Julio Cesar sticks by Inter

By ESPNsoccernet staff

Inter Milan goalkeeper Julio Cesar has quashed rumours regarding his future at the club, insisting he will not move to Manchester United this summer.

GettyImagesJulio Cesar has laughed off transfer speculation linking him to Roma and Man Utd

The Brazilian has also been linked with a move to Roma during the current transfer window, but the shot-stopper has moved to quell any further speculation, suggesting that he will not be the one to replace Edwin van der Sar at Old Trafford.

"Roma have tested the waters with me, they were really interested," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "But I decided to stay at Inter until 2014, which is when my contract expires. So, the story is closed. I'd like my name to disappear from the pages of transfers. No Roma, no Manchester United, no nothing. Now I want to beat AC Milan and win back the Scudetto. Also, I'd like to win the Champions League again."

Inter have reportedly been on the hunt for Bologna's Emiliano Viviano, bringing Cesar's future at the club into question. But it appears the 31-year-old is content for Atletico Madrid's David de Gea to continue to be the frontrunner for van der Sar's vacated post.

Cesar also insisted that team-mate Wesley Sneijder will not depart the Serie A for the Premier League, despite being heavily linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge.

"Sneijder to Chelsea? Don't worry, he stays here," Cesar said.

Euro U21 - Euroscout: Xherdan Shaqiri

Two of Europe's finest teenage playmakers donned the number ten shirts as Switzerland took on Denmark in the European Under-21 Championship on Saturday night, but it was Xherdan Shaqiri rather than Christian Eriksen who dazzled in Denmark.

While no football match can be reduced entirely to a single individual contest, the fixture in Aalborg was depicted as a battle between the two playmakers, both of whom travelled to the World Cup finals last summer with their respective countries.

It was a battle that Shaqiri won comfortably. Born in Kosovo but representing Switzerland having moved to Basel as a child, the 19-year-old enhanced his already impressive reputation with a performance of real class in a 1-0 victory for his side.

His winning goal after 48 minutes was a work of art. Shaqiri channelled Lionel Messi as he collected the ball in the centre of the pitch some 40 yards from goal, drove past a succession of red shirts and picked his spot in the far corner. It set a daunting aesthetic standard for the goal of the tournament competition.

The FC Basel star has already been likened to Romanian great Gheorghe Hagi, and though it is an intimidating comparison, it is justified. Like the man nicknamed the Maradona of the Carpathians, Shaqiri has a stocky build and a left foot that veers between paintbrush and scalpel.

Never afraid to take on a shot from long range, though on Saturday's evidence his finishing needs some work in that regard, Shaqiri also possesses a capability for the unexpected: a back-heeled pass here, a drag-back and flick there.

Though his passing can be refined and he remains somewhat selfish in possession, Saturday's display only confirmed we are witnessing the evolution of a major European talent.

Key moments

3' Shaqiri collects possession and dinks a wonderful pass over the top of the Denmark defence for Innocent Emeghara, who sees his shot saved.

31' The playmaker receives a square pass and his excellent first touch sees him spin into space before he drags a shot wide of the post from 20 yards.

45' He shows his intent once again from range when making space 20 yards from goal and curling a fine effort wide of the upright.

48' Shaqiri scores a wonder goal when slipping away from numerous Denmark players and driving into the box before firing back across Mikkel Andersen and in.

79' The teenager succeeds where opposite number Eriksen failed as he produces a Zidane turn to sneak away from his marker.

Player ratings

Creativity: 8/10

Passing: 8/10

Shooting: 7/10

Technique: 9/10

Vision: 8/10

Approximate value: £10 million.

Tom Adams - Follow me on Twitter @tomEurosport / Eurosport

World Football - US humbled by Panama

The United States suffered a shock 2-1 defeat by Panama on Saturday in the biggest surprise of the CONCACAF Gold Cup so far.

Panama, who reach the quarter-finals with the victory, had been winless against the United States, while the Americans had never lost in a group game at the 12-nation Gold Cup.

But while the result was against the odds, it was fully deserved.

"Panamanians don't need much of an excuse to celebrate but they will certainly be partying back home tonight," coach Julio Dely Valdes told reporters as Latin music blasted out of his team's locker-room.

"We worked very hard for that win and we made history today".

Panama have never qualified for a World Cup finals nor won a Gold Cup but the nation of 3.4 million, once considered mainly a baseball country, has been emerging as a force within Central American soccer and won the region's UNCAF tournament in 2009.

In the Floridian heat, Panama took the lead in the 19th minute when Gabriel Gomez floated a long ball into the box and Luis Tejada scrambled to put a loose ball home after US keeper Tim Howard parried out an Armando Cooper header.

The Americans responded positively with Clint Dempsey's header forcing a good save from Jaime Penedo before Clarence Goodson flashed a header just wide from a Landon Donovan free-kick.

But the decisive moment came when defender Tim Ream lost his cool in the 36th minute, making an unnecessarily rash challenge on Blas Perez and Gomez converted the penalty to stun the home crowd of 28,000.

The influential Gomez saw a free-kick flash just over the bar after the break and there were signs that the US were losing their cool with some wild challenges and rushed passing.

But the determined efforts of Michael Bradley and Dempsey in particular started to grind down Panama's midfield and a goal seemed inevitable.

It finally came in the 67th minute when Steve Cherundolo won a rather generously awarded free-kick on the right flank.

Donovan curled in the cross which Bradley met with a firm header and Goodson dived in to nod home.

The crowd sensed a comeback was on the cards and the US piled the pressure on but the chances went begging.

