Korea Utara Layak Ke World Cup. Malaysia Bila Lagi????

SYDNEY - Korea Utara bakal beraksi buat kali pertama di Piala Dunia sejak 44 tahun, selepas memperoleh satu mata berharga yang diperlukan untuk ke pusingan akhir di Afrika Selatan 2010. Pemain Korea Utara beraksi mantap untuk mencatat keputusan seri tanpa jaringan ketika menentang Arab Saudi di Riyadh, semalam.

Keputusan tersebut cukup untuk membolehkan negara itu menduduki tempat kedua Kumpulan 2 dan menyertai pendahulu, Korea Selatan layak secara automatik ke Piala Dunia 2010.

Ia merupakan kali pertama buat kedua-dua negara Korea terlibat sama di kejohanan berprestij itu. Korea Utara yang membuat penampilan pertama di Piala Dunia pada 1966 di England menjadi perintis buat negara Asia ke pusingan seterusnya apabila berjaya ke suku akhir ketika itu.

Sementara itu, suasana berbeza di Iran berbanding sambutan penuh meriah di Pyongyang.
Iran melepaskan peluang beraksi di pusingan akhir Piala Dunia 2010 selepas mencatat keputusan seri 1-1 di Seoul. Jaguh bola sepak Asia itu seharusnya mencatat kemenangan pada pertemuan tersebut bagi melangkah ke persaingan akhir di Afrika Selatan.

Dalam pada itu, Arab Saudi harus menumpaskan Bahrain untuk menduduki tempat ketiga dalam satu perlawanan playoff kategori Asia dan kemudiannya bertemu juara Oceania, New Zealand jika pasukan itu berjaya melangkah kali kelima berturut-turut ke Piala Dunia tahun depan.

Bahrain layak untuk beraksi di perlawanan playoff Asia September ini apabila mencatat kemenangan tipis 1-0 ke atas Uzbekistan di Manama.Kemenangan itu sekali gus melayakkan Bahrain menduduki tempat ketiga bagi persaingan Kumpulan Satu di belakang Australia dan Jepun.

Sementara itu, gol semangat jaringan daripada pemain tengah Everton, Tim Cahill membantu Australia bangkit daripada ketinggalan untuk mengatasi Jepun 2-1 di Melbourne. Keputusan tersebut membolehkan Australia mengakhiri saingan kumpulan dengan mencatat rekod tanpa kalah dan mendahului dengan lima mata.

Ronaldo Go To Real Madrid - World Record US$162 million

MANCHESTER United have accepted a world record $162 million bid for Christiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid.

The United website this evening confirmed it had agreed to the offer. Real now has to come to terms with Ronaldo. United expects the deal to be concluded by June 30.

This move comes just days after Real signed Brazilian star Kaka from AC Milan for $114 million.

Reports in the Spanish press earlier today said Real president Florentino Perez, who has made no secret of his desire to get Ronaldo, has sanctioned a deal that will dwarf the $114 million paid to AC Milan for Kaka this week.

It has long been thought in England and Spain that there is a pre-contract agreement for Real to sign the Manchester United star, even though United have continually denied it.

The contract would have to be executed before June 30, with Madrid paying a $52 million penalty if they break the terms.

Perez's predecessor, Ramon Calderon, has persistently hinted that Ronaldo will arrive at the Bernabeu because of work he had already done on the deal last year.

Perez is understood to be unhappy at such a high fee and has reportedly been in talks with United chief executive David Gill over the last few days in an attempt to renegotiate the deal.

But the Premier League champions have refused to budge other than agreeing to take the payments spread over five years, leaving Perez to reluctantly sanction the transfer rather pay the $52 million penalty and have no player.

Real Madrid general director Jorge Valdano claimed today the club are already in negotiations with United over Ronaldo.

"I can't answer any questions about him," he told Spanish television station TVE.

"'I can only talk about players who are on their way here, not about those we are in negotiations over.

"He is a great professional, he dedicates a very great deal of time to his work. He is a great footballer and a very good professional.

"According to the information we have managed to obtain, he is an excellent professional. You don't get the player's body he has, which is a footballing advertisement, without working a great deal.

"Another thing is that his reputation as an officially good-looking guy, and a social or advertising model, blurs his image a bit. He is a great footballer."

The Spanish newspaper El Mundo Deportivo says that Real Madrid representative and a doctor have been sent to meet Ronaldo, 24, in Los Angeles, where he is recuperating after the hernia injury forced him out of the Portugal squad.

The report says Real will move quickly to sign up Ronaldo on $400,000 a week - the same as Kaka -if they are satisfied with his condition.

While Calderon angered United boss Sir Alex Ferguson by courting Ronaldo in public, Perez has not met the same resistance, despite constantly stating in interviews in recent days that he was determined to sign the Portugal international.

