Rafa delights in selection headache for semi-final tie January 8, 2013 CHELSEA manager Rafael Benitez insists he is happy to finally have a dilemma over who to play at centre-forward as he contemplates taking a major step towards his first silverware at the club. Benitez must decide whether to recall £50m record signing Fernando Torres for tonight’s Capital One Cup semi-final first leg at home to [...]
Pride wounded as England eye series response January 8, 2013 ENGLAND must drastically improve to emulate their triumphant Test colleagues in the first one-day international against India on Friday, says bowler James Tredwell. The tourists completed a first Test series victory in India for 27 years last month but England head into the five-match ODI series after back-to-back defeats, including the six-wicket loss to Delhi [...]
Bradford perform more heroics to edge closer to Wembley date January 8, 2013 BRADFORD CITY 3 vs ASTON VILLA 1 DELIGHTED Bradford manager Phil Parkinson lauded his serial giant-killers last night after they took a huge step towards becoming the first fourth-tier team to reach the League Cup final for more than half a century. The League Two club swept aside their Premier League opponents, who sit 60 [...]
It’s time for Finn to step up and lead attack January 8, 2013 DEFEAT in the two warm-up matches before England’s one-day series in India will merely have underlined the scale of the task facing Ashley Giles, who has just taken charge of the ODI and Twenty20 teams. Giles has a job transforming the one-day side in the long-term, but more pressingly in India, where England’s struggles are [...]
Barca rule out selling Villa until summer January 8, 2013 BARCELONA striker David Villa will not be moving to the Premier League this month, according to club president Sandro Rosell. Spain international Villa, who has been struggling to hold down a place in the Catalan side’s starting line-up this season, had been heavily linked with Arsenal this week, with Chelsea and Manchester City also thought [...]
QPR put brakes on Nelsen MLS coaching move January 8, 2013 QUEENS Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp hopes to delay Ryan Nelsen’s departure to Major League Soccer club Toronto FC so that he can face Tottenham on Saturday. The defender is leaving the Premier League strugglers to manage in the MLS having finalised a deal in Canada yesterday. Nelsen is under contract at Loftus Road until [...]
Fans shut out over racism January 8, 2013 WORLD governing body Fifa has ordered Bulgaria and Hungary to play their next World Cup qualifiers without crowds following racist chanting and anti-semitic abuse from their supporters. Bulgaria fans monkey chanted at Denmark defender Patrick Mtiliga in Sofia in October while Hungary fans directed anti-Semitic slogans towards Israeli fans in August, landing their associations £23,000 [...]
Hales invited to the Bash January 8, 2013 ENGLAND Twenty20 star Alex Hales has joined Melbourne Renegades for the remainder of Australia’s Big Bash competition. Nottinghamshire opener Hales, who has 14 T20 caps, replaces the injured West Indian Marlon Samuels for the Renegades, who are top of the table and assured of a home semi-final place.
Storey set to return after summer January 8, 2013 CYCLING: British cyclist Dame Sarah Storey has confirmed she intends to return to competitive sport after her first child is born. Storey, who has 11 Paralympic gold medals in swimming and cycling and has also represented Team GB in non-disabled competitions, said that she hopes to continue her career after the expected birth in June.
Liverpool “biggest in England” January 8, 2013 FOOTBALL: Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge insists there is no bigger club in the Premier League than his new employers, despite their 23-year wait for another top flight title. Sturridge, who signed for £12m from Chelsea last week,has also played for current champions Manchester City. “It is the biggest club I’ve ever played for,” said Sturridge. [...]