Klinsmann: Donovan still in my US plans

All-time US scoring leader Landon Donovan remains respected by USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann and in the Americans plans for final round of 2014 FIFA World Cup™ qualifying in CONCACAF

A day after Donovan told ESPN he was uncertain if he was still wanted around Klinsmann's squad after knee injuries kept him out of qualifiers in September and October, Klinsmann made it clear the striker is very much wanted. "He's always in our plans, absolutely," Klinsmann said in a teleconference. "I find it really courageous of him to talk openly in public about what goes through his mind."

Donovan told ESPN he might need a break from football after the ongoing Major League Soccer play-offs due to physical and mental exhaustion and wondered if people thought he might have faked injuries to escape national team play.

"When you're a guy who's never been hurt for the most part and then all of a sudden you have all these injuries, I think people start to question it," Donovan told ESPN."'Maybe he's faking it or maybe he's not really hurt or maybe he doesn't want to come in.' That's really frustrating."

Klinsmann said he knew of no doubters, including himself. "We just took it straight from him and we believe him. If he has a problem he has a problem," Klinsmann said. "I don't know if he has a feeling some players didn't buy in. I didn't see that."

The 30-year-old striker is captain of the reigning MLS champion Los Angeles Galaxy and has spent eight seasons with the club.

As for Donovan pondering a break ahead of February's start of North American final-round qualifying for the 2014 World Cup, Klinsmann said it would be Donovan's decision and he planned to speak with him after the MLS play-offs, but he hoped Donovan would find the motivation to play for the US squad.

"It's really down to him, what he wants to further achieve in his career and what he wants to achieve. Whatever he decides will be respected by us," Klinsmann said. "Things can change overnight in our environment. Whatever happens we will always adjust to it. We will put the strongest team we have into it and slowly develop our team heading into the World Cup down the road."

Hexagonal and Russia tests
The Stars and Stripes will battle Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, Jamaica and Honduras next year for three guaranteed Brazil 2014 berths. The final qualifying schedule will be drawn next Wednesday.

The Americans will finish the year with an away friendly against Russia on 14 November at Krasnodar. "Here's another learning opportunity against one of the best teams in Europe at the moment," Klinsmann said. "We want to see how the players handle the environment, how they connect, how the chemistry comes together. Overall it was a good year. We want to finish it off on a high note."

The Americans have used 45 players so far this year, 11 of them getting their first taste of FIFA World Cup qualifying. "We tried to evaluate all of them and have a very close look at them," said Klinsmann. "It has been great to see some people breaking into the team and making their mark."

Klinsmann dropped forward Jozy Altidore from the squad for the final two qualifiers last month and have not reached out to the former starter since. "We've had no further contact since then and I haven't made up my mind if I will call him in for Russia," Klinsmann said.

The German said he is happy that his decisions, such as dropping Altidore, have sparked debate among US Soccer supporters. "We enjoy that," he said. "It just shows you soccer is growing in the US at a very fast pace."

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Lens: Win puts us in driving seat

Midfielder Jeremain Lens believes Netherlands took a major step towards booking their place at the 2014 FIFA World Cup following their 4-1 win over Romania last night.

Both sides had begun the night with perfect records in Group D, but it was the Oranje who took control of their destiny as they overcame their hosts in Bucharest.

Lens opened the scoring with a stunning header from outside the area, the first goal Romania had conceded this campaign. Netherlands then had the game in their keeping by half-time as Bruno Martins Indi added a second before Rafael van der Vaart converted a penalty moments after Ciprian Marica pulled one back.

Robin van Persie sealed the win late on, and while Lens admitted the scoreline flatted the Oranje the result left them in full control in the race to Brazil.

"The most important thing is that we won the match 4-1," he was quoted as saying in De Telegraaf. "We are not there (qualifying for the World Cup) just yet. However, we have taken a big step toward qualification."

The PSV Eindhoven forward was pleased with his opener, adding: "The ball landed perfectly on my head and I could head it home nicely. It was very nice to score the opener as Romania were putting the pressure on us."

Boss Louis van Gaal admitted Lens' goal had eased the pressure on his side after they had been forced on to the back foot early by the Romanians.

"This is a great achievement," he told SBS6. "We did not start so well. But luck was on our side. Then we got better in the game and we saw it coming. They were incredible goals. Lens' [goal] for example, who never [scores] headers.

"I thought in the first quarter we were restless, which I had not expected. But we had problems getting the ball forward. Romania are organised, so maybe that's the excuse. In addition, the stadium was beautiful but the pitch less so."

