Gremio presents new signing Rafael Marques

RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Fullback Rafael Marques was presented to the team of Gremio and the press on Friday as the club's newest addition.

The athlete's leaving his former team Goais was dramatic. Goias attempted to hold onto the player, but never took the initiative to re-sign the player. Both Gremio and Goias announced at the same time that the player belonged to them for 2009.

"I never gave Goias my word that I would play for them in 2009.They had plenty of time to talk to me and negotiate, but they never went any further than showing a little bit of interest," said Marques.

The administration at Goias claimed that the athlete's lawyer Reinaldo Pita confirmed the player's stay with the club

"If my lawyer really said that to Goias, then it is he who has to straighten things out with the directors at Goias. I never promised or agreed to anything," said Marques.

Regardless of the misunderstandings, Marques demonstrated an enormous enthusiasm for arriving at Gremio. He said that it was "a dream come true". He also said that It is the best thing for "my family to be here".
Read More

Brazil decide on 5 of 12 host cities for 2014 World Cup

RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- The 2014 World Cup host country Brazil on Friday decided five of its cities that will host the games.

Like the tournament held in Germany in 2006, Brazil will also have twelve cities throughout the country where games will be played. Whereas the 2010 World Cup host South Africa will only have 10 host cities.

The five cities are: Brasilia, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte and Porto Alegre. The other seven cites will be named by Jan. 30 when FIFA officials will travel to Brazil to inspect the stadiums and the infrastructure of relative cities.

Cities in Brazil that are in serious contention of being nominated are Fortaleza, Recife, Salvador and Curitiba. Other cities that are competing to be included are Manaus, Belem, Cuiaba, Goiania, Campo Grande and Florianopolis. Either Belem or Manaus isexpected to be selected in order to represent the Amazon region of the country, facilitating and promoting eco-tourism of the area.
Read More

Obama meets with Marines having dinner at Kaneohe Marine Corps Base Hawaii


U.S. President-elect Barack Obama meets with U.S. Marines having dinner at Anderson Hall on Christmas day at Kaneohe Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kailua December 25, 2008.


U.S. President-elect Barack Obama (R) stops to take a picture with U.S. Marines having dinner at Anderson Hall on Christmas day at Kaneohe Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kailua December 25, 2008


US President-elect Barack Obama shares a laugh with US Marine Colonel Robert Rice at Anderson Hall on Christmas day at Kaneohe Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kailua, Hawaii December 25, 2008.


U.S. President-elect Barack Obama waves to onlookers as he leaves Anderson Hall after meeting with U.S. Marines on Christmas day at Kaneohe Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kailua December 25, 2008.


US President-elect Barack Obama meets with U.S. Marines on Christmas day at Kaneohe Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kailua, Hawaii December 25, 2008.


U.S. President-elect Barack Obama (R) meets with U.S. Marines having dinner at Anderson Hall on Christmas day at Kaneohe Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kailua December 25, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Read More

Death toll from Christmas shooting rises to six


Bruce Jeffrey Pardo, the only suspect in a shooting in Covina, California on December 24, 2008, is seen in this undated handout photo.

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from a Christmas Eve shooting in Convina of Los Angeles has risen to six, police said on Thursday.

The shooting occurred Wednesday night when a distraught man, dressed as Santa Claus, opened fire at a Christmas Party and then set the house ablaze, according to police.

At least six people were killed in the incident, police said.

Three people who attended the party remained unaccounted for Thursday afternoon as rescuers continued to search through the wreckage, police said.

The suspect, a 45-year-old man, was found dead Thursday morning from self-inflicted gunshot wounds, said police.

The man, Bruce Jeffery Pardo, was believed to have committed suicide around 3:30 a.m. on Christmas at his home in Sylmar, a suburb about 50 km north of downtown Los Angeles, after his shooting spree at the Christmas Eve gathering.

Pardo was in a Santa Claus suit when he showed up at the Christmas party and began shooting, before torching the house, according to police spokesman Pat Buchanan.

Police did not release information about the dead, but said that a 8-year-old girl and a woman in her 20s wounded in the attack are expected to survive.

Pardo, who was reportedly estranged from his wife and in a messy divorce, used cocktails to set the house on fire, according to local television reports.

Describing the incident as "extremely unusual and very shocking," Buchanan said that the killings were just not something people saw at any time of the year, especially during Christmas.

About 80 firefighters arrived at the scene soon after the fire was reported, but were held at bay as the house burned and police tried to make sure it was safe. The house was completely destroyed by the fire, which later was put out by firefighters.

Police said they have no information about who were at the party and whether they were related to the killer.
Read More

British Nobel Prize-winning playwright Harold Pinter dies


A file photo shows British playwright Harold Pinter talking to journalists outside his home after he won the Nobel prize for literature in London October 13, 2005.

LONDON, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- British Nobel Prize-winning playwright Harold Pinter died of liver cancer on Christmas Eve. He was 78.

Pinter, who wrote more than 30 plays including "The Caretaker" and "The Birthday Party," had been due to pick up an honorary degree earlier this month from the Central School of Speech and Drama in London but was forced to withdraw due to illness.

His second wife, Lady Antonia Fraser, said that "he was a great, and it was a privilege to live with him for over 33 years."

Michael Billington, Pinter's friend and biographer, said the writer was a great man as well as a great playwright, according to Sky News on Thursday.


A selection of articles and photographs related to Harold Pinter are seen this undated handout photograph released December 12, 2007.

Pinter, also an actor, poet, screenwriter and director, was known for his left-wing political views and was an outspoken critic of the U.S. and British foreign policies.

Pinter won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2005 and the citation said "in his plays he uncovers the precipice in everyday prattle and forces entry into oppression's closed rooms."

Pinter was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus in 2002 and following treatment, announced that he was on the road to recovery.

Three years later, he announced that he had given up writing for the theater in order to concentrate on political work.

The adjective "Pinteresque" is included in the Oxford English Dictionary.
Read More

U.S. researchers create artificial human bone marrow

WASHINGTON, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- A University of Michigan lab has created artificial bone marrow that can continuously make red and white blood cells.

This development could lead to simpler pharmaceutical drug testing, closer study of immune system defects and a continuous supply of blood for transfusions, the research team reported in the current issue of journal Biomaterials.

