How can Argentina not take Tevez to Brazil?

How can Argentina not take Tevez to Brazil?  - Carlos Tevez played no part in Argentina’s World Cup qualifying campaign. Yet on Monday a small band of fans gathered in the center of Buenos Aires to petition for Tevez’s inclusion in Alejandro Sabella’s squad for the tournament in Brazil. They held flags carrying the inscriptions "Tevez Seleccion" and "Tevez al Mundial," and all the while sung songs deifying the Juventus striker.

But their pleas fell on deaf ears.

Tevez left off Argentina provisional World Cup squad

When the Albiceleste head for their training base near Belo Horizonte, they will do so without the driving force behind Juve’s record-breaking Serie A season, with Sabella announcing Tuesday that Tevez will not be on the 23-man World Cup squad. Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain and Manchester City star Sergio Aguero will don the famous blue and white stripes alongside Lionel Messi this summer, but Tevez will not.

A superb return of 21 goals in all competitions, including 19 in the league as the Bianconeri marched to the verge of 100 points, have seen Tevez’s stock rise once more, yet Sabella has been unwilling to buckle under the weight of public pressure.

"I think the coach of Argentina's national team must not have satellite television hooked up to watch Juventus," Tevez joked recently when asked about his hopes of returning to the national fold. He knew some time ago that the writing was on the wall.

At the age of 30, it would appear that Carlitos’ World Cup career has been ended on the back of a season in which he adapted so quickly to Italian soccer that, less than two months into the campaign, Juve coach Antonio Conte had to fend off suggestions that the Turin outfit had become a one-man team centred on the qualities of its No. 10.

It is fair to say, though, that Tevez hasn’t helped himself over the years.

Time and again, he has spoken publicly about international retirement and the tiresome task that is traveling back and forth for Argentina fixtures. And when he was included in the squad for the 2011 Copa America on the back of a campaign by media, fans and even members of the government, his response was to turn up overweight, completely underperform and, ultimately, miss the penalty that eliminated the Albiceleste at the quarterfinal stage.

Soon after, his club career seemed to be spiralling out of control, with his infamous bust-up with Roberto Mancini resulting in him sitting out of four months of soccer while at Manchester City. But just as he turned around his fortunes there to become a Premier League champion before moving on to Juve and adding an Italian league title, many were hoping for a similar renaissance in the national shirt.

Yet the man once introduced by the public address announcer in Messi’s home state of Santa Fe as “the player of the people” is clearly not the kind of character Sabella believes can bring the best out of his other squad members.

Tevez’s exile has coincided with the national side’s most convincing qualifying campaign in some years, and the coach is not willing to rock the boat now. Instead, the striker is a held up as a symbol of an Argentina that was underprepared, that underperformed, and that wasn’t ready to win a World Cup.

But when the Albiceleste square up to Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 15, they will do so without arguably their best-performing player of the last 12 months. If they win the World Cup, Alejandro Sabella will forever remain a national hero. But if they don't, he will always be asked about the wisdom of overlooking Tevez. ( goal.com )

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Tevez excluded from Argentina World Cup squad

Tevez excluded from Argentina World Cup squad  — Striker Carlos Tevez was left out of Argentina's preliminary 30-man squad for the World Cup on Tuesday.

Despite having just led Juventus to the Italian league title as the team's top scorer, Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella ignored pleas from Tevez' passionate fan base in Argentina.

Sabella has never called up the hard-working striker since taking charge of the national team in 2011. Instead he's put his faith in Ezequiel Lavezzi and Rodrigo Palacio as substitutes for star attackers Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Aguero.

Barcelona's Lionel Messi from Argentina reacts after failing to score against Elche during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Martinez Valero stadium in Elche, Spain, on Sunday, May 11, 2014. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

All were included in Sabella's initial 30-player squad, which will be reduced to a final 23 by a FIFA deadline of June 2.

The 30-year-old Tevez has scored 19 goals in the Italian Serie A this season.

"I am sorry I had to leave out good players," Sabella said, without mentioning names.