Perez, 62, is said to have a much better relationship with the Old Trafford hierarchy, dating back to a time when he chaired the now disbanded G-14 collection of Europe's elite football clubs.

Arsene Wenger Di Malaysia

Harapan baru bola sepak negara

PEMAIN Harimau Muda bertuah kerana mendapat sedikit sebanyak tunjuk ajar Arsene Werger ketika lawatan pengurus The Gunners itu ke Malaysia di Dataran Merdeka semalam.

KUALA LUMPUR – Di sebalik kesuraman bola sepak negara, masih ada bakat muda yang boleh disandarkan harapan untuk memulihkan maruah bola sepak tempatan.

Ia berdasarkan pujian pengurus Arsenal Arsene Wenger terhadap tahap kepantasan dan kecergasan beberapa pemain skuad Harimau Muda yang disifatkannya menyamai pemain berkelas dunia.

Beliau mengesan kemampuan pemain muda negara ketika Sesi Kejurulatihan Bola Sepak Castrol Asia bersama skuad bawah 19 menerusi program Cabaran Castrol yang melibatkan kaedah ujian profesional terhadap tahap kelajuan, kelincahan dan kepantasan pemain di Dataran Merdeka semalam.

Menurut Wenger yang mendapat jolokan The Professor, sepanjang ujian tersebut beliau mengesan dua pemain mencapai tahap luar biasa dari segi kepantasan.

‘‘Dalam ujian pecut 20 meter, ada dua pemain yang mencatat kepantasan 2.67 hingga 2.71 saat.

‘‘Kepantasan tersebut adalah luar biasa. Ini merupakan petanda baik kerana mereka merupakan pemain pelapis. Tempoh empat tahun lagi akan menjadi penentu apakah mereka mampu untuk menyertai skuad senior kebangsaan.

‘‘Untuk memastikan pemain muda ini dapat mengekalkan tahap kecergasan dan kepantasan sehingga ke peringkat senior, mereka perlukan mental yang kuat.

‘‘Kuat dari segi fizikal dan teknikal, juga personaliti kerana ia akan terbentuk bersama-sama dengan kualiti,’’ katanya.

Wenger turut berkata, kelemahan bola sepak di kalangan pemain Asia ialah kurangnya penekanan ketika peringkat usia muda.

‘‘Asia masih kurang dari segi pembentukan pemain seawal usia muda dalam sukan ini yang sepatutnya bermula pada usia lima hingga 12 tahun,’’ katanya.

Beliau turut memberi pendapat bahawa untuk melahirkan pemain yang ‘pintar’, ia perlu dibentuk sejak usia muda menerusi perlawanan kompetitif.

Jelasnya, pembentukan pemain yang tangkas juga perlu diberi keutamaan kerana ia merupakan asas kepada bola sepak moden.

‘‘Untuk berjaya, seseorang pemain perlu berkembang mengikut peringkat umur.

‘‘Pada usia 17 atau 18 tahun, pemain remaja perlu mendapat pendedahan perlawanan yang secukupnya.

‘‘Pada usia 21 dan 22 tahun, mereka sudah mencecah peringkat pra matang dan secara konsisten dapat beraksi di peringkat kompetitif.

‘‘Pada usia 23 tahun, pemain sepatutnya sudah mampu meletakan nama sebagai pemain utama skuad senior dan usia 23 hingga 29 tahun adalah tempoh terbaik dalam karier kerana mereka telah memiliki keupayaan dan kematangan,’’ katanya.

Brazil Ratah Uruguay

MEXICO CITY: Brazil tidak berdepan masalah manakala Argentina dipaksa bekerja keras, tetapi dua pasukan utama Amerika Latin itu berjaya meraih kemenangan penting kelmarin untuk semakin hampir mengesahkan tempat dalam Piala Dunia 2010 di Afrika Selatan.

Juara lima kali Piala Dunia, Brazil mudah meratah Uruguay 4-0 menerusi gol Daniel Alves, Juan, Luis Fabiano dan Kaka untuk memberikan kemenangan pertama buat Brazil dalam tempoh 33 tahun dalam perlawanan kelayakan di ibu negara Uruguay, Montevideo.

Argentina meraih kemenangan 1-0 di Buenos Aires menentang Colombia, hasil jaringan Daniel Diaz pada minit ke-56.

Keputusan itu tidak memberangsangkan, tetapi ia adalah peningkatan daripada kekalahan memalukan 6-1 pada April di Bolivia, kekecewaan pertama sejak Diego Maradona dinamakan sebagai jurulatih bagi juara dua kali Piala Dunia itu pada November.

Dengan kebanyakan pasukan sudah bermain 13 perlawanan dalam kumpulan kelayakan 18 perlawanan di mana empat pasukan teratas melayakkan diri ke Piala Dunia, Brazil dan Paraguay masing-masing mempunyai 24 mata disusuli Chile (23), Argentina (22) dan Uruguay (17).

