Clint Dempsey’s 36th-minute strike was enough to give the US a 1-0 win over Honduras in a friendly in Miami on Saturday, their first triumph under coach Jurgen Klinsmann.
Klinsmann, who was named coach on July 29, had presided over a 1-1 draw with Mexico in August and 1-0 defeats to Costa Rica and Belgium in September.
Klinsmann said he knew his players were eager to deliver a victory for him.
“This team is hungry for success,” Klinsmann said.
“They want to do well and get the results right.”
Krkic dreams of derby winner
Roma resume their Serie A commitments with a bang on Sunday when they play city rivals Lazio and Bojan Krkic is looking to break his Serie A duck with a winning goal in the derby.
The Spain international had been dropped by coach Luis Enrique in the opening matches of the season before starting and scoring in the 3-1 victory over Atalanta.
“Many teams are capable of challenging for the scudetto this season, so it will take time to figure out a favourite in the current balanced climate,” Krkic said.
“We mustn’t think about the title. The derby is up next. It is going to be a difficult and tense match. Of course, I dream of Roma winning the derby with my goal.”
Tepid reception for Brazil’s win
Brazil’s 1-0 victory over Costa Rica in a friendly international at the weekend failed to impress critics back home, who expected more from the 2014 World Cup hosts.
“Drowsy Brazil beat Costa Rica,” was the verdict of O Globo on the performance of Mano Menezes’s side.
“Without playing well, Brazil beat Costa Rica 1-0 with a goal by Neymar after an hour of mediocre football in the rain,” the newspaper said.
Sports daily Lance was similarly unimpressed, calling the football on display “without imagination, without anything very interesting.”
Brazil will face a tougher test tomorrow when they take on Mexico in another friendly.
Maradona sorry for heavy defeat
Diego Maradona felt obliged to apologise to the supporters of United Arab Emirates club Al-Wasl yesterday after the club were thrashed 5-0 by Dubai.
The 50-year-old had guided the side to two wins after an opening run of three defeats, albeit two friendlies and a cup match, but Dubai brought him back down to earth.
“I want to apologise for this defeat. I am very sad. We were on the right path with two successive victories and now we must focus on the championship and not look back,” he said.
“I hope that this defeat will not affect the morale of the squad who must learn lessons from this defeat.”
Podolski eyeing Euro success
Lukas Podolski has set his sights on Euro 2012 glory after another display of strength from his Germany side in their 3-1 win over Turkey at the weekend.
That success was Germany’s ninth in nine qualifying matches and they can complete a full house by beating Belgium in Dusseldorf tomorrow.
And Cologne forward Podolski has never felt so much potential in the national team as he does now.
“This is definitely the strongest national team I have played in,” he said.
“Our aim is to win the title next year and we have the quality to do that. And we want to do it after coming so close in recent tournaments.”
Ref Stark praises Rooney reaction
The referee who sent off Wayne Rooney in Montenegro on Friday believes the striker’s reaction to his decision could spare him a longer suspension.
German official Wolfgang Stark dismissed the Manchester United man for a kick at Miodrag Dzudovic, meaning he is certain to miss the first game of the championships.
That ban could be increased to two, though, depending on how UEFA view the incident.
But Stark said: “He accepted it without dissent. Maybe it will help Rooney the way he acted by accepting my decision.
“It was a straight red card. I had no hesitation. You saw what happened and Rooney knew by his reaction. He just walked off.”
Thigh injury stops keeper Cesar
Goalkeeper Julio Cesar is likely to miss Inter’s next match against Catania at the weekend after suffering an injury in Brazil’s friendly with Costa Rica on Saturday.
Cesar had to leave the pitch 16 minutes from time with a thigh problem.
“With good common sense we decided Julio Cesar is free to return to Inter. In the past he had already suffered a similar injury, so in order to ensure it doesn’t deteriorate, we consider it best he continues treatment in Milan” Brazil doctor Jose Luiz Runco said.
“Julio Cesar will need to rest for at least a week.”
Luca Castellazzi will deputise for Cesar against Catania.