Neuer: We need to prioritise clean sheets

Germany need to play more defensively and aim for a clean sheet every match, the national team's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has said.

"It's a fact that we have to concentrate more on defence," the Bayern Munich No1 was quoted as saying by kicker, amid the continued fall-out from their 2014 FIFA World Cup™ qualifier against Sweden.

Joachim Low's team were 4-0 up with less than half an hour to play but threw away the lead for the game to finish 4-4, marking the first time in the 104-year history of the German Football Federation that a four-goal lead had been lost. It was also the first time in three years that Germany had dropped points in a qualifying match.

Neuer said: "We've got great qualities in attack, we're always in a position to score at least one goal. But as a 'keeper, I'd like this idea of playing for a clean sheet to be our priority before every match."

Low has been under pressure since Germany were beaten 2-1 by Italy in the semi-final of UEFA EURO 2012 in Poland and Ukraine in June, with criticisms of his selections and tactics.

The coach accepted in an interview with television channel ZDF, broadcast on Sunday, that the team was "slightly unbalanced", acknowledging that improvements were required at the back.

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Kompany: Belgium's team spirit is unbelievable

Vincent Kompany has refused to write off Scotland's 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ qualification hopes, insisting he knows better than most to expect the unexpected in football.

The defender was on the score-sheet on Tuesday as Belgium won 2-0 to leave Craig Levein's men languishing at the bottom of Group A. The clash in Brussels was touted as a must-win game for the Scots, but second-half goals from Kompany and Christian Benteke ensured there would be no shocks against one of the section favourites.

Scotland's hopes of booking their place at Brazil 2014 appear to be shattered but, having helped Manchester City defy the odds to claim the Premier League title last season, Kompany is taking nothing for granted.

He said: "I wouldn't know my history too well if I thought Scotland were out of it. We had six games to play and we were eight points down, and we won the league last year. I just hope we are not going to make any mistakes and give them the chance to get back in it."

Only a superb display from goalkeeper Allan McGregor prevented the Belgians from taking the lead earlier in the game. The home side eventually opened the scoring through Benteke on 69 minutes, before Kompany doubled the advantage a minute later. But he refused to be too critical of their visitors, claiming Belgium were simply too strong.

Kompany said: "We are absolutely thrilled with the result. I think we had a good day, we were also playing at home and they defended really well.

"If it wasn't for us being a bit more efficient in front of goal in the second half, it would have been a very tough game for us to win. So I wouldn't say Scotland did a lot wrong, it was just a very good game for us."

Kompany said he was not surprised by the defensive tactics employed by Scotland, despite having to win the game: "It would have suited us even more if they actually came out [and attacked], so you can't say it was the wrong tactic. For about 70 minutes, it proved to be the right tactic. We are usually stronger against teams who attack us anyway, so I can't really fault anything they've done."

Kompany hails Hazard attitude, squad spirit
The sheer quality within the Belgian ranks was highlighted when coach Marc Wilmots started Chelsea's Eden Hazard on the bench against Scotland.

Kompany said: "We've got five or six players who can play around those positions, and there are none of them who you can fault for effort, quality and talent. It's always a difficult decision and I think the manager was probably brave. Eden had the perfect attitude, the perfect response, and it just shows why he is a big player. For us, it's great to have so much quality.

"I can tell you one thing, and this is the great thing about this team: no matter how many good players we've got, the team spirit is unbelievable. We are like a family and every time we come here, we are not even thinking about who is going to play the game. It's all about whoever is on the pitch just giving everything.

"If you are in the stand or on the bench, the mentality stays the same and the enthusiasm stays the same. It's really a joy to be with this national team."

It now appears to be a straight fight between Belgium and Croatia to win Group A.

Kompany said: "I guess it will look like that just now until the next game. If we don't win the next game, it's all back open again. We're not going to focus on that too much. We've got two games against Macedonia and they are massive for us. Personally, I just hope that we don't give anybody the feeling that they can get back in it."

