Jupp Heynckes Incar Bek Borussia Monchengladbach

Pelatih Bayern Munich Jupp Heynckes mengaku terkesan dengan performa bek Borussia Monchengladbach Dante menjelang pertemuan kedua tim di Bundesliga Jerman, Sabtu (21/1) dinihari WIB. Pemain asal Brasil itu sebelumnya menyatakan ingin bermain di klub besar Eropa sekaliber Bayern, dan Heynckes menilai pemain berusia 28 tahun itu sudah mengalami peningkatan signifikan. “Saya musti mengatakan dia telah mengalami peningkatan bagus, dan menjalani pertandingan dengan sempurna,” ujar Heynckes kepada Express.de. Sebagian besar pasang mata bakal menatap Marco Reus dalam pertandingan di Borussia Park tersebut, setelah gelandang Gladbach ini memilih Borussia Dortmund dibandingkan Bayern. Heynckes mengungkapkan, ia sudah tahu sejak awal pemain berusia 22 tahun itu memilih Dortmund, dan menilai Reus harus berjuang keras bila ingin masuk tim inti Bayern. “Setiap tim punya pemain seperti Marco Reus yang bisa membuat perubahan. Secara tidak sengaja, saya sudah tahu dia lebih memilih ke BVB. Itu keputusan tepat, karena bersama kami, dia harus menjalani kompetisi ketat,” kata Heynckes. Bayern mengawali musim ini dengan kekalahan dari Gladbach, dan Heynckes berharap anak asuhnya bisa membalas hasil itu. “Kami ingin balas dendam. Tapi tidak mudah. Kepercayaan diri Gladbach sudah kembali, dan itu memperkuat mereka. Mereka juga mendapat dukungan dari fans. Satu hal yang bisa diperkirakan, laga ini berjalan menarik,” ucap Heynckes.

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Lyon star Michel Bastos insists he has had no contact with Real Madrid

Lyon star Michel Bastos has ensured his club that he has received no contact from Real Madrid regarding a proposed transfer, but added that the Spanish giants are a ‘great club’.

Bastos, who represented Brazil during this summer’s World Cup in South Africa, was today the subject of speculation linking him with a move to the Bernabeu, with Royston Drenthe plus €12 million (£9.8m) exchanging hands.

However, L’Equipe reports that although Bastos is flattered by the interest, he has not been informed of any bids from Jose Mourinho’s side.

He stated: “People are saying things right and left, I try not to pay too much attention and it does not bother me, the only thing I want is to return to action soon.

“I do not want to know anything about this story until there is something official, and I have acknowledged it. Real Madrid would be a great club for me but they have not made any offer, and no one has called the club.”

However, Bastos made sure that he left the door open for the Spanish giants to potentially swoop for his services, adding: “I know that the leaders of Real Madrid have said that their signings are over, but you never know.

“If I leave today, tomorrow, or next year it will be because the club believes it is a good deal for them and for me. Otherwise, I will stay.”

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Barcelona Sign Adriano from Sevilla after getting David Villa

Adriano (left) against his new Team, Barcelona

Spanish Liga titleholders FC Barcelona have reached an agreement with Sevilla FC for the signature of Brazilian international full-back Adriano for a fee that could rise to €13.5m.

Sevilla FC full-back Adriano is set to move to FC Barcelona after the two clubs agreed a fee that could rise to €13.5m for the 25-year-old. Adriano will make the move to the Liga champions subject to passing a medical at the Camp Nou, making him Barça's second signing of the summer after the arrival of striker David Villa. A former FIFA U-20 World Cup winner, Adriano scored 11 times in 157 league appearances for Sevilla following his transfer from Coritiba FC in 2004/05.

A winner of two UEFA Cups, a UEFA Super Cup, two Copa del Rey titles and a Spanish Super Cup during his time at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, the Brazilian international will now be looking to achieve UEFA Champions League success with Josep Guardiola's side, who enter the tournament at the group stage. Sevilla, meanwhile, will look to join their Liga rivals in the competition via a play-off.

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Hull wave goodbye to Brazilian striker Geovanni

Brazilian striker Geovanni has left Hull City after his contract was terminated by mutual consent, the English second-tier club have announced.

Hull were relegated from the Premier League at the end of last season and are consequently having to remove the biggest wage-earners from the playing staff at the KC Stadium.

