Brown calling on fans to inspire fightback

4 August 2014 19:04

Scott Brown has called on the Celtic fans to help them turn around their 4-1 deficit against Legia Warsaw in the UEFA Champions League.

In the third qualifying round first leg in Poland last week, Ronny Deila’s men suffered a nightmare result which left their hopes of progressing to the play-off round hanging by a thread.

Cel...

4 August 2014 19:04

Scott Brown has called on the Celtic fans to help them turn around their 4-1 deficit against Legia Warsaw in the UEFA Champions League.

In the third qualifying round first leg in Poland last week, Ronny Deila’s men suffered a nightmare result which left their hopes of progressing to the play-off round hanging by a thread.

Celtic crumbled after taking the lead, conceding four times and having Efe Ambrose sent off, and it could have been much worse for the Scottish champions had Ivica Vrdoljak not missed two penalties for the hosts.

Brown, currently out injured with a torn hamstring, hopes the Celtic faithful will flock in their numbers to Murrayfield to help the team produce a remarkable fightback.

“Wednesday night is going to be a huge game at Murrayfield,” he told the club’s official website.

“The fans, I’m sure, will come out again in their thousands and that’s definitely going to help us.

“It’s going to be hard because we need three goals and we need to show them how good we are. But I believe that we can do it.

“Everyone knows it was a disappointing result and it was hard to take, but we’ve got a chance here to go and put it right and I’m sure we will.”

Last season, Celtic lost 2-0 in Kazakhstan to Shakhter Karagandy, only to turn the tie around with a 3-0 success back on home soil, and Brown is confident of a repeat performance this time around.

“The Shakhter game last season was huge for us,” he said. “We scored three goals and we’re going to need to do it again this week.

“The fans were fantastic in the game against Reykjavik [in the previous round], and I’m sure they’ll create another brilliant atmosphere at Murrayfield on Wednesday.

“Our fans are so important to us, and we’ve seen how they can help put pressure on the opposition, which is what we’ll be looking to do against Legia Warsaw.”

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Everton´s Naismith to donate tickets to unemployed

4 August 2014 18:25

Everton forward Steven Naismith is to donate match tickets to unemployed people in Liverpool.

Scotland international Naismith, who joined the Premier League club from Rangers two years ago, announced his gesture on Monday.

The 27-year-old has purchased tickets to a number of Everton’s home Premier League games in the

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4 August 2014 18:25

Everton forward Steven Naismith is to donate match tickets to unemployed people in Liverpool.

Scotland international Naismith, who joined the Premier League club from Rangers two years ago, announced his gesture on Monday.

The 27-year-old has purchased tickets to a number of Everton’s home Premier League games in the upcoming season with the intention of them being distributed to those living in Liverpool who may not otherwise have the money to watch their team.

“I come from Ayrshire in the west of Scotland and spent a lot of my life in Glasgow – a city that, at times, has suffered from high unemployment,” Naismith explained.

“Liverpool has a similar history and I am aware that, through no fault of their own, there are many unemployed in Liverpool trying hard to find a job who may not be able to afford a ticket.

“I thought this might be a small gesture to help those in that situation to enjoy a day out at one of our league matches.

“Hopefully it can bring some joy to many people.

“I have asked the Jobcentre Plus if they could give the tickets to different job centres across the city each week and select people who are unemployed through no fault of their own, are trying hard to find employment and who would enjoy watching a Premier League match.”

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Morata eyeing Juventus comeback

4 August 2014 18:08

Alvaro Morata has delivered a boost for Juventus with the news he hopes to return ahead of schedule from a knee injury.

The 21-year-old striker was ruled out for seven weeks after suffering a second grade tear of the medial collateral ligament in his left knee during his first training session after moving from Real Madrid.

With

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4 August 2014 18:08

Alvaro Morata has delivered a boost for Juventus with the news he hopes to return ahead of schedule from a knee injury.

The 21-year-old striker was ruled out for seven weeks after suffering a second grade tear of the medial collateral ligament in his left knee during his first training session after moving from Real Madrid.

With the new campaign due to get underway at the end of this month, reports suggested the Serie A champions could be tempted back into the market in the absence of Morata.

However, the Spaniard believes he could return to full training sooner than originally expected.

“My knee is getting better, I’m recovering well,” he told AS TV. “In about 30 or 35 days I will be ready.

“It was a shame about the injury but I’m working with the physios to play again soon.

“Signing for Juventus has been a great joy, I’m really happy with my new team.”

Morata signed a five-year deal with the Turin giants last month after the two clubs agreed a €20million fee.

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Ideye set to join team-mates after receiving visa

4 August 2014 17:48

West Brom’s record signing Brown Ideye can finally link up with his new team-mates after being granted a visa.

The Nigeria striker moved to The Hawthorns from Dinamo Kiev for a fee thought to be in the region of £10million on July 18, but has been unable to join in pre-season training.

Ideye revealed on Sunday that he

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4 August 2014 17:48

West Brom’s record signing Brown Ideye can finally link up with his new team-mates after being granted a visa.

The Nigeria striker moved to The Hawthorns from Dinamo Kiev for a fee thought to be in the region of £10million on July 18, but has been unable to join in pre-season training.

Ideye revealed on Sunday that he was stuck in his homeland while he awaited clearance on the relevant documentation, but it appears that problem has now been resolved.

West Brom retweeted a post from the player’s official Twitter account, which read: “So happy to announce that my visa has been issued, will join the team asap #wba.”

It remains to be seen when Ideye will be thrust into action, with West Brom set to play two more pre-season friendlies against Port Vale on Tuesday and Porto on Saturday.

Alan Irvine’s men host Sunderland in their opening Premier League fixture of the new campaign on August 16.

