Focused Federer to ignore World Cup distractions

(Reuters) – The Swiss soccer team’s Mr Motivator, also known as Roger Federer, is hoping Alejandro Falla does not turn out to be an awkward first round opponent at Wimbledon on Monday.

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In line with Wimbledon tradition, the champion will begin his pursuit of a record-equaling seventh men’s crown at 1400 local time but that means he will have to miss some or all of Switzerland’s World Cup match against Chile.

Federer was recently invited to give the Swiss team a pep talk and despite his vested interest in what happens on the pitch in South Africa, on Monday he will be totally focused on the lush green lawns of Wimbledon.

“You think I’ll just like leave the court at 3:00?” Federer told reporters on Sunday before hotfooting it to Court Four for a relaxed practice session in black shorts and grey T-shirt.

“That’s not going to happen quite yet,” added the top seed, who became a father to twin daughters just a few weeks after winning a record 15th grand slam in London last July.

“In the past that I’ve had to play matches during important things in my life. I went on court last year many times thinking that (my wife) Mirka was going to give birth to my children.

“That was a bit more crazy than Switzerland playing at 3 pm. (But) I still have a chance to maybe go see a little bit (of the football match).”

The 28-year-old is arguably the most famous sports person to emerge out of Switzerland and after bewitching rivals for almost a decade — winning 16 majors and countless records in the process — Swiss coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, wanted Federer to sprinkle some of his magic over the soccer squad.

The ploy appeared to work as Switzerland shocked European champions Spain on Wednesday.

“Hitzfeld called me and said if I could just come in and meet the team, inspire them a bit, answer questions on how I handle the pressure,” explained Federer.

“I came in (and) I don’t think they’ve lost since. If it’s one percent (credit) they give to me, that’s great. I’m happy it worked.”

Federer enjoys an intense rivalry on court with Mallorcan world number one Rafael Nadal, who had predicted an easy win for Spain in the Group H match, but opted not rub in the result when the duo briefly exchanged pleasantries in a Wimbledon corridor.

“This was a huge match. I watched it, of course. I didn’t get in touch with Rafa because I’m not the type of person who rubs it in,” said Federer.

“We know the bad times can come by very quickly. But obviously after a match like this, you’re allowed also to start dreaming that you could go much further in the competition.”

(Editing by Justin Palmer)

Italy improve in last friendly before World Cup trip

Geneva, June 6 (DPA) Switzerland and visiting Italy drew 1-1 in a friendly played six days before the start of the 2010 football World Cup in South Africa.

Gokhan Inler and Fabio Quagliarella were on target here Saturday in the first half at the Stade de Geneve, where both sides seemed pleased with the draw and created fewer occasions after the break.

Marcello Lippi brought major changes to the Azzurri squad that Thursday lost 1-2 to Mexico and obtained mild improvements nine days ahead of the title holders’ debut at the World Cup.

The Swiss squad came from three defeats in as many friendlies with Costa Rica, Uruguay and Norway, but had a good start before the home crowd at the Stade de Geneve and went one up on 10 minutes.

Federico Marchetti’s fingertips only managed to graze the firm drive that Inler, a midfielder playing in Italy with Udinese, drilled into the lower right corner from outside the area.

The Italian goalkeeper filling in for star Gianluigi Buffon rejoiced four minutes later as he watched Quagliarella try a first header despite the opposition of Philippe Senderos and nod past Diego Benaglio on his second attempt.

Valon Behrami and Alexander Frei missed a couple of deflections for the hosts, while Italy striker Giampaolo Pazzini was twice late before the break on crosses from Christian Maggio and Riccardo Montolivo.

In the second half, both Lippi and his German counterpart Ottmar Hitzfeld brought on fresh players and tried to rehearse their tactics.

Marchetti made a single save to parry a central drive from substitute Xherdan Shaqiri.

Quagliarella was not expected to be part of the 23-man roster when the Azzurri leave for South Africa and celebrated his fourth goal from 20 caps.

‘We wanted to play well,’ he said. ‘It was an important game for all of us. Lippi asked us to try the plays we have done while training.’

Italy play their first game in Group F against Paraguay June 14, before tackling New Zealand and Slovakia.

A tough Group H awaits Switzerland with European champions Spain tackling them on June 16 before matches with Chile and Honduras.

Italy reserve Cossu starts in Swiss draw

Switzerland and Italy warmed up for the World Cup with a run-of-the-mill 1-1 friendly draw on Saturday when the holders played Andrea Cossu from the start despite the midfielder not being in their official squad.

The hosts were roared on by a noisy Geneva crowd and took the lead in the 10th minute when Udinese midfielder Gokhan Inler fired the ball in at the near post from 20 metres with goalkeeper Federico Marchetti exposed.

Italy hit back five minutes later as striker Fabio Quagliarella, who surprised pundits by being named in the World Cup squad, looped in a header off the far post.

Swiss midfielder Valon Behrami, substituted with a suspected groin problem, had arguably the best chance to win the game when his shot was deflected over while Giampaolo Pazzini almost scrambled Italy ahead in the second period.

“Behrami was playing very direct and looked threatening. I hope it’s not serious. We go to South Africa well-prepared,” Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld told a news conference.

Italy’s Marcello Lippi, whose strongest side lost 2-1 to Mexico on Thursday, played mostly a second string team and included Cossu for the first half given Andrea Pirlo and Mauro Camoranesi could be forced to miss the tournament through injury.

SHAKY DEFENCE

Cossu is set to fly with the squad to South Africa as a 24th man and can be drafted into the squad before June 13 if either of the World Cup-winning pair withdraw.

Pirlo will definitely miss Italy’s Group F opener against Paraguay in Cape Town on June 14 and and could struggle to make any group games but Camoranesi’s knee injury is improving.

