Tim Cahill and James Vaughan are both hoping to return from injury for Everton's UEFA Cup home clash against Larissa on Thursday.
Australian international midfielder Cahill has yet to feature for the first team this season having suffered a metatarsal break in a friendly against Werder Bremen at the end of July.
Indeed he has not played for the Toffees since the game at Sheffield United on March 3 when he picked up the same foot injury first time around.
However, having just missed out on returning for the Merseyside derby, boss David Moyes will check on Cahill's fitness ahead of the opening group game against the Greek side at Goodison Park.
Striker Vaughan is also in line to feature after recovering from a shoulder operation and three-month lay-off having dislocated the joint at Preston in a pre-season clash, while midfielder Thomas Gravesen is fit following a recent knee injury.
22 October 2007
Italy are dominating the Golden Ball list of 50 candidates with eight players, while Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona each contributed seven names on the list.
- Golden Ball 2007 nominees:
Éric Abidal (Olympique Lyon, FC Barcelona)
Daniel Alves (FC Sevilla)
David Beckham (Real Madrid, Los Angeles Galaxy)
Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham)
Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus Turin)
Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid)
Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)
Petr Cech (Chelsea)
Rogerio Ceni (Sao Paulo)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Deco (FC Barcelona)
Mahamadou Diarra (Real Madrid)
Diego (Werder Bremen)
Didier Drogba (Chelsea)
Michael Essien (Chelsea)
Samuel Eto'o (FC Barcelona)
Francesc Fabregas (Arsenal)
Gennaro Gattuso (Milan)
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
Ryan Giggs (Manchester United)
Thierry Henry (Arsenal, FC Barcelona)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter)
Filippo Inzaghi (Milan)
Kaka (Milan)
Frederic Kanoute (FC Sevilla)
Miroslav Klose (Werder Bremen, Bayern Munchen)
Younis Mahmoud (Algharafa)
Paolo Maldini (Milan)
Florent Malouda (Olympique Lyon, Chelsea)
Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)
Shunsuke Nakamura (Celtic Glasgow)
Guillermo Ochoa (America Mexico)
Andrea Pirlo (Milan),
Ricardo Quaresma (FC Porto),
Raul (Real Madrid)
Franck Ribery (Olympique Marseille, Bayern Munchen),
Juan Roman Riquelme (Boca Juniors, Villarreal)
Robinho (Real Madrid)
Ronaldinho (FC Barcelona)
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
Paul Scholes (Manchester United)
Clarence Seedorf (Milan)
Carlos Tevez (West Ham, Manchester United)
Luca Toni (Fiorentina, Bayern Munchen)
Kolo Toure (Arsenal)
Jose Fernando Torres (Atletico Madrid, Liverpool)
Francesco Totti (AS Roma)
Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid)
Robin van Persie (Arsenal)
David Villa (Valencia)
18 October 2007
Werder Bremen have extended the contract of head coach Thomas Schaaf.
The new deal was announced on the club's website on Thursday.
The statement read: "Head coach Thomas Schaaf on Thursday extended his relationship with Werder Bremen a further two years until 2010."
Schaaf, who led Bremen to the 2003-4 Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double, was delighted with the deal.
He told the club website: "We want to win something else, achieve something else. Despite the greater competition in the Bundesliga, we want to be at the top and to play constantly in the Champions League."
Schaaf took the reins of the club back in 1999 and led the club to the DFB-Pokal in his first season in charge.
The club's director of sport, Klaus Allofs, revealed negotiations had been under way for a while.
"It took such a long time because we had a turbulent start to the season and something was always getting in the way," said Allofs, alluding to Werder's severe injury problems at the start of the campaign.
"Now, in quieter times, we have been able to work out the details."
12 October 2007
Juventus are watching Werder Bremen's Brazilian starlet Diego and considering a January swoop, according to reports in the peninsula.
The 22-year-old midfielder has already represented the Selecao 24 times and has dazzled fans in Germany's Bundesliga, where he was Spetember's Player of the Month.
The Bianconeri have made an impressive start to the campaign, but many believe they are lightweight in the middle as Tiago Mendes is yet to shine.
As contract talks with captain Alessandro Del Piero continue to stutter, speculation that the Old Lady could turn to a younger alternative increases.
Ex-Porto man Diego is under contract at the Weserstadion until 2011, but he has a rescission clause that could be activated if one of Europe's giants such as Juve made an approach.
According to Tuttosport, the Cadetti champions have had scouts watching Diego and are ready to fight Real Madrid for his signature.
While the asking price is likely to be astronomical, one factor that points to a move to Serie A is that Diego has Italian citizenship in addition to his Brazilian passport.