Geovanni joined Hull on a free transfer from Manchester City before the start of the 2008/09 season and made 65 appearances, scoring 13 goals. He still had a year remaining on his contract.

He is assured of a place in Hull history having scored the club's first top-flight goal in the opening day 2-1 win over Fulham in August 2008.

Geovanni was also on the scoresheet in a 2-1 win at Arsenal and fired the winner against Tottenham during the same season.

Greek clubs AEK Athens and Panathinaikos have both been linked with a move for the 30-year-old.

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Wesley Sneijder brought Netherlands to the semi-final

The Netherlands produced a stunning second-half comeback to reach the semi-finals as Brazil's World Cup imploded in a dramatic game in Port Elizabeth.

After taking an early lead through Robinho's cool finish, the pre-tournament favourites were pegged back following an awful defensive mix-up early in the second-half and were found wanting in defence again soon afterwards when Wesley Sneijder headed in.
Brazil found themselves in even deeper trouble when Felipe Melo saw red for stamping on Arjen Robben with 17 minutes to go and, although Dunga's side gave everything in a thrilling finale, they crashed out in the quarter-finals for the second successive tournament.

It is the Netherlands who will go forward to play Uruguay or Ghana in the semi-finals and they have blown this World Cup wide open after putting paid to the idea that South American sides were set to dominate in South Africa.
Of the four teams from that continent in the last eight, Brazil were seen as the most likely to progress - and, for the first 45 minutes at least, it appeared they would not have too many problems in doing so.
The Netherlands have won renown for their defensive discipline in the last few weeks but that was nowhere to be seen when Robinho opened the scoring after 10 minutes.
The Dutch back-line had been forced to re-organise before kick-off when Joris Mathijsen was injured in the warm-up, with Andre Ooijer coming in, and he and fellow centre-back John Heitinga left a huge hole for Robinho to run on to Felipe Melo's pass and slot home.
Bert van Marwijk's side, who came into the game on the back of a 23-game unbeaten run, attempted to respond and Dirk Kuyt brought a low save out of Julio Cesar at his near post.
But other than that chance - and a blasted Sneijder free-kick that Julio Cesar also dealt with comfortably - the Netherlands were unable to open up Brazil, who were superbly marshalled at the back by Juan.
Dunga's side were not exactly in full-flow going forward themselves but they would still have been out of sight at half-time had it not been for Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.
Stekelenburg brilliantly tipped over Kaka's curling shot after a neat move down the left involving Robinho and Luis Fabiano and also got a hand to Maicon's fierce shot after Dani Alves sent him forward on the overlap down the opposite flank.
It seemed Brazil were still in full control but that all changed after the interval when they gifted the Dutch an equaliser that completely changed the course of the game.
Sneijder whipped in a cross from the right after a quick free-kick and Julio Cesar, in trying to punch clear, only succeeded in colliding with Felipe Melo and the ball flicked off his team-mate's head and flew into the net.
Brazil took time to regain their composure but they remained a threat and Kaka came within inches of restoring their lead when he clipped the ball wide after latching on to Ooijer's clumsy clearance.
The Dutch, however, sensed a weakness at the heart of the South Americans' defence and they took full advantage after 68 minutes when another cross caused chaos in the Brazil back-line.
Kuyt flicked on Robben's corner at the near post and Sneijder headed in, sending the army of Oranje fans at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium wild with elation
From being well on top, Dunga's side were now chasing the game and their hopes of rescuing their World Cup were dealt a huge blow when Felipe Melo inexplicably stamped on Robben after conceding a free-kick five minutes later.
Despite being a man down, the five-time champions had no choice but to throw men forward, and left huge gaps at the back in the final few minutes.
The closest Brazil came to saving themselves were a succession of Maicon corners, from one of which Lucio had a goalbound shot deflected wide.
But the Netherlands had several chances to add a third goal in final few minutes too, with Sneijder having a shot saved and Klass Jan Huntelaar hesitating when he had the simple task of teeing up Dirk Kuyt from six yards out.

