|
Sunday, 30th
April
|
 |
Sven-Göran Eriksson
will include Wayne Rooney in his World Cup squad if there is a chance
the striker will be fit for the knockout stages. It is understood
Eriksson will take the gamble if Manchester United think Rooney has
recovered and in the hope England will get to the last 16. The
World Cup knockout stages are scheduled to begin on 24 June - eight
weeks away - with the quarter-finals due to begin seven days later. |
 |
Michael Owen's
hopes of playing in the World Cup finals have been boosted after an
X-ray on his foot revealed "no damage", according to a specialist.
A Newcastle United spokesman said: "Michael had various tests early on
Sunday and the results were positive." Owen added "The specialist
said it was normal to feel some pain in the first couple of games back
after an injury like this." |
|
Saturday, 29th
April
|
 |
Wayne Rooney
is a doubt for the World Cup after
fracturing a metatarsal bone in his right foot during Manchester
United's game against Chelsea. Rooney has been told he could be
out for six weeks, exactly the amount of time until England's first
match against Paraguay on 10 June.
Rooney was left
clutching his right foot in agony after a tackle by Paulo Ferreira and
was then stretchered off before leaving the ground on crutches. |
|
|
Michael Owen returned to first team
action today for Newcastle United as a substitute against Birmingham
City. Caretaker boss
Glenn Roeder revealed Owen was "not 100% happy" with his foot injury.
Owen limped off at the final whistle. "He had the best part of
half an hour and when he came in afterwards he was a little bit
concerned. He wasn't quite 100% happy with it. There was no sharp
pain or anything - he described it as dull. He was honest with the
medical team in saying he was not 100%. I would understand
Newcastle and England supporters being a bit more concerned than
Michael, but that is to be understood with what unluckily happened to
Wayne." |
 |
Premiership football: Joe Cole scores in Chelsea's 3-0
win over Manchester United, the result hands Chelsea the title for the
second time in two years. Steven Gerrard scores two for Liverpool
in reply to Garth Barry's goal for Aston Villa. Bryan Robson's
West Bromwich Albion are relegated after Portsmouth beat Wigan Athletic. |
 |
Ashley Cole has
played down suggestions that he will be leaving Arsenal this summer.
Cole has two years remaining on his Gunners contract and has been linked
with a big-money move to Real Madrid. The 25-year-old was
fined last year for breaking Premier League rules by discussing transfer
to Chelsea. But he said: "I'm staying. Who said I was leaving?
There has been a lot of speculation about me leaving but I've not
thought about it." |
|
Friday, 28th
April
|
|
|
Luiz Felipe Scolari
appears to have ruled himself out of
taking over as England coach.
"The English FA is going to choose a name.
My name isn't one of them because I'm closing this matter here. I
was very pleased they considered me, but definitely at this time I want
to draw a line under this matter. "I don't want anything more to
do with this England matter because in the space of two days... my life
was invaded, my privacy was disrupted. There are 20 reporters
outside my house now. If that is part of another culture, it is
not part of my culture. I am not the coach, and will not be coach."
He also said the press had made "absurd comparisons" of him and his wife
with Eriksson and the Swede's partner, and how they dressed.
The FA has reacted by saying it would "reflect" on Scolari's statement
before making any further comment. But it revealed that the
Brazilian had contacted the FA ahead of his announcement to tell the
organising body he was pulling out. "Luiz Felipe Scolari this
afternoon made the FA aware of his intention to release a statement
regarding the England head coach position. It is no secret that Mr
Scolari is one of the candidates that the FA has spoken to as part of
the recruitment process. We will now reflect on his announcement
before making any further comment as we move forward with the process."
|
|
|
The FA has said
that talks with Luiz Felipe Scolari are "far from over". But a
source says the FA will be in a position to name Sven-Göran Eriksson's
replacement as early as next Friday. The source also dismissed
reports that Scolari wanted a significantly higher salary than Eriksson
as "rubbish". |
|
Luiz Felipe Scolari
has confirmed he has had talks with the FA. Scolari says it was an
"informal" chat with the Portuguese FA's consent but insists a deal is
far from finalised. "The coach has still not been chosen.
There are four or five names and in seven or 15 days it will be settled.