Selepas itu, Venezuela (16), Colombia (14), Ecuador (14 dengan satu perlawanan dalam tangan), Bolivia (12) dan Peru (tujuh dengan satu perlawanan dalam tangan).

Pasukan tangga kelima berdepan playoff dengan pasukan tempat keempat daripada rantau Amerika Utara, Tengah dan Caribbean.

Selepas keputusan seri tanpa jaringan yang menyaksikan Colombia banyak menguasai perlawanan, Maradona mengubah Argentina daripada pertahanan tiga pemain kepada empat pemain, dengan memasukkan Javier Zanetti.

Sepakan percuma daripada bintang Barcelona, Lionel Messi tujuh minit selepas rehat terkena palang, tetapi pertahanan Getafe, Diaz menjaringkan gol beberapa minit kemudian dengan rembatan kaki kanan selepas Martin Demichelis menanduk sepakan penjuru Veron. - AP

Manchester Transfer List

Fraizer Campbell - Manchester United (PA)

Players

• Daniel Simpson
• Darron Gibson
• Fraizer Campbell

According to a report in the British tabloid The Daily Mirror, Premier League champions Manchester United have transfer-listed Frazier Campbell, Darron Gibson and Danny Simpson.

Apparently, manager Alex Ferguson has notified the trio that they are free to search for new employers this summer.

It is thought that United are hoping to raise around £10 million from the sales.

England under-21 international Campbell spent the 2008/09 season on loan at Tottenham Hotspur, but having scored just three goals in 22 appearances, it is unlikely he will be returning to White Hart Lane.

Rather, it appears that Hull City, for whom the 21-year-old striker scored 15 goals during a season-long loan in 2007/08, are favourites to land him with a bid in the region of £5m.

Five-time capped Republic of Ireland international midfielder Gibson, meanwhile, is being linked with Premier League newcomers Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Twenty-two-year-old Simpson does not appear to have convinced Blackburn Rovers to sign him following a loan spell at Ewood Park last season, but Birmingham City and Newcastle United are thought to be keeping tabs on the £1m-rated right-back.

Ricky Brooks, Goal.com

Kaka Is Belong To Real Madrid

AC Milan general manager and vice-president Adriano Galliani has ruled out any chance of Chelsea signing Kaka this summer, insisting it's a case of moving to Real Madrid or staying at the San Siro.

Kaka: Madrid or Milan only.

Reports on Wednesday evening suggested Chelsea had tried to usurp Real with a bid of £73.5m, but that has been denied by all parties. And now Galliani claims there is no chance of a move to the Premier League for Brazil star Kaka, or his compatriot Alexander Pato.

With doubts over the deal for Kaka it was suggested new Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti would instead try to take Pato with him to Stamford Bridge. But it appears Milan are adamant that the only person making the switch from Milan to London will be their former coach.

Milan seem certain to complete a deal which will see the 27-year-old Kaka head to the Bernabeu, with the money on the table too good to turn down for a club which has been losing €70m a season. Real are expected to pay €65m.

Galliani told Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport: "An agreement with Chelsea could not exist. Kaka goes to Real or he remains at Milan.

"That is his choice and we are doing everything in complete agreement. Negotiations (with Real) do exist, but an agreement is not done.

"In January, Kaka didn't want to go to Manchester City. Instead he would go to Madrid.

"He has been here six years and won everything there is to win. Milan can not go on losing €70m a year. The motivation behind Kaka's sale would be economical."

Galliani insisted 19-year-old superstar Pato is not for sale, though.

He said: "There is a negotiation for Kaka, but none of our other key men are for sale. That includes (Alexandre) Pato, (Andrea) Pirlo and (Clarence) Seedorf."

The news of Kaka's possible departure has angered Milan supporters, but Galliani said: "I want to calm the fans. It's not that by selling Kaka we will not sign anyone else. If Kaka leaves, a great striker will arrive.''

Milan have long been interested in Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor who is thought to be on his way out at the Emirates.

But when asked if Arsenal forward Emmanuel Adebayor would be the chosen one, Galliani said: "No.''

Owner Silvio Berlusconi insists Kaka will have the final say on his future.

"No decision has been taken yet,'' Berlusconi told TV Station Rai Uno. "On Monday I will speak to Kaka and then I will let you know. The ones that decide the future are always the lads (players), who need to choose where to continue their career and when to put their money aside.

"Players must choose what suits their interests best.''

Real Madrid president Floretino Perez was glad to hear Chelsea claim they would not be making a bid on Wednesday evening.

"This statement is an advantage,'' he added. "If Chelsea are not competing with us it is good news.

"The problem wouldn't be the presentation of Kaka, the problem would be if we are capable of fixing it so he plays for Real Madrid.

"We have good relations with Milan. I'm a friend of (general manager, Adriano) Galliani which will make this agreement easier. Moreover, the player has shown his desire to play for us.''