Gonzalo Jara Reportedly Banned From Copa America After, Uh, Inappropriately Touching Edinson Cavani

Uruguay's Edinson Cavani, center left, argues with Chile's Gonzalo Jara, 2nd right, during a Copa America quarterfinal soccer match at the National Stadium in Santiago, Chile, Wednesday, June 24, 2015. Cavani was expelled from the game after receiving a double yellow card. Chile won the match 1-0 (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan) | ASSOCIATED PRESS

Chilean soccer player Gonzalo Jara has reportedly been banned for the remainder of Copa America after he, how do we say this, inappropriately touched Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani during Wednesday night's match between the two countries.

Forget below the belt. Jara's actions were worse than that, and they came during the 63rd minute of the game.

Cavani, understandably frustrated, reacted by slapping Jara in the face. However, it was the Uruguayan striker who received a yellow card from the refs, which led to his ejection since he had already been handed a separate yellow card before the match.
Remaining on the field was Jara, whose actions went unseen by officials. Jara's team also went on to secure a 1-0 victory against Uruguay, who were reduced to 10-men. With the win, Chile will now go on to play in the Copa America semifinals.

Addressing the Jara-Cavani incident after the game, Uruguay manager Oscar Tabarez told Sky Sports to simply look at the tape. "For the expulsion of Cavani, you can see what happened and what the challenge was. I refer you to the television and photos of it, it is all there," Tabarez said.

Jara hasn't escaped punishment for his actions though. According to soccer reporter Juan Arango, he's been banned for the remainder of the tournament.

But perhaps even most disturbing is that this isn't even the first time Jara has assaulted another player as such.

In March 2013, he touched Luis Suarez's genitals during a World Cup qualifying match, causing Suarez to react by punching Jara in the face. Neither player was punished for the scuffle.Cavani, understandably frustrated, reacted by slapping Jara in the face. However, it was the Uruguayan striker who received a yellow card from the refs, which led to his ejection since he had already been handed a separate yellow card before the match.

Remaining on the field was Jara, whose actions went unseen by officials. Jara's team also went on to secure a 1-0 victory against Uruguay, who were reduced to 10-men. With the win, Chile will now go on to play in the Copa America semifinals.

Addressing the Jara-Cavani incident after the game, Uruguay manager Oscar Tabarez told Sky Sports to simply look at the tape. "For the expulsion of Cavani, you can see what happened and what the challenge was. I refer you to the television and photos of it, it is all there," Tabarez said.

Jara hasn't escaped punishment for his actions though. According to soccer reporter Juan Arango, he's been banned for the remainder of the tournament.

But perhaps even most disturbing is that this isn't even the first time Jara has assaulted another player as such.

In March 2013, he touched Luis Suarez's genitals during a World Cup qualifying match, causing Suarez to react by punching Jara in the face. Neither player was punished for the scuffle.

Chile will face the winner of Friday's match between Bolivia and Peru in the Copa America semifinals.

Source: The Huffington Post

France coach prepares battle for Germany juggernaut

Photo By Franck Fife

France coach Philippe Bergeroo could be preparing his side for a military campaign as they take on top-ranked Germany in the quarter-finals of the Women's World Cup on Friday.

"They need to be ready for physical combat, they need to be focussed on detail and to have no regrets at the end," said Bergeroo at the team's pre-match press conference.

"A steamroller, it's true Germany will exert huge physical pressure. We have other qualities but in the first 20 minutes we'll have to be very present in the duels," he continued

"We're playing against the team that is classed first in FIFA so we are the outsiders but we have a lot of ambition for that game."

France will be bidding to pull off the greatest exploits in their history in Montreal's domed Olympic Stadium.

If the French want to lift their first title on July 5 in Vancouver they have to beat the best and Germany are the best.

Champions in 2003 and 2007, eight-time European champions, Silvia Neid's side have what it takes to scare 'les Bleues' and have for a long time.

