Has Fabio missed a trick with Johnson? June 1, 2010 ON PAPER, Fabio Capello’s squad looks well-rounded, but I just can’t help thinking he’s missed a trick with young Adam Johnson. If you’re picking players on form, there’s no-one quite in the mould of the Manchester City winger right now and I just think that blend of confidence, raw pace and a ‘no fear’ element [...]
Soderling claims top scalp again and ends Federer run June 1, 2010 ROGER FEDERER’S astonishing run of 23 consecutive Grand Slam semi-finals was brought to an abrupt end last night when the world No1 crashed out of the French Open to giant-killer Robin Soderling. Defending champion Federer looked on course to progress from the quarter-finals when he breezed through the opening set, but came unstuck amid rain [...]
Tim’s setback hands Sidey Test chance June 1, 2010 SEAMER Ryan Sidebottom has been handed the chance to resurrect his Test career after being called up for Friday’s second contest with Bangladesh at Old Trafford. The 32-year-old left-armer has been drafted in as a replacement for all-rounder Tim Bresnan, who picked up a stress fracture in his left foot in the eight-wicket win at [...]
Barry inclusion is key, insists Green June 1, 2010 ROBERT GREEN believes the inclusion of Gareth Barry is a massive boost to England’s World Cup hopes. Barry was named in Fabio Capello’s squad for South Africa yesterday after he was cleared to play following an ankle injury. And West Ham goalkeeper Green insists the Manchester City midfielder has a big role to play for [...]
Italy and Denmark wade into World Cup ball row June 1, 2010 ITALY goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has become the latest star to launch a scathing attack on the new World Cup ball. The Adidas Jabulani has so far proved particularly unpopular among keepers, with Julio Cesar of Brazil and the USA’s Marcus Hahnemann voicing their disapproval. “I noticed the first day that this ball wasn’t right,” said [...]
Angry Dos Santos in quit threat June 1, 2010 TOTTENHAM midfielder Giovani dos Santos has threatened to quit Mexico’s World Cup campaign after his brother Jonathan was surprisingly omitted from the squad. His father Zizinho admitted: “Gio is very hurt and he wants to be at home with us. He is there now and he’s not well. We don’t know if he will play [...]
McCarthy is shock omission June 1, 2010 SOUTH AFRICA’S all-time leading scorer Benni McCarthy has been left out of the Bafana Bafana squad for the World Cup finals on home soil. The West Ham striker has been struggling for fitness for most of the season and is one of five players to miss out from the 28-man training squad. Also omitted were [...]
Drogba leads Elephants quartet June 1, 2010 IVORY COAST boss Sven-Goran Eriksson will go to South Africa with four strikers – much like he did as England coach four years ago. Chelsea duo Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou are joined by Aruna Dindane and Seydou Doumbia in the Elephants’ line-up, although Bakary Kone and Kanga Akale have been left out. West Brom [...]
Slovaks gamble on Skrtel June 1, 2010 SLOVAKIA coach has gambled on the fitness of four players – including Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel – in his World Cup 23. Skrtel has been out since February with a broken metetarsal but came through the 1-1 draw with Cameroon on Saturday.
Now’s the time to unleash Shahzad June 1, 2010 RYAN SIDEBOTTOM will be playing for his future in the second Test with Bangladesh at Old Trafford on Friday. A foot injury to Tim Bresnan has given the Nottinghamshire seamer what could be a final chance to show he still has the pace and guile to succeed in the Test arena. If he doesn’t, then [...]