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Celtic will begin the defence of their Scottish Premier League title against Kilmarnock on Sunday but their supporters have loftier ambitions than mere domestic success.

TFC boss Johnston challenges team
On the heels of Toronto FC’s worst home loss of the season, head coach Mo Johnston threw down the gauntlet to his team.

Tired Sweden look to regroup for Iceland game
Sweden captain Fredrik Ljungberg expects his team mates to put last weekend’s abandoned game against Denmark behind them in order to focus on Wednesday’s home Euro 2008 qualifier against Iceland.

In Saturday’s Group F match in Copenhagen, Sweden led 3-0 before the Danes rallied to 3-3, after which the match was called off in the 89th minute when a drunken fan attacked referee Herbert Fandel.

“It was a special game on Saturday which takes time to forget,” Ljungberg was quoted as saying in the daily Expressen on Tuesday.

“But we’re professional football players and we should be able to re-load and arrive concentrated to the next game.”

Fandel had awarded Sweden a late penalty following an incident between Denmark defender Christian Poulsen and Sweden striker Markus Rosenberg. The penalty was never taken.

UEFA’s Control and Disciplinary panel will announce their decision on Friday on whether the match will be allowed to stand at 3-3, whether it will be re-staged or whether Sweden will be awarded the victory.

Ljungberg, who had hoped to finish the Denmark game by taking the penalty, was critical of his team’s performance against Denmark.

“It’s not good to let a 3-0 lead slip away,” he said. “Our plan worked for about 25 minutes and after that maybe we should have changed our game a little. We should have calmed down a little and kept some more possession.”

Monday’s training was cancelled because Sweden coach Lars Lagerback wanted to give his side an extra day’s rest.

“It was a incredibly physical game and we are doing this to mentally and physically recharge the batteries for the Iceland game,” Lagerback was quoted as saying on the Swedish FA’s Web site.

“It’s incredibly sad for soccer to have to interrupt and not be able to finish the game. Of course I respect the referee’s decision but it’s a miserable end to an absolutely fantastic soccer game,” Lagerback said.

The Danish Football Association has said it will not protest if UEFA award Sweden victory.

Lagerback said he would like to have won the game on “sporting grounds.”

“We had been awarded a penalty and I would have preferred if we won the game by converting it.”

If Sweden are deemed to have won they will top Group F ahead of Northern Ireland and Spain.

A win over Iceland would put the Sweden firmly in the driving seat in the group with a likely chance to seal a place in the finals with a victory over Northern Ireland at home in October or against Spain away in November.

Denmark travel to Latvia on Wednesday while Spain play Liechtenstein away.

Source: Reuters

Iraqis greet Asian Cup triumph with joyful gunfire
Iraq erupted in joy and celebratory gunfire on Sunday when the country s national football squad won the Asian Cup and united its bitterly divided communities in a rare moment of celebration.

Wenger - Ljungberg’s experience is an asset
Ars ne Wenger believes the experience of Freddie Ljungberg will be important for Arsenal next season.

At 30, the Swedish midfielder is the longest-serving player in the first-team squad and the oldest outfielder bar Gilberto. During the summer he was linked with a move away from the Club he joined in September 1998. However, speaking after the weekend game with Barnet, Ars ne Wenger said that Ljungberg was 90 per cent certain to stay and he would be happy to keep him at Emirates Stadium.

After the 3-0 win over Genclerbirligi last night, the manager outlined why.

Freddie is a winner, said Wenger. We have a very big squad, maybe not in numbers but in quality. We have many young players so the experienced ones have to show the way - not only footballistically but mentally - for a successful season.

Last season Freddie had tremendous problems with his hamstrings so we will see how it goes this season. He will be part of the squad.

Source: Arsenal.com

Ljungberg set to quit England
Freddie Ljungberg’s agent says it is unlikely the Swedish international will stay in the Premier League.

Despite still being under contract at Arsenal, Ljungberg is expected to leave the Emirates Stadium and has been linked with a move to Manchester City.

However, his representative Claes Elefalk told Swedish news agency TT: “He has earlier said that due to his respect for the Arsenal fans he can’t play for another English club.”

Ljungberg is also subject to interest from Italian side Fiorentina.

“Arsenal are demanding more than the offer Fiorentina have tabled,'’ Elefalk added. “The clubs have to reach an agreement first, then we will sit down and discuss an eventual offer.

“We haven’t reached that stage yet.”

Source: Sportinglife

Pressure on Benitez after summer spending spree
Rafael Benitez launches his fourth season in charge at Liverpool under real pressure to deliver silverware to the Anfield trophy room.

Fiorentina Still After Ljungberg
Despite the recent denials of Ljungberg’s representative, the Viola have continued to show an interest in Swedish maestro Freddie Ljungberg.

Fiorentina’s sporting director, Pantaleo Covino, is famed for unearthing raw talent, but seems to have set his sights on an established big name in the form of Freddie Ljungberg.

The 30 year old winger is highly regarded in Florence, and Covino has confirmed that the Swede is a target for the new season, while admitting that landing the Arsenal man would be extremely difficult.

Indeed, it may be impossible. A few days ago Freddie’s agent, Clare Elefalk, insisted that Ljungberg will remain at the Emirates for his tenth year in the red and white.

However, despite the denials, Il Firenze have reported that Fiorentina have already approached Arsenal and some initial negotiations are believed to have started between the two clubs. Fiorentina offering some 5m for the midfielder. The only significant obstacle being Ljungberg’s 3.6m salary which Fiorentina would have to match or better.

Covino is also believed to be targeting Manchester United striker Guisseppe Rossi, currently on loan to Parma with a 6.8m bid.

Source: Goal.com / La Nazione Firenze