The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Leg break to sideline Villa for five months Posted: 15 Dec 2011 03:26 PM PST  Villa (centre) reacts after injuring his leg during the Club World Cup match against Al Sadd in Yokohama, December 15, 2011. — Reuters pic The news also represents a setback for Spain as they prepare to defend their European Championship title in Poland and Ukraine next year. "This injury is a tough blow but I am convinced I am going to recover quickly and am thinking about playing the (Champions League) final in Munich (in May)," Villa said on his Facebook page. "I know my colleagues will get me there — and to Euro 2012. I'm going to work hard to achieve it." Earlier in the day, club coach Pep Guardiola said: "David has fractured his leg and will return to Barcelona for an operation as soon as possible. "We are all very sad for him. He's a charming personality and it's a massive blow for the team," added Guardiola after the European champions set up a final against Brazil's Santos. Villa, Spain's all-time top scorer with 50 goals in 81 appearances, fell awkwardly in the first half and immediately signalled to the bench before he was rushed to a local hospital in Yokohama. "He will be out for a long time," said Guardiola. "I don't know how long but it takes a long time to return after a break like this. "All the players are very worried about David. We hope he will return as soon as possible. Our thoughts are with him and we will have to win the Club World Cup without him." The Spanish champions later said they estimated Villa would be out for between four and five months. Villa's absence will narrow Guardiola's options as his side pursue titles in the Club World Cup, La Liga, Champions League and King's Cup. Spain coach Vicente del Bosque was also concerned about the 30-year-old. Villa was first-choice forward when Spain won the World Cup in South Africa last year and his national team partners Fernando Torres and Fernando Llorente are now struggling for form. "It's very bad news, very unlucky for him," Del Bosque told Europa Press. "Thinking ahead to the European Championship it is obviously very bad news as well. "There are still six months to go. Let's see how he recovers. Some return quickly, others take a little longer. First we need to listen to what the medics say." Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes said: "It's negative news on what should have been a special and historic day. We will try to dedicate the cup to him in the final." Spain and Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos said on Twitter: "A serious injury for national team colleague David Villa. Keep your spirits up and stay strong! Return soon champion..!!" — Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
| Ten-man Rubin through at Spurs’ expense Posted: 15 Dec 2011 03:21 PM PST  Rubin Kazan players celebrate scoring against PAOK Salonika in Thessaloniki December 15, 2011. — Reuters pic The English Premier League side, with only three outfield players on the substitutes bench, won 4-0 at Shamrock Rovers but finished third in Group A, one point behind the Russians. Tottenham needed a win combined with a defeat for Rubin and had to make up a difference of five goals to qualify and, although it looked impossible to start with, it was on the cards at the break in the respective games. "At halftime we knew that the other team (Rubin) were losing and thought we had a real chance," Spurs manager Harry Redknapp told ITV4. "We knew they had gone down to ten men." Rubin fell behind to a Vierinha penalty in the 16th minute after their goalkeeper Sergei Ryzhikov was sent off for scything down Giorgos Georgiadis, while a second-string Tottenham side had opened up a three-goal halftime lead at Shamrock. But Paraguay forward Nelson Haedo Valdez scored for Rubin three minutes after the break, volleying in from the penalty spot after Gokdeniz Karadeniz had cut the ball back. South Africa midfielder Steven Pienaar, with his first goal for Spurs, Andros Townsend and Jermain Defoe struck in a 16-minute spell before halftime to keep the Londoners in the hunt. Substitute Harry Kane then added the fourth in stoppage time for Tottenham, who have fielded under-strength teams in all their group games. Shamrock's defeat in coach Michael O'Neill's last game in charge, ended a 12-match European campaign that began in mid-July and included progress to the third qualifying round of the Champions League where they lost to FC Copenhagen. That sent them into the Europa League playoff round where they surprisingly eliminated Partizan Belgrade, only to lose all six group games. — Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
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