Beijing Olympic Games

Updated: 2007-07-10 From: Xinhuanet

LIMA, July 9 (Xinhua) — The president of Peru’s Football Federation (PFP), Manuel Burga, on Monday publicly backed the national soccer team manager, Julio Uribe, despite the team’s 4-0 loss to Argentina in the Copa America.

Peru’s soccer bosses said that it will be hard to replace Uribe because there are no appropriate candidate and because he has contract.

Uribe appeared calm after Argentina crushed Peru on Sunday, in the Venezuelan city of Barquisimeto, describing the players’ performance as “acceptable”.

After the match, he unworriedly told reporters that “they have to fix quite a few things ahead of the South American World Cup qualifiers.”

Arthur Woodman of the Peruvian Sports Agency said the team’s constant losses should trigger a change at the top of the PFP.

“The 4-0 defeat against Argentina is nobody’s fault: Some you win and some you lose. But the issue here is that we always lose, so we have to think about reshuffling the PFP’s leadership,” Woodman said.

Peru had made it to the quarterfinal after beating Uruguay 3-0,losing 2-0 to Venezuela and drawing 2-2 with Bolivia. Peru has not been in a World Cup since 1982 in Spain and has only won two regional tournaments: in 1939 and 1975.

Updated: 2007-07-10 From: Xinhuanet

HANOI, July 9 (Xinhua) — Japan and Qatar tied a draw of 1-1 after their players netted goals in the second half of a group B match at the AFC Asian Cup here Monday evening.

In the first few minutes, both Japan and Qatar deployed low playing style. Japan had an upper hand, with more attacks and good personal skills. But, they had no powerful shots to beat Qatar goalie Mohamed Ahmed. The first half finished with no goals scored.

In the 60th minute, Japanese striker Naohiro Takahara scored the opening goal with a decisive shot after receiving ball from his teammate from the left wing.

Forward Andres Quintana equalized the score for Qatar with a goal converted from a free kick from a shot range in the 87th minute.

In the extra time of the game, a Qatar player received a red card, and his coach was expelled due to his reaction to the referee’s decision.

Vietnam will clash Qatar at Vietnam’s My Dinh National Stadium in the third Group B match on Thursday.

Updated: 2007-07-10 From: Xinhuanet

KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 (Xinhua) — The Chinese national soccer team are planning some special tactics against Malaysia in view of the hot and damp climate conditions of the southeast Asian country in their opening match at the ongoing AFC Asian Cup.

“We may use different tactics to face southeast Asian teams,” head coach Zhu Guanghu told Xinhua at a news conference here on Monday.

“We had an unforgettable trip to Thailand this May. That makes me think of implementing different approaches to play under extreme conditions.”

China lost to Thailand 1-0 at an friendly about two months ago, in which the players seemed to be greatly affected by the hot wave and had poor performance.

In the first few matches of the Asian Cup, strong teams like Australia and United Arab Emirates were troubled by the harsh climate and lost their habitual way of play. Australia ground out a draw with Oman, while UAE were defeated by Vietnam 2-0.

Zhu is aware of the threats by the climate and the usual advantage of the hosts.

“The hosts are always the toughest rivals. Malaysia have improved a lot in recent years. They are familiar with our English premier league-based players.

“There have been changes in their techniques, and they have recruited some tall players.

“But we are expecting the first match very much. We will do our best and get the result we want in spite of those big difficulties.”

Malaysia are preparing to produce some surprise in the clash. Coach Norizan Bakar admitted that the nice performance of co-hosts Thailand and Vietnam have boosted his guys.

“The Vietnam and Thailand results have given us encouragement, but in fact we have also been motivated by ourselves because of what has been said about the standard of football in our country,” said Bakar.

“Now is the time, in fact now is the best time, for the playersand the team as a whole to show everyone that we can perform. We will see how motivated the players are tomorrow against China.

Bakar refused to reveal any specific tactics he would use against China, he said:” Of course I have my plans to contain the Chinese players, but you should wait and see them tomorrow.”

Updated: 2007-07-07 From: Xinhuanet

Mexico thrashed Thailand 6-0 in a women’s soccer friendly in Qinhuangdao, China on July 7, 2007.(Xinhua Photo)

QINHUANGDAO, Hebei Province, China, July 7 (Xinhua) — Mexico received a boost when they thrashed Thailand 6-0 in a friendly here on Saturday.

Midfielder Carmen Padilla followed up to open the scoring in the 50th minute with a close-range tap as Charlyn Corral’s header rolled out of the hands of Thai goalkeeper Waraporn Boonsing.