He also excluded veteran midfielder Esteban Cambiasso of Inter Milan but included Manchester City's Martin Demichelis, who hasn't played for the national team for two years.

While Argentina's attack is among the world's strongest, the team looks weaker at the back.

Sergio Romero remains Sabella's first-choice goalkeeper even though he's not a regular starter for French club Monaco. Mariano Andujar of Catania and Agustin Orion of Boca Juniors were called up as Romero's backups in the preliminary squad.

Sabella included central defenders Federico Fernandez and Ezequiel Garay along with fullbacks Pablo Zabaleta and Marco Roja.

Boca Juniors midfielder Fernando Gago was selected despite receiving a knee injury last month. Gago damaged a ligament in his left knee last month in the Argentine league.

The midfield lineup also includes Javier Mascherano, Angel Di Maria and Ever Banega.

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Argentina:

Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Monaco), Mariano Andujar (Catania), Agustin Orion (Boca Juniors).

Defenders: Federico Fernandez (Napoli), Ezequiel Garay (Benfica), Martin Demichelis (Manchester City), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Marcos Rojo (Sporting Lisbon), Jose Basanta (Monterrey), Hugo Campagnaro (Inter Milan), Nicolas Otamendi (Atletico Mineiro), Lisandro Lopez (Getafe), Gabriel Mercado (River Plate).

Midfielders: Fernando Gago (Boca Juniors), Ever Banega (Newell's Old Boys), Augusto Fernandez (Celta Vigo), Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid), Lucas Biglia (Lazio), Maxi Rodriguez (Newell's Old Boys), Ricardo Alvarez (Inter Milan), Enzo Perez (Benfica), Fabian Rinaudo (Catania), Jose Sosa (Atletico Madrid).

Forwards: Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Paris Saint-Germain), Rodrigo Palacio (Inter Milan), Franco Di Santo (Werder Bremen). // ( The Associated Press )

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5 things to know before Europa League matches

5 things to know before Europa League matches — The second leg of fixtures in the last 32 of the Europa League take place Thursday with the potential for some big names to be knocked out of the competition.

Lazio lost 1-0 at home to Bulgarian side Ludogorets, Tottenham was beaten by the same score away to Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk and Ajax was trounced 3-0 at home by Salzburg.

The ties involving Napoli and Sevilla also delicately balanced.

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Sevilla's Vicente Iborra, left, and teammate Federico Fazio celebrate their goal during the Europa League round of 32, first leg soccer match against Maribor in Maribor, Slovenia, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014. (AP Photo/Filip Horvat)

Jonatan Soriano, left and Alan of FC Salzburg celebrate the first goal by way of a penalty, during the Europa League round of 32 first leg soccer match between Ajax and FC Salzburg at the ArenA stadium in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)

ENGLISH TEAMS NEED GOALS

Swansea did well to hold Napoli to a 0-0 draw at home but will need to work even harder to find a way past the Italians' defense at the Sao Paolo.

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, of France, celebrates after scoring with teammates Andrea Pirlo, right, and Carlos Tevez, center, during the Europa League, round of 16th, soccer match between Juventus and Trabzonspor at the Juventus stadium, in Turin, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014. (AP Photo/Massimo Pinca)

"In Italy it will be very difficult and I'm sure it will be an intimidating atmosphere," defender Angel Rangel said. "We have to believe in ourselves because what we achieved last week in the first leg was a big achievement."

Despite losing 4-3 to Liverpool on Sunday, scoring three times at Anfield in another impressive display should help to build Swansea's confidence. Tottenham, which lost 1-0 to Norwich, will rely on home advantage to help it overturn the 1-0 deficit against Dnipro.

The winner of that tie could play Benfica, last year's runner-up.

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FOUR ITALIAN TEAMS IN ACTION

Eintracht Frankfurt's Carlos Zambrano, left, challenges FC Porto's Hector Herrera, right, during their Europa League round of 32, first leg soccer match at the Dragao stadium, in Porto, Portugal, Thursday Feb. 20, 2014. The match ended in a 2-2 draw.(AP Photo/Paulo Duarte)

Aside from Napoli, Italy also has Serie A leader Juventus, Lazio and Fiorentina in action on Thursday. Lazio trails Ludogorets by an away goal but Fiorentina and Juventus look more assured.

