By AVI CREDITOR
After days of speculation, the search Jose Mourinho's successor at Inter Milan has come to an end, and that successor will be former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez.
Benitez and Inter have reached an agreement on a contract, though his official presentation as the new coach at the San Siro has not yet been scheduled.
Mourinho left for Real Madrid after guiding Inter to its historic treble, winning the UEFA Champions League, Scudetto and Copa Italia during the 2009-2010 campaign. Benitez, who won the Champions League once with Liverpool, will enter with the highest of expectations of maintaining Mourinho's level of success.
The search for Benitez' replacement at Liverpool is still going on, with candidates such as Fulham's Roy Hodgson and Bayern Munich's Louis van Gaal being touted as the front-runners.
Here are a few other soccer items to start your day:
INIESTA HURT IN SPAIN WIN
In its final tune-up before the World Cup, Spain put on a goal-scoring show against Poland, beating its European counterparts 6-0.
Marring the victory somewhat was a thigh injury suffered by midfield maestro Andres Iniesta, who had to come off in the 39th minute. Initial tests reveal a minor injury and no muscle tear for Iniesta, who dealt with a thigh problem all season for Barcelona. He hasn't played 90 minutes for Spain since February of last year, and his presence is crucial for Spain's success, which was evident in Tuesday's rout.
Here are the highlights from the match:
COLE, BALLACK RELEASED BY CHELSEA
England midfielder Joe Cole will be looking to have a stellar World Cup not only to boost England's hopes, but to improve his chances at getting an even bigger contract from a top team. Cole and Michael Ballack were released into the open market by Chelsea, joining a talented crowd of free agents looking for new teams.
Cole has been linked with Chelsea foes Arsenal and Tottenham. Ballack, who suffered an injury in the FA Cup final against Portsmouth and will miss the World Cup, has been linked to clubs in the United Arab Emirates, although reports say that Mourinho is interested in him.
JULIO CESAR EXPECTED TO BE READY
Brazil coach Dunga said that he expects No. 1 keeper Julio Cesar to be in goal for the Selecao's World Cup opener against North Korea. The Inter Milan keeper suffered a back injury in Brazil's friendly against Zimbabwe last week and sat out this week's friendly against Tanzania.
WC JOURNALISTS ROBBED
Three journalists were robbed early Wednesday morning (South African time) in Magaliesburg after armed suspects entered their hotel rooms and took their valuable belongings. Police were called and are still searching for the suspects.
Ives, be safe.
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Think Rafa is the man for the job at Inter? Who do you think should take over at Liverpool? Thoroughly impressed by Spain? Think La Furia Roja can win the World Cup with an unfit Iniesta? Where would be good fits for Cole and Ballack?
Share your thoughts below.
no, I don’t buy it; you bring in a player like Ballack, if you’re an MLS team, if he’s the one missing piece, kind of like Chelsea did. DCU is well more than one player away from being title contenders, and has a decent MLS level player in the positions that Ballack would be most useful in. if you’re looking at two to three years from serious contention, why spend that kind of money on a guy who’s simply going to retard the development of your other players? seems to me that DCU would be better off finding a DP that will be around for a couple of seasons, one interested in developing a team around them to make a run (like GBS did, for instance)
Also a: new GK, centerback, rightback & withdrawn forward/play maker
Jose, please sign Javi Martinez rather than Ballack!!! PLEASE!
the thing is, he is EXACTLY what DCU could use. Him and Raul would be great additions…but specifically a midfielder like Ballack.
The Fire have a DP slot and could use a midfielder.
ESPECIALLY, especially and especially, after their traditionally scum they call supporters, burned an American flag outside their stadium.
I’ll personally never forget that and if I needed another reason, story or excuse to dislike their lack of class, character and morality….I have another example.
Honestly, Liverpool becoming irrelevant is as funny as it is satisfying. Seeing the faces of the supporters makes babies all over the world laugh with joy.
Can’t wait to see his signings and how little of an impact they make.
Roma, despite their financial woes, are my favorite to win Serie A next year now.
Obviously, it’s because so many Mexican supporters around the World were cheering for their fellow CONCACAF nation.
Right?
