The midfielder has been named the best Dutch free kick taker Realmadrid.com
In a poll conducted by magazine Voetbal International to decide who the best free kick taker on the Dutch national team is, Wesley Sneijder received an overwhelming 70% of the votes.
Arsenal's Robin van Persie was second with 21% of the 15,000 votes, followed by Ajax's Klas Jan Huntelaar with 3%.
MADRID (AFP) - Dutch international Wesley Sneijder has recovered from a knee injury earlier than expected and will play for Real Madrid at Espanyol on Sunday, coach Bernd Schuster said Saturday.
"It's impossible to stop him, if I do not call him he will shoot me twice. Watching Wesley train these past ten days is frightening, he has recovered perfectly. It's impossible not to call him, he is working very well," he said.
"I will give Sneijder minutes, we will see how many, but at least 45," he added.
The 24-year-old midfielder had been expected to be out for at least three months after being injured in a pre-season friendly against Arsenal in August.
"I became really tired of watching matches on television. I can't stand to see one more match from the sofa," the Dutchman told sports daily Marca.
Sneijder, who scored nine goals in Real's march to the title last term in his first season at the club after leaving Ajax, has undergone intensive orthopaedic treatment since picking up his injury.
Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk has also included him in his squad for upcoming World Cup qualifying matches against Iceland and Norway.
MADRID (AFP) — Dutch international midfielder Wesley Sneijder is set to return to play for Spanish champions Real Madrid after recovering from a left knee injury, the club announced on Friday.
The 24-year-old injured his knee two months ago in a friendly against English Premiership side Arsenal but he came through training with his team-mates safely on Friday and is expected to make his competitive return on October 5 against Espanyol at the Bernabeu.
Sneijder, who scored nine goals in Real's march to the title last term in his first season at the club after leaving Ajax, had been expected to be out for three months but opted to undergo intensive orthopaedic treatment.
MADRID (SW) - Real Madrid midfielder Wesley Sneijder aims to make his comeback when the Spanish side face Zenit St Petersburg next week.
Dutch newspaper 'Algemeen Dagblad' reports that Sneijder, who was initially not expected back until November after suffering a knee injury while preparing for the start of this season, has been training as usual and should return to the pitch soon.
Wednesday's Primera Division match with Sporting Gijón probably comes too soon, but another week should give the Dutchman enough time to get in perfect shape.
The return would come at a good moment as Madrid are without the injured Guti for their match with Zenit
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FIRST TRAININGPICS OF WESLEY BACK ON THE PITCH!
Second training of the week for the Whites. The players did mild physical exercises and ball work. Wesley Sneijder trained outdoors for the first time in 37 days. Raúl and Guti stayed in the gym.
Sneijder tore the internal lateral ligament of his left knee on 3 August during a friendly match with Arsenal in London. The midfielder took the pitch for the first time this morning since the incident and was cheered on by his teammates. The Dutch midfielder jogged and worked in the gym.
The rest of the squad - Miguel Torres (who won’t face Russia with Spain’s Under-21 side due to suspension), Marcelo, Saviola, Higuaín, Drenthe, De la Red, Michel Salgado, Van Nistelrooy, Dudek and Codina- joined him on the pitch after a 30-minute workout in the gym. Guti and Raúl stayed indoors all morning.
Ball work The players did skipping and footing exercises in an obstacle course with hurdles, after which they did ball exercises in the following pairs: Torres and Saviola, Higuaín and Marcelo, Salgado and Van Nistelrooy, Drenthe and De la Red. Bernd Schuster supervised the workout. The players had to practice speed and ball movement by completing the exercise with only one touch on ball.
The team’s internationals will return on Thursday, giving Schuster two days to prepare for Sunday’s match with Numancia.
"Viva es-Sneijder!" Real Madrid midfielder Wesley Sneijder returned to training action today. This was his first time on the pitch of play since he suffered a serious knee injury in the friendly match against Arsenal a month ago today...
The creative midfielder left the pitch injured in the friendly match against Arsenal and Madrid feared for the worst. However, the pint-sized playmaker is recovering surprisingly quick.