My situation with Portugal is the same." No contract has been
signed but talks between Scolari and FA chief executive Brian Barwick in
Lisbon on Wednesday went well. It is believed the two men have an
agreement in principle for Scolari to take the job but details have yet
to be finalised. On Thursday at a dinner with Portuguese football
federation officials, Scolari was quoted as saying Barwick had offered
him the chance to manage England for seven years. |
|
Thursday, 27th
April
|
 |
Luke Young is
making good progress in his bid to return to full fitness ahead of the
World Cup. Young was visited by England team doctor Dr Leif Sward
and assistant Tord Grip, the outlook seems brighter. "They
appeared to be happy with the progress Luke is making," said Addicks
medical department boss Wayne Diesel.
"He also returned to see a specialist later that same
day and he has now been given the go-ahead to start conditioning work
and light training." Young is hoping to play against Manchester
United at Old Trafford in the final game of the season on 7 May. |
|
|
Sam Allardyce
has not given up hope that he could yet be named England coach - but
hopes to be told by the FA if he is not.
"As far as I am concerned, all
those who have been interviewed for a second time should all feel as
though they are still in with a shout. One way or the other, you
would hope to be told by the FA. You would not want to find out
you either had, or had not, got the job by picking up the papers." |
|
The entire England football squad
will be dope-tested before the World Cup. UK Sport, the body
responsible for anti-doping in Britain, has been pushing for such a move
but until now had not reached agreement with the FA. But today, UK
Sport's director of drug-free sport John Scott said: "We're very
confident that the squad will all have been tested." |
|
|
Michael Owen
expects to return to Newcastle United action on Saturday at Birmingham
City. "I've been training since Monday and it has been
really good, much better than I thought. I was worried that I
would have a bit of pain the more I played but it has been great.
I haven't spoken to the manager in detail yet but I think it would be
sensible, after being out for just under five months, to gradually give
me maybe 20 minutes on Saturday and then more in the next game."
|
|
Wednesday,
26th April
|
|
|
Luiz Felipe Scolari
has been offered the job of England manager and is discussing terms with
the Football Assocation. FA chief executive Brian Barwick is in
Lisbon to thrash out a deal with the Portugal manager who is Brazilian.
Scolari, 57, is out of contract after the 2006 finals. Scolari is
thought to have a gentleman's agreement with the Portuguese FA not to
commit himself to another job until his current deal runs out in July.
It is understood part of the FA's talks in Lisbon are about waiving this
arrangement. The FA board are due to meet again next Thursday and
had hoped to be in a position to finalise their selection by then.
Scolari's case has been championed at the highest level within the FA by
Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein. Agreeing personal terms
with Scolari should not be an issue as he is believed to earn less than
the estimated £3m that the FA is expected to offer. |
|
Tuesday, 25th
April
|
|
|
Premiership football:
Darius Vassell secured a victory for
Manchester City against his former club Aston Villa, City ran out 1-0
winners. |
 |
Champions League football: Sol Campbell started and
ended for Arsenal in their 0-0 draw with Villareal. The draw earns
the Londoners a place in the final. |
 |
Brian Labone
has died at the age of 66 after collapsing outside his Merseyside home
last night. The legendary Everton captain joined Everton at 17,
making 534 appearances for the Toffees in a career in which he was only
booked twice. Rated one of the best central defenders of his era,
Labone won two Championship titles and an FA Cup winner's medal with the
Toffees. He also won 26 caps for England, playing in three of
England's four matches at the 1970 Word Cup in Mexico.
Labone joined Everton as a teenager in preference to
going to university and although initially part of England's 1966 World
Cup squad, he withdrew because of his impending marriage. |
|
Monday, 24th
April
|
|
|
Luiz Felipe Scolari
says he has not been interviewed by the Football Association about
becoming England's next manager. Several newspaper reports in
England suggested the Brazilian was set to get the job after having an
impressive second interview. "No, I don't have an interview.
I am coach of Portugal and I am only thinking and speaking about
Portugal until the last day of the World Cup." |
 |
Steven Gerrard
has claimed the Professional
Footballers' Association Player of the Year award. It is the
first time the 25-year-old has been named player of the year by his
peers, although he was Young Player of the Year in 2001. Gerrard,
who a day earlier helped Liverpool win their FA Cup semi-final, said: "I
am still in shock. To go through to another FA Cup final and win
this special award in the same weekend is fantastic for me."
