|
|
 |
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Video Plus Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities 
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE | |
French flavor Eleven Frenchmen among nominees for Golden Ball
Updated: Monday November 12, 2001 3:53 PM
PARIS (Reuters) -- France have the highest number of players, including Arsenal trio Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry and Robert Pires, among the 50 nominees for the 2001 European Footballer of the Year award. Another eight Frenchmen -- Fabien Barthez, Vincent Candela, Eric Carriere, Marcel Desailly, Bixente Lizarazu, Lilian Thuram, David Trezeguet and Zinedine Zidane -- are also on the list for the Golden Ball, awarded annually by French magazine France Football. The winner of the award, which Portugal's Real Madrid star Luis Figo won last year, will be named the week before Christmas after a poll of journalists. Apart from the 11 Frenchmen, whose names were leaked to journalists on Monday, France Football would only confirm that six Italians and five Englishmen were also on the list, although their names have not yet been released. AS Roma captain and playmaker Francesco Totti and England's Liverpool striker Michael Owen have been widely tipped by the French press as favorites to win the prestigious award. Capello says Beckham could win Golden BallAS Roma coach Fabio Capello believes David Beckham is a strong candidate for the 2001 European Player of the Year award. The Manchester United midfielder's form since being given the England captaincy has attracted many admirers and Capello admitted to being one of them. "I like Beckham. He has grown a lot as a player," Capello was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA on Monday. Capello, who has been tipped to become Sir Alex Ferguson's successor as manager of Manchester United, also reaffirmed his commitment to Roma. He said: "I'm flattered to be linked with such an important club but now I am thinking only of Roma." Capello said his personal choice for the Golden Ball, awarded annually by French magazine France Football, would be Real Madrid forward Raul. "I would give it to Raul for what he has won in his career with Real," he said. Eleven French players are on the list of 50 nominees, which has not yet been officially released. Roma striker Francesco Totti has been tipped as a leading contender, but Capello said: "I don't want to talk about Totti because my opinion would be biased." The winner of the prestigious award, won last year by Portugal's Real Madrid forward Luis Figo, will be announced the week before Christmas following a poll of journalists.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
| |||||||||||||||||||||
