We Need To Be More Cynical - Gennaro Delvecchio

Ex Sampdoria player Gennaro Delvecchio believes that his new team needs to be more cynical, in order to be higher up on the Serie A Ladder.

Commenting to Rai Sport, the Catania midfielder says that even though his team may be last, to take a stronger approach in beating opposition teams going forward.

"We need to be cynical," Delvecchio said.

"We haven't been as concrete as we would have liked.

"We need to begin playing well away in Udine [against Udinese], where we will put everything we have into the match, with lots of determination."

Catania have suffered a 2-1 loss to Sampdoria on the opening day of the season, and a 3-1 loss to Parma last week.

Real Madrid Striker Ruud van Nistelrooy Targets World Cup Place

Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has told Spanish publication Marca that he would relish the opportunity of playing for the Netherlands at next year's World Cup in South Africa.

The Dutch striker said that he hasn't forgotten how to score goals and will always seek to push himself before adding that he has a new challenge: "Playing at the World Cup."

Van Nistelrooy, who has bagged 33 goals in 64 internationals, including 26 goals in 37 competitive outings for the Oranje, announced his retirement from international football for the second time after Euro 2008.

His only previous involvement at the World Cup Finals was in Germany in 2006 where he was restricted to a substitutes role, scoring once against the Ivory Coast.

He also said that he could play "an important role" in the current Madrid squad, which he described as the best he has ever been involved in.

"Physically I am a new person, I feel three years younger," said van Nistelrooy who has returned to fitness after a nine month absence due to a knee injury.

"This [Madrid] team is the best I've been at in my life. I can prove to be important."

Brazilian Legend Ronaldo Rejected The Chance To Join Roma - Report

Considered one of the best players in the world during his prime, former Inter striker Ronaldo was closely tracked by Roma in the summer's transfer period.

According to a report from globoesporte.com, Il Fenomeno rejected the possiblity to join the Giallorossi, as he had no intention of leaving Corinthians, as he has refound the passion and love for the game.

In addition to the capital outfit, the Brazilian also denied himself the opportunity of joining the likes of  Tottenham and Blackburn in the English Premier League.

Ronaldo's agent Fabiano Farah said that he feels accepted at his club, and is like a family.

"He feels accepted at Corinthians," Farah said.

"For everything that he won, and for everything he represents, Corinthians is like a family and he is happy there."

The Homeless World Cup 2009 Kicks Off In Milan

Preparations are in full swing for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but so too are preparations for another World Cup, due to start in just three days.

Now in its seventh year, the Homeless World Cup is an annual football event, which uses sport to create social change by offering homeless and marginalized people an opportunity to participate in a team sport, build their confidence, improve their health, and change their lives.

And with over 70 per cent of participants going on to improve their lives, through finding stable shelter or employment, coming off drugs, or reuniting with families, the Homeless World Cup is successfully addressing what had been considered an almost unsolvable, multifaceted problem.

Like all the best ideas, it was devised over beers, when The Big Issue Scotland founder Mel Young and Megaphon street paper editor Harald Schmied were at a conference about homelessness and realised that there weren’t actually any homeless people in attendance.

They devised a conference where homeless and marginalized people could represent themselves: the Homeless World Cup.

The 2009 Homeless World Cup will include over 500 players hailing from 48 nations who will compete in a week-long street soccer event in Milan.

The matches comprise of two seven-minute halves with four players per team, including a goalkeeper, on court at any given time.

In contrast to football’s offside rule, the Homeless World Cup has an onside rule: one player must be in their opposition half at all times, ensuring plenty of fast, attacking football and goals.

There’s also a team of reserve players from the host country—in this case Milan—which can be called on to play if team members from another country are unwell, injured, or unable to play.

2008 saw underdog Afghanistan defeat historic enemies Russia in the grand final to win the Homeless World Cup, while 2007 champions Scotland finished fourth.

All three are likely to be fierce competitors this year.

2009 is also likely to see the Italians, whose national team are the reigning World Cup champions, rise to the occasion and try to make it a World Cup double.

The HWC runs from 6-13 September inclusive.

Cagliari, Bari & Roma Fans Warned Not To Travel Next Weekend - Report

It's not often that fans are warned to not support their club on the weekend, but it is even rarer when three sets of fans are told to do so, as is the case in Italy at present.

Cagliari, Bari and Roma followers have been advised to stay home when their beloved players take to the field, due to a high security risk, next weekend.

According to Sportal.it, a meeting held by the Security for the Safety of Sporting Events Committee (Comitato di analisi per la sicurezza delle manifestazioni sportive), looked at the first two weeks of the season, and have warned the three clubs to not allow their supporters to travel for a precautionary reason.

Cagliari are set to play Fiorentina; Bari will play Palermo and Siena will be up against Roma.

