Football news

South Korea coach Cho Kwang-Rae has been sacked after a shock defeat to Lebanon left the 2002 semi-finalists at risk of crashing out of World Cup qualifying, officials said yesterday.

Cho said he was “flabbergasted” at the move, which comes with his team still top of Group B on goal difference and needing only to avoid defeat in their last game to be sure of reaching the final round.

The head of the Korean Football Association (KFA) technical committee, Hwangbo Kwan, said Cho’s dismissal came after broadcasters and sponsors voiced concerns about the side’s performances.

Inter vow to spend in January

Inter president Massimo Moratti has vowed to spend during the January transfer window despite pulling out of the race to sign Argentina forward Carlos Tevez.

Moratti revealed he was unhappy with a proposed deal for the Manchester City rebel but said coach Claudio Ranieri will be backed up by funds.

“I’m not disappointed (on missing out on Tevez) because I didn’t consider the transfer terms, which I imagine are similar to those with Milan, to be acceptable,” said Moratti.

“We will see, certainly we’ll do something (in January).”

Reports in Italian media yesterday claimed that French club Paris SG could trump Milan and sign Tevez.

Dinamo Zagreb sack manager

Dinamo Zagreb sacked manager Krunoslav Jurcic within an hour of their being thrashed 7-1 at home to French side Lyon in the Champions League, the club president said yesterday.

“I have to say with great sadness that this defeat has been very painful for us. It’s the worst defeat in Dinamo’s (European competition) history,” Zdravko Mamic told reporters.

“The board met immediately after the match and we decided to split with manager Krunoslav Jurcic. It was an unanimous decision.”

Jurcic has managed the side since June.

Jenas suffers blow

Aston Villa’s on-loan midfielder Jermaine Jenas has been ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing Achilles surgery.

The Tottenham player will be sidelined for six months after suffering the latest setback during Saturday’s home reversal against Manchester United.

“This is tragic for Jermaine and, of course, we are all deeply disappointed for him,”Villa manager Alex McLeish said.

“To lose a player of his talent and experience is bad enough, but never to have seen him play enough in the Villa shirt for our fans to appreciate the player he is, that’s terrible bad luck.”

We were unlucky, says Ranieri

Claudio Ranieri said Inter produced a good performance in their 2-1 home defeat to CSKA Moscow but lamented his side’s bad luck.

“We secured qualification a round early and this makes me happy,” Ranieri said.

“This evening (Wednesday) we tried with all our strength, creating four or five scoring opportunities, but at this moment we are unlucky.

“I could not have asked for more from my players in terms of their desire to fight back, but luck is against us at the moment.

“When it’s like that and the ball doesn’t want to go in, we just have to wait. Sooner or later, it will turn our way.”

DFB boss criticises 2022 decision

DFB president Theo Zwanziger, a member of FIFA’s executive committee, has criticised FIFA’s decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.

“The basic requirements for a host country have been perverted,” said Zwanziger, the president of the German Football Federation (DFB), who was voted onto the executive committee of FIFA in June.

“I have never understood how such a small country can be awarded one of the most important sports events in the world, especially as Qatar were in last place on the grid before the decision was made.”

Rossi recovering

Italy striker Giuseppe Rossi’s recovery from knee surgery is going according to plan, his agent Federico Pastorello said.

The Villarreal forward, a key player in the plans of Azzurri boss Cesare Prandelli, ruptured knee ligaments recently.

“His recovery is going well,” Pastorello said. “We’re really happy with everything so far.

“He will certainly be ready for the European Championship because he will return to action in April.”

Prandelli has had to re-design his attack after Antonio Cassano, Rossi’s striker partner, was also sidelined as a result of a minor heart operation.