Wayne Rooney,
the 20-year-old Manchester United striker, won the
PFA Young Player of the Year
award for the second successive season. |
|
Saturday, 22nd
April
|
|
|
Premiership football: Darren Bent scored a consolation
penalty for Charlton Athletic as they are drubbed 4-1 by Bolton
Wanderers. |
 |
Championship football: Andy Johnson scores the opener in
Crystal Palace's 2-1 victory over Southampton. |
|
|
Sven-Göran Eriksson
is confident four key players will recover from injury in time for the
World Cup.
Michael Owen, Sol Campbell, Ashley
Cole and Ledley King have been sidelined, but Eriksson is happy with the
progress they are making with their injuries. Arsenal duo Cole and
Campbell, plus Newcastle's Owen, will play before the end of the season.
Eriksson hinted Spurs defender King is the biggest doubt, but is
refusing to rule him out of the finals. |
|
|
Alan Shearer
has confirmed he has had to retire
earlier than planned because of a knee injury.
"I'm finished now. I won't be able to
play the last three games and that is disappointing. But I'm not
complaining, how could I? I have great memories. I've got no
regrets, it's been a great career. There's a tear in the medial
ligament which, although it does not require an operation, means I will
be in a knee brace for a few weeks. Deep down I knew when I limped
out at the Stadium of Light that it was probably the end and I think the
fans knew it as well. Some people think it was a fantastic way to go out
anyway by scoring in our 4-1 win at Sunderland. I think they might be
right." |
|
Friday, 21st
April
|
|
|
Michael Owen
has been included in the Magpies' squad to face West Bromwich Albion
tomorrow. His is a surprise inclusion but it is understood he is
unlikely to figure and has only been included to get him involved with
the first team again. Glenn Roeder revealed today that Owen was
progressing well and, although he has named him in his squad for the
match, he expects his playing return a week later at Birmingham.
"When you speak to Michael he is always a positive person. You
always get a feeling that nothing worries him. But when I spoke with him
this morning, I could hear in his voice a little extra bounce following
a meeting with his consultant." |
|
Alan Shearer
will announce tomorrow whether he is going to have to retire. The
35-year-old former England striker is scheduled to play three more games
before hanging up his boots at the end of the season. But it is
thought the knee injury he suffered against Sunderland will force him to
retire with immediate effect. However, the club have now said the
results of a scan on Friday will not be published until the weekend.
Shearer is desperate to play in one of Newcastle's
final three games of the season - or to take part in his testimonial
match against Celtic. |
 |
Steven Gerrard
has rejected speculation linking him with a summer move to Real Madrid
and insists he is staying at Anfield. Madrid's football director
Benito Floro claimed he has put Gerrard on a priority list of transfer
targets. But Gerrard, who has twice almost joined Chelsea, is not
interested. "I am settled and happy at Liverpool. I will be
staying here until the day someone tells me they don't want me. I am not
going to get involved in all that kind of speculation again. I am not
going to go through another summer like the last two." |
|
|
Nigel Martyn will be offered a new
deal by Everton if he recovers
fully from ankle surgery. The 39-year-old former England star has
been out since January and is currently on his way back to fitness after
a hairline fracture. Everton have put all contract talks on hold
until the end of the season. |
|
Thursday, 20th
April
|
 |
Wycombe Wanderers have placed the
ex-England assistant manager John Gorman on compassionate leave - but he
plans to resume his managerial duties before the start of next season.
Assistant boss Steve Brown
will take temporary charge of the team, assisted by coaches Keith Ryan
and Terry Evans. Gorman's wife Myra died in February following a
battle with cancer. |
|
|
Michael Owen's
bid to prove his fitness ahead of the World Cup will go down to the wire
after it was revealed he will play only one more game this term.
The Newcastle United star, 26, has not played for four months. He
had been pencilled in for a return at Birmingham City this weekend, but
Magpies boss Glenn Roeder said: "Even with Alan Shearer out, we won't
rush him. The most we can hope for is for him to return for the
last game this season. At the moment, Michael has done everything
our medical team and fitness coach Paul Winsper have asked of him in the
past couple of weeks. He is now running in a straight line and
striking the ball with pace and on Friday we are hoping to hear from his
surgeon that he can start twisting and turning again. That would
mean he could train properly with the first team again from the start of
next week and, by the end of it, be close to being fit." |
|
|
Sol Campbell
has been ruled out of Arsenal's North London derby with Tottenham on
Saturday. The
31-year-old has not recovered from surgery on the broken nose he
suffered at Portsmouth last week. Wenger said he could be ready
for their visit to Villarreal for the Champions League semi-final.
