Australia coach quits

Nigeria to pay $2.4 mln WCup bonus

NEW YORK, Nov 22, (Agencies): Ange Postecoglou framed his departure as Socceroos head coach with a stereotypically Aussie scenario.

He’d decided to quit last week immediately after Australia qualified for a fourth consecutive World Cup, only to be talked out of it an hour later.

Five beers later, he was wavering amid the celebrations. A week later, he made the announcement Wednesday that he wouldn’t be taking the Australian team to next year’s World Cup in Russia despite guiding them through a grueling, 22game qualifying campaign that concluded with back-to-back, winner-takes-all playoff series. “It’s been the toughest decision. It’s not the ending I envisaged,” said Postecoglou, who replaced German coach Holger Osieck in 2013 and guided Australia at the 2014 World Cup. “I’ll always have a sense of unfinished business, but that would probably have been the case whenever I left.

“It’s just an instinct — I think it’s the right time for me, for the team and for the organization.”

Australia narrowly missed out on direct entry for Russia, finishing out of the automatic spots only on goal difference in Asian qualifying.

Speculation about Postecoglou’s future increased after a newspaper report in the wake of Australia’s Asian playoff win over Syria suggested he would not take the team to Russia regardless of what happened in the intercontinental playoff against Honduras.

Postecoglou refused to comment on the reports at the time, and appeared to be increasingly aggravated by the continued focus on his position while the team was preparing for crucial matches in Honduras and in Sydney.

On Wednesday, he called a morning news conference with Football Federation Australia chief executive David Gallop to announce his decision to stand down.

“It has been a privilege for me to coach my country’s national team, to

Sevilla’s Argentinian coach Eduardo Berizzo gives instructions to his players on Nov 21, at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium in Sevilla during the UEFA Champions League Group E football match between Sevilla FC and Liverpool

FC. (AFP)

SEVILLE, Spain, Nov 22, (AFP): Sevilla’s Argentine coach Eduardo Berizzo has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, the club confirmed on Wednesday, just hours after his side staged a remarkable comeback against Liverpool in the Champions League.

“The medical services of Sevilla FC can inform that the coach of the first team, Eduardo Berizzo, has been diagnosed with an adenocarcinoma of the prostate,” the club said in a statement.

“Further tests will determine which steps to follow regarding his treatment.

“Sevilla FC wants to show their full support to the coach right now and wishes him a speedy recovery.”

Berizzo, 48, made no statement on his health when speaking to media after the Spanish side came from 3-0 down at half-time to draw 3-3 against the five-time European champions.

A former centre-back for River Plate, Marseille and Celta Vigo among others, Berizzo is in his first season as Sevilla boss after three successful years in charge of Celta.

Several Sevilla players had hailed Berizzo’s powers of motivation to orchestrate their second-half fightback.

“We had to come out with a different attitude for the fans and for the boss, he made us play like that,” said Argentine international Ever Banega.

“He turned the situation around in the second-half.”

Spanish football has rallied round Berizzo with numerous clubs, including his former side Celta sending their support.

“All our strength and support for Berizzo,” the Galicians posted on Twitter.

“Be strong boss, you are in the best place in the world to not give in because there they never give up,” said Sevilla’s legendary former sporting director Monchi, who joined Roma earlier this year.

Sevilla sit fifth in La Liga and need just a point from their final Champions League group game away at Maribor to secure their place in the last 16.

It remains to be seen whether Berizzo will need to take time away from his duties as coach to concentrate on his recuperation. lead them at the 2014 World Cup, to win the Asian Cup in 2015 and now to have qualified for the World Cup next year,” he said.

“All this, however, has taken a toll on me both personally and professionally. It is with a heavy heart that I must now end the journey.”

Postecoglou was criticized at times for persevering with a three-man defensive system, and for Australia’s lack of finish in front of goal in Asian qualifying when missed opportunities forced them into the difficult playoff route to Russia.

Tim Cahill, Australia’s all-time leading goal scorer and a significant contributor to Australia’s four World Cup qualifying campaigns, said Postecoglou’s commitment and sense of national pride set him apart from many coaches. “His leadership and beliefs are infectious and I’m proud that I had the chance to share his journey with him and witness his love for our country,” Cahill was quoted as saying Wednesday. “The most important part was the belief he instilled in us to play a style of football that could test any team we came up against.”

National team coaches are due to attend a meeting in Moscow next week before next Friday’s World Cup draw, but it’s unlikely Australia will appoint a permanent replacement before then. Australia joins Serbia and Saudi Arabia as countries going to the World Cup without the coach who got them there.

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The Nigeria Football Federation will pay players and officials a total of $2.4 million as a bonus for securing qualification for the World Cup in Russia, a spokesman said Wednesday.

“The NFF have agreed to give the team $2.4 million out of the $8 million we are expecting from FIFA,” said Ademola Olajire.

The NFF have also agreed other payments and benefits to the team to avoid a pay row that marred Nigeria’s participation at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

He wants his team to finish the job by winning away to Shakhtar on Dec 6 and is mindful that the Ukrainian club are still vying with Napoli for the one remaining last 16 berth.

“We respect the competition. We respect Shakhtar and we respect Napoli,” Guardiola said.

“We play to win the games and after we will see how we finish. We have one game left and we’re going to see what happens.

“The important thing is 15 points. We are now going to finish good in Shakhtar and win the game. The draw, we’ll see. Last 16, it doesn’t matter which one. Always will be complicated.”

Only six teams have previously won all six of their group games: AC Milan in 1992, Paris Saint-Germain in 1994, Spartak Moscow in 1995, Barcelona in 2002 and Real Madrid in 2011 and