Brazil favourites for Confederations Cup, says Del Bosque

Vicente del Bosque has played down Spain's chances of winning the Confederations Cup final against Brazil. La Roja booked their place in Sunday's showpiece following a tense penalty shootout against Italy on Thursday, from which the Spaniards emerged 7-6 winners after Jesus Navas capitalised on Leonardo Bonucci's miss during sudden death. However, Del Bosque's men have played an extra 30 minutes compared to the Selecao and will have one day less recovery time before the final, making the Spain boss believe his side are underdogs. He told a press conference: "Brazil are the favourites. They have five World Cups, three Confederations Cups, we're going to be facing them at the Maracana and we're excited to do so. "We want to recover and get there in the best condition possible. In the next three days, we'll try to do so. "Spain played 120 minutes tonight and they are players who usually play two matches a week, so we believe that we will be able to give it our all on Sunday. "We don't know who will dominate, who will have more possession. We'll try to. Tonight, Italy were very strong and they held control of the match." The former Real Madrid coach went on to identify where Luiz Felipe Scolari's men will pose most threat to his team and concluded it would be a mistake to focus on one individual while ignoring the collective force of their opponents. He stated: "[Dani] Alves and Marcelo are great. They're able to influence a game. "Neymar is fantastic and their middle of the pitch is also absolutely fantastic, but we can't talk about just one Brazilian player who we'll guard against."

Tottenham close in on Villa

Spurs are closing in on the Barcelona striker after he reached a broad agreement on personal terms, with both clubs now negotiating a transfer fee to secure the deal ANWARASISTRANS Tottenham are closing in on a deal to sign David Villa after the Barcelona star confirmed he would like to move to White Hart Lane during talks with the player and his representatives, Goal has learned. The Spain striker has reached a broad agreement on personal terms to move to Spurs this summer and is eager to play in the Premier League. Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has spoken informally to Villa on the phone while the club's new technical director, Franco Baldini, has held productive discussions with the 31-year-old's agent. Spurs officials are understood to have been in Brazil last week, where they held talks over a deal for Villa - who is in the country for the Confederations Cup - while also reaching a €17 million agreement to sign Paulinho from Corinthians.Spurs are willing to pay the attacker more than €117,000-a-week but the former Valencia man is understood to have accepted that he must take a reduction on his €163,000 weekly salary at Barcelona. Villa-Boas has made Villa his top final-third target for the summer transfer window as he looks to boost the club's forward line and improve Spurs' chances of a top-four finish next season. Spurs tried to rival Arsenal for the Spaniard's signature in the January transfer window but Barcelona refused to sell the forward midway through the season. The Gunners have dropped their interest in Villa while Barcelona are now prepared to sell the striker, who would find his opportunities further limited next season following the arrival of Neymar at the Liga giants. Tottenham are looking to conduct their major transfer business early this year and have agreed a deal of €18m plus €2m in add-ons to sign Paulinho. The 24-year-old is expected to sign an initial four-year contract and undergo a medical after the Confederations Cup final on Sunday, having scored the late winner in Brazil's semi-final win over Uruguay on Wednesday.

John Ogu: The Confederations Cup was a great learning experience

The Academica midfielder is relishing the prospect of qualifying for the World Cup to once more play against the world's top sides having gained valuable experience this term ANWARASISTRANS With the argument still raging whether the Super Eagles had a good tournament in Brazil, one of the protagonists, John Ogu told Goal that the experience will serve the national team very well in the coming months. Ogu returned with the team following their early exit after two losses to Uruguay and Spain in Brazil last week. “The Confederations Cup was a great experience for me personally and to my football career and for the team,” Ogu told Goal. The Academica midfielder started the game against Uruguay and came on for the other two – against Tahiti and Spain. He said playing against Spaniards Xavi and Andres Iniesta was an experience that will help him get better. “It was great coming on against Spain because I like watching most of their players and playing on the same pitch with them gave me goose bumps. “This was a great learning experience for me and the other guys. The Eagles will only get better from now on because we now better understand the challenge we will face in 2014 by God’s grace when we come back for the World Cup,” he added. The 24-year old midfielder said he will be taking some weeks off the game to relax with family and friends and then to pre-season with his Portuguese club. “Right now, my focus is firmly on playing for Academica next season but you never know in football. I do not worry about transfer speculations.” Ogu also spoke about the must-win encounter against Malawi in September which will qualify the Eagles for the last round of African qualifiers. “I think with what we have seen [in Brazil] and with our performances against top sides, we know that we have to win to get to the next stage and that is the only thing on our mind,” Ogu concluded.

