SAITAMA, Japan, 1 August 2006 — German champions Bayern Munich suffered an early set-back to their preseason with a 1-0 defeat by Japan’s Urawa Reds yesterday.
Germany striker Lukas Podolski took some of the sting out of Bayern’s failure to sign Ruud van Nistelrooy with a lively debut but the visitors were undone by a late Teruaki Kurobe goal.
“Podolski showed why he is so valuable,” Bayern coach Felix Magath told Reuters. “He has only been back in training for a few days but he was very dangerous.” Podolski was a constant threat and twice came close to scoring only for Bayern to run out of steam late in the game.
Bayern only arrived in Japan on Sunday following a 13-hour flight but Podolski looked sharp from the start, the ex-Cologne striker shaving the bar with a 29th-minute header.
Podolski, whose goals helped hosts Germany reach the World Cup semifinals, then forced a superb save from Reds goalkeeper Norihiro Yamagishi with a powerful header after 56 minutes. “He had two or three good chances and that’s all you want from a striker,” said Magath. “When he has had a few more weeks of training you will see the best of him. We have high hopes.” Japan midfielder Shinji Ono gave Bayern goalkeeper Oliver Kahn an early scare when he curled a left-foot shot against the post from the edge of the box. As tiredness crept into the Bayern players’ legs Urawa forward Kurobe snatched the winner with a close-range header three minutes from time.
Brazilian Defender Roberto Carlos Says He Wants to Stay at Real Madrid
In Madrid, Brazilian defender Roberto Carlos has said he wants to continue with Real Madrid following talks with the new coach Fabio Capello. “I want to stay at Real Madrid. I’m saying this loudly and clearly,” Roberto Carlos told Spanish sports daily AS yesterday. Roberto Carlos said in May he had received an offer from English champions Chelsea for a three-year contract and at the weekend he was reported to have accepted an offer from Turkey’s Fenerbahce. Capello brought Roberto Carlos to the club from Inter Milan in 1996 at the start of his previous stint in charge.
Since then, the Brazilian has won three Champions Leagues and three Spanish league titles although he has won nothing for the last three years, with Madrid going through its worst spell since the early 1950s.
France’s Ribery Pledges Future to Marseille
In Paris, France midfielder Franck Ribery pledged his future to Olympique Marseille yesterday, saying he planned to stay at the club for the next four years. “I have a contract for another four years and for four years I will still be at Marseille,” Ribery told the club’s television channel. “I love the club and the people and the fans here,” added the 23-year-old, who burst into the limelight at the World Cup, helping France reach the final. Ribery had been courted by Olympique Lyon and several European clubs including Manchester United.
