Beckham, 36, a well-known football icon, played a pivotal role in bringing the Games to London back in 2005 and was expected not just by him, but most football fans to be named as one of three eligible over-23 players for the tournament.
To the detriment of Beckham, the ones who were chosen were Ryan Giggs, Craig Bellamy and Micah Richards. The result: a devastating defeat from South Korea.
“There is something I don’t understand,” said Mourinho, who was talking after his Real Madrid team beat LA Galaxy 5-1 in a pre-season friendly in California.
“If now the Olympic Games are in London, it is because of Beckham. I know, because I was also inside of that project.”
“It’s because of Sebastian Coe and other people, but he was the most important face of that project. I don’t understand why he is not playing. I cannot understand.”
“In a group of 18 players you have football qualities to give and human qualities to give. He is one of the best football professionals. I’m so sorry he’s not there.”
The former Chelsea manager added: “Beckham is always very nice to me. He has always very good words for me.I’m so sorry I could never be his coach, because I would love it.Now it is too late because David is in the last years of his career.”
Mourinho is definitely a fan of Beckham. It is also a fact that Beckham admires Mourinho as well. “Jose is an exceptional manager and an amazing human being as well,” said Beckham.
“He was one of the first people to call me after I ruptured my Achilles. He kept in touch with me. It makes him a great human being.”
“What he does for teams and what he does for players, individuals, is very special.”
“There are not many managers who can do that. He’s a very special person and manager. What he has achieved in his career, his very short career, is amazing.”
]]>The current Olympic Games are witness to the UK’s achievements on other sports. This is a different story however to football. History being repeats itself (albeit a frustration) as South Korea was able to overcome the host team to win 5-4 on spot-kicks after Daniel Sturridge saw his effort saved by Bumyoung Lee.
“We weren’t good enough” said Giggs, reflecting on a tediously fought game that ended 1-1 after 120 minutes. “That is the bottom line. Our luck ran out and it could have gone either way. Not going to a tournament with Wales will always be a (personal) disappointment. We were never good enough, it’s simple.”
]]>The Koreans in the 29th minute made the first strike in the match, when Ji Dongwon nailed a left-footed shot into the far side of the goal. But in the 36th minute, the Koreans gave up a penalty kick after a handball, and Aaron Ramsey did not waste the opportunity. The Welshman had a chance to get a second goal from the spot shortly thereafter, but he failed to convert though.
Daniel Sturridge’s failed to trick the South Korean reserve keeper, Lee Bum-young, as another shoot-out experience happened.
]]>Valuable goals from Kensuke Nagai, captain Maya Yoshida and Yuki Otsu took Japan through against team Egypt who lacked a valuable man for half a match after defender Saadeldin Saad was thrown off in the 41st minute for denying Japan forward Manabu Saito a goal-scoring opportunity.
Nagai brought Japan to a 14th-minute lead, shooting into an undefended net after Egypt goalkeeper Ahmed El Shenawi smashed to one of his teammate defenders in trying to deal with a through ball.
]]>The Mexicans grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute as Jorge Enriquez headed in a dos Santos free kick home. They doubled it in the 62nd minute when Javier Aquino scored from a tough angle off a good build-up by dos Santos and Marco Fabian.
But Senegal, just making its Olympic soccer debut this year, would not give up. Moussa Konate, the tournament's top scorer, pulled a goal back in the 69th minute, for his fifth goal the first that Mexico had conceded this Olympics.
]]>Korea Preview
Korea put up a heck of a fight in the semis against Brazil. But the Brazilians who struggled early against South Korea at Old Trafford before taking control of the match after defensive midfielder Romulo opened the scoring with a low shot from inside the area following a pass by playmaker Oscar in the 38th minute.
Damiao scored twice in the 57th and 64th to seal the victory and become the tournament's leading goal scorer with six goals, surpassing Senegal's Moussa Konate.
"We had difficulties in the beginning of the match but the goal came at the right moment and we were able to slowly regain control," Menezes said. "What matters the most is that we got our fifth straight win and reached our goal to make it to the final."
Japan Preview
Japan came out swinging against powerhouse and heavily favored Mexico.Mexico escaped and got the win on Tuesday thanks to a swerving long-rage strike by Oribe Peralta in the 65th, breaking a deadlock after Japan opened the scoring with a shot by Yuki Otsu in the 12th and Marco Fabian headed in a corner for Mexico's equalizer in the 31st. Javier Cortes scored the third goal deep in second-half injury time. In the final minute Peralta then released Javier Cortes down the right with a clever backheel and the substitute held off the defence before squeezing his shot beneath Shuichi Gonda in the Japanese goal.