Netherlands	2-1	Brazil	FT
Sneijder, 53, 68	(HT 0-1)	Robinho, 10
Team
Netherlands 01 Stekelenburg 02 Van Der Wiel 03 Heitinga 05 Van Bronckhorst 13 Ooijer 06 Van Bommel 08 De Jong 10 Sneijder 07 Kuyt 09 Van Persie (21 Huntelaar, 85) 11 Robben		Brazil 01 Julio Cesar 02 Maicon 03 Lucio 04 Juan 06 Michel Bastos (16 Gilberto, 62) 13 Daniel 05 Felipe Melo 08 Silva 10 Kaka 09 Luis Fabiano (21 Nilmar, 77) 11 Robinho
16 Vorm, 22 Boschker, 12 Boulahrouz, 15 Braafheid, 14 De Zeeuw, 18 Schaars, 20 Afellay, 23 Van der Vaart, 17 Elia, 19 Babel, 21 Huntelaar		Substitutes: 12 Gomes, 22 Doni, 14 Luisao, 15 Thiago Silva, 16 Gilberto, 17 Josue, 19 Julio Baptista, 20 Kleberson, 21 Nilmar, 23 Grafite
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium Referee: Nichimura Attendance: 40,186

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Brazil challenged the Netherlands in the quarter-finals

Brazil saw off the challenge of a slightly disappointing Chile to seal a mouth-watering quarter-final tie against the Netherlands.

The Selecao defeated Chile 4-2 and 3-0 in World Cup qualifying - and Dunga's team eased to a comfortable victory at Ellis Park on Monday as their opponents became the first South American team to be eliminated from the competition.
Chile, shorn of suspended trio Marco Estrada, Waldo Ponce and Gary Medel, were always up against it after conceding twice in four minutes shortly after the half-hour mark.

Juan opened the scoring with a powerful header and Luis Fabiano slotted into an empty net to finish off an attacking move of lethal precision as Brazil took another step towards a sixth World Cup title.
A precise right-foot finish from the edge of the area saw Robinho, who had a later effort ruled out for offside, open his account at the tournament in the second half.
Brazil boss Dunga has been heavily criticised back home for constructing a team that values efficiency ahead of flair, but his side controlled the vast majority of the match and were comfortable winners.
Chile, as with Mexico against Argentina on Sunday, really took the contest to their opponents in the opening minutes.
Marcela Bielsa's side have won many admirers in South Africa with their quick-fire, skilful brand of attacking football, but apart from a weak Humberto Suarez shot that Brazil keeper Julio Cesar easily collected they had little end product to show for their bright start.
Brazil, with Dani Alves superb on the right of midfield, gave Chile no room to breathe and gradually took control of the contest.
They should have been awarded a penalty when Lucio was brought down by a late tackle from Pablo Contreras, but eventually took the lead through Juan's header from Maicon's corner.
The Brazil defender was left unmarked - and his perfectly placed header clearly rattled Chile, whose increasingly erratic passing prevented them from picking any holes in their opponents' defensive structure.
The tie was as good as won when Brazil scored their second just four minutes after Juan's header, with a goal of breathtaking movement and precision.
Robinho cut inside before playing a square ball to Kaka, who delivered a beautifully weighted first-time pass that Luis Fabiano, in an onside position, collected before easing past Claudio Bravo and slotting into an empty net.
The striker almost doubled his tally with a glancing header that flew wide, but Robinho sealed victory just before the hour mark with his precise finish after the impressive Ramires finished a surging run with a accurate pass. Ramires was later booked and will miss the match against the Dutch.
Bielsa had made all three substitutions with 30 minutes remaining as he chased the game and Jorge Valdivia almost pulled a goal back with a clean strike that narrowly flew over the crossbar shortly after his introduction, while Julio Cesar denied Suazo, who later clipped the crossbar.
Brazil slowed the pace of the contest but attacked in occasional devastating bursts that saw Robinho twice come close to a second goal.
He had an angled strike saved by Bravo and later slotted beyond the Chilean keeper, but was denied by a marginal but correct offside decision.
It made no difference to the outcome of a tie already over, but the five-time world champions will face a stiffer test against the Dutch in Port Elizabeth on 2 July.