Fiorentina hit three first-half goals against Esbjerg in Denmark to win 3-1 and take control of that tie. In Turin, Juventus beat Trabzonspor 2-0 but coach Antonio Conte is aware of how tough the away trip to Turkey for the return leg could be.

"We'll need to score as soon as possible because we'll be playing in a heated atmosphere and qualification isn't yet in the bag," Conte said.

Should Juventus and Fiorentina come out of their games victorious, they will meet in the last 16.

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AJAX READY TO RESPOND?

The 3-0 home loss to Salzburg was the shock result of last week's matches, but Ajax responded by thrashing fellow Europa League side AZ Alkmaar 4-0 in the Dutch league at the weekend, with coach Frank de Boer saying "We redeemed ourselves."

The four-time European champion conceded all three goals before halftime in the first leg.

Alkmaar takes on Slovan Liberec, where it has a 1-0 lead and an away goal, thanks to a winner in the 89th minute from Nick Viergever.

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PORTO IN DANGER, BENFICA IN COMMAND

Surrendering a winning position at home is not normally associated with Porto, but it was stunned in the home leg of its tie with Eintracht Frankfurt last week. It led 2-0, but conceded twice in five minutes as Eintracht pulled level. The Portuguese side then lost 1-0 at home to Estoril in the league, its first domestic defeat at the Dragao stadium in five years.

Portuguese league leader Benfica has a 1-0 lead ahead of its home game with PAOK.

"Benfica is an experienced team in these competitions," coach Jorge Jesus said. "We won the first half of this round; now we have to think about the second."

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SPANISH TRIO HAVE TOUGH TIES

Valencia recorded an impressive 2-0 away win against Dynamo Kyiv 2-0 with two goals in the last 11 minutes. It followed that result by beating Granada 2-1 at the Mestalla, and will be favorite to make the last 16, where it will play either Lazio or Ludogorets.

Sevilla drew 2-2 at Slovenian club Maribor but will be hoping that home advantage, along with two away goals, can help it progress.

Real Betis, bottom of La Liga and 10 points from safety, travels to Russia to face Rubin Kazan after a 1-1 draw in the first leg. Should Betis and Sevilla both progress, they will meet in an all-Spanish tie in the last 16. ( Associated Press )

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5 things to know about the Italian league

5 things to know about the Italian league - Serie A leader Juventus will look to get over last week's disappointing draw at Hellas Verona when it takes on Chievo Verona on Sunday. Roma — Juventus' only realistic challenger to the title — will also be hoping to recover from a poor week when it welcomes Sampdoria.

Third-placed Napoli visits lowly Sassuolo, needing to win to maintain a healthy advantage over Fiorentina and Inter Milan, which play each other on Saturday.

Here are five things to know about the Italian league this weekend:

ROMA REELING

It has been somewhat of a miserable week for Rudi Garcia and his Roma team.

Roma was dumped out of the Italian Cup on Wednesday after a humiliating 3-0 defeat at Napoli in the second leg of its semifinal.

AS Roma's Francesco Totti leaves at the end of an Italian Cup semifinal return match, between AS Roma and Napoli, at the San Paolo stadium in Naples, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014. Napoli won 3 - 0 to advance to the final. (AP Photo/Salvatore Laporta)

It was the club's second defeat in all competitions this season and came days after a 0-0 draw at Lazio in the capital derby, which would have seen Roma slip 11 points behind Juventus had the Serie A leader not drawn 2-2 at Hellas Verona.

This weekend sees Roma host Sampdoria, which is clambering its way away from danger after two successive victories.

"We need to be more clinical in attack and also in defense," Garcia said. "The start of the second half was awful; we need to improve. We will do everything to win on Sunday against Sampdoria."

