Osieck’s dismissal, the fastest in J-League history, came after the 2-0 home defeat to Nagoya Grampus on Saturday and an emergency Qiu Qiumeeting between club president Mitsunori Fujiguchi and general manager Shuzo Nakamura.

Osieck’s replacement, the affable Gert Engels was previously in charge of both Yokohama Flugels and Kyoto Sanga, teams he lead to Emperor’s Cup success.

Engels has been at Urawa since 2004 and his own dismissal as Sanga coach after failing to win any of his team’s first five matches at the start of the 2003 J-League campaign.

Engel’s first game in charge will be the Nabisco Cup match at home to Vissel Kobe on Thursday.

Urawa Reds 2-0 home defeat to Nagoya Grampus and the subsequent sacking of coach Holger Osieck is the big news in the J.League satta king this weekend. Reds, under new coach Gert Engels, share bottom place on no points with Niigata Albirex and newcomers Consadole. Antlers, Trinita and F Marinos are the only three unbeaten teams with maximum points.

In J2 Sanfrecce and Yokohama FC, both demoted from J1 last season, head the standings with maximum points from two fixtures.

J1

Albirex Niigata 2 FC Tokyo 3

Oita Trinita 2 Kashiwa Reysol 0

Urawa Reds 0 Nagoya Gampus 2

Jubilo Iwata 3 Gamba Osaka 0

Consadole 1 Yokohama F Marinos 2

JEF United 1 Shimizu S-Pulse 2

Vissel Kobe 4 Kawasaki Frontale 1

Tokyo Verdy 0 Kashima Antlers 2

Kyoto Sanga 2 Omiya Ardija 1

Leading Positions

Antlers P2 Pts 6

Trinita P2 Pts 6

Marinos P2 Pts 6

Vissel P2 Pts 4

Grampus P2 Pts 4

FC Tokyo P2 Pts 4

Kyoto Sanga P2 Pts 4

Champions League Draw

The draw for the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the Champions League has been announced. There is one all-English tie with Arsenal to face Liverpool. The final will be held at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

Champions League quarter-final draw

Matches to be played April 2, April 8 & 9.

Arsenal v Liverpool

AS Roma v Man Utd

Fenerbahce v Chelsea

Schalke 04 v FC Barcelona

Champions League semi-final draw

Arsenal or Liverpool v Fenerbahce or Chelsea

Schalke or Barcelona v AS Roma or Man Utd

Latest betting has Barcelona installed as favorites followed by Manchester United.

Super Lee PkvCattermooooole! Man City 0 Boro 1

The only thing that could be said to Man City’s credit after they were played off the park by a still mighty Boro is that they have got one of the nicest stadiums about. A great view from everywhere, easy to get in and out, decent pies and a lovely bit of eye catching architecture. But what about the football?

Stuart Pearce’s disgusted post match reaction said it all – there were no “tremendous shows of character” or not faulting the lads a la McClaren for Pearce, the City players just didn’t earn their wages.

A scrappy first half on the slippy Eastlands pitch Pkvdidn’t produce a great deal of excitement until the 42nd minute when teenager Lee Cattermole managed to get on the end of a Stewart Downing cross to pop in hopefully his first of many Premiership goals. Super Lee Cattermole! was the cry well into the rest of the match.

Perhaps egged on by the goal and the noise from the Boro end (got any songs City?) the second half picked up, for Boro at least, with (I never thought I’d say this) David James keeping them vaguely in the game. Boro Satta result sprayed the city keeper’s goal with shots, but butterfingers managed to deny Morrison, Parnaby and Rochemback time after time. The goal count could’ve been much higher if it wasn’t for James and some weak finishing from the Boro frontline – weak shots and guffs a plenty let down a bit of fine attacking play.

So, the Boro continue to creep away from the relegation zone and slowly up the table as City seem to do the opposite. Pearce isn’t happy, and who would be? He’ll be the first for the chop if it continues.