Brazil	3-0	Chile	FT
Juan, 34 Luis Fabiano, 38 Robinho, 59	(HT 2-0)
Team
Brazil 01 Julio Cesar 02 Maicon 03 Lucio 04 Juan 06 Michel Bastos 13 Daniel 08 Silva 10 Kaka (20 Kleberson, 81) 18 Ramires 09 Luis Fabiano (21 Nilmar, 76) 11 Robinho (16 Gilberto, 85)		Chile 01 Bravo 02 Fuentes 04 Isla (20 Rodrigo Millar, 62 ) 05 Contreras (21 Tello, 46) 18 Jara 06 Carmona 08 Vidal 11 Gonzalez (10 Valdivia, 46) 07 Sanchez 09 Suazo 15 Beausejour
12 Gomes, 22 Doni, 14 Luisao, 15 Thiago Silva, 16 Gilberto, 05 Felipe Melo, 07 Elano, 17 Josue, 19 Julio Baptista, 20 Kleberson, 21 Nilmar, 23 Grafite		Substitutes: 12 Pinto, 23 Marin, 10 Valdivia, 14 Fernandez, 19 Fierro, 20 Rodrigo Millar, 21 Tello, 16 Orellana, 22 Paredes
Venue: Ellis Park Referee: Howard Webb Attendance: 54,096

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Brazil and Portugal Safety Play

Brazil and Portugal played out an extremely uneventful goalless draw which ensured both sides qualified for the last 16.

What was perceived as arguably the potential standout game of the group stages failed to deliver on its promise as Portugal's desire to secure the point that would definitely seal what was already likely qualification from Group G limited any free-flowing football from either side.
Unsurprisingly, the already qualified Brazil were the more positive of the two sides but were only able to fashion a handful of chances, the best of which fell to striker Nilmar but was superbly saved by goalkeeper Eduardo.

The draw means the South Americans finish top of the group and will look forward to the second phase with confidence, even though this could present them with an earlier-than-expected clash with the closest rivals for their world number one status, Spain.
Portugal's 7-0 thrashing of North Korea in their previous match ensured that despite this defeat, and the Ivory Coast's 3-0 victory over the North Koreans in the group's other game, they progressed to the knockout stages in South Africa as runners-up.
Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz made four changes to the team from Monday with Pepe and Ricardo Costa coming into defence, and Danny and Duda in midfield.
Having overwhelmed their opponents four days ago, Queiroz's men reverted to a more conservative style designed to stifle their opponents and its efficiency resulted in an anti-climactic and fractious game where the number of bookings outweighed clear-cut chances.
Portugal defender Pepe and Brazil midfielder Felipe Melo were both booked during a running battle, which resulted in the latter being substituted just before half-time.
Brazil defender Juan was one of five other players booked but it could have been worse when he handled 40 yards from goal from a long ball seeking to release Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo clear down the right.
Ronaldo, operating in a lone attacking role was Portugal's chief threat but this primarily constituted a series of long-range efforts from 40 yards-plus which even for a player of Ronaldo's quality were wildly optimistic.
When the Real Madrid man was allowed to run at goal he twice met with strong challenges from Lucio, the first of which was a superb block from a shot on the left, but the second, from a similarly aggressive run on the right, inadvertently deflected the ball across goal to Raul Meireles only for the midfielder to shoot wide.
Ironically, the last time Portugal had been beaten prior to this match was a 6-2 thumping by Brazil in November 2008 but a repeat of that scoreline was never on the cards between two sides with one eye already on the next round.
To this end, Brazil rested Robinho, bringing in Nilmar up front to partner Luis Fabiano, who scored a hat-trick in that 6-2 win and bagged a brace in their previous group game against the Ivory Coast.
The attacking duo were central to all of Brazil's best attacking play.
They combined on the half hour with Fabiano crossing for Nilmar at the back post, who looked certain to score only for Eduardo to produce a superb point blank save to push the ball on to the post and deny him.
Shortly after, Fabiano found space at the back post by headed wide from a deep right-wing cross from the marauding Maicon.
With the game seemingly petering out to provide a satisfactory share of the spoils for each side, Brazil substitute Ramires broke from the script and struck a shot from 25 yards in injury-time which took a deflection and was goalbound until Eduardo intervened with a good one-handed save to preserve Portugal's 100% clean-sheet record in the tournament.

Purtugal	0-0	Brazil	FT
	(HT 0-0)
Team
Portugal 01 Eduardo 02 Alves 06 Carvalho 15 Pepe (08 Mendes, 64) 21 Costa 23 Coentrao 05 Duda (11 Simao, 54) 10 Danny 16 Raul Meireles (14 Veloso, 84) 19 Tiago 07 Ronaldo		Brazil 01 Julio Cesar 02 Maicon 03 Lucio 04 Juan 06 Michel Bastos 13 Daniel 05 Felipe Melo (17 Josue, 44) 08 Silva 19 Julio Baptista (18 Ramires, 82) 09 Luis Fabiano (23 Grafite, 85) 21 Nilmar
12 Beto, 22 Fernandes, 03 Ferreira, 04 Rolando, 13 Miguel, 08 Mendes, 14 Veloso, 09 Liedson, 11 Simao, 18 Almeida		Substitutes: 12 Gomes, 22 Doni, 14 Luisao, 15 Thiago Silva, 16 Gilberto, 17 Josue, 18 Ramires, 20 Kleberson, 11 Robinho, 23 Grafite
Venue: Moses Mabhida Stadium Referee: B Archundia Attendance: 62,712

