Asian Football Countdown to 2012: South Korea

Entering the top three of our countdown, Goal.com studies South Korea, a country that had ups and downs internationally but an exciting domestic year in spite of scandal

Korean football had an eventful 2011 that included many highs and lows. From the match-fixing scandal that resulted in multiple players recieving bans to the firing of national team manager Cho Kwang-Rae, there were several events that supporters of the Taeguk Warriors will want to put behind them. However play at the domestic level, particularly Jeonbuk Motors' brand of 'never-ending attacking', enthralled fans of the K-League.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/14/asia/2011/12/29/2818645/the-goalcom-asian-football-countdown-to-2012-south-korea

Di Natale presses claim for Italy spot

November 29, 2011

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By ESPNsoccernet staff

Udinese attacker Antonio Di Natale thinks that he has done enough to merit a call-up to the Italy squad having last played for the country in the group stages of the 2010 World Cup.

GettyImagesAntonio Di Natale has not featured for Italy since last year's World Cup

Di Natale, 34, has scored ten goals in 36 appearances for the Azzurri and has been on fire for his club over the past few seasons, but has not managed to convince Italy coach Cesare Prandelli that he is worthy of a place in the side.

The striker is now keen to press his claims as Euro 2012 draw closer.

"I don't think that you need to be a certain age to be part of the [Italy] squad. I think scoring more than 60 goals in two seasons is enough to put yourself in the spotlight for selection," Di Natale told the FIFA website.

"It's just up to the coach to decide whether to pick me or not. In the meantime I am at his disposal. For now I am just concentrating on Udinese, but I would be very happy to represent Italy again."

Prandelli has said that he is monitoring Di Natale's performances closely as he starts to formulate his squad for the summer.

ESPN SPORT.COM

Local club build Laos football league

Hoang Anh Gia Lai chairman Doan Nguyen Duc

Vietnam’s Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group (HAGL) which owns a football club of the same name has said it would help Laos develop its first professional football championship league.

HAGL’s chairman Doan Nguyen Duc said the proposal was still waiting for the approval of the Laotian Football Federation.

If the idea is approved, it won’t be the first time HAGL will have invested in Laotian football, Duc said. In 2009, Duc also sponsored Laos’ football team to train for nearly a year before SEA Games.

Duc said HAGL was yet to decide the exact amount of investment and the company would set up his own team, Hoang Anh Attapeu, in Attapeu, a province in Laos where HAGL is investing, as well as send over Vietnamese coaches.

Duc said he didn’t have much ambition about Laotian football, which only has a semi-professional football league, and was simply trying to market his company’s name to the public through football.

“For instance, 10 years ago, few knew about HAGL. But now, a lot more people have heard about us,” Duc said.

According to Duc, Laos and Vietnam are very closed so when Laotian football achieves, it is good for Vietnamese football and vice versa.

For example, at SEA Games 2009, the stadium in Vientiane was flooded with Vietnam’s national flags.

Football is a healthy competitive sport, Duc said. “If Laotian football improves, Vietnam will also have to set its target higher.”

Sir Alex Ferguson plays down Manchester United transfer talk: I'm perfectly happy with the strength of our squad

anchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted that he is happy with his squad and therefore won't make moves in the January transfer window unless a top player becomes available or if his already decimated roster is hit by further injuries.

The Red Devils boss has already dampened expectations of a splurge in the New Year and has claimed that he won't be swayed into changing his stance despite seeing a number of major casualties to his squad.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2011/12/25/2817532/sir-alex-ferguson-plays-down-manchester-united-transfer-talk

Vietnam coach Falko Gotz dismissed after poor performance in SEA Games

Vietnam coach Falko Gotz has had his contract terminated due to an unimpressive performance at the SEA Games.

Gotz was appointed by the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) in June but, despite creating some positive results with the national team, the poor performances of the Under-23 side at the competition sealed his fate.
http://www.goal.com/en/news/14/asia/2011/12/24/2816497/vietnam-coach-falko-gotz-dismissed-after-poor-performance-in-sea-