FIFA Updates

* French striker scores a goal in each half

* Macedonians fail to trouble second-string Liverpool team
(adds quotes, detail)

By Zlatko Krstevski

SKOPJE, July 29 (Reuters) – David Ngog struck a goal in each
half to give Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson a successful start as
his side won 2-0 at Rabotnicki Skopje in a Europa League third
qualifying round, first-leg match on Thursday.

The French striker opened the scoring after capitalising on
a defensive blunder in the 18th minute and added the second just
before the hour mark, steering in a crisp shot from 10 metres.

The Macedonians failed to trouble a second-string Liverpool
team missing many of their World Cup players, including captain
Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.

The stadium’s capacity was sold out a week ahead of the
fixture but many of the disappointed 22,000 home fans left the
fairly uneventful match well before the final whistle.

New signing Milan Jovanovic was among Liverpool’s starters
and the Serbia winger had a decent game on the left flank,
causing problems with his speed and close control.

“Many of our young players are not used to playing in a
match like this but I am very satisfied with their performance,”
Hodgson told a news conference.

“If we are to have a good season in the Premier League, we
must use all the players we have.

“We were without 13 players tonight but the mix of young and
experienced players we fielded fulfilled my expectations.”

The latter stages of the match were played in near darkness,
after floodlight failure at the stadium’s newly-built northern
tier. The return leg is at Anfield next Thursday.

David Beckham “has no interest” in joining West Ham United and is happy playing for the LA Galaxy, his spokesman has said.

West Ham co-owner David Gold had previously said that Beckham had promised to think about signing for the Hammers, but Beckham’s camp have moved quickly to deny those claims.

“Whilst it’s flattering to hear of interest there has been no contact with or offer from West Ham,” Beckham’s spokesmen told the Press Association.  

“David is happy at the Los Angeles Galaxy and has no interest in leaving, and is looking forward to returning to the team on August 9.”

Beckham, 35, spent part of last season on loan at Italian giants AC Milan is close to completing his recovery from the ruptured achilles that scuppered his chance of making it to a fourth World Cup this summer.

For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com’s MLS page and join Goal.com USA’s Facebook fan page

CHICAGO (AP)—U.S. coach Bob Bradley plans to announce his roster early next
week for an Aug. 10 exhibition against Brazil at the New Meadowlands Stadium in
East Rutherford, N.J.

Bradley’s contract runs through the end of the year, and the U.S. Soccer
Federation has not said whether it will offer a new deal to Bradley, who coached
the Americans to a second-round finish in this year’s World Cup.

Team spokesman Michael Kammarman said a Monday or Tuesday roster
announcement was likely.

New coach Mano Menezes selected just four players from Brazil’s World Cup
team for his 24-man roster. Bradley is expected to pick mostly veterans for the
match.

* Hughes on two-year contract

* Has tough act to follow

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LONDON, July 29 (Reuters) – Fulham have appointed Mark
Hughes as manager on a two-year contract, the west London
Premier League club said on Thursday.

Last season’s Europa League finalists have turned to former
Wales and Manchester City boss Hughes to replace Roy Hodgson who
left to join Liverpool at the start of July.

“I am happy to have joined Fulham following much speculation
regarding the appointment of a new manager,” Hughes told the
Fulham website (www.fulhamfc.com).

Hughes has a tough act to follow at Fulham where Hodgson
made the most of the club’s resources and took them to their
first European final which they lost to Atletico Madrid.

“I’m joining on the back of two of the most successful
seasons in the club’s history and that in itself brings with it
the challenges of expectation and ambition,” added Hughes.

“I’m confident that with some additions to the squad, hard
work and commitment, we can move this club forward in the right
direction,” added the former Manchester United striker.

Chairman Mohamed Al Fayed was convinced Hughes could build
on the club’s success after Hodgson took them on an unexpectedly
rewarding European adventure in which they beat Juventus.

“I am confident that with his Premier League and national
team successes, Mark will be a great guy for the job,” he said.
“I know that he understands my vision for the club, and believes
in what we want achieve.”

Hughes will take charge of the team for the first time in
the friendly with Werder Bremen on Aug. 7 after being officially
unveiled at a news conference next Tuesday.

(Writing by Ken Ferris; Editing by Dave Thompson; To query
or comment on this story email
sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

By Simon Evans

HOUSTON, July 29 (Reuters) – Manchester United’s teenage
Italian striker Federico Macheda believes he can challenge the
club’s senior players for a first-team place this season and
make a lasting impact on the Premier League.

“I am ready and I hope that the manager will choose me for
more games. I think this could be my year,” he told Reuters
after scoring twice in a 5-2 pre-season win over Major League
Soccer’s All Stars on Wednesday.

The Rome-born forward, who turns 19 next month, made an
instant impact on his debut in April 2009 with a superb winner
against Aston Villa but his progress was hampered last season by
injury.

It was clear from his aggressive display in the friendly in
Houston that he is determined to make up for that lost time.

“I had played in the previous tour games but I hadn’t been
very happy with my performance, so I really wanted to show to
everyone that I was ready,” he said.

“We’re getting close to the start of the season and so I’m
really pleased with those two goals. I have to continue doing
well. I have to be ready for any chance that the manager (Alex
Ferguson) gives me.”

With Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen perhaps not ready to fire
on all cylinders at the start of the season, and Dimitar
Berbatov still trying to find his best form at Old Trafford,
Macheda knows he could get a chance early in the campaign.

“Last season I had a lot of injuries—I was out for nearly
five months and so I couldn’t really show my ability—but this
season I hope to have more space and show what I can do,” he
said.

TREMENDOUS COMPOSURE

Macheda’s opening goal against the All Stars was aided by a
dreadful pass from MLS defender Kevin Alston but the Italian,
who United captured from Lazio’s youth team, showed tremendous
composure to finish the chance.

Ferguson, whom Macheda calls a “splendid person and a
fantastic coach”, said the goal confirmed what he and his staff
had long believed about the Italian’s finishing ability.

“We always think Macheda is the best going through on the
goalkeeper that we have,” Ferguson said. “He’s outstanding at
that in these positions. When he went through, I expected him to
score. It was a well taken goal.”

That is praise indeed from a manager who can call on
strikers of the quality of Rooney, Owen and Berbatov.

The arrival of Mexico striker Javier Hernandez provides yet
more competition for places in attack but Macheda shrugged off
the suggestion he has a new rival for a starting spot.

“I think we have seven strikers in the team and they are all
a challenge, bringing in one more or having one less doesn’t
make much difference,” said the Italian.

“He (Hernandez) is a good lad, very confident and with a lot
of quality. He’s calm, respectful and he has been well received
by the players,” Macheda said of the 22-year-old, who also
scored on Wednesday when making his debut for the club.

Macheda said he had long observed the techniques and methods
of top strikers, none more so than his childhood hero former
Netherlands and AC Milan forward Marco van Basten.

“When I was a kid, I constantly watched videos of Marco van
Basten, he was always my idol, a great striker,” he said.

(Editing by Stephen Wood; To query or comment on this story
email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)