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Heat Is on US in Costa Rica

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Heat Is on US in Costa Rica SPORTS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 , 2013 Real Madrid slash net debt as profits soar MADRID: Days after splashing over 90 million euros 24.2 to 36.9 million euros as costs were stabilized dur- of 70 million euros on the young Spanish duo of Isco ($118.5 million, £75.9 million) for the services of Gareth ing a relatively quiet time in the transfer market last and Asier Illarramendi earlier in the transfer window. Bale, Real Madrid have announced a rise in profits and year when Luka Modric was their only major purchase. However, the club also recouped around 100 million a 27.4 percent reduction in their net debt in their And that profit allowed for a significant reduction in euros in sales over the past few months as Mesut Ozil accounts for the 2012/13 season. The Spanish giants the net debt from 124.7 to 90.6 million euros. Those joined Arsenal on transfer deadline day and Gonzalo saw their income continue to grow as revenue rose to figures don’t even include a lucrative new shirt spon- Higuain, Raul Albiol and Jose Maria Callejon all moved 520.9 million euros, up 1.3 percent on last year’s record sorship deal with Fly Emirates worth 29 million euros a to Napoli back in July. Kaka’s decision to leave Madrid breaking total that saw a football club earn more than year which came into effect at the beginning of the to rejoin AC Milan also eased the Spanish side’s wage 500 million euros for the first time ever. current season. bill as they were relieved of his 10 million euro net Net profit also grew a staggering 52.4 percent from On top of the capture of Bale, Real spent just short salary for the final year of his deal. — AFP Casillas axed Heat is on US in Costa Rica for easing SAN JOSE: CONCACAF has ramped up security for yesterday’s 2014 World Cup qualifier Madrid-Barca between Costa Rica and the United States, with Ticos fans still irked by the “Snow Bowl” won by tension the US in Denver in March. Guatemalan Mario Monterrosa, the CONCACAF designated official MADRID: Iker Casillas lost his place in for the contest, said the history between the Real Madrid’s team under Jose teams had prompted the football’s regional gov- Mourinho because he helped calm erning body for North and Central America and the waters between the Spanish inter- the Caribbean to label the match “high risk”. More than 800 police will be on security duty at nationals at his club and at Barcelona, Estadio Nacional, with a command post set up at according to national coach Vicente the venue and other precautions taken such as del Bosque. Several matches between ensuring a maximum number of entrances and the two clubs during the combative exits. Mourinho’s stint in Spain were marred There’s plenty at stake in the match due to by brawling, accusations of refereeing kick off at 8pm local time (0200 today GMT), with the United States holding a two-point lead over bias and play-acting although more Costa Rica atop the six-nation CONCACAF quali- recent meetings have been less con- fying table. The top three countries advance troversial. directly to the World Cup finals in Brazil, while “It’s true that in difficult moments the fourth-place team will battle New Zealand for the national team, when the Real- for a berth. The United States have never won a Barca matches got a little strange, he qualifier in Costa Rica, and the locals especially (Casillas) ... helped the team to move want to keep it that way after the Americans’ 1-0 triumph in Denver, a match played in a blizzard on and continue winning things like that Costa Rica argued bitterly should be the (2012) European Championship,” stopped. Del Bosque told radio station Onda US coach Jurgen Klinsmann said he realized Cero. “This did not go down well and many in Costa Rica remained angry about that perhaps had a detrimental effect also match, but said it was unfair to take it out on his on Iker,” added the former Real coach. team. “That was not our fault,” the German said “He was a key figure in fostering har- this week as the extent of Costa Rican feeling on the subject became clear. “I didn’t call God to mony in the national team.” give us some snow.” Nevertheless, the Americans The tension reached a low point in have endured a rough welcome in San Jose. August 2011 when Mourinho, who Rather than being fast-tracked through immigra- returned three months ago for a sec- tion and customs they received no special treat- ond spell at Chelsea, jabbed a finger ment upon arriving at the airport, where jeering in the eye of Barca assistant coach fans pelted their bus with a few eggs. Further efforts to unsettle the vistors are Tito Vilanova as fighting erupted dur- being orchestrated via social media, with one ing a Spanish Super Cup game. Real’s Facebook group urging supporters to “serenade” Spain contingent, including goal- the US players at their hotel in the time-honored keeper Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Xabi method to prevent them from sleeping or to Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa, appeared clog the streets of San Jose to delay their arrival to fall out with Barca internationals at the match. Whether the usual police escort to like Xavi and Carles Puyol, prompting the stadium materializes remains to be seen. US media travelling with the team reported that the concern it could affect the national three potential training sites suggested by the team’s performances. Costa Rican football federation declined to host Casillas, the Real and Spain captain, them, and that game balls requested for training sought to ease the tension by meet- sessions were never delivered. ing Xavi and Puyol, and Del Bosque At least the Americans won’t have to go into suggested this had contributed to the lion’s den of Estadio Ricardo Saprissa, Costa Mourinho’s decision last season to Rica having abandoned its bid to hold the match replace his skipper with Diego Lopez. at the antiquated venue-where the steep stands offer visiting players an intimidating vista of hos- Even under new Real coach Carlo tile fans. While some irate supporters were sug- Ancelotti, Casillas has been left on the gesting demonstrations at the match itself, bench this season. Barca keeper Victor Klinsmann insisted that come Friday, it would be Valdes has been in excellent form and all about football. “It would be a tough game no may start Spain’s World Cup Group I matter what,” he said. “I don’t think the players qualifier against Finland in Helsinki down on the field will think about the snow later. — Reuters game in March. It’s going to be a totally different SAN JOSE: Head coach Jurgen Klinsmann of the United States warms up prior to the United situation and environment and we expect a real- States Training Session at Estadio Nacional in San Jose, Costa Rica. — AFP ly difficult challenge.” — AFP .
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