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Luis Fabiano scored two goals to open opportunities Brazil

Brazil progressed to the knockout stages of the World Cup with an efficient rather than effervescent performance against a subdued Ivory Coast.

The scoreline may suggest otherwise but the South Americans lacked the vintage Brazilian sparkle - although they produced moments of brilliance during an incident-packed second-half.

Luis Fabiano scored twice - a fine first-half strike, then a second goal with a dubious hint of handball - and Elano slotted in ahead of Didier Drogba's headed consolation.

But it was a mixed evening for Brazil's playmaker Kaka, who was harshly sent off late in the game after receiving two yellow cards in quick succession.

Kaka saw yellow in the 85th minute for pushing Yaya Toure and a minute later was sent from the field when Abdelkader Keita collapsed holding his face after an innocuous collision between the players which did not warrant a booking.

Prior to that, Kaka - who in the build-up had been the focus of much speculation regarding his lack of form - showed glimpses of the player who was named World Footballer of the Year back in 2007.

He put Luis Fabiano through for the striker's beautifully-taken opening goal and played a role in Elano's second-half strike which sealed Brazil's victory.

Drogba, a mere 16 days after breaking his elbow, started for the Ivory Coast to spearhead an attacking 4-3-3 formation, but the Africans added little oomph to the proceedings.

The Elephants manager Sven-Goran Eriksson had predicted his team would "create a surprise", yet there was little hope of that as they defended deep and allowed Brazil to play at their own pace.

There had been signs over the last few days that the World Cup had moved up a gear, but this game started with the tentativeness which had marred previous matches.

Luis Fabiano's goal thankfully lit up the first half. The Sevilla striker's back-heel to Kaka sparked a nice one-two which finished with a venomous shot into the roof of the net from an acute angle.

Ivory Coast changed their formation after the break with Drogba playing on his own in front of a five-man midfield, but they soon had a mountain to climb as Luis Fabiano struck again.

The striker flicked the ball over one defender, jinked beyond another to clinically finish with a left-footed shot from close range. There was suspicion of handball in his final movement but there were little complaints from Ivory Coast.

Brazil upped the tempo on the hour and Kaka should have finished the best move of the match with a goal but instead he shot straight at Boubacar Copa.

He made amends moments later as he shimmied past a couple of defenders and passed across goal for Elano to side-foot home for his second goal of the tournament.

Ten minutes before the end, Yaya Toure's ball over the top found Drogba who headed home into the corner for a goal which could prove to be significant to Ivory Coast's hopes of qualifying.

Brazil	3-1	Côte d'Ivoire	FT
Luis Fabiano, 25, 50 Elano, 62	(HT 1-0)	Drogba, 79
Team
Brazil 01 Julio Cesar 02 Maicon 03 Lucio 04 Juan 06 Michel Bastos 05 Felipe Melo 07 Elano (Daniel, 67) 08 Silva 10 Kaka 09 Luis Fabiano 11 Robinho (Ramires, 90+3)		Côte d'Ivoire 01 Boubacar Copa 04 Kolo Toure 17 Tiene 20 Demel 21 Eboue (Romaric, 72) 05 Zokora 09 Tiote 19 Yaya Toure 08 Kalou (Keita, 68 ) 11 Drogba 15 Dindane (Gervinho, 54)
12 Gomes, 22 Doni, 13 Daniel, 14 Luisao, 15 Thiago Silva, 16 Gilberto, 17 Josue, 18 Ramires, 19 Julio Baptista, 20 Kleberson, 21 Nilmar, 23 Grafite		Substitutes: 16 Zogbo, 23 Yeboah, 02 Benjamin, 03 Boka, 06 Gohouri, 22 Bamba, 12 Gosso, 13 Romaric, 14 Kone, 07 Doumbia, 10 Gervinho, 18 Keita
Venue: Soccer City Referee: S Lannoy Attendance: 84,455

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