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Del Bosque rues injury disruptions

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque believes that injuries early in each half to David Silva and Alvaro Arbeloa proved crucial as the World and European champions conceded in stoppage time to drop two points at home to France in their 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ qualifier.

Silva pulled up after just 10 minutes but the hosts seemed to cope with the departure of the Manchester City midfielder and went ahead through Sergio Ramos on 25 minutes.

Cesc Fabregas then had a penalty saved by Hugo Lloris just before half-time, but after Arbeloa also went off with a muscular injury minutes into the second period, the visitors took control of the game and finally got the equaliser they deserved with the last attack of the match as Olivier Giroud rose to head in Franck Ribery's cross.

"The injuries were an immediate misfortune because it prevented us from managing the changes," Del Bosque said.

"There haven't been any muscular injuries in my four years here and so to have two I am sorry about."

The draw leaves both sides tied at the top of Group I with seven points from three games, but Del Bosque refuted the suggestion that the group will be decided when the two meet again in Paris in March.

"We have played only three games," he added. "In the first half we had control of the game and perhaps we lacked a bit of penetration with the missed penalty by Cesc and the other chance that Pedro had.

"The home and away games against France have always been dangerous for us. What will happen with the rest of the games I don't know, it would appear March already will be important, but we can't take anything for granted with the other teams in the group as they will all aspire to be first."

French joy
France boss Didier Deschamps was delighted with how his side responded from going behind to end up dominating in the second half, but he also lamented a decision by the officials that saw Jeremy Menez's header ruled out for offside.

"In the first half we suffered, we defended well, but they didn't give us the ball and we weren't able to attack practically at all," Deschamps said.

"In the second half we had more presence, we were liberated and created more chances.

"We had to be magnificent, we were playing the best team in Europe and the world. The players have seen the recompense for their efforts.

"If this match brings more enthusiasm and confidence to the players then good, but we are not the best just because we have drawn with Spain.

"We are a young team, we haven't done everything well but we have character and a lot of margin to improve."

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Postiga saves Portuguese blushes

Northern Ireland were 11 minutes away from a famous victory over a Portugal side 114 places above them in the FIFA rankings, but still managed to spoil Cristiano Ronaldo's big day with a battling point in Porto.

The Group F match was supposed to be all about the Real Madrid superstar, who was presented with his 100th cap in a pre-match ceremony involving Luis Figo, but Michael O'Neill's men took a shock lead on the half-hour when Niall McGinn capped a fine counter-attack. Ronaldo, and his illustrious team-mates, dominated possession and chances both before and after that but had to wait until the 79th minute for Helder Postiga to turn home a scrappy equaliser.

A point will be celebrated by a Northern Ireland side who were held at home by lowly Luxembourg last time out, but their bravery in the face of an attacking onslaught from Ronaldo and company so nearly yielded even more. O'Neill sent out a compact 4-5-1 formation, resisting the temptation to start with Dean Shiels as a link between midfield and attack. With an absentee list in double figures, there were recalls for Corry Evans, Oliver Norwood and McGinn.

The kick-off was slightly delayed as Ronaldo received a special presentation from fellow centurion Figo but when play did get under way it took him just two minutes to register his first shot. The 25-yard effort was hardly befitting of the occasion, a scuffed attempt that rolled harmlessly wide.

Ronaldo clearly had goals on his mind and sent a second shot wide in the fifth minute. The home skipper was not playing a lone hand though, with Nani and Joao Moutinho both looking to target Ryan McGivern at left-back. But Jonny Evans looked in determined mood at the back, twice clearing the danger as Portugal closed in.

Ronaldo, seeking a change in fortunes, moved from left wing to right and drilled a dangerous cross into the area only for Craig Cathcart to clear. With Northern Ireland struggling for meaningful possession in the final third Evans took matters into his own hands, attempting to catch Patricio off his line with a free-kick placed ten yards inside his own area. The idea was Ronaldo-esque, though the execution fell some way short.

Portugal stunned
Then, with half an hour gone, the Porto crowd was stunned into silence. Evans launched the ball up front and Kyle Lafferty did well to get it down to his feet and under control. 

The Portuguese defence, pressing up the pitch, were caught napping and when McGinn raced forward into space, Lafferty found him with the perfect pass. The Aberdeen winger was one on one with Patricio and calmly lifted his shot over the goalkeeper before celebrating wildly with the travelling supporters.

Ronaldo was sure he had equalised in the 35th minute when he poked a boot at Joao Pereira's cross but the ball cannoned back off the bar. Ronaldo, Nani and Pereira were crossing almost at will from the right but the visitors, marshalled by the excellent Evans, kept clearing the danger to maintain their shock lead at the interval.

