Soccer Sports News & Betting

Former FC Cologne coach Christoph Daum had several pieces of luggage - including a laptop containing the contact details of many leading footballers - stolen as he checked on to a flight to Turkey, Germanys Bild newspaper reported Monday.

Daum was traveling from Duesseldorf to Istanbul on Sunday to begin his second stint with Fenerbahce, a club he coached between 2003-06 and led to two national league titles.

He told Bild that several of his bags were stolen while he was checking in. One, he said, contained a laptop on which he had stored his new coaching contract and the contact information for many prominent football players and trainers.

The computer is my memory, Daum said. He added that he reported the theft to Duesseldorf airport police.

Daum is replacing Luis Aragones of Spain as Fenerbahce coach.

He coached the Bundesliga club in Cologne since November 2006.

Luiz Felipe Scolaris first taste of Asian continental competition with Bunyodkor will come in September when the Uzbek club hosts South Koreas Pohang Steelers in the Asian Champions League quarterfinals.

Scolari, who guided Brazil to the World Cup title in 2002 when the sports showpiece tournament was co-hosted by South Korea and Japan, arrived in Uzbekistan to take up his new contract Monday, about the same time the draw for the ACL quarterfinals was taking place in Kuala Lumpur.

Pohang manager Sergio Farias was excited by the prospect of locking horns with his famous compatriot in the Asian club championship quarterfinals.

It will be an interesting match between two teams coached by Brazilians. I know that Scolari (has) reached Tashkent and I am looking forward to the two-legged quarterfinal, Farias told the-afc.com. I would have actually preferred to play against the Japanese teams but its good that we play the away match first against the Uzbeks.

Pohang advanced on a 6-0 thrashing of Australias Newcastle Jets in the second round and won back-to-back Asian club championships in the 1990s.

Japan, South Korea and Uzbekistan all got two clubs into the last eight, but only one J-League representative can advance any further after Japanese clubs Kawasaki Frontale and Nagoya were drawn to meet in the quarters on Sept. 23 and Sept. 30.

Kawasaki ousted defending champion and J-League rival Gamba Osaka from contention in the second round.

FC Seoul will face Qatar club Umm Salal and Uzbekistans Pakhtakor faces two-time champion Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia.

Bunyodkor team manager Bakhtiyor Babaev expected Scolaris arrival to increase the clubs chances of winning the ACL title.

We hope that Scolaris experience will come in handy at the international level and it will benefit Bunyodkor, he was quoted saying.

The 60-year-old Scolari has signed an 18-month deal with the Uzbek league leaders and Asian Champions League quarterfinalists.

Bunyodkors hiring of Scolari was in keeping with a big-spending and ambitious transfer policy. Veteran Brazil playmaker Rivaldo plays at the club, which also made an audacious bid to sign Barcelona striker Samuel Etoo.

Scolari, who takes over from another Brazilian great Zico, was fired by English Premier League club Chelsea in February. Apart from his stint as national coach at Kuwait, Brazil and Portugal, he has helped Brazilian clubs Gremio and Palmeiras to Copa Libertadores titles.

The Asian Champions League semifinals will be played in a home-and-away format Oct. 21 and 28. The final will be held at Tokyos National Stadium on Nov. 7 with the winners clinching a spot at the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi in December.

Germany beat England 4-0 to win the European Under-21 Championship on Monday night in front of a near sellout crowd at Malmo Stadium.

Gonzalo Castro opened the scoring in the 23rd minute and Mesut Ozil made it 2-0 three minutes into the second half with a long-range free-kick that embarrassed stand-in goalkeeper Scott Loach, who appeared wrong-footed and could only palm the ball into his own net.

Sandro Wagner scored two late goals within a span of five minutes late in the final to seal the victory.

Ozil set up his first, nicking the ball in midfield before marauding forward and releasing Wagner, who shot between Loachs legs.

Wagner then added the fourth, in the 84th minute, curling the ball neatly into the far corner following a counterattack.

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer did not have to make a save throughout the one-sided final.

England coach Stuart Pearce, who revealed he has signed a new two year-deal to lead the team until the next Under-21 championship, said he would take his time to analyze the teams failings.

It is down to me sit back and let the dust settle on this tournament and work out how to improve at this level, said Pearce.

Hats off to the Germans, they beat us 4-0. You have to be humble but it still hurts me.

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Lineups:

Germany: Manuel Neuer, Andreas Beck, Benedikt Howedes, Jerome Boateng, Sebastian Boenisch, Fabian Johnson (Daniel Schwaab 69), Gonzalo Castro, Mats Hummels (Dennis Aogo 83), Sami Khedira, Mesut Ozil (Marcel Schmelzer 89), Sandro Wagner.

