Gilardino wants more from Italy
World Cup snippets
Posted: 2010-06-22 13:40
Argentina coach Diego Maradona continues to say that Brazil are his favourites to win the World Cup while downplaying his side’s hopes of winning a third title.
Impressive victories against Nigeria and Korea republic mean Argentina need only one point from their final group game against Greece on Tuesday to reach the last 16, but Maradona is refusing to get carried away.
“I don't want to be favourites, not before coming to South Africa and not now,” he said. “We’re here to keep our fans happy, to play the way we want to play, and I think things so far are going well.
“Brazil can play badly but still win games; that’s why they are still the great favourites.”
Switzerland
West Ham midfielder Valon Behrami is hoping his Switzerland teammates can keep his World Cup dream alive following his sending off in Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat by Chile.
The 25-year-old will miss Friday’s final Group H game against Honduras as the Swiss attempt to make the most of their opening 1-0 win over Spain to book their place in the last 16.
The group is extremely tight, but if Switzerland beat Honduras by more than one clear goal it will guarantee their progress.
Italy
Italy striker Alberto Gilardino has told his teammates to step up their game against Slovakia or they will “deserve to go home” from the World Cup.
The Azzurri head into their final Group F match at Ellis Park on Thursday searching for their first win of the tournament after being held to draws by Paraguay and New Zealand.
“I didn't expect it to turn out like it did,” said Gilardino, who has yet to score in the tournament. “But if we want to progress to the next round, we have to do much more, otherwise, it is right that we go home.”
With just two points, the Azzurri must now beat Slovakia to guarantee a place in the last 16. Another draw would be sufficient if Paraguay were to beat New Zealand.
“The important thing is to look forward not back,” Gilardino said. “The possibility to go through is there just as our will to win. In our first two games, we wanted to create something important, but we were not able to do so. Paraguay and New Zealand didn't cause much danger to us, but we still failed to make the most of our chances. The will is there, but the problem is that we are lacking ideas.”
Japan
Japan captain Makoto Hasebe says coach Takeshi Okada has urged his players to put everything on the line in Thursday’s World Cup showdown with Denmark with a place in the last 16 at stake.
The winners in Rustenburg are guaranteed to join Holland in the last 16 from Group E, while a draw would send Japan through to a second appearance in the knockout stage due to a superior goal difference.
Okada, who took charge of Japan’s pointless 1998 Fifa World Cup debut, has already described the opportunity to reach the knockout for a first time on foreign soil following their run to the last 16 in 2002 as a “chance of a lifetime”.
“The coach has told us that in life you only get a few opportunities to reach the knockout stages of the World Cup and told us to give it our all,” said 26-year-old Wolfsburg midfielder Hasebe.
Comment on this article:
TERMS OF USE: The comments posted below do not reflect the views of KickOff.com. Users are reminded that no misuse of this comment facility will be tolerated. Any abusive, racist or inflammatory comments will be deleted and the user banned. Please report abusive posts to editor@kickoff.com