KLOSE: SPAIN IS STRONG BUT NOT INVINCIBLE

Bayern Munich striker Miroslav Klose believes that Spain is stronger team than England and Argentina.


The match against Diego Maradona’s team became the 100th game for Klose, and by grabbing a double he joined his compatriot Gerd Muller in the list of top-scorers in history of the World Championships. Now Klose requires only one goal to draw level with Ronaldo as World Cup best-ever goalscorer.

"I talked to Ronaldo after the World Cup 2002 final, but I couldn’t even dream of being in list of top scorers with this great player or even leaving him behind", Klose said at press-conference.

"I plan to score five goals in South Africa and if I manage to score six, I will be very happy".

"The German striker scored five goals at each of two previous World championships, while this time he has already scored four goals in matches against Australia, England and Argentina".

"Atmosphere in the team doesn’t differ from atmosphere after our victory over England, Klose added. It’s important that we fulfilled our plan for the game and proved that our previous wins were not accidental. We are happy, however there is no euphoria in the team".

"Germany suffered a loss to Spain at Euro-2008 final, but I think we shouldn’t compare the past times with our current situation. Teams’ squads change and they can be in different form at the competitions".

"While Spain is still the same than two years ago, German team has many new players in the roster. I hope that new generation will help take revenge upon Spain for our loss in 2008".

"No doubts Spain is stronger than England and Argentina. I watched replay of Spain vs. Paraguay match where our next rivals showed fantastic football. Paraguay looked well too, that means that Spain is not invincible".

"Nobody could predict that Brazil and Argentina would be defeated and Uruguay would be among the best four teams. Though all our thoughts are connected with our own team. We want to advance to the final game and I think we deserve it".

JUVENTUS DON’T CHANGE THEIR POSITION ON KRASIC

Juventus is not ready to change their offer on acquiring CSKA midfielder Milos Krasic.


The Italian club wants to buy the 25-year-old Serbian international for €15 million, as reported by the player’s official representative in Italy Marko Naletilic.

"Krasic told me several times that Juventus is priority variant for him", Naletilic said to sport press. "Position of Italian team is still the same and they are ready to pay particular sum of money for his transfer".

LATE ZYRYANOV GOAL SENS ZENIT PAST ANZHI

A late, albeit fortunate, goal by Konstantin Zyryanov pushed Zenit Saint Petersburg past Anzhi Makhachkala 2-1 at Petrovsky Stadium. With the result, Luciano Spalletti's side take a commanding four-point lead over CSKA Moscow at the top of the table, whilst Anzhi sets at the twelfth spot as the Rosgosstrakh Championship of Russia heads towards week twelve.


In the warm summer afternoon, Zenit pushed forward without notables Danko Lazović, Radek Šírl and Danny available against Gadzhi Gadzhiev’s well-prepared side. After a quiet start to the contest, Zenit Saint Petersburg went in front 1-0 at the quarter-hour as Vladimir Bystrov accepted the ball from Konstantin Zyryanov on the right side of the area and quickly drove the ball past Anzhi 'keeper Nukri Revishvili.

After the goal, Luciano Spalletti's side found the going tough against the determined visitors with the only chance before the break when Alessandro Rosina's corner from the right forced the Anzhi 'keeper into a close-range stop after the ball rattled off the near post.

After the break, the box-to-box play continued as Zenit showed little ability to penetrate Anzhi’s staunch defending. After a modest effort at the fifty-fifth minute when Alexandr Kerzhakov's free kick called the Anzhi 'keeper into action, the momentum shifted in the visitor’s favour. With Zenit clinging to a one-goal advantage and unable to put the match away, Anzhi made them pay with the leveller five minutes past the hour.

After a short corner was pulled back to the flank, Rasim Tagirbekov fought off his marker Nicolas Lombaerts, to head in a left wing cross. Realizing the important victory was slipping away, Luciano Spalletti summoned Viktor Fayzulin at the seventy-forth minute with the highly promising eighteen-year old striker Maxim Kanunnikov to follow five minutes later. Despite their efforts, Gadzhi Gadzhiev’s side were holding Zenit at bay and looked to be in route to a draw until disaster struck with three minutes remaining in regulation time.

Coming via a simple cross into the box, Anzhi 'keeper Nukri Revishvili completely misplayed the ball off the bounce, spilling it out from the line to which veteran Konstantin Zyryanov dutifully sent the gift into the net. In a complete loss of composure, Anzhi's David Tsorayev received his second yellow for dissent, ruling him out of key attacker for their match against Lokomotiv Moscow on Saturday.

