Groups For 2011 Copa America Announced In La Plata
The 10 CONMEBOL nations plus guests Mexico and Japan were drawn into the three Copa groups in a lavish ceremony, with hosts Argentina having every reason to be pleased with the outcome...
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Group A : Argentina , Bolivia, Colombia , Japan
Group B : Brazil , Paraguay , Ecuador, Venezuela
Group C : Uruguay , Mexico , Chili , Peru
Last edited by reality; 11-12-2010 at 09:02 PM.
Bayern Munich's Bastian Schweinsteiger is close to making a decision on his future.
The playmaker, who has previously been linked to Manchester United, is out of contract in June 2012 and has yet to commit to the German champions.
He expects to decide his future once the winter break begins just before Christmas and a major influence in his decision-making is a desire for Champions League success.
"My goal is to win the Champions League and I've always said that I can do that at other clubs," Schweinsteiger told German television channel Sport1.
If Schweinsteiger does decide his future lies elsewhere, Bayern may consider selling him at the end of the season, rather than risk losing him on a free transfer.
But, on the positive side, the 26-year-old believes Bayern are heading in the right direction under current boss Louis van Gaal, who took the club to the Champions League final last season and won the domestic double.
He added: "Yes, I am leaning towards a decision (about my future).
"Bayern's footballing skills have developed greatly in the last year, which was nice to see."
Regarding Van Gaal, he added: "Last season, we have seen how far he can bring on a team. I hope he stays at Bayern for a long time. He works well with the club."
Bayern have already extended the contract of defender Philipp Lahm until 2016 and the German giants are hoping to offer Schweinsteiger a similar deal.
Every flight begins with a fall.
Andy Carroll, Jay Bothroyd, Chris Smalling and Jordan Henderson have earned England calls for the France friendly.
Fabio Capello has handed the quartet their opportunity as part of a much-changed squad to tackle the 2006 World Cup runners-up.
Although Carroll and Henderson had been heavily tipped for inclusion, it is more of a shock that Bothroyd and Smalling have been picked.
In total, there are nine new faces from the squad Capello initially announced for last month's Euro 2012 qualifier, including Manchester City full-back Micah Richards, who has never played a game for the Italian.
Arsenal duo Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs have been selected, while some big names miss out, including Joe Cole, although Liverpool team-mate Glen Johnson has only just recovered from a groin injury.
Kevin Davies has also been omitted, which seems a bit harsh on the Bolton skipper, who made his debut against Montenegro last month and excelled in front of Capello against Tottenham last week.
However, Capello has decided to go with youth for the first of two friendlies before England's next competitive game, against Wales at the Millennium Stadium on March 26.
And that would mean a return home for Bothroyd if he were to be involved as the striker presently plays his club football for Cardiff in the Championship.
Not since David Nugent - then of Preston - scored in a 3-0 win over Andorra in Barcelona in March 2007 has a Championship player been capped by England.
However, the first hints that Bothroyd was under consideration came a couple of weeks ago, since when the 28-year-old, who has previously played for Coventry, Charlton and Wolves, and also had a short spell in Italy with Perugia, has maintained his impressive form.
The Islington-born player has now scored in Cardiff's last seven games and took his overall tally for the season to 15 with a double at Scunthorpe this afternoon.
Yet the mere fact Capello is having to dip into English football's second tier - even to a club that seems bound for the Premier League - is an indication of how weak his depth of strikers is once injuries take hold, as they have done this time around with the absences of Wayne Rooney, Darren Bent, Jermain Defoe and Bobby Zamora.
Carroll would certainly appear to be a better bet for the future and Capello saw the burly Newcastle man score the winner at Arsenal last weekend.
"It would be a very proud moment for this football club," said Magpies boss Chris Hughton earlier today when asked about the 21-year-old's impending selection.
"For a young man himself, to have the opportunity to represent his country, particularly with the amount of quality strikers there are around, then it would be a very proud day for him and the club."
Given Capello's preference to lead the attacking line with a bigger striker, Carroll has a decent chance of starting on Wednesday, where he would probably be supported by either Gabriel Agbonlahor or Steven Gerrard.
There was also joy in another part of the north-east as the progress Henderson has made with Sunderland was recognised.
It would appear Capello has received positive reports from Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce about both Henderson and Smalling, who has enjoyed an impressive first few months at Old Trafford, even if being introduced as a substitute striker at Aston Villa this afternoon must have been a first.
On the day he publicly complained about the lack of recognition he has received from Capello, Richards now gets a chance to add to the 12 caps he won under Steve McClaren, even though he has lost his first-team place at Manchester City.
The same is also true of Joleon Lescott. But the former Everton star keeps his place and with Phil Jagielka also available after impressive performances in England's opening two Euro 2012 qualifiers in September, the make-up of Capello's defence on Wednesday will be interesting as Rio Ferdinand and John Terry have also been picked.
Every flight begins with a fall.
Wednesday 17 Nov , 2010
09:30pm Russia v Belgium
10:30pm Bulgaria v Serbia
10:30pm Argentina v Brazil
11:00pm Egypt v Australia
12:00am Sweden v Germany
12:45am Denmark v Czech
12:45am Switzerland v Ukraine
01:00am Netherlands v Turkey
01:00am Italy Romania
01:00am South Africa v USA
01:15am Northern Ireland v Morocco
01:30am England v France , Live on SONY PIX
02:30am Portugal v Spain
05:15am Chile v Uruguay
All timings are in IST