Substitute Chris Wondolowski missed a great chance to equalise, blasting over the bar from three yards out, and then Dempsey headed wide.

Bradley burst into the box but fired his shot off target and Landon Donovan made a mess of his chance near the end, albeit from a tight angle.

"On the night we were not good enough, we were not sharp enough in the areas that matter," said a clearly dejected U.S. coach Bob Bradley.

The US must now win against Guadeloupe in Kansas City on Tuesday to be certain to make the last eight while Panama can enjoy their final group game against Canada, knowing they are already in the quarter-finals.

Reuters

Messi: This Barca team is special

Lionel Messi believes that the Barcelona team he is in should be remembered for their quality.

The La Liga giants won both their domestic league and the Champions League last season, and have won ten trophies since the reign of manager Pep Guardiola in 2008.

Messi himself scored 53 goals for the Catalans last season, and believes that this Barcelona side deserve to be in the annals of history as one of football's greatest teams, though he was wary in saying they were the best ever

"I cannot say this because there have been other great teams in certain eras, but we have shown this [team] deserves to be remembered," he said, according to Il Mattino newspaper.

"The season was excellent, but there are no secrets. At Barcelona there is work and trust in our own possibilities."

The 23-year-old also gave an insight towards what it would take to succeed with Argentina in their upcoming Copa America campaign.

"I have the work culture. All I know is this. I try to stay calm in the good and bad moments. Now I want to win something with Argentina," he concluded.

The Copa America will take place on 1-24 July.

http://www.espnstar.com

MORE TO ARRIVE AT ANFIELD - COMOLLI

Liverpool director of football Damien Comolli has promised the club's fans there will be more transfer activity this summer after securing number one target Jordan Henderson.

The Reds signed once-capped England midfielder Henderson from Sunderland this week in a deal reportedly worth up to £20million.

The 20-year-old is the third major signing since Kenny Dalglish's return as manager, with Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez joining in January.

Now Comolli has said there is more to come.

"We wanted to make a signing early. The earlier the better because we can then re-adjust our strategy or decide we aren't going to do any more - which won't be the case now!" Comolli told the club's website.

"I'm very pleased, because Jordan was one of the big targets we had. When you get your first target it's always a good sign because you think the others will come through as well."

Liverpool look set to miss out on both Phil Jones and Ashley Young to Manchester United, but with the likes of Ipswich's Connor Wickham and Blackpool captain Charlie Adam also on their radar, it is clear they are prioritising homegrown talent.

"If a player is English, or British or has played in the Premier League, we'll look at that over someone abroad," confirmed Comolli.

"We go for a player because he ticks all the boxes. It's what we need at this time in this window, and we have seen that with Henderson."

Hiddink - No Sneijder contact

Guus Hiddink insists he has not instructed Chelsea to pursue Dutch star Wesley Sneijder.

Hiddink remains odds-on to take charge at Stamford Bridge, following Carlo Ancelotti'ssacking earlier this summer.

Hiddink is currently in charge of Turkey, who he is trying to lead to Euro 2012, and their FA president has insisted they will take action if he breaks his contract to move to Stamford Bridge.

Hiddink: Possible new Blues boss denies telling Chelsea to sign Sneijder

Despite constant refusals to confirm talks or contact with Chelsea, who he previously took charge of in 2009, reports have suggested that targets have already been drawn up, with one of those being Inter Milan midfielder Sneijder.

"I have to make it clear there has been no contact between the club and me in the last couple of weeks."
Guus Hiddink

Sneijder has been strongly linked with Chelsea and Manchester United, but he has insisted he is more than happy with Inter.

And now Hiddink has stressed that he has not made contact with Chelsea about a proposed deal for his compatriot.

Gerrard: Top four our main aim

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has admitted that their only focus for next season must be finishing in the top four of the Premier League.

The return of Kenny Dalglish to Anfield as manager, coupled with some big-spending in the transfer window, has seen sections of Reds fans predicting a challenge for the Premier League title.

But having seen the Merseyside giants finish sixth in the table last season and seventh in the prior campaign, Gerrard believes that focusing on a return to Champions League action needs to be their primary target.

The England midfielder believes that with the addition of more new faces following the signing of Jordan Henderson and with greater consistency in their performances they can push to return to the top table of European football.

"I'd love nothing better than to lead the lads to some silverware next year but I don't want to raise expectation by saying that will definitely happen," Gerrard told the club's official website.

"It would be stupid of me to raise expectations any more than they are already. At the beginning of every season at Liverpool expectations rise, and now that Kenny is staying and with a few signings I'm sure it'll go through the roof.

"Getting in the Champions League will be the main aim. I think it is for all the clubs in the Premier League. For financial reasons it's so important but it's also the biggest competition for players individually at club level.

"Everyone wants to be involved in it, we've had some fantastic nights at Anfield over the years in the competition and we all want to see those nights return.

"We just need to continue what we've been doing during the last six months. Hopefully we'll add some more players to strengthen the squad and then we need to compete. We are good enough to beat anyone on our day, we just need to find the consistency to challenge for honours."

And Gerrard has insisted that he will be fully fit for the new season with a complete pre-season under his belt having gone under the knife for groin surgery to bring his season to a premature after the victory over Manchester United on 6 March.

"I've had it sorted with surgery and hopefully next year I'll be fit and available after a good rest, with a brand new groin and ready to push on under Kenny," said the 30-year-old.

"I'm due to come back after 12 weeks, so it'll be around when the lads return on 4/5 July. Then I've got six weeks of pre-season to get match fit, so by the time the league starts I'm hoping to be in good shape."