15 - 31 December 2003

14 December 2003

Boca Juniors Intercontinental Cup Champions

MILAN				1-1			BOCA JUNIORS
Tomasson 24						Donnet 29

Kaka almost gave Milan a dream start with a dipping volley inside the first two
minutes. Boca had the first clear cut chances. Venezia reject Donnet's volley
was parried by Dida and from the resulting corner the Brazilian goalkeeper was
again called into action on Schiavi's header. Just as Boca were starting to get
into the match Milan took the lead, Shevchenko either left or missed a Pirlo
through pass and Tomasson coolly shot first time past Abbondanzieri, brilliant
finish. Milan's lead lasted all of five minutes. Dida was slow to react to a
cross and could only parry midget Iarley's shot leaving Donnet with an empty
net. Kaka almost restored Milan's lead but his shot came back off a post.

Burdisso should have been sent off for chopping down Shevchenko as he ran in on
goal. Abbondanzieri made a brilliant point blank save as Maldini connected with
Shevchenko's header and Rui Costa, on for Kaka, went close with a long range
shot.

In the first period of extra time Abbondanzieri once again came to Boca's rescue
when he threw himself at Shevchenko as Pirlo caught out the Boca defence with a
quickly taken free kick. Seedorf charged down a shot, the only thing he did
right all match.

As soon as the Milan penalty takers were announced you knew they were in
trouble. Pirlo, the teams regular penalty taker, saw his shot saved. Schiavi
converted to put Boca 1-0 up. Rui Costa's brilliant penalty(!) was followed by
Dida saving from Battaglia. Seedorf predictably ballooned his penalty high and
wide and Donnet gave Boca a 2-1 lead. Costacurta's abysmal penalty was
easily saved and Cascini converted to hand Boca the trophy.

Milan should have wiped the floor with a team devoid of any genuine talent with
the exception of defender Perea and apparently Tevez though, having just
returned after a 6 week lay-off, understandably he didn't show anything. Seedorf
was Boca's best player. The match exposed the weaknesses in Milan's team. A lack
of pace in midfield and in the absence of Serginho no quality on the left
flanks. Ancelotti's decision making left a lot to be desired -

1) Starting with Costacurta instead of Laursen
2) Substituting Tomasson for an off form Inzaghi
3) Failing to substitute Seedorf
4) Letting Costacurta and Seedorf take penalties

Boca were inferior technically but tactically they beat Milan hand's down.

Boca Juniors win 3-1 on penalties.


12 December 2003

Champions League Last 16 Draw

Stuttgart vs Chelsea
Porto vs Manchester United
Real Sociedad vs Lyon
Celta Vigo vs Arsenal
Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid
Sparta Prague vs Milan
Deportivo vs Juventus
Lokomotiv Moscow vs Monaco

First legs will be played on the 24th and 25th of February 2004 with the return legs on the 9th and
10th of March 2004.


2003 World Soccer Awards

9 December 2003

Houllier Given Ultimatum

Liverpool chairman David Moores has warned coach Gerard Houllier that another season
of underachieving will cost him his job :

"Over recent years I have stated repeatedly that the overriding objective was consistent
qualification for the Champions League. While this remains the minimum acceptable
target, the ambition always has been to win every competition. Last year we finished fifth
in the Premier League, won the Worthington Cup but failed in our target for qualification
for the Champions League."

"While by no means a write-off, the season must be generally viewed as disappointing,
especially when compared with recent year-on-year progress. We must accept that the
season-wide performance fell short of the high standards we set ourselves and that our
fans have come to expect. Participation in the UEFA Cup generates only a fraction of the
revenue when compared with the Champions League."

Rivaldo Wins Worst Player in Serie A Award

In a poll by RAI radio's Catersport programme the 'Golden Dustbin' award for worst player
in Serie A went to Rivaldo who received 28% of the votes. The top ten were :

1. Rivaldo
2. Al Saadi Gheddafi
3. Carsten Jancker
4. Gabriel Batistuta
5. Marco Materazzi
6. Sergio Conceicao
7. Marcelo Salas
8. Sinisa Mihajlovic
9. Alvaro Recoba
10. Massimo Marazzina


7 December 2003

Platini Reflects on Serie A

Legendary Frenchman Michel Platini made the following comments at the 2006 World Cup
draw.

On Totti :

"Totti is a magician on the ball and sometimes can perform tricks that nobody expected to see.
Zidane is more consistent than Totti but then again Zizou was not born in Rome."

On former club Juventus :

"Juventus are a very powerful side with Alessandro Del Piero’s inventiveness and the finishing skills
of David Trezeguet.”

On European Champions Milan :

"Milan are stellar ,and can continue winning 1-0 because they very rarely concede a goal. Inter are
among the best sides, even if the results don’t always show it."


5 December 2003

2006 World Cup Qualifying Draw

	Group 1		Group 2		Group 3		Group 4 
	Czech Republic	Turkey		Portugal		France
	Netherlands	Denmark	Russia		Ireland
	Romania		Greece		Slovakia		Switzerland
	Finland		Ukraine		Latvia		Israel
	Macedonia	Georgia		Estonia		Cyprus
	Armenia		Albania		Liechtenstein	Faroe Islands
	Andorra		Kazakhstan	Luxembourg


	Group 5		Group 6		Group 7		Group 8 
	Italy		England		Spain		Sweden
	Slovenia		Poland		Belgium		Croatia
	Scotland		Austria		S & Montenegro	Bulgaria
	Norway		Wales		Bosnia		Iceland
	Belarus		N Ireland	Lithuania	Hungary
	Moldova		Azerbaijan	San Marino	Malta


4 December 2003

Villa Release Balaban

Aston Villa have terminated the contract of Croatian striker Bosko Balaban. Villa signed Balaban
for €8 million from Dynamo Zagreb in 2001. Balaban still had 2.5 years left on his contract.
Villa will save €3 million in wages by releasing him.

Andreas Thom Takes Over At Hertha

Former Germany winger Andreas Thom has succeeded Huub Stevens as coach of Hertha Berlin.
Stevens was sacked following the clubs 6-1 cup loss to Bremen.


1 December 2003

Milan Release Rivaldo

A club statement read as follows :

"We thank Rivaldo for the contribution he gave to the winning of the Champions League, the
Italian Cup and the European Super Cup and wish him all our luck for the continuation of his
extraordinary career."