LOMIC TO START TRAINING WITH DYNAMO ON FRIDAY

Several hours after Serbia’s Marko Lomic signed a three-year contract with Dynamo, the Moscow club’s newcomer answered sport press questions.


"First of all I would like to thank Dynamo management for a chance to play in this great club", the 26-year-old said. "I will do my best to gain my peak form as soon as possible and justify people’s expectations".

"When I found out about Dynamo’s interest in my candidature, I talked to Milos Krasic and Marko Basa, who told me a lot of good things about this club. Besides the Russian team Lazio also expressed their interest in my services, so my friends’ recommendations played decisive role in my decision".

"I will need to return to Belgrade for a couple of days on Tuesday, because on Friday I will begin training with Dynamo. To my mind I will need two weeks to gain good form, and maybe I will be able to play in a friendly match with Monaco on 28 July".

NETHERLANDS PREPARED FOR URUGUAY

Forty years in the making, the Netherlands are within two victories of eliminating the anguish of never capturing the World Cup.


Though the great Clockwork Orange sides of the 1970's, led by the legendary Johan Cruyff, shook the foundations of the sport with "Totaalvoetbal", they succumbed in the finals of the 1974 and 1978 World Cup. Going through a dark period in the 1980's, the following decade under Guus Hiddink the Netherlands came within a penalty shoot-out loss to Brazil in the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup. As Bert van Marwijk's side face Uruguay on Tuesday evening in Cape Town’s Green Point Stadium in the World Cup semi finals, they have a chance to avenge the demons of the past and forever put their footprint on the great history of Dutch football.

The 2010 version of the Oranje is packed with talent including, Wesley Sneijder, Dirk Kuyt and playmaker extraordinaire Arjen Robben, with the veteran leadership of Feyenoord’s Giovanni van Bronckhorst. While they advanced almost sheepishly in the group stages, their victory over Brazil in the quarterfinals established a professional aplomb that has been rarely been seen this World Cup. Bayern München’s Arjen Robben is playing with cunning vision and confidence, rewarding Bert van Marwijk for his selection despite coming into the competition with a tenuous injury situation. The Dutch tactician will however be challenged without the services of Nigel de Jong and Gregory van der Wiel, who are suspended, with Demy de Zeeuw and Khalid Boulahrouz to likely step into the respective spots.

Uruguay, which tasted the pinnacle of the World Cup sixty years ago with a victory over Brazil have been inspiring but are far from fully stocked cupboard. Óscar Tabárez’s has been a miracle worker with La Celeste but he comes into the contest without Luis Suárez and Jorge Fucile, due to suspension and defender Diego Lugano is looking very unlikely, while Nicolás Lodeiro’s appearance in South Africa is over with a broken foot. Should Diego Lugano be unavailable, Colo-Colo veteran Andrés Scotti will likely be the first choice. Despite these absences and the many mentions of the Netherlands satisfying regrets of the past, Sniper Diego Forlán has been spellbinding and interestingly enough as his own connection to the Clockwork Orange as his father Pablo faced them as a part of Uruguay’s 1974 World Cup side that succumbed to the Dutch 2-0.

Contrary to the pre-match posturing and other nonsense in the media by Argentina’s Diego Maradona before Germany crushed them, both managers are wisely complimentary of their opposition. While Bert van Marwijk has lauded Uruguay for their inspired play noting, "if you see their passion it could serve as an example for us", Óscar Tabárez has not been shy of accolades. Citing the difference to the 2010 Netherlands line-up, the veteran leader underlined their balanced play, technical proficiency with high work rate. Ultimately, with passion and suspense running high on both sides of the pitch, this will prove to be fight to the end.

Prepared by John Davies

POGREBNYAK: I DIDN’T EXPECT THAT GERMANY IS SO STRONG

Stuttgart striker Pavel Pogrebnyak shares his impressions on the World Cup in South Africa.

"Frankly speaking I didn’t expect that Germany would smash Argentina", Pogrebnyak said to sport press. "I knew that Bundesteam is strong, but I didn’t imagine that they are so powerful".

"Their mindset is perfect and all players are perfectly prepared physically. Moreover they always fight until the very end in every episode. It’s also important that all players perform in Bundesleague, that means their football style is familiar to each of them. By the way German championship’s club coefficient was the highest one in Europe last season".

"It’s hard to say who will celebrate victory in Germany vs. Spain head-to-head battle. In general before the tournament I expected Spain to win the gold, but now I don’t know, because Germans are so strong. It will be breath-taking game, and maybe it will end in a draw and winner will be determined in a penalty shootout".

"I liked how Bastian Schweinsteiger played in South Africa, as he leads the whole team. This player and David Villa are the best at the tournament".

"Naturally I recall Russia’s qualifying match against Germany. It’s a pity that we failed to win a spot in World Cup in South Africa".

"I understand that we were beaten by very strong team, and I think Germany is even stronger now. Maybe we were beaten by the future world champions, and at the same time we showed good football against them".

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".