Roma does have a game in hand on Juventus after its match against Parma was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

AS Roma coach Rudi Garcia leaves at the end of an Italian Cup, semifinal return match, between AS Roma and Napoli, at the San Paolo stadium in Naples, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014. Napoli won 3 - 0 to advance to the final. (AP Photo/Salvatore Laporta)

DISAPPOINTED TEVEZ

After slipping up against Hellas Verona last weekend, Juventus will be hoping not to fall foul of another Verona team on Sunday.

Juventus squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at promoted Verona and missed the chance to extend its Serie A lead to 11 points.

Carlos Tevez scored twice to take his tally to 13 for the season and he will be looking to fire his team to victory against Chievo Verona.

"I'm not happy because I like winning," Tevez said. "I haven't been thinking about my two goals against Verona, just the fact that we weren't able to come away with the three points."

Napoli's Gonzalo Higuain celebrates after scoring during an Italian Cup, semifinal return match, between AS Roma and Napoli, at the San Paolo stadium in Naples, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014. (AP Photo/Salvatore Laporta)

Juventus has won all 11 of its home league matches this season.

NO LIMITS FOR MAZZARRI

Inter Milan will be hoping it has its season back on track after beating lowly Sassuolo for its first win of 2014.

It faces a much trickier test when it visits Fiorentina on Saturday hoping to reignite its faint Champions League hopes.

Juventus' forward Carlos Tevez, of Argentina scores during a Serie A soccer match against Hellas Verona at the Bentegodi stadium in Verona, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014. (AP Photo/Felice Calabro')

Inter is fifth, just one place behind Fiorentina, but eight points separate the two teams. Third-placed Napoli is 11 points ahead of Inter.

"This Fiorentina is a very dangerous side, especially at its own ground," Inter coach Walter Mazzarri said. "But we are confident we can give a certain continuity to our results.

"There are 45 points at stake; I would like to get most of them. I can't put limits on myself and I would be happy if the team goes into each game with my spirit."

MILAN FOCUSED ON BOLOGNA

Juventus' forward Carlos Tevez, right, of Argentina, is hugged by his teammate Paul Pogba, of France, after he scored during a Serie A soccer match against Hellas Verona at the Bentegodi stadium in Verona, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014. (AP Photo/Felice Calabro')

AC Milan coach Clarence Seedorf claims his team isn't thinking about the upcoming Champions League match ahead of its league game against Bologna.

After losing 3-1 at Napoli last weekend, Milan will be hoping to celebrate Saint Valentine's day with a win on Friday against relegation-threatened Bologna.

Spanish leader Atletico Madrid visits Milan for the first leg of its last-16 clash on Wednesday.

"We're clearly only focused on Bologna," Seedorf said. "We haven't given the slightest thought to the Champions League yet.

"Every match helps us improve and the Bologna one could put us in a good state going into the Champions League match."

Inter Milan coach Walter Mazzarri gestures during the Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Sassuolo at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Milan is the only Italian team left in the Champions League after both Napoli and Juventus were knocked out of Europe's elite club competition.

GOMEZ RETURN

Fiorentina forward Mario Gomez could return to action on Saturday after nearly five months out with a left knee injury.

The Germany start was an unused substitute in Tuesday's Italian Cup semifinal victory over Udinese but is likely to make a long-awaited reappearance against Inter Milan.

Gomez was Fiorentina's marquee signing when he joined in the summer from Bayern Munich for a reported 20 million euros ($26 million).

He scored twice in his second league match for Fiorentina but was injured on his next Serie A appearance, against Cagliari on Sept. 15.

Gomez, who scored 112 goals in 172 games for Bayern, was initially expected to be sidelined for around six weeks with damaged knee ligaments but complications extended his recovery time.

Fiorentina's other star striker, Giuseppe Rossi, is still out with a long-term knee injury. ( ap.org )

READ MORE - 5 things to know about the Italian league

Conte lets rip as Juve crash out to Bayern

Conte lets rip as Juve crash out to Bayern - Juventus coach Antonio Conte has called on Italian football to get its house in order or risk becoming a lost giant of European football, following their quarter-final exit from the Champions League to Bayern Munich on Wednesday. 

Juve were outclassed during a 2-0 first leg defeat to the newly-crowned German champions last week in Munich and despite a far better performance in Turin on Wednesday the hosts fell to another 2-0 reverse. 