“The recovery is going very well so far, but I don’t want to be too positivejust yet,” said Sneijder to De Telegraaf.
“I was expected to be sidelined for at least three months, but it looks like I’m back a little bit quicker. However, I don’t want to target a date to be fully fit again. I’m living day by day now and we’ll see what happens.”
Meanwhile, the Dutchman was gifted the number 10 jersey at Madrid due to the transfer of Robinho. “Of course, it’s only a number, but it makes me feel proud to be wearing the number 10 jersey. It remains a special number,” he grinned.
Additionally, Rafael van der Vaart was handed the previously-vacant number 23. The former HSV player had number 23 for most of his career, but his number was taken by Sneijder before.
Wesley Sneijder will only be sidelined for three months after doctors in Spain confirmed that he not damaged the cruciate ligament in his knee, according to Marca.
While the Dutchman will still face a spell on the sidelines is better than the early prognosis of up to six months without playing, which would have meant he would not be back until the New Year.
After tests in the hospital Sanitas de la Moraleja, Sneijder was told that he had partially torn the internal lateral ligament and could return to action in early November.
Abou Diaby is persona non grata in Madrid at the moment with Marca emblazoning their front cover on Monday with a picture of him entangled with the Dutch international below the headline 'Criminal Tackle'.
The Madrid-biased daily were outraged that the referee had not blown for a foul after the challenge during Madrid's 1-0 defeat by the Gunners in the Emirates Cup on Sunday.
A smaller picture of Sneijder in a wheelchair at the airport was also featured with the paper suggesting that he could be out for over half a year as first suggested by medics.
Early report did suggest that Sneijder would miss half of the new season and several of his team-mates, including Arjen Robben, as well as coach Bernd Schuster and president Ramón Calderón expressed their dismay.
The arrival of Rafael Van der Vaart at the club would have meant that he will have a replacement, but missing a month of pre-season training will mean that there will be plenty to do when he is able to run once more.
The Dutchman was stretchered off with a serious ligament injury
Wesley Sneijder was stretchered off in the second half after a heavy tackle by Abou Diaby. Initial tests show serious damage to his knee ligaments, but the player will undergo complementary exams including an MRI on Monday to determine the full extent of the injury.
One more workout left before Real Madrid head to London
With 48 hours remaining until Real Madrid set foot in Emirates Stadium for their first match of the Emirates Cup against Hamburg, the squad held its second to last training session in Irdning on Thursday.
Real Madrid kicked off their last day of preseason training in Austria with a 35-minute gym workout and outdoor ball exercises, while the team's internationals continued their respective protocols.
Ball work Thursday's session stressed ball circulation, specific drills for the defense and offense, and shots on goal. Split into three groups, the squad intensely prepared for Saturday's Emirates Cup clash against Hamburg.
Internationals turn up the heat Casillas, Ramos, De la Red, and Metzelder worked on their individual recovery protocols, including aerobic endurance drills, prior to joining their teammates.
Real Madrid will hold an afternoon gym and pool session.
I'VE ADDED ONE PICTURE OF WESLEY , YOU CAN SEE HIMHERE!!
Rain flooded the pitch at ATV Irdning, forcing Real Madrid to exercise in the gym for one hour before goping outside for a technical work-out. Fabio Cannavaro trained with his teammates today, while Robinho and Soldado continued doing specific exercises indoors.
PRACTICE GAME AND GOALS The squad divided into two teams for a practice game in the rain. Miguel Torres, Heinze, Robben, Higuaín, Javi García, Guti, Raúl, Parejo and coach Bernd Schuster wore red bibs and faced the white-bib team formed by Juanmi Callejón, Chema Antón, Sneijder, Diarra, Pepe, Baptista, Saviola, Salgado and Van Nistelrooy.
Higuaín, Diarra, Robben and Parejo scored, but keepers Dudek, Felipe Ramos and Jordi Codina also gave signs of their excellent quality between the posts.
