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Friday, 31st March
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The FA has confirmed another delay in the Wembley
project after revealing all matches planned for 2006 will be moved to
other venues. Work on the stadium will not be completed in time
for an England friendly in August and two Euro 2008 qualifiers in
September and October. An FA statement said: "It is clear that the
construction of Wembley Stadium is significantly behind schedule.
We do not want to set deadlines on when the stadium will open and be
faced with the constant speculation surrounding this as we approach
individual fixtures. Therefore, we believe it is important that we
are transparent with our plans. The FA is taking the prudent
measure of booking new venues for all of our fixtures until the year
end. The FA and Wembley National Stadium Limited continue to meet
with banks and other key stakeholders to discuss the current status of
the project and ensure we have the appropriate plans in place moving
forward." |
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Burton Albion's Nigel Clough has been named joint
winner of the Conference manager of the month award for March alongside
Halifax Town's Chris Wilder. Clough's outfit won two out of their
three games - including a 2-1 win at Altrincham on Saturday - and lost
at home to Hereford 1-0. |
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Thursday, 30th March
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Scott Parker is set to miss the rest of the season
after Newcastle United boss Glenn Roeder said he suspected the
midfielder was suffering from glandular fever. If test results
confirm the illness, the 25-year-old will not play again this campaign -
ending his hopes of making England's World Cup squad. "Glandular
fever is what we are expecting. We think he's had this for a month
or more. That sums up everything you need to know about Scott
Parker." |
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Glen Johnson travelled to Germany on Thursday to
undergo hernia surgery. The 21-year-old full-back is expected to
return to fitness before the end of the season. "With modern
surgical techniques and the medical staff Chelsea has in place, we are
confident he'll be playing very quickly," said a Chelsea statement.
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Tuesday, 28th March
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Embrace have been chosen to record England's official
football World Cup song. The Football Association is hoping the
song World at Your Feet will become a fans' anthem for the England team
at the tournament. Embrace's Danny McNamara said the band were
excited about recording the track. FA marketing manager Tom Harold
said: "The official World Cup song has become something of an
institution and it is really important that we have an original and
exciting track. "We're confident that Embrace's song will
capture the imagination of the fans and players alike." Founded in
Huddersfield, Embrace have been releasing records since 1997 and have
released five albums, including their number one debut Good Will Out.
They are currently sitting at number two in the singles chart with
Nature's Law, taken from their latest album This New Day.
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Real Madrid president Fernando Martin has said
Sven-Göran Eriksson is one of seven men he would like to take the
manager's job at the Bernabeu. In an interview with Spanish TV
station Antena 3, Martin discussed Chelsea's Jose Mourinho, Liverpool's
Rafael Benitez and Arsene Wenger of Arsenal. Italians Carlo
Ancelotti, Fabio Capello and Marcello Lippi complete the list. "It
is going to come from one of seven coaches. We are clear about
what type of coach we want. No other thing can be said because I
believe I have to be prudent. What I can say is that we have to
try to build a team possible of the best for next year and a basic
element of a better team is the coach." |
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Monday, 27th March
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Michael Owen insists he will be fit for this summer's
World Cup, calming fears over a setback in his recovery from a broken
bone in his foot. The Newcastle
United and England striker, who has not played since 31 December, had to
undergo further surgery on Friday. "There is just one bit of the
bone that needs another helping hand and Friday's operation, which went
well, should do that. I expect to be playing in four weeks. That
leaves plenty of time to get fit. I have to admit I was a bit down
when the surgeon rang last week to say he was advising me to go back
into hospital. But it was my brother who pointed out that there
are still 11 weeks until the World Cup starts. I should be back in
four. That leaves plenty of time to get my full fitness and, as for
scoring goals, I have been doing that all my life and I will have all
the same instincts when I am 50. There is always a scare or two
before a tournament but, if this is as bad as it gets for England, then
we should be pretty well off." |
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Sunday, 26th March
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Premiership football:- Darren Bent and a Lee Bowyer own goal
give Charlton Athletic victory against Newcastle United, who respond with a
Scott Parker goal. Wayne Rooney scores Manchester United's third goal to
compound more misery on Birmingham City. |
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Chelsea have dismissed media claims England coach
Sven-Göran Eriksson is poised to take over from boss Jose Mourinho at
the end of the season. Responding to a Mail on Sunday report, a
club spokesman said: "More totally false stories have been published
with the aim of destabilising the club. "This will not succeed and
we will not continue to comment on such reports. The club and Jose
are united in an exciting long-term project to make the club one of the
best in Europe."
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Sam Allardyce would feel let down if the FA appointed
a foreign manager to succeed Sven-Göran Eriksson. Bolton manager
Allardyce said: "I would feel betrayed if the FA chose a foreign
manager. Sven was the right man at the time, but the job must go
to an Englishman. I don't think there is another manager in
this country who has achieved as much as I have. That might sound
big-headed to others but, if you compare the money we have all spent on
players and wages, pound for pound my record's as good as anyone's.
