2010年3月4日星期四
England-Italy final: CapelloPARMA (Italy) - FABIO Capello would be more than happy to face his native Italy in the World Cup final in South Africa this July, the England coach said on Wednesday.
Italy boss Marcello Lippi said last week he wanted the holders to meet England in the final so he could see his counterpart's reaction when the Italian anthem is played.
Capello is up for the challenge. 'I would sign up straight away for an Italy-England final, like Lippi says,' the former AC Milan and Real Madrid coach said during a lecture in sports management at Parma University.
Capello, who refused to discuss the axing of John Terry as England captain after allegations about the player's private life, is enjoying the support of English fans even though he is Italian.
'The main difference between coaching a national squad and a club is that when you coach a national squad you have a nation behind you. And you feel it. You really feel it,' he said before lamenting the recent fan violence again scarring Italian soccer.
'Football's really great when you have people, families, who can go to the stadium with their children (in England). I must say that's beautiful. It's a pity that in Italy, as we saw last Sunday, things are not going as they should in this respect.' -- REUTERS
I am going to look at this from two points of view, the English and the Italian. First of all, I feel that Capello should not be afraid of people going on riots saying that he is scarring Italian football. Italy should also not blame Capello for betraying Italy in helping the English team. I believe that coaches are important to the team, but the quality of the players are even more important. Players are the ones playing on the field under sheer pressure of the whole nation. Coaches are not suppose to be tied to a particular team, they are hired to help train the team. If they want to, they can change and transfer teams, but of course with a reason. They are free men.
From the Italian point of view, Capello should not be helping England in fighting Italy for the world cup. Italy is after all the one who produce Capello. Italy should be given credit for grooming Capello. According to moral studies, Capello should instead help Italy, as Italy is Capello's home.
votexron
@ 03:44
Redknapp in court on tax chargeLONDON - TOTTENHAM Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp and former Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric appeared in a British court on Thursday jointly accused of cheating the public revenue.
The pair face two charges relating to two alleged payments totalling US$295,000 (S$416,593) made to Redknapp during his time as manager of Portsmouth by Mandaric via a bank account in Monaco, evading tax and national insurance contributions.
Appearing together in the dock, Mandaric, 71, and Redknapp, 62, spoke only to confirm their names, addresses and ages and lent forward and listened carefully to proceedings in a brief, five minute hearing at the City of Westminster magistrates court in central London. The pair were given unconditional bail and must now appear at London's Southwark Crown Court on Apr 14 where they will enter their pleas.
After the hearing, Mandaric's lawyer said his client was 'surprised and extremely disappointed' that the authorities had decided to prosecute him, saying the case was 'misconceived and extremely ill-judged'. 'We are absolutely confident that this prosecution will fail,' his lawyer Mark Wilson told reporters.
Redknapp took over as Portsmouth boss in March 2002, won promotion to the top flight Premier League the following season, but resigned after a dispute with Mandaric in 2004. However, he returned the following year and led the south coast English club to its first FA Cup success for 69 years in 2008, before he left for Tottenham just months later.
His current side are sixth in the Premier League after losing 1-0 to Wolves on Wednesday. Tottenham have given Redknapp their full backing after learning he would face legal proceedings. -- REUTERS
I cannot really understand why does Mandaric's lawyer actually protect his client like that, saying that Mandaric was surprised and extremely disappointed at hearing about this case. From what he is saying, he gives me the understanding that Mandaric knew about this case, which shows that he is somehow linked to this, but yet acted ignorant. Redknapp, onthe other hand, I believe that he should be innocent. Based on his wonderful results of producing miracles in matches, he does not need to undergo such despicable act to earn a quick buck. I believe that clubs are willing to pay him big money for him to win matches, especially against the top clubs. However, his unstable movement of clubs does give rise to suspicions.
From this, I feel that this incident should not be Redknapp's fault. This should be Mandaric's fault as by not paying tax fees, it is Mandaric who gains whereas Redknapp does not gain anything.
votexron
@ 03:33
