Football news

Former Juventus striker Gianluca Vialli has tipped his former team to get one over traditional rivals Inter in the big game this weekend.

Resurgent Inter have won nine games out of 10 in all competitions under new boss Leonardo while Juve have lost five out of nine matches since the turn of the year.

However, Vialli believes last weekend’s 3-1 win at Cagliari will help the struggling giants to turn the corner.

“On Sunday Juve can beat Inter, they may have to struggle but it’s within their capabilities,” he said.

“The win over Cagliari did a world of good to their morale and it will be important to start on the right foot.”

Adriano in alleged drink-driving case

Roma’s Brazilian striker Adriano has had his driving licence confiscated by police after refusing to take a drink-driving test, media reports said.

Adriano refused to be breathalysed and had his licence confiscated, police major Marco Andrade told sports website Globoesporte. He admitted he had been drinking to a police officer, the site said.

Adriano can regain his licence in five days on payment of a fine of 958 reais (€470) pending a judicial investigation. If he is found guilty he would receive a one-year ban, Andrade said.

Adriano is in Rio recovering from a shoulder operation.

Jose is mou-sic to my ears – Adebayor

Emmanuel Adebayor has hailed the impact Jose Mourinho has had on his game since the Manchester City striker’s loan move to Real Madrid.

Adebayor has already scored twice for his new club, netting in wins over Sevilla and Real Sociedad.

“I’m very happy for scoring two goals,” Adebayor said. “I will work hard every day to help win our games.

“It is very easy to work with Mourinho. He is an excellent person and he enhances my game. He has his own way of dealing with people. He tells you what he expects you to do.”

Kuqi earns Newcastle chance

Newcastle yesterday confirmed the signing of Finland international striker Shefki Kuqi until the end of the season.

The 34-year-old, who was a free agent after his contract with Championship side Swansea was terminated by mutual consent last month, could go straight into the squad for tomorrow’s Premier League trip to Blackburn, one of his former clubs.

He has been drafted in to provide back-up to strikers Leon Best, Peter Lovenkrands and Nile Ranger following the £35 million departure of Andy Carroll to Liverpool, Xisco’s loan move to Deportivo la Coruna and Shola Ameobi’s fractured cheekbone.

Zidane should forgive himself – Materazzi

Marco Materazzi has claimed that France legend Zinedine Zidane needs to ask himself for forgiveness before he could apologise to the Italian, whom he famously head-butted during the 2006 World Cup final.

The headbutt earned Zidane a red card and Italy went on to win the trophy on penalties. The Juventus and Real Madrid star has ever since steadfastly refused to apologise publicly to Materazzi for the head-butt.

“I think more than anything else Zidane needs to ask himself for forgiveness because it’s his career not mine,” he said.

“During my career I’ve had problems with few people, you could count them on one hand, that’s to my credit and also that of others.”

French memorabilia fan loses his shirt

A football memorabilia collector was left fuming and out of pocket after customs officials destroyed a package containing his prize possession – French star David Trezeguet’s shirt from the 1998 World Cup final win over Brazil.

Customs destroyed the item on suspicion that the shirt was a forgery, to the horror of its owner, who had paid some €7,000 for the garment.

“I was livid – that was to be the star piece of my collection,” the man told regional paper Le Dauphine Libere.

But regional customs official Jean-Paul Balzamo told AFP: “A shirt of such value should have been the object of a customs declaration but this was not the case.”

Homosexual players should go public, says Neuer

German international goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has expressed his desire for homosexual footballers to go public over their sexuality adding it would take a load off their minds.

The 24-year-old Schalke 04 star told Bunte magazine that supporters didn’t care about a player’s sexuality, only how he performed on the pitch.

“Yes, those who are homosexual should say so. That would take a load off their minds,” said Neuer.

Neuer’s plea is rare in football where homosexuality is regarded as a taboo subject. On several occasions, Bundesliga players have spoken in the press anonymously about the difficulties they faced hiding the fact that they are homosexual.