If you had a league table based on money spent and the relative success
achieved, I'd think Bolton would be top of it every year. Chelsea
have spent £270m. If I had spent that amount I'd guarantee winning the
title every year. That would be the minimum requirement. Certainly
if I finish in a Champions League spot this season then I'd like to
think that would strengthen my chances of becoming England manager."
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Saturday, 25th March
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Premiership football:- Steven Gerrard is sent off in the
Merseyside derby, and a Phil Neville own goal helps the red side to victory in
the bad-tempered match. |
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Congratulations to Steve Coppell and his Reading team, on
gaining promotion to the Premiership. It is Reading's first attempt in
top-flight football. |
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Guus Hiddink’s agent last
night claimed there are no Englishmen on the FA’s shortlist to take over
from Sven-Göran Eriksson.
Cees van Nieuwenhuizen revealed he has been told by Soho Square that the
Dutchman and Martin O’Neill are now in a straight fight for the job.
“Guus is one of the two candidates. They have not yet spoken to Guus but
I was told we would know more in two weeks. One or two members of
the FA committee have stated they want an Englishman. But we have been
told this is definitely not the case.”
Hiddink, who has been offered £3million a year to boss Russia, appeared
to rule himself out of the running for the England job earlier this
week. But Van Nieuwenhuizen insisted he was just referring to his
decision to leave PSV. FA spokesman Adrian Bevington insisted the
agent had jumped the gun by dismissing English contenders. He said:
“These claims are simply inaccurate.” |
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Michael Owen has had minor surgery on his broken foot
but insists it does not threaten his World Cup place with England.
Owen said he will be "back playing for Newcastle before the end of the
season". The striker, 26, broke his metatarsal bone in December
and had been pencilled in to return on 9 April, but that will now be
pushed back. "The specialists say everything is fine but to speed
the process they need to tighten the screw they inserted when I had the
operation. It is a simple process and should ensure that I'm back
playing for Newcastle before the end of the season." |
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Friday, 24th March
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Chris Kirkland will miss West Bromwich Albion's run-in
after suffering a broken finger in training. Kirkland, who is on a
season-long loan from Liverpool, has fractured the tip of his index
finger and is expected to be sidelined for six weeks. The
24-year-old has made 10 appearances for Bryan Robson side's this season.
"I'm disappointed and upset. It's ruled me out from the rest of
the season and any chance I had for the World Cup, which was already
slim."
He is unlikely to have the chance to impress
Sven-Göran Eriksson before the World Cup squad deadline on 15 May.
With Kirkland apparently out of the equation, Norwich's Robert Green now
looks certain to be selected as Eriksson's third choice, behind Paul
Robinson and David James. Kirkland joined West Brom last summer in
the search for regular first-team football. |
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Guus Hiddink has revealed he will definitely leave PSV
Eindhoven at the end of the season. Hiddink, 59, has been linked
with Russia, as well as England. The Dutchman has promised to reveal his plans at the end of
March. "There's nothing concrete now, let alone anything
signed." |
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Thursday, 23rd March
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Fabio Capello has insisted he would love the England
manager's job - but not yet. Capello wants to stay in club
football for the time being - effectively ruling himself out of the race.
"In the next three years I am thinking of
stopping as a club coach.
And then I would like for a dream I have always had
inside me to come true - to manage England." |
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Luiz Felipe Scolari has admitted speaking to the FA
about being the England coach. Last week the 57-year-old Brazilian
denied having formal talks about the England job with the FA when he
visited London. "I had an informal meeting with the English
federation. It is great my work and career has been recognised. Taking
this job would be nothing to do with money. I have lots of ambition.
I still have not decided my future. If we won the World Cup I might
stay. I love football and like managing with a smile on my face.
Working in England would be great. The atmosphere would be similar to
Brazil because the national team is so important. England have
excellent players but it should not all be about individuals. They have
to be a unit. I am 57 years old and still have a lot of ambition
in life. I feel I am still young and can do this job."
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Terry Butcher believes Manchester City boss Stuart
Pearce is ready to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson as England boss this
summer. Butcher said: "Stuart would be right for the job because
of the respect that he has and the passion. With someone
experienced behind him it could be the perfect partnership. But
with the politics at the Football Association you don't know what will
happen. There are strong personalities within the FA with their own
opinions. It may be a case of a lot of debate, lobbying and
political manoeuvring - just like Westminster." |
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Andrew Cole will be out for the rest of the season.
Cole has already missed seven matches with his knee problem and he has
been forced to undergo a second operation which has ended his season
prematurely. "Andy had another operation after they found some
floating material in his knee," said City boss Stuart Pearce.
