Reina rues absent Villa

Spain goalkeeper Pepe Reina said David Villa’s unavailability for Euro 2012 is a major blow, claiming the striker is also a big off-field presence.

The country’s all-time record goalscorer Villa was forced to admit defeat last week in his battle to recover in time from the fractured tibia he suffered during the Club World Cup in December when representing Barcelona.

“I have wanted to give him a hug because I have not seen him recently,” Reina told Marca.

“But we talk every day and soon I will be able to give him a hug.

“The group will miss him, both as a player and a person. But we have no other option but to encourage him and hope that he returns as soon as possible.”

While Reina was unable to comfort Villa in person, he was on hand to support Roberto Soldado, who was excluded from Vicente del Bosque’s 23-man squad for Poland and Ukraine.

“We went to have a coke and I told him that in the future he will definitely have many opportunities with the national team,” he said.

“I know that for him and the other guys it was not easy to continue with us for these past four days (after the squad announcement), but they have to maintain their enthusiasm and keep fighting.”

Spain will open their campaign against Italy, whose preparations have been overshadowed by the enforced withdrawal of left-back Domencio Criscito due to his alleged involvement in a match-fixing scandal in Serie A.

Reina admitted he does know the full ins and outs of the story, but the controversy has taken him by surprise.

“We do not have much knowledge of what is happening but it is obviously not normal,” the Liverpool goalkeeper confessed.

“Photos have come out and it’s a surprise. We’ll see what happens but, of course, we are surprised.”

Defending champions Spain also have Republic of Ireland and Croatia for company in Euro 2012 Group C.

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/reina-rues-absent-villa/95533/

Bolton keeper plays waiting game

Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen is stalling over signing a new deal at the Reebok Stadium.

The former Finland international has spent 15 seasons at the Lancashire club and was awarded a testimonial match in 2009.

However, after picking up an injury at the turn of the year the 37-year-old lost his place to Adam Bogdan, but despite not being first choice, his manager is keen to keep him.

“I want to make it clear that I want him (Jaaskelainen) to stay,” Coyle told reporters.

“We know we have Adam, and that would give us two top keepers, but we want that strength in depth.

“I had a very good chat with him last week and he knows my feelings on the matter.

“We know how good a goalkeeper Jussi is, the fantastic service he’s put in for Bolton Wanderers over a number of years, and we have put an offer to him that we think is a good one.”

Should Jaaskelainen choose to stay at the Reebok Stadium, he could face an uphill challenge to regain his place in the starting XI.

Not only did Bogdan end the previous campaign as first-choice, the Hungarian goalkeeper is also 14 years his junior and Coyle was full of praise for Bogdan’s contribution in what was, ultimately, a disappointing season.

“Adam finished last season as one of the top few keepers in the Premier League for me,” Coyle said.

“Jussi was disappointed when he lost his spot, and he was unlucky that it happened because of an injury but he knows how far Adam has come along.

“It’s up to him now whether he wants to stay and challenge him, or move on.”

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/bolton-keeper-plays-waiting-game/95506/

Coyle keen to keep Jussi World Soccer Shop

Bolton manager Owen Coyle is eager to retain the services of Jussi Jaaskelainen but accepts the second-choice goalkeeper may wish to move on.

Jaaskelainen: Offered a new deal

Jaaskelainen, who has been at the club for 15 years, fell behind Adam Bogdan in the pecking order last season and seems set to be behind him when the club kick-off in the Championship in August.

However, Wanderers have offered the 37-year-old Finn a new two-year contract.

"I want to make it clear that I want him to stay," Coyle told the Bolton News.

"I had a very good chat with him last week and he knows my feelings on the matter.

"We know we have Adam, and that would give us two top keepers, but we want that strength in depth.

"We know how good a goalkeeper Jussi is, the fantastic service he's put in for Bolton over a number of years, and we have put an offer to him that we think is a good one.

