SOCCER SHORTS:BARCELONA took another big stride towards a second-straight La Liga triumph when top scorer Lionel Messi struck twice in a 4-1 home win over relegation threatened Tenerife last night.
Carles Puyol's howler gifted the visitors an equaliser after Messi had put Barca ahead in the 17th minute before Bojan Krkic and substitute Pedro netted with clinical second-half strikes.
Messi added a fourth in added time at a rain-lashed Camp Nou when he controlled a Daniel Alves pass and lifted the ball high into the net for his 31st league goal of the campaign.
With two matches left, Barca have a La Liga record 93 points, four clear of second-placed Real Madrid, who have a game in hand and can cut the gap back to one point with a win at Real Mallorca tonight.
Barca's points total from 36 matches surpasses the 92 accumulated by Real under Fabio Capello in the 1996-97 campaign when there were 22 teams rather than 20.
Germany hit by double injury blow
GERMANY has suffered a double injury blow after it was confirmed first-choice goalkeeper Rene Adler and midfielder Simon Rolfes will miss the World Cup in South Africa with injuries.
Adler has been told he needs surgery on a rib injury he suffered last month.
His Bayer Leverkusen team-mate Rolfes is out following knee surgery.
Adler made a comeback for his club in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Hertha Berlin, but a post-match check revealed the injury was worse than first feared.
Robert Enke, who was Germany’s number one in early 2009, committed suicide last November and in Adler’s absence Manuel Neuer and Tim Wiese will be in competition for the starting place,
The absence of Rolfes was more widely anticipated, as he had not played since undergoing knee cartilage surgery in January.
Arsenal to make bid for Hart
ARSENAL’S interest in the Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart will prompt a formal bid once the transfer window reopens this month, with Arsene Wenger having recognised the shortcomings of both Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski at the Emirates.
City, who are resigned to being without their number one, Shay Given, for the start of next season as a result of a shoulder injury, are expected to resist any offer.
Wenger clearly intends to strengthen his side in the close season after enduring a fifth successive season without a trophy.
Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has attracted interest and Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said yesterday he would be willing to move England. Yet Hart (23) appears to be Arsenal’s priority.
Wenger has already secured the Bordeaux forward Marouane Chamakh on a free transfer for next season but could lose William Gallas under freedom of contract.
Scharner bids his farewell to Wigan
WIGAN midfielder Paul Scharner has confirmed he expects to leave the club this summer.
Scharner came off the bench in Monday’s 2-2 draw against Hull at the DW Stadium with “THANX” dyed into his hair.
Afterwards the 30-year-old Austrian international said it would be his last home game for the Latics, who he joined in 2006.
JAPAN willconcentrate on bidding for the 2022 World Cup after being told the 2018 tournament will go to Europe.
Japan FA (JFA) president Motoaki Inukai said he had been advised by Fifa boss Sepp Blatter to focus on taking the 2022 finals to Asia.
Fifa will name the host countries for both tournaments in December.
Buffon eyeing a move to England
ITALY goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has sparked a potential transfer scramble by saying he would seek a move to England if Juventus decide to sell him.
Juve are seventh in Serie A after a dreadful season and cashing in on the 32-year-old could help the Turin side rebuild for next season.
“If I had to go I think England could be the destination,” Buffon said. “My wish to leave Juve is equal to the wish Juve have to let me go. Everything will be agreed with the club. At the moment there is nothing. My priority has always been Juventus. Let’s see if we decide to continue together.”
The 32-year-old, who remains the world’s most expensive goalkeeper after his move for around €32 million from Parma to Juve in 2001, is under contract with the Turin giants for three more years but has been linked with Arsenal and Manchester United.
Manchester City tracked Buffon last year but he was quoted as saying they were not big enough to tempt him to leave Juventus.
Scholes told to carry on
ALEX Ferguson has revealed he had to dissuade Paul Scholes from retiring at the end of the season after the Manchester United player expressed doubts about his ability to continue at the highest level. Scholes (35) approached Ferguson to say he was unhappy with his form.
“He intimated that he may retire at the end of the season,” Ferguson said. “I said: ‘I’ll decide when you retire . . . look, Paul, you can play, there’s no question of that. Your ability’s there.’”
