In-form Negredo eyes Spain recall

Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo hopes his two-goal salvo against Real Mallorca caught the attention of Spain coach Vicente del Bosque.

Negredo twice netted equalisers as Sevilla battled back to beat Mallorca 3-2 in last night's La Liga clash at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Those goals took Negredo's tally for the season to six in eight La Liga matches and the 27-year-old hopes his form has not gone unnoticed by Del Bosque.

Negredo was part of Spain's successful UEFA EURO 2012 squad but has not been called up by Del Bosque for the last five internationals.

Negredo told reporters: "This is the only way to get into the national squad, scoring goals and working well. I'll be hoping for a call from Del Bosque, and if not, I'll continue working hard."

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Stadiums Progress: Brazil 2014

At each of the 12 stadiums that will host the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, fans can already get a sense of what it will be like to be in the stands when the action gets underway. Moreover, at the venues which will also be hosting games at the FIFA Confederations Cup 2013, it is not just the impressive stands that catch the eye. The installation of seating and the advances in the various roof constructions highlight the strong focus the country’s stadiums are placing on the comfort and protection of attending fans.

Check out this month’s stadium pictures by clicking on the photo gallery bar on the right-hand side brought to you by FIFA.com.

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Zaccheroni untroubled by Kagawa absence

Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni on Monday shrugged off the absence of injured Manchester United attacking midfielder Shinji Kagawa from a FIFA World Cup™ qualifier against Oman away next week. The four-time Asian champions, leading Asia's final round Group B five points clear of Oman and Australia, have the depth to make up for missing stand outs, the coach insisted.

Zaccheroni, announcing his 23-man squad against Oman, recalled how Kagawa had stayed idle for months after breaking his right foot in the January 2011 Asian Cup and CSKA Moscow playmaker Keisuke Honda had missed the next-to-last FIFA World Cup qualifying round with a knee injury.

"But don't forget that the players that have come in to deputise for them have done a great job," theKyodo news agency reported. "Kagawa is not here this time, but I'm sure that whoever fills in for him will do well."

Kagawa, 23, who moved from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, injured his left knee in Manchester United's 3-2 UEFA Champions League win over Braga on 23 October. His Premiership club want him to be out for four weeks. He has scored 12 goals in 37 internationals, most recently in the 1-0 friendly win over France in Paris last month.

Zaccheroni has called up 13 Europe-based stars including such regulars as Honda, Inter Milan defender Yuto Nagatomo and Stuttgart striker Shinji Okazaki for the 14 November match. Okazaki is coming back to international duty after a foot injury forced him out of Japan's European tour last month, in which they upset 1998 World Cup winners France but bowed 4-0 to five-time champions Brazil in Wroclaw, Poland.

Zaccheroni also called up Takashi Usami, on loan to Hoffenheim from Bayern Munich, for the first time in over a year. But Wigan Athletic striker Ryo Miyaichi, who played the final few minutes against Brazil and is recovering from a groin injury, miss out.

Japan currently lead Group B with ten points from three wins over Oman, Jordan and Iraq and a draw with Australia, having beaten their upcoming opponents 3-0 at home in June.

"Oman are one of the more organised and balanced teams in the group," Zaccheroni said, recalling that they "sat back and defended" against Japan in their last encounter. "But they will come at us this time. We have to be very focused," he added, warning that Paul Le Guen's squad are armed with "highly accurate counter-attacks."

Japan squad
Goalkeepers: Eiji Kawashima (Standard Liege/BEL), Shusaku Nishikawa (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Shuichi Gonda (FC Tokyo)

Defenders: Yuichi Komano (Jubilo Iwata), Yasuyuki Konno (Gamba Osaka) Yuzo Kurihara (Yokohama Marinos), Masahiko Inoha (Vissel Kobe), Yuto Nagatomo (Inter Milan/ITA), Atsuto Uchida (Schalke/GER), Maya Yoshida (Southampton/ENG), Hiroki Sakai (Hannover/GER)

