The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Dzeko apologises to Mancini and City team mates Posted: 29 Sep 2011 05:58 PM PDT  Dezko had reacted angrily after being substituted in the Manchester City-Bayern Munich Champions League match on Tuesday. — Reuters file pic His actions went largely under the radar during Tuesday's Group A match after coach Roberto Mancini disclosed that Dzeko's fellow striker Carlos Tevez had refused to go on as a substitute in a separate incident. Argentine international Tevez was later suspended by the club pending an investigation into his conduct. "I know my reaction was bad and I have spoken to the guys and to the coach as well," Dzeko told the club's website yesterday. "I have apologised for the reaction and Roberto has accepted it and said that everything is OK and that we have to be positive for the next game (at Blackburn Rovers on Saturday)." Dzeko joined City from VfL Wolfsburg in January and said he was particularly keen to do well on his return to Germany. "I was unhappy because we were 2-0 down and I wanted to win the game," he said. "It was something special for me to go back to Germany where I played for a long time. "Things didn't go well for us. That is why I was extra frustrated." — Reuters |
| Muliaina to win 99th cap for All Blacks Posted: 29 Sep 2011 05:18 PM PDT
Israel Dagg was previously preferred at fullback but the 23-year-old will now switch to the right wing for the match at Wellington Regional Stadium this weekend. The 31-year-old Muliaina (picture) said the competition in the squad, particularly from Dagg who has been in imperious form and was man of the match in the 37-17 win over France last week, was good for the team as they looked ahead to the knockout stages. "I think the form he has shown has been outstanding. He ... has really taken a step forward and is taking his opportunities," Muliaina told reporters at the team hotel. "Guys like him and other guys in the team have set a benchmark and we get the opportunity to go out there and make sure we don't drop the standards. It's been a long time since I played test-match rugby so I am looking forward to going out and doing that." Muliaina said he was not concentrating on the possibility of earning his 100th cap and joining captain Richie McCaw as the only centurions for the All Blacks. McCaw achieved the milestone against France. "I suppose in a way it is just a number," Muliaina said. "A lot of people want to talk about it and when you're walking the streets you get a lot of people giving advice. "But you realise how important it is to be in the All Blacks jersey when you haven't played in a few weeks. "Every time you go out there it's special because you never know when it's going to be your last and I've realised that in the last three weeks," added Muliaina. "I just have to go out there now and make sure I get another week and another week after that. But first of all I have to make sure I get this week right." Ankle sprain Number eight Kieran Read will make his World Cup debut on Sunday after recovering from an ankle sprain he received in the final Tri-Nations match against Australia on August 27. He joins McCaw and Jerome Kaino in the loose forwards in what is Graham Henry's first-choice combination. The coach, however, said Read would not play the full 80 minutes and with no specialist loose forward cover on the bench, McCaw and Kaino would probably be required for the entire match. "He won't play the whole game. It's just a matter of being astute as to when we pull him off the field," Henry said. "I think we'll just see how things go. "If Reado is not going to play the full 80 that might put a bit of pressure on the other loose forwards to play a full 80 but we'll make good decisions there hopefully." Scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan will earn his 50th cap on Sunday while Zac Guildford makes his first appearance of the tournament on the left wing. New Zealand have already won Pool A, qualifying for the quarter-finals where they will play the runners-up of Pool B in Auckland on October 9. — Reuters |
WELLINGTON, Sept 30 — Fullback Mils Muliaina has been recalled by New Zealand and will earn his 99th cap in the World Cup Pool A clash against Canada on Sunday.| You are subscribed to email updates from The Malaysian Insider :: Sports To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
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