Then Mexico missed several chances to increase their advantage and had to wait until the show-time loomed for expeditious Evelyn Lopez, who finished off hat-trick within five minutes.

Lopez scored Mexico’s second goal from a 25-yard strike in the 66th minute and added her second out of a power shot in the area in the 68th minute. Her third goal was deflected into the net after hitting the far post, establishing a 4-0 lead for Mexico.

Corral added two more including a overtime goal to earn Mexico first win out of three matches here.

“I am satisfied with the first half, but we made mistakes in our defense on the left side and succumbed to goals. We withered largely in physical strength and failed to launch effective attacks,” said Thailand’s head coach Chana Yodprang. “It’s hard to say which team is the best among China, Italy and Mexico, so we need to see that from the result between China’s game against Italy.”

Mexican coach Rivera Cuellar Leonardo gives his credit to the Chinese team. “China has a strong squad in women’s soccer. I believe they can produce good results from both the Olympic Games and World Cup. I hope we can reach the final and we need luck some luck to have it at the moment,” said Leonardo.

In previous two matches, Mexico lost to hosts China 0-1 and tied Italy 2-2. Thailand remained goalless over three attempts, losing 15 goals total.

China lead the four-team standing with six points and a game in hand, who will play against Italy later. The top two teams are to be qualified for the final.

(Xinhua Photo)

(Xinhua Photo)

(Xinhua Photo)

Updated: 2007-07-09 From: Xinhuanet

BANGKOK, July 8 (Xinhua) — The tournament favorites Australia was held by Oman 1-1 while Vietnam upset UAE by 2-0 at the Asian Cup on Sunday.

A late goal in 90th minute from Australian midfielder Tim Cahill saved his team from a humiliating defeat by Oman.

Coach Graham Arnold admitted his star-studded side were lucky, saying “I am relieved and distressed. We just got out of jail.”

“It shows how difficult Asia is. It shows that we need to push ourselves to the limit,” he said at the following news conference.

With Thailand and Iraq also drawing 1-1 in their opening game on Saturday, the group remains wide open.

Oman shocked the Socceroos with a lead when Badar Mubarak powered the ball home in 32nd minute.

“Of course I am disappointed because I thought Oman was the best team and we should have won,” said their Argentine coach Gabriel Calderon.

Meanwhile, Vietnam defeated UAE by 2-0 in the opening Group B match at the Asian Cup, giving the tournament co-hosts hope of advancing to the knock-out stage.

The My Dinh National Stadium exploded with cheers when defender Huynh Quang Thanh opened the scoring against the Gulf Cup champions with a powerful shot in the 63rd minute.

Striker Le Cong Vinh sealed the victory for Vietnam 10 minutes later when he lobbed over UAE’s goalkeeper Majed Nasser.

There will be one match on July 8 between Japan and Qatar.

Updated: 2007-07-09 From: Xinhuanet

LIMA, July 8 (Xinhua) — “Peru is not afraid of Argentina,” “Argentina a strong and difficult for Peru,” “Let’s go Peru, we can do it,” are headline sports soccer news in Peru on Sunday prior to its Sunday afternoon Copa America game in Venezuela.

Although Argentina is the favorite, Peru’s national soccer teamplayers and coach have promised to do their best to win at Venezuelan Barquisimeto city’s Metropolitano stadium.

Peru’s team will not include striker Jefferson Farfan due to a sprained ankle nor central defense player Alberto Rodriguez because he has been suspended.

In Copa America Venezuela-2007 Group A, Peru defeated Uruguay 3-0, lost 0-2 against Venezuela and barely tied 2-2 with Bolivia.

In Group C, Argentina ended undefeated with a high goal percentage: the United States (4-1), Colombia 4-2 and Paraguay 1-0.

In their past Copa America games these two teams have played against each other 16 times: Argentina won 11, Peru won three and both teams tied twice.

Argentina has won the Copa America championship 14 times and Peru has won it twice.

The Argentina-Peru winner will face the Paraguay-Mexico winner in the semifinals.

Updated: 2007-07-09 From: Xinhuanet

MATURIN, Venezuela, July 8 (Xinhua) — Nery Castillo struck twice to lead Mexico to roll over Paraguay 6-0 in their Copa America quarter-final on Sunday after their opponents had their goalkeeper sent off in the fifth minute.

Gerardo Torrado, Fernando Arce and Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Omar Bravo also found the net to give Paraguay their worst defeat since1980 when they lost by the same score to Brazil.

Mexico will face either Argentina or Peru in Wednesday’s semi-final.