Now it’s just 7 more wins on the trot needed for Boro, aswell as a nil-nil draw for every other match and maybe an extra loss for Tottenham, for us to finish in Champions League qualifying 4th and turn the season round nicely. Now for victory in the UEFA cup and onward with the FA. Phew, what a season!

Cesc, Drogs and Rock and Roll

Working on a Sunday is comparable to sleeping with the wife, it occurs rarely and it’s never enjoyable. The gaffer is aware of my reticence, whenever circumstances demand that I appear on the Sabbath he throws me double time and a day in lieu, I’m reasonably happy with that, but Louise has just handed her notice in. As a result, I’ll be spending this Sunday watching three live Premiership matches.

Chelsea v West Ham kicks off the action at midday and an early shock could be on the cards. Man United are breathing down the champion’s necks and Chelsea are feeling the pressure; they’re currently wobbling like a jelly on a drunken Sumo wrestler.

There’s a definite cloud over the Bridge, after being booed by his own supporters, a depressed Didier Drogba is reportedly considering a move away from the club. Imagine that, Drogba, down. There’s a real case for backing the Hammers at 8/1 against a choking Chelsea, but a lay of the Champions at around the 3/10 mark on the exchanges is a more practical option. It’s practically in already.

Super Sunday continues when Liverpool host Bolton, and this one could be tasty. If my memory serves me correctly, Stevie Gerrard used Kevin Nolan’s back as a trampoline earlier in the season; you would think he could afford his own. A sending off in the match is available at 10/3, that’s definitely worth a small interest.

Robbie Fowler has had a good week, after overtaking Kenny Dalglish in Liverpool’s all-time goal scorer list; Rafa has confirmed that a couple more goals could earn him a new contract at the club. The scally legend has a lot to play for, and like a dyslexic hippy; i’m a big believer in ‘Fowler power’. The Pool should be backed at 1/2 to take the three points; Robbie should be backed at 11/10 to get on the scoresheet.

After a couple of tasty starters, the live action reaches a crescendo when Arsenal travel to Old Trafford. This fixture has finished goalless on the last two meetings, but that’s about to change. Arsenal are currently in a purple patch, and United’s patch is arguably even purpler, it’s a Fergie’s nose patch. There will be goals in this one, and United want it that little bit more. They’re good looking bets at even money.

Van Nistelrooy started on the bench last week, came on, went to ground easily, and then banged in his 150th goal for the club, it was a typical Van the man performance. Nistelrooy and Arsenal have a little history, he’s a 9/2 shot to score the last goal against his old mates. The British press have had Cesc on their brain all week, but United have a half decent youngster of their own, his name’s Rooney, and he can play ball. Wayne likes the big occasion, he’s a 6/4 shot to score at any time.

Martin Jol’s decision to continuously play Mido ahead of Jermain Defoe leaves me perplexed. As I often reassure the wife, there’s nothing wrong with having two little ones up front. Spurs play hosts to a Man City team who still have their manager’s savage criticism ringing through their ears, an improved performance from City is an absolute certainty; 7/2 screams value.

The Boro v Newcastle match reminds me of the time I holidayed in the Orient, there’s every chance it might end up in a tie. The last three meets between these two have finished all square, a trend that looks set to continue. 11/5 is on offer, let’s rock and roll.

There’s a football advert doing the rounds in Australia starring Socceroos Marco Bresciano and John Aloisi.

While the pair train in an empty stadium, they are barracked by a lone voice yelling from the stands.

“How do you think you are going to beat Brazil, Socceroos,” the geriatric figure baits. “You haven’t even kicked a goal in the World Cup.”

“Brazil have kicked 191 goals,” the old-timer ridicules with a laugh.

“Here Johnny,” Bresciano prompts and from Aloisi’s satta king pass, the Parma midfielder thrashes the ball into the stands and knocks the groaning figure out cold.

“History’s Against Us,” reads the tagline. “Stuff History.”

Whether Nike are claiming any credit following last night’s display against the reigning world champions will likely be determined by the company’s next ad campaign.

But one thing’s for certain – reputations count for nothing for Guus Hiddink’s men.

