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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 11:53 PM PDT
TOKYO, Sept 6 (Reuters) - The South Korean soccer player whoinflamed a diplomatic row with Japan by waving a political flagat the London Olympics has earned respect from unexpectedquarters - Japan's Keisuke Honda. The 26-year-old Japan playmaker told local media on Thursdayhe might have done the same thing as South Korea's Park Jong-woounder the same circumstances. Park held up a sign referring to a territorial disputebetween the countries while celebrating a 2-0 win over theirfierce rivals in last month's Olympic bronze medal match. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 11:26 PM PDT
SYDNEY, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Ian Crook never reached the sameheights as Alessandro Del Piero in his playing career but hedoes know a thing or two about the game in Australia and ischarged with easing the Italian into his side at Sydney FC. The former Tottenham Hotspur and Norwich City midfieldertook over as head coach at the Sydney Football Stadium in Mayand on Thursday welcomed a "magnificent opportunity" to workwith, and learn from, the 2006 World Cup winner. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 11:10 PM PDT
RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Dutchman Clarence Seedorfscored twice to give Botafogo a 3-1 away win over Cruzeiro, whowere hit with a six-match home ban for crowd trouble at aprevious match. Seedorf's brace came shortly after the Brazil federation'sdisciplinary tribunal slapped the ban on Cruzeiro after missileswere thrown onto the pitch at their match against neighboursAtletico Mineiro last month, halting play for 10 minutes. The Foxes will have to play their Brazilian championshipgames at least 100 kilometres from their base in Belo Horizonte. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 08:42 PM PDT
SYDNEY, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Factbox of major signings inAustralia's A-League after former Italy international AlessandroDel Piero signed for Sydney FC: - - DWIGHT YORKE (Sydney FC, 2005-6) The former Manchester United striker was the first majormarquee signing for the A-League when Sydney FC brought him toAustralia for the competition's first season. Paid $1 million for his contribution, Yorke made animmediate mark by scoring the first goal for the club in theA-League and helped them to become the inaugural champions. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 08:42 PM PDT
SYDNEY, Sept 6 (Reuters) - The contract which luredAlessandro Del Piero to Sydney FC is the most lucrative signedin Australian sport and an investment in the future of soccer inthe country, club chairman Scott Barlow said on Thursday. The Italian World Cup winner, who was released in May after19 years at Juventus, said in Turin on Wednesday that he wasjoining the A-League club in a two-year contract that Australianmedia reported was worth A$2 million ($2.04 million) a year. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 08:01 PM PDT
Sept 6 (Infostrada Sports) - Results and standings from the Brazilian championship matches on Wednesday Wednesday, September 5Cruzeiro 1 Botafogo 3 Esporte Clube Bahia 0 Atletico Mineiro 0 Figueirense 1 Corinthians 0 Flamengo 0 Ponte Preta 1 Gremio 2 Goianense 1 Nautico 1 Vasco da Gama 1 Portuguesa 3 Coritiba 0 Sao Paulo 1 Internacional 1 Standings P W D L F A Pts 1 Atletico Mineiro 21 13 6 2 35 16 45 2 Gremio 22 14 2 6 33 17 44 3 Fluminense 21 12 8 1 34 14 44 4 Vasco da Gama 22 11 6 5 28 20 39 -------------------------5 Sao Paulo 22 11 2 9 34 26 35 6 Internacional 22 9 8 5 27 18 35 7 Botafogo ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 06:59 PM PDT
BUENOS AIRES, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Argentina have been warnedto expect a surprise when they face Paraguay under new coachGerardo Pelusso in a World Cup qualifier in Cordoba on Friday(2310 GMT). Bolivia, away against Ecuador at the Atahualpa in Quito(2100), have also changed coach, bringing back Spaniard XabierAskargorta who steered them to their last finals appearance inthe United States in 1994. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 06:59 PM PDT
STOCKHOLM, Sept 6 (Reuters) - New France soccer coach DidierDeschamps will be thrown in at the deep end when his side opentheir World Cup qualifying campaign with a tricky game inFinland on Friday. Drawn in Group I with a Spain side who comfortably beat themin the quarter-finals of Euro 2012, France have no room forslip-ups against Finland, Belarus or Georgia. "Our goal is very clear: we want to qualify for the WorldCup and the game in Finland is the first step. We have to focuson Finland only," Deschamps told reporters. "We want to qualify. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 06:59 PM PDT
