World Cup Corner

German referee Markus Merk has criticised his treatment by FIFA during the 2006 World Cup in Germany. He said he and his team felt they were treated “without respect” while he was also unhappy with the way the referees were told to apply the game’s laws. Although his chances of being used again, after the group matches, were very low he and his team had to remain available at the referee’s headquarters at Neu Isenburg near Frankfurt.

For weeks we took part in voluntary training every morning, mostly as the only team. We felt somehow we were being treated without respect. I can understand the displeasure about the application of the rules in the group stage. I myself did not feel happy on the pitch. European referees had a hard time from the beginning.

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Raymond Domenech convinced Lilian Thuram to continue his international career. France visit Georgia on September 2 before hosting Italy at the Stade de France four days later in a rematch of the World Cup final.

I’ll be there to play against Georgia. I haven’t had much choice. When I was in Guadeloupe and in Africa during the summer and even when we were in New York with my club, there was such a demand from the fans that I feel like I have to come back to thank them. My only doubt is whether I’m capable of playing for the two sides (Barcelona and France). I’m 34 and I play for one of the best club’s in the world. I hope I can live up to the expectations.

A complete different story is around Chelsea’s player Claude Makelele.

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Macedonian coach Srecko Katanec has named the same squad, that beat Estonia in the first EURO 2008 Group E qualifying round, for the game against England. Macedonia vs England will be played in Skopje on September 2. The squad has only one home based player - Tome Pacovski from Rabotnicki Skopje.

Macedonian squad:

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Last year UEFA Champions League winner FC Barcelona were drawn in the same group as last season’s English league winners FC Chelsea in the group stages of the Champions League in Monaco. FC Barcelona, who beat Chelsea in the second round of last season’s competition, have been paired with the London club for the third time in three years.

UEFA Champions League draw

Group A
Barcelona (ESP)
Chelsea (ENG)
Werder Bremen (GER)
Levski Sofia (BUL)

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The lineup for the 2006/07 UEFA Champions League group stage was finalised last night. UEFA has confirmed the draw procedure for the group stage of the 2006/07 UEFA Champions League, which will take place from 18:00 CET at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.

The 32 teams will be placed in four pots. Pot 1 will comprise last season’s winners FC Barcelona and the top seven ranked clubs, Pot 2 the next eight and so on for Pots 3 and 4. The sides are therefore divided into eight groups of four. Each team will play three matches on Tuesday and three on Wednesday.

Group stage draw

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Don’t forget to follow this week’s club scene with the final lineup for the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup.

UEFA Champions League
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round will decide the final 16 teams to enter Thursday’s draw for the group stage.

UEFA Cup
The second legs of the UEFA Cup second qualifying round ties on Thursday, with 32 matches taking place in advance of Friday’s first-round draw.

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Not many will remember one of the first soccer video games - International Soccer, also known as Cup Final. I do, I still remember playing it on my first computer, Commodore 64.

The game is really simple to play - no offside rule and no possibility to foul your opponents. It can be played by two players or one player against the computer.

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Nothing has changed in the top 15 in the latest FIFA Coca-Cola World Ranking since the World Cup 2006.

1. Brazil
2. Italy
3. Argentina
4. France
5. England
6. Netherlands
7. Spain
8. Portugal
9. Germany
10. Czech Republic
11. Nigeria
12. Cameroon
13. Switzerland
14. Uruguay
15. Ukraine

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The qualifying phase for UEFA EURO 2008 is starting today. The winners and runners-up in the seven qualifying groups (50 teams) will join the hosts Austria and Switzerland in the UEFA EURO 2008 final round.

Group A
20:45 Belgium - Kazakhstan 0:0

Group B
19:00 Faroe Islands - Georgia 0:6

Group E
19:00 Estonia - F.Y.R. Macedonia 0:1

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Pavel Nedved, who has scored 18 goals in 90 games for the Czech Republic, has announced his retirement from international football after the Czech Republic’s friendly game with Serbia. This will be his second retirement from international football. After Euro 2004 he ended his international career but returned to help the Czech Republic team during the qualifying for this summer’s World Cup.

I would like to say that the match against Serbia will be my last match for the national team. I have decided to end my international career and free the place for youngsters. My decision is final. I am going to be 34 and I want to be with my family and play for Juventus.

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