"Jussi was disappointed when he lost his spot, and he was unlucky that it happened because of an injury but he knows how far Adam has come along.

"It's up to him now whether he wants to stay and challenge him, or move on."

Source : http://soccer365.com//news/european_news/general/17437/coyle_keen_to_keep_jussi

Koval makes Ukraine squad World Soccer Shop

Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin has finalised his 23-man squad for Euro 2012, with Dynamo Kyiv goalkeeper Maksym Koval making the cut.

Koval: Retained in Ukraine squad

The co-hosts are facing a goalkeeping crisis heading into the tournament, with first-choice Olexandr Shovkovsky ruled out with a shoulder injury.

Andrey Dykan suffered head and facial injuries in a Russian Premier League match, while Oleksandr Rybka was suspended for using a banned diuretic.

Shakhtar Donetsk goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov, who has 24 caps, is therefore considered to be the first-choice custodian, while Metalist Kharkiv man Olexandr Horyainov and Dynamo's inexperienced teenager Koval have been named as cover.

Oleksandr Bandura misses out along with defender Vitaly Mandzyuk and midfielder Taras Stepanenko as coach Blokhin cuts his initial 26-man party down to 23.

Ukraine, who are co-hosting the tournament with Poland, warmed up with a 4-0 friendly win over Estonia on Monday.

They will take on Austria in another friendly on Friday before finishing their preparations against Turkey on June 5.

Blokhin's men open their Euro campaign against Sweden on June 11, with England and France also in Group D.

Final Ukraine squad for Euro 2012:

Goalkeepers: Pyatov (Shakhtar Donetsk), Horyainov (Metalist Kharkiv), Koval (Dynamo Kiev).

Defenders: Kucher (Shakhtar Donetsk), Rakitskiy (Shakhtar Donetsk), Shevchuk (Shakhtar Donetsk), Khacheridi (Dynamo Kiev), Mykhalyk (Dynamo Kiev), Selin (Vorskla), Butko (Illichivets).

Midfielders: Aliev (Dynamo Kiev), Garmash (Dynamo Kiev), Gusiev (Dynamo Kiev), Yarmolenko (Dynamo Kiev), Konoplyanka (Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk), Rotan (Dnipro), Nazarenko (Tavriya), Tymoshchuk (Bayern Munich).

Forwards: Milevskiy (Dynamo Kiev), Shevchenko (Dynamo Kiev), Devic (Metalist Kharkiv), Voronin (Dynamo Moscow), Seleznyov (Shakhtar Donetsk).

Source : http://soccer365.com//news/european_news/general/17394/koval_makes_ukraine_squad

Chelsea keep hold of Cech World Soccer Shop

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has signed a new four-year contract after admitting he is "really happy" at Stamford Bridge.

Cech: Signs until 2016 at Stamford Bridge

The Czech Republic international, who recently turned 30, is now tied to the Blues until 2016.

Cech joined the club in 2004, and has already played more games for Chelsea than any overseas player - 369 appearances which has seen him win three Premier League titles, four FA Cups and two Carling Cups plus the Champions League after a penalty shoot-out in the final against Bayern Munich earlier this month.

Cech said: "I am really happy to be part of this great club for another four years.

"I hope the next four years will be as successful as the last eight years I have been at the club."

Cech made a series of crucial saves in Chelsea's victorious FA Cup and Champions League campaigns last season.

He saved Arjen Robben's penalty in extra time in the European competition final against Bayern Munich and two more in the shoot-out.

Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay said: "Chelsea fully appreciates the highly significant contribution Petr has made to the most successful period in the club's history, and it is very important to our aim of continuing this level of achievement that he has committed himself to the club until 2016.

"It is clear to anyone who watched the climax to the season just completed that Petr continues to perform as well as any goalkeeper in the world."

Over the course of his Chelsea career, Cech has kept 178 clean sheets, an astonishing 48% of the games he has played in.

Source : http://soccer365.com//news/european_news/general/17317/chelsea_keep_hold_of_cech