The substance grows on a 3-D scaffold that mimics the tissues supporting bone marrow in the body, said Nicholas Kotov, the lead researcher.

The marrow is not made to be implanted in the body, like most 3-D biomedical scaffolds. It is designed to function in a test tube.

"This is the first successful artificial bone marrow," Kotov said. "It has two of the essential functions of bone marrow. It can replicate blood stem cells and produce B cells. The latter are the key immune cells producing antibodies that are important to fighting many diseases."

To determine whether the substance behaves like real bone marrow, the scientists implanted it in mice with immune deficiencies. The mice produced human immune cells and blood vessels grew through the substance.

Blood stem cells give rise to blood as well as several other types of cells. B cells, a type of white blood cell, battle colds, bacterial infections, and other foreign or abnormal cells including some cancers.

Cancer-fighting chemotherapy drugs can strongly suppress bone marrow function, leaving the body more susceptible to infection. The new artificial marrow could allow researchers to test how a new drug at certain potencies would affect bone marrow function, Kotov said. This could assist in drug development and catch severe side effects before human drug trials.
Read More

China builds world's largest ice Santa

BEIJING, Dec. 26 -- China's freezing northern city of Harbin is building what organizers say is the world's largest Santa Claus ice sculpture.

The giant Father Christmas, 160 meters (525 ft) long and 24 meters high, centers on an enormous face of Father Christmas, complete with flowing beard and hat.


A visitor stands in front of a giant Santa Claus ice sculpture for the upcoming 25th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival at a park in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, December 24, 2008. China's freezing northern city of Harbin is building what organizers say is the world's largest Santa Claus ice sculpture.

Its huge size and unseasonably warm temperatures have made the job especially challenging, said Tang Guangjun, one of the sculptors.

"It is even bigger and higher than last year's, and more difficult. The weather swings between warm and cold, so it becomes very wet and slippery on the ice. It is very dangerous for us," he told Reuters Television.

Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang province on the edge of Siberia, is one of China's coldest places. Winter temperatures can drop to below minus 35 degrees Celsius (- 31 F).

Every year the city plays host to a world-renowned ice festival. But the effects of global warming are taking a toll as the snow and ice now melt more rapidly than in the past.

Organizers said they had to artificially make snow for the Santa Claus sculpture.

Still, the sculpture has attracted thousands of tourists from all over the country who want to enjoy a white Christmas despite worries over the economic downturn.

Many said such tourism could help to boost the economy.

"It can stimulate the economy and consumption. When people feel happier, they will want to spend more, so it will lift the economy of the city and even the country," said Li Qingsheng, a tourist from Beijing.

Officials in Harbin remained optimistic about the tourist outlook for the winter.

An estimated 800,000 tourists, 90 per cent of them Chinese, were expected to visit the ice festival, said Jia Yan, director of the local tourism bureau.

The festival traditionally runs from mid-December to early February.

Source: China Daily
Read More

Eartha Kitt, sultry singer and dancer, dies at 81

BEIJING, Dec. 26 -- Eartha Kitt, a sensual singer, dancer and actress who rose from modest rural roots to captivate international audiences with her sultry voice and style, died Thursday at the age of 81.

Andrew Freedman, a long-time friend and publicist, said Kitt died of colon cancer for which she was recently treated at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York.


Singler Eartha Kitt arrives for a taping of the second annual TV Land Awards in Hollywood in this file photo from March 7, 2004.Eartha Kitt, a sensual singer, dancer and actress who rose from modest rural roots to captivate international audiences with her sultry voice and style, died Thursday at the age of 81.

The cancer was detected about two years ago and treated but recurred after a period of remission.

"She came back strongly. She had been performing until two months ago," Freedman told Reuters by telephone from Los Angles. "We had dates booked through 2009."

Slinky and cat-like, Kitt described herself as a "sex kitten" and used her seductive purr to charm audiences across the world.

"She loved cabaret performances," Freedman said. "If there was ever an opportunity to do a small intimate venue with about 150 people, that was always her preference."

Kitt picked up a string of awards during her long career, winning two Emmys and being nominated for a third, as well as a Grammy. She also had two Tony nominations.

Kitt's hit songs included "C'est Si Bon," "Let's Do It" and "Just an Old Fashioned Girl." She also was widely associated with Christmas because of her hit "Santa Baby." The song went gold this year and she received the gold record before she died, Freedman said.

Blackballed in America for speaking out against the Vietnam War in the 1960s, Kitt began performing in Europe and rose to fame before returning to her native land to great acclaim.

"She was never one to look back on her life," Freedman said. "She was a true individual who believed that if you had a true belief in yourself, your talent was authentic."

"My greatest challenge was to be able to survive in the business and to be able to survive according to what I was doing. Not what other people were doing," Kitt told Reuters in a 2005 television interview at the Newport, Rhode Island jazz festival.

"I just stuck to my own guns and I think that was one of the way's I have survived. I didn't follow the herd. I stuck to my own path," she said. "The audience is not supposed to know that I'm scared, the shyest person in the world."

Born Eartha Mae Kitt on a cotton plantation in South Carolina in 1927, she spoke in many interviews of her tough childhood in the impoverished South before she was sent to live with an aunt in New York City.

Kitt got her start as a member of the Katherine Dunham Company and made her film debut in "Casbah" in 1948. On television she was perhaps best known for her role as the sexy Catwoman in the 1960s TV series "Batman."

Source: China Daily/Agencies
Read More

Lakers end Celtics' 19-game winning streak

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Lakers displayed the toughness they lacked last season to beat the Boston Celtics 92-83 and end the NBA champions' franchise-best 19-game winning streak on Thursday.


Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant gets a hug from teammate Sasha Vujacic as he points towards the Boston Celtics' bench after the Lakers' victory in an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, December 25, 2008.

Pau Gasol scored seven successive points in the final three minutes and Kobe Bryant had a game-high 27 points as the Lakers (24-5) earned a measure of revenge against the Celtics.

It was the first meeting between the two since the Celtics beat the Lakers 4-2 in the best-of-seven NBA finals in June.

"It was fun just because of the challenge of stopping the streak," Bryant told reporters. "We made the right plays. They were determined not to let me beat them, and Pau (Gasol) did a great job stepping up and hitting big shots."

Kevin Garnett recorded 22 points and nine rebounds and Paul Pierce had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Celtics, who still lead the Eastern Conference with a 27-3 record.

