England quartet up for Fifa award

Four England internationals have made the shortlist for the Fifa world player of the year award. Wayne Rooney, John Terry, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard are among the 30 players in the running.

From that list national team coaches and captains will vote for their top three players, to be revealed at Fifa’s world player gala on 17 December.

AC Milan’s Kaka is the favourite to win the award for the first time, ahead of Barcelona’s Lionel Messi.

Chelsea have five nominees for the Fifa award, behind only Barcelona who have seven.

There are five Italian players in the final 30, including current world player of the year Fabio Cannavaro.

Brazil star Kaka, 25, is the current FIFPro world player of the year - an award voted for by 45,000 members of the players’ union.

Kaka wins world players’ accolade

AC Milan forward Kaka has been named FIFPro world player of the year. The 25-year-old Brazilian claimed the accolade after 45,000 members of the players’ union voted in the awards, which are in their third year.

He said: “I am humbled to receive such an honour. To follow my good friend and such a great player as Ronaldinho makes this a very special award.”

England’s John Terry and Steven Gerrard, were in the World XI with Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo.

Kaka was instrumental in Milan’s Champions League triumph, sealed with a victory over Liverpool in Athens in May, ending as top scorer with 10 goals including three in the semi-final win over Manchester United.

Brazil 5-0 New Zealand

Brazil coasted to a 5-0 victory over New Zealand in their first match in Group D of the Women’s World Cup. Brazil were on top throughout and took the lead when Daniela’s shot looped over Jenny Bindon and into the net.

Cristiano added a second with another powerful effort into the top corner before Daniela’s drive hit the bar.

Cristiano set up Marta to score a third with a precise finish and Renata Costa smashed home a fourth before Marta’s superb solo goal completed the rout.

source:bbcsports

Everton want Howard injury update

Everton are still to discover the full extent of goalkeeper Tim Howard’s injury suffered while on international duty with the United States. The Everton goalkeeper dislocated his finger in the 4-2 defeat to Brazil.

“Tim has injured his finger and we don’t know much about it,” head physio Mick Rathbone told evertonTV.

“Obviously with the time differences and everything we’re collating all the information. We’re are expecting further information.”

With Howard impressive in goal, Everton have made a promising start to the season and are currently third in the table.

David Moyes’ side have the same number of points as leaders Liverpool, though Everton have played one more game.

source:bbcsports

U.S. v Brazil: Preview

The United States face Brazil in Chicago on Sunday in a friendly which pits the Gold Cup winners against the Copa America champions.

The U.S beat Mexico in the final of the competition for North and Central American teams in June while the Brazilians overcame Argentina in South America’s regional competition.

Now though the two teams have World Cup qualification on their minds. Brazil begin their campaign away to Colombia on Oct. 13 and while the U.S have to wait until next year for their bid to reach the finals.

Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva has been recalled by Brazil coach Dunga but he will be without injured defenders Alex of Chelsea and Alex Silva of Sao Paulo.

The pair have been replaced by Edu Dracena of Fenerbahce and Gladstone of Sporting Lisbon. After facing the U.S, Brazil take on Mexico in Boston on Sept. 12.

Wigan secure Olembe

Wigan Athletic have signed left-back Salomon Olembe, subject to the player being given international clearance.

 The 26-year-old Cameroon international was a free agent having left French club Marseille in June and has signed a one-year deal with Chris Hutchings’ side. Olembe has won 60 caps for Cameroon, including playing for the Indomitable Lions at the World Cup, and had a spell with Leeds United in the 2003/04 season.

Latics manager Chris Hutchings told the club’s official website: “Salomon is an experienced campaigner, who’s played at the highest level. We’ve had our eye on him for quite a while, and like all our signings, we have done a lot of research on him.

Heroic Ghana send Brazil packing

Ghana needed all their courage and belief to defeat Brazil 1-0 in their Round of 16 encounter at Soccer Only Field in Gwangyang on Wednesday. Reduced to ten men in the first half, the Black Starlets owed their famous win to Issac Donkor’s strike.

The experts predicted a well-balanced match and they were spot on. Brazil’s calm and intricate build-up play was impressive to behold as the imperious Fabio pulled the strings, but so too were Ghana’s explosive counter-attacks, with Francis Boadi often winning the ball and jet-heeled duo Sadick Adams and Ransford Osei then causing the damage.

Ghana vs Brazil

Just as in every competition, several contenders jostle for position at the starting line but there can be only one winner. At the Gwangyang Soccer Only Field this Wednesday evening, two pedigree teams will be hoping to avoid falling by the wayside.

Ghana and Brazil, respectively double and triple winners of the world’s premier U-17 football trophy, arrived in Korea as strong contenders to reach the Final.

While it has been plain sailing so far for the Auriverde, who booked an early passage to the Round of 16 with two convincing displays, a 7-0 drubbing of New Zealand and a 6-1 thumping of Korea DPR, Ghana have made a meal of their qualification.

Brazilian ball wizard Denilson joins FC Dallas

Denilson, who in 1998 set a transfer fee record with a $40 million move from Sao Paulo to Spanish club Real Betis, has been signed by FC Dallas. The 29-year-old, who played in 12 World Cup games for Brazil in its 1998 runner-up finish and its 2002 title win, arrives from Saudi Arabian club Al-Nasr. Denilson becomes the fourth World Cup winner in MLS. The other three all played for Red Bulls/Metros: Lothar Matthaeus (Germany 1990), Branco (Brazil 1994) and Youri Djorkaeff (France 1998).

Denilson joined Al-Nasr from French club Bordeaux, for which he played 31 games in the 2005-06 season. He had spent seven season with Real Betis.

Chelsea agree deal for Belletti

Belletti scored his first goal for Barca in the Champions League

Chelsea have agreed a deal to bring Barcelona right-back Juliano Belletti to Stamford Bridge. The 31-year-old Brazilian will seal a reported two-year deal once he has agreed personal terms and completed a medical in London.

Belletti joined Barcelona in 2004 from Villarreal but only made 13 appearances for the Catalan club last season.

The Brazilian scored the winning goal in Barcelona’s Champions League win over Arsenal in 2006.