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Alan Shearer has accused Chelsea winger Shaun
Wright-Phillips of diving to get Robbie Elliott sent off in Newcastle's
1-0 FA Cup defeat at Stamford Bridge. Elliott received a second
yellow card for his last-minute challenge on Wright-Phillips as the
Magpies bowed out of the competition on Wednesday. "It was a
blatant dive. There was absolutely no contact and I thought that at the
time. I have seen it again on a replay and it was definitely the
case."
Caretaker manager Glenn Roeder also felt that
Wright-Phillips went to ground too easily. "Wright-Phillips took
the ball past Robbie Elliott, who immediately turned his body sideways
to let him go. He is an experienced defender - but Wright-Phillips
knows he has beaten him and he is on the ground. Wright-Phillips
made no attempt to run past him. I'm disappointed with the young man."
Shearer was booked for arguing over the decision. |
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Wednesday, 22nd March
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Quarter-finals:- John Terry scores the
only goal of the game as Chelsea head into the semi-finals at the
expense of Newcastle United. |
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Guus Hiddink appears to have ruled himself out of the
running to become the next England manager. The boss of Australia
and PSV Eindhoven claims he has decided who he will manage next and has
previously been tipped to become Russia coach. "I would be lying
if I was to say I do not know where my future lies - and I hate liars.
I have already decided what I am going to do and will announce my
intentions at the end of the month after this busy period for PSV."
PSV and Australia, who Hiddink will coach at the World Cup, have both
hinted that they do not expect the Dutch coach to be with them next
season. |
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Luiz Felipe Scolari says he has not held talks with
the Football Association over becoming England boss. The
57-year-old sparked rumours when he visited London for a recent
conference. "I arrived at 11 in the morning, I went to the
meeting, we had a meeting with business people and it was all over by
five in the afternoon. I got another taxi to the airport to go
back to Lisbon. It is foolishness and makes sense only if the FA chief
executive was the taxi driver." |
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Graham Rix has been sacked by Hearts. Rix only
took the position in November. "We have been disappointed with the
team's performance. Results were not what they should have been,"
chairman Roman Romanov said.
"We also felt that some of the signings made in
January were not appropriate for Hearts. In addition, the events
which occurred in February when Hearts played Dundee United, including
the way in which some information appeared in the public domain, were
disappointing to us. I'd like to thank Graham Rix for all his hard
work at Hearts. He gave 100% but ultimately it did not work out.
Vladimir Romanov and the club's management felt that something had to be
done quickly. We owed it to the fans." |
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Tuesday, 21st March
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Quarter-finals:- Peter Crouch
scores twice sending Liverpool into the semi-finals, following victory
over Birmingham City. |
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Michael Owen will return from his broken foot injury
in three weeks, so believes Newcastle United caretaker boss Glenn
Roeder. The England striker, 26, has been sidelined since breaking
his metatarsal bone in December and was considered a doubt for the World
Cup in the summer. Roeder said: "Michael is still injured along with
Kieron Dyer... But I'm very positive that within the next three weeks
everyone will be back for the last month of the season. To suggest
Michael's had a setback is ridiculous. Michael had a scan on
Monday as part of his programme and there was nothing of any concern on
it. It was nothing out of the ordinary that Michael missed a
couple of days training, his surgeon is based in Manchester. In
modern football with all the technology we have, Michael's programme was
mapped out right back from the time of his injury.
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Members of England's 1966 World Cup winning team will
revisit the scene of their Wembley triumph on Tuesday, along with the
West Germany side they beat. Seven of Sir Alf Ramsey's side that
won the final 4-2 will meet 11 of their opponents to mark the 40th
anniversary. George Cohen, Alan Ball, Gordon Banks, Sir Bobby
Charlton, Jack Charlton, Roger Hunt and Martin Peters join the Germans
for a tour of the new Wembley. They will then go to Downing Street
for lunch with Chancellor Gordon Brown.
The late England captain Bobby Moore - who lifted the
trophy after England's victory - will be represented by his widow
Stephanie. Franz Beckenbauer, Helmut Haller, Siegfried Held,
Karl-Heinz Schnellinger, Willi Schulz, Uwe Seeler, Wolfgang Weber,
Horst-Dieter Hottges, Max Lorenz, Gunter Bernard and Hans Tilkowski will
join their English counterparts. They will all wear personalised
safety equipment brandishing their names and original squad numbers for
the Wembley tour. The Slovakian linesman from the final, Dr Karol
Galba, who allowed Hurst's controversial second goal, will also attend
and the party will be welcomed by 3,000 construction workers.
Cohen said: "The players have been looking forward to getting back
together in our 40th anniversary year. Obviously, we have all kept
in touch since '66 but it will be a delight to have the German team come
to London on an official visit and to be able to visit the new Wembley.