Trailing for most of the game, Boston held an 81-79 lead with four minutes remaining before the Lakers answered with clutch plays.

Gasol made a 15-foot jump shot to give Los Angeles an 83-81 lead with 2:47 remaining, and followed with two driving shots both assisted by Bryant.

The Spanish power forward then blocked a three-point attempt by Boston's Ray Allen in the final minute.

"In the first half I thought he was thinking too much," Bryant said of Gasol's play.

"I had to remind him at halftime that you're one of the best players in the world, and to go out there and play like it."


The longest winning streaks in the NBA after the Boston Celtics 19-game run ended with defeat by the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.

Wins Team Date

33 Los Angeles Lakers November 5 1971 - January 7 1972

22 Houston Rockets January 29 - March 18 2008

20 Milwaukee Bucks February 6 - March 9 1971

19 Boston Celtics November 15 - December 23, 2008

19 Los Angeles Lakers February 4 - March 16 2000

18 Chicago Bulls December 29 1995 - February 4 1996

18 Boston Celtics February 24 - March 28 1982

18 New York Knicks October 24 - November 29 1969

17 Dallas Mavericks January 27 - March 12 2007

17 Phoenix Suns December 29 2006 - January 29 2007

17 San Antonio Spurs February 29 - April 2 1996

17 Boston Celtics November 28 1959 - January 1 1960

17 Washington Capitals November 16 1946 - January 1 1947


Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant points before hugging teammate Pau Gasol (C) of Spain after Gasol scored while being fouled by Boston Celtics' Paul Pierce as Boston' Kendrick Perkins (L) looks down during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, December 25, 2008.


Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant (L) defends Boston Celtics' Kevin Garnett during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles December 25, 2008.


Boston Celtics' Paul Pierce (R) drives with the ball around Los Angeles Lakers' Luke Walton during the first half of their NBA basketball game in Los Angeles December 25, 2008.


Boston Celtics' Kendrick Perkins dunks the ball against Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of their NBA basketball game in Los Angeles December 25, 2008.


Boston Celtics' Rajon Rondo (L) tries to dribble through the defense of Los Angeles Lakers' Andrew Bynum during the first half of their NBA basketball game in Los Angeles December 25, 2008.


Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant (L) and Boston Celtics' Kevin Garnett embrace before their NBA basketball game in Los Angeles December 25, 2008.
Agencies
Read More

Ronaldo to have all the time necessary to play

RIO DE JANEIRO - The head coach of the Corinthians soccer team, Mano Menezes, recognized on Thursday that he will have the difficult task of keeping Ronaldo's spirits high as he attempts to return to the field.


Brazilian striker Ronaldo (R) embraces Corinthians President Andres Sanchez during his official presentation in Sao Paulo December 12, 2008.

The club, along with its fans, is anxious to see the player debut in his new uniform for the first time. While the team's department of marketing is trying to capitalize on the player's image as much as possible, the coach is worried about Ronaldo's concentration and self-esteem, hoping to avoid any obstacles to his eventual return to the sport.

If it were up to the department of marketing, Ronaldo would return to the field on January 17, the day that the team is scheduled to host Boca Juniors in a friendly match.

The game would serve as a way to present the fans to the 2009 squad, as well as show off the team's superstar, Ronaldo. However, Menezes and the team doctors are weary of the premature return. The coach prefers to have Ronaldo fully healed and ready to play at a high level.

Menezes normally puts his players returning from an injury into a game to see their reaction and evaluate if they are ready or not. By doing so, he is able to see if the player is 100 percent and ready to compete for a starting job, or if he needs more time to recuperate.

However, since Ronaldo is considered to be a superstar, the team's fans may have to be patient and wait for the athlete to take his time and fully recover.


Brazilian striker Ronaldo is helped by models to put on a Corinthians club jersey in Sao Paulo December 12, 2008.

"Ronaldo will return to play when he is good and ready. The people who will make the decision as to when he is ready will be the medical staff and the athlete. Ronaldo will have all the time he needs to get back in shape and fully recover from his knee injury," said the team's director of soccer, Mario Gobbi.

On Friday, Ronaldo, as well as the rest of the Corinthians players, is expected to appear at the team's training facilities to begin pre-season training for the 2009 year. The goal of the coaching staff is to reduce Ronaldo's body fat and strengthen is left knee.

In personal news, Ronaldo welcomed the newest edition to his family on Christmas Eve. His fiance gave birth to a baby girl in the city of Rio de Janeiro. They named the girl Maria Sofia.
Xinhua
Read More

Veron and Morel lead poll on best players of the Americas

MONTEVIDEO - Argentine midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron from Estudiantes de La Plata (Argentina) and defender Claudio Morel Rodriguez from Boca Juniors (Argentina) head the poll for the best soccer player of the Americas from the Uruguayan daily "El Pais".


Tulio (R) of Botafogo goes for the ball followed by Juan Sebastian Veron of Estudiantes LP during their Copa Sudamericana first-leg, quarter-final soccer match in La Plata October 21, 2008.

According to the information published on Thursday by El Pais, in the fight for the first place also are Argentine defense Marcos Angeleri (Estudiantes de la Plata-Argentina) and Argentine midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme (Boca Juniors-Argentina).

Paraguayan defender Paulo da Silva (Toluca-Mexico), Ecuadorian goalkeeper Jose Cevallos (Liga-Ecuador), Paraguayan defense Julio Cesar Caceres (Boca Juniors-Argentina) and Brazilian forward Nilmar (Internacional-Brazil) are competing, too.


Boca Juniors' Facundo Roncaglia (R) heads the ball away from San Lorenzo's Juan Carlos Menseguez (back) and next to team mate Claudio Morel Rodriguez during their soccer match, the second of a three-way Argentine championship playoff, in Buenos Aires, December 20, 2008.

Regarding the best coach the poll is equal for three Argentines, two of them coaching South American national teams.

Coach of the Chilean team Marcelo Bielsa, coach from Liga de Quito club (champion of Libertadores Cup 2008) Edgardo Bauza and coach of Paraguayan national team Gerardo Martino compete for the the best coach.
Agencies
Read More

Flamengo's head coach is optimistic about 2009

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Back for his third chance as head coach of the Flamengo soccer team, Cuca said on Thursday that he is excited and optimistic about the 2009 season.