The simple truth is Brazil might have lost to 42nd-ranked Australia after Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka wasted glorious chances in the second-half in Munich.

The former Leeds United pair will relive their individual moments of promise a hundred times over.

Once again, a World Cup match was decided by mere inches.

While Viduka’s second-half lob over goalkeeper Dida landed fractionally over the bar, Robinho’s 90th minute strike ricocheted off the inside of Mark Schwarzer’s post straight to the feet of grateful striker Fred.

“It was a deserved win,” coach Carlos Alberto Parreira maintained after presiding over an anxious second-half performance from the five-times champions. “We imposed both our style of playing, passing the ball around, and also imposed ourselves physically.”

Australian central defender Lucas Neill saw it rather differently.

“We’re really frustrated and disappointed,” Neill, a player growing in stature with each passing international, said. “But we played very well and I’m really happy to be a part of this Australian team.”

Neill’s proud Socceroos concocted about as many shots as their lauded rivals in a pulsating encounter but will rue a lack of tactical nous from midfielder-turned-defender Scott Chipperfield four minutes after the break.

The FC Basel man, forced back into defence following injury to Tony Popovic, stood too far off Adriano as the burly left-footer shaped to thread a shot goalbound after a neat set-up from Ronaldo.

The result was too much time for the Inter Milan striker and too little view for Schwarzer – a deadly combination.

The ball rolled through Chipperfield’s vulnerable gait and eluded the stranded Middlesbrough ‘keeper for the gamebreaker.

Fred’s last-gasp decider only served to flatter the Brazilians, a side talked about in terms of Pele’s 1970s superstars pre-tournament but on current form a million miles away.

For the Aussies, they might have fallen narrowly short of South America’s football kings but can take satisfaction that a draw with Croatia on Friday should be enough for a knockout spot.

Portugal Progress Without Persian Pkv PokerProtest

It was something of a wrench to leave Frankfurt, a cosmopolitan city that had really thrown itself into hosting the World Cup. It is not only the main entry point by air for visitors to Germany, its location makes it a convenient staging point for many other venues – leading to a real sense of being in the middle of the world’s greatest tournament. Indian Matka

After spending time in the rather isolated host city of Leipzig and the even more isolated non-World Cup venue of Dresden, it felt good to be coming back to Frankfurt for a flying visit, one that featured not only the Portugal – Iran fixture but also a Pkv Pokerwelcome recharge of those World Cup batteries.

Unfortunately, there was little time to head to Frankfurt’s ‘Fan Fest’, a gallery of riverside seats looking out onto a giant screen in the middle of the Main. Nearby were lots of amusements and stalls to keep Frankfurt families and football fans alike well-entertained and well-refreshed.

Not being able to head to the river or any of the seemingly thousands of friendly bars and pubs that had big-screen televisions, friendly atmospheres and great beer wasn’t too much of a hardship as my route from the main station led in the opposite direction – the WaldStadion – as did those of thousands of fans from around the world.

The Iranians on the concourse and platforms could be heard first and then seen but only as a jumble of flags and a mass of white-shirted bodies jumping up and down. Their opposite numbers were there in similar numbers but with the difference in volume being that of sound.

As I had only decided to come to the game at the last minute, I was on the waiting list for a press ticket. That wasn’t going to be a big problem after checking FIFA’s official media website and learning that only two other people were in a similar position. With an average of over 500 press seats per venue, there was always a number of no-shows, leading to tickets to be redistributed an hour before kick-off.

Not showing up is not a problem for the world governing body as long as the tickets are cancelled before hand so people can be upgraded from the waiting list. Not showing up and not letting FIFA know is a big no-no and the fact that over 250 people had, probably wisely as it turned out, in England’s opening game with Paraguay led to every media organisation receiving e-mails that warned of future repercussions for repeated offences.

Possible withdrawal of accreditation privileges wasn’t on the minds of Iranian fans that were in massing outside the stadium, they were more concerned about their beloved national team crashing out of the tournament after only 180 minutes of play.