Brazil Striker Robinho: We Are Ready For War Against Argentina

Robinho affirmed to the press that Brazil can't fall for Argentina's provocations when the teams meet in a decisive World Cup qualifier in Rosario on Saturday night.

The Brazilian press recently claimed that Argentina boss Diego Maradona was "the first to provoke" the Selecao by saying that "Argentina have better players than Brazil."

Because of this many players believe there will be lots of provocation during the game and, according to Robinho, possibly "war".

"We can't fall into their trap, a war-type climate favours them more than us," Robinho declared to Jornal do Brasil.

His team-mate, Luis Fabiano, agreed that the Argentines "are trying to provoke, trying to make the climate a tense one, but we are very calm." The Sevilla striker added: "We know that any kind of provocation will benefit them."

The Brazil-Argentina rivalry is arguably the most intense in world football, and violent play is common in these kinds of matches, because neither of the two teams ever want to give anything away.

Official: Hertha Sign Florian Kringe, Adrian Ramos & Cesar

Bundesliga outfit Hertha BSC have seriously strengthened their squad on the last day of the transfer window. The Berlin side have secured the services of midfielders Florian Kringe and Cesar and attacker Adrian Ramos.

Kringe was no longer needed at Borussia Dortmund and asked head coach Juergen Klopp to leave the club on a temporary basis. The 27-year-old has signed a one-year loan deal at Hertha.

Brazilian midfielder Cesar joined Hertha from UAE side Al-Sadd on a free transfer. The former Zurich star does need some time in order to get fully match fit though.

Colombian international Adrian Ramos appeared to be on his way to Dutch outfit Groningen last week, but the transfer eventually collapsed due to reasons unknown.

The 23-year-old attacker has now signed a four-year deal at Hertha. The Berlin side have paid America de Cali €1.4 million for 80 percent of Adrian Ramos' transfer rights.

Inter & Fiorentina Line-Up January Swoop For Lazio's Goran Pandev - Report

Lazio striker Goran Pandev has once again been linked with an exit, but with the transfer window over for now, a move to either Inter or Fiorentina will happen in January, according to Il Corriere Dello Sport.

The Macedonian was tipped to leave the Roman side this summer. After much speculation and wrangling, he was unable to, and a last minute move to Genoa was blocked as the Liguri couldn't agree a deal with Lazio on Monday.

Pandev is in his last year at the club as his current deal expires in 2010. Clubs will be able to sign him on pre-contract agreement from January, unless Biancocelesti president Claudio Lotito offers him acceptable new terms.

Inter and Fiorentina are now ready to battle it out for the hitman. The Nerazzurri were reportedly keen on him before they snapped up Wesley Sneijder from Real Madrid.

Cesare Prandelli is also looking in. He is likely to show his hand and has built up a good relationship with the Aquilotti after landing Lorenzo De Silvestri.

Despite the report, neither of the clubs nor Pandev have substantiated the claims.

No Real Madrid Deal In Place At All - Franck Ribery

Franck Ribery has dismissed suggestions that there is a deal in place for him to go to Real Madrid next summer, but did reiterate his desire to play in the Spanish league.

The French star has been chased by Los Merengues, among others, all summer, only for Bayern Munich to resist and keep hold of a player whom they see as crucial to their plans.

After Madrid announced that they had given up hopes of signing Ribery this year, reports surfaced that a deal had been struck that would see him go to the Bernabeu in 12 months' time.

"Is there an agreement between Bayern and Real for a transfer next summer? Never, I deny it. That is fake. Absolutely nothing has been sorted out so far," he told France Football.

"Bayern officials didn't propose to me any extension. Maybe we will talk. I have never closed any door.

"My preference is to move to Spain. One day I will play in La Liga."

Barcelona have also made their interest known, and Ribery appeared keen to move to Camp Nou last term after Barca played Bayern and he revealed that he had asked Thierry Henry about the club.

Luciano Spalletti: I Have Resigned From Roma

Luciano Spalletti has stepped down from his position as coach of Roma, and he confirmed his resignation with a brief statement to Sky Sport Italia.

"I handed in my resignation and Roma accepted it instantly," the coach told reporters.

Spalletti met with Roma president Rosella Sensi at the Villa Pacelli in Rome alongside director Daniele Prade. The reunion lasted little over half an hour as the coach informed the club of his decision.

The meeting came within hours of an earlier gathering involving Giallorossi chiefs and former Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri.

Prior to Spalletti's meeting, the 'Tinkerman' reportedly discussed terms with the club and he is likely to take over from the Tuscan. All that is missing is an official statement as the Spalletti era comes to an end.

The Italian took charge at Trigoria in 2005. He recently penned an extension with the club, but he has left with just two games into the season.

On Sunday, Spalletti hinted that he had lost the dressing room after claiming a number of players were not following him.

Ranieri's appointment is expected to be made official within the next few hours.