Leo Moura (R) of Flamengo celebrates with his teammates Marcelinho Paraiba (L) and Obina after scoring against Coritiba during their Brazilian championship soccer match at Maracana stadium in Rio Janeiro, October 23, 2008.

Replacing Caio Junior as head coach, Cuca promises to fight nail and tooth for all the tournaments his team will participate in. Junior was fired after Flamengo finished in fifth place in the 2008 Brazilian soccer championship, missing out on their chance to play in the 2009 Libertadores Cup.

"I am confident that we will have a big year. I was brought it to win all the tournaments that we will enter. We will begin by winning the State tournament, then the Brazilian Cup, the South American Cup and the Brazilian soccer championship. We want them all," said Cuca.

The coach already handed in his list of players he wants for next season to the team's administration. According to the coach, the list is short and precise.

"We have a very experienced group. Technically, everyone is strong. We plan on making few changes," added Cuca.
Agencies
Read More

Former NBA guard Wells thrills in Chinese television debut

In his Chinese television debut, former NBA guard Bonzi Wells helped take Shanxi Zhongyu to the brink of a come-from-behind win only to fall to the Beijing Ducks 93-92 in the last second.

Wells scored five points and had a key assist and steal in the final minute as Shanxi overcame a five point deficit to take the lead 92-91 with five seconds left.


But Duck guard Jie Libin hit a baseline winner with 0.6 seconds on the clock as the home crowd went wild.

The former NBA badboy scored 41 points in the game late Wednesday, had nine rebounds, six assists and five steals, but only made 16 of 37 shot attempts, including one of 11 three pointers.

"I shot the ball way too much. I need to avoid so much individual play and pass the ball more," a disappointed Wells said after the match, according to the Chinese translation.

The 10-year National Basketball Association veteran has been touted as the best player from the world's top league to play in the Chinese Basketball Association.

He scored 48 points in his debut match on Sunday, a 107-106 win over Tianjin.

"What were you expecting from me? No one can play a perfect game every time," Wells told the gathered press that has followed his every move since arriving in China two weeks ago.

Wells averaged 12.5 points and 4.6 rebounds in his NBA career, spent with Memphis, Sacramento, Houston and the Portland Trail Blazers.

AFP
Read More

Tiger's number one status could become vulnerable in 2009

LOS ANGELES - Long established as world number one, Tiger Woods runs the risk of being deposed at the top of the rankings in the first quarter of next year.


Golfer Tiger Woods walks out of a news conference in Thousand Oaks, California, December 17, 2008. [Agencies]

The American has been out of action since having reconstructive knee surgery after winning the US Open in June and, as a bystander, has watched his stranglehold at the top steadily loosen week by week.

After his astonishing playoff victory at Torrey Pines six months ago, Woods enjoyed a substantial lead of 11.328 ranking points over second-placed American Phil Mickelson.

Spaniard Sergio Garcia has since climbed into second spot in the global pecking order and trails Woods by just 3.865 points going into the New Year.

The game's dominant player is unlikely to return to competitive golf until at least late February and his number one status could be usurped by Garcia, world number three Mickelson or fourth-ranked Irishman Padraig Harrington.

For Woods to surrender the grip he has held since June 2005, one of his rivals would have to make a fast start to 2009 while also winning at least one of the big tournaments early on.

World ranking points are weighted according to the status of the event and strength of the field and the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson and the WGC-CA Championship in Miami provide rich reward in the first three months.

Ian Barker of Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) has examined projections of the rankings on a month-by-month basis leading up to the April 9-12 Masters, where Woods is determined to compete.

"These projections show how, as time passes, Tiger's position at the top becomes more vulnerable," Barker told Reuters.

PASSING TIGER

"If you look at the March 29 projection, you will see I have input seven events and the number of points that Garcia and Harrington would need to pass Tiger's average on that date."

Although Barker is speculating about the playing schedules for Garcia and Harrington, he has assumed the seven events in which each competed during the same period earlier this year.

"Sergio needs 81 OWGR points from those events and Harrington needs 144," Barker said.

"A WGC (event) will carry winning points in the 70s so it is possible for both players (to overtake Woods) but I don't think either could do it without winning a big tournament."

Of course, much will depend on when Woods does return to the game and how effectively he is able to play.

The Masters, the opening major of the year, is his first priority for the 2009 season and ideally he would like to play in a couple of events before that in preparation.

The Accenture Match Play in Tucson in late February is a possibility for his much anticipated comeback, although the March 12-15 CA Championship is more likely.

For the moment, however, the 14-times Major winner can reflect on the record total of 529 weeks he has been golf's world number one during his career.

He first claimed the top spot on June 15, 1997 and has held the position since regaining it from Fiji's Vijay Singh on June 12, 2005.
Read More

Mourinho hates endless media grilling

MILAN: Jose Mourinho detests the endless media commitments after matches in Italy, said the Inter Milan coach.

"For one hour I have to speak with the press and I hate it, I really hate it," the former Chelsea manager said in a television interview with Britain's Sky Sports.

"I have to adapt due to the contractual situation (the clubs have with Italian media). I will never enjoy it though."


Mourinho said he found it particularly tough to cope with the media demands in the early days after taking over the Serie A champions in June.

"For me in the beginning it was a real moment of pressure, of disagreements (with reporters)," said the 45-year-old.

"I was not happy to answer. I was tired but I have to do my job."

Mourinho has made an excellent start to his Inter career, opening up a six-point lead at the top of Serie A after 17 games and setting up an exciting Champions League first knockout round clash with holders Manchester United in February and March.

"I am very happy with the way things have gone," said the brash and confident coach. "I am really, really happy with Inter.

"My team is almost like I used to call my (Premier League-winning) Chelsea team in 2004-05, a 'victory machine'. You always have a feeling you will win because the team is so strong."

Mourinho also said he had a dream to complete a hat-trick of the three big championships in Europe.

"One of my ambitions is to win the Premier League, Serie A and La Liga," he said.

"One day I will go back to England because I love it (there) and one day I will go to Spain and win La Liga."

Mourinho, who won the Champions League with Porto in 2004, said he would wait until much later in his career for an international coaching role.

"A national team has to wait 15 years for me," he said. "I have too much energy.

