Freddy Adu Article

Our Version:

Not long ago, Freddy Adu was touted as the long-awaited saviour of American soccer. Heading into his third loan spell in as many seasons, with mid-table Greek outfit Aris Thessaloniki, the promise of the attacker’s meteoric rise to prominence as a precocious prodigy seems along way off.

Born in Tema, Ghana, Freddy arrived in the US with his mother through an immigration lottery. The attacker struck early: at the tender age of just 14 - after representing the USA with distinction at both the FIFA U-20 and U-17 World Cups in 2003 - Adu became one of the youngest American professional athletes in history, turning down offers from some of Europe’s top sides to sign a Major League Soccer contract in 2004.

“I try to not think about what everyone is saying about me,” he told FIFA.com in late 2003, already engulfed by a soccer-inspired mainstream media whirlwind not seen in the USA since the country hosted the FIFA World Cup™ in 1994.

What followed for fresh-faced Adu – tagged “the biggest signing in the history of MLS” by commissioner Ivan Gazidis – was a succession of disappointments at club level. He scored 11 goals in 90 appearances at DC United, eventually moved on to Real Salt Lake in 2006, where Freddy played only 11 times, finding the back of the net twice. After the Utah stint, Adu’s much- hyped move to Europe finally took shape.

His first European port of call was Portugal, where Adu signed with heavyweights Benfica just two months after his 18th birthday, for a reported $2m. Failing to shine under the bright lights of Lisbon, the attacker averaged only 20 or so minutes per game. Adu started not once, scoring just twice in 11 outings.

In 2008, Freddy was loaned out to Monaco in the French top flight, again failing to earn a starting place. After a brief return to Benfica, Adu was once again shipped off, this time to cross-town Belenenses. Freddy managed briefly to break into the first team with the Portuguese top-tier basement dwellers, before injuries and inconsistency again took their toll.

Adu’s story seemed to be that of a wildly talented youngster touted too early, and losing his way in the pitiless world of international football. His newest assignment, on loan in Greece, will give Adu – still only 20 – one more opportunity to gain regular first-team action in Europe. “A lot of thought and research went into this move (to Aris),” reported Adu – who turned down an offer to join up with English Premier League outfit Hull City – via his much-followed Twitter page.

At Aris, Adu will be joining up with Eddie Johnson, another once-promising US striker who is now 25 years old. After moving to Fulham in England from Major League Soccer, Johnson failed to make an impact at either Craven Cottage or Cardiff City. Eddie is also looking for a revival in Greece. Johnson and Adu were team-mates at the FIFA U-20 World Cup UAE 2003, where the Americans went all the way to the quarter-finals. Johnson finished that tournament as top scorer.


Should He Stay or Should He Go?
“It depends on the player and the situation. Going abroad can be a great move for an American player, but it really depends on the circumstances,” USA coach Bob Bradley told FIFA.com during last June’s FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa, where Adu spent the entire tournament – as the US roared to the final – watching from the bench. “The last thing you want is for a player to leave somewhere where he’s playing regularly and go somewhere where he plays less.”

Landon Donovan, who is currently on loan in England with Everton, echoed his coach’s sentiments, saying: “It can be the right thing or the wrong thing [going abroad] depending on the individual situation - it’s something to think through.”

Adu and Johnson aim to put in strong performances at their new club in order to get themselves back in the reckoning for a place in Bradley’s USA squad for South Africa 2010. Adu made his debut for the USA national team in 2006 at the age of just 16, a move seen by some as an attempt to keep him from playing for Ghana. Since then he has figured only sporadically and made just 15 appearances for the Stars and Stripes.

Johnson, too, has gone off the radar, missing the FIFA Confederations Cup and figuring only occasionally in USA’s qualifiers for the 19th FIFA World Cup. Both Adu and Johnson are well aware that another young US attacking star, Charlie Davies, is unlikely to recover from injuries sustained in a recent car accident in time to take part in the global showpiece. A turn of fortunes, a spot of regular playing time, and a few goals on Greek shores might well be enough for a plane ticket to South Africa.


FIFA's Version:

Wandering Adu eyes Greek revival
(FIFA.com) Tuesday 12 January 2010

Only a few years on from being touted as the long-awaited saviour of American soccer, Freddy Adu is heading for his third loan spell in three seasons, this time with mid-table Greek outfit Aris Thessaloniki. The move is seemingly a long way from the creative attacker’s meteoric rise to prominence as a precocious prodigy destined to someday make it in a big way.