Midfielders: Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Kengo Nakamura (Kawasaki Frontale), Makoto Hasebe (Wolfsburg/GER), Hajime Hosogai (Bayer Leverkusen/BER), Keisuke Honda (CSKA Moscow/RUS), Hideto Takahashi (FC Tokyo)

Forwards: Ryoichi Maeda (Jubilo Iwata), Shinji Okazaki (Stuttgart/GER), Mike Havenaar (Vitesse Arnhem/NED), Takashi Inui (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER), Hiroshi Kiyotake (Nuremberg/GER), Takashi Usami (Hoffenheim/GER)

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LOC board meeting discusses FIFA Confederations Cup

The FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 was the main item on the agenda at the latest six-weekly board meeting of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ Organising Committee (LOC), held on Thursday at Rio de Janeiro’s Riocentro. Also up for discussion were preparations for Brazil 2014.

“This is a special moment,” said LOC President Jose Maria Marin. “It is the first time that one of these meetings has been held at the Riocentro, the new headquarters of the Local Organising Committee, which will grow even more in size at the start of next year.”

For his part, Brazilian Minister of Sport Aldo Rebelo said: “I would like to restate our desire and commitment to work together and make every effort to ensure that preparations for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil progress smoothly.”

FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke was unable to attend the meeting due to a kidney infection and was represented by FIFA Deputy Secretary General and Director of Finance Markus Kattner. After visiting Valcke on Thursday, Dr Joao Mansur Filho said he was responding well to treatment.

“I hope the Secretary General is fit and well again soon,” said Kattner. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the LOC and the federal government for the first-class cooperation they have offered in recent months, which has already yielded excellent results.”

The LOC announced that a press event would be held in Sao Paulo on 8 November, where it will reveal the prices and terms and conditions of sale of the tickets for the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013.

The draw for the FIFA Confederations Cup, which will take place on 1 December at the Anhembi Convention Centre in Sao Paulo, was also discussed. Brazilian television presenter Glenda Kozlowski will host the event, which will feature musical performances by Arlindo Cruz, Maria Gadu and Os Meninos do Morumbi.

It was also confirmed that FIFA would set up its head office at the Forte de Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro during Brazil 2014.

During the meeting the Brazilian government’s representatives provided an update on the work it has been carrying out, and focused in particular on the operational plans that are currently being implemented. In addition, the LOC and FIFA also provided an update on the situation with regard to national team training centres, safety, team services, broadcasting and marketing.

The next LOC board meeting is scheduled to take place in Sao Paulo on 28 November. “The next time we come together the group draw for the FIFA Confederations Cup will be almost upon us,” commented Marin. “That competition will give us a valuable opportunity to test out all the services for the FIFA World Cup.”

The meeting ended with all those present wishing the FIFA Secretary General the speediest of recoveries.  

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Pick of the qualifying Tweets

Featuring regional clásicos, stunning fightbacks, teams reaching the next phase and virtuoso displays from players the world over, the latest 2014 FIFA World Cup™ qualifying double-header had many a tale to tell. We took to Twitter to find out how some of the biggest names on Planet Football viewed the latest twists and turns on the road to Brazil.

“France vs Spain. None of the Spanish guys are singing their anthem, not that it stops them being the best. Go for it lads!” French striker Louis Saha (@louissaha08) as kick-off time to the European Zone Group I crunch clash drew closer. 

“@louissaha08 that’s normal bro, their anthem doesn’t have any words!!! LOL,” FC Rostov’s French attacker Florent Sinama-Pongolle (@sinamapongolle4), who spent several seasons in La Liga, sets Saha straight. 

“For once I won’t be cheering for Iker Casillas!! But after this game I’d be pleased to see him win the Ballon d’Or, he deserves it,” Le Mans keeper Jeremie Janot (@jeremiejanot).

“Be realistic, ask the impossible!” France midfielder Blaise Matuidi (@MATUIDIBlaise), prior to the game against Spain.

“I am as proud to wear the Portugal jersey for the 100th time as I was the first time,” Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo (?@Cristiano), who reached this landmark figure in the draw with Northern Ireland.

