Five-star England qualify in fine style September 9, 2009 ENGLAND (5) vs CROATIA (1) FABIO CAPELLO hailed the “best performance” of his reign as manager after his England side booked their ticket to the World Cup finals in South Africa next summer in emphatic style. Two goals apiece from midfield duo Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard and a fifth from Wayne Rooney put the [...]
Fabio’s walking on water after finding right formula September 9, 2009 FABIO CAPELLO can seemingly do no wrong. Suddenly, not even two years into the job, the Italian has at his disposal a strong 23-man squad who can all but book their flight to South Africa next summer, and probably nine members of his starting line-up who can claim shirt numbers one to eleven. His biggest [...]
Double dose of defeat leaves hopes in tatters for suffering Scots and Irish September 9, 2009 SCOTLAND’S World Cup dreams were left shattered last night, as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat against the Netherlands at Hampden Park. George Burley’s men needed a win to have any realistic hope of snatching a play-off place but Dutch substitute Eljero Elia stepped off the bench to hit a late winner and break Scottish [...]
‘Thank you Mr Bilic, that is my perfect team talk’ September 8, 2009 ENGLAND boss Fabio Capello yesterday laughed off Slaven Bilic’s attempt at playing mind games – instead thanking the Croatia boss for providing his with his team talk for tonight’s crunch World Cup qualifier. Victory at Wembley tonight will ensure Capello’s men will qualify for South Africa next summer, possibly even at the expense of a [...]
Powerless Murray is sent crashing by Cilic September 8, 2009 WORLD No1 Andy Murray admitted he was powerless to stop big-hitting Marin Cilic ending his US Open dreams at Flushing Meadows last night. The Croatian 16th seed proved just too strong for the British No1 as he blasted his way to a 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 victory in two hours, eight minutes. Cilic showed his dominance [...]
One-Day shambles a far cry from Ashes win September 8, 2009 FOR all the meticulous organisation that went into England regaining the Ashes in the recent Tests, it strikes me that we are playing this one-day series on a wing and a prayer. Sadly, we are a shambles right now. For years now I have advocated the need to employ different set-ups for each form of [...]
Burley urges Scots to up the tempo to keep dream alive September 8, 2009 GEORGE BURLEY is calling on his players to “perform to their maximum” to keep Scotland’s World Cup play-off dreams alive. Victory over the Netherlands at Hampden Park tonight will secure second spot for the Scots, but manager Burley believes his team will have to be at their best to beat the runaway leaders of Group [...]
Quins to face no further action September 8, 2009 RUGBY UNION: Harlequins will not face expulsion from this season’s Heineken Cup, after the ERC decided to take no further action following the fake blood scandal. Quins were fined an unprecedented €300,000, while coach Dean Richards received a three-year ban, but the ERC has confirmed no further punishments are expected. Meanwhile, Quins lock George Robson [...]
City plead innocence inHelan case September 8, 2009 FOOTBALL: Manchester City have firmly denied claims the club are guilty of ‘poaching’ hot prospect Jeremy Helan from French side Rennes. The Blues snapped up the highly-rated defender earlier this year, but the 17-year-old’s former employers have since reported the matter to FIFA after claiming a breach in transfer regulations. City, though, are convinced they [...]
Loach saves England Under-21s September 8, 2009 FOOTBALL: Watford goalkeeper Scott Loach was the hero as the England Under-21’s fought out a 1-1 draw against Greece in their European Championship qualifier in Tripoli. Chelsea’s Daniel Sturridge gave England an early lead before Sotiris Niris equalised. Loach then pulled off a string of fine saves to earn England a valuable point.