Born in Tema, Ghana, young Fredua Koranteng Adu was noticed early in the USA after arriving with his mother through an immigration lottery. At the tender age of just 14 - after representing the USA with distinction at both the FIFA U-20 and U-17 World Cups in 2003 - Adu became one of the youngest American professional athletes in history, turning down offers from some of Europe’s top sides to sign a Major League Soccer contract in 2004.

“I try to not think about what everyone is saying about me,” he told FIFA.com in late 2003, already engulfed by a soccer-inspired mainstream media whirlwind not seen in the USA since the country hosted the FIFA World Cup™ in 1994, or Pele's arrival at the New York Cosmos in 1975.
It can be the right thing or the wrong thing (going abroad) depending on the individual situation; it’s something to think through.
USA star Landon Donovan

What followed for fresh-faced Adu, who was tagged “the biggest signing in the history of MLS” by commissioner Ivan Gazidis, was a succession of disappointments at club level, at least relative to the media circus that buzzed around him. He scored 11 goals in 90 appearances at DC United and eventually moved on to Real Salt Lake in 2006, playing 11 times and scoring twice before a much hyped move to Europe finally took shape.

His first port of call was Portuguese heavyweights Benfica, signing on just two months after his 18th birthday for a reported $2m. He failed to shine under the bright lights of Lisbon, averaging only 20 or so minutes per game. Adu never once made a starting appearance, scoring just twice in 11 outings.

In 2008, he was loaned out to Monaco in the French top flight, and he again failed to earn a starting place and saw his playing time shrink even more. After a return to Benfica, Adu was shipped off yet again, this time to cross-town Belenenses. While with the Portuguese top-tier basement dwellers, he managed briefly to break into the first team before injuries and inconsistency again took their toll.

It seemed to be the case of a wildly talented youngster touted too early, possibly losing his way in the pitiless world of international football. His newest assignment, on loan in Greece, will give Adu – still only 20 – one more opportunity to gain regular first-team action in Europe. “A lot of thought and research went into this move (to Aris),” reported Adu, who turned down an offer to join up with English Premier League outfit Hull City, on his much-followed Twitter page.

At Aris, Adu will be joining up with Eddie Johnson, another once-promising US striker who is now 25 years old. After moving to Fulham in England from Major League Soccer, he failed to make an impact at either Craven Cottage or during a loan spell at Cardiff City, and he is also looking for a revival in Greece. The pair were team-mates at the FIFA U-20 World Cup UAE 2003, where the Americans went all the way to the quarter-finals and Johnson finished the tournament as top scorer.

Stay-or-go debate
“It depends on the player and the situation. Going abroad can be a great move for an American player, but it really depends on the circumstances,” USA coach Bob Bradley told FIFA.com during last June’s FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa, where Adu spent the entire tournament – as the US roared to the final – watching from the bench. “The last thing you want is for a player to leave somewhere where he’s playing regularly and go somewhere where he plays less.”

Landon Donovan, who is currently on loan in England with Everton, echoed his coach’s sentiments, saying: “It can be the right thing or the wrong thing (going abroad) depending on the individual situation - it’s something to think through.”

Adu and Johnson will be aiming to put in good performances at their new club in order to get themselves back in the reckoning for a place in Bradley’s USA squad for South Africa 2010. Adu made his debut for the national team in 2006 at the age of just 16, a move seen by some as an attempt to keep him from playing for Ghana. Since then he has figured only sporadically and made just 15 appearances for the Stars and Stripes.

Johnson, too, has gone off the radar, missing the FIFA Confederations Cup and figuring only occasionally in USA’s qualifiers for the 19th FIFA World Cup. Both Adu and Johnson will be well aware that another young US attacking star, Charlie Davies, is unlikely to recover from injuries sustained in a recent car accident in time to take part in the global showpiece. A turn of fortunes, a spot of regular playing time and a few goals on Greek shores might well be enough for a plane ticket to South Africa.

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Ivorian Team Profile

Our Version:

If any African side is to make a serious bid to win the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ finals in South Africa, Côte d'Ivoire is that team. With world-class talent peppered throughout the starting 11, it's no wonder.

Les Elephants have a point to prove, having been eliminated in the first round at Germany 2006. The difficulty of the side’s group didn’t help the situation in Germany: despite a come-from-behind victory against Serbia & Montenegro, Côte d'Ivoire lost to giants Argentina and the Netherlands.

With experience and a little more luck in the draw on their side, Didier Drogba and Co are certain to be a handful in attack as they look to cement their emerging pedigree on the international level at South Africa 2010.