11 October 2007
Ivan Klasnic has returned to first team training with Werder Bremen for the first time since his kidney transplant seven months ago.
The Croatian international striker is striving to make a comeback to Bundesliga action for Werder- and is targeting a possible return in 10 days when Bremen face Hertha Berlin.
The 27 year old has been working tirelessly over the past months to regain his fitness and make a comeback for the 'green and whites'.
'We have been working intensively. I don't have any pain, and there are no other problems' he explained.
Klasnic also sent out a message to Werder trainer Thomas Schaaf saying, 'I'm waiting for the trainer's signal. If he is happy, then I'm ready and able to play.'
'To make a return to playing would be the fulfilment of my dream' Klasnic explained.
Schaaf however is keen to make sure his striker is absolutely ready before taking any chances.
11 October 2007
Having lost Tim Borowski to injury, German coach Joachim Loew will also have to do without two more midfielders for Saturday's clash with Ireland at Croke Park.
The Werder Bremen midfielder pulled out with a back injury and he has been joined on the sidelines by Bernd Schneider and Roberto Hilbert.
The team's general manager, Oliver Bierhoff, said yesterday that they are unlikely to call up any replacements.
"We have enough players already in the roster to take their place," said Bierhoff.
The Germans, who need one point to qualify for Euro 2008, were already missing several stars.
Miroslav Klose has re-injured his right knee and Michael Ballack is recover-ing from an ankle operation.
Also missing are defenders Philipp Lahm and Christian Pander and midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger.
After the game in Croke Park, Germany return home to play the Czech Republic in Munich four days later.
With only one point needed from the last four games, the Germans already have started planning for next year's tournament.
The team's coaching staff met with a group of more than 30 players late Tuesday to give them individual preparation plans. The group included players who are not on the current squad but are considered close to getting a call-up.
Loew, however, is deter-mined to gain the necessary point as soon as possible and, as England found out on the last two occasions they faced them as Wembley, Germany are well-equipped to spoil a party in front of an expectant home crowd.
"I will look each player in the eyes and make it clear to them that they have a genuine chance of playing at Euro 2008," he said.
However, there is some consternation in Germany over the make up of Loew's squad with Hannover striker Mike Hanke dumbfounded by the coach's decision to pick second division striker Patrick Helmes ahead of him.
Hanke has not been included in the squad for the matches with the Republic of Ireland and Cyprus.
Loew has again favoured Cologne striker Helmes, despite the fact he has scored just two goals in the second tier this season.
"I don't want to even comment on the fact that Helmes has been called up and not me," Hanke said. "You can interpret that which ever way you want."
05 October 2007
Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari made six changes to the Portugal squad Friday ahead of two must-win European championship qualifying games.
Scolari, who will be absent from the bench for both games because of a UEFA ban, recalled Ricardo Carvalho of Chelsea and Sporting's Tonel to bolster a defense that conceded late goals in consecutive home draws against Poland and Serbia.
The Brazilian coach dropped Juventus' Tiago Mendes and Armando Petit of Benfica to make way for midfielders Duda of Sevilla and Sporting's Miguel Velosa ahead of games at Azerbaijan on Sept. 13 and Kazakhstan on Sept. 17. Midfielder Raul Mereiles of FC Porto and Stuttgart defender Fernando Meira were also added.
Scolari earned a reduced two-month ban on Thursday for scuffling with defender Ivica Dragutinovic at the end of Portugal's 1-1 draw with Serbia on Sept. 12. Scolari is barred from the bench until Nov. 20, meaning he can return for the team's last Euro 2008 qualifier against Finland on Nov. 21, which he would have missed under an original four-match ban.
Poland leads Group A with 21 points, two ahead of Finland. Portugal is third with 17 points but has played one less game than the top two. Serbia is fourth with 16 points.
Portugal beat both Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan 3-0 in the home leg.
Defenders: Miguel Monteiro (Valencia), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), Jose Bosingwa (FC Porto), Fernando Meira (Stuttgart), Bruno Alves (FC Porto), Tonel (Sporting)
Forwards: Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen), Nuno Gomes (Benfica)
05 October 2007
Werder Bremen midfielders Torsten Frings and Tim Borowski are back in Germany's squad for the upcoming European Championship qualifiers against Ireland and the Czech Republic, but striker Miroslav Klose and captain Michael Ballack are still missing.
Klose has re-injured his right knee and Ballack is still recovering from an ankle operation. The Chelsea midfielder has not played since April. Klose leads the Bundesliga with eight goals for Bayern Munich.
Also missing are defenders Philipp Lahm of Bayern Munich and Christian Pander of Schalke and Stuttgart midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger.
Frings and Borowski return after missing the start of the season with knee injuries. Also back is Werder defender Clemens Fritz.