"Sol is not back for Saturday. But he should be involved for Tuesday."
Wenger also confirmed that left-back Ashley Cole is closer to a
first-team return after completing a reserve team fixture on Wednesday.
"Ashley looks completely free pain-wise...Let's give him two more weeks
before he is completely ready to play." |
|
Wednesday,
19th April
|
|
|
Premiership football: Nicky Butt scored the first of
two goals as Birmingham City secured a vital win over Blackburn Rovers,
the result lifts City out of the relegation zone. |
 |
Matthew
Upson
has had his contract at
Birmingham City extended until the end of the 2008 season.
Upson's deal had been due to
expire at the end of the current campaign but Blues boss Steve Bruce
exercised a two-year option on the player. The England defender,
who turned 27 on 18 April, faces a six-month lay-off because of an
Achilles tendon problem. |
|
Tuesday, 18th
April
|
|
|
David Beckham insists there are
no rifts in the squad caused by card schools or other gambling.
Representatives for Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen have denied stories
that the pair fell out over Rooney's alleged gambling debts to a friend
of Owen's. "People were saying there was an issue between Michael
and Wayne but it is because they are the two main strikers that people
want to say that. In our squad it is impossible to fall out over
something like that. The banter and the togetherness of the
England team is too strong to be affected by card schools. There
is no problem and there never has been. The team spirit is the best
since I started playing for my country." |
|
|
Matthew
Upson will be out of action for upto six months.
The Birmingham City defender
broke down with an Achilles tendon injury in the warm-up for Sunday's
derby against Aston Villa. He will undergo surgery on Wednesday
after scans confirmed the problem and Bruce said: "We're keeping our
fingers crossed but it looks like six months. It is terrible news,
a blow, but he is a strong character and can come back." |
|
Monday, 17th
April
|
|
|
Alan Shearer
fears his career is over. Shearer, scheduled to play three more
games before retiring at the end of the season, limped off in the 71st
minute of today's 4-1 win over Sunderland. "It doesn't look good.
They think there might be a tear in the medial ligament, and if that is
the case then that'll be it for me I'm afraid." Shearer, who
netted his 206th goal for the Magpies before going off, will have a scan
on Thursday.
The former England captain said he did not want to
finish his career early. "I wanted to go the full distance, yes,
but if I have to finish, then it's not a bad way to finish, coming to
your local enemies and scoring a goal that's helped us get a 4-1 win." |
|
|
Premiership football:
Wayne Rooney scores twice against Tottenham
Hotspur, to maintain United's late push for the title, Jermain Jenas
scored a second-half reply. Frank Lampard scores for Chelsea to
give them victory against Everton. An Alan Shearer penalty spared
Newcastle United's blushes, as he securedd a 'toon victory against
Sunderland. |
 |
Ledley King
will miss the rest of the season and is a major doubt for the World Cup
after breaking a bone in his foot. The 25-year-old was injured
during Tottenham Hotspurs win at Everton on Saturday after a clash with
Duncan Ferguson but played on, only limping off in the 90th minute.
Spurs confirmed today that King had suffered the fracture, but said they
hoped he will return inside four weeks. |
|
Sunday, 16th
April
|
|
|
Premiership football: Chris Sutton scores his first
Birmingham City goal in the 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa. Robbie
Fowler scores again for Liverpool, in the 1-0 victory against Blackburn
Rovers. |
|
|
Luiz Felipe Scolari
appears to have ruled himself out of the running to become England
manager. The Portugal coach is thought to be on the FA's shortlist
but says he will not consider any job offers until after the World Cup.
