Ireland can hold France in crucial Croke contest November 12, 2009 REPUBLIC OF IRELAND vs. FRANCETomorrow 8pm, Sky Sports 1IRELAND haven’t tasted defeat in Dublin since the 2006 World Cup qualifiers when they lost 1-0 to France in September 2005. Since then they have won five and drawn seven of 12 competitive home games. It is never easy to analyse international football form, as teams play [...]
Rooney warns: We still have to improve November 12, 2009 WAYNE ROONEY last night warned there is still a lot of hard work in front of his England side if they are to fulfil a dream of lifting the World Cup. The Three Lions won nine of their 10 qualification matches under Fabio Capello but face, arguably, their toughest test to date tomorrow when they [...]
Jonny vows to put body to the sword November 12, 2009 BRAVEHEART Jonny Wilkinson has vowed to continue putting his injury-ravaged body on the line when England lock horns with the powerful Pumas at Twickenham tomorrow. The 30-year-old fly-half has spent much of the last six years on the treatment table but returned to international action last Saturday to make a remarkable 20 tackles in the [...]
Cudicini badly hurt in motorbike smash November 12, 2009 TOTTENHAM goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini is fighting to save his career after suffering “potentially life-changing injuries” in a serious motorbike crash yesterday. The 36-year-old shot-stopper was taken to hospital after his BMW superbike was involved in a smash with a Ford Fiesta in Walthamstow, at around 10.30am. Cudicini fractured both of his wrists and injured his [...]
Fergie hit with FAban and fine after ref rap November 12, 2009 MANCHESTER UNITED boss Sir Alex Ferguson has been fined £20,000 and handed a four-match touchline ban by the Football Association for his criticism of referee Alan Wiley last month. Ferguson admitted a charge of improper conduct after questioning the fitness of Riley following his side’s 2-2 home draw with Sunderland at Old Trafford. He will [...]
‘No means no’, Scudamore dismisses Old Firm pair November 12, 2009 PREMIER League chief executive Richard Scudamore last night told Celtic and Rangers they will never be allowed to join the English top-flight. A proposal from Bolton chairman Phil Gartside to include the Old Firm pair in a new two-tier structure was overwhelmingly rejected by club chiefs yesterday. And Scudamore moved to finally bring the on-running [...]
Johnno was tactically undone November 12, 2009 KICKING INTO TOUCH WITHBRENDAN VENTER THEY may have lost but Martin Johnson’s England can take plenty of encouragement from last weekend’s defeat by Australia. England acquitted themselves well against the Wallabies only to be undone tactically when the 10 and 12 pair of Wilkinson and Geraghty were separated in the second half. The two dominated [...]
Captain Colly plays down cramp spat November 12, 2009 PAUL COLLINGWOOD has played down suggestions of ill-feeling between England and South Africa when the pair do battle at the Wanderers today. The rivals lock horns for the first time since captains Andrew Strauss and Graeme Smith were involved in a heated confrontation out in the middle of their controversial Champions Trophy clash in September [...]
SPORT IN BRIEF November 12, 2009 MANNY’S WARNING TO COTTOPOUND-FOR-POUND king Manny Pacquiao insists he is feeling stronger than ever ahead of his mega-fight with Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas on Sunday morning. Pacquiao moves up to welterweight to take on the WBO king in a bout both claim to be the most important of their careers. Both have shown a [...]
Six depart 2018 bid November 12, 2009 MANCHESTER UNITED chief executive David Gill and former Birmingham City director Karren Brady are among six members to stand down as members of England’s 2018 World Cup bid team yesterday as part of a streamline decision-making process. The pair were joined by Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe, Sir Keith Mills, Sir Martin Sorrell and Simon Johnson [...]