Tue, Aug 31, 2010 page18

• SPORT SOCCER SHORTS

  • AGENCIES
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  ■ ENGLAND

  Capello recalls ditched stars

  Fabio Capello has been forced to recall a host of players he had previously ignored after injuries damaged the England coach’s preparations for the start of the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign. With Chelsea duo John Terry and Frank Lampard and Fulham striker Bobby Zamora all sidelined due to injury, Capello has recalled Matthew Upson, Michael Carrick, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe for the Wembley clash with Bulgaria on Friday and the trip to Switzerland on Sept. 7. Upson had been discarded by Capello for England’s post-World Cup friendly against Hungary after a disappointing showing from the West Ham defender in South Africa. Manchester United midfielder Carrick and Tottenham strikers Crouch and Defoe were also left out of that friendly, as was Manchester City winger Wright-Phillips. Capello also recalled goalkeepers Ben Foster of Birmingham and Scott Carson of West Brom after ignoring both for the World Cup.

  ■ JAPAN

  Okada explains mix-up

  Outgoing coach Takeshi Okada, who guided the Blue Samurai to the knockout stage at this summer’s World Cup, says he has been declining unlikely offers to become a farmer. The mix-up is all because of a mistranslation in his interview with a major British soccer magazine, the 54-year-old told a weekend talk show, Japanese media reported yesterday. Okada recalled he had told the magazine before the World Cup in South Africa that he would leave his job to lead a life typified by a Japanese idiom seikou-udoku, meaning “till the land when it shines and read books when it rains.” “That was mistaken to mean ‘I want to be engaged in farming,’” Okada said. The lifestyle has been idealized by intellectual recluses, but the idiom itself has been expanded to mean a life free from worldly affairs. The magazine quoted Okada as saying he would retire to become a “farmer.” As a result, he has received agricultural job offers from a banana plant in Okinawa and the mayor of a town on Hokkaido, Okada said.

  ■ JAPAN

  Zaccheroni takes reins

  Former Juventus and AC Milan coach Alberto Zaccheroni has been appointed to lead Japan’s national team. The Japan Football Association made the announcement yesterday, making Zaccheroni the first Italian and the sixth foreigner to coach Japan. The 57-year-old Zaccheroni takes over from Takeshi Okada, who stepped down after taking Japan to the round of 16 at the World Cup in South Africa. Japan play Paraguay and Guatemala at home on Saturday and Sept. 7 respectively. Zaccheroni’s first competitive tournament will be the Asian Cup in Qatar in January.

  ■ BRAZIL

  Hot-shot goalie scores again

  Rogerio Ceni, the world’s highest scoring goalkeeper, took his tally to 90 on Sunday as he helped Sao Paulo hold championship leaders Fluminense to a 2-2 draw at the Maracana. Ceni equalized with a free kick after midfielder Deco had put Fluminense ahead with his first goal for the club in his third match since joining them from Chelsea. Sao Paulo striker Fernandao made it 2-1 with a header before half-time but Leandro Euzebio headed Flu’s equalizer on the hour. Flu striker Washington could have scored a winner with a penalty for handball by Richarlyson but Ceni produced a brilliant diving save. “The important thing today was to add a point in this delicate moment we’re going through. What least matters now is the individual,” Ceni said.
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