The Brazilian told Radio Globo: "I'll think about my future after 31
July. I don't know what I'll do after Germany." Scolari has also
told said that he has no plans to return to London and has agreed with
the Portuguese football federation not to have any more contact with the
FA. That would appear to leave the FA with four candidates:
Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren, Bolton's Sam Allardyce, Charlton's
Alan Curbishley and former Celtic manager Martin O'Neill. |
|
Saturday, 15th
April
|
|
|
Premiership football:
John Terry and Frank Lampard score for
Chelsea in their 2-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers, putting them in
touching distance of the title. Alan Shearer scores two in
Newcastle United's 3-1 victory over Wigan Athletic. |
|
|
Championship football: Andy Johnson scores a brace in
Crystal Palaces 2-2 draw with Crewe Alexandra, the draw ensures Palace's
participation in the play-offs next month. |
 |
Blackburn Rovers
will join the race to sign Robbie Fowler - if the striker fails to land
a new contract at Liverpool. The 31-year-old is on a short-term deal at
Anfield and boss Rafael Benitez has yet to make a decision on his
future. Bolton Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce showed an interest
and Blackburn boss Mark Hughes has now confirmed he will make a move.
He said: "If he became available I'm sure a number of clubs would be
interested. He is the type of player I would ask about." |
 |
Owen Hargreaves
has set his sights on winning a place in England's World Cup squad this
summer after making a successful comeback from groin surgery. The
25-year-old midfielder has hit form for Bayern Munich since returning in
March and is hopeful he will be among the 23 names Sven-Göran Eriksson
picks. Hargreaves said: "I can help the team be successful but it
is up to Eriksson to decide what he thinks is best. He has always
treated me well and I am sure he is keeping an eye on me... I have a lot
of experience for a player of my age and I think that is important," he
added. I have been lucky in my 25 years to play in some big games
- and I like to think I play better in big games. When I am
healthy he has always picked me to play. I missed a lot of games this
year but I am feeling better every game." |
 |
Glenn Hoddle's
future as Wolves manager is expected to be decided at a board meeting in
May. Chief executive Jez Moxey attacked Hoddle's failure to reach
at least the Championship play-offs in his programme notes for the draw
against Watford. Moxey revealed the next move will be made after
May's meeting but added "most of us feel this season has been a complete
disaster". But Hoddle, who has a 12-month rolling contract,
insisted he expects to stay. |
|
Thursday,
13th April
|
|
|
Alan Curbishley
is downbeat over his chances of succeeding Sven-Göran Eriksson as
England manager. The FA is reported to have interviewed the
leading candidates for a second time earlier in the week but Curbishley
was not among them. He said: "Something should be sorted out in
the next couple of weeks. But I don't know if I'm included in that
because I haven't been contacted. I don't know what the situation is."
Steve McClaren is now the bookmakers' favourite. |
|
|
Sol Campbell
has broken his nose, according to a scan today. The 31-year-old
made his return after a 10-week lay-off in Wednesday's 1-1 draw with
Portsmouth but suffered a cut eyelid as well as the nose injury.
He may miss Saturday's game with West Bromwich Albion but Gunners boss
Arsenè Wenger is confident the England defender will be fit for this
summer's World Cup finals. "I feel he has proven he is fit to play
for England." Wenger felt Campbell had looked solid on his return
until a clash with Portsmouth striker Benjani Mwaruwari left him with a
cut eye. "He played well physically and was looking good until he
damaged the eye. He was handicapped by that injury."
|
 |
Trinidad and Tobago
have announced a
provisional
24-man squad for World Cup finals. But coach Leo Beenhakker
will have to trim the squad by one player. Former Manchester
United star Dwight Yorke, now with Sydney, will captain the Soca
Warriors. British-based players in the squad include Coventry
City's Stern John, Port Vale's Chris Birchall, West Ham United's Shaka
Hislop and Falkirk's Russell Latapy.
"Before making the final choice, we did our homework
the best we could," said Beenhakker. "I have to protect the
players also who brought us to Germany. They have to be credited and
there must be balance in the team. I want to thank specially all
the players who are not on the list but were on the road to Germany and
I understand for the moment I have made 24 players happy. I
understand much better that I have disappointed now many players from
Trinidad and Tobago but I can assure them that the decisions we made
were made in relation to looking for the best of the team." |
|
Wednesday,
12th April
|
|
|
Chelsea
dominate the nominations for this season's Professional Footballers'
Association Footballer of the Year Award. Last year's winner John
Terry is joined on the shortlist by Blues and England team-mates Frank
Lampard and Joe Cole. Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard and
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney have also been nominated.
