Pro Eleven Headline News
Brazil and Italy set for London showdown
What do you get if you combine a Swiss marketing agency with an Arabian TV channel and a Russian investment company? Answer: The first one-off friendly between the world's most successful football nations in two decades. And it is in London.
Tonight's Emirates friendly between Brazil, five-times World Cup winners, and Italy, four-times champions, is the result of a year's negotiating by Kentaro, the Swiss sports rights agents, who with ART and Renova own the rights to Brazilian friendlies. These games are played overseas because, explained Philipp Grothe, co-owner and joint-CEO of Kentaro, "it is a compromise to the big clubs that players do not have to fly across the Atlantic, there are Brazilian fans all over the world, and it is impossible to generate the same revenue in Brazil."
Brazil have played such outlandish fixtures as Venezuela in Boston, Algeria in Montpellier, Chile in Gothenberg and Turkey in Dortmund, but the Emirates is their favoured venue.
This is Brazil's fourth match at Arsenal's ground, having previously played Argentina, Portugal and Sweden. Grothe said: "London has an event culture, the perfect infrastructure, a relaxed approach to visiting superstars." Apart from the injured Kaka, tonight's sell-out crowd will see the best of both countries with Ronaldinho, Robinho and Alexandre Pato in the Brazilian squad and Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Pirlo and Luca Toni with the Azzurri. Independent
Huntelaar wants to stay at Real Madrid
Real Madrid's Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar denied on Monday Spanish media reports that he wants to leave the club because he was given few chances to play by new coach Juande Ramos.
"There are rumours in some papers that are not true. I am at, and I want to stay at, Real Madrid. It is my goal to win prizes with this beautiful club. I certainly am not thinking of leaving," he said in a message posted on his official website.
The 25-year-old signed a four-year contract with the defending Spanish champions on December 2 from Dutch side Ajax in a deal worth 27 million euros (35 million dollars).
But he has played only one game as a starter since Ramos took over from German coach Bernd Schuster later that month and Spanish sports daily AS reported earlier om Monday that he wanted to leave.
"Juande has no confidence in me. I want to leave Real Madrid. I cannot take it anymore," AS quoted the striker as having told those close to him. AFP
Scolari, Adams sacked
Chelsea on Monday sacked coach Felipe Scolari after falling behind in the English Premier League title race.
Portsmouth also fired coach Tony Adams following the club‘s poor performance in the Premier League.
Chelsea lies fourth in the table, seven points behind Manchester United. The players were booed off the pitch by their own fans at Stamford Bridge following a goalless draw with top-flight new boys Hull on Saturday.
“Unfortunately, the results and performances of the team appeared to be deteriorating at a key time in the season,” a Chelsea statement confirming Scolari’s dismissal said.
“In order to maintain a challenge for the trophies we are still competing for we felt the only option was to make the change now.”
Scolari, the former World Cup winning coach of Brazil, was in his first season at the club owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, and he was sacked with immediate effect.
Adams lost his job in the wake of Saturday’s defeat to Liverpool, which left Portsmouth with just two points from nine matches and on the verge of falling into the Premier League relegation zone.
Portsmouth spokesman said, “The owner and the board feel they have been as supportive as they can during a period where results have been poor. The team has played well but too many points have been dropped from winning positions.
“Notwithstanding the adverse economic conditions the board remains committed to the continued growth and development of the club for the future, building on its achievements of the last three years.” The Punch
International Brazilian soccer player