The Road to South Africa
Befitting of their status as one of the continent's powerhouses, Côte d'Ivoire strode through qualifying without losing a match. Los Elephants crushed the competition in their final qualifying group, running amok all over Burkina Faso, Malawi and Guinea. Their only moment of genuine uncertainty came with the Ivorians on the brink of qualifying; as usual, Didier Drogba responded when his team needed him. The Chelsea man's decisive 70th-minute goal at Burkina Faso gave the side the insurance needed to hold off the Stallions 3-2 in Ouagadougou. Fittingly, it was his dramatic equaliser after coming off the bench against Malawi that gave the West Africans a 1-1 draw, and the point they needed to reach South Africa. At the end of the day, the Chelsea man, with six goals in top matches, was top scorer for Les Elephants.

The Star Players
Les Elephants feature top-drawer talent throughout their side, with the Chelsea pair of Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou leading the charge. Sevilla's Didier Zokora and Barcelona's Yaya Toure provide bite in midfield, alongside Marseille's diminutive Bakary Kone. Meanwhile, the England-based pair of Emmanuel Eboue and Kolo Toure combine with Stuttgart's Arthur Boka to form one of the best defenses in Africa. The Elephants certainly take the cake for best names at South Africa 2010.

The Coach
A well-traveled club coach, Vahid Halilhodzic (again with the names) took the reins of his first national side when he assumed control of Côte d'Ivoire after the 2008 CAF African Cup of Nations. Born in Bosnia, Halilhodzic was a forward for the highly rated Yugoslavian team that surprised the world by crashing out at the group stage of the 1982 FIFA World Cup on goal difference. A large portion of his coaching career has been spent in France, including stints with Lille, Rennes and Paris St. Germain. Halilhodzic has admitted that he would like to return to club football in the English Premier League. The Bosnian’s Elephants side has gone undefeated since a friendly 1-0 loss in Japan the month he took charge.

Record
Côte d'Ivoire was the only nation at Germany 2006 whose squad was composed of players entirely based at clubs outside the home country. The Elephants are also the only team to have never failed to score in a FIFA World Cup match. On the other hand, Côte d'Ivoire conceded early goals in all three of its 2006 matches, with all six of their goals against coming before the 40th minute.

The Elephants Speak:
"At the last World Cup we played really well, but we were unlucky because we were in a very tough group with Argentina and Holland and went out in the first round. But I think with this kind of experience, it will be possible at South Africa 2010 to do much better. Perhaps we can make the quarter-finals and then semi-finals; this is something we can achieve," Côte d'Ivoire striker Didier Drogba.


FIFA's Version:
If an African team is to make a major impact on the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ finals in South Africa, Côte d'Ivoire are seen by many as the most likely candidates. And with world class talent throughout the starting 11, it's no wonder. Les Elephants also a point to prove after being eliminated in the first round at Germany 2006, albeit in an extremely difficult group, where they lost 2-1 to giants Argentina and the Netherlands before coming from two goals down to beat Serbia and Montenegro 3-2.

With more experience, and a little more luck in the draw, Didier Drogba and Co are certain to be a handful in attack as they look to cement their emerging pedigree on the international level at South Africa 2010.

The road to South Africa
Befitting their status as one of the continent's powerhouses, Côte d'Ivoire strode through qualifying without losing a match, running away with their final qualifying group ahead of Burkina Faso, Malawi and Guinea. There (rough) only moment of genuine uncertainty came when they were on the brink of qualifying, although - as usual - Didier Drogba responded when his team needed him. The Chelsea man's decisive 70th-minute goal at Burkina Faso gave the side just enough insurance to hold off the Stallions 3-2 in Ouagadougou, and fittingly, it was his dramatic equaliser after coming off the bench against Malawi that gave the West Africans a 1-1 draw and the point they needed to reach South Africa. All told, the Chelsea man was top scorer for Les Elephants, with six goals in five matches.

The star players
Les Elephants feature top-drawer talent throughout their side, with the Chelsea pair of Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou a formidable duo up front. Sevilla's Didier Zokora and Barcelona's Yaya Toure provide bite in midfield alongside Marseille's diminutive Bakary Kone, while the England-based pair of Emmanuel Eboue and Kolo Toure combine with Stuttgart's Arthur Boka to form one of the best defences in Africa.

