Football news

Japanese full-backs Yuto Nagatomo and Atsuto Uchida made history on Tuesday night as they became the first players from their country to face each other in a UEFA Champions League quarter-final.

Uchida played from the start as his side Schalke earned a stunning 5-2 victory over the reigning champions at the San Siro.

But history was made in front of a thronging contingent of Japanese media late in the second half as Nagatomo came on for Inter to replace Thiago Motta, lining up the two Japanese full-backs opposite each other on the same side of the pitch.

Bundesliga behind England, Spain

The Bundesliga is lagging behind top-flight football leagues in England and Spain, Germany national coach Joachim Loew said.

“You can clearly say that we’re a step behind,” Loew told Eurosport in an interview.

“This year, we’ve only got one team, Schalke, in a quarter-final of European competition. England and Spain have got several teams in the running. That doesn’t reflect well on the Bundesliga.”

Loew also hinted that the sacking of club managers was having an adverse effect.

“You must judge each case one by one, but constancy and continuity among coaches, with a clear philosophy, lends itself to more success in the long term than never-ending changes,” he said.

“The Bundesliga has certainly not given itself a good image.”

Struggling Almeria turn to Olabe

Primera Liga strugglers Almeria have appointed Roberto Olabe as their new coach until the end of the season following the dismissal of Jose Luis Oltra.

Oltra was sacked on Tuesday following Monday night’s 3-1 home defeat to Athletic Bilbao, which left Almeria bottom of the standings and four points adrift of safety with eight games left.

Olabe is set for a baptism of fire in his first game as Almeria take on league leaders Barcelona at the Nou Camp this weekend.

Obinna refutes racism reports

West Ham forward Victor Obinna has revealed none of his relatives were even in the country – let alone at Upton Park – on Saturday.

Reports emerged on Tuesday Obinna and Frederic Piquionne’s families suffered racial abuse during the Hammers’ 4-2 defeat by Manchester United, with guests of the two strikers allegedly involved in a confrontation with a small group of fans.

Obinna, 24, categorically denied claims of racism.

“Nothing happened – I do not have any of my family members in England,” he said.

“There is no point asking me to confirm or verify an incident that never happened – I was in total shock when I heard and read about it in the papers.”

Wright-Phillips keen to stay at City

England international Shaun Wright-Phillips says he would love to see out the rest of his career at Manchester City.

Wright-Phillips, 29, has been a City player ever since he arrived at Eastlands as a 16-year-old apart from three difficult seasons with Chelsea.

“It feels like I am part of the furniture here,” the winger told www.mcfc.co.uk.

“I would love to retire a City player and I have my fingers crossed it is something that can still happen.

“When I did leave in 2005, I broke down crying on the way to sign for Chelsea, but back then, we needed the money my sale brought in.”

Frei and Streller quit Switzerland

Veteran forwards Alex Frei and Marco Streller have resigned from the Swiss national team after being sharply criticised following a 0-0 draw with Bulgaria, the Swiss FA announced.

“Alex Frei, aged 32, and Marco Streller, aged 30, both players from FC Basel, have announced their immediate resignation from the national team to manager Ottmar Hitzfeld,” the association said in a statement.

The association noted that the two players have been on the receiving end of “negative reactions” after the March 26 Euro 2012 qualifier with Bulgaria.

Frei, who is captain of the team and top scorer in Swiss football history with 42 goals, has 84 international caps. Streller has 37 caps and 12 goals to his name.

Wantaway Ganso close to Milan

Santos starlet Paulo Henrique Ganso is reportedly close to securing a move to Serie A leaders Milan after falling out with his club.

Regarded as one of the brightest prospects of Brazilian football, the 21-year-old playmaker is also attracting interest from Inter.

Ganso’s comments that he was keen to pursue his career in Europe didn’t go down well with the Santos supporters who, last week, staged a protest and called the player a ‘mercenary’.

Reports suggest that Ganso’s football advisors have intensified their efforts to broker a deal with a top European club with Serie A giants Milan believed to be in pole position to sign the Santos youngster.