European action kicks off for the year today as David Beckham’s AC Milan and a strong contingent of English and French clubs restart their attempt to deny UEFA Cup holders Zenit St Petersburg a consecutive title.
AC Milan’s loss to rivals Inter on Sunday to lose touch in Italy may galvanize Carlo Ancelotti’s men in the last 32 of this second-tier club competition, while Aston Villa might be stung into action after defeat in the FA Cup.
Turks Galatasaray should be motivated in their trip to Bordeaux knowing the May 20 final is in Istanbul, while AC Milan’s evergreen defender Paolo Maldini, who turns 41 in June, has a chance for one last European hurrah after a glittering career with the Rossoneri. AC Milan’s fixture at Werder Bremen today pits two coaches, Ancelotti and Thomas Schaaf, who started the European Cup semi-final, first leg in Germany as players in the 1988-1989 season, which ended goalless. The Marco van Basten-inspired Milan went on to lift the trophy. Villa, part of an English contingent also including Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur still in the UEFA Cup, might be worth an outside bet for the title.
PHOTO: AFP
Though Martin O’Neill’s Villa lost to Everton in the Cup at the weekend, they are now third in the Premiership, having broken up England’s elite top four and had seven players in Fabio Capello’s England squad for last week’s 2-0 friendly loss in Spain.
Media pundit and former Scotland international Pat Nevin said, however, that O’Neill would be hungrier to win silverware in the UEFA Cup than league glory.
“If you are a Villa fan it would be extraordinary. Ask them what they want, fourth in the league or a piece of silverware they can look back on? In 20 years’ time what will people remember? It is the trophy every time,” he said.
Meanwhile, Marseille midfielder Karim Ziani has a groin injury that rules him out of their home match against Dutch club FC Twente tomorrow, the club said.
The Algerian international had to be replaced just before half-time in Eric Gerets’ side’s 1-0 victory at Monaco on Sunday. Defender Julien Rodriguez is also doubtful with a foot injury, Gerets told the press, and a decision on his inclusion would be taken jointly by the player and medical staff.
The other central defender Vitorino Hilton looks set to miss out on UEFA Cup action after being told to take 48 hours rest after injuring an ankle on Sunday, while veteran striker Sylvain Wiltord has a knee knock. Gerets has the good news that striker Mamadou Niang will be in the squad for the first time since fracturing his foot at the beginning of December.
Paris Saint Germain host VfL Wolfsburg today while the other French team, St Etienne, the 1976 European Cup runners-up, play at Greeks Olympiakos with a possible meeting with AC Milan in the next round. Defending champions St Petersburg host Stuttgart today as they continue their attempt to become only the third team to successfully defend the trophy after Real Madrid in 1986 and Sevilla in 2007.
Taiwan kept their hopes of advancing to next year’s World Baseball Classic (WBC) alive with a 9-1 victory over South Africa in a qualifier at the Taipei Dome on Saturday, backed by solid pitching. Taiwan last night played against Nicaragua. As of press time, Nicaragua was leading 6-0. Bouncing back from Friday’s struggles on the mound, when Taiwanese pitchers surrendered 15 runs to Spain, Team Taiwan on Saturday kept the visiting team in check, allowing just one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Starting pitcher Sha Tzu-chen struck out one and allowed no hits, except for a hit-by-pitch over
Taiwan kept its hopes of advancing to the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) alive with a 9-1 victory over South Africa in a qualifier at the Taipei Dome last night, backed by solid pitching. Bouncing back from Friday’s struggles on the mound, when Taiwanese pitchers surrendered 15 runs to Spain, Team Taiwan kept the visiting team in check, allowing just one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. The win was crucial for Taiwan, as a loss would have eliminated the team from contention for the next WBC. Starting pitcher Sha Tzu-chen (沙子宸) struck out one and allowed no hits, except for
Team Taiwan are set to face Spain in a win-or-go-home match tonight for the final berth at the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), despite losing to Nicaragua 6-0 in the WBC qualifier at the Taipei Dome on Sunday. The home team’s loss on Sunday means Nicaragua finish first in the qualifier round in Taipei with a perfect 3-0 record and advances to next year’s finals. After crushing South Africa 9-1 earlier on Sunday, Spain took second place in the four-team qualifier with a 2-1 record. With a 1-2 record, Taiwan finished third while South Africa placed at the bottom with
Team Taiwan avoided missing the World Baseball Classic (WBC) for the first time by defeating Spain 6-3 in a do-or-die game in Taipei last night. After narrowly escaping a mercy-rule loss to Spain in the WBC Qualifiers opener on Friday last week, the home team — winner of last year's WBSC Premier12 title three months ago — got their revenge against the 2023 European champions at Taipei Dome. "It felt quite different from when we won the Premier12," Taiwan captain Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲) said after the game, recalling the ups and downs the team has experienced over the past few days. Unlike in
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