at Euro 2008, Domenech refused calls to resign and then won a vote within the French soccer federation that meant he stayed for two more years.
Blanc has inherited a team in disarray after the whole squad went on strike during a World Cup training session. Those players are suspended for Blanc's first game in next month's friendly against Norway.
Blanc thinks that is enough punishment and wants the matter to end, even though a three-member panel is examining what led to the dramatic events in South Africa — and other sanctions remain possible.
France went out of the World Cup without winning a game, and the federation is keen to speak to Domenech and his staff about the fiasco.
"The essential thing is to turn over a new leaf. I doubt that the commission will turn up any new findings," Blanc said. "What I don't want to happen is for this to drag on throughout August."
France has its first Euro 2012 qualifier against Belarus on Sept. 3 at Stade de France.
Franck Ribery joined the strike at the World Cup in protest at the federation's decision to send Nicolas Anelka home after the forward's expletive-filled rant at Domenech was published by L'Equipe.
In front of television cameras and fans at the training ground in South Africa, the France players boarded the team bus, shut the curtains and refused to train.
"They all disappointed me," Blanc said. "I was there, glued in front of my telly ... telling myself: 'This is not possible.'"
Abidal: Barcelona on my mind during France fiasco
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Eric Abidal couldn't wait to get back to his club Barcelona as France imploded during its disastrous World Cup run.
France's players boycotted training after Nicolas Anelka's departure and eventually left South Africa after the group stage without a victory, a series of events Abidal labeled a "disaster."
"We need to turn the page," Abidal said Wednesday. "We're all responsible for the situation, the players and the coach. The players tried to make the best out of it but the situation inside the changing room was not very good."
Abidal missed the mood of the two-time defending Spanish champions during the entire fiasco, when he also asked not to be played in the closing 2-1 group defeat to South Africa.
"I was really motivated to get back to training with Barcelona. I really missed it a lot," Abidal said. "It was all very disagreeable. There was a war between the coach and the press and I guess us players paid for it."
The Barcelona fullback hopes France can now turn the page with new coach Laurent Blanc and said he is still committed to Les Bleus, despite Blanc vowing to drop all 23 players who took part in the World Cup for the team's friendly against Norway on Aug. 11.
Campbell joins Premier League newcomer Newcastle
NEWCASTLE, England (AP) — Former England defender Sol Campbell will maintain his record of playing in every season of the Premier League after joining newly promoted Newcastle on a one-year contract on Wednesday.
Campbell links up with Newcastle manager Chris Hughton, who was a coach at Tottenham when Campbell joined the north London club at the age of 14.
The 35-year-old Campbell made his league debut for Tottenham in December 1992, midway through the Premier League's inaugural season.
Only David James, Ryan Giggs and Gary Speed have played more Premier League matches than Campbell's 496. James and Giggs are also still playing.
"I have known Sol since he was a lad at Tottenham and am fully aware of what he has to offer," Hughton said. "That is experience, quality, calm assurance and leadership. He's a dedicated professional, a terrific addition to the squad, and I look forward to working with him again."
The move means that Campbell has never cost a transfer fee in an 18-year career that has included 73 international caps and appearances at six international tournaments.
Campbell was a free agent after the expiry of his short-term contract with Arsenal, the club he controversially joined from Tottenham in 2001.
He won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups in an initial five-year spell with Arsenal before three seasons at Portsmouth, with whom he won the 2008 FA Cup as captain.
Campbell joined lowly Notts County in August 2009 but walked out on the fourth-tier club just one game into a five-year contract. He trained with Arsenal while he was without a club to maintain fitness, eventually persuading manager Arsene Wenger to sign him until the end of the season.
He started 10 Premier League matches, helping the Gunners to finish third — five points ahead of fourth-place Tottenham.
But Wenger only signed Campbell as backup to his regular central defenders. He occasionally looked ponderous against quick opponents and his positioning under the high ball was suspect.
"At this stage of my career, I couldn't have wished for a better move," Campbell said. "To join a club such as Newcastle United, with its proud tradition, heritage and magnificent support, is absolutely tremendous for me."