England: Scott Loach, Martin Cranie (Craig Gardner 79), Micah Richards, Nedum Onuoha (Michael Mancienne 46), Kieran Gibbs, Lee Cattermole, Fabrice Muamba (Jack Rodwell 77), Mark Noble, James Milner, Theo Walcott, Adam Johnson.

Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney believes he can fill the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez if he is played in his favored central role and supported by new attacking talent.

Man United will receive 80 million pounds ($132 million) from Ronaldos transfer to Real Madrid but nothing for Tevez, who has been linked with a move to crosstown rival Manchester City after rejecting a permanent contract.

Ecuador winger Luis Antonio Valencia is set to join the Red Devils from Wigan, and Rooney is hoping more players will be signed.

Weve lost two key players and obviously I hope we can get a few players in, Rooney said in Mondays edition of British newspaper The Times. Between them, Cristiano and Carlos scored a lot of goals for us last season and the season before, but I would like to think Im capable of filling that gap.

Ive said before that, if I can play in my right position, Im capable of doing that.

Rooney has often been asked to play out wide by manager Alex Ferguson since joining from Everton in 2004, preventing him from consistently showing his best form.

I want to play in the position where I feel Im best, Rooney said. A lot of people think Im best as a center forward. To play in a Champions League final and to play week in, week out for Manchester United is a privilege and its something Im very lucky to be doing, but I dont think playing on the wing I can express myself as much as I like to.

Rooney helped United win a third straight Premier League title last season, but is still gutted about losing the Champions League final to Barcelona.

As well as going one better in Europe next season, Rooney hopes to win the World Cup with England.

Next season could be the season that transforms me from someone who could be a great player into someone who is a great player, Rooney said. Thats what Im hoping. Its a massive season for the club and for me personally, with the prize at the end of it being the World Cup. Its a season which I want to grab with both hands.

Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said his team wont repeat its mistakes from the Confederations Cup if the defending champions return to South Africa for the World Cup next year.

Marcello Lippis side exited in the first stage following defeats to Egypt and Brazil. Italys only win was a 3-1 victory against United States.

This type of competition serves to test the team and shows the mistakes we cant make at the World Cup in 2010, Buffon wrote on his personal Web site. Next year, we will be at our best and the group of players will be ready.

Lippi knows he can count on everyone; both those of us who won the World Cup in Germany three years ago and the others who have come into the squad.

Italy currently leads Group 8 in European qualifying, one point above Ireland with a game in hand. The team next plays away to Georgia and then at home to Bulgaria before traveling to Ireland for the next-to-last qualifier.

Unfortunately, it didnt go as we would have liked and how we all would have hoped, Buffon said. Our adventure in the Confederations Cup finished too soon, but we are trying to look on the positive side.

However, it is better for it to have happened now and not in the World Cup or a European Championship. I dont want to make excuses, but we really didnt arrive in the right physical condition - we were only at 60 percent.

Former Germany captain Lothar Matthaeus will not be joining Hungarys FC Fehervar, after he failed to agree a contract with the team.

FC Fehervar announced Matthaeus hiring three weeks ago, but the team has since issued a brief statement saying negotiations had fallen through.

Discussions have now ended without result, FC Fehervar said on its Web site Saturday, adding that both parties had agreed not to disclose details of the talks.

Matthaeus, who coached Hungarys national team in 2004-05 without much success, was to sign a two-year deal with FC Fehervar, with a club option for a third year.

The 48-year old Matthaeus has held coaching jobs at Israels Maccabi Netanya, Austrias Rapid Vienna and Red Bull Salzburg, Atletico Paranaense of Brazil and Serbias FK Partizan.

He played 150 games for Germany, leading the team to victory at the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

United States 1 1-2.

Spain 0 0-0

First half-1, United States, Altidore 1 (Dempsey), 27th minute.

Second half-2, United States, Dempsey 2, 74th minute.

Yellow Cards-Donovan, US, 5th; Altidore, US, 28th; Capdevila, Sp, 36th; Pique, Sp, 89th. Red Cards-Bradley, US, 87th.

Referee-Jorge Larrionda, Uruguay. Linesmen-Pablo Fandino, Uruguay; Mauricio Espinosa

A-35,269.

Lineups

United States-Tim Howard; Carlos Bocanegra, Jay DeMerit, Oguchi Onyewu, Jonathan Spector; Michael Bradley, Ricardo Clark, Clint Dempsey (Jonathan Bornstein, 88th), Landon Donovan; Charlie Davies (Benny Feilhaber, 69th), Jozy Altidore (Conor Casey, 83rd)

Spain-Iker Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol, Joan Capdevila; Xabi Alonso, Albert Riera (Juan Manuel Mata, 78th), Cesc Fabregas (Santi Cazorla, 68th), Xavi Hernandez; David Villa, Fernando Torres

Giovani Dos Santos scored two goals and assisted on another to help Mexico win its friendly against Venezuela 4-0 Wednesday night.

