Translated material
Chronicle
The International Football Federation has published a monthly ranking of national teams. Russia rose from ninth place to sixth, coming very close to its main rival in the qualifying group for the 2010 World Cup, the German team, which ranks fifth. The Brazilian national team now tops the ranking. Having won all the matches at the Confederations Cup, Penatcampion took the lead from fifth position, leaving behind the European champions Spain, Holland, which had already made it to the World Cup, and the current world champions Italy.
The Russian team, in turn, was ahead of its closest rivals in a friendly match - the Argentina national team, which is now in eighth place. Yesterday, the Russian Football Union received a preliminary list of Argentine players who are scheduled to take part in the test match at the Lokomotiv Stadium on August 12.
It included: goalkeepers Juan Pablo Carrizo (Lazio, Italy), Sergio Romero (AZ, Holland), Mariano Andujar (Estudiantes); defenders Javier Zanetti, Nicolas Burdisso, Walter Samuel (all Inter, Italy), Martin Demichelis (Bayern, Germany), Gabriel Heinze (Real Madrid, Spain), Daniel Cata Diaz (Getafe, Spain) , Emiliano Papa (Velez Sarsfield), Marcos Angeleri (Estudiantes); midfielders Javier Mascherano (Liverpool, England), Fernando Gago (Real Madrid, Spain), Maxi Rodriguez (Atletico, Spain), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle, England), Luis Gonzalez (Porto, Portugal) , Juan Sebastian Veron (“Estudiantes”); forwards Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Spain), Sergio Aguero (Atlético Madrid, Spain), Carlos Tevez (Manchester United, England), Escuel Lavezzi, Germán Denis (both Napoli, Italy), Lisandro Lopez (Porto, Portugal), Angel Di Maria (Benfica, Portugal), Diego Milito (Inter, Italy). According to the official website of the RFU, the cost of tickets for this match will be from 400 to 1000 rubles, VIP tickets - from 3500 to 20 thousand rubles.
Benzema close to move to Real Madrid
Real Madrid made another high-profile purchase. Following the Brazilian Kaká, who was recently presented to 40 thousand fans at the Santiago Bernabeo, and the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, for whom Madrid have already transferred 80 million pounds to Manchester United, the royal club agreed with the French Lyon on a transfer Karim Benzema. According to Marca, the 21-year-old ethnic Algerian, who plays for the French national team, will cost Real Madrid 35 million euros. Lyon did not agree for a long time to part with its pupil, who, in addition to Real, was also claimed by Manchester United and Barcelona.
Yakovenko is the best chess player in Russia
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has published the July rankings. For the first time, 26-year-old Dmitry Yakovenko became the best Russian in it. He rose to fifth place in the ranking, one position ahead of Vladimir Kramnik. Another Russian, Alexander Morozevich, rounds out the top ten.
The ranking is headed by Bulgarian Veselin Topalov, followed by world champion Indian Viswanathan Anand. The third and fourth lines are occupied, respectively, by Magnus Carlsen (Norway) and Levon Aronian (Armenia).
Perhaps the position in the top ten will change after the super tournament in Dortmund, which starts today and will last until July 12. This year's competition, which will feature six participants - Magnus Carlsen (Norway), Vladimir Kramnik (Russia), Dmitry Yakovenko (Russia), Peter Leko (Hungary), Etienne Bacrot (France) and Arkady Naiditsch - will be held in two circles.
Bryant remains with the Lakers
Yesterday, an option in the contract of the best player of the last final series, Kobe Bryant, came into force, according to which he could terminate his contract with the Lakers early, which should remain in force for another two years. However, the 31-year-old basketball player, who spent 13 years of his career in Los Angeles, said that he does not intend to move to another club. “I can’t imagine myself on another team,” said the four-time NBA champion. Bryant is due $47.8 million over his next two seasons with the Lakers.
Utah forward Carlos Boozer also renounced his free agent status. There was a season left on his contract with the Jazz, but he could also leave the team early. Boozer initially wanted to do this, but the salary of $12.657 million last season convinced him otherwise. “Utah” managed to retain another of its leaders, Mehmet Okur.
KHL calendar approved
KHL President Alexander Medvedev approved the regulations and calendar of the Kontinental Hockey League championship for the next season. According to the final version, the season starts on September 10 with the match “Ak Bars” - “Lokomotiv”. The regular season will end on March 7, and the last match of the final series is scheduled for April 27.
The championship has the following breaks: from November 2 to 11, from December 14 to 23. The “window” for the Olympics will be almost a month - from February 8 to March 3.
“In order to properly prepare for the Olympics in Vancouver, we took into account all the requirements of the Russian national team, as well as the interests of other teams, primarily the countries whose clubs are represented in the KHL: Belarus, Latvia and Kazakhstan,” Alexander Medvedev told the official website of the Continental Hockey League leagues.
In addition, the KHL president said that the SKA-Ak Bars match scheduled for October 12, due to the busyness of St. Petersburg sports facilities, will take place either in Germany or in Finland. And for the “Match of Stars”, scheduled for January 30, there are two contenders - Chelyabinsk and Minsk.