FIFA has concerns over 2010 World Cup preparations but no `red light'

DURBAN, South Africa (AP) -- FIFA said Thursday it has some concerns about South Africa's preparations for the 2010 World Cup, while stressing there was no "red light" -- for now -- to getting venues ready on time.

In the run-up to Sunday's preliminary draw for the World Cup, a two-week strike by construction workers at Durban's new soccer stadium raised concerns about delays at several sites, but FIFA said the situation was under control.


"For sure we are looking at what is happening," FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said. But, he added, "We are still on track today."

"For the time being there is no red light. There are some concerns on some stadiums," he said.

Striking workers had threatened to disrupt Sunday's preliminary draw.

Danny Jordaan, the head of the 2010 local organizing committee, said he was convinced workers would not threaten the deadlines for finishing stadiums, even though some lag behind schedule.

"We will not fail the delivery of stadiums on time," he said. "We don't doubt the commitment of the workers to make up time."

However, he did not question the right to strike.

"The point is there are always competing interests," Jordaan said. "We have a duty to deliver to FIFA all infrastructure on time."

The deadline for completion of World Cup venues is October 2009, while the five stadiums for the June 2009 Confederations Cup have to be ready by this coming October.

South Africa was awarded the 2010 World Cup three years ago. Since then, there have been concerns about delays in stadium and infrastructure construction, lack of public transportation and high crime rate.

Jordaan said runaway costs were forcing organizers to reassess the budget and could lead to spending cuts.

"Does it constitute a crisis? Definitely not," Jordaan said.

A group of experts is currently investigating where cuts can be made, and a report will be presented to the board of the organizing committee on Friday. Budgets have been affected by the price of steel and the exchange rate.

The South African government is investing some $5.9 billion in the World Cup, including $2.6 billion in stadiums, transportation and supporting infrastructure.

England alive! Israel beats Russia 2-1 in European Championship qualifier

RAMAT GAN, Israel (AP) -- As Dmitry Sychev's 90th-minute drive headed toward the goal, it appeared England would be virtually eliminated from European Championship qualifying.

Then the ball bounced off a post and Omer Golan scored in injury time, giving Israel a 2-1 victory over Russia on Saturday night that could allow the England to join next summer's 16-nation field.


All the English have to do is tie or beat Croatia on Wednesday at Wembley. And Croatia has little incentive to play all out, having clinched a berth because of Israel's victory.

"We have been given another chance to qualify, and that has to motivate every player on Wednesday evening," England midfielder Steven Gerrard said. "If we don't get there it will be so frustrating, and we have to make sure we have the right mentality on Wednesday."

Croatia (8-1-2) clinched a berth despite a 2-0 loss at Macedonia and leads Group E with 26 points, followed by England (7-2-2) with 23. Russia (6-2-3) is third with 21 but England has the tiebreaker because of a better goal difference in splitting its two games against the Russians.

Russia, which had put itself in control of gaining a berth with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over England in Moscow last month, could have virtually eliminated the English with a victory over Israel but now must win at last-place Andorra on Wednesday and hope the English lose.

Elyaniv Barda gave Israel the lead in 10th minute, but Diniyar Bilyaletdinov tied it in the 61st.

"Of course we are very, very disappointed," Russia coach Guus Hiddink said. "We were close. We were the team who was dominating the game."

The English enter Wednesday's game missing Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen and John Terry because of injuries and Rio Ferdinand due to a suspension.

"It will be difficult, but I am convinced we will get the result we need," England coach Steve McClaren said. "I always believed it would come down to the Croatia game and, thankfully, it has."

Bayern Munich draws 2-2 with Bolton in UEFA Cup group stage

LONDON (AP) -- Bayern Munich allowed a late goal Thursday and settled for a 2-2 tie with visiting Bolton in the UEFA Cup group stage.