ROTTERDAM, Sept 5 (Reuters) - The Netherlands and Turkeywill be looking to make fresh starts when they meet on Friday inthe Amsterdam Arena to start their World Cup Group D qualifyingcampaigns. The Dutch have to get rid of the sour taste of losing allthree group matches at Euro 2012 and a friendly to Belgium asthey try to extend their 10-match winning streak in World Cupqualifiers. The Netherlands, under coach Louis van Gaal, will take onTurkish side who have failed to qualify for a major tournamentsince Euro 2008. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 06:59 PM PDT
BUENOS AIRES, Sept 5 (Reuters) - World Cup, South Americanqualifying fixtures and standings: Playing on Friday (Times GMT): Argentina v Paraguay - Cordoba 2310 Colombia v Uruguay - Barranquilla 2030 Ecuador v Bolivia - Quito 2100 Peru v Venezuela - Lima 0115 Standings: P W D L F A Pts Chile 6 4 0 2 11 10 12 Uruguay 5 3 2 0 14 6 11 Argentina 5 3 1 1 11 4 10 Ecuador 5 3 0 2 6 6 9 Venezuela 6 2 2 2 4 6 8 Colombia 5 2 1 2 5 5 7 Bolivia 6 1 1 4 7 11 4 Paraguay 5 1 1 3 4 9 4 Peru 5 1 0 4 6 11 3 (Compiled by Rex Gowar)
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 06:19 PM PDT
 SOFIA (Reuters) - Italy, without strikers Mario Balotelli and Antonio Cassano, begin their World Cup qualifying campaign on Friday seeking their first victory over Bulgaria on their opponent's soil. For a team that has won every major international trophy, Italy's record in Bulgaria is not a proud one -- two defeats and two draws with six goals conceded dating back to 1968. Most recently they emerged with a goalless draw in a 2010 World Cup qualifier four years ago. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 06:17 PM PDT
BERNE (Reuters) - The dream of a first World Cup appearance will flicker for 22 European teams, albeit briefly in most cases, as the region's qualifying competition for the 2014 finals in Brazil kicks off on Friday. Other sides who have made a mark in the past, such as Austria, Belgium and Hungary, will be hoping to return after a long absence as the nine-group tournament gets under way. A total of 53 teams are involved in the European qualifiers, ranging from European and world champions Spain to tiny San Marino with a population of 30,000 whose national side have only ever won one game. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 06:16 PM PDT
 BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's summer of soccer failure will not be preying on their minds as they kick off their World Cup qualifying campaign on Friday, coach Joachim Loew has promised. The Germans have been given a gentle start, with a home match against the Faroe Islands in Hanover, but even so are likely to be jittery after a traumatic four months. After Friday it gets more difficult, with a trip to neighbors Austria on Tuesday. "The players have put their disappointments behind them and there is real hunger for success," Loew said. "That goes for the coaching staff as well. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 05:59 PM PDT
BERLIN, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Germany's summer of footballingfailure will not be preying on their minds as they kick offtheir World Cup qualifying campaign on Friday, coach JoachimLoew has promised. The Germans have been given a gentle start, with a homematch against the Faroe Islands in Hanover, but even so arelikely to be jittery after a traumatic four months. After Friday it gets more difficult, with a trip toneighbours Austria on Tuesday. "The players have put their disappointments behind them andthere is real hunger for success," Loew said. "That goes for thecoaching staff as well. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 05:59 PM PDT
BERNE, Sept 6 (Reuters) - The dream of a first World Cupappearance will flicker for 22 European teams, albeit briefly inmost cases, as the region's qualifying competition for the 2014finals in Brazil kicks off on Friday. Other sides who have made a mark in the past, such asAustria, Belgium and Hungary, will be hoping to return after along absence as the nine-group tournament gets under way. A total of 53 teams are involved in the European qualifiers,ranging from European and world champions Spain to tiny SanMarino with a population of 30,000 whose national side have onlyever won one game. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 05:59 PM PDT