Paulinho can succeed in England - Luiz

The midfielder is set to join the north London side after the club agreed a €20 million fee with Corinthians, and his Brazil team-mate feels he will adapt well to English football Chelsea centre-back David Luiz has tipped his Brazil team-mate Paulinho to shine in the Premier League ahead of a proposed move to Tottenham. The north London outfit have agreed a €20 million deal with Corinthians for the versatile midfielder, with the move expected to be completed following the Selecao's involvement in the Confederations Cup. Paulinho notched his second goal of the tournament four minutes from time in Wednesday's 2-1 semi-final win over Uruguay to send Brazil into Sunday's final, and Luiz is excited at the prospect of the 24-year-old plying his trade in England. The win over Oscar Tabarez's men keeps up Brazil's 100 per cent record in the competition where they will now face either Spain or Italy on Sunday, and Luiz feels the squad are continuing to improve as they advance in the tournament. "It's growing game-by-game but sometimes you cannot play the game you want with a lot of opportunities and a lot of possession," Luiz explained. "But that's why the Brazilian team is now more mature, because it can play open games or games like today, which was a very different game. "I think Uruguay did a great job with two lines deep so you can't create a lot of opportunities to score but the team has matured well. "It's a dream come true [to reach the final]. I think it is a special moment for us, but we want to win. "I am so happy because I can play a final with Brazil in the Maracana. Whether we play against Spain or Italy, it will be a difficult game for us."

Juventus target Kolarov after agreeing Tevez fee

Juventus have made Aleksandar Kolarov their second Manchester City target this summer alongside Carlos Tevez. The Serie A outfit believe that the Serbia international will slot into their wing-back system and are hoping to take advantage of City's desire to sell the 27-year-old to secure a cut-price move. The left-sided defender moved to the Etihad Stadium from Lazio for around €18 million in 2010 and the Premier League runners-up are willing to take something of a hit on that figure as they look to cut his €105,000-a-week earnings from the wage bill.The Bianconeri are closing in on a deal for Tevez after agreeing an €11.8m fee, which could rise to over €17m should Juve win Serie A and reach the semi-finals of the Champions League, and they are confident of also securing Kolarov's signature for a combined outlay of around €23.5m. The former Lazio star struggled to make an impression for City during 2011-12 and openly hinted that he would leave the Etihad Stadium if he could be guaranteed regular football elsewhere. "I am in constant contact with my agent, so we will soon see what happens," he said in June 2012. "I am very happy here in Manchester but my goal is to play with greater regularity. I said it to [former boss Roberto] Mancini.

Pakistan bomb kills eight and injures Karachi judge

Justice Maqbool Baqir was on his way to the Sindh High Court on Wednesday morning when his security convoy was attacked. Several people were wounded. The Pakistani Taliban said it carried out the attack during rush hour. Karachi is Pakistan's biggest city and has in recent years been hit by ethnic, sectarian and political violence. Last week, gunmen shot dead a provincial MP and his son after Friday prayers. Police say that the wounded judge is now in hospital with critical injuries. His driver and guards was killed. The bomb was attached to a motorcycle and was so powerful that it damaged nearby shops, police told the Associated Press news agency. Correspondents say Judge Baqir has a reputation for honesty. He has recently served in special anti-terrorism courts set up to deliver speedy punishments and received constant death threats. Reports say many of the threats came from the extremist Sunni Muslim Lashkar-e-Jhangvi militant group, which has been angered over his handling of sectarian crimes. The group has close ties with Pakistani Taliban and al-Qaeda. It has previously admitted killing Shia Muslim lawyers in Karachi.