Bolton midfielder Kevin Nolan collected a quick throw-in and hooked the ball over Bayern defenders Lucio and Christian Lell before tapping it to Kevin Davies, who scored past Bayern goalkeeper Oliver Khan in the 82nd minute.

"We didn't think that this is a team playing internationally that can also shoot goals," Kahn said.

Lukas Podolski scored twice for four-time European champion Bayern, which is in the UEFA Cup after 10 years in the Champions League because it finished fourth in the German league last season.

Other winners Thursday were Tottenham, Everton, Panathinaikos, Villareal, Fiorentina, Spartak Moscow, Sparta Prague, Bordeaux, Zenit St. Petersburg and Helsingborg. The 1991 European champion Red Star Belgrade lost 3-0 at Greek side Aris.

Ricardo Gardner scored in the eighth minute for Bolton, which is 19th in the English Premier League. Bolton was playing its first European match with new manager Gary Megson, who took over on Oct. 25.

Podolski scored in the 30th and 49th minutes, both set up by Franck Ribery.

"Naturally I'm disappointed over the result, but not the way we played," Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said. "We were too careless, that really makes me mad."

Red Star -- which lost in injury-time to Bayern 3-2 in the first round -- conceded goals in the 89th and 90th minutes against Aris. Athanassios Papazoglu scored twice and Sergio Kolce added the other.

Tottenham beat Hapoel Tel Aviv 2-0, including Robbie Keane's 10th goal of the season on a volley off a cross from Steed Malbranque. Malbranque helped set up the second, sending a crossing pass to Dimitar Berbatov, who put a header past goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.

Spurs, a two-time UEFA Cup champion, lost 2-1 at home to Getafe in its opening group match. It has since replaced coach Martin Jol with Juande Ramos, who guided Sevilla to consecutive UEFA Cup titles.

In the other Group G game, Aalborg scored in the 86th minute to draw Anderlecht 1-all.

Fiorentina extended its overall unbeaten streak to 21 matches with a 6-1 rout of Swedish side Elfsborg in Group C.

Martin Jorgensen scored twice and Christian Vieri, Marco Donadel, Per Kroldrup and Samuel Di Carmine also found the net for the Viola.

Elfsborg forward James Keene was carried off on a stretcher in the 21st minute after getting hit by the ball in the face and head. He did not need hospital treatment.

Karol Kisel scored two goals, including the winner, in Sparta Prague's 3-2 victory at Toulouse in the other group game.

Roman Pavlyuchenko scored on a penalty kick after Bayer Leverkusen forward Stefan Kiessling fouled Morais Welliton in the 63rd minute, launching Spartak Moscow's 2-1 win. Santos Mozart converted another penalty in the 77th after Maxym Kalynychenko was fouled by Leverkusen goalkeeper Rene Adler.

Bayer Leverkusen, which is sixth in the German league, scored in injury time.

Villareal won its first group game, 2-1 over Mlada Boleslav behind goals from Sanit Carzorla and Nihat Kahveci.

Mikel Arteta converted a penalty kick in the 83rd minute and Victor Anichebe added another six minutes later for Everton to win 2-0 at FC Nuremberg in Group A. Russian league leader Zenit defeated Larissa 3-2 in the other group game, Fatih Teke scoring the winner in the 78th minute by glancing in a cross from Alejandro Dominguez.

Henrik Larsson scored for Helsingborg in its 3-2 win at Galatasaray in Group H. Christoffer Andersson and Razak Omotoyossi added the other goals for the Swedish team. Bordeaux beat Austria Vienna 2-1 in the other group match with a penalty kick in the 88th minute by Brazilian forward Wendel.

Rennes earned a 1-1 tie with FK Brann with an 88th-minute penalty kick from Bruno Cheyrou, and Dinamo Zagreb drew 0-0 at FC Basel in Group D.

Panathiniakos won 1-0 at FC Copenhagen behind a goal from Dame Ndoye, and Aberdeen and Lokomotiv Moscow tied 1-all in Group B.