It will also be a great honour to attend the receptions at 11 Downing
Street and the German embassy and we are extremely grateful to Gordon
Brown and to the German ambassador." |
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The chief executive of the 2010 World Cup believes
Sven-Göran Eriksson would be an ideal candidate to manage the host
nation South Africa. The South African team are in a major
rebuilding phase and Danny Jordaan has been impressed with Eriksson's
record of bringing through young players. "Sven has overseen the
emergence of young players. That sort of attitude would be
important when building a new team for South Africa."
Jordaan added that Eriksson's skills would be well
suited to the challenge of rejuvenating the South Africa team.
"England have moved away from the idea that if David Beckham isn't
available or Paul Scholes retires then the team is in trouble.
There's more depth and balance to the England team - whatever's said
about Eriksson, young players now have a permanent place in the squad
and that sort of attitude would be important when building a new team
for South Africa." |
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Rafael Benitez fears the Football Association is
risking the fitness of England's World Cup pair Steven Gerrard and Jamie
Carragher. Gerrard and Carragher play a second game in three days
in the FA Cup tie against Birmingham on Tuesday. The FA Cup
quarter-finals are being played this week to help Sven-Göran Eriksson's
World Cup plans. But Benitez said: "All the English players, if
they played twice in three days, will be more at risk. I'm sure
you cannot see the best of players like Gerrard and Carragher just three
days after another game. The England players playing two games in
three days will be more at risk of injuries. The FA needs to look at
it." Gerrard has made 50 appearances already this season,
while Carragher has played in 47 games. Liverpool's FA Cup tie
comes swiftly after their win at Newcastle on Sunday. It is part
of the plan to give Eriksson an extra week of preparation with his squad
before this summer's World Cup in Germany. Benitez added: "If you
lose two or three players during the season, how can that help England?
It is impossible to play twice in three days with just a day in between
matches. A player is at his worst in terms of his physical condition two
days after a game. He can be 70% three days after, but he
certainly cannot play at his level and the risk of injury is so much
more." |
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Monday, 20th March
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Real Madrid
are ready to hand David Beckham the No7 shirt of captain Raul to
convince the midfield ace to sign a new deal.
Becks' new contract could
be worth a staggering £40 million over just two years as the club are
also willing to give up their 50 per cent split of his image rights.
The People says while Real president Fernando Martin is reluctant
to improve on Beckham's current basic deal of £100,000 a week, the idea
of a new shirt number will see his image rights profits hit the roof.
In the last three years Beckham has brought in around £95m in replica
shirt sales and the number change will only increase the stampede for
merchandise. Beckham has been linked with a move back to the
Premiership with Arsenal, but knows he would fail to get a deal worth
anywhere near Real's if he moved to London. Martin said Beckham is
"fundamental to Real, both from a sporting and commercial point of
view", and added, "when you consider how much money he generates, he
does not work out as an expensive option". |
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Sol Campbell came through Monday's reserve team
victory against Charlton Athletic unscathed. He played the full 90
minutes in the 2-0 win - his first competitive match since coming off
with an ankle injury against West Ham in February. |
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The Wembley stadium site was evacuated after a
50-tonne steel rafter slipped 1.6ft, creating an "enormous bang".
About 3,500 workers were cleared from the site of the £757m project,
already behind schedule, just before 0900 GMT. The rafter was
being welded in place at the time but the roof was not damaged, said
builders Multiplex. Most staff are expected to go back to work on
Tuesday. Multiplex boss Martin Tidd said a visit by English and
German players from the 1966 World Cup would go ahead.
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Sunday, 19th March
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Premiership football:- Peter Crouch and Steven Gerrard are
both on the scoresheet as Liverpool beat Newcastle United 3-1. |
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CIS Insurance Cup Final:- Celtic
beat Dunfermline by 3 goals to nil, Dion Dublin scoring the hoop's third and
final goal. |
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Saturday, 18th March
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Premiership football:- Teddy
Sheringham is the only ex/present England player to score over the weekend as
West Ham United are beaten 4-2 by Portsmouth, one of the goals scored by Sean
Davis. |
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England are planning a ‘B’
international on 25 May to help Sven-Göran Eriksson with his World Cup
preparations. Talks are taking place with Belarus to play the
match in London, and Sven said it will be a key part of his World Cup
build-up. "We need the game because you can only change six
players in the friendlies we have arranged against Hungary and Jamaica.
It means you can get to the World Cup with players not playing one
minute of football since 6 May. That’s why we put in this match.
It’s not going to be the best team, it’s going to be those we think will
be sitting on the bench." |
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Thursday, 16th March
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Sven-Göran Eriksson says he
will name a World Cup squad of 26 on 8 May - including three 'stand-by'
players who will only travel to Germany if others are injured.
