Puyol Ruled Out for Spain Friendly Against England

Barcelona skipper has been reported will be absent in mid-week international match Spain versus England after picking up injury in Barcelona's win versus Sporting Gijon on Sunday match. Puyol was substituted in the second half after he complained of a pain in his leg.

Spains coaching staff were informed and Spanish national team coach, Vicente Del Bosque, must decide whether to call-up a replacement or stick with his announced team at Friday.

Del Bosque can still choose from Carlos Marchena and Raul Albiol (Valencia), Juanito(Betis) or Sergio Ramos(Real Madrid) to play in the middle.

Sergi Busquets and Gerard Pique of Barcelona were the most notable new names in the Spain squad announced by coach Vicente del Bosque. The match in Seville on Wednesday will also herald the returns from injury of Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta and Valencia's David Silva.

At the England squad not much surprise with the name of David Beckham, but Rooney is out and Heskey is in.

Spain Squad:
Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Jose Reina (Liverpool)

Defenders: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Juanito (Real Betis), Alvaro Arbeloa (Liverpool), Raul Albiol, Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal)

Midfielders: Andres Iniesta, Sergi Busquets, Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona), Xabi Alonso, Albert Riera (Liverpool), David Silva (Valencia), Santi Cazorla, Marcos Senna (Villarreal)

Forwards: David Villa (Valencia), Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), Daniel Guiza (Fenerbahce)


England squad

Goalkeepers: R Green (West Ham), J Hart (Man City), D James (Portsmouth).

Defenders: W Bridge (Man City), A Cole (Chelsea), R Ferdinand (Man Utd), P Jagielka (Everton), G Johnson (Portsmouth), J Terry (Chelsea), M Upson (West Ham), L Young (Villa).

Midfielders: D Beckham (AC Milan), G Barry (Villa), M Carrick (Man Utd), S Downing (Middlesbrough), F Lampard (Chelsea), J Milner (Villa), S Wright-Phillips (Man City), A Young (Villa).

Strikers: G Agbonlahor (Villa), C Cole (West Ham), P Crouch (Portsmouth), E Heskey (Villa).

(glc,ffc,idc)

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Tony Adams Sacked

Forza Soccer - Portsmouth has confirmed the contract termination of Tony Adams, current manager. After take the hot seat from Harry Redknapp medio October 2008 after being as assistant, because when Adams got the job the Pompey at european zone, but now too close to the relegation zone of Premier League.

Director of Youth, Paul Hart will be a caretaker until new manager is appointed. First team coach, John Metgod also reported leave the Fratton Park.

Portsmouth priority to remain as a top club as deduct Paul Hart's position because he have joined the club for two years said a club spokes person. Portsmouth record under Tony Adams is 21 games with 4 wins, 5 draws and losing 11. (glc,pfc)

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Lippi Leaves Del Piero and Cassano Against Brazil

Forza Soccer - Marcello Lippi has announced his squad against Brazil without the names of Del Piero and Cassano. Andrea Pirlo and Gigi Buffon make a come-back after being absent from injury. Also Aquilani, Di Natale and Milan's Zambrotta return after not played in last friendly.

There's also no place for the living legend Paolo Maldini despite the Milan's defender has announced his comeback at Milan Channel interview. Paolo Maldini has promised millions of Azzuri fans around the world that he will wear the famous Italian jersey before he finally decides to hang up his boots.

Italy will be playing a friendly match against Brazil at Emirates Stadium, London.

The Squadra of Azzuri:
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Marco Amelia (Palermo), Morgan De Sanctis (Galatasaray)

Defenders: Daniele Bonera (Milan), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Andrea Dossena (Liverpool), Alessandro Gamberini (Fiorentina), Fabio Grosso (Olympique Lyonnais), Nicola Legrottaglie (Juventus), Gianluca Zambrotta (Milan);

Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani (Roma), Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Simone Pepe (Udinese), Simone Perrotta (Roma), Andrea Pirlo (Milan);

Strikers: Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal), Luca Toni (Bayern Munich).

(glc,gzc)

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Christian Poulsen's Last-Minute Makes Juventus over Milan to Second Position

Forza Soccer - A goal by Poulsen in injury time allows Juventus to beat Catania at the Angelo Massimino 2-1, to overcome AC Milan in the standings (get drawn with Reggina), and remain in the wake of Inter. Yet it was well placed for people of Ranieri that, after it took the lead, were forced to play for almost eighty minutes with a man less.

In the area well Roma Champions (winner against Genoa) and Fiorentina, which is dangerously close to Milan, with the team to Gasperini. In the relegation zone, 1-1 in Torino and Chievo, Bologna defeated the evil 1-0 in Udine.

CAGLIARI - ATALANTA 0-1

The miracles of Cagliari encounters many difficulties against Atalanta. To aggravate the situation with a 40 ', the second yellow remedied by a slightly Lopez' too rude on Cagliari. I rossoblù, remained in ten, are unrecognizable the race is always on hand all'Atalanta that the 65’ inevitably ahead with a shot from a distance of Cigarini that deviated from Canini, becomes impregnable to Marchetti. The Cagliari tries to rearrange the ideas but not the day.

CAGLIARI (4-3-1-2): Marchetti; Pisano, Lopez, Bianco, Agostini; Fini (72' Lazzari), Conti, Biondini (82' Larrivey); Cossu (43' Canini); Jeda, Acquafresca.

Substitute: Aresti, Matheu, Parola, Astori. Coach: Allegri

ATALANTA (4-4-1-1): Consigli; Garics, Talamonti (51' Capelli), Manfredini, Bellini; Ferreira Pinto, Cigarini , Guarente (87' Parravicini), Padoin (46’ Valdes); Doni; Floccari. Substitute: Coppola, Peluso, Defendi, Plasmati. Coach: Del Neri

Referee: Tozzi

Goal : 21' st Cigarini.