Portugal’s laboured victory over Angola in the opening game may not have impressed the watching world but it did earn a valuable three points in a group that may not have had any death-like connotations but was not straightforward with teams from widely differing geographic locations.

That win and Iran’s 3-1 defeat at the hands of Mexico six days earlier in Leipzig meant that the situation was fairly simple. A Portugal win sent the European team into the second round and Team Melli out.

Portugal were on top from the outset and remained that way for the majority of the ninety minutes. Christiano Ronaldo was at times wasteful (failed tricks that had the nearby Jorge Baptista throwing his arms up in frustration) but his direct running, shooting and crossing caused problems for a slow Iranian defence and Deco was impressive in midfield.

Iran seemed reluctant to move the ball forward quickly, preferring to walk the ball from one end of the pitch to another and it was little surprise that they rarely troubled the Portuguese defence and goalkeeper.Indian Matka

Still, Branko Ivankovic’s team defended well for most of the game with the under-fire Ebrahim Mirzapoor making some good saves but it was a touch of class from Deco in the second half with a smart shot from outside the area that did the damage.

Iran really should have been back on level terms but substitute Rasoul Khatibi held on to the ball too long in a one-on-one situation and dragged his shot just wide and soon the Iranians were two down and heading home.

A look at the club’s forward line revealed why the heavy-smoking coach allowed Ahn to ignore the Seongnam exit on the Gyeonbu expressway and continue driving south for just a few more miles.

2006 K-League top scorer Woo Indian Matka Sung-yong may have departed but the deadly Mota remains. Also vying for a starting place were $1 million former Romanian international Adrian Naega, Ahn Hyo-yeon and the tricky Brazilian Itamar.

Suddenly, however, the seven-time champions sprung into action like the mythical animal that appears on the club logo – Pegasus.

First to arrive was Choi Sung-kuk – $2 million was enough to persuade 2005 champions Ulsan Hyundai Horang-I to wave goodbye to their diminutive attacker.

The year 2006 was a strange season for “Little Maradona.” Like the rest of Ulsan’s strikers, his appearances on the score sheet were all too rare but despite his lack of goals, he was widely held to have enjoyed an impressive season, as a recall to the national team demonstrated.

Equally out of the blue was the $2.4 million that the club splashed on Kim Dong-hyun.

Still only 22, the striker has already played in four different countries, almost as many as the well-traveled Ahn Jung-hwan. His career started in Japan with Oita Trinita before he moved to the K-League and Suwon Samsung Bluewings in 2004.

First team opportunities were limited at the club and a year later, he was off to Braga in Portugal. The pattern continued in 2006 and the new year saw a new club in the shape of Russian outfit Rubin Kazan.

The big attacker made it back onto the national team for the experimental friendly against Ghana in October, in which he scored the Taeguk Warriors’ only goal in a 3-1 defeat.

With other players like Han Dong-won signing on the dotted line, Seongnam look well-equipped for the new season’s two-pronged campaign. Not only will the coach be looking for an eighth title, the club has some unfinished business in the Asian Champions League after being defeated in the finals in 2004.

Domestic matters come first, however, and there will be some fierce competition at the top.

Ulsan may have lost Choi to Seongnam but 2006 top scorer Woo Sung-young came the other way. The 33 year-old is one of a number of new arrivals at the south-eastern club.

Around $2 million was needed to bring Oh Jang-eun to Munsu Stadium.The midfielder starred in the second half of last season with Daegu FC and was rewarded with a place on the national team. He will be joined in the southeast by Hyun Young-min, who has returned to his homeland after a year in Russia with Zenit St. Petersburg.

Barnet in English League Two has a game that is notoriously uneven. Underhill games, where Arsenal’s reserves are also played, may aim to create fun festivals, but the inclination means that sometimes it’s “no cricket”, especially football.

There is also something clearly unreal about the Kaka saga, the subtlety of which dominated this year’s football discussions as a highly watched test. Because of the money talks, a deal is more likely than not until Sheikh play bazaar Mansour Togelplonks makes his change at the table, drunk with a dream.

