ACTUALITE |
18.03.2002
Caniggia looks to Rangers success for World Cup boost
GLASGOW
- Claudio Caniggia scored two goals and set up another in Rangers` 4-0 Scottish League Cup final victory over Ayr United on Sunday to help his club to their first domestic silverware in two years.
But the 35-year-old Argentine hopes his performance at Hampden Park, described by Rangers boss Alex McLeish as ``inspirational,`` will also boost his chances of winning a place in his country`s squad for the World Cup Finals this summer.
Caniggia, who played in the 1990 and 1994 World Cup finals, was recalled to the Argentina team by coach Marcelo Bielsa for last month`s friendly against Wales -- his first international since July 1996.
``It is my first trophy in Scotland and it`s a great moment in my career,`` he said after the final, which was beamed back live to his native country.
``I was recalled to the last Argentina squad and there is another month and a half to go before the finals, so I am hoping to use that time to play well and continue to prove to the Argentina manager to take me to Japan.
``There are two more Argentina games and I need to use them to get into the final squad, but I feel I am playing well at the moment.``
Rangers struggled for over 40 minutes against first division side Ayr, who knocked out several premier division teams en route to the final and also meet Celtic in the semifinals of the Scottish Cup this Saturday.
Goalkeeper Stefan Klos made two great saves from Ayr`s Brian McLaughlin and Pat McGinlay, before Caniggia intervened in the 43rd minute with a dribble past three tackles before setting up Tore Andre Flo to score with an angled shot.
Barry Ferguson doubled the lead in the 49th minute with a penalty, hotly disputed by Ayr who claimed Russell Latapy dived.
Caniggia then scored with a 75th minute sidefoot shot from 10 metres before heading in a cross in the 90th minute.
``We needed something to get us going and Caniggia`s run for Flo`s goal did that,`` said McLeish, who replaced Dutchman Dick Advocaat at Rangers three months ago.
The trophy will help soothe the pain caused by Celtic`s current domination in Scotland -- they are poised to seal their second successive championship.
``I hope this is the first of many trophies for me,`` said McLeish.
|
|
Hits: 1 | Source:Autres | |
|
|
|
|
| |