Ever-green Pizarro extends stay at Bayern

AP

Berlin: Veteran Peru striker Claudio Pizarro signed a one-year extension with European champions Bayern Munich on Thursday as the Bavarian giants headed off to their pre-season training camp.

The 34-year-old, the only member of the Bayern squad who was without a contract, has extended until June 2014 as back-up to first-choice striker Mario Mandzukic of Croatia and want-away Germany star Mario Gomez.

"I'm 34 - there's nothing better that can happen to me than to sign a contract with Bayern Munich, I am convinced we will have a good year together," said Pizarro.

This will be the South American's ninth season in Munich having played for Bayern from 2001 until 2007, but returned to the Bavarians in 2012 after spells at both Chelsea and Werder Bremen.

Pizarro, who scored four goals in Bayern's 9-2 German league rout of Hamburg in March, has made more than 350 Bundesliga appearances, scoring 166 goals, both of which are records for foreigners in Germany's top-flight.

Pizarro said he had a linguistic advantage with new coach Pep Guardiola at the helm.

"He was happy that he was able to speak Spanish with me," joked the Peruvian.

"I can't say what will happen in the next year, but I feel very good and want to play football as long as possible."

Pizarro travelled with the squad as Guardiola took the Champions League winners to their pre-season camp on Lake Garda, north Italy, until July 12.

They then face Borussia Dortmund in the German Super Cup on July 27 with the new Bundesliga season starting on August 9 when Bayern host Borussia Moenchengladbach.

Brazil soar, England tumble in latest FIFA rankings

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Paris: Confederations Cup champions Brazil climbed up 13 places to ninth in the latest FIFA world rankings released on Thursday, while England continued their slide as they dropped down to 15th.

Despite a heavy defeat against hosts Brazil, who secured a record third straight Confederations Cup title, in Sunday's final, Spain continue to lead the way atop the rankings ahead of Germany and Colombia, with the South American nation moving into the top three for the first time after rising four spots.

Argentina dropped one place to fourth, but the biggest losers inside the top 10 were England as Roy Hodgson's side fell six places after consecutive draws against Montenegro, the Republic of Ireland and Brazil.

England's ranking is their lowest since failing to qualify for the 2008 European Championship and could severely harm their World Cup seeding hopes should they qualify for next year's tournament in Brazil.

Copa America title-holders Uruguay jumped seven places to 12th after their run to the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup, while Belgium made the top 10 for the first time as neighbours France fell outside the top 20.

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Giggs appointed player-coach at Manchester United

AP

Midfielder Ryan Giggs has been appointed player-coach at Manchester United, the English champions said on Thursday.

Giggs, 39, signed a one-year extension to his playing contract in March and will combine his new duties with being a member of the first-team squad.

"I'm delighted that Ryan has accepted the chance to become player-coach. His success and ability to adapt his game over a number of years gives him an unrivalled perspective on the modern game," manager David Moyes said in a statement.

"His career is an example to any aspiring young player and I'm sure that both he and the players will benefit from his new role."

Former Welsh international Giggs, who made his senior debut for United in March 1991, is the most decorated player in English soccer with 13 Premier League winner's medals, four FA Cup winner's medals and two Champions League winner's medals among his collection.

"It's a great privilege to be appointed a player-coach. I hope I will be able to bring my experience to bear, having been both a player and part of the Manchester United family for so long," Giggs said.

"It's no secret that I have been taking my (coaching)qualifications and I see this as the first step in my future career. I'm really looking forward to working alongside David and the team."

FIFA again bars Iraq from hosting football friendlies

AP

Baghdad: World soccer body FIFA has again barrd Iraq from holding any friendly football matches due to soaring violence, just three months after the ban was lifted.

Iraq received the notification from FIFA Wednesday and the ban will be in force until further notice, reports Xinhua.

FIFA has issued a resolution to prevent any friendly matches in Iraq after increasing attacks on playgrounds and an assault in which Mohamed Abbas, the coach of the Karbala football club, was killed.

FIFA decided March 21 to lift a ban that had been imposed on Iraq to prevent it from hosting any friendly matches.

On March 26, Baghdad hosted a friendly between Iraq and Syria and the home team won 2-1.

On May 27, the Iraq lost 0-1 to visiting Liberia in another friendly in Baghdad.

High-profile bomb attacks are still common in Iraq despite the dramatic decrease in violence since its peak in 2006 and 2007when the country was engulfed in sectarian killings.

The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) said Monday 761 Iraqis were killed and another 1,771 were wounded in acts of terrorism and violence in June.

Ronaldinho vows to shed blood to turn around cup tie

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Rosario, Argentina: Atletico Mineiro playmaker Ronaldinho said the tournament favourites will fight for their lives in next week's Libertadores Cup semi-final second leg after going down 2-0 to Newell's Old Boys on Wednesday.

"It's not over... We're going to play for our lives, for the history of the club, we're going to shed our blood there," Ronaldinho told reporters at the Marcelo Bielsa stadium.

Argentina winger Maxi Rodriguez opened the scoring for the hosts with a header after an hour and striker Ignacio Scocco added a second with a brilliant free kick 10 minutes from time, his sixth goal of the competition.

Striker Jo, fresh from helping Brazil win the Confederations Cup, was denied an equaliser for offside when Atletico trailed 1-0 while Ronaldinho had a quiet night.

The team that comes out on top in Belo Horizonte next Wednesday will meet the winners of the other tie between Paraguay's Olimpia and Independiente Santa Fe of Colombia. Olimpia lead 2-0 after Tuesday's first leg in Asuncion.

"It's a very good result but the tie is open. We've played against the best team in the Libertadores, according to the statistics, and we won with authority," Newell's coach Gerardo Martino said.

Atletico, seeking their first South American club title, are top scorers in the competition with 25 goals in 11 matches and had found the net in every match bar one.

The Brazilian side's goalkeeper Victor made two good saves from man of the match Rodriguez in the first half and the winger also hit the post in an inspirational performance as Newell's look to reach their third final and win the trophy for the first time

Shelvey takes flight to join Swansea from Liverpool

AP

London: Swansea City splashed out five million pounds to prise hard-working midfielder Jonjo Shelvey away from Premier League rivals Liverpool on Wednesday.

The Welsh club said on their website (www.swanseacity.net) that Shelvey, who spent three years at Liverpool and made 32 appearances under Brendan Rodgers last season, had signed a four-year deal at the Liberty Stadium.

His domestic and European form earned a first England cap as a second-half substitute in a World Cup qualifier against San Marino at Wembley last October.

The 21-year-old is League Cup winners Swansea's fifth close-season signing following Spanish trio Jordi Amat, Jose Canas and Alejandro Pozuelo along with Jonathan de Guzman - who has returned on loan.

Uruguay's Forlan marries in private ceremony

AP

Montevideo: Uruguayan football star Diego Forlan, 34, got married to Paz Cardoso, a 23-year-old student, in a private ceremony here.

Forlan arrived here after playing the Confederations Cup in Brazil where Uruguay ended fourth. After his wedding Tuesday, he will only have a three-day holiday before returning to the Brazilian team Inter, where he currently plays, reports Xinhua.

The civil marriage ceremony was held Tuesday night in Cardoso family's home in Carrasco neighbourhood, very near to Forlan's family home. The newlyweds will celebrate in a small private cocktail party later.

The religious marriage ceremony will be held Dec 12 when they will organise a party.

The player of the tournament of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa made his relationship official last summer.

Paz is a medical student and also plays field hockey.

Forlan was about to get married back in 2011 to Argentine model Zaira Nara but the wedding was cancelled less than one month before the scheduled date