Keshi calls up Agbim, 23 others for CIV

Even as the African champions were rueing several missed chances in the 3-0 defeat to world and European champions Spain at the FIFA Confederations Cup tournament in Brazil, Keshi pencilled down goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim, defenders Azubuike Egwuekwe, Godfrey Oboabona, Solomon Kwambe and Benjamin Francis, midfielders Emeka Eze and Sunday Mba and forward Muhammad Gambo from the squad that were with him in Brazil, and added 14 more from Nigeria’s top-flight and two from the lower division. Returning are goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, defender Kunle Odunlami and strikers Obinna Nwachukwu and Gomo Onduku, who were part of the team’s training camp in Germany ahead of the international friendly with Mexico in Texas, USA. Defender Chibuzor Okonkwo, no stranger to the senior team camp, is joined by familiar faces Umar Zango and Ezekiel Bassey, Ayo Saka and Anthony Okputu. Nigeria Professional Football League top scorer Dele Olorundare of Sunshine Stars is joined by former junior international midfielder Olufemi Oladapo. New faces are Mohammed Ajia of Bayelsa United, Enyimba FC’s Ifeanyi Edeh, Pius Samson of Ranch Bees, Festus Ajah of Union Bank FC and Warri Wolves’ Etebo Oghene. The players are expected to report at the Bolton White Apartments, Abuja on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation has announced that the match will be played at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna on Saturday, July 6. “We are happy for the favourable response from the Kaduna State Government, and we have also approached the National Sports Commission for permission to use the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna for the encounter. “The grass is excellent and the entire facility is so well-maintained. The Super Eagles will find the place comfortable,” Barrister Musa Amadu, NFF General Secretary who was in Kaduna on Monday, said. LIST OF INVITED PLAYERS Goalkeepers: Chigozie Agbim (Warri Wolves); Daniel Akpeyi (Heartland FC) Defenders: Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves); Godfrey Oboabona (Sunshine Stars); Benjamin Francis (Heartland FC); Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars); Ezekiel Bassey (Lobi Stars); Umar Zango (Kano Pillars); Solomon Kwambe (Sunshine Stars); Chibuzor Okonkwo (Enugu Rangers) Midfielders: Sunday Mba (Enugu Rangers); Ayo Saka (Enyimba FC); Olufemi Oladapo (3SC); Emeka Eze (Enugu Rangers); Mohammed Ajia (Bayelsa United) Forwards: Muhammad Gambo (Kano Pillars); Obinna Nwachukwu (Heartland FC); Gomo Onduku (Bayelsa United); Ifeanyi Edeh (Enyimba FC); Anthony Okputu (Lobi Stars); Pius Samson (Ranch Bees); Festus Ajah (Union Bank); Etebo Oghene (Warri Wolves); Dele Olorundare (Sunshine Stars)

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Juventus step up Tevez summer swoop

Juventus will step up their bid to sign Carlos Tevez this week as Real Madrid and AC Milan continue to monitor the Manchester City striker. The Serie A champions are set to begin formal talks with City ahead of a concerted move for the Argentine. It is understood that Juventus have held fresh talks with Tevez's representatives in recent days and are close to agreeing personal terms with the 29-year-old. Negotiations have not yet taken place on a fee for the Argentina international and Bianconeri officials are set to fly to the north west to iron out a deal and ward off interest from other clubs. Milan have long held an interest in Tevez and could join City at the negotiating table if they complete the sale of Robinho back to Brazil, with CEO Adriano Galliani stressing the need to sell before buying. Incoming Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is also a big admirer of Tevez and is believed to have told his new club that he would welcome the player at the Santiago Bernabeu next season. Los Blancos, however, have placed Isco, Edinson Cavani and Gareth Bale at the top of their summer wish list. Tevez has agitated for a move during much of his four-year spell at the Etihad Stadium and, with his contract expiring in 12 months' time, City could be ready to off-load him in the knowledge that he could walk away for free in 2014. Liverpool had discussed the possibility of a move for the former Manchester United striker earlier in the summer before pursuing other targets, while Monaco's interest has diminished after landing Radamel Falcao. Juventus have agreed personal terms with Gonzalo Higuain but have baulked at his €23 million-plus asking price and are set to lose out to Arsenal in the chase for Real Madrid striker. Higuain's fellow Argentine, Tevez, is four years older and his fee is unlikely to be much beyond €11m. City are also willing to listen to offers for Edin Dzeko, and had offered him in part-exchange for Edinson Cavani. However, after failing to meet Napoli's asking price for the Uruguayan, the Premier League club might only be prepared to sell one of Dzeko and Tevez, not both.