Oh wait…
Your comment may take on a new meaning after you see this:
http://momento24.com/en/2010/05/06/ibrahimovic-and-pique-in-an-unexpected-picture/
it really is…unreal movement, granted in a real match a defender is at least fouling one of them on the way through, but that chip from Iniesta is sublime.
He is currently on vacation in the states so he apparently likes the place. This is according to his agent.
I love how the Spaniards celebrate. It’s like their in love with 1 another.
I read somewhere that Ballack’s on record as saying he wants two more years of top-flight football, so I’d expect him to sign somewhere in one of the big four leagues. He’s aging and injured, but still enough of a name that someone’s gonna take a chance on him.
I picked them in my fantasy bracket about a month ago. It’s worth a shot! Everyone else has picked Brasil and Spain, but I see something in the Oranje
If Hodgson goes to Liverpool I will be frustrated. It would be great for them as he could guide them back to the CL without budget, but I prefer to see his talents building a less storied and spoiled club. To put a point on it: Liverpool has made their bed, and I’d like them to lay in it for a season or three.
Seattle has monster money
ESPN did a whole article using that expression
You mean like Rossi?
Those first two goals gave me chills.
Theres been word of LA looking for a third DP…
I would put the chances at .001% that Ballack would finish out his career in the states though.
He could replace GBS in Columbus next year 🙂
The Big Fat Spanish Waiter strikes again!
Thought how you can screw up with a squad like Inter’s is beyond me..
DC United! boom, boom, boom DC United!
In my dreams…
So Inter now becomes and un-watchable, trophyless foot ball club for 5 years. Hooray for Rafa
Superior: tactics, management, skill players, speed, coaching, training, diet, haircuts, kits…. or maybe they took us lightly that day.
Sorry, that’s reverb not reerb. Damn v key. I must be getting excited about saturday.
Kuyt too. And Aquilani as well. Followed closely by Glen Johnson.
The Netherlands will win the World Cup. Mark my words!! BTW you can now add the schedule to your digital calendar http://bit.ly/akHrYc It’s very easy.
TIA = This is Africa. Heard the quote from the Blood Diamonds movie. Do they really use this expression?
if we had [one of world’s best players], would Bradley play him?
Iniesta seems to be in a perpetual state of injury.
Seriously. Thank goodness we live in an advanced society here in America where armed robbery is a thing of the past.
If Ballack is seriously being linked to the UAE he just wants a monster paycheck so I’d imagine MLS is out of the question.
how did we beat them?
That 2nd gol is just straight up SICK NICE.
Yeah, one robbery. PANIC!
Chelsea players love Los Angeles
good thing edgar castillo is still young… i feel bad for anyone who changed countries only to get a second cold shoulder
If we had an Iniesta (i.e. starting mid for Barcelona), he’d be picking the team himself…when we do have one of those, criticism of Bradley as coach would be more warranted…
for now this team is a blend of good and fringe players at mid-table to relegation-threatened clubs, so cut Bradley some slack
Absolutely. And the great thing is we realized that with JFT in there, we can really change our game and maintain possession, create better build-ups, etc. We have loads of options for the next 8 yrs in the midfield.
Yeah this certainly won’t be the last situation like this
really glad we put that world cup in stable africa with tons of security for all involved
Haha, point awarded to skinnyj!
In all seriousness though, we wouldn’t even be having this discussion about who would be playing in the mid with Bradley, had Jermaine Jones not been on a year long injury sabbatical. One man’s dream crushed, provides another with a dream to succeed (Jose Torres, anyone?)
Agreed. N’gog too.
Wondering aloud if we had an Iniesta on USMNT if Bradley would play him, or choose to go with a more defensive minded Edu/Clark/Bradley pairing?
Right on, I think Ballack would be a great signing for a number of MLS teams, and he would do well. I wonder if he would be open to an American switch. I’ve never heard what he feels about playing here. Is a return to Germany a possibility for him?
As part of its separation agreement with Rafa, Liverpool should have insisted he take Lucas along with him to Inter.
Ives – is any MLS club making an offer to Ballack? They should be. Perfect type of player they should go for: free agent, aging but still has good gas in the tank, little future with his national team, center mid leader who makes the players around him better. As a Philly fan, we should be all over this guy!