His decision gives an extra boost to
players on the fringes of the squad who are battling to get to Germany
this summer. But in the end of course, only 23 can make the journey when
the tournament begins in June. Sven said: "We will name 26 players
on 8 May, but everyone will know who are the 23 and who are the extra
three. It’s not going to be a competition. The extra three will probably
a defender, a midfielder and a striker. But we'll see." Eriksson
is naming his squad a week before the FIFA deadline so that players know
in advance they are involved and can maintain their fitness regimes.
"It’s important that we pick the squad at that time because the league
is finished 6 or 7 May. They need to know then. If they celebrate until
late May that’s no good, they need to know if they are picked or not." |
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Fifa has refused to allow the 32
countries competing in the World Cup more time to submit their 23-man
squads and kept its original 15 May deadline. Sven-Goran Eriksson
was keen for a date nearer to 9 June when the tournament starts.
The Swede was also believed to have the support of many of the other
coaches involved in the tournament in Germany. But the idea has
been rejected after a a meeting of the World Cup organising committee on
Thursday.
"The course of action is intended to afford the
players concerned adequate recovery time, although injured players may
be replaced after this date following a specific procedure," said Fifa
in a statement. The 15 May deadline falls two days before the
Champions League final. It is also before England's final two
warm-up games against Hungary and Jamaica ahead of the tournament.
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Wednesday, 15th March
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Premiership football:- Robbie
Fowler scored his first goal since returning to Liverpool as the Reds
consolidated their third place in the Premiership with a 5-1 win over Fulham.
Steve Warnock scored his first ever red's goal. Peter Crouch also scored. |
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Sven-Göran Eriksson has admitted he could be willing
to gamble on Michael Owen's fitness when he names his World Cup squad on
8 May. "Michael Owen is Michael Owen and he is our best
goalscorer, so maybe. But of course it's a big advantage to take
23 players with no injuries, so hopefully that will not happen."
Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell, Kieron Dyer, Jonathan Woodgate, Wayne Bridge
and Owen Hargreaves are also sidelined as the deadline approaches for
Eriksson to name his 23-man squad. "I have concerns about all of
them - we're in the middle of March and the season finishes at the
beginning of May. I hope all of them will be on the pitch very
soon. I spoke to Ashley Cole twice recently and he thinks he will
be back in training soon. Michael Owen is supposed to be ready
very soon and Sol Campbell played in a reserve game on Tuesday and
that's very good news." Eriksson was speaking in Germany while on
a fact-finding mission to check on the training and hotel facilities at
England's remote World Cup base in the Black Forest.
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Michael Owen has played down a plea from Reds captain
Steven Gerrard for him to 'come home' to Anfield. Gerrard feels
Owen, a £17m signing from Real Madrid in August 2005, would solve his
side's goalscoring problems. Owen said: "It is nice of Steven to
say what he thinks of me, but someone else makes those decisions.
I am happy here, as I have always said. I made a decision last summer to
come here and have loved every minute. Stevie has said they need a
striker, or that they need to score more goals. He's a good friend
of mine, so I'd expect him to say 'Michael Owen is a good player'
because I would say the same about him." |
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March FIFA Ranking: England remain in ninth place,
despite their 2-1 win over Uruguay at the beginning of the month. |
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Richard Murray, the Charlton Athletic chairman, would
stand aside to let Alan Curbishley become England manager - but hopes
the Addicks boss stays on at The Valley. Murray said: "We think
our fans will understand why we allowed the Football Association to
speak to Alan. It is the England job, the best coaching job in the
country. Any ambitious manager would be interested. We do not want
him to go, but if the job is offered to him, and he wants to take it, we
will not stand in his way." |
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Tuesday, 14th March
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Fifth Round replay:- Darius Vassell
settles the tie between Manchester City and Aston Villa, his goal,
City's second on the night, ensured a 2-1 victory. |
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Stuart Pearce has finally signed a two-year rolling
contract with Manchester City. Pearce, 43, had been working
without a contract since taking over from Kevin Keegan as boss over a
year ago. A club statement said: "Stuart Pearce has signed the
contract he agreed last summer with chairman John Wardle. "The
Blues boss had been working to the terms of his two-year rolling deal
since July and last week promised to put pen to paper this week." |
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Brian Talbot has been sacked by Oxford after less than
a year in charge of the League Two club, with youth team coach Darren
Patterson taking over. Talbot joined the club in the summer of
2005, but a poor run of results has seen them slip to 22nd in the
league. They have not won a game since they beat Chester on 2
January. |
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The Football Association has urged World Cup
organisers to agree to Sven-Göran Eriksson's request to put back the
deadline for naming his squad. The current ruling stipulates that
national coaches must confirm their 23-man squads on 15 May, but
Eriksson and other coaches want more time. The England boss would
prefer a date nearer 9 June, when the finals start. And FA
executive director David Davies said: "We'll be seriously disappointed
if there is no movement on that date."
