Posts

Showing posts from June 10, 2010

Capello: I have chosen my First XI

Image
Fabio Capello has settled on his first XI for England's World Cup opener with the United States on Saturday. The England boss confirmed today he has chosen his starting goalkeeper, with much speculation over whether David James, Robert Green or Joe Hart will get the nod. After a knee injury ended captain Rio Ferdinand's hopes of playing in the tournament, the Italian is now praying his players will get through the final two days of preparation unscathed ahead of the World Cup Group C opener in Rustenburg. Asked whether he had chosen his goalkeeper for the USA game, Capello told BBC Radio Five Live: "Yes, I've decided, I know. "I know the 11 that will play Saturday and I hope the next two days, during the training, all the players will be fit." Capello understands the expectation placed on his side, but insists he is calm, despite yesterday's outburst at photographers at England's training complex at their Royal Bafokeng World Cup base. "I'm

Top 10 goals of the World Cup

Image
The best goals of all time in the history of the World Cup. Pele: Brazil 5-2 Sweden, 1958 At a young age of 17, Pele scored this wonder goal by juggling the ball past a defender and finishing it with a volley past keeper Karl Svensson. Pele scored a second goal in this game, and passed out on the field after the match, overwhelmed by victory. Pele ended the tournament with six goals in just four matches. Carlos Alberto: Brazil 4-1 Italy, 1970 Captain of Brazil's 1970 squad and a much respected wing-back, Carlos Alberto's goal was the icing on the cake for the Samba Kings. Piercing down the right flank, he scored the last goal in the finals in which they were crowned champions. He belongs to the top league of Brazilian footballers alongside Pele, Ronaldo, and fellow defenders Roberto Carlos and Nilton Santos. Arie Haan: Holland 2-1 Italy, 1978 Arguably one of the best long range shots ever seen at a World Cup, Arie Haan outdid his previous 30-yard strike against West Germany ea

2010 FIFA World Cup - The wait is over

Image
The wait is finally over. Haven't had time to catch up with the latest World Cup news? Step right in! Who will be crowned the best football team in the world come July? Will it be Dunga's Brazil side, Diego Maradona's dazzling Argentines, the stylish Spaniards or the mighty English? Brazil and Argentina are the two heavyweight contenders coming out of South America but Chile and Paraguay are in good form and could potentially spring a couple of surprises if things go their way. Over in Europe, the pre-tournament talk has been all about how no European team has won football's biggest tournament outside of Europe. England, for all their failures in the past decade are once again hyped up by the media as a huge favourite to land the elusive title with Fabio Capello at the helm. David Villa and Fernando Torres will be the strikeforce to watch in South Africa, with Spain touted as the most likely challenger to dethrone Italy as world champions. Asia are well represented with

Wigan want £15million for Rodallega

Image
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan insists that the club would not take anything less than £15million for Hugo Rodallega. The Colombian striker has emerged as one of the most promising strikers in the Premier League. Arsenal, Aston Villa and Stoke have all been linked with big-money summer bids, but Whelan insists he will not be allowed to leave on the cheap. "I would say £15million for Rodallega isn't outrageous," he said in the Daily Mail. "He is a player we do not want to sell and I would love it if he started next season with us. "But equally sometimes we have to sell a player like this, we have no choice."

Ballack: Abramovich wanted me out

Image
Michael Ballack has claimed the decision to release him was made by Roman Abramovich. The 33-year-old, who will miss the World Cup due to the ankle injury he suffered in the FA Cup final victory over Portsmouth, will leave Chelsea when his contract expires at the end of this month. Ballack has been at Stamford Bridge since 2006, but the London club were unwilling to offer the German the two-year contract he was reportedly seeking. "It's unfortunate we couldn't come together, but I have to put it behind me," Ballack said in an interview with The Times. "I've known for a while that the negotiations had stopped and it's time to move on. I have to find a new club and carry on with my career. "Chelsea was always my first choice as I had four great years at the club and enjoyed every minute, but it was not to be. It's still my first choice, even now, but it was not up to me. The decision was down to Roman." Ballack insisted his career at the high

