Sunderland’s Danny Welbeck still eligible to play for Ghana despite England call-up

The Ghana FA can still use FIFA regulations to chase for the strikers nationality switch. A perfect case is German-born American Jermaine Jones...

England have given Manchester United loanee Danny Welbeck his first call-up to the senior national side to face Ghana in an international friendly tonight at Wembley. The development is already generating debate whether the player can still opt for Ghana in future.

The Sunderland youngster was born in Manchester to Ghanaian parents and has played for England Under-17, U-18, U-19 and U-21. That made him eligible to play at the senior level for any of the two countries who are meeting for the first time at this level.

Prior to his invitation to join England, the west African nation was working fervently behind the scenes to get his signature with the likes of club and Ghanaian team mates Asamoah Gyan, John Mensah and Sulley Muntari persuading him to opt for the Black and white jersey. But the 20-year-old will now have his wish – to play for England.

Danny, who has bagged six goals in 22 league matches this season, has broken several hearts in his ancestral home with this decision. Already, the media has described it as a major blow to the 2010 World Cup quarter-finalists. Nonetheless, FIFA regulations make it possible for Ghana to still pursue the nationality switch of the winger since this is just a friendly

Barcelona's Bojan Krkic picks up ankle injury on Spain Under-21 duty

Barcelona' s Bojan Krkic has injured his right ankle following a heavy tackle early on in Spain's under-21 match against Belarus.

Barcelona's Bojan Krkic is unlikely to feature in Pep Guardiola's squad to face Villarreal on Sunday after he sustained a right ankle strain in Spain's Under-21 clash against Belarus yesterday.

The 20-year-old Barcelona cantera product was stretchered off the pitch in only the third minute after suffering a nasty challenge to his right ankle, AS reports. 

It is unknown how long Bojan will be sidelined for, however AS have declared him unlikely to be fit in time to travel to El Madrigal at the weekend as Barca square off against third placed Villarreal.  

The setback will be a bitter blow for the young Spaniard as he appeared on the verge of solidifying his role as back-up striker in recent weeks following a disappointing start to the season.

Bojan has five La Liga goals to his name from 22 appearances for the Blaugrana this season.

 

David Beckham has mixed emotions over Real Madrid - Tottenham Champions League clash

David Beckham cannot choose between the two sides as he has reason to support both clubs in their pursuit of European glory.

David Beckham says his allegiance is torn between Real Madrid and Tottenham ahead of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final showdown.

According to Marca, the 35-year-old LA Galaxy superstar is unable to pick a team to support in what promises to be a thrilling encounter between the English underdogs and the Spanish heavyweights. 

"I played for Real Madrid for four years and have always said I would support them in all their matches," Beckham began.

"But then I was at Spurs, so there are mixed emotions," the globetrotting midfielder continued.

"Besides, my grandfather was a follower of Tottenham. So I think I will just enjoy the game."

Beckham was signed by Real Madrid from Manchester United in July 2003 and teamed up with the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Roberto Carlos, Raul and Ronaldo to form 'Los Galacticos'.

In 2007 Beckham transferred to the MLS' LA Galaxy.

In January and February 2011, Beckham trained at White Hart Lane, where he seemed on the verge of signing on loan for Harry Redknapp's side but the move ultimately collapsed.

Indonesian FA in hot water with FIFA over PSSI Congress drama

Things are going from bad to worse for the official guardians of the game in Indonesia, who have now incurred the wrath of the global governing body...

Indonesian football is yet again embroiled in off-field concerns after this past weekend's Indonesian FA (PSSI) Congress was cancelled at the last minute.

Amidst scenes of extraordinary unrest, delegates who had travelled far to attend the Pekanbaru event were refused entry, as was FIFA observer Frank van Hattum.

The PSSI secretary-general later held a press conference in which he quoted van Hattum as saying that he had himself opted to cancel the Congress for security reasons.

But today a FIFA spokesperson has denied this, telling Goal.com: "FIFA's observer was prevented in being able to observe the PSSI General Assembly in Pekanbaru on March 26 by the PSSI leadership.

"The claim from the PSSI secretary general that it was FIFA who decided to cancel the PSSI Congress  for alleged security reasons is completely false. On the contrary, the FIFA observer repeatedly requested to go to the Congress venue and was prevented in doing so by the PSSI leadership.