"Can you imagine me being a national team coach? Playing a game every month? Three weeks without a training session?"

AFP
Read More

Nadal steals Federer's thunder in 2008

LONDON: This was meant to be the year when Roger Federer would equal, if not break, Pete Sampras' record of 14 grand slam titles.


Rafael Nadal of Spain holds his trophy after defeating Roger Federer of Switzerland in their finals match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London in this July 6, 2008 photo.

Instead, it was a season in which Rafael Nadal finally spread his tentacles beyond Roland Garros. The Spaniard first grabbed Federer's Wimbledon crown, then snatched Olympic gold in Beijing.

That failed to satisfy Nadal's hunger and he went on to end Federer's record 237-week reign as world number one just hours after the Olympic medal had been placed around his neck.

"Almost a perfect season, no?" quipped the 22-year-old Nadal, who took his grand slam tally to five.

While Nadal's rampaging run heralded a new era for the men, the women's game also underwent a changing of the guard - albeit rather unexpectedly.

Justine Henin stunned the tennis world when she abruptly abdicated her position on top of the rankings by quitting the sport 11 days before she was expected to defend her French Open title in May.

"I have been driving my career based on an emotion but I didn't feel that emotion any more. It's the end of a wonderful adventure," the seven-times grand slam champion said.

The 25-year-old Belgian became the first woman to walk away from tennis while ranked number one and her absence sparked a mad scramble for the top spot.

In the last six months, the battle for supremacy became so intense that the top spot changed hands six times until Serbia's Jelena Jankovic won the final round of musical chairs to clinch the coveted year-end prize.

For much of the season though, prizes were in short supply for Federer. He had high hopes of erasing Sampras' name from the record books in 2008 as he started the year as the owner of 12 grand slam trophies and as the defending Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open champion.

Dream dies

That dream effectively died less than four weeks into the New Year when, suffering from a bout of glandular fever, the Swiss relinquished his Melbourne Park title with a semifinal defeat to eventual winner Novak Djokovic.

After failing to reach a slam final for the first time since the 2005 French Open, Federer acknowledged: "I've created a monster. It's not easy coming out every week trying to win."

Federer was vanquished in the Roland Garros and Wimbledon finals - on both occasions by his personal bogeyman.

The irrepressible Nadal enhanced his reputation as arguably the greatest claycourt player when he swept aside Federer with embarrassing ease, dropping only four games, in the French Open final to lift his fourth successive title in Paris.

Four weeks later, Nadal punched a mighty hole through Federer's aura of invincibility to end the Swiss man's five-year reign as Wimbledon champion.

In the longest and most nerve-jangling final seen at the All England Club, Nadal survived two rain breaks and an astonishing Federer fightback to claim a sensational 6-4 6-4 6-7 6-7 9-7 victory as dusk fell over southwest London.

While Nadal became the first man since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to complete the Roland Garros-Wimbledon double in the same year, Federer lost his chance of eclipsing the Swede and setting a modern-era record of six successive Wimbledon titles.

Being part of a match described by pundits as the greatest ever seen provided little consolation to the stylish Swiss.

"It's tough, it hurts. This is a disaster, Paris was nothing in comparison," said a forlorn Federer.

Nadal and Federer had met 17 times before but none of their previous encounters could match the drama and intensity of the four-hour-48-minute theater witnessed by almost 15,000 fans lucky enough to hold Centre Court tickets.

Only winner

"Unbelievable match! It was an amazing spectacle! It was the greatest match I have ever witnessed. It had so much drama," said former champion John McEnroe.

"This day (is one) that we're not going to forget. This was a win for tennis and I'd like to think there were no losers."

Despite reaching a semifinal and two finals in the season's first three majors, Federer was irked to see that critics had started to pen his tennis obituary after he was beaten by players such as Mardy Fish, Radek Stepanek and Gilles Simon.

Andy Roddick was among those rivals who rallied behind him.

"I know pretty much every player except for one that would take his bad year. So I think you have to use a little bit of perspective," said the American.

Those ready to write him off would have done well to study the obstacles a resilient Federer had overcome.

Despite suffering from the debilitating effects of glandular fever, he still managed to turn up at every event he had committed himself to. The same illness had kept Croatia's Mario Ancic off the tennis courts for six months in 2007.

Just when it seemed that Federer would walk away from the majors empty-handed, he reminded the world of his sublime touch and impeccable timing to capture an Olympic doubles gold and a fifth successive US Open.

The Flushing Meadows showpiece also set the stage for an enthralling 2009 as Britain's Andy Murray finally came of age to reach his first notable final.

The exploits of Serbia's Djokovic, who trails Federer by just 10 points in the rankings, and Murray indicated that the Federer-Nadal duopoly in men's tennis had at last been broken.

The women's game is likely to remain more unpredictable since each of the four slams produced a different winner - Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic, Venus and Serena Williams claiming the honors at the Big Four.

A knee injury kept Nadal out of the Davis Cup final in November but his lesser-known compatriots pulled off a shock 3-1 win away to Argentina.

Russia, led by Svetlana Kuznetsova, won the Fed Cup for the fourth time in five seasons with a whitewash of Spain.

Agencies
Read More

Stars shine in 8-2 romp over Maple Leafs

TORONTO - The Toronto Maple Leafs surrendered a season-high eight goals in an 8-2 rout at the hands of the Dallas Stars in their final game before the NHL's Christmas break on Tuesday.


Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Curtis Joseph makes a save on Dallas Stars Steve Ott (R) during the third period of their NHL game in Toronto December 23, 2008.

James Neal scored a hat-trick for the Stars, who have now won three of their last four games and are threatening to climb out of the Pacific division cellar.

Steve Ott, Fabian Brunnstrom, Brad Richards, Krystopfer Barch and Mike Ribeiro also scored for the Stars while Jason Blake and Mikhail Grabovski answered for the Maple Leafs.

It was a bitterly disappointing result for the Leafs, who had won five of their previous six games.


Toronto Maple Leafs Andre Deveaux fights with Dallas Stars Krystofer Barch (L) during the third period of their NHL game in Toronto December 23, 2008.


Toronto Maple Leafs Andre Deveaux pulls the jersey over Dallas Stars Krystofer Barch as he throws a punch during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Toronto December 23, 2008.


