International news thread

[ForeverInLoveWithJus]

lol. What coaching experience has Jurgen got? I remember him from his Spurs days.

[DrTagnian]

Originally posted by ForeverInLoveWithJus
lol. What coaching experience has Jurgen got? I remember him from his Spurs days.

To be exact ... zero, 0, nada, nothing.

And I heard Olivier Bierhoff was also going to do something ... don't remember what exactly though.

[JammieJam]

that is brilliant. i used to love Klinsmann, i am sure he will do well, he;ll instill some passion, i'm sure.

[ForeverInLoveWithJus]

Even though it was widely expected, it has only become official today that Luiz Felipe Scolari has extended his contract with Portugal till 2006.

After the excellent Euro 2004 run which however ended in a defeat in the final at the hands of Greece, Scolari was tipped to continue his Portuguese adventure up till the next world cup.

And three weeks after the final Euro Cup match, the official announcement of Scolari's renewal finally arrived and the Brazilian coach can now work ahead for the 2006 World Cup which will be held in Germany.

[ForeverInLoveWithJus]

Dutch international winger Marc Overmars will retire because of knee problems, he said Monday.

Overmars, 31, was released by FC Barcelona at the end of last season despite having a year remaining on his contract. He played well as a substitute in several games for the Dutch national team at the European Championships this summer.
"My future as a footballer ends today," he said at a news conference in Barcelona, Spain. "My knee has caused me lots of problems and I can no longer continue to play at the level that I want."

According to a report on the Netherlands' NOS news, Overmars has "almost no cartilage remaining" in his right knee, which has been repeatedly injured.

Overmars has been a fixture on the Dutch national team for the past decade, appearing 86 times and scoring 17 goals.

Known for dazzling speed, he was part of the 1995 Ajax team that won the Champions League title and was later transferred to Arsenal, where he won both the league championship and FA cup in 1998.

He finished his career with Barcelona, where knee pain prevented him from playing any complete games in his final seasons, but he remained a formidable substitute.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta said that the team is "enormously grateful" for Overmars' contributions and called his retirement a "dignified act."

[DrTagnian]

Overmars was one of the best Dutch players the last 10 years.

More retirement news: Liliam Thuram has ended his carreer for the national team. Last EC he played his final match for France. However, he will be continuing his club carreer with Juventus for at least 2 years.

[ForeverInLoveWithJus]

Its a real pity Marc had to retire. I think its time for Thuram to go internationally, its the right decision.

[ForeverInLoveWithJus]

Former France boss Michel Hidalgo says Real star Zinedine Zidane should follow Lilian Thuram and retire from international football.

Hidalgo thinks the current France squad that disappointed at the World Cup two years ago and ultimately at Euro 2004 this summer is made up of too many ageing players and the likes of 32-year-old Zidane should make way to let younger talent emerge.

"It is time to inject some fresh blood into the French team,' said Hidalgo, who led France to the European title in 1984. "Marcel Desailly has already indicated that his international career is over. Players like Zidane should also retire.

"Certainly, I'm not demanding senior players go but I think they realise this and will go," he added. "The only problem is finding players who are equally good to replace them."

[DrTagnian]

Marco van Basten is the new coach of the Dutch national team. He follows up Dick Advocaat who retired after the media and millions of other people fell over him after the Robben incident.

Van Basten will have John van 't Schip next to him. Just like Advocaat had van Hanegem.

It's rumoured that also Stanley Menzo (national team and Ajax) and Rob Witschge (Feyenoord) are going to work for the Dutch national team.

[ForeverInLoveWithJus]

I just heard that, Thats good for Van Basten.

Jurgen Klinsmann has targeted Germany to win the 2006 World Cup. lol.