The second half began in much the same fashion as the first had ended, Portugal dominating the ball only to be foiled as they moved in on goal. Ruben Micael attempted to change the pattern with a long-range shot soon after the restart but cleared both Roy Carroll and the bar.

With 55 minutes gone Portugal, and Ronaldo, thought they had finally made the breakthrough. Miguel Veloso floated a pass to the Real forward at the back post but his header, from just six yards, was directed straight at Carroll.

The 35-year-old, who was unhappy about lasers being shone in his eyes, made a more impressive save from Ronaldo moments later, getting down well to beat away a first-time effort. By now Northern Ireland were pinned in their own box, Nani almost coaxing a penalty from McGivern and Steven Davis nearly diverting the ball into his own net.

Portugal, meanwhile, were becoming visibly frustrated as the unlikely shutout continued. With 20 minutes remaining Ronaldo appeared to break free of the defence but, just as he lined up his shot, Aaron Hughes did enough to deflect it wide for a corner. McGinn mis-hit when presented with a rare opportunity at the other end, Norwood having found him with a clever pass.

The equaliser belatedly arrived in the 80th minute, the previously off-colour Postiga stabbing home in a goalmouth scramble. Substitute Eder nodded a deep cross back across goal, with Nani touching it on to the striker, who picked himself up from an awkward position to prod past Carroll.

Varela and Nani both went close to a winner inside 90 minutes, while Eder was millimetres away from turning home in an overly generous period of added time.

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Sublime Soria strike gives Qatar hope

Qatar kept alive their hopes of making 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ with a 1-0 win over Lebanon in their Group A qualifier today.

A brilliant 75th minute strike from their Uruguayan-born striker Andres Quintana, better known as Sebastian Soria, gave Qatar three points which took the 2022 FIFA World Cup hosts' tally to seven in the five-team group, putting them on par with Korea Republic and Iran, while just one shy of leaders Uzbekistan.

Lebanon are the only team Qatar have beaten in the final phase of qualifying, today's win being their second over Theo Bucker's side following their 1-0 victory in June where Soria had also scored. Soria's goal was a terrific solo effort that began outside the Qatar penalty and area saw him advance with the ball a considerable distance before his cracking 40-yard strike swerved into the net, stunning the Lebanon defence.

An ecstatic Soria ran up to the stands for an extended celebration with his family members. Qatar could have doubled the margin a few moments later but the Ghana-born Lawrence Quaye found his shot, from a Soria pass, blocked by the Lebanon goalkeeper Abbas Hassan.

Qatar, however, survived a close shave later when veteran midfielder Roda Antar's powerful drive brought out a splendid save from goalkeeper Qassim Burhan, his diving effort saving a sure-shot goal. Qatar had another chance to increase their lead in stoppage time in the second-half but Quaye's shot from outside the penalty area went wide.

"This was a much needed win for us and thanks to Sebastian we are now alive in the qualifiers," said Qatar coach Paulo Autuori. "We should have played much better but a win is a win."

Bucker also praised Soria's strike, feeling that was the difference between the two teams. "The match could have gone anyway but Soria's goal proved decisive. You cannot do anything in such a situation."

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Argentina clear as Bolivia, Paraguay win

THE DAY REPLAYED – Argentina won in Santiago to strengthen their grip at the top of the table on Matchday 10 in the South American Zone qualifying competition for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. At the other end of the standings, meanwhile, Bolivia and Paraguay both won to breathe new life into their faltering campaigns.

FIFA.com rounds up the final round of qualifiers of 2012, which brought further defeats for Uruguay and Chile, leaving their hopes hanging in the balance.

Match of the day
Chile 1-2 Argentina
Goals: Felipe Gutierrez 90 (CHI); Lionel Messi 28, Gonzalo Higuain 30 (ARG)

Eight years on from Lionel Messi’s Barcelona debut, Argentina paid tribute to their skipper with their fifth win in six games, staying right on track in their seemingly unstoppable charge to the world finals. Though not completely at ease in the first half, La Albiceleste made the home side pay for their profligacy in front of goal, as both Messi and Higuain conjured up delightful goals to pull level with Luis Suarez as the leading marksmen in the competition. The Argentinians are now eight points clear of Uruguay in fifth, while the Chileans, who have lost their last three qualifiers, drop down to sixth behind Venezuela and Uruguay on goal difference.

