Nadeshiko get first female coach

TOKYO, April 27, (AFP): Japan’s football authority on Wednesday appointed the first female coach for the national women’s team who promptly pledged to restore the side to its former greatness.

The team, nicknamed “Nadeshiko” after a pink flower symbolising Japanese femininity, became a national sensation in 2011 under former coach Norio Sasaki as it claimed the World Cup crown, beating the United States in a thrilling penalty shootout.

The team took silver at the 2012 London Olympics, losing to the Americans in the final. Sasaki also coached the team in its loss to the United States in last year’s World

Brom result,” Kane added.

“It’s a gutting feeling. We wanted to win the game but there are still three games left, and we can’t just fold it in. We’ve got to keep fighting until the end.”

Former Aston Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov, who retired from football after being diagnosed with acute leukaemia in 2012, wants to resume his playing career with the relegated Premier League club.

Petrov, who played more than 200 games for Villa and earned more than 100 caps for Bulgaria, said he was keen to help his beleaguered former club return to the top-flight as soon as possible.

“I’ve told Aston Villa that I’m ready to start a pre-season with them,” the 36-yearold midfielder was quoted as saying by British media.

“I’ve spoken to a lot of doctors and fitness coaches, and everybody looked at it and assessed it and I have received very positive news. I’m looking forward to a return to football again.”

Villa, the Premier League’s basement side, are without a manager and will be relegated to the Championship (secondtier)

Alli Cup final and he stepped down last month after it failed to qualify for the Rio Olympics.

Now Asako Takakura, who has been coaching the national under-19 women’s team, was named by the Japan Football Association as head coach, becoming the first woman to lead the squad.

Takakura, 48, vowed to return Nadeshiko to glory.

“We want to pursue original football only Japanese can play,” Takakura, a former midfielder on the national team and a veteran of two World Cup tournaments, told reporters.

“We will aim to win all tournaments.”

once the season ends, but that has not deterred Petrov from offering them his services. “I’m 36, but players are playing at 39 and 40,” he added. “I’ve looked after myself well and I think I’ve got a good shout. Even if it doesn’t happen, I’ve tried.

“I understand the odds are against me. It’s about how much you put into it and ... I’m really looking forward to it.

“I’m getting my life back to where it used to be and it’s a way forward. I want to show people there is a life afterwards. I’ve worked hard all my life to be a footballer and it was taken away from me. I’ve been given a chance again to do it.”

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli has been charged with violent conduct, the Football Association announced.

The charges relate to an incident involving West Bromwich Albion’s Claudio Yacob, whom the 20-year-old Alli appeared to punch during the course of a 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane on Monday that left Spurs’ hopes of winning the Premier League title hanging by a thread.

If found guilty, England’s rising star Alli could face a three-match suspension that would rule him out of the rest of the season. He has until 6:00pm local time.

“Dele Alli has been charged for an alleged act of violent conduct which was not seen by the match officials but caught on video,” said an FA statement.

“We hope that they can both be in the second leg,” he said.

Pellegrini was more pessimistic about David Silva’s chances of gracing the Bernabeu after the Spaniard suffered a hamstring injury in a first-half challenge on Gareth Bale that earned him a booking.

“It is quite tough for him to recover in one week,” Pellegrini said. “We will have a clearer picture tomorrow.”

The City manager also expressed a measure of annoyance that his side will have a day less to recover for the return fixture due to the scheduling of their Premier League game at Southampton on Sunday.

“Unfortunately for us, we are going to have one day’s less rest than Real Madrid (who visit Real Sociedad on Saturday),” he said.

“We tried to change our game and it was impossible, so we need to play on Sunday.

“But we trust in what we are going to do and we are sure we will give all we can to arrive to the final.”

Hart was typically bullish, buoyed by two late saves that saw him thwart Casemiro and then, brilliantly, Pepe from point-blank range.

“We’ve set it up for a good, old-fashioned rumble at the Bernabeu,” said the England international.

“We are not disappointed with the result. Bring it on.”

Bale, meanwhile, backed the Bernabeu crowd to make their presence felt.

“We’re quite happy with it,” the former Tottenham Hotspur winger told BT Sport.

“We’re very, very strong at home. The crowd gets behind us. It’s going to be a difficult game, we know that, but one we’re confident about and looking forward to.”

Zidane expressed hope that both Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema will be fit for their Champions League semifinal second leg against Manchester City.

Ronaldo sat out the first leg at the Etihad Stadium, which finished goalless, with a thigh strain, while Benzema, who had been a pre-match doubt with a knee problem, went off at half-time.

Manchester City’s Fernando (right), and Real Madrid’s Carlos Casemiro battle for the ball during the Champions League semifinal soccer match at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester,

England on April 26. (AP)