Football news

Milan are looking to strengthen their defensive department in January with the signing of Benfica’s David Luiz, reports in the Portuguese media said.

The 23-year-old Brazilian is known to be a target for Milan and, according to A’Bola, the Rossoneri are ready to fork out €20 million to get their man.

If the Luiz transfer fails to materialise, Milan are likely to consider other options, perhaps less expensive as well. Their scouts have already monitored 21-year-old Paris SG player Mamadou Sakho and Cagliari’s Michele Canini, 25, is another option.

US and Poland play to 2-2 draw

Jakub Blaszczykowski netted the final equaliser in the 73rd minute to give Poland a 2-2 draw with the United States in an international football friendly on Saturday.

Before a crowd of 31,696 at Soldier Field that included thousands of Polish supporters, the visitors twice answered the hosts seizing the lead to earn a draw.

Milan defender Oguchi Onyewu, making his first start since the World Cup, nodded home in the 52nd minute to put the US 2-1 up until Blaszczykowski answered.

The Polish side will face Ecuador tomorrow in Montreal.

Osieck sees Cahill’s striking qualities

Tim Cahill’s international future could be as a striker for Australia, new national coach Holger Osieck said. The 30-year-old has been a free-scoring midfielder for his country and Everton but the German coach is tinkering with exploiting his predatory instincts more fully for the Socceroos.

Cahill was part of a two-pronged attack with Nagoya’s Josh Kennedy in Australia’s 1-0 win over Paraguay in Sydney on Saturday, and Osieck liked what he saw.

“Tim has that special touch up front,” he said.

“He has all the ingredients. He is a good finisher. Why waste him in the midfield, too far back?”

McGregor handed one-match suspension

Rangers keeper Allan McGregor has been handed a one-match suspension by the Scottish FA after being found guilty of violent conduct during the match against Aberdeen on September 26 following an incident with Chris McGuire.

McGregor had been charged after aiming a kick at the Dons striker during the 3-2 victory for Rangers. He has also had 12 disciplinary points added to his record.

The incident was not spotted at the time by any of the match officials but it was brought to the attention of the SFA who convened a video review panel.

McGregor is set to miss next weekend’s SPL clash with Motherwell.

We must beat Wales – Hitzfeld

Switzerland manager Ottmar Hitzfeld claims his side must beat Wales tomorrow if they are to qualify for the finals of Euro 2012. The Swiss lost their second straight qualifying match on Friday, going down 1-0 in Montenegro, meaning the clash with the Welsh is now a crucial one.

“We must not lose our nerve,” said Hitzfeld.

“We desperately need a win so that we can release the tension and we have got to beat Wales on Tuesday to start our recovery.”

Defeats to England and Montenegro have left the Swiss at the bottom of qualifying Group G.

Rooney – give us a winter break

Wayne Rooney has called for the introduction of a Premier League winter break to give the national team the best possible chance of success in future major tournaments.

The Premier League have so far resisted calls to bring in a break.

The lack of a mid-season hiatus has been cited as a reason for England’s failure to reach the final four of any major tournament since the 1990 World Cup.

Rooney said: “A winter break would not only help the national team but the Premier League as well.

“Towards the end of the season the intensity in some of the games is missing. It’s a long season with the intensity the games are played at. It is only fair on players that there is a break.”

Butt concerned for Bayern’s season

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Hans-Jorg Butt fears history could repeat itself if his side does not start winning soon. Bayern have picked up just eight points from the first seven Bundesliga games and are already 13 points adrift of the summit.

Butt was part of the Bayer Leverkusen team which, after finishing runners-up in the league, the cup and in the Champions League in 2002, only just avoided relegation the following season and he can already see parallels between the two situations.

“Not only were we in the Champions League final with Leverkusen, but we also had very many players in the summer of 2002 at the World Cup,” recalled the Bayern custodian.

“Those efforts and successes certainly played a role over the course of the season.”