Piksi Stojkovic
World News for Week of Oct 16th
Piksi Stojkovic ditches Red Star, returns to Japan
Dragan Stojkovic has stepped down from the presidential position in Red Star Belgrade and is about to take over as sporting director at his old club Nagoya Grampus. According to Japan Today, Piksi will rejoin Grampus, for whom he played during eight glorious seasons in the J-League, in December.
Club representative Yoshiro Fukushima was a bit more cautious:
"He is one of the candidates we have spoken to. He has strong ties to our club and plans his future here."
The former highly honoured Serb international leaves Red Star after a less than impressive start to the new season for the champions, amid the turnmoil currently affecting Serb soccer.
Piksi (a nickname coming from Pixie, a cartoon character) said no-one had pressured him to step down and that he did not feel betrayed or disappointed.
Buffon leaves stadium in a trunk
Juventus and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon explained why he had left the Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence in the trunk of his car on October 7th.
"There were some controversial plays during the match and the atmosphere was tense. I had a friend of mine drive me in such a position in order to avoid conflict with discontented Fiorentina fans. It wasn't very comfortable, but it was better than facing an angry crowd," said 194 cm tall Buffon.
The keeper also departed from the same stadium in an unorthodox fashion eight years ago.
"After Parma's FA Cup victory at Fiorentina I left the premises with a clown mask on. This way I went past the home supporters with no problem whatsoever."
Kanouté attacked with a belt!
One of the best centre-forwards in the world, Sevilla's Frederic Kanouté, was injured in mass fighting after the Togo vs Mali game in the qualifications for the African 2008 Nations' Cup in Ghana.
The match in Lomé was won by Mali 2-0, but the local hooligans responded with a collective charge on the visiting players and fans.
Kanouté was struck with a belt on his arm, suffering a cut which had to be sewn up with three stitches. Stoke's Mamadi Sidibé also found himself on the receiving end, being stabbed with a knife in his arm.
Mali's coach Jean-Francois Jodar described the situation as a "battlefield".
"In the dressing rooms where our players took refuge there was blood everywhere."
Vágner Love loses a €40,000 earring
Russian clubs pay very, very well. Brazil forward Vágner Love lost an earring worth 40,000 euros during a practice at Granja Comary, preparing for WC qualifying games against Colombia and Ecuador.
Vágner was desperate not only over the price but because such an earring can only be purchased in Russia so he will have to wait until he returns to Moscow before he completes the pair.
"I really lost it during training. I hope the Russians agree to sell me just one piece," said the CSKA player aware that he may have to buy a whole new pair at €80,000.
Barca's chairman urges players to spare effors on national duty
"I expect Barcelona internationals to calm their efforts while they are on national duty," said Barca chairman Joan Laporta to his players Andrés Iniesta, Xavi Hernández and Carles Puyol during the League break for Spain's Euro qualifying games against Denmark and Sweden.
The statement caused shock in Spain and there were comments that Laporta, a noted Catalonian nationalist, would not require the same of his players were a prospective Catalonian national team in question.
"The internationals are capable of both playing for their country and relaxing," said Cesc Fabregas and Sergio Ramos with respect to Laporta's "advice".
Valencia's Miguel Ángel Angulo was even more explicit.
"My club has given no such instructions to Valencia's internationals. Sparing efforts while playing for Spain is not an option. Besides, the season is young and our legs are still fresh," said Angulo, whose club provides the most players for Luis Aragones's team.
Croatia top overall qualifiers table ahead of Scotland
By beating Israel 1-0 the Croatian national team went on top of the table including all teams taking part in the current Euro 2008 qualifiers. Slaven Bilic's team is the only one with 26 points, two more than Scotland and Poland, the latter with two games more played.
Croatia also lead the table based on point percentage, with 86.7%, while Germany and Romania share the second and the third spot with 85.2%. These teams are the only ones to have dropped just four points, but Croatia's result is superior due to having played a game more.
Euro qualifiers table
1. Croatia 26 points/10 games
2. Scotland 24/10
3. Poland 24/12
4. Germany 23/9
5. England 23/10
6. Romania 23/9
7. Italy 23/10
PREDICTIONS
Sweden, Czechia and Croatia almost through
Only Germany have mathematically made sure of qualifying but several other teams are just an inch away from Austria and Switzerland. Sweden, Czech Republic and Croatia are among them, while England and Scotland could be there if they win on Wednesday.
Groups A and B
None
Group C
Greece (1st). Need three points from three remaining games. Plays Malta at home.
Group D
Czechia (2nd). A point from their next three games will see them through.
Group E
Croatia (1st). In the worst case just need to avoid losing 0-2 or by more goals in England.
Group F
Sweden (1st). One point from three games will suffice.
Spain (2nd). One point from two games will be enough.
Group G
Romania (1st) Just have to beat Luxembourg and Albania.
Hanging by a thread
Among the big teams whose qualification is less than certain are Italy and Turkey.
Group A
Serbia (4th spot). Needs three wins but also for Poland or Portugal to slip up at home.
Group B
Italy (2nd). Probably have to beat Scotland in Glasgow unless the Scots fail to win in Georgia.
Group C
Turkey (2nd). Imperative to defeat Greece at home but also avoid defeat in Norway.
Group E
Russia (3rd). Needs all three wins including against England and in Israel.
Group G
Bulgaria (3rd). Not even beating Romania guarantees a safe passage.
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