A decision on Eriksson's request is due to be made at
FIFA's World Cup organising committee meeting in Zurich on Thursday.
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Alan Curbishley has confirmed he wants the England job
- despite the furore surrounding his meeting with the Football
Association. Curbishley was surprised when his informal meeting
with FA chief executive Brian Barwick created headlines on Sunday.
He said: "It has not put me off one bit. I want the England job. I
did momentarily wonder what it might be like if I lost three games in a
row as England manager. But nothing was defined. I have not got my
feet under Sven Göran Eriksson's desk or eyed up his England tracksuit.
I have no idea what will happen next or even where I now stand. I was
not prepared for events to escalate the way they did. Here was an
insight into another way of living." |
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Peter Hill-Wood, the Arsenal chairman, has dismissed
the idea that England captain David Beckham might join the Gunners.
Arsenè Wenger has praised Beckham's ability but Hill-Wood said: "It is
absolute nonsense. "Beckham's name has never come up at boardroom
level and I would be very surprised if Arsenè is interested. I am
sure he is looking around for players, but for which position I don't
know at the moment. I don't think going for big names is Arsenè's
method. He will buy a young player he thinks is going to fit into his
system." |
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Rio Ferdinand has launched a scathing attack on Uefa
for what he sees as a failure to stamp out racism. He backs a
European Parliament resolution calling on referees to be able to abandon
matches where supporters make racist taunts. The 28-year-old
Manchester United star said: "It is time for Uefa to stop paying lip
service to the problem. Uefa should look at imposing huge fines or
deducting points within tournaments or competitions. The fines
handed out after the England-Spain game were a joke. For too long
now, European football authorities have not taken the problem of racism
in the game seriously and refuse to acknowledge how widespread the
problem is. I talk to a lot of European players and know there are
big problems in Spain, in Italy and in Eastern Europe. Just look
at what happened to Samuel Eto'o. He was racially abused against
Zaragoza and what happened? Zaragoza were fined a paltry 9000 Euros by
the Spanish Football Federation. If he had reacted to the fans
that were abusing him by gesturing to them, he would have been fined a
couple of weeks' wages at the very least - but, yet again, nothing
happens to the fans that abused him. If Uefa really is serious
about kicking racism into touch it should adopt some of the penalties
called for in the (EP) resolution and get on with punishing those who
defame the game we all love with their backward, racist views."
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Monday, 13th March
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Stuart Pearce has dismissed speculation linking him
with the England job. "England is not a distraction for me, I
don't take a great deal of interest in it. The only time England
gets mentioned is when I walk into a press conference and get asked the
same questions week after week. If I was or wasn't interviewed, I
wouldn't tell anyone. I'm sure the FA would want some form of
discretion from whoever they speak to. And I'm sure they didn't
want Alan Curbishley to be photographed. All that matters is they pick
the right man for the job." |
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Sunday, 12th March
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Premiership football:- Darren Bent and Wayne Rooney both score
braces for Charlton Athletic and Manchester United against Middlesbrough and
Newcastle United respectively. |
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Sol Campbell will be fit, Gilberto believes, to
feature for England in this summer's World Cup. Campbell, 31, has been
missing from the Arsenal squad for over a month because of an ankle
injury. But the Brazil international said: "I talked to him and
he's looking forward to the World Cup. He's coming back, he's all
right now, he has put everything in the past now and he wants a new
challenge. I think he will be fit for the World Cup." |
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Arsenè Wenger is playing down speculation that he is
ready to bring David Beckham back to England. Beckham, 30, has a
year left on his Real Madrid contract but upheaval at the club may tempt
him to finish his career in his home country. Wenger said: "If you
ask me 'Do I rate him?' I say yes. 'Could he play for Arsenal?' I think
he has the qualities. 'Have I been in for him?' No. 'Do I know
what his intentions are?' Only he can create that answer, I don't know." |
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Steven Gerrard has revealed he would love to see
Michael Owen return to Anfield to solve the club's goalscoring problems.
Owen joined Newcastle for £17m, while Liverpool's recognised strikers
have struggled to find the net in 2006. Gerrard said: "I have a
good enough relationship with Michael to know that he wanted to come
here. I'm not going to disguise the fact we need a poacher, the
problem we have got is obvious." |
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Saturday, 11th March
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The Football Association has admitted it has begun
interviewing candidates to become the next England manager.
Confirmation came after newspapers took photos of chief executive Brian
Barwick with Charlton manager Alan Curbishley. FA director of
communications Adrian Bevington said that the recruitment operation was
"now up and running". But he stressed that the process would
involve speaking to "numerous individuals including potential
candidates" on a private basis.