Elsewhere
Uruguay’s freefall continued apace as they crashed 4-1 away to Bolivia, their second heavy defeat in succession. Without a win in their last four qualifiers now, a run in which they have conceded 12 goals and scored only two, La Celeste had no answer to Xabier Azkargorta’s side, who sated their hunger for victory thanks largely to a hat-trick by Carlos Saucedo. Gualberto Mojica also got on the scoresheet for the hosts, with Luis Suarez pulling one back for the visitors with a late free-kick.

Bottom-placed Paraguay also got back to winning ways, ending a run of five straight losses with a 1-0 win over Peru in Asuncion. Pablo Aguilar’s second-half header, his first goal for his country, proved the difference between the teams in a scrappy game that generated little in the way of goalmouth action. Though they remain last, La Albirroja lie just a point behind Peru, who have now lost on five of their six qualifying trips to the Paraguayan capital and remain winless there.

Ecuador registered only their second point on the road in an entertaining 1-1 draw in Venezuela, a result that moved them into second and La Vinotinto into fourth. Adopting an enterprising approach, La Tricolor were rewarded when Segundo Castillo cancelled out Juan Arango’s fine opener.

Player of the day
Carlos Saucedo (BOL)
The 33-year-old San Jose striker will remember his FIFA World Cup qualifying debut for a long, long time, as he served up a virtuoso display of finishing to put the reigning Copa America champions to the sword in La Paz and push Bolivia back into contention for a place at Brazil 2014. The leading scorer in Bolivia’s Torneo Apertura with nine goals, Saucedo proved he has the class to thrive at the highest level.  

The stat
19 - Argentina are the top scorers in the South American qualifiers with 20 goals so far, 19 of which have been scored by their attacking quartet, with Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuain finding the back of the net seven times each, Sergio Aguero scoring three and Angel Di Maria two. The remaining goal was scored by Ezequiel Lavezzi, against Bolivia.

What they said
“We’re not dead and we’re going to fight. We’re still in there. It’s just a question now of getting things right in the seven finals we have left. The hour of truth will start against Paraguay,” Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez makes a defiant response to his side’s 4-1 defeat in Bolivia.

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Asian press reflect on crucial results

Four sides entered Matchday 5 in the fourth round of Asian Zone qualifying desperately seeking their first victory, and three of them achieved just that to claw themselves back in to contention for places at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™.

Uzbekistan climbed from bottom to third in Group A with a 1-0 success in Qatar, while Oman and Australia recorded 2-1 wins over Jordan and Iraq respectively to move on to five points from four games apiece in Group B.

‘Victory has saved Socceroos' World Cup campaign’ was the headline in the Sydney Morning Herald. With three of their remaining four fixtures at home, Australia coach Holger Osieck was understandably optimistic following the result in Doha.

"It is better to operate from the upper position rather than to chase the pack," the German told the country's leading newspaper. "I think we are back in the race after a poor performance in Jordan (Australia lost 2-1 last month). Today we showed a decent performance and great spirit.

"We have finished the first part of qualifying with three very difficult road games and we managed to stay in the second position, which means we [would] qualify automatically. So now that we have the home games, that definitely gives us a better base for the upcoming games.”

Canberra Times, meanwhile, paid tribute to Tim Cahill, who cancelled out Alaa Abdul Zahra's opener, and substitute Archie Thompson, who netted the winner.

It wrote: "Cahill's brilliant header was typical of what he's done so often for the Socceroos over the past decade. Thompson's freshness proved critical, turning around what seemed a potentially disastrous night for Australia just minutes before."

Oman’s home victory left them third in their pool, only behind Australia on goal difference. The Oman Tribune wrote: “Oman took another step towards the 2014 FIFA World Cup after beating Jordan 2-1. The victory has left the race to reach the finals in Brazil wide open.”

Oman coach Paul Le Guen told the Oman Daily Observer: "I'm very happy with the result but the work is still only half done.”

Autuori calls for thought
In Group B, Iran pulled level on points with leaders Korea Republic by overcoming a numerical disadvantage to beat them 1-0 in Tehran, with captain Javad Nekounam scoring the only goal. "Ten-man Iran beat giants Korea Republic" was the headline in the Tehran Times, while Press TV hailed a "sweet victory".

Uzbekistan moved two points behind Korea Republic and Iran thanks to victory in Qatar, whose coach Paulo Autuori urged his charges to learn from defeat.

"We can’t become winners if we don’t realise why we lost," the Brazilian told Qatar's Gulf Times, "We need to analyse that loss and work harder. “We should now focus on the next match against Lebanon. We still have the chance to take the second place.”

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