Cole: Angry Capello has an aura

Image
England's players did not see any big cats on Wednesday's South African safari - instead it was Three Lions leader Fabio Capello who bared his teeth. His unfortunate victim was a photographer he felt was prying into the treatment room adjoining the pitch where Capello's players go through their paces. Apparently, already piqued by having that supposedly relaxing safari trek disturbed by the presence of a dozen photographers and camera crews, Capello snapped at England's Royal Bafokeng training base. "Why do you take photos of the rooms? No excuses," barked Capello before glaring angrily at his prey. It could be regarded as evidence of pressure after a fraught week that started with a tournament-ending knee injury to skipper Rio Ferdinand and delivered a wretched first-half display in Monday's practice match with the Platinum Stars, when Wayne Rooney's conduct was condemned by the local referee. But that view would be at odds with the one Joe Cole has

Everton make swoop for Joao Silva

Image
Everton have signed striker Joao Silva on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee from Portuguese club Desportivo Das Aves. Officials from the Barclays Premier League club flew to Portugal this week to conclude the transfer of the 20-year-old, who has represented his country at Under-20 level and is highly rated in his homeland. Silva will now move to Merseyside before linking up with David Moyes' squad at the start of July for their pre-season tour of Australia. The 6ft 2in forward was the second top scorer in Portugal's second tier, the Liga Vitalis, with 14 goals in 32 appearances last season - his first since turning professional.

Sorensen fit for Danish opener

Image
Denmark goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen has declared himself fit for their opening World Cup fixture against Holland on Monday. The 33-year-old has not played since injuring his elbow while playing for Stoke against Chelsea in the Barclays Premier League in April. Jesper Christiansen and Stefan Andersen have played in Morten Olsen's side's warm-up games, but former Aston Villa stopper Sorensen is confident of being ready for the Group E clash. He told Politiken newspaper: "I've been 100% ready for a while now. I had a talk with Morten Olsen the other day and he explained to me why he didn't play me against South Africa."

Celtic want Robbie Keane back

Image
Celtic's new permanent manager Neil Lennon has confirmed his desire to bring Robbie Keane back to Parkhead. The Republic of Ireland international spent the second half of the SPL campaign with the Bhoys on loan from Tottenham. Keane proved his quality in Scotland with 12 league goals from 16 appearances, form that impressed Lennon. Lennon has now confirmed he is looking to thrash out a deal with Spurs to secure him permanently, although he would not be gutted if they missed out on his signature. It has also been suggested that Lennon might have to report to the club's board over signings, however, he has confirmed he will have the final say over fresh faces. "I'd love to have Robbie Keane back here. It'll be his decision," said Lennon. "Financially it'll be a big decision for us if we can pull it off. "He was wonderful. He made a massive contribution. Not only on the field. He's got those leadership qualities that I'm looking for. He has

Heskey backs Wayne Rooney's appraoch

Image
Emile Heskey has defended Wayne Rooney over his conduct in Monday's practice match against the Platinum Stars. Rooney was booked shortly after his introduction at half-time and referee Jeff Selogilwe has warned the England striker he risks getting sent off during the World Cup unless he curbs his behaviour. But Heskey does not see a problem. Tipped to partner Rooney in Rustenburg this weekend for the Group C opener against the United States, the 32-year-old felt his strike partner gave England a much-needed lift. "A lot was made of it but at times his passion has been misread for anger," Heskey told BBC Radio Five Live. "When he came on the pitch he got the lads going. "We probably needed that because we were a little bit flat. "He picked us up and gave us the boost we needed. "It is not anger. He just wants to win. He is so passionate, he wears everything on his sleeve." Heskey played a major part in the other high-profile incident during Englan

Capello's faith cheers Joe Cole

Image
Joe Cole is delighted to fall into the arms of a manager who believes in him again. On the day Chelsea confirmed they have ended Cole's seven-season association with the Stamford Bridge outfit, the 28-year-old vowed not to spill the beans on his annus horribilis until an appropriate point in the future, presumably once England's World Cup campaign is over. Yet it all seems fairly clear. One of the most talented players of his generation, good enough to be described as the nearest thing England have to a Brazilian by Wayne Rooney, was a regular for club and country until a major knee injury halted his career in January 2009. By the time Cole returned to action 10 months later, Carlo Ancelotti was the manager, bringing with him new ideas that did not include a stylish midfielder who made his name as a raw teenager with West Ham. Although Cole briefly regained his place when a number of team-mates departed for the African Nations Cup, he was soon relegated to the fringes again an