The job of England coach will become vacant after the
World Cup when Sven-Goran Eriksson will leave the post. The FA has
reaffirmed its desire to recruit his successor before the Germany
showpiece gets under way. Bevington said: "The FA remains
committed to appointing a manager before the World Cup, that's our sole
timetable. It should be noted, however, that the FA would only
approach managers to discuss the role after permission had been received
from their clubs. It is accurate that we have met with Charlton
Athletic manager Alan Curbishley as part of this process after obtaining
permission from his club." |
|
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Premiership football:- The Chelsea charge rumbles on despite a
Jermaine Jenas goal for Tottenham Hotspur, Spurs are still defeated by 2 goals
to 1. Teddy Sheringham grabs a consolation goal for West Ham United as
they are well-beaten by Bolton Wanderers 4-1. James Beattie scores a brace
as Everton beat Fulham 3-1. |
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Friday, 10th March
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Scott Carson has been taken to Sheffield Wednesday for
a month's loan deal. Carson, 20, moved to Anfield from Leeds in
January 2005 for £750,000 and has made nine appearances for the Reds. |
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Wayne Rooney has signed the biggest sports book deal
in publishing history. The 20-year-old has agreed a 12-year
contract with HarperCollins to write a minimum of five books for an
advance of £5m plus royalties. Rooney's first book will hit the
shelves at the end of July 2006 and will be an autobiography of his life
so far, including this summer's World Cup. "It will be good for
people to hear things from me for once. When they talk to me,
people say, 'I didn't expect you to be how you are'. Hopefully I
can put that across to people. They think I'm a different person
to what I am. I'm just a normal young lad who plays football. I'll
be talking about my life in football and other things as well. There
will be a few surprises in there." The follow-up books will cover
the rest of Rooney's playing career and there will also be a Wayne
Rooney Annual published in the autumn of 2006, aimed at younger fans.
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Thursday, 9th March
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Stuart Pearce has confirmed he will sign his rolling
deal with the Manchester City at some stage over the next week.
Pearce, 43, has been working without a contract since replacing Kevin
Keegan as boss over a year ago. But he said: "I have not had time
to read it which is causing problems, both in the press and with the
Premier League, so I will sign it this week. I'm not a lover of
bits of paper, contracts do not mean a lot to me." |
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Andrew Cole will be out of action for a further three
weeks as he continues his recovery from a
knee ligament operation. Stuart Pearce had hoped his 34-year-old
forward would be back within four weeks after sustaining the injury
against Charlton on 12 February. But Pearce said: "Andy is still
about three weeks away. He went to see the specialist again last
week, and it is just a case of taking things a day at a time."
Cole will now miss City's FA Cup replay against Aston Villa next Tuesday
as well as a possible sixth-round tie against West Ham or Bolton.
The former Manchester United striker is also expected to miss
Premiership games against Portsmouth, Wigan and Chelsea.
|
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Paul Merson has left Conference club Tamworth and
has announced his retirement as a player. Merson, 37, joined
the Lambs last month following his dismissal as player-manager of
Walsall but started just one game for Mark Cooper's side.
"Tamworth can confirm that Paul Merson has retired from competitive
football. We'd like to thank Paul for his effort and
professionalism during his stay."
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Monday, 6th March
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England will take on Netherlands in a friendly on
Wednesday 15 November at Ajax's Amsterdam Arena, The Football
Association have officially announced. The match will be
England's last in 2006 and follows the first four games of their
Euro 2008 qualifying campaign in September and October. The
match has been planned since England's last friendly against the
Netherlands last year.
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Sunday, 5th March
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Sven Göran Eriksson has warned Sol
Campbell that he must return to the Arsenal team if he is to travel
with the England squad to Germany this summer. Eriksson is not
prepared to gamble on the fitness of any of his players as he did in
2002, although he admitted he will give the benefit of the doubt to
Michael Owen. His words could also spell bad news for the
likes of Ashley Cole and Wayne Bridge - both of whom have suffered a
season in which they have been plagued by injuries. "It would
be very difficult to pick a player who has not played before the end
of the Premiership season - but there are exceptions. If the
doctors told me they thought Owen would be ready during the friendly
games, I would pick five strikers and take a risk because Owen is
our best goalscorer. But in the case of Sol Campbell, I hope
he starts to play for Arsenal again and then he plays as we know he
can. But if he does not, I cannot pick him." Eriksson also
admitted that rather than play a mediocre left back he might opt to
play a skilled right-footer instead - an apparent nod to Liverpool
defender Jamie Carragher. "I just can't go out looking for
left-footed players," he added. "They must have quality as well -
otherwise we must go with right-footed players."
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Saturday, 4th March
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Premiership football:- Joe Cole
scores Chelsea's second and decisive goal in the 2-1 bad-tempered victory over
West Bromwich Albion. Alan Shearer is on the scoresheet for Newcastle
United, in their 3-1 win over Bolton Wanderers. James Beattie scores
Everton's equalising goal in the 2-2 draw with West Ham United. |
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Friday, 3rd March
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England will start their
Euro 2008 qualifying
campaign at home to Andorra, which will be their first
competitive fixture in the new Wembley Stadium. A second
attempt to arrange the Group E fixtures proved successful after the
Football Association chaired talks between the seven countries.