Arsenal's Thierry Henry is the only foreigner in the running for the
honour which will be awarded on 23 April. |
|
|
Arsenè Wenger
believes defenders Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole will be fit for
England's World Cup campaign this summer. Campbell, 31, will face
Portsmouth on Wednesday after two-and-a-half months on the sidelines at
Highbury. Cole, 25, is set to return to training on Monday after
being hampered by injuries since October 2005. Wenger said: "I have
spoken to England boss Sven-Göran Eriksson and told him they will be
ready for selection."
The Gunners are Wenger's priority, although he added:
"England is not on my mind but I would be happy if Sol can combine both.
I want him to go to the World Cup." |
|
Tuesday, 11th
April
|
 |
Guus Hiddink
has put an end to reports linking him with the England job by announcing
he will coach Russia. Hiddink, 59, will leave PSV Eindhoven at the
end of the season and will take up his new role after fulfilling his
World Cup commitments with Australia. "I'm glad that this is off
my chest now. I have been to Russia already to look at things and
I already know that it will be fun to work there. We are working
out the final details of the contract and when that is finished I will
join them. I will live in Amsterdam and fly to Russia whenever
it's needed - that could be for a period of several weeks or just for a
few days. They have some young players with a great future, as far
as I can tell now." |
 |
The World Cup final
will be played using a gold-coloured ball - and the winners will use the
same design of ball in all their games for four years. The
Times has revealed that the winners of the tournament will keep the
ball until the next World Cup. Apart from the final - and for the
first time since 1994 - a black and white ball will be used in games.
Adidas designed the Teamgeist ball in black and white because they are
the traditional colours of hosts Germany.
|
 |
David Beckham says he would like
to end his career playing in Major League Soccer in the US.
Beckham, who still has one year to run on his contract at Real Madrid,
wants to spend three more seasons in Spain and perhaps move to America
in 2009. "At some stage, playing in America is possible. For
me, America's so passionate and I'd like to be a part of that.
I've one year left at Real, and maybe two more after that, but things
can change in football and the American league does interest me. I
want to be part of a country that is passionate about sport. I've got my
academy in LA which is important to me because that is my life after the
game. America for me is one of the most passionate places. There
is an incredible feeling around the country. I always mention when
I'm asked about America about how you can walk down the street and
everyone has got the stars and stripes flying in front of their house."
|
|
Monday, 10th April
|
 |
Sir Bobby Robson is recovering from a minor operation
to repair damage to a lung following a skiing accident. The lung
damage was caused by a rib injury sustained in February when the
73-year-old former England and Newcastle United boss fell. Robson,
consultant to Republic of Ireland boss Steve Staunton, underwent surgery
on Saturday and is expected to spend a short time recuperating.
Staunton said: "Knowing Sir Bobby he will be back fighting fit in no
time." |
|
|
Luke Young looks to have ruled himself out of the
England squad for the World Cup finals. The 26-year-old
right-back, who was in line to deputise for Gary Neville in Germany,
suffered an ankle injury against West Ham on 2 April. Addicks boss
Alan Curbishley had expressed hopes that his skipper could be back in
time to make the squad. But Young said: "It will probably be next
season. I haven't had an operation but it doesn't look good."
Young has his lower leg in a protective cast.
Curbishley said: "We think we know what he has done. The last time he
had a similar injury, he was out for five or six weeks. But we
felt we did not treat it properly, so we do not think this time it will
be too long. We think it may be about three weeks. He may just
about be back for the end of the season, which I would love him to be.
I think he needs to be back to force the issue in the England squad. So
we hope it will be only three to four weeks, but it is a disappointment
for him." |
 |
Sam Allardyce has revealed he is ready to swoop for
Robbie Fowler this summer, if Liverpool release him. Fowler, who
scored the winner against Bolton on his 31st birthday yesterday, is out
of contract in July. He has held preliminary talks with the Reds
about a new deal and has admitted he is desperate to stay at Anfield.
But, with his future still unclear, Allardyce said: "You'd always think
about a goalscorer like him, but it would depend on the big numbers.
If he keeps on scoring for Liverpool, they will want to keep him.
One of their problems has been scoring, but their defence is the
ultimate and it is what we are trying to achieve."
|
|
Sunday, 9th April
|
|
|
Premiership football: Wayne Rooney shines as
Manchester United beat Arsenal 2-0 to maintain their hopes of catching
leaders Chelsea. The Blues' themselves beat West Ham United 4-1
with a goal from John Terry. Robbie Fowler, too, was on the
scoresheet, as Liverpool beat Bolton Wanderers. |
|
|
Guus Hiddink's agent says the Dutchman is "totally out
of the reckoning" in the race to become England manager. Cees van
Nieuwenhuizen says the FA has not followed up an initial approach to the
PSV Eindhoven and Australia coach. "He definitely won't be the
England manager. In spite of all the rumours he has not been in
England and the FA has not been to Holland for a serious interview.