Conte, a former midfielder with the two-time European champions before leading the club to their 28th Scudetto in his first season in charge last year, said Tuesday there was a huge gap between his side and big-spending Bayern. 

Bayern Munich's Mario Mandzukic (L) and Giorgio Chiellini of Juventus fight during their Champions League quarter-final second leg soccer match at the Juventus stadium in Turin April 10, 2013. 

After second-half goals from Mario Mandzukic and Claudio Pizarro sealed the Bundesliga side's place in the semis for the third time in four years, the 43-year-old Conte took aim at Italian football in general. 

He said it is time for Italy's clubs to start generating the finance needed to compete on a level playing field with the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern and Manchester United. 

If not, Juve could go the way of one of European football's strongest sides in the 1970s, Dutch giants Ajax, who have struggled to get back to Europe's top table in the past two decades. 

"Given that two years ago we weren't even in the Europa League I have to congratulate my players for getting this far," said Conte. 

"They've worked really hard to make a mark in this competition over the past two years. 

"They (Bayern) were simply stronger than us and we can only congratulate them. When you're playing against one of the strongest teams in Europe it becomes difficult for everyone. 

"But playing Bayern was a good opportunity to see where exactly we are compared to the big boys in Europe. Where are we, what's missing and how do we remedy it? 

"We have to look elsewhere, to Spain, to England and to Germany to see what lessons we can learn. 

"But if you have the money, you can buy (players) and win. Otherwise, it takes a lot of patience. 

"The way things are right now, I don't see any Italian teams winning the Champions League for the next several years." 

Inter Milan in 2010 were the last Italian team to win the Champions League but since then no Serie A side has made the final four of Europe's premier club competition. 

Although Juventus are considered one of the continent's bigger clubs, their comparative lack of spending power does little to draw the world's top players. 

Juve have repeatedly declared they cannot splash out 30 million euros on one player, but for the club's director general Beppe Marotta, Bayern's massive spending power has proved key. 

"We were dominated last week at Bayern and this week we lost again, but not just on the pitch -- in terms of finance as well," said Marotta, underlining the fact Bayern, champions four times, were beaten finalists in 2010 and 2012. 

"They have played two finals in the space of three years. Don't forget that Bayern have a turnover that is not only twice that of Juve, but also Milan and Inter Milan." 

Conte said he will now concentrate on "defending our league crown", but he called on Italian football -- which has been rocked by match-fixing, drugs and sports betting scandal over the years -- to take a look in the mirror, or fall further behind. 

"Look at Ajax. They were huge before, now they're nowhere in Europe," he added. 

Conte, who earlier this season served a four-month touchline ban for his alleged role in a match-fixing affair while at his former club, Siena, added: "In Italy, people are more interested in following futile stories than looking at how we can go about improving the state of our football. 

"They ask useless questions about the referee or this or that. The answer is, we have to work hard and try to take our football to a new level and to do that we have to increase the budget that's available to us." // AFP News

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That's pants! Striker strips off to his undies in celebration after scoring winning goal for Juventus

That's pants! Striker strips off to his undies in celebration after scoring winning goal for Juventus - Mirko Vucinic scored winning penalty to beat Pescara 2-1 in Turin - He was given yellow card for stunt, defying ban on players taking shirts off 

Juventus continued their march towards back-to-back Serie A titles with a 2-1 win over Pescara in Turin.

The Bianconeri were made to wait for their latest success, which moves them 12 points clear of second-placed Napoli, with Mirko Vucinic firing in a 72nd-minute penalty after Giuseppe Rizzo saw red.

Vucinic added the second moments later, whipped off his shorts in celebration and was promptly substituted by boss Antonio Conte ahead of the midweek Champions League quarter-final second leg against Bayern Munich.

The striker was given a yellow card for his cheeky antics, which were a way of avoiding a ban on players taking their shirts off.