Dallas Stars Landon Wilson collides with Toronto Maple Leafs Jonas Frogren during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Toronto December 23, 2008.
Agencies
Read More

Lakers guard Farmar ruled out for two months

NBA - Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar is expected to be sidelined for two months after having knee surgery on Wednesday, the NBA team said in a statement.


Los Angeles Lakers' Jordan Farmar (L) defends against Miami Heat's Mario Chalmers during third quarter NBA basketball action in Miami December 19, 2008. [Agencies]

Farmar, 22, tore the lateral meniscus in his left knee during Friday's 89-87 defeat by the Miami Heat and was advised to have surgery after being examined by two doctors.

A backup guard to Derek Fisher, Farmar is averaging 7.9 points on 40.5 percent shooting this season, his third with the Lakers.
Read More

Boca win Argentine title despite loss in play-off

BUENOS AIRES -- Boca Juniors won the Argentine Apertura championship on Tuesday despite a 1-0 defeat by Tigre in a three-way play- off on Tuesday.


Boca Juniors' players hold up a trophy after winning the Argentine title after the final soccer match against Tigre in a three-way Argentine championship playoff in Buenos Aires, December 23, 2008. [Agencies]

Boca, Tigre and San Lorenzo all finished the play-off with three points from two games but Boca took the title on with three goals for and two goals against.

Tigre was second but had zero goal difference.

The play-off was held after the three teams finished level on points after the regular championship, where goal difference is not used to decide the title.

It was Boca's 23rd title under the various formats used since Argentine football turned professional in 1931.
Read More

Universiade test run for Olympics

Harbin, capital city of northeast China's Heilongjiang province and host to the 2009 Winter Universiade, is considering a bid for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, senior officials revealed two months before the opening of the Universiade, from Feb 18-28.


Athetes train at the Heilongjiang Speed Skating Gymnasium, one of the venues for the 24th Winter Universiade, which will be held from Feb 18-28 in Harbin, Heilongjiang province. [Xinhua]

"If the hosting of the 2009 Winter Universiade can win applause from all the guests, it will enhance our confidence to bid for the Winter Olympic Games," said Li Zhanshu, governor of Heilongjiang province. "We are considering a bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics, although the decision has to be approved by Chinese sports authorities."

Harbin, dubbed as "ice city" due to its beautiful scenery in winter, failed to make the short list for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, but won hosting rights for the 2009 Winter Universiade four years ago.

Vancouver, Canada, will host the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Harbin didn't launch a bid for the 2014 Winter Olympics, which was awarded in Sochi, Russia.

For hosting China's first Winter Olympics, the governor expressed his confidence.

"One of the important goals of bidding for a Winter Universiade is to accumulate experience for hosting a Winter Olympics. The infrastructure here in Harbin has already been qualified for the Winter Universiade, which has the second largest number of winter sports following the Winter Olympics," Li said. "We will continue to improve our weak points according to the feedback from Universiade participants and visit Vancouver and Sochi to learn more.

"If we fail again for the 2018 Games, we are determined to win the 2022 Winter Games. It's our dream to host China's first Winter Olympics."

Winter tourism boosted

Through hosting the Winter Universiade and preparing for Olympic bidding, Harbin, famous dazzling outdoor ice sculptures, is counting on a tourism boost.

"Harbin has built up the best venues among all the host cities of the Winter Universiade and it is a golden opportunity to promote the city's rich tourism resources in winter," said Li. "We have already designed four tourism lines for the visitors to experience ice and snow in the whole province and we hope the hosting city of a Winter Universiade could be a new name card for the city and even the whole province."

At present, Heilongjiang province hosts almost 40 million tourists annually, about 5 million of whom are attracted by high-standard ski resorts.

"With rich ice and snow resources, Heilongjiang province could be called the biggest tourism province in the northern part of China. We will further promote our winter tourism with the platform of the Winter Universiade and upgrade our services level," said Li.
Read More

Doping tests up by 15 percent at National Games

BEIJING - The number of doping tests for next year's National Games will be increased by 15 percent in a bid to continue to curb the use of banned substances, said China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) deputy head Zhao Jian on Thursday.

The number of tests was planned at around 2,050, covering both blood and urine samples, for the quadrennial event in Jinan, Shandong province, said Zhao.

A total of 1,772 doping tests were carried out in last National Games in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, with world half-marathon champion Sun Yingjie tested positive for steroid androsterone and banned for two years.

The high profile case was dragged into a court wrangle as the then 26-year-old claimed somebody spiked her drink with the banned substance.

Zhao said testing alone was not enough in doping control.

"Measures besides testing include more targeted education, severe punishments and specified responsibilities," he said.

The National Games will kick off in October next year as its winter events are held separately starting in January.
Read More

Olympic wunderkind Phelps to resume training in February

WASHINGTON -- Eight-time Beijing Olympic winner Michael Phelps will resume training in February, USA Today newspaper reported on Wednesday.


2008 Michael Phelps of the US celebrates after winning the men's 100m butterfly swimming final at the National Aquatics Centre during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 16, 2008. [Agencies]

The 23-year-old will get ready for the US national championships scheduled for July 7-11 in Indianapolis.

"We're basically going to take this whole year to try to get him to a point where he can really get into serious training in the fall of 2009," Phelp's coach Bob Bowman told the newspaper.

Phelps took several months vacation after the Olympics.
Read More

Orbital, SpaceX win $3.5 bln NASA deal to restock ISS


The Space Shuttle Endeavour with the Leonardo Multi-purpose Logistics module in the payload bay is seen docked to the International Space Station (ISS) in this November 27, 2008 image from NASA TV.

BEIJING, Dec. 24 (Xinhuanet)-- NASA on Tuesday awarded two up-and-coming private space launch companies contracts worth 3.5 billion U.S. dollars to ship cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) after the space shuttle's planned retirement in 2010.

The two chosen companies are Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), a Hawthorne, California-based company headed by PayPal founder Elon Musk, and Dulles, Virginia-based Orbital Sciences Corp (OSC), and they are responsible for delivering supplies to the space station.

The contracts will fulfil NASA's needs to provide freight and services to the ISS by relying on private launch companies after the agency will retire its three space shuttles in 2010, said Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA's associate administrator for space flight, adding that the contracts are essential to NASA's future activities and operations.