LONDON, Sept 6 (Reuters) - England, hit by injuries to keyplayers, are still favourites to start their World Cupqualifying campaign with a win against Moldova in Chisinau onFriday. Defender Ashley Cole, who would have won his 99th Englandcap on Friday, and striker Andy Carroll were the latest playersto withdraw from the squad after being injured at the weekend,and while Cole should return for next Tuesday's game againstUkraine at Wembley, Carroll is likely to be out for six weeks. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 05:59 PM PDT
SOFIA, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Italy, without strikers MarioBalotelli and Antonio Cassano, begin their World Cup qualifyingcampaign on Friday seeking their first victory over Bulgaria ontheir opponent's soil. For a team that has won every major international trophy,Italy's record in Bulgaria is not a proud one -- two defeats andtwo draws with six goals conceded dating back to 1968. Mostrecently they emerged with a goalless draw in a 2010 World Cupqualifier four years ago. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 12:24 PM PDT
LONDON, Sept 5 (Reuters) - England winger Adam Johnson haspulled out of the squad to play Moldova and Ukraine in theupcoming World Cup qualifiers due to injury, the FootballAssociation (FA) said on Wednesday. "Johnson had a scan on Wednesday after picking up a minorthigh injury, and has returned to Sunderland," the FA said ontheir website (www.thefa.com). Johnson, who recently moved to Sunderland from fellowPremier League club Manchester City, was back in the squad aftermissing manager Roy Hodgson's selection for Euro 2012. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 12:04 PM PDT
CONAKRY, Sept 5 (Reuters) - AC Milan midfielder KevinConstant has ended his international exile and arrived to playfor Guinea in their African Nations Cup final-round, first-legqualifier against Niger in Conakry on Sunday. "We are with him, we all support it," Guinea captain KamilZayatte said on state television on Wednesday. Constant, who had said that there were "too many problems inthe national team", refused to play at the Nations Cup finals inEquatorial Guinea and Gabon at the start of the year and alsomissed June's start of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 11:40 AM PDT
 (Reuters) - The Dallas Cowboys are the first North American sports franchise worth over $2 billion and remained the most valuable NFL team for a sixth consecutive year, according to an annual survey released by Forbes on Wednesday. The Cowboys have failed to make the National Football League (NFL) playoffs for two straight seasons but their value rose to $2.10 billion, a 14 percent jump from last year and nearly double the league average of $1.11 billion. The New England Patriots ($1.63 billion), Washington Redskins ($1.60 billion), Super Bowl champion New York Giants ($1. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 11:12 AM PDT
Sept 5 (Reuters) - The Dallas Cowboys are the first NorthAmerican sports franchise worth over $2 billion and remained themost valuable NFL team for a sixth consecutive year, accordingto an annual survey released by Forbes on Wednesday. The Cowboys have failed to make the National Football League(NFL) playoffs for two straight seasons but their value rose to$2.10 billion, a 14 percent jump from last year and nearlydouble the league average of $1.11 billion. The New England Patriots ($1.63 billion), WashingtonRedskins ($1.60 billion), Super Bowl champion New York Giants($1. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 11:07 AM PDT
PARIS, Sept 5 (Reuters) - France coach Didier Deschamps hasno intention of acting like a teacher to his players despitetheir controversial behaviour in recent years, he said onWednesday. Deschamps expects his team to have learnt from theexperiences of the 2010 World Cup and this year's EuropeanChampionship. "I am not here to tell them what they can do or can not," hetold reporters. "They are not children and I am not a nursery orhigh-school teacher. I am here to help them, to guide them. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 09:21 AM PDT
RABAT, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Marouane Chamakh's return to theMorocco line-up has been prematurely halted of because of illhealth, Morocco's football federation said on Wednesday. The Arsenal striker had been called up to play for the northAfricans in the first leg of their final-round African NationsCup qualifier in Mozambique on Sunday. It was his first call-up since he was dropped during theNations Cup finals in Gabon at the start of the year. The federation gave no details of Chamakh's illness. Hisreplacement is French-born Abdelaziz Barrada of Spanish clubGranada. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 09:15 AM PDT
