AC MILAN, THE FIRST AT MILANELLO

THE FIRST AT MILANELLO

5/20/2010 6:17:00 PM

After a few days off, Milan returned to work this afternoon at Milanello to prepare the American tour. The first session of the week saw the team involved in tactical work.

(on the archive photo: A MOMENT OF THE MATCH)
MILAN - After the end of the league, the team started preparing today for the three matches in USA and Canada. The first training of the week, in fact, saw the Rossoneri come together at 14.30 in the dressing rooms to start work at 15.00 on the lowered pitch at the Carnago sporting center.
After the first 15 minutes dedicated to warming up without the ball, the Rossoneri were involved in an exercise on ball possession by coach Mauro Tassotti.
After that the players played three eight-against-eight matches of 12 minutes each.
Bonera, Kaladze, Ambrosini and Roma did personalised work.
Also the eight players who will probably be involved in the World Cup adventure, to which Ronaldinho added himself, did personalised work.
Along with the Rossoneri, today also Gennaro Delvecchio, Davide Di Gennaro, Marcus Diniz Paixao, players who have been loaned for the American tour, worked, and tomorrow also Cristian Brocchi,, Roberto Colombo, Claudio Terzi and Manuele Blasi will join.
The session ended around 16.20. Tomorrow the team will have one training session. The reunion in the dressing rooms will be at 10.30 to start work at 11.00.

AC Milan President Silvio Berlusconi Launches Attack On Leonardo: "I Ought To Be The Coach"

Maverick billionaire believes he would do a great job at San Siro.

By Matt Monaghan

May 20, 2010 12:43:00 PM

Silvio Berlusconi - Milan (Getty Images)

AC Milan president and Prime Minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi has launched a scathing attack on ex-boss Leonardo, saying "I ought to be the coach".

Leonardo and Milan parted by 'mutual consent' this month after he led the side to a distant third place finish in Serie A. Supporters criticized Berlusconi's decision to get rid of the Brazilian, along with his perceived lack of spending on a squad that has weakened in recent times.

Speaking to Milan Channel, Berlusconi blasted back at his critics.

“Milan need to focus on playing good football now and not drawing games like the one we were winning 2-0 against Napoli at the 90th minute," Berlusconi said.

“Nor should we fail to realize the danger posed by Douglas Maicon in the second derby against Inter. At times I really ought to be the Coach...

He added: “It is not true that I don’t spend money. In the last five seasons I’ve spent an average of £54m a year.

“To those fans who urge me to sell up the club, I reply that I love Milan and will never sell this club to someone who is unworthy or couldn’t make it even greater.

“The famous emirate who could make Milan better than it already is simply doesn’t exist. In times of economic crisis, it isn't even easy to imagine a buyer and I would never sell to the first person who came along.”

Stadiums of World Cup 2010, South Africa

FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010 Official Theme Song

World Cup 2010: Fabio Capello names 30-man England squad

Jamie Carragher and Ledley King are the surprise call-ups to England's provisional 30-man squad for World Cup 2010 - but there is no place for Manchester United's Owen Hargreaves.

 

By Telegraph staff
Published: 1:59PM BST 11 May 2010

In the frame: Jamie Carragher, Ledley King, Scott Parker and Darren Bent have been named in Fabio Capello's 30-man squad

Neither Carragher nor King have played a game for England under Capello, although the Tottenham centre-back was called into the squad for a double header against Slovakia and the Ukraine last year, only to be disgarded a couple of days later on fitness grounds.

England's 30-man provisional squad for World Cup 2010:

 

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, David James, Robert Green.
Defenders: Leighton Baines, Jamie Carragher, Ashley Cole, Michael Dawson, Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson, Ledley King, John Terry, Matthew Upson, Stephen Warnock.
Midfielders: Gareth Barry, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, Tom Huddlestone, Adam Johnson, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Scott Parker, Theo Walcott, Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Forwards: Darren Bent, Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney.
-- Do you agree with Fabio Capello's choices? Do his job for him by selecting your 23 for World Cup 2010 – and share it with your friends.
With doubts over Rio Ferdinand and John Terry, and Wes Brown and Joleon Lescott ruled out through injury, Capello has talked Carragher out of retirement and will have a look at the Liverpool defender, plus King, who has just played four games in 15 days, before finalising his 23-man squad for South Africa.
With Gareth Barry selected, despite on-going concerns over the ankle injury he suffered during Manchester City's defeat to Tottenham last week, Capello has decided not to call on Hargreaves, as had been predicted even though the midfielder has played only one minute of senior football since Oct 2008.
Instead, West Ham's Scott Parker is included in a midfield also containing Joe Cole, who has not been involved since the sensational win over Croatia in September 2008.
Manchester City's Adam Johnson is one of two uncapped players in Capello's squad, the other being Tottenham defender Michael Dawson.
Only three goalkeepers - David James, Robert Green and Joe Hart - have been named, whilst attempts to talk Wayne Bridge out of making himself unavailable have been less successful than Capello's efforts with Carragher.
Amongst the players who were mentioned as candidates but did not receive a call were Gary Neville, who was an outside bet anyway, Stewart Downing and Carlton Cole.
In addition, as first reported by Telegraph Sport, the injury to Bobby Zamora saw him fail to secure a place amongst the final 30 despite his outstanding contribution to Fulham's excellent season.

Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg: World Cup 2010 stadium guide

Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg: A guide to Royal Bafokeng Stadium for the Fifa World Cup 2010 in South Africa, from June 11, 2010.

 

Published: 1:37PM GMT 19 Nov 2009

Royal Bafokeng Stadium - Rustenburg Photo: AFP

Royal Bafokeng Stadium - Rustenburg Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Royal Bafokeng Stadium - Rustenburg Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Located in the village of Phokeng, about 10 miles outside Rustenburg, the stadium is named after the Bafokeng people who live in the area. In 1999, the Bafokeng won a legal battle which entitled them to 20 per cent of the platinum which is mined on their historical land.

Opened in 1999, the stadium - built in a saddle shape to reflect its natural surroundings - has undergone only minor improvements for the Fifa World Cup including the installation of 4,000 extra seats, floodlights, electronic scoreboards and a new PA system.

 

The stadium is only a 25 minute drive to Sun City and 30 minutes to the Pilansberg Game reserve, while Johannesburg is 90 minutes away by road.
Built: 1999
Capacity: 42,000
Also known as: The Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace.
Famous moment in sporting history: South Africa's September 2006 21-20 defeat of New Zealand's All Blacks; 2009 Confederations Cup venue.
Home of: Platinum Stars FC.
World Cup 2010 games: five group games, one second round game.