Newcastle was relegated from the Premier League in 2009 but won the second-tier League Championship to clinch an immediate return to the topflight.
"I'd like to thank Chris Hughton for putting his faith in me and aim to repay him and the supporters by giving everything I possibly can to help re-establish this great club in the top-tier of English football," Campbell said.
Reports: Mark Hughes agrees to manage Fulham
LONDON (AP) — British media reports say that Mark Hughes has agreed to manage Premier League club Fulham.
The Guardian and Daily Mail newspapers reported Wednesday night on their websites that the 46-year-old former Manchester City manager had agreed terms with the London club.
Fulham lost last season's Europa League final to Atletico Madrid.
After Roy Hodgson left to manage Liverpool, Martin Jol was pursued but Fulham's approaches were rebuffed by Ajax.
Hughes, a former striker for Manchester United and Chelsea, has been out of work since being fired by Man City in December.
Hughes' managerial career began in 1999 with Wales. He moved into club management in 2004 with Blackburn before leaving four years later to join City.
Wenger says Bendtner will miss start of season
LONDON (AP) — Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says striker Nicklas Bendtner will miss the start of the Premier League season due to a persistent groin injury.
While the Denmark international underwent surgery last November, the injury hampered his World Cup campaign.
Wenger announced Wednesday that "Bendtner will not be available for the start of the season."
Arsenal's campaign starts against Liverpool on Aug. 15.
Wenger also fears he could also be without Cesc Fabregas and Robin Van Persie. The players featured in the World Cup final and are not due back at Arsenal until Aug. 5.
Wenger says that "we will see how much buildup work is needed physically and as well how they have recovered mentally from the World Cup."
Uruguay's Forlan, Suarez missing for Angola match
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez, the forwards who led Uruguay to fourth place at the World Cup, were left out of the squad Wednesday to play Angola in a friendly in August in Portugal.
Coach Oscar Tabarez will also miss the Aug. 11 match in Lisbon. The squad will be led by Juan Verzeri, coach of Uruguay's under-20 team. Tabarez is out of contract and involved in negotiations to renew his deal.
Forlan and Suarez were left out for "personal reasons."
Midfielder Cristian Rodriguez, who missed the World Cup, is included. Rodriguez was suspended for four games after receiving a red card in the last match of South American qualifying and missing the two-legged playoff that secured Uruguay's qualification. The ban meant he would have missed the first two games in South Africa.
Almeida leaves FC Copenhagen for Apoel Nicosia
COPENHAGEN (AP) — FC Copenhagen says it has sold Brazilian striker Ailton Almeida to Cypriot club Apoel Nicosia.
The Danish club says the 25-year-old Almeida has signed a three-year contract with Apoel.
Copenhagen, which paid 22 million kroner ($3.8million) for the forward in 2007 and made him the highest paid player in the Danish Super League, did not reveal the transfer fee.
Almeida helped Copenhagen win the Danish league three times and scored 37 goals, but didn't fully meet expectations.
The club's sports director Carsten Jensen said Wednesday that the Brazilian had great talent, adding though that he was "entertaining, but sadly not all the time."
Mallorca signs De Guzman from Feyenoord
PALMA DE MALLORCA, Balearic Islands (AP) — Debt-ridden Mallorca has signed midfielder Jonathan De Guzman on a free transfer from Dutch club Feyenoord.
De Guzman, a naturalized Dutchman of Canadian origin, agreed to a three-year deal with the Spanish club.
De Guzman spent five seasons at Feyenoord where he scored 23 goals in 109 appearances.
De Guzman's brother Julian — a Canada international — played four seasons at Deportivo La Coruna.
Mallorca is currently appealing UEFA's decision to exclude it from this season's Europa League despite its fifth-place finish last year. Mallorca has reported debts of €60 million ($77 million).
Reinaldo Rueda quits as Honduras coach
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — Reinaldo Rueda has quit as Honduras coach after the team was knocked out in the group stage of the World Cup.
The Colombian-born Rueda said Wednesday he "is leaving by the front door, so as not to cause disunity."
Rueda is a naturalized Honduran citizen but says "I now have no tie to Honduras, I have no contract with Honduras."
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