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Soccer shorts: No Real change, says Beckham
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 Feb.
28, 2006. 11:23 AM
ASSOCIATED PRESS
David Beckham doesn't think his future at Real Madrid will be affected
by the resignation of club president Florentino Perez.
The England captain is one of many stars, or galacticos, signed
by Perez since he became president in July 2000. Perez quit Monday,
saying a pitiful team spirit had developed.
"It doesn't affect my side at all, I don't think," Beckham
said Tuesday in Liverpool, where he was preparing with his England
teammates for a Wednesday exhibition game against Uruguay.
"I've got this season plus one more left. I've already been
told, and not just by Florentino, by other board members, other
directors, they've expressed their feelings at me staying at the
club.
"Whether that changes, I won't know until I get back to Madrid."
He said he was disappointed Perez had quit because he was responsible
for his transfer from Manchester United in 2003. Beckham has not
won a trophy while in Spain.
"He's the man who brought me to the club and that's why people
have turned around this morning and said 'will I be leaving?"'
Beckham said. "I've got a great relationship with him but I've
also got a great relationship with the other board members and directors
and players and fans."
Beckham said Perez would be remembered for the galacticos, but
said he wasn't part of that era.
"I didn't really go there as a galactico," he said. "People
say that I went there as one and I'm still one of them but I went
there as a footballer most of all and that's what I'm still there
for now. I'm there to play football, not to do anything else."
Azzurri unveils new jerseys: Italy unveiled its new lightweight
jersey for the World Cup on Tuesday.
The 100-gram jerseys were tested in a wind tunnel, and supplier
Puma claims their special fabric provides players with an aerodynamic
advantage.
The shirts will be worn at the World Cup by 12 Puma-sponsored teams.
Italy's blue version features the Italian Soccer Federation crest
on the centre of the chest and gold numbers on front and back. Players'
names are all lower-case.
Italy will wear the jerseys for the first time in Wednesday's friendly
against Germany.
Van Persie charges dropped: Rape charges against Arsenal striker
Robin van Persie have been dropped due to a lack of evidence, prosecutors
said Tuesday.
The 22-year-old player was accused of attacking a 25-year-old woman
in a hotel room last year.
Prosecution spokeswoman Jeichien de Graaff said "after a lengthy
investigation, we couldn't find any evidence that the sexual contact
that took place was coerced, and that's a pre-condition for a rape
case."
Van Persie spent two weeks in jail at the start of the investigation
in June 2005.
The woman has two weeks to appeal against the prosecutors' decision.
Her lawyers could not immediately be reached for comment.
Vieri questionable: Italy striker Christian Vieri injured his left
ankle in training Tuesday and is questionable for Wednesday's friendly
against Germany.
"He twisted it. We'll see how he is tomorrow morning,"
Italy coach Marcello Lippi said.
Vieri was not scheduled to start Wednesday's game. He left the
training pitch for the locker room and was next seen limping toward
the cafeteria for lunch.
Lippi said he would not call up a replacement if Vieri cannot play.
Luca Toni, Alberto Gilardino and Alessandro Del Piero are Lippi's
likely starters in attack, with Vieri and Vincenzo Iaquinta as reserves.
Italy is already without injured playmaker Francesco Totti.
Vieri transferred from AC Milan to Monaco in January to gain more
playing time and boost his chances of making Italy's World Cup squad.
Saha wants France spot: France coach Raymond Domenech has a problem
— too many talented strikers to choose from.
Juventus forward David Trezeguet and Arsenal's Thierry Henry are
considered untouchable.
But behind them, a flurry of French attackers are hoping to secure
a World Cup place — including Sylvain Wiltord, Nicolas Anelka,
Djibril Cisse, Ludovic Giuly, Sidney Govou, and Louis Saha.
Manchester United's Saha is keen to start Wednesday's friendly
against Slovakia at the Stade de France and doesn't the rivalry
for spots as a bad thing.
"Its an indirect competition," Saha said. "It can
only be beneficial to the national team. It will raise the players'
level."
Several factors will affect Domenech's decision in May.
"It can be a player's poor shape," Saha said. "It
can be injuries. The number of matches played. The number of goals
scored."
Saha scored last weekend to help United beat Wigan 4-0 in the League
Cup final.
Meanwhile, Cisse has spent more time on the bench at Liverpool
than on the pitch, and Barcelona winger Giuly has been sidelined
by a thigh injury.
Saha is convinced that consistency will prove key.
"You have to be steady," he said. "I think you have
to play with your club to show that you can bring something to the
France team."
Before the 1998 World Cup in France, coach Aime Jacquet warned
players they had to start games with their clubs to be considered
for the national squad.
"It's of no interest to me to just play one match per month,"
Saha said. "I don't think you can go to the World Cup at the
top of your game that way."
Despite the stakes and the competition with other strikers, Saha
doesn't feel the pressure.
"I'm relaxed," he said. "I don't want to focus on
that. I'm trying to play my best football with Manchester United,
and well see."
Saha has been hit by knee injuries over the last two seasons. As
a result, he is just happy to be fit and chosen again by Domenech.
"I've never played 100 per cent fit with the France team,"
Saha said. "My game depends a lot on my fitness. My self-confidence
is now getting better."
Ferrara joins Lippi's staff: Ciro Ferrara is back with the Italian
national team — as a member of the coaching staff.
The former defender was called in to join the Azzurri by his old
Juventus coach and current Italy manager Marcello Lippi.
"Right now I'm just on loan until the World Cup since I'm
still tied to Juventus as director of coaching in the youth program,"
Ferrara said Monday, his first day back with the national team.
"I'll help the players just like I did with my teammates when
I was still playing."
Ferrara retired after last season. He played in 49 matches for
Italy.
Italy hosts Germany in a friendly on Wednesday.
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