“Did I say 5 - 0 England.....errrr, yes! Love it lads! Congrats to Wales winning their 1st game under Chris Coleman + @AshWills84 as captain!” Veteran England defender Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5), after the Three Lions’ win over San Marino at Wembley.

“Huge fan of Baines and I love how unselfish Welbeck is. Decent performance, no more than that. Game on Tuesday is a big one,” former England striker Michael Owen (@themichaelowen) who, like Ferdinand, is very active on Twitter, gives his verdict on the San Marino win.

“This German team is different class. Can't remember the last time Ireland got thrashed on their own patch,” Owen again, proving our point.

 “@LAMBREMONTPY: @VincentKompany It’s my birthday today. I only want one present: the win. COME ON BELGIUM!!! " - Happy Birthday :-)” BELGIUM captain and centre-back Vincent Kompany (@VincentKompany), makes a birthday wish ahead of the clash with Serbia. 

“Proud of my team, proud of our fans, proud of our country. Together we can achieve anything. #Belgium,” Kompany underlines his flair for leadership, on the back of scoring a fine goal in the victory over Scotland.

?#NigeldeJong played yesterday a great game for Holland. Now take Milan by the hand and go for the Scudetto...” Former AC Milan and the Netherlands legend Ruud Gullit (@GullitR), throws his support behind the combative Dutch midfielder. 

“Congratulations to my friend @_Pedro17_ for his three goals today and to @andresiniesta8 for his 75th cap. You guys deserve it!!!” David Silva (@21LVA), underlines the mutual respect between the members of the Spain squad, when hailing his team-mates’ feats in the victory over Belarus. 

“Nice match today in Belarus, great work by the team and especially Pedro! Looking forward to the next match against France!” Spain and Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas (@cesc4official) continues the swift exchange of compliments. 

“Great win in my 75th game for La Selección!! Congrats to Pedro on his hat-trick!” Andres Iniesta (@andresiniesta8) rounds off the tiki-taka of La Roja stars.

“I'm glad we fulfilled our goal - get the full 6 points in these two matches. We achieved that in the best way possible,” Argentina striker Sergio Aguero (@aguerosergiokun), savouring the moment after La Albiceleste’s back-to-back wins over Uruguay and Chile.

“Great win. Today’s was a team display, and I’m happy with that. Laters!!!” Argentina’s midfield general Javier Mascherano (@Mascherano), highlights the increasing solidity of Alejandro Sabella’s La Albiceleste, after the win in Santiago.

“How they roar, the fans in the Metropolitano [stadium] and in Colombia as a whole!! Thanks be to God for this success, the glory’s all yours!” Los Cafeteros’ red-hot goal-getter Radamel Falcao (@Falcao), scorer of a brace in his country’s win over Paraguay. Mere days later he was in the stands of Atletico de Madrid’s Vicente Calderon stadium to watch Spain-France.

“The idea is to win your home games but there’s a real football saying that says ‘if you can’t win at least try not to lose’. There’s a long way to go left! And we’re still picking up points,” Venezuela defender and key man Oswaldo Vizcarrondo (@vizcarrondo4), after La Vinotinto moved up to fifth in South American Zone qualifying after the home draw with Ecuador. 

“A vital 3 points, well deserved but what an emotional way to do it. Great spirit lads, it's in our hands!” Australia captain Lucas Neill (@LucasNeill|), both proud and relieved after the Socceroos 2-1 comeback win over Iraq.

“Good luck boys. 3 points. We will all be watching. ?#USAvGUA,” Abby Wambach (@AbbyWambach), lethal goal-getter for the US women’s side, gets behind her counterparts in the men’s set-up.

“On to the Hex! Congrats to the ?#USMNT on a job very well done. Great and fun game to watch. Keep it going! ?#USA ?#USA ?#USA,” American striker Jozy Altidore (@JozyAltidore), after the USA’s victory over Guatemala which guaranteed their berth in the region’s final six-team hexagonal qualifying round.

“Watching world cup qualifiers makes me excited for ?#brazil2014,” Wambach’s Stars and Stripes strike partner Alex Morgan (@alexmorgan13), just can’t get enough of the beautiful game.

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