CANNAVARO ON THE PITCH The Italian player did some recovery exercises on the pitch with recovery expert Carlos Lalín. Cannavaro is making great progress thanks to the specific programme he is following.
Robinho and Soldado stayed in the gym. The former is injured on his pubis, while the latter has a strain on the sole of his left foot.
I'VE ADDED TWO PICTURES OF TODAY AND YESTERDAY, YOU CAN SEE THEM HERE!!
Real Madrid left their hotel this morning to train on the facilities at ATV Irdning, where more than a hundred fans waited for them in the rain and 14º celsius temperature. Robinho, Cannavaro and Soldado stayed indoors doing recovery work on their injuries.
Bernd Schuster and his staff devised a physical session which began with some jogging exercises.
The close to two hundred fans on the stands greeted the team with an applause and cheers, grateful to the Club for chosing their town a fourth consecutive year.
Physical coach Jordi García made the 20 men on the pitch tackle 600 meter sprinting series in which pace gradually increased.
Ball work The second part of training consisted on a game in two groups. Pepe, Heinze, Juanmi Callejón, Baptista, Sneijder, Higuaín, Miguel Torres, Saviola and Robben formed one; and Dani Parejo, Diarra, Javi García, Salgado, Raúl, Chema Antón, Van Nistelrooy, Guti, and Bernd Schuster formed the other.
Goalkeepers Dudek, Codina and Felipe Ramos trained on the adjoining pitch with keeper coach Pedro Jaro.
The players tested their aim in two small goals. Robben, Raúl and Guti were the first to score this morning, thrilling the fans that had gone to see them train live for nearly two hours.
I'VE ADDED TWO PICTURES, ONE OF TODAY AND ONE OF JULY 19, YOU CAN SEE THEM HERE AND HERE!!
After a week in the Algarve, Real Madrid now travel to Irdning to tackle hard pre-season work. This is the fifht year the team trains in the Austrian town.
Double training session a day The players have gradually adapted to work in the Algarve during the past week. They will arrive in Irdning at 18:50 this evening to intensify their training.
The squad will attend a double session every day at the sports facilities of the Scholss Pichlarn Hotel, where they will stay the next ten days. Men who played in the Euro but still haven't rejoined the team will do so througout the week . Sergio Ramos, Casillas, De la Red and Metzelder will be the last to arrive. The only players missing will be those who are set to participate in the Olympic Games this summer.
Friendly on 27 July Real Madrid's first friendly of the season will be against Austrian First Division side Lask Linz. The encounter will serve to see in what physical condition the players are in.
The squad will travel to London three days later to participate in their most important summer tournament this summer: the Emirates Cup. They will face Hamburg, Juventus and host side Arsenal. The team will return to Madrid two days later only to leave for Colombia on 6 August to play in a firendly in Bogotá. On 12 August they are set to face Eintrach in Frankfurt in their last match prior to the first Spanish Super Cup clash.
Wesley Sneijder has questioned the wisdom of Real Madrid signing Cristiano Ronaldo because of the effect his wages would have on the squad.
The Dutch midfielder is well aware that the Manchester United winger's ability could help Real, but fears his arrival may cause rifts within the dressing room.
While separating himself from any financial envy, Sneijder believes that some members of the Spanish champions' squad would not be happy earning less than the Portuguese star.
"The truth is that could happen a bit. It would be bad for the squad if one player had a much higher salary than the rest," he said in an interview with Spanish sports daily AS.
"It would not matter to me, but I know that there are other players that would not like that. But I do not want to say much because every day there is different news.
Cristiano is a great player with incredible quality and if he joins Madrid then he will be welcomed. We cannot comment on it now because to speak highly of him would be slightly disrespectful to the players that are already here and have shown their class.
advertisement"There are already similar players to him here, like (Arjen) Robben and Robinho. It is clear that he would be a useful acquisition, but also maintaining the stability within the squad is important.
"I do not think that Madrid need to sign anyone. In the final games of last season we were very solid and the team showed it has grown a lot. Maybe the only thing we do need is to sign a forward.
"This squad is strong and next term we will become even better. But I suppose that if you bring in a player with great quality it could be good for the team."