Neither company would ferry astronauts to the station, but each would be responsible for restocking the space station with experiments and provisions. Orbital Sciences would get up to 1.9 billion dollars for eight flights, starting in 2011. SpaceX would get up to 1.6 billion dollars for 12 flights starting in 2010.

SpaceX and OSC will transport between 40 and 70 percent of NASA's freight to the ISS -- 20 percent in 2011 and peak at 70 percent in 2013, Gerstenmaier was quoted as saying.

The cargo will range from materials for scientific experiments, spare parts and the resupply of food and other commodities.

"This is the first time that NASA has ever bought a commercial service as a substantial element of a human spaceflight program," said James Muncy, a space policy consultant based out of Virginia.

Agencies
Read More

Dustin Hoffman finds "Last Chance" for love

BEIJING, Dec. 24 -- At 71, Dustin Hoffman says he will never retire from acting, but he may have to look far beyond the Hollywood that made him famous to find the roles he relishes as he ages.

His latest film, "Last Chance Harvey," is a small ode to finding love late in life, a theme that should resound with the fastest-growing movie-going audience -- viewers over 40. It opens in U.S. theaters on Christmas Day.


Cast member Dustin Hoffman poses during the DVD release of "Kung Fu Panda" at the Grauman's Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California Nov. 9, 2008. At 71, Dustin Hoffman says he will never retire from acting, but he may have to look far beyond the Hollywood that made him famous to find the roles he relishes as he ages.
Photo Gallery>>>

Hoffman, who plays down-on-his-luck Harvey opposite Emma Thompson's Kate, would like to make more films for older fans, just as he reveled in representing a younger generation as Benjamin Braddock in "The Graduate" 40 years ago.

But the two-time Oscar winner and seven-time nominee doesn't think the Hollywood studios -- bent on big films that blanket theaters -- are capable of taking on senior romance.

"If I had my druthers, it wouldn't be to change the studio system. It would be to add two or maybe three languages to my repertoire, which now only consists of street English," Hoffman said in a recent interview.

"But if I could speak French, Spanish and Italian, I'd be working in movies that interested me more. They still honor love stories about people who are past the age of not needing facial work. You can age in Europe."

Hoffman, born and raised in Los Angeles, says he never understood, even as a kid, the obsession with youth and what he calls "the lack of respect for age here that doesn't exist in all countries."

'MY BEST WORK IS ... AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL'

"Last Chance Harvey," written and directed by British filmmaker Joel Hopkins, was tailor-made for Hoffman and Thompson, friends since they made "Stranger than Fiction" a few years ago. Hoffman made sure that Harvey, like himself, was a frustrated jazz pianist.

Divorced, lonely and about to lose his job as a past-his-prime jingles composer, Harvey heads to London for his daughter's wedding. As he obsesses about getting back to New York to save his job, Harvey careens toward failure as a father until he meets sensitive and hopelessly single Kate.

Kate, a middle-aged woman held back by a needy mother and a go-nowhere job, dreams of becoming a writer. A most unlikely pair, Harvey and Kate roam the streets of a romantic London and mull over life and dreams.

A turning point comes when Harvey, at Kate's urging, rushes back to the daughter's wedding and makes a speech that could have gone terribly wrong, but instead redeems him.

Hoffman wrote the speech with his wife of some 30 years the night before filming, dredging up emotions from his own divorce from his first wife when he was making "Kramer vs Kramer" -- a portrait of divorce for which he won his first Academy Award.

"I do my best work when it is, in a sense, autobiographical," said Hoffman. "With 'Tootsie,' I became a better man by having been a woman. In 'Kramer,' he was a bad father and had to become a good father."

As he enters his seventh decade, Hoffman says people pussyfoot around his age for fear of offending him. But he says he has never felt better than he does right now. "That's because I am closer to understanding that your life can be yours and you don't have to feel bad about it," he said.

He hopes to emulate legends who worked up to the end of their lives with good humor, even in failing health. One of his favorite examples is the late comedian George Burns, who said: "Sex at age 90 is like trying to shoot pool with a rope."

"To have that playfulness about mortality," said Hoffman. "If that isn't the object of life, I don't know what is."

Source: China Daily/Agencies
Read More

Santa Claus wish you merry Christmas at aquarium


Divers wearing Santa Claus outfits perform during a photo call for a promotional event for the Christmas holiday season at an aquarium in Seoul December 23, 2008.


Divers wearing Santa Claus outfits perform during a photo call for a promotional event for the Christmas holiday season at an aquarium in Seoul December 23, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Read More

Mainland panda pair arrive in Taiwan


A pair of giant pandas are unloaded from a plane that arrived at the Taoyuan Airport in Taipei, southeast China's Taiwan Province, Dec. 23, 2008. The 4-year-old giant pandas, Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan offered by the Chinese mainland arrived in Taiwan.


A pair of giant pandas take food in the Taipei Zoo in Taipei, southeast China's Taiwan Province, Dec. 23, 2008. The 4-year-old giant pandas, Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan offered by the Chinese mainland arrived in Taiwan by air on Dec. 23, 2008.
(Xinhua Photo)
Read More

Leaf-carving artwork to welcome year of ox


Citizen Du Wanli shows a handmade leaf-carving artwork featuring the patterns of ox in Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong Province, Dec. 23, 2008, to welcome the forthcoming year of ox in Chinese lunar calendar.


Citizen Du Wanli shows a handmade leaf-carving artwork featuring the patterns of ox in Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong Province, Dec. 23, 2008, to welcome the forthcoming year of ox in Chinese lunar calendar.
(Xinhua Photo)
Read More

Celtics win 19th straight, beat Philly 110-91

BOSTON—Winning streaks are nice and all, but Kevin Garnett prefers something more tangible --like a championship ring.


Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett (L) drives to the basket around Philadelphia 76ers center Samuel Dalembert in the first quarter of their NBA basketball game in Boston, Massachusetts December 23, 2008.

"Unless you win it all, it's pretty much steam in the air: You see it, and then it evaporates," Garnett said after scoring 18 points to lead the Boston Celtics to a franchise-record 19th consecutive victory, 110-91 over the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night.

The Celtics will go for 20 in a row against the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day in a rematch of last spring's NBA finals, which Boston won in six games for its unprecedented 17th league title. The crowd couldn't wait, chanting "Beat L.A!" with 5:27 left to play against the Sixers.