The top three clubs from each group advance to the knockout stage. The next round is Nov. 29.

Injury time goal gives Arsenal draw with United

LONDON, Nov 3 (Reuters) - An injury-time goal by skipper William Gallas gave Arsenal a 2-2 draw with Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday to preserve their unbeaten record this season and keep them top of the Premier League.

Gallas's strike was adjudged to have crossed the line by the linesman and referee Howard Webb as the match reached a frenetic finale.

It was even more special for Gallas who had scored an own goal at the end of the first half to give United the lead.

With only a minute of stoppage time remaining, Arsenal had looked destined for defeat after Cristiano Ronaldo put the champions 2-1 up from close range in the 82nd minute.

Instead, Arsenal stay top with 27 points from their 11 matches, while United, who have scored fewer goals, remain second on 27 from 12 games.

A vast global television audience watched Arsenal's 25th match in all competitions without defeat, a club record, while the draw ended United's run of eight successive league wins.

While United went in 1-0 up at the interval it took Arsenal only three minutes of the second half to equalise when Cesc Fabregas chose his spot for his 11th goal of the season.

Cristiano Ronaldo appeared to have sealed the win for United with his 82nd minute strike before Gallas saved the day for the league leaders.

SCORING CHANCES

Both teams created scoring chances, with United having the first after 16 minutes. Ryan Giggs shot wide from close range with only keeper Manuel Almunia to beat after a Ronaldo cross eluded defender Bacary Sagna and left Giggs with the goal beckoning at the far post.

Giggs went close again when he turned and shot just over the bar after 23 minutes.

Although Arsenal had played some neat approach work in midfield, their first real attempt did not come until the 36th minute when Gallas powered in a header from a Cesc Fabregas free-kick which Van der Sar did well to parry with his legs before United cleared.

United went ahead in stoppage time at the end of the first half when Gallas turned the ball past Almunia as he tried to block a close-range shot from England striker Wayne Rooney.

Stunned by Gallas's own goal, Arsenal were more threatening after the break.

They were level within three minutes of the second half with Fabregas scoring his fourth goal in his last three matches.

FABREGAS SPOT

Van der Sar appeared to have done enough to block a shot from Emmanuel Adebayor, but the ball ran free to Sagna whose quick pass gave Fabregas time and space to score.

Van der Sar had to make another good save after 59 minutes from another Fabregas free-kick at the edge of the box.

Rooney and Giggs then combined at the other end, with Rooney heading wide after a clever exchange of passes with Giggs. Ronaldo restored the champions' lead with a cool finish after a sweet passing move involving substitute Louis Saha and Patrice Evra split the Arsenal defence wide open.

But Gallas came to Arsenal's rescue, earning a draw that was a fair result between the champions and the team most likely to press them all the way this season.

FIFA set to change World Cup rotation system

FIFA set to change World Cup rotation system


By Martyn Ziegler Special to PA SportsTicker

ZURICH, Switzerland (Ticker) - FIFA is expected to decide on Monday to change the system of rotating the World Cup finals between the continents.

FIFA's executive committee, which will meet in Zurich, is to examine various options including whether more than one country from each continent can bid.


Under the current rotation system, the World Cup went to Africa for 2010 (South Africa won the contest), South America for 2014 and if rotation continued would go to a country from north and central America or the Caribbean in 2018. The United States plans to bid in 2018.

However FIFA president Sepp Blatter is concerned that only one nation - Brazil - bid for 2014 and said last week that he favored a change.

"My thoughts are that we shall open the market and make the World Cup available for everybody apart from the last confederation which has just organized it, which means South America cannot bid for 2018," Blatter said. The FIFA president should get his way as the majority of the 23 FIFA executive members who meet in Zurich are understood to be of the same opinion.