There has been some contact with me but the way it was done was, for us
at least, not so serious. They were interested in having a coffee
or tea and finding out if he could be a potential candidate to be put on
the shortlist. We did not take it too seriously because you expect
that if you are in the world of football then you know who Guus Hiddink
is and what he has achieved on a club level and on a national level.
I think either you go for him or you don't go for him, not sit down to
find out if he might be good enough to have his name put on a list of
candidates. He is totally out of the reckoning. That doesn't
disappoint him at all. If people have to find out if he could be a
candidate to be put on a shortlist then I think this is sort of an
insult to Guus and his achievements so far." |
|
Saturday, 8th April
|
|
|
Premiership football: Michael Carrick gives Tottenham
Hotspur a 2-1 victory over Manchester City. David Dunn scores the
vital equalizer for Birmingham City in the 1-1 draw with Wigan Athletic. |
|
|
Luiz Felipe Scolari is on the FA's short-list to take
over as England manager, according to reports. The FA is ready to
conduct a second round of interviews. It was widely reported the
candidates were Martin O'Neill, Steve McClaren, Alan Curbishley and Sam
Allardyce. But it appears Scolari, who led Brazil to World Cup
glory in 2002, could also be interviewed by the FA.
The 57-year-old Brazilian coached his home country in
Japan, then took Portugal to the final of Euro 2004, where they were
beaten by outsiders Greece. And he admitted recently: "Working in
England would be great. I am 57 and still have ambitions. Dealing
with all the Brazilian stars is tough work. It would be easier to manage
the likes of David Beckham, Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney and John Terry."
|
|
Friday, 7th April
|
|
|
Sol Campbell says he has been assured of a place in
England's World Cup squad - as long as he makes his first-team comeback
for Arsenal this season. Campbell, 31, has not featured since 1
February when he was taken off at half-time during the West Ham game.
But he said: "Sven-Göran Eriksson came to the training ground and saw
Ashley Cole and myself and he reassured us. I need a couple of
games under my belt and there's enough time. Thinking about the World
Cup is keeping me going." |
 |
Thomas Gravesen believes Sven-Göran Eriksson has the
strength of character to coach the club - if he is offered the Real
Madrid job. Eriksson, who wants to resolve his future before the
start of the World Cup finals this summer, has been named on a Real
shortlist of seven coaches. Gravesen, 29, said: "I think
Eriksson's reputation is strong enough. You have proven your worth
when you have managed a club like Lazio in Italy and then you become
England manager. With jobs like Eriksson has had you have shown
you have the skills to lead the team. But it will be a big test
for him in the summer with England - there will be a lot of pressure and
there will be a lot of eyes on him and that will give something of a
pointer about him." |
|
Thursday, 6th April
|
|
|
The FA can confirm that
England will play Belarus
in a B international friendly at Reading's Madejski Stadium on Thursday
25 May. Kick-off is at 8.05pm
and the match will be broadcast live on BBC1. The game is likely
to feature members of the England World Cup squad who will not
necessarily be in the starting XI for the Old Trafford friendlies
against Hungary on 30 May and Jamaica on 3 June. England have
never played Belarus at senior level before. England "B" matches
have been seen as stepping stones to the senior team since they were
introduced by Walter Winterbottom back in 1949. |
|
|
Jonathan Woodgate may not play again this season as he
continues to struggle with injury. Real boss Juan Lopez Caro said
he did not know when Woodgate would return. "I know the medical
team are doing a lot of tests on him and looking at different options
and they'll choose the best one." One option could be a back
operation to solve the chronic thigh problems the 26-year-old has
suffered since he joined Real in 2004.
He has played only nine league games this season
following his return from an 18-month lay-off because of a torn thigh
muscle. The defender was hoping to force his way back into the
England squad ahead of the World Cup in June, but as Real have only
seven games left, that now seems unrealistic. Woodgate's last game
for Real was in the first leg of their Champions League tie against
Arsenal, but he lasted only nine minutes before limping off.