"I totally appreciate the whole history of the Lakers and Celtics and the tradition, the players who've come through both teams, the foundations of this league," Garnett said. "But to put all the eggs in one basket on one game, or that we circle it … we circle all the games, and if you're on the schedule we don't decline any shows."

Rajon Rondo also scored 18, Kendrick Perkins had eight points and 11 rebounds, and Ray Allen had 16 points as the Celtics starters watched from the bench while reserves Leon Powe and Eddie House helped expand the lead in the fourth quarter. Boston improved to 27-2 -- the best start for a two-loss team in NBA history.

The 19-game winning streak broke the franchise set by the original Big Three in 1981-82.

"Do we get anything for winning 19 in a row? A new car? If so, let me know," Paul Pierce said. "Has any other Boston Celtics team lost 18 in a row? I've been there."

Sixers forward Andre Iguodala complained about the Celtics' trash-talking and warned them to heed the lesson set by another confident Boston team that won 18 straight before losing No. 19.

"Something like the Patriots. They were undefeated and lost in the finals," Iguodala said of the NFL team that lost in the Super Bowl after a season of running up the score. "Everyone knows they (the Celtics) won a championship and everyone knows they're a great team. It takes away from the feat. Teams don't respect that."

Louis Williams had 16 points and eight assists, and Samuel Dalembert scored eight points with 13 boards for the Sixers.

The "Beat L.A!" chant became popular in the '80s when Larry Bird, Robert Parish and Kevin McHale seemed to play the Lakers for the title every year. It made a comeback last spring when the Celtics eliminated Los Angeles in six games to win their unprecedented 17th title.

Now the Lakers stand in the way of another bit of NBA history: A 20th win in a row would move the Celtics past Los Angeles' 1999-2000 team and into a tie for the third-longest winning streak in league history. The 1971-72 Lakers won 33 in a row, the NBA record.

"I know it's great and all that stuff, but we didn't get our hands in and say 'Hip! Hip! Hooray!"' Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "No one even mentioned it. We just want to keep playing, and keep winning. And we want to try to keep getting better."

The Celtics led by 14 at the half and 22, 74-52, with 4:32 left in the third before the Sixers ran off 10 points in a row. But Powe pitched in with nine of the first 11 points in the fourth quarter, and the Celtics took a 95-74 on House's jumper with 6:17 to go.

House hit three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, one of them a meaningless jumper at the buzzer.

The Sixers went 0-for-11 from 3-point range and are 0-for-19 in the last two games.


Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett reacts in the third quarter of their NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers in Boston, Massachusetts December 23, 2008.


Philadelphia 76ers guard Andre Iguodala goes in for a dunk against the Boston Celtics in the second quarter of their NBA basketball game in Boston, Massachusetts December 23, 2008.


Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo (R) goes up for a shot past Philadelphia 76ers guard Andre Miller (L) in the second quarter of their NBA basketball game in Boston, Massachusetts December 23, 2008.
Agencies
Read More

Fernando Gonzalez voted Chile's sportsman of 2008

SANTIAGO -- Chilean tennis player Fernando Gonzalez was chosen on Monday as the Chilean sportsman of 2008.


Fernando Gonzalez of Chile smashes his racket to the ground during his quarter final tennis match against Gael Monfils of France at the Vienna Open October 10, 2008.

Gonzalez won the honor for the second consecutive year thanks to the gold medal he won in the 2008 Olympic Games and the titles in Vina del Mar (Chile) and Munich (Germany).

Gonzalez beat Gary Medel (soccer), Natalia Duco (athletics) and David Budo (karate) in the voting.


Fernando Gonzalez of Chile serves to Andy Roddick of the US during their match at the US Open tennis tournament at Flushing Meadows in New York, September 2, 2008.
Xinhua
Read More

Real fail to address team's defensive woes

MADRID: The addition of Lassana Diarra and Klaas Jan Huntelaar to the Real Madrid ranks may give them extra solidity in the center and some much-needed firepower up front but will not solve the club's defensive frailties.


Splashing out a reported 40 million euros ($56 million) on the pair is also a significant financial risk given that neither the 23-year-old French midfielder nor the Dutch striker, 25, have proved themselves at the highest level.

Even with their first-choice defenders fit, the Real back line has looked shaky this season and the Primera Liga champions have already leaked 26 goals in 16 matches, compared with just 10 conceded by leaders Barcelona.

That's only 10 short of the 36 goals Real let in during the whole of last season, which was the best defensive record in Spain's top division by a clear margin.

Italian World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro, 35, is obviously well past his best, Gabriel Heinze is dangerously erratic and has a tendency to get himself sent off and Christoph Metzelder is still searching for the form that once made him a regular in the German side.

Among the wing backs, Marcelo appears well out of his depth, Sergio Ramos has been a shadow of the player previously regarded by some as the best right back in the world and the creaking Michel Salgado lacks mobility.

It seems only central defender Pepe, who has been out injured since the start of this month, can be relied on to perform with something approaching consistency.

It is a worrying situation for new coach Juande Ramos, who has said he also wants to sign a winger in the winter transfer period to complement Real's only real threat going forward, Dutchman Arjen Robben.

He has not, however, asked for any defensive reinforcements, at least not publicly.

Born fighter

Former Chelsea, Arsenal and Portsmouth midfielder Diarra, known as "Lass", has been brought in as cover for his Malian namesake Mahamadou Diarra, who is out for the season with a knee injury.

His style of play has been compared by some with that of former Real and Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele, whose ball-winning skills and strength in possession are exactly what Ramos's side lack.

At his presentation to the media on Monday, Diarra said it was an honour to be compared with his French compatriot but that he wanted to stamp his own mark on the side.

"We have things in common but I want to demonstrate in Madrid who I am," he said at a news conference.

"I am a born fighter. I have always shown that. A defensive midfielder who wins the ball, who can also play wide on the right.

"At Chelsea I was young and it was hard vying with very experienced players. I have matured at Portsmouth and I believe I am capable of competing."

Huntelaar, meanwhile, has big shoes to fill, having come in as a replacement for fellow Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy, whose season was also ended by a knee injury.

It remains to be seen in the new year whether scoring goals in Spain will come as easily to him as finding the net in the Netherlands.

Agencies
Read More