Hitzfeld, whose team open their Group H campaign against Spain on June 16, started a strong side and they were a threat down the flanks with Italy’s shaky defence forced into some last-gasp tackles.

Cossu played wide right in a 4-2-3-1 formation but was overshadowed by midfielder Riccardo Montolivo, who showed some neat touches as he pushes to be Pirlo’s replacement.

“It was an encouraging performance, we are getting better,” Lippi said.

“In South Africa we will continue our programme to try to recapture our shine and speed. You will see, on the 14th we will be ready.”

The Azzurri still looked nothing like world champions in their final warm-up but their customary slow starter tag will console them somewhat, even if injuries are threatening to ruin their preparations.

Angelo Palombo went off clutching his knee and will undergo checks while fellow midfielder Claudio Marchisio also has a minor calf problem. However, first choice centre back Giorgio Chiellini played the full game after recovering from a niggle.

(Editing by Tony Jimenez. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Milito helps Inter end 45-year wait for Europe’s top prize

Madrid, May 23 (DPA) A goal in each half by Argentina striker Diego Milito helped Inter Milan overcome Bayern Munich 2-0 in the Champions League final Saturday in Madrid’s Bernabeu stadium and end the Italian club’s 45-year wait for Europe’s top club title.

Coach Jose Mourinho may have dominated the build-up to this year’s final – not least because of what looks like his impending move to Real Madrid – but Milito stole the show on the pitch with two clinical finishes to help Inter become the first Italian club to register the treble of domestic league, cup and Champions League.

‘I cannot explain how I feel,’ said Milito, who also scored in all three Champions League knockout rounds as well as netting the winner in the Italian Cup final against AS Roma.

‘It’s a joy I have never experienced before. It is great for the club. It is a unique sensation. This is football. I’m very happy. I always fought. I always tried to give my maximum.’

Bayern were going for a treble themselves, but without the suspended Franck Ribery were overly reliant on Arjen Robben and were unable to break a resolute Inter defence down.

Bayern coach Louis van Gaal said Ribery’s absence made a huge difference. ‘It is always easy to say after a defeat that Ribery was missing.

‘We also played without Ribery against Lyon and Juventus and half the season. I don’t think it is respectful to the other players to point out the players that are missing.

‘But in a team with this style we need a creative player and Franck is a creative player and we missed him.’

Mourinho, meanwhile, joins Ernst Happel (Feyenoord and SV Hamburg) and Ottmar Hitzfeld (Borussia Dortmund and Munich) as the only coach to have won the European Cup/Champions League with two different clubs.

The Portuguese cried at the final whistle and certainly acted like he was saying farewell to Inter, but said in the press conference after the game, that he was the coach of the Seria A club and not Real. ‘I am very, very proud to be coach of Inter.

‘If I become coach of Real, would be because they are a huge club. They want to win. They are like Inter, they want to win not only at home, they also want to win in Europe.’

However, when he was asked directly when he was going to speak to Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, he said Monday.

He also confirmed that there were discussions going on between clubs. ‘But I don’t know my next project yet,’ he said.

Inter president Massimo Moratti noted his coach’s emotional response to the victory.

‘I hope it was not a sense of guilt,’ he noted wryly before adding that repeating the feat of his late father Angelo, who steered Inter from 1955 to 1968 was a magical feeling.

‘It’s a beautiful thing and I hope it remains in the heart of everyone as it did 45 years ago. We won a great cup and the team deserved it very much. Tonight we have to celebrate, then we’ll see.’

Although the Nerazzuri started the stronger, Bayern displayed the resilience that has been their trademark this season and slowly began to settle with Robben nearly finding Ivica Olic at the near post after 10 minutes.

Inter had to wait until the 18th minute for their first goal threat when a Wesley Sneijder free-kick took a slight deflection but Hans-Joerg Butt pushed the ball away to safety.

Despite having the edge in terms of possession, van Gaal was left fuming in the 35th minute when his side fell behind to a simple route-one effort from Inter.

Goalkeeper Julio Cesar’s long goal-kick was steered into the path of Sneijder by Milito, who latched on to the Dutchman’s return ball before clipping the ball over the advancing Butt to make it 1-0.

Samuel Eto’o nearly made his way through the Bayern defence two minutes later but Martin Demichelis managed to clear the danger while three minutes before the break Milito set up Sneijder, but the Dutchman fired straight at the approaching Butt.

In an electric start to the second half, Thomas Mueller nearly levelled matters when found by Olic in the box, but Bayern’s best chance of the match came to nothing as the midfielder’s weak strike was easily dealt with by Julio Cesar.

A minute later, Goran Pandev’s curling effort from the edge of the area was turned away by Butt as Inter almost caught the German champions out on the break.

Hamit Altintop’s shot hit the side netting on 53 minutes as Inter began to sit back, while nine minutes later Robben whipped in a fierce free-kick from the left that broke to Mueller, but his shot was headed clear by Esteban Cambiasso.

Julio Cesar was called into action once again on 65 minutes when he managed to claw away a Robben shot that looked destined for the top corner as Inter continued to play a dangerous defensive game.

Cristian Chivu was replaced by Dejan Stankovic shortly afterwards, having struggled for long periods against Robben, but with 20 minutes remaining Milito struck the killer blow with his second goal of the game and sixth goal of this season’s Champions League campaign.

Milito beautifully controlled Eto’o's pass before ghosting past Daniel van Buyten and calmly slotting the ball past Butt to make it 2-0.

Milito was given a deserved standing ovation when replaced by Marco Materazzi in added time as Inter fans celebrated their third Champions League triumph after distant successes in 1964 and 1965.

‘I am very happy for the president. He deserves this. The club deserves it,’ said Milito.