LONDON, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Chile Under-23 striker AngeloHenriquez has completed his move to Manchester United, thePremier League club said on their website on Wednesday. Henriquez, 18, has joined from Universidad de Chile for anundisclosed fee. British media said the player underwent amedical and was granted a work permit last month. "Angelo has made a tremendous impact on the game in hisshort career so far," United manager Alex Ferguson toldmanutd.com. "His pace is a great asset and he reads the game really wellfor someone of such a young age. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 07:47 AM PDT
SOFIA, Sept 5 (Reuters) - CSKA Sofia are in danger of beingexcluded from European competition for the second time in fouryears because of debts, the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU)president said on Wednesday. The Reds, who are Bulgaria's most successful club with 31league titles, were barred from the Champions League in 2008-09after failing to meet the licensing criteria. "CSKA are currently supervised by UEFA, just like (Serbia's)Red Star Belgrade," the BFU's Borislav Mihaylov, who is also aUEFA Executive Committee member, told reporters. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 06:35 AM PDT
 BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgium's manager and players sought to crush talk of a new golden generation on Wednesday after a close season of big-money transfers and last month's impressive 4-2 friendly win against the Netherlands. Eden Hazard and Axel Witsel each cost Chelsea and Zenit St Petersburg some 40 million euros while Tottenham Hotspur bought Moussa Dembele for 15 million pounds and Jan Vertonghen for about 10 million. Belgium also boast the captains of Manchester City and Arsenal in Vincent Kompany and Thomas Vermaelen. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 06:33 AM PDT
BRUSSELS, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Belgium's manager and playerssought to crush talk of a new golden generation on Wednesdayafter a close season of big-money transfers and last month'simpressive 4-2 friendly win against the Netherlands. Eden Hazard and Axel Witsel each cost Chelsea and Zenit StPetersburg some 40 million euros ($50.25 million) whileTottenham Hotspur bought Moussa Dembele for 15 million pounds($23.8 million) and Jan Vertonghen for about 10 million. Belgium also boast the captains of Manchester City andArsenal in Vincent Kompany and Thomas Vermaelen. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 06:33 AM PDT
SYDNEY, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Italian World Cup winnerAlessandro Del Piero will play next season for Sydney FC, thestriker said on Wednesday, in a major boost for Australia'sseven-year-old A-League. The 37-year-old was released at the end of last season after19 years at Juventus and had been linked with moves to variousclubs, including English Premier League side Southampton andScotland's Celtic. "There's no better choice for me than Sydney," Del Pierotold reporters in Turin, Italy, adding that he had receivedoffers from teams on several continents. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 06:32 AM PDT
 MADRID (Reuters) - Spain captain Iker Casillas and team mate Xavi have been jointly awarded the nation's most prestigious sports prize, the Premio Principe de Asturias de los Deportes, the jury announced on Wednesday. Real Madrid goalkeeper Casillas, 31, and Barcelona playmaker Xavi, 32, have helped Spain to consecutive European Championship triumphs with a World Cup in between, the country's first, and were put forward for the award by FIFA president Sepp Blatter. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 06:29 AM PDT
MADRID, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Malaga owner Sheikh AbdullahAl-Thani has no intention of selling and will continue toinvest, his executive vice president said on Wednesday as heannounced a new leadership structure for the La Liga club. Moayat Shatat said Malaga had appointed a new directorgeneral and a new sporting director as they push ahead with an"internal restructuring" that has seen the departure of some oftheir best players. "We have invested a lot in this project and we have nointention of walking away," Shatat told a news conferenceannouncing the appointments. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 06:13 AM PDT