For the balance of time, Zenit Saint Petersburg killed off any advances and laid claim to the full three points, albeit somewhat fortuitously, with the 2-1 victory.

KURANYI: I FEEL I AM A PART OF THE TEAM

German man Kevin Kuranyi assesses his teammates’ chances in World Cup quarterfinal match against Argentina.


"Of course I watched Germany’s match against England", Kuranyi told sport press. "Germans deserved this victory and I am happy with their success".

"I feel that I am still a part of the team, because I played with many players from the current squad and they are my friends. I hope that I will perform for Bundesteam again".

"Germany and Argentina stand equal chances to celebrate victory in quarterfinal. Argentineans showed high-class football, while Germans keep their high level too. You know which team I will support on Saturday".

ZENIT LOOK TO KEEP UNBEATEN RUN ALIVE AGAINST ANZHI

After a long hiatus, the Rosgosstrakh Championship of Russia returns to play on Sunday as league leaders Zenit Saint Petersburg make the trip to the North Caucasus region to face Anzhi Makhachkala.


In the make-up match of week eleven, Luciano Spalletti's Saint Petersburg side hold a narrow one-point lead over CSKA and are without a loss this year. Following the Russian Cup victory, Zenit look on a confident course towards the double and showing few notable weaknesses. Though it is easy to poke holes in the less than notable attacking output, with only thirteen goals in ten contests, the well-disciplined play has Zenit poised for European competition.

Clearly, the Italian tactician has prioritized the defending aspect first and as they begin to gel on the attacking front, they will be a formidable unit not simply domestically but have a chance to push deep into the Champions League.

Unsatisfied with the production of Alexandr Kerzhakov, Zenit is said to have agreed to terms to see Alexndr Bukharov arrive from Rubin Kazan in August, seemingly making the former expendable. Though the club has yet to have any formal signings, they are extremely busy in the transfer market and announcements seem imminent.

While the horizon for Zenit is highly optimistic, on Sunday they face a unique test in Makhachkala. Unsure of the availability of Danny, returning from Portugal's disappointing World Cup performance, Zenit should expect a compact defending front from Gadzhi Gadzhiev’s side. Displaying a tough defending front, they held Dynamo to a 1-1 draw in the final match before the break and have recently demonstrated an ability to gut out results.

Knowing they are in the thick of a relegation battle, the veteran leader will not be shy of locking down the contest and forcing Zenit to push forward, thus opening up the counter. Though Zenit is not short on attacking quality, that includes the emergence of Russian U21 striker Maxim Kanunnikov and should come out with the full three points, they will need to be aggressive going forward.

SCHWEINSTEIGER: FAIR PLAY – NOT ABOUT ARGENTINA

Leader of the German national team recollects only negative impressions on their World Cup-2006 quarterfinal match against Argentina, even despite his team won the game in penalty shootout series.


"The first thing which I recall is not the penalty series, but constant provocations from the side of Argentinean players", Schweinsteiger said. "They had been challenging us all the time during the game and asked yellow cards for us every time when they fell down. So I should say that fair play rules are not for Argentina".

"Maybe this situation will repeat on Friday, and the main thing for us is to be able to rests them. Torsten Frings didn’t keep his emotions four years ago and was sent off the pitch. It’s hard to make yourself not to respond to provocations, but there is no other way out".

"If we focus our attention only on Lionel Messi, we will lose at once. It’s necessary to play against the whole team, but not against one player".

"This match will be a fight of tactics, and if our tactics is right, Argentina will be defeated. Messi hasn’t scored any goals at this competition and we will try to leave his statistics the same".

"Number of star players in the national team doesn’t make it winner of the World Cup, because only the team, which is better prepared at crucial moment. Our team is ready for success and the only thing which we lack is experience".

ZAKHAROV: NOTHING STRANGE IN REFEREES’ MISTAKES

Former outstanding referee Igor Zakharov shares his attitude to problems of refereeing at World Cup in South Africa.

"There is nothing surprising that referees make so many mistakes", Russia’s best rereferee-2008 according to sport press voting said. "Teams began playing more aggressively, level of football has grown too and referees’ work becomes more difficult. They make wrong decisions under pressure".

"When Villa netted a goal in the match against Portugal, this moment was difficult and everything depended on position of linesman, maybe he couldn’t see the episode very well. In general I liked how referees worked at this game".

"To my mind we shouldn’t introduce system of video replay to football, because the game will lose its dynamics, and it can also provoke negative behaviour. Moreover referees’ mistakes are part of football, some kind of entertaining, as fans get an opportunity to argue about their decisions".