Weekly Football News, August 7, 2012
Morgan sets up dream Olympic final
Free-scoring US striker Alex Morgan headed a dramatic 123rd-minute winner against Canada to set up a dream final against Japan on Thursday, who overcame France 2-1 in the first semi-final.
The Americans fell behind three times in a topsy-turvy continental affair, with defeat particularly cruel on Canadian captain Christine Sinclair, who scored a hat-trick – only the fourth in the history of women's Olympic football.
Pia Sundhage's team will have the chance to win the gold medal for the fourth time in five Olympics since women's football was introduced in 1996.
With only 30 seconds of extra time remaining before the beckoning penalty shootout, Heather O'Reilly swung over a cross from the right and Morgan rose to nod home.
England to blood Team GB youngsters against Italy
England Olympic stars Ryan Bertrand and Tom Cleverley are anticipated to make their full international debuts against Italy next week after impressing manager Roy Hodgson during Great Britain's run to the quarter-finals in London 2012.
Bertrand, the left-back from Chelsea, and Manchester United playmaker Cleverley, are set to feature in Hodgson's experimental line-up against the recent Euro 2012 finalists.
"Most [GB players] are pretty much ready anyway, but one or two of the younger players like Bertrand, [Daniel] Sturridge and Tom Cleverley, who is coming back from injury, may have not been quite so much a fixture in their teams," Hodgson told FATV.
"Let's hope the Olympic experience with Team GB has given them a better chance of staking a claim for a regular spot."
Cleverley looked set to make his senior international bow against the Netherlands a year ago after sparkling for Manchester United in pre-season, but circumstances and constant injury problems derailed his progress at Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, Bertrand – who played in Chelsea's Champions League win in May – is considered a potential long-term replacement for Ashley Cole for club and country.
Wenger splashes out on Cazorla
Malaga midfielder Santi Cazorla is the latest to leave the stricken club having passed a medical at English Premier League club Arsenal and joined the Gunners at their pre-season training camp in Germany.
Arsenal fans have already been boosted by the arrivals of Germany forward Lukas Podolski and France striker Olivier Giroud since the end of last season when the club finished well off the pace set by champions Manchester City and runners-up Manchester United.
And now Cazorla, who featured for Spain at the 2008 and 2012 European Championships, will link up with Arsene Wenger's side, who are also reported to be working on a loan deal for 23-year-old Real Madrid midfielder Nuri Sahin.
Reigning player-of-the-year in England Robin van Persie, despite linking up the Arsenal in Germany, looks set to leave however after refusing to extend his eight-year stay in north London.
Seedorf on the scoresheet in Brazil
Clarence Seedorf is settling into life at Botafogo in the Brazilian capital after joining from AC Milan last month.
The 36-year-old has helped inspire the Rio de Janeiro club to consecutive wins in the past two rounds of the Brazilian championship since becoming the most famous import into Brazil since the game itself, and even fired home a 20-yard free-kick-to level the scores against Atletico Goianiense over the weekend – his first goal for his new club.
Botafogo now stand sixth in the league table, three points adrift of a Copa Libertadores qualification spot after 14 games.
"It was nice to see the fans today, but I feel at home in Brazil. The reaction to my first goal has been great," Seedorf said to reporters after the match.
"I am happier with the victory than the goal.
"We pressed and quietened them down in the second half. We deserved the three points. We have more confidence now."
Compiled by Marc Fox
Buy tickets for soccer matches around the world