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni promised Thursday's home game against the UAE would be anything but friendly in nature as the Asian champions warm up for the World Cup qualifier with Iraq next week. "I don't like calling these games 'friendly' matches," the Italian told reporters after training in Niigata on Wednesday. "This game carries great weight for us before the game with Iraq. We have to stamp our authority on the game and tighten up for an important game on Tuesday. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 06:04 AM PDT
TOKYO, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Japan coach Alberto Zaccheronipromised Thursday's home game against the UAE would be anythingbut friendly in nature as the Asian champions warm up for theWorld Cup qualifier with Iraq next week. "I don't like calling these games 'friendly' matches," theItalian told reporters after training in Niigata on Wednesday. "This game carries great weight for us before the game withIraq. We have to stamp our authority on the game and tighten upfor an important game on Tuesday. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 05:21 AM PDT
MADRID, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Spain captain Iker Casillas andteam mate Xavi have been jointly awarded the nation's mostprestigious sports prize, the Premio Principe de Asturias de losDeportes, the jury announced on Wednesday. Real Madrid goalkeeper Casillas, 31, and Barcelona playmakerXavi, 32, have helped Spain to consecutive European Championshiptriumphs with a World Cup in between, the country's first, andwere put forward for the award by FIFA president Sepp Blatter. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 04:49 AM PDT
 BAMAKO (Reuters) - Mali captain Mahamadou Diarra will return after a year's absence from international football to lead his country in their African Nations Cup qualifier against Botswana in Bamako on Saturday, officials said on Wednesday. The Fulham midfielder has not played for Mali since last June, after which he was not selected because he did not have a club and was not playing regular football. He missed January's Nations Cup finals in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon where Mali finished a surprise third. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 04:48 AM PDT
BAMAKO, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Mali captain Mahamadou Diarrawill return after a year's absence from international footballto lead his country in their African Nations Cup qualifieragainst Botswana in Bamako on Saturday, officials said onWednesday. The Fulham midfielder has not played for Mali since lastJune, after which he was not selected because he did not have aclub and was not playing regular football. He missed January's Nations Cup finals in Equatorial Guineaand Gabon where Mali finished a surprise third. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 04:41 AM PDT
MOSCOW (Reuters) - The host cities for the 2018 World Cup in Russia will be announced this month, the tournament's organizers said on Wednesday. "The Local Organising Committee (LOC) and FIFA will announce the host cities on September 29 in Moscow," LOC said in a statement. Thirteen Russian cities -- Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Yaroslavl, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Samara, Saransk, Volgograd, Krasnodar, Rostov, Sochi and Yekaterinburg -- are competing for the right to stage the world's biggest event. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 04:38 AM PDT
MOSCOW, Sept 5 (Reuters) - The host cities for the 2018World Cup in Russia will be announced this month, thetournament's organisers said on Wednesday. "The Local Organising Committee (LOC) and FIFA willannounce the host cities on Sept. 29 in Moscow," LOC said in astatement. Thirteen Russian cities -- Moscow, St. Petersburg,Kaliningrad, Yaroslavl, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Samara, Saransk,Volgograd, Krasnodar, Rostov, Sochi and Yekaterinburg -- arecompeting for the right to stage the world's biggest event. ...
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Posted: 05 Sep 2012 04:28 AM PDT
NEW DELHI, Sept 5 (Reuters) - On the day India hit theirlowest ever FIFA ranking, the country's soccer chief said he waseyeing a place at their first World Cup finals in Qatar 2022. The country of 1.2 billion people dropped one place to 169thin the latest FIFA rankings released on Wednesday, behind Aruba,Nepal and Maldives. Sepp Blatter, the head of the world soccer's governing body,has called India a 'sleeping giant' but the country obsessedwith all things cricket continues to slide into soccermediocrity. Indian soccer heads, though, believe there is cause foroptimism. ...
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