Unique celebration: Juventus striker Mirko Vucinic waves his shorts as he celebrates after scoring against Pescara

Off they come: Vucinic takes his shorts off after scoring and waves them over his head

Spot on: Vucinic scores his penalty 

Juve were made to sweat as Emmanuel Cascione curled in a stunning effort - Pescara's first shot on target - with seven minutes left.

Rolando Bianchi's stoppage-time equaliser grabbed a 2-2 draw for Torino at Bologna. 

Paulo Vitor Barreto sent Torino ahead on 25 minutes but Bologna looked like they had grabbed the game away after the break.

Panagiotis Kone levelled on 65 minutes before substitute Tiberio Guarente seemingly won it with four minutes left. But Bianchi popped up late to share the points.

It's not the first time Vucinic has felt the need to remove his shorts in celebration - he did the same while representing Montenegro against Switzerland in October 2010, completing the look by wearing them on his head.

Nearly there: Juventus' players celebrate winning against Pescara and closing in on the title

Stephen Ireland partially got his kit off to celebrate a 2007 goal for Manchester City, while Denmark's Nicklas Bendtner was fined £80,000 and banned for one game by UEFA for dropping his shorts to reveal a sponsor's name on the waistband of his trunks.

The end of the 2005 season saw at least two emotional players baring their emotions in the same style as Vucinic. John Arne Riise celebrated Liverpool's Champions League semi-final win over Chelsea by revealing a grey pair of briefs while Newcastle United's Laurent Robert bowed out of St James' Park by removing his strip before waving goodbye to fans.

Not the first time: Vucinic celebrated a goal against Switzerland in October 2010 by whipping off his shorts and wearing them on his head

Stephen Ireland celebrated a 2007 goal for Manchester City by dropping his shorts 

Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner was fined £80,000 and banned for one international game by UEFA after pulling his shorts down during Euro 2012 to reveal a sponsor's logo emblazoned on his boxers

In 2005, John Arne Riise celebrated Liverpool's Champions League win over Chelsea by baring nearly-all, while Laurent Robert said goodbye to the Toon by stripping off his strip at St James' Park at the end of the season //dailymail.co.uk

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Eintracht Frankfurt - Bayern Munich

Eintracht Frankfurt - Bayern Munich - With the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal tie with Juventus looming large, Bayern is set to shuffle the pack once more. Rafinha, Jerome Boateng and Diego Contento all should get run-outs in defense in the places of Philipp Lahm, Dante and David Alaba, respectively, as Bayern can clinch the Bundesliga title with a draw or win.

In midfield, Anatoliy Tymoshchuk will get a rare start as Bastian Schweinsteiger is given a rest, while Franck Ribery should make way for Xherdan Shaqiri, who will form an attacking midfield trio with Thomas Muller and Arjen Robben in Toni Kroos' absence.

Finally, Mario Gomez is likely to play up front ahead of Mario Mandzukic and Claudio Pizarro. Holger Badstuber remains out for the rest of the season.

Meanwhile, for the hosts, goalkeeper Kevin Trapp is unavailable due to a broken hand, giving Oka Nikolov a rare opportunity to impress in the Bundesliga.

Elsewhere, though, they have no fresh injuries or suspensions, though Pirmin Schwegler and Martin Lanig will be competing for a spot in midfield, with the former returning from injury.

Bundesliga Preview: Eintracht Frankfurt - Bayern Munich

PROBABLE LINEUPS

FRANKFURT Nikolov Jun, Zambrano, Anderson, Oczipka Schwegler, Rode Aigner, Meier, Inui Lakic

BAYERN Neuer Rafinha, Van Buyten, Boateng, Contento Tymoshchuk, Martinez Robben, Muller, Shaqiri Gomez

DID YOU KNOW?

• Eintracht Frankfurt has the best home record against Bayern of any team in the Bundesliga, having won 18 games against the historical giants and losing just nine.

• What's more, no team has ever claimed a 1-0 victory over the Bavarians more times in their history than the Hessians.

• Frankfurt coach Armin Veh made all 65 of his Bundesliga appearances playing under Bayern counterpart Jupp Heynckes (pictured, right) at Borussia Monchengladbach.

