UEFA EURO 2012 - Czech Republic Vs Serbia Montenegro

Čech vow as Czech Republic welcome Montenegro

Despite a broken nose, Petr Čech is determined to start for the Czech Republic in Friday's play-off first leg against a Montenegro side who want a score draw from their biggest fixture.

Petr Čech's new face mask, in addition to his customary headgear, should shore him up to feature in the Czech Republic's UEFA EURO 2012 play-off first leg at home to Montenegro.

Čech suffered a broken nose in Chelsea FC's meeting with Blackburn Rovers FC last Saturday. However, having missed just three competitive matches for his country in four years, he is determined to be on the pitch in Prague as the Czechs look to avoid missing out on a UEFA European Championship for the first time since the 1993 split with Slovakia.

"I would not play if I was anything less than 90% as the game is a very important one," said the 29-year-old, who has been capped 86 times. ""I am not nervous about the injury. I have 70 stitches in my head already, so I am used to it"."

Defensive midfielder Tomáš Hübschman is suspended for both legs and centre-back Roman Hubník is banned on Friday, while striker Milan Baroš is a doubt having been out for almost three weeks with a calf injury.

His nation have never had to enter a EURO play-off before, but captain Tomáš Rosický – who was involved when the Czech Republic were beaten to the 2002 FIFA World Cup over two legs by Belgium but qualified at Norway's expense four years later – knows what to expect. "It is totally different from the group stage," Rosický said. "Discipline and team spirit will count for more than just skills."

In contrast to the Czech record, Montenegro are yet to reach a major tournament since independence in 2006 but having drawn twice with England to get to these play-offs, they are targeting an away draw ahead of Tuesday's home return in Podgorica. Midfielder Milorad Peković said: "It would be difficult for us if we lost, because the Czechs are brilliant when they defend. If they come to Montenegro with an advantage, we would have a mountain to climb."

With defenders Miodrag Džudović and Marko Baša and midfielder Nikola Drinčić back from injury, Montenegro are at full strength. "I am sure we will have a lot of space up front," Peković added. "We have quick players, very good technicians like Mirko Vučinić and Stevan Jovetić. We will have a chance to score, I am sure we can do it at least once."

However, while Montenegro began qualifying with four clean sheets, in the second half of the campaign they conceded seven. "We had a lot of injuries in defence for the last four matches," goalkeeper Mladen Božović said. "Now it is different and I hope we will be strong at the back."

Defender Milan Jovanović added: "We will not make the mistake of playing not to concede, but everything will be built from the back. We must defend well and wait for a chance to counterattack. The first leg is not decisive, but it is very important. We must try to score. "We feel this is a special moment for us, for the whole nation, and we are ready to put everything we have into these 180 minutes"."

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UEFA Champions League

Champions League 'harder to win' says Ancelotti



Monday 7 November 2011,
Carlo Ancelotti tells UEFA.com his hopes for SSC Napoli, dissects the secret of FC Barcelona's success and explains why the UEFA Champions League is harder than ever to win.

As one of only six men to have lifted the European Champion Clubs' Cup as both player and coach, Carlo Ancelotti knows a thing or two about the continent's premier competition – and the former AC Milan and Chelsea FC boss told UEFA.com he considers the UEFA Champions League to be harder than ever to win.

Carlo Ancelotti was part of the famous AC Milan side crowned European champions in 1989 and 1990 and he landed the trophy twice as Rossoneri coach in 2003 and 2007. Last season was a lean year in comparison for Italian teams, with only FC Internazionale Milano getting as far as the quarter-finals, and Ancelotti feels making the grade in Europe is not getting any easier.

"I played in the Champions League [final] in 1989 and 1990 and it was different then," he told UEFA.com. "There were less games [to play], because to reach the final you needed to play maybe nine games, but now it's very difficult. Twenty years ago you played against the first teams from other countries; now there's more competition – four teams [from] England, four teams [from] Italy, and so on. "It's more difficult to win the Champions League now and this is why I consider the Champions League the best competition in the world"."

This term, after four group stage matches, Italy's three UEFA Champions League representatives are all still hopeful of reaching the round of 16, and Milan's next challenge will be to host FC Barcelona, whom Massimiliano Allegri's men held to a 2-2 draw on matchday one.

"The strength of [Barcelona] is the philosophy of the club," said former Parma FC and Juventus trainer Carlo Ancelotti. "They have a lot of players [who have graduated from] their academy. When they put on the Barcelona shirt they feel something special because they were born in the academy. So this is the reason [they are so strong]. And the philosophy for one club, their idea of football, is the best at this moment."

Of the Serie A sides, Napoli have perhaps the hardest task to qualify, but despite facing FC Bayern München, Manchester City FC and Villarreal CF, the knockout phase remains a realistic prospect for a team who have taken points off all three group rivals.

"Napoli is a very exciting place," said Carlo Ancelotti. "The people there show great passion for the team. Twenty years ago they had the best player in the world, Maradona, playing for Napoli. After that they went down, but they much better now and everyone is following them because they are playing good football and have fantastic support."

For Carlo Ancelotti, meanwhile, it is a return to England's Premier League that interests him as a manager, although the man who left Chelsea last summer is by no means certain of what the future holds.

"Short term, I don't know," he said. "I would like to be a manager again. I'm not afraid, I want to wait and see what happens. "I would like to find an ambitious club that has a good project for the future. I am sure that I will come back to manage another club soon"."

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MotoGP Valencia

Stoner powers to Valencia victory

Sunday, 6 November 2011
Casey Stoner closed the 800cc era with his tenth victory of the season by a margin of one hundredth of a second over Ben Spies, with Dovizioso claiming the third podium spot and third in the Championship.