"I remember when I was 17 years old. You lost 3-0, didn't get a touch on the ball and returned home. They were really physically a class above the rest," recalled forward Eugenie Le Sommer.

But today, despite having never won an official match against their "best enemies," as defender Griedge Mbock Bathy terms the Germans, France believe they are equals.

"Germany doesn't scare us any more," said Le Sommer.

Goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi goes even further: "There is no feeling of inferiority. Very sincerely I think that we are better."

Germany have scored 19 goals in four games -- albeit 10 of those came against African minnows Ivory Coast -- and have not lost a game so far although they were pushed to a 1-1 draw by former champions Norway.

France by contrast have won three games but were shocked 2-0 by Colombia in their second group match.

And Bouhaddi will have her work cut out faced with a strike force duo of Celia Sasic and Anja Mittag, who have scored five each so far.

"They have a cabinet full of trophies and we've nothing. The balance of power is quickly summed up. As it stands we have two draws and a win," said Mbock Bathy.

But captain Wendie Renard was quick to point out a 2-0 friendly win in Offenbach does not compare to the world stage.

"We're off to a good start but we have to make it gel now, it's one thing to win friendly games but this is a different context."

- 'Who says Germany's better?' -

"Who says Germany are better than France?" said a surprised Neid when asked about her side's status as favourites.

"I did not say that, it will on depend how the team is on the given day whether we are better than France."

And Neid admitted that the German side that beat Brazil in the 2007 final would not win the title in 2015.

"Women's soccer has made quite a development since, the team from 2007 would not win today and even second or third place wouldn't get that place today.

"Players play harder, are more skilled and better trained, games are faster. We have followed this trend in women's soccer and now have these skills."

France have the advantage of having played their last 16 victory over South Korea in Montreal while for the Germans it will their first time in the roofed Olympic Stadium.

The French can also count on support from the crowd in the largely French-speaking city.

"It's a different feeling, we don't have this in Germany that you play inside in the summer," said Neid.

"I'm surprised a roof like this can't be opened in the summer. It will be different for us.

"We also know the French fans will be there in force, they will be singing, they will be very loud, we cannot be distracted by that.

"We just have to play our game hoping we manage to score an early goal."

Source: Yahoo Sports News 

Forget my Juve past, Sousa tells Fiorentina fans

Photo By Francisco Leong

Fledgling Fiorentina coach Paulo Sousa called on the club's fans to forget his past with hated rivals Juventus as he was unveiled by the Serie A club on Monday.

News of Sousa's appointment prompted graffiti in the streets of Florence by some fans protesting his links with Juventus -- one of Fiorentina's most bitter rivals.

But Sousa, who joined the club after just a season in charge of FC Basel, said his only objective was to leave fans with good memories of his time in charge.

"I understand some fans remember me for being at Juventus but I want them to remember me for the work I do in Florence, and for achieving excellent results," said Sousa.

"I'm very happy the club have decided to put their trust in me. I've always believed I was the right coach for this project, and I'll do everything I can to repay that trust."

Sousa, 44, replaces Vincenzo Montella, who was sacked at the end of the season for what the club said was a "lack of respect".

Montella had been rumoured to be quitting Fiorentina for some time and after steering La Viola to a superb fourth-place finish, and qualification for the Europa League, he remained aloof about his commitment to the club.

Having spent two years coaching in England and Wales between 2008-2010 with Queens Park Rangers, Swansea City and Leicester City, Sousa went on to coach Videoton in Hungary (2011-2013) before steering Maccabi Tel Aviv to the Israeli league title in 2014.

He joined FC Basel on a three-year contract last season, steering the Swiss giants to the Super League title before being handed the chance to return to Italy, where he played with Juventus as a midfielder in 1994-1996.

"I'll be up against top-level coaches but for me it is a great challenge," added Sousa. "I want to honour the history of the club, together we can achieve important objectives."

Source: Yahoo News