"That's just it, we are 90 minutes away from history," Mexico defender Carlos Salcido said. "That is the way we are looking at it."
Korea Republic U23 vs Japan U23 Predictions: Japan 2-1 Over Korea
Japan though they lost proved to the world that they are a team to reckon with .They have a fast offensive attack that Korea will have a hard time with.
Korea Republic U23 vs Japan U23 Betting Odds and Tips:
Korea Republic U23 2.79 - 1.35 - 73.61%
Draw 3.20 - 1.31 - 76.19%
Japan U23 2.44 - 1.40 - 70.93%
Korea Republic U23 vs Japan U23 Asian Handicap Betting Odds and Tips:
Korea Republic U23 0.00 2.09 - 47.84%
Japan U23 0.00 1.83 - 54.64%
Source: [sbobet]
]]>Fulham Preview
Fulham goes into the Premier League coming off of a 1-0 win over the Dons.Fulham though forced the first save of the game when Marcello Trotta twisted and turned in the box before firing a low effort on goal, which David Martin could only throw a leg at to keep out. Hugo Rodallega couldn’t direct his header from the resulting corner.
From there though, it was fairly one-way traffic, as the Premier League boys began to flex their muscles, dominating possession and pinning Dons back into their own half. Hugo Rodallega made an immediate impact for Fulham by notching a late winner in their penultimate pre-season friendly at MK Dons.
Norwich City Preview
The Canaries’ penultimate warm-up match, against Championship side Hull City at the KC Stadium, ended goalless, as did their trip to Milton Keynes four days earlier.
While there has been a reassuringly solid look about the defence in City’s domestic friendlies, with just one goal conceded in five matches, they have not found the net since Anthony Pilkington’s seventh-minute free-kick against Ajax at Carrow Road, a total of 263 minutes without scoring.
Five different strikers took the field for the Canaries against the Tigers, but four of them played only the final 20 minutes as part of the mass substitutions so frequent in pre-season friendlies.
Skipper Grant Holt had a couple of half-chances in the opening period, but there were few openings for either side and both goalkeepers could have taken a good book with them for the quieter moments, of which there were many.
Manager Chris Hughton made nine changes from the team that started the goalless draw at MK Dons.
Fulham vs Norwich City Predictions: Fulham Over Norwich 1-0
Fulham FC is the bottom line better team with a much more solid attack on offense and good enough defense to hold off Norwich.
Fulham vs Norwich City Betting Odds and Tips:
Fulham 1.90 - 1.52 - 65.51%
Draw 3.30 - 1.30 - 76.74%
Norwich City 3.70 - 1.27 - 78.72%
Fulham vs Norwich City Asian Handicap Betting Odds and Tips:
Arsenal -1.25 1.92 - 52.08%
Sunderland +1.25 1.98 - 50.50%
Source: [sbobet]
]]>Arsenal Preview
Arsenal have strengthened their midfield with the acquisition of Spaniard Santi Cazorla from troubled La Liga side Malaga, the latest player from the world and European champions to make the move to the English Premier League. "Arsenal Football Club is delighted to announce that Spain international Santi Cazorla has joined the club on a long-term contract," Arsenal said on their website. All this did was beef up Arsenal. They now posses possibly the best core of mid fielders in the Premier League.
Sunderland Preview
Martin O'Neill will step up his striker search this week after watching his Sunderland side draw another pre-season blank.
Sunderland’s 2-0 defeat against Swedish champions Helsingborgs marked the third time in four friendly outings that the Wearsiders have failed to find the net.
And it showed just why O’Neill is so desperate to bring in more firepower before the big Premier League kick-off in a fortnight’s time.
Teenager Connor Wickham joined Sunderland last summer but is yet to live up to his £8m pricetag, and he wasted the Black Cats’ best chance against the Swedes.
The half-time sub had only been on the pitch for three minutes when he collected a clever pass from Fraizer Campbell inside the box, but he took an extra touch when he had only the goalkeeper to beat and that allowed defender Emil Krafth to get in a vital block.
Helsingborgs had already proved a threat in the first half, with Sunderland keeper Keiran Westwood working overtime to keep out efforts from Kaka and Krafth, while Kieran Richardson also made a goalline clearance.
Arsenal vs Sunderland Predictions: Arsenal 2-0 over Sunderland
With the combination of a strong offensive attack from Arsenal and the lack of scoring from Sunderland this is a no brainer. Arsenal will control this game from beginning to end. New pick up Cazorli will make an impact on this game.