Recent reports suggest that Kaka will remain on San Sir after unsuccessful negotiations with Milan, but the city will not stop until its own deadline of 28 January has ended. They have too much money not to throw them away.

This may be difficult for our recessive Europeans to understand, but the Arabs really have money to give away. In my next work, I met so many sheikhs and oligarchs that the playboy approach of Roman Abramovic and sheikh Mansour does not surprise me. As sweet as it is to see Silvio Berlusconi and Roman Abramovic eat low cake, this step is still wrong.

Asian nations do battle for a place in the Asian Data HKCup 2011 finals

Australia and Japan, two of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) powerhouses, can book their places in the finals of Asian Football Cup 2011 when 18 Asian nations battle it out on Wednesday in the penultimate round of the tournament’s five qualifying groups.

Hosts Qatar, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Korea Delhi Bazaar Satta King Republic, India, Uzbekistan and Syria have already qualified for the 16-nation competition but at least another four nations can join them in Doha next January.

Three-times AFC Asian Cup winner Japan who play Yemen in Sana’a had considered not playing in the Gulf country because of the security situation, but Kyodo News Agency reported at the weekend that the AFC had carried out checks and contacted the Japan Football Association to give them the all-clear to make the trip as scheduled.

Japan only need a point to qualify, but have included 13 new Data HKfaces with coach Takeshi Okada saying that his focus is on this year’s FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Underdogs Yemen go into the match after a confidence-denting 1-0 defeat to Tajikistan on Saturday in Sana’a.

Bahrain, who share top spot with the Japanese in Group A, play Hong Kong at home and a win would also them through to the finals.

Australia, the AFC’s top-ranked nation, play in Kuwait on the same day, but, like Japan, will be fielding an under-strength side without most of their European-based players. Regular midfielder Jason Culina has also pulled out after injuring his knee in a local Australia A League match.

Sporting Keluaran HKpredictions by Chris Clegg

Hope you all got on last time out? Below was the five-way wager of the weekend:

Sunderland to beat Brum @ Evs; Spurs to win at Stoke @ 21/20; Pompey to hump Hull @ Evs; Arsenal to beat West Ham @ 1/5 and Wigan to beat Burnley @ 7/10. The five-wayer pays over £160 for a tenner.

Stick with me, punters, next time this play bazaar year we’ll be millionaires!!! Or is it this time, next year? Either way, have a butchers at this week’s…

All Square at Old Trafford?

What an early kick-off we have in store on Saturday at Old Trafford as Carlo’s lot visit from London. Of course, this would have been the battle of the sharp-shooters had the Roondog not hurt his ankle in Tuesday’s fight with zee Keluaran HKGermans. Luckily for England fans, he should be back for the summer’s world war. The Drogdog will be playing though, despite the fact that Chelsea really didn’t need him last time out in their demolition of JLS (Aston) Villa. As the booookies predict, this one will be close, closer than close. The draw is 21/10 and I think it’s nailed on.

Black Coffee serving at the Emirates

Down at The Emirates, Arsenal entertain the Wolves, without Cesc Fabregas it would appear. Arsenal without Cesc are like coffee without sugar – it just doesn’t taste right but you drink it if you have to. Arsenal won’t taste very good without their sweet star which is a shame as they also lost their milk earlier in the season. Had van Persie and Fabregas been fit throughout the season, the coffee would have gone down a treat and Arsenal may have just been topping the table. So it’s a strong black at the Emirates which will be suffice to tame the Wolves. Home win @ 1/6 methinks.

Everybody in love?

EURO 2008 SF: Germany 3-2 Turkey, Basel

Boral 22′, Schweinsteiger 27′, Klose 79′, Semturk 86′, Lahm 90′

“They can play games like this, when maybe they are not the best team, and still win. That is why they are so good.”

Fatih Terim, Turkey’s coach, could have uttered these words tonight, but in fact it was Bruce Arena after Germany had edged the States 1-0 in Ulsan in the 2002 World Cup quarter-final.