England skipper David Beckham remains very doubtful for Real's game
against Real Sociedad on Saturday with bruised ribs. |
|
Wednesday, 5th April
|
|
|
David Beckham is doubtful for Real Madrid's game
against Real Sociedad after he missed training on Wednesday with bruised
ribs. "I can't really do gym exercises because every movement
bothers me. I hope to play on Saturday but I will have to wait and
see what happens with the injury." |
|
|
FA chief Brian Barwick is thought to have a shortlist
of three or four names to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson as England
manager. The interview process will be discussed at an FA board
meeting on Wednesday. It is believed there may be no non-British
contenders on a list that could include ex-Celtic manager Martin O'Neill
and Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren.
If that is the case it would mean that the likes of
Australia and PSV Eindhoven boss Guus Hiddink, Fabio Capello of Juventus
and Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari will not be part of the formal
interview process. Bolton boss Sam Allardyce and Alan Curbishley
of Charlton are the other names thought to be in the frame.
|
|
|
Birmingham City may be without midfielder Nicky Butt
for the rest of the season after they suffered hamstring injuries on
Tuesday. Butt came off in the first half of the 1-0 win over
Bolton and is expected to have a scan on Wednesday. "We hope they
aren't too bad but I fear the worst. With hamstring injuries like
they have got, I can't see them taking much part in the next part of the
season." Blues boss Steve Bruce said. |
|
Tuesday, 4th April
|
|
|
England will start their preparations for the 2006
World Cup in a Portuguese tourist resort in the Algarve. Sven-Goran
Eriksson will name his provisional squad on 8 May and submit his final
23 players for the tournament in Germany a week later. The squad
will then be based at the Vale do Lobo complex from 15-20 May. "It
is vitally important that the players have a very relaxing, enjoyable
time during their first week of preparation," said Eriksson. |
|
Michael Owen believes he may only have one game to
prove he is fit to take his place in England's squad for this summer's
World Cup. Owen has undergone two operations since breaking a foot
bone in December. England announce their provisional squad on 8
May but Owen, 26, may not be fit until Newcastle's last match of the
season - against Chelsea on 7 May. He said: "Whether it is one
game or maybe two games - I would be a miracle worker if it was any more
than that. I am pounding the treadmill with that in mind. I
would love to show my face in at least one game, then look forward to
next season. I am confident I can play in the England friendlies
against Jamaica and Hungary - as long as I do not have any more setbacks
or muscular problems. A lot of people can have those when they are
coming back from long-term injuries. You come back and because you
are maybe protecting something subconsciously, something else goes."
|
|
Monday, 3rd April
|
|
|
Luke Young faces a spell on the sidelines after
suffering ankle ligament damage during the 0-0 draw at West Ham United
on Sunday. The 26-year-old Young is likely to miss the FA Cup
quarter-final replay at Middlesbrough on 12 April. Addicks boss
Alan Curbishley said: "His left foot gave way and he turned his ankle
over. It is pretty sore so we will have to see. I think he has it
all to do for the next couple of weeks. It is a similar one to the
one he had up at Blackburn a couple of years ago. He was out for
five or six weeks last time but we don't think it is so bad. It is
a blow to us and a bigger blow to him because over the season he has
really put some pressure on that right-back spot with Gary Neville."
|
|
Saturday, 1st April
|
|
|
Premiership football:- Lee Bowyer
opened the scoring for Newcastle United, followed by an Alan Shearer penalty, in
the 31 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. Robbie Fowler opens Liverpool's
scoring against West Bromwich Albion. |
|
|
Steven Gerrard says being played out of position for
England stops him reproducing his club form for the national team.
Chelsea's Frank Lampard tends to get the nod ahead of Gerrard as
England's attacking midfielder player, with Gerrard in a more withdrawn
role. "I'm not saying I should play in that role before Frank, he
deserves that position. But if I got a few games there I could
find the form I show for my club." |
|
England will play their their first two home
qualifiers for Euro 2008 at Old Trafford, the Football Association have
confirmed. The matches against Andorra on September 2 and
Macedonia on October 7 will be staged at Manchester United's home
ground, where the capacity will have risen to 76,000. Yesterday's
announcement that the new Wembley Stadium will not open until 2007 left
the FA requiring a suitable venue for the early qualifiers and the
friendly international against as yet undetermined opponents on August
16. |
England Football Online