European action kicks off for the year today as David Beckham’s AC Milan and a strong contingent of English and French clubs restart their attempt to deny UEFA Cup holders Zenit St Petersburg a consecutive title.
AC Milan’s loss to rivals Inter on Sunday to lose touch in Italy may galvanize Carlo Ancelotti’s men in the last 32 of this second-tier club competition, while Aston Villa might be stung into action after defeat in the FA Cup.
Turks Galatasaray should be motivated in their trip to Bordeaux knowing the May 20 final is in Istanbul, while AC Milan’s evergreen defender Paolo Maldini, who turns 41 in June, has a chance for one last European hurrah after a glittering career with the Rossoneri. AC Milan’s fixture at Werder Bremen today pits two coaches, Ancelotti and Thomas Schaaf, who started the European Cup semi-final, first leg in Germany as players in the 1988-1989 season, which ended goalless. The Marco van Basten-inspired Milan went on to lift the trophy. Villa, part of an English contingent also including Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur still in the UEFA Cup, might be worth an outside bet for the title.
PHOTO: AFP
Though Martin O’Neill’s Villa lost to Everton in the Cup at the weekend, they are now third in the Premiership, having broken up England’s elite top four and had seven players in Fabio Capello’s England squad for last week’s 2-0 friendly loss in Spain.
Media pundit and former Scotland international Pat Nevin said, however, that O’Neill would be hungrier to win silverware in the UEFA Cup than league glory.
“If you are a Villa fan it would be extraordinary. Ask them what they want, fourth in the league or a piece of silverware they can look back on? In 20 years’ time what will people remember? It is the trophy every time,” he said.
Meanwhile, Marseille midfielder Karim Ziani has a groin injury that rules him out of their home match against Dutch club FC Twente tomorrow, the club said.
The Algerian international had to be replaced just before half-time in Eric Gerets’ side’s 1-0 victory at Monaco on Sunday. Defender Julien Rodriguez is also doubtful with a foot injury, Gerets told the press, and a decision on his inclusion would be taken jointly by the player and medical staff.
The other central defender Vitorino Hilton looks set to miss out on UEFA Cup action after being told to take 48 hours rest after injuring an ankle on Sunday, while veteran striker Sylvain Wiltord has a knee knock. Gerets has the good news that striker Mamadou Niang will be in the squad for the first time since fracturing his foot at the beginning of December.
Paris Saint Germain host VfL Wolfsburg today while the other French team, St Etienne, the 1976 European Cup runners-up, play at Greeks Olympiakos with a possible meeting with AC Milan in the next round. Defending champions St Petersburg host Stuttgart today as they continue their attempt to become only the third team to successfully defend the trophy after Real Madrid in 1986 and Sevilla in 2007.
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was