Mexico plays a second friendly against Guatemala on Sunday in San Diego.

Coach Javier Aguirre is using the friendlies and three CONCACAF Gold Cup games next month to hone El Tri for an Aug. 12 World Cup qualifier in Mexico City against the United States, which advanced to the Confederations Cup final with a stunning 2-0 upset of top-ranked Spain on Wednesday in South Africa.

El Tri has a 22-0-1 record against the United States in its homeland, but Mexico is currently 2-3 and fourth in CONCACAF qualifying. The regions top three teams earn automatic spots for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

According to El Tri general manager Nestor De La Torre, Mexicos current squad will stay in place only through the friendlies. He and Aguirre could make several changes before the Gold Cup games.

Its too early to draw conclusions, Aguirre said. I have told the players that all 23 of them will be playing in these five matches. After that, we should have a good idea as to who will be starting.

Mexico took a 1-0 lead in the 45th minute on Dos Santos pass from the right side to Carlos Vela, who easily beat Rafael Romo when the Venezuelan goalkeeper fell in front of the goal box.

Four minutes earlier, Romo, who allowed all four goals and made six saves, went face-down on the Georgia Dome grass with an apparent injury, but he never left the field.

Dos Santos scored from the right side, hitting the left part of the net for a 2-0 lead in the 48th. Less than three minutes later, he made it 3-0 when he went for a high kick against Romo in the penalty box. The ball ricocheted off Romo, and Dos Santos quickly gained control to hit the back of the net.

Aguirre has replaced eight players, including six starters from his 2006 World Cup team. Chicago Fire midfielder Cuauhtemoc Blanco, a reserve on the 06 national club, was a notable scratch last week.

Omar Arellano gave Mexico a 4-0 lead in the 73rd minute.

Georgia Dome officials announced a crowd of 51,115 at the 72,000-seat indoor stadium. Mexican fans far outnumbered those cheering for Venezuela, the only team out of South Americas 10 countries to have never reached the World Cup.

Dome operators installed a temporary grass surface for the first time since it opened in 1992.

Mexico goalie Guillermo Ocoha had four saves on Venezuelas 11 shots on goal. El Tri took 13 shots, but Aguirre indicated he still hasnt decided who will start against Guatemala.

I know the fans have their favorite players, but I have to be tough when I make decisions, Aguirre said. Its my job to put the best 11 players out there that are available for that match.

United States 1 1-2.

Spain 0 0-0

First half-1, United States, Altidore 1 (Dempsey), 27th minute.

Second half-2, United States, Dempsey 2, 74th minute.

Yellow Cards-Donovan, US, 5th; Altidore, US, 28th; Capdevila, Sp, 36th; Pique, Sp, 89th. Red Cards-Bradley, US, 87th.

Referee-Jorge Larrionda, Uruguay. Linesmen-Pablo Fandino, Uruguay; Mauricio Espinosa

A-35,269.

Lineups

United States-Tim Howard; Carlos Bocanegra, Jay DeMerit, Oguchi Onyewu, Jonathan Spector; Michael Bradley, Ricardo Clark, Clint Dempsey (Jonathan Bornstein, 88th), Landon Donovan; Charlie Davies (Benny Feilhaber, 69th), Jozy Altidore (Conor Casey, 83rd)

Spain-Iker Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol, Joan Capdevila; Xabi Alonso, Albert Riera (Juan Manuel Mata, 78th), Cesc Fabregas (Santi Cazorla, 68th), Xavi Hernandez; David Villa, Fernando Torres

Several Tehran papers have reported that some Iranian soccer players are retiring from the national team, fueling speculation the departure was related to green bands the players wore in support of the countrys opposition movement.

The flurry of conflicting reports on the fate of the players hails back to the incident last week, when several members on the Iranian team wore green tape on their wrists in a World Cup qualifier against South Korea in Seoul.

Some newspapers said the players are retiring voluntarily, reportedly because of their age, but at least one suggested they were forced out.

It was not possible to confirm the reports independently and calls to Iranian soccer officials were not immediately answered.

The speculation focused on two players who both wore green in Seoul: Ali Karimi, 31, and Mehdi Mahdavikia, 32. However, both had earlier announced plans to quit soon because of their age.

The Seoul incident was a gesture of solidarity with opposition leader Mir Hossain Mousavi whose supporters accuse the government of rigging Irans June 12 election in favor of hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Green was adopted as the color of Mousavis campaign and has been widely displayed in opposition street protests in Irans postelection turmoil.

At least seven Iranian players wore the bands in the first half against South Korea, although most were forced to take them off before the second.

Mahdavikia is one of Irans biggest sports heroes for a goal he scored to eliminate the United States during the first round of the World Cup in 1998. Karimi is also a soccer star who has played for Germanys Bayern Munich.

Iran was later eliminated from World Cup qualifying because of a draw between Saudi Arabia and North Korea.