FA executive director David Davies said: "It was never going to be
easy but it was worth having a second go. It's a balanced
schedule which gives us a strong chance of qualification. We
are very pleased with the result. We were asked to chair the meeting
and we have been able to come to an agreement. We believe
England will have the sort of qualifying campaign we would have
wished for in terms of fixtures."
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Ashley Cole is suing two national newspapers for libel
amid claims about the sexuality of two unnamed footballers.
Internet rumours spread after the News Of The World and the Sun printed
allegations about two top players. Cole's lawyer has issued writs
against the papers, claiming "libel, harassment and breach of privacy".
Solicitor Graham Shear said it was "disgraceful" that the England star
should face "insinuation and innuendo".
The articles contained broad hints as to the
footballers' identity and have generated much discussion in chatrooms.
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Thursday, 2nd March
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Wayne Bridge has received a boost after learning
that the injury he sustained in England's friendly with Uruguay is
less serious than first feared. It was feared the 25-year-old
had sustained serious ligament damage after colliding with team-mate
Paul Robinson. However, a scan revealed a lateral ligament
sprain to his right ankle and no recurrence of a previous injury.
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Ashley Cole and fellow defender Sol Campbell
to return to action by the end of the month, so expects Arsenè Wenger.
England left-back Cole, 25, limped out of Arsenal's reserve team clash
with Tottenham on Monday. The Gunners boss said: "Ashley will be
out for three weeks minimum because of an ankle sprain." But of
Campbell, he added: "He is doing very well in training, I believe he'll
be out for another two weeks maximum." |
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Teddy Sheringham is set to sign a one year extended
deal with West Ham United, revealed his manager, Alan Pardew.
Sheringham will be 40 years old next month. The West Ham boss
said: "I wouldn't normally voice it but we're very close and it will be
a good bonus for us. Everyone will know he's here with us and that
will give us five good strikers to attack next year." |
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Wednesday, 1st March
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England 2-1
Uruguay: Joe Cole struck a last-gasp
winner as England came from behind to beat Uruguay at Anfield.
Substitute Shaun Wright-Phillips produced a perfect cross from the
right for the outstanding Cole to beat keeper Sebastian Viera at the
near post. England held the upper hand throughout but Uruguay
led at the break through Omar Pouso's sizzling 30-yard volley.
But Cole crossed for substitute Peter Crouch to head a deserved
equaliser before the Chelsea man's late winner.
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Peter Osgood has died at the age of 59. Osgood
collapsed while attending a family funeral service today at Slough
crematorium. Dubbed the 'King of Stamford Bridge' he made 380
appearances for the Blues and scored 150 goals, helping them win the
1970 FA Cup and 1971 Cup Winners' Cup. The forward then joined the
Saints in 1974 and guided the Second Division club to victory over
Manchester United in the 1976 FA Cup final.
Osgood was also a member of England's 1970 World Cup
squad and made four appearances for the national side. The
Football Association said that there will be a minute's silence before
England's friendly against Uruguay. |
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Frank Lampard
will have a scan today on the hamstring injury that has ruled him out of
tonight's England's friendly. The 27-year-old is believed to have
picked up the knock while playing for Chelsea against Barcelona in the
Champions League last week. He then aggravated the injury during
an England training session yesterday. He is doubtful for
Saturday's game at West Bromwich Albion and could also miss the return
leg against Barcelona. |
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Fifa could delay the deadline for World Cup squad
selections following objections from England and Germany.
Sven-Göran Eriksson and Germany counterpart Jurgen Klinsmann have led
the call for extra time before announcing their squads. The
present 15 May deadline falls before England's final warm-up games, and
Eriksson and Klinsmann will raise the matter at a Fifa workshop.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter said: "The matter is not ruled out."
Eriksson claims he also has the backing of
Netherlands boss Marco van Basten in a request to push the date back
closer to the opening of the World Cup on 9 June. The current
deadline is more than three weeks before England's opener against
Paraguay but also falls before the Champions League final.
Eriksson said: "The date is too early and I know a lot of other coaches
are not happy with it. We will bring it up at the coaches workshop
and I'm confident it will be changed."
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Gary Neville
will appeal against his £5,000 fine by the Football
Association. He was found guilty of improper conduct after
taunting Liverpool fans following United's late winner in January.
But 31-year-old said: "I do not think it constituted improper conduct or
bringing the game into disrepute, which is why I am appealing the FA
decision. I know people say £5,000 is nothing to a Premiership
footballer, but I'd have contested the fine if it was 50p." |
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