Status Quo Suits Coach Just Fine
Newly appointed France Coach Jacques Santini will not be shaking up the national team, even though the reigning European and former world champion was ousted in the first round of the World Cup.
“Why should I change everything?” Santini, 50, asked in an interview with France Football magazine published Tuesday. “Have you heard of a top player or a top team who never failed?
“Most of the players who will play qualifying games will be the players who competed in the last international tournaments.”
Defending champion France was drawn into an easy qualifying group for the 2004 European Championship in Portugal, with only Cyprus, Israel, Malta and Slovenia standing in its way.
Santini could have an additional task soon. FIFA is expected to award the 2003 Confederations Cup to France rather than selecting the United States to play host to the eight-nation tournament next summer.
Milan Eyes Rivaldo
Brazilian midfielder and World Cup winner Rivaldo, a free agent since his release by Barcelona, is being pursued by AC Milan.
Italy’s prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, who doubles as president of AC Milan, has given the go-ahead for the team to try to sign Rivaldo, 30, even though he probably will demand a large signing bonus and a salary close to the $7.5 million per year he was earning in Spain.
Rivaldo said in a television interview in Spain that the return of Dutch Coach Luis Van Gaal to Barcelona was the reason he and the club had agreed to part.
“Van Gaal is the main cause of my departure,” he said. “I don’t like Van Gaal and I am sure he doesn’t like me, either.”
U.S. to Play Denmark
The U.S. under-21 women’s national team will play Denmark today and Greece on Friday as it tries to defend its title in the eight-nation Nordic Cup tournament in Finland. A goal by Penn State’s Joanna Lohman gave the U.S. a 1-0 victory over host Finland in the opening game Monday. The Americans must win their group to reach Sunday’s championship game.
MLS Adds All-Stars
Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber used his commissioner’s picks to add midfielders Marco Etcheverry of D.C. United and Joselito Vaca of the Dallas Burn to the league’s All-Star team that will play the U.S. national team Aug. 3 at RFK Stadium in Washington.
Selected as reserves by San Jose Earthquake Coach Frank Yallop, who will coach the All-Star team, were Earthquake goalkeeper Joe Cannon, defender Wade Barrett and forward Ariel Graziani, as well midfielder Chris Klein of the Kansas City Wizards and Dallas forward Jason Kreis.
Gazza to MLS?
Free agent Paul Gascoigne, 35, will be given a tryout Friday by D.C. United, which would have to clear room under the salary cap to bring the former England national team midfielder to MLS.