• Bayern Munich can win the title with six games to spare for the first time in their history, beating its record of matchday 30 from 1973 and 2003.

• Furthermore, no team has ever won the Bundesliga title during the first half of April.

• Claudio Pizarro's four goals against Hamburg last week were his first of the Bundesliga season, coming in his 14th appearance. // Goal.com

READ MORE - Eintracht Frankfurt - Bayern Munich

The curious case of Nicolas Anelka

The curious case of Nicolas Anelka - When Fabio Quagliarella opened the scoring in the Derby d'Italia with a trademark spectacular strike on Saturday, he made a point of running over to the Juventus dugout at San Siro to celebrate with one of his team-mates. It was Nicolas Anelka.

More acknowledgment was to come later in the game too.

After restoring Juventus' lead in the second half, Alessandro Matri also sought Anelka out. They embraced. It was as if he had played a part in another Juventus goal and their 2-1 victory.

And yet, how could he have done? He was on the bench as is nearly always the case.

"I prefer a difficult assist to an easy goal," Anelka told Hurrà Juventus shortly after joining the club. Managing two without even being on the pitch is certainly difficult, an unprecedented accomplishment perhaps.

After the game, the assembled journalists were understandably curious to know why Quagliarella and Matri had credited their goals to Anelka.

"He told us that we would score," Quagliarella revealed. "We're only too happy to dedicate them to him."

Earlier in the week France Football had asked on their front page: "What is [Anelka] doing [at Juventus]?" Bringing them powers of prediction maybe?

Seriously, though, Anelka has played just 23 minutes since his arrival in Turin at the end of the January transfer window.

Whether the situation suits him or not has been a matter of some debate. Judging by his post on Twitter last Thursday denying a report that he was considering rescinding his contract, one can assume that it does.

Anelka was under no illusion about what his role at Juventus would be. General manager Beppe Marotta laid it out in no uncertain terms.

"Anelka is a stop-gap reinforcement," he said. "We have to patch up an emergency situation."

The emergency Marotta was referring to arguably wasn't really worthy of the status. True, Juventus were experiencing difficulty scoring at the time Anelka's private jet landed at Caselle airport on January 26.

Frustratingly, they had drawn three of their last four games 1-1 and would be knocked out of the Coppa Italia by Lazio the following evening.

This led some to labour under the misapprehension that Anelka was signed to solve that problem. He wasn't. Until Fernando Llorente completes his move from Athletic Bilbao in the summer, Juventus are prepared to make do in the meantime.

Far from being identified as a possible number one striker, Anelka was brought in as their number five. Unlikely though it is that it was sold to him in these terms, he was simply a replacement for the injured on loan Arsenal forward Nicklas Bendtner.

As you can maybe imagine the response to Anelka's arrival was pretty underwhelming, particularly when it looked at one point like Juventus would be signing his former Chelsea and Shanghai teammate Didier Drogba.

A poll in La Gazzetta dello Sport showed that 76% of readers thought Juventus didn't need him. Two months later, they probably feel justified.

But as became apparent in the Derby d'Italia, Anelka has brought something to Juventus and that believe it or not is peace of mind, both, and I jest, in his predictions and, above all, in knowing that they're covered should anything happen to Quagliarella, Matri, Mirko Vucinic and Sebastian Giovinco. Saturday's opponents Inter don't have that.

When Diego Milito suffered a horrific season-ending injury in February, they were caught short. The purchase of Tommaso Rocchi as a deputy had been a token gesture and so unconvinced were Inter by him that they even gave a brief and unsuccessful trial to John Carew. He hadn't played in nearly a year.

"His present physical condition would need a lengthy period of fitness work not compatible with the needs of the club," a statement read.

Anelka wasn't exactly fit and raring to go for Juventus after a year in Shanghai either. Marotta admitted as much at his official unveiling: "We know that at the moment [his] physical condition isn't excellent."

The difference was that Juventus had greater depth in the position than Inter. They could afford Anelka the time to get in shape and in sync to be ready should he ever be called upon.

Even taking that into account, it still beggared belief, though. Anelka had signed a five-month contract. What was the point of it if he were to spend much of that time working on his fitness?