Sneijder is also keen to see Robinho remain at the club and believes that there is not much difference between the Brazilian and Ronaldo.
"I want Robinho to stay with Madrid because I think that he is almost the same as Cristiano Ronaldo," he said.
"People criticise him a bit and say he does not play well in big games, but I have seen Ronaldo disappear in some of Manchester United's big games.
"I am not criticising because I just want to point out that a player cannot be at the same level all year round."
I'VE ADDED TWO NEW PICTURES OF YESTERDAYS TRAINING, CLICK HERE.
Mild physical and ball work for Real Madrid on their fourth day in the Algarve. The session ended with a practice game with the coaching staff and the players’ families.
Family football Jordi García and Valter Di Salvo devised some specific physical exercises for the players to tackle before the practice game. The men trained in the gym after jogging around the pitch at Vale do Lobo. This was followed by some ball exercises.
The squad and their families will have a barbecue party tonight as a farewell to their stay in Portugal. Their last training session in the Algarve will be held tomorrow morning. They will then return to Madrid to rest until Monday, when the pre-season work will intensify once they reach Irdning.
I'VE ADDED TWO PICTURES OF THE PRESSCONFERENCE!! YOU CAN SEE THEM HERE!!
"I dream about winning the Champions League"
Wesley Sneijder rejoined the team after his short vacation. In an interview to AS, the midfielder said he believes this squad can win the Club's tenth European Cup title.
How have your holidays been like? Did you travel to many places or did you stay in one place?My vacation has been phenomenal. It’s a shame it is now over. I went to the beach, dined in several restaurants and enjoyed myself with my family. I’ve had a lot of time to spend with my wife and my son Jessey. I like to be calm and rest during my holidays, but that doesn’t mean I don’t do anything. I play tennis and football with my brothers and I do lots of different things to avoid boredom.
I guess you saw Rafael Nadal’s and Roger Federer’s impressive Wimbledon final? (Laughs). Nadal is incredible. His skill with a racket is amazing. I couldn’t get my eyes off the television set. I was very happy for him when he won. Naturally, I’m no way as good as he is, but I’m the best amongst my brothers because I always defeat them (laughs).
The pre-season has started for you in the Algarve. How do you feel now that work is back? I always like to return to work with my friends. I’ve only had three weeks off in the end, but I think they were enough. I don’t need any more days to rest. I want to train hard, grow strong again and enjoy the competitions we will play in. That’s what makes me really happy. I end up missing football when I don’t play for a while. Holidays are good for me to spend time with my family and to rest, but I wanted to come back.
You believe the current Real Madrid squad can win the Champions League... I do. We were eliminated by Roma because we had many injured players. I think that if Ramos, Robben and myself had been there that day the team would have won.
The Real Madrid squad is currently in the Algarve, Portugal, beginning its training for the new season. The players worked for two hours, doing physical and ball exercises. After the session, they rejoined their families and continued to enjoy their time together in the resort.
The league champions returned to work 46 days after the end of the 2007/08 season. Their first session took place at the Vale do Lobo resort in the Algarve, where they will attend mild sessions every day this week in which work will gradually intensify to progressively adapt their bodies to greater effort.
Salgado, Cannavaro, Diarra, Soldado, Dudek, Saviola, Torres, Codina, Higuaín, Guti, Raúl, Baptista and Javi García arrived in Portugal yesterday and were today joined by Van Nistelrooy, Robben, Sneijder, Pepe, and Gabriel Heinze.
Training began at the gym, where the men worked out for 30 minutes. It continued on the pitch with a mild jog and some ball work.
The players joined their families after the session ended and enjoyed several of the services offered at Vale do Lobo. The squad will follow this routine throughout the week in order to prepare for the heavier work that will commence once they arrive in Austria next week.
Little surprising the midfield of the fanline08.at EURO team is mainly made up of the Spanish Champions.
