Football news

Inter received a boost yesterday when club medics said experienced defender Walter Samuel could be back from injury before the end of the Serie A season.

The 32-year-old Argentina international has been out since November with a serious knee injury.

“Now I have some hope of being back before the end of the season. Maybe I’m deluding myself but you never know,” Samuel told the club’s website.

“But more than anything I want to heal well. The team do not need me at the moment because they are doing really well and playing well. They have shown it above all in recent months and are in the running for every competition.”

Keeper Carson in England squad

West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Scott Carson was drafted into England’s squad for today’s Euro 2012 qualifier with Wales after Ben Foster was ruled out with illness.

Carson, who last played for England in a friendly against Germany in 2008, was called up after in-form Birmingham keeper Foster was laid low by a throat infection.

Carson was called up as England’s third-choice keeper behind Manchester City’s Joe Hart and West Ham’s Robert Green.

Carson, 25, has rebuilt his reputation after a notorious performance in a Euro 2008 qualifier at Wembley, when his blunder contributed to a 3-2 defeat against Croatia which saw England eliminated.

Ramsey proud to captain country

New Wales captain Aaron Ramsey has vowed to lead by example when he skippers the side in today’s Euro 2012 qualifier against England at the Millennium Stadium.

The 20-year-old Arsenal midfielder has been handed the role despite having won just 11 caps to date, with manager Gary Speed hopeful the youngster is the man to revitalise what has so far been a woeful Group G campaign.

Ramsey said: “I am honoured to be captain at such a young age.

“Ever since I was a boy I wanted to become a professional foot-baller and captain my country. This is one of the biggest games we could play and it will be a special occasion for me to lead the team out in front of a full house.”

Prandelli believes Balotelli changed

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said he is confident errant striker Mario Balotelli will have a great career despite his recent problems.

Prandelli dropped Balotelli from his squad for last night’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Slovenia due to disciplinary reasons. But he says the Manchester City forward is on the right path to eliminating his demons.

“For Mario the important thing is that he thinks about his mistakes,” Prandelli said.

“He’s aware of this problem and he’s sorry for it, he’s asked for help and we will stay close to him to help him with his development.”

B. Munich name Heynckes new coach

German giants Bayern Munich said yesterday that Jupp Heynckes has been appointed coach from July 1, replacing Louis van Gaal who is leaving at the end of the season.

“We are very happy to have agreed a two-year contract,” club president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said.

“I am convinced that our cooperation with Jupp Heynckes will be successful.”

Heynckes, 65, won two league titles with Bayern between 1987 and 1991, then took over again for five games at the end of the 2009 season. He also won the Champions League with Real Madrid in 1998.

Kaladze slams government

Georgian football star Kakha Kaladze has controversially stepped into politics, accusing the government of backtracking on democracy commitments.

National team captain Kaladze, who plays for Genoa, spoke out angrily about the jailing this week of former Georgian striker Giorgi Demetradze for extortion and involvement in illegal sports betting.

“I think the time is coming to demand more transparency since a country that was labelled a beacon of democracy has clearly regressed in this sense,” Kaladze said.

Kaladze called for Demetradze’s case to be reviewed, saying he believed that his fellow footballer was innocent.

Beckham to captain LA Galaxy

David Beckham is to captain the Los Angeles Galaxy for the first time in three years.

Bruce Arena, coach of the Major League Soccer club, decided that former England captain Beckham will wear the captain’s armband today when the Galaxy visit MLS rivals Real Salt Lake.

“Bruce has asked me to wear it, and I’ll be proud to do so,” said Beckham, who is in the final season of the contract that brought him to Los Angeles.

Beckham last captained the Galaxy on October 26, 2008. The armband was given to US midfielder Landon Donovan the following year.

Donovan will miss today’s game to be with the United States national team hosting Argentina in a friendly at East Rutherford, New Jersey.