Football news

Former Bayern Munich president Franz Beckenbauer has tipped Hamburg coach Thorsten Fink as a future boss of the Bavarians after he steered Hamburg away from relegation.
Fink, a former Bayern midfielder, joined Hamburg from Basel in October and is undefeated as the northerners have clawed their way up to 13th in the league and host champions Dortmund tomorrow.
“Jupp Heynckes is 67, but he does not have the genes of Trapattoni who at his age (72 years) is still leading the Irish,” Beckenbauer said.
“Fink is someone for Bayern.”

Nani familiar with Fergie ‘hairdryer’

Manchester United winger Nani admits he is one of the more frequent victims of Alex Ferguson’s infamous hairdryer.
Now 70, Ferguson claims to have mellowed down the years, a stance the likes of Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville agree with.
However, the Scot’s temper can quickly boil over if he feels his team are not reaching the performance levels he demands.
And Nani, sometimes infuriatingly inconsistent, knows he irritates his boss more than most.
Nani said: “I get it a lot, it’s normal. He expects more from me, so sometimes he comes to me and says something.”

Beer at World Cup a must: FIFA

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke insisted that Brazil must allow beer to be sold at World Cup 2014 matches even though the sale of alcohol is currently banned in its stadiums.
“Alcoholic drinks are part of the FIFA World Cup, so we’re going to have them. Excuse me if I sound a bit arrogant but that’s something we won’t negotiate,” he said. The FIFA official has insisted on several occasions that it wanted authorisation for beer sales in the stadium, and had stressed that Brazil was warned of that beforehand.
FIFA has an agreement with its sponsor, Budweiser, and forbidding beer sales would cut into the football organisation’s revenues from the games.

Neymar to stay at Santos until 2014

Neymar, the Brazilian star who will turn 20 in February, said he plans to continue playing for Santos until July 2014. This week, he was in Montevideo to receive the accolade of best player in the Americas, awarded by the newspaper El Pais.
“I do not plan to go now, I have many things to do at Santos,” he said when asked by reporters about European clubs that are trying to hire him.
“I have a contract until 2014 and I intend to stay until 2014,” said the player who has scored 81 goals in 159 games.
He renewed his contract in November for two more years.

Taiwo set to move

Milan left-back Taye Taiwo (picture) is “very close” to signing for QPR reports said. The 26-year-old joined the Rossoneri from Marseille in the summer but has struggled for a regular first-team berth.
Taiwo had been linked with a January move to injury-plagued Arsenal but now looks set to join QPR, with completion of the deal subject to a work permit.
The west Londoners confirmed the Nigeria international is “very close” to signing on their official phone-in show, London Call-In.
Several media outlets have reported the signing as completed, but QPR said they are “waiting for everything to be put into place before an official announcement”.

Beckham wants to lead Team GB

David Beckham has set his sights on captaining Great Britain in their bid for gold at this year’s London Olympics and has already spoken to the squad’s coach Stuart Pearce about wear-ing the armband.
“To lead the team into the Olympics would be special for any player,” said Beckham, who captained England 59 times.
“Hopefully, I will be involved in the Olympics. I want to be part of the GB team.
“I have never played in the Olympic Games before and I know how exciting it is for our nation to have the Olympics in the East End of London, es-pecially for me growing up in that part of the city.”

Hamann lost £288,400 in one bet

Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann has revealed that he once lost £288,400 in a single bet on a cricket match between South Africa and Australia.
Hamann became a gambler in an attempt to block out the stress of problems in his personal life and the German hit rock bottom when he squandered the vast sum in a spread bet.
“That night I bought Australia for £2,800 at 340 runs. That meant for every run over 340 you win £2,800, but for every run under you lose the same amount.
“Australia collapsed for 237. It is a score I remember well... it cost me £288,400.”
Hamann now works as a betting advisor for a sports website.