Button not ruling out Ferrari

Image
Jenson Button admits he is surprised by Ferrari's struggles so far this season. The Scuderia were touted as the team to beat before the 2010 season got under way, but seven races into the season they appear to be lagging well behind Red Bull and McLaren. Fernando Alonso's victory in the season opening race in Bahrain is their only win this year. They had another disappointing outing in Turkey - a race they were expected to do well in - with Felipe Massa's seventh place their best result. Although perplexed by their woes, Button warns that Ferrari should not be written off. "It's quite unusual [that Ferrari seems to be in a funk]," the McLaren driver is quoted in Canada's The Star. "They had the perfect winter. They were very quick, very consistent and very reliable [in testing] and we were thinking, 'Wow, those guys are going to be untouchable.' "At the first race [Bahrain], they were very fast. But we've made steady progress and at

Sehwag: Yuvraj will be back soon

Image
Virender Sehwag threw his weight behind Yuvraj Singh , calling him a "jewel" and predicting that the left-hander would be back after sorting out his fitness issues. "He has been a jewel for India and I'm a great fan of him," Sehwag said. "Times like this comes because of (lack of) form but I'm sure he would sort out his fitness and batting skills and will make a comeback soon," said the opener. "All he needs is to spend time on his own and think about his game," advised Sehwag. Yuvraj did not find a place in India's Asia Cup squad because of lack of form and poor fitness. Yuvraj had a forgettable outing in Indian Premier League III and he looked out of sorts in the Twenty20 World Cup as well. Sehwag too had some injury issues of late but the star batsman said he is fully ready for this month's Asia Cup in Sri Lanka. "My shoulder has healed. I worked on my shoulders in the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore and I'm full

Afridi backs day-night Tes

Image
Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi backed the idea of having day-night Tests, saying it was necessary for the survival of the longer format of the game. "I definitely support this idea to have Test matches under lights because in this changing world it is necessary to make changes according to times," Afridi said. He pointed out that Twenty20 cricket was already giving Test cricket a stiff competition and the five-day game needed to evolve as well. "When you can have Twenty20 cricket and 50-overs cricket under lights why not Test matches? I think it would increase the crowd participation and increase revenues and viewership for Test matches," Afridi said. Afridi, who remained in a self-imposed exile from Test cricket for more then four years before returning to the five-day format recently, said he wanted to see Test cricket progress. "It is the real test for cricketers but it is also a fact that nowadays people don't have time to go to the grounds for five da

Sania goes down to Tanasugarn

Image
Sania Mirza went down to Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn in the WTA tennis tournament on Thursday. Playing in her first tournament since February, Sania went down 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 to her Thai opponent in a match spread over two days. Playing her first tournament since her much-publicised marriage to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik, Sania did manage to win the first set against the 14th seed before rain drove her to the locker room yesterday. The break seemed to have done a world of good for Tanasugarn who edged out Sania in the second set to force the decider and dropped just one game in the final set before walking away with a hard-earned win. Sania wrote on her Twitter page on Wednesday that she was happy to be back in the court again. "(I) Had not imagined I'd be playing after marriage in the first place and here I am at yet another tourney! Hope this answers everyone's concerns," she wrote. Settled in Dubai post-marriage, Sania also made it clear that she had no

Wins for Djokovic, Nadal at Queen's

Both Novak Djokovic and new world number one Rafael Nadal reached the last 16 at Queen's Club on Wednesday. Djokovic eased into the last 16 of the AEGON Championship with an easy straight-sets victory over Paolo Lorenzi. But number five seed Marin Cilic was forced into playing three sets before beating French qualifier Nicolas Mahut 6-7 6-3 6-2. Serbian Djokovic, the world number three, played a controlled match against the Italian to take the opening set 6-3. Lorenzi came back into the match at the beginning of the second set and fashioned two break points on his opponent's serve in the second game. However, the Italian was unable to take them and was dealt a hammer blow as Djokovic then broke Lorenzi in the following game and consolidated by holding his serve to move into a 3-1 lead and eventually take the match 6-3 6-3. Djokovic will now play Xavier Malisse after the Belgian put out Australian wildcard Bernard Tomic 6-2 3-6 6-2. Cilic and Mahut played out a much closer enco