Football news

Spain defender Carles Puyol has confirmed he will continue to play international football for two more years.

Reports last month claimed the veteran centre-back had decided to quit the international stage after adding football’s biggest prize to his wealth of titles, in order to focus more on his club career at Barca.

However, Puyol has finally opted to continue until after the European Championships.

He said: “After turning the matter over in my mind a lot I have decided to continue for two more years with the national team, after talking to my team-mates, coach and friends.”

Anderson involved in car crash

Manchester United midfielder Anderson was treated in hospital after being involved in a car crash in Portugal.

Jornal de Noticias reported the 22-year-old had to be dragged from a flaming Audi R8 on Saturday after spending the evening at a nightclub, but suffered only minor injuries.

Anderson’s representatives said: “It was an almighty fright. Anderson will return soon to Manchester.”

The Brazilian had been recovering from the knee ligament injury. Following the crash, Anderson was treated at Braga Hospital alongside two other people, one man and one woman.

Raul enjoys early success at Schalke

Raul celebrated scoring his first goals as a Schalke player on Sunday as the Royal Blues beat Bayern Munich 3-1 to win a four-team tournament in Gelsenkirchen.

The Spaniard was making only his second appearance since signing on a free transfer from Real Madrid and he appears to have bedded in well after netting his first two goals.

“My team-mates have helped me settle in very easily,” he said.

“I am pleased to be playing in a team with so much quality. This atmosphere really surprised me – it was great and the fans are fantastic. It is something special to play here.”

United unleash Rooney in Ireland

Manchester United will hand Wayne Rooney and Park Ji-Sung their first starts of the pre-season tomorrow.

Rooney, Park as well as Michael Carrick and Nemanja Vidic were rested for the team’s North American tour as they enjoyed post-World Cup breaks.

But the four, as well as Antonio Valencia, who has been suffering from an ankle injury, will be in the squad for a friendly against an Irish League XI in Dublin tomorrow.

“Rooney, Park, Carrick and Vidic are back in training and are doing well,” manager Alex Ferguson said.

“Valencia is also training well and needs a game. All of them will be involved.”

After the Dublin match, United’s next assignment will be Sunday’s Community Shield clash against Chelsea at Wembley.

Vieira set to escape ban

Patrick Vieira is unlikely to be suspended for the start of the Premier League season following his sending off against Inter at the weekend.

Vieira was shown a red card midway through the first half of the friendly in Baltimore when referee Baldomero Toledo adjudged the French midfielder to have elbowed Inter defender Marco Materazzi.

Reports have suggested the dismissal could see Vieira banned for the start of the new season, but a spokesman for the FA said: “If a player gets a red card in a friendly he gets a ban for his next friendly.

“If it is overseas, it is dependent on it being reported to us by the host FA. In general terms, we retain the right to charge players in the most serious of misconduct cases and make sanctions applicable to competitive fixtures if it is felt necessary.”

Hodgson worried over Reds’ readiness

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson admitted that he was concerned by his team’s readiness for the Premier League kick-off.

Hodgson was able to field summer signing Joe Cole as well as Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Glen Johnson for the first time on Sunday as his team lost 1-0 at Borussia M’gladbach in a friendly.

But the Anfield boss said it has been difficult to prepare for the new campaign due to the extended breaks many of his senior stars were afforded.

“I am seeing improvements but we haven’t really had the chance to work together as a team as yet,” Hodgson said.

“I don’t even think we’re going to be together as a team as I would like us to be on August 15 as we are still reintegrating players.”

Donovan too costly for Everton

Everton manager David Moyes admitted that US star Landon Donovan would probably prove too expensive to bring back for a second spell on loan at Goodison Park.

Donovan spent three months with the club at the beginning of the year and the 28-year-old hinted recently he would welcome a return. But the Merseysiders’ tight financial circumstances look certain to doom any move.

“We’d love to have Landon but he looks too expensive for us and we just don’t have it,” Moyes said.

“All we’ve done is spend one million pounds on Gueye so far. Beckford and Mucha were free, so we’ve spent no money by Premier League standards.”