Only two years ago, we were talking about how Sattamatka, or rather short, Germany would last at home in the World Cup. Jurgen Klinsmann’s team had been the most inept German ‘elftal’ (eleven) in living memory in the run-up to the 2006 tournament, but then surprised the doubters by reaching the semi-final.

Now the Mannschaft have reached the EURO 2008 final with a 3-2 win over an arguably better team, nodding heads are attributing their triumph to simply being German, a synonym for depressingly successful.

A Protestant work ethic (Colombia’s Achilles Heel), physical force and endeavour (Portugal’s downfall), mental toughness (the Dutch weakness), self-belief (count out the Spaniards), efficient organisation (bye-bye England) and a resolve to keep fighting until the end (Au revoir Les Bleus) in an ‘all for one, one for all’ spirit of teamwork have been in the German genes for so long, their roll of honour comes as no surprise:

SEVEN World Cup finals (won three of them) and SIX European championship finals (won three of them so far) is an amazing record confirmed by Euro 2008.

England have, in comparison, reached one final ever…

In 1994 and 1998, Germany exited the World Cup before the semi-final stage. A colourless performance at Euro 2000 had everyone expecting them to collapse in the 2002 World Cup; instead they reached the final.

Then another weak German eleven in Euro 2004 boded ill for the following World Cup, yet Germany finished third. Even in eras of weakness, they bounce back strongly.

But wait a minute, didn’t Croatia beat them 2-1 in this tournament? Did not the Germans look clearly second best that night, their status as early favourites following their victory over the Poles suddenly diluted?

A week is a long time in football; Croatia have now been eliminated, Germany have beaten their conquerors, Turkey, and have reached yet another final, prolonging an extraordinary record.

“They always put up a good show,” a drunken Finn opined to me about the Germans, slumped on a Swedish park bench in Norrköpping at Euro ’92. He was not wrong.

Despite all the close scrapes and near misses of outrageous fortune, ‘Germany are always there’ is the shrugged conclusion we must draw once more, however short memories are in football.

Incidentally, thank God tonight’s game was in Basel and not Vienna.

The Austrian capital witnessed a thunderstorm so strong it forced the evacuation of the central FanZone fifteen minutes before the end of the game.

Two people were trampled in the rush to escape the tempest, requiring hospital treatment, while those who did make it to nearby bars would not have seen Miroslav Klose’s strike, as the Austrian TV channel showing the game, ORF1, lost its signal for eight minutes due to the inclement weather.

German TV suffered a similar break in transmission, thanks to a thunderstorm near Basel knocking out the picture relay.

Vienna’s central FanZone, the largest at EURO 2008, has played host to crowds of up to 100,000 people on match nights.

* * *

Charlie Dempsey, the Scots-born New Zealander who was President of the Oceania Football Confederation for an amazing 36 years, has died aged 87.

Dempsey famously hit the world’s headlines when he abstained in 2000 from voting for the destination of the 2006 World Cup, thereby handing the tournament to Germany instead of its expected hosts, South Africa.

The world’s cameras were suddenly focused on a rather doddery old Scot who had decided not to vote as a member of FIFA’s 24-strong executive committee on the most important sporting tournament in the world. Dempsey claimed others had attempted to bribe him and that he had no wish to make enemies by voting.

As it happened, Germany ran a hugely successful World Cup in 2006 and South Africa got four more years to prepare to host it, winning the vote for 2010 unopposed.

Dempsey rather should be remembered for promoting football in a country obsessed with another sport (rugby union) and getting Oceania to join FIFA as a full member confederation in 1996.

Soon after the World Cup vote in 2000, Dempsey quit as President, dismayed at the media assault on him and his family on account of his perceived cowardice.

Oceania is still fighting for a permanent place in the World Cup Finals, after New Zealand’s poor performance at the 2005 Confederations Cup persuaded FIFA President Sepp Blatter to change his mind about awarding it an automatic qualification slot, precipitating Australia’s unprecedented move to the Asian Football Confederation in 2006.

Dempsey’s proudest achievement was seeing his beloved New Zealand compete in the 1982 World Cup Finals in Spain.