Sunderland: Sunderland manager Roy Keane has added to his strike force for their Premier League return by signing Michael Chopra from Cardiff City in a deal worth up to £5.0 million. Chopra, the second division's second highest scorer last season with 22 goals in 42 games, has signed a four-year deal. "He's a natural goalscorer who will bring competition with our other quality strikers to the side," Keane said.
Fulham: Fulham have signed defender Paul Konchesky from Premier League rivals West Ham United. The 26-year-old left back crosses London after signing a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee. Also yesterday, prolific Northern Ireland striker David Healy has linked up again with his former international manager Lawrie Sanchez by joining Fulham from Leeds United. The 27-year-old striker signed a four-year deal.
Thai boycott: Local television channels in Thailand are boycotting the Asian Cup after a spat with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) over broadcasting rights. Despite Thailand's table-topping 2-0 win over Oman on Thursday, channels 3, 5, 9, 11 and TITV are shunning Asia's premier soccer tournament over what they say are unfair broadcasting restrictions. The boycott is the latest setback for the Thai organisers after poor attendances in the first three Group A matches, which included hosts Thailand and favourites Australia.
Fatal Rio shooting: A stray bullet fired in a shoo-tout between Rio de Janeiro police and drug traffickers killed a young local soccer player on the eve of the opening of the Pan American Games, police said on Thursday. The death of an athlete, even one not taking part in the Games, adds to concerns about public safety at the 17-day event that opened yesterday. It is expected to draw some 5,500 athletes and an estimated 800,000 tourists to the beautiful but crime-plagued city.
Beef up, says coach: Skinny Saudi Arabia players must muscle up or risk getting sand kicked in their faces at the Asian Cup, their coach Helio Cesar dos Anjos said. The Saudis were fortunate to escape with a 1-1 draw against South Korea in their opening Group D match and face co-hosts Indonesia today. "There has been lots of studies done on the Saudi Arabian players' DNA and genetically they are very, very good (for soccer)," Anjos said. "But they need more muscle to be competitive."
Hopeful Zanetti: Argentina's Javier Zanetti remembers the bitterness of the Copa America final defeat to Brazil three years ago and said he was hoping for a happy ending this time. Brazil scored with the last kick of the game to draw 2-2 and then won on penalties in a memorable end to the 2004 tournament in Peru. The two old rivals meet again in the final tomorrow. "In that final we were left with a bitter taste because Argentina were good enough to have won the cup," he said. "Let's hope that this time we can have a happy ending."
World Cup U-20: Argentina vs Poland 3-1; Mexico vs Congo 3-0; Chile vs Portugal 1-0; Nigeria vs Zambia 2-1. Today's QFs: Austria vs USA; Spain vs Czech Rep. Tomorrow's QFs: Chile vs Nigeria; Argentina vs Mexico.