Flamboyance saved for off the field June 14, 2010 THIS World Cup has begun just as expected. Off the field it’s a fantastic carnival atmosphere, full of excitement, but on the park, it’s cagey with nowhere near the same flamboyance. I was at last night’s game between Italy v Paraguay at a freezing cold Cape Town – and it pretty much summed up a [...]
I know my starting XI, says Capello June 10, 2010 ENGLAND VS USA IT’S taken a hard-fought Premier League season, ten qualifying matches and a few injury heartaches, but Fabio Capello’s deliberation is over. Finally, the England boss admitted last night he knows his starting line-up for the World Cup opener with the United States on Saturday. All that stands in the way of Capello [...]
England could stutter against USA tomorrow June 10, 2010 ENGLAND vs USA TOMORROW – 7.30PM ITV1 THE tension is building, the car flags are flying and the red and white face paint is out. World Cup 2010 is nearly here and, as always, every England fan is expecting a first major trophy since 1966. The boys have been given a relatively easy group and [...]
Virgin and BSkyB appeal ruling June 9, 2010 Virgin Media has appealed against an Ofcom decision forcing BSkyB to charge competitors less for its football coverage, saying the ruling doesn’t go far enough. BSkyB has also appealed the communication watchdog’s decision, saying the regulator “acted unlawfully” in imposing conditions on its programme packages. Virgin said the methods used by Ofcom to calculate the [...]
Ousted Cole keeps his focus June 9, 2010 JOE COLE refused to be drawn on his future last night after it was confirmed he is to leave Chelsea this summer. The England playmaker will depart Stamford Bridge after seven years on 1 July after the Premier League champions refused to agree terms to a new deal. He joins 30-pluses Michael Ballack and Brazilian [...]
Ballack ‘surprised’ by Chelsea release June 9, 2010 MICHAEL BALLACK’S agent has told of the German’s “complete surprise” at being released by Chelsea. The 33-year-old was believed to be locked in talks with the Premier League champions to extend his existing deal, which is worth an estimated £150,000 a week. But Ballack’s agent, Michael Becker, claimed there had been no contact with Chelsea [...]
Forget south africa; the world cup is coming to bishopsgate June 8, 2010 ROYAL Bank of Scotland has clearly been keeping an ear out for all the sage words of wisdom dropping from the sky over the World Cup. The four-yearly event is one of the most sought-after corporate hospitality gigs in the calendar, but RBS, mindful of that taxpayer bailout it received during the crisis, isn’t biting. [...]
Reds reject Benitez set for San Siro after agreeing Inter deal June 8, 2010 RAFAEL BENITEZ will be unveiled as the new manager of Inter Milan today after agreeing a deal to succeed Jose Mourinho at the San Siro. Benitez has been locked in discussions with the European champions after his six-year spell in charge of Liverpool was ended by mutual consent last week. The Spaniard is due to [...]
Put your faith in Fabio, with this lot, we’ll go close June 8, 2010 EXPERT VIEW RAY PARLOUR IN Fabio Capello we trust. The Italian is the ideal man to lead the England charge in South Africa. He believes we have a chance, and that’s good enough for me, now it’s up to the nation to share that belief. Man for man, this is our best chance of success [...]
Manchester United’s owners have debts of over £1.1bn June 7, 2010 MANCHESTER United’s American owners have debts totalling more than £1.1bn, fuelling speculation they will drain the club of its resources. The Glazer family tied around £716m of debt to the Premier League club when they bought it in 2007, sparking outrage from fans. Now a BBC Panorama investigation has revealed they also owe £388m on [...]