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Uruguay stumble again as Bolivia, Venezuela rise

Copa America champions Uruguay's alarming away form continued on Tuesday as they lost for the third successive time, hammered 4-1 by Bolivia in La Paz in their 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ qualifier.

A hat-trick by Carlos Saucedo and a Gualberto Mojica goal gave the hosts a 4-0 lead, with the Uruguayans sole response a goal nine minutes from time from striker Luis Suarez.

The defeat - which follows a 4-0 thrashing by Colombia and a 3-0 defeat by Argentina last Friday - saw them drop to fifth spot in the table.

Venezuela moved above them into the fourth and final automatic qualifying spot for the finals with a 1-1 home draw with Ecuador.

Chile could go above both of them later on Tuesday - they are below Uruguay solely on goal difference - when they host table-toppers Argentina.

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez refused to offer as an excuse the fact his side were missing three of their first choice defenders, captain Diego Lugano, Diego Godin and Martin Caceres who were all suspended.

Instead the coach, who guided Uruguay to the 2010 FIFA World Cup semi-finals and then to the Copa America title last year, said that they had to arrest this slump before they play their next qualifier against Paraguay next March.

"Bolivia were very good and deserved to win," said Tabarez.

"We have to get out of this situation and we need to work hard on the solution, because obviously things are not good for us at the moment, it is not something we are used to for we have enjoyed some great moments together."

However, the 65-year-old said they had to pull themselves together if they are to qualify for the finals in Brazil in two years time.

"What we need to do now is to work on ensuring we make the finals by being in the top five (the fifth placed team go into a play-off) when qualifying is over," he said.

His Bolivian counterpart Xabier Azkargorta said he could dream again of reaching the finals, as victory took them onto eight points with seven matches remaining.

"This victory opens up the possibility of qualifying," he said.

"There are 21 points still available to us. We will fight as hard as we can for those points, we will battle all the way and we will endeavour to get better and better than we have been to succeed."

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Selection ecstasy for football-crazy Brazil

No country is more associated with the FIFA World Cup™ than Brazil. It is the only nation to have appeared in every edition of the tournament, while legends such as Didi, Garrincha, Pele, Jairzinho, Rivelino, Romario and Ronaldo have helped A Seleção win a record five titles.

Exhilarating in the sport’s biggest party has been an immense pleasure to Brazilians. So, too, was staging it. Brazil had the privilege in 1950. It was a bittersweet experience. Sweet because its people’s naturally welcoming, engaging nature – and inexhaustible passion for football – made for an unforgettable competition. Bitter because it concluded with a gargantuan upset: Uruguay came from behind to beat Brazil and pip them to the Trophy.

Brazilians have longed for a second chance ever since and when FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter announced that the FIFA World Cup would return to South America in 2014 for the first time since 1978, their dreams became a possibility. When Colombia withdrew its bid in April 2007, six months before the host nation would be revealed, Brazilian became the solitary bidders, but FIFA nonetheless warned them that unless their campaign was wholly satisfactory, they would not be given the right to stage the 20th instalment of the mother of all sporting events.

Five years ago to this Tuesday, Brazilians waited with bated breath to discover whether or not the FIFA World Cup would be returning to their shores after a 64-year hiatus. And the many Brazilians at the Home of FIFA in Zurich, and the millions watching the announcement live on television back home, went delirious when President Blatter revealed they had been successful.

“This is not just a victory for Brazil, but a victory for the whole of football," exclaimed then Brazilian President, Lula. “I say this because I am convinced that Brazil will stage a great tournament. This has been a dream for us for quite some time. Football is a national passion and Brazilians will be ready to welcome the world."

Such was the magniude of the party in Brazil on 30 October 2007 that one would have thought they had won the FIFA World Cup. Thereafter, however, they have been doing their utmost to ensure they turn the 20th edition of the competition turns into an incomparable party. It is one that will begin in just 589 days. Can you wait?

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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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