The coach
A well-travelled club coach, Vahid Halilhodzic took the reins of his first national side when he assumed control of Côte d'Ivoire after the 2008 CAF African Cup of Nations. Born in Bosnia, Halilhodzic was a forward in the highly-rated Yugoslavian team that surprisingly crashed out at the group stage of the 1982 FIFA World Cup on goal difference. A large portion of his coaching career has been spent in France, including stints with Lille, Rennes and Paris St. Germain, and Halilhodzic has admitted that he would like to return to club football in the English Premier League. The Bosnians Elephants side have gone undefeated since a 1-0 friendly loss in Japan the same month he took charge.

Record

* Côte d'Ivoire were the only nation at Germany 2006 whose squad was made up of players entirely based at clubs outside their home country.
* They are the only team to never failed to score in a FIFA World Cup match.
* Côte d'Ivoire conceded early goals in all three of their 2006 matches, with all six of their goals against coming before the 40th minute.

What they said
"At the last World Cup we played really well, but we were unlucky because we were in a very tough group with Argentina and Holland and went out in the first round. But I think with this kind of experience, it will be possible at South Africa 2010 to do much better. Perhaps we can make the quarter-finals and then semi-finals; this is something we can achieve," Côte d'Ivoire striker Didier Drogba.

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Germany Team Article

Our Version:

Low Talks Podolski and Kroos
Wednesday 6 January 2010

Making an exception to his rule of only choosing players in top form with regular match time, Germany coach Joachim Low has selected Lukas Podolski for his 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ squad.

With five months left to make final selections, the 49 year old recently declared he would not repeat the mistake of calling up players based solely on past accomplishments. The coach went on to say that he expects to find 23 hungry, motivated players during the second half of the 2009/10 season. Despite this policy, special dispensation seems to have been given to Podolski, who, since rejoining Cologne last summer, has failed to live up to his own glittering reputation.

Former Bayern Munich forward Podolski scored 37 times in 69 games for the German national team, though has managed to find the back of the net only once since joining his hometown club in July. Nevertheless, Low has asserted that Podolski would retain his place in the Germany set-up, even should he fail to up the ante in 2010.

“There are no doubts at all about his status as a national team player," he told Cologne's Express newspaper. "His goal scoring record with us is noteworthy.” The coach went on to assert: "He is cheeky and is not afraid. In the national team, he nearly always plays well. Even against top nations, he never shows any nerves and he performs excellently."

Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Toni Kroos, on the other hand, has been told he has a long way to go to convince Low of his suitability for South Africa, despite very strong performances so far this season. The 20-year-old, who is on loan at the Bundesliga leaders until the end of the season, has been instrumental in Leverkusen's undefeated first half.

"He has developed a lot, but we will have to see whether that is enough for South Africa," said the Germany coach. "I will wait to see what the second half of the season brings. We have taken note of his good performances in the first half of the season and with the Under-21s."


FIFA's Version:

Low talks Podolski and Kroos
Wednesday 6 January 2010

Germany coach Joachim Low is set to make an exception to his policy of only choosing players who are in form and playing regularly for their club, by naming Lukas Podolski in his 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ squad.

With five months to go before the 49-year-old must make his selections, he recently declared that he would not be repeating the mistake of calling up players merely on past reputation, and added that he expects to find 23 hungry and motivated players during the second half of the 2009/10 season. However, Podolski, who has so far failed to live up to his own glittering reputation since rejoining Cologne last summer, appears to have been given special dispensation even if he does not start finding the back of the net with regularity.

The former Bayern Munich forward has scored 37 times in 69 games for Germany, but he has managed to find the back of the net only once since joining his hometown club in July. Nevertheless, Low has declined the notion of Podolski losing his place in the Germany set-up should he fail to up the ante in 2010.
There are no doubts at all about his status as a national team player," he told Cologne's Express newspaper. "His goalscoring record with us is noteworthy.

"He is cheeky and is not afraid. In the national team, he nearly always plays well. Even against top nations, he never shows any nerves and he performs excellently."

Kroos inclusion in balance
On the other hand, Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Toni Kroos has been told he still has a lot of work to do to convince Low of his suitability for a place on the plane to South Africa. The 20-year-old, who is on loan at the Bundesliga leaders from Bayern Munich until the end of the season, has been one of the key components in Leverkusen's unbeaten first half of the season, but Low may take a little more convincing.

"He has developed a lot, but we will have to see whether that is enough for South Africa," said the Germany coach. "I will wait to see what the second half of the season brings. We have taken note of his good performances in the first half of the season and with the Under-21s."

Or check it out here.