His last goal of any note in a major league was on August 20, 2011. In a worst case scenario, would he have been in a state to help Juventus? Fortunately for them, it hasn't come to that. But at least in the event that it does they have an option.

That Anelka is happy to be that guy has led some to question his motives. He's 34 and could still contribute on a regular basis somewhere if he wanted to. Does not doing so make him a mercenary? To some, yes. Juventus legend Zibi Boniek is one of them.

"To me, he stopped being a footballer two years ago," he told France Football, "but he's very smart and very good.

"He always finds a club. He succeeds in finding what he wants. It's amazing how you can manage a career, still earning money when you're no longer a footballer.

"Too bad I'm not Anelka's agent, who I always liked as a footballer. Because you're selling a product you don't see. It's beautiful, is it not?"

Behind the cynicism, Boniek makes a good point, even if Anelka is earning approximately seven times less at Juventus what he was at Shanghai Shenhua, his monthly wages dropping from €920,000 net to a reported €120-140,000 net. It's still not bad, though, is it?

In fairness to Anelka, he presumably could have gone to play in Qatar and made more money if he'd instructed his agents to find a club there. Instead he told them to look for one in Italy.

When Juventus were offered his services and replied that they'd be interested, why wouldn't he want to go to the champions of Italy, play in a new stadium in a new country and in one of the best leagues in the world?

"I wanted to be at all the teams that I've played for," Anelka told Hurrà Juventus. In this case, you get the feeling he's being sincere.

"I haven't come to take anyone's place," Anelka insisted. That's not a lack of ambition but the sort of selflessness that Juventus coach Antonio Conte demands of his players.

To his credit, by all accounts he has been a consummate professional, a team player too. He trains, goes home and keeps his head down. A leader of one of Juventus' fan clubs likes how he's never seen out at night.

He has been respectful and hasn't taken the mickey like someone who was there simply for the money might be.

He even lives in Turin, not outside the city like the other players, instead choosing an apartment in via Filadelfia of all places, the street where Torino's hallowed old ground resides. It's a working class part of town. Not exclusive by any means.

It has led to the impression that Anelka is human, humble even despite his wealth. It's all rather bizarre.

Anelka is in Juventus' squad for tonight's Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich. One wonders what his prediction is.

By Eurosport | Pitchside Europe – 9 hours ago

READ MORE - The curious case of Nicolas Anelka

Bayern will challenge Barcelona and Madrid for Champions League glory

Bayern will challenge Barcelona and Madrid for Champions League glory - Arjen Robben is brimming with confidence ahead of the first leg of Bayern Munich's Champions League quarterfinal tie against Juventus, and believes the Bundesliga leader can challenge pre-tournament favorites Barcelona and Real Madrid for the title.

The Bavarians made it to the final of the competition last campaign, and Robben feels they have what it takes to make it to this year's showpiece at Wembley too, even though he realizes Juventus will not be a pushovers in the quarterfinals.

Robben: Bayern will challenge Barcelona and Madrid for Champions League glory

"We showed last season that we can be up there with the best in Europe, so we want to be in the final at Wembley. We will challenge the likes of Barca and Real for the title," the Dutchman was quoted as saying by The Times of India.

"If you look at last year's final against Chelsea, again we should never have lost it. But we’ve improved from last year. We are in the quarterfinals and we are top of our league, so you can’t ask for more.

"The tie against Juventus is going to be a tough challenge for sure. They are a team with so many experienced players — people like Andrea Pirlo — and we know how hard they will make it for us."

The Netherlands international then went on to discuss his future at Bayern, and dismissed rumors that he could be on the move this summer.

"Sometimes it's ridiculous what gets written. I have another two years on my contract and I am looking forward to seeing it through," he continued.

"Of course I didn’t want to be on the bench. When you’ve recovered from a few injuries like me, then you’ll understand. I love being on the pitch. When I’m out there, I just want to play football."

By Stefan Coerts | Goal.com – 7 hours ago

READ MORE - Bayern will challenge Barcelona and Madrid for Champions League glory