As well as Ideye, West Brom have also signed the likes of Joleon Lescott, Craig Gardner and Chris Baird during the close-season.

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Santos banned for eight matches

4 August 2014 17:30

FIFA have hit former Greece coach Fernando Santos with an eight-match ban after he was sent off at the World Cup.

The Portuguese was dismissed by Australian referee Ben Williams at the end of extra time of Greece’s last-16 clash with Costa Rica on June 30.

After the game had finished 1-1, Greece were defeated 5-3 on...

4 August 2014 17:30

FIFA have hit former Greece coach Fernando Santos with an eight-match ban after he was sent off at the World Cup.

The Portuguese was dismissed by Australian referee Ben Williams at the end of extra time of Greece’s last-16 clash with Costa Rica on June 30.

After the game had finished 1-1, Greece were defeated 5-3 on penalties, with Santos subsequently leaving his post to end his four-year reign in charge.

On Monday, FIFA announced that Santos had been banned for eight games as a result of his actions in Recife – something that could hamper the 59-year-old in his bid to find new employment.

“Remaining disciplinary cases relating to incidents that took place during the 2014 FIFA World Cup have been decided on by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee and duly communicated to the relevant parties,” a statement from the global governing body read.

“This includes the case involving Greece coach Fernando Manuel Fernandes da Costa Santos, of Portuguese nationality, who was sent off after extra time of the FIFA World Cup match between Costa Rica and Greece on June 29, 2014.

“Fernando Manuel Fernandes da Costa Santos is suspended for eight matches in accordance with art. 19 par. 1 and par. 2 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) after breaching art. 49 par. 1 a) of the FDC for displaying several acts of unsporting conduct towards the match officials.”

FIFA have also sanctioned Italy physio Aldo Esposito, sent from the dugout during the 1-0 loss to Uruguay in their final group stage match – a result that saw the 2006 champions exit the tournament.

“Aldo Esposito is suspended for six matches in accordance with art. 19 par. 1 and par. 2 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) after breaching art. 49 par. 1 a) of the FDC for displaying several acts of unsporting conduct towards the match officials,” the organisation added.

“In both of these cases, all match suspensions imposed by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee shall be served in the next official matches of the “A” representative team for which Fernando Manuel Fernandes da Costa Santos and Aldo Esposito serve as an official, in accordance with art. 38 par. 2 a) in connection with art. 38 par. 5 of the FDC,” the statement continued.

“Both officials have also been fined by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.”

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K.League Preview: Suwon visit leaders Jeonbuk, Pohang welcome Seongnam

4 August 2014 17:21

Suwon Bluewings will attempt to beat the K.League table-toppers for the second game in a row on Wednesday.

Seo Jung-won’s men were comprehensive 4-1 winners at home to Pohang Steelers on Sunday, with Santos Junior helping himself to a double.

Just three days later third-placed Suwon visit the Jeonju World Cup stadium to face

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4 August 2014 17:21

Suwon Bluewings will attempt to beat the K.League table-toppers for the second game in a row on Wednesday.

Seo Jung-won’s men were comprehensive 4-1 winners at home to Pohang Steelers on Sunday, with Santos Junior helping himself to a double.

Just three days later third-placed Suwon visit the Jeonju World Cup stadium to face Jeonbuk Motors, who replaced Pohang at the summit courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Jeonnam Dragons on Sunday.

A further incentive for Suwon is that three points would see them move level with Jeonbuk and with just one loss in eight top-flight matches, the visitors head into the game in high spirits.

The last time Jeonbuk were beaten in the league was by Suwon back in May, so the leaders will be out for revenge on Wednesday.

Jeonbuk’s defeat to Suwon was their only setback in the past 11 K.League outings and only Pohang have defeated them on home soil this season, while no team has conceded fewer goals in the league.

If Jeonbuk slip up then Pohang could reclaim top spot if they overcome Seongnam at the Steelyard Stadium.

Hwang Sun-hong’s charges have failed to win their last two league games, while the visitors are aiming for three points to boost their chances of playing in the championship round.

Jeju United and Jeonnam Dragons will look to close the gap at the top, with the former hosting Sangju Sangmu while the latter entertain Incheon United – who won for just the second time this season against Ulsan last Saturday.

Elsewhere, Seoul could enter the top six if they defeat Ulsan at home and bottom side Gyeongnam welcome fellow strugglers Busan I’Park.

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Osvaldo excited by Inter switch

4 August 2014 16:55

Pablo Daniel Osvaldo hopes a move to Inter can enable him to challenge for a second consecutive Serie A winners’ medal.

The Southampton striker arrived in Milan on Monday as he moved a step closer to securing a return to Italy, having spent the second half of last season on loan with Juventus as Antonio Conte guided them to

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4 August 2014 16:55

Pablo Daniel Osvaldo hopes a move to Inter can enable him to challenge for a second consecutive Serie A winners’ medal.

The Southampton striker arrived in Milan on Monday as he moved a step closer to securing a return to Italy, having spent the second half of last season on loan with Juventus as Antonio Conte guided them to a third Scudetto on the bounce.

With new Southampton boss Ronald Koeman keen to sell the 28-year-old after he failed to report back for pre-season training, Osvaldo is looking ahead to a new challenge.

“I am very happy to be at Inter,” he is quoted as saying by the Gazzetta dello Sport. “Now I have to have my medical before signing, so I don’t want to say too much in case of bad luck.

“I hope to do well with my team-mates, and form a partnership with [Palacio and Icardi] for the sake of Inter.

“The Scudetto? Hopefully.”

Osvaldo, who is Southampton’s record signing, arrived in England from Roma last August but only managed three goals in 13 Premier League appearances before falling out of favour.

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