Cal goalkeeper fights cancer, with a little help from her friends

Cal goalkeeper fights cancer, with a little help from her friends

By JANIE McCAULEY, AP Sports Writer
October 25, 2007

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) -- The diagnosis came a few weeks ago for California goalkeeper Jorden LaFontaine-Kussmann -- lymphoma.

Now the 18-year-old freshman is about to undergo her second round of chemotherapy to attack a large mass in the middle of her chest. When she told her friends and dorm mates on the men's soccer team she will soon be bald, they beat her to it: They shaved their heads in support.


"She's amazing," said Jordan Bethke, a freshman goalie on the Cal men's team. "She's dealing with it like a champ."

LaFontaine-Kussmann is handling her ordeal with a sense of humor and sense of purpose. She insists she will be back on the field for the 2008 season.

"I kind of just feel like I'm injured for six months," she said. "I will pick back up where I left off. Not playing soccer is not an option."

LaFontaine-Kussmann is staying in school, choosing not to return home to Lakewood, Wash., for treatment because of the support at Cal.

The men's players sporting what are now buzz cuts -- the hair is growing back and they plan to shave again -- but that's just the beginning.

Her teammates are wearing navy blue wristbands with the initials "JLK" and lime green warmup shirts donated by the Missouri women's soccer team. The Cal players also had green bracelets made in honor of Jorde, as they call her, and are planning a head scarf and hat party so she is prepared to stay warm this winter.

Teammate Megan Jesolva cut her hair to have a wig made for LaFontaine-Kussmann. Cal also is trying to get former players involved.

"I sent an e-mail out to the coaches in Division I and asked if they had any experiences to share," first-year Cal coach Neil McGuire said. "The overwhelming response has been incredible. Not only are we mobilizing but so are other programs."

When the Bears play at Arizona State on Friday night, the Sun Devils will wear wristbands in her honor. Former Cal coach Kevin Boyd is now at ASU, and he recruited LaFontaine-Kussmann.

She will move into an apartment next week, with one of her sisters who has relocated to the Bay Area to help. Her parents also will be around regularly.

Because her cancer affects the cells of the immune system, LaFontaine-Kussmann has to be extra careful not to get sick. After her chemo treatments, which last anywhere from six to eight hours at a time, she is zapped. So having her own space and being out of the dorms will allow her to be much more comfortable as she recovers.

She will have five more chemo sessions spaced over three-week spans, followed by two months of radiation.

The last thing she wants is to be treated as if she is sick.

"Why be down and depressed about it?" she said. "I have the best situation going -- a school that cares. I kind of feel lucky."

LaFontaine-Kussmann, who feels blessed to have both her biological and adopted father in her life and thus the hyphenated last name, began experiencing sharp chest pains last month. While convinced they would go away, she told the team trainer anyway. And then began a whirlwind week of tests and scans and more exams.

She's thankful that she spoke up. Doctors said the fast-growing mass had been developing for about a year, but the cancer hadn't spread and most likely would respond well to treatment. Two years ago, she dealt with a skin cancer on the Achilles' tendon area of her left foot.

"I don't want to say I'm not emotional because I am," she said. "But it's just another bump in the road. It's hard sometimes. It's not an option not to get through it."

LaFontaine-Kussmann already has lopped 8 inches off her long hair and is sporting a stylish bob. She planned to trim it one more time before the chemicals in her body do their part and she loses it all.

"I'm still holding onto the hope it won't fall out," she said with a grin, superstitiously crossing her fingers on both hands and holding them in the air. "It's nice. I have never had hair this short, so it gives me a reason to try it."

LaFontaine-Kussmann is trying to stay active with the team as much as possible. Some days are better than others. This week, she helped set up cones and kicked the ball around as long as she could before becoming too winded.

"Whenever I feel well, I try to join in," she said.

She had to drop one class, but her professors and academic advisers have been eager to assist.

"It's going to be tough, but a lot of things are going to be tough," she said. "I've been here three months and have made so many friends who would do that for me."