CATANIA - JUVENTUS 1-2

Juventus, forced to win to not lose sight of the Inter, begins very well. Surprisingly Ranieri not host Del Piero from the first minute, preferring the French also Iaquinta David Trezeguet. Two new midfield to the front bianconero: Tiago instead of Poulsen, Camoranesi instead of Marchionni. In Catania there Ledesma, injured, and is ready to debut the new purchasing power, with Silvestre returns to the center of defense.

The pressure is expressed in 10 'when Iaquinta pushing Stovini in area, off a perfect and brings the advantage Juventus. All easy, then? Not at all because Iaquinta ever decides to complicate the afternoon the Old Lady’s already . Catania takes the courage and began to push repeatedly. Some decisive interventions Buffon. But it betrays in the second half, when a ball that ends in the foot by not forgiving Morimoto: 1-1. Juventus is bewildered, the Catania wants to win and at least five times as likely to actually do it (there is even a net penalty in favor of men of Zenga, but the referee has did not comply it. In the end, the Catania, after attack is so tired Amauri and sale in the chair, fighting on every ball and lifting by itself the focus of which is the Juventus at 90 'with Poulsen on passage of the Brazilian and plain of a defender, and remains in the wake Inter.

CATANIA (4-4-2): Bizzarri; Potenza (80' Terlizzi), Silvestre, Stovini, Capuano (79' Martinez); Izco (70' Carboni), Baiocco, Biagianti, Tedesco; Mascara, Morimoto. In panchina: Kosicky, Silvestri, Paolucci, Spinesi. Coach : Zenga

JUVENTUS (4-4-2): Buffon; Grygera, Mellberg, Legrottaglie, Molinaro; Camoranesi (51' Marchionni), Tiago (83' Poulsen), Sissoko, Nedved; Iaquinta, Amauri. In panchina: Manninger, Ariaudo, Giovinco, Del Piero, Trezeguet. Coach: Ranieri

Referee: Morganti

Goals: 51' Morimoto; 11' Iaquinta, 91' Poulsen

FIORENTINA - LAZIO 1-0

Fiorentina that does not find the keys to the safe of biancoceleste, nerves are no small danger of being subjected to the goal of Lazio in counterattack. In the second half Prandelli's team seems more determined to make tactical structure of Rossi (three points) gives a balance to Lazio truly significant. Several times to get the chances shot but does not remedy anything good until 90 'when Mutu, with the complicity of Muslera, find the right touch. 1-0 and zone champions docked.

FIORENTINA (4-3-1-2): Frey; Zauri, Gamberini, Dainelli (46' Comotto), Vargas (79' Pasqual); Donadel, Felipe Melo, Kuzmanovic 5 (59' Semioli); Montolivo; Mutu, Gilardino.

Substitute : Avramov, Kroldrup, Mazuch, Bonazzoli. Coach : Prandelli

LAZIO (4-3-3): Muslera; De Silvestri, Rozenhal, Cribari, Kolarov; Brocchi (67' Lichtsteiner), Ledesma (90' Mendicino), Matuzalem; Pandev, Zarate, Foggia (83' Mauri). Substitue: Carrizo, Faraoni, Manfredini, Dabo. Coach : Rossi

Referee :De Marco di Chiavari

Goal: 90' Gilardino

Other Matches :

UDINESE-BOLOGNA 1-0 : 92’ Sanchez

ROMA - GENOA 3-0 : 26' Cicinho, 47'Vucinic, 93' J. Baptista.

SAMPDORIA - SIENA 2-2: 47' Bellucci, 62' Pazzini; 21' Vergassola 80' Maccarone.

TORINO - CHIEVO 1-1 : 64' Ventola, 83' Italiano.

PALERMO-NAPOLI 2-1 : 43’ Hamsik, 2’ Migliaccio, 13’ Simplício

	Team	Point	G	V	N	P	F	S	Diff
1	Inter	53	23	16	5	2	40	16	24
2	Juventus	46	23	14	4	5	38	20	18
3	Milan	45	23	13	6	4	40	23	17
4	Fiorentina	41	23	13	2	8	32	20	12
5	Genoa	40	23	11	7	5	32	22	10
6	Roma	40	23	12	4	7	36	28	8
7	Palermo	35	23	11	2	10	32	29	3
8	Napoli	34	23	10	4	9	31	27	4
9	Cagliari	34	23	10	4	9	30	26	4
10	Atalanta	33	23	10	3	10	28	25	3
11	Lazio	31	23	9	4	10	32	36	-4
12	Udinese	30	23	8	6	9	33	35	-2
13	Siena	26	23	7	5	11	18	24	-6
14	Catania	26	23	7	5	11	21	29	-8
15	Sampdoria	25	23	6	7	10	22	28	-6
16	Bologna	22	23	5	7	11	25	37	-12
17	Lecce	22	23	4	10	9	22	35	-13
18	Torino	19	23	4	7	12	23	38	-15
19	Chievo	19	23	4	7	12	16	32	-16
20	Reggina	16	23	3	7	13	20	41	-21

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AC Milan first bid is Rejected

Forza Soccr - AC Milan's first offer for David Beckham have been rejected by Los Angeles Galaxy, the Italian club's chief executive Adriano Galliani said on Saturday. The 33-year-old England midfielder is on loan has said he wants to stay with the Serie A team permanently.

"We made an offer to Galaxy which they have not accepted," Galliani told at Milan's home league game with Reggina."For now we are a long way apart but there is still a month to go," he added.

For technical reasons Beckham's loan is actually until June, meaning Milan can talk to Galaxy outside of the transfer window which closed last Monday.However, there is a written agreement that Becks goes back to the U.S. in March. (rtc)

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