"Once FIFA receives the official report from its observer, FIFA will submit the situation to the relevant body for a decision."

Van Hattum himself had earlier refuted all statements attributed to him, stating that he had had no contact with the media and in any case was not mandated to speak on the event - merely to observe.

Indonesian football is in crisis, with a breakaway league threatening the PSSI's stranglehold over the domestic game.

Up until this point FIFA have been firmly on the side of the PSSI, but this latest development may yet see the local FA lose a strong ally in its bid to control football in Indonesia.

 

Argentina legend Roberto Ayala slams Diego Maradona's World Cup performance

El Raton' believes that Maradona got his gameplan all wrong in the 4-0 Germany thrashing, and had some praise for successor Sergio Batista as Argentina prepare to play Costa Rica

Argentinian defensive legend Roberto Ayala has strongly criticised the coaching style of Diego Maradona in the Albiceleste's abortive 2010 World Cup campaign, and accused him of instigating the painful quarter-final defeat at the hands of Germany.

'El Raton' finally retired from professional football at the age of 37 last December, after a glittering career which included league titles in Argentina, Spain and Italy. The ex-Milan and Valencia star also picked up 115 caps for his country - a figure only surpassed by Inter's Javier Zanetti - and admitted that he thinks 'El Diego' got it all wrong when he took on the Germans in Johannesburg.

"He planned the game in completely the wrong manner in the last game: [Javier] Mascherano did not know where he was going. Germany were up for it and they went through," Ayala told El Pais on Monday evening. The ex-defender was particularly perplexed given that months before the World Cup the Seleccion had beaten Joachim Loew's side, albeit with very different tactics on display.

"It is not a criticism but if Maradona won a friendly in Germany playing them in a different way, I would have played the same: containment and counter-attacking."

Ayala moved on to talk about current coach Sergio Batista and his plans for the Albiceleste; and offered guarded praise for 'Checho'.

"The idea is to take care of the ball and beat teams with it at feet, following the model of Barcelona," he explained, before pointing out that Batista's men are still some way off their Spanish role models.

"You cannot copy it entirely though, because we only have Messi; Xavi, Iniesta and the full backs that can damage other teams are missing. Barca is a football culture developed over years of playing together."

The Albiceleste play Costa Rica later today in an international friendly. 

Lithuania-Spain Euro 2012 qualifier could face late postponement over pitch conditions

Lithuania's Euro 2012 qualifier against Spain may be scrapped due to the state of the much-maligned pitch in Kaunas.

Lithuania's Euro 2012 qualifier against Spain tonight may be postponed due to pressing concerns over the state of the Kaunas pitch.
According to AFP, UEFA officials will inspect the pitch an hour before kick-off. Should they deem it unfit to host the Group I encounter, the match will be postponed.

"The final decision has yet been taken," Jurga Chomskyte McGeever, a spokesman for the Lithuanian Federation, said.

"[The decision] will be taken one hour before the game," he added. 

The state of the pitch at the Darius and Stasys Steponas Girenas Stadium has attracted criticism from both national teams.

Spain's Vicente del Bosque yesterday led a chorus of protests to call off the game, labelling the field unfit for play.

An apologetic McGeever added: "After training yesterday, the pitch has suffered and the Lithuanian Federation is committed to [doing] what we are capable of [to address the matter]."

AFP have compounded doubts over the fixture, reporting sub-zero temperatures were experienced at the stadium this morning and that rain is forecast during the game.

Koeln & Inter strike deal over club partnership

Inter and Koeln to work together on developing players to import and export between the two clubs.

Bundesliga club Koeln and Italian champions Inter have struck an agreement to work in partnership, opening a feeder system between the two clubs.

Express reports German chiefs will fly out to Milan next week and start to work closer together on ideas in relation to player exchanges, as well as developing future scouting initiatives which could see the clubs swap players and nurture new talent.

Koeln managing director Claus Horstmann said of the deal: "We were approached by Inter for this move."

Sporting director Volker Finke added: "Looking beyond the borders is always good. Such a co-operation can be useful but only if it is adding value for both parties."

The agreement could well see der Geissbocke take first refusal on some of the European champions' outgoing players and young loan talents.