Arsenal vs Sunderland Betting Odds and Tips:
Arsenal 1.39 - 1.71 - 58.15%
Draw 4.10 - 1.24 - 80.39%
Sunderland 7.20 - 1.13 - 87.80%
Arsenal vs Sunderland Asian Handicap Betting Odds and Tips:
Arsenal -1.25 1.92 - 52.08%
Sunderland +1.25 1.98 - 50.50%
Source: [sbobet]
]]>Korea Republic U23 Preview
Korea Republic looks to prove to the world why they belong with the elite. Mexico and South Korea may have ended their opening Olympic game knotted in a 0-0 tie, but the game certainly wasn't lacking for intrigue.
The Koreans were relentless, pressing Mexico high up the pitch and dominating the early play. But Mexico played solid defense of its own and started developing some creativity in the attack when star player Giovani Dos Santos finally made an appearance in the second half.
South Korea probably deserved the win, but give Mexico credit for keeping them off the score sheet.
Brazil U23 Preview
Brazil narrowly escaped with a 3-2 victory over 10-man Honduras on Saturday, twice coming from behind to advance to the semifinals of the men's Olympic soccer tournament.
Honduras got goals early in each half but couldn't hold on as the Brazilians played with an extra man from the 33rd minute after defender Wilmer Crisanto was sent off with two yellow cards just a minute apart.
Leandro Damiao scored the winner in the 60th minute after clearing a defender near the penalty spot after a pass from Neymar.
Earlier, Mario Martinez put Honduras ahead in the 12th minute before Damiao equalized in the 38th. Roger Espinoza then gave Honduras the lead again in the 48th, but Neymar evened the score by converting a penalty kick in the 50th and Damiao kept Brazil on track for its first Olympic gold medal 10 minutes later.
Korea Republic U23 vs Brazil U23 Predictions: Korea Republic Over Brazil 2-1
Yes, This North Korean team is legit and will do the unthinkable by beating powerhouse Brazil. North Korea has a solid balance attack on offense and will really keep Brazil on their heels. This will be a thriller
Korea Republic U23 vs Brazil U23 Betting Odds and Tips:
Korea Republic U23 6.80 - 1.14 - 87.17%
Draw 3.80 - 1.26 - 79.16%
Brazil U23 1.49 - 1.67 - 59.83%
Korea Republic U23 vs Brazil U23 Asian Handicap Betting Odds and Tips:
Korea Republic U23 +1.00 2.05 - 48.78%
Brazil U23 -1.00 1.87 - 53.47%
Source: [sbobet]
]]>Mexico U23 Preview
The Mexico soccer team flexed their muscles in a one-sided 1-0 victory over Switzerland on Wednesday in the final match for both teams in Group B play at the 2012 Olympics
Mexico will advance to the knockout round for the first time since 1996 after registering seven points in Group B.
There was no question who the better team was throughout this match. Mexico dominated the time of possession battle and at times seemed almost too patient. They were seeking the perfect opportunity to strike and found it in the 69th minute on a beautiful goal by Oribe Peralta Morones.With rain steadily pouring for large stretches of the match, the field was a tad sloppy, and the passing of both teams wasn’t crisp. It certainly won’t go down as one of the most thrilling matches ever, but Mexico did what they had to do.
Japan U23 Preview
Japan is showing the world why they belong in the semis. They came off of a stunning victory over powerhouse Spain defeating them 1-0 . Japan ran out shock a 1-0 winner over 10-man Spain in the Olympic Group D fixture at Hampden Park in Glasgow, courtesy of a goal in the 34th minute from Yuki Otsu following some questionable defending from Martin Montoya.
Kensuke Nagai and Hiroshi Kiyotake could have made it a more comfortable win for Takashi Sekizuka's side as both wasted good chances either side of halftime, but Spain struggled to trouble Shuichi Gonda in the Japan goal, particularly after Inigo Martinez's sending-off at the end of the first half. Despite Spain's dominance of possession in the first 25 minutes, Japan looked dangerous on the break and grew in confidence as the half wore on, with lone front-man Kensuke Nagai in particular proving a handful for the La Roja defense.
Mexico U23 vs Japan U23 Predictions: Mexico 2-0 Over Japan
Japan’s Cindrella story ends here. Mexico’s attack will be too much for team Japan to hold with their brilliant defense it’s just going to be to tough for Japan. I see Mexico controlling most of the time during the game
Mexico U23 vs Japan U23 Betting Odds and Tips:
Mexico U23 2.95 - 1.33 - 74.68%
Draw 2.94 - 1.34 - 74.61%
Japan U23 2.49 - 1.40 - 71.34%
Mexico U23 vs Japan U23 Asian Handicap Betting Odds and Tips:
Mexico U23 +0.25 1.73 - 57.80%
Japan U23 -0.25 2.23 - 44.84%
Source: [sbobet]
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