Stuttgart striker Mario Gomez is also back in the 22-man roster announced by coach Joachim Loew on Friday. Gomez missed last month's qualifier against Wales and the friendly against Romania.
Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann is in the squad although he hasn't played for more than a month because of an elbow injury.
Germany leads Group D with 22 points from eight games. The Czechs have 20 points from nine games and Ireland 14, also from nine games.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Timo Hildebrand (Valencia), Jens Lehmann (Arsenal)
Defenders: Gonzalo Castro (Bayer Leverkusen), Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Manuel Friedrich (Bayer Leverkusen), Clemens Fritz (Werder Bremen), Marcell Jansen (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Christoph Metzelder (Real Madrid)
Midfielders: Tim Borowski (Werder Bremen), Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen), Roberto Hilbert (Stuttgart), David Odonkor (Betis Sevilla), Simon Rolfes (Bayer Leverkusen), Bernd Schneider (Bayer Leverkusen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburger SV)
Forwards: Mario Gomez (Stuttgart), Patrick Helmes (Cologne), Stefan Kiessling (Bayer Leverkusen), Kevin Kuranyi (Schalke 04), Lukas Podolski (Bayern Munich)
04 October 2007
Fabio Cannavaro praised Lazio for their performance, but admits 'lazy' Real Madrid have much to learn about team spirit and defending as a unit.
'Lazio played a great game and we didn't do too well, as we should not have left so much space and were lucky they didn't make the most of that,' he said after the 2-2 draw at the Olimpico.
'I have been playing in Spain for a year and there are differences. You defend less as a unit and more as individuals, so you get a lot of one-against-one or even two-against-one. This is their mentality and that is tough to change, even though we tried last season.'
Fabio Capello won the Liga title with Real, but was fired because his style of play was not considered to be entertaining enough.
Cannavaro was one of the few imports requested by Capello that remained at the club and he revealed the difficulties he has to deal with in Madrid.
'I always tell them to help out the defence, as the important thing in a team is balance and everyone fighting together,' he told Sky Italia television.
'I can't ask Ruud van Nistelrooy and Raul to work in defence, but I can tell them to adjust their position slightly during the difficult times when we are under pressure. When you are on the field with attacking midfielders like Wesley Sneijder, Guti and Arjen Robben, they get lazy and focus more on the attack rather than coming back to help out. We do discuss these things.'
Gabriel Heinze was used as Cannavaro's central defensive partner in that Champions League encounter.
'We have had injuries to Pepe and Metzelder, while we needed a bit more attacking flair down the right with Sergio Ramos, so Heinze was chosen to partner me in the centre. We have a large squad and the Coach likes to change regularly so everyone gets a rest.'
Real Madrid now share top spot in Group C with Olympiacos, who won 3-1 away to Werder Bremen, on four points. Lazio have two points, Werder are yet to get off the mark.
04 October 2007
A jubilant Lomana LuaLua admitted feeling "proud to be a part of history" after he and his Olympiacos CFP team-mates lifted their UEFA Champions League away-day curse at Werder Bremen on Wednesday.
The Greek champions had gone a remarkable 31 games in the competition without a win away from their Piraeus base, and they would have been forgiven for fearing the worst when Hugo Almeida gave Bremen a deserved lead with just over half an hour gone.
Instead, they stepped up their efforts after the break and completed a remarkable 3-1 triumph, with Ieroklis Stoltidis, Christos Patsatzoglou and Darko Kovačević rattling in a goal apiece in the last 17 minutes.
"That's what I love about this side," explained LuaLua, a summer signing from Portsmouth FC.
"There's great team spirit here. We never let our heads drop when we went behind and we kept believing. We're a new team in that there's a lot of players still getting to know each other, but we all know what this result means. The atmosphere was great in the changing room after the whistle and people have been telling me how long this record lasted. We've made history and I'm really proud to be a part of it."
Already familiar with the competition from his spell at Newcastle United FC, the DR Congo forward had a goal disallowed and constantly harried Bremen's back line in the second half.
"We decided we needed to press them more after half-time," he said. "That's what made the difference. We pushed up and didn't give them any time on the ball. Plus, we heard our supporters screaming in the stands and that made us give 120 per cent. When you think about how far they've travelled despite our record away from home, we couldn't let them down."
Next up for the Group C leaders is a trip to Real Madrid CF on 24 October, and their 26-year-old marksman would love nothing more than to make it two away victories out of two.
"That's a match I'm really looking forward to," he grinned. "One of the reasons I came to Olympiacos was games like that. You always want to face teams like Real Madrid because they're one of the best sides in the world, but we really believe we can beat anyone. We've already shown we can win away from home so why not?"