The best defence men of EURO 08 demonstrated that modern defenders also want to have a say in the front. Therefore, they cooperated closely with the midfielders. And European Champion Spain implemented this concept in an extraordinary way. Xavi Hernandez certainly was one of the top men to do so; UEFA has also appointed him best player of the tournament. The reason: “The 28-year-old player of FC Barcelona participated in five of the six Spanish games and guaranteed that Spain won its first great title since 1964. His skills in getting the game going were the main reason for the UEFA Technical Study Group to appoint him best player of the tournament.” But also his team colleague Marcos Senna performed incredibly. Many attacks by the opposing teams were not impeded by the defence but already by midfielder Senna, a born Brazilian.
Wesley Sneijder could have outperformed Xavi as best player. But that would only have been possible if the Dutch had not been forced to go home already in the quarter-final phase. During the group phase the 24-year-old was considerably contributing to the Dutch team’s excellent performance. While he pushed forward in the offensive, he always had a good overview. Not least because of his two top scores in the matches against France and Italy he secured himself the Man of the Match award in the two games. Also Lukas Podolski deserves a regular position in the midfield. In the first two group matches Podolski, who was born in Poland, scored all the three goals of the German national team. In the quarter final against Portugal and in the semi final against Turkey he prepared one score each. If he continues to be top scorer in his home club Bayern München as well, he might even outperform Miroslav Klose and Luca Toni as striker one day - the latter had, after all, been rather disappointing during the EURO.
Podolski’s team colleagues will not earn themselves a position in the start formation of our fanline08.at EURO team. But Michael Ballack and Bastian Schweinsteiger contributed considerably in pushing their team into the final. Ballack is also mentioned in the UEFA All Star Team, and Chairman Andi Roxburgh founded his decision in the following: “Ballack was one of the decisive figures on Germany’s way towards the final. And he has scored the European Championship’s most excellent free-kick goal.” After his red card against Croatia and the resulting absence in the game against Austria, Schweinsteiger was soon in top shape again. In the quarter and in the semi final he scored a goal each, in the match against Portugal he assisted the scores. Compared with the extraordinary performances of their team colleagues Xavi and Senna, the good performances shown by Andres Iniesta, David Silva and Cesc Fabregas suffered a bit. But their contribution to the Spanish victory must not be underestimated. Two further excellent key figures are Luka Modric from Croatia and Hamit Altintop from Turkey. Both players showed hardly any mistake, organising their teams’ midfields in a great way.
VIENNA (SW) - The goal scored by Real Madrid midfielder Wesley Sneijder during the clash of the Netherlands with France in the group phase, has been elected best of 2008.
In an official UEFA poll, the goal received forty percent of the votes. The Dutch were already leading 3-1 in injury time when Sneijder sent a well aimed shot over the head of goalkeeper Coupet, after which the ball hit the lower side of the crossbar to disappear into the net.
Second on the list is Nihat Kahveçi's second goal versus the Czech Republic. This goal took the Turks to the quarter finals and earned the player nineteen percent of the votes.
Andrei Arshavin's goal against Sweden, in Russia's final group game, received twelve percent of the total vote
Wesley Sneijder has dispelled rumours he could join Manchester United, insisting he wants to stay at Real Madrid.
Reports have claimed that the Dutch midfielder could be offered to the English champions as part of Real Madrid's bid to sign United winger Cristiano Ronaldo.
Sneijder, who enjoyed an impressive first season at Real after arriving from Ajax, has no intention of cutting his links with the Spanish champions.
Instead, the 24-year-old is hoping Ronaldo joins him at the Bernabeu, and that Robinho is also not offered as part exchange for the Portugal international.
"I'd like to comment on the reports and rumours that I might be going to Manchester United as part of some kind of exchange deal," Sneijder said on his personal website.
"As I've said already, when I left Ajax, all I wanted was to go to Real Madrid. They are the best club in the world. And now that I'm here, all I want is to win as many trophies as I can with them and wear the white shirt for as long as possible.
"The same rumours have been doing the rounds about Robinho. Well, I hope he stays too, and I hope that Cristiano Ronaldo joins us at the Bernabeu.
"In short, I'm flattered to be linked to Manchester United but it's not happening. End of story."
