Clinical Brazil closing in on a sixth title June 28, 2010 BRAZIL (3) v/s CHILE (0) BRAZIL manager Dunga saw his side justify their favourites tag by strolling past Chile and into a last-eight meeting with Holland – and then told them to up their game further. Two goals in the space of four minutes from Juan and Luis Fabiano gave Brazil a stranglehold on the [...]
Our problems lie deeper than knee-jerk reactions June 28, 2010 THE Football Association has not always been correct in its decision-making in the past, but its response to the criticism of Fabio Capello after a dismal World Cup campaign is common sense prevailing. It would have easy to make a rash decision in the heat of the moment after England’s woeful display against the Germans, [...]
Robben is back on song as Dutch glide into last eight June 28, 2010 HOLLAND (2) v/s SLOVAKIA (1) COACH Bert van Marwijk hailed Arjen Robben after the fit-again winger capped his first start of the tournament with the goal that set Holland on their way to the quarter-finals. Robben’s fine individual strike and a simple second for Wesley Sneijder secured the Dutch a last-eight clash with Brazil, despite [...]
Spurs boss Redknapp admits interest in top job June 28, 2010 TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp has thrown his hat into the ring to succeed Fabio Capello, declaring he would find it impossible to turn down the England job. Redknapp is the bookmakers’ favourite to take the reins if the Football Association decides to dispense with the Italian following a disastrous World Cup. “Until he’s not the [...]
Fifa evade technology debate June 28, 2010 FIFA remains defiant in its decision to oppose goal-line technology, despite even Prime Minister David Cameron adding to calls for it to be introduced. Cameron joined the debate after Frank Lampard was denied a goal in Sunday’s 4-1 defeat by Germany when the ball had clearly crossed the line. Fifa blocked any further experiments with [...]
Real sign £20m Di Maria June 28, 2010 ARGENTINA winger Angel di Maria has sealed a £20m switch from Benfica to Real Madrid. The Spanish club confirmed the transfer last night, making him the first arrival since Jose Mourinho was appointed manager. Di Maria, 22, spent three years in Portugal and won the player of the year award last season as Benfica scooped [...]
French FA chief quits June 28, 2010 FRENCH Football Association president Jean-Pierre Escallettes quit yesterday following France’s World Cup humiliation. France were eliminated at the group stage in South Africa under coach Raymond Domenech amid reports of conflict in the camp. Domenech has since left the post; now Escalettes will resign on Friday at a meeting of the organisation’s federal council.
SHAMBLES Capello on the brink as England crash June 27, 2010 GERMANY (4) vs ENGLAND (1) FABIO CAPELLO remained defiant last night he would not stand down as England manager despite his side’s World Cup humiliation in Bloemfontein. But the Italian admitted he would seek crisis talks with Football Association chiefs after England’s woeful display against the Germans culminated in a heaviest-ever World Cup finals’ defeat. [...]
FA chiefs must now turn to Hodgson June 27, 2010 FABIO CAPELLO will sit down with FA chairman Sir Dave Richards over the next few days to decide how to take this England team forward. But, sadly, it’s going to take a lot more than a brief discussion over tea and biscuits as the answer is this England team can simply not go forward with [...]
Fifa set to reject new calls for goal-line technology June 27, 2010 FIFA will stand firm and reject calls to introduce goal-line technology despite Frank Lampard’s disallowed strike in Bloemfontein. President Sepp Blatter was at the Free State Stadium to see Lampard’s 20-yard shot clearly cannon off the underside of the crossbar and over the line with the match delicately poised at 2-1. Fifa ruled out using [...]