Keller Gets Starting Assignment
Kasey Keller was picked Thursday to start in goal for the United States when the Americans open World Cup qualifying against Grenada on June 13 at Columbus, Ohio.
Tony Meola, the starter for the U.S. team at the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, was selected by Coach Bruce Arena as the backup to Keller, the starter at the 1998 tournament.
Brad Friedel, the 2002 World Cup starter, is recovering from an injured quadriceps, and Tim Howard was given time off after his first season with Manchester United of the English Premier League.
Meola and Keller, backups to Friedel at the 2002 tournament, are tied for the U.S. record with 37 wins. Meola, who has 99 international appearances, hasn’t been with the national team in two years.
Done Deal
Inter Milan and Real Madrid finally reached an agreement to conclude their negotiations over Ronaldo’s transfer, with Real to pay Inter an additional $9.7 million.
Ronaldo was transferred to Real in August 2002 under a deal in which Real was to pay a $4.3-million transfer fee. However, Madrid was to pay an extra $9.8 million if it refused to allow a player of Inter’s choice to join the Italian club in January 2003.
The Italian powerhouse complained to FIFA that it was owed the supplemental fee because the player of its choice -- midfielder Santiago Solari -- refused to move to Inter.
After two appeals by Real, the clubs came to an agreement at the sports court in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Real agreed to pay Inter $8.5 million by June 30 and an additional $1.2 million by June 30, 2005.
Beckham Is Well
England captain David Beckham says his right ankle is sound going into the European championship.
“It’s fine,” Beckham said Thursday, two days after he limped off in a disappointing 1-1 draw in a friendly against Japan. England plays Iceland on Saturday as a final preparation for its opening Euro 2004 match against France on June 13 in Lisbon.
“It’s not a concern, it’s just a little niggle that I’ve had for the last few weeks,” he said.
New Assignment
Jacques Santini moved from the French national team to become coach of Tottenham Hotspur of the English Premier League.
Santini’s contract with France, the defending European champion, ends during the June 12-July 4 European championship tournament in Portugal. The French soccer federation has decided not to renew his contract.
Short Passes
Landon Donovan, who signed with Bayer Leverkusen in Germany as a 16-year-old and left after two years, will return to the Bundesliga team in January after his MLS contract expires.... Hamburger SV signed forward Benjamin Lauth, 22, one of Germany’s most promising young forwards. Lauth, who has 22 goals in 61 Bundesliga matches, signed a four-year contract after Hamburg paid a $4.84-million transfer fee to 1980 Munich.... A Hungarian third-division player collapsed and died during training, his club, Uraiujfalu, said. Attempts to revive Istvan Szabo, 26, failed.