The Repsol Honda rider launched from pole position and into the lead off the start of the Gran Premio Gernerali de la Comunitat Valenciana, the final race of the season and of the 800cc machines. Although the race was declared wet, the field all sported slicks tyres in the difficult conditions that claimed the first casualties in the very first corner.

Álvaro Bautista (Rizla Suzuki) lost the front just tipping into the first turn of the race, taking out Pramac Racing’s Randy de Puniet along with both Ducati Team riders, Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi. The crash was the Rossi’s third race in succession to conclude with a fall, marking the end of a difficult season for the seven times MotoGP World Champion.

Andrea Dovizioso and Dani Pedrosa managed to avoid the incident, and with Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha Factory Racing) already holding first and second in the Championship, the campaign for third between the teammates remained to be decided this weekend. Neither of the Repsol Honda riders showed any sign of deferring to the other as the two fought for the second spot on the podium, as well as the final Championship position, until the final laps of the race when the Spaniard slowed slightly as the slight rain fall picked up.

Ben Spies rode behind the Honda men as they battle for second, until on lap 23 the Texas Tornado made his move on Dani Pedrosa for third, then put on the afterburners and closed in on Casey Stoner, passing Dovizioso on the way to the front.

With three laps left, Stoner ran it wide, letting the American through to take over the head of the race and who then pulled an immediate one second gap at the front. The Yamaha man looked set to take the win, until in the very last corner of the race when the World Champion rocketed past the Texan at the line to claim his tenth win of the season and in the final race of the 800cc era.

The chase for the Rookie of the Year award between Karel Abraham (Cardion AB Motoracing) and Cal Crutchlow (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) also went down to the very last lap, with the Czech rider poised to take the title until he fell in the final corner, handing Crutchlow the title and fourth place in the race. Abraham was able to rejoin the race to finish in eighth, ahead of Loris Capirossi (Pramac Racing), who concluded the final race of his career with a ninth place.

Fifth place went to Dani Pedrosa, with Lorenzo’s replacement rider Katsuyuki Nakasuga (Yamaha Factory Racing) claiming sixth ahead of Colin Edwards’ replacement on the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team, Josh Hayes. Toni Elías (LCR Honda) completed the top ten finishers, with Héctor Barberá (Mapfre Aspar) and Hiroshi Aoyama (San Carlo Honda Gresini) the final race finishers.

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Real Madrid 7-1 Osasuna

Madrid - Real Madrid increasingly consolidating its position atop the Spanish league standings after subvert the 10-man Osasuna 7-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium this afternoon. Cristiano Ronaldo in this match record fourth hat-trick at the same time of acquisition equal Barcelona striker Lionel Messi scored a 13 goals this season.

Fully supported by fanatical supporters, Los Blancos dominated the game. The result, Ronaldo opened the scoring after receiving feedback from the left wing Angel Di Maria at minute 23.

Ibrahima Balde equalized for Osasuna 1-1 free kick. Referee Alfonso Alvarez Izquierdo reward after Alvaro Arbeloa dropping Nino in the forbidden box in the 30th minute. Interval of three minutes turn Pepe managed to turn things around to 2-1.

Osasuna goalkeeper Andres Fernandez continues to be the butt. Gonzalo Higuain scored a third package plus two others from Cristino Ronaldo (the 54th minute from the penalty spot and 58) and two others from Karim Benzema (minutes 63 and 81).

Ronaldo's performance deserved thumbs up. After the end goal drought in the previous three games, Portugal star was immediately step on the gas when the package the third hat-trick as Real Madrid beat Malaga 4-0 on Oct. 23. Previously, single men are a successful hat-trick against Real Zaragoza, and Rayo Vallecano. Osasuna bertamah nightmare after beknya Eneko Satrustegui sent off in the 54th minute.

The victory of Osasuna Real Madrid's victory adds to the treasury to seven consecutive wins. Total, army Jose Mourinho could be mine 29 goals and conceded only three goals. White could also wipe out all home games this season, which stood at an average of 4.25 goals scored per game.

Real Madrid stay on top of the standings, which stood at 28 points from 11 games. Capital squad while emapt points ahead of Barcelona's eternal rival. Azulgrana can attenuate the difference to a point if able to win over Athletic Bilbao at away games.

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Spanish League

Derby win, one after another Levante Valencia

Levante surprises coming to an end after suffering their second defeat at the hands of Valencia team shirts.

Valencia go three huge success after conquering team Levante townsmen thanks to Javi Venta own goal in the 31st minute which was then added Tino Costa in the ninth minute second half.

Levante could be a surprise at the beginning of this season after being in power at the top of the standings thanks to the seven-game winning streak that began with victory over Real Madrid and ended with the defeat of Osasuna last week.

For the first time since 1964, farm team Juan Ignacio Martinez was featured in the derby with a higher position in the standings, and with four wins from four games at the stadium Ciutat de Valencia, Levante have the confidence was worth more.

Unfortunately, this confidence fail to be utilized by the children of Juan Ignacio Martínez care to score early in the first half, although Gomez Juanlu and Arouna Kone had a chance to goalkeeper Vicente Guaita.

In contrast, the first opportunity directly Valencia scored fruitful, as bait breakthrough for Jordi Alba Costa Javi Venta is deflected into the goal itself.

Levante have not had time to rise, Costa Valencia ensure victory over his free-kick, which goalkeeper Gustavo Munua one anticipated.

Levante difficulty seemed to rise and two-game losing streak makes them knocked out of the big three and within two points of league leaders Real Madrid who will perform Sunday (6 / 11).

While Valencia is now one point ahead of their derby team ranked third.

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